UPENDRA LAMICCHANE

Nepal’s recent election losses have exposed a pattern of political deflection, where leaders blame “waves,” rivals, or circumstances instead of confronting shifting voter expectations and their own shortcomings.

Those who once joked about meeting in the Gulf are now building businesses in Nepal. Meanwhile, a student who dreamed of serving the country through government service has been forced to leave the country for foreign employment.

The tearful faces gathered at his final rites seemed to whisper the same line back to him: “Rate Kaila, we didn’t like your final journey.”