King Mahendra started the patriotism game to enrich his henchmen. PM Oli is using the same to benefit his coterie
When Samuel Johnson made his famous observation that "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" back in 1775, no one knew who he had in mind. According to Johnson's biographer, James Boswell, he could be thinking of "false patriots."
False patriotism can make people sentimental but at the same time it can also fool them. It's not the first time Nepalis have been fooled with false patriotism. From Panchayat to democratic era, we have witnessed a host of characters who have made ample use of patriotism as a political tool.
When Samuel Johnson made his famous observation that "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" back in 1775, no one knew who he had in mind. According to Johnson's biographer, James Boswell, he could be thinking of "false patriots."
False patriotism can make people sentimental but at the same time it can also fool them. It's not the first time Nepalis have been fooled with false patriotism. From Panchayat to democratic era, we have witnessed a host of characters who have made ample use of patriotism as a political tool.
Currently, false patriotism is at its height. The government of KP Sharma Oli neither has to deliver not be responsible and accountable since he is able to divert people's attention easily. King Mahendra started the patriotism game to enrich his henchmen. 'Patriots' like Oli are using the same refuse to benefit his fawning coterie.
Nationalism was one of the effective tools to bargain with India during Mahendra's time in 1970s. And Oli is carrying forward that legacy. However, world politics has come a long way—leaving communism to history books—to economic diplomacy and interdependency, which Oli comrade has never heard of.
Oli has been in ruling circle for last 25 years. And his current entry into Baluwatar is more interesting, if not suspicious. He is elected Prime Minister under parliamentary democracy. But he wants to form national government, as if his is an anti-national government. He wants all the political parties on board, and no opposition, and of course no democracy.
For the past three months, Oli has appeared live on TV a couple of times to address the nation, made arrogant comments against Indian intentions, promised folks he would deliver the moon. People waited. And it's already 100 days. People are dying of cold, and he is still selling dreams. A dream merchant, Oli is outspoken, he speaks without thinking and is not responsible for what he speaks, according to his party cadres. He does not consult with them either.
Oli still thinks that the populist speeches he makes can prolong his stay in Baluwatar. He has appointed around a dozen advisors, who get paid from state coffers. But he neither listens nor asks them before speaking, said the party comrade, who claims that Oli has all the characters of a landlord. Like democracy, communism is also a lifestyle, not only an ideology to be preached. But neither Oli's lifestyle nor character reflects the communist ideology.
Had he been a prime minister in a developed society, he would have to resign for such populist sops like ending load-shedding in a year and fitting gas pipeline in every household. There are a host of government mechanisms like National Planning Commission (NPC) that look after government planning. Does the planning commission have a plan to end load-shedding? The commission officials only laugh at the question. It would have been better if Oli had consulted the vice-chair of the commission, whom he appointed, before selling such cheap dreams.
One of his party-mates claims that Oli is a one-man show. He loves power and he was never meant to deliver. He wished to be in Baluwatar and his wish was granted by his 'Prabhu'. Now, he will do everything to remain in power. To do so, he is adding pressure on state coffers, he is adding ministers—altogether 40 till date as some more of his henchmen are boasting that they are also being included soon—including six deputy prime ministers, from ultra left to ultra right. But he has not yet been able to provide shelters to quake victims. They are dying.
For the past 100 days, his patriotism has been through a rollercoaster, and it is keeping him alive. Democracy is rule of law, and Oli is bent to bend it. Despite his tall claims, he is making Nepal more dependent and poor in the name of 'patriotism'. He is playing the China card against India, as if India and China are novices. According to one of his cabinet members, Oli is not going to sign any agreement with China but has been selling cheap propaganda to bargain with India, as if India does not know him well enough.
Unlike his party-mate Jhalanath Khanal and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, who never got invitation from India to visit when they were elected Prime Minister, Oli has been invited twice—in the past three months—to visit India. But his 'patriotism' has been stopping him. He is selling patriotism and it will cost the country dear. His close aides used to claim that Oli was clever. But in the last 100 days he has cracked cruel jokes, hurt people and pushed the country towards a failed state status.
It is no secret that rise of communism in Nepal has been largely fuelled by Narayanhiti—to counter India by King Mahendra—and by Lainchor in the later stage—to counter Shahs.
The democratic forces—led by legendary BP Koirala to Sushil Koirala—were never in the good books of Indian establishment. We will do well to read BP Koirala who has written extensively about relationships between Nepali Congress, India and Shah Kings.
However, the notion that Nepal's sovereignty has been safeguarded by communists is what is keeping Oli's 'patriotism' alive.
Nepal was never so weak and fragile politically, diplomatically and economically. Democracy is in danger, black marketers and smugglers are running the country but comrade Oli is day-by-day getting stronger, thanks to his 'patriotism', a by-product of black economy. Oli acts as if he has the birth right to rule, like the erstwhile Kings, but do nothing that brings change in people's lives.
This is why Oli and his coterie do not listen to criticism. He wants to be praised like Stalin and Khrushchev, and of course erstwhile royals. He has a team that tells him what he is saying and doing is patriotic. He shares many similarities with royals. No wonder, he was ready to become Prime Minister under King Gyanendra. Had Gyanendra been in power for another three months, he would have become one.
