When a Man goes Unconscious in Kathmandu Street

Often life puts you in a great moral/ethical dilemma…what to do when you find someone who appears to be more miserable than you?

What Happens When a Kathmandu Dog Learns the Tricks of Human Civilization

I used to wonder why I just can’t seem to get myself out of bed in the winter mornings…but recently i discovered that i’m not alone…guys, look what happens when a dog comes in contact with humans…since he’s basking in the sun on a cold winter day, he gets so lazy that he doesn’t fee like getting up even to eat his meal…even dog behavior changes when they adapt to human civilization…

Next time when you meet a street dog in Kathmandu, don’t look down upon him…coz he doesn’t give a damn who you are and what you’re up to… moreover, street dogs of Kathmandu possess a great sense of humor…if you don’t  believe me, just look at the picture below. Can you guess what the dog is trying to show you?… :D

Btw, if you think that street dogs don’t get fair treatment in Kathmandu, you may not be always right. Just tell me who’s the boss in the picture below – the man who sleeps on the floor or the dog who enjoys the warmth of the quilt?

O radiant Dark! O darkly fostered ray!

This is what the moon looked like from a jungle nearby Kathmandu one evening!

OPINIONS, AND ALL OPINIONS ONLY

BBC NEWS WORLD HAVE YOUR SAY
Baghdad bloodshed – what can you tell us?
23 Nov 06, 03:49 PM

Blood-Thirsty Media
The World media’s insensitivity for not reporting with due importance the historic peace deal between the Nepal Government and the Maoists insurgents under the UN supervision is deplorable. The media’s obsession with violence and deaths shows the pathological mindset of those running and consuming it. While numerous episodes of sensational programs and news-items of the bloody conflicts have been covered by all the major news channels and publications, why don’t they let the whole world know when a monumental socio-political velvet revolution of historic importance is taking place through peaceful negotiations in a much experimented country like Nepal? C’mon the peace-loving people of the 21st century World Community, this country needs attention, adulations, and coercion more than ever before to fulfill what it’s commited to itself !!And let the people of other war torn nations like Iraq give serious thought to an alternative way of tackling their crisis!!!
Divas

WHIMISICAL DECISIONS
· At 04:51 AM on 16 Jan 2007,
· DIVAS wrote:
Why is that the whole world including the Americans themselves have to suffer because whimsical decisions taken by an American President?
Doesn’t American president need constitutional check to prevent him to go against his own voters?
Or, Americans are only making Mr Bush for their “Crusade”?
DIVAS

· INDIA RISING
· At 01:38 PM on 31 Jan 2007,
· DIVAS wrote:
India is certainly rising economically and nuclearwise. It’s also making its presence felt in the world politics.BUT India still needs to improve its ‘Big Brotherish’ attitude toward its neighbors. At the same time it can improve its image in the neighborhood by facilitating in the various ethnic conflicts there in.
DIVAS

Live from Hyderabad
7 Feb 07, 05:40 PM
Divas is a bit more upbeat: it’s good that Hyderabad is nowadays Cyberabad, yet I’m fond of the same Hyderabad which used to be famous for its mujra, shayari, and that irrestible thing, paan. But i’ve never been there, i’m commenting on the basis of my childhood days when i used to run away from my house to watch Amitabh Bacchan in a nearby Cinema Hall, dancing with the Hyderabadi paan in his mouth, singing ” ham Hyderabadi..” Seems that gone r those oldie days! A big hug to all Hyderabadies.

Bloggers Nepal.com http://bloggersnepal.com/
FREEDOM TO EXPRESS
DIVAS Says: November 23rd, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Blood-Thirsty Media
The World media’s insensitivity for not reporting with due importance the historic peace deal between the Nepal Government and the Maoists insurgents under the UN supervision is deplorable. The media’s obsession with violence and deaths shows the pathological mindset of those running and consuming it. While numerous episodes of sensational programs and news-items of the bloody conflict have been covered by all the major news channels and publications, why don’t they let the whole world know when a monumental socio-political velvet revolution of historic importance is taking place through peaceful negotiations in a much experimented country like Nepal?C’mon the peace-loving people of the 21st century World Community, this country needs attention, adulations, and coercion more than ever before to fulfill what it’s commited to itself !!
Divas
bihana Says: December 2nd, 2006 at 7:41 am
Divas,
What you say is true but probably the world community is waiting till the peace is actually implemented and democracy restored. Ceremonious or not if monarchy comes back then we will see Nepal back to where it started. The war has ended but peace is not attained yet. The violence has ended but wounds are yet to be healed. The king and the subjects (the monarch and the opressed) still exists, lets have total peace and freedom.

THE KATHMANDU POST Posted on: 28 Jan, 07

http://www.kantipuronline.com/ktmpost.php

Why not dialogue?
Once a part of the CPN (Maoist), the Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha is spreading communal violence in terai and it is spreading across the country.
While anyone with even a little sense of justice would hardly disagree that the Madhesis have been discriminated against by the sate since its inception, no one should forget that Nepali people are already fed up with violence in the name of “freedom fight”.
The government has already been directed by the eight parties and other civil bodies to implement all necessary measures to tackle the issues of citizenship and proportional representation. At the same time, it is also the responsibility of the Madhesis to help the parties build a just society. The groups representing the terai people should immediately come to table if they are really fighting for the rights of all the people living in terai.
Divas

NEPALI TIMES http://www.nepalitimes.com/Tarai troubles
Issue #334 (02 February 07 – 08 February 07)
Responsible intellectual and professional Madhesis can’t shirk from their duty by keeping mum and taking double advantage. While anyone with even a little sense of justice would hardly disagree that the Madhesis have not been included in the Nepali nation state since its inception, no one should forget that the Nepali people are already fed up with violence. They’ve not only been discriminated against by the state mechanism but also ordinary hill people. A child in Kathmandu calling out “O bhaiya, eta aaija” to Madhesi vendors is an example. The government has already been directed by the eight parties and other civil bodies to implement all necessary measures to tackle the issues of citizenship and proportional representation. Now the responsibility lies with the Madhesis to stop letting others taking undue advantage. Those spreading communal hatred against Pahadis are not the older Madhesi inhabitants of the tarai but fake “freedom fighters” who’ve infiltrated the border to take advanatage of their dual citizenship. This is going to harm Nepali Madhesis much more in the long run. Instead of voicing their legitimate demands through legitimate means, the movement is taking the path of violent communalism. Still, if the current movement opens the eyes of the Madhesis themselves about caste, faith and gender discrimination within their own community it may be a good thing. Social equality and justice is far more important than artificial national unity.
Divas

THE KATHMANDU POST Posted on: 2007-02-04
Home minister’s Resignation?
The perpetrators of violence and communalism in the name of the movement do not deserve to ask for the home minister’s resignation as a pre-requisite for the dialogue.
Never before had there been this much vandalization and communalism in the history of Nepal, and the HM is directly resposible for taking every measure to maintain law and order in the country.
Had the movement been peaceful, not only the HM, but the PM himself would have been morally responsible for the police atrocities. It was really wrongful to arrest the Madhesi activists in Kathmandu when they were peacefully burning the copies of the Interim Constitution.
It’s not only ridiculous but also suspicious that those resorting to terrorist acts like attacking the journalists, common people, goverment and police offices; vandalizing the ambulances, the HR bodies, and most of all, spreading communalism, are talking of morality and justice.
The PM, the government and all the major parties in the House should directly address the rightful demands of federalism and proportional representation raised not only by the Madhesis but by communities like the Limbuwans, the Khambuwans, the Tharus and others as well.
At the same time, the government should deal with an iron-hand with those perpetuating cowardice acts of terrorism and communalism.
Divas

NEPALI TIMES http://www.nepalitimes.com/
Issue #336 (16 February 07 – 22 February 07)
COMING CONFLICT
Sheetal Kumar makes valid points in ‘Acute hearing’ (Eyes Wide Shut, #335). The government should involve all sections of society through dialogue, interactions, and roundtable talks to decide what sort of federalism and proportional representation would be appropriate for Nepal.
Neglecting an agenda that was raised peacefully will only help extremists like the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, and Jwala Singh’s group, whose only aim is to see their names in the headlines, and who will probably earn their living through maintaining terror and instability on both sides of the border.
The MJF’s demand for the resignation of the home minister is understandable to some extent, but many madhesis and pahadis believe that Krishna Prasad Sitoula’s resignation, instead of solving the problem, would jeopardise the peace process and upcoming CA polls.
Divas

THE KATHMANDU POST 05 March, 07

http://www.kantipuronline.com/ktmpost.php

Convince!
The political parties, the House, and the government should pay heed to the suggestions made by Yash Pal Ghai (“Parties have monopolized every sector”, Feb 26). Dr Alok Bohara, too, had raised similar concerns in the Kantipur daily (Magh 29 ) over the dangers of federalism based on ethnicity.
It has been widely acknowledged that what people actually want is equal treatment and representation regardless of their ethnic, economic, social, sectarian, or gender identity. This is more of an emotional issue of self-respect that is being manipulated by various forces due to insensitive handling by those in power.
As the whole nation is swayed by such rhetoric as regional autonomy, federalism, ethnic identity which are sensitive issues to the national integrity and communal harmony, the state must mobilize all its resources to inform the people on the pros and cons of every issue. It is good that albeit late, the government has started holding dialogue with different splinter groups including the national federation of the indigenous nationalities. The grievances of every group, no matter how small it is or how eccentric its demands are, must be heard.
Divas

NEPALI TIMES http://www.nepalitimes.com/

Issue #338 (02 March 07 – 08 March 07)
CHELIS
I’d congratulated the Charitrahin Chelis in your paper when they first appeared with their daring agenda four years ago. But then they just vanished into thin air. Their sudden comeback has been a little worrying, are they limiting their roles as anti-males, that too, by emulating the same self-destructive macho male image? When will they move away from this Freudian penis-envy? Their proposition of 50 percent representation in the house is certainly relevant and they are right in carrying out various shock-therapies on the pathologically sex-obsessed mindset of our society. But why pass such revolutionary resolutions through rounds of whisky and cigarettes in an underground midnight bhatti? Can’t they make an open declaration in broad daylight so the message is delivered to all sections of society, including that large percentage of their sisters who do not read papers? If they really wish to change the discriminatory and hypocritical attitude of the society they must play a consistent pro-active role, not just by venting off reactive outbursts once in a while.
Divas

Fossil Feul Fued

Fossil fuel feud
Fossil fuel feud

The government should go ahead with its plan to hike the gasoline price keeping that of diesel and other consumer goods the same.

A small percentage of Nepali use gasoline for their transport, and those who can line up in front the pump cursing the government, should be ready to contribute more for their luxury.

Why don’t the mobikers and other users enjoy health, environment, as well as their pocket friendly bicycles? They better commute in public transport if in a hurry.

Marriage is a private affair

  

 A day in 2006

In fact, this is a story of a girl who lived with us indoors – we know about her, and her family almost as well as they know about themselves. We were looking for a dera, and providence sent us here. Two rooms, one of which is the size of a kitchen, were for us, the rest rooms were for them, in the ground floor. Since there is a single bathroom attached inside, we can not avoid each other’s company. The father, mom, son, a daughter, and a small girl of eight – who calls me a ‘chimpanzee uncle’ – from their first daughter whose husband has been to the gulf for obvious reasons.These lines wouldn’t have been written, had there not been a life changing incident. Not for us, but for the girl.

There came a proposal for her, which like almost all parents, they happily accepted. She has already completed her plus two, waiting for the result. The most amazing thing was that she did not say a single word in opposition. I was expecting a bellowing cry from her that she wants to complete her MA or, at least, BA before marriage, etc … but nothing happened of that sort. On the contrary, she was laughing while washing clothes yesterday when her bro made a funny remark that it was her last washing in their family. Today she is going to her hometown in the terai with her father and mom.

The fixing of her marriage was told to me by my cousin. He happened to hear the unavoidable talks next room – which is just a door’s distance. I teased him, “so lost another opportunity, I’d been telling you to marry her, and you didn’t care. Now, you lost her.” He retorted back, “so why didn’t u do then,…” I told him that I ‘d marry a foreigner only, and after all, I’d a generation gap with her age…Besides, her father is so naggingly talkative that no one would like to make him a father-in-law.

I heard her only brother, three years elder, somewhat not satisfied with the hurry the parents were in. “After all, it’s her life… etc” This guy is the only reasonable person in their family. Eight years younger to me, he is an energetic bread-and-other-things-winner for the family. Earns more than 25,000 from school and tuitions – an envious earning for a ‘kid’ of his age and profession. But he, too, could not go against his parents’ decision – another surprise.

I’ve nothing to do with her marriage, or whether she’ll get along with that Danthe or not. I can’t say that she is sad. She looks normal. Her middle sis has a querulous boy of three, and, still she is doing her Bachelor in Pharmacy – something I couldn’t do – bosses around everywhere, including her parents and that fool called her hubby.

No one can plan the future exactly – it’s only a guess – since everything in the world keeps on changing. Yet I find it odd that any educated girl from a Brahmin origin would be willing to marry a policeman – unless she is in love with one. Her to-be-hubby is a Sub Inspector. I suspect that her father, who is a sly person, is knowingly marrying her with a policeman working in the PM’s Office, for his own ‘practical’ reason – not for the girl. Once I’d heard him saying that what a person all wants is sex.It’s not even that I am undermining the boy or his profession. It’s the system of marriage, that I really hate.

The more I think upon it, I’m becoming surer of Chninua Achebe’s remark that ‘Marriage is a private Affair.’Meanwhile, perhaps, better for us, there seems another party in the offing!

(to be contd)

Khuda Hafiz Benazir!

Shocking, yet not surprising.

Benazir herself knew it’s coming soon.

Who’s next?

Nawaj, Pervej, Osama, etc.

But never Bush, Pope, Khomeini, etc.

Why?

The jehadis, though they believe & appear to fighting against the US, are in fact serving the US foreign policy better that any of its allies.

It’d be sheer ignorance to call Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ crusade  has been a failure.

The Bush Team must be congratulated for their success in diverting the jehadis’ attention away from the US to their own homelands.

The US has even booby-trapped the Europeans, Arabs, Asians, Africans, Australians, o my god, the whole world in its remote controlled operations in the Islam World.

In the War between Jesus & Mohammad, Jesus seems to be winning right now.

But how long?

The gods are already eaten up & soiled by the worms, and the puppets are playing God.

And, as they say, nobody wins in a war.

Meanwhile, three cheers for Mr Bush!

Khuda Hafiz Ms Bhutto!

