What does your book talk about?
My book talks about our take on the various issues surrounding us at the moment. It talks about our perspectives regarding everything. We, the Nepalese, have always been defined by what we aren’t or what we don’t have. Why should we always be called a landlocked country? Why do we call ourselves a small nation? We’re so rich in cultural and natural heritages. We’re affluent when it comes to volume, not area. So, why not talk about that for once? This book is about a paradigm shift in people’s way of thinking.[break]
Bijay Rai
What do you think is the major hindrance to development in Nepal?
I believe it’s the lack of unity and collective effort. You know, I travel a lot due to my work commitments and wherever I go, I seriously don’t find Nepalese any less than the others. Individually, we’re all great. But collectively, we’re extremely weak. The moment we make unity our strength, there’ll be no looking back.
What else is required for development in Nepal?
All I’ve attempted in my book is to demystify the supposedly complex principles of development. We also require a functioning system. We’re unaware of our own strengths. For instance, we’re so rich in wind power. But we’ve no policy for that. On the other hand, we’ve a nuclear policy which is of no real use for us. We have it simply because some donor must have asked us to have it. The other important thing is equality. It’s like a level playing field. Once you enter the field, not everybody out there succeeds. Nonetheless, everybody does get an equal chance. This isn’t the case with us, unfortunately. Someone who comes up with a bright idea is discouraged when a glossy NGO with lots of cash steps into the same market. Such distortion of creativity under commerce is the reality of today.
So who should take the lead?
We should all take the lead. I decided to write this book because I felt that it’s always the foreigners who write about Nepal. I thought we should understand our own problems if we intend to solve them. We’ve very less Nepalese writers on our bookshelves apart from Dor Bahadur Bista and Harka Gurung. We must have the initiative to pick up the pieces and move on. Do the Japanese pack their bags and come to Nepal after each earthquake? No. That’s why they’re so successful. We must follow the same example and start doing things ourselves.
Do you intend to write a second part as well?
I think I would love to. I may not be a professional writer but I’ve a fair idea about the attention span and area of interest of my readers. I don’t write stories. I only write about specific issues and the key ideas regarding the present day concepts of development. I believe my books will contribute to observing the bigger picture of development scenario in the simplest possible manner.
The World until Yesterday by Jared Diamond
Nepal is a cocktail of the traditional and the modern and Nepalese are always juggling the two extremes. For example, a banker who seldom gets a day off has to go and pull the chariot in some Jaatra. Both are equally important for him. The trick is to maintain a balance between these two. This book deals with the dynamics of the society and how the old and the new fit together in the same big picture.
Ashoka by Charles Allen
Ashoka is one of the most inspiring historical characters. Many entrepreneurs are inspired by this third century emperor who gave up all that he had fought for throughout his life to renounce everything in the end. It can be paralleled with the example of hardcore banker who suddenly quits his job when his child is diagnosed with the Down’s syndrome and devotes all his time and energy in the research of this disease.
A History of God by Karen Armstrong
There has been an ancient debate between spirituality and religion. Hindus are the people that have come from the Indus valley. During the time of partition, there had been a huge debate about naming “India” after a place that was in Pakistan. On the contrary to Hinduism, Buddhism knows no heaven or hell. It just talks about a path that leads to the end of suffering. The book talks about this concept.
Starbucked by Taylor Clark
I was fascinated to see Starbucks in four different corners in Seattle. I could only imagine what must have been going through the mind of the person who came up with this. It also gave me some interesting insights about how to design and run a successful coffee chain in a country. It actually made me wonder if we could have our own Starbucks in Nepal and if yes, how it could be possible.
Samaya Chetana by Nilambar Acharya
The 1990 constitution had been drafted so promptly but why didn’t the same thing happen this time around? Why are the people being put off by this situation? This book gives grounds and reasons to make that kind of comparison. The writer has articulated and interpreted this beautifully based on real life instances and experiences. It also borrows quite a lot from Buddhists texts and philosophies the methods of maintaining peace in a society.
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