किसुनजीसंगको अन्तिम साक्ष्यातकार

किसुनजी, साथमा मेरो बुबा शुक्रराज संयोक र अन्य कार्यकर्ताहरु| यो तस्बिर लिदाको क्षणनै किसुनजीसंगको मेरो अन्तिम साक्ष्यातकार रहयो| (२०५७)

हार्दिक श्रदान्जली किसुनजी

नेपाली प्रजातान्त्रिक आन्दोलनका प्रतिक, सन्त, राष्ट्रबादी अनि निष्ठाका राजनितिज्ञ किसुनजीको निधनले हामी समस्त नेपालीलाइ मर्माहत तुल्याएको छ| यस दुखद घडीमा किसुनजीको आत्माको चिर शान्तिको कामना गर्दै सम्पूर्ण प्रजातन्त्रप्रेमी शान्तिप्रेमी नेपाली, सुभचिन्तक तथा पार्टी कार्यकर्ता र शोक सन्तप्त परिवारजनमा हार्दिक श्रद्धान्जली ब्यक्त गर्दछु|

Do we need student organizations driven by specific political ideology?

My answer would be NO! We need free student union (FSU) in Nepalese universities but not driven by specific political ideology. The free student union exists in universities of every democratic country throughout the world. The union can play a constructive role to make university a better academic place but in my personal opinion, it is possible only when such student unions are apolitical. I don't mean not to involve in politics of national interest but its role should be limited to well being of student and issues related to improvement of academic environment as much as possible. I personally don't like present role of student organizations in Nepalese universities as an institution to produce political cadres. Definitely, student organizations have played defining role in the movement for democracy and over-throwing century old kingship. However, after establishment of democracy, they are misguided and confused about their role and responsibility in universities. Instead of focusing on quality of education, academic achievement of student and university, and its impact on nation building process, they are acting as a hit man of political parties. Therefore, we are witnessing increased crime in colleges and universities. Gun fire, unnecessary strike, harassment and physical assault of professors and students of differing ideology are becoming part of everyday life in our universities.

Colleges and universities are the place for building ethical and moral character. However, these places are becoming fighting arena for different political parties through their student organizations in our country. This only leads to nowhere. I still remember my second year (I.Sc.) of college life as a teenage student. I was just 17-18 years old and heavily involved in student politics. I must admit that I had no sound understanding of political ideologies at the time. However, I contested election for so called Free Student Union for the post of secretary. In fact, FSU election was much like an election of between political parties. As a result, I almost derailed from my educational goal. I truly believe that this kind of election system for FSU, which is primarily driven by vested interest of political parties, only jeopardize the academic development of students and the universities too. Furthermore, aftermath of election, FSU never work freely and independently. Winner organization, only care about the issue related to their organization and their activities are guided by the interest of their parent party. This is a root cause of violence and the involvement of student organizations more in politics rather than academics in Nepal.

Finally, my argument is that it is the time to change traditional role of student organizations in Nepal. They must do so my detaching them from their parent party and developing a mechanism to work greater good of students, academics, and nation. There should not be unhealthy competition among students’ organizations driven by specific political ideology in colleges and universities. This is the only way to create free and fair learning environment and this is a need of our motherland NEPAL.

Call for Presentation and Poster Proposals By Nepalese Student Association, NMSU

International Conference on “Nepalese Diaspora: Hostland Challenges and Homeland Interests”

March 19, 2011

Nepalese Student Association, New Mexico State University (NMSU) is pleased to invite you to submit presentations and poster proposals for its third annual conference incorporating the theme Nepalese Diaspora: Hostland Challenges and Homeland Interests.

Conference Goal

The goal of the conference is to bring together members of the Nepalese Diaspora society to discuss challenges in various aspects of socio-cultural and professional life in the hostland and their potential role for the development of Nepal. Currently, significant numbers of Nepalese are residing in developed countries where they are plunged into a rich scientific, technical, and other professional environments. They have a huge potential of drawing resources of these environments for contributing to their homeland. This conference would help advance Diaspora knowledge network, exchange ideas, and harness the society’s capital asset – social, financial, and intellectual for the progress and prosperity of Nepal.

Topics

Presentations and posters may include but are not limited to the following topics of interest:

• Diaspora knowledge network
• Economic development and infrastructures (electricity, transportation, communication, irrigation, etc.)
• Health, education, literacy, and population sector
• Science, Engineering, and technology
• Development of Information and communication technologies
• Socio-political and cultural transformation
• Foreign employment, brain drain, and immigration (international migration)

Important Dates

• Proposal submission deadline: March 5, 2011
• Notification to author(s)/presenter(s): March 11, 2011
• Conference date: March 19, 2011 (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
• Venue: New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA.
• Proceedings Submission Deadline: To be announced
• Proceedings Publication Date: To be announced

Diaspora Knowledge Society : Nepal Study Center, The University of New Mexico

I found a web page maintained by Nepal Study Center (NSC), UNM while I was searching for material related to Nepalese Diaspora for my presentation in upcoming conference organized by Nepalese Student Association, NMSU. I knew about this center but had no idea about its recent research program on Diaspora Knowledge Society. I am very excited to know about this program. NSC has a mission to understand and harness the diaspora knowledge society through digital connectivity, network analysis, empirical research, and socio-economic and behavioral analysis. The center is also offering Diaspora Studies Program (DSP) to promote research and analysis of diaspora population. I especially like the idea of digital connectivity. I hope digital diaspora network would be a wonderful network for us to involve ourselves in the development process of Nepal.
Please follow the following link for detail information:

Nepal Study Center, UNM: Research on Diaspora Knowledge Society

I hope to see active participation from UNM in our upcoming conference!!!
See you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!