Surath Giri's Blog

Jun 24, 2010

What it means to be a libertarian!

June 24, 2010 Surath Giri— min read

I wrote this article for two reasons:

1) My readers who liked my view-points wanted to know what libertarianism is. It was a new concept for them.
2) I was very very annoyed by this misleading article published on Republica, "Ironing out the People" and wanted to clear out the confusion caused by the ignorance of the writer.

What it means to be a libertarian!

It’s an exciting time for a global citizen to live in this world. Totalitarian socialism and other forms of tyranny are crumbling all over the world with the advancement of human liberty and prosperity. However as a Nepali, it’s a mixed time. For some making history is the glorified goal they want to achieve while for the common man, the time presents problems every other day. The transitory period and political instability has coupled together to create widespread anarchy. Rampant anarchy is making the life of an ordinary citizen too difficult to survive and progressing in these times is a far cry. With a dysfunctional government, lack of law and order, lack of a proper constitution in place and the already defunct collectivist thoughts presiding over the public policy discourses, a libertarian would not only be sad but also suffocate in our society.

Libertarians believe in individual’s supremacy and thereby individual liberty and voluntary exchange of free markets. Libertarians believe in liberty not anarchy. Liberty is the freedom to act as you please so long as you don’t interfere with similar rights of others which means you are free to do whatever you like for a living, associate with others voluntarily, trade with whoever you like, you can speak and publish freely, run your own business and live as long as you please. They consider an individual the primary source of power not the government, not the political leaders and definitely not the kings. They uphold liberty to the highest value as it is as much our requirement as other basic needs like food, shelter, air and water. Libertarians despise coercion of one individual against others be it in the any form or name, which is one of the reasons why they hate collectivist tyrannies – even the ones that appear in the markets!

For a society to function freely, it is necessary to protect an individual from being harmed by others through coercion or violence. For this reason, governments are formed. Hence the government is supposed to be a referee who sets the rules of the game and arbitrates between the players if any conflict arises. The government is not a player who takes sides with a certain team and exploits its privilege to use force against the other players. The primary functions of a government hence are maintenance of law and order, administration of justice, protection of a country from foreign invasion and protection of civil liberties. However, our government seems to have failed in all of its primary functions. Neither our lives are secure nor our properties. Neither are we saved from violence nor do we receive swift justice. Nevertheless, our state never ceases act like a nanny state making rosy promises to its citizens with free food, free education, free health services, which are neither the functions of the state nor are they free as many perceive it to be. It’s an irony that our state is quite worried that we won’t know or read that smoking is dangerous (ref: recent government edict that cigarette manufacturers should have 75% of their cigarette packets covered by the statutory directive) but is nonchalant about the proliferation of violent activities and crimes (most of which are promoted by the political parties themselves) like extortion, kidnapping, murder that claim our lives and properties. Libertarians believe any government that imposes itself in every facet of people’s lives is the major impediment to progress and the greatest threat to human liberty.

Libertarians believe in private ownership property. Private ownership of property gives people incentives to make the best use out of the available resources and it also promotes entrepreneurship and innovation which are the key components of prosperity. Nations and societies who have failed to acknowledge this truth have failed miserably impoverishing millions of their inhabitants like Soviet Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and East Germany. With every political party, exploiting every means (open extortion to land ceiling in constitution) to extort and plunder private properties for their personal uses, our society is in precipices of doom. Libertarians believe in a system that protects every individual be it a poor or a rich person and his property from robbery of the predators. However such a system is still a far cry for us. Yet for all the evil doings and plunders of the State, capitalism is always blamed. For a country which has never seen a capitalist party, let alone some capitalistic policies to promote growth and prosperity, it’s shameful to blame capitalism for the poverty. And turning a blind eye to the advancement of human civilization and prosperity that the world has achieved through free human action doesn’t please a libertarian at all.

Along with individual liberty, libertarians also believe in individual responsibility. When a person is given the opportunity to choose, he is also supposed to bear the consequences that entail. Liberty not only asks for the freedom of an individual but also demands the individual to be on his guard while making his choices. Believing in cheesy dreams and giving away your money and blaming free markets after being cheated is not a likely characteristic of a responsible individual. However, the philosophy of free markets or libertarianism never condones fraud. Fraud is a crime that deprives an individual of his life or property through mental coercion and hence should be punished accordingly. Before blaming markets for frauds such as Unity scheme, a person should question the morality and dependability of the government whose officials including the president and the prime minister were found to have been involved in Unity’s programs.

