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Q & A: HH The Dalai Lama on India, its Teachings and His message to our World Leaders

Posted on by Penguin India

How much has India and its ancient Indian texts inspired your thinking and teaching?

Tibet’s first contact with Buddhism occurred with the arrival of a Chinese princess in the seventh century. But, a century later, the Tibetan Emperor chose to introduce Buddhism from India. He invited Shantarakshita, a venerable monk, philosopher and logician, and the foremost scholar of his day at Nalanda University, to visit Tibet. He advised the Emperor to initiate the translation of Indian Buddhist literature into Tibetan.

We Tibetans have kept this tradition alive since then, with its emphasis on the use of logic and reason and its systematic understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions. As a simple human being, a Tibetan and a Buddhist, I myself am a student of this tradition—indeed, every cell of my brain is filled with Nalanda thought. We learn fundamental texts by heart, study classic Indian and Tibetan commentaries to them, and, on the basis of logic and reason, debate what we’ve learned with each other. This sharpens the mind and yields deep understanding.

 

In the foreword you mention ‘Eight Verses for Training The Mind’, how much has the book influenced you?

This short text the ‘Eight Verses for Training the Mind’ contains instructions not only for developing the awakening mind of bodhichitta, the cultivation of warm-hearted compassion, but also for developing a view of reality. I first received an explanation of it from the then Regent, Tagdrag Rinpoché, when I was a small boy; later I heard it from my junior tutor, Kyabjé Trijang Rinpoché. I’ve been reciting it and thinking about it daily since then.

The text reminds us that when we give to the poor we should do so respectfully; we should treasure ill-natured trouble-makers and give the victory to others, regarding enemies as precious teachers. We should cultivate the practice of ‘giving and taking’ and regard all things as like illusions, asking ourselves whether things really exist the way they appear.

In my daily practice, to review the entire path to enlightenment I use the ‘Foundation of All Excellence’, but to renew my practice of compassion, I recite the ‘Eight Verses for Training the Mind’. There are other times too, when a flight is delayed and I might feel impatient—this is the text I repeat to myself.

 

If there was a message that you would want to give to the world leaders of today, what would it be?

We need to remember the oneness of humanity, that in being human we are all the same. When I see two eyes, one mouth, one nose, I know I’m dealing with another human being like me. I’m like those young children who don’t care about their companions’ background so long as they smile and are willing to play. To emphasise nationality, religion, and colour just creates division. We have to look at things on a deeper level and remember that we are all the same as human beings.

As social animals, human beings depend on the community in which they live, and these days that community is the whole of humanity. To meet the challenges that affect us all, such as the climate crisis, we must work together. Scientists have been warning us for some time of the dangers we face. We cannot simply exploit this planet and its natural environment; we have to take care of it.

 

 

Angry Goddesses: 5 Lines that Showcase the “Badass Mothers” from ‘A People’s History Of Heaven’

Posted on by Penguin India

Mathangi Subramanian’s A People’s History of Heaven takes us to a thirty-year-old slum called Heaven, hidden between brand-new high-rise apartment buildings and technology incubators in contemporary Bangalore. In this close-knit community, five girls on the cusp of womanhood – a graffiti artist; a transgender Christian convert; a blind dancer; a migrant who discovers a family secret; and the queer daughter of a hijabi union leader – forge an unbreakable bond.

When the local government wants to demolish their tin shacks to build a shopping mall, the girls and their mother refuse to be erased. Here are 5 powerful lines from the book that show us the unshakeable strength of the mothers through the girls’ eyes:

 

‘Our houses may break, but our mothers won’t. Instead, they form a human chain, hijabs and dupattas snapping in the metallic wind, saris shimmering in the afternoon sun. Between the machines and the broken stone, our mothers blaze like carnations scattered at the feet of smashed-up goddesses.’

~

‘In our mothers’ eyes, in our eyes, it’s a war we have a chance of winning.’

~

‘When the bus pulls away, our mothers go about the business of managing a crisis. Gather blankets and soap and changes of clothes. Take turns using each other’s phones to tell their employers that they won’t be in tomorrow. Probably not the next day either. […] They are bustling and efficient, moving with a surety that surprises us.’

