Ladies and Gentlemen president FDR famously quoted that,” the future lies in the hands of people who believe the beauty of their dreams.”
I would take this platform to share my dreams with you. A dream that I have for every individual, family, society and country. A dream to live in a country where broad based democracy is practiced .A country where the good governance is implemented to uplift the people and not to repress them.
However It does not provide me pleasure to remind you that,” until the 1990’s Nepal was repressed by the minority Rana’s and Shah’s.” This minority ruled over the majority with cruelest measures of repression. They even banned the education facilities to the majority of the people until 1951.
In the 1990’s the political parties vowed to bring in a system of broad based democracy and implement good governance towards upliftment of majority. However the political leaders took this as an opportunity to amass personal wealth and fill in their pockets.
The majorities were dissatisfied with the various forms of repression being practiced in the country. The Maoists with the 40 points agenda launched their movement to address these critical issues. However the movement has opted for cruelest forms of violence. To date more than 15000 lives have been taken.
Now the oldest institution of the land, supposedly a unifying forces within the country- The Pink Palace. The pink with numerous coats of blood underneath. The palace, instead of helping towards a betterment of the country’s political development has further deteriorated the situation. The despot king Gyanendra has been vying this as an opportunity to reestablish his feudalistic and autocratic military regime.
This situation whereby, Nepal has been doomed a state of failure. A nation in verge of anarchy and civil war. A country whose Armed Forces work for one family. In this situation most of the Nepalese people living inside and outside the geographical boundaries of Nepal have been raising thought provoking questions to the critical situation facing the country.
The good sign is that they have arrived to an conclusion,” ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.” This is the reason why the uprising has caught a big wave around the country. This also shows an optimist signs that the change is inevitable. The change can come to us through various means: the balance in power, shift in power or even a transitional government.
However the first pre requisite a bigger change would be a republican setting. I would say this with conviction because the past trends of the palace have shown that it does not respect the freedom and sovereignty of the people. The dissolvent of elected body in 1962 by king Mahendra, the manipulative referendum of 1980 by son Birendra and the royal take by despot Gyanendra in October 2001 is fresh in our minds. It is wrong for the palace and its cronies to disdain the fact that “ people become fit in every spheres of life through democracy.” More importantly I strongly believe no individual should be given privileges of such high level by birth. The palace is cancer lump in our minds, which needs to be chopped off immediately.
However the actions of political parties have bruised our foot, which can be medicated. Moreover we have the right to overthrow them for having caused us dissatisfaction. Nevertheless the civil society has to be more cautious to make sure right reforms and good governance is laid in place for a better system. This system will ensure that broad based system is practice. I would like to call upon all the Nepalese to believe in the process of evolution and not to expect for changes overnight.
It is also a ripe time for young leader from different walks of life with clean image to take the lead to bring backcountry to the right track. These people can people living in self-exile abroad or people excelling in various walks of life in Nepal. However we need committed people dedicated to broad based democracy sincere to bring good governance to uplift others and not repress them.
It is also high time the older politician seriously works towards the same cause. It is also necessary that they do not repeat the mistakes of the past. They should bring radical change in their political, social and economical thoughts. It must be made sure that there is a change in the system and not only a change in regime.
Having said the above I should not forget to mention that we all should awaken to the needs of the country .Let us all raise questions,” On the hard realities facing the country?” ”If you dream for peace, harmony and good governance?” If yes, please also realize the power that you have in you. Then awaken to the present needs of the country and be the change that you want to see in your world.
Your dreams can be achieved if you understand the power in you. There are examples where single action, one word or a person bringing enormous changes to bring difference in peoples lives. Mahatma Gandhi from our neighboring south brought down the mighty Britisher on their knees. This was brought on the principles of “ non-violence”. One thought expressed can bring a critical change in the group behavior contributing to a mass uprising for betterment.
Ladies and gentlemen its now time for us to take action and be the change that we want to see in our world. It is time to take actions. It might be in as small form as,” influencing more and more people that “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”. Let me assure you that your dream, my dream to live in peace and harmony. Our dream to have broad based democracy in Nepal is just around the corner.

The role of a police officer is a constitutional obligation on the part of the government to the country. The police force is the main administrative apparatus in the hands of the government to safeguard people's constitutional rights and to maintain law and order in the country. The major function of the police force is to preserve public order as well as to create & maintain a feeling of security in the community. They also serve to aid individuals who are in danger of physical harm and to provide services and extend relief to those people who are in distress.
But what if the police harass and trouble the general public?
As the story goes, Mr. Bista, a sub-assistant Inspector from Kalopul station has been harassing Mr. Tilak Ram Khanal - an internet cafe owner from the same locality.
Following the strong tradition of saluting the sunset with the holy waters, Mr. Bista turns to his shop to make phone calls. However, he distinguishes himself with the gun that he decorates on his waist. In addition to the basic salary he pulls from the hard earned taxes paid by the public, he firmly believes that free calls are his perks, as a matter-of-fact.
The shocker comes…he likes reminding Mr. Tilak that ‘a gun can kill’.
Mr. Bista, whom civilians trust to upkeep law and order, is obviously abusing his power as a member of the police force. Isn’t this an exploitation of power to us civilians? Isn't this a disgrace to the government with such behaviour? And to think we look up to them like heroes who look after the welfare of the public. How can we advocate such behaviour? Shouldn’t the police force do something about it? He should be punished severely for his actions so that this may serve as a deterrent to other civil servants.
If you can get Mr. Tilak Ram Khanal justice, Please do so...
You could mail him at: khanaltilak@gmail.com
"Together we can bring difference in the society"

Dear Nepali citizens and foreign lovers of Nepal,
You might be wondering why Nepal is still poor when its countries of equal economic status has reached the sky with booming economic development.
Nepal is one of the poorest countries of the world but Nepal's king is the highest paid king of the world.

