13th Nepal Educational and Book Fair: A Letdown

The 13th Education and Book Fair held at Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu didn’t see as much glamour, visitors and media coverage compared to its previous year. Last year, the event had kicked off with a bang, with Dev Anand, the evergreen Indian actor inaugurating the event and later signing his autobiography “Romancing with Life”. The presence of this Bollywood sensation had drawn both media and public in bulk. But this year nothing of the sort happened. Although the event was inaugurated by poet Durga Lal Shrestha and noted Nepali writers Karna Shakya and Jagdish Ghimire spoke at the ceremony, it was not enough to create the buzz which last year’s fair had created. The opening ceremony itself was a fiasco; generating little media coverage.

To add further to its disappointment, the event collided with the examinations of students who are one of the prospective visitors of the fair. Also, with politics taking the centre stage at the moment, the fair couldn’t generate as much interest and attention from people. Worse, the global economy meltdown and inflation didn’t help either. Last year, the fair saw a mammoth of people visiting the event. The number had been confirmed to be over 300,000 but this year it downed by half.

Anjan Shrestha, Educational Book House says that “the business has gone down to 1/4th.” He believes it is the lack of promotion that resulted in the event receiving a lukewarm response. “The fair as a whole hasn’t been able to cater to the ever growing needs of the readers. All the book stalls are offering the same thing and there is no diversity of content.” he adds further. Shrestha’s views are also supported by Kavita of Penguin Books. She says this year’s fair didn’t get much media coverage and also blames the political situation of the country for putting prospective buyers at bay.

Last year, attractive discount offers had pulled the buyers. Palpasa Café was placed at Rs.100 ; naturally people thronged to the stall to buy it making it the bestseller. But this year such offers also failed to gather sizeable audience. Also, most publishers and sellers didn’t have a wide range of books. Penguin books’ stall wore a deserted look and had put up only those books which were already bestsellers. Some complained of their grievances because their order had not reached in time owing to the Terai strike.

The exhibitors wore a disappointed look and held the organizers responsible for not putting much effort into the fair. All in all this year’s book fair was a disappointment for many including me.

Life as it is now

Life, people say is a mysterious journey filled with happiness and sorrow. I guess everyone will agree with me on this one.After all, all of us have been through our share of joy and misery.Earlier, I had lots of complaints about my life. My body, my grades, my relationships all distressed me easily. But now I have learned to accept life as it comes. I have learnt not to be bothered by small, tiny things which are main cause for one's sorrow. I have learnt to work on my weaknesses and flaunt my strength. We see many people give up on life so easily with occurrence of certain mishaps. I don't want to be one of those person neither I want to be someone who just complains and doesn't work on it. we have one life after all and it depends on one's self to shape it.People envy others who have good life thinking I wish I had that person's fortune . But rather than wishing what we should be doing is creating such life for our self. Good life doesn't come easily neither does happiness. One should always work for it. I am applying this theory to my day-day life and believe me, the result is great. I am more satisfied with myself then ever before and above all I am happy. I guess that's what counts at the end of the day....

Be skeptical

It is not uncommon for us to hear that we are living in a world of competition. Survival of the fittest, first cum first serve are phrases explaining this very theory. As kids parents often tell us to be careful and not to interact with strangers outside because they believe it’s a jungle out there. It sure is according to my experience of the world. As we grow up we gradually figure out the workings of the world and I tell you it’s all a bitter sweet experience. Bitter if you fail to work accordingly and sweet when you get your steps right.

A philosopher- Rene Descartes had once said “one should always be skeptical about everything in the world except for one’s own existence”. If I had read his philosophy few years back I would be thinking Descartes was a screw up but today I totally agree with him. People may say being doubtful makes you negative but isn’t it better to be a little negative rather than to be fooled by others at the expense of your own success.

A friend of mine was recently duped by his friends to not give exams while they themselves went forward and gave the examination. Call my friend stupid or his friends evil; that doesn’t matter. This is just an example of many such instances happening in the world especially in workplace and educational institutions. The contemporary-industrialized world of today has created such a high level of competition among people (especially youth) that they inevitably feel insecure unless they pull someone four steps behind.

