Nepal PM Says it Again: "Lord Ram Was Born in Nepal"

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has once again reignited the long-standing cultural debate by reiterating that Lord Ram was born in present-day Nepal, not India.

Speaking at a party function in Kathmandu on Monday, Oli claimed that the birthplace of the revered Hindu deity lies within Nepal's borders and encouraged citizens to speak openly about it.

Addressing an event organised by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department of his party, the CPN-UML, Oli said his assertion is rooted in Valmiki’s Ramayana. “We talk so much about tourism, yet we shy away from spreading the truth about Ram's birthplace. Ram was born in Nepal. That territory now falls within our borders. Maybe it wasn’t called Nepal back then, but today, it is,” he said.

Oli further questioned the popular narrative surrounding Lord Ram’s birthplace, saying, “How can someone just decide and fix Ram’s birthplace elsewhere? It's not a story made up by anyone; it's there in the scriptures.”

He also claimed that several other key figures from Hindu mythology, including sage Vishwamitra and Lord Shiva, originated from Nepal. Referring to mentions in the Ramayana, Oli stated that Vishwamitra had guided Ram and Lakshman westward after crossing the Koshi river, suggesting that the events described in the epic took place in areas that are now part of Nepal’s Sunsari district. “I didn’t write this. It’s in Valmiki’s Ramayana. Vishwamitra is said to be from Chatara,” he added.

This isn’t the first time Oli has sparked controversy with such claims. In July 2020, while serving as Prime Minister, he declared that the original Ayodhya—believed by millions to be the birthplace of Lord Ram—is located in Thori, Chitwan, Nepal. He had even announced the construction of a Ram temple at the site, asserting that Ram Janmabhoomi “rightfully belongs to Nepal” and accusing others of fabricating history.

“Valmiki Ashram is in Nepal. The site where King Dasharath performed rituals for Ram’s birth is in Ridi. So how could Ram be Indian?” he had said at the time.

Oli also questioned the logic of Ram travelling from India’s Ayodhya to Janakpur for his wedding to Sita without the means of communication or transportation that exist today. “How would anyone in Ayodhya even know about Janakpur back then? There were no telephones or mobile phones. It makes more sense that Ayodhya was closer, here in Nepal,” he argued.

His remarks have previously stirred criticism within his own party. During his tenure as Prime Minister, members of the then-ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) had distanced themselves from his statements, cautioning against comments that could inflame religious sentiments or strain diplomatic ties.

In response to the backlash, Nepal’s Foreign Ministry had to issue a clarification, attempting to ease tensions sparked by Oli’s assertions. Despite the controversy, Oli has continued to return to the issue, keeping alive a cultural debate that carries religious and political implications in both Nepal and India.

Also Read: IndiGo Staff Dress as Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman to Flag Off Inaugural Ahmedabad-Ayodhya Flight