With malice to none
The multi faceted use of Koiralo Plant

Debate is currently on in this Himalayan Kingdom that Nepal already is a failed State. I fail to understand what does it mean when one says that a nation-state like Nepal failed despite the presence of illustrious leaders, for example, Madhav Nepal and all powerful strongman, Girija babu. Nepal can’t fail in the presence of leaders like these two mentioned above. For these two epoch-making politicians are the ones who have at one time or the other have handled the affairs of the state. It is altogether a different matter that they at times have behaved in a manner not befitting to their towering political personalities. These two illustrious leaders are not only popular in the country but their prestige and popularity have sneaked into the countries of the developed West as well. Rumors have it that some powerful democracies wish to see them both in person and appeal the Nepali leaders for their kind courtesy on how to ruin their nation. This they wish so because after a level of development at its peak, the countries wish to remember their dwindling and economically unsound past.

There is a joke currently whispered in Kathmandu which deals with Mr. Koirala’s tete-a-tete with the Japanese Prime Minister.

The talks between the two leaders is as follows:

Japanese PM: Mr. Koirala I am told that Nepal is one of the ancient countries in the world. Is that true?

Koirala: Yes Your excellency. It is. But it is not that old as the clan of the Koiralas!

Japanese PM: What you mean? Will you explain it a bit further so that I could understand the essence of your diplomatic saying?

Koirala: It’s not a diplomatic saying. IN effect, I refrain from using diplomatic terms as I don’t believe in diplomacy or whatsoever. But then the fact is that much ahead of Nepal being a nation-state, and far ahead of King Prithivi Narayan Shah—the one who unified the nation now called Nepal, there existed a plant in the forests called—Koiralo.

Japanese PM: What is this Koiralo? Will you make some description of the Koirala—the plant you just mentioned—so that I can correlate the Koiralo and the ancient Nepal .

Koirala: Yes! Why not.

Japanese PM: Proceed Mr. Koirala to explain Koiralo.

Koirala: It is a very simple plant grown in the jungles. Now the plant could be well spotted in the Terai plains. Interesting about this plant is that the plant itself was first discovered by my ancestors’ long long time back. Even my forefathers, I was told, did not recall as to when they were told about the existence and the very presence of this special plant Koiralo in the jungles and the Terai plains.

Japanese PM: After all what is very special of this plant? Will you reveal it please?

Koirala: Yes Your excellency. It’s a multi-dimensional plant. You can use it in many ways than one. It’s more or less like your own Lily flower. I don’t know what you do of these flowers when these are in full bloom. The main specialty of this plant is that it produces sweet but piercing sort of green buds. The buds then take the form of flower. The flower is very colorful. Say the color is what one calls now Eastman color. The developed west appears that they have copied this color from the color of the plant—Koiralo. The FUJI color, some one told me only the other day, too have been copied from the color of our Koiralo flower.

Japanese PM: So what?

Koirala: Now I will tell you the crux of the matter. In fact, one can fry the bud and consume it during the lunch or for that matter at time of dinner. If you so please, you can wait until the bud blooms. The flower in its full bloom thus emerging out of the bud  is again a special vegetable. The flower could be mixed with potato and fried for few minutes. Add some water and put spices. Boil it for few minutes. The gravy vegetable is ready for serving.

Japanese PM: What next then?

Koirala: Yes Mr. Prime Minister we have one more specialty of this Koiralo plant.

Japanese PM: What’s that?

Koirala: One can make pickles of both the flower or of the buds. The item is very popular among the Brahmins of Eastern Nepal. Now some families have started consuming this plant in Kathmandu as well. However, those who oppose the rule of the Koiralas in Nepal still possess hatred for the plant and hence they refrain from using the plant fearing that it would enhance the prestige and popularity of the Koiralas-my clan, to be more precise.

Japanese PM: Sounds pretty good. I wish you sent me some plants. The plants could be sent through Nepal embassy in Tokyo itself.

Koirala: I will do that.

Japanese PM: Now I could know you better. I have been told that you like the Koiralo plant and its varied uses, possess multi-dimensional character. You are a hero. You are a democratic leader. You create havoc. You work for democracy. You simultaneously make an effort to weaken it as and when you are out of power. You blow hot and cold. You hate the communists. You join hands with the communists. Your brother said that the King’s prestige and his were tied. He went up against the King as you have been doing now. You have softened your stand against the King as he returns from London.

Koirala: What you mean?

Japanese PM: Like the Koiralo plant, you could be used on so many counts. You are the healer and concurrently you are the disease.

Rumors are that the entire families of the Koiralas have been invited to Japan at the transplantation ceremony. Media men appear afraid and hope that some of the family members of the Koiralas might vanish while being in Tokyo.

Back in Japan, informed citizenry there consider it a bad omen and fear that if the plant grew in Japan might produce several Koirala’s who in turn create havoc in their country in one pretext or the other.

The Japanese PM out of ecstasy offered his pledge that if he be allowed to support Nepal, he can make Nepal at par with his country within ten years.

Koirala upon listening to his counterpart remark too instantly told that if he were allowed to help Japan, he could make Japan like Nepal well within two years.

Upon listening to Koirala’s brilliant remarks, a surprised Japanese PM neither summoned his official doctor to check his suddenly increased Blood Pressure.

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