No Answers

I love the solitude of my room...also because its rare. These are times of introspection, when a whirlwind of thoughts cross my mind...some good, some ugly and some just thoughts. Sometimes there is no reason to feel happy, and sometimes melancholy engulfs you, without you even knowing what caused it. Today is one of those times..I am just sad. May be its something at work, or may be it is something my aunt told me, or may be its a blend of both and some more. I realize that it is so easy to be happy, but in this process of seeking happiness, we put in so much effort, that it just flies away, just like a firefly flutters away when we try to get hold of it. It is so difficult to satisfy a human heart, and sometimes there are no answers to the predicament of life.

Someone said that we should take life as it comes, but things are easier said than done!

UNITY DAY..GOODBYE

Rewind 10 years back: I am in my school compound in Birgunj with all my classmates, my juniors, my seniors, and my teachers. The teachers are trying hard to get us all organized for the rally. The occasion is the National Unity Day, a day which was then celebrated with much fanfare, to mark the birthday of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the man responsible for "uniting" the nation.All the schools in my city would come together to celebrate the power of unity.

Today, 10 years later: I am getting late for work, and i zoom off on my bike (oh!my new found source of freedom). As i pass through Singh Durbar's Western Gate, i notice something new...the statue that has many a times been demolished by different groups stands erect, and guess what, the fresh paint was very obvious. It was decorated with garlands, and i kept wondering the reason, and then it struck me..its 27th of Poush (11th of January). There is no any big deal about the day anymore.How sad!

Ever since the country was declared a federal republic, the government has stopped commemorating the day. I don't understand the reason behind the government's decision to do so. Just because the nation's a republic, does it mean that we should not be celebrating unity? To me, the cancellation is just to do with downplaying the royal paraphernalia.

But maybe, the day holds no significance anymore. Just yesterday we had a strike called by the Janamorcha Nepal against federalism. I presume they believe in keeping the nation in its old form since they were protesting against federalism. They probably are the once who still believe in the day,(and are the once who decorated Prithvi Narayan Shah's statue with garlands) but again what is the point of calling a strike and protesting over something thats already done? One group wants a Newa Rajya, and the other group wants a Limbuwan rajya..when the hearts have been divided, whats the point of talking of unity? "Unity In Diversity" is an ideal situation, but I dont see it attainable in the current state.

The government says that in "changed context", the day holds no significance, and that unity can be celebrated in other ways. What are other ways is unfathomable for me, because I hardly see any effort towards integration and with every passing day, the idea of unity in our country is getting bleak.

While returning from office, I once again looked at the statue, and paid my homage to the man who dreamt of a united nation, that's all i can do in the "Changed Contexts!"

JLT

Its embarrassing that every 6 months I appear on my blog and solemnly vow to keep posting on my blog..I am hopeless at keeping my words...by hopeless I mean utterly useless. Unlike what people think, I can be LAZIER than a cuckoo..wait, cuckoo, sounds familiar..o yeah, no wonder I get my characteristics from this bird...my sister called me KUKU (that's my nickname) and she still does. So, should I blame my sister for me being lazy? Stupid metaphor/analogy whatever it is called!

Well, blogging is fun, and more so because I love writing, but I am not too comfortable to pour in my entire self.I can be pretty don't-come-close-to-me types at times, and me not blogging all this while is a result of such feelings...All this while i have stuck to my personal journal, which I use to write everything...its convenient you see...I can backbite about people I am not too fond of(and believe me there are many..not a good sign!), I can share my sorrows (and by blogging about them i don't want to sound like a cry baby, which sadly I am), and I can just blabber, without my cute li'l diary asking me to SHUT UP! See, maintaining a personal journal has so many more benefits. Having said that I have to admit that, I still love being here.

This time, I don't vow to keep posting, but I will certainly try my best...and isn't it good enough? Someone rightly said, "Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try."

Ciao ppl!

UNITE FOR HUNGER AND HOPE

Today, we are supposed to write something on world hunger, on how we can address the problem, and reach a solution to it. I have been wondering since the morning: how can i make a little contribution to the cause-should i not eat the whole day so that my part of the food goes to somebody else? Or should i go somewhere and give food to people who are deprived of it? The first option does not sound very realistic. Even if i don't eat the entire day, there is no guarantee that what i have sacrificed will reach to the needy ones. The second option looks more plausible. I plan to do that today. But this wont help in the long run. I might forget this once April 29 passes. We need to build a more concrete strategy to alleviate the problem.

The foremost reason for the existing status is low production of food that could meet the demand of the growing population. This imbalance between supply and demand creates a shortage and raises the price of the available food...which cannot be afforded by all. I was looking at the statistics related to world hunger and among the many, i found the following the most appalling:

--Every year 15 million children die of hunger-This means that due to world hunger, we lost 15 million brains that could take the world ahead.

