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Globalization and Diplomacy: Navigating New Complexities

On February 9, 2025

In International Relations & Diplomacy, Blogging, essay, Politics, Writing

Diplomacy is the method of representation, communication, and negotiations between states as well as non-state actors. The diplomatic practices are formalised in the 1961 Vienna Convention. Diplomacy originates in the ancient civilisation itself and still shapes the politics and relationships between states. However, the prominence of non-state actors, globalisation, and evolving technology has challenged traditional diplomacy.

Historical Development of Diplomacy

Diplomacy is as old as civilisation itself. The oldest records of diplomatic activities are described in the Tablets of Ebla from 2500 BCE (present Syria). These tablets depict, in detail, the negotiations between ancient states, diplomatic exchanges, and peace negotiations. The Egyptian and Mesopotamian hieroglyphs also shed light on their diplomatic practices, where trade was crucial in maintaining peace.

Diplomacy was an art practised in ancient India from the Vedic times (18th century BCE). Kautilya (3rd century BCE) described diplomacy as an extension of warfare and emphasised that the Empire should act in its self-interest. Emperor Ashoka, on the other hand, used peaceful means based on Dharma.

The Ancient Greeks practised diplomacy through public negotiations and agreements, but this meant transparency, secrecy, and intelligence gathering were impossible to maintain.
Modern international relations and diplomacy have been influenced by the Roman Empire. The Empire applied secrecy, diplomatic exchanges, and intelligence gathering to maintain its longevity. The Roman Empire also introduced the concepts of jus gentium (law of the people) and jus naturale (natural laws), which became influential in international laws.

The most critical contribution to modern diplomacy, however, was made by the Peace of Westphalia (1648). It ended the Thirty Years’ War in Europe and gave birth to independent and sovereign nation-states. The concept of sovereign nation-states is still the most prominent in modern times. However, the status quo of state sovereignty is being challenged by the presence of many non-state actors, the rise of globalisation, and the prominence of digital technology.

Changes in Diplomacy in the Modern Times

The establishment of the United Nations in 1945 increased the dependency of states on each other, and prominence in communication has changed traditional diplomacy. It now not only includes traditional statecraft but also soft power to influence other states.
Soft power, which is a means to attract others without using coercion or payment (Joseph Nye, 1990), is increasingly influential in shaping modern-day negotiations between states. Whereas the use of force and military threats was thought of as a productive means for conflict resolution in the past, cultural exchanges, public interactions, and digital communications have become essential parts of maintaining peace.
The advent of technology has also changed the way the states communicate. In recent times, information exchange has become extremely rapid, and diplomats have to make quick decisions. This has added to the complexity of already tangled international relations. The rise of non-state actors, too, has complicated the diplomatic practices. They now influence state decisions, policy formulation, and actions towards achieving a common goal.

The changes in diplomacy have also added challenges. Rapid dissemination of information allows diplomats to have very little time to make decisions. This can affect the process of negotiation and conflict resolution. Non-state actors such as international organisations often bring ideas that work only with cooperation between states. Terrorist groups, on the other hand, can bring states together or divide them further. Refusing the demands of non-state actors can sometimes create conflicts among nations. Globalisation has also brought challenges as people migrate from one country to another, exchanging ideas and cultures. States are not isolated but dependent. This web of dependency is also a cause of conflict between them.

Conclusion

Diplomacy has evolved from its traditional form and adapted to the newer concepts of soft power, globalisation, and digital diplomacy. The increased interdependence of states, the prominent role of non-state actors, and the advent of digital communication have transformed diplomacy. They have provided opportunities for states to influence other states without using force or coercion. There are also several challenges, such as maintaining a balance between different actors, adapting to rapid development in technology, and exchanging people and ideas. However, diplomacy will shape itself to the needs of states and keep having an influential role in their relationships even in the future.

देश सिध्याउने दलालहरुको नाममा !

By Sandeept

On October 23, 2023

In Blogging, Humanity, Humans and Humanity, Nepal, Nepali, Public Interest, Writing, नेपाली

“एसियाको सबभन्दा गरीब देशको नागरिक भएकोमा बधाई छ !” फेसबुकमा देखियो । केही छिन पछि अर्को पोस्टमा भेटिएको थियो, “International Monetary Fund (IMF) ले सार्वजनिक गरेको प्रतिवेदनले नेपाललाई एसियाकै सबैभन्दा गरीब देश भनेको छ ।” IMF ले २०२३ अक्टोबरको “World Economic Outlook” निकालेको छ भन्ने कुरा गूगल सर्चबाट थाहा भयो । प्रतिवेदन सर्सर्ती हेर्दा त्यस्तो लेखिएको कतै भेटिन्न ! “Find” tool प्रयोग गरेर poor keyword खोज्दा पनि सिधै कुनै देशलाई धनी भनेकै छैन ! अलमल्ल परें । ५-६ घण्टापछि ट्विटर (सरी, X) मा FACTS ले राखेको एउटा ग्राफ भेटेँ । त्यसमा हरेक महादेशका सबभन्दा गरीब देशहरू थिए । स्रोत थियो अप्रिलको World Economic Outlook । त्यसमा पनि खोजें । खोजेको कुरा पाइनँ । फेरि गूगलमा खोज्दा चाहिँ एउटा लिङ्क भेटियो । Global Finance Magazine को त्यो पेजमा FACTS ले राखेका देशहरूको सूची थियो । त्यस पत्रिकाले IMF कै अप्रिलको प्रतिवेदनको आधारमा गरीब देशहरूको सूची तयार गरेको रहेछ । यमन र अफगनिस्तान जस्ता युद्धपीडित देशहरूलाई नराख्दा नेपाल एसियाको सबैभन्दा गरीबमध्येकै देश रहेछ । (IMF को interactive page यता हेर्नुहोला ।) हुन त गरीबीको मापन गर्न प्रयोग गरिएका index हरूमा केही समस्या छन् भनेर IMF ले नै भनेको छ तर हामी धनले त गरीब भयौँ नै, सोचले समेत दरिद्र छौँ । यसमा कुनै शङ्का नगरे हुन्छ !

