The Constituent Assembly of Nepal, in its veritably first meeting, abolished the monarchy in May 2008. After that watershed event, still, the way forward has been stalled by vexing questions. How is power in such a fractious polity to be participated? Which form of governance is best suited to the country – republicanism? federalism? How are the surpluses of the decade long civil war to be reckoned? How is the People Liberation Army to be integrated with the Nepal Army? To what extent should neighbours be allowed to intrude in the internal politics of the nation? And why is it that the Constituent Assembly, times after it was tagged, can not draft a Constitution that's respectable to all? In The Lives We Have Lost, Manjushree Thapa asks these vital questions and numerous others. In seeking answers, finds the nation still muddling its way from extremity to extremity, in hopeless hunt of a center that will hold.