WHEN AMBASSADORS IN NEPAL VIOLATE PROTOCOL, PEOPLE PROTEST IN THE STREETS
Posted by The Himalayan Voice:
[Nepal has remained Hindu country for a long time. King Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723 - 1775) said he was a 'Hindupati' or a Hindu ruler. Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana's Muluki Ain i.e. Nepal Civil Code - 1854 coerced and proselytized non-Hindus in the country to Hindu faith and the spirited national campaign continued until 1975. Nar Bahadur Gurung of Pokhara, who must have been a Buddhist by his faith, was also proselytized and made Shudra in King Tribhuvan's coronation on February 20, 1913, Dil Man Singh Thapa – a Magar of Midwest Nepal was also made Shudra in King Mahendra's coronation ceremony on May 05, 1956 and Padma Sunder Lawoti – a Limbu of East Nepal also became Shudra and sprinkled 'holy waters' from different holy sources on the head of King Birendra at his coronation ceremony on March 10,1975. This is why the Nepalese National Population Census data shows Hindu folks over 80 % of the country's total population and which Adivasi Janajati folks decry as a 'Mithyank' - make-believe population census.]
By B. K. Rana
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| An Annapurna Post screen grab |
Commenting on a thread this morning - '[Right to Conversion] The British Ambassador to Nepal Violates Protocol' - one of our Email-List Members, who is an enlightened sociologist of Nepal, sent a three-line message from Kathmandu - "Protocol does not apply in New Nepal. Any foreigner can say and do whatever they like. And, they are doing so here."
A bizarre news has hit the internet from Kathmandu that the British Ambassador to Nepal His Excellency Andy Sparkes, reportedly in an open letter, has 'urged' Nepal's Constituent Assembly Members to make sure 'Right to Conversion' is enshrined in the New Constitution ! Unfortunately, however, we have not been able to find the transcript of the letter to excerpt here to our readers what the ambassador has actually written. (Nothing as such could be found posted on the British Embassy Kathmandu portal neither has the ambassador refuted it.) We are relying on online posts and some street protest pictures from Kathmandu against what the ambassador is reported to have stated in his open letter. Does not it sound weirder ? It really does. Why would have Ambassador Sparkes required to come out so vocal ? Is not it a violation of protocol ? Yes, it really is.
Ambassador Sparkes' 'Right to Conversion' implies 'Conversion to Christian Faith' but not to Buddhist faith, other faiths or the indigenous beliefs in the country. After 1990 Nepalese people are being alarmingly allured to Christian faith that fundamentally followed Former US President Jimmy Carter's remark, so to say - concern, in front of King Birendra that human-rights were not respected in Nepal: 'when you proselytize you will get persecuted'. It is understandable what could have been an impoverished small Himalayan country's embarrassed King's answer to President Carter at that time, that depends mostly on western assistance ?
A tell-all video embedded below is enough how rural folks or tribal peoples like: Rautes are being proselytized in Nepal. The Raute headman in the video is asked whether he had heard of Jesus Christ before ? The question is outrageous. Where is Raute people's own human rights ? Shouldn't they live by themselves practicing what their ancestors had practiced for the ages or do we need to convert them to some other faiths that they have never heard of before? Does Ambassador Sparkes want to convert tribal folks like Rautes also to Christian faith by ensuring their right to conversion in Nepalese Constitution ? Does the British 'unwritten' Constitution have any such provision or article ? No, it does not have one.
Jesus in Raute's Jungle
[GOSPEL AMONG RAUTE TRIBES IN NEPAL.]
