Nepal’s 30.7 million souls are ensnared in a toxic embrace with air that grotesquely exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) limits. A staggering 75 percent of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) cases in the country are tied to this vile air quality. As the chasm between humanity and the natural world deepens, fueled by relentless pollution and the encroachment of artificiality, our health suffers grievously, giving rise to a spectrum of afflictions, from respiratory ailments to chronic diseases. It is time to return to nature. Cities should be lush with trees, not choked with cars and motorcycles.
In this epoch where the relentless advance of digital technology and the cacophony of urban existence have smothered the once-vibrant whispers of the natural world, the reflections of Terence McKenna and Vandana Shiva emerge as haunting echoes from a forgotten era. They call back to a time when harmony with nature was not merely a lofty ideal but a lived reality. Though their perspectives diverge, McKenna and Shiva converge in their mournful recognition of a world that has relegated nature from its rightful place as the stage for life’s grand narrative to a mere backdrop against human ambition’s relentless march.
Since the Paleolithic Era, humanity has ventured into forests, drawn by the earth’s enigmatic bounty, forging a profound bond with the flora and fauna that shaped early medicinal practices and sustained traditional ways of life centered on wellness. Yet today, in Nepal—a land once steeped in a sacred connection to the earth, where yogis and sages journeyed from afar to meditate in the serene embrace of the Himalayas—the threads of this ancient bond have frayed. The once-cherished harmony is fading, and its repercussions are evident in the very air we breathe, serving as a silent testament to what has been lost. The Nepali soul has been deeply fractured by the corrosive influence of a fractured and dysfunctional polity.
Country is choking
The bad news is laid bare in a recent report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), which places Nepal as the third most polluted country in the world, choking on the deadly particles of PM 2.5. The State of Global Air 2024 bears grim witness to the toll this pollution exacts, claiming 48,500 lives in 2021 alone, with the numbers rising year after year. The WHO adds to this dirge, suggesting that a breath of cleaner air could gift the people of Nepal’s mid-hills and eastern Tarai nearly five more years of life, while those in Kathmandu might gain over two. In the midst of such disastrous living conditions, the government of Nepal remains indifferent, turning a blind eye to the silent cries of cities gasping for healthier breath. With life expectancy declining due to deteriorating air quality and a growing exodus of young people seeking opportunities abroad, the nation’s future appears increasingly grim.
Nepal appears bewildered and powerless, and it must seek refuge in the infinite wisdom and boundless grace of nature to navigate its current crises. Forests, wetlands, and the fragile ecosystems we so carelessly dismiss are not mere scenery—they are our saviors, our last line of defense against the encroaching darkness of pollution and climate change.
It is time to return to nature. Cities should be lush with trees, not choked with cars and motorcycles.
Preserving these natural domains is not just an environmental imperative; it is a moral one. It is a call to protect that which is most sacred, to honor the spaces where the divine still whispers to us in the rustling of leaves and the murmur of rivers. The promise of a healthier future does not rest solely in the cold, metallic grasp of technology or the empty rhetoric of ideology, but in the nurturing embrace of the earth—a truth that Nepal must urgently embrace.
Heed the wisdom
Nepal stands at a crossroads, confronted with the choice to either rekindle its ancient harmony with nature or persist along a path of destruction. Embracing the profound insights of Terence McKenna and Vandana Shiva is crucial for a holistic understanding of the world that goes beyond the frameworks of Karl Marx and Milton Friedman. This is because McKenna’s exploration of consciousness and the potential for transformative experiences through psychedelics, coupled with Shiva’s advocacy for environmental sustainability and indigenous knowledge, offers a better approach to the economic and materialist perspectives of Marx and Friedman.
McKenna, the enigmatic ethnobotanist and mystic, beckons us back to the “Center of the Mandala,” a place where the natural world is not merely an afterthought but the very core of existence. In both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, mandalas are seen as tools to connect with the divine, achieve mental clarity, and gain spiritual insight. His explorations of consciousness and psychedelics reveal a universe where nature is alive, vibrant, and inseparable from our own being. In his vision, psychedelic substances like soma, celebrated in the ancient Soma Mandala of the Rigveda, are not mere relics of a forgotten past but gateways to a deeper understanding of the cosmos and our place within it.
