King Gyanendra's role in the present context should be "crucial" and "democratic"

-Mr. Topendra Acharya, Kathmandu

This week we wished to invite a schoolteacher for this column. We believe that Nepali media more often than not prefers to neglect this sector for reasons unknown to us. However, for us the schoolteachers are really very important, as it is these teachers who mould the character of the young students who later serve the nation. In essence it is these teachers on whom the nation reposes trust and hopes that their teachings will time permitting produce the needed resource for the nation's development.

He is Mr. Topendra Acharya. He is at the moment serving as a Mathematics teacher at the Bijaya Memorial Higher Secondary school located in Dillibazar, Kathmandu.

Mr. Acharya is in his early 30s and has secured his Masters degree in the Mathematics discipline.

He hails from Dang district. It is this district, to recall, that has most unfortunately witnessed ghastly incidents of the two-way fight in between the security forces and the Maoists insurgents. Only last week, this district remained tense as the two forces came face to face resulting in the deaths of many Nepali citizens, whether they are from the security side or belong to the other camp.

We thought that who could else be the best personality for this week other than a person from Dang district itself. We thus approached Mr. Acharya to which he readily agreed. Below the results-chief editor.

TGQ1: As a responsible citizen involved in teaching profession for long, how you Mr. Acharya would assess the present political situation in the country more so after the recent Dang incident? Your remarks please.

Mr. Acharya: In my own analysis, the fresh ghastly incident in Dang last week does indicate that the country is being pushed towards further problems. This incident by implication also proves that the security of the common population is already in danger. The majority of the population has been subjected to attacks from both the sides. The country is definitely heading, unfortunately, towards destruction.

TGQ2: The Shivapuri statement of the Chief of the Army Staff Prazzwala Rana made on March 27 has been interpreted differently by different personalities and political parties. How you would wish to interpret? Your comments please.

Mr. Acharya: When one dares to interpret COAS Prazzawal Rana's March 27 statement made at Shivapuri hills in an independent manner what appears is that Rana's observations were close to the truth.

In my own independent analysis, the present sorry state of the nation has been the sole creation of Nepal's political parties and their lust for occupying lucrative chairs in the government. That's all.

TGQ3: Politicians say they did lot in the past twelve years. The people outrightly reject this. Whose side you would prefer to take as a responsible citizen and why? Your opinions please.

Mr. Acharya: Well I beg to differ with those who outrightly reject that there has been no development in the country over these twelve years. There has been some success stories as well. However, the sky-rocketing prices of the consumer goods and the existence of rampant corruption in practically all the sectors of the Nepali society that the population have not been able to feel relief and comfort.

TGQ4: Some say the King must intervene. Others say it is not desirable at the moment. Yet others say King's intervention would be unconstitutional. What the King should do? How you would comment on these separate opinions?

Mr. Acharya: The King symbolizes unity among the Nepalese. He is the well accepted unifying factor. And that is why the Monarch's role in the present context should be "crucial" and "democratic".

TGQ5: Intellectuals say the education sector too has become politicized in the recent years. The general allegation is that teachers prefer to become the tool of the political parties rather than educating the children/students. Do you think it is so or it is different than the general allegations? Your remarks please.

Mr. Acharya: Yes! Teachers continue to be the political tools of the political organizations. I personally feel that the unnecessary intervention by the political forces in the academic sector has undoubtedly affected the quality of the education in the schools and higher academic institutions. This is a fact. That's why I would suggest all that let politics be kept out from the domain of education. If it is not so, the quality of education will continue to suffer and will be in a state where it is at the moment.

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