Lately, seeing everybody go abroad, I thought to myself, "Why not me? Let me take a few days off, see the world and enjoy a bit." Being a business journalist, I am interested in development. Therefore, I decided to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that achieved incredible development within 50-60 years, wondering if Nepal could follow the same path within my lifetime.
But then, after I got there, I knew one devastating thing: development is a pain in the neck! One thing became crystal clear during my trip: a country’s development is utterly useless. Just think about it - develop once, and we lose our distinctive character and pristine originality. The political consciousness, the spirit of fighting, the energy of struggle, the thrill of navigating in chaos - all get washed away like dust in the rains.
Even worse, the pride, dignity, and prestige of our leaders would vanish. Imagine a world where ministers, prime ministers, or secretaries go unnoticed by the general public! In Dubai, nobody even cares if you’re in a motorcade. In fact, there are no motorcades blocking the roads, no sirens, no pompous speeches, no seminars, and no directing the masses. How can our leaders feel important without the majestic experience of paralyzing traffic for hours?
Even secretaries or chief secretary in the UAE don’t have enough audacity to issue orders in plenty or make money under the table. There’s no scope for twisting ethics for convenience and making laws - the noodles you twist and twirl to taste. Where's the fun in that? And for us ordinary folks, where is the joy? Whom would you meet for pleasantries, bows, or sly bribes over tea or lunch or dinner to get your work done? And once it’s over, the thrill of sharing your success stories of bending rules with friends - the joy which we relish today - would be gone. Terrifyingly boring will be the way of life!
Just consider it: opening an enterprise in Dubai - if you have all the documents, it takes an hour; if you are lazy, then half a day. And such speed, such efficiency, is so boring. What do they know about the satisfaction and joy we get from standing in lines for months, wearing out shoes, and bribing officials before finally securing official documents? Without these little struggles, life becomes too straight, like a highway without potholes. No potholes, no personality!
The most frightening thing is the job crisis that development creates. Dubai does not have the traffic police on the streets! Their ministries, their central bank do not have rows of guards saluting you with robotic precision. If development is going to rob us of our traffic police, our security guards, and the innumerable people "helping" us out in government offices, where will they go?
And, of course, parking! You can't park anywhere in developed countries, even if your heart says, "Here feels right." Rules and fines reign supreme. That kind of thing doesn't fly here. You pay three times as much for a car and equally expensive fuel, but you can't park where you want? You can't cross roads wherever you please? Development might even infringe on the rights of our cows, oxen, ducks, and chickens! Can you imagine rules prohibiting one from stopping the vehicle wherever one wants, buying something, and leaving? How is our freedom, our originality, to survive within such strict systems?
In fact, Gulf countries seem to run entirely on fines. Unlike us, they don't collect VAT, income tax or a dozen other taxes. What's more, there's no chance for tax office officials to flaunt their power! Perhaps inspired by our extensive taxation system, they’ve recently started collecting a 9% corporate tax. Maybe they've begun to see the appeal of having tax officials living luxurious lives!
Pollution is under attack too. In Dubai, you can wear the same shirt for a week without it getting dirty. What a tragedy! Development may wipe out those cherished environmental fragrances - like the aroma of open sewers, the sting of roadside dust, or the sight of garbage piles at every corner, each with its unique ecosystem! These aren’t mere irritants - they’re cultural landmarks!!
After all, tourists don't come to Nepal for cleanliness or order. They can enjoy these in their own countries. They come here for the excitement of surviving Kathmandu traffic, the adventure of dodging stray dogs and the earthy charm of roadwork projects that look older than their passport. If we become just like Dubai, what reason will they have for coming here? Why don't they just go to the Gulf?
Development would ruin the romance of our politics too. And then the leaders won’t be able to give those fancy speeches promising to build roads, bridges, or "a new Nepal”. And without those speeches, what would our media write about? What would the journalists debate on TV? If the entertainment born from scarcity, high prices and disorder disappears, life will become dull - even for us journalists. Scarcity, high prices and chaos aren't just problems - they're content goldmines! Development would eliminate the fertile ground for new political parties, activist movements and national campaigns, and take the drama out of politics and shrink the scope of journalism. Simply unacceptable!
The most important thing is - if Nepal becomes developed, what would Nepalis do abroad? And what would all these ministries, including the one for labor exports, even do?
Therefore, after my trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I’ve reached one unshakable conclusion: Nepal should not develop! Nepal is inherently a political nation, not a development-oriented one. Every country must prioritize what it’s best at. Every country must play to its strengths, and our strength lies in preserving the glorious chaos that defines us. Keeping Nepal Nepal!
So, with a firm commitment to avoid development: Jai Nepal, Lal Salam, Jai Madhesh, Jai Pahad, Jai Himal, and Raja Aau Desh Bachaau! And if you have other suggestions to make life even more chaotic and delightful, please add on.
(This article was originally published in February 2025 of New Business Age Magazine.)
