General Background:

Variously described as ‘the roof of the world’ and ‘the biggest natural museum in the world’, Nepal remains a relatively unknown country for many people in Ireland. Nepal is a country of 23 million people and is sandwiched between the two most populous countries in the world, India and China (Tibet). It is probably best known as the home of Mount Everest and as the land of the Himalayas, the high mountain range dominating the Northern third of the country. The capital city, Kathmandu, is located in the broad central band of foothills and has a population of 2-3 million. The southern part of the country consists of the flat, hot and often dry Terai plains, where over 60% of the population live.

For many years Nepal was known as the world’s only Hindu Kingdom, but in the face of instability in the government and a ten-year Maoist rebellion, popular support for the monarchy waned and, in April 2006, the king was stripped of his powers. The civil war is thought to have claimed the lives of around 13,000 people and seen over 100,000 displaced. In April 2007, an interim government was established, with five former Maoist rebels taking positions in the cabinet. However, disenfranchised splinter groups continue to cause disruption. Bandhas (strikes) are commonplace and can involve the suspension of public transport and the closing of roads and shops, along with frequent demonstrations and occasional riots. Elections were cancelled in November, but are scheduled to take place this April.

Religions:

Estimates vary as to the proportions of religious adherence in Nepal. The official government figures have tended to artificially inflate the number of Hindus in the country. The following figures, based on the 2001 census, are therefore approximate.

Hindu 80.6% Buddhist 10.7% Muslim 4.2% Kirat (indig) 3.6% Christian 0.5% Others/none 0.4%

For many years, working as a Christian ‘missionary’ in Nepal involved a degree of secrecy; Christianity was unwelcome. But, the constitution of 1990 guaranteed (at least, in theory) religious freedom for all and recent years have seen an increasing sense of this freedom in much of the country. Christians can meet freely, but open proslytisation is still somewhat taboo. With the recent declaration of Nepal as a secular state, it is possible that it will become even easier to be a practicing Christian in Nepal. There are fears, however, that fundamentalist factions, opposed to Christianity, will flourish, as has been the case in neighbouring India.

Mission in Nepal: challenges and opportunities.

In addition to the uncertain political situation and the disruptions caused by strikes, road-blocks and demonstrations, the main challenges to mission relate to the prominence of Hinduism. Hindu practices and beliefs are deeply engrained in much of Nepali culture and there is a natural resistance to any ‘new’ faith that appears to demand deep-seated change. As with other parts of south Asia, a sense of fatalism is endemic – many people are resigned to ‘their lot in life’ and are reluctant to embrace hope for this life or the afterlife.

The combination of widespread poverty, mountainous terrain, limited infrastructure and minimal health facilities in remote regions poses significant challenges for those wishing to engage in mission in Nepal. At the same time however, these factors have given rise to the sorts of needs that appear to be central to those committed to holistic mission. There is a long history in Nepal of Christian mission organisations making a huge contribution to areas of health, education and community development. The government has come to recognise the professionalism, integrity and quality of much of this work and have become increasingly supportive of the work done by many of the mission agencies.