Nepal's Maoist Rulers and Their Belief
Nepal’s ruling Maoists retains the centuries-old religious ritual of Kumari or Living Goddess by appointing Kumaris for two cities of Kathmandu Valley. President Ram Baran Yadav appointed three-year-old Matina Shakya as Kumari of Kathmandu on Tuesday and six-year-old Shreeya Bajracharya as Kumari of Bhaktapur last week.
USA-based Nepalese columnist Bhumika Ghimire feels appointment of Devkumaris by government is against the secular nature of newly-crafted republic.
“The tradition of Kumari is very dear to all Nepalese, especially to those in the Kathmandu. I am all for community effort to preserve our traditions, but government-backed Kumari tradition is not the right thing,” she says.
Last month, Maoists have burned their fingures by cutting down state-funding for religious activities in much-publicised ‘secular budget’. Conservative Hindus, constituting major population of country, forced government to change it’s decision.
Maoists, who fought against Hindu Kingdom and Hindu religious institutions for more than a decade, are seem to fill the vacuum created in religious sphere after transformation of Nepal from a Hindu Kingdom to Secular Republic.
The unexpected shifting of Maoists from their strict secular ideology to King-like religion regulator indicates that former guerillas learning art of ruling.
Seems inspire from Mao’s cultural revolution, several untra-leftist outfits have started moral cleansing drive in country. Recently, Miss Nepal contest has been put off indefinetely due to protest of women wing of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
Protestors feel that such event promotes use of women as commercial tool, which is completely against the Nepalese culture.
Maoist-led coalition is also cracking down against massage parlours, dance bars and casino located in Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.
“Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam has declared a ‘War on Sex & Liquor’ in Kathmandu,” blogs Jude West, a University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service student carrying research in Nepal.
Recently, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, said that political transformation could not be sustainable without cultural transformation. His remarks are indication of Maoists long-term game plan on cultural transformation of Nepal.
From News Store: 08 October, 2008
USA-based Nepalese columnist Bhumika Ghimire feels appointment of Devkumaris by government is against the secular nature of newly-crafted republic.
“The tradition of Kumari is very dear to all Nepalese, especially to those in the Kathmandu. I am all for community effort to preserve our traditions, but government-backed Kumari tradition is not the right thing,” she says.
Last month, Maoists have burned their fingures by cutting down state-funding for religious activities in much-publicised ‘secular budget’. Conservative Hindus, constituting major population of country, forced government to change it’s decision.
Maoists, who fought against Hindu Kingdom and Hindu religious institutions for more than a decade, are seem to fill the vacuum created in religious sphere after transformation of Nepal from a Hindu Kingdom to Secular Republic.
The unexpected shifting of Maoists from their strict secular ideology to King-like religion regulator indicates that former guerillas learning art of ruling.
Seems inspire from Mao’s cultural revolution, several untra-leftist outfits have started moral cleansing drive in country. Recently, Miss Nepal contest has been put off indefinetely due to protest of women wing of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
Protestors feel that such event promotes use of women as commercial tool, which is completely against the Nepalese culture.
Maoist-led coalition is also cracking down against massage parlours, dance bars and casino located in Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.
“Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam has declared a ‘War on Sex & Liquor’ in Kathmandu,” blogs Jude West, a University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service student carrying research in Nepal.
Recently, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, said that political transformation could not be sustainable without cultural transformation. His remarks are indication of Maoists long-term game plan on cultural transformation of Nepal.
From News Store: 08 October, 2008
Labels: CPN, Jude West, Nepal, Prachanda, Pushpa Kamal Dahal
posted by Som at
10:13 PM
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