Chautari Book Series 82
Under the Shadow of the Red Flag explores the impact of Nepal’s decade-long (1996-2006) armed conflict on village life and society in remote districts of the country. The accounts presented are based on the author’s observations and impressions gained from his first-hand experiences while traveling across Nepal for various research and development consulting assignments.
The book provides new insights into how people living under the shadow of the armed conflict develop knowledge of their surroundings, learn about threats and find the means to survive. It also illuminates the risks involved in wartime development activities and shows how agencies, aid workers and civilians cope when caught between two armed forces. This book will be especially useful for social scientists, development practitioners and others who wish to understand the multiple social implications of the recent conflict in Nepal.
Contents
- Preface vii
- Introduction: The ‘People’s War’ and the Armed Conflict in Nepal 1
- Chapters:
- Living on a Tightrope: Adaptive Strategies of Grassroots Development Workers in a Maoist-Conflict Area 15
- Radio Janaganatantra Nepal: Listening to Maoist Radio and Reflecting upon Nepal’s Culture of Loyalty 31
- Calm before a Storm: Traveling to Work on a Road in Bhojpur just before the Attack 37
- Conflict, Development, and Alcohol Abuse: Revisiting Bhojpur after the Attack, 2004 77
- Rara Lake – ‘A Poor Man’s Beautiful Wife’: Conflict and Livelihood in the Lesser District of Mugu 95
- Five Days in a Maoist Area of Upper Dolakha: Studying Hydropower Development in Upper Tamakoshi 129
- Hydropower Development – Conflict, Politics and Corruption: A Visit to Lamjung 151
- ‘Tamakoshi River is Full of Widow’s Tears’: Uncertainty and People’s Plight in Ramechhap 157
- East Nepal: Overlooked Impacts of the Armed Conflict171
- Revolt against the Maoists: A Trip to Dailekh and Dullu 181
- 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
