Governance Consciousness in Devkotas Sonnet

[Published in Devkota Studies no 13. Kathamndu: Devkota Studies and Research Centre, October 2012] Atindra Dahal Notion of Governance Good governance is a fascinatingly catchy and much talked dictum that is paid profuse significance and unending interest in these days. Despite having rounds of debates and discussions on methods and approaches of prospering a nation, good governance can never be gainsaid and its values can never be disparaged; in result, it has been always placed a top. Even the majority of literatures documented to declare self as pathfinder in process of building better and citizen-responsive state and propelling advancement of nation throw light on inexplicable value and sacrilegious role of good governance for such pious jobs. It has been a streamlined attribute of promoting nation/state building; no nation/state building can be imagined without maintaining spirit of good governance. In fact, it is the soul of causing sole development in the nation. In case of having incomplete or ineffective governance, the development of the nation and welfare of the people remain a pipe dream rather. To sense practically, good governance stands as an indeterminate term used to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights, assurance of participatory decision-making and accountable implementation. The term governance can be equally applied to corporate, international, national level or to the interactions between other sectors of society. Because of the reasons, good governance has been a buzz word to almost every document of public administration and attempt of implementation in the all institutions or organizations. The administration, which is supposed to deliver beneficiary packages or serve to people and that embodies the role of making people assured and convinced about the correct execution of the state services by being answerable and correctly accountable to the people, counts values and collects esteem on ground of governance system. If governance fades, whole story and endeavors behind making a nation better and prosperous fails. How is a nation and what do the people perceive about government of the country? basically relies on how do the bureaucrats assist, address and acknowledge the citizens at the time of offering service to them. The government, which has a duty of instigating and intensifying good governance, and its activities to the people to grass root often gets passed through bureaucracy. Good governance that is why, has been deemed as the soul of transparency and foundational development of the nation and as an indestructibly blended symbol of fair, fast, functional and fruitful democracy. In order to explore the values in wider range and make the world shaping talks and thoughts, even many of universities are established and courses on good governances are being conducted both in the regular or the high level research degrees as well. Many of international NGOs and INGOs too are adjuring many nations to abjure malpractices and adopt sound track of good governance for the consistent and sustainable progress. Most of the countries are unleashing their full compass efforts to systematize good governance. In

compendium, entire world revolves round the principles of good governance and aims to attain then retain it for mass well being. Besides attempts and orientation from different dominions, such spirits are even detected in the literature of Laxmi Prasad Devkota. Devkota, the greatest poet of Nepal, has far umpired the world to stick for and adhere to the norms of good governance through his sonnets. The various assumptions about such a governing discipline of high level values, no doubt- that is good governance, are clearly embodied in and reflected through his texts. Analysis of Sonnets: Governance Consciousness in Devkota Office for Public Management Ltd and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, in a report, titled The Independent Commission on Good Governance in Public Services defines the notion of governance as, Good governance means making sure that users receive a high quality service, making sure that taxpayers receive value for money (4). The propositions exclaim for the certainty of correct reciprocation to the people, for their regular contribution, from the nation. Every nation depends in tax paid by the people; so the most demanding job of the government and bureaucracy is to assure appropriate and commensurate return of tax to the people; and it shows of being responsible and accountable towards them. The poet Devkota, in well versed symbolical way, in his sonnet, You called me guru writes, In astral heat sublime, That seeks in this dark world but to define, A path of light, To all in space and time [(lines:10-12) page: 26]; where light symbolically stands complying with transparency and being accountable to others. Having deep comprehension and acknowledging others justifies the real value of the light as light makes enables people to affirm the visibility. And its reflection capacitates people to see what they have achieved and makes it quite limpid. People obviously do hold the caliber of distinguishing right from wrong in presence of light; then they consciously act for justice and virtues. The situation analogically represents the poets expectation about a nation which assures that every citizen receives high quality service from the nation as well as they can easily recognize what they are getting as outcome and recompense of their service to the country. It is irrefutable that a nation having and holding that level of strength and functioning is no doubt being streamlined for stage of good governance. Building such citizens-oriented country, in a great deal, is a subset of good governance. A report, Good Governance Practices for the Protection of Human Rights published on behalf of UN Publication with statement: While good governance refers to the exercise of authority through political and institutional processes that are transparent and accountable and encourage public participation, corrupt governance fails to offer citizens adequate and accurate information about government and policies, curtails the publics opportunities for participation, violates the publics right to be informed about government activities and procedures, and compromises the right to political participation. Thus, corruption weakens the accountability of State officials, reduces transparency in the work of State institutions and allows human rights violations to go unpunished (59) highlights complete rout and absence of corruption from any nation in order to cherish and confirm good governance. Promotion of accountability and answerability to the people can be only safeguarded with diffusing corruption; otherwise corruption diffuses good governance rather.

