Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Women in Gujibahal


In Gujibahal, women are very active. Most of them are housewife however in their free time, they involve in social work. They formed themselves a group of about 55 women (only daughter in laws of Gujibahal) 6 years ago. They named the group as "Baishavarna Maa Pucha" (mother's group of Baishavarna (Gujibahal). On the photo one can see the women of this group on their uniform. They are now doing saving & credit work. Besides this they established sub-committees as Children, Health, Drinking Water and Cleaning. Children group also doing their monthly saving and different activities during their holidays. Health group is conducting weekly blood pressure check program for the community people. And occasionally different health related talk programs and camps. Drinking Water group is doing the most effective work in the community. It's been 5 years they established a big water tank and they purchase water and fill in that tank and supply to all the community people and neighbouring communities as well. Because of dry area (there is water in wells during the moonsoon months only). So people are feeling very easy to buy water from women group. They do the transaction of water of about 3,00,000 Nepali reupees per year.

As the group is registered at Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City Office, it is considered as CBO (community based organization). They are getting timely support from Sub-Metropolitan City Office for various training. Those trainings made them active, self-confident and learnt official procedures as well.

It is ture that women group of Gujibahal are very active in comparision to male group.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Poverty

History of Poverty

Poverty is as old as human society. It was considered as a sin and had the belief that there was no excaping from it. Alms giving as charitable donations to the poor was an important part of life in HInduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. The holy men (saints) enjoyed simple and poor life. Their motto of life was "simple living high thinking". Sudama, close friend of Lord Krishna, was very poor. Poverty never became a constraint in their friendship. To alleivate poverty was the main aim of the rulers or kings of ancient age. "I needn't the luxury and treasury of state. I need not the Heaven, and I need not Mokshya or the process ot gaining spiritual freedom. I only wish helping the poor, disables, suffering from sick and hunger." - Said King Rantidev (The Holy Bhagavata).

As the beggary in common in Muslims and HInduism, no such evidences are noticed in other religions. Every poor Sikh that participates in the langarkhana (common free lunch) is motivated to go out, earn for a living and one day tries to host such langarkhana with his own earning. That might be the reason no Sikh is seen begging in the road.

- Kunwar, K.B. - "The Himilayan Poverty", Meena Publication, Kathmandu, 2002 (pp. 21-22)

Education Ministry

The ministry of education in Nepal is currently one of the largest ministries in the government, with a large budget. An investigation into its operatin will provide an oppurtunity for a close examination of the operation of government in Nepal. Through it, we can get an idea of the working of Nepali bureaucracies and how policy is formulated and applied. Education itself is also of critical importance in the study of development because it is through education that the nation's manpower resources are improved and the vairous skills necessary for development acquired. The chapter begins with a conbsideration of the traditional attitude towards education in Nepal and exmines the development of the educational system since the Rana period.

- Bista, D.B - "Fatalism and Development", Orient Longman Limited, India, 6th Impression 1999 (pp. 116)

Poverty on BP's version

     There was a group of hill porters who usually come from the hill especially in winter season. My father was weighing something in the weighing device in the street. They were watching that activity. My father felt humiliation when he saw them in badly torn out clothes. There was severe cold. There was Mr Asharphi Mishra in our house. His son lived in our house those days. My father said to him "please make them new clothes and in return take their torn out ones." There was a shop. New cloths were stiched for them. My father wrote a letter to the Rana ruler of Nepal stating that how people were suffering from the severe poverty. The letter read "Receive this parcel of torn out clothes of poor people. Please, watch this parcel from a distance without touching as it inmates foul odour. This is the condition of the people." The parcel reached in the office of the Prime Minister at Kathmandu. That badly irritated the Prime Minister. Then father fled away from there (Biratnagar) and sent to India. Immediately after he crossed the boarder, the government issued a warrant. He reached in Jogbani, Indian boarder. After that incidence, our whole family including myself began to roam in India like a gypsy. The government captured our business and whole the property was siezed.

- B P Koirala, ex-Prime Minister of Nepal, (from Aatma Britanta)

Visit Panauti

Culturally & Naturally Rich Legendary Place - PANAUTI.
Have some glimpses of Panauti! Don't miss the chance to visit Panauti!


