Stories of Sandeept

Monthly Feature 8: Songs I’m Listening this Monsoon

On August 1, 2016

August’s Monthly Feature is about some songs I am listening this monsoon. There are hundreds of songs I listen to. The songs here are just representative of their types.

First, Songs on Monsoon

Asarai Mahinama: There are several cover versions of this song, which I heard before the original. This original song sung by Chujan Dukpa beautifully tells the story of a man who is remembering his family from abroad.

Basai Bagayo: Aka Koshi, this is a beautiful song which carries the story of people affected the Koshi flooding about eight years ago. The song is significant even today as Koshi is shifting westwards from its previous bank and has been troubling many people who depend upon it.
Next, Love Songs

Tiriri Murali Banyo Banaima: This song, originally sung by Panna Kaji (The link leads to the version later sung by his son, Pravesh Man Shakya.) is a beautiful reminiscence of love.

Ek Ladki Ko: All time favorite of mine, this Hindi song is penned by Javed Akhtar, composed by R.D. Burman and sung by Kumar Sanu. I particularly love the lyrics of this song.
And finally, sentimental melodies

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna: Titular song of the Bollywood movie Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna translates into Never Say Goodbye. When I say goodbye to someone, maybe they don’t want me to go away.

Yo Dajuko Mirmire Aankha: This tragic folk song is about a couple about to be separated due to financial problems.

Understanding Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster- Through Football!

By Sandeept

On July 30, 2016

In Blogging

Beauty can be both boon and bane. While luscious mountains are beautiful, they also amplify the hazard for us. How do we understand hazard, disaster, risk and vulnerability? How are they interrelated?

अलिकति गुनासो संस्कार माथि

By Sandeept

On July 26, 2016

In Blogging, Humans and Humanity, Nepali, Satire

एउटा घटना

समय : साउन ६ गते करिब डेढ बजे (दिउँसो)

स्थान : जामे मस्जिद अगाडिको गेट

सिमसिम पानी परिरहेको छ। तीनधारा ओर्लिएर त्रिचन्द्रतिर जाँदै छु । जामे मस्जिद अगाडि पानी जमेको छ तर ध्यान दिएको छैन । अचानक विना कुनै कारण पछाडि हेर्छु । एउटा माइक्रो हर्न बजाउँदै बत्तिँदै छ । मस्जिद अगाडिको “पोखरी”देख्छु । फुटपाथ मुन्तिरको त्यो पानी माथि माइक्रो दौडिन्छ कि भन्ठान्छु । हेर्दाहेर्दै त्यो गाडि पानी माथि कुद्छ । छप्ल्याङ् ! दाहिने पाटो पुरै भिज्छ । हर्न बजेकै छ, माइक्रो दक्षिण हुइँकिदै छ । खलासी आफ्नो माझी औँला झ्याल बाहिर तेर्स्याउँदै छ । रिस झन् बढ्छ । नम्बर टिप्न खोज्छु; चस्मा पछाडिको आँखाले भ्याउँदैन । मसँगै पाँच-छ जना भिजेका छन् । मस्जिदको गेटमा एकछिन अडिन्छन् । छेउमा छन् एक पुलिस, हासिरहेका । पारो झन् चढ्छ । रिसले मुर्मुरिँदै कलेज पुग्छु । धन्न मस्जिद अगाडिको “पोखरी” बाट बालुवा मात्र उछिट्टिएछ । नत्र हुँदैनथ्यो बिजोग ? अहिले पनि सम्झिँदा आगो बल्छ मनमा ।

अर्को एउटा घटना

समय : साउन ५ गते दिउँसो सवा तीन बजे

स्थान : त्रिचन्द्र कलेज स्पोर्टस् हल

मेरा दुई साथी टिटी खेल्दै छन् । टिटी अर्थात् टेबलटेनिस । दुई जना अपरिचित पनि छन्। अर्को बोर्डबाट तेस्रो अपरिचित आउँछ। मेरो साथीसँग ब्याट माग्छ । एक दुई “मिस” खेल्छु भन्छ । तर पारा हेर्दा पूरा गेम खेल्ला जस्तो लाग्छ । मेरो साथीले “पूरा गेम त खेल्न पाइन्न है” भन्छ । अपरिचितले दादागिरी देखाउँछ । गाली गर्दै ब्याट फालेर अर्कोतिर जान्छ । पल्ला छेउको अपरिचित पनि त्यही ड्याङको मुला रै’छ । खेल्नै दिन्न भनेर बल लिँदै हिड्छ । झगडा गरेर जित्नु केही छैन । हामी लुत्रुक्क परेर फर्किन्छौँ ।

