Nepal’s 1923 treaty gets a modern sovereignty read
Dr. Tika Prasad Dhakal tells Republica the Nepal-Britain treaty still matters for how Nepal thinks about power today.
Republica / myRepublica interviewed Dr. Tika Prasad Dhakal, a former presidential adviser and Truth and Reconciliation Commission member, about his recent book “State and Craft: Readings on the 1923 Nepal-Britain Treaty of Friendship” (Vajra Books, 2026). Dhakal told Republica the 1923 Nepal-Britain Treaty of Friendship, signed at Singha Durbar by Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher and British Envoy William O’Connor, formalized a “sovereign, equal relationship.” He argues the treaty secured explicit recognition of Nepal’s independence, helped Nepal move out of Sugauli’s shadow, and later supported a wider diplomatic footprint, including UN membership. He also connects the history to present-day policy discipline, strategic predictability, internal cohesion, and serious reading.
Why it matters: For our DMV Nepal-watchers, the value is the long view: Dhakal ties a century-old treaty to sovereignty, regional balance, and diplomatic credibility today.
Sources
This post summarizes reporting by the outlets above; read them for the full story. Fact-checked against the sources before publishing. Corrections: ashik@ashik.ai