An Introduction to Nepal

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.