It is not hidden that  Nepal and India have the most unique relationship among each other which no other neighboring  countries have among them. First and foremost India and Nepal are probably the only two countries which have open boarder policy which allows people from the respective countries to go from one country to another country without any hindrance on their  boarder . Not only open boarder policy is unique instead there are a lot of other things that differentiate Nepal India relationship from any other countries and their neighbors  .  Nepal and India shares; common culture , mutually shared values , mutually understandable language as well as religious and many other similarities within the diversity of people residing within them . That is the reason why it’s very common to witness the frequently happening marriages  among Nepali and Indian people . However , despite of all those similarities and closeness Nepal and India also have fear mixed diplomatic relationships between them where Nepal always seems fearful that India will not consider to support Nepal in securing  its interest even when doing that  won’t bother to hinder the interest of India and on the other hand India always fear that Nepal will not hesitate to join hands with its competitors like China and others at anytime . Even with  the  continued fear that lies within , nether  India nor Nepal can afford to loose each other . So it will be in the best interest of both countries to contribute from both side to decrease fear and increase the  trust among each other . However to do so it’s important to analyze the problem and find a better solution to it and work together in solving the problems .  

While talking about the existing fear that lies in between Nepal and India , we better begin by remembering Indian non cooperation that stopped Nepal from being zone of peace. Why begin with India ? Because it’s the largest and heavily populated country hence it has bigger role than Nepal or any other countries while it comes the time to contribute for better relations. History won’t lie and it’s clear in the history that then King Birendra’s purposal to United Nations to declare Nepal as Zone of Peace (ZoP) was supported by 130 countries and unfortunately India wasn’t among them . That definitely contributed in creating grift in Nepali side but that’s not the  only the case . There has been some other moments where Nepal have valid reason to believe that India wasn’t in favor of Nepal when it comes to world arena . Also true is the fact that Indian response during that and many other incident was not based on national interest instead it was based on unsatisfied ego of their leader of that time . Yet , pointing fingers only towards India for causing lack of trust and fear might not be fair  yet one thing is definite that Nepal never have  aligned  itself with any other countries to go after India . With its foreign policy based on non  alignment Nepal have never been against any countries so India can’t blame Nepal for aligning with any other countries but yet India have valid reason to blame Nepal for non appreciation at times .  There is no doubt that India always have been the first country to show up when Nepal is in need of support . It will be totally unfair to ignore the fact that during all major crisis India have always been there first to support Nepal which includes the  natural disasters such as earthquake, flooding and epidemic which includes recent corona to ancient Malaria . Yes officially Nepal have always appreciated and thanked India for what it has done during the time of need by providing the most support yet India haven’t   gain public appreciation to its fullest that it rightfully deserves . That is indeed unfair for India but still Nepali people’s   attitude towards India is not an act of injustice instead it’s a response to continuous events they have been watching where Indian role towards Nepal have ether been wrong or at least it’s portrayed as if it’s wrong when it comes to Indian involvement in internal political matters of Nepal .  

First of all while talking about the relationship between one of the largest countries and one of the smallest countries, one must not forget the fact that responsibility of  being cautious falls under the big one . Yes no countries is bigger or smaller theoretically when it’s come to its identity as a member of United nation and its sovereignty but in practicality countries like India and other big nations must always understand that small countries have their own sensitivity based on unspoken realization they aren’t strong and bigger than others . That definitely applies  to Nepal too when it comes its relations with its neighboring countries. It’s not hidden that India have been heavily involved during the significant political juncture of Nepal . Yet understanding of Indian involvement in Nepali politics  have  not been understood throughly instead it’s been taken only as interference by most people of Nepal . However the fact of the matter is that  Indian involvement has often been sum of its own  interest as well as invitation for its involvement by  Nepalese leaders , which for the most part is for the fulfillment of their own  interest . Not to mention seeking Indian involvement in nitty  gritty of Nepal’s domestic political affairs have long history .  No matter if it was for various kings  during their dynastic  autocratic regime and  constitutional monarchy or the political leaders of almost all political parties through their effort of getting into power ! They all have record of seeking  Indian help one way or another .  Yes, Indian role have been significant on the political success of monarch as well as political leaders and while doing so India must also have been able to get its interest addressed to some extent . However in totality and reality India has lost more than what it had gained by its involvement in Nepalese  domestic politics . No matter what political figures says or have said during  their dialogue with Indians  while  seeking Indian support in  shaping domestic  politics of Nepal and Persuade India in getting involved , the involvements however have created anger and frustration within Nepali people towards India as they think India won’t allow Nepali people to decide their destiny . Changing that feeling is indeed very much needed and to do that India must change its attitude towards Nepal and revisit it’s policies and strategies and it will be better if it starts now .

