The past three decades have been momentous in the life of Nepal. From the attenuated democracy of the 90s, still under the shadow of the palace, Nepal has emerged as a republic and sought to give itself a long-denied constitution. The people have gone through untold sufferings during the ten years of Maoist insurgency and have lived through the trauma of the palace massacre by a demented prince. A determined effort by a monarch to reverse the wheels of history has been thwarted, literally, by the people’s will in jana andolan II. In an unique achievement, armed insurgents have been persuaded to join democratic politics.
Indo-Nepal relations have usually featured prominently in the political discourse in Nepal, not always resonating positively despite the many ties that exist between the two countries. Propinquity may have bred complacence. As Nepal emerges into a new awakening and sense of identity, it may be necessary for both countries to assess if a new shape can be given to bilateral relations, moving away from the past individual-centric approach. This issue has been sought to be addressed.
Perspectives on Nepal seeks to recount the history of Nepal as it has unfolded since the 1990s, and the challenges that remain before the polity. |
