Role of Credibility Factor in Journalism

Rabin Man Shakya
Former Lecturer of Journalism at Peoples Campus, RR Campus, TU.

Journalism is not only a trailblazer to the society but it also exposes negative and nefarious activities of bad people and pervasive corruption rampant in the government and semi-government bureaucracy.  The newspapers and other means of mass media across the world have been running exposes about misdeeds of the government officials and other powerful and dangerous people.

True journalists are not scared of the notorious politicians and criminal dons. A number of journalists across the world have sacrificed their lives waging war against  notorious politicians and criminal dons. A journalist is part of an enterprise that is challenged by multiplicity of problems and issues. Because journalists are formulators and disseminators of news and views, they have a great responsibility towards the people, civic society and the nation as whole.

Credibility is the hallmark of qualitative journalism. Credibility is media outlets' lifeline. In fact, newspapers, radio and television channels should strive to become quintessence of credibility. Credibility is very important in reporting. One-sided and biased reporting is rampant in the Nepalese weekly newspaper journalism which is overtly politicized and polarized. Nepalese newspapers like Dristi, Deshantar, Janadesh, Sanghu  weeklies are just the examples of politicized newspapers. Palpably, balancedness and credibility are something very hard to find in the politicized newspapers.The absolutely untrue and bogus news stories about Anuja 'honestly' returning millions of somebody's lost rupees and that of fake billionaire Russendra Bhattarai published in Kantipur as the breaking news are just the tip of the iceberg. Kantipur never apologized for those bogus news stories and nor did it ever deem necessary to correct it.

Very recently, two American television journalists were accused of misrepresenting their wartime reporting experiences in ways that made those experiences seem more dangerous and vulnerable than they actually were. Brian Williams of NBC and Bill O' Reilly of Fox News are facing charges related to the credibility of news stories they covered in the past.

NBC News suspended Williams for incorrectly saying that he rode in a chopper hit by an enemy grenade while covering news stories in Iraq in 2003. Fox News' Bill O'Reilly was accused of claiming that he had reported in a combat zone for CBS News during the 1982 Falklands war when he was more than a thousand miles from the front. Here, in the US where success and popularity of TV programs are determined by ratings and not necessarily by the quality of the programs, the Williams fiasco was a big setback for NBC News' ratings.

Therefore,  journalists should be ethical and accountable all the time. Only when the journalists abide by the journalistic code of conduct, can it strengthen the foundation of credibility. Williams' story touched a raw nerve because it combined simmering concern over media ethics and also objections of Iraq war veterans.

Journalists should always be careful to not lose credibility. They should not say or write anything that destroys their credibility. We, the journalists, have been exposing the misdeeds committed by bad people. But it is an eye-opener for us, when we, the journalists ourselves, get written about for bad things.

Well, journalists have some kind of leverage on the society and community. But the influence  and prestige that come with being a proud representative of the Fourth Estate have led some journalists to wrongly think that they can get away with anything.

ABC of journalism stands for accuracy, balancedness and credibility. The more the newspapers and other means of mass media bring out accurate, balanced, impartial  and unbiased news stories, the more it increases the  their credibility.

There is no doubt that journalists should always exercise sound judgement and should not bring any discredit to the media outlets in particular and to the calling itself, in general,  highly regarded as the Fourth Estate,  by disseminating untrue and unreliable news stories and write-ups.

Hollywood Taekwondo School Marks 20th Anniversary

Rabin Man Shakya
Advisor, Nepa Chhen, Portland, Oregon, USA

Still when I was with The Rising Nepal, I had an opportunity to interview Diwakar Dan Maharjan of  US World Class Taekwondo Association Hollywood School, Portland in 2005. In that interview published in The Rising Nepal, I remember Maharjan had shed light, among others, on the activities of the US World Class Taekwondo Association Hollywood School and role of growing Nepalese community in Oregon. Well, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge of Willamette and the number of the Nepalese coming to Oregon is also on the rise. The trajectory of community activities of the Nepalese diaspora in Portland somehow is also interrelated with the activities of the taekwondo school.