A vital consciousness begins to glow, For one bright spirit still informs their lives [from One bright spirit (11, 12)/27] hints his deep down feelings about a state with complete set of expected functions; and there citizens may have total freedom, which is fair and functional. The most vital consciousness in people is about their sovereignty and right; once people get them, they begin having self and automated interest for public participation and seeking transparency, their representation and inclusivity on the state mechanisms. That is one of the major features of cementing good governance in any of the nation; and poet Devkota with a phrase vital consciousness seems to have grown up with indelibly imprinted imagination of a nation, where people have total freedom and empowerment, whose those qualities make nation glow ahead; and that causes every one be correct, ethical and dutiful. In that case, no doubt the bureaucracy, since they too are a subsystem of total system-that is a country- of nation, they get surged and purged as well for betterment; hence nation gets of being equipped with culture and trend of good governance. The bold and clear focus on justice and righteousness falls on lines of his sonnets, To Algeria. Your spirit dieth not. Nor sinks your crest. The rights of man are never overpowered [(7, 8)/28] and Works the oppressors doom. Justice must rule the world. Though now tis gloom. The spring must come, the country then must bloom [(12, 13, 14)/28]. These lines exhibit the unbending focus on justice that poet Devkota has raised; and poet, with these lines, raises voice against unclear and discriminatory rules as well. The clear, transparent and non-discriminatory rules, what he synopsizes with a word justice, rightly unmasks his ingrained interest and invincible umpiring on good governance, which too aims to maintain justice and noncorruptibility in state mechanism and executions. Chavez, to define good governance, says, Not surprisingly, the most viable apology turned out to be governance, or rather the lack of it. Governments were corrupt and nontransparent, rules were unclear and discriminatory, private companies were irresponsible and overextended - the system was not functioning the way it should (30); and his statements make a solid baseline to argue that Devkoat has clear vision for sustaining good governance then insistently he advocates for it through his texts because the poet powerfully argues for non-corrupt and transparent as well as accountable and answerable state and government. Views by Piragi, Geeta and Kailasam, Governance is normally described as involving government, civil society and the private sector in managing the affairs of a nation, which means that the responsibility for managing the affairs of a nation is not limited to government alone, but includes a wide variety of stakeholders including: state government, local governments; the private sector; non-governmental and community-based organizations (NGOs/CBOs), the media, professional associations and other members of civil society. And each actor has a specific role to play based on its source of legitimacy and comparative advantage (1) rightly plead for the role of all other state stakes in phase of promoting and pertaining good governance process. It is no longer only the duty of government; nonetheless both the initiative and the large share are to be borne by state side; and even all people should present equal mastery and participation cum readiness in this domain. Similarly even the poet notices the role of many other agents i.e. guru (You called me guru), friend, (Have I a friend), other nations force, (To Algeria), hero, (Sun hero) and rulers

(Hail! glorious rulers) for uplifting the living standard of the people and improving the prosperity index of the nation; it means he tries to acknowledge the role of all types of stakeholders to make nation advanced and civilized but that can be possible only by laying consistent care on much central and cardinal aspect: that is good governance in the nation. Describing the basic qualities of governance as, Five principles underpin good governance and the changes proposed in this White Paper: openness, participation, accountability, effectiveness and coherence. Each principle is important for establishing more democratic governance. They underpin democracy and the rule of law in the Member States (10), a report titled European Governance: A white Paper objects foul practices, insincerity and wrong intentions; and that is for prompting good governance. Devkotas Sonnet of Sin reading, Can never drown the sea, nor sin make slave, For ever the soul. Nor lies drown time away [(5, 6)/32] harbours concern on beatable and destructible nature of sin or lies. Sooner or later, he seems to believe and internalize, that those spirits fade away form people; then it facilitates in growing of humans with virtues and values. Sin, if keeps on going away from mind and deportment of people promotes development of better behavior in the people. Such people, who grow by sacking sin or lies, no doubt, remain accountable and open to others and get built effective and coherent in activities too. Their right conducts and clear mind, which may have cleansed the impurities, entirely drive them to dive in to the functioning of mass welfare and public well being. So by urging for the vulnerability and eradication of sin and lies, poet expects the growth of society with good conducts that obliviously takes certain mode of good governance in practice. Often good governance is hindered because of sin and lies that people have had in them. And with a call to wait and try for omission of it, no doubt, the poet aims to facilitate the growth of good governance and loves to make reader endorse that he should have longed and fought for good governance, indeed strongly. As result, he talks of defeating sins and lies. Chowdhury and Skarstedt, saying In general, good governance is perceived as a normative principle of administrative law, which obliges the State to perform its functions in a manner that promotes the values of efficiency, noncorruptibility, and responsiveness to civil society (7) again highlight on the administrative system of nation remaining away from corruption and then growing responsive towards civil society as the assurance of paramount feature of good governance. Similar ideas are well versed and plainly reflected in his Sonnet of life team, I live to conquer what his truth bestows [(14)/31]. The line infallibly infers an understanding about the poet that he has ingrained aim to fight against of such follies then to detain the malpractices; and he feels thrilled in unleashing attempts in grooming to be responsive towards society and manner of no corruptibility for others. The interest of persona about noncorruptibility gets unmasked clearly since he avows to love truth and live to achieve it. Being truth-lover and non-corrupt make people oblivion of other discriminations, social follies and flaws and disparities. By then, they grow more responsive towards civil society, inculcate social nature and grow up selflessly. Such spirits capacitate those people be foundationally building bricks for practices of good governance. Narrators interest of living to conquer and get truth could have been said to reflect the poets indefatigable aim to see such final truth of nation that can be set in base of good governance.

