Nepal seems to be trapped in its own contradictions, the dual images of mystical Shangri-La and oppressive caste-based state. One is perpetuated by the tourism industry and the hordes of baby boomers who came here to get stoned in the 70's and 80s. The other is the harsh reality of a highly rigid and stratified society where caste still means everything, and being born into the wrong family is a life sentence to discrimination. The level of rural poverty is such that even ten years of civil war did little to equalize classes, and the internally displaced are still better of than the rural peasantry.
But now Pandora's box is open. Poor people have seen that the Maoists won a big share of power just by sitting in the mountains and setting off "pressure cooker" bombs and attacking police stations, so everyone wants a piece of the action. An irreconcilable matrix is emerging where every caste, ethnic group, social group, professional association and geographical subdivision want a big share of power, and there are not enough shares to go around. Hopefully a solution will one day be found where "everyone can be above average" .
Throughout all this Nepal remains a beautigul country, and for once I have tried to put more than just pictures of refugee camps and destroyed homes into the mix.
Namaste' |
