Nepalis blame our politicians and bureaucrats for being unethical, corrupt, and unaccountable, attributing Nepal’s underdevelopment to their selfish motives. However, a new book by Bishnu Prasad Gautam, ‘Bibekko Filter’, published by Shimal Book Publication, presents a broader analysis, indicating a deeper malaise throughout Nepali society.

Gautam refers to this malaise as the widespread tendency among Nepalis—including intellectuals, business elites, and professionals—not to use a “filter of conscience” in their actions and inactions.

Citing numerous examples from different sectors of Nepali society, the author documents how our educational system and customary practices encourage people to be conformists. Even bright, young professionals educated abroad, or those exposed to innovative ways of doing things better elsewhere, tend to conform to corrupt, lazy, and cynical practices in their native milieu in Nepal.

The key message of ‘Bibekko Filter’ is to encourage young people to use their filter of conscience to think positively, cultivate a can-do spirit, challenge the status quo and unhealthy conventional wisdom, and take responsibility as proactive agents of change for a better future.

Reading the book reminded me of Karna Shakya’s classic book on the power of positive thinking, ‘Soch’, and its sequels. With his lived experience in Nepal as well as in Japan and Canada and citing examples of figures like Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Steve Jobs from abroad and Nepal’s icons Sanduk Ruit, Mahabir Pun, and Anuradha Koirala, Gautam seeks to inspire Nepali youth to think and act positively.

Think globally, act locally

Nepalis are generally well-informed about national politics and quite opinionated about world affairs. The author cites many examples of how Nepalis—from school children to taxi drivers, priests and pundits, local politicians, and migrant workers abroad—talk incessantly about the antics and intrigues of Nepal’s national political leaders and are quick to blame them for all the country’s ills. However, we rarely find local leaders, whether political or professional, taking responsibility for solving regional problems within their sphere of influence.

Nepali journalists also give undue prominence to the squabbles and foibles of our national political leaders. Their superficial speeches and inconsequential meetings get front-page coverage. However, innovative projects at the local level, whether governmental or private sector, rarely get the publicity they deserve.

Nepalis quickly adopt global goals, ratify UN treaties and conventions, and embrace environmental standards and norms. However, these goals and standards are not always adapted to Nepal’s realities. The author points to several examples, such as adding too many unrealistic and unachievable targets to pursue sustainable development goals and unduly restrictive policies on not cutting trees or exploiting locally available construction materials that hamper legitimate development projects. He highlights the need to be more pragmatic and judicious in distinguishing between means and ends when implementing such policies.

The author encourages us to take a more positive and balanced view of Nepal’s progress, not just meditate on our problems and failures. He argues that don’t focus unduly on discouraging daily events; pay more attention to positive long-term trends. He urges young people to strive to be role models of problem-solvers and innovators, not relish in being eloquent complainers.

Mixed messages and contradictions galore

The book chronicles many cases of ordinary people and public officials failing to use their filter of conscience, thus perpetuating practices that are often obsolete, counterintuitive, and contrary to declared public policies. Examples include:

People who complain bitterly about corruption but encourage and congratulate friends and relatives when they secure jobs in government offices known to be lucrative and rife with corruption. Leaders preach gender equality and women’s empowerment in public speeches but send their sons to expensive private schools and daughters to mediocre public schools. As part of e-governance, we introduce an online application system for various services, but applicants are required to affix a physical postage stamp to their applications.

Politicians and officials (including socialists of Marxist-Leninist-Maoist varieties) loudly criticise the privatisation of health and education. Still, they are often the biggest investors and owners of private schools, hospitals, and medical schools. Cartels and syndicates aligned with political parties usually lead the opposition to consumer-friendly alternatives and the introduction of new technology-driven innovations, such as in public transport. A stark example of the non-use of the bibekko filter is the functioning of students’ and teachers’ unions affiliated with major political parties. These unions rarely focus on improving the quality of education but are hyperactive in partisan political activities, often at the behest of their party bosses.

Profiting from loopholes

Nepalis, including senior officials and well-to-do individuals, do not hesitate to take advantage of allowances and concessions meant for the poor, oppressed, and underprivileged groups. Examples include:

We champion inclusion and proportional representation, but well-established political leaders from privileged backgrounds (including ministers and business tycoons from some of Nepal’s historically marginalised communities) nominate their family members, business partners, and donors to fill reserved quota seats meant for the genuinely underprivileged and underrepresented constituencies.

Many Nepalis exaggerated the Maoist violence and the impact of the earthquake to seek asylum as refugees in Europe and North America. This even included a former Nepali ambassador and senior diplomat.

Perpetuating known bad practices

Leaders often preach the need for efficiency, punctuality, and cost-effectiveness but perpetuate the opposite practices. Examples include:

Excessive formalities exist in meetings and conferences. People wait hours for the arrival of the "Chief Guest,” who is always late. Knowing this, other invitees also delay their arrival, wasting time and the notoriety of “Nepali Time.” Mediocrity is readily accepted in our society. Promotions are given primarily based on seniority and longevity in service rather than competence, diligence, and achievement.

We spend vast amounts on constructing new buildings and infrastructure and acquiring modern equipment in hospitals and offices but rarely undertake timely or routine maintenance. This leads to expensive repair costs, accidents, poor quality of services, and the premature discarding of expensive vehicles and equipment. Nobody is held accountable for such inefficiency. Instead of improving or updating existing institutions and services, we look for alternatives. Thus, instead of improving public schools, those who can send their children to expensive private schools. The same applies to health posts and hospitals. Due to this tendency, public officials feel free of pressure for accountability and quality improvement.

A significant portion of Nepal’s budget is hurriedly spent in the last two months of our fiscal year, during the monsoon season, resulting in shoddy work known as Asaré Bikash. Yet, we have not bothered to change our fiscal year.

The author feels that these well-known bad practices could be readily fixed if we applied the bibekko filter.

Progress is possible

The book offers many lessons and suggestions based on the life experience of the author, who grew up in a relatively remote village of Gulmi but excelled in his studies as an engineer at some of the most renowned educational institutions in Kathmandu, Tokyo and Toronto, and worked in the Planning Commission of Lumbini Province.

The author exposes many penny-wise and pound-foolish rules and practices in various sectors that impose undue burdens on consumers without appreciable benefits for the state. He highlights many laws, regulations, and practices formulated and implemented more for the convenience of bureaucrats and service providers rather than in the best interest of consumers.

In all these problematic areas, the author shares his vision and practical proposals with a firm conviction that progress is possible and things can be significantly improved if our policymakers and administrators—in both the public and private sectors—apply a common-sense filter of conscience.

Bibekko Filter

Author: Bishnu Prasad Gautam
Publisher: Simal Book Publication
Year: 2024

Gautam is a former Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF.