By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

On and off, there has been a steady discussion of the state of Nepali politics in the mainstream and social media.

Lately, Professor Lok Raj Baral, considered to be one of the leading political scientists of the country, wrote in The Kathmandu Post: “People fed up with tested leaders and parties seek to shift their choices by casting votes for new leaders who are principled and capable of bringing change…

“But the voters get disillusioned when they fail to give them any hope…

“Frantic efforts by some leaders for alternative political arrangements are also inconsequential, thereby vacating political space once again for the same old parties dominated by exhausted and tested leaders.”

Baral, therefore, questions whether Nepali political parties are relevant today (TKP/January 27, 2025).

Professor Abhi Subedi who is not a political scientist, but teaches  English Language & Literature, but is nevertheless a prolific commentator of Nepali Affairs, is of the hallowed opinion that before declaring the end of the current Nepali political system, we must consider the positive aspects of its origin and continuity.

Prof. Subedi quotes with admiration an Indian commentator who is profuse in praise of Nepal “for establishing a federal democratic republic after 19 days of huge uprising” [!].

One can dispute the origin and necessity for establishing the Himalayan Republic – which today is neither a functioning federalism or democracy, nor a true republic.

The prime minister is ‘monarch of all he surveys’, and the president is a pseudo-monarch.

Prof. Subedi is ambivalent whether Nepali political parties are relevant today.

He does concede that “the leaders in the leading and policy-making roles do not have sufficient academic exposure to understand the power of a democratic system and chart a course” [which is damning of itself].

However, for all its deficiencies, Prof. Subedi defends the current political system of the Himalayan Republic [and its oligarchic tendencies]: “We should see what is functioning and what is not.”

He even takes recourse to the British poet John Keats’ notion of “negative capability” – the power to be in difficult situations and still function.

Therefore, according to Prof. Subedi: “We and the world need that capability for survival and continuity.”

However, the economic situation in the Himalayan Republic – especially for the middle and lower classes has become so dire as to reach the point of no return. The political system has failed to deliver. The Dons of the political parties are blind and deaf to the plight of the common people.

The point is that no amount of academic discussion is going to help the people out of their misery and existential angst.

When the very ‘survival’ is at stake – at the personal and state level – how can we speak of ‘continuity’?

What they need is tangible action that will give them hope.

The writer can be reached at: [email protected]