Kung Fu Nuns

Men carrying metal jars to the market on the street of Kathmandu.

1970s @Vintage_Nepal pic.twitter.com/vsNmSI56Sq

— Vintage Nepal (Rare Historical Pics & Vids) (@Vintage_Nepal) February 26, 2023

Bhaktapur used to be a town where people from Kathmandu went to get away from it all, for a quieter place and fresh air. But now, brick kilns, heavy highway traffic and prevailing winds makes air quality the dirtiest.https://t.co/lC26Ap4XLE

— Nepali Times (@NepaliTimes) February 26, 2023

Workers travel in the bucket of an excavator at Samakhusi in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Photo by: @Elite_Joshi pic.twitter.com/0X65CQCaD4

— The Kathmandu Post (@kathmandupost) February 23, 2023

Pashupati Nath Kathmandu
On the occasion of #mahashivarathri
More than 2 million peoples might come here tomorrow pic.twitter.com/cvOCvRgIgD

— G.One (@iamlifebista) February 17, 2023

“When I look at them, I want to become a nun,” said a graduate student in Kathmandu. “They look so cool, and you want to leave everything behind.”
“But everyone can’t do this,” said a nun. “It looks attractive from outside, but inside it is a hard life.” https://t.co/rSHgn1Xi3o

— keerthik śaśidharan (@KS1729) February 26, 2023

Kung Fu Nuns of Nepal Smash Convention In Himalayan Buddhism, the religious roles of nuns have long been restricted by rules and customs. But one sect is changing that, mixing meditation with martial arts and environmental activism. ........ the Kung Fu nuns, part of an 800-year-old Buddhist sect called Drukpa, the Tibetan word for dragon. Across the Himalayan region, and the wider world, its followers now mix meditation with martial arts. ....... Every day, the nuns swap their maroon robes for an umber brown uniform to practice Kung Fu, the ancient Chinese martial art. It’s part of their spiritual mission to achieve gender equality and physical fitness; their Buddhist beliefs also call on them to lead an environmentally friendly life. ...... Amid a soft rustle of their loose uniforms, they cartwheel, punch and kick one another. ....... “Kung Fu helps us to break gender barriers and develop inner confidence” ....... Leading the charge for change are the Kung Fu nuns, whose Drukpa sect began a reformist movement 30 years ago under the leadership of Jigme Pema Wangchen, who is also known as the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa. He was willing to disrupt centuries of tradition and wanted nuns who would carry the sect’s religious message outside monastery walls. ........ “We are changing rules of the game,” said Konchok Lhamo, 29, a Kung Fu nun. “It is not enough to meditate on a cushion inside a monastery.” ....... and walk for months on pilgrimages to pick up plastic litter and make people aware of climate change. .......

Every year for the past 20, except for a hiatus during the pandemic, the nuns have cycled about 1,250 miles from Kathmandu to Ladakh, high in the Himalayas, to promote green transportation.

.......... The sect’s nuns were first introduced to martial arts in 2008 by followers from Vietnam, who had come to the nunnery to learn scriptures and how to play the instruments used during prayers. ........ When they travel, heads shaved, on trips in their open vans, they can look like soldiers ready to be deployed on the front line and capable of confronting any bias. ......... The sect’s vast campus is home to 350 nuns, who live with ducks, turkeys, swans, goats, 20 dogs, a horse and a cow, all rescued either from the knife of butchers or from the streets. The women work as painters, artists, plumbers, gardeners, electricians and masons, and also manage a library and medical clinic for laypeople......... “When I look at them, I want to become a nun,” said Ajali Shahi, a graduate student at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. “They look so cool, and you want to leave everything behind.” ........

Every day, the nunnery receives at least a dozen inquiries about joining the order from places as far as Mexico, Ireland, Germany and the United States.

......... “And so strong from inside that I can do anything.” .

