I had no idea that things were so bad there!! :-(

 

Hi,
History and culture are very important for any country. Specially small country like ours which can't withstand with other developing neighboring countries, that’s all we have got. It would be sad day when we will loose our one of distinctness. I support for the existence of monarch although not this active. Why development of our country has to initiate with “no king” slogan. We are supposed to use the existence of King as a symbol of our unity. Once King is out he will be out for good. I don't think we would care and get to read about kings of Neapali history. Why should we if we are the one who ended the monarchy? I think king is like a monkey’s wound. You scratch it till you are dead.
Can any one tell how come the current king has this much of control? How come it’s so easy to sack our GREAT nation-serving politicians? I think most of our moron politician lack class. What our country need now are good politicians. I wonder why bright students don't even think entering politics. Why it has to be (mostly) losers backed up by more losers.
It is certain that the "allied (seven??) parties" gonna break into seventeen parties as soon as they reach the START point. That’s what happened to the Jana Andolan part one climax.
It’s good to participate and control politics by the public but why always extreme. Why there is a lack of a system that can channalise complain of a group of people without going to extreme? Why a simple complain can't fix problem?
We need to go forward and create better future rather than destroying our culture. I think there is a possibility of better Nepal with an existing symbol of living faith and unity. Of course the king won't step out so easily reading e-mails!! Will any one step out of his family house because the municipality wants to pave a road right through it? And this is a country we are talking about and the citizen who are high, with out having any sight of solution just ready to launch.
Does any one know where we heading toward after all this?
This is stupid............
opinion.

 

Dear anonymous, (hope you give your name next time)

So, some still believe that the king is "the symbol of unity"....and compare the king with "monkey's wound" but what I feel is that it's a logic made by people who don't actually look back to history. So, why can't we withstand our neighboring countries??? Why are we having negative growth on GDP, when china is having 10% growth and India having 8%??? Do you mean that since we were poor from beginning, should that remain 'our culture'!! political parties just ruled for 12 years, but the kings ruled Nepal for more than 250 years………and where is Nepal now??? The 12 years democracy gave us freedom to speak, freedom to organize, see the communications systems that emerged…see the education systems that developed and just see how king feels that internet, mobile , telephone should be stopped as they are creating awareness among the people!! We are terming the party leaders as CHOR meaning thieves as their acts were exposed by media…but do you know how much the royals took commission on every new big business that was granted license. Its irony, the queen Aishwarya started the downfall of RNAC, taking up the commission on every purchase of wide body aircraft. And, media persons like PADAM THAKURATI were shot, when they tried to write against the Royals. So, these parties just followed the culture….and you believe we shouldn’t come out from these cultures?? We just studied the history that gave the biography of SHAH kings….but never what they actually did…..we never studied history that mentioned how cruel was king Pritivi Narayan shah…how he had cut the noses of all people of Kirtipurians.. We never got to know why kings never visited Kirtipur after taking over Kathmandu…..so; in true sense we didn’t read the history!!! We just believed on what loyal ministry of education’s writers wrote on our textbooks.

Just ask your elders....how even Buddhism was repressed in Panchayati era...they had tough time even to raise a monastry...people couldn’t use their mother language as alternate official language in their locality. and, look at the present....the present king didn't even wish the Nepali Muslims on their greatest festival of ID...similarly, he accepted to be the so called " Hindu Emperor of world" when the late king Birendra had denied it saying that he was the king of whole Nepali people but not just Hindus. And, still one of the motor cyclist (traffic police) at the forefront of ROYAL SAWARI (royal convoy)….has to be a DAMAI (the so called lower cast)…the king wants good luck……But the same traffic police can’t enter their bungalow……..these so called ‘lower cast’ army personnel are restricted from entering the temple premises in KING’S ARMY… so, do they ever feel that king is the symbol of unity…..??

You can see these days every ethnic group is reviving their age old traditions. Back in king's rule they weren't allowed to group. So their ethnicity was severely restricted. It was only after 1990, that every minor group could organize to save their culture.

