My Role In The April Revolution: The Butterfly Effect

Butterfly effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The phrase refers to the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that ultimately cause a tornado to appear (or, for that matter, prevent a tornado from appearing). The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale phenomena. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different.

As I gear to put some effort into the Madhesi Movement, I can't help but notice there has been a concerted effort to minus my role in the April Revolution. If it were merely personal, I would not much mind. But I have to take offense on behalf of the Madhesh.

Take quantity. No Nepali outside of Nepal did full time work towards it for a year before it happened. And for months after the royal coup when there was very little opportunity for anyone inside Nepal to do anything, maybe I was the only one anywhere who was doing such intense, full time work.

The Virus Of The April Revolution

Take quality. For a few years before I came to the US in 1996, I was Vice General Secretary of a party in Nepal of which Hridayesh Tripathy was General Secretary. Tripathy at the time was Chair of the Public Accounts Committee in the parliament, a seat then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held right before he became Prime Minister. Tripathy today is a senior member of the cabinet in Nepal. Within months of landing in the US, I got myself elected student government president at what is the number one liberal arts college in the South.

Howard Dean knows me. Howard Dean's brother Jim Dean knows me - "I googled your name and ended up on the homepage of the actor James Dean." These are a Vermont duo. The American who did the most for the democracy movement in Nepal is Senator Patrick Leahy. He is a Vermonter. Before Howard Dean came along, the president of the Democratic Party just used to be a figurehead. He has authored a 50 state strategy that seems to be working so beautifully. Dean 2004 was not a presidential campaign, it was a movement. Barack Obama is a Deaniac from 2004, and he is the next President Of The United States.

Cobb To Leahy
Leahy Amendment Says No Arms To Nepal
Leahy, Lion
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat, Vermont
Senator Leahy To US Congress On Nepal

I am the father of the concept of Continuous Movement in the Nepali context. I pushed the concept publicly and privately for months before it happened. Otherwise all leaders just wanted to do isolated acts like a mass meeting here, a Nepal shutdown there. The most they would go for would be a Nepal shutdown for four days. I kept saying we have to come out into the streets and stay out until the regime is toppled.

Lilamani Pokharel For Continuous Movement (November 29, 2005)
Project Take Over Tundikhel: Draft 1
eDemocracy, 4S Campaign, 24/7 Vigil For Democracy: Take Over Tundikhel (March 19, 2005)

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

यो सडक ितम्र्ो हो

घरबाट िनस्केर आउ सडकमा
पर्खाल हाम्फालेर आउ
अंकमाल गरेर आउ
कौसीबाट हाम्फाल
ढोका खोलेर आउ
यो सडक ितम्रो हो

फािसस्टहरुले देश बेच्न लािगसके
राजा नभए देश रहन्छ
देश नरहे ितमी रहन्नौ
ितम्रो घरमा अँध्यारो छ
बत्ती बाल्ने बेला यही हो
आउ सडकमा
यो सडक ितम्रो हो

आँधीबेरी जस्तै आउ
मनसुनको बर्सात भएर आउ
तर मनसुन आउनु अगािड आउ
यो आन्दोलन समयको तकाजा हो
यो वर्तमान, यो भिवष्य ितम्रो हो
त्यसैले आउ सडकमा
यो सडक ितम्रो हो

गाउँ गाउमा आउ
शहर शहरमा आउ
िजल्लाको सदरमुकाममा आउ
राजधानीमा त ओइरेर आउ
लाखौंको संख्यामा आउ
िकनभने
यो सडक ितम्रो हो

आन्दोलन सफल हुन्छ
सडक रगताम्मे हुन्छ
िवजयको अबीरले
दशकौंपिछ नाित पनाितले सोध्लान
क्रान्ितका दौरान ितमी कहाँ िथयौ
ितमीले भन्नु नपरोस्
ितमी कोठामा टीभी हेरेर बसेका िथयौ
अथवा बार्दलीबाट रिमता हेरेर बसेका िथयौ
त्यसैले सडकमा आउ
यो सडक ितम्रो हो

