Educational Planning

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

Education is an important infrastructure for personal and national development which is directly beneficial to a person whereas it is beneficial to the nation at last. The development of education itself is a crucial issue for the developing countries. We need systematic planning in education to meet the goal of education for all. Or it’s better to remember Chinese proverb that we should plan for hundred years for education so that we can get positive result of it. Systematic and concise planning is necessary in the field of education to produce qualitative/ moral/ethical manpower for the nation. The quality or output of education can be seen only if we have planned systematically.

Adult Education (AE) has been taken as the vehicle of social with the promotion of economic activities in the country. Other countries have already started it and they have been getting good results but we have been reeling in the political affairs only. In this way, Nepal seems far back in educational planning and its implementation in comparison to other Asian countries. Mostly, Nepal focused on its education only after the introduction of democracy in 1990. The New Educational System had begun from 1971; however, it didn’t come into effect till many years. Or it remained within the control of Royal regime in the country. The focus mostly went to the formal education, and adult education had been taken as some extra things or waste of time and money. Or it has been ignored deliberately when other countries have already started.

The focus mostly goes to the formal primary education rather than Adult Education. In Nepal Adult Education had taken its space in the first Five Year Plan or from 1956. At that time, it had been taken as one of the part of literacy campaign. Moreover, the focus had been on general literacy rather than functional literacy. However, the systematic planning happened in 1997 which also lacked systematic implementation till this time.

On the other hand, in Thailand, The Philippines, and in India, it was initiated in 1970s; whereas we have formulated first New Education Planning in 1971. Among them, India couldn’t progress though the systematic planning had already started in comparison to others. It is evident that we are always back in planning. Planning established system in the country and system leads to rational implementation of the programs. We have lacked such things though the planning of education is necessary to educated people. Adult Education is necessary to those who can’t get formal education or those who want to increase their income getting knowledge of entrepreneurship. If we have started planning on time, we can step further for progression and it can establish rule which is one of the indicators of a civilized society. In comparison to these countries we are 20 years back; so we can feel the pace of our development of our country.

We are back due to the problem that we don’t focus on education though it is the key to development. If we can’t promote education, we can’t educate our citizen which has negative impact in their life. Education has upward mobility which has ensured greater opportunity or output for any person or the nation. Only the educated person can create opportunity to earn more money which is 10 times high chance than the uneducated one. They have the ability or capacity to earn more in comparison to illiterate persons so we should promote education to create employment in the country. For example, China and Japan had more than 70% literacy rate in the 1940s when the Second World War had happened. Nowadays we have been alluring with the development of these countries whereas we have 65.9% literacy rate in 2011. It is estimated that it has crossed 70% nowadays. Its clear that we are 70 years back in comparison to these countries.

We should have planning on time to get everything to be done. If we are running without planning, we can’t go anywhere. Planning establishes system; system leads to rule; rule leads to discipline; then it leads to development of the nation making all the people educated. We have been being envious with the progression of China and Japan, but we don’t try to promote our education. We need to clean our house rather than being envious to others. On the other hand, planning also reflects the capacity or us to deal with the future problems. It’s also a measuring rod of our civilization movement. The present scenario proves that we are at least two decade back in comparison to Asian counterparts; whereas 200 years back than the Western world.

We must have well systematic planning to get the set goal for that we need better knowledge which is possible through education. Education is the key to development so that we have to prepare a key to open the door of development. For the progression of the country educational planning is inevitable as it paves the way to move ahead. When we prepare path we have possibility to go ahead neither would we have to start to dig the path. Other countries have already paved the way; they have already moved ahead; we have been following them.

To be together with them or to win them we have to do systematic planning first; moreover, we should inject more investment with commitment to get the goal. Both of the things lack in our country so we can talk only; but can do nothing. The developed countries like Australia, USA, UK have already started Adult Education and they have been getting its positive feedback. Our Asian counterparts have also already planned Adult Education and their pace of development has been always ahead than us. Finally, we have no chance to compete with them unless we don’t improve investment or commitment on time.

Angry People

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

Man is a social animal as Aristotle declared before third century BC. The norms of society are made by men when they need society for their living. It is believed that they must have mutual and cordial relation with one another. They should respect others to get respect in return. However, the words cooperation, mutuality, cordiality, kind, affection, warmness, sympathy, empathy, support, affinity etc sound odd or which are thought to be exchanged with money. People speak or deal in such a way that they don’t have to keep any relation with one another again. They would hurt others deliberately unless the person is nearest to them.

