While working with WAVE some years back, we often soaked up the sun on the terrace of the Sanchaya Kosh building, right opposite the United Nations office at Pulchowk. We were always impressed and awed by the fleet of gleaming white SUVs that were lined up each evening in the UN parking lot, despite an unimpressive track record on the activities and transparency front. Is humanitarian work, in a country that one of its agencies (UNDP) puts in the mid 140s of the Human Development Report, so demanding as to require that big a fleet of SUVs? Or is it plain extravagance, borne out of unmonitored, misguided and forced charity in the name of corporate social responsibility: corporate ‘<i>paap kaatai</i>’, to use local lingo.
I read about the United Nations in school, and I was duly impressed. But, as I grew up the image slowly crumpled, and I now view it as a house of vice. While there have been instances when the UN has come off in exemplary light, in general I have nothing but cynicism for it. While the Secretary General perennially rants about the lack of funds to fulfill all its goals, the establishment and its numerous appendages suck the main body dry through sheer extravagance and corruption.
This post is very different from my usual ones – in fact, this is the first time I have expressed my ire against a public body in a public platform, but I guess it is high time each one of us expressed our disappointments more openly. And the credit for this outpouring goes to Lochan Rizal. Most know him as a singer, some as a ‘very good person’ (the <i>aankha halda pani nabijauney</i> type), and a very few as a ‘UN White Band ambassador’. As a goodwill ambassador of the UN, he was invited to a Millennium Development Goals seminar held in Kathmandu recently. The event may have found mention in the media, but what was snubbed out was Lochan’s oration during the event.
The floor flew high fuelled by bloated, far-fetched plans and initiatives, characteristically UN, UNDP, Youth Initiative, the government… It was big in every respect – the dignitaries, the budgets, the plans, but hollow to the core. Finally, it was Lochan’s turn to address the gathering and much to the ire of the preceding speakers, he proceeded to speak out his heart and his soul. His speech was rudimentary, but it was ‘honest’. While the speakers before him painted a hollow picture of achievement for the future, he scrubbed the sheen off it, exposing the sordid reality that we live in. His agenda was not big initiatives, bigger budgets and much bigger piles of reports and declarations – but, an honest effort at poverty alleviation, driven not by the multi-million dollar budgets of the INGOs, but by a true zeal to see a positive change in the plight of the underprivileged.
As Lochan spoke a silence descended upon the gathering. Many heaved a sigh of relief as he left the podium. There was no applause, but he had struck a discordant note among all those assembled – and that was evident in the air. He may have failed to get public approval for his outburst, but I am sure he has gained the respect of many like myself.
He was a layman speaking among a group of experts. His speech lacked the finesse, the oratory or the statistics displayed by the others, but it was 'honest'. Way to go Lochan.
Now that is attitude!
Friday, July 21, 2006
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Green Brigade
If you want to sell someone a Mac, show that person a PC. Sounds odd, but going by some recent Apple ads, it appears to be a ploy that works really well. What better way to highlight the Mac-vantage than by showcasing the faults of the PC. The past few decades have been a turbulent one for business, and we have seen some drastic changes in business sense, models and ethics. Innovation, traditionally a Xerox domain, is now Google’s forte, and innovation seems to be the key to success in recent times. Apple’s dig at the PC maybe seen by many as innovative marketing, but despite being a Mac fan, I do not approve of it. Living in Nepal, I am all too familiar with such negative marketing, and thus know the pitfalls.
With the Red Brigade now in the national mainstream, a lot of people are breathing easier. This is the time to look ahead and put the wheels of the economy back on track. The red shadow still looms at large, but I see a bigger threat from the Green Brigade – it may not be out in the open, but it lies within most of us, and manifests itself in our policies and day-to-day dealings. The green in us is not a new phenomenon, even inspiring Kunti Moktan’s very popular hit, ‘<i>Khutta tandai gara</i>…’. Many people in fact consider it the basic ‘Nepali trait’.
I am no expert on Nepali business, but I have been in Nepal long enough to see its ailments. Corruption has sucked this nation dry, and sadly it continues to do so. People languish on favours and obligations, scratching each other’s backs, and flushing down talent, quality and ability towards extinction. Another rabid infection that is keeping back business is the negativity that resides in all levels. I remember the members of the marketing team, of a newspaper I worked for once, come back with long faces and say how difficult it was to sell ad space in the market. As they said, clients were not difficult to convince, but they had no way of keeping at bay the competition and their negative marketing. What our competitors were selling was not ad space in their publications, but reasons why not to buy space on ours.
The green thing is not just about selling advertisements or rather spreading bad vibes about the competition, but it is something we encounter everywhere. I went to New Road recently to buy some RAM for my computer – the price as I was told in one shop would be lower than what was being offered elsewhere. I first had to tell the person what the price was in another shop and then he would quote his. It is okay to be wary of competition, but why base one’s business or marketing policy on someone else’s? We so fixated about the competition’s offering and why not to go for it that we often neglect our own offering so much so that it fails to be competitive on its own. It is ironic that our USP is not our own strength, but the competition’s alleged weakness.
When Apple can, so can Orange, but how many of us really have an offering as good and as innovative as Apple does to go into negative overdrive? Have we explored our inherent strengths fully so that we can now move our sights to the competition? Is our offering good enough to justify marketing the weaknesses in others’?
With the Red Brigade now in the national mainstream, a lot of people are breathing easier. This is the time to look ahead and put the wheels of the economy back on track. The red shadow still looms at large, but I see a bigger threat from the Green Brigade – it may not be out in the open, but it lies within most of us, and manifests itself in our policies and day-to-day dealings. The green in us is not a new phenomenon, even inspiring Kunti Moktan’s very popular hit, ‘<i>Khutta tandai gara</i>…’. Many people in fact consider it the basic ‘Nepali trait’.
I am no expert on Nepali business, but I have been in Nepal long enough to see its ailments. Corruption has sucked this nation dry, and sadly it continues to do so. People languish on favours and obligations, scratching each other’s backs, and flushing down talent, quality and ability towards extinction. Another rabid infection that is keeping back business is the negativity that resides in all levels. I remember the members of the marketing team, of a newspaper I worked for once, come back with long faces and say how difficult it was to sell ad space in the market. As they said, clients were not difficult to convince, but they had no way of keeping at bay the competition and their negative marketing. What our competitors were selling was not ad space in their publications, but reasons why not to buy space on ours.
The green thing is not just about selling advertisements or rather spreading bad vibes about the competition, but it is something we encounter everywhere. I went to New Road recently to buy some RAM for my computer – the price as I was told in one shop would be lower than what was being offered elsewhere. I first had to tell the person what the price was in another shop and then he would quote his. It is okay to be wary of competition, but why base one’s business or marketing policy on someone else’s? We so fixated about the competition’s offering and why not to go for it that we often neglect our own offering so much so that it fails to be competitive on its own. It is ironic that our USP is not our own strength, but the competition’s alleged weakness.
When Apple can, so can Orange, but how many of us really have an offering as good and as innovative as Apple does to go into negative overdrive? Have we explored our inherent strengths fully so that we can now move our sights to the competition? Is our offering good enough to justify marketing the weaknesses in others’?
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Lost years
A friend of mine turned 26 recently. I cautioned him to think twice before calling me ‘old’ henceforth since he would be in my place soon enough. On a serious note though, I have just one thing to say to him: ‘youth comes just once and it passes by sooner than we realise’. This friend in question is a doer: someone who likes to do things and is always ready for fresh challenges. Of late however, I have seen a faint trace of cynicism seep into him, and he is no longer ready to jump into things as of old. He is more cautious and definitely wiser, but I wonder if he realizes the valuable years that he is losing through caution, by being cynical, and looking for ‘a reason and purpose’ to justify each effort.
The cushion is so much thicker when you are young. You can take risks, and if you fail, you can bounce back each and every time. But, as time goes by and responsibilities pile on the cushion wears thinner, and you no longer recover as you do in the past. It takes more time and leaves deeper bruises on the mind and soul.
As youngsters, we often leave things for the future and for a time ‘when we are older’: we wait for that day to dawn when we are old enough to make a start. We wait and we wait some more, and very often, there comes a time when we look back and realize we are just too old to start or to risk failure. It is a hard fact to bear, but we only wake up to the lost years when they long gone and over.
Youth comes once in a lifetime, and it is nothing short of magic. It is a difficult time to wade through: one of discovery, learning, stumbling, adjusting… I would advise extreme caution for all my young siblings, but while I say that, I would also ask them to take risks. One can always leaves things for better times, but there is no better time to start than when one is young – to lay foundations and to build on them. If you have big dreams as a youngster, dare to take the plunge while you have youth on your side.
Getting back to my friend, a word of advice for him, “Wipe the cynicism from your mind. Take the plunge and do the twist while you are young. Things may not always work out as you expect them to, but you will regret more never having tried when you had time and youth in hand.”
Failures can be reversed, but the lost years are never recovered.
The cushion is so much thicker when you are young. You can take risks, and if you fail, you can bounce back each and every time. But, as time goes by and responsibilities pile on the cushion wears thinner, and you no longer recover as you do in the past. It takes more time and leaves deeper bruises on the mind and soul.
As youngsters, we often leave things for the future and for a time ‘when we are older’: we wait for that day to dawn when we are old enough to make a start. We wait and we wait some more, and very often, there comes a time when we look back and realize we are just too old to start or to risk failure. It is a hard fact to bear, but we only wake up to the lost years when they long gone and over.
Youth comes once in a lifetime, and it is nothing short of magic. It is a difficult time to wade through: one of discovery, learning, stumbling, adjusting… I would advise extreme caution for all my young siblings, but while I say that, I would also ask them to take risks. One can always leaves things for better times, but there is no better time to start than when one is young – to lay foundations and to build on them. If you have big dreams as a youngster, dare to take the plunge while you have youth on your side.
Getting back to my friend, a word of advice for him, “Wipe the cynicism from your mind. Take the plunge and do the twist while you are young. Things may not always work out as you expect them to, but you will regret more never having tried when you had time and youth in hand.”
Failures can be reversed, but the lost years are never recovered.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Live your youth to the fullest, but plant your memories with care!
