Devkota on State Building.

[Published in Devkota Studies no 12. Kathamndu: Devkota Studies and Research Centre, , April 2012]


Atindra Dahal

Introduction

State Building in Brief:
State building, the term of public focus and high talk in politics at present, is not a solid concept;
rather, it is a blend with integration of many characteristics each and every nation is supposed to reflect
or possess in the course of setting a track for an all-round progress. These characteristics are:
participation of people in the politics, rise of ethnicity and nationalism, rule of law, corruption free
society and public services, standard level of social services to the people, gaining the economic
development and retaining peace by bypassing violence, and acceptance of multiple subjecthood
positions of the people in the nation. State building is a solid path to nation at prosperity and success.
Gaining admissible progress in these respects assures state building


Laxmi Prasad Devkota

Laxmi Prasad Devkota (1909 1959) is the best literary figure so far Nepal has produced and was
awarded the title of the greatest poet. His works: are with solid and appreciative blend of fact and
fictions and speak about politics and social awareness, cultures and economics, and combine from
deals of personal life to the dire need of renovation and restructuring of the nation. Concept of quality
human lives and independent nation, explored in his works are powerful markers of his strong
patriotism and farsighted vision to set the nation into a newer dimension. Reading his works profusely
entertains and enlightens the readers. An unparallel figure in total history of Nepali literature, towering
personality, Devkota represents the boundless insight of human feelings and expectations. Despite
difficult situations too, he produced quality works and that enabled him retain his height. Those works
directly and indirectly guideline for social transformation.


Devkota had an imagination of sound and advanced state, which is reflected in his works. Because he
was interested for reformation of the nation, he actively participated in politics till introduction of the
Democracy in 1950; however evils and wrongs of politics in Nepal made him budge back from the
drive. Nonetheless, later, he was shouldered the responsibility of the Ministry of Education,
assimilating his solid and sound vision for improving and modifying the educational section, in spite of
the fact that he had been disconnected from the mainstream of active politics of the time.


State Building:
State building, with aim of drastic social changes and assurance of better living of the people, drags
every ones attention in todays politics. Many other assumptions such as: capacity building of people,
conflict transformation and structural changes are highly talked in reference to the pursuit of stages of
state building. The current politics and entire attempts in every country are engaged with this deal.
Indiscrete individual to entire international community is busy to unleash possible of their services for
state building. Many phrases i.e.: reconfiguration, restructuring, innovation, dismantling and
demolishing of all ongoing are used to explain the notion of state building; and the same is aimed to
gain with State Building. Failure on state building invites unrest, trauma and problem upon every
macro to micro level components of society. As the outcome, the communities grow with enmity,
stress, mistrust and arch-rivalry, within each other, in different domains. The scene generates the
terror, harrowing insecurity and confusion among the citizens. These all make people feel that state
building is getting emasculated.

