थरी थरिका एन आर एन

एन आर एन

गैर आवासिय नेपाली संस्था एन आर एन ले सबै गैर आवासिय नेपाली हरुको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दैन ।

यो संस्थाको बारेमा म जस्तो लामो समय देखी बिदेश बसिरहेका धेरै नेपालीहरुको फरक बिचार छ। म बिगत १० बर्ष देखी स्कटल्याण्ड बस्दै आएकोले संयुक्त आधिराज्य (UK) मा मैले देखेको, सुनेको, भोगेको कुरो र केही बिस्लेषण गर्दै छु।

एन आर एन को बिदेशमा महत्व:

छैन ।

सामान्यतया  शहर वा छेत्रीय आधारमा बनेका संस्थाहरु महत्वपूर्ण छन , यिनिहरुले बेला बखत चाडबाड मा कार्यक्रम गर्ने , नेपालबाट कलाकार बोलाउने , नेपाली भाषा कक्ष सन्चालन गर्ने, मर्दा-पर्दा, जन्ती-मलामी मा सरसहयोग गर्ने गर्छन् । तर बुझ्नुपर्ने कुरा के भने आधिकांस एस्ता संस्थाहरु एन आर एन सँग सम्बन्धित छैनन , हैनन । तेसैले अैले नेपालमा हल्लिखल्लीका साथ चुनाव गर्नीहरुले बिदेशमा नेपाली भाषा संस्कृति जोगाएको भन्नि कुरा पूर्ण सत्य हैन , कम्तिमा स्कट्ल्यण्डमा  यिनिहरुले नेपाली संस्कृति जोगाउन कुनै भूमिका खेलेका छैनन भन्नि कुरो म भन्न सक्छु । बरु यहाँको स्थानिय सरकार नगरपालिका वा स्कटिस सरकारले धेरथोर सहयोग गर्ने गरेको छ । अन्यथा नेपाली समुदाय आँफैले चन्दा उठाएर यो काम गर्छन् , आधिकांस नेपाली समुदायहरु एन आर एन का सदस्य हैनन । ति नेपाली संस्थाहरु च्यारिटी को रुपमा सम्बन्धित देसमा दर्ता भएका हुन्छन एन आर एन सँग कुनै औपचारिक सम्बन्ध हुन्न  । सामान्यतया नेपाली कलाकारहरु लाई बोलाउने पनि यिनै संस्था हुन्, एन आर एन हैनन् ।

थरी थरिका एन आर एन

मैले आधिकाङस स्कटल्याण्डवासी नेपाली एन आर एन आबद्द छैनन भनी सकेपछी को चैं एन आर एन मा आबद्द छन भन्नि कुरो उठ्न सक्छ। मैले देखेसम्म केही न केही ब्यापार ब्यवसाय भएका, नेपालमा सकृय राजनिती गरेका वा पत्रकारीता/संचार मध्याममा सङ्लग्न भएका र यता आएर खासै ब्यबसायिक उत्तरदाइत्व नभएको प्रकारको  non-professional जागिरमा संलग्न मान्छे हरु बढी एन आर एन मा सङ्लग्न देखिन्छन्, केही ब्यवसायिक पेशागत र बौद्धिक मानिसहरु पनि संलग्न  होलान तर उनिहरु खसै सकृया देखिन्नन्।

फुर्सदिला एन आर एन

गैर-ब्यबसायिक काम गरे पछी रातको काम गरे- दिउसो फुर्सद, दिउसो गरे साझ/बिहान फुर्सद । तालिम गोस्टी नहुने,  ब्यबसायिक चिन्ता वा धेरै सतर्क भाई रहनु नपर्ने, अध्ययन अनुसन्धान पनि गर्नु परेन । नेपालमा झै लुगा धुने , पानी थाप्ने, करेसाबारी , आदी काम नि नहुने भए पछी काम बाहेक फुर्सदै-फुर्सद ।

अहिले कठमाडौंमा गएर एयरपोर्ट कउण्टर तोडफोड गर्ने,  होटेलमा कुर्सी हानाहान गर्ने कतिपय एनआरएनले आफुले बिदेशमा गैरब्यबसायिक काम गर्नु परेको कुण्ठा पोखेको पनि हुन सक्छ। वा नेताहरु संगको उठबस ले अहंकार बढेको नि हुन सक्छ ।

यहाँ सकृय अध्ययन, अनुसन्धान वा ब्यबसाइक काममा रहेको मान्छे आफ्नो काम धेरै ब्यस्त हुन्छन । सप्ताहन्त बाहेक आन्य दिन हतार मै हुन्छन । उत्तरदायी प्रकृतिको पेसा गर्नी मान्छेले सामाजिक सन्जालमा उत्तेजित भाषण लेख्न सतर्क हुन्न्छन , पेसा को केही सामाजिक मर्यादा हुन्छन , यहाँ जे पायो तेही लेख्दा वा जुन कुनै कार्यक्रममा सङ्लग्न हुँदा पेसागत नैतीकता को कुरो आऊला वा कानुन आकर्सित हुन सक्छ। तेसैले कमै मात्र एस्ता मान्छे एनआरएन को राजनिती गर्ने फुर्सतमा हुन्छन ।

