It's only but natural that when you house a 'cat' and 'dog' together they always tend to fight

-Yuba Raj Koirala, Kathmandu

Mr. Yuba Raj Koirala graduated in International Relations from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from Nepal's Tribhuvan University. He is heavily influenced by Buddhism and practices meditation on a regular basis. Besides this he keeps himself abreast with the contemporary national and international events.

Mr. Koirala feels very sorry for the current state of affairs in the kingdom and thinks that the rampant

Corruption in every socio-economic and political sector is the main cause of Nepal's downfall even in a system that is considered to be one of the best dispensation in the world for giving a total facelift to the nation like ours. Yet, he is very hopeful that Nepal will soon take a leap forward should a Messiah of his imagination step in the political scene of the country. However, he fails to describe or refuses to do so for reasons unknown to us.

We approached this intellectual at a social gathering last week for an exclusive interview. Below the results: Chief editor.

TGQ1: How you Mr. Koirala as an intellectual of the nation been evaluating the dangerous impasse seen in the parliament? What impact it would have upon the democratic system and also in the minds of the lay men who have barely been a partner for obvious reasons in the entire process since 1990 or so? Do you see any way out of this imbroglio? Your comments please!

Mr. Koirala: Very good question you put Mr. Upahdhyaya indeed. As far as the present parliament impasse is concerned, I don't see it what you described as being dangerous. You could not have expected a miracle to happen even if the parliament did proceed given the faction within the Nepali congress and their inability to envisage a long term strategy, which could have addressed the ever-deteriorating socio-economic condition of the country. These people (in high places) have not got any agenda, they don't do their homework and quite frankly they have little knowledge of world politics and its functioning as such. But if you see things in its totality the situation is grave and the sooner it is addressed the better it is. Unfortunately I cannot tell you who is going to be that Messiah. However, my understanding is that it would very much depend on the power equation of the three competitive power rivals mainly the Nepali Congress and UML, the Maoist and the Monarch upon which the people are increasingly looking up to.

Regarding you second question the impact it will have in the minds of lay men, if this situation continuous is that they will be pushed to that extreme stage of misery they will be obliged either to send their daughter(s) in the Indian brothel and their sons in the dying field of Maoist camp. Or what else they can do? The nation then loses its face within and without.

TGQ: What I understood from your answer is that you expect a Messiah to jump in and control the nation from going to the brink. Perhaps you hint at the constitutional monarch who, I'm told is not at all interested in intervening into the present scheme of things. When the monarch is not interested, the political parties continue to exhibit mayhem in the parliament, should we invite men from neighboring countries to take up our affair? Do not you think that it was time the King acted in a manner that brings back the normalcy without giving a major jolt to the system?

Mr. Koirala: I do not expect any Messiah to jump in and I cannot tell you who is that going to be since it would evolve by its own logical culmination. As I said earlier it depends on the power equation of the above forces. However, we must bear in mind that the more powerful one camp emerges the more cost the nation will have to bear, the more blood and tears will be shed. This could naturally lead to the extremism and we all know the age of Extremes.

Regarding the King taking over, I think they (who have benefited from the present system most) will blame him. They will say that time and again it is the king who killed this beautiful butterfly that the people so loved. You see my point Mr. Upadhayaya? Nonetheless, I too agree with former Prime Minister Mr. Bista when he said that if the leader turns a blind eye to the sensitive issues, if he refuses to see when he has eyes, if he refuses to listen to when he is intelligent then it is only too natural that people will lose faith in the institution wherein the leader is engaged. Now regarding the King, we have understood that He is an well-educated man, has a thorough understanding of domestic as well the international politics and more importantly loves the nation and his people. No body should doubt his leadership ability. Why cannot we begin to think that we want our own kind of Democracy. Why do we have to worry about it not being modeled in the Westminster style. It worked for them. They have a long tradition, their level of education is unparalleled, and their civilization is in its zenith. They are men of liberal temperament, devoted to ideals of reason, progress, liberty and human perfectibility. Their country had been in the vanguard of advancing scientific thought and had played a leading role in the Agricultural, Industrial revolution. They are intellectuals of that tradition of Enlightenment who feel themselves to be part of a great movement representing the highest aspiration and possibility of mankind. Their history as Macaulay noted is 'the history of physical, moral and intellectual improvement. Our ground realities are rather different and we have to seek them in our past.

