Impressions from Biratnagar!

As the Latin saying goes Vini, Vidi, Vici whose literal meaning is, He came, He saw and He conquered. This is what almost happened in Biratnagar last fortnight when the Constitutional monarch turned out to be there in connection with a program arranged all by the citizens of that area to felicitate their monarch. The King was there. He saw his people there. And what else he could have conquered from the people there except for their hearts. This is what happened exactly there. Nothing more and nothing less.

This did happen despite the fact that the entire Opposition forces tried their best to damage the prospects of the King’s felicitation there which coincided with the Maoists Bundh on that very particular day but the fact is that an unimaginable number of Nepali citizens thronged to see their monarch in person braving the calls from certain sectors not to attend the felicitation program.

The fact is also that the NC men together with the UML leaders defied their party’s instructions and ventured to have a glance of their monarch. Even more interesting and intriguing is the fact that the Maoists insurgency kept its violent activities at its ever-lowest ebb in and around the felicitation day in Biratnagar. Here lies the significance.

The gathering, this scribe was told during his last week’s trip to Biratnagar, was simply superb which in no way could be describes as less to the numbers that our political leaders manage to bring in, at times by force even, at their declared rallies in their bid to exhibit their strength. The fact is also that there is a set of all-time free people, plus a sizeable chunk of unemployed youths, and add to this a considerable number of those who champion a particular political ideology who in one way or the other make it a point to contribute to add to the strength of such rallies. If the King’s felicitation program comprised of those described above then the political parties must now admit that they too have till now been successful in managing the crowd of the same lot. In the process, they should also agree now that they too used money to bring in such crowd at times of their show-of-strength business if the same tactics were adopted in the felicitation program by the local organizers there.

All said and done, the King was well greeted in Biratnagar. The King made sentimental speech in Biratnagar. The King made an appeal to all to come together in the process of nation-building task. The King also hinted that he would not take a back seat come what may as and when the nation confronted issues such as the ones plaguing the country in the recent years. The King also hinted that he would wish to serve the country by being in the center-stage of the national politics. This he made clear apparently to hint that gone were the days of the political leaders to govern the nation in a manner they wished fit as per their avowed political ideologies.

The King’s message is there for the perusal of interested quarters to interpret. King’s Biratnagar message did already invite mixed reactions from among the Nepali scholars. The point wherein all agree is the King’s appeal for a sort of unity in order to take out the country from today’s chaotic state and make it a better place to live in with dignity and honor. Fine. But the question also arises as to whether the Kibng will himself take up the challenge of uniting all the diametrically opposed forces including the Maoists insurgents or will wait ad infinitum hoping that some one else will come forward.

In effect, since the executive authority what the politicians claim still lies in His Royal personality and since it has already become crystal clear that Chand’s government is already a sinking horse and since the Maoists insurgency is still a Himalayan problem, and since the political parties have vowed to confront the King till the latter reverses his October 4 Royal steps, it would be befitting to expect that the Monarch initiates a sort of dialogue with all the potential forces including the Maoists and seek their genuine advises in order to save the country from the approaching brink. A sort of round-table conference as demanded by the Maoists and perhaps desired by the majority of the population could be the best solution to bring back to the rails the already derailed country. The King can do this. The King should do this. The King has to do this. The King can convince even his detractors, we suppose. This he should do simply because the nation has bestowed a rare honor on His personality as the guardian and protector of the constitution and the nation. This he should do because he continues to be the symbol of national unity.

It’s the King’s turn to act. It’s time that the political forces support the King’s move should he initiate any such in the near future. All that we can wish the monarch is best of luck in his new initiatives.

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