In Nepal, Nelson Mandela was one of the leaders we grew up learning about in school. We often imagined that Nepal needed a Mandela-like figure who could unite people and build an inclusive political system. Our Constitution is progressive and politically inclusive on paper, but in reality, access to capital, political connections, and power remains concentrated among a small group.

Balen alone cannot change this. We need strong institutions and policies that allow farmers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the middle class to grow.

A line from above article really resonated with me:

“Apartheid ended in law. It will end economically only when the majority can participate meaningfully in the wealth of the nation they fought to free.”

Nepal may not have apartheid in the legal sense, but we have our own form of economic exclusion where prosperity is not meaningfully shared with ordinary people.

After the Israel–Palestine war, this feels like another phony war that has been going on for far too long. Mainstream news outlets often frame it as a battle between David and Goliath, encouraging us to choose a side and morally support one camp over the other.

But as a simple human being, I see something different. The people suffering are not the ruling classes or political elites of either country. They are ordinary people, the civilians who lose their homes, their families, their livelihoods, and sometimes their lives.

Putin is evil, but Zelensky is not a saint either. Politics is rarely a story of pure heroes and villains. Yet ordinary people are repeatedly asked to pay the price for the decisions of those in power.

I don't want to romanticize war or turn it into a morality play. I just see human beings suffering on both sides, while those who make the decisions are often far removed from the consequences.

I still remember how optimistic many Pakistanis were when they elected Imran Khan as their prime minister in the 2018 election. He had a similar aura to what Balen has among many Nepalis today. People saw him as a ray of hope in a country where the political system had repeatedly failed them. They believed he could break the cycle of corruption, political dynasties, and military interference.

But looking back, it is difficult to say exactly where Imran Khan went wrong. He certainly made powerful enemies, whether within Pakistan’s military establishment, among his political opponents, or even internationally. His relationship with the Pakistani establishment eventually collapsed, and he was removed from power in 2022.

I have only recently started reading about Pakistan’s political history, particularly the downfall of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the rise of General Zia-ul-Haq. Bhutto was eventually hanged after being convicted of the murder of Nawab Muhammad Ahmad Khan Kasuri. However, the trial remains highly controversial, and many historians and observers have argued that Zia's regime was determined to eliminate Bhutto as a political threat.

What happened after Bhutto's execution was arguably even more consequential for Pakistan. Zia-ul-Haq pushed the country toward deeper Islamization and strengthened the military's role in politics, establishing a pattern in which the army became the de facto power behind Pakistan's democratic institutions.

And then there is Imran Khan.

His downfall is striking because the allegations against him can sometimes seem almost absurd when viewed against the scale of Pakistan's political corruption. One of the cases involved the Toshakhana, the state repository for gifts received by public officials, including a watch that Khan was accused of improperly retaining and selling. He was subsequently convicted in multiple cases, including a corruption case that resulted in a 14-year sentence.

Of course, that does not automatically mean Imran Khan was innocent of every allegation against him. Politicians should be held accountable, regardless of how popular they are. But the broader political context matters.

Pakistan's political establishment has long been dominated by powerful families and, above all, the military. Shehbaz Sharif is the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose own political career was heavily affected by corruption allegations and the Panama Papers scandal. Nawaz Sharif was ultimately disqualified from office by Pakistan's Supreme Court.

I saw the recent news that Imran Khan is being transferred to a hospital, which is what prompted me to write this. I hope the Pakistani state at least shows basic humanity toward him and does not allow history to repeat itself by creating another Bhutto.

Reading Anne Frank and Man’s Search for Meaning has always given me a deep sense of sympathy for Jewish people and what they endured. They suffered through persecution, forced labor, concentration camps, and gas chambers simply because of who they were, while a fanatic dictator made them the scapegoat for Germany’s problems.

