Plains Of Discontent A Political History Of Nepals Tarai (1743-2019)

Plains of Discontent sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of the flatlands of the Tarai, where over 50% of the country's population resides. It is in the Tarai that bitter political movements and battles have taken place, raising fundamental questions about Nepali identity and the structure of Nepal as both a nation and a state. To fully comprehend the anger, resentment and discontent in the Tarai, the book argues, we must delve into its political history. *** Plains of Discontent is a rare and unique text that delves into the history of the conquered people of Nepal's Tarai, rather than the victors. It offers a refreshing and insightful perspective on the aspirations and history of the Tarai people, often ignored by mainstream media and school textbooks. Starting with the Gurkhali conquest of the Tarai, the book details the deforestation, resource theft, land seizure, colonisation, disfranchisement, and systematic suppression of the Madhesis, Tharus, and other indigenous people in the region. These factors eventually led to the civil war, the Madhesi and Tharu uprisings and the independence movement. Mørch has done a remarkable job of uncovering the historical ruins of the land and the shattered aspirations of the people in the Tarai. He has essentially resurrected a forgotten history. —C. K. Raut, President, Janamat Party Plains of Discontent has breathed new life into the often dry and stale historical literature of Nepal. For too long, Nepali historians have struggled to piece together disconnected facts, failing to identify the root cause of recurrent discontent among different oppressed nationalities within the Nepali state, and to synthesise a common identity or structural mechanism that is acceptable to all. Drawing on numerous historical sources from the ancient era to modern times, including the reigns of King Prithvi Narayan and King Mahendra, the book exposes the fruitlessness of the ruling elites' attempts to forcefully bind historically distin