The Pilgrim - Yatri

A few months ago I had this post on Laxmi Prasad Devkota. I found a better translation of Yatri than the one I'd posted there, so here it is.

The original by Laxmi Prasad Devkota in Nepali
"यात्री"

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरमा जाने हो?
कुन सामग्री पुजा गर्ने, साथ कसोरी लाने हो?
मानिसहरूको काँध चढी, कुन देवपुरीमा जाने हो?

हाडहरूका सुन्दर खम्बा, मांसपिण्डका दिवार !
मस्तिष्कको यो सुनको छाना, इन्द्रियहरूका द्वार !
नसा-नदीका तरल तर, मन्दिर आफू अपार !
कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरको द्वार ?

मनको सुन्दर सिंहासनमा, जगदिश्वरको राज !
चेतनाको यो ज्योति हिरण्यमय, उसको शिरको ताज !
शरिरको यो सुन्दर मन्दिर, विश्वक्षेत्रको माझ।

भित्र छ ईश्वर बाहिर आँखा, खोजी हिड्छौ कुन पुर?
ईश्वर बस्तछ गहिराइमा, सतह बहन्छौ कति दुर?
खोजी गर्छौ हृदय लगाऊ, बत्ति बाली तेज प्रचुर ?

साथी यात्री बीच सडकमा, ईश्वर हिड्छ साथ
चुम्दछ ईश्वर काम सुनौला, गरिरहेका हात
छुन्छ तिलस्मी करले उसले, सेवकहरूको साथ ।

सडक किनार गाउँछ ईश्वर, चराहरूको तानामा
बोल्दछ ईश्वर मानिसहरूका, पिडा, दु:खको गानामा
दर्शन किन्तु कहिँ दिँदैन, चर्म-चछुले कानामा ।
कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन नव-देश बिरानामा?

फर्क फर्क हे ! जाऊ समाऊ, मानिसहरूको पाउ !
मलम लगाऊ आर्तहरूको, चहराइरहेको घाउ
मानिस भइ ईश्वरको त्यो, दिव्य मुहार हँसाऊ ।।

Here is a translation of this poem by Prashant Sharma.

The Pilgrim

Which temple will you visit, Pilgrim,
To which temple will you go?
What things will you take for worship,
and how will you do so?
Riding upon the peoples' backs,
To what heaven will you go?

The bones are the gorgeous columns,
The muscles are the walls.
The brain is the golden roof,
The senses are the doors!
The liquid waves of blood and veins;
The temple itself incomparable!
Which temple will you go to, Pilgrim,
To which temple's door?

In the glory throne of the spirit,
Reigns the Lord of the world.
The golden light of consciousness,
Is the crown on His head!
The gorgeous body-temple,
amidst the world.

God is inward; with outer eyes
What city do you seek?
God lives in depth; How far
on the surface will you drift?
Do you search? Arouse your heart,
light a luminous torch.

Pilgrim friend, God walks with you
on the middle of the road.
God kisses the hands
Doing the golden works.
He touches with his magic hands,
His servants' heads.

God sings by the roadside,
In harmony with birds.
God speaks in the songs
of human pain and sorrow.
But nowhere will he reveal himself
to your mortal eyes.

To which temple will you go, Pilgrim,
To which new, strange land?
Return, return! Go and hold
The feet of the people!
Put ointment in the rankling wounds
of the afflicted.
Be human, and make God's
divine face smile.

Prashant says - "This is my tentative translation/ adaptation of another of Devkota's Poems ("Yatri"). I have tried very hard to imitate the rhythm and lyricism of the original. All advices welcome."

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ARE YOU HIRING??

After more than 300 days in school, I’m beside a beautiful beach again. The beach I left last summer, the one that I said I’d never return to after hardworking days in a clothing warehouse where the manager warned every day to fire me, where almost all of my friends who came made some money to pay their tuition, to buy cars, to go to Nepal to visit family and friends. I’m beside the same beach once again. I sit in the wet sand with footprints and get lost in the reverie about the one I care for, looking at the line where the sea touches the sky and listen to the sound of the waves, the chirping of the birds and the squealing sound of the cars running in the Coastal Highway. I see kids shoveling the sand, making a sand castle and smile-what if I was a kid once again. I wish this summer for me was like for those old couple who gently kissed each other and made themselves comfortable in their “Sunsations” beach chairs.

