[The former Panchas including
Surya Bahadur Thapa, Pashupati Shumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani have much finer
and better images now. Kamal Thapa has emerged as the most active and
influential leader of the radical right. Gyanendra Shah also has a far better
image than what he used to have six years ago.]
By Divash Sharma
 |
| Party leaders keep fighting for Prime Minister's chair in Singh Durbar while these students cross the river this way to their school and back home |
In a span of short time of six
years only, the popular perception about Nepal's several personalities has gotten changed
tremendously. The heroes have now turned into somewhat different; if not outright
villains. Those actors perceived as in negative roles earlier have now become able to transform themselves as
more acceptable personalities. In substance, the positions and roles have changed and so have the actors
also. Many champions of 'republicanism' and democracy are now considered as
corrupt and power hungry agents of alien actors. The societal attitudes
about them have changed so radically and dramatically !
Let’s see some of the changed
images of a few personalities. Let’s start with UPCN (M) as it is the “flavour
of the month”. Pushpa Kamal Dahal the highly revered “Messiah of Revolution” is
perceived now as a petty power broker. The public opinion about him has turned
at least 160 degrees, if not 190 towards dark. Once considered an ideal is now
seen as one of the most unreliable, unpredictable and luxury- laden foxes in
town. This is a sea-change of people’s perception
today.
The second in line is his deputy,
Baburam Bhattarai. People were so positive about him that they blindly
supported him. He was considered as the best qualified person to bring Nepal
into the path of progress from ruins. People believed him as an intellectual
par excellence. There was some short of euphoria when he got the top job in the
country - the chair of the prime
minister. However, within a year of that very rosy day, Nepal
slid into further anarchy and he is now seen no more than a ‘power-glued
parasite’.
Let’s see some other pictures in
some other fronts. The media now has been seen as provider of entertainments
rather than that of information. However, people used to consider Kishore Nepal, one of Nepal's finest journalists, as generally as information collector, processor, analyzer and
deliverer also. Really, he was a good journalist for many and for some he was a
journalist of majestic height. Now, after joining Nagarik Daily, he has converted
himself into Babu Ram Bhattrai’s laundryman. Strange!
Similarly, Dr. Sundar Mani Dixit,
the brilliant physician with great virtues has converted himself into an
honorary guard of
Babu Ram Bhattrai and Pushpa Kamal’s joint venture. Nir Shah, C. K.
Lal, Yuv Raj Lama, etc. are some other examples.
There are many who have already tarnished
their images due to their supresser’s role during 1990s. They continued to remain with
the same bad images or a bit darker images. Nearly all the main leaders of Nepali Congress Party and CPN (UML) Party belong to this category. Two possible exceptions
could be Congress' Sushil Koirala and CPN (UML)'s Amrit Bohara.
The former Panchas including
Surya Bahadur Thapa, Pashupati Shumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani have much finer
and better images now. Kamal Thapa has emerged as the most active and
influential leader of the radical right. Gyanendra Shah also has a far better
image than what he used to have six years ago
People like to hear more from
some of the intellectuals also. The list includes the names of Rishi Raj Baral,
Krishna Bhattachan, Bhimarjun Acharya, Mumaram Khanal and Surendra K. C. Likewise retired Nepal Army Chief Rukmangad Katawal is another person, whom people like to listen. Recently, he
emerged as one among a few influential opinion makers. His political activism,
though untested, is interesting to watch.
There are some personalities
still with positive images or a few new personalities with positive images have
emerged. The names in this category include that of Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal,
Chitra Bahadur K. C., Ram Baran Yadav, Gokarna Bista, Chitra Lekha Yadav,
Pampha Bhusal, etc.
Chitra Bahadur K. C., Surendra K.
C. and Kamal Thapa oppose federalism either in form or in the essence but they
have certain degree of integrity in their conduct. Surya Bahadur Thapa,
Pashupati Sumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani represent the old school of thought.
Rukmangud Katawal is a new comer in the business or in other words in politics
and opinion making. Gyanendra Shah represents the past at present. Ram Bahadur
Thapa Badal, Ram Baran Yadav, Chitra Lekha Yadav and Gakarna Bista are not the
birds of same feather. The same applies to Bhimarjun Acharya, Krishna
Bhattachan and Rishi Raj Baral also.
However, their net worth is growing or has been continuing as positive or has turned to positive in perceptions of the people. Therefore, this phenomenon is cross-political and cross-ideological. May be this is somewhat temporary, but is certainly a new reality. On the other side, the rulers of today including Pushpa Kamal and Babu Ram Bhattarai are competing with the rulers of yesterday - in area of decreasing popularity. This is another reality. This is a strange phenomenon.Nepal
is now in upheavals, so are the personalities also.
However, their net worth is growing or has been continuing as positive or has turned to positive in perceptions of the people. Therefore, this phenomenon is cross-political and cross-ideological. May be this is somewhat temporary, but is certainly a new reality. On the other side, the rulers of today including Pushpa Kamal and Babu Ram Bhattarai are competing with the rulers of yesterday - in area of decreasing popularity. This is another reality. This is a strange phenomenon.
***
[Posted below, as it was received to us as, is a letter to some missionaries by a scholar of Nepali origin down here in USA of some serious issue - religious conversion in Nepal. The 'Christian propaganda designed for conversion' is what used to be worrisome few years back and now it seems, is in full sway in the Himalayan country. - Editor]
By Tilak Shrerstha PhD
Background: On July 14, 2012
we were invited to watch a documentary on Nepal made by an American family who speaks Nepali and lived in Nepal for a few years. To our surprise, the documentary “Preeti
ko Malik – Preeti’s Master” we watched was a Christian propaganda designed for conversion.
