Over the past seven decades, Nepal has undergone significant political changes from one party regime to multi-party democracy to multi-party democratic republic, declaring the People's First Constitution in the history. The humans, actively involved in bringing these changes, came from mostly rural areas playing petty politics at village, community, school, and college and, a few top leaders playing larger role at the national level. However, the majority of them have neither achieved high academic qualifications nor engaged in professional jobs that required high degree of vision and competency.They also did not engage in businesses/industries to create wealth for the nation. Nonetheless, many of them have sacrificed a lot in bringing the needed political change in Nepal. But they failed miserably in bringing economic prosperity: the outcome is that today the country remains one of the poorest in the world. I would label this breed of humans who contributed to bring a significant positive political change as "Old Force".
No matter what political changes we have achieved in past seven decades, the culture of this Old Force is still feudal. Feudal in a sense that their thinking is that they can do whatever they want to serve their self interest, and talk whatever they want to deceive the common people: they do not have to be accountable to the people. A brilliant example is the present government: with a world record of having six Deputy Prime Ministers, overburdening a poor country's scarce resources. Prime Minister has been promising too many things: every household will have cooking gas pipeline, there will be electric trains running in Kathmandu, and load-shedding will be gone in a year.
A deputy prime minister (DPM) is saying that there will be no poverty in the country if he continues in his ministerial role for the next five years. Another DPM is promising every village will be connected by roads within two years. Yet another minister is promising there will be life insurance for every farmer. The ministers are giving rhetorical promises which are not well researched and planned, and which are not achievable.
On the other hand, they are not addressing the real problems of the people. Black marketing is flourishing. Middle income and poor people have to wait for days for a half cylinder of gas and five liters of petrol. There is no running water at home; the poor dusty roads are prone to accidents; there is corruption in every service sector; people have to live with 14 to 16 hours of daily load-shedding; and earthquake victims are shivering in the cold, sick and vulnerable, and going hungry. Nine months have passed, yet there is no solid blueprint on how to assist the earthquake victims and make best use of donor money. A recent survey found that 84 percent of politicians from this 'Old Force" is corrupt. In this context, how can we expect good governance with effective service delivery to common people?
Therefore, in the changed political context and enormous sufferings of the people, the key question is: Are the humans of "Old Force" fit for bringing a real change in terms of economic development with social and environmental justice? Are they adequately equipped with professional competency and skills to deal with the present complex poverty dynamics within the country and global economy? My answer is 'No'. Hence, we need a new breed of humans in Nepal politics, which I would call "New Force."
This force should include humans with high academic credentials as well as professionalism. But, unfortunately, this breed of humans is also selfish that they work for their own economic prosperity using their competency, skills and innovations. But they certainly have the capacity to boost the country's economic development. In this context, my key argument is: time has come for this "New Force" to come forth and to embark on the quest for the country's prosperity, so that every Nepali can benefit and take pride in being a Nepali.
In my opinion, this is exactly the Naya Shakti, Nepal: a combination of academically sound individuals with high professional achievements as well as the individuals who have contributed to bring about meaningful political changes. They have also proven their commitment and dedication to serve the people at the grassroots for over many years. This makes Naya Shakti, Nepal a unique political platform, whose strength should be inclusion, equality, accountability and transparency with zero tolerance for corruption.
Baburam Bhattarai, former Finance Minister and the Prime Minister, came forward to lead Naya Shakti, Nepal. He made history by changing the face of the capital by expanding and broadening its narrow roads. This gradually extended to other cities and towns of the country. When the news of Naya Shakti, Nepal spread, the old breed of the so-called intellectuals poured hundreds of unfounded criticisms and dissatisfactions. Any of them could have led the new political force for the country's bright future. But no one has had courage to do so.
Amidst many unfounded criticisms, now Naya Shakti, Nepal seems to stand firmly at the service of the common people. Naya Shakti, Nepal believes in changing our own mindsets and working to provide tangible benefits to the people. It does not believe in making rhetorical promises. It aims to develop our nation into a middle-income country in the next 10-15 years by harnessing our rich natural resources, creating millions of jobs and self-employments for our youth. So let us join Naya Shakti, Nepal to make our country an economically prosperous nation with social justice and take pride in being Nepalis.
The author holds a PhD in Agricultural Economy from Cornell University
pradeep.tulachan@gmail.com
Related story
Naya Shakti in Parliament as Naya Shakti, TTPN-D unify
