पशुपति शमशेरको नाति

वैदेशिक हस्तक्षेप

२००७ साल कात्तिक २१ गतेको बिहान लैनचौरस्थित भारतीय राजदुतावास अगाडी हुँइकिएर दुईटा गाडी आए। एउटा गाडी युवराज महेन्द्रले चलाएका थिए र अर्को गाडी त्यस बखतका देशका राजा स्वयं त्रिभुवनले हाँकेका थिए। नाती ज्ञानेन्द्र बाहेक सम्पूर्ण राजपरिवार गाडीबाट ओर्लियो र भारतीय राजदूतावासको शरणमा पुग्यो। यो खबर चाल पाउने बित्तिकै त्यो बेलाको नेपाल सरकार अर्थात् राणा सरकारले भारतीय राजदुतावासलाई सेनाले घेराबन्दी गर्यो तर भारतको सामरिक र कुटनीतिक शक्तिसामु उनीहरूको केही लागेन।

भोलिपल्ट ४ वर्षका वालक राजकुमार ज्ञानेन्द्रलाई राजा बनाइदिए। अर्को दिन गौचरन विमानस्थलमा दिल्लीबाट दुईवटा हवाइजहाज आए र त्रिभुवन (नाती राजा बाहेक) सम्पूर्ण परिवार सहित भारत गए। उनीहरु त्यो बेलाका भारतीय प्रधानमन्त्री जवाहरलाल नेहेरूको पहुना बनेर दिल्लीको हैदराबाद हाउसमा लगभग चार महिना बसे। 

यो घटनाक्रम भन्दा केही महिना अघि भारतमा अध्यन गरेका नेपालीहरु वीपी कोइराला, गणेशमान सिंह, मनमोहन अधिकारी र सुवर्णशमशेरहरुको प्रजातान्त्रिक र राष्ट्रिय काँग्रेस, प्रजा परिषद र कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी सबैले मिलेर राजनीतिक र शैन्य गतिविधिसमेत शुरु गरिसकेका थिए, जसको आधार क्षेत्र सीमावर्ती भारतिय भूभाग नै थियो। कात्तिक २७ गते बीरगन्ज कब्जा भयो, पाल्पाको तानसेनदेखि पूर्वका पहाडहरुमा पनि सरकारी उपस्थिती कमजोर हुँदै थियो। अन्ततः जहानियाँ राणा शासनको केही लागेन- नेहेरूको मध्यस्थतामा त्रिपक्षिय दिल्ली समझौता भयो र राजा त्रिभुवन नेपाल फर्किए। फागुन ७ गते नेपालमा प्रजातन्त्र स्थापना भएको घोषणा भयो।

यो सँगै नेपाली राजनीतिमा वैदेशिक हस्तक्षेपको शुरुवात पनि भयो। 

षडयन्त्र हो कि संयोग, २००६ सालमा मुमा बडामहारानीको बाथ रोगको उपचार गर्न भनेर जर्मन नागरिक एरिका ल्यूखट्याग नेपाल आएकी थिईन। भारतीय राजदूत शुरजीत सिंहसँग पहिलेदेखि नै उनको परिचित थिए। राजा त्रिभुवनको भारतिय कुटनीतिज्ञसँग गोप्य रुपमा सम्पर्क गराउन खेलेको भूमीका उनी आफैंले लेखेको संस्मरण ‘एरिका एण्ड द किंग’ मा उल्लेख गरेकी छिन्। 

राजसंस्थाको पुनर्स्थापनाको पक्षधर नेपालका ‘बुद्धिजीवी’हरूले अघि सार्ने गरेको एउटा तर्क भनेको गणतन्त्रको शुत्रपात २०६२ सालमा गरिएको १२ बुँदे सहमतिले गरेको थियो। त्यो भारतीय भूमिमा भएको थियो, भारतीय मध्यस्थतामा। बिना कुनै जनमतसंग्रह, जनतालाई सोध्दै नसोधी यत्रो ठूलो निर्णय कसरी गर्न पाईन्छ भन्ने उनीहरुको तर्क पनि जायज नै मान्न सकिन्छ।

तर यी दुवै तर्कहरु राणाशासनको अन्त्य र प्रजातन्त्रको स्थापनामा पनि लागू हुन्छन्। अब सामन्तवादबाट प्रजातन्त्र तर्फको यात्रा प्राकृतिकलाई मान्ने हो र राणाशासनको अन्त्य ठीक थियो भन्ने हो भने राजतन्त्रबाट गणतन्त्र तर्फको यात्रा पनि स्वभाविक नै मान्नुपर्ला। जनताको चेतनाको स्तर विकसित हुँदै जाँदा राजनीतिक सर्वोच्चता आम जनतामा निहित हुनुपर्छ भन्ने चाहानु अपबाद होईन।

अमेरिकाको स्वतन्त्रताकोलागि पनि फ्रान्सेली सहयोग, बाङ्लादेशको मुक्तियुद्धमा भारतिय संलग्नता, अलजेरियादेखि कंगोसम्मका अफ्रिकी उपनिवेशहरुको स्वाधिनताकोलागि रुसले गरेको समर्थन महत्वपूर्ण थियो। वैदेशिक सहयोगमा भएका सबै परिवर्तनहरु नराम्रा हुन्छन् भन्ने होइन।

