NATIONAL8 (Spotlight Weekly]

Royal Counsel

King Tribhuvan's advice to Nepali politicians remains relevant today

By A CORRESPONDENT

BJP leader K.R. Malkani's recent lament that Delhi lost a major opportunity to tame Nepalis half a century ago -- which he retracted following strong protests from Kathmandu -- continues to dominate political discussions in both countries.

The Indian media has been framing the discussion by ignoring the other side of the story. Nepalis, too, have failed to properly probe events of that period from their own perspective.

A few paragraphs from the book "Contemporary Nepal", written by Daman R. Tuladhar and published by Laxmi Publications in 1980, on the 1945-1955 decade provide insights that put the 1951 revolution in a realistic context. Moreover, they give a clear picture of what King Tribhuvan believed Nepali politicians should do to strengthen independence and nationalism.

In the chapter "An Experiment in Democracy " and under the title "King Tribhuvan in Sorrow", Tuladhar writes: "It was mid-March. At the time, the author was secretary to Tanka Prasad Acharya. He, in the company of Acharya, Khadga Man Singh and Mathura Lal Shrestha had an audience with King Tribhuvan that lasted for about 90 minutes. It should not be out of context to put on record the noble exhortations that His Majesty made on that occasion.

"He had said, 'Let me tell you this, I did not seek political asylum in the Indian Embassy at the spur of the moment. I was ever hesitant to take such a drastic step, for fear of putting the sovereignty and independence of Nepal in jeopardy. The Indian ambassador had given me so much assurance about the altruistic motives of Jawaharlal Nehru in espousing my cause. But he never overcame my suspicion that the Indian prime minister could never be a friend of Nepal at the expense of being a patriot of India.

'Later circumstances drove me to hold the hand of friendship extended by Nehru with full faith in the sincerity of his purpose. The moment I landed in Palam (Delhi), I knew how matters stood. (Pause) I became a pawn at the hands of the Indian prime minister. (Pause) I was segregated from all contacts with the leaders of the Nepali Congress (pause).

'Now I am back home. I have brought with me one Indian gentleman to work as my private secretary and two officers of the Indian Army to look after my security. These are the special gifts from Nehru, which I could not have the heart to reject. I foresee many more such gifts to come. I am no more under the bondage of the Rana Ministers. But am I free yet? Am I not under the tutelage of the Indian prime minister?

'Look at all the Congress leaders taking all their troubles to the drawing room of India's prime minister. When things get rather hot for them, they should not mind taking a trip to New Delhi to seek for guidance, succor and what not of the Indian prime minister.

'To tell you the truth, the Indian prime minister has done me a good turn. When the British government brought much pressure on him to recognize the boy king, he would choose to walk out of the British Commonwealth rather than toe the British line of action. For this act of friendship I shall remain always beholden to him.

'Now I have only one request to make to you gentlemen. Rise above petty individual or sectional interests. Have a broader outlook on political issues. Form a strong well-knit political party to play a constructive role of an opposition. So whatever the Indian prime minister would come out with any friendship and assistance I would refer him to my prime minister of my people's choice.

'If you continue... in your pursuit of self-interest dividing the body politic into political splinters... the fate of the land would be sealed beyond the power of anybody to redeem. Goodnight!