Peace And Development Close Relation

By Prem N. Kakkar

THE sense of security that is prevalent in the country at the moment is quite encouraging. Though full peace is yet to materialise but hopes are pinned on the peace talks which is in the offing between the government and the Maoists. Once that takes place the people can once again revert to their daily livelihood as a part of normalcy.

Efforts

The government on its part has made all the efforts to create the conducive environment for the peace talks to be held in the larger interest of the country and its people. This fact cannot be denied.
Since the formation of the present government there has been a gradual improvement in the security and peace situation in the country. This is evident by the toning down of incidences of violence. The call to the Maoists to sit down for talks has had a positive response. But there is still more to be done as the basics have to be worked out.

The Maoists have seen that the majority of their demands to sit for talks have been met. The declaration of the cease-fire between the government and the Maoists was the paving stone for the calm that is being evidenced at present. It was that particular decision that gave some relief to the people in general. As a result many people have returned to their villages, but not all.

As a follow up of the cease-fire, the code of conduct was formulated and implemented. Though there are some cases of violation, the code of conduct holds good. As a result of that particular decision, the Maoists were freed of the many labels and notices of the past. The Maoist leaders who were underground for the past several years surfaced.

The peace talks that are to take place must take many things into consideration. Show of force alone will not solve problems. There has to be a tacit understanding among all that to work for the welfare of the people, to sit at the table and sort out differences, is the best means. The Maoists too have reiterated that they are for peace talks. This they have spoken about at several places. Seriousness is there but they have to bear in mind that their demands must be in tune with the aspirations of the people.

The government on its part is serious that the peace talks be held as soon as possible. This is in consonance with the belief that the welfare of the people must be held uppermost. In this endeavour, the role of the political parties, big or small, is equally important.

When it concerns the general people itself, no party can remain aloof. Trying to cash in on the situation for petty interest is not advisable. Especially the major political parties, whose duty is paramount, must come to the fore with their own views and suggestions.

The government all along has been calling for the participation of the political parties in seeing that lasting peace is installed in the country. Though the response has not been encouraging in the past, positive indications are being seen at the moment.

As the present constitution is still active and the provisions therein are relevant, there should be no talk of elections to the constituent assembly. The need for constituent assembly for the framing of a new constitution has no meaning in the present situation. The constitution has enough provisions to meet the requirements.

In a democratic society, differences remain as to which ideology one follows but that must not be allowed to interfere with the larger interests of the nation. Everyone must be aware of this, especially the mature and wise leaders. Their petty interests must not be allowed to interfere with the overall good of the people and the nation.

Now that the pace of reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes is picking up, every effort must be made to see their passage. It is everyone’s interest to see the welfare of the people. Whether it is the government, the major political parties or even the Maoists, all talk of working for the people. So lasting peace has to come about. For this sincere efforts from all quarters has to be forthcoming.

Realisation

The time is opportune for both the government and the Maoists to sit down seriously for peace talks so that the people will be benefitted.

The people want lasting peace as only through it the development of the country is possible. The realisation is already there but there is a growing need for everyone to work in the direction. Criticism for criticism’s sake will not help. It’s sitting down at the table to sort out the differences that is necessary at this juncture and that too in a democratic society like ours.

Education In Disarray

By Dhruba Kumar Neupane

IF there is one thing that topples down all the settings of developmental infrastructure in a country, it is sheer negligence of the government over education. The one and only foundation of the country is education-and the more it is struck with hard blows the quicker is its collapse.

AttackNepal is lagging far behind other nations in every field due mainly to frequent attacks to educational activities. The attacks are not external but in fact, more dangerously, internal ones. The history of Nepal never shows a period in which the field has not been victimised by power. No government, neither the responsible personalities so far handled the educational issues seriously and sincerely. The history writers who have authored bulks of books always blame their preceding periods and rules. In the era of Panchayat system, people in power and others supporting them spent a great deal of time blaming the Rana rules.

Of course, history records the past, but at the same time it ought to show guidelines for the days, to come with a variety of opportunities and problems. But, alas, there is no historian or leader with foresight and no broadminded personalities in power. What a shame for the country!
It is not the number of schools and colleges that hints the public participation in teaching- learning activities, but the concept they have had in the field. Regarding the number of children going to school, the data collected through various methodologies show that it is remarkably deplorable in our societies, especially in the remote hilly areas. The physical facilities, on the other hand, provided by most of the institutions in the country are notably of low quality; much lower than the normal necessity. Unless the school going children are convinced of the fact that education makes our life better and easier taking us into the feeling of being a complete human, we can never achieve expert and committed hands to serve the country. Unless the people are persuaded that education is one of their birth rights and thus they should devote themselves thoroughly into the area whole-heartedly, the large investment in constructing buildings, donating books and material, can’t at all fructify the purpose. Unless the people are made aware of the fact that certificate–earning is not an objective of education, but to sharpen their brain in relation to a widening horizon; unless the people are in a state to realise the feeling of fraternity to join hands for shaping the societal atmosphere to a desired one, no adult literacy classes, workshops and seminars on the theme are likely to serve the intended purpose. Unless people in every corner realise that education will bring people into one heart and family irrespective of their caste and colour, social status, no anti–superstition writings, no eloquent slogans will address and assess the present-day needs in education.

