Mr Kanak Mani Dixit's understanding of India's recent flip-flop cannot be completely dismissed but surely reasons run much deeper than that meets the eye. ('Flip-flop', #248) Without trying to list categories from South Block up to Indian royalty, there are certain fundamentals. India feels strongly that the king understands this very well and does not wish to risk his power. Military hardware is not what it is all about. In real terms the state of the RNA is adequate and will continue to improve irrespective of any assistance from India. While no one can deny the argument that the prosperity of Nepal is in the interest of India, the level of prosperity is another matter altogether. It is in the greater interest of India that Nepal's prosperity levels do not surpass or equal India's. India has for long kept Nepal's economic capacity in check by playing up dependence. For Nepal these are trying times and only improvements in all spheres of governance can save us.

Paras Dewan,
Kathmandu