Hillary deserves the White House!

Hail Hillary!

 

American people should be gender bias while choosing their next president – let the former ‘First Lady’ Senator Hillary be the ‘Strongest Person on Earth’.

Take some inspiration from the struggling democracies like India, Sri-Lanka, Pakistan, & the Philippines, where the ‘fairer’ ones have been the strongest leaders of their time.

Isn’t it a shame for self-pampering Americans that they have never elected a female, nor a non-white as their president?

And Hillary deserves the White House; she’s as competent as any of her male rivals.

American people must prove this time that they are not the most rigid, stereotyped, and chauvinist voters on earth.

Let Bill be known as the ’First Man’ henceforward!

Nepal – The Madhesi Movement Lessons – 2007

 

The ‘Madhesi’ groups have yet again announced their fresh agitations. In the violent protests & brutal crush down by the goverment in 2007, more than 40 ‘Madhesi’ protestors were killed & scores of people including the security forces were severely injured.

A review of the crisis.

The Terai Janatantrik Morcha and other communal and regressive groups, as well as the government and the Maoists in the name of controlling them, are spreading violence in the Terai that might spread on the nationwide scale in no matter of time.

The responsible intellectual and professional Madhesis(belonging to the plains) and Pahadiyas(belonging to the hills) can not ward off their duty on such a burning issue by keeping mum with their personal biases and taking double advantages.

Anyone with even the slightest sense of justice would hardly disagree that the Madhesis have not been emotionally included in the nation state of Nepal since its inception.

They’ve not only been discriminated against by the state mechanism, most of the Pahadiyas in Kathmandu still do not treat them as their equals. Calling ‘O Bhaiya, eta aaija’ to the Madhesi vendors by a small kid is a minor example, even the  intellectuals, professionals, and students feel being judged by their ethnic background.

No one should forget that Nepal constitutes multiple ethnic, racial, and religious, as well as a significant number of non-religious sections that need careful treatment and assimilation to prevent the country from disintegration and continual violence.

The mindless violence and terror has threatened the social security not only of the minority Pahadiya population in the Terai but also that of the majority of madhesis themselves.

Instead of voicing their legitimate demands through legitimate means, the movement, no matter led by whom, is clearly heading toward communalism and vandalization.

It’s ironical that those identifying their movement with such noble figures like Gandhi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King are venting off their anger against the discriminatory system imposed by the outdated feudal institutions by vandalizing public and private properties.

Such acts of violence would only deter the nation from conducting the national agenda of Constituent Assembly polls, and formation and adoption of the new constitution. It’s already too late to start a new revolution – rivaling with the neighboring countries for educational, economic, and technological growth.

Now that the PM has been obliged to fulfill the Madhesis’ and other ethnic groups’ major demand of federalism and has also requested for the dialogue to settle the remaining issues, the responsibility now lies on their shoulders if they want to see Nepal as a single nation.

The Limbuwans, Khambuwans, Newars, Tharuwans & others too have already begun their strike with similar demands, and, in all probability, others might follow the suit.

Still, it’d be commendable if the ongoing movements would open up everyone’s eyes on the inhuman discrimination made by the privileged  high-class, rich, educated, and highly male-dominated society against the women, dalits, and the minority community.

Instigating communal violence in the name of civil rights and brutal crush-down by the government to control them would only help the comeback of the feudal ghosts with their scary agenda of forceful national integration that can not be tolerable to any free thinking human being.

Social security, peace, and justice are far more important than artificial national unity.

Viruses Sans Borders – Bird Flu in India Nepal & South Asia

                                                                                                                                                     

Health workers seal a sackful of chicken after culling birds at a poultry farm in Margram, 240km north of Kolkata

WHO has warned that the outbreak of bird flu in India’s West Bengal State is more alarming than it appears.

The worst hit areas have also very poor Human Development Index(HDI) records.

Children playing nearby dead chickens, dogs devouring the diseased fowls, and farmers hiding their birds from the officials indicate the gravity of the epidemic.

One health worker admitted that she’d never encountered such a difficult outbreak compounded by human ignorance and poverty.

The farmers are furious at the government for not providing medicines for their poultry!

The chickens are even smuggled to other villages, or are sold at low prices at the local markets.

The people are so ignorant of the hazards of possible mutations of H5N1 Virus that they are happily buying ‘meat’ at ‘damn cheap’ prices.

The West Bengal state has a very high population density; and international borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.

Before the outbreak spreads to other areas, including the countries of the South & East Asia, and then to Europe & Americas, the government should buy the poultry from the reluctant farmers who are unwilling of let go of their income sources.

The world community should also help India in curbing the crisis, as the stakes are not only local, but global.

Americans, Ask your President Hopefuls!

                     

           The towers of the World Trade Center burn shortly after United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower on the right. To its left is the still smoking North Tower, struck earlier by American Airlines Flight 11.(Wikipedia)

By Divas

The world has never been so paradoxical: prosperity is immediately followed by partisanism.

Population, now, is not a liability but a powerful resource.

Globalization & Separatism, Western consumption pattern and cultural assertiveness are growing side by side.

The shifting balance of power in the economic, technological, military, culturlal, political, and demographic spheres has caught the humanity in the most dangerous catch22 situation.

However, panic and indulgence into the rhetorical mud-slinging can not be allowed to go further.

The leaders in every sphere of human activity must convince to their masses that:

*Bushism is as dangerous as Ladenism.

*Crusades & Jihads are both foolishly self-inflicting.

*The political borders of all nations must be respected.

The whole philosophy is addressing conflicts requres a radical reformation.

Multiplicity and conflicts need to be seen as opportunities for re-evaluating the dogmatic visions.

Temporary patch-up works of conflicts resolution attitudes must give way to more sustainable conflict transformation strategies.

Changing Perceptions – Change in World Order

Victim of Madhesi-Pahadi communal riot in Kapilvastu,  Nepal

Darfur Refugee Camp in Chad
Date 2003–present Location Darfur Status Conflict ongoing; humanitarian catastrophe (est. 200,000-400,000 dead and 2,500,000 refugees)
Combatants
JEM factions NRF alliance	Janjaweed SLM (Minnawi)  Sudan	African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)
Commanders
Ibrahim Khalil Ahmed Diraige	Omar al-Bashir Minni Minnawi	Luke Aprezi Martin Luther Agwai
Strength
N/A	N/A	7,000

 (Wikipedia)

 

Conflicts seem natural among human civilizations.

 Only the nature of conflict changes.

After the WW II, two types of conflicts prevailed in the latter part of the 20th century; viz ideological & civilizational.

*Ideological conflicts: Pre 80s, Cold War, US Vs USSR, Communism Vs Capitalism, Bipolar World

The fall of the communist empire in the Soviet Block was followed by a series of ethnic/racial genocides mostly in the Balkans, Mid-East, Africa, and Asia.

*Civilizational Conflicts: Post 90s: No matter what Bush says, its a multi-polar world.

Heterogenity in the population has been increasingly becoming a risk factor for conflicts.

Intra-religious and Inter-religious conflicts are changing the paradigms of the world order.

People now define themselves in terms of ancestry, religion, language, institutions, customs, and regionality.

The traditional idelological & nationalistic identities as well as the political boundaries of all nations have been rendered porous.

The euphoria of the fall of the Berlin Wall was soon to evaporate.

Chinese Muslims were to to walk thousands of miles crossing several borders to Chechnya to fight against the Russians.

In their ‘Fight Against Terrorism’ Americans were to find their own citizen as the Taliban fighters.

Once the Maoists in Nepal gave up their arms sidelining the ‘Barrel of the Gun’ policy, scores of armed outfits mushroomed up threatening the very social fabric with deadly communalism.

A Counter-Discourse on Madhesi Theory

Activists and supporters of various tarai parties stage a demonstration at Janaandalon Chowk in Biratnagar on Friday welcoming Thursday’s agreement reached between the government and the United Democratic Madhesi Front. (pic:ekantipur.com.np)

By Divas

Congratulations to Madhesis for their achievement in claiming their identity & rights.

While most of the Madhesis were celebrating their victory, one of the armed Madhesi groups killed a Khagendra Limbu in the Terai for being a ‘Pahadi’.

Some Madhesi intellectuals, media persons,  students, & political leders, most of them enjoying the peace & comforts of Kathmandu & abroad, are wrongly applying the postcolonial concepts of ‘otherness’ & sublatern theories in the context of Nepal; therby creating a dangerous Madhesi Discourse promoting radical politics & polarization.

The discourse of demonizing ‘Pahadis’ is certainly going to be counter-productive to Madhesis themselves.

The proponents of Madhesi Discourse have ignored the anomalies due to caste & class coflicts within & between the Madhesis & Pahadis – both being rooted in the same principles of social division propounded in the ancient  Hindu regulation the Manusmriti.

The wrong focus has generated various communal outfits which are mislead into believing that all their social & political problems are due to the ‘Pahad’(Hill) hegemony over the Terai people. Just like the political parties in Nepal blaming everything they can not handle on the defunct(?) King!

The continual splitting of the Madhesi armed groups numbering more than a score indicates the gravity of  communal tension within Madhesi community.

This also shows that the political & communal conditions in the Madhes will not be very different from that of Bihar & UP of India – criminal gangs in the guise of liberators & protectors would be operating there.

The militarization & crimilization of the society may be further aggravated with the emergence of Muslim, ‘Pahadi’, & other communal outfits.

Thus, the seeds of animosity & communal hatred that the Madhesis intellectuals, media, & politicians are nurturing by misusing the tools of postcolonial theories, would certainly raise the intra-cultural conflicts in the whole Southern Terai of Nepal.

OK, Call Me a Traitor!

 

Now that it’s nakedly(not only stark) clear that there had been a positive role on the part of the Indian Govt. in tackling the Tarai crisis, this blogger expects some more hue & cry from the seasonal diehard nationalists against the ‘Indianization’ of Nepali nation.

Given the geo-politico-cultural position of Nepal that you can not change, you can never avoid the Indian influence; if not positive – then be ready for the negative.

If the two Mukherjis – Pranab & Shivsankar – had not been instrumental in persuading the Madhesi leaders come to a compromise with the Nepal Govt, then who were able to prevent the Advanis & Sindhals Team pouring ‘Hindu Ghee’ in the Tarai agitation?

OK, let’s assume that all the ‘seen’ political actors play their ideal indifference to what what goes in Nepal, then who could stop the criminals, terrorists, & radical ethnic outfits?

Some propose of playing the ‘China Card’ against India – what about the Chinese envoys consulting India first on Nepal matters?

And why shouldn’t India sympathize the Madhesis of Nepal given the latter’s cultural, political, & if needed, criminal link in Bihar & UP?

After all, Nepalis seem to be glorified when a Bhadgaule Topi wearer, despite him being an Indian national serving the Indian police, forcibly became the India Idol.

How many Nepalis think why Tenzing Sherpa adopted Indian citizenship & why why Udit Narayan’s nationality is always in question?

Let me callously ask how many true Nepalis, including the  NRNs(read Non Returning Nepalis), are ready to fight the cultural(Bollywood included obviously), economic, & political imperialism of India which even the US & Pakistan find irrestible?

You’re free to call me yet another anti-national element, an Indian stooge, a traitor, or the likes.

But I need no more proofs to be sure that that definition if applied on me, spares no one.

No more Ostrich-ism, please!

No Woman No Cry

By Divas

There’s a lot of noise about the Int’l Women’s Day in the media.

All are preaching repeatedly the same boring thing: Education & Empowerment.

Does education really empower women?

Or, does it make them more vulnerable?

And what about happiness?

Does education & empowerment bring happiness to the descendents of those women who’ve been deprived of the same since the begining of civilization?

The measure of happiness is read on the scale of freedom.

If education makes you a Simon de Bouvre, or a Hellen Keller, or a Parijat – Bravo!

But if you turn up to be among Virginia Woof, Sylvia Plath, Marilyn Monroe – isn’t ignorance bliss?

Osho says that more than political & economic revolutions, the world needs a Sexual Revolution.

Simply saying patriarchy is evading the question – say it categorically that your Churches, Mosques, & Temples are behind all atrocities against women.

Our Fathers, Mullahs, & Pundits are responsible for all our sufferings.

Women have always been linked with sex more than anything else.

Ironically, they too, seem to have accepted the label.

Sex has been related with character.

And educated women are supposed to possess extra-ordinary character.

In this part of the world, a woman is always paranoid about ‘losing her character.’

And losing her character doesn’t mean she does something wrong, or harms someone – it means how others’ judge her.

The more she’s educated, the greater become her fears.

Education that liberates is wonderful.

But education that confines a person within one’s own paranoia is meaningless.

Let the day come soon when there’d be no Women’s Day!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Sanket of Armed Politics in Nepal

 

After reading Sanket’s story in The Himalayan Times, I could not help getting emotional myself.

Sanket is the pseudonym of a member of an armed outfit fighting for their own state in Southern Nepal.

Due to the ethnic cleansing strategy by people like Sanket, hundreds of ‘Pahadis’ have been either displaced, or killed, or living under continual terror of communal violence.

Still, one  could not remain unmoved when ‘tears trickled down Sanket’s eyes’ when he was asked about his kids.

That Sanket chose to be a ‘revolutionary’ was his own decision – so he will have to face the consequences.

But why should his innocent wife & six kids have to suffer for what he did/or does?

The govt & political parties should do everything to bring people like Sanket into the mainstream politics.

If Sanket wishes to come home, don’t make him stay outside for long.

Let him in, immediately!

But Break, My Heart, for I must…’

A research conducted by the BPKHF, Nepal points out three major causes for depression among Nepali women:

* Marital Conflicts

* Socio-economic Stress

* A family member with a serious health problem

The most vulnerable are the women of the age group 20-50, especially the pregnant ones.

Children & women are worst affected by the wars & social unrests.

The findings are strikingly similar to the researches conducted all over the the world.

This also shows the universal nature of human suffering.

No wonder that ‘like parents, like children.’

Reminds of reading somewhere that the greatest thing a man can do for his kids is to respect their mother.

However, it should also be noted that men’s violent nature itself is an indication of underlying mental disorders.

Therefore, looking at such universal psychological problems through the dogmatic feministic perspective would be equally fallacious.

Nevertheless, every life can always be prevented from ending up as a tragedy by some sort of positive interventions.

It’s also said the greatest sin is to worry, for a worried person creates a painful aura around him.

Mental disorders, especially depression – a major cause of tremendous sufferings and suicides, can be managed very efficiently if not cured.

