Banda Blogging

"What matters that I am open, if the nation is closed?" I kept it Facebook status, with much laziness. Really, I am frustrated in this Banda.

Do you know why? At first, it is so longer. If today was not Banda, I would be in rush for the whole day in studies and some little of bigger works. But now, you know what I am doing. I have not crossed the gate of my home for last few days.  Where to go? Why to go? What to do? Whom to meet? How to go? So, I stay at home the whole day. Sometimes I read, sometimes I watch TV, sometimes I enjoy Facebook, sometimes I do some pending personal works, I can do whatever I wish. If I feel bored to do anything, I just nap for some minutes.

Despite such plenty of time available to me, I haven't written on blogs. I don't know exactly why I am not willing to write. What to write on? Nothing is there except the Banda. What to write about Banda? Everyone I have met is saying that Banda is irritating, I hate it. Do I need to repeat that again in my blogs? I think no. Really, who can be there to enjoy Banda except the organizers and their blind followers? And so, the people have begun to retaliate them.

But wait, this Banda is not the longest one in our history. The fresh 2006 April movement was three times longer than it. However, the great difference lies between these two. Then, the general people were protestors, today only the cadres of the party are protesting. Then, they demanded the change in state system and laws, today they demand change in prime minister! (How shameful, does this demand deserve such movement?) Then, the organizer was parties' alliance, today it is the single party. Though, the organizer claims it to be 'Janaandolan' (People's Movement), certainly it is not; because its organizer and participants don't represent whole and general people as the past Janaandolans did.

Yes, protests are democracy-guaranteed rights. But, it is not for democracy, I feel so. I had a chat with one respectable personality, who has greater political acquaintance than me.  He at first said, "Let is be. It's matter of democracy. They have rights to do so." The, I asked, "Do you think will democracy be stronger than today, it the Aandolan gets success?" He replied, "How can that be Bhai! Rather, it might be more vulnerable."

I am praying to get rid of it soon. Yesterday, I again kept a new Facebook status, "Does anyone know anything when will this Banda end?" So far, no has replied anything. I am, still waiting any reply for that question.

May Day celebrated

(Since the Maoist used this occasion to begin its mass protest, you might not know that other parties and organizations also marked it. I have participated on one program.)

Diwakar Pyakurel

Kathmandu, 2 May

GeFONT, a leading trade union federation of Nepal marked the May Day with various programs in collaboration with Confederation of Nepalese Professional (CONEP).

On May 1st (Saturday), General Federation of Nepalese trade Unions organized a grand ceremony at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi. In the program Jhala Nath Khanal, Chairperson of CPN-UML, opined hat May Day is Tihar for the working class. "The Day has awakened for equal wage for equal work", he said. He further said that today everyone should be united for completion of two major national agendas: peace and constitution. "We don't need to worry about leadership for peace and constitution. Our nation has parties like CPN-UML", he stated.  He also hoped that the nation will get consensus on those agendas soon.

Delivering the 'keynote' speech, Bishnu Rimal , Chairperson of GeFONT, expressed his best wishes to all working class. "Transformation is possible, we have realized it and worked accordingly", commencing the speech, he said. Rimal, who is also CA member from CPN-UML also noticed that the committees of CA have proposed pro-labour class provisions for new constitution, because of pressure and movements from Trade Unions. However, he expressed sorrow over worrying relationship between major political parties, which has resulted in failure of CA deadline.   

Pramod Raj Sharma, Chairperson of CONEP, while expressing vote of thanks, said that May Day is the Day of Struggle and Success. "However, we still need to do some more", he added.

Some international guests also have delivered speeches on the program, wishing "Long live working class".

The program was chaired jointly by Bishnu Rmal, Chairperson of GeFONT and Pramod Raj Sharma, Chairperson of CONEP.

The program was live broadcasted by NTV and Ujyalo National Network.

