The Bullet and the Ballot Box: The Story of Nepal's Maoist Revolution

by Aditya Adhikari

The Bullet and the Ballot Box offers a rich and sweeping account of a decade of revolutionary upheaval. When Nepal’s Maoists launched their armed rebellion in the nineties, they had limited public support and many argued that their ideology was obsolete. Twelve years later they were in power, and their ambitious plan of social transformation dominated the national agenda. How did this become possible? Adhikari’s narrative draws on a broad range of sources – including novels, letters and diaries – to illuminate the history and human drama of the Maoist revolution. An indispensible account of Nepal’s recent history, the book offers a fascinating case study of how communist ideology has been reinterpreted and translated into political action in the twenty-first century.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Asia, China, War, Theory

326 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2014

Reviews

[tara bomp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only real annoyance so far is it doesn't really shed much light on the period between them starting the civil war and them becoming a force who could confront the state. How did they go from having 2 ancient rifles and a tiny force to being able to build their military and confront armed police etc? It's not really explained even though it's emphasised how unimpressive their starting position was. Like there's mention of a couple of villages with long term revolutionary sympathies but that's it.

Otherwise a very good, balanced, considerate guide to the civil war, why it started, what the appeal was, why the state failed, etc. Some fascinating personal stories. The stories of totally indiscriminate killing by the Nepalese army based on snap judgements especially ethnicity are horrible. It doesn't go into massive detail especially on things like the background but that'd be impossible in the space given. It talks about pretty much everything you'd want to know in enough detail that it provides a very good overview of the situation.

After finishing it: wow I found it really depressing just cause of how little was achieved in the end and how it felt like it followed an identical path to the majority of leftist movements of any kind, violent or otherwise. First a couple things that I found truly baffling and can't understand the logic of that the Maoists did
-The group of influential figures who made a large effort to build up Prachanda as a superhuman figure. The leader of the party (Mohan Baidya) even stepped aside so that Prachanda could become leader. In a weird twist Baidya is now the leader of one of the parties that split from the mainstream party in 2012 in protest at its ending of guerrilla warfare. It just seems like such a baffling decision to build up a personality cult like that.
-That there was a large faction supporting the king within the party, enough so that there were even overtures towards right wing monarchists from part of the 2012 split, after they'd become a near irrelevance. It's hard to understand why even while in the midst of the civil war, after the king had seized total power, that this faction still sought a rapprochement with him while they were attacking the army and state personally loyal to him. Apparently when the king offered a power sharing agreement with the Maoists even Prachanda was inclined to accept and it was only when it turned out to be a ruse that they changed their minds and moved more firmly towards an alliance with the parliamentary parties. I sort of understand the idea of building up a nationalism but it's hard to imagine what they thought they were fighting if they thought the parliamentary parties in a country with a suspended parliament were the main enemy.

The story of the Maoists after the peace deal which ended the monarchy and led to the constituent assembly feels so typical: hamstrung by establishment parties that seem to hold all the cards, massive disillusionment from supporters, efforts to establish relatively moderate reform proposals (eg federal system for greater ethnic self government) completely blocked by others while they carry the blame, higher ups accused (probably totally fairly) of corruption and becoming completely out of touch, splits, massive loss of support (even though they gained a lot past their rural based for the first elections), ending up not far ahead of where the whole thing begun. It's really painful to read as someone who cares so much about this stuff and making things better. It's sad that all the disruption to people's lives, the people dead, and things didn't get much further. That's not to say there's nothing - the Maoist demands did bring in a lot of new ethnic parties who were able to get their say in parliament and there was some change to land structures in the countryside although some of that evaporated when the Maoist forces disarmed and left.

