Nepal, Aug. 1 -- This essay was originally published in Kalam Weekly.

8PM on Thursday, July 30, five days after sectarian violence in Nepal's Terai-Madhesh plains killed three, injured dozens, and saw mass arson and vandalism, Prime Minister Balen Shah finally addressed the nation. Reading gravely off a teleprompter, Shah was somber, expressing sorrow for the dead and injured and calling for calm. It was one of the few instances where Shah discarded any bluster and bravado, choosing instead a restrained address that called on the public to not blame or target any single community for what is happening. It took a national crisis for Shah to finally discard his dark sunglasses and address the nation.

The Madhesh is in flames. Mobs armed w...