One should understand that it was the fault of the irresponsible consumers and the government, not of free market, that created the Unity Scam. President inaugurates Unity’s event and the blames goes to free market. No, such irresponsible behaviors never please a libertarian.

What this country needs are more self-reliant individuals who are responsible enough to account for their choices and actions to create a truly free society, a society where every individual is able to enjoy his life and liberties safely. To be prosperous all Nepal needs is sound ideas that promote entrepreneurship and innovation not parasitism of the collectivists or patronization of the state. Until then, libertarians cannot afford to sleep well for some misguided self righteous person is all too ready to blame liberty for all the evils present in our society.

जल-बिध्युतमा लाइसेन्स्,स्विकृती प्रणाली : अध्यारोमा पिल्सन्छन आम नेपाली

June 08, 2010 Surath Giri— min read

मैले गएको ब्लग्पोस्ट्मा मनकामना केबलकारले आफ्नो सेवा बिस्तार गर्न भोग्नुपरेको लाइसेन्स र कर्मचारितन्त्रको झमेलाबारेमा कुरा गरेको थिए । एक जना पाठकको प्रतिकृया थियो: केबलकारको केसमा यो सबै झन्झट राख्नु लज्जास्पद हो तर जल्-बिध्युत जस्तो सम्वेदन्शील क्षेत्रमा भने सरकार ले नियमन गर्न र स्विकृती दिने-नदिने ब्यवस्था राख्न जरूरी छ । उहाको बिचारलाई म सम्मान गर्छु तर हमिले के बुझ्न जरूरी छ भने क सरकारी नियमनले काम गर्छ त । के सरकारले स्वृकिती दिए मात्रै जल-बिध्युत परियोजना सन्चालन गर्न दिने ब्यवस्थाले काम गर्छ त ?

यसै सन्दर्भमा हिजोको कान्तिपुरमा आएको बिकास थापा को लेख यहा उधृत गर्नु सान्दर्भिक ठान्छु:

खिम्तीका खलनायकहरु
खि म्ती र भोटेकोशी भित्र्याउन अरूण तेस्रोको अवसान गराइयो । अरूण रद्द गराएर ल्याइएको खिम्तीले व्यापारिक उत्पादन सु्रु गरेको दस वर्ष पुगेछ । ८ अर्ब लगानी गरेको खिम्तीले दस वर्षमै २० अर्ब रुपैयाँ बराबरको रकम फिर्ता लग्यो । उसको बिजुली किन्ने प्राधिकरणको घाटा भने १८ अर्ब नाघेको छ । अन्य आयोजनाका लगानी फिर्ता हुन कम्तीमा १० देखि १५ वर्षसम्म लाग्छ । तर खिम्तीले चार, पाँच वर्षमै आफ्नो लगानी उठाएर साहुहरूको साँवा-ब्याजसमेत भुक्तानी गरिसकेको छ । 'उपयोग गर वा तिर' सम्झौता भएको खिम्तीको बिजुली अमेरिकी डलरमा प्राधिकरणले २५ वर्षसम्म किनिरहनुपर्ने सम्झौता छ ।
विद्युत विकास विभाग र तत्कालीन जलस्रोत मन्त्रालयले खिम्तीको 'प्रोजेक्ट डेभलपमेन्ट एगि्रमेन्ट' गरेका हुन् । यसअनुसार खिम्ती निर्माणका लागि प्रवेशमार्ग र उत्पादित बिजुली सवस्टेसनसम्म ल्याइपुर्‍याइदिन राज्यका तर्फबाट खर्च भएको थियो । पीपीए सम्झौता यसरी गरिएको छ कि प्राधिकरणलाई जुनसुकै अवस्थामा पनि घाटाबाहेक अरू केही हात लाग्दैन । अरू आयोजनाहरूले विद्युत रोयल्टी आफैंले तिर्नुपर्छ । खिम्तीमा प्राधिकरणले तिर्ने प्रावधान छ । कहीं नभएको जात्रा हाँडीगाउँमा भनेजस्तै डिमान्ड चार्ज भनेर छुट्टै रकमसमेत प्राधिकरणले तिर्नुपर्छ । यति गर्दागर्दै पनि नपुगेर खिम्तीको बिजुली डलरमा तिर्नुपर्छ । जति डलरको भाउ बढ्दै जान्छ, प्राधिकरणलाई उत्तिकै घाटा पर्छ । अर्काेतर्फ गलत हाइड्रोलोजी -जलविज्ञान) को डाटा पेस गरेर पीपीए गरियो, फलस्वरूप सुख्खायाममा देशका सबै नदी सुक्छन्, तर खिम्तीले मात्र 'बढी ऊर्जा' उत्पादन गरेको देखाएर त्यसलाई डेढीभन्दा बढीमा भुक्तानी गर्नुपर्छ । यस्तो ऊर्जा ४० प्रतिशतसम्म छ । प्रतिव्यक्ति आय विश्वमा लक्जेमवर्गपछि दोस्रो स्थानमा रहेको नर्वेजस्तो मुलुकले नेपालजस्तो अत्यन्त गरिब देशसँग छलछाम गरेर ठगी गरेको यही एक्सेस इनर्जी प्रकरणबाट पुष्टि हुन्छ । नर्वेको प्रतिव्यक्ति आय ७२ हजार ३ सय अमेरिकी डलर छ । गतिलो सरकार र जलस्रोत -अहिले ऊर्जा) मन्त्री भइदिएको भए हिमाल पावर लिमिटेड विरुद्ध ठगी गरिएको भनेर मुद्दा हाल्न सकिन्थ्यो ।

