Wednesday, December 27, 2006

The notion that it is due to the Brahmins and their ism that has marred the development of the country is a false claim — Mr. Khom Datta Baral, Senior Political Analyst, Nepal

Mr. Khom Datta Baral is a lecturer of Political Science in addition to being a senior officer at the Central Office Rastriya Banijya Bank, Kathmandu with over two decades plus experience.

He graduated in the Law discipline and accomplished his Masters degree in Political Science from the Tribhuvan University in Nepal .

Mr. Baral originally hails from Eastern Nepal -the district of Ilam. Besides these, to mention a few, he has attended notably seminars on "Human Rights" organized by Danish Center for Human Rights at Copenhagen , Denmark ; "Training of Effective Loan Management" held at Colombo , Sri Lanka and others.

He has also authored many such seminar/research papers as, among others, "Women in Criminal Activities in Different Countries", on "Finger Prints and Handwriting", "Problems in Deciding Income Tax" and others.

Mr. Baral is also associated with the Political Science Association of Nepal and prefers to take part in healthy political discussions. Mr Baral also prefers not to miss any Telegraph Weekly sponsored seminars and discussion programs.

We approached this intellectual for an exclusive interview to which he readily agreed. Below the results- Editor.

TGQ1: Mr. Baral, as a political analyst how have you analyzed political developments after the April change? Do you think these changes will bring about forward looking developments that is being said so often?

Mr. Baral: As a student of political science, firstly, I would like to clarify that response to some political problems may not always be as easy to be interpreted numerically.

Before going into the developments after the April change first, I would prefer to analyze the logical political developments that cropped up prior to the said change. As I see it, first the SPA led protest programs against the Royal regime, subsequently King Gyanendra's highly ambitious moves, thereafter the SPA leaders meeting the Maoists top-hats in Siliguri and in Lucknow in series, and finally, the twelve point agreements shaped between the SPA and the Maoists in New-Delhi gave some background to this change.

The Maoist strategy to move the local people based upon the 12-Point Agreement with the SPA conglomerate, the SPA leadership endeavors to amass international support during the nineteen day long Jan-Aandolan-II against the King's rule perhaps became the main basis for the April change. This also facilitated the Maoists led bloody revolution for a peaceful landing. The developments after these events have just paved an easy way for the Maoists to adapt into the competitive politics.

On the one hand a decade long upheaval has ended but on the other this has also provided lessons to the autocratic royal regime that they also need to change according to the people's will.

Finally, these unfolding events may or may not prove to be the required and logical basis for future political stability in the country. However, there are many lessons to be learnt from the events that happened in the country.

TGQ2: Do you agree to the notion that presently the state continue to function without a constitution? If it is so, then how do you see this state to bring Nepal into?

Mr. Baral: I agree that the day (Asoj 18) former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba recommended the postponement of the elections, from that very day the 1990-Constitution was hurt badly. At present the old constitution is either non-functional or we can say it is laying in a death-bed. But to the surprise of all the new interim-constitution is yet to be officially promulgated and this vacuum is going on since 2059 Asoj. I think this is the main reason behind the difficulty in finding the track of stability in the country. But I still believe that that this situation could have been avoided. My point is that, if our leaders could have promulgated another constitution within 45 days of the Baisakh 11 declaration this situation could have been avoided. Lack of this alternative at present as an example caused delay in the Arms Management issue that has given a chaotic look to the present political scheme. Now, the leaders instead of looking into other less important issues should focus on officially promulgating the new constitution that will fix the current stalemate.

TGQ3: Some analysts claim that the major changes from the traditional state structure as declared by the all-powerful parliament after last April have remained controversial. Reports have been that the judiciary is seriously looking after the unfolding events thereafter. In your opinion, what end this stalemate will bring considering the present tussle between the government and the judiciary?

Mr. Baral: Firstthe parliament is a representative of the sovereign people of this country. One perspective is that the King has reinstated this all-powerful parliament and the same parliament has slashed powers of the King that was there since long. The fact is that it is the same judiciary which have had in its verdict had justified the dissolution of the parliament by the King when Sher Bahadur Deuba was the prime minister. Now that the parliament has been restored citing that at times the "theory of necessity" also could be brought into action at crucial times.

However, the judiciary too should look into the spirit of the mandate provided to the parliament that facilitated the all sovereign parliament to go on for declarations which has done so in order to restructure the country. The judiciary must accept this fact and must abide by it.

