NEPAL

Nepali

नागरिकताविहीन | Nagarikta-bihin

“Without citizenship” / “citizenship-less.”

The contributor describes this as referring to someone who does not have recognised nationality.

How statelessness is understood

The contribution emphasises that statelessness is often understood through lived experience rather than abstract legal terminology.

It can be associated with lack of citizenship documentation and consequential barriers to education, healthcare, property ownership and government services, alongside experiences of exclusion, invisibility and not belonging.

Everyday expressions

घरबाहिर | Ghar-bahir

“Outside the home.”

Used metaphorically to describe exclusion or not belonging.

कागजबिना | Kaagaj-bina

“Without papers.”

अदृश्य | Adrishya

“Invisible.”

कहाँको मान्छे? | Kahanko manche?

“A person of where?”

नागरिकताविहीन जीवन | Nagarikta-bihin jeevan

“Life without citizenship.”

The contributor believes these terms only somewhat reflect lived experience because statelessness encompasses emotional and social dimensions that are difficult to express through one word.

In everyday conversation, people may instead say:

कागजबिना छु

“I am without papers.”

or

मसँग नागरिकता छैन

“I do not have citizenship.”