View Point (Spotlight Weekly)

Whither Nepali Intelligentsia?

By Deepak Gajurel

“Audiences (viewers, listeners and readers) are sensitive to contextual cues when they reason about national affairs. Their explanations of issues like security, terrorism or poverty are critically dependent upon the particular reference points furnished in media presentations," says Shanto Iyengar, Professor of Political Science and Communication Studies at University of Chicago. Professor Iyengar has pioneered the research in the framing effects of news coverage on public opinion and political choices.

No doubt, the media has a pivotal role in framing issues of national importance. This is symmetrically applicable in the developed western societies as well as in agrarian societies like ours.

Equally important is the role of the intelligentsia. The intellectuals have the power of creating public opinion. This is the section of society which helps frame national policies and programs. Realizing this, societies of the world have been utilizing the power of the learned sections of the society for the welfare of nation and the people.

Nepal is one of such societies that is unfortunate to have such media and a segment of intelligentsia that go against national interests at crucial times. Country’s intelligentsia has an important role in strengthening national security, though not in terms of military defense.

Nepal is once again embroiled in a civil war. The country’s national security is at peril. The fight is at several fronts. Everyone at Singhadarbar, the streets and the jungle claims to be doing good for the country. But the country is heading nowhere. There seems no ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. It is clear by now that no player has played its role honestly, consequently the country is facing this devastating situation.

Whither Intelligentsia?

At a time when the nation is demanding a true nationalist leader to safeguard the country and its national interests, a section of Nepali intelligentsia has been working against Nepal’s national interests.

Nepali ‘intellectuals’ do not tire lauding their role and importance. ‘Since we are human being and believe in democratic system, we can not be indifferent to the political process of the country,” they claim. Of course, no citizen can stay aloof from the political process of his/her country.

Nevertheless, a section of Nepali intelligentsia is hurting the nation. ‘Nepal does not need an army. Nepal’s internal security should be handled by the police force and the country’s defense responsibility should be handed over to India,” a self proclaimed ‘high-profile expert’ of Nepal wrote in his opinion article published recently by a reputed media outlet.

Another high-profile journalist claiming himself to be an opinion maker wrote, ‘… before speaking or acting against the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with India, Nepalis have to ponder about the adverse impacts on Nepal in the absence of this treaty. It is obvious, and everyone in Nepal knows, that the 1950 treaty is more beneficial to Nepal than to India. Thus it should not be terminated …’ Again, this ‘urge’ was widely made public by a credited media outlet.

A security analyst addressing an interaction program in the capital the other day suggested to the Nepali people that “The peace talks between the government and the Maoist insurgents should be held with a foreign supervision and in a foreign land, not in Nepal.” This advice has come at a time when there is a sort of national consensus that the present national problems have to be solved by Nepalis themselves, and that there should not be any outside interference in the process.

The above views have been expressed when Nepalis are divided on the political system the country must adopt for speedy development.

Media and national interests

It is not that only a few ‘learned’ ones are threatening the security of the country, joining this wagon is a section of Nepali media as well.

Nepali media has made a great leap in the last one decade. It has contributed a lot to nation building. However, when the question of national interest and national security arises, a segment of Nepali media fails to serve the country. Instead of fulfilling their responsibility of defending national interests, they seem to be led astray.

‘Sikkim achieved its high standard of development goals only after this country was annexed into India. This Himalayan country was very backward till it was a sovereign nation.’ This was the message given by a series of publications in a ‘very distinct’ fortnightly.

The same publication came up with interview of Lendhup Dorji, the Kaji of Sikkim who virtually was responsible for Sikkim’s annexation into India, in which Dorji tried to justify that he had done good for his countrymen.

What message do these media consumables try to give to the Nepali people? This question has become significant at this juncture.

Another international media had, sometime back, conducted an opinion poll whether Nepal should be put under India’s security umbrella. A big hue and cry in Nepal made it realize its folly. However, who was after such a move was not difficult to assume.

Nepali media in general, of course with some exceptions, since the restoration of multi-party democratic polity in 1990, have not been serious on questions of national interests.

The Zone of Peace Proposal, put forward by late King Birendra, was supported by 116 nations of the world. India strongly opposed the concept and prevented Nepal from becoming a Peace Zone with international recognition. The proposal to make Nepal a zone of peace was incorporated in the Panchayat constitution. But the 1990 constitution drafters chose not to include this concept in the constitution. The concept is still a very living issue for most Nepalis even though all subsequent governments after 1990 are quite reticent on the issue. The reason for their opposition to the nationalistic concept is, however, not very difficult to guess.

The anti-nationalistic behavior of post-1990 politicians could be accounted for. But why a large number of Nepali media are following the footsteps of the politicians is a matter of great concern. Why are they trying to give a wrong message to our simple people? It is time they realized their folly and worked in their nation’s interests.

Nepal is burdened with over a hundred thousand Bhutanese refugees since more than a decade. Several rounds of dialogues have been held between Nepal and Bhutan to solve this problem, but all in vain.

Nepali media in general has been giving coverage to the bilateral talks and ‘progresses’ made therein. Similarly, our media, both electronic as well as print, have been coming up with good coverage on humanitarian, political and economic aspects of the refugee impasse. But the vital part of the coin is not even touched.

By the virtue of Treaty of 1949 between India and Bhutan, India looks after Bhutan’s defense and foreign policy. Since this treaty is still in place and functioning, any issue of foreign relations of Bhutan is the sole responsibility of India. Thus, Bhutanese refugee problem becomes bilateral issue between Nepal and India, not between Nepal and Bhutan. This is another testimony that can be ascribed to the failure of Nepali media. Why are not our media persons raising this issue? Should not our media outlets ‘furnish reference points in their presentations’ on Bhutanese refugee case? Unfortunately, they are not doing this for some unknown reason.

(Gajurel is a lecturer of political science in Tribhuwan University. He can be reached at dgaj@wlink.com.np)