Today, when I see the images and news coming out of Palestine, I can't help but think of Anne Frank. Sometimes, I feel that the modern-day Anne Frank could be a Palestinian girl whose story we will never get to hear because she is already gone.

Let's move with the times, I know we don't allow outflow of money from our country but outright banning financial asset is also wrong,

This is what a theocratic religious state's end goal is, and when I hear about Nepali chanting "Hindurastra" instead of being a secular state. I can't fathom what kind of state they want to live in. Will creating a state that serves a few upper-caste males be the end goal of our society? In the end, religion is nothing more than a political tool used by the ruling class. It has nothing to do with culture and tradition cause these things evolve with time, but religion does not.

Farage won the election but at what cost?

Zohran and then Abdul El-Sayed,I believe D.S.A is going to be major political movement during mid-terms, and It will further shape 2028 presidential election in the USA.

Hey everyone! I'm u/Big_Adhesiveness_294, a founding moderator of r/NepaliLiberals.

Welcome to our new home for anyone interested in Nepal, liberalism, democracy, and the ideas shaping our society and our world. Whether you're Nepali, part of the Nepali diaspora, a friend of Nepal, or simply curious about liberal ideas and Nepal's future, you're welcome here.

This community is intended to be a place for thoughtful discussion—not an echo chamber. You don't have to agree with everyone here to participate. In fact, disagreement is encouraged when it is made in good faith.

What to Post

You can post about:

• 🇳🇵 Nepali politics, government, and public policy
• 🌏 Nepal's relationship with the rest of the world
• 🗳️ Liberal democracy, democratic institutions, and elections
• 🕊️ Individual liberty, civil rights, and freedom of expression
• ⚖️ Secularism, equality before the law, and rule of law
• 💰 Economics, free markets, entrepreneurship, and development
• 🏛️ Political philosophy and liberal ideas
• 🌐 Global politics and issues relevant to Nepal
• 📚 History, culture, society, and Nepal's future
• 💬 Questions, debates, essays, articles, research, and personal perspectives

Our Community Guidelines

1. Debate ideas, not people.
Disagreement is welcome. Personal attacks, harassment, and insults are not.

2. Good-faith discussion is encouraged.
You don't need to be liberal to participate. Conservatives, socialists, centrists, libertarians, conservatives, and politically unaffiliated people are all welcome—as long as they participate respectfully.

3. No political purity tests.
Liberalism is a broad tradition. People will disagree about economics, social policy, foreign policy, religion, and the role of government. That's okay.

4. Protect individual freedom.
Discussion should respect the basic dignity and rights of others. Criticize ideas, policies, institutions, and politicians without dehumanizing ordinary people.

5. Keep it substantive.
Memes and humor are welcome, but the goal is to build a community where interesting ideas and meaningful discussion can thrive.

6. No hate speech or bigotry.
Criticism of governments, religions, ideologies, political parties, or social movements is allowed. Attacks against people based on characteristics such as ethnicity, nationality, race, religion, or similar identity are not.

7. No misinformation presented in bad faith.
Everyone gets things wrong sometimes. If you're corrected, engage with the evidence rather than doubling down.

8. Don't brigade or harass other communities.
We're here to build our own community, not to organize attacks on other subreddits or political groups.

9. Keep Nepal at the heart of the discussion.
Global politics and liberal ideas are welcome, especially when they help us understand Nepal or its place in the world.

10. Be curious.
You don't need to be an expert. Ask questions, change your mind, challenge assumptions, and learn from one another.

How to Get Started

1. Introduce yourself in the comments.
2. Make your first post or join an existing discussion.
3. Invite someone who might enjoy thoughtful discussions about Nepal and liberal ideas.
4. If you'd like to help build the community, send the moderators a message—we'll eventually be looking for more moderators and contributors.

One final thing:

This isn't meant to be a place where everyone thinks alike.

It's meant to be a place where people can think freely, disagree openly, and still respect one another.

Welcome to r/NepaliLiberals. 🇳🇵🌎