~

‘The first time the city tried to demolish Heaven, our mothers’ mothers and their husbands streamed out of their houses with rocks and crowbars and broken metal. A few of our mothers did too. Rushed toward the bulldozers like fire from a dragon’s mouth. Wedged open the bulldozers’ doors and pulled out the drivers.’

~

‘[Our mothers are] Angry, unforgiving goddesses, the kind with skulls around their necks and corpses beneath their feet.

The kind that protect their children.

That protect their daughters.’

Vibrant and heartwarming, A People’s History of Heaven dazzles in its depiction of female friendship amidst adversity.

 

Decoding the Spaces in Lisa Brennan- Jobs’ Life in Her Memoir ‘Small Fry’

Posted on by Penguin India

Born on a farm and named in a field by her parents- artist Chrisann Brennan and co-founder of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs- Lisa Brennan-Jobs’ childhood unfolded in a rapidly changing Silicon Valley.

‘That is my father and no one knows it but it’s true’, mused a young Lisa as she stared at the face splashed across newspapers and magazines. Struggling to find her place at the periphery of her father’s ever expanding life, Lisa gradually manoeuvred a winding path into the relationship that seemed to define her.

Read excerpts from Small Fry that give insight into her relationship with her father, Steve Jobs:

 

  1. Meeting the man who had fathered her made him real while not having him around left a gaping void. Oscillating between his presence and absence made young Lisa question the veracity of the reunion-

‘I hadn’t seen him for years, and I wouldn’t see him for years after that. The memory of this day, the outlandish house and my strange father, seemed surreal when I thought of it later, as if it hadn’t really happened.’

 

  1. Meandering around his mansion on a bright afternoon, Lisa revelled in an elusive moment of Steve’s awareness of her presence as she drank in the quirks and features of her father’s physicality-

‘His face looked fresh against the dark, shiny hair. Being near him in the bright light with the smells of dirt and trees, the spaciousness of the land, was electric and magical. Once I caught him looking at me sidelong….’

  1. For Lisa, Steve was a puzzle and her endless curiosity to find all the pieces to their relationship made her wonder at all that was within him-

‘Steve . I knew so little about him. He was like those Michelangelo sculptures of men trapped in rough stone, half smooth, half rough, that made you imagine the part inside that had not yet come out.’

  1. Playing on a trampoline with her father, Lisa couldn’t bring herself to surrender to the joy of the moment. Unable to bridge the distance between them she was pitifully aware of the gaze of those around-

‘Twice we found ourselves coming down to land at the same moment. I prayed we wouldn’t touch; it would be too intimate. I was conscious of scrabbling away from accidental closeness in front of strangers.’

  1. Despite the indifference that rattled her, for Lisa, her father was a man of the world and her connection to a larger universe that she would eventually step into-

‘For me, it was the opposite: the closer I was to him, the less I would feel ashamed; he was part of the world, and he would accelerate me into the light.’

  1. For her first ever vacation, Steve took Lisa to Hawaii and in a moment where he realised they were anchored to predestined bonds of blood, he gave Lisa a glimpse of his awe at being her father-

‘Look how we both have eyebrows that come together in the middle,” he said. “And how we have the same nose.”

  1. Having lost out on her father’s presence repeatedly throughout her life, Lisa seemed determined to hold on to some tangible evidence of his being even as the final darkness crept forward to claim him-

‘Three months before he died, I began to steal things from my father’s house. I wandered around barefoot and slipped objects into my pockets. I took blush, toothpaste, two chipped finger bowls……’

When she was young, Lisa’s father was a mythical figure who was rarely present in her life. As she grew older, he took an interest in her, ushering her into a new world of mansions, vacations, and private schools.

Small Fry is a poignant coming-of-age story of a child growing up in disparate worlds as she grapples with feelings of illegitimacy and shame but also admiration for the father she yearns for.

8 Stunning Lines from ‘A People’s History of Heaven’ to Sear Your Heart

Posted on by Penguin India

Award-winning author Minal Hajratwala claims: ‘Everything about A People’s History of Heaven is wonderful: the lyrical, light touch of the narrator, the story, the humor, and most of all, the girls.’

Washington Independent Review of Books adds: ‘Mathangi Subramanian’s observations are sharp, witty, and incisive; her writing is consistently gorgeous. She is passionate about the plight of Indian girls subjected to a patriarchal system that ruthlessly oppresses and devalues them.’

