Face to Face With Karna Shakya
Karna Shakya, an entrepreneur who needs no introduction in tourism industry. A versatile personality who has made an immense impact in the nature and wildlife conservation and has made a huge social contributions in the lives of people and society through his social works, philanthropy, and the most importantly positive outlook. He is a nature lover who loves to dream . The personality of Karna Shakya has made him a writer with the best selling books such as Soch, Khoj etc and has also produced a film “pal” which all aim to promote optimism in the society. He has the ability to transform his dream into reality. Many people has benefitted from his life experiences and his optimistic attitude. This interview was taken on February 12, 2012 by the students of British Gurkha College for the college annual magazine “BGC Voice”.In this interview he has talked with us about his life, work and positive thinking which are as such:
Negative thinking doesn’t seed in empty stomach. It brews in the always- wanting , never-ending greed and avarice of the people.
1. We have seen the conclusion of Nepal Tourism Year 2011. In your opinion has it been successful to its objectives?
>> “Never Ending , ever changing” is a well known cliché for tourism in English. Tourism can’t remain stationary . It always has to be agile and active. So in this context, I think Nepal Tourism Year 2011 has been successful. Tourism was remodeled with new objectives and it brought positive changes in the lives of people cause the development in tourism has multidimensional effects in all other aspects of development.
2. Don’t you think that we haven’t been able to develop the tourism in Nepal as per the potentiality and attraction our country holds?
>> We have always been in the forefront in the development of tourism. So, far the tourism development is considered, we are in a very good position and ranking in whole South Asia. At the same time, it is quiet true that we have been bestowed with natural bounty and huge tourism potentialities that haven’t been completely explored . So they need to be developed subsequently. All the halt and disruption in tourism activities and development are accounted for the instable politics and corrupt politicians. Otherwise , I have positive view in our tourism development.
A business man always seeks profit by hook or crook but an entrepreneur is not always profit motive
3. The other well known aspect of your personality is your involvement in social entrepreneurship and philanthropy? How did you get motivated in such social activities?
>> I didn’t have preliminary wish or thoughts to get involved in social activities. The circumstance and situation led me to inevitable and inescapable position which drove me to get involved in social activities. The reason that I got involved in social activities has full personal bearings. I had to mourn the death of my dear wife and my 1st daughter within the span of 3 months due to cancer. I tell you nothing in the world gives you more pain than to hold your own child’s dead body in your hand. At that time there was not even a single hospital for cancer in Nepal. So with the strong motivation I set out to open a first cancer hospital in Nepal and I did succeed also. I transformed my pain into power which gave me new outlook of life. So problem must hit you hard if you must succeed.
4. How in the midst of all the present conditions of dysfunctional governance, widespread despair, depression and bleak prospects of future could one develop upbeat or positive attitude towards things?
>> I have always been emphasizing this thing in my life. Negative thinking doesn’t seed in empty stomach. It brews in the always- wanting , never-ending greed and avarice of the people. Hungry people in this country are working hard to satiate their hunger but the people who have the deep thirst and hunger of greed opt for shortcut measures for the quick gain. Look our politicians, what they’ve done to the country to fulfill their fetish wish of earning tons of money. And the another crucial thing is that you have to know yourself. You have to know your limits, capacity and potentiality. You shouldn’t expect for more than you can truly achieve. In a nutshell, don’t compare yourself with others. Be your own competitor. And try to look at the positive side of the things and focus onto the solutions of the problem rather than brooding in the problem itself.
5. You have written many books like best selling Soch, Khoj, ma sakchhu etc and recently produced and made a film , Pal. In spite your busy schedule, how do you manage your time in all these activities??
>>What you have to know importantly is that you must have to enjoy what you’re doing. It is a great art. It’s really about time management. I have a habit developed since from my childhood that I get completely incapacitated to do the things that I can’t enjoy but when I enjoy certain things I will see it to the end. So you have all the time with you when you do the things that you truly enjoy.
6. What will give you more satisfaction , either as a business man earning profits or as a social entrepreneur making impacts in society?
