In course of such a probe, let us look into the soul of Nepal that is mirrored in the intrinsic qualities and strength of its land and people. At once, a kaleidoscope appears before us replete with beauty and bravery, art and architecture, culture and customs, honesty and loyalty comparable to anything similar developed in any part of the world. We have to take inspiration and guidance from them to move forward. Nepalis are poor but courageous. They are illiterate but intelligent. Nepalis have to know Nepal in a new light in their search for a ‘New Nepal’. They have to change their attitude to keep pace with the changing spirit of Nepal.
Nepalis are poor but courageous. They are illiterate but intelligent.
Time has come for Nepal to rediscover its soul and learn to help itself. Over the last 60 years, the world has been helping Nepal because it was poor. It is still a poor country in terms of economic measurement but rich in human qualities that enable it to offer help instead of seeking help. We assumed so long that the world is rich and we are poor and, with their aid, we would become rich. That did not happen and will never happen the way we are dealing with it. We believed that the world is perfect and we are imperfect and, with its assistance, we can attain perfection. That did not come out true because we found the world is equally imperfect as we are. Nobody, in fact, is perfect. Everybody has an Achilles’ heel. We thought that the world knew more than we did and we could learn from it. But we find that while we can learn something from it, the world can also learn something from us. We are after all not so poor in knowledge and wisdom that we have inherited from our forefathers.
Therefore, it is time to reverse the process. Now we know that the world does not know everything it needs to know and it can learn something from us. The world is flawed and we can help it to overcome it and move toward flawlessness. We know how insecure the world is and we can help make it secure. We know now how disturbed the world is and we can help address it. We may have little wealth but possess such inherent qualities that have very high value in the world. We need to recognize it and prove our worth to them.
As a poor country, we need help in building physical infrastructure. But the rich countries, in turn, need help in human resources for running their infrastructure. Our manpower is moving out in hordes to help build infrastructure in many of the developing countries. Rich or poor, every country has some weak points in which it needs help. It is just a question of identifying the areas of need of other people and our capability to fulfill them. Wherever they match, we can offer our help in redressing their problems.
Let us look around the world and identify the areas where people need our help. There are big hospitals that do not have enough nurses. There are an increasing number of aging senior citizens in the rich countries in North America, Europe and Japan who stand in need of nursing services. We can train our young people in this profession and supply manpower that will have greater and greater market in the world and with great benefit.
Similarly, the rich countries have opened schools covering every part of their territory. Schooling is compulsory but the people are not happy with the standard of education their children are receiving. Students are found weak in science and mathematics, mainly because of lack of efficient teachers in those subjects. They don’t need great scientists and mathematicians but they need considerable number of these subject teachers to help produce great scientists in the long run. We can chip in here with timely efforts and preparations.
Take the peacekeeping missions in which Nepal has earned good reputation. That is one area which has high prospects in future as the world is turning more and more insecure not because of inter-state conflicts but due to threats posed by non-state forces. Nepal can offer its help in many ways.
By following this policy of helping others instead of seeking help from others, Nepal will build up a new image of emulating the self-help approach. It will enhance the self-respect of the country. It will be on the front line of being a proud and honorable country. It will set an example of using its human potential to the fullest extent to its own benefit and to the benefit of the world. Nepal will also be the first country to demonstrate heroism in physical and spiritual terms. Nepal will be a helpmate to the world in war and in peace.
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