1. The wh- questions
Every Nepali knows wh-y. But perhaps the more pressing and frequently overlooked component is wh-at. What will you do? What can you do? Say you convinced your target group to join you. What next? I sort of get the goal- (mind you it's the one that every three year old inchworm in the country dreams of)- but What is new today? What separates you from all the other different student political organizations in the country ?
2. Priority
Is politics the path ? Why? People are dying! What our country needs is a generation of educated youth willing to actually kneel down in the mud and offer a hand- not sit in air-conditioned restaurants with wi-fi and come up with agendas on how to fix the nation.
3.Capability
Although the prospect of changing the nation is an adrenaline-pumping and exciting one for every commoner down the road, getting capable people to do it is more of a challenge than actually doing it even. What makes you [think you are] capable ?
4.Commitment
You are a group of upper-middle class kids studying in elite schools in the States, blinded by the comfort of not having to work for your education [I'm talking scholarships too]. Once you get out to the real world, and realize that not dying of starvation entails actual work, you will be sucked into the cyclone that is life. Are you yourselves convinced of your dedication ? [Answer it to yourself, first]
All being said, mind you I am no troll. I gain no pleasure in inciting cyber riots out of a bunch of kids I don't know, and don't care about. What I do care about, though, is where your movement heads. Perhaps, I will be a part of it, and so will many others. Convince us first.
If not now,when? If not us, who?
---Aabeg
5 comments:
please post this in the article itself.
also, add me as a contributor so I don't have to do this every time I write. (-aabeg)
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ps1- Please try to diversify. Get people other than the ones who went to BNKS for their highschool. Especially important to ensure you get opinions from all people (and not just your friends) when you are setting your goals.
ps2- Registering as a US based not-for-profit under 501-c(3) tax exempt status will run you months (typically 3), but it has its obvious benefits. Registering as a not-for-profit in Nepal, will be a pain the ass as anyone who knows the notorious SWC will attest. Besides, you will be limiting your scope by being based in Nepal. Registering as for-profit think-tank in the states with a subsidiary in Nepal, perhaps [in the interest of time] ?
ps3- I have no interest whatsoever in getting your feedback/comments on my article. If you have the answers, answer. Else, please do not give away your IQ by unveiling your conceit (and dissing me). I am not here to make enemies, or friends.
Thank you Vijay for these thoughtful questions, which I take as an opportunity to express the thoughts inside me. You poked my thinking side in a very creative way. Thank you. I want to address your questions as a person “Me”. My answers are just a rough sketch of what I think. These toughts in some way and in different patterns and in different pieces have been hovering in my mind since a while. I will just put them together in a way so that I can address your questions.
Your first Question..
1.The wh- questions
Every Nepali knows wh-y. But perhaps the more pressing and frequently overlooked component is wh-at. What will you do? What can you do? Say you convinced your target group to join you. What next? I sort of get the goal- (mind you it's the one that every three year old inchworm in the country dreams of)- but What is new today? What separates you from all the other different student political organizations in the country ?
As far as what can I do is concerned, then looking at the unlimited possibilities I don't think it needs to be answered. “We can do almost anything”. We are power. We are people. We are GP Koirala, we are Prachanda, we are Makune and we are every powerful person in Nepal's history. Lets not look at the deeds those leaders did, but the fact is always a fact, we made those leaders. We gave them those powers. We are the one to carve “Prachanda” out of that Pushpa Kamal Dahal. So, as we created those figure, we will one more time create a powerful figure in future. A figure from among us. Who thinks and analyzes like us. It can be you or me or any other guy. But it should be someone who is capable of and good at representing and implementing our ideas. We will not vote again for those illusionists. We will force them to realize what we want now. Since the first day I can remember of having political consciousness (which occurred around 9/11 when I was in school) till today, almost 9 years later, I still hear the same old names Koiralas, Deubas, Bhattarais, Nepals in the SinghaDurbar and in the News. They are still called the leaders of Nepal. Over those 9 years, how many new generational leaders have entered National Politics? (almost None) and how many veterans have quit?( almost none excluding those who are forced to retire or those who die). Dude (all the leaders of Nepal), in these 9 years, even a cell phone has transformed from being a luxury to a necessity or more a fashion statement, broadband internet is knocking more and more homes, even a schoolboy has a cellphone and a facebook account, do you think you have changed your governing ethics according to our needs and style? Do you think you are adapting yourself in same pace with the change that is engulfing whole Nepal in a very speedy manner? Do you even have a facebook account?( I know a Facebook account is not that important, but it shows how the people who are governing us are keeping up with us) Not? Then get the hell outta here. Its our turn now. Globally, a constitution is considered as a living being whose definition and needs changes with time and so are the leaders.
