It has been two months since Nilambar Acharya took over as Nepal's ambassador to India. The post has been lying vacant since his predecessor Deep Kumar Upadhyay resigned in the autumn of 2017 to pursue a political career. Acharya, who was a member of the Indo-Nepal Eminent Persons Group, is keen to travel and learn more of India, which he terms as so similar yet so dissimilar to his own country.
Acharya has been involved in the nation building movements of Nepal. He was part of the first constituent assembly, and has helmed the ministries of law, justice, parliamentary affairs and social welfare in previous administrations. He is optimistic about his country's growth trajectory.
In conversation with THE WEEK, he stressed that though the bilateral relations between the two countries would always be bound by shared tradition and heritage, newer times called for newer ways of engagement.
Excerpts from an interview:
What were the first weeks of your tenure like?
I am discovering India. It is a vast country, so similar to Nepal, yet so different. I have visited India as member of the Eminent Persons Group four times, but there is a lot to see. I hope to travel a lot.
What will you say of India-Nepal relations at this stage?
Our relations are good, though there are ups and downs occasionally. We are bound by a shared heritage and tradition, but there are many ways in which we can reinvigorate the relations, in accordance with contemporary needs.
Despite our open borders, connectivity can be improved, with rail links, more air links between cities, and even waterways. There is a promising start in energy banking and sharing hydro-electric resources.
We have to first build trust at the level of governments and civil society. We assume that because the two countries are close, we do not have to work on the relationship. But, close relations need greater nurturing. Sometimes, there are differences, but we should not allow those wounds to fester. Also, we have to change with the times. Static relations run the risk of deterioration. Keeping the trust levels high and respecting each other's sensibilities is an ongoing process.
Nepal's foreign relations are viewed as bilaterals either with India or China. Your comments.
We actually have relations with 160 countries, not just India and China, though these are our closest neighbours and very important for us. We have huge developmental needs now that we have political stability and a stable government. India should not have any apprehensions that our international relations will hamper them in any way. The possibilities of collaborating with India are vast. There are many new areas in where we can engage, even as we continue to have our traditional ties.
Nepal has entered into a phase of political stability, and also has a stable government. This must a very optimistic time.
Yes. We've had troubled years, as systems of government changed. We then had unstable governments. Finally, we have a stable government that can have a vision for five years at least. We finally have a Constitution. At 33 per cent, we have the best representation of women in parliament in South Asia. It is a constitutional obligation. We plan to graduate from a Least Developed Country to a Middle Income Country by 2030. Also, our demographic dividend is working for us. We have the power of youth. We need to harness this now.
What are the areas of co-operation you see now?
The Nepal of 50 years ago needed hospitals and universities. We have our own institutions now. Today, we need collaboration in technology, infrastructure building, manufacturing, developing tourism and utilising our natural resources.
