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| ashu |
Posted
on 20-May-03 04:34 AM
'There Is A Huge Pool Of People Who Are Trying To Do Right Things'
Father JAMES J. DONNELLY, S.J.
Father JAMES DONNELLY, 73, has been living in Nepal for the last four decades as a member of Nepal Jesuit Society teaching at St. Xavier School. Born in the US city of Cincinnati, Fr. Donnelly came to Nepal in 1961 just a few years after Father Watrin (1955) and Father Stiller (1956). Fr. Donnelly spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on a variety of issues at his residence at St. Xavier School.
How did you begin your career in Nepal?
The three of us were the first Jesuits to arrive in Nepal to open St. Xavier School. I have spent my life in education and that is the area of my main involvement. I have interest in many other things like mountaineering. I followed mountaineers all the time. In 1970, when the National Education System Plan (NESP) was introduced, I served on the committees to formulate Optional English and English curriculum. I was with Satya Narayan Bahadur Shrestha from Adarsha Vidya Mandir. We worked together on the committees. I helped to edit the Optional English textbook. In those years, I also worked with the government in helping to update the education system. In 1981, I was taken out of Jawalakhel School and sent to Godavari for 10 years as principal.
Do you have any memorable events?
I have many memorable events in Nepal, but the celebration of 35 years of the establishment of St. Xavier School at Godavari was one of the best days of my life. I am proud to have been a principal of the school. Late King Birendra and late queen Aishworya graciously attended the programs, along with 30 founder members. On June 5, 1986, we had a grand program. When the school opened in 1951, there were 75 boys. We gathered 30 of them with their spouses. I had been principal there for five years at the time. I served five more years before heart trouble forced me to step down in 1991. To me, involvement in the education of more than 3,000 students is a major achievement.
How do you see the achievement of the students?
All our students have been leading various professions in Nepal, contributing to the overall development of the country. As an English teacher, I taught many students. Kanak Mani Dixit and Samrat Upadhyaya, who are big in the literary field now, were our products. I am proud that both have said in print about me and Father Watrin. Kanak Mani is running Himal South Asia and Samrat received outstanding awards for his books "Arresting God in Kathmandu" and "The Guru of Love". Samrat is one of the outstanding new writers. Present Minister for Water Resources Deepak Gyawali was also an outstanding student who has wide knowledge about the water resources and hydropower of Nepal.
How do you see the transformation of Nepalese society?
I can see noticeable changes in the education, transport and communication sectors. Although some of the roads are still narrow, you have a good transport system in Kathmandu. The road system is as great as the transport. You moved from the big red buses of 40 years ago to the blue buses. Then the trolley bus came in. You had a big Japanese donation in 1981. The transportation in the valley has undergone a big change. You can get a taxi and go anywhere at the reasonable price. You are not tied down to walking. When I came to Godavari, the road bumpy and had big rocks. You can get out from Kathmandu in 15 minutes. This is incredible.
Don't you visualize problems?
The government has some problems. You can get round the valley thanks to so much cooperation between the government ministries and donor agencies working together. It has been a win-win situation. Now the valley has a population of more than one million but we get around very easily. That is the biggest thing. Mobility, transportation and communication are the big things and now emails have come in. In every possible way, life is so much better now. The society has moved from a primitive phase to a modern one.
How do you see the changes in the education sector?
The education sector has made incredible improvements in the last four decades, from a few schools to thousands in number. King Mahendra gets credit for the New Education System Plan (NESP). He did not think of the plan but he had some brilliant men like Thakur Man Shakya and Mohamed Mohasin. These were two of the three big architects of the NESP. We have had some brilliant men sit down, interact and plan out education. There was nothing wrong in what these men in 1971 planned and King Mahendra approved. One year later, King Mahendra died and his son, late King Birendra, took over. King Mahendra's vision of NESP did not materialize.
What is your impression on the implementation of the program?
The apparatus to update education got King Mahendra's blessings, but he died when the program was in the very initial phase of implementation. The concept under the new education plan was good. The rush to implementation was perhaps too fast, but deadlines were deadlines and you had to hope that the men and women in the ministry and in the field were updating themselves along with the planners. But it did not happen that way. There was a gap between the planning and the officials down in the ground. So, lethargy and dissatisfaction destroyed what was one of the good plans.
Was it affecting the St. Xavier School system?
We at St. Xavier's had to give up the English medium and O level education. From 1974 to 1976, we were phased out from English medium to Nepali. In 1977, we had our first SLC batch. In 1976, we had graduated our last O level Cambridge. So we took in Nepali-medium education. It was a good move.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 20-May-03 04:36 AM
How do you see the situation now?
