CREATIVE FACULTY IS     DETERIORATING

-Dilli Raman Regmi

Dilli Raman Regmi, who likes to call himself" an uncompromising of obscurantism and superstitious beliefs," was born in Kilagal Tole, Kathmandu, in 1914. After passing IA from Tri Chandra College, he went to Patna University where he obtained his B.A. (1934 ) and M.A. in Economics  (1936). Two years later, he was awarded Master of letters, a research degree from Madras University. Despite his active involvement in politics, he carried on with his research and obtained a PhD in economics from Patna University in 1961.The same university conferred on the degree of D.Litt in 1965, thus making him the first Nepali recipient of this academic honour.

Dr. Regmi has produced altogether 8 volumes on the ancient, medieval and modern history of Nepal. He has also written a  number of books on the economics, politics and culture of India.

Since his student days, Dr. Regmi was bitterly opposed to the British in India as he was to the Rana rule in Nepal. He was arrested in Patna in March 1941 and remained detained in Hazaribagh jail for 8 months. He was arrested again in August 1942 under the charge of carrying out activities hostile to the British regime in India. The Nepali National Congress, which was conceived in 1934 when Regmi was a volunteer in the earthquake relief operations was an underground outfit without much achievement to its credit, but the Calcutta Conference in January 1947 accepted this name for the party as the movement for the freedom of Nepal was launched.

Dr. Regmi became a member of the cabinet twice, each time for thirteen months (1954 and 1958). In 1954 he held the portfolio of foreign affairs, education and health , whereas in 1958 he was the minister for home affairs.

After the royal take over in 1960, Dr. Regmi was detained in Sri Mahal, Kathmandu. He consistently proposed the partyless system. In 1965, he issued a statement urging King Mahendra to restore parliamentary democracy in Nepal. During the referendum, he actively campaigned in favour of the multiparty system. Currently, he is the president of Buddha-Gandhi Center and Society for the Promotion of International Peace and Understanding. Last Thursday, he shared his thoughts with Ram Pradhan and Namrata Sharma of the Independent in his book-filled bedroom where he is convalescing after his recent treatment in Bangkok. Highlights of the conversation:

        On the state of the media:

I have great interest in reading and getting know what is happening around the world. But I don't get the information that am looking for in Gorkhapatra and I have become allergic to Nepal Television. It becomes tedious watching the same faces and listening to the same thing everyday. After Indian Prime Minister Rao's visit to Nepal I have also started feeling just about the same thing about the Indian? Television too.V.P. Singh started the lies, Chandrashekhar continued it and now even Rao seems onto the same stuff. Girija and Krishna Prasad were all kids at that time . How come did they appear in India's freedom movement in 1942? I used to pride myself being a follower of Gandhiji and Nehruji and used to think that the Indians lived up to their philosophies. But all my ideals have been shattered by their hr petty lies.

I have stopped watching the Indian television too. I now rely only on the news given by the BBC and on the Star TV  network. But I must admit the Indian TV  gives a lot of coverage to the opposition, Bangladesh gives less, Pakistan even lesser, whereas Nepal practically nil.

                           On the Changed situation:

I am not happy about what's happening in Nepal. I had lots of expectations but my hopes have been dashed. Take the TV for instance. If anyone says something negative about the government it is never telecast. The first step in strengthening democracy has to be taken by the government itself. The government must not misuse its advantages and should eschew the limelight as much  as possible. Nowhere in the world does any democratic government papers like Gorkhapatra or sponsor institutions like RSS. Why can't his government have at least an institution like the PT. ? Media is for the  people and not for the publicity of the government which is exactly what they are doing. They should not monopolise the media in publishing only their news. That government is the best which governs the least. But the government here has it s grip over everything. Appointment of advisors is ridiculous and there are already so many secretariats to advise the government. As soon as they realise that the power of the King and the panchas were finished, they shifted loyalty to the Congress and as a result got appointed to 'key' posts. The fundamentals of democracy say that  there should be no mixture between party politics and government but this fundamental tenet is lacking here. The sycophants of the Congress party are increasing day after day.

