Interaction with Hiranya Lal Shrestha at Hiroshima

Hiroshima – Hiranya Lal Shrestha, a noted world affairs scholar, Vice-Chariman of the Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Committee of Nepal, former Ambassador of Nepal to Russia, MP and chair of the parliamentary Human Rights and Foreign Affairs Committee, arrived in Hiroshima Sunday to present a paper from the Nepalese perspective at “2009 World Conference against A & H Bombs”. Professor Keshav Lall Maharjan of Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation (IDEC), Hiroshima University organized an Interaction Program over lunch meeting in his honor at Nepali restaurant, Namaste amidst a dozen over Nepalese participants on a short notice. Welcoming the guest, Professor Maharjan highlighted some of the political and social activities of the visiting scholar.

Visiting scholar Vice Chairman of the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Committee, Nepal in an interaction at Hirsoshima on August 2, 2009

In the interaction, former Ambassador Shrestha enlightened the resident Nepalese in Hiroshima with his involvement in civil initiative/movement for dual citizenship for NRNs and equal pension to Ex-Gurkha army. He emphasized the need of retaining the manpower in Nepal by checking the brain drain and also of the civil role for transformation of peace from peace management to peace building in Nepal and regional peace in South Asia. He opined that both the armies, NA and PLA should be rightly managed and cross border infiltration should be checked. He added that amicable solution with mutual confidence is needed to solve the Bhutanese refuge issue.

Prof. Keshav Lall Maharjan welcoming the visiting scholar Hiranya Lal Shrestha

Pointing at the fact that three neighbors of Nepal are nuclear, Nepal will also be bearing severe consequences of any action or accident, hence should not only advocate and campaign for denuclearization, which is of course the must first step, but also build social and physical bases to increase the ability to protect ourselves in such circumstances. Any platform built in this direction should create “equal Aash (hope) to all, Trash (fear) to none” and make sure that some are not simply more equal than others. He said Buddhism has clues to this issue. Hence, he has been attracted to learn Buddhism recently. One time journalist and author of over dozens of books on world affairs and journalism is currently involved in studying Buddhalogy, shared several aspects of Buddhism. Further, for any viable clue regarding the cross border and cross cultural issues, “rule of the game is to abide by the law of the land” said the veteran politician well versed in the world affairs and international relations.

Nepalese resident in Hiroshima with the visiting scholar, former Ambassador to Russia, Hiranya Lal Shrestha

The program ended with concluding remarks by Parameshwor Karki, and note of Thanks by Dr. Puspa Raj Paudel and lasted for about four hours, much longer than scheduled. Niraj Prakash Joshi of the IDEC conducted the program.

As Nepal’s delegate to the World Conference against A & H Bombs, Mr. Shrestha will be in Hiroshima till 6th and Nagasaki till 9th August. He is scheduled to visit Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tokyo and other important cities before he leaves for Korea on 15th this month. During his stay in Japan, he can be contacted through 090-2905-0770 until the 14th.

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