The Land of Young Hypocrites (From Nepalnews guest column)
We do have an unfortunate poverty and illiteracy rate, but Nepal’s problem isn’t at the bottom but rather at the top

By Nishchal M.S. Basnyat

As Nepali youths line up along the passport lines and security checks at the Tribhuwan International Airport with the hope of living the cinematic “American dream,” they leave behind a country tattered and torn in political pandemonium. With heavy-hearted patriotism they depart and ritualistically hang their Nepali flags in their college dorm rooms. Yet, the ambition of going back to Nepal and taking charge of their beloved homeland becomes only a distant priority once they taste the freedom, democracy, and hamburgers of the materialistically satisfying life abroad.

Such is the perilous future of the nation; even with the Maoist insurgency, political turmoil, and economic crises resolved, the country faces another monumental obstacle: patriotic hypocrites. As the trend of educating children outside the country increases, what happens if this minute population of youngsters who are wealthy, bright, and fortunate enough to go overseas doesn’t return? The result: something I like to call “the great divide.”

A country where the educated elite are ready to point fingers at the government, but none of whom are ready to work for it. A nation where all the sophisticated citizens seem to know the solution to the country’s troubles, but no one is intrepid enough to return and work for five or six thousand rupees per month. What happened to all the patriotism? What happened to all the “Jai Nepal” rhetoric? In the face of self-satisfaction, a country’s cry seems trivial. So how can we simply blame politicians when we’ve also forgotten out promises? The Nepalis that go abroad usually do so with a one-way ticket, only to return for brief visits. Unfortunately, these are also the same people that seem to have the loudest voices and seem to know all the answers to Nepal’s political friction. Such brain drain will impair Nepal in ways unimaginable to us now.

Think about our future government. No matter how many shrewd businessmen, erudite journalists, “well-informed” NGO-workers or caring human rights activists Nepal might have, for a country to prosper, we will need a strong government. For a strong government we need the best to actually work for the government. Who will be the future bureaucrats of the country? The era in the later half of the 20th century for Nepal when the best and the brightest were enthusiastic about a post in the government is over. The educated, capable and accomplished are no longer willing to work for the government for such nominal salaries. Instead, those who were unable to get jobs elsewhere or those who were the least competent will be running the show, further widening “the great divide” between the privileged few and the government, thus giving birth to an intellectual civil war in the near future.

Of course, there could be counter-arguments from nationalistic charlatans who claim that a flood of brainpower from Nepal to other countries will not affect Nepal. Some claim that in countries like India and China, where millions have gone abroad for work and study, there is not only development but these nations are already emerging super powers. Although it is easy to get carried away in such romantic optimism, pragmatically speaking, we cannot compare ourselves with these two giants just because we share borders. Likewise, we cannot compare Nepal’s “human capital flight” with that of India or China. If millions of Indians go overseas for education and employment, millions who are equally as educated and capable will stay back home. As much competition as there is to get into the best American and European Universities, there is even greater competition to enter educational institutions like Beijing University or IIT. Such conditions foster motivation to stay at home, which Nepal lacks.

India and China also enjoy a geographically decentralized reservoir of brainpower, whereas in Nepal only those from Kathmandu and a handful from other cities are privileged enough to receive the appropriate amount of education to go outside the country. Therefore, with every Nepali youngster that leaves the country, Nepal slides further into difficulty. Of course there are those that do return to the country and much praise should go their way. But this is a minuscule number. Even for the nominal amount of bold youngsters that return with the readiness to work for their government, passing the primitive and strictly Nepali-based ‘lok seba’ government exams is an insurmountable task.

There is also the logical argument that money being sent back home from Nepalis abroad is the only thing sustaining the Nepali economy. Although this argument has great credence, we cannot take the fact for granted and must move ahead with long-term goals to bring back our educated and capable few. The overwhelming population is made up of those with the determination and patriotism to return, but lack the initiative. Although taking a complete U-turn from a brain drain is an evolutionary process and not revolutionary, there are three innovative approaches we can still take to head towards the right direction. While criticizing the young educated elite for not being true to their country, we should also acknowledge the government’s errors.

