Divided, deviated and dysfunctional: Non-Resident Nepali Association is in the need of overhauling its culture (Part 1)
Helping each other during good or bad times is the heart and soul of what NRNA is all about. Supporting Nepal during times of need is the legacy of NRNA since it was established in 2003. Unfortunately, coming into 2023, where are we now? It is time for a deep soul searching.
Few weeks ago, we had an unfortunate incident in New Zealand within our Nepali community. A Nepali, unfortunately, lost his life while at work. His body was repatriated home to his family in Nepal with the help of the members of the Nepali community in New Zealand.
The Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) New Zealand played a crucial role in the repatriation. Within a matter of a few days from calling for donation by the NRNA New Zealand, a substantial amount was raised. The donation was utilized to meet the cost of flying the body home. Surplus amount would be handed over to the concerned family.
This is an example of the spirit of NRNA. Helping each other during good or bad times is the heart and soul of what NRNA is all about. Supporting Nepal during times of need is the legacy of NRNA since it was established in 2003. NRNA and the wider Nepali diaspora communities residing throughout the world have generously helped Nepal during difficult times. We saw the overwhelming support from diaspora pouring in during crises such as the global COVID-19 pandemic and the 2015 earthquake, to give a few examples.
To “protect the interest of Nepalis residing abroad…” is one of the primary objectives, as outlined in the section 6.1 of the constitution of the NRNA. It is simple. Yet, very powerful. It is the essence of being “once a Nepali, always a Nepali”. This is “Nepalipan" (being a Nepali).
Unfortunately, coming into 2023, where are we now? It is time for a deep soul searching.
Erosion of norms and values
By now, the above-mentioned spirit of NRNA is lost. We, it seems, have forgotten the very core norms and values of the organization. The widespread and strong feeling among diaspora who are in favor of a genuine NRNA is that the NRNA's International Coordination Council (ICC) has lost its direction. ICC is the body of the NRNA that governs its global roles and functions. You might recall the NRNA International Convention in Kathmandu, held every two years at five star hotels, when the international office bearers are elected.
NRNA has country chapters, known as the National Coordination Council (NCC) in 85 countries. Majority of the NCCs are functioning well, making genuine effort to help and support Nepalis in their respective countries. The ICC, however, seems to have lost its way. It is sad that things are getting worse with time.
The discontent within the ICC hit a new low during the latest round of election conducted in 2021. Leading up to it and during the election, democratic norms and values were openly thrown out of the window. The democratic practices many diaspora populations are trying to instill in the organization, and as written in its constitution, were not only outright disrespected but also blatantly ignored.
The 2021 ICC Convention in Kathmandu ended up in selecting three different Presidents. To make the matter worse, in the aftermath, the NRNA is divided from the top to the bottom. The institution is on the verge of vertically splitting into two different organizations being led by two splinter groups.
Broken promises and compromised rules
Leading up to the 2021 ICC election, detailed personal information from the global NRNA members (delegates) were collected by the ICC to compile the supposed voter list. Phone number, photograph, copy of passport and copy of visa were collected through the newly launched “Mero NRNA” App. We were promised that, for the first time, the NCC members from around the world would be able to vote online from where they are in the ICC election.
We were all excited and keen to be able to vote to select our representatives. Tragically, towards the conclusion of the ICC convention, voters and members around the globe were kept in the dark about the election process. No communication, nothing. We resorted to online and social media to find out what was going on. Our NCCs had no clue about what was happening in Kathmandu.
Overnight, we learned from the online media that the NRNA elected three Presidents. To rub salt in the wound, we learned that this was done by changing the constitution overnight to accommodate this strange distribution of positions. Essentially, all candidates that stood in the election and a handful of top leaders had a “sahamati” (consensus) and declared everyone that stood in the election winners without any contest or voting. Apparently, people who did not even register themselves as candidates were elected too. It is only an example of how general members continue to be deceived and disrespected in the name of representing them. Once again, the 2021 election has sent a chilling message to the Nepali diaspora community that they don’t matter in the eyes of the leaders.
What happens at the top of an institution flows to the grassroots. The negative message and impact of this kind of misuse of power is going to catch up with us soon enough. The ICC has set a precedent to legitimize that whoever stands in the NRNA election wins. If your constitution does not allow it, you can bend them overnight as you wish in the name of “sahamati”. Now, what kind of practice is that? Where will it lead us?
Divided, deviated and dysfunctional: Non-Resident Nepali Association is in the need of overhauling its culture (Part 2)
We must go back to our core spirit before it is too late. Once reunited with the collective cause, our actions will gradually come back on track.
Held hostage by partisan politics and vested interests
If you scratch under the surface, NRNA is under the direct influence of Nepal's partisan politics. Sadly, panels are created along Nepal's major political parties’ lines during elections. Candidates choose to stand in the election under a party’s flag. This is an open secret that no-one even bothers to hide.
One of the first things prospective candidates do is to go knock on the leaders of political parties. Candidates lobby with the parties and vice-versa. Similar to how the electoral constituencies are distributed in Nepali elections, the political parties distribute “tickets'' to prospective candidates of the NRNA elections. Your chances of winning the NRNA election is poor if you are not endorsed by a Nepali political party.
