| Sajha.com Archives | |
| Username | Post |
| SIWALIK | Posted
on 12-Dec-02 11:40 AM
It is a fundamental nature of things that collective actions are harder to attain since they require organization of people who may have diverse interests. But collective action can also help us achieve goals that are beyond individual capability. In Sajhapur, there has been lot of interest shown for "action" to do something for Nepal. I responded to vote for Nepali song in BBC survey as a positive step toward initiating a collective action for our national cause. Now, looking at the initial poll on willingness to contribute to some social cause in Nepal, it seems we might have a potential to raise at the minimum $500 annually. But we might easily raise $1000. That is a good news. We should look into substantiating this potential. It might be better if we take suggestions on some potential recipients/beneficiaries for sajhapur donation and then have the Sajhapur contributros vote on one or two causes of charities that the amount could be donated to. We might even have successive run-offs to narrow down the process. But before that can be done, Sajhapur "bahhis" can nominate their charities in discussion thread and tell us about the cause/organization etc. and campaign for support. Then the willing donors can narrow them down to say 10 or so. All registered sajhapur "jantas" can then vote for the nominees. Maybe the top five can go into the second round. The second round of voting can then choose the top two winners. The number of recipients can be decided by the sajhapur committee. It would be wonderful if we could help out all causes, but since resources are always scarce, we could at least start a collective action through a democratic process to start contributing to causes voted by sajhapur "gaunles". Please suggest, comment, add, vilify.... |
| Arnico | Posted
on 12-Dec-02 12:12 PM
Siwalik, thank for starting this. Will join in soon... Arnico. |
| SimpleGal | Posted
on 12-Dec-02 03:21 PM
Siwalikji, Thanks for your posting. I will be with the cause in whatever capacity I am able to contribute. In peace. |
| Logical Sense | Posted
on 12-Dec-02 03:31 PM
SIWALIK, great idea and I would definitely support this kind of endeavor full heartedly. Though I consider myself 'positive' person, but, I read the current Sajha poll little differently than you. 56% of Sajhaites want to contribute 'NOTHING'. What does that tell you? All of us have come here struggling and most of us are still struglling and all of us kind of know that Maoists problem is brewed in poverty/ignorance/lack of education, but half of us don't care about it (we either blame Maoists/Leaders/King but never look back and think we are the one who make Maoists/Leaders/King what they are today). Not even interested in contributing a crate of beer worth of money for a cause ..... 'Little we can do' - slogan started by Ruck lost steam long time back. 'We can make a difference' - column started by me caught eyes of only a few I am thinking how could we keep this burning desire of few make ubiqutous. How can we keep it year long, decades long? As I have said time and time again, may be by showing the 'fruits of contribution', 'success story of being partner with Nepal'. Meaning bring the concrete evidence in front of the donor organizations/individuals. Also, I feel it is our duty to show what positive things have happened in Nepal. Most of the people have given up hope in Nepal and don't want to do anything with Nepal. May be we need to put our heads together to show highlights of positive things happening in Nepal. And I feel kind of sad, that most of the famous Sajhaites who have tremendous knowledge about Nepal give very negative picture, they seldom talk positive about what those people who are in GROUND ZERO of maoists problems are surviving with. Think about their courage? Well, I don't want to keep talking myself, let us hear from others. I do want to take this opportunity to talk about my personal success. We are four graduates of our Terai Village School in US at various levels. This year we made a collective contribution of $2,000 dollars towards my villagers triumph to convert our village high school to 10+2. This money is being spent in building the infrastructure. They are in process of getting the approval from Government, but, before they present their case they need to have all the infrastrure ready. - iti |
| SIWALIK | Posted
on 13-Dec-02 12:46 PM
Logical Sense, thanks for your input. I agree with most of your evaluation of the situation. And I commend your contribution to your village school. However, as you have pointed out we interprete the poll differently. Sure, I expected that most of the people would not be able/willing to contribute financially. It should not surprise us, neither discourage us if half of us are unable ot unwilling to put the money where out mouth is. But even those who cannot give $$ have other ways to contribute, as in through information, discussion, or criticism. It is upon those who can to take a burden of those who cannot, and in the process, maybe lift those up who needs a hand. We should be able to and willing to assume that burden. As has been my philosophy for life, it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. I am sure some of us will agree. It is better to form a band of reformers and likeminded people who have been fortunate to be educated in the correct sense than expect everyone to share our values. If we cherish the values we have developed through education, then we ought to fight for them and back up with our action. So I say, let is look at the bright side and try to do our part individually and collectively. Discussions in this forums expose us to different individuals and ideas and then shape our thoughts on what might be done, what needs to be done and what approach to take. It is better to be positive and upbeat and strive for change. Notice how once we return to Nepal, we seem to be changed under the weight of the corrupt bureaucracy and think that nothing good can ever be accomplished (read the postings of those based in Nepal). I would rather not have that attitude. To me bringing about change is worth fighting for. It would not do Nepal any good if we meekly succumb under the guise of "not understanding the ground reality of Nepal." So be the force of change. Ground reality can be changed. |