First, the archaic “lok seba” exams will have to be reformed and made less of a daunting task to those who were educated under the English based system. This is an effective way of reaching out to those that are actually willing to work for the government. Second, we must now adopt what is referred to as the ‘Taiwan method’. A couple of decades ago, Taiwan, in the midst of economic and political instability, called back a handful of Taiwanese Princeton University graduates and promised them the post of political and economic advisors. With full gusto they implemented novel yet pragmatic policies that were highly successful and helped to catapult Taiwan to what it is today.

Nepal has far too many brilliant and determined youngsters for the country to be suffering like it is today. We do have an unfortunate poverty and illiteracy rate, but Nepal’s problem isn’t at the bottom but rather at the top. The ‘Singapore method’ is another approach Nepal can adopt to lure in the country’s best while simultaneously reducing corruption in higher offices of power. In Singapore, at the height of corruption, the country implemented a unique strategy of paying its government workers, especially those in higher posts, very large salaries. This will not only provide a strong monetary incentive for the best to join the government, but will also alleviate the need for corruption within the government. Such innovative approaches are key, not only in enticing the young, but also in long-term development of the nation. The third approach to reverse this brain drain, which stemmed from a late night conversation with a young Pakistani friend at Harvard, seems to be the most pioneering. Amidst mushrooming manpower agencies and student-help institutions in Nepal that help export migrant workers and students, why not start an agency that promises a future in Nepal for Nepalis living abroad?

The idea might seem illogical at first thought, but this has worked not only in India, but also in Pakistan. The idea is not to take advantage of the booming IT market, which Nepal doesn’t have, but rather set up agencies that can persuade organisations like UNDP, UNESCO, UNICF, CARE Nepal, and other INGOs to hire returning Nepalis to fill their domestic employees quota.

Such agencies in Pakistan, started only a few years ago, have been successful in bringing back hundreds of educated nationals with the promise of well-paying jobs at home. Even in Nepal a thousand dollars salary will go a lot further than a salary in the US that is three times that. Such approaches will also persuade the large crowd of Nepalis living abroad who are working in unsatisfying odd jobs.

Regardless of government efforts, ultimately the choice belongs to this particular age group of twenty and thirty-year olds that can make the difference. This next generation has the toilsome task of repairing and renovating a country that was raped and dishonored by the self-satisfying generation that came before it. The next generation will be no different if it forgets its duty towards the troubled native soil.

We might be poor, yet we have been blessed with a part of this world that is rich in a myriad of resources, natural, and now also intellectual. Both these resources must be utilized if the country is to get back up on its feet. There is only one thing that can set this country on a long-term path to prosperity: selflessness of the young. Most of these youngsters left the nation with the promise of returning, unfortunately as the nation dies a slow death, many have already forgotten their promise.

(Currently studying in La Sorbonne (Paris), Basnyat is a student at Harvard University and can be reached at nbasnyat@fas.harvard.edu)

Forgot to attach the photo


The author has raised a lot of valid questions here. The answers will lie with the author himself. Will he return to Nepal after he graduates from Harvard? or will he join the Young Hypocrites?

Its wonderful artical.

Awakening article. I liked it.

This got me thinking- is it really easier said than done?

indeed a great article although i dont agree totally with all his view points. happy to report this one would be repoting back to nepal for duty but i guess i wont necessarily be taking lok sewa exam neither do i think the author would.time to take back our country

i don't agree with the label of "hypocrites". everything else makes sense.

Quite challenging thoughts there. I suppose, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee.

I agree with most of the article but take issues with the statement that the next generation has the toilsome task of repairing and renovating a country that was "raped and dishonored by the self-satisfying generation that came before it."

This is inflamitory and at the time of searching for solutions and ways to improve Nepal, attacking everyone in the 40s, 50s, and 60s in such way is counterproductive and takes aways from otherwise a great piece of work.

While the article is well thought of, it gets lost in naive idealism. Lok Sewa, and working for the government? Are you kiddin me? The nepalese government agencies and various ministries are so filthy corrupt and it will take decades before they clean house. The young go where there is incentive..The older bureaucrats of Nepal are corrupt beyond belief..They need to clean up their mess themselves and provide a path..Motivation runs on incentive..Nepal's system is based on Nepotism not meritocracy or seniority...The writer is very naive

Superb article,

while reading, I felt like each word was targeted towards me. The points he has raised are certainly very pragmetic and the young blood politicians like gagan thapa do share this view. Unfurtunately, we belong to the country where "going to prison for so-called political reason is better valued than going abroad(or within the country) for higher education", "photo of being arrested by police during protest is measure of that persons sucess in being a good politicians". and bla bla. Comparing to india is nonsense. We dont have to go to taiwan's example just look at rajiv gandhi, P chidambaram, aman mohan sing in india. They are architects of indias economic growth and in relatively short time they have been headach to world super powers.
Despite agreeing with Mr. Basnyat, i feel that until and unless we have the system where technically and educationally fit person in governance and elected legislative body to monitor them, all other efforts will count for nothing.