यी दुई प्रतिनिधि घटना देखाएर भन्न खोजेको कुराचाहिँ यत्ति हो- दादागिरी र हेपाहा पारा हाम्रो उच्च संस्कार हो । घरमा, सडकमा, स्कूलमा, कलेजमा, “स्वतन्त्र” विद्यार्थी यूनियनमा, यूनिभर्सिटीको उच्च तहदेखि क्याम्पस प्रशासनसम्म, संसदमा, सरकारमा, अदालतमा, संवैधानिक आयोगमा अनि अरू थुप्रै ठाउँमा जसले बल (वा बलको फुस्रो तुजुक मात्र पनि) देखाउन सक्छ, उसैले जित्छ । हामीजस्ता निर्बल हार्छौँ । गुनासो पोख्दै बस्छौँ ।

संस्कार परिवार र समाजबाट आउँछ रे । जुन परिवार र समाजले आफ्ना सदस्यलाई दादागिरी गर्न सिकाए, म तिनलाई सलाम गर्दछु । आफ्नै बाआमालाई सोध्छु- किन अरूलाई हेप्न, होच्याउन अनि अर्काको मर्कामा हास्न सिकाउनु भएन ? किन त्यस्ता महान् संस्कारका धुरन्धरसित दोस्ती गर्न सिकाउनु भएन ? आज यस्तो निरीह त हुनु पर्ने थिएन न त गुनासो पोख्नु पर्थ्यो ।

एउटा गुनासो त भगवानसँग परिचित गराउने सँग पनि छ, पोखिहाल्छु । उनीहरू भन्छन् श्रीकृष्णले अर्जुनलाई भन्नुभयो, “जबजब पाप बढ्छ, म धर्म स्थापना गर्न अवतरित हुन्छु ।” मैले त्यसै होला भन्ठानेँ । अवतार पर्खेर बसेँ । आज म ठान्छु, श्रीकृष्णले त यसो भन्नु भएको थियो, “हरेक युगमा अधर्म हुन्छ । अनि हरेक युगमा धर्म स्थापना गर्ने नायक हुन्छन् । यस युगका नायक तिमी हौ, भारत*!” म यी कारणले आफ्नो मान्यतामा अडिग छु:

समय घर्किँदै छ, युग पनि । म युगनायक कुर्दै छु । म आफैँ युगनायक बन्न डराउँछु ।

युद्ध छोड्न लागेका अर्जुनलाई मोटिभेट गर्दै हुनुहुन्थ्यो श्रीकृष्ण । त्यस्तोमा अर्जुनलाई तिमी नै नायक हौ भन्दा हुने असर श्रीकृष्ण बुझ्नु हुन्थ्यो ।
कुरूक्षेत्रको युद्ध भएको धेरै लामो समयपछि महाभारत लेखिएको हो । श्रुति र स्मृतिबाट नै यो धेरै फैलिएको थियो, लिखितरूपमा आउँदासम्म ।
एउटा खेल खेल्नु भएको होला, लहरै बसेर । सुरूको एउटाले कानेखुसी गर्छ दोस्रोलाई । अनि तुरुन्तै तेस्रोलाई दोस्रोले पहिलोले भनेको कुरा भन्छ । क्रम चल्दै जान्छ । अन्तिमकोले सबैले सुन्ने गरी यसो सुनेँ भन्छ । तर पहिलोले त्यसो भनेको हुँदैन । बीचमा कसैले अर्कै कुरा गरिसकेको हुन्छ । हामीले सुने-जानेको महाभारत पनि त्यो खेल जस्तै हो ।
हामीले सुन्दासम्म महाभारत इतिहाश होइन, मिथक भइ सकेको छ । पात्रहरू काल्पनिक जस्ता भएका छन् । टेलिभिजनले मिथकलाई नै बढावा दिएकै छ ।
म मान्दछु, कृष्णले आफूलाई भगवान् भन्नुभएन । अलिकति तत्व ज्ञान भएकालाई पनि थाहा हुन्छ, आफैँलाई भगवान् भन्न सकिन्न भनेर । श्रीकृष्ण त ज्ञानको सागर हुनुहुन्थ्यो । उहालाई त महाभारतका प्रचारकले पो भगवान् भनेका हुन् ।

