INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU: Rajib Upadhya, a formal journalist and longtime development professional, has come out with a book that argues that the cabals
and the cartels, the dark underbelly of the transitioning Nepal, will hollow out every prospect for the change that we are still pining for
if they are left to their devices.
The book was launched amidst a few journalists in a socially-distanced setting, today.
The launch
was followed by a panel discussion among the writer, economists Biswo Poudel, Hima Bista, and senior journalist Kishore Nepal.
Speaking at
the launch, Kishore Nepal said, Rajib Upadhyas book is a vivid portrait of contemporary Nepal
Many books are written about Nepal in English, but most of them are of touristy type
In Cabals and Cartels, Rajib digs deep into the painful realities of the nation.
A gripping tapestry of interwoven events that characterises
Nepals transformation from a multiparty monarchy fighting against insurgency and poverty to a secular republic fighting against poverty, one
of the panelists Biswo Poudel said, describing the book as as engrossing memoir of a skilled raconteur
He further said the writer has incisively observed the local elites responsible for these epochal events in his capacity as an employee at
the World Bank and supplemented his observations with the deep and precise understanding of the local political context.
Another panelist,
Hima Bista, who is a development professional said that Cabals and Cartels is an outstanding narrative of political and economic transitions
It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the labyrinth of international aid, its vices and virtues especially during and after
the conflict.
Upadhya, while sharing his own experiences, said that he wanted to expose his readers to the grave risks that the cabals and
the cartels pose to democratic stability and equitable prosperity.
I felt I needed to present the evidence as to how they distort the
priorities of our state and market institutions and distract us from our national goals
I wanted to make the case as to why extricating ourselves of the cabals and cartels is so central to Nepali society liberating itself from
the past.
Dr Devendra Raj Pandey has said that the book is an absorbing tale of Nepals trials and tribulations in a challenging period is
remarkable both for the depth of analysis and the breadth of its coverage.
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