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It is indeed good news that Bangladesh has agreed to provide zero tariff on Nepalese primary products. However, the Phulbari-Banglaband route, from which Nepalese goods can have alternative access to a port, besides Calcutta, is yet to flourish due to a lack of proper roads, among other difficulties.

The country could benefit immensely from the Phulbari-Banglaband route. It will allow the export of Nepalese goods to third countries via a port at costs of up to below 20 per cent than of Calcutta, the only Indian port used by Nepal. Besides this, Nepalese products like dairy and agricultural products, will gain access to Bangladeshi markets, increasing regional trade.

However, this route has barely been used, due to a lack of storage and telecommunication facilities, and agents for transactions. This apart, passport and visa requirements for travel between Bangladesh and Nepal with the escorting of vehicles in India by the local police, is another reason cited by businessmen who preferred not to use this route.

These existing problems should be solved, so the country can benefit from this alternative trade route to enhance both its international and regional trade. The recent visit of Foreign Minister Bastola to Bangladesh should have rectified many of the shortcomings. The offer by Bangladesh to levy zero tariff on Nepalese goods is a step in the right direction. The "on-arrival" issuing of visas to businessmen and other additional infrastructure development should create a more favourable environment for the proper utilization of this barely-used trade route. Although India permitted Nepalese use of the Phulbari-Banglaband route at the time of IK Gujral’s premiership, it still has much work to do to minimize obstructions. India itself can utilize this route for its own benefits.

Opening up Nepalese private airlines to Bangladesh could significantly increase the influx of potential tourists to Nepal. There are other signs of goodwill that have come from none other than Bangladesh to increase the quotas for Nepalese medical students in Bangladeshi institutions.

It is very important for Nepal to use the Phulbari-Banglaband highway in order to increase our regional and international trade. Both the Nepalese and Bangladeshi governments should work towards establishing the necessary infrastructure for the proper utilization of the immense trade potential offered by the Phulbari-Banglaband route. Besides, the potential for railway links between the two countries also has to be studied in consultation with India, whose territory it has to pass through. Further possibilities exist in the field of export of hydro-power from Nepal to Bangladesh, which could earn significant revenue.

Are Gurkhas an export item ?

By Dr Shreedhar Gautam 

Our Nepalese brethren, known as Gurkhas in the western countries, have been serving for over a hundred year in British and Indian armies. According to the recently published book titled Imperial Warriors - British and the Gurkhas by Tony Gould, Gurkhas had served as either casual or regular soldiers in the British army for 132 years by 1947. Since the independence of India, the Gurkhas have remained with both the British and Indian armies. They have maintained their reputation as the warriors of rare breed all along these years. They had won no less than 10 of the 26 Victoria Crosses (VC) awarded to other ranks of the Indian army during the second World War, even though Gurkha battalions comprised only about a fifth of the total number of Indian army infantry units.

Though Gurkhas have earned the admiration of everyone, including even the enemy, they are basically taken as export items by foreign powers. The rulers of our country have ignored this vital aspect over these long years and succumbed to foreign pressure and the recruitment went on unhindered, except in the case of Jung Bahadur Rana, who had issued some rigid regulation to discourage the rampant recruiting drive in Nepal by the British Raj. Gould writes that successive rulers of Nepal were cajoled into ensuring a supply of superb troops for the Raj. He reveals that some astute rulers of Nepal manipulated the relationship for their own benefit, ignoring the national interest and prestige.

The book terms the Gurkha warriors as the only export item of the mountain kingdom. The writer mentions that various rulers, each burdened with his own brand of compulsion, fully exploited the recruitment of Gurkhas, without entertaining the possibilities of a nationalistic favour capturing the minds of these simple people. The book is not only a chronicle of a regiment’s history but has also touched upon the problem the Gurkhas faced in the world war, sent to the European front. It shows, no Gurkha, no matter how competent or brave, could become a full officer, until very recent times.

The author’s own admiration for the Gurkhas is all too obvious but he has, at the same time, brought out some very important facts about the history of Nepal with special emphasis on the Gurkha recruitment. He has taken cognizance of the rulers of our kingdom with a view to showing the evolving whole system over these years. Though the book contains innumerable anecdotes depicting the Gurkha’s reaction to difficult situations, all of them eulogistic, the essence of the book leaves us in doubt that the Gurkhas are export item of Nepal in the eyes of western people.

The treatment of the Gurkhas as export item is an insult and humiliation to all nationalist Nepalese. To term every Gurkha as an export item is really unacceptable and unreasonable, apart from humiliating. In this globalizing world, people from various countries can go to other countries, in search of job, but they cannot be treated as cheap and export item. But we cannot escape from the agony of ‘degradation’ of our citizens as long as Nepalese are recruited in Indian and British armies.

