By Rabi Raj Thapa

Nepalis never feel tired while talking about nationalism and patriotism. But where is that nationalism and patriotism in their behavior and practices? Now the question arises – do the rulers really care for Nepal, which our old generations cherished and protected for two and a half centuries?

Here is a question of the difference between nationalism and patriotism. National leaders like Prithivinarayan Shah, Bhimsen Thapa, and Rana rulers might be authoritarian and bad, but they were well aware of the value of patriotism and nationalism.

Looking at the nationalist and patriotic fervor, the late King Mahendra far better than any national leader except late elected prime minister B. P. Koirala. Here, it is necessary to understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism if Nepal wants to be an independent, sovereign state-nation in the coming days.

Today, it has become imperative to assess and introspect Nepali’s patriotic and nationalistic fervor while dealing with its own people and especially with its foreign powers, especially its immediate neighbors. How do people when they see Nepali ministers roam around the world like tourists and wait for weeks to shake hands and take photos to brag around their diplomatic acumen? On the other side, how do Nepali feel when they see top-twenty national leaders queue up just to meet mediocre foreign envoys in Nepali deluxe hotels?  In such a scenario, how can a Nepali youth feel proud of his country and the leaders who shamefully fail each Nepali aspirations of our glorious past social, political and national fervor of nationalism and patriotism?

How does Nepali remember its old “Back to Village Campaign” a local development program, non-aligned foreign policy and Nepal as a Zone-of-Peace proposal? Who was running the government that repudiated National Development Services (NDS) that inculcated a love of Nepal in a patriotic and nationalistic way? How seriously do the people of Nepal take Nepali patriotism and nationalism today?

Literally, patriotism is defined as a feeling of love for one’s country along with a feeling of unity with those who share those feelings. It is also understood as devoted love, support and defense of one’s beloved country. On the other hand, nationalism reflects one’s national self-interest above issues like immigration and, the promotion of one’s race, culture or civilization above other nations.

Do the contemporary Nepali leaders and the people at large take it seriously? These are the million-dollar questions for all Nepalis today.

Today, it makes no sense to debate over the wrongdoings of our older generations. It makes no sense to judge, advocate, or wrangle in partisan politics and personalities like Rana rulers, King Mahendra and leaders such as BP Koirala, Ganesh Man or Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Manmohan Adhikari, Madan Bhandari, among others. Whatever may be the case, they had something in common, they were first-class genuine patriots and nationalists.

How far the Loktantrik regime has been able to inculcate nationalist and patriotic feelings among Nepali youths to show a bit of patriot and nationalist fervor. Look at the current government attitude and policy towards opulent Non-Residential Nepali, foreign nationals compared to orphan-like foreign manual workers and the intentions and aura of patriotic, nationalist rhetoric in their speech and behavior. Then you compare the patriotic and nationalist feelings of Nepali patriots with those of our Indian and Chinese nationals who live just across our international borders.

With patriotism, one believes that a system of government and its people are one and their country is inherently good. On the other hand, a nationalist believes his country is superior to all others.

What is the Message of India’s Operation Sindoor in the India-Pakistan conflict or War? How far it has enhanced fervor of patriotism and nationalism among Indians and Pakistanis? It shows that nationalism also tends to find itself modified by moments of political turmoil like war and civil strife. Not only that, patriotism and nationalism are soaring up by leaps and bounds among Indians worldwide. On the one hand, India has become one of the champions of the Global South whereas China is striving hard to become World Power Number One within decades. Then what is the future goal of our Secular Loktantrik Nepal? Can it equate with our neighbors just by running against the King, Rajabadis, the Hindus and the Sanatanis?

Pity for the self-serving narcissist behavior of our Nepali leaders; sorry for their tunnel vision and petty partisan interest.   

MAY GOD SAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE!