Why has Nepal failed as a state?
Around month ago in an edition of
Kantipur, senior Journalist Sushil Sharma had posit a challenge to the
intellectual crowd to determine why Nepal has failed as a nation? In current
context, this question is highly
pertinent and its answer though very plausible needs to be sought . Because without knowing the reason why country failed
there is no way to determine how to move ahead. This is akin to diagnosing a
disease without which cure cannot be found.
Now moving back to the question,
several reasons might be put forth for why our country has failed as nation so
far. Some may say because of our
invariable political turmoil, some may blame our neighbors, some may blame our
geographical terrain and land-lockedness and some may blame lack of economic
growth. But these factors alone can't be consider as sole contributor for our
indigence because there are several instances across world where despite these
factors countries have progressed. Let's try to analyze them one by one
a) Political turmoil: For
instance name one country which do not suffer from political crisis. Across the
board people from every nation distrust
their politician. Whether its developed countries like US, developing country
like India or underdeveloped country like Afghanistan people simply don't trust
their leaders . Period.
Yes the gestation period for pipe
dream of what's called Nepal's political
stability has been too protracted with over sixty years of experimentation, but
if we put this in face value with what France went through then it is nothing. History of France witnessed hundred years of reign of terror and what they
have now is actually not first or second but fifth republic. If we look at
recent history then we can see that countries such as Mexico, Pakistan and even
Japan has gone through tremendous political flux and in spite of this they have
progressed.
b) Neighbors: Of course our neighboring countries have
always wielded their will power on our political system. But this is natural
phenomena considering the geo-political situation that Nepal faces. Across the
world the similar situation can be witnessed, for instance in all the eastern
blocs of previous Soviet Union, Russia plays influential role. Current crisis
in Ukraine is best exhibit. Even in Africa former colonial power France meddles
in internal conflicts. So this situation cannot be simple pretext for our
failure.
c) Economic Turmoil: Nepal
has always undergone the economic hardship with large part of her population
living under dollar wage a day. Though the statistics have shown uptick in
recent times because of remittance flow, most of the economic indicator is
still problematic. But one thing we have to understand is that the overall
economy of Nepal has never collapsed. We haven't faced any negative Balance Of Payment
situation except during mid-80s.Though
the GDP growth is staggering at around 3%, this is still in par with what Nobel
Laureate Robert Lucas has called new normal. The biggest problem facing the
country right now is stagflation (simultaneous increase in inflation and
unemployment). And further concern is
inflation is showing both Demand Pull ( because of remittance) and Cost Push
(because of syndicates and monopoly). But despite these it can hardly be cause
for calling a nation as failed state since there are other countries which have
gone through worst crisis. There are recent instances of bank run in
Argentina, currency collapse in Zimbawe
and debt Sovereign in Greece and 15 trillion dollar deficit in US. Nepal hasn't
faced anything as such . So our economic woes isn't even mole hill compared to
other economic downturns.
d) Geographical context: Yes
Nepal is landlocked country and its terrain is hard and rough. With its
difficult landscape it is always challenging to bring in the development. But
that doesn't give any pretext for our underdevelopment. Further to compensate
for it we have vast resource of minerals
waiting to be exploited . It is just our will power that is lacking. Besides
the instances of countries like Bolivia, Mongolia simply makes landlockedness a
lame excuse for our underdevelopment.
So the question still remains why has Nepal failed?
To answer this question we will have
to first identify what do every individual in the world desire. Some may sought
wealth, some may wish for power , some may desire love, some may want
education. The list goes on and on. But among all these there is one common
theme and that is - "Freedom and Pursuit of Happiness".
Yes this is what everyone seeks
in their life. To have ones free will and to do whatever one wants in life.
The reason this is important is
because in today's context majority of Nepalese do not see Nepal as a place
where they can reach this ultimate goal. It's not very difficult to establish
this assertion. If we ask every youngster what they dream of then majority of
them will tell you that it is the foreign land that they seek. Nobody sees
their future belonging in Nepal and this applies to both educated and
uneducated as well as both skilled and unskilled youngsters. And this trend is
not a recent one.Nepalese has penchant of leaving there birthplace since the
early times. The word 'Lahure' which came from British Gurkha regiment soldiers
stationed at Lahore , has been long established in our vernacular.
This pattern of leaving ones root
, language, culture and history for betterment of life can be seen in other
countries as well. For example After Russian incursion in late 70s many Afghanis
left their homeland. During the time of Indira Gandhi's emergency many Indian
left Indians left the country. But unlike Nepalese migration which can be
considered as absquatulation those aforementioned cases are prime example of
exilation.
Is there a hope?
Until and unless people feel that
their future and future of their loved ones are secured in their own homeland,
that country will always remain a failed state. But this mentality won't blossom
overnight. False patriotism will only make matter worst. But the current instance
in China and India do provide the beacon of hope. Many Indians and Chinese are
returning back to their country as there is more opportunities in their own
homeland. But comparing the situation of Nepal with those of our Nuclear
neighbors is ludicrous. So the best thing to do at present context is to conclude
Nepal's protracted transition to modern era as quick as possible and establish
the rule of law. Because without fulfillment of these two criteria Nepal will
never be land where people will be able to enjoy their freedom and pursuit
happiness. And till then Nepal will always remain a failed state.
