As published in the Saturday edition of Republica on 12/10/10:

The writer requests you to submit your views on the very bottom of the article in Republica.

http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=26052

                                                                              

Probably, it does not make you less Nepali. However, your kids will not be Nepali.

I have seen it.

No, this is way of how living beings act, towards perfection, development and luxury. 

Common Don't act Like an a$$ , It really depends on nature of Person and family who teach ,give lessons to their kids about their country,culture . Well i have seen couples of kids who were born in US even their parent's are Citizens here in US but the nepali spirit is still alive inside that family,House whereas i have seen some Nepali people acting Real ass who just came to US on student Visas and started acting like Americans.

Network,

Your voice sounds like a sound of a$$.

well written

Suman ji,

If you are the same person  of 6.30 news " yo radio nepal ho aba suman kharel bata samachar sunnuhos", let me tell you I love your voice. if not never mind.

I think, you are putting yourself in paradoxical situation at the same time, I feel that you are going thru some sort of anger and pain.  If you have accepted US citizenship, then on a legal and formal ground you do not have right to call yourself " Nepali". It is different thing if you feel yourself very much nepali within yourself,  which you do, and many Nepalese who accepted US citizenship also feel the same way. And nor you should try to defend your act just because you feel very much Nepali inside. This is where your argument I find little paradoxical. You can still contribute to the development of country-at the same time your right as a Nepali is now limited-for example if you are capable person getting into politics or capable of holding influencing position , you will not have that right. You can not represent Nepal (on a legal ground) formally.

We can go on and on have subjective arguments, but from objective point of view, it was your choice to have US citizenship (meaning not be legal Nepali). If you have some sort guilt or remorse, and you are not yourself convinced about your action then this thing might  hunt you  again and again. If you are convinced, there is no reason you should try to convince other by words saying that you are very much Nepali within yourself, rather your action should be directed towards that direction.

Couple of example, there are so much of media uproar about Udit Narayan about his citizenship, and Udit still carries Nepali passport. I do not know, how much he is really nepali or does he represent Nepali in Bombay- let pudit to decide. At the sometime, Lila Bdr. Chettri, Indra Bdr. Rai, Parijat, Ranjit Gajmer, Gopal Yonjen were not born Nepali, but we so much appreciate their contribution in Literary fields. I do not think Lila Bdr Chettri, Indra Bdr rai gave of their indian citizenship, yet their contribution on Nepali literature so huge.

While citizenship should not be only a parameter to measure whether that person is nepali or not, at the same time, if you have given up your Nepali citizenship to have US citizenship, regardless of  many practical reasons, on a moral ground you should not claim yourself being a true Nepali. Tomorrow, if you and your kin will make any contribution to Nepal, Nepali will definitely accolade that. If possible, think that way and be positive.

With that said, I would say take it easy, this issue about convincing yourself not asking opinion of others.

Kanchu, I bet there is a difference between loving your heritage versus loosing it, NOW what makes us Nepali? we all have fond memories of Nepal and cling to it till we die. Nepalese who change their citizenship  Here will always be Nepalese Americans. So will it apply for all those who gave up their citizenship and joined other countries . Nepal and Nepalese around the world will forever mention their home country when asked what ASIAN are you? Yes they are technically not Nepali but changing nationality doesn't change looks, skin and hair color, accent and habits etc etc, they will forever eat daal bhat tarkari, will celebrate festivals and more Important Those Nepalese who has converted their citizenship around the world has their entire family relatives, friends and their memories BACK IN NEPAL that will hold them connected to Nepal for ever. YES they will not be of "NEPALI CITIZEN" but they are Nepali or technically correct "Nepali origin".

 I agree with kanchu's last three lines. I think if you contribute and give back to the country, I think that will make you more Nepali!

However, in my personal opinion, if you already have US citizenship, it would be better for you to say  " Hey I am a proud American" than whining like" hey I am still Nepali, trust me, I have  still Nepali"..

