Once a captive, now I’m free! – http://wp.me/p6Cbf0-1bC
NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, popularly known to the participants as NaNo (though I would prefer WriMo because it’s more a Writing Month and a National Novel. Is the name appropriate, though? I will come to that in a while.) is a global event, (that’s why I will discuss that again!) for the aspiring novelists. Thirty days of work for at least 50,000 words, the golden number for something to be called a novel – did not know before I signed up the event! That’s what NaNoWriMo about.
On October 17 of the year, I saw a post from Rashmi Menon on Blogging 101: Alumni, a forum of WordPressers. I clicked the link and there I was, where I could have been earlier if I had not been confused by the name of the event (it’s irresistibly coming up again and again). Anyway, I signed up. I already had something on my desktop that could be a novel, but I had no plans for it. So I decided- within five minutes since I signed up- that I would write on novel based on a short story I had sent to the Fiction Park section of the Kathmandu Post, but had never been published.
That was the beginning of it. Once I decided what I was going to write (type for most of the part), I built up some characters and drafted their personalities, thanks to an ebook, Crafting Unforgettable Characters, I had downloaded from K.M. Weiland’s website. On the first day of November, I started writing. About twenty six hundred words I typed that day. (Never broke the record. Such enthusiasm! Phew.) And then with the short story I used, I quickly moved to a higher word count than most of my buddies in the website.
Days went on. Managing at least 2,000 words per day, I was cruising slow and steady. Among my buddies, only Kristina Van Hoose was ahead of me. (She was updating her word count at rocket speed and was the first among my buddies to reach the golden number! I can’t really tell how she managed it.) From the second week of the event, festival of Tihar gripped me. The festive mood did affect me, and I was slowed down.
The third week was terrible. College had commenced after the vacation and I had an exam. While focusing on that, I lost hours of time for creating the novel, but whatever time I got, I crawled along. By the end of last week, there have been horrible things. Power cut off, college time, and assignments, all reducing the time I sit in front of my computer. That was when I got traditional. I began writing on a exercise book. And that had its own perks.
Sitting in front of the computer, adding new words to the novel, I have heard complains from my parents and my little sister. Ignoring their talks and discussions, keeping aside the political issues that enrage me, and keeping aside the matter of the fuel crisis going on in the country, I wrote and wrote. I finally reached the golden number in time, but there was a big problem: HOW DO I VALIDATE?
At the end of the 50,000 mark, the website asks to validate the novel (an official word-count) to declare the participant a winner. Now that I wrote the last few parts in a copy and that I can neither scan nor type within the last moment of the event, I don’t know how I will be declared winner by the site. Therefore I decided to declare myself a winner. I even got a feast. Well, actually that was because of the birthday of my mother.
Typing a novel from an unknown location (for the site; Asia: Elsewhere in Asia), updating the word count every hour from a computer that can break down any time, I have learned one great lesson: Novels come out of great effort. Novelists are just as crazy as my father thought. One month is an extremely short time for a quality novel to come out (mine has not finished yet), but it’s an initiation and a great experience. It’s time I get out of the hangover now. (It’s also a high time I get acquainted with all new WordPress, which my friend Anish had said some days back, had lost its word-count on the editor. I saw it while scrolling down. How excited I was seeing that!)
Wait, did I forget something? Oh, yeah. The name of the event of course! You must have noticed the contradiction while I wrote National Novel Writing Month is a global event. Had I known that the event was actually a GloNoWriMo (Global Novel Writing Month) and not only for the USians, I would have prepared myself. Would I have, though? That would definitely have made another story.
“I am not so sure. I had proven, as a very young man, that power was my weakness and my temptation. It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.” (Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling)
I had never thought of Harry Potter series as the one which consists of a sense of revolution at the core. When I had read it two years ago, I had forgotten to notice this and the last chapters of the last book had been lame to me. Now when I read it two years later, I see that Lord Voldemort was neither as powerful nor as clever as that mentioned in the earlier books of the series.
The series contains in its core the struggle for power. Where on this world there is no struggle for power? There are people, who to invoke fear among others, destroy the lives of thousands. They are feared all over and they overpower those who live. Such tyrants never get any respect. And among those who hate them, comes out a leader, who encourages the others to fight.