There many who refer to me affectionately :) as ‘old’. The tag is a misnomer: a reference more to my frequent forays into the past, and the experiences picked up thereon, than to my age. I even got an offer once to write using the alias, ‘Buddhiman’, which I politely refused. I am far from wise, and I commit more mistakes than the average person. But being more of a ‘cup half full’ type of person, I have learnt valuable lessons from those mistakes and missteps. Two things that I have learnt in particular from my past are: life is the greatest teacher one can have, and memories can be the best of allies and the worst of foes.
Youth can be a fleeting moment or a lifetime. I have been a ‘Bob Dylan’ fanatic for long, but it is only now that I can safely say that I understand and feel, “Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now (<a href=”http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/backpages.html”>My Back Pages – Bob Dylan</a>).” Age has added on a lot many physical constraints, but I feel refreshingly young to be rid of the emotional and other baggage that piled on with the onset of adolescence and lasted till the wee days of my 20s. I watched mutely as my youth overtook me and left me behind, weighed down by attitude, mindset and expectations. I was honest with everyone save my self.
Youth is a miracle, and it has many wonders. We often take its biggest wonder for granted: friends. It is great if one can be a friend as well to one’s love, but it is sad when the latter rear its fangs on the former and contaminates the bond. A lucky few succeed in making love last for a lifetime, but for most folks, friends are forever while love may be momentary. Friends are forever says it all, but to be more explicit, we can add ‘through thick and thin’. And, friends cannot be bought: if you think you can, there always is someone offering a premium. There is no real insurance for the future, but it is wise to invest on good and loyal friends. People fall in love and out it but friendship carries on.
Another wonder of youth is the feeling of being in love and giving in. But don’t drown in it so deep that you surface only to realize that your best days have passed you by. Love at first sight does happen, but it can pass off as easily as it seeps in. Heartaches hurt more than toothaches, and the hurt lingers on, often for life. People may dispute this, but you fall in love many times and yet you fall in love only once – something hard to explain, easier felt. When marriages fail, love can be no exception, but there are some that last, so, ‘believe’ in that rare chance. Love hurts and is often hard, but it is bliss while it lasts.
As a line in Pink Floyd’s <a href=”http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pink+floyd/free+four_20108669.html”> Free Four </a> goes, ‘The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime’, with every action in our youth, we sow a memory for the future. While it will be an utter waste not to live life to the fullest while we are young, it will be a nightmare to have our memories stalking us the remainder of our lives through out indiscretions.
<b>Live your youth to the fullest, but plant your memories with care!</b>
Youth can be a fleeting moment or a lifetime. I have been a ‘Bob Dylan’ fanatic for long, but it is only now that I can safely say that I understand and feel, “Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now (<a href=”http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/backpages.html”>My Back Pages – Bob Dylan</a>).” Age has added on a lot many physical constraints, but I feel refreshingly young to be rid of the emotional and other baggage that piled on with the onset of adolescence and lasted till the wee days of my 20s. I watched mutely as my youth overtook me and left me behind, weighed down by attitude, mindset and expectations. I was honest with everyone save my self.
Youth is a miracle, and it has many wonders. We often take its biggest wonder for granted: friends. It is great if one can be a friend as well to one’s love, but it is sad when the latter rear its fangs on the former and contaminates the bond. A lucky few succeed in making love last for a lifetime, but for most folks, friends are forever while love may be momentary. Friends are forever says it all, but to be more explicit, we can add ‘through thick and thin’. And, friends cannot be bought: if you think you can, there always is someone offering a premium. There is no real insurance for the future, but it is wise to invest on good and loyal friends. People fall in love and out it but friendship carries on.
Another wonder of youth is the feeling of being in love and giving in. But don’t drown in it so deep that you surface only to realize that your best days have passed you by. Love at first sight does happen, but it can pass off as easily as it seeps in. Heartaches hurt more than toothaches, and the hurt lingers on, often for life. People may dispute this, but you fall in love many times and yet you fall in love only once – something hard to explain, easier felt. When marriages fail, love can be no exception, but there are some that last, so, ‘believe’ in that rare chance. Love hurts and is often hard, but it is bliss while it lasts.
As a line in Pink Floyd’s <a href=”http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pink+floyd/free+four_20108669.html”> Free Four </a> goes, ‘The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime’, with every action in our youth, we sow a memory for the future. While it will be an utter waste not to live life to the fullest while we are young, it will be a nightmare to have our memories stalking us the remainder of our lives through out indiscretions.
<b>Live your youth to the fullest, but plant your memories with care!</b>
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Casteaway
Any publicity is said to be good publicity, and likewise in a blog, any comment is a welcome one. I thus took this one in with a pinch of salt, ‘Hey, VIKASH PRADHAN.. STOP ACTING>> YOU R NOT A NEPALI>> AND DONT TRY TO ACT LIKE ONE. I was a little bothered initially, but filling in a school admission form proved therapeutic, and I realized that the comment was too trivial to lose sleep over. My nationality is an issue, but the questions of caste and religion that haunt many Nepalis even in this modern age easily overshadow it. <!--more--><br />
I never knew that so much of details was necessary to get a child admitted in Class II: name, address, height, weight… and even ‘caste’ and religion. I haven’t heard of segregated classes, but the fact that caste and religion featured in the admission, I wonder if it does have some bearing in the performance or treatment meted out to a student? John Lennon’s utopian dream as laid down in Imagine maybe a very distant reality, but when social and religious barriers are finally beginning to breakdown, why and wherefore would a school insist in knowing a child’s caste?
Having grown up in Gangtok, I know how deep communal feelings run, but I consider myself lucky to have never faced any stigma based on the colour of my skin, my race or religion. Over the years I have however gained enough insight on our social structure to genuinely feel for those who have to live with the stigma of being born in a caste deemed inferior by many. During an interview with a prominent lawyer and social activist, Yash Kumar’s <I> Mailey choyeko pani chaldaina…</i> came up as one facet of popular music, that was highlighting social issues and could bring some necessary changes in the future. This particular track, as I heard in Darjeeling, was a huge hit in many areas of Doars and the neighbouring plains. I can only understand why: it maybe no landmark like Ambar Gurung’s <I>Nau lakhey tara</I> but it epitomizes perfectly the plight of the people segregated by, and their status defined by ‘water’. Fresh out of a historic movement that has changed political horizons, many may dream of a ‘New Nepal’, but I guess all those dreams will come to naught if we fail to wash away the barriers of caste and religion from our system, and scratch similar boxes from our forms.
Quite big things for me to utter, but having done that, a return to my nationality: I have never claimed or claim to be Nepali, though I feel as Nepali as I guess Adrian, Feroze or even Nirakar feel when they sing, <i>Yo mann ta mero Nepali ho…</i> Nepal has been very accommodating and I am grateful for many reasons, but I am content being a Gorkha (a reaffirmation of why the Nepali diaspora in India need to insist on the Gorkha label and not ‘Nepali’) and rather happy with my <I>prabasi</I> status unlike many of my peers who are Nepali in the true or the false sense of it. I know many people who are very reluctant to talk about their origins, I would like to distance myself from that lot.
On a positive note, the comment has been a wake up call: a reminder that I may be getting just a bit too Nepali. A call to make amends before <I>ddhoka</I> wipes out <I>dailo</I> and <I>mech</> replaces <I>chauki</I> from my vocabulary.
<b>I’d rather be a sinner than to repent if ‘nationality is my only sin’ </b> – a la Louis Armstrong.
<b>Black and Blue</b>, Louis Armstrong
Cold empty bed springs hurt my headFeels like ole ned wished I was deadWhat did I do to be so black and blueEven the mouse ran from my houseThey laugh at you and all that you doWhat did I do to be so black and blueI'm white inside but, that don't help my caseThat's life can’t hide what is in my faceHow would it end ain't got a friendMy only sin is in my skinWhat did I do to be so black and blueHow would it end I ain't got a friendMy only sin is in my skinWhat did I do to be so black and blue
I never knew that so much of details was necessary to get a child admitted in Class II: name, address, height, weight… and even ‘caste’ and religion. I haven’t heard of segregated classes, but the fact that caste and religion featured in the admission, I wonder if it does have some bearing in the performance or treatment meted out to a student? John Lennon’s utopian dream as laid down in Imagine maybe a very distant reality, but when social and religious barriers are finally beginning to breakdown, why and wherefore would a school insist in knowing a child’s caste?
Having grown up in Gangtok, I know how deep communal feelings run, but I consider myself lucky to have never faced any stigma based on the colour of my skin, my race or religion. Over the years I have however gained enough insight on our social structure to genuinely feel for those who have to live with the stigma of being born in a caste deemed inferior by many. During an interview with a prominent lawyer and social activist, Yash Kumar’s <I> Mailey choyeko pani chaldaina…</i> came up as one facet of popular music, that was highlighting social issues and could bring some necessary changes in the future. This particular track, as I heard in Darjeeling, was a huge hit in many areas of Doars and the neighbouring plains. I can only understand why: it maybe no landmark like Ambar Gurung’s <I>Nau lakhey tara</I> but it epitomizes perfectly the plight of the people segregated by, and their status defined by ‘water’. Fresh out of a historic movement that has changed political horizons, many may dream of a ‘New Nepal’, but I guess all those dreams will come to naught if we fail to wash away the barriers of caste and religion from our system, and scratch similar boxes from our forms.
Quite big things for me to utter, but having done that, a return to my nationality: I have never claimed or claim to be Nepali, though I feel as Nepali as I guess Adrian, Feroze or even Nirakar feel when they sing, <i>Yo mann ta mero Nepali ho…</i> Nepal has been very accommodating and I am grateful for many reasons, but I am content being a Gorkha (a reaffirmation of why the Nepali diaspora in India need to insist on the Gorkha label and not ‘Nepali’) and rather happy with my <I>prabasi</I> status unlike many of my peers who are Nepali in the true or the false sense of it. I know many people who are very reluctant to talk about their origins, I would like to distance myself from that lot.
On a positive note, the comment has been a wake up call: a reminder that I may be getting just a bit too Nepali. A call to make amends before <I>ddhoka</I> wipes out <I>dailo</I> and <I>mech</> replaces <I>chauki</I> from my vocabulary.
<b>I’d rather be a sinner than to repent if ‘nationality is my only sin’ </b> – a la Louis Armstrong.
