Advertising unity or difference??

It happened by accident. I had to participate in a programme organised by some of my neighbourhood aunties who also happen to be my mother's friends. It was basically a programme to represent unity among people of Newar Community. I had almost no idea what the programme was about except that the participants would consist of people from only my community i.e the Newars.

I have always hated the idea that people could be divided in terms of caste, creed or colour. But no matter what my beliefs are, I have to pariticipate in programmes as such which advertise more differences than unity. Actually we (five girls) were entitled to participate in the programme as panchakanya with traditional Newari dress, to welcome the guests. We were, in a way, a bit excited because opportunities as such only come only once in a while and when they come, it feels stupid not to grab it. Afterall, when in life do we get to see ourself in such traditional dresses? And, not that I am advocating Newari culture, but still I love Newari dress and Newari food.

In the programme, the guests of honours were all trying hard to convince the people that all the Newars should be united to safeguard their identity, their unique culture and stuffs like that. They were telling that people from this community also should go in the forefront of Nepali politics so that the Brahmins and Chhetris won't be able to rule them.

In some ways, it was a nice thing that they were encouraging young people to participate or be concerned about the politics and not just the usual Newari feasts and festivals... but on the other hand the same words were also convincing the youngsters that people other than those from Newar community were their enemies with whom they had to be aware... this is ridiculous!!!

Even as a child, I always protested the taboos related to caste and stuffs. Because deep within I always believed that there is no natural difference among men of whatever caste or creed other than those created my men themselves. Even my family wasn't that strict regarding all these. Specially my dad was quite open-minded in this thing. But my mom, she still complains that we don't listen to her, and that taboos related to caste systems need to be followed. But who cares? We don't listen to her, and we have millions of reasons to win her logics.

I wish the leaders guided people toward creating a more just and united society and not try to bring forward issues of differences and enemity for their personal benefits. I wish people understood that they are being used by the so-called leaders just to safeguard their own position!!

Helping or ruining??

I was returning back home yesterday evening after a reporting from Lazimpat. It was already quite late and I and my friend were walking quite fast. Near American Embassy, a group of small children encircled us and requested us to buy their postcards. We were confused whether to take anything from them or simply ignore them. We believed that begging should not be encouraged, but this was not begging... But we refused to buy their cards because we thought that they would use the money to buy Dendrite... Most probably you might have seen street children inhaling Dendrite - one of the cheapest and most harmful drugs!!!

After they followed a long distance, I could bear it no longer. After all they looked like kids from good families. They were finely dressed, and the thing that touched me the most was a small cute little girl who was telling 'didi, euta kindinus na, ek rupiya diye pugchha'(sister please buy one, you could pay only Rs 1)... I was so taken aback that I stopped and took three coins and distributed each to the nearest three. They took it with big smiles on their face and that made me happy too. Then they stopped following us and we walked ahead.

A little later, I saw them crossing the road a little behind us. The little girl was carrying a packet of noodles. I thought what a mistake it was, to give her the money. The noodles would only ruin her health. I silently cursed her parents for letting her do what she had been doing... I regretted on having sympathised with the girl's innocent face!!!

An empty mind is a devil's workshop!!

I was quite small when I first read this line "An empty mind is a devil's workshop"... I didn't understand what it meant then. But now I have realised how true it is. When you have something to do, be it reading, writing, or a simple household chore, you don't have much time to think things that just eat you from within. That is why I always try to busy myself in one or the other task.

I was really scared of the long free days that awaited me once my SLC exams were over. I would have nothing to do...it would be a sure waste. With strong determination, I didn't let it happen. I joined volunteer teaching at a school near my home which not only kept me busy but also blessed me with so much of memories that I happily cherish now. I also joined Keyboard class in the morning and gave home tuition to a nearby girl after school in the evening. By the time I was home, I would be dead tired. But then I had to have dinner, then say how my day went to my family, watch TV for a while and then sleep. The same routine continued until I joined college.

I left keyboard class but continued with parttime teaching and home tutoring. Truly, success followed me then.

Then there was a time when I thought I should allocate more time for studies and not engage in any work. Certainly I resigned all my jobs and gave my full time to studies. I was successful then as well. Coz I had the reading to do, most of the times and there was the TV, family and relatives things besides.

When I passed my +2, I joined a government college for my bachelor's. In the beginning I gave full time to my studies but slowly the rate decreased. I was not motivated to read, to study or do anything fruitful. I didn't get any job though I had badly wanted and tried for it. TV couldn't amuse me all day long and there were little household chores to do. I was idle and my mind was empty.

It was the time when the wildest of thoughts came to my mind. I slowly began playing the suspect-game inside myself and those things appeared so true to me that my relationships with everyone including family and friends degraded. I couldn't and didn't want to take a step toward maintaining the same good level of relationship because I always found myself true and the rest, guilty!! Yeah, the devil in me had controlled me. My mind and my whole self had turned into a devil's workshop...

Luckily it wasn't very late before I realised what was actually happening to me. I started keeping myself engaged in one or the other work. I avoided loneliness and idleness. I would either read or seek other's company. Slowly, the devil decreased the pace of its work in the workshop it had created within me and I recovered.

Today I have got a really nice jon in one of the leading women's magazines and I have been able to generate the best out of my mind. My mind is not empty and therefore, it's not the devil's workshop...

So keep yourself engaged in one or the other tasks so that the devil won't be able to build any workshop in your mind. Afterall your mind isn't so cheap that it can't be hired or used by anyone, without your permission that is...

Be busy... be the true YOU.

Electronic Voting for the first time!!!

On the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections, constituency number 1 will witness the new system of electronic voting. It's been introduced for the first time in Nepal as a trial method and if it succeeds, this method will be applied in other regions in other elections.

I too will participate for the first time in the upcoming elections. As I belong to constituency number 1, I will get to use the new technology of electronic voting.

Today representatives from the Election Commission came to our place and taught us how to vote using the new method. Most of the people were very curious to know about the wonderful machine and most of them were also quite sceptic about its function. They doubted if it would be private, if the result would be true... and so on. Some were reluctant to participate in the training. After lots of requests from the representatives, they at least showed up.

The locals found out that the method was actually very easy and reliable after the trainer described them all its processes and functions.

I am myself very excited about using this method!!!

I hope it works out really well.

Beware!!! Holi is near!!!

Holi is a week away and many have already had to get themselves wet.

Gender thing again, but young girls (women) top the list among the victims of water balloons. Undoubtedly, I am one of them.

Every year, this pre-holi-week brings in me a strange kind of fear. I become scared of stepping outside my home because who knows I could be the next target...

The first time I got hit by a water-balloon was when I was still at school. I was hit right on my eyes and I was so much in trauma that since then Holi symbolises fear and nothing else. I just hate this festival.

Today I and my sister had some shopping in Thamel and guess what? Of course we were hit with water-balloons... and the hitter didn't show up. Otherwise (I'm sure it's he) would get such a nice blow from me. I was so much in rage.

What more could we do than silently curse him...

Only if I had seen the man, I knew what to do!!!

So, beware all of you... Holi is near... who knows? You might just be the next target!!!

The journey begins here!!!

Wow, the best thing to let yourself out is to write, write and write until you have all your thoughts in the form of words... It's wonderful, isn't it? To find someone/something to confess all your thoughts with so much of confidence!!!

So, my journey begins here...
I will write to you... whenever I get time... whenever I have something to write...
Chill!!!