Three Kings, two political systems, five-time PM and still going strong

(Courtesy: Nepalhorizons.com / Dipta Shah)

Exhilaration is probably the term that best describes the emotion evoked when listening to emerging leaders espouse progressive ideas of radical change. For the younger generation, this is the norm, the trend and the source of all hope that credible, noteworthy leadership will one day rise to the challenge of propelling Nepal into the 21st century.

By contrast, observing a 78 year old veteran of Nepali politics deliver an unflinching, hour-long account of over 50 years of historical context, of career highs and lows, and of experience-laden perspectives, was at once a deeply humbling and inspirational exercise. Former Prime Minster Surya Bahadur Thapa’s public address (at an event sponsored by the ANA in Washington D.C.), was such an experience.

The actual date on which Mr. Thapa spoke, was itself symbolic. The 29th of May in the United States, is Memorial Day – a public holiday dedicated to American sons and daughters, who sacrificed their lives to guarantee the uninterrupted progression of freedom and liberty for their fellow countrymen and beyond.

This symbolic backdrop evoked deep melancholy when transposed against the 21 plus 13 thousand lives that have been sacrificed in Nepal over the last decade. Such an enormous sacrifice because one group of Nepalis failed in their attempts at nurturing and expanding the freedoms they earned while other groups preyed on the resulting public disillusionment, systematically dismantling what little had been built.

Mr. Thapa’s oration of the Nepali state’s struggle to consolidate meaningful democracy, to foster disproportionate empowerment of the most underprivileged in society, and his account of the challenges that lie ahead were comprehensive.

Former PM Thapa spoke at length on the need to transition the reins of political leadership to the new generation. Although overdue, his acknowledgement is prophetic in comparison to the demonstrated mentality of his peer group. Mr. Thapa’s recognition of the frustrations borne by Nepal’s emerging leaders and the need to alleviate such disgruntlement through an accelerated leadership transition, is farsighted indeed.

The majority of questions emanating from the audience pertained to the issue of recently initiated dialogue with the Maoists. In response, the veteran politician painted a holistic picture that placed full confidence in the ability of the current leadership to accommodate the Maoists’ transition into the political mainstream.

The former PM demonstrated in-depth knowledge of both the facilitating elements as well as the realistic considerations that could inhibit the desired outcome of negotiations. His measured optimism was cognizant of the fragility of the negotiations and yet, confident in the state’s capacity to successfully navigate any and all potential obstacles. Mr. Thapa’s assignment of the benefit of the doubt to the Maoist camp speaks both to the changed political attitudes in Nepal and also to the elevated responsibility the Maoist leadership bears for the eventual outcome of on-going negotiations.

On questions regarding the royal institution, Mr. Thapa’s views were clear – the decision on the form and continuity of the royal tradition rests firmly on the will of the Nepali population-at-large. Resolution on this issue amongst others, will be had through deliberations held via the Constituent Assembly.

Rather than beating a dead horse on the relevance of the monarchy, Mr. Thapa’s discourse alluded to the greater issue of rehabilitating a significant and resourceful constituency, affiliated through tradition and politics with the royal palace. His implication was that channeling resources and energy to constructive ends is inherently more valuable than intentionally alienating an organized and still influential electorate.

This is the type of insight that comes from one source and one source alone – years of experience at navigating political minefields. At a time when his contemporaries are occupied with addressing immediate demands from the street, Mr. Thapa distinguishes himself as an individual occupied with mitigating potential risks, well into the future. Such perceptive vision is perhaps what has enabled a man of 78 years to seamlessly transition from one system to another – his ability to embrace the politics of the future and adapt to changed realities with graciousness and political rectitude.

Former PM Surya B. Thapa is a survivor of Nepali politics. He represents a unique breed of politicians who saw a future in democratic governance, even while serving in a system of highly centralized authority. The state-led persecution Mr. Thapa endured for attempting to liberalize the Panchayat structure from within the system (and more importantly, within Nepal’s boundaries), is a telling tale of unwavering conviction.

Given the complexity and volatility of the situation in Nepal, the opportunity to hear first-hand on the state of affairs from a veteran Nepali politician was a real treat. Much thanks goes to organizers from the ANA and all affiliated parties for making the interaction session possible. Even more thanks goes to former PM Surya B. Thapa who after three kings, two political systems and fives times as the Prime Minister of Nepal, is still going strong!!