Harry Potter is one such leader, whose destiny had been changed by the murder of his parents. Voldemort- a tyrant and a fool, who had always seen people begging to him for their lives and kills everyone on his way for the fun of it, was affected by the willingness of Harry’s parents to die instead of their child. The boy unknowingly gets pulled into the struggle since.
The above quote is an important to understand the core of the series. It also carries the question of morality. How many humans have understood that having power might make them corrupt – that they are not worth it? Very few people had understood that. Mahatma Gandhi, for instance and in our case, Ganesh Maan Singh were able to understand the corrupting nature of the power they had to hold. We always think that they could have done better as the heads of each of their countries, but they understood somehow that they were not worth the power they would have. They believed that good leaders are those to whom leadership is thrusted, not those who go and seek for it.
Albus Dumbledore, once he realized that he would not do well with power, confined himself, helping the revolution against the power-seekers – Grindelwald and Voldemort. The above quote also reminds me of another character in the series, who evolves on his own into a leader- Neville Longbottom. He could have suffered the same fate as Harry, and could have been the hero in the story or would not have existed at all. By the end of the series, he gets the recognition as a leader of revolution against Voldemort. Not only that, he becomes worth of the Gryffindor’s sword- previously used by Harry and Ron Weasley – and destroys Nagini- the last horcrux.
The search for an able, worthy leader goes on in the real world, though. And one in a million, we can find such a leader. One who has the power over all, with a lot of respect and also with sense of responsibility towards all is the leader we want for the world. Even more for our Nepal. We need the one who understands these words quoted by Ben Parker to his nephew, Peter (Spiderman):
With great powers, come great responsibilities.
“रेमिट्यान्सले हाम्रो अर्थतन्त्र कहिले सम्म धान्ला ?” कसैले कहीं लेखेका थिए |
हाम्रो अर्थतन्त्रको तितो सत्य यसपालीको नाकाबन्दीमा प्रत्यक्ष भएको छ | नाकाबन्दी पछाडि अनेकौं राजनीतिक (वा गैरराजनितिक) र कुटनीतिक कारण होलान | जे भए पनि हाम्रो अर्थतन्त्रमा रहेको कमजोरी छताछुल्ल भएर पोखिएको छ |
आर्थिक नाकाबन्दीहरू हाम्रा लागि नौला होइनन् रे – विज्ञ र मिडिया त्यसै भन्छन् | भारतले सन् ६० को दशकको अन्त्यतिर नाकाबन्दी गर्दा मेरा हजुरबुबा-हजुरआमा आफ्नो जीवनको बीसौं बर्समा हुनुहुन्थ्यो | सन् ८० को अन्त्यतिर भारतले नै गरेको नाकाबन्दीको दौरान मेरा बुबाआमा लगभग बीस बर्षको हुनहुन्थ्यो | तेस्रो पटक नाकाबन्दी भैरहँदा म बीस वर्षको छु | कस्तो अच्चमको संयोग रहेछ ! तर म यसलाई संयोग भन्न चाहन्न | यो हाम्रो राजनीति र अर्थनीतिको असफलता हो |
यो असफलताको लागि अघिल्लो पुस्ता पनि केही हदसम्म जिम्मेवार छ | मेरा हजुरबुबाको पुस्ताको दोष देखाएँ भने अन्याय हुनेछ | उहाँहरूसँग शिक्षा र संचारको पहुँच थिएन | त्यतिबेला सायद नाकाबन्दीले धेरै ठूलो प्रभाव पनि पारेको थिएन | मेरा बुबाआमाले भने शिक्षा पाउनु भएको थियो | संचार मध्यमहरु त्यस समय सिमित थिए तर २०४५ सालको त्यो नाकाबन्दी बारे अवस्य सुन्नु भएको थियो र त्यसको प्रभाव केहि हदसम्म महसुस गर्नुभएको थियो – त्यसबेला सरकारले कुपन मार्फत मट्टीतेल वितरण गरेको थियो रे |
अघिल्लो साता उहाँहरूले ०४५ सालको नाकाबन्दीको कुरा गर्दै गर्दा सोधें, “हजुरहरुले त्यसबेला र अहिले को परिस्थिति बदल्न किन कोसिस गर्न सक्नु भएन ?” उहाँहरूले जवाफ दिनु भएन | सायद उहाँहरुसँग कुनै उत्तर नै थिएन | मेरो प्रश्नले सायद उहाँहरुलाई लज्जित बनायो | यदि मेरा सन्तानले भविष्यमा त्यस्तै प्रश्न गरे भने म त लाजले भुतुक्कै हुन्छु | मलाई मेरा सन्तानले त्यही प्रश्न नगरुन भन्ने म चाहन्छु | के गर्न सक्छु त म ?