I mean it's not like I have any better idea how things could have gone. The book does a really good job of talking through the massive difficulties in the Maoist position - eg their total lack of presence in the urban areas, limitations of guerrilla warfare and no ability to fight past that - as well as their failings (obviously partially down to their position) - authoritarian control over most of their rural bases, sometimes heavy handed punishments up to and including summary executions of people suspected of being spies, lack of ethnic/caste diversity in leadership positions (that led to a lot of ethnic organisations being very suspicious of them), very stringent discipline for most cadre that deprived them of lives when demobbed and that died in large numbers when assaults on fortified positions were tried. The Maoists came out of a specific situation - a semi feudal country where many people were oppressed and exploited through caste, ethnicity and class, where the parliamentary government was incredibly unstable with little interest in improving the position of most of the country while the monarchy intervened often and the country was at the mercy of India and imperialist powers. They gained support for understandable reasons and even imagining an alternate history (say one where the royal massacre that put Gyanendra on the throne didn't happen) it's hard to see the establishment parties magically getting themselves together and producing some good development policy. They were very popular at the first election despite their civil war actions which says something about the other parties. There's no obvious thing you can point to and say "oh yeah this could have avoided civil war, this could have kept the Maoists in power and pushing progressive policies". It's just something that is. The book provides a very good narrative for all this.

Overall really good book on Nepal's recent history I'd recommend but if you're on the left in any way you might find it a bit miserable. Ending with a quote from near the end, from an entry in the party's journal from a disappointed radical party leader just before the split.

"The Nepali people have … had to bear the brunt of the counter-revolution led by parties and their leaders. [At one point in history], the Congress led a revolution and the people supported the Congress. But later, Congress leaders lost faith in revolution and the party surrendered to the old ruling class and the Indian ruling class … The people who had supported the Congress … were thus betrayed. Similarly, between 2028 and 2032 v.s. [1971/72–1975/76], the UML also tried to lead a revolution …, but later the UML also surrendered to the ruling class, and became counterrevolutionary. The people were betrayed again … Today, once again, counter-revolution stalks the Maoist party and its leaders and is pressuring them to deviate from revolution."

"To many Maoists, the biggest betrayal was when Prachanda and Bhattarai agreed to disband the Maoist army by integrating a small number of combatants into the Nepal Army and sending the rest to join the civilian population. After all, Prachanda himself had often repeated Mao’s dictum, ‘Without a people’s army, the people have nothing.’ In September 2011, in a symbolic gesture marking their transition from a rebel group into a democratic party, the Maoists handed over the keys of their weapon containers to the government. ‘I cried for hours that night,’ recalled Samjhana Magar. Her daughter too cried with her and asked, ‘Mother, does this mean that the Maoist party is now finished?"

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first lengthy text I've read on the Maoist movement in Nepal, so if this book contains inaccuracies I would have no way of knowing. That being said, I found this book to be an excellent, balanced account of the Maoist movement. Adhikari paints a fairly sympathetic picture of the Maoists and factors in the real problems and horrible oppression that plagued Nepali society. Such context is often overlooked in anti-communist accounts of communist movements. However, the author is not afraid to point out the more unsavory aspects of the guerrillas (forced labor, beatings, executions, extortion).

The depiction of the relationship between the rebels and civilians throughout the book (but especially in chapter 6) reminds me to the role of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things. In both texts, the communists appeal to the downtrodden of society, beaten down by caste oppression, capitalism, and landlordism. However, sections of the population who are not enthusiastic range from apathy to outright fear. Many see the communists as disruptive and inviting violence into their lives. I think people derive a sense of comfort from routine and a quiet life even if it means the continuation of economic and political oppression. This is a question that all movements vying for social transformation have to confront.

[Shreya Joshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommending this to anybody who wants to read a rather balanced view of the People's War in Nepal.

