elipha's

Puja of Balkumari

2011-07-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

Kumari the living goddess of Nepal has been a matter of fascination for many tourists. The worship of the Kumari has gone on since antiquity in our country. The living virgin goddess is treated with reverence. But, it is not just her that the people treat as Kumari. In Hindu culture, all virgin girls are treated as Kumari. Little girls before they hit their pubescent are considered as Kanya Kumari or Bal Kumari and are worshipped as yet another form of God.

In every auspicious puja, little girls are worshipped first in the form of Kumari Puja. At Balkumari, a small chowk near Ason, 365 young girls are worshipped on a Saturday during the month of Asar every year as Kumaris. It is believed that these 365 kumaris represent, one Kumari for each day of the year.

This tradition has continued without a break for 50 years now. This is done through the initiative taken by the people of the community. An elder in the community, Ganesh Bahadur Pradhan heads this puja every year but not without the support of the community. The puja sees a crowd of hundreds if not thousands every year.

Kumaris line the street extending from Janabahal to Ason and they are then worshipped. Devotees make offerings of everything from sweets to stationery material, purses to accessories. They do this in attempt to please the Kumari. It is believed that the kumaris who attend this ceremony will be healthy and freed from illness. The devotees believe that they will get blessings from the god. The ceremony sees participation ofyoung girls from diverse ethnic groups. The organizers and the people don’t discriminate based on caste and ethnicity; all young girls are considered to be one of God’s forms. Bahun, Chettris, Rais, Gurungs are also known to participate in the program.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kumari puja. It was celebrated by offering the 365 kumaris a silver coin each. The community’s effort has kept this tradition alive for 50 years, which is a lot of time. They also tried to establish a clinic within the community but that plan couldn’t take off. The Balkumari Puja is an example of community effort. If this community spirit is channelized in the right direction it can move mountains.

Before they used to worship only 108 Kumaris but there was a huge fall out in the community, the pujas occured very irregularly. But that has changed now. It is more regular and has the consent of the community.

“Similar such puja takes palce in banepa, a few ganesh pujas and Kumari pujas take place here and there but none have been able to continue it on a regular basis,” remarks a proud Ganesh Bahadur Pradhan.

In a patriarchial society, where men get most of the attention, it is the day for the girls. This day is historically and culturally significant. For the old, it is a day for worship, for the young Kumaris, it is a day of fun, of dressing up and of getting sweets and gifts.

Confucian Ethics

2010-06-30T00:56:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Confucius:
Confucius (about 551-479 BCE) was born with the family name K'ung. The respect he gained for his teachings led to his being referred to as Grand Master K'ung — K'ung Fu-tzu. His name was latinized by the early Jesuit missionaries into "Confucius".
Confucius was a philosopher and not a religious leader. His writings apply to humanistic, rational, ethical and moralistic issues. Virtue and morality are his primary focus, Confucius is concerned with teaching people about benevolence, generosity, love, compassion, and sincerity in a straightforward manner (without worship, metaphysics or dogma). He concentrates on developing morality - and a sense of shame - so people will behave in harmonious ways. He also stresses that in order to govern, one must govern themselves. Additionally, loyalty to family and family lineage are important to maintain honor.
Confucius did not write any directly philosophical work but he expressed his thought in his political and educational work. His Disciples collected his works and documented it.
Confucianism:
Confucianism is doctrines that originated with the thought and it developed in a variety of different ways as variously interpreted by later thinkers. The two most important Confucianists were Mencius and Xunzi.
Books on Confucianism
a. 5 scriptures:
The Book of Poetry (Shih), Book of History (Shu), Book of Changes (Yi), Book of Rites (Li), and Spring and Autumn Annals (Ch'un-Ch'iu).
b. 4 books:
The Analects, Mencius, The Higher Education, and The Doctrine of the Mean.
The Higher Education: The Higher Education talks about the individual relationships and the order of the world, which means the relationship between ethics and politics.
Mencius:The main theory of Mencius is that human nature is good, and the most important purpose of education is to prevent the good nature being affected by the environment.
The Analects: The Analects is a book of quotations of Confucius talking with his students or other people.
The Doctrine of the mean: The main idea of The Doctrine of the Mean is to educate people in spontaneous self cultivation, self supervision, self education and self perfection to become an ideal person that is extremely good, kind, honest, moral, ethical and holy, integrating internal cultivation with external actions. The core idea of the Mean is "going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short", which means the way to behave and to handle matters should be reasonable and moderate, without going extreme or leaning to either side.
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His Teachings
Confucius insisted mainly on the four virtues of sincerity, benevolence, filial piety, and propriety.
Sincerety: The sincere man in Confucius’s eyes was the man whose conduct was based on the love of virtue, and who sought to observe the rules of right conduct in his heart as well as in outward actions.
Benevolence: Showing a kindly regard for the welfare of others and in a readiness to help them in times of need, was also a fundamental element in Confucius’s teaching. “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others".
Filial Piety:a
Propriety: It embraces the whole aspect of human conduct teaching men to do the right thing. In the rules, ceremony, customs and usages are listed by which Chinese etiquette is regulated
He argued for the unity of benevolence and propriety. Propriety represents a hierarchical society in which roles of individuals are firmly determined. Such society should run on principle of Benevolence, which sought to achieve a mean in its navigation between the extremes of human behavior. We cannot abstract ourselves from community when we seek to determine our duties. The Golden Rule, Do not unto others what you would not want others to do unto you.
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The six Confucian principles of xi, zhi, li, yi, wen, and ren - form a framework of ideals that allows the individual to become a ‘being’ of pure, unlimited virtue. These six qualities are interconnected and dependent on each other for the assimilation of moral principles
xi, zhi, li, yi, wen, and ren
xi relates to one’s capacity to “instill in oneself certain virtuous habits” the most interesting definition of xi is, ‘the original good, evil or nothing’ that man is born with. In Confucianism, xi does not contain any original ‘goodness or badness’ (p.1). Therefore, Confucius believes that people must learn to act ethically since it is not an original part of their nature. Although each person has the same capacity for learning to act virtuously, each person proceeds at their own pace through practice.
Zhi is the natural substance of which a person is made, but it is not an innate human attribute. The individual acquires zhi through education. Similarly, as with xi, human beings are not born with moral goodness or badness. The desire for building moral character depends on the individual’s self-motivation and whether his behavior is in accordance with the qualities of li (propriety or etiquette). attaining the attribute of zhi is imperative for the individual wanting to develop a meaningful form of li within his belief system. Because li should develop his inner value system or moral nature
Li also refers to certain rituals within a hierarchical social order, and everyone understands their responsibility to the community. Practicing li not only shapes character, but motivates the individual to “behave, desire, feel, and act in required ways”
Yi translates as “morality” However, from this simple definition, there are other meanings such as right action, duty, and righteousness. According to Lau, yi is an essential concept in Confucianism, “Yi is the standard by which all acts must be judged while there is no further standard by which yi, itself can be judged” The yi principles of right action, duty, and righteousness are constantly being practiced through li.
Wen include music, poetry, and art that express virtue within the community. Confucius believes that one should not participate in a ‘creative pursuit’ unless virtue is being expressed (p. 29). He wants moral themes embedded in the manifestation of creative forms.
Ren is considered the highest virtue in Confucianism (Chong, 2007, p. 27). Ren is referred to as “the loftiest ideal of moral excellence, the most difficult of attainment, and the highest development of the individual’s distinctive nature” (p. 24). Ren is also associated with benevolence, love, humaneness, and the summation of all the other virtues. As examples, a few individuals possessing ren include Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Krishna, Buddha, Lao-Tzu, and Confucius.
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Some other Concepts
The 5 relationships
the way things should be done in social life; none of the relationships are transitive. (Note that 3 of the 5 relations involve family; the family is the basic unit of society).
Superior and subordinate
• Father and son (loving/reverential)
• elder brother and younger brother (gentle / respectful)
• husband and wife (good / listening)
• older friend and younger friend (considerate / deferential)
• ruler and subject (benevolent / loyal)
Filial Piety
Hsiao (showe): filial piety; reverence
Parents are revered because they are the source of your life. They have sacrificed much for you.
Hsiao implies that you give your parents not only physical care but also emotional and spiritual richness. When the parents die, their unfulfilled aims and purposes should be the purposes of the children.
The beginnings of jen are found in hsiao (family life).
"Filial piety is the root of all virtue."—"Of all the actions of man there are none greater than those of filial piety."
Chun-tzu (choon dzuh): concept is Chun-Tzu, the idea of the true gentleman. It is the man who lives according to the highest ethical standards. The gentleman displays five virtues: self-respect, generosity, sincerity, persistence, and benevolence. His relationships are described as the following: as a son, he is always loyal; as a father, he is just and kind; as an official, he is loyal and faithful; as a husband, he is righteous and just; and as a friend, he is faithful and tactful.
the ideal man; the superior man; gentle person in the most significant sense.
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Confucianism Today
Confucius is the world’s most influential philosophers. Today, his philosophy continues to influence largegroups of people across Asia and throughout the world. Countries that show the most significant imprint of Confucianism are China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Confucianism manifests itself in the way children defer to their elders and parents(filial piety) and in the hierchial structure wiltin the offices among employees of different ages and levels of experience. Confucianism also plays a role in expectations people place upon its legitimacy.
Conclusion:
Confucian ethics fall under Communitarian Ethics where emphasis is given to group driven ethics. It advocates restrained freedom, civic transformation, normative ethics codes, selflessness and cooperation. Confucian ethics follows the deontological ethical theory of doing the right thing no matter what.
Confucius also proposed an acquired- virtue ethics. It is built on the concept of virtue and on the habitual practice of action that fosters harmonious relations among the people.
Virtues can be learned and developed. They then become part of the person and come into play automatically when they are needed to keep the person on the moral road.
Confucians believe that a person who is considerate in little things will also be so in big things.
Thus the emphasis on li. For Confucius the whole social order is preserved by li or customs.

