Received: from mp.cs.niu.edu (mp.cs.niu.edu [131.156.1.2]) by library.wustl.edu (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id KAA22021 for <huestis@library.wustl.edu>; Sun, 6 Nov 1994 10:02:47 -0600 Received: by mp.cs.niu.edu id AA24959 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for nepal-dist); Sun, 6 Nov 1994 08:12:57 -0600 Received: by mp.cs.niu.edu id AA24955 (5.67b/IDA-1.5 for nepal-list); Sun, 6 Nov 1994 08:12:55 -0600 Date: Sun, 6 Nov 1994 08:12:55 -0600 Message-Id: <199411061412.AA24955@mp.cs.niu.edu> Reply-To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> From: The Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu> Sender: "Rajpal J. Singh" <A10RJS1@cs.niu.edu> Subject: The Nepal Digest - Nov 6, 1994 (3 Mangshir 2051 BkSm) To: <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu> Content-Type: text Content-Length: 54825 Status: O X-Status: X-Keywords: X-UID: 48
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The Nepal Digest Sunday 5 Nov 94: Mangshir 3 2051 BkSm Volume 33 Issue 4
Today's Topics are:
1. KURA_KANI:
Please, do not fool the people this time
Re: Caught Between Cultures: A True Story
Re: Women in Hinduism
2. TAJA_KHABAR: News From Nepal
3. KATHA_KABITA: Ke Vanchau
4. Entertainment:
Humor - Politically Correct Dict.
5. Article: The Girl Child
*****************************************************************************
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* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything" - Anon. *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" - Sirdar_RJS_Khalifa *
* *
*****************************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 11:45:28 -0500
From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (RaJesh B. Shrestha)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Baghachal
Hi!!
I'm a mexican student with a problem:
I have to learn how to play Baghachal (my teacher says that this game
come from Nepal), I alredy have the rules of the game and what I need
is some tips like how is better to start the game, it means, whats
positions are better for the tigers and what for the rams?, how I can
get most probabilities of win? and other things like that.
I realy apreciate any help that you can give me.
Please e-mail me
dgarcia@campus.mty.itesm.mx
al199875@academ01.mty.itesm.mx
my project is programming the Baghachal in Scheme.
Dante Garcia Hdz.
*****************************************************************
From: Shailesh R. Bhandari <sbhandar@garnet.acns.fsu.edu>
Subject: Hasya Kabita
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 14:17:39 -0500 (EST)
From: Shailesh Bhandari
Florida State University
Economics Department
Tallahassee, Florida 32306
KE VANCHHOU ?
Ramro jasto lagyo vane
Timi malai aa vana,
Bachcha jasto lagyo vane
jaa vana
Kehi gari budho jasto lagyo vane
Timi malai Baa vana.
**********************************************************************
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 94 20:02:55 CST
From: sbshah@gumbo.bae.lsu.edu (Sanjay B. Shah)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Entry to the Pashupatinath Temple
I am fully in favor of permitting non-Hindus to enter Pashupatinath so long as they follow the same code of conduct that we Hindus observe. Surely Lord Shiva will not be defiled by their presence because He is above all of that. We Hindus are basically a tolerant and adaptive people at heart who believe in the saying "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam"(The World is a Single Family). We should it by our actions.
The spinoff could come in the form of increased revenues that should not only be used for its beautification but also for the welfare of the poor. I am sure, this is more likely to succeed than the efforts of Pashupati Bikas Kshettra's efforts to gather donations.
Sanjay Bikram Shah
sbshah@gumbo.bae.lsu.edu
***********************************************************************
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 23:50:39 -0500 (EST)
From: Ashutosh Tiwari <tiwari@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: Politically Correct Democractic Dictionary (fwd)
What follows is a piece of HUMOR, published in the in the Sunday
Supplement of the Kathmandu Post (Sept. 18 '94). As far as I know, the
satirist, who, for some odd reason calls himself AT, has no discernably
political or personal axe to grind.
AT claims that he wrote this only as an antidote to boredom on one
lazy, 'Nepal Bandh' summer '94 afternoon in Kathmandu. At the
outset, he would like to thank Pratyoush, Bikash T, Bikash R, Manisha,
Surendra, Monica, Binod and Keshab for their contributions and witticisms
over chiya, momos, pizzas and pakoras at various watering-holes of
Kathmandu. Thanks also to Bikas J for lending his Mac Powerbook, in which
AT says he finished the final version.
"Politically Correct" Democractic Dictionary
Editing stories at SPOTLIGHT, a weekly nesmagazine in Kathmandu, Mr.
AT soon discovered that his knowledge of Nepali politics was as incisive as
Sher Bahadur Deuba's grasp of diplomatic calculus -- you know, the ability
to differentiate the Bhutanese refugees from integrating into Jhapa's
population. [Last time AT checked, the London School of Economics,
Deuba's alma mater, did offer courses on negotiations.]
Superficially, AT could identify Ganesh Man as the Supremo who
wanted to 'privatize' democracy on account of the leader's tyag, tapasya,
sangharsha and bali-daan; Krishna Prasad as the paan-chewing National
Uncle who's really a good-for-nothing guy; and Madhav Nepal as the
person who gets pushed into heading the sexiest julus in Ratna Park...
you know, with demonstrators killed, railings torn apart, vehicles
smashed, stones hurled, telephone exchanges burnt, slogans chanted and so
on.
