Historical Photo: Bangle Merchants

In the 1960s, Nepal was a country in transition, emerging from centuries of isolation under the rule of the Shah Dynasty. The decade marked a significant shift as the kingdom slowly opened up to the outside world, following King Tribhuvan’s move away from the autocratic Rana regime in 1951. The nation, still largely agrarian and rural, was characterized by traditional ways of life, with the majority of its population living in remote villages, practicing subsistence farming. Social structures were hierarchical, with a strong influence of religion, especially Hinduism, on daily life. The caste system remained rigid, affecting everything from marriage to work, and life expectancy was low.

The 1960s also saw the beginnings of modernization and external influence. With the lifting of the ban on foreign travel in 1951 and the opening of the country to international aid, Nepal began receiving support from both India and Western countries. This brought in new infrastructure projects, such as roads and schools, and exposed the country to Western ideas, including education reforms and cultural exchanges. Kathmandu, the capital, began to grow, though it still remained a relatively small, ancient city. This era saw the emergence of a small but growing middle class, especially among the urban population, which began to experience a more cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Despite these changes, the rural population often remained untouched by modernization. Education was limited, especially for women, and healthcare services were sparse. The vast majority of Nepali people continued to live simple, often harsh lives, with many subsisting on crops and livestock. While the political situation in the capital was in flux, with attempts at democracy and a growing dissatisfaction with the monarchy’s centralized power, life for most of the country’s citizens remained slow and traditional. The 1960s set the stage for future political upheavals, which would come in the decades to follow.