N. P. Upadhyaya ( Aryal)
Sometimes even miracles do happen in Kathmandu’s academic circle. Miracles are in itself more than a surprise.
An academic discussion now also begins with peace loving songs and music. In effect, those who can swim in song-rivers and music are the real human beings.
I could not be an exception to the universal rule and thus I enjoyed to the hilt some Nepali folk songs in Sitar and Tabala at a book launching program, July 16, 2011.
The publication of the book and the very title it has in its front page may come as a matter of critical heart pain (close to a heart attack) for those who tooth and nail objected late King Birendra’s proposal of declaring Nepal as a Zone of Peace.
Understandably, the objections were ‘paid ones’.
Nepalese have a habit to object or even to adore when he or she is heftily paid with some exceptions indeed.
Mercenaries that’s why we are being taken by the outside world. A small tip for those who are presumed to work for the foreign forces. It is for those Quisling and fifth columnists I thus advise to open up a political party whose manifesto should at the very beginning must read, “Insult and rape one’s own motherland if paid”.
Salaried agents should be awarded with Central Committee member status.
Okay! Let me come to the point.
It was just a lost cause reenergized. Many in Nepal who thrived writing the stories in praise of King Birendra for his Zone of Peace proposal are now not in the scene. The Royal hangers-on are not to be found.
With the ZOP and its initiator gone, the paid ones of the then era have even forgot what late King Birendra had proposed and for what purpose? They pocketed money and built posh bungalows. I know some of them who squeezed King Birendra by penning flimsy stories which enraged India even more.
The ZoP was a smart proposition loaded with meaning (it has not yet lost its intrinsic meaning) and a much needed tender at least for Nepal’s own survival and also for the continued preservation of the nation’s sovereignty which partially we have lost. We could have sold the ZoP idea in the rest of the world market and it did sell as well.
The recognition that it bagged from some 116 plus countries from the comity of nations was simply superb. Albeit, the Indian regime under the inferiority complex ridden lady Indira Gandhi and her partner in Eastern Europe, the then USSR, did not subscribe to the idea for their own explanations.
The long forgotten issue has very freshly been brought to the world attention once again. Thanks Isabelle Duquesne, the writer of the book “Nepal: Zone of Peace”.
The book has a touch of Hindu religion because the very cover has Om printed in it. That’s great
Omkar embodies the universe.
The author of this book is a French national, Isabelle Duquesne, who teaches at the universities and business schools in Europe, Nepal and Mexico.
She has to her credit a Master’s degree in peace studies and also is an MBA and has earned her doctoral degree in international relations and diplomacy from CEDS in 2005.
The book on the said topic should have been penned by Nepali scholars.
But that did not happen. However, a magnanimous lady, highly qualified in her own right from Paris did take the courageous initiative and look! The book is already hitting the kiosks!
Shame on Nepali scholars-the intellectual prostitutes that they have already become save a few.
She talked a lot about Nepal’s peace zone proposal. The manner she presented Nepal’s ZoP was simply educative even to those who rejected the entire proposal because it had been forwarded by a Nepal King whom they “under instructions” did not like.
Money matters most.
By the way, she has already marketed the book for the European nations. For Nepal, the Bhrikuti Academic Publications published her book on ZoP, Nepal. She believes that the Nepal ZoP proposal will even benefit the Indian regime. Her claim was interesting one in that she appears not to have well understood as to what the Indian regime was?
(The publisher is Mr. Likhat Pandey who is a longtime acquaintance of this scribe).
She is thus advised to talk to the South Block authorities and convince them of the benefits of Nepal being declared a zone of peace. Professor Anand Aditya in his fore note predicts, “Future wars in this part of the world could be averted if Nepal is declared a zone of peace”.
Similarly, Dev Raj Dahal forwarding his comment on Isabelle’s book says in response to the author Dr. Isabelle Duquesne’s vital concern: “Can Nepal stand apart from the turbulence of the modern world and develop politically and economically by transforming itself into a zone of peace?” Obviously, my answer is affirmative, opines Dahal-a senior political scientist of Nepal.
I will go by what Professor Dahal claims. He has forwarded his own convincing explanations.
The narrative is being overly stretched. I wish to make my exclusive comments on the book at a later date but yet I must thank French scholar Isabelle for her kind words for my country and the pain she took for the publication of this book.
# Thanks Isabelle and Likhat Pandey-the publisher of the book. ( For the book, you can contact Bhrikuti Publishers, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu, Nepal) .
# From the Telegraph weekly/telegraphnepal.com archives.
# Republished July 27, 2022: Upadhyaya.
# Our contact email address is: editor.
telegraphnepal@gmail.com