Breaking the wall of “This is Nepal”
As a child, we’ve always been asked to raise our voices for what we think is right. We were always advised to speak up against the wrong and stand up for what is right. While that was good advice but it hasn’t been effectively followed. Our lips still stutter and our voice cracks and we hold back speaking against the wrong.
We live in a country where many wrongly practices exist. From morning till night several unethical activities occur which we just ignore and pass by. Maybe we think someone else will fix it or shrug it off by saying it’s no use speaking. We hold back for some reason; we say “This is Nepal. Things like these happen here.” Well, my friend, you’re wrong. Acts like these shouldn’t happen anywhere, especially when there are living organisms walking with brains on top of their heads. Now you’re probably questioning what kind of unethical or wrong or undisciplined or punishable activities I am talking about.
Let’s take for instance; you’re walking on the streets and see a guy unwrap chewing gum packet, put the sugar rated gum in his mouth and just casually throw the wrapper on the street. Now, remember, you’ve seen this and you know this is wrong, so as a rational human you walk up to him and warn him that what he did was wrong. Really? No. You think about all the effort, you think about why you would bother wasting time on a guy you barely know, so you pretend you didn’t see it and walk away preserving your much valuable time.
Another example; when people line in for queue at parties or temples or any event. Especially in my country, people are very strict about it. They don’t push or pull to finish early in the queue, “prestigious” people don’t use their position and neither do they use the liberty of not staying in the line, people don’t call someone they know to stand in front of the — cutting right through the line. No sorry, my bad, please read the above sentences without “don’t.” You as a citizen witness and hear about this all the time. But what do you do, you shrug your shoulder, give a shameless smile and say “This is Nepal.”
Your friend got his license without even passing the test and you, instead of reporting it to the police ask how you can obtain the license the same way. A relative you know has a minimum government salary but owns Land Rover and his wife has precious ornaments. You don’t question this to him. Because our lips stutter and maybe we don’t ask elder people such questions (because we’ve been taught not to talk back with elders.) Your brother, whom you thought has great potentials, decides to go abroad. When you question him, he utters bitterly every single flaw our country possesses, you think about changing his mind but then you step back, you tell yourself “This is Nepal. Youths go out all the time.”
Dust flies throughout the day, pollution is jumping on us all, the roads are dusty in summer and wet in monsoon. The holes buried aren’t paved yet, with no proper traffic lights and jam-packed roads. You as a pedestrian, rider, and driver are aware of this issue. We cover our face with masks; dodge the holes on road and walk away saying, again “This is Nepal. No work is ever done here.”
Earthquake and flood victims still live under absolute poverty and carry very little comfort. As citizens of this country, they don’t have a place to call home, their voices unheard or ignored. You go to this area to witness the tragedy people are living in. Expressing your sympathy you go home and have a warm meal, sleep in warm bed saying “This is Nepal. Positive works are rare here.”
I could go on and on about this. Because this country has got countless serious issues that should be addressed but are ignored and forgotten. I am now asking this to us, — the citizens. Do we dare to live like this? Is this the Nepal we want to live in? Where your voices stutter and underprivileged always witness tragedy; is this who we are? I’m sorry but I’m questioning our humanity and integrity. It’s about time we break barriers that motivate us to hold back and tell us to “shut up.” Next time you meet that relative of yours; ask him how did he acquire so much wealth? Next time you see a guy throwing wrappers on the streets; ask him does he litter his house the same way? Next time someone cuts through the line; ask them what kind of emergency they have got.
Not speaking up can and will hurt. Not pointing out the wrong deeds affects a larger amount of people. Not motivating people around you to skip the stigma of saying “This is Nepal” can wipe out our identity. Let’s make “This is Nepal” not as our weakness but strength. Holding back and fearing other’s perceptions will drown this country into a void where there is no way out. Not breaking out of the stigma “Why me?” will put our Nepal into darkness. Because if you don’t then who will? I politely ask you to speak up and act. Because activism works and it might as well shape the entire globe differently.
Anish Ghimire