Up to a point, this sort of political understanding was more than
enough for AT to sail through the Zee-TV-soaked gazal-restuarant-circuit
of Kathmandu's gliterati, literati and political-ati. But pressed to
probe deeper into the what's and the why's of Nepali politics at CNAS
seminars and SCOPE workshops, AT used be as nervous as Kathmandu's carpet
shaus -- the same ones who would rather hide their "dirty little secrets",
well, literally under the carpet than face the German television.
But thanks to AT's supposedly heavy-duty 'phoren' training, he set
about learning the ABCs the Nepali politics with all the patriotic zeal
of Nepali-Americans, who -- eyeing plum puddings of jobs in Cat.Man.Do --
had pleased, flattered and sweett-mouthed Girija Prasad Koirala on his visit
to New York City in October '93. Afloat on such grand bureaucratic
dreams, AT lit up a pipe and sat down to prepare a
something-for-everybody, all-meaning-included, useful dictionary of
Nepali politics. The result:
AID: 1) An acronym for "Always In Debt"
2) Something that clearly explains the gap among the rich,
the newly-rich and the poor Nepalis.
3) Something to keep the donors' workers maintain their jobs
at home.
ANTARGHATI: 1) Anyone who disagrees with the Supreme Leader.
2) Any enemy, real or imaginary, of the Nepali Congress.
3) A label used to blame anybody for anything for any reason.
ARUN III: 1) The governmemet's pet.
2) The nation's debt.
3) What some NGOs hate.
4) But what really holds some other NGOs' fate.
5) So what if it's getting late?
BP: 1) The man who dreamt too much.
BP ko sapana: 1) An excuse to name anything, that is, schools, hospitals,
bridges, roads after BP.
2) The post-prajatantra rival of "asiali maap-danda" and other
meaningless slogans of the panchayat days.
3) Today's replacement of "sri paanch ko mahabaani".
4) What the down and out Nepalis see every night.
COMMUNISTS: 1) The real ones still left on the planet; current
location: Nepal.
2) Pujaris of Marx, Lenin, Mao, Stalin, Kim Il Sung,
Gonzalo and Castro.
3) Those who say, "Bad, bad, imperialist America! But I'm
sending my sons there anyway [for college]!"
4) Those who sing, "Everything we do, we do it with violence"
5) Those who belt-out heavy-metal rock (that is, stone)
concert in Ratna Park based on their album, "Appetite for
Destruction".
DEMOCRACY: 1) A very, very good thing: Yeh cheez badi hai mast mast!!
2) Better than panchayat
3) Worse than panchayat
4) A way to rule, NOT represent, people.
5) The triumph of consumerism
6) Corruption, chakari, chaplusi and afno karya-karta.
7) The word donors love to hear.
8) Brought by the patarkars, the TU Student unions, the
politicians and the "Nepalese" in Amrika for the benefit
of simple, humble ignorant Nepali janata.
ELECTION: 1) Do in Nepal as they do in Bihar.
2) The currency which sells dreams and buys votes.
3) Rigging, booth-capturing, violence and murder.
4) Aya Ram; gaya Ram.
5) A way to strengthen democracy?
INDIA: 1) "Bad, bad, bad country!"; but, hey, "great films"
2) "Dhotiwal Murdabad!"
3) India-Nepal bhai, bhai.
4) Regional bully; domestic friend; political master.
[NEPALI] INTELLECTUAL: 1) Stockbroker of politics.
2) See no research; hear no research; do no research
3) Any holder of a PhD on any topic from any anywhere.
4) Anybody who calls himself one, especially the editor of the
Rising Nepal who starts every piece by, "We, the
intellectuals . . . "
5) Any jagir-wallah at the Royal Nepal Academy.
6) Those who love to identify THEMSELVES on all occasions
as "Dr."
7) Those who earn their daily dal-bhat and Pajero-jeep-level
social standing by working as consultants to foreign-aid
projects, and then turn around to bemoan the effects of
foreign aid on the "poor and the underprivileged".
JAILS: 1) High schools for Nepali politics.
2) The place to give the PEEs -- Politics Entrance Exams --
on which only those who have failed in everything else get
honors.
JOURNALISTS: 1) Retailers of politics.
2) Shopkeepers of politics.
3) Those who can say anything, write anything and do anything
and all because they also "brought democracy".
JULUS: 1) A source of part-time income for hundreds of unemployed
youths.
2) If all else fails, go join one: That way, you avoid
the traffic jam in New Road.
3) Something our politicians do with such consummate mess
that should open up consultancies in Bosnia, Rwanda and
Somalia.
NEPAL BANDH: 1) A great sacrifice.
2) A great pain in the . . .
3) Babu Ram Bhattarai's part-time job.
NEPALI-AMERICANS: 1) "Driven off by the Panchayat to the foreign
land". Yeah, yeah!!
2) Underachievers who can't do anything noteworthy in the
US so they spent all their time worrying and discussing
Nepal's problems as though they know all the answers.
3) Those who preach democratic values to Nepalis in Nepal
from such lofty locations as New York and DC.
