Nepal, March 18 -- A decade back, when Nepal's constitutional debate was at its peak, its development partners-who had been supporting the country's delicate peace process-faced intense backlash. They had funded not one but two expensive Constituent Assembly elections, supported the government in de-commissioning the Maoist guerilla army, and generously provided reconstruction support in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. Yet, the development aid was and continues to be blamed for Nepal's failure to find a footing in governance and politics. There is a need to unpack this narrative, which is turning Nepal's critical public discourse into a bitter echo chamber with no taste for nuanced conversation.

Nepal began receiving sizable...