“Our work should provide solution to the problem of society. This is exactly what I’m trying to achieve. I’m aiming to elevate a Nepali podcast at the global stage by bringing eminent global thought leaders working from Nepal.“
By Pradeep Baisakh
The World Bank report says that the extent of labour migration by Nepalese youth is so large that it deserves special attention within the broader discussion of Nepal’s youth employment. Sumit Sharma Sameer, author and journalist, who has master degrees from London School of Economics, UK and Queen’s University, Canada, runs a weekly podcast, “Ink & Insights” with an objective to bring in eminent global thought leaders as well as Nepali influencers and thought leaders in the same platform to persuade the Nepali youth that they can make a difference staying in the country by creating and selling products to the international audience.
In conversation with Pradeep Baisakh, Journalist, Sameer details out his work, his mission and how he wants to see Nepal in future.
Pradeep Baisakh (PB): Welcome Sumit! Let me start with congratulating you for the rising popularity of your weekly Podcast “Ink and Insights”. What made you think to start a podcast and what do you want to achieve with it? Who are your guests on the podcast?
Sumit Sharma Sameer: Thank you Pradeep! It’s been a year since I started my new venture. I simply love this work, particularly for one reason: I am also learning by doing. There is a tectonic shift taking place in today’s world. We are a fortunate generation to be living in such time and also struggling hard to adjust ourselves to fit in with the rapidly changing context. The mode of economy, the structure of society and the relevance of political institutions that were created during industrial revolution are contested today. That contestation is not only limited to the specific realm, but have entrenched to the wider society, including the ‘kind and quality of work’ that we do.
Regular job that we used to do may not have its relevance after a decade. We have to add the extra layer of ‘value’ to what we deliver. Without such ‘value’, society will not align to what we do. Our work should provide solution to the problem of society. This is exactly what I’m trying to achieve. I’m aiming to elevate a Nepali podcast at the global stage by bringing eminent global thought leaders working from Nepal. My message is simple – the third stage of globalization is rapidly heading to the fourth, and under that context, the notion of ‘geography’ and national boundary becomes a myth when viewed from the perspective of work.
Q: Do you think you are heading in right direction to influence the Nepali youth? And do you really think that Nepal can have enough opportunity in the country for its youth, like creating adequate entrepreneurial opportunities?
A: I’m not sure if I’m influencing Nepali youth. But, I’m definitely offering an option implying that ‘the space has been created where any Nepali entrepreneurs, influencers or others from different walks of lives either in Nepal or in diaspora can share a common platform with the global eminent thought leaders for dialogue and deliberation’. So, this platform belongs to and is owned by all those Nepalis who believe that we can elevate our product at the international stage.
Nepal is geo-politically and geo-economically extremely well placed to create abundance for our larger society only if we know how to positively ‘use’ that space for the peaceful growth of everyone in the region. Bit of courage, confidence and imagination and most importantly willingness to strike a chord among the national communities, instilling a common dream within that national communities can take us very far.
Q: Let me turn to your books now. In your first book, Unfinished Journey: The Story of a Nation” published in 2010, what are your vision captured in the book for your country?
A: In this book, I have suggested that the project of transferring Nepal to a prosperous State guaranteeing dignity to all its people still remains an unfinished journey and that dream can only be realized if the entire national population owns that dream as their own.
Q: You have received an award from Kalinga Literary Festival for your fiction, “Wake Up Ali!”. What the book is all about? Could you briefly share?
A: This fiction is a South Asian Diaspora Story. Different characters from Nepal, India and Pakistan echoes a common sentiment of belonging, displacement, and longingness for their birth place they call ‘home’ when they are away from their respective countries. They share common disillusion and struggle to make sense of their own lives in the world that is growing even more complex.
Q: What’s your Indian connection? How much do you know about India?
A: I completed my under graduation in Sociology from the Loyola College, Chennai. I think it’s difficult to know India in our life time given the plurality, complexities and yet simplicity that one finds in its geography, people, culture, customs and habits. Look at the range of geography, languages, cultural practices, philosophies, customs and what not! I don’t think it’s easy to comprehend. You can describe using one ‘framework’ or the ‘other’ about India, but they may not provide a complete picture. Rather, we can ‘feel’ India.
Q: Do you think Nepal can follow some examples of success from India?
A: Both Nepal and India can learn from each other and grow together. Perhaps Nepal would do well to learn how important it is to institutionalize the institutions the way it was done in India soon after its independence and how important it is to have consistencies in policy to make a long-term impact. The economic growth that India has achieved since 1990s and likely to continue to achieve for next twenty years is something worth pondering over. India can also benefit by interacting more with the assertive and confident younger generation of entrepreneurs and influencers of various sectors in Nepali society that are craving for growth and carve their own distinct ‘identity’ at the global stage.
