Kshetri kshetra - Nepali Times

From The Nepali Press
Kshetri kshetra
Ghatana Ra Bichar, 17 February

FROM ISSUE #491 (26 FEB 2010 - 04 MARCH 2010) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA
Kshetris have united for cultural unity and national integrity. At a rally on 11 February they shouted slogans against ethnic federalism. A gathering at Khula Manch was addressed by the president of Kshetri Samaj, Dil Bahadur Kshetri. The following is a transcript of the speech by Vice President Kumar Bahadur Thapa:

First of all, I would like to remember our brave ancestors who toiled and shed blood and sweat to build this country. We cannot forget the contributions of brave Prithvi Narayan Shah, Bhakti Thapa, Amar Singh Thapa, Bhimsen Thapa, Balabhadra Kunwar and Jung Bahadur Rana. I salute them. The country is in crisis once again. The time has come to fight for the country's integrity, and that is why we are gathered here today.

Kshetris have always been in the frontline whenever the country is in a crisis. Nepal has become a playground for foreigners. Nepali self-esteem has been dented, and the very fabric of society is in danger of being torn. The country's identity is being obliterated in the name of ethnic and regional identity. The campaign against the country started with the demolition of the statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah. Now, the national animal, national religion, national bird and national flag are being eliminated. We have to be vigilant against this onslaught.

We are ready for whatever it takes to save this country. The activities in the four years of democracy were intolerable but we went along. But, it has reached such an extent that the country is likely to fall apart. We said nothing when 2.4 million foreigners were given citizenship, when the country is run by a remote and not from Singha Darbar. The conspiracy is being hatched to chop up the country. Kshetris won't tolerate it any more. They will rise up and save the country.

Jai desh. Jay Nepali. Jay Kshetri.

1. Hemendra Khadka

AYO GURKHALI - GOOD ONE - HIGH TIME WE TAKE CONTROL.Kshetri..... COME ON WAKE UP.WE ARE THE TRUE GURKHAS........... GET OUT OF THE WAY......

AYO GURKHA

HEMENDRA KHADKA

Posted on: 28 FEB 2010 | 6:49 AM NST

2. अनुज

खड्का जी, के हो अझै दिवा सपना देख्दै हुनु हुन्छ क्या हो ? अनि गलत इतिहासको रडाको मचौनु जरुरी छ र !!

Posted on: 28 FEB 2010 | 5:39 PM NST

3. Sir Edmond Phillip
Hello! Mr. Hemendra Khadka, our recruitment record shows that we haven't recruited any Chhetris and Bahuns in our British Gurkha regiment until now, how come you say we are true Gurkhas. The true Gurkhas are from: Rai, Gurung, Magar, Limbu, Sherpa, and Tamangs, your comment is nothing more then a silly racist slogan!

Posted on: 04 MARCH 2010 | 9:56 AM NST

4. LaliGurash
You are absolutely correct Sir Edmond Phillip!

However a little correction is required about the knowledge you have about Gurkhas. You should first read the history in more detail. It is a great honer for every Gurkha working in British Army and where we are only proving ourself being the best of the better ARMY the world has ever seen. The Gurkha constitute not only the group you have mentioned in your above statement but also all those people who think good about their motherland "NEPAL". Rai, Gurung, Magar, Limbu, Sherpa, and Tamangs are protecting you and Chhetris and Bahuns along with other group have and will protect NEPAL from any foreign intruders or anyone for that matter who thinks ill/bad about NEPAL. Jai Nepal!!!

Posted on: 04 MARCH 2010 | 7:15 PM NST

5. nepalisoul
The term gurkha doesn"t refer to any caste or profession.it stands for a true brave nepali who is able to stand up and fight for his country.it is stupid to assume that it would imply whether or not a person is in the british army!!

Posted on: 04 MARCH 2010 | 10:29 PM NST

6. Indra

Phillip.....Mr Khadka said nothing to deserve the label of a racist. Sounds like you are the racist here. You are forgetting to be objective and letting yourself be dictated by romantic ideals perhaps or the myopic vision as an ex-officer in the British Gurkha regiment (assumption on my part of course..but the point is the same). Chettri and non-Chettri Nepalis don't want any of that B.S. please, even though everything is far from being perfect in Nepal. Additionally, don't slander and insult all Chettris or non-British Nepalese soldiers by way of utilising your narrow definition of what a Gorkhali is. Next time, you probably will even go to the extent of calling them non-Nepalese. Here are some useful insights for you.

Lesson # 1: To most Nepalis, it is the metaphorical idea of standing up for what you believe in & ready to die for it and also a metaphor for being Nepalese. In this idea, I think we Nepalese are quite unanimous.

Lesson # 2: In retrospect, the British should have had no right to the word 'Gurkha' even though they used it to their advantage to recruit thousands who did not question their self-serving idealogies, until lately. Today, as far as the word British Gurkhas go, it might mean that you have to serve in a menial position in the British army, without asking questions or get fired. The Brits might have earned the right to be critical if they had treated all British Gurkhas equitably (right to equal pay, dignity, citizenship, and self-determination). Lesson # 3: FYI, I personally know quite a lot of Chhetris, Newars and even Bahuns (some with mixed racial and ethnic backgrounds) who have been recruited in the British Gurkhas.

By the sound of it, I am assuming you are probably some fat cat (metaphorically speaking) earning a pension four times more than the average Nepali British Gurkha that served the British army and never had the right to be promoted beyond a Gurkha major. That says something about recognizing the bravery of the 'Bahadur Gorkhali'....whoever in your world it means.

Posted on: 04 MARCH 2010 | 4:35 AM NST