| Username |
Post |
| ashu |
Posted
on 01-Oct-00 10:48 PM
Biswo,
Here's a personal question to you. Your answer may seve an inspiration to many
Boston Nepalis (especilly many recent arrivals) who are struggling to learn
English -- their second or third or even fourth language!!
The question is this: How did you learn English? Both oral and written English?
I ask you that question because I am impressed with your range of vocabulary and your range of your interests.
I also assume, perhaps naively, that
growing up in Chitawan, you must have had to work extra hard to make your so English tagada.
If you think this is a stupid question,
then say so, and I won't take any offence.
Like I said, I have a feeling that your answer may inspire more Boston Nepalis
to make themselves a success in the US
by learning better English.
oohi
ashu
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 01-Oct-00 11:17 PM
Ashu:
It is very very surprising question. I never
expected such a question from a person whose
range of interest surpasses mine, and whose
intellect bests mine.
It is so difficult to find whether it is
barb or request.If you asked me this question
because you just happened to finish my
fiction,then I feel very sad that the story
inspired nothing but such a question.
In Tandi, Chitwan, where I was raised, we
were accorded full freedom and a few libraries
where I had full access while I was in
higschool.Some of my publications in fact
date to that era.The hardwork of that period
was foundation for my vocabulary,no doubt.
Later I dreamt of being journalist and
writer (until I found that they both live
in utter poverty in our country) which were
also conducive to my English-improvement-
abhiyan.
However, This question coming from people
who lives in Boston puts me in very awkward
position to reply any more.
|
| ashu |
Posted
on 02-Oct-00 09:33 PM
Biswo,
I asked you that question in all sincerity.
I have always admired people who seem to
make the best of what they have at any given time.
You and Anil Bhattarai BOTH seem to have, on your own self-initiaves, made the best of the educational resources available to you in Tandi, Chitawan. And that's great.
My larger goal is to illustrate that the talk
about constraint of resources in largely
an illusory one in Nepal.
Often, for people to excel in Nepal, what I find missing are: self-initiatives, personal
drive to succeed, resourcefulnes
and other such qualities. Nothing depresses
me more than meeting well-educated and aware Nepalis, who -- NOT having or caring to make the best of what they already have -- blame other things for their inactivity.
I chose, putting you on the spot, the
example of learning English because
it's nothing great if you learnt the language
at St. Xavier's or Budhanilkantha or other
such schools. Those schools are supposed
to teach you the language anyway.
But you learnt to appreciate it at a school
outside of Kathmandu, and worked on it for
years to make it better and better. Now that's showing the kind of determination
that you can translate to other areas of
your life too.
People often talk about Nepali students
returning from top US universities and doing
"desh ko bikas". Personally, I am convinced
that if you don't have the drive, the determination, the resourcefulness and
a desire to make a change in yourself as well as around yourself, then it doesn't
matter if your degree is from Harvard or
Cal Tech.
So, I salute your drive to master English.
And would like to believe that such drive traslates into other areas of your life too.
After all, how else would you publish something in Madhu Parka and write programs
in Java? :-)
Please keep up your good work; and please
take my comments in all sincerity.
Happy Dassain,
oohi
ashu
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 02-Oct-00 11:09 PM
Ashu:
Thanks for compliments.Anyway,looks like you
think mofussil as too gawaar,man!Please
remember that we lived in a place not too
far from KTM anyway.And after highschool, we
ascended to Ascol anyway.
If we lack anything in our country, then I
think it is not resource, but the collective
effort, and sincerity.All the way to the top,
King Mahendra tried to stuff intelligent
people.You probably remember that there used
to be time when every charismatic political
leaders and every foreign educated returnee
were accorded gazetted posts in beaurocracy.
The more intelligent , the more clever to do
corruption, that was happened in the past in
our country.
We have another group of people who try to
show off their intelligence. There are some
people who try to show their US educated
degree and berate the government for not
worshipping that.Though I am critical of all
our past governments,(Lately I think I should
bar one government:the interim of 2047), I
think it is equally unfair on the part of our
intellectuals to provide lese majesty as a
reason they couldn't flourish.
Learning English, Learning Newspaper is not
that impossible in Chitwan also.Though it is
belated.But getting a paper late by seven
days or some months probably doesn't matter
especially when the people who get them on
time doesn't care to utilize them.
Sometimes, I find Chitwan a good place to
live. My experience of KTM has not been very
good either.Lack of water was prominent.It
was a dream to take bathe every day there,
while it was routine in Chitwan.When I looked
for "The Satanic Verses", KTM slapped my
quest with government imposed ban, while
Chitwan profferred a contraband book in
cheap price.
Furthermore, Chitwan is a laboratory for
socialogy class.Perfect lab.With the
existence of Praja, Tharu and pahadiyas,
Newar,dalit and ,whatelse,profuse commies. A
place almost like USA, because all are
immigrant.My dad used to say that he could
acquire the land of NarayanGarh for a paltry
sum and all other old person says so.Looks
like thousands of people missed chance of
becoming millionaire in Chitwan. Whatelse
can be more inspiring, whatelse can be more
conducive environment than the place where
all the people are immigrants!! You have seen
the perfect example in USA,haven't you??
Happy Vijaya Dashami .
Biswo.
|
| ashu |
Posted
on 03-Oct-00 01:02 PM
Hi Biswo,
No, it's not a question of thinking
of those living in mofussil as "gawars",
as you put it. You'd be surprised to
learn that quite a number of my friends
are from the mofussil, and they are
anything but "gawaars"!!
It's just a safe assumption that all
things equal, those living outside of the
Valley have a harder time accessing the
educational/informational resources than
those living in Kathmandu.
Of course, living in KTM also breeds
a sense of complacency, almost a frog-in-a-pond syndrome as far as
the entire Nepal is concerned. (An
analogy would be a New Yorker's view
of the world!)
I hope my point is clearer.
oohi
ashu
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