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Why Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah Keeps Sunglasses On
Balendra Shah is Nepal’s prime minister and is famous for wearing dark sunglasses.
He wore them during his first speech at the United Nations.
The glasses are part of his usual black outfit and public image.
He usually wears them at official events and in parliament.
He takes them off during private conversations and cabinet meetings.
He has also removed them during a few serious public appearances.
These included speaking after religious clashes and visiting flood-damaged areas.
Shah’s office says a doctor told him to wear the glasses because bright light could bother his eyes.
The glasses have become so closely linked to him that similar versions are sold online in Nepal.
Balendra Shah wore his trademark dark sunglasses while delivering his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
The sunglasses are part of Shah’s recognizable public style, alongside a black Nepalese hat and black blazer.
He reportedly wears them at parliamentary sessions, ceremonies, military parades and official photographs, but not in private or cabinet meetings.
Shah has removed the glasses publicly three times, including after clashes, during flood-site visits and while telling supporters, “I love you.”
His office said a doctor advised him to wear the glasses to protect against bright light, despite a parliamentary restriction on dark sunglasses.
- Who
- Balendra Shah, Nepal’s prime minister and a former rapper-turned-politician.
- What
- Shah wore his signature dark sunglasses during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly and generally keeps them on at public events.
- Where
- At the United Nations General Assembly and other official settings in Nepal.
- When
- He wore them during his maiden UN General Assembly speech on Thursday; the article also describes three occasions when he removed them.
- Why
- His office said a doctor advised him to wear the glasses for protection against bright light; they also form part of his established public and political identity.
Signature identity and medical need
Public protocol and scrutiny
Why Shah wears the sunglasses
Signature identity and medical need
Shah’s office says a doctor medically advised him to wear dark glasses for protection against bright light, while the glasses have also become part of his recognizable political identity.
Public protocol and scrutiny
House Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal banned dark sunglasses during parliamentary proceedings, citing concern about public criticism of the practice.
Meaning of the public image
Signature identity and medical need
The sunglasses help distinguish Shah as an outsider politician and have become associated with his music career, political rise and public persona.
Public protocol and scrutiny
Keeping them on during major public occasions, including parliament and a UN speech, has drawn attention because it departs from expected official presentation.
Key facts
- Political role
- Balendra Shah is Nepal’s prime minister.
- UN appearance
- He wore his dark sunglasses during his maiden United Nations General Assembly speech.
- Typical attire
- His public look includes dark sunglasses, a traditional black Nepalese hat and a black blazer.
- Wearing occasions
- He reportedly wears the glasses during parliament sessions, public ceremonies, military parades and photographs with foreign ambassadors.
- Exceptions
- He does not wear them during cabinet meetings, private conversations or joint meetings.
- Public removals
- He removed them after deadly Hindu-Muslim clashes, during a flood-site tour and while telling supporters, “I love you.”
- Medical explanation
- Shah’s office said a doctor advised him to wear the glasses to protect against bright light.
- Commercial popularity
- Nepalese online shopping platform Daraz lists eyewear styled after Shah’s signature glasses.
Quotes
Balendra Shah
Nepal’s prime minister and former Kathmandu mayor addressing his supporters
“I love you”
NDTV
Sources
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