A sense of fear always lurks over the heads of the bureaucrats who dare to oppose ministerial dictates -Krishna Prasad Joshi, Retd. Bureaucrat and literateur

I basically come from Bhojpur in the Koshi zone of the Eastern Nepal.

Upon completion of my School Leaving Certificate examinations, I then moved to Dhankuta to pursue my further studies. From here I obtained my Intermediate of Arts course long time back and finally began residing in Kathmandu.

However, much ahead of permanently settling sown in Kathmandu, I had joined the Government service as back as in 1963 in the then Panchayat Development Ministry.

As the luck would have it, while being in the government job I got an opportunity to obtain my MPA , Masters in Public Administration degree from the American University, Beirut, Lebanon in 1981.

My entrance into the government job was with the post of Non-Gazette First Class which continued for all along three decades.

Needless to say, I am a retired bureaucrat today. My inclination towards literary domain keeps me busy comfortably. I have no grudge about my retired life.

I must admit that during the course of my service in the government, I got an opportunity to travel to almost twenty plus districts which gave me a new insight of the topographical location of my own country. The snow capped mountains; the rugged terrains and the thatched houses in the remote areas and above all the all-smiling people of this country are for me the real beauty of this country. The villages in the far-flung areas comparatively provide a picture of real Nepal. The urban modernization is illusive, let me assert this fact.

In the process of my job, I landed in Mustang, Manang, Solukhumbu and Taplejung. The lives of the people residing in these areas are quite different.

As an officer of the erstwhile regime, I must be honest in telling you that during those days, political pressure was practically nil as compared to what we listen today. Local bodies were in place and the local leaders have had a real and fair coordination with each other, which facilitated the growth of the villages and the districts. Bureaucracy was fairly independent and the rules and the regulations of the government were functioning as it should have been. The Panchas of the bygone ear had more or less no penetration into the government's decisions. The then leaders respected the bureaucrats either they be in Kathmandu or in the districts. The bureaucrats had no conflict with the leaders.

Since I have no experience of the bureaucracy after the 1990 change so I would refrain from passing on any comments on today's bureaucratic functioning. But then yet what could be told is that today's bureaucracy is a weakened force compared to what we had observed then. Political pressures are abundant and the bureaucrats have to work under tremendous pressures. The ministers rule supreme and the bureaucrats have to provide their nod in the ministerial decisions even if it were illegal and counter productive to nation's development. This they do for fear of being sacked or transferred. A sense of fear always lurks over the heads of the bureaucrats who oppose or dare to oppose ministerial dictates.

Even the chief secretary, I am told, is not allowed to work free hand. He has to obey to the dictates of the ministers or for that matter the prime minister. The secretaries too at times have been seen unable in exercising their duties. So sad. This perhaps should explain the strength and the guts of the Nepali bureaucracy.

Politics? It is uncertain. Any thing could happen any moment. The politics is fragile and fluid. No body feels secured because of bad politics.

No parliament, no local bodies, no unanimity in and amongst the cabinet members. Under such situation no bold decisions could be made. The talk of holding of the elections is a classic example of indecision.

Who is the culprit? Certainly the political players. Instead of thinking of national development, our major political players have been seen exhibiting their lust for power. They understand only the language of bargain. At a time when they all should have a common voice, they appear divided on each and every prime issue of the nation's development and security. It is their sheer weakness and follies that Nepal today is in such an inescapable chaotic situation.

The King? I think that the King too wishes speedy development of the country. How can we imagine that the King would go in a different direction that what is expected of him? I believe that if the players of Nepali politics unite and form a consensus and approach the King with development agenda, the King will certainly cooperate them. In such a situation, I don't think that the King will disagree. The fact is that the politicians don't think that they should do this.

Maoists issue? Well to me it appears that it is the outcome of political, social, economic and ethnic disparities that prevailed in the country for decades and decades and the sheer neglect of the planners and the decision makers in Kathmandu to their grievances that gave birth to this insurgency. The oppressed and the neglected lot in the remote areas of the Kingdom waited for long that development would come to their areas, however, that was not forthcoming. When enough was enough, people-the rejected ones-resorted to the guns. Unfair distribution of the fruits of development too made them angry with the movers and shakers of the Nepali politics seated in Kathmandu.

Bring them to the national mainstream. Let them feel that they too were a part of the system. Don't isolate them for long. Listen to their genuine grievances. If their political agenda are worth emulating, what is the harm in accepting them?

Media? Well, the media of late has been doing a tremendous job. It's becoming highly informative one.

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