सामाजिक तथा आर्थिक विकासका कुरा

राजा महेन्द्र नेपाली इतिहासमा मलाई मनपर्ने व्यक्ति हुन्। उनले प्रत्यक्षरुपमा देशमा शासन गरेको थोरै समयमा धेरै विकास निर्माणको काम गरेका थिए- सडक, स्कुल र अस्पतालहरु बनाएका थिए। नेपालमा वास्तविक अर्थको भूमिसुधार उनकै पालामा भएको थियो, जसले श्रोत साधनको पहुँचलाई केही समतामुलक बनायो। आधुनिक नेपालको निर्माणको लागि जग उनले हालेका थिए र अहिले देशले जे जति छ प्रगती गरेकोछ, त्यसकै धरातलमा उभिएर गरेकोछ। 

उनको राजनैतिक र कूटनीतिक चातुर्यले गर्दा नेपाल एउटा सार्वभौमिकता भएको देशको रूपमा अविछिन्न रूपमा अस्तित्वमा रहन सकेको पनि हो। त्यो वेला सिक्किम जस्तो भारतमा सम्पूर्णरुपमा विलय नभए पनि भुटानको जस्तो आर्थिक, वैदेशिक र सुरक्षा नीति भारतपरस्त रहने जोखिम थियो- उनले त्यसो हुन दिएनन्। यसको श्रेय राजा महेन्द्रलाई दिनुपर्छ। 

महेन्द्रबाहेक राजा पृथ्वीनारायण शाहले देशको एकीकरणकालागि, राजा त्रिभुवनले प्रजातन्त्रकोलागि, राजा बिरेन्द्रले बहुदलकोलागि र राजा ज्ञानेन्द्रले गणतन्त्र स्थापनाकोलागि आफ्नै किसिमको भूमिका खेलेका थिए। 

राजा ज्ञानेन्द्रलाई संसद बिघटन गरेर निरंकुशता लादेको भन्ने दोष लाग्छ, तर उनलाई हामी जति ठूलो तानशाह भनेर चित्रित गर्छौं उनी त्यती नराम्रा मान्छे भने पक्कै होईनन्। २३९ वर्षको इतिहास बोकेको राजसंस्थालाई उनले निकै सजिलोसँग, ‘जनताको नासो जनतालाई सुम्पिन्छु’ भनेर छोडीदिए। यो उनको महानता हो। विश्वका नयाँ र पूराना उदाहरणहरु हेर्ने हो भने तानशाहहरुले राजगद्दी त्यसै छोड्दैनन्, ठूलो नरसंहारपछि मात्र यो प्राय सम्भव हुन्छ।

राजा महेन्द्रले दिएका केही योगदानहरू राजतन्त्र पुनर्स्थापनाको तर्क हुनसक्छ भने राणाहरुले पनि आफ्नो शासनकालमा गरेका कामहरुलाई बिर्सनु हुँदैन। 

हामी अहिले नक्सामा मात्रै भएपनि देशको गुमेको एउटा चुच्चो फिर्ता ल्याउन सकेकोमा गर्व गर्छौं। जंगबहादुरले सुगौली सन्धिमा नेपालले गुमाएको भूभागको एकतिहाई अंश, बाँके-बर्दिया, कैलाली र कञ्चनपुर फिर्ता ल्याएका थिए। उनलेको पालामा मुलुकी ऐन पहिलोपटक जारी भयो र कानुनी राज्यको विधिवत स्थापना पनि भयो। 

बहुदलको ३२ बर्षमा हामीले २८ पटक प्रधानमन्त्री फेरेछौं। राणा शासनको बेलामा कमसेकम रजनितिक स्थायित्व थियो। चन्द्रशमशेरले तीन दशक राज्य गरेका थिए। सतिप्रथा जस्तो कुसंस्कारलाई अन्त्य गरे, दासहरुलाई उन्मुक्ती दिए, त्रिचन्द्र कलेज खोले, अमलेखगञ्जमा रेल चलाए। मकवानपुर र बारा जोड्न चुरेमा ‘फास्ट ट्रयाक’- सुरुङ्गमार्ग बनाए, रौतहटमा बस्ती बसाए, सिँचाइकालागि नहरहरुको निर्माण गरे। अहिले मुलुकको प्रशासनिक केन्द्र बसेको सिंहदरबार उनैले बनाएका थिए। फर्पिङ्गमा एसिया महादेशकै दोस्रो जलविद्युत केन्द्र स्थापना गरेर एक शताब्दि अघि नै काठ्माण्डौमा बत्ती बालीसकेका थिए। 

राष्ट्रिय पुनर्निमाण प्राधिकरणले अझै आफ्नो काम सनतोषजनक हिसाबले पुरा गर्न सकेको छैन। ‘९० सालको भूँईचालोपछि जुद्दशमशेरले पुनर्निमाण मात्रै गरेनन्, खानेपानी, ढल निकास, वारुणयन्त्रसहितको शहरी विकास पनि गरे। वीर अस्पताल, घण्टाघर, वीरधारा र सफाई अड्डा वीरशमशेरले बनाए, देवशमशेरले दरबार हाई स्कुलमा सर्वसधारणलाई प्रवेश दिए, पत्रिका निकाले। गेहेन्द्र शमशेरले केही नविनतम आविष्कारहरु गरे।

समाजिक र पूर्वाधार निर्माणको फेहेरिस्त हेर्ने हो भने शाहवंशीय राजाहरुले भन्दा धेरै बढि कामहरु राणाहरुले गरेको देखिन्छ। 

आधिकारिक राजा को ?