So how India can start changing its approach towards non involvement In Nepali domestic politics and make people in Nepal believe that it’s going towards  that route . At this time it’s very simple to do  so . Actually this might be a turning point on this aspect .  It’s openly visible that Nepal is going through political turmoil and this turmoil is going to get worse and worse till it get better . Despite having the collation government of two major parties , it has lost its support of People and people don’t have any confidence in government as well as on the leaders  of major political parities . Looking at what is happening in Nepal , any sensible person can see that Nepal ether have to see a rise of respectable leader and political force or else it will head towards disaster which means that the change in political  dynamics of Nepal is imminent. This time it will be benificial for India to just wait and watch and let people of Nepal decide what they wanted to do . If India can hold itself from getting involved in domestic politics of Nepal  this time then that will begin the new era of Nepal and India relationship where both countries not only have good relationship officially instead there will also be respect from and within its people . This is what should be the case but upto now it’s obvious that India is monitoring the situation and also getting its hand on all sides of arena . Analysis of on going events and scenarios even creates ground to suspect  that India is considering to remain open towards the idea of the return of Gyanendra shah as king of Nepal . That suspicion got  more stronger when Gyanendra Shah and his family received Royal treatment during their visit to Bhutan . First of all it is suspicious to see  why Gyanendra shah decided to go to Bhutan and it is more suspicious to see why Bhutan decided to provide Royal treatment to Gyanendra Shah when foreign affairs of Bhutan is totally controlled by India . It will be fair and true to conclude that the royal treatment Gyanendra shah received in Bhutan was  the way of India to  let everyone know that India is keeping all the possibilities open at the moment among the which return of monarchy with the agreement of remaining Indian puppet is also one . Looking at current mistrust of Nepali people towards political leaders,  India might have assumed that now people might go behind Gyanendra shah and take him closer to throne and if Gyanendra shah get back as king then India will get total support and cooperation within Nepal . Yes , there are some people who wants to take country back to monarchy but Indian or anyone else should not be mistaken that their intention is not to reinstate monarchy of any type. Most importantly those who are pleading for return of monarchy are making their case by saying that the existing political leaders and parties have made India decisive in Nepali politics and only monarch can stop that from continuing . So considering the return of monarchy and working covertly to make it happen won’t benefit India in anyway because no one in Nepal will ever be ready to accept the monarchy similar to one in Bhutan . It’s obvious that Indian influence in Providing royal treatment to  Gyanendra shah in Bhutan can’t just be to boost moral of his supporters instead it must be to convince Gyanendra that India will remain open for his return if he agrees to return as the monarch of Bhutan . The way Gyanendra agrees to receive such royal treatment in Bhutan is more than enough to understand that the power greedy Gyanendra  shah might not hesitate to agree to Indian terms as a condition for his return . Yet the reality is that anyone coming to power with Indian backing in Nepal will begin weak as it won’t have real people’s support and when that happen eventually situation will be at square one again . So if that has to happen  once again India will achieve nothing else but more hatred from people of Nepal  . So seeking the return of monarch with its influence will lead India towards another diplomatic  boomerang  which eventually will lead toward more suspicion and fear among India and Nepal and hence that will contribute in weakening its relationship by far . Rulers and diplomat of India may  also note a simple fact that Indian lack of interests in inviting prime minister Oli to visit India alone have helped oli to keep up with his claim that he is the most nationalist leader. So if kp oli or any other leader will be seen as nationalist and their  declining popularity starts at least to pause to decline just because India wasn’t willing to invite then what will happen to those  and their popularity whom India will openly endorse and push to take power ? Obviously that will depreciate the popularity and fuel the hatred  .  So India  and Nepal must pause for a brief , think what’s been going on , identify mistakes and initiate the correction.

As India is privileged to have  S. Jay Shankar, a seasoned , experienced and strategic diplomat, as its foreign minister , it must at least stop itself from heading to another boomerang . It’s ok if India thinks return of monarch will be more benificial for it than current system of multiparty republic but it should never happen with Indian initiation as that won’t be welcomed and accepted by Nepali people . Only thing that it will happen in that case is that people‘s  hatred and disbelief towards India will strengthen more and the current aggression towards its own  leaders will shift towards Gyanendra shah . Gyanendra shah will then be considered the new puppet and his fall will takes
 

Place more faster than his rise . So it will be better for India to let Nepali people decide their destiny and let them  do so  completely on their own. Even if they want to restore monarch or Whatever path they want to take  that should be done through their own act not from the influence of India . When Nepal will see its domestic political change shaped without any Indian influence or interference then that will be the time when they will see Indian support as a selfless support of a neighbor and when that happen true friendship will begin to  forge and India will get the appreciation it rightfully  deserves for its continued support during humanitarian and other basic needs.