Defending the constitution, changing it too

Nepalis celebrate Constitution Day with speeches, but what does the 2015 charter actually mean for those left behind?

Every year on Constitution Day, Nepal stands astride an odd contradiction. Governments hold ceremonies, politicians deliver speeches, and social media feeds fill with talk of democracy, inclusion, federalism and national unity. For ordinary citizens, though, the day cannot mean only that. For some, it marks the culmination of decades of democratic struggle and the formal birth of a federal democratic republic. For others, it is a reminder of promises unmet, movements unaddressed, and a state that still claims to represent them while remaining distant from their lives.