Dear Mark,
I am returning to Nepal in January for three months. One of my projects
will be carrying out research to find out if the Nepalese want a return of the monarchy.
And I wish to present my findings at the Nepal Study Day next April.
Is there a role for the ex-king in a secular democratic Nepal. Is he still
a king and is Nepal secular and democratic?
As I write this the government has tried nine times to elect a new prime
If the political logjam isn't broken shortly the people may want a return of
the monarchy.
The government and the Maoists are certainly wary of the Ex-king real or perceived power and influence.
This was demonstrated recently on the on the 21 September this year when the ex-king was denied the right
to attend a programme to commemorate former Kumaris at Basantapur. As the Nepali Times said at the
time: "not a commoner yet".
Research will concentrate on the period from the 21 September to publication of the paper next April,
to ascertain and quality the length that the interregnum may last.
A recent poll carried out by The Telegraph of Nepal: 71% of pollsters voted for the monarchy
to be revived (TelegraphNepal.com 4 Oct 10).
I would be most grateful for your comments and suggestions.
Fergus
PS See you on the 20th Oct 10?
Working title:
Ex-King Gyanendra a new model citizen
The fall and rise of the Shah Dynasty of Nepal
Aim:
The aim of this research project is to ascertain the support by
the general populace, political parties, Maoists, and the former royals
for the restoration of the Shah royal family to the Narayanhiti Palace.
Questions to be asked:
1. Do the main actors of the Nepalese politic feel the need for a
return of the Shah royal family.
2. Other than a ground swell of opinion for a restoration of the
monarchy what other circumstances could be seen for a reinstatement
of the royal family.
3. Is there a need for a requirement of the monarchy.
4. A brief background overview from May 2008 when the monarchy was deposed to date.
Research
1. A questionnaire is going to be carried out (between Jan and Apr 2011), in the following locations:
a. Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan.
b. Biratnagar, Janakpur, and Nepalganj.
c. Two rural areas (to be decided): one east one west.
As wide as possible geographical, ethnic, political, age, and caste will be surveyed.
Media Review
The Nepalese media is monitored daily. In addition a colleague in Kathmandu is collecting English and Nepalese print articles relating to the monarchy.
Literature Review
To gain a better understand of the present situation t
he following books (from my own collection),
will be sourced:
Aditya, A., (2009) Restructuring the State Inclusive Nepal in the
21st Century. Kathmandu: Friends for Peace.
Basu, S. and Riaz A. (2010) Paradise Lost? State Failure in Nepal
New Delhi: Adarsh Books.
Bhattarai, B., (2005) Monarchy vs. Democracy
The Epic Fight in Nepal.
New Delhi: Samkaleen Teesari Duniya
Bhattari, H.P., (2007) Democractic Constitution Making
Experiences from Nepal South Africa Sri Lanka.
Kathmandu: Nepal South Asia Center.
Bista, D.B., (1991) Fatalism and Development Nepal's Struggle
for Modernization. Calcutta: Orient Longman.
Dixit, K.M., (2002) State of Nepal.
Kathmandu: Himal Books.
Hutchins, F. (2007) Democratizing Monarch A memoir of Nepal's
King Birendra. Kathmandu: Vajra Publications.
Gellner, D., Quigley, D., (2003) Contested Hierarchies
A Collaborative Ethnography of Caste Among the Newars of the Kathmandu
Valley, Nepal. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Gellner, D., Hachhethu K., (2008) Local Democracy in South Asia
Microprocesses of Democratization in Nepal and its Neighbours.
New Delhi: Sage Publications.
Gayer, L. and Jaffrelot, C., (2009) Armed Militias of South Asia
Fundamentalists, Maoists and Separatists.
New Delhi: Foundation Books.
Gellner, D., (2008) Nationalism and Ethnicity in Nepal.
Kathmandu: Vajra Publications.
Gellner, D., (2008) Resistance and the State Nepalese Experiences.
New Delhi: Social Science Press.
Hangen, S., (2010) The Rise of Ethnic Politics in Nepal
Democracy in the margins. Abingdon: Routledge.
