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

For Communal Harmony

He is a man who understands national identity is more important

Born to a farmer's family in Dhanusha district, he never dreamt that he would become the head of the state of his country. Firstly, he comes from terai region and is a Madhesi. No one from the terai region has had bigger chance than Doctor Yadav. Thanks to the Maoist because of who this gentleman has become the first president of the country. And look at his nobleness, he wore Nepal's national dress—daura suruwal and took the oath in Nepali language.

His junior, vice president, who is also a Madhesi was dressed in 'dhoti' and took the oath in Hindi language. To Paramananda Jha, his community was more important, but Mr Yadav believed Nepaliness is above his ethnic identity. On Tuesday, when he visited Swoyambhunath temple and Kumari temple, I was assured that this man is trying to bring communal as well as religious harmony.

Monarchy is really gone

When I heard the news that former king Gyanendra was organizing a press conference, at first I didn't believe it. Then some of my reporter friends confirmed it and passed on a number where I could register my name for the press meet. I called up the guy and gave my name.

The press meet was said to be at five in the evening and we were told to be at the gate of Narayanhiti Palace around 4.45. I reached on time but was surprised at the huge crowd gathered there.

There was no queue as such; people had thronged from all direction possible. The gate, however, was closed. Journalists, holding their press cards were requesting the gate keepers to let them in. International journalists were also there. In that crowd, I was probably one woman trying to get in, protecting my camera and flaunting my press card. It was hard to breathe; i was sandwiched between the people. Normally, my dry skin does not perspire but it did there.

After the pushing game continued for a while, the gate opened. I was entering the Palace for the first time. As a child, i always had a dream to enter the gates and put tika from late king Birendra on Dashain. That did not happen. He and his entire family were killed in a royal massacre seven years ago, after which, Gyanendra Shah had become the new king.

I entered in but stopped for a moment to take a picture of the palace. As I was fixing my lens, i felt sorry for Gyanendra Shah, who was vacating this palace. I felt sorry for the fact that his forefathers who had united the nation into the Kingdom of Nepal was going to be re-written in the history, with his name as the last king of Nepal. In the meantime, I also recalled the over-ambitious role this king had played when he imposed a state of emergency, which dug the pave for ending monarchy.

The highly disorgonized crowd inside the palace hall pulled me back from my thoughts. I wondered why the palace officials had been lazy in properly managing the press conference, that was going to be attended by national as well as international journalists.

Again pushing people, I went closer to the place where the king would be sitting. Oh, it was too far from where i was and it seemed impossible for me to get to that point. So, I rather stood behind. But because I am a shorty, I couldn't see anything from there. For the first time, I breached discipline and stood on a chair, so that I could take pictures of the king, who had now become 'former'.

He came in with a smile. He was, as always, dressed in Daura Suruwal and a dhaka ko topi, Nepal's national dress. I wondered how he managed to wear a smile. Had i been in his position, where i would be ripped off all my properties, belongings, and history, I wouldn't be able to handle myself. I praised his tolerance and acceptance.

He started reading a speech. Though it was called a 'press conference', we were told he wouldn't take questions. And he didn't either.

He talked about all the allegations people made about misappropriating palace property. He refuted it. He said he had preserved all the property, inherited from his forefathers.

It was a touching moment when he talked about the royal massacre. He said he had to become king when his brother's entire family had been killed. There was no time for him to mourn their deaths, and on top of that public had doubted his family to be behind the killing.

He also said that his wife, Komal was still undergoing treatment for the bullet that went in her, at that time. I saw some of the reporters eyes wet. This was actually an unexpected day in Nepal's history. Nobody had really thought that the 240-year old monarchy would be ended that easily. The other day, Home Minister in his informal talk had told me and some reporters that it was Nepal's success to abolish monarchy peacefully. He had termed it 'a bloodless revolution'.

Towards the end of the speech, former king Gyanendra Shah said he would not leave the country. He said, "I want to contribute in the peace process in my mother land." It was a good message, indeed. Before ending the speech, he thanked all those who helped him in his seven years' of kingship and apologized to all those, who he said, were unknowingly hurt by him or his family.

He left with a smile, like always, saying "Shri Pashupati Nath Lay Sabaiko Rakshya Garun"

The former royal couple, after the press meet, moved to Nagarjuna Palace, where they will be staying until they manage their own residence. After Nepal was declared Republican on May 28, all the royal palaces in Nepal have been nationalized by the government. This decision of the government to let the couple stay there for some time has been criticized by various sectors. But, i believe the government did a right thing as it has to assure its "citizens' safety".


Uncivilized Reporters
After the former king left the hall, there were unacceptable behaviors shown by Nepali 'so called' journos. The chair, where Gyanendra Shah sat to deliver his speech was now being used as a chair to pose for photographs. Those 'reporters' were busy taking pictures and their expressions were saying--look, nowe we've taken his seat.

They showed ill-respect to other items like historic posters and photographs hung on the wall. I also heard there were attempts to steal and break the furntiures and other commodities. What a pity. Reporters, they call themselves!