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Dear Sir,
The article ‘Nepalese doctors in U.K’ crisis in identity, 28th February 1998, by Rabindra Mishra, has generated debate not only amongst Nepalese Doctors in U.K, but also amongst other sections of the community. The article itself seems to be superficial with a lot of inaccuracies. It is written, based on subjective views and not based on any objective findings. I would like to make a few comments as follows:
1. The article is based on a few comments by few doctors the author has met socially.
2. The emotive and subjective comments made about the Nepalese Doctor’s communities would be equally true to other sections of the Nepalese communities living in the U.K.
3. Comparing Nepalese Doctors living in U.K ( Maximum 100 ?), to other ethnic doctors like Indians or Bangladeshis is like comparing ‘David to Goliath’.
4. Nepalese Doctors settled in the U.K generally hold fairly senior positions ranging from Principal G.Ps, to Consultants in various medical specialities. These are the highest positions that even a local doctor can aspire to achieve.
5. The naive statement the author makes about the G.Ps role ‘ who have little more to do than refer the patients to specialists in hospitals’, will be offensive to any G.P in U.K . Perhaps the author should tackle the issue of Nepalese Doctors who ‘shamelessly never return to the services of Nepalese Government again’, with the respective Nepalese government and British council. The assumption that all Nepalese Doctors are sponsored by the Nepalese government is not true. Most of us have come on our own merit and have achieved our present positions through tough competition.
6. They ‘could have also probably achieved more in Nepal than what they have in Britain’. The author maybe right, the Nepalese Doctors in U.K may not have acquired the same wealth as a few counterparts he names in Nepal. Not all the Nepalese doctors came to this country, with the sole purpose of pursuing wealth or fame.
7. The author under estimates the contribution of Nepalese doctors individually and collectively in Nepal and U.K . Space does not permit me to give details to all the contributions made here. The Nepalese Doctors Association (N.D.A), established in 1985 represents the views of most of its members and has provided a platform of bringing together scattered doctor’s families in U.K . It maintains and promotes Nepalese life and culture amongst its members’, families and children, and in their communities.
8. The N.D.A has initiated many projects individually and collectively. These are not ‘mere face saving measures’. The individuals involved are seriously involved giving up their valuable time and effort, and are committed to various projects. Just to name a few; helping to establish Paediatric Oncology (cancer) services in Kanti Hospital, Kathmandu, establishing radiotherapy unit in Bhaktapur Cancer Care Centre, costing over half a million dollars. The other contributions raising funds to build a house to rehabilitate Leprosy patients in Khokhna, Nepal. Recently one of our members has personally initiated, in raising funds to build a school in a remote village in Western Nepal.
9. The N.D.A plays a vital link between Nepal and U.K in sponsoring British medical graduates to do electives in Nepal. It also actively helps doctors from Nepal in finding training schemes and jobs, in the U.K. The N.D.A members have also contributed to the TOKTEN programme in Nepal through UNDP.
10. Unlike the other ethnic communities like Indians and Pakistanis who seem to be ‘everywhere’ the Nepalese Doctor’s families have not been so successful in teaching Nepali to their children. but unlike other ethnic communities our second generation have managed to successfully integrate and assimilate in the local community. They have a high academic success rate with no record of violence or crime that frequently one reads of other ethnic groups.
11. The Nepalese Doctors have also active ‘Dasai’ and ‘Tihar’ groups and maintain to promote our festivals and culture. The marriages are mostly according to Nepalese customs, there is also increasing contact with Nepal, with regular visits allowing our children to appreciate the rich culture and natural beauty of Nepal.
The Nepalese Doctors living in U.K are hard working and serious minded individual, not wanting to attract unnecessary attention, but in view of this article I am sure there will be many more responses. Should any reader want to find out more about the N.D.A activities they are more than welcome to contact me or any member of the executive team.
Yours sincerely
Dr Chuda Karki
Consultant Psychiatrist/ Medical Director
Chairman, N.D.A
E. Mail CBKARKI@aol.com
Dear Sir,
I must congratulate Mr Mishra for writing such a courageous article and Sagarmatha Times for publishing it. I know truth can be painful, but false statement made under misconception can be harmful. I would like to make following comments :
- Nepalese doctors and others working in the UK and elsewhere promote the name of Nepal and Nepalese at the international level. They also give job opportunities for those who stayed behind in Nepal instead of competing for the few jobs that are available locally.
- The statement that they have little more to do than refer the patients to specialists and hospitals is not 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.
- Mr Mishra said it is too late for Nepalese doctors to ponder whether they could do something for the nation. Could he give us some concrete suggestions ? Perhaps, he could also tell us why he should tell us why he is working in the UK instead of Nepal where he probably could have done more.
- It is true that some parents do not encourage their children to speak their mother tongue or national language for whatever reason. But there is a positive side to this. When Nepalese youngsters meet, they share at least two things in common. A common language albeit a non Nepalese language and feeling that they are Nepalese, not Brahmin, not Chhetri, not Newar, not Tamang, etc…. This feeling of unity as Nepalese can not be bad, or can it ?
- It is true that some of us do not celebrate Nepalese festivals mainly because we lost track of them. But the greatest Nepalese festival ‘Dashain’ may be construed as barbaric the way we celebrate it in Nepal at present. How appropriate is it to sacrifice thousands of animals in the name of religion in a country where the Buddha was born and in a country which feels proud to be called the only Hindu kingdom ? When there are so many Hindus in India and elsewhere, who believe ‘Ahisma is their Param Dharma’ and are strict vegetarian. Perhaps it needs modification to make it more palatable to Nepalese youngsters who are exposed to modern civilized way of life in Britain.
- I am a member of Yeti. But I hope someone who are more actively involved in the organization will take a few minutes to answer Mr Mishra’s allegation. Therefore, I sincerely hope one of the executive member will respond to Mr Mishra’s article.
Yours sincerely
Dr Dharma Bhaka Shakya & Mrs Shakya
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 generals 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.
Th 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.
Yours Sincerely
Dr. Phauda R. Thebe
(ST has forwarded to Mr Mishra the above letters and is waiting for his reply which will be published in the next issue.)
