Democracy For Nepal: beijing

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Friday, December 17, 2021

Delhi To Beijing Bullet Train (Or Hyperloop)

Train Distance from Beijing to Lhasa: 3,757 KM
Lhasa to Kathmandu Distance: 606 KM
Kathmandu to Birgunj air distance: 87 KM (Kathmandu Terai Fast Track in mind) make it 100 KM
Raxaul to Delhi train Distance: 1,230 KM

Hyperloop Top Speed: 760 MPH, round figure 1,000 KM per hour.

3,757 + 606 + 100 + 1,230 = 5,693 KM (a six hour journey on a Hyperloop)
Alternately, a Kathmandu to Delhi Hyperloop would be 1330 KM and not even one and a half hours. Make it two hours with all the plentiful stops along the way.

But this will depend on turning the Kathmandu-Birgunj corridor into a major knowledge economy hub that is open to citizens and non-citizens alike. The natural air-conditioning is a huge plus.

Buildig this Hyperloop is much, much cheaper than a China-India arms race. Turn the LAC into the final boundary and be done with it. Those are rocks and stones. Why fight over rocks and stones?

Reconstruction In The Aftermath Of The Nepal Earthquake
सम्पुर्ण देशको राजधानी वीरगंज हुनुपर्छ
Hipat Megacity
बाबुरामको प्राधिकरण को आईडिया
हिपत, काठमाण्डु
नेपाल राज्यको संविधान 2015

Saturday, March 25, 2017

प्रचंड को हृदयले पहाड़ी मधेसी समानता मान्दै मान्दैन

यो नेपालको इतिहासमा पहिलो होला। प्रधान मंत्री विदेश जाँदा उप प्रधान मंत्री लाई कायम मुकायम प्रधान मंत्री बनाउने संसदीय लोकतंत्र कै नजिर हो। तर नेपालको माटो सुहाउँदो संसदीय लोकतंत्र मा त्यो लागु हुँदैन। यो Like Father Like Son को अवस्था हो। देशमा बहुदल को पुनर्स्थापना भए पछि संसदमा कांग्रेस को बहुमत हुँदा हुँदै पनि गिरिजाले त्यस संसदीय दलको विश्वास गुमाए पछि विश्व को संसदीय लोकतंत्र को नजिर अनुसार त्यस संसदीय दल ले महेंद्र नारायण निधि लाई चुन्न पाउनु पर्ने थियो। मार्गरेट थ्याचर पछि जोन मेजर त्यसरी प्रधान मंत्री बनेका हुन। तर मधेसी प्रधान मंत्री बन्न बाट रोक्न गिरिजाले देशलाई व्यापक राजनीतिक अस्थिरता तर्फ धकेले। अहिले त्यसै निधि को छोरा को कायम मुकायम प्रधान मंत्री बन्ने अधिकार प्रचंड एक्लै ले ख़ोसेको अवस्था छ। यो नितांत एक व्यक्ति ले लिएको निर्णय हो। गिरिजा र प्रचंड एउटै डयांग का मुला। देश माथि गलत संविधान लादने काम मा सबैभन्दा निर्णायक भुमिका खेलेकै प्रचण्डले। ओली को पुच्छर बनेर। प्रचण्डको इमान साफ छैन। उ आफैले पहाड़ी मधेसी समानता मान्दैन। अरुलाई पहाड़ी मधेसी समानता मनाउने उसको प्रयास नै होइन।

निधि मधेसको मसीहा होइनन। नेपालमा मधेसीले समानता पाउनै सक्दैन भन्ने कुराको उदाहरण मात्र हुन। एउटा सानो उदाहरण। मधेसमा एउटा पीढ़ि छ जो काँग्रेस को पुच्छर समाति रहन चाहन्छ। टोकन मधेसी बन्नु मैं कल्याण देख्छ।

गृह मंत्री निधि ले सी के राउत लाई नेपालमा वाक स्वतंत्रता नरहेको प्रमाण को रूपम विश्व मंच मा राखिदिएका छन।