We believe that the 'king is symbol of unity’ just because we have been taught to learn it that way...we people of Kathmandu mostly belong to affluent class, who in some way depend upon king for what we are at present. So, members of such family are always loyal to king, never mind what the royals do to the people. This is rightly explained by worldwide accepted ‘PARITY LOGIC' of economics which says that 20% of rich people control 80% of country's wealth......So, do you believe that such 20 % people won't follow the king. Will they ever let go their advantages gained by supporting the king? That’s why we always see the king as ‘symbol of unity’. You know why?? Our family members were never run over by our crown prince and remained unpunished….our property weren’t stolen like that idols that disappeared from temples…..our sisters weren’t raped and killed as Namita Sunita of Pokhara……our father don’t have to go through the trauma of being labeled the father of a terrorist…..our brother hasn’t ever been kidnapped by the security forces and made disappeared even before trying at the court of law……so, we were never touched by the king’s claw……..as our forefathers always “served’ the king and his family…….so, why should we bother about our poorer Nepalese countrymen……..We were never touched by their pains….we could always get our girlfriends for a big treat at Bakery… we can always capture the road with our bikes…..and our rich parents always get us full ‘POCKET MONEY’ and all the amenities enjoyed by wealthy Americans; we can blog just turning on our computers…..why bother about people who have to walk three days just to make a phone call………why should all that bother us???? Why should we care if the politician does anything wrong…after all our parents aren’t this ‘GAULE’ looking politicians who can’t speak correct ENGLISH…we are different people from different class….so, why should we go against the king???? Why????? Just why??? Because we were never touched by the sufferings... We could just go to US after plus two….or get a rewarding job at private business, just you need to contact one of your relatives!!! So, what has the king done????????????????? That’s why we shouldn’t go on scratching on monkey’s wound and leave the king on his own good……..why should we ever talk about REPUBLIC…….Its offensive for the high class people like us……we are different…WE LIVE IN KATHMANDU.BUT NOT IN SOME REMOTE PART OF NEPAL…….don’t you feel so???

We just see, our king on NTV, hearing plight of poor Nepalese- "BHUJE BHUJE" he assures, and signs autographs but doesn’t do anything!! Do you know how Amitabachan contributed millions out of his own pocket seeing the plight of poor farmers…but he wasn’t hurrying to sign the autographs. That’s why the king is not even an actor, (but he tries without any success!!) Such actions were very similar to SADDAM HUSEIN, who till the last moment was portrayed as the symbol 'symbol of unity'......I don't need to mention, how people kicked his statue, once they were fearless. And, do you remember, how people had converge at the funeral of king Birendra, just because he accepted the supremacy of people and acted wise. He was as simple as he would get his tailor to reverse the collar of his shirt, when it got worn out……but, see this king every year he needs a new luxury car…ROLLS ROYES, JAGUAR. Even the old Mercedes of late king couldn’t pacify the crown prince, they all make the government pay for their luxury….from the tax paid by poor people…..so what about that?? Actually he was never born to be a king…never trained that way……..so, he isn’t a king in real sense……..as I repeat. Monarchy ended with King Birendra…..

So, though the party leaders have done mistakes, they can be voted out of power as their punishment. Can we vote out our royals? Could people openly talk about the crimes of crown prince, just see how Bush’s daughters were punished for underage drinking. This is why, we are always poor. It’s because the royals are always above the rule of law. That’s why his followers are responsible for the Nepalese people to be poorest in the world. So, why king??

 

I am not a troubled mind but a troubled soul. GDP, 10%,20%,80-20 is far far away from my argument's stand point. I am talking about culture and moral that needs to be restored and build up. I was talking about existence of history rather than a perfect history. Who has the perfect history? History from dark ages is dark. Hell..., our present is not so divine that we should be ashamed of our past. When we read history we read of brave gorkhali fighting against British (most of the time and long before BP)for their kingdom. We can't loose that golden history of ours. We all should be proud of our history and bravery. There was no democracy that time.... dark age as it was....when souls were at work rather than minds. So we have no choice from the dark age; no alternative history to select the better one with no chopping events. My point is let’s stick to it but not to stick it in your throat. Hey all I was saying was existence but no more. A king with lesser power. As Less power as Kumari - the living goddess of Neapl. I think we have no problem with her. Or we going after Kumari in our third episode?? A recognition that what we need for a small and lagged behind country. Just type “living goddess of nepal” in Google search engine and you will get 320,000 sources that keep our culture and uniqueness alive. I didn’t try that with “king of Nepal” keyword but I am sure there must be much more links.
We are such a small country with low literacy and such a discouraging geography that we will never never never be able to be in the front line with the developed countries. We can though set our self as a peaceful, cultural, updated and less corrupted country. I think that is already too much to ask for. I know when you see Saddam's statues falling down your level of uncomfort sky high seeing the royal statues. You feel like bending them down and stick you shoes to them. But that was media. Media can give you information from Iraq and America but who is going to educate one’s mind to coup with that kind of information. Visual effects are for the mental disables we have our mind to analyze the situation and put the visual in right order and right place. We can’t just copy and follow the deceptions. We don’t have valuable resources otherwise we would already have been as free and democratic and developed just like Iraq. There is no perfect system to reach for. Every one is trying and experimenting to come up with favorable systems for their own country. And that’s exactly we should do. Considering who we were, who we are we need to go for an adaptive system suitable for us; not the system from China, India or America.
About the few developments that has been done in last 12 years are the current developments. You have never even dreamed of cell phone 12 yrs back. World Wide Web is not the gift of democracy but the current global revolution (even the dial up for 3rd world country). Talking about the cell phone disconnection… every one uses cell phone even Maoist. That’s the least measure that can be done to avoid the easy communication set up possible for Maoist. If you are living in a troubled country forget about using luxury like cell phones. Worry about electricity, water, and cheap food. Hey, I am not talking only for the 80% but also for the 20% who live in Katmandu.
What’s in a name?
opinion

