Proletarian pillars of a rentier republic

Migrant labourers are not peripheral to Nepal’s recent history; they are its protagonists.

An uplifting story in the cold December of 2025 warmed many hearts: “From a thatched hut in Siraha to medical school in Dang, Satyanarayan Safi’s journey inspires hope.” The achievement is indeed inspiring. What the report either overlooked—or chose not to mention—is that Satyanarayan’s father, Madhuri Safi, first learnt to imagine a different future after a stint as a migrant labourer, in a world where caste identity does not police one’s aspirations. The story demands a larger recognition: Migrant labourers are not peripheral to Nepal’s recent history; they are its protagonists.