Oppa Gangnam Style......

Many times I had seen my brother running around our house shouting 'Gangnam Style.....' and posing like a monkey and I thought this guy seriously needs treatment. For me Gangnam Style was like 'kun chara ko naam ho?' as I had never heard of it before.

One fine day, I was there on the road trying to take pictures of two dogs making out... ;) And suddenly they stuck... And I was there with a camera in hand laughing like anything over the condition of those two dogs. And I didn't realize an aunt was coming behind me. I turned around, on seeing her felt very guilty and hastily pretended to be taking the pics of the hills and skies.... 

By the time she crossed, the dogs also vanished from sight and I sat there looking at those photos.... Suddenly I hear 'Oppa.... Gangnam Style....' and I thought alas my brother is ill again and glanced down. There he was, on our courtyard, seeing me, started dancing again cause he knew that I would be taking his monkey-pose pics too.

I came back to my room, wondering is my brother really getting ill or am I too backward to know what is Gangnam Style.... Then I googled it and then I realized what it actually was. Soon, I was watching it on youtube (though waiting for about half an hour to get it buffered). Later, two voices were heard around our house, 'Oppa Gangnam Style....' and two figures dancing, now my parents are thinking that we both need treatment.

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CBSE Results 2013 - Race to score 90+ percentage!

After the CBSE results were declared, all newspapers & Facebook pages started flooding with the names and photographs of the toppers followed by the 95+ percentage that they scored and the wave of congratulation messages followed. It is really great that students nowadays are giving their everything to reach the figure which in our times was a distant dream.

I still wonder, how can one score 98.6%? That is still impossible for me.... In our times scoring 60+ percentage was something great. We would see students making merry and partying at that score. 

Time is changing so rapidly. Competition is increasing at a pace that cannot be defined. The intelligence of an student is measured by the percentage that he/she scores in his academics.

But on the run for scoring 90+ percentage, one thing lingers in my mind. I remember the dialogue of the famous 3 Idiot movie, 'dost fail ho jaye to bura lagta hai... lekin agar dost top kar jaye to aur bhi bura lagta hai....' [We become sad if our friends fail, but we get sadder if our friends top....] How Ironic!!

I have seen unhappy students after scoring 88 or 89 percentage. They and their parents are unhappy because their child couldn't score 90+ or the child of his neighbor won him by 2 percentage. This is really disheartening.

I wonder what will be the scenario when our child will be facing his CBSE board exams. Scoring 100% would be the trend I guess and the one who don't score cent percent would be treated like failures. 

Nowadays parents send their children to tutions from their lower grades, even class 2 or 3 students go to tutions. Coachings, I feel is for the students who are poor in studies but it has become a trend nowadays. You cannot deny the fact that it has made students dependable on others. And some parents and coachers[one who give tutions] treat it as if it is compulsory for all the students. What gets into the mind of these students is that they start developing the habit of depending upon tutions rather than paying attention in class. They start thinking that even if they don't understand the lesson in class, they can learn in their tutions. This habit gets into the students and grows exponentially every year.

Yes, indeed there are some students, who without the pressure from their parents to score big, without coachings score great. They are the students who should be highlighted. The students who are from poor family who cant afford some expensive coachings, they don't have all the time in the world to prepare for the exams, they are to be praised.

I have seen students from villages, as i grew up in a village, students who wake up early in the morning, go to forest to collect fooder or firewood, do household chores, no private coachings, still manage to pass board with flying colors. Though they don't score 98% or even 80% but they and their family are happy that they cleared the examination. But the sad part is that even after clearing the board exam, they cannot afford going to college because of  the financial condition of the family.

They end up either becoming a farmer like their parents did, or the small time contractors. Some of them really want to study, to become a graduate, perhaps the first graduate from the family but alas they cant. There is something called government aided scholarship, but who is there to tell them that something like this exists? And a large section ofthat too is reserved for SC/STs. Only if reservation was done on the basis of economic condition of the people, so many of them would be benefited. Now, we all know who enjoys the benefit!!

Indeed a heartfelt congratulation to all the students who cleared the CBSE exam. But moreover congratulations to those who cleared it without expensive coachings, without some subject teachers in schools and without the late night coffees from their parents during exam days.

