A moment with Swami Ram Dev

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, April 3

It was the regular day I am living in this world. But it was not the same as other days. I prepared myself to attend a meeting with Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev, who was in Nepal for a yoga camp. He was to leave Nepal today and I left my apartment at 07:07 AM. It was told another day Swami will meet us at 7:45 at Sant Niwas, the residence of Dr Upendra Mahato, former president of Non-Resident Nepalis. I was curious to visit him and listen to his words.

However, he could not come in time as he could not avoid meeting President Dr Ram Baran Yadav before leaving Nepal. It was his urgent appointment. Before meeting President, Swami had devoted him to teach the  armed police force personnel yoga at its Headquarters. He arrived at the scheduled at about 9 AM. And he started talking to media persons. In course of talks, he said all people are different from each other but some are more different than others. "But I am unable to cure their disease of blaming others."

He felicitated the journalists wrapping with shawls for covering news about Yoga. I was one of them. It was the first time I was felicitated. I was not the only person to be hounoured. I was among all the journalists, about two dozens, who were thanked in this way. This was new experience for me that remained a moment of being myself a sage inside me spiritually. I, who belong to The Himalayan Times, did not write any word offending Swami but I cannot say about others.

He was disheartened by an article published in the Kantipur daily--"Swami is above President...". This allusion was related to the stage where Swami was on his posture at his place and President was on the other side. "I honour and respect President. It was not my fault that place was made to address people and teach them yoga. I am touched with this misinterpretation," he said.

Ram Dev Baba is really a sage and totally a humanitarian person but not a shrewd, selfish and dishonest politician. He is kind enough for humanity and dedicated to help people get rid of ailments through yoga practices. His intention to teach Patanjali Yog is crystal clear. Nobody knows mystery inside a person but an enlightened person is said to understand others. This is the problem that I don't have to solve it.

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NC friction on display at GPK mourning ritual

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, April 1

While national and international dignitaries gathered at Bankali of Pashupatinath today to pay tribute to the 13^th day of demise of Nepalese politics tower Girija Prasad Koirala, the senior leaders of Nepali Congress looked hesitant to sit together side by side.

After the death of former Prime Minister and NC President Koirala, acting president Sushil Koirala, former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba and NC vice president Ram Chandra Paudel did not sit together even a minute together during the last day of death ritual of GPK. They posed together for media to photograph once.

Sushil Koirala, who arrived earlier than the other senior party leaders and Paudel made a match in a column for about five hours. And Deuba spent almost two and half an hour with GPK’s daughter Sujata Koirala, who is deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs. Deuba and Sujata were seen together in another column of the stage.

Deputy PM Sujata was busy welcoming the national and international guests and thanking them. Hindu priests, Buddhist Lamas and Christian priests chanted mantras as per their religious rites to wish peace for the departed soul.

The guests included Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, former PMs Surya Bahadur Thapa and Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Yoser Thinley, CPN-UML chief Jhala Nath Khanal, Chief of the Army Staff Chhatra Man Gurung, ex-CoAS Rookmangud Katwal, Nepal Police IGP Ramesh Chand Thakuri, Armed Police Force IGP, chiefs of judiciary and foreign diplomatic missions.

Other present at the mourning were Deputy PM Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, UCPN Maoist leaders Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, government ministers and high ranking officials, Constituent Assembly members, Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev, leaders from the different political parties and more than 10,000 ordinary people, well wishers and NC party workers. People from all ages and walks of life paid tribute to last death ritual of democratic icon for peace process, reconciliation, unity and co-work for the national interest.

However, faces of the political leaders except a few did not read solemnity and gravity in mourning ceremony to remember late Koirala. UCPN-UML head Khanal looked serious while Deputy PM Gachhadar was gloomy. Deuba’s face read uncertainty and Sujata’s desperate. The senior NC leaders looked worried in their faces. Old NC well wishers were sobbing on the stage.

