http://www.mysansar.com/?p=1160#more-1160

Yeah. Umesh is great.

People will certainly thrash these maobadi prachanda baburam etc. one day... people will take revenge on these murderers as well... Who is girija, who is madhav, who is Gyane... they are nothing in front of Nepalese people..

Two Nagarik announcements from Nepal...

1. INVITATION TO CULTURAL EVENT FOR SENSITIZATION OF CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

Date: 14th Poush 2063 (Friday, Dec 29, 2006)
Venue: Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur
Time: 2 PM Onwards

As we are all aware, right after the agreement on draft of Interim Constitution Assembly, the seven political parties (SPA) and Maoists have started to publicize their disagreements and misunderstandings against each other, one after another. These statements and scenario has definitely brought up further confusions for us citizens. During past, NAGARIK ANDOLAN has for the sake of LOKATANTRA and PEACE, organized several political public conventions, meetings to break though similar confusing situations, assiting to bridge the gap, help bring clarity among concerned to reduce polarization and instead, strengthen political parties with continued civic pressure. This effort of conscious citizens have contributed in uniting political parties for the sake of our nation and civic concerns requesting them to rise beyond political self interests and traditional dogmatic approaches of negotiation.

This time, on the 14th Poush (29th December 2006), friday another event LOKATANTRIK GANATANTRA SANSKRITIK SABHA is being held at PATAN DURBAR SQUARE at 2 PM which will be another effort to reduce the polarization and differential views of these political parties. The main OBJECTIVE will be to assist in confirming conditions and confirmation of timely elcection of Constituent Assembly as well as to prevent/ warn the political parties from being irresponsible towards interests of civilians. Events such as these will definitely contribute towards bridging the gap of different political interests or views. THE EVENT WILL BE GRACED BY ARTISTS, POETS AND INTELLECTS who have played crucial and important roles in the NAGARIK ANDOLAN. But we request ALL CITIZEN, particularly from the valley to participate and show solidarity during the event as YOU are the POWER that can change situations as UNITED we stand in interests as a citizen in hope of PEACEFUL NEW NEPAL.

The program being conducted by SHAKYA SUREN will include following reknown personalities:

Artists: Ramesh, Raayan, Ram Krishna Duwal, Jb Tuhure, Badan Sharma, Madhav Pradhan, Ganesh Thakur, Badri Pageni, Bir Prasad Bhansari, Ranishova, Madhu Gurung, Ramji Nepali.

Poets: Durgalal Shrestha, Suresh Kiran, Sudha Tripathi, Sudhir Khobi, Narmadeshwor Pradhan, Keshav Silwal, Mani Kafle

Speakers: Dr. Devendra Raj Pandey, Khagendra Sangraula, Kulal Dongol, Julum Lal Chitrakar, Nil Keshari Shrestha

LET'S ALL MEET UP AT KRISHNA TEMPLE, PATAN DURBAR SQUARE
LET'S RECONFIRM TIMELY ELECTION OF CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY!

ORGANIZER: NAGARIK ANDOLAN, LALITPUR


____________________________


2. Let's Go Baluatar on 1st January!

Let's Put Pressure to Take Action against the delay of implementing the interim constitution

Date: 1st January 2007, Sunday (17 Paush, 2063)
Time: 1 pm
Venue: In front of Prime Minister's Residence Gate

Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace (CMDP) is going to organize a Sit-in at the Prime minister's residence at Baluawatar on Jan 1, 2007 (17 Paush 2063). We are demanding to implement the interim constitution as soon as possible.

CMDP calls on all the citizens to take part in the Sit-in in order to pressure the government of Nepal to take action immediately.

Organizer:
Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace

____________________________

And a glimpse of the meeting..

If you remember, Patan was the first ever city to declare itself a "Republic Zone" during the movement of 1990.

That honor was taken by Kirtipur this time around.

Anyway, पाटने वीर-वीराङ्गनालाई र तस्वीरका यी सुन्दर युवतीहरुका सम्भवत: ऐतिहासिक र युगान्तकारी क्रान्तिको सन्देशवाहक वाद्यवादनलाई मेरो दह्रो सलाम !

Nepe

.

And this one..

Nepe daji,
Yes! Patan was declared 'Republic of Patan' during the 1990 movement by the gallant citizens. It was completely under the hands of Patanese for a few days. And I am proud of that. Hope the country will be a democratic republic soon this time around.

Chitre-jee,

Republic is a foregone conclusion, well except for GP Koirala who probably still habors a hope that he might somehow be able to retain monarchy and save his and NC's old vision and legacy. However, since most Congressis including GP's bhardars are admitting that support to monarchy is going to cost NC very heavily, GP will have no option but to give up his love for monarchy. It is only matter of how soon or how late.

