Stop me if you've heard this one before, but we have just received a piece of breaking news that the All-Nepal Association for Satire, Parody and Sarcasm (Election symbol: 1,000-rupee note) has split into two factions with one accusing the other of not having a sense of humour.

In a more serious vein, the president ousted the incumbent general-secretary and made himself secretary-general of the rump faction, promising equal mirth and merriment for all Nepalis by the year 2020. Meanwhile, the oustee incumbent general-secretary is not taking it lying down and has already started providing immediate entertainment by embarking on a nationwide roadshow to perform skits at all Zonal Headquarters of the Kingdom.

For those outside the ZHQs, it doesn't really matter that one bunch of clowns has been replaced by another bunch of clowns, because both are equally good. They should both turn professional. As a result of all this fun and amusement, the whole country is in stitches, which is just as well because, as we all know, a stitch in time saves nine, and, lest we forget, he who laughs last laughs best.

Now that the youth wing of the All-Nepal Association for Satire, Parody and Sarcasm has also followed the adult wing and split, it has become a knotty issue deciding which juveniles will represent the country at the XII International Congress of Under-19 Jokers which is being held in Ouagadougou later this month.

But going by the preamble of the constitution of the incumbent general-secretary's faction of the former president's bloc of the youth wing which states, and I quote, "The more is always the merrier," it is quite possible that both factions will be represented to present a joint working paper titled "The Importance of Irony and Steel in National Industriousness, Property Alleviation, and Sustainable Human Debasement".

This is a hefty document that charts out our strategy in unleashing the forces of mockery, derision and scorn in a nationwide campaign so that we will all in the not very unforeseeable future be able to laugh our guts out and, I might add, to our hearts' content. In doing so, we will all be able to better survive our ongoing trials and tribulations and collectively emerge from them better human beings.

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me now a few more minutes of your indulgence to delve into the vital importance of journalism and journalists in this great endeavour. As we set about on this path of national deconstruction, we need to keep a watchful eye on the lapdog role of the media. We cannot allow the pen to be mightier than the ploughshares that we turn into swords. Since it is all fun and games, there cannot be even a moment of seriousness.

In conclusion, with permission from the Chair, I would like all of you gathered here today to stand up on your seats, lampoon the person standing next to you, and observe a minute's laughter. You may now start chuckling.