कमल थापा हावाको गोली हान्दैछन्
ितमी बोलीको गोली हान
नारा लगाउ
कमल थापा, तुल्सी िगरीलाई जेल पुर्याउ
माधव नेपाललाई जेलबाट फुत्काउ
आउ, ितमी सडकमा आउ
यो सडक ितम्रो हो

राजा नागिरक र व्यापारी भएर बसुन्
नत्र भने जेल जाउन्
मतलब छैन
मतलब ितम्रो छ
भरे बाटो कुरेर बस्न नपरोस्
ितमी रातभिर जागाराम भएर पिन आउ
एका िबहानै आँखा िमच्दै आउ
लाखौंको संख्यामा आउ
माित्तएको गोरु जस्तै िनर्धक्क भएर आउ
िकनिक
यो सडक ितम्रो हो

आउ, आउ
सडकमा आउ

Madhav Nepal was put under house arrest in February 2006. A month later he managed to smuggle wireless internet access into his room. The first person he reached out to was me. He is the leader of the party that has a strong chance of emerging the largest in the Constituent Assembly.



Girija Koirala is the father of the concept of the military solution to the Maoist insurgency. The king climbed onto it only later. Months after the royal coup, Girija was still vehemently against the idea of a constituent assembly. No peace would have been possible without that. No alliance with the Maoists would have been formed. Without that alliance, the April Revolution would not have happened. Girija has been singing the monarchical tune for months after the April Revolution. The revolution mandated a republic.

Girija Koirala at best has been the constitutional monarch of the April Revolution, a figurehead who occupies the top seat of power for being the oldest among the equals. And even today he has not taken any lead on the issue of state restructuring. He and his party have dillydallied on the issue of putting forth a detailed concept of federalism for Nepal. They want to postpone is as much as possible.

I am the only politically active Nepali anywhere - inside Nepal or out - who has written full-fledged constitution for the country: Proposed Constitution. My document would make Nepal the number one democracy on the planet, better than India, America or England. Not even the Maoists have come around to the idea of state-funded political parties. At least not yet.

In the process I have also invented the world's first digital democracy organization, Hamro Nepal. From that has birthed The Matrix which will possibly play a central role in Obama's ascendancy to the White House.

The Matrix, Vision, Spread Democracy, Revolution

To those who say I am just a writer! In November I got myself elected Convenor, Coordination Committee, Nepali Organizations In New York City. And it has felt like I am the only Madhesi in the city. I did that with sheer political skill. And, by the way, never underestimate the power of blogs. Dean 2004 was organized entirely around one blog.

There are those who say I have not been to Nepal in years. I say, astronomers have not been to Mars or Jupiter either, but they know the planets pretty well. Welcome to globalization and the internet.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Butterfly effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Butterfly Effect 2 Official Site: Newline Home Entertainment
The Butterfly Effect
Redmond's Butterfly Effect
What is chaos theory? - a definition from Whatis.com - see also ...
Chaos & Fractals: The Butterfly Effect
EContentMag.com: The Social Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Effect Hits Vending Machines
IEEE Spectrum: Butterfly Effect

