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Battles of The New Republic
In the past decade, Nepal has undergone arguably one of the boldest political transformations in South Asia. Identity based politics had brought long-marginalized social groups into the mainstream and upended the bulwark of Nepali nationalism- the Hindu Monarchy. Yet, the process of change has repeatedly broken down, and Nepal’s fragile polity, under stress from various forces, has continuously fragmented- the first Constituent Assembly failed to draft a Constitution; the Maoists, who sparked the transformation with an armed insurrection and once represented hope, have been co-opted into the very political culture they once challenged; never-ending political negotiations have chronically paralyzed the governance initiatives needed to address Nepal’s problems; and India, the country’s powerful neighbor, has played an overwhelming role in national politics, choosing to intervene or stay away at crucial junctures.
In exhaustively analyzing all these issues, Prashant Jha covers extensive territory, in the corridors of power in Kathmandu and New Delhi as well as on the ground in Tarai, and forges a narrative that is as comprehensive in its overview as it is detailed in chronicling the minutiae of day to day politics. An unprecedented account of the re-birth of a nation .
Battles of the New Republic celebrates the deepening of democracy, despairs at the death of a dream, and seeks answers to a fundamental political dilemma- who exercises power, to what end, and for whose benefit?
In exhaustively analyzing all these issues, Prashant Jha covers extensive territory, in the corridors of power in Kathmandu and New Delhi as well as on the ground in Tarai, and forges a narrative that is as comprehensive in its overview as it is detailed in chronicling the minutiae of day to day politics. An unprecedented account of the re-birth of a nation .
Battles of the New Republic celebrates the deepening of democracy, despairs at the death of a dream, and seeks answers to a fundamental political dilemma- who exercises power, to what end, and for whose benefit?
358 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 2, 2014
A book that will serve to educate anybody willing to learn about Nepal’s history and its facets through its transitional journey into the Democratic Republic. A powerful and passionate book for Nepal that demands it be read.
Here is an excerpt from its Prologue;
This is a story of the politics of gradual revolution, where former rebels attempt to change the mainstream even as the mainstream co-opts and changes them; of partial sovereignty where domestic political actors have to grapple with the role of a regional power in a complex international environment; of inclusive nationalism where marginalized social groups struggle for dignity and power and challenge long held notions of what constitutes being a citizen ; and of institutionalizing shanty and sambidhan, peace and the Constitution, in a polity governed by a fragile balance of power, with no outright victors or losers.
This is a story of how managing political change is always more difficult than the act of bringing about it. This is a story of war and peace, of the fate of a revolution, of popular aspirations, of weak and strong men and their ambitions and vulnerabilities, of the deepening of democracy, and of the death of a dream. Ultimately, it is a story of a society and a nation grappling with the fundamental political question of who ought to exercise power, to what end, and for whose benefit.
Here is an excerpt from its Prologue;
This is a story of the politics of gradual revolution, where former rebels attempt to change the mainstream even as the mainstream co-opts and changes them; of partial sovereignty where domestic political actors have to grapple with the role of a regional power in a complex international environment; of inclusive nationalism where marginalized social groups struggle for dignity and power and challenge long held notions of what constitutes being a citizen ; and of institutionalizing shanty and sambidhan, peace and the Constitution, in a polity governed by a fragile balance of power, with no outright victors or losers.
This is a story of how managing political change is always more difficult than the act of bringing about it. This is a story of war and peace, of the fate of a revolution, of popular aspirations, of weak and strong men and their ambitions and vulnerabilities, of the deepening of democracy, and of the death of a dream. Ultimately, it is a story of a society and a nation grappling with the fundamental political question of who ought to exercise power, to what end, and for whose benefit.
March 19, 2019
In his first book as a writer Prashant Jha tries to do justice to the diverse Nepali history and does touch upon all major events but fails to communicate effectively the gravity of some of the defining moments of the Nepali revolution. He fails to provide a context, actual happenings and finally allows his own judgements to cloud the final conclusions he puts forth. A history writer's responsibility is that he provides all sets of opinions and let the reader decide for his own conclusions.
All said, its a great place to start if you wanna read about the tumultuous Nepali history.
All said, its a great place to start if you wanna read about the tumultuous Nepali history.
March 16, 2016
A remarkable book on the contemporary political history of Nepal! The transition of Nepal from a Hindu monarchy to Federal Secular Democratic Republic has been told through extensive interactions with royalists, traditional politicians, Maoists, madhesis, Indian MEA & RAW officials and all possible stakeholders. The narrative has been a total page turner with Jha's own comments providing all possible angles throughout the journey. This could definitely be the Nepali equivalent of 'India after Gandhi'
January 8, 2017
Important book that educates us about Madhes discussion in Nepal. The chapters that share stories and the anecdotal accounts of the author provide an explanation to the Madhesi issue and are primarily interesting and important.