यति हुँदा पनि हाम्रा शासक, प्रशासक, कर्मचारी र अलिकति पनि शक्ति हुने जोसुकैलाई भने लज्जाबोध छैन । यी र केही “जान्नेसुन्ने” मानिसहरूको तर्क कस्तो हुन्छ भने, “राजाको शासनमा कहाँ अहिले जस्तो थियो ? अहिले त्यो बेला भन्दा धेरै राम्रो छ ! जनताले बोल्न पाएका छन् ! राजाको पालामा राजदरबार नजिकका मान्छेसँग मात्रै धन थियो । अहिले जोसुकैलाई कमाउने मौका छ । त्यसैले, पहिलेभन्दा धनी छन् त जनता !”

समयको क्रमसँगै आफैं हुने परिवर्तनमै रमाउने यी वर्ग देशमा कुनै समस्या नै देख्दैनन् । समस्या नदेखे पछि समाधान गर्नै परेन ! समस्या किन देखिँदैन भने यिनको आँखामा पट्टी बाँधिएको छ–सत्ता, शक्ति र सम्पत्तिको । सत्ता, शक्ति र सम्पत्ति आर्जन मात्रै उद्देश्य भएपछि मानिस भ्रष्ट बन्छ । धर्म र कर्तव्य के हो भन्ने बिर्सिएका यिनीहरूले सहीलाई झुठ र गलतलाई सही बनाइदिन्छन् । असल मानिसहरूलाई यिनीहरू आफ्नो वशमा पार्न खोज्छन् ताकि आफूजस्तै बनाउन सकियोस् । अरूलाई दोषी देख्ने यिनका आँखाले आफूलाई भने असल देखाउन खोज्छन् । यसरी अधर्म फैलिन्छ हरेकको मनमा । मेरो देश यस्तै अधर्मीले भरिएको रहेछ । ज्ञान, विज्ञान र धर्म लत्याउने गतिछाडा दलालहरूले भरिएको देश गरीब नभए के हुन्छ ?

ए शासक, प्रशासक, कर्मचारी, व्यापारी र थोरै मात्रै पनि शक्ति पाउने वित्तिकै मैमत्त हुनेहरू ! तिमीहरूको धर्म के हो ? देशमा बनेका कानून, नीति, नियमलाई सत्कर्मका साथ पालना गरेर जनकल्याण गर्नु हैन ? देशको हित हुँदा तिमीहरूको हित हुने हैन ? सत्ता, शक्ति र सम्पत्तिको लागि जे पनि गर्ने ? अनेक सुविधा लिने अनि कसैको स्वार्थ पूरा गर्न घुस, गिफ्ट, दान लिने ? कानूनको धज्जी उडाउने अनि हास्दै हिँडने ? लाज पचाएर अझै एक अर्कालाई गाली गरेर आम जनतालाई भ्रमित पार्ने ? अनि मिलेमतो गर्न पायो भने चै जे पनि गर्ने ?

तिमीहरूले आफ्नो आत्मा त बेच्यौ नै, मान्छे पनि बेच्छौ । तिमीहरू यति मूर्ख छौ कि तिमीहरूलाई लाग्छ आफ्ना आफन्तहरू तिमीले बेचेका छैनौ । तर तिमीहरूका सन्तानहरू अहिले कहाँ छन् ? के गर्दैछन् ? तिमीहरूका साथमा छन् ? साथमा भएकाहरू कुन स्वार्थका लागि बसेका छन् ? मनैदेखि कर्तव्य वुझेर स्याहार सुसार गर्छन् ? तिमीहरूका कुरा मान्छन् ? यहाँ करोडौंको धनसम्पत्ति भए पनि तिमीहरूका सन्तान किन विदेशमा दुःख गर्न खोज्छन् ? सोचेका छौ कहिले ? सोच्ने भए गति किन छाड्थ्यौ होला र ?

ल सुन ! तिमीहरूका सन्तान तिमीसँग छैनन् किनकी उनीहरूलाई (प्रत्यक्ष नभए उनीहरूको ब्रह्मलाई थाहा छ) त्यो धन सत्यको हैन । तिमीहरू ज्ञानलाई दुत्कार्छौ, तिमीहरूका सन्तान अनैतिक बन्दै जान्छन् । तिमी विज्ञानको उपहास गर्छौ, तिमीहरूका सन्तानले यहाँ अवसर गुमाउँछन् । तिमीहरू अधर्म गर्छौ, तिमीहरूका सन्तान टाढिँदै जान्छन् । तिमीहरू दुष्कर्म गर्छौ अनि परिणाम राम्रो हुन्छ ? वर्षौं “मिहिनेत” गरेर कमाएको तिमीहरूका घरमा तिमीहरू किन एक्ला छौ ? तिम्रै कुकर्मको फल हैन ? एउटा पुस्ताले गरेको कुकर्मले आउने सन्तानहरूलाई कतिसम्म पिर्छ भन्ने त थाहा छ त तिमीहरूलाई ! महाभारत बिर्स्यौ ?

