Articles and Poems

(The following article was published in The Kathmandu Post on 13 July. Because of the interest that this article has generated amongst our readers and the request we have had for it, Sagarmatha Times is re-publishing the article along with some letters published in the context are also re-published. The article is entirely the personal opinion of Mr Mishra.)

Dual Citizenship Holder Nepalis, Are You Nepali?

- Rabindra Mishra

"WARNING: Under the nationality laws of some countries a person will automatically lose his or her nationality if he or she becomes a citizen of another country. If you have any questions about this you should ask the authorities of the country of which you are a citizen before you make an application" - alerts a guide-leaflet to those who wish to become British citizens by naturalisation.

Though British law allows dual citizenship, it does warn about the provisions of countries which do not provide for dual nationality, and Nepal is one such country. It is impossible to verify but it is believed that there are hundreds of Nepalese in America, Britain and some other countries who hold dual citizenship, which is a deliberate and total violation of the constitution of Nepal. According to Nepalese law, those who become citizens of another country, automatically lose their Nepalese nationality. That means that they will have no right to keep property or hold any job in Nepal and travel with a Nepalese passport. But how many Nepalese who have taken citizenship of another country may have renounced their nationality ? I presume, none or, at the most, a handful.
Holding dual citizenship is common in many countries and a number of Nepalese in America are campaigning for the similar right for the Nepalese as well. They argue, among other things, that allowing dual citizenship will encourage non-resident Nepalese to invest in Nepal. However, they should know that such a provision will be more harmful than beneficial to Nepal given its geopolitical situation. Nevertheless they have every right to run such a campaign. But holding dual citizenship and campaigning for such a right is wrong because it violates the Nepalese constitution, which was framed democratically and is accepted by all the leading parties of the country.

The Nepalese who hold dual nationality are mostly from the educated classes and, in some cases, from the intelligentsia. If they were to be given high-flying posts with attractive perks, probably many of them would return to Nepal. They may not even hesitate to preach patriotism from the very next day locking up their foreign citizenship and passport only to use them after they are relieved of their posts, though that would be like deserting
your mother when she is destitute and curling up in her lap and glorifying her when she has riches to offer. Actually, permanent residency in both America and Britain allows a person to most of the benefits enjoyed by the citizens of those countries. Still why most of them are eager to obtain the citizenship itself and why many of them are not willing to forego the Nepali citizenship as required by the Nepalese law ? Apparently, there are a number of reasons for it, some of which are financial and some psychological:

If a Nepali renounces his Nepali citizenship he will need a visa to travel to Nepal and if he decides to travel by a Nepalese airliner, he will have to pay the airfare set for foreigners which is much higher than that for Nepalese passport holders. If the same Nepali is only a permanent resident of, say, the United States, he will not need a visa to Nepal but will need one to travel to other countries. Similarly a British citizen of a Nepali origin does not need a visa to Europe and America but a Nepali with a permanent residency in Britain will need one. So clinging to both the nationalities does not only make their life easier for travelling but also gives them some financial benefit, which is always their main concern. However, many Nepalese in Britain are said to be upset that the British
Home Office has been declining to stamp visa for "indefinite leave" to remain in Britain in Nepalese passports whose owners already hold British citizenship. Without such a visa they won’t be able to travel to Nepal with
a Nepalese passport.

As most of the dual citizenship holders can never develop a sense of belonging in their new-found nation (though many of them feel proud about holding American or British citizenship), it is a psychological support for them to think that they have maintained their links with Nepal and they still belong to it. Many people also have a tendency to show off to their relatives and acquaintances how much money they have earned and how successful they have been. This could be partly a manifestation of their unfulfilled urge for recognition because their achievements go relatively unnoticed in their new country. Back home even riding a 100 CC Hero Honda or driving an 800 CC Maruti Suzuki are status symbols, let alone buying large areas of land and building bungalows. But if they were to renounce their Nepalese citizenship it will be difficult for them to exhibit their earnings in Nepal.
In some countries many natives even feel, though it is seldom expressed, that their opportunities are being snatched by the foreigners. The recent extraordinary success in Australia of a new right-wing One Nation party wanting an end to immigration from Asia, and the gradual rise of such parties in many other countries, should give an inkling to naturalized citizens, especially from Asia, of how they are being viewed by many natives in the developed world. This realization can never allow them to feel fully at home in their new country. The success of the One Nation party in Australia even led the Prime Minister, John Howard, to admit that it would be foolish to ignore the mass support the party had mustered.

