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| Arnico | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 09:50 AM
Here is an article from the editorial page of today's Kathmandu Post. I would really appreciate hearing some peer-review from fellow sajhapur residents. http://www.kantipuronline.com/php/kolnews.php?&nid=1046 DARING TO DREAM by Arnico Panday - Imagine twenty years from now, a Nepal with world-class international universities and hospitals that cover our domestic needs, and serve as major sources of income, attracting students and patients from abroad. Imagine walking around university towns with gleaming new buildings on sustainably designed campuses towered over by spectacular mountain peaks. Imagine these towns buzzing with students from Nepal and abroad, studying together, learning from each other, having fun, and keeping local economies buzzing. Imagine the vistas, recreational activities, and quality of life offered by university towns in Nepal attracting the worlds best professors and students to come teach and study here. Imagine the research at these colleges spinning off new companies and research institutes that set up nearby, invent new products, and create more jobs. Imagine world-class hospitals where patients can watch Machhapuchhare, Guarishankar, or Saipal from their hospital beds. Imagine not only decent healthcare for every Nepali, but tens of thousands of patients a year flying in to get treatment at hospitals in Nepal. Imagine our tourism being further boosted by visitors to the students, professionals, and patients. Imagine the trio of education, research and healthcare becoming major drivers of Nepals economy. A far fetched dream? Not if we work hard! Nepal is fortunate to meet many of the preconditions for becoming a world centre for higher education, research, and health care. A little more hard work will allow us to meet the remaining ones to be able to attract massive investment in these sectors. To date, Nepals landscape, pleasant climate, out-door recreational opportunities, and friendly reputation has mostly been marketed to attract tourists. In recent years, though we have learned all too painfully that tourism is a very fragile source of income. Why not market our resources to a more stable group who stay longer than the average tourist, and who are less likely to flee at the first sign of trouble? After September 11, 2001, most Saudi tourists disappeared from the United States; Saudi students and professionals did not. The economies of many towns in the United States are driven by the spending by out-of-state students. Nepal has a landscape and climate that would be able to attract tens of thousands of paying students from neighbouring countries, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and overseas. Thousands of people would prefer studying in Nepal rather than going to Texas or New South Wales, if only we could offer similar standard academic institutions. Meanwhile, every year tens of thousands of Nepali students spend through their noses to go abroad for higher education. Many would rather stay close to home, if only there were sufficient opportunity for a quality education in Nepal. There is no doubt that high quality international universities in Nepal would be able to attract a large and diverse number of paying students. International universities in Nepal would benefit more than just our economy. They would help establish a large pool of professionals that can attract investment in diverse sectors, and produce the next generations of leaders for Nepals businesses, government, and service sector. Scholarship programs could allow a far larger number of Nepali students access to high quality education within Nepal. Providing improved teacher training, they would help lift standards of elementary and middle school education. Where do we start to build up world-class universities? The key is to have world-class faculty and facilities. These faculty, both Nepali and foreign, must be attracted to Nepal from top universities around the world where they are now working, as well as cultivated by encouraging the current and generations of Nepali students to pursue graduate studies. Until the institutions reputations can attract people, we need to market Nepals other resources. We need to provide access to the best of what makes Nepal special and attractive. We need to build the most beautiful campuses in the world overlooking our snowy mountains and green valleys. |
| Arnico | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 09:51 AM
Nepal can also provide large numbers of research opportunities. With tropical forests, deserts, and glaciers within a short distance, large numbers of distinct ethnic groups and indigenous agricultural systems, huge renewable energy potentials, and pressing issues of economic development, democratization, urbanization and globalization, Nepal offers field study sites for earth scientists, biologists, geographers, anthropologists, sociologists, economists, and political scientists, and field training opportunities for engineers, planners, health professionals, and practioners of sustainable development. In addition, the countrys pleasant climate, convenient air connections, and political neutrality make it a suitable base for research in nearby countries. What do we need to start? At a national level, essential requirements are peace, security, stability, democracy, and freedom. In addition, Nepal needs legislation to attract investment in higher education and healthcare. HMGs Sustainable Development Agenda already says Nepal will make itself attractive for private and especially foreign investment in the tertiary education sector . Meanwhile, at the local level, towns wishing to attract the universities and hospitals will need good local leadership and a supportive populace. They will need excellent landuse plans that protect natural and cultural heritage, guide growth, and ensure adequate supply of water and other resources. The places also need some infrastructure and services to begin with, including roads, telecommunication facilities, access to an airport within reasonable driving distance, as well as hotels, hospitals, and schools to cater to the people working on building up the facilities and institutions. Today I think the best candidates are the Pokhara valley and surrounding hills, and the Banepa -Dhulikhel- Panauti- Namobudha region. These places already have the infrastructure, as well as educational and healthcare institutions to build upon. With more infrastructural investment, a large number of other locations can become feasible. In the long run I would like to see half a dozen centres developing around Nepal, clustering together academic, research, and healthcare institutions into centres of smart, sustainable centres of growth. Doing all this requires investment and participation from abroad. Non-resident Nepalis can play a major bridging role in this, helping to publicise and establish networks, as well as raising funds, and investing themselves. I would like to ask the Non resident Nepalis abroad to dare to dream, to plan, and to invest in Nepals future. |
