Most of the
people today know Himalaya Shumsher as the first governor of Nepal Rastra Bank
and the finance secretary, but his book ‘Reminiscences and Reflections’ tells us
how he had also been instrumental in anti-Rana and various democratic
movements.
Tracing back
the history, the book mentions the missing pieces of history like how the first
Rana-Congress government was formed, which is barely mentioned in contemporary
Nepali history.
The book
that goes back to Rana regime and how the country was ruled by the Rana
oligarchy is something the people should read and compare with the current
republican leaders to understand how not to rule the country.
‘Reminiscences
and Reflections’ is not only Himalaya Shumsher’s involvement in democratic
movement against his own clan but also describes the state of affairs from
before 1951 to the last days of Maoist insurgency and his role in playing
bridge between the conflicting parties then.
The book is
also a testament of Nepal as a country moving nowhere since 1950, even after
the Constituent Assembly election. Going through the book, one will strongly
realise, even after changing different regimes in the last six decades, Nepal
has been still in the 50s’.
‘Reminiscences
and Reflections’ apart from giving historical glimpses, gives the author’s view
of country’s political and economic history during his long carrier.
The author
feels how King Mahendra’s regime started the unstable bureaucracy in the
country and how it is still continued till day.
The last
chapter of the 12-chapter book has also included the author’s relations and
impressions of some of the leaders like Subarna Shumshere, Matrika Prasad
Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh and Sardar Bhim Bahadur Pande, apart from the text of
the first budget of the country.
The book –
the translated version of author’s Nepali version of memories – is also an
example why should the generation that lived the different regime should pen
down their experience to enrich the people of history, not only because one has
something to tell but also, one must leave something for the next generation,
how they lived and struggled to make the country proud for them. With no culture of documentation, the current
google generation is left with no choice but to depend on one-sided version of
the history and there is a danger that the next generation might end up with no
pride on our country and its past leaders, who struggled to give us a better
future.
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK:
Reminiscences and Reflections
AUTHOR:
Himalaya Shumsher
PUBLISHER:
Himalaya Shumsher
PAGES: 187
PRICE: Rs
400 (paperback), Rs 600 (Hardcover)
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how to buy this book
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