And talking about saluting our brave republic-loving brother and sisters, in the midst of the April Revolution, when Kirtipur and Chitawan-basi declared their lands "Republic zone" and people of Rupandehi were discarding "Shri 5" from public offices, I was so ecstatic, I proposed, in Nepal Democracy Forum, to write congratulation letters to the people of Kirtipur, Chitawan and Rupandehi. Although there was some support and enthusiasm, most of who's who did not seem to be ready yet to join the republic bandwagon. So the idea did not materialize. Below are some of the postings to ND group then.

Ramailo lagne rrahechha aafno posting aafaile pheri padhda ra self-promotion pani garna paaunda. So, here they go…

______________________________________________________________



From: Deepak Khadka
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Date: Sun, Apr 9 2006 10:32 am
Subject: An Appeal to ND


An appeal to ND members
-----------------------------------

Friends,

Our friends at the ground zero can give more accurate picture. However,
the news of spontaneous declaration of "republic zones" and discarding
of "Shree 5" in particular and universally dominant pro-republic
slogans in demonstrations in general has shown that, at the popular
level, the movement is undeniably pro-republic. The same also tells
that how far the movement will go will depend on how DECISIVELY and
LEGITIMATELY it becomes a pro-republic movement at political level.

GP Koirala, by his reminder in his interviews with BBC and eKantipur on
the eve of andolan that he is not leading a republican movement, had
distanced the political leadership from the republican mass for
whatever or for not so unspeculative reasons, if I may.

Pro-republic mood of the ongoing movement clearly shows a gap between
GP Koirala's vision of the movement and the ground reality.

However, I am not here to express my sorrow Koirala's poor vision. I am
here to share my thought about what can and should we (the ND group)
do, in addition to what we already are doing, to help the movement.

Actually, I am here with a special personal appeal to all members of ND
group.

Before stating the appeal, I would like to say that I am making this
appeal by acknowledging the diversity of political thinking among us
and fully respecting many members' opposition or unreadiness for the
idea of republicanism.

My appeal and the reasoning for it are simple.

Appeal: Let us acknowledge the movement as it is. Let us recognize the
movement as it is. Let us give our approval and encouragement to
spontaneous popular developments about the movement as they are
happening. Because that is the ultimate and the most believable support
to the real movement and, most important of all, Nepali brothers and
sisters who are giving their sweat, tears and blood, at this very
moment, will feel supported and loved and cared for what they actually
are doing.

ND members friends, let us acknowledge, recognize and applaud Chitwan
and Kirtipur for declaration of "republic zones" and Rupandehi for
discarding "Shree 5". Let us congratulate for their courage and
aspiration. Let us tell them that we are 100% behind them at every step
of their move.

Let ND group write letters addressed to people of Kirtipur, Chitwan,
Rupandehi and wherever they are rising.

Can we ? Shall we ? Shouldn't we ? Wouldn't it make the andolit people
of Nepal feel intimately cared and supported by top Nepalis of Sat
samundra paari ?

The way the movement is at the ground does not have a political
leadership at the moment. It is politically bebarish. So, it is
vulnerable to anything that can promise the political leadership. It is
vulnerable to the Maoists for political leadership. Yes, it is. (GP
Koirala made the movement actually more vulnerable to the Maoists,
ironically, by fearing it might be if he approved the R-word).

And ND group is doing the same. It does not recognize R. It pretends it
is not hearing the R reverberating from the streets of Nepal. It talks
about the news, but applies a self-censorship to convert the R-word to
D-word.

Let's recognize R-word as the R-word. If nobody acknowledges R for R,
people will go to the Maoists because the later does.

So, let's tell the people of Chitwan, Kirtipur and Rupandehi that we do
recognize their declaration for what it is, not for what others would
like to interpret them. Let us give them hope that there is a
DEMOCRATIC leadership and INTERNATIONAL support for 'R' they declared
they want. They do not need to turn to anybody else.

Thank you for listening my rambling. And I apologize in advance if I
have offended anybody by myself being offended by some member's
practice of self-censorship to convert "R" to "D" in their
communications.

Deepak Khadka

_____________________________________________________


From: Deepak Khadka
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, Apr 10 2006 10:31 am
Subject: RE: An Appeal to ND


B..-jee, D..-jee, G..jee, Y..-jee
and P..-jee,

Thank you for sharing similar sentiments and sharing that in the forum.

I just want to reiterate that I am absolutely not inquiring and
questioning personal political convictions of respected members of the
group. I am also not trying to preach or convert anybody to republican
religion.