खिम्ती भित्र्याउन नर्वेले नेपालको जलविद्युत विकास नीति तर्जुमादेखि नै यहाँ प्रवेश गरेको हो । नर्वेका नेपालस्थित दलालहरूको अथक प्रयासबाट विद्युत विकास नीति, ऐन, विद्युत विकास विभाग गठनसम्मका सबै कृत्य भए । खिम्तीकै लागि कुनै पनि प्रकारका कर नलाग्ने व्यवस्था गरियो । सबै प्रपञ्च र तानाबाना बुनिसकेपछि जलस्रोत मन्त्रालय र विद्युत विकास विभागले पीपीए गरे । त्यतिखेर सचिव सूर्यनाथ उपाध्याय थिए । रातभरि मन्त्रालयमा बसेर एगि्रमेन्टको नेगोसियसन गरियो र बिहानीपख सम्झौता गरियो । नेपालको आर्थिक हितविपरीत भित्र्याइएको खिम्तीको पहिलो खलनायक थिए, तत्कालीन जलस्रोत राज्यमन्त्री लक्ष्मण घिमिरे । त्यसपछि एमालेका प्रदीप नेपाल र राप्रपाका पशुपतिशमेशर जबरा । प्रदीप नेपालले एउटा दर तय भइसकेपछि दोहोर्‍याएर भाउ बढाए । पछि पशुपतिशमशेरले प्राधिकरणका कार्यकारी निर्देशक सन्तबहादुर पुनलाई हटाएर उनको ठाउँमा कीर्तिचन्द ठाकुर ल्याई पीपीए गराए । अरूण तेस्रोमा विश्वबैंकले राष्ट्रघाती सर्त राखेको भन्दै चर्को विरोध गर्ने रत्नसंसार श्रेष्ठले खिम्तीको तर्फबाट पीपीएमा हस्ताक्षर गरे । श्रेष्ठहरू जस्ताले किन अरूणको विरोध गरेको भन्ने बुझ्न धेरै बेर लागेन । अन्ततः अरूण तेस्रो भारतले लगेपछि राष्ट्रवादीहरू चुप लागेर बसेका छन् । अरूण तेस्रोको विरोधबाट दुई फाइदा पुगेछ । पहिलो, खिम्तीको दलाली गर्न पाइयो, अर्काे भारतीय कम्पनीलाई अरूण तेस्रो दिलाउन सकियो । अरूणको अवसानले मुलुकको जलविद्युत विकास दुई दसक पछि धकेलियो । (पूरा लेखका लगी यहा क्लिक गर्नुहोला । )

यो त केबल एउटा मात्र उदाहरन हो । हाम्रो देशका प्राय: जसो जल्-बिध्युत परियोजनामा यस्ता अनियमितताहरु भएका छन । लाइसेन्स , स्विकृती प्रनालिले अहिलेसम्मा राम्रो भन्दा नराम्रो नतिजा ल्याइराखेको छ । सोच्नुस त लाइसेन्स स्विकृती प्रनालिले कती हद्सम्म भ्रस्टाचारलाई बढवा दिराखेको छ ? नेताहरुलाई घुस ख्वाउन नसकेर कती परियोजनाहरुले लाइसेन्स पाएनन आजसम्म । पदमा बस्ने हरुले जनताको हित्मा सोच्ने भैदिएको भए २१ औ शताब्दिमा पनि अन्धकारमा बाच्नु पर्थ्यो हामिले ? अरुन तेस्रो भयको भए आज देश्ले एत्रो उर्जा सन्कट भोग्नु पर्ने थियो ?

