Comments for Revolution in South Asia

Comment on Rising Number of Nepali Students in Universities in the U.S. by NSPF

NSPF — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:21:31 +0000

I think it’s a mistake to first categorize Nepali students abroad as permanently damaged goods and then write them off as future blood suckers with an imperialist mindset, all on the basis of their parents social status. It is not preordained that because of their class origin, assuming they all come from elite families, they would definitely end up being that. It just isn’t factually/historically true; not for Nepal, nor for any other place.

If you go back and review some recent past articles on this site you will note three or four examples of other possibilities.

I am in contact with 11 South Asian postgraduate students, 4 of them coming from Nepal. Their age range is 25 to 28. None are from a working class background but not a single one of them is from the political elite background. They have all had to work a few years to save some money, but ninety percent of their first year’s tuition fee was raised by their parents taking long term bank loans and they have had to borrow three times more in the form of a very short term loan from loan sharks in order to prove to embassy officials that they have enough maintenance funds to finance their stay in the country.

My understanding is that this is the most typical of the majority of South Asian students abroad, though I have known a handful in the past who had won scholarships or were working as research assistants, and then very rarely the children of big-shot reactionaries.

These ex-spoilt prats, which they all admitted with loud laughter, are now desperately searching for second and even third part time jobs in order to survive. Not a single one of them could be said to have an imperialist mindset. Their mindset could be categorised to range from mildly progressive to somewhat radically critical of the status quo.

Now, if even ten percent of those eleven thousand Nepali students are in the same boat as these eleven, then it’s a mistake to be so dismissive about them.

Comment on Rising Number of Nepali Students in Universities in the U.S. by Ka Frank

Ka Frank — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:39:08 +0000

Thanks for the explanation Rajesh. It paints a clear picture.

Comment on Rising Number of Nepali Students in Universities in the U.S. by rajesh

rajesh — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:38:46 +0000

We have 3 types of Nepali going abroad. A large majority are the workers going to India, Gulf countries, Malaysia, Korea and some other coutries to work, save some money, send back the money home and come back after the contract/job ends.In India alone there are about 1.3 million Nepalese workers and another half a million in other countries. The money they send, the ramittance is the life line of Nepali economy now. The second type are the professionals. They are solders in peace keeping missions, techical persons, managers, UN/INGO professionals etc. They also send money and mostly come back home. They have mostly middle class origin. By and large, they are nationalist. The third type are sons/daughters of corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, businesspersons, traders etc and they are the ones who either do not come back home or if they return; they will come back with a “thoroughly imperialist mindset.” They who are abroad, they have formed a collectively bargaining organization called “Non Resident Nepali Association” and are reaping harvest even in poor Nepal. They are pressuring for tax benefits, more favors for investments etc. etc. They are not the bright stars that shines Nepali society,rather they will suck Nepal provide they get opportunity.

Comment on Rising Number of Nepali Students in Universities in the U.S. by Ka Frank

Ka Frank — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:00:35 +0000

Good question. It could be the elite preparing their kids to leave Nepal, or preparing them to come back to the country with a thoroughly imperialist mindset.

Comment on The Worker 11: Statement of CPN (M) on Gaur massacre by Revolutionary J

Revolutionary J — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:07:33 +0000

Kindly give some more detail about the hindu fundamentalists, who have taken part in the massacre. This information will help to unmask them in India.

Comment on Rising Number of Nepali Students in Universities in the U.S. by CPSA

CPSA — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:18:11 +0000

Interesting. I’m surprised mainly given how poor the country is. Is this not mainly the elite sending their kids to Americans universities, or a broader swath of the population?

Comment on NDF Philippines: Mindanao Could Become Another Afghanistan by CPSA

CPSA — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:34:46 +0000

I find it amusing (albeit kinda sickening too) that the two leading presidential candidates to replace Arroyo are second cousins. I knew the Philippines was a good old Latin American-style oligarchy, but I didn’t realize it’s on the verge of becoming a nepotocracy too.

Comment on The Mass Protests in Kathmandu and the Revolution to Follow by Pavan Patel

Pavan Patel — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:27:46 +0000

Dear Prof. Gary Leupp
It seems to me that you that you could not rephrase the title of your article properly. The socalled actress ‘Comrade’ Rekha is not a real one who made a debut while dancing with Prachand.
It is the million of Nepalese people who are dancing with in tune with a party who supposedly want a fundamental transformation in their lives.

Comment on Indian Maoists Pledge Support for Renewed Tamil Eelam Struggle by Paul

Paul — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:01:25 +0000

Ka Frank, you are right. CPI (Maoist) has got the rich experience of leading the New Democratic Revolution in India. Being the largest Maoist party in South Asia and probably in the world, it has the responsibility in terms of suggesting what should be the revolutionary strategy for Srilanka as a whole to achieve a Democratic Federal Republic of Srilanka.

However it should be up to the people of Tamil Eelam to decide whether to have their independent Democratic Republic of Tamil Eelam or to live within a federation (in a true sense), provided they are treated as equals in all respects at par with the Sinhalese. Let’s hope for that day to come true.

Comment on India: A Look Inside a Maoist Camp by kisholoy

kisholoy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:22:50 +0000

You cannot fight the Indian Security Forces.The Mizos and the Nagas have learnt it after decades.