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References:
Leaman, Oliver Routledge. (2004). “Key Concepts in Eastern Philosophy”: 11 New Fetter lane EC4P 4EE
Gordan A. David, John Michael Kitross (1999). “Controversies in Media Ethics”, Addison- Wesley Longman Educational Publishers Inc.
http://philosophy.lander.edu/oriental/main.html
http://robwaxman.com/

Significance of Mass Media Research

2009-09-16T01:34:00.001-07:00

Mass media is an essential part of everyday life. It plays an important role in disseminating information. Thus it is crucial for democracy. Our world has now become a global village and this wouldn’t have been a possibility without mass media. Mass media research is like any other research- only it is done in context of mass media. Mass media research is helpful in understanding the process and effects of mass communication and to learn how mass communication influence individuals and society.

Mass Media research falls under the mass communication research of communication research which is studied under social science research. Mass media research adopts scientific method. It is systematic, objective and empirical. It is cumulative, replicable, logical and purposive. Thus it is a reliable source to gather data regarding mass media and its developments. Mass media research does a scientific study of mass communication, media and how people interpret it as individuals and as members of the society.

Mass media research answers some crucial questions like: how to increase readership of a newspaper, what do the audience prefer, when is the best time to broadcast a certain program, what sort of meaning are the audience making from the media messages and so on. This helps the media operators make better decisions. Big money is involved in the media industry, so research is required to study the audience and the current trend in order to ensure the investments made. More over media contents have a profound impact on the audience. Thus these research give us an idea on what to put and what not put on TV, newspapers etc.

Research is used in media everyday in the form of opinion polls, audience surveys, growth projections or status reports and so on. It is used for advertisement, public relations, content production and evaluation.

Mass media research on what type of content the audience want and what type of content is necessary for the audience is required for better production of programs; mass media research with audience surveys and opinion polls is helpful in understanding the consumption pattern of the audience, content analysis is useful for evaluation and assessment. Mass media research help us better understand the problems in the media and the problems within the society. It is done for better contents, to attract more audience, to better represent the society and avoid bias.

superstition

2009-06-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I don’t have a dozen rings on my fingers. I don’t plan my day according to the horoscope. I don’t fast on Sundays or any other day of the week for that matter. And yet I agree with my friends when they call me superstitious.

It is amazing how the jyotishis can read your past, present and future based on just your date of birth. I am not the kind to be fooled easily but the proximity with which they point to the incidents in our lives leaves me dumbstruck each time. I remain doubtful still it is really hard not to believe them.

I’ve seen some so called jyotishis around Ratnapark and whenever I see them going through a by passers hand I pity these gullible folks. But again when I visit some really renowned jyotishis of the town I completely surrender to their knowledge. They aren’t like the ones in Ratnapark I tell myself. “They know more. They are not the same”. Yet, who am I to know the difference?

But going to these pundits, gives me a sense of calm. I feel I will be alerted if I have any danger looming and will get the good news if there is any, beforehand. This much is all that tempts me to go to the jyotishis. I feel certain comfort and consolation in knowing the future.

People who don’t know me well enough will never guess this about me. At first glance I look pretty smart and my looks can deceive anyone into thinking I’m the modern girl who believes more in science . I don’t fit into the stereotypical definition of what a superstitious might be. I believe in science but I also believe in the things that science cannot comprehend.

These jyotishis keep bringing up what happened in your past and what is happening in your present. they then relate it with things that might happen in your future. It is really fun actually. It is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. Well, all I can say is these people are good. They are really good at what they do.

The jyotishi that I go to tends to blabber random incidents of your past and present. So, each time I visit him with my parents around, I fear that he will spill the beans on some really naughty things that I’ve been up to. I’m scared he’ll point to the mistakes that I’ve made. So I keep hoping and praying that he doesn’t spell it out when someone else is around.

A jyotishi advised me to wear light colored clothes. Light colors look good on me so I thought, why not? So these days you’ll hardly see me wearing black. I feel more confident in clothes of light shades. My friends think I am insane for doing this but I can’t help it. At least I am not running around wearing gems of all kinds on my fingers and neck.

