Boksi (Witch)

af]S;Lsf] aft

;dfhdf law'jf, ul/a, c;xfo dlxnfnfO{ af]S;Lsf] cf/f]k nufO{ s'6lk6, ufnLunf}h ug]{, lb;f Vjfpg] / ufpFdf alxisf/ ug]{, 3/ hnfOlbg] cflb lx+;fhGo sfd ePsf 5g\ .

sf7df8f}+df 3f]8] hfqf -g]jf/ ;d'bfodf kfxfF rx|]_ ev{/} ;lsPsf] 5 . o;n] d ;fgf] 5Fbf xh'/cfdfn] ;'gfpg] syfsf] clxn] klg ;Demgf x'G5 . pxfFn] ;'gfPsf] Tof] eonfUbf] syfn] clxn];Dd klg 8/ nfU5 . t}klg Tof] cy{df xf]Og eGg] bx|f] efjgf dgdf cfpF5 .

pxfF eGg'x'GYof] – kfxfF rx|]sf] /flt af]S;Lsf] ljBf k"/f x'G5 . To; /ft pgLx¿n] cfkm\gf kltnfO{ rf/v'§f 6]sfP/ 3fF6Ldf 8f]/Ln] afFwL, dGqsf] andf s'rf]sf] k'R5/ nfufOlbO{, cfkm\Gff cf}+nfsf 6'Kkf afNb} nlntk'/sf] afns'df/L dlGb/df k"hfsf nflu hfG5g\ / ToxfF kltsf] anL r9fPkl5 pgLx¿sf] ljBf k"/f x'G5 ====== .

plta]nf 8/n] 3f]8]hfqfsf] lbg ;D;fFem} 3/leq l5l/ xfNy]+ . clxn] nfU5 – s] oL nf]s lj:jf;n] of] @! cf}+ ztfAbLsf] ;dfhdf ;d]t af]S;L k|yf h:tf ljifonfO{ ;DemfO/x]sf] 5 .

ut ;ftf km]l/ af]S;Lsf] cf/f]ksf ;dfrf/ nuftf/ k9\]+ . z'qmaf/sf cvaf/df km]l/ af]S;Lsf gfddf ePsf] lx+;fsf] 36gf 5fKof] . oL ;dfrf/n] ;g\ @))^ tfsf ;Kt/L lhNnfdf sfd ubf{ cgf}krfl/s lzIff sIffsL Ps ;xefuLnfO{ af]S;Lsf] cf/f]kdf alx:sf/ u/]sf] 36gf ;Demfgf eO/x]sf] 5 .

k"j{–klZrd /fhdfu{5]j}sf] Tof] ufpFdf dlxnfsf nflu cgf}krfl/s lzIff sIff ;+rfng eO/x]sf] lyof] . pgnfO{ sIffsf ;xefuLn] af]S;Lsf] cf/f]kdf sIffdf cfpg glbg] lg0f{o eO;s]sf lyof] . ufpFdf sf]xL klg pgL;Fu gaf]Ng] / alxisf/ ug]{ ;d]t lg0f{o pgLx¿n] u/]sf /x]5g\ . o:tf] cGwljZjf;df ;d]t ;a}sf] ;xdlt b]lvg' cfZro{sf] ljifo lyof] .

sIffdf Ps ;xefuLsf] aRrf pgn] x]g]{lalQs} cs:dft lj/fdL ePsfn] pgLdfly To:tf] cf/f]k nufOPsf] lyof] . c? g} sf/0fn] aRrf lj/fdL eP klg pgn] l;s]sf] af]S;L ljBfn] g} xf] eGg] lhl4 c? ;xefuLsf] lyof] . aRrf s'g} a]nf crfgs lj/fdL x'g ;S5g\ .

af]S;L x'Fb}g / ltgn] aRrf jf c? s;}nfO{ klg lauf/ ug{ ;Sb}gg\ eGbf pgLx¿n] pN6} xfdLnfO{ k9]n]v]sf d"v{ eg] . Tof] a]nf pgLx¿nfO{ a'emfpg xfdLnfO{ w]/} ufx|f] k/]sf] lyof] . o:tf cGwlj:jf;L wf/0ffn] g} dlxnfnfO{ af]S;Lsf] cf/f]k nufO{ lx+;f ug]{ u/]sf] kfOPsf] 5 . ljz]iftM law'jf, ul/a tyf c;xfo dlxnfnfO{ af]S;Lsf] cf/f]k nufO{ s'6lk6, ufnLunf}h ug]{, lb;f Vjfpg], ufpFdf alx:sf/ ug]{, 3/ hnfO{ lbg] cflb lx+;fhGo sfd ePsf 5g\ .

