Nepal: Finding a Way Forward

Nepal is no stranger to Constitution drafting, having gone through six such rounds since 1948, with the seventh culminating in September 2015. This recent exercise, however, was unique as it was conducted, for the first time, without the oversight of the monarchy. Certain populations of Nepali society had specific stakes in a new Constitution. For many of Nepal's marginalised communities such as the Madhes is, for example, the new Constitution offered hope for closure for their six-decade-old struggle for equality. But the new Constitution has only served to divide Nepali society. And India's neighbour is facing more serious challenges with its economy, which tumbled further in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in April last year. What is the way forward for Nepal, and what is India's role? India has a in political stability in its neighbouring country; after all, it shares with it not only an open border but also an extraordinary relationship at the political, economic, and people-to-people levels.