हुन त तिमीहरू महाभारत (र अरू शास्त्र) लाई फगत कहानी मान्छौ । त्यहाँ भएका सत्कर्मका उपदेश तिमीहरूलाई विष लाग्छ । तर मस्तिष्कको कुनामा कतै स्वविवेक भएको भए तिमी देख्थ्यौ कसरी इन्द्रीयलाई वशमा राख्न नसकेका शान्तनुले गर्दा उनका राजा हुन योग्य छाेरा राजा बन्न पाएनन् । राजगद्दीप्रति सधैँ वफादार हुन खोज्दा भीष्म, द्रोण र कृपाचार्यले धर्मका विरुद्ध बोल्न सकेनन् । विभिन्न पात्रका कुकर्म, द्वेष र महत्त्वाकांक्षाले भएको युद्धमा शान्तनुका सन्तान मात्रै नासिएनन्, लगभग पूरै भारतवर्षको विनाश भयो । तिमीहरू पनि एउटा सभ्यता विनाश गर्दैछौ । तिमीहरूले नपाएर मात्रै हो, पाउने भए यो देश उहिल्यै बेचिसक्थ्यौ । र त बेलाबेला भन्छौ, “नेपाल भारत, चीन, वा अरू कुनै देशमा विलय भएको भए नि हुन्थ्यो !” कुलाङ्घारहरू !

दशैंकाे बेला छ । वर्षभरिको “दुःखकाे फल” भित्र्याउने समय यही हो भन्दै सेवाग्राहीसँग खुल्लम खुल्ला रकम माग्ने सरकारी कर्मचारीदेखि दशैंका नाममा बढी पैसा उठाउने पसले, होटेल र गाडी साहुहरू सबै चोर हौ । तैपनि नैतिकता नभएका तिमीहरू खुब मजाले आशीर्वाद दिन्छौ सन्तानलाई, “ज्ञानी हुनू, ठूलो मान्छे हुनू, सबैले मान्ने हुनू !” अनि तिम्रा कर्म चै के हो ? छोराछोरीका आँखामा हेरेर आदर्शका गफ गर्न कसरी सक्छौ ? कति सम्म चैं किच्चक हौ ?

तिमीहरूलाई यहाँ कसले मान्छ ? तिमीहरूमा न ज्ञान छ न विज्ञान मान्छौ न त धर्म । जो तिमीहरूलाई नमस्ते गर्दै आउँछ नि, तिमीहरूलाई सम्मान गर्न हैन, कि त तिमीहरूबाट काम लिन आउँछ कि त बाध्यताले । जसको मुखमा एउटा अनि मनमा अर्को कुरा हुन्छ, त्यस्तो मानिसको सङ्गत गर्नु तरबारको धारमा हिँड्नु बराबर हो भनेर शास्त्रले पनि भन्छ । तिमीहरूको सङ्गत गर्यो भने साधु पनि कि त चोर बन्छ कि त शुलीमा चढ्छ ।

हुन त तिमीहरू बेलगाम घोडा हौ । तिमीहरूलाई शास्त्र व्यर्थ लाग्छ, अर्ती गाली लाग्छ, कानून, विधि र विज्ञान बोझ लाग्छ तर तिमीहरूका सन्तान त तिमीहरूलाई आफ्नै लाग्छ नि हैन ? मरेर जाँदा तिमीहरूले लाने केही हैन, सबै कुरा छोडरै जान्छौ । सुकर्म छाड्यौ भने तिम्रा सन्तान पनि खुशी हुन्छन् तर कुकर्मले तिनलाई पनि सुख दिँदैन । कमसेकम तिनका लागि त केही सत्कर्म गर !

धनभन्दा माथि देश हो अनि देशभन्दा माथि धर्म ! यति बुझ्ने यहाँ कोही देख्दिन । देश राजनीतिले खत्तम भएको हैन, कुनीति र कुनियतले हो । राजनीति भनेको त राजा (इन्द्रीय र लोकभन्दा माथि हुने) को नीति अनि नीतिको राजा हो । नीतिको जग नैतिकतामा हुन्छ जुन हामी नेपालीमा छँदै छैन । उज्वल थापाले भनेझैं एकले अर्कोलाई पाएसम्म लुट्न तयार छौं हामी । यो लुटको चक्रव्यूह तोड्न सक्ने अर्जुनलाई यहाँ युद्धभूमिबाट लखेटिन्छ । केही गरौँ भन्ने अभिमन्युजस्ता जोशिला तर अनुभव कम भएका युवाहरूलाई चक्रव्यूहमा फसाएर मारिन्छ । शकुनि र दुर्योधनको राज छ यहाँ । भीष्म र द्रोणहरू लाचार भई दुष्टहरूको साथ दिइरहेका छन् । यो सब देखेर दिक्क भएका मानिसहरू देश छोडिरहेका छन् । म तिमीहरूका सब कर्तुत निराश भएर हेर्दै भन्दै छु, “यो देश उँभो लाग्ने छाँट छैन ।”

र, यति निराश म कहिले पनि भएको थिइनँ ।

के हामी स्वतन्त्र छौँ ? (जर्ज बर्नाड शअको सन्दर्भमा)

By Sandeept

On March 3, 2022

In Blogging, Review, Writing

[प्रस्तुत लेख मोहन मैनालीद्वारा अनुदित आकाशमुखी संग्रहको जर्ज बर्नाड शअको स्वन्त्रता शीर्षकको निबन्धमा आधारित छ ।]

