Children Column
Lizzie and her brother Jo were busy watching television.There was no one else in the house |
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By Prabhat Adhikari
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Words come with experience as well as knowledge.
This is where I want to start up my thoughts.
I am better than anybody and anyone can be better than me. |
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Disease By Reshma Dahal We all live in this world, As humans from earth, But not all people are fortunate enough, To be the same as us, |
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a'9f] af3 / tGg]/L l;ofn |
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It is Who You Know Matters:
Descriptions, Impressions
and Perceptions from the
Visit to the USA
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August, 2008
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July, 2008
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June, 2008
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May, 2008
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April, 2008
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March, 2008
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February, 2008
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January, 2008
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December, 2007
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November, 2007
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October, 2007
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September, 2007
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August, 2007
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July, 2007
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June, 2007
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May, 2007
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April, 2007
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END NEPOTISM CULTURE: DR DAHAL |
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| It is quite natural to get the message of congratulations when his own brother Prachanda has been elected the first prime minister of post monarchy Nepal. But the way of expressing the congratulations is like chalk and cheese which clearly shows the Nepali culture of ‘nepotism’ that has hold the country back for centuries. People are not only conveying their message of congratulations but also inquiring about Dr Dahal’s possible new role in the present government. "You should be minister, vice chairman of the national planning commission, ambassador or director in the new government" are some of the suggestions of friends to Dr Dahal, a PhD holder from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Dr Dahal is piqued with such message of well wishes or advice almost every day since Prachanda became the prime minister. He completely opposes the idea of nepotism saying it "the root cause of Nepal’s backwardness." He said: How can we develop Nepal with such trend? He stressed the need of making a trend of selecting people on the basis of academic achievement, skills and expertise not on the basis of favouritism."None should get any opportunity just on the basis of relations", he said. I am worried seeing the Nepali mentality, he added. There is frustration among the educated professionals due to the practice of nepotism and favouritism in Nepal. There are no efforts to utilise the skills, experiences and expertise of the educated people. That disappointment has led to the brain drain. Persons with skills and expertise do not need to follow political party line if there is any free and fair system in the country. The country can move in systematic procedures when there is an environment of utilising the knowledge and expertise on the basis of competition. When there is the practice of appointing someone on the basis of family relations - not on ability basis- then system does not work and such questions become quite natural. "What a Nepali mentality?" Dr Dahal asked. Some of those who asked him to take up responsive role in the government are even so-called intellectuals making significant contributions in Nepal in the past. That is completely upsetting for him. "How we can forward our development activities if we think of nepotism rather than utilising the expertise of people in a competitive manner?," he questioned. "That is the root cause of all problems of the past and the present government must not follow that bad tradition." Many Nepalese hesitate to return to Nepal after completing their studies as there are no any opportunities unless there is none in Nepal’s political circle to push them forward. Dr Dahal opposes all sorts of such anomalies being practiced in Nepal. He said that he is against all sorts of "nepotism and favouritism." I can utilise my experience, skills and expertise in Nepal but it should not be under the umbrella of any political parties. That must be stopped with the change of political course in Nepal. If the political parties like to pursue the policy of fairness and impartiality, like Dr Dahal says, then we will not hear such suggestions in the future. "I do not want to be in any position just because my brother is Prime Minister," he said. It does not mean that I will not make any contributions for the development of Nepal, he clarified. I want to continue my professional career based on my level of competency, make contributions for the country’s development completely being unbiased like before. His close friends, who know him very well, appreciate his determination. Dr Dahal has been working as a Research Scientist at the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) whose headquarter is located in Indonesia. This is the only global organisation working in the sector of forestry research and Dr Dahal has been supporting the forestry sector of Nepal through mobilising research activities on contemporary cutting edge issues related to forestry. Currently, Dr Dahal coordinates a global research project on "Forest Tenure Reform and its Impact on Environment, Peoples Livelihood and Social Equity that is being implemented in 13 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America including Nepal. He is one of the very few Nepalese who have got an international job immediately after completing the PhD from the University of Reading in September 2005. Interestingly, He finished his PhD on September 19 and got the present job the next day.He has been using his "experience, skills and expertise" in this sector but expresses no any intention of taking up any role of political appointment even after his brother was elected the prime minister. "If there is nepotism in the government then the government cannot be effective and does not last long," said Dr Dahal. I am capable of myself and can contribute even if my brother is not the prime minister, he said. "I do not want to take unnecessary and undue advantage just because of my brother." Some of his friends suggest him that he should agree to take a senior role in the Ministry of Forest. But he has clearly told them saying, "Be clear I will never be interested to take any role through political appointment." Some media reports stated that Prachanda sent him to the UK during the Maoists’ revolution spending huge amount. That questioned the credibility of media. In fact he came to the United Kingdom to study MSc at the University of Reading and continued the PhD. His research thesis was on "Forest Governance and Decentralisation Policy." Media in Nepal did not try to find the facts. " I came to study under the scholarship programme of the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC-Nepal) where I was a Coordinator of Forestry Project", he said. He was selected for the scholarship on the basis of competition. According to the SDC rule, I resigned from the job before accepting the scholarship for higher study. There are false reports in the media especially after Prachanda became prime minister. Some newspapers reported that he has been living in Indonesia and some reported him to be in Myanmar as if he had fled the country and working there as a non-skilled worker. Though Dr Dahal’s office is based in Indonesia, he works globally covering 13 countries of three continents and travels extensively around the world to coordinate his research work, attend meetings, seminars, conferences and workshops. "Media should present the facts not the misguiding false information", Dr Dahal said. In fact, media has not done justice to Dr Dahal. Neither his academic background nor his professional career is correctly reported in some Nepalese media. With the commencement of the peace process and normal political environment in Nepal, media in Nepal is expected to report properly being completely free, fair and impartial. And most important is the "double check" of the "facts."During discussion Dr Dahal strongly argues that deep rooted institutionalised ill practice of ‘Afno Manche’ at all level and Nepali mentality to nurture this practice both are the key barriers of development process in Nepal. |
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By Shirish B. Pradhan |
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 From glorious days to humiliation.
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