In the contemporary political history of Nepal, few leaders have experienced as many sharp fluctuations as Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'. He was once a symbol of change—a voice of rebellion, the hope of the oppressed class, and the dream of a new Nepal. He has now become a symbol of a leadership narrative that transitioned from rebel to ruler, and gradually, to one of diminishing influence.He experienced revolution, war, the peace process, constitution drafting, and governance in his lifetime. Yet, with so many opportunities and experiences, it is natural to ask why Prachanda has shrunk from an influential statesman to...