Is hoping against hope an exclusive Nepali culture ?

The word "hope" is definitely a very nice word in English language. The word itself arouses in you some sort of hope. For me as a journalist this word has always instructed to continue to hope. For others, I suppose, the word hope and the very materialization of the desired thing should be equally thrilling experience indeed. However, it is altogether a different matter that not so many people get their hopes being realized. Some perhaps leave for their heavenly abode without enjoying the thing they desired and hoped for.

To hope is not a crime in my modest opinion. What is the harm in hoping? One is free to hope any thing under the sun immaterial of the end results. I think that the Nepal as a nation-state must include this word hope in its would be amended constitution. I even suggest the government and the leaders of Nepal to make it mandatory in the constitution. One should be forced under the new amended constitution to hope. Failing to disobey the constitutional duties should be considered an "act against the state"'. If we could do so will definitely attract the foreign tourists which has definitely gone down over these years.

There should be banners hung in Kathmandu's busy thoroughfares wherein the "benefits" of hope are clearly written. Those who do not read and write Radio Nepal and the Nepal Television must prepare programs so that the illiterate lot could understand the benefits of hope. In the process, the state can seek foreign funding for the effective propagation of hope. Albeit, an effective and efficient propagation will make Nepal popular abroad.

Since 1950, the year when we the Nepalese freed ourselves from the shackles of the hundred and four years of the Rana oligarchy, we all have been hoping and hoping only. During 1950s, we hoped for a better system and indeed a better government. However, things were altogether different.

We yet again started hoping in the end of the 60s of a democratic and efficient government. The government then died a premature death partly because of its own inherent weaknesses and partly due to Royal ambitions.

In the early 60s, we the Nepalese again prepared ourselves for yet another round of hoping. We hoped so many good and new things from the Royal regime. We continued to hope for all along the thirty years of the Royal rule. In effect we hoped much from the erstwhile regime until its collapse some twelve years back.

Later a new set of leaders came in the early 90s and gave us further dose of hope. This set told us not to loose our Himalayan patience and keep the practice of hoping on ad infinitum. Look the charismatic result: the entire nation is hoping and will continue to do so till the end of this material life.

Each and every drop of the Nepalese blood is accustomed now. We will continue to hope. This has already become a Nepali culture to hope.

After all when our leaders have told us to keep on hoping and the system indirectly has given us to understand that "we the people" must continue hoping then it becomes our benign duty to honor the instructions coming from above.

Last week, a student grouping affiliated to the ruling party exhibited its utmost respect to its thespian leader Kishun jee. This group too "hoped" that their leader will initiate actions against at least ten corrupts currently in the congress paraphernalia in order to regain the "'prestige" of the party. The student leaders, I am told, are hoping that their leader will act as per their fresh but very "dangerous" demand.

We the Nepalese people also hope that some corrupt officials, ministers, bureaucrats and more so some corrupt leaders be sent to the bars. What is the harm in hoping? The entire process of hoping is free.

Finally, I request my Nepali brethren not to panic. Let us continue hoping even if it were hoping against hope.

We must collectively keep this extraordinary culture intact.

Age old culture and traditions must be kept alive. After all what is left for us other than remaining perennially engaged in the business of hoping?

Per haps the message is clear to my august readers.

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