Not just seats

Whenever we take any public transportation, we see that some seats have been set aside for women. It’s been many years since reservation seats for women have been allocated; however, nobody seems to respect the reservation. Most people clearly notice the text or sticker over the reserved seats but simply ignore or disregard it. However, things seem to be changing. 

These days, all public vehicles must strictly abide by the rules. Of late, implementation of reservation seats has been strictly monitored by traffic police at different check points. It’s a bitter truth that we Nepalis need traffic vigilance to follow a simple rule. However, as a result of rigorous monitoring these days, women are seen seated in the front seats with a feeling of pride, utilizing and fully enjoying their rights. 

There are also reservations for senior citizens and people with disabilities, but the biggest concern is undoubtedly regarding women’s seats. As a part of their campaign, traffic police have started taking actions against those who fail to follow the reserved seats rule. Drivers and vehicle assistants are encouraged to let women be seated in their respective seats. Now, men who used to seat in reservation seats have started leaving their seats for women. Since this regulation is being followed, either as out of compulsion or of own volition, it’s definitely a welcome sign.

Fish Curry : Saturday Special

You love fish curry, right?  But I am sure, you find cooking quite boring !! 

                       Here is the simple recipe :) Enjoy Cooking

Ingredients:

Fish

Onions

Tomato

Chilly

Sarsyu

Garam masala

Oil

Salt

Lemon

Paste of Ginger & Garlic

दालको फुलौरा

Fulaura is just a perfect menu for any rainy day, when you are inside home and watching your favorite soap-opera being inside warm blanket ! Great, if with Tea :) Here is the simple recipe:

Ingredients:

Maash ko Daal

Flour

Chilly

Salt

Oil

Paste of ginger-garlic
Tomato pickle

Process:

·         Wet Maash ko daal for few hours

·         Remove water and grind it in Mixture

·         Add salt, paste of ginger & garlic, chilly and few spoons of flour

·         Mix them well

·         Make small round shapes

·         Heat oil in pan and deep fry the round shapes of Maash, till its color is turned to red

·         Fulaura is ready

·         Eat it as snacks with tomato and timoor pickle

Awhhh...Delicious ! :)

Wake up

Few photographs of Constituent Assembly members, recently published in different newspapers, grabbed my attention. These photos clearly depicted the passive day-to-day functioning of the CA and the lawmakers. The most suitable caption for those pictures would be “sleepy and lazy lawmakers”. The purpose of the CA is to promulgate the constitution. That is why the representatives were chosen by the people in the first place. 

                                    
It is disappointing to see the same lawmakers dozing, yawning and playing with mobile phones during their office hours. They are in the CA to fulfill the dreams of general people by drafting the inclusive and people-oriented constitution. They were not forced to work against their will; rather they voluntarily came to people’s doors and committed to gift the people with the constitution. Were they chosen to relax, pass their time sleeping or playing candy crush in CA hall? 

सुन्यतामा हराएं

सपनामा डुबेँ
रहरहरु सजाएं
जब कल्पनामा रमाएं, तिम्रो प्रेमको स्पर्शमा बिलाएं
जब रङहरुसँग खेलें,  जीवन नै भुलाएं

आँखा खोल्दा तिमीलाई मात्र देख्न चाहें
जब ति मिठा पलबाट झसकिये
आफुलाई एक्लो पाएं,
सबै फिक्का फिक्का पाएं

जब संसार नियालें, आफुलाई रित्तो पाएं

सबैबाट भागन खोजे तर सुन्यतामा हराएं

Season of green

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions ‘Shrawan’? If someone  sks this question to a Hindu woman, the answer would most likely be lord Shiva, fasting, a yellow dress, green bangles and mehendi. Shrawan marks the beginning of the festive season as major Hindu festivals like Teej, Dashain and Tihar follow and as such, the fourth month of the Nepali calendar has religious significance. It is regarded as the month of lord Shiva in Hindu mythology.

Throughout the month, Hindus avoid eating meat, onions and garlic, and some even fast every Monday as it is considered Shiva’s day. There is a myth that Prabati, Shiva’s consort, underwent a tough fast to get Shiva as her husband. Additionally, the month’s full moon (poornima) is considered auspicious as the star ‘Shrawan’ rules the sky. There is also a tradition of going on a barefoot ‘Bolbam’ pilgrimage for good health, wealth and prosperity. Apart from its religious importance, Shrawan holds special attraction for Nepali women.

Blatant loot

The results of School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations published few weeks ago, opening the door for higher education for a large number of students. Daily newspapers are filled with colorful and eye-catchy college advertisements. Students are confused about choosing the best college. Going through almost all the advertisements and word of mouth promotion by friends and relatives, an SLC graduate finds it tough to get admitted in the right college. 

Moreover, it is not only the students’ sole choice but parents; best friends and financial status also determine things. Because of it, a SLC graduate has to appear for entrance examinations in different colleges in hope of getting admitted in the most suitable one, fitting all criteria or standards. 

Unhealthy habits

One fine summer morning I witnessed more than 50 people queuing up in front of outpatient department desk in a government hospital. The number of people doubled within next hour, with continuous entry and exit till afternoon. The long awaiting queue was filled with tiring and gloomy faces, standing along with family members for registration, routine check-up or follow-up on health status. Some were rushing to emergency ward with fearful expressions, few bargaining with security guards for entry passes to see their patients in general wards and remaining waiting up their turns to see respective doctors. 



What is most surprising is it’s not only a sight of a single government hospital, but each and every hospital of Kathmandu is filled with similar crowd every day, except on Saturdays, when most of those hospitals remain close apart from the emergency service. Beds full of patients in every hospital, always occupied intensive care unit (ICU) and coronary care unit (CCU), emergency ward filled with fresh patients 24/7, packed pharmacy and medical stores and same mass in every hospital; it seems a big chunk of population of the country is unwell. 

The big picture

Rape is the biggest possible violation of female body and dignity. No crime against women is as big. Worryingly, the incidents of rape seem to be on the rise. Many men blame the victims, accusing women of luring possible rapists with their skimpy outfits. 

This is foolish. If it were true, not a single woman in Arab countries would have been raped as they cover their bodies from head to toe. The punishment for rapists in these countries is rather barbaric. Is it because extremists cannot protect burka-clad women that they mete out harsh punishments like stoning someone to death? 

Chasing mirage

A recent report released by the Department of Foreign Employment shows that around half a million Nepalis leave the country for foreign employment every year. The number is definitely higher than the comparable figure the previous years. This trend is a serious concern since the migrant workers are mostly high-potential youths. A developing country, Nepal faces big challenges. And youths are highly dissatisfied and frustrated with the situation as the nation is in transition and politics is still unstable. Inflation is growing by the day. These factors have compelled the youths to leave the country. 

Unemployment is a serious problem for national development. Several factors make the increasing unemployment a major concern: nation’s politics, poor economic growth, lack of big infrastructure, high birth rate and relatively young population. This means that many new graduates and school leavers enter labor force with poor prospects of work as economic activity is concentrated in sectors with low job creation capacities.