After viewing 'KHARIKO GHERO'

Today I viewed the drama, 'KHARIKO GHERO', a translated Nepali drama at Gurukul Theatre.

I found the drama seriously meaningful as well as extremely entertaining. The play offers both understanding and pleasure in greater degree.

For me, the themes of the play were about motherhood, courage, love and justice. Geeta, a servant in the King's palace, is the real Hero of the play. She saves and bring sup Manohar, the prince who was approached by the army men with for some conspiracy. The basic plot is all about her struggles to hide and protect Manohar and herself from army men of the force. Akkal Bahadur, is the secondly most important character, who appears only in the second half of the play. With many weakness and stupidities, though, he has proved himself a good judge at the end of the play. He is corrupt regarding economic matters, abuses people (especially women) with harsh words. He is unknown to any legal provision; neither has he wanted to know them. He thinks   himself a full court and makes verdicts according to his own random instincts. Yet, his final verdict - regarding whom the child should be given - seems absolutely just and appropriate.

The drama ends with a melodious song with a greater message, "Vehicle - of who drives, child - of who brings up, land - of who ploughs…" This is straightforward, plain but appropriate and objective formula of justice, as presented in the play.

In many scenes, audiences can not stop their laughter, especially in the actions and dialogues of King's brother, Geeta's husband and mother-in-law, Akkal Bahadur and some army men.

However, the drama contains some such dialogues and scenes, which can be found "semi-obscene" for family environment in Nepali society. The army men's treatment over Geeta, Geeta's husband's bath scene and army men's general use of verbal and bahavioural codes to refer sexual matters can be found indigestive to some Nepali people. On the other hand, the drama has shown the Queen "unlike mother", who is far more concerned with make-ups and apparels, than her own child.

The drama is more than two hours and 10 minutes long with a 10-minute interval. The drama begins after 5:30pm, therefore ends at nearly 8pm. The organizer should realize that many people who are eager to enjoy the performance, have not become able to attend it, because of this time factor. If it would begin quite earlier of it would be quite shorter, more people would get chance to enjoy it.

Welcome and Farewell program

Diwakar Pyakurel

Kathmandu, 15 April

Sagarmatha Multiple College (SMC) and Sagarmatha College for Higher Studies (SCHS) have jointly organized Welcome and Farewell program on Thursday (15 April) in Kathmandu.

The college family has bid farewell to BBS and BA 3^rd year passed students with souvenirs. Also the college expressed good bye to grade twelfth students who are going to appear in the final examinations next week.

Speaking at the program, Principal of SCHS, Chandra Prasad Dhakal expressed his commitment to make education more practical and qualitative. Ganga Prasad Uprety, Chairperson of the college and Vice Chancellor (VC) of Nepal Academy, thanked all hands, who helped to make the program a success. The formal section of the program was chaired by Uprety.

The college also awarded winners of sports activities, held a month ago.

After the formal section was concluded, the students have performed many cultural and talent shows, especially songs and dances. The college had formed an organizing team some weeks ago comprising of some students to conduct the program. About three dozens students had contributed the program as volunteers.

Dream Centre succeeds second session

Diwakar Pyakurel,

Chandol, 14 April

Altogether 24 schoolgirls have been graduated from Dream Centres, functioned by Mitrataa Foundation.

Organizing a special program, on 14^th April (Wednesday), the Foundation bid farewell to its students with certificates. Among the graduated girls, 17 are from Panchakanya Lower Secondary School, Chandol and seven from Bhimsengola Lower Secondary School, Baneshwor.

The Foundation also awarded some of the excellent students, who have shown outstanding performance on specific aspects of learning, like speaking power, creativity, and cooperation.

Dream Centre is a six-month long project, which helps the schoolgirls with weak academic performance improve in the skills for learning and skills for life. They attend the classes daily after their schools. In Dream Centres, especially trained facilitators facilitate them for learning and life skills.

