I recall studying Laxmi Prasad Devokota’s poem, “Yatri”, in my Nepali literature class when in my 9th grade. During the class discussion, one of my friends, a son of a businessman, asked our teacher why people always perceived rich folks as ones who take something away from the poor. I don’t recall the answer, but the question that my fifteen year old friend asked was telling. The perception that anyone who has accumulated wealth has done so through illegal and corrupt means is so widespread that even a fifteen year old could sense it in the air.
In a society that has largely been feudal and where political and family connection matter for success, the anger of those that do not have such connections is understandable. But is the backlash going too far? Is taking from the rich and distributing it to the poor really such a noble cause? It may not be. Will it make us a prosperous nation? Not likely. Instead, it may be a plague that will haunt us for generations to come.
In recent years the rhetoric against the wealthy class has gone up. That is not surprising. The Gini coefficient, a measurement of income inequality, for Nepal was 36.7 in 1996 and 47.2 in 2008. As income inequality has gone up, politicians have started to use income redistributive rhetoric to garner votes. That is fine. This is democracy at work, and something to feel good about. But what is absent, is a political party that is innovative and is willing to take some risks.
It is a problem when two of three major parties have communist in their names, and the third calls itself a socialist. We desperately need a major political party that articulate the views of a large middle class who have faith in capitalism and are appalled by the unabashed rhetoric of income redistribution.
This group believes that it is not just political connection, and family pedigree that goes into accumulating wealth. They believe that accumulation of wealth requires hard work, risk taking, and the sacrifice of instant gratification with an eye on the future. That redistribution of wealth is in essence endorsement of the concept of “Kaam garne Kaalu, makai khane bhalu” which roughly translates to ‘work done by one but benefits reaped by another’ in English. They believe that it is improper to feel entitled to someone’s wealth. This group is a vote bank waiting for its leader. Exactly, how big is this group, it is hard to judge. But it may be bigger than what many perceive.
So far, Nepali congress (NC) has been on the defensive when it comes to income redistributive rhetoric. But there is really no need to do so. It may be a smart strategy to articulate views against the Robin Hood type of governance, and champion the cause of the capitalists, budding entrepreneurs, middle class that aspires to get wealthier one day, and the working class that feels it is impious to feel entitled to someone else’s wealth— no matter how it was accumulated.
If this strategy sounds too risky for NC, maybe the Rastrita Prajatantra Party (RPP) could take up the cause. After all, they have little to lose. This is a risk worth taking.
Writer is Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance at Texas A&M International University in Texas, USA
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