4) Those who make Nepal their tax-shelters by opening up
health-posts and running (medical) camps, and get sugary,
syrupy profiles in the pages of the Rising Nepal.
5) A few nice folks who are hard-working, sincere and
who genuinely love and respect Nepal and Nepalis, no
matter what they do and where they are.
NEPALI JANATA: 1) Consumers of politics.
2) Those who untiringly listen to "Everything I do, I do
it for you" -- a kind of Bihari love-song, sung by ALL
politicians.
NPC: 1) National Planning Commission.
2) Planning, planning and planning: hey, where's the
implementation?
3) Dominated by "rational fools"?
4) Forget theoretical economists of high intellect; it's
full [to use Paul Krugman's phrase] policy-entrepreneurs
who try to peddle prosperity by selling Congressi dreams.
PANCHAYAT: 1) A thirty-year nightmare.
2) Corruption, chakari, chaplusi and afno manche.
3) In Palace, we trust
4) Better than democracy?
PATRA-PATRIKA: 1) Advertizers of politics
2) Pamphlets of politics.
3) See politics; hear politics and do politics.
POLITICAL PARTY: 1) Greater than the country, more important than the
Nepali janata.
2) If you need a phone-line fast, what are you gonna open?
3) When you CANNOT do anything in Nepal, you start one.
4) When you want to do anything in Nepal, you start one.
POLITICIANS: 1) Producers of politics.
2) Previous jail-occupants
3) Those who "restored democracy", now fighting over
the size of their share of the treasury-pie
4) Those who indulge in gai-jatra 24 hours a day, seven
days a week.
PRIVATIZATION: 1) Koirala-ization: that is, giving the firm to your
friends or to your relatives.
2) Indianization.
3) Congressization, as in: "Congress is democracy; democracy
is Congess". Sure!
SUPREME LEADER: 1) Ganesh Man Singh.
2) Leader of all - - Master of none.
Well, folks, this is the dictionary. The satirist AT hopes that his
'politically correct' lexicon has NOT offended any of you non-political
Nepalis [whoever said "Man is a political animal" must have flunked his SLC]
If it has not offended you, that's great! If it has, then, simply don't
vote for AT in November.
But frankly, AT doesn't care -- as long as he gets to keep that brand
new phone-line in the name of his one-man
Save-Us-From-Those-Who-Act-As-Though-Politics-Is-The-Only-Thing-Happening-
In-Nepal (SUFTWHAATPISTOTHIN) Party!
The End
**********************************************************************
From: mbhatta@sas.upenn.edu (Madhav Bhatta)
Subject: THE GIRL CHILD
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu (Nepal Digest)
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 1994 11:30:08 -0500 (EST)
I wrote the following article in 1990 for my school magazine "Bhanjyang".
Since the issue of the status of women in Nepal has been the topic of
discussion in THE NEPAL DIGEST for a while, I thought I send this article
for the readers. My basic observations and views on the subject remain
the same, but I must say in past few years I have acquired some new
insights in looking at the problem and its causes. I also would interpret
some of the observations differently. But I still think that the article
is equally relevant and applicable today, and does reflect most of my
views and concerns. Any individual born in Nepal or knows Nepal well must
have the general sense of the existence of the problem. From this point,
I think, we have three choices to follow: 1)recognize and accept the the
problem and look for solutions, 2) continue to be in the state of denial,
or 3) overanalyze the problem, thus in the process loose the sight of the
real issue and deviate in a wrong direction. I hope we will make the
right choice.
Hopes and aspirations that came with the popular movement of 1990
remain unfulfilled; in fact it has been quite a disappointment. I am
disheartened by the general direction in which the Nepali society is going
in the name of progress and "modernization" in this particular issue of
the status of women. For instance, in the rural areas of the country the
tradition of dowry was not and is not a problem, but we Nepalis are good
at imitations and mimicking others, and do not know when to stop. A
recent development in the urban areas has been trying to bring home a
bride with, if not a "house and car, just a refrigerator and motorcycle."
I hope as we progress forward we can do better than this.
THE GIRL CHILD
Nepal, along with the six other SAARC nations, [South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka], is celebrating 1990 as the "Year of the Girl
Child". Considering the changing political environment of the country,
this is the right moment to discuss the issue of bias against the girl
child and the status of women in Nepal. It provides an opportunity to
look into the problem, scrutinize the reasons behind it and suggest some
solutions.
Bias against the girl child is deeply rooted in the complex
religious, social, cultural, political and economic set-up of Nepali
society. The fact is, discrimination against the girl child exists in all
levels of both rural and urban societies, and at different stages of the
girl's life. Although the degree of bias varies in accordance with the
social status and economic position of the family, the bias has been there
since the beginning of our society and has continued to the present. It
has seriously affected the nutrition, health, education, social status and
economic position of the girl child. Poverty and Ignorance are the two
major pillars supporting the problem and prolonging its existence.
Nepali society is primarily a male-dominated one. People are
poor, ignorant, traditional and conservative. Together with social,
cultural and religious orthodoxy, economic backwardness and ignorance have
exacerbated the problem. The morals, values and ideals of Nepali society
are deeply modeled by Hindu traditionalism which gives first preference to
the male child. First, it regards the son as being the preserver of the
patrilineal name; second, the son is the one who performs all the last
rites and rituals for the peace and salvation of deceased soul; and
finally he is seen as support and security for the parents when they are
old. That's is why people have a sense of humiliation and insecurity when
they are sonless.
