The History
1990.
The time when the whole world was changing. Nepalese got their share of that
revolution. Democracy was restored. The country entered a new era. Hope. That
was what everyone had. But as they say… nothing very very good or very very bad
last long. Nepal enjoyed a brief period of economic development. But the
political leaders started showing their true colours. Corruption became
rampant. Common citizens problem were never addressed. Politicians were busy
fighting for power and amassing wealth when the rest of the country was
suffering. Their hopes turned into anguish.
In
1996 the Maoist insurgency began to fight against injustice and address the
grievances of the common man… the poor and the marginalized ones whose voices
were never heard. And the ones who never got chance to have their say. Folks in
the rural areas were handed guns. Their voice got heard indeed, actually
gunfire, to some good effect. But after not so long, things started to change,
for worse.
The
People’s War as they say turned out to be a people’s war indeed. Common people
were the casualty with rarely politicians being targeted. The war was against
the feudal and the corrupt, but the bullets coming out of barrel said something
else. It was never a war wedged for the justice of voices that were never
heard.
The Turning Point
2001.
The insurgency was at peak. Politicians were confined to cities and district
headquarters. No traces to be found in the villages. News of a dozen or two
losing their life was regular. People got used to it. Then tragedy struck. The
people’s King along with members of his family was slayed in the Royal
Massacre. A new king took charge and made his intention clear. He won’t be a
mock viewer and the politicians need to mend their ways.
Peace
talks were formalities. Indecisiveness among leaders was not a new thing then
as well. The king overwhelmed power. People were optimistic. Peace talks were
held but not a single one conclusive. The Maoist had their strings attached to
New Delhi. Mere puppets, they were. Couldn’t act on their own, and the signal
that they received was not for peace.
Interfering
neighbor was always sure with the Monarchy intact it was hard for their
interest to be easily addressed. They knew how to tame our politicians. Money
and power is what they have been always interested in. National interest can
take the back seat. So it was India playing from the both side, advocating
democracy and funding insurgency. Finally the curtain was raised. A deal was
struck. Political parties who were jobless after the takeover and the Maoist
who needed a safe landing for their slaughter joined hands against the active
rule of the king. So now the so called ‘democratic’ parties will intensify
their protest on street and the Maoist would intensify their rampage to
pressurize the king. The sworn enemies now were inseparable companion.
The
Arians gathered in mass hoping for peace. Fooled again. After over dozen deaths
the king bowed. GPK, the most corrupt leader this land has ever seen, was
portrayed as the cradle of democracy! Monarchy’s wings were clipped. To tame
the Maoist, India plays Madhes card. New and old breed of leaders join the
bandwagon. With their arms intact, the Maoist wins an overwhelming majority in
Constitution Assembly election and the Madhes based parties’ bag sizable seats
as well. Other political parties are stunned. The first meeting of CA decides
to declare Nepal a ‘republic’ after much haste. GPK who was promised by the
Maoist to become first President has his hopes dashed.
The Recent Achievement
GPK
passed away, finally! I wished he had a trial for all the crimes he did but am
sure will rot in hell. Four communists became PMs in sequence. Maoist fooled
everyone while listing the number of militants. Prachanda pocketed the extra
income of hyped rebels. Almost 4 million neighbours got Nepali citizenship,
thanks to Madhes uprising. Maoist supremo got a posh bungalow. His son was
awarded 20 million to climb the Everest, had to decline it after protest from
all corners. CA got extension time and again before the court declared the last
time was the final one. Time for consensus. They will reach to one after they
are done with division of lucrative posts.
My Take
Ever
seen an elected body extending its tenure by itself? Even the likes of Gaddafi
and Assad go for election. This ain’t democracy. What’s the point of going for
a federal structure? We are too few to be divided. Even the states in India are
larger than the area of Nepal. Do we have the resources? One Madhes, One
Pradesh… it’s a big no. The day we declare that, the countdown for its merger
with the southern neighbor will begin. I don’t have any problem of Nepal being
declared a secular state but were we worse off before? If the way in which the
ethnic states are being carved by various parties, where those ethnic group
hardly make a majority, why not declare Nepal a Hindu state with more than 80%
of the population Hindu?
It’s
just divide and rule. We don’t have a single leader of national stature. They
are all party centric. The way things are going, the protest programs being
carried out, Jestha 14 is going to be a nightmare. Even if we draft the
constitution with federal structure we would face opposition from every corner.
No one has a single structure that satisfies all. We will be plunged into
chaos. And if we don’t maybe that would be lucky if we get rid of these leaders.
Otherwise the ambassadors are here to dictate us. It’s upto us to decide about
our fate.
Postscript : I am a Royalist but I
don’t want the restoration of Monarchy… at least for some time even if people
wish… if that ain’t the case, we would start taking it for granted… better
learn it the hard way and never forget. Our situation won’t change until the
people who rule us are the same. For now enjoy these three weeks of peace.
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