Democracy
For The People Or Politicians ?

By Dr. Ganga Prasad Akela

THE present political scenario of Nepal as well as the expressions made by the international agencies has forced us to look into the concept of democracy ? After the restoration of democracy in Nepal in 1990, people's representative and governments formed by them, had been in the existence and what they did up to 13 years can be summed up in brief. There were twelve prime ministers and governments within 13 years of restored democratic period. The Nepali Congress' full majority government dissolved the House of Representative twice and called for unnecessary mid-term poll.
The top-leaders of the political parties have been conflicting within their parties in order to fulfill their vested interests only. The political party in power and opposition never paid attention towards the public and national interest, but got together in case of making their personal benefits like-having the high costing foreign vehicles like- Prado/Pajero, increasing their remuneration and allowances as well as every facilities from the national treasury. Out of which Maoists took its birth, which has spread out throughout the country.

Earlier NCP (UML) was divided into two fraction and now the so-called most democratic as well as the oldest party the Nepali Congress has divided into two fractions separately. This happened only due to party-president Girija Prasad Koirala expelled the then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for three years from even the ordinary membership of the party. And lastly, due to the everlasting irregular activities as well as fully ignoring the public and national interest.

Well-acquainted

There is a proverb in Urdu, which fully have been practiced by the so-called democratic leaders of Nepal, irrespective of fulfilling their vested interests oftenly.

Urdu Proverb- "Jaba Eka Hi Ullu Kafee Hai Barbad Gulinstan Karneko, Anjam Gulistan Kya Hoga, Jaba Har Sakh Pe Ullu Baitha Hai".

Meaning:- Where one owl is more than sufficient to destroy the garden, then what will be the future of the garden if there are owls sitting on every branches of the trees of that garden ?

It will be appropriate to quote here that international agencies are well-acquainted with the history of Nepal as well as the entire dealings of the political parties, which appeared after the restoration of democracy. It will be also very much appropriate to say that present situation is the only outcome of those political parties and their leaders, who never paid attention towards the people and country. Despite their well-known continuous irregularities and every mis-handlings, now the leaders of those political parties are advocating for democracy, democratic dealings and constitutional dealings, which were never followed by them. Moreover, the most wretched thing, which has been observed till now, is the predominance of sleeping as well as the entirely reactionless public-life even after the continuous suppressing and overwhelming activities of the leaders remained in the power, which reminds the words of Late Supreme Leader Ganeshman Singh- "The people of Nepal is just like the sheeps and goats (Nepali Janata Bhaneko Bhenda-Chyangra hun)." And perhaps, due to this the international communities have been trapping the so called parties and its leaders to achieve their mutual vested interests, which is quite evident from the fact of aid-amounts made available in billions to this country, despite that there is no change in the standard of public-life and country's infrastructure too. The only progress is visualised as the most ordinary man engaged in politics, rather better to say it illegal earning business in the name of politics, have been converted into multi-millionares within a short period of one decade only.

Now question raises, whether the democracy should be for the betterment of the people and the country or it should be for fulfilling the vested interests of the corrupt politicians only which they have been utilising since last 12 years. In the present critical situation, it has become highly essential for them to co-ordinate with the present government and try to solve the vaccum appeared as soon as possible by committing their mistakes done but they are adding ghee in the flames as they have lost their ever gaining beneficiaries and even also trying to come to the power unconstitutionally too, so that they can hide their every irregular activities.

Moreover, it is extremely astonishing that the person, who had been the chief justice of Nepal, is also advocating for the reestablishment of the House of Representatives. It is also extremely worrisome to quote that that very fellow Bishwanath Upadhyay had made two types of decisions in the same nature of cases during his period. It may be natural to them, who are in politics but a man who had been the chief justice as well as the chief of the drafting commission of the present constitution and now himself advocates for that clauses, which is not even mentioned in the constitution, this clearly indicates of the mentality of the person worked or working in the judiciary. Will this be treated as the outcome of an intellectual ? Can the fairness be expected from such a madding community, which speak on thing when in power and changes abruptly after going out of the power ?

Greatness lies there, when one commits his mistakes and tries to reform that but that has not been visualised in any of the so-called high-ranking political bodies. Despite of making support for better situation, they have been making enraging comments not only against the present government but also against the king. It is well evident from the history of Nepal, that it is the royal family and the king only, who had established first of all the democracy in Nepal in 1950. It is also evident from the past and present dealings of the political parties, especially Nepali Congress, that they have never paid attention towards the people and country and consequently, the king has been forced to take the needful action. Concludingly, it is also highly notable that it is the political parties and its leaders of democratic environment only, who have created the present critical situation. Moreover, it is also notable that the king has expressed his full commitment towards the enhancement of democratic set up as well as the public- will through his declaration clearly. As such, it is expected from the international agencies to look into the realities, as who is the main culprit of the present critical position. They should try to make them correct for their conducts first. It is well evident that very normal political figures too have become a multimillionaires within the twelve years of democratic period. Should this be treated as the democratic character ? Should such group protect the people, country and democracy ?

Joint Approach

These are the major points, which should not be overlooked by the international agencies. Crisis can be solved only through the joint co-coordinated approach, which should be accepted and dealt accordingly by every concerned for the good of the people, country and preserving the democracy too.

