Sujan Shrestha: 2013

Monday, October 28, 2013

Thursday, August 15, 2013

A single statement applicable to all the women in Nepal cannot be made as different groups of women enjoy different status. For instance, Hindu women and the women belonging to indigenous ethnic groups have different rights and suffer from different modes of oppression. The later groups enjoy more access and control of resources. Indigenous women have relatively a higher degree of social mobility, and process freedom within the private sphere. They are, however, unable to participate in public realm due to the dominant ideology of culture being practiced. Dissimilarly, Hindu women have no autonomy within private sphere, but enjoy limited positions in the public sphere. Their oppression stems from the concepts of hierarchy, the caste system, traditional thought about food, and the high value of chastity. Although the women belonging to different caste, religion, and culture have different status, one thing is certain that they are being oppressed with respect to economic, socio-cultural, political and legal status which cannot be analyzed in isolation because each is intrinsically tied to the next. But for the sake of clarity, each category is discussed separately.

Let’s discuss economic status. The dominant Hindu religion and culture have popularized a belief that women should be dependent on males for income from cradle to grave. Men are considered the sole breadwinners of families; and women are viewed only as domestic and maternal. Women’s work is confined to the household. Their responsibilities are thought to include cooking, washing, collecting fuel and firewood, fetching water, engaging in agriculture, maternity, and service to males and other family members. Although their work plays a vital role, it is normally left uncounted.

They workload of Nepalese women is immense. They work about 16 hours every day. Nepalese women are mainly engaged in agriculture work, carpet industries, and wage-labor activities. Furthermore, Nepalese women are compelled to resort to prostitution and to be sold as commercial sex workers. Because of modernization, their workload has certainly increased. Thus, they are now forced to perform triple role: that of mother, of a traditional wife and of a community participant. Generally Nepalese women have much less access of institutional credit, both an individual and household enterprise levels irrespective of ecological regions, urban or rural areas and ethnic or castes. Complicating economic disparity is the increasing feminization of poverty. To remedy this situation, women would need full economic rights.

Let’s discuss socio-cultural status. Patriarchy persists as the dominant ideology under Hindu religion and culture. The constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal codified this declaring Nepal a Hindu Kingdom. The religion and its associated culture, norms and values have prevailed for hundreds of years and as the result, Hinduism alone. These are various indigenous ethnic groups and races. Comparing to Hindu women has relatively better status concerning social mobility, decision making and sexuality. But the Muslim women have the worst social status among the women belonging to different religions and cultures. The existing dowry system is to be thought to be one of the hindrances for Nepalese women. Many newly married women especially in the Terai are badly tortured by the spouse and other senior family members. The overall literacy rate of women is considerably low; only 24.7 percent of Nepalese women are literate. Nepal is one of only two countries in the world where women’s life expectancy is less than that of men

Let’s discuss political status. Nepalese women have been involved in the political movement since the fifties but several factors have prevented them from actively participating in local and national politics. These factors include: the dominant ideology of patriarchy, male chauvinism, criminalization of politics, lack of equal property rights, restrictions on women’s mobility, and domination of men in all the political parties. Only a few women have gained higher public positions. An encouraging trend is the presence of a lot of elected women representatives in the local bodies. This is due to the provision of seat reservation at this level. However, women lack the power to contribute significantly even within these roles as most of the resources are controlled by their male colleagues.

To conclude, we can mention that Nepalese women have already opened the door to achieve the destination of their entire freedom and rights along with their responsibilities. There is no solution to this miserable condition of Nepalese women unless they are adequately and appropriately educated concerning their rights and responsibilities.

Sujan Shrestha

sujanshrestha051@gmail.com

Kharelthok-1, Kavre

Population problem in Nepal

Overpopulation has becomes a terrible problem in the world. All of the countries are suffering from this problem directly or indirectly. China, India, Nepal and other countries are suffering from this problem. There is regularly change between birth rate and death rate. Birth rate was slightly higher than the death rate. Therefore, world population grew at a very slow rate. A few hundred years ago, however, the situation began to change, especially in the industrialized countries. With advances in nutrition, sanitation, and health, people live longer. For the first time, the balance between birth rate and death rate has been badly disturbed. During the last three centuries, the world population has been rapidly going up.

Rapid growth of population can be realized in Nepal, too. In 1951, Nepal’s population was 9 million. Less than half a century later that number rose to 23 million. We can easily assume the future of Nepal with this annual growth rate of 2.5%. If this is not checked, Nepal’s population will double in just 28 years. By the year 2026, there will be a total of some 46 million.

