Maoist Movement
Many books have already been published on Maoist movement in Nepal. Pyakurel discusses it from sociological perspective
By KESHAB POUDEL
From academicians to journalists and from civil society members to communist ideologue, every one has his/her own perspective on the Maoist movement of Nepal. Uddhab Pyakurel, who has completed M. Phil from the Department of Sociology, University of Delhi and is working towards Ph.D. degree, has analyzed the movement from sociological perspective.
Maoist Movement In Nepal
A Sociological Perspective
By: Uddhab P. Pyakurel
Published by: Adroit Publishers
Ansari Road, Dayaganj, New Delhi
Price: Rs. 450 |
Having been associated with the Nepal Center for Contemporary Studies (NCCS) and worked for a number of research projects, Pyakurel is a member of new breed of sociologists in Nepal.
In his book, Pyakurel discusses all the background events of the movement from its inception in 1996 till signing the comprehensive peace agreement with the government. Unlike many other books on Maoists, Pyakurel’s book is full of authentic documents, incidents. From the history of communist movement in Nepal leading up to the present time, the book covers entire history of democratization and modernization of Nepal.
“This work has its own limitations and weaknesses. However, I have decided to get it published in hurry because of the speedy conversion of the Maoist Movement from People’s War to the mainstream peaceful competitive politics,” writes Pyakurel in his acknowledgements.
One of the important parts of this book is that it analyzes the process of radicalization of Nepalese politics. Pykaurel tries to explain almost all important phase of Nepalese communist movement. From Naxal movement of early 1970s to present one, he tries to see the social, political and economic scenarios. From theoretical to the political context of Nepal, author Pyakurel has done a remarkable job to show the Maoist movement.
“In the context of Nepal’s Maoists movement, one can conduct researches on various dimensions such as the role of ideology, (Marxist-Leninist and Maoist), the history of the Maoist movement, the leadership of the Maoist Party, the comparisons of the authoritarian and democratic systems of government and their role in nurturing and furthering the movement etc,” writes Pyakurel.
From analyzing historical socio-economic situation and state discrimination, Pyakurel also examines cases of post 1990 multi-party democracy. He focuses his study mostly on state-sponsored discriminatory social practices in the Nepali society on the basis of religion, caste, ethnicity, gender and language which directly and indirectly helped in boosting the eleven year long Maoist movement.
Full of documents including the agreements ranging from twelve points agreement to six point agreement sent to United Nations, the book is first of its kinds which details out all the events.
Sandwiched between two Asian giants India and China, this is not the first kind of insurgency in Nepal. Of course, it lasted for more than a decade and destroyed Nepal’s valuable properties and lives. In the last five decades, Nepal has seen violent insurgencies one after another. Even after signing the peace agreement with Maoists, the new phase of insurgency has already begun in southern plains as two break away factions of Maoists party have already created panic.
The author has made all efforts to describe Nepal’s course following the political change of 1950 till now with different phases of political development and concludes that the socio-economic disparity and social discrimination is primarily responsible to evolve the Maoist insurgency in Nepal.
With the diverse ethnic and linguistic groups and geographical diversity, Nepal has unique position in south Asia. Along with its diversity, the geo-strategic location is also another important contributing factor for its instability.
Scholar Pyakurel has concentrated more on the ethnic and linguistic discrimination when analyzing the movement. At a time when the Maoists have already joined the government, Pyakurel’s book will be interesting to read.
From scholars to the students, this book will give all different aspects of the Maoists movement in Nepal. As a book analyzes on the sociological perspective, it is a first of its kind which discusses all ethnic, linguistic and religious phenomenon that contributed to exacerbate the conflict.
Nature Narrative
Although it is a novel, Anil Adhikary’s book gives a glimpse of Nepalese rural life
By A CORRESPONDENT
Nepal is known for its beautiful mountains and varied ethnic groups. The simplicity of Nepalese rural population is well known. Even at the time of intensification of insurgency, one can see this reality in rural areas.
Nature Narrative
Prakriti (Novel)
Author: Anil Adhikary
Published by: Sarvesh Publication
Price: Rs. 250
Pages: 312 |
A journalist-turned-litterateur, Anil Adhikary has described what he has seen in the rural life in his novel called Prakriti (which translated as Nature).
Starting from a story of a foreign volunteer working in rural parts of Nepal and his love for Nepali women, the book gives accounts of social structures, human relations and hospitality of rural life of Nepal.
From describing, the simplicity of Nepalese rural population and their sense of belonging to their native lands, writer Adhikary has put down his own imagination in good harmony with words.
His description of the rural settings, difficulties of subsistence-based economy and all other aspects highlight the intricacies of daily life in rural areas.
