Greetings !
What is this all about?
With thousands of blogs out there I am sure our conversation may end up being just a drop in the sea. But who is listening anyway ! To make matters worse, the topic of our conversation is neither going to be *mainstream* any time soon; nor it is particularly exciting. For most, it is boring, useless rambling or even (b)anal stuff to actually have a conversation about. Who said being concerned is easy?
My objective with this blog is to express my personal feelings, my reactions and spill my anguish all over the place on current news and events of Nepal. Many a times, when I read newspapers, watch reports on TV and hear on radio, I get furious on something that I just read, watched or heard. I get this feeling that I am going to spill my guts out. And other times, I get a sinking feeling. I am sure you know what I mean. You just want to slap that guy babbling out in the tube; oh, what you would give to get inside that radio to beat the devil out of the demagogue preaching patriotism.
I know I have my limits and tons of vice too. On my way to work I have more than one too many times honked at an elderly pedestrian crossing the road ahead; I have taken my share of advantage of my *connections* for things I could have done without; I have chosen not to see the street kid that I see everyday; I don't complain about the million things that should have worked correctly but doesn't; I haven't done my share of social work - well, not at all. In short, I say I am practical - wouldn't you? If not that, at the least I claim to be an ordinary Nepali - now that, you can not deny !
Does that mean I don't care about all those things? I don't want to do anything that is good for the less fortunate? or I don't give a rat's behind about civic duty or basic human dignity? A resounding NO.
No, it is not ironic. I believe that it is only the matter of information and opportunity for any one of us to shine through. Given a chance, any one of us could probably do some common good without compromising our own vantage. All of us at one time or the other have said "bichaara" after reading/hearing/watching a condition of a homeless kid. Don't get me started, my pharynx twitches and I try my best to hide my watery eyes from my spouse when watching documentaries or even movies. I know there are people like me out there - in fact, I can bet on it that most of you reading these lines are such passionate folks.
Let's exploit that passion and talk about it here - who knows some good may come out of it?
What do you say?
6 comments:
You almost speak from my experience. I promise to be back for more comment later. Thanks.
Saral ji,
You may know me from my opinions in your other blogs. That is where I read your last piece and came to know that you have started this new blog. I wish you well here too, not because I know you (which I don't personally!) but for ONE reason only.
I really don't care much about politics or politicians or elections or ANDOLANs. I respond to postings on blogs only to improve my writing skills. Being a mother of an energetic kid and a wife of typical Kathmandu family, I rarely have the time or energy to be concerned about anything but my family and my studies. However, I like your idea of a blog where people not only discuss about politics etc but also of simple things like what I don't like about the way people talk to me in public offices, why I don't like going to cinema halls or how I wish people would treat each other more respectfully. I thank you for this.
I have seen at least 50 different Nepali or Nepal(i) related blogs.Almost all of them only talk about politics, many have comments in dirty language, and many more are simply run to extend the things those people publish in papers or magazines. I have rarely seen a conversation style blog that is involved in general everyday issues that I care about. Your previous blog too engaged mostly in political topics. But you did allow general comments and wrote in general topics quite frequently - that is the reason why I am following you here to this blog. "Keep it real" - as my adorable nephew says !!
To come to the topic of your opening conversation, I mostly agree to your observation that most people are good by nature and it is only the matter of information and chance to bring that good out. However, I wonder what it takes to bring the good out of Nepali people. Just observe everything with care and concern for one day and you will see so many things that should have and could have been right but did not. I will give you one example - I went to Pasupati temple sometimes back and that little trip was quite uneventful by all means. But, was it really that uneventful? I saw one cow (or was it bull?) defecating everywhere it walked in the crowded galli, I avoided being bumped more than I liked, I heard wise craks from people alongside the road, I would have loved to be offered a seat in that bus but was not, I would greatly have appreciated had other people also respected my time and formed a queue in the temple, I would be very glad had the floor of the temple area been dry and clean but was neither.
There are so many things that I could complain about. But who is listening anyway ! (sorry, I stole your line !). I guess, we are so used to living like this that we don't care about quality of living any more. I have travelled to many European countries and lived in USA for few years. But my complaints are not the result of my western exposure. Does it matter even if it is? Bottom line is we simply don't care. I had to "un-learn" the simple act of saying "thank you" and "sorry" after I came back home just so that people would not take me for a weak person. I am almost certain that being respectful of others is viewed as being weak and less here, even if no one really acknowledges it. Don't get me wrong, I love being here. I have a sense of who I am and what I want to do with my life. I can probably contribute (be it in some microscopic scale) to the society than I could have, had I not returned back. I jsut wish people would respect others and live with dignity.
I am sure I will get harsh comments from your fellow readers about my notes here. That is the purpose of this blog in the first place, hoina ta Saral-ji?
One request - could you remove the moderation setting of this blog so that it becomes more democratic? I know you will not "censor" anything out, but then...??
Kavita-ji,
I can relate to your frustrations. When I returned back to Nepal after staying abroad for nearly a decade, I had a hard time too. It can be a puzzling experience for quite some time. I still have a strong temptation to go back to all the comforts and facilities that I left behind. It is more difficult to people like us who have made concious decision to come back to our native place without even a job prospect, whereas all we had to do was stay there and see our career take shape. Even my parents were not happy with our (me & my wife's) decision to come back - and that is putting it lightly ! People thought of us as being loosers (for coming back to where we belong) instead of doing the "paisa-chapne" jobs we had abroad. It has been more than 5 years, but we can still feel the sense of confusion people have in our decision.
I don't care if I could have bought a latest model BMW before my 31st birthday had I simply continued working there, I can manage by driving my second hand Maruti in dusty streets here. I don't know what my future could have been there but I know for sure that with the skills and knowledge I have acquired I can at least make a difference here in few lives if not more. I don't want to be someone whom no one but only close friends and family remembers. I may never be a national or public figure, but I am sure there will be at least one person who I will have helped to improve his/her life - mind you I said AT LEAST !!
No, I am not a social worker. I work for a living and so does my wife. But, we have made an effort to live a more productive life by being involved in activities - social, political, cultural and artistic - of our choosing. We donate to charities, plan and manage cultural events of varying size, attend exhibitions and drama shows, stay in touch with political happenings and things like that. In doing so, we never get bored - frankly, there is hardly any time after all that and our kid, of course. We simply don't want to remain passive. And most recently we have joined hands with some of our good friends to sponsor TWO children in Karnali for their education until they go to college. No, we don't have any organization involved or anything like that. We simply will pay for these two kids all educational expenses. And no, we don't want anything back in return. We are doing it for our gain - believe it or not. We feel good, it gives us a sense of being drugged with cocaine, helps to bring a smile in our face thinking of the trick we played on someone's fate and how it is going to change their life. How much more exciting can our life be?
Pardon me if I sound rude or patronizing. I am trying to express what it was like to us so that you could draw inspirations. Most simple advice that I can give is - actively participate in what you like. Good luck and God bless.
Welcome to Nepali Blogosphere!
I liked your entry. I hope you will come up with more of such writing. As you said, blogging is to speak up your heart!
welcome to blogoshepre
one of the best 1st post i ever read.... keep it up
Nice blog you have! Keep it up, Saral.
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