ब्यापारी एन आर एन

स्कटल्याण्ड सानो देश हो र यहाँ धेरै ठुला नेपाली ब्यापाररी हरु नि सायद् छैनन । तेसैले यो प्रसँगमा ठुला सबैले चिन्ने ब्यापारी हरुकै कुरा गर्दा ठीक होला । नेपालको कानुन अनुसार नेपाली पुजी बिदेश लेराउन आसम्भव नै जस्तो छ । तर चौधरी , महतो लगयत थुप्रै ब्यापारी घरानाले धामाधम बिदेशमा लागानी गर्दै छन , एसको कुनै न कुनै एन आर एन सम्बन्ध छ , मैले केही साना ब्यापारएे हरुले पनि बेलाएतमा बेपर ब्यवसाय गर्न नेपालबाट पुँजी लेराएको भन्ने सुनेको छु । अब कोही एन आर एन सङ्लग्न मान्छे छन जस्ले नेपालमा घर जग्गा किन्ने, ब्यबसाय गर्ने गरेका छन । उनिहरु नेपाल जादा एउटा खल्तीबाट नेपाली पासपोर्ट निकाल्छन , आनी फर्कदा आर्को खल्ती बाट बिदेशी पास्पोर्ट निकाल्छन । नेपालको कानुन अनुसार यो नमिल्ने कुरो हो कि ?

खराब एन आर एन

खासमा मलाई खराब भन्दा आली कडा शब्द प्र्योग गर्ने मन थ्यो। जे होस्, केही केही खराब एन आर एन छन भनी अनुमान लगाउन सकिन्छ । यिनिहरुको नेपालमा राजनितिक वा पत्रकारिता सम्बन्ध हुने रहेछ । बिदेशमा हजारौ पाउण्ड / डलर खर्च , नेपालमा करोडौ खर्च , महिनै बिच आउजाउ । यो सब खर्च यिनीहरुले रमाइलो को लागि गरेको भन्नि मलाई लाग्दैन । उनिहरु बिदेशी सरकारी मान्छे सँग नेपाली नेता हरुको दलाली गर्ने देखी हुण्डी लगयत आर्थिक आपचलन money laundering को काममा लागेका हुन्छन भन्नि मेरो अनुमान छ। यो म किन भन्दै छु भने , एन आर एन को चुनाव असाध्यै महँगो देखिन्छ , प्रधानमन्त्री देखी सबै ठुला नेता हरु सँग हिमचिम छ , यस्को लहरो बडो झ्यङीएको छ । केही  बर्ष अगाडि मलाई एक जना साथी ले भने अनुसार लाण्डनमा उस्ले एउटा सधैं क्यासिनो गएर पैसा उडाउने  विद्यार्थीलाई चिन्थ्यो , जो एक जना मन्त्रीको भातिजो थियो, त्यो विद्यार्थीसँग धेरै पैसा थ्यो। हामी आँफै सोचम ; नेपालमा आजकाल आर्बौ भ्रश्टाचार हुन्छ । आधिकाङ्स नेता , कर्मचारी को बिदेश आउजाउ , सम्पत्ति छ । ठुला नेता सँग उठबस गर्नी , हजारौ डलर चुनावमा खर्च गर्नी एन एर एन नेपालका घुस्याहा नेताहर्को मनि म्युल money mule हुन कि ?

सोझा एन आर एन

मैले  एक जना सोझा एन आर एन  भेटेको छु , उनी बडो दु:ख गर्नी मान्छे , पढाई छैन तर पाखुरी को भर मा उन्ले धेरै राम्रो सम्पत्ति जोडेका पनि छन , बिदेसमै । उनी एन आर एन मा सकृया छन , कारण बाबु आमा को नाम चीनाम, गाउमा केही सहयोग नि गरम भन्नि रे। उनी जस्ता एन आर एन फाट्ट फुट्ट होलान कि उनी मात्र हुन कुन्नी ?

नेपाली लेखाइ राम्रो नभएको र व्याकरण बिग्रिएकोमा माफ गर्नुहोला

Taking economy at heart, I argue to vote for Leftist alliance in in upcoming elections.

Currently, Nepal’s economic policy is a jungle juice. There is no recipe for it and everyone has their own interpretation of it. Those who are rich enough to exploit it are getting richer day and night, those who can’t afford to exploit it are blacked out. But the economic system upcoming government going to adapt will have a very long lasting effect on Nepal’s economy and every single Nepali’s livelihood.

Observing what the political parties are saying, there are a clear two school of economic thought in Nepal advocating for two very different economic model Nepal is going to adapt in near future;

1. Trickle Down Economy
2. Capitalist Economy With Progressive Tax System

The first school of thought (Trickle down Economy) is the election agenda of Nepali Congress and his new ally and famous Nepali economist Dr Baburam Bhattarai and a new born Kathmandu based party Bibeksheel Sajha Party.

The second school of thought (Capitalist Economy with Progressive Tax System) is the election agenda of Leftist alliance (CPN UML and Maoist Centre)

What are Nepali Congress (NC) and Dr Baburam Bhattarai saying?

In simple words NC and Dr Bhattarai are saying that they would “create environment” for the wealthy foreigners to come to Nepal and invest into big projects such as hydro-electricity. The idea is simple The wealth will trickle-down from the rich to poor if the government “creates environment” for the wealthy;

The idea is simple and looks reasonable but it is an idea that is trailed and failed elsewhere in the world. This is an ultra-capitalist idea but potentially paralyzing the capitalism itself.