In The News

Mahara to lead Maoists in interim parliament NepalNews
CPN-UML elects Nepal as party leader in interim legislature Bharat Mohan Adhikari as the deputy leader ..... MP Mahendra Bahadur Pandey and Parshuram Meghi Gurung have been elected as the chief whip and whip
Madhesi activists call indefinite vehicular strike in Janakpur
Government releases Rs. 70 million to Maoists
Second meeting of Interim Parliament begins; Nemwang elected Speaker
Mainali elected NBA president
OHCHR flays arrest of Madhesi activists, political party members "The Government of Nepal is required under its international human rights obligations to respect the freedom of opinion and expression, which can only be restricted under highly limited circumstances." ..... "The arrest and detention appears to be a violation of these freedoms - freedoms which are enshrined in the new Interim Constitution of Nepal adopted earlier this week. In addition, OHCHR-Nepal’s is concerned about the failure of the authorities to provide the legal basis for the arrests and continued detention" ......... “I am concerned that despite repeated requests the authorities were unable or unwilling to give an adequate explanation of the legal basis for the arrests and continued detention, including whether the burning of the constitution is a legal offence in itself. Freedom of expression must not be compromised by authorities other than in exceptional circumstances and in all such cases clear reasons should be given”
Amend interim constitution in favour of Madhesi people: Mahato "worsening" situation in Terai. .... Mahato demanded that a fresh national census be organised ahead of elections of Constituent Assembly and based on the results of that census, he said, the electoral constituencies should be delimited.
Moriarty urges PM not to form interim govt before arms mngt
Nemwang, Yadav to remain Speaker, Dy Speaker; Maoists to get senior DPM's post Maoist spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara is all set to become 'senior Deputy Prime Minister'
Over two dozen MPRF activists arrested in the capital

Citizenship distribution begins NepalNews
MPRF protest interim constitution; calls Madhesh bandh Stating that the interim constitution is full of flaws and failed to protect the rights of Madhesi people, the Madhesi People's Right Forum (MPRF), announced Madhesh bandh (Shut Down) on Tuesday. ...... Upendra Yadav, president of the forum ...... "If our demands are not met, we won't let the constituent assembly polls take place in Terai." ...... chanting slogans in favour of a federal democratic republic, a proportionate election system for the constituent assembly and against the “internal colonialism” imposed against the Madhes.

Typhoid And Typhoid Victims

I am a social doctor. I would like to cure typhoid. I am good at it. I have done it before, I can do it all over again. I am adept. Madhesis are typhoid victims. Utter political powerlessness is typhoid.

I don't know of any other population on the planet with a similar plight of powerlessness. Madhesis are half of Nepal. Madhesis contribute 70% of the revenue of the Nepal government. But Madhesis are utterly powerless. Not even the women of the world are in the same shape. Women are half, sure, but they don't contribute 70%, although they probably would if all their domestic work were to be candidates for dollar figures.

The Madhesis that most piss me off are the Prabasi Madhesis, the Madhesis in America for example. The Madhesis in America are some of the most educated, the best earning Madhesis anywhere on the planet. If these Madhesis will not take the lead, who will?

There is this "Bahun ko jhola bokera hidne prabriti," a phrase I learned from Karma Gyalden Sherpa, the top Janajati leader in New York City, and a great friend of mine, a comrade in the social justice revolution for Nepal. Jha is not Bahun, Jha is Madhesi. In Bihar maybe Jha is forward, but in Nepal Jha is backward. Laloo did Muslim-Yadav in Bihar, we need to do Madhesi-Janajati in Nepal. There is no other way.

The Pahadi attitude problem is all around us. It is right here in New York City. It is in the diaspora, thick and foul. We have to confront with all our might. We have nothing to lose. These Pahadis are not our bosses. Our career paths do not cross. The only dynamic is social. And if they will not go for a dynamic of mutual respect, of political equality, both here and in Nepal, it is best to part ways.

I am not for parting ways. I am for taking over. I don't want a separate country. I don't want violence. I don't even want a separate Terai state. What I want is equality. I want Nepal to have a Madhesi president. I want to take over the entire country.

I got myself elected Convenor of the Coordination Committee of the Nepali Organizations In New York City with no active help from ANTA. I did it through sheer political skill, and through active support from the Janajati crowd. I am going to take that a few steps further and solidify it. I am going to expand, grow and consolidate. We have to set an example for the Madhesi-Janajati coalition here in New York City.

And then I hike it up. I provide leadership for the overall empowerment of the Nepalis in the city. I want all Pahadis in New York City to know that they are the Madhesis here. They are powerless in the local context.

