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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a one-day trip to Lumbini, Nepal on 16 May, coinciding with the 2566th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. This trip was of high significance not because it was Modi’s fifth trip to Nepal as India’s Prime Minister, but because the jaunt was widely viewed as ‘religious diplomacy’.

Many foreign policy pundits have argued that the main objective of Modi’s religious diplomacy was to send political messages. Thus his Lumbini visit overshadowed important political and economic issues, including border disputes and discussion on the outstanding EPG report.

In this context, two important questions need to be asked. Did religious diplomacy this time trump all Nepal-India political and economic issues? And should Nepal continue promoting religious diplomacy with India as an effective foreign policy tool to strengthen bilateral ties?

Even though Modi’s visit to Lumbini was religious in nature, Nepal also achieved some of its foreign policy goals by inviting him. For example, this is the second time Modi spoke of Lumbini as the birthplace of the Buddha. The visit has also given continuity to dialogues between India and Nepal on many issues. The pact on developing hydropower projects with India’s investment, five memoranda of understanding on education and culture, and Prime Minister Deuba’s request for additional air entry routes from Bhairawa, Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj and Janakpur were some notable outcomes of Modi’s visit.

Previously, to give impetus to Nepal-India religious and cultural ties, Modi visited Janakpur, the birthplace of Sita, and Muktinath, a sacred temple for both Hindus and Buddhists. These two visits made headlines in the Indian media, widely promoting Nepal as a religious tourism site among Indians. Please note that Saudi Arabia’s religious tourism to Mecca and Medina is not only instrumental in bringing in revenue but also strengthening goodwill with many countries through cultural and religious exchanges.

Some benefits of religious diplomacy as a soft foreign policy tool are well known, but the question is: How and to what extent should Nepal promote religious diplomacy given its constitutional identity as a secular and pluralistic country?

Since Narendra Modi came to power in India in 2014, there has been an increased emphasis in employing India’s soft power in foreign policy, including the promotion of yoga through a UN Yoga Day, the global image of Mahatma Gandhi, and the worldwide outreach of India’s music and movies. However, critics also argue that Modi’s strong promotion of Hindu religious diplomacy somehow undercuts India’s other soft powers, such as its traditions of non-violence and pluralism, diversity and tolerance.

No doubt, religious diplomacy, which incorporates religious dimension into the practices of international relations, is an increasingly used diplomatic tool.  It is true that traditionally state and religion had no demarcation. Over time, when the right-based democratic systems and institutions became the cornerstone of democratic societies, the rigorous separation of state and religion started. Madeleine Albright, the former US State Secretary, once said, “Many practitioners of foreign policy– including me–have sought to separate religion from world politics, to liberate logic from beliefs that transcend logic.”

However, as Samuel Huntington noted in his famous book ‘Clash of Civilizations’, religion is also a defining element of culture and thus, having good cultural ties between nations could strengthen relations. The Obama Administration acknowledged the possibilities of religious diplomatic cooperation with the realization that religion motivates people and shapes their views. For example, the recent conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan taught the world a hard lesson that bridging the gaps between political and religious spheres is important for both peace-building and nation-building.

When there is a rupture in relations between two nations, religious diplomacy can reconcile the relationship when the antagonists cease dehumanizing each other, and start seeing a bit of themselves in their enemy. For example, in track-two diplomacy, the inter-faith religious leaders often engage with diplomats and foreign policy analysts to seek solutions to complex foreign policy issues, including conflict, stabilization and peace.     

However, when religion is pushed too far as a diplomatic tool, it can disbalance a society with a secular identity. Leaders like Slobodan Milosevic of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have manipulated religion for their own purposes.

The main purpose of religious diplomacy should be to promote culture and interfaith dialogue to bridge gaps between people and societies. In the current world, diplomacy often takes place in cultural and religious contexts. This helps us understand the interplay of religion and diplomacy. Religious misunderstanding and misinformation are also fueling the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine is an inalienable part of Russia’s history, culture and religious space. Putin’s claim originates from the history of Orthodox Christianity in Russia. On the other hand, the Ukrainians claim that both President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, ignore a long history of Ukrainian independence and diverse religious landscape that is fundamental to Ukraine’s national identity. Similarly, religious and social reconciliation as well as the interfaith dialogue could play an instrumental role to end the protracted conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.

