Sunday, June 26, 2011

BP Koirala: The visionary of prosperous Nepal

Most of us have known Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala popularly known as BP Koirala as a political thinker and litterateur only. His economic thoughts and visions are less discussed.

But Dr Chiranjibi Nepal has brought 'BP’s Economic Thoughts' to remind us of his vision of economically prosperous and just Nepal, where he has dreamt of promoting economic growth and social justice.
BP knew the economic disparity will bring friction and tension in the society. Had his voice been heard by the leaders, the country would not have been plunged into a decade long armed conflict that was based on the widening gap in the society between the rich and poor.
The author Dr Nepal has in the book of eight chapters brought in front the economic vision, strategies, socio-economic reconstruction and political economy of BP, though his own party Nepali Congress (NC) has forgotten most of his visions.

It was the Nepali Congress of BP that abolished Birta System of the feudal economic base, in 1959. Not only the Nepali Congress but also the present government should learn the lesson from BP, who had reduced the salary of Prime Minister from Rs 2,500 to Rs 1,500 and salary of Ministers’ from Rs 1500 to Rs 1,000, when he became the Prime Minister in 1959. The ministers of the present government are not only visionless and redundant but also accumulating wealth at the cost of people’s lives.
The book gives us the BP’s vision on foreign aid, unemployment, technology and rural economy and above all social justice.
The reason, we have to read this book and go through BP’s economic visions is also to know the real ground and knowledge of the current governments. The present government’s budget has aimed nothing new from what BP had envisioned more than half century ago.

The budget presented by the then finance minister Suvarna Shamsher on August 9, 1959 had cautioned against excessive dependence on foreign aid for development projects. The BP’s government had brought the budget with five goals; increasing the national income of the country, bringing about the fundamental changes in the agriculture, providing adequate social welfare programmes for the people, solving the problem of unemployment and reducing the inequalities in income levels and the distribution of wealth.
Prime Minister BP Koirala on June 26, 1960 hinted at a press conference of the second five-year plan with a goal to create 500,000 new jobs and to increase the national income by 30 per cent.

He knew that we have twin problem – unemployment and poverty, and without creating employment and more investment on agriculture, the economy cannot grow. But the present government is busy in power play and losing annually over 200,000 youths, who leave the country in search of job. The successive governments failed measurably in creating job in the country forcing the youths to the death trap of deserts of Gulf. When the country cannot create jobs, it has to face the massive out flow of the manpower or political instability. Nepal today is facing both the problems due to visionless leaders.

The book could be a guide for those who want to really develop this country as BP had his own idea of economic development, which is very relevant today as well. He knew without developing the villages, the country cannot develop. “I will ask the planners to set their eyes on the villages and the villagers,” he used to say.

7 comments:

  1. if we go through the concept of BP Koirala , i am sure we will have a good economic condition . and we will say him not only a rajneta but also a father of nepalese economic.
    (this is my view only after reading this article)

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  2. [ Understanding B.P Koirala and His vision of “The Asian Samajbad”]

    Nothing is immoral, once great man said, but to ignore your ideals. We today talk a lot about B. P Koirala and his ideas of social justice and democracy. Especially when election is near. We make hundred of twists and turns of his ideas to justify our points. But I see the huge shortage of understanding of his core ideals along with his social and political ideology in our political community these days. We lack the understanding of weight and depth of his principles. Even me too, Its my only first steps in understanding the prophecy of this great men.

    B.P Koirala had a vision suitable for whole Asia which was just in its initial stages, enjoying freedom from their respective colonial ruler. The same condition was with Nepal but instead of colonial raj, autocrat Ranas were thrown out of power for new birth of freedom and democracy in Nepal with help of rebellion of Nepali people and Nepali Congress. B.P Koirala understood that currently freed people of Asian sub-continent need socialism in order to march in the future of semi-capitalism and prosperity. He never followed Mao’s socialism or agreed with J.L. Neharu’s soviet model of economical and social developments. Instead putting the photo of foreign political socialist leaders to follow their ideas and philosophy, he gave birth to Nepali Samajbad in our soil. But the irony of this great idea was its native character to Asia and its social and cultural norms connected with Asian people. He always argued with Neharu for the implementation of “Samajbad in Asian way”. He showed every one that we Asian have unique culture, trading system, agricultural tools and techniques which, if developed properly, can surpass the European developments and modernization. But before he could make a difference and be a political symbol of socialism in Asia by the drill of his social and economic theories he was jailed and democracy was stolen and jailed as well in Nepal. So he had to make lots of political compromises, some against his own believes to reinstall the democracy and give ruling authority back to Nepali people. But he always kept his Samajbad ideals pure and unspoiled throughout his political career. Seeing a great vision in him, our great national hero and national leader Ganeshman Singh always respected him as a revolutionary democratic socialist of Nepal overlooking his first-class lifestyle.

