By Narayan Prasad Mishra
We always think our writing has some value. Generally, we do not write without any purpose. We write something to say something to someone – communicate, help, advise, share, etc. Sometimes, we write for ourselves, for our records and memory. Our writing for ourselves helps us to think, learn and understand the subject in a better way. But we often write for society, country, and people. We hope our writing will benefit our society, country, and people when we write for them. We know the good, responsible government in developed countries requests and encourages the professors to write and speak on critical national and international issues for their valuable thoughts for the nation’s benefit. That is because there is great value in your advice.
Thinking so, I also wrote some books and hundreds of articles on different areas — education, library, politics, history, administration, economy, culture, traditions, religion, life, death, superstitions, literature, etc. I know my professional writings on education and the library have benefited some organizations and people, even though I was not given formal credit for that. But I do not have the experience that my articles and writings on administration and politics have given any advantage to the concerned individuals, groups of people, offices, or officers.
Similarly, I do not have the experience that our politicians and the government have learned any good things from my writings or the writings of anyone. This may be because our politicians and administrators have overconfidence in their knowledge, or they are determined to do right or wrong what they have in their minds and have no culture of learning.
So it does not make any difference to them whether you give evidence or arguments to convince them of your analysis and conclusions. Indeed, you cannot change their thoughts and actions through your writings and speaking; however, you are wise, experienced, or knowledgable. Based on my knowledge and experience, I wrote the following poem in 2041, which was published in Naya Nepal Post on March 11, 1985 (Fagun 28, 2041 )
Poem in Nepali
Poem translated into English
Worthless Writings
Narayan Prasad Mishra
You also write
I also write
There are also
Many others who write,
speak
About boiling in the heart
Agonies and suffering
With unlimited pain and injustice
Trickling down from two eyes
Tears
Defects of society
The downfall of the country
By clever and wicked
The flesh of you, us and all
Snatched and eaten as vultures do
Wounds engraved in the heart
Necessary for treatment of
the wound
Ointments, medicines
Civic concerns
Complaints, petitions
Human rights related
Voices
But who would listen
Who are here
Where thrown and stacked
Reports of Royal Commissions
Directions of Royal Commissions
Breathing is not the definition of living. Earning is only not the definition of living. The success of grabbing power and positions can also not be called the definition of living. The real meaning of living is to learn more and more and serve the people to the extent of your calibre and knowledge with honesty and dignity. But our leaders are living by breathing and earning but not serving, which is their prime duty. So I think in a real sense, they are dead. They are dead in the eyes of people suffering because of their selfish motives, corruption, and malpractices.
Nepal became a republic, we experienced unlimited scandals, unlimited corruption cases, and irregularities and injustices. People have been speaking and writing about them. I, too, pointed out many times about all these things through my writings. But those writings have not yet shown any usefulness and worthiness so far. It seems all our writings went to waste-paper boxes or garbage containers. I was sad about that. In this context, I am sadder and discouraged to witness the rejection of the advice and suggestions regarding the recent citizenship bill passed by the parliament of our honourable President of the country. That is a piece of clear evidence that there is no use of our writings and suggestions where even the President’s advice has no meaning and hearing. I am so sorry to see the condition of our democratic country so dreadful and fearful, painful and intolerable, where people’s voices have no value, and where even the President’s advice has no value. In this context now I feel:
Writings are for those
Who have eyes
Advice is for those
Who have conscience
Writings have no use
Where people are blind
Advice has no value
Where people are mulish
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