Democracy thrives on collaboration between generations

By Pallav Bhusal,Kathmandu, Feb. 19: In an era not long back, the simple act of petitioning to open a library in Kathmandu was considered a punishable offence. Legendary poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota and his colleagues discovered this harsh reality when their request for a place of learning was met with state-sanctioned discipline rather than support. This was the atmosphere of the Rana regime, a 104-year despotic family rule where schools were forbidden and human rights were non-existent.

Every year on Falgun 7, Nepal pauses to commemorate Democracy Day, marking the exact moment in 2007 BS (1951 AD) when this silence was finally broken. While the day is often marked by formal parades, its true significance lies in the memories of those who transitioned from being subjects to citizens.

"The revolution of 2007 BS was an historical turning point," said Dr. Nirsimha Khatri, Professor of History at Tribhuvan University. For Dr. Khatri, the day represents the end of an era where the whim of an individual dictated the law. "The dawn of democracy meant the end of the rule of the individual and the commencement of the rule of institutions and the rule of law," he added.

The historical context of Falgun 7 is rooted in a royal proclamation which declared that Nepal’s governance would henceforth be determined by an assembly of representatives elected by the people. This led to the Interim Constitution of 2007 BS, a document that Dr. Khatri identifies as the bedrock of modern Nepali identity. "It granted fundamental rights, freedom of speech, the right to assembly, and the right to justice," he said. By 2008 BS, the establishment of the Pradhan Nyayalaya (Chief Court) began to provide a structural home for these new rights. "It was an arrangement that slowly turned the Nepali people from subjects (raiti) into citizens,” added Khatri.

However, the journey from 1951 to the present has been fraught with what former NC leader and social worker Dharma Gautam calls the tricks of history. Gautam, who spent years in exile alongside B.P. Koirala, provides a more instinctive perspective on the struggle. He recalls the irony of the 1951 revolution, while led by the revolutionary force of the Nepali Congress, the initial post-revolutionary government was still led by the Ranas, a compromise that he believes stalled immediate change.

Gautam views the democratic process through a unique lens. He suggests that democracy is like a game. "A team playing for the first time does not achieve excellence immediately, they must learn and practice,” he said. He argues that democracy is not just a system but a lifestyle that requires an evolutionary process to reach perfection. Unfortunately, in Nepal, this game was frequently interrupted, most notably by King Mahendra’s dismissal of the elected government in 1960, which Gautam describes as the start of a downfall of democracy that lasted until 1990.

Today, as the nation reflects on Falgun 7, both experts acknowledge that the challenges remain. Gautam points to a modern cancer of partisan interference in state institutions, from the judiciary down to local school management committees. "The institutions that should run democracy have been weakened by political sharing and individual interests," he said.

Yet, the spirit of Democracy Day persists because of the great sacrifices of the four martyrs and the common people who marched in 1951. We celebrate this day to honour that sacrifice and to remember that the rights we often take for granted -- to read, to write, and to protest -- were once crimes.

As the country looks forward, Gautam remains cautiously optimistic. He believes the path ahead lies in a collaboration between generations. "If we can combine the experience of the old with the spirit of the new generation’s desire for change, our future remains bright," he said. On this Democracy Day, Nepal continues to learn the rules of the game, and celebrate democracy, freedom and patriotism.