Gadget Addiction

Gadget Addiction



‘Oh! There is I pad in the market’, ‘I am tired of using this old set, Please! I want I phone now!’, ‘Dad! I have been using Pulsar for last two years, now I want Fazer!’

Are not these sings of gadget addiction? We want all the updated stocks of the market. Basically, the youths get to enjoy lot with the gadget. Youths are the one who quickly get updated about the latest product in the market. They are all aware regarding the launching date of Apple’s I pad in the market. They know all the features, price of it. Youth are curious about it and get well informed about the product before hand.

‘Mom All my friends come to college in scooty, I am only the one to wait for micro, Please request dad!’. What can parents do in such situation? How can a parent tolerate that their child is going through a problem of humiliation? For the teen sensation, especially of big towns it has been a kind of fashion to get updated with the gadgets. What can an individual do when it is a kind of trend? It is awkward obviously to carry Nokia 1600 at go to college when all the friends are there with fancy latest sets. Or the youth cannot get mixed with the group who all have bike with them. Honestly, we can see the groups separation in any college as per the interest. Bikers have separate friend circle, similarly cell phone group are different. For medium class group, who hardly manage for the education fees are separate, smokers are different and studious student are different. No matter what, any teen would definitely get attracted towards the latest gadget.

Letting the child updated with the latest gadget is not big issue for bigshots. But this can really be a troubling issue for those medium grades who hardly manage to afford for the education. But what can parents do when it is a trend in the college itself? So there remains no option besides adding the burden through loans, credits etc. With the advancement in technology youth are simply addicted towards the gadgets and the manufacturers are focusing youth to suck money through the addictive adds like “pleases you, pleases money and your girlfriend’, or let that be through pictorial signboards on the middle of the road.

There is profit to media as they get to advertise, manufacturers will be in profit for sure, and same with the Government as they get to inject tax thereby. So it is for sure that there will not be anyone to guide us regarding this. So the main initiatitive must be taken by the colleges, institutes themselves. They strictly impose the rule about the uniform. Uniform are meant to bring uniformity which will certainly reduce the gap between a millionre and a normal citizen. But what remains the value of uniform when the discrimination has been there through gadgets? Parents need to analyze the needs with the time and purchase the gadgets. They also need to figure out if those gadgets are acting has the hindrances for their future or not. However youths they need to understand the situation and learn to avoid it. They first need to think if they will be able to buy those goods to their child in the future or not. I have my friend who spend around twenty thousand per month and when I asked him if he can earn the amount himself in future he was in total confusion.

Yes! It is necessary to get informed about the latest advancements in the market. But we should not cry like child for it. Economic condition of the family, its use need to be analyzed. It’s not a good idea to demand for I pad when your cell phone has all the features in it.


PUBLISHED IN REPUBLICA JUNE 21 2010

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The Fulbari Mela

The Fulbari Mela





Iwas on my way home in eastern Nepal for the Nepalese New Year in mid-April. The time was round 10 in the morning when I saw a bid crowd of people at Lahan through the window of my bus. I asked the person sitting next to me who kept chattering a little more than was necessary what it was. He said that it was a fair. When I enquired why so many people were gathering at the scene, he said that many more people would be coming from around midday.

"Well!" I asked, "what is the occasion for so many people to gather at this place?" He said that they were there to see a flower in bloom. I was confused and my face showed surprise. He then added, it is because the flower blooms only once a year. It blooms on the Nepali New Year’s Day (around mid-April) and that too for just three hours - from noon to three in the afternoon!

From the window, he pointed to a small forest on the roadside and told me that the flower is found in the middle of the jungle. The villagers are making their way to the jungle solely to have a glimpse of that flower, he said.

I found it hard to believe my fellow passenger until a woman on my side said that she herself had gone there once to see the flower.

I wanted to know what the name of the fair was. The passenger said, "The Fulbari Mela!"

If this is the case, are we doing anything to promote the event for Nepal Tourism Year scheduled for next year? I coming from eastern Nepal itself was unaware about the place until two months back. And I wonder how many of us know about it! Simply highlighting a few exciting places will not make Nepal Tourism Year successful.

When ordinary people themselves are unaware about the various sites and interesting places, how will they inform foreigners? It’s good to know that we are rich in all kinds of resources. It is, however, a pity that we are unable to manage our resources and bring it to the notice of both local and international visitors. That a flower should bloom only on the first of Baisakh (first month of the Nepalese calendar) every year and only from noon to three in the afternoon… that is amazing.

