Pen Is Mightier Than Gun!Let him to the quick homework before going to the cantonment. A young Maoist student guerilla in Taplenjug takes time to study putting his gun aside. As the party has decided to join the mainstream to establish capitalistic democratic republic in Nepal, there is no need for the guerillas to boycott the bourgeois education. Nepal is hoping to see that no schools are closed in future in the name of teaching bourgeois texts. Pic by Dharma Poudel via Kantipur
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50 responses to “Pen, Gun and A Maoist Guerilla”
There are no teaching bourgeois texts different from capitalist teaching texts. For example, math, science and language are the basic subject of the scientific modern education.
Any person who are sypathetic to the communist movement in the world will not make that difference.
English language is not a capitalist language. It is a modern language which has become global language.
Math and science can be taught in any vernacular language by using Latin or English work in between local vocals.
What will change Nepal to most prosperous country as Maoist Chairman wishes only the modern education that will make student master the Mathematics – Arithmetic, Algebra, Calculus, statistics; Schicne – chemestry, biology, physics and so on and Language – Engish.
The human resources of Nepal has to reach the international standard in knowledge and skill. It is education and skill that will make the nation reach.
Natural resources are secondary. It is human resources are the primary source of economic development.
I hope communists of Nepal understand this. To acheive that goal you can not devid education with two catagories – teaching bourgeois texts and capitalist. There no such except the Red Book of the Maoists.
very pleased to see the photo……. a sorrow as well……………… gun and pen together in a place.
finally, gun has to knel down in front of pen…………. compwomise between maoist and government will exist for ever.
i m very hopeful to prime minister Girija prashad koirala for getting novel prize on peace…. for his deeds to reconcile gun and pen
its nice to see the pic
hope that the gun will gradually be replaced by all pens and make nepal prosperous so that student like me dont have to be out of country for hope of better education..
((( my personal experience in USA say:: nepali education standard is far better than of united states but we need to kick politics out of college and have better education policies to make it reality))))
great picture… it says a lot of things and gives a lot of hope… however, the following is what has been happening in Nepal two days after the peace accord was signed:
This is what’s happening in Nepal two days after Girija and Pushpa Kamal signed the agreement:
An armed group looted four houses in Puraina VDC ward no 4 Nepalgunj last night.
CPN/M cadres have seized the ready-to harvest paddy crop from over 4 bighas of land in Rajpur VDC, Dang district that belonged to a NC cadre. The Kathmandu Post
Syambhhu Bus Entrepreneur Association, Kathmandu blocked Kalimati Chowk by placing 5-7 public buses at middle of the road following a dispute between a bus driver and Traffic Police. Traffic was disrupted till late evening at Kalimati, Teku, and way to Kalanki section. Traffic was also disrupted in Satdobato in Lalitpur due to a dispute between a bus driver and a policeman.
CPN/M cadres have started to live in the local’s houses of Saktikhor, Chitwan due to lack of lodging and food in the cantonment site. As per reports, around 1500 families at Jutpani VDC and Bazaar area are providing shelter for PLA men. The Kathmandu Post
Maoists have been abducting youths and children from Dhowkmagu, Kurumba, Lumphabung and Siwa of Panchthar district for the forceful recruitment in PLA. As per reports, they have been assuring the guardians that the abducted youths would be later recruited to Nepal Army with monthly salary 5-7 thousands. The Himalayan Times
In Taplejung, CPN/M took away dozens of children from various remote villages for the recruitment in PLA promising them of NRS 7,000 salary per month. The Kathmandu Post
Maoists on 23rd Nov reportedly claimed the killing of a resident of Khandabari-11, Sankhuwasabha, whom they had abducted 4 years ago. The Kathmandu Post
CPN/M is stilling collecting tax from vehicles at Chitre Bazaar, Tehrathum district despite Tuesday’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement that clearly prohibits tax collection. As per reports, they are charging Rs 20 and 10 from bus and truck respectively. The Kathmandu Post
JTMM have kidnapped a retired senior member of the civil police force from Tilathi VDC, Rajbiraj on charges of misusing his position before retirement.
Given a choice book over gun, given a choice peace over war but the reality is quiet different. The effort by the boy is commendable but by circumstance he is at disadvantage, so to speak. In the end, by denying him his dream, he will walk the walk and talk the talk all half baked as most of our politicans now.
I am for freedom for all people.
I would be the most happy person on this world when Nepal become peaceful country again.
But, I can not finde the answer on two important questions.
