| Series Editor's Foreword | xi |
| Preface | xiii |
| Acknowledgments | xix |
| Maps | xxi |
| Nepal | 1 |
| Part 1 | Narrative Section | 3 |
| Geography and History of Nepal | 5 |
| Physical and Human Geography | 7 |
| Ecology and Regional Division | 8 |
| The Monsoon and Nepali Life | 15 |
| A Sketch of Human Habitation | 17 |
| A Historical Profile | 21 |
| Ancient History | 22 |
| Medieval History | 25 |
| Modern History | 28 |
| Conclusion | 39 |
| The Economy of Nepal | 43 |
| Government's Role in the Economy | 45 |
| Economic Planning and Foreign Aid | 45 |
| Planning and Some Key Economic Sectors | 50 |
| Conclusion: Future Prospects | 68 |
| Nepali Institutions | 73 |
| Government and Politics | 74 |
| The Dawn and Death of Democracy and Economic Stagnation | 75 |
| Return of Democracy and the Multiparty System | 80 |
| Nepal and the World | 82 |
| Ethnic Groups, Castes, and Social Classes | 85 |
| Ethnic Groups | 85 |
| The Caste System | 90 |
| Social Classes and Stratification | 93 |
| Religion and Society | 95 |
| Hinduism | 97 |
| Buddhism | 99 |
| Education | 101 |
| Education under Rana Rule | 101 |
| Education since 1951 | 103 |
| Conclusion | 104 |
| Nepali Society and Contemporary Issues | 107 |
| Family and Kinship Networks | 107 |
| Women's Status in Society | 110 |
| Gender Relations | 114 |
| Child Labor | 116 |
| Popular Culture and Recreation | 117 |
| Hindi Movies | 118 |
| Western Popular Culture | 119 |
| Drug Use | 121 |
| Recreational Activities | 121 |
| The Internet | 125 |
| Conclusion | 126 |
| Part 2 | Reference Materials | 129 |
| Key Events in Nepali History | 131 |
| Significant People, Places, and Events | 137 |
| Nepali Language, Food, and Etiquette | 151 |
| Language | 151 |
| Food and Beverages | 154 |
| Common Nepali Dishes | 155 |
| Common Nepali Beverages | 158 |
| Etiquette | 159 |
| Nepal-Related Organizations | 163 |
| Business and Economic | 163 |
| Culture, Education, and Exchange | 165 |
| Nepal's Government Representatives in the United States | 167 |
| Tourism | 168 |
| Annotated Bibliography of Recommended Works on Nepal | 171 |
| Bangladesh | 179 |
| Part 1 | Narrative Section | 181 |
| Geography and History of Bangladesh | 183 |
| Physical and Human Geography | 184 |
| Climate and Rainfall | 187 |
| Forests | 191 |
| Population | 192 |
| History | 198 |
| Early History | 198 |
| Mughal (Islamic) Rule | 200 |
| British Rule | 201 |
| The Pakistan Period | 204 |
| The War for Independence | 206 |
| Independent Bangladesh | 207 |
| Conclusion | 209 |
| The Economy of Bangladesh | 211 |
| Agriculture | 213 |
| Industry | 218 |
| Service Sector | 221 |
| Poverty | 223 |
| Public Finance and Foreign Aid Dependency | 226 |
| Economic Performance and Barriers to Growth | 227 |
| Conclusion | 229 |
| Bangladeshi Institutions | 231 |
| Government and Politics | 232 |
| The Mujib Era (1972-1975) | 232 |
| The Zia Regime (1977-1981) | 233 |
| The Ershad Regime (1982-1991) | 234 |
| The Begum Zia Regime (1991-1996) | 235 |
| The Sheikh Hasina Regime (1996-2001) | 236 |
| The Second Begum Zia Regime (2001-) | 237 |
| Bangladesh and the World | 239 |
| Ethnicity and Social System | 241 |
| Ethnic Groups | 241 |
| Social System | 243 |
| Religion and Society | 245 |
| Education | 249 |
| Educational System | 249 |
| Literacy | 251 |
| Religious Education | 252 |
| Conclusion | 253 |
| Bangladeshi Society and Contemporary Issues | 255 |
| Culture of Corruption and Violence | 256 |
| Lawlessness and Corruption | 256 |
| Gender Violence | 258 |
| Other Violence | 261 |
| Women's Status in Society | 262 |
| Child Labor | 264 |
| Popular Culture and Recreation | 266 |
| Conclusion | 269 |
| Part 2 | Reference Materials | 271 |
| Key Events in Bangladeshi History | 273 |
| Significant People, Places, and Events | 277 |
| Bangladeshi Language, Food, and Etiquette | 285 |
| Language | 285 |
| Food and Beverages | 286 |
| Common Bangladeshi Dishes | 287 |
| Common Bangladeshi Beverages | 289 |
| Etiquette | 290 |
| Bangladesh-Related Organizations | 293 |
| Business and Economics | 293 |
| Culture, Education, and Exchange | 295 |
| Bangladesh's Government Representatives in the United States | 298 |
| Tourism | 298 |
| Annotated Bibliography of Recommended Works on Bangladesh | 301 |
| Index | 305 |
| About the Author | 323 |