As I smoke, the gentle breeze touches my skin but I am distracted by the Harley’s rough sound on the streets. Suddenly, the clouds cover the bright sunny sky and I realize I have no job. Before coming to this place, when all my friends were drunk to death one night, I should have recorded their excitement on an MP3 player to see how they felt about this “city of dreams” and how it is going to appear at the end of the summer. This city doesn’t treat all visitors the same way. Under the scorching sun, every day I wake up every morning at 9 (sorry, I can’t make it earlier than that) and ready myself to embark in a journey that could possibly yield me some money. I go to the nearest bus stop on the Ocean side and wait for the bus to come. I think of the good times at school. At least I had some job at school to sustain myself. Homeworks and papers were annoying. However, finishing paper and homework was better than asking everyday in dozens of business and stores, “Are you hiring?” I try my best to show how friendly I am. With broken English, I try to show my confidence in answering their questions and then filling up the application forms. The beautiful Russian girls at the desks take my application and put it under a huge pile. I’m certain that at least two-thirds of those applicants are Nepalis.

I aboard the bus and drop my ticket in the ticket box beside the driver and look around for a seat. There is never a bus ride without at least one-third of the Nepali riders, broken yet hopeful for a job. They come from around the US, most of them from Minnesota, Louisiana and Texas. Only a handful of them have legal permits to work here. However, their aspirations and hope need no restrictions to work anywhere in this place. Every store, every business, every restaurant and every hotel has at least a Nepali employee. I go to McDonald’s to eat McChicken, the cheapest, unhealthiest eatable thing in town, Burger King and Pizza Hut. All I see are Nepali faces. They would pretend they didn’t see me or I’d do that. After all, there is a sense of competition for job. I have heard my friends often cursing other Nepalis. But everybody knows we all are in the same boat.

The other day after I couldn’t get a job at the place I worked last year , I met my good friend “Chris,” who angered at me for coming two weeks late. “All freaking Nepalis have taken the city dude,” he said. All I could do was smile and look down. Last year, I remember during this time of the summer, the city was blooming with jobs, with summer vacationers. This year, the so called economic recession has put a question mark on the vacations. High school graduates find a job rather than spending a summer in the coasts. Americans don’t spend at restaurants and stores like they did before the recession. The ones being affected are the businesses that invest. Who are to be blamed? Bush, Al Qaeda’s 9/11 attack, bank credit defaulters, economists, Obama’s overly hyped plan, Chinese Premier’s economic strategy, War in Afghanistan, number of foreign students coming to the US every year, illegal immigrants, conflicts around the world, Nepali students affected by the ravaged home, who?? I can’t blame other Nepalis who are looking for jobs in town. They have high dreams and aspirations as I do. They have come here with the same hope as I do. Almost 9,000 Nepali students enter US every year, who’s to be blamed?

For now, as the sun sets, all my friends return to the apartment with gloomy faces. Only a few of them got their jobs fixed today. No matter how they ace in academics, no matter if they go to top tier university or a community college, all of their jobs include working in the kitchen, serving, dish washing, housekeeping, janitorial work, auditing work at the hotels, yada yada yada. I still hope soon my bank account would fill up with dollars; my friends and all Nepalis here in the city have some money in their pockets. I hope bright sun welcome them every day, American vacationers decide to come to this city, the city is packed like sardines with people and party goers. Only I know how it feels when the drunk and high school seniors scream in the bus at nights when you come worn out off work. Now, I wish for those days again. I wish someone beside the desk smiles at me and says, “yes we’re hiring. Can you come tomorrow?”

Sometimes I feel like my life is a cigarette, burning every moment no matter if someone smokes or not.

The author is a college student working in one of the happening cities in the East Coast.

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I want my country back

An article by a fellow Pakistani who moved to the US for higher education

Relates in many ways to what Nepali students abroad might feel

Eight years ago I boarded a plane to the United States to come to college. I was 17. As I left, my father hugged me and told me to never come back because he believed that soon Pakistan would not be a country fit for me to live in. I told him he was trying to save money by not having to buy me tickets to come home. We laughed it off. I hugged him goodbye and that day my father and I began our great debate about the fate of Pakistan. Abba told me to stay away. I defied him every time. I came home twice a year. I only flew PIA. I refused to do an internship in the US I worked every summer in Pakistan. I moved back when college ended. I started work in Pakistan. I worked two jobs because there was so much to do and not enough time to do it in. I was inspired and energised. I was hopeful and optimistic.

