Nepal

June 6, 2020November 20, 2020

स्वास्थ्य तथा जनसङ्ख्या मन्त्रालयको बजेट

स्वास्थ्य तथा जनसङ्ख्या मन्त्रालयको आगामी आर्थिक वर्ष २०७७-७८ को बजेटमा उल्लेख्य वृद्धि भएको छ ।

वर्तमान आर्थिक वर्षको संशोधित अनुमान २४ अरबको तुलनामा आगामी आर्थिक वर्षमा यसलाई ६१ अरब पुर्याइएको छ। चालु खर्चलाई १९ अरबबाट ४५ अरबमा र पूँजी खर्चलाई ५ अरबबाट १५ अरबमा बढाइएको छ ।

कोरोना फैलिरहेको अहिलेको अवस्थामा यो वृद्धि धेरै अपेक्षित पनि थियो ।

यद्यपि खर्च गर्ने क्षमता अहिलेभन्दा करीब तीन गुनाले बढाउनु पर्ने देखियो, विशेष गरी पूँजीतर्फ ।

अहिलेसम्मको तथ्याङ्क हेर्दा पूँजीतर्फ वार्षिक पाँच-सात अरब जति खरब गर्न सकिने रहेछ । र एकै वर्षमा १५ अरब खर्च गर्नको लागि चाहिं राम्रै योजना र कार्यान्वयनको आवश्यकता छ ।

January 11, 2019January 27, 2019

The Alternative Politics Question

In light of the Bibeksheel-Sajhas disintegrating back to their original factions today, instead of pondering on what went wrong in hindsight, it is worth discussing how these meager forces might want to advance.

Today’s political and social positioning is a perfect breeding ground for an alternative politics.

The ruling Communist party, with an overwhelming majority, is losing credibility with corruption, nepotism and lack of results. This is frustrating the populace by the day. A nigh moribund main opposition Nepali Congress, with its vigor and glory long gone, is virtually directionless and too feeble to check the increasingly authoritarian government. The voters, on the other hand, are more conscious, competent and young than ever and are fed up with the vile of traditional politics. At the same time, technology, prominently communications and social media, has pierced almost to the core of even the least privileged class.

If handled well, we could as well see one such new a force, full of energy and morale and vision, magnify themselves into prominence by the next election – or the next.

One or two elections ahead, gone will be the days when politics used to be about peace and stability and identity. With the change in demographics and overflow of young generation into the urban centers, the main agenda will by far be economy.

In this backdrop, it is tough for these newborns. It is not possible for them to capture the helm of the country without elucidating their positions in the political map. Do they wish to control the financial market or do they advocate laissez-faire? What sort of, and to what depth of, social security do they envisage? What will be their policy on education, health and infrastructure? Do they support a more labor-based agenda or a more competitive market swaying to capitalism?

Till now, they have been mustering all their resources in building themselves a house, so to speak – a house that would give them a common stand and recognition. That the house in question has now ended up in a debacle within a matter of 17 months, the need to clarify their positions with respect to the above questions has never been more crucial.

We have heard enough about their values. Now it’s time they enlighten us with their visions. For otherwise, people will be asking one tough question: Are the incumbent political forces, with some reform, not better off to lead the country?

January 1, 2019November 20, 2020

Goodbye 2018

Year 2018 was a motley ragbag of the good and the bad. Looking back, it was yet another fulfilling year blessed with good health and family happiness overall.

Like the monsoon which offers life and energy while afflicting floods and landslides at the same time, 2018 enriched our lives to an extent and left some stark and painful marks.

One week of cruise in the Mediterranean was not only a life-long dream accomplished but also a perfect time to re-establish the bond with nature, something I had been missing for many years. Two additional weeks of holiday in Nepal provided freshness and much needed break from work. It was my brother’s wedding and hence a perfect time for family gathering and celebration. 2018 was also the year when our daughter started nursery and it was a joy watching her grow.

2018 also came and ended with some pain and tragedy. Two dear friends passed away in an untimely age leaving us in deep pain and consternation.

