In conversation with a Nepali student, we explore how the youth are navigating political turmoil from afar, its effects, and what the future holds for a generation looking beyond their borders.
In an age of instant global connection, news from back home is never far away. For international students, political developments in their native country continue to shape their perspective, even from thousands of miles away. We spoke with Siddhant Pant, a Nepali student pursuing International Relations at Noida International University to understand their unique viewpoint on how the ongoing political and social movements in Nepal affect the life of the students.
Correspondent: When protests or political movements happen in Nepal, do you usually follow them closely from India?
Siddhant: Yes, I follow them closely because half my family lives there, making it essential to stay updated.
C: Have you or your friends ever taken part in any protests or student movements back in Nepal? Do you feel protests are a good way for young people to express their views, or should there be other ways?
S: Being raised in India in a Nepali family, I used to visit Nepal frequently to meet my grandmother during the summers, but I don’t recall participating in any political protests.
C: How do political strikes, protests, or shutdowns in Nepal affect students’ daily lives, like school, exams, or travel?
S: Political strikes usually result in stalling. No buses, no public transport, or sometimes otherworldly traffic. God forbid if there is a protest on exam day. You’ll probably never arrive on time.
C: Did the condition in Nepal play any role in your decision to come to India for higher studies?
S: The current situation didn’t affect me or my studies. My father is a Nepali immigrant who arrived here in the late 1990s and settled in the area. My schooling happened in Jaipur and Udaipur, and I’m currently in Noida, studying International Relations.
C: Do political decisions in Nepal (like elections or protests) affect your education or career plans in any way?
S: This is not the case for me, but for my counterparts in Nepal, it does. Many Nepalese aspire to study in foreign lands. These were countries like India for decades, but due to rising tension and political decisions, the youth are actively looking at China as an alternative.
C: Do you feel young people in Nepal get enough support and opportunities, or do you think going abroad is a better option?
S: Nepal provides limited opportunities. Many villages are being abandoned, and youth increasingly seek opportunities abroad, much like India did years ago and still does now.
C: Would you encourage more Nepali students to come study in India? Why or why not?
S: I believe that India, if it continues to adopt free market values even more, could be an excellent place to study, especially for Nepalese youth. India is almost similar to Nepal, but still so different. India can offer what I call “the true human experience”—meeting new people who live close but still speak entirely different languages, the local culinary heritage of different regions etc. This isn’t quite possible in countries like China, Japan, or Korea, the top destination for Nepalese students.
C: Is there anything else you’d like to point out or share?
S: Many believed that Nepal’s turmoil was the result of a coup orchestrated by foreign powers. But the students have shown that when the government chains liberty, arms rise against tyranny.
Picture Caption: GenZs started a protest in Nepal hoping for better conditions for them but what about the ones living afar?
Picture Credits: CNN
Juhi Bansal