Realizing the facts, the international communities, governments and different components or levels of
society have been unleashing their efforts to assure the level of state building with a feeling that it
promotes proper development of the earth as a congenital and conducive place to live and be
enlightened with the lustrous lives. So, these days the issues of state building and restructuring the
nation have caused a big round of talk and held bountiful space. Besides in political dealings and
attempts, consciousnesses of State Building are pervasively found in literature too. Presence of such
feelings precede in literature than in theory and discussion of present time. The works by Devkota
embody many such issues and concerns. A minute reading of his works makes people feel that he has
been succinctly guiding them in art of state building.
His works sow the seeds for norms of secure, safe and salubrious society and ensure the harmonious
coexistence of all human beings. They suggest guidelines for efficiency in the process of state building
provided they are well read and those feelings are subtly implemented. Devkotas farsightedness
predates the debate or discussion on the very topic of state building. In short, Devkota has had a
formative influence upon theories of state building.
His Strategies for State Building.
Devkota had a vision of state that has: peace, prosperity, sound economical foundation, no corruption,
fair civil service to people, participation of people for helping needy, practical education for all round
progress and with equity, surpassing of violence, honoring the heterogeneous or multiple frame of
identity, and brotherhood; and he also proposes a way of gaining the desired phase of the state
building.
== + - -- +== == =-= = ===
- =+ += -+ =+ =+-+ -= +== (=+-+ -= +== -) [Even if storm might come, or
fire might destroy everything else, may our fortitude continue and flourish]
The above lines indicate his deep imagination about capable state. The poets expectation of the
nation is of course a nation of progressiveness, success and developments. People expect the nation of
recognition, dignity and honor in self and to others. Here, poet wishes for peoples imagination to be
materialized or he aspires such nation be developed.
State building relies on awareness in people for freedom and independence then more strikingly for
justice and selflessness.
+=+ =- =-=+ ==, +=+ == - --=+ -+ == - += -| =-= =+ -c
(=-= =-- +:)[Then the need of religion is for human happiness, for heaven.
Human will be blind in absence of religion]
With these lines, Devkota even accepts then reinforces need of religion. He projects the total
devastation of ethics in absence of it. Hence his feeling of inducting religion and strengthening
religious ways of life are for conservation of ethnics and for complete joy and happiness of people by
making them selfless. Movements by groups will be possible only at the time provided the groups
remain in existence. For that, Devkota raises the voice for induction of religion; it means that he wants
to strengthen the issue of nation building by preserving the groups of diversity. He thinks to assure the
states efficiency for all people despite having disparities in their religious, cultural, racial factors.
With help of the religion, he is addressing the freedom or independence of the religious groups as well
formation of selfless people.
The assurance of the facilities i.e.: the rule of law, fair pubic administration, equitable social and
economical policies, corruption free delivery of public services, and support for civil society and to
people are most significant markers of state building. Devkota realizes it very well that it will infinitely
help to enhance capacity building of the people. On same , Devkota makes his feelings explore
= = =--, =-c ==+ =- ===: =-- r- =--= - += =c c
===+=- c = =-, =- += ==c- =--+ c- -- === == -c = - = =- =-
== =- =--, =-= -- =-= =-, =: =- -=s- ()[I dont need pleasure any
more, I need rule of the truth. A fire that saves the world. I worship torment. Fie on
those attached to sense the pleasure. I hate honey to which wings stick, and the heart of
life burns in an unseen fire. I dont wish to be engaged in all those meaningless
activities.]
=- =s, -, ==+, =-+= = = -=a =- - -+= =- - += --c-, +=+= -= =a --, ===-
=- : == -- (+ -+= =- c)53. [Small, sweet, peaceful, this is new Nepal for me. Here Wagner
is using the spade, Shakespeare may be ploughing, Tisian and tenor may be herding sheep.]
The lines exhibit his imagination of small, peaceful and harmonious nation where all people,
irrespective of disparity in their social status, work equally. Such activities assure equality among
people; then their proactive participation enhances national economy that is base of state building,
which needs strong economical reformation.
Similarly, his interests for: not to be indulged in wrong activity, willing to seek truth than joy and not
to suffer any body promote the feeling for negating corruption and advocating for maintaining social
equity which are key factors for the development of nation. The nation building automatically takes its
speed, provided all people have similar type of firm determination like the narrator has explained.
Devkota with help of his narrator is advising all concerned people of nation develop similar
characteristics and contribute for the nation building.
A step in state building is that the state structures must be able to fulfill the expected function. Even
people can support a lot on this issue. Since nation building is the matter of common responsibility of
citizen and government, joint and complementary ventures from each other are the must. Realizing the
role of an individual to enhance the level of service delivery to people or strengthen capacity of people,
Devkota opines:
==: |+ ==: =-- - =- =c, =- += = += :=== |+ +-== ==+ +--- -- ==+
==-- -- : (+-: =--:=).[I like to give entire to a poor. Or, two or four hundred at a
time to watch gratefulness and, the sense of possibility]
His feelings show that he loves to enhance the capacity of people; and those activities would enable
people to meet their expectation a bit. His strong desire to capacitate needy people duly exposes his
interest for participation in process of state building. Besides the share from government, even he
himself has realized his role to support the living of people, and make it march ahead in progressive
and positive way. Such feeling from the essayist is because of his farsightedness in concern of state
building.
-+ -= +- = -c
: -+ |-

-==: +- === =
+ +- -=

=+ == = -= ==
+ =- c (+-: ++)

[We too have rights in nation, the law of the lord. Offer us some lights, and may the nation. Our
motherland has a gloomy countenance today]

The above lines express his pain towards nation while it was on stage of poor development. The same
time he expects some brightness to the people and better situation of the country. Here it is clear that,
Devkota always willed for different world than what he had passed or faced.

