Nepali Politics: Brahmin and Chhetri Everywhere

(Courtesy: Krishna Giri)

While for some this article might be yet-another-Bahun/Chhetri-bashing-crap and for others a voice that needs to be much more louder: When certain people willingly or unwillingly control too much share in a nation, it is very likely that that would bring long-term political instability and long run economic damages to the country. When 10% whites controlled the 90% of farm in Zimbabwe, we know what happened. Black market is exchanging 1 US dollar for up to 300,000 and economic pundits are predicting that the rate could well and truly reach up to a million by the end of this year. Less than 30% Brahmin and Chhetri enjoy more than 80% portfolios in: Bureaucracy, Scholarships, Business, Media, Army, Police, Customs, and Judiciaries etc.
By Krishna Giri in Australia

Few days back, a news item on nepalnews caught my eyes. It was a media release about writing the statute of the Nepalese American Journalist Association within six months and complete their legal registration process. President Girish Pokharel, vice president Sushil Neupane, general secretary Krishna Sharma, treasurer Gunraj Luitel and members Parl Regmi and Sharmila Upreti control this association. The list is not over yet. Manoj Acharya, Chandra Prasai, Hari Shiwakoti - and three advisors- Tara Baral, Krishna Kadel and Dr. Dharma Adhikari. Why I am telling these names? From the structure of this committee, I can see a topological view of Nepali politics and dominance of Brahmin and Chhetri in our society. (Even in the US, the Brahmin/Chhetri domination prevails!) Rules made and adopted by these people are Laws even today and they are not giving up yet.

Lets look at the most powerful interim ministers, who are responsible for making new Nepal, as described by them, where they exercise inclusive democracy- leaving behind no minority groups unheard: And the (Brahmin/Chhetri) list is:

• Giriaja Prasad Koirala – Prime Minister
• Ram Chandra Poudel - Peace and Reconstruction
• Krishna Bahadur Mahara – Information and Communication
• Pradeep Nepal – Education
• Ram Sharan Mahat – Finance
• Krishna Sitoula – Home
• Hisila Bhattarai (Yami)– Physical Planning
• Giriraj Mani Pokhrel– Health
• Ramesh Lekhak – Labour and Transport
• Gynendra Karki – Water Resource

The list is on and on. Why our society is so disable? Why it can’t move without the rules of Brahmin and Chhetri? GP Koirala, Puspa K Dahal, Sher B Deuba, MK Nepal, CP Mainali etc, signed the historic Eight Points agreement between SPA and Maoist, designed to form a New Nepal.

Take a look at the (Brahmin/Chhetris) standing committee of CPN-UML

• Madhav Kumar Nepal
• Amrit Kumar Bohara
• Bam Dev Gautam
• Bharat Mohan Adhikari
• Ishwar Pokhrel
• Jhala Nath Khanal
• K.P. Sharma Oli
• Keshav Badal
• Mod Nath Prashrit
• Mukunda Neupane
• Pradeep Nepal
• Sahana Pradhan
• Yuba Raj Gyawali

And have a look at the people whose analysis, thinking, and beliefs will decide our future. TheInterim Constitution Draft Committee (very 1st one):

• Laxman Prasad Aryal, coordinator
• Harihar Dahal, member
• Shambhu Thapa, member
• Sindhu Nath Pyakurel, member
• Mahadev Yadav, member
• Khim Lal Devkota, member

The most revolutionary Nepali political party, who is responsible for the death of more than 15000 lives, is CPN Maoist. They have promised to overthrow the feudalistic society of Nepal and deliver a free and fair society where labours get a fare share. Ideologically they have lost the ground but still they are trying hard to prove that they are core follower of Shining Path and Pol Pot style socialist revolution. Ultimately, they are in the crossroad of modern capitalism and traditional nationalistic extremism. They are in dilemma, whether to choose economic reform approach, social reconstruction approach, diplomatic approach, patriotic approach, OR just keep following the rules of intimidations and torture. Time is ruthless. Their political forecast to win the Nepali hearts by activating YCL failed and they running around red-faced. The recent crises in Middle East, bloodbath between Fatah and Hamas factions, who share the Palestine Government, have shattered them.

Apparently, Maoist style leadership is the carbon copy of Hamas in Palestine, who are in the government and still shut down the nation, kill people, involve in kidnap, murder, extortion, armed attack etc. Maoists and its alliance often shut down sections of the country. Recent row between PM and Maoist supremo has triggered the uncertainty about the motives of the Maoist and the sincerity of the SPAM unity as a whole. Personally, I don’t believe in such a democracy where a political party enjoys national flag and also engaged in forceful abduction, extortion, kidnapping and murder. The country is still experiencing loads of extra judicial killings, disappearances, internal displacement, continuing seizure of private properties, and constant fear of torture/intimidation/physical punishment. Our poor country is in constant pressure to call a date of CA elections but we, the Nepali citizen, are yet to receive manifestoes from the SPAM and other minor parties.

There are various public propagandas about the Maoist vision in the future of Nepal. People are getting the first smell of their capability and their commitments to competitive multiparty democracy and enterprise-based economy. And yet again, Bramhan and Chhetri control the leadership of this red flag party, one among hundred Nepali Communist Party. Here is the list (Brahmin/Chhetri):

• Puspa Kamal Dahal
• Kiran Vaidhya
• Baburam Bhattarai
• CP Gajurel
• Dinanath Sharma
• Krishna Br Mahara
• Hishila Bhattarai (Yami)
• Pamfa Bhusal
• Top Br Rayamajhi
• Janardan Sharma
• Lokendra Bista
• Lekh Raj Bhatta
• Naraya Dahal
• Bamdev Chhetri
• Purna Subedi
• Amrita Thapa
• Satya Pahadi
• Sarala Regmi
• Khim Devkota

The list may go forever. They talk about autonomous regions and supremacy to their rule on their own region by their own people. Who belongs to where? Are we going back to 15th century to find out who ruled certain regions and who deserves what? Is this is the call of 21st century? Are we heading for a united nation or for a divided nation than ever before? Today’s call is not for divisions but for harmony and consolidation. We must dream for a nation where people from every race, religion, sex, and ethnicity come to the arena and be proud and humble for being a Nepali.