As for some interesting reads, I came across two amazingly influencing books: Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela and Glimpses of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru. These two towering personalities of the 20th century have so much to offer the world. In addition to the wisdom and wit they present, their delicate and touching human side is bound to amaze and move readers. Others, to name a few, included Politics Beyond Extremes by Nick Clegg, What Happened by Hillary Clinton (her own narrative about the failed presidential campaign) and How Google Works by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg. Then came Healed, Manisha Koirala‘s story of her triumphant battle against her late-stage ovarian cancer, that is both resourceful and inspirational to patients and readers alike. On the fiction side of things, A Wild Sheep Chase (羊をめぐる冒険) and A Perfect Day for Kangaroo　(カンガルーの日和) by Haruki Murakami were worth remembering.

Politically and socially, I think Nepal finally became very stable in 2018, something that we longed for the last 25 years. Despite a lot of negative fuss in the press, there is a lot of positive vibe and hope and confidence in the country. The direction and pace of social development may not necessarily be the epitome we would desire, but we undoubtedly are heading towards to the right direction on the whole. That is not to say we are free of challenges; especially in the areas of social justice, governance and all forms of equality, we have a long way to go.

2019, here we come.

December 2, 2018September 17, 2019

On Faith and UPF Fever

With all the commotion and controversy the on-going Universal Peace Federation (UPF)‘s summit in Kathmandu is creating, the topics of religion, soul-searching, and proselytization have again struct some attention.

I always find the act of converting religion rather mystifying. No objection or disrespect towards anyone faithfully following the creeds and tenets put upon them from birth (myself in this category). However, if one is convinced that the pasture on the other side of the river is greener, than she definitely hasn’t looked around her feet well.

Whatever logic is given to justify religion or creationism, we all know for fact that gods and religions, so to speak in the common definitions of the terms, are results of human imagination.

Let’s, for a moment, assume that all children of the world were refrained from any form of religious education and events imposed upon them (brainwashing, in a less euphemistic term) and that they were free to choose their faith completely with their conscience at the end of their adolescence. What share of the society would follow their parents’ faith or any faith at all for that matter? I have no figures to share, but conceivably a significant portion.

Here’s a million dollar question: if a serf is intelligent enough to discern the abomination of the system that is abusing her, why should she switch to another master? Why not emancipate from the servitude altogether?

If one were not satisfied with their faith of birth, pursuing a new soul-searching in another faith is a fundamental right guaranteed in most of the democratic societies of the day. Deserting the notion of religion itself, however, seems more astute an option. Actually, I see such people everywhere in Nepal. The pious population is shrinking by the day and the religion is observed more as a tradition and not in the strict sense of the word.

In fact, it is astonishing to know that the west, despite its leadership in realizing the position of science and rationalism that they have achieved today, has larger chunk their society so rigid and rabid when it comes to faith.

In Nepal, we know for well a fact that the primary motivation behind such conversions has been economical and social – which religions themselves theoretically prohibit.

Coming back to the topic of UPF’s conference this week, the fact that it has received such an attention from the national level is preposterous and equally alarming.

Follow these people for rationalism, humanism, and secularism: @RichardDawkins, @taslimanasreen, @sapinker.

February 26, 2017February 27, 2017

बुढीगण्डकी: मुअब्जामा तँछाड-मछाड गर्न छाडी एक पटक सोच्ने कि!

बुढीगण्डकी जलविद्युत योजना वास्तविकतामा परिणत हुँदा (यदि भएमा) आसपासको क्षेत्रमा विकराल सामाजिक-आर्थिक समस्या पनि बढ्दै जाने खतरा छ । यस विषयमा राज्य र स्थानीयस्तरमा समयमै पहल गर्नु आवश्यक छ ।

प्रभावित क्षेत्रमा मुअब्जा बाँड्न थालिएको समाचार पढ्दै गर्दा, यसै क्षेत्रको स्थायी बासिन्दाको हैसियतले, केही लेख्न मन लाग्यो ।

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निकै वर्ष भयो, प्रत्येक पटक घर फर्कंदा सुनिने “हल्ला”हरू सधैं उस्तै उस्तै । अब दुई महिनामा मुअब्जा बाँड्ने रे, फलानो ठाउँमा त आइसक्यो, यति वर्षपछि यस्तो हुन्छ रे, आदि आदि ।

