Stories of Sandeept

Experiences of a common man!

Category: Blogging Page 17 of 24

99 years: Is Tri-Chandra showing signs of Old Age?

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On August 24, 2016

In Blogging, Nepal, Reasoning

The Past

When Tri-Chandra College was inaugurated 99 years ago, the then Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher JBR had said, “I have done a mistake. This college will end the rule of the Ranas.”

Though Chandra Shumsher’s division of the Ranas into different classes was among the primary reasons for the fall of Ranas, he was not wrong in understanding the strength of higher education, in changing the society.

The Present

On Sunday, 5th Bhadra, 2073 (23rd August, 2016) the 99th anniversary of Tri-Chandra Multiple College was celebrated. I am not sure what the Tribhuvan University, college administration, students’ union thought about the programme that was organized. Personally, I was not excited. There are several reasons behind my dissatisfaction.

The management of the college is not satisfactory. I am not sure how this college is managed. New students are met first by the cadres of “Students’ Union”. They guide new students well- which is nice. When it comes to handling complex situations, the college administration should guide and help students. The administration, however is almost inaccessible without the mediation of Students’ Union. Because of the inefficiency of the administration, the Students’ Union have been influential over the students as well as the college administration.

There are several unions “for the welfare of students” but none seem to be effective in managing the infrastructures needed for smooth running of the college. The college, divided into two blocks: Ghantaghar block and Saraswati Sadan block, looks better as long as you are outside of the latter. Inside, it has several problems beginning from staffing to the classroom infrastructures.

The Ghantaghar block, the older block gives me a Gothic impression. The building is old. Whitewash has been replaced by mosses and lichens, walls have inhabited ferns and Peepal, the classrooms have infrastructures seemingly from the other century, and the recent earthquake worsened its state even more.

On the Ghantaghar is a Sports Hall. This is also the hall where the 99th anniversary of the college was celebrated. The preparation was evident. The hall looked cleaner than ever. The outside of the hall had been recently painted. The black colour on pillars was painting the hands as well. Grass was cut after more than six months, revealing the junk that had been hidden. No one had cared to throw them, though. (Incomplete preparation, oof!) 

Talking of problems, I must tell you that anyone can enter the college with no restriction, whatsoever. And not all of them come to study. Everyone has seen people smoke marijuana within the college premises. Yet no one does anything to them. There are two reasons, basically: 

1) They can do anything when they are “high”.

2) They have connections with Students’ Union.*

And the weed is dense behind the Ghantaghar block.

And the college has always had ill fame for its gang wars.

I have already talked about academic problems in my earlier post: Why Classes Become Boring.

The Future

Based on the number of students being admitted to the college (which is mostly artificial**), some leaders of Students’ Union had said, “Tri-Chandra should be a university.” 

I had agreed then (when I was a newbie there); I differ now. With the problems the college is facing, and the negligence of administration as well as that of Students’ Union in solving them, the college does not have a bright future ahead. Unless the problems I have mentioned are solved, the college will remain infamous as the centre of gang wars and fights.

* Having a lot of Students’ Union is beneficial to some extent. Nobody dares to touch others because of the the connection they might have.

** The number of students is mostly artificial. Most students admit so that they don’t have to lose a year or two while they try for medical or engineering seats. 

Why Classes Become Boring

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On August 18, 2016

In Blogging, Words

“A student is characterized by his curiosity,” some wise man had said. But most times a student has no option but to be bored in the classroom. Why do students (including me) are often bored in the class? Let’s first look at a case and then my experiences on being bored.

bored

Because I am not the only one!

A Sudden Realization

Yesterday, as I was studying the Himalayan evolution (chances are that you will be bored by the wiki article), I involuntarily let out these words: “There must have been a trench in between the Indian and the Eurasian Plates.” (Watch an animation of the collision here) My sister looked curious. I asked her if she had heard of Java and Mariana Trench. And then went on rambling about the evolution of the mountains in the Himalaya. When I ended, she said, “I understood just one thing.” It was that the plates collided to give rise to the mighty mountains. Other than that she understood NOTHING.

