First reaction -- absolute shock.
Second reation -- A rush of sadness -- Against my own beliefs I happened to like the king and thought the country was better off when he was in charge. On a personal note, he gave a royal blessing to every US Peace Corps volunteer who served in Nepal. He was a decent man and did his best against heavy odds. I do not share these sentiments in regard to many of the high and mighty in Nepal.
Third reaction -- implications. This event could lead to a bloody power struggle and to chaos of every sort. I am concerned about family and friends in Nepal.
Fourth reaction -- contingency plans.
When things go wrong you must come to grips with the situation and deal with it. If things go wrong in Nepal after this tragedy what am I ,personally, going to do about it? First, I'll try to get the family and friends out of Nepal and into India.
Second, I'll try to get the kamis, their families, and all those associated with BirGorkha in any way out of Nepal and into India.
Third, I'm a hardhead and I ain't going down and neither is any of mine until the last dog is dead. The family, kamis and other faithful employees of BirGorkha if relocated to India are going to need a way to survive so BirGorkha will be uprooted from Surya Benai to Darjeeling. That's where we'll go. It is next door to Nepal and looks and feels like Nepal and there are a lot of Nepalis living there. Home away from home. So, BirGorkha and everything and everybody will survive. And, so will HIKV sufferers.
Fifth consideration -- Why?
From a personal viewpoint I think that telling another person who to marry and how to live his or her life is a sin. But not everybody shares this belief and in Nepal arranged marriages are still the norm even though I think this practice has been outlawed.
I've seen so many of these arranged marriages turn into disasters that I am not surprised with this event. It is a matter of suspicions confirmed.
Sixth consideration -- what positive can come out of this?
First -- maybe everybody in Nepal will see that the old system of arranged marriages is not the way to go. Abandon it.
Second -- this event takes out of consideration the royalty and forces an immediate action to mold the future of Nepal's political system. If it goes the way I'd like it to then this tragic event could turn into a blessing for the people -- and this might be the best thing the royal family has ever done for the country and people of Nepal.
I pray it works this way but if it doesn't start looking for Nepali khukuris made in India.
Sorry this is so long winded but it is something that is simply a part of me.
------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Archives (33,000 + posts)
Himalayan Imports Shopping Site
[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 06-01-2001).]