MY Political Commentary

An Urgent Quest: Where is Nepal?

                                -By Krishna Kumar Yogi

             

Many political Pundits  taking the reference of Nepalese politics and the current awareness level of the Nepali people, they frequently claim that the Nepali people are aware about the direction towards which the country is heading. They are very conscious that the future frames and fortunes of Nepal are shown in a good light. No teacher dares to stand in front of Nepalis for longer than a minute in order to teach them. They no longer need the lessons to be taught by anyone else. How do our leaders interpret the statement: 'The Nepalese people are self-sufficient', do you know? You might not have forgotten it; one has to keep everything in his/her mind that politicians have taught us in the last 10 or 20 years. Nepali people are self-sufficient; what it may suggest in Nepali political discourse is that they don’t want to be the slaves of anyone, even why s/he should be obedient to his/her own father or mother. They are self-creators, they are self propagators. There is still a long list of words that have been used by leaders of various parties to praise the Nepali people in a fake way. It is the way how the leaders are jostling for the victory of elections. They even do not recoil from misinterpreting important public events in a false light to suit their agendas. Will anyone reprimand them in this regard? Will they be positive in correcting their mistakes? Though they have made commitments many times, they have never put them into practice. They just keep remaking commitments to their existing commitments! This disgraceful behaviour from such graceful Nepali politicians is unbecoming. What is the message that they are passing out through their nasty habits? It could be said in their defence that the roots of politics are bitter but the fruit is very sweet. I will not even debate the issue with those who claim the means justify the ends. A critical analysis of the current political horizon, shows that it is nothing more than the practice of emulating and restating false commitments. It is often said that if someone repeats false things time and again, people are eventually compelled to believe it. I am not quite sure about the expression, whether it is true of false. Let the proof or falsification remain with the Nepali people; if they are capable of remaining the true determinants over the sovereignty of the country: They are the fortune holders of their own country.

               In my view the intellectual circles of Nepal are seen to be very much jaundiced. This makes the country paralyzed as the dominance of such intellectuals who only want to market themselves as pro-leaders fail to ever be pro-public. Who is speaking on behalf of the commoners? I am not saying that groups of intellectuals don't have an important role to play, but I believe that politics is a driving key of any nation, and shouldn't become isolated from the peoples’ needs. Here I demand the clear answer of a question: why are the so-called superior minds of the country silent on the mournful mood and terrible state of the country? Why are they still sleeping in the deep sleep of ‘Kumbhakarna?’ This surprises a lot of the Nepalese population. Everyone has to be serious about the state of the country and how one can do his/her bit to help and what sort of role one can play from his/her own field to save the nation from the politicians’ apathy? There have been critical issues surrounding the illegal encroachment of Nepalese territory: 14000 hectares of land by India. What is the meaning of the constant parroting of the song of nationality by our honorary ministers in various mass meetings? Can the people easily digest how the Nepali leaders who give Mt. Everest-size tall talk  on  peace, New Nepal, Constituent Assembly’s Election, federalism, autonomous region, equal representation, social inclusion and many more matters with their sweet tongues. Yet it is never more than just talking. No, the Nepali people expect more from its leading heads. It doesn’t mean that the Nepali people are unaware of their obligations that they have to perform as citizens. Are they not performing them well? I think they are attempting to practice what John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States stated once : "Do not ask what your country has given to you. Ask what you have given to your country". But it really means what you have given to the politicians, with nothing substantial in return...  Do not worry, the fantastic finger smiths of Nepal (politicians) are secretly planning how to map out the New Nepal. Do you like it by your heart or reject it by your ears; you preserve the right. Making New Nepal may mean dragging Nepal 50 – 70 years back in terms of development, progress, prosperity and so on. While I go forward with this idea, many issues are raised for debate. The Maharathi (pioneers) of mis-interpretation feel that they have a right to say anything that suits their ends. Another interpretation is: To make a New Nepal may mean to destroy it devilishly with the structures it currently has, or it may mean to make it better than before, more prosperous than before, more beautiful than before and so on. Everyone hopes Nepal will pull through with some positive signs and bright lights; in this hope many support the latter.

               I’m not merely writing down this article to scold and reprimand the politicians and scholars of Nepal. Rather, I wish to appeal to them; to awake them in time because there are yet some ‘miles to go before we sleep’ as Robert Frost says in one of his important literary pieces. The courteous suggestion to the groups discussed above is: "arise, awake, stop not till the goal is reached". What is the ultimate fate of the country? What is to be done in order to build Nepal anew? You know more fully than me. So, why do you delay to act upon it? I would like to kindly request you to strike the iron whenever it is red. Sometimes delayed things simply decay. Don’t you think this is so? 

