Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya

"Lead me from darkness towards light."

© Expanding Knowledge

TWO CONTRASTS.

ONE.

Translation of a brief news report from Kantipur (Aug 30).

JUMLA-

Five visually challenged students from remote VDCs of Jumla district in mid-Western part of the country are deprived of higher education due to financial constraints.

The five visually challenged students -- Amrita Budthapa, Shanti Bahttarai, Kasmiri Budha, Rajana Bun and Parsuram Acharya-- passed their School Level Certificate examinations two years ago from Bhairav Higher Secondary School in Narkot. However, they couldn't pursue higher education owing to lack of any kind of financial assistance from anyone.

"There are so many non-government organizations in the district, but nobody listened to our voices. Our desire to pursue to carry on with our studies remained a distant dream," one of the five students, Amrita, moaned failing to control her tears.

Now, it has become a routine job for them to hunt non-government organizations, various associations and government offices looking for people who could at least sponsor their admission charges in the local Jumla Multiple Campus.

"We don't have money even for that," they said.

PERIOD.

Baburam Kharel writes in "Visually challenged Bhutanese refugee tops TU exam (TKP, Aug 18).

KATHMANDU-

SCORING distinction grades and leaving behind all his colleagues at TU campus in Political Science Master's level exam recently has far from ended the superhuman struggle for visually challenged Indra Rijal, 27.

"Passing in flying colors makes no difference to me. The road ahead is quite uncertain in comparison to my visually able Nepali colleagues," Rijal said, while fiddling with his walking stick.

Visually challenged since birth, Rijal has no idea what the world and the people around him actually look like. "I just feel things around me and store them in the landscape of my mind. Tactile skills and conversations with people help," he said.

Rijal, who topped BA in English from Mechi Campus, Jhapa, plans to do a Ph D. Rijal was educated till class five at ZMLS Blind School of Bhutan, after which he, along with his family fled to Nepal during the 'ethnic cleansing'. He then studied till class eight in Kalimpong Blind School with financial assistance from an NGO, and thereafter was educated till BA in Jhapa.

Rijal could have easily chosen to live a passive life at Timai refugee camp in Jhapa. He did not. In fact, he never stood second in class. He chose to study political science at TU because he was offered the course for free. Rijal wrote a Master's Thesis entitled 'Durable Solution for Bhutanese Refugee Problem: A Case Study of Timai Refugee Camp.' The thesis was prepared with the personal financial assistance of the Australian ambassador to Nepal.

However, even after completing the degree with results that would leave many others jealous, Rijal is haunted by an emptiness in his life, owing to his physical handicap and his being in a foreign land. These two indelible facts of his life bar him from exploiting his potential.

"Whenever I achieve something in my life, a nostalgia for my country Bhutan and the village where I grew up keeps me from being happy," he said.

"The discrimination and ordeal I have to put up with for not having a home and a country always trouble me. For people like me, it is really difficult to keep our heads high," he added.

After what he achieved at Masters level, Rijal tried many times to get a job in an attempt to make ends meet in the capital, but to no avail. He said most prospective employers demanded a citizenship certificate, while others rejected his applications outright just because he was Bhutanese, and above all a visually challenged person.

All this after a hard academic journey that fetched him success after success!

When most people were asleep, and neighbors thought Rijal too was asleep as there was no light in his room, he would be running his fingers over his notebooks written in Braille. This would continue till late at night in complete darkness.

"With what my wife earns by teaching at a school, I cannot afford to buy Braille books, so I prepared Braille notes for myself," he said. He married Yashoda, also a refugee, at Timai camp in Jhapa. She is not visually challenged.

When Rijal was just a 12-year-old child studying in fifth grade in Bhutan, he was totally unaware of what was going to befall him. "Even in my wildest of dreams, I had never imagined that one day I would be deprived of my homeland and loving Drukpa friends," he said. "I often dream of my village and friends with the image I have prepared in my mind to represent them."

Apart from his lifelong struggle as a visually challenged person, Rijal has been coping with refugee life for 15 long years, and now another curse has descended upon him: an unappreciated academic feat. Of late, he has been placing his hopes on the proposed third country resettlement.

When Bhutanese people revolted against the Bhutanese monarch for democracy in 1990, Rijal's father participated in the revolt. Eventually, the family had to flee the country.

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time machine

Apologies

We all had time. Now we don't have. Indifference is but part of life. And not that I've forgotten my friends. I can only care- you tell me how long can telling them that I care would suffice? We move on to our own lives- we're forced to adapt to new circumstances, newer responsibilities- and priorities don't remain the same over a long period of time.

Where? Where do you want to go? Why do you want to go? Life, for me is here. This is what I'd be doing wherever I go. Office-home-office-- that's the normal routine and tiring at most of the times. Finding time for friends is difficult- and personal relationships are faltering. I haven't forgotten you, but when I saw you last time (although I pretended otherwise), I was already late for office. Yes, I could have smiled or said "Hello" but how long? How long would you deceive your friends with your fake smiles? You start to avoid them- and soon you even forget that they do exist.

The last time, I managed some time for me, I went to Hanuman Dhoka and roamed around Basantapur. I called my closest friend, and it was already so dark. At night, are we supposed to call girlfriends to come to accompany such deserted souls? Come on, you must be joking. So, I shared papadi chat with my old schoolmate who now lives at some fifteen minutes distance from my home. You know, it's easy to catch him- when I've time. But it's opposite the other way round.

Well, not that I'm too self-centered. What you call this? Time to make one's career. Right. But now when I've a decent job- and the path ahead is challenging but the success is already guaranteed- what else do I need? Is that what you asked me? We are all running- but some of us run ahead of the time. Perhaps, I'm trying to be one of them.

Working in the press is challenging. But time management is a skill. Yes, but not when it's not you who decide what you'll be doing and when. It always happens- that you are working for one reason or another. Sometimes, your colleague is absent. Other times they are either late or there is more work. Come on, it's same everywhere, with everyone. I've met few people who don't mind working, and I'm forced to mind what they would think if I don't mind that they are working. Yes, yes, I love my work- it was what I wanted to do (or now I've to do) but sometimes we cannot stop longing for what we don't have (and often miss those little things that we once had).

When the most annoying person to you finally becomes your own self- you start caring little for others. You try to solve your own troubles first. You try to please yourself first. You start to put yourself ahead of everything else and everyone. Suddenly, it starts to appear all right after some time. Listen, that's what you'll do or have had done. Time. May be one day after I've had enough of this, I would finally take a break. I might need you then. It might be that I would be too annoying then. Commanding, with so many I like and I don’t likes. It would be difficult for me to adjust- and may be I might return to my work again. Working for sake of fun- for sake of troubleshooting the loneliness of life. It will be same wherever I go, and I'm certain.

