| Username |
Post |
| bhunte |
Posted
on 20-Dec-03 02:30 AM
In December 15's Dishanirdesh the writer Manjhushree Thapa seems to be harassed by the interviewer in the very beginning and at the end of the Dishanirdesh interview. Was it necessary to nose down on her personal life in the publicly viewed broadcasting channel? Who the interviewer is? Manisha Aryal??
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| ashu |
Posted
on 20-Dec-03 01:13 PM
Manisha Aryal runs a radio-program production house in kathmandu called Antenna. One of her news-magazine programs, a weekly called "Business Yatra" -- aimed at private sector businesses -- went on air last Thursday on Radio Sagarmatha FM 102.4.
Re: the Manjushree interview, as a viewer, I too was disappointed with many of Manisha's questions, though Manjushree, to her credit, answered all the questions
in a forthright and self-effacing manner.
I don't know about harrassment, but it's safe to know that Manisha and Manjushree have known one another for more than a decade.
Conceptually, I find Manjushree Thapa, the writer and activist, a lot more interesting/intriguing and complex than Manjushree Thapa with a particularly
well-known family baggage.
As a viewer, I wish Manisha had asked more about the writing process, the creative process, the publishing process, and the "need" for writers/artists to take on social activism roles, and whether they can "do justice" to such roles, and other issues like
that.
Incidentally --- as a matter of historical trivia -- Manjushree, at one point in the interview, quoting American feminists, said that "a woman needs a man like a fish
needs a bicycle", a phrase that is usually attributed to American women's rights
activist Gloria Steinem, who, by the way, is happily married to a man named
David.
In 2001, in a letter to editor to Newsweek, this is what Ms. Steinem had to say:
"In your note on my new and happy marital partnership with David Bale, you credit me with the witticism 'A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.' In fact, Irina Dunn, a distinguished Australian educator, journalist and politician, coined the phrase back in 1970 when she was a student at the University of Sydney. She paraphrased the philosopher who said, "Man needs God like fish needs a bicycle." Dunn deserves credit for creating such a popular and durable spoof of the old idea that women need men more than vice versa."
Even a fish such as Ms. Ms. Steinem, it seems, needs a bicycle such as Mr. Bale!!
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| Bhunte |
Posted
on 22-Dec-03 12:47 AM
"a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"
first part is Ok, but still puzzled with the second phrase. Any story behind "a fish needs a bicycle"??
I read several people criticizing Manju in her article "Thapa doom", but she clarified her position during the interview.
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| suva chintak |
Posted
on 22-Dec-03 01:10 AM
Bhunteji,
That is indeed fishy..if she really made that comment. The degree of self-sufficiency implied is both against the law of nature and the good Lord! I don't know what the world is coming to, may be the end is indeed near!
SC, the occasional alarmist
PS: But since it is that special time of the year, we may take some reassurance from the immaculate conception, if all else fails!!
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| ujol sherchan |
Posted
on 22-Dec-03 04:36 AM
I loved that show: one of the most respected investigative
journalists interviewing one of the most renowned writers who
write in English in Nepal today. Both women to boot. I wouldn't
call Manisha's questioning 'harrassment'.
Manjushree is pretty much an enigma, so I really appreciated
Manisha's questioning, which tried to uncover the person behind
the writer. Particularly with regards to Manjushree's take on men,
which followed logically, since she had earlier admitted 'I don't mind
being labeled a naribadi; actually I am quite proud of that label'.
Well Manisha was naturally going to ask why Manjushree is not
married or is still single sooner or later, since that question was
screaming/imploring to be asked.
Well, I doubt if Manjushree's quote '...as if fish needs a bicycle'
holds any water, given that rumours abound in KTM of her
predilection for younger guys with artistic inclinations. But then
one measure of a beautiful, single celebrated writer (but by no
means a necessary measure) like Manjushree is that salacious
rumours are going to get circulated about her.
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| spark |
Posted
on 22-Dec-03 09:43 PM
The whole world can see how much discomfort Manjushree had with those too much personalized rude questions. The interviewer instead should have focussed on Thapa's profession. Why can't the interviewer ask same questions to Ex PM Krishna Parsad Bhattarai and volunteer herself to help Kishun ji if she is still available and wishes too??
