The Maoists insurgency is purely a 'political' issue motivated solely by economic depression -Prem Sharma, CEDA, T.U

He is undoubtedly a self-made man. Whatever he is today is his own effort that has elevated him to this status. It is only but natural that he should feel proud of himself. Yet he is modest and enjoys intellectual debates on contemporary national and international politics with his intimate colleagues.

Prem Sharma is currently associated with the CEDA, Center for Economic Development and Administration under the Tribhuvan University. He is at the moment a Doctoral degree student and the topic of his thesis is "People's participation in Local project planning". Sharma secured his degree in the discipline of Political Science as back as in 1982 from the T.U Multiple campus. He did his diploma in Political Science and English as well from Trichandra Multiple Campus in the year 1979.

He hails from Bhogsing, Parbat in the Dhaulagiri Zone of western Nepal.

Mr. Sharma joined the CEDA in the 1995 and is there still as Research officer. Since 1986 till 1995, Sharma served the CEDA as assistant Lecturer. During 1984-85, he served at the R.J multiple campus, Mahendra campus in Baglung and Siraha campus as well.

He has also the experience of serving at the Higher Secondary schools in various districts of this Himalayan Kingdom. At the moment he is the General Secretary of the Political Science Association of Nepal, POLSAN.

He has considerable number of publications to his credit. A few of those include Rural-Urban linkage for Rural development; Role of local government on local planning; Pros and cons of Recent approach on village development programme; Beijing conference 1995, Women's participation; and Collapse of Panchayat System:A brief study of Bangladesh and finally Problem of Youth Organization in Nepal: A case study of Bhogsing village Panchayat.

Sharma has attended several national and international seminars held in the recent times. In some of the high profile seminars he has also presented his research papers and bagged accolades from the attending participants.

Last week, we approached this scholar for an exclusive interview to which he readily accepted. Below the results: Chief editor.

TGQ1: Mr. Sharma, how you have watched the nation's politics over these past ten years of the newly restored order? What are your comments for the so-called "failed development" in the country? Your comments please.

Sharma: It is in the doldrums and somewhere statelessness. In the aftermath of the transformation of monolithic politics to multiparty system, some sort of transitional characteristics of chaosism takes place for sometime. But such probation period does not last more than a couple of years. Unfortunately, Nepalese people have suffered more than a decade. It is uncommon phenomenon in the dynamics or dialectical process of systemic change. We, the people of the least developed and second poorest country of the world, cannot patiently wait a crude coffee rather than a cup of readymade tea. A hungry stomach does not pay attention to a philosophical bliss. Here in Nepal not only the subjects (citizens) are hungry but also the rulers-the  so called Gospels of the multiparty statecrafts- are hungrier themselves and are indulged into self-quench practices. To control and drive to the right direction, the society, especially the civil society of ours is in a primitive stage and no such institutions are setup which would streamline the politics of the adolescence multiparty democracy as it stands today. The statecraftsmen or actors of multiparty system failed to establish the real norms or say values of democracy. They lacked minimum a dozen ingredient qualities of democratic values. Thus, now the common people flatly blame the system. But it is not to blame the system rather the actors. I feel somewhere, our democracy does not sound as our own indigenous way of genesis. However, let us hope that the people will mould it in their own ways in the future.

Mr. Upadhaya, regarding your tail question of the first query, it may not be me to be appropriate to comment on 'failed development', because I am not an economist. But I guess this term was coined by Dr. D.R. Pandey and I regard him as the best and quick reactor of economic acid test in the context of Nepalese economy. The term may not have come in a haphazard manner,  it must be the synthesis of his long bureaucratic cum development experience blended with the political analyses. However, as a student of political science and local planning, I dare to agree partially with the concept of 'failed development'. Because the history of our development planning and strategies has been nearly five decades old. Within the nine periodic five years plans, few sizable development infrastructure has been setup. For instance, communication and transportation, education, health etc. But in the cost of foreign donation and loan, one cannot satisfy and say positively that the national development has been progressing in due pace and cost. Even in the period of past ten years, it may fall behind if it is compared with the ten early years of Panchayat period. Many exotic development plans and programs were introduced and experimented. The trickle-down method integrated rural development and so forth completely failed but foreign experts and donors gained the knowledge of reasons for the unsuccesses. Unfortunately, our national planners and policy-makers never learnt the lesson to take the corrective measures. For them it remained forever trial and error method. Even the recent planners and policy-makers are confused whether to save their designated chair or sacrifice that in the name of a realistic planning strategy. And at the same time, no development planners and advisors are there at the apex body except the one who has or can please and ease the power holders. National development can be imagined with a spirit and feeling of nationalism and patriotism. It seems the apex body of decision-makers are either brokers or…. Lives of most Nepalese have been deteriorating day by day. From the development indicators and aspect of state regulation, be it politics, administration or rule of law and economic development point of view, every nationalist Nepali feels 'failed development'. Now the country lacks a nationalist and effective leadership who possesses a vision of statesmanship and state-craftship.