Similarly, the dual citizenship holder Nepalese are also fearful about what their old age is going to be like: they might have to live in an old people’s home or might have to be looked after by the community service because their Westernised children may find time for them only occasionally (not that they don’t love them but social circumstances are like that). Stooped old people struggling with a walking-stick in one hand and shopping bags in the other are a common sight in countries like Britain and America. They have seen that and they know there will be no kanchha-kanchhis to assist them in their final days, and no family members to talk to. Even an imagination of such a situation would be a nightmare to almost everyone who is brought up in a society like that of Nepal. Hence, many of them harbour the intention to spend their retired life in Nepal comfortably - surrounded by relatives and kanchha-kanchhis. If they were to follow the legal course and forego their Nepalese citizenship, that again would be impossible. The underlying question here is: how can anyone with a moral standing fall back in his mother’s lap for support when he has been of no use to her throughout most part of his life? And when he has violated her laws of existence?

And ultimately many also dream of breathing their last on the banks of Bagmati or in the shadows of Swayambhu Nath/Bouddha Nath. When professionals and intellectuals, who are supposed to set examples for society, deliberately abuse one of the most sensitive aspects of the country’s constitution for purely personal benefit, then that is a real tragedy. Perhaps the most galling fact of all is that they are the ones who seem to show more concern than the Nepalese in Nepal about the deteriorating condition of the country. They are the ones who say they left the country because their "talent" and "hard work" were not well appreciated in Nepal. The famous statement by the late American President, John F Kennedy, "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country," is probably more relevant to poor countries like Nepal and those learned law-breakers are wise enough to understand this. This author feels that their concern for Nepal is mere crocodile tears and they could be categorized amongst one of the most selfish and opportunist lots. And they are not Nepali because the law of the land says so.

Letter 1 published in The Kathmandu Post

Dear Editor,
Rabindra Mishra’s write-up titled ‘Dual citizenship holder Nepalis, are you Nepali?’ was thought provoking. He has clearly unveiled the hidden intention, motive, dilemma and the opportunistic attitude of Nepalis staying abroad on renouncing Nepali citizenship and holding dual citizenship. Nepalese who have been settled or staying abroad should either do something for their motherland or quit their citizenship and assimilate themselves in the culture of the country they are in.

However, they should know that while retaining their Nepali citizenship will be rewarding in material terms, the price of dishonesty will certainly be very expensive. I fully agree with Mishra and would like to add that they should prove their honesty through their deeds.

Further, I would like to say that the issue also involves history, religion, traditions and the feeling of oneness. If Nepalis abroad are aware of the current trend and the treatment meted out to Asian and African migrants in the Western world they should choose to avoid the prevailing dualism. Let us see how Nepalis living abroad will act in future. They need to do some serious soul searching.

Letter 2 appeared in Internet

Dear Sir,
Does this guy have a habit of just writing and criticising ? What is this guy ? Suddenly 2 articles and he thinks that he on his own is a perfect Nepalese person doing his service to Nepal.