The growing city culture may have such effect in which people would feel dislocated. They have tried to keep up with city culture where money works for everything. Moreover, some people have the business of cheating so there may be some problem in mutuality and trust. But the context of Nepalese is too much devastative to deal with. It reminds me one of the songs “known people would be better than unknown; even more bought people is more useful than known people”. The song was popular in the 60s decade which reveals the best scenario of the people today in our country. If we can give money to them they will be ready to help us rather than humanity. Hence the context has been changing overnight from coordinating, mutual, helpful Nepalese to discourteous people.

Last time, I was travelling in a micro bus in the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu city. I gave 20 rupees to the helper and he didn’t show any sign to return the amount whereas the actual fare was 17 rupees only. I didn’t ask at first; when the stop came, I asked money with him. He returned me only 2 rupees. I asked him one rupee more. He ignored me first; when I repeated he replied me angrily that he had no other change amount. Should he tell it in prior or not? I told him that you wouldn’t leave only one rupee from us so you should return me the amount. He replied angrily that “Do you think me a man of one rupee?” The rule of the public vehicle is that if they don’t have change, they should take less money with the passenger which is prescribed in the transportation rules.

Moreover, I went to hospital yesterday. I took tickets from the counter first; then went to the OPD ward to pursue check up. I handled the card to the woman who had been registering name of passenger in the register. I asked her, “How many persons are in front of me?” She replied that she didn’t have time to answer; then I remained silent. Had I spoken again, she would have given me another answer. So I didn’t dare to ask her again.

These are representative examples only; we have to face such irate responses time and again. The persons who have taken duty to serve for public are too much hostile. They don’t feel it as their duty to smile and serve to the customers. There may be pressure in work, should they be responsive or not when they have to deal with the public? Rather they have taken their workplace to articulate their irritation. It’s a common culture in our context that they have exchanged such words frequently. Sometimes they used to make fun of some passengers and patients which we should be the passive witnessed only.

According to the world’s Life Style Survey the world’s happiest people belong to Norway who have treated others smilingly. Nepalese people have fallen towards the last category of happiest people though not the last in the list. Nepalese service provider would vomit anger first when they response others. The words like helpfulness, mutuality, cooperation are the etymologies of humor so they take them equal to aggression or revenge. The service is provided with compulsion or they would response unless the customers would argue or threaten them.

Its evident that the god has given us two ears, two eyes and one mouth. It means that we have to see twice, listen twice and speak once. We should control our mouth at any cost which is hundred times affective in comparison to a blow. The persons who can’t listen others can’t answer well. The service providers haven’t had such habit so they are too much rude. They don’t realize what their duty is; rather they think that the customers are just illiterate of they have given free service to them. Or they would think themselves as the senior authoritative persons of the institutions where they can show their power. On the other hand, there is no punishment mechanism for them in our country. It seems that they have the right to humiliate or even to threaten the passengers or patients.

Mostly, the helpers and drivers would exchange more rough words. They have the habit of exchanging rough words more than talking. It seems that exchanging rough words is one of their cultures. I feel odd when I travel with my family members and relatives in public vehicles mostly within Kathmandu valley. We should pretend of not listening such words while travelling. Moreover, the persons in the hospitals don’t use rough words rather they have exchanged their anger either of not responding or responding angrily so that the service receiver would be hurted.

I think all of these would happen due to the lack of education. Our education rate is still low or the persons who have got education are bounded for literacy programs only. As a corollary, they don’t have knowledge what to speak or not. According to our provision, there isn’t any training for junior staff how to respond or deal with the customers. After all they are the service providers who sit at front of the office room and their behavior would reflect the national culture as a whole. 

Youths in Politics

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

Youth involvement in politics in our country is often ignored issue though it should have been promoted. Some of the youths have involved in politics due to their ‘end’ chance from other sectors. The expected involvement of ethical and knowledgeable youths in politics is lack far behind. We have found only some ethical and enthusiastic leaders in politics unlike the persons who have involved in dacoits, leaders of gangsters and the persons who haven’t seen any potentiality of them and would follow leaders only to be a leader.

We need such youths who have deep understanding of politics and the knowledge and skill for development. They must have enthusiasm like the youth of Chekhov’s character Leda. Leda is the main character of The House with the Mansard who has influenced the whole story with her political consciousness. Among his stories, this story has remained the Nepalese context in a vivid way. It seems as if he had guessed the Nepalese context in some sense which also proves the intellectual soothing of the talent writer. The story has explained various perspectives in a setting in which we can find love, conflict, politics, pride and selfishness.