(On a lighter note, I am absolutely sure about republicanism and
equally absolutely sure that, on the eve of declaration of republic
Nepal, whenever that will be, everybody, including GP Koirala, will
declare themselves as republicans. So I am not worried about that
part.)

All I was asking was to not to deny the pro-republic character of the
ongoing movement (I think it better be described as uprising)
demonstrated on the ground zero. Say, not to "de-republicize" the
materials related to the movement.

And my concern partly comes also from my experience of "agulto_le
haneko kukur bijuli dekhda tarsanchha" type.

Our last year's New York rally was pre-dominantly pro-republic. A lot
of members reported and talked about the rally in this forum and the
news also went to local papers in Kathmandu. But it was interesting,
no, it was rather terribly disappointing that not a single member
mentioned that part. The reports, discussions and news all were
"de-republicized" before they were publicized.

I complained about that in this forum in a message with a bit sarcastic
title "Pro-republican NY Rally: To Report or Not to Report". I had
said "I feel a sense of collective discomfort and denial about fully vocal
republicanism here". But nobody bothered to respond. Here is the link to
the thread.

- http://groups.google.com/group/nepaldemocracy/msg/22274f1ecd9e14eb

Then, there was this discussion about recent Himal Poll here, which I
fear might have led some to believe that republicans do not have a
respectable number in Nepal. (I do not have doubt about professional
integrity of the poll. However, I see a serious scientific problem with
the poll, which I haven't found time to share and discuss here. Anyway,
this for some other time. I would say only this much. If you are taking
the numbers at their face value and concluding that republicanism do
not have future in Nepal, you can not be more wrong.)

So, these background fears and my sense that "de-republicization" is
still practiced in the group when pro-republic mass is at the forefront
of the movement in Nepal, made me do the appeal I made.

At least a dispassionate and objective recognition of R-character of
the movement by leading members of this forum is deserved. Mero
appeal/gunaso/binti tetti ho.

Deepak Khadka

_____________________________________________________


From: B..
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, Apr 10 2006 11:56 am
Subject: RE: An Appeal to ND


Deepak-jee
If your goal is to write to salute young republicans
of Nepal on behalf of the forum, I believe you could
certainly do so; personally, I don't see any problem
with that. The only modality I may suggest is to
circulate the letter here first and try to accommodate
comments you may receive from other members as much as
possible. The Nepali media may or may not print
anything we send as they seem currently overwhelmed.
On second thought, that may not even matter as long as
the letter reaches those people it is intended to
reach.

Just my two cents.

b..

__________________________________________________


From: Deepak Khadka
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, Apr 10 2006 6:13 pm
Subject: RE: An Appeal to ND

B-jee,

Thank you for suggesting that writing letter addressed directly to the
uprising republicans could be done.

My idea is not just a letter with very GENERAL support for DEMOCRACY. I
think of it as a historical letter with signature of all prominent
members on it and with a categorical support for SPECIFIC pro-republic
uprising we are witnessing.

Think of it as a paradigm shift, if you know what I mean ;-)

If we can have it, I am sure this will become a glorious historical
document (I imagine a "Republic Revolution Memorial" in a very near
future Nepal and a section in it dedicated to the diaspora's
contribution. And I imagine our letter proudly displayed there !)

Can it be done ? I mean, do I have at least 100 signatures (from our
150+ membership) willing ?

Deepak Khadka

___________________________________________________


From: B..
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, Apr 10 2006 6:41 pm
Subject: RE: An Appeal to ND


> Can it be done ? I mean, do I have at least 100
> signatures (from our
> 150+ membership) willing ?

My experience with such things is that people do what
is within their comfort zone. This is a diverse group,
so I cannot think of a firm number. Besides, many
members are not even active participants for whatever
reasons.

If you decide to pursue it though, i request that you
and other republicans keep any pressure tactics or
shaming tactics out of it.
I mean, we shouldn't pursue
this agenda as if to suggest that if you're not a
republican, you're less of a democrat. Personally, I'm
ready to support a well conceived letter that
addresses this question, but I realize that others too
are fully within their rights to reserve judgment on
this or any other issue.

This is how I envison us functioning as a diverse but
mutually supportive forum.

b..

__________________________________________________

From: Deepak Khadka
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Date: Mon, Apr 10 2006 8:28 pm
Subject: RE: An Appeal to ND


> If you decide to pursue it though, i request that you
> and other republicans keep any pressure tactics or
> shaming tactics out of it.....

> b,,

B..-jee,

I agree. This is a kind of thing that should be 'labor of love'.