Imagine working all your life and paying tax in a foreign country. I think a person deserves some sort of reward for that from that country and if being allowed to take up citizenship is the option, then I see no problems with that. If Mr Mishra was offered the chance of a of citizenship in Britain, I hardly think that he would refuse. Mr Mishra seems to be under the impression that because you have a dual nationality, you are automatically discarding patriotism. From many people whom I have had dealings with, I can say that even if they have dual citizenship, they are more Nepalese than the Nepalese with citizenship themselves. How Mr Mishra can make the assumptions that he is making is beyond me. Many people have dual nationality for the purpose of security. Once you are a citizen of that country, no matter what happens, you are sure to be allowed to stay. But if tomorrow the law changes and people with ‘indefinite leave to remain’ are rejected, they have no choice but to leave everything that they have (home, job, friends, etc..) behind and return to Nepal.

After all, we are all selfish for our future and I am sure that he also is of himself. That does not give him the reason to criticise a person who has dual nationality.

Sanjay Pant, USA

Our Bikas Office

- Anil Bhattarai, Kathmandu

The guard stopped me at the gate. The meeting was to begin around nine in the morning, but I reached there a bit early. "The staffs are still coming, you please wait," the guard there said. I could discern irritation in the guard’s voice. He did not even have time to inquire about my reason for coming there. I knew I was not supposed to be there before the staffs. But they should also realize that in a place like Kathmandu, it’s almost impossible to reach on time-you either reach early or late. Perhaps, I was not supposed to be there at all. These big bikas buildings were not meant for common folks like me. Pretty soon he kept himself busy as before looking for other people’s IDs. He totally forgot my existence.

I could do nothing but wait. And while waiting I stole a look into the guard’s eyes-the two balls lolling about trying to make sure that people entered the gate with their ID cards in hand. I looked at my wrist watch-it was yet 9.50. I sat on the low wall outside the gate near the gate guards room. While waiting I also watched people enter into the compound and tried to read a couple of faces. A couple of new pajeros whizzed in through the gate. I could just see blue plate on the car-but not make out the number. I did not care about the number either.

But before long, he called me. "Eh bhai, come." I could hear it. But I was not sure if it was meant to me. I waited for a while, my ear cocked towards the guard and my eyes fixed on the guard’s mouth. He now beckoned me. I got up and registered my name in the log book they had kept there before they let me in. They gave me my
Visitor’s ID card with a rope to hang around my neck. I had to go to a meeting hall and asked where it was. He told me they had two halls-one big and the other small. I did not know which hall we were going to meet. But it was not going to be large crowd. So I thought it must have been the small one - I used my common sense. The guard pointed me towards another building and told me to show the ID to the receptionist there. I thanked him and went in that building. It was a large reception hall with couch to sit. I know my friend was also coming. So I decided to wait for her. While waiting, I fiddled with the pages of the magazine they had there on the table.

Another guard hurried in and looked at me-he looked a bit perturbed by the way I was there. I threw back an astonished look at him and tried to smile. He did not smile back. "Do you have your ID," he demanded authoritatively, his tone filled with irritation and I could see his moustache twitch. I could immediately sense he was not used to seeing people like me in that office. I had put the ID inside the front pocket of my backpack.

"Yes, I have it, in here," I replied pointing to the bag I had put on my side. "Show it to me. You don’t put it in the bag. You need to wear it on the front-clip it on your shirt," he instructed. I took it out from the backpack pocket and silently produced it before him. "No, you don’t put this in the pocket. Clip it out in front on your shirt," he instructed me second time as a teacher. I was a criminal caught unaware. He was standing in front of me hovering above me like a tower and I was sitting on the couch. I raised my head to look into his eyes, but he was already turning to go. But I could catch a corner of his right eye-the anger shone on it." Participation is the essence of development," the front page of the newsletter I was holding read out in big letters and on the background was a bunch of people sitting on a dirt floor drawing maps. PRA-this word suddenly cropped into my head. "Didi, do you look at people’s ID every time they come in? You must look at people if they are wearing it. We should not allow anyone not wearing it in, " I could hear the guard tell the receptionist. I could also catch him turn his head towards me - in a sort of a gesture. I caught the eye of the receptionist, too. By now I already had the card worn around my neck and was proudly showing it to her. She looked pleased. I did not know if I smiled at her, but I could see she threw a mild smile back to me.