xfn}sf lbgdf kqklqsfdf o:tf 36gf k|sflzt x'g] u/]sf 5g\ . of] Jojxf/ ufpFdf dfq xf]Og ;x/df klg TolQs} eO/x]sf] 5 . t/, ;~rf/dfWoddf cfPeGbf klg 7"nf] ;+Vofdf af]S;Lsf gfddf eO/x]sf lx+;fsf 36gf xfd|f] ;dfhdf b]lvG5g\ .

xfn;fn}sf] 36gf xf] – nlntk'/l:yt kf6gsL sl/a *) jifL{of g]jf/ j[4fnfO{ cfkm\g} 5f]/f gfltn] af]S;L egL 3/af6 lgsfn]sf 5g\ . pgn] cfkm\gf b'O{ 5f]/fnfO{ :g]xk"j{s x'sf{Og\ / kltsf] d[To'kl5 b'j} 5f]/fsf 3/df kfn}kfnf] a:b} cfPsL lyOg\ . of] a]nf ;fgf] 5f]/fsf] kl/jf/;Fu a;]s} a]nfdf a'xf/L la/fdL eO5g\ . k9]n]v]sf gftLx¿n] wfdLsf] ;Nnfx lnP5g\ . la:tf/} pgL;Fu kl/jf/sf ;b:on] af]Ng 5f]8] . vfgf klg sf]7fd} NofOlbg yfn] . c? sf]7f, efG5f, vfg]kfgL cflbdf pgnfO{ l5g{ / 5'g lbOPg . t}klg o;nfO{ ;x]/ ToxfF hlt dlxgf a:g' kg]{ xf] Tolt ;do a:5' eGf]sL lyOg\ . cem wfdL NofP/ a"9L ;fFRr} af]S;L x'g\ eGg] k|dfl0ft ug{ vf]h] . To;kl5 pgnfO{ cfkm\g} 5f]/fn] ;d]t af]S;Lsf] cf/f]k nufP . cGTodf of] ;xg g;sL Ps /ft pgn] afWo eP/ 3/ 5f]8\g' k¥of] . of] pgsf nflu lgs} kL8fbfoL 36gf /Xof] . pgL elG5g\, æd}n] 5f]/fnfO{ k};f, uxgf, cfkm\gf a"9fn] agfPsf] 3/;d]t lbPF, cfh dnfO{ af]S;L eg]/ 3/af6 lgsfNof] .Æ

cfkm\gf] b'Mv ;'gfpFbf pgL cToGt} kLl8t b]lvPsL lyOg\ . gofF g]kfndf klg dlxnfn] af]S;Lsf] cf/f]kdf lx+;f em]ln/x]sf 5g\ . hlt lzlIft ePklg dfG5]x¿ o:tf ck/fwdf ;+nUg 5g\ . s]xL ;docl3 nlntk'/sf] blIf0f e]usf Ps lzlIfsfn] ufpFs} Ps dlxnfnfO{ af]S;L egL lb;f Vf'jfP/ oftgf lbPsf] lgs} rrf{df lyof] . ;dfhsf kyk|bz{s elgPsf lzIfs / cGo lzlIft JolQmdf ;d]t o:tf] Jojxf/ b]lvg' c;fWo} lrGtfsf] ljifo xf] . k9]n]v]sfn] t o:tf] u5{g\ eg] c?nfO{ bf]if lbg' <

;x/sf lzlIftsf] ;d]t o:tf] Jojxf/ b]v]kl5 km]l/km]l/ dnfO{ xh'/cfdfsf] syf ofb cfO/x]sf] 5 . pxfF eGg] ug'{x'GYof], æaf]S;L eg]sf] c?nfO{ b'Mv lbg] dGq xf] .Æ pxfF klg unt x'g'x'GYof] . o;df pxfFsf] klg bf]if lyPg . pxfFn] klg d}n]h:t} lj:dosf/L syf ;'Gg'ePsf] lyof] . ;flxTosf/ df]bgfy k|l>tn] st} n]v]sf lyP – af]S;L ;fFRr} x'g] eP pgn] cfkm"nfO{ b'v lbg] dfG5]nfO{ afFsL /fVy] xf]nf / < lsgeg] olt w]/} lx+;f ug]{ JolQmnfO{ ltgn] s'g} ;hfo lbg ;s]sf 5}gg\ . ca af]S;Lsf] cf/f]kdf sf]xL klg s'l6g'k/]sf] 36gf ;'Gg' gk/f];\ .