Deepak

_________________________________________________


Nepe

Nepe daji,

Your affinity for a democratic republic and persistence to urge othes to achieve it is quite commendable. I don't even have enough words to applaud your endeavor. I started being a supporter of your republican ideology when I used to be a silent reader in sajha in around 2002-2003, when you had posted tons of your ideas. It used to be quite difficult for you those days, I remember, because even talking of republicanism was considered to be a taboo in Nepali politics those days. Your then analysis and prediction of Nepali politics has come to be accurate within a matter of a few years. I consider you to be a great political 'jyotish' in this regard. ;)

I would like to go through your republicanism thread once again and have some discussions when I will get enough time in near future. I think this would be relevant to the present political developments, wouldn't it?

Chitre-jee,

"Political Jyotish" ! Ha Ha ! The reference might come handy to me if I ever sought a job of "jyotish" to political parties.

But seriously, your kind remark made me pause to revisit and reflect on my cyber (and a little bit off-line too) political life of past six years. I managed to search and read some of my old postings. They brought an array of emotions, mostly happy ones, but also sad ones particularly on occasions when I had been not so nice to the opposing views. I certainly can not judge myself, however, I have always tried to keep the following Shayari in my mind throughout my life.

"दुश्मनी जम कर करो लेकिन ये गुंजाइश रहे,
फिर कभी जब दोस्त बन जायें तो शर्मिन्दा न हों"
(बशीर बद्र)

That does not mean I have not offended anybody. I have. However, I have tried to keep my purpose as clean as possible. I come across a strange line for justification to certain kind of offence. It was from one of my friendly advice to Ashu when he was considering whether he should offend his colleagues in Kathmandu by critically reviewing their writings or not. This was what I told him:

"It’s not about offending them. It’s about offending them and in doing so giving them a chance to learn that it was not about offending or being offended at all."

Thread: State of Nepal
August 31, 2002
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=6770&dsn=sajhaarchive#48330

So I guess this justification on one hand and the earlier reminder by Bashir Badr were the boundaries I set for myself.

Anyway, to revisit some of my interesting postings, I started my life in Sajha in December 2001. I believe the following was the first thread I posted. I was arguing with Biswo and others and defending republicanism as the only way to "mainstream" the Maoists and was also talking about an alternative (to monarchy) symbol of national unity they were failing to see.

Thread: On Royal family
Dec 11, 2001
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=2665&dsn=sajhaarchive#19892

I think I started practicing my "Jyotishi" vidya with the following thread. The thread was my New Year's (2003) greetings and San was playing a practical joke (Sajha Person of the year).

Some of my punch lines were:
● Passive monarchy: An Utopian dream
● 50 year plan to bring the monarchy under the law and without privileges through the parliament. Jhhingako haati maarne plan.
● The royal army will kill thousands of people to save the monarchy: Not true

Thread: Happy New Year 2003
December 31, 2002
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=8657&dsn=sajhaarchive2003#69249

My forecast about Nepali Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Lee Kuan Yew
Thread: Democratic Republic and People’s Republic
Feb 19, 2002
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=3506&dsn=sajhaarchive#5619

Maoists can not be defeated
Thread: Our Capital These days !
16 Sept 02
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=7031&dsn=sajhaarchive#31683

My prediction about how pro-republic movement will emerge
Thread: On Foreign Hands and Grand Design
30 June 03
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=11327&dsn=sajhaarchive#98862

This is my largest piece of work and a summary (or elaboration, whatever fits) of my political views. Unfortunately, it is missing from Sajha. So I have saved it in my website.
Thread: Why Republicanism
19 September 2003
- http://www.dkhadka.com/chithi/en/WhyRepublicanism.mht

And for those who do not have patience to read the above piece but are interested to read it's summary in Nepali:
Thread: PRO-COUP RALLY IN DC: A TABLOID NEWS
13 March 05
- http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openthreadall.cfm?StartRow=81&PageNum=5&forum=2&threadid=20414

I think these cover most of my chintan-manan, dreams and "bhavisyabanis". Just for my kind friend Chitre-jee and others who are interested to enjoy a slice of history from good old Sajha.

I wish all Sajhaites a very happy new year !

Nepe

An announcement from Citizen's Movement...

************************

Let's Go Singha Darbar on 2nd January !

Let's Put Pressure to Take Action against the delay of implementing the interim constitution

Date: 2nd January 2007, Monday (18 Paush, 2063)
Time: 1 pm
Venue: In front of South Gate of Singha Darbar.

As all of you know that Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace (CMDP ) organized sit-in program demanding to implement the interim constitution as soon as possible, yesterday in front of PM residence at Baluwatar, on 1st January and 63 participants were arrested.