Creation of new type of executive authorities and improving upon capacity of existing one signal state
building. ==: - -+ =-- +-+ --+c =-- =c =-= +=-+ =- ===, == -=
=== -== (- )[I like the education is to be something that takes the habit of farmer,
ploughs the land and fertilizes it]
The extracted lines hints Devkotas farsightedness in terms of strengthening and modifying the
institution of the education. It is a signal of his vision for empowering and strengthening the level of
the education. He assumes to modify the educational systems and roles in a new way to add value and
beauty in terms of living of all people. Today we are taking about pragmatic and practical education
for better nation what Devkota raised voice on many years before. His vision is completely different
than only educating the people in same crude and core theoretical framework by ignoring difference
and internal diversities. Practical education is in his mind that is really an important aspect for state
building.

Because of the same strength and quality, that Devkota could propose and lead a new way of strategy
for rapid innovation in Nepalese educational modes and practices, he was requested as the ministry of
education, despite the fact that he was in distance from having political flavor and alliance, in that
time.
= =+ =- =-, --== -==- =- +-- =- = -+=- === -- =+- ==== =r-
=+-, -+ ==-+ +-- t -- =--+ =- =+- === =-+ =-= ===+ --
===- =+- =- - ==-+ +== =--, =- =c+ =+ =--+ +- t=, =- -+=-
-+-+ - - ===+ =-= == ==: =--+ t=+ +=- =+- = + =+ =- =- = -
=a- . [(-: -: === )[ I would like to make changes, would like to cause a new
age. What like? Where all Nepalese could speak in English, could make new inventions
reading the books of chemistry and physics, could manage the social situations as per
economic rule put forward by Marshal, where, our local doctors would know the
formula of chemistry, where the people of life would be promoted into happiness, and
where the big letters would let the world know out worth. I cant even express what
reformations I would like to have]
Here, Devkota opines, state building cant be achieved singularly without support of contemporaries,
so he focuses to incorporate the feature of adopting foreign ideas, methods for self improvements. It
speak his imagination that people in nation would act remarkably in line of some foreigners and
reformists, who had done profuse changes in their nations and contributed the new height to the state.
Earning command over English for development exactly matches with the concept of adopting foreign
modals through local channel. Citing many famous names and imagining them working in our nation
or expecting citizens to work similarly to those people is his guidelines for applying foreign models to
local conditions. He assumes to apply and take benefits from various foreign developments and
reformations for prosperity of the nation. That is indicator of the foreignness is being localized to
pursue the development.
-- +=+ =- c-
=- c-
-+ c, +=-+ := c
-- = == c
c- s+ -
= +
=- c =a + (=- c = ===- c = -) [there are errors of the past, there are pains, and
there are piles of hardship. Suppressions and oppressions continue, and all want to win any cost]

The lines consciously awakes people to raise voice and make step against of evils and cruel deeds.
He appeals for victory, victory of people or victory over despotic rulers. He claims firm determination
in case making guarantee of sovereignty and supremacy in people, what makes the sense of stable
state.