Almost all sorts of negative & destructive behaviors like alcoholism, aggressiveness, addictions, obsessiveness, fanaticism, phobias, anxieties, apathy, mood swings, etc, etc, can be taken one or the other form of mental disorders.

* Psychiatric medications

* Psychological Counselling & Therapies

* A Spiritual Outlook

* Meditation Techniques

are the greatest discoveries made for the mental well-being of the human civilization.

How Irresitible is Nepal Maoist Chairman Prachanda?

A meeting between the Election Commission and the leaders of the big three parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) — at the Election Commission office, Monday. They discussed ending hostilities among electioneering party workers. Seen in the picture (from left) are Madhav Nepal, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda. Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel is in the foreground. (Online Photo )

By Divas

Prachanda’s pitiable from-frying-pan-to-fire-itself gestures show it all.

Prachanda – one of the masterminds behind brainwashing their cadres to believe in the violent nature of the state.

Many, including the anti-communists, would hardly disagree up to that point.

Then they gave a fallacious mantra to the confused lot of romantics: that violence cuts violence.

They took a lot of time, thousands of killings, & millions of sufferings to recognize that their version of truth leads a society into a myriad of deadly confrontations.

And that countering the violent mindsets with even more violence created yet more violence.

Thanks to the quick realization of the vicious-circle, millions of lives were saved & innumerable sufferings were averted.

Prachanda, once again, is believed to have played a very positive role in persuading his own comrade colleagues & cadres who were hell bent on their ‘Kill or Die’ strategy that the time was ripe for yet another jump: a peaceful landing.

No one denied that despite their brutality which is better not to mention at present, the Maoists played an important positive agents for the Great Jump that the feudal Nepali society took by absorbing the social consciousness of the 21st century standards.

And the people were prepared not only to forgive but also reward the Maoists in the 1st deferred CA polls.

Prachanda enjoyed a lot of public & worldwide media attention as a truly revolutionary figure for his transformation from an underground Jungle Lord to the Lion of pragmatic communist ideology who could persistently mention Gunman Mao’s & the Lotusman Buddha’s preaching in the same breath.

Prachanda acknowledged & promised to free his party from all pollutions, which in his own words “infiltrated the party during the process of becoming the Ganges of Nepali politics.”

However, even Prachanda appeared naïve in comprehending that the 19th C rules of the Jungles do not hold true in cities & marketplaces of the 21st C – which proved a boon for the cunning national, regional, & international demagogues.

While their agenda prevailed in most of the government decisions, the Maoists themselves incurred a heavy loss, especially in the Terai, owing to their junglee attitude which was manipulated by other forces in their own favor.

The Outcome: A thrice deferred CA election, a country in shambles, a chaotic political football ground where everyone is a foul-mouthed-foul-player & there’re no convincing referees except the friends from all over the world.

Still, Nepalis love football, & they too have refereed in other countries, & they believe that foul players gonna play fair one day; the sufferings that people have gone through have made them even wiser, & they’re all set to provide everyone a space through the upcoming CA election.

A Bachelor Travels to Fewa City

“Lakeside, Lakeside, Lakeside,..” “Hello, I wanna go to Fewa Tal?”

“That’s where it goes, step in.”

“But you said Lakeside only. Which Lakeside do you mean? I heard that there’re many lakes here, & I wanna go to Fewa Tal.”

“Same dai, Fewa Tal & Lakeside are the same thing.”

“Anglicization of a place,” I begin brooding.

“Veg Momo?”

“Sorry, no Veg Momo in this Lakeside area. If you wanna eat vege Momo, go to Mahendra Pul. We get chelokhelo (enough) fish & meat in Pokhara, hence it’s rare to find veg items. Would you like to have Veg Chowmein instead?”

Indeed, the signboard proclaimed, ” Please visit us for tareko, bhuteko, jhol, jhinge varieties of fish, & for pure Khasi(a he-goat), Chicken, Buff Momo, Chowmein, tounge, the brains, liver, intestines, & for Dharan’s Black Pigs’ items.”

“And what not,” I remember someone chuckling; “they eat everything a Buffalo gives, except its droppings!”

Chowmeins remind me of the MSG. Aha, there, “Please give me those boiled meshed potatoes.”

“Mmm…the achar has been jhaneko with herbs like jimmu & timmur & it’s distinctly Pokhreli.“

“The people here are really more hospitable than that of Kathmandu”, I conclude. “And broadly speaking, except the foreigners, they’re of five types: the small and/or flat-nosed Hindu or Buddhist Mongolians, the medium-sized-flat/round-nosed Hindu Aryans, the bearded-long-nosed Muslim Aryans, the mustached-long-nosed Hindu Madhesis, clean-shaven-long-nosed Hindu or Jain Marwaris, & since I’ve also seen a Church, the hybrid-not-easily-discernable Christians.”

A tourist gal is bargaining,” Look, I’m an honest person. So, I expect you to be honest. Got it?”

Yes, Mam, Yes”, says the Man at the HIRE MOBIKES HERE!

I remember a columnist quoting some boat-driver: Even a buffalo from the Lake Side can speak fluent English.

A white-woman who I guess must be a Scanadivian asks the boat-driver to take her pictures: one here, one here, one here…., OK, thank you!”

I look into the mysterious Lake water: I see the fish camouflaging by taking the colors of the weeds, the small baby fish swarms which looked like the original inhabitants of the sea: they’ve taken hundreds of generations to adapt themselves to the Lake-weeds – I look like a Darwin in the Fewa water.

A UN chopper flies just above the Lake: so, the UN peace-keepers too need some peace of mind!

Ok, there is the Goa Restaurant. Pokhara is truly a multicultural place; I’m again reminded of the Folk-Laureate Ali Miya.

“Stop making hasty generalizations. People everywhere are the same.” I murmur to myself.

The whole of Pokhara’s Thamel comes to a halt suddenly; a swarm of mobikes thunder the area like one gets to see in Cowboy films: Baishakha pailo haptama, Maobadi Sattama.(Coming 1st Week of the Month, Maoists would be in the reign).

The procession at the speed of 25 Km/hr takes 10 minutes to complete. An elderly woman waves back at them. A girls laughs, “It’s the last day of CA election campaigning.” “The Maoists still have a good presence here,” wonders a shopkeeper to his friend. The buffalos straying on the road run for a help.

And just yesterday, I’d seen two Paharis on a mobike, announcing: “For a New Nepal, vote for the Nepal Sadvawana Party!”

And, I heard a Nepali of Japanese origin making his speech the same day. A Nepali version of  Alberto Mujimori, lol!

“Even the dogs seem more relaxed here,” another American told his Nepali friend.

 

Kathmandu, Pokhara, Machhapuchhre & Seti

By Divas

When one stands at a certain corner near the Mahendra Pul at Naya Bazar in a clear morning, and looks north, it appears like Pokhara is wearing a snow-made Palpali Dahka topi.

The Fish Tail or Machapuchrre hovers so near that you can stretch your hands, and hug him.

If you wish to discover the place being your own guide, walk northward keeping the Tail in your focus. One hours walk from Chipledhunga, no matter which route you take, leads to the Seti at the upper Pokhara.

When one listens to the roaring Seti, & the echoes returned by the nearby boulders, one gets an eerie sensation of being alone in the midst of a large number of people from the past and present whispering together. The eeriness heightens near the Christian cemetery where you’d see the crosses like those in the horror movies.

That Hesse’s river was not fictional, & if one stayed there listening to Seti for a long time, there was the real danger of becoming Siddhartha. Hence, one longs for the city cacophony where one feels at home, & flees the laughing Seti which merges all voices into a single hum.

The Seti water is literally whitish as her name suggests, you wonder what gives the rivers their color – some are green, some blue, some brown, & some even grayish-white like Seti; as if she was the holy water mixed with ashes, & descending from Lord Shiva’s matted hairs. The clean water that looks medicinal due to her strange color tempts one to embrace her, but a minute’s kiss reverses the mammalian temperature – sending shivers that defy the scorching summer sun.

The contrast inside & outside the water makes one to contemplate at the strangeness of geographical variation – a perspiring tropical climate on the lap of one of the Earth’s chilliest Himalayan ranges. You raise your head to see the Tail again, and lo, it’s gone behind the surrounding clouds!

Pokhara mimics Kathmandu in everyway. Even the place names like Bagbazar, New Road, Budhanilkantha, New & Old Bus Parks, & the narrow street lanes of olden times near the only pet God of Pokhara – the Bindhabasini. Even the Sukhawati Buddhist Gumba resonates with Sastrartha noises ignoring the Buddha’s Samyak Bacha.

The stinking garbage strewn on the Seti banks at some places, & the people standing at their door with three or four large sacks from each house, waiting for the Municipality truck, caution the Pokhrelis not to be swayed by the Western notion of city that mutated once beautiful Kathmandu into a Garbage Valley.

So long Fewa, so long Fish Tail, & what did you say Seti – Bon Voyage? Thanks, so long, until next time!

Capital Flight from Nepal

The business sector suffered mostly due to the Maoist insurgency in the last 10 years, and now it’s upto them to build up confidence.”
Kush K Joshi, President, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry

“Wise & learned people lead our party, not the stupid ones.”
Prachanda, Maoist Supremo

Understandably, the share prices in Nepal dipped sharply among the news of the Maoist Party inching closer to majority in the Constituent Assembly election held on April 10.

And even the Maoists themselves fear that the temporary fear during the transition might become a new trend despite assurance from leaders for following a ‘capitalistic’ market economy.

The fears, however, are not unjustifiable. Although the Maoist leadership sounds really wise & pragmatic, they have not returned or made public about the confiscated land & property during the People’s War – not even after being a component of the Seven Party coalition government for the last two years.

Moreover, the grassroot Maoist cadres still beleive in the same hit & run theory – attacking all those not conforming to their ideology or hooliganism. The latest high-profile example could be the present Finance Minister Dr. Ram Saran Mahat who was allegedly attacked by the Maoists while celebrating his victory in the election.

“If the Maoists can thrash an incumbent government minister like me so easily & get away with that, how can a commoner feel secure under their leadership?” asked Dr. Mahat.

If the wise & learned Maoist leadership does not effectively control its cadres, & starts  a massive confidence building campaigns immediately, they’ll neither be able to check the capital flight to India which has already begun in effect.

The greatest folly lies in considering the Maoist tail to be heavier than its head – its simply unbelievable that the leaders who controlled their cadres even after the killings of dozens of their comrades in Gaur, Kapilvastu & Dang massacres, can not check the high-handedness against general public.

The real question would be why don’t they?

And if they won’t, then who else?

Water Water Everywhere: Kosi Floods & Indo-Nepal Politics

The Koshi Barrage

By Divas

Indian and Nepali authorities instead of accusing their counterparts better concentrated on the humanitarian work for more than 50,000 displaced victims of the Kosi River flooding. Entire villages including the thatched huts and livestock have been swept away. Thousands are still missing. Those who had taken refuge in the government schools or on the sidewalks of the nearby towns after their villages were inundated with the flood water are facing food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare shortages. There are reports of people suffering from typhoid, pneumonia, and gastroenteritis.

Nicknamed as the ‘Sorrow of Bihar’ in the GK books, the Kosi(or Koshi) is the largest river of Nepal that flows from Nepal to India. The river is also known as the ‘Saptakosi’ in Nepal owing to its seven major tributaries which themselves are ferocious streams most of them originating in the Tibet. The Kosi itself converges with the Ganges along the planes of India.

The Kosi Barrage was constructed in 1954 under Indian assistance and inaugurated by the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru. The Barrage which lies on the Indo-Nepal border is a contorversial issue in Nepali politics, for a treaty allows India to control and maintain the Barrage made on Nepali land. Nepali communists have been accusing that the Koirala Brothers Trio – Matrika Prasad, Bishweshwor Prasad, and Girija Prasad – sold the rights on the major rivers of Nepal namely Kosi, Gandaki, and Mahakali to India. Even Prachanda, while visiting the affected area called the perennial Koshi River flooding as Nepal’s National Crisis and termed the Barrage as a ‘historic blunder’ hinting at the ‘unequal’ treaty with India.

India’s interest for controlling the rivers is twofold – safeguarding its people from the floods in the rivers that flow to India and make use of water for irrigation and generate hydroelectricity. Still, even the leaders of India’s Bihar State accuse their central government as well as the Nepal Government of being insensitive to the sufferings of the people residing in the area. Incidentally, former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav is presently the Railway Minister of the central government. Most Nepalis believe that Nepal loses a significant part of its hydropower share generated by India on Nepali rivers.

Ironically, while Bhutan even as India’s security protectorate makes a sustained development through hydropower projects on Indian investment, Nepal still suffers from its what Dr. Jagadish Sharma calls “Struggle for Existence” squeezed between the two nuclear giants India and China.

Nepal Maoist Dilemma: Economy Vs Communism

Poverty in Nepal: Maoists better focus on real issues

By Divas

Nepal’s Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda has, perhaps for the first time, acknowledged that his party’s mission for political transformation has been completed with the country’s transfer from monarchy to republic. Prachanda, while inaugurating a Charity Hospital donated by a Nepali millionaire from Russia, Dr. Upendra Mahato, asked the Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) to support the government’s efforts for “economic revolution” by investing in the country.

Similarly, Maoist Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, contrary to his party’s objective of establishing a single party rule of the “proletariats”, has observed during his visit in the US that, “no other system except the multi-party democracy” can guarantee political stability in Nepal. Dr. Bhattarai’s “democratic” remarks came after the US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher made it clear that his country was in the mood of “watching” Maoist behavior for some more time before removing the Maoists from Terror Watch list.

The World Bank too put the conditions of watching Maoist policies and performance regarding free trade and corruption control, before releasing any budgetary support to the Nepal government.

However, the Maoists are facing increasing resistance back home. The central committee meeting of the second largest party in the Maoist-led coalition government, the United Marxist-Leninist (UML) Party has accused the Maoists of heading toward a “single party despotic rule with ultra-leftist digressions”. The third largest party in the government, the MJF, has already condemned Prachanda’s call of adopting “new model of democracy” as authoritarian intentions.

Maoist hardliners who fear their party of losing “revolutionary zeal” must understand that during a time when the richest economies are battling against their worst economic crisis, the Maoist-led government can not fulfill its budgetary promises without foreign investments. Past experience shows that even the domestic capital has a tendency of “flying” to India and elsewhere during the unstable political climate in Nepal.

At a time, when inflation in Nepal has already crossed 13 percent, it’d be in the interest of the Maoists themselves if they focused on economic agenda, and, at least for the time being, forget their “revolutionary” political rhetoric.

