During the seven-year insurgency, the Maoists vandalised and destroyed numerous government and semi-government buildings. It was a symbolic act for them: demolishing physical structures that represented the present regime to establish a new one to replace the old. Last week, students burned down the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hall, popularly known as Gandhi Bhaban, on the Tribhuban University premises. But unlike the Maoists, what philosophy were the rampaging students adhering to?

If these students think vandalising infrastructures built with Indian taxpayers' money is the only way to express their displeasure against India, they might as well destroy Bir Hospital and the East-West highway as well. If that is the only way to defend our nationalism and independence there shouldn't be a second's hesitation. If there is some pause for rational thinking, then the behaviour of these students, regardless of their affiliation, should be condemned. The actions of these irresponsible hooligans make us look uncivilised.

The ruin of Gandhi Bhaban has a deeper meaning than the mere vandalising of any other infrastructure. It could not have been unplanned, the incident took place at a time when we are attempting to negotiate a peaceful solution to free ourselves from violence and terrorism. It portrays us as a nation who stands against the Gandhian values of truth and non-violence. It is ironic that those very principles were the foundation stones of Nepal's democracy. By demolishing the Gandhi Bhaban, the students have placed themselves squarely on the side of violence and terrorism.