| Arnico | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 09:54 AM
I just realized that there has already been some discussion in another thread as well: -http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openThread.cfm?forum=2&ThreadID=12546#42677 Meanwhile, the following link to the article should work better: -http://www.kantipuronline.com/php/kolnews.php?&nid=1046 |
| isolated freak | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 10:13 AM
Arnico Dai, A good piece. |
| isolated freak | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 10:29 AM
Ok, my views on the "dream" Its possible to have a world class university in Nepal. Affiliations/supports of various US and otehr institutions aren't taht hard to obtain, if the proposed school satisfies some of the requirements. I know schools in the US, especially the UCs and Yale are teaming up with a Chinese Institution and 3 buildings are being constructed to house the faculty and students of those american institutions. In the research arena, Yale is investing a lot on bio-technology or whatever they call it. If a Chinese city with not so appealing weather can do that, why can't we? Another advantage of having a school like that will be, the money will stay in Nepal. And that money can be spent on development and to raise the qualiyty of education. Also, this means, buidling connections/networks with the bright and the best stduents from our neighboring countries and all over the world. 18-30 years is just about the right time to make friends who have similar interests and career aspirations. And these students attending "one of the best institutions in Nepal" will be the ones who will be making decisions for their countries iin the long run, and the chances are that friends at the school will be sitting right across each other during a high level negotiation. Personal rapport, already there.. language barrier, almost none.. so.. there you go! all treaties in Nepal's interests (for the most part, or da bu fen de shi hour, as the Chinese would say). |
| czar | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 10:44 AM
Singapore hopes to become global education hub SINGAPORE (Reuters) -- If you've ever fumed about a long commute to school, meet John LaVacca. Every six weeks for two years, the American executive would fly from Australia to Singapore for a week of classes at the Asia campus of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. LaVacca, an Asia-Pacific manager at International Business Machines Corp (IBM) based in Melbourne, was not put off by the nine-hour flight, often spending the time cramming for exams. "It made the flight pass very quickly," the 44-year-old says. Singapore's government is pouring millions of dollars into creating an education hub in Asia, hoping to transform both its economy and identity. Luring more visitors like LaVacca is a big part of that strategy. The story can be found at this URL http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/10/13/singapore.education.reut/index.html Arnico, Thats what Singapore is already doing and I've added excerpts of the article above. If Darjeeling, Mussorie, Shillong, Kodaikanal, Shimla and the other Indian hill stations could achieve it, we could, arguably do it better.There is a huge pent up demand from the Indian market. Given the present instability in Pakistan, bandh weary and crowded Bangladesh and Nepal has an opportunity to tap this market. This is already evident from the enrollment of Indian students in the medical schools in Nepal. Its a compelling idea and may be an easier dream to achieve than building high-priced controversial power projects and function as an energy supplier. Its less capital intensive, project life cycles are shorter which directly lead to quicker Break Even Points and ROI. In short, we have everything going for it. Provided we have anything left of the infrastructure once the commie boys have done their thing. Excellent thought ! Czar |
| jhismisebihani | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 11:44 AM
Arnicoji, I could not agree with you more about daring to dream. It all starts with a dream. One thing you should also talk about in your next article would be the sacrifices that Nepalese would have to make in order to make a dream like yours come true because it will take a lot of sacrifices. JB |
| Deep | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 12:17 PM
Diusai sapana dekhe--tyo pani chittha ko tikasai nakini. Tyastari Nepal sudhre si ta-- Aha! hadigau kisna mandir aghi sidhi ma basyo french taruni herera chya khadai--jay nepal tira cinema heryo--tyo mag magayeko jay nepal ma singapur ki bidesi taruni sanga lepassiyera --half tyam ma bahira niskera ek ek chauthai badam khayo Patna ki maili sanga--ani chatpate Madras ki Megha Balsubriaymanim sanga ani half tyam pachhi ko cinema deskal ma gayera feri feri Taiwane kanchhi sanga. Durbar marga ghumne Australia ki jethi sanga--kingsway canada ki thuli kanchhi sanga-- kasaile baal nadya bela ma saajh tira zaire ki antari sanga thamel tira---anta-hadigau ni ta sudhrela ni tyatibela samma ta ---chatta kahile kun kahile kun taruni liyera ma nyalmatole aauda ta--tangal dekhi dhumbarahi samma hallinthyo hola ni halla le---wait a minute tyati bela ma sattari jati pugchhu hula--- bhanchha--- bhanchha---la kassam---naati le "hajoorba attti chhai haina hai" bhanchha. [Arnico, I enjoyed your article. Seriously]. |
| sankaa | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 12:22 PM