I am just trying to make my life simple and trying to avoid misfortune. But I am worried that I have complicated my life instead.

Radio Nepal visit

2009-06-19T17:54:00.001-07:00

a visit to Radio nepal...

2009-06-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

May 20th, 2009 was the day I first entered Singha Durbar. I guess everyone wonders what it must be like in there. Well, it huge. You could get lost. The purpose of entering Singha Durbar was visiting Radio Nepal. It’s not that easy to enter Singha Durbar. We had to wait for almost an hour outside the premise because our pass hadn’t arrived yet. Finally our passes came and we got to enter the magnificent palace. We looked around for Radio Nepal’s office. We wandered for a while in the quest to find its location and after a few wrong turns we finally found it.

Radio Nepal was established on 1st April 1951. It has a glorious history. It had a humble beginning with transmission coverage duration of only 4 hours and 30 minutes through a 250 Watt SW transmitter. But it has grown in strength significantly since its inception.

First we visited the music studio, equipped with a 24 track recording facility. Here we caught a lady practicing her vocals along with an instructor. This we were told was where all the great Nepali singers practiced before they recorded their songs. It felt really nice to be in the same room where the greatest singers once practiced. There were other interesting things as well. We got to play with many musical instruments which I had never even seen before. The piano and the vibraphone were my favorite. You won’t find a vibraphone anywhere else in Nepal. If you want to see it you’ll just have to visit Radio Nepal. It was used a lot in the old days but now it remains largely unused.

Then we went to one of the program production studios. It was nice to see how things really worked inside a radio station. We also got to see veteran singer Meera rana who works for the music library. Radio Nepal had racks and racks stocked with discs, spools and cartridges. These are obsolete already. They had songs of all kinds including: movie songs, classical songs, classic songs, children songs, English songs, Gazals and Hindi film songs. The music library at Radio Nepal can boast of a collection of about 40,000 songs. But now all these old songs are being turned to digital format for ease of access and storage and for better use. This way all the old songs are getting a touch of modernity.

We also got to see a news room which was exciting. Then we headed towards an open air live theatre facility for functions and musical performances. Radio Nepal is equipped with a 100 KVA stand by diesel generator because the show must go on! Even when there is load shedding or power cuts of any sort.

All in all, the trip to Radio Nepal was very informative and enjoyable!

Development journalism

2009-06-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

In 1960s, Journalists were reporting government press releases and quotes but giving little attention to detailed analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of development projects. This was when development journalism was conceived. Development is a global issue. Development is an agenda that is bringing the different countries together. We have to use this power, this pull of development to bring positive change in the society.

Development journalism is a serious and broad subject. Only construction and infrastructure related reporting is understood as development journalism. There are two perspectives through which we can understand development. One is through Infrastructure program which means economic development. It refers to advancement in physical structures such as roads, schools, health, and education sector. The second one is through human development. It is related to human rights and freedom of expression.

In journalism, we only focus on the political activities and entertainment news. Development journalism isn’t given that much attention. Only covering political and criminal activities is considered glamorous. With the rise in media technology, journalism has developed so much but mainstream media seems to have ignored development journalism.

The journalist simply report human and economic development in development journalism. Development journalism has to present a critical view on the plan and project of the government. The role of the journalist isn’t simply to report but also to critically analyze issues.

Only state run media like Gorkhapatra and NTV in Nepal and Doordarshan in india are giving a fair space to development journalism. The mainstream media is just focused on entertainment. This may be because the government has certain obligation to international commitment. Say for example the ‘millennium development goal’, the government has signed it and thus there are certain things that they have to do to fulfill their commitment like focusing on development journalism. The government has no other option but to give space to development journalism. As for the main stream media their main objective is to make money and development journalism doesn’t fetch that much money thus it is largely ignored. This could be the reason why we hardly ever see a news story based on developmental issue on the first page of a newspaper

A strong reason why development journalism isn’t able to grow is the lack of skilled professional. In Nepal journalists cannot specialize in fields like environment journalism and development journalism even if they are willing to. We don’t see the kind of specialization there should be in Nepal. Another problem with development journalism in Nepal is the lack of professionalism in the journalists. This often leads to ineffective reporting. We also find that the editorial watchdog is very weak.

Another main reason is that development journalism in Nepal is donor based. When donors run a program, they want press coverage. They pay for the reporter to go to remote villages where there projects are running. The reporters are also willing to go because they are being paid. But, the problem here is that there is no follow up on the project. Because the donor’s interest doesn’t lie in the follow up story they don’t pay the reporter for follow up and the reporters don’t show any interest in it either. They don’t want to work for free. Donors have limited interest. They use the media till the interest is served. Here the donor’s interest is served but the reporters aren’t able to serve the people.

The government creates a conducive environment for development journalism due to international commitment. As long as you don’t interpret or criticize the government’s steps the conducive environment continues. ‘When the government questions, you stop reporting ‘, this is what the reporter’s attitude is like, which is very sad.

Development journalism should focus on the need of the poor, marginalized and the needy and emphasize their effective participation in development planning. We should strive for a kind of journalism where a common problem is identified and followed by probable solutions, leading to development. Development journalists should have the hunger to see something done. They have to offer leadership, build role models and promote new norms and practices. Here the role of the government will be to provide an environment for journalist to work professionally and freely without the fear of repercussion.

street vendors

2009-06-07T21:12:00.001-07:00

13th Nepal Education and Book Fair

2009-06-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

Global Exposition and Management Services Pvt. Ltd(GEMS) in cooperation with National Book Sellers and Publishers Association of Nepal(NBPAN) organized the 13^th Nepal Education and Book Fair 2009. The Book fair took place at Bhrikuti Mandap from May 15 to 23 and expected some 1,50,000 visitors.

“The first four days had education and career section and the last three days we have science exhibition section to make the book fair more fruitful and to encourage more interaction among students”, shared Keshav khatri, Manager of GEMS. He further added,” We want more and more people to get attracted towards education”.

Sunil Bikram Katuwal, a Masters’ student in Physics bought two books- Winner stands alone and Fire up your communication skills. This was his second visit to the fair. He had bought only one book in his first visit because he didn’t have enough money with him at the time. So, he returned for a second time- this time with enough money. Katuwal is among the many book enthusiasts who feel fairs like this are a good place to find books of all sort under one roof.

Students from different schools including, Ideal English Higher Secondary School, Pacific Academy, Shikhar Boarding School and many other could be seen scattered all over the exhibition. Some were in the Science exhibition section marveling at the innovative designs and some were looking at the colorful book on display at the 59 different stalls.

Writers Karna Shakya, Jagadish Ghimire, Krishna Dharabasi, Sushma Joshi, Krishna Thapa signed their books at the fair as an added attraction in the book fair.

Failed Marriages

2009-05-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

Nepal has a very low rate of divorces. The number is increasing but still it is a very low number compared to the high rates of divorces in the west. But it doesn’t mean that every couple that has been married for 30 – 50 years are enjoying blissful matrimony.

