VOICE OF CONSCIENCE

Our moral science teacher at our alma mater St. Xavier's Godavari School, the Reverend Fr. Thomas Gaffney S.J., taught us that we humans have a conscience that makes us different from other animals. Our "Voice of Conscience" would always tell us what is right and what is wrong and guide us in the right path in life.

Moral Crusader Fr. Gaffney

Whenever we friends from St. Xavier's School meet after all these years we reflect upon the trials and tribulations we have faced as adults and how the guiding principles of the Reverend fathers imparted to us at school have made a difference in our lives. We look askance at those whom we perceive as lacking conscience. We marvel at those heroes who have excelled in contributing to the good of our society and humanity. Dr. Govinda K.C. the moral giant fighting nefarious government scheming on the Nepal Medical Education Bill with serial 'fast unto death' sacrifice comes to mind. The much celebrated Dr. Sanduk Ruit the eye surgeon who has given vision to countless across Asia and Africa is another. The managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising just months after assuming office literally lighted up the country with his indisposition to graft after years and years of debilitating power cuts affecting the masses known euphemistically in Nepal as 'load-shedding'.

Blogger with Dr. Ruit

Dr. Sanduk Ruit with patients

A recent gathering of friends generated much hand-wringing on the state of our nation and a lack of conscience in those at the helm of state affairs. The state of our nation seems to be at a crossroads between good and evil. Newspapers are constantly uncovering stories of greed and corruption in wanton disregard to the basic tenets of our newly minted Constitution. Once more there is Nepal Airline's new Airbus jets buying scam. International companies that have won building tenders of the Melamchi water project and Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport runway repair project are absconding just like a thousand domestic contractors leaving us with incomplete roads, bridges, sewage lines and water supply. This is the "Runaway" contractors' season. Our political leaders are either helpless onlookers or they are in cahoots with the runaways and feign helplessness.

Kulman Ghising with Blogger

We also discussed whether the high and the mighty holding sway over Nepal today would get a good night's sleep or would a pang of conscience toss them and turn them for much of the night. After all these were the revolutionaries who struggled for democracy and emancipation of the working class who were not justly treated in a feudal society but exploited and oppressed by the overlords. They tirelessly tell all who will listen how they struggled to achieve their goal. But why have they fallen so low after gaining political power? Why have they come to mirror their erstwhile feudal oppressors today and in a little more than a decade amassed wealth surpassing that of the Shah dynasty of Kings of Nepal who ruled for 270 years?

Maharajah Juddha Shumsher J. B. Rana

We juxtaposed today's rulers with the feudal overlord Maharajah Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana of the Rana dynasty who ruled Nepal for 13 years as an absolute dictator. He built innumerable palaces for his many sons and grandsons. Did he suffer a pang of guilt then? The law of the land allowed it and he did not know that he was doing anything wrong. He slept soundly at night. The present day elected leaders of the sovereign people of Nepal have committed to overthrow the yoke of feudalism and vowed to rule honestly and abide by the Constitution they themselves promulgated. They have a sovereign Parliament that makes the laws and has power to check any wrong-doing. They make anti-corruption bodies such as the CIAA to pursue those who have indulged in corruption. Yet they are the very people today who break all the rules and make Nepal an endemically corrupt society. There is graft in every deal, under-the-table handouts in government appointments, kick-back in every transaction. Do these people suffer from a pang of guilt? Where is their 'Voice of Conscience'? As one of my erudite Xavierian doctor friend pointed out with much cynicism that no, our present-day leaders sleep very soundly at night. Their conscience do not have a voice. They are reaping in their minds just rewards for their struggles.

It has been over a decade now since Monarchy was abolished and Nepal became a republic. This sad state of affairs will carry on until the next set of revolutionaries will sell a different utopia and kick them out.