Good Dream.. and we should work on it to turn it into a reality. however, what about ministers like ' Govinda Raj Joshi.' Wasn't he education minister once upon a time too? i might be wrong.. but yeah.. I am hoping and praying for this dream to come into reality. :) |
| cate | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 02:01 PM
Arnico, that was a really nice article. "Imagine world-class hospitals where patients can watch Machhapuchhare" Well, u spoke my mind!! I m really impressed by the Mayo Med school, their clinic in Rochester MN and obviously their world class reputation. Hopefully one day we can have our own Mayo Clinic in Pokhara. Our cities are rife with corruption, strikes and curfews, etc. Only when we all come to respect the same law and when we strive for a better future together, we can improve the existing conditions of education and healthcare to national and international level. But thats just a dream right now. How we go about to bring such revolutionary changes in our laws is a dilemma on its own. Let me know if you have any ideas. Anyhow, in line with the topic of developing our nation, there are some dare nots: " dare not see MacDonalds, Burger Kings, Taco bells lined up on every road, every curb. Seeing them planted right next to our temples and monasteries would be hell on earth. " dare not see the same chain of store in every Sahar, Nepal. Everywhere will look like everywhere else! " Dare not see them same design of apartment complexes row after row!! I guess I just wanted to say, while all these internationalizing will bring many opportunities to Nepal, we would also want to preserve every bit that is our culture. We need that special lens that will filter out whatever is a unnecessary influence to the nation. |
| Biswo | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 02:57 PM
To those folks who think of corrupts and corruption to much: friends, development is brought about 'in spite of' the corrupt ones, everywhere, every developed country did that way, because our civilization has progressed that way. No one needs to be spooked by the corrupts and corruptions. If there is a collective desire to improve our nation, Govinda Raj Joshi or Gyanendra Shah are going to be proved just minor impediments. It is our collective wisdom, desire and forcefulness to achieve our goals that will make our nation developed and successful. |
| chipledhunga | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 03:15 PM
Arnico, excellent writing and excellent vision!! Cate has also made a strong point that such developments should not concur with de-Nepalification of our culture. Let's rather have Honacha ko Choela (tara ali piro ghataera hai) in a typical Newari setting or Bhattachan ko Dalbhat in a Thakali setting rather than letting McDonalds or KFC invade every galli and corner. We do not want our traditions, be it gunyo cholo and dhaka topi or tamang selo and sakewa naach, or ankhijyhaal, to be replaced by their western counterparts. Last but not least, such developments should be environmentally friendly. Sanskriti ra batabran jogaun, desh ko bikas garau. |
| ashu | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 06:00 PM
Arnico, Enjoyed reading your aticle, and am inspired by your dreams. In the past few years, overseas Indians have started top-class business schools in India (the Indian Business School in Hyderabad comes to mind), in collaboration with top American business schools and academics. We can surely learn from their experiences. On another note, convinced that wireless technology could help our mountainous Nepal to be a player in the technology-for-development race, Suresh Ojha, a Nepali engineer from the Silicon Valley, has just spent a semester teaching "microwave and wireless engineering" to students at the Institute of Engineering in Kathmandu. Suresh has interesting stories to share. Suresh quit his job at Agilent Technologies in California, But he had the company donate stuff to establish a world-class lab on wireless engineering at the IOE in Kathmandu. He also had his American professors help him design the course materials. Let's meet with Suresh over coffee or something when you get here.He's a good guy to talk to: very down-to-earth, and all that. Arnico, you know me as someone who believes in doing small, small or sano-sano things first, and in making lots of mistakes fast and learning from them quickly, while fine tuning strategies and processes. Only then with experiences, credibility, networks and competence will I feel confident to go on do big, big projects. In this vein, I would suggest that you first teach at IOE or KU or TU for a semester or two, get to know the people here, understand the processes of how academia in Nepal run, create a network of like-minded people in and out of Nepal and then see where and how you can make a difference later on, and use that to your advanage. This is just my suggestion, but we can talk more about this when you get here next month or so. oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| oys_chill | Posted
on 13-Oct-03 09:00 PM
Arnico dai, Really enjoyed it. your dream is certainly not out of reach. As someone said earlier, it all starts with a dream. People have already confirmed that there are number of indian and other south asian nationals in medical schools in Nepal. One such location is Handigaon-Tangal area itself ;) They actually enjoyed our location more than their original locales. Deep dai--jane ho ki? eheh hamrai ghar ma ni euta Netherlands ko basya cha re ;)....aaba next time nepal jaanda, tyo sanga HANG OUT garna parcha eheh.....aaba holland ko ta afnai charm cha ni when it comes to "extra" chilim :) |
| Brook | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 05:02 AM