ANTA has been a disappointment. So much so that I let my membership expire at the end of 2006. There was the attack in Nepalgunj and ANTA did not issue a statement. (Madhesi Alert, Nepalgunj Pahadi Attack On Madhesi, Raw Email, Video Footage) I do not comprehend. When there was an attack on Dalits in Doti, the Dalit organizations in the diaspora responded with statements. Before that there was another incident in Kathmandu: Hands Off The Madhesi Activists. ANTA did not speak up. On the other hand several unnamed ANTA members complained to the ANTA president about the statement I had issued and emailed to them. Their names were not revealed to me. I invited them to unsubscribe from my mailing list.

This self-hate has got to go. The emotional price you are paying for it is not worth it. I don't have fewer Pahadi friends than you because I am vocal. You should try it also. Assert yourself. Pahadis who are "friends" with you only as long you don't speak for your rights are not your friends. Are they? Let them go.

For me this is work. I have a professional attitude towards it. We work and meet and do the work as per the need. Instead many Madhesis misunderstand the gist of the movement. It is not so you can engage in petty infighting. Internalized prejudice and racism work in weird ways. Madhesis talking like they imagine prejudiced Pahadis and white racists would. Kind of like some of my high school "bands" imitating western rock groups. Let go. You don't sound authentic.

Madhesi powerlessness is typhoid. And I would like to help cure it. Madhesis are typhoid victims. I engage to cure. I don't necessarily want to socialize during my off time with typhoid victims. I don't put up with racist comments from white people, I am not going to put up with racist comments from brown people. I don't put with PCP - Pahadi Chauvinist Pig - comments from Pahadis, I am not going to put up with PCP comments from Madhesis. (PCP: Pahadi Chauvinist Pig) I am the third angle in the triangle. I am not after the Pahadi individuals. I am just after the mentality, the attitude, the though processes, the wrong policy prescriptions. So if there are Madhesis with the same, I am also against them.

There is an urgent need to go global: ANTA To ANT?

And maybe it is best to work directly with the Madhesis right there in Nepal. If the Prabasi Madhesis will not wake up, let them enjoy the slumber.

I am also opening up channels with all the district committees of the Sadbhavana (Anandi).

I think the Madhesi Movement for now has to coalesce around the demand for constituencies based on equal population.

Madhesi Movement: Online Resources
Internalized Racism Among Nepalis In NYC
Madhesi Self Hate
Frustration, Chemical Imbalance, Mental Imbalance

There are Madhesis who feel disenfranchised in Nepal, there are Nepalis who feel disenfranchised in America. The solution is to build The Matrix. This also allows us to reach out to just about anybody, anywhere. The Matrix is an invention.

Hamro Nepal is better equipped than ANTA to expand rapidly, globally and to connect the leading Madhesis in Nepal with the Madhesi diaspora. I would it if Madhesi members of Hamro Nepal became more active.

