For Those Who 'Pretend-To-Be or 'Not-To-Be' !

Bhaktaram was exhausted from the whole day walk & ride of his daily schedules and this Friday was bit different. As soon as he entered the doorstep, he told his mom that he would eat his dinner himself after the light came and laid himself lying on the bed in the pitch-black dark room. This habit of sitting quiet or lying in the dark in his own isolation was quite old since one of his good friends advised. In those school days his friend advised him that if an individual can think and analyze for 30 minutes over his whole day activities and draw a conclusion whether it was a good day or a bad one, then the chances are very high for that person to achieve quicker success in life. Since then, he made this 'good habit' of contemplating over almost every bits and pieces of events of the day, imaginary thoughts and draw some philosophical conclusion. Lucky him ! the power cut this evening was available for bit longer hours than yesterday to think, memorize, analyze and summarize the moral of the story of that day. However, on the other hand, it confused him sometimes whether this habit was leading him towards the success or frustration; God knows or himself... But, he knew that he din't have to pay anything to memorize the daily activities.

It was almost 6 am and was getting late for his morning shift college. He did not want to miss his first period  since it was his favorite subject 'Finance' taught by his favorite teacher Mr. Regmi. His day job starting from 10:00 am would hardly allow him to take 3 periods in the college since he had to manage the time to sign in before 9:45 am in a private boarding school. On a bicycle he bought after 6 months saving, he was riding through the misty road in the dusky-dawn to college that was in distance of 3.5 km from home. He was paddling as quickly as possible so that he could enter the class room before the lecture would satire him as a 'Tourist'.

The morning time these days in winter around the village had added two extra reasons to be more enjoyable and walkable for the well-prospered-cum-'Bhunde' people and the youngsters. The first was; newly constructed large cemented bridge near the high way river and the black top pitched-road in the village which allowed people to walk on the pitch road without stumbling on stones and eventually do some push-ups and stretching those funky-bums-and-thighs. The second reason of this morning-jogging-trend was for the youngsters that gave them one more attraction of dating for couples, moving to the corners of bush around the bridge, temple and the primary school nearby. Some people in their late forties had even more exciting reason of waking up early with the juvenile-vibes in the heart and walking down the road to get rid of their wrinkled-wives and talk freely with their mobile-made girl friends on a mobile phone gifted by their son  in western countries and the middle east. One of them was, 'Bohora Uncle' that Bhaktaram used to see almost every morning in his way to college. The plugged-in-man in his slow pace, talking as softly as possible, greening with abrupt giggling and blushing the upper chicks at times, had better life then he ever had before in his peasant life. He educated his eldest son up to 12th standard and sent to Korea at his early twenties by selling a piece of land. Now, his eldest son, after 8 years, has made enough money to educate his brothers and even sent one to America and younger one to Australia. This morning, the power cut had its morning shift turn until 10:00 am and the road was even darker and mistier than yesterdays.

''What the hell ! Bloody blind ! Oh my legs !... Listen, I will call back in a while, somebody banged his bicycle on my body!'' The uncle suddenly shouted loudly.

Bhaktaram, unknowingly felt a smile in his lips in his dark room by remembering the painful and scary expression of the same old man he hit with his bicycle. Though he was riding very carefully, it really was hard to ride without using the pre-caution of some sort which made him give a "trriing-trriing trriing-trriing" at all times from his handled-bell ring. Unfortunately, the old man this morning had plugged his both ears and was unable to hear or listen other than the voice coming from other end of his smart phone.

Oh Uncle ! I am sorry, I am really sorry... I din't see you coming and I din't see the road... But, why din't you hear the bell ring ? Surprisingly, Uncle was more tensed for the disrupted conversation with his girlfriend rather than the slow-paced bicycle accident which din't injure him physically rather it was just an instant fear of his aging psychology.

''It's okay Bhakte. I was on a 'muubile-talk' and I had my ears shut." Old man showed his consideration.

'Who were you talking with Uncle?' Bhakte tried to sound friendly with the lover boy!

