Writers and critics have commented that the 'Naya Yugko Padachap', an anthology of speeches by 'Prachanda', was meaningful and true to its name.
The 61 speeches delivered by CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' during his two stints as the Prime Minister are included in the anthology published by Pragya Smriti Pratisthan.
Loosely translated as 'Footsteps of New Era' in English, the anthology encompasses contents that were true to its title, voiced the writers and critics univocally at a discussion organized here on Wednesday by Nahasanskritik Federation Nepal and Pragya Memorial Foundation.
Federation chairperson Matrika Pokharel said that the articles and contents included in the book had made it clear that many realities, issues and matters during Prachanda's leadership could not reach the public domain realistically at the time when false and misleading matters were cooked up and spread out.
Commenting on the book, critic Tej Bilash Adhikari asserted that the articles and contents of the book had clearly established Prachanda as the person who would take forward the achievements.
The collection of Prachanda's speeches shed lights on the inter-conflict and achievements of 10-year-long insurgency, federalism, secularism, republicanism and inclusiveness, the agendas strongly advocated and pushed forward by the Maoist party, shared Adhikari.
According to him, the book has 15 speeches that Prachanda had delivered during this first tenure as the PM and 46 as the second.
The speeches also highlight the efforts of erstwhile Maoist- led two governments to abolish Haliya system, establishment of Madhyapaschim University, establishment of agriculture support centers in all seven provinces and development of agriculture and increase in revenue among others.
Some of the achievements during Maoist leaderships were presented in the bullet points in the book, informed Adhikari. Another critic Prof Dr Dhana Prasad Subedi added that the book illustrates matters of public concerns such as people's war, peace process, and complexities seen during of constitution among others.
He viewed that Prachanda's speeches in the initial phase as the Prime Minister were laden with aggression. Some speeches later tend to impart the message that foreign and domestic forces had tried to push for stagnation while taking strides in favour of the country.
The book also presents Maoist's views on education, health, women, ingenious communities, backward classes among others through Prachanda. "The book has come out as a blend of history, socialism and literature," he opined, adding the book was a reflection of political movements since the people's war.
Going through the book, Subedi said that it came to fore that the Maoist party had raised at least 40 per cent of women in all State organs and within the party while today there is 33 per cent women's participation.
Press Centre Nepal's president Bishnu Prasad Sapkota 'Jugal' recalled that he was working in Prachanda's secretariat while publishing the book.
According to him, the book was a humble effort to document the speeches of Prachanda that would chronicle the big changes and achievements.
He also shared the ordeals faced in parliament and governmental agencies while collecting the speeches and revealed that many of the speeches delivered by Prachanda were neither well documented nor protected.
According to him, Prachanda himself had assisted the book publishing team in collection many of his speeches.
Source: National News Agency Nepal
