Editorial (Spotlight Weekly)

A brief sojourn in the fresh air of a foreign country far from the foolish and suffocating atmosphere prevailing in our own always injects extra life and hope in me. The disappointments and frustrations that keep on tormenting while in my own country suddenly melt into thin air when I find myself into the hustle and bustle of an alien airport. The gay abandon and the infectious zest, the hurrying crowd of men, women, and children that throng the arrival and departure lounges and the duty free shops do not fail to affect me ever and, momentarily, I tend to be carried away and forget that I come from a country that is on the verge of ruin. Even this time it was no exception. We, too, (me and my wife) mingled into the enthusiastic crowd of passengers until it was time for us to go to the retiring rooms of Louis Tavern. Our sound sleep of about six hours was disturbed by the waking call and for the next fifteen hours our thoughts were pivoted only on landing at the L.A. airport. I do not enjoy a long hop on an aircraft and my wife does even less. So it was a great relief when our plane touched down at the L.A. airport and after going through the immigration and customs formalities we finally relaxed in the domestic wing to board a plane to our final destination. While browsing on a local newspaper I am accosted by an acquaintance whom I knew in Nepal. Since I was totally oblivious of the happenings in Nepal for two previous days he broke the sad news of the death of Brigadier General Sagar Pande and his wife in a mine blast set up by the Maoists. I was stunned, since I not only know the Pandes well, but they are good friends to me. Unfortunately Brigadier Pande was the first victim of that rank to fall prey to the disastrous civil war. If this civil war is not brought to a quick end, the country will not only lose many more illustrious sons and daughters in untimely deaths but many will be forced to flee the country. My acquaintance was getting warmed up in his critical appreciation about the happenings in the mother country when our dialogue was cut short by the announcement of the departure of my flight. We promised to keep in touch through phone and parted ways.

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I really was not very keen to leave the country I love at this critical juncture. But my prostrate problems left me no alternative. Still it has provided me a wonderful opportunity of reading the minds of many of the NRNs who seems so solicitous to come to the rescue of the land of their origin. Even though I have had certain not very pleasant memories of their attitude towards their country, I would not say I am totally despondent. When those living in the country themselves and those in charge of running the country are totally insensitive to its interests, no one need be surprised if those who have left the country for good are a bit callous.