Today I am neither. And I have lost the debate with my father about the fate of Pakistan. The Parliament by endorsing the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR) has heralded the end of Pakistan as I knew and loved it. Today, the elected representatives of the people turned Pakistan into Talibanistan. Today we handed over a part of the country to them. I wonder how much longer before we surrender it all.

Today we legislated that a group of criminals would be in charge of governing and dispensing justice in a part of Pakistan according to their own obscurantist views. They have declared that the rulings of their courts will be supreme and no other court in the land can challenge them. They have also declared that their men that killed and maimed innocent civilians, waged war against the Pakistani army and blew up girls schools will be exempt from punishment under this law. A law that does not apply equally to all men and women is not worthy of being called a law. Hence today we legislated lawlessness.

What was most disturbing was the quiescence of the Parliament to this legislation. The utter lack of debate and questioning of this ridiculous legislation was appalling. The decision was not informed by any independent research or expert testimony, and to my knowledge none of the parliamentarians are authorities on matters of security, rule of law or regional conditions in Swat. This signals disturbing possibilities. Either our politicians are too afraid to stand up to criminals or maybe they don't possess the foresight to gauge the national impact of this action. There is no hope for a country led by cowards or fools.

How can one be hopeful about the political future of a country where the will and the wisdom of politicians becomes hostage to the threats of barbarians? How can I be optimistic about a country where doyens of the media like (Jamaati) Ansar Abbasi hear the collective silence of the parliamentarians as the resounding support of the people of Pakistan, but are deaf to the threats issued by the Taliban to anyone opposing the legislation? How can I feel secure in a country where the army, despite receiving the largest chunk of our resources, cannot defeat a bunch of thugs? How can I expect justice when there are different laws for different citizens, and I as a woman am a second class citizen? How can I be inspired by a country where there is no culture, no music, no art, no poetry and no innovative thought?

How can I be expected to return to a country where women are beaten and flogged publicly, where my daughters will not be allowed to go to school, where my sisters will die of common diseases because male doctors cannot see them? How can I be expected to call that country home that denies me the rights given me by my Constitution and religion? I refuse to live in a country where women like me are forced to rot behind the four walls of their homes and not allowed to use their education to benefit the nation. By endorsing the NAR and giving in to the Taliban, Parliament has sapped my hope and optimism. Parliament has dealt a deathly blow to the aspirations of the millions of young Pakistanis who struggle within and outside the country, fuelled by sheer patriotism, for a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan.

When there is no hope, no optimism, no security, no justice, no education, no progress, no culture – there is no Pakistan. Maybe it is because I am the grandchild of immigrants who was raised on stories of hope, patriotism and sacrifice that even in this misery I cannot forget that Pakistan was created to protect the lives, property, culture and future of the Muslims of the Subcontinent. It was not established to be a safe haven for terrorists. We fought so that we could protect the culture of the Muslims of the Subcontinent, not so that we could import the culture of Saudi Arabia. Our ancestors laid down their lives so that the Muslims of the Subcontinent – both men and women - could live in a land free of prejudice, not so that they could be subjected to violent discrimination of the basis of sect and gender.

Maybe it's because I'm competitive and I don't want to lose the debate to my father, maybe I am afraid to lose the only home I have, or maybe because I love Pakistan too much to ever say goodbye – I hope we can remember the reasons why we made Pakistan, and I hope we can stand up to fight for them. I hope we can revive the spirit of national unity of 1947 and lock arms to battle the monster of the Taliban that threatens our existence. Talibanistan is an insult to my Pakistan. I want my country back. Pakistan Paaindabad!

The writer is pursuing a master's at Princeton University. Earlier, she attended Yale University. Email: stariq @princeton.edu

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Nepali People Question a Maoist Leader

It is one of the programs such as Sajha Sawal in which participating people ask questions to different leaders who are present in the meeting. Let us hear what questions what people have in store for the Maoist leader.

