Incomplete Sketch That Led To A Political Journey

• Prof. Purushottam Dahal

Perhaps I am too much of a Democrat to be a revolutionary and too rebellious to be anything beyond. Although I have stated that Marx affected me more than Gandhi, I am actually influenced by Gandhi. (BP Koirala's Prison Diary, First Edition 2080). It is difficult to discover a more empirical comparison of this era's political ideology, but I have not been a part of the democratic movement based on any of these concepts. I believe that the vague contours established in my young mind motivated me to go on a road of freedom, equality, social justice, and human rights.

I am unquestionably involved in the democratic movement. I have a strong and passionate yearning for an ideal leader and state. As I sit down to write these words, the most active years of my life have been spent in the romantic idea of liberty and equality. I'm also recalling how I learned to rely on political dynamics.

I closely witnessed my father’s strong beliefs in liberty and social equality. Many individuals from our Bigutar assisted the Liberation Army during the 2007 B.S. revolution. We had heard that a team comprising Krishna Bali Rai and Harka Bali Rai, Liberation Army members and regional legends, were living in Bigutar and receiving community support. Since Krishna Bali had assisted the village's liberation troops, he would return to our house and tell us numerous stories about the Nepali Congress, the Liberation Army, and BP Koirala.

I must be four or five years old when I attended the Democracy Day rally. I recall people running behind me, yelling slogans. Falgun 7, 2007 BS marks the formal end of the Rana administration. In the villages, independent panchayats ordered everyone, from small children to school students and even the old, to walk around the village on Democracy Day, Falgun 7, to commemorate the occasion. We attended the procession more out of desire than obligation.

A few years later, King Mahendra paid a visit to Okhaldhunga. The elders spread the news that one might meet the king with the homegrown veggies. Pitambar Dahal and Phanindra mani Dahal were politically conscious. Pitamber's residence was close to ours. I informed my father that I wanted to meet the king. He laughed. After my mother backed my goal, I uprooted a huge radish that had been preserved for seeds in the garden and traveled to Okhaldhunga with my brother Pitamber to meet the monarch.

We waited all day, but the king did not arrive. When a helicopter arrived in the evening, a reasonably attractive man wearing dark glasses, daurasuruwal, and a coat stepped out. Everyone began to run. Children, including me, felt like we were going to suffocate as the crowd got bigger and bigger. My radish was overlooked. It fell somewhere. It came to an end for me after being pressed against Tundikhel's wall. The encounter with the king was not possible.

The village was home to a few young men. Vedanidhi Dahal and Pitambar Dahal were regarded as leaders among them. Another frequent visitor to the village was Prem Narayan Premi, a slender but incredibly handsome young man. A slender woman was with him. He was revered by everyone. He was an overseer and was employed by the district panchayat. He was dressed in a clean shirt with a neat half-cut. His personality was appealing. He was regarded as a brother by Vedanidhi and Pitambar. He was a communist even though he worked for the independent panchayat. Although we young children dreamed of dressing like Prem Narayan, Pitambar and Vedanidhi most likely continued to be with him without realizing his political inclination.

There was a rumor that the inspector would arrive one day just before we started learning Kakhara at the language school. Everyone grew aware. A man and his assistant arrived at the language school in the afternoon. He questioned Tankanath and Punya Prasad Guru extensively regarding their academic pursuits. A walker, Ganesh Bahadur Dai was. He was the favorite of all. He had a deep affection for young children. The officer also questioned him and asked us a few study-related questions.

There was a rumor that the inspection officer would arrive one day just before we started learning at the language school. Everyone grew aware. A man and his assistant arrived at the language school in the afternoon. He questioned Tankanath and Punya Prasad Guru extensively regarding their academic pursuits. Ganesh Bahadur Dai was a roamer. He was the favorite of all. He had a deep affection for young children. He asked him some questions as well. He also asked us a few study-related questions.

And he asked, What interest do people here have in politics? Students lacked an understanding of what politics is. Teachers responded to it. He went away, chuckling. They were: Durga Hari Dahal. He came from a politically influenced family. His brothers Pitambar and Minkumar were involved in the Congress. He was also a Congressman. I have only one recollection of him. A dry robe, pants, coat, dhaka hat, and bata cloth shoes. The trousers have a little hole and ruffle at the knee. I vividly recall the little dot on that ruffle.

Up until that point, our house was not struggling to put food on plates. We were able to offer food to anyone who arrived at our house. Early one morning, Vedanidhi Dahal, my distant relative, whom everyone lovingly referred to as Bhakka—arrived at our home from Tojing. My mom was preparing rice in the kitchen. In the Brahmins' home at the time, a partition was made to isolate the kitchen area. Those who were not married, non-Muslim, or had not changed their attire were prohibited from entering. However, our home was the only one where the partition was removed. For this, some referred to our home as the non-Brahmin’s house.

Brother Vedanidhi had arrived dressed in white pants, slippers, and a green shirt. I was reading while seated on the bed. My dad was not at home. Brother Vedanidhi heard my mother say, "I'll give you a dhoti if you want to eat rice." Change into the dhoti and sit by the stove. But I've turned communist, replied Brother Vedanidhi. I'll eat rice while wearing clothes and slippers if you give it to me. He had his food without even taking off his slippers. I believed that one could wear slippers, a nice shirt, and pants after converting to communism. And the incident established to me that it was possible to eat rice without undressing.

How the political stimulation occurred is unknown to me. Baidar Ba was Bigutar's Pradhan Panch. He might have gone by the name Til Bikram or something similar. And Subedar Setu Katwal Ba was his special friend. These two personalities were popular in Bigutar. Baidar ba was well-known for his protruding belly, long mustache, and black teeth, and Subedar ba’s cane was famous.

The village assembly used to take place in the courtyard of the Jaleshwari Devi temple on Pokhari Danda. Up until that point, it was common for all of the villagers to gather and decide on various issues together. We also carried books on our backs to Pokhari Danda per the gurus' instructions. On Pokhari Danda, there is a temple dedicated to Jaleshwari Devi. There was a huge peepal tree, a garden, and a small pond, but it is unclear who built it and why. It was a pleasant courtyard. It was cool enough to rest there for a while and was useful to keep oneself safe during rain. To be continued...

This is a translated version of an excerpt from Prof. Purushottam Dahal's unreleased book "Smriti Parikshya." Prof. Dahal is the Editor-in-Chief of the Himalaya Times National Daily.