आफूलाई मन लागेका कुरा बिना कुनै रोकटोक गर्न पाउनुलाई हामी स्वतन्त्र भएको मान्दछौँ । तर स्वतन्त्रताका पनि सीमा हुन्छन् । समाज र कानूनले बर्जित गरेका क्रियाकलाप गर्न हामीलाई छुट छैन । त्यस्ता क्रियाकलाप गरेमा सामाजिक बहिष्करण देखि कानूनी कारबाहीसम्म हुन सक्छ । यसर्थ मानिस पूर्ण रूपमा स्वतन्त्र छैन ।

रुसो भन्छन्, “मानिस स्वतन्त्र जन्मिन्छ तर सर्वत्र बाँधिएको हुन्छ ।” जन्मसिद्ध स्वतन्त्रताको हकमाथि राज्यले अङ्कुश लगाउँछ भन्ने आशय उनी व्यक्त गर्छन् । जर्ज बर्नाड शअ “स्वतन्त्रता” शीर्षकको निबन्ध वाचन गर्ने क्रममा भन्छन्, “प्रकृतिले पनि मानिसलाई बाँधेको छ” । दैनिक क्रियाकलाप जस्तै सुत्ने, उठ्ने, दिसापिसाब गर्ने, खाना खाने लगायतका कुराहरूलाई प्रकृतिले नियन्त्रण गरेको हुन्छ । तर यस्ता गर्नै पर्ने अत्यावश्यक क्रियाकलापलाई हामी बोझ ठान्दैनौँ, उनी भन्छन्, किनकी प्रकृतिको नियन्त्रणले गर्दा नै जीवन सम्भव छ ।

मानिसले मानिसलाई गर्ने नियन्त्रण चैं हामीलाई बोझिलो लाग्छ । केही महीनाअघि लेखेको What’s the Point? कथामा वाचक (म पात्र) नोकरी (जब) गर्न मन गर्दैन । ऊ भन्छ, “नोकरी अभिशाप हो । यसले मानिसलाई पैसा र रोजगारदाताको दास बनाउँछ । पैसाकै लागि तपाईं काम गर्नुहुन्छ । बोसले पैसा दिन छाड्यो भने तपाईं काम नै छाडिदिनुहुन्छ । नोकरीले तपाईंको स्वतन्त्रता खोस्छ ।”

यो नितान्त व्यक्तिगत अनुभवबाट प्रेरित भएर लेखेको कुरा थियो । शअको निबन्धमा लगभग यस्तै तर अझ कडा शब्दमा रोजगारदाताप्रती रोष छ:

“तपाईंको रोजगारदाताले कपाल यसरी काट् भन्न सक्छ । यस्तो रङको, यस्तो खालक लुगा लगा भन्न सक्छ र यति बेलादेखी यति बेलासम्म काम गर् भन्न सक्छ । उसको आदेश टेर्नुभएन भने उसले जुनसुकै बेला पनि तपाईंलाई सडकमा पुर्‍याइदिन सक्छ . . . छोटकरीमा, राजनीतिक तानाशाहले तपाईंलाई जति नियन्त्रण गर्न सक्छ, रोजगारीदाताले त्योभन्दा बढी नियन्त्रण गर्न सक्छ ।”

राजनीतिक स्वतन्त्रताको सन्दर्भमा जर्ज बर्नाड शअ भन्छन्,

सरकारहरूले नागरिकमाथि दासता थोपर्छन् र त्यसलाई स्वतन्त्रता भन्छन् । सरकारहरूले मालिकको लालचलाई निश्चित सीमाभित्र राखेर नागरिकको दासताको हदलाई भने नियन्त्रण गर्छन् । मानिसलाई आफ्नो सम्पत्तिका रूपमा बेचबिखन गर्न पाउने दासप्रथा ज्यालामजदूरी प्रथाभन्दा महँगो भएपछि उनीहरूले दासप्रथा उन्मूलन गरे । यसले गर्दा कुन मालिकको कुन काम गर्ने भन्ने छनोट गर्न कामदार स्वतन्त्र भए । यसलाई उनीहरूले स्वतन्त्रताको विजय भनी जयगान गाए । जति स्वतन्त्र भए पनि कामदार त बेघरबार नै हुन्छन् ।

त्यस्तै चुनावका विषयमा उनी भन्छन् :

. . . उनीहरू कामदारलाई चुनावमा भोट हाल्ने अधिकार दिन्छन्, हरेक पाँच वर्ष जस्तोमा आमचुनाव हुने व्यवस्था मिलाउँछन् । चुनावमा धनी दुई जना उम्मेदवारले तपाईंसँग भोट माग्छन् । तपाईले यी दुई धनीमध्ये जसलाई पनि छान्ने स्वतन्त्रता पाउनुभएको हुन्छ । हो, तपाईंले यस्तो कुराको छनोट गर्न पाउनुहुन्छ, जसले तपाईलाई पहिलेभन्दा अलिकति पनि बढी स्वतन्त्र बनाउँदैन किनभने यसो गर्दा तपाईंको कामको बोझ कत्ति पनि घट्दैन । अनि समाचारपत्रले तपाईलाई के कुरामा विश्वास दिलाउँछन् भने तपाईंको मतले निर्वाचनको परिणाम निर्धारण गयो । यति हुनेबित्तिकै तपाईं प्रजातान्त्रिक मुलुकको स्वतन्त्र नागरिक हुनुभयो । छक्क लाग्छ, तपाई कति मूर्ख हुनुहुन्छ भने यस्तो कुरा पत्याइहाल्नुहुन्छ ।