There are those that are happily married. A little disagreement here, a small argument there but essentially enjoying a wholesome family life. But not everyone is that lucky. There are also those who are stuck in their marriage- hating their in-laws, hating their spouses, hating the society. And yet tie together in marriage – putting up an act of happy home. When a marriage fails, the women cannot simply live. She has to worry about whom to turn to; what her life after this will be like, what the society will say, and a million other things. The man cannot leave because it would mean that he is a failure. Both parties fear the judgments, the stares, the comments, the backbiting, finally they simply bow down to tradition and continue living together "miserably ever after". Only a few have dared to break the tradition and get a divorce. The Nepali society calls the divorcees’ cowards because they couldn’t make their marriages work. Cowards who ran away from the challenges confronting their marriage. But I think it takes a lot of courage to go against society and try to correct what has been wrong all along – in this case a failed marriage. They are braver than we can imagine. Walking the road less travelled and paving the way for others to follow.

We need to start doing what we want. We need to stop society from bullying us into doing what we don’t consent to.

If you are in a marriage because you love your spouse and you love your life then it’s ok but if you are in it for society’s sake then that’s the wrong reason for being together.

Patan Museum - a hot venue

2009-05-05T23:15:00.000-07:00

The Patan museum, one of the finest museums of Nepal has been attracting a lot of people for cultural program. The Patan Museum is a semi- autonomous body with ability to raise revenue, employ its own staff and manage its pricing policy and budget. The museum employs 27 staff. The floors are waxed every month and the windows are oiled every six months and even the daily cleaning routine is impressive. The ambience here is absolutely magical. Programs are conducted in the Keshab Narayan Chowk (east wing). They charge 8000 for the venue if the programs are conducted in the evenings and the rate for the venue in the day time is 5000. The place has become a hot spot for conducting art exhibitions, musical programs, book releases and other cultural programs.

The Glorious Patan Museum

2009-05-05T23:14:00.000-07:00

Patan Museum that opened in 1997 is considered to be Nepal’s best and also one of the most attractive art museums in the world. It is an 18th century palace that once was the residence of the king of Patan. It used to be called National metal- craft museum but it went through a complete renovation with the joint effort of Nepalese and Australian government and since has been called Patan Museum. The museum has a treasure of around 200 sculptures. Some of these items date back as far as 4th century AD. The sculptures currently exhibited are representative of all major religions practiced in Medieval Nepal- Hinduism, Buddhism and Tantricism. This beautiful and well maintained Museum attracts 40,000 annual visitors. “We have season and off- season but approximately 50 foreigners and 50 Nepali visit the museum every day”, shared Shanta Dahal a staff at the museum. They charge Rs. 10 to Nepali students, Rs. 20 to Nepali visitors, Rs. 75 to citizens of SAARC countries and Rs. 200 and Rs. 250 to foreign students and foreigners respectively.

watchdog journalism

2009-05-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Watchdog Journalism:
Watchdog journalism refers to the activist journalism aimed at holding accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life. The term lapdog is watchdog journalism. They always try to find out what the authorities are doing.

2009-05-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

The state consists of executive, legislative and judiciary body. The media is considered the 4^th estate. The legal provisions are made by the legislative body. The executive executes them and the judiciary punishes the ones that violate these laws. Media is a cultural product. They work within society and for the society. Media for the government is just another industry that needs to be regulated. The government makes the rules and guidelines for media to follow. They make sure that it is implemented. If not they punish media for violation of the rule so the government observes the press and keeps it in track, running in the right direction. At the same time, the press observes and scrutinizes each and every step of the government working as a watch dog. This way the press helps to keep the government in track. Thus the press helps keep the government in track and the government helps keep the press in track.

The type of government in power largely determines the state of press freedom in a country. Freedom of expression, press freedom is all required for making a healthy environment for press to grow. Without press freedom and without freedom of expression the press will just serve as a lapdog to the government. It won’t be able to fulfill its function of a watch dog. If the government is not honest it can hinder the function of the press. During the emergency period in India, Indira Gandhi put a ceiling on the amount of paper the press could buy. Indirectly, curtailing its power. Technically, the government was a democratic one and legal provisions ensured press freedom. This is an example that legal provision alone isn’t enough. The legal provisions are executed by the state. So, the kind of government in power directly impacts the freedom of the press. Democracy is required for journalism as it fulfills certain criteria like press freedom, freedom of expression, safety of journalist and others which are essential for the mere survival of journalism. The main difference between a democratic and non democratic country is not determined by elections, but by how free their journalists are.

The media acts are a kind of bridge between the authority and the people. They inform the people what the government is doing. It is through the media that the public forms opinion about the government and its policies. They form the image of government based on what the media tells them. The nature of press is such that it cannot escape the government and the government cannot let go of the media. The press and government are inseparable. The media works tirelessly for democracy. So many journalists have died to bring truth to the people. The media works to uncover the lies of the government and their failures. This way press promotes development of democracy. People do not really have a say in modern democracy, aside from their vote, unless they are a politician themselves. Through journalism people can see what polices and philosophies they are falling into. Whom a person votes largely depends on which newspaper and journalist they subscribe to. While politics might make up less than a quarter of a newspaper, make no mistake, journalism is the advertising agency of politicians. Mass media definitely act as a link between the government and the people, thus building up the political fabric of the democracy. There are several channels through which political leaders can express their views and rally public support for their policies. Through the mass media the government can inform, explain and convince the public over their programs.

The government is the facilitator, and the government is also a major advertiser. Advertisements are oxygen to mass media. They cannot survive without advertisement. In recent years historic papers like Christian Science Monitor and Chicago Tribune shut down due to lack of advertisements. The government is a major advertiser. They give out notification. They make their announcements through the media. In a country like ours where there aren’t many big advertisers, the ad given by the government can be very valuable to the mass media. Other than this the government provides various facilities to the mass media. They get to buy paper at cheaper rates. They enjoy other facilities as well. But then, the press is subjected to regulations. The government is the agency regulating these instructions. Thus the government is the one that regulates the press. The government has significant role in regulation. The government is the one providing facilities so the government sometimes regulates and sometimes facilitates and develops the press.

These are certain aspects with which governments seek to have control over mass media:

· Licensing in advance ;

· Censorship of offending material before publication;

· Seizure of offending material;

· Injunctions against publication of a newspaper or book or of specified content;

· Against libel or other offense;

· Compulsory disclosure of ownership and authority;

· Post publication criminal penalties for objectionable matter;

· Post publication collection of damages in a civil action; post publication correction of libel and other misstatements;

· Discrimination in granting access to news source and facilities;

· Discrimination and denial in the use of communications facilities for distribution;

· Taxes;

· Discriminatory subsidies;

· Inference with buying, reading and listening.