Likewise, for the continuation of that program, today, CMDP) is going to organize a Sit-in program at the Singha Darbar in formt of South Gate on 2nd Jan, 2007 (18 Paush 2063), to put pressure to take action against the delay of implementing the interim constitution

CMDP calls on all the citizens to take part in the Sit-in in order to pressure the government of Nepal to take action immediately.

Organizer:
Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace

View/Share this post only

Just adding a link to my major political posting so far in Sajha. Thank you San for locating that for me (You are such a wonderful master of the web).

Thread: Why Republicanism
19 Sept 2003
- http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openthread.cfm?forum=2&threadid=12335

Nepe

Just felt like posting the quintessential poem on revolution


आमाको सपना
गोपाल प्रसाद रिमाल

आमा, त्यो आउँछ र ?
"हो, बा, त्यो आउँछ ।
त्यो बिहानको सूर्यझैँ उज्यालो छर्दै आउँछ ।
त्यसको कम्मरमा झुन्डिएको शीतजस्तै टल्कने
तिमी एक हतियार देख्नेछौ;
त्यसैले ऊ अधर्मसित लड्नेछ !
त्यो आउँदा तिमी पहिले त सपना हो कि भनेर
छामछुम गर्नेछौ, तर त्यो हिउँ र आगोभन्दा पनि
बढ्ता छोइने भएर आउँछ ।"
हो र आमा ?
"हो, तिमी जन्मँदा तिम्रो कलिलो अनुहारमा
त्यसकै छाया देख्ने आशा गरेकी थिएँ;
तिम्रो हिस्सी परेको हँसाइमा त्यसैको सुन्दर छवि;
तिम्रो तोते बोलीमा त्यसैको मधुर ध्वनि;
तर त्यो मीठो गीतले तिमीलाई
आफ्नो बाँसुरी बनाएनछ !
त्यो तिमी नै हौला भन्ने
मेरो यौवनभरिको सपना थियो !
जे होस् त्यो आउँछ;
म आमा हुँ, सारा सृजनशक्तिको मुख भएर
म भन्न सक्तछु,
त्यो आउँछ,
मैले यो कुनै अल्छी सपना देखेको होइन !
त्यो आएपछि तिमी यसरी
मेरो काखमा आएर घोप्टिने छैनौ;
सत्य कुरालाई तिमी यसरी
चुम्बकिएर कथा सुनेझैँ सुन्ने छैनौ;
तिमी त्यसलाई आफैँ नै देखन सक्ने, सहन सक्ने र
ग्रहण गर्न सक्ने हुनेछौ;
मैले यसरी धैर्य दिनुको सट्टा तिमी सङ्ग्राममा जाँदा
लाख सम्झाएर पनि नमान्ने आमाको मनलाई
सान्त्वना दिँदै बिदा हुनेछौ;
मैले यसरी रोगीलाई झैँ तिम्रो कपाल
मुसारिरहनुपर्ने छैन !
हेरौँला, त्यो हुरी भएर आउनेछ,
तिमी पात भएर पछयाउनेछौ !
उहिले त्यो जीवनलोकबाट झरेर जूनजस्तै पोखिँदा
सारा जडता सगबगाएको थियो, बा;
त्यो आउनेछ, तिमी उठ्नेछौ !"
त्यो आउँछ कि आमा,
मधुर उषाले चराहरुको कण्ठलाई जस्तै
त्यो आउने आशाले मेरो हृदयलाई कुतकुत्याइसक्यो आमा !
"हो, त्यो आउँछ,
त्यो बिहानको सूर्यझैँ उज्यालो छर्दै आउँछ ।
अब म उठेँ, गएँ ।"
०
"तर त्यो तिमी नै हौला भन्ने
मेरो यौवनभरिको सपना थियो !"

_____________

त्यो हिउँ र आगोभन्दा पनि
बढ्ता छोइने भएर आउँछ

Apparently, it has yet to come:
- http://www.mysansar.com/?p=1180

This thread partly became a tribute to the history of Sajha. I will feel guilt if I do not present very thoughtful views and skepticism against republicanism presented by some of the most brilliant Sajhaites of the past- Paschim, Naya Keta, Biswo, Ashu, Arnico, Dilasha, Brook and so on.

So, here is a representative thread, one of the earliest and most engaging discussion in an atmosphere of amazing respect to each other.

Believe me, it's a treasure and some of the skepticism, cautions and deliberation are still relevant, valid and of guiding importance.

Thread: Politics and Hope
28 Apr 02
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=4654&dsn=sajhaarchive

_______

Now that I am into the history of Sajha, I would like to share one moment of pure joy, ecstasy if you like. Of course, it wasn't political. It was a literary moment. And a joy of reading a powerful and beautiful piece of poetry.

