ever cried for your country?

by Ujwal Thapa on May 6, 2010

“Ever cried for your country?” is a brilliant opinion that questions our sense of patriotism in Nepal and teaches us what it means to be a patriot. You may start re-evaluating your sense of civic duty for Nepal instead of complaining about the situation in Nepal. Your call! –>This is a full text of the original article published some time ago in the Kathmandu Post.

By BAN WHI MIN (The writer is a 15 year-old student of Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies, South Korea).

यही लेख नेपालीमा यहाँ पढ्नुहोस्

Nepalese complain about the caste system and corrupt officers. They openly vent their anger against the government. But have they ever thought About Nepal’s real problems? I believe that they have not. I want to say that Nepal’s real problems are lack of patriotism among the people and lack of love for one another. This is the conclusion I have reached during my stay. This summer, I did voluntary work from July 5 to July 30 at FHI Ever Vision School, Matatirtha, Kathmandu.

Let me first tell you about my country, Korea. This might help you understand my point. Just after the Korean War, which claimed lives of more than 5 million Koreans, Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Without natural resources, Korea had no choice but to desperately struggle for its survival by all means. Under this gloomy situation, Koreans envied other Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan, and Nepal. Korean government officials were horribly corrupt. With the dual classes of Yangban (nobles) and Sangnom(peasants) , Korean society was sickening day by day. However, Koreans, having determination to become rich, overcame the unfair social structure and put the country onto the track of development. When the former president Park Jung Hee took over the government, there were few factories in Korea. Korea could not attract loans or expect foreign investments. Under these circumstances, President Park ‘exported’ miners and nurses to then West Germany. The salaries that they earned were used to building factories and promoting industrialization of Korea. In 1964, when President Park visited then West Germany, the miners and nurses asked the president when the Koreans would become rich. The president replied, crying with the miners and nurses, that someday the Koreans would become rich.

Many of Korean scientists and engineers, who could just enjoy comfortable lives in the United States, returned to Korea with only one thing in their mind: the determination to make Korea the most powerful and prosperous country in the world. They did their best even though their salaries were much less than what they would have received in other countries. The Koreans believed that they have the ability to change their desperate situation and that they must make the country better, not only for themselves but also for the future generations yet to come. My parents’ generation sacrificed themselves for their families and the country. They worked 14 hours a day, and risked their lives working under inhumane conditions. The mothers, who went to work in factories, fed their babies while operating machines in dangerous environments. They always tried to teach their children the true value of ‘hard work’. Finally, all of these hard works and sacrifices made the prosperous Korea that you see now. Nepalese! Have you ever cried for your country? I heard that many of Nepali youth do not love their Nepal. I also heard that they want to leave Nepal because they don’t like caste system, or because they want to escape the severe poverty. However, they should be the first ones to voluntarily work for Nepal’s development, not the first ones to complain and speak against their country.

I have a dream that someday I would be able to free the souls from suffering from the underdeveloped countries, anachronistic customs and the desperate hunger. My belief has become stronger than ever after seeing the reality in Nepal.

A child with a fatal disease who doesn’t have enough money to buy a pill; a child living in what seems like a pre-historic dwelling and not having the opportunity to receive education; and a student who cannot succeed, no matter how hard he studies, just because of the class he comes from. A society, in which wives not only take care of children but also work in the fields, while their husbands waste their time doing nothing; a society in which a five-year-old must labour in a brick factory to feed herself. Looking at the reality of Nepal, I was despaired, yet this sense of despair strengthened my belief. I already know that many of the Nepalese are devout Hindus. However, nothing happens if you just pray to hundreds of thousands of gods while doing nothing. It is the action that you and Nepal need for the better future. For Nepal and yourselves, you have to show your love to your neighbours and country just as you do to Gods. You know that your Gods will be pleased when you work for the development of your country and improvement of your lives. Therefore, please, love your neighbours and country. Teach your children to love their country. And love the working itself. Who do you think will cry for your Nepal? Who do you think will be able to respect the spirit of Himalayas and to keep the lonely flag representing it? You are the ones responsible for leading this beautiful country to a much brighter future. This responsibility lies on you.

