Kutniti Ra Rajniti (Diplomacy and Politics) is the autobiography of Ramesh Nath Pandey, a controversial and polarising figure in Nepal’s politics. Spanning a period of over five decades, this book elaborates on his role in shaping Nepal’s national politics, as well as Nepal’s relationship with the international community. First, the contents of the book. Pandey’s passion for reading appears to have started at a very early age, and he entered the field of journalism at the tender age of 14. When he was 16 years old, he became the editor of a Nepali daily, Janata. By then, he had developed a close relationship with Prime Minister Bisheswor Prasad (BP) Koirala, which is highlighted by BP’s introducing him to prominent figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Zhou Enlaias—a promising young journalist. He maintained a close relationship with BP even during the latter’s imprisonment in Sundarijal and regularly sent him books to read. When he was 20 years old, Pandey was approached by King Mahendra to negotiate with BP. After two rounds, negotiations were aborted because BP refused to meet the king without any pre-conditions. According to Pandey, had BP followed his advice, he would have been released from prison with dignity. With this, writes Pandey, his dream of bringing together the palace and the people was destroyed. Following his unsuccessful attempts at reconciliation between BP and the king, Pandey was imprisoned three times for a combined period of three and a half years. Upon his release, he was once again approached by the king. However, this time, it was to become the king’s special advisor. He says this was an important milestone, as he was presented with an opportunity to fulfil his dreams of shaping the country’s future. But, Pandey’s new alliance also brought an end to his close relationship with BP. Initially, Pandey was tasked with reading books on historical figures, international affairs, and philosophy, and then presenting a brief on each book to the king. Eventually, according to him, he would become the king’s most trusted envoy on foreign affairs. His first international mission was in New Delhi where he met Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her senior cabinet members to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Nepal. Later, he was sent on a clandestine mission to Malaysia to meet Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and other senior leaders and seek assistance on counter-insurgency training for the Nepal Army. Within Nepal, he was introduced by the king himself to ambassadors from US and USSR as his trusted representative, and was able to establish a very close friendship with both envoys. Pandey believes he continued to be the most trusted emissary for both King Birendra and King Gyanendra