Raghuji Panta is a known feltist politician of Nepal. He belongs to a party called CPN-UML (which partially supported the king when he started his coup move against democracy). He even won a seat of parliament some eight years ago.
Surprisingly, on Wednesday, the 17th of October, he charged Nepali press of overdoing journalism and enjoying too much of press freedom. He said that Nepali press is given too much of press freedom and they are not at all responsible to the readers. He was addressing an interaction on constitutional crisis and press freedom. He spoke a lot about politics, ie, critised the Maoists (this is what they do, to coverup their plan to avoid the election of constituent assembly) in the programme organised by Nepal Press Institute at Hotel Himalaya.
He also chraged that Nepali Press does mistakes and character assassination every day and opined that they should be penalised. "The law against media in Nepal is very weak. In other countries, many of the newspapers get bankrupted just because they failed to pay compensation against the crime they do to others," he said.
But he failed to name a single crime done by the media and also he did not remember when he or his party filed case against the media and what punishment the court annouced for the media.
In fact, what I know is that, Nepali media are the cheapest parrots to the polticians and they never venture to criticise the leaders. They just make news out of the bullshit bhashan they make here and there. Many of the reporters are just in pockets of the leaders and they do what the leaders want. Some are given political promotion for what they write supporting the impotent and unethical leaders.
Still, the UML leader is not happy with the media. What could be the reason? I guess, he is being appointed as a communication minister. Excactly, the king's communication miniser Shreesh Samshre used to say like that.
I know Raghuji since the time when he was living in a a rented toom at Pulchowk.
In this context, it is to be noted that Nepal surges 20 places in World Press Freedom index. Nepal has surged more than 20 places to be placed at 137th position in the ranking of the world press freedom index owing to revival of basic freedoms after the end of war, according to a report published by Paris based Reporters Sans Frontiers Tuesday (www.nepalnws.com).
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Nepal's crown prince did it again
The Crown Prince of Nepal Prarash Shah made an accident again. He hit his vehicle on the middle or the road and got it badly damaged two days ago. Unfortunately, he was safe. He was driving carelessly in the Chabahil area and failed to notice the cement dividers and jammed on it. It is not known whether he was driving but it was clear he was in stress.
And you must be surprised that this republic-oriented government did nothing to the wrong-doer prince. Instead of it, the Traffic Police crane helped the crown prince to take his vehicle safely out of the troubled street.
He had already killed a man named Pravin Gurung some six years ago and he was left free to move wtihout the slightest penalty.
The crown price was found psychologically disturbed when he understood that he would not succeed his father's throne which was acquired through the massacre drama. He had a big dream of being called the king of Nepal (that was impossible, as he was a son of a younger son of the past king Mahendra Shah, and thanks to the massacre he got the right to dream of the impposible). But sad, it happened that the king Gyanendra overacted and even ventured to do a crude coup. What was the result? he even lost the throne for himself.
Since then, Paras was out of order and he stopped driving his Harley Davidson. He drank carelessly and was almost got heart attack.
And you must be surprised that this republic-oriented government did nothing to the wrong-doer prince. Instead of it, the Traffic Police crane helped the crown prince to take his vehicle safely out of the troubled street.
He had already killed a man named Pravin Gurung some six years ago and he was left free to move wtihout the slightest penalty.
The crown price was found psychologically disturbed when he understood that he would not succeed his father's throne which was acquired through the massacre drama. He had a big dream of being called the king of Nepal (that was impossible, as he was a son of a younger son of the past king Mahendra Shah, and thanks to the massacre he got the right to dream of the impposible). But sad, it happened that the king Gyanendra overacted and even ventured to do a crude coup. What was the result? he even lost the throne for himself.
Since then, Paras was out of order and he stopped driving his Harley Davidson. He drank carelessly and was almost got heart attack.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
This, Maobadi press freedom
The Maoists today exhibited the extent of their totalitarian vision.
The Maoists leadership must be happy to know that their cadres today successfully demolished printing press of Kantipur Daily and also tried to set fire in the premises of Kantipur Office. Of course, they have to be. This did not happen in 238 years of monarchy, 15 years of king's democracy and 18 months of king's dictatorship. I do not remember anything similar could take place in "glorious" insurgency of Maoists (though I have not forgotten the mruder of journalist Gyanendra Khadka). In all sense, it was a history and the dates could be improtant for lecturers of Nepali journalism.