Nepali Congress and Rabindra Mishra’s fondness of trickle-down economy is understandable. NC initially fought for social justice in Nepal and threw out the Ranas who were the less than 1% of Nepal controlling almost every wealth generated in Nepal. But later instead of taking the wealth from the Ranas and Shahs, handful of NC leaders joined the 1% club to control the country’s wealth. Rabindra Mishra on other hand comes from the loyal royalist background whose fondness of Nepali and British monarchy is an open secret. Obliviously he would advocate the economy that would “create environment” for wealthy.

Riddle of Dr Bhattarai and billionaire Chaudhary

But Dr Bhattarai advocating for trickle-down economy is something I can’t understand. He had been advocating for progressive tax and “European” model of economy after peace-agreement. But since a couple of years he has been advocating the for trickle-down economy. Why?

Although a I don’t understand the motive of Dr Bhattarai, I am sure I know the motive of billionaire Mr Binod Chaudhary.

A lot of Nepali people are surprised and have no clue why Billionaire Mr Binod Chaudhary joined NC however, Mr Chaudhary himself has a plan! And its not a mere chair of MP he is after, but to make NC-Bhattarai alliance work to deliver the trickle down economy and absorb the wealth of middle class of Nepal until they are economically screwed. If the regulations are relaxed and the tax is lowered, people like Mr Chaudhary will be investing in real estates and other “wealth reservoir” in cities like Kathmandu and Narayangarh instead of opening a noodle factory somewhere else in the world. And such an investment mean already skyrocketed land/property prices in Kathmandu will be a dream far away for the middle class of Nepal. They can only think of renting one, will never will they be able to buy.

What does trickle-down economy do?

The good example of what trickle-down economy does is the USA and UK. Ronald Reagan’s economic policies in the USA and Margaret Thatcher in the UK adapted this economy and still now this is effectively the economic policy of both countries. Mrs Thatcher “created the environment” for the wealthiest foreigner to come to the UK and invest their money there by lowering the tax to the ultra-rich while the tax for the middle class and poor were the same or increased. The consequence: The trickle-down economy worked!! But to the opposite direction; the wealth trickled up to the wealthy from the poor. In fact the wealthy foreigner invested in the vital sectors such as London’s housing, skyrocketing the price of house or land then eventually forcing out the new generation of local from their house because they can’t afford to buy one. Then came the generation rent. Now almost half of the UK rents their houses. The rich are getting even richer and ultra-rich from Russia, Middle-east, China are flocking to the UK while half of the population can’t afford to live on their wages.  Surprisingly the GDP is still strong! The wealthy new investors create the mask for the economy making GDP higher, but inside it’s at the brink of collapse and the new generation is left screwed. BBC programme Panorama suggests that, to buy a new apartment in central London, a Londoner with average wage will have to work more than 200 years!!

                     What they say?                                        What happens in reality?

If the NC – Dr Bhattarai alliance wins, they will “create environment” for the wealthy foreign or local born investors which means they will reduce the tax for ultra-rich like ex-King Gyanendra and Binod Chaudhary. Dr Bhattarai is even advocating to “give chance” to the people who have reservoirs of black money to make it legal “for once”. This is craziest and even ultra-capitalist view than of Mrs Thatcher or Mr Regan.

If NC –Mr Bhattarai win and deliver what they promise; in Kathmandu the local born ultra-rich or rich Chinese or Indian would invest in the real estate and no Nepali would be able to buy a house there. This will mainly bite the middle-class first. The new generation of Kathmandu middle-class will vanish, if Mishra or NC – Bhattarai alliance deliver what they say. This is one example, every sector will have similar consequences. Since Nepal’s in-born wealthy are very few it will be the foreign investors that will mainly benefit. This will eventually bite our middle class and eventually another struggle will become inevitable.

What are Left alliance saying?

Left alliance has clearly signaled that they will be strict to the ultra-rich, especially to the foreign investors. They say they will adopt “European” style capitalism with altruistic philanthropic government where ultra-rich are heavily taxed then the state generously gives back to everyone including ultra-rich.

The sign of left alliance’s economic policy is good and much healthier for future than the trickle-down approach of NC- Dr Bhattarai alliance and Mr Mishra.

In one small but very successful trail, Maoist has promoted the local capital through “Ujayalo Nepal Abhiyan”. Started by then energy minister and Maoist leader Janardan Sharma, this focuses on collecting capital from Nepalese working abroad and investing into hydro power, then consuming energy in the country. (Surprisingly, the policy is brain-child if Dr Bhattarai who is now strongly advocating for trickle-down economy.) This approach has worked and if the left alliance deliveres what it promised accumulating and promoting local wealth while carefully welcoming foreign investment, this is really a good approach, especially the middle-class will hugely benefit.

Having said all this, it is hard to believe either NC- Mr Bhattarai alliance or Leftist alliance will ever deliver what they say. The choice is yours!!

FAQs about PhD

1. Getting admission to PhD

• Do you have to be a very smart person to get a PhD place?

There are two situations;

For all of the advertised PhD positions there is very tough competition so you must prove that you are the best. And yes, if you can’t impress the potential supervisor(s) that you are smart and intelligent you won’t get an admission for PhD. Alongside you also must prove that you are more intelligent/best suitable than any other applicant.

If you have own topic of interest and want to pursue PhD on that topic, maybe it’s slightly easier because you don’t have to directly compete with other candidates. However you must prove that you are intelligent/able to do PhD. But still there will be indirect competition as there were many students with similar topic applying for place. Since PhD students need/given their personal desk/spaces there are only certain students one university can take in no matter which route you are applying from.