राजामा बिष्णु हुन्छन् भन्ने कुरा मेरो हजुरवुवाले मान्नुहुन्थ्यो, मलाई त्यसमा विश्वास छैन तर म गलत पनि हुन सक्छु। एकछिनलाई मानौं साच्चै नै श्री विष्णु भगवान अथवा उनको केही अंश देश राम्ररी चलाउन, जनतालाई शासन गर्न राजा बनेर आउँछन्। तर यो मान्यताले एउटा जटिल प्रश्न खडा गर्छ।

पृथ्वीनारायण शाहलाई गोरखनाथले आशिष दिएका थिए तर काठमाडौंका प्रताप मल्ल पनि त तलेजू भवानीसँग बसेर जुवा खेल्थे। झन मल्लकालीन इतिहास ६०० बर्ष लामो छ। शाहवंशीय राजाको पुनर्स्थापना गर्ने हो भने काठमाडौंमा मल्लको र पूर्वमा किरातको किन नगर्ने? हामीले अहिले बिदेशी शक्तिलाई जुन हाउजी भनीठान्छौं, त्यस्तै एउटा छिमेकी लमजुङ्ग देशका राजकुमार द्रवय शाहले ‘झेली’ गरेर लिगलिगकोट जीतेका र पछि गोरखा राज्यको निर्माण गरेका थिए।  कुनै समयको काठमाडौँ, ‘नेपाल’ देशकोलागि गोरखा पनि फेरि बिदेशी शक्ती नै थियो। न भाषा मिल्थ्यो, न चालचलन। अर्थ-राजनीति, संस्कृति सबै फरक थियो। वडा महाराजले काठमाडौँ जित्दा सबै युद्धका नियमहरु पालना गरेका थिए भनेर म भन्न सक्दिन।

इतिहास खैर, जित्नेहरुकै हुन्छ र शाहवंशीय राजाहरूले पराक्रमले नै देश एकीकरण गरेका होलान, तर एकीकरणको २५४ वर्षपछि त्यही संस्थाको पुनर्स्थापनाको लागि एउटा किराँत केटो किन लड्नु पर्ने?

राजतन्त्र बनाम प्रजातन्त्र

२०४४ सालमा भएको साफ च्याम्पियनसिपमा नेपालका म्याराथनमा खेलाडी बैकुण्ठ मानन्धरले स्वर्णपदक जीते।  उनले त्यसबखत राखेको कृतिमान साफ खेलकुदमा अझै तोडिएको छैन। सम्भवतः उनका कुलमा अरु पनि योग्य खेलाडीहरु जन्मिएका होलान्, किनभने शारीरिक सुगठन र चुस्ती केही वंशाणुगत पनि हुन्छ। 

तर हामी आगामी दिनमा हुने दौडहरुमा बैकुण्ठ मानन्धरका छोरा अथवा छोरीलाई सिधै प्रवेश दिदैनौं। उनीहरूले सिधै अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय स्पर्धामा भाग लिएर पदक जित्ने सम्भावना कम हुन्छ। जिल्लामा छानिएका खेलाडीहरु राष्ट्रिय स्तरमा प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्छन् र सर्वोत्कृष्ट हुनेलाई अन्तराष्ट्रिय प्रतियोगितामा पठाउँछौ। त्यसो गर्दा देशले पदक जित्न सक्ने सम्भावना बढी रहन्छ।

मलाई प्रजातन्त्रप्रति विशेष अनुराग त छैन। प्रजातन्त्रको नाममा मौलाएको विसंगति र विकृती देख्दा, बरु कोही निरंकुश तर निस्वार्थ, बहादुर तर बुद्धिमान शासक भइदिए हुन्थ्यो भन्ने अनायाश सोचेको पनि छु- शायद मेरो कल्पनाका महेन्द्र जस्तो, शायद बीपी जस्तो। तर त्यसो भन्दैमा उनका सन्तान दरसन्तानले देश राम्ररी चलाउन सक्छन् भनेर सोच्नु मुर्खता हो। तपाईलाई मलाई जति मन नपरेपनि, एउटा राम्रो मान्छेलाई चुनिएर आउने र देश चलाउने मौका भनेको प्रजातन्त्रले मात्र दिन्छ। 

कसका लागि ? 

रबिन्द्र मिश्रले आफ्नो भाषण क्रममा पटकपटक भन्ने गर्छन्, मैले यो सब राजाको लागि गरेको होइन। म उनको यो भनाइप्रति सहमत छु। शाहवंशीय राजाहरूको १४ पुस्ताको इतिहासमा कुनै राजा पनि धेरै खुसी र सुखी भएको पाउन सकिदैन। अधिकांशले आफ्नो जिन्दगीको औसत आयु समेत बाँच्न पाएनन् (प्रताप सिंह २६, रणबहादुर ३०, गृवाण १९, पृथ्वी वीर ३०, दिपेन्द्र २९)। रणबहादुर आफ्नो भाईद्वारा काटिए, राजा त्रिभुवन राजा र महेन्द्रको अन्त्य पनि शंकास्पद नै मानिन्छ। सबैका प्यारा राजा बिरेन्द्रको सपरिवार दुखद अन्त्य हाम्रो सम्झनामा ताजै छ। राजेन्द्रले दुईपटक राणाहरुसँग लडेर हारेर, देशबाट भागेर पराजित जिन्दगी बिताए। सुरेन्द्रले छोरा त्रैलोक्यको अस्वभाविक मृत्यू भोग्नुपर्यो। धेरैले त राणाहरुको नजरबन्दमा नै आफ्नो जीन्दगी बिताए। त्यसैले यदि पूर्वराजा र तिनका सन्तानहरुको सुख र खुशी चाहने हो भने यो अभिशप्त प्रोपागाण्डाबाट अलग राख्दा हुन्छ। 

जनताकोलागि त उनले हिजोका दिनसम्म व्यवस्था हैन अवस्था परिवर्तन भन्थे- फेरि पनि व्यवस्था परिवर्तनको रडाँको कसका लागि?

