Opportunities and challenges for Deuba

By GEJA SHARMA WAGLE

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is facing a fiery ordeal, and the most sensitive and challenging period in the twelve years of Nepalese democracy, attained through the historic struggle and sacrifice of People’s Movement of 1990. Although challenges and difficulties are usual happenings for every state, the state almost always manages to tackle these unusual and rising regular unexpectations in the sense of the need and definition of time. At a time when Nepal is experiencing a serious political, economical, social and cultural jeopardy, the trends of Nepali political parties show conspiracy of unnatural coalition and mathematical game between the parties for capturing power. One can observe an unconstitutional joint venture between the ruling and opposition parties, creating further tension and making the Nepali politics difficult and typical. This power oriented wretched trend and process of playing such games only for getting power and in the name of democratic exercise and culture if not restrained will invite a great political accident in the near future.

But for a statesman or efficient ruler, crisis or difficulty may be a good opportunity to show leadership qualities. Only at challenging periods and emergency, a leader may be examined and evaluated. He who can change the difficulty into an opportunity is a real leader. The future of a country relies on the will, attitude and determination of its leader. Likewise, Prime Minister Deuba is standing at the same challenging and transitional period, and like historical leaders he has to manage these challenges and make use of the opportunities.

There is a great opportunity and responsibility for Deuba to overcome these daunting challenges. If the Prime Minister succeeds in overcoming these challenges, then the future of our country, democracy, Nepali Congress as well as Deuba’s, would be assured. Otherwise, an unimaginable accident may be repeated in the country, and the people of this country will have to bear a burden of curse. At present certain political power-centres, which are bent upon reaping undue benefits, are creating uncertainty in the Nepali politics, opposing democracy, and planning calculated conspiracies against Prime Minister Deuba. Leaders of the ruling and the opposition parties are working as directors of "Tandav Nritya" (dance of destruction). In fact, a series of conspiracies against premier Deuba started as soon as he was sworn in as the prime minister.

At a time of emergency when the country is in crisis and the government is trying to establish peace and stability, the wretched play of conspiracy for power, within the opposition and the ruling parties, has affected the government’s thinking and working psychologically; although some successes in the country’s progress have been recorded, especially in the political and economic development, the control over Maoist terrorism, good governance and transparent administration. Now, the debate regarding the general approach of Prime Minister Deuba’s achievements in the political, economical and social sectors is going on in the political circle of Nepal. The politics of Nepal was complicated, fluid and greatly unpredictable at the time when Deuba took oath as Prime Minister, the situation was such that no one could predict in which direction the country’s politics was heading. Terrorism was in its peak, blood was flowing daily in the country where Buddha, Lord of Peace, was born and endeavoured to promote humanity and peace. The power struggle between the government and constitutional bodies was going on. Not only the news about the crisis of confidence between government and the Royal Nepalese Army but also between the King and government was getting publicity. Management of these conflicts and creating an environment of trustworthiness were highly challenging tasks.

At such a critical juncture, Deuba was successful in creating harmony and an environment of confidence among the king, people, opposition parties, security bodies, and proposed to hold talks with the Maoist insurgents. But the process of resolving the problem within the framework of peace talks could not be completed as the Maoists resumed their violent activity, and finally the government had to declare emergency. Moreover, the declaration of emergency, which got the consensus of all national parties, would never have happened if the terrorists had not acted in the most irresponsible manner, which showed that they were not interested in peaceful negotiations. But one thing is sure,
this extraordinary national consensus and national unity could only be established under the leadership of Prime Minister Deuba.

Deuba has initiated a new political culture of consent, for solving the problems of people and country on the base of national consensus. This kind of national consensus and political culture has maintained our national integrity and nationality. This is very important for Nepal, which is geographically very small, but a sovereign country, where the people, king, political parties get united when any problem arises. Such solidarity has enhanced our image and helped us maintain good relation with our neighbours and other foreign countries. History has shown that whenever there has been a crisis of confidence and conflict between king and the people, the country has faced great dangers, and this fact has been admitted by all sections of the society.