Speaking in the program, the students said that they have found easier to study with alternative methods after they attended the centres. “Besides, we can learn many things like importance of goal setting and cooperation here, which are not taught in our schools”, said Ramila Majhi, a fifth-grader student from Panchakanya School. Similarly, Sushma Ghale and Pramila Bhetawal also had shared their experiences.

Adam Ordish, Executive Director of Mitrataa Foundation, requested the graduated girls to study hard further and apply the learnt skills into their daily lives. “Study hard, your dreams will come true”, he said. Deepak Kumar Sharma, Chairperson of Bishal Milan Kendra, one of the community organization supporting for the centres, expressed his wishes that may many girls find the same opportunities for their brilliant future. Gopal Shreshtha, a teacher from Panchakanya School, reported that the Dream Centre-attending students have really improved on their academic level. He also appreciated the centres’ attempt to teach life skills, which are not incorporated into formal school curriculum yet.

With this, Dream Centre has completed two sessions. The first batch has already been graduated in November, last year.

The day of freedom…

"Saturday is the day of freedom, because it is weekend to us Nepalese." I told one of my classmates when she asked about my presence at the exam hall without proper uniform.

Yes, the day turned into the day of freedom. If not for me, for our girls of Dream Centre. (Please read my previous post to know the context).

I have been involving to Dream Centre since last year March. It is a project of an Australian NGO, helping Nepalese girls to do better in their education. You can further know about it on http://www.mitrataa.org/projects/dream_centres.htm.

Totally, 32 girls were participated in the picnic. We were just to facilitate them. However, it was also extremely joyful for us. We accompanied the girls to sing, dance and play. The girls were accompanied by some girls of an Australian school. The Australian girls shared their talents. Our girls were also not less, a couple of our girls taught them on how to dance in the popular Nepali Child's song, "Leka ka hami ketaketi…" Then, the girls visited the Botanical Garden, took many of photographs and chatted this and that. I think, this is their   expression of freedom. The girls, compared to the boys, feel in their home s and school, that they are not, granted freedom much. Therefore, they don't find proper environment to enjoy in this settings. This program particularly for the Dream Centre girls provided an excellent opportunity to express themselves.  

Really, Saturday was the day of freedom for me in the past, it is now and it will be the same in the future. However, I am not sure about their past, but it made today The Day of Freedom to those girls, and also motivated them to make the same in the future.

(When I get some photographs, I will add to it.)

Tired in the model VDC

Today, I enjoyed the full day with Dream Centre girls at Godavari, for a picnic. Really, it was a great fun. It was UNEXPLANABLY joyful. So, I am not going to describe it. Rather, I am here sharing an experience, which might make you negative toward such a beautiful village.

(If time allows me, I will post another piece to describe joy of it.)

I had an exam this morning so that I was left by other friends and I had to go alone later. It was not problem for me, so did I. When I was near to the venue, one of our friends called me, who was already on the venue and asked me to bring some medicines. I thought that I can get them after I take off the microbus. After, I took of the microbus and asked the local people about where the medical shop is there. I was surprised to hear from them that the place does not have any medical shop unless we return to TAUKHEL, some one and half kilometer far from that. I had no option, except to go there and bring those medicines.

During my visit back, I saw a board which told that Godavari is a "MODEL" VDC (Namuna GABISA). This information surprised me. How can Godavari be a model VDC, where we have to walk nearly 3o minutes (or more than that) for a single piece of medicine?

Yes, Godavari is extremely beautiful naturally and also developed a lot on other sectors, comparing to other VDCs of Nepal. But, why is it so in the case of health?

Now also I am remembering the same tiredness I felt when I was on the way to search medical shop. Oh, it made me tired again… I can't write more…Good night…

Hope and fear

Today, at a same venue, I met two journalists – of two different journalistic backgrounds.

The one was the man, who had run a weekly paper for twelve years, from Birtamod, Jhapa. Another was the man, who had just begun a fortnightly paper some months ago, but couldn't continue it after two issues because of various reasons. obviously, one was so veteran who had already experienced seven years since he left twelve-year long journey in journalism. Another was one, who had just initiated the journey; or let's say he has not begun to walk yet.

