The recent diplomatic faux pas allegedly committed by our venerable former Prime Ministers deserves to be examined in the light of the above realities. What was supposed to be covert “elite diplomacy” ended up becoming a show played out disparagingly in open media glare. These important national personalities happened to be the principal actors of the drama, undermining national dignity and belittling the respect that go with their high status. Even more humiliating is their utter lack of remorse and refusal to acknowledge the faux pas. [break]
I have come across three dominant public perceptions on this political clowning around. There are those who believe the meeting between the Indian foreign minister and our ex-PMs was a clear breach of diplomatic protocol, but certainly not unforgivable, and that this oversight is largely due to “time constraint” and the “element of informality” inherent in Nepal-India relations. Others view it as an unpardonable breach of diplomatic norms, bringing unspeakable shame and disgrace to the country. Then in the observations of a third group, yes, it was a breach of protocol, but no, it didn’t shame or humiliate the country. To reinforce the argument they add that the credibility and integrity of our leaders are already questionable.
Consequently, they are drifting apart from people, gradually losing their public trust and traction and their actions no longer resonate with the country’s greater good. In other words, their loss or gain of prestige is purely personal and has nothing to do with the country’s image and prestige. If their antics have brought disgrace, it is to themselves, not the country. So there is no reason for Nepalis to hang their heads in shame.
This deep public resentment is justifiable up to a point. This is not the first time such a breach of protocol has happened. Many high and mighty resident Ambassadors have also contributed to this trend. For example, former Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood made a request and got permission for courtesy call on the then Prime Minister late Girija Prasad Koirala, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, even before presenting his letter of credence, which was not in keeping with international diplomatic practice. Similarly, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpakamal Dahal also reportedly failed to observe diplomatic norms in his recent visits to China and India.
Like it or not, their activities, do indeed have an impact on national psyche. As former heads of government, ex-PMs are important national personalities. The country lavishes them with privileges from scant national coffers, mainly in recognition of their services to the country. What they do, who they meet, where they go and what they say in public, even inside the country, hence, becomes news of national interest. Because of their status and national personality, public and media attention are all the more intense when they interact with foreign dignitaries, be they our immediate neighbors or distant friends. Whether or not they remain conscious of their national status on such occasions and conduct themselves in ways that befit their status is an altogether different issue. There is no denying, however, that in their meeting with the visiting Indian foreign Minister, our former Prime Ministers erred very badly in failing to uphold the sanctity of their diplomatic status.
Act of insanity
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different result,” said Einstein. So are our leaders indeed ‘insane’? One wonders if the insanity is perhaps the result of the low self-esteem of our leaders. It may as well be product of the politics that can best be described as overly self-centered and self-promotional. Humorist Larry Hardiman mercilessly lampoons politicians, when he says “The word “Politics” is derived from the word “Poly”, meaning “many”, and “tics”, meaning “bloodsucking parasites”. I don’t intend to compare our former prime ministers and politicians to blood sucking parasites, but one gets an impression that they are utterly insensitive about their reputation, image and status in their interaction with foreigners. The media and public outcry aside, these leaders were criticized even within their own political parties for this blatant breach of diplomatic protocol. But this does not seem to have affected them much. Perhaps they think that public memory is short and gradually this issue will also be pushed into oblivion.
There will then be business as usual. But public perception about these leaders is steadily changing for worse. The simmering discontent may come to a boil anytime soon, should they fail to read the writing on the wall. It is about time they realized the enormity of their mistakes and set about reforming themselves, for their own good. There is a saying: “The greatest conqueror is one who conquers himself and the greatest peacemaker is the one who knows how to make peace with himself.”
Our political leaders would first have to conquer their excessive greed for power and pelf. Enlightenment must come from within. Failing which, neither public opprobrium nor any code of conduct would bring about the expected behavioral transformation. This in turn will further mar their reputation, perhaps irreversibly.
bhimsen29@gmail.com
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