• Once I get a place as PhD student, is it like getting admission into bachelors or masters?

No. Although it may vary in different university or different countries, the usual practice is that there is a window period within first year when you will have some sort of internal assessment done by the university. This could be writing a detailed proposal for your PhD, an exam or a certified course on research method which you have to pass. If you couldn’t pass this stage, you will either be considered for Masters, MRes or MPhil only. If you pass it, then only you will be formally enrolled/registered as a PhD / Doctorate candidate.

2. The journey

• What is it like doing PhD?

The PhD process is comparatively shorter (or equal) than doing Bachelors but many consider it as a lonely and long. It’s mainly because, on typical conditions, you will be working on minutely specific topic for 3-5 years on your own with some limited assistance from supervisor(s). Another reason for it being long is also that, once enrolled formally to doctorate/PhD you may not have formal deadlines/exams etc. Which means a continuous project on back of your head even when you are with friends having a pint!

However if you can manage time there are many PhD students who would probably like to watch Big Bang Theory in Netflix ! or a Research Students Association in uni organizing a karaoke night out !

• Will doing PhD change a person? Will the person invent/discover something?

Yes, it is supposed to change a person’s way of thinking. For many the process could be meditative and spiritual. It will take you to different level of mental stage. You will (are supposed to) master the skill of thinking rationally. You will start to see smaller things; smaller mistakes, smaller success, smaller voices, smaller causes, smaller effects… In fact the whole PhD journey is designed to make the student to think rationally.

Any information you get from outside world has some meaning, as a PhD student you will learn how to process this information to make sense of it. Once you make sense of it, you can translate it to the language everyone can understand. And this tiny information will turn into something useful to the humankind or planet or beyond!

So, a completing PhD is not necessarily a big discovery, or a breakthrough. But it certainly makes the person able to produce a valid, reasonable, rational information.

3. Career

• What kind of job do I get after completing?

PhD will potentially have more doors open for you than doing lower degrees. At the same time it may close many doors which you would have got into doing Bachelors or Masters because you may be considered “overqualified”. I had one Japanese friend who said that there are very high suicide rate among PhD graduates in Japan because they struggle to get job simply because many company think they are overqualified. So anywhere, simply having PhD is not enough to get a job.

First and the main route most PhD graduates follow is academia; research fellow, lecturer, researcher etc. Secondly, there is also option to go into real practice as a researcher in government or pioneering companies such as NASA, Apple, Tesla, and Unilever etc. Thirdly, you can apply for research grants (with government, bank, NGO/INGO, trusts etc.) for your own project, if you have genuine proposal of your project.

• What is the earning after the completion?

The usual mainstream PhD graduates who go to academia has decent wages up to level of a lower or middle level manager.

The second route suggested above is probably the highest paid; PhD graduates, who work in breakthrough projects with abundance of resources and with larger team.

The third route I mentioned is a bit of gambling if you are not a good manager; your own research project. Success of third type of career largely depends on your managerial skill and how well you have prepared and done risk assessment of your project beforehand. However, the third route can also lead you to the destination no one has never been before and earn high name and big money.

 

Nepal’s history, present and identity as told by it’s buildings; in brief

Typical multiple eave house in hilly region (Takukot, Gorkha)

Model Kastamandap (Source: Rebuildkasthamandap.com)

Janaki Temple ( Source: Himalayan Times)

Singha Durbar (source:Himalayan Times)

It is said that dwelling is an expression of identity.  The various rhythms of change and history also resonates with in the dwellings of a city and a country.

What does our historical buildings tell us?

As I started in the beginning, the dwellings we live in are expression of our identity, the rhythms of changes and history resonates with our dwelling. We have Kathmandu’s pagoda; a very proud architectural history that spread far away around Asia and our temples and buildings and in the remote villages which still tell us that proud story of Araniko. We have the Singha Durbar which still tell the story of Rana dynasty. We have the Janaki Temple which still tell us about the Rajputs and how different religions exchanged brilliant ideas in the past.

Pagoda: Our history tells us that Kathmandu valley’s indigenous Newars developed their own distinctive style of traditional architecture, of which the multi-tiered “pagoda” temple is the most famous and young Araniko spread the building’s artisans’ fame far and wide – even to the court of Kubilai Khan of Beijing. Kasthamandapa in the heart of Kathmandu could probably be the best example of pagoda. The pagoda has then spread everywhere in Nepal, especially in the hilly regions’ Hindu/Buddhist temples and Shah King’s courts such as in Gorkha and Nuwakot.

Ranas: Then centuries after Pagoda, came neo-classical architecture derived from the architecture of Classical Greece and the architecture of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio; the Singha Durbar of Chandra Sumsher. These types of architecture were resembled in most of famous Rana era buildings in Kathmandu valley such as Sital Niwas and few buildings outside valley such as Rani Mahal in Palpa.

Rajputs: Along the few iconic buildings outside Kathmandu is Ram Janaki Temple, in Janakpur; a Rajput architecture in southern plains of Nepal which is mix of classical-neo classical architecture and Islamic–Hindu architecture.

Hilly Region: From those iconic architectures, Nepali society has adapted mainly pagoda buildings as form of temple all over hilly region. If we look at the dwellings in hilly region of Nepal we see resemblance of pagoda in most houses as the form of multiple eaves. In the hilly region where weather conditions are windy and occur heavy monsoon rain, the multiple eaves are very handy to protect the walls and main structure which is usually mud-stone and timber. This could be the reason behind the popularity of this kind of architecture everywhere in hill Nepal.

