Shaphalya Amatya is Nepal's highly distinguished historian and Cultural Heritage expert.
Rana Rules in Nepal is a pioneering study of the most intriguing chapters of Nepalese history. A disturbing book, it focuses on the Armed Revolution of 1950-51, a popular uprising against the autocracy and tyrannical regime of the ruthless Rana rules. It's pioneering partly because of author Shaphalya Amatya's capacity as a native and a student of history and partly because he belongs to that family of Amatyas whose several relatives were connected with the Rana administrators as well as with the Royal Palace in various official and personal capacities. Dr. Amatya opens this voluminous book with a brief study of the factors responsible for sustaining the despotic Rana rule, discussing characteristic features of the Nepalese society and gradual process of political socialization of the period understudy and moves ahead to discuss detailed description of the growth of anti-Rana policies in Nepal and India since the beginning of 20th century. The chapters that follow discuss careers, achievements, and foreign and domestic policies of three Rana Prime ministers, Juddha Shamsher, Padma Shamsher and Mohan Shamsher respectively. The political opposition they faced and international pressure for the liberation of their repressive, enclosed regimes is here analyzed. The chapters that follow examine King Tribhuwan as a king, a politician and a statesman. The concluding chapter emphasizes the king's role in the anti-Rana policies, the Delhi Compromise, the fruits India reaped out of her involvement in this Upsurge and the part played by the Nepali Congress, and its liberation Army called Mukti Sena, The last chapter explores the causes behind the downfall of the Rana rule. Employing a breezy, and engaging narrative style, Dr Amatya presents in a chronological order the dark chapters of history that ushered the dawn of democracy in this Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal.
Rana Rule in Nepal focuses on the last phase of the Rule in Nepal, spanning over the 1930-1951 period which covers the administration of three Rana Prime Ministers, Juddha Shamsher (1932-45), Padma Shamsher (1945-48), and Mohan Shamsher (1948-51). No scientific study of this period has been made so far. Rana Rule is a pioneer effort in this direction, partly because of my capacity as a native and a student of history and partly because I belong to that family of Amatyas whose several relatives were connected with the Rana administration as well as with the Royal Palace in various official or personal capacities.
This period of Nepalese history is intriguing for various reasons. All the three Rana Prime Ministers who flourished during the above mentioned period were remarkable for their individual characteristics which, coupled with their policies of meeting the challenges of the contemporary internal and external political situations, resulting in the downfall of their family rule.
Efforts have been made to evaluate the political developments in Nepal during the period under review, when the Rana rule confronted with a variety of inner contradictions, apart from external situation, all of which cumulatively intensified its vulnerability.
The present book has been divided into ten chapters including Introduction and Conclusion. The first chapter begins with the factors responsible for sustaining the Rana rule in Nepal. Some of the characteristic features of the Nepalese society and the gradual process of political social-ization of the period under review have also been discussed. A detailed description of the growth of anti-Rana politics in Nepal and India since the beginning of the twentieth century would be found in the second chapter. The third, fourth and fifth chapter deal with the regimes of Juddha Shamsher, Padma Shamsher and Mohan Shamsher respectively. Their careers, achievements, foreign and domestic policies, their strategies for survival, the political opposition they faced and the international pressure for the liberalisation of the regime are also included in these chapters. The life, career, nature and character of King Tribhuwan form the subject matter of the sixth chapter. There is an attempt to examine him as a man, as a king, as a politician, and as a statesmen. Emphasis has been laid on his role in the anti-Rana political activities. The armed revolution of 1950-51 is surveyed in as much detail as possible in the seventh chapter. The part played by the Nepali Congress and its "liberation army", called Mukti Sena, and its strategies, the places captured, and achievements of the armed revolution are also discussed in this chapter. The ninth chapter deals with the causes of the downfall of the Rana rule. The conclusion contains some of my findings and observations.
The book is presented in a narrative style and efforts are made to present it in chronological order as far as practicable. But some variations are inevitable because of the nature of the subject itself.
The present study is substantiated by original as well as secondary sources, which are further substantiated by interviews with persons connected with this period either as administrations, policy-makers or political activists.
Hindu (886)
Agriculture (93)
Ancient (1022)
Archaeology (614)
Architecture (534)
Art & Culture (862)
Biography (598)
Buddhist (545)
Cookery (158)
Emperor & Queen (496)
Islam (235)
Jainism (275)
Literary (876)
Mahatma Gandhi (360)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist