Kathmandu, September 7
During the session titled Rethinking Development and Diplomacy in the Digital Age at the Kathmandu Kalinga Literary Festival, former Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, emphasized the importance of credibility in diplomacy.
He noted that people play a central role in influencing government decisions, pointing to recent events in Bangladesh and the 2006 people’s movement in Nepal.
“People are at the centre of everything. Public diplomacy has played a huge role in India-Nepal relations, but not always positively. It can work both ways,” Rae remarked.
Reflecting on his tenure as ambassador during a challenging period, Rae recalled, “I was in Nepal during the constitution-writing process and the protests in Tarai.” He also mentioned his book, Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties, which he wrote to address misconceptions about India’s role in Nepal.
In another session titled Writing as Aspiration, Rae stressed the importance of self-research on regional history and heritage.
“What is written about us in the West need not align with our narratives. It is up to us to research and write about our history,” he said.