Note: This are the personal views of the author. Not meant to harm the sentiments of any!

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School jana mana lagyo..... [Nepali Article]

Title: स्कुल जान मन लाग्यो 

अचानकै पुरानो याद ताजा भई आयो

फेरी मलाई स्कुल जान मन लाग्यो ,

फेरी सेतो शर्ट, निलो प्यान्ट

कालो जुत्ता र टाई लगाई ,

खाता चेपि हिड्न मन लाग्यो ,

अचानकै फेरी मलाई स्कुल  जान मन लाग्यो ||

त्यै बिहानको घण्टी, साथी भाईको जमघट

घचेटा घचेट र फेरी एसेम्बली ,

त्यै 'प्रभु तिमी' प्रार्थना र 'जन-गण'

सुर मा सुर मिलाई गाउने इच्छा जाग्यो ,

किन हौ आज मलाई स्कुल  जान पो मन लाग्यो ||

छड्के आँखाले उसलाई चियाउदै हेर्दै

कागजको डल्लाले फेरी हिर्काउदै ,

कहिले उसले लजाउदै पुलुक्कै हेर्दा को आनन्द

आज फेरी गुटमुटीएर आयो ,

अचानकै फेरी मलाई स्कुल जान मन लाग्यो ||

टिचर नआउदा टेबल ठटाई  गीत गाएको

कागजको हावा जहाज बनाई उडाको ,

कुनै एउटा साथीको सबै मिलि खिल्ली गरेको

सबै पलहरु हुरी जस्तो बनि फर्की आयो ,

किन हौ आज मलाई स्कुल  जान पो मन लाग्यो ||

बुकको सिरानी लगाई सुतेको ,

घरि घरि हावा खानु टोइलेट धाएको ,

त्यो डेस्कमा अनेक थरि कोरेको

साथी भाईको देखि होमे वोर्क चोरेको ,

त्यो ब्यर्थको डर, त्यो वास्तविक खुशी

त्यो Original हाँसो ,

आज फेरी बाँचेर हेर्ने इच्छा जाग्यो

अचानकै फेरी मलाई स्कुल  जान मन लाग्यो ||

कहिले छुट्टिको घण्टी लाग्छ भन्ने त्यो उथुल-पुथुल ,

प्लिक प्लिके(Digital) घडी मा आँखा ,

भोकले कराई रहेको भुड़ी ,

टंग-टंग गर्दाको त्यो रमनय अनुभूति ,

ओहो, सब्दले कहाँ हुन्छ र बर्णन ?

त्यो त बाँचेर हेर्दा मात्रै थाहा हुन्छ ,

मलाई फेरी त्यो दुनियामा फर्किन मन लाग्यो

किन हौ आज मलाई स्कुल  जान पो मन लाग्यो ||

Card board बोकि exam गर्नु गएको

सबै Question फेरि जानेकै आएको,

त्यो हरियो चौरमा बसि गफ हाँकेको ,

छेउ-छाउ  केटि देखे फेरि अलिक Over-smart भाको ,

दुइ पन्ना को Love letter लेखि पठाको ,

साथमा एउटा Dairy Milk पनि हालेको ,

त्यो Friendship को कार्ड, Birthday को कार्ड पाउँदा को खुशी

आज को SMS र Friend Request मा कहाँ छ र ?

