Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal declared Maharjan a martyr-- a rare occasion when the honor was fittingly bestowed, for a change -- and draped the national flag over his body at the open air theater on Sunday morning while paying last tributes to the departed soul. [break] But just a few meters across the open air theater at Tundikhel, Nepal Army was busy rehearsing for the Mahashivaratri celebrations creating an unwanted spectacle.
It was a small, yet a glaring glitch on the part of the government which, otherwise, has done pretty well in recognizing the contribution of the iconic Janaandolan II victim, who had sustained serious spinal injury during a police crackdown on demonstrators trying to breach the curfew inside Ring Road from Kalanki on April 20, 2006.
Maharjan was appreciative of the efforts put by the government in his treatment but was never impressed with the political developments in the country. "He had a great interest in the political developments in the country even after his injury and used to follow everything through television and newspapers," Jaya Ram Shrestha, Maharjan´s neighbor and friend, revealed.
But sadly, he had very few occasions to savor after the evacuation of palace by Gyanendra. He was frustrated with government changes and felt no one will do anything good for the country.
Shrestha revealed Maharjan´s 68-year-old father Krishna was also not pleased with the politicians. "The poor will always stay poor and the rich, rich," Shrestha quoted Krishna´s favorite sentence. Shrestha said even wife Laxmi had been disillusioned and could only be consoled by the recent display of concern by the prime minister.
Shrestha disclosed that PM Nepal provided Rs 50,000 for Maharjan´s funeral expenses on Sunday and also promised to look his children.
Public perspective
Maharjan´s death brought together all type of persons, from his long separated friends to complete strangers. A couple from Banepa hurriedly got off a public bus at around noon and hurried toward the theater not willing to miss the occasion to pay respect to the "living martyr", as he was lovingly called.
Then there was a woman-- an old classmate of Maharjan at Naikap Vidya Mandir, who also runs a grocery store at Koteshwar- who came to pay respect to her long-lost friend after recognizing him through the newspapers.
There were heated discussions among people gathered there about the achievements following Janaandolan II but everyone was unanimous that the progress till date has been far from satisfactory.
A Nepali Congress cadre from Damauli, Tanahun had come all the way from Gongabu to Tundikhel to pay respect to Maharjan, a UML cadre, and then went to Bishnudevi Ghat at the side of Balkhu river in Tinthana to take part in the funeral procession.
"I have come to pay respect to a fellow warrior," said Tulsi Prasad Ghimire, 38, a priest who once used to live in Satungal and now works in a private firm in Thamel. "We had taken part in Jananandolan II responding to the call of political parties hoping that peace and good governance would be established. But we have yet to achieve it," added Ghimire.
Newari cremation
Maharjan was cremated at Bishnudevi Ghat as per the traditional Newari custom. His 10-year-old son Bikesh and father Krishna, 68, jointly lit the funeral pyre with hundreds of onlookers around. Gubhajus, traditional Maharjan priests, will carry out the post crematory rites for 12 days as per the Maharjan tradition.
His elder daughter Binita, 13, elder brother and two younger brothers, a younger sister and other close relatives paid their last respects just before the pyre was lit. A few of his comrades even offered the revolutionary red salute but everyone present their struggled to control their emotions when daughter Binita insisted in vain to look at her dear father´s face for one last time.
Maharjan´s children, including the eight-year-old younger daughter Bipana, are too young to understand politics and the significance of a martyr. But the least the leaders can do is to create an environment wherein the children can feel proud of their father´s sacrifice.
"The leaders should take inspiration from Maharjan´s three years of suffering and the ultimate sacrifice and write the constitution on time and establish lasting peace in the country," Tulsi Prasad Ghimire opined.
23 injured in April 2006 movement receiving allowances
Altogether 23 persons, who were injured during Janaandolan II, have been entitled to government allowances. The government formed after Janaandolan II had constituted a committee to assess the level of injuries to provide cash relief and monthly allowances to the victims.
Officials at Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction said those identified with 70-100 percent injuries are being provided a monthly allowance of Rs 4,000, whereas those with 50 - 69 percent injuries are entitled to Rs 2,000.
The Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government has recently decided to increase the monthly allowance to those with over 70 percentage injuries to Rs 10,000 and Rs 6,000 to those with 50 - 69 percent injuries a month.
A cabinet meeting held on September 26, 2006 had decided to provide up to Rs 950,000 as relief to the family of those with over 70 percent injuries and Rs 450, 000 to the families of those with 50 - 69 percent injuries.
Additionally, the government has also made arrangements for providing scholarships to the children of those killed and those receiving over 50 percent injuries.
While the government annually provides Rs 24,000 for university level, Rs 18,000 for secondary level and Rs 12,000 for primary level education of the children of those killed and 100 percent injuries, the children of those with 50-69 percent injuries have been receiving Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively for university, secondary and primary level education.
70 percent to 100 percent injured during Janaandolan II
1. Umesh Kayastha Banepa-2, Kavre
2. Rabin Shrestha Chhampi, Chapagaun-1, Lalitpur
3. Rajendra Prasad Bhairata (Yadav) Saptari, Badgama-2
50 percent to 69 percent injured
1. Padam Lama Samundradevi-9, Nuwakot
2. Anjan Kumar Shrestha Butawal-6, Rupandehi
3. Ramesh Bal Kapilakot-3, Sindhuli
4. Ranjana Rana Ghartichhap-8, Kavre
5. Naina Bahadur Sewa Prapcha-5, Okhaldhunga
6. Subash Pathak Nuwakot-2, Sundaridevi
7. Dil Kumar Sherpa Khakelung-9, Taplejung
8. Gesh Bahadur Rana Swara,1, Gorkha
9. Bikram Kapali Banepa-5, Kavre
10. Jung Bahadur Shahi Syuna-4, Gorkha
10. Shiva Hari Rimal Ratnapuri-9, Bara
11. Sahadev Sedhain Jiwanpur-6, Dhading
12. Dambar Dutta Panta Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur
13. Ram Bahadur Bishwakarma Harisiddi-9, Lalitpur
14. Paramananda Bhatta Chandani-6, Baitadi
15. Shyam Mali Dhapakhel-2, Lalitpur
16. Ramesh Prasad Sharma (Upadhyaya) Birgunj-15, Parsa
17. Shanti Prasad Sharma (Sapkota) Chandragadhi-3, Jhapa
18. Gokarna Tiwari Hetauda-8, Makawanpur
19. Bishnu Prasad Parajuli Charpane-9, Jhapa
premdhakal@myrepublica.com
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