C O M M E N T

“Hum dekhenge …
Jab takth giraye jayenge
Sab taaj uchale jayenge” Faiz Ahmed Faiz

[We shall witness  …
When the crowns are toppled
When the palaces are demolished.]

Nepal: The Rising Sun of Democracy
Gobind Thukral

IT has indeed taken too long for the people of Nepal to get rid of the ruthless kingship. It has taken too long to bring in even a semblance of democracy. The struggle has been painful, arduous and has cost many young lives. It started long ago, much before the Indian sub continent threw away the foreign yoke. Oppressed people were always struggling against the feudal lords and the brutal kings and their cunning cronies.  They were manipulated not only by the gods that these kings declared themselves as avatars of Vishnu, but the very people who declared themselves against the Samrats and Ranas.

Long struggle that brought awakening of a different kind this time have brought results too. The Seven Part Alliance [SAP] that did consist elements still who would love to play second fiddle to a ruthless king Gyanendra, yet had no choice when the mass protests brought this mountain country to a total halt.  The countries trying to play monkey were forced to stop in the tracks. SAP that clearly understood the power and potential of the Maoists rebels that had waged a bloody battle for a decade costing 13,00 lives was forced to bring in some basic though still insufficient changes. The king’s power was clipped and the parliament under the ageing Koriala asserted to make the king accountable sans his royal army, power and pelf. Yet the election of a constituent assembly under United Nations supervision to frame a new constitution and decide the political structure is still far away and the powers, particularly three major countries- India, China and America could still influence the political outcome. The king and his cronies could still play mischief as also the elements in the erstwhile Royal Nepal Army. The current talks between the government and Maoists rebels who had promised to lay down arms provided their armed cadres become part of the Nepal’s army and the constituent assembly has a free hand to design a new the constitution and political setup. The killings have stopped as also the extortion. Yet life is still far from normal and the two sides have to seize the opportunity provided an extraordinary mass upsurge to bring in democracy whatever its merit may be. It has to be proved that king’s moves are no ploy and people have established a real control over their affairs.

And, just spare a thought for the hapless King Gyanendra. Last year his coked-up nephew, Deependra shot dead most of his family during the royal massacre in Kathmandu. On a state visit to India in 2002, Gyanendra had planned to do some slaughtering of his own - of a buffalo, a goat, a sheep, a pigeon and a duck, to be precise. The king had ordered his family priest to carry out the Tantric sacrifice during his visit to a Hindu temple in northeastern Assam [2002]. And, now his writ is confined to his royal palace. How long that!

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