Among them I am going to takes political theme which the antagonist is going to fight against a dictator. Leda was a girl of 24 who initiated to fight against the unsystematic nepotism in politics of her district. Balagin was the person who had ‘got the whole district into his hands’ along with the school of Leda where she had been teaching. She wanted to revolt against him and was successful at last.

The narrator of the story had followed her in pursuit of love whereas he got despise from her as the girl had been pursuing her motto of social service. She was a famous social worker who had initiated campaign of health and education in her country side. She wanted to make her society ahead with her campaign of health and education. She admitted that that one should ensure health and education to the people who had been living in remote parts of the country. It could be a better foundation of development according to her and she had been pursuing her motive at any cost.

On the other hand the narrator was an artist and he has also tried to value his artistic works. Leda and the narrator seemed to promote their jobs with their own efforts but they had conflict as they couldn’t accept each other’s ideas. They always engaged in discussion and were great enemy at the end of the story due to their pride. The narrator didn’t like medicine and education whereas Lead didn’t prefer art; so the conflict came to the surface when they didn’t accept each other.

However, Leda influenced the story as she was one of the confident, stout, good looking, logical and practical girls. Her father had passed away and she had to take care of her little sister and mother. She was ready to fulfill her responsibility so that mother and sister didn’t reject her ideas. Mother wanted her to marry but she couldn’t say anything to her. On the other hand, Leda had pursued political or societal issue first instead of her private life.

She had a headlong purpose to bow down the nepotism of Balagin as he “has put his nephews and sons-in-law into all the district posts, and does whatever he likes”. Leda said that “we must resist. We young people ought to make up a strong party”. The socio-political context of the late 19^th century Russia and ours is same. Leda had seen the need to form political party of youths. The youths like the narrator had problem as they didn’t have any interest in politics rather they would prefer love.

The scenario of our country has also same if we evaluate the present context of politics. Mostly the youths have no attraction towards national politics and administration. The competent persons have no interest at all those who have interest in politics is for petty benefit only. Or those who have been rejected from other fields or who don’t have potentiality of doing anything would be leader carrying their bags. They have lacked the knowledge related to politics and ideas for the development.

Mostly the persons would like to fight in Public Service Commission when they don’t have opportunities in other fields. We have seen that those who don’t have any opportunities or those who don’t have potentiality to do anything would involve in politics and administration. They have the concept that the job would be permanent and they would get pension. They don’t have any concern for the development of the nation. On the other hand, the work of administrators would follow the plans and policies of the politicians only. So we need a good, concise leader to lead the country ahead.

The persons who failed in examination would involve in politics when they didn’t have any other possibilities. Those who don’t feel shame of running after the leaders carrying their bags would be attracted towards politics. On the other hand, the qualification of our politics is that the young cadres should carry the bags of the old leaders. Their commitment and dedication is measured with the time they have given to the leaders.

Those who have got knowledge of national development or who can have independent decision or who don’t’ favor flattery wouldn’t get attracted. We have seen the persons who have been roaming around the politicians have made politics their yielding. The self-dependent and ethical persons wouldn’t fit in Nepalese politics at all. Those persons have been spending luxurious life style without any job or enterprise. We can easily guess about their illicit activities with the above example. They are always voracious to get money from the leaders or they would carry their bags to get sustained.

In this way, they have damaged the norms of politics which is just opposite of the character of the story Leda. We can find the combination of mediocre persons in politics and administration so the development of the country is far back. Those who have no potentialities are the politicians and those who have no decisive power are the officials. Hence the country has been running with this weak manpower. The development of Nepal is thus not possible as we don’t include to those who have knowledge, ethics, skills, decision making power in politics.

If we take example of Leda she was a girl of enthusiasm and skills; or she doesn’t give space to those who don’t have social concept. The narrator had gone to her to get love rather she proved herself as one of the conscious, socialize and decisive girl. She wanted to challenge the existing norms of the society so that she challenged Balagin and his system in the district. She wanted to challenge him unlike the Nepalese youths who have involved in politics. She also invited the narrator to go to her school and fight against Balagin and his regime. Balagin is equal to our political leader who has influenced the whole district. We can find the elements of our society in the story regarding politics, not Leda. Thus we need Leda to change the system of our politics and the youths. Our system has taken vicious circle so the country is always back.

At last, Leda was able to ‘black-balled’ Balagin from the Zemstvo school. It was possible only when she was committed to her dream to defeat the dictator. She presented a good example that one should fight against the nepotistic to get positive change in the society. If we can learn from her, we can guide our country towards progression. Till this time youths have done nothing in our country; rather they are the supporters of Balagin. If we count the date, we are 200 years back in comparison to the Western world. To change Nepal from the present context we need the leaders like Leda.