It has also made people selfish, ruthless and narcissist. People of today live in constant fear of being over taken. I have seen people go from being best friends to giving each other ‘I can’t stand you’ looks, from sharing their feelings to sharing forced smiles. Someone once told me you cannot make friends in college and to some extent I now find truth in the statement. When in college we are constantly competing for higher grades and good remarks from teachers. In the process we fail to maintain our friendship. Sometimes the trust is broken and at times the friendship in an un-mend able way.

Living in a capitalist age people tend to become materialistic and hence due to that part of us become shallow. We are always on the get go ready to bring people down in order to take their position. Competition is good and is required in every walk of life. It is due to competition that the human civilization has been able to come this far. But, what is needed is a healthy competition and not an immoral one.

So, be careful the next time you decide to entrust someone. Don’t forget that the Gandhian philosophy of offering your left cheek to someone who just slapped your right one doesn’t work anymore in this world of ever growing competition. Be skeptical and be realistic.

P.D.A at G.O.D

One of my friends who had just returned from Canada asked me to take her around the most happening places in Kathmandu. Naturally, the first place that came to my mind was Thamel. With its colourful ambience and foreigners setting the place abuzz, this place is definitely hard to ignore by. So, I took her around and finally after stopovers at different local shops, we settled for Garden Of Dreams. Garden of Dreams is located in Thamel chowk. Originally, it belonged to the Ranas who ruled the country for 104 years. About six years ago, it was opened to public.

The moment a person steps into this garden, it is difficult not to get enthralled by its beauty. From the magnificent fountains to the colourful floras to the exquisite sculptures, this garden truly stands by its name for it indeed is a dream garden. Apart from its beauty, the thing that caught my eye was the number of lovers drooling in the garden. The place was filled with young teenage lovers to old married couples, all trying to get their share of privacy. What amazed me was not the number of such couples but their willingness to display P.D.A.

Many of the people may not be familiar with the term P.D.A which stands for Public Display of Affection but most of us have seen it either on T.V or other mass media. Basically, in a country like Nepal it is rare to see P.D.A being displayed at all (and no, we don’t count the foreigners’ snogging in open). It may be due to our culture or our respect for others, Nepalese have always been hesitant in displaying affection in public. Small things such as holding hands, sharing a kiss or just a hug is looked down by the society. But this was clearly not the case in Garden of Dreams.

In every nook and corner of the place, some sort of affection was being shared. The onlookers didn’t pass any strange gazes neither gave a second look. This was so not the society I was used to living in. A part of me felt glad that our society was becoming more open minded but a part of me also felt that we may be heading toward the road to indecency which bothered me. It is not only in garden of dreams but many secluded areas where couples often forget their virtues and put the by-stander in an awkward position. I am not against P.D.A at all. Believe me, I’d be the last person to oppose it but I strictly believe there is a thin line between cute affection and raunchy P.D.A.

Journalism1- Assigment1

Why journalism and democracy are considered interdependent? Discuss with suitable examples.

Journalism and democracy are closely related. It is only in the presence of democracy that journalism can achieve its goal of communicating news freely and objectively.Also, journalism has in many cases helped bring about democracy to countries and it has also helped in sustaining democracy.

When we look into the history of our country Nepal we find that the first newspaper in Nepal, the Gorkhapatra was established in 1901 which acted as the mouthpiece of the government. After the introduction of democracy in 1951 there was growth of newspapers including vernacular weeklies, which expressed different political views and ideologies. But this growth came to halt when King Mahendra dissolved the elected parliament and Panchayat system came into being. This system which lasted for 30 years is well known for its hindrance towards press freedom and restrictions on media in private sector. Therefore, it is considered the darkest period in the history of Nepali media. Although Nepali press started to enjoy some liberties in 1979 after the nationwide pro-democracy movement, it was only after the re-introduction of democracy in 1990 that it was guaranteed its freedom. This led to a revolution in the media scenario of Nepal which has seen a massive growth since 1990.

