गाउँको दूरदराजदेखि काठमाडौंको सिंहदरबारसम्म

Calls for restoration of a Hindu State have been growing and protests burst out frequently in Nepal since last year. Though Nepal had changed from a Hindu monarchy to a secular republic in 2006, royalists and Hindu supremacists, in fact, have never stop their steps. Political turmoil and sluggish economy disappoint Nepali people and hence some of them wish for reinstatement of Monarchy and a Hindu state. Nowadays, BJP and PM Narendra Modi are reinforcing their propagation of Hindu nationalist ideology in elections, which will inevitably agitate Hindu nationalists in Nepal. However, will restoring Hindu Rashtra be the panacea for Nepal?

What’s the real reason for Nepalese pro-monarchy protests?

Religion is always a critical factor in Nepal’s politics, but passion for Hinduism is not the only reason behind pro-monarchy protests. Interference from our southern neighbor shouldn’t be neglected. The hatred towards religious minorities ignited by BJP and RSS in India is finally burning in Nepal. Therefore, violent activities stirred up by religious extremism happened in Nepal from time to time during recent years. Opportunistic political powers in Nepal make the situation even worse. For instance, RPP, the most typical royalist party calling for restoration of a Hindu Kingdom is known to be supported by India. Besides, a number of politicians like Shashank Koirala from NC are trying to win people’s favor through supporting Hinduism. As for Nepali people, it is hard to distinguish if they are really longing for a Hindu Kingdom or not. What if we have a satisfying government?

What does Hindu nationalism bring to Nepal?

As the saying goes, Heaven is myth but Nepal is real. However, peace and tranquility in Nepal has been broken because of religious extremism activities and frequent protests in recent years. Thousands of protesters called for return to a Hindu state in Kathmandu repeatedly since last year. Maniac Hindu mobs assaulted several Christian churches last August because of a misinformed beef eating video. The appalling atrocity and hatred towards Christians caused much concern in western world, especially in the U.S. Freedom of religion is fading away in this constitutional secular nation.

People miss the old days when they are unsatisfied about the current situation. Opportunistic and extremely selfish politicians here get locked in strife and always struggle for their only benefits, which results in enduring turmoil politics. Without a stable politic situation, Nepal unfortunately faces sluggish economics. Consequently, unemployment, inflation and financial crisis make people live a tough life. All these problems make Nepali people so disappointed about the parliamentary system. However, we have to acknowledge that restoration of a Hindu Kingdom is not an elixir for our nation.