You would think that India, after watching us suffer unspeakable hardships in the earthquake this spring, would grant us the space to sort out the issues any new constitution would inevitably generate. You would think that in the spirit of human decency, respect and acknowledgment of our centuries-long relationship, India would stand beside Nepal in productive conversation when we have concerns or grievances. You would think that the way through, after all this time, would be anything but the current state of our borders and relations, but no. This, sadly, is not the case.I read stories of the 1989 Indian blockade in the New York Times, and if you are to overlook some characters and dates, nothing has changed. India didn't use the word blockade back then and choked the population of 18 million for thirteen long months. Nepal Airlines' Boeing 737 airlifted aviation fuel from Dhaka in 1989. So long as you allow few trucks from checkpoints, it's not a blockade in legal terms. Therefore the issue cannot be taken to international forums.
But no one of us is fooled. Not India. Not our friends in the West, despite the ubiquitous silence.
And after 27 years, we are witnessing history repeat itself. It has been 20 days since India imposed the unofficial blockade on Nepal. Nepal Airlines' Boeing 757 airlifted 66 tons of aviation fuel from Kolkata last Thursday. More than 5,000 trucks are stranded in the Indian side of the border. Nepali importers are paying over US $ 100 million per day for delayed cargo at Kolkata port. Our market will see the price of goods skyrocket in near future. A fate no decent human being would wish on any of the neighbors.
And this week, we will welcome Dashain, a time that is meant for celebration, healing and remembrance, especially this year when 2015 has been one of the most difficult and painful years in our recent memory. We saw the devastating earthquake, amounting to billions in material losses and almost 10,000 deaths.
This doesn't even begin to speak to the loss to our economy from the ongoing blockade which is estimated to be over one billion dollars. This festival season provides a brief respite from never ending pain and suffering. However, the fuel shortages have made travels within Kathmandu and to villages almost impossible. People are anxiously waiting for days to get tickets home.
The new constitution was supposed to usher us into new era of peace, prosperity and stability. Sadly, it has been the opposite. The Tarai-Madhesh has been shut down by protesters for two months now. Schools are closed, daily wage earners struggle to make ends meet, and hospitals are running out of essential drugs. More than 400 trucks of essential drugs have been stuck on the border. And, once again, the international community has been largely silent.
It is also ironic that, India, the most powerful member of SAARC and BIMSTEC is imposing a choking blockade on the current chair of both the regional bodies. During private conversations, diplomats vent ire on India. I was told that two of the P5 members vehemently disagreed about welcoming the new constitution. The UN responded with indifference, by merely noting the constitution had been promulgated. Gyan Chandra Acharya, head of the UN body to champion landlocked and small island countries, has not issued a single statement about the blockade. Looks like Nepal's woes are not on top of his daily agenda from his cushy chair in New York.
It's easy to point fingers, but the ongoing blockade was a perfect storm of New Delhi's miscalculation as well as miscalculation of major parties and the Madheshi leaders. Our diplomats in New Delhi and New York should have briefed PM Modi and Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon about the new constitution before its promulgation on September 20. They should have conveyed the message that the constitution is a political compromise and amendments would eventually address concerns of protestors. Similarly, New Delhi should have put diplomacy to work. It could have conveyed its message through different channels. None of these things happened.
New Delhi's miscalculation is likaly to have stinging impact on bilateral relations for a long time. Our generation of Nepalis will always be suspicious of New Delhi. Billions in aid and development partnerships will not reverse the outlook of young generation of Nepalis towards India. If New Delhi wonders about the rise of anti-Indian sentiment in Nepal, this is precisely the reason. People feel that the big neighbor is unhappy with our democratic constitution, and that it wants to punish Nepalis ahead of Dashain.
Nepalis are deeply resentful of New Delhi as they also see India siding with the Madheshis and imposing hardships on Hilly population. As images of Madheshis crossing the border and pelting stones at our security personnel pour in, people in rest of the country wonder about their allegiance. How can someone be Nepali if he/she starts pelting stones at security forces from the other side of the border? Where is the loyalty? Where is the respect?
Endless lines of vehicles, along roadsides, waiting for rationed fuel are now an everyday affair in Kathmandu. Having to face one crisis after another, the resiliency of Nepalis is commendable. Nepalis have not vented their anger towards the leadership in Kathmandu yet. But this will change if organic solutions to the problems are not found soon.
Madheshi and other leaders will have to seriously engage in healing this badly torn country. The problems are not intractable yet. India should not bar meaningful closure of this rather ugly episode in our history. New Delhi has to understand that Nepali resentment towards Indian government will only increase if this blockade continues. An aspirant to the UN Security Council, India will have to stop this tyrannical and parental approach to diplomacy and learn to treat its neighbor as equals. Without it there will be no trust over the long term.
The South Block has solid institutional memories, and the diplomats working on Nepal are not new to Nepali politics. New Delhi must let Nepalis solve the issues on their own. What is so difficult about playing a friendly, helpful and watchful neighbor? Ordinary Nepalis wonder: how can you impose such a harsh blockade on us after we have undergone multiple tragedies the same year, and that also during our biggest festival? Nepalis want to forget their old misery and be with families to renew hope, love and the commitment to remake this country.
It is time for India to be a responsible, decent neighbor. We are tired of being pushed around when we do not do exactly what India wants. We are ready now to deal with our difficulties, to make course corrections and to improve our situation with patience and methodical care. All we need now is for India to step out of the way, use words not force and stop sending messages when we are right next to you, able to hear and ready to discuss whatever difficulties or differences we face.
A lot has changed in Nepal since 1989. Nepalis are connected to the outside world. We have educated, smart, creative and vocal youth. Our democratic institutions, though flawed, are functioning. India should not repeat 1989, for Nepal has evolved into a vibrant democracy.
@subhash580
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