ujjwal.acharya@gmail.com

April 21: Lets Make It a Big Day

The Bloggers Meet for the month of Baisakh has been scheduled for April 21, 2007 (Baisakh 8, 2064). Please note that the meeting day in the second Saturday of the month, not the first as we usually used to meet. The first Saturday of the month is the first day of the New Year 2064 and I believe that is more for celebration than meeting.

In earlier meetings, we were around a dozen every time. That’s was not much encouraging and since many bloggers are saying they were not informed, I hope that this early information will work some magic and then we will be there in good numbers for a fresh start in new year.

I am also hoping that this meeting will not only be the biggest but also the most important than the previous meetings. In previous meetings, we talked about various aspects of Bloggers Association of Nepal (BLOGAN) and we (including KP Dhungana, Deepak Adhikari, Mohd Tajim and Umesh Shrestha – with whom I have talked about it) believe that this is now the right time to give a kick start (that is if we all bloggers want).

I hope that this time we will finalize the mission statement and take decisions on formal formation of BLOGAN and its future plans among other topics.

So, I request all the bloggers who are in Kathmandu to set aside that day for the sake of BLOGAN and please, please join us. We haven’t yet finalized the venue for the Freedom Forum we are using for meetings may be a little small if you all decide to join.

You can confirm your participation using the comments on this blog, or by mailing at bloganepal@gmail.com.

Welcome to all the bloggers!

April 9, 2007 by BLOGAN

SLC Exam & Question Leak

Police held two teachers on suspicion of leaking question papers of School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examination after Young Communist League (YCL), a wing of the Maoists, bought questions from them.

SLC Exam is something that holds very high value in Nepal. The nation-wide examination, called Iron Gate, is not only attracts attention of all Nepalis but also considered a landmark to judge any school or student.

Private schools are doing business (well there may be slight social service factor). And if they stood out good in SLC examination, there are high chances that they will get more students, can raise the fees thus acquiring more benefits. No wonder if they are buying questions for thousands of rupees.

Last year, the SLC exam questions were printed in Janak Educational Material Center, and some of the questions were suspected leaked. There were questions available which turned out to be right 40 to 60 per cent.

This year, the picture is gloomier (despite printing the questions in India). The questions of English, held on first day on April 4, were exactly the same. Then, my students told me, the boys and girls sitting next to them today’s exam of Nepali was already writing answers – when the question was yet to be distributed.

As I am a teacher to a school, I knew that there were offers to buy questions more than a week ago.

The teachers of Ganesh Secondary School in Bhaktapur who were arrested are not the real culprits. How can two teachers of a school reach the Office of Controllers of Examination (OCE)? There are more people involved, and I am sure, there are millions of rupees involved in this corruption.

Will we get a fair investigation? Difficult! Because such leakage, I think, isn’t possible without the high-ranking officials being involved. And when high ranking officials are involved, you know what.

This is probably happening for a long time. And time for the government to think about minimizing the SLC exam’s affect on the people. One best way could be holding it differently in different district with different schedule and publishing results separately so that it doesn’t cause nation-side interest.

My students are confused about the future of their exams. They happened to be giving exams in the SOS School which is right next to OCE where the YCL held the protest and the students were stopped for half-an-hour. When they asked me about it, I couldn’t answer – I just say, think about your studies rather than all these non-sense things but I know they won’t be able to concentrate and the answer I gave to them wasn’t enough.

April 5, 2007 by Sadly!

Nepali Blog Directory in Making

bloggers-8327673 Archana Shrestha, the blogger lady with IT background, has come up with a brilliant idea of creating a list of Nepali blog sites. The Nepali Bloggers enlists 170 blog sites in alphabetical order. Bloggers can submit their blogs using a very easy form on the sidebar and that’s the beaty of it.

It is indeed one stop to peek into all Nepali bloggers. It has just begun. I hope that in coming days it will become the directory of Nepali bloggers with subjectwise division of blogs and some commentry. It’s a great effort and let’s support it.

