Uddhab P Pyakurel, a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, is an assistant professor at School of Arts, Kathmandu University. Author of Maoist Movement in Nepal: A Sociological Perspective, Pyakurel talks about his love for books with the Post’s Marissa Taylor. Excerpts:  

How did you first come to love books?

I had always been a studious kid. I would pour over books for hours to an end but my interest to go beyond exam orientated books started only after I

joined college. After I started studying Bachelors of Law, I developed a need to venture into the literary world—a world of innovation.  

What was the last book you read and how did you like it?

I am re-reading Nepal Strategy for Survival, by Leo E Rose.

I am also going through some of the correspondences by Jawaharlal Nehru to Nepali leadership in the 1950s and 60s. I am reading up on them to understand Nepal’s political development, the role of India and also how Nepal used its geopolitical importance during that time.

Which book do you want to read next and why?

I am hoping to read Makers of Modern Asia, edited by Ramchandra Guha. I want to understand Asian leadership’s assertion to build their region; I am positive it will be an enriching read.  

How do you select books to read?

I usually pick books after skimming through reviews of people. I also go through the contents of books I find interesting in bookstores.

Name a book that you would or would not recommend, and why?

One book that I would most definitely recommend is Mahatma Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj; it is a pioneer piece of writing of an Eastern philosopher with self-criticism. It is a book that has heavily inspired me. There aren’t any books that I would not recommend but I am not exactly a huge fan of self-praising ‘autobiographies’.

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction? Why?

I prefer both.

What is good writing for you? What would you say makes a good writer?

I like a piece of writing when it is written with maximum objectivity. That is what I believe makes good writing.  

One book that inspired you a lot and why?

An essay titled Annihilation of Caste, by Dr Ambedkar left quite an impression on me when I read it for the first time. The book, Politics of Presence, by Anne Phillips is also another work that has inspired me immensely.

Your advice for general readers?

I urge people to read more books on Nepali literature. An innovation like Nepal: Nation State in the Wilderness, by Prof Lok Raj Baral is a read that will help people understand Nepal in better light. Nepali literature should be promoted.