केही समय सोचेपछि केहि जवाफ आए | हाम्रो अर्थतन्त्र खस्किनाका कारण र तिनको समाधानका लागि केही उपाय मनमा आए | तर एक्लो प्रयासले त केही हुँदैन |
अहिले हाम्रो अर्थतन्त्र रेमिट्यान्सले थेगेको छ | युवाहरु परदेश जान्छन्, उता बाट श्रम बेचेर पैसा पठाउँछन् अनि हामी यहाँ पनि सरि त्यो पैसा बगाउँछौँ | तर पैसाले मात्रै अर्थतन्त्र बलियो नहुँदो रहेछ | अरु पनि महत्वपूर्ण तत्वहरू रहेछन् |
पहिलो हो, नीति | हामी सँग आर्थिक उन्नतिका लागि गतिला नीतिको अभाव छ | विगतमा बनेका नीतिहरू पनि राम्ररी कार्यन्वयन भएका छैनन् | राजनीतिक अस्थिरता र भ्रस्टाचारको प्रतक्ष्य प्रभाव हो यो | विकास नीति बनाउनेहरू सरकार परिवर्तनले प्रभावित भएका छन् | अझ पछी आउने सरकारले अघिल्लो सरकारका नीति र कार्यक्रमलाई पूरै बेवास्ता गर्नु नै हाम्रो अधोगतिको सुरुवात थियो | सरकारमा रहेकाहरूले आफ्नो सोच र कर्मलाई परिवर्तन गर्नु पर्ने आवस्यकता देख्दछु म |
Fuel Crisis hits Nepal due to Economic blockade. Source: econitynepal.com
दोश्रो हो, उद्योग | पृथ्वीनारायणले १८३१ मै आफ्नो देशभित्र उद्योगलाई प्रोत्साहन गर्नु भनेका थिए र खाद्यान्न एवम् लत्ताकपडा कहिले पनि निर्यात नगर्नु भनेका थिए | उनि पछिका शासक र नेताहरुले त्यति बुझ्न सकेको भए हामी खाद्यान्न एवम् लत्ताकपडामा आत्मनिर्भर हुनेथियौं | तर राजनीतिक अस्थिरताले हामी असफल भयौं | सरकारी व्यवस्थापनमा रहेका लगभग सबै उद्योगहरु धरासायी भएका छन् ! व्यवस्थापनको यो कमजोरीले हामीलाई भारी पीडा दिएको छ |
तेस्रो हो स्वामित्व | उद्योग व्यवस्थापनमा सरकारी कमजोरीको उदाहरण माथि प्रस्तुत भैसकेको छ | अब लामो समय उद्योग चलाउने हो भने सर्वसाधारणले पनि ती प्रति आत्मीयता देखाउनु पर्ने जरुरी देखिन्छ | उद्योगहरुलाई सार्बजनिक संस्थान बनाउनु पर्छा | यसले सर्वसाधारण र उद्योग बीच आर्थिक एवम् भावनात्मक सम्बन्ध बनाउने छ |
चौथो हो, मानब संसाधन र यसको सही उपयोग | हामी सँग शिप नभएको होइन, न त हामी अल्छी हौँ | यहाँ केही नगर्ने या गर्न नचाहने नेपालीले पनि खाडीमा श्रम बेचेर, ज्यानलाई हत्केलामा राखेर मिहिनेतका साथ कमाएका छन् | सरकारले नै प्रत्यक्ष अप्रत्यक्षरूपमा वैदेशिक रोजगारीलाई प्रोत्साहन गरे जस्तो लाग्छ कहिले त | विदेशमा सिकेका शिपको सहि उपयोग हुन सके त त्यो पनि राम्रो हुन्थ्यो | तर विडम्बना, विदेशबाट फर्किएकाहरु यहाँ काम गर्न चाहँदैनन्, चाहे सरकारी बेवास्ता को कारणले होस् या आफ्नै अनिक्षा का कारणले होस् | उनीहरू फेरी विदेश नै पुग्छन् | यहाँ त दक्ष जनशक्तिलाई पनि ध्यान दिइएको छैन | दक्ष जनशक्तिको पलायन हाम्रो ठूलो समस्या भैसकेको छ | यी समस्याको समाधान हाम्रो हातमा छ | हामीले सक्षम नेतृत्व छान्न सक्नु पर्छ | धेरै खराब नेताहरूको बीचबाट असल नेतृत्व खोज्न एकदम गाह्रो छ | तर त्यो चुनौती स्वीकार्न पर्छ, यदि हाम्रो भविष्य सुनिश्चित गर्ने हो भने |
पाचौं हो, प्राकृतिक स्रोतको उपयोग | हामीसँग साहसी पदमार्गहरु छन् | हामीसँग भएको पानीले उर्जा उत्पादन गर्न र सिचाई गर्न पुग्छ | हाम्रो देशमा भएका जैविक विविधताको उपयोग हामी गर्न सक्छौं | आयुर्वेदले उत्तम मानेका वनस्पतिको उपयोग गरेर हामी सम्वृद्धिको पथमा अघि बढ्न सक्छौं | खनिज पदार्थको उपयोग गर्न सकिन्छ | यी सब सक्षम नेतृत्व र व्यवस्थापनबाट सम्भव छ |
