This nascent movement has an immense long-term potential but only if its members can harness their ideals to effect a wider change in our collective behavior toward society: We must begin to demonstrate personal responsibility in our every action and in our every deed.
Perhaps the first thing Nepal Unites needs to do is to modify its banner, putting “Responsible Citizen” at the very top, followed then by “Accountable Leadership and Prosperous Nepal.” When the state becomes weak, citizens-with-responsibility must act responsibly. These “citizens-with-responsibility” are the members of the middle, upper and ruling classes: Those who have responsibility through their social positions, through the power and influence they wield and through their wealth. It is somewhat paradoxical that it is often these very citizens that tend to expect the most from the state, even at a time when it can scarcely deliver anything. If they don’t get what they are looking for, they start to behave irresponsibly by evading tax, taking bribes and breaking laws. And with these irresponsible actions the state is further weakened and society wounded more deeply.
They tend to make excuses, arguing that it is pointless to be honest when the entire state machinery is dishonest. Where the institutions of a country function adequately then social responsibility is guided by the state. In such countries, it is sufficient for citizens to fulfil only the responsibilities demanded by the state. However, in a country like Nepal, where the organs of the state function erratically at best, citizens should adopt wider personal responsibilities. If these personal responsibilities are neglected then accountability will be neglected too and the high ideals that “citizens-with-responsibility” aspire to will turn out to be ineffective in driving fundamental change in the country.
No offence to anyone, but I have met senior professionals who have told me, without shame or regret, that they try not to pay VAT and evade taxes where possible because ‘they cannot care to be honest in a corrupt state.’
Now, let me ask myself a few questions, or for that matter, ask the supporters of Nepal Unites. Before we sleep each night, can we ask ourselves if we are paying VAT where necessary? Are we paying income tax, say, for a rental income? If we are running an NGO or a private business, have we kept our books clean? Have we taken a bribe? We came to clean the Bagmati Bridge but have we cleaned the garbage in front of our house? If the answer is ‘yes,’ we have every right to seek accountability from our leadership. If the answer is ‘no,’ then the ideals we profess will be mere inexcusable hypocrisy, nothing more than clever minds working together to fool the press and the public. These are some of the important questions that everyone who wants to participate in a campaign like Nepal Unites should consider seriously. In the past, one may not have been an entirely honest citizen but if one wants to promote the ideals of Nepal Unites, one has to change oneself first and practice what one preaches. Nepal Unites offers an opportunity to correct oneself and, in the process, correct the society.
The questions above are, in fact, simple ones, whose answers in normal circumstances are automatically expected to be positive. However, Nepali society has degenerated to such an extent that a large number of its well-educated and well-established members are failing even to fulfil the most fundamental responsibilities expected of a citizen. No offence to anyone, but I have met senior professionals who have told me, without shame or regret, that they try not to pay VAT and evade taxes where possible because ‘they cannot care to be honest in a corrupt state.’ If this is the way we are going to argue away our personal responsibilities then let’s all break the law and cheat the government as much as we can. Is that the way forward? Will that not lead to complete anarchy? Isn’t it this kind of attitude that has driven our country to its current parlous state? A key member of Nepal Unites campaign, Ujjwal Thapa, encapsulated this perfectly when he recently wrote in this newspaper that we need to change ourselves first if we aspire to change Nepal.
When the institutions of the state begin to fail, each citizen’s responsibility to the whole must increase, and in their actions must be the aspiration that the state will mend. In a country like Nepal, those of us who are more privileged than the norm should not shirk from digging into our own pockets to contribute toward change. Our efforts should go beyond symbolism, as symbolism alone seldom leads to real transformation. If we really want to effect change, we must take action and this, in most cases, demands financial sacrifice. If we want to talk about the importance of education or stopping girl-trafficking, it is equally important for us to sacrifice a bottle of beer or a few plates of momo in a month and contribute the savings toward the education of a child or donate the money to Anuradha Koirala or Charimaya Tamang to support their anti-trafficking efforts.
However, most of us think that we have met our obligations by writing in newspapers or by speaking in five-star hotels and conferences about resolving the many problems faced by our society. We think the job is done by seeking accountability through our speeches and by the occasional gestures. We think such steps work as the constant media focus on meetings and discussion leads us to believe that words constitute action. But this country has seen too many empty unproductive gestures and too many words in place of action. If we are really committed to changing Nepal and don’t want to be part of a failed generation, we have to be ready to sacrifice not only our time, knowledge and skill but also some of our money. Those who have more can sacrifice more and those who have less can sacrifice less - just a few cups of tea in a month.
For example, there are around 28,000 community schools in Nepal. It is estimated that out of these schools only around 5,000 have libraries. How can we allow this to persist whilst making lyrical speeches about the state of education in Nepal? Why can’t every relatively well-off businessman help build a library in one school? There are many professionals who are extremely worried about the situation of the country. Would it make a huge difference to our lives if each of us were to support the construction of library at some school? The Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) say the Nepali Diaspora is over three million strong and, just like us, they show genuine and deep-felt concern about the situation in Nepal. They may not all be in a position to help Nepal but if only one million of them were to sponsor a child in their native village or a city, a million children in Nepal would get a better education and health facilities every year. But most of us stay content to speak sweet words whilst leaving action to others.
The supporters and promoters of Nepal Unites should aspire to be different and to lead by the power of their actions, and not be contented by a surfeit of words or by the symbolism of gestures. Only individual responsibility will raise us all up to a collective prosperity.
The writer is the Head of the BBC Nepali Service and the Founder of Nepali-run global charity, HELP NEPAL Network (www.helpnepal.net)
rabinmishra@gmail.com
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