March 9, 2015
I would recommend this to anyone seeking to know about contemporary history of Nepal. Documentation is almost objective. Good account of main events.
June 21, 2024
I found it a few years ago while looking for a book on contemporary Nepalese history. The first few chapters were full of praises for the Maoists and their armed revolution, which I felt, was quite imbalanced. I came back, though, to see if there was any criticism. There is some criticism against Prachanda for the mishandling of the Army Chief case, the management of revolutionaries, and his opportunistic nature. However, Baburam Bhattarai gets all the praise. Nothing comes up against him even during the discussion of the dissolution of the First Constituent Assembly (CA I). Jha blames the Nepali Congress but spares Bhattarai, which is odd.
The content of the book is mostly familiar to those who are following Nepalese politics closely. The only thing that interested me was the in-depth story of Madhesi militia and the character sketch of the deceased journalist Uma Singh. The role of India and RAW in different phases of the Nepalese politics could also be interesting, but some discussions felt whitewashed in favour of Indian officials and RAW agents.
The writing is okay. There is not much heavy vocabulary. Some interesting topics are left out, for instance, the silence of the Kantipur Media Group on the dissolution of the CA I, the status of the children of Maoist leaders during and after the revolution, the extravagance of Maoist leaders, and so on. Opinion of the author seems to dominate the discussions. For example, Mr. Jha feels that Gyanendra and Paras were not involved in the Royal Massacre but does not explain why. The lack of objectivity mars the book's authenticity. Speaking of authenticity, there is not much secondary source involved. A few sources are mentioned but without proper citation. The journalistic style, which the author is familiar with, is not sufficient to establish facts. It also begs the question, "How can one person be everywhere and know everything?"
That question reminds me of the author's involvement in the meeting of the Madhesi parties just before the end of the CA I. One leader calls Mr. Jha up to a meeting where no journalist is allowed. He is not a leader. He says he sat as a silent observer. Was nobody bothered by his presence? Why was he there if he was not a leader and not allowed as a journalist? Was he really silent? I find it weird that so many journalists get access to "secret" meetings and conversations and no one seems bothered that the secret will be revealed.
The content of the book is mostly familiar to those who are following Nepalese politics closely. The only thing that interested me was the in-depth story of Madhesi militia and the character sketch of the deceased journalist Uma Singh. The role of India and RAW in different phases of the Nepalese politics could also be interesting, but some discussions felt whitewashed in favour of Indian officials and RAW agents.
The writing is okay. There is not much heavy vocabulary. Some interesting topics are left out, for instance, the silence of the Kantipur Media Group on the dissolution of the CA I, the status of the children of Maoist leaders during and after the revolution, the extravagance of Maoist leaders, and so on. Opinion of the author seems to dominate the discussions. For example, Mr. Jha feels that Gyanendra and Paras were not involved in the Royal Massacre but does not explain why. The lack of objectivity mars the book's authenticity. Speaking of authenticity, there is not much secondary source involved. A few sources are mentioned but without proper citation. The journalistic style, which the author is familiar with, is not sufficient to establish facts. It also begs the question, "How can one person be everywhere and know everything?"
That question reminds me of the author's involvement in the meeting of the Madhesi parties just before the end of the CA I. One leader calls Mr. Jha up to a meeting where no journalist is allowed. He is not a leader. He says he sat as a silent observer. Was nobody bothered by his presence? Why was he there if he was not a leader and not allowed as a journalist? Was he really silent? I find it weird that so many journalists get access to "secret" meetings and conversations and no one seems bothered that the secret will be revealed.
April 21, 2019
A very well-written book on Nepal's recent history, focused on the last decade or so before publication (2014), with additional background reference to post-1950 history (and unfortunately only rare references to more ancient history, but this is not a focus of the book anyways).
Prashant Jha's coverage of this history is full of informative tidbits based on his own journalism and interviews with key figures in current Nepalese politics. The book is thematically structured, covering the history in general chronological fashion, but then going back (at times) and re-covering periods based on new themes. Divided into four books, the first book covers the Maoist insurgency up until the peace process and 2008 elections. The second book covers the politics of the country based on the extensive influence of India. The third book covers the Madhesi mutinies and moves towards federalism based on ethnic and identity politics. The final book covers the disappointing lack of change under Maoist leadership, ending with the failure to draft a constitution.
The book was published a year before Nepal's 2015 constitution (and 2015 earthquake) so unfortunately doesn't cover those events, but it provides a great preface to better understanding more recent events.
I really liked the book for how well it covered Nepal's transitions - from monarchy to republicanism, from a Hindu kingdom to secularism (though this aspect could've been delved into more), from a unitary state to federalism, and from a hill-centered nationalism to a more inclusive sense of identity. In spite of the disappointments and slow moves towards much-needed structural and development reforms, the book ends on a guardedly optimistic note: "Nepal is slowly moving towards creating a state that is more open, more democratic, more inclusive, more egalitarian and more just for its citizens. This is now an irreversible process, irrespective of electoral cycles."
