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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Making best use of TV time

' So please, Oh Please, we beg, we pray,

Go throw your TV set away,

And in it's place you can install

A lovely bookshelf on the wall'


-Ronald Dahl



How many hours do you spend watching this idiot box? I used to watch atleast two-three hours everyday when I was at my home. Today, I am away from my home. I miss almost everything's out there but not that TV set. I never knew what was so exciting there that took my hours of time. I could never understand it's idioit-ity when I was in front of it. Today, I realize and prefer calling it 'time consuming box'.

Lot of readers reading it maybe calling me mad by this time. But when one gets serious and thinks, my feelings might get a lot of support. I read newspapers these days instead of watching TV and have atleast learned how to write. I listen to radio instead of watching TV. Reading newspapers, I have developed my writing skill, listening radio I have saved my time. Yes! I have to remain mum when they talk about 'Tito Satya' or 'Meri Bassei'; but feel proud when I realize that I have at least saved 30 minutes of my time.

The lines above requests to avoid TV completely, There really exists lots of disadvantages when we try to compare with advantages. First is that, watching TV spoils the capacity of eye. Or it damages the eye power. Secondly, it develops addiction. Thirdly it kills time. Fourthly it kills the creativity. Regarding the first con's, watching TV for a long time damages the eyes of various adults and basically of child. It kills time!

There is not any necessity to explain it. A serial gets ended either after she opens the door or when she is taken to hospital and doctor about to speak. This factor compels to watch the next episode, which  develops addiction within the viewers. Again, it removes the creative thinking ability when we are shown how monster looks, we don't even try to use our brain to think it's physical outlook. This ultimately kills the creativity.


I don't mean to say like Dahl, to throw your TV set. But to develop some good qualities, improve studies it's highly essential to be choosy at the time of watching TV. Various informational shows, news will definitely improve our knowledge and make it wide. Going through entertaining shows will make us refreshed for sure. But after all, it depends on us regarding how we will take it. At the present context it's necessary to utilize three-fourth of the time in some creative activities rather than watching TV. You can go and watch three idiots but it's not necessary to watch the song of three idiots every time it comes to MTV or Channel V.

PUBLISHED IN THE RISING NEPAL OF MAY 10 2010

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INTEREST COUNTS

Interest Counts



Are you bored of your job? Do you want to avoid your job? Or how often do you try to escape from your work place? Do you spend your time in making different excuses for staying absent?


If it is so, do you have any justificable reason? One reason for hating your work is that you really dont want to do the job. That is you are or were never interested in that job. Well, the main reason for me to say it is that I miss my job today. It was for year I worked in FM station as an RJ. I always dreamed of being a celebraty and getting somewhere in the media. May be because of my inner interest, I not only worked as an RJ but also did the task of preparing advertisements, mixing and editing jingles. And the best part was I always enjoyed it. I also had the desire to read news, but in that short period of time I could not do that task. I hardly cared for the salary but I worked with full interest as speaking in radio was part of my aim. I had to stay away from that best part because

 I had to continue my studies and had to leave my home town. I dont remember other things there
but I badly miss the FM station, the mike, the chair and the entire environment. I still seek for vacancies in FM station, but fail to get it as a part time one. Poor me!

I am not sure if all the job holders feel the same way or not. But I believe 'if right person are placed in the right time at the right place' obviously the output will still be much fruitful as the organization will get truely dedicated staffs. A person having inner interest to work in medical line can never perform better than medical field when he is kept as an accountant and paid even more. And such case will bring negative output to both individual and organization.

First duty of an individual is to identify what he really wants to do tommorow. He has to recognize his personal interest, desire and his wants. He then should be able to convey it to his near and dear ones including his family members. Family members and friends should equally support him. Country at this time require truely dedicated staffs. A doctor should be true doctor who studied MBBS for himself taking it as his passion not as per the desire of his parents. Only then the field of doctory will turn to be
effective.

Sharing my view, I had the true desire to work in media. I worked and today I am out of it. I don’t know where I will work tommorow but I am sure my enthuasism will always be there for the job of RJ. Through my one year experience, all I got to understand is that when one is truly dedicated towards the job from the inner heart, he works to his fullest. If anyone out there doubts, close your eyes and find your interest and rush for it and measure the enthusiasm.

PUBLISHED IN THE RISING NEPAL ON MAY 6

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Walking in Banda

Walking in Banda



Being a Nepali it's not a huge thing to ace Banda, time and again. What do you do on this day? I simply stay at my room, go through my course studies and get updated with the news. But this time, I thought of doing something extra.

As I was on the capital this time, I thought of making visit round the valley. So with the purpose to visit embassy, to get known about the various scholarship programmes, I with my friends got set to walk. We first went to Nepal Tourism Board to get the map. There were hundreds of agitators sitting on the road, busy eating as if they were enjoying picnic. Then, our legs moved towards Ratnapark, where there was a huge gathering and the agitators were dancing below the air bridge. 'What a scene!' Not just we guys, but even the tourist must have been thinking and that's why they were clicking photo. Our legs gradually moved towards Durbar Marg which indeed as so silent! Nothing beside the crowd of agitators existed. Young people carrying flag were walking who seemed were having loads of fun. What qualification had he gained? And is he well informed about why is he agitating? Then we reached in front of Durbar, where I asked if king would be there, we might at least not see this day.

Slowly, we headed towards Lazimpath after visiting Indian, British, Canadian, French Embassy. There the agitators showed their real character.They shouted when the van of police passed their way with some vulgar words. Ah! Aren't those police there for security? What enmity were they showing? And when a teen girl passed through the crowd, the crowd was shouting teasing the girl. This ultimately led me to think that all those idiot fellows exists in the party who have nothing to do with their real life. We were searching for Finland embassy looking the map when our minds bugged up! We were shocked to figure
out that the embassy has been shifted to Bishalnagar. Oh! So why's there the mistake? My friend asked! Umm...In Big Places, such minor things are common...was my reply! No matter where ever it is, we still walked when we got to see PM's resident. Ah! What a beautiful place, what a beautiful street!

Why the road out of PM's residence and other streets in valley had such difference? Is it that only PM requires a neat place to live in? Then, after drinking a cup of tea we again started walking. Walking in Kathmandu for the people who are from out of capital was a separate fun for obvious. I would never walk for such a long distance spending such a huge time if I was in my hometown, All of us accepted that walking in Kathmandu was full of fun. And trust me! Walk with your friends at the time of Banda, you will really not just have fun but also get to learn many things.

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