Exciting places, interesting people fascinate everyone. I might want to travel like a wanderer and write. I might boast about my travel and the alien lands. I might stuck somewhere and forget who I am today. You can't deny the possibilities. We all have time. But there's a right time for one thing and for another. We've always tried to flee-- try to break free. And, time comes.

Someday, when I will finally become free- I promise, I won't feel sorry for what I've lost in the process. Life moves on. Only memories insist on staying inside our brains. I might not be doing the right thing in right way. But I'll change. We all change. Perhaps, I might start feeling sorry then. Perhaps, then it would have been already late. Yes, tragedy. No, I didn't wish for this.

No, this is not what I wanted to be. It just happened. Can you change this? Can you? Tell me, what should I do? What is life then? Time machine. Why did she open the Pandora's box? I'd hid it so deep inside my heart. Yes, I've a heart- and it beats. It beats, my friend. It beats so loud- so loud that sometimes there is nothing but sounds.

Sounds of a baby. Sounds of friends giggling. Sounds of crying. Sounds of trying. And, that sound of knell that nobody ever heard. Love binds, dreams freak and we keep on moving back and forth of time- sometimes on reminiscence, sometimes in reveries. Life is Apu trilogy. One day, you'll realize this. That I just wanted to follow me. That if I were the soil,/ if I were the water,/ if I were the grass/fruit or flower,/if I were to roam about the earth/with beasts,/there would be nothing to fear/in never ending ties wherever I go,/I will be limitless me.

Note: The absence of happyness.

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Changing roles of Madhesi Women

On first national convention of Madhesi Women

A five-day long national convention of Madhesi women, organized by Centre for Women and Political (CWAP) at Narayangadh in Chitwan concluded Sunday with a 17-point charter demanding equal representation of women in all 20 districts of Terai in upcoming Constituent Assembly elections from all political parties and highlighting their desire for freedom, respect and longing to play significant role in the nation building.

Participants of the historic convention, the first of its kind for the Madhesi women, expressed their longing for peace and freedom in the 17-point charter which mainly called for an end to violence in Madhesh and restructuring of the state in inclusive manner through the CA polls so that even women in Madhesh could lead a life of dignity and contribute to the upliftment of women in the Madhesi society that is still overtly conservative and backward. The Madhesi women have been suffering both at hands of male dominancy and exploitation besides poverty, illiteracy and conservative society.

The declaration has covered agendas ranging from the women empowerment right from their homes to the national level.

The convention also provided them a 'rare' chance to raise serious discussions on issues that affect their lives most for the first time. Around a hundred and twenty five women belonging to diverse ethnic and lingual backgrounds including Mithila, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Muslim, Rajbanshi and Meche took part in the convention as part of the CWAP's attempt to mobilize women in Madhesh and make them aware of their fundamental as well as political rights. The living condition of women is worst even in middle-class and educated families within the Madhesi society due to the exploitation and discrimination by male members of their families.

The participants called for a total reform within the society so that women could play bigger roles outside the boundaries of four-wall of their homes.

The participants showed maturity, as they seemed aware of the rare opportunity that has come in form of the CA polls, and regarded competitive CA elections as a means to attain their political rights. In the convention, women representatives of Nepali Congress (NC), Nepali Congress -Democratic (NC-D), UML and Sadbhavana Party- Anandadevi (SP-A) also took part along with women of various religious and professional backgrounds hailing from all 20 districts of region.

"The charter aimed primarily at the Constituent Assembly elections is inclusive in nature as it represents demands of all Madhesi women from diverse backgrounds of all caste, class, gender and religion," Sarita Giri, central committee member of SP-A and also the head of the WPC said adding, "Our only agenda for now is filling of women candidates in constituencies and onset of Madhesi women's campaign to ensure that the elections become a success."

The women put forth their own agendas for the CA elections and hoped that the women’s election campaign would put the on-going Madhesi movement back in the right track.

A participant belonging to the backward Dalit community underscored that in absence of Dalit women’s candidates in the CA polls within Madhesh, the polls couldn’t be truly inclusive. “Only through the participation of Madhesi women in the constitution making would attribute complete inclusiveness in the state,” another participant said. They held violent behaviors responsible for the plight of women in Terai.

"The convention will teach lessons to those who are responsible for discrimination and discriminatory laws against women in Madhesh and throughout the nation," the WPC head Giri said.

The charter also cited that without necessary efforts from all political parties to create necessary environment to hold the CA polls as seen now, the CA polls would remain an illusive idea. It urged all the political parties to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the government. A mandatory equal (50 percent) filling of candidates of both sexes in all districts of Terai in the CA polls, their proportional representation on the basis of equitable lists, initiation of necessary measures from Election Commission (EC) to secure Madhesi women's candidates filling in the constituencies and local trainers to train Madhesi women in their own mother tongues by the EC are major demands stated in the charter.

Other key demands include holding dialogues with political rebel groups in Madhesh to curb killings, violence and crime and to check all kinds of domestic, sexual or political violence directed against Madhesi women as current.

It also called the government to take bold initiatives to control poverty and unemployment.

Children and women in the region have been affected the most due to the on-going Madhesh conflict. Since the beginning of the conflict this Christmas, hundreds of children have been orphaned and over fifty women have turned widows but the Madhesi andolan has failed to ensure rights of Madhesi people after the government and Madhesi leaders themselves committed unforced errors. At least half a dozen armed groups are wrecking violence and bloodshed in the region, but the state has turned a blind eye to the complicated issues pertaining to state discrimination and denial of equal rights and opportunities to the people. The charter also asked the government to provide necessary compensations to the victims families and declare those in the conflict as martyrs.

Calling for an end to sexual harassment of women in government offices and proportionate representation of Madhesi women in all government services, the charter aimed at protecting women both within their homes and outside.

With inputs from Binod Tripathy from Chitwan.

Additional resources:

Read on the convention's objectives from the organizer's Website

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सपना

फेरी उसैको लागी

सपना

दुइ-तीन दीन भयो

सपना
देख्दीन
त्यसैले
तीमीलाई भुल्न थालेछु ।

माफ गर ,
तर
के गरुँ ?