The attacks in educational arena are surprisingly and invisibly increasing. They are both external and internal attacks. By external attacks, I mean the attacks motivated by politics, which recently have excelled all others. The political struggle has gripped the soft hearts and brains so terribly that marks in their brains in regard to education ignore all sorts of its significances – this is miserably horrifying for the nation. God knows how many years back these fights will take us.

Internal attacks means the insensible policies and business motive adopted by the authority and the concerned personalities. Who is responsible for failure of a student in class IX having been a student in the same school since Nursery? The institution will be showered with admirations from all over when the pass percentage reaches 75 per cent in the S.L.C. exam. But who is to be blamed for the failure of 25 per cent of the students? How can parents who send their children to expensive institutions get return of their expense in this context?

Cutting expenses in their everyday necessities they send their children to expensive institutions. How can they be convinced that they are not wasting money but investing? What is the justification behind a large number of textbooks students have to read? How is this helping the students in framing the brain towards a concrete goal? Who can justify the assembly of massive number of students in a tin-shed? Both policy-makers and implementing agencies have to take the responsibility of the innumerable pitfalls, some of which have been instanced above. The drawbacks observed in educational field are not the result of human nature of imperfectness, but are certainly of intension and procrastination.The teen-agers are showing apathy and callousness to learning these days. They are not motivated to learning –which hence for them is a forced burden- a waste of time. Forced learning is never effective, never committed. As a result, learning for them is only a track of passing the level and earning certificates. Students, therefore, prefer guess papers, guide books to textbooks. The causes behind this condition are many –inactivity of the authority comes first.

The outside environment is not enough for letting the educational field go smoothly with a single motive of reforms from all sides; the regulation in the instructional administration and the approaches of imparting education are also a must to rectify the setbacks marked an overwhelming majority of people. Let the main issue of defects in education not be put aside while trying to manage the disputes. The fire of injustice and monopoly has already got deep-rooted in the field itself. Until the fire is extinguished, no solutions to the imposing problems will be found. The problem here is that education has been a source of earning money and, moreover, showing affluence in the society. Getting education in our context has created classes in society-‘HAVES’ and ‘HAVE NOTS’-the more you are trying to undo its knot the tighter it turns to be. The gap is widening everyday. There is not any symptom sighted so far that the improvements in educational field are likely in the near future. ReasonPolicy makers will never let representation from worker’s side- that is there is never a teacher’s participation in the policy-making committee. This is exactly the reason why the policies can’t be practical; why the policies seek solutions simply blaming teachers.

Brewing Them Abroad

By RRS

SURVIVAL of the cleverest, not of the fittest as Darwin says. Those who are clever survive. The slow, dim-witted and dull find themselves lagging behind in every aspect of life. This applies everywhere and to everything. Whether it is the human being or animal or society or nation, this philosophy is equally applicable to all.

This scribe wants to mention one area where the clever people and nations outdo the dull people and the developing nations. It is patent right. The concept of the patent right which was developed by the developed nations is fine but the developing countries have failed to utilise this legal weapon in favour of their interest.

Nepal is a glaring example. You may be stunned to find that many foreigners have claimed their patent rights on many plants and practices found in Nepal.

A Japanese national patented Bhate Jand (a type of homemade brew) found in Solukhumbu district 18 years ago.

“A Japanese disclosed this fact while serving this solid booze to me in Paris some years ago,” says Dr. Rishiram Koirala, who has been a staunch advocate for the cause of Nepal’s indigenous goods and knowledge for several years. Unlike other jand, this one lacks liquid and can be eaten as rice. Hence it is known as bhate jand (rice ale). It is highly nutritious and hygienic. People use local weeds in making this jand, which contains biological bacterial agent. “This Japanese fellow, who always takes these plants from Solukhumbu with him to produce such brew in his country, never identified this plant to me,” Koirala says. “It is of purely Nepali origin but a Japanese has claimed the patent right on it.”

People from other countries have claimed their patent rights on more than 150 aromatic, spicy and herbal plants of Nepal, according to him. For example, foreigners have already registered their patent rights on 22 different qualities of turmeric, a popular spice item of the Nepalese culinary. Likewise, they have claimed patents on the indigenous plants such as neem, peepal and cactus, which are common in the continent. The bark of the peepal contains a chemical used in healing wounds in the mouth by washing with it.

According to Koirala, a Japanese from Osaka claimed patent right on cactus, which contains bacteria to fight cancer. One decade ago he had documented this plant, which is found in different parts of Nepal and India since the last 4000 years. He earns $4.52 million annually from royalty paid by different companies.

Generally, patent is made in product, knowledge, practice and recipe. There can be patent on 500 different qualities of single plant.

Nepal is rich in indigenous knowledge, practice and unique flora and fauna. But the country is losing its right over them. On the contrary, as the above examples show, the outsiders have been using them.

Inertia, lack of commitment and awareness on the part of the authority are the main reasons for Nepal to constantly lose its treasures, says Koirala. For example, Nepal can claim its patent on potatoes by citing Veda rhymes alu bargam. The origin of potato goes back to Mexico. But our ancestors used this popular vegetable item some 2000 years ago.

First of all, all important herbal plants and indigenous knowledge and practices should be documented in the concerned ministries so that we can claim our patent on them after the country joins WTO in 2006. We must be aware about the fact that Nepal should pay the royalty for using its own native plants and knowledge under the WTO regime.