Manjushree Thapa's 'Thapadom' (#149) was a subtle but serious mockery of a failed system. Sadly, our state never saw governance as something that should be inclusive. The solution is not in picking the elitist force of Fulbright or Oxford scholars to tame policies with oversees generic theories which only work better in seminars, and not at the grassroots. Maybe even the writer has missed the gravity of the matter. Our system has never been able to escape feudalism. The exclusive elite brigades that have ruled this country over the years have made an impression that sovereignty could only be protected and harnessed by these elite classes. It is hard to believe that a government which is so exclusive would ever be able to deliver development to the Nepali people.

Pramesh Aryal,
Kopundole

. I am a Thapa by birth and I am truly proud of my roots. Yet should we be talking 'us and them' in this day and age? What are the implications? Is Manjushree Thapa encouraging racism? I have lived here in the UK for six years and the division between various castes is appalling. Identifying each other through caste and communal prisms is detrimental to our society. Why should it matter whether anyone is a Thapa or not? I totally disapprove of such inflammatory articles.

Dr Arati Thapa Hamal
Wakefield, UK

. I found Manjushree Thapa's 'Thapadom' hilarious. Since Kunda Dixit's 'Under My Hat' has been loosing its comic edge of late, might I suggest that Manjushree Thapa take over this column?

Bamsaraj Khati,
Kathmandu

. I really enjoyed reading Manjushree Thapa\'s \'Thapadom\'. At the risk of piquing the suspicions of an already paranoid public, perhaps it's the Thapas' turn to rule Nepal for the next 104 years. Manjushree\'s delightfully flippant under-spin to a potentially cloak-and-dagger subject was indeed welcome at a time when the future of our battered nation is uncertain. Levity-a nectar so sweet and rare for the despondent-came through refreshingly this past Friday. And speaking of mutterings at family gatherings, if you think Chettris are bad, you should attend one of our Newari family gatherings! We leave no caste, creed, ethnicity, animal, mineral or vegetable verbally unmolested by the time the family gathering has ended. We cut on everyone, including Newars. Our clan are EOMs (Equal Opportunity Mutterers). Thank you, Manjushree. May we be fortunate enough to sample more of your charming tongue-in-cheek commentaries again. By the way, which side of the block do you come from: Rue de Magars or Chettri Boulevard?

S B Shrestha,
Kopundole

. Manjushree Thapa's 'Thapadom' fails to acknowledge the contributions of other groups in serving the nation and scores off the remaining 23 million Nepalis. In a Nepal where 'horizontal society' is becoming increasingly acceptable, her pronouncements sets us all back by at least a few hundred years.

The nauseating utterances, particularly where she has deliberately and repeatedly distinguishes between a 'Chhetri Thapa' and a 'Magar Thapa' (implying that the former is somehow a superior breed than the latter) is one of the most disgusting racial slurs I have ever observed in Nepali media. I have news: It is only a matter of time when Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' may get on top of the state affairs.

As to the question what non-Thapas make of the appointment of SB Thapa as prime minister, I will play the devil's advocate and argue that in present circumstance, the issue has no rationale. In a bid to resolve a stalemate, the king has appointed 'a Thapa', the same way he had earlier appointed 'a Chand' and sacked 'a Deuba'. I don't think race, caste and social status have been a selection criteria. Let's wait and see what SB Thapa has up his sleeves this time around. I am sure the PM is clever enough not to tread on Manjushree Thapa's dumb doctrine of 'Thapadom'. Or else, his days in the Singha Darbar will be numbered.

Kiran Chalise,
Sydney