| Username |
Post |
| PC |
Posted
on 12-Nov-01 07:51 AM
If you were to suggest the best time to be in Nepal to anyone, when would it be, and why?
Would it be in early 70's when the air was fresh and peace prevailed everywher...not to forget the hippie time!!!!!?
Would it be the late eighties when we saw a lot of revolutionary acts?
Would it be early in the century to live under Ranas?
Would it be in time of Malla Kings when society was filled with artistic people?
Would it be right now in the middle of the Maoist threat, instable government.........chaos?
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| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 12-Nov-01 08:39 AM
Greetings,
If I were to suggest the best time to be in Nepal, then that would be the 70's. Although I wasn't born until the late 70s, based on what I have been reading, I think that was probably the best time for everyone in Nepal. Nepali businesses were thriving (tourism related), Nepal was quiet and peaceful and had become the center of attraction among the hippy crowd. Kathmadnu became Cat-Man-Do, Jhoche became the (in)famous Freak Street, Thamel witnessed an overnight change, dread lock sadhus and chilims (marijuana) became the source of enlightenment...Nepal became known to almost everyone. I think 70s is when we got appointed to the UN Security Council twice. King Birendra was enthroned amidst a gala ceremony in HanumanDhoka. Less pollution, almost or no crimes in the valley, greenery around, mountain ranges clearly visible from Tundikhel, come on, what more could have people asked for? So, 70s' was the best.
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| Tik |
Posted
on 12-Nov-01 04:28 PM
How green was my valley !
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| PC |
Posted
on 12-Nov-01 05:24 PM
I agree with Trilok. I think the early seventies was the best time to be around in Nepal. Mountaineers and Trekkers were visiting places where no one had been before. It was as if the tourists were going through an exploration of a different world.
Very few or no crimes... people were friendly and peaceful.. at those times. Any tourist who have been in Nepal at those times can tell you how much they liked it when they were there.. In fact there were a lot of foreigners living not just visiting in Nepal...
What a time it must have been to live...
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 12-Nov-01 09:59 PM
The answer is in "Three questions", by Leo Telstoy.
IT once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time to begin
everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid,
and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he
would never fail in anything he might undertake.
....
....
there is only one time that is important -- Now! It is the most important time
because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is
he with whom you are
(from http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/story/tolstoy.html)
What can be the best moment than the moment when everybody is free, when
you are this much powerful, when you can travel to the world, when you can
use internet and emails, and when your parents and your siblings and all your
wonderful friends are around you!, for no man knows whether he will ever have
dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good,
because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!
This is my point of view.
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| GP |
Posted
on 13-Nov-01 12:56 AM
Like Biswo ji, I will also say its the best time compared to all the time
in History of Modern Nepal. '70s was good because there were
a few educated peoples, but, NOthing was open, everything was
closed and controlled by Royal Palace. From govt. job to corporate
jobs to dollars. Now, after 2046, more peoples got access to
Rastra Bank 's foreign reserves, that changed the fete (spl?) of
the peoples. Well, corruption is on high at this moment, but,
the private sector is providing a good opportunities to half
and fully educated peoples. Till 70s if you had Ph.D. you could
dream of only being Mantri, and now you rather prefer to
be a professional, and similarly, medical doctors to engineers
to IT professionals, today, the job market is so challenging,
we can not compare it with '70s. As long as Ethnic harmony
continues, the tomorrow will be better than today. Its because
we will have more roads, more electricity, more gas in kitchen,
better water supply, better garbage collection system, more
conscious to environmental protection and more conscious to
corruptions and more conscious to our freedom and personal
values. Well, competition will continue to be tougher, but,
blue collar job will not be considered a job for illeterate, but,
equally important, and we will hating or cornering those who
make money doing nothing, e.g. today's politicians and
ANNISU-Gundas.
GP
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| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 13-Nov-01 11:15 AM
Dear Biswoji and GP ji,
Just a qucik question, have you guys lived in kathmandu or Nepal for two months in the last 1 year? If you have, and if you still think its the best time to be in Kathmandu/or elsewhere in Nepal, then I have nothing to say, but based on my experience, this is definately the best time to be in Nepal. I don't know what power Biswoji is talking about. We, ordinary citizens have no power whatsoever, and re: email, internet which GP jis talking about, well its technology stuff, and we all know technology travels at the speed of light these days. We had fax during the Panchayat days, now we have email.
Actually, its the worst time to be in Nepal. Corrupt politicians, deteriorating economy, chaos everywhere, no sense of security even in the capital, pollution, inflation, increasing no. of aids patients, no water even to take shower and tihar-ko bela chini-ko shortage!!!! this is what's been happening in kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal and you still say its the best time to be in nepal? I guess, when you are abroad everything in Nepal seems perfectly alright because you are already in Bidesh and you are free from all the sufferings and all you see is freedom and democracy , email and internet..BUt, ask yourself what percentage of nepali people really care for all those development that you see? How many percentage of Nepali population is able to understand the true meaning of democracy and free speech? Not a whole lot. Even DB Lama gets elected in dedemocracy. What percecntage of nepali population has access to Internet and Email? How many nepali understand the meaning of fre speech and read/write/say what they feel like? NO, not many. And even those who can, they are silent because nepal is nepal, not America.. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow.