धेरै स्थानीयहरूमा पैसाको बिटो बुझ्ने हतारो देखिन्छ । “बुज्रुक” र “ठालु”हरू आ-आफ्नो “बिटो” झनै बाक्लो बनाउने कसरतमा लागेका छन् । व्यवहारिक रुपमा एउटै छानोमुनि बसे पनि कागजमा सकेसम्म धेरै ‘एकल’ परिवार (nuclear family) बनाउने लहर प्रत्येक धुरीसम्म फैलिएको छ । वर्षौंसम्म गाउँबाहिरै बस्नेहरू यही “मौका”मा “छाप्रो” बनाउन फर्किन थालेको सुनिन्छ । यदाकदा, दशौं वर्षअगाडि पढाउनको कञ्जुस्याइँले छोरीलाई बिहे गरी पठाइदिनेहरू एकाएक “अलिकति भए पनि” अंश छुट्याइदिन ललायित देखिन्छन् ।

“नियम”ले दिएसम्म सबैले बुझुन्, त्यसमा केही गुनासो भएन । यस लेखको प्रयास – यो लहर अन्तत्वगोत्वा निराशामा परिणत नहोस् भनेर सचेत गराउने मात्रै हो । र यो लेख, यसमा दिइएको तर्क अनि उदाहरण, र दिन खोजिएको मेसेज कुनै नकारात्मक सोचको उपज होइन, धरातलीय यथार्थ हो ।

‘राष्ट्रिय गौरब’को यो परियोजना बन्नुपर्छ, यसमा दुई मत हुन सक्तैन । तर यस भेगको “माटो” र “मान्छे”को यथार्थलाई बुझेर बहस गर्ने हो भने, मुअब्जा बाँडिएपछि र डुबान शुरु भएपछि प्रभावितहरूलाई कस्तो भविष्यले पर्खी बसेको छ, सोच्नु मनासिब हुनेछ । बुँदागतमा रुपमा केलाउँदा :

१) प्रभावित भेगका बासिन्दा प्रायः सबैको ऋण छ । त्यो कृषि बिकास बैंक या गाउँकै साहूहरूबाट लिएकै किन नहुन् ! कसैले भैंसी-पालनको ऋण लिएर छोराको बिहे गरेका छन्, कसैले खेत बन्धकी राखेर बुहारीको उपचार गराएका छन् । गाउँका पसल, मिल, वल्लाघर-पल्लाघरको उधारो तिरेतारो त छँदैछ । मुअब्जा बुझेको निकै रकम शुरुमै यस्तैमा जाने देखिन्छ ।

२) यस भेगका अधिकांश बासिन्दा सोझा कृषक छन् । त्यसमाथि अनपढ छन् । धेरैलाई पैसालाई व्यवस्थित रुपमा प्रयोग गर्ने क्षमता नै छैन भने पनि अत्युक्ति हुँदैन । उनीहरूले नयाँ ठाउँमा अंगाल्न सक्ने पेशा भनेको कृषि नै हो, उनीहरूलाई चाहिने जग्गा नै हो । आयोजनाको सेयर दिएर, वा आयोजना बनिसकेपछि जागीर दिने सपना देखाएर पनि हुँदैन । किनकि ‘पढेलेखेका’हरू धेरै जसो शहर र बिदेश पसेका छन्; वास्तविक विस्थापित त गाउँमै हलो-कोदालोमै बिताउनेहरू हुन् ।

३) चल सम्पत्ती, खर्च हुने ठाउँ दशथरी हुन्छन् । कसैलाई यही मौकामा दुबई-कतार जाने इच्छा पलाउला, कसैलाई २ तोला सुन किन्ने सपना होला, र कसैलाई छोराछोरीलाई महँगै स्कूल-कलेजमा हाल्ने आँट आउला । धेरैले दारु, मासु, र ‘मेरिज’मा पनि “लगानी” गर्नेछन् । उमेरदार छोरा-छोरी हुनेहरूलाई गच्छेभन्दा अलिकति माथि उक्लेर विवाह र भोज-भतेर गर्न आँट बढ्ला । गाउँमा पसल भएका एक भाइले भूकम्पको राहत बाँडेपछि पसलमा दारुपानीको बिक्री ह्वात्तै बढ्यो भनेर केही हप्ता अगाडि फेसबुकमा लेखेका थिए ।