Ukraine Hits Russian Positions Deep Behind Enemy Lines Nearly a dozen explosions rang out in the Russian-held Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, site of one of the best-known battles of the war. ....... What targets were struck was perhaps less intriguing than how Ukrainian forces had managed to hit them. ...... a vast network of partisans loyal to Kyiv to wage war on the occupiers. ....... School officials said that Russian attacks have damaged 3,128 educational institutions, 441 of which are beyond repair. ....... Kyiv has also been casting an anxious eye on Russian threats via two neighboring countries, Belarus and Moldova. ........ Still, the main thrust of Moscow’s offensive operations remains in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russian forces are trying to break through Ukrainian defenses in five directions.

Nepal: A Total Political Disaster

I put full time work into Nepal's democracy movement a decade ago. I also put full time work into the subsequent Madhesi movement, which I saw as but phase two of the same democracy movement. About my work I said, and I stand by the statement.

There is a concrete mathematical theory called the butterfly effect. A butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon forest could be the reason a cyclone hit Bangladesh. What happened in Nepal in April 2006, January-February 2007, and February 2008 were political cyclones. I was the butterfly flapping my wings in New York City. In April 2006, over a period of 19 days, about eight million people out of the country's 27 million came out into the streets to shut the country down completely to force a dictator out.

If I had put the same kind of effort into the first two years of Nepal's first constituent assembly, Nepal would not have seen the drama it has seen since, and would have been a textbook example of how to take democracy into a Third World country, but small minded people like Charlie Rangel had other plans.

But I made a fundamental mistake along the way, which I fully intend to rectify.

The formula for toppling the dictatorship was perfect and can be taken everywhere else. You get people out into the streets everywhere in the country and have them stay there until the dictator bows out. The ideology behind that is five fold, and you get there through a popularly elected constituent assembly.

लोकतंत्र, मानव अधिकार, गणतंत्र, संघीयता, समावेशीता (Democracy, Human Rights, Republic, Federalism, Inclusion)

Then I looked at India, and came up with the next step, in terms of a mental framework. And just like in the case of Nepal, I listened to the churn on the ground and learned. It was a two way conversation. I have learned a lot from Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar.

सुशासन, शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, संरचना, सुलभता (Good Governance, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Ease Of Doing Business)

Then I looked at Modi's ambition to remake India into a First World Country, and I said this.

E for Education, E for Entrepreneurship, E for Energy

But the entire time I have forgotten the most fundamental and the most important part. And I intend to rectify that, not only for Nepal, but also for India. And that is this.

Kumar: Wake Up To God
Medium: Paramendra Bhagat
Open Your Heart And See God Is Everywhere

There is but one God, there always has been but one God. Someone who has not conquered death is not even a person, someone who has not come to realize that his/her soul is unique in the history and future of time is not even a person. And you can not have democracy unless there is the person, for democracy is one person one vote. The people of Nepal have to embrace God, and become people, one person at a time. That is the only path to democracy, equality and riches. That is the only path to true liberation. That is the only way to smash the caste system to smithereens. The caste system is not God's way. It is The Devil's work. Come over to God's side, and smash the caste system.

Hereditary Bramhinism And Democracy In Nepal

There is an enormous cultural resistance to Jesus Christ in Nepal and India. Jesus gets equated with colonization. Whereas the colonizers and those who uphold the caste system are on the same side, the side of The Devil, Gandhi walked the path of Jesus Christ, the path of liberation, but he did not walk far enough.

Jesus Christ does not negate The Buddha, The Buddha is about the mind, Christ is about the soul. Jesus Christ does not contradict the Geeta, which teaches a full immersion in life, and a full detachment, always being conscious of God. Jesus was not even a white guy, any more than Buddha had Chinese eyes.

And if you don't like any existing church, or any existing organized religion that revolves around Jesus, start a new one. But there is no escaping The Truth. There are four elements to The Truth. There is a God, a loving, kind, forgiving God, creator of all things earth and Heaven. There is a Heaven. Your soul is unique in the history and future of time. You do not end at death. All four elements come together beautifully in the person of Jesus Christ, who was both man and God.