April 3, 2007 by Blogs & Blogging

Maoists in Government: Shattered Thoughts

Finally, the Maoists have joined the government. If their nomination in the interim parliament didn’t suggest the end of the 12-year-long war, then their entrance into the interim government should.

For a Maoist cadre I met at the teashop gossip, it wasn’t a big achievement for them. For him, it was just the shift of power – or he put it, the Maoists joined the legitimate power. They had always enjoyed ruling.

This I found as disturbing as anything else. I thought, what if the Maoists cadres all over the country continue what they used to do during their jungle-rule shouldering on the legitimacy.

I believe this will gradually change, and hope it will soon change.

I am living in the great era of transition. I experienced party-less Panchyat, then the popular movement of 1990, the democracy, the Royal Massacre, King Gyanendra’s rule, in-between the Maoists’ people’s war, the unique peace process and there are still more to see.

Would I die with the happiness that despite all that my mother nation experienced my nation is now going good? Having seen so much in the past two decades, I can’t say anything.

The problem probably lies in our perceptions. We expect too much, and then get frustrated. We tend to change the words for creating new hopes after being dissatisfied from the old word.

Wasn’t the word Prajatantra (or democracy) good enough? We changed it into Loktantra because we get frustrated with democracy era. Properly managed decentralization could have done wonders, but now we are talking about federalism.

We hoped too much from the democracy after 1990. Then there were corrupt leaders adding to the woes. The King tried to cash the frustration of the people, he could have succeeded (weren’t general people taking ‘let’s see’ approach for almost a year) hadn’t he gotten his aides wrong.

Now with all that gone, we are hoping revolutionary changes from the Maoists, and that’s not going to happen. What they have done so far after coming to mainstream politics. The same old cliché: fighting for the positions and driving Pajeros.

Possibly we are all unlucky that we lacked the exceptional leader during all these time.

April 3, 2007 by Sadly!

The Politics of Terror

Maoists left jungle ending their decade long war and entered the capital. The leaders will be in the government soon, but the foundation for their biggest failure is on the making. The people, who had hoped something from them, have slowly losing the faith. And, they should blame themselves for it.

The major reasons why the normal people are unhappy with them include their politics of terror. Somehow most of the leaders and cadres, who enjoyed the domination based on guns they had in their hands, are not ready to stand in line with the normal people.

They believe they are special (which they are not) and they should be treated in that way. Be it the beating of a driver because he asked for the fare or threatening of people here and there is not going to make them good despite their efforts to gain the public support through various interesting programs (like helping the traffic, and cleaning an area).

For sure, the asking for donation hasn’t stopped. The cadre who will come to ask for donation would leave no words to make sure that the owner (of house or hotel or school or business) understands they can suffer if they deny.

The brutal beating of an hotelier is causing much uproar in the capital. It was brutal and condemnable activity. If the Maoists want to join the mainstream politics then they should make everyone understand that there is law in the country that everyone should follow. No political party can make their own law to impose the people.

The Maoists are still relying on the power of the bullets which can help them to beat up people, get donations, and terrorize people but for sure that’s not going to give them the people’s faith which they will direly miss once they are in the mainstream politics.

And, secondly, people had started believing that Maoists are not as serious about the social changes or the revolution that they had promised as they are for the positions. After all, it looked like the Maoists want to fight for ‘chairs’ not for the people.

The Politics of Protest

Who cares the citizens?

When there were closures and bandas, it was the industrialists that spoke most against it. They didn’t even hesitate to give our figures of what the country would lose due to a day closure. They were most vocal critics of the bandas requesting others to find the alternative ways of protest.

And when their turn comes for protest, the first thing they announced for their protest program was the indefinite closure. Easy to preach but hard to follow!

That’s probably because no body cares about the citizens. Take for example the decision by Internet Service Providers to close down internet for two hours, an hour in the morning and another in the evening. What they gained by that? And aren’t they violating the consumers’ rights by that? They need to provide 24-hour internet if they sell the scheme saying that unless there is circumstances beyond their control.