The journalists and the media have to perform the following duties:

· Protection and promotion of press freedom

· Recognition of human rights and international relations

· Safeguard and enforcement of right to information

· Imparting true and factual information

· Editorial freedom

· Recognition of right to privacy

· High professional practice

· Decent behavior

· Readiness to rectify errors

· Social responsibility

· Mutual relationship among journalists and media should be professional, healthy, tempered, courteous and harmonious.

The journalists and media are to perform the above mentioned task. If the media don’t follow this then the government can interfere and punish the media. News media play the role of watchdog looking at malfunction and corruption. And the government watches over the actions of the mass media. This is the only way that democracy can flourish. If the media do not watch over the government corruption and slackness will penetrate the government and if the government doesn’t watch over the media they will become irresponsible. With the government and media watching over each other democracy can prosper.

No More a Teen

2008-12-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

A week after my 20^th birthday, I got an email from my friend. He was sorry for the delay and wished me a happy belated birthday. And as the note was almost over, the last sentence read: “how does it feel to not be a teenager any more?”

This question had come across my mind several times in the month leading to my birthday. It just feels strange to not be in the “teenager” bracket anymore. I am slowly but definitely moving into the “adult” category and I am not very excited about it.

I remember, when I was nine years old, I’d tell everyone, “technically, I am ten years old” and when I was twelve, I was so excited that in one year’s time I would be thir”teen”- a teenager. I’d tell myself when I grow up, I’ll do this and I’ll do that. I just couldn’t wait to grow up. But right now, the thought of growing up is kind of scary.

Off late I’ve noticed that my younger brothers and sisters look at me differently. Only a year ago, I was one of them and now they treat me differently. You know how kids feel free when they are among their own age groups and how they are always awkward and reluctant in presence of an adult. I have become one of those adults.

My younger sisters are always giggling and chatting and as soon as I enter the room their conversation abruptly stops. All the elder sisters, I once thought were too mature now feel like friends.

The younger lot listens to me. They follow my command. This could either be because they are scared of me or because they respect me. Whatever the case, it is because they look at me as an adult. I am enjoying this new found power because my cousins never really listened to me earlier. But, it is also scary because this brings with it expectations and responsibility and I’m not sure if I can live up to it.

When it comes to age, the grass always seems greener on the other side. When you’re a child, the only thing you want is to grow up and once you’ve gown up you’d give anything to feel free like a child.

When my mom had her first few grey hairs, she had made such a fuss. She would ask me if she should pluck it or if coloring would be a better option. She would just go on and on but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t see what the big deal was. I didn’t see why it was so hard for her to accept the changes her body was showing.

Now I see what was troubling her. Like me, she was finding it difficult to accept that she had landed in a new age bracket.

During the early teen years, it felt odd being a teenager and right now it feels odd not being a teenager. No matter what, I am looking forward to the rest of my life and I hope that I do well no matter what age group I land in, throughout my life.

Mimamsa Philosophy and Globalization

2008-12-30T05:05:00.000-08:00

Mimamsa is one of the six astika school of Hindu philosophy. The main aim of this philosophy is elucidation of the nature of Dharma.

There was a time in civilization when animals were killed; other people were given sorrow and pain in the name of religion, in the name of performing Yagya. This all happened because people couldn’t truly comprehend the real meaning of Dharma and Yagya as stated in the Vedas. Buddhism and Jainism started to bring improvement in Hinduism. Mimamsa philosophy too tried to end the evil practices prevalent in Hinduism.

Globalization cannot be defined in fixed terms. It refers to growing interconnectedness. Globalization is a multi dimensional process which implies to a whole range of social relations-cultural, economic and political.

There was a trend in people to move away from their duties and responsibilities in the name of religion. Mimamsa philosophy spoke against such actions. Mimamsa philosophy has always given stress on karma. Any work done under the command and guidance of inspirational advisor is what dharma is. Anything done in the welfare of the masses is dharma. Globalization too is intended for human welfare and so it too is a Dharma of sorts.

Fulfilling your duty as a human with all your heart is what Yagya is. Anything done for the protection and development of the society is Yagya. Globalization and development go hand in hand. It too is targeted towards development and thus according to Mimamsa philosophy it too is a kind of Yagya.

Religion and science both seek to unveil the truth. The goal of both religion and science is development and happiness. Both want human welfare and peace. Since Mimamsa philosophy has a very positive view of science it must have a positive view of Globalization as well.

a walk down mangalbazar

2008-12-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

fiction:THE THIEVES OF THE VALLEY

2008-12-26T22:10:00.000-08:00

A group of thieve had entered Pandey Residency. They poisoned their dog, held one of their daughters at gun point and threatened to kill her if they didn’t do what they were told. The frightened family did whatever was asked of them. The thieves packed all the jewelry and money that was in the house. The thieves were not nervous in the least. They were very calm. They knew what they wanted and did it with much precision. They seemed very thorough in what they did. They took all the valuables and they also took whatever else they thought was expensive.

My mom kept telling this story to all her friends and relatives again and again. She had read it in the newspaper somewhere and it had caught her fancy. That was probably when her paranoia first started. And on top of all that the incident with our neighbour left her even more frightened.

Suresh uncle, our neighbour liked walking in the evenings. So, he always came back home on foot. One day when he was returning, two men stopped him and started throwing punches at him. He fell down. Then, they snatched the packet that he was carrying and fled. It was a dark road with no one in sight. So, Suresh uncle couldn’t ask for help. He was hurt and could hardly walk. He returned home in a cab. Suresh uncle always brought back money from his store when he returned home. The people who had attacked him must have known this. They must have been following him for days looking for a good oppurtunity. But, what they didn’t realize was, Suresh uncle had tucked the packet of money inside his jacket. The packet that he had been carrying in his hands contained nothing but a few packs of paper napkins. The theives thought that the pack contained money when infact they were leaving with nothing but napkins. Thankfully Suresh Uncle was only mildly hurt and he didn’t loose his money. However this experience left him shaken.

It had only been around a month since that thing with Suresh uncle, my brother came home hastily. Only mom and I were home. He told us what he had seen. It was early morning and two old ladies were walking infront of him. The ladies took a turn to the left while my brother walked straight ahead. After a little while, my brother heard someone screaming, “ Chor! Chor!”. He realized that it was the voice of the same old lady he had seen only a while ago. He walked back to see what was going on. A motorcycle passed him. One of the old women was lying on the floor crying. A man sitting at the back of the motorcycle had pulled her gold chain and run away with it. The theives were in the motorcycle that my brother had seen. He tried to recall what they looked like, what the number of the bike was. But, all that he could remember was that it was a black Pulsar. In a while a crowd gathered. The old women were crying, they were cursing the thives. But, all in vain. The theives had managed to escape with their prize.

We heard of many such incidents in the days that followed. My mom being the sceptic she is, put grills on all our windows. It took me a while to get used to those grills. Somehow I felt, I was confined inside a prison cell when I looked at those grills. But, mom always said, “ safety comes first”. Sometimes dad or dai would be late and as soon as the clock hit eight, she would get restless. “They will be home soon”, I would say but nothing I said would calm her.

