Long Live the Victory of People's War: Birth of a New Nepal!

Share This Story

By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

Today, in the Secular Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, we are experiencing the birth-pangs of a nascent Democratic Socialist
Republic. Its domestic midwives are myriad ( in fact all Nepalese can take credit, including King Gyanendra ); however, in the international arena, the principal catalysts are Dr. Manmohan Singh's India, Tony Blair's United Kingdom and, of course, George W. Bush's USA. This is verily 'the axis of enlightenment'.

1. The victory of the People's Movement culminated in the
reinstatement of parliament, which subsequently declared itself 'supreme and sovereign' unanimously. This was an historic document, comparable to the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of American Independence. The Nepalese people have, therefore, shown the world what a progressive revolution can be. We are late, but not too late!

2. The King has been stripped of all political powers. In effect, now he only has a ceremonial role ( but for how long ?) The limits of the Nepalese monarchy have been established. Thus, nearly two-and-a-half centuries of feudalism and tyranny have finally come to an end. The monarchy does not even enjoy the honour and respect, which even the deposed Indian Maharajas today savour in their own country.

He stands there in his palace like the legendary emperor with his new clothes. The hoardings in the busy thoroughfares of the capital city with the uplifting utterances of the Shah kings from Tribhuwan to Gyanendra are being summarily removed. We can expect them to be replaced with the inspirational admonishments of our pre-eminent Chairman Prachanda (nom de guerre, meaning violent, furious, terrible, fiery, fierce; thus, so to say "The Fearless One". His faithful cadres have already decorated the walls of the city with the slogans of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) - the leading political and military force, controlling 50% of the country.

3. The King had a clever strategy - he barricaded himself behind three impregnable walls of fire ( the Berlin Wall and the Israeli West Bank Wall was/is nothing compared to the Narayanhiti barricades ) - presided over by the three proverbial wise monkeys: 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'. These (the walls and the monkeys) isolated him from all unnecessary news and evil developments. First, the innermost rampart was composed of his palace secretaries, assertive and most competent. The middle bulwark comprised his circle of advisers - well-versed men of the world, who came up with such first-rate and sensational concepts, as that of the 'active monarchy', 'Hindu emperor' and 'forceful' Raj Partishad. The outermost rampart was formed by the competent council of ministers, constituted from most experienced administrators and technocrats. That these walls had not to be stormed like the Bastille during the French Revolution, but fell like a house of cards was not the monarch's fault, since 'the king can do no wrong'. Actually, they never had the ghost of a chance to confront the invincible 'people's power'.

4. The brilliant and sagacious parliamentarians have shown great far-sightedness. For passing the excellent document, they should all be handsomely rewarded with cumulative back pay, a Mitsubishi Pajero SUV and a round-trip to the Delhi Durbar (all expenses paid). After all, their services to the nation during the interregnum and the People's Movement were priceless.

5. However, the declaration of self-supremacy by the Nepalese 'Long' parliament was only the second phase in the People's War/Revolution (the first being the grand success of the People's Movement ( Jan Andolan II ), which is currently being celebrated throughout the country. We have to register that History is being made.

6. The next phases will definitely be announced by our real and beloved supreme leader and helmsman, Great Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal when he triumphantly enters the Emerald Valley at the beginning of June. His very birth-name inspires confidence: 'Blossoming Lotus'. What the bourgeoisie and pseudo-Communists failed to do, the incomparable leader will achieve in a short span of time. Nepal will be converted into a land flowing with milk and honey for the toiling masses. The Nepalese have nothing to lose, but their chains. Prachanda will surpass Lenin, Stalin, Mao Zedong and Pol Pot in his achievements. 'Prachandaism' will be epoch-making and will soon be included in the Oxford English Dictionary.

7. The soldiers of the People's Army and the political cadres of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist/Prachanda) will be handsomely rewarded for their 10 years of toil. The feudal, moneyed and political classes will definitely have to make sacrifices in the higher interests of the revolutionary masses. If necessary, they will have to vacate their houses and surrender their ill-gotten riches. Those resisting will, of course, have to be summarily liquidated. People's courts will guarantee fair trials.

8. The Royal Nepalese Army (sorry, Nepalese Army) will be disbanded. It will be replaced by the People's Liberation Army. All ranks will be abolished. Everyone will be addressed by 'comrade soldier'. 'comrade brother' or 'comrade sister'. The PLA giving up arms is, therefore, fully redundant. All officers will have to be re-educated in the spirit of the glorious Nepalese revolution. The mediation of the United Nations between the feudal army and the revolutionary liberation army has also become superfluous.

9. It is incomprehensible why the capitalist industrialists and business houses - whether domestic or imperialist - are making such a fuss about making modest contributions to keep the engine of the Revolution alive. After all, even the toiling porters in the hill-sides and foreign tourists do so willingly. The bourgeois media - the running dogs of imperialism - are misrepresenting so-called human rights violations by the political and military wings of the CPN (Maoist) by calling them "atrocities". Moreover, what do 15,000 deaths matter compared to the achievements of the People's Movement and the People's War? This is most unpleasant, and appropriate action will have to be taken.

10. There will also be a grand Cultural Revolution to re-vamp Nepalese society as a whole. In this, the thoughts of Chairman Prachanda will be our guiding light. His Collected Works will be printed in millions (also for the backward, unenlightened masses south of the border) in several languages. Then, 'a thousand flowers will bloom, and tens of thousands thoughts contend'. The so-called intellectuals, and also incorrigible civil servants, officials, managers and army officers will be obliged to learn the basics of hard work in agriculture, industry and the service sector in the lowest rungs. Everyone will be equal (although some, of necessity, will be more equal than others).

11. All forms of religious activity will be suspended. In a modern, progressive and revolutionary society, religion must be anathema. After all, the Pope of Marxism, the masterly Karl Marx had said that religion is the opium of the people, and we cannot rear a nation of drug addicts! The Nepalese have been a superstitious people through the millennia, and now they have to be weaned off with the help of Prachanda's thoughts. One cannot tolerate such childish beliefs like the worship of the rain god Machhendranath, or the girl-child goddess, Kumari.

12. The country will receive a federal status. It will be a republic, with 15 major states where ethnic minorities will have the main say. There will also be many autonomous regions and areas to cater to other smaller minorities. The Janjatis ( underprivileged ethnic groups ) and the lowest classes will come into their own. Until now they were denied access to education, health services and jobs, and hopelessly exploited. Not even one made it to an army general ! They will be given preferential treatment in educational institutions, the administration, the economy and the People's Liberation Army. The high caste Bahuns ( clergy class ) and Chhetris (aristocratic soldier class like the Basnet, Pandey, Thapa, Thakuri and Rana ) will lose their privileged status and property. However, there will always be certain exceptions to this cardinal rule ( to wit, it will naturally not apply to the Maoist leadership and their comrades-in-arms in the 7-party alliance, because of their great sacrifices in the recent past ).

The above is the 12-point modern charter of liberty, equality and fraternity. Nepal will, therefore, finally come of age. Lal Salaam!

The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.com

alan@newsblaze.com