Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal, USA

Proudly Announces

?Bichaar Bimarsha?
A periodic socio-political discussions on Nepal
______________________________________________________________________
Co-Sponsors:

Human Rights Working Group, SIPA, Columbia University
South Asian Institute, SIPA, Columbia University

STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY IN NEPAL:
ROLES OF, AND CHALLENGES FOR, YOUTHS
Interaction with Gagan Thapa

Gagan Thapa is a former General Secretary of Nepal Student Union, student wing of Nepali Congress -- the largest political party in Nepal. He is undoubtedly the most prominent student leader who has become one of the leading figures in the current struggle for democracy in Nepal. He was jailed numerous times after the February 1, 2005 royal takeover on charges of ?sedition against the state? for his outspoken stance against King Gyanendra?s regime. Amnesty International had declared him a ?prisoner of conscience,? since he had been detained despite his peaceful and legitimate activities in support of democracy and human rights in Nepal. His release was procured on each occasion only under tremendous pressure from various human rights organizations and international governments.

*Mr. Thapa?s presentation will be in Nepali. Written English transcripts of his major points will be available for non-Nepali audience.
** Q & A session will be held in English, with a translation help from the moderator if needed.

Venue:
Columbia University, W. 116th Street and Broadway.
(Exact room location will be announced later.)

Subway:
# 1 or # 9 to 116th Street Station.

Time: 5:00 pm

Date: Saturday, October 22nd, 2005.

Admission: Free

Questions? Call Anil: 917-670-1057 or, Sanjaya: 917-902-2667

I think it is good to have critical inputs. As Nepalese, we have been betrayed a lot. All the fake promises. I am not saying that Gagan will end up as the same old leaders, but as a Nepali everybody got a rights to raise questions. Obviously people will be skeptical as nobbody delivered the promises.

Now the bottom line I am trying to say is he has to practice what he says. I think we need a new leader and he might be the right one. But he gotta stop targeting schools and forced closures.

My 2 cents.

Peace

Well said highfly.

Everything is fine but I was just wondering what VISA is GAGAN on, visiter or some sorta political!! Mo ni gayara neta banna lagekho, feri amrika aaiyara bhasan dina parcha ni maile ni.

~peace~

Gagane jasta neta ta katti aaye katti gaye.... seriousely is he talking just becasue he has already been brainwashed by US State Department??? Forget about him brainwashing State Department... ha ha.. don't joke, man.

......honestly man...tyo 'kansiri ko rau tatne' bhanchhan ni.....that's exactly how I feel every time I read this man's comments.

Sirish, very nice indeed.

Highfly, I understand your point that some people are skeptical beacause of the past broken promises by leaders, however I feel that it is totally unreasonable to dismiss Gagan Thapa's ideas just because everybody else failed in the past. I think it's absurd for anyone to expect Gagan Thapa to 'deliver' as it is obvious that he's not in a position to deliver at this point in time. He's doing all he can do at the moment by getting a lot of people from younger generation to think about how they can bring about brighter future for Nepal.

Yes, I agree campuses should be kept off politics. However, that's not going to happen anytime soon because they represent the more educated group in Nepal and are naturally first to react to social injustices inflicted onto people by the rulers. I am optimistic that eventually we'll achieve peaceful environment for education.

Kick,

I do hope that there is peace in Nepal and not only in education sector. But I have some expereince in public colleges. The ones who wanna study do not get the chance because of these school poltics. Most of the time, the people involved in these poltics are those who are stuck in the schools forever and the gang bangers.

It seems, Gagan could be reached. Thats why I mentioned my grief. These seems to be small things but they really bring the turn around. We need a leader that listens to us not the other way round.

Gagan, might not be able to deliver. But if he consider these facts then he might get the much needed public support. He might force to change the leadership and be ready to bring the democracy. A real one. Not for the leaders, not for the maoists, not for the royals. But for the people.

There is no harm thinking about this: Is it the State Department of USA talking to you guys through Gagan Thapa??? Think carefully.

