Thakali Youths: You are wanted !!

Since this blog writes on anything related to Thakali, especially  Youths, Thasang Samajik Sanjal is rooted on what I have felt myself as a Thakali youth and  my deep personal thoughts on how we should move forward, if we are to excel in 21st century. We all youths strongly believe in our ancient socio - cultural roots in Thak Khola. This connection is deep seated in us, wherever we go, be it west or some other Asian countries. Since I was brought up and raised in a rural background near to Thak Khola, I had every opportunity to closely observe Thakali people and their day to day activities.  i am proud to be Thakali but up till when? This is my question to all. I understand, it is always easy to raise questions, but it is always hard when you need to contribute at personal level. There is a famous saying, "Ask not what your country gave you, ask yourselves what have you contributed for your country?" We can relate this saying to our own community. Therefore, i would like to present SWOT analysis before coming up with relevant question and possible areas, where can and are contributing as of now.

Strength (S)

• A community with entrepreneurial capability
• High literacy rate
• Business minded
• Can raise "Capital" required for investment
• Human resource
• Team work

Weakness (W)

• Not focused
• Very much influenced by national level socio - economic climate
• Very less presence in government /representation in politics
• Out migration of Youths to other countries 
• Poor system of mentoring / on job training / leadership

Opportunity (O)

• Joint Investment - Capital
• Cooperative - cultural
• Human resource
• Social network

Threat (T)

• National politics
• Out migration of Youths in search of better education & job, and settle there
• Disintegration of family values
• Value of education - how are we taking?

I put forward this SWOT analysis for each of us to look into and think about it. Therefore i will not extend this point in detail now, but i leave this task to ponder on all of you. It is only then we can self evaluate how we have contributed to conserve and strengthen Thakali socio - cultural values of cohesiveness and able management. Finally, TIME is the only limiting resource for all of us  and that is only 24 hours per day - no more, no less. It is up to us, how wisely we can harvest fruits from it. Decision is up to us - whether you want to be a beggar or next Bill Gates? Sky is the limit, so do not complain to your community or parent !!

I am confused - why so much "cry" about Shakyamuni Buddha's birth?

Early in the morning soon after I got out from bed and finished early morning dailies, including 10 minutes long exercises, a sudden surge of thought reigned control of my mind. For a second, I asked myself, “Wait a minute, where this thought did jump into my mind!!” People have tried to define this as “Default Mode Network”. In short, DMN, which is your wondering mind when otherwise not engaged. I think each of us, in a normal condition, may have come across this kind of awkward situation once in a while. The beauty of this experience is you are the only "observer" of such thought process and in a "cool" attitude, just observe your thought process, which then vanishes in oblivion or else grasp it and “dissect” it, till you get a sense out of it. So, in the long run, you will either make a complete sense out of it or go crazy for a while without any clue what does it mean to you!! My question, therefore, "has it recently happened to you?"

For me, I tried to make sense of it. And, I know this particular thought was nothing other than all these “cry” and “blame game” which is still reverberating in sphere of Nepali social media or news portal but slowly dying out like "dust". Shakespeare also in one of his masterpiece portrays life as "a drama full of sound and fury signifying nothing." Every year, this is what we hear on and on. It has become so routine and seasonal that i fear this movement will lose its meaning in due course of time. You may ask, why? I have a valid reason to say so and I may sound sarcastic. But I have to say, it is simply one line sentence – “Buddha was born in Nepal”. I feel ashamed at the very nature of this argument, and I also feel "nausea" - ting at times asking myself, “Is this necessary?  Or don’t you think this is a bit like a childish temper tantrum?” I have to say vehemently, we need to stop this irrational “temper tantrum”, instead we can utilize such immense energy into  a“thoughtful rational talks & seminar” and stir debate on how we can contribute to local and international peace movement. On the contrary, all these shouting depict our "weakness" as an irresponsible citizen doing disservice to the very wisdom Lord Buddha spread thousands of years back in this land of Himalayas. I know and I am acutely aware that my point of view may be complete opposite to what many people (even those near to me) may be rationalizing and supporting this argument. However, I have every right to share my point of view and if possible, I need to educate people and correct their path for rational dialogue.

