By Dwarika N. Dhungel
Senior Researcher, Social
Sciences, Nepal
 |
| Dwarika N. Dhungel |
It may be recalled that a book
on Nepal entitled Nepal in Transition: From People's War to Fragile Peace,
jointly edited by Messers. Sebastian von
Einsiedel , David M. Malone and Suman Pradhan and published by Cambridge University
Press recently (2012) is available in the market.
In
relation to launching of this book, a talk program of its contributors was recently
held in Kathmandu on July 31, 2012 by the Social Science Baha at the
Yala Maya Kendra in Lalitpur. One of the contributors of the book Prof. Dr. S D Muni
who has contributed with the title Bringing the Maoists Down from the Hills:
India’s Role, was also present at the program in person. He was
supposed to provide the main highlights of his paper. But he, if I understood
him correctly (I was also present when he was speaking), Dr. Muni touched upon various facets of Nepal-India
relations, including the so called letter written by late King Tribhuvan to
India for the merger or having some type of linkages with India, the letter
written by then CPN Maoist to the then Prime Minister of India Shree Atal
Bihari Bajpayee assuring India about safe guarding of their prime interests. It
was also claimed by Dr. Muni that he delivered the CPN Maoist’s letter to the
then Prime Minister Bajpayee in 2002 (June) through his National Security
Advisor Brajesh Mishra. In addition he also touched upon the issue of nationalism
in Nepalese vis-à-vis India. He expressed his repugnant displeasure of the
publication of an article by one Nepali fortnightly magazine [Himal] based on
his article without seeking his permission in advance.
Prof.
Muni’s comments were carried by various media and found a place in the reality
bites (Oped.) of Gyanu Adhikari, which has been posted on August 7
edition of the Kathmandu Post. The reviewer
writes that:
Muni
claimed during the book discussion that king Tribhuvan Shah had written to
India during the anti-Rana agitation in 1950, offering that Nepal be a
part of Indian federation. Muni’s claim appears to be a rumor—he hadn’t seen
the document himself, but some of his friends in India’s Ministry of External
Affairs assured him that it existed. Muni said other things too. For example,
that the Maoists had written to India during their insurgency, reassuring India
that its vital interests in Nepal will not be harmed by the Maoists. The Maoist Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai agrees that they wrote to India, as they wrote to other international
actors and that there’s nothing new in the revelation.
Like
Mr. Adhikari others, media and intelligentsia, have also come up with their
observations, comments on the revelations of Prof. Muni, especially on the so
called letter of King Tribhuvan’s, which is yet to be published and
authenticated, about which one of the participants in the talk program had
logically challenged Dr. Muni to show the evidence. In reply he had said that ‘he
was told by Indian Foreign Ministry officials that they had the letter from the
king stating his intention and that he would publish it when he got a copy’ (
The Kathmandu post , August 1, 2012).
People
from different walks of life started writing in the NNSD, an electronic net
work through which they make free and frank discussion on contemporary issues,
challenging the observations and revelations of Dr. Muni. Some have even
questioned his credibility in their observations in the network dialogue and
discussions. As a reaction and rejoinder to these developments, especially
views expressed in the NNSD network, the other day (August 16, 2012),
with a subject heading entitled Humble Request, Dr. S. D. Muni, now a
Visiting Research Professor, Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS),
National University of Singapore, Singapore, has posted the following message
in the network, which I too, received through NNSD. The message reads as
follows:
You are all
talking rubbish. There was no letter written by the Maoists leaders to the
Intelligence agencies. The section of the media and the Nepali intelligentsia
have gone berserk on the whole issue. You have no idea how compromising have
been a plethora of Nepali mainstream politicians, including the
royalty (not the Maoists) in furthering their respective interests to gain
access to power and retain it ( SD Muni, dated: August 16, 2012).
Reading such a rejoinder, I, for
one, am tempted to inform Dr. Muni, although I have stopped writing in
the dialogue of the network due to some reason, that the NNSD is an open forum
in which one could contribute her/his views, comments, observations on
contemporary issues as a part of healthy discussion on the subject matter
concerned.
Exasperatingly, some-body, who
had worked as a teacher of a school which is claimed to stand for democratic
values, represented the land of Gandhi and Nehru abroad, should have thought of
the importance of such open forum and enjoyed the responses and comments
received from the different sections of the Nepalese society. With humility,
let me mention that Nepalese intelligentsia is no less erudite and talented
than their counterparts from elsewhere including South Asian countries. So
their views expressed through media or other means national issues including
that of the CPN Maoists and their behavior during the insurgency, I think
demands to be given serious thoughts, listened to and read with due interest.
