Third Print run of Kul Chandra Gautam’s ‘Lost in Transition’ hits bookstores

Distinguished international diplomat and development professional Kul Chandra Gautam’s book “Lost in Transition: Rebuilding Nepal from the Maoist mayhem and mega earthquake” has hit the market with its third print run within a months of its release.

“Gautam’s book comes as an alternative side to the dominant radical narrative on contemporary Nepal,” says political scientist Hari Sharma.

Since the book was released on December 12, Gautam has been invited to give talks in various forums within Nepal and abroad.

“Kul Gautam’s book was like a crash course for a newcomer (expat) like me,” said Renaud Meyer, the Country Director UNDP, during an event organized to discuss the book in Kathmandu recently.

“I’m glad my book is being well received,” Gautam said.“The analysis and issues I have written in this book are not based on my reading of ideologies but from actually witnessing and experiencing them as practiced during my tenure as a UN staff member in many conflict-hit countries in political transition in Asia, Africa and Latin America” the author added.

Gautam now travels to India where he will share a forum at the India International Center on January 19 with Indian Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor and India’s former Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood. Siddharth Mallavarapu, Associate Professor at the New Delhi-based South Asian University, will moderate the discussion.

Gautam is also scheduled to participate in a discussion at the Jaipur Literature Festival on January 25. Indian Journalist Bharat Bhusan will moderate a discussion titled “Lost in Transition: The Nepal Narrative” there. Gautam will share the panel with former Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad and Mallika Shakya, Associate Professor at the South Asian University.

Replete with personal anecdotes, Gautam’s book centers on the challenges – primarily economic and political– that Nepal faces and the measures to be taken up to rebuild the nation in the aftermath of the decade-long Maoist insurgency and protracted political transition, and the devastating April 2015 earthquake.

Gautam, who served as Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, calls for an end to Nepal’s seemingly endless political transition and shifting the nation’s focus to economic development and social progress without further delay.

The book includes an epilogue on India’s de facto economic blockade against Nepal after the promulgation of its new constitution and suggests how Nepal should deal with its neighbours while protecting its rights and interests.

“Notwithstanding the constraints faced by the market due to the ongoing blockade, I’m glad to share that the book has been well received and we have been able to cater to the demand,” said Kiran Krishna Shrestha of publication nepa~laya.

Priced at Rs 675, the book is available at leading bookstores in major cities.

For more info:
Arpan Sharma
nepa~laya
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