"None...no one! I I was just talking to the tractor owner if he could come to plough my field" Man of forties completely twisted and continued, "But, why don't you listen to my advise and move away from this country son ! You are educated, smart and your 'Eenglees' is also so good. Why don't you talk with my son and tell him to help you. He is even your best friend and you know, he always asks about you !

Bohora uncle for quite a while, was trying to convince Bhaktaram to give a try for USA visa and was even lobbying to Bhaktaram's father to persuade him. But, Bhaktaram had his own reason of not trying to obtain any visa and move away.

'I know uncle. Baalkrishna was also telling me the same thing yesterday when he called me. But, he knows well about me that I am not willing to go to any country. 'I would rather prefer to live in my own country and look after my parents. You know that Dad has got asthma and Mom keeps suffering her knees-pain at times. Why would I need to go to America now ? I am happy here and one day you will see that I will become a well known person."

After listening Bhaktaram, uncle would easily feel the reality and ask him just an one-liner question, "Are you really happy in this country Bhakte ?" In the dark room, Bhaktaram suddenly felt his eyes jumping down towards his folded-knees in the bed by remembering the question of his best friend's father this morning.

Mr. Regmi asked him a mockery question as soon as he entered the class room five minutes late, "Bhaktaram, do you think the internal tourists will increase in 2011 which is going to be celebrated by Nepal as a Tourism year?" He knew that Mr. Regmi's was not expecting any answer of actual assumptions with relative reasons regarding Tourism year but it was just a satire of his late entry.

'No Sir'. He thought he should answer him in the same way this morning, "If the hosts will not change the behavior towards the Tourists, their reasons of visit and stop showing useless concern, then the tourist will never increase in any year." Bhaktaram din't care whether the whole class got the meaning of that short, yet meaningful, conversation or not but he thought he needed to answer accordingly that gave him a compliment from his friend, Anuradha, who smiled and whispered back, 'Good one yar'. In return, he just gave a smile and opened his bag.

'Where are the guys ?' Bhaktaram Whispered Anuradha after opening his bag.

'They are in Canteen. Subodh also got visa for Australia yesterday and throwing the Party in the canteen of Baaje. He told me to wait until you come. Let's go now'. Anuradha hinted her willingness to join the party instantly.

'I am fine. You can go if you wish.' Bhaktaram tried to pretend.

'You won't understand anything about today's class. It's Micro finance and guys are already in the party. So, let's go.' She almost told him the decision.

He knew that there is no more way to keep pretending. Moreover, he had already missed his daily diet of smoke and tea before he entered the classroom caused by the accident.

'You know, I am also going to get visa decision by the evening today. Why don't you think about it positively. I had got the offline message of Baalkrishna from US yesterday that he was trying his best to find the scholarship for you. Why don't you send those scanned documents to him ?' Anuradha was almost pissed off by convincing him to try abroad study. But, Bhaktaram had always same reason to tell that 'he had his own reason.'

'I am not going to make my father sell the land he accumulated by his toil and enjoy my personal happiness. I know that I also can go to abroad and prosper myself, but I am not unknown that my parents need me.' He replied.

'Come on Bhakta. Don't try to overshadow your personal reason in the name of your parents' need. Your Dad is not a serious asthma patient. He can still work in garden and allotment on his own and Mom has knees-pain once in a blue moon.' Anuradha showed her frustration and continued "Moreover, there is your cousin at your home who can take care them very well in your absence too. The fact is that, you are still angry with Baalkrishna for the reason that he blamed your definition of patriotism is classic !! The other  reason is that he applied for visa without telling you. But, it's fine. He din't want to tell you because you would not let him do that if he told you. So, why don't you just try an understand positively and send him the documents for your scholarship ? ' They reached canteen before the conversation reached conclusion.

"Hey...there you go !!! My dear 'Bee' is here', Subodh greeted him with friendly love.

'Congratulation Subodh. I am really happy for you yar. ' Bhakta responded in a same way.

'Thanks Bhakta. Let's ignite the fags. 'Baaje, Surya Churot dinu chaar wota. Ani daami Chiya.'

