Saturday, February 2, 2013

Reminiscences and Reflections of Himalaya Shumsher



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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