PUBLISHED IN THE RISING NEPAL IN JUNE 14 2010

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First Benchers

First Benchers





When you are in your class, where will be your seat? Well, the answer may vary. Some one may pop out 'First bench' while the other may say 'last' or even 'some where in the middle'. When I was in my school, my teachers used to say 'Who seats in the first bench will be doctors and engineers'. I along with my group, we used to ignore and give damn and prefer second last bench.

We used to believe that if we seat there teacher would not get that negative impression, as his primary focus will be at the last bench. It was fun sitting somewhere round teh back, talking and gossiping and who cares? Even if we sleep. Playing scrabbles, making noise are all the good and memorable parts of backbenches. When I came down to my +2, considering yourself good students with the view of SLC marks we decided to sit somewhere in the middle. We had to stay alert as well as got ample of opportunities to make a good time pass with the crosswords.

Today I am at Bachelor level, and I sit in the first bench. "Oh! What a terrific place" used to be my thought in early days. But after getting adopted, I really don't want to go back and sit there. When I see backbenchers, I remember of my school days which brings smile in my face.

There obviously are just few first benchers among any group. Some don't get chance to sit in the first bench while many dont prefers sitting there in the first bench. One needs to dare to sit in the first bench of his or her class. There are many benefits that you can get when you sit in the first bench. Sharing from my personal experience, first good part is that first benchers get required attention of the teachers and can get enough time from the teachers. Positive impression sticks within the mind of teachers.
Self-confidence takes birth when one is in the first bench. First benchers are always ready and mentally prepared for any situation that can occur in the class. Even if I don't know the answer, I turn the pages as soon as teacher asks any question. Obviously first benchers cannot have the freedom of playing scrabbles and will have to give a look before moaning, they will have to stay alert in the class obviously.

It's me young dude writing the view, I don't know where my seat maybe tomorrow. When one lives his life, live it to it's fullest. Experience every moments of your life. Go ahead! Kick your first benchers back and take his seat at least for a week. Trust me you will definitely develop a new sense of feeling. Experiencing the life of first, middle and backbenchers, all I have to say is, you get memories for your future when you sit in the last, and you will be near to good future when you sit in the first!

It's not that you need to seat in the first to be first, you can come first sitting in last but you willl definitely gain something positive when you sit in the first. If you don't believe, try it once!


PUBLISHED IN THE RISING NEPAL ON JUNE3 2010

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Is marriage a private affair?

Is marriage a private affair?



Is marriage a private affair? My teacher asked whole class before teaching

the lesson. 'Marriage is a private affair' by Chinua Achebe. Few guys said

from the back, Yes it is! I shouted Nah! It is not. How can it be private

affair? What is there so private in marriage? If you talk about the talks

among the couple, s haring of ideas or the key of the safe...yes it is! They

are the private stuffs for obvious. But beside that? Are you talking about

the sexual stuffs? Oh...Come on! Every couple will have it. I claimed.

Marriage is a social relation where the couple needs to be accepted by the

family and society. If not...why is there gathering at the marriage

ceremony? Why has the system of printing cards existed? Living with a girl

far from the society in isolation is not a marriage for me. That is simply

spending life for here. Marriage no way can be limited to husband and wife.

Parents, in laws or even the children comes down which never lets marriage

to be private. Further, one of my classmates explained the necessity of two

proof even at the time of court marriage which showed that marriage is not a

private affair, at least in the context of Nepal.



However there existed few of my classmate who explained that

marriage a private stuff. At the ending of the chapter my teacher explained

that the question will always remain within us as a controversy and e will

be asking the question throughout our life time. However he concluded the

chapter, telling his love story where even after 12 years of his love

affair, he had to leave the girl just for the sake of his family! And the

reason was because it was inter caste. Not just story of my teacher even my

friend had to leave the girl just because she was not of her caste. And how

can I stop mentioning my friend's who still fear if caste would turn

obstacle there. If there was family, no society inter caste marriage would

be a big deal. But however literate we are, however modernize we turn, and

however scientific we get and what so ever be the generation we still look

for the caste. If a girl gets proposal from her class mate, before rejecting

or accepting she once thinks of caste. Even if guy, if his love is serious,

he will only propose after considering her caste. Education, job, family

background has still been unable to come before caste!



Government's policy to reward inter caste marriage is a drop of

support in a huge ocean. There are several examples in our society when a

couple gets married, family rejects and the couple turns to live happily.

But staying away from the society, family somehow and at sometime will

definitely memorize the society and family.



So what is marriage? Private affair? How?



Yes! Marriage need to be private affair all around the world but the case is

not there! Initiating the change is difficult to dare! In the family and in

the society! Considering all these facts, I shouted No! Marriage is

definitely not a private affair, at least in case of Nepal. Try to be

practical and ask the question to yourself, Is marriage a private affair?

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