Growing Political Culture

Parmeshwar Devkota

If we look back at the immediate political history of Nepal, we find that we surpassed two types of political system - tyrannical rule of Ranas and pseudo-democratic rule of Shahs. During the Rana regime, people could not share their thoughts with one another. We could not speak even on issues affecting our daily life and atrocities created by rulers and their agents -- landlords and Mukhiyas, the local representatives of the rulers.

We overthrew that despotic rule with great efforts and unity, and established democracy. But the hard-won democracy did not last for long time. Shrewd king Mahendra did not like democracy. He nipped it in the bud and imposed party-less Panchayat on Nepalis. It was democracy for those who followed it, but autocracy for those who questioned it. So, the majority of Nepalis did not prefer it and revolted against the Panchayat system in order to restore democracy. 

The people living in countries where tyrants and pseudo-democrats are prevailing are forced to revolt and establish actual democracy because when we were under the oppressive rule, we used to fear speaking even our realisations of the worldly affairs. Our moods and attitudes were monitored by the agents of Ranas and we were punished accordingly. 

When we were under the rule of autocracy, we became sentimental and turned more destructive. We used to break railings of the streets and damage public properties. In elections, we used to block the activities of the opposition parties, disrupt their public programmes, as if we were demons. It seems that we lacked a democratic attitude for some two decades even after the advent of multiparty democracy in the country. 

Ready for making physical assaults on others to impose your own agenda and block others is a barbaric attitude. Seeing the election campaign in the past some decades, it is felt that we have surpassed such a phase for good because the political parties and independent candidates have mobilised hundreds of thousands of workers and supporters across nation for the November 20 elections to the federal and provincial parliaments for the second time following the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015. 

They all are campaigning peacefully. All the political parties and independent candidates have focused their attention to the pertinent development and social issues. The voters are questioning airy and jingoistic speeches delivered by leaders.   In the past, the breach of the election code of conduct used to be widespread, but it appears that the poll code has been followed cautiously. This shows our decency and civility. 

Nepalis are not economically sound in comparison to those living in developed countries worldwide. However, they are politically aware, liberal, and having the capacity of endurance. If a citizen raises pertinent public issues instead of being guided by emotions, they are called civilised one. The strength of civility is more valuable than the wealth s/he has. Samuel Johnson has said it in nutshell, ‘Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance’.

So, the citizens of all the countries under the tyrannical rules should join hands to overthrow such rulers and establish the political system having equal rights and liberty as we did.