1. Who (and when) will to freed numerous Nepali children from maoist’s slavery?
2. Who will be punished for murdering 13.000 Nepali people?
And I can not to celebrate!
This pic is an outrage! Damn Maoists denying children education and recruiting them into the army. Kirat, when you see this pic can you blame me for being angry at the Maoists?
You know in Sri Lanka the Tamil Tigers stop fighting when the schools have exams? Our wild goonda Maoists have no such sense. Anyway no point getting angry. Hopefully, we won’t have see such pictures in the future.
But look at what the Maoists are doing. They want to uplift the people by giving them a gun instead of the pen. I think this whole Maoist movement has become much about fulfilling Prachanda and Baburam’s personal and selfish ambitions.
Bhudai-so aren’t you glad that the Maoists are coming into the mainstream? Giving up violence and all that?
Yes I am glad. Provided they honor their agreements and behave accordingly.
They haven’t been thus far and that’s what I am concerned about.
We shuld not be happy that he is keeping the gun and taking the pen.He may be making the list of people to be killed in his village before he hands over the arms or he wants to list the no. guns to be hidden from the UN.
well
let all the students go to school. Enjoy the lights of Education. they should not be kept in the army or so called jana-milishaya by the maoist teching them the fucking communism
well LET THE STUDENT STUDY A BIT THEN THEY WOULD THEMSELVES LEAVE THE DAMN COMMUNISM N KICK THE ASS OF PRACHANDA
Pen to write
Gun to fire
Fellow to do everything.
It’s upto you whether you choose pen or gun or both.
keshuvko:
Actually there where the problem is. These kids don’t have a choice. The Maoists are forcefully recruiting them.
For all pacifists here on this blog, let the time deal the wounds of wars.
The country has just begun a process of reconciliation and trying to find direction, but you guys have not stopped with your bias, self-righteous, inflammatory comments. At least, be glad and accept that the war is over. Whatever happened in the past cannot be changed but future is still at hand. Your diatribe, condemnations and bucketing of the past is not going to do any good. We all Nepalese needs a closure to this dark part of our history and find best solutions to rehabilitate and re-educated the Maoist and our politicians so that the country will not have to face insurgency and violence, ever.
Maybe Prof. Pyare Lall should volunteer to teach for free at the Maoist camps. Maybe Bhudai. Pundit should divert his anger towards the root cause of the conflict and join Prof. Lall to teach our brothers and sisters who were robbed of their education and childhood by this insurgency. Any takers??
D Waiba:
If the Maoists stick to the code of conduct and become a peaceful democratic party I accept your invitation to teach and do what ever else you want me to.
Pundit jee,
At least you are willing to consider it, but how about helping the Maoist to stick to the code of conduct by doing your part. Wait and see approach does not offer anything for anybody.
They are in need of people like you and I, especially people with academic credential like prof. Lall who can help, educate make a difference for people and for the country.
Maoists are not some aliens out of space; they are our brothers and sisters just like us who happened to be less fortunate many of us. It would be great if each Maoist camp could have computers and internet access so that they can see world. Many of the Maoists have never been to Kathmandu. How about bring them to Kathmandu on a tour and let them taste ice cream of Nirullas, and pizza of Fire and Ice, and show them elite schools like Rato Bangala, and hotel like Hyatt.
Let’s see how many people willing take up the challenge to volunteer for one month, two months, or three months. People, who cannot donate time, can donate educational materials, money, cloths, and expertise. Are you going and wait and see or are you going take action??
D Waiba:
I am not sure if are being serious or not.
Look, I don’t really blame the lower level cadres for whats happened in Nepal. It is the Maoist leadership which pisses me off.
Yes I would like nothing better than to help. I hope the peace process works out. I am not sure Nirullas ice cream is going to do the trick but I like your thinking.
I want to open a college in Rolpa and teach there but who will guarantee my personal security at least for another 10 years ? The situation has calmed down a little but it has not fully stabilize right now in Nepal. Sporadic violence will continue till CA elections and thereafter.
There will always be some outlawed element in any given society. Not even god, if you believe in one, can give security guarantees because lot depends on one’s persona choice and actions. I think security is the state of mind. If our prof on this blog is serious, I would personally like to initiate a talk with comrade Prachanda and international agencies. If any good coming out of this globsphere, it will be bloggers joining hands to make things better. Yes, I am serious.
D waiba, don’t think that I will give you my real address at this stage and try to do business with you. Prachanda should prove within six months that he has stopped “eating” human flesh.