And as soon as the guard hurried out from the front door and disappeared from my sight, I again took the card off and put it in the same backpack pocket. I could do no more and kept waiting for my friend to come.

Nepalese Cooking

- Hind Vaidya

Nepalese cooking is an inherited skills of generations of Nepalese women. Each recipe has been passed orally or practically from mother to daughter, mother in law to daughter in law. Having said that on big occasions like rice eating festival six month after the child’s birth, Bratabandha, marriage etc, foods are cooked and served by male chefs called Bhani Daju in Newar Community. Tole-baari (male representatives from the community) take responsibility to serve sweets, yogurt and fruits. Therefore, we all have interesting food stories to tell to our children and to the world. Time has changed dramatically. Our children do not have enough time to spend with us we used to in our time. They want to know how mum had made such and such dishes and it would be very sad if we do not record traditional home cooking to retain its originality. My cookery book "Nepalese Cookery" has been used by our second generations as well as student’s in their projects work. Lots of my friends appreciate my recipe of shell and lalmohan. Potato pickle and marinated meat and beans are popular among western friends. I get letters from school children as well as clubs who want to serve Nepalese food after their talk about Nepal. I was requested to demonstrate Nepalese cooking in Rotary Club in Chesterfield. I want to thank everyone for referring my name to those who want to know about Nepalese cuisine as well as Nepali language. At present, Vivian Jones comes to my house once a week to have Nepali lesson. Vivian had been to Nepal three times in her trekking trip. She is going back to Nepal in January.

Nepalese Cook Book is migre. Therefore, Nepalese food is not as world famous as other Asian food, but, it is getting popular. A book "Nepali Cook Book" compiled recipes by Nepalese housewives has been published in America and I am very pleased about it. Indra Majupuria in her book "Joys of Nepalese Cooking" has done a tremendous research on Nepalese food and culture even though it is not her first hand experience. Though some of the recipes are more like Indian cuisine than Nepalese, this book is her valuable contribution to Nepalese cuisine. I was thrilled when I saw a book "Lets Companion to Asian Food and Cooking" by Jackie Passmore. The book has included Nepal but the content has very little to do with Nepalese recipe. Though it is a concise Asian Cookery Book, she has folded Nepalese cooking completely with Indian cooking. On the other hand J. Burbank in "Nepal Travel Guides, 1992" has considered Nepal as a unique Daal-Bhaat country. He has written "one of the great things about Nepal is the food. Your choice may be limited while trekking, but you have more variety in Kathmandu as in most cities around the world. He also describes the seasonal dishes like labsi, classical Newari dishes like quati (mixed pulse soup), Wo, Quaaghaasaa and also ghyo-chhaaku. He writes how Nepalese women prepare fermented pickles of vegetables in glass jars with monsoon rain water by adding mustard powder and spices.

Most people after their visit to Nepal, appreciate Nepalese food. Dr D. Bellamy, after his Wild Life Trip to Nepal, said "Nepalese Food is very nice but I can’t cook it." During his speech on 7th Annual Conference held by Nepalese Doctors Association in Sunderland University on 25th July 1992. J. Lomax, wife of a B.B.C. reporter, with her three children explored the different parts of Nepal on foot along a network of tracks and trails, staying with local people and eating locally available foods. In her book "Walking in the Cloud", she has described Jelebi and omelette in Nepal. She distinguished the taste of jelebi in Nepal with the one available in Asian Shops in England. Even she wrote that she could not achieve the same taste of omelette she used to have in Nepal. "It was a cross between the scramble egg and the omelette" she wrote. Trekking, rafting, exploring wild life, researching history or anthropology whatever the main object of visiting Nepal, one can not ignore the Nepalese food. I met an English girl looking like a typical Nepali wearing cloths and jewels made in Nepal. She told me that she was doing research about Sherpa tribe in Helembu. I asked her "What do you cook in Nepal"? "Makai ko Dheru" she replied. Vivian Jones who comes to me for Nepali lessen asked me what is that dish which is just a black blob on plate and watery soup? I presume that it must be Kodo ko dhero and Gundruk ko Jhol.

