Are Maoists terrorists? I don't think so. Revolutionaries? Yes! The palace called them 'terrorists' because it was so convenient for them. It makes America and India happy and they can get all the military aid they want, they can then use the aid to clamp down on civil liberties of Nepali people, muzzle press freedom, and perpetrate 'state terrorism'. The recent janandolan in Nepal 's loud and ringing message to the palace and to the world at large was: down with state terrorism perpetrated by the palace and its chamcha government. Calling Maoist rebels 'terrorists' provided the palace and its chamcha government a cover to practice even more heinous state terrorism. As the Nepali saying goes: "Jo chor uskai thulo swor." Look at it whichever way, the Janandolan’s verdict is clear: the public enemy number 1 of Nepal is autocratic monarchy, not Maoist Insurgency. The Maoist insurgency was a historical imperative: you cannot overthrow a 200-plus year of oppressive and now obsolete institution of monarchy with mere rhetoric. Little bit of fireworks is called for. I think a new Nepali order is kicking to be born. If natural delivery is not possible, then it has to be a Cesarian, right? Even poet Bhupi said it: bandaina muluk dui char saput marera na gaye, the line that the panchay-mandalays co-opted. If people had been dying to support monarchy, well sure, but they have been dying to overthrow monarchy – the symbol of all that is wrong with Nepal: feudalism, patriarchy, Hindu fundamentalism, with its caste system, ‘afno manchhe syndrome”, etc etc. Look at France (French revolution), even America (civil war/fight for independence), China (overthrow of the imperial order with "mandate from heaven"). The new order, if it comes to fruition in Nepal, would send a message that ‘no one has mandate from heaven to rule Nepal”, not even the so-called Bishnu-incarnate. That king is god is not even a myth, it’s a lie. In light of this, why are people in Sajha.com even discussing 'jhina mina' topics like: are Maoists terrorists? Of course NOT. Better to look at a bigger/historical picture, rather than dwell on ‘jhina mina’ topics.