A Little Time-Travel

Last year. . .

My teacher (with due respect) used to give a non-stop lecture on the Himalayan evolution. At first, I felt curious and understood a little. A little later, he came up with heavy technical terms. Had I gone through it earlier, I might have felt it easier. But the heavy vocab killed my curiosity. Within less than a month, I was leaving classes.

Obviously, that is the reason I am studying Himalayan evolution NOW.

Back to the Present

I realized I was in the same condition last year as my sister is now with respect to the evolution of the Himalayas. I also understood why I left classes: Because I did not understand anything, and I felt bored.

The Mistakes Teachers Make

I have not taught in any school yet. I am not sure if I can handle the noise the students make. I don’t intend to hurt the feelings of teachers. However, I am a student and I can tell what mistakes of teachers bore me. So, here I go.

Mistake 1: When They say, “This does not belong to the course.”

Whenever my teachers say, “the thing I am teaching is not in your course/syllabus,” I react by slowly bowing my head and closing my eyes. I feel doomed. An hour for something that won’t fetch me numbers in the exam (no matter how practical that might be). I respond by taking a short nap or talking to a friend beside me (either disturbing myself alone or the whole class).

Mistake 2: When They DON’T Interact

Teachers think, Teaching is just giving lectures. In universities like mine, where there is very little time for the course-completion, this is absolutely true. There is almost no  interaction between the teacher and the students in the class. Teacher goes on giving hand-written notes/showing presentation slides, and students (includes me) are busy copying them. The teacher does not raise questions which make me involved in the lecture. And as I have very little background information, I cannot ask anything.

Logically,

  1. Teachers don’t ask relevant questions = Students don’t feel interested
  2. Students don’t feel interested = Students don’t answer
  3. Students don’t answer = Teachers feel superior
  4. Teachers feel superior = Teachers boast
  5. Teachers boast = Students get bored
  6. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 = NO Interaction
  7.  Also, 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 = NO Interaction

 

Mistake 3: When They Look Confused

What can I say about anything if I don’t know it well? My teachers are learned. They have achieved doctorates, but they do seem confused at times. Maybe they don’t have time to prepare. Maybe they feel they don’t need to prepare. I don’t know. But when they are confused, I get confused as well. I might try solving the confusion later; but only to point out their mistakes, sarcastically.

Mistake 4: When They Use Heavy Vocabulary

The first step in my education began from the letters: A, B, C. Then I was taught words: Apple, Ball, and so on. After that, I was taught to read sentences, paragraphs and stories. My language skill did not develop by magic. It took time.

I need time to understand my lectures as well. My teachers, however think that I should know everything within an hour of lecture. So, they rush on. When they use strong vocab and do not explain them well, I am gone; stumped.

A Look to the Future

index

What if?

I might have to teach people who are going to outsmart me (logically as well as technologically) in the upcoming days. Let me be guided by this post then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

डा. केसीको “आमरण” अनशनको सार्थकता

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On August 12, 2016

In Blogging, Humans and Humanity, Nepal, Nepali, Reasoning

करिब तीन साता भयो डा. गोविन्द केसीको “आमरण” अनशन सकिएको । यसपटकको आठौं अनशनमा उनले धेरैको समर्थन पाए । के उनको आन्दोलनले देशभरका जनतालाई सुबिधा होला ? के नेपालको संविधानमा लेखिएको स्वास्थ्य सम्बन्धि हकलाई यो आन्दोलनले सहयोग गर्ला ? यी प्रश्नहरूको जवाफ खोजिनेछ यस लेखमा ।

