For decades, India was central to Nepal’s imagination: its primary destination for work, education, and opportunity. That reality has shifted dramatically. A globally connected Nepal is redefining its aspirations, politics, and external engagements, moving beyond inherited frameworks of proximity and tradition. In this evolving landscape, is India failing to keep pace with Nepal’s transformation?
I grew up in the era when India was the only destination that Nepalis could head to for education, healthcare, trade, and tourism. That has changed in the past thirty years, with Nepalis now living in 180 countries around the world and India being only one of them. This change has to dawn on people in India who are interested in Nepal and its foreign policy. This piece seeks to provide some perspectives on the transformation and attempt to relay how Nepalis perceive India and where the opportunities lie for bilateral ties.