There is no doubt that two decades of Hollywood Taekwondo School, by no means, is a very big milestone for itself.  It goes without saying that the Hollywood taekwondo school champions the cause of creating and producing excellent taekwondo players. Side by side, the school has always been instrumental in promoting the cultural and traditional Nepalese values in Portland. The idea and concept of Nepa Chhen would have been incomplete without the generous contribution from people and organizations like the taekwondo school.

Meanwhile, US world Class Taekwondo Association Hollywood School marked its 20th anniverasay amid a gala dinner and cultural program at the Nekusing Memorial Theater in Portland, Saturday on March 7, 2015. More than 200 Nepalese people from the different walks  of life in Oregon took part at the taekwondo celebrations in which Shree Prasad Parajuli, vice president of NRNA - NCC USA was the chief guest. The Hollywood taekwondo school's 20th anniversary was followed by songs, dances, wining and dining. On the occasion, International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championship (IOFTC) officials wrapped Khata on Parajuli and also presented souvenirs to the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Parajuli said that NRNA - NCC USA serves as a broader platform of the Nepalese diaspora across the US and that NRNA America will leave no stone unturned to defend the interests of the Nepalese diaspora in the USA. Some participants, taking part in the discussion, had cast doubt on the relevance of setting up of NRNA - Oregon chapter, since according to them there are already more than enough organizations that represent the true interests of the diaspora in Oregon.

Well, the challenges facing organizations like Nepalese Association of Oregon and Nepa Chhen are indeed formidable, but  given the active support and help from the fellow community members, these organizations will surely get through their stated objectives.

Nepalese community members in Oregon are getting more and more organized and coordinated under the organizations like NAO and Nepa Chhen, and the Oregon chapter of Non-resident Nepali Association is to be set up shortly to harmonize the interests of the Nepalese diaspora in Oregon.

Nepal Television: Pioneering TV Broadcaster of Nepal

Rabin Man Shakya
Former Associate Editor, The Rising Nepal

When Nepal Television, which is the oldest and pioneering television station of Nepal  was established in 1985, I was in the former Soviet Union majoring in Journalism at the Belorussian State University in Minsk. Nepal Television set up during the Panchayat regime enjoyed its unprecedented broadcasting monopoly until 2000s when the television broadcasting sector has exploded from one channel - the state controlled one - to more than two dozens today. As a matter of fact, in many countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, television broadcasting was a government monopoly until 2000s.

Well, I fondly remember still when I was with the Peoples Campus teaching Journalism to the IA students, I used to take my students to the Nepal Television studio building at Singha Durbar once every year from 1992 to 2002 for the orientation field trip. That was when NTV was the only TV channel in Nepal.

Despite mushrooming of the private TV channels, NTV is still the most organized, most well equipped, stable and viable TV channel of Nepal. NTV which broadcasts programs in Nepali, Nepal Bhasa, Maithili and English, has been producing and airing entertainment and educational TV series, reality and game shows, news cast and talk shows. There is no doubt that the power of a television channel is its viewership and Nepal Television is still one of the most watched TV channels of Nepal.

Amid stiff competition for viewers and advertising revenue, the Nepalese television channels have relied on socio-political and satirical sitcoms and rowdy political talk shows, reality and game shows.Set up in 1985, Nepal Television's total programming was still three hours a day in 1991. Even Indian government's Door Darshan TV was not a 24-hour channel at that time, nor were the more powerful central Soviet TV channels

When the then king Gyanendra orchestrated a virtual 'coup' against the political parties in 2005, the Nepal Television was used as a platform. The state controlled Nepalese TV broadcast relentless barrage of public support for the king's autocratic move, with many persons wrongly hailing the step as the one for ushering in an era of development and responsible democracy. Well, that never happened. Instead, there were a lot of censorship  in the Nepalese newspapers, FMs and TV channels. Freedom of press and freedom of expression were substantially curtailed, when the king was using the tactics of usurpation of power through royal takeover.