<b>Black and Blue</b>, Louis Armstrong
Cold empty bed springs hurt my headFeels like ole ned wished I was deadWhat did I do to be so black and blueEven the mouse ran from my houseThey laugh at you and all that you doWhat did I do to be so black and blueI'm white inside but, that don't help my caseThat's life can’t hide what is in my faceHow would it end ain't got a friendMy only sin is in my skinWhat did I do to be so black and blueHow would it end I ain't got a friendMy only sin is in my skinWhat did I do to be so black and blue
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Second Take
I seldom watch NTV, but being stuck indoors due to rain on a recent trip to Daman, I was forced to a liberal dose of it. I don’t have much to say about the fare except for an anti-piracy ad issued by the association of record producers. When piracy makes a big dent on the multi-billion dollar movie and music industry in the west, the extent of its impact on our fledgling audio industry can only be imagined. Music is yet to become a mainstream career, but the industry has seen its share of success stories, and the future promises better and bigger things. Piracy is a major hurdle on the way, but I see the intrinsic flaws more than the external hurdles holding the industry back.
Piracy does affect the revenue from music sales adversely, and I am no advocate of piracy, but more than the impact on the sales due to music piracy, I see the music industry suffering more from piracy of ideas and concepts. The ‘template mindset’ has sounded the death knell for creativity in most areas here. From music to ads to movies, even before we ink the drawing board, we have presets in mind – templates of the finished product picked up from elsewhere. I have no qualms about adapting a style or a genre, but I simply detest clones. I can happily listen to GP belting out their attitude on ‘Ma Yesto Chu’ but I blow my top every time Mystic comes with their clone of Blue’s One Love. I only wonder why? Are we so pathetic and sad? I can understand Mystic coming up with a clone, but how can any music producer agree to produce such trash? Don’t our TV and radio stations have any form of quality control for their programs to be playing those tracks and videos on air? Imagine my surprise at seeing a Nepali music video on Channel Nepal, which featured video footage ripped straight from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, not in, parts but verbatim. Now I wonder who is doing more harm to Nepali music – the pirate or the producer and the media?
Technology can be empowering, and it can help a singer sing better. Our problem lies in thinking that technology can make a singer out of just anybody. The Nepali music industry is growing bigger and our TV channels and Radio stations are making stars of ordinary folk on almost a daily basis. Nepali music sells like never before, but is the future really bright? Our record producers, TV channels, Radio stations and the other so called guardians of Nepali music – are they really in a bid to save Nepali music or is it only a effort to save their pecuniary interests? Just how many singers and musicians that have come up in the past decade can we rate as truly talented? The Uglyz sell, but I would pay to hear the vocalist utter a single ‘clear’ line without the video hiding his flaws. Sabin Rai is hot, but why would I pay to hear a Bryan Adams clone sing in Nepali? If I want good Nepali music I would rather depend on Deep Shrestha who sings like himself. Likewise, if I want to hear Bryan Adams, would I need a clone who is not even half as good?
I have often been told to be nationalistic and ‘to be Nepali and support Nepali’. I do agree to a certain extent to Nepalis helping Nepalis – but we have to stop supporting mediocrity driven by emotional and nationalistic attachments. Nepali music in its current state is at best mediocre, and it is not piracy to blame for its sordid state. As producers, our producers are doing a disservice to Nepali music by producing trash, and so our channels by playing trash, and each one of us by buying trash.
Do not pirate Nepali music, but stop buying and accepting trash that gets made in the name of music.
Piracy does affect the revenue from music sales adversely, and I am no advocate of piracy, but more than the impact on the sales due to music piracy, I see the music industry suffering more from piracy of ideas and concepts. The ‘template mindset’ has sounded the death knell for creativity in most areas here. From music to ads to movies, even before we ink the drawing board, we have presets in mind – templates of the finished product picked up from elsewhere. I have no qualms about adapting a style or a genre, but I simply detest clones. I can happily listen to GP belting out their attitude on ‘Ma Yesto Chu’ but I blow my top every time Mystic comes with their clone of Blue’s One Love. I only wonder why? Are we so pathetic and sad? I can understand Mystic coming up with a clone, but how can any music producer agree to produce such trash? Don’t our TV and radio stations have any form of quality control for their programs to be playing those tracks and videos on air? Imagine my surprise at seeing a Nepali music video on Channel Nepal, which featured video footage ripped straight from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, not in, parts but verbatim. Now I wonder who is doing more harm to Nepali music – the pirate or the producer and the media?
Technology can be empowering, and it can help a singer sing better. Our problem lies in thinking that technology can make a singer out of just anybody. The Nepali music industry is growing bigger and our TV channels and Radio stations are making stars of ordinary folk on almost a daily basis. Nepali music sells like never before, but is the future really bright? Our record producers, TV channels, Radio stations and the other so called guardians of Nepali music – are they really in a bid to save Nepali music or is it only a effort to save their pecuniary interests? Just how many singers and musicians that have come up in the past decade can we rate as truly talented? The Uglyz sell, but I would pay to hear the vocalist utter a single ‘clear’ line without the video hiding his flaws. Sabin Rai is hot, but why would I pay to hear a Bryan Adams clone sing in Nepali? If I want good Nepali music I would rather depend on Deep Shrestha who sings like himself. Likewise, if I want to hear Bryan Adams, would I need a clone who is not even half as good?
I have often been told to be nationalistic and ‘to be Nepali and support Nepali’. I do agree to a certain extent to Nepalis helping Nepalis – but we have to stop supporting mediocrity driven by emotional and nationalistic attachments. Nepali music in its current state is at best mediocre, and it is not piracy to blame for its sordid state. As producers, our producers are doing a disservice to Nepali music by producing trash, and so our channels by playing trash, and each one of us by buying trash.
Do not pirate Nepali music, but stop buying and accepting trash that gets made in the name of music.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Shooting Star
I saw a shooting star last night. As it is said, you wish upon a shooting star: experience though stopped me from wishing anything new. Wishes thus made seldom come true, but the moments do leave indelible marks in one's memory to be recalled and wished upon again, with each fresh encounter. As a line from Dylan's Shooting Star goes, 'seen a shooting star tonight, and I thought of me', I recalled a line I wrote many years ago for someone dear, who then was away in a distant city. The physical distance was hard to bear, but I found solace looking at the starlit sky above: I felt a connection to her through the sky we both were under and the air that we shared.
It has been a promising start so far, but driven by habit I now take an unromantic turn. I saw a shooting star last night and I thought of me, her, a wish made on one cold and dark December night, and I thought of polar bears and Mt. Kilimanjaro. When Wilma ravaged parts of the United States, I was struck right here in Nepal: our webserver being based in the U.S., our site was down for almost a week. The polar ice-caps were nothing more than just chapters in our geography textbook when I was in school. Now I find myself much nearer to it than I ever was - the sweat sticking to my t-shirt as I type is a grim reminder of the drastic climate change that has occured in the last few years, and the heat that makes me sweat is the same that is slowly melting the ice in the poles away.
The world has shrunk, and geographical barriers no longer hold significance. Communication is a breeze and travel getting shorter and faster. I am now as much a world citizen as of the place I am in, and thus bear the same responsibilities towards earth and the continutiy of life as we know it. As experts say, the average weight of polar bears has almost halved in the last century, and by 2020, Mt. Kilimanjaro will bid adieu to its snow cap. Tucked a world away in Nepal, I can brush aside the possibility as a cost of development and consider myself immune, or I can wonder when the bell will toll for us. We are already experiencing the affects of climate changes first hand, so the wait is not long for sure.
While 'dead' is 'as a dodo' for most of us, it already is 'as a thylacine' and may well be 'as a tiger', 'a polar bear', or even 'a cheetah' for our children. A meteor strike is said to have wiped out the dinosaurs, but humans through their ingenuity may well survive one. We may even live through a nuclear holocaust but can we survive human progress?
It has been a promising start so far, but driven by habit I now take an unromantic turn. I saw a shooting star last night and I thought of me, her, a wish made on one cold and dark December night, and I thought of polar bears and Mt. Kilimanjaro. When Wilma ravaged parts of the United States, I was struck right here in Nepal: our webserver being based in the U.S., our site was down for almost a week. The polar ice-caps were nothing more than just chapters in our geography textbook when I was in school. Now I find myself much nearer to it than I ever was - the sweat sticking to my t-shirt as I type is a grim reminder of the drastic climate change that has occured in the last few years, and the heat that makes me sweat is the same that is slowly melting the ice in the poles away.
The world has shrunk, and geographical barriers no longer hold significance. Communication is a breeze and travel getting shorter and faster. I am now as much a world citizen as of the place I am in, and thus bear the same responsibilities towards earth and the continutiy of life as we know it. As experts say, the average weight of polar bears has almost halved in the last century, and by 2020, Mt. Kilimanjaro will bid adieu to its snow cap. Tucked a world away in Nepal, I can brush aside the possibility as a cost of development and consider myself immune, or I can wonder when the bell will toll for us. We are already experiencing the affects of climate changes first hand, so the wait is not long for sure.
While 'dead' is 'as a dodo' for most of us, it already is 'as a thylacine' and may well be 'as a tiger', 'a polar bear', or even 'a cheetah' for our children. A meteor strike is said to have wiped out the dinosaurs, but humans through their ingenuity may well survive one. We may even live through a nuclear holocaust but can we survive human progress?
Friday, May 26, 2006
One too many…
I have a friend who wants to change ‘the’ world. I have asked him to change ‘his’ world for starters. Many of us strive for change, and feel a need to initiate it, especially as youngsters. With time, and as practical realities dawn upon us, we often become cynical and soon a sense of apathy takes over. Walking a tightrope every single moment of our adult lives, we seldom have the privilege to extend our sights beyond our own narrow personal domain. While a majority of us settle down to languid domesticity, a rare few manage to rise above all, to initiate and spearhead change that each generation experiences in some form or the other.
I feel lucky in many ways to have witnessed many changes that others fail to see in eons: from the fall of the Berlin wall to the break up of the Soviet Union, the changing of the millennium to the very recent change of guard in Nepal. I have seen more than a normal share of change, but I am still to see my kind of it. I understand when my friend gets frustrated at the pace of change, and the way the masses do not react, as he would have liked them to. He wants to change the world, but he often feels helpless and lonely when faced with the reality of things.
