Challenges of living with history

Nepal's relationship with its past is a dynamic and often immediate one, where recent events are frequently framed as history. This "presentism" highlights a society constantly in flux, where the past is not a distant country but a living context for current interpretations.

The nation has navigated a turbulent modern history since the 1951 downfall of the autocratic Rana regime. This period has seen a succession of significant political transformations: the establishment of democratic rule, the imposition of Panchayat rule by King Mahendra, the decade-long Maoist insurgency, the abolition of the monarchy in 2008 to form a federal democratic republic, and subsequent elections leading to various party governments.

More recently, large-scale demonstrations spearheaded by Gen Z have reshaped the political landscape, leading to the formation of governments including the Rastriya Swatantra Party. The author suggests that understanding the norms of action that emerge with each political shift is vital for strengthening Nepal's democratic foundations. This requires adherence to certain ethics and philosophies that guide actions within a liberal democratic framework, emphasizing consensus, compromise, and fairness over specific outcomes.

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We uphold freedom of speech, rather than favouring specific speech. We want elections to be free and fair, rather than favouring one candidate. We make law by consensus and compromise, not by degree.