Overcoming my blood demons I gave blood again, twice in my life now. But, since this was the first time I gave blood in US, I had to spare 15 minutes answering their questions before I could give blood. American Red Cross has a protocol, listing the names of different countries (which included certain restrictions); one can only be eligible for donation if they pass those restrictions. For Nepal, there is restriction for people who recently (less than a year) been to Nepal outside of Kathmandu in high elevations. I don’t know why that is.

Friday, I saw Spiderman 3, movie was good if you appreciate the effects, but may be as my hair starts turning gray I have lost appetite for those kinds of movies. Today I watched ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’, I enjoyed that more than Spiderman. It’s simple comedy that instigates the values of ‘Mahatma Gandhi’. Even me, who am not an Indian found that movie very inspiring.

After watching Munna Bhai I came up with an idea, why not make a big Nepali serial showcasing the life of martyrs, beginning from Sukra Raj Shastri to the recent one who died in Kalanki (that amplified the Jan Andolan II movement). It’s pretty shame that I don’t even know his name. I feel it’s utterly unfair that they are given a generalized respect once a year by few corrupted leaders. I believe disseminating the life of those martyrs, one by one, in screen will give more justice to them than just a common garland in ‘Sahid Gate’. It will also pay tribute to their families and keep Nepalese in their toes, reminding what martyrs did for us and stop some burglars (so called Neta’s and bureaucrats) from looting the country.

I don’t know if I am being impatient or peace/developing process takes this long. From my eyes, a layman view, I can clearly see all the “peoples” leaders engaged in ensuring the publicity/power of their parties rather than peace process. I won’t say they are not working, I simply feel they have made people’s aspiration secondary to their power hunger. I am strong advocate of establishing a public domain where each MP’s and Ministers have to publish their monthly report of what they have done each month, and equally strong structure of verifying their published reports. They are salaried from tax payer’s money, which aren’t free so we deserve to know. I know all Nepalese are way far from accessing the internet (perhaps start a paper bulletin), but at least it’s a start. Does anyone recall any leaders because they did something good? I don’t think so, if yes then they are just handful. We only know leaders like Khum Bahadur et al, because of their infamous deeds. I assume that with a public website documenting their work we can judge them by their good deeds (if they do any).

Sometimes I even feel why am I wasting my brain on these stuff, does anyone have slightest of confidence that they would change, I don’t think so. But I feel that’s the least I could do. I have very small circle of people that read my blog, but maybe we all contributing slightly from our part can create some resonance.

At this moment I wish all the leaders in Nepal at least watch “Lage Raho Munna Bhai”.