Some of you guys might have problems with my comments because you guys probably already like Gagan Thapa due to your political biasness... in my case, neither do I like him nor hate him.

Prem_dai, now I'm seeing what you are seeing. I know Gagan from back in da days. Dunno if he is the same dude as before or not, but yeah i did watch his boston interview and began to wonder all the things that came outta his mouth didn't come directly from his mind. He is being feed by someone somewhere!!

I appreciate his work and everything but he being a leader now tyo pani GIRIJA KO PARTY ko student union. Dunno how much to trust him, you know what i'm saying.

NepaliPoonte said "he being a leader now tyo pani GIRIJA KO PARTY ko student union"..
He is not in the student Union anymore and nor was he following the path of Girija.. so just because someone from the party was corrupted.,... u are going accuse everyone from that party eh.

Ubiquitous, Isn't this what be been saying to ourselves since 90?? We've been leavin in denial for all these years my friend, its time for all of us to change!!

I know Gagan Da really well and I have my full support to him, no doubt bout that....the only question is how much to trust another leader!!

Gagan da, if ya planning to fight this differently than yes, I'm in!!

~peace~

Shirish,

Thanks for sharing your thoughtful ghazal in this strategically important thread.

Here are two ghazals that I think compliment your ghazal and so very relevant to the thread, one from our own Bhaute and the other from Dhirendra Premarshi.

"भउतेको गजल-३"

मध्यान्हमै आँखा भुसुक्क नहोस
स्पष्ट होस काम खुसुक्क नहोस

क्रान्तिको ज्वाला अझ दन्किनु पर्छ
फुसको आगो झैँ फुसुक्क नहोस

आगनको विस्कुन अल्पत्रै छाडि
"ग्रीन सिग्नल" मै लुसुक्क नहोस

फुटे गोबर मिल्ला, जुटेमा राज्य
भाइ-भाइ बीच छुसुक्क नहोस

सम्झौतामा सधैँ धोका नै त हुन्छ
भागबन्डा गरि ठुसुक्क नहोस

अट्टहासले मरुन् बचे खुचेका
विजयको हासो मुसुक्क नहोस

From Premarshi. . .

I heard Dhirendra Premarshi in one of the नागरिक सभा when I was at Kathmandu...
Good writing indeed!!! touched my hear, and So energetic when he versed them in front of mass!!!
सबले पाइला चालौँ साथीहरु एक न एक दिन अवश्य पुगिन्छ गन्तव्यमा!!!...:)
अब भउते दाइको त के कुरा गरौं र, उहाँको कुरै बेग्लै!!...:)
And My two cents:
If u can't lead then follow, बेकाराँ यो त्यस्तो भो यो यस्तो भनेर के भन्छौ, सक्छ भने ल आफै निकालौ ल नेपाललाइ बचाउने उपाय!!! हाम्रो देशाँ अझ २ ४ दर्जनजना नयाँ पुस्ताका देश हाँक्ने भिजन भे'को नेता चाहिएको छ!!! सकिन्छ भने आफै निस्कौ लगाम थाम्न, सकिदैन भने त्यहि बुढाहरुको पछि लागम ,नभे चुप लागेर बसुम!!.....:)
Nirman~*

Same curiosity as nepalipoonte. In which visa is Gagan Thapa in US? If with student visa, I hope he studies well here rather than being politically active back home rather than studying or letting others to study. Is he here for temporary seminars or join us in our talk about Nepal staying out of Nepal.

NepaliPoonte, I do understand why people here get irritated because of my comments.... it's their political biasness, they think, is being attacked. They really should have to come out of that box, if they really want Nepal to go forward. One should realize that a person need not have political inclination to diiscuss politics!!

As for Gagan, he should remember this: he is in USA because USA want him to be now!!!! So who is he???? Think about that!!! the hint could be "Puppet".. so he should be careful!!!

And we too !!!!

Well written Gazal! Makiyeko khamo falne ta bhaneko ho, but I see lots of people in Sajha busy in HILO Chypna. I just request you guys : if you dont have some thing nice to tell , then dont say any thing at all. Gagan is a potential young leader. He has seen how the contry suffers from the corrupt pilitics as well. Its our responsibility to make him aware but not to blame him before he does something wrong.