A fellow poster, Noname, had posted a poem titled "Banda Sanbhavanaharu" (locked up prospects ?). And these were my remarks:

A peerless, superlative piece of meaningful art. A masterpiece. I don't remember when did I see last time yati uchchha koti ko kavita.

You have put the whole of our contemporary history in a tiny time capsule without a single corrupted letter. Thousands years later, we will be reading our history in your poem in full.

Thread:Banda Sambhavanaharu
18 March 04
- http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=14481&dsn=sajhaarchive


Here are other similar comments:

"a timeless piece."
(Gokul)

"has ability to produce memorable quotable quotes."
(Biswo)

"Beautifully expressed!"
(Sitara)

"Last poem I read this beautiful was Ishwor Ballav's "Uttargami Megh haru""
(nsshrestha)


The image file of the poem is missing from the archive. So, here is it from the poet himself (I managed to get it from him just yesterday)


सन्दूकमा सम्भावनाहरु

मैले सुनेको छु
बन्द सन्दूकमा थन्किएका छन् प्रशस्त सम्भावनाहरु ।
मैले देखेको छु
बन्द सन्दूकभित्र उकुस-मुकुस सम्भावनाहरु ।

ति सम्भावनाहरुलाई म के गरौं ?
अचार हालेर भोज खाँउ ? पिङ हालेर दशैं मनाँउ ?
भुटेर भोजन बनाँउ ? उनेर हार लगाँउ ?
कि ठटाएर सङ्गीत सुनौं ?

रक्ताम्य छ मेरो आँगन
पखाल्न सकिन्छ त्यहाँ सम्भावनाहरु पोखेर ?
नाङ्गो छ मेरो घरको धुरि
टाल्न सकिन्छ सम्भावनाहरु बटुलेर ?
चुल्हा-चौका बल्दैनन घरमा
भोक मेटिन्छ सम्भावनाहरु चपाएर ?

सम्भावनाहरु उन्नति होइनन्
बन्द सम्भावनाहरु चुनौति हुन् ।

कोहि लुट्न आँउछन्
कोहि लुटाउन आँउछन्
म सम्भावनाहरु टकटकाउछु
ओल्टाइन्छन्, पल्टाइन्छन् तिनै सन्दूकहरु
किनकि, बन्द छन् सम्भावना हरु ।

सम्भावनाहरु सन्दूकभित्रै हुर्किए, फक्रिए
कति त त्यहिँ मक्किए
तर सम्भावनाहरु बन्द नै रहे
बन्द सन्दूक भित्र सडिरहे ।

केहि सम्भावनाहरु बाहिर पनि निस्किए
आश बनेर डुक्रिए, उफ्रिए र थच्चिए
तर, व्यथाहरु व्यथै रहे
घाउहरु चह-याई रहे
सम्भावनाहरु र्व्यर्थ र्व्यर्थ नै भए ।

मेरो आश अझ एउटा सन्दूकमा अडिएको छ
त्यो सन्दूक
जहाँ सम्भावनाहरु थुनिएको छ
सन्दूक खोलेर हेरेको छैन
अब बाँकि पनि केहि छ कि छैन
तर,
मैले देखेको हुँ
कैद छन् सन्दूकमा थुप्रै सम्भावनाहरु ।

Noname
१८ मार्च २००४

Nepe,
I went through your article of '03 on ' why republicanism' last night. have to say, your analysis is almost flawless (at least to my head). i may have other questions but right now the one that's popping up is this:

-Since when were you able to believe in what you believe (as in republicanism)? what made you refrain from being a rebel (maoist)? he he!

LooTe

Nepe daji,
Thanks for all the links to the past. I think I will enjoy going through them as much as I did before. I will certainly have a look again and comment when I have adequate time later.

Loote bro,
How are things? :)

कोहि लुट्न आँउछन्
कोहि लुटाउन आँउछन्
म सम्भावनाहरु टकटकाउछु
ओल्टाइन्छन्, पल्टाइन्छन् तिनै सन्दूकहरु
किनकि, बन्द छन् सम्भावना हरु ।

>Since when were you able to believe in what you believe
>(as in republicanism)? what made you refrain from being
>a rebel (maoist)?

LooTe-jee,

It won't be inaccurate to say it was in my blood. I inherited my initial romanticism with republicanism from my father. Then it got sharpened and intensified during my association with Akhil-VI which lasted for 2-3 years some two decades ago.

I have shared elsewhere my story of how I got disillusioned with the leftist parties. Basically I was frustrated with their orthodoxy and rigidity. At the same time, my political views were also evolving and I was starting to have more faith in freedom and democracy.