Hopefully the future will continue to prove that true.
Prashant Jha's coverage of this history is full of informative tidbits based on his own journalism and interviews with key figures in current Nepalese politics. The book is thematically structured, covering the history in general chronological fashion, but then going back (at times) and re-covering periods based on new themes. Divided into four books, the first book covers the Maoist insurgency up until the peace process and 2008 elections. The second book covers the politics of the country based on the extensive influence of India. The third book covers the Madhesi mutinies and moves towards federalism based on ethnic and identity politics. The final book covers the disappointing lack of change under Maoist leadership, ending with the failure to draft a constitution.
The book was published a year before Nepal's 2015 constitution (and 2015 earthquake) so unfortunately doesn't cover those events, but it provides a great preface to better understanding more recent events.
I really liked the book for how well it covered Nepal's transitions - from monarchy to republicanism, from a Hindu kingdom to secularism (though this aspect could've been delved into more), from a unitary state to federalism, and from a hill-centered nationalism to a more inclusive sense of identity. In spite of the disappointments and slow moves towards much-needed structural and development reforms, the book ends on a guardedly optimistic note: "Nepal is slowly moving towards creating a state that is more open, more democratic, more inclusive, more egalitarian and more just for its citizens. This is now an irreversible process, irrespective of electoral cycles."
Hopefully the future will continue to prove that true.
February 7, 2020
Prashant Jha's book tells a frustrating story in a remarkable, on-the-ground manner. At first, it took some getting used to that the major political figures were some who Jha got to know personally, but by the time he was invited to sit in the gallery during key eleventh-hour political negotiations, it came as no surprise.
The contemporary history of Nepal is dense and labyrinthine. Some of it feels too esoteric, but the pace and direction from which major changes keep shocking the political system warrants this kind of approach. I find the book frustrating, but probably only a tenth as frustrating as Nepalis must have found the past 25 years of their political history. At myriad points throughout the tale, just when you thought you had an idea of how the conflict would shake out and which parties would come out on top...WHAM, the King makes an authoritarian power grab...BOOM, Madhesis revolt in the lowlands. The rug keeps getting pulled out from under the feet of would-be reformers.
I had to resist the urge to head to Wikipedia to find out the current state-of-play in Nepal. Jha's prose can get difficult to follow for a regional novice, but the overall story is well-told and one worth reading for anyone with an interest in the region.
The biggest drawback is that I do feel that while I have a solid grasp of the political factions and movements within Nepal, I lack an overall picture of the country and its history. In fairness, though, that is not what this book was for.
The contemporary history of Nepal is dense and labyrinthine. Some of it feels too esoteric, but the pace and direction from which major changes keep shocking the political system warrants this kind of approach. I find the book frustrating, but probably only a tenth as frustrating as Nepalis must have found the past 25 years of their political history. At myriad points throughout the tale, just when you thought you had an idea of how the conflict would shake out and which parties would come out on top...WHAM, the King makes an authoritarian power grab...BOOM, Madhesis revolt in the lowlands. The rug keeps getting pulled out from under the feet of would-be reformers.
I had to resist the urge to head to Wikipedia to find out the current state-of-play in Nepal. Jha's prose can get difficult to follow for a regional novice, but the overall story is well-told and one worth reading for anyone with an interest in the region.
The biggest drawback is that I do feel that while I have a solid grasp of the political factions and movements within Nepal, I lack an overall picture of the country and its history. In fairness, though, that is not what this book was for.
February 13, 2024
This is a real page turner. The author masterfully combines a bird's eye view with ground zero details and anecdotes informed by his time in the field. The result is an informative history that is eminently readable, and can serve as a backgrounder on contemporary Nepali politics, as it has for me. I found myself brimming with anticipation, "Okay, what happens next?" at the end of every chapter. Considering the book was published in 2014, a lot has happened "next" in Nepali politics in the ten years since, and this book leaves one hungry for learning more about the past decade.
The author's weaving of the personal and the political lends itself to an understanding of the trajectory of Nepali politics since the 1990s, detailing the various dramatis personae - the monarchy, the established democratic parties, the Maoists, the Madhes & Tharu parties, the Nepali army, and of course, India.
The author's weaving of the personal and the political lends itself to an understanding of the trajectory of Nepali politics since the 1990s, detailing the various dramatis personae - the monarchy, the established democratic parties, the Maoists, the Madhes & Tharu parties, the Nepali army, and of course, India.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2023
Enlightening recap of the recent history of Nepal (especially from the 2000s). Caught me up to speed and gave me a perfect glimpse into the complicated politics of this beautiful country. Most importantly, it increased my appetite to learn more about this culture, its diverse ethnicities (from Newar to pahadis to Madhesi to Tharu to Dalits and many more), and its many political factions. An essential read for me as I embark on my next film project in the Tarai region of Nepal set amidst the Madhesi protests.