Gagan was in J1 visa.

There is no chance for him to stayin the US as some of the people have doubted that he would ask for refuge status. Shame on those people who could think like that to some one who does not care about himself, (and who hass sacrificed the pleasures of his life).
He has better things to do for Nepal's future !

prem dai wtrote:
Gagane jasta neta ta katti aaye katti gaye....

Yes people like Gagan are sacrifing their life in Nepal for basic human rights. And for you Pram dai, people like him are shit. Well, Gagan and his friends have lived in the shit infested environment in the Nepalese jails.
Thanks God you are not in Nepal but enjoying your life to utmost where ever you are, what ever you are.

BTW, Prem dai who is your idol who would revolt against own party for restructuring, reconstitutioning and demand change of leadership within the party so vocally?
Who in your mind would be so clean, capable and leader for tomorrow's Nepal?

Sandhurst Lahure,
Oh we met in ASAD: shirish writes a sher a day thread, (which is still alive).
I was so "makkha" with your comments but now that sage, questions about our meeting. Kya bore bho !

Nepe,
Thank you as always for your kind and constructive comments. I got excited with the response to the ghazal and I added one more sher. I am in the process of revising whole ghazal now.


श्रद्दामा झुक्ने मेरो शिर, मुकुटको भारले झुक्न नपरोस् !
ईज्जत जोगाउन सगरमाथाको छायामा लुक्न नपरोस् !

-----------
स्वतन्त्र जगमा कानूनी घरको, झ्याल ढोका खुल्ला होस्,
भ्रष्ट, चोरलाई चिनेर कुकुरले, कहिल्यै भुक्न नपरोस् !!

I am reposting an old ghazal I wrote long before Gagan Thapa, Gururaj Ghimire and Purishottam Acharya haru ventured to warm the streets of Kathmandu with revolutionary slogans of a republic democracy.

The ghazal reflects my frustration with 12 years of lost, spoilt and confused democracy.

Towards the end of 2003, a new hope would replace my frustration. And yes, Gagan Thapa was a part of that hope.

I am posting the ghazal in order to identify with the frustration shared by some of the posters here.

(The protagonist of the ghazal is political leadership and the beloved is the people)

- http://www.nepalipost.com/past/literature/literature4.html#45

गजल
जनवरी २५, २००३

तिमी आउने हल्ला थियो, म बाटो ढुकेर बसें
तिमी आयौ, तिमी गुज्रियौ, म लुकेर बसें

अलिकति बरालिएँ, अलिकति ओरालिएँ
तिमी नहुँदा, समय छँदा, चुकेर बसें

हाम्रो जम्काभेटमा के के हुन्थ्यो, अनभिज्ञ छु
तिम्रो नजर पर्नु अगावै प्रायः झुकेर बसें

टोलको नामी गुण्डासँग तिमी देखियौ, म निरुपाय
हाम्रो पुरानो घागडान प्रेमको हल्ला फुकेर बसें

हतारमा मागेको एक फिलिङ्गो निभिसकेको रै'छ
म चाहिं बाह्र वर्ष चुल्हो फु फु फुकेर बसें

एउटा विचित्रको शान्ति महसुस गर्दैछु आज
हिजोदेखि म आफ्नै इतिहासलाई थुकेर बसें

_________

नेपेगुरु
आभारि छु, भउतेको गजल टाँसिदिनु भएकोमा। आजकाल जाँगरमा झार पलाएको छ।
सारै नै चित्त बुझेको शेर।
हतारमा मागेको एक फिलिङ्गो निभिसकेको रै'छ
म चाहिं बाह्र वर्ष चुल्हो फु फु फुकेर बसें
तपाईँ कै भाषामा भन्नु पर्दा मेरो लागि उक्त गजलको "हुस्न-ए-गजल"।
०४६ सालको "ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धि" को सटिक परिचय।

:-)
-भउते

Yo prem dai- seems like u know everything and everyone why dont u become neta?