हुन त महाभारतको चर्चा गर्नु यो लेखको उद्देश्य थिएन । तर भगवान् चिनाउनेले यतिसम्म सिकाए कि मैले केही गर्न पर्दैन, भजन र प्रार्थना गरे पुग्छ । मैले पत्याइरहेँ, आफूलाई कर्महीन बनाएँ । अवतार पर्खिएँ । आफूभित्रको दियो छोपछाप पारेँ । र त म जल्दै छु । मेरो कर्मप्रतिको अविश्वासले गर्दा आज म हेपिएको छु । दादागिरीको संस्कारलाई ढोग्दै छु ।

*(अर्जुन चन्द्रवंशी भरतका सन्तान थिए र संस्कृतका श्लोकमा उनलाई पटकपटक भारत भनिएको छ ।)

Understanding Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster- Through Football!

By Sandeept

On July 19, 2016

In Blogging, Geology, Science And Society

Last week I took a class of Engineering Geology (finally getting into something practically useful in the beginning of fourth year). I will give brief definitions and examples of the terms used. Then before you get bored, I will get into a funny way to remember the technical terms using football (soccer).

Prior to that class, I thought hazard and disaster were the same. However, technically, they are different. Let’s take a look at the definitions I studied.

Hazard: Probability of occurrence of an event or phenomenon which can damage lives and properties.

Disaster: The actual occurrence of a dangerous phenomenon which damages lives and property.

When seismologists say, “Nepal lies in a seismically active zone,” they are talking about the probable damages an earthquake can cause (hazard). When they talk about the damage caused by the earthquake in Nepal last year, they are saying something about disaster the earthquake brought up.

Let us also look at two more terms- risk and vulnerability.

Risk: The consequences in terms of “potential losses” for some particular cause, time and place. Specific risk is the product of hazard and vulnerability (Johnson and Degraff, 1988).

Vulnerability: The degree of risk a community is at due to various factors. For example, poor designing and construction of a house makes it vulnerable for a disaster and people living in it are at risk.

I am done with the definitions. Let’s use football- in particular, a famous footballer to understand the above defined terms. The footballer is (as you might already have realized) Eden Hazard.

E. Hazard is a hazard to his opponent team because he has the capacity to score a goal although he may not score in every match. In this match we are talking of, Hazard attacked several times but did not succeed. E. Hazard remained a hazard until 88th minute.

In the eighty-ninth minute of the match, when no goal has not yet occurred, E. Hazard gets a pass from his teammate and he dribbles ahead. His skill allows him to get through the defenders of opposition team. Their defence which had been vulnerable by previous attacks, is now exposed and is at a greater risk (due to the combined effects of Hazard and vulnerability) Hazard shoots and when the opponent goalkeeper cannot save the goal. Hazard has brought a disaster to his opposition. A draw would have made the opposition the league winner. But Hazard’s goal changes the equation. The other team is damaged psychologically.

Reduce Risk! Save Lives!!

Disaster Risks in Nepal: Perception Review

By Sandeept

On July 16, 2016

In science

Are we prepared for the future disasters? Unless we are prepared, we will have to suffer a lot.

Series of disasters in Nepal: An urgent call

By Sandeept

On July 16, 2016

In science

100th Post: Thanks Everyone!

By Sandeept

On July 10, 2016

In Blogging, Gratitude, Happiness

It’s been a little more than a year since I joined WordPress. During this blogging journey I have made some achievements, which would not have been possible without you.

The word “you” refers to everyone who have visited and viewed pages and post on my blog site. I am thankful to every known and unknown visitors who viewed my posts this year. You’ve always encouraged me to bring up something better.

The word “you” specific also. I need to thank fellow bloggers for the likes and comments on my posts. I would like to thank Anand (Blabberwockying!) for making the earlier journey of blogging easier. You’re on the top of the most comments on my post (42). I should thank Carlos Lewis (Thoughts of a Train Wrecked Pineapple) for his insightful comments.