Furthermore, people living in the different parts of the country are the ones
who know the sufferings and hardship they had faced during those chaotic ten
years. And there is a sizable silent group in the country, which is very
closely watching the CPN Maoists, the life style of their leaders, their
country’s functioning pattern and their kowtowing to the foreign masters
just to remain in the seat of power to enjoy and capitalize it for the sake of
serving their own interests rather than that of the country and Nepalese people
in the real sense. The group is also watching the behavior of other political
actors and Viceroy of a friendly nation. This group is really getting
worried about the increasing anarchy in the country, its deteriorating
situation and lawlessness and the absence of the State worth the name as such.
Interestingly, watching the exodus of the political leaders to neighboring
country in the name of getting treatment.
Observing such frequent visits, I
have started asking myself whether our political leaders were interested to
serve their country, maintain its identity and peculiarities or interested to
serve their masters. May be they think that without the support of the so
called Nepal experts in the neighboring country and their political players, it
is not possible for them to occupy the hot seat at Singhdubar.
Otherwise, known leaders of the country would have come out with their
statements on the remarks such as those made by the learned professor.
Unfortunately that is missing.
In such a context, I think Prof.
Muni has come out strongly challenging the capacity and capability of a section
of media and Nepali
intelligentsia.
Having known Dr. Muni from his
research scholar days at the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, being one of the
contributors of his edited work of 1970’s, met him as a teacher and
scholar-expert on Nepal during his tenure at the Jawaharlal Nehru University,
where I had stayed for some time during my research period in India, and seen
him behaving as a reliable advisor to some Nepali politicians including CPN
Maoists, it is interesting to read his use of vituperative words like, rubbish,
Nepali intelligentsia have gone berserk. He may be right, as he claims,
that Nepalese media and intelligentsia may not have the access to all the
information on the covert role played by India in relation to Nepal on different
subjects and issues, such as sending the CPN Maoist to Kathmandu’s main stream
politics, getting the main stream political parties and CPN Maoist sign
12 points agreement ( tentatively a treaty) which many people take it as the
Delhi agreement II, getting the Madeshis together and fight for Madhesh
with a view to counter the possible influence of the Northern neighboring
country in Nepal’s politics and her influence in our northern area, and above
all, abolition of Nepali monarchy and declaration of Nepal into a Federal
Republic of Nepal eventually. But I also, think that the local media and
intelligentsia have every right to express their views on these matters. It is
only the history which will judge whether all that have happened so far and
contribution made by the neighboring country and foreign scholars/writers have
done good to the country called, Nepal and her people or instead landed Nepal
and Nepalese people in deep trouble and in more complicated situation even
endangering her independence, integrity and social harmony that existed in the
country since time immemorial? When I read and hear the type of views and
opinions similar to those expressed by Dr. Muni, I wonder whether our friends
from neighboring country and so called Nepal experts were really happy to see
Nepal still remaining an independent and sovereign country or want Nepal to be
totally subservient to her neighbor ? If they really do not want to see Nepal
remaining independent and assert her rightful place in the international arena,
it would be better for them to suggest the Government of India (GoI) to take
over Nepal, merge it as one of the provinces of India, send its own person as
Governor, and find somebody of its liking placed as the Chief Minister and have
scholars of repute as its principal advisors in the new incarnation of
yesterday’s Viceroy, for those who are not aware and interested to read more
about this institution, there is a very good book by David Gilmour entitled The
Ruling Class: Imperial Lives in the Victorian Raj published by Frarror,
Straus and Giroux in 2005. Once Nepal is taken over, some might think that the
problem is solved forever. Others may be happy as they would not have to face
the chronicle problems, such as electric energy, petroleum products and fertilizers
and unemployment.
Now we the sovereign people of
Nepal have to decide whether we the Nepalese people want to die an unsung or a
memorable death? Only two options we have under our sleeves.
If I and others have understood
Dr. Muni wrongly, then would not be his duty as a teacher, scholar and expert
on Nepal to educate me and others by providing all the information, which he
claims he has, about all the matters that led to the latest political
developments in Nepal without being bias to any group or party. I would
not mind if Dr. Muni, comes out again with volley of remarks to my views. But I
would not react negatively.
At the end, let me make a sincere
request to Prof. Muni to read and honor the views of others, as you expect
others to read and hear your views and writings patiently. Reciprocity must be
maintained in academic circle. And I do not think the use of term, rubbish suits
to your stature. Also please educate Nepalese intelligentsia, media and
reader’s at large through publication of all the information whatever you have
on Nepal-India relations. By doing so, Dr. Muni, you would not only be
educating us but also be contributing to further strengthen the ties that exist
in between the peoples of Nepal and India. Kathmandu, Nepal, August 18, 2012.
Courtesy: Telegraphnepal.com,
August 20, 2012
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