TGQ2: As I understand you are a political scientist.  The Maoists issue is puzzling the entire nation since few years. Some say it has got to be handled through the process of dialogue. Others say it has to be contained through the use of state force. What would be your comment in this regard? Will the party that has the ultimate goal of making Nepal a Republican state will settle for less? Or is it that the less development in the west and the Far West has alenated the people of that part prompting them to join the ranks of the Maoists? Do you see any connection in the 'less development' and the ever growing strength of the Maoists' insurgents?

Sharma: It may not be appropriate to address me as political scientist rather I'm a student of political science. The Maoists issue is purely a political one motivated by economic depression. However, the responsible political parties like to term it as terrorist activities and hesitate to recognize it as an insurrection. If one pursuit the background activities of the responsible political parties, especially NC and UML, one can find almost similar sabotage. But the sabotage of Maoists insurrection is naturally greater and intensive. Yes, this issue has puzzled the state culprits as well as true nationalists and humanists (monks of human rights). It should be handled by means of peaceful mediation. Nevertheless, the present government lacks the power of political will and sincerity. At the same time, I see the flight of Maoists does not see a safe landing ground though their ultimate goal is to make Nepal a republican state and look after the poor or the backward sector. I fully agree the location of the den of the Maoists in the western and mid west is appropriate. It is a fertile land for them to lure and adequately convince the ever neglected and marginalised peoples' of that area of the nation. It is so because no government of the past and even this multiparty era has duly paid attention of at part. Rather a formality has been maintained. When there is low air pressure, there is more chances of cyclone. Certainly there is a close relationship between the 'less development' better to say attitude of inference of the government and growing strength of Maoists' insurgents. It is almost similar with the case of a weaker civilian authority and having higher chances of military intervention. The term 'formality', 'inference attitudes' and  'power of political will and sincerity' are adequate to analyze the problem of Maoists issue.

Otherwise, in the 21st century, the two-century-old class struggle and peasant movement could not have survived for long. It has been a good lesson for unscrupulous and insincere government as well as the donors. Now whom to blame? Why do they lag behind the Maoists?

TGQ3: It is talked that the donors dictate us  heavily while granting certain projects. The donors say those who handle, politicians and the bureaucrats and their hangers on, the donated money eat a sizeable chunk and thus  the project never sees completion. Do not you think that the time had come to practice the theory of self-reliance as we the Nepalese are being regarded as number one beggars in the midst of the donors. Can we do without the foreign aid? If yes how? And if not how the money should be utilised without going to the pockets of the corrupts of the nation.

Sharma: I do not agree that donors can heavily dictate us while granting certain project. It is we who are to surrender or show our inability and personal interest to accept such projects and loans. One of the proofs of it is your own statement 'the donors say… project never sees completion'. If donors say so, why do they donate the money? There is their own interest too apparently. Thus let us not beg as a beggar. With the conditionalities, rather tell them (donors) that we can bake our own cakes ourselves. Learn to identify our own needs and priorities, chart out our own plan and programs. Receive or accept necessary knowhow and technical assistance without string. This is a road to self-reliance. The tail never shakes the body, it is one's own brain that shakes the tail. If you are mentally weak, sometimes you feel even a wind thwarts you. But in Nepal, the donation/loan has been for donors. If the donation/loan is for Nepal and Nepalese, let us handle it in our own management and needs. On the other, if the national decision-makers are indulged themselves in personal gains and interest, there is a problem of sincerity and national development. In the context of globalization and time of space network one cannot keep aloof and without economic transaction. As a poor and least developed nation, we need foreign aid without which the pace of development can be very slow. But the question of corruption control and proper utilization is concerned, the present state machinery is ruined or out of function. The concerned institutions ( e.g. judiciary, commission for the investigation of abuse of authority, auditor general, etc.) are either paralyzed by political inclination or appear to have become defunct by excessive intervention. Rule of law has been violated by extravagant democracy. The strength and status of civil society to check and control the disorder is in a very primitive state. Now only the media is able to expose the blurred print of the fact. The only solution to overcome the problem is to empower the concerned institutions, legitimacy and enforcement of legislation and awareness of civil society. And a provision of rigorous state punishment and investigation of unduly earned properties of the state-servants (Rastriya Sewak).

