I just visited The Nepal Digest ( www.thenepaldigest.org) site after a very long time, and found out -- much to my dismay -- that it has ceased publication as of last March.

The parting editorial implies that the editorial team quit over its supposed inability to implement free and fair editorial decisions, and hurls veild blame at other people (whoever they might be!)

My question: What happened, guys? Were the differences of opinion so great that
the publication had to, well, die out like this?

************

Likewise, sometime late last January, The NATION newsweekly in Kathmandu died out after the editors and the publishers had a falling out after only a few months together.

My question: Again, were the differences of opinion so great that the patrika had to be killed?

*********

My observation: While working in Nepal as a business advisor, one thing I noticed
again and again was this. That most business partnerships (among Nepalis), started
with great hopes among friends, eventually soured to bitterness . . . so much so
that people who were earlier friends had become sworn enemies by the time the
ashes cooled off from the corpses of their business.

********

My question: Are most of us Nepalis fundamentally incapable of working on a team that has people who hold different ideas from us?

Alternatively, when the going gets tough, is it easier for us to fight with one another than address the problems at hand so that at least minially amicable solution can be found?

******

My comment: Isn't it ironic that while we do everything nice and polite with one another to avoid conflicts and confrontations, our lives in Nepal and Nepali societies might well
be mired in unaddressed and simmering conflicts . . . ranging from that of the Maoists
to businesses gone sour?

oohi
ashu

AnilJShahi
The problem at hand in Nepal is that most buddhi jiwis like yourself and other likeminded posters here, have left Nepal and gone abroad for their own personal reasons and goals.

It's even worse when these people who have left the country from greener pasteurs now mouth off from far away land about the way things should be in Nepal. Of course, everyone can say what would be nice and what would be good, but you have to be there to make the change. Face reality and make the right decisions. Not stay in a foreign land and think you know what is right for the people living there.

What's worse is believing that what you mouth off in some public forum in the US is actually going to make any difference. Nothing's going to happen unless people with zeal like yourself actually go there to implement it.

Otherwise, hey it's great theory you guys are writing, but who's gonna implement it if you guys are not in Nepal. It's time to put the pages after pages of theory into practice.

from greener pasteurs = to greener pasteurs

Anil Ji,
>>>EMPOWERING people with varying thoughts??

I think we need to focus more on actions than on thoughts. While it is necessary and OK to have thoughts before performing any actions, I don't think empowering people with various thoughts (still not sure what you mean by that) would help your cause for restoring democracy.

It certainly is fun and a learning experience to debate on what is right and what is wrong, however, it just takes few people with visionary ideas to take the lead and bring all the changes that we need; 25 million ideas fromm 25 million different people will neither help in bringing what we need. If by saying, empowering people with "varying" thoughts you actually meant to implant YOUR ideas in them, then it is rather unfortunate.

I seriously think that US education does not make you any more smarter to hold the belief of what is right for your country. It should not harm you though.

Let me make it clear before anone starts firing.
The use of "you" in last two sentences is not directed to anyone in particular but used as a general "you."

No one is claiming nexus to better ideas just because they reside, or have studied, abroad. Yes, I agree that being far away from reality, ideas of those who live abroad may be laden with obvious limitations -- that is why I said those who are walking the talk on the grounds deserve greater respect.

Nevertheless, if someone truly feels that those "abroad-grown" ideas are not reflective of the reality on the grounds, then it would be helpful if they could pooint to the SPECIFIC examples of HOW and WHY they are not in sync. That would be of great learning experience for us too. Merely saying, "It's useless becasue it's from abroad," is being very narrow and unhelpful.

Theorists and implementators of those theories may not necessarily have to be the one and the same.

EMPOWERMENT is NOT forcing one's ideas unto others. EMPOWERMENT is providing people with many different ideas, be them small or big, or significant or otherwise, so that people have a choice, and that they would be made to THINK. I find it deplorable that some people believe arguing and debating is like trying to force one's ideas onto others. Instead, those who support an absolute King must re-think this: HE is the one who is forcing HIS ideas onto the people, not us! We are merely asking for freedom to reject HIS ideas if we do not like them.

Anil wrote:

?Ideas are ideas, and an idea's sacredness remains the same whether one is only a meter away, or thousands of miles away.?

I beg to disagree. In order to get a true picture of a society and to really know what the ground realities are, you actually have to be there. A lot of the times, the things that I read on here, I usually find telling to myself, ?gosh, these people are clueless, they don?t make any sense, they must be from Mars?.

I couldn?t possibly comment on Russian society and why things are the way they are in that society as I don?t live there. Why should it be any different in this case? Many of you have been living abroad for a considerable number of years now, and that is quite apparent to me. I don?t mean to sound patronizing but lots of water has flown under the Bagmati bridge since you guys left for foreign shores.