In the domain of the male child, the girl child is always bound to
live a life of bias and disadvantage. Bias against her begins in the womb
of the mother, and continues throughout her life. Even her right to life
has been violated. Amniocentesis, a medical diagnostic technology used
for determining any genetic defect in fetuses, is being misused in one of
the SAARC nations to determine the sex of the unborn. Out of 8,000
abortions carried out after the test, 7,999 were of female fetuses.
Though this appalling statistics is not from Nepal, I cannot rule out the
possibility of something similar occurring in here.
The birth of a male child is a source of joy and happiness,
whereas that of the girl child is a cause of melancholy or apathy at best
to the family. Whenever a girl is born the parents blame their ill-luck
and try again. Since the son is so important, the parents so not hesitate
to have half a dozen or more girls before finally acquiring the son as a
'gift' from god. In the community I live, I know of not one but several
such cases, and I have no hesitation in saying that every other community
has the same story. With the economic condition of the average Nepali,
you can imagine the sort of care and rearing these girls get. Obviously,
the care and attention the male child gets far exceeds the girl child, and
even her basic demands are neglected to over-protect his. It is a common
observation that most parents are even reluctant to do a simple thing as
immunize the girl child against such diseases as diphtheria, polio,
tetanus, tuberculosis, measles and whooping tough. They have "many better
things to do than to waste time immunizing the girl child." People cannot
understand that today's girls are tomorrow's mothers, and the future of
the nation lies on them. If their health is improved, then the health of
the future generation will improve. The foundation of mother-child health
improvement should begin with the girl child. Conversely, a great care is
taken to feed the male child on special diet because he is the true jewel
of the family. No special attention is given to the girl child for she is
somebody else's legacy and going to another home tomorrow. This may be
offensive to some people, but everyday observation does reflect such
attitudes very explicitly.
The girl child has to help the mother to perform household tasks,
whilst her brother enjoys a relative freedom and spends his time probably
playing or gossiping with his other male friends. If the girl happens to
be the eldest, then she is certain to be burdened with all the household
chores including looking after the younger ones, cooking, fetching water,
washing dirty dishes, cutting grass for cattle and many more, but would be
the last one to enjoy good food, proper health care, education and above
all, freedom.
The girl child is often bonded to strict family regulations and
social taboos when she reaches adolescence. Parents think of her as a
liability; a potential threat to the family pride and prestige. At this
stage of her, her every action needs to be explained, her every step has
be reviewed She is not even allowed to laugh, talk or 'think' freely. She
is under constant surveillance, for the obvious reason, whereas her male
counterparts will spend a relatively carefree life. Given the scenario of
our society, she will be the victim, as well as responsible for any
missteps taken at this stage of her life and would have to bear the
consequences throughout her life. Most girls are, thus, married at the
age of 15-16.
The bias continues on to her new home when she is married. Her
household tasks continue with some additional responsibilities. As a
daughter-in-law her life is even harder: dawn to dusk she has to perform
her duties to satisfy her in-laws. The better she performs her duties,
the better she is liked and loved. In the worst households, she is often
harassed and haunted for not performing her duties properly and
effectively.
Most rural people perceive formal education for the girl child as
irrelevant and unnecessary because they feel however educated she is,
eventually she will have to work on the farm and look after her household.
It is just a waste of useful labor, which instead can be harnessed to
produce more food essential for survival. It is not entirely surprising
for people to have such beliefs, since they have never seen women
competing with men in any intellectual fields and have little formal
education themselves.
Even many of those able to understand the underlying importance of
a girl's education are unable to meet the cost of educating any child.
Education is only free at primary level, and in the realm of the male
child it is hard to expect the girl child to be give priority. Instead
she undergoes "technical" training at home, learning to be a perfect
daughter-in-law. People argue that the girl child has no ability to do
mathematics or learn English, when she spends most of her homework hours
washing dirty dishes. Another factor hindering a girl's education is
early marriage. Even in urban societies, I feel that the girl child is
not given full opportunity to develop her talents, but is merely educated
for the sake of securing an educated partner.
Education for the girl child is vitally important for the
socio-economic development of the country. It is impossible for a nation
to progress when half of its population is illiterate and dependent on the
other half. Women can contribute to the development of the country as
well as men. Education can also greatly help to improve the health of the
family. Population growth is a major problem of the world today and our
country is no exception. The rate of population growth in our country is
high, the fertility rate is high and the population control measures are
not very successful. I see the education of the girl child as the most
effective tool for making family planning projects successful and reducing
the population growth significantly.
The government should make education free for the girl child up
the higher levels too. Most Nepali girls have only access to high
schools, and for further education they would have to go to Kathmandu or
other urban centers. Many parents naturally feel reluctant to send their
girl child away for higher education, even if they can afford. Taking
this fact into account the government should make a definite move to
establish more higher educational institutions well within the reach of
girls. It is most encouraging too see Budhanilkantha going co-ed from
next year with the admission of girls at O-level. This initiative should
have been taken long ago: girls have been denied education at the center
of excellence for so long. [Since, 1991 there are about 100 girls out of
about 600 students and the number is still increasing.]
