Nepal’s political temperature in the backdrop of Emir of Qatar’s visit to Nepal
Original article in Nepali by Baidya Nath Poudel. Translated by Soren Neupane
(Mr Baidya Nath Poudel is a Nepali content creator with experience, connections and a definite investigative style.The opinions expressed are the writer’s own.)
The names in Mr Poudels article refer to the following
Maila Kaji – King Gyanendra; Hajur Ba – K.P.Oli;
Nani Ka Ba – Prachanda Dahal; Gane – Ganatantra Badi;
Nati Keto – Durga Prasai; Basnet Kaji – Mahesh Basnet;
Mishra Dai – Ravindra Mishra; Shahi – Gyanendra Shahi;
Limbu Kaji – Rajendra Lingden; Thapa Kaji – Kamal Thapa
The barrage of water cannons and volley of tear gas was known to have been deployed when Nati Keto started a movement to reinstate the king. There were substantial casualties—it is known. But Basnet Kaji foiled Nati Keto’s plans by ordering roadblocks in and around Teen Kuney, thus thwarting the ushering of the king in a Rs 50,000,000 limo.
Let’s talk about Nati Keto from Jhapa. Though he brought the Kathmandu king from Jhapa, he was unable to successfully lead the king the full way to Narayanhiti Palace. The journey went as far as Nirmal Residence and no further.
One notes a sudden change in the air. Claiming kings and royalties have certain affinities. And Nati Keto emerged with a Regal Gilded Rod bestowed upon him by the sheikh of Dubai. Not one to be discouraged, he keeps elation levels peaked by the recent visit of this king. At least for the moment. His boundless joy shows his confidence in his good days on the horizon. His dreams of driving his limousine bearing the Nepali colors to the B&C Complex. Hurdles no more. The Supreme Court has pulled all legal stops.
Nati Keto’s solo attempt at bringing the king back was not something Mishra Dai could stomach easily. Realizing that the king belongs to all, Mishra Dai raced off to Jhapa too. You couldn’t leave Limbu Kaji behind under these circumstances. He tagged along as well. However, instead of seating the king in Narayanhiti, they dumped him on a school sofa.
Maila Kaji (ex-king Gyanendra), not one to complain, thought the day might not be far behind when he might proceed to Narayanhiti Palace. He waved his signature wave, musing on the kingdom he had earlier given up. And had it not belonged in his lineage for generations?
He instructed his own Nati Boy (Gyanendra’s grandson) also to use the signature sign-off. The young grandson shows confusion. Grandpa is called the king and it does look so. But then again, he is not fully sure. If he is the king—of which domain, and how? One hopes when he is mature, he might grapple with the realities—grainy or dreamy.
Mishra Dai has had a taste of monarchy from his stay in Great Britain. He has also been a part of the palace administrative flowchart. He carries in him more than just a soft corner for the monarchy, almost to a point of infatuation. Making his wishes public on social media with a request to be anointed Dashai Tika at the hands of his king, he lashed out bitterly at the populace for their visible lukewarm efforts at reinstating his king. He has tried a lot. Quite a lot. But to no avail. Not that he has given up, mind you. That’s the best part of it. The present visit of this king might have soothed his nerves clamoring for the return of his kingship in Kathmandu.
Shahi (Gyanendra) also firmly believes in the reinstatement of the king. Subjected to prevoous harassment with rods, arrows, swords and beatings all the way from Chitwan to Jumla, the ex-auditor from the Indian Army likes the fact that his own name almost sounds similar to the ex-Nepali king and he strongly believes in the return of the monarch.
He even went to Balkhu during Nati Keto’s organized protest and gave a speech. He quieted only after Limbu Kaji chastised him in uncertain terms. He had the duty to bring the king back even to repay the Jumla people for their help (at getting him elected). He has been running full-on from parliament to the streets, through digital media to the populace. In this proverbial space of equation, to have this king’s visit without any hassle did give him a bit of solace. He is elated and more.
There’s one individual who does not have it all so neatly cut and dried. That’s Limbu Kaji. Regaining the kingship is what he wants very much. But being mocked by—amongst many—his own little chap (Gyanendra Shahi) along with Thapa Kaji, Nati Keto, Mishra Dai he is not very comfortable in his shoes. Being ridiculed as someone with no inkling of kingship, royal rituals, dynasty, and lineage. And being cast aside as not fit for purpose.
