Reflections from Manasa Sharma: Bridging Culture and Politics in Nepal

At Birthright Nepal, our fellows gain more than experiences, they gain perspectives that connect culture, politics, and identity. In this reflection, fellow Manasa Sharma shares her takeaways on cultural competency, political literacy, and the role of the Nepali diaspora in shaping dialogue for change.

The importance of cultural competency in political interventions:

A key takeaway for me was understanding that there happens to be a disconnect between urbanized areas of Nepal and more rural areas. It is important for urban policy to respect, listen, and understand the needs of other regions in Nepal to help boost political literacy and also better benefit the differing needs of each regions

Perceptions that one person can fix the issues of Nepal:

⁠I learned that the reason why some of the Nepalese population want to revert back to the monarchy is because of the patriarchal belief that one person, who serves as a paternal figure, will fix the problems of Nepal—or give the people of the country hope. This is rooted in political illiteracy and due to the fact not many people understand their true rights as a Nepali citizen.

The impact of the Nepali diaspora:

Learning about the Nepali diaspora’s role was quite interesting to me as it reflected a slight resistance to change—why is it that bideshi individuals are frowned upon for wanting to come back to Nepal or make any change within their home country? Interestingly, it seems as if there are many stakeholders involved in this including political corruption—having a system that has barriers and also a community of leaders that perpetuate political corruption, trying to gate keep the true implications of system from the public eye. What is interesting is a point that was brought up—why is it that concepts such as cafe culture and fast fashion have easily become trending in Nepal? It seems like the dialogue surrounding advocacy, especially amongst the diaspora, needs to be deconstructed. What can help this shift in perspective?

What is the actual history?

A common theme I have noticed from this weekend and last (ktm ko katha) is that there is a disconnect on why, what, and how in Nepali society. Why do we do the things we do (culture, traditions)? But also what occurred politically to get us to this point. Why are the important, nuanced, and gruesome details skipped over in Nepali students’ education. Why is it that many books surrounding Nepal’s political history may have many biases? It is interesting because of how culture and tradition tie into this as well—the glorification of the monarchy now forgets about the system and past that also oppressed people. It traces back to the idea that one person can be ‘god’ and restore hope for the country. Moreover, an intervention in education systems could be beneficial to changing this narrative, but how are the people without an education or without access to urbanization going to be aligned?

Our fellows continue to share their insights and experiences from the field, each offering a unique perspective on Nepal’s culture, history, and community life. Here, Manasa highlights her day at Pyaari, capturing the everyday moments that shape these journeys.

At Birthright Nepal, we see these reflections as an important part of our mission, connecting fellows with communities, fostering dialogue, and amplifying stories that matter.

To explore more of these meaningful journeys, follow us on Instagram @birthrightnepal.