    But today we are so busy in this chaos politics that no one has time to properly analyze his real contributions not only to Nepal but for Asia. By now he should have been the ideals of many Asian political parties and have his photo hanged in their party office including picture and ideals of Ganeshman Singh. Now, where did we lack this opportunity to tell the adventurous story of these great fighters of socialism, democracy and justice? So that other Asian nations can follow footsteps of B. P Koirala, Ganeshman Singh and Krishna Parsad Bhattarai to provide social and economic justice to their respective countryman without compromising sovereignty of its nation. From today instead of regretting on this failure to do so, we should seriously try to implement them with a new beginning. And this responsibility goes to top leaders of Nepali Congress then us because I don't know if people will take youths and young people like us seriously or not but they will surely listen to the top leaders. I can tell because this country is still in the mode of listening rather than thinking, which would make BP Koirala upset. Any way through this articles I want to request all youth and old leaders related to Nepali Congress and its sister organizations that instead of parroting B.P in your marketing strategies and putting BP’s pictures beside yours, try to apprehend real values of his quotes and his big image first, then try to fit yourself in these tools. What is the value of a basket full of plastic fruits in a living room unless it can fulfill the real human appetite? Isn't it my friends?

    Jay Nepal

    Sushil Singh Thapa

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  3. बि.पिले भन्न खोजेका केहि आजका कुराहरू :
    १. प्रगतिशील समय अनुसार फेरिने राष्ट्र चरित्रको हितकालागी समाजबादको उदेश्यबाट अलिकति पनि बिचलित नभई आफ्ना नीतिहरू परिबर्तन गर्दै लानु |
    २. नेपाल जतिसुकै आधुनिकता र नया प्रविधिले सिङ्गारिए पनि समाजमा तेस्को चाल नपाउने , देख्न नपाउने र छुन नपाउने गरिब अनि पिछडीएका वर्ग जातीहरू हुन्छन | तीनको एक छाकको ग्यारेन्टी गर्नु |
    ३. बिज्ञान र प्रबिधिमा जोड दिई लोकतान्त्रिक , समय सुहाउदो र रॊजगार मुलक शिक्षाको क्रान्ति ल्यौउनु र त्येस क्षेत्रमा लगानी बढाउनु |
    ४. पश्चिमा राष्ट्रहरूको पुजीबादी बजार नीतिले गर्न सक्ने आर्थिक शोसण हुन बाट र साधारण नेपाली जनताको बजारमा लागेको पुजी र लगानी डुब्नबाट बचाउने नीतिहरू बनाउनु |
    ५. नेपाल भनेको काठमाडौँ र पोखरा जस्ता १०-१२ वोटा बिकसित शहरी क्षेत्रले मात्र नभई सैयो बिकशाधीन र अविकसित गाउहरू मिलेर बनेको देश हो, तेसैले गाउमा बिकाश भए मात्र देश बिकाश हुन्छ भनेर सबैलाई बुजाउनु |
    ६. कृषकहरूलाई हलोको सट्टा आधुनिक उत्पादन बढाउने कृषिको प्रबिधि र औजारहरू दिनु तर त्येसमा ठुलो सहुलियत दिएर सबै किसानको पहुच त्यस्ता प्रबिधि र औजारहरू मा पुर्येदिनु |
    ७. आधुनिकता र नया प्रबिधिहरू विदेशबाट भित्र्याउने मात्र होइन आफ्नै माटोमा जन्माउने वॉ उत्पादन गर्ने बाताबरण बनाउनु |
    ८. पेट्रोलियममा भन्दा पनि जनतालाई औसधी मुलो र स्वास्थ्य सेवामा आझ बढी सहुलियत दिनु |
    ९. श्रमीकहरूको समय र मिहेनत अनुकुल न्याय मुलक मजदुरी ज्याला सुनिस्चित गर्नु |
    १०. एक आर्थिक वर्षको बिकाश बजेटको ठुलो भाग जलबिधुत बेबस्तापन र निर्माणमा लगाउनु अनि नेपाललाई अध्यारो लोडसेडिङ्ग बाट मुक्ति दिनु |
    ११. नेपाल शंघियतामा गएर ७ वॉ १३ राज्य बने पनि हाम्रो एउटा नेपाल अनि हामी सबै नेपाली भन्ने भावन सबैको मानमा जगाई हिड्नु |
    जय नेपाल !!!
    सुशील सिंह थापा
    9841199396

