My First Diwali at VKRV

(written on the night of Laxmi Puja, published later)

The day or rather the night of Deepawali was indeed an awesome one for me. Although I was not amongst the lucky ones who could go join their family for the auspicious celebration and Puja of Goddess Laxmi, the Puja and Aarati set up in my room gave the experience of home away from home. What went behind the set-up is of least concern to me and to you as my reader, but what it brought forth is indeed a very special and memorable one for me. (For Videos, scroll down)

The gathering. The “singing of the aarti” in syn (or rather at a times off the syn!! J). The fun while clicking snaps. The moments captured in the video. “The bowing down” and then the “immediate pat on the back”. And then the distribution of sweets, or rightly put “Prasad”. Every instance was a moment. A moment filled with fun, joy.

Kashyap was very happy and he truly said (and said over the phone to his parents back in Nepal) that he too felt at home in front of our arrangements for the Laxmi Puja ceremony. Everyone loved the celebration- Eshaan, Anup, Sujoy, Shaunak, Neeraj, Vedant, Amit, Pratik, Himanshu (I don’t know if I missed someone and finally of course Vipul too). Nilesh was christened the “Pundit” for today’s gathering. I was happy about what we all put up together. We all deserve a pat at the back for our collective effort.

I am writing at this moment when the main diya is still lit up. Wanted to go to sleep but I thought after a very long time, I have got a very great experience to share with you all. (No blog posts since … I don’t know how many days.. need to count them..!!) So I thought “Strike the iron when its hot” applies here as well (I don’t know if there is any other appropriate version fit for what I mean to say, but I am sure you have understood it very properly). I didn’t want these afresh moments to left alone. This piece is a good occasion for me to recollect them and once again feel good about it.

And then, I finally enjoyed few fireworks moments near Phulwari Block, Outram Lines when I went to meet my Mamiji and family there. New Delhi is definitely the place to be in Diwali if you want to look at the sky and watch the “colors of life”. With different skyshots and God knows what kinds of crackers, one will definitely have a good time watching the sky alone. And if you have access to terrace, it is a good idea to have a terrace bon-fire and watch the colorful Delhi-sky. Believe me, here the real taste is not in actually burning the fireworks yourself, but a whole lot in simply viewing them (if not hearing the loud sounds).

Of course, I miss my hometown, my family. The celebration and ceremony at home, at office. Meeting relatives and also delivering sweets to relatives’ homes!! And then the gala dinner at night with delicious items and sweets cooked by Mom. (No fireworks and crackers there, as its banned). However, what I am now really going to miss is “Bhai-Duj” (Bhai-tika) in the next 2 days. Miss you a lot- my younger sis and my elder sis.

Chilean support for a Nepali Startup

I am always pleased to see Nepal making some great news (of course in a positive sense). Interestingly, the IT or for that matter IT-eS and ICT sector of Nepal coming into international picture is more appealing to me. Now that is definitely making some noise is Picovico. With constant efforts put into making the best out of their startup, Picovico had applied for Start-up Chile, a program created by the Chilean Government that seeks to attract high-potential entrepreneurs to bootstrap their start-ups in Chile, using it as a platform to go global.

Earlier in July 2011, Picovico was selected for The Morpheus Ventures, a startup accelerator based in India, and received an initial funding which took them to a greater height. Now, with Start-up Chile they have added another international wing to their portfolio and are on a get-set-go for a purely global exposure.

For the dim wits, Picovico is a product from Janaki Technology Pvt. Ltd., a leading IT company in Nepal. It’s a tool that converts images to interesting videos with beautiful transitions and music. The product is simple and anyone can use it to create their memorable videos out of their favorite photos in just a few clicks!

Janaki Technology also owns products like Sparrow SMS which offers wide range of SMS VAS services and Social Aves which offers social media services to companies in Nepal.

Years of hard work, dedication and passion is what brings the brilliant team to this level today. With Picovico, Janaki Technology has stepped into the international arena creating an inspiring story for the young entrepreneurs of Nepal.

Looking forward for Global products from Nepal!

Dowry se Doorie

With reference to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqlzA8MwZBg&list=PLB7914FEBA527D0F4&index=1&feature=plpp_video

Something....

P.S. 