Sending our men to foreign armies is not only against the international law but also a great detrimental to our national character and identity. Our neighbouring countries China and Pakistan have raised the question on Gurkha recruitment several times in the past, especially during the Indo-Pak and Sino India war. China even claimed the right of recruiting Nepalese men in its army as done by India and Britain. China had to be convinced by the Nepalese rulers in the past about the treaty according to which Nepalese men could not be recruited in other countries, except in India and Britain. But our logics are so weak and self-defeating that we have just become a laughing stock in the eyes of other countries.

The fallout and side effect of Gurkha recruitment are many and terrifying. Once our men are recruited in foreign armies, they no more remain proud of themselves as they have to bear untold humiliation in their service time. The nation cannot expect unflinching loyalty from its own men who are compelled to join foreign army for the sake of livelihood. They know that they are exported to foreign countries due to lack of job opportunities and other facilities in their own country. Even when they come back after retirement, they have to be sensitive to the interest of those countries at the cost of the national interest fearing the loss of the hard earned pension.

Moreover, the history of Gurkha soldiers recruited in Indian and British armies is not encouraging. There are many cases of injustice and cruelty suffered at the hands of foreign powers. Many Gurkhas who fought in British-Indian army were deprived of their due at the end of second World War. Gurkhas are still discriminated against in many regards in Indian and British armies.

We cannot, however, get rid of our responsibility by passing adverse remarks against other countries. We have to ask overselves whether it is prestigious to allow our citizens to be part of foreign army.

Some of us may take consolation in terms of the foreign currency that the country receives from these men. But this meager benefit is nothing compared to the colossal damage inflicted upon the national psyche. It will serve no purpose by asking India and Britain to stop recruitment unless we are serious enough to create new opportunities and job in our own country.

British and the Indians have seen great potentialities in Gurkhas - as a fighting man. They think that it is a two-way traffic where the rulers of Nepal have also got what they wanted. The question has to be posed to our rulers, not to the foreign powers, because it is the rulers over these many long years who have benefited themselves by sacrificing simple Nepalese, deprived of opportunities in their own country.

It is already more than 10 years since the restoration of multi party democracy, but no ruling party has even thought over this issue seriously. The question of open border with India and recruitment of Gurkhas are serious issues of national importance. Nepalese will be degraded and humiliated so long as these two problems are not solved to the satisfaction of each and every Nepali citizen.

The recent Hrithik Roshan episode, Malkani's statement and the debate on the question of Nepal’s accession to India, raised by BBC sometime ago, are eye openers to the impending tragedy. Such incidents can recur with bigger magnitude if we do not learn to be sensitive to our national cause and image. The two problems need immediate attention of our rulers if they want Nepal to remain as an independent and prosperous country in real sense. If the rulers do not wake up to these realities, Nepal will only have a famous export item, Gurkhas as depicted in Tony Gould’s book.

 Insatiable obsession- too good to be true

By Leeza Sharma

The 5th November 2000 is still as fresh as dew in my memory. That day when I dared to break the constraints made by my ownself for my own well-being. I have always been alone and happy even at the cost of scorching tears ... still had a smile on my face.

All these years, I passed in solitude, but I never felt I was alone until today, when my heavens have turned into blood ... and I lie here all alone trying to hold back the tears that continuously seem to flow out. My heart aches when I realize I’m all-alone, all over again. In mere two months, I was fed with all the love that had lacked in my life for 17 years. It was a beautiful feeling and it was ‘Angel’, who by mistake, passed through my way and filled my life with happiness. Unfortunately, when I opened my eyes it was all an illusion. I was hallucinating all this time. For love, happiness, joys and what not, could never be a part of me. And I should have realized that before long .

I, however, feel that I am another face. We stuff ourselves with whatever it takes to try to fill the void or the vacuum. The empty space within us. We try on food, drugs, sex, knowledge, achievement, success, fame, love, just to fill the void, we don’t care to see if it’s meant for us. We want to be full, feel full, and feel worth, feel success, feel acceptance. We will do whatever it takes, with little regard to the cost we, others bear at times, but.... Our motive is just to be full. And when time comes, like it did in my case and our belongings, feelings are snatched off from us, by the ones we thought we belonged to. And they give us genuine excuses for doing that, that is; it is all too good to be true.

For, Angels are illusions .... and the love, happiness that they bring along may not belong to us, for we might be hallucinating. But it’s human nature so, I’m still waiting for an Angel to come my way, and this time I’ll be awake ... for I still continue to have an insatiable obsession. Which shall be true, in spite of being too good to be true...