म दीनभरी सपना हेर्न सक्दीन
रातमा पनी सपना देख्दीन
खाली-
तीम्रो बारेमा एक्-दुई कुरा सोच्दासोच्दै
सधैं नीदाउँछु
तीमीलाई धेरै भेट्न मन लाग्छ
अनी मनभरी तीमी सजाउँछु
वीवशता यस्तै रूप फेरी रहँदो रहेछ
तीमीलाई सम्झेर कती रोउँ ?

माफ गर
हाँस्न थालेछु
तीमी वीना
थाहा छैन-
कसरी पो बाँच्न थालेछु?

Art © Hayeng

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the Apu trilogy

To my father

pebbles
disintegrate sands
originate rocks
water and river banks
pebbles sun and sands

08/14/06

the Apu trilogy

if I were the soil,
if I were the water
if I were the grass
fruit or flower,
if I were to roam about the earth
with beasts,
there would be nothing to fear
in never ending ties wherever I go,
I will be limitless me

tagore

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Nepal Maoist's new manifesto

Major Highlights:

• Nepal to be divided into 11 main autonomous states: Seti-Mahakali, Thauruwan, Bheri-Karnali, Magaraat, Tamuwaan, Tambashaling, Newa, Madhesh, Kirat, Limbhuwaan and Kochila. While the Madhesh will be further divided into Mithila, Bhojpura and Awadh sub-state committees.
• Five new central bureaus to be formed to replace the six wartime commands.
• Prachanda to take charge of the Maoist army bureau along with its youth front, Young Communist League (YCL) .

Here is a loose translation of the CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda’s press release on Thursday.

A series of central committee meetings have concluded between July 31, 2007 to August 15, 2007. The decisions taken during the party plenum has been already publicized through a press conference. Now, through this press release, decisions taken by the central committee after the fifth expanded meeting are being publicized as follows:

1. A proposal in line with the decisions taken during the fifth plenum over a new organizational structuring of the party was presented by Chairman Prachanda. The proposal was passed unanimously by the central committee with some changes and amendments following necessary discussions on it.

2. Decision taken to disband the entire central command and regional organizational bureau.

3. The following central bureau will be formed as per the decision to form new central bureau:

• A central military bureau led by Chairman Prachanda consisting of Nandakishore Pun (Pasang), Janardan Sharma (Prabhakar) and Chandra Khanal (Baldev) has been formed. The bureau will be responsible for the YCL.
• A central organizational bureau led by Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal) consisting of Chandra Prasad Gajurel (Gairav), Post Bahdaur Bogati (Diwakar), Netra Bikram Chand (Biplav), Top Bahadur Rayamajhi (Anil) and Barshmaan Pun (Ananta) has been formed. It will be responsible for the Inspection Department and Economic Department.
• A central front bureau led by Baburam Bhattarai consisting of Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Barshmaan Pun (Ananta), Dinanath Sharma, Pamfa Bhushal (Vidhyut). Lokendra Bista. It will look after mobilization of ethnic and regional fronts, grassroots front, people's council and people's revolt.
• An international bureau led by Gaurav consisting of Chandra Mohan Sigdel (Basanta) and Ram karki(Partha).
• A central advertisement, publication and training bureau led by Mohan Vaidhya (Kiran) consisting of Babaram Bhattarai, Narayan Sharma and Agni Sapkota (Kanchan) has been formed.

4. The following state committees have been formed in regard to the restructuring of the state on the basis of ethnic autonomy to cover the state geography:

i. Seti-Mahakali State Committee covering Darchua, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Bajhang, Bajura, Achham and Doti distrcits. Kul Prasad KC (Sonam) is in charge of the committee while Khagraj Bhatta (Binod) is the secretary.

ii. Tharuwaan State Committee covering Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. Shakti Basnet (Suresh Singh) is in charge of the committee while Ran Charan Chaudhari (Sagar) is the secretary.

iii. Bheri-Karnali State Committe covering Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Kalikot, Dolpa, Jajarkot, Dailekh and Surkhet districts. Kadga Bahadur Viswakarma (Prakand) is in charge of the committee while Uddhav is the secretary.

iv. Magaraat State Committe covering Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Pyuthan, Arghakhachi, Gulmi, Palpa, Baglung, Myagdi and Mustang districts. Hemanta Prasad Oli (Sudarshan) is in charge of the committee while Santosh Budha Magar is the secretary.

v. Tamuwaan State Committee covering Parbat of Dhaulagiri Zone and all districts of Gandaki zone. Hit Raj Pandey (Uttam) is in charge of the committee while Hari Adhikari (Kumar) is the secretary.

vi. Tambashaling State Committee covering Chitwan, Makwanpur, Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading distrcits. Kanchan Sapkota is in charge of the committee while Hit Bahadur Tamang (Shamsher) is the secretary.

vii. Newa State Committee covering Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts. Hit Maan Shakya (Suman) is in charge of the committee while Hisila Yami (Rahul) is Assisting-in-charge and Jahakku Prasad Subedi (Adhikar) is the secretary.

viii. Madhesh State Committee covering districts that lie in Mithila, Bhojpura and Awadh regions. Post Bahadur Bogati is in charge of the committee.

The Madhesh State Committee has been further sub-committees:

• Mithila Sub-Committee covering Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari and Sarlahi districts. Matrika Yadav is in charge of the committee while Mahendra Paswaan is the secretary.
• Bhojpura Sub-Committee covering Rautahat, Bara and Parsa districts. Hari Bhakta kadel (Pratik) is in charge of the committee while Prabhu Sah (Mukti) is the secretary.
• Awadh Sub-Committee covering Nawalparasi, Rupendehi and Kapilbastu districts. Dvendra Poudel (Sunil) is in charge of the committee while Nirmal is the secretary.

ix. Kirat State Committee covering Solu, Okhaldhunga, Udaypur, Khotang, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha distrcits. Gopal Kirati is in charge of the committee while Dinesh Sharma (Sagar) is the secretary.

x. Limbuwaan State Council covering Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam Terhathum and Dhankuta districts. Ram Karki (Partha) is in charge of the committee while Angbuhang Limbu (Prabhat) is the secretary.

xi. Kochila State Committee covering Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts. Haribol Gajurel (Shital Kumar) is in charge of the committee while Apaar is the secretary.

5. A five-member recommendation commission consisting of Matrika Yadav, Hitmaan Shakya (Suman), Lekhraj Bhatta (Rakesh) and Gopal Kirati has been set up for the demarcation of the geographical boundaries of the above-mentioned states in proper and scientific way. The commission must submit its report to the central office within three months.