McKenna’s philosophy is a clarion call to reimagine our relationship with nature, to see it not as a resource to be exploited but as a partner in the dance of life. He urges us to peel back the layers of modernity, to listen once more to the earth’s forgotten songs, and to embrace a perspective that honors the intricate balance of the natural world. It is a call to return to the mandala, to the circle that has no beginning and no end, where nature is not at the periphery but at the center of all that we are and all that we might become.
In a similar spirit, Vandana Shiva’s journey, deeply rooted in the sacred soil of the Himalayas, echoes McKenna’s call with a fierce and unwavering commitment to protecting the earth. Her environmental activism, from the Chipko movement where women stood as human shields to protect their beloved trees, to her tireless advocacy for biodiversity, is a testament to the power of grassroots movements in defending the fragile web of life. Shiva’s concept of “Earth Democracy” is a radical rethinking of our place in the world, a call to recognize the interconnectedness of all life and to honor the earth not as a commodity but as a living entity with intrinsic value.
With life expectancy declining due to deteriorating air quality, the nation’s future appears increasingly grim.
In the current political landscape of Nepal, where debates too often descend into petty squabbles and antiquated views, Shiva’s vision offers guidance. Earth Democracy is not just an environmental agenda. It is a blueprint for a new way of living that prioritizes ecological sustainability, social justice, and the rights of all living beings.
Tragic tale
Nepal’s recent environmental trajectory tells a story of decadence—forests lost to the march of development, of rivers threatened by the relentless extraction of stones, gravel, and sand, of a nation that once stood as a fortress of natural beauty now teetering on the brink of environmental collapse and natural disaster. Recently, a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) from the Thyanbo glacial lake has devastatingly swept away Thame Village.
Between 1990 and 2020, Nepal experienced a significant reduction in its forest cover, losing approximately 11 percent due to various factors. Agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and unscientific infrastructure development were major contributors to this loss. The relentless scarification of the landscape through road construction alone has resulted in the annual loss of 2,000 hectares of invaluable forest, an erosion that jeopardizes not just the trees but the very essence of life. This destruction disrupts the water cycle, leading to a cascade of consequences: Erosion, flooding, and drought.
Adding to this dire situation is the government’s pursuit of extracting and exporting Chure boulders—a plan poised to transform the Tarai region into a barren wasteland. The Chure range, crucial for groundwater recharge, is already suffering under the weight of deforestation and urban sprawl. The impact is stark: More than 46 percent of respondents in local surveys report that accessing water has become significantly more difficult over the past two decades.
All is not lost
But all is not lost. Nepal’s community forestry program, which manages 1.8 million hectares, and the establishment of protected areas like Sagarmatha National Park are positive steps. Yet these efforts are not enough to stem the tide of environmental degradation. The convergence of McKenna’s and Shiva’s visions offers a path forward, a way to harmonize the advancements of modernity with the ancient rhythms of the earth. Their perspectives invite us to imagine a future where development and nature are not in conflict but in concert, where progress is measured not just by economic indicators but by the health of our forests, the purity of our rivers, and the well-being of all life.
The promise of a healthier future does not rest solely in the cold, metallic grasp of technology or the empty rhetoric of ideology, but in the nurturing embrace of the earth—a truth that Nepal must urgently embrace.
To achieve this grander spiritual vision, Nepal must embrace a series of bold actions: Strengthening community-based conservation, implementing integrated land-use planning, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and enhancing reforestation efforts. The government must also update and enforce environmental regulations to combat illegal activities and invest in education and research to foster greater awareness and innovation.
The Nepali government, long faltering under the weight of inefficiency and corruption, must urgently embrace the principles of Earth Democracy. Policies and programs must be evaluated not just for their economic impact but for their adherence to the principles of ecological sustainability and social justice. This is not a call for a return to the past but for a transformation of consciousness—a shift towards a future where the land, the rivers, and the forests are seen not as commodities but as the lifeblood of the nation.
Every Member of Parliament in Nepal must be shaken from their complacency and forced to confront the pressing issues at hand. The political theatrics and melodrama, often reminiscent of Kollywood, Bollywood, and Hollywood plots, must be set aside for genuine, substantive action. Elected officials must tackle urgent challenges with the seriousness and urgency they warrant, moving beyond the viral theatrics of social media to provide real solutions for the citizens they represent. Prioritizing effective governance and concrete action over sensationalism is essential for addressing the complex issues facing Nepali society and achieving meaningful progress that truly benefits the lives of ordinary people.
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