The TKP Editors edited a lot and here is the original version:
Ambitious Undertakings ? Past and Present Examples
Rudra Raj Pandey, Ph.D.
Who would have thought that the Berlin wall would fall down within
fifty years of its foundation? Who would have thought that the Soviet Union
would be disintegrated? Who would have thought that China would dominate the
world consumer market within fifty years of the red revolution? Who would
have thought that Japan would grow at double digit rate for twenty years and
become world?s second largest economy? It is all part of ambition and
determination of those visionaries who lead the nation. If an
individual, a group of individuals, or a nation is collectively determined towards an
ambitious goal, they can achieve it. Nepal?s government never had
serious ambition and determination towards nation building. Our leaders always
lacked vision and stick-to-it-ness. They have been notoriously
flip-floppers. Nepal has not seen any ambitious and high profile
undertakings for the last hundred years. Ranas were busy making big
lavish palaces for themselves in the valley and occupying fertile lands around
the country. The post-Rana regime was directionless for about ten years.
The first multiparty government, with a few ambitious and visionary leaders
ever born in Nepal, had an opportunity to lead Nepal before they were
brutally sacked and put behind bar because handful of elite interest group did
not see things going their way. After the royal coup, king Mahendra formed
Panchayat system in Nepal. Panchayat regime had no realistic ambition
except some populist slogans of making Nepal ?a land of peace?. The Planning
Commission in Panchayat regime did nothing more than publishing books
with grandiose five-year plans. The Planning Commission itself was a coterie
of incompetent individuals who did nothing more than preparing scripts for
highly polarized, incapable and hand-picked ministers. Panchayat regime
ruled for thirty years without any ambitious national development
projects of large scale. National budget was allocated without the sequence here
and there and was mishandled with no question asked. I would not have any
regret not having voting rights and press freedom during those thirty years if
Panchas were successful in bringing poor Nepalese out of abject poverty
by launching some large scale public projects. History shows that many
autocratic governments in the world succeeded in developing their
nation without people?s voting rights and freedom of press. Democracy was
restored in 1990 and multi-party government controlled by both royals and
non-royals was formed. Conflict of interest continued to persist within ruling
parties and among major political parties. Political freedom for ruling members
turned out to be an instrument for accumulating personal wealth from
corruption and embezzlement of public funds. Moreover, leaders were not
hesitant to surrender democracy to royals for their personal gains,
betraying the spirit of the new constitution. Our nation continued to
be run by a bunch of na?ve and visionless leaders. Our leaders did not know
what it meant to launch long-term development project of large scale.
Corruptions were rampant during multiparty system as government changed almost
every 18 months in an average. Ministers and appointed bureaucrats were busy in
corruption and embezzlement of development funds from national coffers
in the name of raising money for their respective parties. What is deeply
troubling is the fact that they are not getting a simple fact:
corruption reduces the efficiency of service delivery, slows down the overall
economy and discourages foreign investments. Over a decade of multiparty
regime, no significant developmental activities were initiated; no major income
generating development projects for public were launched. License Raj
continued to exist. Party leaders started to loot public funds openly.
The bottom line is: Nepal has not yet seen visionary leader who can bring
together people with different ideas and build consensus among
political parties towards nation building. It is natural to have differences in
opinions, but we need leaders who can forgo these differences and join
hands when it comes to national interest. No doubt, Nepal, sooner or later,
will find such leader who will find a way to introduce ambitious plans and
policies for the nation. Let us hope we see that soon.
What could be such ambitious undertakings? I can name a few. Privatize
all government own corporations, including RNAC, Nepal Electricity
Authority, and Nepal Oil Corporation. Privatization should not be done in haste.
Privatization without necessary regulations creates chaos and loot.
Russian privatization after disintegration of USSR serves good example in this
case.