Enjoyed reading the piece. With Samrat and Arnico making an entry into the TKP Op-Ed scene on the same day, I felt the quality of the section had somehow elevated. Samrat clearly indicated he'll be writing regularly. I hope Arnico does too. On a different note though, I was a bit unhappy about Arnico giving only but a passing nod to "job creation". He says: "International universities in Nepal would benefit more than just our economy. They would help establish a large pool of professionals that can attract investment in diverse sectors, and produce the next generations of leaders for Nepals businesses, government, and service sector. Scholarship programs could allow a far larger number of Nepali students access to high quality education within Nepal. Providing improved teacher training, they would help lift standards of elementary and middle school education. Where do we start to build up world-class universities? The key is to have world-class faculty and facilities. These faculty, both Nepali and foreign, must be attracted to Nepal from top universities around the world where they are now working, as well as cultivated by encouraging the current and generations of Nepali students to pursue graduate studies. Until the institutions reputations can attract people, we need to market Nepals other resources. We need to provide access to the best of what makes Nepal special and attractive. We need to build the most beautiful campuses in the world overlooking our snowy mountains and green valleys." If we could wake up tomorrow to find ourselves in the Nepal that Arnico envisions, then it'd be perfect. I could even find these two paragraphs more palatable. But what should we do in the 20 odd interim years to realize this dream? Is attracting world-class faculty and developing 'facilities' the only key to building world class universities? Would the pool of world-class domestic professionals thus manufactured from these world class universities automatically attract foreign investment? Given continued poor performance in every other area that influences an investment decision, a world-class labour force would, it seems to me, demand wages higher than what'd be optimal for an investor considering the risks involved. But that's besides the point. More than critiquing what Arnico has said, I am thinking out aloud in a quest to find an answer to a connundrum that has remained an area of perennial inquiry - should demand lead supply or should supply precede demand. In other words, should growth be PULLED by demand or PUSHED by supply. Should world-class universities come to existence BECAUSE there is a demand for a world-class workforce or should they churn out world-class workforce HOPING to attract investment? A case that comes to mind is the BP Koirala Institute for Health Sciences in Dharan. With a decent proportion of international student representation and a fair bit of regional recognition, it probably qualifies as a decent university. But with fresh MBBS grads from all over the place including BPKIHS flooding the market in numbers impossible for the economy to soak, what is the outlook for the health sector in Nepal? Diffusion or Osmosis? Will more hospitals be built to provide jobs for this increasingly swelling league of professionals or will we see a massive exodus of high calibre health personnel to greener pastures? The current indication gives credence to the latter. Similar examples abound in Nepal these days. Most doctors, engineers and other technically trained fresh entrants to the professional world have only ONE outlet available to them if they choose to remain in Nepal. And that is, to teach. The soaring number of higher secondary institutions and mushrooming "engineering institutes" are prime example of this malaise. In the absence of proper avenues for these professionals to engage in work that they are actually trained for, they are resorting to teaching more out of frustration than genuine interest in imparting knowledge. The quality of education issues at institutions like the Don Bosco Academy or the White House Academy and similar others (some of which boast "Ivy League Curriculum" at high school level) aside, this problem is VERY real in Nepal in my opinion. Time to check out of work. Hope this sparks some kind of a discussion which I can rejoin later. |
| GP | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 08:39 AM
Well, nothing bad in dreaming. there are many peoples like me who entered in this mooglan country in the search of teaching job. I wish I were a there if Arnico's dream-comes-true. If you are successful to start such university, and if there is a challenging position that can fit me, count me as a candidate for interview. Getting old while dreaming. While in childhood, I used dream while sleeping, but, while getting old I have Started to dream in day time. For me everything is dream........ so much blurred that I don't see anything real.............. illusion ... fantasy......... GP VA |
| Arnico | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 09:52 AM
Thanks for all the replies!!! Isolated Freak: Affiliation with a reputable school is one several good ways of starting. Agree about your points regarding money staying in Nepal. And yes, it does not hurt to have more foreign leaders educated in Nepal. Czar: Thanks for sharing the piece on Singapore. We would by no means be the only place to set out with such goals. In fact, isn't Qatar trying to accomplish something similar? I think the market for higher education (and healthcare) is growing sufficiently rapidly that we don't have too much to worry about yet from those places... we can learn a lot from them, and a bit of healthy competition won't hurt standards either. And yes, the attractive part is the lack of capital intensity. It think money spent on setting up universities (and the infrastructure required to support them) would bring far more benefits than, for example, one Karnali Chisapani dam (costing several billion dollars). Jhismise: thanks for hte suggestion. every new path requires giving up some things; yes those should be discussed more. But not choosing a direction also involves giving up things... Deep: let's hope that your sapana gets sakaar before you naati. Sankaa: yes, it depends upon a cleaned up political system. Cate: nice to see you in kurakani! The Mayo Clinic is a good example. I was thinking of Bamrungrad hospital which sits on a polluted street in Bangkok, yet gets lots of patients from overseas. As for corruption: I get the impression that at least some of the local adminstrations are cleaner than the central government has been. And strikes/curfews etc.... yes they need to end. That's why I wrote we need peace, stability, democracy, etc. Good list of things to beware of. We need to make sure that we don't lose what makes us special. Land use regulations alone might not be enough... Chipledhunga: good points. Will look forward to eating at Chipledhunga's restaurant. Within Nepal though I'm intrigued by the relative success of the homegrown Nanglo fastfood chain (around a dozen locations, including several outside the KTM valley), compared to the inability of Wimpy's (the first western fast food chain in Nepal) to take off beyond its original one location. |