Many Religions, One God

No one else in any religious tradition has claimed to be the Son Of God. Jesus might have looked like an Arab today. The corrupt priests Jesus railed against, they are the same corrupt priests in power in Nepal today, and they stand between God and the people. The people will have to rise all over again. Bahunvad (Bramhinism) deserves nothing less than a total defeat.

Hereditary Bramhinism: 100 Times More Harmful Than Hereditary Monarchy
Visiting Utter Political Destruction Upon The Brahmins Of Nepal
India’s Caste System: Spiritual Corruption Second To None

I shall spring forth a new global religious organization, and that organization shall also come to Nepal, to India, to South Asia at large. The butterfly effect this time shall walk the land like an elephant, with the full force of a large organization that speaks the language of peace, love, kindness and forgiveness.

Jesus created The Person on earth. Jesus is not just about Heaven, although He is the most concrete bridge possible between earth and Heaven, because it was a bridge built by God Himself, for God so loves humanity. You do not have a soul like you have a limb. Don't let the Brahmins fool you. Your language, your culture are treasures created by God Himself, why would he have problems with those? Cultural diversity is God's creation. Racism is The Devil's work. And I wonder why the Brahmins find Nepal's diversity so problematic!

There can be no compromise on human rights, there can be no compromise on religious freedom, there can be no compromise on a secular constitution. No special status may be accorded to any organized religion. The word of God may be peacefully spoken. Until then let there be political struggle until the Brahmins have been pushed into an eternal political wilderness.

भारतके मुसलमान: पाँचवा कास्ट

If the people of Nepal needed to know the evil ways of Bahunvad, all they have to look at is the aftermath of the earthquake. The evils of Brahminism are bottomless.

चीन कब्ज़ा गर्ने भनेको

मधेसले चीन कब्ज़ा गर्ने भनेको बुद्ध मधेसी, चीन मा बुद्धिस्ट को संख्या एक बिलियन पुर्याउने भनेको। गोराले नेपालमा क्रिस्चियन धर्म प्रचार गर्न हुने, मधेसीले चीन मा बुद्ध को धर्म प्रचार गर्न किन नहुने? मधेसले चीन कब्ज़ा गर्ने भनेको बन्दुक को लड़ाई भनेको होइन। को जान्छ चिनिया सँग लड़ाई गर्न? मधेसले त्यसरी चीन कब्ज़ा गर्दा त्यति बेला चीन र मधेस बीच को सम्बन्ध ले आकाश छुने हुन्छ। बुद्ध को सन्देश र ज्ञान मा त्यस किसिमको ताकत छ। पृथ्वी नारायण र बुद्ध बीच फरक छ। अनि त्यसरी चीन कब्ज़ा गरे पछि जनकपुर पटना कोलकाता ढाका मले कुन्मिंग बुलेट ट्रेन बनाउने। इंडस्ट्रियल कॉरिडोर। मधेसमा झापा देखि कंचनपुर बुलेट ट्रेन। दुई घंटा को बाटो। जनकपुर मा स्पेशल इकनोमिक जोन। झापा मा भारत ले मान्दैन। त्यो कुखुराको घाँटी जस्तो भारतको भूभाग। झापा देखि कंचनपुर बुलेट ट्रेन बनाउन एक मधेस दो प्रदेस चाहिएको। बुलेट ट्रैन छ भने झापा मा बसी बसी बाहुन हरु दैनिक जागीर खान जनकपुर आउन पाउने हुन्छ। दिउँसो खाजा जनकपुर मा खाने गरी।

मधेस आंदोलन: २० औं, २१ औं र २२ औं शताब्दीको आंदोलन

Madhesh, So Far Away

भएको छ २१ औं शताब्दी मा आंदोलन। मागिएको छ २० औं शताब्दी मा पाइसकेको हुनुपर्ने अधिकार। तर पिछला ५०० साल युरोप को, अर्को ५०० साल भारत को --- त्यसको शंखघोष मधेसमा हुने भएकोले यो २२ औं शताब्दीको आंदोलन हो।  यो मधेसको होइन भारतको आफ्नो आंदोलन हो। चीन क्वाप्प खानुपर्ने मधेसले जाबो पहाडसँग अलग किन हुने? म साम्राज्यवादी को स्वराजी सँग फरक मत त्यो हो। पहाड़ जाबो के हो र? चीन मा एक बिलियन बुद्धिस्ट खोजेको मान्छे म।मधेसी काठमाण्डु को बाटो चीन पुग्नु पर्छ।

