I am writing this about the tourism development in Nepal.

Building, operating and maintaining of infrastructures required for tourism development and marketing of Nepal as a unique destination in center of gravities of outgoing tourists are two totally different aspects in the whole gamut of tourism industry.

I don’t think it will be a good idea to wait for perfection in governance and only then try to bring more tourists. Just about a decade back, 22 million tourists visited Egypt to see the pyramids and other ancient sites, and definitely infrastructure-wise and governance-wise they are not on par with the developed world. I strongly recommend the government for allocating “tons of dollars” for advertisement on TV channels like BBC, CNN and, at least, one popular TV channel each in India and China to make the entire world aware about the uniqueness of Nepal: Lumbini, eight highest peaks, best trekking routes, Pokhara, heritage sites, religious sites and the chance to ride elephants to see wild baby rhinoceros and so on. Once tourist arrivals increase, the private sector will, somehow, gear up to give quality service.

Of course, there is a strong need to speed up each and every infrastructure development activities in the country.

But, I think, regarding the dilemma of whether to first bring more tourists or to first build infrastructure, it is better to get advice of the famous management philosopher Karl Weick, who once said that “chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction”.

Sugat Ratna Kansakar, MD, NAC

Socialism

How archaic capitalism made poor children work as chimney sweeps in the United Kingdom after the industrial revolution (Who can forget Oliver Twist?), gives us enough reasons to tip our hats to Russian Revolution on its centenary on the 7th day of November this year. The Russian Revolution took place to overthrow the Czarist rule that exploited the downtrodden Russian peasants and working class people.

We need to acknowledge that a modern welfare state that ensures social security for its citizens is more inclined to a socialist state than a police state. This is the reason why the Indian Constitution has absorbed the spirit of socialism in its very Preamble as well as in the Directive Principles of State Policy.  But why must we be socialists? Swami Vivekananda had given a very clear answer, He has said, “I am a socialist not because I think it is a perfectsystem; but half a loaf is better than no bread.” On the occasion of the centenary of the Russian Revolution, we should also remember what Sri Aurobindo had once said, “It would look ridiculous and also arrogant if I were to say that I worked for the success of the Russian Revolution for three years. Yet it was one of the influences that worked to make it a success.”

Sujit De, Kolkata