| SITARA | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 10:07 AM
Arnico ji: Dreams are where you plant the seeds of the future. All visionaries are dreamers! Very positive article... may it all come to pass! |
| Arnico | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 10:15 AM
Ashu: yes, we absolutely have to learn from experiences of other places. Good examples. I have been advised before to study those cases. Sure, I'd be happy to meet your friend. As for taking little steps: yes, everything happens one little step at a time, hopefully with lots of learning and rethinking happening along the way. But I still like big dreams to guide the direction of the little steps :) I guess each person has their own way of thinking about the future. Diversity is good. And thanks for the [unsolicited] career thoughts. I will evaluate my options when the time for decision comes. That is more than one month away. And yes, such a project requires a very good network in Nepal and abroad. That is why I asked to have the article publication timed with the NRN conference. Oys: thanks for your comments. Yes, dreaming is good. ...Especially day dreaming during boring classes ;) Some of my best ideas were born in some of my worst classes. Brook thanks for your comments. I can never match Samrat's writing abilities. I will try to contribute more when I have something to say. I don't have Samrat's talent for making something out of nothing. Good point about the job market for professionals... I did not have the space to address that point more, or to address in more detail what needs to happen in the coming twenty years. That's more than enough to fill at least one more forthcoming article. As for your push and pull questions: my short answer is BOTH. Thanks also for the BPKIHS points. Will be interesting to watch! GP ji: I am not singlehandedly starting a university... but if you would like a position at a yet nonexistent university (something that I too find attractive!), then you are welcome to join and help out in all the little ways you can to make it come true. As for dreaming and reality fusing together: doesn't that partly describe the Sajhapur community??? |
| Arnico | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 10:17 AM
Sitara: wonderful line: "Dreams are where you plant the seeds of the future." Yes, all visionaries are dreamers. But do all dreamers qualify to be visionaries? |
| rbaral | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 11:22 AM
Scintillating! |
| ashu | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 07:26 PM
Arnico, Nepal is a country run by BIG dreamers. Babu Ram sells his dreams; King G sells his, and political parties sell theirs. And once in a while, you and I too sell our dreams too. As someone who is more interested in how one actually makes things happen in Nepal by taking concrete, small, small steps and upscaling one's efforts fast, I respect dreams, but, really, get impatient on a diet of dreams alone. I have tons of read dream-reports and met too any dreamers in Nepali who have all the time to build castles in the air but too appear to be somewhat dismissive to do the gruntwork to erect the foundations underneath. I'll give you a mini-example: The advice I gave you was based on my observations of the FAILURES of a few US-returned academics to make any susbstantive changes in the way Nepali academia operates. Those people were smart, enthusiastic and had the networks. Yet they failed, and now when you talk to them, they come across as embittered veterans. What went wrong? As your friend who wants you to succeed, I do NOT want you to repeat the mistakes of those academics. But you thought my advice was "unsolicited". You know what, it is the attitude like this I SERIOUSLY worry about. I mean, you post something in a public domain, presumably inviting comments, and then pick and choose comments as per what is solicted and what is not. I mean -- and I can be honest with you -- what is that? Let's face it: On Sajha, EVERYTHING is unsolicited. What are you talking about? *********** There's a great passage in David Halberstam's book "The Best and The Brightest". When a senior US politician was told by young Lyndon Johnson how impressive the Harvard-studded resumes of the members of the Kennedy Administration were, that senior politician replied something to the effect of: "Sure, they are all brilliant, but I would have felt more comfortable with them if only one of them had run for the post of sheriff once in their lifetime." A prophetic comment indeed, as Kennedy's best and the brighest (McnMara, Bundy et al) led the US into the morass that turned out to be the Vietnam War. Please take these as comments to sharpen the kura-kani a bit. oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| deepak_bista | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 08:20 PM
Arnico, Do not listen to sychophantic types like Ashutosh. To me you are a new laeder. The new leader is a facilitator, not an order giver. - John Naisbitt Chairman, naisbitt Group Megatrends (Warner, 1984). Have a good dream and retain it. Why ? One must have a good memory to be able to keep the promises one makes. - Georg Wilhem Nietzsche, 1844-1900 German philosopher Human, All Too Human So you are a good dreamer and I will motivate you as the Shaman fro the true dreamers of nepal. You can't lead a cavalary charge if you think you look funny on a horse. - John Peers President. Logical Machine Corp 1,001 Logical Laws (Doubleday,1979). Brother do not make too much noise. Why ? Speak softly and carry a big stick - Theodore Roosevelt. 1858-1919 Twenty-sixth President of USA Speech at the Minnesota State Fair September 2, 1901 I think you have the right sixth sense. Why ? Whom God would sorely vex, He endows with abundant good sense. - Yiddish proverb. Please, do not have doubt created by thug bahuns that want your goat as try to fool you that you have a dog. How ? Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt. - William Shakespeare, 1564-1616 English dramatist and poet Measure for Measure. Brother take that darn risk. Why ? Everything is sweetened by risk. - Alexander Smith, 1830-1867 Scottish poet Of Death and Fear of Dying. As I say SALUTE ! Remember me as I advise you "service without reward is punishment." |