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| anamika1 |
Posted
on 02-Jan-04 07:08 PM
I am writing in response to Ashu’s views in his posting about the comments made by Manjushree Thapa AND Gloria Steinem (who apparently had made it years ago) regarding feminism. First of all, I would like state that I have not seen the interview of Manjushree by Anisha Aryal in her weekly program.
I have to admit that I could not believe my eyes when I saw the sarcasm in Ashu’s comments when he said ““Even a fish such as Ms. Steinem, it seems, needs a bicycle such as Mr. Bale!! I have not met him but somehow from his postings and article, I had placed him to be an open minded and progressive intellect. So where does the sarcasm stem from…. could it be that men are still threatened by women’s independence and outspokenness!!!!!!! Hmmmm. makes me wonder. . Yes, feminism is used to describe the movement started by women where they fight for their right for equal treatment and opportunity like their male counterparts in the society. In the earlier years, feminism was more hardcore and extreme as women practically had to put a fight to have their voices heard in the society. However feminism has come a long way and like anything else, feminism is addressed in many different forms now. We don’t necessarily have to go out and burn our bras in public to be heard, but we can simply state our opinion intelligently and stand up for ourselves. Women definitely have become more educated, independent and strong as they have access to many jobs and educational facilities thus becoming financially independent. It then has allowed women to make choices about their education, careers and lifestyle including their life partners while standing to the standard rituals of mainstream society. Women are waiting longer to get married and are taking decisions in their own hands which is why they don’t need a man to take care of them like before which is where women needing a man is like a fish needing a bicycle statement comes up. On the other hand, companionship, love and nurturing is a huge part of human nature. Therefore, if you can find somebody who is loving and respective and supportive of you and your beliefs, there is no reason why you should not be together. Also if you want to declare your love to the world, you can do so by legalizing it with a marriage. They say even plants when spoken gently to and caressed occasionally responds to nurturing by flourishing and growing into a healthy plant. This is nature and I say… let’s not fight nature but lets cherish it.
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| Nepe |
Posted
on 02-Jan-04 08:42 PM
Anamika1,
I totally agree with you.
Although I do not know anything about how it has been interpretated or mis-interpretated or over-used or misused, the slogan "a woman needs a man like a fish
needs a bicycle", makes a perfect sense to me. It does not say that a woman does not need a man at all. Of course a woman needs a man and vice versa- to mate, to have children, okay if that sounds too dry, then , to love and be loved and to cherish and to be cherished and so on. However, a woman does not need a man to move around, to earn a living and to have an identity. She has her own fins for the purpose of swimming in the world. She is not handicapped needing a man as a wheel chair or a bicycle.
As for bra-burning, that too makes a perfect sense to me. Radicalism at the beginning of a new movement may or may not be rationalized by sociological, psychological, political theories, however I will be surprised if a marketeer could not rationalize it. It needs a strong publicity to market things, be it a bra or an idea of bra-burning.
And let us not forget Anamika1's reminder that feminism has evolved and it does sound to me that today's feminist are not against the nature but against the unnatural privileges man was holding.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 02-Jan-04 09:20 PM
Anamika wrote:
"I have to admit that I could not believe my eyes when I saw the sarcasm in Ashu’s comments when he said ““Even a fish such as Ms. Steinem, it seems, needs a bicycle such as Mr. Bale!! I have not met him but somehow from his postings and article, I had placed him to be an open minded and progressive intellect. So where does the sarcasm stem from . . .
Anamika, I am puzzled by your statements.
Here's the straight dope: I did NOT mean that as a sarcastic remark . . . but as a
closing aside.
I have been posting stuff for several years now, and I still get it wrong when I
try to figure out other people's tones of voice or their attitudes or whether or
not they are being sarcastic and so on from their postings alone.
As someone famous once said: When in doubt, always ask for clarification before jumping to conclusions and judgments.
Other than that, thank you for sharing your views on feminism.
***************
Aamika wrote:
…. could it be that men are still threatened by women’s independence and outspokenness!!!!!!! Hmmmm. makes me wonder. . ."
Wonder no more.
Can't speak for other men, but this man remains in awe of strong, independent
and outspoken women whose intelligence and witticism are worth treasuring and
celebrating.
Other than that, hey, both Manisha and Manjushree happen to be my good friends,
and, it so happens that I have actually discussed the interview, pretty much along
the lines of what I have posted here on Sajha, with both of them.
oohi
"Enjoying a hot cup of Mechi chiya on this biting cold Saturday morning of Poush"
ashu
ktm,nepal
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