What does our modern buildings tell us?

Modern Cities: But the dwellings in cities in Nepal tell different story, a sad story of loss of identity and disconnection from our history. In modern cities in Nepal, the only form of architecture is haphazard concrete structure that neither reflect our history nor support the weather conditions, nor are sustainable and energy efficient. The destruction of our identity started as soon as the Rana rule was over and Nepal became more open. The trade with India and open boarder meant exchange of ideas and goods. Then came the concrete jungle which is slowly eating our history, culture and more importantly health of the inhabitant.

Regulation: As, I was looking in internet if there was any national (Federal) level building regulation in Nepal, the official government twitter handle replied that “We don’t have any national building regulation in the form of statute/law but there are “code of conduct” developed in local level.” This reply shows how much disorganised, helter-skelter and lawless direction “New Nepal” is heading. Along with the buildings in Kathmandu and major cities in Nepal, we are slowly losing our identity and health too. Just like our cities, our Nepali identity is becoming more hypocritical; we talk about Madheshi identity but destroy the Mithila heritage and replace with concrete jungle, we talk about the Newari identity but destroy the pagoda and replace with concrete jungle.

The concrete jungle in Kathmandu is unsuitable for the weather condition and causing health crisis in the habitants. There is need of research on it but from observation and experience I can say that the concrete house which freezes in winter and roasts in summer is killing its inhabitants. The haphazard neighbourhood and living spaces is causing mental, social and physical problem to its inhabitants.

Future: There is still time to save our identity in our buildings and in our cities. The dwellings which our ancestors designed and developed are not just identity but also suitable for weather condition and will keep us healthy. The Federal government must act now and develop a clear, precise and applicable and sustainable national housing regulation. This should immediately be followed by the national and local governments. It is the time architectures, historians, public health professionals and conservationists come together and voice for a Federal, national and local housing regulation that is sustainable, healthy and expresses our Nepali identity that’s reflected in Kasthamandapa, Singha Durbar, Shwyambhu and Janaki Temple.

Buddha, nagging monk and Nepali Congress Cadres

 

We recently had Buddha Purnima, remembering the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. We pride ourselves that Buddha was born in Lumbini in modern-day Nepal, around the year 563 BCE. But how much do we learn from him? How much, we as a Nepali read his story and teachings and follow?

Here I draw two parallel modern Nepal story where some Nepali are doing opposite of what Buddha taught.

Buddha’s teaching: 

• Buddha and his disciples

One day in monsoon season Buddha was walking by the jungle with his disciples. On the way they reached a river which was starting to flood due to monsoon rain and there was a beautiful young girl wandering by the riverbank trying to cross the river. Buddha saw that and offered his help to the girl. Holding her hand Buddha helped her cross the river; the girl thanked him and went her way, Buddha and his disciples went their way.

When they reached their destination, one of the monk expressed his unhappiness about the incident, Buddha smiled and said nothing. A few days later Buddha was preaching about meaninglessness of earthly relationships, the monk again said “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then hold the hand of that girl?”

This time Buddha replied, “I left the girl a long time ago at the riverbank, however, you seem to be holding her hands still.”

The moral of this story is that mental attachment to an idea or earlier experience blocks the full experience of the present here and now. Attachments slow the mind, interfering with appropriate responses to the immediate situation. And eventually distract us from our progress and future development.

Two stories of Modern Nepal:

• Historic Peace deal in Nepal and Kanak Mani war cultivation company

12-Point Understanding between the Seven Political Parties and Nepal Communist Party (Maoists) leading to Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). In this agreement, the parties pledge to work towards democracy, peace, prosperity and social advancement and ending autocratic monarchy. The parties agree that the National Army and the Maoist army shall be under the supervision of the UN or any other reliable international actor, to conduct fair elections, and to accept international mediation during the dialogue process. Including through the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a National Peace and Rehabilitation Commission.

Although main leadership and majority of population have moved forward from the war there are people like Mohan Baidhya (Kiran) and Netra Bikram Chand (Biplab) complaining about Maoist and Nepal Army integration. There are also Kanak Mani Dixit and company nagging about the war time events and complaining about TRC and NPRC. Kanak Mani Dixit war Cultivation Company benefits a lot from war, the more war and death the more of news for his media group and more of so called human rights agenda for his empire and eventually more donation. His mere existence is a sad existence who lives on the benefits from people’s death. Fundamentally the same applies to Netra Bikram Chand too.

The moral of this is that unnecessarily nagging to an idea or every war time experience blocks the full experience of the present here and now. Attachments to their personal benefits from war slow Nepal’s progressive socio-political change and prolongs transition period, interfering with appropriate responses to the immediate situation. And eventually distract us from our progress and future development of the country. This will benefit people like Netra Bikram Chand and Kanak Mani Dixit but the country will suffer.

• CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress leaders & protesting NC Cadres

Ruling coalition partners–Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist Centre–have finally agreed to partner up for elections of mayors in two metropolitan cities of Nepal.

Some of the Nepali Congress cadres in Bharatpur are furious about the alliance and think teaming up with Maoist is unacceptable because they were the enemy at war time. Maybe some of these Nepali Congress cadres still have hangover of war like the disciple of Buddha whereas the leadership has moved forward from it.