With this background, the question is: How could Nepal effectively use religious diplomacy to enhance diplomatic ties between Nepal and India? No doubt, the relationship is age-old and people-to-people based with many historical, social and cultural linkages. The joint prayer by Prime Minister Modi and Deuba for the peaceful and prosperous planet on the auspices of Budhha’s birthday sent a clear message to the world about how close India and Nepal are in terms of their common culture, festivals, religion, languages, and traditions.

There have been many ups and downs in Nepal-India ties in the past seven years, including during India’s undeclared economic blockade in 2015 and Nepal’s revision of political and administrative maps to claim Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani. These two issues stalled diplomatic correspondence between India and Nepal for a while. But Modi’s visit to Janakpur and Deuba’s visit to Varanasi have helped reopen the lines of communication.  Modi’s visit to Lumbini should be seen in this larger context.

In a nutshell, Nepal should effectively use all diplomatic measures and channels to continue dialogue with India and to find amicable solutions to outstanding issues. Given Modi’s strong affinity for elaborate Hindu religious rituals and visits to holy sites, Nepal could continue promoting its soft power through religious diplomacy, albeit with some caution.

First, religious diplomacy should be promoted as a cultural soft power, not as a boost for one religion. The religionization of politics and the politicization of religion should be avoided because this could challenge our cultural identity as a diverse country, peaceful, tolerant and harmonious society, and our status as a constitutionally secular and pluralistic country. Religious diplomacy should not be a tool to deepen religious divides but rather to bridge gaps between religions.

Second, religious diplomacy should be a means not an end. It should be used as an effective tool to promote Nepal’s tourism, investment, trade, transit and many other political, economic and social goals. 

The author is a member of the board of directors at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Nepal

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food,”—Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

During the lockdown a year ago, I suffered from bouts of mild gastritis—the causes not far to seek. I am never a stickler to a dietary regimen. I love spicy and oily food, and our dishes at home are way above decadent. Also, I love to drink—a peg or two most days a week.

Given that, I have symptoms of gastric irritation. I often feel full, bloated, and uncomfortable when I fall prey to it. An appetite loss follows; if a little severe, it induces burning in the stomach with mild discomfort in the mid-upper region, just below the breastbone and above the belly button.

When I first got it five years ago, I saw a doctor. "That's early gastritis," said my doctor and handed me a prescription. Since then, when the symptom shows up, I take it upon myself to minister to it.

The remedy seems simple—antacid tablets. If it persists, I go for Omeprazole or Pantoprazole oral (depending on the severity). Hey presto, I feel rejuvenated—as simple as that.

Only this time, the prescription drugs that came to my rescue every time—failed. The gas and discomfiture lingered to make me miserable. I raised the dose from a cap every morning to one more at bedtime (after consulting a doctor friend). The medication always did the trick. Hell, it did not this time!

I continued the cycle for a week (or more?). Good heavens! That did not work, either. The last thing I wanted was a visit to a doctor or the hospital because the Covid-19 outbreak was up and running. A fortnight flew by, and I even discerned a mild pain.

Desperate, it crossed my mind to look for some home remedy. I learned garlic worked for gastritis after a bit of research. The Internet led to fabulous finds about the goodness of garlic, with an arm-long list of health benefits—and helped the heart, among other organs.

An indispensable condiment to the culinary world, the herbaceous, bulbous plant, also dubbed the “stinking rose,” has been used for ages across to prevent and treat several kinds of ailments.

Garlic is a mainstay in our Nepali kitchen; it's an open secret. If you take a stroll down memory lane, you might even recall your grandma or mom using garlic for a cold, cough, and other home remedies. My mom even used it on chickens.

Once, when I was a kid, my mom shoved down the gullet of our sickly drooping rooster with a potion of garlic, turmeric, and mustard oil—weird. You will never guess—the rooster was alive and kicking the next day! Amusing, eh?

Although I remained skeptical about the efficacy of garlic, I was ready to dip my toe into trying it. I started with a half-cut large clove on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

I stopped the medicines, maintained sobriety, and cut down on oily curries. Then I threw in a daily workout regimen in the bargain. The first day seemed to ease my discomfort somewhat; maybe I had imagined it. I gulped down the remaining half of the clove in the evening before supper.

I repeated the same the next day. To my surprise, I felt a shade better by the evening. The pain subsided, and the burning sensation eased. I made sure my diet remained Spartan—added yogurt for good measure; I learned the probiotics in yogurt remedied stomach problems.