6. Decision taken to carry out planned revolt demanding the declaration of republic for the implementation of the agreement and to ensure the Constituent Assembly elections and proportionate electoral system among other issues.

At the end, Chairman Prachanda concluded the meeting stating that the current political situation of the country is abnormal and if the party and front including everyone could move ahead jointly for a common destination, it would enable (them) to create a new history.

August 16, 2007

Prachanda
Chairman, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)

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Midnight's Twin at 60

Nepal can learn so much from the twins

Two great architects: Nehru and Jinnah. © The Hindu Archives

India can have it both ways: an ancient civilisation that is a confluence of many streams of humanity; and a relatively young independent nation. Its biggest achievement as an independent modern country is its vibrant political democracy. Its biggest deficit is its inability over six decades to overcome the largest mass of poverty and deprivations in the world.

At 60 independent, secular, and pluralistic India finds itself, by any objective yardstick, stronger than it was at 50. It faces major challenges as well as opportunities in the political, economic, social, cultural, scientific, technological, creative, and external affairs realms. ‘Rising India’ is a work in progress.

-The Hindu

A resourceful supplement by The Hindu on the "Independent India at 60" can be found here.

Another Indian writer, Shashi Tharoor, writes on the meaning of being an Indian today.

"What makes India, then, a nation? As the country celebrates the 60th anniversary of its independence today, we may well ask: What is an Indian's identity?Indian nationalism has therefore always been the nationalism of an idea."

and,

"It is the idea of an ever-ever land - emerging from an ancient civilisation, united by a shared history, sustained by pluralist democracy. India's democracy imposes no narrow conformities on its citizens. The whole point of Indian pluralism is you can be many things and one thing: you can be a good Muslim, a good Keralite and a good Indian all at once. The Indian idea is the opposite of what Freudians call "the narcissism of minor differences"; in India we celebrate the commonality of major differences. If America is a melting-pot, then to me India is a thali, a selection of sumptuous dishes in different bowls. Each tastes different, and does not necessarily mix with the next, but they belong together on the same plate, and they complement each other in making the meal a satisfying repast.

So the idea of India is of one land embracing many. It is the idea that a nation may endure differences of caste, creed, colour, conviction, culture, cuisine, costume and custom, and still rally around a consensus. And that consensus is around the simple idea that in a democracy you don't really need to agree - except on the ground rules of how you will disagree."


read "Indian identity is forged in diversity. Every one of us is in a minority."- from Guardian


Also read on what exactly went wrong with

Pakistan.

excerpts:

Amid all the hoopla surrounding the 60th anniversary of Indian independence, almost nothing has been heard from Pakistan, which turns 60 today. Nothing, that is, if you discount the low rumble of suicide bombings, the noise of automatic weapons storming the Red Mosque and the creak of slowly collapsing dictatorships.

In the world's media, never has the contrast between the two countries appeared so stark: one is widely perceived as the next great superpower; the other written off as a failed state, a world centre of Islamic radicalism, the hiding place of Osama bin Laden and the only US ally that Washington appears ready to bomb.On the ground, of course, the reality is different and first-time visitors to Pakistan are almost always surprised by the country's visible prosperity. There is far less poverty on show in Pakistan than in India, fewer beggars, and much less desperation. In many ways the infrastructure of Pakistan is much more advanced: there are better roads and airports, and more reliable electricity. Middle-class Pakistani houses are often bigger and better appointed than their equivalents in India.

Moreover, the Pakistani economy is undergoing a construction and consumer boom similar to India's, with growth rates of 7%, and what is currently the fastest-rising stock market in Asia. You can see the effects everywhere: in new shopping centres and restaurant complexes, in the hoardings for the latest laptops and iPods, in the cranes and building sites, in the endless stores selling mobile phones: in 2003 the country had fewer than three million cellphone users; today there are almost 50 million.

-read more The 'poor' neighbour

Sixty Years of Freedom -- and Animosity

Back then, all the way back in 1947, she was an incurable rebel, admits Fatima Sughra today. The 14-year-old was full of passion -- for an independent Pakistan and a separate state for the Muslims.

"We wanted to be free from the English and the Indians," the now 74-year-old grandmother recalls. "We'd had enough of living by their rules. Six decades ago, she climbed onto the roof of the British government's building in Lahore in 1947, tore down the British flag and hoisted the Muslim League's colors in its place -- immediately becoming an icon of the movement for independence.

But 60 years later, much of her passion is gone. "When I think of what happened to the dream of Pakistan, what we fought for and the sacrifices people made with their lives, I could cry," says Sughra. "People sacrificed their lives for a nation of hoodlums who will just celebrate this anniversary with firecrackers and blaring car horns," she reflects. "Nobody will be thinking how to make a better Pakistan."

-from Der Spiegel

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Searching for lost pride

Also published in The Kathmandu Post on Aug 12 *.

Small Man’s Talk

When I was young during my school days, I don't know exactly but something made me feel proud for being a Nepali. Sagarmatha? Swoyambhunath? or the palace squares? Late King Birendra? Second richest country in the world in water resources (yeah- even such lies) , and what not?

But as I grew up, I started feeling that I was gradually losing the pride. At this point now, sometimes I feel there is nothing to feel proud about. Not even for being a Nepali born or born in the country of Buddha or in the land of Mt Everest.

Many might raise their eyebrows if I say so.

My college life began. Certainly, when I came out of the delusions resulted from the massive brainwashing from the outdated text books in school as well as my hallow expectations and the more I grew up, the harsh reality of ordinary life behind the glittering facade began to confront me.

Dissatisfied with the words and deeds of political leaders, I felt I had an immense urge to change something, change the world around me, make the place a bit better to live in.

It is not that I curse my fate to have born in this country. No, we don't feel being a Nepali citizen would put us at shame. Today, we've lost that sense of pride for being a Nepali in the international arena, but this is definitely not because of the country.

It was poverty and exploitation that kept indigenous and Madheshi communities away from the rich and powerful countrymen. It was mass illiteracy that kept my country behind.

It is big lousy liars in ruling Prime Minister, his faithful Home Minister and our would-be president that make me feel ashamed.

Sometimes I feel, my country wasn't ready for democracy and its people aren't ready for total freedom yet.

But we were bestowed with democracy and then in due course democracy itself kept on changing its names, Prajatantra, Panchayat, Loktantra or Loktantraik Ganatantra -- the same stinking and infested system of governance failed to uplift the poor but did prove to be the Almighty's boon for those who had and still have an access to the powerful.

