Contemporary Developments in
Nepal & Options for India
Dr. Rahul Tripathi & Joel D’Silva
South Asia Together – ICG, Goa.
1
Structure of the Presentation
 Nepal – Brief Historical Background.
 Democratic experience and Maoist
resurgence.
 Build up to the recent crisis.
 India’s dilemmas and options.
 Challenges ahead
2
Nepal
Brief Historical Background
 Evolution of Monarchy
 The Rana Regime (1846-1952)
 Panchayat Democracy (1960-1990)
 Return to parliamentary democracy
(1990-2005)
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Prithvi
Narayan Shah
ShumsherJung
Bahadur Rana
Birendra Bir Bikram
Shah Dev
4
Nature of Nepalese Society
 Predominantly Hindu (90%)
 Major ethnic groups
a. Tibeto-Burman migrants
(hills & mountains)
b. Indo-Aryans (plains, Terai )
c. Newari (original people –
Katmandu Valley)
 Prevalence of Indo-Aryan
caste hierarchy
5
Nature of Nepalese Economy
 Among the poorest & least developed
countries
 Agriculture provides 80% of
employment & 41% of GDP
 Unemployment 50% approx.
 Economic growth – 0.8% (1960-1990)
and 2.1% (1990-2003)
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Democratic Experience &
Maoist Resurgence
 Turbulent parliamentary
Democracy in 1990’s.
 Emergence of Maoists in mid90’s.
 40 point demand on
Nationalism (9), People’s
democracy (17) & Livelihood
(14).
 Armed struggle
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Girija Prasad Koirala
Prachanda
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai
The Maoists
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Spread of Maoism
Nepal (1990’s)
Nepal (2006)
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Build up to the recent crisis
 The crisis of Monarchy
a. The Palace massacre (2001)
b. The ‘activist’ & ‘unpopular’
monarch.
c. Clamp down on freedoms
 Dismissal of the Government &
proclamation of emergency
 7 party alliance (SPA) & Public protests
 Restoration of Parliament
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King Gyanendra Bir
Bikram Shah Dev
Prince Paras
Violent Protests
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India’s Dilemmas and Options
 Nepal's special status with India
 The ‘Ugly’ Indian
 The ‘Indispensable’ Indian
 India’s response
a. From ‘twin pillar theory’ to
‘people’s will’.
b. Maoist concern
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PM Manmohan
Singh
Shyam Saran
Dr. Karan Singh
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Challenges Ahead
 Political parties –
consensus building
 Maoists – Joining the
mainstream?
 King – ‘Uncertain
Future’
 India – ‘Ever Balancer’
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Picture Sources:
National Geographic
Outlook Magazine
Wikipedia
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