However, there were some commonalities between them. Both opined that journalism in Nepal can't be professional unless they are backed up by some specific political parties. The veteran opined that his paper would not be closed if he was ready to become "Jhole Patrakar" of a party. The youth opined that he couldn't continue his paper well, because his team aimed to do "independent journalism".

Though they were pessimist about political influence on media, they both agreed on growing strength of media in Nepal. The veteran told that Kantipur began some years after his paper, but now the paper rules the state! He further told his experience of visiting Delhi for some training on journalism with today's well-known journalists.

So, as a student of journalism, today I got optimist as well as pessimist views about my would-be career from experienced persons. I experience hope and fear simultaneously.  This will help, I believe, to guide me in future.

Impacts of mass media in youths

Youths and mass communication – both of these subjects can be well explained in relation to the pace of development. Be it the enlightened thinkers or the layman, youth are the agent of change in everyone's perspective. Mass communication likewise is the yardstick to gauge the degree of development. More the numbers and varieties of mass media more the area is likely to be prospered, in other words. Mass communication as such in any way exerts a massive impact in the human life.

Since the entire society and life is influenced by the communication, its impacts on youth cannot be denied either. They are in fact even more influenced since they crave strongly to build affinity with those devises. The thought crisis engendered with age and sentiments itself propels them towards this direction.

Blessed with audio visual techniques, television stands way ahead to every other mass media, the impacts of which might be negative as well as positive. There is no dearth of people who have kindled progress in their life by dint of these. Whereas on the other part we have begun to hear many people saying" television has propelled him out of gear" Now the question to the fore is how to distinguish negative from positive. How to weed out the negative if any and if positive, how not to forfeit it?

Forwarding the questions here need answers as well to be addressed. We but can well dig the answers if we give our thoughts at least once to it. The facts which degrade our physical, mental, personal and social life should be abandoned. And if they exert any positive impact, then of course, they need to be well confessed.

Nowadays, people describing the impacts as negatives refer it as the agents of westernization for which youths are equally blamed along with the media itself. Positive thinkers on the other hand confess it as the way to modernization. It nonetheless seems to be more judicial and objective to define the impacts as directly guided by the notions and views of consumers, in a larger scale. Even from this perspective, the negative upshots have but governed the today's urban society. And of course, this is a matter of vexation to the positive thinkers at par with those wishing the involvement of youths in social welfare.

The youths in fact had to pilot the mass media as per their need and demand of time. To the contrary, these youths, they are evidently suspected to have been stagnated in the paths shown by them. This is of course not good news in any way. To minimize this, on the one hand youth need to mobilize their thoughts and skill ands on the other the programs that prove friendly for the full fledged improvements should be escalated, significantly.

(Thanks to Shruti Kadariya for translation. It is written some 3 years ago.)

Provisions for Press Freedom in Constitutions of South Asian Countries

(For your kind information to those who want to know legal provisions about media in SA constitutions, I have posted it.)

NEPAL

12. Right to Freedom:

(3) Every citizen shall have the following freedoms:

(a) Freedom of opinion and expression;

Provided that,

(1) nothing in sub-clause (a) shall be deemed to prevent the making of laws to impose reasonable restrictions on any act which may undermine the sovereignty and integrity of Nepal, or which may jeopardize the harmonious relations subsisting among the peoples of various castes, tribes, religion or communities, or on any act of defamation, contempt of court or incitement to an offence; or on any act which may be contrary to decent public behaviour or morality.

15. Right Regarding Publication, Broadcasting and Press: (1) No publication and broadcasting or printing of any news items, editorial, article, writings or other readings, audio-visual materials, by any means including electronic publication, broadcasting and press, shall be censored.