| Arnico | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 09:07 PM
Quick replies while in a hurry: Ashu, sorry, my statements above were poorly phrased, "unsolicited" was a poor word choice. I appreciate your goodwill and advice... but felt that if you wanted to advise me about where I personally should work (which was not meant to be the topic of public discussion here), then an e-mail would have been more appropriate AND highly appreciated. I also appreciate your collection of useful experiences and anecdotes, but would prefer discussing personal career paths of individuals in a less public forum. I completely agree that selling dreams is inadequate, even dangerous... one needs to have a clear idea of how to achieve them. What makes them desirable or not is not just determined by the end-product, but by the path leading there. Meanwhile, deepak, I will listen to anyone I care to listen to (I would like to say I listen to everyone, but I can't promise having the time for that!), and I do not participate in labelling and name calling. I especially listen to people who challenge my thinking, teach me new things, or disagree with my thoughts and ideas. |
| deepak_bista | Posted
on 14-Oct-03 11:48 PM
Arnico, Name has to be called simply some people are too parochial, and do not listen for innovative ideas that is based on entrepreneurial leadership that is taught by Peter Drucker in his seminal book "The Principles of Management." The hallmark characteristics of a third world is just like Nepal. That few entrpreneurs and too much close to corrupt politicians. For example, look at your own Pandey khalak that is Himalay and Prtithivi Pandey. Their father was the Household Servant of the Shah King. He made lots of money through the Marbadis through issuing and create licences and in return they gave him lots of paise. Look at Himalaya Pandy the uneducated one and sits on every boards from Dam theka to Dam selling and building. Look at Prithibi and there are more people educated then him but not well connected. All these Godavari Alumini Association related boys network has created specific nepotism and kleptocracy and sychophantic network in Nepal. These is termed relational politico/business Guan Xi like network that is corrupt and is costing our nation over 60% of the Real GDP to go out in leakages. Look how criminals like Amatya has bleeded our nations opportunity cost and in similar vein well connected ghusiyas like these Pandeys have borrowed lots of money from the banks to be invested in unsustainable developments from tourism to dams. One day many of them cannot pay and again their ghusiay connection will bail them out. Thus, we need good corporate governance, transparency, bankruptcy laws and arm's length board to control the CEO of public corporations. Rights of minority shareholders to veto few family and friends based majority shareholders in public listed companies. Continuous disclosure provisions by these few majority shareholders to the stock exchange and muc more then one can conclude that Nepal has entered the modernity and is fully able to integrate with the provisions and principles of the WTO and IMF etc. Your consideration is that you Bhunte, Czar and the likes are from the same network and are not capable of change to be regio or polycentric. That is what Ashutosh complained to you....Howver, the truth remains you and he are also in the same boat and do not know how to change ! By have to catch the scruff of your necks as you all are going to be the Ghusiya club members. Just criticising your behaviour is not enough and I have to call you a ghusiya in case you are one....Well if your visions are clear then I do not need to name call and only the time will tell. |
| noname | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 04:40 AM
First thing first: Is this first time that Arnico started a thread in Sajha? I have seen him posting in many threads (he does not miss any about travel suggestions, cheap cards and pictures!), but this is first time I have seen him starting a thread by himself. Rest: Less I talk about the dreams, the better. Let the experts do this. Here is what one expert said: "..All elongated objects, such as sticks, tree-trunks and umbrellas(the opening of these last being comparable to an erection) may stand for the male organ...Boxes, cases, chests, cupboards, and ovens represent the uterus...Rooms in dreams are usually women...Many landscapes in dreams, especially any containing breidges or wooded hills, may clearly be recognized as descriptions of the genitals... ---Sigmund Freud, The Interpreation of Dreams (Taken from : http://www.healingdreams.com/dreamquotes.htm ) All in jest :) What I am serious about is: Good things are coming. Although I can not foresee a prosperous Nepal because of one (or some, for that matter) of the finest university of the world established in the foothills of mountains, what I can see (with a myopic vision problem!) is that with this finest brains will be there confronting the core issues that matters most from the nearest possible physical distance. Government could not accomodate them (Even with a phd and years of experience of teaching in the west, they have to start with UPA PRADHYAPAK competing with fresh graduates, just for one example), private sector has yet to gear up its momentum to accomodate them, INGOs have their own preset agendas, so they (i mean, the finest brains) have to do something by themselves. I hope few more dream like you! |
| ashu | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 05:33 AM
Arnico, I re-read my posting above, and decided that I came a wee bit aggressive than I had intended. Sorry about that. Had too much coffee this morning :-) Other than that, let's meet up in KTM, and do guff-suff. oohi ashu ktm,nepal |
| RBaral | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 05:37 AM