She said that she did not like it. I explained her that how it can be made with maize flour and showed the recipe in my book. Some people remark that most Nepalese restaurant in U.K. do not serve Nepalese cuisine but the Indian. Recently me and my daughter. while we passing through, spotted Nepalese menu from outside in one of the Nepalese restaurant in London. We could not wait to go in and eat. Very good service and friendly. We really enjoyed the Nepali dishes like saag, maas ko daal, tama alu and alu achaar. I was a bit disappointed with Choila. Most parts of the country Nepal are mountains and hills, however, no region of the country is so remote that its cooking can not be investigated and explored. There are not only many reginal variations brought about by the kind of crops grown but also different ethenic groups in different regions. Cooking is different from city to city, village to village and even family to family within the same community. When people ask me what is the main food of Nepal. I usually say that a typical everyday meal consists of daal, bhaat, tarkari in central part of the country. Rice is substituted by potato or maize or millet Dheru in hills and mountains whereas in tarai by roti. However, Nepalese cuisine is dependent on the season’s grains, vegetable and fruit. Meat dish is always special and is eaten in small quantity. The meal is incomplete without some kind of achaar as an appetiser.

Nepalese food is well balanced and healthy. Pulses, fresh vegetables and fruits, milk and yogurt are usual. Less fat, oil and spices are used in comparison to other Asian foods. Right amount of food is freshly prepared each time. No artificial colouring, thickening agents and sugar is added in traditional dishes. However, there are Chinese Tibetan, Burmese, Indian influences on food habits in different parts of Nepal.
Recipe in next issue

Jaatak Katha

- Complied by Dr. Kamal Rauniar

About 563 B.C. Gautama Buddha was born among the Shakyas, a Kshatriya tribe whose capital Kapilavastu, was situated in what now forms part of Nepal. His father was king of the Gautama clan; Thus Buddha came to be known later by this name, though at birth he was named Siddhartha.

From his youth the prince was serious minded, meditative and according to legend, a remarkable personality. When he was 29 years old, he renounced the world, left his home, wife and child, to seek nirvana, or supreme peace. Buddha attained his great enlightenment, by sitting motionless in lengthy and concentrated meditation.

For 45 years Buddha wandered through India & Nepal, preaching his doctrine of correct teaching and mental discipline to the people. In the course of his teachings, he narrated the stories of his former births, known as Jatakas. There are 7 stories in all, which stress the correct values of life according to the Buddhist creed. The principal good character in each story is Buddha in his previous births as bird, beast or man. After Buddha’s death, his followers continued to retell these stories in order to keep alive the memory of the great sage, and also to instil Buddhist precepts in the minds of the people. At first, these stories were handed down from generation to generation in oral form. Later they were put together in a complete written text.

The Emperor Ashoka, who became and ardent Buddhist after the destructive Kalinga wars, was responsible for firmly establishing Buddhism throughout his vast empire. He erected Stupas in different parts of the country. The stupa consisted of a masonried hemisphere, which enshrined a relic of the Buddha. Though the stupa was a simple unadorned edifice, the railings and gates which encircled it, were often magnificently carved with scenes from the life of Buddha and the figures of birds and beasts.

One of these Buddhist stupas is at Barhut which lies 120 miles south-west of Allahabad which is in Uttar Pradesh. This stupa was built of Ashoka’s death, between 184-182 B.C. during the reign of the Sunga monarchs. Scenes from over a score of the Jatakas are elaborately carved on the railings. Apart from the stupa, not much is left at the actual site. Most of the railings have been removed and preserved in the Indian Museum at Calcutta. The Jatakas remain unique in the world’s sacred literature. Though nearly 2000 years have passed since they were first told, they have lost none of their charm, & still have the power to captivate the minds of adults & children alike.