In The News

Interim parliament endorses Interim Constitution-2063
Interim parliament convenes; MPs sworn in
HoR promulgates interim constitution, dissolves itself
India welcomes promulgation of interim constitution
Leaders fail to find consensus on Speaker of interim legislature Prachanda demanded that their party should get either the post of speaker or deputy speaker. .... Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that his party will create environment for holding elections of the post of speaker. .... senior leader of the interim parliament will chair the first session of the interim legislature. 86-year-old, Bal Bahadur Rai of NC is the senior most leader of the interim parliament
MPs criticise interim constitution, demand amendments Bharat Mohan Adhikary, standing committee member of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), pointed out several flaws in the constitution. "I regret the fact that this interim constitution does not allow the parliament to remove the Prime Minister once he is appointed. The parliament session cannot be held unless the PM convenes it. There are provisions that could jeopardise the democracy" ...... According to Rana, the interim constitution has been indifferent to the issues of Madhesis, women, Dalit, indigenous and other minorities. ....... King's autocracy is going to be replaced by dictatorship of eight parties ...... Rajendra Mahato, an MP from Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi), also criticised the interim constitution for not providing equal status to all kinds of people. He said that without addressing the issues of Madhesis, the ongoing violence in Terai region would not be resolved. "Peace will not come just by writing in the interim constitution that there will be peace," he said.
Jwala Singh demands separate, independent Terai state his party is against the rule of Pahade (people from hilly origin) on Madhes (Terai region). ..... Of the total population of Nepal, 14 million are Madhsis. ...... "We are not against people of hill. But we are against the system of unitary communal hill state power." ...... Singh whose real name is Nagendra Paswan and who is said to be a former journalist ...... "I still consider Goit as our supreme leader. But he is very old and not in good health. And this is the time for fight and sacrifice, so we had to part ways," Singh said, clarifying why he split from Goit. But he added that cadres of both factions of JTMM were working together. ........ The interim constitution lacks even a single word in favour of Madhesi people ....... "The King is the main leader of hilly people, so there is no question of us supporting him or his action. As far as India is concerned, some of our leaders are in jails in Bihar. I totally refute this charge." ........ his party has company-level military organisation of what he termed as Terai Liberation Army in three to four districts, Singh refused to divulge the actual number of his cadres or the districts where his military organisation are located. ......... put forth 9-point demands including declaration of independent Terai; delimitation of electoral constituencies based on population; holding of census in Terai under leadership of Madhesi people; filling up the positions in army, police and administration in Terai by Madhesi people; cessation of Maoist atrocities and return of seized lands; compensation to Madhesi martyrs, among others.
Government mobilises teams for distribution of citizenship certificates
Maoists to claim post of speaker in interim legislature Maoist leaders said that they will strongly raise the agendas raised during the decade long insurgency in the interim legislature.
Sunsari district court vandalised
MPs file numerous proposals for amendment of interim constitution 25 MPs including Chakra Bastola of NC, and Gobinda Bahadur Shah of NC-Democratic have filed proposal seeking amendment to clearly specify them as elected MPs in the constitution ......... The UML has sought some changes including adoption of proportional representation electoral system during Constituent Assembly elections; holding of a separate referendum to decide the fate of monarchy; provision of removing the Prime Minister through two-third majority of the parliament; and inclusion of only PM, Chief Justice and Speaker in the constitutional council. ...... RJP president Surya Bahadur Thapa has filed amendment proposal seeking provision of appointing PM who enjoys two-third support of MPs and who has to obtain vote of confidence within a month of assuming office. The NSP-A has sought fresh delimitation of electoral constituencies based on population. The RPP, on the other hand, wants formation of local bodies with the consensus of all parties in the interim parliament; reconstitution of constitutional and judicial council; and adoption of federal system.

Interim constitution tabled at HoR; PM, Prachanda discuss promulgation process NepalNews
NC chooses its 10 MPs
NCD, NSP (A) nominate new MPs Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakashman Singh, Dr. Minendra Rijal, Dr.Prakash Sharan Mahat, Pradeep Giri and Uma Adhikari. ...... Anandi Devi Singh, Bharat Bimal Yadav and Govinda Tharu ... Sujata Koirala, Shekhar Koirala, KB Gurung, Meena Pandey, Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Sita Devi Yadav, Laxman Ghimire, Shobhakar Parajuli, Suprabha Ghimire, Meetharam Bishwokarma ‘Dukhi’.
Cabinet approves interim constitution
Rights body demands amendment in interim statute, release of HLPC report
Speaker believes MPs will have adequate time to discuss interim statute
PFN, NWPP select names for interim parliament Kaman Singh Lama, Anjana Bishankhe and Asarphi Sada ...... Sunil Prajapati (Bhaktapur), Jaya Bahadur Shahi (Dailekh) and Lila Nayiechaiyei
NC's stance on monarchy will be historic: Sitaula Nepal will enter a new era on the day the Nepali Congress (NC) comes out with its policy on the monarchy....... has been struggling against the monarchy since 2007 BS .... directed party cadres to play active and alert role in distribution of citizenship certificates and help update voters’ list