Shaguni Singh Sakya, the executive director of Kathmandu Guest House by KGH Hotels, grew up in an environment where reading was highly encouraged. She believes reading has allowed her to understand herself and the world better. In this interview with the Post, Sakya shares the genres she enjoys reading, how reading has helped her, and her favourite books.

Excerpts:

What kind of reader are you? Do you prefer to read in one go or like to take your time finishing a book?

It all depends on what I am reading. Most fiction can be read in one go if you have the time to do so. But I don’t have the time nowadays, so even the most gripping novels take a few days.

Did you grow up in an environment that encouraged reading?

Yes, we are a family of bookworms, and our discussions always revolve around books of history, art, philosophy, and politics. Our favourite thing to do whenever we meet is to read and discuss books.

Could you name one interesting thing you learned from a book you recently read?

These days, I read a lot about Nepali art. I’m learning about the development of various art genres and styles in Nepal. One interesting thing I learned recently is that in a land of mountains and such beautiful landscapes, we started painting them only in the 19th century, after the Sugauli Treaty in 1816. The first British ambassador to Nepal was also an artist, and he taught landscape painting to Nepalis. Before that, we only painted Gods and Goddesses.

Do you think your reading habit has helped you in your professional career?

Reading helps us sharpen our analytical skills. It also calms the brain. Easy access to information nowadays has made us very restless, and reading helps to understand a subject in depth and enables us to think about issues more rationally. All the knowledge you acquire through reading somehow always ends up helping you.

Which genres do you enjoy reading the most? And which do you avoid?

I love reading anything that touches upon the history of a subject—historical fiction novels, art history, history of the world, the historical development of science, philosophy, politics, and fashion. Basically, I enjoy reading anything that has to do with history.

I avoid reading self-help books. I feel those who are unsure about themselves and constantly need external guidance read such books.

Could you name a few books that left a lasting impression on you?

‘Raj’ by Gita Mehta

‘The Great Gatsby’ by F Scott Fitzerald

‘Taj’ by Colin de Silva

‘Ram Chandra Series’ by Amish Tripathi

‘Shiva Trilogy’ by Amish Tripathi

Do you have a favourite book by a Nepali author?

I have read all of Samrat Upadhyaya’s novels and those written by Manjushree Thapa. I love Greta Rana’s ‘The White Tiger’ (English translation of Seto Bagh). I recently read ‘All Road leads North’ by Amish Mulmi and ‘Between Queens and the Cities’ by Niranjan Kunwar.

I find books by Nepali English authors absolutely gripping as you can better relate to the local subject and sense what the author is feeling.

Could you name one book that you never tire of recommending and why?

The first has to be Amish Tripathi’s Ram Chandra series—Ram, Sita and Ravan. These three are the most interesting characters of all time. There’s so much we can learn from how the author has interpreted the story and the characters.