One Nepal, one country and Nepali-ness :
By Dr Rita Thapa
It is hard to define the Nepali-ness. Call it a complex mixture of tenacity, resilience, tolerance, flexibility laced with "Bibek" (do not find appropriate English word to express it), but cannot define it specifically. One can only feel it. In my long working experiences in public health field within and outside the country, my Nepali-ness, among others, has sailed me well through the thick and thin.
Without risking any definition, Nepali-ness comes as a unique element that is generic in every Nepali heart and mind. This is regardless of her/his place of birth-tarai, hilly or himali regions of Nepal or elsewhere outside the country. It is one element that has kept Nepalis together for ages. It has earned Nepalis international trust, respect, and goodwill.
The artists in the likes of Ambar Gurung, Tara Devi, Uddit Narayan Jha, Prashant Tamang and Meera Thapa have been able to express it best.
More importantly, the decade-long conflict ending with successful completion of the historical Constituent Assembly Election, women constituting 50 percent of the CA members-the largest record in the world, and surprising every one by giving a governance chance to the never tested political Party of the Maoists -all these speak of the unique Nepali-ness.
In short, I believe that our Nepali-ness comes from the inter-generational collective memory of enjoying peaceful existence in diversity. This is generic to every Nepali, be it in tarai, hill and mountain. This thread of Nepali-ness has historically unified Nepal and benefited Nepalis within outside the country. Thus, despite the current slogans for ethnicity-based separate geographic entities, I believe that this very Nepali-ness ingrained in every Nepali heart and mind will prevent Nepal and Nepali from fragmenting into hundreds of ethnic principalities, especially at this historic moment of carving out for a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive home for all Nepalis.
My optimism comes from a few evidence-based facts supporting why "one Nepal, one country" is imperative to improve the quality of life of all Nepalis.
Infant mortality is a sensitive indicator for measuring socio-economic development and quality of human life. According to the 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, Nepal has scored well in reducing its total fertility, infant, child and maternal mortality rates. Nepal's average national infant mortality rate of 48 per 1000 live births fares well compared to that of the regional countries -- India (57), Bangladesh (65), and Pakistan (86). Among the ecological regions in Nepal, mountain has the highest infant mortality rate (99), tarai has the second highest (65), while the hill has the lowest (47). These are no small gains for a country that has suffered decade-long internal conflict, grinding poverty, difficult terrain, and poor governance. This again speaks of the vibrancy of Nepali-ness.
The other compelling reason why we need one Nepal, one country relates to our very survival as Nepali people. Just as a well functioning human body is critically inter-dependent on the functioning of its each and every part, Nepali people's prosperity and healthy existence is also critically inter-dependent on peaceful and equitable living of people in its three ecological regions--tarai, hill, mountain. Each region with its comparative advantage can bring mutual benefits, thus making us wealthier, healthier and happier. In this era of global village, inter-dependence is fundamental to peaceful and prosperous co-existence. So why disrupt our already existing ethnic and ecological harmony? How will it benefit the people living in tarai, hill and mountain regions?
We are going through a difficult transition period; we need to be careful lest we might bring disruption on already covered peace mileage. In this dangerous transition period, our usual Nepali-ness warrants to let the Constituent Assembly begin its work as mandated by us the people.
see: All things about nepliness: their activivies, temples, important cultue desctiption, politics, even some flowers which we get in Nepal. So ...http://n95pic.blogspot.com/2008/05/typical-nepali-looks-and-chitchat.html http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=153128

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We have put together some valuable links, please browse through. Below links will give you the true information. Don’t fall for superficial information provided by so called "agents" or NRN "representatives". They cannot grant or influence in any way to obtain a visa. Australian High commission will grant you visa if you fulfill the Government’s requirement. = about gathering people in Australia., animated picture about Nepali temple, cent, Front page : Mountain
Nepaliness is dedicated in establishing a bridge between all Nepalise living in the world. Nepal: In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing nine-year civil war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. The newly formed interim parliament declared Nepal a democratic federal republic at its first meeting in May 2008, the king vacated the throne in mid-June 2008, and parliament elected the country's first president the following month.
