Citizen journalists should keep standing for Dipak Jaisis of this world

Did you watch Durga Prasad Timsina aka Dipak Jaisi returning home with his kin after his 40-year imprisonment in India on what, most probably, is a fabricated murder charge?

Did you see Dipak reuniting with his ancient-looking, grief-stricken-yet-trying-to-be-happy mother. Did you see her grinning?

Were you not moved to tears on watching a relatively happy part of Dipak’s life?

Or you do not know that Durga aka Dipak Jaisi even exists?

Alright. You have the liberty to forget him, to not know that Dipak Jaisi exists. After all, journeys/ordeals of lesser mortals like Dipak Jaisi are meant to be forgotten, no? Otherwise, the annals of history will get heavier and heavier with long stories of suffering in silence and denial of justice.

If the so-called beacon of democracy, the Indian state, can forget the alien called Dipak Jaisi for 40 long years after condemning him to prison, why can’t you?

If the so-called beacon of democracy, the Indian state, the Indian judiciary can forget the alien called Dipak Jaisi for 40 long years after condemning him to prison on the charge of murdering Janu Gurung, wife of Nain Ghale of Darjeeling in the year 1981, why can’t you?

You of course have the liberty to forget, to not give it a damn. If the Nepali state can easily forget/ignore/ that a being called Durga Prasad Timsina aka Dipak Jaisi had gone missing from his hometown, Lumbak of Ilam district, for decades ago, why can’t you? If the Nepali state can remain in deep slumber when the Indian criminal justice system was transferring Dipak from one cell to another, from Darjeeling to Alipur to the Kolkata-based Dumdum Central Correctional Home after exacting ‘confession’ of the crime that he did not commit, through torture, why can’t you?

Recent news reports, quoting Dipak’s cousin brother Prakash Chandra Timsina, have pointed that the Nepali state had forgotten one more thing. They have pointed that Nepali Consulate in Kolkata had forgotten its promise to pay for Dipak’s repatriation.

In a similar manner, it is very likely to forget its pledge – to approach Indian authorities and demand compensation for the injustice that Dipak has suffered. Of course, there can be no true compensation for a life wasted like that, but even making the Indian strain of democracy eat the humble pie in this case will do democracy and human rights no harm. On the contrary, it will make the Indian state take human rights of aliens more seriously.

Here, it will also be worthwhile to remember how vigorously India protects its workers based abroad.

Here, it will also be worthwhile to remember how vigorously India protects its workers based abroad. Our own good for nothings in the government and in the opposition would do well to think how difficult it would have been for them if an Indian national living in Nepal had faced a similar ordeal.

The Province 1 government has recently made a pledge. It has promised to foot the cost of Dipak’s medical treatment. But who knows? It too may choose to forget the promise, given its ‘heavy workload’.

We will keep retelling this story, keep updating you on the developments and keep seeking accountability as part of our small efforts towards the protection of core interests of lesser mortals like Dipak Jaisi

Of course, forgetting Durga Prasad Timsina aka Dipak Jaisi is in the best interest of India, for this inconvenient truth is one of the largest blots on the democratic credentials of Indian strain of democracy. Retelling of this story and seeking compensation for the injustices suffered may not be to the liking of a lackey regime and political parties of different shades, for obvious reasons. For them, standing for Dipak may mean scholarship cuts for their kith and kin, no more free medical treatment and even removal from positions of power.

After all, that is what citizen journalism is all about, no? What say you, big media?

But we will keep retelling this story, keep updating you on the developments and keep seeking accountability as part of our small efforts towards the protection of core interests of lesser mortals like Dipak Jaisi, you and me.

After all, that is what citizen journalism is all about, no? What say you, big media?

Links: https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepali-man-released-on-bail-after-40-years-in-indian-prison/

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/out-of-jail-after-41-years-62-year-old-nepal-man-to-head-home-with-brother/articleshow/81608808.cms

https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/after-spending-40-years-in-indian-jail-durga-timsina-to-receive-free-treatment

https://www.ifri.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/levaillant_diplomacy_diaspora_management_2017.pdf

https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/01/29/how-to-protect-indias-invisible-migrant-workers/

https://youtu.be/Ga55Sg-gOOU