केही सम्भावनाका कुराहरु

एउटा झिनो सम्भावना- यति धेरै राजनीतिक कुसंस्कार देखेर उनले साँच्चीकै ठानेका छन् कि देशका सबै समस्याका समाधानहरुको राजसंस्थाको पुनर्स्थापना गरेर हुन्छ। तर कसरी हुन्छ? उनले त्यसको व्याख्या गरेको मैले सुनेको छैन। 

अर्को सम्भावना अलि प्रबल छ। उनलाई सब थाहा छ- केही फरक पर्नेवाला छैन, राजा आउँदैमा या नआउँदैमा- तर यही नारामा भोट आउन सक्छ। परम्परागत राजनीतिक दलहरुसँग दिक्क भएका जनताहरूको मनोविज्ञान उनले राम्ररी बुझेका छन्।

उनीले आफै पनि र उनका शुभचिन्तकहरुले भन्ने गरेको एउटा लोकप्रिय प्रशंसाको वाक्य छ- रबिन्द्र मिश्रको बाटो गलत होला तर उनले बेइमानी गर्दैनन्, देशप्रति गद्दारी गर्दैनन्। 

वैकल्पिक राजनीतिको एउटा ध्वजावाहक थियो, विवेकशील साझा नामको। स्थानीय निकायको चुनावमा लज्जास्पद हार भएपछि उनी आफूले त राप्रपाको धावनमार्गमा सेफ ल्याण्डिङ गरे तर  वैकल्पिक राजनीतिको यात्रा दुर्घटनामा पर्यो। त्यो बेइमानी होइन? मिलन पाण्डेलगायतले चुनाव अघि नै तपाईले राप्रपासँग गरेको छलफल, सरसल्लाह के हो, केन्द्रिय कमिटिको बैठक डाकेर खुलस्त पार्नुहोस् भन्दा छैन, हैन भनिरहे, आफू इतर समुहलाई पार्टीबाटै निकालिदिए। त्यो धोका हैन? अहिले आफ्नो राजनीतिक अभिष्ट पुरा गर्न देशमा धार्मिक मुद्दा गिजोल्दैछन्। उनको दलको नेता राजेन्द्र लिङ्गदेलले धर्मको नाममा ज्यान दिन र लिन सक्ने भारतका कट्टरपन्थी हिन्दुहरुको मुक्तकण्ठले प्रशंसा गरेका छन्। यो उक्साहट देशप्रतिको गद्दारी होइन?

उनको व्यक्तिगत कदमले विवेकशील साझासँग जोडिएका युवाहरूलाई कति ठूलो राजनीतिक क्षति पुगेको छ, त्यसको विश्लेषण उनकोलागि अहिले भोट माग्दै हिडेका साथीहरुले कुनैदिन स्वयं गर्लान। 

र अर्को सम्भावना भनेको, म आफै गलत हुनसक्छु सम्पूर्णरूपमा। मेरा यी सब तर्कहरू बेकारका होलान्। यदि त्यसो हो भने, ‘बदलिँदो अन्तराष्ट्रिय भूराजनीतिक जटिलताको भुमरीबाट देशलाई बचाउन’ राजाले मात्रै सक्ने हो भने, संसदले बाँधेको संवैधानिक राजसंस्था मागेर काम छैन, प्रत्यक्ष कार्यकारी राजा माग्नुपर्छ। राजनीतिक दलहरु यदि सबै समस्याका जडहरु हुन् भने गैरदलिय व्यवसथा ल्याउनु पर्छ। त्यतिले पनि पुग्दैन भने पशुपति शमशेरको नाति खोजौ।

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कर्मकाण्ड

 

 

जीउँदो हुँदा बाजेको खुट्टा चिसो हुन्थयो भनेर

श्राद्धमा बाजेकोलागि दुई जोर मोजा छुट्टाए जस्तै,

मेरो फलानो कामना शिद्ध होस् भनेर,

मन्दिरमा नरिवल फुटाए जस्तै-

फुर्सदको दिन, शनिबार अक्सर

साईत जुराएर निस्कने लस्कर-

यो जुग जागेको हो कि जुर्मुराएको?

कि यसले कर्मकाण्डको विधी मात्र पुराएको?

 

अन्याय भो, न्याय देऊ

अपराध भो, सजाय देऊ

का नारा, पुकार र चित्कारहरु,

आदर्श र चेतनाका, अरु ठूला विचारहरु

जब सडकमा छताछुल्ल हुन्छ,

मेरो मनमा एककिसिमको रनभुल्ल हुन्छ-

यो सब सकिएपछि

घर गएर, ढोका लाएर, खाना खाएर, ओछ्यान मिलाएर

मस्त सुत्ने हो भने अर्को शनिबारसम्म

हामिलाई देशकोलागि केही गरेम् भन्ने सन्तुष्टी त मिल्ला-

निर्मलाको आत्मालाई शान्ति मिल्दैन।

 

मुगलिङ नारायनघाट सडकखण्डमा

पहिरोले गाडी थुनिँदा,

कान्लाको काँक्रो महँगोमा बिके जस्तै

कसैको व्यकतिगत दुर्घटनामा,

हाम्रो सृजनशीलता बिक्छ भने- त्यो गलत हो।

जब बिषय भन्दा चर्चा चर्को हुन्छ,

जब मुद्दा एउटा, बहस अर्को हुन्छ

त्यो गलत हो।

त्यसैले बन्द गर यो रुन्चे  कविता- यो व्यापार शब्दको,

यो कलमले आशुँ चुहाउन, अतिरञजना स्तब्धको

यो युद्द हो, र युद्द जितिन्न

गीत गाएर, बाजा बजाएर

दिवंगतको तस्विर सिंगारेर/सजाएर

 

यो युद्द हो-

त्यसैले शार्दुलबिक्रिडित छन्दमा न्याय माग्न छोड अब,

किनकी न्याय न ओलिको सरकारले दिने हो

न भोलिको सरकारले दिने हो।

काप्चामा लुकाएर राखेकोछ न्यायमूर्तीले न्याय कतै

अब ईन्शाल्लाह खोसेर लिने हो !

