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A lot of people, some that I know, several that I do not know personally, have tried to categorize my involvement in the Nepal democracy movement. He has a blog, and he is essentially a journalist, the saying goes. I do more than blog, and I have a healthy respect for journalists. But my work is not journalism, it is political work. This is politics at the speed of thought that new technology makes possible.

I am constantly analyzing the political developments, constantly trying to shape the political debate, constantly offering strategies to the democratic camp to which I belong, constantly trying to offer face saving options to the other two camps. And I do a lot of work offline as well.

The internet is a sphere where the technology has gone ahead of the social progress in many cases. People use it every day and still not get the essence of it. It is because of the internet that the geographical distance between Nepal and the US is largely erased. You get news in real time. You see photos, you see video clips. It is almost as good as being there.

Some say, go back to Nepal. I don't have to go back and forth anywhere. All I have to do is go online. The internet quickens the pace of politics. Feel your heart beat.

I talk to many of the top leaders in the seven party alliance. That is political work. I don't overdo it because it has been my attempt to be respectful. They are the leaders of the democratic camp, it is not me or anyone else in the US. And much of where they stand is often publicly available: they make news. So I don't talk to them for the sake of it, or to be able to boast later on, I talked to so and so. I pick up the phone to clarify specific matters, with very specific questions.

My blog gets read. It is more like one of those Wall Street newsletters than a magazine. A lot of key people read it. I know for sure Madhav Nepal does.

I could collect 200 people in a room and talk to them for a half hour. Or 200 people could read the same stuff in about five minutes in the comfort of their homes. To some people the online option is not real enough. To me, it is very real. My blog is like me addressing Nepalis all across America, all across the world.

The seven party leaders appreciate my work more than anyone else, more than anyone in the diaspora, that's for sure. They are professionals, so am I. They feel that.

Part timers sometimes overestimate their grasp of politics. They do important work, but they do not appreciate the full thrust of what it takes to do political work full time. Politics is more complicated than chemistry. Politics sure is more than common sense.

Chances are you are someone who can upload Windows onto a computer if given the CD. Me? I write the code for Windows. That is the difference between a part timer and a full timer, a hobbyist and a professional. That is the difference between someone who might be doing this on the side and someone for whom this is a serious career move.

I have not taken membership of any Nepali social organization so far. I intend to take a simple membership of ANTA, but that's about it. These organizations are important, but these are not hard core political enough for me.

Individuals and groups are doing what they are doing. They are contributing. And I appreciate their work. But I don't feel the urge to duplicate. Most of what these organizations do is event planning. That is not exactly my forte. But we are all part of the same political conversation.

The internet is the reason why noone can prevent my political work. Pahadi prejudice is real, but it does not have the power to get in my way. The internet is the reason why. When I see the prejudice, it is more exotic than irritating to me. And if I take offense it is for the 13 million Madhesis in Nepal rather than the 130 or so that might be in America.

There is the Janakpur identity. The ANTA is dominated by Janakpur folks. Then there is the Madhesi identity. Then the Nepali identity. Then the Desi identity. All Nepalis are Desi, like blacks are black, and Hispanics are Hispanic, despite Bahun subscriptions to anti-black stereotypes. Identities have to be claimed, they have to be actively forged. Nepali empowerment in the US has got to happen through the Desi identity. There is no escaping that basic fact.

Recently I have been working to take this blog to another level altogether. For almost eight months now, I have been doing the Nepal work full time. I did not plan it that way. Actually I planned it to not be that way. But I have not been able to help it. I got sucked in. So basically I have been eating into my savings.

Now I am thinking, why not make some money doing it?

So I compiled a mailing list that is 2,000 strong now. It should be ready to go in a few days. If 2,000 people were to each click on one ad a week at my blog - right click and open up in a different tab/window - and each ad paid me 10 cents, you are looking at $200 a week. That pays all my bills, and then I could really afford to do it full time. And I expect that mailing list to grow over time. Anyone may sign up for it at the bottom of the blog itself.

I am also working to launch an online talk show through Google Video, pay per view.

And gradually I hope to replicate the whole idea for my America blog.

So there you go. This is political work, and it is professional. It is now official.

Visitors

28 January07:32ONPT, Morocco 28 January07:58Communications and communicate, Nepal 28 January08:44BBeyond, Netherlands, The 28 January10:01NTL Internet, Birmingham, United Kingdom 28 January12:35Level 3 Communications, Washington, D.C., United States
In The News

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Is the BJP now toeing the ‘Communist China’ line on Nepal? Tehelka (subscription)
Nepal-born Bollywood star's support for king spurs protests CNN International
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EU voices deep concern over worsening crisis in Nepal Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Chairman Mao is alive and living in Nepal National Post, Canada
Manisha Koirala faces protest in Nepal Apun Ka Choice, CA
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Nepal Situation Worsening Amid Heightening Hostility OhmyNews International, South Korea