This may look illegal constitutionally or even give an impression that it is controversial but choice of people who are sovereign and source of all power, to see an end to repressive regime finally to transform the prevailing old system to establish an inclusive scheme cannot be viewed as unconstitutional by the judiciary. The judiciary can no longer take an account of the dead constitution and try to create hindrance to the current changes. Instead the judiciary can transform itself first and accept the current changes.

TGQ4: Present fluidity in Nepali politics is due to maneuverings originating from outside the country, some analysts and some political parties suspect. They even guess that the government is virtually being controlled by some international as well as regional power centers. How do you analyze all these issues?

Mr. Baral: It may not be out of place to point out that Nepal may occupy less space in the world geographic mapping but geo-politically it occupies higher position. Thus, it is not completely unnatural that stakes originating from various parts of the world or regional power centers could be experienced here in the country. Nepal could be a smaller country in size and dimension but then yet various countries might have their hidden interests here.

Our neighbor India may look upon Nepal eying the vast water resources that we possess and also they may want to lead this region. The US may see Nepal as a space to gaze at the Chinese activities. Each and every country might have their own specific strategic interests in Nepal which, looking from their angles, seems not that much illogical.

Nevertheless, the changes that were brought about by the 19 day long Janaandolan-II in "speed" were even unexpected for those who wanted to see their interests materialized first in Nepal . The unfolding events were so fast that made it difficult for even foreigners to imagine the unimaginable that occurred in this country. This was the main reason that compelled the King to take the Baisakh 11 decision. After the Royal proclamation, as was visible then, some politically motivated political quarters excessively played their role.

Nevertheless, there are talks that the Indian establishment played major role in penning the 12-point agreement between the SPA and the Maoists that took place in the Indian capital New-Delhi.

History is on record which abundantly shows that India has played major roles during the movement of 2007, 2046 and more freshly in 2063. More so the Indian interference has been at the maximum after restoration of democracy in these intervals. Anyway foreign stakeholders have at times played foul games and have interfered into the Nepali affairs and even minimized our sovereign national independence. Frankly speaking, this time around I believe that it is innate desire of the Nepali people that brought the desired political changes.

As of now, the delay seen in the promulgation of the interim constitution, I suppose, it is the UN and US interests combined that have made this delay. This much is visible.

TGQ5: The Maoists along with some selected janjatis claim that the age old Brahmanbad and the Brahmins themselves hold responsibility for the current depressing state of the country. As a Brahmin how have you analyzed such allegations?

Mr Baral: I always had reservations over the notion that certain castesor a group of people hold responsibility for the total downfall of a nation state. A country's geographical situation, its natural resources and their proper utilization, the awareness among the citizens and above all the competent leadership should hold responsibility in steering the nation as a whole in a progressive manner.

Here I accept that the Brahmins by nature are intelligent and well educated as compared to other castes and considering that the Brahmins led the country in the past, they might have caused some lapses. Some percentage for the under-development of the country so far must be shouldered by the Brahmins for having been in the bureaucracy of the system for long.

But to conclude that all the Brahmins are rotten eggs would be a wrong declaration which of late I have been listening to that are emanating from certain castes and classes. But in my opinion, Nepal presently is mired more in class-domination economically rather than caste.

Talking of the Brahmins, what is for sure is that not all the Brahmins are privileged for higher education. There are Brahmins who appear inferior to some belonging to the other castes and classes. For example, the Brahmins could well be seen working as servants of some economically advantaged and places Rai, Limbus, and Thakalis. These people could well be seen to have been using their own clans as servants.

It could be a matter of degree only; the exploitation is there in the society which is prevalent in and among practically all the castes and tribes.

In my contention, to do a good job, to develop a society and ultimately the nation at large, it is not the tribes or castes which should become a hindrance to that. Every castes and class are equally responsible for the upliftment of the society.

To your question as to what is Brahmanism, let me make it clear to you this ism begins right from the very birth that comes to an end after death. In other words, it is a culture which apparently provides an impression that this caste specially is believer of SHAKTI-strength, which is why the allegation that the Brahmins are close to power centers which is an undeniable fact. The culture inherited by the Brahmins since long will perhaps take some time to come to an end. But it would come to an end sooner than later.

The notion that it is due to the Brahmins and their ism that has marred the development of the country is a false claim. That is why; it is time that we must promote communal, tribal and ethnic harmony so that the country gets integrated into one single entity. It is time that we join our hands for the nation-building task instead of making comments that brings about a divide in and amongst we the Nepalese.