Nepal's New Era: High Hopes and Critical Test for Prime Minister Balen Shah

Today's Nepal is in a state where political parties are merely sustaining life by sucking the flesh and blood of the nation. As they say, as long as there is breath, there is hope! There are examples of many underdeveloped nations in the world that were in a worse state than Nepal. Recently, those countries have transformed into successful nations due to far-sighted, selfless, nationalist, and capable leadership.

In our country Nepal, which is abundant in potential and resources, if only the leadership were competent, the dream of our country becoming similarly successful and prosperous could have been realized. But where is it? The political factions have created a narrative that the country is a place to be looted.

The country endured that situation for 35-36 years. And from the month of Chaitra, three and a half decades ago, until Chaitra of 2082 BS, the Nepali people, fed up with the calculations of the leaders, have seen Balen Shah ascend to the people's throne.

The leaders are corrupt, anti-national, and anti-people, which is why they have been sidelined by the public. Therefore, the responsibility for the country's overall development and public welfare has fallen to the young Balen. This moment is not just about hanging Balen's photo alongside the Prime Minister in Singha Durbar.

Today's moment of crisis is a trial by fire for Balen. Therefore, this is the time for Balen to choose one path: whether he will become the Prime Minister revered as a great soul for ages, living in every breath and heartbeat of the Nepali people, or whether he will become a wretch deserving only of the curses emerging from the tears of blood of every Nepali?

In our country Nepal, the newly appointed 35-year-old Balen shows immense potential, but the challenges for him are also complex. In a country governed by a party system for 37 years, the Nepali people, weary of the parties, have elected Balen as a non-partisan Prime Minister. This is because Balen is young, knowledgeable about modern technology, and a technical expert.

Personally, I have been observing Balen with some skepticism. However, upon seeing Balen take his oath on the auspicious day of Ram Navami, Chaitra 13, 082 BS, embracing the Sanatana religious culture, I, as a follower of the Sanatana faith, have become a small supporter of Balen.

Moreover, as Mayor of the Metropolitan City, Balen has already demonstrated his profound religious faith towards Sanatana by renovating the dilapidated ancient monasteries of Kathmandu.

Every citizen of any country is connected to politics, directly or indirectly. Accordingly, in the initial phase of my life, I was affiliated with the Nepali Congress. Seeing individualistic thinking prevail in the Nepali Congress after 046 BS, I followed the leadership of His Majesty the King.

After that, I even wrote the poetry collection 'Letter to Maldai'. But perhaps because it was poetry, things did not turn out as the Nepali people wished even under the leadership of the Royal Palace. Ultimately, the parties conspired to remove the monarchy, which was the center of our faith.

In my collection of nationalist poems named 'Dhipdhip', I had written that 'Politics for the nation is like a person's backbone. When politics is diseased, the country becomes sick.' But when the political factions became irresponsible towards the people and surrounded the King from all sides, what could be done? That is why the people have now severely punished those same political factions.

Balen's entry into Nepali politics has been unexpected. His enthusiastic presence has brought sunshine to all the withered Nepali hearts across the world, and I have felt the same.

Indeed, the people of Kathmandu had already elected non-partisan Balen as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, which the parties had indulged in for decades. That miraculous scene of Balen's victory astonished the world.

Now, the Nepali people have entrusted Balen with the complex and broader responsibility for the future of the entire nation and its people. The public is eager to see the conclusion of whether this situation is good fortune or misfortune for Balen.

Even a small carelessness or irresponsibility from Balen could lead to a great national betrayal. Everything can be tolerated, but betrayal against our nation cannot be tolerated. If Balen is a people's servant and not a parasite, the Nepali people will always stand with Balen. But if he commits national betrayal and becomes an enemy of the people, the public will make Balen bite the dust.

Perhaps even that may not be enough of a lesson for him. Because almost all the people have placed Balen on the throne with their mind, speech, and action. Balen appears to be the only fortunate person in Nepal's history.

As a person of my age, seeing Balen, from the younger generation, as the Prime Minister of my sovereign nation, I rejoice as if it were the achievement of my own offspring. I wish to see the prosperity of the nation and a smile of happiness on the faces of all Nepali people. I have understood well that as long as the nation is not prosperous, no individual, no matter how rich, can be happy and peaceful.

As someone who has started receiving the senior citizen allowance provided by the government, I have no personal gain to seek from Balen. The Balen government does not need to give me anything personally. I did not endorse Balen with any personal interest in mind.

I am only concerned with the prosperity of Nepal, the upliftment of the common people, and the issue of national unity. Therefore, I repeat—Prime Minister Balen should always work with this in mind!

Nepal is the name of a country that has never been subjugated in the world. Let foreigners not cast their eyes upon the sovereign Nepal, unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah and whose nationalism was preserved and development charted by King Mahendra. Let Balen step forward to establish the central pillar of national unity for a Nepal fractured on all sides.

Let the flag of fulfilling foreign interests not be planted in Nepal. Balen must not enter into any agreement that is not in the interest of a nation adhering to a Non-Aligned foreign policy. Let this Balen government elevate the national existence above the heads of the Nepali people, and even higher.

May no one brand the patriotic Balen as a foreign agent. If any foreigner comes to impose such a burden on him, he should rather choose to become a martyr, and he will become immortal in the history of Nepal.