Nepal Television being a government undertaking reflects the views of the government. However, private TV channels, such as, Kantipur TV, Image Channel, Avenues TV etc serve as a counter point to state-run television channel's pro-government coverage

In Nepal, television broadcasting is also a lucrative business controlled by powerful, largely unaccountable tycoons with vested interests. A glaring example: "National Television" stopped broadcasting when its owner Yunus Ansari was arrested in case of counterfeit Indian currency. Ansari was arrested several times with fake Indian notes.

According to the data published by Ministry of Information and Communication of Nepal, 32 television channels were registered by August 2011. However, owing to the financial crunch, many of them could not launch programs on stipulated time and as a result licenses of nine TV channels were revoked by the government.

Recently, in the digital media, the issue of the Nepalese television journalists being underpaid and not paid on time was reported in detail. The controversy has rekindled a debate whether a small and poor country like Nepal can afford more than two dozen TV channels?

In Nepal, though Internet use is growing rapidly, FMs and TV channels remain the main news source for most of the urban population

Television broadcasting that started in 1985 was a late entry into Nepal's mass media system comparing to countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and even Ethiopia. Just as significantly, however, the history of Nepal Television mirrors the difficult trajectory of the  TV broadcasting in Nepal.



*Shakya is also State Education Director, NRNA-USA Oregon Chapter, Portland, USA.

Nepalese Press (1951-1960): A Decade of Democratic Innovations

Rabin Man Shakya
Former Associate Editor, The Rising Nepal

Nepal was totally isolated from the outside world during the Rana autocracy, even as Nepal was not colonized by any foreign power during her entire history. The coup d 'etat orchestrated by Jung Bahadur Rana in 1846 empowered the Ranas to usurp power and rule the nation until 1951. Rana autocracy's downfall at the hands of the popular upheaval in 1951 paved the way for democratic innovations in Nepal.

The part of  history of Nepalese journalism spanning from 1951 to 1960 was unique and unprecedented in many ways. The Nepalese press also could not remain untouched by the democratic innovations."Awaj" was the first daily newspaper published on Falgun 8, 2007 BS immediately after the ouster of the Rana regime.

The second daily newspaper in the Nepali language was "Samaj" which was launched in Bhadra, 2011 BS. Other worth mentioning newspapers published during the period were Hal Khabar, Bhugol Park, Everest News, The Motherland, Filingo, Kalpana and Diyalo etc. "The Commoner," edited by Gopal Das Shrestha, was the first English daily newspaper launched on July 15, 1956, whereas "Nepal Guardian," edited by Barun Shumsher Rana was the first English monthly magazine.

"Nepal Bhasa Patrika," was the first newspaper in Newari, edited by Fatte Bahadur Singh,  and was launched on Ashwin 16, 2012 B.S. Before that, Asha Ram Shakya had commenced a fortnightly publication "Pasa" in Newari in Kartik, 2009 B.S. "Mahila" was the first publication launched by first women-journalists Sadhana Pradhan and Kamakshya Devi in 1952. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (then Nepal Journalists Association), an umbrella organization of the Nepalese journalists was also established on March 29, 1956. Its first chairman was late Krishna Prasad Bhattrai,  (ex-Prime Minister of Nepal) who was the editor of "Nepal Pukar."

The first and foremost Press Commission of Nepal was set up in 1958 to look into the problems facing the Nepalese Press. Radio Nepal started its regular broadcasting on Chaitra 20, 2007 B.S. News programs by Radio Nepal were not confined to the news in Nepali and English, but in Nepal Bhasa and Hindi as well. There was a radio program called "Jeevan Daboo" in Nepal Bhasa. News in Nepal Bhasa and "Jeevan Daboo" were scrapped by Radio Nepal immediately after King Mahendra orchestrated a coup in 1960 against the elected government of the Nepali Congress. Airing of news by Radio Nepal in different languages including Nepal Bhasa was testimony of ethnic pluralism and press freedom during this period.

