Nepal' Monarchy should by no means fail to comply with "Vedic" injunctions that do not decree stoic silence

-Ramesh Sharma, Journalist, Kathmandu

He is sharp and very intelligent. He does not take every thing at its face value but instead prefers to analyze the nitty-gritty prior to accepting it. He is a born journalist for his analytical views force the readers to toe his line of thinking.

Mr. Ramesh Sharma is a popular name in the Nepalese journalism sector. Mr. Sharma served the Government owned and controlled The Gorkhapatra Daily for well over a decade and a half. Later he tried his own English publication but could not give it the needed continuity. But yet his views could well be seen in Nepal's various leading newspapers. This means that he has not yet divorced himself from the journalism sector. His articles and views mainly concentrate on contemporary political issues both national and international. He got diploma in advanced journalism course from the United Kingdom.

Sharma has participated in numerous national and international seminars and conferences. Somewhat veering from the field of journalism, organized four years ago Jayatu Sanskritam Mahasabha, a socio–political movement emphasizing the injection of spiritual values into politics. Actively engaged in the advancement of the said movement's ideals and principles not only in the country but also abroad.

Mr. Sharma's relations with the Telegraph are well known.

Last week I approached Mr. Sharma, a very long time colleague of mine indeed, for an exclusive tête-à-tête on contemporary national issues. Mr. Sharma could not deny. Below the results: Chief editor.

TGQ1: The nation undoubtedly is in an explosive situation. Who is to be blamed for all this mess? Is it the unsuitability of the system itself or the sheer incompetence of the men handling the system? Your comments please!

Mr. Sharma: Over the last 12 years especially after the restoration of multi–party democratic order, our kingdom is virtually seen to have slipped into an abysmal abyss of chaos and uncertainty. Democracy has proved to be a devious instrument at the hands of charlatans and scoundrels who claim themselves as politicians and make pretension of providing leadership to political organizations. Their tendency of giving precedence to expediency over principle coupled with sordid kleptomaniac proclivities has robbed our parliamentary order of its fragrance and dignity.

One of the most disastrous consequences of what they have been doing for last several years is violent Maoist insurgency that has engulfed our entire kingdom. Thousands of innocent people have already been slaughtered by these barbarous elements. So–called democratic governments lamentably failed to contain the murder, terror, loot and arson perpetrated by Maoists thus prompting the incumbent government to declare state of emergency followed by the mobilization of army. At least, after the military mobilization, however detrimental to the institutional growth of parliamentary democracy, people are found to have heaved a sigh of relief. Much to the consternation of all, a section of the ruling party, probably as a part of their intra–party conspiracy, is consciously trying to defame and unnerve the army. It is most regrettable.

The way the nation is heading towards unprecedented devastation is primarily attributed to political leaders' overzealous pursuit of self–aggrandizement. They are least concerned about the nation and people. Their sole objective is to enrich themselves and to ensure that a prosperous future is guaranteed for their posterity. Besides, the forces – both internal and extraneous – that are bent on rendering the parliamentary order particularly in the Nepalese context a grand failure, are also no less responsible for our current plight. It is not that democracy in its true form cannot be suitable to our land. However, while practicing it, we should not fail to honor the fundamental underpinnings of our characteristic indigenous ethos.

TGQ2: How you Mr. Sharma take the current Congress' fight-to-finish squabble? Is it merely a personality clash among the big-two political animals of the congress or the handiwork of some "invisible" extraneous forces? Your exclusive comments please.

Mr. Sharma: We should not forget that Nepali Congress had played an instrumental role in introducing democracy in this country both in 2007 BS and 2046 BS. As far as the 1950 revolution is concerned, Nepali Congress was responsible for providing the last–straw–effect to the revolt and agitation that had already been nurtured and nourished by nationalist forces like Praja Parishad and Jayatu Sanskritam movement. Nepali Congress, as had the privilege of being well organized under the covert patronage of some alien forces, could not fathom the delicate subtleties of parliamentary democracy in the decade following the 1950 revolution that overthrew the autocratic Rana rule. Supercilious and imperious attitudes on the part of its leaders deterred this organization from honoring the philosophical underpinnings of Nepalese society and the Nepalese thereby causing a threat to our nationalism and sovereignty. This kind of situation was chiefly responsible for inciting King Mahendra into taking a revolutionary step of 1960.

Even after the restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepali Congress is seen to have been dittoing its past character and behavior. Over the last 12 years, it has woefully failed to project itself as a political organization sincerely dedicated to the ideals and principles of democracy for which it claims to have fought for more than six decades. Nor has it been successful in demonstrating its impeccable commitment to our comprehensive national interests. Lack of dedication and commitment accompanied by the insatiable penchant for fulfilling one's trivial interests has always worked to create fissure in the party organization. This is what used to happen also during the time of BP Koirala. Now, it is an open secret that the ruling Nepali Congress is almost on the verge of split because of the seemingly irreconcilable squabble between BP's brother GP Koirala and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Since the internecine standoff between these two Congress stalwarts is intrinsically based on insignificant trivialities rather than some principles, it is most likely to reduce the ruling party to a mere congregation led by rapacious desperadoes. It will certainly have a lethal impact on our national politics too. As regards the involvement of some extraneous forces, we cannot rule it out, although we don't have any documentary evidence.

TGQ3: Media reports have it that Girija's hob-nobbing with the Maoists leaders have suddenly increased in the recent weeks indeed in the process he is enjoying the good offices of some Indian ministers. Is Girija really serious in the sorting out of the Maoists imbroglio or is it a ploy to unseat his rival Deuba? What about India's role, if any, then in the whole affair given Indian establishment declaring terrorists on the one hand and "mediating" on the other?