Lets hope, highly hyped SAMBIDHAN SAWA will come with some adjustments in overall power structure of the country.
Its not always that foreign graduate would do well, as far as i know all these people were educated abroad, King Mahndra, birendra and gyanendre (they together rule for around 40 years), Ram Sharan MAahat, prakash chandra lohani, bhes bahadur thapa, mahesh acharya, sher bahadur,..... what did they do ?? If the environement is conduicive, people will think about going back. Its upto politicians. Very unfurtunately, despite being a liberal, democratic guy, i should say my last hope is on maoist to get things sorted out quickly.

Although appealing and well thought on the surface, the article is naive at the best. The part that especially doesn't appeal to me is the three prong solution. Imagine yourself as a determined patriot wanting to go back and do something for Nepal. I have a hard time imagining Lok Sewa exam getting in your way.Neopotism would have been a better reasoning. Increasing the salary also is not the long term fix. Increasing per capita income doesn't lead to economic prosperity but rather to inflation. The real focus should be on GDP, a long term fix. And the third illogical idea does seem illogical to me at this point until I understand the more specifics of the plans!!

i don't think there would be any place in maoist agenda for foreign graduates.Do they want us??Think do maoist really want educated people or they want people who can be brainwahed eaily and will be readily pick up guns .Not knowing that they are getting exploited.

This article has sense .who is going to bring all the people back?SPAM?they are in the power now.We know how much vision they have.

Although the article is well-written, I see some problems.
Nepalis need to be exposed, hence as many as possible should go abroad. They will learn, earn. Although in the short term Nepal may lack some dynamic intellectuals, many of the folks will finally come back. If not for education abroad, our country would not have had even good teachers, forget about strategists, engineers, doctors etc.
Now back to India and China. India can afford to send students abroad in the millions because they had sent in the hundreds about 100/200 years ago. The same is true for China. Remember Gandhi, Nehru! The same will be true in Nepal.
Sometimes you need to wait, too. You can't do anything about time... time has to pass by but in the mean time you need to be in action. I cannot believe the writer is blaming the Lok Sewa, the problem is not Lok Sewa at all. It is the students themselves. After reading, studying all sh-it all over the world you cannot understand Nepal Parichaya etc what are you talking about? You want to take exams in English, I may agree. But about Nepal you got to know. Know very well, in fact or else forget about government jobs.

For all the problems Nepal is facing, you can blame the Shahs and Ranas. Then blame the rest of the Nepalis for keeping the country in the dark.

Our days will come ... one day!

I have a suggestion to the writer .. try to imagine how daunting a task it must have been for Nehru and Gandhi to pull together the country they loved so much! They succeeded, apparently.

Magdedela ,
you view are too optimistic.Thats good keep it up! keeping optimistic views doesn't change things.There is a need for people in SPA to think and act now and give oppurtunities (good opportunities to foreign graduates- cause there are some needs of people that you cannot deny )Other than that,What the hell is nepal parichaya ?So mean to say who knows nepal parichaya has really know Nepal???We have seen how much they love Nepal.Just being able to write 1000 pages in nepali doesn't make that person capable.So there is need of reform in the Lok sewa.

I compeltely agree with the writer and i consider my self as hypocrite too and all who came to leaving Nepal.But i am ready to change ,. change if country ask for the help, If some one comes and says we will need you come back and here is how we are going to help foreign grads .And how can you help us?This is give and take .Human beings are selfish by nature not to that extent though.I already mentioned there are some needs.

Now , one might say why don't you go now.Go now and do what .Show me the direction .show me the vision as singapore and taiwan has shown .If we go know we will be in the bottom of the corrupted system which will never let us out or think or do .We will be more frustrated and wouldn't be any help to the country.

He Should Publish the article only after he himself returns to Nepal... Otherwise, his article has no substance of relvancy... First he shold show to the Nepalese by returning to Nepal, otherwise I take this article as only one addition to his resume to find a nice JOB.

