Dedicated to Daniel Pearl

This week witnessed interesting events in Nepal. The Maoist rebels, who had launched an armed struggle in 1996 to eliminate the parliamentary system, returned to the parliament on January 15. This in fact disproved Mao’s thought that power comes through the barrel of the gun. The Maoists’ decision to return to ballot proved the importance of ballot. And Maoist chairman Prachanda’s recent statements also indicate gradual transformation in the Maoists’ thought. They seem to respect people and peoples’ opinion.

Following the Maoists’ entry into parliament, they will soon join the interim government, due to be formed soon. Once the Maoists join the interim government, they receive their ministerial positions. The Maoists in the jungle and the Maoists in the parliament are much different. Ever since the Maoists entered the parliament, they have become much responsible and accountable. It was reflected in Prachanda’s directives to his cadres on January 18. He ruled his cadres to dissolve all peoples governments and peoples courts. The dissolution of Maoists’ parallel government was the must to further the process of peace initatives. It’s time to just watch whether or not the Maoist cadres will follow the directives from the leadership.

The Maoists have been strongly pushing to hold the constituent assembly polls. The nation will soon decide the fate of the 238-year old monarchy. The constituent assembly polls will also help formulate a new constitution in Nepal. For the first time, Nepal will have the constitution, formed by the people through constituent assembly elections. Constituent assembly elections is something what the Shah kings had pledged and later deceived the Nepalese people. With the formulation of a new constitution through constituent assembly polls, the new government, which it will follow will be in a true sense the government of the people, for the people and by the people.

I strongly urge all the political parties and the general public to abolish monarchy and introduce republican set up in true sense. For majority of works, the Prime Minister has already taken over the rights, being exercised by the king.

The Maoist rebels’ march into parliament has further encouraged everybody that Nepal will soon will be known to the international community as one of the republican states.

It’s much shame to hear and see that the political parties; including the CPN-Maoists haven’t been able to come above their narrow political interests. They had agreed to include representatives from professional organizations, which played significant role in defeating the king’s regressive regime. With the agreement reached in Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s official residence, Baluwatar, the parties had provisioned 48 seats for the civil society, indegenous, dalit and other groups, which don’t have better representation in political parties.

The provision of 48 seats for such professional groups, was especially guided by the objective of bringing independent voice in the interim legislature. At a time, when the monarchy has been pushed in the corner, Maoists haven’t yet scaled down their violence and there is a hot debate on whether to continue with the monarchy or not, the independent voice was necessary in the interim legislature. When the parties would divide their voice, a unanimous voice from professionals would settle the controversy and it would be in fact a driving force in the interim legislature. But the recent decision of eight political parties including the Maoists to share the 48 seats among themselves stopped the possibility of bringing independent voice in the legislature. The decision in fact closed the door for the professionals to come to the parliament. As the parties have shared the seats, any professional person, who under under the quota of any political parties, will be branded to be the member of the respective party. If in case Maoists proposed Khagendra Sangroula, the noted writer to represent in the interim constitution, he will be branded as the Maoist member. Not only Sangroula, many other professionals don’t want to come to the interim legislature under the share of certain political parties because they will lose their independent position soon after they are selected by a concerned political party.

The eight political parties could have formed a mechanism which would selected independent personalities to represent in the interim legislature. Just suppose, if the mechanism headed by an independent person had proposed Shambhu Thapa, Devendra Raj Panday, Kanak Mani Dixit, Krishna Pahadi, Hari Roka, Sushil Pyakurel and others for interim legislature lawmakers, they might consider it and the interim legislature would be much rich with such great personalities. With the parties’ decision of sharing the seats, I don’t think these people will go to the legislature under the recommendation of a certain party, which will ultimately tarnish their image for being the member of the respective party.

The parties’ decision shows they again wanted to provide employment to their cadres. Legislature is not the place for employment. “Samsad Jaagir Khane thalo hoina”. It further makes it clear that the parties havent’ changed their attitude even after such a high movement. They haven’t yet been able to think from above their party interests. I am sure all these political parties will select their men in the interim parliament from the share they have received. Nepali Congress is sure to select its 10 cadres. Similarly UML, Maoists, NC (Democratic) and all are sure to select the men of their own political interest.

So I strongly protest the parties’ decision of sharing the seats. It raises a question- If the parties don’t select members from professional bodies from the 48 seats, why they created them? It has strongly questioned the concept behind the parties’ provisioning the 48 seats.

