Sucheta Dasgupta

Kathmandu

Prim and sprightly in her sixties, the diminutive Dr Prabha Basnet cuts a quietly striking figure among her colleagues at Social Welfare Council, Aishwarya Samaj Sewa Bhavan in Lainchaur. This softly spoken, brightly clad, superefficient, warm hearted and open armed woman is none other than the first female doctor of philosophy (major in education, Southern Illinois University, USA) in the Kingdom of Nepal and a frontline educationist of the State. Her chequered career includes serving in positions such as Secretary, Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, Special Secretary, National Planning Commission and Undersecretary, Joint Secretary and then Acting Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal. Dr Basnet has also been Assistant Dean, Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tribhuvan University and Director of Studies on deputation, Nepal Administrative Staff College. She has also authored valuable publications such as “Women in Agriculture: A Research Report, 1991” and “Classification of Districts of Nepal on the Basis of Educational Status, 1977”, among many others. Dr Basnet is currently serving as member secretary at SWC. On the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, 2005, Dr Basnet shares vignettes of her experience as an administrator, individual, educationist and socially evolving person with The Himalayan Times.

What are the values you think is dear to any institution for it to work?

Well, I would be quite upfront about the entire affair. Let me rattle off the list of some professional values that I try to personally inculcate in my staff: Responsibility, accountability, honesty, promptness, transparency, efficiency, discipline, teamwork and an implicit respect for the prevailing hierarchy.

That was Dr Basnet speaking. Prabha, what did you ever want to be when you were a girl?

A medical practioner: a doctor. Oh, I love it as it has turned out though. I have been a student of science and arts, too, and, can you believe it, I used to take my maths book to bed with me under my pillow. I also had a strong interest in Nepali literature. I have been fortunate to have studied literature with Mahakabi Lakshmi Prasad Devkota. By the way, my daughter Dr Pragya Singh Basnet has just finished her studies to become a “medical doctor”.

Who are the people you remember as strong influences in your life?

My grandmother Lalita Devi Basnyat has been a hero to me. Among many other things, she also imbued in me a sense of awareness with her great love. She truly taught me about the values of selfless altruism and forgiveness. She was a great devotee of Shau Shiromani Kabir Shaheb, the great Sufi philosopher.

Talking about women, Dr Basnet, tell me what you think of the women in your country and women in general.

I think women everywhere and those living around me are hardy and innocent like the nature and as aware and giving as they come. Yes, we have had our achievers like Kamal Rana, Angur Baba Joshi and Chandrakala Kiran. The particular problems that people and also women have here are about guardianship rules and dowry, though the latter is more prevalent at the Terai regions.

Tell me about any experience that touched you a lot during your career.

When I was Undersecretary with the National Education Committee, Education Minister Dr Harkabahadur Gurung motivated me and entrusted me with the task of finding the educational status of the populace and do a survey on a national/regional/districtwide basis. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it with my three-member team of an economist, a geographer and a statistician. And I keep following the figures and I am surprised at the improvement. At the same time, I had this experience in the late eighties-early nineties. We had this horticulture competition at Sanuthimi and a gentleman from a certain village, a farmer, won the exhibition contest that involved a certificate and a cash award for growing three crops of potatoes in a single year. We later found out that it was his wife, also a farmer and not only a housekeeper, who actually grew the crops and deserved the accolades. I am sorry to say that the man actually deprived her the honours even within the family. When we came to know of it, we befriended the lady and feted her duely. It was a warm feeling to see the woman smile, the man change his attitude and the marriage blossom as far as we could observe. Anyways.

What are your hobbies, Dr Basnet?

Listening to music, apart from reading philosophy and research, of course. I also write poetry.

Likes and dislikes?

I like the way Hinduism and Buddhism mix and merge in Nepal. Every Buddhist in Nepal is a Hindu and every Hindu here is a Buddhist, too. I like eating all kinds of fruits and vegetable dishes like vada, mushroom preparations and cheese pakodas and watching films like ‘Silsila’ and ‘Dr Zhivago’. In fact, I also enjoyed the recently made movie, ‘Black’. I don’t like bags. They promote clutter. I like wearing coats and jackets with plenty of pockets where I can keep my keys, purse, pen, paper and personal accessories in. I think these coats are pretty smart, really. I hope that was not a fashion statement or was it? (Laughs)

Prabha, any words of advice you would like to give to the future generation and young women, in particular, today being women’s day?

Yes. Of course, believe in yourself. Reach out and touch others. Give, love, achieve.

And, regarding men?

(Laughs) Okay, quote me if you like: Look at yourself first but also look at others. And, sometimes, try to look at each through the other’s eyes.