If you really believe in  Buddha's teachings  and strive yourself to be a Buddha, all these cacophony is nothing other than an act out of "ignorance" or misguided affairs, where people are acting at the level of base emotions. Buddha himself said each of us has to look for Buddha nature in us and strive hard, you can attain "nirvana" devoid of all suffering. But in Nepal and in some other countries, where Nepalese communities are raising their voice as to the birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha, has no inkling as to what does their movement has any linkage with the very principle of “Pancha Silla” In the first place, I have a big doubt, are we putting our argument in a proper manner? What I see is the void nature in content of the slogan as to its philosophical guidance and this is damaging the "inside" voice of this movement. In gross, this is very counter – productive. Period. And this is how I take it. If this movement has political or diplomatic muscle flexing, so be it. If this does not have this intent, then we have to introspect and try to grow up and act in a responsible way in the world forum. Any rational human being is closely following this movement and I mean it, this movement has to be guided by the principle of “Pancha Silla”

Source: www.google.com/image

I, therefore, say if we behave rationally understanding the very history of this region and teaching of Buddha, then all these cry – “Buddha was born in Nepal” will make us look like a fool, when we least care of what “Pancha Silla” means and put into practice in our daily life. Once you act and belief in this time tested principle, al will be well, everything else meaningless waste of time. Hope I share some light in order to course correct the movement lacking rationale philosophical foundation.

Finally, let us be strong so other would not pity on us in our act of innocence.

Thank you!!

BarnaMala: My Journey Learning English

These days I am in total mood to write whatever that pops up in my mind. I am really enjoying the true gift that we as human being are bestowed with and that is language skill. I need to sharpen the writing skills. There is no short cut other than to write, write and write. No less !! Today, let us travel along memory lane - my journey learning English. I have to say up front whatever I learnt basic of English is through “BarnaMala”. Hope some of you remember your childhood, when you hear this word. This word has a Sanskrit root - “BARNA” means letter & numbers, and “MALA” means garland. Therefore, BarnaMala is a garland of letters and numbers in literal sense. It helps you teach your kid read, pronounce and write any letters & numbers in any language in a fun way. For me, learning English was both fun and great learning experience.

In Early 1980s, I developed a deep desire to learn English after I got inspired to speak like any other people, who were speaking good English. In our government school, the only language of teaching and learning was in Nepali. But that would not stop me from learning; people say “Necessity is the mother of invention”.  I began looking for an opportunity to learn English. It is also said, “Prepared mind are lucky for an opportunity”. Wah… what happened was that I was lucky at the same time that my grandmother bought me an English BarnaMala book as a gift from a nearest city.  I was so happy that I literally digested every letters, word and numbers from it. Any chance to converse with trekkers from various countries like Britain, America, and Australia was utilized to its fullest. I wrote ABCDE… whenever I got chance in walls, wooden plank and wherever I could with “stone chalk”.

One day, my enthusiasm was noticed by an Engineer, who visited our village to construct a government building. He volunteered to teach me English and I learnt well. Sometime, I used to see him reading a big thick book and enjoying the stories. I used to love seeing him reading books and I also used to PRETEND I was reading a thick book and UNDERSTOOD everything written on it. But it was not that easy, I had to struggle for long years, so I could read and write meaningfully. It was only when I reached University that I finally felt I understood English well. I came to realize and understood English as the main language of books, newspapers, international business and academic conferences, science, technology, diplomacy, sport, international competitions, music and advertising. I also came to realize that English as a universal language connecting people across different religion, people and geography.

Finally, I am confident & qualified enough to say that my journey learning English language has been a story of every fortunate or unfortunate boys and girls from low income setting with dreams striving to better their life by learning English. I again stress that sharpening your English language skill opens you with a world of immense opportunity. 

A = Apple B = Ball C = Cat D = Dog and E = English 

Thank you !!

My story: Learning English

Let me start with a couple of questions to you all. Can you remember the first sentence that you boldly used or phrased for conversation and felt so happy? For me, I can tell, English is my 3^rd language and the first sentence that I learnt was “My name is ABC”. So story goes like this – I come from a rural part of our country. Our village is located around 300 km away from a nearest city and lies between 2 towering Himalayan ranges – Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Annapurna ranges (8091 m) and Mt. Nilgiri (7,061 m) in the North. Along our village flows a ferocious river named Kali Gandaki, which is both a source of water, inspirations, recreation and sometime, pain & misery due to yearly floods and landslides. 

To reach our village, it takes 6 – 7 hours of rough bus ride from nearest city. But, when we were children, it used to take 4 straight days of walk from morning to evening each day to reach that nearest city. Sometime, one whole day of uphill walk and sometime, one whole day of downhill walk. Life was tough and still, it IS to some of us living there.

