Kathmandu :

Wars have always been waged in the name of the people. But it’s the people who’ve had to bear the brunt of the perils that comes along with it. Many stories have been written about the ravages of war, but never before was it as poignant and candid as those compiled in the book A People War — Images of Nepal Conflict 1996-2006. The book honestly captures the irrevocable damages of the insurgency in Nepal that ravaged Nepal for the last 10 years.

At a sneak preview of A People War at Yalamaya Kendra on September 12, Kunda Dixit who envisioned the project said, “The book’s been written in three languages — English, Nepali and the language of the pictures themselves.”

Dixit added that though all the photographs were not technically great, they stand as the dramatic metaphors for the present state of the country.

“It is not a challenge to take pictures of corpses, however, the real test is to take pictures that grab the decisive moment, deliver the message sharply and without ambiguity, while at the same time being tasteful and subtle.”

Out of 2,561 photographs submitted by 113 photographers, an international jury, comprising noted international photographers and journalism educators like Shahidul Alam, Shayam Tekwani and Dixit himself, after a gruelling process has selected 180 images for the book.

The cover image, design and a certain select pictures were revealed to a select

audience at the preview.

A People War is published by Nepa~laya is expected to be in the market in another two months.