Barbara’s Nepal

Barabara Adams arrived in Nepal in 1961. She has somehow been both a total participator in, and a detatched observer of, the Nepali cultural, political and developmental scene. Those who missed her early columns in the “Independent”, have long been urging her to publish her works in a lasting format: hence this book. Barbara’s growing disillusion with the section on “Politics.” Her anguish over the ecological, architectural, and cultural deterioration of Kathmandu Valley has provoked some of her most passionate writings to date: several appear in this book under “Environment.” The series on the contentious Arun III project is especially pertinent today, when small hydro-electric projects are finally coming into their own, and India’s “river linking” proposal is inspiring widespread comment on river-related issues. These essays are fascinating to read because of their early coverage of problems which are dominating discussion in Nepal today: poverty, ethnicity, disillusioned youth, rancid rivers and careless politicians, among others. When Barbara started writing her weekly column “Barbara’s Beat” she was given carte blanche to write on any subject which interested her. This book contains a wide-ranging compilation of Barbara’s multi-faceted interests in, or related to, Nepal. Barbara was one of the first to express the people’s frustration at the lack of change after the Jana Andolan and to criticize HMG’s failure to address inequality, injustice , human rights abuses, corruption and the basic needs of the poor and disenfranchised. These essays provide insights into the socio-political realities of Nepal and help us understand the historical context of the present crisis.