Dharmendra Pandey, president of Democratic Employees’ Union at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal was disappointed by the early character display of NC leaders and dilemma in future of the nation. “NC leaders not sitting together indicates a very bad signal in the party politics,” he said. “It is the omen symptom of crisis in national politics and compromising for the national interest too.”

Mrs Shuva Kala Jha from Chandragadhi-7 in Jhapa said this made them remember GPK for his guidance and principles. “If the leaders forget his steps, the country will fall into an abyss,” she worried. “I am afraid whether they will follow the steps of Girija Babu or overlook his principles gradually in course of passing time.”

The district chapters of NC paid tribute to GPK throughout the country. Meanwhile, Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi, India along with Nepali and Indian people expressed condolence over his death. Remains of GPK were ritually consigned to the Ganges River in Haridwar of India today, according to the Embassy.

PM Nepal released GP Koirala’s Struggle for Democracy in Nepal: A biography, penned by Dr Paramananda, professor of Delhi University and JNU among other universities.

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Last-day of death ritual of Girija Prasad Koirala

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu: April1

It is the 13th, last day, of funeral rituals of Girija Prasad Koirala, who passed away on March 20. Koirala (1925-2010), president of Nepali Congress and six-time Prime Minister of Nepal, who fought for democracy. These are some glimpses captured on March 21 around Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu where hundreds of thousands people

thronged to pay tribute during the funeral procession. The body was cremated as per the Hindu rituals and rites at Pashupatinath with national honour on March 21. Koirala passed away at 12:10 on march 20.

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Public hopeless about sustainable peace & new statute

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, March 20

Ordinary people disheartened by the demise of Girija Prasad Koirala, exceptional political hero of the nation, feel that death of democratic icon would cost unbearable loss in bringing the country into a right path. 

Former Premier and Nepali Congress President Koirala (1925-2010), who led the historic movement making the country Democratic Republic, passed away at 12:10 PM today.

In a sobbing voice, Nityananda Niraula, 74, who hails from Salyan-2 in Solukhumbu, said that Koirala is not only the leader of Nepal but also the international democratic hero. “He, who was successful in bringing all the political parties together, contributed a lot for the democracy and the nation,” said Niraula, a farmer, who has come to visit his two sons studying in Kathmandu.

“The writing of new constitution has fallen at stake now. I don’t think other leaders will compensate this loss,” he added. “Mourning will not be enough to remember his contribution.”

Expressing deep condolence over death, Rabina Khadka, eigth grader at Shanti Nikunja Higher Secondary School, Hanumandhoka, believed that nobody was comparable to Koirala in the country. She knew well that GPK, who is brother of BP Koirala, fought for democracy, people and nation since the Rana Regime. “Girija worked to end the 11-year Maoist violence and assure people for sighing peace,” she said. “If the political parties fail to go hand in hand, the country will fall into an abyss,” she worried.

Other people who this scribe met on the streets of told THT their feelings about the unbearable loss in the history of the country.

Kamana Ghimire, health worker at Kathmandu Model Hospital—“He, who was wise and farsighted, died before fulfilling his dream to write new constitution. The future of country is heading towards anarchy. His only weakness was his daughter.”

Taxi driver Molam Singh Yonjan from Hetauda—No leader is more liberal than Koirala. His death has brought uncertainty in the country.

Kapil Khanal, English Teacher at CG Manipal Campaign College— “Koirala is nice, bold and determined leader of the country. Man with more merits and less drawbacks. The problems will be gradually solved.”

Radhika Pradhan, housewife from Putalisadak—I don’t think peace will be sustainable in absence of him.

Sushila Shrestha, a commener—No one will replace his space.

Khim Prasad Adhikari, BA student at RR Campus—True democratic hero of the nation. The pillar of the nation has collapsed. Other selfish leaders will push the country into anarchy again and peace will be disrupted.

Ram Bahadur Shrestha, businessman at Baghbazaar—Man committed for democracy and people. He died two months earlier.

Laxman Shahi, vegetable seller at Tukucha—The country has lost big thing. There is less chance of writing new constitution.

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