Rishi Dhamla

Rishi Dhamala is your typical sleazy character. The kind of guy you don’t want to trust but end up trusting anyway cause he knows how to work his way up the ladder. This wanna be journalist/ political activist is friends with almost all major political leaders in Nepal. When he was arrested earlier this year ,for masterminding 3 bomb blasts in Kathmandu, members from all parties united to get his bugger out of jail. Koirala, Prachanda, and Nepal are all pals with this guy. He runs a forum for people to come and debate called The Reporters Club Nepal where from political leaders come and give their version of the story. This “debating” forum provides an opportunity for the leaders to justify their actions in front of journalist, whereby covering their action with a veil of legitimacy. It provides a chance to politicians to offer a cover up. A cover up which is neither debated nor questioned. And by presiding over this cover up providing ceremony he has come to be pally with all those he extends his service to. Don’t get me wrong ,I am all for giving people an opportunity to debate their ideas and providing their version of the truth but the allowing them to go unchallenged seems kind of unreporter like.
He is so liked that the Prime Minister thought it was necessary to add him in his entourage in for the UN Summit. I guess Nepal needed someone who could woo some other fishy characters over. Why on earth would you take this guy as one of the members of your delegation to the UN of all the places? It is like Obama taking the Nigerian Terrorist guy to the UN summit. One has to question why on earth is this guy to liked by everyone in power. First it was the former king who gave him an award of some kind, then Koirala came to his defense when he got arrested, then the home minister (the ministry which in charge of the nations police) Bem Dev Gautam came out and shed a tear on his behalf and even Sujata Koirala, DPM, seems to love him.
Dhamala now plans to join politics (formally) and mess Nepal up in the open. After having failed to write a sensible article he now plans to write a book. But hey he did donate Rs 15,000 for the care of the struggling journalist, I guess that makes everything alright.

Maoist and India- A match made in heaven

http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/1-top-story/3030-maoists-ready-to-talk-with-india-instead-of-current-puppet-governmentend-three-day-nationwide-strike.html

Maoist chairman is ready to talk to India about civil supremacy and national sovereignty in Nepal. He further added that by doing so he is actively reducing India's involvement in Nepali politics. Reports suggest that this new strategy of "involving those who you suggest should not be involved" is one of the many grand tricks in Chairman Prachandas bag. Other such thoughtful tricks included: firing the chief of army staff who had couple of months left in his tenure, speaking grandly of him fooling the UN while being video taped, quitting the government after having won the election with a landslide, forming a alliance with RPP and other right parties in the name of national sovereignty.
People are trilled to see what happens next or rather what India will show them next. New Delhi has not responded to this urgent call by the Maoists to aid Nepal with its national sovereignty. However, unconfirmed reports suggest that they don't care and won't really bother about it.
After this historic three day protest that saw the country lose some more of its dignity and millions of rupees, the Maoist leadership rendezvoused in Prachands house in the evening for an ugly sweater party ( every one was dressed prior to the occasion).
Prachanda came in a narrow first ahead of Badal. Dr. Bhattarai who was the judge was reported saying that the chief was first because of three primary factors a) ever successful cliched trick of wearing red to a Maoist rally, b) the sheer ugliness of his sweater, and c) he is the boss.

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.

The Long Awaited Death of the Koirala family Legitimacy.

The Long Awaited Death of the Koirala family Legitimacy.

