NDTV World is set to bring together prominent voices from India and Nepal for a dialogue in Kathmandu on August 27. The event will mark the launch of ‘NDTV Anviksha: Ideas Across Borders', a new global conversation series that will focus on how countries view themselves, their neighbours and the changing world around them.
The inaugural India-Nepal Dialogue will feature political leaders, policymakers, diplomats, business leaders, strategic thinkers and personalities from the worlds of culture and sport. The discussions will look at Nepal's changing political, economic and social landscape, while also exploring its relationship with India and its wider role in the region.
Shashi Tharoor, Manisha Koirala Among Key Participants
The event will have several well-known names from both countries. From Nepal, the speakers include Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle, Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa and Sumnima Udas, Chair of the International Relations and Tourism Parliamentary Committee.
India's Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, will also be part of the dialogue.
The line-up further includes Rabi Lamichhane, Founder and Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party; Congress leader, author and former diplomat Dr Shashi Tharoor; author and India Foundation President Dr Ram Madhav; BJP National Executive Member Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe; and BJP Foreign Affairs In-Charge Dr Vijai Chauthaiwale.
The conversation will also include voices from business and industry. Kamlesh Agrawal, President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce; Birendra Raj Pandey, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries; and Gaurav Tayal, Vice President of the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Managing Director of Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd., are among the participants.
Actor Manisha Koirala and actor and television host Rajesh Hamal will represent the cultural side of the discussion. Former Nepal cricketer Paras Khadka, who is also Secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal, will bring a sporting perspective to the event.
What Will The India-Nepal Dialogue Focus On?
The event will go beyond a conventional discussion on India-Nepal ties. Instead, it will look at Nepal through its own voice, ambitions and plans for the future.
The dialogue will cover Nepal's economic ambitions, entrepreneurship, democratic evolution and the aspirations of its young population. Technology, tourism, infrastructure, sustainability, trade and regional cooperation will also be part of the conversations.
The dialogue will also look at the wider changes taking place across South Asia and Asia. It will explore how Nepal is responding to these shifts and what role it sees for itself in the years ahead.
Why Nepal Is The First Stop For Anviksha
India and Nepal share a relationship that goes back generations. Geography, history, culture, faith and trade have all played a role in bringing the two countries closer.
However, NDTV World says this familiarity can sometimes mean that Nepal is viewed mainly through its relationship with India or its strategic location. The new dialogue aims to look beyond that and focus on Nepal as a country with its own priorities, challenges and ambitions.
The larger idea behind Anviksha is to create conversations that allow countries to speak for themselves. The series will travel across countries, with each edition placing one nation at the centre of the discussion.
What Does ‘Anviksha' Mean?
The name ‘Anviksha' comes from the ancient Indian tradition of anviksiki, which refers to understanding through reason, reflection and examination.
The initiative is based on the idea of taking a second look at familiar narratives and trying to understand issues from different perspectives. Each edition will examine a country's history, identity, lived realities and ambitions, while connecting these with larger geopolitical and economic questions.
Speaking about the initiative, NDTV CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal said that meaningful conversations between countries can begin when people move beyond assumptions and listen to how nations see themselves. He described Nepal as a natural and significant place for the journey to begin.
Naveen Kapoor, Editor, NDTV World, said the initiative would build on the channel's effort to connect India with the world. He added that Anviksha would focus on understanding countries through their own perspectives, priorities and aspirations.
The Bigger Idea Behind The Series
The India-Nepal Dialogue is the first step in NDTV World's larger plan for Anviksha. The series will move across countries and continents, with conversations centred on national identity, ambitions and the issues shaping the future.
The Kathmandu event will therefore not only focus on India-Nepal relations. It will also ask broader questions about Nepal's place in the region and the world.
