UMN,KU and Christian Volunteers

1) Introduction

United Mission to Nepal has clearly stipulated what are its values. Equality, Special concern for the poor and disadvantaged, Love and Service, Forgiveness, Integrity, Professional competence, Participation, Training, Cultural sensitivity, Environment, Identification with Nepal and Humility. Many secondees from United Mission to Nepal (UMN) has come to Kathmandu University to help Nepal in general and KU in particular to cope up with lack of trained personnel. Befitting its mission of "To minister to the needs of the people of Nepal in the Name and Spirit of Christ and to make Christ known by word and life, thereby strengthening the universal Church in its total ministry." UMN has seconded many Christian volunteers from across the Globe. Jon Gregson, Prof John Fairfield, Bret Freemon, Dr. Kai Bedringas, Prof. Paul Drinkwater, Kjetel Filstad, Dr. Eldar Onsoyen, Dr Catherine Mumow, Prof John Cannell, Dr Peter Freere, Alex Zahnd, Dr Peter Howe,David Young, Finn Enger and Frank Dressler are some of the names who have spent some of their precious time for betterment of KU. These personalities have worked not only for improving KU's education system, but has also tried to help in educational projects of Dhulikhel Municipality. They have helped set up hostel development project and they have initiated focussed research in needed areas. VC Suresh Raj Sharma has himself claimed that many of the Christian volunteers who came to KU has contributed 35 man years of experts' service which would come around 8-10 million dollars of services. Till 2008, UMN is forwarding UMN secondees in KU for not only KU but also for KUMS and DMI-School of Physiotherapy.

Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma of Kathmandu University feels that he is really lucky to have received such unique gestures from UMN and services from UMN secondees. It is definitely true that at least in this case he is not exaggerating. Because many faculties and staffs in KU still believe that they have gained some insight, some vision and some ideas by these UMN secondees. Without any doubt, presence of UMN secondees in KU, as mentioned by Prof. Arjun Karki, has brought institutional benefit, national benefit and individual benefit. But, administrators of KU, namely Suresh Raj Sharma is highlighting institutional benefit only. He is doing it for two reasons; firstly to prove that he is indispensable and without him at the helm of the affairs, international support to KU will dwindle. Secondly, to put the significance of individual interactions to back-burner as he wants to please casteist Hindu hard-liners who oppose Biblical studies and growing attachment towards Christianity in Nepal.

2) Extent of Individual benefits with UMN secondees in KU

With presence of UMN secondees, the most happy lot in KU are the students of KU. Some students have openly claimed that they have been able to shape up their future goals only with teachings of Prof. Catherine, Prof. Drinkwater, Prof. Fairfield, Prof. Cannell, Prof. Filstad. The technical discourses in class-rooms directly enchanted the students, and at the same time their preparations and contributions like lecture notes, books, journals, articles and research papers even helped new faculty members. Many teachers in KU have picked up the thread of teaching in KU from these Christian volunteers. Social interactions with these Christian volunteers have further opened the floodgate of information on Christianity, values of life, morality and aims of our life. I have no hesitation to claim that the first time I read the Bible was due to the inspiration I received from some of these volunteers. Presently, whenever distressed or feeling dejected I slide into Biblical study or read books published by Jehova's Witnesses like "Awake" or "Watchtower."

Individually, we students, staffs and teachers have maintained good relations and have tried to imbue something from these people who are natives of developed countries and practitioners of cultured civilisation and religion. And many of us slid towards these notions which promote individuality and equality. Equality in Nepal is a mere political jargon. A few practices it because many have still not been able to overcome their caste biases. Nepali society which is still entrenched in archaic Manusmriti have active practitioners of the uncivilised teachings of this satanic book called Manusmriti. Especially, many Nepalis, who are at the lowest level of social pyramid in Nepal, are still tortured and abused by higher caste people. Consequently, Christianity is being adopted by Nepalis in large numbers. Some of us in KU, I strongly believe, have moved towards Christianity to break the age old chain of Hindu caste discrimination. And amongst these, I guess that Late Buddhi Bahadur Biswokarma was also there. Irony is that however much he ran away from these castiest cobweb, yet he could not prevent humiliating casteist remarks.

