Nepal, April 4 -- The opening session of the new Parliament this past Wednesday will be remembered for many reasons. The body that represents Nepal's sovereignty had to meet in what resembled a godown. Looking like school kids, the MPs were seated in rows of four. Instead of the staid of old, Prime Minister Balendra Shah came clad in a jacket thrown over what looked like a T-shirt or a sweatshirt. Not far from him sat the former Maoist, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, rather subdued, the truth perhaps having finally dawned on him that he was well and truly out of power.

The proceedings were also noteworthy for the social identity of those who spoke. Among the speakers yesterday were a Rai (Harka Sampang), a Limbu (Bhisma Raj Angdembe), thr...