यी सबै एकसाथ अघि बढाउन सकियो भने हाम्रो अर्थतन्त्र बलियो नहुने कुरै छैन | हामीलाई आर्थिक वृद्धिको सपना धेरै पटक बाँडिएको छ | अब हामीलाई त्यस तर्फ बढ्न प्रेरित गर्ने नेतृत्व चाहिएको छ | प्रथमतः हामी आफैले आफ्ना कामहरू इमान्दार भएर पूरा गर्नु पर्छा | इन्टरनेटमा लेख लेखेर मात्र त केही नहोला तर यसले मलाई र म वरिपरिका व्यक्तिलाई प्रेरित गर्न सक्यो भने मात्र पनि केहि परिवर्तन अवश्य हुनेछ | हामीले आपसमा इमान्दारिता देखाउने बेला पनि आइसकेको छ | हामी आफ्नो सन्ततिका लागि असल भविष्य चाहन्छौं, होइन र ?
(हाम्रो अर्थतन्त्र सुधार्ने अरु उपाय पनि होलान / कृपया कम्मेन्ट गर्नु होला /)
It’s fun to read about Pashupatinath from the perspectives of a westerner. Some of the things, we don’t seem to notice at all! http://wp.me/p5dqsb-kh
“How long will remittance sustain our economy?” Someone had said somewhere I don’t clearly remember.
The bitter reality of our economy has come forward during this blockade we are currently facing. There might be several political (or non-political) and diplomatic reasons behind the blockade. Whatever the reasons, the weakness of our economy has been exposed.
Economic blockades are not new to us- the experts and the media says so. When economic blockade was imposed by India during the late 60s (1967?), my grand-parents were in their late twenties. During the second blockade by India in late 80s (1989?), my parents were in their twenties. The third time we face the blockade and I am in my twenties. Is this a coincidence? I think not. I think it’s a mistake.
It’s a mistake made by our previous generation. I don’t want to blame my grand-parents. They were far less educated and the impact of blockade might not have been severe. My parents are more educated to them and had access to media – the Gorkhapatra, and Radio Nepal. (Nepal Television had come up not so long ago and many people could not afford a TV set.) They had read and heard about it. They had even felt the influence — coupons and schedules had been introduced to meet demands of kerosene oil.
When they talked of the 80s blockade last week, I asked them, “Why couldn’t you do anything to change the situation?” They did not say anything and I did not pester. It might have been embarrassing to them. It’s obvious I will be embarrassed if my children will ask such a thing in future. I don’t want to be asked the same question. What do I need to do then?
The current economy of Nepal is heavily supported by remittance. Young people go to several countries – mostly India, Gulf countries, Malaysia and South Korea for labour works. Many(including my friends) are in Australia, Europe, the US and Japan for studies and part time jobs (contributing to the remittance). Remittance has ensured that we have money; but this blockade is a proof that money is not enough to sustain economy. There are other important factors.
