[Assam] Prachanda's first-ever biography written by journo from Assam

[utpal borpujari]

 NEPAL'S 'FIERCE ONE' SET FOR A CHARMING DEBUT 
  
By Utpal Borpujari 
 To the world, he is the "fierce one" or Prachanda, but for Anirban Roy, Nepalese premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal is charm personified. 
Roy can take liberties to describe the Maoist supremo-turned-Nepal PM as "charming", after having interacted with him closely while writing "Prachanda: The Unknown Revolutionary", the first-ever biography of the man who was underground for 25 years and waged a violent battle against the state leading to abolition of monarchy in Nepal.
The biography will soon be released by Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, and Kathmandu-based journalist Roy is sure it will attract a lot of interest because of its subject who has just become the Nepal PM.
 "It is the first book on Prachanda. People don't know anything about him and this book will unwrap many unknown chapters of his life," says Assam-born

 Roy from the Nepalese capital. Being published by Mandala Book Point, the largest publishing house in Nepal, it is already being translated to Nepali and there are plans to get it translated into Hindi and Bengali too.
The book is replete with anecdotes from Prachanda's life, and has some rare photographs of the Leftist leader, including those of him and his wife holidaying in places like Goa, Mumbai and Shimla. Politically too, the book might be interesting as it seeks to probe his ideas and ideology. For example, Roy says, "He feels that Nepal can never survive without India. But, he always talks about maintaining equidistance with Beijing and New Delhi."



"Many think that the Maoists are anti-Indian, but as an Indian, whenever I talked to Prachanda and other Maoists, I found them to be extremely cooperative…Prachanda himself was happy to know that I was writing a book on him, and even told me once, 'What can I tell you about myself, you know everything about me'," Roy reminisces. 
Roy did a lot of research for the book and admits it was a difficult task because Prachanda's underground years are shrouded in mystery. He spoke to nearly 200 people, including the Maoist's family members and comrades as well as mainstream politicians. 

"Prachanda and his family members have gone through the final manuscript and have certified it to be correct," says Roy. "I find him to be a charming person," he adds.
(Published In Sakaal Times, 8th Sept, 2008, www.sakaaltimes.com)