The scrapping of the Nepal Bhasa programs by Radio Nepal had disillusioned the Newar community and also had perpetually sparked protests against the government. First news agency of Nepal -- was established on Poush 1, 2016 B.S. followed by the second one -- Sagarmatha Sambad Samiti set up on Baisakh 30, 2017. Political mouthpieces were also brought out during this period. "Nepal Pukar" and "Nawa Nepal" were the newspapers published by the Nepali Congress. "Nav Yug" was the mouthpiece of Nepal Communist Party while "Nepal Sandesh" and "Jan Vani" were published by Rastriya Praja Parishad.

The pioneering Nepalese journalists, such as, Mani Raj Upadhya, Gopal Das Shrestha, Fatte Bahadur Singh, Pashupati Dev Pandey, Madan Mani Dixit, Govinda Biyogi and so on were the remarkable outcomes of this journalistic period. Whereas, in 1951 there was only one daily newspaper and three weekly publications, the number of daily newspapers was 32 and number of weekly publications was 65 in 1960. The Nepalese journalism history from 1951-1960 was significant not only because of some political innovations and polarization of the press, it was important because the nation was able to usher in political changes to pave the way for press freedom.

Underpaid Nepalese Journalists in 'Financial' Limbo

Rabin Man Shakya
Former Associate Editor, The Rising Nepal

One of the striking features of the Nepalese media is the fact that the problems encountered by it, as in other poor and developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America are manifold and multifaceted.  Today more than ever, the Nepalese media is facing more challenges and problems and one of the burning issues is related to the minimum wages of the journalists working in the newspapers, radio and TV channels of Nepal. In fact, underpayment or late payment of wages or salaries have become a constant 'pain in the neck' for the Nepalese working journalists.

Financial ills of the Nepalese journalism is not a new one. Be it during the Democratic period (2007-2017 BS), Panchayat period (2017-2046 BS), period of restoration of democracy  or even after Nepal was proclaimed a republic, majority of Nepalese journalists have been complaining of being overworked and underpaid. Actually, underpayment or late payment of salaries have always been a perennial ills  for the Nepalese journalists.

According to the Working Journalists Media Study Report 2067 BS, 45 per cent of the Nepalese scribes are working as reporters and journalists without getting any official appointment letter and 37 per cent of the Nepalese journalists are not getting the minimum wages as fixed  in the Minimum Wage Fixation Act.

Before moving to the United States in 2002, I used to work as a journalist with The Rising Nepal and also used to work as a lecturer of journalism at couple of journalism colleges in Kathmandu and luckily enough I did not have to face the financial constraints, but unfortunately majority of Nepalese journalists were and still are not as lucky.

Well, journalists working for the government owned newspapers, radio, TV channels, news agency and journalists working with reputed news outlets like Kantipur (both print and TV) and Nagarik and few others are getting their normal salaries. But the majority of other Nepalese journalists working with different media outlets are perennially underpaid or paid lately.

Why do the journalists who are supposed to play watchdog roles end up in being the lapdogs of the politicians and tycoons?   Why are some Nepalese journalists playing a sycophantic role in the Nepalese media industry? Apart from politicization and polarization of the media, the financial constraints are pushing journalists to become media lapdogs at the hands of political stalwarts and business tycoons.

Working as journalists and anchors in various Nepalese TV channels and FM radio stations sounds very great.  But in reality it is nothing more than the superficial glamour and glitter of the tinsel town - that is Kathmandu. The Nepalese journalists continue to suffer because of underpayment and late payment of salaries. But it looks like the Nepalese journalists have been 'sweetening the pill' by continuing to work for less money or even for no money.