It was a Friday, both dai and dad were aleady home before seven. When I reached home it was well over 8:30. my mom fired me with endless questions. I explained that I was stuck in traffic- for real. Even after I had made my explanation, she kept nagging me. I went up to my room, got changed and came down to the kitchen. “ Have you locked the main door?”, mom asked. “ Yes”, I said. “ Check it again”, came her voice from the kitchen. That was another habit she had developed after all that incidents of theft she constsntly heard about. She always made us double check if the doors were locked properly.

My dad was in the mood for cooking. So, he made the only dish he knew how to cook- chicken. My mom wasn’t fond of chicken. She only ate it to encourage dad. After dinner dai, dad and me went to watch TV in the living room while mom went to sleep. She wasn’t feeling well. Dad’s chicken had upset her stomach. Dad went to sleep and so did dai. After a little while, I switched the TV off, I put out the lights and went to sleep. I was sound asleep when a shrill cry woke me up. It was mom. I stood up suddenly and rushed to her room. “There was a thief. Right there!”, she said. We went up to the varanda to trace where the theif had gone. My mom wouldn’t allow anyone to go out. She was scared the thieves might be armed. So, all we could do was go to the terrace and look where the thieves had gone. The thieves had climed up our house and were preparing to cut the grills when a flower pot from the veranda fell. My mom who was unable to sleep because of her upset stomach, heard the noise. She walked slowly to see who it was and saw a man standing infront of the window. Then she shouted “ CHOR” on the top of her lungs. The theives made their escape.

We didn’t know what to do or think. We weren’t sure if we were more mad at the theif or if we were more thakful that no one was hurt. There was so much going on in our heads. We couldn’t believe what had just happened. All the stories we heard about people being robbed and beaten and we could have so easily been one of those victims. None of us could sleep that night.

book review: Tilled earth

2008-12-26T21:59:00.000-08:00

With books like forget Kathmandu, tutor of history and numerous articles, Manjushree Thapa had already become a familiar name among the readers in Nepal. So her book “Tilled Earth” generated much curiosity and anticipation.
“Tilled Earth” is a compilation of short stories that reveals the different facet of Nepali lifestyle be it rural or urban. Through her writing she re-introduced us with the dilemma, the frustration, the joy and the pain of the common Nepali people.
Flipping through the pages, I cried for a few character. I laughed along with some. How could I not, the characters were so real and their sentiments were so very Nepali…………..
The thing that I love about this book is that it isn’t all about the decade-long insurgency. She has shown that there is more to Nepal than just those years of destruction. Her book is about human relation and so anyone can relate to it.
There are so many Indian writers making a mark in the international scene. For once I’m glad we too have a representative in Manjushree Thapa.

book review: Palpasa Café

2008-12-26T21:55:00.000-08:00

I started off really slow with this book and didn’t really like the book in the first few chapters. I think it’s a really nice book. I have been reading Khaled Houseini’s books and feel really sad for this war torn country – Afghanistan. But I just realized how unaware and ignorant. I was of my own country’s situation. Living in the capital, we couldn’t really grasp the magnitude of the effect the decade long insurgency had on the people of Nepal. This book really opened my eyes. Every time I turned on the news, I’d hear of death tolls. That wasn’t just a number. Those were fellow Nepalese, who had families, who had lives. No matter whom we choose to blame, thousands of lives were lost and even more displaced. Their life, shattered. The fear of uncertainty looming in their heads.

The writer has captured the time very well. It is like a key to exploring what Nepal was like during the days of the insurgency. We can feel the pain the characters go through. After all, they are fellow Nepalese. We all faced the insurgency. That horrible time connects the readers, the writer and the characters.

book review: The Kite Runner

2008-12-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

When we picture an image of Kabul, of Afghanistan we always think about the Talibans and about the conflict in that region. We are so used to hearing about the war going on there that we can’t think beyond the bloodshed and the violence, when the name of Afghanistan is taken.
In his first book, “The Kite Runner”, Khaled Housein has described Afghanistan beautifully. The story is also set before the conflict began so he has shown us a Kabul that is unknown to an entire generation which has seen nothing but bloodshed. He describes the natural beauty and the bustling bazaar activities of Kabul.
Khaled Houseini also shows the tension between the two classes, the Hazara and Pashtun which made me think about our own class divide.
Through his characters, he has shown, the effect war has on people. He has shown how in the end how the middle class and the poor are the ones that end up suffering. These people only want peace.
With his simple yet beautiful writing, Houseini has been able to show case the beauty as well as pain of Afghanis and Afghanistan.

The new Nepali American Dreamers

2008-11-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

The term “American Dream” was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book ‘The Epic of America’ which was written in 1931. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are certain unalienable rights. These sentiments can be considered as the foundation of the American dream.

In his essay ‘the American dream’ which was published back in the October 1973 issue of The Freemen, John E. Nestler reflects “American dream was once equated with certain principles of freedom, it is now equated with things. The American dream has undergone a metamorphosis from principles to materialism… When people are concerned more with attainment of things than with the maintenance of principles, it is a sign of moral decay. And it is through such decay that loss of freedom occurs.”

The American Dream can be described as a belief in freedom that allows all citizens and non residents of the United States of America to achieve their goals in life through hard work. Today, in America it generally refers to the idea that one's prosperity depends upon one's own abilities and hard work, not on a rigid class structure, though the meaning of the phrase has changed over America's history. For some, it is the opportunity to achieve more prosperity than they could in their countries of origin; for others, it is the opportunity for their children to grow up with an education and career opportunities; for others, it is the opportunity to be an individual without the constraints imposed by class, caste, race, or ethnicity. While the term "American Dream" today is often associated with immigrants, native-born Americans can also be described as "pursuing the American Dream", "living the American Dream" or "living the Dream."
The American Dream is the fulfillment of America's promise of equal freedoms, equal opportunities and equal protections.
Different people have different perception on American dream throughout the world. Some say that American dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity yet others look towards a new American dream with less focus on financial gain and more emphasis on living a simple fulfilling life.

Even people in Nepal have their own little American Dream where they aim to go to America someday for a better education and a better life. America to Nepalese is synonymous to opportunity, success and wealth. We view America as the land of opportunities and wouldn’t hesitate to go there at any chance we get.

More and more youth are going to the United States for education and many more go there for better job prospects. Every year when the forms of Direct Visa (DV) are distributed, thousands of Nepalese fill the form with the hope that they will get to go to America-the land of opportunity.

Currently a huge number of Nepali youths are abroad studying and the number is increasing day by day. The flow of Nepali students abroad has surged in recent years, making Nepal one of the major countries of origin for foreign students in western and Australian universities.

The United States tops the list of most preferred destination countries for Nepali students. In the academic year 2004/05 alone, 4,861 Nepali students went to US universities, up by 11 percent compared to the previous year. The figure is growing so fast that Nepal is now amongst the top 25 countries (ranking 23rd) that send students to the US, and the fastest growing country of origin, according to a survey by US-based Institute of International Education (IIE). In other words, no other country matched Nepal's growth rate in 2005 for sending students to the US. The United States Education Foundation (USEF), citing worldwide policy, refused to provide information about how many Nepalese actually applied for US student visas. But it did say that the foundation had 47,000 visitors in 2004.