Deuba’s leadership has surfaced not only in the field of nationality and political development, but has also helped the country take quantitative steps forward in the areas of socio-economic reforms, intensive land management programme, social equality, and rights of women and backward castes and tribes. During the past twelve years of multiparty democracy, only Deuba has initiated and given leadership to the revolutionary socio-economic changes. Moreover, he has succeeded in communicating to the civilians the need to awaken the public about the poor, exploited, and troubled ones. The main opposition party CPN-UML responded favourably to these people oriented, popular and revolutionary programmes and policies of Deuba’s government, and held a vast rally in Kathmandu with slogans appreciating the policies of the government, an unprecedented political activity in Nepalese history.

Not only that, the Prime Minister has already given his consent to the proposal regarding the amendment of the constitution. The second phase government homework for socio-economic change is in progress. To resolve the problem of corruption, the government has decided to appoint a high level committee. In addition, the government has also forwarded a bill in the parliament for corruption control and established CIAA as a powerful and free constitutional body. It is very much challenging to attain quantitative success in the field of constitutional reforms, political and economic development, social changes, social equality, women’s rights, corruption control, Maoist terrorism control rather than to address a mass from a forum for a revolutionary declaration. Despite the obstacles, the problems are being solved with political consent and under a good leadership of Deuba.

The revolutionary reforms of Prime Minister Deuba are only initiations, not the ends. Prime Minister must lead the country to the desired goals of socio-economic reforms. Deuba’s programmes of positive reforms should counter the conspiracy of some of the members of the parliament who have dared to challenge and hope to change the government from behind the curtain. But as some say,
this is the land cursed by a ‘Sati’ where individuals who want to protect nationality, operate efficiently the
state mechanism for the benefit of the people in a democratic manner, initiate revolutionary reforms, have always had to face treachery from its own people. Such was the fate experienced by revolutionaries and patriots like Bhim Malla, Bhimsen Thapa and BP Koirala. For Deuba, this type of fate has become a challenge. In the words of Winston Churchill: "Crises and challenges are blessings for me. To face the unimaginable challenges, is my fate. I have only one prayer to God: Please, give me that ethical power, I can face the challenges." The principles of Churchill are very vital, sensitive, and appropriate for Deuba who has been chosen by history to shoulder the great responsibility of fighting the daunting challenges facing our nation.

(The author is advisor at Prime Minister’s Office)

A boiled egg

By BINDU JHA

Oooi Mudule, Aanda, Ganja, Taklu!" children stretched hard their necks like ostrich from the windows of their school bus and shouted at the top of their voice causing their neck nerves to bulge out. I could also hear the laughter, and the famous song of Baba Sehgal - "duur se jo dekha aande ubal rahe the, paas aake dekha gaanje uchhal rahe the", meaning from far we saw the boiling eggs, but as we got closer, we found that the bald-heads were jumping! I also felt like joining the laughter of these young children, who were singing this song in their school bus as if they were going on a picnic! Then I remembered my childhood days when we too used to make fun of people passing by, and shout at the foreigners saying "hello-hello"! Ah, and when some of them used to wave back their hands or say hello, they used to make our day good! We used to get so excited and jump around with a sense of so much of achievement!

The bus passed by, and the children still kept stretching their necks backward, shouting and singing! I suddenly realized that my hands swiftly touched my own head, trying to see whether I was really bald. But I have never shaved my hair, after crossing 3-4 years of my life, when I had cried enough to fill a glass-full of tears grieving for my lost hair!

I was so much involved with myself that I failed to realize that the children were laughing at a man walking just in front of me, and his naked head was shining like a mirror under the scorching sun. I changed my angle, so as to escape the reflection from his barren head. He was a tall guy, and I thought his girlfriend was short. That’s why he must have shaved his head to come to her level. But couldn't she wear pointed sandals, to come up to his height?

I was thinking of all possible reasons for his haircut, but suddenly I spotted many lice over his hairless head. Oh my God, I thought, perhaps his hair was a shelter to many lice families earlier, and perhaps having failed to get any interest from investing his head for them, he may have taken a decision to shave his hair off. Really, perhaps his head was so dear to those lice that some of them are still stuck up! But why were the lice not moving, perhaps they are all dead in the scorching sun as there was no hair to protect them! Oh, a novel idea, I thought, and I wanted to pat his back, but did not muster enough courage to do so.