The new generation in Nepal looks more aggressive, more confident and more self-centered. These days we hear complaints everwhere; at home at educational institutions about the new generation. A common epithet the new generation has received from those who find problems in them is; “Oh, no, they have deteriorated. They have no respect for elders.”

I frequently hear such complaints about the new generation and sometimes I ask myself, “Has the new generation really deteriorated?” In fact, there are some problems in the new generation and the major reason behind the problems is the lack of proper ways in grooming them. The guardians feel their children are worse and they won’t want to spend time with their children. On the other hand, today’s parents don’t have time to spend with their children. The lack of affection, proper guidance from the parents prompt the children to befriend other people, whose company may not be fruitful. Majority parents want to get rid of the responsibility of grooming their children. They are very busy people and they want others like colleges, schools to properly guide their children.

On the other hand, our children don’t get any academic education about etiquette and discipline. Due to the lack of proper etiquette and discipline, they are gradually deteriorating. As I teach graduate students in Himalayan WhiteHouse International College in Kathmandu, I have noticed the extent of indiscipline among students. They usually don’t want to study and want to spend most of their time in fun. Majority students are smokers. They fail to respect their teachers. We hear complaints from their parents that these children don’t respect their parents as well. I also think many students are involved into the activities, which our society has restricted. I have heard many times that the graduate students in many other colleges also arrange their week-end holidays for Pokhara or any other place, just cheat their guardians and the teachers and enjoy their holidays with their respective girl or boy friends. It is something a serious crime in our society before marriage. The Hindu mythology expects women to remain chaste until they get married. Marriage is something very pure and is regarded as the bond arranged by the Almighty. But the young generation doesn’t seem to have realized the value of marriage and the chastity. 

I think it is high time that our educational institutions change its curriculum and begin providing the knowledge of etiquette and discipline to the students. The guardians at home also should provide more time to their children and should try to find out the problems in the children. The guardians should prepare an environment for the childrent to share their problems with them and they should be timely addressed.

You can see the photographs above in which youngers want more freedom and they are much aggressive.  

 All national dailies on January 9, 2006 (Wednesday) have carried a news about massive reconstruction at PM’s office in Baluwatar. The restructuring was required to accommodate the activities, which were being carried out by the king and are now transferred to Prime Minister. PM will take up all the activities, being carried by the king. It clearly states that the king has lost everthing to the PM and he has nothing to do.

When one of the friends; Yuvraj Acharya was writing the news of the restructuring at PM’s office yesterday evening, I made a comment: “So the king has lost everything.” “And how will he pass his time….will he continue with morning walk or any other physical exercise?” As I was making comments in the newsroom, Yuvraj jee further made another comment. “You know, if people wanted, they might take away personal belongings of the king and crown prince Paras.” He further said, “There won’t be surprise if people took away his beautiful wife Himani!” It burst the newsroom out with laughter. It shows how helpless the king has become.

People don’t have respect for the king and they are just making fun of him. I also sometimes remember the time when the king used to visit various districts in military fatigue. He used to show his diffidence and receive flowers from the people, lined up in the streets to welcome him. I also remember ousted President of Iraq Saddam Hussain, who was recently executed. He also used to come out in crowds with a pistol and a sword in his hand. He used to fire shots in the sky and display the bright sword out to the people. Flanked by his security guards, Saddam used to receive huge clamoring from the public. I guess Saddam never thought he would be ousted, let alone he would be executed. I find similarities between Saddam and King Gyanendra in the ways they speak and walk in the crowds. Both of them were suffering from megalomania and used to get pleasure by listening to their praises. They held a very parochial view of the people and the world. They could never try to understand the desires of the people and they never respected the peoples’ aspirations. They thought they would never die and would never face problems.

Saddam was befittingly rewarded and King Gyanendra also should receive an appropriate punishment to the crimes he committed in the past. He should take the responsibility of the death of 22 people during the April uprisal. If he hadn’t usurped power, people wouldn’t have come to the streets. And even if the people took the streets, he should be much vigilant if his sycophants use power to suppress the peoples’ aspirations and please him.

I think Gyanendra now remembers his old days when he used to visit various districts. He may be rejoicing the memory. I think everybody who commits crime, should receive punishment. The punishment for Gyanendra is to oust him from the throne.

