We are drawn by the forces that are outside us. We try to learn more about what is happening outside and in the process, accumulate knowledge via books and any available sources. We read about the oceans, the deserts, the space and delve into the politics and culture of the countries beyond.
Yet, the more you know about your own place, the better. After all, knowing about your country gives you an insight into your own nature. Hence, The Week brings you a list of books about Nepal that you might not want to give a miss.
The Living Goddess
by Isabella Tree
Published in 2014, The Living Goddess joins the rank of a long line of books and writing pieces about the Living Goddess, Kumari. She embodies the part of Nepal's culture that has fascinated all that have come across the information, and in this book Isabella Tree presents her fascination with it. It was a long time ago that she had come to Nepal and during her stay at the 'Freak Street', seen the legend that is Kumari. This book is, hence, a result of extensive research, interview and study about the subject matter, where the author has presented her views merged in facts and imagination.
Cricket Ka Saarathi Haru
by Jagadishor Panday
Hamro Kitab: For the book-loving society
Compared to the growing interest and attention the various sports are getting in the country, there are limited books written about it in Nepal. Cricket is a sport that is garnering much love and support of the citizens. This book has profiled the team and the members who played in the ICC World Twenty20 Cup in Bangladesh in 2014. In a way, this book is a tribute to all those players, who successfully marked Nepal’s efforts and skills in the world of cricket.
A People War
A picture is for the viewer to interpret and understand. A People War is a collection of 172 pictures by different photographers and journalists, taken during the course of a long and exerting People’s War. One can say that the picture book directs us towards the root of the change that Nepal is going through right now. As many impressions and feelings the war left on us, the pictures present the fact, and also show hope, something that we are still in need of given the current situation of a political impasse.
Festivals of Nepal
by Mary M. Anderson
Nepal is known for its rich cultural heritage and festivals are a huge part of it. Our unique diversity means that different people have different cultures to follow and celebrate, and Anderson has compiled that in a large volume, writing about each festival in detail. From its history to how it is celebrated to what it means for the people, this work is priceless. It has the stories that we have been hearing since childhood, and the stories no one bothered to tell us about our culture. If you didn’t read this book during your social studies project preparation in high school, then it is high time you delved straight into it.
Strategy of Survival
by Leo E. Rose
Nepal, a country between two political and economic giants, China and India, places this country, along with others, in a place of importance regarding its foreign policy. As there are talks of foreign intervention in the country, this book could provide a valuable insight into how the policies have been affected. It does so with historical details and explanations, in 12 chapters divided in four parts.
Unleashing Nepal
by Sujeev Shakya
We have always known that politics is something that we have to grudgingly embrace. In Unleashing Nepal, Shakya writes about how politics has affected the economy of the country and has attempted to trace it. The revised edition was published four years after the actual publication in 2009, and contains additional information about the political developments and its effect on the country since. This book makes understanding Nepal easy, as the author has divided it into past, present, and future.
Nepal
by Tony Hagen
Published around four decades ago, Hagen has presented his version of Nepal when he first set foot in the country in the 1950s to work as a development expert. Several editions have followed since then, marking the changes in the country in the years that followed. After his death, the task was taken over by his daughter and acquaintances. The latest edition also includes the original reports and photographs, as he plotted the nooks and corners of the 14,000 km of the journey he covered on foot over the course of 12 years.
The Bullet and the Ballot Box: The Story of Nepal’s Maoist Revolution
by Aditya Adhikari
The People’s War is an event whose importance is etched in Nepal’s history. The effect it has on our daily lives is unquestionable. However, the rebellion left a bigger impact on the Maoist rebels, whose uprising started in 1990s. This book is a story about the people who actually took part in the revolution, and even presents the clashes between the different supporters. The book even attempts to trace the history of Maoists, going back to the 1960s.
