The English translation of ‘Maile Dekheko Durbar’, a bestselling book by Vivek Kumar Shah, former military secretary to the late king Birendra Shah, has hit the bookstores. ‘Maile Dekheko Durbar’ had created ripples in Nepal’s political circle when it was published in 2010. The English version is entitled ‘Witnessing Palace, Power and Politics’.
The book takes its readers deep into the intrigues of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace and provides an inside view into the momentous events of our times: the Royal Palace Massacre, king Gyanendra’s wresting of executive powers, the Maoist armed rebellion, its genesis and the forces backing it, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the mainstream political parties and the Maoists, the end of monarchy and the advent of republicanism in Nepal.
Written with valor and at great personal risk, the book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand Nepal’s contemporary history.
At the launch of ‘Witnessing Palace, Power and Politics’ this week in Kathmandu, author Shah said that many friends had requested him to translate ‘Maile Dekheko Durbar’ as soon as it was out. “Now that the translation has come out,” he says, “many people who didn’t have access to Nepali can enjoy the book.”
“The book is a living history,” he adds.
The book is published by FinePrint in hardcover and is priced at Rs 1,012.
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