"Press is dangerous". This is the most common welcome note you will find when you visit a government officer. They want to stay at the office and wait the "sanktranti" to grab the salary. They just do not want to be in problem by telling the journalists what is truth. Similarly, the party leaders also consider the media persons as their enemies. They want the journalists to be either their puppet and work as their "Prachar Prsar Bibhag" or do not want to talk with them.
We know quite well, none of the governments - either in the Panchayati regime, during the king's democracy, or any other period - were tolerant to the press. They want all the newspapers to be the pet dogs of the government, mainly the ministry of information is set up to control the media and to force them to speak in favour of the government. That is why none of the governments were ready to privatize Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal, which toot the government's horn out of the tax payers' money. And that was the reason the Maoists were doing all the "nakhara" to get hold of the ministry of information.
And this is the climax of Maoists are showing dictatorship's character. They have let some of its cadres in the publication house and forced the management and the journalists to obey to what their leaders say. When they failed to make the journalists write positive of all the indirect insurgency they are carrying out in the country , the came to the level of "dadagiri".
Otherwise, how can you take everything naturally, when there are hundreds of factories, industries and other service centres in the country but only the employees of the media houses are ill-treated? And even in the media houses, there are other trade unions, which are affiliated with other parties. Why those trade unions do not see any problem anly only the Maoist trade unions are feeling unethical suppression? It is as clear as day, the Maoists want to quell press freedom.
The king's day came to the end right from the day when he started to quell the press freedom. Does the Maoists of Nepal also want the same? I really believe the Maoists do not like the same thing to happen to them.
The Maoists leadership must be happy to know that their cadres today successfully demolished printing press of Kantipur Daily and also tried to set fire in the premises of Kantipur Office. Of course, they have to be. This did not happen in 238 years of monarchy, 15 years of king's democracy and 18 months of king's dictatorship. I do not remember anything similar could take place in "glorious" insurgency of Maoists (though I have not forgotten the mruder of journalist Gyanendra Khadka). In all sense, it was a history and the dates could be improtant for lecturers of Nepali journalism.
"Press is dangerous". This is the most common welcome note you will find when you visit a government officer. They want to stay at the office and wait the "sanktranti" to grab the salary. They just do not want to be in problem by telling the journalists what is truth. Similarly, the party leaders also consider the media persons as their enemies. They want the journalists to be either their puppet and work as their "Prachar Prsar Bibhag" or do not want to talk with them.
We know quite well, none of the governments - either in the Panchayati regime, during the king's democracy, or any other period - were tolerant to the press. They want all the newspapers to be the pet dogs of the government, mainly the ministry of information is set up to control the media and to force them to speak in favour of the government. That is why none of the governments were ready to privatize Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal, which toot the government's horn out of the tax payers' money. And that was the reason the Maoists were doing all the "nakhara" to get hold of the ministry of information.
And this is the climax of Maoists are showing dictatorship's character. They have let some of its cadres in the publication house and forced the management and the journalists to obey to what their leaders say. When they failed to make the journalists write positive of all the indirect insurgency they are carrying out in the country , the came to the level of "dadagiri".
Otherwise, how can you take everything naturally, when there are hundreds of factories, industries and other service centres in the country but only the employees of the media houses are ill-treated? And even in the media houses, there are other trade unions, which are affiliated with other parties. Why those trade unions do not see any problem anly only the Maoist trade unions are feeling unethical suppression? It is as clear as day, the Maoists want to quell press freedom.
The king's day came to the end right from the day when he started to quell the press freedom. Does the Maoists of Nepal also want the same? I really believe the Maoists do not like the same thing to happen to them.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Prashanta and Nepali nationality
I was surprised to see the mass of youths thronging to Jawalakhel to see/listento the Indian Idol Prashanta Tamang.
I find no reason why should Prashanta Tamang be adored, loved by Nepalis. He is by no means Nepali just because he speaks Nepali and because his family name is like a Nepali? This might be a trick of those Indians (specially belonging Darjeeling, Asaam, Sikkim and Meghalaya) to win the title. They suddenly remember that there is a country called Nepal to win more and more SMS and let the Indian company make profit.
Otherwise, language alone cannot make somebody Nepali or British. An Indian can sing in English. Will it make George Bush happy?