We can go to any country around the world to make a fresh start but most Nepalese prefer to go to America. Though there are many other countries which can fulfill their dreams, America is always the first choice. The Nepalese that go to America have their own perception of the American dream. For most, it is a degree from a nice university, a car and a well paying job but still the different individuals view the dream differently.

Sujata is a shy, 20 yr old, freshmen at Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania who hopes to graduate with good grades and find a good job. She wishes to come back to Nepal someday. Her first priority is education followed by family and career. She thinks it is much more difficult for Nepalese to achieve the American dream than it is for the Americans.
Rabin, 27 yrs old, went to the US after he got DV lottery 5 yrs back. He considers that he has achieved a better life for himself and his family after getting to America. He lives there alone and sends money to his family living back in Nepal. He plans to come to Nepal for his retirement.

Binita, 21 yrs old, works 50 hrs per week to support herself. She never have thought it would be so difficult. According to her, when staying in America, the things you will have to struggle constantly with are-adjustment, money and food. But she believes that her problems will get easier once she graduates.

Niti, 23yrs old, just got her degree in engineering and she plans to go to the U.S. for her masters. She had tried to go to the U.S. even for her undergrad but she didn’t get the visa. This time, she is determined to land there. She believes that she can explore her potentials in the U.S. and that she will get better opportunities and will earn more in America. Most of all, she wants to live away from her family and make it as an independent woman.

Sheetal, 31 yrs old, a doctor, went to US 2 yrs back to work as a doctor and she has got a license for working as doctor but hasn’t got job yet. So she works as a temp in a lot of places. She could have earned a lot here in Nepal but she wishes to pursue her dream in the U.S.
Causes of Nepalese going to the U.S.

1. Education system

The education system isn’t so good in Nepal. In Nepal, courses are based more on theories and student feel the lack of practical knowledge. So, people go to the US with the dream of getting quality education. People consider that if you are a graduate from an American University, it is always an advantage. Even in the job market, a graduate from America is given more priority than a graduate from a Nepali University irrespective of the grades and the university they are from. Due to continuous strikes, a course of 1 year can even take an extra six months to complete. Students sometimes have to wait for an entire year for their results. If the education process was much smoother, people might have stayed here.

2. Economic system

Nepal is a third world country. Nepal is rich in natural resources though it has not been able to utilize its resources in a sustainable way. It has affected the economic system of Nepal resulting into unemployment. Since people can’t find proper work in their country, they tend to search for prospects elsewhere. People get degrees but they cannot find a job they like. They feel they cannot find a job that suits their qualification. Even if they do, they get paid much less than their expectations. The prices of every goods are raising day by day. People are getting frustrated because of the sky high living expenses. There is shortage of everything. There is lack of petrol, water, electricity, facilities, etc. People spend a lot on their education but they dont feel they get much in return. People think investing in Nepal is useless. So instead of investing their money in their country, they invest it in other countries hoping they will get a good response.

3. Political System

For a long time, Nepal has been facing political instability and so the development areas have been in a virtual standstill. Noone knows what is going to happen next. There are always strikes because of political reasons. Even the education and the economic sector have suffered a lot. Due to the lack of stability and security, people prefer to go outside where they think a better future is a guarantee. People believe that their talent and their struggle will never be valued in Nepal so they look for places where their effort will be recognized.

4. Preconceived notion

People believe that in the US, everything will be Ok. They think they’ll get a good job, better lifestyle. They believe they can achieve everything after they step to US. What they do not realize is they will have to work hard to earn it.

5. Bandwagon

So many youngsters are going abroad. Any one member from each family is going to America. So people follow the same rule. When all your friends are leaving one by one, it only seems logical that you follow them too.
Mass media has also played an important role in this. We hear about so many rags to riches stories of Americans and we are hopeful that we will be one of them. In today's world of globalization, American culture dominates the popular culture all around the world. The American way of life has been made popular by movies, music and so on. Hence the youngsters have the rage to go to the US and live the American dream.

6. Social aspects

We all have our own social values and assumptions. We are bound with cultural beliefs. Nowadays, most youngsters prefer to live their life in their own way. For them, these cultures seem to be obstacles for their happiness. So they prefer to go abroad and live their life in the way they wish to. Besides, the families whose member has gone to US are considered more important. They are treated with special deference.

Advantages of studying in US
• America is considered the center for Academic excellence.
• More options career wise and course wise.
• Well recognized degree all over the world.
• Opportunity to be independent and learn life skills.

When asked, “Why do you want to go to the US?”, Chahana,19, who is trying for her US visa, answered, “Because I am not satisfied with the course I am doing here.”
“Leaving your country for further study does not mean that you don’t love your country and not leaving it does not necessarily prove that you love it. Sometimes it is good to make decision which might seem ‘non-patriotic’ at first but in the long run it will prove to be more effective.”
She also says, “I want to go the US because I want to learn and explore the world and as of today there is no better place than us for studying as well as learning “Life Skills.” I have plans to return. As a more experienced person who can give much to the development of Nepal. And yea it is after all the Land of opportunities.”

Conclusion
The American dream has a universal appeal. It talks about values of equality, hard work, equal opportunity. At a time, when we are talking about Naya Nepal and about inclusion , the American dream seems very appropriate, we can adopt the American dream and work together as equals to achieve the dream of Naya Nepal.
We can achieve the American Dream anywhere we are, provided that we are willing to work hard and willing to face any obstruction in the way of success.
The trend of going to the US is still on the rise. People have so many dreams when they go to the US, some people are successful but others are not.
So many Nepalese regret going to America but most of them do not return because of the investment they had put in. But despite of all these failures, Nepalese have not stopped dreaming the American dream.

Body Image

2008-11-04T23:33:00.000-08:00

At a time when size zero and fair complexion is all the rage, people can’t help being more and more conscious about their appearance. This has developed a low self esteem in many people. Illness like bulimia and anorexia are at an all time high.
Television and advertisements are all promoting the ‘skinny babe’ ideal. No wonder we have so many people who are discontent with their figure. We are not that foolish. We do know that the models we see on TV or on magazine covers, rely on a team of make-up experts and touch-ups and air brushing and other technologies of that sort. But still, we already have this image of perfection in our mind so we aren’t willing to settle for anything less than that.
Sometimes I wish I could lose some weight and at times I feel like I need to gain some. I just can’t decide on what I want. I’ve always had oily skin. So, I’ve never really liked my skin. I can think of so many things I don’t like about myself but if I were to make a list of ‘things I like about myself’, I’ll have to think really hard. Some don’t like their tummy. Some think their nose isn’t right. Some envy others hair. Instead on focusing on what’s wrong with our body, we can channel our thought to what we like about ourselves. Sometimes we don’t really see the things that are good in us. One of my friends has great skin, another has a wonderful smile but I simply can’t see anything good in me.
People want to be perfect at any cost. People rely on make-ups to enhance their beauty and also to hide their flaws. But now more and more people are choosing cosmetic surgery to correct what they think is wrong with their body. People aren’t scared to go under the knife any more.
Some people starve themselves to look thin because that is what beauty means to them while people in some parts are forcefully fed, against their will because fat to them is beautiful. Beauty is a relative term. It cannot be measured in the limited parameter of color of hair, size of eyes, or the clothes that you fit into. We have restricted the definition of beauty. Beauty is more than meets the eyes.
Even if I had clear skin and the most wonderful body, the world would be the same. My friends wouldn’t treat me any different, my family wouldn’t do me any special favors and my problems wouldn’t magically disappear. I’d be the same me. Ideal body or no ideal body that is not going to change who I am from with in.

