The battles of the new republic. A contemporary history of Nepal

A Personal Attempt To Explore The Underlying Processes That Are At The Heart Of Nepal's Transition From Monarchy To Republicanism, From Hindu Kingdom To Secularism, From A Narrow Hill-centric Notion Of Nationalism To An Inclusive Sense Of Citizenship. Politics Of Gradual Revolution -- Politics Of Partial Sovereignty -- Politics Of Inclusive Nationalism -- Politics Of Shanti-sambidhan. Prashant Jha. Includes Index. The Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal' is a story of Nepal's transformation from war to peace, monarchy to republic, a Hindu kingdom to a secular state, and a unitary to a potentially federal state. Part-reportage, part-history, part-analysis, part-memoir, and part-biography of the key characters, the book breaks new ground in political writing from the region. With access to the most powerful leaders in the country as well as diplomats, it gives an unprecedented glimpse into Kathmandu's high politics. But this is coupled with ground-level reportage on the lives of ordinary citizens of the hills and the plains, striving for a democratic, just and equitable society. It tracks the hard grind of political negotiations at the heart of the instability in Nepal. It traces the rise of a popular rebellion, its integration into the mainstream, and its steady decline. It investigates Nepal's status as a partly-sovereign country, and reveals India's overwhelming role. It examines the angst of having to prove one's loyalties to one's own country, and exposes the Hindu hill upper-caste dominated power structures.0'The Battles of the New Republic' is a story of the deepening of democracy, of the death of a dream, and of that fundamental political dilemma - who exercises power, to what end, and for whose benefit "'Battles of The New Republic' tells the story of Nepal's transformation from war to peace, monarchy to republic, a Hindu kingdom to a secular state, and a unitary to a potentially federal state. Simultaneously historical analysis, reportage and memoire, this book breaks new ground in political writing from the region. Drawing on interviews with the most powerful leaders in the country, as well as diplomats, it gives an unprecedented glimpse into Kathmandu's high politics, coupled with on-the-ground reporting of the lives of ordinary citizens of the hills and the plains, striving for a democratic, just and equitable society." Politics of gradual revolution. Walking into the sunset Waging war and peace -- Politics of partial sovereignty. From Rolpa to Kathmandu, via Delhi Notes from the extremes In the power corridors -- Politics of inclusive nationalism. Being Nepali The Madhesi mutinies A year in the plains Dhotis in Singha Durbar -- Politics of Shanti-Sambidhan. 'Did we wage a war for this?' Death of a dream.