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Different Perspectives
Edited by Michael Hutt, a renowned British scholar and Nepal experts, the book explains Nepal’s insurgency in its own perspective
By KESHAB POUDEL
As usual, there are some regular approach and perceptions on Nepal’s Maoist insurgency. Whether Nepali scholars or foreigners, they often try to confine their studies on limited sectors.
There has been a continued domination of view and opinions by a certain section of Nepalese scholars who frequently write them in the newspapers. Thanks to the efforts of Hutt, Nepalese and foreign scholars of different opinions, are also given opportunity to express the often-left-out perspective on Nepal’s insurgency.
“This book is intended to provide some of that contextual detail, without which one is not really able to explain why the people of Nepal had to experience their beautiful country being torn apart by civil war,” writes Hutt in his introduction. "This volume varies greatly in terms of their theme, approaches, methodologies and styles.”
Nepalese readers have already read number of opinions expressed by political scientists like Krishna Hachhethu and scholars like Deepak Thapa, Pratyoush Onta, Sudhir Sharma, Mandira Sharma, Dinesh Prasain and Hari Roka. Some foreign scholars contributing in the book are also well known for their view.
From sociologists to political analysts, all scholars explain their views and opinion analyzing local phenomenon and perspectives. Interestingly, another Nepalese scholar Saubhagya Shah discuses a new perspective – which are largely ignored by national and international scholars - on the insurgency.
“In linking the Maoist movement to the wider regional context, the unit of analysis must always extend beyond the national borders – especially those of a nation characterized as a periphery of a periphery (Cameron 1994). What happens across the porous boundary often has more influence on events than what goes on inside,” writes Shah in his article A Himalayan Red Herring? Maoist Revolution in the shadow of the Legacy Raj.
Quoting various materials from Indian newspapers and Nepalese newspapers as well as Nepalese and Indian political leaders like B.P. Koirala and Jawahar Lal Nehru, Shah writes, "Given the disposition of the Legacy Raj and the oppositional imperatives in Nepali politics outlined in this chapter, the contours as well as the final outcome of the present war will depend largely on the manner in which the opaque relationship between the Delhi Durbar and the Nepali Maoists (evolve) in the months ahead. If Maoists are denied Indian support and Western governments continue to back the Nepal government in the present conflict, the Maoist will find it hard to repeat their spectacular success.”
At a time many books are published over the year analyzing various issues related to the Maoist movement, this book consists of views expressed by sociologists and anthropologists and other well-known scholars having a long experiences in Nepal. There are some articles analyzing various evolutionary processes of the Maoist movement and its implications in Nepal. The articles written in the book will help to widen the ideas on Nepal’s historical, cultural and other perspectives.
Himalayan People’s War
Nepal’s Maoist Rebellion
Editor: Michael Hutt
Published by: Hurst and Company, London
Distributed in South Asia by: Foundation Books Pvt. Ltd,
Cambridge House, New Delhi
Price: IRs 650.00
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