अनशनको शिलशिला

डा. केसीले यसपटक समेत गरेर आठचोटि अनशन बसे । उनको समर्थनमा युवाहरू सडकमा ओर्लिए; सोसल मिडियामा I am with Dr. KC भन्ने नारा लगाए ।  शिक्षण अस्पतालका डाक्टरहरूले स्वास्थ्य सेवालाई असर हुनेगरी आन्दोलनलाई समर्थन (या विरोध) गरिरहँदा जनताको सहज स्वास्थ्य सेवा पाउने हक कुन्ठित भयो भन्न भने मैले हिच्किचाउनु हुँदैन ।

डा. केसीका अनशनको क्रम

असार २१-२४, २०६९ (४ दिन)

साउन २७-भदौ १, २०६९ (७ दिन)

पुस २७-माघ १०, २०७० (१४ दिन)

माघ २५-फागुन ३, २०७० (८ दिन)

फागुन ८-१९, २०७१ (१२ दिन)

भदौ ७-२०, २०७२ (१४ दिन)

असार २६-साउन ९, २०७३ (१५ दिन)

स्रोत: The Himalayan Times

जनतालाई सास्ती

डा. केसीले पाँचौ या छैटौं पटक अनशन बस्दा डाक्टरहरूले आकस्मिक बाहेकका सेवा बन्द गरेको सुन्दा मैले फेसबुकमा गुनासो पोखेको थिएँ- “जनताको सेवा होस भनेर गोविन्द केसीले अनशन  बसेका छन् । अरू डाक्टरचाहिँ सेवा बन्द गरेर समर्थन गर्दै छन् । ठीक उल्टो भएन र ?” मेडिकल पढ्दै गरेका मेरा एक मित्रले जवाफ दिए- “दुर्गमका मानिसको सुबिधाको लागि काठमाडौंका केही जनताले दु:ख पाउनु गलत होइन *।” मलाई चित्त बुझेन; काठमाडौंका जनताले चाहिँ किन दु:ख भोग्नुपर्ने ? तिनै मित्रले मलाई भने- “तिमी त मुर्ख रैछौ, कुरा नबुझ्ने ।” मैले विवाद गर्नु जरुरी थिएन । सायद काठमाडौंवासीले केही सुबिधा त्याग गर्नुपर्छ भनेर मैले नै नबुझेको थिएँ ।

तर एकचोटी चित्त नबुझेपछि अर्कोपटक त्यस्तै कुरा सुन्दा रिस उठ्दो रैछ । डा. केसीको आन्दोलन ताका मेरो परिवारका दुई सदस्यलाई आँखा जचाउनु पर्‍यो । लगियो नजिकैको त्यही आन्दोलन चलिरहेको अस्पताल । दिउँसोको सत्रमा चालीसजना मात्र बिरामी हेर्ने भनिएछ । हुन त एकचलीसौँ नम्बरमा परेर पनि उपचार त त्यही दिन भयो तर त्यसपछि उपचार नै नपाउने पनि त थिए नि ! के शिक्षण अस्पतालका विद्यार्थीले आफ्नो मात्र सुबिधाका लागि जनताको करबाट छात्रवृत्ति पाएका हुन्; गोविन्द केसीको समर्थन गरेका हुन्  ?

डाक्टरका लुकेका स्वार्थ

“डाक्टरको जस्तो कुल्ली काम कसैको हुँदैन,” अस्ति निमेष दाइ भन्दै हुनुहुन्थ्यो मलाई । मैले पनि त्यसै बुझेको हुँ । दिनभर अनेक थरीका बिरामी हेर्‍यो । न खानाको टुँगो छ न बस्नको । राति अर्जेन्ट फोन आयो भने “दिनभरी थाकेको शरीर” पनि भन्न नपाउने । दत्तचित्तकासाथ उक्त पेशामा लाग्ने मानिसहरूलाई म सलाम गर्छु । तर यस पेशाको व्यापारिकरण गरिएको छ भन्ने सबैलाई थाहा भएको तथ्य हो ।