साम्राज्यवादी: Political Equality For Indians Wherever They Might Be
मधेसी: तीनबाहुनदलवादी, संघीयतावादी, स्वराजी, साम्राज्यवादी
SSS = KKKK
The Indian Century Begins In Nepal
Madhesi Self Hate, Indian Self Hate: One And The Same

धर्म निरपेक्षता: समस्या अहिले देखिसकियो

सनातनी विद्याले जानकी मंदिर लाई बुट ले कुल्ची गएर। कुनै पनि हिन्दु ले सोच्न नसक्ने कुरा।

धर्म निरपेक्षता नभइ नहुने कुरा हो।

आधुनिक राज्य (modern state) भनेको नितांत भौतिक कुरा हो। प्रति व्यक्ति आय, स्कुल, अस्पताल, रोड, पुल --- यस्ता भौतिक कुरा हरु सँग सरोकार हुने हुन्छ एउटा आधुनिक राज्य (modern state) को। ज्यान र सम्पत्ति को सुरक्षा। त्यहाँ त नागरिक अनागरिक पनि भन्दैन। आफ्नो भूभाग मा भए जति सबैको सुरक्षा। भने पछि सबै धर्म का ले साँस फेर्न पाउने भए।

आधुनिक राज्य (modern state) धर्म निरपेक्ष मात्र हुन सक्छ। तर त्यो भनेको धर्म नमान भनेको हुँदै होइन। बरु त्यसले धार्मिक क्रियाकलाप का लागि झन बढ़ी स्पेस बनाउँछ। स्रोत साधन जम्मा गर्छ। देश धनी हुन्छ भने ठूलठूला मंदिर गुम्बा हरु बनलान। नागरिक ले बनाउलान।

धर्म निरपेक्षता भनेको तेल तेलको भाँडो मा राख, पानी पानी राख्ने भाँडो मा राख भनेको हो। नमिसाउ भनेको।

देशलाई संविधान मा सनातन धर्म को देश भन्न पाइयेन। भनियो भने देश लाई गरीब  बनाइराख्ने त्यो अचुक अस्त्र हुन्छ। त्यो पनि देखिसकियो। देशको इतिहास मा कुनै पनि प्राकृतिक प्रकोप अथवा युद्ध ले नल्याएको क्षति भैसक्यो। पाखंडी सनातनी लाई मतलब छैन तर। उसको त बिजनेस व्यापार फसटाएको छ। सारा देश नै एउटै ठुलो काला बाजार बनाइएको छ।

मधेसको हिन्दु, मधेसको मुसलमान, पहाड़को जनजाति को त यो अस्तित्व को सवाल हो धर्म निरपेक्षता। यादव र कृष्ण, हरिजन र राम।

The Caste System Is The Sanatani Colonizing The Hindu Religion
Yadavs Have No Caste

The Indian Century Begins In Madhesh

(In reply to How Nepal Was ‘Lost’)

The Indian Century Begins In Nepal
by Paramendra Bhagat

For the first time in my life I feel like the word Madhesi exists in Patna, Lucknow and Delhi, for the first time an Indian Prime Minister, an Indian Home Minister, an Indian Foreign Minister have taken personal interest in the Madhesi cause. This is supposed to be bad news?

The ruling elite in Kathmandu, the Khas, all of them came from India over the centuries, but now Indophobia is their number one organizing principle in Kathmandu. The Madhesi are native to Madhesh. The term Madhesi does not exist in Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. It is a term peculiar to Nepal. But the cultural affinity across the border is unmistakable and cross border marriages are the norm, the most famous obviously being the Ram Janaki marriage. There is an open border like exists nowhere else on the planet, but one hopes will exist everywhere perhaps in the 22nd Century, because it is so cutting edge.

