Bimalendra Nidhi, video clip
Ram Sharan Mahat, video clip
Jhala Nath Khanal, video clip
114 photos.
I woke up late. When I got off the F train to trasfer to the G train, as I waited on the platform I happened to look at a subway map on the wall. Someone had drawn a black line starting from Times Square. The line went left and then up. It read, the black train goes to Canada.
It was another transfer to the E train. I did not know the venue for sure, but I had been told I could ask at the Tibetan Yak Restaurant. I also needed to grab a quick lunch there. And it was literally going to be a grab: I was running a little late. And all the dignitaries were right there at the restaurant.
"Oho, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat. Paramendra. Paramendra Bhagat."
"Jharendra?"
"Paramendra Bhagat."
After the caravan of cars got us all to the Satya Narayan temple, I approached him again.
"Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has been all over the place online in his photos during the protests," I said in Nepali.
"You mean before Dashain?"
That is when he came out of the closet with a broad smile: "I have heard of you." I guess he is one of the readers of this blog. He mentioned some Professor Aalok who had talked to him about me.
It was a short ride in the caravan. It might have taken the same amount of time walking, as it did after I walked back to the same restaurant with Anil Jha after the program was over. I spent the rest of the evening with Anilji. I really wanted to make it to this poetry event somewhere where Kul Chandra Gautam was going to show up: ever since I got into town I have been wanting to meet that guy. But I skipped that for Anil. That is my dedication to the Madhesi cause. I hope I get to meet Gautam some other time soon.
This was a Youth Council program, Anand Bist and others. I liked this venue better compared to the Columbia University venue that was set up for Gagan Thapa. It was in Jackson Heights. It was larger.
Crorepati Mridula had sponsored the samosas for the event, it was announced.
This was one great event. There was a large crowd in attendance, the question answer session at the end was lively, to say the least. The speakers all talked great.
I honed in on the four point agenda of the seven parties. It can only take shape after the House is revived. There is nothing in the 1990 constitution that will allow for the revival of the House. The king can not do it. The Supreme Court can not do it. To revive the House would be a fundamental clash with the prerogative of a Prime Minister to dissolve the House. So why not go straight for an all party government, and then to the other points that culminate in a constituent assembly?
Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said a House is needed so that the power comes back from the palace to the people. I too wish there were a parliament in the country. I am not for an executive monarchy like the one the country has now.
Jhala Nath Khanal gave a better answer. He hinted that talks are underway. And it might be possible to come forth with a new agenda. But until then the four point agenda was the common minimum program.
I took the same question over to Pari Thapa after the program was over. He gave an even better answer. He basically said this was not a matter of legality, but a political question. Reviving the House would be a political act.
Deuba dissolved the House in 2002. It was not the king. Then Deuba had six months to hold elections. He was not able to do that. The king sacked Deuba. Then he invited an all party government and a consensus prime minister. Upto that point the king is acting within the 1990 constitution. And then the document dies. Nothing the king has done after that is allowed by the 1990 constitution. And 2/1 was a coup. Just like he has been out of the constitution roaming around, he should similarly revive the House. That was the logic I interpreted from his brief remark.
Two leaders from the two large parties used the word "madisey" when touching on the issue of social justice. During my question I criticized the Congress and the UML.
"When only 2,000 people are dead, you are not for a constituent assembly, but after 12,000 people are dead, you are for a constituent assembly. When the king has not enacted a coup, you are not for a constituent assembly, but after he has organized a coup, you are for it. That proves you did not get there by doing your political homework, you got there because you were pushed."
Then the word became Madhesi in a subsequent remark. That proves people who use the "m" word in Nepal are fully aware it is like the "n" word in America.
The Congressias can act like high school bulleys. Which is the largest party? It is not the Congress, not after its vertical split. But they maintain the fiction. "Let's assume you are the largest party," Jhala Nath Khanal said at one point.
Minendra Risal was late coming.
Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat speaks like he is about to start a fight. He stands up. He is an imposing presence. He has a metallic voice. He talks loud. He emphasizes words. He does not sway his head. He looks straight ahead, maybe he is just looking at an empty chair, but it looks like he has locked his eyes with that one person sitting in front of him who he is going to go smack after his talk is over.
It was sheer delight meeting Bimalendra Nidhi. Nidhiji is the most senior Madhesi politician in the country right now. He is the reason why the Deuba Congress is for federalism. He is a fellow Janakpuriya. The Nidhis are like the Koiralas in stature. One criticism I have of Girija Koirala is King Gyanendra thought of making Badri Mandal a Deputy Prime Minister, but it never occurred to Girija Koirala to make Mahendra Narayan Nidhi a Deputy Prime Minister. His wife, a Bengali from Calcutta I learned, told me their children are the ones who check the family email. And they get excited when there are emails from me. I was touched. This was my first time meeting Nidhi.
After he spoke, he walked to me and asked me to show where the bathroom in the building was. We went downstairs. Dr. Mahat came along not long after.
Ram Sharan Mahat and Jhala Nath Khanal were particularly articulate.
The seven parties have come together with the four point agenda: (1) revive House, (2) form all party government, (3) peace talks with Maoists, and (4) elections to a constituent assembly. Okay, so the House is not to be revived because it can legally be revived. It is to be revived nevertheless, as a political decision. But peace making is give and take. The four point agenda is an achievement. I wish the Congress and the UML had come forth for a constituent assembly much earlier, especially the Koirala Congress.
But there are two other parties to the conflict: the Maoists and the Monarchists. Neither of them want the House revived. So if it is going to be a political decision to revive the House, why not make a political decision to forego that step and go straight for an all party government if that hastens both peace and democracy?
I really think Girija Koirala and the Congress need to look into this. The idiotic House revival stance is why the movement is not taking off. There should be a simpler program. One option is, all party government, constituent assembly. Another, democratic republic. The House revival stand is like a software bug. It is messing up the whole program.
I got to spend a lot of time with Anil Jha. It was tea and chheula at one place, long talks, a walk over to the Patel Brothers, and then a fish curry meal at a Bengali restaurant. We touched on so many different topics. We got to know each other. I asked him about him. He asked me about me.
"We are Madhesis also in America. There is work to be done here also," I said. "Aap long wahan kariye, main yahan karta hoon." And I was not talking about the Nepalis in America, the Pahadis, although they do need to be talked about. I also suggested how the democratic cause in Nepal is also of importance to the Democrats in America. Spreading democracy the progressive way like in Nepal is preferable to doing it the neo-con way like in Iraq.
I asked a lot of questions about the Sadbhavana, especially the inner happenings of the party since late 1996. Inner party politics in a small party like the Sadbhavana in a country like Nepal is a whole different ball game. It can feel like early stages of institution building. There are a lot of loose ends.
I learned Anilji's pesonal story. Quite a story.
What really got my attention is his telling me seven of the Sadbhavana district presidents are graduates of its student wing. That is encouraging. Looks like the Sadbhavana is proving better than the larger parties in terms of nurturing young leaders.
We talked about the Proposed Constitution. We touched upon the main points, like federalism and languages issue. I said, if the Sadbhavana supports the document, I will also approach the other parties. If not, I don't see why I should approach others. He sounded supportive. He wanted a minor technicality amended. That was all.
I also got to talk to Duman Thapa at Mridula Koirala's place. He is the Carter Center person. He is a western educated person. He earned his Masters at Harvard. I got his email address. He told me Nepal was number five on the Carter Center's priority list, as in it was way up there, that he had already lead a similar delegation of the Maoists to Europe. And next in line was a delegation of the Monarchists to the US. I suggested he take a look at my document.
Dumanji and I could really make some headway if he were to share some of his contacts in the three camps, even if only indirectly. We are going to stay in touch.
Barsha is also on the team.
Chakra Banstola was enjoying his drink when I left the place.
