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When bitter melon (also called bitter gourd) is mentioned, most people grimace at its acute bitterness. Many try to make it palatable by allaying its acrid taste, but its deep-rooted bitterness always remains. Bitter melon has many aliases, including balsam pear, balsam apple, bitter gourd, bitter squash, and karela in India and Nepal. Its scientific name is Momordica charantia.

Despite its pronounced taste, bitter melon is enjoyed across a wide range of regions, including Asia, East Africa, India, China, the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. In these cultures, the fruit features in various dishes—most notably in Chinese cuisine, where it appears in stir-fries, pork-and-douchi soups, dim sum, and herbal tea.

In Indian cuisine, bitter melon, or karela, is a staple for its distinct taste and health benefits. In Nepal, too, they (called tite karela) are served simply fried or made into a spicy chutney after being steamed, forming a perfect blend for our staple dal-bhat. Bitter melons can be juiced, too. All you need is a blender or juicer and fresh bitter melons.  Bitter melon juice pairs well with apple, watermelon, or carrot juices, letting you personalize your healthy drink.  

Before discussing juicing methods in detail, it’s helpful to understand what bitter melon is and why it’s become a favorite worldwide. As a tropical vine fruit in the Cucurbitaceae family—which includes squash, pumpkin, cucumber, and zucchini—it features prominently in many international cuisines and is especially popular in India and Nepal.

Beyond culinary value, bitter melon is esteemed in Indian and Chinese medicine. Its seeds and extracts, rich in nutrients, have traditionally been used to treat ailments such as diabetes, skin issues, asthma, and stomach disorders. Juice may offer similar benefits as part of a balanced diet, though further research is needed.

Recent studies support these traditional uses and show that bitter melon may help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and possibly fight cancer. The fruit is also high in Vitamin C, folate, Vitamin A, potassium, iron, and calcium.

Thanks to its strong nutrient profile, bitter melon juice (without added sugar) is a low-calorie, low-carb beverage suitable for a variety of balanced diets. These attributes might encourage you to integrate it into your routine.

100 grams of raw bitter melon provides:

• Calories: 21
• Carbs: 4 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Vitamin C: 99 percent of the Daily Value (DV)
• Vitamin A: 44 percent of the DV
• Folate: 17 percent of the DV
• Potassium: Eight percent of the DV
• Zinc: Five percent of the DV
• Iron: Four percent of the DV

The USDA highlights bitter melon as a strong source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and zinc. With these facts in mind, let's explore the health benefits of bitter melon.

May prevent cancer

According to NIH, a part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, “other than its potential antibacterial and antiviral activities, bitter melon extracts are also being investigated for their effects on cancer and have been studied in relation to ulcers, malaria, pain and inflammation, psoriasis, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.” 

Lab studies show that bitter melon’s antioxidants and beta-carotene may help fight certain cancer cells. However, more research is needed to see if these effects happen in people.

Diabetes-friendly

Bitter melon helps lower blood sugar levels, supporting people with diabetes. Studies show its bioactive compounds mimic insulin, promoting glucose uptake, storage, and release.

Could lower cholesterol

Research suggests that bitter melon or its extract may help treat high cholesterol, which is linked to type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease.

Regular consumption provides compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, glycosides, and alkaloids, which help lower high cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

May prevent inflammation

Bitter gourd, rich in polyphenols, acts as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, supporting metabolism and protecting your cells from oxidative stress and metabolic syndrome.

No matter the preparation method—raw, steamed, stir-fried, or cooked into curries, stews, or chutneys—managing the bitterness of bitter gourd is key to enjoying its flavor.

Bitter melon juice

• For juicing, choose small, light green, and firm bitter melons for freshness. Larger, older melons are more bitter.
• Slice the gourd lengthwise, remove the seeds, and chop to your preferred size.
• Rub salt on each piece, let rest 20–30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Or soak in boiling salted water for a few minutes. These methods significantly reduce bitterness.
• Blend chopped melons, adding water as needed. To dilute further, use more water. Season with salt and lemon juice (or black salt, if you prefer).
• Blend until the mixture is smooth. Strain into a glass. Optionally, add a hint of honey to reduce bitterness. Drink on an empty stomach for best results. This simple process makes homemade bitter melon juice accessible.