Let me borrow an excerpt from a different thread:

Akhilesh writes:

"To start with, since February First, yours truly has met countless people?bankers, university and school teachers, housewives, shop keepers, students, taxi drivers, restauranteurs?who seem more willing to give the King the benefit of the doubt compared to us journalists and the parties, perhaps two groups worst affected by the developments post-Feb. 1."

"Admittedly, there has for some time been a hole in the media?s portrayal of the state of affairs in the country. In our single-minded focus to restore democracy, indeed an extremely legitimate concern, we perhaps seem to be missing a link or two. Are we, like the parties to some extent, in dissonance with the common man?s and woman?s aspirations? Are we in a denial over the state of affairs that we no longer live in normal times?"

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=35411

---------------------------------

This is what a democrat (or so the thread starter claims) living in Nepal writes about the situation in Nepal. And he has hit the nail on the head.

Also, the reason why I urge the supporters of political parties to return to nepal is: It's the people living in Nepal who will have to endure hardship, terrorism, lawlessness, voilence, educational strikes, Nepal bandhs, blockades etc on a day to day basis, not them. Thier political stance has a direct bearing on the lives of the people in Nepal while they themselves remain immune to the consequences of thier actions. So it is only fair that they return to Nepal and be prepared to suffer along with the rest of the population. Sounds pretty fair to me.

I presume that the policy-makers in Washington genuinely believe that the foremost priority of people in China at this time is democracy, but is that really the case?

Would the remedies work if the World Bank officials were to formulate economic policies for Bangladesh or Indonesia sitting in the confines of their office in Washington, without them being there on ground ? I don?t think so.

There is a difference between a reality and what one PERCEIVES as a reality!

Cryptonite:

?It's even worse when these people who have left the country from greener pasteurs now mouth off from far away land about the way things should be in Nepal. Of course, everyone can say what would be nice and what would be good, but you have to be there to make the change. Face reality and make the right decisions. Not stay in a foreign land and think you know what is right for the people living there.?

Could not have said any better. Wise words!

Lokman,

>> I urge the supporters of political parties to return to Nepal is: It is the people living in >> Nepal who will have to endure hardship, terrorism, lawlessness, violence, >>educational strikes, Nepal >>bandhs, blockades etc on a day-to-day basis, not them.

Yea, I spent 20 years of my life in Nepal that does not count. My father lives in Rautahat that is Russia. My uncle lives in Hetauda that is Hungary. Terrorism, lawlessness, violence they suffer does not count because they are not from Katmandu. And I do not empathize with my family because I am republican so I am heartless.

I call my brother once a week, and that does not count because he is not PANCHE so he does not understand the ground reality.

Same rotten arguments inculcated day in and day out.

I LIVED THERE and IT LIVES ON ME, I can feel the rain in Kathmandu even in my dream.

Amen!

"What is so wrong with contrubuting in WHATEVER way they can, or choose to, for the cause of democracy in a far away land?"

Nothing wrong with it as long as those people in the far away land know exactly what is happening in Nepal and what the people there are hoping for.

"What is so wrong with throwing in ideas that perhaps can be used by people fighting on the grounds? "

Nothing wrong with it, but how many people are using your (your as in democrats) ideas to fight on the grounds. The reality is, there's not even a fight at the moment as far as I can see.

" What is so wrong with making people THINK -- at home or abroad -- by generating and sustaining debates? "

Nothing wrong with it as long as you do not force your ideas on others. When you at times dismiss even the valid points raised by people who do not agree/believe in what you ( you as in General you) say by saying " like the likes of Lokman has been doing REPETITIVELY -- I mean, come one now, come up with something new so that we can enjoy debating!", while you yourself repeat the same abstract textbook concepts of empowerment and democracy, and be totally oblivious to what your comrade-in-arms say to others, I don't see any debates.. All i see is the drive to prove that look "we are better because we are democrats" and because we are better, you either believe in what we say, or be damned. Let's admit, there's no debate going on here, what we are doing is, we are spreading our own agendas and propaganda and we are acting like radicals. You think your's is the best view, I think mine is the best. And when we both start to think this way, its not debate. Its not negotiations. Its not conflict resolution. :-).. Either we are liberal ardicals here, or conservative radicals (like me) here. But the thing is, we both are radicals. We both belong to the extreme ends of spectrum.