नेपालीमा एउटा उखान छ " पानी माथि ओभानो हुने कोसिश "। माफ गर्नुहोला , Suman को  कुरा यस्तै हो जस्तो लाग्यो।

पछील्लोपटक Boston मा भएको ANA सम्मेलनमा नारायण श्रेष्ठको साझा सवाल कार्यक्रममा प्रतिभा पलायन सम्बन्धी बिषयमा सहभागीहरु बिच बिचारको घम्साघम्सी चलिरहेको थियो। म दर्शक दिर्घाको पछील्लो सिटमा बसेर कार्यक्रम हेरिरहेको थिए। कार्यक्रममा महाविर पुन जस्ता विदेशबाट ज्ञान हासिल गरी देशलाई प्रविधिमा उभो लगाउन प्रयत्नरत व्यक्तिहरु पनि उपस्थित थिए भने उत्तमबाबु श्रेष्ठ जस्ता विदेशमै बसेर पनि देशलाई योगदान गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने तर्क गर्ने व्यक्तिहरु पनि थिए। देश चलाऊने ठेक्का लिएका पार्टी र नेताहरुलाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्नेमा चाँही सिपी मैनाली थिए। कार्यक्रममा उपस्थित दर्शकहरुको सिधा निशाना अमेरिकामा बसोबास गरेका बुद्दिजिवीहरुमाथि थियो "तपाईहरु किन अनेक बहाना गर्नुहुन्छ, देशमा गएर किन केही गर्नु हुन्न? खै त महाविर पुन जस्ता व्यक्तिहरुले त त्यस्तो बिषम परिस्थितीमा गएर मजाले काम गरिरहनु भएको छ।" डा. शिव गौतम चाँही नेपाल गएर आफूले यहाँ गरिरहेको अध्ययन अनुसन्धान जस्तो केही पनि गर्न नसकिने स्थिती रहेको भन्दै आफ्नो बचाव गरिरहनु भएको थियो। यस्तैमा अरु केही बुद्दिजिवीहरु चाँही कमरेड सिपी मैनाली माथि तिमीहरुले देशको स्थिती बिगारेकोले देशमा फर्कन नसकिएको भन्दै खनिएका थिए।

सुमन खरेल जि तपाईंले विदेशी नागरिकता लिए पछि पक्का पनि कानूनी रुपले तपाईंले आफूलाई नेपाली नागरिक भन्ने अधिकार रहँदैन। हुनत NRN लाई दोहोरो नागरिकता दिने भन्ने छ क्या रे! तर पनि सामान्यतया तपाईंले आफूले जुन देशको नगरिकता लिनु भयो आफूलाई त्यही देशको नागरिक भन्नु पर्ने हुन्छ। तर तपाईंले जे गरे पनि आफूलाई नेपाली मूलको हुँ भन्नबाट कहिले छुट्कारा पाउनुहुन्न। यदी तपाईंको प्रश्न कानूनी होइन भने चाँही तपाईंले अर्को देशको नागरिकता लिनुहोस् अथवा चन्द्रमाको, तपाईं कत्तिको नेपाली हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरा तपाईंले नेपाललाई दिने योगदानमा भर पर्छ तपाईंको नागरिकतामा होइन। नेपालमा बसेर क्रान्तिकारी, सुधारवादी, राष्ट्रवादी भनेर भाषण गर्ने तर देश र जनताको सम्पतीमा मोज गर्ने नेताहरु, घुस्याहा कर्मचारीहरु र काला बजारियाहरु नागरिकताको आधारमा त नेपाली होलान् तर वास्तविकतामा भन्ने हो भने तिनिहरुले देशलाई धमिराले जस्तै भित्र भित्रै खोक्रो बनाइसके। तिनिहरुले आफूलाई नेपाली हौ भनेर के गर्व गर्ने? यिनीहरु त नेपाललाई खत्तम बनाउने जिम्मेवार पहिलो थरी धमिरा हुन्।  