We exercise our freedom by flexing muscles and beating up Chief District Officers time and again.

Some still say, "Look around, you will see how life has improved across the villages and the towns. We've achieved so much."

Our Lahure brothers brought some money by risking their lives and putting their self-dignity at stake under foreign masters. Hundred of thousands of Nepalis youth try to send some money back to their relatives from different countries across the world despite facing great deal of suffering and humiliation.

Whatever others say, we remained beggars at core but the aids and assistances that we receive from those so-called "friendly" countries ought to have been spent to uplift poor and build homes for those who did not have one. But that never happened.

Development has been limited to the surroundings of our ministers, politicians and others who are in power. But a bhariya (coolie) whom I hired about a decade ago at the heart of Kathmandu, New Road, is still carrying loads on his aging back.

Over thousand Maoist combatants flee the cantonment sites because their masters are little concerned about their problems or needs now. Those in top ranks and leadership of the communist party lead a luxurious life and people of my own age languish and suffer in the "prison" camps without basic amenities, food or healthcare. No, you can't save your face by smearing my face in black suit.

We -- either PLA or grassroots party cadres or ordinary people -- will always be ruled. "The burden of the state and people is heavier than the burden of a woodcutter's load." I recall the story and assume that's why our leaders need more luxury, more comfort or more wealth than us. They have to think about the entire nation while we don't have time to think even about our own future.

Ordinary people's destiny is to work and work till they breathe their last. God will forgive me if I curse the powerful and politicians not because they have left me without any reason to smile or feel proud about being a Nepali citizen, but because today I feel this life as a human being is so disgusting and full of sufferings alone.

Don't we have the right to be happy and live with dignity? Don't we have the right to food, shelter and education? Why can't we speak our minds freely? When we demand our rightful earnings, why do they torture us, put in prison and deport back to our country so ruthlessly as if we were no humans but animals? When I try to intervene and defend my fellow Nepali brothers, why am I taken into custody? Why I am treated in such a way that being a Nepali was the worst sin in another part of the world and within my own country? Why can't I raise my head high today and say with the old pride that I'm a proud to be a Nepali?

Today, I'm searching for a reason to feel proud of who I am. Today, I'm not trying to search that lost pride in false assumptions of my history. Today, I don't want to express my hatred for the politicians who have robbed our happiness and dignity. Should I tell you that my blood boils high when someone reminds me which community I belong to or from which class I come from? Today, I'm not only searching for a reason to restore that sense of pride but also finding ways to sustain it. Yes, I'm a dreamer but living in false dreams cannot be justified. "New Nepal" is but a dream- perhaps but a false one. Alas! I'm not a lone dreamer here who is searching for a new identity, a new sense of pride in being a Nepali again. After all, I'm also living on the edge.

1. * This is the original version of the write up.
2. Art © Photographer Linda Nylind link

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Studying Humanities

My first write up published in 'Post Platform'- TKP

A reminder- a tribute to those students who chose liberal arts.

Studying Humanities

“What do you want to study - Science or Commerce?”

I never realized that this question by a college receptionist would alter all my perceptions until I started hearing it again and again during my visit to different colleges after S.L.C. exams.

Having examined my SLC certificates, the receptionist could have included Humanities while offering me choices?

Is it not ethical to study Humanities just because you are a good student, or that your scores are higher? I couldn't agree with those who said that I should not study Humanities, just because students who secure low percentage in their exams go for it. I was not even discouraged by the fact that humanities is a taboo subject in our society.

I firmly replied -"No. I will go for Humanities."

They were taken aback. They simply couldn't understand why I was opting for the faculty that someone with my percentage do not go for.

“You’ve a very good percentage. Do you lack interest in science?” the receptionist popped another question at me. I was expecting this. The receptionist may have thought I am wasting time but I was really serious.

While I had thought that I would be someone exceptional having chosen a stream that very few with good scores opt for, the college administration was interested to admit me in the science or management streams and was offering me discounts and privileges. But I lacked money for the expensive Registration forms. I returned home with a pile of prospectus and college-calendars that had been showered onto me as my day's reward.

Back at home my mother started scolding me. “All of your friends are studying either Science or Management! Babu, what are you doing ? Listen, all of your uncles are doctors and engineers; you must be one like them?

Having chosen Humanities, I went through a very tough time. I remember how my teachers responded to my choice for further studies. They never considered the thirst for literature that lied inside me. Even to this day, they are happier with my friends but not me. When I meet my old friends, I become somewhat nervous. A kind of inferiority complex creeps in me when I meet my relatives who could not stop asking me if I am studying Science or Management?

I wish people would accept my choice for Humanities without comparing or contrasting it with something else. I don't want to stand tall and erect - helpless and impotent like a salik - an effigy ! I don't want to be unsocial or lunatic. Sometimes I'm mistaken about the existence of a poet within me. Sometimes it's a painter's soul ! When Devkota writes Lunatic, I feel he writes about me. When the sun paints the shore with the golden beams-I know it is for me. But I want to express myself. I want to share my dreams with you?

I find myself more comfortable studying Humanities and using my own creativeness, innovation and expression. I think most of the Humanities students think this way and feel what I've been feeling for a long time. Sometimes in life, we've to consider our own desires and dreams. I long to write about it. I wish to paint it in a wide canvass.

I know that my paths will lead me to the unknown frontiers. Yet, I want to reach to that shore. And I want to cross it over. I'm not aware of what I'll be studying in Humanities but for me it's about being different. I want to be exceptional but reachable. I want to celebrate the common-man and be with him. For me, studying Humanities is about being on the road not taken.

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

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Nepal's New Anthem

A response to new national anthem (not Ambar Gurung's music).

“Hundreds of blossoms, we are one garland Nepali
Sovereign stretching Mechi to Mahakali

Natures’ crores of resources veil
Brave’s blood made us sovereign state

Land of education, peaceful terai, hills, mountains
United lovely, our motherland Nepal

Multi racial, multi lingual, religion, cultures.
Broad Advancing nation, Jaya Jaya (accolades to) Nepal.”

The proposed national song written by Byakul Mahila.
Translation: mine

Read In A Songless Country

I won't sing the song- and, perhaps, it won't make a difference. But for me- it makes a lot of difference. "Rato Ra Chandra Surya"- is far more patriotic and historic than Mahila's crap.

