KATHMANDU: A novel “Wake Up Ali…Wake Up Now” by Sumit Sharma Sameer was launched in Kathmandu on Friday.

The book that focuses on migration has a deep philosophical meaning that enthralls readers with its beautiful prose and narrative.

“I wanted to communicate the stories of our time, the stories that I feel are important and need to be told,” said author Sameer.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the stories of so many Alis have to be spelt out.

“Migration has been a permanent feature since the advent of human civilization. It got more accelerated during our age,” he stated.

“That acceleration brought varied opportunities to mankind but yet dismantled the very fabrics of our lives. I had always wanted to write something on this very constructive and destructive process connecting South Asia into one thread that could help produce many other stories,” he said.

Celebrated Nepali author, Buddhisagar said, “Ali’s (protagonist) internal journey, self-exploration and realization are three highlights of books which are evenly mixed in a whole story.”

He also said that the book is not merely about migration, but rather has a deep philosophical meaning.

The book can be finished in one seating and overall I really liked the book, he added.

Saguna Shah, author & founder of bOOkahOlics, said that the novel explores the human psychic by exploring the constraints of relationships and desires.”

“The content is far and beyond the concerns of migrant workers their status quo and their struggle in a foreign land, but also an internal journey of a protagonist. The book is about an awakening of the protagonist,” Shah said.

Author & columnist, Atul K Thakur, said, “Nepal’s publishing industry is blossoming and Sumit’s novel reassures it. It is a pure piece of literary fiction with beautiful prose and narrative, which should further make Nepal’s spot brighter in the publishing ecosystem.”

Thakur said that writers and publishers in India and Nepal should further enhance cooperation and work in unison, this will be another important pillar of bilateral relations.

“Sumit will be in great demand among the publishers,” he said.

Felicity Volk, Australian Ambassador to Nepal, who is also a celebrated author, said, “This is a migrant story from South Asia. The number of Nepali people migrating to south Asia has doubled in the last five years and I’m struck by how well the writer has depicted the migrant story.”

But, this is also a universal story, the story of each one of us. Each one of us is a traveler in our own struggle, she added.

Likewise, General Secretary of Nepali Congress and lawmaker, Gagan Thapa, remembering his long-time association with the writer, said, “I have known the author for last 25 years and knew that he can write non-fiction, but he took me by surprise by writing fiction.”

He added that this is a sociological fiction, about social structure, human relationships, and individual relationships with society.

The book was earlier published in Nepali under the title ‘Prawas’ two years ago and has been translated by Sushrut Acharya into English. The English version, ‘Wake Up Ali…Wake Up Now’ has been published in 2022 by Delhi-based Vitasta Publishing.