               I would like to add in this context something that we read in Philosophy Pathways recently, one of the remarkable philosophic e-journals (Issue number 127, 30th May 2007) edited by Geoffrey Klempner and published in Great Britain. One of the contents was: 'Socrates Cafe' by Christopher Phillips. In it was discussed things which are very important and which should be followed and practised by everyone in a place if we truly intend for that place to be somewhere good. Writing under the title, he mentioned about contemporary Greece, he thought that in the times of ancient Greece, as now, too many citizens of a relatively open society have shirked their duty to actively immerse themselves in public issues and affairs. Those on the left, right and in the middle too often just follow the lead of their representatives. Is it rational to follow the lead of representatives in the Nepalese context? How do they lead others? How do they drive others? These are the critical questions that one as a conscious member of the nation has to demand answers for. These are not the questions that I dare to display in public; these are some of the standard questions that every Nepali who is genuinely concerned about the authorities must ask. This issue becomes yet more critical in the context, as one politician put it: Nepali people are sheer sheep. However and whatever the ways the Nepalese people are led and provoked, they remain silent. Does this mean they are too powerless to speak up? Let’s take the example of the petroleum product price hike that cracks the backbone of the poor Nepalese. It is a matter of great concern that the government of Nepal has called off the decision of a price hike thinking only of the potential danger it might cause from some elements, going against their election prospects. The minister for supply spoke that they called off the decision in respect of the sentiment of Nepali People. Whether it is true or false has not been assessed. Should we consider how many benefits he comes with to help people? Look at this amazing art that our politicians are experts in. What a lovely people (to the poor Nepali people)!, politicians are smoothing the hair of commoners and remarking so conducively in public. They make a great show of supporting public opinion on the smooth roads, but never dare walk on the rough roads (the real issues!) in public. How sane are our politicians? For once let’s assess the self-reliant and self-dependent politicians’ behaviour and comments.  They stand on their own. They have elected themselves. Who helped them in giving the fresh mandate? They are the most democratic democrats of the world. They budget their salaries themselves out of the public taxes. They take a whopping allowance even if the session of the House of Representatives goes for only 2 minutes (some think that the matter has to go for the recording in The Guinness Book of World Records). How can Nepali people be sure about their (mis) deeds? Aren’t they simply the same old parasites in new disguised forms? Are they here to fulfill the dream of all Nepalese people regarding the much-awaited and massively debated issue "New Nepal?’ No Nepali is unaware about what they did in the past, what they have been doing in the present, and what they would be doing to fortify and foster the fortune of all Nepali's in the future (i.e. nothing). I think regarding the politicians’ propagandistic behaviour at the present time the following expression comes closest to the truth: the politicians are training us how to drive when they themselves do not know the first thing about driving! Achieving a driving license is a far away dream. No criticism about the sorry state of our politicians is extensive enough. What unfertile land Nepal has got which has been giving birth to such futile and fruitless leaders! We don’t want the leaders who merely distribute dreams and who are championing in dramas to be written and staged. We want the resolute leaders who can set their journey by themselves with specific missions. We Nepalese don’t want the leaders who are burdens; we want the conscious leaders who come up with some concrete actions to shape and save Nepal. Nepali people have forgotten the art of perceiving truth or falsity in the abstract and cloaked form in which the politicians offer it. The dam of patience holding back the Nepalese fury is close to an explosion, if the politicians carry on as they are, who knows how catastrophic the consequences might be?

               Why are the leaders unaware about the ‘supreme science of Statesmanship?’ Why are the Nepali people unaware of the need of ruler ship by philosopher- politicians who could be trusted not to abuse their power? It means those who are moral, those who are spiritual and who are educated, healthy, self-disciplined, nationalistic, full of integrity and of strong character. It is like an open museum to view the cut-throat competition among the leaders- such is the unintelligible abuse of power. Why is Nepal at this most critical juncture on the political highway? Isn’t there any politician who can bring back Nepal to its natural path? The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates believed we each must cultivate a type of constructive and healthy skepticism, questioning our leaders at every turn, lest they lead us down a blind alley or over a precipice. Let’s check for ourselves as we are passengers of a ship that is being sailed by politicians, and it may indeed be "down a blind alley or over a precipice". It is my humble request to everyone to go against the wrong doers and thank and support them who do some good. Let’s develop such a constructive view that will always permit people to go forward in the direction that is for the common good. It is a prime question to make people ideal citizens before making Nepal an ideal state. Let’s establish a system to have healthy discussions on advancing democracy and advancing the country. Let’s initiate an exercise to question leaders as a part of public discourse. Let’s leave narrow feelings and segregated behaviour and start addressing the issues together. Let's be hospitable rather than being hostile. It helps to develop the interconnectedness with the people, and harmony and co-operation fosters the flourishing of the country. Let’s walk together to build our country and not forget that it provides food and shelter throughout our life. It is the urgent need that every Nepali has to learn to elect those candidates who have both a philosophic and scientific nature fused with a character full of integrity and virtue, aiming for the welfare of the entire state.

The writer can be reached at: yogi_krishna06@yahoo.co.uk

Published on:

People’s Review Vol. XVII, No. 27 Thursday, January 31- February 6, 2008 (Magh 17 -23, 2064)