Now we have completed more than 25 years. Father Lawrence, who has been principal of St. Xavier's School for the last 11 years, is a man of vision and of great strength of character. We are not under PABSON and he went on one-year special training. A year ago when young Maoists who had no idea about the education came and talked to Fr. Lawrence in his office, he lectured them and convinced them that they are doing the wrong things. We have now 1,150 students in the school. All because of Fr. Lawrence and his leadership. Two St. Xavier's are in parallel tracks including Godavari and Jawalakhel. Godavari has now up to class eight and Jawalakhel has up to class 12. We have junior feeder school for poor children. We give 20 scholarships for nine girls and 11 boys. We select these children from Sukumbashi (landless) families.
It is often said that the gap in the quality of education between government and private schools is widening. How do you look at it?
I hear the complaint but I would not be qualified to answer the question since I am out of regular teaching for the last 10 years. I know the teachers in schools that are being criticized for producing no results. I admired those teachers. I cannot speak for their quality of teaching but I can say the schools that are being criticized have some good educators in the classroom. Now why are the results not good? I am not prepared to speak.
Is it the failure of teachers?
Teachers in general are idealistic and most of them are service minded. Most of them are in the business because temperamentally they want to be helpers. That is my psychological observation. I am a helper. Most teachers by gift of God are helpers and givers. There was a Ms. Manju Karki who now runs the Future Star School. She was in a classroom next to me for years in St. Xavier's. She started her teaching career from St. Xavier's. She was a patient and loving primary teachers. Then she broke away and started the Future Star School, a private school. You have that type of dedicated person producing good results. There are now dozens of Manju Karkis around Kathmandu who are givers.
Don't you see any gap?
There is big gap between teachers and results. You got a huge pool of people who want to do right things and are trying to do right things. Yet you get critical results and you don't get proportionate outcomes between raw materials and final product. Why are we falling down on a job as far as result in education is concerned? It is a mystery to me. I have been in the education meeting and I talked to 400 English teachers and interacted with them. They are good people and they try their best.
You came from the United States with a mission of social work. Have you seen changes in the attitude of the people?
It used to be an obedient society. Anybody who turned to 40 was regarded as an old person and was treated with respect. When you turned 40, it meant you were entering older years. That was just the way the people thought. The family system was without radio and television. You had all of your interactions generated at home. Now it is an explosion outward and everybody is busy in their own interests. The generation gap is a big problem.
Do you see changes in children?
Children don't listen to, respect and take the lead from parents as they used to. When I first came, it was really a different society. In the examinations room, I could walk out of the classroom giving the paper and be sure nobody was cheating. During my first 10 years in the country, I was certain that the boys never thought of cheating in exams. Now you got the SLC syndrome. Unless you use cheap cheats or what not, you are giving yourself unfair penalty. You got to use unfair means otherwise you are living back in the smog. The mentality of the students has changed. Formerly, they were happy with simple things. Respect teachers and parents - that was the culture when I entered the country. The idea of getting education was a huge big plus. Now it is taken for granted and you want to take short cuts. It means cheating and getting certificates by any means at all. That is the big change in the attitude and mentality in 40 years, but that's life and here they are.
Did you ever make an effort to get Nepali citizenship?
I tried but I never got it. Father Stiller got it. When I tried it was too late. I was named principal in 2036 BS. If I had tried before 1979, I would have got it. Rameshnath Pandey (current Information and Communication Minister) fought for me and went up to the home minister to plead my cause, but he did not succeed. If I had applied a year earlier, there would have been no problem. After the presentation of report by Harka Bahadur Gurung, the government dropped the clause that paved the way to obtain citizen.
Does it make any difference to you?
Whatever my citizenship, it is immaterial for me. I have been living in Nepal for such a long time and I have been working to benefit this country. I love Nepal as much as any other Nepalese citizen. This is my country. I am proud to be here serving the country. I don't find any difficulties. I was born in and grew up in Cincinnati. I have been in Nepal as a Nepali. Father Robin has Canadian citizenship, Father Watrin, Father Brooks and myself have American citizenship.
Are new American Jesuits coming to Nepal?
Now, we are only old stocks here. Father Brooks is the last one who came to Nepal in 1970 permanently. He is now almost 60 years old. He has been here for many years.
Why aren't they coming?
The big thing is vocation to the Jesuits dried up. They don't get many. When I joined in 1947, there were between 45 and 50 who joined in the Chicago province. Now they might get two or three for the Chicago province. The vocation situation in the 1960s changed dramatically for some historical reasons. Men stopped entering seminaries and women stopped becoming nuns. In 1985 we started recruiting our own candidates to replace us in Nepal. This past year I have involved in the candidate programs. I have taken Tek Bahadur Poudel from Okhaldhunga. He is 32 years old and he is a Jesuit. We have six others from India. They will be another set of Jesuits. They are going to replace us.
Nepal has been passing through a very difficult time in its history. How do you see the future of the country?
I hope King Gyanendra makes peace. I have great respect and believe in King Gyanendra as a person. I had an interview with him. I told him. 'Out of 23 million people, God has put you providentially in charge of all of us. I give you one hundred percent of my support. I think nature and grace coalesced to make you a brilliant thinker and a businessman with experience of running the meeting. You know how to take a decision and follow up. You are a brilliant student and tried better than your brother as a student. God has given you leadership quality that after we lost 10 other great people in June 1, 2001. God put you in charge of running of our country and I say you are the best person for us.' I tell you, October 4 would never happened under the late King Birendra. It took a man of the pro-active bent of mind of King Gyanendra to do what he did.