The moral of this story is that few Nepali Congress cadres still have mental attachment to war era idea or earlier experience which has blocked the full experience of the present here and now. The present or now of Federal Democratic Nepal is that there is no war and there are no enemies. There was 12-Point Understanding and then A Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The appropriate response to immediate situation is that all the parties who believe in democratic republic should stand together by eliminating fassist Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Nepal of Kamal Thapa. The attachments to the war era seems to have slowed the minds of Nepali Congress cadres in Bharatpur, interfering with appropriate responses to the immediate situation.  And eventually this and likely events distract us from our progress, peaceful politics and future development.

 

Ranju Darshana, Mhairi Black and the Fearless Girl

ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 16: Mhairi Black MP speaks during the afternoon session on day two of the 81st annual conference at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on October 16, 2015 in Aberdeen, Scotland. The SNP are holding their first conference this week since the landslide victory in the May 2015 general election. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Although human being have aimed for the stars and reached moon many of us haven’t been able to change our mind-set; either we are in developed and liberal western countries or less developed and conservative countries like Nepal.

Our mind-set is dominated by Abrahamic male God or alike, who is in Richard Dwakin’s word “a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” I often see the parallel between Dwakin’s definition of God and politicians around us. Just like Dwakin’s God, politicians are mainly male, control-freak, racist and often bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser.

But there are signs of some light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Bibeksheel Nepali Party’s nomination of 21-year-old Rajnu Darshana to run for the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the upcoming local government elections slated for May 14 has already changed so many things in Nepali politics. Her candidacy is that sign of light at the end of this dark tunnel of Nepali (and world) politics. Today she stands like Kristen Visbal’s Fearless Girl looking at the well-known Charging Bull. Today, she stands in front of Nepali politics’ Charging Bulls; old male politicians who usually come from dominating Bahun-Chhetri caste group. She is challenging them in so many things.

There have already been so many criticism in social media about her age, gender and experience. And exactly those are so called “values” she stands against. The more trolling and criticism means the more people have been hurt by her candidacy, imagine what will follow if she wins.

She has already hurt a lot of misogynist male egos – she is a woman.

She has already hurt a lot of unforgiving control-freak male politicians – she is ‘hot off the press’.

She has already hurt so many malevolent old bullies – she is so young.

Trolling and attack on young women in politics is not new and happens in the most developed and democratic societies too. In the UK, when Mhairi Black, a Scottish (SNP) politician defeated Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander to become youngest Member of UK Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South in 2015, she was just 20 years old university student. Mhairi Black proved that the fearless girl in politics is not just a piece of art, given the chance she can triumph over the charging bull.

Mhairi was also criticised (a lot) that time and still criticized for her age, gender, appearance and everything trolls can think of. Every time the trolls attacked, she has stood up better and smashed the evil. After being called a “carpet munching bull dyke” by a Twitter troll she stood up for LGBT rights and online safety.   After a troll said, “She’s got nothing to worry about. Nobody’s gonna wanna rape that”, she stood up and exposed the internet trolls who targeted her with shocking messages after her appearance at the rape clause protest in George Square. In the long list of abuse to her, are not just trolls but also one of Scotland’s most prominent female academics, Jill Stephenson, who described Mhairi Black as a “slut”.

Whether that is trolling of Mhairi Black and Ranju Darsana or any other young woman in politics, it shows the level of mind-set we have in this world. This exposes the vulnerability of human society on the road to equality and prosperity. This highlights the need of more fearless young girls in politics to challenge our mind-set.

Whatever the outcome of election is, Ranju Darsana has already won the cause. The cause of equality, freedom and change. It is an invitation to the young people of Kathmandu on the road to CHANGE. It is an invitation to the women of Kathmandu on the road to EQUALITY and FREEDOM. It is an invitation to the men of Kathmandu on the road to MUTUAL RESPECT. And most importantly it is a challenge to the charging bull of Nepali politicians that THIS IS NOT A POLITICS-AS-USUAL.

 [Pictures above, The Kathmandu Post, Huffington Post UK and google]

FlyDubai and journey to Nepal.

After seeing the  news about FlyDubai racially discriminating Nepalese passengers, I recall some of my  journey to Nepal here. In my experience, invisible racism and discrimination of Nepali migrant workers begins from immigration officials of Tribhuwan International Airport.

Scene 1:
Abu Dhabi, International Terminal: 3
We have been travelling for last 15 hours and we are really tired. So we are lying about a chair trying squeeze our body and put feet on top of the handbag. In about 2 hours before the scheduled flight people start to gather in a small gate of terminal 3. Mostly migrant workers, all shape and size, age and gender. Some of them seem to know each other and start talking while some don’t know anyone and start showing smiley face to start a conversation: Where are you from in Nepal? Or Where is your hill home? Where did you come from? Which company you work for?

As most of the passengers gathered, it was noisy in the area and we decided to put our heads up and see what was happening. And about an hour before our flight some people seem restless. Every time there was some announcement of arrival/departure/passenger etc some of the waiting passengers would run towards the gate because they didn’t understand what was the announcement for. And every time they ran towards the gate the Etihad officials at connection desk would loudly shout at them to sit down with an angry face. And they would return to their seats quietly.
On the flight back, the way some people were running and the way the Ethiad officials shouted still shocked us. My wife was especially concerned and told me that it’s racist thing. She reminded me there were some French tourists as well among passengers and when they went to inquire after some announcement (just as Nepali workers did) the officials seemed much calmer and friendly and would explain that the announcement was not for boarding.

