Despite much recent debate about the significance of civil society in Nepal, there has been comparatively little discussion about the social and political role intermediate organizations like NGOs and professional associations can play in the country’s future. On April 21, Pratyoush Onta, one of the most respected historians and public intellectuals from Nepal, will be at The New School to share his views on this important issue and the so-called ‘new’ Nepal.

Pratyoush Onta has a Ph.D. in history and has done research on Nepali nationalism, Gurkha history, institutions, area studies and media. He is currently the convener of Martin Chautari, a forum for public discussions and research in Kathmandu. He is the founding editor of the biannual academic journal, Studies in Nepali History and Society, published from Kathmandu since 1996. He has authored, edited or co-edited several books including Social History of Radio Nepal (2004), Growing up with Radio (2005), and Mass Media in Post-1990 Nepal (2006). During spring 2008, he was a visiting member of the faculty at Trinity College, Hartford.