President Yadav stresses on Nepaliness
Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has called on all Party to join hands to build the nation by rising above ethnicity, religion, communalism and geographical boundaries.
Kathmandu, Sept 27 : Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has called on all Party to join hands to build the nation by rising above ethnicity, religion, communalism and geographical boundaries.
After inaugurating a programme on cancer awareness organized by BP Memorial Cancer Hospital here on Friday, Dr. Yadav said, "more than one's language, caste, being Madhesi or Pahadi... the important thing is that we are all Nepalis."
He blamed political instability for failed attempts to institutionalize democracy and said that the government needed to immediately address the causes that were instigating violence in Eastern Nepal.
President Yadav also unveiled a statue of late BP Koirala, one of the founding leaders of Nepali Congress who became the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassdor to Nepal Zheng Xianglin handed over medicine worth Rs 1.8 million to the health minister as a donation to the hospital on behalf of the Chinese government, Nepalnews reported. : http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-26873.html
One Nepal, one country and Nepali-ness : http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=153128
By Dr Rita Thapa
It is hard to define the Nepali-ness. Call it a complex mixture of tenacity, resilience, tolerance, flexibility laced with "Bibek" (do not find appropriate English word to express it), but cannot define it specifically. One can only feel it. In my long working experiences in public health field within and outside the country, my Nepali-ness, among others, has sailed me well through the thick and thin.
Without risking any definition, Nepali-ness comes as a unique element that is generic in every Nepali heart and mind. This is regardless of her/his place of birth-tarai, hilly or himali regions of Nepal or elsewhere outside the country. It is one element that has kept Nepalis together for ages. It has earned Nepalis international trust, respect, and goodwill.
The artists in the likes of Ambar Gurung, Tara Devi, Uddit Narayan Jha, Prashant Tamang and Meera Thapa have been able to express it best.
More importantly, the decade-long conflict ending with successful completion of the historical Constituent Assembly Election, women constituting 50 percent of the CA members-the largest record in the world, and surprising every one by giving a governance chance to the never tested political Party of the Maoists -all these speak of the unique Nepali-ness.
In short, I believe that our Nepali-ness comes from the inter-generational collective memory of enjoying peaceful existence in diversity. This is generic to every Nepali, be it in tarai, hill and mountain. This thread of Nepali-ness has historically unified Nepal and benefited Nepalis within outside the country. Thus, despite the current slogans for ethnicity-based separate geographic entities, I believe that this very Nepali-ness ingrained in every Nepali heart and mind will prevent Nepal and Nepali from fragmenting into hundreds of ethnic principalities, especially at this historic moment of carving out for a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive home for all Nepalis.
My optimism comes from a few evidence-based facts supporting why "one Nepal, one country" is imperative to improve the quality of life of all Nepalis.
Infant mortality is a sensitive indicator for measuring socio-economic development and quality of human life. According to the 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, Nepal has scored well in reducing its total fertility, infant, child and maternal mortality rates. Nepal's average national infant mortality rate of 48 per 1000 live births fares well compared to that of the regional countries -- India (57), Bangladesh (65), and Pakistan (86). Among the ecological regions in Nepal, mountain has the highest infant mortality rate (99), tarai has the second highest (65), while the hill has the lowest (47). These are no small gains for a country that has suffered decade-long internal conflict, grinding poverty, difficult terrain, and poor governance. This again speaks of the vibrancy of Nepali-ness.
The other compelling reason why we need one Nepal, one country relates to our very survival as Nepali people. Just as a well functioning human body is critically inter-dependent on the functioning of its each and every part, Nepali people's prosperity and healthy existence is also critically inter-dependent on peaceful and equitable living of people in its three ecological regions--tarai, hill, mountain. Each region with its comparative advantage can bring mutual benefits, thus making us wealthier, healthier and happier. In this era of global village, inter-dependence is fundamental to peaceful and prosperous co-existence. So why disrupt our already existing ethnic and ecological harmony? How will it benefit the people living in tarai, hill and mountain regions?
