By Arpana Adhikari

Kathmandu Jan. 2: Have you ever imagined in your childhood day that you will become the Prime Minister one day? When Binamra Shrestha, a school boy asked this question, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to go down in his memory lane.
Responding to his query, PM Oli said, “Seeing oneself in the post of the Prime Minister for a child, who was born 68 years ago in a remote village of Nepal, was beyond one’s imagination.”
But as he grew up, he said, he realised that the country and its people should be freed from the autocratic regime and the people must be made sovereign.
“For this the country had to be changed and change could be brought about only through revolution,” he said recalling his jail life lasting for 14 years.
“When I was fighting for democracy, I had never thought of being a Prime Minister. My political struggle to establish people’s democratic republic was never aimed at personal advantage. I wanted to end corruption, establish social justice and equality to drive the country towards development and prosperity,” he said.
“Circumstances favoured me and I became Prime Minister,” he added.
As the rest of the people were busy celebrating the first day of the New Year 2020 on Wednesday, around 1,000 children of the Kathmandu Valley were busy interacting with the Prime Minister at the event called ‘Children with the Prime Minister’.
When Pranish Ghimire asked what the PM would suggest to those children who wished to become prime minister in the future, PM Oli said, “Anyone can become the Prime Minister in the country when sovereignty of the people has been guaranteed.”
“Honesty and sincerity are the secret of the success”, said PM Oli. “No matter what one wished that could be achieved if one works honestly toward the path they had wished to acquire.”
“Time is very powerful. Just utilise the value of time to achieve the success,” he added.
Another participants Nilisha Dahal asked PM why the future of some children were determined by their parents at the tender age.
PM Oli replied that due to poverty, illiteracy and social ill-practice, some parents determine the future of their children in early

age and deprived their children from blooming. Forcing children for early marriage and child labour were the examples of this, he added.
In some cases, the parents determine the future of their children to encourage them to achieve what they have expected from their wards, he added.
“If parents provide an opportunity to their children to aspire for their future based on their interest and capability then every child can make exceptional progress,” he said.
This is the 2nd edition of the event called “Children with Prime Minister,” organised by Nepal Scouts in a close coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
When asked if the current education system of the country can compete in the present competitive world, PM Oli said modernisation without humanity, social harmony, discipline, and mutual support had no value.
“Therefore, the country is now focused on such education which can generate skilled and bonafide citizens and the government has been working accordingly.”
The young children enthusiastically asked around 14 question ranging from his childhood behaviour, his inspirations, interest, the government plans and polices for children.
When asked whether students could acquire politics as their career, he said that the children should have knowledge about politics because when they became eligible for voting, then they could choose the right party to lead their country. “But they shouldn’t be diverted from their study.”
After hearing all his answers, a student of Xavier Academy asked the PM how he could answer all the questions so flawlessly and what the secret behind his immense source of knowledge was.
PM Oli said the statement itself was wrong because learning was a never-ending process of life.
“But the person should always be update about the issues of their field and they should also have general knowledge.”
The young people had cheered Prime Minister Oli for his answers.
The children from many schools were provided with a photo call with the PM while Nepal Scouts provided New Year’s gift to all participating children on behalf of the PM.
This was the first public event the Prime Minister attended after he went through the appendicitis surgery. He spent almost two hours with the children braving the chill of winter.