BBC World Questions: Kathmandu
(Registration closed)
Wedged between two giants, India and China, Nepal, home of the mighty Himalaya mountain range, is a land of snow peaks and plains, unlike any other in the world.
Yet the nation has been through turmoil in recent years. A decade-long insurgency left more than 17,000 people dead before a peace deal in 2006 ushered in democracy. In April 2015, it was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes.
Now, following an historic election, Nepal has chosen a communist coalition to run the country. Could this landslide victory for the Left Alliance mark a turning point for the country, and deliver a long awaited period of political stability and peace?
The elections in December were meant to mark the final phase in the nation’s long political transition from the abolition of the monarchy to the establishment of an inclusive, federal republic.
But the new government faces many challenges – can the coalition remain united? And how will it deal with Nepal’s two giant neighbours – China and India? Will the country develop closer ties to China?
The BBC’s Anu Anand will be joined by a panel of leading politicians and thinkers in a debate led entirely by questions from a public audience at the Hotel Himalaya in Kathmandu. Join them, and have your say in a debate that will be heard around the world. Confirmed panellists are:
- Dr. Baburam Bhattarai - former Prime Minister and current leader of the Naya Shakti party
- Subina Shrestha - journalist and filmmaker
- CK Lal - eminent essayist and political scientist
- Pradeep Gyawali - CPN UML party representative
The event starts at 16.00 and will consist of a high tea reception, an artistic performance and the debate. Guests are kindly requested to arrive on time. For organisational reasons, we cannot guarantee entry after 16.45.
About BBC World Questions
BBC World Questions is a series of events delivered in partnership with the British Council. As a cultural relations and educational organisation and partner of the BBC World Service, the British Council helps to enable a platform where the general public can join a democratic debate on a global forum.
BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 28 other language services, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 246 million. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice. The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 320 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.
Admission is free, but online registration is required. Whilst we hope to accommodate everyone, please arrive in good time to be sure of a seat.