मलाई [त्यो] पुरानो दिन फेरि बाँच्ने रहर जाग्यो

अचानकै फेरी मलाई स्कुल  जान मन लाग्यो ||

फेरि सुन्दा त,

नेपाली पड़ाउने गणेश सर  पनि खस्नु भएछ ,

Civics पड़ाउने डी. बी. सर पनि ,

फेरि सी. पी. सरको त ट्रान्सफर भयो रे

अरु-अरु गुरु-गुरुमाको पनि ,

पन्त सर त रीटायर भई सक्नु भएछ

हिन्दीको निरा मेम पनि ,

अब त स्कुल पुरै नँया भई सकेछ ,

घन्टी लाउने प्रेम दाजुपनि बुड़ो भई सकेछ ,

हामीले पर्यावरण दिवसमा रोपेको रुख

कति ठुलो भएछ ,

त्यो सँगै बेन्चमा बस्ने साथी

दुइटा नानीको बाऊ भएछ ,

कोइ गाडीको मालिक भएछ ,

कसैले बिल्डिंग ठराई सकेछ ,

कसै ड्रग्स चेपि आँखा रातो बनाई

नाचिने झैँ गरि हिडी रहेछ

कसै पुलिस भए, कसै IRB भएछ

सबै आफ्नो-आफ्नो लगानीमा लागेछ ||

कसैमा त्यो पुरानो साथी देख्दिन म

समय सँगै सबै परिवर्तन भई सकेछ ,

एसो हेर्दा त म पनि निकै बदलिएछु

दाह्री-जुँगा फुल्न लागेछ ,

तर जे-होस मलाई त्यहि पुरानो साथी-भाई भेट्ने इच्छा जाग्यो ,

मलाई फेरी एकपल्ट स्कुल जान मन लाग्यो

मलाई फेरी एकपल्ट स्कुल जान मन लाग्यो ||

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An evening at partapur

Gagol Road, Partapur Market at night.

Evening, the most crowded hours in the Partapur Market. And I was there to buy some vegetables which I could prepare salad with for the dinner tonight. Should I say, Partapur effect or what, I am habituated to eating onions & khira [cucumber] with a pinch of salt and squeezed lemon on top with dinner/lunch everyday.

So, here was I, like everyday, protecting myself from the speeding vehicles and cycles, looking for a roadside vegetable vendor who had the most fresh cucumber of the whole market. Selecting and rejecting as if freshness matters a lot, just a showoff, because I know that finding fresh vegetables in this market is like finding a needle in a hay.

The main market, both side of the road is filled with thelas of different kinds. You can find everything here... recently a new momo stall has also come up, though it is completely different thing that I will never eat momo there. There are lots of chowmin thelas and people waiting with their hungry eyes for the chowmin maker to finish making their order. Similar is the condition with the juice thela, burger, jalebis and others.

Some boys are doing stunts in the center of the market just in front of the egg thela. It looks really funny to see someone doing wheelie in a Splendor Bike but they are unaware. Oh... there are a couple of girls drinking juice and that must be the reason for the stunts, the girls, class 10 or 11 maybe and their copy in their hands tell me that they are returning from their tuition  The juice shop and the egg shop nearby are crowded today, hope you now know the reason. ;)

There I am, waiting to cross the road, because I see that the shop on the other side has fresh khiras, or is it that 'the grass always looks greener the other side' funda? I don't know but I must check. So many people have already crossed the road and I am still there waiting for that last auto to pass. Meanwhile a bike passes by me, three persons seated comfortably on it, one sees me and shouts 'abey Chinese, kya haal hai?' And I say 'Mast hai Behenc***'. One thing is sure, nowadays I have learnt to swear in their language. And I swear often, because it makes me feel I am one among them and not a chinese.

With some additional efforts, I am on the other side of the road, unhurt, unhit by the cycles and autos, lucky I guess. There is this old aunt on the shop. I check the cucumbers and find it perfect, or atleast I tell that to myself. After asking a couple of time 'khira kaisey diya(this is how you ask the rate here)?', she replies 'haanji... 20 rupee kilo'. I get my necessary stuffs, pay her and am on my way back.

On my way, there is this shop with a big board 'Theka Desi Sarab'. The most unhygenic place I have seen in the entire market, smelling like someone has just now puked or maybe had a loo somewhere there. I curse myself for not carrying the mask. I look towards the theka, the shop is fully protected by the iron grill and a small window at the center from where only one bottle can be passed at one time. I don't know what this protection is for!! So many people near the small window with their money in their hand waiting for their turn and thirsty as hell I guess. Meanwhile, I nearly get hit by a cycle as I lost my concentration and loosing concentration in the market can be very costly. 'Arrey bhai dekh k chaliyo....' I shout pretending that it wasn't my fault. This is what this place has taught me, to never accept your fault. ;)

Little ahead, there is this computer cafe with a board 'Sai Computer Salution(not solution).... seller and purchuse(not purchase) of old computers'. I smile, wondering  who did that flex printing. And not to forget there is this saloon from where I most of the time take the risk of having my hair cut and allow the barbers there to experiment on my hair. The board of the saloon reads, 'Fashon Saloon... Mail & Femail'. You may wonder how brave I am to go to the saloon, the only reason is the bhaiya out there is very friendly....

