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The All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary), the CPN (Maoist Center) student wing, along with the student outfits of four other opposition parties, have allied to protest against Prime Minister KP Oli’s ‘unconstitutional’ House dissolution.

But their protests haven’t been effective. Moreover, critics argue, the unions lack the autonomy to do anything on their own without their mother party’s directive.

Pratik Ghimire of ApEx talked to ANNISU(R) chairman Ranjit Tamang about the relevance of student politics in Nepal.

How do you respond to those who say today’s student politics in Nepal is purposeless?

In my view, in light of the current constitutional crisis, student wings are the only forces capable of challenging government wrongdoings. The parliament’s absence has added to our responsibilities. As students are at the forefront of anti-government protests against corruption, inflation, and unconstitutional moves, the government of the day fears us. So, I can assure you that we are still very much relevant.

We have never seen a student union take decisions independently of their mother party. Why so?

There was a time when political parties could not protest against the autocratic government, and their student wings were the ones to take the lead. Today also, we are always the first to speak against the government, whosoever is running it. We speak up on every social, internal, and geopolitical matter. Often, we have taken up more progressive and revolutionary issues than have our mother political party. But as we are affiliated to our mother party, it is only natural we take their ideological lead. This is how things work around the world.

Why aren’t student unions keen on broader educational rights and reforms?

We have always pressured the concerned bodies to provide free education at every level. We have also regularly requested universities to stop doling out affiliation to private colleges. When appointments were being made for office bearers of universities, ANNISU (R) had demanded that the process be based on open competition. Further, to bring drastic changes to our academic system, we appeal to the government to prepare an Education Act based on the recent report by a group of scholars in this field.

Perhaps because of its association with the erstwhile Young Communist League, ANNISU (R)’s image has been rather poor in the public eye. What are you doing to improve your image?

Our major focus has been on the health and education sectors. We demand free health and education for all. The government should allocate enough budget in these areas, and implement its plan to provide loans to students by keeping their degree certificates as collateral. Also, we want an end to the privatization of education institutions and pitch for open competition in the selection of their office-bearers. We want to make ANNISU (R) a representative voice of all students.

Any plans for organization restructuring?

Following our firm commitment to democratic process, we have decided to conduct ANNISU(R)’s 22nd national convention from September 24-26. Also, through ApEx, I want to announce that, following this national convention, I plan to start my journey in national politics. I will be handing over ANNISU (R) to a more knowledgeable, capable, and organized leadership.

The Nepali Congress rank and file have been talking about the party’s 14th general convention for a long time. The party postponed the event time and again for various reasons, including the corona scourge. This time, however, the NC looks determined to hold the gathering of its biggest decision-making body from September 1-4, even amid the pandemic.

Party leaders are divided on almost every issue, especially after PM KP Oli’s second House dissolution. This is why the general convention has become a necessity to settle the issues of party leadership, ideology and organization.

ApEx’s Pratik Ghimire talked to party spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma.

Where do new generation leaders find themselves ahead of the general convention?

More new generation leaders are getting elected as representatives in successive general conventions. This time, as we have doubled the number of representatives attending the convention, we will see more youths take up decision-making positions. In addition, the proportion of youths is also significantly higher in the overall active membership of the party.

Going into the 14th general convention, what is the guiding ideology of Nepali Congress?

We believe the vision Nepali Congress carries has a huge impact on overall Nepali politics. Congress follows the path of D&D: Democracy and Development. This time too, the new leadership will remain committed to democracy, federalism, inclusive participation, and liberal economy with gradual development of every sector. We will create a suitable environment for coordination between the state and the corporate and private sectors.

How will you tackle the issue of Hindu state that seems to have at least some backing inside Nepali Congress?

Our constitution is a result of hard work and dedication of many people. Yet certain provisions in it might not be to everyone’s taste. The constitutional provisions can be worked upon to reflect public will. But, right now, we have not even completed a decade under the new constitution. So instead of trying to make substantive changes to it, we should rather think of its implementation. Nepali Congress is thus committed to implementing the constitution in its letter and spirit. 

There seem to be many contenders for party leadership. How will you settle it?

I have also heard people say Nepali Congress doesn’t have a consensus candidate for party president. But we are in a democracy and the beauty of democracy is that there is competition. More the number of contenders for the post, the better it will be for democracy. We will pick the best candidate to run the party.

How do you evaluate the judiciary’s current involvement in national politics?

Let me explain with an example. If a person is healthy, he won’t visit the doctor often. But if they fall sick regularly, they have to visit the doctor time and again. We can’t say the doctor is interfering with their health. Similarly, if our politics doesn’t follow the legal path, the Supreme Court will ask the government to correct its course. It is a part of the principle of check and balance.

