Nepal, May 12 -- Krishna Khanal speaking at the launch of Narahari Acharya's Jail Diary in Kathmandu last week lashed out at the amnesia of Nepali political practice and politicians. A well-known academician and professor of political science, Khanal is also known as a candid and free commentator on social issues. What struck me most was his critical interpretation of the hubris that dominates Nepali politics and the karma of the practitioners. He was hinting at the phenomenon of short memory that is haunting Nepali politics and politicians, the effect of which can be seen in the present confusions that we are beginning to feel with some degree of alarm.

Amnesia occurs either naturally in the lives of individuals, and is related to traum...