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In an era of rising uncertainty and political fragmentation, few voices in South Asia carry the weight of experience and vision like that of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. Former Prime Minister of Nepal, architect of the federal republican constitution, and a long time revolutionary, Dr. Bhattarai has lived the contradictions of power, transformation, and reform. In a wide-ranging conversation, he reflected on the past, critiqued the present, and envisioned a more equitable future for Nepal, as well as the global South. This article captures the key insights from that dialogue, intertwined with today’s pressing challenges: the crisis of youth migration, the collapse of land reform, and the call for a global ethic of justice and cooperation.
Dr. Bhattarai underscored that revolution is not a single event but a continuous process. Nepal’s transition from monarchy to a federal democratic republic, marked by the 2015 constitution, was historic, but incomplete. “It is like a glass half full,” he said. The monarchy was dismantled, but the structural contradictions such as class, caste, gender, geography remain unresolved. He noted that the monarchy had existed in Nepal for centuries, and that democracy in Nepal is still in its childhood stage; thus, some lingering sentiment toward monarchy is expected and won’t fade overnight. That moment made me pause, isn’t it the beauty of democracy that even a small group of people can voice their opinion freely? The new work, he said, lies in realizing the full promises of inclusion and dignity, and that must be carried forward by the next generation.
Without land reform, there is no rural transformation, and without rural transformation, Nepal remains dependent.
One of the most defining aspects of Nepal’s post-revolution era has been the stalled progress of land reform. As a long time proponent of “scientific land reform,” Dr. Bhattarai reflected on the missed opportunities, beginning with the token reforms of 1964 under the monarchy, which were more about optics than redistribution. After the Maoist insurgency and peace process, there was real momentum, but the political establishment lacked the will to challenge feudal structures. In March 2025, the government repealed a land reform ordinance after backlash from coalition parties and environmental concerns, another setback in a long history of delays (Kathmandu Post, 2025). Dr. Bhattarai did not hide his disappointment: “Without land reform, there is no rural transformation, and without rural transformation, Nepal remains dependent.”
This leads to the most important theme of our conversation: youth migration. Dr. Bhattarai listened thoughtfully as I shared my own journey about leaving India a decade ago in search of opportunity and enduring the emotional and cultural rebirth that comes with building a life abroad. “It is natural,” he acknowledged. “Science tells us that we are part animal kingdom, and its animal instinct to migrate toward greener pastures, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing if it’s done in a proportionate fashion. He had a bitter but factual question for current U.S. president Donald Trump: “If your material resources can come into our country to make a profit, why can’t our people come to yours in search of better opportunity?” He conveyed this sentiment forcefully, calling out the double standard of globalization. In a world where goods and capital move freely, labour, especially from the Global South, is not perceived with the same standards. “It’s not just policy,” he said. “It’s a moral contradiction.” Migration, he stressed, is not a failure of nations; it is a failure of global systems to distribute opportunities fairly. Dr. Bhattarai did have an optimistic solution for us as he stated, “But what if we could create that pasture here?” We should shift our attitude towards stop romanticizing departure and dignify staying. “Green pastures,” he said, “let’s nurture in our global south.”
Migration is not a failure of nations; it is a failure of global systems to distribute opportunities fairly.
Still, Dr. Bhattarai remains hopeful about Nepal’s place in the world. He believes South and East Asia are poised for resurgence. “Before British colonization, we held the majority of the world’s GDP,” he reminded. “Now, the West has two-thirds. But the pendulum is swinging back.” This observation is supported by historical economic data, which shows that prior to colonization and industrialization, South and East Asia together accounted for nearly two-thirds of global GDP. Specifically, in 1700, India contributed about 24.4% and China 22.3% to the world economy, underscoring the region’s historical economic dominance (Nayar, 2013). This dramatic shift in global economic power was later reversed through colonial extraction and Western industrial expansion. He sees a moment where knowledge, investment, and human capital could converge to make South Asia a center of innovation, cooperation, and inclusive growth. He recounted a proposal he once made to Bangladesh and India: invest in Nepal’s hydropower and export energy through regional collaboration. A decade later, that vision became reality (Ghimire, 2024). “This proves what long-term thinking and trust can build,” he said with a smile.
We then explored the architecture of the state itself. According to Dr. Bhattarai, no democratic society can be truly free if its citizens must pay to live, learn, and heal. He called for deep structural reforms such as universal health care, free education, and public social protection, while allowing the market to operate in areas like industry and services. “Healthcare is not a business. It is a right,” he stated firmly. He also critiqued the Nepali state’s tendency to create new policies without properly monitoring the ones in place. Instead of policy inflation, what Nepal needs is evaluation, reform, and accountability. “Reforms must be data-driven and people-centred,” he argued.
His final message to the youth was profound and deeply personal. “I’ve run my hundred meters,” he said, referencing the relay race of progress. “Now it’s your turn.” He urged young people not to give up when faced with bureaucracy, corruption, or injustice. Change is slow, but it builds step by step, policy by policy, movement by movement. “You don’t need to pick up arms like we did,” he said. “You need to pick up courage, conviction, and compassion.” The conversation ended with a simple truth: transformation is not found, it is made. And green pastures, for Nepal’s youth, may be just beneath their feet, if they’re willing to water them. Dr. Bhattarai also emphasized the importance of gender equality, asserting that no society can claim true progress while half its population is held back. Lastly, he urged youth to create meaningful spaces for women to lead, grow, and thrive, not as a form of charity, but as a necessity for national development.
Bibliography
- Ghimire, P. (2024, October 3). Historic tripartite deal: Nepal to export electricity to Banglades. Retrieved from The Annapurna Express: https://theannapurnaexpress.com/story/50751/
- NAYYAR, D., & UNDP. (2013). The South in the World Economy: Past, Present and Future. Oxford University Press.
- Post, T. K. (2027, March 27). Government to ditch disputed land ordinance, bring bill instead. Retrieved from The Kathmandu Post: https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2025/03/27/government-to-ditch-disputed-land-ordinance-bring-bill-instead
