Introduction

“Our self-perception determines our behavior. If we think we’re small, limited, inadequate creatures, then we tend to behave that way, and the energy we radiate reflects those thoughts no matter what we do. If we think we’re magnificent creatures with an infinite abundance of love and power to give, then we tend to behave that way. Once again, the energy around us reflects our state of awareness.” – Marianne Williamson, American author and politician.

“One’s perception of themselves has a much bigger role than has been acknowledged to determine who succeeds and who does not.” – Sal Khan, Educator, Khan Academy.

You become, not what you are meant to be, but who you think you are meant to be.

People who have a better perception of themselves, are able to achieve bigger and better things in their lives. They deal with crises better and somehow emerge from them stronger than ever. Things like manifestation, self-belief and “fake till you make it” work because they are all primarily concerned with elevating a person’s sense of self, identity or importance in one way or another.

This essay, the Nepali 2.0 manifesto, is written with the objective of helping us Nepali to adopt a higher and a much more positive perception of ourselves. It contains exactly what and how we are supposed to see ourselves as, and also includes the values and traits that we need to embody and exhibit in our day to day pursuits.

It might appear as a guide of sorts but the Nepali 2.0 manifesto is far more important than that. It is a vision, a call to arms even, for a new breed of Nepali people, which is deemed necessary because the current definition of being a Nepali is riddled with a lot of self-imposed negative and derogatory connotations. These connotations are what I believe, the reason why we lag behind other countries when it comes to professional and creative pursuits.

Nepal is at a critical juncture. It currently has a huge, unprecedented potential in the form of youth, and yet stands to lose it all, alarmingly soon, because the youth is deeply repulsed by the nation itself due to the general state of helplessness and lack of direction and accountability everywhere. And if we are unable to retain and mobilize this wave of young talent, then we as a country will fall into an abyss of eternal doom.

Why even Bother Doing This, Is it Really Necessary?

The Sad Reality of Being a Nepali

What comes to your mind when you hear phrases like “Nepali time”, “Nepali ko baani”, “Chance paye nepali le garchha”, “Sati le sarape ko desh” etc ? No matter what comes to your mind, it probably is not a positive definition. Why is that? It is because that is the general perception that we have of ourselves as a nation. We use these derogatory terms, sometimes in anger, most often in humor while describing the behavior of those around us. Sometimes we use these terms to reduce the embarrassment we have of our own behavior, by putting the larger blame on our identity i.e. on being a Nepali.

And an even bigger problem is that these definitions and tags are not something that someone else gave us. They are self-imposed, and accepted in general without any regard to what it may have been doing to the nation’s psychology as a whole.

If this is how we think of ourselves, do you think we have any chance of competing with people of other nations, let alone lead our nation to new heights of prosperity?

Does it explain why we get so nervous while facing people from outside our country? Does it explain why even after settling overseas, our first and only ambition is to earn just enough money to survive in the new environment and maybe over the years be able to afford a few properties back home?

No offense to the hardworking people who work hard day and night to provide for their families. But it is a little worrying if this is also the maximum ambition of the people who used to have a decent living back home.

The Nepali people who have worked with both foreigners and locals, as well as foreigners who have worked with Nepali, both often proclaim that one major trait they feel missing in us, is not capabilities or skills, it is self-confidence. That brings us to the question; what if the thing that is stopping us, is not our skills or aptitude, but it is the perception we have of ourselves and the image that we project to others?

Now if you think that this self-perception thing is not a big deal, and does not affect a citizen or the nation in any way, maybe you are right. I request you to stop reading right here and skip the rest of the essay in the most respectful manner.

Still here? Congratulations you might just be the right candidate to represent the Nepali 2.0 mentality.

The Importance of Self Identity

People act a certain way or do certain things, for a couple of reasons. They’re more likely to get involved in something if they see personal gain, want to belong to a social group, or find the task easy to do. Additionally, research shows that people often engage in activities that preserve or validate their self-identity. As humans, we have a natural desire to appear consistent with our values and identity standards. For example, those who have joined community service clubs are more likely to support community causes throughout their lives, even after their memberships end.

This leads to the conclusion that our sense of identity has always determined, and will continue to determine, what we do and how we do it. And if that sense of self-identity is consciously curated and improved, a positive impact would be seen on the society as a whole.

