Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Dr. Surendra K.C. is not a new name for those who have been reading this newspaper on a regular basis.

Dr. K.C obtained his doctoral degree on the topic of Communist Movement in Nepal wherein he has tried his best to put on record all the ups and downs the Communist Movement saw in the past to come to a stage what it is today.

This learned scholar is basically a renowned historian of this country who has several books to his credit.

Apart from books, Dr. K.C writes thought provoking articles on a variety of interesting but contemporary topics.

Basically he is the Associate Professor at the Central Department of History, T.U. Besides this he is also a highly valued political analyst and columnist for several important national newspapers and journals.

This week, we approached this historian for a tête-à-tête to which he agreed. Below the results-ed.

TGQ1: How do you Dr. K.C view the freshly signed "peace accord" in between the Maoists and the Government? Where this accord will lead the country in the future?

Dr. K.C: If this accord is sincerely provided top priority by both the contracting parties and if it is brought into real implementation without any mal-intentions and wicked designs then I presume this concurrence to some extent would prove beneficial for the well-being of the country and the people.

However, if the new leadership and the government to be formed dilly-dallied in finding out a viable and logical solutions to the existing issues and problems confronting the country more so of the oppressed classes like the various ethnic tribes and dalits and Jan Jatis, in that eventuality I see the prospects of the re-emergence of violent behavior and horror. In that case no one can guarantee permanence of peace in the country even if the accord has been duly signed between the State and the rebels.

TGQ2: Some factions within the Maoists and the neighboring revolutionary parties together with some international revolutionary outfits have criticized the Nepali Maoists alleging that the latter have betrayed the revolution by signing the peace accord with the State. How do you see this development having an impact on the prevalence of peace in this country?

Dr. K.C: If the international revolutionary movements see what ever has happened in Nepal recently as a betrayal by the Nepali Maoists then it is commonsensical in their eyes considering the rigid ideological Marxists theories and practices. Certainly there has been a deflection and the international revolutionaries' could have seen the Nepali events in their own ways.

However, what has also to be taken into proper account as to whether considering the country's geo-politics and geo-location the theories and practices adopted in the 1950s by Mao-Tse Tung wherein he had waged a people's war, would be a practicable option for this country or not? These were the fundamentals wherein one needs to think twice.

TGQ3: Controversial citizenship bill has been passed. Extradition treaty in an improved version is likely to be passed soon. If so, how will all these passing of the bills have an impact on Nepal 's demographic patterns and Nepal 's friendly relations with countries other than India ?

Dr. K. C: Irrefutably, the passing of the citizenship bill will definitely secure the majority of the population of those residing in the Terai belt of this country.

Apart from this, the new extradition treaty if signed is sure to dampen our relations with the countries other than India . It would have a grave impact on our relations with other friendly neighboring countries.

Take it for granted, the issue of the citizenship is in effect not a real question but has been made an artificial issue by some interested quarters.

Recently one sitting minister said that about four million people in the entire country (stress added) were yet to receive the citizenship certificates. Now according to NC leader, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, only two and half lakhs of people belonging to the Madhesi origin were to get the said certificates. However, the Nepal Sadbhavana Party leaders claim contrary to what Dr. Yadav claims. The NSP says that about four million plus people of Madhesi origin were denied so far their citizenship certificates.

This is some thing unbelievable. How come this colossal difference? Who the people are for whom the NSP has been advocating for the citizenship certificates?

I believe that the oppressed class based in the Terai are definitely denied the certificates. The clamoring for the rest is simply a political stunt.

Dr. Ram Baran Yadav who belongs to Terai and is a member of the Nepali congress claims that of the total population

TGQ4: Dr. K.C, as a member of the border encroachment committee you have traveled along the border areas extensively wherein our lands have been supposedly encroached upon. Given this scenario, why Nepal 's political parties, civil society members including the media do not utter a single word against this continued encroachment?

Dr. K.C: This perhaps explains as to who and which forces on earth have been controlling and using Nepal 's intellectual circle and the leaders of the political parties for its political benefits. This does also speak as to where the remote control lay.

Nevertheless, the Nepali leaders, academicians and the population who have been so blatantly close their eyes to this critical issue will slowly come to their senses and will understand the grave consequences that this will have on the overall body-politic of this country.

TGQ5: The expanded lands of Nepal were limited by the Sugauli treaty signed in 1815-16. Some qualified historians' claim that Nepal can regain lawfully those lost territories forwarding the clause 8 of the 1950 treaty signed in between Nepal and India . What is your opinion in this regard?

Dr. K.C: When we have miserably failed to preserve and protect our own lands whatever we have at the moment then to initiate talks of further regaining of our lost lands is nothing but a sheer joke indeed.

Let's not forget the sad fact that the Marxist-Leninist-ML and the party's affiliated students organization too have had marched towards KALAPANI in the recent past but nothing substantial could be achieved from that rally. Let's not forget the event that is still fresh in our memory.