Letter to Bernie Sanders

Dear Bernie,

Two years ago, even before you announced candidacy for the president of United States of America, I lived in a little village of western Nepal, where I shared kitchen with a Peace Corps volunteer from your country. I explained to him why I felt lucky to have been born in Nepal, as ours is a country still in making and our opinions and actions can make a difference in shaping its future. Unlike USA, where a system already in existence is so concrete and rigged that it is impossible for a common man’s voice to be heard.

Rigged in a sense that elections, federal or presidential, cost lots of money and are paid for by the groups with special interests. These groups, who represent the top ten percent of America’s economy, who are worth as much as bottom ninety percent, have such a favorable system in place that they get richer everyday while ordinary people struggle to place decent meals in their plates, let alone affordable healthcare or higher education for their children. Most of the new income goes into the pockets of top one percent. Fifty percent of those that manage to go to colleges come out in heavy debts. Out of three black kids, one has a lifetime chance of getting into prison. Veterans do not get basic health services.

Wall Street that helped create the financial crisis of 2008 was bailed out by taxpayer’s money, because it was ‘too big’ to fail. Only that it emerged through the crisis 8o percent bigger, while millions of Americans lost their jobs and houses. Because Wall Street contributes hefty in election campaigns. So do fracking fossil fuel companies and climate change becomes a nonissue. NRA pays, so they do not talk about gun control. Pharmaceuticals are okay to sell drugs at prices hundreds times higher than production cost. Corporations can outsource works, evade taxes, and underpay. As long as they donate to the super PACs.

I did not believe there was a maikelaal who could challenge such a sophisticated system.

But you proved me wrong. A rare social democrat, you have managed to contest this nomination depending entirely on the money raised through individual donations, from person to person. Who could be voice of a common man, if not you?

At 71, you are the oldest candidate ever to stand in US presidential elections, ironically the one with most progressive, borderline radical, ideas. And this has appealed to the younger population, so much that you have won the majority of votes of people aged 45 or younger, in every state contested. This is a big leap from generation who grew up reading ‘Animal Farm’ in their high schools. Now they have flirted with the idea of socialism.

A Jew that can criticize Israel

Jews are the most persecuted community throughout history. But Israel’s recent responses to Palestinian aggression have been way too disproportionate. Killing hundreds of children in Gaza, destroying schools and hospitals to retaliate misfiring Hamas rockets is not fair. Most US politicians see this as Israel’s right to defend itself, but you call spade a spade. Treating Palestinians right, with respect and dignity is the primary step in attempting to solve this chronic conflict.

Why do I care?

Why do I care if Trump builds walls or Bernie makes bridges?

I see things happening in this world that are beyond my comprehension. Hundreds of girls get kidnapped in Nigeria, we can’t do a thing about it. I don’t understand, why. Why can’t we stop thousands of European fighters, the likes of Big Johh from flocking to Middle East for Jihad, or stop them from coming back with terrorist intents and skills? Why thousands from North Africa embark a treacherous journey to Europe in little boats, to drown, to end up in destitute camps in places they are not welcome, or simply get sent back? Why can’t we make their homelands safer and livable?

Proxy wars between big nations fought in poorer countries, cost hundreds of lives every day, unmourned and unnoticed, while we je suis Charlie in most poignant way, is in itself very poignant. European and American lives should not be worth more than that of a Syrian, or a Rohinga, or a Libiyan.

The burden of world peace lies in the shoulders of world leaders. Now the time has come when these leaders of conflicting interests sit down together and make a commitment on common values, not necessarily democratic, but based on principles of humanity and fairness. And actively pursue those agenda- strategically or militarily. We have to dismantle wrong governments, belligerent groups and radicals, who have thrived on conflicts. Terrorists may hide and run but what about the factories that make weapons?

In response to the recent Orlando shooting, you said it was more of a problem with lack of gun control, than radical Islam. I totally agree. Applying same logic, modern terrorism is more a consequence of easy and perpetual availability of weapons of war than religious fanaticism.

Changes do not come from barrel of guns

My country had a decade long civil war, bloody and devastating at many levels. It was for a change, they said but we live essentially the same life. Same crooked leaders, and same crappy living situation.

We saw Arab spring. From Tunisia to Libiya to Egypt to Syria. These recent conflicts have made lives much more miserable for the people than it was already.

But you have started a revolution in USA, effectively challenged the establishment and proved that voice of a common man can be heard, without hurting a soul. Changes come when educated, young people decide that the existing system is not working and not destroy it by force or conflict but by simply challenging it and forcing it to change. That seems like a very good idea. Lets call it Bernism.

Hillary Clinton would not do very bad as a president herself, now that she has engaged herself in the dialogues of equality and righteousness. But she when it came to the question of minimum wage, she was happy with 12 dollars an hour. You demanded 15. That sums up the difference.

