Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

SLC: Fun For Learn

Despite its importance in the higher education system, the School Leaving Certificate examinations are always wrapped with enduring memories. Regarded as an iron gate, parents and examinees use all kinds of methods to score the minimum pass mark. A few years ago, a group of people were arrested in the terai when they used a ladder to supply the written answers to an examinee. A few years ago, a student was caught trying to copy the answers written down on his thigh and hand. A husband appeared in place of his wife. This year a 76-year-old man became the oldest examinee in the history of the SLC. As the quality of teaching and learning activities is gradually eroding, many students want to secure the pass mark and apply every means. The officials heave a sigh of relief when they nab people for wrongdoing and rusticate them for a few years. In many ways, the SLC examination is known more for fun than seriousness.

Gautam's Revelation

Chastened by the bitter experience of breaking the party, CPN-UML leader Bam Dev Gautam knows the limits of his influence in the party. Humiliated by colleagues for making an insignificant comment on the constitution, Gautam was faced with the threat of suspension. Whatever the party asks, the firebrand leader has to follow. Like all other leaders in the party, nobody cares about Gautam's dissension. Mindful of the iciness of his colleagues, Gautam is now trying to woo the party cadres support for Maoists' demand for a constituent assembly. Standing at the crossroads, Gautam declared that he would be ready to sacrifice anything for the country. Unlike the past, Gautam's call did not generate bitter wrangling in the party. Gautam is safe now, but nobody knows how long his party colleagues will tolerate him.

Chand's Shadow

During the last leg of the Panchayat days, colleagues portrayed Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand as a helpless shadow of underground forces. Particularly, former prime minister and RPP leader Surya Bahadur Thapa harped on this slogan for years to prove himself as a moderate and liberal leader within the Panchayat camp. Chand had many colleagues then to defend him from Thapa's onslaught. Today, when the premier is taking so many steps without taking notes, few recall his previous title. It seems that all former panchas have forgotten the past now that Chand seems to have earned the reputation of an open and transparent leader.

Mandal's Mirth

Deputy Prime Minister and leader of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) Badri Prasad Mandal is perhaps the happiest man in politics today. Despite his late entry into the NSP, Mandal was appointed as heir of the late Gajendra Narayan Singh. After completing the NSP convention successfully, Mandal smartly forced out five clever and dedicated leader, who formed a breakaway faction. Mandal knew he wouldn't have been able to control the party as long as smart and educated personalities like Hridayesh Tripathy, Rajendra Mahato, Bharat Bimal Yadav and Sarita Giri were around. The deputy premier used Singh's widow to evict his rivals from the party. Mandal knows the techniques that will ultimately make him the sole leader of the NSP.