A decisive moment was the day (sometime during 1982-83) Akhil-VI and it's mother party CPN(4th convention) organized a rally in Kathmandu to denounce Deng's reform in China as a capitalist anti-revolution. My instinct and little information I had from here and there were saying that Deng's reform was a necessity and for the good of China. And here was a party that was forcing me to denounce it. The protest rally was organized in a hurry (I do not remember why) and Lilamani Pokharel had come to inform us. I did not go to the rally; my instinct and conscience did not allow me. That was also the beginning of the end of my relation with the left politics.

During 1990 and afterwards when Madan Bhandari ingeniously transformed current UML into a DEMOCRATIC party, (my perspective here, - http://www.sajha.com/archives/openthread.cfm?threadid=15565&dsn=sajhaarchive#21673 ), I was attracted to it and, as a matter of fact, I had told many of my old "disciples" who were turning to me for advice to join the ML. Years later and still until now, I was sad to see UML in what most people recognize as a perpetual state of self-confusion. I just hope the same does not happen with the Maoists.

That brings to how I look at the Maoists. I have explained as objectively as possible about their strength and weaknesses in my article "Why Republicanism" and other postings I have referred earlier. So the Maoists were a mixed bag for me. And so are other political parties, although their weaknesses are heavier in my balance.

If I have to say about my emotional position vis-a-vis the Maoists, all these years until I first saw a clear sign of their ideological evolution towards DEMOCRACY (which is May 2003, see below for explanation) I was mistrustful of them for their orthodoxy and rigidity that I talked about earlier.

My reading about the Maoists is that, although they have referred to democracy now and then for practical and tactical purposes, they did not integrate it in their ideology until their 2nd National Conference in 2001. In this conference, a very important political proposal called "On the development of democracy in the 21st Century" was submitted. The proposal was discussed for almost two years and finally adopted as a resolution in the meeting of it's central committee in May 2003.

Below is an excerpt from that resolution. I have highlighted some lines and clause where the notion of democracy is integrated and accepted. It is interesting but not threatening that they have equaled "democracy" to 21st century version of "continuous revolution", otherwise a Maoist notion.

Anyway, Prachanda and other top leaders have reiterated, elaborated and refined it for umpteenth time since they made public appearances in 2006 to reach to several agreements with commitment to multiparty democracy with SPA and the government. So there is no basis to doubt that it is not a real thing. My only concern is whether they will be successful to adapt to an imperfect thing like democracy perfectly or meet the fate of UML's self-confusion to give any able leadership to the country.

That said, as of now, the Maoists is the only political party in the country with a potential (only potential, mind that) to be the one we just need to transform Nepal into a progressive and progressing nation. NC is too old, too tired and now hopelessly disarranged. UML is bewildered and confused as usual. Others are insignificant. Unless something dramatic, something miracle of a sort happens within NC and UML, they are going to do their business as usual. However, these prospects should not make us pessimist. In fact, I think, no matter how incompetent our political parties and leadership remain, Nepal will still be a much better democracy than it ever has been and it will make unprecedented stride towards it's development. The awakened people with the awareness of their strength and rights is it's assurance.

*** *** *** *** *** ***

From the Maoist resolution "On the development of democracy in the 21st Century" (adopted by CC in May 2003)