In the democratic equation there are three types of identities: the politicians, the public and the publication. These three p’s of the democratic process which, through their correlation with each other , make modern democracy unique compared to other political philosophies. The relationship between the politician and the public, through the media and journalism particularly is distinctive in a democracy and has a very special connection with the electoral process, which separates true democracy from imitations. We can take the example of USSR which also had elections but that certainly didn’t make them a democracy. Liberated media is fundamentally crucial in genuine democratic societies because it practices the theory of including the public in governmental affairs, and commemorates the democratic idea that reality can only be relative and truth and facts are to be deemed authentic by individuals, not administrators.

Journalism is necessary because direct democracy is obsolete. People do not really have a say in modern democracy except for their vote. Journalism serves as a mirror to socio-political reality. It informs people about what really is going on and involves them in decision-making processes. In a democracy most of the times an average person is gone unnoticed and it is through journalism that average people are able to have a say and influence on things. The only real reason there is journalism in democracy is to make people aware. Had it not been for newspapers and media we wouldn’t be aware of the events taking place in the world. We wouldn’t be informed and cautious as we are now. Due to journalism we know about elections and candidates and we vote accordingly to what we hear and see through T.V, newspapers.

The main difference between a democratic and non-democratic country is not determined by elections, but by how free their journalists are. Journalism fails to serve its purpose in the absence of freedom. The essence of journalism is lost when it faces barriers and pressure from authorities. Democracy guarantees journalists that freedom and encourages them to have and publish their own opinions. In the absence of democracy journalism becomes futile and tools of propaganda or rather the mouthpiece of the authority in power.

Journalism is an anarchist dimension where individuals choose to relay the truth, or make their own. Government don’t need free press, but free journalism needs democracy. Free journalism is simply impossible without one. A democracy would be unattainable without attempting to include the public into government affairs. Free press can be good or bad but without freedom the press will most certainly be bad. Journalism for better or worse is the best example of the freedom of individuals and the importance of free thought in a democracy.

We can take the example of china where there is no democracy and hence no free journalism. The Chinese government has the full authority over the media there. They are known for censoring those media which are inappropriate to them and endanger their prestige among the Chinese people. The Chinese television channels and newspapers always broadcast and print newspapers in the favour of their government. During the 2008 Olympic Games which was held in Beijing, China; the government didn’t broadcast any news about the protests happening world wide against it. When questioned by foreign media about it to the people there, they were unaware and didn’t have any idea about it. This is one of the few instances where the Chinese government has violated the citizens’ right to freedom and expression.

In modern, democratic societies the press is considered the fourth state. Although democracy ensures press freedom but it also makes sure that the freedom given is not unlimited. Therefore, the government drafts law and acts regarding press freedom. This is done in order to assure that the freedom given is not misused in the field of journalism.

Journalism provides a forum of public debate about different issues and articulates public opinion. It forces government to take into consideration the opinion of people. It also provides an independent channel of communication between different groups in the society. Thus. It becomes an agent of private citizens being reconstituted as a public body exercising informal supervision of the state.

The inter-relationship between Journalism and democracy is undeniable. One cannot function properly in the absence of other. Journalism makes sure that democracy is being exercised in the proper way. Journalism ensures that people become public and they have a say in politics. It is through journalism that the people gain power and journalism becomes a voice through which people speak. Likewise, journalism also advocates for the importance of democracy. It speaks against injustice, inequality and authoritarian rule. Similarly, democracy facilitates journalism. It gives them the freedom to do their work without interference from any parties.

Hear Us Out

"Yesterday you owned the sun

But today it is mine"

The above two lines are taken from a Tibetan poem titled “We the six million Tibetans.” The poem describes the Tibetan spirit and speaks of the love they have for their nation. Until few days back I was living a normal teenage life. With a “who cares” attitude I didn’t really think much about the independence of Tibet. All I cared about was I. An average college student; I spent my days attending lectures, hanging out with friends or simply reading a book.