There is not any advantage of growth of population. Rather there are many disadvantages. Deforestation is result of the overpopulation. Most of the forests have been destroyed for expansion of land for cultivation and also for building home. Deforestation upsets the natural rain. We have comparatively less rain. Besides, there are landslides. Wild animals disappear which are also part of eco-system. Naturally, we are affected. We have less food. Our environmental conditions decline.

Moreover, because of the overpopulation we continue to litter our surroundings. High temperatures, floods, tropical diseases and mass migrations are all results of overpopulation. The country cannot invest money on development fields. Therefore, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, etc. all rise higher and higher. Therefore, it is necessary to stop and control the increasing rate of population.

History of Carlsberg

1847

J.C. Jacobsen founds Carlsberg in Denmark.

1876

Carlsberg Foundation is established. Also exported beer to China.

1883

Carlsberg develops a revolutionary method for propagating pure yeast.

1904

Carlsberg pilsners famous logo designed by Thorvald bindesboll is introduced.

1939

55% of all beer imported to the U.K. is from Carlsberg.

1957

Queen Elizabeth II visits Carlsberg.

1968

Carlsberg opens first overseas bevery in Malawi.

1973

Carlsberg tagline ‘Probably the best beer in the world is introduced”

1988

Carlsberg becomes on official sponser of UEFA european Football Championship.

1990

Carlsberg sponser Liverpool.

1995

Carlsberg introduced in Nepal.

2009

Carlsberg is the fourth (4^th ) largest brevery group in the world.

2011

Carlsberg introduces a new tagline “That calls for a Carlsberg”

2012

Carlsberg is now enjoyed in140 countries.

2013

18:47 – the perfect time to un-bottle a Carlsberg.

Sujan Shrestha

Sujanshrestha0512gmail.com

Kharelthok-1, Kavre

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

History Of Nepal Sambat And Bikram Sambat

Since the last several years, I have been publishing articles on the Bikram Sambat, Nepal Sambat and other Sambats or eras. The Bikram Sambat is the glory of Nepalese nationality, which indicates the sovereign history of Nepal. The Nepal Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat are the assets of Nepal.

The Bikram Sambat was started at the beginning of the Licchavi period by the first powerful King Bikramaditya 2,067 years ago. The Nepal Sambat was started on the day of Mahapuja, the day of body worship solemnised by the Newar community, in 936 BS. The Newar community celebrates the Nepal Sambat and Mahapuja simultaneously with great fervor on the same day.

Indigenous eras

The Nepal Sambat is an indigenous era like the Bikram Sambat. The French scholar, Syavan Levy, has written that the people revolted against the Tibetan king who was ruling Nepal between 7th and 9th century AD, and following its liberation, the Nepal Sambat was started between 879 and 889 AD.

A historian, Prof. Bengal, has written about the rule of King Raghav Dev of the Lichhavis and the start of the Nepal Sambat in 880 AD. Historian Balchandra Sharma agrees with this point in his book Nepalko Aitihasik Ruprekha. According to another scholar of history, Dhanabajra Bajracharya, King Raghav Dev started this Sambat in honour of Pashupatinath.

There is, however, another story as to how the Nepal Sambat was established. It is said that one Sankhadhar Sakhwa started it after having converted sand into gold. The Newars have been trying to conserve Nepalese nationality, including both the Hindu and Buddhist religions, cultures and traditions for centuries. But this story about sand converting into gold is a little hard to believe.

There are evidences to prove that Sankhadhar Sakhwa did not start the Nepal Sambat.

Historian Dhundi Raj Bandari wrote in Nepalko Aitihasik Biwechana about the handwritten Bishnu Dharma, which mentions King Raghav Dev propagating it in Nepal Sambat 167.

Italian scholar Laciano Patrek had published the Gopal Vansavali which honours King Raghav Dev with the title Pasupati Bhattarak Sambatsar - 63. Historian Baikuntha Prasad Lakaul had written in Nepali Samacharpatra on Kartik 30, 2058, some nine years ago, that no other document is as authentic as the Gopal Vansavali. Historian Krishna Bahadur Udaya wrote in the Gorkhapatra on November 13, 2007 that there is no proof that the rich Sankhadhar lived in Kathmandu.

Now the government has declared the Nepal Sambat as a national sambat. Is this practical?