The first is policy. We lack strong policies that promote economic growth. The policies that have been made during the last 25 years have not been executed well. This is most probably due to political instability and corruption. The policy makers have been influenced by the frequent change in government. Discontinuities of policies made by the previous executives have been seen so often. There is an immediate need of changing the way think and act.
Fuel Crisis hits Nepal due to Economic blockade. Source: econitynepal.com
The second is the industries. Prithvi Narayan Shah had told in 1831 B.S. (almost 240 years ago!) to promote industries within the country and never to import clothes and food. If leaders after him had followed that, we would at least have been independent on manufacturing clothes and food products. We have failed on that mainly due to political influence over industries. ALL THE GOVERNMENT-OWNED INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN! This lapse of management has cost us a lot.
The third is ownership. The failure of government in management of industries has been shown above. The only way to run an industry for long is to make people believe that they own them. Industries should be converted into Public Companies. This will help create emotional as well as financial attachment towards the industries.
The fourth is human resource and its proper utilization. We do not lack in skills, neither are we lazy. The same Nepali who don’t not do anything here, works diligently and even under risk in the Gulf for low wages. The government directly and indirectly inspires people to sell labour abroad. It would be good if the skills they learn could be utilized here. But sadly, whether due to the lack of their interest or due to the inefficiency of the government, they do not work here. They somehow manage to go abroad, leaving us lacking in human resource. Similarly, skilled human resources and even experts have been neglected, the result of which is BRAIN-DRAIN. The solution of this goes down to the us. We need to choose the right leaders. Among many bad leaders, to select good ones might be extremely difficult. But that is the challenge we would certainly like to undertake.
The fifth is utilization of natural resources. We are rich in it. We have trekking routes full of adventures. We have water sufficient for production of electricity and for irrigating our fields. We have different types of climate which enrich our bio-diversity. There are herbs like Yarsha Gumba (Cordyceps) which can help improve our economy in no time given their proper management. There are gemstones which can be utilized to alleviate poverty. This is possible through capable management and visionary leadership.
When these are combined, there is no way we can not sustain our economy. We have been given promises of economic growth in the past. What we want is action. We have to be sincerely do our works first. Writing an article in the Internet might not work, but it is a small step to inspire myself and to inspire people around me. It is high time, we become honest with each other. WE DO WANT A BETTER SITUATION FOR OUR CHILDREN, DON’T WE?
(P.S. Will be published in Nepali soon. There might also be other ways to improve our economy which I might have missed. Please let me know by commenting below.)
It began with a war.
A conflict of more than fifty years ensured that the war was inevitable.
One of them had dominated more than half of the world. Their Empire was the one on which the sun never set. They wanted to annex all states within the Indian sub-continent. There was one nation left to defeat.
That Nation had just arisen from bits and pieces in the Himalayas. Some Kings and Lords of the petty states had not been satisfied with the unification. They wanted their shares. They sought help of the Empire to get back their states.
That was a golden opportunity for the Empire. They had discovered weak spots of the Himalayan Nation. They sought out ways to defeat them.
It was not easy, however. The new Mukhtiyar (equivalent to modern day Prime Minister) was a patriot. He would not let the Empire seize his nation. He brought about changes in the military. It enraged the Empire.
The Empire had to make a move soon. They gathered their own army and sent a letter to the Himalayan Nation with some terms. They had to respond it in time, else they had to fight with them.
The Monarch of the Himalayan Nation decided not to respond to that letter. The war began. From east, south and west, the army of the Empire marched. They had dreamed of victory over the majestic Himalayas.
The army of the Himalayan Nation, blessed by the ever tall and proud Himalayas fought bravely with the Empire’s army. Of the five major wars, the Empire won three. The two defeats were heavy. Even the ones they won were not as convincing to them. The soldiers of the Himalayan Nation had fought with all their potential.
Sugauli Treaty (Source: Wikipedia)
The Empire had to change their strategy of dominating the Himalayan Nation. They did an agreement – the Sugauli Treaty in the year 1816. The Himalayan Nation lost almost half of their territory but they stood up as the biggest independent nation in the Indian sub-continent.
The treaty brought about a diplomatic between the Empire and the Himalayan Nation. It was based on the dominance of the Empire, with the then Rana Prime Ministers improving the status of the relation. The friendship agreement of 1923 declared the Himalayan Nation as an independent nation.