A brief background this creation:

As I read the news of Suicide coming up to be a leading cause of death in India, I felt that this particular issue has not been brought forth as often as it should have been, depending on the gravity of the issue as put forth in the news: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Suicide-may-soon-be-leading-cause-of-death-in-India-reveals-study/articleshow/14329046.cms  . Further, it was really astonishing to know that suicide has become the second-leading cause of death among the young in India. Young India, which should be the future of India has been so disheartening. Committing Suicide instead of committing something to make India proud. The study says, suicide claims twice as many lives in India as HIV-AIDS. We have invested a lot in campaigns and awareness for HIV/AIDS. Now its time for a drive to stop Suicidal Attempts and Suicides. Probably not just in India, but around the world altogether.

Soiling your clothes to dirt off your hands!

Do you envy kids? What about the freedom that they get? No offence intended, but seriously I couldn’t help my jealousy reach its peak when I saw a small kid of around 7 or 8 years old, rubbing her hands against her T-shirt to clean the dirt off her hands (and in turn dirty her clothes!) after she fell down playing on the Park garden. It’s the ultimate and the most pure innocence that I am trying to sketch out the incident which is reflected by the truly innocent kids. And when I meant that I was jealous, I was simply jealous not by the actual kid in person, but the carefree nature that was portrayed then.

And now, when I try to retrospect into my own past I am once again jealous of my own past vis-à-vis my present and the upcoming future. Probably everyone who is now in the early twenties or mid-twenties would be, after reading this:

I could trade my entire future for just that one day of the past! The days were simply…. innocent and beautiful J

Blessed, to have you in my Life!

Wow! What a coincidence. It’s my 17^th Post and today is 17^th of June- more so- Father’s Day!

On this special occasion, I would like to share a very special story that I encountered during the Inspirational Session of Mr. Sujit Lalwani that I had attended. Very relevant and very powerful. The story is reproduced below:

 

A small kid wanted to play football and learn the game very well. So, he started his lessons with a very profound coach. Every day he went into the practice ground early morning. His father would be sitting on a bench and his face wearing a smile, directed towards the son practicing. This was an everyday routine for days and weeks and months. In the initial days, the coach was trying to transfer the very basic skills of the game to the child but to no avail. Months passed by but the kid could not improve on his football skills. Yet, the patient coach did not give up. He continued to guide him.

Almost a year passed by without any improvements. More so, the coach noticed that the kid’s father stopped coming to the grounds just a few weeks ago. The coach thought that the father was too upset to see his son not improving.

A few more days passed by. Soon, the country was going to finalize the national team for the kids international football match. The child requested the coach to include him as well in the team. But the coach was horrified at his request. He said, “Son, how can I include you in the national team when, in the practice of so many months, you have not showed any signs of improvement in your playing skills?”. The kid replied, “Sir, please give me just one chance. I beg you. I promise you that I will not let you down this time. I also promise that I will be the highest scorer in the match. Please believe me just one time.” The coach was very touched with the kid’s pardon and granted him this chance.

On the day of the match, it was a miracle to watch, especially for the coach. The kid who performed hopelessly during his one year training session was the star of the entire match. Goals after goals. Cheers and accolades all around. It was simply unimaginable for the coach!

After the match, the coach summoned the kid and asked, “What was so different today that you showed up such a brilliant performance?”

The kid replied, “Sir, it is almost a month that my father died. He could not see me practice all those days because he was blind. But today, I guess he could see me from the heaven and he must have been really happy today to see me play well. It was just my desire to make him real happy and proud that I got the strength to play this well.”

The story might seem hypothetical but there is no harm in seeing it as a true story. Why? Because it portrays what it means to be a father and a child. The father, despite being blind, wore a smile just to encourage his child to play well. To a father, a child is always his Rockstar no matter what. The child, despite a history of poor performances, did miracle just to make his father happy and proud. To a child, a father is always his Role model.

And now something from my side.  Father is a characterization of चेहरा एक, रूप अनेक (one face, multiple roles)

FATHER is a -

F- Friend, with whom you can share your feelings and whims

A- Angel, who is ever-ready to bestow you with your desires and wishes

T- Teacher, who will give you the lessons of facing life and its challenges

H- Hero, whom you always want to emulate

E- Emperor, who rules the house with his wits and takes informed decisions

R- Rescuer, who is the savior for you, all the times, in any circumstances

Dedicated to my Father, who has always fulfilled his roles without any compromises.  :) 

ना पेटी बड़ा ना खोखा But सबसे बड़ा रुपैया!

ना पेटी बड़ा ना खोखा

But सबसे बड़ा रुपैया!

दुकानदार हो या फिर रिक्शेवाला

सबके जुबान पर मिलेगा:

भैया, छुट्टे हैं ना?

