More Peaceful Nepal

Located on the lap of the Himalayas, Nepal has been the land of saints, sages and seers since time immemorial. It had been an ideal place for penance and spiritual enlightenment for Rishis (sages) – some of whom were the authors of the Vedas, the sacred texts of Hindus. It is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the apostle of world peace, which inspires people all over the world to pursue the path of non-violence. The countless temples and monasteries scattered here and there show the rich spiritual tradition Nepalis have been practicing for ages. Not only Hinduism and Buddhism but also other religions have found space and acceptance here, which is a testimony to mutual harmony, co-existence and cooperation among Nepalis. Many peace lovers and truth seekers aspire to visit sacred religious sites in Nepal. The glorious legacy of peace that every Nepali cherishes has been the defining characteristic of our society. 

People of diverse ethnicities, linguistic and cultural groups have been thriving peacefully living in agreement in Nepal for centuries. It is not that this nation did not endure conflicts, coups and ars. Rather, they were aberrations. During the unification period and wars against imperial powers, Nepalis had to shed tears, sweat, and blood to protect their sovereignty and independence.  Violent conflicts are not inherent to the Nepali psyche, although they occasionally erupt during the course of a political campaign and often tend to be short-lived. 

A news report published in this daily the other day reveals that Nepal has emerged as a more peaceful nation in South Asia, which attests to and gives credence to its heritage of peace.  The report notes that Nepal has moved up to 76th position out of 163 countries in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025, published some time back by the Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). In 2022, the country ranked 73rd, a significant improvement from 85th in 2021. The GPI uses 23 indicators across three domains - societal safety and security, ongoing conflict, and militarisation. Nepal has scored 1.987, ranking second in the region after Bhutan. This year’s ranking was based on two themes - progress and persistence.  The progress was seen in how much conflict-related risks were mitigated and how persistence was maintained, defying socio-economic and political problems.

The IEP has counted the factors such as a decline in violent demonstrations, relatively low homicide rates, and reliance on dialogue over armed confrontation in political disputes behind elevating Nepal in the peace index. Besides, Nepal's contribution to peacekeeping missions in various conflict zones has earned it an image of a peace-loving nation.  Nepal has dispatched more than 119,000 soldiers to the United Nations peacekeeping missions since 1958. Nepal's emergence as a more peaceful nation in South Asia has positive implications for its tourism and foreign direct investment. This will boost the confidence of potential investors to invest in the trade, industry and service sector.  More tourists will be encouraged to come to Nepal to enjoy its natural wonders and cultural monuments. 

Nepal is grappling with poverty, unemployment, inflation, debt, low capital spending and soaring trade deficit, among other problems. Its outstanding debt has reached Rs. 2,669.64 billion by the end of the last fiscal year. Of it, external debt stands at Rs. 1,401.42 billion and internal debt at Rs. 1,268.22 billion. The government should promote the country as a reliable destination for foreign direct investment, as peace and stability are two primary conditions to expedite development works and invite investors to the country.