“ठूलो भएपछि डाक्टर बन्नु !” हामीले दशैँमा यही आशिर्वाद पायौँ । हाम्रो समाजले डाक्टरलाई भगवान मान्छ । डाक्टर बन्न गाह्रो छ अनि त्यसपछिको सम्मान चाहिँ अथाह । त्यसैले प्लस 2 साइन्स पढ्दा पनि मेडिकल इन्ट्रान्स भनेर एक्स्ट्रा क्लास राख्छन् । “गुण पनि धेरै खायो भने तीतो हुन्छ” भन्ने नेपाली उखान छ । सम्मान धेरै गर्‍यो भने दम्भ बढ्छ । नेपाली डाक्टरहरूमा पनि दम्भ भेटिन्छ । त्यसैले त उनीहरू अप्रेसन गर्न ढिला पुग्दा कसैले केही भन्दैन तर कोही बिरामी ढिलो पुगोस्, उसको सातो लिन्छन्  ।

दम्भ बोकेका डाक्टरले चलाएका छन् मेडिकल कलेज । त्यहाँ पढ्छन् पैसा पेल्न सक्ने (वा ॠण काढेका) परिवारका छोराछोरी । तिनको उद्देश्य- पैसा कमाउने । ॠण तिर्नु पर्दा अर्को उपाय पनि त छैन । जब कोही बिरामी हुन्छ, ऊ यस्तै स्वार्थले घेरिएको ठाउँमा पुग्छ ।

यस्तोमा एउटा डाक्टर (गोविन्द केसी) लाई निस्वार्थी रूपमा देखाइयो । र त उनलाई धेरैले पत्याए । तापनि उनले काठमाडौंमा दश वर्षसम्म नयाँ मेडिकल कलेज सञ्चालन गर्न नपाइने सहमती गरे सरकारसँग; साथै मनमोहन मेडिकल कलेजको सम्पत्ति नेपाल स्वास्थ्य विज्ञान प्रतिष्ठान (वीर अस्पताल) ले किन्ने व्यवस्था गर्न बाध्य बनाए । यसपालिको सहमतिले निम्नलिखित प्रश्नहरू उब्जाउन सक्छ:

  • काठमाडौंको बढ्दो जनसंख्याको चापलाई अहिले भइरहेका अस्पतालले दश वर्ष थेग्न सक्छन् ?
  • अहिले सञ्चालनमा रहेका मेडिकल कलेजको स्तरोन्नति कसरी र कहिलेसम्म होला ?
  • मनमोहन मेडिकल कलेज सञ्चालकले सुलभ शुल्कमा सेवा दिन्छौँ भन्दा किन दिइएन ? केसीसँग सञ्चालकको व्यग्तिगत टक्कर जस्तो पनि देखियो कि ?
  • निजी मेडिकल कलेज खुल्दैनन पो भन्न खोजिएको हो कि ? वीर हस्पिटलले किन्ने भनेको मनमोहनको सम्पत्ति उसले बेच्न मानेन भने डा. केसीले फेरि अनशन बस्लान ?

नक्कली डाक्टरका सम्बन्धमा

नक्कली डाक्टरको विगविगी भएको यो समयमा गुणस्तरीय सेवा पाउनु त “आकासको फल आँखा तरी मर” भनेजस्तै भएको छ ।सिआइबीले समातेका नक्कली डाक्टर काममा फर्किए रे । डा. केसीको आन्दोलनले यो मुद्दा किन छोएन ? फेरि समावेशी कोटाका नाममा ८८% ल्याउनेले नपाएर ५०% ल्याउनेले मेडिकल गर्न पाउने प्रथा हुने गरी आन्दोलन गर्लान् कि नगर्लान केसीले ? नवौँ अनशनमा (भइहाल्यो भने) चाहिँ सलाइनविनै केसी बस्न सकून् ।