Nepal has remained Hindu country for a long time. King Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723 - 1775) said he was a 'Hindupati' or a Hindu ruler. Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana's Muluki Ain i.e. Nepal Civil Code - 1854 coerced and proselytized non-Hindus in the country to Hindu faith and the spirited national campaign continued until 1975. Nar Bahadur Gurung of Pokhara, who must have been a Buddhist by his faith, was also proselytized and made Shudra in King Tribhuvan's coronation on February 20, 1913, Dil Man Singh Thapa – a Magar of Midwest Nepal was also made Shudra in King Mahendra's coronation ceremony on May 05, 1956 and Padma Sunder Lawoti – a Limbu of East Nepal also became Shudra and sprinkled 'holy waters' from different holy sources on the head of King Birendra at his coronation ceremony on March 10,1975. This is why the Nepalese National Population Census data shows Hindu folks over 80 % of the country's total population and which Adivasi Janajati folks decry as a 'Mithyank', make-believe population census.
The actual Hindu population should be around 50 % or less if Brahman-Chhetris, Yadavs, Thakuris and Dalits etc. are put altogether in one box. The Chhetri population is a mixed bag and forms the largest size almost by 16% of the total population and to which many Magars and others seem to have converted themselves.
Whether Secular or Not ?
Nowadays, Nepal is a secular country but it used to be a Hindu Nation until 2008. Some Hindu folks demand Hindu Rashtra (Hindu Nation) back in the country. One of the prominent leaders and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba once told in a public programme that a country of democratic governance can't have its specific religion. The President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav also echoed the same and told Nepal will remain a secular country. But on the other hand, some people have begun Mechi to Mahakali Walk for Hindu Nation Nepal. And likewise, the World Hindu Council has said in a communique recently that the Indian State of Himanchal Pradesh will be declared a Hindu State in March 2015 and no Islamist or Christian would be allowed to enter it. The Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj has proposed Geeta, as the national treatise of India. Professor Yellapragada Sudershan Rao has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research(ICHR), which may fund for rewriting Indian national history. They might also attempt to write or tell 'Taj Mahal' was actually 'Tejo+maha+alaya' previously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's team that should include RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat also, so to say, BJP would like to see a saffronized Nepal. And, although it is called a secular country, Hindu tradition and such other collective practices persist in the country. The Hindu national festival Dashain remains intact as usual.It is the state sponsored festival of Nepal. So, in essence Nepal still remains a Hindu country but the orthodox Hindu folks do not seem much worried about the mushrooming Islamist Madrasas in the Nepalese Terai belt. They only seem worried about Christian missionaries in the country.
Modi's Bodhi Tree Brings Controversy
In November while in Nepal for SAARC Summit, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi could not visit Lumbini, Janakpur and Muktinath Temple in Mustang district. He actually had wanted to go to those places but controversy flared up as to whether he should address general public or distribute some 3000 bicycles to the needy Nepalese folks also or not? We do not fully understand whether Mr. Modi had thought those were also his electoral districts.
The controversy began as Nepal's Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Panday and another minister Bimalendra Nidhi gave contradictory statements or spoilt the broth issuing unwise public statements in connection with the impending Modi Visit. Khagendra Sangraula, a noted Nepalese writer and opininator lampooned both the ministers writing '(कूटनीतिमा निर्वस्त्र जात्रा) Kutnitima Nirbashtra Jatra' an 'Unclad Ostentation in Diplomacy'. Modi had, therefore, brought with him a 'Bodhi Sapling' to plant in the Buddha birthplace Lumbini Garden. Since Modi could not go to Lumbini, Ranjit Rae, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, planted the sapling on the western side of the Maya Devi Temple, the World Heritage Site where no trees could be planted at all. The Nepalese Ministry of Culture and Department of Archaeology suggested the ambassador to plant the sapling on some other spot but he did not listen to them and retorted he would fly back Kathmandu without planting the sapling should the authorities barred him where he wanted to plant ! When the tree grows bigger Maya Devi Temple and other important archaeological sites will be at risk of destruction. So, Nepalese archaeologists want the sapling be removed to some other safe location. But according to the news-reports from Kathmandu, Ambassador Rae is showing utterly unyielding attitude towards Nepalese officers and their suggestion.