———————————-

Thank you, Kamini Chand for sending me this amazing article.

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  • Sonny

    Well said!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/whynepal whynepal

    yeh i agree. amazing writeup!

  • veza

    its true..i too agree wid this korean guy..

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/whynepal whynepal

    yeh.

  • Rambler

    Ha… Who says Nepalis aren’t patriotic… Look at how the country burned over Hrithik Roshan’s alleged derogatory remark
    about Nepal. Look at how Nepalis react at the misinformed assertion that Buddha was born in India…

    Nepalis are very patriotic, but misguided perhaps, easily swayed by rumours floating around.

    Will – now that’s something lacking in Nepalis…

  • Neapli

    Yes, there's caste in Nepal and its really frustrating at times and the fact that we are not united together. but we do LOVE our country. for many reasons, many Nepalese did leave the country and youths in Nepal seem to be quiet but that doesn't necessarily mean that we don't care about what's going on. WE DO CARE and WE LOVE our COUNTRY, NEPAL to death.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/whynepal whynepal

    Loving is caring but maybe we need more than just saying we love ? our actions should determine our patriotism…don't you agree ?

  • pragya

    I believe that our country needs a proper leader… as its said "it takes one bad leader to ruin the nation" very true, nepalese are easily manipulated. and why would they not be?? they are illiterate naive and poverty still lingers from their head to the toe..Nepalese love their country without a shadow of doubt but they are helpless at this point. they are dissappointed and they dont have a vision. that is the reason they are leaving the country because they see no prospect any more. Until and Unless we have a good leader, I dont think we can have a better nepal

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/whynepal whynepal

    I agree with you. Also I want to add that  Good leaders don't become good leaders until they have a good support structure that is supporting him/her. I feel we don't have a good leader because we don't support \”actively\” good people who are trying to break in to the leadership of the country. How many of us try to be that support structure to these upcoming leaders. We expect good leaders to arise without our help (which doesn't happen usually)..

  • http://twitter.com/tajim @tajim

    Well Buddy, I disagree. Nepalis are not 100% Patriotic. I am too a Nepali myself and i know it very well.

    Our Patriotism is only limited to anti-Indianism. Period.

    If India does or says something about Nepal. We go GAGA.

    But when it comes to working for country. Everyone backs out. You can burn 100s of Hrithik roshan effigy but thats not going to help country.

    You got to work for country to show your real Patriotism.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/whynepal whynepal

    agree Tajim, need to act with common sense and show by being pro-active , not reactive.

  • ajay

    hate inida and you are a patriotic Nepali!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/whynepal whynepal

    It is time for us Nepalis to be patriotic by building Nepal  rather than blaming our neighbors only for all our problems..

  • Rahul

    well to feel patriotic the leaders of the country has to lead the way.they are misleading the way for nepalese people.
    We tried to be patriotic.Under the circumtances now being patriotic means excercising our rights.We did that.We voted for 601 leaders to write constitution.We dutifully paid our taxes.Now what happens when the it is turn for the leaders to react they fight for their posts and chairs.Being a citizen what more can you ask for when you are house arrested for more than a week and not being able to work when you want to.
    All the patriotism goes away when you are house arrested for a week and you have nth to eat in your house.There is much more to come now.
    People have tried to become patrotic by going against Ranas and kings time and again but the result is same.
    Sorry buddy patriotism wont work here coz this is nepal not korea.I wont cry for my country because i have had enough of it.

  • whynepal

    great feedbacks !

  • Marryrosa44

    thnxx for posting it here It helped me for my assignment LOlZzzz

  • Sagargurung

    it’s us, the people who become the leader one day – just the way the now leaders were in our position before they took the office – Rahul – that’s the whole purpose of this article – we need to stop with the blame games. rnYou be the change you dream of seeing…rnMahatma Gandhi…

  • Sagargurung

    wah re ajay? wha? kyaa baat boldiya aapney – keep hating India – have you seen where India is now?