 

Hey man,

I love the way you put your argument…… that’s why I’m happy that Pradeep introduced me with this site. It’s only been a week, since I started blogging…and seriously I’m getting addicted!! And, I love to hear and reply your argument.

And, it’s really great that you have been expressing your thoughts in such a meaningful way. We have been debating for and against the “ceremonial king”….and what I believe is that you think that the king is a part of our culture….so a silent king would be worshipped just like our living goddess KUMARI…..true na??

Believe me man!! I was in class 2 during the 1990 revolution….. So, growing up with the positive image of king Birendra was a happy experience…. and, I liked the simplicity and gentleness of the king (at least the public image!!)…in fact many people did!! He was ETON and HARVARD graduate…..and believed the right of people as seen in the western world….and, it’s open secret that he was seriously opposed by the hardliners (led by present king) when he just decided to give some power to people in 1990. There- as I suggest- the people centered Head of state, acted wisely and secured the thrown for his successors. That’s why he was safe from his people …..But not with his own royals! People loved him and worshipped him...his family was forgiven for so many GREAT MISTAKES of the past. And, I believe that’s why his statues are safe and sound till now….even my mom puts his portrait in her Puja kotha ……….all because he felt safe at people’s hand….he submitted himself to the people, against the vested interest of other royals…..who never changed ( you know the saying kukurko puchhar…) So, what I read between the lines, is that YOU STILL HAVE KING BIRENDRA IN YOUR MIND, when you talk about monarchy…..as far as I could analyse your writings and come up with the conclusion about the type of person you are. I know, you didn’t ever see king Mahendra…nor you visualize what type of king Paras would be!! Right??

I’m proud what Gorkhali did to protect the country from British (so we don’t have any independence day-that’s the greatest honor, I believe!!). But, you must have forgotten the history, about how King Pritivi Narayan Shah had chosen KALU PANDEY as his PM accepting the people’s opinion even though he wanted somebody else..(DUNIYA JO SANGA RAJI RAHANCHAN, USAILAI KAJI DINU) was his divine opinion…don’t you think that was a democratic system?? .and, kalu pandey was the key man in the success of unification process….the other reason was that he was fully supported by his countrymen who sacrificed their lives for a cause………so you accept all these facts, that people’s sacrifice and faith on their commander Kalu pandey, extended Nepal’s border to that extend!! Right?? Even after taking over Kathmandu, he didn’t interfere any traditions of indigenous NEWARS...moreover; he adjusted to their culture…that’s why we still can give example of living goddess KUMARI… If you accept all this then have you ever given a second thought on why Nepal was left this smaller after king PNS??? From right there, you should reread our history!!! That’s exactly my point……

I always found history very boring during my school days, albeit I would like to remind you how…the king Rajendra, Surendra were primarily responsible for downfall of the kingdom and the rise of RANA regime.......the clever Bhimsen Thapa acted wisely so that even this small Nepal survived……and what the royals did to Bhimsen Thapa??? The power politics between the royal family caused the KOT PARVA…..and the Junga Bahadur Rana came to power. The Rana regime is responsible for throwing the development of our county back to stone age……Nepal was fully looted!!! The king-culture was primarily responsible for all that…………and, it were people who actually freed the king Tribhuwan from the RANAS. The country could gave gone to republic, with the end of rana regime…..but it was people who accepted the ceremonial role of the king Tribhuwan, who had promised them Constituent Assembly. But, the king betrayed….and Mahendra took away all the powers, by jailing people who freed him from Ranas.!!!! Only then the people realized that the root cause of all the problem is none other than the ‘king’….however, the people once again gave a chance to the palace in 1990….but what happened???

