"If we walk faster we might still make it," Deepa's voice still resonates in my ear that day when we were walking fast just off the subway going to Prachanda's speech in New School University, New York. We made it just on time but saw a huge crowd gathered outside the venue. Apparently, they couldn't accommodate all because of a huge turnout.
I never supported the violence that was a big part of Maoist insurgency and I think most of the people outside NY School shared the sentiments. However, we were ready to leave the past behind and were hopeful for a big change. We wanted to see if there is a way the war could be justified and maybe the "fierce once" would have some answers. We stayed there till the program was over and talked to people who attended it. Most of the people who attended it were not impressed. There was a disappointment but I said just because he wasn't good on speeches or answering, doesn't mean he is not an effective leader.
Years have passed and we sit here looking at the image of a person who could have accomplished so much but squandered all his opportunities. Prachanda was given a mandate by Nepali people; some will still argue that too many votes were rigged that time to call it a fair election; but I know people wanted to forget the past and look ahead. Prachanda could have instituted a major overhaul of the system, he would have gotten all the support. But the leader focused more on his party and his position than the people who gave their lives to get him where he is. He paid more attention to the mansion and expensive watches than the cadres who worked hard to make the party a major force.
Maoist win few years back was a major defining moment in Nepali history; we had moved away completely from any sort of monarchy and were ready for a new leader. Prachanda could have assumed that role but he disappointed everybody majorly. He became new Gyanendra and his son the new Paras. The fierce one now sits like a lion in zoo, waiting for the zoo-keeper to bring his piece of meat for the day. He could've have the whole Nepal, His ineptness and selfishness turned Nepal against him.
So long, the fierce one.
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