" What is so wrong with EMPOWERING people -- again, at home and abroad -- with resourcing them with varying thoughts? "

And how many people in Nepal have access to your or for that matter my thoughts? And when we say our thoughts empower the people, aren't we becoming more and more like the early Christian missionaries who "cared" about the people and that's why they had to "convert" them by hook or by crook, even if the people themselves didn't want to convert to Christianity? Or the hardcore communists of the early days? :-)

Let's agree, there's no debate going on here. Debtaes/discussions follow certain patterns, certain rules. you know like setting the protocol, setting the agenda, be willing to listen to the valid points raised by the other side.. be willing to not to impose oursleves on the others, and most importantly, not taking things that come up in the debates PERSONALLY and be willing to accept that there are many people in the world who do not necessarily agree with what I say.. let's agree both the democrats and non-democrats (not Un- demcorats) have failed to do so.

la ja maile ni thoki diyeko ek dui paragraph!!!

and just so that there's no confusion later, you here means GENERAL you, not YOU as AniljShahi.

also, to have a debate discussion, you (as in general you) do not write/say things in a condescending manner, or be sarcastic, hoina?

Both schools of thoughts seem to be doing justice, one with extreme use of text-book theories and other with reality based activities. A study attributed to Harvard University found that when a person gets a job, 85% of the time it is because of their attitude and only 15% because how many facts and figure they know. Surprisingly, almost 100% of education dollars go to teach facts and figures and some theories.

We are defining terms to enliven and to use as we wish exactly the way the king is using section 127. How do you expect Nepalese, whose literacy level is not even 35% to understand your theories? What is the condition in remote places? Not even a single political leader can go back to their areas. Why so? If you ask any old man about what they got out of democracy ? their answers will be - "yai mabodi, aaru k hunu". If you ask same question to Maobadi ? their answer would be based on corruption, unequal distribution of income, lack of infrastructure other than political issues. If you ask same to Political parties ? they blame to Maobadi and King. And King blames to both, to political parties and maobadi. Who is wrong and who is right here?

I, as a believer of democratic system would love to go on protest rally but now I will not. Why should I? I went on 2046 and being enthuses. Our expectations are vanished. I still want to fight for democracy but not for political leaders who lure for the posts. I want people's democratic system not leader's. You may not find this concept in any textbook but this is my inner views for which I still want to fight. There are people who still want to fight but where is motivation. Whom should we follow?? Our concept is clear that we don't want to follow same old painted faces who looted Nepal for several years.

It is not that we lack leaders with thought, views or knowledge as you people have. We do have several educated leaders who can put views as you people are putting. They too fight within to prove one's idea is greater than others' and here in this thread too. But let me know how do you motivate us, people like me who want to participate but do not believe on leaders and lack willpower and motivation. Don't wear raincoat in DC if there is rain in Kathmandu. Doesn't look good, does it?

Houston you are blowing your fuse for no reason. The fact is that no matter how much theory you blast into cyberspace, nothing nada is going to happen in Nepal.

It seems like the only seemingly valid argument that the so called democrats can bring to the table is what's happening in remote areas. And that is one of the cheapest reason to denounce monarchy right now. During the past 14 years of democracy, there have not been any special development of the remote areas. And that is due to the fact that the politicians cannot be trusted because they come their with their own agendas. Since it affects even the opposition, this is a weak point at best.

"Yea, I spent 20 years of my life in Nepal that does not count. My father lives in Rautahat that is Russia. My uncle lives in Hetauda that is Hungary. Terrorism, lawlessness, violence they suffer does not count because they are not from Katmandu. And I do not empathize with my family because I am republican so I am heartless."

So what? My mother's side of the family lives in Rolpa, yet I will denounce these so called democratic parties anytime who are such opportunists that they side with the Maoists. I don't trust anyone who can side with terrorists for their political gains.

What do the theoretical democrats/republicans here in sajha have to say about teaming with Maoists?

Arrey, baba! If all these cyber discussions are having no effect at all, and if whatever we (both sides) have had to say on various issues are useless, then why are the nay-sayers even bothering to respond? Our respective political stances aside, the fact that we are responding to one another is a proof that whatever each of us have written has made the other THINK, is it not? Isn't making people think good? Or are we not supposed to think at all and submit ourselves to the servitude of His Majesty the King? This notwithstanding the fact that there are many more who have chosen not to write -- the silent readers.

All right, all you nay-sayers! If you don't believe in the power of ideas from abroad, and if you still think discussions on a cyber forum is all but crap, please do all of us a favor by ignoring us. Let there be proof that you have ignored us and DO NOT respond. Keep quiet and go about your own business(es). Bhayo?

As for myself, I still believe making people think -- aek jana lai mattra bhayeni -- is an achievement on a "thopa-thopa" ko level. So, I will continue to write every now and then. The struggle is long and difficult, I know (and I have felt it!), but I know I must not give up. And sadly for you nay-sayers, NOT even the wrath of your ugliest criticisms are going to stop me.