पहाड़ी मधेसी समानता नमान्ने ओली र एमाले मात्र होइन, काँग्रेस र माओवादी पनि हो, काँग्रेस भित्रको मधेसी पनि हो।

स्थानीय चुनाव केंद्र सरकारले गराउने प्रयास नेपालमा संघीयता माथिको अहिलेसम्मको सबैभन्दा घातक प्रहार हो। संघीयता मा स्थानीय चुनाव गराउने भनेको प्रदेश सरकार ले हो।

संघीयता बिना पहाड़ी मधेसी समानता संभव छैन र संघीयता पहाड़ी समुदाय ले मान्दैन। भने पछि मधेस अलग देशको एजेंडा को सबैभन्दा ठुलो पक्षधर त पहाड़ी समुदाय हो। संघीयता विरोधी भनेको मधेस अलग देश पक्षधर हो। किनभने मधेसी ले समानताभन्दा कम केही पनि मान्दैन।

भारत र चीन दुबै ले नेपाल एक देश रहेको हेर्न चाहेका छन। भने पछि दिल्ली र बेइजिंग दुबैले काठमाण्डु लाई पहाड़ी मधेसी समानता को पक्षमा प्रेशर दिनुपर्यो। दिएको देखिएन।

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

India's Opposition And Media: कुछ तो लोग कहेंगे, लोगों का काम है कहना

Losing the story in Nepal

“In this new world of transnational threats and the information age, it is not just whose army or muscle power wins, it’s whose story wins.” ..... This weekend’s events, with the temporary detention of 13 Seema Sashastra Bal personnel by Nepal’s Armed Police Force personnel and the Nepal government’s decision to take Indian channels off air, only drive the point home that Nepal is rejecting India’s power, both hard and soft. ..... The situation is made only more ridiculous by the decision of the Ministry of External Affairs this week to fly two batches of Indian journalists into Kathmandu to explain what the government calls the “Indian perspective”. Now reports indicate that the Nepal government is planning its own counter-propaganda offensive by taking Indian journalists to Madhes to see the effects of what Nepal calls a “blockade by India”. ....... officials in both Bhutan and Bangladesh say they are watching the situation closely, even as the SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreement awaits ratification. Sri Lanka’s closeness to the U.S. should send out alarm signs in Delhi as much as Beijing’s has in the past, however much the two sides claim to be on the same page.

I have been resigned to the fact that India is a democracy, and so the Indian political classes and the Indian media will take all possible sides in the ongoing conversation in India about Nepal and Madhesh. But it always amazes me how some sections of the Indian opposition and media fall for the line of the corrupt ruling elite in Kathmandu hook, line and sinker, an elite whose central organizing principle is Indophobia. The day they stop hating India, they become irrelevant, or so they think. This is not a playful situation. As a Madhesi who grew up in Nepal, I have not seen the kind of anti-black racism in the United States that can be compared to the anti-Madhesi racism in Nepal. Madhesis don't get hated for being Madhesi. Madhesis first get called out as Indians and then get hated, marginalized and subjugated. It is a well thought out structural subjugation. The entire state apparatus is involved.

I have the luxury to take sides in Indian politics. Modi and the BJP might be right on some issues, Nitish, Laloo and Rahul might carry the day on some other issues. No one can accuse me of being pro-apartheid if I take sides between Modi and Laloo. But Nepal is different. The Madhesis have been fighting what can, by all means, be called soft apartheid. They even get called "blackies." To the Madhesis India has been this sleeping giant. If India can't protect its own in a country that it has all along claimed to have excellent relations with, then what are the chances it might be able to project its power far and wide? The British have not completely left until the Madhesis of Nepal are liberated. Part of the Mughal Empire, the Madhesh was gifted to Kathmandu by the British.

