While discussing development, most of us tend to concern ourselves with physical infrastructure, such as the road conditions we use on a daily basis, bridges, sidewalks, and, in general, our built surroundings. In the language of economists, the same concept of development is quantified and expressed through mathematical measures such as the Human Development Index (HDI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Income (GNI), economic growth rate, per capita income, and so on. Between how a common person perceives development and how economic theories define it, there is something that we often overlook. Beyond politics or even capital, there must be other factors that determine the favorability for development.
In the early 1960s, the GDP per capita of South Korea was comparable to that of Nepal. Six decades apart, South Korea’s GDP per capita has reached over $33,000 USD, while it remains only around $1,400 USD for Nepal. They outperformed us on all economic metrics, and numerically, there is no competition. But those indicators do not capture the full picture. Aside from what is reflected in numbers, there were also other associated socio-psychological realizations and changes that led to their economic rise. Those realizations and changes were the “cultural shifts” that brought a difference in their work ethic, mindset, discipline, and morality, which ultimately resulted in their cumulative success.
The equally famous story of the Singaporean rise would also be incomplete without the discussion of the vital cultural shifts that took place under the leadership of their ambitious founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. Despite being a multi-racial and multi-lingual state, the adoption of English as its official working language in the 1960s was a carefully crafted policy that later led to an enhanced competitiveness of Singaporeans and subsequently increased opportunities for them. Similarly, in one of Lee Kuan Yew’s speeches, he mentioned how it had been more challenging for the Singaporean government to cultivate mannerisms in people that suited the first-world infrastructures than to actually build the infrastructures.
The story perfectly makes sense in the case of Nepal. At the end of the day, what would be the meaning of expensively built sidewalks if the public simply avoids the use of trash bins and has no concern for public hygiene? How long can newly built parks last if the residents do not pay any attention to maintaining them? The development of a society is shaped by its culture, which is reflected in the social behaviors, values, and morality of its members. If Nepal has to write a new story of economic rise, political shifts will not be adequate. We need a culture that creates and promotes hope over fear, opportunities over limitations, meritocracy over nepotism, fairness over favoritism, equality over hierarchy, and continuous reform over the status quo. In addition, we need a spirited civic sense that not only demands rights but also seeks responsibilities.
In a competitive world that is changing too quickly and where human knowledge is doubling every 12 hours, Nepal has struggled to find its sweet spot in the global value chain. Until now, the world identifies us as the home of Everest or the land of Gautam Buddha, and that is also pretty much how we have introduced ourselves on the world stage. But it can not take us too far. The time has come for us to re-create a new identity that reflects our global competence, unified strength, scientific accomplishments, and hard work. The nation should inspire itself with utmost hope for the future, and most importantly, an indomitable spirit of progress. Today’s Nepal has an unimaginable potential with an impressively young population, exponentially advancing global technology, a diversified diaspora, and neighboring economies that are booming. Nepal stands at the crossroads of profound hope and prolonged despair, and we must choose hope, and we must choose to be rewarded.
However, nothing will change if nothing changes. On the policy front and in the governance realm, we can point out different things that can be changed or improved. But the cultural shifts that are needed must begin with us. These are the things that must change within us, amongst us. These shifts must be reflected in how we understand capital, how we vote, how we view hierarchy, how we respect others, or how we get things done.
The relationship between society and culture is reciprocal and intricate. This means society shapes culture as effectively as culture defines societies. Culture, for this article, can be understood as “acceptable ways of doing things” at home, at school, out in the streets, at workplaces, or anywhere within a society. In the context of Nepali society, throwing a plastic bag or a candy wrapper out of the window of a moving vehicle may be an “acceptable way” of disposing of trash, while in other societies, it may be uncivilized and unacceptable. Even though it may be a punishable offence to do so, at the citizen level, most of us simply do not care! It is indeed our sad reality.
Culturally, we have accepted, adopted, and normalized so many of such subpar social norms, which, in the long run, have limited our potential, created obstacles for progress, opportunities, and growth. “Nepali Time” is another perfect example of how unpunctuality has been institutionalized within our society. A cultural shift towards punctuality, per se, can bring us so much good altogether. Imagine offices opening on time, meetings beginning and ending on time, and the entire country running perfectly on time. The neglect of time in our own lives and disregard for the value of someone else’s time shows a deeper problem within our culture that has directly and indirectly contributed to the ill state of our nation today.
Corruption is so much discussed as the biggest threat to our nation, and rightly so. But have we ever thought about how the high-level corruption scandals that get exposed with huge headlines are merely a large-scale mirror view of how we have been dealing with getting our things done at the government offices, for ages! I will not be wrong to point out that bribing others “to get things done ASAP” has been culturally ingrained as part of our norm. There definitely are things that the government can do to curb corruption, but there is so much change that can begin with us.
We all aspire to change through bold reforms. While we stay vigilant to question the authorities, we must also reflect on ourselves to become the best citizens we can. As the voice for reforms focuses on big picture politics, we must also understand that political shifts are not enough. We need massive cultural shifts that voice systemic reforms, uproot the inequities, and bring the best in us to truly fuel the future. Let the change begin with us and within us.
(The author is the founder of National Policy Forum (NPF). Tweets @MilanJKatuwal)