By Narayan Prasad Mishra   We all know we cannot learn and know everything just by formal education. We learn many things through our interests, observation, and experience. At the same time, we generally know much about the profession in which we are involved rather than other things. In most cases, people's thoughts and minds are generally influenced and affected by the professions they are involved in. People's nature and conduct are also very much influenced by their professions. Because of that, the behavior and dealings of the army and police are significantly different from the professors, academicians, and administrators. As I worked at Tribhuvan university and its library for many decades from a young age, I learned much about education, research, and the library. I became ignorant about business, industries, and other aspects of life. I did not know about these ignorances until my late wife, Shanti Mishra, and I retired from the university at the age of just 49 due to the political decision of Kedar Bhakta Mathema, then Vice-Chancellor on August 17, 1992 (2049 Bhadra 1). According to the university rules, we got about 18 lakhs rupees as a token of our seven years of pensions and allowance of unused sick and home leaves. We thought of investing that amount for our future earnings, but we did not have any idea about our options except depositing the money in the bank's fixed deposit account and earning some interest. So we inquired about some other possibilities of earning by investing that amount. In this context, some of our well-wishers advised us to buy shares in companies and banks that would give good returns in dividends and profit and make money selling the shares when the value of it would go high. To my surprise, I had never talked or heard about the word "share" in my five decades of life before that and did not know of any possible earning from it as we were so devoted to our own organization's service and did not give any attention to other fields. Tribhuvan University and its Central Library were our worlds and life at that time. Making question after question, I learned about share business and investment and thought of investing money. We spent our time in search of it. In this context, we saw the advertisement notice of selling the shares of Jyoti Spinning Mills and Gorakhkali Ruber Udyog Limited, owned by Nepal Industrial Development Corporation (NIDC), published in the Gorkhapatra daily. They would sell the shares to those who bid more than Rs 125 per share with a sealed quotation, application, and the five per cent earnest money. I got 275 shares of Jyoti Spinning Mills, paying a total of Rs 37750, which was Rs 130 per share, and 400 shares of Gorakhkali Robber Udyog, paying a total of Rs 52000 which also was Rs 130 per share. My wife Shanti Mishra and I, with our honest, simple, and gentle hearts, thought both organizations were significant for the country's necessity and would play an essential role in the development of the industries being the stable and robust organizations of the country. Besides, the spinning mill was run and owned by the Jyoti group (Mani Harsha Jyoti, Padma Jyoti, Roop Jyoti), the country's well-reputed business and industrial community. The government established the rubber industry with Chinese aid. So we never imagined it would fail and there would be any malpractices to grab the people's money and our hard-earned money. Share Certificate of Jyoti Spinning Mills Limited Share Certificate of Gorakhkali Rubber Udyog We have a Nepali proverb, "Rupia Paisa Dekhepachhi Mahadevle Pani Thulo Akha Rakkchha" (Even the Lord Mahadeva, great God keeps big eyes on it when he sees the money." After a few years, there was a rumor that the Jyoti Group had weaved a tricky net to close the industry showing its liquidation and failure for their own advantage. There was a high possibility of losing the money invested by the public. We did not believe it and showed our trust, keeping in mind the honesty and reputation of Mani Harsha Jyoti, for whom we had high regard. The rumor turned into truth. The industry was closed. But I again heard that they would return the money, getting the share certificates in return, with their goodness and benevolence. I inquired about it with Ratna Sagar Kansakar, who was in their office at Jyoti Bhawan. a few years ago. He said it was true, but my turn had not come yet, and he asked me to wait for some time. At the same time, he kindly gave me a telephone number in his handwriting to contact them and enquire about that. I was glad to hear it and waited and kept inquiring about it. Last year I sent my nephew to enquire about it, but he was told I would not get my money back, and I lost my investment. The Jyoti Spinning Mills disappeared in a country where we still need many spinning and textile industries with some of my lifelong hard-earned money. That was a great mystery for me. Every day I lament seeing its share certificates. I think Gorakhkali Rubber Udyog is still in the name, but it is dying or dead because of its mismanagement, malpractice, and corruption. My invested money in it disappeared like a water bubble. My hope, wisdom, and judgment of the industries' bright future and development vanished in a vacuum. We see many cooperative organizations running in the country to cheat the people by any means, such as the Civil Savings and Credit Cooperative, run under Ichha Raj Tamang, the UML ex-parliamentarian, who is in jail now, according to the judgment of the court. To me, the Rubber Industry also became like one of them, a cheating organization. From this experience, I have learned that malpractice, mismanagement, and corruption have become a culture in our country. Exploitation and cheating are everywhere. People should be cautious in investing money. Think ten times before you invest. Nowhere are we safe in this country. It has become a country of liars and cheaters. I was and am extremely sad about it. narayanshanti70@gmail.com