Flying To Europe

By Shiva Das

IT is a great pity that the Nepalese never learn to be masters themselves; their own history speaks of it. They have been the best warriors in Britain or the best watch-dogs or cooks in Agra, but unfortunately never masters. Let's look back and we shall realise how their forefathers, having crept out of their cradles, crawled their ways straight to India or Britain in order to join Army or work in ill-paid factories. That this tendency has grown even more grievous and wider today is obvious from the endless queue of Nepalese youths in different manpower agencies. The newer generations learn from the older ones.

Amazing

It is amazing and not less annoying, to see those of the educated Nepalese stamped efficient by universities, who, without a pinch of effort to seek the possibilities regarding their specialisations, get ready to water garden-plants or baby-sit in Europe! Europe, too, is no better than part of the same planet which we share, and no better species of man-kind than the Nepalese live there. The only fact that speaks for itself is that they have managed that section of the Earth much better, understood the Karisma of the human mind and subordinated the muscular strength.

What can be more shameful than for the Nepalese to go and settle down in the land flourished by others? Poor universities did not expect this ingratitude when they produced the scholars. Since they have breathed the oxygen of Nepali trees, they ought to plant one in their own soil. Every citizen in a nation must necessarily have his sufficient source of income, that is to say, he must able to produce or give, at least, one thing very useful for other. The faster the flow of money through all levels, the more sophisticated becomes the life of the people. This is what development should mean. Though not ignorant of this reality, the people resort to Europe shamelessly. They are the most hateful parasites who think of enjoying the amenities that the European have obtained through decades of hard-work.

A nation is developed by no outsiders but by its own people. No alien went and developed Europe. No one else shall come and manage the water supplies or street sanitation of our locality. No outsider is to come in and perform our office-work better and faster.

Europe had climbed many stairs before it reached the top. The sixteenth century cottages of Europe have not grown, all of a sudden, into sixty-storied buildings, nor have the balloons developed into Jet-planes without passing certain phases. Now, the Nepalese aspire for some miraculous jump from their present state of economy, and no wonder being mere failures, fly across the seven seas or live as the pictures of frustration within the country, destroying and denouncing. No better that greedy vulpines are those who long to go and live in the land others have flourished with their blood, sweat and tears.

The government need not necessarily be responsible for governmental employments to all the educated people, neither should the degree-holders claim it. Are all the Americans employed in the government offices, and is it possible for any government to provide jobs for all its people? Piteous are those who expect and wait for it.

We, Nepalese are the worst ungrateful people in the world-ungrateful to the land in which we were born. Our forefathers, who had toiled and died in this part of the world, had opened schools, trained our teachers, and written books for us. No outsider came in and lifted us to this level. We are indebted to every tiny bit of Nepal. Who can be greater criminals in the world than for us not to do anything for their descendents. The government has, at least, educated us i.e. developed us a mind to think out, reason and perform; what more should we expect from it? Why dodn't we think out ways of producing anything within our economic reach?

It is an indisputable fact that one and only one goal of going overseas is to make money, to raise one's economic status overnight. There are exceptionally few persons, worthy of worship, who fly across the seas in order to learn. Most of the Europe-goers are insincere, empty of love for and loyalty to their mother land, which grew their fathers.

Prithivi Narayan Shah the Great King was very wise when he advised his ministers to bring in skills and technology from abroad. Thanks to those who go abroad on this purpose.

No change of matters shall put an end to the beggarish behaviour of the Nepalese unless the change in their perception occurs. Therefore what the Nepalese require is the scientific way of thinking, reasoning and acting on the ground of their own society. They possess the noble perception no doubt. Every educated Nepali can discover, with a trifle trick of mind, countless possibilities of income generation.

It is supposed inferior for a well-educated person to do farming in Nepali society. Even my father, who falls in the ordinary category, hates me working in the field, let alone the neighbours, or simple-minded people. As a result, poor fellow hesitates to go and work in the farm, apparently for fear of being inferior!

To this country's misfortune, the excellent minds, who could definitely do good at any type of work are straining themselves so as to how to fly abroad rather than seek out possibilities for themselves within the country. Any developed country manifests that her citizens are highly honest to their duty; and uncomproming to honesty at any cost. Most of us go speechless when honesty matters.

"I would be fully devoted to my assigned duty if my salary was double the amount now" said one of the lecturers, "Present payments hardly suffice to keep my standard."

These words went jarring into the depths of honest people's mind. As an intellectual, he should have imagined what would be the condition of the country if such trends were to continue for generations: Hands in Europe, stomach in Asia! Besides, can the standards or say status of a citizen be different from that of his country?

Can you accept a nice roasted filet of fish if someone offers addressing you a dog? Of course not; no one can. That is an insult and it matters to you gravely. Your self-respect is strong enough to refuse. Self-respect at its strongest form does not bow even at the cost of life, let alone flying overseas. Socrates held his ideas dearer than life; Bhimsen Thapa slit his throat with a broken window-pane of the prison.

Self Respect

The Nepalese scholars ought to feel once if their self-respect is beating beneath their Nepalines.

It is the Nepalese who pushed their soil into such a plight; it is again they who can grow gold in the very soil.