Where Are We Heading?

Nepal has stepped into new era in the dawn of new millennium. Politically it’s a giant leap as different Peoples’ Movements not only abolished 240 years long Royal dynasty but also introduced presidential system. During this period, people have experienced many changes and now have been going through crucial stage of transitional phase. On the one hand, they are not ready to accept old values and norms of the previous system even if they are good and, on the other hand, it seems, they don’t have clear vision where to lead the present society. At this juncture, a simple question has occupied my mind “Where are we heading?”

We prefer to be judged on the basis of Gregorian calendar and love to be addressed as the person of 21^st century. But the question arises here “Do we really belong to the 21^st century in term of our thoughts and action?” No doubt, politically, we are one of the most aware people of the world so far and have been enjoying all types of freedom. But, nowadays we have become ‘Liberty Drunkard’ people who know their rights but don’t know their duties. We have become the members of the free society but alas! We could not become the members of civilized society. We learned to demand our rights and forgot our duties. We have become self-centered and ready to take any types of steps to satisfy our petty selfishness and we never bother to think how other people suffer because of us. We are creating mess everywhere, wherever we go. We come to the street and burn the tires and call on strike for minor issues but never think the future impact of today’s action. Strike has become a natural phenomenon for us. In such context, what will our children learn from us and what sort of culture are we handing over to them?

The present society has become absolutely materialistic and we have taught the same values to our children. Parents don’t bother to save little time for their children. They think it’s all the responsibility of the school to mould the child simply because they have paid the money. The children too, tend to think that money can buy knowledge and act as if the teacher could fill it into their mind. Most of the children are provided with modern gadgets but they are not guided properly at home. Students are not encouraged for self study and for exploring their talent. They are spoon fed and brought up like broiler at school. The parents want to see only good mark sheet but not their regular performance and manner. As a result, the definitions of the best teacher and best school have been changed. Nowadays, the best teacher can make his student to fetch good marks at any cost but he is not worried about building his character and knowledge. The best school is a well furnished and highly decorated place where once a child enrolls at nursery and after a decade, he’ll have a good mark sheet to show but not a manner! These children can easily pass the academic exams but they fail in social rules and civic code of conduct as they are not taught the social and moral values practically. Who is to blame? Question becomes absurd.