If one analyzes the problem in broader perspectives, it will be found that licenses and registrations of newspapers, FMs and TV channels are issued haphazardly in Nepal without examining deeply into the actual financial status of the media organizations. Here, in the United States, the practice is totally different. For example, Portland is the biggest city in the state of Oregon, but there is only one daily  newspaper "The Oregonian". It goes without saying that journalists working in the newspapers, radio and TV channels in the US get a good salary.

Similarly,  when I remember my days in the former Soviet Union as a journalism major, the Soviet graduates of the journalism schools, like any other schools, used to get their degrees along with the appointment letters. The pay, of course, was not that great but still it was sufficient enough for a decent livelihood in the then USSR.

Nepalese FMs and television channels are facing a number of challenges that threaten the very survival of the media outlets (with the exception of NTV and few others) due to sharp declines in advertising revenues and increasing production costs. The practice of issuing licenses in a random basis should be stopped. The proud representatives of the Fourth Estate should be paid as per the rules and laws of the nation. Working Journalists Act and Minimum Wage Fixation Act should be implemented by all the media outlets. Harsh penalties should be imposed on the media outlets which are found to be underpaying and not paying on time.

The media is the watchdog of the nation. If it is hindered, it cannot carry out its responsibilities towards the society and the nation. An underpaid or a financially vulnerable journalists can not work very effectively and as a result the watchdogs themselves will have to be watched over.

Role of Media and Political Uncertainty in Nepal

Rabin Man Shakya
Former Associate Editor, The Rising Nepal

Nepal has once again plunged into political turmoil as the divided and polarized Constituent Assembly could not make any significant breakthrough in formulating the constitution. It looks like the ruling as well as the opposition political parties succeeded in obstructing the constitution writing process and set a very bad precedent in Nepalese politics.

There is no doubt that  a free and independent media is vital for a vibrant democracy. There is also no doubt that Nepal has  a free press and that Nepal is a fully democratic country.Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are guaranteed by the incumbent Interim Constitution of Nepal.  Nobody is persecuted, prosecuted or arrested in Nepal for venting his or her ideas in the news media.  Then,  the question arises: Why is political transition taking so long, why did the main political parties not come to the common consensus and why were they not ready to sacrifice some of their vested interests for the common cause of the people? All this would raise additional questions about the intention and credibility of the prominent political parties like the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist. Some analysts event went to the extent of smelling rats about the grand designs of the external forces. The duty of the press is to expose  the dishonesty of the politicians vis-a-vis the ongoing political process.

Today more than ever, Nepal is confronting a lot of challenging problems that threaten the very existence of the nation, and herein lies the role and relevance of the free press. Nepal is bitterly divided in the federalism vs non-federalism dichotomy The very fact that even after so many years Nepal has not been able to enforce constitution has just demonstrated the inefficiency, incompetence and incapability of the Nepalese political parties and its leaders.

It was the clearest evidence yet that the political uncertainty has only widened the divisions that have plagued Nepal since the ouster of the monarchy. The kind of hostilities and conflict between the ruling and opposition parties - as was reported in the Nepalese media - will certainly derail the constitution writing process and  is also likely to reverberate the entire  political spectrum of Nepal

Despite the sacrifices of hundreds of Nepali sons and daughters, why one after another event  brings us disgrace and why the political parties and leaders have not been able to forge consensus on the contentious issues like federalism? All the political disagreements and differences can be solved and figured out if the political stalwarts are ready to compromise on contentious issues for the broader interests of the common people.

 It is a fact and it is true that if the Nepalese political parties do not bury their partisan and parochial differences and do not work  in tandem for the common benefit of the people, the job of writing the constitution cannot be accomplished even in decades. 

At a time when the Nepalese political parties are not appearing serious about the constitution and when    they are trying to reap partisan benefit out of the protracted crises and political stalemate, the Nepalese news media should be able to effectively warn the parties and the stalwarts of the fatal consequences of their partisan and dishonest politics. Nepalese media outlets should try to create a healthy public opinion and should present a supportive view of a compromise and reconciliation  between pro and anti federalists.

