Holders of fake certificates exposed in Biratnagar

Last week I was yet again in my hometown Biratnagar in connection with the 45 th day rituals of my mother who left for her heavenly abode on April 7, 2001.

After the conclusion of the rituals my attention was drawn towards the heroic deed that had been recently accomplished by the Campus Chief, Dr. Upendra Koirala, of the Mahendra Morang Multiple Campus.

In fact what Koirala did is simply splendid for which he must be appreciated by all. Koirala became suddenly a hero when he made up his mind that he should expose all those students currently studying in his institution possessing "fake educational certificates".

It is said that the menace of the fake certificates has spread all over the country. Personalities at higher places in government bureaucracy, universities, banks and the likes could easily be found with fake certificates. It was said once upon a time that if one wished to get him promoted in a particular office, all that he or she should do is to enter India and approach some "fake educational institutions" through "designated" brokers. A deal could be struck depending upon the buyer's choice for the level of the qualifications he or she wished to obtain. Albeit prices could vary if one wished to get good marks. Some even said that the buyer could himself dictate the marks he or she wished to get in various subjects. Understandably, in such cases, the purse to be paid in lieu of the certificate with desired marks must have been fat.

Rumors had it that the Indian brokers could even manage "'doctoral degrees" at one's door steps albeit against a handsome price.

Thanks to the brokers that they opened their authorized "branch office" in various places of this country so that the buyers could be relieved from the burden of going to India and contacting the broker. In the process, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Nepalganj and Birganj and some other adjoining areas in the border saw the opening of such branch offices. Kathmandu could not have, hopefully, remained an exception.

Three years back, I recall, at a Nepal-India border journalists seminar held in Biratnagar, the then Indian Ambassador K.V.Rajan sought the support of the border media men in exposing the rackets dealing with the proliferation of such fake certificates. However, what the media men of the borders on this count did or accomplished is difficult to say because since then the media men on either sides of the border have not met at one place in Biratnagar.

Campus chief Koirala very daringly selected some fifty good names of those students whom he considered in possession of fake certificates. Going a bit farther, he pasted the names of the students in the official notice board. A clever Koirala, hopefully as he is, in the meantime managed to verify those certificates from the very Indian institution that bore its name. Fortunately, the institution officials in India bluntly denied the certificates to have been issued by them.

Kudos to you Mr. Koirala. Will others follow the suit?

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