WHO KNOWS YOU?
Unless you have an interest in literature, you will not recognize Jagdish Ghimire. You won't know who are Ashis and Prasan unless you are a radio listener. The list can go on.This has to be accepted that all of them are heroes in their fields. Jagdish Ghimire is a renowned literary figure, Rhythm brothers are famous icons on the radio, recognized since a decade and half. Govinda Ram Agrawal is regarded as an idol for any Nepali management student. Kamal Khatri is again a famous name among today's teens known for his superb songs. Personally, even I won't be able to recognize Biraj Bhatta if he comes right in front of me. It is like that. Unless you have an interest in any area, people belonging to it will not be recognised. For example, there are many people who have no interest in Nepali films, so they will not be familiar with the Nepali actors. Take an interest and you will be no less than the Google.
All I wanted to direct my attention to was that we all have several interests, and our idols vary as per our interests. Some interests may be first-class while the other ones may be worth neglecting by the others. So, there is nothing wrong if someone fails to recognize your idol. One has to be extremely superb to be recognized by the people. Like Narayan Gopal. Idols work hard to stand out and become popular enough to be recognized by a significant percentage of the population.
However, in this crowd, there is a group that the entire population recognizes. Your granny recognizes them, so do your grandsons. Medical students recognize them, so do the students of law. Yes, they are the politicians.
They are known to all. Very little effort is needed for the people to recognize them. However, most of them have the negative tags. It is very difficult for Robin Tamang to be as famous as Prachanda! But, what is the use of negative fame? Only, if these leaders had a positive aura, their image would know no boundaries.
Politicians have the greatest scope of being well-recognized and have long-term impact on the minds of the people. There is no other field that will give a person the fame — good or bad — as politics. Maybe the leaders understand the equation.
If they understand, it would be all the more better not only for themselves but also for the country and the people. This is where the politicians seem to have tripped as they have all along been running for their personal interests rather than having the thoughts of the people and the country uppermost in their mind.It needs to be remembered that the politicians need to project their positive image rather than think that whatever they do will be forgiven.
Published in The Himalayan Times under Topics dated 24 July 2013
