3 Review(s)

An indispensable guide to Nepals recent history, the book also offers a fascinating case study of how communist ideology has been reinterpreted and translated into political action in the twenty-first century. In 1996, when Nepals Maoists launched their armed rebellion, their ideology was widely considered obsolete and they had limited public support. By 2008 they had gained access to state power and their ambitious plan of social transformation dominated the national agenda. How did this become possible? The bullet and the ballot box offers a rich and sweeping account of a decade of revolutionary upheaval. Adhikari draws on a broad range of sources, including novels, letters and diaries, to illuminate both the history and human drama of the Maoist rebellion. Praise about the book Aditya Adhikari weaves together an impressive amount of research, analysis and personal observation and he does so very elegantly. This is a compelling work of scholarship and a significant contribution to understanding contemporary Nepal. - Manjushree Thapa. The writing is wonderfully concrete and fresh. Drawing on interviews with Maoist leaders and cadres, as well as on numerous untranslated Nepali sources (Including novels and memoirs), the bullet and the ballot box opens new vistas on the conflict. It is likely to stand for a considerable time to come as the most comprehensive and insightful account of Nepals Maoist revolution. - David Gellner, university of oxford.