This is the country of rumors: late poet Bhupi Sherchan once wrote. If he had been living in this era, he would have probably written an epic instead of a short poem on the topic. Everyday, Nepalis hear at least one new rumor. This fortnight the rumor that was heard around the city was that the state will ban wearing jeans trousers by girls and cut short the long hairs of the boys from new year 2062 BS. (once, a few years ago, some crazy brains came up with the idea and police were seen roaming with scissors on their hand to cut shorts long hairs). So there were reasons behind many people thought the rumor might be true. But it wasn’t. Home Ministry today issued a notice saying it had no such plans.
A news in the state-owned National New Agency (RSS) today stated that the Home MInistry had said rumors about the control in dresses and amendment in Civil Service Act were not true. It added such rumors were intentionally spread.
Intentionally or not, this rumor will now be taken as a rumor and people will laugh at it. But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be more rumors – there are plenty to come – I am sure. I remember once my editor, Prateek Pradhan started a column called Rumour City (The Kathmandu Post then used to follow British English) which he planned to write about rumors, of course, mostly political ones. He soon decided to stop writing, I don’t know why, but that stoppage was not because of the lack of rumors.
I thing UWB! should start a column with the same name. Afterall, we are living in the country of rumors.