Being a vegetarian

2008-11-04T23:21:00.000-08:00

John Abraham, Amitabh Bachhan, Richard Gere. These are few people who are vegetarians. They always seem pet friendly and eager to support animal rights. They have been promoting the vegetarian bandwagon. They are truly inspirational.

But, they are not the only ones I know, who are vegetarians. More and more people I know who are giving up meat these days. Growing up I knew only one cousin who was a vegetarian. And I watched as a crowd of relatives teased her,scolded her and often persuaded her to eat meat.

A friend of mine loved meat so much that when said she had decide to become vegetarian, all of us laughed in disbelief. She loved her chicken chillies and buff momos. But, to all our amazement , she abruptly left it all. It’s been over a year and she hasn’t even touched meat. Inspired by her story, another friend who too is a meat lover is trying to give up meat. She has successfully been a vegetarian for around a month now.

It isn’t easy becoming a vegetarian. Most parents do not support their children’s decision of becoming a vegetarian. In Nepal being able to afford meat is a privilege. Parents want what is best for their kids and best for them is ‘meat’. When we are invited for lunch or dinner somewhere at a relative’s home, the star attraction almost always is a non-vegetarian food item. On such occasions when we inform them that we don’t eat meat, the host don’t have much to offer us.

When I see chickens being butchered and the meat being transported around or on seeing the live chickens and buffaloes, I don’t feel like eating meat ever. But once it’s cooked with its delicious smell floating around, I just can’t resist it. I’ve tried to quit eating meat a lot of time. So many times I gave into my parents and relative’s request to start eating meat. Other times I couldn’t control myself and gave into my temptations. And then there were times, I just forgot that I was trying to become a vegetarian.

The price of meat is soaring higher and higher and yet, the people flock to the market to buy them. The valley dweller’s appetite for meat just seems endless. Especially during festivals like Dashain, so many poor animals are slaughtered. I do feel guilty when I see all this. But, I have grown up in a meat eating culture for so long that giving up meat seems very very difficult, if not impossible.

There are many alternatives to meat. A vegetarian lifestyle is much healthier. You aren’t responsible for a poor animal’s death. This knowledge gives you immense relief. I totally respect people who are vegetarians. Thanks to them, at least one more chicken gets to see another day.

Technology Is Good

2008-09-24T01:07:00.000-07:00

Technology is developing at a very fast pace. What was new yesterday is already old news today. We find ourselves running around, shopping for the next new thing, for cutting edge technology. The modern devices and gadgets have surely made our life much easier or have they? This is a debate that has been going on for a long time. Technology has made our life easy in some ways and complicated it in others.

Mobile phones are the in things. Everyone wants to lay their hands on the latest, the best models possible. Only a few years ago, mobile phones were an alien to us and now everyone can be seen sporting a mobile. "What is your mobile number?" we ask casually. We simply assume that everyone has one. I've stopped wearing watches. I can simply look at my mobile for the time. We can click pictures and take videos with our cell phones. We can listen to music with it and it also works a GPS. It serves many purposes. Mobiles replaced the pagers. So, it only makes we wonder, what will replace the mobiles. I guess, time will tell.

Another must have is a digital camera. I haven’t seen a manual camera for a long time now. Except of course for those really big professional cameras. With time the cameras are getting smaller and sleeker. Now that the laptops are available everywhere, the desktop computers seem too big, too old, too ugly. We are always on the look for something easier and fancier. So, now people prefer laptops over desktops.

Thank God for computers. Now, I don’t have to worry about spelling mistakes and bad hand writing. And if it weren’t for calculators, it would take me ages to solve a simple Math problem. The internet has made home works so much easier. We are just a click away from the answer. And then there is Television, the entertainer. It has everything from breaking news to reality shows, from daily soaps to documentaries. Ah! The wonders of technology.

If it weren’t for social networking sites like face book, hi 5 and for emails, I don’t know how we would manage to keep in touch with our friends and family many of whom are now rapidly leaving the country.

We have used technology; re used it, and misused it. Bottom line, we have become used to it. Technology is fascinating, exciting, intriguing and also inspiring. Technology almost always is confusing (if you aren’t tech savvy) but we cannot deny that once we figure it out, technology is a blessing.

I cannot say that technology has enriched our life but I can certainly say that it has made it easy.

2008-09-24T00:54:00.000-07:00

No plans of going abroad!

2008-09-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

I just love going to New Road. It’s a great place for shopping and for people watching. But I like it mostly because there I get to meet people I haven’t met for a long time. My trip to New Road is never complete until I bump into an old friend.

The last time I went to there, I saw a friend from school. It had been around two years since the last time I saw her. I was really happy to see her. We started with a little chat and then I asked her what she was doing. “I’m going to Singapore in about a month”, she said. Then she said, “Where do you plan to go?” where as in which country I was planning to go.

I was surprised that she assumed that everyone (every youth) has plans to go somewhere (out of this country). She expected me, just like most of her friends to have plans to go over seas .I don’t blame her for that. I mean, most youths these days are going outside. No wonder the educational consultancies are doing so good. We just had a few educational fairs concentrating on abroad studies and they were a huge success.

It seems like every youngster in Nepal dreams of going to America or Europe. If they don’t get a chance to land in these places, they would at least want to go to India. They seem so keen on getting out of the country. They think it’s fashionable to go to foreign countries. I have never really wanted to go abroad and I don’t understand the craze some of my friends have for going over seas.

Getting back to my friends question, I replied,” I am studying here and I plan to work here”. On hearing my answer she gave me this look of amazement. Her facial expression was screaming- “But why?” Her look made me question my intentions. Is it stupid of me to want to stay in my country? Am I a fool not to join the bandwagon? I mean people aren’t moving out of this country for no reason. Just in these few years, so many people I know have left Nepal in search of better prospects and a better life.

It is nice to know that your friends are chasing their dreams and that they are going to get a nice education. But, when you think of how many educated youths the country is losing, you can’t help feeling sad.

I have always believed that if I work hard enough I will have a comfortable life no matter where I choose to live. Everyone has the right to choose their destiny. She chose to move out of here and I chose otherwise. Whether or not my decision to stay in my home country is a good one: only time will tell.

2008-09-08T20:38:00.000-07:00