Travel Log

Nepal

Padmini Arhant 

In my most recent travel to South Asia and South East Asia, I noted many interesting events and accounts.

For example, my visit to one of Himalayan territories Kathmandu, Nepal after nearly thirty years since my last visit in 1990 made me wonder on the permanent suffering of ordinary poor people. The majority population still struggling to make ends meet and stagnant economic conditions among the poor and poorest exacerbated with tumultuous political crisis, natural disaster like major earthquake in Nepal in 2015, Nepal’s dilemma as landlocked nation sandwiched between two hegemonic countries under different yet equally hard line authoritative governments viz. India and China imposing Hindutva ideology and maoist’s influence respectively.

Though both concepts from India and China negatively impact the small Himalayan nation Nepal seeking better ties with big and small neighbors for critical economic development, the economic relations are invariably linked with ulterior political motive i.e. China offering investment in Nepal’s infrastructure in the backdrop of asserting political changes away from the present democratic structure in Nepal.

India, on the other hand with RSS run BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah along with others like Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman…to name a few are Hindutva stalwarts and strong fundamentalists with little or no tolerance to the idea of real democracy comprising secular embodiment.

Indian government’s discomfort to Nepal’s political decision through constitutional amendment declaring Nepal a secular state moving away from the previous Hindu majority status conveyed via merciless economic blockade against Nepalese citizens affecting pregnant mothers, infants and ironically the vast Hindu majority by PM Narendra Modi. The Indian leadership and government’s reaction to Nepal’s progressive measure is indeed an undiplomatic backlash in epic proportion. 

The unnecessary, wanton unilateral seven months economic embargo from PM Narendra Modi government against Nepal’s internal sovereign matter is still hurting the vulnerable demography and other segments in Nepal.

Simultaneously, the drastic situation from Indian leadership’s intervention in Nepal’s constitutional affairs disillusioned the blockade victims leading them to reject crony media, Indian and external forces glorification of pseudo leaderships and governments responsible for humanity plight in Nepal and worldwide. 

Nepal like their global counterparts is riddled with corruption in politics permeating across economic and social system. The systemic corruption culture is the bed rock of impediments to economic, social and infrastructure progress.

Sharing the common traits such as deep rooted corruption, nepotism and hierarchy in politics contaminating general environment in society like elsewhere.

Nepalese poor and average citizenry survive with hope and faith in their religion for a better future.

The problem is not unique to Nepal. The fact of the matter is power in the hands of few unscrupulous, unqualified and undeserving reining control over the destiny of the rest in the world must end for universal peace, unity and prosperity.

The moment has arrived for the departure of the worst facilitating the long overdue dawn break to benefit humanity at large.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

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