Caveat

Adding bitter melon or its juice to your diet may improve health, but moderation is key. Excess intake may cause stomach pain and diarrhea. If adverse reactions occur, stop and consult a healthcare provider.

Large amounts of bitter melon may cause digestive issues or gastric ulcers and could harm the kidneys. Only take supplements after consulting your doctor.

Diabetics should consult their doctor. Bitter melon can boost diabetic medication effects and risk hypoglycemia and complications.  

Expectant and breastfeeding mothers should avoid bitter melon and its juice.

Disclaimer: This text is research-based and not medical advice. Please use your discretion and seek advice from a healthcare professional for validation.

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I have to admit I spend a lot of time thinking about big questions. Sometimes it feels a little ridiculous. I’ll sit thinking about how human history went from fire and foraging to agriculture, industry, and the infosphere. We have even left the Earth and started exploring the Moon and Mars, searching for a parallel Earth somewhere in the multiverse. And yet we are still asking the same questions our ancestors asked: What is happiness? What is a good life? Why do we suffer? Who are we? 

It sounds abstract, but it keeps coming back to me because it connects to my own country: Nepal. Our country is at a moment of enormous possibility. Young, aspiring leaders with fire inside, citizens eager to engage, and natural resources that could change lives. Yet, like the rest of human history, we face a paradox. The same curiosity, energy, and ambition that can lift us up can also trip us up if we are not careful. Human history is fascinating and ironic at the same time. Look at what we’ve done. We learned to farm, build cities, sail oceans, split atoms, and send machines to Mars. We’ve built medicine, created art, and written literature that lasts millennia. 

Progress seems unstoppable. And yet, the same questions about meaning, happiness, and the human condition remain. We build more, learn more, control more, and still we are restless, dissatisfied, always wondering what comes next. It is a pattern that repeats. We expand, we dominate, we exploit, we destroy, and then, often too late, we start chasing what we have damaged. Think of environmental crises, social inequalities, or even personal burnout. The very intelligence and curiosity that allow us to advance also make us aware of the consequences, and then we try to fix them. Sometimes we even compete over who is happier or whose peace is deeper. Human, all too human, as Nietzsche said.

Nepal is entering that story on its own scale. Young leaders, many without decades of political experience, are stepping forward. There is energy, imagination, and ambition. They see opportunities in our rivers, forests, and mountains. They see potential in our youth. They want to harness resources, create jobs, build infrastructure, and raise living standards. And they should. We cannot shy away from progress or development. Lack of education, healthcare, and employment opportunities are urgent problems. 

But here is the catch. Progress without reflection risks repeating the same patterns humanity has experienced for thousands of years. If we only chase GDP growth or short-term gains, we might achieve development in the narrow sense, but we could end up asking again in ten or twenty years: What is happiness? What is development? What kind of society have we really built? The balance between curiosity and caution is key. Curiosity is our engine. It drives innovation, ambition, and improvement. But without grounding it can become restless, compulsive, and destructive. Ambition must be paired with awareness: awareness of social consequences, environmental limits, and ethical responsibilities. 

Nepal has an advantage. We have traditional wisdom rooted in communities, culture, and history, alongside access to global knowledge and technology. If we can blend the two, there is a chance to build something unique—a society that progresses and grows, but in a humane and sustainable way. Education is a good place to start. It is not just about literacy or technical skills. We need schools and training, but we also need education that teaches curiosity alongside responsibility. Young people should learn to ask: How does this choice affect my community, my environment, my generation, and the next? Education should cultivate reflection, not just productivity. Healthcare and employment are equally foundational. People cannot innovate or think deeply if they are hungry, sick, or unemployed. 

There is also a global lesson embedded here. The Limits to Growth, the 1970s book from the Club of Rome, warned the world that unlimited growth without considering resource limits could lead to overshoot and collapse. Many dismissed it at the time. Today, climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss show the warning was not exaggerated. Nepal, if it grows thoughtfully, can learn from this. We can pursue development without overshoot, but only if ambition is tempered with awareness. 