फोटोस्टेट हो या फिर “लुज़ वाटर”

बिना छुट्टे हो जाओ “रिवर्स गियर”

मेट्रो पे मांगोगे, “भैया एक ग्लास पानी देना”

वो कहेगा, “भैया, छुट्टे हैं ना?”

फिल्मो में हीरो बोले,

“चुम्मा चुम्मा दे दे!”

यहाँ पे सभी कोई बोले,

“छुट्टा छुट्टा दे दे!”

कहते है, ऊपर वालेकी मर्ज़ी के बिना

हिलता नहीं एक भी पत्ता,

पर यहाँ तो एक सिक्के के बिना

क्रूर गर्मीमें ये प्यास हि नहीं मिटता!

ना हिरा ना मोती

ना सोना चाहूँ रे,

मैं तो भारत सरकारका

बस सिक्का मांगूं रे!

सन्दर्भ: नई दिल्ली मेट्रो इस्टेशन (बाराखम्बा रोड) पर पिने के लिए “ग्लास वाटर” माँगा तो दुकानदार ने छुट्टे ना होने की वजह से रु.२ का पानी देने से इंकार कर दिया। क्या करता, १५ रुपये की पूरी बोटल लेनी पड़ी!

P.S. पेटी is a Marwari jargon for Lakhs and खोखा is for Crores

My Ticket to FMS...

I really wanted to write something when I was leaving Kathmandu on 10th of June, for my start of a new life at New Delhi trying to anticipate how I would feel once I am at a home away from home. However, I did not want to play my imagination into it and indeed wanted to wait and experience the feelings first-hand and then share it afterwards with authentic experiences. (Although I have a sweet memory of my two years of Hostel Life, nevertheless, it was ‘Hostel’ life for a limited meaning).

Farewell at the Taxi:

Yes, it was very obvious for me and family members to wave the hands because this time I was not going for a short tour or visit with a promise to return back within a week or so. (Alike the many other previous trips to New Delhi). With more and heavy luggage this time, the adieu was a bit more heart rendering.

At Bhairawa:

I stayed for almost 9 hours at Lumbini Flour Mill with absolute comfort. Special thanks to Amit Dai, his and subsequently my Jijaji- Again Amit Jijaji! And of course, to Jayprakash jee. That was still a homely environment and managed to do a bit of Official task as well [Janakitech knows it ;) ]. Overall, a nice experience.

At Gorakhpur Railway Station:

Almost two hours before the scheduled departure of the GKP-ANVT SPL Train, I reached the AC Waiting Lounge, dragging the Trolley of the luggage. And now, I was already starting to miss the evening dinner that we took at home, together. The hot air from the fan of the train made me miss the weather of Kathmandu more so than ever. I managed to sleep, and guess what a sound sleep!

At the ANVT Railway Station:

I must thank GOD for my arrival at the station safely with the entire luggage. It happened for the first time in my lonely-travel history: I was still sleeping at around 1:45pm in the afternoon when the train reached the destination when a fellow passenger from the next compartment woke me up. I was shocked to see my compartment empty but with the entire luggage! I hurriedly deboarded and took an Auto to my relative’s place at Kingsway Camp.

My FMS Saga:

The final and most significant task of this trip. Alternatively, the first step of a new beginning. The experience that is worth sharing here is that Delhi University (North Campus) or the entire Vishwavidhyala area would seem like a road puzzle initially until you have finally put your footsteps in every possible footpaths and Margs. Indeed, in search of Hostels and the PhotoStat services, you will have walked all the possible ways! However, irrelevant to say here, as far as the Hostel admissions are concerned, they are not very student conducive, despite being that the facilities are highly commendable.

My Fresh Yesterday:

Delhi’s freaking hot weather duly reminded me of water to quench my body’s need for water. However, the FMS Saga temporarily stopped me from actually missing my family. I am disheartened by myself for this. However, there was something to rejuvenate my mood last night. My small sister made me proud when she successfully video-and-voice-chatted with me for the first time and in fact it was her debut chat in her Internet usage history. (My lessons paid off :) ) I am simply happy.

Concluding Note- Absence of one versus Absence of Many:

To everybody out there in Kathmandu (or Nepal as a whole) who know me, probably they might be missing just a single person- me. But I simply can’t explain you the story on my part- one who is missing not just a single person but an army of near and dear ones. I just want myself to make the most of this departure that I have been facing currently. As it is said, a troubled present begets a brighter tomorrow. Just need enough wishes and blessings to recharge my strengths so that I can trade this present for better future, as envisioned by me, my family members, and my loved ones and dear friends.