The income of Nepali king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is :
# 2,426 times higher than that of Chinese president
# 318 times higher than that of Indian president
# 301 times higher than that of Pakistani president
# 173 times higher than that of Russian president
# 57 times higher than that of French president
# 15 times higher than that of British prime minister
# 10 times higher than that of American president
# Netherlands queen's income : Rs. 22,32,00,000
(per capita income Rs 17,25,120 )
# American president earns Rs. 3,24,00,000
(1,15,20,000 returns in tax) (per capita income Rs 25,24,320)
# Japanese king earns Rs. 22,23,52,000 (per capita income Rs.24,15,600)
# Chinese president earns Rs. 1,35,000 (per capita income Rs 67,680)
# Indian president earns Rs. 10,11,000 (per capita income Rs 34,560)
# French president earns Rs 57,96,000 (per capita income Rs 15,84,000)
# Pakistani president earns (after the coup) Rs 10,94,000 (per capita income 29,520)
# British Queen does not get any salary from the state. She has a property of Rs 30,24,00,00,000 (the profit of investment, after paying the tax, is hers) but even her necklace is the property of the country.
# British president earns Rs 2,19,58,000 (per capita income is Rs 18,16,200)
# Russian president earns Rs 19,03,000 (per capita income is Rs 1,54,000)
# Belgian king receives salary as a civil servant (per capita income is Rs 16,74,000)

And, Nepali king earns Rs 61,91,00,000 (per capita income is Rs 16,560=US$230)
[This means the Nepali king earns Rs. 19,878 times higher than a citizen. Last year it was 37,385 times higher. Thus a citizen can earn as much as the king earns in a year only after working for 19,000 years or in 316 lives.]

Appendix
Nepali royal family is involved in various businesses.
A king does not have to pay tax according to Nepal's constitution.
The present king has inherited the property of earlier king's family and nobody knows how much it is.
This king has taken Rs 1,06,45,00,000 in past three years for his small family

Courtesy: Surya Thapa, Mulyankan Monthly (Nov-Dec 2005)
US dollar 1 = Rs 72
Nepal has a writing system of giving comma after two digits except the last.
 

The picture reminds us of on old story about a Nabob from Luknow. The story goes like this - when the British invaded his palace the Nabab was on his bed hence without shoes on his feet. On hearing the news of invasion all his servants ran to save their life. Leaving the Nabob to fend for himself, but the Nabob was so hopelessly dependent on others that he could not even put on his shoes. He was figuring out how to put his shoes on when the British captured him.
That was then, more than hundred years ago. But the picture here is of now. Of a 21st century monarch who claims himself to be a modern one who will not remain passive. Who time and again has said that the time has come for everyone to contribute towards the development of the country. Who claims he is working on getting the country out of the political mess. Well those were the King's words. Our suggestion to the King is that he should begin by learning to put on his shoes. As we on our part believe on letting our actions speak louder than words.

Everyone remembers his or her school days with fondness. At school one learns a lot of things and one of them happens to be the national anthem. I remember my first acquaintance with the national anthem at school. As on the first day of my school I had not known how to sing it and had lip singed it. But as the days passed on I too was able to sing it with the rest of the students. Some years ago, talking about our childhood, with my friends, I found out that most of them had also learned the national anthem the same way. Thousands of students learn the national anthem at school. In school they are taught how to sing it properly. (With respect).
School is probably the best place to learn these things as well, as national anthem belongs to the entire nation it is better taught in a group. It sounds better when a group of Nepalese sing their national song.
But recently I found out that national anthem is no longer a part of the school assembly. And moreover a young cousin of mine, who has been going to school for a few years now does not know anything about the national anthem. (That left me wondering as to how his assembly looks like). The reason behind this was due to the threat issued by the Maoists the schools have halted the trend of singing national anthem during school assembly. The Maoists have banned the national anthem, as they believe it sounds less like a national anthem and more like a personal prayer to the King. Rumour has it that they have created their own national anthem to replace it, but even their song has not been effective, as we don't know about it.
Well it's not just the rebels with negative view about our national anthem. People from different sectors have been voicing their dissatisfaction with certain words in the anthem. And they feel that the ban of national anthem imposed in schools is good. But this brings no solution to the problem. If so many people are not happy singing the existing national anthem then maybe it's about time to create a new one. That would not be full of praise to one person but would be grand enough to satisfy all the citizens. So that all Nepalese can sing their national anthem with pride. As I was taught in my school (standing erect and with head held high on top of ones voice).