My experience of Dasain this time

We, Nepalese, celebrate Dasain every year to be with family, to have fun and basically to relax. This is the time when families get together and do things that make them happy. Worshipping Gods and Goddesses is one of the main parts of this festival. What I was doing in the previous Dasains was doing assignments, trying to get rid of household works and getting detached from the festive mood. One thing I need to mention here is that things get interesting and appealing when you get involved and that’s what exactly I did this Dasain and I am so happy that my family members are so supportive of what I did and tried to get me involved as much as possible.

On the day of Astami, we have this ‘chalan’ of inviting our relatives at home. In my case my relatives are my dad’s one of the brothers and his family. Two of my cousins are not in Nepal and only one cousin is here. On the day, my mom planned to make roti and I knew how to make (not a big deal actually for those who know it) but for me even if I make roti I feel so proud of myself. I was so interested to help her as she was not complaining about anything. I was so encouraged to help her more. If you want someone to do certain thing then let him/her do the thing in his/her own way and appreciate it and suggest him/her to do that in a certain way if you are not satisfied. Then only that person can learn and do the thing otherwise once you start criticizing then he/she gets bored and sometimes irritated and gets discouraged.

My experience of Dasain

On a ‘neo-read’ in development paradigm

In the field of development (especially if one is studying development studies) one hears of these words ‘globalization’ ‘neo-colonialism’, ‘neo-liberalism’ ‘democracy’ ‘non-violent movements During lectures, teachers and guest speakers have tossed these words around and they have bounced off walls and reached our ears. Some of us absorb them and even write them down in the notebooks before us, some of us don’t. Globalization is the new type of colonization, one says, or ‘new-colonialism’ to use the exact word. Then there is neo-liberalism. First define ‘liberalism’ then add new. Is neo-colonialism the same as neo-liberalism? They didn’t tell us that. Then there is ‘imperialism’, ‘facism’, ‘democracy’ and a whole loada catch words of the ‘neo-development’ paradigm (I made that one up, anyone can!). In the course of 3 years and a few months of college, I’ve read handouts after handouts relating to these topics, they seem to explain these words, but then leave you pondering if you understand them or not.

A few months ago, my sisters’s school had a fundraising fair, families bought in new and old stuff to sell. I was ecstatic that there was going to be a book stall, being a lover of a good read. Haven taken a minor pocket money allowance from my mum, I went over the book stall, saw a wide variety of books, from kiddie stories to Harry Potter, to good housekeeping magazines. I saw a book I liked, Soheir Khashoggi’s “Mirage” it looked new and expensive. ‘How much?” I asked the nice lady at the makeshift counter. Tentatively, holding my breath, I was expecting “Rs 200” or 150 or something on those lines. “20 rupees” she said! On the joy the joy!! “Really?” I asked. “Yes” came the reply. And that set me off. I mean who on earth gets a good book for Rs 20? I grabbed the first books that caught my eye, like a hungry beast out for blood (ok not really). There was this one particular book, red and black hard cover, women in full khimar holding her son and walking, looked like Iraq, “An ordinary person’s guide to Empire” said the title. What did that mean? Who’s the author to this title? Arundhati Roy. Ok Il take it. But she’s writing about Iraq now?

The book stayed on the shelf. Just another book about Iraq. I read the 7 other books I bought, 5 other good housekeeping magazines and one Saturday afternoon, was scavenging my shelves for a book to read, something inspiring, something different. I saw Roy’s book and decided I couldn’t put it off anymore.

“To those who believe in resistance, who live between hope and impatience and have learned the perils of being reasonable. To those who understand enough to be afraid and yet retain their fury”. Wow! I thought.

The first article (in a series of articles and speeches) was “Ahimsa”. She spoke of the non violent resistance against big dams in India. “The world over, non-violent resistance movements are being crushed and broken. If we do not respect and honor them, by default we privilege those turn to violent means.” Her first chapter brought me to tears. I wanted to read on, take notes, write again. In the chapters to follow she spoke of September 11, war in Iraq, corporate revolution, imperialism, neo-liberalism, globalization. All the mega huge development buzz words thrown at us, was never explained this humanely by anyone. She linked these words to the life of an ordinary human being. To the life of the poorest, most affected person, to our life. What we feel doesn’t affect us, she shows that it affects us very deep, complex ways.

I promised many people a book review and I will do so once I finish reading the book properly. But I do want to recommend it to everyone, if u can get hold of it, do read it because it worth a sit down with. It may tell you things you already know, but it will do so in a humanizing way. Or it may reveal many things you wished you never knew, because the truth will leave you burdened.

“We’re running out of time. Even as we speak the circle of violence is closing in. Either way, change will come. It could be bloody or it could be beautiful. It depends on us.”

regards
Hayah

Original post in Tinge of Blue

Entertainment Options In Kathmandu: Gurukul To Film South Asia 2007

If you are a student in Kathmandu, but a little more broke than your friends are then life can be hard. You step into an eatery and in the middle of the meal the skyrocketing price of potatoes leaves you scared if you can pay for the samosa you are eating or not. The bus fare is Rs 7 and you feel rich if you have Rs 10 in your pocket. When eating out becomes a luxury then you can sure figure out that entertainment costs you an arm and a leg! Want to watch a good movie? Then there are two options: either go to Jai Nepal or Kumari. A poor student wouldn’t even think of entering the premises of these theatres I know but then they are where they show good movies. Whether it is Die Hard 4.0 or Transformers or the Bourne Ultimatum that’s where you get to see them. Wondering about the price? Its Rs 100 in the Front Stall of Jai Nepal and Rs 140 for the same place in Kumari. I don’t know the price of the Balcony tickets as I have never been there myself. And I admit watching movies in those well-conditioned halls for me at least is doing things that are beyond my capacity. The Quest Entertainment guys have rather found a good way to earn money these days. What they do is, put the Hollywood movies in Kumari only (in recent days) which means a tough existence for Rs 10 Filthy Rich Folks!