Dr. Chirayu Regmi,

MD, Internal Medicine

शहिद

गाजापट्टिको चेकपोष्टमा
हुइङ्केर एउटा गाडी आयो,
बटुवालाई दियो ठक्कर,
भीत्र कोहि करायो- ‘अल्लाह हु अकबर’

त्यो रात भूमध्य सागरको पूर्वीतटमा
स-सम्मान नगर परिक्रमा गर्यो- दुइटा यहुदीको लाशले,
आत्मघाती चालकलाई झन्डा ओढायो, अर्कोतिर हमासले।

न कसैको हित भो, न कसैको जित भो
तर जे भो, राष्ट्रियता सहित भो,
त्यसैले दिवंगत तीनैजनालाई
घोषणा शहिद भो !

मैले कसबलाई शहिद भन्नेहरु देखेको छु।

शहिद तँ को होस्?

अनार्य होस् कि, हिटलरले मारेको?
कि शुभास चन्द्र बोस, कसैले गाएब पारेको?

तँ तुत्सी होस् कि हुतु होस्,
तँ नुएर होस् कि दिन्का?
कि त सँधै उत्सर्गमा तल्लिन,
यगोपावितको सिन्का?

तँ रोहिंगा होस् कि राष्ट्रहिन,
या राजा बिरेन्द्र, सत्तासीन?
तँ बामियानको बुद्ध होस्?
पेशावर मात्रै होस् कि तँ
वजरिस्थान सुद्ध होस्?

तँ कश्मिर भए,
क्वेटा पनि त होलास,
सिमानाको उता भए तँ,
यता पनि त होलास !

तँ सुन्नी होस् कि सिया होस्?
तँ मुजिब होस् कि जिया होस्?
राजीव गान्धी कि प्रभाकरण,
तँ हामी जस्तै होस् कि,
अलि छुट्टै, असाधारण?

मलाई लाग्छ,

तँ काँटी होस् सलाईको- जसले बालेको ज्योति कतै,

उज्यालो बनेर बलिरहन्छ निरन्तर-

कतै बिद्रोह बनेर दन्किन्छ

कतै बनेर खरानी- चुल्होतीरै थन्किन्छ।

त्यहि त हो तात्पर्य?
तैले मरेर फ़ुट्दैन पहाड, बन्दैन बाटो।

तर मृत्युसंग अभ्यस्त भैसकेको समाजमा,
बरु गढ़िमाईको राँगो शहिद होला,
तँ शहिद होइनस-

फगत संख्या होस्, कागजमा एउटा अंक-

मुख्य समाचारको सानो अंश भन्दा बढी तेरो महत्व छैन

शहिद दिवसको भोलिपल्ट बढारिने,

मुर्झाएका मालाहरु भन्दा बढी तेरो मूल्य छैन। 

जब मृत्यु प्रति सह-अनुभूति हराउदै जान्छ
जब पिना सुक्दै र काग कराउदै जान्छ-
तैले मरेर हुदै हुदैन
सुन्ने कोहि भए बोल बरु,
पढ्ने कोहि भए लेखे हुन्छ-
किनकी आहुतिले हुदैन उज्यालो बिहानीको,
उदयले हुन्छ !

चिरायु रेग्मी

Bad Habit

-Chirayu Regmi

You are my choco-pie

Not so sweet

You are my bye bye-

Couldn’t quite do it

You make the background of all I do,

You are the constant music in my head,

You got me hanging by my neck, baby

Till I drop down dead.

---

Element of my own desire,

you are my funeral pyre,

Smoking my shoulder blade.

---

You numb my senses,

And kill my wit,

Baby, you are a bad habit,

I really need to quit.

Okay, now

Relaxed, maybe good for blood pressure. But how about life?

How about in your prime, when you are young and strong? You are relaxed with your situation- very much comfortable with it. 8 hours of loadshedding a day, noise, pollution, crappy leadership in the country, mis-judged policies. Hooliganism and anarchy. Injustice. If you are relaxed and do nothing about it. Then your situation is not going to change, you have to speak when you need to, fight when you need to stand up against something. (my)Old saying- it is more difficult to be on the wrong side- they might look intimidating- but they can’t fight. Because righteousness is always a bigger sword.

So don’t shy from confrontations- for there will always be. Problems don’t solve by itself, they need to be nailed down. And you can’t depend on anyone else to solve your problems. You got to do it on your own.

No that takes time too. And effort. I am at a situation where I need all my efforts to be best placed to my studies, so I can specialize early enough, make good money by 40s and then do what I want to do for the rest of my life. Most of the people would end their life at what I want to achieve at forty. But I want more- much more. My dreams don’t end with good house, cars and family. I want to get into politics, I want to write, I want to make the difference that I believe in. For that I need a base- to know that I have done for my family- made enough money to live by comfortably. Because getting into politics is a slow process. It will undermine my existence at first, they will all downplay my capabilities. I might even implode. So it’s a survival strategy- that I earn first. Become filthy rich. I am not going to ignore my family’s needs and put the country first. Yes, I do have big plans for the country. But I don’t believe in sacrifices. I don’t agree with bigger the sacrifice, bigger the difference. I will (okay, say selfishly) do with my personal priorities first. I am not a selfless hero.

Thus, I have to stop procrastinating now. I have been in an intellectual coma for a very long time. I have to come out of it. Be alive. For the time, is passing by. And if I don’t build a foundation for my future now my dreams would never realize. If not for dreams, what is there to keep living?

About love, I have loved. Truly, most wonderfully and most sickeningly. It would not be something entirely missing in my life. Though I miss being in love, I can’t afford time to cajole one. So, I will put that in my ‘in a while list’.

I have a long way to go. And fast. So I need to work hard.

Robert Forst said,

Woods are lovely, dark and deep

But I got promises to keep

Miles to go before I sleep.

Miles to go before I sleep.