Letting the enthusiasm in orchestrating the returning of kingship was now not an option as he had to let Thapa Kaji know what he was capable of. He also did not want to diminish the image he had built up when he was the Adhyakcha when he said: people in the village consider all Netas as ‘thieves and scoundrels’. His charade with Thapa Kaji was not that big a deal. However, he was worried about Jhapa. How was he going to deal with Nati Keto and Hajur Buwa? Let us for a moment believe that Nati Keto is not a contender. Having said that, it was not easy to forget how he almost managed to get the king back through Balkhu. Enough reason to increase his stress levels.
On top of that, how could he even think of annoying Hajur Ba (KP Oli)? Through his help, he got him elected. And thanks to Hajur Ba, he got to have a shot at the post of Deputy PM. He did not have to be reminded that his only duty to Hajur Ba was to Obey – without any question. And the reasons were only too many.
It is not easy for him with Nati Keto’s Hajur Ba. Not that he had not hoped for Hajur Ba to bring theissue of the king during the public gathering in front of Narayanhity. But at that time, Hajur Ba maintained calculated silence with a full drawn blank face. Since then, Limbu Kaji has been disappointed and has made it pretty obvious. Abstained from voting. Didn’t go to official sessions. Instead, he lunged forward once more to get the king. Even proffered a sacrifice to appease the gods. Nothing worked. For all those reasons, he is enjoying the visit of this king.
Hajur Ba is also happy with the visit, but he does not show it. His shrewdness comes into play. He knows he has to appease the Nani ko Ba. His expression, between a smile or smirk, has been hard to decipher. Being stripped of his PM portfolio, and reduced to commanding one fleet of navy from his earlier two, has caused him immense misery and disappointment. But he is sly and decides to bring the king on this Lok Tantra day. He used the opportunity to make it a public holiday, letting the Gane group fume and fret. He’d turned the tables on them, beating them at their own game. He will always win hands down at this spiel.
Haju Ba’s earlier statement “You won’t reach the USA in a carriage” had been often used to mock him. But this visit has somehow satiated his soul. He takes the joy out of this visit. The false accusations of “Gane’s hid themselves, didn’t attend the public gathering” do not bother him anymore. He shows such individuals up. Not that he has not wanted to bring back the king. He had to stop some of the things he’d wanted to say when he was made aware of conflicting, indecisive murmurs on the podium during the public meeting at Narayanhiti. The public knows fully well about this incident. Limbu Kaji has been disappointed since this moment. He’s gone slightly rogue since then.
Keeping a straight face with neither genuine sadness nor joy—all in front of Limbu Kaji—is Thapa Kaji. He does harbor the thoughts of showing Limbu Kaji what his acumen is—if the king comes back. The project of aligning with the kingship, at the same time, linking the Limbu Kaji to the palace through some backdated scrolls of historical evidence—and eventually getting close to the king. He has not forgotten the time he, under the name of the king, complained at the UN headquarters about the illegal border closure from a neighboring government. Also not forgotten is the time he had benefited from the government coffers, playing politics without having to ally with the kingship. Believing in “not s******* where you sleep,” he is ready to get the king back. And the arrival of this king has somehow lulled him into calmness.
The Gane’s are the losers here. Tumble-dried by this king’s visit. The one who moans silently is the Nani Ko Ba. But he is a shrewd, stealthy stalker of a political strategist. Just yet, he has trained Nati Keto’s Hajurba to walk in his footsteps. And Nani Ka Ba is analyzing the effects of kingship purportedly brought in—according to social media. People like Limbu Kaji, Nati Keto, Mishra Dai, Shahi Bro, who live by the creed: “We shall not rest until we bring the king back,” have also been granted a relief of make-belief relief experience by declaring the visit of the king of Qatar as a holiday.
Don’t ever forget, he is Nani Ko Ba. Wily in the political arena. He’s a seasoned player. From Deuba Kaji, Nati Keto’s Hajurba, and aspiring opponents in his party—he has outwitted them all. And it is not for nothing.
Long live Nani Ko Ba. Long live the coming king. Long live the people wanting to bring the king.
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