आन्दोलनको सार्थकता

हरेक प्रदेशमा एउटा स्तरीय मेडिकल कलेज सञ्चालनमा आए सबैलाई फाइदा होला । र ती छिटो बनून् । देशका सबै क्षेत्रमा स्वास्थ्यसेवा सजिलो गरि पाइयोस् । व्यापारिक उद्देशले अस्पताल नखोलिउन् । डाक्टरले “हिप्पोक्रेटिक ओथ” ननाघून् । अनि नक्कली डाक्टरले शिर नउठाउन् । 

मेरा पछिल्ला दुई कामनाका सम्बन्धमा केही कुरा नउठेकाले गोविन्द केसीको आन्दोलनलाई म अपुरो ठान्दछु । असल उद्देश्य राखिएको भनिएको अनशनले ती कुरा नसमेटेकाले फेरि यस्तै आन्दोलन नहोला भन्न सकिन्न । तर आन्दोलन गर्न पाउने हक प्रयोग गर्दा कसैको स्वास्थ्य सेवा पाउने हक कुण्ठित नहोस् ।

    [थप कुरा:

    * मेरा मित्रलाई जवाफ (ढिलै भए पनि) 

    केही समय पहिले काठमाडौंवासीले मधेसको समस्या बुझेनन् भन्दै नाकाबन्दी गराए मधेसी दलले । त्यसको विरोध व्यापक भयो । तिमीले के गर्‍यौ मलाई याद छैन तर काठमाडौंमा बस्ने बित्तिकै सुबिधाभोगी भन्ने बुझ्यौ कि कसो ? नत्र अन्त उपचार गर्न नपाएर यहाँ आएका बिरामी पनि त हुन्छन् नि ! तिनले चाहिँ काठमाडौंमा सुबिधा लिन नपाउने भन्न खोजेका हौ कि ? या तिमीहरूलाई आफ्नो ठाउँमा अस्पताल खुल्दैछन्, काठमाडौं आउनु पर्दैन भनेका हौ कि ? तिम्रो तर्क मैले किन नबुझेको रैछु भने नि तिमिले पढ्ने टिचिङ हस्पिटलमा निम्न र मध्यम वर्गीय बढी आउँदा रैछन् । धनीका लागि त ग्रान्डी, वयोधा छँदैछन् । निम्न आय भएकाका लागि आन्दोलन हुँदा किन त्यस्तै आर्थिक स्तर भएका जनताले दुःख पाउने ?
    ** आमरण अनशनमा सलाइन चढाउन हुन्न भन्ने गोर्खाका नन्दप्रसाद अधिकारीले आफ्नू छोराको हत्यारालाई सजाय दिनुपर्छ भन्दा ज्यान गुमाए । उनको समर्थनमा उठेका फाट्टफुट्ट स्वर त्यसै हराए । सायद न्यायलाई व्यक्तिगत स्वार्थ ठाने धेरैले !

    *** यो लेख आउनमा निमेष अधिकारी (माथि निमेष दाइ)को महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान छ । उहाँको ब्लग पनि पढ्नुहोला ।]

    4 Exemplary Stories of Friendship from the Mahabharata

    By

    On August 7, 2016

    In Humans and Humanity, Blogging, Love, Philosophical

    In most countries, Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. There is variation in dates, however. Learn more on Wikipedia. Today, on the occasion of Friendship Day, I have brought to you exemplary stories of friendship from the epic Mahabharata.

    1. Krishna and Arjun

    Well, they were cousins. Arjun’s mother Kunti was Krishna’s aunt. But they were not just tied by the bloodline. They were intimate friends. One could understand the other through his gestures. Krishna and Arjun, according to the Mahabharata are the incarnations of Narayana (God) and Nara (Human), who together can destroy evil.