We are going through a difficult transition period; we need to be careful lest we might bring disruption on already covered peace mileage. In this dangerous transition period, our usual Nepali-ness warrants to let the Constituent Assembly begin its work as mandated by us the people.
see: All things about nepliness: their activivies, temples, important cultue desctiption, politics, even some flowers which we get in Nepal. So ...http://n95pic.blogspot.com/2008/05/typical-nepali-looks-and-chitchat.html
NEPALINESSNarayan Khadka's vision of a common Nepali identity is reminiscent of the Panchyati days ('Shared past, shared future', #414). Different ethnic groups in Nepal need to ensure that they have a say and are treated equally. And that is why there is a need for provinces divided roughly along ethnic lines.Anand Jha, Texas, USA* Congratulations! Finally a good piece in Nepali Times that shows we have no reason to be ashamed of our history. We are Nepalis and never became a part of British India because of the bravery of our ancestors. Thank you Narayan Khadka for having the courage to write this. Don't waver. There are millions who will agree with you.Rajan, Taulihawa* 100 per cent agreed with Narayan Khadka. Without Prithbi Narayan Shah we would all be a part of the British Empire and eventually India. The visionary campaign to create a modern Nepal was a shared by the Gurungs, Magars, Rais, Kanuwars, and Limbus. Trying to erase this glorious history of Nepal will be a big mistake. If you want to find a fault in this Nepali history, you can, and we should so that we do not repeat it. But, give me one history that is flawless.Rajendra agar, UK* Nepaliness could be defined at different levels. At a basic level, everyone living in Nepal with Nepali citizenship is Nepali. On a deeper level, the real Nepalis are those citizens who are not only proud to be Nepalis but are willing to make sacrifices for Nepal?those who have a spiritual non-religious bond with their motherland. Wise rulers would try to strive for the masses to attain the deeper level of Nepaliness without any suspicion and prejudices.K Rai, UK* An excellent article at a most appropriate time. I hope our new breed of politicians will sacrifice their larger-than- life egos to go through it.C K Shrestha, Kathmandu* Wonderful article. This is exactly what we need, someone defending "Nepaliness" as something not to be ashamed of. Bravo Khadakaji. Don't listen to naysayers and flag burners.Niru, * People are so ashamed of our proud history that we may soon have to go to Darjeeling to celebrate our Nepali culture. So, please protect and preserve it here.Ram S.,KathmanduSMALL FARMERSI agree with Bihari Krishna Shrestha's view ('Sowing doubts', #414) on small-farmer cooperatives and the past World Bank poverty alleviation program. As the small-farmers' program showed, it is a sustainable poverty alleviation model, so why can't the World Bank follow it? The new Maoist-led government should not be tempted to waive small-farmer loans because it will distort the market for microfinance cooperatives. There are lots of farmers who are using their loans properly and are paying back on time, and such populist measures will destroy our achievements.Rabin Choudhari, JanakpurVISA ON ARRIVALI am a frequent visitor to Nepal, and on my latest visit this week experienced the 'New Nepal' on arrival at immigration. Nepal under 'dictator' Gyanendra and 'bourgeois leader' GP Koirala used to allow Bangladeshis to have a visa on arrival without any fee. The rule has changed under the 'proletarian' government of Comrade Prachanda. Now we have to pay $25 for each subsequent visit after the first one (which is still free) in a calendar year. Comrade Prachanda's government also pursues a policy of global egalitarianism. The visa fee is the same for an 'income poor' Bangladeshi and an 'income rich' American.I am still grateful to the government of Nepal for its continued policy of providing a visa on arrival, which our government doesn't reciprocate to Nepalis. But why the change?