Secular Nepal: Understanding the Dynamics of Religious Nationalism and Secularism

The case of Nepal is exceptional which moves from religious to secular country where the propensity is for more determined religious nationalism elsewhere. This study has sought to separate interdependent variables while attempting to explain secular change. Political instability, weak state capacity, illegitimacy of the ruler, external and internal pro-secular lobbying together made this change. High level personal interviews conducted in Nepal in July 2015 are primary sources of this study. A widely held belief among a section of people is secularism was an interest of Western Christian Community and some Nepalese political actors are paid for it, therefore secularization is not acceptable in the country. Major political parties insist that the concept of secular state was the principle of the communist, which in the past was suppressed by Hindu monarch. A section of non-Hindus consider secularism as contextual need and concept of interim constitution.