Posted by: Bennedict June 6, 2022
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@Alias,
I agree to a lot of points you have raised. Yes, Balen is a much needed phenomenon people have been waiting for so long. Many earlier politicians, leaders our representatives appeased themselves and left us as if we never mattered to them. Big in talks and low in actions, that is what we have been seeing for ages. I was not even following Balen before as I was completely devoid of this election euphoria plaguing the country the previous month. When some person is elected and chosen by the voters with the maximum nods then there must be a reason right? As an outsider, yes I did not come forth and claim I am going to make this place bla bla, so I may not be completely credible person to follow for my random opinions. Agreed!
But this is of a general consensus that if somebody holds a public position, there are certain norms and code of conduct, decorum that are expected of that particular person. If he himself starts behaving like one of those angry bird throwing tantrums and blurting random information, "cribbing" or "bragging", then what different he would be? Balen, now as a liable person, I was expecting him to diffuse the anger and the tension among people but not worsen the vibes. Watching that particular YouTube video that's how I felt. But yes my personal opinion should not be a matter of concerns to anybody either as I am nobody and do not have any bearings either. Still I am letting go some emotions that passed me through.
Nepal is a tough place to work yes and that is the main reason, a lot of people like myself do not intend to work there and be dejected with the lifestyles, system and culture there. The big talks have always shrouded the country but I see a very little change in the policy making and following rules/ regulations and disciplines. People in Nepal will never learn the value of being civil, kind and polite. These things are not in their blood. Period! A simple example I experienced so many times, they do not know how to wait in the line, forget about saying thank you or sorry. Spitting in public places, digging one's nose shamelessly while waiting the stores, blowing their noses to pedestrian path are like common culture that are so ingrained. Everybody feels they are entitled to public service and their actions. Sorry these are the things I noticed while visiting the country after many years. Forget about the skyrocketing population, pollution, inflation, gentrification and the invasion of foreigners (Chinese, Indians etc.), brain drain and what not.
One of my friends had a presentation on waste management in Kathmandu shown to Balen and his committee this week and he was saying, Balen is looking for some 2 minutes Maggie type instant solution to address the situation. Really? Waste management is not some math problem that you can solve like that. And besides who knows how much he can achieve in 5 years. The proposition my planner friend suggested required much in the policy making and enforcing a different set of rules and regulations to people in Kathmandu and the minimum timeline they are looking at is 10 years, which Balen seems to not wait. This is where the talks about relevant background and credentials come up again. Had he been in planning field, had some understanding about policy making and urban structure, maybe this interaction could have been fruitful. Over here, a person with a different background has been given a responsibility to take over some of the serious problems the capital is facing and now up for judgements and criticism. Everything and everybody that look "cool" may not be cool in every other areas! Right?
This whole situation reminded me of times when Trump was elected for president and there was so much uncertainty shrouding the country. He was never a president material, but he won the campaign and then as we see all, how much mess right "the next day" he created and how much international relations he screwed, everybody knows. A rank business man, Trump had been all his life, he did not even know how to recite a speech to a mass. There were always some gaffes or unintentional emotions that ended up in endless memes in the internet. Just hoping Balen does not end up like that and be a big debacle in history.
I will still give him time and benefit of doubts though.