National Song or National Shame

Do you expect me to sing Byakul’s song? Should I stand when it’s played during government programmes or functions? Do you expect me to show respect to my national anthem? Then let's discard this anthem and conduct a referendum to see if we, Nepali people, accept it as our national song or not. Dear politicians, it’s not that you can decide if our country will be Nepal or New-Nepal with a monarch or a president; whether we’ll be a democracy or a republic- you just do your job- show us that you can hold CA elections on time. As for the rest — leave them to us.

“I was telling my mom how Indian national song is- and how they sing the national anthem of Netherland with full synergy,” my friend said, “But when our national song was played on the television, I was so sorry. Do we call this a national song?”

“This song is like one we used to sing in our annual school-day functions,” another said.

“When ‘Rato Ra Chandra Surya’ is played, our blood boils with patriotism. I don’t like this song, but now that they have made it our new anthem- we must accept it. It’s not so bad, isn’t it,” my another colleague said.

You might say, I’m not voicing here any voice in favour of the new anthem- well, sometimes you've got to take a stance . Today, it’s about a personal issue- whether I’ve the right to sing or not to sing a song dumped by the so-called people’s leaders unto us. Who are they to play with our history- I ask? I don’t think if those who we see at top ranks of the government deserve to be there. Anyways, they were kicked out of the parliament because they couldn’t do their duties in the first place. Now, they have come from streets- and not from our votes. Give us chance to vote- and we’ll show who the decider is-- who is running this country? What kind of person deserves to be Nepal’s lawmakers?

Where is the weight of our history in this anthem? Do we have just one history that Shahs ruled us? Are we in this land for just two and a half centuries? Who scarified themselves for this country, don't they deserve a song better than this? Anyways, when do we remember them ? And yes- why should be remember dead people? Is that so? A national song should be better than every other song- at least that’s how my small mind thinks. You people cannot force me to accept what I hate utmost. I don’t think these old people will be able to understand how I feel — give new and young leaders a chance—Girija and his likes need a break- final break now.

Why do we need a national song? Just to show the world that we have one? If we are making a song for today's youth and coming generation, why this haste? Why this mediocrity? Why this drama? This is not your parliament- this is our country, and remember not just your father’s property. We don’t want this song- and silence doesn’t mean acceptance. We’ve other works to do- should we come to streets to protest against this? Should I also go and burn tires in the streets to seek your attention?

Don’t make me a subject of rebuke when I meet my Indian friends. Don’t make me a subject of shame when an American hears me singing my song with a head held low. At least I deserve better than this for being a Nepali.

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Maoists go astray

By Ameet Dhakal
Aug 3/TKP

I am still in disbelief that the Maoists have now set proclamation of a republic and a proportional system of election as pre-conditions for the Constituent Assembly (CA). Not that I was completely naïve against such a possibility since voices of caution, not to mention cynicism, were constantly pouring in from various quarters.

Only two weeks ago a senior Nepali Army official, sitting at sprawling army headquarters at Bhadrakali, argued that the Maoists did not want Constituent Assembly elections, and they would eventually betray the eight-party coalition. I told him that some of his skepticism was legitimate but it was too early to draw conclusions about Maoist intentions. That was two weeks ago.

My natural instinct in not to lend an ear to cynicism; to be always focused on the full part of the half-full glass; and be sympathetic to the problems and compulsions of the people and the parties. But the Maoists have crossed the limit, and it's time they are challenged in unambiguous terms. That challenge should, however, come from the political parties, civil society and the media-and not from the military. The army will best fulfill its duty to the country by remaining inside barracks.

The Maoist demand for a republic before the CA poll and for a proportional election system constitute a breach of the interim constitution and the political agreements reached before that.

Before the April Movement the Maoist leaders publicly reiterated that they would accept a multiparty system, the rule of law and the verdict of the Constituent Assembly on monarchy. That was what led to the 12-point agreement with the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA).

At the peak of the April Movement King Gyanendra conceded power and announced on national television that the roadmap of the SPA was acceptable to him. The king was actually reading from a statement prepared by the political parties. But today we have come to a point where the parties no longer seem to be capable of implementing their own roadmap. That's a shame.

If King Gyanendra was to be overthrown without the people's mandate expressed through elections, we should have done so in the heat of the People's Movement. But once you (the parties) promise the king that his fate would be decided by the constituent assembly and the former readily accepts it, you have a moral obligation to stand by that promise. Therefore, the king cannot be removed - and should not be removed - without the verdict of the Constituent Assembly.

On the proportional election system, we all know that was the Maoists' original demand, and it was also the demand of the CPN-UML. However, during finalization of the Comprehensive Peace Treaty (CMP) the parties debated the pros and cons of various systems and finally reached a compromise with a Mixed System. Initially, both factions of the Nepali Congress wanted the first-past-the-post system. So the Mixed System was no one's deliberate choice but a middle path that everyone accepted.

Despite the consensus, the UML chose to write a note of dissent onto the CMP, and the Maoists, and others, criticized them for not fully honoring the agreement. In the course of negotiations the Madhesis and Janajaatis demanded a fully proportional system of election, and following the deferral of the June poll even the UML came out with their central committee conclusion that they should go for a fully proportional system. But again an all-party meeting agreed on the Mixed System and mandated the cabinet to defer the CA poll till November.

After much deliberation, the government is about to close negotiations with the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) and the Janajaatis. They have in principle agreed to go for the Mixed System. The technical details are being worked out.
Now just 112 days before the November 22 poll, the Maoists want to change the election system. Why?

Insiders site two reasons. First, the Maoists have become paranoid over how fast they are becoming unpopular in society and the implications of this on the upcoming poll. Second, the party leadership is under tremendous pressure from their rank and file due to the rise of dissenting voices from within the party.

But how can you dump the people's expectations of peace - the overriding reason why they came out onto the streets during the April Uprising, risking their very lives - for such narrow party and party leadership interests?

And what makes the Maoists think that the people, the parties, civil society, the international community will acquiesce in their deliberate deviation from an agreed political path? Can a political party launch a "people's movement" with just the participation of its party cadres? Can the Maoist propaganda machine project the agitation of their cadres as a "people's movement"?
Have they ever contemplated, with cool heads, the long term damage that the possible fiasco of such a movement is going to bring to the party?

The Maoist leadership should accept the reality that in a plural society and plural politics parties face difficulties-they rise and they fall. But if the political system remains intact, and if they win people's hearts, their turn will come eventually. For now, if it's somebody else's turn, so what? Just take it easy.

