well, that was a long good read, I mean the comments not the article. I don't have much to say about the article, but some comments:

@Jange:

"The NT's position regarding the Maoists can best be described as opportunism masquerading as naivite."

What do you think of NT's position as such now? I think it has always been opportunistic kind of view point. The writings of the article smiply prove what I just said. I read NT regularly, and have been doing so for quite a few years now.

It used to strike me very hard when once, NT would be praising King G's takeover and being sympathetic to him, while a few months and issues later, it would start leaning towards the Maoists. Now that we're all seeing the mess created, NT's position is again moving.

I think thats called 'go with the flow'. It's one thing to report current happenings, but another to write Editor's note, which are always moving in thought and never providing a solid foundation of beliefs.

I think instead of editor's notes, the article should be called 'the editor echoes where the political air is now moving notes'. The editor actually writes better food reviews, I quite enjoy his writings in that.

@satya nepali:
"The real barrier to a Palace-parties alliance was Girija's senseless demand for the restoration of the dissolved parliament. That was the single-most undemocratic demand in our history."

I remember the times when King G was repeatedly calling for parties to come for talks, and get an election going, but yes, at the time what you mentioned above was happening, probably because the leader's individual wishes were not being satisfied, or probably a bigger carrot was dangling at the end of the 'other' stick...or probably both.

Granted EVERYONE has some things to gain in every play, but I get surprised how people quickly neglect what King G tried to do, and how the parties rejected and caused much worst situations for the country,  like stubborn , foolish kids..stuck on the NO word all the time. Yet they are quick to praise these parties and the press which is hasty on stereotyping the King repeatedly with newly learnt words like 'feudal' and parties with 'democratic'. What has all this 'democracy' gained the common man? it has been a loss for him. It's been like a toy in the hand of few who have the sole power of manipulating it, thus, by definition making it undemocratic.

The only difference I see in democratic and undemocratic Nepal is that the press gets restricted or gets to write more juicy gossip which is more often than not baseless. What else has anyone seen change? Oh yes, it has actually gotten much, much under developed than before.

I wish anyone here could tell me one good and happy thing to have happened to the country in the last 10-15 years of all this brouhaha...except that the shortest man alive is a Nepalease. 

while once in my life I could walk around anywhere, do remote treks and talk with folks who were poor yet always so hospitable, I dare not venture 5 kms away from my home now...who knows, I might get abducted, I might need to give 'chanda', I might simply not get to talk a decent word with anyone I meet on the paths or I might simply not get to return home...and mind you, I am just a simple moderate person of Nepal...where is the democracy in that?

@who cares:

I think what you wrote upstream is very one sided. "and what election when no one could visit their constituency to ask for vote" --who wouldnt let the one not ask for votes? I don't think the King had any such threatening hold on politicians at the time, if you're talking about the Maoists threatening, then please don't mix things up.

When you talk of bad things happening, nothing like that has ever happened since then? I think much worse has happened in many magnitudes more.

Think of a ENTIRE generation of nepalease kids who were forced to grow up in camps with indoctorined and false philosophies, think of what they missed in life, think how they were abducted and made to forcefuly join this so called army.

Think that they did not get a chance at CHOOSING how they wanted to grow up, think that they never went to school, and think that now that the 'conflict' is over, and they are grown up, they know nothing about how to cope with life.

I don't think a bigger and worst rape of our country could have been committed.

I am not taking sides, but I believe there were other alternates to get to a democratic and fully functional society. Including shedding individual egos and working with the King. I don't think we gave him a chance to prove himself as much as we repeatedly keep giving these incumbent politicians.

I don't see any of the current crop of politicians who are fair, stratight forward and actually lookig towards doing something for the country. And that's why the above issue of the children I mentioned becomes a even graver sin.

Thats all.

Gyan #31 claims: "both ends of the political spectrum ended up showing their dictatorial and totalitarian tendencies."

I ask again, what's 'dictatorial' abt attempting to hold parliamentary elections that so-called 'democrats' had shown little interest or effort to hold for 3 years (2002-05)?? As I explained in #24 and 28, parliamentary elections were the right thing to do as per the Constitution of the time. If you believe in democracy and rule of law, one has to follow the existing laws even when it is hard to do so. When people ignore the Law and try to make their own rules to suit their own interests (as Girija tried to do), that is when democracy fails and we get chaos!

It is absolute bullshit to claim that parliamentary elections would lead to some 'totalitarian' government under Gyanendra. (But this is precisely what politicians and media wanted the poor and naive Nepali people to believe). Just think abt it. Those elections would have restored the parties themselves to power. At that time, most parties, inclding so-called 'royalist' ones like RPP (Surya Bdr and Pashpati Shumsher) were anti-Gyanendra. It is just senseless that these parties would suddenly become subservient to G after the elections. The only party that was pro-G then was Kamal Thapa. There is no way, no way, that his small party could have commanded any kind of majority in a government through elections...no matter how much 'dhandhali' G tried to do. Just some elementary maths should enable anyone to see this.