Look at how the people question the double standards adopted by the Maoists. Too bad, the original poster didn't post the answers given by the Maoist leader.

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Moment of Reconciliation!

Make Peace, Not War

Spread Love, Not Hatred


It makes me kinda disturbed to see what is going on with the Nepalese populace right now. There are distinctly divisions - divisions of ethnicity, and divisions of political beliefs. The Tharu revolt hadn't subsided when the political rivalry between the centrist forces, and the ultra-leftists took the center stage.

For me at least, the Maoists were clearly at fault after the leakage of the video. It's another thing that the leakage might be a conspiracy, but it does not change the words that Prachanda spoke in front of his cadres. What I'd have liked to see was some sort of a conciliatory statement from Prachanda during his press conference a few days ago. That was not to be.

Prachanda looked adamant about what he had spoken, and tried to defend his statements. Though we can still understand the hardships he might have to go through dealing with most of his cadres who have the violent urge in them to turn over the system of the country, he, as a leader, and as a person who was elected with such huge margin, should have shown some ethical standards. He should have had the courage to ask for forgiveness, and explain clearly that this was something that had happened long ago, and that this was not how the Maoist strategy of the present looked like.


However, Prachanda took a different step. He labelled the video as true, but tried to rationalize everything that he said. That is not a sign of a good leader, at least in my book. Furthermore, despite his statements about Katuwal in the video, and his expression of hatred against Katuwal which emerged as a result of Katuwal trying to prevent the politicization (Mao-ization) of the army, he still wants to see Katuwal fired. Anyone sensible enough, anyone apart from the brainwashed lot of people that Maoism has produced in our country, would be against the Maoists' proposal of sacking Katuwal. Still, Prachanda acts without any shame.


Though I've been critical of the Maoists fearing their agendas, I'd also been respectful of them because some of the things they have accomplished in Nepal is nothing ordinary. I still remember, back in the day, when I was in my village, the rich and the "upper-caste" people would mistreat the others in ways unimaginable. Many people talk nostalgically of peace because they were not the victims of that system. The Maoists grew with this very aim to destablize the status-quo and achieve something significant for the country and for the proletariat - it was their end aims that helped them garner support for their movement (aside from the forceful abductions and everything else, of course).

However, this time the Maoists were clearly at fault. The civilian supremacy argument did not have enough grounds, and even if it did, the video completely destroyed any pro-Maoist argument that could be made. Still, the Maoists do not realize this. They have directed their cadres to go out in the streets and protest. Their district-chiefs have threatened the Nepali Congress and the UML activists to leave the district or else face life-threatening consequences. When asked about this, Prachanda did not give a clear reply in his press conference.

There is also another group that seems to be growing highly dissatisfied with Prachanda. The group consists mostly of the previous feudals, the status quoists, and the new generation of students, who have had the opportunity to learn something different that was not dictated by the Maoists. Their movement seems to be gaining ground on different forums, and social networking sites, especially facebook. People are cursing Prachanda, Maoists, and speaking of a new war. Is that seriously the way we want to go now?

I think no. But, we need to do something about it. Many of us are afraid to speak against Maoists in the streets. We just have taken this anonymity that the internet has provided us and vilify them. At this time, the Maoists cadres, and the YCL members, who are mostly of our age are protesting in the streets. We don't give a fuck about them in our world, for we are far away and they can not harm us in any way. On the other hand, they're highly intolerant of views expressed against them and will result to physical violence at the slightest and punish the non-believers and non-supporters of the Maoists.

How long can this continue? We've had dreams of peace after such a long time - we can not see another war start out again. We have not had strategists for peace and for the nation (vague words I know) - we've only had strategists for some parochial interests, like Prachanda, as we can see in the video, or any other leader for that matter.

I realize that my ranting is taking me nowhere. I am a critic of the Maoists, but I do not want to see another civil war. Those of us who are away from Nepal, shout in the forums and groups - kill Prachanda, army take over, kill maoists and supporters of maoists, among many other things. But do you think that is the solution? I've most of my family members in Nepal, and I'm more worried about them, and the nation as a whole to advocate for a war. I know that these chants of war from the internet populace will be short lived, and that after a few days they will be too busy in their own worlds to spare even some minutes to read events in Nepal. Still these are the people clamoring for a war. Have some sense people. We need to figure a middle way. We cannot let our ravaged nation to go more downhill than it has already.

