Meaningful Dialogue
Dharmendra
Jha
August 21, 2013
The
leaders of political parties and social organizations of Panchthar district
participated in anexercise of stacking 12 nails on top of one nail stuck in a
small wooden slate without any external support. The task looked almost
impossible to 18 people divided into three groups. Later when the facilitator
indicated the groups to use local experience and technology, one of thegroups
was able to complete the task that involved rigorous efforts. Six members in
the group shouted with joy. The success was later achieved by both the second
and third groups, and all thegroup members were shouting in excitement.
Although
the reaction of the participants looked normal at a first glance, there was one
thing special in the success and scream— the leaders who were less active in
the group work were relatively more excited and screaming out load than the
rest. The chairperson of NepaliCongress, Narendra, and the leader of
CPN-Maoist, Bikash, were in two different groups. Some of the emotions that
were observed as a result of this exercise and shouting were interrelated and were
very important. First, it was relatively easier to achieve success while
working in groups.Second, proper utilization of local experience and technology
is important. Third, ownership ofthe success achieved by one’s own effort was
easier to accept and could also be a matter ofunlimited happiness. Fourth, it
was possible to achieve any daunting task perceived asimpossible through mutual
coordination and cooperation. Fifth, the need-based externalassistance could
play an important role. Sixth, leadership should have the capacity to
incorporate, coordinate, and motivate all throughout the process. And seventh,
things should be analyzed from different perspectives when solution to a
problem could not be achieved from one thought process. The leaders of
Panchthar had developed these understandings from this “Nail Exercise.” Giving
continuity to the tradition of dialogues is the only alternative to minimize
mutual discontents and to concentrate on local development.
The
above context was that of a three-day workshop organized by UNDP’s Conflict
Prevention Program targeting political and social leaders of Panchthar
district. The workshop was held in Birtamod, Jhapa, from August 14th through 16th.
While the district-level political leaders were initiating dialogues to solve
the Nail Exercise, the political parties and the government in Kathmandu
were busy in bilateral, tripartite and multilateral discussions. During the
same time, while some political parties were trying to create enabling
environment for the upcoming election at the districts, the CPN-Maoist, its
aligned groups and their fraternal wings were distributing pamphlets with a
message to boycott the election. Although these reactions towards election are
extremely different, they are interrelated. All these reactions could be a
brought together for a dialogue.
Dialogue
is a dynamic process. A one-time dialogue does not necessarily address and solve
all the problems. Recognition of a problem is an important aspect, and the
process of dialogue is important to do so. Bringing concerned stakeholders
together to listen to each other is an important aspect of dialogue. For this
to happen a favorable environment needs to be created— preparatory work needs
to be done. Although dialogue may not always be a solution, but there is no
other alternative either. Dialogue, however, can provide appropriate groundwork
towards solving any problem if handled appropriately by facilitators based on
the needs. Trust is an important condition for a dialogue. Dialogue is not
possible when there is lack of trust. At least the participants in Birtamod
have now understood the importance, rationale, process, and conditions for dialogue.
The participants, who even hesitated to shake their hands in the past, were
seen trusting their own lives in the hands of others. This was an important
aspect of the workshop as there is now a situation where they can trust each
other. On the basis of what was observed in Birtamod, it is now expected that
the political parties in Panchthar will initiate the
culture
of dialogue as a continuous process.
Acceptance
of others’ existence is an important aspect in the process of dialogue. The
leaders of Panchthar have clearly understood this reality. Imposing one’s
unilateral opinion or attempting to build consensus within traditionally held
opinions only could not be dialogue—in fact, it is conflict. Using this
analytical lens, the rationale of so-called dialogues between the government and
four major political parties in the past is questionable. One of the reasons of
these dialogues for not being meaningful might be due to the groups coming to a
dialogue with prejudiced mindsets. In a meaningful dialogue, it is expected to
express one’s opinion, listen to other’s view openly, accept differences in
opinions, and seek mutually-agreeable solutions to move forward.
The
leaders of Panchthar have realized the above facts and also sensed the need of
joint-leadership
based on dialogue and collaboration. They have also cherished their common dream
of developing their district within the next 10 years. Once together in
Birtamod, they were thinking of Panchthar’s overall future development.
Standing together at present, they reflected their past, and developed the
framework for future. Their visions on development are creative and
constructive. Most importantly, the dream that they cherished together is not
impossible. If they retain their trust, like the way they practiced in
Birtamod, and if they continue fixing the “nails” through dialogues, they can
achieve much more than what they expected over the next 10 years.
Most
of the participants of the workshop have accepted that local human resource,
technology, resources, and ideology are required for local development. They
have also developed the understanding that local policy and leadership are
decisive for this to happen. It is even inspiring that they realize the fact
that the understanding of people involved in National politics in Kathmandu
is different than local. This, however, is only possible when they start
dialogue in real sense. (English
Translation)
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