Pointed noses, stubby noses, and local elections

It is not a crime nor is it a virtue to be born with a pointed nose. Likewise, it is neither a curse nor attraction to be born with a flat nose. When a Nepali hums a tune, he does not select only one that was put to music by one from his own caste or tribe. It might be a melody given to us by Ambar Gurung or Aruna Lama. Bhupi Serchan is no more, but his poetry is still alive in the minds of countless Nepalis. The Tarai has countless stalwart Nepalis. Just because Harka Gurung´s nose is shaped differently from my Bahun´s nose, why should I be prevented from taking pride as a Nepali in his erudition and learning? Nepal is not a country of Bahuns, nor of Chhetris or Thakuris. Nor can this Nepal be divided into a Mongol Nation, a Limbuan or a Magaraat. True, there once were a Liglig, a Gorkha, a Lamjung and a Tanahun. But that is history. The past. If yesterday´s reality has not survived till-today, it cannot be revived tomorrow. In the future lies an "improved Nepal", which should be the common property of all.

Today, there are all kinds of political forces at play here. Gajendra Narayan Singh of the Sadhbhavana Party warns of domination of the Tarai-basis. Gopal Gurung of the Mongol National Organisation, M.S.Thapa and Goray , Bahadur Khapangi of the Jana Mukti Morcha,rail against Bahun-Chhetri domination of the hill tribal. Certainly, these are not "main-stream" politi-cians, and much of they espouse is negative and ultimately antidevelopment. But you cannot ignore them. Rather than relegate them to a  corner,  we must sift through their demands and search for positive elements. Otherwise, we go the way of the countries of South Asia which did not heed the danger signals in time.