Leading up to the 2021 ICC election, candidates were selected on the basis of decisions made by the representatives of Nepali political parties based overseas and the party leaders in Kathmandu. Senior ministers, members of parliament, and party leaders in Kathmandu directly and openly intervened. Nepali political parties and their leaders endorsed the NRNA candidates. The parties officially issued directives, publishing it in their letterheads, to their overseas based sister organizations to campaign and to vote for the candidates of the party’s choice. All this happened in the broad daylight and with an open invitation from the aspiring candidates.
Many see NRNA as an exclusive club of businessmen with narrow agenda and vested interests. The institution of NRNA seems to be held hostage by a limited number of businessmen - from top at the ICC to the NCC levels. We can see leaders of NRNA get direct access to the highest level of the political echelons in Nepal. They have direct access to even the prime minister of Nepal. Easy and direct access to media comes with the prize of being an NRNA leader. Isn’t it dishonesty to pursue vested political and business interests under the disguise of serving the global diaspora of a social organization?
The organizational credibility and the institutional strength of the NRNA has been misused by businessmen to pursue their own vested interest in the name of the diaspora. “International Nepali Chamber of Commerce” is probably a more suitable name on the basis of the agenda being pursued and how NRNA is functioning today. Sad part of this is that NRNA is a social organization established to act in the best interest and to work for the welfare of the global Nepali diaspora. The mandate of global representation is eroding rapidly. NRNA, as an organization, has significantly deviated from its core spirit a long time ago.
Course correction measures: an appeal to the global diaspora community
If the course is not corrected immediately, we are heading towards a disaster. NRNA, as an institution representing the voice of our global diaspora, will lose its relevance if reforms measures are not implemented soon.
If we look at the numbers, only a small proportion of the total number of diaspora population are members of the NRNA.The second generation (children born overseas to Nepali parents) has hardly any interest in the affairs of the NRNA. Their reason is simply, "there is nothing for us”. Malpractices such as that seen during the recently concluded ICC election puts people off, further disenfranchising the diaspora.
Change would have to come from the leadership. Bending the rules during elections in the name of sahamti must stop. Despite living for decades in countries with exemplary good governance, and fervently praising them, we seem to have failed to learn from such examples. Everyone must abide by the constitution of the NRNA, and follow the democratic process. All party politics must stop right away at all levels, as outlined in the preamble of the constitution of the NRNA.
Leaders must aspire to be role models. They have to set an example by doing the right thing. Our leaders must walk the talk instead of preaching one thing before the election and doing exactly the opposite when it comes to seeking positions during elections. How fair is it if those of us in the NCCs have to defend our ICC leaders’ inappropriate actions? Here we are promoting the NRNA among authorities in our country of residence, and what do we see from our leadership?
NRNA members throughout the world deserve an apology for what happened during the recently completed ICC election. Someone should take responsibility and be held accountable. Or else we will be perpetuating the culture of one being able to do whatever one wants without any consequences.
At the grass-root level, all 85 NCCs and general members have to speak up. If you don't make yourself heard, you don't exist. Simply paying your membership fee, ignoring everything and then venting your anger on Facebook when things go wrong will not get you any positive results. You have to call out the culprits, whoever they are.
This article is my contribution in calling out about the deep-rooted and chronic discontents within the wider institution and its culture. This is an attempt in holding our people accountable to their actions. In addition to this article, I have written to the NRNA New Zealand seeking an answer about the recently concluded ICC election. In my written request, I have asked to refund the ICC levy component of my membership fee. I have also advised to seek avenues to severe association of the NCC New Zealand with the ICC. If my request to the New Zealand NCC doesn't yield any concrete action, I have got plans to gradually escalate it. I intend to ask questions until I get an answer. We will have to wait and see how it goes. I may face backlash or even expulsion for blowing the whistle like this but I am willing to face the consequences. It is not about me, rather, I am speaking for thousands of members who have chosen to remain silent for whatever reasons. What is at stake here is the credibility of the organization and the dignity of its tens of thousands of members. You can’t block the sun with your palm. Not any longer.
It is time for change. Change happens only when people choose to speak up. When people revolt, the leaders must listen or face oblivion. There is no other option. We have seen this time and again. That is what history teaches us. To correct its course, tinkering on the edges is not going to work. We have to restart the system. We must go back to our core spirit before it is too late. Once reunited with the collective cause, our actions will gradually come back on track.
To preserve and to advance its spirit; to have a more credible voice of the diaspora in Nepal (such as in the case of the recently adopted amendments to the Citizenship Bill that has paved the way for dual citizenship); to acknowledge the many good deeds carried out by the NRNA; to protect the tens of thousands of members’ self-respect and dignity; and to strengthen our position on the global stage, difficult it may be, it is high time we ask questions to ourselves and to our leaders. We will get the answers only if we ask the questions.
(Raj Maharjan is based in Auckland, New Zealand. Urban Planner by profession, he is an advisor to the NRNA New Zealand)
[Part 1 and 2 of the above articles were published in Nepal Live Today on July 27 and 28 respectively, with minor editorial changes]
