NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Mahatma Gandhi and Nepal

By Kamala Sarup

Mahatma Gandhi is one leader I have always admired the most. Besides him, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Subhash Chandra Bose, and B.P. Koirala are also held in high esteem. The world has seen many leaders come and go, but these have stood the test of time for me. B.P. Koirala is the only true leader from Nepal.

Gandhi stands tall amongst all world leaders. His philosophy and teachings have resonated around the world as a leader of non violence, spiritual living, and independence. What Gandhi did to the upliftment of Harijans in India, Abraham Lincoln did to the liberation of African American slaves in America. Today our violence-prone world with wars, terrorism, and genocide happening around the globe, needs another Gandhi to show us the way with peace marches and prayers. Nepali scholar Pandey said "I have sometimes wondered what would Gandhi say, if he were here today amongst us. What would he have said about the war? What would he say to all the atrocities, killings, and break down of law and order?

Nepal today desperately needs a Mahatma Gandhi to get out of the political turmoil and anarchic situation. At least he would have stood up to speak the truth and lead the people, to an understanding, reconciliations and establish permanent peace. He would certainly have supported the ideas of democracy, freedoms, and peoples representations. Gandhi ji would see to it that no dalit, janjati, woman, madhesi, pahadi would be left out of the governing body.

Pandey further added "He would have asked the people with his satyagraha, long marches, ahimsa, non cooperation and prayer meetings to come to terms with the truth and peace. Mahatma in his own shrewd and cunning ways, would have first demanded that the Maoists first surrender all arms, and renounce all forms of violence before being accepted into the government and mainstream as a political party. The sad reality is that today Nepalis have forgotten Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi ji would plead with all Nepalis to preserve their self respect, identity, and work towards Swaraj. Gandhi ji would have reminded all Nepalis that we are all fortunate to have been born in the land of peace. Mahatma Gandhi ji's teachings of self rule and philosophy of reconciliation is what Nepal needs today, to get out of the quagmire we are in.

Nepali journalist and story writer Kamala Sarup specializes in in-depth reporting and writing on peace, anti-war, women, terrorism, democracy, and development. Some of her publications are: Women's Empowerment in South Asia, Nepal (booklets); Prevention of Trafficking in Women Through Media, (book); Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in Women for Media Activism (media research). She has also written two collections of stories.