Trailokya
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| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 13-Nov-01 11:17 AM
>Dear Biswoji and GP ji,
>
>Just a qucik question, have you guys lived
>in kathmandu or Nepal for two months in the
>last 1 year? If you have, and if you still
>think its the best time to be in Kathmandu/
>or elsewhere in Nepal, then I have nothing
>to say, but based on my experience, this is
>definately the best time to be in Nepal. I
Please read it as : .. but based on my experience, this is definately NOT the best time to be in Nepal.
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 13-Nov-01 11:35 AM
Dear Trailokyaji:
Well, I still think we are living at the best moment of our history. It is because
present time is the best time, as Tolstoy says. Now let's go to the points you
asked.
>Just a qucik question, have you guys lived in kathmandu or Nepal for two months
>in the last 1 year? If you have, and if you still think its the best time to be in
> Kathmandu/or elsewhere in Nepal, then I have nothing to say, but based on my
>experience, this is definately NOT the best time to be in Nepal.
No, I haven't. But GPji just was in Nepal, and he may reply it better.
>I don't know what power Biswoji is talking about. We, ordinary citizens have no
>power whatsoever,
When I was growing up in Nepal, I felt just like that way. In Panchayat, I was also
the one who queued up in line for meters for kerosene when I was a child. Only
those people with connection got the oil contract even when enemy was closing
our borders. OK, the situation is not better now, but it was not better in the past
either.
And in Panchayat, people should forget about collecting signature and protesting
against drunkard prince, you know that very well.
>and re: email, internet which GP jis talking about, well its
>technology stuff, and we all know technology travels at the speed of light these
>days. We had fax during the Panchayat days, now we have email.
My point is exactly same: because also of technology, we are at the best moment
of our history. In Nepolean's era, we didn't even have a refridgerator. That's why
we say it is the best moment to live in.
>Actually, its the worst time to be in Nepal. Corrupt politicians, deteriorating
>economy, chaos everywhere, no sense of security even in the capital, pollution,
>inflation, increasing no. of aids patients, no water even to take shower and tihar-
>ko bela chini-ko shortage!!!! this is what's been happening in kathmandu and
> elsewhere in Nepal and you still say its the best time to be in nepal?
In the Panchayat, in 70s, there was massive killing in Chitwan. When Congressi
attacked Chitwan from Indian side, they took over Bharatpur airport. Then after
48 hours, the army retaliated. Most of those captured were killed. The district was
always tense. Our representatives were corrupt. People like Laxya Bdr Gurung,
and Lila Raj Bista were ruling the zone. Political assination (like that of Saroj
Koirala, Mitra mani Acharya , Shiva Paudel etc etc )was rampant. We didn't
have any water project then. Pollution wasn't there, because we didn't have no
factory. People were either ploughing in the farm, or yawning in their hot houses
,where there were no fans and no electricity, in eternal boredom.Malaria was a big
problem.There were no hospitals then, no sufficient schools. Compare that with
today's situation. We are definitely at better moment.
This is perspective from Chitwan. I know the whole nation wasn't better.
>I guess, when you are abroad everything in Nepal seems perfectly alright
>because you are already in Bidesh and you are free from all the sufferings and
>all you see is freedom and democracy , email and internet..BUt, ask yourself
>what percentage of nepali people really care for all those development that you
>see? How many percentage of Nepali population is able to understand the true
>meaning of democracy and free speech?
Dear Trailokyaji: just tell me how many people could enjoy free speech then?
What was our literacy rate then? How many people were educated to use fax?
How many people had telephone then? As someone pointed out, after doing PhD ,
one dreamt of being minister. How can such society be better?
>Not a whole lot. Even DB Lama gets elected in dedemocracy.
Well, DB Lama was police chief in Panchayat too. In Panchayat, Hem Bdr and his
wife got elected to Rashtriya Panchyat.The brother of king was reputed to be
in smuggling things. Football players carried smacks/heroines in football and got
arrested in Los Angeles, and a royal relative (Sharad Shaha) was leader of that
team.
Well, the list is too long.
To me, the best moment, as Tolstoy said, is present.
