| Username |
Post |
| ashu |
Posted
on 26-Aug-02 07:15 AM
The violence in Nepal has affected rural women the most.
Many are without sons, without husbands, without brothers.
A piece of 'installation art' -- as conceptualized by artist Ashimna Ranjit and portayed on the stage by Subina Shrestha (seen in the picture).
Source: Bichalit Bartaman Karya-kram on August 17th, 2002. Basantapur Dabali. Kathmandu.
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| jayahos |
Posted
on 26-Aug-02 07:52 AM
What a powerful way of expression....
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| Nepali Kanchi |
Posted
on 26-Aug-02 01:30 PM
You mean violence caused by the Maoists? That is a problem that rural women face, I guess....Domestic violence , however is an issue that all Nepali women face, in Nepal, and abroad. I thought the girl was protesting DV at first....pretty cool nonetheless!
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| sally |
Posted
on 26-Aug-02 03:50 PM
Thanks for posting this. I have so much respect for all the artists who are speaking out.
But Ashu, I don't know if you can really say that rural women suffer "the most." What is "most"? Young rural men who don't have the money to flee or anywhere else to go, or who stay in the villages because they're still in school (but are of the age to be forceably recruited), are the ones who are under the most immediate threat for their lives, it seems.
And what about all the kids who are growing up in fear, seeing violence all around them, and learning what it means for power to come from the barrel of a gun?
Not to disagree about the suffering of women. I just don't think there's a "most."
Good installation.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 26-Aug-02 08:51 PM
Sally,
Your point is well taken.
I used the word "most" somewhat elastically.
I agree that many kids too have had their lives ruined irrevocably in the past few
years. Remember those kids with bottled-up anger and burning eyes in that documentary "Raktamya Pahad"?
-------------------
On another note, though we can always post pictures of Nepal's famous natural
beauty and justifiably revel in "isn't our country beautiful?" state or indulge in
"oh, how that picture makes me homesick?" mode, I think we also have to face
reality and
NOT turn a blind eye to the unpalatable, the jarring, the not-so-good,
the disturbing and the violent aspects of our
sundar
but not-yet-shanta Nepal.
Tetti ho.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| NK |
Posted
on 26-Aug-02 09:31 PM
disturbing.
successful in getting the point across. good one!
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| paramendra |
Posted
on 26-Aug-02 10:09 PM
Ashu:
A powerful/beautiful work of art. Thanks for bringing it along for this online community.
And hello! Thanks for bringing me along to Sajha. You e-mailed a long time back about the site, I came, and went away right away. Then I came back again at the beginning of this month and have stayed on. It has been great overall. I hope there is greater traffic, from the rest of the world as Nepal.
The tech behind the site is commendable. Really. World class.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 07:29 AM
Paramendra,
Like I said before, it's good to see you and (so many others) here on sajha.
As opinionated Nepalis, we may not always agree with one another and may well
have our differences of opinions about this and that and may express our disagreements even heatedly and pointedly.
But let's face it.
We can all differentiate between attacks on ideas (fine) and attacks on people (not fine) and can all also get along with one another and respect the sheer DIVERSITY of thoughts/ideas/opinions and viewpoints this site helps promote among us all.
This independent, yet diverse and respectful, exchange of ideas/opinions/thoughts is what has made this site quite popular, and that is simply great.
PS: I will tell the artists to visit this site.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| paramendra |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 08:47 AM
Ashu:
It is just that some people think Oohi your first name and Ashu your last name!
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 10:24 AM
I volunteer at the local YWCA chapter and we have our share of battered women. Its heart wrenching to see these normally proud women so weary and literally and figuratively beaten down. We’re currently working in coalition with the Family Violence Prevention Fund and have recently introduced a ‘men’s campaign’ to help fight domestic abuse. The logic behind this men’s campaign is that prevention needs to start at the roots and it is necessary to change the social norms that allow domestic violence to exist. This program encourages people to question their tacit acceptance of domestic violence and to begin to take action to stop it. An integral part of this program is to educate boys through action and conversation. Violent behavior is learned, and men have the power to teach boys that violence towards women is wrong. As fathers, brothers, coaches, teachers, etc. men are in a position to help prevent domestic violence. The men’s campaign encourages men to talk to boys early and often about how they treat girls and women - the primary message being that violence doesn’t make you a man.
Perhaps this kind of reform is just what our society needs as the perpetrators of domestic violence in our country (and society) are mostly always men.
