A People War – Nepali edition comes with 80% slash in price
07 May 2008
The bilingual pictorial book on Nepal's decade long conflict – A People War (Ladaima Janata) is to be released as a Nepali language budget edition that will cost only Rs 500 compared to the Rs 2,500 for the bilingual hardcopy book.
The publishers, nepa~laya says this is part of its effort to make the 179 photographs of the conflict in the book accessible to as many people as possible.
"The book was expensive because we did not want to compromise on the quality, but the economics of book production is making this cheaper edition possible,” says Kiran Shrestha of publication nepa~laya.
nepa~laya had taken selected images from the book on a three-month nationwide photo exhibition tour during which more than 350,000 people in 30 venues across Nepal saw it. "Many people visiting the exhibitions wanted to buy a copy of the book, but said they couldn't afford it. I am glad the book is being released for one fifth the price. This will widen its reach,” says the book’s author, Kunda Dixit.
A People War has printed in two editions since it was released in December 2006. In addition to the copies sold, more than 4,000 books have been distributed for free to public and school libraries in nearly all the districts in Nepal.
"Considering the Nepali book market and the price A People War has done exceptionally well in terms of sales. But the demand of the book among buyers who couldn't afford the hardcopy is wide and I am confident the Nepali edition fulfil that demand," says Anjan Shrestha of Education Book House, the distributors.
The Nepali edition of the book is to be released on 10th May at the Nepal Book Fair in Bhrikuti Mandap. Education Book House will organise a signing ceremony from 2 PM-4 PM with author Kunda Dixit at the book fair.
A People War Ladainma Janata is a pictorial book containing 179 photos from 80 photographers across the country. The sleekly re-designed Nepali edition contains all the photographs as in the original but will cost only Rs 500.