At present the state of development is it the state of stagnation

-Mr. Man Bahadur Khattri, Assistant Lecturer, T.U

He hails from Baglung and is in his early 30s. He obtained his Education M. Phil. (Archaeology) from the University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway in the year 1999. Likewise he secured his M. A. in Anthropology, from Nepal's Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur in the year 1995. Prior to this Man Bahadur Khattri obtained Bachelor in Education with Major Economics and Nepali Language and literature from Tribhuvan University in the year 1992.

Currently Mr. Khattri is associated with the Tribhuvan University's Central Department of Sociology/anthropology and working there as an Assistant Lecturer. He is also a part-time teacher at the Dillibazar based S.M.College where he teaches Sociology.

Mr. Khattri's areas of Specialization include, among others, Ethno-archaeology especially in ritual landscape.

His work experience include as a Facilitator (19 Nov. 2001-31 Jan. 2002)for carrying out the First Phase Farmer´s Level Evaluation of Sustainable Soil Management Programme in Parbat District for SSMP, Helvetas and as Research Associate (December 2000- Febrary2001) in order to carry out a research for IFAD (International Fund For Agricultural Development) which brought him to Humla and Mugu. He also worked as a Field Researcher (Oct. 1997- Feb. 1998 & Sept.- Dec. 1994) in order to write a dissertation to fulfill partial requirement for M. Phil. Degree in Ethno-archaeology, and to write a dissertation for M. A. Degree in Anthropology.

Courses Currently Mr. Khattri is teaching include Agriculture:Subsistence Vs. Market orientation, livestock management, anthropology of Tourism (Anthropology of Natural Resource Management), for M. A. students at Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal. Similarly, Ideology, Innovation and Change and Applied Sociology and Anthropology in Sagarmatha Multiple(SM) College of Purbanchal University Nepal. He is also the member of a few reputed national and international organizations.

Mr. Khattri has likewise attended various national and international seminars and has also presented papers on topics such as "NGOs; Civil Society and Government: Critical Examination of Their Roles and Responsibilities"; and Ethnicity and Nation Building'.

In the process of studies abroad, this young man from a remote district of Nepal has visited several countries of the globe among them include Norway, Switzerland, France, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, and India.

Area of Research Interests include Culture, Environment and Development; Ethnographic studies of mountain people, Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment.

Last week I met this young, energetic and very modest scholar at a social gathering. His scholarly interaction at the said gathering prompted me to approach him for an exclusive interview. Mr. Khattri readily agreed. Below the results: Chief editor.

TGQ1: Mr Man Bahadur Khattri as anthropologists how do you analyze the state of development in Nepal? Where did we commit mistakes?

Mr. Khattri: At present the state of development is in the state of stagnation. Development infrastructures have been destroyed, people are suffering lacking the basic services, like telephone, electricity, water supply. The government is unable to invest necessary amount of budget in development sector. The development agencies have been stopping their development activities in the remote areas where development is a must. Unemployment is rampant phenomena in this country. Industries, which were already established are being either closed or in the condition of being closed. The country mostly depends upon imported good and services. Many youths have been leaving the country depositing their land/property to go to the Arabian countries in search of job, this has made more people poorer in the country.

In my opinion, one of the main mistake is that people who were in the policy planing position could not make a proper policy according to carrying capacity of the state in order to solve the growing population and the limited resources of the country.

The other mistake is that people did not thought that socio-cultural diversity as the socio-cultural resources for the development of the country. In this regard local people were ignored for their genuine ideas, socio-economic institutions, which are better adapted in the local setting, and their leadership building processes. This led to lacking people's participation in the development activities of the country.

TGQ2: Nepal is going massive change in social, political and economic areas. Are the changes unfolding in the nation positive for nation building or does it pose problem in national identity for the future?

Mr. Khattri: Cultural diversity is our national identity. Our country is small but many different cultures are practiced. Sometimes I face difficulties which culture represents our national culture. Cultural changes are universal phenomena. Many people worry about these changes. People like to say, in my time/my grand-father's time this was the culture which was so good, but now it became worse, these are common colloquial in every society. But cultural practices do not change on their own and abruptly. There are social, political, economic, and technological and many other factors involve in cultural change. Such changes are the result of necessary conditions of the society. Now many of us observe family structure has changed quite fast. The traditional joint family breaking down to nuclear family. This change occur because to adapt in a new situation. The process started at first rural-urban migration for work in the city areas, later society gradually adopted nuclear family as social and cultural value. Thus we must accept these changes as normal processes. Therefore, these changes will not pose any problem for our national building process.

TGQ3: People in general blame that social science in Nepal is not indigenized. The use of exogenous knowledge in the policy planing of Nepal instead of promoting development has foster the "development of underdevelopment in Nepal". What is your comment?

Mr. Khattri: It is natural to be blamed, but whatever blame we got that is not the problem in the context of development of country. The problem is that we use social- cultural knowledge in the field of development. We lack researches, research builds sociological knowledge which is very crucial in the development processes. Our government does not invest in social research and do not recognize as an important in the development activities. The government thinks only technician can contribute in development field, which is very wrong idea which is dangerous and has to be changed soon possible. Our country lacks sociological anthropological perspective in the planning. Only one time in the history of five-year plan two sociologists were appointed as a member of planning commission in this country. So, how can we expect our sociological knowledge be indigenized in this country. The state has to invest to build national social science experts who are familiar with national problems and socio-economic, and cultural background of the people, and then provide them opportunity to use their expertise in their respective field. Only technician can not solve the problem country's state of development of underdevelopment. Therefore, sociologists and anthropologists are not responsible for building this country "development of underdevelopment".

TGQ4: How your sociological discipline perceives the current degradation seen in the Nepalese society? What factors could have impacted on the very degradation in your opinion? Your comments please!

Mr. Khattri: Social cultural, economic ecological as well as others factors are interrelated and interdependent in a society, when change occurs in one factor results change in other factors. The political change in 1990 brought changes in many factors. The country is stepping in capitalistic mode of production, many government owned factories are privatized. At the same time Maoist so called People's war has been going on, which causes much more drastic changes in the community. If you visit in a rural village people do not share their ideas with any strangers, even they can not share their emotions of happiness, sorrow with their relatives. They feel most insecure. Political inability of the leaders, socio-economic condition is the main causes of these current degradation in this country.

TGQ5: As a responsible citizen f the country, how you Mr. Khattri have been watching the country's ongoing turbulent politics? Do you see any possibility of the King's intervention given his subtle hints at the same he has been making in the interviews granted in the recent days and weeks to national and international media. Your remarks please!

Mr. Khattri: After the PM's dissolution of the parliament, and split of Nepali Congress thereafter, the political condition of the country is very poor and fragile. Many people like me are only guessing what will happen next. The possibility of the King's intervention we can not ignore. What I have understood from king's interview is that, He expressed His commitment towards the present constitution and constitutional monarchy. I think some people like to hear from king that he wants direct rule in this country to maintain peace and foster development in this country. To solve the present political crisis is not so easy. The King's intervention may bring more political turbulence in this country. If king intervenes, certainly there will be great political change in the country. In this country political crisis is not only the single problem but the socio-economic condition of the people is worst, which is difficult to solve at one time or in a short time period. What I wanted to say is that the political crisis is not the major crisis rather it is blamed as the cause for other crises of the country.

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