Ambika P. Adhikari Interview by Solidarity Magazine 2008

१)यहाँको जन्मस्थान, हाल रहेको ठेगाना

I was born in Bhojpur Nepal.  Currently I live in Phoenix, USA.

२)पारिवारीक पृष्ठभुमी र शिक्षा ?

Born in a middle class family, I completed my high school from Public High School, Dharan, I.Sc. from Morang College Biratnagar, B.Arch. from M.S. University of Baroda (India), M.Arch. from University of Hawaii, post graduate fellowship from MIT and Ph.D. from Harvard University.

३)यहाँ कहिले प्रवेश गर्नु भयो त्यस ठाँउमा ?

Like a nomad I have routinely moved between Nepal, USA and Canada.  Earlier, I spent five years in India as a student.  Having spent dozens of years in teaching and consulting in Nepal, I have been living in the US since 2000.

४)अहिले त्यस ठाउँमा कतिको सँख्यामा नेपाली रहेको अनुमान छ यहाँलाई ?

No one knows the exact number of Nepalis in the USA, as the statistics change every day.  However, various estimates put the number of Nepalis in the US to be above 200,000 and the Nepali population in the US is growing exponentially. The estimates in Canada put the number of Nepalis there to be between 7 to 10,000.  Like in the US, NRN population in Canada is also experiencing an accelerated growth.

५)त्यस देशका जनताहरुको नेपालीलाई हेर्ने दृष्टीकोण कस्तो पाउनुभएको छ ?

As the lone superpower, the US has always looked at Nepal with keen interest.  I find the American perspective on Nepal shaped by a mixture of awe for its spectacular beauty, interest due to its strategic geopolitical location and as a nation that has shown resilience and flexibility in moving easily from conflict to democracy.

Ever since the 50’s many development experts in the US government viewed Nepal as a unique laboratory to study the impacts of foreign assistance in development.  With generous technical and financial support, the US has left indelible influence in Nepal’s educational, agricultural, administrative and other sectors.

६)कुन-कुन नेपाली उत्पादनको बजारको संभावना छ त्यहाँ ?

The US has provided a big market for Nepali garments, carpet and handicrafts.  Of course, Nepali technical manpower (especially in medicine, high technology and engineering) has also been well utilized in the US.

७)आफ्नो देशमा विदेशी पर्यटक भित्राउन सबै देशमा बस्ने नेपालीले कस्तो भुमिका खेल्नु पर्ला?

The NRNA has been actively supporting Nepal’s “send home a friend” program to help tourism in Nepal.  The Nepalese Americas Council (NAC) as a continental (US and Canada) partner of NRNA has worked to realize the goal of send home a friend program.

Americans and Canadians are among the largest foreigner groups who visit Nepal as tourist.

Additionally, NRN in North America has regularly supported the democratic evolution in Nepal and provided symbolic financial support whenever calamities arise. Nepalese Americas Council (NAC) has been privileged to regularly coordinate NRN support to Nepal both morally and financially.

९)यहाँ आफु संलग्न पेशा वा व्यवशायको प्रकृति कस्तो छ र कत्तिको सन्तुष्टहुनुहुन्छ ?

I am happy to be working here in Urban Planning field both as a practitioner and part time university professor.  The US provides enormous opportunities to fully utilize one’s professional skills.  The job prospects and the facilities for professional growth in the US are the major magnets for attracting professionals from all over the world. However, I do miss the work I did and opportunities I enjoyed in Nepal.  Working is Nepal is more emotionally fulfilling in many other ways. Working in Nepal provides a feeling of contributing to the development of one’s own country, and helping where there is more need.

१०)त्यस देशमा खुलेका नेपालीका कुन-कुन संघसस्थामा आवद्ध हुनुहुन्छ यहाँ ?

Currently, I serve as the president of Nepalese Americas Council (NAC – www.nepalcouncil.org), a coordinating body of more than 28 Nepali associations in US and Canada.  I am also active in local association NAFA, national associations such as ANA, LDN, ASNEngr and several other organizations and associations across the continent.

NAC and its organizational members have remained active to support the democratic and social evolution in Nepal.

११)संघसस्थाका माध्यमबाट क्रियाशील हुँदा कस्तो उपलव्धिको अनुभुति गर्नु हुन्छ ?

When we are far away from Nepal, getting involved in Nepali associations and NRN system is one way to feel connected with Nepal and Nepalis and serve the community here, while helping Nepali cause everywhere.

१२)कुन-कुन समयमा आफ्नो मातृभुमिको याद आउछ यहाँलाई ?

I think of Nepal every day. People like me who leave Nepal in the middle age are always caught between the two worlds – the world of emotion, sentiments and love in Nepal, and the adopted world providing employment, freedom and career opportunities. Even when Nepal may seem to be underdeveloped, poor, and full of problems, that is where love resides for many of us.

१३)नयाँ नेपालको निर्माणमा कस्ता समस्याहरु देखा परेको अनुभूति गर्नु भएको छ र विदेश बस्ने नेपालीहरुको भूमिका अब कस्तो हुनु पर्ला जस्तो लाग्छ ?

Nepal has achieved spectacular success in rapidly instituting democracy, creating a republic, mainstreaming the Maoists and creating more inclusionary polices for minorities, such as Madheshis, Janjatis and Dalits.  However, much needs to be done to stabilize the country and ensuring prosperity for all Nepalis. Every nation is based on core national values, a shared culture and history and a shared vision of the country. 

In my opinion, a nation is not just a utilitarian entity catering to the conveniences of its citizens, but also a higher entity that provides emotional, symbolic and sacred sanctity to the spiritual needs of its citizens. Although a nation should provide for the equality of its citizens and make a happy and prosperous life possible for all, the citizens too should provide an unconditional love and respect for the country. In Nepal, presently, for many groups, there seems to be too much acrimony and anger against many things that represent the core values of the country. I hope this will change.

१४)विदेशमा बस्ने नेपालीहरुलाई उत्प्रेरीत गर्न ऐक्यबद्धता जस्तो पत्रिकाले कस्तो भुमिका खेल्नुपर्छ जस्तो लाग्छ यहाँलाई ?

Your magazine is doing a great service to the NRN to directly connect them to Nepal and Nepali issues. NRN movement, with about two million global populations, is an emerging force for Nepal, and journalism can provide crucial service to cater to their interests and to establish relationship between the Diaspora and Nepal.  I congratulate the Solidarity Magazine for its good work and thank its editor for providing me an opportunity to respond to your questions.