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  4. नेपाल भरिका ठुला साना मन्दिर, मस्जिद, गुम्बा आदि जति पनि धार्मिक स्थलहरू छन् ,त्यस स्थल वरपर जति पनि माग्ने,घरबार बिहिन, भोका ब्रिदहरू सबलाई एक छाक खुवोउने प्रबन्द तेस्ता धार्मिक मठ मन्दिरहरूले गर्नै पर्छ|धर्म कर्म गर्नेहरूले चडाएको दान, द्रब्य, फलफुल, चामल, पैसा जे जति पनि जम्मा हुन्छन तेस्को ४०% मन्दिरको संचालन र पोसन गर्न छुट्याउने बाकी ६०% चाही यी माग्ने घरबार बिहिन, दीनदुखी,भोका ब्रिदहरूको भोक मेटन प्रयोग गर्नु पर्छ |भगवानलाई दुध,फलफुल, चामल आदि खानेकुरा चडाउद पनि यी खाद्य बस्तु नबिग्रने वॉ नास नहुने तरिकाले चडाऊने नियम बसाल्नु पर्छ | यी खाद्य बस्तु चडाउदा भगवानको मुर्तिलाई छोएर मात्र एक ठाउमा थुपारौ अनि ति सब भोकालाई भोजन गर्न प्रयोग गरौ | एस नीतिको राम्रो संचालन गर्नको लागि संकृति मन्त्रालयमा छुट्टै विभाग बनाउनु पर्छ | म त भन्छु यो प्रक्रिया हेर्ने छुटै मत्रालय नै बनाए हुन्छ "भोक निवारण मन्त्रालय" | यो नीति र कार्यक्रम अब आउने आगामी संसदले पारित गर्नै पर्छ, एसको प्रस्ताब समाजबादी दलहरूले संसदमा पेश गर्नु पर्छ | यस नीति र कार्यक्रमले हरेक नेपालीको बिहान एक गिलास दुध र बेलुका एक छाक खानाको ग्यारेन्टी हुन्छ र कोइ नेपाली भोको पेट सुत्नु पर्ने हुदैन| मानिस भोका रहदा मन्दिरको भण्डार सुनैसुनले भरिए पनि भगवान कदापी खुसि हुदैनन्, यो धर्म सत्य कुरा हो | भगवान पशुपतिनाथले पनि गरिब, माग्ने, भोका ब्रिदहरूको भोकले दुखेको पेट सन्चो भाको देखेर अति प्रसन्न भई सतिले देको सराप फिर्ता पो लिनेछन् कि ? अर्को मुख्य कुरा समाजमा भोका पेटहरू जब सम्म हुन्छन तब सम्म समाजबाद सफल हुन सक्दैन|यो नीतिले बि.पिको समाजबादको सपनालाई पनि न्याय मिल्नेछ | जय नेपाल !!!
    सुशील सिंह थापा
    9841199396

