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Sir,
It is indeed a regrettable to read an article ‘Nepalese Doctors in Britain, Crisis of Identity’ in your news bulletin published year 2 Issue 9, Feb 1998 by Mr. Rabindra Mishra. It is even more shocking to know that the article is written by a person engaged in journalism, should have at least a decency of finding out basic facts about Nepalese Doctors residing in Britain before he could put his thoughts in writing. I would like to make it clear to the readers of your news bulletin in general and to the author in particular that the news about Nepalese Doctors in UK is not entirely true. The author seems to have based his article on a couple of anecdotal cases. It is possible that the person with whom the author has spoken to may have disillusions about his identity due to various reasons. The authenticity of that remark made by that doctor is only known to the author and the doctor himself. The author can not and should not generalize that feeling to rest of the Nepalese Doctors community in UK. The author seems to have identified three problems with the aforementioned community; (1), First generation Nepalese Doctors in the UK; (2), Second generation children of this community and (3), ‘Yeti’ Association in the UK.
The author’s perception of first generation Nepalese Doctors in the UK is almost entirely wrong. Majority of Nepalese Doctors in the UK at the moment are on short term training scheme. Majority of permanently residing Nepalese doctors in the UK are career grade non-consultant staff grade in the NHS hospitals. The remaining doctors are about 60% General Practitioners (GP) and 40% consultants in the GP’s. The crux of the matter raised by Mr. Mishra is job satisfaction of the latter group of doctors and their potential contribution to Nepal. Well, I do not think the author has any idea about the responsibility and job satisfaction of our GP colleagues in the NHS. I would like to make it clear in his mind that GP’s are the back bone of the NHS in this country. Whether to opt for GP or hospital service depends upon very much if not totally in the interest of the person involved. The two wings of the NHS have different roles to play. Hence a question does not arise who gets the job satisfaction and who does not ? I could put back the same question to the author whether he is getting job satisfaction or not in his journalism.
The author also seems to be querying the validity of the NDA’s UK activity in Nepal. The author should know that it is not how much you give, but what you give in what form and with what intention ? It is well known that NDA in Britain is a small organisation. It has started out of good cause, not out of repentance. NDA in Britain is trying to help our counterparts in Nepal in different ways including small health and community based projects. We are at the moment exploring various possibilities in helping our Nepalese colleagues in association with our American counterparts especially in the field if continuous medical education (CME).
Not all doctors came to this country on government scholarships. Those who came here on scholarships have made their sufficient number of years contribution in the Nepalese health service such as working in remote part of the country. There are variety of reason why the Nepalese doctors stayed back in UK. In fact many of its members went back to Nepal after completion of their training in this country. Unfortunately they were not given proper jobs according to their obtained qualifications. Some stayed back in Britain for the sake of their children’s education. Not all doctors who were able to go back home did manage to be like the ones the author mentioned. Perhaps the author should have included the lists of the other doctors in Nepal whose names deserves to be quoted. Nepalese in general and the author in particular should be proud of these Nepalese doctors who are doing so well in their respective profession even in a country like Britain. Moreover, people should start thinking in terms of global opportunity rather than confided to a small part of the globe. Perhaps the author should recapitulate his old test "The king is adored in his country only, but a learned man is respected throughout the world".
As far as second generation of this community is concerned, the author is partly right and partly wrong. Some of these new generation children might have lost their culture to some extent. But one cannot blame them; Because they are brought up here and they have a freedom of choice in a free country like Britain. This kind of change is happening not only in Britain, but also in younger generation of Nepal. We have to give them various options open, but the ultimate choice is theirs. Moreover, many second generation children of doctors community in Britain are fluent in Nepalese language and are well versed in their culture. Celebrating Christmas does not mean losing their cultural identity. However, it is true that a small Nepalese community cannot make a significant cultural and identity impact in the British main stream. This is a fact and one has to accept it with a pinch of salt. A children’s experience in Nepal and expressing his mind into words will not make him anti-Nepalese.
Lastly the author appears to be concerned about the activities of the Nepalese Organisation ‘Yeti’ in Britain. As a member of ‘Yeti’ association, I have a right to make certain comments on Mr Mishra’s remarks about ‘Yeti’ Association in Britain. There is only one ‘Yeti’ official association in Britain with its branches at the regional levels. It is quite, but natural to have different view points between its members. After all we are not machines having same engines and that is a free country to express one’s opinion freely within a democratic framework. I hope I have satisfied the questions raised by Mr Mishra’s article.
Dr. Phauda R. Thebe
Dear Sir,
I felt very offended by the article ‘Nepalese Doctors in Britain’ written by Mr R. Mishra in the February issue of Sagarmatha Times. It was particularly derogatory to Nepali doctors in Britain and also to Nepali community here in general. He seems to have spoke with couple of unhappy doctors and then taken moral highground to judge arbitrary and condem us without knowing the full facts.
Yes, it is true that some Nepali doctors and other professionals, like many other nationals from all over the world, decided to live and work here, but that never meant that they had to give up their national identity, language or culture. For whatever reasons the doctors decided to stay, the decisions were not taken easily and lightly and they were not wholly to blame. There were many circumstances, personal and otherwise, which made them stay in Britain.
I am sure that we can and will contribute whatever we can towards the welfare and progress in Nepal and we do not need to feel useless and downhearted. Mr Mishra must know that now we have association with active people who are sincerely trying to organise our community and to preserve and promote our national identity and culture.
I am sure it is possible to keep and preserve our identity and be proud of it even if we spend greater parts of our lives in Britain.
Dr. Sharda Man Joshi
The Follwing is an addition to the letter from Dr. Shakya published in the last issue : General Practitioners (GP) in Britain are well respected if they are sympathetic and good on their work even of they are from overseas. The vast majority of people including doctors in Britain turn to their GP first when they need advise regarding their health. In recent years, they have been given more responsibility not only in their traditional role of healers, but also in preventive medicine.
Therefore, the statement that they have little more to do than refer the patients to specialists and hospitals is not only completely wrong, but an insult to those doctors who play a vital role on the health of the nation. Without them NHS will simply collapse.
Dear Editor,
I read your news about the Himalayan Yeti on the interent. That is a very good thing that will happen. Yeti was embarrassing as I don’t think it was representing the Nepalese in UK well. Hopefully Himalayan Yeti will have people who have better developed minds & ideas. It seems to me like Nepalese in US and even Australia have a better visibility than those in UK. Before Sagarmatha Times, I don’t think there was any visibility at all for the Nepalese in UK. Hopefully Himalayan Yeti will change things.
Mr & Mrs Keshav Bhattarai
Sydney, Australia