Provided that nothing shall be deemed to prevent the making of laws to impose reasonable restrictions on any act which may undermine the sovereignty or integrity of Nepal, or which may jeopardise the harmonious relations subsisting among the peoples of various castes, tribes or communities; or on any act of sedition, defamation, contempt of court or incitement to an offence; or on any act which may be contrary to decent public behaviour or morality.

(2) No radio, television, online or any other types of digital or electronic means, press or any other communication media shall be closed, seized or be cancelled the registration because of publishing and broadcasting or printing any material by such means of audio, audio-visual or electronic equipments.

(3) No newspaper, periodical or press shall be closed, seized or be cancelled the registration for printing and publishing any news items, articles, editorial, writings or other reading materials.

(4) No communication means including press, electronic broadcasting and telephone shall be obstructed except in accordance with law.

INDIA

Right to Freedom

19. (1) All citizens shall have the right—

(a) to freedom of speech and expression;

BHUTAN

Article 7

Fundamental Rights

1. All persons shall have the right to life, liberty and security of person and shall not be deprived of such rights except in accordance with the due process of law.

2. A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech, opinion and expression.

3. A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to information.

4. A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. No person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement.

5. There shall be freedom of the press, radio and television and other forms of dissemination of information, including electronic.

BANGALADESH

39. Freedom of thought and conscience, and of speech.

(1) Freedom or thought and conscience is guaranteed.

(2) Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence-

(a) the right of every citizen of freedom of speech and expression; and freedom of the press, are guaranteed

MALDIVES

Freedom of expression

27. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and the freedom to communicate opinions and expression in a manner that is not contrary to any tenet of Islam.

Freedom of the media

28. Everyone has the right to freedom of the press, and other means of communication, including the right to espouse, disseminate and publish news, information, views and ideas. No person shall be compelled to disclose the source of any information that is espoused, disseminated or published by that person.

Freedom of acquiring and imparting knowledge

29. Everyone has the freedom to acquire and impart knowledge, information and learning.

PAKISTAN

19.

Freedom of speech, etc. Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court,[15][commission of] or incitement to an offence.

AFGANISTAN

Article Thirty- Four
Ch. 2, Art. 13

Freedom of expression is inviolable.

Every Afghan has the right to express his thought through speech, writing, or illustration or other means, by observing the provisions stated in this Constitution.

Every Afghan has the right to print or publish topics without prior submission to the state authorities in accordance with the law.

Directives related to printing house, radio, television, press, and other mass media, will be regulated by the law.

SRI LANKA

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

10. Every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice. 

Freedom of Speech, assembly, association, movement, &c.

14. (1) Every citizen is entitled to -

(a) the freedom of speech and expression including publication;

Neutral Condolence

Yes, I have to write something about death of Girija Prasad Koirala (GPK).

Pages of newspapers on Sunday and Monday and programs of all radios and TVs on Saturday and Sunday were filled with appreciation of the late leader. They introduced him as "the greatest leader of the era in Nepal", "the towering freedom fighter", Guardian of the nation" and so on.

However, I personally think that GPK was one of the most criticized politicians in his lifetime. Many people - from laymen to established think-tanks - have blamed him for being autocrat and hypocrite.

It is not unnatural because every personality is blending of strengths and weaknesses. GPK has contributed a lot for establishment of peace, democracy, and liberty in our country. He is mastermind behind today's on-going political transformation. BUT, it is also not lie that he was somehow autocrat. He had many times prioritized his family than his own political party, and the nation. His love for the daughter was uncountable!