[Saket Suman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bullet and the Ballot Box by Aditya Adhikari opens new vistas on the Maoist rebellion in Nepal ~ a rich and sweeping account of a decade of revolutionary upheaval in the landlocked country. The author has argued that the birth of Maoist ideology in Nepal occurred during the rule of King Mahendra Shah, who believed that Nepal was not ready for democracy and seized power through a coup in 1960, "banned all political parties and established what was called the Panchayat system". By 1970,according to the author, Nepal had turned into an absolute monarchy. In Mahendra's view, it was the only way to "protect and strengthen" the nation's independence and lead the country towards "modernisation".
"But the Panchayat regime allowed no room for political dissent and its modernisation programmes reinforced traditional social hierarchies" and as such it was natural that a large number of young men and women "who sought social and political change" were drawn towards communism. In a few years' time the two largest communist parties united to form the Communist Party of Nepal and pledged allegiance to the new Parliamentary order. In February 1996,the Maoists declared their "People's War" by attacking several police posts in remote parts of the country. The government declared a state of emergency and deployed the national army to curb Maoism in Nepal. Meanwhile, the King stepped forward to claim his power over the polity and all the foreign powers, which had influence in Nepal, India, China, the US and the UK Rs backed the state against the Maoists but to little avail! By 2005, Maoists had spread to almost all parts of rural Nepal and their rebellion had changed the face of the nation.
After a decade long armed struggle, the Maoists finally signed a peace agreement with the mainstream parties that were against the King's usurpation of power and thus paved the path for elections to a Constituent Assembly in Nepal. Journalist turned author, Adhikari draws upon "ideological and strategic documents, statements and circulars issued by the leadership, battle plans drafted by the Maoist military commander and the memoirs, novels, diaries and letters that reveal the inner lives of those who fought the war".
What makes his account significant is the interviews "with militants at various levels of the party hierarchy" that supplement his findings in the book. The author has also made use of "scholarly and journalistic literature" that explores various aspects of the Maoist movement. By weaving personal stories into an account of the broader social and political process, the book tries to depict Nepal's Maoist rebellion as a human event made up of individual choices and destinies. It also becomes significant to reflect that the story behind the rise of Nepal's Maoists was poorly reported and even today remains little understood.
Therefore, Adhikari's account is definitive and highly readable, opening up new horizons on how a poorly armed faction of a small communist party launched an armed rebellion, which ultimately led to a remarkable peace process. Nepal's tryst with democracy has been fascinating Rs from an absolute monarchy to an armed rebellion, from a king, who stepped forward to claim his power over the polity in 2002, and all foreign powers with influence in Nepal, India, China, the US and the UK "backing the state against the Maoists" to the contrasting subsequent result by 2005 that without any external support. The Maoists had gained control over most of Nepal's countryside, and finally from the mainstream parties opposing the King's usurpation of power to the historic uprising that brought down the monarchy and paved the path for elections to a constituent Assembly.
Nepal has fascinated the world with its quest for democracy and the appropriately titled, The Bullet and the Ballot Box, does full justice in retelling the story of Nepal's Maoists to the rest of the world!

First published in The Statesman
http://www.inkstreet.in/2016/04/revie...

[Santino Raftellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly did not know much about Nepalese politics and society so when I encountered this book, I decided that it may be an interesting opportunity to engage critically with a country the same population as Australia.

I was not disappointed (though I may be a little disappointed by the progress of the modern Nepalese government)! It was a very easy and balanced read, coupling a critical analysis of Nepalese monarchism, Maoism and democracy, underscoring the cultural-historical context for the rise of communism in the immediate aftermath of the demise of Soviet communism and Tiananmen Square Chinese revisionism and authoritarianism in the 1990’s/2000’s.

For me it raised the question of whether all communist parties are doomed to either become totalitarian regimes or social democratic parliamentary sell-outs (something which the Nepalese Maoists themselves grappled with) - but also gave me much to ponder; like whether the conditions in Nepal that gave rise to a communist insurrection in the 21st century are reflected in other countries around the world and whether they might have the same response. Is Marxist insurrection a thing of the past/a developing world phenomenon? Could our societies feasibly degenerate to such conditions that would support a Marxist insurgency?

Lots to ponder, and the book certainly delivered on its part!

Moreover, it was nice to read a history of a developing country grappling with its institutions and society written by a non-Western author. I think we all ought to reflect on the types of literature we devour and whether we should attempt to read outside our ‘comfort’ circle.

I recommend the book and recommend reading more about Nepal (I think I would love to go there now!).

[KCML · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relatively objective book that recalls the story of the Maoist uprising in Nepal from 1996-2006. The Nepalese Revolution must go down as an important chapter in the Left as it was the world's only organic Communist rebellion launched after the end of the Cold War. It is also the only one to have successfully achieved its political goals of toppling the Nepalese Monarchy. This book showcases the hopes, dreams and bravery of those young men and women who fought in the ranks of the People's Liberation Army of Nepal.

The most memorable account here is the retelling of the heroic battle at Beni in which the Nepalese People's Army went against the Royal Nepalese Army in a large town in which men and women alike from ethnic groups stereotyped for their supposed weakness and timidness fought ferociously against their enemies, even to the point of being riddled with bullets and still pressing forward. In the aftermath of the betrayal of Prachanda, the Maoist legacy lives on in Nepal as Netra Chand alias "Biplav" seeks to relaunch a new People's War to establish New Democracy in the Himalayas!