भला किसीका करनासको तो...

"भला किसीका करनासको तो बुरा किसीका मत करना

पुष्प नहीं बन सकते तो तुम कांटे बनकर मत रहना"

मैंने अपने जीवनके अभी तक के २५ सालोंमें बहोतसी अच्छी शिक्षा पाई है। पर सब में अनुपम मुझे ये साधारण सी किन्तु अत्यंत अलौकिक दोहा हि लगती है। ये साधारण है परन्तु हम सब इसको नहीं निभाते है। वेद, पुराण, शास्त्र सब यह सिखातें है की अच्छे कर्म करो, अच्छाई का साथ दो। पर सायद आजके ज़माने में ये थोड़ी Outdated सी लगती है। आजकी सदिमें तो अच्छाई करने वाले कम और बुरा चाहने वाले ज्यादा होगये है।

इस भजन, दोहे या फिर श्लोक ने मेरे मस्तिष्क एवं मनमे बेहद गहरा स्थान बनाकर रखा है। ये दो वाक्यों ने पूरी की पूरी इंसानियतको समेटलिया है। केवल इतना हि नहीं, मुझे तोह ऐसा भी लगता है की यदि पृथ्वीके संपूर्ण प्राणी मात्र इस पर अमल करें तो सायद ये धरती में हि स्वर्गकी अनुभूति दिलादे।

कहते है, सच्चाई की हमेसा जीत होती है। पर मुझे सच्चाई की जीत की उतनी परवाह नहीं जितनी अच्छाईकी की है। कभी कभी झुटके सहारे भी किसीकी भलाई करनेका अवसर प्राप्त होता है।

कुछ साधारणसे नुस्खे:

• ·        मीठी बोली
• ·         सही सुझाव
• ·         Zero ईर्ष्या
• ·         सद विचार
• ·         निसंकोच मन

सायद ये आप सभीको पता भी हो। समझ लेना की मैंने एकबार refresh करादी। 

SLC Results at your fingertips

How long do you need to wait for a pizza to be served? How much time do you need to spend in order to get your turn at the barber’s shop for a haircut? Where do you stand in the long queue of getting your tank filled with petrol at the Petrol pump round the corner? And now, the most important question for a student, “How much of anticipation do you need to undergo in order to know your exam results (particularly the SLC Results) once it was officially published?”

I am not aware of possible answers to the first three questions but I am pretty candid and certain about the answer to the final one. Yes, I can say that now you simply do not need to undergo any delay or time lag on knowing how you have fared in you SLC examinations. Yes, ZERO Anticipation! Thanks to Sparrow SMS and its SLC Result Campaign under 5001. You no longer need to wait for the newspapers to publish the results and neither do you need to suffer the slow Website response. Yes, its now ultra fast and ultra easy to get your results in the most handy form- on your mobile by the virtue of just a single Pre-registration SMS to SLC Results.

Let me share you the story of how we (in the year 2062B.S.) got our SLC results, indeed, a struggling effort to get the results as compared to such easy methods. Moreover, we got our results in bits and pieces, unlike today where you can get your Detailed Results at once. One had to wait for the Gorkhapatra to publish the Division list at first where you could just know that whether you passed with Distinction or in any of the Divisions. More so, you had to book your copy of Gorkhapatra (even at a price higher than its Cover Price) or share it with a few of your colleagues and still then wait for your turn to scroll down your fingers along with your eyeballs to scan through the number maze to get to your Symbol no! Then, you had to wait for around a week to know the marks and the percentage when the ledger (as we called it then) arrived in your respective schools.

Now, those are the bygone days… 

All you need to do now is this simple:

In order to Pre-register,

Type SLC<space>Symbol number and send SMS to 5001.

Example:

·         SLC 12345678

·         SLC 01234567A

After having discussed about SLC and Results, I feel the urge to share something on “What next after SLC” too. Obviously, most of us are not decided or mentally positioned for the choice of the stream after SLC, whether Science, management or Humanities. Most of us have a wrong concept regarding the choice: the rudimentary thinking says that with higher percentages, one should go for Science, and with lower percentages Management and Humanities. Stream is correlated with the Pyramid of percentages obtained which is a very big mistake as I see it. You need not judge your stream by your obtained percentages but rather by your interests and passion. In today’s competitive environment, 16 years of age is high-time for developing a path for your career and future goals and vision. You should not be in a limbo with such crucial decisions; neither should you leave the decisions on irrelevant indicators like the percentage.