My friend wants to change the world, and he wants the world to change with him. There are the rare few who successfully move the masses, but just how many manage to reach such a position? Does change always come in groups? Does ‘one’ really make a difference? I have discussed in length with many people about this, but have failed to come up with any concrete answers.
A few months back on a trip to Bangkok, I refused to have shark fin soup. I felt it a very harmful indulgence, and though a few detractors scoffed at my stance, I was able to wean the other members of my family away from the delicacy. One person staying away from shark fin soup will do no good for the world shark population, but if every person who says ‘no’ to it convinces at least one other person to do so, it will definitely make an impact.
Change does require the masses, but it starts with one. We can wait for change to come: an end to poaching, an end to CFCs, an end to discrimination, and end to… Or we can start with one.
I feel lucky in many ways to have witnessed many changes that others fail to see in eons: from the fall of the Berlin wall to the break up of the Soviet Union, the changing of the millennium to the very recent change of guard in Nepal. I have seen more than a normal share of change, but I am still to see my kind of it. I understand when my friend gets frustrated at the pace of change, and the way the masses do not react, as he would have liked them to. He wants to change the world, but he often feels helpless and lonely when faced with the reality of things.
My friend wants to change the world, and he wants the world to change with him. There are the rare few who successfully move the masses, but just how many manage to reach such a position? Does change always come in groups? Does ‘one’ really make a difference? I have discussed in length with many people about this, but have failed to come up with any concrete answers.
A few months back on a trip to Bangkok, I refused to have shark fin soup. I felt it a very harmful indulgence, and though a few detractors scoffed at my stance, I was able to wean the other members of my family away from the delicacy. One person staying away from shark fin soup will do no good for the world shark population, but if every person who says ‘no’ to it convinces at least one other person to do so, it will definitely make an impact.
Change does require the masses, but it starts with one. We can wait for change to come: an end to poaching, an end to CFCs, an end to discrimination, and end to… Or we can start with one.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Return to innocence: sweet nothings
The best thing about growing up has been taking stock of things and taking responsibility. I often look back and wonder at the pace at which time has moved on. Things have changed for the better or for worse, but I do not have any major regrets as such. There are moments though, when I long for the days of old, the moments of innocent bliss. I had a lot of time to kill then, and I still have quite a bit of time to kill now, but when was the last time I sent a mail to a friend or a loved one, just because I wanted to? Mention my name, and many may talk of detailed and very regular emails. My habits haven’t changed much: my mails drop into inboxes as often as they did in the past. I have changed though, and so my mails.
I remember remembering to remember uttering pleasantries for every little thing, from a smile to a swagger. Sweet nothings were everything, and everything else did not mean very much. I did not need a reason to smile or a purpose to utter endearments. Some called me romantic, others genial and friendly, and yet some others, a treat to know. I may have been all that, but I was just me, and innocent.
I am still the same me, though more mature and sadly less innocent. I smile still, I mail as much, but I have forgotten the art of sweet nothings: I need a purpose now for every single gesture!
I remember remembering to remember uttering pleasantries for every little thing, from a smile to a swagger. Sweet nothings were everything, and everything else did not mean very much. I did not need a reason to smile or a purpose to utter endearments. Some called me romantic, others genial and friendly, and yet some others, a treat to know. I may have been all that, but I was just me, and innocent.
I am still the same me, though more mature and sadly less innocent. I smile still, I mail as much, but I have forgotten the art of sweet nothings: I need a purpose now for every single gesture!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Right turn
A few months ago, a friend was planning a South Asian rock festival to be held in Kathmandu. Contacting the bands and getting them to agree to perform did not pose much of a problem, finding sponsors was quite a deal, but the biggest hurdle turned out to be finding a venue big enough to accommodate the crowd that we anticipated. Dasrath Rangashalla was an option, but, as we found out, it took much more than just the charges and the relevant no-objection-certificates to be able to stage an event there. It was more about ‘sources’ and ‘whoreses’ than about technical and financial formalities. Anyway, while we were pondering about the other options, a senior journalist gave us an interesting insight, “Just wait a while. A republic is on the cards – then you can have your concert in the palace grounds.”
People power in recent times has meant different things to different people. For some of our political leaders, it has meant a return to familiar grounds: even before the prime minister was sworn in, they were already squabbling over portfolios. Quotes and misquotes have blown huge gaps in the apparent show of strength and unity among the political parties. Those with portfolio are having their say, but others without are drowning their voices.
As many say, for Kantipur TV, as an outcome of the movement, and its role in relaying the administration’s high-handedness to the masses, it will be a positive nod finally to its satellite dreams. I have been told about some people making trips abroad, and that only means the opening up of floodgates to foreign funds. For me personally, with the heat on in full blast, it has meant a welcome end to load shedding.
The recent turn of events have indeed brought a world of change to this nation. Every individual may find his/her own meaning to the movement and its fallout. I have my own, though I wonder, has this been about being able to park in no-parking zones? Has this movement been about the right to openly flout existing rules and regulations? Has it been about the right to do wrong?
Do you turn right now, where turning right is disallowed?
People power in recent times has meant different things to different people. For some of our political leaders, it has meant a return to familiar grounds: even before the prime minister was sworn in, they were already squabbling over portfolios. Quotes and misquotes have blown huge gaps in the apparent show of strength and unity among the political parties. Those with portfolio are having their say, but others without are drowning their voices.
As many say, for Kantipur TV, as an outcome of the movement, and its role in relaying the administration’s high-handedness to the masses, it will be a positive nod finally to its satellite dreams. I have been told about some people making trips abroad, and that only means the opening up of floodgates to foreign funds. For me personally, with the heat on in full blast, it has meant a welcome end to load shedding.
The recent turn of events have indeed brought a world of change to this nation. Every individual may find his/her own meaning to the movement and its fallout. I have my own, though I wonder, has this been about being able to park in no-parking zones? Has this movement been about the right to openly flout existing rules and regulations? Has it been about the right to do wrong?
Do you turn right now, where turning right is disallowed?
Friday, May 12, 2006
Just thanks...
I remember joking with a friend about my mobile phone: ‘I rarely make calls from it, and I receive even less. Even among the rare few that come, most are wrong numbers’. Looking up my call records, I have found that I make the most calls to my ISP’s support centre. I take ‘customer is king’ literally and I have very itchy fingers when it comes to Internet service. The slightest of faults and I am all set to pour my ire on the support people. It may appear that my ISP’s service is appalling, but to be honest, I am quite happy with it. I just hate disruptions and I make it a point to make it known that I do.
Recently I made the switch to a Mac. I got myself an Airport Express Base Station and took my first step into the WiFi realm. Setup was a breeze, but I had to call my ISP yet again to have the base station’s MAC registered. I was expecting a long procedure, but to my surprise, it hardly took a minute to get it done and over with. In fact the person who took my call asked me to try my connection and to get back to him if I had any problems connecting. It was not much of a big deal, but I felt really special: the service was instant, and the person very helpful and polite. I ended up sending a thank you note to the support team.
Sending that note made me remember the words of my former Principal, Francis Fanthome, who is now a senior official of the I.C.S.E Board. One day, when I was in Class VII, Mr Fanthome asked everyone in school to submit to him in small slips of paper, what changes we thought were necessary in our school. As he told us during morning assembly a couple of days later, the list compiled from those slips ran long, but the most common entry was for a swimming pool, which was rumoured to be built the following year. After running through the most common entries, he ended his address by saying that he was disappointed in some ways not to have received a single note saying thanks - the school was just fine as it was. It was only natural for us to expect more from the school, but as he reminded us, there were so many things we had access to, which many others did not.
As a kid, Mr. Fanthome’s words did not strike home, but now it does, loud and clear. Just how many things we take for granted when they are okay. Why are we never grateful for things that work? Why do we only make calls to complain?
I take pride in not being too stingy a person, but why am I so miserly when it comes to ‘thank yous’? I have lost count of the complaints I have made this year: I have made just so many. I can neither count the thank yous I have said so far: there have been too few of them to keep a count of.
Thank Yous come for free – why am I so miserly with them?
Recently I made the switch to a Mac. I got myself an Airport Express Base Station and took my first step into the WiFi realm. Setup was a breeze, but I had to call my ISP yet again to have the base station’s MAC registered. I was expecting a long procedure, but to my surprise, it hardly took a minute to get it done and over with. In fact the person who took my call asked me to try my connection and to get back to him if I had any problems connecting. It was not much of a big deal, but I felt really special: the service was instant, and the person very helpful and polite. I ended up sending a thank you note to the support team.
Sending that note made me remember the words of my former Principal, Francis Fanthome, who is now a senior official of the I.C.S.E Board. One day, when I was in Class VII, Mr Fanthome asked everyone in school to submit to him in small slips of paper, what changes we thought were necessary in our school. As he told us during morning assembly a couple of days later, the list compiled from those slips ran long, but the most common entry was for a swimming pool, which was rumoured to be built the following year. After running through the most common entries, he ended his address by saying that he was disappointed in some ways not to have received a single note saying thanks - the school was just fine as it was. It was only natural for us to expect more from the school, but as he reminded us, there were so many things we had access to, which many others did not.
As a kid, Mr. Fanthome’s words did not strike home, but now it does, loud and clear. Just how many things we take for granted when they are okay. Why are we never grateful for things that work? Why do we only make calls to complain?
I take pride in not being too stingy a person, but why am I so miserly when it comes to ‘thank yous’? I have lost count of the complaints I have made this year: I have made just so many. I can neither count the thank yous I have said so far: there have been too few of them to keep a count of.
Thank Yous come for free – why am I so miserly with them?
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Sympathy for the devil
A couple of years ago, one of my friends was out in the streets shooting some footage of an ongoing political protest. He came back one evening rather distraught at the brick batting on the security personnel by a group of protesters. My friend, despite not being a big fan of the security forces, found them displaying restraint in their crowd control efforts, and found fault with the protesters. On my part, I sided with the protestors and explained that faced with 364 days of police and army high-handedness, if I was to get that single day to get back at them, to kick their butt, I would jump ahead. Even if I were not provoked directly, getting back would be sweet, and given the track record of our security personnel, justified.
