Opinion | Defending the constitution, changing it too
Summary
Nepal’s Constitution Day highlights the tension between defending the 2015 Constitution’s democratic foundations and addressing unresolved grievances over federalism, representation and exclusion. The piece argues that the republic remains unfinished and must become more inclusive, accountable and responsive.
Key Points
- Constitution Day in Nepal reflects both democratic achievement and unresolved grievances over exclusion, federal demarcation and representation.
- The article argues that republicanism, federalism, secularism, parliamentary democracy and proportional inclusion are worth defending even as the constitution is criticized and reformed.
- Tharuhat and Madhesh movements exposed deeper questions about political power, inclusion and the limits of symbolic representation.
- The Gen Z movement of 2025 is presented as a new constitutional challenge centered on accountability, protest and democratic legitimacy.