यसै सन्दर्भमा हालै सरकारले गरेको अर्को निर्णय पनि पढी हेरौ :

स्वदेशी जलविद्युतलाई पनि बैंक ग्यारेन्टी
बैंकहरूले ब्याजदर बढाएर त्यसै पनि लगानी अयोग्य भइरहेका बेला ऊर्जा मन्त्रालयले विद्युत् प्राधिकरणसँग खरिद सम्झौता (पिपिए) भएका र हुने क्रममा रहेका कम्पनीले प्रतिकिलोवाट ६ सय रुपैयाँ बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्नुपर्ने निर्णय गरेपछि लगानीकर्ता हतोत्साहित भएका छन् ।
नयाँ निर्णयअनुसार दस मेगावाटको जलविद्युत् आयोजना गर्नेले अब ६० लाख रुपैयाँ बराबरको जमानतबापत बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । यो प्रावधानका कारण स्वदेशमा छरिएर रहेका पुँजी संकलन गरी जलविद्युत् आयोजना निर्माण गर्ने लगानीकर्ताहरू हतोत्साहित भएका हुन् । प्राधिकरणले करिब ६० वटा आयोजनाको ३२० मेगावाट बराबरको पिपिए गरिसकेको छ ।
मन्त्रालयले 'वास्तविक लगानीकर्ता मात्र आऊन्' भन्ने उद्देश्य राखी पिपिए गरेका वा गर्नका लागि प्रवर्द्धकहरूले अनिवार्य रुरूमा यस्तो बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्नुपर्ने निर्णय हालै गरेको हो । मन्त्रालयको निर्देशअनुसार प्राधिकरणले स्वतन्त्र ऊर्जा उत्पादक -आइपिपी) हरूलाई धमाधम बैंक ग्यारेन्टी राख्न ताकेता गर्न थालेको छ ।

आइपिपीहरूले सरकारको यस निर्णयलाई औचित्यहीन भएको र यसले लगानीकर्ताहरूलाई हतोत्साही गर्ने प्रतिक्रिया दिएका छन् । 'एकातिर बैंक ब्याजदर बढेर उसै पनि जलविद्युत् क्षेत्र लगानी गन्तव्य बन्न सकेको छैन, त्यसमाथि झन् लागत बढाउने मात्र काम भयो,' स्वतन्त्र ऊर्जा उत्पादकहरूको संस्था इपानका सदस्य डा. सुवर्णदास श्रेष्ठले भने, 'जसले पिपिए गर्छ त्यो नै वास्तविक लगानीकर्ता भयो, फेरि थप झन्झट र सर्त राखिरहनु आवश्यक नै छैन ।' (पूरा लेखका लगी यहा क्लिक गर्नुहोला । )

अब आफै बिचार गरी हेर्नु होला : लाईसेन्स स्विकृती प्रनालिले कस्लाई फाइदा गर्छ ? आम जनतालाई कि भ्रस्ट कर्मचारी र नेताहरुलाई ?

Red Tape , Strong State; Who really benefits?

June 05, 2010 Surath Giri— min read

Just read Muse Nepal's post Cable Car Statism. Loved it. The blogger has pointed out our concern to a very serious issue. The cable car case is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many cases where good intentions and motivations of entrepreneurs to bring growth and prosperity have been thwarted by the red tapism and bureaucratic hassles nurtured by the state.

So it is especially maddening to read about the bureaucratic red tape faced by a new request made by Chitwan Co-E to build a new cable car operation in Pokhara. The request has to first go through the Ministry of Development, which formed a committee to decide if it was a good idea. After their prolonged preliminary report is completed, the request is passed on to the National Planning Commission which again forms its own committee to give its blessing before the project is finally approved by the government.

Trust me , the chance of the company of getting the approval is rather slim if there is any. Without passing some illicit funds to the pockets of all the bureaucrats involved , the project will never be approved. Who cares if we love the service provided by the company? Who cares how many local residents of Manakama temple premises have prospered due to the cable car? Who cares how many more people would be benefited if there were to be a new cable car operation in Pokhara? If there had been prevalence of any common sense at all , the project would not have been approved but would have got an encouragement, but the narrow self-interest and whim of the bureaucracy doesn't care at all. Another major cases of such red tapism and bureaucracy is the approval of hydro power projects. We have heard so many cases of local companies being denied of the license whereas we are facing power crisis in such a severe form.