उनी थप्छन्, “१० मध्ये ९ मतदाता साधारण कामदार भए पनि उनीहरूमध्ये थोरैलाई मात्र आफ्नै वर्गका मानिसलाई भोट दिऊँ भनेर मनाउन सकिन्छ ।” यसको कारण के हो भने शासक भनेको रवाफिलो, चट्ट परेका लुगा लगाउने र विशेष अदब भएको मान्छे हो भन्ने मानसिकता हो ।

यी हरफहरू पढ्दै गर्दा ८ वर्षअघि आफूले लेखेको “Democracy or Aristodemocracy?” शीर्षकको ब्लग पो याद आयो । त्यसमा लेखेको थिएँ, “लोकतन्त्र भएका देशहरूमा जोकोही उम्मेदवार सजिलै बन्न पाउँछ तर विजेता प्राय: उही हुन्छ, जसले पैसाको खोला बगाउन सक्छ ।”

माथि नै भनियो, मानिसलाई समाज र कानूनको बाँधेको हुन्छ । शअ पनि कानूनले स्वतन्त्रता संकुचित गर्छ भन्छन् अनि थप्छन्,

कानून विवेकसम्मत छन् र तिनलाई निष्पक्ष ढङ्गले लागू गरिएको छ भने तपाईंले कानूनविरुद्ध गुनासो गर्ने कारण हुँदैन किनभने कानूनले सामान्यतया तपाईंमाथि हातपात, डकैती र अराजकता हुन नदिएर तपाईंको स्वतन्त्रताको मात्रा बढाउँछ ।

यहाँ रमाइलो विरोधाभाष छ । कानूनले स्वतन्त्रतालाई सीमित पनि गर्दो रहेछ अनि स्वतन्त्रताको रक्षा पनि गर्दो रहेछ । आफ्नो स्वतन्त्रताको प्रयोग गर्दा अर्काको स्वतन्त्रता हनन हुनुहुँदैन भन्नु पनि त स्वतन्त्रताको सीमितता नै त हो नि, हैन र ?

नेपाली साहित्यमा देखिएका केही निराशाजनक दृश्यहरू

By Sandeept

On August 13, 2021

In Blogging, Nepal, Nepali, Writing

यसै साता महाकवि लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटाको घर प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानले भत्कायो । तर्क थियो, “घर जीर्ण थियो । सबलीकरण गर्न भन्दा भत्काएर नयाँ बनाउन सस्तो पर्ने भयो । नयाँ भवन सङ्ग्रहालय बन्छ । के नराम्रो हुन्छ र ?”

वाहियात तर्क गर्न, कानूनका छिद्र समात्न र दलका पछि लागेर विद्वान हुँ भन्दै हाँक दिन नेपालका प्राज्ञिक भनाउँदाहरूको विशेषता नै हो । उनीहरूमा न इतिहासको चेत छ न त भविष्यको सही योजना नै । ध्यान छ त केबल आत्मरति, अलिकति धन र नचाहिने कुरा गर्न ।

आम सर्वसाधारणलाई महाकवि देवकोटाको घर भत्काइँदैछ भनेर सचेत नगराउने “अभियन्ता” र मिडिया अर्को ठूलो समस्याका रूपमा अघि बढेका छन् । नेपालीमै लेख्ने एकजना “साहित्यकार”को ट्वीटले नेताहरूले रोपेको जातीय/भाषिक द्वेषयुक्त राजनीतिको प्रभाव प्रष्ट देखाएको छ । वर्तमानमा सुधार चाहने, अरू भाषाको उत्थान चाहने उनलाई नेपाली भाषासँग चैं समस्या किन छ ? नेपाली भाषालाई मात्रै महत्त्व दिने नीति कुनै बेला राज्यले लिएको थियो तर अब अरू भाषा संस्कृतिको संरक्षणको कुरा गर्दा नेपालीलाई बाहिर राख्नुपर्ने हो ? कुनै यो विषयमा नाम चलेका “फुल टाइम व्यावसायिक” लेखकहरूको मौनता अर्को दु:खद पाटो हो । इतिहासको सम्मान नगर्ने उनीहरू वर्तमानमा सम्मान पुगेन भन्न कसरी सक्छन् ? भविष्यमा तिनका नाम मेटिँदैन भन्ने के छ ?

अघिल्लो साता मदन पुरस्कारको छनौटमा परेका उत्कृष्ट पुस्तकहरू मध्ये एक पुस्तक यस्तो पनि थियो जसले वर्ग विभेदलाई प्रश्रय दिएको थियो । एक चोटि मात्रै छापिने र प्रिअर्डर गरेकाले मात्रै पाउने भनिएको उक्त कथा-सङ्ग्रह बजारमा सहजै पाइन थालेको सुनेको छु । प्रकाशक र पाठकसँग सिधै सम्पर्क बनाएको, वितरकलाई बीचमा आउन नदिएको भन्ने प्रकाशक अझै पनि नयाँ छापिँदैन भनिरहेका छन् । तर “आउट अफ स्टक” भनिएका ठाउँमा पनि फेरि बिक्री भइरहेको छ । अर्थात् प्रकाशकले प्रिअर्डरबाट मात्रै बिक्री गरेको भने पनि अलिकति सचेत पाठकले त्यो पत्याइहाल्ने स्थिति छैन ।

अनि लेखक भक्ति पनि मज्जैले देख्न पाइयो यो हप्ता । आफूलाई मन पर्ने लेखकको किताबको कमजोरी अरू पाठकले औँल्याउँदा लेखकमाथिको आक्रमण गरेको भन्ने विद्वान् पनि देखियो । पाठकले प्रतिक्रिया दिँदैमा कुनै लेखकका फ्यान त्यसरी उत्रिनु नै अनौठो लाग्यो । यस्तो भक्तिले त लेखकले सधैं पोजिटिभ रिभ्यु मात्र पाउँछ । जे लेखे पनि हुन्छ भन्ने मानसिकता उसमा हाबी हुन थाल्छ । लेखनको गुणस्तर स्वाभाविक रूपमा घट्छ । यो साहित्यको लागि कदापि राम्रो हुन सक्दैन ।

पाठक प्रतिक्रियालाई व्यक्तिगत आक्रमण ठान्ने, प्रकाशकले दिनदहाडै लुट्ने अनि प्राज्ञहरूले प्राज्ञिक धर्म पूरा नगर्ने प्रवृति नेपाली साहित्यलाई अधोगतितर्फ लान उद्दत रहेका छ्न् । सचेत पाठक, पाठकलाई सम्मान गर्ने लेखक/प्रकाशक र सही एजेन्डा बोकेका प्राज्ञ नभएसम्म नेपाली साहित्यलाई सही बाटो देखाउन गाह्रो पर्ने देखिन्छ ।

What can a human gain? Reflections from Vishwamitra’s tale

By Sandeept

On January 9, 2021

In Blogging, essay, Humanity, Humans and Humanity, Inspirational, Writing

Humans have no limit to their desires. Fulfill one, another is ready to knock your door. Sometimes, the desires inspire humans to do great things but most of the times, the crowds of desires take you to a deep dark ditch, from which it is impossible to come out.

Vishwamitra’s tales are all over Hindu scriptures. He appears not only in Ved and Puran (Shruti and Smriti) but also in Ramayan and Mahabharat (Kavya and Itihas). Born Vishwarath in the royalty of Kanyakubja, was initially mentored by Dattatreya, the avatar of Lord Shiva. As a king, he desires to become the Universal Monarch, the ruler of all the World. But a battle with Vashistha changes everything.

Vishwarath, happy and proud of his victories, one day appears at Vashistha’s ashram. The king and his soldiers are hungry and tired. However, the sage easily provides adequate food for the huge army. Vishwarath wants to know how. Vashistha shows him Nandini, the divine cow who can provide any wish.

Vishwarath wants the cow for himself despite Vashistha’s warning that Nandini has free will and will only go with Vishwarath if she wants to go. Enraged, he wants to capture the cow but with her powers, she created an army to destroy the king’s army.

Despite his loss, the king wishes to teach divine beings a lesson. He gains Daivi astras (divine weapons) through yagya and goes to attack Vashistha. The son of Brahma absorbs everything with a Brahmadanda (a stick).

Enraged, Vishwarath gives his kingdom to his sons and starts a tap. One day, while meditating, he discovers Gayatri Mantra, the beej (seed) mantra of creation. Vishwarath becomes Vishwamitra.

His discovery shakes Swarga. Indra sends Menaka, an apsara to disrupt his penance. Although, Vishwamitra falls for her beauty, when he realizes he had been tricked, he leaves her. Menaka goes back leaving their daughter Shakuntala to the ashram of another Rishi, Kanva.

Vishwamitra continues his Yogic practices, gains siddhi and reaches the level of Brahma when he creates a universe for Trishanku. Trishanku had been cursed by Vashistha’s son Shakra for wanting to go to heaven with his human body. Vishwamitra did what was forbidden but also gained the title of Maharishi from Brahma for the feat he accomplished.

But the desire of revenge against Vashistha does not die. He gets involved in a act that kills Shakra. Vashistha, while sad that his son died, is glad that Vishwamitra’s act has actually helped improve his clan morally. Vishwamitra, who had desired to kill Vashistha, comes to know that the Brahma Putra had actually guided him in his spiritual journey. He realizes that his journey was not to be the king of the world, but its friend, Vishwa Mitra.

The tale of Vishwamitra shows that humans can push their limits to any extent. They can even equal the Brahma. But the biggest achievement is to act on the benefit of the world. With great power, indeed comes great responsibilities.

(I was inspired to write this article after finishing Vineeth Aggarwal’s Vishwamitra.)

What is Justice?

By Sandeept

On August 8, 2020

In Humans and Humanity, Blogging, Humanity, Review, Writing

From my recent article on Medium…

What is justice? Is it based on objective evidence or subjective judgement? I had not thought much about these questions until I watched Death Note, the 2006–2007 animated series.

Death Note is about Yagami Light who finds a notebook (aka Death Note), dropped by a Shinigami (God of Death), in his school. Using the notebook, he can kill anyone whose name and face he knows. Seeing the rotten world around him, he decides to use the notebook to get rid of criminals.

Ryuk, the Shinigami who dropped the Death Note in the human world, asks if it is the right thing to do. Light replies that people will on the surface say, “It’s not the right thing to do”, but deep down they want all criminals to be executed.

Murderers get away with little to no punishment using money and political influence, several cases have become stuck on the court, smugglers are caught only when the “setting” with police does not work, honest people are scared of the crooks because they control everything from the economy to government, and the media, criminals wave at cameras without any fear. Living in such circumstances, would I have done what Light does? If I say no, I am not being honest. …

View at Medium.com

I got stuck (Is it a good sign?)

By Sandeept

On November 9, 2018

In Blogging, Writing

I was thinking about it every time I had some leisure. I had discovered a “mind-blowing” way to convert my short story “Leave Me Alone” into a novel. I had worked about eight chapters within a month. These chapters would end the first part and I was ready to move into the crucial second part. Then I suddenly felt I needed a prologue. A chapter apart from the rest of the story that would create suspense. (It already had some suspense. I was trying to mix some spices.) That prologue introduced me to the major problem in my plot: how was my heroine doing what she was doing?

