Off The Record (Spotlight Weekly)

Pun & Peace-makers

After keeping scribes waiting for a couple of hours, Minister of Works, Transport and Physical Planning Narayan Singh Pun entered the Reporters Club hall with two other people. Pun, newly nominated as the government's representative to hold talks with the Maoists, looked tired. But he responded to the volley of queries energetically. Two obscure former communist workers, Birendra Jhapali and D.B. Lamichane, turned out to be the ice-breakers. Interestingly, both belong to Pun's Samata Party. How could three members of a newly formed party succeed where heavyweight politicians and prominent activists faltered? Lord Pashupatinath's blessings for peace, perhaps?

Bhattarai Speaks

Breaking a deafening silence of more than half a year, former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has demanded the reinstatement of the House of Representatives. The puts him closer to Girija Prasad Koirala than Sher Bahadur Deuba, if you are still wondering where the sole surviving founder member of the Nepali Congress stands. Bhattarai's statement, which appeared at a time when the country is seeing a faint hope for peace, shows his concern for the rights of the people. For Koirala, it has certainly been a morale booster.

Cold War Vista?

Raj Parishad Chairman Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi is said to be writing his memoirs. After the restoration of democracy, many books have appeared in the market, including B.P. Koirala's "Atma Britanta" and "Jail Journal" and Bhattarai's "Karmabir Krishna Prasad Bhattarai", shedding light on the political history from a personal perspective. Dr. Rayamajhi, who has been long associated with communist politics, knows the ins and outs of Nepalese politics as a whole. Known as a man very close to the former Soviet Union, could Dr. Rayamajhi's memoirs be expected to illuminate Nepalese political developments from the standpoint of the leader of eastern bloc?

View of History

After making "Basanti," based on Diamond Sumshere Rana's historical novel, director and producer Nir Bikram Shaha is said to be planning a film based on the author's "Seto Bagh", which chronicles the life of Jung Bahadur Rana. At a time when commercial films are facing a market crisis, Shaha's historical saga is set to test the market. If his efforts bear fruit, more producers would be attracted to historical themes. Audiences would get to know their country better in an entertaining way.

Ritualistic Tributes

Regardless of the political system of the day, Martyrs' Memorial Day is observed in the same ritualistic way by garlanding portraits and praising the contributions of people who laid down their lives for the country. The week-long observances this year, too, concluded with formal programs to pay special homage to the four men who were given the death penalty 60 years ago along with other known and unknown martyrs. There must be a more inspiring way of paying tributes to the valiant sons and daughters of the land.

Shifting Alliances

CPN-UML leader Bam Dev Gautam has a perceptible record of oscillation. He split the party a couple of years ago declaring himself general secretary of the splinter group. Gautam now backs his old rival K.P. Sharma Oli against incumbent general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal. Given his record of shifting alliances, Gautam probably will be on Nepal's side next time.