I also involved in politics in my student life thinking to change the society or to make the nation prosperous. I didn’t prefer the behaviors of the seniors that they would wait in campuses or Universities till they become old. I got despise in politics as it was a game of blessing or even begging. Those who don’t involve in other jobs wouldn’t realize the ethics of work or the real context of the people and the nation. Unless we don’t work with the common people, we can’t understand the real situation of the worker, working condition, situation of the nation as a whole. The politicians should have known the socio-political context of the nation, rather than following the leaders and their illicit activities.

Our youth leaders have been waiting so long to get any position. For example, the leader of students would cross 50 years of age. They have been waiting chance in politics like the fox following an ox. We can see a true example of Nepal Students’ Union leaders who are going to contest in the coming election. Thus the condition of leaders is too much miserable, ironic, sarcastic, and shamefulness. David Cameroon, the ex-Prime Minister of UK retired before 50 years from politics after completing two tenures of Prime Minister; whereas our student leaders would contest in students’ union election after 50 years. Do they feel hesitation that they have spend time for nothing? Is it the waste of valuable life or not? What will they contribute for the nation of being useless towards the end of their life?

We need such persons who could bring change in the society with their conscience, skill, ideas and so on. We need the persons who can have future vision to build the nation. The combination of the mediocre people in administration and politics would contribute nothing to the nation. The real revolutionary and decision making people have been engaged in different jobs themselves. They wouldn’t be attracted to politics due to obsession. Unless we can’t promote the forgotten citizens in politics and administration, we can’t get any progression of the nation with idle persons. The present problem is the outcome of the shamelessness nature of the Nepalese youths and the ignorant of the capable persons. 

Cheating Business

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

The cheating business in our country is getting g fostered. We have news on radio, television and newspapers time and again regarding cheating culture. Mostly it happens during the time of SLC examination till last year. When grading system had initiated, we experienced it less; still it is existing in our context. Mostly cheating in higher education is often ignored but it has been getting institutional in our higher education system.

I am going to present a discussion of three students who have studied bachelor level in a college of Kathmandu. They got on the bus which I was also travelling. There were three boys and they have been carrying bags in casual dress. They belong to one of the public college of the capital city. Among three, one of the boys had got long beard and he was from Surkhet. Others didn’t reveal their identity.  They said that the so-called politician of their college asked them 5000/- NRs with the bearded one; rather he assured him that he would give him 3or 4 thousand rupees to him if he would help in cheating. Instead the broker told him to collect other 12 persons so that they could pay 60,000 NRs to him. In return they would be let free in the class for cheating; either they can copy book or note that doesn’t matter. The boys also argued that if they would be able to get more than 75% it would be better to pay 5000NRs. Actually they didn’t pay the amount as I got from their discussion.

They also talked to go to Nagarkot which lies towards the Eastern part of Kathmandu Valley. Or it is in Bhaktapur district. One of the persons satirized the bearded boy that he hadn’t ever visited Nagarkot. In return he asked the bearded boy’s home district so I knew that the boy was from Surkhet. The bearded boy also complained that his friend would satirize him of being ignorant of different places around Kahtmandu valley. They have even planned to go to Nagarkot on motorbike.

The boys are only representatives of the cheating culture in our higher education institutions. The so-called leaders who had admitted to do politics in campuses would do the same. They would influence or threaten teachers and officials so they were/are let free of cheating which is common for them. I studied Intermediate and Bachelor in Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara. The so-called leaders also admitted with us. I had never seen them in examination hall rather they would pass the examination when the result was published. I was much puzzled and asked to my friends. Most of them wouldn’t know the reason and one of them have some political touch and he cleared me that student leaders would write in their own room taking question from the college.

The situation is too bad as I have experienced it. They have taken question paper and answer sheet on the day of examination at the very time and submitted to the administration.  This is a representative example of such educational institutions of our country. The so-called leaders would take Master’s degree certificates of different subjects. They have never gone to class neither do they have time or habit reading in their room. However, they have got certificates of different subjects year by year. So the mystery can be understood easily. Mostly the student politicians have got the certificates by cheating. In my cognition, may be some of the leaders would have done it; almost 95% of the leaders would cheat and pass their examination. Thus real scenario of university is too much horrific.

