Nepal Shares Joy, Sorrow with Two Nations
Kathmandu, Aug 15 – As India celebrated its 64th Independence Day Sunday with pride and pomp and Bangladesh mourned for the assassination of the architect of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 35 years ago, the two nations’ South Asian neighbour Nepal shared the joy and sorrow of both.
Ignoring a transport strike called by an indigenous group, dozens of people queued up at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to attend the hoisting of the Indian tricolour by the Indian ambassador, Rakesh Sood, and the reading out of the address to the nation by the Indian President, Pratibha Patil.
Gyan Hari Acharya travelled on bad roads worsened by the monsoon for three days to attend the celebrations. The principal of the Shree Lamchi Lower Secondary School came from Ar-ghakhanchi, one of the worst-affected districts during the 10-year Maoist insurgency.
His school is among the 25 institutions chosen this year for the Indian government’s annual gift of books to libraries.
The embassy also donated 16 ambulances and four buses to Nepali organisations.
One of the highlights of the Independence Day celebrations was the launch of Bhu Puu 2010, the annual journal of ex-servicemen.
Hundreds of Nepalis have been serving in the Indian Army since its inception in 1947 and close on the heels of the 64th Independence Day, the Indian Army has flown in a team of specialist doctors from India to hold a medical camp in Butwal town from Tuesday.
Gorkha soldiers who once fought for the Indian Army will turn up at the camp to collect their pension. Hundreds will also bring ailing family members to receive medical treatment, cataract operations and medicine.
While the mood in the sprawling embassy grounds was one of hope and pride, at the Bangladesh Embassy, it was sombre as former freedom fighters and diplomats mourned the slaying of Sheikh Mujib, known as Bangabandhu, the friend of India.
Bangladesh observes Aug 15 as the day of national mourning in remembrance of ‘the most barbaric political assassination in history’ in 1975 when Sheikh Mujib and 18 more people were gunned down, including his wife and three sons.
The national flag was flown at half-mast while the message by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujib’s daughter Sheikh Hasina, renewed the pledge to find the remaining assassins, who have fled the country, and bring them to justice.
The message also said that it has begun a trial to punish war criminals – people who had committed atrocities during the freedom movement of 1971 that led to then East Pakistan separating from Pakistan to become the sovereign republic of Bangladesh.
(Sudeshna Sarkar can be contacted at sudeshna.s@ians.in)
Posted by Vamban
on Aug 15, 2010 @ 1:06 PM Filed under Asia, Nepal, World News.
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Dear Editor,
Yes, it is regretful for all. The transport strikes and protests by an indigenous group of Nepal disturbed the – 64th Independence Day of Indian Embassy and Bangala Desh mourned Day in Kathmandu. Actually, the indigenous groups are confused about their agendas.
Secularism and ethnic-based federalism is not the issue of Nepal. In the context of Nepal, this will be a suicidal task. It will break the unity of the Nepalese people. Actually, federalism means feudalism which can’t give the solution for the lower castes and poor. Similarly, secularism also encourages religious terrorism. Due to secularism and federalism, the Constituent Assembly can’t do anything; it will only be a missile to destroy Nepal. The Maoist model of federalism which is based on ethnicity can disintegrate the country. Racial federalism can never develop the norms of democracy. But, why the so-called indigenous groups are playing the puzzled game?
I support the opinion by Professor David Seddon of London (keen observer of Nepalese perspective) states -’ Federalism is a big mistake, for Nepal. This is not necessary to defend the interests of majorities or the interest of minorities. The cause of women, or Dalits or Janajaties can be protected in other ways. The Madheshis- whoever they may be- can divide and be a relatively autonomous. But immediately, this will provoke movements against it. I would argue very strongly that there is no need for federalism, as it is undesirable, undemocratic and profoundly divisive- published in The Kathmandu Post (16 Mar.2009).
A Nepali scholar S.R. Devkota says- Nepal’s ethnic diversity is unique in the world in terms of the social structure and capital. We should be really proud of the very diverse social-genetic variables present in such a tiny country.
The irresponsible party leaders and the indigenous groups want to make this country another Kashmir and Afghanistan. I think you have heard the situation of Sri Lanka. Since 1800 AD, Tamils were sent to Sri Lanka by East-India-Company as workers in the rubber & wood farms from Tamilnadu of India. The King Ashoka had followed Buddhism in Sri Lanka since 2600 years ago. Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. In the meantime, there were 70 percent Buddhists there and Hindu-Tamils were minorities. After1971, religious and language discrimination between Singhalese and Tamils led to a confrontation. Then in 1979, the Tamil based terrorist organization LTTE declared war for an independent state under the leadership of the young Pravakaran. Now, the 30 years’ long LTTE’s armed struggle is over. The separatists in Sri Lanka have been defeated by the nationalist army though the war claimed 75 thousands live, including that of Pravakaran. Meanwhile several foreign-initiated ‘peace talks,’ peace force’ and ‘mediation’ failed in bringing about peace. But the determination of the Sri Lankan people, president, government and army enjoyed victory. So, we must learn from the lessons of Sri Lanka.
So, I request the strike Groups, never do so such activities.
Thank you.
Dirgha Raj Prasai
Political Analyst.
Kathmandu.