The Maoist Mecca-land China’s experimentations prove that poverty alleviation and economic transformation through foreign investment requires a more pragmatic rather than dogmatic approach.

ABC Blog

Educational Reforms in Nepal: “Mother, Can I Go to School With Brother From Tomorrow?”

 

By Divas

The Maoist-led Government of Nepal has vowed to eradicate illiteracy from the country within two years. Article 17(2) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal (2007) holds the State responsible for educating its people, “Every citizen shall have the right to free education from the State up to secondary level as provided for in the law.” The 2005 estimate of literacy rate stands at an average of 47.5 percent. Not only the total literacy rate remains one of the lowest in the world, but also, like in all other South Asian countries, gender remains one of the major factors in determining one’s access to education. The female literacy rate remains at 29 percent, less than half compared with that of male being more than 64 percent.

 

The school systems in Nepal represent its class, caste, and gender anomalies. Government Schools are meant for people from lower strata of society and the girl children. Some daughters often make their poor parents dumb-founded by asking, “Why don’t you provide us with a quality education like our brothers get in the boarding schools?” 

 

One of the reasons why Maoists proudly identify their bloody war as “home-grown revolution” is their focus on educational discrepancy among the population. The Maoists have been vociferous as well as violent against the dual mode of education – the government vs. private education. Thousands of “English Boarding School” run by private sector were forcibly shut down and the “bourgeois education” promoting class difference was replaced with  “revolutionary education” by the Maoists in their strongholds during the “People’s War”. Time and often the Maoists issued circulars warning all non-public educational institutions to either voluntarily shut down or face “dire consequences” including the “purge”.

 

A large section of the Nepali population still believes that the Maoists were not wrong in identifying the root problems in the education sector of Nepal, among others. However, being the largest party leading the country after the Constitutional Assembly elections, the Maoists have realized that they can not shut down the “boarding schools” which claim to provide an alternative to thousands of students who’d otherwise surely head for India and other foreign countries. Some dreamy ones even wonder what if the Maoists make it mandatory for all government staffers to enroll their children in government schools only.

 

Understandably, the “mastermind” Maoist Finance Minister Dr. Bhattarai had no other option except for proposing a heavy investment by the government in the education sector. Ironically, the success of all Maoist initiated programs depends on smooth cooperation from other parties in the country and a hefty contribution from abroad.

 

Anyway, hardly anyone would disappoint the “n^th-times marginalized” girl student from a government school who believes with hope in her eyes, “We’ve suffered a lot due to our ignorance. Let’s give the Maoists a chance to prove themselves, at least in eradicating illiteracy and improving the standard of community schools”.

Who Observes the United Nations’ Day in Nepal?

Hey Kid, Is Your Pa with the UN?  

By Divas

Media persons in Nepal celebrated the United Nations’ Day on Oct 24 by holding the Peace Photo Award 2008 for the photojournalists. For others, despite amidst the news of UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon’s visit to Nepal in late October, the UN Day was just another official Day that was observed a week after the  Condom Day(Oct 17?).  This is not to mean that Nepalis don’t care for the world body, on the contrary, like the proud soldiers of Nepal Army, every Nepali (as well as people from the developed world) would feel proud to introduce themselves as a UN staffer. Like Ian Martin said, Nepalis are also looking forward to UN General Secrectary Ban Ki Moon’s visit as “the highest symbol of the United Nations’ interest in Nepal peace process and commitment to see it fully realized”. Nonetheless, like in all other countries, the UN role in Nepal also remains under severe public scrutiny.

Prof Jayaraj Acharya, former Nepali ambassador to UN, questions the UN’s excuse of lack of budget on the one hand, and the “staffers enjoying their salary without doing any work” and the utility of “smooth UN limousines proudly cruising on the narrow Kathmandu streets” (Kantipur daily, Oct 25). Prof Aachaya also criticizes the UN’s “failure” in responding to the needs of the victims of Kosi floods in Eastern Nepal and that of flood & famine in Western Nepal. Just a day ago, UN’s resident & humanitarian coordinator for Nepal Richard Piper had claimed on UN’s “response” to such situations with food, shelter, water, and health care. Who knows, Prof Aacharya’s sharing of public cynicism toward all “high-profile institutions” might be the result of a long wait since his last tenure for a UN job for himself!

 

Howerver, no one, including Prof Aacharya, doubts the need for UN presence in Nepal. From Maoists to Madhesis, all the armed groups in Nepal have demanded for the UN mediation during their talks with the Nepal Govt. Despite the occasional accusations of inefficiency & impartiality from different sides, the United Nations’ Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) is still monitoring the Maoist Guerillas in various cantonments and their arms stored in special containers. UNMIN played a crucial role in certifying about 20,000 as valid combatants from an army of about 32,000 guerillas. Another UN body, the UNHCR, is also active in Nepal looking after the Bhutanese refugees for more than 15 years who were otherwise forsaken by all concerning countries – Bhutan, India, & Nepal.

Politics of Festivals, Energy & Economic Crisis, Negotiations, and the Gloomy Winter Ahead in Nepal

“Haloween” in the Thirld World: Dipavali Fireworks & Reality

By Divas

An Assessment on Challenges faced by Nepal’s Maoist-led Govt

This year’s month-long season of festivals Vijaya Dasami & Deepawali(Tihar) concludes in Nepal with the celebration of BhaiTeeka(Bro-Sis Day) on Oct 30. However, there remains one more festive occasion, & perhaps the greatest for the Nepali Hindus along the southern plains – the Chatha. This year, Nepali Muslims celebrated their Eid that fell during the Dasain days with extra jubilations – for the first time in predominantly Hindu country Nepal, Nepal Govt recognized the Eid as one of Nepal’s national festivals & declared the day as a public holiday. Similarly, the Christmas has also been recognized as a public festival of Nepal. And the reporters of international media in Kathmandu enjoyed reporting the news of a republican Nepal with the Maoist-led govt becoming even more inclusive in adopting diverse religious & cultural festivals.

However, a tricky winter awaits the conclusion of festivals – for both climatic & political reasons. Not only that the global economic recess & fuel crisis adversely affects the so-called mostly agrarian economy of Nepal, but the power crunch that forced to go for a nationwide load-shedding for about 50 hrs a week would only deteriorate in the dry winter season. After the Kosi floods that paralyzed transport along the National Highway, most of the industries in eastern Nepal are on the brink of collapse. The Nepal Electricity Authority warned of a possible system collapse unless the consumption during peak hours was not minimized. Nepal’s carbon footprint average has also sharply gone up this year despite the worst fossil fuel crisis Nepal has ever faced since the ban by India in 1989. Why are Nepalis following the global trend of energy squandering?

Moreover, the Federation of Nepalese commerce & industry entrepreneurs, the FNCCI, has formally handed over a memorandum to PM Prachanda warning of closing all industries unless law & order conditions improve in the country. Answering to a question by a BBC correspondent on the national responsibility of the entrepreneurs, the FNCCI President Kush Kumar Joshi said, “How can we work by risking our lives amidst increasing kidnappings by the outlaws, & continuous strikes by the workers?” Although Nepal observed the largest number of tourist arrival this year in the past 10 years owing to affordability & hospitality, the number might dwindle down unless the global economy & local law & order conditions improve immediately.

Ironically, the greatest threat to personal security & property comes from the sister organizations associated with the political parties themselves. All the political parties have modeled their youth wings on the Maoists’ Young Communist League (YCL). Moreover, some of more than scores of armed outfits that claim to work for “Madhesi Liberation” & operate along Indo-Nepal Border have already refused the Govt call for the dialogue. Nepali Muslims who constitute the second largest population in Nepal & have been living for generations not only along the plains, but also in the hills of Gorkha, Kaski, Lamjung etc. I was myself amazed to see Nepali Hill(Pahadi) Muslims in Gorkha attired with black Topi(hat) & striped blue lungi with long beards and shaven mustaches.

The religious extremists all over the world can learn some lessons from Nepali Muslims who have earned their respect from all Nepalis for keeping harmony & tolerance despite the recent Mosque attacks by suspected Hindu fanatics from across the border. However, some Nepali Muslims have strongly reacted to repeated attacks on their holy places. Similarly, Christians too have been complaining of discriminatory measures by the State. Still, thankfully cultural tolerance is one innate quality of Nepali society.

The Maoists who are the most powerful political unit at present must observe extreme care while venturing on troubled waters. Nepalis voted for the Maoists despite the latter’s bloody past for only one reason – that the Maoists are comparatively less corrupt & also have renounced violent political path. Nepal was perhaps never this much united ideologically that made it possible for the “velvet” implementation of the republic. Instead of wasting their energy on unsuccessful attempts at further radicalizing politics; the Maoists better demonstrate to the world a revolutionary concept in responsible governance. If the Maoists merely delivered good governance & observed financial discipline, Nepalis would surely be persuaded to follow what Chairman Prachanda calls, the “new cultural revolution” – peacefully.

For, Prachanda is not alone to fear that the nation might reel into another cycle of violence if the present Maoist-led coalition government fails its purpose.

BTW: Welcome to General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon from the United Nations, an organization Nepalis look with high regard.

Prez Ram Baran & Chutiya Politicians of Nepal

Dr. Ram BaranYadav: who is sick in my country?

By Divas

Nepal’s Physician President Dr. Rambaran Yadav took everyone at the Kathamandu Bir Hospital by surprise when he visited the hospital as a commoner patient, reports Dharmendra Jha in The Himalayan Times daily. As far as I know, no “national dailies” bothered making any report on the president’s visit, except a brief news by Dharmendra in the inside page of THT – & I was never a great nationalist to go through the “government media”. President Yadav dropped by Nepal’s cheapest hospital for a thorough check-up of his dental problem. “President, you have a decay in the root and need to undergo root canal treatment” advised the president’s dentist Dr. Prabin Mishra. After his own check-up, President Yadav inspected the government hospital and directed the personnel to serve people efficiently.

During a time when the experts are stressing on the need for making a clear provision in the constitution regarding ceremonial & executive roles of the president & the prime-minister to avoid a possible power tussle, President Yadav seems to be increasing his sphere of influence positively. The president, despite himself being a Madhesi, has persistently stood against the idea of making the whole Terai a single state as demanded by the Madhesi parties. A Rai from the hills writing to a Nepali daily the Kantipur confessed that the president’s firm insistence on national integrity regardless of one’s ethnicity has addressed the concerns among some Pahadis when both the President & the VP were elected from the Madhesi community. On the other hand, regardless of their political belief, the president certainly is no less popular among the Madhesis than he was, when an underdog Rambaran from the Nepali Congress party replaced the invincible Nepali Monarch as the first president of republic Nepal.

Nepalis are increasingly expressing their frustrations at the power & benefit-mongering attitude of the politicians & bureaucrats in a country which ranks among the world’s least developed countries. PM Prachanda’s refusal of observing such nonsense & truly bourgeoisie traditions like ritual sacrifice of goats, or accepting garlands from the Panchakanyas (five virgin girls) were certainly in line with what he likes to call “discontinuity from the past”. But many charged Comrade Prachanda of nepotism for taking both his wife & son during the recent U.S. tour. Similarly, some Nepalis in Japan began raising funds, and one from Kathmandu even promised to donate a free bicycle to each Assembly member when India government donated vehicles for the transportation of newly elected CA members.

A prominent conservationist requested President Yadav to reduce the latter’s carbon footprint by adopting eco-friendly modes of transport & lifestyle, thus becoming a role model for all. A veteran doctor recalling his recent visit to Sweden & Netherlands expressed his admiration in yesterday’s article for the widespread use of bicycles by politicians, government officials, & commoners alike. Others wryly question the republic agenda when stuck in the traffic jams due to the Sawari (an eulogy or what Dor Bahadur calls a “chakri” word used for former royals & aristocrats’ visit to & from somewhere now used for President, PM & other “high-profile” officials of republic Nepal J).

Hence, President Yadav’s small sawari to a dilapidated government hospital(that too donated by India government) for his dental check-up certainly deserves commendations for giving a message to, in the words of another medico Dr. Ajaya Yadav, “the high-ranking officials, who go abroad even for the treatment of minor diseases and drain out the state coffers”. Ironically, one day after the president directed all hospital personnel to serve people efficiently, the staffers began their politically motivated indefinite strike disrupting all indoor/outdoor services. On the other hand, some “freedom fighters” put up an alliance on the other side of the Indo-Nepal border to intensify slaughtering their own brethren on this side of the border. And our revolutionaries & democrats are still busy in their dogfight over the bone of army integration.

If you really ask me how I’m feeling toward all politicians from right to left and from Pahadiya to Madhise, you’re putting me in real danger, for to be honest I must call them, “ Chor Bhate Chutiya. . . mamamu. . .Byancho. . . ”

Update on April 03, 09: I’ve to admit i could not aprreciate President Dr. Rambaran for suggesting his son Dr. Chandra Mohan as a candidate for the by-election to be held in Janakpur area. It appears that Dr. Ram Baran visited Bir Hospital not to show an example but because his son was also working there as a physician.

Nepal: Sorry Mr. Human Rights Officer, You Were Too Late to Respond

YCL-MYF Clash in Terai Nepal

By Divas

Nepal’s former Chief Justice & incumbent Human Rights Commission Chief Kedar Prasad Upadhyaya blamed the youth groups of political parties for creating lawlessness & terror in the society, and asked for an immediate dissolution of the party youth wings. Mr. Upadhyaya was responding to the public outcry over the violent activities of the Maoists’ youth group the Young Communist League (YCL) & the United Marxists & Leninists (UML’s) Youth Force (YF). The nation’s human rights watchdog Chief also accused PM Prachanda of “obsessed with political issues rather than the humanitarian one”. Mr. Upadhyaya certainly said the right thing, but it was too late for someone in his position.

The opposition Nepali Congress has already made it clear that the issue of Maoist Army integration can not be smoothly implemented unless the Maoists dissolved the YCL. The UML created the YF to “counter the YCL attacks”. Even the incumbent DPM Bamdev Gautam accused his boss PM Prachanda for encouraging lawlessness, & asked for the dissolution of both youth wings – YCL & YF. On the other hand, more than 15 parties have formed their guerilla youth outfit modeling on the Maoists’ YCL. People from all walks of life have been expressing their frustrations at the atrocities & violent behavior of the political parties’ youth wings. Mr.Upadhyaya’s constitutional body the National Human Rights Commission has certainly received several complaints against the extortions, abductions, & parallel policing by the political parties. But, what kept Mr. Upadhyaya from cautioning the government for ignoring human rights violations until the United Nations’ Human Rights Committee condemned the Nepal Government for HR abuses, & the Danish Foreign Minister had to visit Nepal & express his concerns over the undemocratic activities by the political party affiliated youth wings (read youth gangs)?