Among many critics of Koirala, I found three interesting as well as thoughtful : Gagan Thapa (Youth Leader of Nepali Congress), Khagendra Sangraula (Political writer) and Moda Nath Prasrit (Former UML leader and writer). Thapa, after death of the leader, in a radio interview says, "Person near death forgets selfishness. Despite his previous self-centered actions, Girijababu lying in his deathbed didn't talk about his daughter. Neither he talked about Koirala family, nor about Nepali Congress. He generously suggested Prime Minister and Prachand a to lead the nation. This final act has outweighed all his selfish words and actions. He proved himself a national leader". Sangraula, who hardly appreciates anyone, writes, "His presence on the streets used to be inspiration of courage and strength for us during street movement after Gyanendra's takeover. He was the only tall, credible, and effective guardian able to stare at Gyanendra's Marshall ruling." He further opines, "Statue of Tribhuvan is placed above statues of four martyrs at Sahidgate. That place of respect is now for Girijababu". I, so far, have not got opportunity to know what Prasrit is thinking on him, after his death. If you know something, please share...

Heartfelt condolence to GPK, the great leader as well as the great autocrat.

CWISH to survey on child protection

Diwakar Pyakurel

Kathmandu, 19 March

CWISH, a human-rights organization, is going to conduct a survey on child protection among urban poor women next week.

The organization has planned to conduct 'Study on Child Sexual Abuse: Understanding & Protection Practices among Urban Poor Women' among 200 women from different 10 sites of the Kathmandu valley.  

According to the researcher organization, the outcome of the survey will help assess women's understanding and practice of child protection, service of service-provider agencies and also recommend for effective policies.

In the survey, the women's understanding, and practices on protection of children from abuses will be assessed, according to Writu Bhatta, Program Coordinator of CWISH. The questionnaire of the survey focuses on women's understanding of child sexual abuse (CSA) and protection of children from it. According to Bhatta, 100 of total participants will be already aware of child protection issues, while rests 100 might not be familiar with it. "Therefore it works as a comparative study of their understanding", she says.

For the survey, 10 enumerators are already selected and they are going to begin the research on coming Sunday.

The data collection stage is planned to finish by next Saturday. However, it takes some more time to analyze and present it, the source said.

Get a goal

"A person without a goal is a monkey."

I used to her this saying frequently when I did not know anything about goal, even its literal meaning. That time, I thought it is all lie, because I was not monkey! But when I grew up gradually, I began to realize seriousness and truth contained in this silly statement.

In early teenage, we may have a number of goals, not a single one. We want to be "jack of all". Gradually we begin to realize that our capabilities are limited as the time and space available to our life. We step   by step subtract our goals and reduce it into single one. This seems a logical way for goal setting. (But WAIT – Don't try to reduce even after it is one. Otherwise, it will be zero, and you will be goalless.)

Having too much goal is really a problem. You can not move to east and west at the same time. If you try to do that, you will be pressured by two opposing forces and thus feel trapped and weak in yourself, and both of these two sectors.

However, it does not mean that a successful person is restricted to one profession .In fact, multi-professional people have also achieved great success with great satisfaction all over the world. Ronald Reagan was a successful politician and a popular actor at the same time. In Nepal too, BP Koirala is one of the most acknowledged leader as well as story writer. However, you need to have strength to maintain balance between and among such professions. It will be easier if the sectors, though different in one way, are interconnected and provide a common space. One can be journalist and a littérateur at the same time, because both are games of the words and their intersect-ground exists. One can be teacher and leader simultaneously. But, it will be very hard and required exceptionally great effort for him/her to be an athlete-cum-professor. A very narrow, if any, ground exists there sharing quality of both professions.

The more problematic than multiple goals is not having goal at all. And, it is seen in our society that most early youths are in such a circumstance. "M…………, I want to be …... To tell the truth, I don't have any goal so far……. Suggestions please…………..", most of our friends tend to reply in such ways if they are asked to tell the goal of their life. For it, not only youths are responsible. Our social and cultural values do not guide us to determine and attempt for a specific mission in our life. Rather, it tells "whatever you will meet in your future is already assigned to you before birth". Opposing to general Western belief, our culture thinks that fate guides our life, not our actions. Fatalism leads us beyond goal setting orientation.

So what to do? For success in your life, you need to have a goal.  If you have fixed a goal already, try to make it more specific and attainable and initiate your attempts to achieve it. If you are still in confusion about your future, think immediately and decide your goal. But how to find out appropriate and attainable goal?