And that is why..

Nepali 2.0 is the new identity that we are going to deliberately curate and consciously adapt with the primary objective that this change in self-perception will fast-track growth for us as individuals as well as a nation. It, in no way, would undermine or rewrite the current identity of being a Nepali; quite the opposite. It would take all the positive aspects from the current identity, and then extend it to include a few more traits that would help us excel more in the professional and business world and to evolve to a higher plane of consciousness as a community.

What Does It Mean to be Nepali 2.0

The Self Perception We Need

Our current identity, Nepali 1.0 as I like to call it, does have a few good traits that deserve a mention. Most foreigners I have met, shared a common notion that Nepali people are one of the most friendliest, kind and very hospitable people. That is such a unique advantage that we have over our “neighbors”. A great win for us! Yay!

But sadly this positive perception does not exist when it comes to business and professionalism.

This is why the Nepali 2.0 mindset isn’t a replacement but an extension of the positive qualities associated with being Nepali—what you might call Nepali 1.0. All the good qualities from Nepali 1.0 are inherited and carried over into Nepali 2.0. But Nepali 2.0 goes further, adding qualities and values that will establish us as world-class professionals and businesspeople. Excelling in business and professionalism involves qualities like punctuality, effective communication, responsibility, and delivering on time with the highest quality. These qualities are at the heart of Nepali 2.0.

As Nepali 2.0, we are to see ourselves as equally, if not more capable than the people around us, no matter which country they come from. We are going to be the “turnaround” generation for our country and we are very intentional and aggressive about the prosperity of our nation. We don’t let things just be, and we don’t let things slide.

All in all, being a Nepali 2.0 is characterized by embracing the following beliefs:

• Delusional hope that things are going to be great
• A sense of personal responsibility for the country and the community
• New found confidence in our own capabilities and continuously becoming more and more competent
• Supports those around them; believes in growing as a community rather than focusing solely on personal gain.

A sensational wave emerging from the foothills of the Himalayas has long been due. Let’s be the ones that deliver it.

The Values and Traits, We as Nepali 2.0, Have

• Abundance Over Scarcity: We believe in abundance, not in scarcity. This means that we believe that there is enough opportunity, money and resources in the world for all of us and do not need to keep it all for ourselves alone.
• Support and Celebrate: We congratulate and support people that try something new. We do not glorify success, neither do we shame failed attempts.
• Collaborative Success: We do not succeed alone. We succeed by helping other people succeed with us, especially our own kind.
• Respect for Time: We respect time, when it belongs to someone else and even more when it is our own. Nepali 2.0 are never on time, they are always early.
• Cultural Integrity: We are very intentional about preserving our culture. Our identity is closely tied to our own heritage. Being a modern citizen would not come at the cost of us forgetting what who we are and where we come from.
• Greater Causes: We believe in being part of a cause that is bigger than ourselves.
• Promise less, deliver more.
• Active Political Engagement: We take active interest in politics and actively look for opportunities to participate. Only then will it turn from a dirty game to being an endeavor of public service.
• Doubling Down on Warmth: People already see us as friendly, kind and hospitable people. We double down on these qualities. It should be a pleasure for anyone to work with us.
• Proactive Change-Makers: We are not silent observers of whatever happens to us and around us. We do not tolerate what we do not appreciate and we make things happen.
• Independent Thinkers: We are individual thinkers, who take time to analyze any piece of information on a personal level before having any opinion or judgment. We do not believe something just because everyone around us seems to be doing it.

This list is subject to amendments.

The Big Rewards of Nepali 2.0

The biggest advantage of embracing the Nepali 2.0 mindset is that it brings hope for a better tomorrow for our country. It breaks my heart to see that everyday we lose so much of our talent for opportunities abroad. Some leave due to their personal circumstances, most leave because there is not enough to hope for. Nepali 2.0 aims to change that.

Another major benefit is that the Nepali 2.0 movement will create a powerful brand image for us on the global stage and within our international diaspora. By enhancing our self-identity, we’ll shift how the world views us. We’ll radiate a new energy that changes perceptions, leading to more opportunities and better reception of our advancements.

The confident, competent and yet friendly Nepali 2.0individuals will become the preferred choice, around the world, for those seeking experts, professionals, or business partners. This is the vision I have for the future of Nepali 2.0.