All South Asian borders are unnatural, thanks to the British. You find the same people living on two sides of the border everywhere, be it the Pakistan India border, the India Bangladesh border, or the Nepal India border in Nepal's western hills. The Madhesis are not unique.

There is sheer pragmatism. Should the conflict go the militant way, maybe 10,000 Madhesis might pick up arms, but likely three million might flee to the south and swamp Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Would that be a welcome scenario for Delhi?

And there is the no small issue of doing what is right. All Madhesis are asking for is equality. Or are they supposed to give ground and go the way of the Rohingya?

This is also about India coming of age and going toe to toe with powers like China and the United States and projecting itself on the global stage.

I try to look at China with an open mind. China has lifted more people out of poverty than any power in history and I respect that. I want India and Africa also to lift large numbers of people out of poverty. America ploughed its surplus into Europe and built infrastructure there after World War II. China seems to want to plough its surplus into building infrastructure across Asia and in Africa. And that is a good thing. I can see why China might feel jittery about the South China Sea. You could practically choke the Chinese economy by obstructing that sea route through which it gets all its oil supplies. But the sea lanes have to be kept open and safe for commerce, not just for China, but also the smaller powers. Europe and America seem to do just fine in the Atlantic. India, China and Africa should be able to together handle the Indian Ocean. Indian origin minorities may not be put to harm by local powers in countries like Sri Lanka, Burma and now Nepal. China can not be seen to be taking sides against the Madhesi if it aspires to see an Asian Century. China is the next America, India is the next China, and Africa is the next India. For me it is not an ego issue. It is an issue of global poverty elimination. Poverty robs people of basic dignity. Poverty is offensive.

India is an eight trillion dollar economy, measured for Purchasing Power Parity. That is not a small economy. India's time is not in 20 years. India's time is now.

China is not a democracy. It can appear to speak in one voice. India, on the other hand, is a democracy. It is but natural that the opposition in India will seek to speak against Modi on every issue imaginable, including the Madhesi issue, and it does. It does not disturb me to see that. Democracy is what makes India great and appealing. I will not have it any other way. Those voices are but normal. But the counter arguments have to be made. If Madhesh were a separate country and Modi could run for Prime Minister, he would collect 90% of the votes in Madhesh right now. That is how right he has been for the Madhesis who are fighting for 20th century rights in the 21st century. This is still pre-1947 for the Madhesh. It is like the British never left.

Modi is but in his second year in office. Independent of the Madhesh issue I think he is poised to rule India for 20 years and turn it into a First World country. This is your Deng Xiaoping, India, this is your Lee Kuan Yew. During his first year in office he has put India on the global map. Indians should take pride that their Prime Minister is currently the most popular politician in the world. A 200 billion dollar expenditure on defense can not buy you something like that. There are some things money cannot buy. We live in the era of soft power. And Modi, by that account, has conquered the world. Victory is yoga going to every town on earth, and we are already halfway there.

As a last resort Modi has to be ready to do a Bangladesh on Madhesh. He pulled a Rajiv Gandhi in 2014 by getting the wide popular mandate. Maybe he will get to pull an Indira Gandhi on Madhesh. And if I am proven right and he does rule for 20 years, he will also have pulled a Nehru.

Call me an Indian Imperialist, but my vision does not clash with the basic premise that all human beings are equal. My imperialist thoughts are about deepening Indian democracy, not subjugating peoples. There are too many countries where minorities get meted out second class treatments for no reason other than that they are Indian. That can not stand.