For Result updates: Sparrow SLC Results

Never stop asking...

I have no intention of turning my bog into a daily diary. However, I just felt that on the recent Friday (1^st of June), which was meant to be very special for me and my friends actually did not turn out to be very exciting. May be I felt so, may be I no longer “Rock” or may be I never “rocked”. I wanted to write something special but nothing special came to me. I don’t know if I am wrong but I failed to maintain the charm of the day. However, very unexpectedly, I came across something very special the very next day.

After having a blog dedicated to my own inspiration, I discovered this Saturday that I had been an inspiration to someone! Someone, in a program (Farewell program to the Batch of 2012-2012 of Himalayan WhiteHouse Int’l College, where I was invited as the Guest of Honor) revealed an incident when I came to know that I had been a spark of inspiration to….. just guess………………………………a teacher during my grade 11 at Himalayan White House International College.

Seems unusual. But I was delighted to know that I had been the spark for a change in the life of a teacher. He shared how I had been the source if motivation and inspiration to him. Here’s how:

I had accidentally entered into a class during my first class into another section’s class where Dr. Jiwan Adhikary was teaching Nepali Vyakaran. I keen listened to what he taught and after some time, I raised a question on the topic that was being taught. Unfortunately or rather fortunately (as you will realize a little later as you go on reading) Jiwan sir wasn’t really updated on that topic and he felt that he could not answer the question to the fullest with what he knew then.  However, I had no intention of embarrassing him or asking him just anything out of the blue. It is my habit and nature to ask what I don’t understand, outright and frankly.

Dr. Jeewan Adhikari

The next day I wasn’t present in his class because as I shared earlier, I had accidentally entered into a wrong class (what a dumb am I?). Jiwan sir inquired about me in the class and came to know that I was the student of another section/group.

Now, can you anticipate what role could this simple incident play in someone’s life, especially in the teacher’s life? Let me share with you what Jiwan sir revealed after such a long break (so much as 6 or 7 years), in the program where we met again, yet again accidentally! I had a very healthy conversation with him that day when he told me, “Vipul, do you remember the day when we met for the first time in the class for a short span of time? Do you know- that the very next day I took the ordeal of collecting the best of the books available over the topic that you raised the question and updated myself so well that now I can answer anything and everything to my satisfaction.”

I was simply speechless! I thought to myself, how deep difference just a “question” could make. Of course, my question and my short presence in the class turned out to be very fortunate enough, fortunate too much for Jiwan sir and spill-over effect, fortunate for me too. I am fortunate to know that I had been a “change-agent” in the life of my teacher. I am thankful to Jiwan Sir, for sharing with me this particular incidence which will of course remain unforgettable for the rest of my life. I thank you sir, from the bottom of my heart, for taking me so seriously.

I wanted to share this fresh incident the very day in the mass and gathering there but the crowd did not excite me to share my words there. I had a doubt that my loud words there would go into deaf ears (because everyone there was in a party and cheerful and excited mood). So I opted instead to share it loud, here with my most valued readers.

A few things to reiterate: Never stop asking and Always have your say. 

To the Unsung Hero of my Life

I am very happy today. In fact, my happiness knows no bounds on this great day of May the twenty-ninth of 2012. To the world, the reason might be different. But I am sure you know the actual reason behind my gladness. It’s not about me; it’s about ‘my’. I bet you are aware of it. That is why at times I feel that you know me better than myself. I am indeed proud to have you in my life, no matter a little later.

The timely suggestions, the moral boosters. The late night shifts at your house and the instant calls for follow-ups. I am sure I am going to miss all these for at least a few years from now. I don’t know if I can ever become a person like you who sees solutions and not just problems in every matters of life. The real life experiences of your life that you shared with me when I get into troubles were always a dose of optimism to me. I know that you are very caring and helpful and joyful and thoughtful. But it seems to me that I enjoy a lot of those from you rather than anyone else (this could make a lot of them envy me! ;)) Yet again, it was your constant suggestion and encouragement that I have started off with this Blog. However, here, I would like to borrow a phrase “Have I made it large?” from my inspiration to my continued blogging zeal so that I can ask my readers if I have succeeded in portraying you in my life.