Have you ever heard Prashanta sining in Nepali or for Nepal earlier? Have you see in in Nepal? Can you quit Indian citizen and come and live with us like a Nepali? No. All 76ttares are like that. We must be clear at this turning point of time who is Nepali adn who is not. Superficial slogan of blood relation will finally leave us nowhere.
I also believe that nationalism is not only citizenship card. But it should also be feeling. That feeling should not be selfish, business-minded or ill-guided. I love all the Nepali speakers in Darjeeling, Sikkim and other places. But ask your heart, have they been Nepali earlier? They enjoy working in India, win Indian citizenship card and subsidy and facilitiy provided by the Indian Government. And whey they are knocked down by Bangalis, or when they see some attraction in Nepali, they suddenly change their colour and come to Nepali for some profit of other kind.
Actually, Prsahanta did not win the title of Indian Idol because of his voice or talent. The Indian government itself want a kid of tie between the Indians of Darjeeling and Nepalis of Nepal. They want us to feel a kind of love for the Nepali-speaking Indians. They want to make us feet that they are Nepali and would be used as the Sikkimis to have Nepal annexed in India. This will eventually make Nepal a Sikkim.
See, we cannot accept a Madheshi as a Nepali just because he cannot speak Nepali and we are ready to welcome a man with Indian citizenship as our fellow being. Shame, Prime Minister also had time to meet that Indian child. This is a high time to discuss about our Nepalism. Janani Janmabhoomisxha Swargadapi Gariyashi.
I find no reason why should Prashanta Tamang be adored, loved by Nepalis. He is by no means Nepali just because he speaks Nepali and because his family name is like a Nepali? This might be a trick of those Indians (specially belonging Darjeeling, Asaam, Sikkim and Meghalaya) to win the title. They suddenly remember that there is a country called Nepal to win more and more SMS and let the Indian company make profit.
Otherwise, language alone cannot make somebody Nepali or British. An Indian can sing in English. Will it make George Bush happy?
Have you ever heard Prashanta sining in Nepali or for Nepal earlier? Have you see in in Nepal? Can you quit Indian citizen and come and live with us like a Nepali? No. All 76ttares are like that. We must be clear at this turning point of time who is Nepali adn who is not. Superficial slogan of blood relation will finally leave us nowhere.
I also believe that nationalism is not only citizenship card. But it should also be feeling. That feeling should not be selfish, business-minded or ill-guided. I love all the Nepali speakers in Darjeeling, Sikkim and other places. But ask your heart, have they been Nepali earlier? They enjoy working in India, win Indian citizenship card and subsidy and facilitiy provided by the Indian Government. And whey they are knocked down by Bangalis, or when they see some attraction in Nepali, they suddenly change their colour and come to Nepali for some profit of other kind.
Actually, Prsahanta did not win the title of Indian Idol because of his voice or talent. The Indian government itself want a kid of tie between the Indians of Darjeeling and Nepalis of Nepal. They want us to feel a kind of love for the Nepali-speaking Indians. They want to make us feet that they are Nepali and would be used as the Sikkimis to have Nepal annexed in India. This will eventually make Nepal a Sikkim.
See, we cannot accept a Madheshi as a Nepali just because he cannot speak Nepali and we are ready to welcome a man with Indian citizenship as our fellow being. Shame, Prime Minister also had time to meet that Indian child. This is a high time to discuss about our Nepalism. Janani Janmabhoomisxha Swargadapi Gariyashi.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Long live Paras
I'm very sorry to know that our once-upon-a-time His Highness Crown Prince Paras had a minor heart attack. I will certainly commit suicide if I come to know that he is dead. I will not tolerate any other tragedy in this world.
Paras (for he has created himself an institution in Nepal's history of monarchy) has to live long. There are lots of things in this country that he must see. How can he simply close his eyes so soon? He has to read newspaper every morning and watch TV every evening to know how people think about the gift of Baba Gorakhnath? And how will Jana Astha etc have scoop every other week on who thrashed whom in which discotheque at what time of the night? Let more people speak about monarchy, the king the queen and their son.
He also has to see how the election of constituent assembly take place (and how the Hanuman Prasad Koirala will betray the people and again turn his family property of Nepali Congress into a Rajabadi party) and how the people will shake the name of monarchy from the history of Nepal.