४) पैसा बाँड्नेबित्तिकै वरिपरिका जग्गा र घर-घडेरीको मूल्य आकासिने छन् । र प्रभावितहरूको अहिले जति जग्गा छ, त्यसको धेरै कम क्षेत्रफल मिल्नेछ । वरिपरिका बासिन्दाहरूलाई पनि तत्काल जग्गा बेचिहाल्नु पर्ने बाध्यता पनि त छैन – उनीहरू भाउ दह्र्याउने मौकामा बस्नेछन् । जग्गा व्यापारमा सरकारले नियन्त्रण गर्न नसकेको यथार्थ त काठमाण्डौं या चितवन आदि ठाउँहरू हेरे पुग्छ ।

५) कि त मुअब्जा एक मु्ष्ठमा बाँडेर तत्काल गाउँ छोड्न लगाउन पर्छ । नत्र, वर्षैपिच्छेको महंगी (inflation) लाई बिचार गर्ने हो भने, पैसाको भाउ (value) घटिसकेको हुनेछ । अहिलेको १ लाख पाँच वर्षपछि त्योभन्दा धेरै कम मूल्य बराबर हुनेछ । त्यसले विस्थापित बासिन्दालाई हात मुख जोर्न आवश्यक जग्गा नपुग्ने निश्चित छ ।

६) बुढीगण्डकी आसपासमा डुब्ने अधिकांश जग्गा टार र सम्म भागहरू पर्छन् । पहाडी भेगमा भए पनि यिनमा बढी उब्जनी र सिंचाइको सुबिधा छ । विस्थापित बासिन्दा वरिपरिको जग्गामा बसाइँ सर्ने हो भने सिंचाइ र सुबिधाको हकमा अहिलेकोभन्दा कमसल ठाउँहरूमा चित्त बुझाउनु पर्ने हुन्छ ।

७) र यो पनि सत्य हो कि – बुढीगण्डकी आसपासका टारका औसत बासिन्दाहरू वरिपरिका डाँडाका बस्तीहरूको तुलनमा बढी सुखी छन् । यी टारहरूमा बस्ती पनि बाक्लै छन् भने सामाजिक सद्भाव पनि निकै हदसम्म उदार देखिन्छ । राजनीतिले गाँजिए पनि संकुचितपन र झै-झगडाहरू कम छन् । परिश्रम गर्नेहरूको लागि दुई छाक खानको लागि त्यति समस्या छैन । यदि यिनीहरू वरिपरिको समाजमा थुप्रिने हो भने नयाँ ठाउँका कठिनाइ र भेदभावलाई आँकलन गर्न गहारै पर्ने देखिन्छ ।

यी आदि कारणहरू ध्यानमा राख्ने हो भने एकाध अपवादलाई छोडेर प्रभावित क्षेत्रका बासिन्दालाई मुअब्जामा आउने रकम उल्टै घाँडो हुने निश्चित छ । पैसा मात्रै बुझेर आ-आफ्नै ढंगले तितरबितर हुने हो भने ठुलै सामाजिक र आर्थिक असर पर्नेछ ।

यो परिवेशमा डुबान क्षेत्रका स्थानीय बासिन्दाहरूले पैसा लिन तँछाड‍-मछाड गर्ने, यति चाहिन्छ उति चाहिन्छ भनेर बार्गेनिङ् गर्ने समय यो होइन । बरू पूनर्वास कहाँ गर्ने, कस्तो समाज निर्माण गर्ने भनेर सोच्न र सम्बन्धित निकाय घचेट्न आवश्यक छ । अहिले जत्तिकै फराकिलो र मलिलो जग्गा सट्टामा पाएर, अहिलेको जत्तिकै वा बढी मिलेको बस्ती बनाउनेतर्फ अग्रसर हुन पर्छ । होइन भने सक्नेहरू चितवन-काठमाण्डौं सर्ने र नसक्ने-सोझाहरू सुकुम्बासी हुने कुरा अवश्यम्भावी छ ।

उसो त, भूकम्पपछि सुकुम्बासीसरह बस्नु परेको बाध्यात्मक यथार्थ त हामीमा छँदैछ ।
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September 3, 2016September 3, 2016

नेपाल-जापान बारेमा हारुहितो नोजुको अन्तर्वार्ता

नेपालको बिकास किन भएन भनेर ‘कच‍‍-कच’ गरिरहने सबै नेपालीहरूले हेर्नै पर्ने हारुहितो नोजुसँगको अन्तर्वाता । वहाँको व्यक्तिगत भोगाइहरू र समग्रमा बिकास तथा नेपाल-जापानबिचको सोचाइबारेमा । शिक्षा, बिकास, आदि बारेमा एकदम सान्दर्भिक कुराहरू ।

करिब सबै कुरामा नोजुजीसँग सहमत ! विशेष गरी शिक्षा र त्यसमा पनि नैतिक शिक्षा अनि अनुशासनबारेको कुरा निकै मननीय छ ।

सामग्री तयार गरेकोमा समुद्रपारिलाई धेरै धन्यवाद !

