In today’s era of AI, education, science, literacy, and easy access to information, many people are beginning to re-examine old stories and long-held beliefs. A natural question arises: were some of these beliefs shaped in ways that kept people obedient through fear rather than understanding?
Throughout history, authorities, monarchies, empires, and governments have often controlled information to maintain power. In times when most people were illiterate and knowledge was concentrated in temples, monasteries, churches, or royal courts, those who controlled these institutions had enormous influence over how people understood the world. This pattern was not unique to one place; it appeared in many civilizations.
In Nepal too, stories, myths, rituals, and religious narratives were the primary sources of knowledge for the general population. Most people learned from priests, traditions, and oral teachings rather than from books. These stories explained what was right and wrong, pure and impure, rewarded and punished. Concepts such as karma, rebirth, divine punishment, curses, and ritual purity could sometimes be interpreted in ways that discouraged questioning and helped maintain social order from the perspective of rulers.
Religion and monarchy were closely connected. During the Malla and Shah periods, kings were often seen as divinely sanctioned, and religious authorities played a role in legitimizing political power. Temples and festivals were not only spiritual centers but also social and political ones. In this way, religious authority, social structure, and political power often reinforced each other.
This does not mean that all traditions were harmful, but it does suggest that religious narratives functioned as the main information system of society at a time when alternative sources of knowledge were limited. Questioning religious authority was socially discouraged, and fear and reverence were powerful influences on people’s thinking.
Even today, in some rural areas of Nepal, literacy remains limited and knowledge is still concentrated in a few institutions. At the same time, social media now plays a similar influential role for both young and older generations.
The difference today is that younger generations have access to education, science, and AI tools that allow them to explore the world from multiple perspectives. They are no longer limited to a single source of explanation. The challenge now is to learn how to ask better questions, think critically, and understand history with awareness rather than blind acceptance or blind rejection.
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