Young leaders in Nepal today are experimenting with how to combine speed, technology, and engagement. Social media allows them to connect directly with citizens, bypassing slow, cumbersome traditional structures. They are learning to act quickly, make decisions, and mobilize people. This is exciting. It shows Nepal can leap forward. But governance is slower than campaigning. Building institutions, enforcing policies, and nurturing equitable development requires patience, reflection, and care. The challenge is to match curiosity and energy with deliberate, humane action. 

I like to think of this as a microcosm of the human story. The same energy that allows us to invent AI or harness hydropower can also create environmental disasters or social inequality if not guided by reflection. Nepal has a chance to get ahead of the curve. We can be ambitious without being reckless, and we can progress without repeating humanity’s mistakes. The key is integrating traditional wisdom with modern approaches. That is a rare opportunity. From my perspective, this is Nepal’s moment. We have young people who want to act, innovate, and change the world. We have resources and opportunities. We have pressing social challenges.

And we have the chance to harness curiosity responsibly. We can integrate traditional wisdom with global knowledge, speed with reflection, and ambition with ethics. It will not be easy. Mistakes will happen, frustration will arise. That is part of the process. Yes, we will continue to ask the old questions: What is happiness, what is a good life, what is progress? That is okay. That is what makes us human. Nepal has a chance to answer them in a practical, human, and sustainable way. That is a story worth telling. Because we may not fully resolve the human paradox, but we can live with it consciously, shape our societies consciously, and create spaces where curiosity, ambition, and care coexist. Right now, Nepal has that chance.

As BRICS marks over two decades since the acronym was coined in 2001, symbolizing the rise of emerging economies, the grouping stands at a pivotal juncture. What began as an economic forum among Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa has evolved into a platform representing nearly half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP. Now expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and others, BRICS embodies the aspirations of the Global South. 

In 2026, with India assuming the rotating presidency, this moment offers a transformative opportunity to elevate the voices of developing nations and deepen South-South cooperation. Drawing from its successful G20 presidency in 2023, India is poised to redefine BRICS under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability’—a people-centric vision that prioritises humanity-first approaches to global challenges. 

India’s leadership comes amid a fragmented world order, in which Western-dominated institutions such as the UN Security Council and the World Trade Organization fail to reflect 21st-century realities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised reforming these bodies to grant greater representation to the Global South, echoing calls for a multipolar world free from hegemonic influences. This presidency will amplify marginalized voices by focusing on inclusive multilateralism, ensuring that issues like climate finance, debt relief, and equitable trade are not sidelined. 

For instance, India plans to advance the Rio Declaration, adopted at Brazil’s 2025 summit, which strengthened Global South cooperation for sustainable governance. By hosting ministerial meetings across 28 Indian states and nine union territories, culminating in a Delhi summit, New Delhi aims to foster grassroots dialogue and make BRICS more accessible and representative. 

Central to India’s agenda is transforming South-South cooperation, which has often been hampered by fragmented efforts and external pressures. BRICS, under Indian stewardship, will prioritise practical collaborations in health, agriculture, disaster risk reduction, energy, and supply chains—areas where developing countries face acute vulnerabilities. 

Drawing from its own experiences with pandemics and climate disasters, India will push for resilient systems, such as shared vaccine manufacturing and agricultural tech transfers. This builds on the New Development Bank (NDB), established by BRICS in 2015, which India intends to bolster for funding sustainable infrastructure projects in the Global South. 

By emphasizing intra-BRICS trade—currently valued at around $300bn—India aims to reduce its dependence on Western markets, promoting local currencies for settlement to counter dollar dominance without provoking escalations. 

Innovation forms another cornerstone, with a focus on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and AI governance. India’s UPI model, which revolutionized digital payments domestically, could be exported to BRICS partners, enabling seamless cross-border transactions and financial inclusion for millions in Africa and Latin America. This digital push will enhance South-South ties by creating interconnected ecosystems, from e-health platforms to smart agriculture tools, fostering knowledge exchange among nations often overlooked in global tech discourses. Climate change, an existential threat to the Global South, will see India advocating for capacity-building and green tech sharing, aligning with the 2025 Framework Declaration on Climate Finance.