= = =+-= -- =--, - =: = =: := ==- =a- ==: --+
===- ==== +:+ ++ =-- =c- = --=: =-- =-= =+ -=|+ -c = == +=
r- =-c - =+-== =-- ==+- =- =a- = =+-+ --+- =-c (=++ =-== -). [I
dont like to be more conservative. But I can assume father as foe and foreigner as friend. I still regard
the scientific glitterati as sin of others. I am always cautious while adopting them. I like to have trust to
foreigners, but cant surrender because of superstitious; I still like to be modern]. With these lines
Devkota clearly focuses his interest on learning the forms of modernity, post conflict recovery and
changes from other nations; but same-time he infallibly raises the feeling that he never wants to make
his state weak, or drag into the web of outer intervention. Rather his motive is to create an independent
and sovereign nation by learning modalities of development from foreign. The balanced thought
between need of learning through foreign and interest of making nation self sustaining and capable
with application of those methods and technologies assist state building.
Notion of Devkota on nation restructuring and nation building can be explored clearly with following
lines;
==: |+- -|+ |== = = -=- =- == c=-= +-= = === ==-+ ==-
--= =++ = +- = (+=+- -)[one day, I wished to create a utopia, and I lay on the
bed. I closed my eyes, and I tried to enhance the picture with the conscious feeling of creativity]
These lines exhibit his trust and optimism towards a different type of state mechanism that we are
about to practice today as federal, that is assumed as the symptom of the nation building. But that like
of state was only of the assumption in his period. However he made a guideline to people to proceed at
that structure of the state politics though his works.
Different other types of feelings and farsightedness, to create a state of free, fair and fast civilization,
are succinctly depicted in Devkotas essays.
==+ =+=+ =+ ==: == + -= -- = -= =- =-++-+ : -c (=
)[observing his activities, I would feel that to be a murderer or indulge violence is in against of
human nature]
The above lines advise people to avoid violence, to abominate disorder. It indicates that Devkota
had a vision of peaceful nation. Such peace enables people for better work and better economy. Even,
the guarantee of fundamental rights to people and betterment of national and international transactions
are likely to take place only in situation of having harmony and amalgamation in society.
The feeling of peace, which is the foundational step in state building, is clearly noticeable in Devkotas
essays.
-= -+c:+- =-=+ =+- -= =-= += =- -c =- == -= =:+c
(=-- -= + --)[the youth doesnt end without sweeping away the violence. Our true
development starts on that point where the world embraces brotherhood. ]
Here, he speaks the gross fact and road truth that no civilization is possible unless violence and conflict
are off from the nation. He suggests the people travel on the very track of peace that was his
orientation to participate in state building. He focuses the need of fraternity and brotherhood for
development and prosperity of the nation. Such fraternity and brotherhood will be possible only at the
stage of sweeping all conflicts and violence. He encourages all people to have such mode of living
through his works. Then emerged fraternity and brotherhood will make base for prosperous, strong and
propitious nation, which is one of the indicators of nation building.
He is equally aware about fundamental rights and mater of freedom as well.

=- =- =-
---+- - =-- (--)
|+= =+= =+= =+ =+ == ==
-: +-+ =-( ---+- - =-- -=)[servitude is human pyre, freedom is humanity, uniting
the whole nation into a rosary by considering all brothers,]

With the lines, poet shows his wish and expectation of nation where all people will be functionally free
and in mode of making combine venture for the betterment of the nation. He regards freedom as the
major issue of the state he imagines.

Even Devkota has created such character in his essays who equally acknowledges others subjecthood
positions, despite having disparities. It promotes interpersonal harmony in the nation then takes nation
in solid path of brotherhood and unity.
- += cc ---++ =+-= ==- == -- =+- =+= -=+ = =- -c =-- ==
=-- =+- c- (--==)[in spite of being resolute to his views, a saint has a big heart if he
can see the world through he eyes of an atheist; there are infinite perspectives in the infinite realm.]
The lines state the quality of Sadhu, even being strongly theist, he can love and understand feeling of
atheist too, who sharply contradicts to his notion about presence of god. But such quality of Sadhu
shows a character creates multiple identities; then such feeling encourages people sweep feeling of
hostility, war and unrest. Similarity of being human and having many other characters are assimilated
than highlighting the difference of being theist and atheist. It creates harmony and conviviality in
society. That allows people make joint venture for marching on the road of prosperity by sidelining the
internal inraids and conflicts.


