Animal Farm and KU

George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” is considered a classic allegorical piece, which shattered the myth of “equality” in then Communist Russia under Joseph Stalin. Through this literary piece, Orwell has depicted that witch-hunting, victimization, intimidation and blaming others for one’s failure are routine affairs when a despot is rising. Joseph Stalin, while capturing power in Soviet communist party not only purged other Marxists but also insulted Lenin’s wife by calling her “syphilitic whore.” To maintain his hold in then Soviet Communist Party, he entered into secret negotiations with other polit bureau members. And once he acquired dictatorship, he did not hesitate to purge out other Marxists by cold-bloodedly murdering them. Millions died in USSR by Stalin’s despotism and second man in October revolution, Leon Trotsky was also murdered in exile in Mexico. Attacking Stalin’s despotism, Orwell clearly shows that power is what corrupts people irrespective of their political ideology and leanings. Literary critics are of the opinion that this masterpiece by Orwell can be applied to fight against despotism everywhere because to retain power, despots everywhere hatch similar plots. So, it has been said that “Animal Farm” is used as an inspiration to fight against despotism in many parts of the world. But, for the first time, we are using this classic piece to describe despotism of Suresh Raj Sharma of KU to use it in academia.

1) Theme

The basic theme of “Animal farm” is a rebellion by domesticated farm animals against human masters. The masters were lazy and exploitative. There was no fixed calendar and schedule to cater to the needs of the animals. So, one day, the animals rebel and physically chase away the human owners to claim the ownership of the farm. After successful rebellion, they write down the rules referred to as “Seven Commandments.” With these “Seven commandments” they pledge for equality of all animals and no tyranny on fellow animals. However, in the course of development, a power struggle unfolds amongst the animals and then there appears a despot who even tampers with the “Seven Commandments.” This theme of “Animal farm” is considered similar to developments in Russia like October revolution and establishing the first communist nation. The “seven commandments” refers to Marxism or “Communism.” The despot depicted in this novel, through the character of Napoleon pig, is an allegorical reference to Joseph Stalin. George Orwell has beautifully represented the Marxists, communist dictatorship of Stalin and hardships of ordinary Russians in contemporary Russia through the animal counterparts in the novel.

With this comparison, a question comes to the fore. Can we relate the theme/plot with developments in KU? I have tried a bit, if you have something else to offer, please do not hesitate;

“Animal Farm” was created after rebellion by the animals against human owners who used to refer to it as “Manor Farm.” The rebellion was basically for improvement of “Animal Farm” so that things are done in a proper way. Similarly, Kathmandu University was created to give an alternative option/solution to inefficiency of Tribhuvan University. Politics, lack of schedule, lack of academic leadership, and bulky size have constantly eroded academic programs of TU. Amidst talk of revamping, streamlining and downsizing TU, Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma took an initiative to turn then valley School into an institute. However, then Prime-minister K.P. Bhattarai saw that it would be worthwhile to have another university instead of an institute. Therefore, with one precondition, he proposed to Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma that he is ready to help set up another University provided it should be outside Kathmandu Valley. Suresh Raj was more than happy with the proposal as this was going to make him VC instead of a manager of a certain institute. He worked really hard to convince then legislators to ratify KU act, lobbied support of professors, persuaded them to help him set up curriculum, human resources, library and other logistics. With consistent efforts, Suresh Raj did it. At that time, he was claiming to everyone including prospective students, teachers, professors, and other educationists that KU will be unlike TU. Here will be no politics, no interference, no nepotism and no corruption. These are still revolutionary ideas in Nepal. So, setting up KU was akin to rebellion in the animal farm.