Here are a few heart-touching lines from the book:

“Between the machines and the broken stone, our mothers blaze like carnations scattered at the feet of smashed-up goddesses. Angry, unforgiving goddesses, the kind with skulls around their necks and corpses beneath their feet. The kind that protect their children. That protect their daughters.”

~

‘What would it sound like, if you broke the sky? Would it be a jagged shattering of sharp-edged glass? A frayed ripping of overwashed fabric? Or would the sky break the way skin breaks, silently oozing, and smelling like blood?’

~

‘The world is full of almosts. Almost living, almost dying. Almost husbands, almost wives. Almost together. Almost apart.’

~

‘In Heaven, there are first families and second families. But there are other families too. Families born out of something more than blood. Families that cannot be erased with a new letter, a new story. A new neighborhood, a new wife.’

~

‘Neelamma Aunty had always thought of motherhood like marriage: a set of duties and obligations, a series of defined tasks. But clutching Deepa to her chest, she realized it was something more. Something she would have to learn. Not the way she had learned tailoring to bring in money but the way she had learned to raise herself.’

~

‘Her mother, who has lost a father. Lost a husband, a daughter, a son. Once, not so long ago, she thought she might lose herself. Somehow, after all of this loss, she survived.’

~

‘Padma knew then with frightening certainty that whatever her parents sought, it wasn’t here, in this granite metropolis that stared at her family with gravel-mottled eyes. Maybe it wasn’t anywhere.’

~

‘Thus far, her life had been a collection of the consequences of other people’s choices. But maybe it no longer had to be. Maybe, now, the choices could be her own.’

A People’s History of Heaven is a poignant look at the power of female bonding amidst adversity.

Is Money the Ultimate Measure of Happiness?

Posted on by Penguin India

In a world driven by quantitative economic progress, the idea of measuring Gross National Happiness (GNH) was introduced by the King of Bhutan in the 1970’s. GNH takes into account a mix of quality-of-life factors to determine the happiness and well- being of a nation. A powerful countervailing force to the concept of GNH is the fiercely competitive world of corporate success where the irrepressible urge to be everywhere, to own everything and to do all that before everyone else takes precedence over the fundamental human goal of being happy.

Read on to learn 5 Ways to increase one’s Happiness Quotient!

 

Align Physical and Mental Wellness

‘Listen to your body. If you are tired, rest. If you are hungry, eat. If you are lonely, communicate, ask for a hug. If you are angry, deal with your anger constructively, resolve it.’

Build Nurturing Relationships

‘Belonging to a supportive nurturing group is the best protection you can have against disease and unhappiness. Being loved can prevent you from the flood of negative emotions that have the capacity to destroy you. Today many people have no friends and are not in touch with their families either. They are more comfortable with an undemanding computer than with a person.’

Combat Stress

‘There is, of course, no way to make the situations less tough. Meditation and pranayama provide a way of reducing the automatic and violent reactions to stress. You can actually control autonomous systems like heartbeat and pulse rate, which were thought to be outside the individual’s control.’

Deal with Loss

‘Positive self-talk helps in such situations. Be prepared to sacrifice, to wait and do not rush to gratify every desire. Continue with your life’s work and you will be healed. A high-tolerance level when faced with frustration is due to the capacity to motivate oneself. Motivate yourself to heal.’

Engage the Power of Emotional Fields

‘Just as you can clean your physical space, your house, your office, so too do you have the ability to clean the clutter within your mental space. Sweep out all ill will, anger, fear, anxiety and the sad baggage of the past. Replace it with the smiles of loved ones, laughter and joy, peace and harmony.’

Dr. Rekha Shetty, founder of the Minds Power brand and Managing Director of Firstar Distribution Network Ltd, works exclusively on innovation initiatives and work-life balance. In The Happiness Quotient, she gives you the mantra to achieve excellence in the corporate world and still be happy in life.

 

 

 

 

On Staring Out of the Window: Excerpt from ‘The School of Life’

Posted on by Penguin India

For most of us, school is about facts and figures. It gets us to learn all about calculating probabilities and Shakespearean sonnets, but there’s not much we find out about coping with heartbreaks and maintaining interpersonal relationships.

Ten years ago, writer and philosopher Alain de Botton found an organization called The School of Life, with a singular aim in mind: to equip people with emotional intelligence to help them survive and thrive in the modern world.