As I sat down to dedicate this blog post to you, I realize that it’s my Eleventh post this May as well as in my Blogging history (J I started the Blog in May itself!). They say that Eleven is a lucky and fortunate and good number (after 7). I am once again delighted to dedicate my Eleventh Post to you. And as a retrospect my past, I find that I met you for the first time in my life during my admissions for the Eleventh grade after my SLC. And as I peep into the near future, I discover that I have an-all-new journey set for my future and career from the Eleventh of June (as I will be moving for Delhi from Nepal for my MBA at FMS) which I know would have been a dream to me if I keep aside your relentless efforts along with me to fulfill my applications (I hope you remember the formalities to be done with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the sending of my Relevant Original Documents to New Delhi through your acquaintance via SpiceJet!) Wow, what a co-incidence of Elevens. And let me add to this what stroke me at this moment- the movie Ek aur Ek Egyarah starring Govinda and Sanjay Dutt. May be, if I had stayed with you together in Nepal for a few more years, we could have been the real life casts of that reel-life!

I hope you will like this small gift from my side as I thought to gift you with something that belonged to me, entirely me. How nice it seems to me to gift you with a technical and ICT-related gift- through my personal blog post dedicated entirely to you!

I don’t know if I have done justice in recognizing you as my Unsung Hero, but I would sincerely like to defend or rather explain my connotations behind the selection of this title. I didn’t know you at all some 7 years ago. You were none other than anyone to me before that, just like any stranger passing by. You were neither any so-called relative to me nor any distant relations of our acquaintance. No relations of blood either. You are neither my father, nor my uncle. Neither was I anyone so special to you. But yet, over the years, you have made me all the more special to have you as my friend, my elder brother, my mentor and my guardian.

Your contributions, large and small, are very very monumental and extra-ordinary. I am certain that they weren’t extended out of any moral liability or obligation (just like the duty of a father towards his son, or a responsibility of a teacher over his disciple) and neither did you have any sort of vested interest in your unconditional support and love towards me. Let me become selfish at this instance, I am too proud to have you as the most Special person in my Life-long odyssey.

You have taken a great leap from No one to The Most Special Person and that’s why I take you as my Unsung Hero. I love you for what you are, I salute you. You once said in my house, “I can never be Vipul” but here I say to you, “No need to become, you are great as you are. You remain as my dearest Amit Dai, forever and ever.”

So, Have I made it large?!?

P.S.: I am still awaiting a perfect moment to provide a platform for another outflow of my feelings for the Unsung Heroine of my life whom I met still a bit later in my life. I don’t know if I can and should name her or not, but yes, she too deserves the tag of ‘my unsung heroine’ in my life.

Can we really bank upon banks?

I recently finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and have started to scroll down the Pdf version of Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus and A. Jolis (yet another great book, sorry e-book for me J ). However, I have not yet finished a quarter of the entire reading, but I feel I have something to share. Although I am not a professor, nor an economist (let alone great), but yet as a lay man, or for that matter, by virtue of being a student of Economics and Finance during my Bachelors at Kathmandu Collegeof Management, I hope my words and ideas here would surely make some sense.

I am not even half way through his book, yet I am extremely influenced and attracted by Yunus’s viewpoint towards banking, money, credit , grant, debt, poverty and its alleviation, and some other tiny but heavy terms. When he says, “It’s not people who are not credit-worthy, its banks that are not people-worthy”, I immediately questioned myself - “Do we really bank upon our banks, in the real sense?”. I pondered over it for some time and did some solo-arguments. Absolutely no, to the extent “Collaterals” come into the picture. Banks are merely trading on our own wealth and the in the name of providing us with credit, they are simply substituting our less liquid assets (liquid assets mean those properties that are not readily sellable in the market, for example our houses, vehicles etc) with the ultimate liquid asset- Cash. And in doing so, they keep a margin; provide us with cash amounting, at the maximum, 70-80% of the value that we already owned. So is that really by the bank’s grace that we are getting the money, or merely by the accumulated wealth that we own? You know the answer better.

And now, coming to a very fancy term in the world economics- “Poverty Alleviation”, I have simply lots and lots to share. Just as Yunus explains in his book, no country can get rid of Poverty and its dark consequences unless it is ready to understand a simple English proverb that goes –“Do not give the poor a fish. Instead teach him how to fish”. And to this I add, “Also, help him just once with the fishing net and the bait; he should be able to earn hundreds of them, once he starts”. I believe, it is with this notion and belief that he started Grameen Bank in his home country- Bangladesh and today it has over 2.1 million borrowers with a smile on their faces. His vision of micro-credit and the powerful belief in it, despite severe challenges, has brought forth the fruits and today it is practiced in no less than 60 countries round the globe catering to poverty alleviation, in its truest sense.