The Nepal Sambat was established in Nepal, and during the Malla Period, it was prevalent in Tibet, Bengal and several neighbouring countries. It was also in use during Prithavi Narayan Shah and the Rana period. But due to inconvenience faced during changes in the tithi (date), Chandra Shumsher started to write the date according to the present Bikram Sambat. The Bikram Sambat had 365 days with tithi in a year in contrast to 354 days in the Nepal Sambat.

Similarly, the Shakya Sambat was started by King Kaniska in 78 AD, and it was gradually lost during the Moghul and British rule in India. But Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru restarted it in 1957. But as it had only 354 days in a year, it was not practical and the Gregorian calendar was reused.

After the mid-term elections in 2000, through an ad-hoc decision of the Council of Ministers chaired by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Sankhadhar Sakhwa was declared a national hero (bibhuti). The decision seems to have been made in haste.

According to legend, on hearing from an astrologer, King Ananda Malla of Bhaktapur (there is no record of King Ananda Malla having ruled at that time) had asked to bring sand from the Vishnumati River. But Sankhadhar Sakhwa asked the person carrying the sand to deposit it at his place and had him carry some other sand to the king. Historian and former minister, late Bhuvan Lal Pradhan, had supported the story regarding the conversion of sand into gold, but after a debate arose, he later wrote that gold particles had been found in the river. So there is no strong argument about Sankhadhar.

Historians Dhanbajra Bajracharya, Shankarman Rajbansi, Baikuntha Prasad Lakaul and Krishna Bahadur Udaya - all Newars - have proved that the Nepal Sambat was started by King Raghav Dev. Nepal Samacharpatra, in its editorial (nine years ago on 2058-7-30), had written that the legend of sand having converted into gold has not been established.

Evidence

Some believers in Sankhadhar have written that a stone statue with a sankha (conch) in the hand in the south gate of Pashupatinath is that of Sankhadhar Sakhwa. But this is not true. This is the statue of King Bhagirath, a devotee of Bhagitathi Ganga. Such statues are found in front of the 108 Shiva temples across the Bagmati River at Pashupatinath, in front of Ganga Mata, at Sundhara, Dharahara and at Patan Sundhara. We can see such statues standing in front of the Swarna Buddha Mandir in Patan also.

History always follows real events, evidences, writings, chronology; heresy must also be trustworthy. So let us not make assumptions contrary to historical facts only to gain political or individual mileage. The Nepal Sambat is historical.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

DAMN HEART TOUCHING ♥

DAMN HEART TOUCHING

GIRl: I miss you.
BOy: And so?
GIRl: I really did.
BOy: oK. GIRl: I’m sorry.
BOy: What for?
GIRl: For ignoring your efforts to
communicate with me.
BOy: Its OK. I got used to it, then
I got tired, so I stopped trying and started forgetting.
GIRl: I..
GIRl: I…tried to forget about you,
you see.
BOy: ….......
GIRl: Cause it tore me apart that we can never be…
BOy: its OK.
GIRl: Why is it so OK?
BOy: I got used to days hoping
you’d be back, but then you
never did. I started facing reality, and
started to get a move on.
GIRl: Wait…am I too late?
BOy: Too late for what?
GIRl: To court you?
BOy: You know, I’ve always wanted to hear that from you.
Back then, a years ago. But…I got
used to only wishing for it..then
realized it would never happen,
so
I stopped hoping. GIRl: I’m really sorry, but dont
worry, this time, I will make your
wishes come true.
BOY: Thats not possible..I have
got
someone in ma life... GIRl:Its great for you.. Who is
she?
When I'll meet her?
BOY:She doesn't want to meet
you
any day. GIRL:Why? What I have done to
her?
BOY:(slowly replied)-
She just don't
wanna meet the one who did
hurt me the most.. Its my turn to say sorry. Time got
into me. You’ve broken my heart
already. I cant risk experiencing
that again. Thank you anyway.
For
communicating with me after a years of silence ..
She kept her head down and
went silently.
After she left The boy out her
picture kept in his wallet-
Some tears rolled down when he whispered
-'Its still you'.....
Thumbs up for the boy.....:(

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Great Problem of Nepal but now it becomes Easier...

The great problem of our country Nepal is Loadsheding but nowadays it had Simple and Easier for all of Nepalese People. It had become a Great Day everyday. Our Government is now working for this problem. We can get Loadsheding Schedules by SMS for that Type G and send it to 5001. eg. G1

Sujan Shrestha