Living in Kathmandu, I am familiar with the skirmishes on the street between protesters and the security forces. The recent flare up was unprecedented, and we saw police brutality escalate, as a result of which, the already tarnished image of the security forces plummeted to a new low. Thankfully, a semblance of order has returned to the Valley with the restoration of the House of Representatives. The general mood is upbeat and the sense of impending doom has been replaced with one of expectation. It is a big relief to see this city shed its image of being a virtual war zone: barbed wire fences, armed forces patrolling the streets and checkpoint and manifests in every nook and corner.
Recently on my way back from New Road, I passed by a group of Armed Police personnel. It was a hot day, and they were seeking shade in a narrow alley. Some of them were nibbling at biscuits, a few were drinking water from discarded Coke pet bottles, and many had earphones on and were listening probably to music on FM radio. All of them looked weather beaten – tanned faces, red eyes and taut, tired bodies. Apart from the uniform they wore, they looked exactly the same as the common person on the street, as vulnerable and as human. I was surprised. Was it these very people we saw as the devil’s reincarnate just a fortnight ago?
I have never felt any sympathy for security personnel, but looking at that group of ragged police people, I felt I had been unjust to some extent. Admitted that they do take their role of ‘maintaining order’ a bit too seriously at times, they are as human as each one of us. I guess they have the same aspirations as every other human and so the insecurities and worries. The people higher up the ranks maybe an entirely different breed, but the ones at the bottom, as I see it now, have to bear the worse of both worlds: they face orders, often against their own principles, that come from above, and then the wrath and disdain of the people in general they face in following those orders.
The pay packet to say the least is miserable and the uniform comes with an unenviable reputation and loads and loads of contempt and loathing. Putting things in perspective, for once, my sympathies are for the devil.
Living in Kathmandu, I am familiar with the skirmishes on the street between protesters and the security forces. The recent flare up was unprecedented, and we saw police brutality escalate, as a result of which, the already tarnished image of the security forces plummeted to a new low. Thankfully, a semblance of order has returned to the Valley with the restoration of the House of Representatives. The general mood is upbeat and the sense of impending doom has been replaced with one of expectation. It is a big relief to see this city shed its image of being a virtual war zone: barbed wire fences, armed forces patrolling the streets and checkpoint and manifests in every nook and corner.
Recently on my way back from New Road, I passed by a group of Armed Police personnel. It was a hot day, and they were seeking shade in a narrow alley. Some of them were nibbling at biscuits, a few were drinking water from discarded Coke pet bottles, and many had earphones on and were listening probably to music on FM radio. All of them looked weather beaten – tanned faces, red eyes and taut, tired bodies. Apart from the uniform they wore, they looked exactly the same as the common person on the street, as vulnerable and as human. I was surprised. Was it these very people we saw as the devil’s reincarnate just a fortnight ago?
I have never felt any sympathy for security personnel, but looking at that group of ragged police people, I felt I had been unjust to some extent. Admitted that they do take their role of ‘maintaining order’ a bit too seriously at times, they are as human as each one of us. I guess they have the same aspirations as every other human and so the insecurities and worries. The people higher up the ranks maybe an entirely different breed, but the ones at the bottom, as I see it now, have to bear the worse of both worlds: they face orders, often against their own principles, that come from above, and then the wrath and disdain of the people in general they face in following those orders.
The pay packet to say the least is miserable and the uniform comes with an unenviable reputation and loads and loads of contempt and loathing. Putting things in perspective, for once, my sympathies are for the devil.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Ground Reality
As a freelancer, I have been involved with many different projects in the past. About a year ago, along with a couple of friends, I was assigned to create and launch an advertising portal. My main role was content creation, though, I took up anything that came up, from formulating concepts to site updating. It was a novel project, at least in the Nepali context, and we were quite pleased with the initial response that we received from our visitors and the advertising fraternity.
Being a close knit group, and involved with something new and interesting, we put in our efforts without a receiving a single paise in advance. Since we knew the people we were working for, it was granted that we would be paid for our services when the time was ripe. The arrangement went on from a month to two and then to four, at the end of which it finally dawned on us that our effort so far may have been in vain. Our employer did not have the best of reputations as a paymaster, but we were banking on his better side. Well as this story goes, it has been almost a year now and we have almost given up on our hopes of seeing even a fraction of our rightful remuneration in out hands. And, this was not a one-off incident. Sometime back I worked on creating brochures for a reputed software company just prior to CAN-Infotech 2005. It was not a big deal at all, and taking the size of the company, a miniscule expense, but it took me over a year and countless emails to finally get them to part with what was due to me. And then there was a school magazine I edited three years ago – I did my job well, the magazine came out good, but the director and the principal conveniently forgot about my remuneration.
Well, this has started as a crib, but that is not really the point I am making. I am regularly in touch with youngsters who have big and blown out aspirations. I wish I could tell them how different the ground realities are from what they study or think it to be. I especially hate reading the Wednesday supplement of a popular English daily that comes out in Nepal. Yes, they do fill it with a lot of strategic stuff, debates and profiles that would do any business and management book proud, but putting them into perspective, they are nothing but bloated and hollow ego-boosters implying that Nepali business and industry is ‘professional’.
Our industry leaders can make bold and moving statements, but ask them to make something as simple as on-time payments and they will buckle. Our articles and quotes are liberally sprinkled with theories and ideas from luminaries like Peter Drucker, but the only theory that really works here is, ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’. Delaying payments is the corporate pastime, and ‘relativity’, the hiring principle (if you are a relative, you’re in).
Salaries are abysmally low, not that living costs and standards are cheap, but the employers just refuse to let go of the lot they make. Beware ‘internship offers’ and shun all pep talk. Interns are basically ‘free’ workers and a very good cost cutting measure. Pep talks, well, I have had first hand experience with it – in fact I sustained on it alone for over four years in a company I worked for before finally coming to my senses and quitting. There is an inverse relationship between the money you get and the pep talk that you have to bear with.
Infidelity is in – not in marital terms, but in employment. If you think of ‘lifelong-relationships’, get ready to be ground to the ground. ‘Hop, skip and jump’ is the best and the surest way of climbing up corporate ladder in Nepal. Dedication is essential where you are, and in what you are doing, but don’t get tied up and attached to your work or company – you lose if you do.
It is wrong to generalize, and there are many organizations where things run differently, but I think a lot of people will agree to what I say.
We portray ourselves as a poor people belonging to a poor nation. I disagree – we are ordinary people impoverished by a few poor-at-heart.
Being a close knit group, and involved with something new and interesting, we put in our efforts without a receiving a single paise in advance. Since we knew the people we were working for, it was granted that we would be paid for our services when the time was ripe. The arrangement went on from a month to two and then to four, at the end of which it finally dawned on us that our effort so far may have been in vain. Our employer did not have the best of reputations as a paymaster, but we were banking on his better side. Well as this story goes, it has been almost a year now and we have almost given up on our hopes of seeing even a fraction of our rightful remuneration in out hands. And, this was not a one-off incident. Sometime back I worked on creating brochures for a reputed software company just prior to CAN-Infotech 2005. It was not a big deal at all, and taking the size of the company, a miniscule expense, but it took me over a year and countless emails to finally get them to part with what was due to me. And then there was a school magazine I edited three years ago – I did my job well, the magazine came out good, but the director and the principal conveniently forgot about my remuneration.
Well, this has started as a crib, but that is not really the point I am making. I am regularly in touch with youngsters who have big and blown out aspirations. I wish I could tell them how different the ground realities are from what they study or think it to be. I especially hate reading the Wednesday supplement of a popular English daily that comes out in Nepal. Yes, they do fill it with a lot of strategic stuff, debates and profiles that would do any business and management book proud, but putting them into perspective, they are nothing but bloated and hollow ego-boosters implying that Nepali business and industry is ‘professional’.
Our industry leaders can make bold and moving statements, but ask them to make something as simple as on-time payments and they will buckle. Our articles and quotes are liberally sprinkled with theories and ideas from luminaries like Peter Drucker, but the only theory that really works here is, ‘you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’. Delaying payments is the corporate pastime, and ‘relativity’, the hiring principle (if you are a relative, you’re in).
Salaries are abysmally low, not that living costs and standards are cheap, but the employers just refuse to let go of the lot they make. Beware ‘internship offers’ and shun all pep talk. Interns are basically ‘free’ workers and a very good cost cutting measure. Pep talks, well, I have had first hand experience with it – in fact I sustained on it alone for over four years in a company I worked for before finally coming to my senses and quitting. There is an inverse relationship between the money you get and the pep talk that you have to bear with.
Infidelity is in – not in marital terms, but in employment. If you think of ‘lifelong-relationships’, get ready to be ground to the ground. ‘Hop, skip and jump’ is the best and the surest way of climbing up corporate ladder in Nepal. Dedication is essential where you are, and in what you are doing, but don’t get tied up and attached to your work or company – you lose if you do.
It is wrong to generalize, and there are many organizations where things run differently, but I think a lot of people will agree to what I say.
We portray ourselves as a poor people belonging to a poor nation. I disagree – we are ordinary people impoverished by a few poor-at-heart.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Power to the people
The restoration of the House of Representatives brought a semblance of order to the Valley, but with the memory of September 01, 2004 fresh in my mind, I looked on with apprehension as the people took to the streets on Tuesday for the victory rally. To begin with, I do not agree to the use of the term victory: agreed that the monarch has acceded in parts to reason and the need of the hour, but the ongoing tussle has left no victors, only losers. The people have been the hardest hit and the biggest losers.
Led by the seven agitating parties, and catalyzed by the excessive use of force by the security forces, the people have had a big say in the recent political developments in Nepal. The parties owe their success to people power, but people power may well their downfall. The unprecedented arson and pillage that the capital witnessed on September 01, 2004 was a vent to the dormant angst and frustration of the people. A single spark was enough to inflame passions and inspire destruction of private property at a scale never before seen. It does not take much to trigger such a flare up of emotions, and it maybe only a matter of time, before the next one takes place.
Political rhetoric can change overnight. The same leaders who braved the bite of the monarchy alongside the people on the street may themselves be forced to turn the guns on the public when in power. Many promises were made during the past fortnight. Fuelled by a sense of right and the promises made, people power drove the leaders ahead. Expectations are heavy, but will they keep the promises made?
Pro-republic slogans are echoing across the nation. While most people welcome the current initiative, there are others who feel let down. Life is steadily returning to normal, but the fear of recurrence lies heavy in our minds.
We have seen a tremendous display of ‘people power’, but reining in the same force seems a headache this coalition of parties may have to contend with if they fail to deliver yet again.