Autonomous regions or federal model of governance is understandable. But why a Tamang can’t be a Chief of Tharuwan Region? Why a Gauchan can’t be a Chief of Kirat region? OR why a Brahmin can’t be a Chief of Khumbhuwan Region? OR why a Chaudhary can’t be a Chief of a Chure Bhaware? A charismatic Magar leader born in Birgunj should go to Rolpa to engage in Politics? Where does he belong? Are you apprehending the democratic rights of movement and settlement within the nation?

Time need answers not promises. We belong to the same country vesting the same themes of nationality. We are covered and secured by the same constitution, then why there is such a division in the leadership style and models. Indigenous communities or the Nepali people as a whole are taking none of theses decisions. A bunch of tyrants, who mostly belong to aristocratic and suppressive family, design, develop, decide and implement these policies. If we believe in democracy, every major decisions of the country should be decided by the referendum, where people’s voices are heard rather than regulated.

Nepali congress carries the longest history as a democratic party and this party has ruled more than 90% period of Democratic Nepal. Who controls this party? Lets have look: (Brahmin/Chhetri in the Central Working Committee):

• Girija P Koirala
• Sushil Koirala
• Sailaja Acharya
• Ram Chandra Poudel
• Govinda Raj Joshi
• Krishna Sitaula
• Ram Saran Mahat
• Chakra Bastola
• Khum Br Khadka
• Mahesh Acharya
• Gopal Pahadi
• Nara Hari Acharya
• Laxman Ghimire
• Dilendra Badu
• Shekahr Koirala

I can’t go any further. Simply there is no significance presence of other people. And they talk about new style of inclusive democracy. People need to be included in the first place. People are participating in these uprising for their rights, not for liberal grants from feudal leaders. Citizens’ rights can’t be dictated by these feudal mobs. It has to come by the will of people, but not by the will of tyrants. Today’s call is for equality, partiality, involvement and solidarity. These voices of people must be heard and all the time, as history has proven, and every time, these people’s voices can’t go as a credit to these autocrats, whose democracy is limited to their families and puppets. This time the democracy should be for people, not for leaders.

Second youth wing of Nepali congress, Tarun Dal is lead by Bal Krishna Khad and he is there forever. I don’t think he is going to quit unless he is promoted to some top rank in the party. And Brahmans and Chhetris once again dictate the student wing, which is the hope for future and of course future of our leaders new Nepal. Recently, Pradeep Poudel elected President of NSU and his rivals were Bikash Koirala and Badri Pandey. Note their last names.

I am not just complaining about these tyrants who control Nepal. They dictate every Nepali society. Take a look at the people who control the Non Resident Nepal, the famous global Nepali Diaspora (Brahmin/Chhetri) assembly.

• Upendra Mahato
• Sharada Thapa
• Indira Ban
• Ram Thapa
• Sagar Nepal
• Chiranjibi Dhakal
• Dipak Khadka
• Naresh Koirala
• Harihar Aryal
• Kumar Basnet and so forth

And who is in my backyard (NRN Australia)?

• Mana KC
• Ranju Thapa
• Goba Katuwal
• Shyam KC
• Krishna Hamal
• Pradeep Dhakal
• Durga Bastola
• Pramod Khatiwada
• Bina Poudel
• Ashok Dhakal and so onwards.

These lists are simply hard to follow and it can be utterly awful when you compare with what you see and what you hear. By no means, I am saying that all the leadership should be passed to other races. We need transparency and fairness. I uniformly oppose the indigenous leaders who term ‘Ruling Class’ to Brahmin and Chhetri to achieve cheap fame and popularity. That should not be the case. We need a strong, united, committed, and forward thinking NEPAL.

When certain people willingly or unwillingly control too much share in a nation, it is very likely that that would bring long-term political instability and long run economic damages to the country. When 10% whites controlled the 90% of farm in Zimbabwe, we know what happened. Black market is exchanging 1 US dollar for up to 300,000 and economic pundits are predicting that the rate could well and truly reach up to a million by the end of this year. Less than 30% Brahmin and Chhetri enjoy more than 80% portfolios in: Bureaucracy, Scholarships, Business, Media, Army, Police, Customs, and Judiciaries etc. Lets start to stop this communal outrageous from today to give a better future for our glorious nation. It’s a matter of urgency to give people a reasonable share in all areas of the country. Let the new generation enjoy democracy rather than hearing about it all their lives.

(Krishna Giri, a student of International Relations, MA in Sydney, is neither Brahmin/Chhetiri nor janajati. “I believe [Giris] think they are inclined towards Chetri but Brahmins accept them widely,” Krishna says. “Personally, I think they are Sanyashi and they deserve to be in Jungle ”).

Related Posts:

A Gurkha's Perspective on Bahunism
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/06/courtesy-anonymous-gurkha-listen-nepali.html

Nepal's Struggle with Feudalism and Fatalism - Moriarty, Martin and Manmohan as "Gods"
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/05/nepals-struggle-with-feudalism-and.html

Bahunism Extended to Other Cultures and People - Analysis of Character and Physical Features as Templates
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/03/bahunism-extended-to-other-cultures-and.html

Bahunists and Bahunism - A mini-Dissertation on the Caretakers of Nepal's Feudal Tradition
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/03/bahunists-and-bahunism-mini.html