Darshan Rauniyar Goes to Washington.

Darshan Rauniyar declares his run for the U.S. Congress and the Nepali diaspora in America is abuzz with pride. We shower him with praise and call him the “Nepali Gaurav”, the pride of Nepal, and beckon every Nepali from coast to coast to support him. A Nepali in Congress, what a sight that would be!

But before you get catch the “lets help Darshan because he’s from Nepal” flu, take a step back, hold your horses if you may, and think about what you are doing and what the stakes are.

There is nothing wrong in expressing solidarity with people you share commonalities with. It is only natural to feel affinity towards someone who has beaten the odds, especially if he is the first of a kind. And Darshan has indeed broken grounds for the future generation of the Nepali diaspora. But in our nationalistic frenzy we must remind ourselves that he deserves our support not merely because he is a Nepali but also because he has his own ideas and positions on issues that Americans think are important.

There is much more to Darshan than him being a Nepali. His stance on the economy, immigration reform, women rights, education and American foreign policy are noteworthy. And that is more important than the venue of this birthplace. Dr. King once said he wants his kids to “live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” so be it with Darshan. It’s only fair. I say question the content of his character. Question him about where he stands on the important issues of the day, issues that matter to the Nepali community as much as they matter to any other community in America.

I have talked to Darshan and I believe he has answers, and he is willing to give them provided we ask (lets be real, he is in politics after all. And limiting him solely as the “First Nepali to run for Congress” would hurt his chances more than help it.

But if you are looking for Nepal specific reasons to rally behind his cause I hope these help: his presence in the Congress can contribute considerably to better U.S-Nepal relations. His closeness with the old country can only benefit it. Plus, he will be understanding to the problems facing the Nepali American diaspora, and Nepal in general. His presence in Congress ensures we have a voice in the House -a luxury we haven’t had thus far.

However, let us be clear in our expectations. Darshan is not a running to be the Representative of Nepal to the U.S Congress; he is an American concerned about the people of the 1st Congressional District in Washington State who so happens to be Nepali. And as such his first responsibility is towards the people of the United States, and the people of this district. They are his constituency and expecting anything else is shallow on our parts.

The biggest help we can give Darshan right now is to educate ourselves about him, spread the word and raise funds.

Having a voice in Congress does not come cheap. It takes a proper campaign to get to Congress and a proper campaign needs money.

So go to his website. Read about him. Decided whether you agree or disagree with the issues he plans to raise, and the position he plans to take; if you do then support him. It’s only the American (and Nepali) thing to do!