By reflecting on day-to-day instances that almost all of us can relate to, Botton’s book The School of Life seeks to build an emotive understanding of ourselves. Here’s an excerpt that sheds light on a behavior that is commonplace in classrooms, yet ridiculed widely:

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF STARING OUT OF THE WINDOW

We tend to reproach ourselves for staring out of the window. Most of the time, we are supposed to be working, or studying, or ticking things off a to-do list. It can seem almost the definition of wasted time. It appears to produce nothing, to serve no purpose. We equate it with boredom, distraction, futility. The act of cupping our chin in our hands near a pane of glass and letting our eyes drift in the middle distance does not enjoy high prestige. We don’t go around saying, ‘I had a great day today. The high point was staring out of the window.’ But maybe, in a better society, this is exactly what people would quietly say to one another.

The point of staring out of a window is, paradoxically, not to find out what is going on outside. It is, rather, an exercise in discovering the contents of our own minds. It is easy to imagine we know what we think, what we feel and what’s going on in our heads. But we rarely do entirely. There’s huge amount of what makes us who we are that circulates unexplored and unused. Its potential lies untapped. It is shy and doesn’t emerge under the pressure of direct questioning. If we do it right, staring out of the window offers a way for us to be alert to the quieter suggestions and perspectives of our deeper selves. Plato suggested a metaphor for the mind; our ideas are like birds fluttering around in the aviary of our brains. But in order for the birds to settle, Plato understood that we need periods of purpose-free calm. Staring out of the window offers such an opportunity.

A veritable crash course in emotional maturity, The School of Life is a must-read for some much-needed insights into life and self.

What Can We Learn from the Chinese Companies?

Posted on by Penguin India

The Chinese invest hugely in understanding foreign cultures and markets while being confident in the knowledge that their competitors and would-be allies are unlikely to make sufficient effort to understand them.

‘Running with the Dragon’ by Saibal Dasgupta has nine case studies, which are inspiring stories of Indian and Chinese businesspersons engaged in remarkable work. The book also looks into the strengths and weaknesses of Indian companies operating in China, and the Chinese firms that have begun to unsettle sections of the Indian market.

Chinese private companies are very straightforward. Wherever there is a market, they will go and explore it. Chinese companies are risk-takers who expect to face bottlenecks and the possibility of returning after withdrawing investments.

There is a lesson for Indian companies about the successes that can be achieved by putting together IT and engineering talent. Recent forays of Chinese companies climbing the top rungs of the ladder in sunrise industries is an example of that.

There are signs Chinese investors are keener on the less-served tier II and tier III cities instead of sweating it out in the congested markets of tier 1 cities.

With a one-party rule driven by capitalistic passion, China’s diplomatic missions have been able to work hand in hand with their companies, often negotiating on their behalf across different countries.

Chinese phone makers have cut through their negative image of an invasive and dangerous neighbor and become successful in the retail segment, because they have successfully converted the classy brand game in smartphones into a more rowdy and democratic commodity play.

China has been investing heavily in research. The European Chamber says China spent around USD 300 billion on research and development, nearly 2.2 per cent of GDP. Sheer scale in absolute figures might, at some point, give China an advantage over smaller industrialized countries that spend much less.

India is China’s seventh biggest trading partner, far ahead of advanced countries like the United Kingdom. Beijing knows India, with its demographic dividend, holds a huge untapped potential that goes beyond the future growth opportunities in several countries, including Japan and South Korea. It is time for Indian companies to start collaborating with Chinese players on a global scale. The process has already begun. It is time for more players to join the party.

Running with the Dragon is a crucial lesson in navigating the market today.

Phunchok Stobdan Answers Our Burning Questions

Posted on by Penguin India

The Great Game in the Buddhist Himalayas by Phunchok Stobdan is an attempt to provide several unknown insights into the India-China, India-Tibet and China-Tibet relationships. The book tries to take into consideration the overriding power of the conflicting cultural interests that are linked to the geopolitical interests of both China and India. At the same time, the book suggests how Buddhism could become a potential source for recultivating awareness towards an India–China congruity in the current context.

In the interview below, Phunchok Stobdan talks about his book and more!

  1. What inspired you to write the book? 

 

Over the years, I have been receiving many compliments for my writings – essentially short commentaries, opinion pieces that I have been contributing to several media outlets and academic journals. The positive comments received from the readers motivated me further to elaborate my views on the subject, for the average reader knows little about the geopolitical complexity of the Himalayas.