It is evident that in the perspective of contemporary Nepal, in its elaborate process of  political and socio-economic development, the scope and role of mass media is getting to be vital. But it is true that the Nepalese media has not been able to overcome the hangover of the polarized journalism. And it is equally true that lapdog journalism is also flourishing in Nepal. But what the Nepalese people aspire is the watchdog  media which can effectively exert pressure on the political parties to work for building national consensus. That is precisely why we need a "watchdog" press to train "the dishonest, parochial and partisan" politicians, to make sure the political stalwarts are doing what they should.

Admittedly, an independent and watchdog media is a cornerstone of democracy. The free press should be able to yield something good, otherwise there will be questions about the role of a free press in a  democracy. And, therefore, Nepal's media outlets should be able to play a positive and effective role towards ending the political uncertainties plaguing the nation

Non-resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) and Issue of Dual Citizenship

Dr. Rabin Man Shakya



Portland, Sept 6 (Nepal Oregon News): Today more than ever, non-resident Nepalese movement has truly become a global force. The Non-resident Nepali Association which was created by a conference held on Oct 11-14, 2003 in Kathmandu is continuously gathering momentum.

In fact, 2003 the year of formation of NRNA was a year of tremendous importance for Nepal. Hundreds of thousands of people of Nepalese origin across the world have become the part of Nepalese diaspora's global forum that is dedicated to support the economic development of Nepal with different projects. NRNA is the most effective and organized international body of the Nepalese abroad.

Non-resident Nepalese Association - National Coordination Councils have been established in 72 countries of the world, so far. As of now, there are more than 100,000 NRN individual members in the world. Among the hundred thousand NRN individual members in the world, 17,000 are only from the United States making it the most representative NRN - National Coordination Council body in the  world followed by Australia where the number of NRN individual members is 8,000.

A number of countries across the world have benefited tremendously by mobilizing their own people residing abroad, by utilizing resources and expertise, and Nepal should not be an exception. There is no doubt that NRNs have, palpably, rendered significant contributions in some economic and social sectors of Nepal.

NRN-NCC-USA Oregon Chapter's  former office bearers outside of the Oregon Chapter's office in Portland, USA

Well, the Nepalese people are also not untouched by the process of globalization and international migration. Globalization and global migration are taking place very rapidly. Millions of Nepalese have migrated to other countries in search of jobs owing to dismal economic scenario in Nepal. In fact, as result of globalization and global migration, it will be hard to find a country where a Nepali has not reached today. Thousands of enterprising, educated and professional Nepalese  have sought opportunities abroad. Even twenty years ago, it was unimaginable for Nepalese to go abroad  (except India) for  permanent residency or employment opportunities. The new wave underscores the evolving nature of global migration. However,  no matter, where they go or settle, a Nepali always remains a Nepali. NRNA  should be the common platform of the Nepalese people living abroad. It should champion the common cause and interest of the common Nepalese living abroad, not just the interest of  the nouveau riche, entrepreneurs and technical experts. Today Nepalese diaspora living abroad have some kind of  effects on the entire rural and urban lives of Nepal. In fact, non-resident Nepalese have become the house-hold word in Nepal.

Judging by the contents of the social media sites,  since the debate about the role of NRNA in the nation-building process kicked off some years ago, some sections of the Nepalese people are skeptical about what they view it as the club of some riche-rich.

There is no doubt that NRNA should not be a political platform and NRNs should not be contracted by viruses of political maneuvers and bickering. But it goes without saying that there should always be cordial and harmonious relations between the state and NRNA. At the same time, the state must play a proactive role to facilitate and encourage the NRNs to create jobs and augment the national economy.

