Miscultured Festival of Colours

"Have a safe and Happy Holi". "स्वस्थ र रमाइलो होली खेलौ ।"

WE (me and one of my friends - lady) were surprized to get a handbill/leaflet with this message from  a group of teenaged students yesterday. Suprize because, just before few minutes, we were attacked with a Lola, full of water by someone unknown of similar age.

Holi is supposed to be "festival of Colours", and colours are what make our life live. Colours of Holi (are supposed to) represent different modes and moments of human life. If played with friends and relatives safely, happily and healthily, the celebration symbolizes our colours of life. But, the reality in front of us is far from what is expected to be.

Probably many sane citizens of this country have felt that this holy festival of Holi is being as dirty and unhealthy as water filled in the Lolas. The festival of friendship and joy has appeared as chance of countless cruelty, attack of Lolas to unknown people. Mostly, ladies of teen and youth age have been suffering a lot from this irritating misculture. Interestingly, more of the Lola-throwers are males and most of them want their targets to be females. Yet, many many girls are also enjoying stupidity of this misculture. And, similarly to those of males, they want their targets to be of opposite sex. Why do people want to throw Lolas to opposite sex? Is such a trend new or customary for years? Does it apply to only urban areas or rural districts?- I do know nothing about the answers, if you know please share...

BUT, what I know is this tradition is not good and suitable for a civilized and developed society. First of all the Holi is to be celebrated with own friend circle and family members, only if they enjoy it. You can't get joy by making other people suffer. You don't have any rights to celebrate any festival by destroying other people's right to walk freely on public streets. 

Anyway, for this year, I am quite happy because of the leaflet mentioned above. In past years, I never had got such wishes. I with this write-up want to share the same wish "Have a safe and Happy Holi". "स्वस्थ र रमाइलो होली खेलौ ।".

"Planned Result" of "Fair Voting"

Yesterday I was in a small election program as an observer. In fact, it was for reformation of a youth club, established by some students of a college. The college is well-known in Kathmandu valley and has more than 1000 students. However, the club only includes students from one single faculty of its Bachelor level.

I also had observed election of the same club previous year also, and there the coordinator was unanimously elected. However, this year I knew that 3 students were competing for the post. Fortunately (for the candidates themselves), only vice-coordinator and Joint-treasurer were unanimously elected. Other candidates faced election! There were 2 for a secretary, 2 or 3 for a joint-secretary and a treasurer. Nine students were competing for 5 posts of member.

ELECTION - everyone expects fairness and right judgment. I was also expecting so, but it went wrong. The founder coordinator of the club now has become a staff of the same college, and this day he was chief of the election committee. (Don't think anything wrong, he is my old and good friend: and I believe he can face this accusation.) Now he can't do anything as he wishes because he is now chief of election committee, formed for fairness of the election. How can we blame him?

However, he had prepared a lot for the election before. He had a full panel in deed. 

Before the voting begins, all the candidates were given a minute for speech in front of their voters. I am not going to give you all the details. But, only of views of candidates for coordinator. As said, there were three- two female and a male. The first male candidate spoke on his plans to run the club with better and more creative planning than the previous leadership. No one expected more words from the second candidate (female), because she began with "Actions speak louder than words".  She said that she would do better since she had exhausted a year in the club as vice-coordinator. Further, she said that it is women's turn for leadership, because there were already 2 male coordinators in the last two years. (In appearance, it seemed quite one-sided, but the fact was that 90% of total voters were female.) Reacting on her speech, the male candidate immediately said that male and female have equal rights and responsibilities. The election committee however managed the row! The third's candidate's speech was not so important that she got 4 votes out of 53.

The male was supported by that man, my old and good friend. Apparently we neutral observers had found that the female candidate is far better than him, not only in words, but also in actions. The result came. Not surprisingly (because we already had known that the boy had got support from my friend), he won 32 votes against 17 of that lady. I felt poor and helpless! This was "planned result of a fair election". 

Since yesterday's event, I have began to suspect on fairness of all the elections. I now realize that election does not necessarily bring out democracy and good governance. First we need to develop a strong sense of judgment on the minds of voters, so that it can't be guided by weak logics of some influencing man. This applies to election of all level- from a intra-college club to the nation. What do you think?

The greatest Art ?

"Every art requires trainig and you can do it in this world. Stealing is the only subject, for which you can't find trainging facility, nevertheless it is no less artistic than anything else."

It's not a deep thought, neither it is a report on present situation in Kathmandu. It's just my experience. I thought it is better to share my experience with you.

Yesterday, I visited book exhibition being held at City Hall, Kathmandu by Sajha Prakashan. It was well for a book-lover, I was spent nearly 3 hours in shallow observation of hundreds of books. Surprisingly to you, I only bought a book which costs NRS 50.25. 

I caught a micro-bus to Kapan at Ratnapark. I felt myself lucky entering to the vehicle, because it is impossible for a passenger of Kapan-routed micro-bus to get a seat at Ratnapark at that time (nearly 5pm).  And, I had got it!

The bus micro arrived in front of  NAC Building (still popularly known as RNAC). As expected there were dozens of people waiting for the micro. They all wanted to take on their vehicles. Nearly, this micro also added 10 people. Among them, two were mother and daughter. Just after a minute of their taking-on, the daughter touched her pocket and whispered her mom that she has lost her cell. 

What had happened in fact was the girl was so protective and cautious for her possessions that she had been keeping her hands in her pocket of her jacket, in which she had kept her cell. Someone "professional" thief was watching it and as soon as the girl put off her hand to take on the vehicle, the professional man/woman dragged the cell from her pocket. 

This might seem to you common in Kathmandu. But the mom's reaction was quite unexpected. At first, she said, "Cell gone? Khuchching! I won't buy another to you." She continued her long diatribe against her girl, on the other hand the victim was hiding her face. According to the mom, she had suspended two male faces as "thief", but couldn't help the girl. 

The passengers of the bus talked about the same incident during my journey to Kapan. The hooker quote given in the first paragraph was one said by a passenger, which I found not only interesting, but also realistic too! What do you think?

Domestic workers elect new committee

Diwakar Pyakurel

Kathmandu, 6 February

The first domestic workers' union in South Asia NIDWU has elected its new central committee for next four years.

The first national convention of Nepal Independent Domestic Workers' Union (NIDWU) held in Kathmandu on Friday has elected the new committee chaired by Sonu Danuwar. Danuwar herself was the chairperson for last three years since the union was established.

The convention unanimously elected Vice-Chairperson, General Secretary, Secretaries and five members.  Sushila Chaulagain and Rohini Prasad Dahal were elected Vice-Chairperson and General Secretary respectively. Similarly, Ganesh Danuwar, Bechan Mahato and Sunita Ghimire were respectively elected Economic, Education & Publication and Female Secretaries. The convention elected Bina Magar, Rekha Karki, Inchu Danuwar, Saraswati Danuwar and Srijana Tamang as members.   Two members of the committee will be nominated later.

Shanti Adhikari, CA member of CPN (UML) and a human rights activist as well, congratulated the newly elected committee.

Inaugurating the convention, Chairperson of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GeFONT) Bishnu Rimal, who is also a CA member from CPN (UML), congratulated and acknowledged those who are united for freedom and rights. He also committed to guarantee rights of laborers in the new constitution and other related laws. Representatives of various labor organizations and NGOs expressed their good wishes for success of the convention.

The convention also amended its Bidhan provisioning three secretaries. It also extended the working period of the central committee to four years from three years. The convention also passed Organizational and Financial Report of the union.