Book Review:

Contemporary Society

The book discusses different aspects of contemporary Nepalese society

What developments the contemporary Nepalese society has witnessed and experienced over the years? If anybody wants to know the answer to this question, reading a new book, which is the product of joint efforts of various authors, could be informative.

From definition of democracy to introduction of social system and civic education to general elections and decentralization, the book briefly explains all the development dimensions.

Written as a part of the course study for the higher secondary education, the book contains articles on many issues explaining various phases of development.

Contributed by journalists, sociologists, political scientists and economists, the subject matter of the book is varied and deep. The book also highlights the different parliamentary elections held in Nepal. Political parties, civic society and role of NGOs and their contribution to society are other informative parts of the book.

The concept of sustainable development and environment and the process how priority has changed are other important aspects of the book.

Although the book is written keeping the higher secondary schools' students in mind, it can be useful for the people of different walks of life.

Divided into 12 chapters, it deals with historic as well as contemporary development of Nepalese society limiting the idea just to the level of higher secondary school. Different paradigms of political, social and human rights are also well explained.

Journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikary, scholars Dr. Krishna Bahadur Bhattachan, Shiva Raj Dahal, Ananda Prasad Shrestha, Yesokanit Bhattachan, Dr. Devi Prasad Gautam and Dev Raj Dahal have contributed their articles in the book.

SPOTLIGHT The National Newsmagazine, Vol. 20, No. 04, July 21 - July 27 , 2000.