Also, we can imagine the situation had the elections been held in May, as had been originally planned. We could have seen over 1,000 Covid-19-related deaths a day during election campaigns and, of course, the election would have had to be canceled, forcing the country into more political turmoil.

No other national football player has represented Nepal more often than Biraj Maharjan. The 30-year-old, who made 73 international appearances for Nepal in his defending career spanning 13 years, debuted against Pakistan in 2008. Mahrajan was in the national squad that won gold at the 2016 South Asian Games and took home the trophies at the Bangabandhu Gold Cup (2016), AFC Solidarity Cup (2016), and Three Nations Cup (2021).

On the domestic front, Maharjan debuted with Sankata Boys SC in 2006. Further on, he has played for New Road Team (NRT), Three Star Club, Manang Marshyangdi Club, Machhindra FC, and Butwal-Lumbini FC. The veteran footballer has three Martyrs Memorial A-Division League titles under his belt—one each with Three Star (2012-13), Manang Marshyangdi (2018-19), and Machhindra (2019-20).

One of the most decorated Nepali footballers in recent times, Maharjan retired from national duties in 2021, the March 29 final of the Three Nations Cup against Bangladesh being his last appearance in red and blue. Coinciding with the ongoing Euro and Copa America tournaments, Pratik Ghimire caught up with Maharjan to talk about his post-retirement life and state of Nepali football.

How does it feel to hang up your national boots?

As I am still playing at the club-level, I don’t feel like I have retired. The previous month went well as we participated in the Nepal Super League (NSL). Right now, I am enjoying quality time with my family. Of course, I miss the national jersey, but we must accept that every beginning also has an end.

Biraj Maharjan thanks the supporters after Nepal beats Bangladesh 2-1 in Three Nations Cup final on March 29. It was also his last match in national jersey | Sunita Dangol

I will play a couple more seasons in the domestic league and then see what lies ahead for me. Even then, I am certain that I will be involved with football. I can’t think of life outside it.

Has a time come when Nepali players can survive solely by playing football?

Survival comes with recognition and recognition with opportunities. Earlier, we only had limited opportunities to prove ourselves. But now, it is much more convenient. Those playing for the national squad and the clubs are more financially stable, though aspiring players can still struggle.

The corporate sector should invest more in our young lads. Similarly, the government should categorize players and look after their well-being. They should be free from all forms of tension so that they can give their best on the field.

What kind of an impact will tournaments like NSL have on the national squad?

In my opinion, NSL or a similar league should have been in place at least half a decade ago. If that had happened Nepali football would have reached new heights by now. For instance, we can see how the Indian Super League helped the Indian squad. Besides the growth of good teams, these kinds of franchise-based leagues help boost the confidence of individual players. This in turn directly takes the national team forward.

Having said that, NSL still has a long way to go. I hope the organizers will resolve issues that surfaced in the inaugural edition. The league hasn’t been recognized by FIFA or AFC. The organizers should plan to get the recognition needed for the league to go international. 

The national squad recently got Abdullah Al Mutairi as the new coach. What do you think of his approach to the team?

Coach Abdullah Al Mutairi could have chosen a better team to coach, but he chose Nepal’s national team, considering its potential. Before taking charge, he had studied each player and their position. He has energized the squad with young players. That’s the best part of his approach. We may not have seen great results immediately, but Al Mutairi is preparing our team for a long and glorious run.

I had time to chat with him and found that he has a strong, positive spirit. We had seen his impact on the team within a few games—the attitude, mindset, and confidence level of players is high. I appreciate his efforts.

It’s often said the average height of Nepali players lets them down in international matches. They also appear physically weak.

For a player to deliver excellent performance, he must be physically, mentally, and tactically strong. We have always struggled with physical fitness, but these days we are much better. The national team as well as every club these days have qualified physiotherapists and they help maintain strength. After corporate investment in Nepali football, we have implemented essential diet plans and workouts and accordingly, performance has also improved. Besides, players have also realized it’s a necessity to spend quality time in the gym.

We can’t say it all boils down to it, but yes, the height disadvantage has contributed to many of our losses. In 2010, when we were playing Afghanistan during the SAF championship in Delhi, an Afghan player had jumped right over one of our defenders.

How have things changed after the infamous ‘match fixing’ scandal in 2015?

Those were the ‘black days’ of our football history and everyone—players, staff, and officials—was confused about the future. After the news broke, we were devastated, and it took a few months for us to recover. In between, we lost to Sri Lanka for the first time. Nothing was going well. But then coach Patrick Aussems entered the scene and helped revive the national team. Similar to what Al Mutairi is doing now, he refreshed the squad, provided exposure to young talents, and exuded a positive mentality, which we needed the most at that time.

