For 30 minutes, the former king Gyanendra chit-chatted with Kalibaba and the Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka about their common daydream of a Hindu state. Gyanendra, as a king who had doled out just 25,000 rupees to the fire-gutted town of Manglung gifted the “godman” four times more. KP Bhattarai came from political retirement to bow to the Okhaldhunga-born but India-resident sadhu. So did the politically active Sher Bahadur Deuba, Hridayesh Tripathi and some Maoists leaders.
When Kalibaba’s reputed fire-sacrifice occurred, our country had less than 80 days for the promulgation of the new constitution. Some politicians who visited Kalibaba hardly attend the Constituent Assembly committees they belong to. Through their speeches and behavior, they never gave the new constitution their priority. One satirical writer recently described the PM Madhav Kumar’s typical, daily achievement: Four ground-breaking ceremonies, three inaugurations, two book-releases, one statue-unveiling, a prize-giving function, one graduation speech, and two visits in a helicopter! For a particular date, the author could have also added the PM’s ride to the Pashupati Nath compound to seek Kalibaba’s blessing. The visit by Maoist and other politicians to the “godman” begets interesting principles.
First, religious escapism evokes strange utterances. The former king graciously stated, “I didn’t leave the 240-year history-laden throne for nothing. I did it so that peace and good governance may prevail.” He said the same to Avenues TV’s interview on March 25. Hasn’t he conveniently ignored the 10-year Maoist insurgency, the 19-day April 2006 uprising (which the late GPK led), and the 25 martyrs which forced him to vacate Narayanhiti Palace? How can Gyanendra now pretend that he dethroned himself willingly for a higher cause?
Kalibaba didn’t lag behind in making an equally fantastic declaration—he’d burn himself to death (in another yagya?) if Nepal didn’t revert to its past Hindu statehood. We pity suicides that occur because of extreme poverty or perpetual misery. But when someone threatens self-immolation toward a selfish end, people usually respond with, “Let’s see if s/he’ll do it!” Kalibaba, the former physics teacher at Amrit Science College, should apologize and retract such a foolish statement because Nepal will never become a Hindu state again. Clear-headed communists, secular politicians, and the formerly Hindu-oppressed population won’t allow it. Kalibaba’s credibility now hangs on his absurd threat. Only an apology will let him off the hook.
If our politicians don’t exercise care, gurus like Kalibaba could run a government within a government. We have a precedent from our southern neighbor. India’s Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao (1991-1996) had come under “godman” Chandraswami’s spell.
Second, no person remains an atheist in crisis. Pushpa Kamal Dahal didn’t bow to Kalibaba, but he had done his religious stunts elsewhere. In one context, he declared that the Maoists had erred in advocating a secular state. Really? Does his recent regret for not advocating GPK as the first president of our country come in a similar vein—blurting out what people want to hear on an occasion?
On Feb 20 at the advice of priests, Dahal worshiped a buffalo in Chatara, Sunsari, to beg god Saturn to ward off the ill fate hovering over him. Lucky buffalo but unlucky cows, which the Maoists slaughtered during the insurgency and awarded the butchers 2,000 rupees each! Maoist leadership has similarly bowed to religious figures for good fortune: Gorakhnath Guru, Manakamana Mata, Pilot Baba, Yogi Kamalnayanacharya, and Chandraswami (whom we’ll deal with more later). During crises, Nepali hardcore communists turn into religious sissies.
PM Madhav Kumar needed Kalibaba’s blessing to prop up his faltering administration. The Maoists, always scheming for their one-party dictatorship, had conspired to call a session at the legislative assembly to bring down his government. (Has GPK’s death changed this?) The Nepali population has cautiously supported Madhavji. However, overspending all previous governments and failing to punish criminals have eroded the PM’s original luster. Kalibaba’s smile must’ve energized him.
Third, if our politicians don’t exercise care, gurus like Kalibaba could run a government within a government. They don’t need to win an election to achieve that; political stupidity will suffice. We have a precedent from our southern neighbor. India’s Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao (1991-1996) came under “godman” Chandraswami’s spell. Initially, the relationship benefited Rao. Like Kalibaba, Chandraswami too had dabbled in fire-sacrifices. He had performed a yagya to depose Rajiv Gandhi and then install Chandra Shekhar as the PM. The latter eventually become PM on his own merit.
Chandraswami had disciples Adnan Khashoggi (the notorious arms-dealer), Muda Hassanal Bokiah Muisaddin Waddauah (the Sultan of Brunei), and the American actress Elizabeth Taylor. The author Manisha says that the “PM’s last appointment of the day was usually with the ‘godman’, and there were reports that Chandraswami often took industrialists and politicians to the PM’s residence in the morning, before Narasimha Rao began the day. The... PM put Chandraswami openly in charge of winning over the saints and sadhus of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad during the Ayodhya crisis” (Profiles of Indian Prime Ministers, p 351).
Chandraswami influenced Indian politics negatively. He “played the most active role, behind the scene, in breaking up the Janata Dal, and luring Ramlakhan Singh Yadav and others away to get the PM a majority in the parliament” (p 352). Rao regretted this relationship when the Indian press revealed all the shady deals the “godman” had burnt his fingers in. He earned notoriety as the only Indian PM to face the court on charges of accepting bribes.
Fourth, visitors to Kalibaba ultimately desire to become as fortunate as Alibaba. This poor Persian woodcutter from a story in the Arabian Nights chances upon 40 bandits. The chief uttered the command, “Open sesame” to throw ajar the gate of a loot-laden cave. Alibaba used the same mantra to get inside and steal bags of golden coins. His jealous brother Kasim forced Alibaba to reveal the secret, went into the cave, picked his booty, but forgot the command when he wanted to come out. The robbers cut him up in two pieces and hung those on the doorposts inside the cave.
Lesson for Nepali politicians? Wishing for good political fortune as Alibaba fell upon gold, you may visit Kalibaba. Gyanendra hopes to get his throne back. The Congress leader Khum Bahadur Khadka probably eyes the PM’s chair. Madhav Kumar wishes to continue heading the government that will hopefully bring out the constitution on May 28. However, Alibaba’s golden fortune contrasts with Kasim’s ill fate. Kalibaba could become like Rao’s Chandraswami to you. Instead of Alibaba, you may end up like Kasim!
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