dc_girl, I will take a wildest of guesses and say that you didn't live to experience the Rana regime. I didn't either. What you are saying is based on what we have read about the time and generation. I said Rana regime was better for Nepal in terms of social, economical and cultural aspects. Things were in order then. Personally, I could've walked the streets of Kathmandu without fearing any interogations by the army if I stayed out past 8:00 pm. I was safe as long as I minded my own business. I could've lowered my head to my King and noone would've questioned my actions. That's our culture, why are we all of a sudden ashamed to admit that? I am not from either the Shah or the Rana clan. I still believe that I could've prospered better during those times than I did when the good old democracy was introduced in Nepal. I was born and raised in the valley. That's my hometown (gaun bhane pani shahar bhane pani). I am aware of the changes the so called democracy brought to that place. She's been mutilated. The reason if you ask me, is because of the so called democracy. We lived fine back then. Things weren't great (could've been, I agree) but things weren't this out of control. It doesn't take much thought to admit that Panchayat was the ideal system for Nepal and Nepalese. The main reason being it was created for Nepal and her people. It's devoid of foreign caricatures. I guess a lot of you missed class when they taught why King Mahendra introduced this system in Nepal. It is no mystery now that Nepal is stragically placed between two super powers. King Mahendra saw that before some of us were even born. He saw this before India or China had the power and influence they have in the world today. He adopted a system that was different yet somewhat similar to both our neighbours. And guess what, it actually worked! I agree that people in charge took things for granted, and the system was not implemented to its full potential but in principle it's still the best thing that has happenend to Nepal after the unification (which was also led by a Shah King). My intentions are not to preach history here. I would like to believe that peole who express their views in a topic like this know what they are saying and who they are speaking for, with the emphasis being on "would like to believe." Yet, I fail to understand why did we think a democratic system would flourish in Nepal. Democracy succeeds in a place where general people can think for themselves and the next generation in the realms of time. Nepal boasts a literacy rate of under 40%. In a country where people cast their votes based on whether the sun or the tree is important to them, how do you propose that democratic form of government will be a success story. If you are still convinced about this, may be you will be convinced that sun DOES come out of the west as someone pointed out. I was ALMOST impressed by this individual's slur of personal ASSUMPTIONS on how we (Nepalese) have been brainwashed in a certain way that we don't even realize it. It just got me wondering how this protagonist is above us all. How is he able to detach himself from his self and examine people like it's his job. what the heck, who am I kidding. This assumptions is as impressive as a kid telling his/her friends about this boogie man who roams around the streets at night. BOGUS!!! Here's a real analysis for you, Assumptions don't make logic, they just reflect the mindset of idiocy.