Let’s condemn the Maoists’ brutality!
Let’s condemn the closures!
Let’s condemn the closing down of internet!

March 20, 2007 by Politics Talks

Bullet to cricket ball: A blind man’s pitch

“There is nothing impossible in the world.”

As he said these words in front of a gathering of people most of whom couldn’t see him, he was greeted by thunderous applause. Those clapping either knew that the speaker had proved his words or were enthusiastic about what was coming next.

Pawan Ghimire, the man crazy about making Nepali blind play in the Blind Cricket World Cup, spoke as one ambitious blind individual. And why not? After all, after losing his eyesight in a Maoist ambush four years ago, the Nepali Army (NA) captain has been able to put all that behind him and start life anew.

“I lost both eyes on July 8, 2003 in the Maoist ambush,” Ghimire told the Post. For a seeing-turned-blind, it wasn’t an easy life. It was last year that he was invited to participate in a cricket training camp for the blind, and he joined.

“I had played a little cricket during my childhood,” he said. “But during that eight-day training, I learnt much about blind cricket.” When the Pakistani trainers left, it was he who took on the responsibility of continuing the training.

He was then invited to the Third Blind Cricket World Cup in Pakistan as an observer, given a 22-day training and also awarded with a special prize from the Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC). Since then, he has been a player-cum-coach conducting trainings.

“Now we have around 45 blind who regularly play cricket in addition to 150 who can play,” Ghimire said sitting in the Institute of Engineering grounds – the venue for the first ever National Blind Cricket Tournament being co-organized by Cricket Association of Blinds, Nepal (CABN) and the Welfare Society for Blind and Disabled, with support from PBCC.

“It’s really amazing,” Abdul Razzak, who led Pakistani blind cricketers at two world championships, said. “Within eight months of hearing about it, they are organizing a tournament.” The event will run for the next four days and is being participated by three teams – Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Kirtipur. Rauthat was scheduled to participate but couldn’t make it due to the terai tensions.

“People here have the craze, they want to learn and do something,” Razzak said. “Very soon, Nepal is going to make a very good team and it’s an honor for us too because we initiated cricket here.” PBCC is all set to invite Nepal for a tour at the end of this year to participate in the Afro-Asian Games.

With the slogan “Rising with the Rising Nepal”, CABN is all set to send Nepal to participate in the Fourth World Cup in 2010. The organizers hope that the event will give the blind cricketers exposure. “This is for social awareness, we want to tell society that the blind too are capable of doing something,” event co-coordinator Sunil Timilsina said.

Ghimire’s achievement as a blind is something that had injected hope into many blind people. His father, who was present at the ceremony, proudly told the Post that he saw little difference in his son’s life after the incident.

When asked about the difference between being a seeing army officer and a blind cricketer, Ghimire answered insightfully, “The idea is the same – read and beat the opponent. Only difference is between lead bullet and cricket ball.”

March 19, 2007 by Sporty Spirit in The Kathmandu Post

All About Blog Meet III

The Blog Meet III looked like a failure to the few who reached the venue at the scheduled time. The earlier two meetings had attracted exactly 12 bloggers each time – though there were changed faces. On Saturday, when I reached the Freedom Forum, there were only three – Deepak, Rosha and Tajim; and it was already a few minutes past noon.

After some minutes, RP Dahal joined us – for the first time. And, KP Dhungana as usual said when I called him that he was ready to be scolded but was making to the venue in a few minutes.

I had a list of bloggers who informed me they couldn’t attend (the ISL) and then it was James Gomez, whom I had invited in the meeting, who called me saying that he was nearby. James, who is a Singaporean politician/writer/blogger, is in Nepal for his professional work and since we had been friends since meeting in Manila and Seoul, I invited him.

As he was coming, I asked Utshab, who was working in his office nearby, to come for half-an-hour, and he did it. Ghanshyam Khadka also made it. Tapas too arrived despite having family function as his home and that made 10 of us.