Led by the seven agitating parties, and catalyzed by the excessive use of force by the security forces, the people have had a big say in the recent political developments in Nepal. The parties owe their success to people power, but people power may well their downfall. The unprecedented arson and pillage that the capital witnessed on September 01, 2004 was a vent to the dormant angst and frustration of the people. A single spark was enough to inflame passions and inspire destruction of private property at a scale never before seen. It does not take much to trigger such a flare up of emotions, and it maybe only a matter of time, before the next one takes place.
Political rhetoric can change overnight. The same leaders who braved the bite of the monarchy alongside the people on the street may themselves be forced to turn the guns on the public when in power. Many promises were made during the past fortnight. Fuelled by a sense of right and the promises made, people power drove the leaders ahead. Expectations are heavy, but will they keep the promises made?
Pro-republic slogans are echoing across the nation. While most people welcome the current initiative, there are others who feel let down. Life is steadily returning to normal, but the fear of recurrence lies heavy in our minds.
We have seen a tremendous display of ‘people power’, but reining in the same force seems a headache this coalition of parties may have to contend with if they fail to deliver yet again.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Fall from grace
Not so long ago, I was rebuked by a close friend for questioning the protocol of addressing the monarch as Shree paanch. As I rationalized, it would be absolutely silly to address the British monarch 'Her Highness, Highness,..., on similar logic. I was accused of not being a 'Nepali at heart, and that I failed to understand Nepali sensibilities and the reverence with which a common Nepali looks on at the institution of monarchy. My friend in question BTW is a U.S. educated, open, liberal and intelligent individual. Last evening, I met my friend online and she complained about 'that king' being stubborn, and leading the nation to ruin. Gone was the former reverence for the monarch. In its place instead was a certain degree of revulsion. I have been a mute observer to the events in Nepal in the last few years, but I found it especially sad to see the royal institution's fall from grace in the wake of recent happenings.
Power is said to be intoxicating and addictive, but never being in a position of power, I cannot validate that claim. Further, being an ordinary person on the street, I have to admit that my view and perspective may be way different from what the monarch sees. However, given the state of affairs, I strongly feel that 'a graceful exit' would be really becoming of an institution, traditionally, so loved and revered by the common people. Ironically, by his fixation towards maintaining his royal status, the monarch appears to have taken the royalty itself towards extinction.
Many condemned the monarch’s move to take the state of affairs into his own hands towards a possible salvage from shambles. In retrospect, I think it was a bold and proactive initiative. The political leaders had sold out previously on many occasions, and the people felt let down by the democratic institution. The royal takeover thus raised the hope and aspirations of many. But as things unfolded, the initiative was not backed by the will that sparked during the takeover. Surrounded by sycophants, most with their own axes to grind, what followed was ‘public ego wrestling’ between the royalists and the democratic forces.
From bad, the situation plummeted down to worse. As it soon became evident, autocracy and high-handedness would achieve as little or even less than what the democratically elected bodies had managed to in the past. Well, we all know the rest of the story. Anyway, the recent headlines may read the monarch's address as 'bowing down' to pressure, but I would label it as a sensible move. I agree though that the content of the address is unacceptable: it is yet another hollow promise. It was good for the monarch to relinquish executive powers, but it is ‘too little, a little too late’. For someone who wrested power into his own hands for the common good not very long away, it was a complete let down to do a 'Pontius Pilate’ when things did not fare as expected.
It took tremendous will and purpose from the monarch to make the unpopular move of taking things into his own hands, but the same has not been shown when it is time now to make a graceful admission that the mission has failed: to acknowledge the mandate, and to read the writing on the wall.
The monarch may have his way yet and continue to rule the people, but he no longer rules their heart for sure.
Power is said to be intoxicating and addictive, but never being in a position of power, I cannot validate that claim. Further, being an ordinary person on the street, I have to admit that my view and perspective may be way different from what the monarch sees. However, given the state of affairs, I strongly feel that 'a graceful exit' would be really becoming of an institution, traditionally, so loved and revered by the common people. Ironically, by his fixation towards maintaining his royal status, the monarch appears to have taken the royalty itself towards extinction.
Many condemned the monarch’s move to take the state of affairs into his own hands towards a possible salvage from shambles. In retrospect, I think it was a bold and proactive initiative. The political leaders had sold out previously on many occasions, and the people felt let down by the democratic institution. The royal takeover thus raised the hope and aspirations of many. But as things unfolded, the initiative was not backed by the will that sparked during the takeover. Surrounded by sycophants, most with their own axes to grind, what followed was ‘public ego wrestling’ between the royalists and the democratic forces.
From bad, the situation plummeted down to worse. As it soon became evident, autocracy and high-handedness would achieve as little or even less than what the democratically elected bodies had managed to in the past. Well, we all know the rest of the story. Anyway, the recent headlines may read the monarch's address as 'bowing down' to pressure, but I would label it as a sensible move. I agree though that the content of the address is unacceptable: it is yet another hollow promise. It was good for the monarch to relinquish executive powers, but it is ‘too little, a little too late’. For someone who wrested power into his own hands for the common good not very long away, it was a complete let down to do a 'Pontius Pilate’ when things did not fare as expected.
It took tremendous will and purpose from the monarch to make the unpopular move of taking things into his own hands, but the same has not been shown when it is time now to make a graceful admission that the mission has failed: to acknowledge the mandate, and to read the writing on the wall.
The monarch may have his way yet and continue to rule the people, but he no longer rules their heart for sure.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Some permanence for a change
The air blows heavy with expectation. Thursday is set to bring out hundreds of thousands of ordinary men and women into the streets in what is said to be the biggest ever rally in Nepali history. The time of reckoning is here: what will it herald for Nepal? Will it be another ‘interim’ solution or will it be a more permanent one this time around?
We face a peculiar and rather difficult situation here with the monarchy and the Maoists on the two extremes, and the seven agitating parties smack in the middle. Equilibrium is hard to achieve, and any equation that does not take into account any one of the three is good enough for just another temporary solution.
Compromise formulae have already been exhausted, with every one attempted in the past few years failing. We saw the monarch take things into his own hands in an attempt to salvage what was left of this nation. Surrounded by his band of sycophants, he however failed to impress with any of his efforts, and plunged Nepal into a more serious and deeper crisis. Faced with an autocratic monarch, the political parties did a paradigm shift to align with the Maoists whom they thought as the lesser evil.
Every single front that has a voice is promulgating a solution, and I truly believe the time is ripe for one. But what form will it take? The monarch is too deep into this mess to come out unscathed, the political parties too advanced into this movement to change their stance and sell out yet again, and the Maoists?
As many predict, an emergency may be declared on the eve of the mass rally. The general public having borne the high-handedness of the administration, and survived bullets, tear gas and batons in recent weeks, the potency of such a measure is questionable. There are others who expect the monarch to step down and make way for a republic, but that too may be far fetched. A constituent assembly and the formation of a democracy with the monarch as its titular head seems another possibility. This requires the Maoists to lay down arms and join the national mainstream, but more importantly, the monarch has to accede to it.
As a common person, I can but guess the outcome, and accept it when it comes, at least temporarily. But I really crave for something permanent: from one ‘interim’ to another to another has been a long tiring journey. I seek respite. Give me some permanence for a change.
We face a peculiar and rather difficult situation here with the monarchy and the Maoists on the two extremes, and the seven agitating parties smack in the middle. Equilibrium is hard to achieve, and any equation that does not take into account any one of the three is good enough for just another temporary solution.
Compromise formulae have already been exhausted, with every one attempted in the past few years failing. We saw the monarch take things into his own hands in an attempt to salvage what was left of this nation. Surrounded by his band of sycophants, he however failed to impress with any of his efforts, and plunged Nepal into a more serious and deeper crisis. Faced with an autocratic monarch, the political parties did a paradigm shift to align with the Maoists whom they thought as the lesser evil.
Every single front that has a voice is promulgating a solution, and I truly believe the time is ripe for one. But what form will it take? The monarch is too deep into this mess to come out unscathed, the political parties too advanced into this movement to change their stance and sell out yet again, and the Maoists?
As many predict, an emergency may be declared on the eve of the mass rally. The general public having borne the high-handedness of the administration, and survived bullets, tear gas and batons in recent weeks, the potency of such a measure is questionable. There are others who expect the monarch to step down and make way for a republic, but that too may be far fetched. A constituent assembly and the formation of a democracy with the monarch as its titular head seems another possibility. This requires the Maoists to lay down arms and join the national mainstream, but more importantly, the monarch has to accede to it.
As a common person, I can but guess the outcome, and accept it when it comes, at least temporarily. But I really crave for something permanent: from one ‘interim’ to another to another has been a long tiring journey. I seek respite. Give me some permanence for a change.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Kamalji, our reluctant hero
Many years down the line, we may look back at this movement as one of the most significant events of modern Nepali history, as important as the one in 2046 B.S. This momentous event will surely bring out its line up of heroes and villains. Many people may already be busy drawing up their individual line-ups, and I think home minister Kamal Thapa, who has been featuring prominently in recent happenings, finds a place in many of them. For most, he may be a villain, at least in the present context, but I personally feel that he deserves a well-earned place among the heroes.
Kamalji belong to a special species: he is a plasticine peg that fits in all holes, and a chameleon that changes colour with the need of the moment. The recent happenings in Nepal have put him under the spotlight more than anyone else, and more than anytime before. Voluntarily or involuntarily he has had the biggest role to play in the present scheme of things. I am not a political analyst, but even as a lay person, I can safely give him credit for single-handedly elevating what started as a 'protest rally' by the seven agitating parties into a 'people's movement'. He of course had the support of many rounds of bullets, live and rubber, canisters of tear gas, batons, boots....
A champion tennis player and a crafty politician, we saw a tough, fire breathing side of Kamalji as he took on the responsibilities as the home minister. Information minister Rana spews gall every time he finds himself behind the microphone, but Kamalji is no less impressive with his gush of misinformation and hollow assurances. As we know now, he has democratic ideals and is a 'people's man' - be it a baton charge or even shooting, he does it 'among' the public, 'for' the public's security.
Tennis requires strong shoulders and stronger arms, lucikly for us, Kamalji is well endowed on both counts. Who better than Kamalji to use 'strong arm techinques' during these moments of need?