In early 1980s, I was studying in a government primary school, where the medium of teaching and learning was only Nepali. In those days, life was beautiful, full of innocence, playing along river, rivulets and jungles that surround our village. I was no different to any child. I was a curious boy with lots of questions.  At that time, we did know much outside our village. We thought this is the only world!! Can you imagine? We did not know what video game is, we have never seen what a TV is like, and we have not seen a bi – cycle or car or a bus. We were living a life of middle ages. Rarely, we used to see some rich people carrying a funny chatter box called TAPE. We used to get so amazed with this fine instrument that we used to follow him hours to get the glimpse of it and hear the NOISE that it produced. And for few days, we used to get hypnotized by the magic that TAPE displayed and used to think hard, “How can any person be so tiny and sing a song from that TAPE?”

With childhood innocence, we grew up together with our friends INNOCENT of outside world of invention and development happening at speedy rate. Fortunately, our land was & is naturally gifted with majestic Himalayan range. Many trekkers and mountaineers visit our village to climb those mountains. We were starting to see them quiet often and used to get amazed at their health, clean dress, shoes and of course, the LANGUAGE they spoke. It was very new to us. One courtesy, we learnt from our seniors at least to say “Namaste to all” who used to stay in our village or met them on the trail. 

One fine day, I was on my way to school and I met a young trekker with a big bag pack and I greeted him saying “Namaste”. He also greeted me back – “Namaste”. After our exchange of good word, he was somehow interested in taking a picture of me. He took my picture and asked me – “what is your name?” But, at that time, we were not taught English so I could not understand but I tried to comprehend what he was trying to say. He also tried very hard to make me understand in sign language. Somewhere by click, I thought, I understood what he was asking, so I boldly said – “ABC”. “Yes” he said and he was very happy finally we could at least exchange few words. He again told me patiently, “Tell me – My name is ABC” several times. After minutes of trial and error, I finally said – “My name is ABC” with mixture of my local accent. He was very happy and gave me a CHOCOLATE as a reward. I also felt very happy and remembered that sentence very dearly with “sweet reward” in mind and heart. 

Thereafter, I began to learn English very hard. I have to say, this beautiful language opened me to world of knowledge, be it science, geography or literature. Without it, I would have been loitering around village till now. Finally, let me say, “Language is the best invention that human beings have invented. There is nothing near to it”.

For Thakali youths: Self Employment is the best employment !!

Interesting Public Discussion among Thakali youths

Dr. Kishore Sherchan's Interview re: Lumbini Kapivastu Peace Movement, California, USA

Innovation

Can you cook soup with no electricity? This fireless cooker might help: http://t.co/gapryisOHh via @TheAtlantic pic.twitter.com/p4hBYHrTmD

— Bill Gates (@BillGates) May 8, 2014

3 RWC principle for Thakali Youths

Here I refer to “we” as Thakali youths. I would like to share some principle that we can follow to build our community as “think tank”, which is possible given the resource we have with us. I call the principle in short as 3 RWC, which goes as follows:

•     Read Read and Read (3Rs)
•     Write Write and Write (3Ws)
•     Communicate Collaborate and Coordinate (3Cs)

Now is the time of survival through your intellect and hard work at individual as well as group level. Failed in this struggle for survival, we are going to be a rare endangered species and whatever we speak of or cry with clichés or arm flexing would mean nothing, since it is always better to do your homework earlier, timely and complete. I am saying this because you like it or not, we are in the verse of becoming a “rhinocerous”. Everybody like to talk of saving it but inside, “who cares!!” attitude prevails among us. After all, we may think that “I am comfortably in my nest that is more than enough”. This is a dangerous attitude; we need to clear from our psyche at the earliest.

It is therefore high time that we get our house in order and this is not going to be easy, but a hard work, you have 24 hours of time as your best resource. We got to value “24 hrs” dearly and miserly, if we want to be like “ant”, which survives any adverse situation through team work. All these responsibilities have to beared by Thakali youths, like it or not !! Period. Having shared this picture, I see there are solutions if we put it into action. Among them, let me propose 3 RWCs principle that is based on sound base of academia. This must be like “mantra” for all of us, so question comes how we can inculcate this mantra among our youths? Sure there are ways to put this principle into action.  For that, Thakali Yuva Pariwar (TYP) can play a proactive role. Apart from whatever activities TYP is engaged with, Toastmaster International  (http://www.toastmasters.org/) can be an additional activity, which can benefit our community in raising new leadership from Thakali youths, so we can do following to put 3 RWCs principle in action:

•        Organize toastmaster club in Thakali Samaj Ghar through consensus
•     Open library  that caters knowledge thirst and it should encourage scholarship, debate and discussion among Thakali youths
•     Start internship, mentorship and Voluntership among Thakali youths
•     Conduct yearly oration competition among Thakali youths