[Jacob Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of the Nepalese revolution, through the eyes of the Maoist militants who fought for it most strongly is an interesting one. It is a story of the transformation of both a formerly feudal political system into a parliamentary republican one, but also the transformation of an insurgency into a parliamentary party. In Adihikari's work, we are confronted with a party who achieved sweeping changes: the creation of a constituent assembly, the transformation of tenant-landlord relations, and land reform, the abolition of the Nepali monarchy-- and yet failed to achieve the thoroughgoing revolution it's rank-and-file demanded. His account is compelling, and examines the internal and external limiting factors, ideological and strategic considerations, and internecine struggles of the Maoist rebels that committed them first to rebellion and People's War, and then equally firmly to the parliamentary path. What emerges is an account of the contradictions and exigencies of the pursuit of state power.

[Josh Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Bullet and the Ballot Box, Adhikari delivers a captivating tale of “Why are we trying this again? Why is Pol Pot someone you’re basing an ideology on?” While I suspect the author has some genuine communist sympathies, he is not overbearing in sharing them. He is frequently critical of the Nepali communists, while also highlighting in great detail how and why they rose to prominence.

The cast of characters covered is digestible, and no particular chapter felt too dense. Each event, excerpt, and source is intentionally chosen to move the story forward.

The best parts of this book encompass the power dynamics within the party itself. The relationship between Bhattarai and Prachanda in particular are fascinating, and something worth reading further about in the future.

If I had more vested interest in Nepal I could have seen this being rated higher. 4/5

[ananya · Rating 3 out of 5]

an enlightening read but also so complex and dense that i couldn't help but feel relieved it's over. 3.5 stars bc it's embarrassing how little i knew about the maoists in my own country before picking this up

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is fundamental problem with Maoism. While the dude was brilliant as a Guerilla War Leader, and his precepts in this area are the text book to follow- he was Totally Incompetent as a National Economic and Social Leader! The "Great Leap Forward" set China back at least a decade, and the "Cultural Revolution" destroyed far more culture than it created. So it's hard to see a Maoist movement being successful- unless it develops the sort of Successor Leaders that China found to steer it to its present Communist/Capitalist Mashup. If it hews too closely to its roots- pretty much doomed to failure. So I did not expect a fun uplifting story when I took on this history of Nepal's Maoist Revolution- the period from 2001 to 2006 when the Maoists fought an open war with the Royal Nepali Army. This book also covers the period 2006- 2014 (when the book was published) when the Maoists tried to operate as a regular political party- winning an election before failing as a government and getting voted out.
I learned a LOT from this book. I previously had really only known about the Ghurkas, the sturdy Nepali Mercenaries who fight so well for the British and the Indian armies. I did not know about the complex mix of races/languages/castes/ethnics that make up the Nepali state. In fact, it is a collection of Royal possessions more than a single state, and the lower castes and ethnic groups had really been marginalised by the dominant groups for centuries. Discontent is rife in the mountainous countryside where most of the population reside, so there were many causes that the Maoists could use to make their points. They found ready takers for their pitch of "taking the Country back from the Upper Castes and Capitalists". Plenty of fish for the Guerrillas to hide amongst to use the Maoist cliche.
But the Party led by Prachanda, the leader and Bhattarai , the idealogue got caught in the classic middle ground of so many Insurgencies- enough violence to de-stabilize the state partially- and kill over 18000 people- but not enough to win the war outright. They were able to get the King to abdicate- and a Republic set up- but not to win it's leadership. So in 2006-7 they made peace and tried to take over the state via the Vote. Their Victory exposed their total incompetence at ruling- and their overwhelming tendency to speak out of both sides of their mouths. Tired of the lying and the socioeconomic malaise that came with it- the Maoists were tossed out by the electorate and became just another medium sized party in the Parliament.
This is a story that covers a lot of ground and exposes dozens of complexities in the Nepali political and economic scene. I loved it, as I knew so little about the subject before- and I doubt I am doing it justice here. I encourage anyone with an interest in Asian Politics to read this book, as the two Neighbours to Nepal are China and India- regional powers in an uneasy dance at all times. This is a possible flash point, and it has a roiling energy all its own.
This is NOT a book for the Junior reader as all its concepts are not only adult but somewhat arcane. One needs to remember one's Marxist-Leninist jargon, dogma, and stupidity, as well as one's Orwell. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast, this is a bit of a frost. There are some pics of Maoist soldiers- but zero gear or technical details are discussed. Nor are there any maps/diagrams that are useful for wargamers. The author is really trying to discuss the socioeconomic and political sides of this war- so this is not a military history as such. A strong rec- but not for my usual audience.