I am an Indian Imperialist in that I live on a planet where the sun never sets on Indians. I have seen more of America than anyone who ever ran for President Of The United States. There is not one town anywhere in America where you will not find at least one Indian family. I think Indians deserve political equality no matter where they are, not to say right in India's backyard, and ultimately it is India’s responsibility to make that happen. India can and should become a 240 trillion dollar economy by 2050, all it would take is a sustained double digit growth rate, and I personally would like to play my small part through my tech entrepreneurship and digital activism. I envision a Madhesi rule in Kathmandu and an eventual Nepal India political economic union. I would like to see a casteless Hinduism created in India and taken across the globe. I want Buddhism taken to all parts of the world. After all, Buddha was born a Madhesi like me. Yoga should be taken to every town on earth. I want to see a total, peaceful spread of democracy, and I want to see India take the lead there.

The Indian Century beings in Madhesh.

(Paramendra Bhagat, a Madhesi from Janakpur, is an early stage tech entrepreneur in New York City.)

@arunjaitley @narendramodi @SushmaSwaraj @BJP4India @AmitShah The Indian Century Begins In Madhesh https://t.co/HR3036svwa

— Paramendra Bhagat (@paramendra) November 1, 2015

धर्म निरपेक्षता सब भन्दा बढ़ी चाहिएको नेपालको हिन्दु लाई

Animation of the structure of a section of DNA. The bases lie horizontally between the two spiraling strands. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

भोजपुरा प्रदेश र मधेसी मुस्लिम
धर्म निरपेक्षता र मानव अधिकार
केपी ओली र धर्म निरपेक्षता
भारत बाट आउने भाड़ा मा उपलब्ध बाबा जी हरु
उद्दण्ड मच्चाइ रहेको भारतीय बाबाजी
राज्य (state) को आफ्नो धर्म हुँदैन भनेको
जबरजस्ती धर्म परिवर्तन गर्ने तरिका के हो?
धर्म परिवर्तन गर्न पाउनु मानव अधिकार हो
Janakpur Muslims

धर्म निरपेक्षता सब भन्दा बढ़ी चाहिएको नेपालको हिन्दु लाई। हिन्दु राष्ट्र त २५० वर्ष देखि पृथ्वी ले "सच्चा हिन्दुस्तान" त बनाएर राखेको हो नि। त्यसले गरीबी र अंधकार बाहेक के दियो?

देश लोकतन्त्रमा जाने तर देशमा वाक स्वतंत्रता नहुने। त्यस्तो पनि हुन्छ? आज संसार मा जति विकसित देश छन सबै लोकतन्त्रको आधारमा धनी र विकसित र आधुनिक बनेका हुन। मान्छेको biology त जहाँ पनि उही हो। Brain त केपी ओली बाहेक सबै को टाउको मा छ।

मानव अधिकार सर्वमान्य घोषणापत्र हो। त्यो मानव अधिकार भनेको लोकतंत्र को DNA हो। जुन देशमा मानव अधिकार छैन त्यहाँ लोकतंत्र छैन। मापदंड नै त्यही हो।

नेपालमा मुसलमान लाई बस्न दिने कि नदिने? बुद्धिस्ट ईसाई लाई बस्न दिने कि नदिने? प्रश्न त्यो हुँदै होइन।

प्रश्न हो, नेपालका हिन्दु गरीब भएर बस्ने कि धनी देशको नागरिक बन्ने? धनी आधुनिक देश बन्ने एक मात्र उपलब्ध बाटो हो लोकतंत्र। लोकतंत्र को DNA हो मानव अधिकार।

जुन देशमा धर्म निरपेक्षता छैन त्यस देशमा लोकतंत्र छैन। कि त लोकतंत्र चाहिएन, धनी देश बन्नु छैन भन्नुपर्यो।

तपाइँ को भगवान ले भोको पेट बस मोक्ष पाइन्छ भनेको छ भने माग्नुस हिन्दु राष्ट्र।

धर्म निरपेक्षता बिना देश धनी र आधुनिक बन्दैन भने त्यो धर्म निरपेक्षता आखिर हो के? नेपाली नागरिक हिन्दु हुन पाउँदैन भन्ने हो?