Tribani Ghaat







Indreshwor Mahadev Temple
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Red Panda



"An endimic species to Nepal, RED PANDA, is in danger!" Let's join our hands to save it!



http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pluspets.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Red-Panda1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pluspets.net/red-panda-unusual-cute/&h=768&w=1024&sz=120&tbnid=mg0SEzkY8CtALM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dred%2Bpanda%2Bpic%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=red+panda+pic&docid=sDRX1Cp9fFOwzM&sa=X&ei=Fgg4TrmhNMjMrQfX9bTrDw&ved=0CBwQ9QEwAQ

Single Women

Single Women - the meaning of this phrase is clear enough that a women who is single or who does not have husband with her. There are 5 types of single women as per WHR - widow, divorced, unmarried after 35 years, abandoned, husband losts. These all are single women. Government of Nepal has addressed only for the widow out of these 5 catagories of single women (SW). Most of the INGO/NGOs also focused on widow women and involved on their welfare. However other 4 catagories of SW are negelected. Their problems/issues are not lesser than widows.

Those SW who have education and good earnings, they are empowered, But poor and uneducated SW are sufferring the most. Some of the SW are suffered though they are educated and supporting the family. Some of the SW are treated as house slaves.

The SW who have dependent children old/sick father/mother - they have to find the earning sources not only for herself, for the dependents as well. They seeks more support from the Government and other INGO/NGOs in this siutation. Government recently announced that once husband died she will be considered as widow and she is illigible for Goverment's support. Now widow does not need to wait till her 60 years age for that payment of Rs. 500/-. SW complains that all catagory SW must have this support and 500/- Rs. is not sufficient. Apart from this they expect health and employment support for them.

This is our responsibility that we have to think how we could help them and give pressure to the Government to pay more concentration towards all catagory of SW.

Machhindra Naath

Machhindra Naath is a Great God for food grains and water. He is full of passionate and always becomes aware of his decipal's dukhas. For the local followers, he makes rain which helps fields to food grain products. Because of this people remain survived. No water - no living beings. So each and every livingbody no matter he is Buddhist or Hindu, do worship Nachhindra Naath. Because of this he is called as Karunamaya, this means full of passion.

All the people from the Kathmandu Valley do worship him. They do visit every day during his chariot festival. His festival takes place for two to three months in Pata. There are four Karunamaya in the valley. Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chovar and Nala Baaneepa. All of Karunamaya have same importance for caring the public.

Baby


Babies are so nice and cute always. No matter in which colour they are looking in like black, white, red. They are so sweet. Once they started to scroll and speak a little words, they remain very nice. We can spend hours and hours with them easily. Whatever they do good things or bad things - all are considered as a good job. We can enjoy all of their activities. Even they do mistakes, we can easily excuse them without anger. They are like God!

Sometimes we can get irritated from their actions, nastiness, stubbornness and we compelled to slap them. Unless we can enjoy always with them. Baby girls are even more sweet and caring in comparison to baby boys. Because of their dress also they looked always very beautiful.

Of course babies are always sweet! Their smile - there is no word to explain it. Wonderful!

Mother

Mother is the main source of my life. She is my teacher as well. I learnt the basic education of my life through her. She is very intellegent. She never gets tired to teach me. She sometimes gets furious when I feel lazy to read and write, do mistakes, ignore her instructions etc. Because of this I learnt many good habites from her. I always addmire her.

Mother she is like a advisor as well. She never can think of bad happenings of her childreen. But some of the motherrs can show their partiality, it is very pitty. This is exceptional case. However, mothers are always like a god, we have to respect during their life. We chillddren must not wait to serve our mothers for the after death. We have to do whatever she is alive.

Mother is greatt!

Gujibahal



Gujibahal, venue of the Buddha Jayanti hosting vihara of Patan.
Newly constructed 21 feet Buddha statue at Gujibahal

Gujibahal is situated in Patan City, Ward No. 6, Lalitpur. This is a small homogenious  Newar community. This is purly Buddhist community and has got about 200 households. There is a main Buddhist shrine in the middle of the community which calles Baishawarna Maha Vihar. This is the main monestry as well. Other main Agaam God and Goddess are Trailokya Bijaya and Aji. They were brought from Lhasa by our ancester Aaju. It is believed that - they are very powerful Gods. Whoever worships them with pure mind/soul, their desire or wish would be fulfilled. Those who have judicery cases/problems or serious illness - people do offer special pujaa at Agaam.

In Gujibahal, there are two sub-monastries as well in differrent chowks. In the main chowk there are one big Buddhist Stupa and a 21 feet tall Buddha statue (see attached), they are the main touristic attraction of Gujibahal. Other small Buddhist shrines are also established there in each chowk and all the household members do worship each shrine every day.