Nepal, Feb. 24 -- The post World War II decade of the 1950s saw the dismantling of colonial systems, establishment of a new world order with the United States replacing Britain. India and Pakistan had just gained independence and were still traumatised by partition.

In China, Mao Zedong came to power after 20 years of revolution, and promptly annexed Tibet. The Cold War between the US and the Sino-Soviet alliance led to proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam.

In Nepal itself, the Ranas were replaced by the Shahs in 1951, and ten years later BP Koirala became the first democratically elected prime minister - soon deposed in a coup by King Mahendra. Nepal opened up to the world and tried to keep a delicate balance between global and regional p...