If the artist and other domestic abuse activists are interested in learning more about this program, please feel free to email me.
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| paramendra |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 11:14 AM
That YMCA comment. ......... When one person hits another, is that not assault/battery and hence grounds for legal action? I mean, why is it illegal to hit a stranger, but okay to do the same to someone in family?
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| bideshi |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 11:41 AM
A very disturbing,difficult to believe,yet the truth of our society!
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 12:00 PM
Paramendra said: When one person hits another, is that not assault/battery and hence grounds for legal action? I mean, why is it illegal to hit a stranger, but okay to do the same to someone in family?
Victims of domestic violence have to want to take some form of action against their abusers. The police are pretty much helpless if the victim doesn't want to file charges against their husband / boyfriend. I know its hard for most of us to comprehend why victims of domestic abuse wouldn't want to file charges or take out restraining orders against their abusers. However I think we tend to forget the majority of domestic violence victims are uneducated and poor and depend on their abusers for their bread and butter. Another reason is that they don't know any other life. Domestic violence is a vicious cycle; kids grow up seeing their mothers being physically and verbally abused and they assume that's the way it is and they in turn grow up to either be the abusers or the abused. History repeats itself. Shame is another reason why so many women refuse to file charges against their husbands/boyfriends. Yes, it happens in the US to, so you can imagine how much more its probably magnified in a country like ours where saving face is so important. Believe it or not, even educated, professional women can be susceptible to domestic violence but end up staying with their abusive husbands/boyfriends either for the sake of their kids or because they're to embarrassed to admit their husbands beat them.
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| joie de vivre |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 12:03 PM
Paramendra said: When one person hits another, is that not assault/battery and hence grounds for legal action? I mean, why is it illegal to hit a stranger, but okay to do the same to someone in family?
Victims of domestic violence have to want to take some form of action against their abusers. The police are pretty much helpless if the victim doesn't want to file charges against their husband / boyfriend. I know its hard for most of us to comprehend why victims of domestic abuse wouldn't want to file charges or take out restraining orders against their abusers. However I think we tend to forget the majority of domestic violence victims are uneducated and poor and depend on their abusers for their bread and butter. Another reason is that they don't know any other life. Domestic violence is a vicious cycle; kids grow up seeing their mothers being physically and verbally abused and they assume that's the way it is and they in turn grow up to either be the abusers or the abused. History repeats itself. Shame is another reason why so many women refuse to file charges against their husbands/boyfriends. Yes, it happens in the US too, so you can imagine how much more its probably magnified in a country like ours where saving face is so important. Believe it or not, even educated, professional women can be susceptible to domestic violence but end up staying with their abusive husbands/boyfriends either for the sake of their kids or because they're too embarrassed to admit their husbands beat them.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 09:03 PM
Paramendra wrote:
"Ashu: It is just that some people think Oohi your first name and Ashu your last name! "
**********
That's fine, Paramendra.
The phrase -- oohi ashu -- has become, for the lack of a better word, sort of my harmless little trademark/logo/brand whatever, and I am happy to be using it again
and again for the last several years both in public forums and in private, informal
emails.
As our esteemed Hahooguru once educated us (from that book on branding that he said he bought in Singapore): the brand 'sells' the product, and to do that well consistently, the brand has to deliver value, be recognizd, trusted, liked and all that :-)
And so, if some people confuse it with my name, well, let them.
That's perfectly fine.
As Aamir Khan, the Bollywod actor, says in that commercial for Coke on an
Indian TV channel: "Thanda matlab Coca Cola."
Likewise, oohi ashu matlab Ashutosh Tiwari :-)
soon.nay lai soon ko maala
yo katha baikuntha jaala, and so on.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| paramendra |
Posted
on 27-Aug-02 09:15 PM
:-)
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| subinas |
Posted
on 25-Oct-02 12:20 PM
While it is great to see the reaction of people around the world I would like to set the record straight on one thing - Ashutosh has suggested that the photograph depicted is as "conceptualized by artist Ashimna Ranjit and portayed on the stage by Subina Shrestha" The particular act was not conceptualized by Ashmina. It was my own creation... thank you... Have to say that I quite enjoyed reading the comments... a lot of which i had not even thought of while visualizing the piece.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 25-Oct-02 09:37 PM
Subina,
I did NOT know that, and thank you for pointing out the truth here.
My apologies to you for not giving you proper credit earlier.
That said, I'd like to make it up to you by taking you out for coffee
one of these days.
Let's stay in touch.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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