I had worked out the “why” and I had thought I knew “how” but things got complicated. I was teleporting her to places where I wanted her to be, and she was doing things the way I wanted in an unnatural way. My story is not a fantasy. It’s a contemporary psychological thriller. No way was I going to introduce myself opening doors for her (I feel this would make a good sci-fi!), and neither was I going to let anything happen just like that. So, why the plot hole?

I don’t know. Maybe, I planned in the wrong manner. Perhaps the changes I had brought about in the prologue rang the bells. Whatever it was, I believe, was for the best! How would I make others believe in an unbelievable story? I’ve stalled it until I find a solution.

***

I felt an itch. Actually, I’d been thinking about it for a few days now. I had linked “Quest” with “Leave Me Alone”, and the latter with “The Peacemaker” (I have built its concept but not written a word yet. Or, can I say it’s first chapter is already in “Leave Me Alone”, just in another POV?). So, because there was a link, I was thinking of completing “Quest”.

The biggest problem in this rewriting was that my old computer is dead and until it’s repaired I had no access to the “latest” version I created about last year. Or, so I thought. Then I searched my phone. I found the original version (Thank God!). I checked Google Docs. There were eight chapters each of last two versions. Now the problem is: I first need to sort out which “doc” belongs to which version. Then I need to compile and (probably) rewrite.

This rewrite is going to be fun. I have a guide. I have versions in third person and in first person. I need to decide what to use now. I have events in different orders. I might have to reorder, delete and add. I have written four or five versions of “Quest” already. I must make it my final. The solution for the plot problem I had discovered last year, is going to make it interesting. But the biggest challenge is to stand out as the self-proclaimed genius! (After sorting out the problems, I had called myself a “genius”. Damn, that’s a crown I cannot handle!)

Personal Achievements in 2074

By Sandeept

On April 13, 2018

In Personal, Story, Writing

Some months ago I had decided that at the end of the year 2074 B.S., I would make a list of some of the achievements I can boast upon. I discovered 8 points.

1. Edited and Published a College Journal

On Falgun 2073, just before the end of the academic session, Prof. Dr Tara Nidhi Bhattarai had announced that the final year had to publish a scientific journal. I had been nominated the Editor-in-chief of the journal unanimously by my friends. I had added four friends and had completed the Editorial Board.

The real job began in 2074. After a week since the end of our final exams, I called for the articles via our Facebook group. By the end of the month, we had very few articles. I had to ask for them again with a stricter deadline.

The Editorial Board initially received 15-16 articles. We worked with what we had and then making sure that very few percentages of students had submitted, we asked again.

The other board members got extremely busy. I took the help of Grammarly to edit the grammar and spelling. It took more than a month to compile all the 29 articles. Then we had to prepare cover pages, and print the file out. We published Geology, Vol. 8 just before the Dashain. I was the happiest man that day because I had spent almost 5 months of my year for the

2. Photoshop Basics and Inkscape

The tools of Adobe Photoshop always scared me. Because of that, I could never go through its basics even though it was installed on my computer for years.

This year, a fortnight before the publication of the Geoworld Journal, I decided to learn GIS on my own. I downloaded QGIS and completed a tutorial I obtained at a website. After that, when I looked at Photoshop, it did not become as challenging as it used to be.

I learnt to select, crop, change image size, resolution, use brush, paint and so on. I never completed other tutorials on QGIS (must learn it completely by the end of 2075), but I learnt how to manipulate images and now I am able to use another application Inkscape to produce vector images. My current Gravatar is one of my earliest works on Inkscape.

3. Got the Bachelor’s Degree

A day before the publication of Geoworld, the results of the final year was published. And obviously, I got the Bachelor’s Degree. I took the certificates much later. I was happy but not as much as I wanted to be because I am not earning anything.

4. Gardening

In the month of Bhadau, I was writing a chapter for a novel. The garden in the setting was beautiful. Small trees lined it and beautiful flowers bloomed. As soon as I wrote that scene, I went up to our terrace and saw plants basking. The soil had dried and the plants did not look good. That day onwards, I made a routine of watering them every evening. It soon turned into a habit and now, whenever I don’t have to water them, I feel like I have missed something.

My parents, too, are happy that I have been at least watering plants every day. That their terrace garden is not dried up.

5. Learnt to ride two-wheelers

I had a fear of riding bikes. I still do. But I had to overcome my fear after Tihar (in November) to learn to ride motorbikes. It was extremely difficult and tiring in the first week. I was just catching up in the second week when the course ended. Nevertheless, I could ride a scooter. Riding a two-wheeler requires your mind working in several directions at a time. To bring balance to a vehicle that is clearly imbalanced was a difficult achievement.

6. Learnt a lot about life from a little kitten

Just at the end of the first week of my motorbike training, I found two kittens crying inside a drum under the stairs. The mother left the kittens and we adopted them. One month later, the male was taken by the mother. We see them running sometimes on the terraces of our neighbours.

The female, however, refused to go with the mother cat and stayed with us. She was growing well and just as we thought everything was fine, she went downstairs and got caught by dogs.

Her life and the grief she gave me at death made me understand that nature and life were cruel. I also learnt a great deal about cats and other animals, their behaviours and the problems they face because of us.

7. Tribhuvan University (TU)

The day I went the Office of the Controller of the Examinations (OCE) was the day I stepped into the TU premises for the first time. It was quite depressing because of the unmanaged system and earthquake-affected buildings.

