United States of Kailasa: All you need to know about Nithyananda’s fictional country

Accused of rape and kidnapping, controversial godman Nithyananda is again in the news after representatives of the country he established after fleeing India in 2019 – United States of Kailasa (USK) – attended a public meeting of the United Nations in Geneva on February 24.

According to the BBC, Nithyananda founded the fictional country on an island off the coast of Ecuador, but its visuals are hard to find. Though no one knows where ‘Kailasa’ actually is, the country has a social media presence where its representatives frequently upload content related to their interaction reportedly with diplomats from around the world.

Read on to find answers to some of the most reiterated questions related to the USK. Also, did you know Vijayapriya Nithyananda is the ambassador of the United States of Kailasa

What’s the idea behind ‘Kailasa’?

According to the website of the fictional country, ‘Kailasa’ “offers a safe haven to all the world’s practicing, aspiring or persecuted Hindus, irrespective of race, gender, sect, cast, or creed.”

What about citizenship?

Days back, the Twitter handle for the country called for applications for e-visa or e-citizenship. Just like every other country, USK also claims to have a flag, a constitution, a passport, an economic system, and an emblem as well, in addition to various departments like treasury, human services, and more.

Is ‘Kailasa’ considered a recognised country?

A territory must have a permanent population, a government, and a capacity to have relationships with other nations for it to be called a country, according to the Montevideo Convention of 1933.

Despite frequent posts made by Nithyananda and his representatives regarding events the country participated in and their interaction reportedly with authorities and governments, the UN has not recognised ‘Kailasa’.

Once recognised by the UN, a country is granted access to a number of international forums, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

What’s the actual status of ‘Kailasa’?

If a territory has not been recognised by the international community or the UN, it can be called a micronation. Some 80 micronations were in the world in 2019, according to the Independent.