Submit your Article

Flippant comparisons are often made between Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and American President Donald Trump. Both define nationalism narrowly, it is alleged, by excluding minorities. Both are loud-mouthed. APEX is happy to argue that our prime minister, with all his flaws, appears like a saint following Trump’s coup de grâce at the first US Presidential debate on Sept 30: Far from the magnanimous leader of the planet’s sole superpower, Trump appeared like a street thug in the vital debate.

He openly lied, including on life-and-death issue of the Covid-19 pandemic. He belittled his opponent’s family. He declined to denounce white supremacists (in fact, he often behaved like their spokesperson). Trump even refused to commit to accepting the result of the US presidential election. The common reaction on Nepali social media after the despicable early morning CNN spectacle was that of exasperation. Many of those who watched the acrimonious debate had headaches (including this writer), and could not believe their eyes and ears: how could the most powerful and best educated democracy in the world elect this clown for president?

Some Nepalis said they realized their country had more to teach the US on inclusive nation-building than the other way round—so bye-bye preachy American INGOs. Others were more sanguine, as they reflected on how democracies can be brought low by demagogues, in countries rich and poor. The lunatic right-fringe Trump represents is not unique to the US. It is in fact gaining traction all over the world, including in our neighborhood. In Nepal too the trend of victimizing the victimized—be it war victims, Dalits, or other marginalized groups—has polarized the society. 

Not everyone accepts the new Nepali constitution. A small spark could again lead to a conflagration in Province 2 or in the Tharu strongholds in the far west. Having reluctantly accepted federalism, Kathmandu has done little to accommodate these diverse regions and groups. The message from the US, currently in turmoil from a spreading pandemic and race riots, is that we should not take our liberties for granted. It only takes one demagogue like Trump to roll them all back and put the country on the path of (another) civil war. Trump’s America is not so much a beacon of hope as it is a cautionary red light.   

What would you change about yourself, if you could?

The fact that I am very emotional. I really need to change that.

One Nepali film from the past that you’d have loved to be a part of?

“Sano Sansar”.

Music videos or TVCs?

Music videos

What really makes you angry?

Lies

What motivates you to work hard?

My work motivates me a lot. It keeps me focused.

If you had to eat one meal every day, for the rest of your life, what would it be?

‘Roti’ and ‘chiya’

Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight, or nighttime? Why?

Sunrise. Because sunrise gives you a new beginning and makes you feel warm.

Who from the Nepali film industry inspires you the most?

Gauri Malla, Karishma Manandhar, Jal Shah, and Saranga Shrestha. All respected seniors.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a failure?

All my failures so far have taught me to be more patient. The work I keep doing matters more than my failures.

Honoring Dr Govinda KC’s demands for reforms in health education, most healthcare professionals agree, would vastly improve public health. This has been true since Dr KC sat on his first fast-unto-death in early 2012. He has since tirelessly campaigned for affordable medical education, proper supervision of medical colleges, and decentralization of these colleges away from major urban hubs. The country in the grip of a pernicious pandemic, the importance of his demands has never been higher. Nepal’s current healthcare system has fallen woefully short in managing the Covid-19 emergency. 

Decentralization of medical colleges would have ensured that many more people were tested on time to forestall a ticking corona time-bomb. A handful of labs in Kathmandu would not have had to bear all Covid-19 testing burden. Nor would those infected flock to Kathmandu’s overcrowded hospitals for the management of their symptoms. So Dr KC’s demands cannot be taken lightly, nor can his moral standing be easily belittled. Yet the recent police manhandling of this saintly doctor, who was on his 19^th fast-unto-death, suggests those in the government see him as their bitter enemy and reckon brute force is the only way to deal with him. Meanwhile, there is no sign of any of his major demands being fulfilled.

Government representatives hate Dr KC as he seems determined to break their nexus with the medical mafia, the cash cow of many top NCP leaders. Nearly eight years of Dr KC’s tireless crusade has elicited many promises on medical education reform, but these promises have seldom been kept. The nexus appears determined to tire out the sexagenarian orthopedic surgeon; or, more sinisterly, to see him die during one of his fasts. The irony of the most powerful government in Nepal’s democratic history working in the medical mafia’s interest—while depriving people of their constitution right to healthcare—is not lost on anyone.  

PM KP Oli and his government show breathtaking neglect of public health. They seem determined to have their way, even though honoring Dr KC’s demands would be highly popular. It would also be an indisputable proof of the NCP’s commitment to its electoral slogan of ‘Happy Nepali, Prosperous Nepal’. But this communist government, it’s getting increasingly clear, is beholden to crony capitalists. So long as money keeps flowing, winning the next round of elections should be easy and that, alas, seems to be its sole concern.  

Implementation of the new constitution, promulgated on 20 Sept 2015, has been patchy. The federal government that was to spearhead its implementation has, at best, been non-committal. This is particularly true about the main pillar of the new charter: federalism. The constitution put in place a three-tier government structure, devolving many rights to the provincial and local levels. Yet the federal government has been reluctant to abide by the constitution. It wants to have the decisive say in health and education, and on appointment of provincial and local staff. The District Development Offices, the holdovers of the old unitary setup that are now directly under the federal government, still have the final say on law and order. In this light, the constitution-implementation exercise of the past five years is not encouraging. But that is only half the picture.