--For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for 5 years-If this is true, why do we value gun power so much? We need to realize how its absence can uplift lives of people...

--One in twelve people worldwide is malnourished, including 160 million children under the age of 5. (Source: United Nations Food and Agriculture)

--Half of all children under five years of age in South Asia and one third of those in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished.

--About 183 million children weigh less than they should for their age

--To satisfy the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only US$13 billion- what the people of the United States and the European Union spend on perfume each year.

--Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger

These statistics could take anybody to thinking. How many of us do not waste food? How many of us take for granted what we have? I guess most of us, including me.

I had received an e-mail from a friend who lives in India.A local NGO has taken a wonderful initiative to pacify the situation.If there is food left after lunch or dinner that the family plans to dump,they could rather call the NGO, and they would send their volunteer to collect the food and make it available to people who have to go to bed with empty bellies.They have volunteers spread over the city and food could be collected from anywhere. I think this is a wonderful initiative,and if this is implemented everywhere,everyone could contribute in their small little ways.

I have also seen people offering grain,food,fruits to deities in temple.A lot of food is wasted this way.God doesnt eat it,we all know that. So what is the point in offering it?We could rather give it to people who could eat it and drive away their hunger.I have strictly followed this,and whenever i go to temples,the amount i would use to give offerings to god, i use it to buy some eatables for the poor.

I am hopeful that the situation will improve one day,and we all need to come together to bring the change,and create HOPE!

My tumultous mornings!

I am in my office and there is not a single soul around...it is so soothing to be sitting in the calmness of my office..away from the chaos of the world around me.It seems like ages when i have got a "silent space" for myself.I used to have one when i was at my old place.This new place gives me creeps. There are so many visitors at my aunt's place,its sickening at times.Every 5 minutes the door bell goes "Open the door please." I wish i could steal away the batteries and throw them in a gutter somewhere...but i know it will not help...There is no paucity of batteries in the market..

Its not only the guests...the people are so noisy there...I am woken up at 3 in the morning after grandmom starts singing her bhajans...forget about me,why doesnt she realize that even god needs some sleep that time of an hour....i press a pillow on my ears and try to sleep nevertheless...barely can i doze off again that my brother comes to the room in search of his uniform, socks, tie, handkerchief, etc..etc..the list is endless...I forgive him for the nuisance..he is a student after all...5 minutes hardly pass when my aunt enters the room,frantically looking for the keys to the store room,her almirah,the second floor...Lord!so many keys and so irresponsible!

Then its my uncle's turn...it sure runs in the family...if you forget the lyrics of any of the songs of the 60s,my home is the place to be....he sings songs i have never heard before..but i am plainly not interested...but its not his concern for sure...So,after all this commotion,no matter how hard i try to give myself some sleep,i just can't get it.So,i decide to leave the comfort of my bed,and be a part of the hubbub...

(P.S. I write this not because its my aunt's place, i would probably be writing the same had i been in my own place...I believe that's how homes are supposed to be..can't help it,can we?)

Why this culture of Impunity?

No breaking news with that..there was yet another bandh today..well,not one but two...The micro-bus drivers and conductors were agitated because a policeman beat up a driver...and the businessmen were on a protest on the raid that happened around yesterday...I had a difficult time trying to find out a local transport for myself.Everytime i and other passengers got on a tempo,we were very courteously threatened by the chaps to get down and walk to our destinations...It was irritating...but could i do anything??No,i couldnt...In a country where the government is so weak,it is credulous for a common citizen like me to fantasize ways to change the country...Why are people so self-centered in our country..Why is it always we versus they?Dont we belong to the same country?Will not the closure of the shops and transportation affect all including the providers and the users?

The micro-van drivers can do everything they want to...they can drive rash without even thinking of the troubles that they cause to others...charge more than what should actually be charging..be rude to passengers like they are doing a favor by giving a ride to them..use foul language...break traffic rules...and if someone, a policeman in the case tries to intervene,they think they are mistreated...its ridiculous...A funny thought passed my mind...i wish that the micro van drivers go on a perpetual strike...the capital would me much safer without them around..why were they ever introduced as a means of local transportation?and if they were,why were the drivers not provided with proper orientation?i use them everyday but i do that because i have no alternatives...Wish i had better alternatives...

Why are our countrymen the way they are?Why cant we all think like a family?Why is every group fighting against the other?I am starting to get sick of everything around...When will we change for the good...when will we live normal lives?..Why is there this culture of impunity in our country?

So many unanswered question..can anybody help with the answers and give me a reason to be optimistic?