But if the Maoists fail to come to terms with this reality and decide to go down the confrontational path, and if the other parties and civil society fail to contain them, this country will go the Bangladesh way. Where competitive politics is no longer feasible, people frustrated with politics will desperately wait to welcome the tanks as they come rolling out.

ameet@kantipur.com.np

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A Belgian traveler writes from Kathmandu

A Belgian traveler writes about his experience from Kathmandu. I covered his news, and this is but a rare incident- a foreigner being thrashed in Kathmandu by some drunk, or as he believes, drugged boys. I've not edited or omitted anything.

Mission completed
By Alann Wayra Inti Were’e Lobo Rojo

Dear all,

I arrived on the night of the 31st in Katmandu, a country known as the Shangri-La. Despite its name it has turned into a chaotic place and anarchy is rampant. Police forces in remote villages are still being killed or punished by the YCL (Young Communist league, which here in the press are dubbed “the young criminal league”, because of their violence. The cadres, who are in a coalition government as the Maoist Party, seem to be unable to rein them in.

Anyway, I came here on a mission, believe it or not, for Lord Shiva, from whom I got the vision in a trance about 5 months ago. I was told to go to Pashupatinath in Nepal. Then it would have been appropriate to go, it was still dry season, no floods and one day of Shiv Ratri (worship of Shiva allover the country in India and Nepal.

I couldn’t go as I was still teaching in Thailand.

Came what came, I had to go and to my pleasant surprise, I found out that the month of August is an entire month of Shiva worship. I had to go to Pashupatinath, which means protector of animals, which Shiva is. No wonder I thought, why I see so many animals in my trances or I turn in one, ranging from cobra, python, to wolf or eagle and condor. Even owls, mustangs, you name it are part of the panorama of traveling in the 4th dimension.

So, after one sleepless night in a budget guesthouse (noise the whole morning for they had a wedding party) I headed for Bauda, known as Bodanath.

There you visit a stupa erected in 15th century and now worshipped by Tibetan monks, Nepalese, and the to Buddhism foreigners converted, who just like the Tibetans and Nepali prostrate themselves on the ground and make the prayer wheels turn clockwise for good fortune.

To my pleasant surprise I met a bunch of Rajasthani nomads who live in tents in a muddy place behind the stupa. Two shoeshine boys accosted me and took me to their tent dwelling and that’s how I got to know them. Pleasant, ‘because I dreamed of going back to Rajasthan one day to meet those nomads again, and look I found them here. Thanks Shiva!!!

Now many of my friends are not Hindus and nor am I, but I have turned into this jangri (Nepali for Shaman) and I go where the gods and spirits send me. I waited 3 days, still on antibiotics for a very resistant lung infection and feeling weak and feverish, I decided that I could make my move to Pashupatinath, which is a 15-minute walk over a street, which leads through meadows. Before I went I decided to buy two postcards, one of Shiva and one of Hanuman, the monkey god whom I had seen in a vision in Cuzco in the Sacsayhuaman Inca area. I told the friendly vendor in the shop, that one of my names was Wayra Inti (Wind of the Sun given to me by a Peruvian Shaman on the Island of the Sun Bolivia). "Oh, he said, "Hanuman means wind and Hanuman is also Shiva in another body."

So I would be “Hanuman Surya “ (the latter means sun) and thinking of this I got really startled to find out about the so many signs and messages I received in Thailand, too many to tell, though. It confirmed time and time again my connection with Shiva. "And you know", the vendor said: "Today is Hanuman day."

The very same day I went to Pashupatinath on Hanuman day, could it be more enlightening?

At last I stood in front of the Baghmati River; it was a concrete gray with a rapid spewing from my left. I saw children playing and bathing in the nude on an islet in the middle of it. Despite the color I shed my clothes and went down the stairs into the river. The water was not freezing and reached just below my knees. I had a couple of adult Newaris (Nepalese) following my every move with an approving smile. Soon many more got interested and stood on the wall that separated the river a bit from the road. I enjoyed playing with the kids and instantly I was one myself, we splashed water and mud from the river at one another. I let my self float in the strong current and submerged myself followed by rubbing the silted mud over my face and body.

Then I faced the sun and made my vows and sun worship and asked His Lord to continue to guide me. I got out after having sprayed myself with some diluted detergent that a Nepali boy gave me. And I walked on not knowing exactly where the Pashupatinath sacred Shiva temple stood. Following my nose and instinct I ended up following a young Nepali who said he went to a Shiva temple up there where I was warmly welcomed on top of the stairs by elder Hindus. I left my sandals behind and entered the premises. I found a shrine right in front of me, a square building with a huge lingam (Shiva’s organ) cut out in rough rock red with Hindu powder. I took some and made a tikka on my forehead (a red dot on the third eye place). I felt so exhilarated.

When I left the shrine I saw more men sitting on the right side, one was reading the puranas (Holy Hindu texts) and another one was making a fire. Another young guy invited me to sit and we started a conversation. He had seen me as others had. He said they had wondered about why a foreigner was bathing there? What is he doing there? They felt foreigners should be more sophisticated, but then they didn’t know of my spiritual mission. Shambu who then became a new acquaintance, is a Brahmin and told the guys he could see me worship the Sun and so he knew I wasn’t doing the swimming for fun in that river. He heard my story and believed me. We have seen more and more westerners like you who have come here and said they had spoken with Shiva. Shambu itself means Shiva too!

He called his friends to come over and we discussed the many facets of spirituality. Then as it got later we went down to the other side over the hill to face the burning ghats in front of the Pashupatinath temple. A band of starved monkeys found me when I ripped open a banana and stole it from me. A big macaque took place on my head and when satisfied of his domination over me jumped away again. Later in the evening a group of women dressed in pure orange moved in single file from the left to the stairs that lead to the temple. We waited and it seemed the doors would only open around 7 p.m. We got to see a range of shrines built by the Mala dynasty, a maharana, kind of king who had 13 wives and built a shrine for each, with a lingam and bull facing the lingam for every deceased rani (queen).

Then at last it was nearly dark and the temple doors opened up, but we sat from a distance of about 100 meters and the crowd inside the temple was blocking the view of his lingam, we couldn’t see anything. I’d come back tomorrow with Shambu. Before we left we went to see a sadhu (Holy man) with a white long beard who gave Shambu a 15 minute lecture on what the ego (atman) soul and God is, basically rebuking my vision quest.

Shambu and I left him for what he was, an orthodox man who clung to his taught beliefs and could or would not accept that anything can happen outside of the Hindu doctrine. It was nothing but a dream I saw, he had said, as this life is a dream too. I didn’t want to debate with him. I knew what I had seen months ago and what it meant. That was more than enough.

