Every passing moment is part of the history. Not all people can record past incidents truthfully. To many, most of the past goes unnoticed and unrecorded.


Journalist Rabindra Mishra, a well known columnist, has taken the pains to record the events and trends of the past 10 years in his new book. Mishra, who is associated with BBC World Service, Nepal, started a regular column in Nepal weekly back in 2001 in the nick name Manuj Chaudhari. Since a year ago, Mishra has been writing in his own name.


His articles were published in various times in the past. But some of the views expressed by the author are still relevant. For instance, his open letter to Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, which was published in 16 Poush 2057, is very relevant in the present context. Mishra blamed Dr. Baburam Bhattarai for planting a seed of violence. He cautioned Dr. Bhattarai that his violence may breed violence like in Afghanistan where weapons imported to defeat former Soviet Republic was creating trouble in the region.

If one looks back at the decade-long predictions of journalist Mishra, they ring true in the present day Nepal. Violence grew gradually and everyone is now trying to justify their cause by placing the slogans of bloody violence in their rhetoric.

Similarly, his views published on 11 Chaitra 2057 are also very relevant in the present context. He pointed out CPN-UML’s decision to disrupt the Parliament was a political blunder arguing that it would benefit Maoists and Rightists more than others. As Mishra predicted, disruption of the parliament caused a major shift in Nepalese politics. Following the incident, there was the Royal Massacre, change of government and finally dissolution of the House of Representatives.

The elections of the Constituent Assembly, which were held after the elections of 2056, pushed CPN-UML to the third position and established Maoists as a major political force. Journalist Mishra’s book is full of articles which remind us of the interesting and tragic political incidents of the past. His book touches on various crucial phases of the recent history of Nepal.

His letter to then chairman of Non-Residential Nepalese Association is also interesting. In it, he urged non-resident Nepalese to make more contributions to help deprived and poor people of Nepal.  Journalist Mishra is an individual full of innovative ideas. He is the founding chairperson of Help Nepal Network, which works for the uplift of the poor people. The articles included in the book range from politics to foreign policy and other contemporary issues.

The book is divided in three parts. The first part comprises articles grouped under We Nepali. In it, author Mishra has placed articles related to the nation and national interest. Articles in the second chapter are under the title of Bhumadhya Rekha and the third chapter consists of replies to his articles.  

 The compilation gives a good overview of contemporary politics and other relevant issues between 2001 and present through the author’s lenses. Mishra has made a great contribution to Nepalese literature and Nepalese history by publishing the book which affords us glimpses of political history of Nepal and the role of the players involved in the process.