‘The 1923 treaty remains a living foundation of Nepal’s sovereignty’
Summary
Dr. Tika Prasad Dhakal says the 1923 Nepal-Britain Treaty of Friendship remains a living foundation of Nepal’s sovereignty and a key lesson in small-state statecraft. He also stresses disciplined foreign policy, internal cohesion, and the importance of sustained reading for deeper scholarship.
Key Points
- Dr. Tika Prasad Dhakal’s new book, State and Craft, revisits the 1923 Nepal-Britain Treaty of Friendship as a foundational text for Nepal’s sovereignty.
- He argues the treaty formalized an equal relationship with Britain and helped Nepal emerge from the shadow of Sugauli, strengthening its external sovereignty.
- Dhakal says diplomacy requires policy discipline, strategic predictability, and internal political cohesion to protect a small state’s interests.
- He also warns that digital browsing is replacing deep reading among young researchers and undermining intellectual depth.