Both the British and Indian ambassadors to Nepal have violated protocol. This is an ugly interference and negation of Nepalese sovereignty and national pride also. No idea, whether the New Nepal can ask any questions to these ambassadors. For this all to happen, Nepalese leaders are responsible as Khagendra Sangraula, has rightly pointed out that "यिनले देश र जनताका नाक काटे ।" Nepalese ministers, that is to say leaders, have shamed the country and people painfully.
Whether Secular or Not ?
Nowadays, Nepal is a secular country but it used to be a Hindu Nation until 2008. Some Hindu folks demand Hindu Rashtra (Hindu Nation) back in the country. One of the prominent leaders and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba once told in a public programme that a country of democratic governance can't have its specific religion. The President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav also echoed the same and told Nepal will remain a secular country. But on the other hand, some people have begun Mechi to Mahakali Walk for Hindu Nation Nepal. And likewise, the World Hindu Council has said in a communique recently that the Indian State of Himanchal Pradesh will be declared a Hindu State in March 2015 and no Islamist or Christian would be allowed to enter it. The Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj has proposed Geeta, as the national treatise of India. Professor Yellapragada Sudershan Rao has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research(ICHR), which may fund for rewriting Indian national history. They might also attempt to write or tell 'Taj Mahal' was actually 'Tejo+maha+alaya' previously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's team that should include RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat also, so to say, BJP would like to see a saffronized Nepal. And, although it is called a secular country, Hindu tradition and such other collective practices persist in the country. The Hindu national festival Dashain remains intact as usual.It is the state sponsored festival of Nepal. So, in essence Nepal still remains a Hindu country but the orthodox Hindu folks do not seem much worried about the mushrooming Islamist Madrasas in the Nepalese Terai belt. They only seem worried about Christian missionaries in the country.
Modi's Bodhi Tree Brings Controversy
In November while in Nepal for SAARC Summit, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi could not visit Lumbini, Janakpur and Muktinath Temple in Mustang district. He actually had wanted to go to those places but controversy flared up as to whether he should address general public or distribute some 3000 bicycles to the needy Nepalese folks also or not? We do not fully understand whether Mr. Modi had thought those were also his electoral districts.
The controversy began as Nepal's Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Panday and another minister Bimalendra Nidhi gave contradictory statements or spoilt the broth issuing unwise public statements in connection with the impending Modi Visit. Khagendra Sangraula, a noted Nepalese writer and opininator lampooned both the ministers writing '(कूटनीतिमा निर्वस्त्र जात्रा) Kutnitima Nirbashtra Jatra' an 'Unclad Ostentation in Diplomacy'. Modi had, therefore, brought with him a 'Bodhi Sapling' to plant in the Buddha birthplace Lumbini Garden. Since Modi could not go to Lumbini, Ranjit Rae, Indian Ambassador to Nepal, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014, planted the sapling on the western side of the Maya Devi Temple, the World Heritage Site where no trees could be planted at all. The Nepalese Ministry of Culture and Department of Archaeology suggested the ambassador to plant the sapling on some other spot but he did not listen to them and retorted he would fly back Kathmandu without planting the sapling should the authorities barred him where he wanted to plant ! When the tree grows bigger Maya Devi Temple and other important archaeological sites will be at risk of destruction. So, Nepalese archaeologists want the sapling be removed to some other safe location. But according to the news-reports from Kathmandu, Ambassador Rae is showing utterly unyielding attitude towards Nepalese officers and their suggestion.
Both the British and Indian ambassadors to Nepal have violated protocol. This is an ugly interference and negation of Nepalese sovereignty and national pride also. No idea, whether the New Nepal can ask any questions to these ambassadors. For this all to happen, Nepalese leaders are responsible as Khagendra Sangraula, has rightly pointed out that "यिनले देश र जनताका नाक काटे ।" Nepalese ministers, that is to say leaders, have shamed the country and people painfully.
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