Besides awaking people through his literature, embodying a distinct world, which has some unbeatably appreciative features, in his texts, Devkota has often urged people for the maximum use and correct exploitation of natural and social resources of nation. Our oriental riches and palm-leaf tree, our golden temples, rivers, customs and creed [You called me guru (6, 7) 26] motivates people for rational uses of resources. Even such appeal to the people is also an indicator, of the poet, being a far sighted in term of good governance because it equally acknowledges the role to make due exploitation of resources within self. If so is done, that cuffs poverty and discourages corruption or that means it promotes good governance, sooner or later. Taking about baseline foundation to ease governance in country, International Fund for Agricultural Development, in a report Good Governance: An Overview postulates: the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a countrys economic and social resources for development (1); and through the lines in his sonnet, with similar expression even Devkota whistles people to make maximal and multi-purposive use of our resources for easing the acclimatization of good governance. Throughout the sonnets, besides many other surreal reflections of society and its facts and follies, the notion of bidding goodbye to violence and terror strongly makes a powerful segment. Devkota is found to have rigidly posed his ideas to bypass such terror and panics from society and mind of people, at any cost. Human love, eternal peace and human beings with full swing practices of cooperation, conviviality, affability, virtues and hobnobbing are his expectations, which are clearly crept in lines, from hail! Glorious Ruler, Harnessed for ever in love to their great good, Selflessly hast thou lived, the Buddha life, In the keen veins where humans love must brood And multiply, rice and intense to thrive [(9-12)/ 36]. These lines powerfully advocate for deletion of violence and terror. Then it makes an onset for promotion of peace, which appeals the poet a great deal. Besides the basic foundational lines for pleasing the poet, these are mandatory conditions for laying the foundations of good governance. The poet wishes the love to rise, and terror and horror to fade away. Such conditions may be a fertile ground to maintain good governance throughly in support of the peace in the nation. In order to justify the relation of peace and good governance, in course of defining the notion of good governance, Kaufmann says, Talking about six indicators of governance: Voice and Accountability, Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, and Control of Corruption (13); and lets people infer a conclusion that talking about peace is to hold the share of talk in good governance as well. Devkota has infallibly and irrefutably done it in smart way. The concept of essentialism of peace and absence of terror, which are basic clays of sensing and securing good governance, are frequently expressed in his rest of sonnets as well. The lines from The Nepal valley sonnet: Where peace drops down the moon-lit summits, hist! And makes the boulders bloom to a liquid hour [(11, 12)/34] no doubt, with no objection, possess stressing assertion about the need of Peace in any of nation. They twine, No treacherous tendrils round the heart thats thine [(5,6)/26]; pure mind Shanti Eternal, sweet Amrit. The soul [(8)/26], from Nirvana, Nedeku, is Liberty, unbendingly raises an issue of no violence, which equals to yes peace and stability, without any reservation. Conclusion

In this way, the poet has unmasked the fact that he has had a strong voice in favour of good governance; and those acute consciousnesses are voiced through his sonnets by indirectly raising issues on the basic attributes of governance. Works Cited Reports European Governance: A white Paper. Brussels: Commission of the European Communities; 2001. Good Governance: An Overview. Rome: International Fund for Agricultural Development; 1999. Good Governance Practices for the Protection of Human Rights. UNO: New York and Geneva; 2007. The Independent Commission on Good Governance in Public Services. London: Office for Public Management Ltd and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy; 2004. Books Chavez, Jenina Joy. Good Governance or Bad Managemen:. An Overview of the ADB's Decision Making Processes and Policies. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University. Chowdhury, N. and C.E. Skarstedt. The Principle of Good Governance. United Kingdom: Oxford; 2005. Devkota, Laxmi Prasad. Bapu and other Sonnets. Nepal: Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota Study and Research Centre; 2006. Parigi, V. K.. Dr. P. Geeta & Rameesh Kailasam. Ushering in Transparency for Good Governance. Inida: Centre for Good Governance; 2004. Kaufmann, Daniel. Governance Matters VIII: Aggregate and Individual Governance Indicators, 1996-2008. The World Bank; June 2009.