The newspapers and news channels are busy reporting the inauguration of ‘Narayanhiti National Museum’ i.e. the former palace which has been converted into a Museum. The Prime Minister, who had not been much interested in declaring the republic earlier, hoisted the national flag. The national flag was hosted informally the very next day after the declaration of republic amid public up roaring. The flag replaced the royal flag with royal emblem. It was a sign of victory to the public. Its shimmer will always remind Nepalese how they had brought the authoritarian ruler to knees. Getting the right to power just because one is born in the Royal family is not accepted in modern world where people are rigorously churned in daily struggle for prosperity and success.
Though the declaration of republic is a leap, one cannot underestimate the contributions made by former kings especially Prithivi Narayan Shah in unifying the country and protecting its sovereignty over time. Most of the people will frown when the adjectives like innovative are used for King Mahendra, they recall him as someone who brought in the single party Panchayat system in the country. However we must also admit that a consensus was sought on whether a democratic system should take over or Panchayat system, people voted for the later. Though the consensus could have been manipulated and there could have been foul play there are no proofs to suggest that. Mahendra did try to bring many changes like making the caste discrimination illegal, improvising the land policies etc. Birendra focused on education and bringing the country in the track of development which didn’t succeed for so many reasons. In the history of Nepal where twelve kings were enthroned majority of them engaged themselves in luxury with no concern for people and the country. They fell puppet to the Rana ministers and to their other courtiers. The history has witnessed dirty politics, blood shed etc. where the interest of people have always been ignored.
The news channels flashed the images of political leaders with faces glorified by smile, the smile of victory. It was a pleasing and proud moment. I didn’t participate in the 19 days agitation that was a milestone in converting the country into republican setup. I do not feel proud for staying at home those 19 days just supporting the chants in the streets. It was a high time to trust the leaders with soiled political images.
Declaration of republic is not an end, it should be a beginning. I watched an interview with a Maoists leader who said their decade long war had finally achieved what it want. I would like to have a difference of opinion on that quote. The war was to revolutionize the whole system, bring about efficient management of resources, cut down corruption and uniform development across the country. Their promises were land for all, education for all, health for all, employment for all and food for all. The cat fights they are engaged in suggest they are deviating from their promises.
The earlier system of education and its curriculum was orthodox that did not make people innovative but made them seek dependence on others. The education did nothing to modernize agriculture, speed up development and boost confidence. It was just a legacy system and even then very few had reached to the schools. Education should spread awareness; it should enrich the receiver with consciousness. It should armor him with voice he would need to raise against misgivings and wrong doings. Even after having certificates in hand most of us are still illiterate. Majority of the youth thinks he needs to have proper bureaucratic links to get a job rather than a proper qualification. We have produced lesser job creators but mostly job seekers. We need to have education which will help us to walk in unison with the modern world. It should help us leap not crawl. Professional education is a must and the education should be favorable to where one lives and how he sustains his life. I doubt how many students who come from agricultural background aspire to be a productive farmer. In the run to adapt new world we are loosing our skills and that is no help.
The other concern is health. Once my cousin who is posted in a rural area of Bhojpur told me how people die from snake bites, appendicitis, diarrhea and fever in the lack of medical attention. They have to be carried on the back of people to get them the medical facilities and in many cases they die before they reach the health posts. Even the health posts are not well equipped and they do not have any medical staffs. A democratic government should ensure proper health care to its citizens. Awareness on epidemics should be created in the rural areas and they should be taught how to fight them. Opportunities should be created at the local level so the skilled man power remains rooted to their grounds. Opening health posts is no solution unless there are no medicines and no staffs.
We boast of our diversity in structure but its our diversity itself that is hindering developments. It is still arduous to make roads across the country connecting every parts to every other part. In many part the people have themselves set examples by digging the road to their villages themselves. Every village should be encouraged to do so, government should act as a facilitator while the active participants should be local people which will give them the feeling of ownership. People should be given professional trainings in health related matters so that they won’t die without medicine. In this case assistance can be taken from the emerging field of Information Technology. Equipping the local resource center with computer, internet and software supporting video conferencing etc, will help people in accessing health facilities at their spot. In few fields Nepal can really boast development, one of them being in communication sector and capabilities to communicate mean the presence of IT, so its use should be maximized.
To sustain oneself and one’s family a citizen should have employment. In developing countries like ours government cannot employee all its qualified citizens in its offices. While educating students the focus should be on development of skill. He/she should be encouraged to do things on his own rather than depending on other. The country has a bright future in the tourism sector so the major tourists interests should be identified and the youth should be given professional training on guiding, running hotels, information center, shops. Even in this case the role of government should be of facilitator. The country is equally popular in traditional arts and culture so youths should be encouraged to be involved in sculptry and other artistic activities. On one hand it will help us protect our heritage and culture; on the other hand it will provide employment. Cottage industries should get subsidies and they should be trained to meet international standards. At the same time government should focus on rapid industrialization either by self investment or by inviting foreign investors. The government should also focus on producing manpower whose demand is on the rise in the world. They can be IT professionals, nurses, doctors, teachers etc. but they should have to skills demanded by international market. More and more youths should be encouraged to adopt agriculture by making it more profitable and less harsh. The government should have efficient market policy promising farmers that they will get what they deserve. In spite of laboring hard most of the farmers lie below the line of poverty, thanks to the traditional farming methods and unidentified soil quality. Government should sponsor research and studies to find what crop should be grown in a given place.
