By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

Even today, Communist leaders have the effrontery to regularly praise the ‘fathers’, past and current leaders and the Communist ideology itself and their contributions to the betterment of society in general, and of Nepal’s in particular.

In reality, the introduction of ‘Communism’ as such has been a terrible plague and curse on Nepalese society and politics.

In the first instance, Nepali Communism has nothing to do with ‘Marxism’, and more to do with ‘Leninism’, ‘Stalinism’ and ‘Maoism’.

The basic tenet of the great German political philosopher Karl Marx was: “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.”

However, this basic egalitarian principle is nowhere anchored in the various manifestos and programmes of the several, so-called ‘Communist’ political parties.

However, they are fully in alignment with the principles laid down by Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union:

“Democracy is not identical with majority rule .  .  .

“Democracy is a State which recognizes the subjection of the minority to the majority, that is, an organization for the systematic use of force by one class against the other,   by one part of the population against another.”

Whereas Lenin did not claim to have Western-style democracy, he did fully transmogrify it, establishing a totalitarian and authoritarian system, adding Orwellian and Potemkinesque elements.

Stalin was ruthless, as is Nepal’s current leading Communist, K. P. Sharma Oli, who like any ‘good’ Communist does not tolerate any opposition to his ‘leadership’.

Together with his henchman and collaborator Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, Oli has succeeded in establishing a fake democracy [Loktantra] compromising a manipulated electoral system, endemic corruption and complete party-OLIgarchy in the Himalayan Republic.

A modern and liberal-thinking Nepali Communist Madan Bhandari realized that old-fashioned, orthodox ‘Communism’ was not suitable for Nepal, and sought to transform ‘Nepali Communism’ into ‘Democratic Socialism’ with Nepali characteristics -- incorporating Nepali-style democracy and Constitutional Monarchy in line with age-old traditions and preserving our Nepali identity.

Unfortunately, this was too much for the orthodox/totalitarian Nepali Communists.

Madan Bhandari died suddenly and mysteriously in an unbelievable road accident!

Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai also took upon themselves and their blind followers to transform Nepalese society.

They were inspired by the Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong and (mis)appropriated the designation ‘Maoist’ for themselves and their misguided movement which held the whole country in thrall for over a decade.

The Nepali Maoists tried to follow Mao’s injunction:

“The guerrilla must live amongst the people as the fish lives in the water.”

Unfortunately, they only succeeded in terrorizing the common people.

They had grasped the Maoist principle: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

At the end of their bloody movement which was neither a ‘People’s War’ nor a civil war – but a vicious insurrection supported by a foreign power, India --, there were more than 17,000 civilian dead, but no transformation of Nepali society.

But mainly through official and secret Indian interference, the Maoists became mainstream and Dahal was twice prime minister.

Unfortunately, the so-called revolutionary turned out to be a poor administrator.

And they did fail miserably in “Letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend”  [ Mao ] in promoting progress and a flourishing socialist culture!

Today, the Maoists – like the other political parties of the Himalayan Republic  –  are in the doldrums and completely incapable of moving forward.

There is still hope for the repressed and powerless Nepalese – but the progressive elements of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party led by Rajendra Lingden and Gyanendra Shahi must act resolutely and with great determination.  

The writer can be reached at:

shashipbmalla 125@gmail.com