For me, this was a turning point in our football. Every sector supported and helped us and soon, we won the Bangabandhu Gold Cup and the gold at the SAG. Our team has never looked back since.

For a long time, the SAF championship has been the gold standard for Nepal. When do you think the team can look for titles beyond this?

The SAF championship is like the World Cup to us. But I also think now is the time to aim for greater heights. We are in the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers this time and hopefully, our team will stage a good performance there.

Japan is one of the strongest teams in Asia and they have the goal of winning the World Cup in the next 50 years. We could also set a timeline to qualify for the World Cup. This timeline could be a couple of decades long. If all sectors work together, this dream is not so far-fetched. Nepali football team is always thankful for the immense support from spectators and we know they will always root for us. This will motivate our team to do better in every match.

With over 16 years of operating experience, the F1Soft Group is one of the biggest technology companies in Nepal and a proven pioneer in fintech (financial technology). F1Soft has created an ecosystem of digital products and services, including the very first and the most popular eSewa and Fonepay services that started a digital revolution in the country.

Catering to growing the needs of Nepali customers, F1Soft has been facilitating consumers’ access to financial services and enabling their inclusion in the formal digital economy with a diversified portfolio of Digital Financial Services (DFS). A team of 700+ management and technology professionals, more than 10 years of research and innovations and thousands of clients, F1Soft is a major influencer of fintech services in the Nepali market.

Sunny Mahat for ApEx talks to Subash Sharma, CEO of F1Soft International Pvt. Ltd, about the growing opportunities of fintech services in Nepal and the effects of the pandemic.

How do you see the growth trajectory of fintech services, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic?

In the past year, especially after the pandemic, we have experienced an encouraging growth in digital payments. Our conventional way of conducting business has been disrupted. Every business has been looking to adapt to the new normal. People are actively looking at ways to continue and identify better ways to conduct their businesses.

This has created new opportunities for fintech companies to partner with businesses in multiple aspects. Our platforms, especially eSewa and Fonepay, have seen increased transactions that include bank-to-bank fund transfers, utility bill payments and QR payments.

But when you talk about fintech services and the industry, it is not limited to payments. F1Soft is looking to develop innovative products to target other aspects of financial services. Last year we launched Foneloan, a digital lending platform. This has already been launched with more than five banks. Customer interest in the product has been exciting. This shows our customer base is ready for multiple digital financial services. We as a company focused on fintech are looking to introduce multiple products based on customers’ interest and demands.

Like most technology companies in the country, does F1Soft also face the challenge of high employee turnover?

Yes, high employee turnover is a pressing issue among all technology companies in Nepal. Compared to the industry, we are better positioned to handle the impact. F1Soft is proud to say that our employee retention rate is one of the best in the industry. At F1Soft, we have been able to instill a sense of achievement in our employees and they are proud to see the impact their work has created in the country and the economy.

What could be done to stop the ‘brain drain’ of technology professionals?

‘Brain drain’ is a big issue not just for us but for almost all the developing economies. It is not necessary to always see this as a disadvantage. Often, we have seen people gathering experience and exposure on a bigger stage which can be a huge advantage back home if they ever decide to return or send projects or create partnerships between the local companies and their international business partners.

Stopping brain drain is not just an issue to be handled by individual companies but at the level of the national economy. If our economy can grow faster, we will create attractive opportunities for our young talents. This will definitely help us retain our talents.

What next for eSewa and Fonepay, both of which have had great success?

eSewa has been in the digital wallet and payment industry for the past 12 years. Compared to the days we started when there was no payment infrastructure, today we have a robust infrastructure for digital payments. eSewa is credited for taking the lead in this. Today, we have created an industry and there are multiple companies working in this space including the ones promoted by big business houses. Fonepay has entered the market at the right time to promote digital payments by creating a common network of banks/financial institutions and wallets, and by promoting interoperability.

Though we have already created a robust infrastructure, we have not been able to influence more than 5 percent of the transactions; 95 percent of the market is still untapped. Our immediate focus is to increase adoption and become more inclusive.

Do you think digital money will ever have a dominance over paper money in Nepal?

Honestly speaking, in an economy like ours, I don’t see digital payments completely replacing paper money in the near future. But what is certain is digital payments will continue to grow as they promote convenience and transparency. With the growing need for businesses to be more transparent and customers always looking for convenient ways to make payments, digital payment is on the way to becoming more preferred. If we observe current trends, we see digital payments becoming the dominant form of payment in five years. We see usage of cash decline for all forms of payments. The future is less-cash rather than completely cashless.