Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Editorial

We don't declare that we have made a survey of what the political situation is in the country and how the people take or have taken the changes that have cropped up after April revolution. Nor do we claim that we have made any research on the scheme of things unfolding as it does practically every day. However, what we can definitely claim that we have tried to make a mini survey or for that matter mini research as to how a small segment of Nepali youths, both male and female alike, have taken the over all situation in this country and have tried to proliferate their inner feelings as they are in an honest manner that goes in line with our professionalism in this sector.

As the things stand after the said mini investigation or the survey or whatever it is, we have come to comprehend that many a youths in the country have been deprived of education and illiteracy is in abundance in this country. What has also come to the notice of our paper during the conduct of the said survey is that most of the youths either don't understand what the Constituent Assembly polls or were in anticipation of some leaders to come to them to make them aware of the inner nitty-gritty's of the same. This means that many a youths who have come of their age and are eligible for voting at time of the CA polls will cast their votes without understanding as to what their precious votes would mean to them over time. It has also been made clear by those whom we picked up for questions on a variety of topics, mostly concentrating on matters related with the polls of the constituent assembly, most of them talked of the rampant poverty in the far flung villages and districts; prevalence of illiteracy and absence of employment opportunities for them in their local areas and hence most of them told us that they have had to come to Kathmandu valley under compulsion either considering the chances of work here in the capital or at best thinking that migration to the capital district would allow their kids to get better education.

During the course of our tête-à-tête with the select group of the youths, from a plumber, fruit seller, to pea-nut seller, most of them told this paper that adequate facilities are provided to the youths so that the latter can serve their own country better. For this they all converged to say that all that they needed from their government was the speedy economic development of the country which, according to them, would create job facilities, and provide good education at their own local levels.

As regards politics prevailing in the nation after the April change, since the personalities picked up by us for the inspection were most unfortunately either illiterate or droppers from the school at best, their negative feelings could well be understood. Nevertheless we selected them on a random basis concluding that they too were a part of the nation and hence were qualified candidates for our questions. What was surprisingly common in them all was that not even a single youth whom we interviewed for our Five Questions columns this week believed in their own leaders. Some even said that with the same good old leaders, the country's future seemed unwelcoming. However, what they meant by the word depressing they did not explain possibly due to lack of education and political knowledge.

The study made by this paper though were limited to a small area in Kathmandu , however, this does give an inkling into the position of the youths in the country; their lack of understanding of politics because of several visible and invisible factors.

Our own conclusion has been that the national level leaders must raise awareness among the people, mostly the youths, as to what benefits the CA polls meant for them. The political parties, as far as we understand, need first to go to the people and invite a sort of debate among the people of their own constituencies on matters pertaining to the CA polls. They should first take the youths into their confidence and provide some space for the youths in the governance of the nation to which they have been denied. The State must also provide the youths all that they need so that they can understand the future course of the country's politics. The youths must be provided the role of the stakeholder in the governance of the nation but not be taken as a shareholder. Make the illiterates the literate ones first and foremost.

Future belongs to the youths undoubtedly. However, the manner some youths have expressed their anger and anguish over how their issues and problems have been dealt with in the past and even today by the rulers, what comes to the fore is that the majority of the population that the youths constitute remain in dark and do not possess any special interest in the future political course of the nation.

This is because of the prevalence of illiteracy, denial of job opportunities and the likes. It is time that the national level leaders begin thinking on how to collect the immense energy that is left unused by the state in the nation building task. The sooner the better.

However, our study might send alarming signals to some who have been using the youths as a tool for power. But then be it known to them all that if this reservoir of energy and vigor gets irritated then no force on earth can control them.

Be that as it may, this mini survey might be different from what has been here. The answers might be different if the selected ones were qualified enough. We admit this fact. But this should not mean that we were at liberty to ignore the expressions that have come from the youths because it just ran contrary to what some interested quarters might have expected.

Consider what if the stillness is broken? Imagine what would happen to this country when the illiterate youths converge in Kathmandu and demand what is their due? What is the guarantee that the irritated youths do not resort to violence as it has already been a common trait in Nepal ? Isn't there likelihood that the radical youths out of frustration join the radical camps? If so then what would happen to the liberals?

Act fast before it is too late.