He was telling me to convince, 'I have to give time for the interview. Information, my knowledge should also be given. You get paid for doing this interview, why shouldn't I? Not only you, now I am in charge of interviews with all the big media.
"King's rank is not equal to himIt came, it was taken, it was taken, the date is reached, it does not stop.
Poet Shiromani Lekhnath Paudel's works are timeless. Among them, ``Kalamahima'' occasionally comes to mind. The news of the death of left-wing leader and progressive writer Pradeep Nepal has once again reminded us of 'Kalamahima'.
For a few years he was like 'anonymous' due to illness. There was a time when Pradeep was probably the most active (active) leader of Nepal CPN-UML. He used to say, 'The pressure of work has reduced to 24 hours.' His statement that
has reduced to 24 hours daily was symbolic. But, as his contemporaries know, in the fifties he spent 14/15 hours a day on party work. He used to spend most of his time in the grand red house (party office is no more) in Balkhu. If he was not found in Balkhu, he was in the office of the parliamentary party at Singhdarbar. Most of them were found in Balkhu.
Pradeep Nepal was a journalist-friendly leader. Being in charge of the publicity department, being a writer and doing mission journalism, he had a close relationship with most of the journalists. Therefore, it was natural to meet him many times. One meeting while working at Nepal Magazine of Kantipur Publications was unforgettable. With the news of his death, the incident came fresh.
In the year 2057, it was only a few months after the publication of the Nepal National Fortnightly of Kantipur Publications. One day, the founding editor Vijay Kumar Pandey said, "Come and interview Pradeep Nepal." I said 'yes' to Balkhu. Coincidentally, we met at the Nepal office. 'I had to interview you in the magazine for the next issue' I said .
At that time, we reporters wanted to visit the leader's house and party office with a hand recorder that could insert a small cassette. I was taking out the recorder, Nepal said "Stop it for a moment". I will give an interview but not for free. If you take an interview with me, there will be a fee', he added .
I was speechless for a moment when the leader, who was meeting regularly, refused to give an interview. I mean seriously, I didn't get teased . I retorted, 'How can a normal reporter pay for an interview . From where to pay the fee?'
'Is it asked of you? He said to Kantipur Publications, trying to convince me, he said, "I have to give time for the interview." Notice, my scholarship should also be given . You'll get paid for doing this interview, why shouldn't I? Not only you, now I charge interviews with all major media.'
After the hockey leader said this, there was no point in answering more questions. After coming to the office, Vijay said to sir, "You have to interview another UML leader this time." Pradeep Nepal asked for the interview fee.'
'Where to get someone else's, bring Pradeep from Nepal, even if you pay the fee, how much will it cost?' Vijay sir started fighting. Pradeep Nepal did not set the fee just like that, I answered all the questions he had. Vijay sir immediately called the administration branch and arranged the fee . In Kantipur at that time Kedar Shrestha was in administration.
He put 1000 in an envelope and the next day he went to interview Pradeep Nepal again. He brought an interview by paying a fee of 1000. Especially since it is an 'exclusive content', he did not have to pay the fee. It was a regular type of talk focused on contemporary politics. However, this reference to having to pay a fee for interviews was new in Nepali media practice.
Western media refer to the practice of paying fees for interviews or other information as 'checkbook journalism'. Practices in those media include paying fees for somewhat sensational content.
'Checkbook Journalism' is considered a controversial practice as it can weaken editorial freedom and stifle the voice of those who cannot pay fees. However, fee-paying media houses are found to pay fees when receiving sensational news, interviews and confidential information.
Paying a fee of 1,000 to Pradeep Nepal and taking an interview with Nepal was not known whether it was 'checkbook journalism' or not. However, this context clearly shows that Pradeep Nepal was a leader who thought differently and practiced new practices. He had a passion for technology. At the time he was active, technology was not as advanced as it is now. However, at that time, he was considered as a leader who used mobile phones, used computers, and used e-mails.
After his death, there is a rush of those who are remembered and paying tribute to Nepal by adding many adjectives. I think that he was a true leader of a thriving UML. When Pradeep Nepal was in political heyday, UML was not as inactive as it is now, it was emerging as a prosperous party . After democracy came in 2046, CPN-UML was born, Malay and Marxist together.
Nepal did underground politics against panchayat autocracy, Male became the founder of the formation . One phase of his politics was the struggle against Panchayat-era autocracy. After coming into open politics, in the first general election, UML emerged as a strong opposition under the leadership of leaders like Madan Bhandari and Manmohan Adhikari.
Even after the mysterious death of Madan Bhandari, this party grew stronger. After the death of Bhandari, the UML, which moved forward with the determination to 'turn mourning into power', emerged as a strong alternative.
When this party got the taste of power and in the days that followed, there is a different story of the corruption and indolence in it . However, in the early days of parliamentary practice after 2046, UML had a different identity. The issue of nationalism, democracy and people's livelihood used to hang in the mouth of the leaders of this party.
Most of the leaders were of the same age group of around forty/fifties . There was a sense of collective leadership. In the same defeat, Pradeep Nepal was also . If Nepal, who is considered to be an expert in mobilizing party workers, was considered influential within the UML at that time, analysts would give him the title of 'Kingmaker'.
The same "Kingmaker Comrade" is no longer physically present. Heartfelt tribute to Pradeep Nepal aka Sanjay Thapa who remains 'alive' among the readers of progressive literature!