Whenever I talk about canceling licensing system and cutting down bureaucratic hassles, the primary question raised is : And who will check about the intentions of the entrepreneurs? Without licensing and bureaucratic process, wouldn't thugs rule the scenario? Wouldn't some evil hydro power projects take away all our resources? What if the cable car cheated people or constructed the infrastructures poorly? blah blah blah..

Doesn't it sound funny that people always complain so much about corruption and yet naively believe that bureaucrats and policy makers work for their best? Isn't it funny that people love using cable cars and yet question the morality of the entrepreneur involved whereas they never question the morality of the bureaucrats who have nothing to do with the consequences of their decisions?

THINK AGAIN:

Red Tape, Strong State; Who really benefits??

केही कम्युनिष्ट चुट्किलाहरु

June 01, 2010 Surath Giri— min read

ईतिहासले देखाएको एउटा कुरा क हो भने जुन समाजमा दमन बढी हुन्छ त्यहाँ नै बढी चुट्किलाहरु बन्छन । तल दिएका चुट्किलाहरु कसैले बनाएका नभएर कम्युनिष्ट शासनमा रहदा रुसी समाजमा चलेका चुट्किलाहरु हुन। चुट्किलाहरु दमन नरुचाउने बिद्रोही मानविय स्वभावका अभिब्यक्तीहरु हुन । जब सोभियत रुसमा कम्म्युनिस्म सम्बन्धी चुट्किला भन्ने कार्यलाई गैरकानूनी, जेल सजाययोग्य घोषणा गरियो तब यी चुट्किला हरु झन मौलाय । तलका चुट्किला पढेर सोचिहेर्नु होला कतिपय चुट्किला त हाम्रै समाज लाई हेरेर बनाइएका हुन की झै लाग्छन । पढीसकेर प्रतिक्रिया पनि दिनुहोला :

एक चोटि एक चेक् ,रुसी र अमेरिकी नागरिकको भेट भएछ ।
चेक् नागरिक आफु ढिलो आउनुको कारण बताउदै भनेछ , "हेर्नुस् न मासु किन्नको लागि लाइन बसेको ढिलोभै हाल्यो । "
अमेरिकी नागरिक : "लाइन भनेको के हो ?"
रुसी नागरिक : "मासु भनेको चै ?"

प्रश्न : पहिलो सोभियत चुनाव कहीले भएको थियो?
उत्तर : जब भगवानले इभ लाई याड्म को अगाडि ल्याये र भने , "ल आफ्नो लागि श्रीमती रोज त । "

एक चोटि रुसी रेडियोमा एक विदेशीले फोन गरेछ र सोधेछ , " तपाईंहरुको देशमा काम अनुसार को तलब दिदैन भन्छन् नी ?"
रुसी रेडियोले जबाफ दियेछ , "यो सरासर झुट हो । हाम्रोमा काम अनुसारकै तलब पाईन्छ । हामी काम गरे जस्तो गर्छौ उनीहरु तलब दिये जस्तो गर्छन् । "

एक चोटि एक बेलायती , फ्रान्सेली र रुसी नागरिक बीच याड्म र इभ को रास्टियता कुन हो भन्ने बिषयमा ठुलो विवाद चलेछ ।

बेलायती : "उनीहरु पक्कै बेलायती हुनुपर्छ । आफुसँग भएको अन्तिम स्याउ एउटी आइमै सँग एउटा भद्रपुरुष ले मात्र बाड्न सक्छ । "
फ्रान्सेली : "हैन उनीहरु पक्कै फ्रान्सेली हुनुपर्छ । यस्तो सजिलै सँग कुनै स्त्री लाई लठ्याउन अरु कसले सक्छ र ? "
रुसी : "अह हैन । उनीहरु पक्कै रुसी हुनुपर्छ । हैन भने नाङ्गै हिडेर , एउटा स्याउ खाएको भरमा दुई जना बच्नु पर्दा पनि हामी स्वर्गमा बाचिराखेका छौ भनेर अरु कस्ले सोच्छ र ? "

एक चोटि रुसमा एक्जना शिक्षकले रुसको सम्पन्नता र प्रचुरताको बारेमा पढाईरखेका थिए।

तेस्तैमा रबिनोभिच भन्ने बिद्द्यार्थीले हात उठायो ।

"कमरेड तपाईंले भनेका कुरा एकदम राम्रा छन् तर रुसको सबै मासु जति चै कता हरायो ? "