I felt positively optimistic by the morning of the fourth day. Was there a lingering discomfort? I tried hard to discern; I could not say, which led me to believe there was not.

My schedule continued for a week—a half-cut clove of garlic (large) twice a day. By the end of the week, I felt energized—unshakable. The goodness of garlic worked. Man, what on earth was that—a miracle? I wondered.

Caveat: Be advised that ingestion of too much garlic can cause heartburn. 

Disclaimer: The drugs mentioned above do not make up any medical advice.

There are the two main reasons we don’t get our needs met. First, we don’t know how to express our needs to begin with and second if we do, we forget to put a clear request after it, or we use vague words like appreciate, listen, recognize, know, be real, and stuff like that — Marshall B. Rosenberg, the founder of Nonviolent Communication 

We’ve often heard terms like, “You’re so needy.” This statement implies how we don’t consider having needs as something normal or even useful. We probably believe only selfish people have needs, which is far from true. Needs are universal and we all have them. In fact, every action or inaction of ours is an attempt to meet an underlying need. 

Why is it that we don’t know how to communicate our needs then? There could be a couple of reasons for this.

1. We are not aware of our needs.

2. Even if we are aware of our needs, we don’t know how to express them.

Becoming aware of our needs enables us to understand what is important to us at any given moment. It anchors our actions in a way in which we can meet those needs. For instance, only if I am aware that I have a need for entertainment, will I consider what could be the different strategies and actions to meet those needs. Some such strategies could be going to a movie hall, visiting an amusement park, or video-calling a friend with whom I like to be playful. 

However, if I don’t understand that I have a need for entertainment, I can’t think of these possible ways to meet that need. Moreover, chances are, I will not communicate this well to the other person. I might say, “Let’s go to the movies!” This won’t help the other person understand why I want to go to the movies. They might either agree, in which case, I will have my need for entertainment fulfilled. 

But, let’s say, they tell me, “Why don’t we go to that nearby restaurant instead? Looks like a happening place!” In this case, the other person might be assuming that I just have a need to go out or explore. So, unless I tell them that I have a need for entertainment and hence, I want to go to the movies, they won’t know.

This brings us to an understanding that once we understand needs, the next step is to make a request (or verify someone else’s request if they don’t communicate their preferences directly). Requests are specific actions (strategies) that help us meet our needs. Making a request means being able to:

- Clearly ask for what we want;

- Suggest the person what to do rather than what we don’t want them to do;

- Propose a specific action to the other person.

These are a few examples that can help us understand requests well.

What we say: “Stop making so much noise!”

What a clear request looks like: “Please speak in a low voice in this room!”

What we say: “I want you to give me all your attention.”

What a clear request looks like: “I’d like you to put your phone away when we’re having a conversation.”

What we say: “Please give an honest feedback about what you think regarding my idea.”

What a clear request looks like: “Please tell me two or three things that can be improved on the idea that I just shared with you.”

What we say: “Will you please give me some motivation?”

What a clear request looks like: “I want you to tell me what’s one thing I can start doing to get working on my assignment.”

What we say: “Can’t you ever show some affection?”

What a clear request looks like: “I want you to meet me on Saturday at the cafe at 3pm so that we can have some conversations and spend time together.”  

Making clear requests helps us transform our expectations into agreements. For instance, if the request is, “Can you please turn on your cameras once I start the class?” during a virtual class, the speaker has an expectation that students should have their videos turned on. Communicating their needs, they are trying to form an agreement with others to turn their cameras on. The speaker can also verify whether their request is being accepted  or not by looking at the number of people who turn on their cameras as opposed to those who do not.

Making clear requests also doesn’t guarantee that we will have what we ask of the other person, but it will help the other person clearly know what we want. Making a request means being able to propose a specific action to the other person while also being open enough to hear a ‘no’ as a response (since we understand that their ‘no’ is coming from a need that they’re trying to meet, instead of seeing the ‘no’ as them rejecting us).

The author is Linchpin at My Emotions Matter, an education initiative that helps individuals and teams learn the mindset and skills of Emotional Intelligence. Learn more at myemotionsmatter.com

Let’s start with a question for the Nepali electorate on the eve of local elections.    

Are you happy? Yes? No? Don’t know/Can’t say? Wait....

While answering this question, be honest with yourself. Remember, you don't have to be politically correct. Remember, you are not facing the camera. Hooligans bent on getting the 'right response' are not marauding around.

