India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy has largely failed: Roman Gautam

Roman Gautam critiques India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, highlighting its failures amid rising political tensions in Bangladesh and Nepal.

As Bangladesh and Nepal hold crucial elections — on February 12, 2026, and March 5, 2026, respectively — following dramatic youth-led uprisings, the outcomes will be closely watched, for they will not only reshape domestic politics in the two countries but also impact regional dynamics. Speaking to The Hindu, Roman Gautam, Editor of Himal Southasian, reflects on the political churn in the region, India’s role, and the prospects for regional cooperation.

Edited excerpts: 

The region has seen three uprisings in recent years — Sri Lanka in 2022, Bangladesh in 2024, and Nepal last year. When you look back, what was most striking? 

The most obvious take away was the depth of discontent that has existed in all of these countries. While some say it is all social media — social media certainly played a significant role — it is the economic drivers that we must pay more attention to.  

In Sri Lanka you had an outright economic crisis that was in many ways more than the political discontent. It was economic desperation that was driving so many people out onto the streets. In Bangladesh, the focus was on the authoritarianism and the brutality of the Sheikh Hasina regime. But if you remember in the lead up to these uprisings in both Bangladesh and Nepal, cost of living was a big question that kept coming up. 

The fixation on politics in the near-term is because it is easier to make sense of, especially when there is an election. The economic dynamics evolve over a longer term. The frustration with corruption was such a universal theme.