Our constitution states the son is the sole inheritor of the
family assets. For the daughter to be eligible she should be unmarried
and thirty-five years of age. Similarly, in our civil code a woman is
considered as an object. If a woman leave her husband and elopes with
another man, the first husband can ask for compensation from the new
husband. Such flaws in the constitution should be immediately abolished,
and the new constitution should grant equal rights and status to both men
and women. [This information may be out dated; I do not know if there has
been any changes in the new constitution in this regard.]
Although traditions like "sati" no longer exist, the bondage of a
widow's life reflects the persisting male dominance of our society. If a
man's wife dies, within a few months he re-marries and leads a normal
life. But why should a women live as a social outcast? What is wrong
with her assuming a normal life, as a man does? These sorts of traditions
have greatly undermine the status and the rights of women. These
traditions support the view that woman's dignity is totally dependent on a
man and she herself has no position alone in society.
In Nepal, women's employment opportunities are very limited. This
does not include the agriculture sector, from which most Nepalis make
their living. Most women are concentrated in middle or low paying jobs,
and very few prestigious jobs are held by women. Similarly, the number of
women entering technical professions is limited. Though the wrong
perception of women as incapable of such work is diminishing slowly, most
women lack confidence and low self-esteem to enter such fields.
In the past, programs launched by the government to raise the
status of women have not been at all effective. Most of them have merely
been cosmetic and an easy way to digest the budget. Taking lessons from
past experience, now is the time for the government to adopt some more
effective policies and programs. Women themselves should play a
significant and positive role, especially the educated women who must
recognize their special responsibilities and duties in carrying out this
immense task of uplifting the status of women in Nepal.
It is most encouraging to see that Nepal and other six SAARC
nations have decided to celebrate 1990 as "The Year of the Girl Child"-
but it is only the very beginning of the process.
Madhav P. Bhatta
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
***************************************************************************
From: mbhatta@sas.upenn.edu (Madhav Bhatta)
Subject: "The 1990 Revolution"
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu (Nepal Digest)
Date: Sat, 5 Nov 1994 14:38:20 -0500 (EST)
In his essay, "The 1990 Revolution" [Nepal in the Nineties, ed.
Michael Hutt, Oxford University Press, 1994], Martin Hoftun writes "[s]o
far I have used the word 'revolution' [to discuss the events that
occured in 1990 and brought about the political changes in Nepal].
One may of course discuss whether this is appropriate to describe the
political events of 1990 in Nepal and even more so, to describe what
happened in 1951. Usually the word 'revolution' implies a major, violent,
popular uprising which fundamentally changes the whole political order of
the day. Violence was certainly present during the democracy movement in
Nepal in 1990, and to a lesser degree it was also part of the 1951
events. However,it may be argued that the political changes were not of
fundamental character in 1951 or in 1990, because the political dominance
of one cultural and social elite survived both events."
Looking at the recent events that are transpiring in Nepal, I am
seriously begining to question my own beliefs in the whether there was a
real 'revolution' in Nepal. No doubt, at the aftermath of the uprising
I certainly believed in the 'revolution'. But now it seems like we just
helped few more groups of crooks to grab the power-pie, while most of
the Nepali people are still suffering. All that has been achieved in
the last few years is cynicism and hopelessness!!
What do you readers think of the situation?
Madhav Bhatta
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
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To: The Nepal Digest <nepal@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Subject: A New Thread
Here are the next series of articles under the topic. Reminders are
once again posted:
--------------------------
Caught Between Cultures: A True Story
-------------------------------------
If you would like to share how your views have affected your life,
how it has changed you, personal choices you may have had to make,
some bitter and some not so bitter experiences, personal values,
your solutions to some of the concerns, your compromises and all,
please send it under the above topic.
For the sake of privacy, contributors have a choice to identify
themselves, or use a fictitous name or use third pronoun as long
as the stories are NOT fabricated.
I am looking for TRUE STORIES of a Nepali's life being affected
due to western influences - for the good or the bad (only you
are the judge, jury and the client).
I believe your experiences could be a valuable lessons for us to share!
Following rules are to be implemented under this thread:
1. This is just a vehicle to let some of the cross-cultural
beliefs out.
2. This is not a discussion for East Vs. West.
3. Please refrain from judging other people. Stick to your experiences.
Feel free to comment on others' experiences as long as you can
refrain from judgment (I know its hard ..... your comments will
be dropped if it insults others).
4. Feel free to voice your oppinion if you think a particular rationale
holds true or works for you.
5. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT A LOT OF PERSONAL ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE
EXPRESSED, BE SENSATIVE, BE UNDERSTANDING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
LET US HOPE WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING AND COPE WITH OUR OWN
"CAUGHT BETWEEN CULTURES" ISSUES.
-Sirdar_RJS_Khalifa
---------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 03 Nov 1994 12:45:47 -0500 (CDT)
From: RKP6723@UTARLG.UTA.EDU
Subject: Divorce
To: Nepal@cs.niu.edu
Dear Editor,
I am glad to see the topic you introduced "Caught between cultures". I did
contribute my early experience and I have some more to say about it, but
there is something more important going on my mind that I want to say and
ask all the members of TND.