The movie begins with a father selling his daughter ‘Preeti’ of about 10 years
of age to a cruel master. Nepalese are depicted as poor, cultureless, valueless
and Dharmaless people. The poor girl has to work hard, wear burlap clothes and
beaten often by the master. She finds a friend – a lady primary school teacher.
The teacher is a Christian missionary and teaches students of 7 or 8 years of age - not humanities, science or history but Christian doctrines that ‘Jesus is the
only salvation.’ She converts Preeti to Christianity. The cruel master once
beats Preeti so bad that she dies. As Jesus she was dead in her mud hut for 3
days. The teacher buries her. The cruel master repents and converts to
Christianity. Then there was invasion of heathen Japanese army in Nepal . The ‘never happened event’ is lamely explained that it
happened in Philippines . Japanese soldiers order the master to bow to the Japanese
King’s photo. He refuses on the ground that he bows only to Jesus. Japanese
soldiers execute the master and make him a Christian martyr.
Dear missionaries
Jon Cloud Jee <JonCloudABC@yahoo.com>
Brian Snider Jee
<BKSnider@GMail.com>
Namaste
Thanks for inviting to watch your Christian propaganda
documentary “Preeti’s master.” It depicts Nepalese people as poor, cultureless,
valueless and Dharmaless people; and Christianity as the only salvation. Such
one way propaganda is not acceptable. There has to be a dialogue – both ways.
Yes, presently we are poor. It is just a matter of
historical cycle. But we are not cultureless people. For example, we do not
invite guests and insult them. Our civilization goes back to the pre-historical
time of Shiva. Even King Janak and Princess Sita of Ramayana were almost a
thousand years before Adam and Eve (4006 BC). By the way, that is where Cain
got his wife. In the ‘Deluge’ even the Himalayan range was 3 feet under the
water. For whole year we had to stand on hill tops to survive, and all others
perished. We still call that the ‘year of cold butt.’ And that is why all the
good people today are descendants of the Himalayan people.
I recognize you both are missionaries of Baptist -
Christian religion. However, you may notice that we practice Dharma not
religion. We have many Dharmas in Nepal like Bauddha, Shaiva, Vaishnav etc, which are collectively
known as Hinduism. Dharma is not religion. Dharma is about seeking truth
‘Satya’ and spiritual practices ‘Yoga.’ A religion is about social innovation
for tribal survival through militarization of society. Thus religion and Dharma
acts in different planes. For example, you cannot be a Christian and a Muslim,
but can be a Christian and a Buddhist same time.
Here are three articles to explain the basics of Dharma:
‘Dharma and religion’, ‘Karma – theory and practice’, and ‘Gnan yoga - Way of
knowledge.’ You are welcome to learn, ask questions or write criticisms.
In the same token here are a few questions on Christianity.
- Truth is – good people go to
heaven, bad people go to hell. On the contrary, Christianity states ‘all
Christians go to heaven, no matter how evil and all others go to hell, no
matter how virtuous.’
- John 14:6 Jesus said to him,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through Me.
- Acts
- John 3:16-18 For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. But he who does not believe
is condemned already.
Accordingly,
all your non-Christian ancestors are in hell. Is it true? Do you agree?
Let me tell you, they were virtuous and are in heaven.
B. Truth is – a person may practice ‘good heart’ inside and
‘good deed’ out side to go to heaven. Any beliefs, true or not, are irrelevant.
Compare it with the Christian doctrine that a mere belief ‘Jesus is Christ’
will open heaven for you. If you do not believe it then go to hell. Do you
agree? Can it be true?
C. Truth is – sins are not transferable. A person has to
face the consequences of the person’s deeds, good for good, and bad for bad.
Like school grades or head aches they cannot be wished away to others. On the
contrary, Christian doctrines state the original sin of Adam\Eve is transmitted
to all humanity and thus babies are born in sin. Jesus pays other’s sin, even
for the crimes which are not even committed yet. Do you agree? Can it be true?
D. The doctrine comes from the Jewish superstition and
practice that you can transfer your sins to the ‘escape goat.’ Jews sacrifice a
poor sheep to God, and believe that God’s justice is about punishing the sheep
instead the real criminal. Do you agree? Can it be true? Same concept is blown
that God himself sacrifices his own son Jesus to pay for our sin. Here is a question.
God sacrificed Jesus? To whom?
E. Jesus was a nice guy, a great spiritual master, a
Buddhist scholar who lived most of his life in India and died in Shrinagar, Kashmir , India
F. Jesus’s teachings are mostly based upon Bauddha and
Shaiva traditions. His sublime teachings like ‘love even your enemies’ is most
admirable. But Jesus’s teachings are not the central message of Christianity.
For example, what happens to Jewish people who actually met Jesus and practiced
his preaching ‘love all?’ According to Christianity, they all will go to hell
merely because they do not believe ‘Jesus is Christ.’ Do you agree? Can it be
true?
I am a science student, not a
theologian. However, tons of material is available on the authenticity of
Christianity or lack of it. I am giving a few below. Please help yourself. If
you have any questions please feel free to contact.
Sincerely,
Tilak Shrestha, Ph.D.
______________________________
A.
Jesus’s life in India
C.
What Nepalese need to know about Christianity.
Millions of Native Americans wereKilled by Christians - Hopi Chief
AmericanHolocaust of Native American Indians
Inquisition and torture tools, 50million tortured to death.
AmericanHolocaust of Native American Indians
Inquisition and torture tools, 50million tortured to death.
D.
Objective study of Bible and Christianity.