I would love to hear what might be the possible peaceful steps that might be taken to restore confidence in between the different stakeholders now. I know that my article does not have any cohesivenessness and lacks coherence, so I'd like to thank you for bearing till here with me, if you have.


Davinci is an undergrad Nepali student studying in the US.

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RECIPE of CHAOS: NEPAL

By Sanjit Pradhananga

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 country (Nepal) roughly the size of Iowa
  
• 30 million people from 36 different ethnicities
  
• 1 king (preferably one alleged to have murdered 13 royals to get to the throne)
  
• 1 party of corrupt Social Democrats
  
• 1 party of confused Communists now fighting for the bourgeoisie
  
• 1 party of Maoists responsible for a civil war that killed 15,000 people
  
• 1 army of 70,000 soldiers indoctrinated blindly by tradition
  
• 2 neighboring countries notorious for their expansionist ambitions
• Imported Western democracy (according to taste)
  

PREPARATION:

• Take the country and carefully remove all the natural resources, then lock it safely between two expansionist neighbors.
  
• Add the 30 million people from 36 different ethnicities and tie them loosely with an invisible string (preferably nationalism or religion).
  
• Then take the king and the army and oppress the contents tightly to stop it from boiling over.
  
• Pour the contents into a skillet and boil for about 240 years, then add two pinches of imported Western democracy and stir the skillet gently with each pinch.
  
• After the mixture reaches the desired level of frustration, take another skillet and pour the rest of the imported Western democracy. Then add the corrupt Social Democrats and the confused communists, carefully stacking one party above the other.
  
• Flip the parties around occasionally to ensure both sides turn brown with spite and distrust.
  
• Carefully add the Maoist to the mix (warning: Maoism and Democracy are very volatile to each other and might cause unwarranted explosions and murders. Keep a United Nations fire extinguisher nearby.
  
• Pour the contents into the first skillet; if the procedures are met, the king should evaporate instantly and the 36 different ethnicities should form independent identities.
  
• Let the content simmers for another three years.
  
• Serve the dish in the New York Times, preferably on the 14th page; one tiny column should suffice.

REVIEWS:

To explain Nepal’s intricate political crisis in anything less than a tome with the gravity and sincerity it deserves is impossible. Over the past few days, thousands of strong Nepalese Diaspora here in US and abroad have been thumbing indifferently through news sources to gain a deeper insight to the pandemonium unfolding in our nation.

Indifferently, you say? Yes!

Most Nepalese home and abroad have become so frustrated with the constant political squabbles and turmoil that should Nepalese politics be brought up, even with the utmost sincerity, they simply shrug their shoulders and say “yestai ho,” roughly translating into “whatever, it’s always the same.”

Within the past decade, the country has seen a civil war, a massacre of the entire royal family, a violent end to a 240-year-old monarchial institution, one blatantly rigged election, two coups d’etats, and an endless series of crises digging deeper and deeper.

To the neutral political buff, Nepal offers a host of juicy news and wired up political drama. To someone more attached, as this humble scribe, it offers an all-you-can-eat-buffet of chaos and despair.

If you are interested in mind-numbing political soap opera or just curious about what exactly Nepalese are good at cooking, then please visit any news source to read a more detailed description of the dramatic political unfoldings in Nepal, and remember to keep us, our families and our fragile country in your prayers; we will need them.

On the other hand, if this recipe doesn’t tantalize your taste buds, then flip the page and enjoy the day and the rest of your life.

Sanjit Pradhananga is a Nepali. He has tolerated the political bullshit for 21 long years. He is mad and will not take it anymore. 

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Largest Collection of Free Nepali Mp3s

The songs posted here have been removed because the site nepaligana.com that hosted the songs doesn't seem to have obtained copyrights from the artists. You can still go to the website, select the songs you like and click on the download links, but that would amount to stealing - so I do not recommend it.

Please use this link to get Nepali music from now onwards. Muncha.com provides a wide variety of Nepali music of different genres. This is the legal way to buy Nepali music, please do this, and support our artists.