These agendas add immense value to the BRICS countries’ relations by bridging internal divides. The recent expansion has introduced tensions—such as geopolitical frictions between Iran and the UAE or Russia's isolation amid the Ukraine conflict—but India’s neutral stance positions it as a mediator. By prioritising economic consolidation over divisive geopolitics, New Delhi can strengthen trust, as seen in its avoidance of anti-dollar initiatives like the proposed UNIT currency. 

Forums like the BRICS Business Council and civil society engagements will deepen people-to-people bonds, from joint research in quantum computing to cultural exchanges, enhancing mutual understanding among diverse members. 

Moreover, India’s presidency navigates external challenges, including US tariff threats over Iran trade and broader uncertainties under a second Trump administration. By balancing its US alliances with BRICS commitments, India exemplifies pragmatic diplomacy, ensuring the grouping remains a force for stability rather than confrontation. This approach adds relational value by positioning BRICS as a complementary alternative to Western-led orders rather than a rival.

In conclusion, India’s 2026 BRICS presidency is more than a rotational duty—it’s a catalyst for empowering the Global South. After two decades, BRICS has matured from an economic club to a voice for equity. Through focused agendas on resilience and innovation, India will fortify South-South cooperation, yielding tangible benefits like enhanced trade, shared technologies, and reformed global institutions. As the world grapples with division, this presidency could herald a more inclusive era in which the Global South not only speaks but also leads.

The author is a Special Advisor for South Asia at the Parley Policy Initiative. Views expressed are personal

As Prime Minister Balendra Shah convenes all foreign missions’ ambassadors together, it is rarely a routine diplomatic courtesy. It is a calibrated signal—one that communicates intent, direction, and, often, a subtle shift in strategy. Nepal’s recent decision to bring the diplomatic corps under one roof reflects precisely such a moment: a potential inflection point in how Kathmandu sees itself in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

At one level, there were indications of a desire to project coherence. For a country whose foreign policy has often appeared reactive and fragmented, this is an attempt to align messaging, centralize authority, and move toward a more structured engagement with the world. But beyond signaling, the deeper question remains: what kind of foreign policy should Nepal pursue in an era of intensifying great power competition?

The answer lies not in traditional balancing alone, but in a strategic shift toward interest-driven economic diplomacy, anchored in sovereignty, stability, and long-term prosperity.

Beyond optics: Meaning of a diplomatic reset

The collective engagement with ambassadors reflects multiple layers of intent. It is, first, an assertion of political control over foreign policy—an area that has historically suffered from competing institutional voices and inconsistent signaling. Centralizing diplomatic messaging is not merely administrative; it is strategic. It reduces ambiguity and enhances credibility.

Second, the format itself carries geopolitical meaning. In a region defined by rivalry between India and China, alongside growing engagement from the US and the West, convening all ambassadors together sends a deliberate message: Nepal seeks engagement with all, alignment with none.

This is not non-alignment in its Cold War form, but rather “multi-vector autonomy”—a pragmatic approach that allows Nepal to engage multiple partners simultaneously while preserving strategic space.

Third, such a meeting is also about narrative control. By communicating directly with the diplomatic corps, the government aims to shape how Nepal is perceived externally: as stable, open for investment, and politically directed. In an era where perception influences capital flows as much as policy, this is no small consideration.

Structural challenge: Geography meets geopolitics

Nepal’s foreign policy cannot be understood without acknowledging its geography. Located between two rising powers, Nepal has long practiced a delicate balancing act. However, the strategic environment is changing.

China is no longer merely an economic partner; it is increasingly projecting systemic influence through infrastructure, connectivity, and institutional frameworks. India, meanwhile, is transitioning from a regional power to a global actor with heightened sensitivity to its neighborhood. The US and other external actors are also deepening engagement in South Asia, often through the lens of broader Indo-Pacific strategies.

