Nepal opens new chapter in publishing

A couple of years ago in Kathmandu, a pioneering publisher organised a grand outdoor event to launch the Nepali translation of John Wood's book, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. It was first time I – and many others – had seen such an event in Nepal and it was packed with book lovers, eminent personalities and the media.

The book's author was a Microsoft executive until he went on a trekking holiday in the Himalayas and developed a mission to educate underprivileged children around the world.

The launch event took a surprise turn when Pashupathi Neupane from Lamjung, who was instrumental in changing the direction of Wood's life, appeared on the stage. Wood, who had not been expecting him, was overwhelmed and jumped to embrace him. The moistened eyes of Wood and Neupane moved the audience, and the media's cameras captured that emotional moment.

Since then, more than 20,000 copies of the book have been sold and the publisher, Fine Print, has donated 1m rupees (£14,000) to build a school in Chitwan district where Maoists blasted a passenger bus with a landmine during the insurgency.

Full report here Independent