'Khurukka tyo beer ko can bag maa raakh paila ani chiya dinchhu' Baaje demanded peace on the boys' early morning jamming mood! 

In the dark room tonight, Bhakta really was thinking and sinking in the whole circumstances of his thought. He was not able to decide whether he should try Abroad or not. He was not able to believe that it will be a right decision if he will go to USA by selling a piece of land. But, he also knew that it would make no difference for his parents and specially his Dad who had accumulated enough fixed assets. A piece of land for his only Son's interest would mean nothing to his Dad. But, Mom will surely be a saddest creature in the world since he was a beloved and pampered kiddo of hers. The mercury-light of his watch was flashing  green and showing the time almost 10:00 pm. He picked up the mobile phone, pressed the unlock button. Then he opened the grid view menu and pressed the inbox of his message. He kept scrolling down the messages until he got the last one sent by Baalkrishna before he flew to America that read,

"Dear Kale, jaadai chhu... Tara Man khusi chhaina... Khusi hos pani kasari, jaba ki ma pailo patak katai jaadai chhu Ta binaa-ekdum Eklai..... Aba cycle liyera ghumdai hidne, dui-choti farkera herne keti le aafai lai mann paraako daabi garne, filter churot napaayera Deuraali Churot mai kaam chalaauune ani Vok laako tod maa paani sanga Paauroti khaane din haru yaad mai simit hunchha bujis.....Mero flight ko time huna laagyo yar...I will continue this message via email as soon as I land in US hai...Take Care.....

Bhakta sank into nostalgia and felt immense pleasure to remember all those bygone days they enjoyed together.... He remembered the incidence when he had broken the hand of one 'Tharu Boy' for the reason of beating his best friend. They were roaming around the corners of villages to have secured place to smoke and a gang of Tharu guys had interrupted their plan.

In the dark room, he remembered how Subodh's treat of visa made him late to reach the school. He got rid from the boys in very strict condition that he would join the party at sharp 3 pm this afternoon and drink the whole glass of beer at one sip!

He remembered the Principal of the school giving him a twisted-word this afternoon in the classroom, ' "Bhaktaram Ji, k ko bhakti maa hunuhunchha aajkal?"

'Shiva Bhakti maa sir'. He answered with ample sense of humor.

'Any problem sir ?' Principal showed the formality.

'Advise me honestly sir. Do you think, it will be right decision to go to abroad and leave the country ?' He was genuinely seeking advise because he wanted to hear the view from his principal who was politically leftist.

'Bhakta Sir, going abroad is not leaving your country. It means different if you look at it differently. Instead, not coming back to the country can be an example of not showing the love to your country which still doesn't mean that you are not patriotic to your country. It doesn't matter if you go, come back and bring the change by bringing change in yourself.' Principal got nice subject to give lecture today!

'Thank you sir. ' He was satisfied with the answer.

Then the rest of the day, he had enjoyed Subodh's party...drank enough beer and missed Baalkrishna, his best friend whom he also called 'Baal' with love.

It was only few minutes left to be 10:00 pm... He suddenly wanted to re-read the email of his best friend again, which Baal sent him as soon as he reached USA. He connected internet on his mobile phone and open the email box now.

'Dear Kaale, Ma USA aaipuge....Room maa Nepali keta haru pani raichha tanna.... Tara ma chai aafnai room maa eklai basi raachhu... just connected the internet and fired a first smoke without you..... This stick  of fag is definitely feeling lonely too.....Anyway, let me continue what I wanted to tell you before...