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  5. मेरो बिचारमा चुनाब पछिको सरकारले नेपालमा शैक्षिक संकटकाल घोषणा गरेर गाउ-गाउमा र दुर्गम जिल्ला-जिल्लामा, नेपाल भरिका स्नातक भन्दा माथी पढेका युवा-युवतीहरूलाई कम्तिमा ३ महिना र बढीमा ६ महिनाकोलागी अनिबार्य "शिक्षा दान" कार्यक्रम अन्तर्गत गाउ र दुर्गम क्षेत्रका बिद्यालयहरूमा निसुल्क पढाउनु पर्ने नीति ल्यौउनु पर्छ| यो योजना १० बर्षको लागी हुनेछ | यसो गर्दा युवाहरूले पनि गाउ र त्यहाँको जीवन शैलीको राम्रो परिचय पाउने र गाउका पिछडीएका बालबालिकाहरूले पनि राम्रो र नेपालको सन्दर्भमा भन्दा प्राईभेट बिद्यालय र कलेजमा पढेका युवाहरूले प्रधान गर्ने आधुनिक र उच्च स्थरको शैक्षिक ज्ञान प्राप्त गर्ने अवसर पाउने निश्चित हुन्छ | यो योजनाले नेपालमा भएका धनि-गरिब परिवारका सबै बिद्यार्थीहरूको शैक्षिक स्थर समान राख्न ठूलो योगदान गर्नेछ | कम्युनिष्टहरूका धन बाडने हावा कुरा भन्दा त नेपाली काँग्रेसले सबै तीर समान शिक्षा बाड्ने यथार्थ त जन्माउन सक्छ यो योजना अंगालेर, अनि गरिब गाउले आफ्नो सन्तानले राम्रो शिक्षा पाउन भनेर देखेको सपना त पुरा हुनेछ यो योजनाद्वारा | बि.पीको सबै नेपालीका छोरा छोरिले राम्रो शिक्षा पाउन भन्ने ऊनको सपना पुरा हुने बाटोमा लग्नेछ "शिक्षा दान" कार्यक्रमले | हामी युवाहरू पनि तयार हुनु पर्छ गाऊ गाऊ गएर आफुले पाएको ज्ञान बाड्न र आफ्नो देशको गाउहरूको बिकाश अबस्था, संस्कृति र जीवन शैली बुज्न | यसलाईनै हामी युवाले आफ्नो राष्ट्रियता मानौ | म तयार छु "शिक्षा दान" कार्यक्रमलाई बास्तबिकता बनाउन, तपाई मित्रहरू पनि तयार हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने मलाई विश्वास छ |
    जय नेपाल !!!
    सुशील सिंह थापा
    9841199396
    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=526306781

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  6. आज जुनरूपले नेपाली काँग्रेसलाई पुजीपति र धनीहरूमात्रको हिेतैसी भनेर चिनाऊन खोजिदैछ त्यो आफैमा हासो लाग्दो कुरा हो | यो सब हावा कुरा नेपाली काँग्रेस पार्टीको जनमत र जनलहरलाई घटाउन गरियको कोसिश हो | नेपाली काँग्रेसलाई फेरी आदिबासी-जनजाती र मधेसी को आवाज सुन्न नखोज्ने पार्टी हो भन्दै मार्केटिंग गरिन थालियको छ जुन बिल्कुल गलत र मंगरंते गफ भन्दाअरू कहि होइन | आफुलाई सर्बहारा भन्ने साम्यवादीहरू कृषक र मजदुरलाई पछि लगाएर उनीहरूको सक्तिले सत्तामा पुग्दै पुजीपति र विस्तारबादीहरूको तरफ्दरि र वोकालात गरेको देख्दा पो हासो लाग्छ | अरूका कुरा छोडौ, हामीले जनताको यो भ्रम चीर्दै आफुलाई चीनौनु परेको छ कि नेपाली काँग्रेस को समाजबाद कसको लागि हो भनेर? नेपाली काँग्रेसको नेपाली समाजबादहरेक नेपालीकोलागि हो, यो गाउलेको लागि हो, सहरेको लागि हो, यो भक्तपुर मा माटो खेलाउने नेवार को लागि हो, यो काठमाडौँ वरिपरीको पहाडको जीवनमा रमाउने तामांग को लागि हो, यो मदेशी किशान को लागि हो, यो संस्कृतिक रूपले धनि पचिम का गुरूंग र पूर्व का किरात को लागि हो, हिमाल को टाकुरा चुम्दै बस्ने शेर्पा को लागि हो, राउटेको को लागि हो, बाहुन क्षत्रि तथा दलित को लागि हो | काँग्रेस समाज को लागि हो, सामाजिक जिवानिस्तर मा उन्नति र सामाजिक सन्तुलन नै यस्कॊ मूल उदेश्य हो | सामाजिक न्याय नेपाली काँग्रेस को आदर्स हो | तेसैले हामी सबैले यस्सको भवना बुजेर आफुलाई नेपाली समाजबाद को मूल भवनमा राखेर हेरौ अनि नेपाली काँग्रेसको देश बिकाशको होत्से मा हईसे गर्दै बिकसित राष्ट्रकोबाटोमा यो राष्ट्र लाई लैजाउ | जय नेपाल!!!
    सुशील सिंह थापा
    9841199396

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  7. समाजबाद नेपाली जीवनको मौलिक बिबेचना हो | समाजबाद हरेक नेपालीको पेटमा दालभात, अंगमा कपडा र सिर उपर छतको कल्पना हो | समाजबाद बि पी को सपना हो, जसलाई हाम्रो कर्म, पौरख र मेहनतको मल जलले सिर्जेर बिपनाको फुलबारी बनाउनु छ | जय नेपाल!!!
    सुशील सिंह थापा

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