Talk of peace on the streets of Nepal
Kamala Sarup
October 13, 2008
Kathmandu, Nepal — On the bustling streets of Kathmandu, one can hear many different kinds of conversations. When people talk about war and violence, and others gather around to listen, it sometimes feels as if a seminar had been organized. This type of thing has been recurring over the past few months. On the street, some people talk about the excessive rise in prices, with long sighs. Others talk about the devaluation of money, lack of security, poverty, hate and still others talk about public expenditures.
I do not like the noisiness of the street I live on, but it is not easy for me to leave either. I feel happy when people on the street talk about peace and only peace. I hear scores of stories comparable to Romeo and Juliet, and the story of Muna and Madan – a popular Nepali work of literature about a loving husband and wife whose tale ends in tragedy – is often repeated.
Today, it is especially hot in the Kathmandu street, hotter than other days. A crowd surrounds two people in the street, enjoying the loud argument they are having. One of them is smartly dressed in a suit and the other seems to be in a philosophic mood. The smartly dressed one asks: "Do you like peace?"
The philosophic-looking man responds, "To tell you the truth, I like it." To which, the smartly dressed man comes forwards and says, "That's a controversial thing to say in Kathmandu. Why wouldn't you like that?"
The philosopher continues, "We should fight more wars, but it is war itself that presents a question to man about human values. Right now, we are compelled to fight an economic battle rather than a war."
The well-dressed man responds, "You were talking about peace just a moment ago, but now you talk about economic problems."
This angers the philosopher a little. He says, "You all must try to understand what I am saying. Yes, I do agree that each of us has his own problems. The present time is wracked by problems and, naturally, it has also impacted the economic aspect of life. War and terrorism should be forgotten and replaced with development and peace. The battle I am talking about is about sacrifice, cooperation, and about the decline in both art and human affection. I am not referring to the battle that is fought with guns and weapons. If we are unable to change ourselves within, the country will remain the same as it is now, and we will have no other options but to shout about how there is no development in the country."
As I prepare to leave the street, he continues, "No development in this country will possibly come from just talking about it. From now on, we should stop living in deceit. We must fight for peace, justice, and for people's human values."
I do not like the noisiness of the street I live on, but it is not easy for me to leave either. I feel happy when people on the street talk about peace and only peace. I hear scores of stories comparable to Romeo and Juliet, and the story of Muna and Madan – a popular Nepali work of literature about a loving husband and wife whose tale ends in tragedy – is often repeated.
Today, it is especially hot in the Kathmandu street, hotter than other days. A crowd surrounds two people in the street, enjoying the loud argument they are having. One of them is smartly dressed in a suit and the other seems to be in a philosophic mood. The smartly dressed one asks: "Do you like peace?"
The philosophic-looking man responds, "To tell you the truth, I like it." To which, the smartly dressed man comes forwards and says, "That's a controversial thing to say in Kathmandu. Why wouldn't you like that?"
The philosopher continues, "We should fight more wars, but it is war itself that presents a question to man about human values. Right now, we are compelled to fight an economic battle rather than a war."
The well-dressed man responds, "You were talking about peace just a moment ago, but now you talk about economic problems."
This angers the philosopher a little. He says, "You all must try to understand what I am saying. Yes, I do agree that each of us has his own problems. The present time is wracked by problems and, naturally, it has also impacted the economic aspect of life. War and terrorism should be forgotten and replaced with development and peace. The battle I am talking about is about sacrifice, cooperation, and about the decline in both art and human affection. I am not referring to the battle that is fought with guns and weapons. If we are unable to change ourselves within, the country will remain the same as it is now, and we will have no other options but to shout about how there is no development in the country."
As I prepare to leave the street, he continues, "No development in this country will possibly come from just talking about it. From now on, we should stop living in deceit. We must fight for peace, justice, and for people's human values."
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