Nepal, Feb. 13 -- As Nepal prepares for its upcoming national elections in 2026, there is a quiet but sincere sense of goodwill across India. These elections are seen not as a distant political event in a neighbouring country, but as an important democratic moment for a nation with which India shares deep historical, cultural and human ties. Among ordinary Indians, the sentiment is clear and consistent. A peaceful, stable and prosperous Nepal is not only good for Nepal. It is good for the region and for millions of people whose lives remain closely intertwined across the open border.

India's interest in Nepal's democratic process is rooted far more in people to people relationships than in government to government calculations. Families ...