zf]ef zfSo

-xs{ u'?Ë l/;r{ km]nf]_

-of] n]v @)!# clk|n !^ sf] cGgk"0f{ kf]i6 b}lgs, k[i7 & df 5flkPsf] xf] ._

Freed Kamaiay Mooving Ahead

n]vfk9L Joj;foLdf d'Qm sd}of

d'Qm sd}of j:tL hgtfgu/ sflnsf uflj;sf dlxnf n]vfk9L Joj;foL gLd{nf yf? æ6f9f 6f9f hfg' gkg]{ 3/d} vf]hL vf]hL sfuh n]vfpg cfpg] / lbgdf b'O{, tLgj6f sfuh n]v]kl5 cfkm"nfO{ vr{ k'Ug]Æ atfpFl5g\ . e/v/} btf{ ePsf] k|df0fkq xft kf/]sf gLd{nf xtf/ xtf/ n]ldg]zg u/]/ :k];sf] clkm;df cfkm\gf] pknAwLsf] k|df0f b]vfpg k'u]sf pgL cj o;} If]qdf sfd ug{ xf}l;PsL l5g\ . tflnd lng] lalQs} ufpFdf n]vfkl9 ug]{ sfd cfpg yfn]sf] pgL atfpFl5g\ .

alb{of lhNnfsf bz hgf d'Qm sd}of / Pshgf blnt ;'s'Daf;L o'jfn] e/v/} lhNnf cbfnt alb{ofn] lnPsf] n]vfk9L k/LIff plt0f{ u/L n]vfk9L ug{] j}wflgstf kfPsf 5g\ . &) sf] xf/fxf/Ldf n]vfk9L Joj;foLdf plt0f{ u/]sf dWo] oL gofF Joj;foLx¿ !! hgfdf rf/ dlxnf / Ps ;'s'Daf;L blnt k/]sf 5g\ . of] Pp6f xif{sf] ;fy} cfzfnfUbf] glthf xf] . ;DejtM g]kfndf g} klxnf] k6s d'Qm sd}of kl/jf/af6 dlxnfn] n]vfk9L ug]{ df}sf kfPsf] . rf/hgf dlxnfdf – hgtfgu/ – $ sflnsfsf gLd{nf yf?, 6]zgk'/ – $ sflnsfsf clgtf rf}w/L v}/]gL – # ;f]/xjfsf ;'ldtf rf}w/L / lj/]Gb|gu/ – @ ;f]/xjfsf d}ofb]jL yf? 5g\ .

cfj OG6/g]zgn (AWO International, Germany) sf] ;xof]udf :k]; gfds u};;n] sl/a # jif{ cl3 z'? u/]sf] d'Qm sd}ofsfnflu ;fd'bflos ;zlQms/0f tyf bLuf] hLljsf]kfh{g sfo{qmdn] z'?b]lv g} alb{of lhNnfsf % j6f uflj; – sflnsf, wwjf/, df]ltk'/, ;f]/xjf / b]p8fsnfdf k}/jL ug]{ vfnsf ;Lk tkm{ pGd'v ub}{ cfPsf] 5 . af]Ng]sf] kL7f] laS5, gaf]Ng]sf] rfdn laSb}g eGg] pvfg ;fFrf] xf] . To;}n] klg of] sfo{qmdn] d'Qm sd}ofx¿nfO{ cfkm|gf] ;d:of klxrfg ug{ ;Sg], To;nfO{ ;DalGwt 7fpFdf k'¥ofpg / ToxfF klg cfjZos kxn ug{ ;Ifd agfpg] ljljw lqmofsnfkx¿ dWo] ;g\ @)!! df P;Pn;L :t/sf !@ hgf d'Qm sd}of o'jfx¿nfO{ u'nl/ofdf b'O{ xKt] n]vfk9L tflnd lbPsf] lyof] . o; tflndsf] d"Vo p2]Zo :yfgLo d'Qm sd}ofx¿nfO{ s]xL sf/f]af/ jf l5gf]kmfgf] ug'{ kbf{ cf}krfl/s lnvt klg rflxG5 eGg] tkm{ ;r]t u/fpg] klg xf] . ;fx|} ;f]emf] hfltdf ulgg] yf? ;d'bfo @)%& >fj0f @ ut] cf}krfl/s ?kdf d'Qm eP kl5 aNn lasf; tkm{ kfOnf rfn]sf k"j{ sd}ofx¿sf] jl:tdf of] r]tgf hufpg' h?/L klg b]lvG5 .