I agree. I am giving Prachanda the benefit of the doubt but the Maoists still need to prove themslves. We cannot just pretend everything is just dandy. I like D waiba’s optimism and his desire to make a difference but at the same time the Maoists really do need to prove that they are indeed serious about this peace process.
But please don’t use phrases like “security is a state of mind” when the Maoist are/have been exthorting money and kidnapping people.
The fact that these young students, put their pens aside, picked up guns and joined the fighting for their right (its a different issu that the method of fighting for ones rights was wrong), it does differentiate them from rest of the folks, as someones who cares about what is what is happening in the society, feel responsibilities and carry a courage to stand up for the change. These very traits can make them a great leader(not necessarily political) and it is rightfull things for them to do their homework. I’m in no way supporter of you as what you did for years, but I liked this picture,keep it up guys:-)
‘security is a state of mind’ funny phrase. If maoists come and put is gun over you and ask money then feel what is security. Even they don’t need to put gun in ur head just saying we have put ur name in record will be sufficient to feel the security.
In Dolpa, maoist commander comes in the evening and calls three leaders from saldang and starts giving lecture and threatens to carry out safaya for their part in village politics. Next morning he calls three of them to monastery and with his pistol in his hand asks the same three village leaders – are you supporting us are u with purano satta? If you come with us we can forgive your past bad works but if you continue to be with them then we have to carry out safaya. And if you were those three leaders I ask for your answer.
Since prof. has already demonized Prachanda neither Prachanda nor anyone else will be a good candidate for him to work toward reconciliation and peace. His vague condition is just an excuse to continue espousing hate and mis-information on this forum. Who decides that Prachanda has kept his part of the barging in six months? Will it be just he, or will there be an independent body? Will UN be acceptable to him?
I am not seeking professor’s real name and address, only his commitment to work for peace and reconciliation.
With all due respect Prof. Lall and Pundit jee, it takes two to tango, blaming the Maoist for all the killings and suffering is only a half-truth. Let’s not forget Doramba massacre.
Those of you who wrote on deplorable actions of Maoists is the past. Now the war is over, have faith, believing is seeing…
Yes of course it’s not the Maoists fault. It’s the poor villagers fault…I agree why blame Prachanda at all? He was fighting for a worthy cause – so what that 14,000 people died, thousands were tortured and displaced from their homes. It isn’t the Maoists fault that bridges, school, roads and health clinic were destroyed… the army is every bit responsible for all this.
Funny that Pundit jee refusing accept role of the Army, and inept government.
D Waiba:
You seem to be missing the point. I am not saying the army was not at fault. They were involved in countless human rights abuses and that’s why they weren’t able to contain the Maoists. They were able to gather the intelligence from villagers who resented them like the Maoists. And I believe we need to reform the NA to make it far more transparent and professional. That’s is another story however.
If you want to put forth the claim that because the government and the army was inept to justify the Maoists actions you go ahead. If that helps you sleep at night be my guest. The Maoist cause might be well justified but their actions have been simply deplorable. You seem like the type of person who would call bin laden a freedom fighter.
But don’t get me wrong. If the Maoists improve their ways here on out I am (I think I speak for many people) are willing to forget the past and work for a better tomorrow. However, D Waiba, take a glace at nepalnews.com and tell me if you think that’s happening. This headline might interst you:
“Maoists continuing violation of comprehensive peace accord”
Or this:
“ANNISU-R bars thousands of students from appearing exams”
What was that you suggested in one of your previous posts? Help the Maoists adhere to the peace process? Show me the way ….
people should know that
all the leaders including maoist have thier children studying abroad in some good colleg with our money
lets pull out the list and put it online
Bhudai – dont you think your never ending fixation on Maoists is going a little too overboard? While I agree with all of your concerns about their behaviour etc etc, I dont think its all that use. I have rather been crying hoarse on training our guns on political parties who have the much needed support and leverage from all sides to humble Maoists. Atleast parties are still accountable and though they really haven’t shown the balls, we can atleast openly call them names (if thats a satisfaction you know).
I WANDER WHY NEPAL SEEKING FOR COMUNIST ALL THE WESTERN COUNTRIES LOOKING FOR DEMOCRECY BUT WHY ARE WE ? COMUNIST
I wish the photographer interview the kid and asked him on his take about the ongoing movement in Nepal. Also, why he chose to take up the gun.
