Nepalaya publishes ‘Kulchandra Gautam: Aatmakatha’ 

KATHMANDU: Nepalaya Publication has published 'Kulchandra Gautam: Aatmakatha' — the autobiography of an ordinary Nepali citizen who had a successful career in the United Nations service. The book presents the experiences and struggles of a man who was born in a remote area of Gulmi district. Gautam worked as Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and became Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF. In the book, his experiences have been presented an interesting way. The book accounts how the then government during the Rana regime refused to issue him a passport when he received a scholarship at an American university after passing SLC. Gautam recalls the time he started working for UNICEF. He was assigned responsibility in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia when Khmer Rouge rebels were constantly attacking and bombing the city from across Mekong River. After the capital was seized by the rebels, many foreigners left the country for safety and Gautam was also one of them. Gautam, however, continued working in crisis-stricken countries one after the other. From the 70s to the beginning of the 21st century, as a representative of the United Nations body, Gautam took initiative to solve the problems related to the rights of women and children in different countries. Gautam has also shared his personal interaction and experiences with heroes of the past century like Nelson Mandela. Gautam has been awarded an honorary scholarship by the American institution Dartmouth where he studied. He was the one to take initiative to establish an Association of International Students. He was also elected the association's first president. Gautam, who graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in "International Relations", received a master's degree in "Economic Development and Modernisation" from Princeton University. After that, he started his business life by working for UNICEF. After retiring from the service of the UN in 2008, he has been involved in other international organisations. He was engaged in Nepal's peace process as a civil campaigner. He was a special adviser to the prime minister on Nepal's peace process and international affairs for two years. Dartmouth College bestowed 'Martin Luther King Jr Social Justice Award' and the 'Lester B. Granger Award for Lifetime Achievement' upon Gautam in 2009. Six years later, Gautam was invited by Dartmouth as a special speaker to address students at a convocation ceremony. Gautam expressed his happiness that his biography has been published for Nepali readers. "I believe that the opportunities I have had, the challenges I have faced and the steps I have taken will be useful for future generations of Nepal," he shared. "The present work is the continuity of the series of biographical books that we have been publishing in the past," said  Saijan Maskey, Chief Executive of Nepalaya Publication. This exciting biography of Gautam has become an exemplary document, according to Maskey. The book has been published in cooperation with author Girish Giri. Previously, the biography of Gautam was published in English. The price of the 472-page book has been set at Rs 750 in the market and will be available in all major bookstores in the country. A copy of the e-book can also be purchased from thuprai.com. This book will be available worldwide through Amazon. READ ALSO:

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