August 29, 2016August 29, 2016

१५ वर्षमा प्रतिव्यक्ति आय ७ हजार डलर

जेठ ३०, २०७३ मा नयाँ शक्ति नेपालले १५ वर्षमा (अर्थात् सन २०३१) प्रतिव्यक्तिको आय ६३० बाट ७,००० अमेरिकी डलर पुर्याउने ‘अर्जुनदृष्टि’ सर्वजनिक गरेछन् ।

सुन्नमा त कर्णप्रिय लाग्ला नै, तर कत्तिको व्यवहारिक छ, गणितीय दृष्टिले हेर्दा प्रतिवर्ष आयदरको वृद्धि कति आवश्यक छ? दुई तरिकाले Simulation गरी हेरौं ।

१) पहिलो तरिका अन्तर्गत, प्रत्येक वर्ष करीब १७%को दरले बृद्धि भयो भने २०३१मा ‘लक्ष्य’ हासिल गर्न सकिने रहेछ ।
२) अर्को तरिका, शुरुमा कम वृद्धिदर । तर बिकासले गति लिन थालेसँगै वृद्धिदर बढ्ने । त्यसो भयो भने प्रत्येक वृद्धिदर नै २.०८% ले बढ्दै गयो भने लक्ष्य हासिल गरिदो रहेछ । जस्तै २०१७ मा २.०८% ले बढ्ने, २०१८ मा ४.१६%, २०१९मा ६.२४, २०२० मा ८.३२%, गर्दै एवम् रीतले २०३१मा ३१.२% ।

लौ @NayaShaktiNEP र @brb1954 को लागि KPI नै भयो । यी अंकहरू व्यवहारिक कि अव्यवहारिक उनीहरू नै जानून् । 🙂

यो ग्राफ हेरिहेर्दा, मनमा लागेका दुई तर्क:
१) २० वर्षमा १३,००० भन्देको भए झनै लोकपृय होइने रहेछ किन चुकेछन् खै ।
२) १५ वर्ष लगातार सरकार पाएको खण्डमा यो वृद्धि ल्याइदिन्छु भनेका हुन् कि सरकारमा भए नि सडकमा भए नि ल्याउँछु भनेका हुन्, किलिएर भएन ।

August 7, 2016August 7, 2016

Women Power

Recent appointment of Sushila Karki as Nepal’s Chief Justice has brought cheers and effusion. With three females leading executive, legislature, and judiciary, this is one of the finest moments in the history as a society of justice and equal opportunity.

In the world arena, Theresa May became just the second woman to become UK’s Prime Minister. Angela Merkel took the helm of Germany almost a decade ago and continues to dominate the EU and world politics. On the spotlight is Hillary Clinton who is set to become the most powerful person on the planet provided that Americans will reject Donald Trump‘s calculative and derogative spews directed towards her.

What does this mean with regards to women empowerment and gender equality in Nepal and the world ?

Nepalese President Ms Bidhya Bhandari, Speaker of House Ms Onsari Gharti Magar, and Chief Justice Ms Sushila Karki. Picture source: http://nepaliheadlines.com

For Nepal, it certainly is symbolic. We have been pinched and punched by pessimists and opportunists alike about gender inequality. While there’s still a long way to go, the increase in female representation in all stakes of the society is a grind of two prominent ongoing transformations.

First is the Jana-Andolan II and opportunities it has brought about. With the royalty gone, so has the influence of its nexus of upper class elite. Appointment of vital positions in judiciary, diplomacy, military, and bureaucracy is now open for the greater proportion of the public.

The second, and the more contributing factor of the two, is the quiet and constant improvement in education during the past few decades – one palpable significance being the rise in our human development index despite the derailing economy. Although we are yet to see a lady in the top executive post of Prime Minister, it will only be a matter of time. However, positive changes like this are already in the air.