देशलाई खोक्रो बनाउने दोस्रो थरी धमिरा भनेको चाँही विदेशमा आउँदा समेत देशबाट तलब भत्ता खाइरहने तर आफ्नो तालिम र अध्ययन सकाएर कहिले देश नफर्कने र उल्टो देश र सरकारलाई गाली गर्ने कर्मचारीहरु र देशमा सरकारी छात्रव्रितीमा पाएर डाक्टरी र ईन्जिनियरिङ पढ्ने अनि विदेशमा आएर आफ्नो छुट्टी मनाउन मात्र नेपाल फर्किने ती डाक्टर र ईन्जिनियरहरु हुन्। शायद तपाईं यो समूहमा पर्नुहुन्न होला। यदी पर्नुहुन्छ भने तपाईंले विदेशको नागरिकता लिए पनि नलिए पनि तपाईं पनि देशलाई खोक्रो पार्ने धमिरै हो।

बिदेशी नागरिकता लिनु तपाईंको लागि महत्वपूर्ण हुनसक्छ तर यदी तपाईं दोस्रो थरी धमिरा हुनुहुन्न भने नेपाल र नेपालीको लागि महत्वपूर्ण कुरा यो होइन। महत्वपूर्ण कुरा यो हो तपाईंले नेपाल र नेपालीको लागि कस्तो योगदान दिनुहुन्छ। यसको लागि तपाईं देशमा पूँजी र प्रविधी पठाएर सहयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। विदेशको नेपालप्रती रुचीलाई जगाएर नेपाललाई सहयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। नेपालीहरुको लागि विदेशमा अवसरको खोजी गरेर सहयोग गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ। हजारवटा बाटाहरु छन्, नेपाली हुन नेपालमै बस्नु पर्छ भन्ने केही छैन; सबै महाविर पुन र सन्दुक रुइत नै हुनुपर्छ भन्ने केही जरुरी छैन र हुन पनि सक्दैनन्। यदी नेपाल रुँदा तपाईंलाई दुख्छ भने तपाईं नेपाली हो, यदी एउटा गरिव नेपालीको अनुहार देख्दा तपाइलाई अलिकती पनि दया जाग्छ भन्ने तपाईं नेपाली हो।

विदेशमा बसेर पनि आफ्ना सन्तानलाई फरर नेपाली बोल्ने बनाउनु, दशै तिहार तिज जस्ता चाडहरु दौरासुरुवालमा ठाँटिएर मनाउनु, यस्ता कुराहरुले निश्चय पनि तपाईंलाई सांस्कृतिक रुपले त नेपाली बनाउँला। तर यदी तपाईं आफूलाई साँचो नेपाली भनाउन चाहनुहुन्छ भने नेपाललाई तपाईंबाट चाहिएको यतिमात्र होइन।                    
 

Thank you for your comment, Srijana. My honest hope is, perhaps, my kids will somehow draw from their Nepalese heritage to contribute to the rich ethnic diversity of this country.
 

I'm sorry, I'm not clear about your response. If you mean, pursuit of happiness is fundamental human right, I agree with you.

Thank you for your beautiful response. I really appreciate your sincerinty in your expression.

Thank you for your honest commentary, Shantipriya.

 I am proud to be an American, and not at the least bit, regretful of my achievements. I am also proud of my educational accomplishments and would be very delighted to use my skills to wherever it is most needed. After all, championing the American spirit means being compassionate to the ones that need help. Nepal has the second largest water resource in the world, and yet less than 40 per cent of the people have access to electricity. As an electrical engineer, I really hope I can be a part of a landscape that changes this unfortunate reality, someday.

I'm frequently mistaken as that Suman Kharel. To your disappointment, I'm not him. lol. Thank you for your beautiful commentary.

nothing for my comment suman ji?? lol

Tiger Ji,

"ताक परे तिवारी नत्र गोतामे"

Many people you mentioned meets the same criteria. Those who have "Bak patuta'  try to justify that they are right no matter what the ground  reality is.

what does this mean? srijina ji? taak paare tiwaari natra gotame? and whats "Bak Patuta".

Baje Ji,

When I was kid,  my grandma taught me this phrase. I just did 'yahoo search". The explanation goes like this: Tak pare Tiwari natra gotame means changing personal attitude according to the situation.

"Bak patuta" - speak fluently.

Oh ok, Thanks for the translation. Nepali ma pani katti words kasto naya lagne .