Kamalji belong to a special species: he is a plasticine peg that fits in all holes, and a chameleon that changes colour with the need of the moment. The recent happenings in Nepal have put him under the spotlight more than anyone else, and more than anytime before. Voluntarily or involuntarily he has had the biggest role to play in the present scheme of things. I am not a political analyst, but even as a lay person, I can safely give him credit for single-handedly elevating what started as a 'protest rally' by the seven agitating parties into a 'people's movement'. He of course had the support of many rounds of bullets, live and rubber, canisters of tear gas, batons, boots....
A champion tennis player and a crafty politician, we saw a tough, fire breathing side of Kamalji as he took on the responsibilities as the home minister. Information minister Rana spews gall every time he finds himself behind the microphone, but Kamalji is no less impressive with his gush of misinformation and hollow assurances. As we know now, he has democratic ideals and is a 'people's man' - be it a baton charge or even shooting, he does it 'among' the public, 'for' the public's security.
Tennis requires strong shoulders and stronger arms, lucikly for us, Kamalji is well endowed on both counts. Who better than Kamalji to use 'strong arm techinques' during these moments of need?
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Lemon @ NRs 15/piece and Extortion Notes
Just a fortnight or so ago, I got a shock to hear that a lemon cost five rupees – it seemed I was still stuck in those good ol’ days when ‘nimbu’ was sold in the ‘saikada’ and not per piece. Now I realize why the bottles of lemon pickle have diminished or disappeared from our homes. Imagine my consternation when I heard this morning that lemon now cost 15 a piece. Lemon I can cut off my diet, but imagine food without salt. And, with salt already scarce in the market, it may soon be a reality. Panic buying is on and prices are sky high.
The people of the Darjeeling Hills braved a 40-day banda in the 1980s. I admire them for their tenacity and resilience at the face of such adversity. We are now in the 11th day of the pro-democracy stir, and it is uncertain how long it will continue on. Life in Nepal has come to a virtual standstill, and ordinary sustenance has become an ordeal. It is heartening indeed to note that the public moral is still high, and we seem to be coping OK with the situation.
Price hikes and food shortages are difficult, but manageable for the moment. ‘What tomorrow?’ is a question that plagues us all – the answers though, only the future will reveal. At a time when every moment and action needs many rounds of thinking and re-thinking, imagine receiving an ‘extortion note’ from one Sushanata Sharma, who claims to be the Battalion Commander of the Maoist, Kathmandu Valley. Investigating the note has revealed that it is a fictitious claim. I heaved a sigh of relief, but this is a very worrying development.
I can bear cutting down my diet, adjusting my budget and my expenses, but how will I cope up with the hyenas that seem to be freely roaming around in our streets. Hyenas by nature are said to prey on the dead and the dying – are our social hyenas doing the same? Is this movement proof that our society is ‘alive’ and well? Or is it on its dying throes?
And here is a follow up to the above email... We await the disaster now:
The people of the Darjeeling Hills braved a 40-day banda in the 1980s. I admire them for their tenacity and resilience at the face of such adversity. We are now in the 11th day of the pro-democracy stir, and it is uncertain how long it will continue on. Life in Nepal has come to a virtual standstill, and ordinary sustenance has become an ordeal. It is heartening indeed to note that the public moral is still high, and we seem to be coping OK with the situation.
Price hikes and food shortages are difficult, but manageable for the moment. ‘What tomorrow?’ is a question that plagues us all – the answers though, only the future will reveal. At a time when every moment and action needs many rounds of thinking and re-thinking, imagine receiving an ‘extortion note’ from one Sushanata Sharma, who claims to be the Battalion Commander of the Maoist, Kathmandu Valley. Investigating the note has revealed that it is a fictitious claim. I heaved a sigh of relief, but this is a very worrying development.
I can bear cutting down my diet, adjusting my budget and my expenses, but how will I cope up with the hyenas that seem to be freely roaming around in our streets. Hyenas by nature are said to prey on the dead and the dying – are our social hyenas doing the same? Is this movement proof that our society is ‘alive’ and well? Or is it on its dying throes?
And here is a follow up to the above email... We await the disaster now:
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Spontaneous Combustion
Nepal awaits the monarch’s address on New Years Eve. Speculations abound, but most folk hope for a peaceful resolution to the political stalemate the nation finds itself in. I look forward to peace, but I am scared of the changes that have come in the general psyche, attitudes and morals.
The security personnel in Nepal have behaved as demi-gods in the past, and there has been no let up despite the political changes that have come about in recent decades. They have always enjoyed immunity for most of their actions, some bordering atrocities and others crossing over. Bloated by their seemingly immune status, the security forces have often squashed over the rights of the public with impunity. Ask the commoners on the streets, and in the villages, for ‘public enemy # 1’, and fingers may be pointed towards the people in uniform. It is ironic, but this is not a trait limited to Nepal alone – the role of security forces is very often translated as ‘ruling’ and ‘bullying’ in many South Asian countries.
The attitudes of the people in uniform leave much to be desired for, but a recent development in the public leaves me worried. On my way to office this morning, I passed a group of people. I heard one of them say, “… lets start with this taxi…” A moment later, he poured some inflammable on the tyres and set the taxi ablaze. It was utterly callous and casual, and unprovoked. It was done as leisurely as we would take a walk or shop.
What I witnessed maybe a one-off incident, but it does not bode well for the future. Peace may come somehow, but with a public that does not think twice before an act as horrendous as burning a taxi, the administration has major headaches in store for them.
From the desecration of private property to that of life is a minuscle step. Political crises may be resolved, but moral afflictions?
The security personnel in Nepal have behaved as demi-gods in the past, and there has been no let up despite the political changes that have come about in recent decades. They have always enjoyed immunity for most of their actions, some bordering atrocities and others crossing over. Bloated by their seemingly immune status, the security forces have often squashed over the rights of the public with impunity. Ask the commoners on the streets, and in the villages, for ‘public enemy # 1’, and fingers may be pointed towards the people in uniform. It is ironic, but this is not a trait limited to Nepal alone – the role of security forces is very often translated as ‘ruling’ and ‘bullying’ in many South Asian countries.
The attitudes of the people in uniform leave much to be desired for, but a recent development in the public leaves me worried. On my way to office this morning, I passed a group of people. I heard one of them say, “… lets start with this taxi…” A moment later, he poured some inflammable on the tyres and set the taxi ablaze. It was utterly callous and casual, and unprovoked. It was done as leisurely as we would take a walk or shop.
What I witnessed maybe a one-off incident, but it does not bode well for the future. Peace may come somehow, but with a public that does not think twice before an act as horrendous as burning a taxi, the administration has major headaches in store for them.
From the desecration of private property to that of life is a minuscle step. Political crises may be resolved, but moral afflictions?
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Extremist + Terrorist makes bitter brew
Punctuality has never been a virtue in Nepal, but thanks to the recent turn of events, we are now living by the minute. Schedules are tight and every second literally counts. The credit for this overnight transformation goes to the extremists in, and the terrorists out - of control.
The extremist rhetoric is ‘negotiations and talks’, but the terrorist ceasefire was blatantly ignored. The streets are ablaze and the masses demonstrating for democracy. Peaceful demonstrations have been thwarted by the imposition of curfews, and security personnel have ironically used ‘excessive’ force against the public for their ‘safety and protection’. Brick batting has been seen in plenty, but all I see is retaliation by unarmed commoners against provocation by gun wielding and tear-gas spewing forces.
The extremists refuse to acknowledge the terrorists. They maintain their distance from the terrorists and condemn everyone else’s initiatives to bring them into the national mainstream. The extremists have made offers to the seven agitating parties to come for talks with the monarch, but they want a realignment first – a complete disassociation of the seven parties from the terrorists.
What is the ‘in-control’ faction driving at? What future are they leading this nation to? Admitted the ‘out-of-control’ faction is no group of angels, are those in control a better option? Is the issue about the ‘people’ or is it about the ‘monarch’? Is a ‘ceremonial monarch’ the nation’s need or is it a ‘ceremonial government’?
What is the crisis facing the nation today? Is it the commoner’s aspirations for ‘democracy and rights’ or is it the terrorist game plan? Like it or not, but the extremists have a run of the administration while the terrorists rule the countryside. Given the agitating parties agree to talks with the monarch under the extremists pre-condition, and even come to a settlement – where is the nation left? Are we going for a stalemate yet again?
The root of the current crisis runs back to the terrorists and their agenda. If they are to be left out of all future negotiations and talks what are we really trying to solve?
The monarch ascended the throne in suspicious circumstances. Have the extremists forgotten the real issues and concerns of the nations or do they think, legitimizing an institution that has not found much favour in recent times, a bigger priority?
The extremist rhetoric is ‘negotiations and talks’, but the terrorist ceasefire was blatantly ignored. The streets are ablaze and the masses demonstrating for democracy. Peaceful demonstrations have been thwarted by the imposition of curfews, and security personnel have ironically used ‘excessive’ force against the public for their ‘safety and protection’. Brick batting has been seen in plenty, but all I see is retaliation by unarmed commoners against provocation by gun wielding and tear-gas spewing forces.
The extremists refuse to acknowledge the terrorists. They maintain their distance from the terrorists and condemn everyone else’s initiatives to bring them into the national mainstream. The extremists have made offers to the seven agitating parties to come for talks with the monarch, but they want a realignment first – a complete disassociation of the seven parties from the terrorists.
What is the ‘in-control’ faction driving at? What future are they leading this nation to? Admitted the ‘out-of-control’ faction is no group of angels, are those in control a better option? Is the issue about the ‘people’ or is it about the ‘monarch’? Is a ‘ceremonial monarch’ the nation’s need or is it a ‘ceremonial government’?
What is the crisis facing the nation today? Is it the commoner’s aspirations for ‘democracy and rights’ or is it the terrorist game plan? Like it or not, but the extremists have a run of the administration while the terrorists rule the countryside. Given the agitating parties agree to talks with the monarch under the extremists pre-condition, and even come to a settlement – where is the nation left? Are we going for a stalemate yet again?
The root of the current crisis runs back to the terrorists and their agenda. If they are to be left out of all future negotiations and talks what are we really trying to solve?
The monarch ascended the throne in suspicious circumstances. Have the extremists forgotten the real issues and concerns of the nations or do they think, legitimizing an institution that has not found much favour in recent times, a bigger priority?