अरको दिन तिनै शिक्षक फेरी रुसको सम्पन्नता र प्रचुरताको बारेमा पढाइरखेका थिए ।

तेस्तैमा हमिओभिच भन्ने बिद्द्यार्थीले हात उठायो ।

"कमरेड मासु कता हरायो त म जान्न चाहन्न तर रबिनोभिच चै कता हरायो ? "

यो आर्मेनियाली रेडियो हो । हाम्रा एक श्रोताले प्रश्न गर्नु भएको छ , "अरको चुनाव को परिणाम के होला ? "
हामी जबाफ दिदै छौ : "अह कसैले भन्न सक्दैन । अरको चुनाव को परिणाम हिजो सोभियत रुसको केन्द्रिय समिती बाट चोरी भयो । "

यो आर्मेनियाली रेडियो हो । हाम्रा एक श्रोताले प्रश्न गर्नु भएको छ , "साम्यवाद पूर्ण रुपले स्थापना भैसके पछि पुलिसको आवस्यक्ता पर्छ ? "
हामी जबाफ दिदै छौ : "अह पर्दैन । त्यस समय सम्ममा त सबै जनताले आफुले आफैलाई गिरफ्तार गर्न सिकिसकेका हुन्छन् । "

जब पार्टी को २०औ भेलामा क्रुस्चेवले स्तलिनले गरेका अत्याचारहरुको बर्णन गर्न थाले , हलको एक कुनाबाट आवाज आयो ।

"तेत्रो अत्याचार गर्दा तपाईंहरुचै कहा हुनुहुन्थ्यो त ?"

"प्रस्न गर्ने ब्यक्ति एक एक चोटि उठ्नुस् त। "

प्रस्नकर्ता डराएर नउठिकन चुप लागेर बस्यो ।

क्रुस्चेव : "हो , हामी पनि त्याही थियौ । "

एक चोटि अमेरिकी र रुसी रास्टपती भेट भएछ र उनीहरु गफ गर्न थलेछन ।

अमेरिकी रास्टपती: आफ्ना बिरुद्ध आएका समाचारहरु कति को जम्मा गर्ने गर्नु भएको छ ?
रुसी रास्टपती: अ , जम्मा गर्ने गरेको छु ।
अमेरिकी रास्टपती: हो र ?
रुसी रास्टपती:अ त , दुई क्याम्प जति त पुग्यो होला ।

एक चोटि स्टालिन को पिए र स्टालिन गफ गर्दै रहेछन ।

पिए : कमरेड , रुसको सिमाना किन नखोल्नु भएको ?
स्टालिन : सिमाना खोल्यो भने त सबै जनता भग्लान र हामी दुई मात्र बाँकी रहलाउ भनेर हो ।
पिए : दुई जना ? तपाईं र अरको को ?

के मार्क्स्बाद -लेनिनवाद वैज्ञअनिक सिद्धान्त हो ?
होईन , भए त पहीले जनावर माथि प्रयोग गरि हेर्थे होला नी ।

बोनस चुट्किला

एक चोटि फिडेल क्यस्त्रोलाई अनिन्द्रा ले सतायेछ । डाक्टरको म गयेर सिकयत गर्दै :

फिडेल : "मलाई केही गर्दा पनि निन्द्रा लाग्दैन । म के गरौ ?"
डाक्टर : "आफ्नै भासन पढिहेर्नुस् न । "

Pani Photo: A review

May 25, 2010 Surath Giri— min read

Today I watched the play "Pani Photo"at Gurukul.The play is written by Khagendra Lamichhane. Pani Photo is about an old couple whose only son has been missing (kidnapped) during the period of insurgency in the country. The play brilliantly depicts the series of everyday events that remind the couple of their son and thereby their hopes with regards to him. The couple is not only devastated by their loss but also fed up with the constant hovering of media and other parties that try to capitalize on their tragedy. Equally frustrated are they with the politicians who try make out their ends by making rosy promises of finding their son. The couple comfort their ailing memories with the only photo they have of their son until one day that photograph also goes missing!

Pani photo is a well directed, well acted and well scripted play. The intermittent jokes and humorous scenes help to tone down an otherwise an emotionally overwhelming play. The typical rural setting and cultural resemblances entertain the audience. However, the ending of the play is too abrupt and leaves the audience bitterly disappointed. The play could be much better with an extended ending!

