These days, everyone seems to be asking, “What has Loktantra really done for the Nepali people?” Well it has done many things. It’s taught us how to speak up, laugh, and even bust a move at disco parties! It’s given us the skills to live peacefully, too. In the past, those flag-waving folks would flood the streets, and people would shout out their grievances like they were auditioning for a reality show. Even a one-rupee hike in petrol prices would send the government into a tizzy. People would swarm the streets, delivering passionate speeches, while newspapers would blare headlines like, “Inflation Strikes Again, sarkar!” If someone went hungry, you could bet they’d be yelling about it. But oh, how times have changed!
Nowadays, it seems no one has the time or energy to bother the government. Slogans like “Jay Nepal” and “Lal Salam” have faded away, lost like a needle in a trash heap in Kathmandu! Everyone’s got their happiness and prosperity passbook now. Food? Check. Clothes? Check.
Diesel and petrol? Double check! Maybe people are happy in their own way; they’ve got income rolling in—if not from home, then from abroad. While a liter of petrol used to spark outrage at 30 rupees, now folks are paying 200 rupees and smiling, saying, “It’s just about commuting to work and back—why stress?” There seems to be an extraordinary calm or rather it’s like there’s a mass meditation going on; every Nepali seems to be in a state of deep meditation. It feels as if the peace of Lord Buddha has finally descended upon us!
These days, the word “bother” feels downright luxurious. Prices can skyrocket, taxes can pile up, and potholes can swallow entire motorcycles, yet people remain blissfully silent. The (a)social media is a different story, of course! Meanwhile, our leaders stand on their soapboxes, proclaiming, “We will turn this country into paradise!” And the people think, “Haven’t we already got a taste of paradise? No food woes, no pressure to speak—why do we need another paradise?”
Those who were discontent and dissatisfied have already packed their bags and left the country. The ones who stayed? They seem perfectly content. It’s as if the very essence of being Nepali has changed. People have figured out that expecting substantial development for just a single vote is like hoping for a miracle!
Now, the public has matured into a wise bunch. Sure, some young folks are unemployed, but nobody’s hands are empty—everyone’s got a mobile phone! “If I can earn by scrolling through Facebook and making TikTok videos, why on Earth would I go job hunting?” This level of enlightenment has arrived! So, people don’t raise their voices. They simply lounge, watching TV or lost in TikTok land, enjoying the likes. “Getting likes on Facebook? Now that’s a thrill! And if I can get millions of likes on TikTok, what greater achievement could there possibly be in life?”
Thus, the people have all become “smart.” They have smart phones, smart payments, smart citizenship, and even smart passports. And the government? Oh, they’re the smartest of all! No wonder they’ve been yammering about “smart cities” for ages. Everything is “smart” these days! There’s no stress about jobs; even if the stove at home doesn’t light, there are food delivery services available – just order in! Job hunting? Who needs that? The government has been on a quest to find jobs abroad for quite some time!
The only tiny hiccup is that those who are responsible for governing us seem a bit wobbly. But everyone else is as calm as a summer breeze! Where else in the world can you find such a chill populace? Such peace exists that soon this country might just turn into a silent movie! People will be heading to meditation centers, practicing the art of sitting quietly without uttering a word or even gesturing—just soaking in that heavenly vibe. The entire nation has morphed into a giant Vipassana retreat! It’s rumored that this is what happens in paradise as well. And the delightful thing is that now the Nepali people will get to experience that paradise while alive! So, remember, staying alive is the most important thing, the real priority these days. So please, do stay alive!
(This article was originally published in November 2024 issue of New Business Age Magazine.)