I was walking past him, in an even pace. Suddenly, I saw him opening the gate of a beautiful house on the roadside. Oh, what a coincidence, even I was going to the same house to meet my best friend! Perhaps, he is my friend's friend, I thought. I was getting excited to see this fellow from the front. I went to a flower-shop adjoined to his house to get a flower for my friend, as I was seeing him after such a long time. But suddenly I saw my friend's dog, which he likes very much, chasing this gentleman. He ran across to a big field, jumping, as if the egg had really started boiling. I asked the shopkeeper to hurry up as I wanted to help this poor guy out, and basically to get a sweet "thank you" from him. But to my surprise, I heard him saying, "Spotty, Spotty, common, didn't you recognize me, I am Valentino, your own master"! I really got bounced back, I didn't even bother to take back the change from the shopkeeper, and I ran to him to see him. Ah, to my surprise, he was the same friend, this smart, handsome guy, whom I was going to meet, and I nearly cried thinking we had walked all along together, but had failed to recognize him just because of his barren head!

My friend saw me lost somewhere and he waved his hand in front of my eyes and said, "Hello, where are you travelling to without any ticket?" I asked him, "You think your girlfriend is so short that you need to cut your hair? Why so many lice on your head?" He was stunned for a moment staring at me, perhaps thinking something is wrong with this girl! But then suddenly I saw his shining head, and said, "Oh, so these are moles, not lice!" and burst into laughter, and he said, "You know what I have got for my girlfriend this time? And he showed to me - a pair of flat shoes!"

Wake Up Call

By Yerina Shrestha

The ultimate truth for me during childhood was that my father was the strongest man alive and my mom the most loving person on the earth. Nothing else mattered. And if somebody were to ask which was the most beautiful place to live in, the answer was the obvious. My country, Nepal. Anything said against them pierced my heart and sent a rage of anger through me.

Standing still for the morning assemblies at school, singing patriotic hymns, chin high up with pride was something that made me feel extremely responsible for the existence of Laligurans and Danfes.

To top it all, a music teacher once happened to tell us that our national anthem was one of the most melodious national songs ever heard. Though I haven’t been able to confirm the truth yet, I then believed this little piece of information to be true. It encouraged me to sing it in the most harmonious
way possible.

And as I grew up, I also realized that the people around this place were one of the most genuine and honest I ever met. The arduous and long journeys back home from the study place in India seemed all worthwhile as soon as the didis at the border restaurants gave a welcoming smile.

Unfortunately things aren’t the same any more. The mountains, hills and the rivers, without which a Nepali patriotic poem is incomplete, are now covered with blood and corpses. It breaks my heart to come to terms with the bitter reality of today. It was beyond my wildest imagination that one day Nepalese are going to be associated with the adjective "brutal". The scenes of war and violence on the TV sets, I thought, only belonged to the unknown land. Now it’s happening next door. How bizarre can things get?

But what is most distressing of all is that we still slump on our comfortable couch and sulk over the monotonous evening news. We are, of course, very sharp at pointing at the things that should have and should not have been done. But, that’s all we do. The tragic incidents serve no more than a hot topic for an interesting discussion over glasses of beer. The apathetic character of the most Nepalese is the most destructive of all.

To my worst fear, most us are gradually letting ourselves be sucked into the vacuum of callousness. It is a matter of wonder, if the following generations would still sing the national hymns with their chin high up or they would ever feel responsible for the Danfes and Laligunras.

Marriage : A bachelor’s anatomy

By Bikash Sangrula

Marriage is a legally and socially sanctioned union between one or more husbands and one or more wives that prescribes rights and duties to both the parties concerned as influenced by the prevalent customs, rules and laws. In a society like ours that is steeped in tradition, getting married and providing for one’s family is the minimum requirement for a man to earn social acceptance. The decision to remain a bachelor, though rare, is bound to be a mishap. Permanent bachelors are invariably suspected of some unspeakable disease, some secret delinquent habits incompatible with married life, or even of some grave psychological disorder such as sexual identity crisis or fear or the opposite sex. Inglorious verdicts !

Such deep-rooted prejudices are rampant in rural and urban populace alike. Hence, even the most resolute of confirmed bachelors end up getting married rather than taking up the unwholesome and futile challenge of living as a renegade citizen-a social outsider!

