Nepali Monarch can play
a role of facilitator in the developmental process of the nation
-Hari Bansha Dulal, currently
in the United States
He is a Teraian basically. He hails from
Ineruwa town in Sunsari district.
He is currently specializing in Urban
Planning from Western Illinois University, USA, and enjoying scholarship program from the
said University itself.
Prior to his present stint in the
United States, Herr Hari Bansha Dulal received fellowship from the Friedrich Ebert
Stiftung, FES, Germany, for pursuing Master's Degree in Environmental and Resource
Management at the Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany. In addition to
this, Monsieur Dulal also possesses the distinction for being able to be awarded the
prestigious scholarship from Nokia Corporation, Finland, to attend the Helsinki Summer
School in Environment Globalization and Development.
Mr. Dulal obtained his Bachelor degree in
Science discipline from University of Delhi, India, in the year 1999.
Born on 18 January 1974, Sri Dulal has
several prizes to his credit which he bagged during his school days.
He was elected unopposed as the Secretary
of University Hostel, Hansh Raj College, Delhi, for the year 1998-99. Has also worked as a
Research Assistant at the department of Aquatic Ecology at the Brandenburg University of
Technology. He was appointed as an Adviser for the course of study "Environmental and
Resource Management for the year 2000 by the Dean of the faculty of Environment.
Mr. Dulal has attended several
International seminars such as, Sustainable Tourism Project in Northern part of the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan organized by DAAD in the year 2000.
Mr. Dulal was the one who wished to
attend a Telegraph media seminar on Good Governance held in Kathmandu on November 23,
2000, for which, I recall, he made early requests through emails and actively participated
in the said seminar in Kathmandu.
Mr. Dulal is pained to learn the current
situation back in his home-country and has forwarded some prescriptions for correcting the
anomalies that have gripped the nation of late.
The only "sad-news" about Mr.
Dulal is that he is still a bachelor.
Last week, I approached this Nepali
intellectual through electronic mail and wished to invite him for this column.
Below the results-chief editor.
TGQ1: As an informed and
responsible Nepali studying abroad, how you and your colleagues have been assessing the
political situation in the country? If you were to put blame on for the current mess in
Nepal, whom would you blame and why? Your remarks please.
Mr. Dulal: Political situation in Nepal is degrading day by day. Things have been
changing for worse. Citizen’s hopes and aspiration for better future have been dashed
away. Politicians seem to be more interested in accumulating wealth and promoting
favoritism and nepotism rather than solving nation’s
problem.
I would solely blame the political leaders for the current mess. They have deviated from
their duty of solving nation’s problems. Had they understood the aspiration(s) of
people and worked for the betterment of country things would have been different today.
You do not need century to develop a nation. For example, you can see the Indian State of
Andhra Pradesh where one strong politician has changed the face of the state.
TGQ2: A section of the Nepali media and some politicians as well have been voicing the
need for a strong presence of the constitutional monarch in order to save the country from
the approaching collapse. Do you subscribe to these views or you have some reservations on
the matter? Also tell us whether the monarch could sustain the criticism from all fronts
should the monarch stage a coup d'etat? How the democratic nations will react to those
overtures of the monarch? Your opinions please.
Mr. Dulal: I strongly support for the strong presence of Monarch in Political
process but at the same time I do not recommend old panchayati style of rule. There is no
substitute to democracy and monarch should not try to crush democracy and stage a coup
d`etat. Such action will be counter productive and propagate hatred towards monarchy
itself. Monarch can play a role of facilitator in the developmental process of the nation.
Increased participation of monarch can help enhance development and restore peace in the
nation. Before thinking how democratic nations will react we must think about downtrodden
Nepali populace. I do not believe that democratic nations will oppose if monarch wants to
participate and work for the betterment of the country without harming democracy and
crushing democratic structures and values. For example we can see monarch's role in
politics in Jordan which is one of the most favored nation in Middle East by democratic
countries in West. Some politicians are making hue and cry over this topic out of fear
that they will be unmasked and their political career will be doomed. We must shun such
opportunist politician(s) and enhance participation in nation building process.
TGQ3: Nepal at the moment is in a state of emergency. In the process, both the Maoists and
the military men are being killed. Whosoever is killed is a Nepali. In these chaotic
circumstances, as an intellectual what would be your advice to both the Maoists and the
government so that peace is ultimately restored in the nation as before? How would you
react to the Maoists demand for a constituent assembly and the government's outright
denial to that?
Mr. Dulal: Government must get over the false notion that they can wipe out
Maoists from Nepal with the help of bullets. Had it been that easy, countries like Sri
Lanka, Colombia, Peru, Philippines and our immediate neighbor India would have got rid of
insurgents. Emergency has been prolonged (in Nepal) for second time now but then what
about expiration of this period? Can a least developed country like
ours afford to keep on prolonging emergency? Maoist too must take softer stand and adopt
rational approach towards ending this blood shed. Both the parties must understand the
fact that guns propagates hatred and propagation of hatred is not in the Nation’s
overall interest. Ultimate peace can be restored only through sincere dialogue. I
personally do not think Maoist will stick to the demand of
constituent assembly for long and government must not expect them to drop their demand of
constituent assembly in first few talks itself. First few talks can be utilized to diffuse
the existing environment of mistrust between the government and Maoist. I urge both the
parties to get back to the negotiating table and reach common minimum understanding to end
this unwarranted blood shed.
TGQ4: The UML after its unification with the ML has stepped up its voice for effecting
certain
constitutional changes. The UML opines that the changes could facilitate even the
Maoists to join the mainstream. Others say it will not. Also tell us is it the right time
for effecting change in the constitution when the state of emergency is in place?
Interesting is the fact that the intellectuals, academicians and civil society members
have been denied their comments with regard to the changes in the constitution by the UML
and a section of the congress. What you think of this attitude?
Mr. Dulal: If one has a fair knowledge of Nepalese politics, he or she must be
acquainted with UML`s dubious character. UML seems to be more interested in grabbing power
rather than solving nation’s problem by providing constructive criticism to the
ruling party. Reunification itself is a result of fear of its political survival. If any
changes in constitution is to be made it has to be done after the negotiation with Maoist
rebel, which will help reestablish long awaited peace in the country.
I am personally surprised and shocked to
know that the intellectuals, academicians and civil society have been denied to make
comment with regard to the changes in constitution by the UML and section of the congress.
Intellectuals, academicians and civil society are the watchdog of any democratic country
and denial of right of expression to the most informed sector of the society is not only
unfortunate but also depressing.
It is impossible for a nation with weak civil society to progress. Politicians who want
academicians, intellectuals and civil society to remain silent are opportunist and want to
establish autocratic rule to make their ends meet.
TGQ5: Some believe that Nepal's
deteriorating condition is also due to the fact that Nepalese civil society remains badly
divided on political lines and hence it has not been able to act as a pressure group.
Others blame the menace of corruption has alone discredited the suitability and the very
credibility of the system itself? Is it the system's fault or of those who have been
handling the system since twelve years? Your comments please!
Mr. Dulal: You can have best system put in place but if those handling the system
are not competent enough and have personal motives, the system will not produce the
desired result (s). I would rather say poor functioning of the current system is a
"cumulative effect" of the divided civil society and rampant
corruption. The problem of Nepal is “Wrong people are at the right places”.
We need to promote competition in the society and let competent heads hold responsible
posts. Favoritism, nepotism and corruption must be discouraged. Corrupt politicians and
bureaucrats must be dealt seriously and action must be taken against them. There is a need
of strong civil society and the civil society must work as watchdog to safeguard
nation’s interest rather than getting divided over political lines. |