One expects a rights body to be the first in calling government as well as other rebel & religious forces’ attention for decent & humane conduct toward the dissenting lots. There must have been some valid reason behind the Chief Justice turned Chief HR officer’s delayed justice. Tell me Your Honor, what kept you from making a prompt response to Human Rights abuses – reward or punishment?

Sixteen Hour Load Shedding in Nepal: How the Hell Can One Run the Government?

By Divas

Nepal enters a sixteen hours daily load shedding schedule from today. The Government has already declared a nationwide power crisis. PM Prachanda & FM Baburam certainly realize the gravity of the situation – both have identified the electricity shortage as the single most threatening issue against their government, and even against the ongoing so called peace process. PM Prachanda in a “talk program” on the challenges faced by his government almost exasperated: Bijuli nai chaina, bhutro desh chalaune? (No electricity – how the hell can I run the government?) Therefore, while the ruling Maoists are busy on blaming past governments’ policies for the present power crisis, the main opposition NC & UML blame the Maoists for opposing such mega-hydroelectric projects like the Arun III, Seti, Mahakali, & Melamchi.

The country has some interesting experience to share from its existing 12 hours power cuts. Nepal Police says that incidences of robbery & petty crimes go up during the dark hours. Hospitals refuse accepting emergency & injury cases due to their inability to operate such vital machines like MRI & CT. Nepali doctors are adding laurels to their professionalism and ask for extra privilege & protection for their success in “Candlelight Operations”. Nepal’s radio & TV networks have officially announced a five hours’ closure of “informing the public”. The dailies publish students’ complaint letters lamenting how their exam & career are affected by continual load-shedding.

Personally, i pity at Prachanda & Baburam’s helplessness and my all sympathies goes to our comrades at the shattering of their New Nepal dream, but still find myself increasingly cynic & snobbish of Nepalese behavior. The Maoists can not just shrug off from their share of responsibility to their bourgeois counterparts in accepting past mistakes. While the past Panchayat, Kangressi, & “hijda” UML governments were certainly corrupt to their bone-marrows, the Maoists should not forget that they were also running a parallel government for the past 15 years. During their People’s War, the Maoists claimed to control all Nepal’s territory except Kathmandu and not only obstructed new development projects but also destroyed the existing infrastructures – a revolutionary method of weakening the “feudal governments” by forcing people into the Dark Ages. The Maoists even used to warn people not to expect any construction projects, as they were uprooting the remnants of feudalism.

And what to say of these Deshmara Rastrasewak government staffers? Have you ever visited a Nepal Government office? I once told my father that I’m ready to forego all claims on land & property that involves dealing with government officials. As a child of a government employee I was born & raised in various government offices across the length & breadth of this country, and I myself have worked for a government corporation for some time. Go & have a look, while the commoners in the countryside are dying of cold-waves and the nation is under a sixteen hour load shedding, i’m sure you’ll find the heaters in all government offices always on. When it’s not cold, you’ll find that all the fans are always on. And, often you’ll find that all the electric gadgets are always on – a staff may be drying out his washed clothes under a fan, enjoying himself by the heater.

There’s a saying among the masses that Nepalis will eat even alkatra (coal-tar) – the saying comes from an everyday observation of how the construction & repair works are hastily begun & completed during and only in the monsoon rains so that they could write in papers that bridges and roads were swept away by monsoon floods. From project directors to fuel stealing drivers, from ministers to halkara peons, all government employees are drenched to their neck in the guhu (feces) of corruption. Where else do you think the fifty years of foreign grants in Nepal has gone? How can a kharidar (clerk) build an enormous building in Kathmandu? Do you think these armed groups in Terai are fools that they target government employees for extortion?

Hence, to all Nepalis including Prachanda & Girija, to male, masaley, & mandaley, I’d like to do a Khuchching, ees kha. As for me, I’m excited with the thought of what would happen when the country goes for a 24-hour load shedding. But that seems unlikely – for Prachanda, finally surrendering to his Delhi Bosses, has asked for an immediate power supply. Why so much fuss anyway? More than 80 per cent of Nepal population never faces any load-shedding – access to electricity is still a luxury among the 20 per cent bhuifutta & basi basi khane (sit, sit & eat) Nepalis.

CLICK FOR LATEST/ NEWEST LOAD SHEDDING SCHEDULE Load Shedding Schedule (23 Jan 2009) Magh 10 Gate

CLICK Here: Load Shedding Schedule (23 Jan 2009)

Or, you can find the latest schedule (when it changes again) on Nepal Electricity Authority Website. Here:

http://nea.org.np/

Nose Based Leadership Change in Nepal: Replace all Brahmin Leaders

Nose Size Matters in Nepal Politics: They’re Bahun & That Corrupt is also Bahun

By Divas

If you’d go through Nepal’s popular dailies including those I scrutinize everyday – the Kantipur, The Himalayan Times & The Kathmandu Post, and make a racist evaluation of the contributors, you’ll find that more than 80 percent of the authors there belong to Brahmin caste. Not only the authors and editors, most of the letter to editor writers are also Bahun. Scan the profiles of all high level government officials, the same statistics holds true there too. Bahuns consider the field of academics and scholarship as their innate profession. The same is true in politics – even the tirades against Bahunbad (Brahmanism) in politics have now become clichés. Many point at the irony that Bahuns hold the key posts even in the Maoist party which led the movement against Bahunbad in Nepal.

The Bahun halimuhali (hegemony) in Nepali life is sickening. I’m increasingly getting intolerant of Bahun leadership in everything in Nepal. To tell you the truth, I hardly read any article written by Nakchuchche (pointed nose) Bahun or Chetri caste – except if it’s by a Bahun physician writing on some health related issue. I do not even watch television these days fearing I might have to see the Bahun or Chetri faces of political leaders. So much so that, I even judge a roadside restaurant by its owner – I don’t want to eat anything from an arrogant Bahun or Chetri with pathetic culinary sense.

Some concrete reasons behind my Bahunallergy (Bahun Allergy). The election fever is getting its hold on the students of Nepal’s largest public university, the Tribuvan University (TU). Lekhanath Neupane who is a Bahun and also the leader of Maoist affiliate student union issued a warning a few days ago that they’d break the backbones of anyone opposing them like they did before. Bahun Lekhnath was countered by another Bahun Pradip Poudel of Congress affiliated student union who said that they’d also break the bones of anyone attacking them.

Instead of showing some examples of good governance by controlling corruption in politics & bureaucracy, the Bahun Prime Minister of Nepal Prachanda, Bahun Finance Minister Baburam, and Bahun leaders of Maoist Party CP Gajurel, and Dinanath have been warning of revolt unless they’re not allowed to govern. On the other hand, the Bahun Kangessi opposition leaders of the like of Shushil Koirala and Govinda Raj have begun counting the days for the downfall of the government. And please, don’t even mention the Bahun names like Jhalanath Khanal and KP Oli. Power seems to corrupt the Bahun more than others. The chics & bellies of Bahun swell very fast once they begin enjoying state coffers.

My argument is that the Bahuns & Chetris should voluntarily hand over the leadership to the people of other castes & races – that’s what Gyanedra’s retirement from monarchy symbolizes. The air is simply not in favor of Nakchuchche in Nepal these days. Go abroad, do some business, become professionals but please don’t show your names and faces on televisions and newspapers.

And if you’re choosing your leaders, whether in the upcoming student election, or in the Nepali Congress & UML Conventions, or in the local bodies, don’t believe in their official policies, for no one makes bad policies, look at their nose, and vote for a non-Nakchuche, or a Madisey.

Incidentally, I myself happen to be a Nakchuche…but do read this crap anyway … Boorchodikey

What Nepalese Dream to Achieve in Ten Years By 2020

Kathmandu in 2020: No Load Shedding!

Nepalese too can dream of manufacturing airplanes

East West Nepal Railways: Taplejung to Darchula Underground Rail Service

Sea Port in Nepal: Mulghat Port at Dhankuta

Mechi Mahakali Terai Super Express Electric Train Service

Tourist Town of Pokhara in 2020: Annapurna Himalayas in Background

A 2020 Remake of Nepali Film Sindoor at a Kathmandu Cinema Hall

i received a pdf file in the mail and enjoyed reading it. Would Nepalese be able to develop their country this fast? Or is this mere another Maoist propaganda? Anyway, a really creative job I must say.

Click on the link below, download the pdf file, and read…then comment if you feel like it.

new-nepal-development-dream-2020.pdf

WARNING: All the Images are PROJECTIONS in Future Tense, they do not represent Present Tense REALITY.

Identity Politics in Nepal Terai: Madhesi, Pahadi & Tharu Conflicts

Finding Your Face in the Figures?

Why not Find Here?

By Divas

Nepal has been geographically divided into three regions: the Himalayas (Himal), the Hills (Pahad), and the plains of Terai(Madhes). Madhes based parties have been demanding for making the whole southern terrain bordering with India as a single Madhes state. Madhesi leaders define Madhesis as original inhabitants of Madhes that include all those who are not of Pahadi or Himali origin. This definition seems to be based on the general perception among Pahadis in identifying Madhesis as the people of the terai region or of recent India orgin. The hill people traditionally have been calling the people living on the plains as Madisey. But, there was no official definition or claim regarding who the Madhesis are or who are not Madhesis until recently. With the demand for a single autonomous Madhes State and ‘wholesale’ inclusion of Madhesis through reservation in all state organs surfaced the controversy on the definition of ‘Madhesi’.

The Tharu communities strongly protest against the Madhesi demand of ‘Whole Madhes, One Single State’. Tharus identify themselves as the original inhabitant of the plains, and differentiate themselves with the Madhesis. Tharus, who mostly have Mongolian features, see Madhesis as either recent arrivals from India or people sharing culture with the India side of the Indo-Nepal border. Some Tharu groups have even warned of armed struggle against the government’s recent listing of the Tharus in the Madhesi community. The government had recently issued a notice listing the castes & ethnicities who would qualify as Madhesi – to address the Madhesi concern against selection of two Pahadi candidates by the Public Service Commision(PSC) in Madhesi quota. While Government’s list addressed the Madhesi concern, it raised more concern among the Tharus for being labeled as Madhesis.

The issues of identity, representation in the state structures, and demarcation of federal lines among the states are more complex than they appear. The candidates selected by PSC who were withdrawn later were among the thousands of Terai inhabitants whose forefathers had migrated from the hills to the plains. Hence, ethnically and culturally, they are Pahadis, but geographically they are not Pahadis. Tharus and Rajbansis claim to be older inhabitants of the plains than the Madhesis or Pahadis. Moreover, there are Muslims, Christians, Limbuwans, & Khambuwans who have been increasingly asserting for separate federal states.

My Impression: Tharus are not Madhesis – if Madhesis need a separate state, Tharu demand for Tharuwan state sounds equally logical, and so on for other tribes, races, ethnicities, and cultures. Forget who came from where in Nepal – all are refugees here, and until a new discovery proves otherwise, all human animals descend from their African ancestors. But, again, you can not claim African land or identity.

BTW, have you any idea where were you and what was your identity just a year before you landed on this planet? Here’s a close up picture of what you looked like then:

Boorchodikey…

UPDATE on March 02 : Nepal’s ethnic bodies, including Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and Tharu Welfare Council (TWC), have claimed that the government’s categorization of Tharus as Madhesis violated the ILO 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal People. “This is either a conspiracy of the Maoists to divide and rule the indigenous people or a tactics to appease the Madhesi leaders to prop up the falling government” President Pasang Sherpa and General Secretary Om Gurung of NEFIN said on Saturday.

UPDATE: Three persons, including one policeman, were killed in Chitwan as the general strike called by Tharus continued in the districts stalling the whole southern Nepal .

Student Elections in Nepal University: How Free Are Free Stduents’ Unions

Past Practices Breaking Hand Bones New Aim Breaking Backbones

By Divas

Nepal’s elected body of Free Students’ Union was established in 1979 after a nationwide students’ protests against the then royal regime called Panchayat System. I don’t know how the student bodies in other countries work, but from what i learn from the news i think Nepal’s as well as Bangladesh & Pakistan’s student unions function the same way. Well, my guess is based on the violence reports that come during the campus elections in Nepal, Bangladesh, & Pakistan. The Bahun student chiefs of Nepal have already warned their rivals of not only beating in the polls, but also of breaking each other’s backbones.

The phrase ‘Free Students Union’ itself is a misnomer, since although they call themselves the Students’ Union, all contesting groups in fact are student wings of the major political parties – hence they work more in the interest of their mother parties than for the academic needs of students. The two major political streams of students unions, the Nepal Stduents’ Union (NSU) affiliated to the Nepali Congress party and the various factions of left wings All Nepal National Free Stduents’ Union(ANNFSU) worked against the King’s Rule until a Multi-Party democracy was established in 1990. Since then the NSU & the United Marxist-Leninist (UML) affiliated ANNFSU have been contending against each other bitterly until the last election held in 2006.

If you’d ask me why the left wing student union ANNFSU dominated its rival NSU in all past elections, I’d ask you to compare the NSU and the ANNFSU Websites. When the NSU website unfolded before my eyes, the first thing l noticed was the jolly picture of their grandfather Girija Prasad Koirala. Suddenly I was happy that I did not vote for any NSU candidate in the last election. And if you’d compare the photo galleries of NSU and ANNFSU websites, you’ll suddenly realize why most students chose the ANNFSU in past elections. However, there’s a dilemma this time – there are new kids in the Campuses – the Maoist Party affiliated Revolutionary Union.

However, it seems that ethnic issues would be most influential in determining the outcome of this year’s student elections which is slated for 20th of March. The student bodies of an ethnic group Limbu in the eastern mountains, the Limbuwan Students’ Council (LSC) have vandalized the Panchthar Multiple Campus and forced to put off the election until next notice. The Limbu students demand for a proportional election system in their stronghold areas covering nine districts. Even if the elections are held in other campuses, I’m sure that the only basis for choosing the representatives this time would be the cultural & ethnic one. The Madhesi students in Terai would choose Madhesi candidates, Newars in Kathmandu would choose Newar candidates, and so on.

As for me, i hate breaking any bone, and i’d boycott the NSU, Brahmin & Chhetri, & the bone-breakers and choose among the rest.