Should married but very unhappy couple divorce? I was brought up with Idea
that divorce is bad, and I was proud to say that divorce rate in Nepal is
very low. Is divorce bad? Or is it fact of life? I hated divorce more than
anybody because my parents were divorced in early 1987. It's almost been eight
years. I was still non believer of divorce till yesterday, althogh good friend
of mine was having a bad marriage in Nepal. He wanted to divorce and she wanted
to divorce, but her parents would not let them do it. All Nepali knows why?
The women's reputation goes down after the divorce. But the couple were not
talking to each other not engaging in sexual activity, why should they stay
married? Okay they can work out...I am looking divorce in a positive way after
I heard a Nepali woman cried and spit out her sorrow. Her husband treats her
like dirt. She said they fight everyday. He wants to go to school so she has
to work two jobs to support the family. He can go out drinking with his buddies
but she has to stay home after hard days work and cook for him. She has done
that for years but now she is wore out and unhappy and depressed. Now I am
thinking to myself why should she stay with him? Then I asked her why should
you stay with him? She answered in a sad and tormented voice, he is my husabnad
and I have nowhere else to go. She is a Nepali woman, she does not believe in
divorce because she thinks that there is no life after divorce.
Thank You
Robin Pandey
Arlington, TX
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Date: 05 Nov 94 19:25:04 EST
From: William Leal <73131.3554@compuserve.com>
To: Nepal Digest Submissions <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Submission
I read the Nepal Digest through my wife's e-mail account, but wanted to make a
submission of my own. I appreciate the Digest and am grateful for the people who
have kept it up year after year.
I have seen a wide range of topics discussed in the Digest, but have seen few
submissions discussing religion. Nepal is of course traditionally Hindu, though
there are also Buddhists, Moslems and Christians. At least until recently it was
illegal for a person to convert from Hinduism, and although I think that has
loosened up in recent years, I believe it is still illegal for one person to
influence another for conversion. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on the exact
legal situation at this moment.
At any rate, my point is that there has been a surprising growth of Christianity
in Nepal recently. A friend who returned recently from Nepal told the account of
an anthropologist--a thoroughly secular individual--who, upon returning to the
place where he did his original research, found the area almost totally
converted to Christianity. There are many more Christian churches now in Nepal
than there ever have been, and attendance at one in Kathmandu (in multiple
services on Sunday) runs as high as 800 or 900. Others in more remote areas run
a couple hundred to as much as 700. To my knowledge, no exact survey has been
taken on the subject. The interesting thing about this growth is that it has
occurred almost completely without the involvement of foreigners. In other
countries, missionaries played a key role in the spread of Christianity; in
Nepal, as in China, where there has been a large growth of Christianity,
official restrictions on religious activity have meant very little foreign
involvement. So the growth has been the result of one person telling another.
Political reforms aside, it remains in most cases difficult to leave Hinduism
and become a Christian. At the grass-roots level there is much pressure for a
person to remain a Hindu. People who choose to become Christian frequently
experience rejection, physical abuse, the loss of their inheritance and
sometimes imprisonment.
Different people will respond to this report differently. Anyone who is
interested in the free development and growth of the individual, as would
characterize many of the readers of the Nepal Digest, will no doubt be glad that
apparently it is becoming easier for people to make their own choices instead of
being forced to do just as their families dictate. Naturally, this tends to
disrupt traditional patterns in the family and community, and can contribute to
a certain degree of instability in the country. A partisan Christian will be
glad at the news while a partisan Hindu will find it unfortunate. I expect this
report to stir up some discussion in the Digest.
As always, continue your good work with the Nepal Digest. Yours,
Bill Leal
73131.3554@CompuServe.Com
******************************************************************
Date: Fri, 04 Nov 1994 17:03:23 EST
To: nepal-request@cs.niu.edu
From: Nirmal Ghimirez <NGH42799Q236@DAFFY.MILLERSV.EDU>
Subject: women in hinduism
I saw the remarks I had made in last isssue, and apologize for my simple and
careless mistakes. I have sometimes double written and it was sometimes due to
my lack of knowledge of the computer. This time Iwillnot try to make
those mistakes.Iam sorry if I troubled anyone dur to this. While I am not
yet throughcommenting on Mr. Mishra's article.I know that the truth
should be told and exposed,but only what is true and not the exaggerated stuff.
As, I told before the title itself is misleading.Many people have viewed
it as how women are represented in Hinduism. To clarify the status of women in
Hinduism,and how some people have used it to their advantage is
another thing.To make sure that there is no confusion I am stating
this.Mr. Mishra writes we should mercilessly analyze, which is very true and a
very positive approach. But, to analyze one should understand the roots
of causes and meaning of it. Things should not be exaggerated .And to
analyze rationally is another important factor. Taking few issues cannot
be counted for the whole of it.
I went through Mr. Mishra's ,"Women in Hinduism (6)".The comments on that.
He states that most of the marriages are just for the sake of bringing home
a cook, a caretaker. Hinduism clearly states that marriage is a relationship
between two opposite sex,and both have the equal share. It is unfortunate that
many male chauvinist misuse it and overpower the female.But that is not what
Hinduism states. But how many really only marry for the purpose of bringing
someone just for the sake of help. I guess it is few,as far as I have seen.