The Empire was helped by the Himalayan Nation during the World War II. They had sent their best soldiers into the war. These soldiers were feared wherever they fought. They were the mighty Gurkhas.
The Empire fell. Revolutions around the world after the Great War brought about its downfall. The Empire lost a huge territory. Ranas of the Himalayan Nation fell. The friendship remained. It continues to exist, almost 200 years now. Long live the friendship!
Notes:
- Inspired by presentation of Hamlet in Nepali on the occasion of the 200 years of co-operation between Nepal and Britain.
- In the year 1768 (1825 B.S.), Prithvi Narayan Shah had declared the annexation of Kantipur into Gorkha. That was the formal beginning of Mordern Nepal.
- The then East Company of the British Empire had waged a war against Nepal. During the treaty of 1816, Rana Bahadur Shah was the King and Bhimsen Thapa was the Prime Minister of Nepal.
- During 1923, Chandra Shamsher was the Prime Minister of Nepal. Since then, Gurkhas have been a part of the British Army.
- The relation between Nepal and Britain has been well described by Mr Andy Sparkes in this speech: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/two-hundred-years-of-nepal-britain-relations-a-way-forward
This a poem comprising 37 independent and anonymous entries on Blogging 101: Alumni. They have been compiled by ANAND- one of the admins of the group according to the order at which each entry had appeared.
Location : Between Jamal to Chandol, Kathmandu on a Micro(bus).
Time : About 2 to 2 : 30 PM
(The following is a real conversation I overheard during my trip back to home from College on Thursday. I recalled each and every words and then translated them. It’s a random conversation between a girl and a boy.)
…
A: I don’t get time to do read. There are too many homeworks to do.
B: It’s more important to read than doing homework. Board exams are not conducted on that basis.
A: What to do? They (teachers) threat that they will not give marks. Today, one said that he will give 0 in class activity.
B: They won’t do that. They can’t. While providing marks to the board, they have to say that everyone had done at their best. It’s a matter of reputation for the teachers and the college. (That’s true!)
A: May be. By the way, why are you absent most of the times? Do you roam around often?
B: Yeah.
A: Alone?
B: Do I need three, four (girls) to roam with, then?
A: No, but I have heard that you have a girlfriend.
B: Now, who is that back-biting me?
A: I just heard it, alright.
B: Who said that?
A: No one in particular. I just heard it.
B: Actually I go around alone. I don’t have a girlfriend.
A: Most (boys) do. But I don’t have (a boyfriend).
B: Most don’t (have boyfriends or girlfriends). It’s difficult to stay in a “relationship”.
A: I don’t think I will ever stay in a relationship. I can’t.
B: Don’t lie.
A: No, it’s true. I can’t think of it.
…
B: I don’t like to walk alone carrying a heavy bag.
A: I used to walk a lot with my friends when I used to study at…
B: It’s a different thing to walk with a friend. I can’t dare to walk alone for long on this scorching sun carrying this load… By the way, I don’t know your name.
A: What? We have talked so many times and you don’t know my name.
B: I forget names, what is it?
A: …
B: I keep forgetting people’s names. I will write it down…(takes a copy and writes) You know my name already, don’t you?
A: Yeah. I know you are … but I don’t know your last name.
B: Rai. And yours?
A: … Pulami(Oh, Magar!). What’s yours? (Didn’t she listen?)
B: Rai… I have heard Pulami for the first time.
A: Can you guess what Pulami is? (Magar, Magar!)
B: What? (Magar!)
A: Like Bahun, Chettri, Newar. Can you guess what Pulami is?
B: Hmm… Chhetri. (Don’t you follow Nepali cricket? There is Rajesh Pulami Magar in the team. You should have known that.)
A: No, Pulami is Magar.
B: Magar? You don’t look like a Magarni, though you are a little chhuchi (while speaking, of course!).
A: My mother is Chhetri.
B: Oh.
A: Yeah, usually Magarnis are nakkali. They don’t study much, but I am not like that. I used to be first in my class and one teacher used to say the same. I had been asked if I was a Bahun. I said that my mother is Chhetri.
B: Love marriage, hmm?
A: But most people say that I look like a Newar.
B: Oh, you do look like Newar.
