Missing Nepal Nationalism

Telegraph Nepal, Editorial

We at this paper remain askance at times as and when some key national issues confront us in a variety of logical and even illogical manner.  We get more annoyed, as we should, when we are given to understand that Nepal must not think of having its own “nationalism” definition by some perverted local brains that more often than not rule Nepal or were to be elevated by some.

The question thus confronting us all today is that whether this country has or should have the proper and logical definition of Nepali nationalism or not? Or is it that, as some political luminaries claim, we have not as of today the right to define Nepali nationalism? Or even should it be defined for us by the friendly countries near and far? Escapists submission.

Nationalism remains in Nepal intact but is in a subdued state for fear of being taken as anti-national. As things stands today, what we see is that Nepali nationalism is being corroded and is being summarily disregarded. But we fail to understand the reasons as to why we the Nepalese-the sons of this soil, prefer not to talk on Nepali nationalism and its more than abstract dimensions that are associated with it.  

Nationalism is not a thing that could not be bought from the Chandani Chowk market nor is available in our own Ason shops. It is not a commodity that could be borrowed as some corrupt brains tend at times to think on those very shameful lines. It remains in each and every country. The citizenry respect the soil which has given birth to them all. Some become fanatic and make it a cheap propaganda for getting their personal interests served. Yet we wish to give some points to those who make lectures on the preservation of Nepali nationalism though those lectures were being made to disillusion the common citizenry. Sometimes even those slogans appear to have been sponsored ones.

To cut the story short, let us come to the point.

Only last week, Nepal’s distinguished Prime Minister Dr. Babu Ram Bhattarai condemned his own party seniors, for example, Mohan Baidya for one, for having toed the Mahendra nationalism and ridiculed his friends that Mahendra patriotism was an out dated mode of thought which will not work now under what he says “changed circumstances”.

Is nationalism something close to a weather that keeps on changing according to the dictates of nature? Perhaps a wrong notion.

Well so far so good yet we have some strong reservations the manner Nepal’s Prime Minister preferred to hide his own personal subservience to one alien force and in many more ways than one, though in an implied manner, Dr. Bhattarai sounded that Mahendra nationalism should be replaced by Nehruvian nationalism or at best Nepal should run under the personal whims of Sukh Dev's definition of new Nepal’s 12 point republic nationalism. Unacceptable. But yet Nepal PM has the right to rebuke to what we have understood. We are ready to correct if he meant just the otherwise. We will abide by media ethics.

Nationalism is nationalism. It can’t either be Mahendra nationalism or even Gyanendra’s nationalism.  Nationalism is an abstract feeling which resides in each and every heart of the citizenry of a particular nation at any given time.

We fail to understand that a highly qualified Nepali Prime Minister talks like this. What he in essence wants to tell his now rival friends and through them to the larger audience?

Is it that he wants to tell the entire Nepali population that they begin singing Indian national anthem in lieu of what the Indian establishment accomplished through Dr. Bhattarai while the most monstrous 12 point agreement was being signed in NOIDA, New Delhi?

It has now been an open secret that the main architect of the 12 point idea of ‘crack Nepal campaign’ was the brain child of a person who is now ruling Nepal? Have the courage to rebuke this general allegation Honorable Prime Minister.

We can’t believe it. Neither have we the right to suspect the very nationalistic credentials of the Gorkha born Dr. BB Bhattarai. We at this paper hope and firmly believe that Dr. Bhattarai is more nationalist than what we assert, as many others do, claim for themselves. But yet what he wishes to ventilate when he says that Mahendra nationalism should be rejected? Mahendra was not a nationalist for it were HIM who handed over Kalapani to the Indian military men but yet he is being revered for his several steps taken then which kept Nepal at a comfortable distance from the hawks seated at the helm of affairs of the Indian Union born in 1947. One is free to attack King Mahendra but also not forget some of his steps that were fairly in the interest of this nation.

We wish further to clarify to all and sundry that King Mahendra was not even a distant relative of those who happen to work at this paper.  Nor we have any familial blood relations with Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Man Mohan Singh, Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Sukh Dev. For us they are just Indian nationals to whom some of our august leaders take as the incarnation of Lord Bishnu and Goddess Durga. We honor their choice. This is the beauty of democracy.

Thus it would be more than desirable if Nepal PM-the JNU Graduate, himself defines Nepali nationalism and enlightens the confused population. A delayed response from the Prime Minister would keep all the options open for the lay men to think whatever they wish to as regards Dr. Bhattarai.

Finally, we would also appreciate if the informed and the qualified citizenry too make their views clear as to whether Nepalese nationals should pour honor and respect to their motherland or not?

By the way, Bhattarai’s India connections too have not remained a guarded secret now. He should make his views clear as it has all the more become urgent given the terrifying utterances made in the recent days by Nepal’s defense minister Sharat Singh Bhandari. Let’s not talk of what Minister Rajendra Mahato says of Nepali nationalism. He deserves the right to pounce upon his own country? But why he does so quite often could be a matter of investigation for those who have been practicing “Investigative Journalism”.  Still we hope that “our” loved one-Dr. Bhattarai will make us to feel comfortable by his fresh definition of Nepali nationalism. 

It is your turn Dr. Bhattarai to act. Is the Gorkhali blood still alive? But yet we respect you Mr. Prime Minister. Take it easy. We mean no harm to you Sir!

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