I don't think parents bring in daughter in law for their interest.They want
the happpiness of their son , so he marries. Parents do not have a selfish
motive behind it.Second thing that he states is that they look for
virgin and chaste girl. What is bad of that. What is bad in remaining a
virgin? Now even in West people are realizing the importance of abstinence
"Hinduism" does not focus much on sense pleasure as sex.
He says that from childhood he, the male thinks about this.I don't know
how many do. For we realize about sex much later than other part of the
world. For our society has never focussed so much on sex abd things
seem to be going alone fine. As far as virgin goes,I wguess it is good
if you canmaintain it with your wish and understanding.That does not
mean that evryone should be one, but if one thinks that to be better
So, we do not have big problems with abortion,and other sex diseases.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying everyone should remain a virgin but
that remaining virgin also has its plus points.He further states regar
ding the girls education,"For parents thought the boys wanted college going
girls on top of everything else,torun household."
I do not think it is so. Parents give their children education to
make them independent and to make them literate.They understand the value of
education and make them do so.Since the house is run by both, both work and
earn for the same purpose. I think it is a positive step.Now,slowly
they are taking all kinds of jobs and in higher positions which is good.
And besides that if they cook out of their interest what is the harm.
Cooking is a art that many enjoy. It is just that it should not be done as
obligation or force but out of interest.I know that Dowry is a big and bad
problem increasing as time.But,it is not part of Hinduism that does this. It
due to some people.Mr. Mishra must have observed a lot of this in India,but
that does not mean that he can conclude that this is due to Hinduism.
He further states,"The mission of their lives becomes compromising and
satisfying the family." I guess everyone sometimes in life somewhere
compromises with life. As long as one feels satisfied in what one is doing
I think it is good. One should not do it by force or compulsion. If someone
ones to sacrifce by his or her wish I do not seeany negative in it.
Maybe she does it becasuse of her wish. Maybe she finds satisfaction on that.
For it is not easyto sacrifice and some may take it as a challenge.
As faras marriage goes, every culture has its own tradition. It is
neverstarted in Hinduism that you must accept the boy your parents choose.
Sita and Draupadi infact chose by themselves .But I know we are talking about
common people.As far as Ican rationalize, arranged marriages are largely
based on faith.Meaning that parents choose the best boy theythink for their
daughter. If they are inb love then many do understand nowdays,otherwise
many try to look for the best mate for their daughter.They only give her
after they believe they know a lot about the boy and feel comfortable
that their daughter will like it. They do ask their daughters.I am
talking about the positive progress.Faith is beyond reason, so it takes
place on faith, it is not gambling but believing. And most of the maarriage
are successful and they have a satisfied married life. Our society itself
shows that our problem is not our culture or our religion. It is our ig
norance, and selfishness.Thinking that if both are of same culture,and same
background they understand each other better, they generally want them to
get married in the same caste.Which I think is throughout the world. Here
also many Americans marry Americans and Afro-Americans marry Afro-Americans.
Similarly in different cultures usually they are married to their same
culture. There is nothing bad in it ,if it is not forced and if both
mutually agree.Marriage in Hinduism is the union of two with shared and
equal relationship. In the old days males went for farming or hunting, while
the females stayed in home to take care of children and the house. But
both are doing it for their commitment for their family and for
each other. Now, time has changed and if both go to work for the same
purpose,I don't see what is wrong regarding this in Hinduism.He states
"arranged marriage gives you everything ,but where is the human being?"
Both human beings are getting married and becoming one family. They
have their future and both can plan and move. It is a relationship between two
humans.Bothhave more support from each other and a true friend in the journey
of life.So it looks like a decent journey.I will continue my discussion later
on. I agree that womwn are not treated as they should in many paths of the
world. And it is still very bad in our part of the world. WE all must
certainly work towards this. Things are improving is the positive point.
But exaggerating facts and blaming religion for that is not the path.It is
the attitude that has to change.Our thinking has to change.I still
firmly believe that "Hinduism, is a great source which shows a great
respect for women as no other religion does, it is due to some people during
some people who spoilt the system, but Hinduism is firmin its saying as
before. " I hope many are not getting boredd.My rest comments will come soon.
**************************************************************************
Date: 04 Nov 1994 13:55:56 EST
To: <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
From: "Chitra K. Tiwari" <74641.3624@compuserve.com>
Subject: Free and Fair Election??
While no one had believed that there would be free and fair
elections in Nepal, Prime Minister G.P. Koirala, nonetheless,
was paying lip-service to it until couple days earlier. But
now his promise of a free and fair election has proved to be
baloney. How come?
Reports from Nepal say that Mr. Koirala is abusing official
resources at the cost of tax payers (or, say at the cost of
foreign aid bearers). In violation of the Code of Conduct of
Elections, the Koirala government is misusing the Radio Nepal,
the Nepal TV, the Gorkhapatra, and the Rising Nepal. These
media are made official organ of Nepali Congress.
The government, in another violation of Code of Conduct, which
was accepted by all national level parties, has transferred
9 medical doctors to Koirala's constituency in Sunsari
district. Official vehicle's license plates have been changed
with phony private license plates and these vehicles are
used to transport NC party's election campaign materials
and campaign workers.