Individual members of the NRN-NCC-USA Oregon Chapter

Therefore, when the Constituent Assembly of Nepal enacted Non-resident  Nepali Citizenship Act 2008, one pillar of the Act's sweeping objectives was to motivate NRNs to take part in all round advancement of Nepal and enhance their attachment towards Nepal and to encourage their investment in Nepal.

For last several years, the NRNA has been earnestly demanding dual citizenship with the   Nepal government.  As of now, according to Nepal's existing citizenship law, people of Nepali origin who have taken up foreign citizenship automatically lose Nepali citizenship, even if the Non-resident Citizenship has been guaranteed in the new constitution of Nepal.

 Anyway, one of the remarkable aspects of the new constitution of Nepal (2015) is related to a provision that grants non-residential citizenship to non-resident Nepalese living across the world.

Thus, the new constitution of Nepal has included a provision to grant non-resident citizenship without voting and political rights to NRNs who hold citizenship of  countries other than SAARC nations.

As per the  new constitutional provision, NRNs holding such citizenship will be ensured economic, social and cultural rights in Nepal.

This means that NRNs can purchase and sell properties or engage in business activities in Nepal. Article 19 of part 2 of the new constitution of Nepal dealing with citizenship states that NRNs that NRNs holding citizenship of foreign countries excluding SAARC nations can be granted non-resident citizenship that will make them eligible to exercise economic, social and cultural rights as per Nepal's law.

However, make no mistake. There should not be any confusion that non-resident citizenship guaranteed by the new constitution of Nepal is not a dual citizenship. Anyway, the provision of non-resident citizenship in our new constitution is a fait accompli. That means for the time being, at least, there is no option for NRNs (who have taken citizenship of a foreign country) except to accept it because that is the practical and real situation that NRNs cannot change right away. But NRNA should always be effortful in pressing the government and the parliament for the full dual citizenship in future.

NRNs holding green cards and permanent resident status are still the one hundred percent citizens of Nepal and non-resident citizenship guaranteed by the  new constitution of Nepal does not apply to them. The new non-resident citizenship provided for by the new constitution only applies to those who have obtained citizenship of a foreign country.

More than 70 nations across the world including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan have already implemented the provision of dual citizenship with none or minimal exceptional prohibitions.

Since NRNA Position Paper on Dual Citizenship has unambiguously thrown light on the importance and benefits of dual citizenship, I am just going to express some random thoughts on NRNA and dual citizenship issue. According to the NRNA Position Paper on Dual Citizenship, all major political parties in principle agree to provide dual citizenship to the NRNs.

But the discrepancy between the rhetoric and action is the main problem in finding an amicable solution to the issue of dual citizenship. Majority of the stalwarts of the mainstream political parties are committed to granting dual citizenship. However, their actions do not match their verbal commitments. In the past, in rhetoric and public speeches, leaders of the main political parties kept saying that they would leave no stone unturned to provide dual citizenship to the NRNs.

The challenges facing the NRNs are indeed formidable since the global forum of the Nepalese diaspora has to win a lot of 'battles' including the dual citizenship issue. Going by the social media pages, the issue of dual citizenship has drawn fire from some of the social media users who accuse NRNs of having a 'vested interest'.

Well, every organization has its own aims, objectives, priorities and interest, so does the NRNA too. At least, comparing to the notorious and corrupt political stalwarts and dubious business tycoons of Nepal, the NRNs have a lot more credibility and trustworthiness of the Nepalese people and intellectuals.

The complexities, fluidity and uncertainty of the dual citizenship issue have created illusions among the common Nepalese living abroad.Though, there are lots of debates going on about the dual citizenship for the NRNs, my personal opinion is: Dual citizenship is pretty good and beneficial for an economically beleaguered  nation like ours. Dual citizenship is sine quo non for the good of Nepal in the age of globalization. The impoverished nation like ours can only benefit by providing dual citizenship to the NRNs.

