Chave read the manuscript by Dr. Meena Ojha, T I Associate Professor of Tribhuvan, University, entitled, "A People's History of Nepal" with much interest and curiosity. This study is neatly divided into ten chapters opening with the Democratic Movement of 1950 and concluding with the People's Movement of 2006 including the elections to the Constituent Assembly of April 2008. This study is, thus, a comprehensive account of recent Nepali history covering a span of almost sixty years.
One cannot help from being fascinated as the drama unfolds. The book begins with the revolution of 1950, which confined the century old Rana Rule to the pages of history books. But the lack of political maturity among the political leaders coupled with the vaunting ambition of King Tribhuvan and King Mahendra, the elections to Constituent Assembly became a non-entity and the nation plunged into chaos and anarchy in the period between 1951-1958. But amidst this confusion and political instability monarchy emerged as the victor. The General Election of 1958 brought the Nepali Congress to power but the government was short-lived, for, it could not stand before the rising aspiration of King Mahendra. So from 1960 we enter into a period of absolute monarchy till 1990. The author has analyzed this period with analytical acumen, political vision and scholarship.
The People's Movement of 1990 did put an end to thirty years of Panchyat dictatorship. The election of 1991 again brought the Nepali Congress to power and the United Marxist and Leninists (UML) in a strong opposition. But the Nepali Congress government could not complete a full term and the country plunged into a mid-term poll in 1994. The result of the election was the creation of a hung parliament in which 'no political party got a clear majority. So Nepal again entered a phase of political instability, thus within a short span of 14 years, there were 13 governments (1991-2004). This paved the way for the direct rule of King Gyanendra in October 4, 2002, by dismissing the so called "the incompetent government" of Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Chapter Seven devoted to "People's War" is perhaps the most original chapter in the book. The writer has labeled this period as "Maoist People's War 1996-2006" "the most glorious event in the history of Nepal" (P. 186). Here, she has given a penetrating insight into the Young Communist League (YCL) by linking it with the World Communist League Movement. She has also analyzed at length the short-coming of the YCL activities of the Nepali Maoists in Nepal.
The People's Movement of 2006 is the crowning achievement of mass-politics in Nepal which originated since 1950. It finally concluded with the election to the Constituent Assembly of April 2008, and the declaration of Nepal to be a republic at 11:25 PM, May 28, 2008. The current Nepali polity continues to fascinate historians and political scientists for two reasons
Ο ne can find chains of people's struggles for freedom, nationality, national unity, integrity and democracy for centuries past when studies and researches had been carried out into the History of Nepal. People's participation in such struggles can't be exaggerated as the people themselves are the creators of history. Because of apathy, insincere activities, inability, lack of clarity in vision and objective of political leadership, economic development and task of building new Nepal always remained limited only in speech and futile ambition.
Nepal has been undergoing poverty, illiteracy and malpractices of politics for long. The nation faced frequent political crisis owing to giving high priority to reach the power and capture resources rather than to genuine political cause. The leadership always thought to use and define people's voices and aspirations according to their ambition to reach the power. Several examples of the bitter facts of the political parties that could not make unanimity and common policy even in the national interests have been given in this 'History'.
This book is largely a collection of Nepal's epoch making historical events to which the Nepalese people have made sacrificial and dedicative contribution at every step.
Now Nepal has taken a newest mode towards an era that may never be outweighed by any event in future. The country is lagging behind development in all sectors due to negligence, self-centered politics and indifference of political leaders. Even then, Nepal has entered a new age peacefully ending an old one.
Now political change, freedom, peace and power have come together with great responsibility. The bright future of Nepal will also be beneficial even to the world because all the nations of the world have come together like a village and people a community. They cannot remain isolated from one another.
History is mother of every subject and a great treatise. The primary means or medium for new inventions is also the history. Writing history should be far from political interference; it should be based on facts and on academic style so that it can guide future generations. History is not a subject to be demolished with anger of any one person nor is it an imaginary edifice to doctorate with artificial coloring. It is a series of facts orderly set in a form of book. Only through the combination of thousands of year's long history of human civilization, modern style and technology can a nation move towards progress and prosperity.
The struggles of the Nepalese people from 1950 to 2006 for freedom and democracy is the recent history of Nepal which is created by the people themselves that is 'People's History'. Hence, this history book is a valuable asset of the people.
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