Contents
Preface vii
Introduction
The ‘People’s War’ and the Armed Conflict in Nepal 1
1 Living on a Tightrope: Adaptive Strategies of Grassroots Development Workers in a Maoist-Conflict Area 15
2 Radio Janaganatantra Nepal: Listening to Maoist Radio and Reflecting upon Nepal’s Culture of Loyalty 31
3 Calm before a Storm: Traveling to Work on a Road in Bhojpur just before the Attack 37
4 Conflict, Development, and Alcohol Abuse: Revisiting Bhojpur after the Attack, 2004 77
5 Rara Lake – ‘A Poor Man’s Beautiful Wife’: Conflict and Livelihood in the Lesser District of Mugu 95
6 Five Days in a Maoist Area of Upper Dolakha: Studying Hydropower Development in Upper Tamakoshi 129
7 Hydropower Development – Conflict, Politics and Corruption: A Visit to Lamjung 151
8 ‘Tamakoshi River is Full of Widow’s Tears’: Uncertainty and People’s Plight in Ramechhap 157
9 East Nepal: Overlooked Impacts of the Armed Conflict171
10 Revolt against the Maoists: A Trip to Dailekh and Dullu 181
11 Ceasefire and Tension Relief: Traveling through Dhankuta and Bhojpur 205
Epilogue 215
References 223
Annexes
Annex I: Districts visited in west and central Nepal 225
Annex II: Districts visited in east Nepal 226
Annex III: Time-line of the conflict and peace process in Nepal (1990–2014) 227
Annex IV: Major incidents during the Maoist insurgency (1996-2006) 229
