Senior journalist and noted social worker, Bhairav Risal, turned 79 on Monday
By Pratibedan Baidya
Senior journalist and development worker Bhairav Risal
(File photo)
“Age is not a barrier if you have strong will power.” The statement applies to senior journalist and noted development worker Bhairav Risal, who is as active today — as he was 30 years ago–at the age of 79.
Despite hosting two popular radio programmes, he is involved in various development activities and continues to advocate for the cause of sustainable development, justice and equity in the Nepali society.
Risal, who wants to describe himself as an all-time reporter, says he became a journalist be default. “I became a reporter after I was denied the post of Section Officer even after I passed the exam of Public Service Commission,” Risal said. And, it was exactly five decades ago (in 2012 BS.) “Since I was not from a well-to- do family, I had to work and I started job at the Halkhabar daily,” he recalls.
Risal said he did not ask anybody why he was rejected since he believed that it was because he was a student of Sanskrit and was weak in English.
At Halkhabar daily, Risal earned Rs. 100 per month and was also given a bicycle. “The bicycle was like an aeroplane for me since many people in the capital saw bicycle as a luxury item till then,” he chuckles.
Risal served in the newspaper for three years until he was offered the post of officer in Agriculture Population census carried out by the government led by BP Koirala in 1959-60. After the census was over, he returned to his favourite profession as a reporter with “Nepal Samachar” newspaper.
At around same time, Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)– the government-owned news agency, published an advertisement calling for fresh reporters. Risal applied but was rejected once again.
“They asked questions in English but since I was weak in English I was rejected. Luckily, I was called up after four months by the RSS and offered the job since the person who was selected did not join the post,” said Risal.
After 22 year-long association with the RSS, Risal resigned from the job expressing dissatisfaction over the tendency of then Panchyati regime. “Though the situation was quite liberal during the period of referendum (in 1980), after referendum situation got worse. So I resigned from the post,” he said.
He then worked with the Integrated Development System (IDS)– a Kathmandu-based action-research NGO– for six years. At IDS, Risal’s job was to make potato growing farmers self reliant. He later founded Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) along with like-minded media colleagues. He is still active in the activities of NEFEJ.
While expressing satisfaction over recent developments in the field of media, Risal still advocates for “mission journalism” but not in political sense. “The mission should be to to reflect people’s aspirations in media.”
Risal was born in Dadhikot of Bhaktapur district in the capital valley. Risal recalls that in the fifties, there was no proper transportation facility to travel to Kathmandu from his village.
He used to walk for one hour to come to Bhaktapur Durbar square from where he used to take a lorry to travel to Kathmandu. He was also involved in supporting a Basic School established in his village by his elders.
In recent years, Risal is known for his innovative campaign, “Humlama Ujalyo” (Light-up Humla).
More than 150 households in the remote northern district have been able to get solar light under the programme.
While people are talking about digital divide, Risal said in Nepal efforts should be made first to bridge the “power divide.” He asked people in Kathmandu — who took electricity for granted– to donate 4,000 rupees each, which was sufficient to provide light to a family in Humla through solar panels.
Humla has the highest child mortality rate in the entire country. Experts say it is because people use firewood and pine resin for domestic lighting, which causes acute respiratory ailments, a major killer of children in the district.
Many Nepalis happily came forward to help Risal realise his dream. Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) provided Rs. 200,000 to light some 50 houses in Humla. Help Nepal Network (www.helpnepal.net) — a global charity launched by Nepalis– provided Rs. 400,000 for the similar purpose to light 100 houses in the district.
The credit for “Karnali ma Ujyalo” (Light-up Karnali) programme, announced by the Nepal government in this year’s budget, must go to Risal and local leaders like Jivan Bahadur Shahi. A former elected president of the District Development Committee of Humla, Shahi was instrumental in making the concept a reality. The government this year has promised to provide donations to people in remote Karnali zone to install solar panels in their houses.
Most people would think of retirement from active life after crossing the age of 70. But Risal is not among them. He has recently launched an initiative “Chepang lai Radio” (Radio sets for people belonging to Chepang community) to help raise their awareness. He has also been advocating that at least one community FM radio station should be established in all 75 districts of the country since “FM radios played a great role for the success of jana andolan II.” “If we want to foster grassroots democracy, there can be no other effective tool of mass media other than F. M. radios,” he said.
While Kathmandu-based elites are already dissatisfied about the course country’s polity is taking, Risal believes that the country is moving in right direction despite some hitches.
“Though some elements are trying to take benefit out of current transitional phase in the country, I strongly believe that they will be defeated gradually and the country will move in the direction of peace and stability,” said Risal.
There should be no reason for us not to believe him since Risal has seen many ups and downs in the country’s politics through his own eyes.