 It is not with the conferences and meetings in the 5-stars or Air-conditioned halls that you can reach to the poor. One cannot know the taste of anything one actually eats or tastes it. Further, it cannot be assumed that merely with the millions and billions of dollars that a donor agency or country provides, we can indeed fight poverty. Again, as Yunus explains very beautifully, the aid never actually trickles down to the poor and in most cases a larger portion of the aid is often repatriated to the source country itself in the form of hefty remunerations and technological support provided for the aided project. It is symbolical to filling a bottle from the Filter and again pouring the liquid back in the filter through its upward opening!

My entire points and arguments are never meant to curse the current banking system or the players of the financial market in our country or in anyone else’s country. However, as far as the scenario of our country is concerned, we have faced numerous instances of bankruptcies of Banks themselves, and even the gather-and-run policy of the mushrooming cooperatives. People have started questioning the credibility of banks themselves, keeping aside banks questioning the people’s credibility! The point here is, despite numerous attempts and advances, the reach of banks (and here I mean the services that an ideal bank just like the Grameen bank) is not yet felt where it is desperately needed. Still, the banking industry is encircling those groups and communities that already have money or wealth or (let me be frank) COLLATERAL to furnish. Yet, the poorest of the poor are devoid of this ever-so “Rich-man’s Game”. In Physics, they say Energy cannot be created. But in economics I say, Money can be created and of course, it should be prime role of the entire banking industry to serve for that goal.

If, in my lifetime, the day comes, when no productive hands remain unproductive just because of the lack of money, and no individual is rejected for a loan just because he has nothing to furnish as a Collateral, I will rule out the question, Can we really bank upon banks?

जहाँ मान्छेले मान्छेलाई मान्छे गन्छ

हिजै मात्र बी.बी.सी. (http://www।bbc।co।uk/news/world-europe-18121914) मा सुनेको समाचार हो यो: नर्वेको बास्तो भन्ने एक टापूमा रहेको कारागारमा बस्ने ११४ बन्धिहरुलाई निश्चय नै निकै मानवीय रुपमा सजाय दिइन्छ। उनीहरुलाई बिना कुनै हतियार निगरानीमा राख्ने ४-५ सुरक्षाकर्मीहरु छन्। उनीहरुले स्वतंत्रताको अनुभूति गर्न निर्बाध रुपले पाएका छन। त्यो एक नूमना कारगार हो, जसलाई एक स्थानीय नर्वेजियन समुदायको संज्ञा दिइन्छ। कारागारका गवर्नरले त त्यसलाई criminal’s holiday camp भन्न पनि चुकेका छैनन्!

त्यहाँका कैदीले कारागार जीवन पश्चातको एक साधारण जीवन बिताउन चाहिने  सीप र जाँगरको विकास गर्ने मौका पाउँछन्। अनि झनै रोमांचक कुरा त यो छ कैदीहरुलाई कारागारमा कुनै कैदी-जीवन बिताएको अनुभव नै हुँदैन! उनीहरुलाई त आफू कुनै ट्रेनिंग प्रोग्राममा आएको 
र ट्रेनिंग अवधि समाप्त भएपछि आफूले त्यसको पूर्ण फायदा लिने जस्तो एक अभुतपूर्व अनुभव हुन्छ। हुन पनि हो, समाचारमा उल्लेख भएअनुसार यो कारागार अन्य कारागारको तुलनामा निकै फरक र उल्टो रहेको छ: यहाँका कैदीहरुलाई आफ्नो जीवनको दायित्व आफैंले लिनुपर्छ, आफ्नो जीवनको गाडी आफैंले चलाउनुपर्छ।

यस्तैमा मैले हाम्रो देश नेपालको कारागारको अवास्थाबारे जान्ने एक जमर्को गर्दा यो थाहा पाएँ: सन् २०११को तथ्यांक अनुसार नेपालमा करीब १२,८७५ कैदी करीब ७४ कारागारमा आफ्नो जीवन बिताईरहेका छन। (http://www।prisonstudies।org/info/worldbrief/wpb_country।php?country=106) तर उनीहरुको कारागार जीवन माथि दिइएको सुनौलो दृष्टान्त भन्दा निकै फरक छ। (http://www।humanrights।asia/news/forwarded-news/AHRC-FPR-053-2011) कैदी जीवन उनीहरुका लागी पक्कै अर्को अविशाप साबित भएकोछ होला। हुन त कहाँ यूरोप र कहाँ नेपाल। मैले तुलना गरेको हस्यासपद नै सुनिन्छ होला। तर के मानवताले पनि संसारभरी अलग-अलग घुम्टो ओढेको हुन्छ र? के ठाऊँ अनुसार मनावताको परिभाषा र त्यसको पालना फरक हुन्छ र?

