Book Reviews
Abstract
88 Book Reviews the period from 1977 to 1980 is sweepingly mentioned in the last few paragraphs of the book, the implications of the present process of Sino- Indian normalization have been completely ignored. The study ably binigs out the fact that China entrenched itself in the Kingdom by subtly exploiting India's weaknesses as well as the susceptibilities of a weak and small neighbour and its inherently fragile monarchical polity towards India. There is, however, no attempt to view Sino-Nepalese relations in a comparative perspective of the overall Chinese diplomatic strategy towards its smaller neighbours in general and towards South Asia in particular. There are only casual references to China's use of economic diplomacy and its ideological linkages with Communist groups in Nepal in pursuance of its strategic objectives. This aspect deserves an indepth analysis. The author is hopeful that China has not succeeded, and will not succeed, in upsetting "India's pre-eminent position" except very marginally. On the whole the study follows a very familiar course. It does not say anything that has not been said already. Centre for South, South-East, and Central Asian Studies, School of, nternational Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University S.D. MUNI South Asia MUJEEB ASHRAF.