Nestled between India and China, landlocked Nepal rests at the foot of the mighty Himalayas and is renowned throughout the world for its Sherpas, Gurkhas, majestic mountains and rich natural scenery. It is home to some of the world’s highest mountain peaks, including the famous Mount Everest, towering above populated valleys and forested plains. Nepal’s people are a unique and fascinating blend of Hindu and Buddhist cultures that have traditionally lived in peace and harmony in what is the world’s only Hindu Monarchy.
However this beautiful and hospitable country is also one of the world’s most impoverished nations. With a stagnant economy, crippled by international debt, heavily dependent on foreign aid as well as having to import almost everything it needs over 60 percent of Nepal’s growing population of over 26 million live in terrible poverty - most of them eking out an existence dependent on agriculture. Nepal has higher levels of child malnutrition than its main South Asian neighbours, as well as weaker health facilities and appalling adult-literacy. Around 72 per cent of adults are illiterate - one of the lowest rates in the world.
More recently, increased political insecurity has brought added hardship to Nepal. Traditionally ruled by an ineffective monarchy, multiparty parliamentary democracy arrived in Nepal during the early 1990s. However the country’s political system has been plagued by gross internal corruption and strife. Successive coalition governments have come and gone with frequent regularity. In recent years groups of Maoist rebels, disillusioned with Nepalese politics, have escalated their campaign against the constitutional monarchy. The shocking massacre of Nepal’s royal family by its own crown prince in 2001 has only added to this instability. Today Nepal remains gripped in the midst of a violent civil war between the army and the Maoist rebels. Over 10,000 people are estimated to have died in the conflict.
Against such an impoverished backdrop and especially in such distressing times, there is a desperate need for quality education for the country’s children.
The Hindu Vidyapeeth (HVP) movement works tirelessly with great devotion to make this a reality. Through its schools and associated activities it aims to bring hope for present and future generations that Nepal can tread the path towards more sustainable development.