Hoftun, R. and Raeper, W., (1992) Spring Awakening
An Account of the 1990 revolution in Nepal.
New Delhi: Viking
Huntington, S., (2009) Polictical Order in Changing Societies.
New Delhi: Adarsh Books.
Mishra, B.P., (2007) Rebuilding Nepal.
Kathmandu: Bhrikuti Academic Publications.
Pant, S.D., (2009) Illusion of Independence
Kathmandu: Institute of Rural Development.
Pyakuryal, K.N., (2008) Nepal: Transition to Transformation.
Kathmandu: Human and Natural Resources Studies Center,
Kathmandu University.
Rakesh, R.D., (2007) Murder of Madesh.
Kathmandu: Safari Nepal.
Roy, A., (2008) Prachanda The Unknown Revolutionary.
Kathmandu: Mandala Book Point.
Shakya, S., (2009) Unleashing Nepal
Past, Prsent and Future of the Economy.
New Delhi: Penguin Books India.
Sharma, R.S., (2006) The State and Society in Nepal
Historical Foundations and Contemporary Trends.
Kathmandu: Himal Books.
Stiller, V.J., (1993) Nepal Growth of a Nation.
Kathmandu: HRD Research Center
Stiller, V.J., (1995) The Rise of the House of Gurkha.
Kathmandu: HRD Research Center
Vishwakarma, R.K., (2006) People's Power in Nepal.
New Delhi: Manak Publications.
> Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:29:18 +0200
> From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Nepal Study Day 2011: Cambridge, 20 April
> To:
[log in to unmask]>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> Herewith an early announcement for next year's Nepal Study Day to be
> held in Cambridge. Please circulate to colleagues and students who may
> not be on the BNAC list.
>
> Call for Abstracts
> 9th BNAC Nepal Study Day
> University of Cambridge
> Wednesday, 20 April 2011
>
> (with an option of continuing on Thursday 21 April depending on the
> number of abstracts)
>
> With support from the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences
> and Humanities <
www.crassh.cam.ac.uk> and the Centre of South Asian
> Studies <
www.s-asian.cam.ac.uk> at the University of Cambridge, the
> Britain-Nepal Academic Council announces its 9th Nepal Study Day to be
> held at the University of Cambridge on 20 April 2011 (with an option of
> continuing on 21 April depending on the number of submissions received).
>
> The 2010 Study Day, held at Durham, was popular and well attended. BNAC
> encourages participants to make short presentations that share research
> findings or discuss ongoing projects that focus on Nepal or the Nepali
> cultural world. Programmes from previous years can be found online at
> <
www.digitalhimalaya.com/bnac/study_days.html>. Research from all
> disciplines will be considered, including work relating to the Nepalese
> Diaspora. We encourage presentations on all stages of research, and
> particularly welcome abstracts by masters and doctoral students.
>
> If you are interested in participating please send a brief abstract of
> 250 words to Dr Mark Turin <
[log in to unmask]> by 5pm on Monday, 28
> February 2011. In keeping with previous study days, only abstracts will
> be circulated in advance, with full papers presented on the day. Members
> of BNAC may attend the Nepal Study Day for free, while for non-members
> the attendance fee is £20. Lunch will cost around £8, to be paid in cash
> on the day. Small bursaries towards travel costs and registration fees
> will be made available to students whose presentations are accepted.
>
> Presenters and participants are expected to organize their own travel to
> Cambridge and their accommodation while here. Please refer to these
> helpful websites for more information: <
www.visitcambridge.org> and
> <
www.cam.ac.uk/visitors>.
>
> The organizers are particularly grateful to the Kosciuszko Trust for its
> generous financial support of travel bursaries for this year's Nepal
> Study Day.
>
> For more information please contact one of the conveners by email:
>
> Dr Mark Turin, CRASSH/MAA, University of Cambridge <
[log in to unmask]>
> Dr Sara Shneiderman, St Catharine's College, Cambridge <
[log in to unmask]>