Little futher, there is this tent on the roadside where this large family lives. I remember clearly some days ago there was only two tents and now there is long series of tents, 5 or 6 maybe and seems one more family is added tonight because some people are busy making a tent on the only space available. Now I have started recognizing the face of some of the people living on that tent. One aunt specially because once she pointed towards me and said to her husband, 'Nepali... dekh!' and I felt happy, atleast someone calls me Nepali(who I really am). Today also as I pass through the series of tent, my eyes are searching for that aunt and there she is busy making chapatis for her family... a dirty shawl wrapped across her body, her legs seems uncleaned for ages, hair full of dust, sweats dripping down her chin[probably due to the heat of the fire) but still some glow in her face, happy face indeed... I wonder how she can cook and eat in this dusty place... But it is all about your needs and circumstances.

Then finally comes my favorite sugarcane juice shop but today I ignore the sound of the motor or juice extractor whatever they call that thing, because my throat has been paining recently.

A girl passes me by, and we exchange glances, how can she manage to be on the street at this time of the night? Its too dark already... But she is born and raised in this place, maybe for her its totally safe or normal, I guess! But still, she has to be inside her home, isn't it? Then suddenly I realize that I too have started to think like a person of this place. Pity me....

Now I start wondering what would I be doing at this time if O was at home? This time I would either be watching football with my father or helping my mom in the kitchen(thinking to marry soon so that my mom has company) or the most interesting thing, I would be karaoking with my brother in my room with full volume of my woofer(so much fun). By the time, I am back in the room and writing this post, I would have probably had the food cooked by the best cook of the world (my mom) and already on bed or having a sip of red wine hiding from my parents!!

God... I miss my home. I miss my state!!

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Saraswati Puja 2013 at Malbasey

The first thing I did after reaching home this time was meet my coolest and closest fren Subash and discuss about my plan. My plan was to celebrate Saraswati Puja in Malbasey Sai Mandir involving only the students and youths of Malbasey, my village. As expected he was also excited and our work began.

After getting permission from the Sai Mandali Convenor of Malbasey Mr. K.B. Bhandari to use the Sai Mandir, we organised a meeting with the young and enthusiastic students of Malbasey. I didn't expect that much of co-operation from them at first but was completely surprised the way they cooperated. I felt that all they need is an idea and some motivation. Banner and everything was finalized and everybody came up with their creative and helpful ideas.

Banner that was placed at the turning point of Malbasey [most happening place]

Coupons were printed for the donation collection and responsibility was assigned to the members. It was too good a feeling to see young students giving so much of effort for the programme. Within 3 days we had collected a sum close to 17000/- and that was a big sum since we were only students.

The real task then began from 12th of february when we had to clean and decorate the Sai Mandir premise. Going to shopping, getting bamboo and pine from the nearby forest, collecting all necessary things like syntax, electric stuffs, water supply pipeline, etc were really tough and it wouldn't be complete without the help of those volunteers. It wouldn't be fair if I don't mention the names of those students and others (whom we called 'karmath yoddha') who gave their hundred percent and were present there from morning to evening for those 3 days. 

• Amir Bhandari [Host]
• Subash Bhandari [Host]
• Roomi Subba
• Anup Bhandari 
• Jyoti Bhandari
• Meena Subba
• Sandhya Basnett
• Amir Karki
• Sandesh Bhandari
• Amrita Chettri
• Anuraj bhandari
• Anusa Karki
• Deepsana basnett
• Divya Chettri
• Prajwal Subba
• Pranita Chettri
• Prasanna Subba
• Rojaling Subba
• Ronita bhandari
• Rozie Subba
• Sabina Basnett
• Sabnam Chettri
• Unisha Bhandari
• And many others whose name I may have left behind.

