Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Question is not that we have made the institution of the Nepali monarchy weak. Question is also not that we have been demoralizing the national army. Moreover, question is not that we have been weakening our political and economic stamina whatever we have had in the recent past.

Question in effect is how long we will have to honor the dictates and the hegemonic behavior of our southern neighbor which has not only weakened our vital and crucial institutions of late but is also attacking on our abstract feeling of nationalism.

Yes! Nationalism is a feeling that can't be explained in word and terms. It is simply a feeling of love and honor for one's own motherland which exists in a specified territory with a diverse population who live in complete harmony. This population feels secured and remains assured that as and when enemy from alien lands encroach upon our territories or wage a war, the national army will take care of that in a befitting manner. It is this fact that a nation-state requires the institution of the army.

We feel really ashamed that in these days no one talks of the preservation of national interests as if Nepal have had no national interests as such. Every body is talking of ensuring what is called Loktantra. Well, welcome to Loktantra or whatever it is. But at what cost?

Have we estimated in the recent days or even months that what price we are paying or will have to pay for the institutionalization of that particular Loktantra?

We are losing every second and minutes.

While we have been talking of what mode of politics we should have in the coming days, but concurrently we should have been talking of the need for the preservation of our national interests. We must have considered that why some friends in the neighborhood have suddenly become so friendly to this country? Why this sudden change in their hearts? Was it a free gesture?

Ask what India meant to Bangladesh and Pakistan ? Ask the Sri Lankans how India created an endless war in their small Island whose solution does not appear in sight? Ask the Bhutanese population how they have been feeling when being called even in the international community as a protectorate of India as per the clause 2 of the very controversial Indo-Bhutan treaty of 1949?

Despite all these political trauma, the countries in the neighborhood have preserved their national interests. We can learn lessons from Bangladesh and Pakistan on how to preserve and safeguard one's genuine national interests. Thanks the Presence of Pakistan that has acted like a political deterrent to the Indian maneuverings in order to weaken her neighbors.

Ask the elite Nepali population as to how they take the 1950 treaty of peace and friendship with India ?

Seeking support from friendly countries is not bad. But if you go on seeking dictates in lieu of power in your own country then only the Almighty is the savior.

We are puzzled over the sheer stoic silence acquired by the Nepal 's ever powerful parliament over the dams currently being constructed by India in the no-man's lands in some of the parts of the terai plains which border India .

The fresh example is the construction of a 15 kilometer dam by India near the Siraha district's Harkati VDC which will if left unchecked will submerge hundreds of hectares of nepali land and a panic will automatically grip the villagers who will have to bear the brunt of the India made dam.

This is not all. There are several instances in the past wherein India has ignored Nepali appeals not to go in for such constructions that plunge Nepali villages in waters. However, appeals are appeals only. It has no binding authority.

Talk of Russianwal Khurdlotan, Mahali Sagar, Laxman Pur and Poorna Giri dams constructed by India in the recent past have all created panic in the areas wherein such dams have been constructed by India completely ignoring the international norms and established practices.

Shame on us that we have so far not been able to tell India that enough was enough. But instead we have been seeking her political support to weaken our own revered institutions. But we have so far not asked India as to what cost will we have to pay while being subservient to her national interests? Is India helping Nepal and her leaders for free? A cruel joke indeed.

Indian support and free of cost do nor run in parallel. India has always seen and unseen agenda under her sleeves which presumably Nepali leaders understand better but why they have been not talking straight to India is a matter of serious concern.

Rightly says one of our professional colleague from Sanghu weekly that the more we make it a habit of honoring to Indian hegemony, the more we will be in trouble. The colleague rightly says that it was time that India should also be aware of the fact that today's new Nepali population will not tolerate the continued Indian hegemon. It might retaliate in a very dangerous form. A storm is in the making that will conserve Nepali national interests. Should there be the need of a violent movement in order to safeguard Nepal 's national interests; today's enlightened youths will perhaps not hesitate. Be it known to India .