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Mr. Naresh Chandra

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Mr. D. P. Gautam

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the-south-asian.com                         December 2000

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Mr. Damodar Prasad Gautam

Ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of Nepal to the U.S.

 

Mr_D.P._Gautam.jpg (15264 bytes)
Mr. D. P. Gautam
"The desire to resolve conflicts must be felt at all levels – it is not exclusively the responsibility of the Government to find peace, make peace or create peace. People are equally responsible."

Born in Nepal

Schooling in Nepal

College and University – studied English and Philosophy at Patna University, India; Law in Nepal; Economic Development and International Trade at Syracuse University, U.S.

Career path: Joined the Civil Service of Nepal in 1961 and worked 32 years. Retired and subsequently appointed Ambassador to the United States in September 1998.

Children – One son, two daughters

 

Tenure in DC

We have had the best of relations with the U.S. Government and I have had great support from everyone in the Government. I have had to interact with American citizens from all walks of life – business, politics, management, leadership. Also, there is a good-sized Nepalese community here [estimated number 10,000] and I have a rewarding experience working with them. They are involved in diverse fields – they are teachers, technology professionals, lawyers, doctors, engineers, professors and general workers.

What would you ideally like to see happening in South Asia in the coming decades

South Asia is fortunate in one sense – it is culturally very rich, diverse, with talented people who have a tremendous potential, but South Asia is not so fortunate in another sense because it has been suffering from conflicts since a long, long time. There are cultural conflicts, social conflicts, political conflicts – all hindering the development of the region. These conflicts have to be resolved.

How will the conflicts be resolved and who will do it

Mankind loves nothing better than peace. Conflict is not the desire of any society. The desire to resolve conflicts must be felt at all levels – it is not exclusively the responsibility of the Government to find peace, make peace or create peace. People are equally responsible. It is not ‘either-or’. Both the Government and the people will have to work together. The people will have to create the atmosphere, exert pressure and tell the Government to find ways and means, and explore all possibilities for peace.

 

Can economic opportunities eclipse political issues in South Asia

Economics and politics must go together. It is not one or the other. You cannot have good, harmonious economic relation in the absence of good political relations. It is a question of togetherness. Member countries of SAARC have not been able to have an understanding among and between them – and that is why SAARC has not been able to gather momentum. The concept of SAARC was good – to take the entire region together – to put the resources and the talent of the region together, create a regional market, and create internal competitiveness – these were the objectives and philosophy behind the creation of SAARC. It would have broadened the area of co-operation in economic, social, political and cultural fields and all aspects of our society – instead of emphasising conflicts.

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