Dimensions of Nepali Diaspora

Migration began with the beginning of human civilization. In reality, migration is like a continuous search. With the beginning of the twentieth century and especially with the acceleration of globalization, migration emerged as a widespread and global phenomenon.

According to the United Nations report published in 2020, there are now 280 million first-generation immigrants in the world. If immigrants alone were to have a separate country, it would surpass the combined population of Brazil and Argentina. It is estimated that first-generation immigrants account for 3.6 percent of the world’s population. The countries of destination for large numbers of immigrants include the United States, Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the UAE, France, Australia, and Spain.

Migration was often viewed as a ‘brain drain.’ But that thinking is slowly changing. With the development of information technology, the geographical location of a person is no longer as important as it was in the past. Now people can make intellectual and economic contributions wherever they live. Today’s era is the era of ‘brain gain’ and ‘brain circulation.’

Today, in many underdeveloped countries of the world, the words ‘diaspora’ and ‘development’ have become synonymous with each other. The knowledge they send, from the remittances they send to the exchange of knowledge, is playing a major role in the prosperity of the motherland. The access of all diasporas to foreign investment, trade, access to technology, and economic cooperation is increasing. The Nepali diaspora is no exception.

The word diaspora is used to define a group of immigrant people who have a common land, whether voluntarily or by force. The Nepali community living abroad has developed into a diaspora in a short period of time. After the Nepal-British Indo-India War of 1814-16, 5000 Nepali soldiers were recruited by British India into the Gurkha Regiment. After that, Nepali have also started migrating for tea plantation workers, security, animal husbandry, etc.

After the end of the Rana regime in 1950, a small number of Nepali were reported to have gone abroad for studies. Although the tradition of being recruited into the British Gurkhas began about 200 years ago, the number of Nepali going abroad was very limited. It was only after the changes in 1950 that a large number of Nepalis started going abroad.

As a result, Nepal’s agriculture-based economy gradually began to rely on remittances. The number of non-resident Nepalis scattered abroad is now estimated to be around 5-6 million. That is, 17-20 percent of the country’s population, mainly young people, is abroad. Some of these Nepali will return, and some will stay there and enrich our diaspora, contributing to the development and prosperity of the country.

The highest form of existence and identity of diasporas is their common land, i.e. their homeland. They want to further strengthen their roots connected to their homeland. Therefore, the desire to make a special contribution to the social and economic transformation of their homeland is a common characteristic of diasporas around the world.

The wishes, aspirations, happiness, anger, and feelings of these first-generation Nepali are all still connected to Nepal.

We say that our roots are deeply rooted in the land of Nepal. Our minds are here, our bodies are there. Diasporas like Palestine, which are without a country, need a country and they are struggling for that, helping. Diasporas who have their own homelands are engaged in a campaign to make those countries prosperous and strong. Because the honour, respect, and security of the diaspora are based on the prosperity of the motherland, and the overall assessment is made. Therefore, we have an emotional interest in the prosperity of Nepal. 

The Nepali diaspora is growing not only numerically but also qualitatively. There are scientists, doctors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, professors, engineers, and writers of Nepali origin. Lujendra Ojha, who is part of the NASA team that discovered the existence of water on Mars, and Kumud Dhital, the surgeon who transplanted a dead person’s heart into a living person, are also members of our diaspora.

We are proud to say that famous chef Santosh Shah is our brother. These are just representative names. A large number of Nepalis who have achieved success in various fields are currently active abroad. Our concerted efforts should focus on how to keep them connected to Nepal.

The Nepali diaspora, which is expanding not only numerically but also qualitatively, has already made significant financial investments in Nepal’s hydropower, banking, tourism, health, education, and other sectors. In a way that we cannot see, Nepalis around the world have made many small investments in various sectors, individually or collectively, in their respective villages. Their impact on keeping the rural economy dynamic and creating employment is very great.

However, these investments are not sufficient according to the capacity of the diaspora. As the country undergoes policy reforms, this investment will increase, and the diaspora will become more and more integrated with the country.

I do not think it is necessary to explain here how important the role played by remittances in making our economy dynamic is. The remittances received by Nepal are about 24 percent of Nepal’s gross domestic product, which is the third largest proportion in the world and the largest in South Asia. It has now been proven that remittances have played a significant role in poverty alleviation in Nepal. In the context of the growing economic crisis and lack of foreign exchange, the importance of remittances has become even more evident.

The role that the Nepali diaspora can play in strengthening Nepal’s international relations by connecting Nepal with the society and government of the country by living abroad for a long time is unparalleled. It is not an exaggeration to say that all Nepalis living abroad are unpaid ambassadors of the motherland. Now, in many countries, Nepalis, due to their number and quality, have the status of influencing the formation of local governments there.

Non-resident Nepali have personal relationships with high-ranking officials of many countries. Our country can use this to promote its diplomacy. There are countless examples of Nepalis acting as catalysts to bring in foreign investment through their own efforts. 

The field that the Nepali diaspora can play in economic diplomacy is unlimited. It has not yet been utilized properly. The diaspora is also playing a major role in promoting our tourism. If the Government of Nepal can take the initiative to provide facilities such as direct air services to many countries, this trend will increase further. Interest in Nepal has increased due to our relations abroad. As the spending power of Nepali living abroad increases, the number of people taking themselves and their families to visit Nepal is increasing. In this way, the diaspora itself is supporting Nepal’s tourism industry.

Diasporic consciousness is a combination of old memories of the homeland and bittersweet experiences of new places. Whether forced or seeking opportunities, Subhash of his homeland will always feel the lack of home love wherever he goes. Even though he is drawn by home, he cannot leave the country he came from and return. But there is a crisis of identity in the new land, and being the first generation, there is a struggle to earn a living.

Like other diasporas in the world, we also need a beautiful, peaceful, and prosperous homeland free from conflict, poverty, and instability. It was said above that the expansion of the Nepali diaspora is not only numerical but also qualitative. In addition to the increasing involvement in business and business, there are now many Nepali experts working at the academic and research levels of prestigious universities around the world.

The generation of Nepali working at the top levels of multinational companies is increasing. It can be easily estimated that they will be able to make a more significant contribution to Nepal within the next 10-15 years. There is no doubt that Nepal’s economic transformation will be easier and faster if the emerging Nepali community is integrated into Nepal’s progress.

It is not possible for Nepal to remain untouched by migration. We are aware of the history and tradition of leaving the country for hundreds of years in search of work and opportunities. This process will continue forever. Our efforts should be focused on ensuring that our brothers and sisters who have left the country and their future generations do not forget Nepal. In order to keep the diaspora community connected to Nepal and to prevent their roots in their homeland from weakening, efforts should be made to fertilize it with various cultural, economic, and social activities, as well as easy policies, rules and laws, both in the homeland and abroad.