3) Death of Buddhi Bahadur: Is it a death of a Christian or a Dalit?

To be frank, I do not know whether he is a neo-convert to Christianity. But, from colleagues, I have come to know that he has extremely detested casteist remarks and felt humiliated when people moved away from the table where he was having his lunch. Some staffs in KU, as informally told to me, taunted him for being a dalit, an oppressed community member in Hindu caste system. Similarly, some friends have claimed that he was having very good relation with Dr. Kai Bedringas, the first HOD of Mechanical Engineering Department in KU. So, it is quite possible that Dr. Kai may know the extent of his attachment to Christianity. On the other hand, it is also quite possible that his spouse, whose name was dragged through the muck to protect real culprit Bhola Thapa, may know about it. I hope that either Dr. Kai or his spouse will throw light on his being Christian.

But, it is an absolute truth that Buddhi Bahadur fell victim to Hindu caste system and was depressed enough to end his own life. So, I think that his death can be considered as a death resulting from depression caused by harassment unleashed by Suresh Raj regime in KU.

4) What should Christians do?

With this harassment triggered death of Buddhi Bahadur Biswokarma, a big question has emerged before not only KU authorities but also before Christian volunteers across the world. The question before the KU authorities is how long they are going to perpetuate such archaic academic society which metes out humiliations in return to organisational rights? Prof. Suresh Raj Sharma of Kathmandu University needs to explain as to why he should not be considered liable for prosecution? He invited his corrupt brother Mr. Jalan Kumar to KU to thrash another founding member, he incited local goons to physically abuse his own staffs and he instructed his deans and HODs to throttle KU movement. Because of his instructions, Bhola Thapa, who did Ph.D. in NTNU with the help of devout Christians, meted out inhuman casteist treatments to Late Buddhi Bahadur. Biblically, by this action, both the Suresh Raj Sharma and Bhola Thapa acted as "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with prede."[2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Suresh Raj Sharma of KU, with the untimely demise of Late Buddhi Bahadur, is now presiding over an institute which goes against the spirit of Bible. His penchant to continue as VC while enjoying self-less support from voluntary organizations like UMN has blinded him to such an extent that he is not able to distinguish between right and wrong. To save his chair and his position of power, he is not only forcing individuals to die but also acting against the spirit of Bible. So, all the devout Christian volunteers need to ask Suresh Raj Sharma the truth behind this tragic end of a fellow who was inching towards Christianity. Christians all over the world need to think again whether their contribution in KU is going to remove this blood stain from Suresh Raj's face or not. Similarly, they need to think whether their good-meaning co-operation will be put to use for trumpeting the "success" of an evil satan like Suresh Raj or not.

5) Conclusions

1) INGOs like UMN has played a laudable role in brining KU to present stage.

2) INGOs like UMN need to focus more on human interaction and improving thought patterns of Nepalis educationist, teachers, staffs and students.

3) UMN must solicit explanation from Suresh Raj on death of a KU staff.

4) Christian volunteers should not be misled by sweet talk of Suresh Raj.

5) Christian volunteers who have interaction with Late Buddhi and knows him well must demand justice for the crimes committed against Late Buddhi.

6) Refrences:

1) "Workplace or War Zone,"Awake, May 8, 2004.

2) "How Victims are Targeted,"Awake, May 8, 2004.

3) "Where can you find Morality?," Awake, July 22, 2004.

3) "The Face of Prejudice," Awake, September 8, 2004.

4) " What is the Solution to Ethnic Intolerance?," The Watchtower, July 1, 2007.

4) "Become Tenderly Compassionate," The Watchtower, December 15, 2007.