So far, Bikalpa has not even started officially. We don't have a political principle or goal other than going against the status quo (which is what I have seen in me and most of the posts in discussion board). When alone, I think about Bikalpa and dream a vision for Bikalpa. I envision Bikalpa as a group of people bonded together not by money or by place of origin or by caste or by employment or by language or by religion or by sexual orientation or by some blood relationship....BUT BY THEIR ETHICS. BY THE CORE VALUE WHAT THEY TRULY BELIEVE IN. AND THIS BOND IS THE STRONGEST OF ALL. To achieve that goal, we not only have to have healthy discussions and thought-clashes but also some actions. We need to act, so that the general public can look at us and believe and be confident that we are different than others. But how can we do this? I have an answer to this question too. I was thinking of proposing an official system of membership for Bikalpa. Those active members who are willing to and capable will contribute some amount as $5 a month into a Bikalpa Fund. That $5 will not matter much to us, but we can hence use thus collected funds to provide scholarships to students with good academics, good leadership and community service and assist them with their higher studies inside Nepal. They shall be called Bikapla Scholars. This will have three effects. First, we will have one more potential intellectual in our Bikalpa family. Second, if we start with few scholarships, then we can show those examples as proof and request NGO's, NRNs, INGOs, and other agencies for more funding for our future activities. Third, Looking at our non-selfish service to the nation, more people will be convinced of Bikalpa. But, this is just an example. Once we have won heart of significant population of Nepal, we have power. For say, if there is a dangerous chemical mixed in some drink and Bikalpa family decides to boycott the drink, then the drink producers will be forced to respond because we ( a significant chunk of their market) are boycotting their product. This is just an example too. Once we have power (people's trust) then there are innumerable number of ways to utilize it towards the benefit of the nation.
And what is the difference between us and rest of the student organizations? Well, they are professionaly politicians. And we? Politics is not our profession!!!! We have a lot better and higher paying jobs to fulfill our needs!! I hope you got it!!
What is new today is our new level of awareness, desire to do it and a common dissatisfaction among hundreds and thousands of us so that we can make a collective effort!!!
2.Priority
Is politics the path ? Why? People are dying! What our country needs is a generation of educated youth willing to actually kneel down in the mud and offer a hand- not sit in air-conditioned restaurants with wi-fi and come up with agendas on how to fix the nation.
It depends on which definition of politics do you consider? I would like to pick the most relevant one. Politics is also defined as an act of making decisions. So, a series of good decisions made by a mass (Bikalpa Family) certainly has a potential to impact the national level issues. So, the answer is Yes, Politics is the path.
No, we are not going just to sit in air-conditioned restaurants with wi-fi and come up with agendas on how to fix the nation. We are going to act! But, that act may not be as quick as making a cup of coffee. This is our time to prepare ourselves, grow and garnish every skill and aspect, bring that doctor in us, build that engineer in us, create that scientist, philosopher, economist in us. If we jump in right away, then not only will we fail on our objectives but also fail in our personal goals, dreams and personal level.
3.Although the prospect of changing the nation is an adrenaline-pumping and exciting one for every commoner down the road, getting capable people to do it is more of a challenge than actually doing it even. What makes you [think you are] capable ?
First point, here we are not talking about bringing change overnight or in a fortnight or in a month. It is a process that may take years. Patience is the key. Second, as far as being capable of being capable of achieving these goals, then what I see as the least capability required is to know how to nod your head. Nod your head and signal a support whenever a good thing is happening and Nod your head again and protest if you think something is going wrong. Know your rights and don't forget your responsibilities. That's it.
I think and believe I am capable!
4.Commitment
You are a group of upper-middle class kids studying in elite schools in the States, blinded by the comfort of not having to work for your education [I'm talking scholarships too]. Once you get out to the real world, and realize that not dying of starvation entails actual work, you will be sucked into the cyclone that is life. Are you yourselves convinced of your dedication ? [Answer it to yourself, first]
I come from a lower middle class family. My dad is a police officer who worked hard all his life and yet has not achieved anything significant other than feeding and educating us (me and my brother). I and my family does not own a house anywhere in Nepal. I have spent most of my life before coming to United States in two rooms and sometimes even one. My mom, my brother and me. I started working and earning to help my family since I was 14. So I don't think this question applies to me.
I hope I answered your questions. As anonymous said, I am not here to make enemies. SO, whatever I said is just expressing my feeling. I do apologize if I offended you or any of the readers.
All three comments were supposed to be one piece. But a comment that long was not permitted by the system so I had to break it up.
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