So, fear not.

Don’t fake your feelings and act as angels/cherubs assigned to spread happiness around the world, for many world bodies have been investing billions of dollars for the same.

Why the world, the third world in particular, has not been able to put on a grin, leave aside that cheek-to-cheek smile, despite such huge investments is perhaps the most difficult question of our times. Is the dollar lost in the pipeline?

The Buddha is meditating under the peepal tree. Who else would seek the answer?

Forget it, for now.

For now, even forget the findings of the World Happiness Index 2022. BTW, that index has found in Europe a fountain of happiness with eight countries of the continent enjoying the topmost slots. Nepal figures as the happiest country in South Asia (rank: 84), while Bangladesh (94), Pakistan (121), Sri Lanka (127), India (136) and Afghanistan (146) cheer her on.

The rest of the world can perceive us to be one happy country, but it means nothing if we are not happy from within.

Happiness can be a very shallow idea oftentimes, anyways.

Tin-pot dictators can find happiness even by opting for ethnic cleansing and by driving away lakhs of citizens if they perceive them to be a threat to despotism. What good is ‘happiness’ if that is contingent on the fulfillment of the whims and fancies of such despots?

Sadly, the international community seems to have no problem with such despots and their ‘democratic systems’.        

Back to the opening question. While answering it, shed the burden of having to project the image of a picture-perfect country. Despite all our perfections and imperfections, we are one of the most beautiful countries. The world knows that and we know that.

This time, get a bit angry over the state of affairs. Angry over what?

Angry over misrule, corruption, the breakdown of law and order. Angry over rising inflation, triggered by repeated hikes in fuel prices in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war and rampant corruption that has become a way of life for our political and bureaucratic elites. Angry over the audacity of our tried, tested, failed and corrupt-to-the-core political parties to seek our vote in the local elections at top of their lungs despite a disappointing performance over the decades.

Angry over the fact that Nepal continues to fare poorly on the Transparency International’s corruption perception index (CPI). Have a look at Nepal’s CPI score over a decade if you think all is hunky-dory in the god’s own country.

Year    score

2012      27

2013      31

2014      29

2015      27

2016      29

2017      31

2018      31

2019      34

2020      33

2021      33

Angry over apathy on the part of bureaucrats (who like to be called the Rashtrasewaks, the servants of the nation) and politicians towards the public that has been weathering an economic crisis in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic that dealt a serious blow to the Nepali economy.

In the wake of economic crises, politicians around the world take drastic measures to minimize their impact on the public. They cut down on their pay and perks, some even work without pay. They do every bit to ensure that public health, education, agriculture, law and order, and all those welfare schemes do not suffer even during hard times.

But our good-for-nothings are a shameful exception. Even when the inflation is starting to bite, the government has no plans to curb expenses. 

Instead, the head of the government flies to a hill station just a stone’s throw from the government headquarters to attend a conclave. The cost of that ride: A whopping 10 lakh rupees. Couldn’t he have opted for road travel? Or could he not have addressed the conclave virtually if it were so important?

What’s more, the government seems bent on infringing upon the autonomy of the central bank.

It’s not only the government that has been showing extreme insensitivity towards the public during this crisis, though. Except for token protests against price hikes, the opposition parties have also been acting as mute spectators towards the plight of the public.

For example, none of them have suggested, even feebly, a cut-down on pay and perks for lawmakers and bureaucrats when the national economy is in dire straits. Why would they? After all, they too will be needing millions of years to ‘fight’ the elections.

A political and bureaucratic system mired neck deep in corruption needs a thorough cleansing. How about initiating this process through the elections? 

This time, reformists/activists of all sorts should have pressed for a none-of-the-above legislation, allowing the electorate to discard all of the tried, tested and failed parties in the fray. That could have offered a measure of public resentment against the old guard, and helped cleanse the system.

But all is not lost and the voters can still make a huge difference.

This election season (local level elections are on May 13, to be followed by provincial and federal elections in a matter of months) while politicians of different hues and shades come to us asking for our precious votes, let’s keep in mind that tried, tested and failed parties and their leaders are largely to blame for our pitiable plight. Rather, let’s think about giving the new, untainted ones a chance.

This time, let’s carry a lot of anger and turn it into wisdom. This time, let’s vote for Nepal, the Nepalis and a new destiny.

This time, if none of the parties are convincing enough, let’s vote with our feet. That is one sure way to make our vote count.