The real truth is that the politicians of these parties were afraid they would not win in the elections. The Nepali people would have chosen new faces. On the other hand, running after Girija's idea of re-storing the dissolved parliament would enable these politicians to hang on to power. That is why the politicians spread this GREAT BIG LIE that going for elections would lead to Gyanendra's supremacy and that elections were 'dictatorial', 'totalitarian' and so forth. Nepali people were stupid to believe these LIES. The smart thing to do would have been to make a distinction between Gyanendra and elections. No matter how much we hated the one (G), we should not have shut the door on the other (elections).

Those elections would have re-stored parties to power sans (without) the same old faces. And that would have been the best and most democratic outcome for Nepal. Elections would have re-stored the parties to power even if held under G's regime. Simple elementary maths can show this.

Some people claim that Maoists were the barriers. This is another part of the GREAT BIG LIE. The security forces of Nepal had already prepared a five-phase election plan to counter the threat of Maoist hindrances. They were prepared to provide secrity for both campaigning and voting if done in phases. C'mon think abt it. Elections are held in the most dangeros places on earth - Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan. It is possible for security forces to provide enough secrity to hold elections. Besides, the Maoists of Nepal were really not that powerful to overwhelm a well-organized security Plan. Even Prachanda has admitted this in his Shaktikhor tape. 

So that is my bottom-line. It is a fallacy to believe that going for elections would have fulfilled Gyane's 'totalitarian' objectives. On the contrary, they were the democratic and lawful (constitutional) thing to do. It was possible to hold them. And they would have led to a democratic and legitimate government, which could then have negotiated a peace with the Maoists from a position of power, instead of running off to Delhi to do so!

I rest my case. May good sense prevail.

As a human being who takes responsibility and walks the talk one talks I totally and unconditionally agree with the point of view Mr.Dixit has expressed in his article and I totally and utterly disagree with all the folloowing comments.As a journalist it is his duty and responsibility to write and invite people to discussion table,and he has also expressed his opinion ,but the responses are not about what was good,what worked or what didn't or what one is doing as an individual ,comments are based on critisizing the ones who did something,right or wrong,but one has forgotten to mention what he as a citizen is doing today for himself and for others with what he can.However after reading all of the comments,I have come to conclussion that the narrow mindedness,looking at others and just thinking what others have done or not,totally not doing anything about to change oneself is a sorry state to observe.I don't need any one who has commented on the article to tell me who is God and what means good or bad in the real sense of the word ,what is morally right or wrong,because no one of you has lifted a finger to help even your child or neighbour or anyone has gone out of their zone of comfort to go and plant a tree or at least keep yourselves responsible for the mess you create around yourself in everything you touch.Begin with the children.Yes,I agree one can not change everything  and one can not do all the jobs and errands needed therefore we are there,all the spectrum of people,with different capabilities,talents,use it for the good of people,do not all the time count how much profit I will get or is there anything for me,this is the attitude of almost all the people and it is getting worse ,because it is taking root in every place possible,but there are millions of people who have not been able to even afford the cheapest school or cheapest food right there in front of your eyes.But one can start sharing if not material goods at least the simple knowledge and experience one possesses,so other person can learn something useful.Sharing,not boasting and trying to find ways how to overpower or over play the other ,like for example opening schools ,inviting people from outside as the pictures that someone has a connections in the developed world and after a year abonded it all together , any beginning based on dishonesty or the hope that money will come from outside has short life.The only value that never gets lost is ones own efforts and work.How can anyone talk about new Nepal if at home the only talk in most families is how to earn profit,the ways to get it without actually doing nothing about it.It is so easily observed through Nepali newspapers ,how minds of politicians work or what they promise  after their return from some trip or when the announcement in the news papers says that some foreign government has given this and this ammount of money ,what is going to happen.Like recent donation for the construction of roads.Now tell me,how much is still left to actually use for the purpose?Not just to cover some holes in Kathmandu ,but for the purpose.Money has come,has the job started?No excuse is good enough here.Do it for purpose,juggling money to cover holes in other areas is not a way out of situation,be consistent in what you do.There was one funny example given by one of the politicians,saying that he recognizes his mistake of lettting his fellow politicians buy cars and use for the jobs they do,this is just one example how anything starts in Nepal,one has to get something for himself first in the name of the whole people.