I missed You

I missed you for so long,

and so bad 

but I realized 

It was not you that I missed.

Or the lover You were

But I missed the Love 

I was in,

and that Love was,

entirely mine-

You were but, a mirror-

where I could see

reflection of my own affection.

 

Where you existed in me,

is a vacant space now-

but that doesn’t make you irreplaceable-

For in winters,

a hand needs a glove

and a dove needs a dove.

My old love,

Goodbye.

 

Random things on my mind

 

 

The blog is infact, named that. But I have not been quite so random. Let me be.

’14 has been a bad year for aviation industry. Malaysian A380 still missing, another one shot down in Ukraine with all the travelers dead, and as of yesterday- a Taiwanese domestic carrier went down trying to make an emergency landing.

Its been a bad year so far- bad for humanity. And shameful too, for us who are merely spectators of the extreme form of injustice around the world- and can do nothing about it. Not just a common folk like you and me, but the very UN, who is entrusted with such a job.

1. Fall of Muslim brotherhood in Egypt, a military coup- who is passing indiscriminate sentences, prosecuting opponents, free thinkers, including journalists. Devolution of Egypt from the great nation it once was.

2. Hundreds of girls abducted by boko haram in Nigeria, to be raped and enslaved- and we could do nothing about it.

3. ISIL, a sunni militant group, who were once aided arms and otherwise by US, NATO(in Syria, to fight proxy war against Russia/Assad)- surge most of Iraq- with Iraqi government now weak and helpless- as foreign forces that invaded the country to find ‘weapons of mass destruction’ turned it upside down, only not to find it and left- can’t defend its ethnically diverse population- shias, kurds, christians etc. Its terrible to see them lined up and shot in the back. And we can do nothing about it.

4. People of Ukraine kill each other, in ethnic lines- but the conflict is, a mere tug of war between Russia and rest of Europe. Why pay so heavy.

5. Tragic of all is killing of people of Palestine by Israel, most of them commoners- unarmed men, women and children. I can’t even comprehend how such a thing can happen in this ‘modern’ age. But, Israeli airport had to be closed for a couple of hours due to air raids from gaza, makes a bigger news than thousands being killed on the other side.

I abhor international community, the UN, leaders of today for not doing what they can do to save innocent lives around the globe.

Someday, I will make a difference.

p.s- I started meaning to write all the random things I had in mind, but the tone of this post has turned so grave, other petty thoughts don’t even compare. But they are there too, I will post separately.

On Revolutionary Medicine

 

‘The life of a single human being is worth a million times more than all the property of the richest man on earth.’ Che Guevara, 1960.

Upon being hit by jet liners in the terrorist attack of 9/11 the Twin Towers of New York City collapsed and turned into rumbles within minutes. Thousands of people were buried inside. Brave American men, fire fighters, first responders along with many civilians volunteered to help, amid lots of smoke, dust and pain.  As a consequence of unprotected exposure to pollutants and trauma, many of those who volunteered developed a variety of respiratory illnesses ranging from pulmonary fibrosis to cancer. Many had psychological terrors like PTSD. When they sought for healthcare in American hospitals, they were denied such, as their insurance did not cover the deliberate exposure of oneself to hazardous conditions. Paying on your own is way too expensive.

As depicted on a documentary called Sicko by Michael Moore, some of these patients sail on speedboats to reach Havana, Cuba, where they receive free checkups, treatment and plenty of medicines to take back home.

Even if we doubt the facts laid by Moore, there is one thing we can all agree upon- though highly sophisticated, the capitalist-styled profitable healthcare system of USA is non universal and thus, a non-existence to many of its own citizens.

Cold war is over. Capitalists have emerged victorious in all but one front- provision of free and high quality essential services to all, like police service for security, emergency responders for fires or any other calamities, health and education. Yes, I deliberately put doctors, teachers, firemen and policemen in the same context, because as much as it is the responsibility of the government for the peace and security of its citizens, it is, for universal health and public education. There can be another discourse on education. This time we talk about health.

Driving around Kathmandu, I see many hoarding boards of private clinics and hospitals. They advertise of services and make promises- like a fairness cream would promise a glow. Such an utter commercialization of health care- it breaks my heart. If you delve in deeper, you can realize the ugliness behind posh medical facade. There are many private hospitals in the city with ‘marketing officers’, whose sole duty is to call ambulance drivers to negotiate commissions for bringing a critically ill patient to them, which is often as high as 4000 rupees. Imagine the size of the bill on discharge.

Poor patients are often denied proper medical care. Every other day some newspaper runs an impromptu piece on how a patient died due to a doctor’s negligence and hospital got vandalized. How government hospitals are understaffed and unclean. And about corruption in purchase of life saving drugs like misoprostol.

But all these examples represent merely the tip of an iceberg. Everything that is wrong with existing health care system is due to chronic lack of vision and planning in making of health care workers, doctors and dispatching them for duty.

 

Making of a doctor

Despite being a profession underpaid and overworked, exploited and allegedly, mundane- our society fancies in their sons and daughters becoming doctors. With dull economy, a medical job might look more secure than other things, so there are many who want to become doctors- which is not bad at all- so many people signing up for a service oriented profession like this. But there’s a catch- we don’t have proper medical education system in our country. We have just one government medical college providing about 40 undergraduate scholarship seats, and rest of the private or semi private institutions serve the desires of aspiring doctors, but in a very high price. It costs at least 4 million to become a MBBS doctor. The prospect is as grim for post graduation studies. Scholarship seats are so few, an aspiring doctor has to either provide his service elsewhere like USA or Australia or pay as high as 10 million or even more to specialize.

