Subramanian’s Review of Kathmandu Chronicle by Rajan and Thakur

BOOK REVIEW

Kathmandu Chronicle
Reclaiming India–Nepal Relations

by KV Rajan and Atul K Thakur

Vintage Books | Penguin Random House
Apr/2024
ISBN: 9780143463375

Reviewed by Dr. KS Subramanian

Ambassador KV Rajan and his professional colleague Atul K Thakur have made an effort in this book to reimagine India -Nepal relations again. They seek to examine the question of improving India Nepal relations in the context of the critical challenges their relations face. Rajan was a long serving diplomat-ambassador based in Kathmandu. He continued his services in that country after retirement too. AK Thakur was his academic colleague.

The introduction highlights the main issues in the recent history of Nepal: the achievement of a full-fledged multi-party parliamentary democracy after two popular upheavals; the negotiated end to several years of Maoist insurgency; the ‘mainstreaming’ of the Maoists in the democratic polity; the adoption of the Constitution; the ending of the monarchy; and the assertion of a new identity of the state as a secular, federal democratic republic.

Some negative points too are mentioned: poor quality of democracy, corruption and misgovernance, economic mismanagement and political instability without any pretence of ideological consistency and so on. Though free press and the right to dissent prevail, the institutions could be remote-controlled.

The authors feel that while both India and Nepal need to make serious efforts to improve bilateral relations many uncomfortable questions need addressing. Irritants such as the long-standing 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, border disputes et al. The authors hope that steps can be taken to resolve bilateral problems.

The Indian foreign minister’s recent observations were encouraging and would help consolidate India’s position as an ally of Nepal in South Asia. While the China factor in the region is important, the authors stress the role of the US in meeting security challenges posed by China in South Asia.

Section I Diplomatic Gleanings

Diplomatic A First-Person Account, by KV Rajan narrates the story of the sun-set years of the monarchy in Nepal and seeks to draw lessons for the future. The King Birendra Years lasted from 1995 to 2000. The major upheavals were the Maoist insurgency since February 1996; the palace massacre on June 1 2001; The King Gyanendra’s coup against democracy in 2005; the ‘mainstreaming’ of the Maoists, the promulgation of a controversial Constitution, the apparently unending transitions to a federal democratic republic and flashbacks which called for futuristic reflections.

The ambassador recalls his meetings with important personalities like PV Narasimha Rao and others and notes that India’s twin-pillar strategy of supporting multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy in Nepal seemed to be working though political instability and erosion of governance remained a factor. The Moist movement made a 40-point declaration calling for an end to royal privileges and demanded social, political and economic reforms. The influence of the Maoist movement expanded rapidly. Though King Birendra had given up royal privileges and become a constitutional monarch in 1990, King Gyanendra who followed took a tough posture towards the Maoists who opposed good relations with India. The Maoists were critical of the Pakistanis and the Chinese as well. Drugs and arms trafficking from Pakistan were increasing. The India-Nepal open border was a matter of concern.

Though KV Rajan’s ambassadorial experiences are interestingly narrated, he needed to problematise the monarchy in Nepal a bit more.

Section II Transitions of the Himalayan Kind

This jointly written section (pp. 92-197) begins with the sub-section on Nepal’s search for democracy with the Shah and Rana dynasties leading up to the Indian freedom struggle. Under Jawaharlal Nehru (1951-1960), Nepal experienced multi-party democracy. The tension between monarchy and democracy became deep; it ended with the death of King Tribhuvan Shah in 1955.

King Mahendra Shah established a new Constitution with elections to the national assembly. The Nepali Congress was victorious in elections and its leader BP Koirala formed a government. By 1960, King Mahendra changed his mind and dissolved the Parliament. But the quest for democracy continued A people’s movement started in 1990. A multiparty Parliament with King Birendra as head of state and an executive PM was set up. In 1991, Nepal held its first parliamentary elections under the leadership of the Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. With the democratic upheaval going on, the Maoist parties declared a People’s War against the monarchy in February 1996. On June 1, 2001, the horrific massacre of King Birendra Shah and his family took place in Kathmandu.

King Gyanendra Shah who then came up, dismissed the elected government and took absolute power. In April 2006, another people’s movement was launched. Eventually, King Gyanendra had to relinquish power and reinstate Parliament.

On 21 November 2006, PM GP Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda signed a comprehensive peace agreement. A Constituent Assembly (CA) election was held and on 28 May 2008, a newly elected CA declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic abolishing the 240-year monarchy with status as the only ‘Hindu nation’ in the world. The President of the country would be Head of State and the PM would be Head of government. A new Constitution of Nepal was promulgated on 20 September 2015.

Maoist Violence

A more incisive study of Maoist influences and its impact on the political reality in Nepal would have added much value to the book. The political mainstreaming of Maoists in Nepal in terms of its internal political development as well as its impact on the India-China relations needed much more focus as for instance, in S.D Muni’s book ‘Dabbling in Diplomacy’, Chapter 3 (Konark Publishers, New Delhi, 2024) along with its predecessor published in 2004. Similarly, one sought a more detailed perspective on the China factor in the India Nepal relations.

The China Factor

In this context, one may take the liberty of referring to ambassador Kishore Mahbubani, who feels that China does not considers itself as India’s rival but only as a friend. Its real rival is the US. China is a friend of India and Nepal. Mahbubani’s book Has China Won? tells an interesting story. Mahbubani likes to think that China would soon become the most powerful nation in the world. His autobiography “Living the Asian Century” may be interesting to our authors. He suggests India should join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP of Asian and Southeast Asian countries to benefit the Asian region.

Border Disputes

There are multiple border disputes between India and Nepal. As a bigger polity, India should resolve them in a friendly spirit.

SECTION III Repurposing India-Nepal Relations

This section identifies crucial Influences relating to bilateral ties such as water resources, trade; alternative development paradigm; the Victor Hugo moment for reforms; the bottlenecks in economy; and bilateral, regional and subregional cooperation.

Finally, in repurposing India-Nepal relations, it would be prudent to rely on the trust factor ignoring apprehensions and complexities and walk the straight path with changing times.

(Reviewer: Dr. KS Subramanian is an author and a former IPS officer who served in the North East of India)