Students holding #BackOffIndia signs, chanting anti-India slogans and burning the new political map of India. This was the scene outside the Indian embassy in Kathmandu as protestors staged a sit-in against India’s new political map, which places the disputed area of Kalapani – an area on Nepal’s western border with India – within Indian borders. The release of the map fired up protests in different parts of Nepal and on Nov. 6, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement asserting the government’s clear stance on Kalapani being a part of Nepal.

The Nepalese have taken issue with India’s map because it violates the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, which defines the borders between Nepal and India. The treaty distinguishes the borders based on the Mahakali river, delimiting whatever lies to the east of the river as part of Nepal. The much-disputed regions of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiadhura, although to the east of the river, have been claimed by India on their new map. The areas under discussion have been disputed since the Sino-Indian War, and tensions grew when India and China agreed to open a trading-post in Lipulekh. The Government of Nepal objected to this, as the two regional superpowers made a decision regarding an area concerning all three countries in the absence of Nepal. This border dispute, however, is just one of the many instances of India being the big aggressor against its smaller neighbor and abusing Nepal’s dependency on the country.

The current resentment toward India, represented by the public through protests, sit-ins and the #BackOffIndia hashtag reminds us of 2015, when the same hashtag was trending after India imposed an informal economic blockade on Nepal. This blockade, although not the first of its kind, was imposed after Nepal promulgated its constitution in 2015. India, to signal its unhappiness with the constitution, imposed this blockade as a means to exert pressure on a country it has historically manipulated on a regular basis. This blockade caused a scarcity of food supplies, medicine, gas, oil and salt, which posed an obstacle in rationing supplies for earthquake victims and the restoration of infrastructure in the country. The ‘friendly neighbor’ that rushed in with aid right after the quake hit ended up imposing an embargo that paralyzed the Nepalese economy.

Similarly, in 1989, for example, the Indian government had imposed an embargo on Nepal as a result of its uneasiness regarding the growing relations between Nepal and China. This embargo was a success for India, as it managed to persuade Nepal to get rid of the partyless Panchayat system. Nepal, unfortunately, has always been in the sphere of influence of India – be it the end of the Rana Regime in 1951 where the revolution was inspired by the Indian democracy, the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1989, or even the end of the monarchy in 2006, where India supported the agitating forces against the King by imposing an embargo on the import of arms and ammunitions.

This dependence, combined with the unparalleled power India has over Nepal, is and has always been a threat to Nepalese sovereignty. Nepal, as a landlocked country, not only depends on India for access to its ports, but also relies heavily on its neighbors for indispensable supplies like natural gas, fuel, food crops and medical supplies. Nepal also depends on trade routes going through India and its ports for most of its international trade. This dependence on India is most certainly a threat to the Himalayan nation, as it gives India the power to manipulate every major decision Nepal makes. At present, with the Hindu-nationalist Modi government attempting to assert its dominance in South Asia, India’s involvement is even more dangerous for Nepal.

Sandwiched between two of Asia’s most powerful nations, Nepal has been a bargaining tool for both India and China as each attempt to gain power and influence in South Asia. Both countries have their own allies in Nepalese politics, with India being closer to the Nepal Congress and China being in close proximity to the Communist parties. In attempts to get Nepal on their side, both nations pour in aid and attempt to strengthen trade ties with their smaller neighbor. While these efforts may seem generous, and may even come off as something that will encourage Nepal’s socioeconomic development, too much dependence on either nation will give them more power to influence and manipulate Nepal’s decisions.

In this quest to dominate Nepal, India however has the upper hand, and if Nepal’s dependence on India continues, it will be unable to make any significant decisions on both national and international issues without India’s stamp of approval. Be it resolving border issues, formulating the constitution or altering international trade policies, India has unrivaled influence over the decisions Nepal makes. This power over Nepal may make the country nothing more than India’s pawn in the larger South Asian chess game.