Medical education should be free, and to the deserving students. Because the profession is such- where you work really hard through med school and the whole life; where study and work are lifelong priorities; subduing personal comforts or family life; where you skip meals or sleeps for strangers called patients.

The irony is, society expects doctors to invest like a businessmen and serve like a clergyman. It simply cannot happen.

Prof. Dr. Govinda K.C led a fast unto death against such a system, a part of it. Motive behind was to make post graduation scholarships available and of high standards. But despite medical doctors all over the country striking for several days, it could not bring anything tangible. It is because neither our brotherly organization NMA nor governing body NMC has realized impending failure of the system. Or even if they do, they are too happy to complain with the commissions provided by private colleges. But I am not. I worry for the moment when someone in my family gets ill and needs a sophisticated medical care. USA or Singapore or Delhi is beyond everyone’s reach. We have to improve our system and survive here.

 

Where does all the health budget go?

Yes, we do get an ample amount of budget for health care. This covers the salaries of government medical staffs, which they receive for attendance at their institution, and their bhattas which they receive for doing everything else. That is okay, in light of meager salary they obtain for such a hard work (which indeed is, if they work as per norms and needs). But a big chunk of it is wasted through a syndicate of NGO/INGOs with collaboration of health bureaucrats especially during June/July, at the closure of fiscal year- in programs and projects hurriedly planned and carelessly executed. Global Fund provides huge financial support to the government to be spent through partner organizations, and they work- mostly on paper and reports. With most of the aid bearing managerial cost of the projects, they fail to bring any tangible change. To improve overall health of the people, to reach the goal of ‘Health for all’ as we signed in Alma Ata in 1978, all this money should instead be used in establishing a proper health education system in the country, so we can have skilled and willing-to-serve human resource. After all, we cannot depend on foreign aids for the health of our people.

 

How to solve?

A scientific and sufficient health service delivery system, reaching people.

A medical education system to teach, train and produce doctors, nurses and other paramedical staffs.

We have 3600 VDCs in the country. Each VDC has a Health Post, the basic unit of our health organogram. It should have a Health Assistant incharge, with 2 AHWs. Co-existing birthing center should have a staff nurse with 2 ANMs. At next level is a Primary Health Center covering an electoral constituency, which we have 240. Since it provides OPD services to a larger number of and referred cases from Health Posts, in-patient along with 24 hours emergency services, it should have 3 medical officers (doctors) with 2 HA and 5 AHW. Birthing center at this level should have a nurse with Bachelor’s degree, with 2 staff nurses and 5 ANM. PHC will also be overseeing all the community level preventive health programs like immunization, infant care, hygiene etc, rendering NGO led activities redundant. It will be a cost cutting measure in long run.

Each district hospital should be able to treat 80 percent of the cases. After all, it is a health center for the whole district. It should have a double team of consultants (there should be at least two of medicine specialists, gynecologists, surgeons etc) so that one of them can be available all the time; nobody can work 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, thus. It should have a team of 6 medical officers and other paramedical staffs in proportional ratio.

Zonal hospitals should become tertiary centers; teaching hospitals. With ICU, CCU and higher specialists, it should be able to solve 90 percent of the cases. It will have highest flow of the patients, highest concentration of doctors, labs and everything. Since lack of free medical education is a core issue, each of these 14 zonal hospitals will have excellent medical schools, providing 50 scholarship seats for undergraduate studies every year (a total of 700!), to deserving candidates- irrespective of caste, sex, or hometown- but based purely on merit- for we want the best to become doctors and deal with our life and sickness, not the lesser competent.

Such academic centers will not only produce free education to aspiring doctors and nurses but also vacancies for professors- who will now be available at zonal levels. They will mentor post graduate students. With two PG seats in each faculty (including both clinical subjects like medicine, surgery and basic sciences like anatomy, pathology etc)- we will be producing about 30 specialist doctors from every zonal center.  Multiply that with 14 teaching hospitals- we will be providing higher medical education to more than 400 doctors every year, which is a great leap from existing 40. With residents to work round the clock in such hospitals providing meticulous care to patients, service quality will greatly improve and upon graduation they will serve at district hospitals, replacing the consultants who will now become a faculty at zonal teaching hospital. Not only will there be a constant production of medical graduates and specialists, there will be a system of service at all levels, as a clinician and as a teacher- and a timely retirement.

 

With highly sophisticated zonal centers, we would not need the namesake sub regional hospitals. Regional centers will take care of all unsolved cases. Here, professorships will be awarded to consultants, and higher specialization courses will be offered. It will also be the center for skill based trainings and research- where we will invent and devise ideas to revolutionize medical science, provide something to humanity. There will be government pharmaceuticals producing high quality drugs and these medicines will be provided for free- just like medical care would be.

Further, some highly populated districts can have two or three district-level hospitals of equal stratum and formation, each one of them responsible to zonal centers. Big cities can have a couple more; in addition to specialized centers for trauma, heart, kidney etc. But this new plan will discourage people to cluster around cities, since (availability of) health facility is one of the reasons why people migrate.

One might ask, what will be the role of private hospitals and medical colleges, then? They should be graciously thanked for the service they provided when there was none, and asked to seek business elsewhere, for healthcare is not a business and it should be free, for all.

The system as it is, is already a mess and on the verge of a breakdown. If we really want the state of affairs to improve, we- the people, the doctors, the clients, the stake holders should do more than just lament or charity. We need to work on similar plans and preserve to the realisation.

This whole idea might appear audacious to many. I would like to quote Che again, ‘At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feelings of love.’

 

Dr. Chirayu Regmi

(who is doing his part at a primary health center in Shrigaun, Dang)