TGQ 4: Much is  talked about civil society these days in Nepal. How can a strong and a vibrant civil society check the undemocratic behaviors of the self styled politicians  and consolidate the fragile democratic order of  the country. Do not forget that civil societies also have been functioning on partisan lines. Under such scenario how you envision the role of such societies in acting like real pressure groups which is what I have understood should be the duties of civil societies. How you explain it?

Sharma: The term 'role of civil society' has been a catchy word in the field of governance. In a real sense it is a true pressure group in the helm of good governance. For, in  a democratic rule, it is inevitable. I have already mentioned somewhere that our civil society is in a primitive state. Even the newly emerged societies are either functioning on partisan lines or as ancillary organizations. This is some sort of mis-concept and a problem of separate identity of civil society from political ancillaries. Now they have been the main vein-guard of the political parties but tomorrow the partisan ancillaries and real civil society will be discerned while going to the voters at the voting time. In the poor performance of the parties and their government delivering services and goods to the people, then the role of such civil society will be crucial and of great importance. The role of a true civil society is to maintain a link or communicate between the decision-makers and the common people. Their duty is to aware both of them from worsening and lead to the right track. But such has not happened adequately in the Nepalese governance or the concern parties (groups) have not paid due attention to it.

TGQ 5: Nepal lacks good governance and hence no developments say intellectuals. What you mean by good governance in the context of Nepal or for that matter any other country. I understand that for good governance you need good performers. In reality we lack such persons. With such corrupt and power lust leaders  how you think the nation will be nicely governed and the people will feel that they too were a part of the system. Do you see such things happening in the near future given the presence of the declared corrupts at the helm of power? Has the media any role in enhancing good governance? If yes, then please tell us how?

Sharma: Today the terms 'good governance', 'human rights', and 'democracy' have been caught into indefinite meaning and vivid fashion. Their limitation, ingredients, and interpretation vary from intellectuals to intellectual or country to country. In my little knowledge, good governance is close to rule of law where temporary, accountability, responsiveness, consensus, equity, strategic vision on national issue and capability or working effectiveness and efficiency are prevalence. Nepal is being bypassed from such requisites. From such situation national development cannot be imagined. If the leadership, the power-monk, is indulged in his own personal benefit, interest and shortsightedness, he and his team cannot show good performance and lead the nation or institution to the right direction. Then people seek alternatives, which can either change the leadership democratically or revolt against the system. A bad fisherman drowns the innocent people. To cooperate and help the government is the duty of citizen and to govern according to the will of the people is vice-versa. The ruler/leaders should not think once the voters mandated their Sovereignty it is forever. It is simply for five years. The observers of the whole nation are witnessing, reading, and listening the cries and statement of the corrupt statesmen. But they do not see a single corrupt around them or in the prison. So who is that? Where is he? Does the snake see its own legs? We do not know because the common people are unable to say. The fruit of the democracy is for all or for few, has been questioned of late. Commissions, task force and so-called vigilante are there for moral boost to the corrupts. With the present pace, spirit, speech, way of tackling, corruption cannot be minimized.

Yes, media has an important role to create an environment for good governance. If they sincerely follow their ethics, morality and their values. In the aftermath of the restoration of multiparty polity, the role of media has been tremendously increased. Their survival depends upon their credibility, ethic and fairness. Today for good analysts and readers have a problem to rely on the fact of print media. This is the age of who are the fittest or competitors. Thus, only few outstanding newspapers have deserved credibility and have free market. Otherwise most of them are existing on partisan subscription or advertisement basis. A good media plays a witness role and carries issues to the concerned people. It is not only a watchdog but also a good defending-guard of a residence. It unfolds the files where the concerned authorities have to probe into and treat the right suspense. In the annals of the events the media have contributed a great deal in the past. The political change of 1990 had heavily depended upon the media and the role of the student (See the author's 50 days Pro-democracy Movement in Nepal in 1990, CEDA, T.U.). Therefore, one cannot overlook the role of media. The control or reduction of corruption in Nepal cannot go beyond the effective role of Nepalese media.

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