आजदीले नै संसारमा सबै फरक पार्दछ ।

May 25, 2010 Surath Giri— min read

सिद्धान्त सात
आजादीले नै संसारमा सबै फरक पार्दछ ।

माथिका ६ सिद्धान्तहरु मार्फत पनि अझै आफ्नो कुरामा प्रशस्त जोड दिन सकिनकी जस्तो लागेर मैले यो सातौं र अन्तिम सिद्धान्त थपेको छु ।

आजादी कुनै एउटा राम्रो वा आरामदायी विचार मात्रै होइन् । न त यो कुनै सुखद परिस्थिति वा आत्मरक्षाको कुनै साधारण अवधारणा मात्रै नै हो । आजादी त्यस्तो कुरा हो जसले अरु सम्पूर्ण कुरा हुनमा अह्म भूमिका खेल्छ । आजादी नहुने हो भने राम्रोमा जीवन निरर्थक हुन्छ नराम्रोमा जीवन नै रहदैन् ।

जुन सार्वजनिक नीतिले आजादी हटाउँछ वा आजादीलाई संरक्षण वा सुढ्रीडिकरन गर्ने काम गदैन भने त्यस्ता सार्वजनिक नीतिप्रति स्वतन्त्रताप्रेमीहरु सजग र सशंकित हुनु जरुरी छ । उनीहरुले सोध्नुपर्छः हामीले हाम्रो आजादी दिए वापत के पाइराखेका छौ त? आशा गरौं यो कुनै अल्कपलीन लाभ नहोंस् । अझ बेन फ्र्यन्क्लिनले त हामीलाई सल्लाह दिएका छन "जो अस्थायी सुरक्षा किन्नका लागि आफ्नो आधारभूत स्वतन्त्रता दिन तयार हुन्छन् उनीहरु न त सुरक्षाका हकदार हुन्छन् न त स्वतन्त्रता कै ।

आजकल प्रायः नीति निर्माताहरु नयाँ नीति बनाउँदा स्वतन्त्रतालाई के असर पर्छ भन्ने विचार नगरिकन बनाउँछन् । आफूलाई राम्रो महशुस भयो भने वा राम्रो सुनियो भने वा आफूलाई निर्वाचित गराउन मदत गर्ने किसिमको नीति देखे भने बनाइहाल्छन् । जसले स्वतन्त्रताका आधारलाई लिएर प्रश्न उठाउँछ उसलाई हास्यपद बनाउने वा पर सार्ने कोसिस गरिन्छ । आज सबै तहको सरकारले हामीले गरेको सम्पूर्ण उत्पादनको ४२ प्रतिशत लिएर जान्छ र उपभोग गर्छ जबकि १९०० सम्ममा केवल ६ देखि ७ प्रतिशत मात्र उपभोग गथ्र्यो । तर पनि थोरै मात्र मान्छेहरु ठूलो सरकारका समर्थकहरुलाई प्रश्न गर्छन,"४२ प्रतिशतले किन पुग्दैन?" "अझै कति चैं चाहन्छौ तिमीहरु?" वा "कति सम्म चाहिँ मानिसले आफ्नो श्रमको फल पाउनुपर्छ भनेर सोच्छौं तिमीहरु?"

Present anarchy and the future of freedom

May 25, 2010 Surath Giri— min read

-Surath Giri

"None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free." -Goethe

The prevailing anarchy in the country seems to have taken its toll on the importance of freedom. While discussing on ways to get Nepal out of this mess and start on the path of progress, I mentioned that we need to have more freedom in all aspects of our lives upon which I encountered a passionate criticism from a person. “If you let people have more freedom, if you leave most things to the market, then that would just perpetuate looting that is continuing at the moment. We need a strong, authoritarian government to set things straight and bring prosperity, “he said.

With the widespread anarchy and impunity, our society is getting extremely unfavorable for living. Violence and terror seem to have spread in all aspects of our lives. With everyone claiming numerous rights and initiating violence to achieve their ends, it not surprising that general people have started to think the concept of freedom has gone too far in this country. At the same time, collectivists seem to be gaining a stronghold in the public discourses these days. However, confusing anarchy with freedom and thereby asking for an authoritarian government would be a great folly that will further make our lives miserable. What is really needed is the understanding the principles of a free society, how a free society looks like and making demands that are justifiable. First step in understanding a free society is; understanding the difference between anarchy or impunity and freedom.