Since I was always surrounded by Nepalese I felt I belonged with them. But deep down I knew I was different. Unlike them I had my roots entrenched in Tibetan soil and my link to the country was inevitable. Despite not having visited the country even once I shared a strong bond with it. It maybe because of the language I speak, the culture that I follow or because of my typical Tibetan family.

After reading and watching the ongoing Tibetan protests I felt deeply saddened and glad at the same time. Sad because I wasn’t being able to be a part of it and glad because finally Tibetans were speaking out. Since I stay in a University hostel I couldn’t take part in the demonstrations but I wasn’t going to sit idly either. I thought to myself at least I could write about it and let people know what actually is happening in Tibet.

It has been more than 6 decades that china took over Tibet and destroyed its independence. During 1950s the Chinese began their invasion and in the process killed, abused and injured thousands. Tibet with a meager population of 6 million was not able to resist to the Chinese power. Hundreds of children orphaned and many others displaced. Monks and nuns were tortured and all monasteries demolished. The Chinese not only took our land but also our freedom: freedom to live freely.

As Chinese became more and more brutal, Tibetans had no other choice but to flee their homes.Many sought shelter in the neighboring countries. I am so appreciative of all the host states that welcomed and provided us roof over our heads. But as we all know how much ever luxurious a hotel may be we would always prefer returning back home.

Tibet is my home and I cannot stand Chinese destroy it. The Chinese have time and again tried different tactics to defame Tibetans. The recent news about Tibetans planning suicide attacks is yet another Chinese tactic of showing Tibetans as violent and dangerous. It is indeed sad to read that such inhuman act is being linked to the Dalai Lama who stands for peace and non violence.

Tibetans have suffered enough from the hands of Chinese and the world needs to listen to our unheard voices. It is time we stand up and stop the Chinese from hurting more of our fellow Tibetans.

Do you Bunk?

Students in uniform hanging out in the public during the school/ college time are not an unfamiliar sight to us. No, it’s not a sign of increasing educational excursion by academic institutions but the growing trend of bunking. So, what do we exactly mean by bunking? To bunk is basically to skip the classes and go someplace other than school. In fact this trend has become so common we rarely find any student who hasn’t bunked his/her school or college at least once. Likewise, I too have bunked my classes. In my case it was more like hiding within the school compound. I and my friends would basically conceal ourselves in the bathroom or the basketball court.

There are many reasons why students choose to bunk school. To some following the same routine everyday gets tedious whereas some may feel that attending classes is worthless. The endless assignments, teachers’ complaints and a desire to break free from all these often leads a student towards the path of bunking. Earlier it was more common among the college students but now it is equally prevalent in the middle schools as well.

The trend of bunking has reached a height where the students often organize mass bunking. This new form of bunking requires everybody in the class to be absent thus showing the mass participation of students. It is organized in cases where the students want pre-holiday or post-holiday.

So, where do the students go if not to school. Well there are lots of hubs set up for this very purpose. From the early morning movie shows to early breakfast in restaurants or simply lingering the town the students have found different ways of indulging themselves to pass the time which actually was meant for school. Many of you might be astonished to know this but the horizon of bunking is very broad. It merely doesn’t mean few naughty pupils not attending classes but the whole class or even the college may be a part of it. Personally, I have seen the largest group of students of a particular college occupying the whole accommodation of a movie hall during college hours.

When the students get bored doing all the above mentioned stuff they choose to go partying. Different dance clubs have even shifted their opening time for students to enjoy the pleasure of clubbing early morning. But all these pleasure is not attainable without an amount of risk involved. There is always fear of being caught either by the parents or the school.

The immense increase in the rate of bunkers has called for firm action from school/college officials. They are obliged to impose strict rules and take bunking more seriously. It is not a bad thing to take break from studies once in a while. After all we are humans and we need rest. But when that rest exceeds too much and for too long then a person often fails to do his prime job as in the case of students –they fail to educate themselves.