Obama charms and inspires Nepali journalists

Nepali journalist Deepak Adhikari got a surprise this week. He's in the US on secondment to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, on a break from writing for the Nepal Weekly. When he heard that Senator Obama would be passing through the area, he expected a distant glance at most, but instead Barack dropped by the office and met all of the journalists:

"I was busy working on my training plan which is due Wednesday. I saw colleagues running toward the hallway saying "Obama is meeting personally everyone in the newsroom". For a moment, I thought of staying in my desk. But, as eveyone flocked to the place where Obama was, I could not resist. He was shaking hands and moving toward where I was. As he approached me, I introduced myself. I said: I'm from Nepal. He said: Oh, it's a beautiful country. I said: Nice to meet you. He said: Nice to meet you too. Then, he moved ahead. Now almost every one in the newsroom is talking about how he looked like, how his handshake was etc. Comments vary from his handshake being soft to he looking young. To me he appeared a guy-next-door, attending to everyone. Back home, politicians are a different tribe; they don't relate to the people. They think that they are superior to the people who elect them. I think part of the reason many of prominent leaders lost the recent election is they are not attached to the common people the way Obama is."

Deepak's journalist friend Dinesh Wagle, back in Kathmandu, has also been blogging about the US elections because: "Even in these chilly days, we drink Coca Cola... I am typing these lines on MS Word... Nine out of 13 tabs on [my] Firefox... display American websites. A paper lies on the floor on my left side that’s known around the world as the New York Times... America, America everywhere... Tired of reading about foreign interference in Nepali politics? Watch out: I will be interfering in the American politics!" Although initially favouring Clinton, he eventually decided to endorse Obama shortly before Super Tuesday because: "What American needs is freshness, cool ideas, and plans that can can collectively inspire the rest of the world."

Another Nepali, Ayusha Nirola, who edits "Today's Youth Asia", wants Nepali politicians to emulate Obama's positivity: "I hope that the upcoming generation of young leaders look at Obama as an example of an extraordinary leader. Nepalese politicians need to be clear about what they are fighting for and what changes that they want to make and how to get there. At a time when every politician seems to be pointing their fingers at each other, to do a positive campaign would mean to bring about a shift in Nepal’s political dynamics. If the leader is determined to bring about a positive change not by doing dirty politics, then this will ultimately shift his attention to the his people and the country and focus on how to improve our Education, Health system and keep the economy growing. YES WE CAN (change the face of NEPAL for BETTER)." A comment to this post (by Mohana) captures the sentiment which has inspired The World Wants Obama Coalition: "Obama is an inspiration not only to Americans but people aroung the globe. He truly exhibits the qualities of a great leader and this is what America and the world needs...a leader and not a politician."