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Gagan Thapa In 1990 I got my first taste of political activism participating in street protests. Still in grade nine, I wasn't politically inclined. We did burn an effigy of the Panchayat era but it was all youthful vigour, not real political interest. Has been member, secretary and president of Free Student Union; president of Kathmandu Nepal Student Union (NSU); vice-president, general secretary of NSU Major political influences are Nelson Mandela and BP Koirala, they had vision and leadership qualities In Hanuman Dhoka During my recent arrest (third time there out of six arrests), I read Nelson Mandela's Long Walk to Freedom.

On being called a Prisoner of Conscience and a political youth icon? After February First, I'm proud to have risked my life for what I believe in. But I'm not alone, there are many young people like me, equally vocal and committed. I'm not an icon of any sort. I just received better education.

What about the violence on the streets, closing down of colleges and schools? Our ways of staging protests never changed even after 1990. I admit I am one of them, I've realised that we need new ways of protesting. We must not think that all institutions must shut down just because we issue a press release. But it's got to the point where no one seems to listen unless you use violence.

Why didn't you oppose the Maoist targeting of educational institutions? After 1990, we did not interfere in schools. We were active only in colleges and as a union, concentrated on winning over people through elections. The Maoist Student Union was a minority. But I admit we should have done more to educate the people about democracy.

You have had differences with your party's leadership, and Girija P Koirala recently accused you of being a royalist. Do you still agree with NC? To leave the party is not the answer, we need to make it stronger. I joined Nepali Congress because I believed in its ideology.

I still do, I just don't agree with the leadership. They did not adhere to the party's belief when in power and their weaknesses led to the isolation of Kathmandu from the rest of Nepal. However, a decade of democracy ushered in more development than the 230 years under monarchy. What we are fighting for is not the 1990 ill-governed democracy but a participation of the people. Policies for Humla should be made by Humla not Kathmandu. I believe in democracy but you can't associate the idea with the faces of leading politicians. You can't say you want freedom without wanting democracy. Democracy is life values, it cannot guarantee equal opportunity but it can guarantee equal conditions.

For many Nepalis, politics is synonymous to corruption. What do you have to say to them? Corruption has always existed, within and without politics. It was only after 1990 that it became transparent as people began to grow curious about those in power. The media participated. The Maoist and the government say that the decade of democracy was corrupt but it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Disliking politics is not the answer. Good people must enter politics or be governed by the bad. Think: are we worthy of ruling ourselves? If yes, stand up. If not, somebody else will rule you.