I am no expert to make recommendations, its what I thought would be beneficial.
Though the declaration of republic is a leap, one cannot underestimate the contributions made by former kings especially Prithivi Narayan Shah in unifying the country and protecting its sovereignty over time. Most of the people will frown when the adjectives like innovative are used for King Mahendra, they recall him as someone who brought in the single party Panchayat system in the country. However we must also admit that a consensus was sought on whether a democratic system should take over or Panchayat system, people voted for the later. Though the consensus could have been manipulated and there could have been foul play there are no proofs to suggest that. Mahendra did try to bring many changes like making the caste discrimination illegal, improvising the land policies etc. Birendra focused on education and bringing the country in the track of development which didn’t succeed for so many reasons. In the history of Nepal where twelve kings were enthroned majority of them engaged themselves in luxury with no concern for people and the country. They fell puppet to the Rana ministers and to their other courtiers. The history has witnessed dirty politics, blood shed etc. where the interest of people have always been ignored.
The news channels flashed the images of political leaders with faces glorified by smile, the smile of victory. It was a pleasing and proud moment. I didn’t participate in the 19 days agitation that was a milestone in converting the country into republican setup. I do not feel proud for staying at home those 19 days just supporting the chants in the streets. It was a high time to trust the leaders with soiled political images.
Declaration of republic is not an end, it should be a beginning. I watched an interview with a Maoists leader who said their decade long war had finally achieved what it want. I would like to have a difference of opinion on that quote. The war was to revolutionize the whole system, bring about efficient management of resources, cut down corruption and uniform development across the country. Their promises were land for all, education for all, health for all, employment for all and food for all. The cat fights they are engaged in suggest they are deviating from their promises.
The earlier system of education and its curriculum was orthodox that did not make people innovative but made them seek dependence on others. The education did nothing to modernize agriculture, speed up development and boost confidence. It was just a legacy system and even then very few had reached to the schools. Education should spread awareness; it should enrich the receiver with consciousness. It should armor him with voice he would need to raise against misgivings and wrong doings. Even after having certificates in hand most of us are still illiterate. Majority of the youth thinks he needs to have proper bureaucratic links to get a job rather than a proper qualification. We have produced lesser job creators but mostly job seekers. We need to have education which will help us to walk in unison with the modern world. It should help us leap not crawl. Professional education is a must and the education should be favorable to where one lives and how he sustains his life. I doubt how many students who come from agricultural background aspire to be a productive farmer. In the run to adapt new world we are loosing our skills and that is no help.
The other concern is health. Once my cousin who is posted in a rural area of Bhojpur told me how people die from snake bites, appendicitis, diarrhea and fever in the lack of medical attention. They have to be carried on the back of people to get them the medical facilities and in many cases they die before they reach the health posts. Even the health posts are not well equipped and they do not have any medical staffs. A democratic government should ensure proper health care to its citizens. Awareness on epidemics should be created in the rural areas and they should be taught how to fight them. Opportunities should be created at the local level so the skilled man power remains rooted to their grounds. Opening health posts is no solution unless there are no medicines and no staffs.
We boast of our diversity in structure but its our diversity itself that is hindering developments. It is still arduous to make roads across the country connecting every parts to every other part. In many part the people have themselves set examples by digging the road to their villages themselves. Every village should be encouraged to do so, government should act as a facilitator while the active participants should be local people which will give them the feeling of ownership. People should be given professional trainings in health related matters so that they won’t die without medicine. In this case assistance can be taken from the emerging field of Information Technology. Equipping the local resource center with computer, internet and software supporting video conferencing etc, will help people in accessing health facilities at their spot. In few fields Nepal can really boast development, one of them being in communication sector and capabilities to communicate mean the presence of IT, so its use should be maximized.
To sustain oneself and one’s family a citizen should have employment. In developing countries like ours government cannot employee all its qualified citizens in its offices. While educating students the focus should be on development of skill. He/she should be encouraged to do things on his own rather than depending on other. The country has a bright future in the tourism sector so the major tourists interests should be identified and the youth should be given professional training on guiding, running hotels, information center, shops. Even in this case the role of government should be of facilitator. The country is equally popular in traditional arts and culture so youths should be encouraged to be involved in sculptry and other artistic activities. On one hand it will help us protect our heritage and culture; on the other hand it will provide employment. Cottage industries should get subsidies and they should be trained to meet international standards. At the same time government should focus on rapid industrialization either by self investment or by inviting foreign investors. The government should also focus on producing manpower whose demand is on the rise in the world. They can be IT professionals, nurses, doctors, teachers etc. but they should have to skills demanded by international market. More and more youths should be encouraged to adopt agriculture by making it more profitable and less harsh. The government should have efficient market policy promising farmers that they will get what they deserve. In spite of laboring hard most of the farmers lie below the line of poverty, thanks to the traditional farming methods and unidentified soil quality. Government should sponsor research and studies to find what crop should be grown in a given place.
I am no expert to make recommendations, its what I thought would be beneficial.
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