मतपत्र र ऐना

निर्वाचन आउँदा देश एउटा ऐना अगाडि उभिन्छ। त्यो ऐनामा नेतामात्र होइन, मतदाता पनि देखिन्छन्। विशेषगरी युवा—जसको हातमा मतपत्र छ, तर आँखामा अझै प्रश्न छ।

मतपत्र एउटा कागज जस्तो देखिए पनि वास्तवमा त्यो बीउ हो। आज रोपिएको बीउ भोलि वृक्ष बन्छ—छायाँ दिने कि काँडा उमार्ने, त्यो छनोट रोप्ने हातमै हुन्छ। वर्षौँदेखि हामीले बानीले बीउ रोप्यौँ, नामले रोप्यौँ, वंशले रोप्यौँ। फल कस्तो आयो, त्यो सबैले देखेका छौँ।

पार्टी एउटा झण्डा हो, तर झण्डाले बाटो देखाउँदैन। बाटो देखाउने काम दिशा सूचकको हो—त्यो हो उम्मेदवारको चरित्र, क्षमता र नीयत। झण्डाको रङ हेरेर हिँड्दा धेरैपटक हामी घुम्तीमै अल्मलियौँ।

आजको युवा पुस्ता चोकमा उभिएको ट्राफिक प्रहरी जस्तै हो। एउटै इसाराले गाडी रोक्न पनि सक्छ, अघि बढाउन पनि। गलत इसाराले दुर्घटना हुन्छ, सही इसाराले यात्रा सहज हुन्छ। युवाको मत पनि त्यही इसारा हो—सजग भए व्यवस्था चल्छ, लापरवाह भए देश अड्किन्छ।

निर्वाचन ताली बजाउने मञ्च होइन, जवाफ खोज्ने अदालत हो। यहाँ नाराले होइन, प्रमाणले जित्नुपर्छ। भाषणले होइन, विगतले बोल्नुपर्छ। युवाले ताली बजाउने दर्शक होइन, प्रश्न गर्ने न्यायाधीश बन्नुपर्छ।

लोकतन्त्र एउटा पुल हो—भूत र भविष्य जोड्ने। पुल कमजोर भयो भने पुस्ता खस्छ। त्यसैले पुल बलियो बनाउन इँटा–इँटा सावधानीपूर्वक राख्नुपर्छ। हरेक मत त्यही इँटा हो।

आज युवाको हातमा रहेको मतपत्र कुनै साधारण अधिकार होइन, कलम हो—जसले नेपालको अर्को अध्याय लेखिन्छ। त्यो अध्याय पुरानै गल्ती दोहोर्‍याउने कि नयाँ आशाको कथा सुरु गर्ने, निर्णय गर्ने समय यही हो।

मत हाल्दा अनुहार होइन, ऐनामा देखिएको आफूलाई सम्झनुहोस्। किनकि अन्ततः चुन्ने नेता होइन—आफ्नै भविष्य हो।

The Ballot and the Mirror

When an election arrives, a nation stands in front of a mirror. In that reflection, it is not only leaders who appear, but voters themselves—especially the youth, holding the ballot in their hands and questions in their eyes.

A ballot may look like a piece of paper, but in reality, it is a seed. The seed planted today becomes a tree tomorrow—one that offers shade or grows thorns. That choice lies in the hands that plant it. For years, we planted seeds out of habit, by name, by lineage. The harvest we received is something we all have seen.

A political party is a flag, but a flag does not show the road. Direction comes from a signpost—the character, competence, and intention of the candidate. Following colors alone has often left us stranded at the crossroads.

Today’s youth stand like a traffic police officer at an intersection. With a single signal, traffic can move forward or come to a halt. A careless gesture causes accident; a mindful one ensures a smooth journey. The youth’s vote is that signal—when used wisely, systems function; when used casually, the nation stalls.

An election is not a stage for applause, but a court for accountability. Here, slogans should not win—evidence should. Not speeches, but past actions must speak. The youth must move from being clapping spectators to becoming questioning judges.

Democracy is a bridge connecting the past to the future. If the bridge is weak, generations fall. To strengthen it, each brick must be placed carefully—and every vote is one such brick.

The ballot in the hands of young people is not merely a right; it is a pen with which Nepal’s next chapter will be written. Whether that chapter repeats old mistakes or begins a story of new hope depends on today’s choice.

When you vote, do not look only at faces—look into the mirror. Because in the end, you are not choosing a leader; you are choosing your future.

-Uttam Ojha