The Tale of Karima Begum

The Karima Begum- CDO Bhandari saga does not seem to end. And frankly speaking, as a follower of Nepali politics it entertains me. Yes, the entire story makes Nepali politics look ridiculous but, let face it, what does not. This story is a fine refreshment from the daily news of bands, riots, and deadlocks.

Karima Begum, the state minister of Agriculture slapped Chief District Officer Durga Bhandari. The CDO has accused the minister of manhandling him, while the minister has responded with an accusation of “misconduct to her body”. Talk about the fight between bureaucracy and politics.

After having watched Karima Begum’s thunderous interview it was clear that she was angry at the CDO and his apparent incompetence. Although I think Mrs. Begum’s “attempt to pull her into his chamber” argument is shrouded in “bull feces”, the CDO seems to be a complete nincompoop. Clearly he has not been doing his job well. But does he deserve being beaten up and humiliated in public is the question. This saga also raises question on the lack of limitation and judicial restriction of ministerial power and freedom to do what s/he pleases. Karima Begum sees no wrong in what she has done and she will not back down.

However I must congratulate Mrs. Begum for her success and undying efforts to empower the Nepali women and start a new era of revolution. At first Karima Begum seems to be an aggressive women looking for any excuse that would allow her to wriggle herself out of this unwanted limelight. But now it seems she has developed a fondness for this attention. Just look at her blasting the journalists and their questions. Although half of what she says is illogical and nowhere related to the topic at hand, she seems adamant to say what she feels she must. In her search for excuses Mrs. Begum is ready to bring out the much awaited feminist argument. I am sure she could convince us that her slapping the CDO was a valiant attempt to empower the Nepali women. It was a call to arms, she might add. Mrs.Begum has shown that one does not need to be a man to be a thug. Thuggery is based on the policy of nondiscrimination. For this madam you will go down in history as one of the first women thugs in Nepali politics. Congratulation!

Mrs. Begum has suggested that she beat up the CDO because he was no doing his job well. If that is so then I hope Karima Begum’s slapping the CDO was only the first step towards higher goals. Next on her list should be high profile office holders and power players, so MKN, GP, Prachanda beware the hand of wrath. This can start a new era of revolution. A revolution in which people have the liberty to slap anyone who does not do his job. A revolution based on limited violence and complete irradiation of corruption. Thank you Karima for showing us a new inexpensive way to solve so many of our problems.

Go on Karima, go on. Your historic slap can be the start of the beta version of the “new Nepal”, and for this I salute you.

The Pen is Still Mightier than the Sword

Whenever a nation has fallen victim to its faults, its desperation and greed; when society is reduced to a savagely fight for more power and the dark abyss of hopelessness envelopes the most optimistic of men, it fall on the duty of a brave few to do what their morality deems necessary.
Today Nepal finds itself in a state of political, social and moral chaos. There is neither a believable ideologies to guide the cause of a nation nor patriots to carry the responsibility of building a nation for the nation. What we have today is a strange concoction of aristocracy; nonsensical democracy and socialism that would make that Marx shave off his glorious beard in shame. Who then shall the motherland turn to in these grave times?
I see these heroes in the ones holding the pen. If ever this nation needed to remind itself that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, it is now.
The media is educated and sensible enough to see through this pathetic tragedy the power players have reduced this country to. Regardless of where you find yourself in the political spectrum it is impossible to deny the sheer incompetence of the rascals that have benefited from this national robbery. The role of this profession is not only to parrot the daily happening of the day, but to act as watchdogs of civility and democracy. Everyday people watch the news, listen to the radio or read a newspaper believing that the media knows more that the common man. Media, the common man hopes, will hold the power players accountable for the authority we have given them to make rules for us.
The government is nothing but an idea. People like you and me give it authority and legitimacy. They cannot seek legitimacy from us and then use the same to make our lives more inconvenient. Not only is that wrong, it is shameful. The media has to expose this shamelessness more. If the people of the country are apathetic towards the violation of their rights it because the nations media has failed in its purpose. I urge the media to unmask each of the power brokers. I urge the media to give air time to public oriented debates. More interviews, harsher questions. Questions that the public wants to ask, and verify the response and hold them accountable for their response. Run profile checks on the qualifications of each minister. Search the skeletons in the closets of the main hustlers in Nepali politics, and knowing them they will have plenty. I urge the media to shift form a political friendly attitude to a citizen oriented attitude. To break the political “mumbo-jumbo” and translate it into something the layman can understand. For if he understands the depth of hypocrisy that this country is innocently subjected to, he will neither tolerate it any longer nor let it happen again. The layman needs guidance and the media needs to provide it. Real journalism, the reason most of you look up this profession, is calling.
In Nepal’s recent history we have had numerous revolutions against ideologies and institutions. One revolution after another we fell prey to the same parasitic tendencies we where revolting against. It is now time to sprinkle salt on the hordes of leeches sucking on the blood of national progress and prosperity. The media must take up “arms” and leak its blood for the sake of the nation that absolutely needs it to do so.