Being a landlocked and small state, Nepal’s relations with India have always been characterised as relations between ‘unequal neighbours’. In fact, both geostrategic considerations and the location of Nepal have decided Nepal’s destiny. It is sandwiched between two powerful neighbours — India and China, who tend to be hostile towards each other. As far as Nepal is concerned, India has always had an edge over China, due to its geographical proximity and more important—historical legacy and cultural affinity with Nepal.
Roadblocks in Indo-Nepal ties
Unfortunately, the last three decades of India-Nepal relations have not been smooth due to a number of factors— in particular, in 1988–89, when the Indian government declared an ‘economic blockade’ against Nepal and compelled it to accept India’s terms and conditions. As a result, the Nepalese perception towards India became somewhat inimical, despite the fact that it is dependent upon India for its access to the world. In addition to this, India’s indirect support and sympathy to the Maoist Movement in Nepal further strained the relationship between the two. Even during bilateral dialogues or negotiations, when the Nepalese side was represented by the Head of the Government or the Head of the State, the Indian side was always represented either by the Indian diplomats or the secretaries of respective ministries. This gave the impression of not only India’s diplomatic apathy towards Nepal, but also the undermining of the political authorities in Nepal. Hence, Nepal contested India’s role in its political process.
‘Hindutva’ as a common plank
The election of Nepal in 2013 rejected the radical politics of the Maoists, and set the new political mood for democracy. It also changed the attitude of Nepalese political leaders towards India. As a result, there were a series of meetings, deliberations, seminars and workshops conducted and organised between the elected representatives of Nepal and the right-wing cultural organisations, interest groups and political parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was then the opposition party in the Indian Parliament. The main objective of this ‘Bharat–Nepal Sahyog Manch’ (India–Nepal Cooperation Forum), was to improve the relationship between the two neighbours and cement a further friendship based on common religion and culture. Primarily, an ideology of ‘Hindutva’ became a basis between the two nations.
Therefore, the Nepalese were anxious to know the results of the Indian elections and Narendra Modi’s Prime Ministership. This anxiety could be seen in light of the altering of Nepal’s character from a Theocratic to Secular state, which derecognised Hinduism as the official religion of the state.
The decision of declaring Nepal as a secular state was a big blow to Nepal’s unique identity as it was the only Hindu state in the world. But it was not a sudden decision. During the Jan Andolan II, the Maoists had started influencing the youth who had been victims of the Hindu-dominated society and belonged to either janjatis or lower strata of the Hindu society. So when Maoists came to power, it was inevitable that they declared Nepal as a ‘Secular’ state.
Secular v/s Hindu nation
With the new character of a secular state, many nonstate actors particularly the international funding agencies and donor countries became active in propagating Christianity while providing economic assistance to improve socioeconomic conditions, free education, medical facilities and resources for livelihood. As a result, a majority of janjatis and dalits embraced Christianity with the help of these international and local NGOs (non-governmental organisations) whose presence in Nepal was just to protect human rights. In other words, in the name of human rights many non-state actors became allegedly involved in the conversion programmes and the Nepalese government could not do much to prevent this, as many departments and ministries were dependent upon the funds given by these INGOs.
The Nepalese government found itself in a pincer-like situation and possibly expected Indian assistance in this regard. But the secular leadership in India did not pay any heed to this call. Modi’s candidature for the Indian Prime Ministership perhaps raised hopes of Nepalese statesmen and people who have seen in him a Hindu saviour. As a result, Nepal as a nation welcomed Modi and congratulated him by putting up his photographs and posters all over Nepal. Particularly, political parties and organisations, whose ideologies are based on right-wing Hinduism, came openly in support of Modi and organised processions and appealed to the newly elected Members of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal to reverse the earlier decision of a secular state, and once again declare Nepal a Hindu state.
Modi’s visit and his message
Knowing the fact about Nepal’s enthusiasm about BJP’s victory and India’s thousands of years of religious and cultural association with Nepal, it was expected that Modi’s first official foreign visit would be Nepal. But being a shrewd statesman, Modi chose Bhutan over Nepal. It has served many purposes. Firstly, being the leader of a political party which has a Hindutva ideology, and more so being a Prime Minister, his visit to Nepal would have been criticised by all his opponents inside and outside of the country. With this, he avoided the giving of any wrong message to other neighbouring states of the region. Secondly, choosing Bhutan would help India to remove the ill-feelings which Bhutan had developed against India due to an abrupt withdrawal of the various subsidies during its second parliamentary elections in July 2013. Thirdly, the visit to Bhutan indirectly helped India to inculcate confidence among the other neighbouring states that small neighbours also matter to India.
Modi used Hinduism as an instrument of cultural diplomacy vis-à-vis Nepal. Visiting the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu was not a mere gesture, but it was a very calculative move, which had a different meaning altogether. One can see from Modi’s speech in the Parliament of Nepal, that he did not miss any opportunity to elaborate on India– Nepal relations, which are basically guided by Hindu religion. He established a personal link to this cultural relationship while mentioning that he belongs to Somnath (Gujarat) and reached Pashupatinath (Kathmandu) via Kashi Vishwanath (Varanasi) for the attainment of spiritual bliss! In his deliberations, he spoke often about the Hindu religious texts and scriptures— the Rigveda, the Vedas and the Upanishads. He cited many Hindu mythological references to prove his point of cultural affinity between India and Nepal. He implied that India will always respect Nepal’s religious sentiments and its cultural ethos, while respecting its independent political entity, and India will do its best to support Nepal’s economic development. In other words, while using cultural diplomacy, Modi seemed to send a strong message to the INGOs and funding agencies, which are converting the Nepalese people to Christianity in the name of human rights and development assistance. At the political level, Modi’s visit should be seen as containing the Chinese influence in Nepal and restricting Nepal from further leaning towards China.
Modi government also talked trade
On the contentious issue of revision of the 1950 Treaty between India and Nepal, the Modi government took a leap forward from the earlier government. India proposed an Information and Technology connectivity between the two countries. Concessional loans worth $ 1 billion to build power plants have been promised to Nepal. India also gave a grant of NRs 69 million to Nepal to supply iodised salt to control iodine deficiency diseases in Nepal. In addition to this, keeping in mind Nepal’s rich water resources, both the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding amending the ToR (Terms of References) on the Pancheshwar Multiple Project, to carry forward the work on the Pancheshwar Development Authority in Nepal. Another agreement was signed on cooperation between Nepal Television and Doordarshan, the state-owned television stations of both the countries. It will help both India and Nepal to establish the right perceptions and create a conducive atmosphere for healthy relations.
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Dr. Rajesh S. Kharat
The writer is Associate professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.[/column]