However, when I entered the Tribhuvan University Campus area, I felt a magical calmness in the surrounding. It was so influential that I forgot the chaos of the world outside.

Last week, I got admitted for the M.Sc. The classes will begin from the second week of the New Year.

8. Quora

Quora happened to me all through the year 2074. In Baishakh, after the final exams, I got back to the website because of some of my friend’s posts on Facebook. I realized that I had answered a few questions in the past and they were still generating some views. So, I got excited and began answering questions on Geology and Nepal.

On the second week of March, I was provided a “Top Writer 2018” badge. I have about 300 followers and my answers don’t have much views compared to so many popular users but obtaining the badge felt great. I reserved the celebration for New Year, though!

200th Post: Feeling a Little Lost

By Sandeept

On December 19, 2017

In Blogging, Gratitude, Writing

I am feeling a little lost since it’s been so long since I wrote a blog post. I am more nervous now than two years ago, when I wrote the first post on this blog. But I think everything will be fine once I hit the Publish button.

I had been planning to write something else but saw from my Dashboard that this was going to be my 200th post. I had been away from blogging for quite a long time (probably the longest since I began my WordPress blog) as well. So, I wanted to reconnect to all of you out there and express a few words of gratitude.

Thank you WordPress for providing this platform.

Thank you readers, followers, friends and relatives. You all have been a source of inspiration. I don’t know how many will see this post but I want to shout out again: Thank You! Without your support through likes, comments, admirations and encouragements.

Thank You!

के पढेलेखेकाले देश बिगारेका हुन् ?

By Sandeept

On May 10, 2017

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

“पढेलेखेका मान्छेले देश बिगारे ।”–कसैले लेखेको थियो फेसबुकमा । पुस महिनामा देखिएको यो पोस्टको बारेमा घरमा छलफल भएपछि डायरीमा टिपेँ । समाज, कलेज, स्कुल र आफैँलाई नियालेँ अनि फेसबुकमा भेटिएको त्यस वाक्यको पक्षमा केही तर्क निकालेँ । ती तर्क पालैपालो राख्छु । आफूलाई पढेलेखेका मान्छेमा राख्छु । यसो गर्दा म आत्मालोचना पनि गरिरहेको हुनेछु ।
१. पढेलेखेकाले सानातिना काम गर्दैनन् । उनीहरू सानातिना काम देख्दै देख्दैनन् । भन्नलाई काम सानोठूलो हुँदैन भने पनि खाना पकाउने, फोहोर सफा गर्ने, झाडी उखेल्ने जस्ता कामलाई तल्लो स्तरको देख्छन् । केहीले त्यस्तो ठानेनन् भने पनि सकेसम्म पन्छिन्छन् । मोबाइल र सामाजिक संजाल ती कामबाट भाग्न सहयोग गर्ने साथी भएका छन् ।

२. पढेलेखेका मान्छे घमण्डी हुन्छन् । मास्टर्स, पीएचडी गरेका विद्वानहरूले जुन सम्मान पाउँछन्, त्यसले गर्दा ती अभिमानी भइदिन्छन् । पीएचडी गर्ने मान्छेले एउटा विषयको सानो अंशमा विद्वता पाएको हुन्छ । तर ऊ यसरी प्रस्तुत हुन्छ कि यस्तो लाग्छ उसले नजानेको केही छैन । पीएचडी ज्ञानको अन्त्य होइन भन्ने बिर्सेर ऊ ठान्छ, “म जति जान्ने कोही छैन । मैले कसैको कुरा सुन्नै पर्दैन ।”

३. नजानेको कुरा ‘मैले जानेको छैन’ भन्न नसक्नु पनि पढेलेखेका मान्छेको अहमको पराकाष्ठा हो । शिक्षकहरू प्रायः यस्तो विमारीका सिकार छन् । विद्यार्थीमा पनि यो रोग सारिदिन्छन् उनीहरू । यो रोगले शिक्षक र विद्यार्थीलाई एकअर्काबाट टाढिन सहयोग गर्छ । शिक्षक र विद्यार्थी नै एकअर्कालाई विश्वास गर्न सक्दैनन् भने राम्रो पठनपाठन कसरी हुन्छ ?

४. आफूले बिगारेको कुरा पनि अरूले सपार्दिओस् भन्ने ठान्छ्न् पढेलेखेका मानिस । अधिकांश समय अरूलाई गाली गर्दै बिताउँछ्न् । कतिपय बुद्धिजीवीहरू त राजनीतिजस्तो तुच्छ केही छैन भन्छन् तर ताक पर्दा राजनीति आफैं गर्छन् ।

५. पढेलेखेकाले कुरा घुमाउन जान्दछन् । शब्दजालमा माकुराले पुतली फसाएझैं फसाउन उनीहरू माहिर हुन्छन् । नियम पनि उनीहरू नै जान्दछन् अनि नियम बङ्ग्याउन पनि । एकछिन कुनै चोकमा गएर उभिनुहोस्, जानाजान ट्राफिक नियम पालना गर्ने पढेलेखेका मानिस सयौं भेटिन्छन् । सरकारी काम नगर्ने, काम छिटो गराउन घुस दिनेहरू पनि पढेलेखेका मान्छे नै हुन् ।

आफूलाई सधैं सही र अरूलाई सधैं गलत देख्ने, अरूका कुरा सुन्न नचाहने, आफ्नो ज्ञान सीमित भए पनि सर्वज्ञ ठान्ने पढेलेखेकाहरूकै कारण हामीले दु:ख पाएका हौँ भन्ने निष्कर्ष पो निकालेँ मैले त । सहमत हुनुहुन्छ ?