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Innuendo
I do not believe much in history - it is nothing more than a story written in the perspective of the dominant clan, creed or person. A language is integral to any story, and language can really be twisted, turned and manipulated to serve individual purposes or schemes. Any event or action can be demonized or idolized through usage, and living in Kathmandu for the past few years, I have encountered quite a sampling of it.
Soldiers get martyred, Maoists get killed – the implication, death is justified when carried out by government forces, a damnable offence otherwise.
Bandas (shutdowns/ strikes) are disruptive, curfew, a preventive measure. A friend described a recent curfew as a government sponsored banda. Taking things into perspective, I didn’t see any difference between the two, except for the factions behind them.
Abduction, when by the government, is termed custody, kidnapping otherwise.
Brick batting, lathi charges and tear-gassing is crowd control when by the government forces, disruptive violence otherwise.
Unprovoked and indiscriminate shooting – well, only the army or the police do this. People die, like the 12 at Nagarkot recently, but its not murder, it is just a rare incident.
Soldiers get martyred, Maoists get killed – the implication, death is justified when carried out by government forces, a damnable offence otherwise.
Bandas (shutdowns/ strikes) are disruptive, curfew, a preventive measure. A friend described a recent curfew as a government sponsored banda. Taking things into perspective, I didn’t see any difference between the two, except for the factions behind them.
Abduction, when by the government, is termed custody, kidnapping otherwise.
Brick batting, lathi charges and tear-gassing is crowd control when by the government forces, disruptive violence otherwise.
Unprovoked and indiscriminate shooting – well, only the army or the police do this. People die, like the 12 at Nagarkot recently, but its not murder, it is just a rare incident.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Kathmandu shopping bonanza
I do not claim to have travelled much, but I have heard about Walmart and Lotus megastores around the world. The biggest mall I have been to is MBK in Bangkok, and it was a revelation indeed. Having seen the workings of an anthill on some nature channel, it was quite an experience to be in one, bigger though, but no less busy and crowded.
Many admit to being impulsive shoppers – addicted to the fine art of splurge. I haven’t had enough to ‘splurge’ in the real sense, but I would love to, at least once, just to get the feel of what it feels like. Anyway, I am now moving away from what I set out to write.
Nepal is in the news for all the wrong reasons – tourism, the staple industry, is at a record low, and tourists down to a trickle. But, big constructions go on unabated in Kathmandu. The Sundhara Mall opened recently, and a few more are on the way. Thamel maybe be bare but New Road is still a hub of intense activity. Business goes on as usual, or is it?
The finance minister dishes out stats that indicate a sustaining economy, if not one that is growing. Well, shopping is still a delight in Kathmandu. In fact, it just got better – given the resources to splurge, one can buy not just the ware, but entire shops. And you got quite a choice: from cybercafés to restaurants, everything is up for sale in the alleys.
Malls are going up fast, but shutters are coming down faster.
Many admit to being impulsive shoppers – addicted to the fine art of splurge. I haven’t had enough to ‘splurge’ in the real sense, but I would love to, at least once, just to get the feel of what it feels like. Anyway, I am now moving away from what I set out to write.
Nepal is in the news for all the wrong reasons – tourism, the staple industry, is at a record low, and tourists down to a trickle. But, big constructions go on unabated in Kathmandu. The Sundhara Mall opened recently, and a few more are on the way. Thamel maybe be bare but New Road is still a hub of intense activity. Business goes on as usual, or is it?
The finance minister dishes out stats that indicate a sustaining economy, if not one that is growing. Well, shopping is still a delight in Kathmandu. In fact, it just got better – given the resources to splurge, one can buy not just the ware, but entire shops. And you got quite a choice: from cybercafés to restaurants, everything is up for sale in the alleys.
Malls are going up fast, but shutters are coming down faster.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Drink Dunk
Not very long ago, while trying to contact some South Asian rock bands for a concert in Kathmandu, we came in contact with some really cool rockers who readily agreed to come and perform for free, but expected a nice time, including a plentiful supply of booze. Having grown up in Gangtok, where liquor is almost an essential ingredient of the local culture, I am used to seeing alcohol being sold in the open market. But coming to Kathmandu, it took even me some while to get used its ‘open’ sale in the market. Open here seemed to take a different meaning altogether: from the neighbourhood kirana pasaal to the pan dokan, everyone appeared to have a bottle or two of rum of whiskey among their fare.
The administration seems pretty lenient on the sale of alcohol, and why not? Prohibition has failed in most places so why not reap the benefits of keeping liquor in the open market by way of tax and excise revenues. I really admire open policies when it comes to substances deemed addictive and derogatory for general health and the society. Curbs and bans only tend to increase the ‘wow’ factor, leading to more serious implications.
Anyway, after my pro-administration banter, I have one question to raise. Why arrest a person who consumes the liquor, over the sale of which the administration has no qualms about?
Why penalize consumption when the sale of the same is no violation?
The administration seems pretty lenient on the sale of alcohol, and why not? Prohibition has failed in most places so why not reap the benefits of keeping liquor in the open market by way of tax and excise revenues. I really admire open policies when it comes to substances deemed addictive and derogatory for general health and the society. Curbs and bans only tend to increase the ‘wow’ factor, leading to more serious implications.
Anyway, after my pro-administration banter, I have one question to raise. Why arrest a person who consumes the liquor, over the sale of which the administration has no qualms about?
Why penalize consumption when the sale of the same is no violation?
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
A-political comment
Adult franchise is said to be a right, but I choose to be wrong by forfeiting it. I have voted once, and that was the end to my foray into anything remotely political. I would be naive to think that I am not affected by politics, but that in no way makes me politically inclined or interested: I stand a-political.
I normally refrain from any political comments, but the recent turn of events in the Nepali political scene seems to tempt even the a-political me to have my political say. The current regime claims to be working towards a constructive democracy, and they are proudly reporting their intentions and game plan to some very 'democratic' nations, at least going by their track record - Russia, China and Pakistan.
The three nations in turn express their solidarity for the monarch and his regime by stating that whatever is happening in the country is an internal matter, beyond the purview of any foreign government. I can understand Pakistan and China's stance, the two countries themselves being under autocratic rule, but Russia...
If I am to believe even the least bit of fact cloaked under the fiction of Steve Berry’s The Romanov Prophecy, many Russians sorely miss the Romanovs. Their honeymoon with both communism and democracy having gone awry, they are said to see redemption in a monarch.
Now to put Nepal and Russia into perspective - a lot of people appear to be sick and tired of the current Nepali monarch, whom they consider illegitimate. The Russians meanwhile feel the need for a monarch. Given this scenario, let the Russians have the Nepali monarch.
I for one would be quite happy with the arrangement...
I normally refrain from any political comments, but the recent turn of events in the Nepali political scene seems to tempt even the a-political me to have my political say. The current regime claims to be working towards a constructive democracy, and they are proudly reporting their intentions and game plan to some very 'democratic' nations, at least going by their track record - Russia, China and Pakistan.
The three nations in turn express their solidarity for the monarch and his regime by stating that whatever is happening in the country is an internal matter, beyond the purview of any foreign government. I can understand Pakistan and China's stance, the two countries themselves being under autocratic rule, but Russia...
If I am to believe even the least bit of fact cloaked under the fiction of Steve Berry’s The Romanov Prophecy, many Russians sorely miss the Romanovs. Their honeymoon with both communism and democracy having gone awry, they are said to see redemption in a monarch.
Now to put Nepal and Russia into perspective - a lot of people appear to be sick and tired of the current Nepali monarch, whom they consider illegitimate. The Russians meanwhile feel the need for a monarch. Given this scenario, let the Russians have the Nepali monarch.
I for one would be quite happy with the arrangement...
Thursday, January 12, 2006
New Year Resolutions and Evolution
We are well into 2006, and having missed out on the excitement of the dawn of a New Year, I woke up this morning thinking about resolutions. Not being the type to actually believe in them, I realised that rather than making resolutions, most of which I may not keep, it would be a better idea to evolve with each New Year.
Looking back, at the recent past and the not so recent, I think I have been extremely lucky - a monetary jackpot has eluded me so far, but I have nothing to crib about: no major worries on any front, and very few regrets and frustrations. Overall, it has been smooth sailing and my boat continues to move ahead on a similar vein.
Once, not so long ago, on one of my Namaste Kathmandus, I asked a simple question at the start (picked up from Reader's Digest), "If this was the end of the world, and you had one phone call to make, to whom would it be, and what would you say?" The answer at the end of the show was, "Why are you waiting for the world to end to make that phone call - make the call, NOW!" It made a lot of sense, and taking cue from that, I caught up or made efforts to, with a lot of old friends, forgotten or ignored - a lot of Thank yous and many Sorries. It was a wonderful feeling doing that, and I am glad now that I took the initiative.
A fresh new year, and I am in the mood for an encore performance - I looked back at the years gone by, and as I said earlier, ended feeling blessed and lucky. Not many apologies, but a whole lot of Thank Yous. I thought I'd begin with the latter, and I have a list that runs long.
Thank You – couldn’t ask for the company of better people.
Sorry – anything to make amends…
Looking back, at the recent past and the not so recent, I think I have been extremely lucky - a monetary jackpot has eluded me so far, but I have nothing to crib about: no major worries on any front, and very few regrets and frustrations. Overall, it has been smooth sailing and my boat continues to move ahead on a similar vein.
Once, not so long ago, on one of my Namaste Kathmandus, I asked a simple question at the start (picked up from Reader's Digest), "If this was the end of the world, and you had one phone call to make, to whom would it be, and what would you say?" The answer at the end of the show was, "Why are you waiting for the world to end to make that phone call - make the call, NOW!" It made a lot of sense, and taking cue from that, I caught up or made efforts to, with a lot of old friends, forgotten or ignored - a lot of Thank yous and many Sorries. It was a wonderful feeling doing that, and I am glad now that I took the initiative.
A fresh new year, and I am in the mood for an encore performance - I looked back at the years gone by, and as I said earlier, ended feeling blessed and lucky. Not many apologies, but a whole lot of Thank Yous. I thought I'd begin with the latter, and I have a list that runs long.
Thank You – couldn’t ask for the company of better people.
Sorry – anything to make amends…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
