Singha Durbar (Revised And Updated Edition): Rise and Fall of the Rana Regime of Nepal

The Ranas of Nepal were de facto rulers of the kingdom for slightly over a century, reigning as prime ministers of the state, with the king as a figurehead. Their rule, while bringing stability to a fraught empire, has also been criticized for economic and religious excesses, and for tyranny. Now, for the first time, a descendant of the Rana clan opens up about his family, setting right certain historical misconceptions, and offering an honest critique of what was one of the most vital periods in the history of Nepal which drew to a close in 1951. Frank, forthright and utterly balanced, Sangha Durbar: Rise and Fall of the Rana Regime of Nepal is one of the most important historical accounts to have been published on the Himalayan kingdom in recent years.

Sagar S.J.B. Rana was born in February 1938 in Baber Mahal palace, Kathmandu. He holds an MA in Jurisprudence from University of Oxford. A descendant of the Rana family, he and his brothers were also actively involved in the Nepali Congress party, the principal democratic force that opposed the politically active monarchy. Sagar became a full-time activist in the mid-1970s. He was a Member of the Central Working Committee and the Head of Department of International Affairs of the Nepali Congress in the critical years, 2003– 06. Founder chairman of the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal, the author is involved with different institutions related to art, culture and heritage conservation. He is currently the Vice President of Nepal Art Council.