"Taile vaneko hoina yo jindagi yaadai-yaad ko poko ho jun haami aaja varchhau ani budeshkaal maa kunai rukh-muni basera hukka or chilim taandai tehi poko kholdai ramai rahanchau !!! Feri kina, euta Naya yaad ani naya anubhav sangaalna pachhi hatne ? K jaruri chha ghar-pariwar ko reason dina ? Ghar ko manchhe haru ta sabai le aafno chhora-chhori le naya anubhav, gyaan ra seep sikera kehi naya garna sakun vanne chahaanchhan ni... Patriotism ko naam maa Bidesh jaana hunna vanne bahaana thhik ho ta ? Saala, sab Neta haru Desh ko paisa barbaad garera 'Bidesh' nai ta ghumchhan ! For different reasons of trainings, seminars....blaah blaah blaah... Feri ta haami bidesh jaana laageko Masti garna maatra ta hoina ni Kale ! We just go to abroad to see the system , learn new things, come back to our own country and try to implement things in a better way so that we could be the reason of some change around our own circumstances..... You can't, at least, trust the present political situation and the corrupted leaders to bring change at your home Man ! Come'n be positive. I know you are sad with me...but you know the reason. Now, don't just get stuck in confusion...I need you now....You need me now.... and our Country will need both of us one day when we have something to contribute to our Nation... What the F*** will you offer your country when you are naked!!!....Patriotism doesn't mean to contribute the frustration and it absolutely doesn't mean to becoming a victim of corrupted politics..... More precisely, Take it this way : If you come now, then someone will go back to the country from here...and When it will be our time to go back to the country, then may be some one else will be coming to the abroad... But, keep in mind that everybody loves his/her country and everyone has to go back regardless of anything...Simple truth is that we can never be like someone who is not a Nepali... So, we can never stop being Nepali regardless of whatever status you obtain here... Because our identity is Nepali my dear Kale...

Take Care and I hope you will think about it. Please convey my Love and Regards to Canteen ko Baaje, Mandir ko Jogi-Buda and his wife, Bhatti ko Saailee Vauju and our Finance Lecture... He really was true when he said that the 'Financial Freedom of an Individual' is very important.

The light came exactly at 10:00 pm... At least, there is Timing system of Electricity in the country which is systematic !

Bhaktaram switched on the computer and checked if all the scanned documents were still saved in the personal folder in E-drive of his computer. He saw them all saved.

His Mom brought a glass of milk for him and was still insisting to eat something before he slept...He couldn't speak anything...He just nodded his head and kept on watching at his mom imagining, 'Who might be there to 'insist' his best friend 'Baalkrishna' to eat something before he slept!!!

The radio in the father's room was playing a lovely song....'Chhadera kaam saara, ek kaam rojji rahechhu...Yo desh maa Ma euta..aa.a.aa...Maanis khoji rahechhu''.....lallalalallaallaaa...

The needle sticks of the watch are smiling as the Nepali Time on the Watch is now 10:10 pm... and Bhakte suddenly felt an emotional urgency within himself to hug his mom tight. Who knows he might miss his mom s 

“Page Three of GPK”

Today is the 3rd day of lost-day in Nepali Political Scenarios. Lost on the basis of verbal grief spoken by pivotal political leaders and written by separated forums. Scenarios have categories and the categories have political parties. Not even the sentiment has consoled cool till today and has started the quarrels of leader-humans. Just like the way the dogs bark for bones. Government-greedy & scared of possible disappearance from political ground, the UML party has announced an official press release with the calling to bring peace process into an end. The President of the party himself also opened his itching mouth for the reset of High Level of Political Mechanism. The Congress, sounding emotionally possessive, is surmising the sole right of directing same peace process into an end again. Where as the Vice-President of Maoist has also not left a chance of his speech right. But, sounding little bit different, has the politician claimed his part upon the same fight of grabbing a credit from people to renew the political image. And my surprise about the nature of human being has again irritated me tonight. Suddenly felt wondering how had that Butcher I met on the day of GP Koirala’s death, been chopping the neck of those goats for the whole day in his slaughter house. But, I am sure whatever had been doing must have been doing with an exact human nature of silence at the time of work!

