NATIONAL8 (Spotlight Weekly]

Looking Back With Anger

Aditya Man Shrestha looks at the developmental process through eyes filled with suspicions

By KESHAB POUDEL

It is not easy to chronicle and explain the development process of the last fifty-years and its implications in Nepalese society. Shrestha, who has spent a long time in journalism, attempts to do so.

Written in simple and clear language, his book "Bleeding Mountains Of Nepal" seems to be a reflection of frustration and anger of the author.

Definitely, the process of social and economic transformation is slow and painful. Shrestha, a well-studied intellectual, may be aware that history of every society is a combination of painful stories like that of Nepal. From medieval history to the present one every change has brought some progressive ideas and notions. Shrestha's data in which the book is based also explains this reality.

"Until 1950 Nepal had no modern roads. By 1955, Nepal had about 600 km of roads. In forty years since, around 6,000 km have been added. The people had to negotiate the distance, long, or short, on foot. That was the only option, at least as far as north-south movement was concerned," Shrestha highlights.

Shrestha's book takes a swipe at Nepal's development history, from the revolution of 1951 to present. Its fundamental argument is that this land's past and present is full of authoritarian and feudal characters. Shrestha sees Nepalese history as a grand story of misuse of state power and exploitation of majority of people by a section of powerful population.

Although Shrestha cites some development aspects as positive, the presentation he makes is harsh. "The ugly truth is most of the people in the top ten percent bracket today achieved affluence through dubious deals. In this historical perspective, the Nepalese people have perceived state power as an instrument for self aggrandizement, wealth and social status. In no way can this impression be dispelled as those who became millionaires overnight were left alone by all governments to savor their loot," Shrestha writes.

Angry and frustrated, Shrestha is very critical in his analysis of development process. From politicians to businessmen and civil servants to professionals, he sees violation of work ethics everywhere. His dedication and effort to present the social wrong doings is commendable.

Shrestha - who started his career in journalism from The Rising Nepal and went on to become deputy general manager of Gorkhapatra Sansthan - divides the book into five parts.

One of the very important aspect of the book is that it has very interesting collection of materials from different sectors of development.

Positive thinking is a rare commodity in today's contemporary society, particularly in the eyes of intellectuals who always seem to enjoy expressing frustration and anger over corruption, nepotism and other things.

Shrestha's book also expresses the waves of frustration criticizing the country's model of development and its political leaders.

Although Shrestha's one point agenda is to prove that Nepal has not achieved anything in the last five decades, his comments are not very far from reality.

Over the years series of books have already been published describing grim picture of Nepal's five decade long development process. Journalist Shrestha's book that hit the book stalls last week also describes Nepalese society as a place of hopeless people.

One of the main mantras propagated by the book is that there needs to be "honest" efforts to do something for the poor and underprivileged.