The assertions by Subarna Bhattachan ("Letters", #126) in response to CK Lal's "Musharrafship" (#124) cannot go unchallenged. A belief in the universality of democracy, human rights and global capitalism does not imply the superiority of a racial, national, philosophical or civilisational block. A cursory glance at world history reveals democracy, human rights, individualism, capitalism, materialism, etc, to be indeed universal. The late Professor of Journalism at Tribhuvan University, Lal Deusa Rai, wrote a book describing the prevalence of what is now called "human rights" in the Malla period of Nepal. To regard these values as typically Western is to fall victim to what Bhattachan himself calls the colonisation of thought process. Western conservatives are in fact very fond of the fictious notion of the "Western rule of law vs Oriental despotism". They go on to claim that values such as charity, mercy and compassion are typically Western derived from the teachings of Christianity. Another example of Bhattachan's thought process being already in the vice-like grip of Western colonisation is his disingenuous assertion that our society is rooted in "inner worldly" quests. Surely, we know better than that. The million dollar question is: If Bhattachan does not believe in democracy, human rights, etc, what is he doing in the US? Plotting Uncle Sam's downfall?

Ram Limbu,
Sydney