धर्म निरपेक्षता भनेको राज्य (state) को धर्म हुँदैन भनेको। नागरिक को धार्मिक स्वतंत्रता को त्यो भन्दा राम्रो गारंटी र insurance अर्को हुने सक्दैन। राज्य (state) को आफ्नो धर्म हुँदैन भने जुन सुकै नागरिक को जे सुकै धर्म भए राज्य (state) लाई फरक नै परेन।

धर्म निरपेक्षता भनेको राज्य (state) ले धर्म मा पैसा खर्च गर्नु गैर कानुनी हुन्छ।

तर नागरिक को आफ्नो धर्म हुन्छ। प्रधान मंत्री को आफ्नो धर्म हुन्छ। सरकारी कर्मचारीको आफ्नो धर्म हुन्छ। अमेरिका मा जति धार्मिक मानिस संसारमा कहीं पनि छैन। युरोप मा पनि छैन।

नेपाल धनी देश बन्यो भने धनी हिन्दु नेपाली नागरिक ले पैसा खर्च गरेर "जा अमेरिका मा ईसाई लाई हिन्दु बना, अभियान चला" भन्न पाइयो। अहिले त गाँठ छैन। त्यो धनी देश बनने बाटो धर्म निरपेक्षता हो।

Minendra Rijal's Joke

"There cannot be any institution more transparent of more accountable than the government, because any penny that we spend would be under the scrutiny of the parliament, would be under the scrutiny of constitutional organs and many other parliamentary committees, individuals, journalists,” said Information Minister Dr Minendra Rijal.

These were the same people who called Nepal's 1991 constitution "the most democratic in the world."

100% Online Transparency

Nepal is currently ranked 126th out of 174 countries by Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Many Nepalese also view the country’s political parties and legislature as hotbeds of cronyism and nepotism. It’s much the same with public appointments

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चीनको Ruling Class को दिमागमा कीड़ा परेको

Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama, is the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. Photographed during his visit in Cologno Monzese MI, Italy, on december 8th, 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

दलाई लामा जस्तो मान्छे लाई आतंकवादी भन्ने चीनको Ruling Class को दिमागमा कीड़ा परेको नै भन्नु पर्ने हुन्छ। If the Dalai Lama wants to visit Tibet, as he does, he should be allowed to visit Tibet. No muss, no fuss. What's the big deal?

बुद्ध मधेस मा जन्मेको मधेसी। तिब्बत आजको मितिमा बुद्ध धर्मको नंबर एक गढ़। तिब्बत का बारे मधेसले अडान लिन्छ त। चीन जाए भांड मे।

China, Burma, Afghanistan: Future Members Of SAARC

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

चिनले मुख खोल्यो सार्क सदस्य बन्ने चाहाना

I don't take China at face value. The China of the future that I see is a China where Taiwan is fully integrated, where Hong Kong is not an island of democracy, but China itself has gone through political reforms and has become plural, where there is federalism, and Tibet is a state, and there is religious freedom. The Dalai Lama is the religious leader, but the Chief Minister of Tibet is duly elected by the people. I want China to keep growing at double digit rates. I am an admirer of the fact that China has lifted more people out of poverty than any power in human history.

Having said that, I think Tibet is very much part of South Asia. That has been true for thousands of years. And since Tibet is part of China, it only makes sense that China should be a member of SAARC. As should Burma and Afghanistan.

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Challenging Caste

Caste by definition is about treating people as unequals. And thus is wrong. Human equality is the goal. And so religion has to be challenged. The social order has to be challenged. '

The best way to challenge caste is by converting. I think Dalits should convert en masse into Buddhism, Christianity or whatever religion of choice. And in the process they should give up their Hindu first and last names. In the Hindu order it is your last name that gives away your caste. And so in converting you have to get rid of your last name.

Another way is intermarriage. But the caste system is not designed for that. It does not make room for intercaste marriage, although it happens. There is no way to say you do not belong to any caste, you are just plain Hindu. To be Hindu is to be a member of this or that caste.

There can be an urban flavor where you have watered down caste to just celebrating the major festivals.

Urbanization, education, modernization, and wealth creation are other ways to fight casteism.

But the best way is conversion. Ambedkar felt the same way. I agree with him.

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