NISHCAM presents "Kailasa- a journey within" a book by Shamim Akhtar

NISHCAM presents Nishcam Publication is pleased to announce its latest book, "Kailasa- a journey within", by Shamim Akhtar.
Divinity has strange ways of expressing itself. It defines its own path and finds its own medium. Shamim Akhtar, an avid biker and a passionate photographer has always been in love with the Himalayas. He preferred to call his solo biking escapades as "pilgrimages". The more he rode along the mountain ranges of north-eastern India, Nepal, and lastly Ladakh, the more his thirst grew; till his trip to Kailasa literally transformed into a pilgrimage. One visit to this place is not enough, he realized in his first visit in 2009. He revisited the holy mount in 2010 to confirm his tryst with divinity.
Divine indeed was his experience and the photographer within him gorged on this paradise.
The budding author penned down his experiences, thoughts and the feelings invoked by the place and the journey. The narration goes a little beyond this-wordly affairs while describing a very worldly n physically tough journey till a point where, "the bodily and the astral become one".
This INR 2700, 140-page coffee-table edition book is the fourth book by the author wherein again the text and the pictures compliment each other. The book aptly dedicated to the elements finds the author groping for the purpose of human life and finally locking on two of them- world peace, unity and preservation of mother earth.
Shamim works as a civil service officer in the Government of Delhi. He studied Sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has numerous bylines to his name along with three other best selling coffee-table books on Lakshadweep, Ladakh and Dilli. His work has been showcased at various galleries across the city.
The book will be released by Guruji Katsu Horiuchi and Prof. Anand Kumar (JNU) at the Shanti Stupa, New Delhi, on the 30th of January, 2011 at 7.00 pm. The death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, just the right day to unveil a book which instigates feelings of unity and peace in mankind and preservation of nature! All proceeds of the book sold on that day, at a discounted rate of INR 1500, will go to the Fujii Guruji Shanti Stupa Trust.
Nishcam Publication started in 2007 with the desire to specialize in coffee-table books that glorify the intrinsic aspects of India. The first book published was "Floating Pearls in the Arabian Sea- Lakshadweep" (2007), followed by a solo rider's travelogue "Rode to Heaven- Ladakh"(2009).
"Forgotten Dilli: portrait of an immortal city" (2010) was the third in line.
For more information or images request please contact
www.nishcam.com
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The unveiling of the book will be followed by the screening of the film, "Kailasa-the seventh heaven." The film conceived, written, shot  and directed by Shamim Akhtar contains a detailed account of the Kailasa Yatra. It envisages the journey to the holy mount via the Nepal route. Based on a timeline the 38 minute film is an attempt to make the viewer experience the Yatra.
Starting from Kathmandu the film covers all the important aspects to be kept in mind while undertaking the Yatra; it mentions the primary stop-over places en-route and brings to life the several natural attributes of the divine land, Tibet. It is indeed divine to watch mount Kailasa come alive on screen, as if rising from the glistening holy lake Manasarover.
The film provides a vivid description of the spiritual significance of the place; but the portion which takes the cake away is not just the clear visibility of the several faces of the mount but the detailed circumbulation or parikarma of it. It covers the entire 44 km circumbulation done in three days showing the revered Gauri Kund and Dolma la and the two stop over hamlets of Derapuk and Zuzulpuk.
The purist Indian classical music succeeds in stirring the right emotions. Dubbed in both Hindi and English the aim is to cater to a wide spectrum of viewers. It thus aims for a global audience while bringing to light the unifying factor across the borders of India, Nepal and China.
This is the debut film of Shamim Akhtar under the banner of Nishcam.