Setting the goal

Before discussing about how to set a good goal, lets try to define what a good goal is. Great Poet of Nepali literature opines, "Lets take the goal to fly and touch the moon" (Uddesya ke linu udi chhunu Chandra eka. ) It means that our goal should be quite ambiguous and great. However, modern experts opine that our goal should be as specific and attainable as possible.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia defines, "A goal or objective is a projected state of affairs that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve—a personal or organizational desired end-point in some sort of assumed development." And www.mygoals.com has defined a good goal as "For our purposes, a good goal is one that is worthy of individual pursuit. And that is so highly subjective, far be it from us to define what your worthy pursuit is…………. A good Goal plan is one that when followed, offers a reasonably high probability of success, given sufficient time."

Here are some tips to find out your goal:

·         Observe and study your own behaviours. What interests you most?

·         Assess your strengths and weaknesses. What do you have? What can you do? Know that your life is for those strengths, so follow them. If possible, try to minimize those weaknesses. If you can't, let it be.

·         Know yourself and think critically. Don't follow blindly what other people say. However, don't hesitate to listen their suggestions.

·         Don't lose your confidence. Be optimist.

Traditional goal-setting wisdom has taught us that a good goal must be a) written, b) challenging, c) believable, d) specific, e) measureable, and f) have a specific deadline." However, this traditional formula is outdated now because of rapid development of technologies.

Even then, it is better to follow 'SMART' formula for a better goal. SMART stands for:

 a) Specific,

b) Measurable,

c) Attainable,

d) Relevant

e) Time-bound.

'Life Skills: A guide book for teenagers' published by UNICEF Nepal suggests thinking on following, when one goal of self:

a)      What do I need to do to attain my goal?

b)      What might be the challenges on the way?

c)       How can I overcome those challenges?

d)      Who can help me?

Our destination shows the way and speed to approach it. Determination of our goal is a basic for what profession should we choose. On the other hand, "who has to reach farther walks faster" – meaning, the person progresses better and more quickly, who has a greater goal. Hurry up so, and get a goal. 

The business strategy

Please read the joke and enjoy.

Childhood Dreams and Decisions

"I want to be a doctor."........"I love teaching"..........."I am born to fly over the sky"........................

Ask a child, who is before or in early teenage, about his/her goal, you can find differing answers from time to time. Their dreams in this age have been easily influenced by external factors like, time, place, family background, and friend circle. Because of multiple wishes, it will be hard for him/her to achieve anything.However, if children are encouraged to set their goals and dreams in proper way, their desires can be made specific and thus attainable.

Yes, children do not have sufficiently developed intelligences - and they can not take in mind every aspect in decision making. Therefore, they are so unstable in decision making that they can be easily shifted from one to another decision frequently. 

However, early teenagers are DEVELOPING intelligences and decision making skills. And thus they can think of some apparent (if not all) aspects of the issue. On the other hand, the decision they make are products of their psychological and intellectual interest. They are combinations of their heart and mind. They are their inner wishes. But, they might not be goals. They can turn them into goals, if they find proper guidance from adults.

For goal setting of a child and a teenager, we need to identify his/her weaknesses or strength. The goal will be achievable only if it is backed up bye what you have and what can you do, not by what you don't have. One can be a good teacher in future, if s/he is quite societal, interactive and friendly in childhood. It will be joke for one who can't draw a picture of self to dream of being a painter!

If we want our little sisters' and brothers' dreams come true, it is our duty to help them recognize their weaknesses, and strengths.  

Happy Women's Day!

"Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all"

With the theme mentioned above, we are celebrating 100th Women's Day. On the occasion, I want to wish all people (not only women), who want to create equality among men and women. 

Still, we people feel that Women's Day is only for women. Further, some even seek for Men's Day. On the other hand, some women and ultra-feminists blame men have been making 364 days MEN'S and leaving this day for women. I think both are untrue and against equality.