>> I am the worshipper of both goddesses Laxmi and Sarswati. I equate money to sweat. So I will be really unhappy when I don’t get return for what I invest. In the same way, when you think you create. When you create, the ultimate benefit goes to the society and helps it to grow. It’s like lighting your candles from the light of my candle. And one thing, I don’t want to call myself a typical businessman but rather call myself an entrepreneur. A business man always seeks profit by hook or crook but an entrepreneur is not always profit motive. He values time and hard work. He is creative, innovative , original and inventive. Entrepreneurs never hold everything for themselves , they want to share their ideas and believe in multiplier effect of intellectuality.
You need to be a proactive kind who just doesn’t wait for the situation and circumstance to lead them but instead have the ability to take a lead and think about the future and alternatives for the problem.
7. Do you have likings for any politicians of our country??
>> Yes I do like some politicians of my time. They are Bisheshwor Prasad Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh and King Mahendra.
8. What would have been your priorities if you were made the Prime Minister of Nepal?
>> I have written about this in my book “soch”. These are hypothetical speculations. But 8 years ago when I started the book , I had written in it that if I were made the prime minister then the first thing I would do is commute to Singha Durbar in Safa tempo. I think the present Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has read my book as he is following the same suit. The things which needed to be addressed with the most urgency would come in my focus and then accordingly I would mobilize human and economic resources to address the problem.
9. How was your student life??
>> As a student , I was not good in studies. I loved to play, swim and fool around. Books never caught my fancy. Even I used to steal money from my father’s pocket sometimes. The interesting thing is that I had never imagined myself to pass the S.L.C. I had no hope at all. But fortunately I passed in the third division . I was very jubilant at that time.
And that game is two types: short game and long game. Short games takes you nowhere except for momentary leap of fortune
10. What is the formula of your success?
>> You should have the idea about your destination. You should be able to decide the right thing at the right moment. If you don’t take right decision at the right moment then you will miss your destiny. That is what I tried to convey in my film “Pal”. There are two types of people in this world: proactive and reactive. You need to be a proactive kind who just doesn’t wait for the situation and circumstance to lead them but instead have the ability to take a lead and think about the future and alternatives for the problem. Reactive persons are vulnerable as they don’t have measures and strategies with them when the crisis befalls. So you need to be proactive to be successful. And of course you should have the capability to transform your dreams into action.
11. Don’t you think that Nepalese youths are being unable to tap the limitless possibilities , potentialities and resources of the country?
>> Yes they are unable. That’s what I have been telling . We are like “hanuman” who despite having immeasurable power and strength doesn’t know about his own true strength. We are not poor for not having the enough resources but we are poor because we are foolish enough not to recognize the treasure gold .
12. Do you have any intention to go into politics?
>> I am not a political animal at all. So I am very happy at what I am and I do not have any desire to involve into politics. Let me tell you one thing that never once in my life have I knocked on the door of any politicians for my personal benefit for which I am very proud of myself.
13. What do you like to do in your leisure time?
>> I like to do painting and enjoy cooking very much .
14. What is your view about life ?
>> I think life is like a game. And that game is two types: short game and long game. Short games takes you nowhere except for momentary leap of fortune but if you really want to reach your destination you have to play a long game. And remember three essential things that one must have in life which are honesty in soul, responsibility in shoulder and understanding in mind. Then one can live a true life. Besides this, it is also a compromise. You need to compromise with many things and many people to get adjusted. But having said that, it doesn’t imply to the dreams and ambitions as even in my film “pal” points out that you can make compromise with your life but not with your dreams.
15. On the present situation lots of youth being hopeless in the country’s situation are backpacking to get into foreign countries. What do you have to say for them?
>> I do not have any issue for youths going abroad . I think they need to go to abroad to see, explore, learn and earn. But at the end I think it would be very wise, significant and noble to return back to the country for investing knowledge and skill that they had learnt in abroad. But I still say to youths that there are many unexplored fields and potentialities in our own country so it would be better if they give pursuit to those things inside the country rather than flying abroad feeling hopeless. But one thing is true that you can only be a boss or a master in here only not in abroad. In abroad you can’t have status more than that of a slave or second class citizen.
16. At the end, what do you want to say to our college students or our college magazine team?
>> First of all I would like to congratulate for the magazine . And continue your good work in future too. And when you are confused and despaired then close your eyes, open your mind and follow your heart.
Thoughts and Reminiscence 