Scene 2:
Etihad, Flight EY 0292 Economy
On the plane we had seat next to one very young looking migrant Nepali worker who was returning home from UAE. When the air hostess came to our seat offering drinks, the boy was confused. He didn’t understand what she was saying so my wife told him that she is offering drinks if he wants. He promptly said beer, and my wife translated that to the air hostess or probably she understood the word beer anyway. She then poured some whisky on a plastic glass saying there were no beer left. The boy wasn’t bothered and started drinking. But we were shocked again. My wife had translated what he wanted and when there was no beer left why would she offer him whisky and even wouldn’t bother asking him if that was okay with alternative. We now started to talk between us in English that this is something very humiliating experience for us as Nepali. The language barrier of migrant workers and the bad attitude or invisible racism of airlines employees were so prevalent all the way.

Scene3:
Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu
As the flight landed, the passengers cheered and clapped. I can imagine their joy of landing in Kathmandu, probably with some money in the pocket, gifts for family and being able to hold the head high and most importantly speak and be heard and feel the existence of being.
But this happiness didn’t last long for many migrant workers. As Nepal’s immigration rule everyone have to fill up arrival/departure form in TIA and many migrant workers are illiterate or not able to fill up this tiny form. The way Nepali immigration officers and airport police were treating to those unable to fill up form were even shocking. Some immigration officials were heard shouting “You can fly, you can earn money, but can’t fill up a tiny form eh?” Me and my wife helped a group of elderly people who said were returning from visiting their children in USA and UK. After filling up around 9 forms we decided to run quickly to the baggage claim because in TIA, broken, lost and stolen baggage is a norm. So we had to make sure we go to claim area asap and get hold of the baggage.

On the way home in taxi from airport, we kept talking what would stop this discrimination and verbal abuse of migrant workers on travel. Can international airlines to and from Kathmandu be asked formally to make translator available on board and at connection desk? Can workers be given some Basic English lesson before they leave country, which would be useful during their travel? Can the menus in airlines operating from/to Kathmandu be made available in Nepali? Can the airport officials and police in TIA given some education on morality and customer service? Can government make arrival form available on board in plane so that people have time and can help those who can’t fill up forms? This was a practice UK did:- they did make international arrival form available on board through airlines before landing which gives plenty time inside plane for people to help those who can’t fill up from.

Country Roads

I went home to Nepal after 2 years to see that the country had gone backwards in development and social change. But the smile in people’s face and Himalayas were as prevalent and defiant as death. Here is the first part of my experience. Roads.

Roads

The first welcome after escaping the chaos of Tribhuwan Airport was by armed police patrolling dusty roads of Kathmandu, barking stray dogs, street vendors and darkness.

The roads seemed much wider but gave a feel of a battlefield with the dust, bumps, noise, speeding bikes and microbus and pedestrians crossing roads dodging the death. I felt like I was in the middle of the Valley of Ashes in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby and the two eyes of Shwyambhunath temple were  the eyes of Dr T. J. Eckleburg.

At hometown in Chitwan, the roads were even wider but the mountain (I mean literally mountain as high as buildings) of dust meant it was almost impossible to see a meter away. The trucks emitting the clouds of black smoke would make it even worse.

The construction of roads seemed to be going on massive scale in town, on highways and in hills of Gorkha. But later knew that these construction were on pace of a sloth posing millions of peoples health and safety a dreadful threat.

Road Bullies

Apart from the dust and smoke thewe was unbelievable intolerable level of bully from the drivers and helpers of public transport; bus, taxi, rickshaw etc. One day the bus in Tandi to Narayangarh route took us from Tandi to Bharatpur and stopped saying that’s the journey done. When asked with a city warden lady she shouted that was our mistake to take particular bus. Frustrated I reported to the traffic police and he would just node his head and wouldn’t speak.

The other day in Kathmandu the taxi wouldn’t go in normal meter, demanded triple the fare I had paid other day. Again went to police and he replied that the taxi driver can decide if he wants to go or not and in meter or whatever price. In the matter of 3 minutes there were around two dozen thug taxi drivers surrounding me which was scary in fact.

In the long route going to Gorkha from chitwan, the bus was so overcrowded, when it approached near traffic post near Gorkha, asked some of the passengers to drop off and walk. I was so tired that couldn’t be bothered calling traffic cops who wouldn’t help anyway.

Population went bigger, public vehicles got smaller

Another surprising and completely illogical and damning thing about roads in my hometown Ratnanagar was that I noticed the population had almost doubled, house number increased, shopping centres and hotels opened. But the public transport had gone smaller!! There were smaller vehicles where you could hardly crouch. There used to be small auto rickshaws which were thrown out of Kathmandu because they were too pollutant, could carry around 12 people. Now they were still running plus there were many smaller vehicles that hardly carried 4-6 people.

I wondered whoever gave permission/ route permit to run that vehicles in Chitwan must have his head filled with pig’s shite otherwise normal person with common sense wouldn’t permit such crazy idea.

Masked Population

Everyone out of house were wearing mask in Chitwan. This was like everyone was out from operation theatre or as if there was some epidemic going on and everyone was dead scare to breathe. Well, Kathmandu is polluted and I would call it Narakpalika नरकपालिका (hell) instead of Nagarpalika (Municipality) but No one would expect Chitwan to be that polluted, being in the middle of huge rainforest and natural heaven.

