Nepal's Plate Championship - Success Against All Odds

News coming out Nepal these days is so hopeless and depressing that little thing provides some real morale boost. Amidst the chaos, uncertainty, violence, and Bandhs, it is refreshing to hear or read some good news. One of such news was, Nepal’s victory over New Zealand on under -19 world cup cricket to win Plate Championship. After loosing successively against the UK and Zimbabwe, there were little hopes for Nepal’s young boys but last year’s runner up pulled together amazing comeback and defeated both South Africa and New Zealand, both established cricket power houses, to bring a trophy home.

Congratulations to U-19 team and its coach Roy Dias.

In international sports Nepal rarely has anything to show up. Most of Nepal’s international success has come from individual sports such as Tae-Kwon-Do or Karate but almost nothing from team sports. However, cricket has been a total surprise. Despite being in South Asia, where cricket is almost a religion, Nepal remained isolated for a long time. This isolation perhaps is a real testimony to Nepal’s independence from British Raj.

Cricket came to Nepal’s masses only in the 1990s. Off course it was always played, especially in Terai, where local clubs would play against each other or against Indian local clubs. Even though, I never learned how to play, I used to join some of my friends, if they needed a quorum, in late 1980s in Malangawa, Sarlahi. However, cricket was not really much of the game in Kathmandu or Nepal’s hill until the mid-1990s.

The sprawl of Indian channels via cable and satellite, I believe, propelled the growth of cricket in Nepal. By the late 90s, cricket had become ubiquitous. Even my little brother his hooked into it these days.

In really a short time cricket has made its mark in Nepal. And, frequent achievement by Nepali team has brought home little joys that Nepali sports fan never knew existed. In a time of war, it is good to know – Nepal is not doomed to eternal failure. There are hopes.

An Automatic Gun

Last weekend news broke out that the US Vice President Dick Cheney had shot a man while hunting. It was an accident the reports said. It was an irresistible headline. Every media – radio, TV, and newspapers ran stories and then began a spin. People asked why the VP hadn’t told President and public until late Sunday despite the fact that shooting had occurred on Saturday. Some speculated it was Veep’s disdain to media and public, others cried foul and went so far as to suggest grand conspiracy, perhaps to distract attention from other prominent issues. The VP and his staff were mum for more than four days. I knew why the VP was silent. He had nothing to say. What was there to say in a shooting?

Finally, the US’s most powerful man gave in to the pressure. He appeared on Fox News (where else?) and took full responsibility. He said, “I am the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend.”

“What? What is this guy saying?” I couldn’t believe my ears. How can you be so stupid and take responsibility and even say “I pulled the trigger.” I was under the impression that Mr. Vice President was lot smarter than President Dubya. I knew the age and countless heart surgery had taken its toll and I wondered whether the most powerful VP has gone mad – as they say in Terai Buddhey Sathiya Gayal.

I realized how ignorant VP is about the world affairs, I said, had he read news coming out of Nepal, I am sure he wouldn’t go on live TV and take full responsibility. Only about ten days back in Biratnagar, Morang Nepali Congress President was shot while on chase. When he alleged that administration attempted a cold blood murder, first security chiefs said it was a mistake and finally came with a better explanation, “the shot was fired when a cop chasing Mr. Aryal had tripped.” And, thus gun fired itself.

Mr. Vice President don’t you read international news? How can you be the most powerful man in the world without having all the details of what is happening on your backyard?

“Where?”
“Biratnagar?”
“Where is that?”

Oh! Well, well, ok, I concede. Who cares about Biratnagar, a tinny bitty little town north of India.

But then there was Royal Massacre a couple of years ago – do you remember? Soon after our great King Gyanendra had assumed office, the Royal Palace issued a statement which said that the massacre had occurred as an automatic rifle fired itself. The rifle was so intelligent that it killed the King and all his family.

I am sure Mr. Vice President you had heard of the Royal Massacre; why anybody take responsibility?

Now, I have serious doubt about US military power and faith in its hardware. What kind of country is this -so called most powerful nation -that doesn’t even have one gun that can fire by itself?

In Nepal we have many self shooting rifles. On our recent municipal election, one such gun even appeared among peacefully demonstrating political activist and shot a police inspector. In return, Nepali solider returned fire and took life of Mr. Umesh Thapa, a political activist.

Even if there wasn’t one, what’s the harm in saying there was one? After all Mr. Vice President you claimed that there was Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in Iraq, didn’t you?

I feel that Scooter Liby’s exit must have serious effect on our spin campaign. I know there aren’t many who you trust in this world but what about importing one from Nepal? I am sure you would find likeness to our King.

You couldn’t even manufacture one gun that can fire automatically, our King has many. He is good, isn’t he?
I also hear that he might be in search of a job as Nepali people were planning on downsizing and restructuring the governing board. Many feel we do not need a chairman-monarch.

Shall I ask?