There are two sides of the citizenship issue. On the one hand, tens of thousands of NRNs have acquired the citizenship of the nations where they are living and on the other hand tens of thousands of the NRNs have still maintained the Nepalese citizenship by holding the green cards. Thirteen years have passed since I moved  to the US with my family. Although I was eligible for taking the US citizenship ten years ago, I have not embraced for one mainly because I do not want to lose my Nepalese citizenship. Therefore, as soon as Nepal government enacts the full dual citizenship, I will be one of the first to apply for the US citizenship. And I am not alone in this case, there are thousands of Nepalese only in the US waiting for the passage of dual citizenship law.

(USA-Oregon's NRNs Pradeep Bajracharya and Dr. Rabin Man Shakya, a Nepali journalist in the USA)

There is no doubt that government's lingering or reluctance  to provide full dual citizenship to NRNs will only provoke a crises of confidence and goodwill for what was long seen as global diaspora force that had provided some kind of support to the Peoples Movement in 1990 and 2006.

Therefore, any decision on the approval or disapproval of dual citizenship motivated by the parochial and partisan interest of certain political parties or groups cannot address and meet the overall aspirations and interests of the Nepalese diaspora.

It would be in the best interest of the government to distance itself from the dual citizenship, mono citizenship dichotomy, and just take effective steps to enforce the dual citizenship to NRNs.

Therefore. procrastination and dilly-dallying in announcing the dual citizenship to the NRNs is harmful to the interest of the nation. Obviously, the political parties especially the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML should shed their rigidity and come together to address the dual citizenship issue in a broader perspective.

Remittance, foreign aid and tourism remain the cornerstone of Nepalese economy and NRNA as the global forum of the Nepalese diaspora can play as a rallying force to enhance  and consolidate them.While this is also true that the role of the Nepalese diaspora abroad in the upliftment of the economy is pivotal and dignified,  time has also come for  the NRNs to come forward with more concrete actions and projects to lend stimulus to the process of country's progress and prosperity.




*Dr Rabin Man Shakya, a Portland, USA based  Nepali journalist, is former assistant editor at the RSS, former associate editor at The Rising Nepal and former lecturer of journalism at the Peoples Campus, R R Campus, Tribhuvan University. He is also advisor of Nepa Chhen, a Portland based non-profit and Education Director of Non-resident Nepali Association, USA Oregon Chapter. Also, Dr Shakya is founding executive member and former secretary of Nepal-Russia Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

**Please read my other NRNA related articles headlined (1)"NRNA-USA Oregon Chapter's First General Meeting Kicks Off" in the month of June,  2015 (2) "Certificates of Election Awarded to NRN-NCC-USA Oregon Chapter Officials" in the month of August, 2015 (3) "Non-resident Citizenship: That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles" in the month of Dec, 2015  (4) "Are the NRNs of the US sidelined in the Recent NRNA Vote?" in the month of Oct, 2015 and (5) "Non-resident Nepali Association - NCC - USA Oregon Chapter and Local Nepalese Diaspora" in the month of Aug, 2015 (6) "Economic Blockade and Role of NRNA" in the month of November, 2015, (7) Non-resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) USA Oregon Chapter Organizes Int'l Womens Day in Portland, America in the month of March, 2016 (8)Non-resident Nepali Association (NRNA) USA Oregon Chapter Hosts Nepalese Ethnic Fashion Show in Portland, America in the month of May, 2016 (9) Non-resident Nepalese Association and NAO Organize Interaction on 'Current Nepalese Politics and Diplomacy' in Portland, America in the month of August, 2018 (10) Non-resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) NCC USA Oregon Chapter Organizes Free Health Camp for Nepalese Community in Portland, America in the month of February, 2019, (11) Non-resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) USA  Oregon Chapter Observes Int'l Womens Day in Portland, America in the month of March, 2019 and (12) Non-resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) NCC USA Oregon Chapter's New Office Bearers Sworn in at Portland in America in the month of July, 2019.