Uttar Ram Tamata

..... posted at this SEBS thread ......

When I read the name in the news, I did not for one moment doubt. Of course, this is Uttar.

First, let me get the politics out. My thoughts I have published publicly and are here: http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com/

The political system/arrangement is wrong, et al. But that aside.

(1)My first reaction was, I did not know Uttar was a "Dalit." I guess I am not very knowledgeable with Pahadi last names. He is a high school classmate. He was House Captain in Pumori, a few years after Dipendra was. He was "loud" and articulate. He acted in a play I authored and directed and also acted in towards the end of Class 10: Euta Euta Bhabishya Ko Khoj. I once saved him from drowning. Literally. What he might not have exhibited in terms of stellar academic records (a lot of "famous" people fall in that category), he more than showed in his post-BNKS social service career. It is almost like two Uttars. The guy at BNKS, and the post-BNKS person.

(2)He has proven leadership skills. And I think he has done great work in the social service sector. It is entrepreneurial to be able to raise funds from the global arena to put to service to the downtrodden in the Nepali context. His work is commendable. Not many from his school background have done what he has. A lot of us who are abroad and have not been able to directly contribute speak well of those who are on the ground where the tire meets the road. Commendable.

(3)I also learned in the news item that he leads a Dalit organization that has branches in 68 districts. I think that is just awesome.

(4)I strongly disagree with the 2/1 move. Obviously he agrees with it, or he would not have become part of it. He has the qualifications and the background. A Dalit with leadership skills, he could have become Minister and beyond (and still can down the line) in a democratic set-up. I hope he does.

(5)It is also possible for him to treat his job as purely an administrative challenge. I hope he does not end up soiling his "resume." People in his post in the past are known to have lead gross human rights violations. If he does that, he hurts himself politically down the line. Which will be a tragedy.

(6) If he can emerge as a person who took a challenge that was offered at a difficult time for the country, he could very well have a bright future once the democratic setup resumes. I can see Paras' fingerprints all over the place in Uttar's nomination, but then social networking is something practiced among all circles, among democrats, among Maoists, as well among the Monarchists. Just that there is not enough cross-pollination.

(7)He has abilities. He is not going to be a token Dalit. He is an able person who happens to be a Dalit. That combination can turbo-charge a career.

(8)It can't be a batch thing, really. Dinesh Prasain from the same batch. The guy got beat up by the army in early 2004. Paras from the same batch is Gyanendra's heir apparent. Some SEBSers are Maoists. SEBS is a Rainbow Coalition of its own.

I wish him all the best personally, but I hope this regime collapses a.s.a.p. But I have said plenty on that at the blog.

In The News

• Rescuing Nepal International Herald Tribune
• Top News ; Maoists drive away Indian survey team from Nepal: Keralanext
• Happiness is a habit in Nepal Malaysia Star, Malaysia
• Worldwide: Nepal celebrates its New Year with a foot in the past Telegraph.co.uk, UK
• In search of Eden Guardian, UK
• Complex Task Awaits New UN Rights Envoy Index
  
• GP Koirala A True Legend INSN
• Who Will Lead Us? Sarahana Shrestha, Samudaya
• King Of Fools Sarahana Shrestha, Samudaya
• Out With The Boring Old Men Sarahana Shrestha, Samudaya
• Nepal And Nepal Samudaya ..... Not much has changed since Feb 1st in the workings of both the army and the rebels. .... the Maoists’ ambushes and attacks have continued with occasional civilian deaths, their propaganda in abundance and their arms building still unfettered ...... the People’s Liberation Army here boasts of three well-armed battalions: 18th, 19th, and 35th ........ *In the People’s Liberation Army, 150 soldiers make a company, 3 companies make a battalion and 3 battalions make up a brigade. In the 18th Battalion, there is an STF [Special Task Force] or 150 soldiers....... On Feb. 13th this year, they ambushed an army patrol in which the only soldiers who escaped death were those who threw their weapons down to surrender. With the restrictions and threats that have been imposed on the media, this and other similar news from across the country have not made it to the mainstream media........ a recent survey conducted amongst over 1000 urban adolescents in 6 cities across Nepal revealed that 50.3% of them believe there are no good career opportunities available in the country right now .........a press release signed by Baburam later explained that there were a few ideological differences but that the state media had blown things out of proportions ....... “We saw RNA soldiers painting anti-Prachanda slogans on walls,” a journalist based in Eastern Nepal says under anonymity. “Then the next morning we were called for a press conference in the army barrack and told that there had been a split in the party. They cited those very slogans and other high level sources within the party as proof.” ....... the Maoists themselves claim to answer to one central command, visibly unclear about what the government had claimed and what the central command had disputed over. ....... an RNA soldier in Illam also abandoned his post and defected to the Maoists along with arms and ammunitions – and it has been said that this is not an isolated incident...... an impending violence that is yet to erupt across the country in the years to come ....... Nepal will remain two different countries within the geographical borders of one ....... a strong Maoist country where the party practises its government systems, enforces laws, conducts weddings, collects taxes and issues visas amongst other things. They continue to build an increasingly strong army and an even stronger ideological blindness.
• Nepal leaders face call for change Calcutta Telegraph, India ....Democracy became an emotional issue with us but remained institutionally weak.
• Nepal-Parties /WRD/ Islamic Republic News Agency
• Foes join hands against monarch Calcutta Telegraph
• Nepalese political leader seeks India's help for restoration of ... Newz.in
• Nepal Maoists 'kill 10 villagers' BBC News, UK
• Nepal Maoists derail Rites study The Statesman, India
• Seven Indians detained in Nepal for poaching Press Trust of India, India
• Personal Perspectives On Nepal Maoism INSN ......A crude distortion of the historical thought like Marxism is being invoked as a magic wand by an uneducated leaders of the Maoist party to bolster their cause. They see the world in black and white. Such a simplistic thinking is indication of the intellectual barrenness of the Nepali Maoists; they are totally bereft of critical thinking to discover the truth. The Maoist leadership is full of uncultured and uneducated philistines who believe, by foisting forcibly the communist tyranny, Nepal would enter into the golden age of the communist paradise.......... Much is made about Baburam’s success in the school leaving certificate (SLC) and other exams but he is particularly stupid, devoid of any genuine intellectual accomplishment. At best his ability is confined to writing trashy articles full of clichés and cryptic rigmaroles.......