The most hectic day of all was 14th of Feb. Me, Subash and all the members (instead of celebrating Valentine Day) without proper lunch were working the whole day in support of just some samosas orange juice that had been ordered for the volunteers. But that wasn't sufficient if one has to run to forest several times to collect bamboos and pines and then use it in making some borders along the premise, cleaning the kitchen, toilet, cleaning the overall premise, then decorating the inside and out of the mandir. Ufff..... no time for lunch!

And meanwhile the bad news came, the profile [mat] that we had ordered was lost in the way!! The driver who was supposed to deliver it didn't knew where did the profile go? Amazing na? We were startled and panicked a little... :P cause that costed us around 1000/- and everything was planned accordingly.

Anyways, the work had to move on. At night we were busy writing in chart papers and pasting it around the mandir and also giving some final touch to the decoration work. The most interesting part of the night was that it was not only valentines day but also happened to be the birthday of one of our friend Roomi and a tasty cake was came on the display. I nearly jumped of my feet when I saw the cake.... :)

Birthday Celebration of Roomi Subba [She never revealed how old she turned on that day.... :)]

I seriously don't know what they were doing with candle in their hand.... haha.... I was only focusing on the cherry on the top of the cake and hoping to get the biggest piece of cake (luckily I did because the birthday girl knew that I was a big khaideo). Though we (guys only) had decided to spend the night at Mandir but it was impossible as we seriously needed a rest as a big day awaited.

The next day (i.e. 15th February and Saraswati Puja Day) was the most unluckiest day for me as I had to go to Geyzing for Aadhar Card registration. I was too sad because I had been working and waiting for this day from day 1 when the plan was just on our mind but in the end I was unable to be present on the puja. I thought it was god's wish & went to Geyzing early morning hoping to be back as early as possible.

The puja as I heard from my friends and family went very well and lots of people in and around had been present (lot more than expected). People really supported us and the students were really excited.

Glimpse of puja attendees during the day.

The two priests from Thakurbari Madir, Soreng (renowned priests) also praised the management, planning and organisation of the puja by the students. Everyone was heard saying that though this place has seen many puja and celebration but this was something different. So well planned and organised and most importantly by the young students. 

Meanwhile our volunteers also didn't forget to have some fun around:

Anup, Anuraj & Sandesh (Do they look like volunteers? I doubt!!)

Our beautiful sisters & volunteers taking some rest and making fun of each other in which they are expert.

Sandesh, Amir Karki, Subash... Those without whom this puja wouldn't be sucessful.

The most important part of our puja was the "Shanti Paat (Peace Prayer)" which I forgot to mention earlier. After the Saraswati Puja Paat,the priests performed Shanti Paat of the Malbasey, Soreng where the priests performed havans and prayed to god to maintain peace in the nearby areas. Then it was followed by delicious prasadam (though i missed the hot ones).

Centre of attraction of our puja was Mr. Asha Subba Sir from Soreng who attended the entire puja and also entertained the people and students of malbasey by sharing his personal stories, stories of inspiration and also by singing some bhajans. In the evening, it was 108 dip prajjwalan program where we started lighting dip (diyas) from the older people first and slowly in descending order to the students. Then it was followed by bhajans.

What good is a program is there sin't some dance to end it. So, our sudents and specially ladies knew it well... :) So, there went a hustle and bustle of dance in some romantic bhajans of Krishna. It was fun. Then the final touch was given by Mr. Asha Subba Sir when he danced on the famous song "nai nabhannu la...". People were smiling and enjoying at the same time.

'Just Dance' :P

One man equal to all the ladies dancing.

"Nai nabhannu la...." Some say he teared his suruwal while dancing!! Only god knows!! :P

This way our long awaited programme was over. We knew it was just a beginning of the many things that we will be doing in the future in our place. This, though being a small programme was the first of its kind when some students had taken the initiative and executed it surpassing every expectation. It has left lots of memories in our mind, the cute and happy ones, the bonding and supporting ones, the smiles and jokes that we shared, the memories of happiness.

Hope in the coming days, we will again do something like this and enjoy doing so!!
Missing those days...

Pictures Credit: Subash & Anup

They are subject to copyright and use without permission is prohibited.

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