Do you have total trust in King Gyanendra?
The King has picked good people in his cabinet, including Deepak Gyawali, Dr. Uprendra Devkota and Anuradha Koirala. All of them are non-political and members of a good interim team. King Gyanendra has the quality and character to manage crises. The King has had good people working with him.
In the absence of an elected House of Representatives, who will defend the King's actions and how strong will be the defense of others?
As is reported, this is a temporary arrangement. We need to set the date for general elections. Unfortunately, Sher Bahadur Deuba could not hold the elections on time. Lokendra Bahadur Chand can set the date for elections.
How do you see the evolution of political institutions in Nepal?
Well, I can say it is coming up. The evolution has been happening from up to down. There are many good people. You have selfish and devilish forces trying to get their own points of view. So there is no cooperation at the top level that is needed. Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala is emerging as a mysterious person. I don't understand the rationale behind Koirala's last one and half years of actions. He has been making trouble all the time in the last 12 years. An experienced person like Koirala, who went to prison for such a long time during the Panchayat period, should have followed the path of reconciliation, not confrontation.
Taken from the latest issue of Kathmandu's Spotlight English newsweekly
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| sks |
Posted
on 20-May-03 09:53 AM
thanks for posting the interview, ashu. Another thing he needs to be given credit for is his astonishingly razor-sharp memory, despite being a spetuagenerian. I and a friend of mine had the opportunity to meet him in Chicago over a year ago after a 15-year hiatus. He not only remembered our names, he even asked about our fathers by name!
Here's to a teacher who took genuine interest in his students......salut!
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| Koko |
Posted
on 20-May-03 11:39 AM
That is soo true... Last time he met me he asked about my father(by name). I graduated in 86 and for him to remember my name and my father's name ?? Shows how genuinely He looked after his students....Kudos to Fr Donnelly ....Much respect !!!
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| bhenda2 |
Posted
on 20-May-03 01:18 PM
KOko, I always assumed that you were a girl....
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| ashu |
Posted
on 20-May-03 04:59 PM
I hope someday somebody writes a longer profile of Fr. Donnelly, much like what an American writer named John McPhee (a writer I worship) wrote about his high school Principal in that wonderfully readable book "Headmaster". McPhee's book is a profile of Frank Boyden of Deerfield Academy in Western Massachusetts.
That said, I was troubled to read this:
"Do you see changes in children?
Children don't listen to, respect and take the lead from parents as they used to. When I first came, it was really a different society. In the examinations room, I could walk out of the classroom giving the paper and be sure nobody was cheating. During my first 10 years in the country, I was certain that the boys never thought of cheating in exams. Now you got the SLC syndrome. Unless you use cheap cheats or what not, you are giving yourself unfair penalty. You got to use unfair means otherwise you are living back in the smog. The mentality of the students has changed. Formerly, they were happy with simple things. Respect teachers and parents - that was the culture when I entered the country. The idea of getting education was a huge big plus. Now it is taken for granted and you want to take short cuts. It means cheating and getting certificates by any means at all. That is the big change in the attitude and mentality in 40 years, but that's life and here they are."
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| nepalithhito |
Posted
on 21-May-03 04:29 AM
this news was in kantipuronline. what do maoist think they are doing???????
Missionary schools may be compelled to shut down
KOL Report
KATHMANDU, May 21 - The Christian missionary, currently running 19 schools, including the capitals St. Xaviers and St. Marys, has said that it would be compelled to shut down the missionary schools and leave the country if the Maoist-affiliated students continue to pressure them.
Talking to Kantipur Online Tuesday, Fr. Lawrence Maniyar, S.J., principal of St. Xaviers High School said, "If the people of Nepal do not want us, we are even ready to leave Nepal."
The missionarys response comes quickly after the Maoist-aligned All Nepal National Independent Students Union (Revolutionary), ANNISU-R simultaneously locked up the account section and the principals office alleging that the missionary was turning a blind eye to their demands.
Fr. Maniyar is considering closing down the capitals 52-year-old school from Friday but said he would wait for the response of the government and the Maoists until Thursday.
"Until you fulfill our demands, we will continue to lock up your office," reads the paper pasted by the ANNISU-R on the principals door. The ANNISU-R has also locked up principals offices in about 40 other private and boarding schools by today.
"We have completed 52 years of our service in Nepal providing education to about 50,000 children but we continue to be blamed even by the government officials of converting Nepalis into Christianity," said Fr. Maniyar.
St. Xaviers Schools and St. Marys School, which claimed to have made giant strides in providing education to the Nepalis in the last 50 years, want to abstinence from politics as a Christian duty and urged the Maoists students to observe peace in schools.
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