The most disturbing of all the violations is PM Koirala's
blatant misuse of the Royal Nepal Army facilities for
election campaign. Helicopters are regularly flown in
districts with army barracks--40 of them in total. The PM
goes there in the pretext of inspecting army barracks but
makes campaign speeches outside the barracks during the
so-called "refreshment hour."
As of the first week of November Mr. Koirala was hooted and
heckled in every districts he went by helicopter. Angry mobs
even hurled rocks in some places at the helicopter.
Koirala's misuse of army facilities have raised several
questions: First, Koirala is preaching the lessons of
democracy riding the back of the army. His campaign speeches
reflect desperation. He is creating a bogey of political
instability in the event of NC's defeat. In one of the
campaign speech in Nepalgunj he warned the people that chaos
and instability will prevail in Nepal if NC was not brought
back to power. He is, thus, creating a fear psychology in the
mind of the ordinary people.
What is he trying to communicate by saying this? Is he
implying that the leftist alliance is not capable of ruling
the country? Or is he saying that he and the king will not
peacefully transfer the power to the other party or parties?
After all he is riding on the back of praetorian guards,
his message has dangerous indications. Is he going to act
like Burmese dictators, or alternatively, is he going to
behave like Indonesia's Suharto in obliterating the communist
party? After all Koirala group has all along believed in the
so-called "aidit formula" borrowed from Indonesia, and he
appears to apply "Suharto formula" to get rid of communists
in Nepal. If Koirala opts for either of these two scenario,
the first casualty will be the institution of monarchy.
Marich Man had become a catalyst in the downfall of Panchayat;
Girija is becoming instrumental in throwing away the monarchy.
It may be a good news for the Republican, though.
Secondly, why are the army generals letting him use the army
facilities on the eve of elections? Is it appropriate for
the army which is entrusted to carry ballot boxes all over
the country in order to ensure election security, also to
carry a partisan candidate to make campaign speeches on its
helicopter? The army officers know that it is against the
Code of Conduct of Elections. But still they are bulldozing.
They have openly and blatantly involved in politics. This is
not a good sign for the healthy growth of democracy in Nepal.
Now some questions to army generals: What are you doing
there? Why did you have to organize army fuctions at this
eleventh hour of elections? What were you doing earlier? Why
did not you arrange the inspection of your barracks by PM
couple months earlier? Why are you being used for this
neo-fascist cause? Did'nt you know that your involvement in
politics in favor of a corrupt neo-fascist group will invite
civil disorder in the country? Don't you think that you will
lose your respect--a respect that you had earned by being
neutral in the past in politics? Are you, unconsciously,
flexing your muscle for a civil war on belalf of neo-fascists?
These are summaries of various questions raised by attentive
public.
Why are these generals supporting Girija? Girija's HANUMANS
have it to say that he is the Defense Minister and as such
he has right to use army facilities to attend "military
functions." Hey, does it make any sense to sensible people?
Who do you think you are fooling? Yes, he has right to attend
army functions, but he has no right to make campaign speeches
out side of the army barracks when he is using official
helicopters paid for by the tax payers and foreign aid bearers
money.
The reason why these Generals of the army are supporting the
Koirala faction of the NC is to put themselves in safeside.
UML leader Man Mohan Adhikary's declaration to send all
Bhrastacharis behind bars has shaken the corrupt generals
of the army. While everybody talks about corruption in other
branches of the government, very few talk about the
corruption that goes on inside the army barracks because
ordinary people have no access there. It may not be out of
place here to remind that a General named Yogendra Pratap
was recently fired and forced to pay back 97 lakh of
embezzled money.
Moreover, less than three weeks before the election, in order
to appease the army officers and ultimately to make use of
them, Koirala violated yet another code of conduct by
creating two positions of Lt. General and promoted two
officers. As a result of this promotion, there was about 60
promotions in the chain of command.
General Sahibs, are you paying your tribute to Koirala for
these promotions by providing him helicopters? But watch
out, you will be billed for the cost of operation of the
helicopter and all the refreshments. Remember, the army is
created to defend the people and country from foreign
invasion. Your participation in partisan politics violates
the sanctity of military organization. The violation of
this norm will lead to civil disorder some day. In that
situation, will you kill your own brothers and sisters? And
do you want to be relegated to police function of maintaining
internal law and order. Thin about it, General Sahibs.
I would also like to make a note on NC President K.P.
Bhattarai's utterances at recent campaign rallies. He spoke
in one of the rallies in Eastern Nepal that the NC govt.
is contemplating to provide old-age pension to persons
aged 60 and above. Oh, really! Is not it a cheap campaign
shot in desperation? Which government in the near future
can do this? Where would they bring money to institute
old-age pensions? About 15 per cent of the 20 million Nepalis
are aged over 60. This means approximately 30 lakh Nepalis
are over 60 years of age. If a nominal amount of Rs.500 is
paid out to one person, it will cost the tax payers a
staggering sum of 18 billion rupees per year. And everyone
knows Nepal's annual budget is just twice that amount.
Bhattaraiji, you have lied several times in the past.
Please do not try to fool people this time.
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