The people's revolt overthrew the Shah dynasty in 2008 and established republic. This gave Oli an opportunity to sell his patriotic dreams. There is no rule of law, no economic freedom, industries are closing and some 400,000 Nepalis have lost their jobs in past three months. But his government is promoting crony capitalism and under-ground economy in the name of patriotism. It is hard to imagine how citizens will prosper and the country will develop without economic freedom and human rights. But Oli does not care. Patriotism is his last refuge. He is committed to pushing Nepal back to 1700s.
The author heads the business bureau at Republica
kuber25@gmail.com
Nationalism was one of the effective tools to bargain with India during Mahendra's time in 1970s. And Oli is carrying forward that legacy. However, world politics has come a long way—leaving communism to history books—to economic diplomacy and interdependency, which Oli comrade has never heard of.
Oli has been in ruling circle for last 25 years. And his current entry into Baluwatar is more interesting, if not suspicious. He is elected Prime Minister under parliamentary democracy. But he wants to form national government, as if his is an anti-national government. He wants all the political parties on board, and no opposition, and of course no democracy.
For the past three months, Oli has appeared live on TV a couple of times to address the nation, made arrogant comments against Indian intentions, promised folks he would deliver the moon. People waited. And it's already 100 days. People are dying of cold, and he is still selling dreams. A dream merchant, Oli is outspoken, he speaks without thinking and is not responsible for what he speaks, according to his party cadres. He does not consult with them either.
Oli still thinks that the populist speeches he makes can prolong his stay in Baluwatar. He has appointed around a dozen advisors, who get paid from state coffers. But he neither listens nor asks them before speaking, said the party comrade, who claims that Oli has all the characters of a landlord. Like democracy, communism is also a lifestyle, not only an ideology to be preached. But neither Oli's lifestyle nor character reflects the communist ideology.
Had he been a prime minister in a developed society, he would have to resign for such populist sops like ending load-shedding in a year and fitting gas pipeline in every household. There are a host of government mechanisms like National Planning Commission (NPC) that look after government planning. Does the planning commission have a plan to end load-shedding? The commission officials only laugh at the question. It would have been better if Oli had consulted the vice-chair of the commission, whom he appointed, before selling such cheap dreams.
One of his party-mates claims that Oli is a one-man show. He loves power and he was never meant to deliver. He wished to be in Baluwatar and his wish was granted by his 'Prabhu'. Now, he will do everything to remain in power. To do so, he is adding pressure on state coffers, he is adding ministers—altogether 40 till date as some more of his henchmen are boasting that they are also being included soon—including six deputy prime ministers, from ultra left to ultra right. But he has not yet been able to provide shelters to quake victims. They are dying.
For the past 100 days, his patriotism has been through a rollercoaster, and it is keeping him alive. Democracy is rule of law, and Oli is bent to bend it. Despite his tall claims, he is making Nepal more dependent and poor in the name of 'patriotism'. He is playing the China card against India, as if India and China are novices. According to one of his cabinet members, Oli is not going to sign any agreement with China but has been selling cheap propaganda to bargain with India, as if India does not know him well enough.
Unlike his party-mate Jhalanath Khanal and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, who never got invitation from India to visit when they were elected Prime Minister, Oli has been invited twice—in the past three months—to visit India. But his 'patriotism' has been stopping him. He is selling patriotism and it will cost the country dear. His close aides used to claim that Oli was clever. But in the last 100 days he has cracked cruel jokes, hurt people and pushed the country towards a failed state status.
It is no secret that rise of communism in Nepal has been largely fuelled by Narayanhiti—to counter India by King Mahendra—and by Lainchor in the later stage—to counter Shahs.
The democratic forces—led by legendary BP Koirala to Sushil Koirala—were never in the good books of Indian establishment. We will do well to read BP Koirala who has written extensively about relationships between Nepali Congress, India and Shah Kings.
However, the notion that Nepal's sovereignty has been safeguarded by communists is what is keeping Oli's 'patriotism' alive.
Nepal was never so weak and fragile politically, diplomatically and economically. Democracy is in danger, black marketers and smugglers are running the country but comrade Oli is day-by-day getting stronger, thanks to his 'patriotism', a by-product of black economy. Oli acts as if he has the birth right to rule, like the erstwhile Kings, but do nothing that brings change in people's lives.
This is why Oli and his coterie do not listen to criticism. He wants to be praised like Stalin and Khrushchev, and of course erstwhile royals. He has a team that tells him what he is saying and doing is patriotic. He shares many similarities with royals. No wonder, he was ready to become Prime Minister under King Gyanendra. Had Gyanendra been in power for another three months, he would have become one.
The people's revolt overthrew the Shah dynasty in 2008 and established republic. This gave Oli an opportunity to sell his patriotic dreams. There is no rule of law, no economic freedom, industries are closing and some 400,000 Nepalis have lost their jobs in past three months. But his government is promoting crony capitalism and under-ground economy in the name of patriotism. It is hard to imagine how citizens will prosper and the country will develop without economic freedom and human rights. But Oli does not care. Patriotism is his last refuge. He is committed to pushing Nepal back to 1700s.
The author heads the business bureau at Republica
kuber25@gmail.com
नेपाली रुपैयाँ विनिमय