What a sad fate for the Koirala family hegemony? I am personally not a very big fan of dynasty politics; however I can’t help but admire the rise and fall of this family. No other family has dominated civilian politics like the Koiralas. They have developed a love-hate relationship with the country. There are those who think the Koiralas are the pioneers of Nepali democracy and can always be trusted. While there are those who hate the constant nepotism and abandonment of the ideologies that is associated with the family. However, the recent appointment of Sujata Koirala as the Deputy Prime Minister is so shameful, that the last ounce of legitimacy that the Koiralas enjoyed historically in the Nepali Congress party and the country has been exhausted.
On January 26,1947 when The Nepali Congress was inaugurated under the Presidency of Tanka Prasad and the Acting Presidency of a certain B.P. Koirala things were different. The call for an armed struggle against the Rana’s was in the air and the Nepali congress was leading the charge. The Koiralas were in the center of the action. Girja babu was in his youthful prime and lead demonstration of the jute mill workers in Biratnagar. Even after the fall of the Rana regime in 1951, the Koirlas contribute in shaping the destiny of this country. B.P was so liked that half a million showed up for his funeral. The countless number of times we’ve had a Koirala prime minster shows that Nepali’s have provided the Koirlas legitimacy to lead us in the frailest of times. We have turned to the much “hated” Koirlas for reconciliation trusting in there legitimacy to hold the country together as recently as the April 2006 when we handed over the top position to Girja babu. Koirala’s have earned this legitimacy on bases of sacrifice and worth in the past. They have made personal sacrifices for the country and the people have rewarded them with love, respect and political authority. But now rewards they are reaping have far exceeded the service they are providing.
Blatant nepotism, ceaseless personal glorification and embarrassing hold of the power structure within the party and the country has drained there political authority. The “new” generation of Koiralas has taken more from the system than put into it. There is no struggle behind their words and hallow promises mar their speeches.
Being able to persuade one’s father is not reason enough to be appointed the DPM of a country.There seem to be no Koirala heavyweight in Nepali politics once Grirja babu kicks the bucket (touch wood!), and his attempt to make Sujata the custodian is to say the least pitiful. The relatively weak political careers of Shekar and Shashank Koirala, the switching of sides of Prakash Koirala and the death of Sushila and Nona Koirala has not helped to maintain the power either. All this drama has even blemished Sushil Koiralas comparatively “respectful” political life and families hold on politics.
People now view the Koiralas as an old and desperate family clinging helplessly to power cause they don’t have an idea of what will happen if they let go. They have enjoyed political limelight for so long that it scares them to think about being “just another family”. They are unpopular among the youth. Although vaguely loyal the congress party youth is fed up, seeing the family as a hindrance to the democratic transfer of power within the party. For the educated youth the Congress is unattractive to follow. The youth knows that worthless and boring ideas of the previous decades do not work in the 21st century. And the Koiralas have been justifiably reduced to a personification of those decaying ideas.

Are you crazy???

Sujata has been appointed as the new Deputy Prime Minister. WTF??????
This is bloody ridiculous. What is happening? i guess if i cry my eyes out and bug my poor old father ill be appointed Agriculture minister to say the least. What kind of a unethical, illogical, moronic move is this. What is the explanation of this appointment? "New Nepal" ..is this what they were so excited about?
The reason the prime minster gave for this appointment was to mend relations between Girja P. Koirala and himself.What???? The government is not your fathers property you power hungry assholes. It belongs to the people. The people have to pay for Sujata as a DPM. And here comes the worst part...she is not even the sole Deputy Prime Minister..we already have one...shes is the second......what the hell is happening here? where is the public outrage..is everyone angry about this nonsense or is it just me.

We- the Bigots

“We –The Bigots”

We are a diverse country. With over 92 different living languages, and countless different ethnicity and religion we have a wide variety of culture and people. However, only few individuals from the minority communities take part in policy formation and decision making at the government level. The government and bureaucracy are filled with people from either the Bahun or the Chetri community. They have dominated politics, army, bureaucracy, education and most of the other institutions.
However, over the past few years the political awareness of the masses has increased by a significant level. The oppressed have begun to raise their voices. The government and people in general cannot ignore the fundamental ethnic polarization in our culture for long. The issue needs to be addressed. I am not talking about addressing the issue at the government and bureaucratic level. With the increase of political power of the minorities, especially the Madhesi community, I am sure at the government level some improvement will come. But I wonder whether or not we as citizens are ready for intelligent and meaningful debates about letting our bigotry go.
A Madhesi should not have to undergo the humiliating treatment, and stereotyping he/she has been subject to in the past. They should not have racial slurs hurled at them for something they have no control over. A Pahadi in Tarai should have the right to live without harassment. It’s the 21st century and we are still categorizing people based on ascriptive characteristics. And this is being done not only by people who are uninformed and uneducated, but disappointingly by people who we are hoping will change the way our country is. The youth all over the country is still engaging in what they so loudly preach against. So how are we to change a system in whose formation we all are equally and presently guilty.
For this type of bigotry to end we must engage the civilian population in meaningful conversation. We have to inculcate the idea of equality and anti-discrimination in our educational and social system. Educated youth must challenge the bigotry of the past. Are we going to build a nation where we hate and hold prejudices based on our skin tone and accent? Is that what we want to leave behind for our children? A messed up country with so many unresolved issues, like the one we have inherited, courtesy our unquestioning forefathers.
We all think everyone should be equal (at least I hope we all do), then why not practice what we preach. It’s not that difficult. Engage someone who is being a bigot in a conversation, ask them for their logic. Stop your friends when they pass a racist judgment. Talk to people, friends from different backgrounds, about the situation and work with them and through them to make a difference. Question your parents, teach them, and learn from them. Change does not come from sitting on our fat and lazy posteriors and complaining, it comes from active engagement and debate. And if and when you debate remember what Aristotle so wisely said, “The end result of a debate should not be victory but wisdom”.