Indian politicians and the Indian media need to stop pretending what is happening in Nepal is day to day politics. This is a moral fight. There is a right side and there is a wrong side. India's ruling alliance as well as the opposition needs to speak with one voice. The Indian media needs to wake up and see the black and white situation unfolding in Nepal. Blockade se pahle jo 50 Madhesi mare, wo kya Modi ke log the? Aap ko kya lagta hai? Sar par, sine pe goli lagi hai. South Africa mein 1980 mein aisa hota tha.

This Could Be A Gamechanger
The Indian Century Begins In Madhesh

And, by the way, the Cold War narrative that India and China are competing in Nepal is tired and untrue. China is not competing with India, at least not right now. China feels the Madhesi quest is justified and is doing its best to stay neutral. Both India and China have been acting magnanimous. Both have been at pains to get the message across to Kathmandu that all both want in Nepal is peace, stability and prosperity. No power, not India, not China, not America, not Europe, stands with the fascist people in power in Nepal right now. Nobody, except some members of the Indian chattering classes.

Why Nepal's New Constitution Is A Sham
Nepal Needs A Constitution
Nepal: Political Laboratory
HRW Report
Nepal's Decade Long Political Transition

Sunday, May 31, 2015

नेपाल लाई सिक्किम बनाउनु पर्छ

Towns of Sikkim, India Names in green are the district capitals. The red dot is the state capital, Gangtok. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sikkim at 40: Small state with surprising success

In the 40 years since Sikkim became India's 22nd state, the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom has been flying under the radar in accomplishing the near-impossible. ..... Its impressive record in literacy, poverty alleviation, sanitation and organic farming makes it nearly unparalleled not just in the region but in, perhaps, all of Asia. ...... With a population of just 6,10,000 Sikkim, the least populated state in India, has its per capita GDP growing in double digits since 2004-05 : similar-sized northeastern states barely registering 5% growth. ........ Sikkim slashed its poverty ratio by 22% to 51,000 (8.2%) in 2011-12 from 1.7 lakh (30.9%) in 2004-05. In 1994, it stood at 41%. The reduction catapulted Sikkim into the nation's top five states in battling poverty. Only Goa (5.1%), Kerala (7.1%) and Himachal (8.1%) fared better. ..... Sikkim's literacy rate shot to 82.2% from 68.8% in 2001, among the country's highest. Male literacy 86.6%, female literacy 66.4%. Its rural literacy rate of 79.8% surpassed the national rate of 68.9%. The state aims to make Sikkim India's second 100% literate state. ...... Sikkim's evolution into a fully organic state since embracing the mission in 2003 received a fillip from PM Narendra Modi earlier this year. Speaking at a reception by Indian expats in Germany, Modi waxed eloquent on huge advances made by Sikkim in organic farming. Of the state's 60,000 ha farmland, 40% is organic. ..... Sikkim was also declared to be the first state to achieve 100% sanitation coverage becoming completely free of public defecation on December 8, 2008, in a country where large parts of the population still defecate in the open.

A South Asian economic union has been my long declared goal.

किन? कृष्ण प्रसाद भट्टराई ले नेपाल लाई सिंगापुर बनाउनु पर्छ भन्न हुने मैले नेपाल लाई सिक्किम बनाउनु पर्छ भनेर भन्न नहुने?

Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Tibet Was An Independent Country For Most Of History

That is just a historical fact. For China to insist that the Dalai Lama say it ain't so is rubbish. Let's assume the Dalai Lama says what China wants him to say. Will that change history? Not at all. Tibet was an independent country for most of history. Nepali history books are full of references to Tibet. (Tibetan Empire)

What the Dalai Lama can say and has been saying is that he is not seeking independence for Tibet. He just wants to be able to visit. That is a fair, simple thing to ask for. Why can't a Tibetan visit Tibet?

Friday, April 10, 2015

Lhasa To Kathmandu In Six Hours

English: Mount Everest North Face as seen from the path to the base camp, Tibet. Español: Cara norte del Monte Everest vista desde el sendero que lleva al campo base en el Tibet (China). Français : Face nord du Mont Everest vue du chemin menant au camp de base. Tibet. Italiano: Faccia Nord del monte Everest vista dal sentiero che porta al campo base in Tibet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If the train will move at 120 kilometers per hour, and since Lhasa to Kathmandu is about 600 kilometers, that puts the travel distance at six hours. This tunnel under Mount Everest will take Nepal-China, indeed China-South Asia relations to unprecedented heights. This will also put pressure on India to deeply integrate itself to Nepal through major infrastructure projects like the Hulaki Rajmarga.