Well, have been visiting this sajha threads for a long time….but did not interested to post any comments so far.

The Land of Young Hypocrites by the Harvard educated guy article is really impressive.. I agree with his voices. Mr. Basnyat you are absolutely right and I would love to add more things..common guys it is not time to blame government or any body…folks still we are hanging around with those bloody corrupted leader.

Do not waste your time to complaining those people who do not have any respect in our society…I guess I do not have have tell as you have seen the huge political changes just now.....Nepal is already moving into new era…you guys are in abroad that does not means you have to come back this country and fighting into loke sewa..or hunting around 4 – 5 thousand jobs.. I think you guys still can contribute sitting even in abroad. Definitely sunama suganadha nahi hunethiyou..nepalma pharketa….There are still a lot youth groups in Nepal who are working towards to make free and responsible society.. Personally as i am involving too...

do not run away from the country or do not make yourself to stop to come back coz of the political reason...see the politics is vitally important in everyday life there is no way escape... hey guys now kathmandu has been changed a lot .. I find myself n alot youths are feeling that we need to talk on social and economic issuses too....which play the vital role for human life n they are showing their keen interest to aware of responsibility to the society.......

In Nepal, I have met and worked with a number of Nepali professionals who did return after completing their studies in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Australia, India, China, various parts of the US and so on . . . and I know many others who appear to be doing good work in Nepal in whatever they are pursuing, from advertising to zoo maintenance.

Seriously.
I am not joking.

That said, do we want more Nepalis to return to Nepal?
Sure.

But those who don't return, are they necessarily "young hypocrites"?
That's too strong and needlessly polarising a phrase.

People choose to return or not returnfor their own reasons, and those reasons (occasional heated exchanges with Nepe aside :-)) are necessarily personal and
are to be respected.

Who is anyone to call others 'hypocrites' for Nepal for their life choices?

Personally, I wouldn't worry if a handful of Nepali Harvard or Princeton
grads (most of whom -- let's be honest -- tend to be among the most
conformist and most risk-averse of 'bright students') failed to return to Nepal.

Heart-warming though it is, I have never believed the myth of "the best and the brightest" leading Nepal to a greater glory.

As a Nepali, I would worry if remittance flows from workers in Kuwait and Malyasia to Nepal slowed down.

I also worry when people with fancy credentials return with an attitude to "develop the nation". Such an attitude smacks of hubris and naivete.

That said, I, as a Nepali, would be a lot happier to see people returning to Nepal to pursue their own passions: opening up a research university, opening up orphanages, writing about human rights issues, creating documentaries, teaching students, training others, opening up tourism opportunities . . . and so many 1000s of small, small but important work.

The challenge, the way I see it, is how to make young people passionate about the FUTURE of Nepal so that they devote their lives pursuing their interests in and for
Nepal? I am wrestling with that question as anyone else.

My two cents.

oohi
ashu

There are many people living in Nepal who are as capable as the ones who migrated. The system is not in place for them to help develop Nepal. It's easy to write about how manpower is being brain drained and how it would help Nepal if they are back in Nepal. But the writer fails to understand that no matter how many smart and intelligent people stay in Nepal or go abroad, it doesn't make a difference until the system encourages development.

The system is the government and until and unless the government is capable of encouraging development, even if every Nepali in the US and abroad goes back to Nepal, it wouldn't make much difference.

Look at the government. They are scared of Maoists. They are letting mass murderers out from prisons. How are they going to encourage positive outcome from the 'smart' and 'educated' Nepalis?

I liked the idea of paying more to the people in government so that they don't have to depend on corruption. But, the corruption goes so deep within the infrastructure of the society and economy that, it is not going to facilitate anything.

I completely and utterly agree with the view points Ashuji has to shed on this article.
I dont think I could've put it in the words as he summed it in his last "stanza."

Cheers,

Napyo

bhanna sajilo huncha garna garho.

even if all the foreign educated nepalis return to nepal it won't make much of a difference. Nepal has plenty of highly educated people doing nothing in nepal because there is no scope to put their education to work.

As long as people of high intellect and high moral values don't get into politics, Nepal is never going to change. period. And please how many of these so called foreign educated brains are going to get into politics. almost none. POLITICS is the ONLY single factor that dictates everything else like it or not, I do not know how many of the commenters here are willing to join the politics and get the unappreciatve label of "chor Neta" on to themselves.