Keeping the hope alive.

Listening to Gagan Thapa today was not necessarily informative. He wasn't saying anything that I didn't know. But somwhere I could feel a mix of desperation and undieing spirit as the interview progressed. I was still craving for the moment that would at least a bit inspire me. If not leave me hopeless. (This was the very first interview of his that I had come across) I've never heard him speak, but have heard he is a great speaker. But world knows, great speakers do not always make a good politician. Still having said that its important to have a strong communications skills for politicans to interact with people of its own and the people outside.

And yes, as I was listening and listening trying my best to make sense of the words he was uttering. Somewhere at the mid section he shared his experience of visiting almost 60 to 65 districts in Nepal post April Uprising. About his wish to understand his own world better. And how his visits to these places had renewed his silent spirit. Witnessing once again the people wanting to see the change in the country. At one place (I think he was referring to - Gulmi)...a village that has never gotton the oppurtunity to reap the fruit of advanced technology. There were people all young and old waiting for him to grace the stage and speak. He was 6 hrs late and was perhaps guessing if anyone at all would be present to listen to what he had to say. Well, to his surprise - they were there impatiently waiting for things to happen.

At the end he confessed the reality- that how desperately people are waiting for the answers. They may still be poor but still have faith - faith in the party, faith in the government, the people., the country. And its us who have to keep their hope alive.
I wish everyone else felt the same - especially the young generation.

Top of the World

My brain works so fast that by the time I decide to jot things down. I tend to forget what my mind had been thinking. Its strange, I find it difficult to keep up with my own brain. For a long time I've been thinking of competely nailing this part of me. A part of me that seems to so quickly forget what I was speaking or thinking. I wonder if I have some sort of brain disorder - that pushes me away from being sharp. Or I don't know if its because of the growing inconfidence in me. Which I have been trying gradually to get rid of.
So yes, this coming weekend is one my colleagues bachelorette party. I have been invited too, but nope I am not going. The reason?- There is no reason. I am just not feeling like it. In fact I had been planning to bury myself in a pile of books. Constantly reading to get away from the real world for a change. Although, I must say I always tend to disappaear from the world I know- with the help of my newly bought DSLR or watching movies. But this week I thought, lets remain grounded while trying to escape away to an unreal world. Lets make it surreal.
So yes, reading is so totally in my radar this weekend. In fact I am starting right away. I went straight to barnes and nobles to buy the book- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
Looks like I'll thoroughly enjoy going through this philosohical journey.
Before I wrap this up. Want to mention a few things- I had been reading Obama's Audacity of Hope. Believe it or not. I couldn't read it after two to three-page. Every time I tried reading - I would feel that I shoud have had first read his first book. When I tried reading his first offering I wasn't getting soo into it either. Which is a must for me to be able to finish reading. I hope to finish Audacity of Hope right after Zen. Lets see how it goes. If I feel like it, perhaps I'll join in again to jot down few lines from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance!

and oh yes...this idea of getting back to the good old habit of reading again is making me feel like I am on the top of the world!...and..I'm lovin' it!

Young blood

I am not a regular blogger neither am I a very ardent blog reader. But I do manage to visit various political blogs lets say atleast three to four times a month. Just when I feel like I want to kind of get into people's mind.

So anyway...today...I ended up visiting UWB again. I was going through some old stuff and this one was dated Feb 24, 2006, it was titled - Democracy: Voice of Nepali Youth.

For the first time I was reading a different side of urban nepali youth's views being presented. I wouldn't exactly say that it was an enlightning write up. But in a way I was glad to witness a bit positive sign that dealt directly with the young Nepali urbans - me included. Which talked about their awareness factor in terms of the political development in Nepal.

Back then I myself was doing my Bachelor's in the US. Being a complete urbanite of Kathmandu all my life. I remember back in school in ....a few of my highly opinionated so called 'rural' classmates always ostracized us for being way too modern. Just because we were 'supposedly' not aware of politics. And we blindly followed western culture. Now that my friend, was a baseless blame. The whole idea of this guy including me in the bracket of 'modern dumb urban youth of Kathmandu' was an insult to me.

Reason one: This concept of being 'westernized' itself was so vague. What do you mean, when you say- I am too western. Did you mean I am too American, or too Canadian? Or were you trying to point out the European culture. Without being aware of the fact that Europeans are poles apart interms of their thought process, culture and lifestyle as compared to the Americans.

Reason two: I loved hollywood movies, loved certain genres of music that wasn't neccessarily American. and still do. At the same time I also disliked the cheesiness they inherited. Just because you want to explore and enjoy different flavors of the world. Doesn't make you any less or more modern than the people around you.

Reason three: A decade long conflict in Nepal, had already gotton the best as well as the worst of me. If it wasn't for the war. I would have never ever paid attention to nepali politics.

Every morning I wake up and the first thing I do is, visit news sites..including some blogs if I have time to keep myself updated with the ever changing nepali political world. At the same time, I also like indulging in understanding the world economy as well as the entertainment sector.

I am just like any other curious human being who wants to learn the new language, get to know different cultures of the world. And well reaching this far. yes, I do try my best to understand whats happening around me...but do not necessairly claim to know things. And I know I have my own piece of mind. That I very proudly speak.

I would love to show middle finger to those who still look down upon me just because I am in their own word so called 'dumb urban'. Well my friend, I am very proud of the fact that I am urban, that I am a true Kathmanduti inside out. I was born here and consider myself very very lucky as compared to the majoirity of our population. And I also hope to share this world knowledge that I have gained with the people of our country. Preferably with ones in the rural side of our world.

anyway...looks like I'm getting carried away. so yes the point is. Please stay away from brandizing or generalizing the world that you don't know. Keep the record straight. And don't understimate people, it doesn't take long for people to prove you wrong.
And getting back to the article of UMB - that certainly was a good effort trying to showcase the urban voice. Still having said that, yes majority of us are not necessarily in the path to understand the changing political senario of Nepal or the world outside for that matter. That doesn't mean they are stupid neither does it mean they are intellectuals. Hopefully in the near future, more urban younger generation would endeavor to get to understand the mechanism of the system. The way it works to the way the plans are executed. It's for their own good!