It was nice that the dose of "Kalo Padartha" was not enough to make him sleep long. That was enough. Please come up from the bed and take part in the active politics.
Long live Praras.
Paras (for he has created himself an institution in Nepal's history of monarchy) has to live long. There are lots of things in this country that he must see. How can he simply close his eyes so soon? He has to read newspaper every morning and watch TV every evening to know how people think about the gift of Baba Gorakhnath? And how will Jana Astha etc have scoop every other week on who thrashed whom in which discotheque at what time of the night? Let more people speak about monarchy, the king the queen and their son.
He also has to see how the election of constituent assembly take place (and how the Hanuman Prasad Koirala will betray the people and again turn his family property of Nepali Congress into a Rajabadi party) and how the people will shake the name of monarchy from the history of Nepal.
It was nice that the dose of "Kalo Padartha" was not enough to make him sleep long. That was enough. Please come up from the bed and take part in the active politics.
Long live Praras.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Review of a drama on a dramatist
There is nothing wrong for dramatists to write drama. But it really worths blogging if a dramatist is found making his life a drama. Sorry, you won't find anybody to come to watch your performance.
And when I say about this drama, it is surely going to be interesting for all the audience, not only our neighbours. I'm not interested to review when a wife hits a husband with a dadu or vice verse. Let me be open. I want to review a drama, which was not meant to be performed in the theatre ( or in the streets as many NGOs prefer these days).
Well, there was a hero and a heroine (but this drama is not a romantic one). But I would like to beg your pardon, being in a patrimonial society, I will be writing more about the hero and the heroine's role in this drama is not very clear; and because though a feminist, the heroine plays little in this drama (at least her on-stage part was weak. The hero was is acute enemy of monarchy. He has written a number of dramas to bring people's attention to monarchy and to create a sensation in the street against this old feudal system. It was the reason his dramas became particularly popular during the Jana Andolan II days. And in less than a year, he becomes a talk-of-the-town matter. I did not mean that the hero had done nothing before the Jana Andolan II days. I became fan of the hero specially because of his debut production during the Panchayati Time, based on a French novel. Well, this very craze paved a way to make him an autocrat these days.
After successful (?) culmination of the Jana Andolan II, the hero catches the craze of the donors and he earns series of "project" of disseminating information about democracy, competition and of course the election of the constituent assembly. As the usual donors, they give the hero (who plays the role of a director) mountains of money so that the artists find enough money to feed their wives and children a good stock of "dalbhat". But, as the hero finds the "royal" blood in his democratic veins, he suddenly changes his role and instead of backing the backbone of democracy, the performers, he takes the role of the king and acts like that. He takes his troupe to villages to perform dramas on constituent assembly and so forth. But he takes all the money which had to be in the artists' pockets (as TA and DA) for this drama and lets the newcomers perform with half-filled bellies. That is the creativity of the drama. Before the climax the hero buys a home in the capital that costs Rs 70 lakhs at Dhapasi. It was big irony in the drama that when pioneers of Nepali drama are living in rented houses, this hero taps the donation dollars and makes luxurious home for himself, at the cost of his junior artists, or say, the disciples.
The climax comes - The obedient and sincere junior artists come to the office of the hero and puts their dissatisfaction forward in gentle way. Since, the hero has turned a real king, he refuses to listen to them and keeps bullying on them, just as Kind Gyanendra did for 18 months. What was the result? , just the poor, dissident and skilled junior artists open their own theatre and continue their contribution to performing arts. I have heard that the hero is not happy with the climax.
Moral: Lobh le labh, labh le bilap.
And when I say about this drama, it is surely going to be interesting for all the audience, not only our neighbours. I'm not interested to review when a wife hits a husband with a dadu or vice verse. Let me be open. I want to review a drama, which was not meant to be performed in the theatre ( or in the streets as many NGOs prefer these days).
Well, there was a hero and a heroine (but this drama is not a romantic one). But I would like to beg your pardon, being in a patrimonial society, I will be writing more about the hero and the heroine's role in this drama is not very clear; and because though a feminist, the heroine plays little in this drama (at least her on-stage part was weak. The hero was is acute enemy of monarchy. He has written a number of dramas to bring people's attention to monarchy and to create a sensation in the street against this old feudal system. It was the reason his dramas became particularly popular during the Jana Andolan II days. And in less than a year, he becomes a talk-of-the-town matter. I did not mean that the hero had done nothing before the Jana Andolan II days. I became fan of the hero specially because of his debut production during the Panchayati Time, based on a French novel. Well, this very craze paved a way to make him an autocrat these days.
