Roti-Beti Ka Rishta

Roti-Beti Ka Rishta (Devanagari: रोटी-बेटी का रिश्ता) is a colloquial and culturally significant term used to describe the deep and multifaceted ties between India and Nepal.[1] It highlights the unique and extensive interdependence of the two nations across economic, social, and cultural spheres.[2][3] In essence, the "Roti-Beti" relationship implies that India and Nepal are not just neighboring countries but are bound by familial, cultural, and economic ties that are integral to the daily lives and identities of their people.[4][5]

Etymology

The term "Roti" means bread for food. This aspect symbolizes the economic interdependence and daily livelihoods. Similarly, the term "Beti" means daughter and symbolizes marriage relation between India and Nepal.[6] This aspect highlights the strong familial and matrimonial ties between the two nations. The literally meaning of the phrase "Roti-Beti Ka Rishta" is "relation of bread and daughter".[7]

Origin

The "Roti-Beti" relation between the two countries can be traced back to the Ramayana-era. In the text Ramayana, the prince Rama of Ayodhya was married with the princess Sita of Mithila. This marriage relation between Lord Rama and Goddess Sita is considered as one of ancient origin of the "Roti-Beti" relation between the two present nations India and Nepal.[5]

Description

India and Nepal have cherished a relationship described as "Roti Beti Ka Rishta" since their inception.[8] The "Roti-Beti" relationship between India and Nepal refers to the unique and deeply intertwined cultural, social, and economic bonds between the two countries. It includes trade, commerce, employment, livelihoods, cross-border marriages, shared cultural heritage and people-to-people connections, etc.[9] The Hindi phrase "Roti-beti ka rishta" is emotionally and commonly used by the people of the two nations to signify the strong social and family ties between India and Nepal. This relationship is connected through roti (food) and daughter (marriage), symbolizing mutual cooperation, love and intimacy between the people of both countries.[5][4][10] The Roti-Beti relationship between the two nations is still continued and maintained by the Indo-Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950.[11]

Due to the unique relationship of "Roti Beti Ka Rishta" between the two nations, Nepal has a blood relationship with India. Therefore, the relation between India and Nepal is special compared to any third nation.[4] The special relation is enjoyed and strengthen in the form of porous border and free movement of the both national citizens in the land of the two nations.[12] The other most important factor for the stronger relationship of the Roti-Beti Ka Rishta is the common origin of the cultural and religious traditions in the both nations.[5]

In the recent period, the Devashila Yatra was one of the major cultural and religious journeys between the both nations to show the ties of the Roti-Beti relation between the two nations publicly.[13]

Challenges and Evolving Dynamics

While traditionally strong, the "Roti-Beti" relationship has faced some challenges in recent years. The new citizenship act in Nepal, political shifts and their anti-Indian sentiments, border disputes are the major challenges faced by the traditional relationship of Roti-Beti between the two nations.[9] In the recent years, due to these challenges the "Roti Beti Ka Rishta" has seen some declination.[7] Similarly, according to experts, the growing Chinese influence in Nepal is an another potential challenge for the "Roti-Beti" relation. It has potential to hurt the ties of "Roti Beti Ka Rishta" in future.[12]

References

  1. ^ "प्यार सरहद पार: नेपाल और भारत में शादियों पर क्यों लग रहा है ग्रहण". bbc.com. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  2. ^ "Nepal has roti-beti ka rishta with India: Deep Upadhyay". The Times of India. 2016-05-10. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  3. ^ "Roti-Beti, Electricity, Connectivity, Security and Beyond". myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  4. ^ a b c Mishra, Dharmendra; Hindi, India TV (2024-01-14). "नेपाल ने कहा भारत के साथ है "बेटी-रोटी और खून का रिश्ता"...इस नेता का जवाब सुनते ही चीन को लग जाएगा सदमा". India TV Hindi (in Hindi). Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  5. ^ a b c d "सीता-राम विवाह से बना भारत नेपाल का संबंध, रोटी-बेटी का रिश्ता आज भी कायम; प्राण प्रतिष्ठा पर जनकपुर में उत्सव". Hindustan (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  6. ^ "When even a village mukhiya in Bihar worries she may not be able to vote". The Indian Express. 2025-07-10. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  7. ^ a b Seli, Yeshi (2022-08-28). "India-Nepal 'roti-beti' relations at stake, marriage ties weaken". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  8. ^ Chowdhury, Manaswita (2024-08-01). "Regime Change and Regional Dynamics: Decoding the Future of India-Nepal Relations". Modern Diplomacy. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  9. ^ a b "Nepal government formation: India blindsided". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
  10. ^ "Nepalis finding their fortune in Shimla". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  11. ^ Sharma, Jeetendr Kumar (2024-09-30). "From Roti and Beti to Strategic Partnerships: Exploring India-Nepal Relations". South India Journal of Social Sciences. 22 (3): 227–238. doi:10.62656/SIJSS.v22i3.865. ISSN 3048-6165.
  12. ^ a b "'Roti-beti' ties, intact for centuries, shouldn't be hit: Families on Indo-Nepal border at Lipulekh". The Times of India. 2020-05-24. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  13. ^ "नेपाल की तरफ से भारत को सिया सुकुमारी के विवाह का उपहार, इस शालिग्राम देवशिला से 9 माह में स्वरुप लेंगे रामलला - shaligram devshila is sita s wedding gift from nepal to india it will take nine months for ramlala to get carved from this devshila". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 2025-07-27.
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