    On achievements since restoration of democracy:

After the World War II ended the rich countries started programmes like the Colombo Plan, the Marshal Plan etc. to help the poor countries. This continued through the Panchayat regime and is still continuing. Approximately 30 to 35 billion dollars have been funneled so far. This must have come her too as  four bridges have already been completed. So how can I say that nothing has been achieved? (laughter). But nothing substantial has happened here. They could at least have taken innovative measures like abolishing the Gorkhapatra and the R.S.S. In fact, the TV and Radio Nepal has also become pro-Congress. Relatively, the independent papers are doing a better job. I support the private press very much.

On difference between previous and present         regimes:

There is no comparable and distinct differences. At that time one group used to function-the panchas. Now there are the PM's group, Ganesh Man's group and Bhattarai's group. Previously there was only one Shree Teen that used to reside on Singha Durbar. Now there are three Shree Teen looking separate ways. One resides at Baluatar, one  at Chetrapat and the other at Kupandole. This is the notable only notable difference from the previous regime. Look at the line outside the PM's house seeking darshan. Has he ever said, "I am not an employer?" The sycophants and the ruling party in Gorkhapatra and elsewhere should be punished with at least one month's imprisonment.

                   On Tanakpur controversy:

Tanakpur issue is nothing as it involves only about some hectares of land but this affects the whole river system of Nepal. This now has river system of Nepal. Thus one has to be alert. We cannot control the direction of rivers. But Nepal also has to benefit from it which is what the Supreme Court verdict implies. The question does not arise whether India bears the costs or not. How can Nepal benefit? That is the question. To carry out projects like Marshyandi, Arun etc. help from outside is essential. It  would be better if Nepal carried out such projects herself with the help of World Bank, International monetary Fund etc. If not alone, she can carry out such projects in a multilateral fashion but not only with India. Even countries having no links with  rivers like Karnali can come as investor. Nor when Nepal starts having multilateral arrangements there are possibilities of India not looking at them favourably but we should not let this coerce us into submission. We  must face situation as it comes but this does not mean that we should have confrontations with India. One Pakistani ambassador once told me, " Aap log India se jhagada jaror kijiye magar ladain mat kijiye." We must also think of the world media which helped us in bringing democracy to Nepal. The revolution was in fact won by the world media.

                               On the political parties:

We must understand that Nepal's politics is influence mostly by India  and and China. Various communist parities and the Congress party are supported from some parts of  India. We now need a nationalist party of our own. Without talking nationalism we can never secure national interests. I  find no party in Nepal which thinks in  this line. In my opinion , the time for social democracy, communism etc. are now gone.. What we need now is complete democracy. The ruling party and the opposition think alike. They are sailing in the same boat. When we view the role of the opposition party in various countries like India, Britain, France, etc. I think they hardly ever attend the functions sponsored by the government. When a head of state or prime minister comes on a visit the opposition does not go to the airport to receive them, but here they re not even aware of that. They in fact  appear in each and every function hosted by the government. Even leader of the opposition Man mohan Adhikari stayed in New york for 3 months living out of the allowances provided by the government. This does not happen in Britain or France.

                            On the creative faculty:

The creative faculty has not only not flourished but the same   stories have started to be repeated. Both Girija and the government of India  have to look into this matter. Hasn't the Government of India found anyone else apart from B.P. Koirala in this country? Do they have to name the sanatoria, foundations and hospitals only after him. The belief that every establishment has to be named after the dead is nonsense. At this point a half -retired person like myself tends to wonder as to how could Nepal develop in this fashion. We can say for certain that the creative faculty in Nepal is deteriorating even as compared to the previous regime. This is a sad reality. Even in those days, time after time, we could read some excellent articles with criticisms of the king and the government but even that is lacking now. I am scared that we may have to term this phase in Nepal's history as a barren phase.

                             On PM's resignation:

I definitely believe that Girija should resign. He had said that the Tanakpur accord was only an "understanding" but the court proved him wrong and said that it was a treaty. As soon as he had been proved wrong he should have resigned. I don't go for the mid-term poll. We also have to wait for the decision of the parliament. I have a feeling that the issue will again be sent back to the court. If at that time. the verdict is in favour of two-thirds majority the government will deemed to have been defeated. In that event, the question of a mid-term poll may arise.

                              On what may be done:

A conference of mature people with political as well as non-political backgrounds should be organised. All must understand this if an honest person over this conference it might be a success as far as striking a national consensus is concerned. A council of elders is very necessary. The only question is who will initiate the move towards building the public awareness in its favour?