| najar | Posted
on 13-Dec-02 01:00 PM
Very well said Siwalik. Count me in too. Lets get the ball rolling...ideas/suggestions.. A believer in collective effort. |
| Logical Sense | Posted
on 16-Dec-02 02:09 PM
Siwalik, don't get me wrong. I am not a negative persion to sit back and not do anything just because people don't respond to my call. I am merely trying to make a point that after understanding the Nepalese psychology how can we make this drive be permanent and sustainable? I am not sure if you have read my column: http://www.gbnc.org/sajha/html/column.cfm?extraid=54, where I have written extensibly about this topic and lots of ideas to be partner in Nepal's endeavor for prosperity. My experience tells me that it is not fault of anybody that the commendable call like yours don't get much of steam in the long run (100+ visits and have taken a back seat - not controversial enough to keep visiting) and is because: - They don't know how capable you are, who you are and why should they trust you? So, I believe in 'show by examples'. That is one reason of my collecting $2000.00 for my Hight School. This was one effective fund raising which I could do with merely around 10, 20 minutes phone calls in total with my friends. Also, by knowing the fact that people don't trust me has made me better organizer in the sense I work hard to win their trust. And, really deep down I think it is nothing to do with only Nepali society, people in general are like that. You can't get Venture Capitalist money without showing them your experience even in US, right? I have many personal experiences where people started buying my ideas only after showing them concrete examples. Anyway, good luck to your drive. - iti |
| SIWALIK | Posted
on 17-Dec-02 11:33 AM
Logical Sense: If you read my posting carefully, it is not done with a purpose of personal gain or benefit. My thrust is to initiate a collective action that lets everyone in this site contribute in one way or another. Even the committee forming process, if it gets to that stage, should be done through voting. Every decision from the charity selection to personnel designation should come forth through SAJHA gaun/Nepal bikash abhiyan through the process of extensive discussion. As such, this is not a fund-raiser on my initiative or my personal drive. I am just trying to let us be aware of the potential we have at Sajhapur. As of now, if the polling is a fair indication, we have a potential for $2000/yr, at least. That is a generous sum. I am not placing my personal credibility at stake or anything of that nature. What I am doing, I am doing on my own of my own volition without any relation to or scope of Sajha. But that is a different matter. For this Sajha potential to take effect, we need to streamline certain procedures, which can further democratic practice here in this internet community. But first, we need to verify if we can have a fair polling to select members for a committ or finalize other similar decisions through an online voting mechanism. Final note, I would like to think it as a Sajha collective drive than my personal drive. What I would like to see is ideas, contribution or decisions coming from the community. I do not have a fixed idea like your commendable high school drive. We would be better off if we all took part in one way or other. That is all... |
| Logical Sense | Posted
on 17-Dec-02 01:40 PM
SIWALIK, you have a great idea and this should and would work in many circumstances. But, only pessimism I have because of the 'Sajha Reality'. This thread is up for five days and would have taken back seat in two days if you and me were not 'talking'. It is viewed 215 times but posted only 7 times by 5 people. May be your ideas will re-invigorate the Prabasi Nepali community I am striving for. So, let us support your ideas, I am all for it. - iti |
| SIWALIK | Posted
on 17-Dec-02 04:33 PM
How about making it a collective "Sajha idea"? It is not only my idea. All those who have come forward to support with $$ have as much right to this idea as anyone else. Again, I would not put too much emphasis on how many times this thread is viewed, or how many want to contribute $$. Everything has to start at some place. Usually they start small. If we can persist, the naysayers too might think twice before dismissing any positive actions we might want to take in future. So, I hope you will take it as your idea too. You have already established your credibility. How about showing the way though what actions might be necessary to make it feasible? After all, we might have the best ideas in the world. If we do not have a sound mechanism to carry them out, nothing will come of them. |
| Biruwa | Posted
on 17-Dec-02 06:22 PM
for your information! |
| Biruwa | Posted
on 17-Dec-02 06:26 PM
If you only knew |
| sally | Posted
on 17-Dec-02 08:15 PM
I also have the sense that Sajha probably wouldn't be very effective for concrete action such as fundraising, partly for the simple reason that it's a bit unreal. Most posters don't know each other, except as cyber-creations with funny names. On the other hand, I've supported efforts I've heard about on Sajha, and I bet others have too. I bet a lot of silent readers are waiting to see what will happen. So if Sajha itself isn't necessarily going to turn into a place for collective action, individuals may initiate actions based on communications on Sajha ... which is almost the same thing. Even if it doesn't have the Sajha name. And I could be wrong--perhaps a Sajha "collective action" COULD happen, in a more concrete form than bits and bytes. As the saying goes from "Field of Dreams": Build it, and they'll come! |
| Bramhanda | Posted
on 17-Dec-02 08:32 PM
Sajha should serve as a platform and to spread the idea across. But, ultimately, collective action requires REAL ACTION. Action in being able to impart this message to other like minded types. In creating a separate group to push this idea instead of mentioning what I did and who did what on the forum. And above all, really coming up with a plan. This is a good start , but need MORE ACTION and Vision to sustain it! |