Partial transition

For long we have been living in an era marked by uncertainty, despair and disappointment. The flowery word for this state—transition—is translated as Sankraman in Nepali. It’s a striking irony that this is also the word for infection in our language.



Politicians indulge in brinkmanship over issues of the past. Dead ideologies and rhetoric in the name of ‘transition’ has dominated the discourse. [break]





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 And basic tenets of Democracy—people’s participation, transparency, value of justice and culture of inclusion, are far from taking root in the system. In this mayhem, the common people look at the process with utter confusion and distrust.



Fresh in our memory is the absolute failure of a ‘could be’ historic process. The hope, hype and hysteria created around the Constituent Assembly elections last time were phenomenal. It was also symbolic of the end of era of violence. It came with a promise of peace and prosperity.

The outcome, however, disappointed us all. This ‘no-gains’ situation has been traumatizing for people’s faith in politics. To say the least, the politicians should realize that the transition has stretched a bit too far now.



For the nation, a period of a decade or two may be just a small part of its history. But for an individual, those productive years of life are all that is there. As a result, fleeing the country in the name of foreign employment is at the highest ever. The drop in voter registration is alarming. And in general, cynicism has dislodged hysteria.

However, there is no denying that there are core political issues to be settled. At the heart of the matter is the phenomenon of an unresolved war of ideas. This clash is a continuation of the ever present war within human civilization between the radicals and the conservatives.



When politically opposite groups believe with equal conviction in their own right of representing the ‘people’, the point of agreement is hard to be found. And when they do not even agree on the means to follow to gain that ‘right’—irresolution is searing, legality of established powers is a matter of suspect, and the people are left powerless.



This vacillation, combined with moral bankruptcy and leadership failure has resulted in the chaos that we see today. A hype of ‘once-more-historic’ cannot be created easily for the upcoming elections. Hence, political parties with radical ideologies are banking on either populist or coercive means to ensure a favorable outcome. As a result, movie actors and even criminals with proven track record of murders (not political or conflict related) are qualifying for the task of representing the people.



Politics everywhere starts in the name of ideals. And as a means to fructify those ideals, gaining power becomes an objective. The compulsion to gain power at any cost results in the drift towards an immoral system where the corrupt help each other, criminals get political positions, and the state’s authority is denuded. Often, this lays the foundation of a failed state, unless an intervention comes early for a rescue.



Sadly, for Nepal the forces capable of such intervention are of external origin.

Much of the stand of external players in Nepal’s Peace Process sounds like appeasement. They are guilty of intentional over-ignorance. And the implications of ‘mentoring the beast’ are dangerous. The natural outcome is impunity and lack of political morality.

It is proven time and again that violence, once accepted as a ‘legal’ means to demand change, sets as an atavism in the society. At the slightest possibility of an outlet, it erupts again.



This time around, before the elections the zest for the ‘peace’ is missing. And, for the expats, a career making opportunity on the historic hysteria is lacking. Hence, the transition to chaos goes unnoticed. Most of the external forces are too jaded to get hyped or psyched.



Some ‘progressive’ intellectuals of the nation, as always, have taken clues from the external players. Some ultra- progressives, who were radical in their approach to demanding change the first time have taken a backseat as well. Some among them are finding it more rewarding to focus down south now.

The wheel takes a full circle. It is interesting to note how the ‘progressive’ intellectuals have transformed into being the status-quoists. They refuse to question the mainstream now. In coming days, ‘radical politics’ itself may be redefined in Nepal.



Recently, I joined a nineteen year old boy who had gathered a group of youngsters in front of the office of the Election Commission of Nepal. They were protesting against candidates with criminal records. It borders audacity, but also portrays hope.

Ishaan—a tall and handsome teenager wearing the black Bhadgaule Topi—is now a known figure in all of the protest sites. He has been continuously advocating for pro-human rights, anti-strike and pro-democracy issues.



This group of youngsters displays an audacity driven by hope. They dare to shout slogans against the ‘failed ones’ and demand an opportunity for the youth. And, I notice that people passing by observe with keenness. The traffic police have to occasionally interfere to prevent a traffic jam.



Change is a much exploited term. And so is audacity. For us, people belonging to a nation whose politics has been hijacked by the rhetoric of ‘change’ yet nothing really seems to be changing, in audacity lies the only hope. Hence, a frustrated man who dared to slap Pushpa Kamal Dahal is made a hero by some.

Glimpses of a demand for ‘change’ are evident. People have started openly protesting against prevalent political forms and methods. It’s for sure that the forces which have benefitted in the past by the ever present hunger for change will have to face it upfront now.



It is a matter of momentary political wisdom to distinguish between change and continuity. When we learn from history, the relationship between them is complex. An acute observer cannot miss the point that they have been constantly transforming themselves into each other.

Which way does ‘change’ sway now and who exploits it will be important to note in coming times.



The author is a freelance writer based in Kathmandu



dinkar.nepal@yahoo.com

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