It’s a very parochial when we can’t go beyond the semantics of the ‘national entities.’ I am pretty sure every Nepali is proud of our emblems – be they are called ‘national’ or not. If it means anything, I am from Hills and come from one of the so-called upper castes. I have had my pride in Daura Suruwal and Dhaka/Bhadgaunle topi and I still do, not because it was my national dress but it was/is my culture. Notwithstanding that belief, I feel proud to see other Nepali ethnic groups in their own attire or daura suruwal, if they prefer. It’s a personal choice. The same feeling doesn’t evoke when I see a person in casual western dress. This doesn’t preclude the whole idea of Nepaliness. It goes beyond what’s outside the skin to what’s inside it. I digress.

I would rather not have a national dress than have one that excludes a third of the population and tangentially perpetuate discrimination. Just my viewpoint.  I respect Daura Suruwal just as much as I respect other ethnic costumes.  Yet, this matter is equally important to me as any other Nepali. I see a systematic injustice laden by the establishment to forcefully integrate beyond the idea of Nepaliness- not the nominal Citizenship paper but the realignment of one’s belief to go a mile further to prove you are a Nepali. Why are our most national emblems representatives only of hills? Coincidence? I don’t think so.

There are other countries too which do not have a single national dress. Not surprisingly, they too are multi-cultural and one set of attire didn’t represent all ethnic groups. So, is the case of language, religion, food, and so on. It’s imperative upon all of us to ensure every one of us is represented in our national codes.  If diversity ensures unity, and paradoxically uniformity, why can’t we have it?

It's a pity that we resort to uncivil discussion every time we have an important national issue at hand. Almost always the debate disintegrates into ad hominem. Why is anyone who disagrees to a popular sentiment a stupid, or worse yet both stupid and unpatriotic? Let’s have a rational discourse and a modicum of civility.