A: Even the pure Newars are confused at times and call me a Newar.
…
A: You lied. (While saying that you don’t have girlfriend.) I don’t like people who lie.
B: You have to lie sometimes.
A: I can’t lie. Today in class, most of them were lying, one was showing the others’ copy. I stood up and said I had forgot to bring my copy and I was punished. (The teacher had threatened to give 0 because of that. Why do those who speak the truth are always punished?)
B: I don’t give a damn about lying.
A: My mom says to speak the truth always. I think I should also lie sometimes, if I can benefit from it. (Oh no, end of innocence! Never do that.)… I’ll try speaking lies from now on. (Never do that. You can never succeed in it.)
…
B: Which subject you like the most?
A: Bio(logy). I don’t like Physics.
B: What will you do after reading Science (taking Science in Plus 2)?
A: I want to become a doctor. That’s why I am reading Science. (Your interest in Biology is justified.)
B: Specialization?
A: I want to become a surgeon. (Another good student getting off the competition. Wanting does not work. You have to be desperate. I know that.) But I am scared of doing operations. (That’s really bad! You might have to change your aim of becoming a doctor.) We have to cut (dissect) frog in (Grade) 11. (It might go well after that. You never know.)
…
B: What interest you have besides studying?
A: I don’t have much interest in anything. But I like dancing.
B: What do you do?
A: I watch reality shows a lot. I like dancing a lot.
B: I mean what dance form you like to do.
A: Hip-hop, Locking and popping. Those sorts.
B: Don’t you like classical?
A: I like it but I find it boring most of the times.
B: Oh.
A: I like Salsa also. I wanted to join dance classes after SLC but my mom did not approve of it.(Damn!) She thought that I would be more involved in dancing than studying. (Why parents do that?) I don’t think I will ever. There is no time now. (You’ll have missed a lot.)
B: What will do after taking science? (Iteration of a previous question)
A: I’ve already said. (She remembers!) What about you?
B: I’ll take Law in the Bachelor’s level. (Oh, a lawyer!)
A: I don’t understand Law. Not at all. It’s too complex. You have to rote a lot of things.
B: I don’t think so. There are many interesting things. It’s all about knowing and practising. And there will be interesting cases (to deal with). It’s not like Science, where you have to rote something because you can’t understand. It’s not always possible to understand everything. (Point!)
A: Anyway, I have to do my homework and take them everyday. I don’t want to be punished always.
…
(I had to get off within the next thirty seconds. I couldn’t listen anything else. As soon as I reached home, I wrote them down, trying to keep it as accurate as possible.)
Note
- The … denotes time interval, which ranged usually between one second to less than 30 seconds.
- I neither know nor remember the girl (A) and the boy (B). If you ever came across this, I apologize that I overheard your conversation. Not only that, I converted into a writing. If I have hurt you somehow, please forgive me (again).
- The letters, words, terms or sentences within (brackets) are for explanatory purposes.
- The italicized words within (brackets) were my spontaneous responses. In my mind, of course!
- This post does not intend to hurt the ethnicity of people. It was a light-hearted conversation and I hope everyone can understand that.
Some typical Nepali words used in the conversation:
- chhuchi (also chhuchchi) : a girl who speaks in a rude manner. (Used as a joke, here.) To describe a rude-mannered boy, chhucho or chhuchcho would be used.
- nakkali : a girl who is inclined to do a lot of make-ups or facial expressions. (I don’t know a single word in English for that!) A boy inclined to doing make-ups would be a nakkale.
- Magar : an ethnic group of Nepal especially in the Western and Eastern Hilly regions of Nepal. A Magar lady is called Magarni.
- Rai : a major ethnic group in the Eastern Hills of Nepal. Both Magars and Rais are Mongolian in appearance. A Rai girl would be called Raini.
- Bahun : a colloquial term for Brahmans in Nepal. A lady would be Bahuni.
- Chhetri : also known as Kshetri. A colloquial term for Kshyatriya. Ladies are known as Chhetrinis. They are the most populated caste according to the census.
- Newars : a major ethnic group of Kathmandu. A lady Newar would be Newarni.
- All the caste names used in common are masculine. Adding ‘ni’ as suffix makes it feminine. (You must have noticed that above. I hadn’t thought it was so before I had written this post.)