Nepal is at a pivotal political moment. As the country prepares for its upcoming elections, questions around democratic consolidation, coalition politics, civic participation, and representation have become increasingly urgent. This panel discussion brought together scholars, analysts, and public intellectuals to reflect on the evolving political landscape in Nepal , examining electoral dynamics, the state of institutions, and what the elections mean for the country’s political future.
Speakers:
Pranaya Rana is a scholar-practitioner with two decades of experience spanning the military, education, social services, and public health sectors. A Ph.D. in International Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University and a lifetime Senior Bosserman-UNESCO Fellow, he is currently an active politician in Nepal, having contested in the 2020 House of Representatives elections and served as Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2024.
Nabin Giri is a youth engagement practitioner and sustainability advocate currently working in Research & Innovation at Professional Holdings Limited (Global College Associates) while pursuing his MBA at Global College International, Nepal. He drives youth-led innovation, sustainability, and civic engagement through national and international initiatives, fostering inclusive leadership and social transformation.
Ishika Panta is a social entrepreneur and policy advocate from Nepal, and the Founder and Chairperson of Project Abhaya — a youth-led initiative advancing gender-inclusive political literacy and leadership development that has reached over 5,500 women across 57 districts. An alumna of the Executive Program in Public Narrative at Harvard Kennedy School, she has represented Nepal at international forums including the Caux Forum and the Skoll World Forum, and served as Lead Curator of TEDxMaitighar for four years.
Sumikshya Khadka is a social activist and development professional with over a decade of experience working on issues affecting children, youth, and marginalized communities. With expertise spanning Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, SRHR, child and youth protection, climate action, and Disaster Risk Reduction, she currently serves as Project Manager at Hami DajuVai and has built experience from grassroots mobilization to national lobbying and global advocacy.
Moderator:
Anubha Anushree is a historian and Editor of the Review of Democracy, currently teaching at the Department of English, Rajdhani College, University of Delhi, and formerly a Lecturer at Stanford University where she earned her PhD in History. Her research on corruption, political trust, and disability in colonial and postcolonial India has been supported by Harvard University’s Edmond Safra Center of Ethics and Tel Aviv University, and has appeared in journals including the Journal of Asian Studies and Economic and Political Weekly.