A unitary state for two and a half centuries, embracing the federal setup, almost overnight, could not have been easy for Nepal. Most bureaucrats and civil servants—much less the common public—are just starting to acquaint themselves with the nitty-gritty of federalism. Confusion abounds, as most are still used to thinking of Nepal as a unitary state. So greater embrace of federalism is partly a matter of time. Even so, it is sometimes hard to accept our political leaders’ reluctance to implement the new setup, for they were the ones who introduced the concept to the public, often presenting federalism as a cure-all. Either they were poorly informed or they mislead the public. They were at fault, even if the former is the case.

Some are already pronouncing the death of the constitution that they say is cumbersome, and unsuited to the country. That is another overstatement. Just as there have been reports of local-level corruption from around the country, adding to public cynicism of the federal project, we also get to hear of wonderful local-level initiatives like the provision of monetary rewards for families with a girl child or outlawing of gambling. Perhaps we expect more of the ‘revolutionary’ system we heralded. But five years into the promulgation of the historic constitution, there are enough encouraging signs. Rather than picture the budding plant dies, the country would benefit more if all of us started thinking about helping it reach its maturity.

The biggest fashion faux pas you’ve committed?

I look back at my past and find several fashion faux pas. My look and style keep evolving and I don’t like my past looks ever. Maybe that’s what keeps me motivated to be better.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Nischal Basnet or Najir Hussain, two of my absolute favorite actors from the Nepali film industry.

TikTok or Twitter?

TikTok any day. It’s lighter, fun and keeps the creative juices flowing, as I have always wanted to be a video editor and director growing up.

What business idea do you think would be super-profitable but you would never want to pursue?

Having a celebrity management firm or starting a Bollywood blog.

What’s something you wish you could stop people from assuming about you?

That I do not struggle in life because of my family background. I have chosen to live my ambitions and shift base to a city (by myself) which is known for its cut-throat competition. I am still working to achieve my dreams.

The most embarrassing thing you accidentally messaged to someone?

I literally messaged my disagreement about a person to the same person instead of sending it to another friend who shared the same feelings about him. <Worst Feeling Ever>

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in love?

A lot, but probably making out with someone I loved in an open rickshaw in a small town where people would be completely shocked seeing two males do that. Luckily my eyes were closed and I couldn’t see any reactions. Haha.

What three items would you take on a deserted island?

Water, a huge portable battery charger, and my phone so I can vlog about my experience.

If you had a warning label, what would it say?

Never make a mistake of taking my kindness for weakness.

Two things you would change about yourself?

I’d like to change many things but what immediately comes to mind are: 1) Less overthinking, 2) More reading.

As the federal government gives final shape to the country’s new foreign policy, it is worth mulling over the link between foreign policy and Covid-19 pandemic. How has the pandemic changed international relations and geopolitics? How is it affecting Nepal’s relations with the outside world, and for how long? And how does Nepal get support from other countries to recover from the pandemic-induced economic devastation?

A few trends are clear. Instead of bringing the world together, as would be expected amid the worst global crisis in a generation, the pandemic seems to be dividing it. American President Donald Trump has politicized the ‘China virus’ to pave his path back to power. Instead of cooperating to develop vaccines, all big countries are competing to be the first to roll one out, sowing doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccines on the pipeline. The Indian government is trying to cover up its failure on corona-control by ramping up anti-China rhetoric, even as the Chinese seem minded to press their territorial claims as other countries have their hands full with the pandemic. 

These animosities among big countries won’t die down soon. Nepal will thus have a tricky time navigating this confusing new world. It may soon face a life-and-death question: if there are options between, say, Chinese, Russian, Indian, and American vaccines, whose vaccine will it choose? Then there are long-term questions: From where and in what form will Nepal get the money to rebuild the corona-ravaged economy? As China’s tensions with the US and India escalate, can Nepal even set its own terms on its external economic engagement without compromising national interests?

Perhaps old concepts like non-alignment and Panchsheel also need to be revisited in the post-Covid world that could throw up new configurations in international relations. Then there is the old Nepali dream of acting as a vibrant economic bridge between India and China. If the task wasn’t already hard, it will get harder. The ties with the Gulf countries may also need to be reconfigured as unprecedented scales of layoffs of Nepali workers loom large. Most of the remaining term of the current federal government will be spent firefighting the blazes set off by the novel coronavirus—provided there won’t be any more of the ‘black swan’ events like the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Who is your hero?

My dad

Cricket or football?

Cricket

What is your favorite thing about your career?

Lights, camera, action!

Two things you would change about yourself?

My laziness, and I wish I could be a better cook

What would you choose as your Top 5 songs of all time?

“Ma Yesto Chu,” “Aankhabhari”, “Tribute to Cool Pokharel,” “Pahilo Maya”, “Josh”.

What was the last thing you recorded on video?

A free-style rap on “Wake up youths”.

What is your least favorite type of music?

All those ‘viral songs’ that are trending currently.

Last band or artist you listened to?

Was listening to “Fort Minor”

How old were you when you had the worst haircut, ever? What style was it?

Recently. My wife tried the electric razor on me. I looked horrible. When I went to the barbershop to get my hair done, they asked me who had butchered me.

If you were a superhero, what would your powers be?

Invisibility. Just want to eavesdrop on our politicians talking in private.