Yes I too think that it was high time that the monarch takes the initiative and gives a new lease of life to this ailing system. If he does so it will enhance his popularity in the length and breadth of the nation.

Regarding your third question its rather childish really. There are still enough people in Nepal who can lead this country confidently given they are in the right place

TGQ3: Who is to be blamed primarily for the current impasse? The ruling clique or the firebrand opposition or even the king who is not taking any interest in bridging the gap between the two archrivals in the parliament which is in effect is affecting the nation of which he is the king?

Mr. Koirala: I think you are making too much fuss about what you call the current impasse. As I said earlier, I don't think it is a problem. It is only too natural that when you house a cat and dog together they always tend to fight. That's what they are doing. It will die down once the one or the other gets a big piece of meat. And it would not be right to drag the king into this. He has nothing to do with the party politics.

You ask me who is to be blamed. You see Mr. Upadhyaya, we were brought up singing National Anthems and condemning democracy. Our course books were such where the Kings and the Queen were glorified. We did not know then who were Jhapali, who were Palpali, who were Kirati or who were Thakali but were united in a common cause which was this nation of ours -Nepal. There was a sense of participation. The nation then was a kind of plebiscite- a daily consultations exercise. There was a close affinity between its subjects and its sovereign, which we expressed through national signs and symbols, songs, myths, and various things that we derived from it. I am not saying that everything was rosy then but things were in order and the country had indeed a sense of direction then, that's what all I am trying to say.

Now it's the other way round. Our kids are being taught that democracy is in danger, we must sacrifice everything for it. Today killing people have become a normal thing. You get to read this news somewhere in page 7 or 8 of the newspaper. It does not carry any weight. So you tell me who is to be blamed?

TGQ4: The Maoists have declared a nationwide bundh on April 6. The UML is already on the streets to press Koirala to resign. The national population together with the international community is living under a sort of constant panic since long. The regular bundhs is causing colossal loss to the nation. Is this the fate of the nation? Or you see light at the end of the tunnel?

Mr. Koirala: An immediate reform in socio-economic and political behavior is what is needed. It would have its salutary effect in the nation. Every party official, bureaucrats, ministers or for that matter the prime minister(s) who hold high position and enjoy a large array of privileges and who monopolized power and influences must be brought to book.

The International community understands the Nepali reality as it is today. They too have developed a habit now to live in such confusion. Regarding the bundhs, you can't help it simply. The system allows it, they practice it. However, it is altogether a different matter that such regular bundhs, as Ambassador Frank stated a month back, retards the economic growth of the country. However, there is no need to remain in panic. It is only a matter of time before we can all live a dignified life, walk tall and show the world that we too are capable of deciding what is good for us.

TGQ5: Now finally, Mr. Koirala, I understand that you lived in the United Kingdom for such a long time and you were educated there. What did you learned there and how different and difficult you feel after coming back to Nepal. Are there any experiences that you would like to share with us?

Mr. Koirala: Sometime my identity gets very blurred Mr. Upadhayaya. At times I cannot help but feel very British. Other time I feel Nepali as much. So I am a hybrid. I must say that I learned many things in Britain beside my formal education and that I have changed over the years. It was in Britain that I was taught first time how to brush my teeth, it was there where I was taught how to sit on the chair at ease and speak to people in a civilized manner and not shout at each others as we do here. It was there where I was taught how to sleep rationally on a bed and not in a corner like a dog. That's why I say we've got to learn so much from them. Just see how they do things. They know their priorities. There is no corruption involved in the British institutions. If things meet their merit, if it is in order then it is ok if not, then not. There is no double-dealing. There in no favoritism, nepotism, if you are qualified then you are given the job without you having to have the politician phoning for you. You don't have to bribe a police when you go to apply for a driving license. You don't have to fight each other in the queue when you go to buy stamps at the post office. You see these are what you may call democratic culture, which are so vital if democracy is to survive.

Why cannot we do these things here? We don't need a foreign aid to brush our teeth properly, to talk to each other politely, to pick up a piece of paper in the street and put it in the bin.

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