I thank Jyoti (Life is all about PAIN) for her encouraging comments. I am indebted to Rashmi (Mind and Life Matters) for sharing this particular article “Some Women who Died for Love“. Your sharing of that article boosted up my page visits. My site reached over 3k views after that. I don’t think I would have achieved it without you sharing it.

I am grateful to the blogging communities hosted by Blogging University, and Blogger’s World (Formerly Blogging 101: Alumni). I am thankful to its Admins and members. I am sorry I have not been able to include so many names here. Many many thanks to you as well.

Last but not the least, I thank my parents and my friends, with whom I have connection in the physical world as well. Thanks for reading my posts, for sharing and waiting for a new article.

Thanks for the encouragement, wonderful people!

Here are some achievements I need share with everyone.

Achieved on 8th June, 2016.

Achieved on 17th June, 2016

Achieved on 26th June, 2016

Hold My Hand

By Sandeept

On July 9, 2016

In Love, Poetry, Writing

Boy:

An enormous mountain stands before my eyes

But it can not hold me back

Neither can I be bound by the ties

My life has made to yours.

I’ve crossed thousands of rivers;

I’ve passed through mountains;

I’ve climbed over them

To behold the beauty on the other side.

I’ve done them all alone.

Always, I’ve been on myself.

Don’t you be sad

That you have to stay back;

I’ll return

Before fate turns bad.

Girl:

I can’t let you go alone!

Your steps have been hindered

By this mountain once.

A lone traveller you were then;

You lost your bearings,

And when you finally came

To a clearing,

You were half-alive.

My father and I brought you here

And you got back half your life.

Through ceremonious ties,

We’ve been bound.

Don’t say you want to leave me alone;

Don’t climb that mountain without me;

Don’t cross rivers on yourself.

For we’ve sworn:

“Through all places and times

We shall never be apart.”

Boy:

You’re true, dear.

And you’ve made it clear

That I can’t forever travel alone.

I need a partner

With whom I can climb the mountains;

With whom I can cross the streams;

With whom I can share my pains,

Dreams.

Hold my hand,

Come with me.

I can confidently face anything

When you’re beside me.

(P.S.: The concept for this poem came through a dream and my upcoming novel “Quest”.)

Was it an asteroid or a comet?

By Sandeept

On July 1, 2016

In science, Science And Society

In 1908, an astronomical object fell on Siberia, destroying a large forest. According to this article originally published on Lights in the Dark, we still don’t know what exploded over Tunguska, Siberia in 1908 – http://wp.me/pru7J-22A

Monthly Feature 7: Kalo Pothi- A Movie about Friendship

By Sandeept

On July 1, 2016

In Blogging, Monthly Feature, Movies, Nepal, Nepali

Nepali is believed to have been evolved from language of the Karnali region. (Sinja valley of Jumla and more popularly known as the place of origin of Nepali language.) To understand the dialogues of a movie which used Khas language of Mugu (a district in Karnali zone) we had to take help of subtitles. We have deviated a lot from our roots. This month, I feature that movie- Kalo Pothi(aka The Black Hen in international film festivals).

Karnali Zone (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Summary

In 2001 A.D. (2058 B.S.), before the insurgency, the “People’s War” led by Maoists seems to have influenced Karkiwada, a village in Mugu district. Maoists, who have been working as guerillas, organize a cultural programme to spread the word of “revolution”. Some school kids are influenced. One of them is Bijuli, the sister of a major character Prakash.

Earlier, the Mukhiya(chief) of the village had ordered the villagers to bring up all fowls to him but Bijuli had managed to hide one white coloured hen. This she had given to her little brother Prakash. They live with their father as the Mukhiya’s servants. The boy asks what name he should give to the hen. When she tells him to give whatever name he wanted, he names it Karishma, after the name of Nepali movies. Her movie- Saathi (Saathi means Friend) alongside Rajesh Hamal is about to be shown in the village and the little children seem to have been influenced by that.

The same night, Bijuli flees with her “comrades” to be a Maoist. The hen she had given to her brother Prakash has yielded an egg which he shows first to his friend Kiran, the Mukhiya’s grandson. The hen, however is sold by Prakash’s father to a Tenjing, an old Bhote for 600 rupees. The boys decide to get the hen back the hen by paying Tenjing but they do not have money.

After sometime, when they have half the money Tenjing had paid, they go his home and ask for the hen. Tenjing does not agree. The boys steal it and colour it black. The white hen becomes the black hen. Their act is caught and the hen is taken by Tenjing again.