UPDATE on March 19: I’m boycotting this year’s student election to protest the continued violence and even more politicization in the campuses. However, I’m aware that someone from the contesting student groups would vote for me – hey losers, if you suspect poll-rigging and are demanding for re-polling, check the voters’ list to make sure if a voter with my name has voted or not – if you find that I’ve cast my vote then be sure that your rivals were more clever this time. For, i’ll be absent in this year’s campus election.

Fire in Nepal Moutains: Human or Natural Disaster

Wildfire at Shivapuri?
Seems like it’d rain this evening…the sky is getting darker with clouds and occasional thunders…nothing is more welcome these days than the rains …The news reports say that Nepal’s jungles are seeing the largest wild fire in history. The Terai jungles see wildfires every year, but never before were there wildfires of this scale in the Himalayan regions. They say even the Shivapuri region is facing the wildfire. Why not, after all? While walking though the parched dry grasses & heaps of fallen dry leaves, the first thought that came to my mind was that a single spark can create a wildfire there. I saw several empty packets of PILOT cigarette. The villagers & low income people use the PILOT brand cigarette for its low cost, & I’d seen villagers gathering firewood in my both last visits. I also found a lighter at a grass opening chaur before reaching Baghdwar.

Environment: Whose Responsibility?
I feel like accusing the authorities at Shivapuri for its environmental degradation & wildfire. The army personnel, people at Nagi Gompa, and the Babas staying there may also be responsible. However, conserving a national forest near a heavy human settlement is easier said than done. And looking at the number of visitors and easy accessibility, the conservation efforts are certainly admirable.

Acrophobia at Shivapuri Height
I was really overwhelmed by the views seen from the Top toward the other side of Shivapuri. The Kathmandu side looks familiar from the Top, but the northern side appears & sounds really wild – except for a winding road seen far away. I climbed a huge cliff near the top, and when i looked at the views below it, a sort of dizziness swept over me…this was a place for testing one’s acrophobia…and I was really afraid to stand on the rock and look down…so i stepped back and crouched on my front…still, looking down from the rock sent shivers thru my body…I also realized that its more difficult to climb down a rock than climbing it up… so i crouched & crept down to the ground… I find it hard to keep a balance while standing when I know that there’s a possibility of falling down…is it an evolutionary instinct or my lack of experience in climbing mountains?

Dangers of Wild Mountains
Last night when I was wondering over the supposedly brief showers on Wednesday evening, i suddenly realized that it’d be dangerous to walk on wet & slippery trails…a village woman i met on my first hike warned me against walking alone or off the main trail, for encountering a wild bear or leopard… and a staff at the gompa said that besides wild animals, being attacked by miscreants was also possible…the notice also warns against walking alone…when a wild monkey threatened me, or when i was lost near the top, or when I was looking at the other side of the cliff, i was really frightened for my life…I was even thinking if I would return & write my next episode on the blog…

Baba
I’m thinking of sitting with the Babas for some time at Baghdwar in my hike tomorrow…last time, during my return a friendly looking Baba asked me to have some tea after I did namaste to him……later while reading other’s experience on the net, i learned that he was either one of the two famous Babas there – Kopche, or Todke Baba. I also found his picture posted on the net.
i was touched by Baba’s hospitality, but i was also getting late, so told him that i’d come often & would talk to them next time…

Social Needs in the Wilderness – Babas at Shivapuri Hill – Todke Baba

Baba: a human being
Humans are everywhere the same…even in the wilderness they behave according to their social training…even the solitary babas living inside tree holes (todka) feel pressed to behave socially…on the way upward from Baghdwar to the Shivapuri Top met a Baba inside a tree trunk…after i did him namaste he asked me in a typical hilly tone, ‘katabat aaunu bho koni, kata jan lagnu bho?’ (where you come from man, & where you going?) After my answer a social being spoke through the Baba, ‘have some tea first man?’ since it was getting darker due to the clouds, i told him that i’d meet him again after i return from the Top.

While walking down, I thought of chatting with the Baba a bit…asked him if he was the Todke Baba…’no, he live downhill these days, i’m living here for some six months…i was at Sundarijal before’…i told him that I really enjoyed the hill forest…’who wouldn’t enjoy Lord Shiva’s Durbar after all’ he commented, ‘we’re in bliss here….so much peace’ he was making some green leaves on a pan over firewood which he called wild veggies.. he again asked me to have some tea, but I felt like he was only being social…so said that I was getting late. He asked me to stay at his place…which was a big hole on a tree trunk…

Noise in the wilderness
At the downhill Kuti were three Babas with two other men around the Dhuni (Baba’s Bonfire) …it’d begun raining so I thought of getting over my shyness and chat with the Babas there…the Baba whom i recognized from a picture posted on the net as Kopche Baba was there…But when I asked him if he was the Kopche Baba… he answered with some uneasiness that Babas do not have any names…it’s the people who give them a name…& Kopche Baba was named so because of his old age & stooping figure…Another Mongolian looking man said that this was the Todke Baba…Todke Baba said that Kopche Baba had already passed away…the the Cemetery above and the cave below the cliff was Kopche Baba’s.

Todke Baba
Todke Baba began talking on the nature of the divine and malpractices in religions Another Bramhin looking man of about my age was more talkative…in fact I did not find anything holy in their talk…all they were talking about the malpractices…the two youths seemed to have come there for enjoying the Hashish smoke, which all of them began taking from the Chilim…Todke Baba was smoking from the Cigarette…After sometime Baba asked time with another fellow Baba…it was quarter to five…then he asked me if I’d stay there…I’d have certainly enjoyed staying there…but i’d to come back…sometimes family becomes more of a liability than need…moreover, I did not enjoy talking and making arguments even when you’re in the jungle…as it was still raining, Baba asked me to take his Umbrella or raincoat…but I did not want to take anything from Baba…

Todke Baba looked happy & friendly, but he did not seem to enjoy company…in fact I did not find anything special about him…but although i’d taken him for a person of Nepal Hills…he sounded like an Indian from his manner of speaking…

Hiking to Kakani and Socio-Political Musings in Kathmandu

Yesterday, since I didn’t feel like doing a strenuous hike at Shivapuri, I went to Kakani… …Once you reach to a certain height, you wish to go higher next time…just a few days ago, even getting to Panimuhan at the foothill of Shivapuri and looking toward Kathmandu was a great experience…then reaching Nagi Gompa and watching the panoramic spread of Kathmandu Valley was another great experience…then reaching the Shivapuri Height and watching on the other side from a huge rock was a magnificent achievement…My limitation is that I have to reach a destination and get back to my room the same day…

I was visiting Kakani for the first time…Got up and put a water bottle in the bag…this time I though of taking my bag to carry water as the days are getting hotter…and yes, i bought a binocular that cost about 500…i was simply fascinated with binoculars…lately I’d begun noticing birds and butterflies as well…so took the binoculars so that I could watch them closely…

Reached the Naya Bus Park and then Machapokhari Bus Stop where you can find buses for Trishuli…I’d been up to Osho Nagarjun Meditation Retreat before, but not beyond that….so i didn’t know where you get off for Kakani…i kept reading the signs for knowing about the place names…Tinpiple, Okharpauwa…then I got off at a comparatively larger market as I read a sign say Kakani…But later found that it was not Kakani, you have hike upward to get to Kakani…

After eating Sel Tarkari at a roadside Chiyapasal, I asked a boy there if it was Kakani…no he said….you’ve to walk half an hour up for Kakani…However, it seemed to the right place to get off from the bus to Trishuli…The boy said it was called Kauli…the thing I noticed in Kauli was children selling strawberries, and another local yellow colored berry found in higher moutains in Nepal…called locally aiselu…I don’t know what it’s English name… I remember picking aiselu when I was a kid…You can see strawberries grown around Kakani in Kathmandu as well, but I’d not seen aiselu being sold anywhere in Kathmandu…even in Kakani, there were not much Aiselu…a few kids were selling it on leaves…Strawberries were introduced by the Japanese and now farmers around Kathmandu cultivate it as a cash crop…But Aiselu is still a wild berry of Nepal…

Another thing that I noticed at the Chiyapasal and at other places were the flies, and the lack of hygiene… Even so near to Kathmandu and with all basic facilities, Kakani people were not different from village people of other parts of Nepal…The area seemed to be Tamang dominated…it was really interesting to see that just ten kilometers away from Kathmandu where the Newaris dominate, you could hear a different language and kids with slightly different features than Newars…However, the most common trait that I noticed among the Tamangs and the Newars or Jyapus of Bhaktapur where I’d visited last week was that both people had pathetically poor sense of hygiene….

While I was going up…sometimes on road…and sometimes off road…I suddenly arrived at a place from where appeared the Himalayas far away…it was about 10 in the morn…and the sky was getting misty…but I was happy to see the Himalayan peak…and took out the Binoculars to get closer views…but I found that Binos are only good for watching things just away from your vision…or smaller things within your vision…about 2 hours later, even those hazy views of Himalayan peaks were not visible…due to white clouds above them…

Three things that I enjoyed most in my Kakani Visit were:

I saw an eagle from the bus soaring below me while heading toward Kakani…

Walked down to the main road from Kakani top finding my own way in the mountain shortcut trails…I so hate walking on the roads

Traveling on the roof of the bus while returning…you don’t always get the opportunity of an open travel on the bus top…it was my first travel on the bus roof in five years…and views from the roof are truly awesome!

What I hated most on the Kakani Road:

Poultry Farming…you certainly do not enjoy the awful stench that come from Poultry Farms near the road…

Fish Farming by blocking natural Waterfalls…

While retuning from Kakani, I was happy that i was from Nepal who can walk into the mountains just by getting out of his room…I was also happy that I realized the pleasures in of walking in the mountains before it was too late…before I was too old to walk…

Kakani is no different form any other place in the mountains…except that it is easily accessible, with all basic needs for travelers and picnickers, and yet isolated from Kathmandu’s hustle and bustle…

I’ve Been to the Mountain Top & I’ve Seen the Promised Land !

It has been a long time that I’ vent updated this blog. I’m doing it today coz I reached the mountain top again yesterday…after so many days. I’ve been wandering in the Shivapuri Jungle for more than six months now…and, I often think that I’ve also become sort of specialist on Shivapuri Hiking!

The trail I took this time goes in the opposite direction from Nagi Gomba. It’s shorter to the Shivapuri Height than via the Nagi Gomba. The trail goes up and up, until you reach a point from where two trails appear: one going downward to Sikre Village, and another going upward to the Heights.

It seems that I’m getting used to the Shivapuri jungles. I was not afraid at all even on the top as I was in my last visit. This route was shorter and a real hiking. You go only up and up until you reach the top.

Since, I was there in the summer last time, the top was also more grassy this time. The top is not like a sharp ridge as it seems from far below. Its like a small playground where there are many Hindu and Buddhist symbols, such as Trishul the Trident, chorten, prayer flags, etc. In fact, the Kathmandu side is not that clearly visible from the top, but the northern side is visible with four or five mountain ranges.

My favorite place again was that huge rock just below the top. It’s a really a very huge rock tilting on its side, as if it’d begin rolling. This reminds me of Sisyphus’s rock. A few small rock steps take you to the rock top. There are Buddhist prayer and symbols on the top. It’s the same rock where I’d got Acrophobia. I had it again…coz it feels like the rock would begin rolling under your weight. And if you slipped, you’d fall far below into the abyss. No way!

I sat on the rock leaning backward to assure my sense of security. I tried to enjoy the shapes the clouds were making. I also remembered Martin Luther King’s saying, “I’ve been to the mountain top and I’ve seen the Promised Land.” Mind you, the seas of clouds flow below you with a great swirl. Suddenly, its all dark, and suddenly the five mountain ranges are visible. Even if it was heaven, one can’t avoid feeling eerie in the heaven.

I was there on the top at about 4. Didn’t feel like going to the Baba’s Way. It would take time while greeting the Baba, and I also didn’t feel like talking heavy things even in the jungle. Even spirituality is not a talking matter, what i was feeling was already spiritual. Talking would only disrupt my trance!

‘Happy New Year’

 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR

To all my well-wishers, i hereby, with all modesty, would like to ask:

> Not to call in any social, ritual, religious, or other gatherings; should i offend their kind feelings by being absent due to my own limitations!

>Kindly remember me during any emergency, and respond as well when i am in need; if only possible.

i hope all would take the above mentioned propositions with a positive attitude considering my eccentricity.

May All Beings be Happy!

‘One does not write for slaves…’

 Contd from ‘Marriage is a private affair’

 

Monday, June 12, 2006

The girl’s mother, brother, and middle sister came yesterday. How quickly they finished everything. Just Now the mother was telling another woman that everyone praised it, noone said it was not good. The women said,” How can one say anything? One can not say either good or bad.”

That day I was tempted to advise them not to hurry on the matters of the daughter’s marriage. But my experience with my cousin’s marriage perhaps had made me wiser not to comment anything in other’s matters.

More importantly, in case of arranged marriage sorted out by the parents only – isn’t there a greater risk of dissatisfaction later? No girl is trained nowadays to revere her man like the god; the feminist approach of teaching and learning has instilled a different value on man-woman relationship. The guardians feel so much pressure for their grown-up girls that they find it better to make the decision as soon as possible.

It’s strange that everyone is worried about their false-prestige, while in fact, none has any prestige at all. I can understand these things, as I myself was caught in such foolish cycle once. What’s the solution then? Finding a suitable mate should the resposibilty of the individual, just like finding a suitable career.

If in case, the boy or the girl has made his/her career, and wants to settle down and still hasn’t found a mate, then others, including the parents, may come to help. The girls, too, should take active role in the decision of their marriage, rather than later cursing their guardians later when they are not satisfied.

One day, in our class, a teacher was discussing on a feminist writer, Simon de Beauvre. Nowadays, I commented, males are more interested in women’s liberation than the females themselves, at least while giving sermons. The females only wail, that they are not treated equally.

He said that, though scientifically it has been proved that females can do everything the males can do, still men are oppressing the women in the society. He asked why the most philosophers, writers, and scientists of the past are only males. Why don’t men give equal opportunity to the women?I discussed with the teacher fiercely. My point was it’s the women themselves, who are responsible for their suffering, especially the educated ones. I asked him why men should give their power to others. If the women are really capable, they should fight for their cause and snatch the power from the men.

He said to me, “your values are very orthodox, you’ll learn later when you finish the course.” We friends laughed at this remark he made, we, some senior students have classified some teachers as bhai(kid) sirs! Unless the oppressed people themselves, whether black, ethnic, or the women, instead of cursing the oppressor, fight for their rights and be ready to suffer for the price of dignity, there can be no true liberation.

In this regard I agree with the Maoists that sometimes one has to take up a weapon to assert one’s rights. Of course, the Maoists, made a grave ideological mistake by taking up arms for retaliation and personal vengeance. And we can use anything as a weapon for our self-defence, not only the arms.

Jean Paul Sarte, the great existentialist philosopher and writer in his essay “Why Write?”, holds the view: “ One does not write for slaves…it is not enough to defend them with the pen. A day comes when the pen is forced to stop, and the writer must then take up arms.”

5 Responses to “‘One does not write for slaves…’” 
Boink Blogs, on November 3rd, 2007 at 1:52 pm Said: Edit […] is a private affair’ Part II DIVAS put an intriguing blog post on â??Marriage is a private affairâ?? Part IIHere’s a […]

www.learnhypnosiseasily.info » ‘Marriage is a private affair’ Part II, on November 4th, 2007 at 3:02 am Said:
[…] DIVAS placed an interesting blog post on â??Marriage is a private affairâ?? Part II.Here’s a brief overview:No girl is trained nowadays to revere her man like the god; the feminist approach of teaching and learning has instilled a different value on man-woman relationship. The guardians feel so much pressure for their grown-up girls that they … […]

Vanadiaum, on November 4th, 2007 at 9:27 am Said:
An interesting blog as always.

There are only two blogs I read regularily, yours and http://www.thethoughtsalesman.com

Yours usually seems to be more cerebral, but the thought salesman is usually more about practivle issues, I think it’d be worth it to check him out

‘i never give them a hell. i give them truth & they think it’s hell’

Contd from ‘One does not write for slaves’

Saturday, June 17, 2006 
The girl, now married, came with her man yesterday. Though I donot talk to people that much, I was looking for some cue to know whether she’s happy or not.

My god, she looks completely normal. How easily she accepted everything, and made things easier for all in her family! This morn she and her man went to Daksinakali on her bro’s bike.

May be that she had two married elder sisters who frequently visit this place and her experienced parents have made things easier for her.

But still…I’d been to my one relative yesterday. I came to know that my cousin was pregnant. I talked to her, she too looks normal. Of course, her hubby seems to be a suitable match for her. But what about her being a mother, who isn’t that healthy herself? I doubt that she’ll give birth to a healthy baby.

I was tempted to put my views, but I restrained myself thinking that now that she was in an irreversible process, any negative comments would only hurt her.

I’ve come to agree with the view that either the economically higher or the lower class of the society can make free decisions about themselves. The middle class people, and the newly rich ones, who are the people I’m related to – I’ve started disliking their lifestyle and passivity.

Earlier I used to think that it was my shyness that was preventing me to socialize with them, but, nowadays I’ve come to the conclusion it’s the disagreement with their painfully ritualistic lifestyles and their impotency to rebel or live life in their own terms that puts me at odds with them.

I do not claim to have enjoyed my life better than others. Yet I feel proud to realize that I do not belong to the herd. Of course, I have encountered more difficulties and earned more criticism than the so-called ‘social’ people, to the extent that I was on the verge of collapsing once.

Still, I’ve recovered, and I feel that I’ve come out a winner! A very positive attitude is developing – goodwill and pity for others, and a stubborn conviction on living life in own terms. No Compromise, whatever…!

“For whom does one write?”

“For whom does one write?”

Some two years back, we friends had an opportunity to attend a literary seminar. The second day of the seminar was in its full swing when we got there. As the students of literature, we were really excited for being able to see in person and listen to the great scholars and writers of our time – who were also our role-models.

On that particular day, two papers were presented, the latter of which was focused on the atrocities suffered by the marginalized elements in the society – in the name of religion, ethnicity, caste, etc.

After the papers were presented, the audiences were invited to put their questions on the papers that would be clarified by the presenters. Suddenly, one of our friends stoop up, walked awkwardly toward the dais and began his question huskily.

He pointed out the irony of garlanding the photos of kings , queens, politicians, & ministers in a literary seminar like that, symbolizing the dilemma of Nepali intelligentsia in sheer contrast to the topics being discussed. We, the friends, were dumbfounded – he was mature, yet a student – not supposed to make a criticism on the affairs of erudite scholars.

At that time Nepal was under the direct military rule of the King.

Interestingly, but not surprizingly, the same people nowadays have tunrned die hard republicans!

In spite of the fact that our friend could have presented himself in a better way, his message was loud and clear. He was immediately retorted by one professor-looking scholar that it was a political question, not literary, therefore could not be taken up. Another said such questions could also be dealt with – but only informally.

May be due the nervousness of appearing foolish, or the fear of being seen as an extremist; our friend withdrew his question and walked out of the seminar.

But questions once raised cannot be withdrawn. They hover in the air, linger in the mind.

BP Koirala, himself a politician, in one of his interviews, had mentioned that after being elected as the first prime minister, he asked the Harvard and Cambridge-educated economists in the Planning Commission to put the picture of a farmer along with the King’s on their wall; and look at the picture of that poor farmer while making any development planning for the country.

Wasn’t the question raised by our friend similar one, except that he was not a great figure in the contemporary history, but simply an awkward looking Mr Nobody?

Jean-Paul Sartre in his essay”Why Write?” contends, “The art of prose is bound up with the only regime in which prose has meaning, democracy…Writing is a certain way of wanting freedom. Once you have begun, you are committed. Committed to what? … or is it concrete everyday freedom which must be protected by our taking sides in political and social struggles?” Sartre concludes his essay with a question, “For whom does one write?”

Perhaps our novice friend, too, being a student of literature merely wished to learn from his well-versed teachers and predecessors, “For whom does one attend the literary seminars?”

i care for my baby,…black or white…

‘Hey Uncle, congrats!’

My friend was unashamedly ‘congratulating’ me.

It was his fourth baby.

The elder ones belong to the ‘fairer’ gender.

 

And i’ve many friends & relatives like him.

Hence, although i didn’t ask him, i was pretty sure that this must be the ‘unfair’ one…a boy.

I know about my friends perhaps more than a friend should know.

For example, I know that my this friend had aborted at one of the cases.

I mean abortion in its exact sense, no metaphors.

I know his wife very well. She’s a descent, sensitive, & also educated( besides other adjs).

I wanted to tease him why he was ‘congratulating’ me for a result for which i’d made no contribution at all.

Their girls are healthy, lovely, & playful.

They easily became freinds with me the very first day i met them…a rare thing indeed. Kids are generally afraid of my ‘villainous’ looks.

Whenever their kids won’t ‘behave’, my relatives threaten with, ‘Do this/that, or i’ll tell Buzi(Monster) Uncle, Mama, Thuloba,..whatever’

And even the devil himself won’t like being addressed like that by the kids.

So, i was naturally very happy when these girls started playing with me.

I told him,’Look after these kids carefully, so that they don’t have to suffer like us.’

Once, when i asked him why were they waiting for a boy, he said, ‘You don’t know, she wants it.’

Everyone knows that the social conditioning wants it.

There are many reports from India that millions of female fetuses are ‘killed’ after identifying them with the ultrasound.

There are no such studies here in Nepal, but anyone can guess with certainty.

Of course, they care for their kids like all parents do.

Yet i know it very well that things would never be the same with/for the girls.

No matter how much their parents would love them, they’d never miss to observe that things no longer remain the same as they used to be.

But, hey feminists & activists, it’d be equally fallacious to conclude that the boy would enjoy being an ‘apple of the eyes’.

Anyway, i’m going to congratulate them all in the boy’s Nwaran(the naming ceremony) tomorrow.

One Response to “i care for my baby,…black or white…”
illnaturedgr, on December 26th, 2007 at 9:27 pm Said:
I think that it’s a total tragedy for all humanity to still have gender issues 5 days before the year 2008…
It’s a reality though and we must face it… Don’t think that only India or Nepal have gender issues,it’s China (which has the biggest problem due to overpopularity),Thailand and lots of other countries (not all of them of the so called “third world”) to cut it short…

“Every writer I know has trouble writing.”

“Every writer I know has trouble writing.”

I was waiting for my turn.

The interview was for the post of Assistant Web Editor.

One of the anxious looking applicant began making introduction with everyone.

There was a gentleman reading a fortnightly.

I couldn’t resist myself, when I heard his name.

“Aren’t you the writer of ‘ABC’( name of the book withheld).”

“How could you remember my book written thirty years back?”

I quoted some of the lines from his book that I’d read some 15 years ago.

His eyes spread with happiness & surprise at once.

“O my goodness, you still remember after alll those years. Nobody remembers nowdays!”

“Your book ‘ABC’ is one of my favorites in Nepali literature,” I disclosed.

Of late I had been thinking that I was getting too old for job interviews.

And here was a writer of the calibre I envied appearing with me in a job interview.

Is it right to smack children?

 

A complete ban on smacking has been rejected by British ministers, after a review suggested most parents opposed it.Laws on smacking in England and Wales were tightened in 2004 to stop parents and carers who assaulted children using “reasonable punishment” as a defence.

But children’s minister Kevin Brennan said laws would not be changed further, as new rules appeared to be working.(BBC)

DIVAS says:

My pa, now in his sixties and living with us two sons, still can’t understand why we ran away from home simply because he was ‘rough’ in his view for our well-being.

We as teenagers were so much fed up with our parents’ ‘wise’ scoldings that we were ready to anything to leave their house.

Although, in our 30s now, we have understood how their own background was affecting their behavior, and that parenting is really most difficut job, we still think much of sufferings would have been avoided with just a few nice words.

How should we teach children to read?

 

Should schools concentrate on testing, or on fostering a love of reading?

Reading standards have barely improved since the 1950s despite billions of pounds spent on trying to raise English levels in primary schools, according to a review.

Pupils feel increasingly stressed about school tests and are losing their love for books, researchers for the Primary Review project found.

But schools ministers dispute the findings, which form part of the largest review of primary education for forty years and say primary standards were at their highest levels. (BBC)

DIVAS opines:

Home is the place where schooling begins. Kids love to imitate their first role-models: their parents.

A sense of humor can only make the kids engaged in their studies.

Most of all, respecting each child as an individual creates the necessary trust in teacher which is most essential if to get attention from students.

Besides, stuffing students’ mind with never-ending-homeworks and the ‘High Expectation’ from a very early age only make them worried all the time; sometimes leading to anxiety and depression.

Kids, especially, learn better when nature itself teaches its lessons. They should be allowed to take their adventures.

Teaching, like all things beautiful things in life, is more an art than only theories and information.

And, as the saying goes, what persuades people of all age to do impossible is, again, LOVE.

One Response to “How should we teach children to read?”

Michael B. Dycus, Ph.D, on November 10th, 2007 at 11:12 pm Said:
I agree with you whole-heartedly on your take on this subject.
In my opinion, you are 100% correct!
Thanks for this highly insightful post!

Are we over-protecting children?

 

A  new report out today claims that over-protecting children stops them developing the skills and resilience they need to protect themselves. Do you agree? The report “No Fear” explores a number of key areas including children’s play, anti-social behaviour, adult vetting and fear of strangers, identifying the ways in which our preoccupation with eliminating risk is restricting children’s freedoms and corroding their relationships with adults.

“Although there is a widely held view that children grow up faster today, in fact their lives are far more controlled than they were 30 years ago,” says former government adviser and author of the report, Tim Gill.

DIVAS says:

People, while trying to make their offsprings perfect, are messing with nature’s mechanism of growth.

Children should be allowed to tread an unknown path; if parents really care for their kids grow out of fear.

They should be allowed to do things own their own; even if they may hurt themselves while doing so – that’s the only way how an organism learns in nature.

And there are no 100% safe practises even if one wished for.

One Response to “Are we over-protecting children?”

cyberpunk, on November 18th, 2007 at 3:29 pm Said:

I agree with this. I think parents are overprotecting kids nowadays.

We grew up with less “protection” from things and other people, but we did ok (fine, I’m not a good example, but you get my drift)…

Kids need to learn and think for themselves.

Message on Buddha’s Enlightenment Day

do whatever makes you happy…whatever…whatever makes you happy is good, right, and holy…your happiness is the only measuring rod…your happiness is the only truth…everything else is false..

– Divas the Great

Promulgate the New Nepal Constitution by May 28(Jetha 14)

By Divas

A desperate old man Devi Prasad Regmi slapped Jhala Nath Khanal a few months ago for not delivering the constitution on time as they had promised. However, people say that Devi’s slap turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Jhallunath. For, a few days after getting the smack on his chick, Jhallu got what he’d been yearning for years. Jhallu becomes the prime minister of Nepal. And look, how popular Jhallu has become worldwide, as this news heading says: Slapped politician, Jhalanath Khanal, is new Nepal PM. hahaha..

People say that Nepal’s politicians are not only one of the most corrupt but also the most nirlajja or shameless ones. As one former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai famously said, the mantra for Nepali politicians is what they say it in Sanskrit: ek lajjam parityajya sarbatra bijayi bhawet, or just shed off all your shames and you will conquer the world. Suddenly, the politicians in Nepal have turned bold. hey’re taking a calculated risk: leaving behind their luxury vehicles and security guards, you’d see them walking alone on the road fearlessly, so that someone would suddenly crop up from a corner and smack on their cheeks. Boorchokey..

So, the next fortunate one turns out to be the Maoist politicians, Comrade Jhakku Prasad Subedi. Jhakku the Revolutionary was walking on the road fearlessly still musing over how great he was to beat former boka Prime Minister Madhav Nepal in the Constituent Assembly election. Suddenly, a tea-seller Devkota invites Comrade Jhakku for a cup of free tea. However, that foolish Devkota turns out to be a very sly reactionary. Otherwise, how dare he ask questions to Comrade Jhakku the Revolutionary by luring him for a cup of free tea?

Devkota was not among the learned intellectuals from Kathmandu who have also shed all their lajja or shame and would not mind licking the boots of the corrupt politicians. Devkota hails from a village in the Western Nepal, the Maoist stronghold of Gorkha. So, intead of asking any dialectic, political or philosophical question, he asked Comrade Jhakku what to do when the plough gets stuck on a pebble and the bull refuse to pull it. Although a communist turned noveau riches residing in Kathmandu, Mr. Jhakku also hails from a village in Western Nepal. Hence, prompt came his answer: ‘Then you pull the bull’s tail and twist it which would make him move further.’ But lo…instead of marveling at Comrade Jhakku’s proletarian wit, that fool bourgeois Devkota suddenly got enraged. ‘If you pulled the bull’s tail and twist it, he’ll get very angry, and will give you a back kick like this’ retorted Devkota and slapped Jhakku on his both cheeks.

