NRNA Must Rise Above Personal Interests: Foreign Secretary Rai

Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai has stated that a formal position is not necessary to serve the country, emphasizing that sacrifice and dedication are the fundamental pillars of national service. 

Speaking at a program organized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday to discuss the election modality for the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) scheduled for the second week of March (March 14–16, 2026), he highlighted the need to rise above personal interests for institutional success.

Recalling that the NRN movement was started with great hope, Secretary Rai mentioned the intention to advance it as a non-political organization with the aim of unifying Nepalis worldwide and utilizing them for Nepal's prosperity. 

Noting that the Government of Nepal has given it formal recognition through special acts and rules, he remarked that while the initial success was remarkable, its continuity has weakened in recent years.

He urged the organization to move forward in a non-political, inclusive, and unified manner according to its original essence. "We cannot move forward without a culture of sacrifice and dedication," he said. 

Presenting examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, Secretary Rai mentioned that individuals who contributed to their country and humanity even without holding a position are the most memorable in history. "If there is a spirit of service, sacrifice, and dedication to the country, a position is not necessary," he stated.

Pointing out that a large number of the approximately 8 million Nepalis living abroad are still outside the formal scope of the NRNA, he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs desires to see the NRNA become a strong and unified umbrella organization for all Nepali associations. He clarified that the Nepal government is always willing to collaborate with a strong, unified, and mature NRNA.

Regarding the confusion surrounding the NRNA election process, Secretary Rai urged them to proceed according to the bylaws. He suggested avoiding unnecessary disputes, noting that the election process is clear, as the bylaws state that the General Assembly and convention can be held either online or through physical presence. 

He added that arrangements should be made for representatives who cannot be physically present to participate in the General Assembly and vote in the election via online means. He also urged all non-resident Nepalis to come to Nepal and participate actively to make the upcoming 12th World Conference and International Convention a success.

The joint meeting was attended by officials and advisors of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA). Participants included Deputy General Secretary Som Sapkota, Associate Treasurer Krishna Timilsena, Advisor Atul Koirala, DRC Americas Purna Baniya, Female Regional Coordinator from the Americas Indira Tripathi, and advisors from Australia Bhairav Dhakal and Devendra Basnet.

Similarly, those participating virtually included President Mahesh Shrestha, Vice Presidents Dr. Hem Raj Sharma, Dr. Binod Shrestha, Ramsharan Simkhada, Keshav Paudel, and Bishwas Tigela; former presidents Rajendra Kumar (RK) Sharma and Binod Kunwar; as well as Ratan Kumar Jha, Gauri Raj Joshi, Baburam Lama, Bhawani Prasad Oli, Gangadhar Gautam, Indra Ban, and Ramesh Bista from NCC Qatar.

From the secretariat, CEO Rajendra Kumar Raut, Assistant Director Mahesh Shrestha, Senior Officer Kunal Mishra, and Senior Communications and Foreign Employment Officer Indralaxmi Ghimire were also in attendance.