We have to understand clearly that this Women's Day and all feminist privileges such as reservation are in existence and practice because present world is patriarchal. Once it will become equal to both men and women, we don't need Women's Day, neither we have to advocate for reservations. Feminism also will die that day.

Therefore, this is better and more appropriate for both men and women to  act for equality with thinking, speaking and doing, as far as possible. And make possible our dream come true! Lets not celebrate Women's Day as the day to blame men, but as an urge to initiate ourselves for equality between these two sexes. Happy Women's Day once again.

DYF gets new secretariat

 Diwakar Pyakurel

Kathmandu, 6^th March

Dynamic Youth Forum (DYF), a youth club network, has elected new secretariat committee for next year.

Annual workshop of DYF, which affiliates more than 10 community and college-base youth clubs, held on Friday and Saturday at Bal Byawasayi School, Kathmandu has elected 13 member committee chaired by Ganga Rai.

Rai was also the president of DYF for last year also. The workshop elected Prasun Shreshtha of Ex-Students' Club, Bipin Shereshtha of Siddhantasheel Youth Club, Bhawana Bhattarai of Gangahiti Youth Club and Ratnamaya Shreshtha of Chetana Youth Club as Vice-President, Secretary, Joint-Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Similarly, the members of newly elected committee are Kyamuna Khatri (Balkot Youth Club), Inchu Danuwar (Domestic Workers' Forum), Rosika Shahi (Student Awareness Society), Anil Katuwal (Siddhantasheel Youth Club) and Sumitra Lamsal (Chetana Youth Club). The secretariat is yet to elect one member from Students' In Social Reform.

All were elected unanimously except Secretary Shershtha, who defeated Mugendra Gautam of Student Awareness Society in voting.

The two-day workshop reviewed activities and programs of last year by the secretariat and its affiliated clubs. It also developed plans of action for each club, according to newly elected secretary Bipin Shereshtha.

Newly elcted President Ganga Rai committed to improve on DYF expansion in the next year. She also acknowledged all helping hands and also requested for help further.

Dynamic Youth Forum was established three years ago as a youth club. Later it has developed itself as a network of various youth clubs working on similar issues. Now DYF has its clubs in three districts of Kathmandu valley.

Inspirations and Ideals

"Which woman is the best inspiration for you?"
In a program organized to celebrate soon-to-come International Women's Day, I face such question.Surely, it is an interesting question, though I couldn't find the answer easier. The focused participants of the program were some school girls, most of them mentioned their mothers or teachers as their inspirations.
I thought for some minutes: Don't I have inspiration from any woman? Or can't or don't I want to acknowledge them? Answers of both questions are "NO" to me. But, why can't I tell them who is my inspiration?

Still I am zeroing in on it. Now, I have some ideas.
No person (I unconsciously wrote here "man" first, but deleted and placed "person" for inclusive language) is perfect. To be ideal is to be perfect, so no person is ideal for me. As many people opine that human beings are made-up of unique mixture of intelligence and stupidity. When I think of any seemingly ideal person, first I want to mention him/her as an inspiration and ideal. Later, however, I remember the ugly truth of human life that no one is faultless. So, I so far haven't mentioned anyone as my single or specific source of inspiration.
It doesn't mean that I don't have any inspirations. Yes, I do have many, and today's m living is guided and influenced by many people. They all are inspiration for me, but they are not solely inspirations. Their motivation to me is only partial. If I just mention names of 2-3 person, it would be injustice for others, I think so.
However, you might argue that among many, there can be some top priorities . Yes, there can be. My weakness appears here. I haven't (tried to) set my priority-list of top inspirations. I am now thinking to do it. When I'll do, I surely share with you, if you don't hesitate to know it!

But, I am feeling sorry to those schoolgirls, who didn't find my answers. I was supposed to be able to answer it, by I couldn't. I apologize with  you, my lovely sisters!

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?