If the news of massive restructuring at PM’s office indicates anything, it is clear that the nation has already entered into democratic republic. Nepal has already become a republican state and all stakeholders should move ahead in this direction.

It is a very interesting time for people to watch the political developments. The ruling political parties and the CPN-Maoists have agreed to promulgate the interim constitution on January 15. With the promulgation of the new constitution, King Gyanendra will have no any role in the country. The king’s short-sightedness has traded his crown to a none-entity. All his authorities have already been transferred to Prime Minister. The king has no any role in the governance.

It’s a big tragedy for King Gyanendra not to have listened to people. He failed to win the heart and mind of common citizens. More than 80 per cent Nepali people want king dismissed from the throne. They don’t want to contiue the 238 year old monarchy. The country is all set to go to constituent assembly elections by mid-June. Once the country enters the new phenomenon of constituent assembly elections, the king will have to seek his position. It’s almost sure that the people will not protect the king. King Gyanendra’s activities have hurt the people’s sentiments. He never expressed affection towards the people. He could never maintain the traditional feeling that the king is the symbol of national unity. It shows the king will not find his place among the people during the constituent assembly elections. The people will vote him out. Therefore, it is better for king Gyanendra to announce his abdication. Once he declares that he will abandone the kingship, the graceful exit may earn respect for him.

Today evening (Thursday) I received a call from my good friend Deepak Adhikari. He said he was disqualified in the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships/Daniel Pearl Fellowships. He got the emailed information from Susan Albrecht, the executive director of the AFPF foundation, based in Washington DC. The news definitely saddened me because he had made it to the final and he faced a tough competition among nine other candidates. The news drew my attention also because I had received the Daniel Pearl fellowship in 2006.  

His call pulled me back to the day when I had received Deepak’s email during my stay in Boston. He had enquired me about the fellowship and I had encouraged him to apply. He also prepared very well and applied for the fellowship. I was lucky enough to see his application during my visit to the AFPF foundation in Washington DC. As the officicials at the foundation had sought my suggestion about other applicants from Nepal, I had strongly recommended for Deepak. Although I was not much confident for Deepak being selected for the fellowship because the program usually doesn’t award the fellowship to the same country for the consecutive years, I was little hopeful when I had received good feedback from Susan about Deepak.

Finally, he couldn’t be selected for the fellowship. But I also took it positively because he reached to the final and there is a strong possibility for him getting selected the next year. And I also consoled him saying, “Don’t worry, it happens in life”.

Yes, it happens many times in life. Life is a trial in itself. So human beings have to face many trials but the success is at the end of the trials. There is the light at the end of the tunnel. So my friend Deepak jee will ultimately get the fellowship, if not the AFPF he is sure to get other fellowships also. I have noticed the zeal, enthusiasm and the spirit in him, which will definitely take him to the apex of success.

I hope he will acheive greater success than this. Oh, I haven’t yet mentioned a very very fantastic news about Deepak jee. He has fixed a knot with a beautiful woman in Jhapa district. The knot is not less than acheiving the AFPF fellowship. I congratulate him on this great opportunity.

CPN-Maoist Chairman rightfully issued directives to his party cadres in local levels to facilitate in reinstating the displaced police posts and VDC offices. It is the time to see whether or not the Maoist cadres will respect their supreme leader’s directives. Once the Maoist cadres respect Prachanda’s directives and facilitate reinstating the displaced police posts and VDC offices, it will create the synergy for constituent assembly elections. The reinstatement of the displaced police posts and VDC offices is much significant to begin the process of holding the elections for constituent assembly. Otherwise, we will miss the mid-June deadline for the elections. In case we miss the deadline for the CA elections, things will revert. My point is that the reactionary forces will begin their foul play. They are seeking the opportune moment to create mistrust and controversy among the eight political parties, including the Maoists.

Therefore, it is much important to read the writing on the wall and get united for the CA polls. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has already issued directives to his party leaders and cadres to go back to their respective villages and start preparing the environment for the CA polls. 

It’s much disheartening to hear that the Maoist cadres are still obstructing the leaders and cadres of other political parties in conducting programs in villages. The Maoist cadres seem don’t seem to tolerate other political parties and their activities. But the Maoists must understand the fact that they have to respect the norms and values of democracy once they have decided to come to democratic system. The system governs all and they should value the system.