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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Madhu Raman Acharya
surveys the impact of modernization on Nepalese culture By KESHAB POUDEL Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger has published several books on the challenges and compulsions of his tenure. In India, former foreign secretary J.N. Dixit has written extensively on the factors and forces that shaped his time in office. Some retired Nepalese bureaucrats have published memoirs providing a behind-the-scenes view of important events and ideas that have shaped the country's destiny. In the realm of foreign affairs, they are few and far between. Although it does not relate to Nepalese diplomacy, Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya's new book provides interesting encounters to highlight the transformation of Nepalese culture and its implications for society. Acharya, who holds masters degrees in science and public administration, along with a diploma in law, maintains an equal grasp on sociology and anthropology in dealing with westernization, modernization and globalization. He observes degrading family values, deteriorating morality and work ethic and changing behavior of youths with exceptional perception. As society has been transforming from its traditional moorings to modernity, new values, beliefs and attitude are emerging. The family systems are breaking up urban areas and more and more nucleus families are coming up. Society has to face many difficulties in the process of social and cultural transformation in the period of transition. Acharya attempts to explain the implications and consequences of cultural shift. In sociological and anthropological terms, culture refers to the shared knowledge, beliefs, values and rules about behaviors that exist within a society. Every society, large or small, has a culture and social structures. As the culture is related to rules and behavior, the social structure refers to the organization of society its social positions and the ongoing relationships among these social positions. Thus, the change in the culture automatically brings transformation in the social structures making and breaking new and old habit and behavior. In many cases, the cultural shift will have shocking effect on society. Acharya very keenly observes and explains the complexities of the social and cultural change in Nepal in reference with many theories. "In this book, I would like to subscribe to a dynamic and broadened definition of culture encompassing such concepts as education psychology, political ideology, lifestyles, interpersonal relations, status of women in the society, and the changing attitude of the youth in the interpretation of the Nepalese culture. Here, an attempt has been made education psychology, political ideology, lifestyles, interpersonal relations, status of women in the society, and the changing attitude of the youth in the interpretation of the Nepalese culture," Acharya says in his foreword. With the dawn of democracy in 1951, Nepal was opened to the world, ending its century-old isolation when it was ruled under a Hindu code of conduct. In his quest to explore the shift in Nepalese culture, Acharya touches on the various phases, including the dynamics of the early years including the era of integration, emergence from isolation, diffusion from south, and opening of Nepal to tourism. While describing these changes, Acharya also has gone through conflicts, explaining the burgeoning phase of ethnic identity. In sum, the author touches almost all the areas, political, religious, cultural and linguistic, that are driving the transformation process. Acharya, who joined the civil service in 1983, completed major assignments - including deputy chief of mission in India (1997-1998) and Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh (1998-2001) - before he was promoted to the post of foreign secretary. Through this book, Acharya has shown an extraordinary ability to explain minute incidents that have gone on to shape contemporary Nepal. Acharya can be expected to provide rare insights into Nepalese foreign policy in the future. Acharya has given references to many books, publications and journals. Foreign readers can welcome the induction of another scholarly work in the body of literature on Nepal. For Nepalese readers, the book promises a memorable experience.
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