Meanwhile, Ujeli(the Mukhiya’s granddaughter) is about to be married to Captain Surbir. The Captain, however is abducted by the Maoists. Prakash sees his sister as she and her friends drag the Captain away. Prakash still longs for the hen Tenjing had taken away. Prakash and Kiran go to him again and he tells them that the hen had been sent to his daughter in Serog village.

Serog is far but riding a horse, the boys reach a long way. They reach a forest, where firing breaks out between the Army and the Maoists. Several people are killed. The boys save themselves by smearing blood of the deceased. Later, they wash themselves in a lake and head to Serog. They find the hen but seeing the hen and with her chicks, Prakash, whose mother had died prior to the setting of the movie, says, “I don’t want to separate children from their mother.”

Themes

1. Friendship and Innonence

Prakash is a servant at Kiran’s house and a Dalit(so called untouchable) as well. But they are best friends. Kiran goes through everything to help Prakash get back the hen Tenjing has taken away. Prakash covers up his acts. Their friendship is strong despite the difference in caste and social status. Also, their act of colouring a white hen to black is sweetly innocent.

2. Humanity

Despite being a child of poor servant at Mukiya’s home, Prakash goes to school. Prakash and his family have been provided a place to live. They are also given warm clothes during winter.
But the humanity is waning towards the end. The Mukhiya warns Kiran not to befriend Prakash (he goes away to Serog, however). Policemen threaten to beat them up if Bijuli does not return the village. The Maoists are abducting soldiers who are not on duty, and the firing in the forest kills several people.

3. Transition from Peace to War

The movie shows the changes that occur when a society undergoes the transition between peace and war. The thoughts of people change. They come up to believe that the state of peace was due to their ignorance about the real affairs. They are inclined to change the society by whatever means they have. Some better-off people migrate to a relatively safer place. Those who can not afford, have to undergo whatever happens to them in their homeland.

4. Philosophy of “Letting Go”

After a long journey to Serog, Prakash leaves the hen and says, “Let it be, I don’t want the children separated from their mother.” Every journey of life ends that way. We let go something to embark a new one.

What’s there for the viewers?

1. The movie features a simple storyline. Almost everything in the plot is related with the hen. (Can I say hen is the protagonist?)

2. Khadga Raj Nepali and Shukra Raj Rokaya have done an exceptional job considering their ages and their experience in movies. (They had never acted in movies before.)

3. The movie gives a lot of knowledge about the Khas language and culture.

Some disappointing factors

1. The story is simple but does not seem to be in a flow. The movie does not always stick to the storyline. The transitions between scenes are sometimes unclear and audience do not understand what and why the characters are doing the things shown in the screen.

2. There are two dream sequences that are highly symbolic. The first dream is set at Pashupatinath area, where Prakash sees Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Muslims one after the other. While the dream might represent a case of religious tolerance, it is highly unlikely that a poor boy in Mugu can dream of such a thing. Moreover, it does not connect to the plot thereafter. (Ten minutes time in the theatre, 25 lakh rupees need not be spend.)
In the another dream sequence, Prakash relives the funeral of his mother a year ago but the people have changed. For example, Bijuli carries a gun, Ujeli is a bride and Prakash’s father carries a hen. This dream connects to the end of the movie, when Prakash lets go of the hen.

3. Scenes in the movie are shot from quite a distance with still frames. For minutes, when the characters are conversing audience sees a house or a room or a hillock. While that could have been the director’s scheme, close-up shots could have it more remarkable.

4. Finally, (something everyone has been telling) a scene that was completely awkward and unnecessary- a kiss scene between Ujeli and the Captain. The movie might have wanted to represent love between them but because that is not the main focus of the movie, the scene was absolutely unnecessary.

Cast:

Khadga Raj Nepali as Prakash

Shukra Raj Rokaya as Kiran

Jit Bahadur Malla as Prakash’s father

Hansa Khadka as Bijuli

Benisha Hamal as Ujeli

Director: Min Bahadur Bham

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Personal Rating: 7.5/10

Sources:

Movie reviews on several newspapers and magazines.
www.mysansar.com
Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

[P.S.: On June 9, I had watched the movie with my friends. Thanks you for your insights. I could not have formulated my thoughts on the movie without you guys.]