But yeah, if you still run the auto rickshaw which were thrown out 20 years ago because they were so polluted, if you permit hundreds of tiny vehicles suitable for chicken, as public transport and dig roads leave the mountain of dust over people’s houses – what can you expect. So there were almost everyone (and me as well), sick with respiration related diseases and common cold, sore throat, sore eyes, runny nose. Despite the masks the smoke and dusts were clear winners.

An Ode to Dunnottar Castle

Standing on the pebble

Older than the tide

Assizes a castle

Mightier than the time

 

You endured the charge of Viking

O temple of picts

You witnessed the wrath of the Bravest

O den of the fearless scots

 

Kings, queens, and knights

Came and went like daylily

But you abided adroit

Like a timeless testimony

 

Slanting by deceitful the sea

Like a paramount of all pulchritude

Today, you enchant every stranger

With your pernicious lure.

 

 

 

Why Gagan Thapa’s Bir Hospital press conference was an encouragement for criminal bureaucrats?

Recently, two new cabinet ministers became a big news headline in Nepal.

Minister for Energy Janardan Sharma – became headline because he ordered to cut off electricity supply to the customers who had huge amount of bill overdue to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), including former King’s Mother’s resident and some government offices.

Minister for Health Gagan Thapa – became headline because he inspected country’s oldest hospital Bir Hospital and showed some pictures of nightmare dirt-sewage condition of the hospital toilets sent to him by someone on this Facebook.

1. When the news of Minister Janardan Sharma broke, most of the people in Nepal were kind of sad and started to feel so sorry for former king’s mother because she was old lady and that day was her birthday too. Some were so angry that they started protesting in social media, the plight and misery of former queen having to stay in candle light was flooding in all reputed news channel.

It is very difficult to understand this kind of psychology of Nepalese society who often show such compassion to someone who breaks the law and who literally refuses to pay tax. In case, if the former queen wants she can buy the whole NEA, she is a very very wealthy person, a millionaire or probably billionaire. There are millions elderly people out there under open sky without food but we are worried about a millionaire who refuses to pay bills!! Shame on us !!

Real story: This is not isolated case this type of thing happens in Nepal everywhere in all classes of society. When I was about 8 years old, one farmer’s whole family disappeared for 2 days. Later on all the family members returned home except one around 40 years old bachelor member of the family. This man was brother of the father of that family so he was living in his ancestral home with his brother’s family. Later there was a search operation by the villagers and found him dead by the river a week later. Then he was cremated by the same riverside and the case finished. Even till today, I am very curious why this guy was dead and why family disappeared for 2 days and why there was no police involved or why nobody reported the police? I once asked my dad this, he said, if villagers had informed police this incident, there was chance the whole family would be in trouble and this could even end up in murder investigation or something serious. The villagers didn’t want to give that family any trouble since the bachelor man was alone and had no one to cry for him and as he is dead – he is dead so why give other people trouble! Still today, I often wonder what had really happened to that man. Nobody never knows.

This type of serious case are left unreported or dismissed everywhere in Nepali society and its absolutely normal!! This makes me so shocked now since I notice how small matters like staring or swearing at neighbour ends up in court here in UK. And even shocking thing is that, even if you report crimes like rape or murder attempt most police officers and witness try to solve the problems at police station with so called “milapatra” – mutual agreement/contract and case hardly reach court for justice.

In Minister Janardan Sharma’s case, he was in fact doing the duty of the local NEA officer. In fact to cut off any customer’s power if they are really overdue without any valid reason should have been a regular duty of local officer not a Minister. However, instead to thanking Mr Sharma for his initiation, the newspapers and many people were moaning at Mr Sharma !! This is purely a stupidity and lawlessness of Nepali society.

Now I know why poet Bhupi Serchan said Nepali people are brave because they are stupid !

2. Now let’s talk about Minister of Health, Gagan Thapa’s stunt press conference after monitoring Bir Hospital. This was hailed as a great step forward and a big initiative by Mr Thapa, in all major newspapers and social media by public.

Let me ask you one thing- if you are an employer and see your employee doing absolutely nothing he/she should be doing for many years – would you organise a press conference and tell media that – “ look this is the condition of my organisation, I have asked employees to come up with 100 day plan of improvement” or you confront the employee who is doing absolutely nothing and ask for reason and right away start disciplinary procedure? I am telling you, Mr Thapa’s press conference is an encouragement to the useless officers who are literally putting lives of all of us at risk.

Dear Honourable Minister, everyone knows what is the condition of the government Hospitals in Nepal, we have had enough of press conferences and plans. We need action. You showed the evidence that there is unacceptable and utterly dangerous situation in Bir Hospital, everyone in surrounding community and all patients and staffs’ life is in danger of contaminating dangerous disease by using the facilities there. Now, you have evidence, you are in the post of chief executive with full public mandate, why are you not coming forward with an action? Forget about 100 day action plan, why don’t you sack the Bir hospital officer responsible for domestic/cleaning services? Why can’t you take this officer to the court for putting patient, staff and community’s life at risk? What is stopping you doing this? And it’s not about Bir hospital, start from there and keep throwing out every useless government officers in MoH, take them to the court for justice.

There are brilliant young and educated people out there to show results tomorrow morning if you can hire them. Don’t be afraid of your karmachari Sangathan or you will also be one of those ministers – absolutely useless twatts.