The actual power was bestowed on king…….the elected prime minister couldn’t use the army against Maoist…king denied it…every government decision was indirectly influenced by royals. In fact the Palace played one party against the other……so the so called democracy didn’t function fully. And, we witnessed how this king took back the limited power given by his brother.... and, he still boasts that it’s royal culture to follow the opinion of people……do you mean that very “culture” which you want to exists??? Now, even if this king gives back those limited power …..I’m sure Paras would take them back once he comes to power…….so, where is the fault…..??? It’s in the system of MONARCHY…that’s giving us the trouble. Some people fear change……that’s why they want to live in present. I suppose, you know how French people overthrew the king, which was their culture…and now the guillotine used to behead the people during the French Revolution has become an important part of the culture……at present, the whole world praises the social-democratic culture of the French. So, look back to the history of Nepal and whole world…….it’s people whose faith and culture that survives…..so, we just need to take out the king from our culture………and we could be even more proud of our culture. Even more proud of being a Nepali (or gorkhali).

Our grandchildren would one day blog and praise how their grandparents contributed to develop a new culture…….where they could see the age old traditions like KUMARI and developed democratic country moving together. They would never fear to talk openly about their president who did some mistakes and was punished. They would definitely thank our generation for establishing the rule of law…..but not the rule of outdated and betraying culture!!

I HAVE A DREAM…………..

What about that???

 

Thats all I have to say about that.....
Oh yeah!!! let me introduce Bir Bahadur Ghale. Actually i would like to talk about his deeds that soothes my blazing soul. How can we support him? I wish some one could provide me his contact number or even address on next posting. I want to ask him personnaly if i can be of any useful to Mr. Ghale.


