Kathmandu, February 21:

Arun Kumar Subedi is a dreamer. He has conjured up a dream palace in the air. But like every reality his dreams have their roots in the ground. He has penned down his dreams in a book Sapanaka Gathaharu: Yojana ra Niti Sambandhi kehi Prastab (Dreams Unlimited: Some proposals for planning and policy).

Human right activists Purushottam Dahal describes Subedi as not only a dreamer but also as an unsatisfied human being — unsatisfied with the present policy-makers, politicians and society as a whole. This book is a result of his dissatisfaction at the slow pace of development in Nepal.

By name, Sapanaka Gathahary seems a work of fiction but actually it is a vision of a developed, prosperous and complete Nepal where there is east-west railway, cable cars, more power projects, and planned and well managed cities where there are no sanitation and transportations problems. The reality is that we are living under a 16-hour load-shedding at present.

Going through the book, it all seems like fantasy but there are stark realities encrypted in each chapter. The author talks of an education system that is creating two classes.

Though a hardcore democrat, Subedi’s view on education is more revolutionary than that of our ruling comrades who are acting more like their once enemy burgeouise capitalists.

From the end of 20th century and begining of 21st century corporate capitalism came into existence. However, the past government’s policy could not encourage industrialisation and corporatisation, he writes. The result: Unlike in other countries’ capital markets where infrascture-based companies’ and industries’ shares are considered blue-chip shares, in Nepal the manufacturing groups’ shares have negligible contribution to the total Nepse index. Only three hydropower companies are listed at Nepse. An industry owned by the same industrialist is backrupt and a financial institution of the same industrialist is minting profit — how, why and where did our policy makers fail?

Though small, the capital market could be a vehicle for development in Nepal but the government has not taken it seriously and is instead ‘begging’ donors for mega projects.

The author has penned down elaborate dreams of development of tourism and renewal energy, exports, labour policy and cooperatives apart from suggestions for national security that is in his own words a ‘Marshal Dream’.

But he is only a dreamer, and has no mechanism to bring these dreams into reality. Is there any policy maker or politician listening to him.

If so, perhaps in a few decades back Subedi’s dreams may come true. Will that policy maker stand up and be counted, please?