Nepal-U.S. Alumni Network (NUSAN) in collaboration with Bikalpa an Alternative organized Colloqium on “Democracy and Freedom”, on June 11, 2022, at Hotel Shree Krishna, Biratnagar. The program’s objective was to create a platform for youths to educate and engage in regular dialogues on political economy, governance, democratic principles, and values of Freedom. Altogether 36 youth participants from diversified fields attended the program. The participants were chosen on a rolling basis where bikalpa had opened the Application form regarding the program.
Distinguished Alumni, Mr. Saroj Karki (SUSI 2015), Mr. Vaibhav Nahata (Global UGRAD recipient 2022), IVLP (2011) Dr. Sandesh Das Shrestha, IVLP (2018) Mr. Chudamani Bhattarai, (IVLP) were also invited as the guest to observe and share their insights on the program.
The program started with a welcoming speech and objective sharing by Mr. Basanta Adhikari (Director of the Bikalpa). He also ice-break the session by introducing participants and program guests to each other where all the guest also shared their insightful learning experiences of the exchange program in their different filed. This helped the participants to explore further opportunities provided by the U.S Department of State.
Then, the floor was handed over to Mr. Riwaj Dahal (Visual Media Officer) of Bikalpa to moderate the session. Mr. Dahal started the session by setting the ground rules and the program ran through the socratic discussion method. A healthy dialogue between participants followed the session. The discussion revolved around the relation between Liberty and Democracy, Democracy as “a System of Governance”, Democracy and Liberty: the Cultural Connection, Human Rights, and Civil Society. The conversation was curated in the form of a question and answer session followed by an interaction with the audience.
Different participants opined different views regarding the topic of the session. The discussion started with the quote “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” — George Orwell. As we know in a democracy the fundamental right to free speech is what is the essence of liberty. Participants’ shared free speech means everyone is entitled to be able to voice their own opinions, ideas, and views without interference from the government in a democracy. While on the other side hate speech or speech that incites violence is not called free speech. Participants argued when we are free and have liberty, then only we are free to express ourselves whether others like or not what we say.
The discussion further stemmed into the democracy and governance system where Mr. Tarun Khawas one of the participant’s shared that democracy is a system rule by the people, where there is a rule of law that allows all people to elect accountable leaders. Mr. Chudamani Bhattarai further stressed there should always be a mechanism to check of balance of power in the democracy. While sharing his experience he said It is important for us to take concern in politics and raise our voice in strengthening the democracy further, There was also a discussion on the existing political system of Nepal.
There was also a discussion on the relevance of the taxation system where participants argued the government should have a proper policy regarding taxation. One of the participants Mr. Nishant Dhungana suggested the government should follow the progressive and regressive taxation system. Since the government program is run through taxation. It is important for us to pay the tax as well.
The participants also stressed the role of Human Rights and Civil Society in democracy. Here participants reflect on their understanding of Human Rights as such freedoms as owning property, self-determination and self-ownership of your own body and labor, freedom to move and locate where you choose, and freedom to practice your own religion. At last, participants also discussed the welfare culture and free society. The entire program was an engaging and interactive session filled with critical insights. The session was concluded by Mr. Sarwagya Raj Pandey putting his insightful thought on the topic. After the ending of the program, Bikalpa also took feedback from participants and their understanding through the video bytes on “what is Democracy and Freedom”, “why it is important to us” and “how citizens can play an important role to defend freedom and democracy”. The video will be published soon through the Bikalpa portal.
Program Photo link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3349835185261159&type=3
