Nepal, Nov. 3 -- The relationship between education and the state has always been a complex one. Authoritarian states believe that educated citizens with critical thinking pose a threat to those in power by questioning authority. Until the end of the Rana regime, access to education for the general public was limited. The literacy rate at the end of the regime was only 2 percent in a deliberate effort to deprive citizens of education.

Monarchical rule significantly influenced access to education based on caste. Except for the ruling class, the upper caste (specifically the Brahmins) had a comparatively greater say in shaping educational values. During the Panchayat period, textbooks were selectively crafted to produce a homogeneous, hype...