Mr. Sharma: The growing distance between Koirala and Deuba is seen to have been translated into the increasing hobnobbing between the former and the Maoist insurgents. This is precisely what is called 'my enemy's enemy is my friend'. There can be various reasons why Koirala has been trying to develop some sort of rapport with the outlawed Maoist terrorists. First of all, Koirala wants to unseat Deuba by raising the bogey of talks with Maoists in the same way as Deuba had replaced him in the past. In the meantime, notwithstanding oppositional forces' 'enigmatic' emphasis on talks with Maoists, Deuba has not budged even an inch and steered the military operation that is most likely to emaciate the Maoist outfit in one way or another. If Deuba becomes successful in eliminating this violent menace, Koirala will find himself dwarfed not only in the eyes of Nepalese but also in the eyes of international community including the Western leaderships who have been steadfastly supporting the present government in its drive against Maoist terrorism. This Koirala can hardly stand.

The excesses committed by Koirala along with his tactical allies, UML being the most prominent one, while insisting on talks with Maoist insurgents, appears to have compelled Deuba into dissolving the House of Representatives and calling for fresh elections. Deuba's unexpected decision, as has come in the immediate aftermath of his much–hyped sojourn to Western capitals preceded by an official trip to neighboring India, naturally smacks of some conspiracy for Koirala and Co. Deuba's growing closeness, however perceived, with the palace and the military should also have been a cause of trouble for NC President. The way the forces are seen to have realigned in the past few weeks is enough for Koirala to be apprehensive that his one–time protégé Deuba is instinctively inclined to be a pawn at the hands of palace–military combine thereby jeopardizing the present parliamentary democratic order a la 1960. It is against this backdrop that he chose to expel Deuba from the party.

Having felt outmaneuvered, Koirala is frantically trying to rally the support of two prominent neighbors – India and China – in his favor. It is amply explained by his just concluded trips to those countries. But how far Koirala will succeed in garnering their support by insisting on talks with declared terrorists at home has yet to be seen. Siding with Koirala at the present moment will be tantamount to condoning violence and terror especially at this critical juncture when both India and China have willingly been a part of US war against terrorism. However, Deuba also cannot afford to be complacent either.

TGQ4: The constitutional monarch only last week spoke his minds. How you Mr. Sharma have taken his expressions in general and how would you interpret King Gyanendra's assertion that " we have been playing an active role and will be playing that role" in the future as well in particular? Do you agree with some who opine that King Gyanendra's expressions could be compared with late King Mahendra's famous speech of Nepalganj prior to staging a Royal Coup de'etat?

Mr. Sharma: I am sorry to say that His Majesty's speech was stereotyped. It failed to arouse any enthusiasm among the ordinary populace. Nor has it been successful in reinvigorating the almost moribund constitutional apparatus of this kingdom. The royal speech could not respond to the bruised sensibility of millions of Nepalese who have been a hostage to untold terror, violence, murder, arson and loot.

Whatever be his assertion, I don't think that the King is playing an active role at the moment. Had he played that type of role (in the interest of nation, people and democracy), perhaps we wouldn't have been in such a dire strait. However for me, active role of the King does not imply the destruction of parliamentary democratic order and trampling of peoples' fundamental rights. What we want to say is that, since the origin of monarchy is traced back to Vedic culture in our context, this revered institution should by no means fail to comply with Vedic injunctions that do not decree stoic silence even in the face of unprecedented catastrophe befalling a nation and its innocent people. As to the last question, whether his expressions can be compared with those of King Mahendra or not is not that important. What counts is an impassioned penchant for being a King capable of residing in people's heart.

TGQ5: Besides practicing journalism, we are told that you also have a Forum called Jayatu Sanskritam Mahasabha. What is this all about? What relevance this forum has in today's disturbed context?

Mr. Sharma: We have been carrying the mantle of historic Jayatu Sanskritam movement for last several years. It is fundamentally a socio–political movement profoundly inspired by spiritual ethos, such as – peace, harmony, tolerance and coexistence. It aims at injecting spiritual values into the political process so that politics ceases to be destructive and destabilizing.

We believe that the Vedas and the Tripitakas, the Bible and the Quran essentially speak the same language of truth and human dignity. Dogmas and orthodoxy tend to dampen the spirit of any religion. The central message of all religions needs to be defined in terms of its concern towards human beings and their civilization based on peace, harmony, tolerance and coexistence. Puritanical approach coupled with obscurantist inclinations is found to have inflicted heavy damage on the substance and style of prominent religions thereby making the world community confused about their abiding commitment to certain belief systems. Therefore, when it comes to dealing with religions, Jayatu Sanskritam movement always tresses the need for utilizing scrupulousness and rationality. Because religion defined in terms of superstition, fanaticism and fundamentalism can never respond to the dynamic and ever–changing aspirations and ethos of human civilization.

The terrorist attacks on Twin Towers and Pentagon of America represented a distorted and pernicious interpretation of religion. It was an expression of diabolic resentment against certain policies of a specific country. US policies towards the Muslim and Arab world also were not consistent with what it has been preaching across the globe as the self–styled leader of free world, either. The relationship between the US and the Muslim world, in a sense, symbolizes the microcosm of relations among the nation–states and peoples of different communities, religions, race, sex and creed at large.

It is our firm conviction that unless the world politics gets underscored by certain spiritual values, the recurrence of the man–made disasters and devastation like that of September 11 cannot be stopped. Nor the tale of catastrophes that has been constantly haunting different parts of the world including Kashmir, Middle East and Afghanistan can be deterred. Undoubtedly, the same applies to what is happening in our own kingdom too. Therefore, we believe that the principles and ideals of Jayatu Sanskritam movement are the only solution to enormous woes facing contemporary world. We are trying to disseminate it not only within the boundary of our kingdom but across the globe in an organized way with a missionary zeal.

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