Bir Bahadur Ghale: Illuminating rural lives and kindling hopes
By Ayushma Pandey
KATHMANDU, Dec 4 -
While so many people in the rural hinterlands are yet to see the result of heavily-funded multi-national mega hydropower projects, a small, yet enterprising, venture of one man in setting up a micro hydropower plant in Barpak, Gorkha, and then expanding it to 22 plants in five different districts - Lamjung, Gorkha, Dhading, Kavre and Lalitpur - has now provided electricity to an incredibly large number of households, illuminating not only their homes in remote hills but also their lives. In addition, his micro-hydropower plants have now become the lifeline helping the residents raise their social and economic status.
Kudos for all this are due to the innovative and industrious Bir Bahadur Ghale who with his brilliant idea has now enabled his fellow villagers start up enterprises of their own from the electricity generated by the hydropower plants he built, and thus help boost their economic conditions. This was the first micro hydropower plant ever to be established in his village that, in itself, has had the power to transform the lives of hundreds of people.
Not content with this alone, Bir Bahadur has even established Nepal Micro Hydropower Entrepreneurs Federation, bringing together nearly 500 hydropower plants from 16 districts in Nepal to provide them a platform and collective power to pursue their legitimate rights. He is currently the founding chairman of the federation.
Ever since his childhood, Bir Bahadur had the innate zeal of doing something constructive for his village, something outstanding that could bring changes to the erstwhile status quo in his village.
"It takes almost two days on foot to reach Barpak from the district headquarters," recounts Bir Bahadur, presenting a picture of the remoteness of his village. "Most of the people in my village were dependent on subsistence farming, while some joined the British Army for their livelihood," adds Bir Bahadur. "I never had the desire to follow in their footsteps. There was this zeal in me to improve the conditions in my village, and lead my fellow villagers away from the prevalent darkness."
The fervor in him was reinforced by two major incidents. The first was when he witnessed the bustling lives of people in his visit to Hong Kong in 1987.
"It was like the entire city lived on electricity. Trains, trams, and buses - everything ran on electricity. That was fantastic!" Bir Bahadur was caught up with the thought that "if the people in this city can harness the benefits electricity has to offer, then why can’t we?"
The second time was when he worked for a construction company that was building the section of the Malekhu-Naubise Highway.
"I had just finished my School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations then," explains Bir Bahadur, adding, "The construction project used electricity generated from a micro hydropower plant."
Bir Bahadur observed the functioning of the plant and the kind of materials used in it. He then envisaged his own tiny village radiating and being alive with electricity. He then got down seriously to instating a 50-kilowatt (kw) micro hydropower plant in Barpak.
Bir Bahadur was hardly 20 years of age when he installed the first plant in 1990(2048 BS) which brought not just lights to the villagers but also new hopes and aspirations along with it.
"It was very hard to convince my fellow villagers of the benefits of electricity then," Bir Bahadur reminisces on the initial years of materializing his dream project. "They thought it was impossible for a micro hydropower plant to bring electricity to them, a task never achieved even by big hydro projects such as the one on the Marsyangdi River."
Fortunately for Bir Bahadur, the time he planned to install the plant coincided with the historic trade and transit treaty impasse between Nepal and India, owing to which there was fuel shortage in the country.
"The then government chanted the slogan of Alternative Energy Promotions (AEP) to compensate for the shortage in fuels," remembers Bir Bahadur.
It was when he started his feasibility study, of course secretively, in his village, as the majority of the villagers were against the idea of a micro plant generating electricity. They also doubted Bir Bahadur’s ability.
Around 1988, he mobilized technicians from the Balaju Yantra Shala of Kathmandu, bought a plot of land on his own, secured subsidies from the government and applied for government loan.
"The government, under the AEP mantra, pledged to provide subsidies and loan to micro hydropower projects," adds Bir Bahadur. The loan was finally sanctioned in 1989 after a tedious and ambiguous process. The plant started generating electricity in 1990.
"I also asked help from the so-called Dalit community to assist in constructing the plant. Among the first houses to be illuminated were those of these incredible and diligent friends." Bir Bahadur was finally able to regain the faith of the village.
Down the years, Bir Bahadur has illuminated up to 2,000 houses in five districts with the installation of 22 plants.
"Before the plants were installed, these households used kerosene for lighting purpose. Each household consumed 1.2 liters in a month." With the help of the plants, Bir Bahadur asserts, the 2,000 households have been able to save a lot of money and use the money to start small businesses of their own. Some, replicating his innovation, have even started hydropower plants of their own. Bir Bahadur has now enabled almost 500 micro hydropower plant owners from 16 districts to come under one umbrella as a federation.
Bir Bahadur even started a bakery, handmade paper cottage industry and furniture factory to, in his own words, "make the generated electricity busy day and night."
"Starting up small enterprises was necessary because the electricity from the plant was used only for lighting purpose. I couldn’t sit quiet because there are various constructive means to harness electricity into purposeful ventures."
These small industries have helped generate employment to village youths, minimize import of materials such as kerosene needing foreign exchange payments and gradually cut down the local "exodus" to the British and Indian armies.
In addition, Bir Bahadur also introduced the Rangrung-Barpak ropeway, the first of its kind that functioned with micro hydropower in Nepal, with a grant from the British Embassy to reduce portering time in the region. This also helped bring down the cost of essentials in the market. The ropeway, however, was washed down in a recent flashflood, and Bir Bahadur is now rebuilding the same.
Any plans on the anvil? Well, there are plenty for Bir Bahadur to do. But the most immediate one includes boosting of the 50kw Barpak plant to 100kw to meet the energy requirements of the village.
Enterprising and industrious as ever, Bir Bahadur has achieved what the mega hydropower projects could not. Yet, he still believes that he has to move on to illuminate thousands of rural households which as of yet, have not even seen a single fluorescent bulb.
No wonder, it was for his vision, Bir Bahadur Ghale was elected an Ashoka Fellow in 2003 with grant stipend for three years to pursue his hydroelectric feasibility studies. Thus the Ashoka Tree of entrepreneurship has helped Bir Bahadur’s pioneering works flourish.
Posted on: 2004-12-04 19:04:22 (Server Time)

 

Chandji comes from a caste that has always enjoyed at expense of people like us- now he says with different tune. C'mon, snakehead, come clean. Unless you guys are wiped off, there is no true new Nepal.

Baje

 

eheheh.. Baje you make me laugh. What do you know about me or my family? how can you say we, all Chands, have enjoyed at the expense of people like you. Purahit baaje... you tell me your cast and I can give a long list of names who have robbed this country from your family.

About this article, its not my view at all. It was written by my friend Amit (See his name on top). I dont have a sick, pervert and narrow mind like you "baje". I believe in friction, friction of thoughts, ideas and opinions.

ha ha.. you said, you will wipe us out. Lets come face to face in the real world and we will see who is the true brave Nepali and who is a coward opportunist.

Comment with some sense, not just for the sake of commenting.

 

Hey pradeep, did you get harrased from the one line of Baje? Ha..Ha. You don't need to prove your self to each and other person; world is full of judgmental people. Althoug thats not an intelligent way to put forward thoughts, you should thank Baje for his valuable time and word that he contributed to your Blog page. That gives color to your blog. Try to enjoy controversy; its not for everyone. Will ya..?
Keep up with the good work.

"Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how."
--Sunscreen

 

nice closer !!!