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| makuro |
Posted
on 13-Nov-01 01:31 PM
Well I think the best time to be Nepal were 50/60 yrs ago. Hamro baje ko palama. Those days sabai chij chokho and sudha thiyo. Even people were nice and humble. But I didn't choose this period for these reasons only. The main reason is in those days as you all know it was almost customary for man to marry multiple wives. Wa kya majja..multiple srimati haru…
Ok ok don't jump so quickly and say don't u read dumbo just a couple days ago there was a news about an Old man marrying his 8th wife. I know polygamy despite being illegal is still practiced. But in new generation esp. the people who live in city , those who are called 'professional' 'janne-sunne' they don't marry multiple wives at the same time right? kya bore hoinata? If you do, you will get 'jutta' from your friends. Tesaile I will say it is better to be in Npeal 50/60 yrs ago. (Even my baje despite having modest means, had two bajais). Imagine guys being on that time. Jethi, maile , kanchie…..ramba, amba tilotma….kya majja hoinata???
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| Gandhi |
Posted
on 13-Nov-01 01:48 PM
Makuroji, Ke kura gareko hola. "Dui Joiko Poi, Kuna Pasi Roi" bhanne pani teti kherai chaleko ukhan ho kyara. - Gandhi
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| NK |
Posted
on 14-Nov-01 10:05 AM
I would like to elaborate on Bisow's point, if I may do so. This is more philosophical, I think, to declare 'NOW' is the best of time.
I remember my mother talking about the time, in the beginning of certain month maybe aroundJjune (i am not sure now), when her mother-in-law used to remind people in the house to have a 'surahi' filled with some sort of sweet water. So that pedestrians can quench their thirst. And it was in Kathmandu! Doesn't it sound quaint? That was in the past. We can reminiscence about it, and that's it. Future - who has seen it? So best left it alone.
'Now' is the time to make it or break it. To do anything about it. One may say people who do not have any means for betterment how can you lecture them to do the best they can? Well, maybe "having nothing" is a relative term. What they/we can do is whatever little we have, let's make the best use of it and move forward. Thjere are so many examples where people in the most adverse situation coming unscath and make this world a better place even in a small scale. Look at SUSKERA'S new issue. How this woman is helping the orphans with so little means. I know so many women whose parents were illeterate and poor, but they had this burning desire to do something withf their lives. And they, indeed, are fulfilling their dreams as i am writing now. So, my dear friends, we can go misty eyes about something that was in the past and talk lovingly about the bygone era, but reality is, that is all. You can just talk about it but do nothing. So, NOW has the potential to be the best of time. So since you are the master of your own fate, do something NOW. Therefore, it is the best of time - NOW!
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| makuro |
Posted
on 14-Nov-01 11:34 AM
Gandhi ji ho ta maile ta yadai nagareko. Now I remember, marne bila ma pani mero mero baje lae mero bau lai vaneko rae..."Babu birsera pani auti vanda badi biha nagaresh hai....natra dukha paulas maile jastai"
Ok here in this link maile kura nabujeko ......Churchill mare pachi ..swarga gaye cha rae. And he was asked by Indra -" Oie Babu Churchill...lau vanata timro life ko best time kahile ho?" Churchill k answer deyo hola? Tyo chai malai pani thaha vayena. Mero bicharma, he could have given two answer : WWII vairakheko time and nonWWII time.
Those people who would measure the best time of one's life through one's achievment would definately guess he would have said during WWII. That time of course he played great role in defeating tranny. What time or moment could have been mroe important (thus best time) in his life than that very moment right?
Haina haina....Chuchill lae usko best time non-WWII time tira vaneko hola vaneera guess garne haru k socheko hunu parcha vanne : How could he say it his best time of his life when fire of War was being felt by all the Humanity.
Hami haru ko debate pani testai testai lagyoo....maile kura nabujeko hoki khai?????
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| nobody |
Posted
on 14-Nov-01 11:41 AM
50s. I was too late for that but there were opportunities, there was a promise for better future... We missed out on a lot of things. When the world was staring to adopt technologies, and there was not a lot of difference between the developed and under-developed, we were busy in petty squabblings. 70s, we say we developed our tourism industry, but we were known more for Jhochhen than the Himalayas. 80s we yearned for the freedom and that was our excuse for everthing we didn't achieve. 90s, we got our "freedom" and we forgot that freedom came with resposibility... And right now, the only news we get from Nepal are bad news. The royal massacre and "maoist terrorism", aren't they the darkest parts of our history?
Everything is downhill. Degrading family values and social ethics, and corruption has taken it's toll. Saying that NOW is the best time is definitely inspirational, but realistic? I don't think so... Times have changed, and pedestrians can quench their thirst with a bottle of Coke now, tradition evolves with time. And the number of good samaritans is not an indication of better or worse time. We cannot say people weren't charitable in the past just because we couldn't read about them. There definitely were some people with good intentions... I say the 50s was the best time. But the people in the 50s screwed up...
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| krishna |
Posted
on 19-Nov-01 03:11 PM
One must consider, of course, that we are talking about Nepali Time here, which is Greenwich Mean Time, plus or minus the balance of time it takes to bring one up to the eleventh hour. So, to answer bluntly, the best time to be in Nepal is "bholi- parsi", which is my favorite day of the Nepali week and is always the most auspicious time for things getting done.
"Procrastination is the key to flexibility." John E. Comelateli
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