There was certainly some fear that initially held me back from touching on the subject, but it my editor, Ms. Swati Chopra, Senior Commissioning Editor of Penguin India, who motivated me to undertake this project. I agreed with her because I had nothing to lose. I am very grateful to her.

 

  1. Were there any challenges? 

 

As always, writing on a sensitive subject like the Himalayas and Tibet is challenging not because the issues are at times shrouded in mystery as they are also mostly metaphysical in nature but because of the inbuilt political narrative that had been set for decades and embedded into the national discourse. Putting forward a contrary viewpoint and disturbing the status quo was challenging.

 

  1. Anything you would like our readers to know that would complement their experience while reading the book?

 

While I do not discount the importance of moral values and principle in the conduct of international politics, but the nature of world affairs have become more transactional especially after the end of the Cold War. India, for a very long time, has been playing a very opaque and open-ended game which has not endured well as it should have.  India’s strategic outlook towards the Himalayan region had been defined a long time go and continued to remain in practice despite the cost. On the other hand, the game pursued by India’s adversaries has been constantly changing. It is time to review our policies towards the Himalayas such as the one the country has with regards to Jammu & Kashmir. A robust policy like the one adopted for Ladakh by granting it a Union Territory status would alter the game in India’s favour.

  1. What are five reasons to read your book?

The Himalayas are no longer mystic and can’t be romanticized. Today, the Himalayas is a contested area – a theatre of competition by proxy among major powers.

This book important to understand:

a) The geo-cultural landscape of Buddhist Himalayas, its profile and the competing narratives that are being built over the years;

b) The dynamic interplay between the Tibetans vis-à-vis Himalayan Buddhist world, similarities and differences;

c) How the ‘Tibet issue’ and the discourse surrounding it has gradually overshadowed the Himalayan dynamics that has vilely blurt the Indian frontier outlook;

d) How the Chinese would eventually succeed in leveraging the critical issues of Himalayan Buddhism to meet its own geopolitical goals;

e) How India’s interests in the Buddhist Himalayas are rapidly getting compromised as compared to the Himalayan game played more perceptively by British India;

f) The Buddhist Himalayas are not a monolith region as generally perceived by people as there are inbuilt complexities and fault lines;

Finally to highlight how India has seemingly failed to grasp the dynamic interplay between sectarian affiliation and power politics — between the Tibetan plateau and the political landscape in the Indian Himalayas.

It is a case of missing the woods for the trees; clearly, understanding Himalayan complexity in India requires much more than bureaucratic bean-counting.

 

  1. Any particular sources you used to research into the India-China relationship?

 

The book is based on the official sources and vernacular media reporting. Some of the points identified are based on my experiences in the field; as a result of personal interaction with informed circles, participation in numerous conferences, seminars and discussions. Impressions gathered during my prolonged stay in Inner and Central Asia including personal visits to the Himalayan region (Sikkim, Bhutan, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal) were used while writing this book. Being a native of the Himalayan region has definitely helped in writing this book.

 

  1. Do you think there will be any winners in this ‘great game’? Why? Why not?

 

Unless India evolves clarity of thoughts and objectivity, the Himalayan game is likely to remain in obscurity – largely driven by invisible actors without any tangible benefits for India. The real winner in the game should be safeguarding the interests of 1.3 billion people of India.

To know more about this Great Game, grab your copy of The Great Game in the Buddhist Himalayas today!

Beat Exam Blues with the Modi Mantra!

Posted on by Penguin India

Exam Warriors by Narendra Modi is an inspiring book for the youth. Written in a fun and interactive style, with illustrations, activities and yoga exercises, this book will be a friend not only in acing exams but also in facing life.
Non-preachy, practical and thought-provoking, Exam Warriors is a handy guide for students in India and across the world.

On ways to beat exam stress, Mr. Modi writes, “You may not give your best when you’re under stress because your knowledge takes a back seat and pressure drives you. Do you want to be controlled by unnecessary pressure or would you rather control the pressure?”

Read on for 7 Modi mantras to triumph over exam stress-

Mantra 1: Prepare, appear and do not fear failure.

‘Exams are just one of the many important events in life, not the only one. Can one exam be the sole factor in determining one’s excellence and true potential? Certainly not.’