Kathmandu to Lumbini is another 200 kilometers. That would be the logical extension once the train reaches Kathmandu. The logical thing to do would be to take the train straight south to the plains and then go west to Lumbini.

That would also form the framework for the East West train along the plains to ultimately create a Beijing to Delhi train track. You can not think of a better symbol for this Asian Century.

Thursday, December 04, 2014

मोदीलाई शङ्का गर्ने ठाउँ छैन

Modi Has Been A Blessing For Nepal
Modi Noticed A "Trust Deficit"

मोदीले जस्तो सोशल मीडिया प्रयोग गर्ने नेता विश्वमा अहिले अर्को छैन। मोदी नंबर एक नै हो। (Politician Number One: Modi) मैले भन्न खोजेको मोदीले के गर्न खोजे, कहाँ कति बेला के बोले, ती सब खुद मोदीकै मुखबाट सुन्न सकिन्छ। मोदी खुद आफैमा मीडिया हो। र मैले मोदीलाई बड़ो नजिकबाट फॉलो गर्दैछु। मोदीको नेपालसँगको अन्तर्क्रियाको मैले गहिरो अध्ययन गरेको छु।

नेपाल र मोदीबारे सबैले बुझ्नु पर्ने कुरा के हो भने मोदी संसारकै सबैभन्दा व्यस्त मान्छे। मोदी नेपाल आउनु अगाडि १७ वर्ष भारतको कुनै पनि प्रधान मंत्री नेपाल नआएको कारण छ: समयको अभाव। मोदी भने नेपाल दुई पटक आउन भ्याइ सके, फेरि आउँछु भन्दैछन्। मैले विश्वका थुप्रै देश घुमें, तर नेपालमा मलाई जुन किसिमको माया प्राप्त भयो त्यो कहीं पनि प्राप्त भएन भनेर भनेका छन।

मोदी जस्तो मान्छे नेपाल आएको नेपाललाई लाटरी परेको हो।

मोदी नेपाललाई ठग्छु भनेर हिंडेको मान्छे होइन। भारतलाई पनि First World Country बनाउँछु, साथै नेपाललाई पनि First World Country बनाउँछु भनेर हिंडेको मान्छे मोदी। मोदी पाउन भारतका जनताले वोट दिनुपर्यो, नेपालका जनताले वोट नै नदिकन पाइ राखेका छन। फोकटमा। यो त धन्यवाद भन्नु पर्ने कुरा हो।

संसारका धनी भन्दा धनी देश आफ्नो देशमा FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) भित्र्याउन तँछाड़ मछाड गर्छन। भारत, चीन, अमेरिका, ब्रिटेन -- सबैले। मोदीले भकाभक तीन महिनामा दुई बिलियन डॉलर नेपाल ल्याइदिए, अर्को ६ बिलियन डॉलर पनि ल्याउन लागेका छन। यो यदि हिंदुत्व हो भने मलाई यस्तो हिंदुत्व अझ चाहियो।

भारतमा मोदीले विकास बाहेक धर्मको कुरा गरेका छैनन् --- नेपालमा त झन गर्ने कुरै भएन। नेपाल धर्म निरपेक्ष राज्य हो --- आज पनि हो, भोलि पनि हो। त्यो छलफल समाप्त भयो। २००६ को अप्रिल क्रांतिको त्यो आदेश थियो।

प्रचण्डलाई एक जनाले सोधे, संसारका अधिकांश देश कुनै न कुनै धर्म सँग आबद्ध छन, नेपाल हिन्दु राष्ट्र भन्दिए के पो बिग्रिन्छ? प्रचण्डले भने ----- संसारमा जति बिकसित देश छन ती प्रत्येक धर्म निरपेक्ष नै छन। देशलाई निरक्षरताबाट साक्षरता तर्फ लाने हो, साक्षरता बाट निरक्षरता तर्फ होइन।