In such a context, passive balancing is no longer sufficient. Nepal cannot afford to be a reactive player, adjusting its posture in response to external pressures. Instead, it must define its own priorities and align external engagements accordingly.

Reframing national interest: From survival to prosperity

Historically, Nepal’s foreign policy has been driven by a narrow definition of national interest—focused on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and regime stability. While these remain essential, they are no longer sufficient.

Today, national interest must be reframed to include: economic transformation; infrastructure development; energy security and export; employment generation; and technological integration. 

This requires a shift from political-security diplomacy to economic diplomacy as the central pillar of foreign policy.

Economic diplomacy as a strategic doctrine

Economic diplomacy is often discussed in Nepal but rarely operationalized. To move from rhetoric to reality, three structural shifts are necessary.

•  From aid dependence to investment partnership: Nepal must transition from being an aid-recipient mindset to an investment destination. This requires policy predictability, legal and regulatory stability, and transparent project pipelines. Rather than negotiating fragmented bilateral projects, Nepal should present integrated national development portfolios—hydropower, tourism, digital infrastructure—aligned with investor interests.

• Leveraging geography as an economic asset: Nepal’s location between India and China is often seen as a vulnerability. It should instead be leveraged as a connectivity advantage. This means developing cross-border infrastructure, positioning Nepal as a transit and logistics hub, and facilitating trilateral or multi-country economic initiatives where feasible. However, this must be pursued with caution and clarity, ensuring that connectivity does not translate into strategic dependency.

• Energy diplomacy as a game changer: Nepal’s hydropower potential remains its most underutilized strategic asset. A coherent foreign policy should prioritize long-term power trade agreements, regional grid integration, and investment frameworks for large-scale projects. Energy exports can transform Nepal’s economic trajectory—but only if backed by consistent diplomacy and domestic reform.

• Managing great power competition: In navigating external pressures, Nepal should adopt a set of clear principles: strategic equivalence, not strategic ambiguity. The country should engage all major powers transparently, without hidden alignments.

• Issue-based alignment: Nepal should cooperate with different partners on different sectors—security, infrastructure, climate—without allowing any single relationship to dominate.

• Institutional coherence: Foreign policy must be driven by institutions, not personalities. This requires strengthening the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ensuring inter-agency coordination.

• Red lines on sovereignty: Economic engagement must not compromise political independence. All agreements should be evaluated through a long-term strategic lens.

Domestic imperative: Foreign policy begins at home

No foreign policy can succeed without domestic alignment. Nepal’s greatest diplomatic weakness has often been internal inconsistency. Frequent government changes, policy reversals, and bureaucratic inefficiencies undermine credibility.

To address this, Nepal must: build cross-party consensus on key foreign policy priorities; strengthen diplomatic capacity and expertise; and ensure policy continuity across political cycles.

Economic diplomacy, in particular, requires sustained engagement over the years, if not decades.

From symbolism to strategy

The convening of ambassadors is, in essence, a symbolic act—but symbolism matters in diplomacy. It signals intent, shapes perceptions, and sets expectations. However, symbolism without follow-through risks reinforcing skepticism.

For Nepal, the real challenge lies in translating this moment into a sustained strategic shift: From reactive to proactive diplomacy; from political signaling to economic outcomes; and from balancing pressures to shaping opportunities.

A window of opportunity

Nepal stands at a crossroads. The evolving geopolitical landscape presents both risks and opportunities. Managed poorly, it could lead to increased dependency and strategic vulnerability. Managed wisely, it could unlock unprecedented avenues for economic growth and global engagement.

The recent diplomatic outreach suggests an awareness of this moment. But awareness must be matched by action.

Nepal does not need to choose between India, China, or the US. It needs to choose itself—its interests, its priorities, and its future. It needs to be based on the realism of geography. 

In doing so, foreign policy must evolve from a strategy of survival to a strategy of prosperity.

Only then will Nepal truly move from being a space between powers to becoming a state that shapes its own strategic destiny.

The author is a retired Major General of Nepali Army and a strategic affairs analyst. He is also a researcher and is affiliated with Rangsit University in Thailand