In Animal Farm, the basic rules were present in the form of “Seven commandments,” and in KU the basic rules are present in the form of private management, efficiency, quality, equality and honesty. The old Major of Animal Farm, a reference to Karl Marx, is available in KU also. In this case, everyone including K.P. Bhattarai, who espouses involvement of private sector in education and an alternative option to share certain loads of TU, are symbolic representation of the Old Major. Good management, efficiency, anti-nepotism, anti-corruption and no greed for power are the main commandments of modern academia as equality is the one in Marxism. Based on these commandments, KU was set up. But, now, we can see that exactly as in Animal Farm, all the high sounding talks of good management is now centered towards developing the “personality cult” of Suresh Raj. Like those animals in “Animal Farm,” teachers, students, and staffs have to address Suresh Raj Sharma as “visionary VC,” “development oriented educationist,” “far sighted professor,” and “Beloved Suresh Raj-a fortune of KU.” If a teacher earns a scholarship, he/she has to say “under the leadership of Suresh Raj, we are all getting scholarships.” The propaganda and rumoring have reached the zenith now in KU. Anybody who opposes nepotism and corruption is being purged out from KU by the “visionary VC.” Anybody who demands piglets like Manish, Brijesh, Daniel, Mukunde, and Sarad to work as much as other teachers and staffs are accused of “anti-KU” activities. Joseph Stalin used such propaganda to the hilt to retain power in then USSR as depicted by the Napoleon pig in “Animal Farm,” and now Suresh Raj is doing it in KU. There exists uncanny similarity in actions, thoughts, and dealings of Stalin, Suresh Raj and the Napoleon pig. Based on this similarity, this blogger considers that it would be apt to address “visionary VC” as “Napoleon of KU.”

2) Characterization

“Animal Farm” has two main characters depicting leaders of USSR. Stalin was represented by “Napoleon pig,” and Leon Trotsky was represented by “Snowball.” One time comrade Snowball had to flee the animal farm and it was rumored that he was taking shelter in company of humans. To heap accusations against now banished “Snowball,” Napoleon pig takes service of a propagandist called “Squealer.” Squealer, under instruction of Napoleon, tampers with “Seven Commandments,” accuses Snowball for problems in “Animal Farm” and unleashes vicious attacks of dogs against other rebelling animals who speak out against Napoleon’s highhandedness. Similarly, in KU, our portly Sitaram has taken the role of “Squealer” to attack another founder member of KU. Befitting his role of “Squealer,” he has used the services of “dogs” like Bhola Thapa in KU to kill one dalit employee also. However, the only difference between the actions of Squealer and Sitaram is that the former relies on communist propoganda and the latter on “Manusmriti” (a satanic book followed by upper caste Hindus).

Pig Napoleon of “Animal Farm” opens up schools and learning centers for his piglets. Exactly, in KU, Suresh Raj exercises nepotism to tamper with rules to enroll and educate his late daughter, give employment to his relatives and provide undue entry and promotions to progenies of even Bhadraman and Registrar Sitaram. Many piglets in KU like Manish, Brijesh, Sharad, Daniel, Mukunde have undue promotion, study leaves, and immunity from departmental actions for their failures. So, we can see that piglets of KU are enjoying unrestricted benefit as those of Napoleon pig in “Animal Farm” at the cost of hardworking teachers and staffs in KU.

3) How similarity will end?

George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” was published in 1945 only after scores of refusals by the publishers. Five years later, he passed away. Stalin died in 1953 under mysterious circumstances. So, in “Animal Farm,” how Stalin died has not been depicted. The novella, therefore, ends with Stalin in full control. Political historians have claimed that Stalin was poisoned to death by one of his minister. He was given a rat poison and the polit bureau did not summon the medical team for one whole day. With death of Stalin, many in USSR, including communists within his own party, felt relieved. In the name of development, Stalin did not develop USSR except promoting his name, his personality and making himself synonymous with USSR. In KU also, Suresh Raj has been equating his criticisms with criticism of KU and blindly promoting his “personality cult.” Supporters of Suresh Raj claim that without Suresh Raj, KU will be perished. Everybody, including the conspirator who killed Stalin used to hail Stalin a lot till his death. But, once Stalin died, he was spat on face. Suresh Raj, watch out! People claim that “History repeats itself!.”

4) References:

1. http://www.george-orwell.org/Animal_Farm/index.html

2. http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/animalfarm/

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin

6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trotsky

7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadezhda_Krupskaya

8. http://www.k-1.com/Orwell/index.cgi/work/summaries/animf.html