In this way, Devkota guided, through his vision in works, for a strong, solid and prosperous nation.
The same feelings and notions are propounded, but years and decades later, by renowned theoreticians
in domain of state building.
Ideating State Building.
Creation of new type of executive authorities and improving upon capacity of existing one is signaling
state building that Devkota alluded in his works decades ago. The same idea has been one of issues for
state building. Defining the concept of nation building, an internationally acclaimed and widely read
author for his contributions over ideating state building, Fukuyama says: State building is creation of
new government institutions and strengthening of existing one (Preface).
Devkota expressed the feeling of localizing the global connections and methods for better civilization
of the nation. Later on the same idea was raised in form of state building as: The majority of cases of
successful state building and institutional reform have occurred when society has generated strong
domestic demands then related them out of whole cloth, imported them from the outside, or adopted
foreign models to local conditions (47) and it hints that nation building incorporates the feature of
adopting foreign ideas, methods for self improvements.
Enhancing economic development of the nation is one of the traits of the nation building. Having
strong economic foundations and prosperity conversely affects the state building efficiency and so on.
Highlighting same, Fukuyama says: The problem lay in a basic conceptual failure to unpack the
different dimensions of stateness and to understand how they are related to economic development
(7). Internalizing such relation between nation building and need of economic empowerment of nation,
Devkota frequently raised such issues which can cause economic promotion of the nation.
Devkotas strong aspirations to negate violence, to understand people in parameters of multiple
indicators of the introductions, assimilating humanity as freedom and freedom as development
undoubtedly speak the aspiration of sound and stable state. Today the notions of state building,
decades after Devkota raised such issues, state the same things as features of state building. The
theoreticians ideated state building with the same notion i.e. independence and freedom, justice and
selflessness, economic development, glocalization, what Devkota has had awaked people through his
works and it predates than of theories.
Defining the features of successful nation which is assumed to have possessed many of modern
features, Mayer, Boli and Thomas say:
The society would be analyzed as an economy, with standard type of data, organization, and
policies for domestic and international transactions. Its people would be formally recognized as
citizen with many familiar rights, while certain categories of citizen-children, the elderly, the
poor- would be grant especial protection. Standard forms of discrimination, especially ethnic
and gender based would be discovered and decried. The population would be counted and
classified in a ways specified by the world census model. Modern educational, medical,
scientific and family law institutions would be developed (146)



To justify further about features of modern and developed society, which has been able to prove the
successful stage of the nation building, Inglehart says:
Industrialization promotes a shift from traditional to secular rational values, while the rise of post
industrial society brings a shift towards more trust, tolerance and well being and pos materialist values.
Economic collapse tends to collapse societies in opposite direction (49).
It means economic prosperity of the nation matters a lot for the nation building and such an economic
prosperity to assure nation building relies on mass industrialization.
Notions like of Myaer, Boli and Thomas and Inglehart, Devkota has expressed his desires of financial
sound state in different points of his work couple of decades back.
Development has not been easing to those countries prone to civil war (World Bank report 93)
clearly hits that end or management of civil war is one of the mandatory elements to attain
development at the stage of nation building. Meeting human rights and maintaining human values
come to be chiefly important to maintain peace in society. In course of theorizing peace building, as
one of the major steps of the nation building, Schirch says What will peace building accomplish? In
general values meeting human needs and protecting human rights (13).
Taking about feature and process of state building, Hachhethu writes: Peace is obliviously the
overriding concern of the state building in post conflict society. (102). Briefing about the prerequisite
feature of society that wants to go with process of nation building by ensuring prosperity, peace and
development, Sen writes: Those who support or facilitate the transformational process therefore need
to think about how to create multiple forums for addressing identity (59).
But many years before than these theories of State Building are developed; Devktoa raised similar
issues through his works. He explicitly oriented people, on these feelings and needs through his work,
what are theorized today as polices of state building by the theoreticians talked above.
Conclusion:
Devkotas works, written and published many years before than theories and notions of the nation
buildings were published, are full of motives or clues and cues that can be remarkably useful to assist
the process of state building provided those are internalized and applied in to practice.
Hence, to sum up, Devkota had farsightedness on concepts of the state building or he predates
theoreticians to judge and opine on the issues of state building. He has had formative influence on
State Building.
Works Cited:
Breaking the Conflict Trap: Civil War Development Policy. A World Bank policy research report.
Washington DC; 2003.
Fukuyama, Francis. State Building: Governance World Order in Twenty First Century. UK: Profile
Books; 2009.
Hachhethu, Krishna. State Building in Nepal: Creating a Functional State. Nepal; 2009.
Inglehart, Ronald and Wayne E Baker. Modernization, cultural change, and persistence of traditional
values. American Sociological Review 65.1(2006): 19-51.

Lederach, John Paul. The Little Book of Conflict Transformation. Good Books; 2003
Mayer, John. W. John Boli, George M. Thomas. Francisco O. Ramierz. World Society and the Nation
State. The American Journal of Sociology. Vol. 103. 103 no (1), July 1997, 144-181
Schirch, Lisa. The Little Book of Strategic Peace Building. Good books; 2004
Sen, Amartya. Identity and violence. Cambridge: Massachusetts, 2005.
+=, =-= += =-= +- ==- +s=: = ++-, ---
+=, =-= += =-= -+ ==- +s=: = ++-, --
+=, =-= +=, +-: ++ ===- ==+ =-+ =-=+= += -+ + ---
+s=: - +--+ -