[Muhittin Karaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Çok bilmediğimiz bir coğrafyada yaşanan toplumsal dönüşümü anlatıyor. 1990 larda anayasal monarsinin kurulması, kralın darbesi,maoistlerin kırsal alanlardan baslayarak örgütlenmesi, silahlı ayaklanmalar ve 2000 lerin ortasında krallığın tasviye edilmesi.

[Rohit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent survey of the twists and turns of the revolutionary communist movement in Nepal over the course of the 1990s and 2000s. There is a lot of information in this book, but is still written in such a way as to make it a relatively easy and quick read. The author is generally sympathetic to the Maoists, or at least the conditions they were responding to, but doesn't shy away from analyzing their crimes and failures, and generally gives a pretty balanced look at the civil war and the internal dynamics of the various parties.

The way the narrative moves through time can be a bit jarring, however; the book has a bit of a habit of jumping back and forth before and after major events or changes in the political or military situation, which can get a bit confusing at times, but not much.

[Avani · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone with absolutely no idea about Nepali politics, this book really helped me come up to date with the various political winds affecting Nepal. There were a lot of things I wished the book would go deeper in, but as an introductory reading, it was really helpful! Really liked how the book deviated from the "Great Men" idea of retelling history--Adhikari goes into great detail to underscore how thousands of people who were and still are politically disenfranchised came together to create change. It was also extremely easy to read--I breezed through this mammoth in two days which really says something about the writing skills of the author.

[Heema Rai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a detailed chronological narrative of the Maoist War in Nepal. Not for the ones already familiar with it, or who lived through it. But it would be a good read for someone who is not that familiar with Nepal's tumultuous plunge into a decade long civil war. It is dispassionate, very objective and the writer has obviously put a lot of research which makes the text authentic-a welcome change. I will give this a 2.5 because I could not find anything new (frankly I was disappointed after all that hullabaloo). But if I was a beginner on Nepal's Civil War, I would easily give it a 4.5

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A political overview of the Maoist uprising in Nepal. Well detailed and with great background. This is a great book for anyone interested in Nepali politics, political theory in general, revolutions, or the history of Communist thought. Since I fit all of those descriptions this was a great book. It even included tales of individual fighters, discussed the books that influence the movement, the failings of the government at the time that inadvertently helped the Maoists, and provided helpful insight into how the group's leadership worked together. Highly recommended.

[Neil H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book from the library and had no prior basis of Nepal history. I was shocked and saddened by the account of diverse political, monarchial and social forces jostling for competition. Of course I say this in the comfort as an observer without stakes in the game. Nevertheless, the pain, suffering of the disenfranchised, disillusioned and ultimately cheated by the rousing of the Maoist seems to serve nothing more than a crippled revisionist ideology intent on making a generation lose its way.

[Pam Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its about how the revolutionary maoist rebellion altered the course of Nepals history. How King Mahendra sha seized power after throwing a coup in 1960, banned all political parties, established the panchayat system to protect and strengthen the nation, but the Maoists brought the government down in 1996 and the rebellion changed the face of the nation. This is their story.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting recounting of politics in Nepal over the last few decades. I find it instructive that the "revolution" settled for an electoral strategy and the concomitant diminishing of genuinely revolutionary aims. The intrigues of centralized politics are allowed to take hold once again...

[Bredo Erichsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well balanced description of a bad period i Nepals history. The last part on the period after the war gives a good background to understand a bit of what is going on in Nepali politics today.

[Carol Soto]

The beginning seemed to be a well rounded and straight forward account and was helpful in sorting out the personalities and factions. It did however become a very unbiased and I thought one sided appraisal for the entire last third of the book.