Was anti-Hrithik Roshan violence justified ?

The Kathmandu Post and Mercantile Communications conducted a survey on the topic: "Was the anti-Hrithik Roshan violence that engulfed Nepal justified?" The survey was done on the Net last week. Of the total 1320 respondents, 77.4%(1022) said "No", 18.9% (249) said "Yes" and 3.7% (49) said "Don’t know".

We regret the inconvenience, if any, that may be caused on account of original names being kept back by some respondents.

The Hrithik incident has really harmed the image of Nepal as a peace loving country. It’s very sad to know that some innocent people lost their lives. The only thing now we can do is to correct our mistakes and naivete. This will help us to understand the reality. Of course, Indians do deserve for their deed.

- Manoj Thapa

No, the Hrithik Roshan episode has now proved to be a false rumour created by anti-social elements to disrupt the tranquil atmosphere of our country. In the mayhem, five innocent lives were killed and properties worth millions of rupees were destroyed for nothing. Hrithik Roshan categorically denied what he had never expressed anti-Nepali view. He said that he has a great respect for Nepal and Nepalese. Even if he said so that was his personal opinion. Why should we give importance to an individual’s view.

Instead, DPM Ram Chandra Poudel and Information Minister Jay Prakash Anand made irresponsible remarks and even used the volatile situation to boost their political mileage. Hence, the government should probe into the episode independently and must punish the culprits. But the question is who are culprits, politicians or India.

- Balmukund Joshi

It is indeed very good to know that we take pride on our national sentiments. But does it really hurt so much when an actor of low grade Indian movies says that he does not like us and our country? And moreover, it was his personal opinion and has every right to express his feelings. We are very keen to protest, destroy our own property and even kill ourselves if someone says he does not like us. This incident has to be questioned without any unbiased and rational judgement.

- Chidananda Sharma

It’s so sad that Nepal has now become a major centre for ISI activities which major Indians believe today. There should be a joint venture between Indian and Nepali security forces to fight against ISI, mafia and other such forces which want to destroy Indo-Nepal brotherhood. But has India come across an ISI activist operating from Nepal? If so, he would not have been left unarrested.

- Mohumand Singh

If Hrithik has really made derogatory remarks on Nepal and the Nepalese, then a severe action should be taken against him. For instance, he must be barred from entering our country or make him pay millions in fine. But I think killing our fellowmen and destroying national property will in no way punish the Bengali babu. The charge against him cannot be proven unless we come up with concrete evidence.

- Rabi Dangi

What a shame! A mediocre actor makes allegedly unsavoury comments and here a pack of dogs agitate. This speaks volumes about the foolish and childish attitude of the Nepalese. And it is amazing to see how much importance these dogs give to an Indian actor.

- Bhola

I felt rather ashamed that our people overreacted to Hrithik’s supposedly derogatory comments upon Nepal which are yet to be confirmed.

- Rabin on

I think this sort of violent reactions will take the country nowhere. If he really had said anything, of course, he should be punished but without any proof this is neither possible nor acceptable. And if he did say anything what is the point in damaging national properties.

- Kanaiya Sanghai

The recent furore over Hrithik’s alleged anti-Nepali utterances and a series of violence and killings are the groundwork of irresponsible political parties that helped add fuel to the fire. They should be tried in court and severely punished.

- Nepali

The agitators who crippled the capital city for four days was not to protest against the Hrithik remarks. The real issue behind the recent agitation was India’s attitude towards Nepal. Take for instance, the hijacking episode how Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh named Tamrakar in front of hundreds of pressmen without learning the fact. Today, Indians have gone to the extent that whenever there is a blast, they blame on Nepal or ISI without any evidence. There have been many such incidents India has pointed its finger against us.

- Shadhana

Sure the violence was justified. History is a witness to our courage and wars to protect our sovereignty and dignity. The Nepalese have fought lots of war for our dignity. Again, the Nepalese have raised their voice for our dignity and sovereignty. However, during the mayhem innocent lives were lost.

- Som Thanet

To me the whole incident seems rather bizarre and highly confusing. I wonder why Bollywood actors and actresses have to always speak against Nepal and the Nepalese? Are there any immediate political benefits for them? Why don’t they appreciate the fact that Nepal is a good market for their work? Does any one know what is the real story?

- Amisha

It is a very stupid action that has damaged the peaceful image of Nepal and broke down harmonious relationship between Madhishes and Pahadis. This is the outcome of dirty politics and immaturity. Those involved in inciting violence must be tried in court. Likewise, the government must also be accountable to the recent violence.

- Shaman Regmi