Is it the time to act in a way one should act as a politician? Is it not the religion of the leaders to act on the problem with a hint of solution? Why is an announcement of a press release with the same bloody stinking slogan? What’s so special in that calling notice right after the pure commitment in front of the burning senior? Can it be something what it is supposed to be so? With the sense of guilt or correction, whatsoever, does that really contain the address on an issue? Well, I felt not, not and just not like that as a people if it is for the people. Rather, I felt it is the time to act as a politician with service-motive-religion and appeal to take a deserving space for all the larger and smaller parties in the government. Rather, I felt that, doing so would let the oppositions feel that the greed is not something their concern is but the concern is an initiation of a solution and fulfillment of the commitment made in front of the holy graveyard at Pashupatinath . And it is we, the people, who would return their sacrifice with trust and votes as a credit again. What the F..u.. I mean fraustration... At the same time something hit my mind again, “probably that guy was in his professional ethics while chopping the meat into medium sizes according to the customer’s demand!’ I remembered the same butcher.

The spokesman of the Congress Party has said, “It is none other than congress who only can lead the Mechanism as a mediator of present political misunderstandings. Hence, it has to be the Vice President of Congress or whosoever from congress to lead the high level of political mechanism for the sole purpose of peace”. This, however, has also not given a positive hint of urged mentality & natural responsibility for the solution on the deteriorating clash. What should have been spoken by the leader at this juncture of time? Was that what they really meant in the commitment made in the chariot of that dead body? Saying, I love my father and I love my mother’s husband is different. How one speaks shows what he has in his mental intention and the background. And whatever has been announced by Congress on the third day of their Leader’s death shows an absolute political color of these 3G politicians. They should have said that let’s sit together and decide who deserves what in this critical moment. Let’s work with an ethic in the same way we begged from the people mugging up our slogans. Let’s let the people feel like a ‘citizen’ now. Don’t they have this much of knowledge to think that the moment is not to claim the position in anyway rather it is the time to announce a polite appeal that would abide all in a same circle. Why is it so difficult for them to accept their real ground? The congress party should understand if, announcing such statement will give other parties to feel the flexible mindset on the issue or not. What they were supposed to do was just to chop the meat into pieces according to the customer’s demand like a butcher does. It’s we, the people again, who are their customers and we demand a solution. Who would want to buy the long-frozen meat from the dirty slaughter house while the butcher has to serve the freshness?

The vice president of Maoist spoke on the same day for the same issue of leading the mechanism into their direction. But, whatever he spoke on the issue had little bit more flexibility than others did. He said, “We had offered GP Koirala to become a coordinator of mechanism because he was more experienced and respected as a leader of Nepali political history. However, it was not our concern that be belonged to congress party. At this point of time, we all should discuss and come into a conclusion for the best way out on the problem rather than claiming the position right away.” This statement has at least some sense of positive mindset or willingness and tribute to the respected politician of the country. Yes, Maoist had made a mistake while being in the government by getting out from the government themselves because of their own inexperienced and arrogant steps. But, should we not accept that they are the largest party of the country? Is it not the responsibility of even congress to accept that Maoists, now, have become far more flexible as a political party than just a jungle rebel? While, something they wanted about the Army General did not happen then they had shown the morality by resigning from the government. Has any Prime Minister shown that decency in the political history of Nepal by resigning from the government for such reasons of morality before? Let’s not talk about the prime minister and just take an example of the ministers. Has any minister felt guilty and ashamed of his/her deed and shunned the ministerial position? No way! At least, I don’t remember anyone doing so individually on the moral ground. Not all the butchers can feel vice versa on the scapegoats. Some may, also, feel that there might be somebody else in the world around to slaughter them back.

It is saddening and shameful to write these realities just on the 3rd day of GPK’s death because we, the people, are expecting the natural nexus in between the words & actions of the politicians. People sometimes make a big mistake by calling some politicians as the Leaders which is not that acceptable. If GPK was a leader for those politicians then let people see the learning of culture, service and sacrifice and feel that in the practice. Then only, it is going to be the holy tribute for the leader. Don’t talk about demand, don’t talk about the arrogance and don’t come up with the self-centered political logics for the good of one party only. Talk about the solution, bring the options and conclude by patting each others with a warning glance as a chance given & chance taken. Then only the roaming soul of GPK will get rid in a real meaning. Then only can people get a chance to read and write about his pure emancipation on the Page Three onwards.