Even then, for any thinking person, the question cannot be evaded-why get married ?

At the dawn of civilization, marriage was institutionalized in order to prevent the chaos that derived from mankind’s promiscuous tendencies that often led to violent misadventures and bloody disorder. Ordering mankind’s sex-life, then was the prime motive that hastened ancient social engineers to pair up men and women of reproductive age into separate social entities.

A wonderful and commendable step in the eternal staircase of civilization!

In spite of such a social arrangement, mankind’s simian tendencies thrived and looked for every opportunity of sidestepping the social code. In many patriarchal societies, even the most self-contained men couldn’t resist libertine temptations and polygamy became an accepted practice. This practice, primarily meant for abundant sexual companionship, was socially upheld as men’s honourable more to enhance their female partner’s economic burden as many wives meant many hands and comparative affluence. Due to obvious reasons, such marriages are infested with sexual jealousy and eternal quarrels. Though socially and legally discouraged, polygyny still exists
in profusion.

Interestingly, women didn’t stay behind in this nuptial race. Polyandry became an accepted practice in many societies. Even today, it is common among the tribes of the high Himalayas such as the Sherpa, the Bhotias and the Lepachas for a women to have more than one husband, usually brothers. This is called adelphic or fraternal polyandry. Such a practice is believed to be socially beneficial as it prevents fragmentation of property and apparently fosters solidarity among brothers. While polyandry is usually restricted to only two husbands among the Sherpas, the Tibetan, Pahari, Toda and Nayar practice permits any number of younger brothers to share an elder brother’s wife.

Coming back to the fundamental dilemmas of Nepalese youth, the significance of marriage as put forward by some relentless pro-marriage advocates can be summarized in the following points.

1. Satisfaction of personal needs of affection and companionship : This is said to be the most precious reward of marriage. It is argued that if nurtured properly, conjugal life can be truly blissful. As far as my experience goes, any relationship can be blissful if the parties concerned are reasonably tolerant of mutual inadequacies and admiring of the strengths. I myself can testify of a truly fulfilling friendship that I fortunately chanced for three blissful years. What then is the additional magical ingredient that makes marriage deserving of special merits? I think the answer lies somewhere in the less discussed dimension of mankind’s needs.

2. As a means of ordering one’s life : I have been told that a married man lives a more human existence than a bachelor does. Though the wise solicitor of this point of view declined my request to elaborate on this point, I guess this orderliness derives from the efficiency of division of labour. ‘Husband, take care of the finances!’ ‘Wife, take care of household chores and, of course, the toddlers!’ However, increasing economic pressure and the resultant expulsion of woman from kitchens to offices makes this argument fragile and irrelevant. I have seen content and virtuous men turn into frustrated and foul-speaking men after less than half a decade of getting married. I’ve seen teetotallers metamorphose into around-the-clock drunkards as a glorious reward of getting married. I’ve seen.... I’ve seen enough to actually start a global anti-marriage campaign! Still, to be fair, it is true that two heads can manage life better than one.

3. Care of children, their education and socialization : Seems pretty logical, doesn’t is? In the absence of family commitments and the regulation of lines of descent what would happen to the products of people’s nuptial adventures? How would we make sure that our offspring are properly educated and socialized to competently succeed us? A gigantic state owned kindergarten is certainly not the answer. After all, we love our children, don’t we? And even if nomadic fathers cared less (in the hypothetical world where marriage didn’t exist), the mothers would certainly resist estrangement from their offspring. So have I been told and I believe it.

Thus concludes the summary of the reasons why we should get married : But wait a second! I can hear muffled voices! Seems like some well-organized assault on my honest piece of writing. Yes, yes! I surely have to put forth the benefits of remaining a bachelor. After all, any article must discuss both sides of the coin. But I think I’m running short of space. I’ll disclose the rather queer arguments of the anti-marriage advocates in my next essay.

Actually, if you are already married, yours is a settled case so it is absolutely meaningless to lose sleep over this issue. Bachelors! You are still free to decide for yourself. Just to let you a whiff of the bottomline, let me share a little secret with you. In 24 years of my rather ludicrous life, I’ve come across three permanent bachelors. You know what? They are the saddest men I’ve met!