Historical sociologist Lokranjan Parajuli's Sandhikaal launched

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 5: The book “Sandhikaal: Samajik Paribartanka Aadharbhumi” by historical sociologist Lokranjan Parajuli has been officially launched in Kathmandu on Saturday.

The book explores the story of the advent of democracy in Nepal and the broader social transformations that made it possible. During the event, author Parajuli marked the launch by presenting copies of the book to historian Mahesh Raj Pant, Gen Z activist Raksha Bam, and sociology student Yadav Aryal.

Speaking at the event, Parajuli described the political change of 1951 (2007 BS) as the most significant turning point in modern Nepal’s history after the country’s formation. He emphasised that the revolution transformed subjects into sovereign citizens, granting freedoms such as expression, education, publication, and organisation. According to him, the change brought widespread enthusiasm and major shifts across social institutions, including media, education, and civil organisations.

Parajuli also highlighted that narratives of the anti-Rana movement often overlook the contributions of cultural and social forces such as literature, radio, cinema, and education. He stressed that major transformations are not driven solely by final political events but are shaped by a wide range of underlying social factors. His book seeks to uncover these foundational elements.

The author identifies the period between 2004 BS and 2007 BS as a “Sandhikaal,” or transitional phase, where one era ended, and another began. He argues that although democracy was officially established in 2007 BS, its groundwork had been developing for several years.

Editor Bimal Acharya of Publication Nepalaya noted that the book responds to a long-standing demand for deeply researched works on Nepal’s history, politics, society, and culture. He described the book as a strong contribution that examines the social dimensions behind the transformative political change of 1951.

The launch event was held through advance registration due to the limited seating capacity at the venue. Nepalaya team leader Kiran Krishna Shrestha shared that the ticketed format drew inspiration from historical literary events during the Rana era and received an enthusiastic response.

Lokranjan Parajuli is a historical sociologist affiliated with Martin Chautari. He holds a PhD in sociology from Bielefeld University, Germany, and has authored, co-authored, and edited more than a dozen books. He also serves as editor for prominent journals such as Studies in Nepali History and Society (SINHAS) and Samaj Adhyayan. The 308-page book is priced at Rs. 675 and is now available at major bookstores across Nepal, as well as online platforms including Thuprai.com and Amazon.