नेपालमा लगभग बढ़ीमा १,००० जति मानिस छन ---- पुलिस, प्रशासन, सेना, पार्टी, मीडिया, NGO आदि इत्यादिमा ---- जसको राष्ट्रीयताको परिभाषा नै नेपाललाई सकेसम्म लामो समय सम्म गरीब बनाएर राख्ने भन्ने छ। एउटा कुन चाहिं राणा प्रधान मन्त्रीले कॉलेज उदघाटन गर्दा रोए जस्तो। मान्छे टाठा बाठा हुन्छन् अनि हामीलाई टेरन छोडछन भन्ने डर। यसै १,००० मान्छेको जमातले मोदीलाई सकेसम्म गाली गरेको अवस्था छ। यो मोदीले देश झिलिमिली पार्ने भो, आपत पार्ने भो भनेर यो १,००० मान्छेलाई निल्नु नओकल्नु भइ राखेको छ।

नेपाल भारत को कुरै छैन, तराई पहाड़को कुरै होइन। राष्ट्रियता त हुँदै होइन। चार वर्षमा एक पटक वोट खसाल्नु बाहेक जनताको महत्व छैन भनठान्ने यो १,००० को अलोकतांत्रिक चरित्रको जमात। तर मोदी grassroots बाट माथि आएको मान्छे --- यो सानो १,००० को जमात र तीन करोड़ नेपाली जनता बीच फरक छुट्याउन सक्ने मान्छे हो।

हुँदा हुँदा यो १,००० को जमातले भारतबाट भाड़ाका टट्टू झिकाइ झिकाइ मोदीलाई गाली गर्न लगाउन थालेका छन।

मोदीकरणको नेपाली रूप

Tuesday, December 02, 2014

China And SAARC

English: The Seventh Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Xi Jinping 习近平 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SAARC is an organization of democracies. China can join SAARC once it has become a democracy.

China has had an impressive economic track record from 1990 to 2010. But the days of double digit growth rates are over. Xi Jinping is a good guy, but if he wants to take his country back to double digit growth rates his one option is bold political reforms leading all the way to plurality. And the best way to make those moves might be from the very top.

Yes, it is about Tibet. Tibet is an integral part of South Asia. It is by way of Tibet that China has any currency in South Asia. The ties go back thousands of years. Buddha was born in Nepal but it is in Tibet that Buddhism has its deepest roots. Those bonds are strong. A Lhasa to Lumbini railway track would symbolize that.

No one wants to go back to the way things were. The Dalai Lama himself does not. The idea of the same person being head of state and head of religion are outdated. Tibet wants and deserves its prosperity. Tibetans don't want a separate country. But their religious freedom will not be denied forever. Their human rights are as sacrosanct as that of anyone else.

And to that end many options are available. If a larger global alliance of democracies - America, India, Japan - will have to be forged, so be it. And that would be sad. Because this is not a geopolitical struggle to put China down. China is a proud country with a proud heritage. About 800 years ago China was the leading country on the planet, and it might still become that. And China has a lot to teach. China could teach campaign finance reform to America and India. That is there. China has lifted more people out of poverty than any other power. That is exemplary and India should learn. When the 2008 recession hit, if it were not for the strength of the Chinese economy, the world might have gone into a deep Depression.

The Chinese are a proud people and they deserve their rightful place under the sun. They have so much to give, they have so much to teach. I would like to see a day when you can get on the train in any part of the world and end up in Beijing. Why not? The sound finances of the Chinese government might help fund much needed infrastructure projects all across the world.

But there is no fighting the inevitable. China owes itself bold political reforms. I want Taiwan to be part of China, but that will not happen unless China steers itself to political pluralism.

Obama, Modi, And The Sling Shot Effect
Politician Number One: Modi