Dreaming is an integral part of life. If one doesn't dream, accomplishment will come to him only by surprise! Ashu wrote- >In this vein, I would suggest that you first teach at IOE or KU or TU for >a semester or two, get to know the people here, understand the >processes of how academia in Nepal run, create a network of like-minded >people in and out of Nepal and then see where and how you can >make a difference later on, and use that to your advanage. This piece of suggestion sounds a thoroughly nice and polished yet extremely predictable. My two cents, assuming that this is not too much of an intrusion from my side. Namaste, Rishi |
| Rusty | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 07:41 AM
Arnico, Very nice article. |
| patali | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 09:44 AM
DREAMS----- definitely a big word with very deep meaning...I take dream as a basis for my future..even if they may be coincidental at times....however, it may indicate something in our future......a nice article indeed.... |
| deepak_bista | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 04:38 PM
Arnico, You and your network have primitive thinking related dreams : Why ? You all are paleo-conservative Hindoos with traditional values containing status-oriented culture. Personal identity and reputation based in corrupt Nepali social network given at birth and confirmed by Royal patrons. You should move away from this value to modern values and drean accordingly. This is to be socially mobile, getting ahead in possessions, education, and work status to redefine one's identity. Do not have fate or God to determine outcomes. Therefore, planning is arrogant, particularly planning for more than a year. That is your traditional outlook. Instead, follow this modern way as planning and regular execution determines outcomes of your dream or else it will be like your Prithibi Pnadey's Kathmandu Business School. Therefore, believing in an individual fate is foolish. Do not believe in family and community festivals put to you in getting in touch with meaning of life. Work to live. Not taking part in vodoo like Hindoo festivals produces shame in modern outlook. Instead for modernity, start organising people to act in new ways for the good of all makes life meaningful. Move away from patrons like Gyanendra and Surya Bahadur Thapa and related authorities that give you status. Important relations are hierarchical for you in traditional ways. Because, patrons give and forgive loans. Instead for modernity Arnico use negotiated and contractual relationships will determine how you are doing. Because, important relations are equal. Lastly, Arnico your vodoo like Hindoo cultureuse envy and distrust (win-lose). Because, you know what in Nepal that anyone who gets ahead has taken something that could had been shared. For modernity then Arnico dream to self-motivate your attitude or Echarle Ganas working at something with good attitude and this will get you ahead. This is the start for you to be innovative and lead by doing and learn by doing. The true visionary then will walk the talk and talk the walk by using management by objectives. |
| ashu | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 05:39 PM
Rishi, I agree with your assessment. But hear me out on this. There is more to what you think to what I said. **** One of my puzzles in Nepal is: WHILE most people here KNOW or have excellent opinions about how to fix problems, these very same people do not seem to be taking any concrete step to address those problems, leading to some sort of a GAP between what they know and what they actually do. THese people would rather tell us what they know in detail about the problems than do anything to solve those problems. And so, the puzzle is this: Why does this knowing-doing gap exist in Nepal? I don't know. And so, even at the risk of laboring the obvious point, I wanted to give a version "here's how you might want to tackle this problem" to Arnico. Sure, what I said does NOT have the aura of a dream nor is it glamorous. nor too has a 'sex appeal' of its own. Mine was basically a "nuts and bolts" issue which I thought should not be overlooked. That's all. oohi "Enjoying my first cup of tato-tato Muna Gold Premium chiya (with milk) on an early beautiful morning in Kathmandu" :-) ashu ktm,nepal |
| deepak_bista | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 07:03 PM
Why does this knowing-doing gap exist in Nepal ? Only Ashubaje knows the nuts and bolts ? Why then there is no actionable gap analysis done for policy formation and then actioned ? Too many mysteries and inconsistencies arising in the dysfuctional mind of the bonded laborer self styled advocate of Nepal ? Kasto aachama ? This is what decision making is all about. However, paleo-conservative manchinte Bahun khalak like Ashubaje are "Men cling to the opinions of habit." - Moses Maimonides, 1135-1204, Egyyptian physician and philosopher, Guide to the perplexed. Here is a smart move on decision making instead of being a rather procastinating akas ko phal khane ladoo Bahun. "Some people say a decison has to marinate before you can make it. Sometimes that's true. But the fact is, you'll never have all the information you need to make a decision-if you did, it would be foregone conclusion, not a decsion." - david Mahoney, Investment Manager, Confession of a Street Smart Manager. (Simon & Schuster, 1987). You is this is how America was built as its founding father' hadgoals and objectives and we in Nepal have bahuns like Ashutosh. "The business of America is is business." - calvin Coolidge, 1872-1933, 30th. Prez of USA. Seech to the Socity of american Newspaper Editors. January 17, 1923. Further, in the same subject matter "The achiever...is a person who sets goals and meets them. He or she is someone we can count on to get the right thing done in a superior way and keep them done...Today's achievement-working in a highly colaborative setting-is someone who gets things done through others." - Allen Cox, Management Consultant and author. The Making of theachiever. (Dodd Mead, 1985). So underachiever Baje that you did not make it to your dream corporation being McKinsey...why ? You were not the amidst the one percentile of the American academic performers and you were not known by their society. You understand that Clinton's daughter got the job at that young age with a starting salary of US $ 120,000 per year. Because, Who aimeth at the sky Shoots higher much than he that means a tree. - George Herbert, 1593-1633 English clergyman and poet Antiphon. Then, If thou well hast begun, go on for right It is the End that crowns us, not the Fight. - Robert Herrick, 1591-1674 English poet Hesperides. It is obvious that you are a Nautanki Aartha Sastri with no experience of planning and management high education and having experience in business. You are a self styled consultant of service sector and also a journalist who writes the first draft of Nepalese business history.... Coming events cast their shadows before. - Thomas campbell, 1777-1844 English attorney and poet Lochiel's Warning. 'Tis best to build no castles in the air. - Fanny Burney, 1752-1840 English novelis Diary and Letters of Madame D' Arblay. Finally, Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. - Neils Bohr, 1885-1962 Nobel laureate in physics favorite saying. |