Bhudai-Like Waiba said if you want to pick on the shortcomings of the present security forces, govt. in Nepal it will be as long a list as those of the Maoists. Hey I am no Maoist sympathizer but do get a grip. Look at the major players within Nepal-the SPA, the king/army and the Maoists. You really think any of these are better than the other given their track record? You know as well as I do that if the SPA/king/army were any good at all there would be no such as Maoists in Nepal. Thats right the SPA/king/army created the Maoists because they could not care less about this country or it’s people. So who’s to blame for the monster? Dr. Frankstein or the monster itself? Sure the monster’s all bad and we should kill it if that was possible-but you want to ignore Dr. Frankstein’s fault in creating the monster and letting it flourish?
well before you punish the doctor you have to put down the monster first before the monster causes any more damage – don’t you?
look patriot, i am not fixated on the maoists. i really want a peaceful solution and i want this issue to be over so that we can start resolving more important matters like economic development etc. but i don’t believe in bending over and allowing the maoists to run the show at any cost so that there is this so called peace.
its a two way street. the maoists should just live up to their end of the bargain. is that too much to ask?
You are right, it isnt too much to ask, just that I wanted to point I believe we have a better chance if we could use available levers to make Maoists honor their end of bargain, which unfortunately we are not.
what do you want us to do. i think the ball is in the Maoists court.
Bhudai-that’s the point the doctor (SPA/King/Army) is keeping the monster alive.
Kiart. now i am confused. so the monster is a reference to the Maoists?
Budhai-ofcourse. You think I sympathize with them? If it wasn’t for the blo@dy corrupt SPA/King/Army/Security forces you think the Maoists would have become what they are today?
Well more then currupt our army was just plain incompetant. These guys have never really had to engage themslves and the top brass are full of people who are there on the basis of their surnames rather than merit. As a result the army just made dumbass tactical decesions.
I suppose the King is to blame for the root cause of the insurgency. But I don’t really blame the king per se for the escalation of this insurgency. That blame goes on the shoulders of Girija and Deuba.
Bhudai-so you get my drift.
Very interesting discussion here.
There are plenty of blames to go around and blaming game is not going to move the country forward.
What we need now is to learn from our mistakes and make sure that the past mistakes will not be repeated. An opportunity is before us to re-educate ourselves and educates the Maoists. We should put stop to Maoist indoctrination of young minds by offering free mainstream education and vocational training up to 5 to 10 years so that young girls and boys will not be susceptible to Maoist ideologies. It would be a a monumental task to set this system, but it can be done. Professionals and un-employed graduates would volunteer for few months to a year in return they would get free room and board and small stipend. I am ready for this, and I think Pundit jee would be too, but I am not sure if Prof. Lall would buy into this idea. He is an academic and he would be right person to lead.
D. Waiba:
Prof. is not really a professor LOL. Just like I may not be a Pundit or have a big belly.
Look D.Waiba I apprecaite your optimism and your attempt to look at the bright side of things.
However, look at your argument here:
“We should put stop to Maoist indoctrination of young minds by offering free mainstream education and vocational training up to 5 to 10 years so that young girls and boys will not be susceptible to Maoist ideologies.”
The majority of the young boys and girls are not opting for moaist indoctrination because they don’t have free edcation elsewhere. They are forced to join these Maoist camps and the doctrine is shoved down their throats! They are often kidnapped and abducted and taken to Maoist indoctrination camps.
Hence you can build as many schools as you want and have as many volunteers but if the kids keep getting abducted and kidnapped it doesn’t make sense now does it?
Thank your Budai, no it does not make sense to build a hospital at bottom of the cliff when you don’t have the fence on the top. Abduction and kidnapping will stop now that peace is at hand. I have heard that Maoist inflated their numbers so they are frantically forcing young people to join them to bring their number up.
D Waiba:
I am glad you see the problem. I hope there will be peace and such activities will stop. There must be countless Nepalis who have the talent and capabilities to contribute to rebuilding Nepal and I am confident many will. We all realize that the Maoists are Nepalis just like us. But they must stop their behavior… The Maoists must understand that such activities are wrong and unacceptable. Much still remains to be seen… let’s just hope for the best.
My Dear friend,
Teaching burgoises education and gun on aside…………… it’s not the big deal i mean you dont’ have to suspect…………… there are some very great examples what the maoists has good done. they are the only party who have very positive attitude towards education. do you ever believe that the good and cheap education is their main agenda. ………. rising perks and parmanent appointment to the teachers were their very clear clean chit agenda…………. i don’t understand why you forget to publish with your camera towards anti maoists voilence