Is China behind the recent hostility or India is alienating herself in neighborhood?

[Pakistani E]

Just clumsy half-baked actions.

Some time ago, China and India agreed on some border-related measures, specifically connected to the passage of Indian pilgrims to Manasarowar, the holy lake below Mt. Kailash. Some additional facilities were to be offered, some additional infrastructure was to be installed. In a singularly thick-skinned move, neither of these powers bothered to consult Nepal, even though one of the designated paths lay right on the border between India and Nepal.

It was in pursuance of this agreement that the Indian government put down an all-weather road and a new check-post at what they thought was the last point of their land, and on the border with China. Again, no one bothered to consult the Nepalis.

This anger on the part of the Nepalis was triggered by the building of the path, and of the checkpost.

I appreciate you taking the time out to provide this insight. I've been out of the loop for some time, so wasn't sure where this was coming from. Looking at India's action on this in comparison to how they dealt with Bhutan is interesting. Almost like India doesn't care enough about Nepal's reaction, or perhaps was sending a message to the Nepalise government?

 

[Joe Shearer]

I appreciate you taking the time out to provide this insight. I've been out of the loop for some time, so wasn't sure where this was coming from. Looking at India's action on this in comparison to how they dealt with Bhutan is interesting. Almost like India doesn't care enough about Nepal's reaction, or perhaps was sending a message to the Nepalise government?

This has been another thick-skinned and clumsy failure of our government. Earlier during its tenure, the Nepalese elections reminded everybody that the Madhesi, immigrant from India, counted for a lot in Nepalese politics. The world tends not to notice them, but they are a powerful segment, and have become a permanent force in Nepalese politics.

What we tend not to notice is that Nepal is a very complex place. We tend to see the clans who constitute the Gorkhas, the originally Tibeto-Burmese speaking Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Limbu and Rai; we tend to overlook the Khas Nepali, the Chhetri (corrupted form of Kshatriya), Baun (Brahmin) and a few others, and we tend to overlook the royal clans - the Shahs, their permanent Prime Ministers (until 1951) the Ranas, the Thapas, the Basnets and the Pandes.

When the election reminded everybody that the Madhesi mattered, there were a series of complex manoeuvres going on in Kathmandu. It seemed at a point that the Madhesi would get sidelined. At that point, the BJP, aligning itself with the Madhesi, decided to exert pressure, gentle, subtle pressure - it stopped truck traffic with Nepal! You can imagine the fury that erupted.

Things have never been the same since.

 

[Nilgiri]

This has been another thick-skinned and clumsy failure of our government. Earlier during its tenure, the Nepalese elections reminded everybody that the Madhesi, immigrant from India, counted for a lot in Nepalese politics. The world tends not to notice them, but they are a powerful segment, and have become a permanent force in Nepalese politics.

What we tend not to notice is that Nepal is a very complex place. We tend to see the clans who constitute the Gorkhas, the originally Tibeto-Burmese speaking Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Limbu and Rai; we tend to overlook the Khas Nepali, the Chhetri (corrupted form of Kshatriya), Baun (Brahmin) and a few others, and we tend to overlook the royal clans - the Shahs, their permanent Prime Ministers (until 1951) the Ranas, the Thapas, the Basnets and the Pandes.

When the election reminded everybody that the Madhesi mattered, there were a series of complex manoeuvres going on in Kathmandu. It seemed at a point that the Madhesi would get sidelined. At that point, the BJP, aligning itself with the Madhesi, decided to exert pressure, gentle, subtle pressure - it stopped truck traffic with Nepal! You can imagine the fury that erupted.

Things have never been the same since.

Party of underdogs with chip on shoulder naturally turn out as bullies when no longer underdogs.

Refined civic nationalism needs knowledge, wisdom and good character. Hard to have in politics more generally from outset to begin with, its extra bad for some.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Party of underdogs with chip on shoulder naturally turn out as bullies when no longer underdogs.

Refined civic nationalism needs knowledge, wisdom and good character. Hard to have in politics more generally from outset to begin with, its extra bad for some.

'Knowledge', 'wisdom', 'good character'.....this is why my brain jumps out of my head and scurries around the corners of the room, chittering and squeaking.