Election

When Qatar hosts World Cup 2022, we are certain to be served sights of magnificent stadiums. The grand stadiums will be yet another testament to human feat. At this time Qataris will claim the credit. They will say, “Can you see what we are capable of?” And the world will nod in amazement, wide-eyed, mouth open and gasping. Young men will descend to the ground and play their best to the rhythm of the heart of people of their countries and supporters. Millions of people will watch this sport, glued to TV, hands sweaty, in trepidation, excitement, complete devastation or anticipation. The capability of this sport to stoke the emotions of countless souls across countries, race, religion and sex is simply sublime; there is nothing like that.

If I happen to watch this World Cup, I know, I will not be able to savor this sublime event because the stadiums will haunt me. These stadiums are tombstones of migrant workers who died working with extreme risks to erect these magnanimous structures. A The Guardian article says that the construction work will leave nearly 4000 migrant workers dead by the time these structures are completed. These are probably more number of people than if you count the shoppers walking the streets stretching from Nepal Airlines Corporation through New Road and passing through Asan all the way to Jamal on a busy Dashain shopping day. Majority of these are Nepali workers trying to escape the desperation of their poverty and social woes and trying to make a living. I know many from my own village. Their ghosts will hover around these tombstones of stadiums, I am sure, if I watch the World Cup 2022. 

Nepal is heading into another constituent assembly election. It is a fact: there is no real ecstasy on the ground. Our oligarchs have cherry-picked candidates for election, made a complex list of candidates, and shoved it down to us to make a choice. Now there is a talk of "manifestos" coming out of different political parties. We know that they mean nothing. Our oligarchs will write anything because they know they don't have to stick to their words. When you are beyond lies and shame, this petty exercise of words is meaningless. So we are hearing extraordiary declarations like double digit growth in 5 years, free health care to all. These declarations will be used for debates and discussions and perhaps that's pretty much the whole utility of these manifestos; we won't bank our bucks for their implementation. 

Yet, we will have to make our choice. However imperfect and rotten, this is our opportunity to express our opinion. Obviously everyone will have their own reasons for their choices. I am narrowing down on my own. And the stadiums of Qatar crystallize my predeliction. I will not be fooled by the lofty promises of "Bikas" and "Switzerland" if the cost is pulverized vulnerable human souls, as if they were nothing in the grand scheme of things. My questions would be: 

- Will you use violence to achieve something?

- Will you restrict basic freedoms of dignified citizens in the name of development?

- Will you treat the more vulnerable amongst us with dignity?

- Will you try to uphold fairness and justice?

- Will you be able to listen?

- Are you capable of kindness and empathy?

We know we can not rely on what answers they might give to these questions: their words are meaningless. We will have to watch their history, body language and make an imperfect choice. But I am up for it.