Booktalk: Tika Prasad Dhakal on the 1923 treaty, Nepal’s independence and the craft of diplomacy
Summary
Tika Prasad Dhakal reflects on the 1923 Nepal-Britain Friendship Treaty, arguing that it formally affirmed Nepal’s independence and offers enduring lessons for the country’s diplomacy. He says the treaty’s legacy lies in the craft of negotiation, institutional foreign policy, and Nepal’s long effort to preserve room for manoeuvre with powerful states.
Key Points
- The 1923 Nepal-Britain Friendship Treaty formally reaffirmed Britain’s recognition of Nepal as an independent and sovereign state.
- Editor Tika Prasad Dhakal says the treaty reveals the art of diplomacy, including the roles of Chandra Shumsher and Lord Reading in shaping negotiations.
- Dhakal argues that the treaty still matters for Nepal’s foreign policy because it shows how durable partnerships are built through institutions and mutual trust.
- He says Nepal must preserve its diplomatic flexibility while dealing with issues such as borders, trade, transit and water resources.