December 18, 2017
A well-written account of very complex and confusing politics but this in a heavy-weight read and can be a bit hard to follow at times, especially if you didn't start out knowing some of the key characters already. The frequent use of acronyms also slowed my reading a lot.
I was puzzled why none of the photos had captions - except in the contents list. Seemed v odd to have to leaf back to see who was in what photo.
I was puzzled why none of the photos had captions - except in the contents list. Seemed v odd to have to leaf back to see who was in what photo.
December 9, 2020
This book is superbly written and offers a comprehensive review of Nepal's recent history. Having lived in Nepal, I knew parts of the story already, but I think it would be hard for someone with no idea of recent events to begin with this book. It jumps straight in.
I was struck by the almost complete lack of women that have had an impact on politics in Nepal. Obviously this is not the fault of the author, but I can't help but hope that more women will guide Nepal's future direction.
I was struck by the almost complete lack of women that have had an impact on politics in Nepal. Obviously this is not the fault of the author, but I can't help but hope that more women will guide Nepal's future direction.
August 21, 2019
The author brings you into the world of nepal politics from 1950 till 2014. My first read on Nepal politics and it covered in great detail about the battles to form the federal democratic system of Nepal. I am thankful to the writer for sharing the history of modern Nepal politics. However, it could have been more concise.
September 28, 2018
Brilliantly written book..First time I have read history which is written as Hollywood thriller. This book provides detail narrative of Nepal's contemporary history. .. I salute u Prashant ji for this book
March 23, 2023
Full on Opinionated,' Pro-Madhesi' read. The writing is terrible a well (whats the deal with the photos?).
Though the timeline of the so called "Battles of The New Republic", is really complicated, the writer has certainly tried his best to link the events.
Though the timeline of the so called "Battles of The New Republic", is really complicated, the writer has certainly tried his best to link the events.
March 30, 2023
There's not a lot of books on recent developments in Nepalese politics, but I couldn't quite understand it. It wasn't introductory enough for me, and it's not as if I know absolutely nothing about Nepalese politics.
January 3, 2019
Very detailed, but filled with personal stories that add needed flavor
June 21, 2020
speechless
January 9, 2019
This is a tough book to read but it is nevertheless an important book if you want to understand Contemporary Nepal politics. It starts around 2005-06 when widespread popular protests forced the King gave up his position and efforts to draft a new constitution started (a federal-secular democratic-republic constitution for the first time in the history of Nepal).
It is a comprehensive book that covers the various sections of Nepali society from Janjatis (tribes), Maoists and Madhesis (People from South Nepal plains) and how the dynamics of the demography shaped the process. This is also why the book is difficult to read: the number of different political players and their narrative threads bloat as the book goes on. The author, unwaveringly pursues them, following the main players across the Nepali political spectrum. There were parts where I skimmed through when overwhelmed with detail. But looking back, the chronicles will make interesting reference material - if not compelling reading material.
All said, still a great chronicle of the last decade in Nepal's political history.
It is a comprehensive book that covers the various sections of Nepali society from Janjatis (tribes), Maoists and Madhesis (People from South Nepal plains) and how the dynamics of the demography shaped the process. This is also why the book is difficult to read: the number of different political players and their narrative threads bloat as the book goes on. The author, unwaveringly pursues them, following the main players across the Nepali political spectrum. There were parts where I skimmed through when overwhelmed with detail. But looking back, the chronicles will make interesting reference material - if not compelling reading material.
All said, still a great chronicle of the last decade in Nepal's political history.
January 26, 2017
As an expat currently living in Nepal I have pickrd this book hoping that it would allow me to understand recent history of the country. Unfortunately this isn't the right book. The book reads like a report on meetings and backstage negotiations between various political parties, it provides lots of detailed information, but doesn't put them into context.
It the future though it might become a valued resource for an academic study.
It the future though it might become a valued resource for an academic study.
September 10, 2021
Having read The Nepal Nexus, the book's first half was like a summary of the events explained in more detail in the former. However, the book's second half delved deeper into the Madhes movement and how they became a swing force in the CA election. Also, a good portion of the book is based on his personal conversations with the actors. It’s a decent read if you want to learn about the unravelling of events in Nepali politics until early 2014. Nepal has come a long way since.
September 20, 2016
Excellent account of Nepal's "quite" recent political history - however very, very, very detailed which makes it a slow and sometimes exhausting read. However, very well documented and exhaustive, useful for anyone who seeks to better understand Nepal from a political point of view.
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