What exactly is democracy? I am all for DEFENDING Paramendra's right to free speech without necessarily agreeing with the CONTENT of his speech. There is a distinction there, please take note. So long as Paramendra does not instigate violence or does not get involved in acts of physical violence with others over his political beliefs and takes full responsibility for his speech, he is welcome to say anything he wants to his heart's content. And just because he says something brilliant or stupid, that NEVER means that his voice has to be heard and acknowledged by all. In other words, defending Paramendra’s freedom of speech means that his right to speech should be guaranteed, NOT his right to be heard too. He has to earn that (second) right by himself. True, some people – with their sophisticated sense of gentility -- might get offended by what Bhagat has to say. If so, the solution for them is to STOP visiting his blog. After all, Bhagat's blog is NOT the only one out there. Personally, as a democrat, I am more offended to see some people always ganging up on Bhagat and even going to the extent of boycotting him than by anything Bhagat posts on his blog (which, I find, both entertaining and informative). The guy is obviously very smart. Writes well. Argues well. Is fiercely passionate about what he believes in. And does NOT conform to your typically safe and heart-warming "Nepali success story" of any sort. How refreshing! And if you shrug off his bundle of self-referential remarks, I think he is saying things that are worth debating about – even when you do not agree with them. And so -- as a Pahadia bahun -- I say: keep it up, Paramendra: keep up your participation in this marketplace of ideas with all its attendant rewards and risks. oohi ashu