Melamchi villagers fear they will be left high and dry when their water is taken away to Kathmandu.

Nepal is not alone in being a non-secular state, and the experience of secular states is not always worth emulating.

"We don't want a revolution, just the same respect given to everyone else."

Surender Bhandari-CEO, Kumari Bank

In the not-so-distant past, Nepalis were hardwired into thinking that the "Made in Nepal" tag didn't make the grade.