KATHMANDU, July 29: Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, Glenn White, released a book entitled - 'Social Transformation in Post-conflict Nepal: A Gender Perspective,' at Yala Maya Kendra on Thursday.
Releasing the book, Ambassador White said, “This book is a unique contribution challenging current understanding and presents a new theory of study in social transformation. The Australian Government has recognized education develops skills and knowledge, and has the power to influence the positive change such illustrated by Dr Yadav.”
Book on Nepal’s social transformation
According to a press release of the Embassy of Australia, Ambassador White also emphasized that the book is a clear evidence of the effectiveness of the Australia Awards.
Dr Punam Yadav received the highly prestigious Australian Leadership Award to pursue her Ph D at University of Sydney in 2010.
The author argues that conflict does not only have negative impacts on people but can also create an empowering space, especially for women and marginalized people. She observes that the notion of social transformation is a masculine construct and its existing acceptance in Nepal does not reflect women’s lived experiences.
Dr Yadav highlights the understanding of social transformation through women’s lived experience as that understanding would be different from the perception so far.
The author further asserts that social transformation is not an end goal but a continuous process.
Dr Pitamber Sharma, former Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission and a professor at the Tribhuvan University and Dr Bandita Sijapati, Research Director at the Center for the Study of Labor and Mobility (CESLAM) at the Social Science Baha commented on the book at the launch.
Australia Awards are prestigious international Scholarships and Fellowships funded by the Australian Government. They offer the next generation of global leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia. RSS
