Arvind Rimal, Senior Political Analyst, Nepal
To begin with, a remembrance of an event of 67 years ago.
The then Indian Prime Minister, the already world renowned statesman, one of the architects of the Non-aligned Movement, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru was due to pay a State visit to Nepal at the invitation of King Tribhuvan.
The final preparations for the visit from the side of the then Government of Nepal was already proceeding on a high gear.
Meanwhile, the corner meetings, pamphleting and postering against the Indian government-interference in Nepal´s domestic affairs were continuing by the class and mass organizations of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN).
On the other hand, the Nepal Praja Parishad, the pioneer as well as the historically organized first political party of sovereign Nepal, which gave clarion calls through four consecutive revolutionary pamphlets penned by its President Tanka Prasad Acharya, the celebrated leader of ardent revolutionaries like Dashrath Chand, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Gangalal, Ganeshman Singh and a host of others, for the overthrow of the tyrannical Rana autocracy, were simultaneously active in order to uphold the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nepal against the ever-growing Indian political-military interference.
As the political atmosphere was thus being surcharged, the founder General Secretary of the CPN, the one and only Pushpalal himself called the meeting of the Party fraction of the All Nepal Students Federation, ANSF, in his Dhokatole home and distributed the task of Black Flag demonstration against the Indian PM.
Myself, who was already working as one of the central Secretariat members of the ANSF as well as the Dill bazar Party cell secretary, was assigned the task of showing a black flag to Indian PM Nehru at Dillibazar-Kalikasthan square, while Pushpalata was to perform the same task at the then Bijuliadda corner, the famous Democracy Wall during the movement for restoration of multi- party system against Panchayati rule.
Similarly, ANSF president Prachandaraj Singh, central students Party fraction members Basudeva Prasad Dhungana, Maqbool Shah, Mathura Shrestha, Vijayalal Shrestha and others were posted at different points of Nehru convoy.
It was all a classical demonstration of an organized political protest of the Nepali people who loved the their country and honor its sovereignty against the interference of the Indian government in their own internal affairs.
There was already a scuffle between some ANSF workers and the policemen at Maitidevi square when PM Nehru motorcade had arrived there.
The government was somewhat aware that there would be some “unpleasant” incident(s) somewhere, but had not even an inkling of the fact that the communists would “dare” to show black flag to the “honored guest”.
The moment Nehru together with Home Minister B.P. Koirala was waving to the assembled crowd with his natural smile than I took out a small black flag from inside my shirt and about to spread it with my both hands, I saw the dazed face of Nehru for a moment.
It seemed he did not believe his eyes. Immediately after that I did not remember anything because the gendarmes called as “Rakshya Dal” pounced upon me and started beating with such brutality that they left me alone thinking me dead, as some local witnesses told me some days later.
But I had to speak against the Nepal- bullying Indian policy at a mass meeting organized by a joint front at the Teendhara Pakshala meeting ground on behalf of the ANSF on the same day.
With the heavily hurt body and swollen face, I spoke at the meeting for the first time and was many a times applauded. Thus I turned out to be a “mass speaker”, thanks to Indian PM Nehru.
But the Party GS´s warm embrace for fulfilling the Party-assigned task has remained yet for me the best ever political honor in my life.
Now all this is a political history.
And what a history it was! Later on I had to explain the cause and significance of this extraordinary phenomenon to quite a many international get-together, because it was beyond the comprehension of many foreign friends that the communists of a yet unknown country like Nepal would stage such a unique protest against a world renowned anti-imperialist statesman like Nehru.
Well, when the issue of the national honor and the safeguard of its sovereignty is concerned every other matter becomes secondary. And this was what Pushpa Lal taught us all.
The next time to fight for the Nation´s and the Party´ s honor happened to be in, of all the places, the then Peking, now Beijing!
The Chinese Party´s liaison officer to the CPN delegation to the Eighth Congress, one day during the recess time discussed with me the Nepal-India relations.
And as if bolt from the blue, lectured me to the effect that the CPN should accept the India´s sphere of influence theory in Nepal.
I, naturally, disputed this argument and he was vehement in his “persuasion” as if it was the Chinese party line. Finally, after long discussion, I told him to “get out” of my room-the room which was, of course, not mine– as he spoke dishonoring my country and the Party.
He also could not believe his ears and the matter was taken to hospital cabin where the then GS, Manamoham Adhikary was admitted for his treatment.
I was summoned there to “explain my conduct”, as if I had committed some sort of crime while defending my Party´s line and upholding the country´s honor.
I was asked even to “apologize” which I refused. (vide my “Awalokan”, Chin Bhramanko Romanchakataa,2nd edition, pp311-2,1963 Magh).
And just four years later that China launched a border war against India!
Well quite a long past history, yes?
And not a “rewarding” task as per the modern custom, perhaps! Anyway, now let me come to Indian Prime Minister Modi´s visit to Nepal.
Modi is visiting here at a time when his image as a “warm- hearted “, “different” Prime Minister of India of four years ago, has touched down to the nadir of the most disliked, even hated “southern hegemon”.
And he himself is to be blamed for that.
A Lord Pashupatinath-devotee statesman, a man of charming manner and broad smile turned out to become for vast majority of the Nepalese a strangulator of their necks through criminal blockade during the most auspicious period of our people´s life – Bada dashain.
