By Shashi P.B.B. Malla   

By Nepali political culture, we mean the attitudes, beliefs, and values which underpin the operation of the particular political system which came into being after 1951 and has developed since then.

This also includes the knowledge and skills about the operation of the political system, positive and negative emotional feelings towards it, and evaluative judgements about the system.

Particular regional, ethnic, or other groups within the Nepali political system with their own distinctive sets of values, attitudes and beliefs can be referred to as subcultures, like those of Madhes-Terai or those of the Far West.

A greater awareness also developed over time on the importance of studying elite political cultures, given that the influence of individuals in the political process varies significantly.

After the establishment of the Secular, Federal, Democratic Republic, Nepali political culture was not much to write home about, but since then there has been a steady sliding into decadence.

Seen in this context, the decision of former Federal President Bidya Bhandari to again become a full member of the CPN-UML and enter active politics is fully regressive.

With this personal, retrograde step, Ms. Bhandari has managed to denigrate the high office of the ‘Federal President’ to a great degree.

This high office will now become the playing ball of various ambitious and unscrupulous so-called leaders.

Patriotic and concerned Nepali citizens must undertake two immediate and crucial steps:

  • Ms. Bhandari must be called upon and forced to forgo and renounce all the benefits and perks of her former office.

After all: What is too much, is too much.

  • Since the high office of the ‘Federal President’ has now degenerated into another ‘political office’ over which shameless and corrupt politicians will fight over – just as hungry, mad and rabid dogs over a piece of rotten meat.

The high office has now been reduced to an object of ‘political musical chairs.’

Ms. Bhandari’s step is not only in bad taste, it is against the spirit of the Constitution and unethical.           

If the Himalayan Republic accepts Ms. Bhandari’s decision as normal, it just illustrates the bankruptcy of the current Nepali political system in general, and that of the CPN-UML in particular.

The pathetic state of the Himalayan Republic is also shown by the utter silence of all the political parties – the silence of the lambs.

The millions of Nepalese who had placed their hopes in the once flourishing monarchist/royalist movement are at their wits’ end that no stand has been taken.

One thing is crystal clear: this dire state of affairs would have been totally avoided with a monarch as head of state.

The writer can be reached at:

ShashiMalla125@gmail.com