A few other interesting sites to stream Nepali music are - Sounds of Nepal, and Dhakatopi. Please let me know if you know of other good websites for Nepali music that are legally operated.

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"Celebrity" Dating in Nepal

Take a break from the monotonous dwindling political scenario in Nepal, and watch something to spice your life.

I do not have anything to say about this video, other than - good effort, keep it up people!


This is cybersansar.com's dating program with celebrities. The celebrity for this show is Pallabi Dhakal. The interesting part in this video starts from 5:44 onwards.

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Where did we go wrong???

By Ram Krishna Rijal

I have a revelation to make.

Situated at the heart of South Asia, amidst major higest mountains of the world, Nepal is a beautiful land. In the 70s, Nepal was one of the top tourist destinations. As a kid I still remember learning in my classroom- “Guests are Gods”. We used to try to gratify our guests before looking on to ours. Our values taught us to love every human being and help the helpless. Our glorious history taught us to fight for injustice, yet remain peaceful. Such uniquely rich culture, rife with empathy, respect, dignity and sacrifice has always propelled me to remain proud of my nation.

Although I only have some hazy reminiscences of my childhood, I do, however, recollect very well that people in my little village, stood behind our traditional ideals. They had no hatred but only love. They had no deceit but only truth. All of this, in retrospect, has changed to killings, jealousy and hatred. Today, I feel completely broken to even accept the truth that Nepal is not the same. Perhaps, it will never be the same anymore.

What changed?

I doubt how many school children are still taught to say “Guests are gods”. In my recent visit to my village in rural Nepal, I had a chance to interact with some children, some as small as ten years old. To my utter dismay, I found out what the children were taught in the class. Children were encouraged to learn the names of various guns and bombs like SLR, shotguns, socket and pipe bombs. I did not want to inquire further. I feared that they would even tell me how to make one. The ten-year-long civil war has completely ravaged Nepal.

Considered as one of the most brutal wars, Nepal’s civil war began in 1996, when a group of young communist revolutionists decided to launch guerrilla warfare against the country to end capitalism in the broadest sense of the term. The war ran for ten years and led many ugly consequences- loss of 13,000 lives and devastation of infrastructures worth $246 million-around 15% of Nepal's 2006 Annual Budget. 

“Memories hit hard,” said my mother when I had gone home in one of my summer vacations. I was studying in Kathmandu then. Like my mother, several other villagers had equally disturbing recollections. Many were tortured, some beaten mercilessly for not providing food and shelter to the Maoists, some amputated for not supporting the Maoists, and some made to carry heaps of load on their backs in the scorching sun.

The gruesome war ended in 2006, abolishing the 240-year-long monarchical system. The dispute between the ruling party and the Maoists was settled through a multilateral talk after the then seven-party alliance reached a consensus. Maoists abandoned guerrilla warfare and returned as civilians. It was the most blissful victory in the history of Nepal. I was one of millions of Nepalese who sang and danced the sheer joy of freedom and change.

Alas!! We never knew that our joy was a small part of a big conspiracy. You probably came across a news story about Nepal on BBC or New York Times. The article on 5th May, written by NY Times journalist Tilak Pokharel, reported the controversial resignation by the standing Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known with his communist name, “ Prachanda.” The historic constituent assembly elections of April 2008 had elected CPN-Maoist as the leading party with Prachanda as the head. He had been ruling the country with some coalition partners since August 2008.


Here goes the story!!

Let me introduce you to this man. Let me reveal Prachanda to you. I consider this man to be power hungry and self-centered villain. Until yesterday, I used to regard him with respect although little let alone forget the pains inflicted upon the millions of Nepalese during the civil war. When Prachanda assumed power, he made a promise to protect nation and nationality. He promised to 29 million Nepalese that he will refurbish infrastructures and eliminate poverty, illiteracy and sufferings. The tenth poorest country in the world had waited for a long time for this golden time. We craved for a change trusting our dreams to the Maoists. But for Prachanda power was nothing but a lucrative way to suck money and establish communistic supremacy in the otherwise monarchical kingdom.

A shocking video released on May 5th by Image Channel broadcasting corporation, following the resignation by the Premier, uncovered the real nature of this dissemble ruler. The video footage dates back to January 2008, and features a secret gathering held by Maoists prior to the general elections in Nepal. In the video, Prachanda speaks to his cadres and tells them how he fooled the UNMIN officials into believing that the PLA force was 35,000 while the number was just between 7,000 and 8,000, which he revealed shortly. He further backs up his confession by saying that it was the only way to raise money for his party. The PLA members were camped into cantonments and paid a certain budget based on the number of PLAs, meaning that Prachanda was generating more revenue with his false account. He further added that a small fraction of the money would be distributed to the families of people who died in the war and the bulk of it would be used for preparing for a more robust armed conflict, while in the process killing thousands of people and demolishing properties worth millions of rupees.

Prachanda, in his approximately ten-minute-long talk, also discusses at length about his strategies for the upcoming election. He says, Maoists should publicly support the election but underhead they should recognize that Maoist, as a party would only use this election to revamp their revolution. He says, “We are not going to election because we are seeking for an agreement with the ruling party. Please don't be mislead.” He adds, “After the election, we will keep nourishing our revolution until and unless we become the rulers until and unless each of you seating here gets integrated in to Nepal army and until and unless our demands are met. Prachanda further says that once Maoists assume the responsibility of the country, they will make rules. They will reduce the number of Nepal Army and with the help of PLA combatants, they will capture army. They will rule the nation. The sovereignty will fall upon them.

Ironically, things worked just as he had planned. Maoists got the opportunity to lead the government. Prachanda became the prime minister and as he was targeting to integrate the PLA combatants into Nepal army, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) opposed. This was obviously not tolerable to the Maoists. So, Prachanda sacked the CoAS. Bad for Maoists, things did not work quite as well from that point on. After the decision was made, President stepped in and reinstated the CoAS. Following the President's decision, Maoists pulled out of the government criticizing the move by President as being totally undemocratic, unconstitutional and a threat to the civil supremacy. Prime minister resigned claiming that his resignation was a sacrifice for protection of peace and republicanism which was still at its infant stage, while he always knew that it was a conspiracy to revamp revolution, as revealed in the video.

How do I perceive?

After the video was unveiled  the first time by Image Channel, the entire civil society with the exception of pro-Maoists expressed a deep sorrow saying that the trust was manipulated so deceitfully. Maoists started weighing revolution again, killing an innocent person within a space of four hours. Instead of coming to public and apologizing (although I doubt that Nepalese will ever forgive his hypocrisy) Prachanda preferred that his combatants attack the news house. This is very deplorable. Parties fight for their own benefits like ignorant bulls, and people are left unattended. Violence takes toll and people cry in agony. How long will this continue?

Nepal is becoming poorer and poorer. Resources are unused. Due to the continuous agitations, educated manpower have sought permanent residences in the US, the UK and Australia among others. Development rate is negative. This winter, Nepalese had power cuts for 16 hours every day. Due to continuous strikes, it takes four days to travel on a 150-mile pitched road. Schools are rarely open. Such is the tragedy and so does my motherland continues to sink down the abyss of suffering.

The problem in my opinion lies right at the root. As Thomas Carlyle said, “The history of the world is but the biography of great men,” Nepal is in need of a leader who can forget his personal boundaries and dedicate to the service of the country. We need a leader who can understand the sufferings of the people and who loves Nepal the most and its rich traditions set by our forefathers. The nation needs us, we as the young generation, have to step up now. 

Are you with me?

Ram Krishna Rijal is a Nepali student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an alum of Budhanilkantha School.

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The real face of Prachanda, or Why the Maoists want to sack Katawal?

This video shows the Maoist leader, Prachanda, in his true colors. Contrary to what he says in the media, this is how they work.

Image Channel had this exclusive footage which shows Prachanda speaking to his army. He brings up things that will shock you, and would bring shame to the faces of Hari Roka, Khagendra Sangraula and the likes who have tried to manipulate public using some intellectual bullshits.

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An uncertain fate of the country

By Subhash Ghimire

A month long Maoists-army standoff came to an end on Monday when the Nepalese government fired army general Rookmangud Katuwal. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (aka Prachanda) resigned as two major coalition parties, United Marxists and Leninists (UML), and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) withdrew from the government and the ceremonial President Ram Baran Yadav reinstated the army general. The fresh crisis is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Himalayan nation since the peace process began in 2006. Nepal now slides into an uncertain future.