[Reynis Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to every Nepali because besides everything we have been hearing about the Maoist Revolution and everything we think is true. There is so much more to it. This book tries to present an honest picture of all the parties involved.

[Kshitiz Dahal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, well-researched account of Nepali Maoists' journey from their early days to the election of the second constituent assembly in 2013.

[Ankit Chawla · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I am an atheist who doesn’t believe in your Vedas.
I am an outlaw who doesn’t believe in your laws.
There is no need to believe in the Vedic sutras and laws, that discriminate between people, that destroys the soul of humanity.
So I turned against you and picked up a gun.
I became a spark that ignites the gunpowder.
I became a Maoist."

These lines above were written by a Maoist militant in Nepal and I think they're enough to send goosebumps down anyone's spine.

The Maoists of Nepal are a big part of the country's history. Not only did they influence the formation of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal, but top Maoist leaders have also served in top positions in the Nepal government. This book takes a deep dive into the conditions behind the formation of the CPN-M, how the members of the party picked up arms against the monarchy and how they eventually left the military struggle behind to accept multi-party democracy in their country with open arms.

You know that moment when you find the title of the book you are reading in the book itself, and by the time you reach that part, you are beaming with excitement. For me, this moment came while watching the "Walk the Talk" interview with CPN-M supremo, ex-Prime Minister Prachanda. In a moment with the interview, the journalist Shekhar Gupta reminds Prachanda of how India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Prachanda was a man who had gone from "The Bullet" to the "The Ballot Box", you can imagine how I lost my mind when I heard this.

[Sheldon Chau · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent summary of the Maoist Revolution in Nepal - how they came to be in the 60s-90s, how they came to power in the 00s, and how they went out on a whimper in the early 2010s.

Aditya Adhikari sums it up in his postscript quite effectively:

“In a way the 2013 election marked the Maoists’ total transformation into an establishment party, one that went through regular cycles of electoral victory and defeat. The odds against which they had fought and risen seemed like a distant memory. Yet not too long ago, they had been rebels who controlled vast sections of the countryside. Only seven years had elapsed since they entered the capital and five since they won the elections to become the nation’s strongest political force. This was a rare achievement, considering that few guerrilla movements of recent times have been able to break through the urban barrier. What had enabled this?”

Adhikari goes on to recap how the two Maoist leaders - Prachanda and Bhattarai - basically loses the original fervor to fight for the party’s radical cause; or they have found themselves firmly within the establishment and have realized that there is not much they can do to appease their party’s demands. The author also highlights the pain that so many of the Maoist following are now going through: how they gave up their youth to fight for the cause only to be paid nothing in return later in life.

[Harry Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, which gives a concise and informative account of an event I knew nothing about. About like a soap opera in how every group allies with every other group at some point. I'd say the book's strong suit is its incorporation of interviews and statements by Maoists of all levels into the narrative in a way that is both elucidating and entertaining. I would have a similar treatment, if briefer, of the other parties in the conflict, but this book does purposely choose to focus on the Maoist section which is fair.

[Revanth Ukkalam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Journalist must bear heart - and compassion for the people it records. Adhikari's account of Maoist Revolution is an excellent and somewhat agonising study of the passions, desperations, and sometimes the flimsinesses that dominated Nepali politics for decades. Lurking under the pettiness of the kings Birendra and Gyanendra, the machinations and dreams of Prachanda, the hopes of leaders from the Jana Sarkars is the inexplicability of the lack of democracy of any kind for decades. The sheer lack of what may be sometimes considered 'basic' in 'modernity'.

[ANURAG RAKSHIT · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is one book on Nepal's Maoist insurgency that you would be reading, then let it be this one. Detailed and interesting description of the major political events, background to the insurgency and personalities involved in the conflict. The only thing missing is how did the Maoists manage to go from a rag tag bunch of militants to an organized force in Nepal's politics. However, there is only so much a single book can cover.

[David Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bullet and the Ballot Box: The Story of Nepal's Maoist Revolution ** Read in Pokhara, Nepal (November 2021)

[Avi Udash · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a good overview of the maoist revolution in nepal and its impacts! I didn’t really know much about the revolution before but this book was really detailed and informative. I was worried about it being too dense / boring but i felt that it was pretty interesting (but tbf i audiobooked it)

[Geronimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleanly written. Doesn’t get into much theory but is a solid overview