PAST SHOWS THE FUTURE

By Nav Raj Pokharel

Since past few decades, Nepal is in desperate need of good government. Political parties that claimed majority or coalesced alliance merely ascended to the power, but failed to make a good government every time they ruled the country. Parties and power institutions, as always, are motivated only for the power.

They are least concerned for maintaining law and order situation and progress of the country. They remain untouched even though subversive activities are rampant and the impunity gains the highest possible point, pushing the lives of people to the limit of frustration. Ordinary people, professionals, and people of various social stratums think and believe that leaders are necessary to better govern the country towards sustainable and reliable peace and prosperity.

However, common people are left neglected and discarded every time a party is inducted to the government. Long- cherished sense of optimism latent in the hearts of conscious people of this country rupture out when a new government is formed. People start talking and believing that change in the government will bring about changes in their real lives as well. Soon, hopes of the people get shattered, political ambitions of the parties and leaders gain newer height.

Although the change in the government brings about the changes in the lives of some people but it is not in the living standard of the common people, but in the status of the leaders, party staunches and, outside the party circle - few sycophants only. Common people, as usual, are always marginalized.

Disillusioned, the people soon opt for new leaders and parties in the government. In this way, deteriorating political, economic, social, and cultural cycles keep on revisiting the country and the people. The leaders are incapable to resolve the problem prudently, although they keep on dispensing lip service and pretend exhibiting alacrity for the change.

Generation of desired change is beyond their ability and capacity. However, they are able and ready for rancor to prove that their self-valued stance is undisputable. But, they will never give creative, productive reasons and assumptions a chance to survive, if they are some how against their interests. Political situation in poor countries is always capricious, elusive. As usual, opportunists are the parties and leaders who always find a scapegoat to blame for their failures and conceal their inabilities when their plots prove unsuitable.

Examine major motives and activities of the political parties and their leaders for the past few decades and you will understand the nitty-gritty and under cover reality of the leaders and their teams- popularly known as parties.

Maoist insurgencies were blamed for adverse results in the country for more than a decade. More than seven times the government was changed within the period the Democracy was restored in the country in 1990 and the then King Gyanedra usurped state power in 2002. The situation did not improve each time government was changed. The deteriorating situation simply did not improve. It was because the root of the problem was always ignored. Systematic, scientific, and eclectic approaches to change the future was never adopted and implemented with honesty, as if it was something of least priority. As a result, the desired future never turned into present. The parties, the leaders, and the then king himself at the end relinquished at the hand of situation, blaming adverse circumstances for their failures. All of them blamed this or that factor for their failures. They merely slink back from the front scene for some time. Nevertheless, wretched condition of the people the leaders and parties instigated upon is irreversible. Whom the people should blame for all this? To their fate?

Inherent inability and established fault the leaders are made of with is the root cause of the problem. To improve the state affairs in the most rational, scientific, democratic, and amicable way is beyond their capability. This protrudes compounded vicissitudes to the people. Leaders and parties lack right democratic culture and wisdom to rectify the problems facing the country as a whole. The leaders in the name of the parties and mandate of the people impose the country all those possible strictures that help fortify their personal and institutional interests only. In the name of people, they will augment the progress, prosperity, and power, leaving the deprived people to take care of themselves.

Review the recent history of Nepal and tell me when did the leaders and parties in multiparty system, and the kings and the shree-shree-shrees in autocratic regime implement the policy that would bring about paradigm shifts in the lives of people? You would not find one.

It seems Nepal is predestined to bear the brunt of all sorts of political, social, and economic problems including insecurity and state of impunity. Leaders and political parties are the key players, as if planted by the divine force, to ensure the Nepalese attain the predestined fate, and not miss them.

Now Nepal is said to have entered into the new phase of political structure and power balance. Again, the new or the same leaders in newer outfits will assume the state power once again. Actions and deeds of the past players will be lashed hard, as usual, and so-called newer and up-to-date vision will be imposed only to show that they are doing something better.

Inability to address the problems facing the state and the people will continue, enervating the nation further. The leaders in the power shall see the need of change everywhere, but not in themselves. They, by the divine grace, will bungle everything into a mess, as they have no ability either to preclude or to prudently resolve the problems. They are as if the puppets whose strings are in the hands of situation. At the end, they will also find a scapegoat to blame for their failure and stay off the front line, leaving the people wait for another angel of the God to come and change their fate. Their bad! Thus, the cycle repeats. Thus, the past reveals the future of Republic democratic Nepal ##

(Note from the Nepal Horizons Editorial Team: The views and opinion expressed in this article are that of the author and not of NHC. We request individuals with interest in Nepal to submit their views on contemporary Nepalese issues to the following e-mail address: editor@nepalhorizons.com. Pictures of contributors or images that relate to submissions are welcome)

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