| Arnico | Posted
on 15-Oct-03 09:55 PM
Ashu, interesting point about the knowing-doing gap. In my personal experience the gap seems larger within the Kathmandu valley than in a lot of places outside the valley. I don't know why though... |
| RBaral | Posted
on 16-Oct-03 05:01 AM
This knowing-doing gap is more or less spread all over the country. Because those higher ups are concentrated in the valley, the gap seems to have followed the pattern. May be out of context, my suggestion for improving Nepali bureaucracy- Have those America or foreign educated aspirants compete Lok Sewa, enter Nepali Karmachari Tantra. I hear that there have been lots of reform in the Nepali Karmachari Prashashan, viz. lateral entry, where a competent person could be directly hired as a First Class Officer! We need leaders to improvise Nepali bureacracy! Namaste, Rishi |
| kumar_gurung979 | Posted
on 26-Oct-03 02:50 PM
Australian Aboriginal Dream Time The history of the Flinders University of South Australia is a great one that is full of adventure and exploration. Mathew Flinders, the British marine ship captain/navigator and equally the brilliant French marine ship captain/navigator Boudain at the same time discovered South Australia near the Von De Man's land. To me it appears the Dutch had already discovered Australia before the Brits and French. To be even more blunt the Asian's being the Bugis from Muluku Islands were already before all Europeans here in Terris Australis. For this rememberence, the legendary homosexual Premeir of South Australia, Ratu Shree Don Dunstan established the second generation of the South Australian University with a moniker Flinders University. The university is located in lush green parklands witha well appointed manmade lake. However, the buildings rests on top of a fault line and earthquakes frequent this area that is a well known ancient lanf of the Gaurana tribes of the Kauris. The half British and half Indian Fijian Premier built this university to demonstrate that his legacy that would be based on science would be able to predict the earthquake, and man's rational deduction to be greater over nature would prevail, In other words, he being a leftist Laborite did not believe in a God. His conclusion was that man like him could use culture to control freakness of nature (unknown God) through science...ala monument making like all queer politicians all over. The era was also notorious in South Australia that the British (Hitler like) Police Commissioner Harold Salisbury was sacked by Don Dunstan for not telling him of the truth. You see Don Dunstan's homosexual friend a brilliant law lecturer by from Adelaide University was murdered by the combined effort of South Australian Police's now defunct Special Branch (Sergeant Huey) and members of the Consorting Squad (a group of undercover police to catch homosexuals and prostitutes). It seems the Commssioner of Police knew the truth and failed to report the facts to the Premier and the South Australian Parliament. It seems that there was a revolt in Adelaide University's politics and law departments, who were mostly British right winger monarchists. That is why Don Dunstan had to establish a new University at Bedford Park. It was to be full of ex-Adelaide University transferees to Flinders University in 1968. The exodus consisted mainly lipstick lesbians, poofter left winger queers and essentrics, Peaceniks, Hippies and radicals. However, they all were visionaries like from the inspirational brothers and sisters of River Sienne's left bank in Paris. Yes, Flinders University's contribution has always been to have focus in the Asia Pacific. It contributed through special connection with Gough Whitlam's dismantling of White Australia policy. "It was Time" that South Australia was a pioneer in Arts and Festivals. The movie world was thriving with renaissance and retarded the Holywood incursion in Australian creativity. Australian music was also good. Actors and Actresses and directors were making grand name in Holywood connected with this university. The Asian Studies department is heavily focused in Indonesia. For Australia, Indonesia is very important in terms of security and border controls. In some way, Indonesia is like India to Nepal as it is for Australia. The Commerce School runs unique MBA course focusing in Asia-Pacific region. It does not follow Harvard script. They want you to know who are the children of rich Asians and things peculiar to Asia and much more. However, time has come for Flinders to change. It should not be managed by a Social Worker and an expert in prisons. The University should be run by trained cross cultural manager that knows about retail outlet and on line retail site manager. This is what organic growth of a learning organisation is all about. Otherwise, it will be a dysfunctional organisation. For a change management in order for Flinders to be a learning organisation then, each member of the stake must be able to have intuition of new patterns emerging in the horizon. These patterns are based on consumer needs and wants. These aggregate intuitions need to be interpreted by individuals. All of the added value interpretations then must be integrated by work groups for a learned conscience that is practive for diversity and disability. Finally, the emerged vision and dreams should be translated to mission and goals. Then it is only the beginning for new startegies and policies. This is the true art of the great dreamtime of the Gaurana people in the Kaurana plains once occupied by the true Kauris. |