Recent Outbursts - Wounding the wounds even more..

Before you start reading, I would like to mention that I am not trying to put anybody’s morale down or send negative vibes out there against all those who feel change is possible. I am just one of you who wants it as badly.


I started my morning with a cup of steaming hot coffee, completely refreshing my mind, and to add to that, I opened Nepal News to find out what’s going on there. I must say, Nepal News is more striking that any coffee in this world, especially to whoever concerned. I was aware about the protests being held by the Newar ethnic group in Kathmandu demanding to make it an autonomous region. Being so far from home, these strikes “bandhs” hardly make a difference to any of us. It’s only a matter of glancing through the NEWS and then forgetting all about it. All this on a normal day, I would say. But today was different. My parents were to go to the US Visa Consulate to attend the scheduled visa interview. I wasn’t worried about it because in Kathmandu, people manage to get things done even during the “bandhs”. Not left with any other choice, they have inculcated within themselves ways of surviving these bandhs , otherwise their mobility would be highly restrained.

But contrary to my expectations, I receive a call from my parents saying that the interview, which had been scheduled for 8:00 a.m, for which they had been sipping tea since 4:30 am in the morning, left home at 5:00 a.m, making their journey and hiding through small “gallis” on the way to the Consulate, intimidated that some protestors might get hold of them and not let them reach the Consulate on time, and for which they queued since 6:00 am till 7 just to find out that the Counseller wasn’t able to make it, had been cancelled. No one is surprised at this. It’s not safe and we wouldn’t expect them to risk their lives ( or valuable time) or make effort to show up. But there are a few things we would expect. And I don’t think I need to state it to you. Well, everyone who had been waiting must have returned home just the way they had made it there.

So much for what happened to my parents and all those people who suffered the pain of going, waiting and coming back disappointed. Not only because of the postponing of the interview, but because the ability to hope for better had taken a long stride backwards in people’s minds.

Let’s get back to what the Newar community wants. We have not had enough of the Madhesi Janaadhikar movement for the rights for Madhesis in Nepal yet and here comes rights for Newars in and around Kathmandu. The recent outburst is demanding for the following changes: (Sources—MEDIA)

  • Make Kathmandu an autonomous state comprising 12 districts including Kathmandu Valley and annulment of Kathmandu Valley Urban Development Bill.
  • Halt of construction of an outer ring road here as it would reduce fertile land,
  • Not include the valley under Central government territory.
  • Stopping uncontrolled migration of people to the region in order to protect environment, natural resources and maintain peace and security in the valley.

These are a couple from the list. I haven’t found the comprehensive list yet.











People trying to move on with
routines inspite of the hindrances

Like any other concerned Nepali, I don’t know where these protests are going to lead us. But I know one thing for sure. It’s not leading us anywhere better than we are right now.

For once, it would be good if all the politicans and magical protagonists of the Nation, who dream of bringing a change and bet they can do it, could listen to their hollow words and their bogus lectures on the peace- making processes. These ethnic fights, the division of nation into states according to etnicity is not leading our Nation anywhere. I guess it’s easier to follow the bad and easy examples from around the world, and that’s what Nepal is heading to presently when it actually should be setting strong grounds for the future, New ( at least Old ) Nepal.

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