Bishnu Puri

Timely Demise of GP Koirala:

Media kept on screaming an electronic mourning on the common topic of the day; an untimely Demise of GP Koirala. Right after the official declaration of death of NC’s President, people had started assuming on the pros & cons on that departed soul. “Girija Prasad Koirala had an education of higher secondary school level” a fresher-sounding news reader was pronouncing the statement with almost four breaks in a sentence. “And respected leader of the country had become the prime minister of Nepal for five times”. The news reader sounded more confident now. The mobile beeped with a sound of a sms that wrote the same information of GP’s death and capitalized font of “Come home soon” by my wife. As I started wearing the shoes in a room of my photo journalist friend, the thirteen-to-be-hundred leader’s recorded interview regarding the subject of parliament dismissal by then king was also given on the TV screen and he was proudly going through the nostalgia of his life in prison for three decades. ‘I am already in my eighties now and I have spent more than 30 years in jail. So there is nothing I have to be scared with the King or any of his monarchial steps.” The Asian level leader spoke freely (Probably the interview was recorded after the declaration of Republic Nepal). And on a way home to Kalanki in the evening I braked my bike to buy some vegetables where I heard a local butcher speaking without regression upon the same Man’s death nearby the shop, “The first hijacker of the Country died today.” Chopping the goat’s neck into pieces as per customer’s demand he added, ‘Who is going to hijack next?’ Someone answered from the mass, ‘India’. Butcher stopped his weapon from the goat’s neck and encountered as if his ego was hurt, ‘No. That’s not possible anymore.’

As per the schedules went electricity off at 6 pm for another 6 hours. I had no option than getting into the kitchen and start cooking since it was Saturday and my wife had already declared my off-days’ cooking turn. It hit 9:00 pm while rested in the bed however I couldn’t want to sleep right away. Or may be my mind was not letting my heart to rest the same way I daily used to! I knew it why were I being sleepless when those strange sentences I heard, watched and listened in the whole day stroke my mind again.

Most of us, those who know Nepali politics, generally know about the family background of Girija Prasad Koirala. He was the youngest out of three sons of his parents. Most of the leaders for the whole day kept on commenting upon the bygone days of the leader, their relation with him, their first meeting and the contribution made to the country on different audible and visible Medias. The whole country went into the shock and I was not still able to sleep. Was I shocked too? Well, I am really not sure. What shows that you are grieved or what shows you are not ? Is it a time to grieve or remember his good deeds and wish the same respected-demise ?Anyway, it depends upon an individual. I was born Congress because when I heard the words like ‘Nridaliya’ & ‘Bahudaliya’ in 2046, I was playing ‘Guchchaa’ (the small balls!) in a temple of the village along with my other friends. The only thing I still remember is that ‘I am a son of a Congress father so I have to run to save myself from the police since they are searching only congress”, according to the Communist friends of mine. Then after few days I heard about the declaration of democracy in the Country. After that whatever I have heard has always been a less important than what I have faced & seen and what I have experienced & felt. That was, may be, because I had started understanding the effect of politics in my life as a student, as a people, as a voter, as a consumer and as a watcher after Fifties. In the whole phases of those experiences, unfortunately, I could never feel like a citizen.

