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Creative Caution A fictional narrative
powerfully portrays how today's corrosive politics could weaken the nation's long-term
interests By A CORRESPONDENT Many books and articles have been written
on the pros and cons of the controversial Citizenship Amendment bill, which is in limbo
after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional earlier this year. As the government
works its way out of what has become an embarrassing tangle, Nepalis of all backgrounds
have had the opportunity to weigh the issue in all its stark dimensions. While constitutional experts are divided on
the form any legal resolution of the matter should take, politicians are still engrossed
in an endless exchange of blame. The philosophically minded see the problem as another
affirmation that constitutional governance is as good as the intentions and motives those
entrusted with it are capable of demonstrating. Dhruba Kumar Deuja, a veteran commentator
known for his incisive analyses on contemporary national issues, has employed his literary
imagination and creativity in dealing with the citizenship issue. In his short but highly
readable novel, Deuja has brought to the fore the long-term significance of an issue that
has acquired great sensitivity in Nepalese minds. In his book, "Bikram Sambat 2080
Simanantar", Deuja describes the situation Nepal would have faced had the bill become
law. The powerful narrative, where fiction intermingles with fact, is replete with a range
of characters and emotions that help to amplify the urgency of the issue. Deuja has
projected a future very few, if any, of the political protagonists involved in the framing
of the bill must have envisaged in the midst of passion that has gripped the issue. Deuja is particularly worried by the bill's
provision that would have paved the way for many foreigners to get Nepalese citizenship.
The author makes a powerful case that the bill is against the long-term interests of
Nepal. Despite strict legal safeguards, many non-Nepalis have over the years acquired this
country's citizenship by taking advantage of loopholes or through outright underhand
dealings. While placing justified emphasis on the
need to deter foreigners from getting Nepalese citizenship, the narrative appears to have
overlooked an equally vital point: the plight of genuine Nepalis who have not received
citizenship certificates. As a conscious citizen of a small country
sandwiched between the world's two most populous countries, Deuja has filled his plot with
the full fervor of patriotic concern. He also warns against how the corrosiveness of the
political machinations of the moment go on to cause irreparable harm to the nation. By
zeroing on the citizenship issue, Deuja makes a fervent appeal to the political class to
desist from such action and rhetoric that would push the nation closer to the abyss of
ruin. Often, the sensitivity of such vital
national issues is diminished when writers present arguments just for the sake of putting
them on the record. Moreover, the use of literary devices to project concerns laced with
grave national implications risks trivializing the point the author seeks to make. To his
credit, Deuja carefully avoids that pitfall. In doing so, he makes a commendable
contribution to opening the eyes of an audience that lacks both the opportunity and
incentive to take that vital long-term perspective on critical national issues. Bikram Sambat 2080 Simanantar |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
