History as Mindscapes: A Memory of the Peasants’ Movement of Nepal

Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 06:37 Friday, 25 March 2011 10:08

Chautari Book Series 62


Yogesh Raj
First edition 2010 (2067 v.s.)
Page: 336, Price: 500

ISBN: 978-9937-8194-8-0

Book Review
The Kathmandu Post 22 March 2011
Republica15March2011
European Bulletin of Himalayan Research

This book presents the memories of a peasant leader, Krishnabhakta Caguthi (b. 1928) of Bhaktapur, regarding his roles and observations of the peasants’ movement in mid-twentieth century Nepal. It also gives rich accounts of social and agrarian relations of the period. Yogesh Raj, a scholar of history and engineering and Caguthi’s neighbor, has carefully transcribed and translated Caguthi’s narratives and organized them into an autobiography. Fully aware of the problems of an individual account, he adds, for readers’ scrutiny, numerous notes including different or conflicting materials and views. Introduction and appendices also contribute to the scholarly and fair presentation of this valuable work. – Hiroshi Ishii Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

History as Mindscapes is a result of a rare combination of meticulous empirical research and bold and imaginative theorizing. The text is both provocative and nuanced, and sheds a vivid light on social life and politics in Nepal since the early twentieth century through a ‘mindscape’ of an intriguing peasant leader from Bhaktapur. This is an original and important contribution to the social history of Nepal. – Tatsuro Fujikura Associate Professor, Kyoto University

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface     ix

A Note on the Orthography of Non-English Words     xiii

Section 1 Introduction     1

Section 2 Caguthi Speaks     23

References     201

Appendices
Appendix 1     Transcription of an Interview Session     209
Appendix 2     Facsimiles of ANKS Documents     215
Appendix 3     A Sample from Section Five of the Nepali Master Copy        327
Appendix 4     Glossary of Newari/Nepali Words     329

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