[1][2] He is mostly known for his columns in daily newspapers in Nepal and India, his frequent participation in academic circles, and his 2010 play Sapanako Sabiti, which premiered in Gurukul.

Lal is widely cited and discussed in the Nepali academia for his insight on the politics,[11][12] history, geography and culture in both domestic as well as international affairs.

Reluctant to be tethered in any narrow set of themes, he has written on politics, diplomacy, economy, media, and gender relating to Nepali or Southasian societies.

In his essay in Republica titled "National Insecurity States," he explores diverse issues about Bengaluru, often called Bangalore.

The article argues critical remarks on then most pressing issue of containing Maoists' mayhem that the onus of keeping peace is upon then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

With the people wanting azaadi, and living in an almost permanent state of siege by the Indian security forces, Kashmir has indeed never been an integral part of India.

He is known for being critical to what he dubs Permanent Establishment of Nepal (PEON), which, he opines, is a group usually consisting of a historically advantaged castes that resists any change to its hold of political, economic, and cultural power in Nepali society.

He is vocal about inclusiveness of various groups and sections of Nepalis, clustered by geographic, social, cultural, and economic fault-lines, in the political process through diversity in state apparatuses.

[23] He criticized national media based in Kathmandu for failing to properly note the violence by the state police that resulted in the death of protesters and bystanders, especially in the Terai region.

Arguing that citizenship cannot be conflated with nationality, he commented that the "fast-tracked" constitution ensured a new forum for the hold of traditional hill elite through the "bloodline, masculinity and patriotism.

As the controversy divided the whole country on fundamental issues of citizenship and federalism, he showed qualms over the formation of Eminent Persons Group (EPG) to look into the aspects of Nepal-India relationship for the prime minister Oli's visit to India, who he said, are "notable worthies" of the regime.

He wrote in Catch News, an India-based publication: "For any sensible Prime Minister of Nepal, resolving the conflict over the contested constitution of the country would have been the topmost priority.