James talked about his own personal life and how he raised his profile. He started from his family background, writing on book called Shame of Singapore (on the self-censorship of the Singaporean press) and then moving to politics and all.

Then he suggested a few ideas for moving BLOGAN ahead including the writing an research based report on blogging history of Nepal (so that some foreigners can’t come to study blogs and mis-interpret) and then possibility of blog growth (in terms of number and role as the media) in coming years due to the political situation of Nepal.

It was indeed wonderful listening to James and we all appreciated his ideas for BLOGAN.

And, there were of course our regular talks about updates and all. We, after much discussion, agreed that it’s better for us to move ahead with a formal, registered organization rather than remaining a loose network. The idea was basically based on our future plans as we found that we won’t be able to work on the plans like conference and trainings.

And, we also talked on having very clear agenda and aims. KP took the responsibility of formulating the first draft for discussion (which will be sent to all Nepali bloggers and posted at NepaliVoices soon). Then there was issue of membership; I took the responsibility of drafting the membership criteria for discussion.

Then we also decided that to move forward on the web-hosting services. Initially, we have been offered the space of 25MB, top-level domain registration and pre-installed WordPress along with a number of themes and plugins for Rs. 2500 per year. All of us agreed it was cheaper and then we are moving ahead with the plan. It will be soon finalized.

Despite having a great meeting, something that we all felt pessimistic was the number of bloggers attending. Probably also because I only sent invitation on Friday, next time I will send invitation a few days earlier. The next meeting is of course the first Saturday of Baisakh, same venue same time.

Post about the Blog Meet III by other bloggers
Utshab Pokhrel
Deepak Adhikari
RP Dahal

March 18, 2007 by BLOGAN

Blog Meet III

James Gomez speaks during the Blog Meet

James Gomez, a Singaporean blogger visiting Nepal for his professional work, was the guest of honor in the third meeting of Bloggers’ Association of Nepal (BLOGAN). He talked about his experience in blogging, the situation in Singapore, and suggested a few ideas to move BLOGAN forward. Continue reading…

March 17, 2007 by BLOGAN

Abdication: Safe Way Out for King

Is abdication of throne a safe way out for King Gyanendra?

I pondered the question after reading Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s interview on Monday. And I see, in the current situation, King has two more options. First, he can choose to wait till the decision on republic and second, he can, of course, try for a coup.

Many will laugh at the second option. But, there is every chance that King will try for it. Announcement of republic nation and throwing out him will be a dishonor to him and before suffering that, he will try to do something. Just imagine, if you are losing everything you had, won’t you give a last try (even if there are 1000 of armed people around you)?

He may have already given the last try. Who knows?

Is Koirala trying to suggest the king that he can consider a third option, and take a respectful retirement? And, he can then continue as a businessman or politician or whatever he likes to be.

If I am put into King Gyanendra’s position, of course, and if I am finished with my pack of options, I will not hesitate choosing abdication than waiting for the decision on republic.

That way, he will not only earn some praise and a respectful retirement but it will also help to prove him what he did by taking up the executive power in Feb 1, 2005 is because of need of the time.

And, there are more he can claim of, like his action has been instrumental in ending the bloody Maoists conflict (‘Do you think, hadn’t I taken up the executive power, the Maoists would have shaken hands with political parties and come to a peaceful settlement?’).

The idea of coup is a bit absurd one. Let’s forget it.

March 14, 2007 by Politics Talks

Nepali Blogger Threatened

Umesh Shrestha, the blogger behind hugely popular MySansar.com, has been threatened of ‘action within 24 hours if he publishes anything that directly or indirectly supports Maoists or terrorists’.

An email with subject line reading ‘last information’ by Maoists Defense Group, an anti-Maoists group not known so far, has threatened him. Bloggers Association of Nepal (BLOGAN) and NepaliVoices.com strongly condemn the threat and ask the who-so-ever behind it to let all the bloggers enjoy the ‘freedom of expression’. Continue reading…

March 14, 2007 by BLOGAN

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