By J.G. Arora
It is tragic that Nepal, the land of glorious history of thousands of years; the land of warriors, sages, temples and Vedic heritage; the land of Gopalas, Mahishpals, Kirats, Lichhavis, Mallas and Shahs; the land of Yalambar, Lumbini and Gautam Budha, Manadeva, Amsuverma, Jayasthiti Malla, and Prithvi Narayan Shah; and the only Hindu country in the world is sought to be grabbed by Maoists and missionaries.
It is deplorable that Nepal, having its motto: "Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi" (the mother and motherland are dearer than heaven), and which could never be subjugated in the past, is facing a multi-pronged attack, and the outside world including India is passively watching the situation.
It is shocking that Nepal, the land of Sagar Matha (Mount Everest), the tallest peak in the world standing 29,035 feet, as also other lofty peaks like Kanchanajanga, Makalu, Manaslu, Dhavalagiri and Annapurna is sought to be razed to the ground.
Nepal is as old as Himalaya. References to Nepal are found even in Mahabharata, Puranas and other scriptures.
The only Hindu country
Though there are many Christian and Muslim countries in the world, and though there is a billion strong Hindu community across the globe, Nepal with a population of 24 millions is the only Hindu country in the world.
And as the only Hindu nation in the world, Nepal occupies a special place in Hindu heart.
Though both Pakistan and Bangladesh have been declared as Islamic republics, the truncated India i.e. the country having the largest Hindu population in the world, has declared itself as a secular republic. However, apart from retaining its Hindu character over the centuries, Nepal has declared itself as the Hindu kingdom.
Though it declares Nepal a Hindu Kingdom, Nepal’s 1990 Constitution prohibits discrimination against any citizen on any ground. Besides, the Nepalese Constitution protects religious freedom but bans conversion from one religion to another.
Maoist insurgency
Maoist attack in Nepal
Nepal travelled from absolute to constitutional monarchy in 1990. In February 1996, ‘Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist’ launched its violent movement to demolish constitutional monarchy, and establish a communist regime. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) is a member of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement having Marxism-Leninism-Maoism as its ideology.
Maoist attacks in Nepal started in 1996 with the attacks on six police posts. And Nepal has been facing Maoist assaults at various places since 1996. Maoist violence and terror have claimed thousands of innocent lives.
As multi-party democracy was unable to suppress Maoists, in February, 2005, king Gyanendra suspended constitutional monarchy and took over the government in order to quell insurgency. And he has taken over the government for a period of three years.
History teaches that democratic niceties cannot tackle insurgencies. Nowhere in the world has terror been defeated by liberal democratic methods.
A similar Maoist rebellion (known as ‘Shining Path’) which tormented Peru is an apt example. ‘Shining Path’ (Sendero Luminoso in Spanish) terrorized Peru for decades before it was crushed in 1990s by Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. President Fujimori suspended legislature and judiciary (which were limiting his powers), and used army and dictatorial powers to crush terrorism.
Considering the magnitude of the problem, and considering the failure of political parties and multi-party democracy to tackle terrorism in Nepal for a number of years, the king is fully justified in assuming power to save Nepal from disaster.
Besides, as history testifies, Maoists or communists cannot be the champions of democracy.
What should India do?
Though monarchy is the only unifying and stabilizing institution in Nepal, and though only royal take over can save Nepal from ruin, Indian government is unhappy with the royal move. Bowing to some sections’ motivated and sanctimonious clamour for restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, Indian government is having reservations in helping out Nepal.
But the same Indian government has welcomed Pakistan’s President who did not come to power by any democratic means. The Indian government is also friendly with Senior General Than Shwe, head of government in Myanmar who too does not represent any democratic institution. And Saudi monarch was invited as the chief guest at Indian Republic Day celebrations of January, 2006. Accordingly, abdicating Nepal to its fate because of Nepal monarch’s take over of government is indefensible.
Leaving Nepal to fend itself will strengthen Maoists in Nepal; and will also strengthen Maoists/Naxalites in India. Already, Naxalite violence is tormenting many Indian states, and has claimed thousands of lives. Recently, Naxalites indulged in sabotage in Jharkhand and Bihar in January 2006 on Indian Republic day. Accordingly, Indian government should face reality and support Nepal in its current crisis.
Maoists and India
Expanding Naxalite (also known as Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) affected area (known as Red Corridor) in India means expanding terror against India. At present, this Red Corridor covers over 150 districts of India. It passes through Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar and goes into Nepal.
Like Maoists in Nepal, Naxalites are a menace in India. Naxalite violence has claimed thousands of lives in India. Besides, Naxalites in India are colluding with Maoists in Nepal. Moreover, Maoists in Nepal as also Naxalites in India are supported by Pakistan’s all powerful intelligence agency ISI for indulging in sabotage, subversion, terrorism and disruption.
Therefore, it is in India’s interest to help Nepal in extinguishing insurgency.
Missionary agenda
Despite Nepalese Constitution’s ban on conversions, missionaries are busy with converting poorer Nepali Hindus to Christianity through fraud and inducement. But they prefer multi-party democracy in Nepal to speed up their conversion operation.
Having already destroyed native cultures and religions from large parts of the world, Christian missionaries are now determined to wipe off Hinduism, the oldest religion on earth.
And in keeping with the late Pope John Paul II’s call (given in New Delhi in 1999) to convert Asia to Christianity, Hindus in India and Nepal are special targets of Christian missionaries.
Starting with negligible Christian population till 1990, missionaries have stepped up their activities in Nepal since Maoist rebellion, and have converted lacs of poorer Hindus to Christianity in the last decade. Conversion of vulnerable Hindus by inducement and fraud is an industry in itself in Nepal as in India employing armies of missionaries wearing the mask of social service.
Saving Nepal will save India
King Gyanendra, the ruler of Nepal Adhirajya, the only Hindu kingdom in the world, fights the combined might of Maoists and other anti-Nepal conspirators with many odds pitted against him. A small nation with a population of 24 million, Nepal has been fighting the rebels for the last ten years.
Let not India abdicate its responsibility by doing nothing in the ongoing tragedy of Nepal. Indians must understand the ramifications of conspiracy behind this catastrophe. Defeat of insurgency in Nepal will make the people of Nepal and India more secure.
Apart from Indo-Nepal cultural and religious commonalities extending to thousands of years, it is in India’s interest to be with Nepal in its fight against terror. If Nepal is allowed to be grabbed by Maoists, missionaries and other anti-Hindu elements, it will facilitate India’s dismemberment by Pakistan’s ISI, Naxalites, missionaries and other anti-Hindu forces. India should not refuse to act just to please anti-Hindu forces.
Source : news.bbc.co.uk