 Mantra 2: Always remember: relax to recall.

 ‘Prepare for exams with a smile, carry the same smile all the way into the exam hall, and out of it. Even if you do not feel like it, SMILE.’

Mantra 3: Pay no attention to tension.

  ‘It is natural to be mildly concerned before exams. However, worrying all the time will not help. Being in perpetual tension cannot be in fashion. Trying to appear serious may win you sympathy but not success.’

Mantra 4: Live Here and Now

‘The most important time is NOW, so make the most of it. It is not that the past or the future is unimportant. Learn from the past and plan for the future, but work in the present.’

Mantra 5: Use technology to become smart and to unwind smartly.

‘Many people will tell you to completely stop watching television, or be off the Internet during exams. I would never suggest such a drastic measure. These aspects of technology bring a refreshing element to your otherwise fixed routine of books.’

Mantra 6: Trust yourself!

‘During exam time, the possibility of rumours and misinformation reaching you can be high. Do not fall prey to them. Rumours are negative, almost never true and will not affect you if you are well prepared.’

Mantra 7- Yoga strengthens the brain and the nervous system.

‘Better concentration brings about greater efficiency in learning, which in turn enhances recall power. The overall impact is that memory, concentration and confidence are boosted.’

 

Putting things in perspective Shri Narendra Modi writes, ‘The aim of learning is to gain knowledge. When knowledge is pursued, marks will automatically follow (as a by-product). Focusing simply on marks not only builds undue pressure but also limits what you absorb.’

As Prime Minister, Modi has presided over transformative economic and social sector reforms, which have given a strong boost to India’s development journey.
The education sector has been particularly close to Modi’s heart. He is an inspirational leader for the youth.

Read the Exam Warriors to fight the fear of exams with Modi’s mantras!

The Maoists and Nepal: Excerpt from ‘The Nepal Nexus’

Posted on by Penguin India

The Maoist revolt, despite its ultimate failure, played a decisive role in the socio-political transformation of Nepal. In The Nepal Nexus, author Sudheer Sharma attempts to present a nuanced understanding of the poverty, oppression and unemployment that drove the revolt.

He further assesses the relationship between the Maoists, the monarchy (Durbar), and the Indian establishment (Delhi) to understand the trajectory of the revolt.

Here is an excerpt that introduces the strand of the book:

The previous decade (1996–2006) had witnessed major upheavals in the Nepali body politic. The subsequent decade was usurped by the uncertainties of protracted political transition. This book covers both periods. It is focused on the origin and expansion of Maoist revolt, but is not a history that covers all the aspects of the Maoist movement. It merely places them at the centre and analyses their chaotic relations with the monarchy (termed ‘Durbar’ in this book) and the Indian establishment (called ‘Delhi’). In other words, this book is an account of a three-way interplay between Delhi, the Durbar and the Maoists which has had a profound impact on the present.

In the two and a half centuries since the establishment of the modern Nepali state, the ten-year people’s war posed its greatest internal challenge. Thousands of people took part in that armed movement risking their lives in pursuit of the dream of communist revolution. It was during this people’s war that the country could take great strides towards a progressive social agenda, such as the republic, a Constituent Assembly, social awareness of inequality, and inclusion. The Maoist revolt played a decisive role in the socio-political transformation of this feudal unitary Hindu state.

Certainly, that revolt was born in the hills of Nepal, and not in Delhi or the Durbar. But to fulfil their own interests the latter two played indirect roles in its expansion. Initially, the Durbar took a soft approach towards Maoists in the belief that it would lead to the failure of the parliamentary system restored in the early 1990s and pave the way for the return of an assertive monarchy. Therefore, the Durbar did not allow the army, which had remained under its control, to venture out of their barracks for the first six years of the insurgency. The lack of support from the army meant that the police was forced to confront the guerrillas alone and, in the end, was decisively defeated by the latter.

How did the conflict between the government and the Durbar flare up when the latter did not allow the army to be deployed against the Maoists? How did the rebels take advantage of such fissures within the state? How did they establish relations with the Durbar? How and why did the king’s brother have a secret dialogue with the Maoists? How did the palace massacre push Nepal’s politics towards a new phase? This book attempts to examine these questions.

Get an inside look into a highly turbulent time in the geopolitics of Nepal.

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