Maoists and UML deemed the president's move to intervene in state affairs unconstitutional. Nepal's interim constitution in 2007 states that the president is ceremonial and is a titular head of the Nepalese army. Prime Minister Prachanda, in his address to the nation, stated that "there is an urgent need for ending the dual regime created through unconstitutional measures." Prachanda said that the supremacy of people must prevail and the army must be under the control of the government, not the president. Immediately after prime minister's resignation, Maoists filed a case against the president's move in the Supreme Court and decided to launch nationwide protests to pressure the president to withdraw his decision and sack General Katuwal. Moreover, Maoists are also planning on bringing a motion in the parliament to impeach the president. Even the civil society has condemned the president's move as unconstitutional and vowed to take the fight in the street. President Yadav issued a statement defending his move as a temporary provision to avert crisis in the country. The crisis comes at a time when the country is in the process of writing a new constitution.

The Maoists see chief of army (COA) Rookmangud Katuwal as an aspiring autocrat clinging to the last vestiges of a dead-old monarchial system. His first crime was to defy the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN)'s mandate not to recruit new soldiers, which also goes against the 12-point peace agreement signed by the political parties back in 2006. Prime Minister Prachanda argued that when an institution within the government fails to submit itself to the rules agreed upon they ought to be punished. The interim constitution specifically mentions that the army is under the control of the democratically elected government. Thus their mobilization solely rests on the government. The army withdrew from the national games, held last month in Kathmandu, without the order from the government. They do not have the power and right to act on their own. It appears that our military is acting as a very different sovereign institution with its own power and mandate.

Having been subjected to the King's whimsical orders and wishes, the COA finds it hard to comprehend with the government which was elected with overwhelming majority. The political system has changed but the old guards disguising in new fashion carry the age-old superior complex that has dogged our ruling elites for ages. The government saw the army challenging the authority and the power of the sovereignty of the people. The army's decision to disregard the government orders was a challenge to the new Republic state. When such situations arise then it is the right time for government to pull the strings and take control of the state of affairs. Many saw government's as a way to set up a precedent so that nobody will, in the future, act above the law.

Nepal's crisis seems to have troubled Delhi. The Indian media reports were blaming their government for inaction. India Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood has, for the last few days, has been pressuring the Nepali government to not to sack the army general. Prachanda in his address to the nation said, "I will quit government rather than remain in power by bowing down to the foreign elements and reactionary forces." Prachanda's move was a thumping on India's constant meddling on Nepal's internal affairs. India has been wary of Nepal's Maoists unusual coziness with Beijing. Delhi was not happy when then Prime Minister Prachanda was in China, as his first foreign visit since assuming power, for the closing ceremony of the Olympics games. Historically, Nepalese Prime Ministers have been visiting India as the first official abroad tour.

Meanwhile, the political parties minus the Maoists have started the consultations to form a new government. UML, the party that was badly defeated in April 2008 elections, has showed eagerness to lead the new government. Nepali Congress, the second largest party in the parliament, is supporting the UML in the process. But many speculate if the coalition government can function without the support of the Maoists, which won the majority of seats in the elections.

Moreover, Nepalese people fear that the country might slide into civil war. More than 19,000 Maoists soldiers have been placed in cantonments in different parts of the country under the supervision of UNMIN. The guerilla soldiers have threatened to walk out from the camp and be ready for war, if necessary. Baburam Bhattarai, the senior Maoists leader, said that the president's action was a constitutional coup derailing the peace process. The Maoists have been accusing general Katuwal as the last vestiges of the monarchial regime who was adamantly opposed to integrating Maoists guerillas into Nepal Army. Katuwal argued that politically indoctrinated soldiers cannot remain under the strict regulations and would bring about political divisiveness in the army.

The lawlessness, rampant violence, and stagnant economy have crippled the lives of ordinary citizens for the last decade. After the historic transformation of our political system the institutions within its sphere were expected to abide by the changes and behave accordingly. To everyone's dismay, leaders did not feel the need to do so. Nepal has once again been a leaderless nation. With nationwide protests and strikes called upon by the Maoists it is hard to speculate the political developments in the country.

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