हो, म मान्छु की कैदीहरूलाई उनीहरूले गरेको गलत कार्यको बोध गराउनु आवश्यक छ। आफूले गरेको कुकर्मको सजाय त पाउनैपर्छ। तर जे भए पनि उनीहरूले कम्तिमा अमानवीय व्यवहार सहनुपर्ने कुनै कानूनमा लेखिएको छैन। हिन्दीमा एउटा डाइलोग छ, “कानूनका काम है जूर्मको मिटाना, मुज्रिमको नहीं!” (Law should abolish crime, not criminal!)।

यसै प्रसंगमा मलाई जोड्न मन लाग्यो अहिलेको देशको स्थिति। केही दिन मात्र होइन, केही हफ्ता यता देशै कारागार बनेको छ। अनि संपूर्ण आम नेपाली जनता त्यसका निमुखा कैदी।

आज मुलुक एक घोर संकटमा छ। दिनहुँको यो बन्द र हड़तालले निर्दोष मानिस सजायको भागीदार हुन पुगेकोछ। काठमाडौंमा हिजो र आज गरिएको कड़ा बन्दमा बन्दकर्ताले पत्रकार तथा सर्वसाधारणमाथि गरेको ज्यादती र अत्याचारको जति भर्त्सना गरे पनि कमै हो। आखिर कहाँ हराए बुद्धका ती शान्तिउपदेश र मंत्र? किन यो देशमा बसोबास गर्ने विभिन्न जातजातीमा उत्पन्न भएको छ वैमनस्य र घृणा? कसरी ओझेलमा परेको छ हरेक मानिसको गहना- ‘मानवता’? किन यो देशका मान्छेले मान्छेलाई मान्छे गन्दैनन्?

कहिले हाम्रो देशका कारागारमा कैदी-जीवन बिताउन बाध्य कैदीहरूले त्यस्तो मानवीय व्यवहारको स्वाद चाख्न पाउने छन? हामी भित्र सुप्त अवस्थामा रहेको मानवता नब्युझेंसम्म त सायद कहिले पनि हुन्न।

Tussle

The tussle is still on…

No signs of results so far,

Inept to control anger

Of unclear future, I fear.

Life just began, they mock!

I know, I can’t go back

To the good old days

Where your innocence pays.

I try to pretend, but fail

Unable to escape from my own jail,

Of dreams and fantasies

Never meant to be realities.

Every single moment adds weight

Struggling to write my own fate,

Indebted with lots of aid

No ways to repay them yet.

Yet, the bout continues

With irrefutable time and destiny

In dirty mud, lotus grows

A struggling bud, you take me.

Apologies for my un/known misdeeds

I doubt, they are mere excuses

However, ‘good’ is what I expect

A life that boasts of no regret!

--

Ultimate Vipul

19^th May, 2012

‘अ’ को श्रृंगार

म आज अस्थिर भएको छु

आफैंमाथि अविश्वास पलाएको छ

अशक्त अनुभव गरेको छु

समयले सायद अस्विकारेको छ।

अनिश्चितता, असन्तुष्टि र असफलता

सबैले धकेलिरहेछ अंधकारतिर

खै, खोज्न त चाहन्छु म

अ हटाईकन ती सबै।

तर हरेक पाइला अगाडी बढाउॅंदा

अझै अर्को पाइलाको स्थान देख्दछु

जति जति स्थिरतातिर लम्किन खोज्छु

त्यति नै अस्थिर भईदिन्छु।

निश्चित त केवल काल हो भन्छन्

तर खै, त्यसमा पनि म देख्छु

एक भयानक अनिश्चितता

अकालै पो आउने हो की, ठेगानै छैन

सायद यही हो- निश्चितताको अनिश्चितता।

मेरो मन त आज अशान्त छ नै

होला, अन्य नेपालीको मन पनि

जतिसुकै अप्रिय लागे पनि

कामना छ केवल अखण्ड नेपाल कै ।।