Change of Images of Leaders and Perceptions of People

Divash Sharma

In a span of short time of six years only, the popular perception about Nepal's several personalities has gotten changed tremendously. The heroes have now turned into somewhat different; if not outright villains. Those actors perceived as in negative roles earlier have now become able to transform themselves as more acceptable personalities. In substance, the positions and roles have changed and so have the actors also. Many champions of 'republicanism' and democracy are now considered as corrupt and power hungry agents of alien actors. The societal attitudes about them have changed so radically and dramatically !


Let’s see some of the changed images of a few personalities. Let’s start with UPCN (M) as it is the “flavour of the month”. Pushpa Kamal Dahal the highly revered “Messiah of Revolution” is perceived now as a petty power broker. The public opinion about him has turned at least 160 degrees, if not 190 towards dark. Once considered an ideal is now seen as one of the most unreliable, unpredictable and luxury- laden foxes in town. This is a sea-change of people’s perception today.

The second in line is his deputy, Baburam Bhattarai. People were so positive about him that they blindly supported him. He was considered as the best qualified person to bring Nepal into the path of progress from ruins. People believed him as an intellectual par excellence. There was some short of euphoria when he got the top job in the country - the chair of the prime minister. However, within a year of that very rosy day, Nepal slid into further anarchy and he is now seen no more than a ‘power-glued parasite’.

Let’s see some other pictures in some other fronts. The media now has been seen as provider of entertainments rather than that of information. However, people used to consider Kishore Nepal, one of Nepal's finest journalists, as generally as information collector, processor, analyzer and deliverer also. Really, he was a good journalist for many and for some he was a journalist of majestic height. Now, after joining Nagarik Daily, he has converted himself into Babu Ram Bhattrai’s laundryman. Strange!


Similarly, Dr. Sundar Mani Dixit, the brilliant physician with great virtues has converted himself into an honorary guard of Babu Ram Bhattrai and Pushpa Kamal’s joint venture. Nir Shah, C. K. Lal, Yuv Raj Lama, etc. are some other examples.

There are many who have already tarnished their images due to their supresser’s role during 1990s. They continued to remain with the same bad images or a bit darker images. Nearly all the main leaders of Nepali Congress Party and CPN (UML) Party belong to this category. Two possible exceptions could be Congress' Sushil Koirala and CPN (UML)'s Amrit Bohara.


The former Panchas including Surya Bahadur Thapa, Pashupati Shumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani have much finer and better images now. Kamal Thapa has emerged as the most active and influential leader of the radical right. Gyanendra Shah also has a far better image than what he used to have six years ago


People like to hear more from some of the intellectuals also. The list includes the names of Rishi Raj Baral, Krishna Bhattachan, Bhimarjun Acharya, Mumaram Khanal and Surendra K. C. Likewise retired Nepal Army Chief Rukmangad Katawal is another person, whom people like to listen. Recently, he emerged as one among a few influential opinion makers. His political activism, though untested, is interesting to watch.

There are some personalities still with positive images or a few new personalities with positive images have emerged. The names in this category include that of Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal, Chitra Bahadur K. C., Ram Baran Yadav, Gokarna Bista, Chitra Lekha Yadav, Pampha Bhusal, etc.

Chitra Bahadur K. C., Surendra K. C. and Kamal Thapa oppose federalism either in form or in the essence but they have certain degree of integrity in their conduct. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Pashupati Sumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani represent the old school of thought. Rukmangud Katawal is a new comer in the business or in other words in politics and opinion making. Gyanendra Shah represents the past at present. Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal, Ram Baran Yadav, Chitra Lekha Yadav and Gakarna Bista are not the birds of same feather. The same applies to Bhimarjun Acharya, Krishna Bhattachan and Rishi Raj Baral also.

However, their net worth is growing or has been continuing as positive or has turned to positive in perceptions of the people. Therefore, this phenomenon is cross-political and cross-ideological. May be this is somewhat temporary, but is certainly a new reality. On the other side, the rulers of today including Pushpa Kamal and Babu Ram Bhattarai are competing with the rulers of yesterday - in area of decreasing popularity. This is another reality. This is a strange phenomenon. Nepal is now in upheavals, so are the personalities also.

CPN - M and Confusing Signals

Now, the most important tasks for the revolutionaries in Nepal include but not limited to the points mentioned below.

a) Crystallizing, consolidating and communicating revolutionary politics, political line, first strategic milestone and tactics, and also finding out ways and means to reconnect the disjointed revolutionary course.

b) Reorganizing the revolutionary communist party in Maoist tradition, standards and values.

c) Mobilizing the party, its organizational instruments and masses to address issues that have been creating problems in areas of people’s livelihood and societal transformation. Revolution progresses in stages and installments and becomes a single whole in relatively a longer period of time.

d) The question of nationalism and patriotism is crucial for Nepal. Raising awareness, creating environment and fighting for strengthening Nepali sovereignty are very important. This mission should be taken as a continuous process and it must not be a rhetorical exercise.

e) In the course, the party should revisit its past, review relations and work with larger international proletarian communities and their vanguards. While doing this, COMPOSA, RIM, etc may come into focus and their revival or reactivation could happen quite naturally.

But, right now, the reorganized CPN – M is not going through a process that makes it a vanguard of Nepalese people. Visiting reactionary temples such as Shital Nivas (President Ram Bran Yadav’s residence) and a majestic Lazimpat bungalow (Prachanda’s new palace) will not help the cause of Nepalese revolution. Recently, we have seen several confusing signals from the CPN – M.

Still, there is time to clarify the cloud. People will wait giving benefit of doubt. However, the morning has not heralded the beginning of a sunny day. Comrade Kiran and CPN-M should read the writings on the wall and should move quickly to clear the confusions. Otherwise, people themselves will take out from the confusions that Comrade Kiran and CPN-M have created. Naturally, after the party congress in December or January, the waiting period will be finally over.http://thenextfront.com/?p=2357#comment-837