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It seems Prachanda, the supremo of the CPN (Maoists) has started enjoying his new role. As the undisputed leader of the strongest and the biggest political force in Nepal he is the most sought after person, at the moment – by the self-styled influential and prominent personalities of Nepal. There are others, equally important, if not more, who are viewing him as a dangerous phenomenon. After the resounding success of his party in Nepal even his long time friend seems to have become wary. He sure must be finding that the life of a politician is more challenging than that of an underground rebel leader battling to overthrow the ruling government by violent means. When his dream is knocking at the door he finds obstacles sprouting from seen and unseen quarters. Turning into a mature politician from an insurgent leader is not an easy task. Moreover, in a country where established politicians have to run up to their alien masters for advice and help, will he be able to break this unhealthy tradition and assert himself as an honest and patriotic politician of a sovereign independent country by relying on his own wisdom and judgment? A patriotic Nepali politician even runs the risk of losing his life in mysterious accidents. If he wants to stay his own master, he has to gird up his loins and be prepared to face all eventualities. If he is fully aware of his debt to his country and loves his country more than the theoretical ideology, he must dedicate himself, come what may, to meet the one and only priority –redressing the miseries of poor, deprived and exploited countrymen. We do trust he is fully cognizant of the fact that it will be extremely difficult for him to seize the reins of the government on his own without the unstinted cooperation of honest Nepali intelligentsia. And he must not repeat the mistakes King Gyanendra did – surround himself with his own so-called trusted men and limit his public relations to the discredited politicians only. Keeping himself tied to a handful of mercenaries, quislings and opportunists will only land him up in the ditch. He not only needs to cultivate but sincerely seek the help of the honest and patriotic backbone of Nepali society and the teeming millions of poor Nepalis if he wants to steer the nation as a proud Nepali. If not, may God help Nepal.
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Sitaram Yechury, influential politburo member of Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M) has emerged as another good friend and well-wisher Indian who thinks India is Nepal’s biggest benefactor and does not interfere in Nepal’s affairs. When India became independent from the British colonial rule in 1947, Yechury must have been a toddler, if he was already born, and, naturally, would not know anything about the beginning of Nepal-India relations. As a politician with a bright future in his own country, he must familiarize himself with the reality about the bilateral relations between the giant and the pigmy nations with contiguous borders and not repeat the parrot talk. Anyway, the beginning of the relations between the two neighbors with the signing of the Treaty of 1950 had only sown the seed of mistrusts and misgivings for coming generations. Poor Mohan Shumsher, the last Rana Prime Minister of Nepal who signed the treaty for his country was no match against the astute statesman, the Great Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. Consequently, Mohan Shumsher was taken for a big ride by the Indian Prime Minister. Yechury would do well to update himself with the truth rather than trying to mislead poor Nepalis with his rhetorics. Why is he so much interested in Nepali affairs and visits Nepal so frequently is beyond ordinary Nepali’s simple comprehension. Friendly Nepalis think Yechury rather should devote his energies to prevent the specter of disintegration taking concrete shape in his own country instead of fishing in the troubled waters of a small and weak but friendly neighbor. We are, therefore, reminded of the Shakespearean proverb, “Physician, heal thyself.”
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