Nepal’s HDI has been positively influenced by improvement in education.
Source: http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_theme/country-notes/NPL.pdf

For the west, and most importantly the US, the moment has finally arrived. While Hillary may claim the milestone, foundations were laid long ago – thanks to the recurring waves of gender equality movements in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Compared to their male counterparts, whether female politicians are more compassionate and empathetic, especially towards the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid, is difficult to generalize. Similarly, it’s almost impossible to anticipate whether they are fairer and robust. Top jobs are team efforts with huge number of people doing their own bits. History has shown, just like male leaders, some female leaders have championed, some of them messed around, and others have gone virtually unnoticed. However, for male-dominated society messed up and full of demagogues and hypocrites, it’s obvious a higher level of social justice is expected of female ones.

There is greater significance of female leaders’ rise to the top of social ladder. It’s the hope and inspiration they instill in young minds so we can see more of them in future. This collectively projects the society to equality and enrichment.

Go ladies, go!

July 25, 2016July 31, 2016

On Military Coups and Nepal

Turkey’s recent failed coup made me ponder on our own situation in Nepal.

Successful or otherwise, every coup debilitates the society to such an extend that the overhaul process (even if there is a chance for one) is mountainous. It destabilizes the social-structure, asphyxiates the public, and backtracks democracy by decades.

Some examples are right in our backyard – Pakistan and Bangladesh.

From historical observations (my own – and I must admit I am neither a sociologist nor a historian), it’s obvious that factors such as unstable government, racial divide, corruption, ongoing tyranny or the aftermath of one, provide favorable grounds for military coups. In the context of Nepal, they are all prevalent.

Although the statistical research of these factors is a different subject on its own, it’s fair to generalize that countries where democracy is either weak or non-existent are worse-positioned for coups.

The biggest misery of a coup is that you are never quite sure when and how it’s going to end – it could be years, decades or even centuries. Even if it does end, the transition is bound to be very painful as newly emerging forces, internal and external, try to rock the vulnerable society back forth and sideways. Post-Suharto Indonesia is a pain many adults in that country will always remember. Iraq and Libya are as dire as they could possibly be. Myanmar is still recovering. We in Nepal are still trying to come to terms with a system where king has no place.

Even a failed coup contributes to totalitarianism. Aftermaths of the Turkey-incident has paved away for President Erdogan to fire a large junk of country’s judges, social servants, and the military, under the pretension of treason, consolidating further his grip of power.

To put it simple – if military tries to meddle in government affairs, it sucks a great deal!

When a country sees more fear over respect, blood over debate, and command over logic on the winning side, then we know that the formidable enemy of democracy is not far away.

And beware, authoritarian military system has its own adherents – especially those sick of venal politicians and beuracrats busy garnering wealth and power for themselves and for their future generations while they should be working. Fueling to this are, more-often populist, putative racial leaders – whose usual way of talking to masses is to spew hatred against other sectors of the society. I’ve come across folks advocating the need of a benevolent dictator who would use her magical stick to steer the course of this country towards that of Singapore and Malaysia. A very little pragmatic view it may be, but it’s precarious still, for at times it might be big enough to shift the public opinion.

Now, a coup is also more about whether or not there are, at least a faction within the military, determined and power-mongering personnel ready to risk not only their careers, but also their lives and the lives of fellow citizens.

While we don’t see any signs of an imminent military coup in Nepal, one should keep in mind that one emerges only when we expect it the least. As I write, Jung Bahadur’s Kot-parwa and King Mahendra’s take-over are on my mind.

Owing to its small size in geography and population, lack of decentralization, high poverty, and lower rate of education,Nepal is certainly vulnerable.

A triage? Well, I wish I could propose a panacea to all these menaces to democracy, as there is none. In my view, it’s very subjective and requires a lot of effort. Nurturing democracy and its values in the government and in everyday life is the only long-term approach, I’m afraid. Needless to say, politics and all other prominent sectors should be clean and muster high values. We citizens should play our part by electing more competent leaders. We should practice, and practice, and practice democracy and its norms.

Maybe we should concentrate on teaching our kids ethics and morale more while acting such ourselves too. A ethical daughter will certainly help her politician father refrain from bribes. A highly morale son will try to seek justice in the court and not by burning tires in the streets. I am pleased, public speakers such as Rabindra Mishra have been making this point a lot lately.

A morale society certainly deserves and gets morale leaders – and under such circumstances there will be no need nor any effrontery for the military to try to intervene on civilians’ affairs.