And look, instead of retaliating, Comrade Jhakku kept smiling his sweet smile. For, he knew that he is even more fortunate than Jhallu. Jhallu got a slap on his one chick that made him the prime minster. Similarly, the madhesi people of terai chased their leader Upendra Yadav for not delivering the constitution on time. And lo, Upendra also becomes the Vice Premier. Now, guess what Jhakku, who’s got smacked on his both cheeks is expecting….. Jhakku must be secretly expecting no less that the post of the President of New Nepal itself.

There’re still two more weeks when the present Constituent Assembly expires. But, Jhallu the Prime Minister has filed for the extension of the CA by one more year and the Maoists support him. And the season of strikes and Nepal Bandha has also begun. And people are increasingly enjoying unemployment and the double digit inflation. So, everyone is secretly expecting that more and more politicians would be fortunate enough to get slapped by the commoners.

However, this blogger does not wish it secretly anymore. He wishes it openly, and even calls on the foolish people of Nepal to beat up the politicians wherever they are found. Not only the politician, beat up everyone who holds a public post. Let this be clear, if you fail to deliver the new constitution within two weeks, you deserve to be ruthlessly beaten up like they beat the pickpockets.

Promulgate the constitution before Jestha 14 deadline, no matter how rudimentary or defective it may be. No constitution in the world is drafted perfectly. You have to make accommodations later as the situation demands. Therefore, promulgate the constitution within the stipulated time frame, I don’t care for the details. If the present Constituent Assembly fails to promulgate the new constitution in time as promised, let anyone or any group whether they’re the Maoists, the Royalists, the Army, or the President Rambaran promulgate it. I would support anyone or any group who promulgates the New Nepal Constitution irrespective of their political ideologies. No more Bandha. No more Chutiyagiri. No more limbo and no more mumbo jumbo. I want the new constitution within Jestha 14, 2068 B.S. and that’s May 28, 2011 AD.

And that’s my final verdict. Period.

Why do People Suffer?

Change is the only universal thing in nature. People resist the universal law of nature. As if they can resist it. And they suffer because of their own resistance & rigidness. And they complain. Otherwise, life is so simple and straightforward.

– Divas the Great

Cruising Mountain Bike in Kathmandu Streets: Fulfilling Childhood Dream

 

By Divas

Of late, I’ve gotten wakka (fed up) with writing & preaching on political matters, hence i’d like to share a bit of my personal life with the readers.

The news is that i’ve been riding a bicycle for the past two months. And i’ve gathered quite a bit of experience as a mountain biker.

The day i bought my mountain bike or MB, many people declared that it was another proof of my craziness. Although it was not the first time they were saying that to me. It’s simply unacceptable in bourgeois Kathmandu society for a respectable middle-aged man to ride a bicycle while commuting to & from his workplace.

But, as is my habit, which would not die anytime soon, i’d to break this fucking bourgeois status concept of the Kathmanduites. Besides, i’d to also fulfill the great responsibility of saving the humankind from the impeding climatic disaster. So, i did it again by riding a MB instead of a motorbike.

And i’m really happy to regularly ride a bicycle after so many years. In fact, riding a MB was one of my childhood dreams. When i’d just finished my school, MBs were still a rare possession even among the professional bikers. My one friend’s relative had brought an MB from Japan. And i used to wish that my dad would also buy me a similar MB.

But, as my dad was a civil servant and also a very very kanjoos or miser, he told me bluntly that he could not afford to buy me an MB. Instead, one not-so-fine day, he brought an Indian bike Atlas. Thus was how my dream of riding a MB shattered. And i promised myself then & there that one day i’d buy myself an MB with my own hard-earned bucks and cruise it on the main road.

What amused me the most was that from my dad to relatives, and from friends to colleagues, all were literally shocked to see me riding a bicycle. In fact, when i proudly posted the picture of my new MB on the Facebook Wall, only one of my several bosom friends clicked ‘Like’ on it. And he, too, went agape when he saw me riding a bicycle while commuting to & from my workplace.

And no one has congratulated me yet for riding a bicycle… not even the incumbent Environment & Climate Minister.  Boo…. !

To be continued

Riding Bicycle in Kathmandu to Change the World: An Inflated Ego

By Divas

i earnestly believe that i’m changing the world for good by riding a bicycle. Well, you may call it my megalomania or narcissism, but i earnestly believe that i can change the world for good. What i want to show to the people of Kathmandu is that you can ride a bicycle and still be a respectable citizen of the country… these days, i even don’t care if someone calls me a psycho..in fact, beggars and psychos fascinate me more that the ‘normal’ people.  whenever i see a beggar or a crazy person, i watch them carefully, and the more i watch them the more I find that they’re also like me…I could have been them, and they could have been me…and in fact, they’re me and I’m them…

i pity those whom the world calls successful, rich, and powerful…for i can see what they’re missing and what they’re going through to be what they’re…i even feel pity for those people whom I’ve criticized and ridiculed on this blog..for i can see what they’re going through written on their faces…I know that no one wants to be bad or hurt others..everyone wants to be good and liked by others… i don’t even judge those who’re convicted as criminals…for i can see that they’re just the scapegoats of the society they’re living in…

hence, of late, i’ve been thinking that perhaps there’re some milder ways to change the world…and one of them is riding a bicycle…and another thing i love to do is to share my experiences with the students…since I’m free for a couple of hours in the morning, I’ve been thinking of volunteering that time for teaching students… I’ve been a teacher for most of my life, therefore i know that it’s the teachers who can change the world for good with the least coercion..

If There’s Truth in What I’m Saying, It’ll Survive

Divas

People often ask me what is your philosophy? My philosophy is to lead the consciousness of my times. I know that my existence is very ephemeral, but if there’s truth in what I’m saying, it’ll survive.

‘Sometimes I Repeat Myself Over & Over Again Until someone Listens to Me’

Divas’s Photography: sunset over the mountains

I discovered some more old posts of mine. After going through them, I feel like I’ve already said everything about life that I’d to say. Anything I’m saying is mere a repetition.

विदेशी सहायता आवश्यक छ ?

By Divas

नेपालमा राणाकालको समाप्तिपछि औपचारिक विदेशी सहायता आउन थालेकोमा सन् ६० को मध्यसम्म आइपुग्दा सम्पुर्ण विकास गतिविधि पुर्ण रूपले विदेशी सहायतामा निर्भर रहेको पाइन्छ । शुरूमा अनुदानको रूपमा आउने गरेको विदेशी सहायता सन् ६० को दशकदेखि विस्तारै अनुदानभन्दा पनि ऋणको रूपमा आउन थाले । पहिलो पञ्चवर्षीय योजना(१९५६–६१) सम्पूर्ण रूपले विदेशी सहायताबाट सञ्चालित थियो भने दशौं पञ्चवर्षीय योजना(२००२–०७) को ६० दशमलव ७ प्रतिशत विदेशी सहायताबाट सञ्चालित थियो । वर्तमान २०६८/६९ बजेटले पनि रु. ७० अर्ब १३ करोडको वैदेशिक अनुदान र रु. २९ अर्ब ६५ करोडको वैदेशिक ऋण अपेक्षा गरेबाट नेपालको वैदेशिक सहायतामाथिको निर्भरता छर्लङ्ग हुन्छ ।

वैदेशिक सहायताले खासगरी निश्चित कार्ययोजना बनाएर सञ्चालन गरिएका सडकजस्ता पुर्वाधार क्षेत्रमा केही महत्वपुर्ण विकास भएका पनि छन् । तर, चर्चा र वाचाको तुलनामा निकै कम मात्र सहायता लक्षित समूहसम्म पुग्ने गरेको तथ्य प्रति पनि मनन गर्नु आवश्यक छ । किनभने, आधा शताब्दीसम्मको वैदेशिक सहायता पछि अझै पनि ग्रामीण भेगका अधिकांश बालबालिका उचित शिक्षाको अवसरबाट बञ्चित छन् । त्यसैगरी, प्रत्येक वर्ष कुपोषण, न्युनपोषण, झाडापखाला जस्ता सामान्य रोग तथा प्रसूति, मातृशिशु स्वास्थ्य जस्ता आधारभूत स्वास्थ्य सेवा अभावले सयौं व्यक्ति, महिला र बालबालिकाको मृत्यु भइरहेकै छ ।

उदारहणको लागि, नेपाल दक्षिण एशियाकै सबैभन्दा गरीब देश हुनुको साथै २०१० को विश्वव्यापी भोक सूचि अर्थात् ग्लोबल हङ्गर इण्डेक्समा सबैभन्दा खराबमध्ये एक अर्थात् २९ औं स्थानमा आउँछ, जुन खडेरी र युद्धग्रस्त अफ्रिकी मुलुक तान्जानीया र केन्याको हाराहारी हो । जबकि, सहायताको रूपमा भित्रिएको वैदेशिक ऋण मात्रै २००९ सम्ममा ४ अर्ब ५० करोड डलर पुगिसकेको अनुमान छ । त्यसैले वैदेशिक सहायताको नीयत, पारदर्शिता, र प्रभावकारितामाथि जनस्तरबाटै प्रश्नचिन्ह उठनुलाई स्वभाविक नै मान्नुपर्छ ।

विश्व सन्दर्भमा हेर्ने हो भने पनि दाताहरूको दावी विपरित भ्रष्ट र उत्तरदायित्व विहीन मानिएका सरकारहरूले नै ठुलो मात्रामा विशुद्ध रणनीति प्रेरित वैदेशिक सहायता पाएका छन् । नेपाल हालको अस्थिर, सङ्कटपुर्ण र नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचारले आक्रान्त अवस्थामा पुग्नुका पछडि रणनीतिक स्वार्थ केन्द्रित वैदेशिक सहायताको पनि ठुलो भुमिका रहेको भन्नेहरुपनी धेरै छन ।  । वास्तवमा, नेपालको वैदेशिक सहायता उद्योगले देशको ऋण भार, धान्न नसकिने महत्वाकांक्षा, परनिर्भरता र सामाजिक असमानतालाई मलजल गरिरहेको छर्लङ्ग देखिन्छ ।

सारांशमा, संसार र खासगरी तीव्र आर्थिक वृद्धि गरिरहेका छिमेकी देशहरूको समृद्धि चुहिएर घिसारिएरै भए पनि नेपालमा केही विकास भइनैरहनेछ, तर त्यस्तो विकासलाई वैदेशिक सहायताले थेगेको भन्ने भ्रमबाट निष्कनुमै कल्याण हुनेछ । सरकार, दलहरू, विशेषज्ञ तथा नागरिक संस्थाहरूले वैदेशिक सहायताबाट उत्पन्न वौद्धिक आत्मसमर्पण, नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचार, सामाजिक असमानता र मगन्ते संस्कृतिको दुष्चक्रलाई तोडने आँट गर्नैपर्छ । देशभित्र र बाहिरका उद्यमशीलता, पुँजी, लगानी र स्रोतलाई निर्बाध रूपले चलायमान हुनसक्ने वातावरण वनाएर वैदेशिक सहायता केन्द्रित भन्दा पनि नीजी क्षेत्रको अग्रसरतामा व्यापार, व्यवसाय, कृषि र उद्यम केन्द्रित आर्थिक नीति अवलम्बन गरिनुपर्छ ।

Published in Abhiyan Daily with some modifications & Tables

नारीवादी इतिहासबाट प्रेरणा

Parijat – Nepal’s Most Celebrated Feminist Writer 

तारा भट्टराईको ‘सुकिलाको मैलो व्यवहार’ लेखको प्रतिक्रियामा पाठक मंचमा विचार, आरोप प्रत्यारोप चलिरहेका छन् । नारीवादी लेखिका एलाइन शोवाल्टरको पश्चिमी लेखिकाहरुको तीनवटा वर्गीकरणलाई आधार मान्ने हो भने नेपालका अधिकांश लेखिकाहरु अझै प्राथमिक फेमिनिन अवस्थामै छन जहा उनीहरुले प्रचलित सामाजिक मान्यता अनुरुपनै आफ्नो प्रतिष्ठा बचाउदै स्थापित हुने प्रयास गर्छन् ।

त्यसपछिको फेमिनिस्ट अवस्था जसमा पुरुष सत्ताका मान्यताहरुको खुलेर सैद्धांतिक विरोध गर्ने अवस्थामा अझै शसक्त प्रवेश गर्नै बाकी छ । तेस्रो फिमेल अवस्था जसमा प्रचलित मान्यताको समर्थन वा विरोध दुबैको उपेक्षा गरी आफ्नो विशिष्ट पहिचान स्थापित गराउन निकै कसरत गर्नुपर्नेछ ।

कान्तिपुरले अचेल नारी लेखन र आन्दोलनलाई राम्रो स्थान दिएको छ, आशा गरौ लेखिकाहरुले विश्व नारी लेखन इतिहासको क्रमबद्ध विकासबाट प्रेरणा लिनेछन् ।

कान्तिपुर, २०६३

समाजमा साहित्य र कलाको भूमिका

‘ Stary Night’ by Vincent Van Gough

देश जलिरहेको बेला नेपालगन्जका गुमनाम उर्दू शायरहरुले मलम लगाएका छन् ।

मर्मस्पर्शी प्रत्येक् अर्जहरुमा भन्न मन लाग्छ: वाह उस्ताद वाह ।

समाजमा साहित्यको योगदान खोज्नेहरुलाई गतिलो जवाफ दिएका छन्, कदर गर्न नसकिएका यी शायरहरले ।

र प्रमाणित गरेका छन्: साहित्य र कलाले नै कुनै पनि समाजलाई भावनात्मक रुपमा एकिकृत गर्न सक्छ ।

एउटा अर्ज छ, कतै सुनेको थिएं:

इन्सानकि दु:खदर्दका दवा बन चुकी है

यह अफवाह अगर उडा दि जाए तो बुरा क्या है

 

Sent to  Kantipur Koseli on Feb 8, 2007 After Nepalgunj Riot 

Husainabad Imambara in Lucknow

After getting off at Lucknow Station, Divas wanted to experience the lifestyle of Lucknow’s Nababs – and the shayaris and attars – so he headed for Husainabad. There are  many historical sites at Husainabad, but he could not find the exotic lifestyle as he’d seen in the films. Still, Husainabad has an air that gives you a sense of travelling into a distinct cultutre.  At the Husainabad Imambara, he saw the picture of a Nawab King whose name and attire resemble with those of former Rana & Shah rulers of Nepal. Looks like Nepal’s former rulers were somehow related to the Lucknow’s Nabab Rulers.