  • Sagargurung

    we the Nepali people don’t lack the passion – we got abundance of that – what we lack is sacrifice and action – talk is cheap

  • spriha

    what we people did during Hrithik Scandal..strike…is that a real solution, nope. we must have known that a single strike in the country makes millions of losses. strike is not a right solution.

  • http://whynepal.com Uj

    I agree Spriha !

  • http://whynepal.com Uj

    Good one Sagar. Talk is cheap here ! I don’t see much uniting among passionate people. We could do it if we passionate ones united and led !

  • http://whynepal.com Uj

    glad it helped you!

  • Kul GC

    It is shame on us who pretend to be so-called educated, aware and Mr./Ms. know-all. Thanks a lot to this 15-year Korean guy for being at least an eye-opener for our stupid intellectuals………………

  • equality for development

    UJ bro i really like it…my question is, is it possible for us to develop our country without giving freaking care to India? I thought for long time and eventually i said yes we can but its not gonna happen in a yera or two, it will take at least couple of decades for sure. For this all we need is people to start workind hard and thinking about their country in from their respective status. Lets dream of a day where this corrupted leader will be like Louis 16th of France. To be honest I think this leaders are to be blamed for all this situation in country. How can there be economic development in a country when budget time has passed by 2 months. Lets all do best from our side and we will bring change in our country,

  • http://whynepal.com Uj

    we have to be the change we want to see in Nepal. Starts with us.

  • Asisjoshi

    Its definitely a time to think and act….coz its now or never…..thanxx a lot to u Mr. MIN for reminding us what we were missing and where we have been lacking…..i dont know abt others but yes definitely a pair of eyes has been opened by reading this article…

  • Sanjeevsanu

    If only we were as conscientious as BAN WHI MIN …still, let’s hope and pray, we will turn into ones…

  • http://whynepal.com Uj

    make that two pair of eyes. It certainly opened mine too :)

  • http://whynepal.com Uj

    You are right. If we act, we can be the change we seek.

  • Jimba

    I agree

  • Noone

    Gosh it feels so weird seeing my high school colleague’s article here.nnVery much like him indeed..straight up to the point and very assertive I’d saynNot to menton conservative.

  • nepal

    Does anyone researched on what KOREA lost for its development?nwhat about the religious changes?? how many ofu00a0Koreansu00a0transformed tou00a0Christiansu00a0during this development time?nnDevelopment does not come easily… West (u00a0Christiansu00a0) do not let you grow easily…u00a0

  • PremRS

    *Politician: Badu00a0gamer to hold the post and earn as much as black money. And do brainwash to innocent uneducated people.n*Almostu00a0businessman: together with politician andu00a0corrupted officer tou00a0deceiveu00a0tax and customu00a0clearance.u00a0 Their main aim expand and resettle in abroad.n*Officers: allu00a0corruptedu00a0if not they can’t allow to work properly andu00a0transferu00a0to visit Nepal.n*Nepalese:u00a0u00a0Already divided for many confusing unimportant partitions, so that u00a0they can always argue and never have time to think right way.nu00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0Nepalese are patriotic if they paid well in abroad like UK, HK, India, Singapore….u00a0nu00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 No one had proper work, busy involvement for goodu00a0purposeu00a0and always waste time withu00a0arguingu00a0each other.nu00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0 u00a0Let’s hope one day, no one help to politician for their personal advantage, and together hold hand by hand to open worku00a0opportunity to makeu00a0naturallyu00a0peace and u00a0developed.

  • http://whynepal.com Uj

    thanks for your response !

  • http://www.whynepal.com/inspiration/my-country-my-responsibility/ देशको लागि के रुनु भा छ ? | Why Nepal? | admin

    [...] लेखक: बान व्हिइ मिन, १५ बर्षिय बिद्यार्थी , हानकुक बैदेशिक शिक्षा एकेडेमी, दक्षिण कोरिया Read the original English Version here. [...]

  • Dark Eye45

    this country is not korea. We are not koreans. We don’t have leaders like korean people had. Hence our problem remains unsolved .u00a0 whatsoever I did not like the way people comments on us.

  • Nirajhirachan147

    does any one have his twitter id of fb id :D