Nine-month gestation—election to resignation

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' who became Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's First Prime Minister resigned just a day before a videotape in which he had revealed plans of staging coup and capturing power was released. While announcing his resignation he said he could not accept President's move to reinstate the Army Chief he had sacked, and could not either lower his head before the 'foreign gods'.

In the picture above: Two happy supporters of the Republican Nepal; Prachanda defeats Sher Bahadur Deuba and becomes Prime Minister of Nepal; he sacks Army Chief, UML pulls out of the government, the President decides to keep the Army Chief, and then the PM resigns; former Supreme Commander of PLA Prachanda at the 8th PLA Day in Haattikhor; while working as the PM, the Maoist Chairman in the House reiterated many times his commitment to return seized properties; an Indian writer wrote a biography of the rebel leader; the clip of the videotape in which he tells his cadres the party's plan of staging coup and capturing power, admitting that the PLA's number had been increased five times by the party; then he clarifies about it at a press conference…

History now in Museum

This is the palace where king Birendra lived for 28 years until June 1, 1001 when he was killed, along with his family members in a Royal Masaccre.

Some said "Garib deshko dhani raja (rich king of a poor country)" some said "buddhi puryaayeko bhaye yo sab aafnai hunthyo (it'd have remained his if he had been wise enough, hinting at former king Gyanendra shah) while some said "khaasai ta kehi rahinachha" (there's nothing something of great speciality) duriing my first visit to the palace museum.

The Royal Red Carpet

Naraynhiti Palace is converted to Narayaniti Palace Museum and now open to public. If you are a Nepali citizen and a student, just pay 20 bucks and see all that you ever imagined what could be inside a palace. If you are from SAARC region, pay 250 and if from outside, get a 500-ticekt and get in.

Two photographers fancy the ribbon, which when cut gave entry to the public to see the palace.

I personally, did not find anything out of the world kind of thing in the palace. It's anythig as a rich man's house. If you see the royal bedroom, perhaps you'd say---mine is better..

A Maoist CA member Vikshu Ananda does not miss an opportunity to be photographed on the red carpet.

However, what was interesting to see was the books the royal family used to read...there are books by Charles Dickens and Swami Vivekananda; books like World's Great Events, and History of the Great War are in the book shelves..

Pick the odd one out--Er, Minister Kirati? What's the harm in wearing Daura Suruwal, people?

Who's smarter, appearance wise?

Everybody wants a pic, although it's against the rules to take cameras inside.

Ribbon photography again.

There is also the Tribhuvan Sadan where king Birendra's family was killed in a masaccre in 2001..however, the palace where the incident occured is demolished and construction for something else is takiing place..

well, go visit the palace yourself and know what we used to think of the palace and what it is like..

Prachanda claims the move to open the palace for public is a right step toward making a New Nepal.

The 8th PLA Day, Haattikhor, Nawalparasi

Priority: First PLA then the country



PLA performs Commando Operation


Loyalty to Comrade Prachanda

Yo PLA ko khukuri ho

Pyaara Desbaasi haru Part II


More instructions


Kids wonder what PLA is all about

Inclusive Nepal

Pasang, the next Army Chief to be???

Too soon, too radical!

Who's more??

The people in Basantapur and New Road have a reason to get angry. They are being deprived of what is needed to keep their "faith" alive. The culture that they have been celebrating since thousands of years is now challenged by radicals, who do not want to believe in anything called God.

A certain group is forgetting that Nepal is known to the international community by its rich culture. Otherwise, why would UNESCO keep our places under its 'heritage list'? Even we Nepalis ourselves, regardless of our caste and culture, proudly introduce our capital as 'city of temples' and our country as the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

A scene in front of RB Complex.

Why doesn't 'that group' keep this in mind and understand that trying to disregard somebody's faith could be extremely dangerous. And anyway, if they had all the money in the world to bring a hefty budget of Rs 236 billion, then it's a stupid idea to justify the 'fund reduction' for 'economical reasons'. I personally feel that their radical/revolutionary approach towards anything won't materialize until and unless they realize what 'sensitive issues' are!!

Sad but true--religious funds have been slashed.

A rebel-turned-Prime Minister

Among the rows of histories created this year (2008), former rebel leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal made one, by being elected the first Prime Minister of the kingdom that turned into the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Indeed it is a good thing that a leader who waged a decade-long bloody war in the country, that took lives of nearly Fourteen Thousand Nepalis ended the war and joined mainstream politics to be eventually elected as the Prime Minister. But there are quite a few things, that I, personally am not happy about. You might consider these petty things, but I take it seriously.

Instead of wearing a national dress, the former rebel wore a Western Suit and tie while taking the oath of office and secrecy. If that he thinks is okay, then why does not the party, he heads think it's okay to allow the Miss Nepal event?? What's wrong with that one? Unlike the Maoist Supreme Leader, the girls there promote their nationality and ethnic values.

Congress Prez adminsters oath to Maoist PM

They wear their ethnic/national dressess. Is that diagonal-stripes tie Nepali? Are those meticulously ironed coat and pant Nepali too? Then, why be a hypocrite?

Another thing--Not taking the oath "in the name of God" but "in the name of the people"......FINE, as long as you truly prove that you don't believe in God or any religion. It is expected that a Communist leader does not believe in God, but why then do you attend religious functions? Why then do you accept blessings from religious leaders? Why, of all the things, do you put tika? Well, you might say, Red symbolises power, but in our society, the vermillion stands as Deuta ko Prasad also, and you very well know it.

Another thing we should be concerned about Mr Prime Minister is that of the extra security. Earlier, PMs used to be satisfied with 80 army men, but for Mr Dahal, that's not enough. He will have more than double of it--150 army men, along with a couple dozens of Armed Police Force, and his own People's Liberation Army that fought the bloody battle with civilians and security forces of the country for a decade.......

Rastriyata bokna gaaro naparos!

CHALLENGES

With reservations, people have accepted Mr Dahal as a Prime Minister because they want peace, lasting peace. He has certainly taken Nepal to a new direction but if the government that he is going to lead, misleads the people and disregards the people's aspirations to live in a violence-free country that ensures their basic rights and needs, then something unfortunate won't be undeniable.

Mr and Mrs Dahal at the oath taking ceremony