Sometimes other politicians might feel immensely jealous with him and whisper within, "How can one become a prime minister for five times?" What should be the time span (tenure??) as an elected primer minister of a country? None of my business however, in the USA it is four years at a time and a qualified president can nominate himself twice in his life time as I read in the course study of my B.A. politics. But, our Great Leader had become a prime minister of the country for five times. Not less than Amazing!!! And that fresh news reader was repeating the ready-made news upon his qualification? 'He was educated up to the higher secondary level in India". Does it really match in a natural term? Question may arise ! 'Well, the sequence would have, of course, matched if the series of developmental activities or examples were standing on the same row", one may easily raise a doubt from that point of view. But, how to find that natural nexus in between whatever he was and whatever he had become? Was he a politician or a leader? Why was that news reader sounding so confident while stating those sentences ?Whatever he did for the country has been clear like a day, however if anyone would not feel deeply grieved upon him then we should not comment much on that subject! Not everyone gets same opportunity in the same way the history of country had laid a great responsibility in his feet. As a qualified leader he could have done more than just becoming a prime minister for five times. OK, let him be so for ten times or even more but what have those people felt or how have they relieved from his ruling would always be more important than his ruling times. Were all the rulers after 2046 along with king responsible in Creating a situation where Maoists were born against the people’s will, creating a situation where Maoists were fought against the people’s will and creating a situation where Maoists were brought for the people’s will? Maoists were born, fought and brought in the country!! Unfortunately these happenings have whispered thorough the same breeze. And if so, what kind of contribution was that? Well, CPN UML is also equally important for whatever went wrong since then till now as an anti-ruling party. But, let’s not talk about an existence of an existence less and shameless naked party at the moment since the moment is on Mourning. So, Mr. GP Koirala, thinking deeply, was a leader or just a politician ? His brother BP Koirala had once mocked him as a 'Habaldaar' without much knowledge of diplomacy. He was severely criticized and even thrown the stones & brick upon for the statement of his speech, ‘this is the victory of all the people, king and even his followers’ after the rise of democracy in 2046 in Tundhikhel, Kathmandu. But, his contribution in the national politics has always played a role in culmination. No worry if anybody would say, 'He was a politician acting like a leader by the grace of his brother BP Koirala.' But it is also truth that the entire political life of Girija Prasad koirala could have been written by the golden scripts in history, in his party and in the Country forever if he had used his opportunity of a political ground for the good of different parties rather than his own party, for brothers rather than a brother, for the daughters rather than a daughter and for the people rather than his pupil. So, his political career remained not much different than a doctor’s son or brother selling drugs in his own pharmacy...uuufffs..Why am I not being able to sleep!! I turned my side and found my student-turned-wife sleeping that made me think of trying once again to sleep but couldn’t do so after couple of minutes’ try.

Then another sentence of the day stroke my mind, “The first Hijacker of the Country”. I am not sure the if the butcher was being sarcastic enough with his sentence in a metaphoric term (who knows!) or he was referring the plane hijack by GP Koirala may be. His contribution in the defeat of Rana Regime from the country has also been appreciated by the people who know him. It was, surely, a gut of a Man to fight as a frontier with the trained armies of Rana that time. He has mentioned in one of his TV interviews that he has shot the gun for twice in his life time himself. That was really a matter of bravery in the rise of Monarchy and the set of Rana regime.

But, why did that butcher surmising with his answer that ‘India is no more going to be the next hijacker?’ Did he know that India was directly playing the role in the Nepalese politics? Or was he one of a stone thrower in the Assembly Speech of 2046 by GP Koirala? I sensed a smile in my lips on the butcher’s resemblance of my imagination. Well, a 76 years’ old grand father from Myagdi District after being beaten to death by Nepal armies without reason in 2057 had said that, ‘All the politicians are butchers but not all the butchers are politicians.’ I had a sense of doubt on that butcher and thought, may be he was also an active politician of his time. Or if not, at least he must have been a frontier of 2046 rebel. May be in the same way we were almost shot to death in a room of Kirtipur while being an active rebel in 2062/63. Anyway, I may not be able to think more about who is going to be the ‘Second Hijacker of the Country’ or why ‘India is not going to be so anymore’ because it is something called ‘Internal’ according to the analyst of politics and we are merely the 'people’. But, I’ll surely love another co-incidence with the same butcher again and ask why does he think so confidently upon the days to come !! Hence, it is a humanly truth and a mystery that there remains no way than accepting after a human born or after a human dies. Without a definite reason born a human being and because of many reasons dies a same human being. Out of many physical reasons, his habit of chain smoking was an important reason according to the doctor. So, may be it was a ‘Timely Demise’ after whatever contribution he was doomed to offer for the country. Lastly but Heartily, “May the departed Soul of GP Koirala rest Peace in Heaven.”

Bishnu Puri