It is probably a common feature of countries wracked by turmoil and uncertainty to look for somewhere else in the world where things are worse. Perhaps this explains the habit of Nepali newspapers to regularly juxtapose Nepal with some fictional African land of cannibal kings and semi-dressed savages. "Look!", we can say to ourselves, "things are bad in Nepal but at least we don't wear bones in our hair." Sadly, the Nepali Times is not immune to this unfortunate trend, whether it is a CK Lal "Thank God we aren't a failed African state" piece or Robin Sayami's appalling racist cartoon in last week's edition. What I find curious about this smug line of reasoning is that, on balance, things are going a lot better in Africa. Most African countries offer their populations functioning public education and health services. In many of them, the levels of absolute poverty, government corruption, female illiteracy and maternal mortality (to name but a few) are dropping. Interestingly, most African leaders are now democratically elected, including those King Gyanendra will meet during his upcoming tour. Can Nepal say the same?

Brian Gilligan,
Patan