Anarchy and Freedom: Cain and Abel of the society

The underlying principle of freedom is that if you want to enjoy certain rights of yours, you must respect the similar rights of others. Any rights that interfere with similar rights of others cannot be a right. Anyone who seeks a coercive power over others for any reasons in the name of freedom is truly despicable. What we are experiencing in our country is anarchy, lawlessness. Not in any sense is it freedom at all. Anarchy, like Cain can kill freedom easily when a society degenerates into the rule of the mob from rule of law.

A free society demands the rule of law and that no one should be allowed to initiate violence against others. There is nothing called freedom to initiate force against others. Only the government, for very limited purposes like maintaining law and order, administrating justice, and preventing citizens from hurting each other, is allowed to use force. A free society demands the security of life and property of every citizen, not only that of the rulers or organized groups. What we need to understand here is a free society is in fact a society where rule of law is maintained.

The transitory period and political instability has coupled together to create an anarchic society in our country. Violent criminal activities are mushrooming all over the country, many of which are being promoted in the name of rights and freedom, and yet the government is acting as helpless as the victims of the crimes themselves. Everyday we hear and experience cases of extortion, kidnapping, rape and murder. Political parties themselves are the de facto, leader of such activities. When political parties who have been elected to government with the hope that they will protect our lives and properties, themselves are the carrying out criminal activities of confiscating private properties, extorting money, destroying properties, kidnapping and murdering people, how can we say our society is free? It is just anarchy that we are experiencing. The worrying fusion of the concept of anarchy and freedom is endangering our freedom and our hope of becoming a prosperous society.

A classis example of ineffective government contributing in the anarchy is, while organized criminal groups are kidnapping and murdering people everyday, the government is turning a blind eye to these activities. Whereas at the same time, government is introducing laws like banning export of orchids, forcing cigarette companies to put statutory directives covering more than three fourths of their cigarette packets in the name of providing security to the people. It’s an irony that state is failing to save you from being kidnapped and killed but is seriously concerned that you might not know cigarettes are harmful for your health and you might die by smoking. The first case is the case of government promoting anarchy whereas in the latter case, the government is encroaching on our freedom.

More freedom: Path to destruction or prosperity?

Is more freedom necessary? The answer is yes, an absolute yes. If we want more prosperity and a peaceful society, more freedom is a must. In fact, if we look at our history, we have never been free although we are fond of pointing to the fact that our country was never colonized as a gesture of freedom. Through pre-modern Nepal to Rana rule to Shah Rule to the collectivist governments after the advent of democracy, we have always been oppressed by the state.

Rana rule sowed the seed of darkness and impoverishment with their autocratic rule that denied the citizens of political, civil and economic freedom. The rule that punished entrepreneurship, innovation, hard-work, and creativity, where whims of the rulers became the law, where getting educated was a sign of disobedience and heretical, where your property is only secure until it doesn't catch the greedy eyes of the rulers and their patronized opportunists, is never supposed to bring any growth and prosperity and it did not. Rana rulers used coercion to get rich at the expenses of the general citizens. Shah rule continued down the same path though with lesser privileges and the democratic governments did the same though their power of oppression was considerably limited.

We have known freedom helps to bring out the best in people and society. In depths look at the flourishing media sector and finance sector after the economic liberalization of 1990s provides sufficient examples for the importance of freedom. If freedom were not so important why do we clamor about press freedom, freedom of speech, rights of self determination so much? If freedom didn’t work, why are our media and financial sectors and recently telecommunications sector so better off as compared to other sectors like hydropower, industries, agriculture? Freedom works! Our giant neighbors who unlike us had to face the clutches of colonization before and internal state oppression there after are now basking in freedom and taking the world head on , especially after the economic liberalization of 1990s in India and 1980s in china. If freedom didn’t work why couldn’t India develop during the second half of the twentieth century and why couldn’t china develop until 1980s?

If our media and financial sector could be so competent with freedom, imagine how our educational system or our tourism sector would develop if freed from the clutches of the state and oppressors? If we could free the transportation sector from cartels and stringent government regulations, wouldn’t we be using better buses or transport services? If we could free the petroleum sector from the coercive monopoly of the state, wouldn’t we get petroleum products easily? We saw what happened to Nepal Telecom after it was relatively freed?

Yes, freedom works and anarchy doesn’t! If we want to be prosperous, having more freedom and less anarchy is the only way!

(Published in The BOSS magazine, Mar 15 -Apr 14 2011 issue.)