He could not but withdraw this anti-human act conducted at the behest of his foreign- intelligence complex as this became counter-productive to its sinister designs to subdue Nepal and its people.
The Nepalese people gave appropriate answer to New Delhi with their exemplary solidarity.
And thus Modi missed the historical opportunity of being a celebrated statesman of the region as well as an upcoming world figure.
Regrettably, till now he has demonstrated himself nothing more than a hegemon insensitive to the aspirations of most of its neighbors, in particular Nepal.
We cannot but feel tragic also to see the PM of our Southern neighboring country blessed with vast economic- industrial-scientific-cultural potential remain contented to be a mere custodian of the dead and gone colonial legacy.
The military- security tamasha that the New Delhi establishment is performing blatantly disregarding to the Nepalese sensibilities with regard to PM Modi´s visit in Janakpur, Kathmandu airport, Pokhara and Mustang seems to be intended to bamboozle the Nepalese minds with Indian military muscle- flexing.
Observers wonder whether it is a stratagem to show to the so- called international community that China has accepted the Indian “paramount strategic interest” in Nepal?
Also, they again wonder ,whether through this show of strength PM Modi , with his troubled mind visualizing the year of 2019, has begun his election campaign from the Nepalese soil of Janakpur to tell his critics that he has not forgotten the Vatican- US- EU i.e., the Western imperialism- supported RAW agenda of torn – a sundering the inviolable fabric of the Nepalese nation on racial- sectarian- communal lines, and that he is “determined” to teach the Nepalese people another bitter lesson for their any temerity to foil the Indian design in this regard.
Leaving aside the observers´ opinions, I, a plain civic- minded citizen of Nepal venture to ask myself that visiting first a universally honored religious site and then after indulging in political saber-rattling would certainly be an unbecoming posture for an aspiring world statesman.
Even as the head of a regional power PM Modi would hardly gain any leverages by creating problems for an already constrained government of Prime Minister K.P. Oli from many sides who may be honestly bent upon to improve and develop further Nepal – India ties of friendship and cooperation for the mutual interest of both of our people.
If I am asked whether now, with the wrong doings of the Indian government continuing as before, I would show a black flag to PM Modi I say that I would not do so.
Because, showing black flag to Nehru and thus beaten to pulp was an honor in context of fulfilling the task assigned by my Party’s General Secretary.
Now the situation is entirely different. Even if speaking figuratively, paraphrasing the Great Marx, the first task was a tragedy, the present one would be a farce.
A black flag has its own value and weight.
And I do not consider Modi an appropriate figure deserving such an honor.
However I would not mind raising another kind of flag through this essay– a flag of friendship for the cause of betterment of all- round Nepal- India ties provided there is reciprocity.
It would not be an exaggeration to state that India´s ties with Nepal are a proven barometer to judge the results of Indian Government´s foreign policy in the SAARC region, a fact which is vehemently denied by the Indian authorities as well as by the Indian and Nepalese authors at their (read Indian) payroll.
But it would not be irrelevant to suggest some ideas to improve and to raise to anew height Nepal- India relations.
1. The Indian establishment should urgently consider for putting on a new attire of Diplomacy of Friendship for itself by discarding the worn out garment of Curzonian hangover.
2. The Government of India (GoI) would gain very much if it pursues the policy of Peaceful Coexistence-the Principle of Panchasheel with all its neighbors as the Government of China has done.
3. The GoI should learn as to how China has maintained its relations with Nepal and also how the then Soviet-Russian and now the Russian government maintained and maintains with Finland.
4. The GoI should and must heed to Swami Bishuddhadeva´s advice in regard to its relationship with Nepal.
He had said categorically that as the Vedas had gone to India and Buddhism to China from Nepal, the government and the leaders of both the countries should respect Nepal´s feelings.
Otherwise, both have to bear adverse results.( Awalokana,ibid, pp457)
5. The Government of Nepal must pursue the relationship of friendship and cooperation with both India and China honestly and in a transparent manner without playing any sort of diplomatic cards against each other.
We, the Nepalese people should and must bear this fact always in mind that regardless the friendship and benevolence between us, the Nepali people, and the Indians in personal matters, we have no organized friendship groups or parties in the political spheres.
That we saw and experienced bitterly during the last blockade period.
Even earlier, when the Left, or in particular, the Communist parties were powerful players in the Indian political arena, they tended to support the GoI in the matters of Nepal’s water and natural resources.
This was demonstrated during the ceremony observing the great success of the CPN (UML) under Madan Bhandary´s leadership in the first general elections after the restoration of the multiparty democratic system in Nepal when the leader of the visiting fraternal delegation from India, CPM General Secretary Harikishen Singh Surjeet had openly scolded Madan Bhandary for raising “unnecessarily” in public the issues of natural resources of our country for our own national interest.
Myself had overheard this remark at Dasharsth Rangashsla, which I have mentioned in my said book, but in which chapter and pages, I have forgotten.
Well, I can´t explain further as the subject has been dealt with already enough.
Thank you all for your great patience.
Long live the inviolable ties of friendship between the peoples of Nepal and India.
# Republished. This article was first published on Friday, May 11, 2018.
# Thanks to the distinguished author.
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