Dictionaries:

Nepali-English (pdf)

Nepali-German (pdf)

Schmidt's dictionary of modern Nepali

Samakalin Nepali Shabdakosh

Sherpa-English (pdf)

Sherpa-French (pdf)

Sherpa-German (pdf)

German Sherpa (pdf)

Indonesian-German (pdf)

Italian-German (pdf)

French-German (pdf

Updated evaluations on crisis solution can be found here. Evaluations on other topics can be accessed through the headwords above.

Incompetent politicians,
you have
  10 days
to conclude peace and constitution!!!

Continued crisis: Despite growing demands for a consensus government, the leaders of the political parties have once again not been able to enter into such consensus. Peace and constitution can only be reached if the four big power groups (UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF work together. Other fundamental truths are that peace and constitution are only possible in cooperation with and participation of the UCPN-M. The third truth is that the unavoidable consensus government can only be led by the far strongest political party, i.e. the UCPN-M. NC and CPN-UML, that together have less MPs than the UCPN-M alone, must understand that they do not have any democratic legitimacy to lay claim to leadership within a consensus government. Besides, especially the NC with its highest responsibility for the failure of the 1990 political system is not qualified to lead the country into a new era.

On August 28, 2011, UCPN-M's vice president, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, has been elected the new Prime Minister of a majority government that will be led by the UCPN-M. Bhattarai's election at the first ballot was possible because of it was supported by the 71 MPs of the UDMF on the basis of a four point agreement. Baburam Bhattarai originally had the intention to lead a consensus government. Now, it's up to NC and CPN-UML to join his government and make it a consensus one. It's a pity that the NC, the greatest veto player in the peace and renewal process, has already rejected its cooperation once again.

The term of the CA has been extended for a third time on August 29, 2011, this time for a period of three months once again. The UCPN-M has just presented a resonable roadmap to conclude the peace process and to finalize the new constitution. It can be the basis for concluding discussions within a cosensus govenrment and, especially, within the Constituent Assembly. Hopefully, the NC will awake and understand that this old political party with its great tradition is on the best way to become responsible for the country's greatest political disaster.

There have been signs in this direction in recent weeks. On November 1, 2011, the the three big parties and the Madhesi alliance finally laid the foundation for the last step of the peace process by concluding a seven point agreement on the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoists' former PLA.

On 22 November 2011, the parties agreed on an eight-member State Restructuring Commission will work out the future federal model of the country. The members are: Stella Tamang, Malla K. Sundar, Krishna Hacchethu, Surendra Mahato, Yogendra Jha, Sarbaraj Khadka, Ramesh Dhungel and Sabitra Gurung. Later, Madan Pariyar has been added as chair person and representative of the Dalits.

On 31 January 2012, a divided SRC presented two different proposals for state restructuring. The majority of the SRC members proposed eleven federal provinces, predominantly based on ethnicity and region. The remaining three SRC members, all close to NC and CPN-UML, rejected the ethnic connetivity and proposed six federal provinces that remember the existing five development regions which were once introduced bythe royal Panchayat system to safeguard the Hindu state and the domination of the so-called upper Hindu castes.

On 29 November 2011, the term of the CA has been extended for another six months. The Supreme Court has already decided that further extensions are not possible. This puts the party politicians under high pressure and this is good so. They must be aware that Nepal will face a disaster if the new constitution is not finished until 27 May 2012. Nevertheless, the prospects are worstening day by day in mid March 2012. It's time for the Nepali people to understand that this generation of party politicians will never bring peace and a new constitution that is based on the rule of law, justice and inclusion.

On 11 April 2012, the PLA was integrated into the NA, thus ending the time of two parallel armies.

On 4 May 2012, a deal was made between the four leading party camps. On demand of NC und UML, the government was replaced by a new one. Baburam Bhattarai remained PM. NC and UML promised to be part of the new government to make it a consensus government. But, strangely enough, it was agreed that this new government would have to resign immediately before the promulgation of the new constiutution, i.e. within the next three weeks. Then, another new government will have to be formed under a PM from the NC.

In other words: The power greed of the party politicians, especially those from the NC, has been carried so far that the timely conclusion of the new constitution may fail now. Besides, even the first part of the agreement has proved to be a farce. The UML has already rejected to join the new Bhattarai government while the NC is once again distorted between the camps of their disunited leaders. The continued infighting within the Maoist camp aggravates the situation further.

Links on the crisis situation:

17/05/2012: Life in Tarai comes to a grinding halt (ht), Cops, locals clash (ht), Protesting Tharu Struggle Committee forms talks team (nn), Deal on 11 states slammed (ht), Police intervene in Janajati protest, scores injured (rep), Far-west bandh ends (ht), Bahun-Chhetris enforce Nepal Bandh again protesting against federalism based on identity (nn), UDMF leaders feel betrayed: Madhesi ministers in dilemma over quitting, by Ram Kumar Kamat (ht), UDMF divided over quitting govt, by Gani Ansari (rep), Women take to street for equal rights (rep), Parties squabble over President, PM’s powers, by Prakash Acharya (ht), Focus now on power division between Prez, PM, by Thira L. Bhusal (rep) [This will be absolutely unimportant if you don't solve the issue of ethnic and gender inclusion!!], Two of a kind: Race for presidency, by Biswas Baral (rep), Maoist meet backsdeal on statute (ht) [???], Pro-ethno-federalism UML MPs to face action (ht) [Long live Bahunbad!!!], State restructuring: Ethnic considerations, by Homraj Acharya (ht)

see more links

(See full calendar with festivals)

Links:

National anthem of Nepal

Sherwa mi, website on the Sherpas of Nepal [under reconstruction; includes now several films]

German-Nepal Friendship Association website

Nepal democracy: Gateway to Nepali politics

Centre for Constitutional Dialogue (CCD)

Additional papers on crisis solution

Heidelberg Papers in South Asian and Comparative Politics (HPSACP)

Nepalprojekt der  Helene-Lange-Schule, Wiesbaden