Children of the Eighties: Stories to make you laugh, reminisce, and reflect by Deepti KC

An evocative and convincing portrait of life in the eighties in Kathmandu from a child’s perspective.

This book is written from a child’s perspective, who grew up in a typical middle-class Hindu household in Kathmandu, Nepal. With Kathmandu as a backdrop, the book has fifteen chapters, each chapter showcasing the essence of different aspects of a middle-class lifestyle in the eighties.

Playing in the street with cousins, imitating Amitabh Bachchan, dancing to Michael Jackson’s songs, and dealing with the constant pressure to be the topper of the class – that sums up our childhood. And that’s what I have attempted to narrate in this book.

The stories would resonate with anyone who grew up in the eighties and early nineties in a typical middle-class South Asian family that was torn between tradition and modernity. Nonetheless, those readers, who did not grow up in Kathmandu in the 80s, might not relate to some of the stories. For example, our life during the absolute rule of the Shah King, our first movement for democracy, or our father’s stories about the hippies in Nepal. However, these stories are equally exciting and fascinating; and give readers a glimpse of what life was in a small Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.

I believe every generation leaves something to the world. We are that generation that still carries the middle-class upbringing and values inherited from our parents. At the same time, we understand that the world is continuously changing, and so, we adapt to the changes quickly. I do not know how the next generation will interpret us and what they will write about us. What I know is, as we are coping with life’s stresses and strains, it is essential to pause for a second, recall, and create our own stories. And we must pass them on to the next generation, so they understand what it is to be the ‘Children of the Eighties.’

• Publisher: ‎ Independently published
• Publication Date: 2020
• Genre: History
• Reading Age: 10-18 years
• Language: English
• Dimensions: 5.25 x 0.49 x 8 inches
• Pages: 194 pages
• ISBN13: 979-8623847669