I am perplexed how to
introduce my country, whether as a proud country where Buddha was born; the
country which was known as a symbol of peace in the world some three decades
back or as a country which was at its worst state ever for over 10 years or as
a country where peace has not been availed even after eight years of
commencement of peace process.
For me, introducing my
country is the challenging one. Well, at this point you might think there are
so many things that I can introduce Nepal with. But I take a different
approach. I would like to introduce my country with the current scenario. I
want to introduce my country with things that has brought it in the lime light
in the recent days so that it keeps me reminding that there are still lot of things that needs to be done.
Nepal as a country is
well known to the world for the world’s tallest mountain, Mt. Everest and the
birth place of Buddha. However, in recent years it has also been known as a
country that went through a decade of armed conflict.
It is a country where
national level political leaders go abroad for their health treatment but they
forget about the people who die because of lack of proper access to health
facilities. Even if they make their way to the government hospital, it is just
to find that the hospital is closed because there is an ongoing strike.
It is a country where
students burn down an entire library over a personal dispute. A library
established in 1990s was completely destroyed and some 2000 books and large
number of thesis were turned to ashes. Students also do not hesitate to open a
fire following the dispute over bidding for the construction of the campus
building.
It is a country where a
parent whose son was killed has to fast till death in order to even file a case
against the culprit. They fasted till 47 days and broke it only after the
assurance from the government representative that they would proceed the
investigation. However, they resumed their fasting later fasted almost for a
year. Unfortunately, the husband died while he was on fasting and recently the
wife broke the fasting. Still, Justice seems to be at far distance.
It is a country where
the Constitutional Assembly Election was held twice, 2008 and 2013 as the first
Constitutional Assembly could not deliver a new constitution even in its 4
years of life and was dissolved. Personally, I would have agreed on extending
the Constitutional Assembly even for 8 more years given that every single CA
members would only focus on the Constitution writing process. But that did not
happen and it is still not happening.
It is a country where
an individual is held in custody when slapped a political leader but so called
leaders are not even touched when they openly take responsibility of the acts
of terror like, throwing petrol bombs in public vehicles, explosions, threat to
not to participate in the election, and so on.
It is a country where
people do not drive either on the right side or left side, we literally drive
everywhere. People wear helmet on their motor bike and seat belts not for the
safety reason, rather to get away from the fines by traffic police. Let one day
be a free helmet and seat belt day, I am sure more than 90% of them will be
helmet and seat belt less.
I come from a country
which is decorated only when some high profile people come to visit as if we
all Nepali people like unclean Nepal. The holes on the street will be black
pitched again, streets will be washed, buildings repainted, flowers planted
along the road side, and so on. I just wish we have such high profile visitors
every month.
By introducing my
country with those above mentioned incidents and situations, I am not trying to
undermine the positive things that are happening in Nepal. I am well aware that
there are few positive activities happening despite of the challenges we have.
However, remembering the negative or not the good ones makes me
think of things that I can do to make it right.
