Nispaksha, Talking about underlying currents is not helpful, because human beings being human beings will always find their PREFERRED positions as the representative of the so-called undercurrents whether or not that's true in reality. I mean, if we are talking about underlying currents, then, let's be honest to say that there are underlying currents for every possibility in Nepal: the currents for King's taking over absolutely are there, and so are the the currents for the Maoists' taking over totally, and so on and on. That said, I have no trouble accepting that my ideas -- projected into the future -- are hypothesis, yet to be borne out by realities. But by the same token, let's also think of the republican agenda as just another hypothesis, yet to be borne out by realities, and treat it as such. [My challenge to Nepe is that if he really thinks that it such an important agenda, then he should head back and excite the Nepalis doing the andolan on the sadak. Anything less is only a suburban lament.] You see, what I don't understand is: Why is it that when it comes to republicanism, you guys are so CERTAIN about it EVEN when the evidence on the ground is mixed at best? Because you can somehow intuit the clear-cut underlying currents in the favor of republicanism? At this rate, you might as well hire a Ratna park ko suga-jyotisi. As for Sangraula: Parties can barely walk. We've seen them stumble so many times. Now he expects them to run. Sangraula changed his tune to scold the parties -- an admission that they goofed up. This is quite a change from his hagiographic workship of the parties last spring when they were no different. oohi ashu