Nepali version:
- http://cpnm.org/new/Nepali/Dastabej/dastabej.htm

एक पटक एक निश्चित कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीको नेतृत्वमा जनवादी वा समाजवादी राज्यसत्ता स्थापित भइसके पछि सो पार्टी सधै र्सवहारावादी भइराख्छ भने झै [गरेर] त्यसका विरुद्ध राजनैतिक रुपले जनसमुदायद्धारा स्वतन्त्ररुपमा जनवादी वा समाजवादी प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्ने वातावरण नहुनु, नबनाउनु वा त्यसमाथि प्रतिबन्ध लगाइनुले एकातिर सत्तासीन पार्टी जनसमुदायका बीचमा कसैसंग राजनैतिक प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्नु नपर्ने हुंदा त्यो क्रमशः विशेष सुविधा सम्पन्न यान्त्रिक नोकरशाही पार्टी र त्यसको नेतृत्वको राज्यसत्ता पनि क्रमशः यान्त्रिक र नोकरशाही मेसिनरीमा परिणत हुने तथा अर्कातिर जनसमुदाय औपचारिक जनवादको शिकार भएर क्रमशः उसको असीमित सिर्जनशीलता र गतिशीलताको उर्जा कुण्ठित हुन जाने खतरा इतिहासमा स्पष्ट देखा पर्ने गरेको छ । उपरोक्त समस्या समाधानकालागि निरन्तर क्रान्तिको सिद्धान्त अनुसार राज्यसत्तामा जनसमुदायको नियन्त्रण, निगरानी र हस्तक्षेपको प्रक्रियालाई सजीव र वैज्ञानिक ढंगले संगठित गर्ने आवश्यकतामा जोड दिइनु पर्दछ । ..... यदि पार्टी आफैलाई निरन्तर क्रान्तिकारीकरण गर्न नसके त्यसको खिलाफमा अर्को क्रान्तिकारी पार्टी वा नेतृत्वलाई राज्यसत्तामा पुर्याउन सक्ने जनसमुदायको अधिकारलाई संस्थागत गरेर मात्र प्रतिक्रान्तिलाई प्रभावकारी ढंगले रोक्न सकिने छ । ..... विभिन्न राजनैतिक दल, संघ, संस्था जसले जनवादी राज्यसत्ताको सवैधानिक व्यवस्थालाई स्वीकार र्गर्दछन्, उनीहरुका बीचमा कम्युनिष्ट पार्टीलाई सहयोग मात्र गर्नुपर्ने यान्त्रिक सम्बन्धमा होइन जनताको सेवामा जनवादी राजनैतिक प्रतिपर्धा गर्ने द्वन्दात्मक सम्बन्धमा जोड दिइनु पर्दछ । .... एक पटक राज्यसत्ता कब्जा गरिसके पछि पार्टी नेतृत्वको हैशियत साबित गर्न आफ्नो विचारको सहीपना, जनसमुदायका हितहरुसंग एकाकार हुने आवश्यकता, त्याग, तपस्या र बलिदान एवं वर्ग र जनताप्रतिको निष्ठा साबित गरिरहन नपर्ने स्थितिको प्रारम्भदेखिनै अन्त गर्न जोड दिइनु पर्दछ ।

English version:
- http://cpnm.org/new/English/worker/9issue/document.htm

However, as if a particular Communist Party remains proletarian for ever once a New Democratic or Socialist state is established under the leadership of that Party, there is either no opportunity, or it is not prepared, or it is prohibited, for the masses to have a free democratic or socialist competition against it. As a result, since the ruling Party is not required to have a political competition with others amidst the masses, it gradually turns into a mechanistic bureaucratic Party with special privileges and the state under its leadership, too, turns into mechanistic and bureaucratic machinery. Similarly, the masses become a victim of formal democracy and gradually their limitless energy of creativity and dynamism gets sapped. This danger has been clearly observed in history. To solve this problem, the process of control, supervision and intervention of the masses over the state should be stressed to be organized in a lively and scientific manner, according to the principle of continuous revolution. Once again the question here is to dialectically organize scientific reality that the efficacy of dictatorship against the enemy is dependent upon the efficacy of exercising democracy among the people.

For this, a situation must be created to ensure continuous proletarization and revolutionization of the Communist Party by organizing political competition within the constitutional limits of the anti-feudal and anti-imperialist democratic state. ..... Among different anti-feudal and anti-imperialist political parties, organizations and institutions, which accept the constitutional provisions, of the democratic state, their mutual relations should not be confined to that of a mechanistic relation of cooperation with the Communist Party but should be stressed to have dialectical relations of democratic political competition in the service of the people.
_____________________________________

>That said, as of now, the Maoists is the only political party in the
>country with a potential (only potential, mind that) to be the one
>we just need to transform Nepal into a progressive and progressing
>nation. NC is too old, too tired and now hopelessly disarranged.
>UML is bewildered and confused as usual. Others are insignificant.

Before it might get understood otherwise, I'd like to restate "hopelessly disarranged" as "helplessly unsettled" state of NC, although I have doubt about whether GP Koirala is fully in touch with reality. ( Selection of Shailaja Acharya for ambassadorship at this point of time to me is an indication that GP is, at least to some degree, out of touch with reality). The problem with GP is that all the popular as well as internal criticism/opposition for his conservatism never reached to him in a degree and form of a credible threat due mostly to the development of situation that brought other more important issues at the forefront. It will probably be not until NC has to bring it's election manifesto for CA that GP will not have to confront the new reality that has developed in Nepal. So there is less than several months for GP to live unthreatened and undisturbed in his illusionary world where he is THE NC, he is THE state, he is THE democracy and he is THE movement.

And as for "helplessness", I am referring to the condition of progressive force inside NC. As I said earlier, situation is developing in such a way that this force is not being able to afford to threat GP. The situation right now is in such a worse state, people like Narahari Acharya, Prof. Krishna Khanal and Gagan Thapa are using softer language, and some time disappointingly reverential language, for GP. GP now enjoys the real reverence of the followers of his cult and the forced reverence of the demoralized opposition.

The good thing, hopefully, is that it is going to change when NC has to draft the election manifesto for CA.

Nepe