d'Qm sd}of j:tLd} ldl;Psf ;'s'Daf;L tyf blntx¿nfO{ klg ;d]6\g] qmddf o; tflndsf csf{ pTkfbg anaxfb'/ kl/of/ eG5g\ – Æuflj;df n]Vg] sfd x'Fbf af]nfpF5, ufpFd} klg n]Vg] sfd cfpF5 . klxnf k|df0f kq gx'Fbf cln ljZjf; ub}{gy] :yfgLox¿n] . t/ clxn] k|df0f kq kfPkl5 / of] sfdn] g} OHht kfPsf] 5' .Æ ;fwf/0f lgj]bg n]Vbf ? #) / ef]uaGbsL n]Vbf ? @%) ;Dd lng] u/]sf] au{bxL, wwjf/ uflj;sf kl/of/ atfpF5g\ . xKtfdf Ps b'O{j6f sfd vfnL gx'g] atfpg] pgL ca k|df0f kq kfPkl5 sfd a9L kfOg] / :yfgLon] a9L lj:jf; ug]{df la:j:t 5g\ .

tflndsf ;xefuLx¿ tflnd nut}} cfkm\g} ufpF a:tLdf x'g] ;fgf ;fgf sfdsfhsf] lnvt agfpg] sfd z'? ub}{ 5g\ eg] ut dlxgf dfq lhNnf cbfntn] cf}krfl/s kl/Iff lnPsf]df :k];sf !! hgf k|lzIffly{n] -dlxnf $ / & k'?if_ ;kmntf klg kfP . ca pgLx¿ dfnkf]t, uflj; nufot ufpF3/df x'g] sfuhkq agfpg] sfddf Joj;foLs ?kdf cl3 a9\g ;Sg] ePsf 5g\ . Pp6f sfhkq n]v] afkt slDtdf ? @)) kfOg] x'gfn] / c?sfdsf] ;+u;+u} of] sfd klg cl3 a9fpg ;lsg] ePsf]n] klg of] k]zf lgs} pkof]uL b]lvPsf] 5 . Ps t ufpFdf n]vk9 ug{ hfGg]sf] sdL csf]{ n]Vg hfGg]nfO{ klg ljlw k'¥ofP/ n]Vg] hfgsf/Lsf] sdL / ;fy} sfg'gL sfo{x¿sfnflu j}wflgs ?kdf btf{ ePsf JolQm pkof]uL x'g] ePsf] sf/0fn] klg clxn] oL gofF Joj;foLx¿sf] dxTj a9\g] cfzf ug{ ;lsG5 .

clxn]sf] of] cj:yfdf obL uflj;, dfnkf]t, e"ld;'wf/ sfo{nox¿n] clnslt To; tkm{ df}sf lbP/ pgLx¿nfO{ c3L a9fpg] xf] eg], of] pgLx¿sf] nflu cfocfh{gsf] Pp6f /fd|f] k]zf aGg] 5 . o;n] ;xefuLx¿sf] hLjg:t/ psf:gsf nflu d2t ldNg] 5 . cem pgLx¿sf] nflu k'gtf{huL tflnd tyf cEof;sf] d}sf kfpg] xf] eg] of] k]zf d'Qm sd}ofsf] ;d'bfodf Pp6f gd"gfs} ?kdf x'g] b]lvG5 .

zf]ef zfSo

-sfo{sf/L lgb]{zs, :k];4f/f ;+rflnt ;fd'bflos ;zlQms/0f tyf bLuf] hLljsf]kfh{g sfo{qmd, alb{of_

-of] n]v :k];sf] ;g\ @)!@ df k|sflzt k':tsdf k|sflzt ePsf] xf] ._

Unseen Violence

By: Shova Shakya & Gerard Toffin

In most cases, single women remain sexually harassed and discriminated against socially and religiously

Reading the newspapers these days is really daunting. Every day, at least three cases of violence committed against women are reported. Women being raped by their boyfriends, a boy goading his friends to rape his girlfriend, gang bangs, a father raping his daughter, five to six year old baby girls being raped, old women raped by a boy who took shelter at their house for the night, house workers raped by their master or his son. Or else, we hear about dumb or disabled young girls being raped by their neighbours or by relatives, a husband burning his wife's intimate parts or violently beating her, a father or other family members burning a daughter-in-law, a wife killed by her husband because she did not bring property from her maaiti, etc. All these crimes are ignominious and incredible. While the Occupy Baluwatar movement is forever demanding justice to victims of violence against women, the number of such extremely violent actions is on the rise from one day to the next.

