GPK: A legacy to debate

Girija Prasad Koirala, former Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress passed away Saturday at 12:10 p.m. GPK has been a towering figure in Nepali politics for over 4 decades. The death of GPK generates a big void within both the Nepali Congress and as an over-arching figure in Nepali politics. While much of Nepali media and politician seem to have suddenly found their long lost love for Koirala, people seem to have mixed feelings about his legacy.

There seems a difference in opinions regarding GPK between the mainstream media and the blogs. This difference in opinion steam out from what face of GPK people remember. Those who knew the pre 1990 Girija vs those who knew Girija post 1990. The post 1990 generation, who dominate the blogosphere, tend to have a more skeptical image of GPK. It’s the image of an old man holding on to power even if it means compromising on the principles so many say he holds dear. It an image of a man who was prime minister the country five times; a country bounded by the shackles of poverty, smeared with corruption and blooded by violence. Girija became the face of the dirty politics in Nepal (see my criticism of him in 5 worst people of Nepal). And although many of us did respect the man during the April revolution and its immediate aftermath, we were quickly disenchanted by the blatant nepotism he seemed to encourage. Unlike the pre 1990 generation, we never saw the Girija who was arrested and imprisoned by King Mahendra following a failed armed revolt against the 1960 royal coup. We never saw a Girija who was sent to exile and masterminded a plane hijack. We never saw Girija as champion of secular democracy in the nation.


Sketch by Dewen via the Kathmandu Post

If you glance through the Grijababu gone, the obituary written by Kanak Mani Dixit (probably the most read article on GPK’s death) you will find an array of comments that range from a proclaiming GPK as the father of the nation to accusing him of “raping the country”. The comments on mysansar.com are even more interesting. As a youth oriented blog the comments on mysansar are seem more critical of Girijababu. Try blog.com.np, there you will find people calling him a “monster”, and another calling the person who called him a monster an “idiot”.

While the media has tried to sell the death of GPK as a loss of a “national guardian”, many nepalis, especially the youth are not buying that. And while it would be unfair to say the GPK wasn’t a great spokesperson for democracy in Nepal it is also unfathomable to think of him as a “universally loved leader whose death has shocked the nation”.

However, given the fact that he did dedicate his life to help the country (I must admit that I do not doubt the man’s convictions) I hope his soul finds peace.

To the angels on earth

After much debate with myself I decided to post this. It can be taken as a poem of bad taste, but it is all in good humor so i wont apologize.And if you are offended, "frankly my dear(s) I don't give a damn". No seriously it was written as a joke.... So the story behind this poem is that one of my friends commented that the best thing about spring is girls and how he wished to read a poem about it. So I took it up as a challenge. I hope you guys like it.

As prudent winter sleeps

And warmer breeze heroically peeps

With the blooming of the flower

The sun generously adds some hour.

In these bright sunny days

I am amazed by your ways.

When you break that cocoon of white

My soul dances with elfish delight

The sizzling heat does rise

The skirt, bounces and my heart joyfully dies.

When the tailor labors a little less,

Those glossy people, may god bless.

The bosoms finally breathe

Heavy, with chemicals my body shaking does need.

Through the cloudy linen your mounts peak

Erect, my imagination, and my eyes hauntingly left to seek

Those naked limbs, with sinus so tight

Me my “y” chromon’s have to fight.

In the twin mountain subtle glow

A deep flirtis cleavage does flow.

Through the wavy mysterious fur

My hopeful fingers do passionately lure.

And I glance from the rear

At those carnal twain so fair.

And I a prisoner of your charm

That which rattles my mind also does calm.

O angels, beautify personified

To convey my noblest intent I have tried

My humble earnest respect you

And to the god blessed spring

To our Manhood this favor does do.

Bounce freely, shake, feel the air

And those divine jewels with us do religiously share.

Holy S*#t Man!!!

The spring session seems to have led to a sudden boost in the sex drive of Hindu holy men. Three swami-self-proclaimed spiritual leaders, have been involved in three separate sex scandals in the last two weeks.

Personal Note to the swamis
Now boys, I know it’s the session when the sun is shining and the weather is sweet and you are on your game but remember you have a reputation to uphold. Just because you dress up in funky orange robes and talk about universal love does not mean you practice it on anything that moves. Have some shame. Did they not teach you any manners in spiritual school or wherever it is you got the authority to preach from?

First it was the Hindu guru in Delhi who was arrested for using his ashram (meditation and prayer center) as a “front office for high-class prostitution racket involving airline hostesses and college girls".Then it was the Paramhamsa Nityananda; the leader of the Life Bliss Foundation, who claims more than 30 million followers in 33 countries, whose ménage a trios was recorded, and broadcasted on TV. However,Paramhamsa and his organization has denied the video by calling it a fraud and a work of graphics. And finally (I hope..) Mr Sahai, Head of the Centre for Excellence in Vedic Vangmay Research and Development Foundation, who kidnapped a girl after she refused to marry him. And the reason why she refused to marry him is that he has a wife and a seven year old daughter. The first time she refused, this moron offered her 10 million rupees, the second time around he kidnapped her. I guess he really wanted to marry her huh.

Now I personally do not have any problems with swamis. I have met quite a few of them and seen dozens more on TV; and they seem nice (except that one guy who thinks homosexuality is a disease and can be cured—he’s a jackass), but these scandals are taking it a notch too far. News about holy men engaging in not the most moral of activities was not unheard of, but three sex scandals in a week would make the promiscuous of Catholic priests blush.

What these recent scandals tell us is that not every bloke that comes around wearing the stereotypical “religious” clothing and speaking about semi-profound things is virtuous. Just because he looks like a holy man, doesn’t mean he is one. History has taught us, time and again, that religion can, has and will be used to make a fool of people. And that holy men are men as well.

Image from southcine.blogspot.com/