My other question.Which is a shame to even to think about.The Kingdom of Nepal doesn't exist anymore,which means the whole tribe has to disappear!?They are humans like everyone of you,if you think you were excluded when they reign,then we are not better,we are doing the same.If he and his family are citizens they have the same duties and rights like all of us.Should we be afraid?No.Invite them to participate,share,and again,sharing doesn't mean getting money from somewhere and announcing it as sharing.Share something you own,use it for good cause,organize it ,get involved ,put forward your ideas,go to people,own the responsibility and do your talk.There is a teacher and the owner of the schoold now,she herself opened a school ,but had no idea how to actually run the school or work with the children .She found people who were passionate about the work with children ,and it has grown since then into an established ,child orientated institution ,the whole process of growing is in front of our eyes and  few generations have benefitted from it already.Or the other example of a farmer planting and harvesting the best apples in Nepal.Giving money to government and letting them decide how to spend is a waste ,until the government has not done it to prove ,no money should go through the government.There are thousands of people without jobs in Nepal,I think country that donates money should not just give it ,it should follow through with the projects and that way at least for a few years  jobs can be created inside Nepal ,one needs to learn .

I would like to explain myself  why I have come to this conclussion.

First of all I understand that the article written by Mr.Dixit is not about crying for ''The Old Nepal'We live in the world not in the isolated state,and no one Nepali wants or denies the necessity of growth ,but it is foolish to abonden things that were well done and had results and were on the right track.I repeat it is foolish.

Just a very simple example.Quality of road management and everything that goes with it,first beginnings were seen after 1990 and I like to mention this year as it was the most succesful and seen in Kathmandu and started to spread to valley.How can you ever  reach outskirts and every Nepali village, if you do not communicate,and first and the most succesful and acceptable way is a radio,how can you get people involved if you do not trust them to manage the things they may know better than any city person.What do you know about forests or the agriculture if you don't work on land .Do not give  me the bullshit about poor people not being able to.Danish and Norvegian projects are the examples of how the forest management would get on track.It is caring,it is planting,not cutting down everything for an easy cash and quick results.It takes more than half  of our life for a forest to take strength therefore giving back responsibility to communities is an exccelent idea and again,if we do not  let people implement now,if we wait for a politician to take action it is a waste of everything.

What is a government?It is a group of people we elect.We as a whole Nepal not just a bunch of people who think they represent everyone.If one wants to be elected he needs  My Permission  to be elected and here I mean everyone of us otherwise it is not a government it is a self proclaimed government  For me as a citizen or a visitor of Nepal doesn't matter,who made things happen,because that is not important,what is important that it was implemented and made for every person's benefit.Books,computers ,TV, telephones,delicious foods and the colourful markets during the celebrations or abondence of goods sold in shops,the originality of goods typical hadmade and handcrafted by people,the welcoming of guests, I could walk the streets not being afraid of being hit by the car or I could walk the streets late in the evening of not being robbed or raped etc.Every generation or time has its plusses and minuses and it is from our ignorance,mistakes or indiference ,but we are getting there ,it is just taking too long to acknowledge.Why wait ,when we already have everything to start job,yes we do,even the money is inside the country,even to build the roads,we have knowledge and many people from outside Nepal would share,do not disrespect the lifes and efforts done by the people who are outside of the country.They are by the way the people who did not want to wait for government like it is now to give them something ready to start with.They took the responsibility of their own families at least ,as government can not even provide simple needs,food ,schools,health service to everyone.Time has come to start working together,share the knowledge,do not be afraid to be judged,include every person,get over your ego trips,treat people with respect from all walks of life.Do it now,do not wait ,keep what is working,acknowledge mistakes ,but keep going,laws are written for people who break them,yes,there must be basic human rights and that is what needs to be recognized and implemented and followed.If all the leaders or politicians would just think about what is that what they are doing,if answer to all your questions is positive,go ahead,but own the responsibility and talk ,it has to go hand in hand,either from the government or from each individual.

The photo presented with this article is very impressive.It;s a Jungle out there,onse sees the walls of what once could have been a house,it is empty,no people in it or around it,old and unhealthy tree stumps and uncultured forest is what is left,but the grass is still growing ,it is the new generation of Nepalese still present there,who are lost because of the trust  and love any child puts in the parents and does not want to live the land that calls them Nepali sons and daughters.

Mr.Dixit's way of talking to all of us is,do it now,do not wait for someone to help you lead your life,take action now ,which doesn't mean all the means of using your strength and power are good enough,but do not wait for people like maoists or any other politician to tell you what is right,acceptable to you.Every human being knows what is good and what is bad,everyone,do your best with means acceptable and respectable to the individual,it is a society with myriad of cultures and all the above comments it is you and me ,even if you did not do anything ,you were still a by stander ,get involved ,do it now.