Barely had Shambu dropped me off near the stupa and I walked home to my guesthouse Kailash (the sacred abode of Shiva in the Himalayas) -where else would have stayed but I lodge with the appropriate name?

But my happiness turned very ugly when I was bothered by a drunken guy flanked by three other intoxicated youths, sitting like him on the pavement in front of the small restaurant where I was going to eat. He obviously sought to provoke me just before I entered it at around 8.30 pm. He asked me imitating an American accent: "Hey, man whassup?" I ignored him, but he continued: “You look like some kind of Baba (a holy man) - I was wearing my red Karen sarong and a Cambodian scarf on my head, something I had done for premises of Pashupatinath.

I ignored his last one-liner with a smile. After I came out again, three of the four who sat near the restaurant carried someone away who could barely stand on his legs. The guy who had spoken to me was with them and they were either drunk or drugged or both.

I passed them just in front and met with fellow traveler from France who stayed in my guesthouse. Barely having started our conversation, the guy approached us and stood nearly face to face overhearing our conversation. I told him to leave us alone, as it was private. Three times didn’t work and I got really worked up about him, I told him that I would call the cops if he didn’t leave right away. He said: “Let the cops come!” So then I pushed him away by his shoulder. During this my lady friend was pushed brutally aside and others in the street just looked on.
That’s when he punched me and I instinctively punched back. Before I realized I saw fists and feet from blowing from all corners and feet kicking on me until I fell on the ground, more kicks hit my head, face and body. In the end I managed to escape and screamed “POLICE!” at the top of my lungs. I found what I thought was a teenage policeman near the stupa, (I found out the day after he was only security guard with no power).

I was bleeding from my eyes which were now seriously swelling. My entire body was aching. The young policeman with a lathi in hand warned his colleagues. In five minutes they arrived at the scene but did nothing but watch when the tough guy attempted to attack me again, though some people withheld him. I had run for my life to the cops, but no one, even a group of monks and tourist who passed buy seemed to be bothered to offer some assistance. No doctor was found and I ended up in the guesthouse where I felt safe but in awful pains.

That was my day; it had started so beautifully, I wonder why it ended this way. I am now at the press, but no one seems to be willing to publish the assault story. I haven’t gone to the cops, as from my experience I know they won’t do anything.

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Media blues- State of media in Nepal today

On state of press freedom and safety

Slowly, the communist dream is getting ripped apart within my own utopian state.

With the horrifying tales of previous communist regimes- and despite the rise of new socialist states and "controlled capitalism" even in prominent communist countries, I have no option but to accept that the concept of equals cannot be achieved in lifetime; that communist regimes, like totalitarians, would do anything to put "word watchdogs" at service to suppress people's voices.

Prachanda's speeches and lies could be effective in appeasing the illiterate mass- and those who think they are communist intellectuals on their own might in this country. Every time, I listen to the lectures of these politicians (not only Maoists)- I ask myself are we such fools that we would buy whatever they say for granted? Sadly, yes- a majority of Nepalese doesn't know what even their own fundamental rights are.

At one hand, the Maoist cadres are themselves engaged in activities such as creating a state of terror and anarchy- making it impossible to hold the CA election on November 22. On the other, the central committee of the CPN-M decides that if the prospects of holding the CA elections become dim or difficult- then they would abandon the government and launch another people' revolt. They have already started with Matrika Yadav's resignation today.

Who are they fooling? Don't we understand who is making it difficult to hold the polls in hills through out the country and in Madhesh as well? Who isn't in mood to solve the Madhesh issue through dialogues? Who fueled the Madhesi andolan?

Look at the Maoist organizations, association and unions throughout the country in every small and big businesses or even media houses to cinema theatres and hotels. One day- if Prachanda ask them to revolt- then the whole country would come to a halt. Why do we, journalists, need a political party's banner to fight for our rights? You're not a journalist- but a faithful political cadre my friend- Prachanda's dog. Why can't you raise your voices on your own? Whom do you fear? The state? The police or the YCL?

I'm risking my life- writing what I feel and what is right- here. I know what are the dangers to my life. Yes- I'm not Prachanda's dog, and I don't have faith in the seven-party- I don't believe in MPRF and JTMM anymore- Chure Bhabar is another circus- Limbuwaan and Khumbuwaan- much like Newa Mukti Morcha and Tharuwaan- upsets me. These people- and they're politicians faithful- are breaking my country into pieces again.

I've not told you- but now I fear- I fear that I might be another person to get kidnapped and disappeared. I don't fear being dead but it will give unbearable pain to those who love me- and the thought of this is enough to scare me. When my office van drops me- and disappears in a jiffy at around midnight- I hurriedly pass the deserted road and enter my house as fast as I can. You can't say if you'd arrive home safely- and I don't have security personnel to guard me 24/7.

I do think if I've done a mistake by running Kathmandu Speaks with my name. Why didn't I make it anonymous? Because, when I started we had no fear of being executed, kidnapped or killed for speaking the truth- for enjoying our fundamental rights to speech and information- but now the one group that is now posing as a great threat to our right to exercise these human rights is the Maoists' notorious youth-wing Young Communist League (YCL).

Yes- I didn't choose this profession, and I still have enough time to change it. But I don't want to- and certainly that's me.

excerpt-

"The cadres of Young Communist League (YCL) along with Maoist affiliated trade union this morning surrounded the office buildings of The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post at Anam Nagar. In a mockery of law and order situation, the YCL cadres blocked the entry of personnel of the two publications from 9 am to 10.45 am. A group of around 50 YCL cadres and delivery boys surrounded the office building and shouted slogans threatening to lock down the publications by 7 pm. They also asked prime minister to take back his statement when he said that disruption of press freedom would not be tolerated. When contacted the YCL president Ganesh Man Pun said that these people were not his cadres and asked the publications to sort out this problem on their own." (Maoist Union Threatens to Shut Down AP/THT by This Evening, July 23)

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"After shutting down Nepal Samacharpatra (See: ‘Stop press’, # 354) and disrupting work at Kantipur through their union last month, they (the Maoists) now have the APCA group in their crosshairs. APCA publishes Nepal’s widest-selling English daily, The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post. Distribution of both had been severely curtailed this week." (Meet the press, Nepali Times, (27 July 07 - 02 August 07))

Additional links:

Press freedom in Nepal (159th) has shifted according to the state of the fighting that has disrupted the country for several years. The “democatic revolution” and the revolt against the monarchy in April this year led immediately to more basic freedoms and the country should gain a lot of ground in next year’s Index.

http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=639

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