I have known Khagendra Sangraula since 1996, when he and I squared off in an informal discussion program on "poets and poetry" at Martin Chautari. His point was that "poets and poetry" get no respect in Nepal; my point was that poets are the pampered lot in Nepal, and they'd better grow up instead of always complaining. Later, in one of the Leftist magazines, Khagendra actually wrote very nice things about me, making me famous in the Leftist circles We've kept in touch since (I've been to his house several times) though he very well knows that I do NOT share his ideology, but I do love his choice of words that he uses in his Nepali-language pieces. It was he who encouraged me to take certain works of Nepali literature seriously, and developed a reading-list for me. That list was later published on the Net and in Himal magazine. [Still, to date, I am going through that list, and now have 25 more books to read.] I like Khagendra Sangraula personally; but intellectually I find it hard to respect him. ***** Here are my two PROMINENT reasons. ***** During the infamous Rhitik Roshan Kanda (December 2001), for instance, when -- in the heat of the times -- arsonists went about to set Gopi Krishna Cinema Hall in Chabel on fire, Khagendra wrote a piece PRAISING that action. He called the owner of the hall "an Indian agent", and argued that Hindi movies should never be shown in Nepal. Regardless of what one thinks of Hindi movies, how can a writer publicly praise destruction of private property, and then incite the mob all the more with his pen? Sangrala offered no apology and showed no sense of remorse/contrition about his action. ***** When a Leftist editor published naked photos of a young Nepali actress (Srisha Karki) in October 2002, that actress ended up committing suicide. It later became clear that that editor had been blackmailing the actress for years. Surprisingly, there was NOT a single word of protest (organised or otherwise) from Khagendra Dai or from any of these Leftist stalwarts who have a stump speech ready when it comes to talking about women's empowerment. It was very clear that the Nepali Left decided NOT to touch that editor simply because, well, he too was a fellow- Leftist. [I have often said on Sajha that shared political ideology goes a long way in Nepal.] The issue died after a while. Karki is dead. That editor Kishore Shrestha is still running his newspaper. And NO thanks to Khagendra Dai who could not risk taking on one of his Leftist comrades for a clear criminal act. *********** Whatever one thinks of Miss Nepal Contest, it has to be defended for the simple reason that what 18-plus-year-old Nepali women (or men) decide to do -- with eyes wide open and with full access to information - is their business and their business alone. The Miss Nepal Contest is neither illegal, nor it uses up public funds. If Khagendra Dai is really progressive, he should be PROTESTING against the fact that these 18-plus-year-old Nepali women need parental approval to take part in the contest, as though these young women (who canvote to elect their own Members of Parliament) can't decide for themselves what they want to do. Now, that's a throwback to old conservative times, isn't it? Why isn't the Left protesting that? But no, Nepali Left is muddled PRECISELY because it is never comfortable with INDIVIDUAL sexual freedom (regardless of whether one approves or disapproves of it). That's why it has REDUCED to whipping up nationalism and lofty "anti-capitalistic" rhetoric to tamp such freedoms down "to preserve our culture", as though they are the ultimate Moral Police on our collective behalf. It is that muddle of the Left that I find more entertaining -- intellectually -- than the Miss Nepal contest. oohi ashu