The more Nepal ‘modernises’ and the more complex its society becomes, the less understood it is in the South Asian neighbourhood and beyond. The life and times of 23 million people in the contemporary period, particularly in the last dozen years of democracy, is paradoxically an increasing area of darkness. This book describes how this uniquely diverse country is grappling with change and continuity, with some of the sharpest minds on Nepal writing on sixteen areas of critical importance. With their individual flair, emphasis and style of presentation, the essayists have contributed to a work that will be read as a standard reference on Nepal for some years to come.

Contents
 1. Ethnicity, caste and a pluralist society
     by Rajendra Pradhan
 2. The Hindu state and the state of Hinduism
     by Sudhindra Sharma
 3. A dozen years of democracy: the games
     that parties play by Sanjay Upadhya
 4. A new king and the challenge of democracy
     by Kanak Mani Dixit
 5. The Maobadi of Nepal by Deepak Thapa
 6. Cultural flows across a blurred boundary
     by C.K. Lal
 7. Nepal and the Indian Nepalis by T.B. Subba
 8. From evil state to civil society
     by Saubhagya Shah
 9. The politics of ‘developing Nepali women’
     by Seira Tamang
10. The squandering of a promising economy
     by Sujeev Shakya
11. Education, deception, state and society
     by Shanta Dixit
12. Yam between Bhot and Muglan:
      Nepal’s search for security in development
      by DipakGyawali
13. Water, Nepal and India by Bhim Subba
14. Critiquing the media boom by Pratyoush Onta
15. The insularity of contemporary Nepali literature
      by Manjushree Thapa
16. Nepal as seen in India
      by Shastri Ramachandaran