Every Nepali possesses the potential of becoming a talkative leader

Last Saturday early morning I left Biratnagar for Kathmandu. This time I had gone to Biratnagar to see my ailing mother whose health started deteriorating since April 4 this month. My brother summoned me on that day and asked me to come to Biratnagar immediately as our mother's condition had already deteriorated.

However, on April 7 mid-day, my mother left for her heavenly abode. All happened suddenly and we were taken aback. The scene that followed later is beyond explanation. All that I can say at this time is that we will never enjoy the unconditional blessings of our mother, which we enjoyed since birth to this age. The gracious smile that I witnessed in her face when I happened to ask a funny question as to whether she recognized me or not. She with her normal smile presumably hinted me that how she could forget her younger son so close to her heart. The last smile that she had for me is at the moment killing me from within. She was simply great. I wish every child in Nepal is blessed with a mother of our sort. The fact is that my brothers and me will ever cherish her memory. My father at 82 lost a very duty bound wife and our relatives a very nice and gracious lady.

After completing the traditional thirteen days ritual as per Hindu tradition, I decided to come to Kathmandu to resume my publication, which had been suspended for two weeks due to the mis hap in my family.

By seven thirty in the morning we were already in Lahan-a town in Sirha district in the Sagarmatha zone. Suddenly we were told by a group of rag-bag-bobby-tail like party activists that our transport Bus could not proceed ahead because of the Bundh. The driver and the fellow passengers were taken aback when they were told by the Bundh activists that we could leave Lahan only after 5.30 PM in the evening. That meant a total of ten hours unnecessary stay at Lahan. The passengers started crying against the Bus personals. The driver clarified that they did not know about this Bundh in advance or else would have informed the passengers of this event.

The whole day we had to stay in Lahan traveling heither and theither. Since it was sweltering hot so we decided to house ourselves in a hotel room. From the hotel room what we witnessed is small group of protestors with UML flag chanting slogans like: GIRIJA CHOR, DESH CHOD; BHRASTA GIRIJA; KURSI CHOD and the likes. Its English translation is Thief Girija, leave the country and Corrupt Girija, Leave the country.

At some pockets these activists could be seen making lectures against Girija and his team of the cabinet members. The listeners, mostly illiterate ones, could be seen enjoying fiery lectures from the UML activists. At other places some United Front activists were telling their poor listeners that their protest programs would continue ad infinitum until Koirala resigns.

Whether Koirala resigns or not is a different matter. However, what is for sure is that the protest programs will presumably continue for long thus paralyzing the already paralyzed nation further.

What was interesting of the whole event in Lahan was that though the passengers were forced to stay for ten hours, but yet most of the passengers took part in a political debate which centered around whether Girija should resign under pressure from the opposition or continue as the Prime Minister of the country caring little about the deteriorating health of the nation? Out of the total number of passengers said or say rather suggested Koirala to resign and help ease the situation in the country. Some even suggested the King to take over for a short period but without giving a major jolt to the system now in place.

Albeit, some of the passengers outrightly rejected the opposition current manner of dislodging an elected Prime Minister. They opined that it would set a very bad precedent which ultimately would have a very negative impact in the functioning of the system in the future.

Then emerged a debate on the Maoists. Definitely, most of the passengers rejected the killing spree acquired by the insurgents of the innocent civilians and more so of the policemen who had been in the troubled areas obeying to the commands of their superiors at the headquarters. However, some commented in favor of the Maoists and cited the insurgent's role in settling local disputes in no time. Some even appreciated the Maoists new overtures aimed at freeing the remote villages from the scourge of card-playing and drinking alcohol. In effect, there have been some instances that in some place in the remote mountains the locales addicted to alcohol have been warned of dire consequences by the insurgents if they were seen indulging in activities that were un-profitable and anti-social. Media reports have it that in some villages beating of one's wife under the spell of alcohol have dramatically decreased.

So some passengers had all the praise for the Maoists.

Listening to these varied comments, what I concluded was that the system at least if not had delivered goods to the lay men in the country but had provided an opportunity to take part in debates of this sort. Perhaps the beauty of democracy is that one can express his or her feelings in a free and frank manner. I predict that soon a day will come when each and every common Nepali will emerge as a leader in his or her own right. That will be an added burden on the nation. Consider the number of the Pajeros they will require for their comfort.

Different views were there indeed. But yet there was a consensus among all the participants of the debate. They all agreed that the country was approaching a precipice and that it was time that all the political parties came closer and charted a program which gives a direction to the country and allows development works to take place.

At 5.30 pm, we were allowed to move from Lahan after a long wait of ten hours plus.

So the journey which was to take ten hours, consumed almost 24 hours. Thanks Almighty that I am back in my workplace.

Headline | National | 5 Question  | Editorial | International | Past |