Unfortunately, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Unseen, day to day violence and everyday discriminations against women are still not reported in the media. We would like to address this issue by considering the case of single women in male-dominated Nepali society. Single women are in face, the most vulnerable to physical violence and represent an alienated social group. Indeed, unmarried women are not considered to be totally accomplished adults. They cannot perform death rituals for their parents. For a couple, marriage is still considered a major social and religious achievement. And it is meritorious for parents to give their daughter as a gift, kanyaadaan. As a Newar saying goes: "Neither a woman has never borne the pain of childbirth or a man with with no experience of building a house can understand what suffering, dukha, is". In Hindu society, widows are frequently held responsible for the death of their husbands. There are blamed for their own condition. Yet other categories of single women exist: unmarried, abandoned and divorced. These women are particularly prone to aggression and exploitation.

In the course of research that was recently carried out on single women in the town of Lalitpur, one of the two authors recorded a number of life stories documenting the subject. The case analysed include an unmarried woman whose life is totally taken up with household chores – taking care of her ailing old mother, of her sick nephew, cooking, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, fetching water, etc. From early morning to late evening she is so busy that she has no time to rest. During her childhood she had to support father and mother, and to look after her brothers and sisters. Thus, there was no possibility for her to benefit from any schooling. Although she is very keen to save money, she never has a single paisa in her purse. She works all day without being paid and has become an all too-reliable domestic slave for her brothers and sister-in-laws. Even though this person is a member of a family, she still has no property share. Even to leave the house she needs to ask permission from her family members. She is trapped within her own family with no individual rights.

Another unmarried woman describes her extremely distressing situation. "It's like strict tapasyaa", she says. "Men are always bothering me, they are forever finding an excuse to touch my body, they show improper attention and offer help with ulterior motives. It is very difficult for me to dodge such colleagues at work.

Married men are the most dangerous; they just wanted to be near me. They even telephone at any time for no reasons, just to flatter me. I always have to be careful with this kind of man. I am fed up of this life". Such cases of harassments were commonly reported in the interviews.

One respondent actually got married without even seeing the groom beforehand. She simply trusted her mother and brother with preparations for her wedding. Yet, when she arrived at her husband's house, she realized that the groom was ugly and old. She was totally appalled. "It was impossible for me to live with this man!" she says. So she decided to leave him. The very next morning she moved back to her maaiti. She never dared to go back to her husband's house. Time passed and her mother got older. Her brothers drifted away from the family. At present, she is the only one looking after her mother who is becoming increasingly sick and needs medicine. She has no financial support from her husband. Furthermore, her brothers have not even given her property share because she is married. "How can I provide the medicine, my mother needs? I can't even go out of the house and search for full-time employment. How will I care for my mother in the meantime?" Her life is full of such difficulties.

These voices, mixed in with tears when recorded, convey profound dukha, pain. Admittedly, some single women have succeeded in gaining their own independence and in leading a rewarding life. However, in most cases, they remained extremely dependent on their family, they are sexually harassed and discriminated against socially and religiously. Besides, 98 percent of respondents were unaware of their legal rights. Although the weight of cultural traditions plays a prominent role in all these matters, it would be interesting to investigate the difference in how women are treated according to their ethnic group or caste. Whatever, the case may be, the number of unmarried women in Newar society seems to have always been relatively high compared to other communities. Generally speaking access to graduate education and the modern living condition have significantly increased the number of single women, without actually putting an end to the misery faced by these abused citizens. It is now time to break the silence.

[Shakya, independent sociologist, was a fellowship grantee of the Harka Gurung Programme (SIRF-SNV). Toffin is Director of Research at the National Centre for Scientific Research, France

(This article was published on The Kathmandu Post daily on 28th February, 2013)

Freed Kamaiya in Bardiya

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.

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)