Nepali Congress at the Ship of Theseus Crossroads

Starting a conversation about Nepal’s largest democratic party by legacy with a philosophical paradox from the civilization where discussions of democracy first began can be an interesting way to begin. It is the story of the Ship of Theseus, which the Athenians preserved by gradually replacing its old parts with new ones. In this simple puzzle lies a deeply philosophical question that no one has ever been able to answer: when every single part of the ship is replaced, is it still the same old ship or a completely new one? And this is not only a question about the ship. It has also fuelled debates about identity, continuity and legacy in people, objects and even political institutions.