After successful (?) culmination of the Jana Andolan II, the hero catches the craze of the donors and he earns series of "project" of disseminating information about democracy, competition and of course the election of the constituent assembly. As the usual donors, they give the hero (who plays the role of a director) mountains of money so that the artists find enough money to feed their wives and children a good stock of "dalbhat". But, as the hero finds the "royal" blood in his democratic veins, he suddenly changes his role and instead of backing the backbone of democracy, the performers, he takes the role of the king and acts like that. He takes his troupe to villages to perform dramas on constituent assembly and so forth. But he takes all the money which had to be in the artists' pockets (as TA and DA) for this drama and lets the newcomers perform with half-filled bellies. That is the creativity of the drama. Before the climax the hero buys a home in the capital that costs Rs 70 lakhs at Dhapasi. It was big irony in the drama that when pioneers of Nepali drama are living in rented houses, this hero taps the donation dollars and makes luxurious home for himself, at the cost of his junior artists, or say, the disciples.
The climax comes - The obedient and sincere junior artists come to the office of the hero and puts their dissatisfaction forward in gentle way. Since, the hero has turned a real king, he refuses to listen to them and keeps bullying on them, just as Kind Gyanendra did for 18 months. What was the result? , just the poor, dissident and skilled junior artists open their own theatre and continue their contribution to performing arts. I have heard that the hero is not happy with the climax.
Moral: Lobh le labh, labh le bilap.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
This is Moist press freedom
A group of Maoist related workers today refused to distribute Annapurna Post and The Himalayan Times, two of leading daily newspapers of Nepal.
This is the third attack Nepali newspapers have faced from the Maoists - first there was a scuffle in Kantipur, then the same problem was created in Nepal Samachar Patra. It came to the climax today morning there. It was nice to see the scene - piles of newspapers were spread in front of the office and some 10-20 cycle-boys, fed with Maoiis brain-washing were challenging the whole information system. And bichara journalists and other staffers were distributing the newspapers to the passersby and others free of cost. God knows, how long it can go.
We all know, those poor cycle-boys are not to be blamed. They are all directed by the Maoist leadership. The news in The Himalayan Times says they could not contact Mahara and Dr. Bhattarai. This clearly shows the picture, who is behind this problem.
It is clear that the Maoists do not want free media here in Nepal. They wan to pamper Gorkhapatra, which has already become a mouthpiece of the Maoists. And they are doing all these thing so that other big newspapers either have to die or have to surrender to the Maoists authority. It is sad there is no harmony between what the Information Minister said and what he has asked the workers to do.
Indeed this very incident shows what the Maoists are going to do for the free press. It is not only a matter of the newspapers but also of the whole population because it will hamper their right to information. Watch out, this is the time for all to say no to suppression on media. The journalists have defied even the king's control what is this Mahara?
This is the third attack Nepali newspapers have faced from the Maoists - first there was a scuffle in Kantipur, then the same problem was created in Nepal Samachar Patra. It came to the climax today morning there. It was nice to see the scene - piles of newspapers were spread in front of the office and some 10-20 cycle-boys, fed with Maoiis brain-washing were challenging the whole information system. And bichara journalists and other staffers were distributing the newspapers to the passersby and others free of cost. God knows, how long it can go.
We all know, those poor cycle-boys are not to be blamed. They are all directed by the Maoist leadership. The news in The Himalayan Times says they could not contact Mahara and Dr. Bhattarai. This clearly shows the picture, who is behind this problem.
It is clear that the Maoists do not want free media here in Nepal. They wan to pamper Gorkhapatra, which has already become a mouthpiece of the Maoists. And they are doing all these thing so that other big newspapers either have to die or have to surrender to the Maoists authority. It is sad there is no harmony between what the Information Minister said and what he has asked the workers to do.
Indeed this very incident shows what the Maoists are going to do for the free press. It is not only a matter of the newspapers but also of the whole population because it will hamper their right to information. Watch out, this is the time for all to say no to suppression on media. The journalists have defied even the king's control what is this Mahara?
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