    The most remarkable point in the story of their friendship is Krishna’s recitation of the Bhagavad Geeta (The Song of the God) to Arjun. Though a fierce warrior he was, Arjun was filled with compassion seeing his relatives. He did not want the victory obtained by killing millions of people. Arjun wanted to leave the battlefield. Krishna motivated Arjun by saying that it would have been a possible if the war had not started. At the battlefield, one has to fight. Else, he would be called a coward. “Do you want to be called a coward by the future generations?” Krishna asked Arjun. He also told that Arjun could establish righteousness in the Dwapar Yug.

    This story, if considered from the point of religion, tells us that God is a friend of righteous humans. It is through the guidance of God that we can bring an end to the evil. The main moral in this story is, however that a true friend should never let a friend depressed. Neither does he should let him be ashamed.

    ​2. Krishna and Sudama

    A long time after Krishna set himself as the king of Dwarka, a poor man came to his door asking for alms. He wanted to meet Krishna but when he saw the grandeur of the fort-city, he repressed his desire. The poor man was about to go away, when Krishna recognized him. He was Krishna’s childhood friend, Sudama.

    Krishna and Sudama. Source: http://appmithistories.blogspot.nl

    Once, when they were young, Sudama had stolen Makkhan and had eaten it alone without sharing with his friends. Sudama was tall and his friends made him steal the pots kept on the higher places. He had done so because when they used to steal together in that manner, he often used to get the least share. Unfortunately, since that day, his family became poorer and poorer. By the time Sudama had reached Dwarka, he had nothing but thin clothes and not a morsel of food.

    Seeing his friend and knowing his story, Krishna embraces Sudama and serves him well. Within a few days, Sudama looks better. Krishna then helps Sudama build a house within Dwarka so that he can meet his amigo frequently. Such a generous friend Krishna was! (I heard this story from my grandmother some days ago.)

    3. Karna and Duryodhan

    Karna, though a Kshyatria by birth (Surya and Kunti were his parents), was called Sut-putra (child of a Shudra) because he was raised by a charioteer and his wife. When this warrior wished to compete in a ceremony with Arjun, the Pandavas humiliated him. Duryodhan, who has been portrayed as evil for most part, stands up to his brothers. He can not make Karna compete but later on, as a mark of friendship, grants Karna the kingship of Anga Province within his empire. Though one may say Duryodhan wanted to exploit Karna to fulfil his evil design against the Pandavas,  Karna always took the friendship truly. He supported Duryodhan in whatever he did and went on to the extent of saving his only friend’s life several times. The Mahabharata says that the only mistake of Karna was to support the Chir haran of Draupadi. When Kunti later told to change sides, Karna said that because Duryodhan had only one true friend, Karna could never leave him.

    4. Krishna and Radha

    These are the subjects of numerous songs often describing romantic relationship between them. But there was more than the romantic feeling between them. While Krishna was a smart boy, Radha was wise. She believed in following the traditions as they were. Whenever Krishna made mistakes she was the one to correct him. For example, when Krishna killed a bull, Radha was enraged. She told him to bathe in the major rivers of the world to eliminate his sins. Krishna is believed to have brought water from Yamuna, Ganga, Sindhu, and Saraswati into two ponds now known as Radha Kunda and Shyam Kunda. In that sense, though Radha and  Krishna’s friendship is not much told in stories, they had deep regards for each other.

    I’m done with stories of amity from the Mahabharata. Happy Friendship Day to all!

    There are no facts, only interpretations.

       -Friedrich Neitzsche

    2 Incidents; 6 Interpretations

    6 Fridays of Suspense & Thrill

    Leave Me Alone: This September-October on Stories of Sandeept

    First Chapter will be published on Friday, September 2, 2016!

    By

    On August 5, 2016

    In Blogging

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

    By

    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

    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

    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!!

    100th Post: Thanks Everyone!

    By

    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

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    Achieved on 26th June, 2016

    ​

    Monthly Feature 7: Kalo Pothi- A Movie about Friendship

    By

    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:

    1. Movie reviews on several newspapers and magazines.
    2. www.mysansar.com
    3. 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.]

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