Other than that, ghumdai firdai rumjataar bhanya jasto, eutai kura dohryai dohryai fan fani ghumnu bhanda, for now at least, I would suggest you do what you have to do, and we shall do what we have to do. We will see who wins at the end. I will keep shut until a new and interesting issue is raised. Let us agree to disagree on the rest.

:)

The reason I'm writing is because HAGNEY LAI BHANDA DEKHNE LAI LAAJ.

I've seen you people writing and writing and writing all the bloated theories, seemingly for the good of the country. When in the end it's just an ego booster for yourselves. You're using the deplorable state of the country for your own ego boosting agendas.

All talk and no action is for wannabees. Unless you go there and do something about it, it's all useless stuff. and it bothers me to see that since HAGNEY LAI BHANDA DEKHNE LAI LAAJ.

हामी हग्दै गर्छम्, तिमी लाज मान्दै गर। ढिलो छिटोको कुरो हो, कुन दिन थाहै नपाई तेई आचीको थुप्रोमा पुरीने छौ।

:p ;) :D eheheh

Anil ji:

What thing/s would you have done differently had you been in King G?s shoes? (after the take over)?

I would love to hear what you have to say.

AnilJshahi so you intend to keep shitting in public like that and you're going to use your pseudo Chankhe nickname Poonte to throw shit at others when AnilJShahi character is under fire?

Bahira bata democracy democracy, kosailey opposition garyo bhane Maobadi ko roop dharan garera opposition ko pachi pachi??

Kya Kayeda wah wah.

के उदेक लाग्दो कुरो सुन्न प-या यो ? लोकतन्त्रवादीहरुले हग्दा राजावादीहरुलाई लाज लाग्यो रे । फेरि कस्तो लाज लगाई हो यो, लोकतन्त्रवादीहरुको जहाँ हग्या हो, सुँघ्दै सुँघ्दै त्यही आई पुगेर आचीको पारख गर्नु पर्ने !

ढाँट्नमा राजावादीहरुलाई कस्ले सक्ने ? ज्ञानेन्द्र सरकारले जनमोर्चाका नवराज सुवेदीलाई समातेकै छैन भनेर पचपची किरिया हालेर जगहसाई गर्दैछन् जो उता ।

Haguwa number dui Nepe pani Poonte ko Goo sughdai ai pugecha. Chya chya timharulai public ma nahagnu bhanera sikayena kosailey?

Cryptonite bro,

I hope you will not take it the wrong way. While I do empathize with you and heart your sentiment, let?s at least maintain a semblance of civility here.

I have myself been at the receiving end of name-calling and I know how unpleasant it is. I have been called ?panche? ?mandale? and what not for putting my views across.

You can certainly hit back at people who hurl adjectives/abuse at you, but I think you are being a tad harsh to Anil-ji. Just a friendly comment ? no offence intended.

हामी त खुला समाजमा हुर्कन र पढ्न पायौं। व्यक्तिगत स्वतन्त्रता र समान नागरिक अधिकार के हो वुझ्न पायौं। आफ्ना अधिकार खोसेर लिन नसके युरोप/अमेरिकामा बसेर उपभोग गरौंला रे । तर अवको सन्तती, जो अँध्यारोमा हुर्कने छ, जो विश्वको द्रुततर परिवर्तन र विकासबाट विल्कुल वेखबर हुनेछ, जसका वोल्ने मुखहरु थुनिनेछन वन्दुकका नालबाट, जसका लागि नेपाल अब केवल काठमाण्डु हुनेछ: उनिहरु कस्तो जीवन जिउलान २१ औं शताव्दीमा ? देश लगातार तानाशाहीको अँध्यारो पिंजरा वन्दै गइरहेको छ, जव राजाले पिंजरामा ताल्चा लगाउनेछन तव त्यसभित्र वस्नेहरुले थाह पाउनेछन पिंजरामा थुनिनु कति सकसपूर्ण हुनेछ। उनिहरुको श्राप अहिलेका हुनेखाने शिक्षित नेपालीहरुलाई लाग्नेछ जो स्वार्थको डोरीले वाँधिएर तानाशाहीको संरक्षण गर्न आतुर भैरहेका छन । मान्छे सुगा होइन जो मालिकको विहान वेलुकाको दानापानी पाएर पिंजरामा वस्न चाहोस। आजका हाम्रा गल्तिहरुका कारण नेपाली जातिले शताव्दियौं सम्म सजायँ पाउन सक्छन। सवैलाई चेतना भया।

'वह वक्त भी देखा तारिख की घडियों ने
लम्होंने खता की थी, सदियों ने सजा पाई ।'