Similarly, one of the persons was from Eastern Hill who had passed MA in Mathematics by cheating as he was also the leader. Later on he appeared TU Service Commission in 2059/60 BS. He had been living with us at the adjacent room in Kritipur. He told us that he had written nothing so that he could write by finding answer sheet from the professor. Ultimately, he was successful to find out his answer sheet and was able to pass the Service Commission. Hence, he became the Lecturer of TU. The condition of TU is too much miserable, puzzling and marvelous. Cheating culture has become one of the systems of it from students to the lecturers.

These boys have reminded me regarding the cheating of Tribhuvan University. We can visualize how the system of our Universities has been going on. Cheating in higher education hasn’t come on focus like SLC cheating. I had heard most of the political leaders would cheat in our time; whereas I have listened that they have bargained with students as well. At that time I thought that some of the persons would have done it; nowadays it has been taking institutional form so there is collective bargaining.

The quality of University education in our country is weak which is proved by the world ranking system of Universities. If such cheating culture will be same in the future, the consequence will be too bad. The country has been running out of system that we have feelings in Universities also. 

Change in Life

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

Change is inevitable in our life as it helps to make our life more interesting, exciting, charming, enjoyable, different which help us to go ahead. Our life isn’t only a bank of boring ideas and run with hour and minutes. We can make it interesting through the change what we have been experiencing. It needs time, resource, labor, partners and so on as the agent for change. If we don’t have above mentioned thing or ideas we can’t move ahead due to the hurdle that comes ahead.

Why is change necessary? It can be a question to different persons in different spots. People have been living with changing time every second. It is inevitable that time has played vital role in our life. A child can’t be same throughout his life. Being parents we expect that our child should be bigger so that we needn’t carry him/her on our back. Or we shouldn’t wash his/her hands, mouth, excreta etc. As a whole we expect that our child should be able to do himself/herself. Thus we have been longing for change but we don’t have realization at all about the change that is going on. We think that it happens all of a sudden. For example, if some of our relatives would meet our children they would say that s/he becomes bigger/taller/younger/knowledgeable etc.

Similarly, we have eaten different things per day. Mostly we don’t prefer to take the things which we have already taken. Our menu is different day by day. If we have to repeat same items, we don’t take it easy. If we use it after two or three days, we have the feeling of change in our life so it’s tasty to us. We call it as ‘mouth-change’ (different taste) in our common language. Similarly, we want to change the way where we have been walking regularly. When we go for jogging or we return home from office, we will like to change the way. We have also changed our dresses per day. Mostly the young people and babies have changed their dress time and again in a day also. In this way change is not only necessary, it’s compulsory to make our life more interesting, exciting, different and so on.

I have returned to my own problem with the colleagues that they have been obstructing me in course of decision making. What I thought to change, I must make them realize time and again. Sometimes I have to defer the decision or to postpone it. After all, the time will support me and the change happens at any cost. The tussle between change and stillness is much interesting, dubious, doubtful, and the break of tradition. The rule of science also proves it in a different way in which it needs energy to change static things into motion.

Similarly, we need money to have something different in our life. I have seen money equal to energy to bring change in our life. The matter always remains debatable due to the energy that we have to instill in our personal life. We have to instill it with money so that we can move ahead. The colleagues are being afraid of instilling money to get change and there is some sort of conflict among us or conflict between stillness and change. However, it takes some more effort for us to implement such programs though late.

I want to bring some change in my school for this we need resource or energy. I proposed it to the colleagues but they have been afraid with the resource. I think to change the habit of my colleagues first. I have to instill their mind first. Unless there is no change in their mind, the change in the institution is not possible. The agent of change should be the human mind first then only other things are possible. We should learn to be changed with the time.

Everything belongs to change in this world. We can have example of various changes in our life. We can find simple example of electronic gadgets. The thing which we buy or use today will be changed after one week or in fortnight time. If we don’t move according to the changing time we will always be back. Those who can’t experience change would remain same in their life. Thus we must have feelings of change in our life to get progression.

Children often blame their parents of being old-fashioned. It is common that parents can’t accept or address the need of their children due to resource constrain. Then parents have to say ‘no’ to their children and they used to call them as ‘old fashioned’. Hence, change and resources are complimentary factors in our life. If we don’t invest in change either effort or money, we can’t get possible result. Due to such problem we will be called ‘old fashioned’.

Here comes the issue of progression. If don’t accept change, we can’t assimilate with progression. Change and progression are interrelated factors. They have to be side by side to get good progression in our life. If we remain in the same place or situation, we can do nothing else in our life. For that we have to move here and there. The poem, Keeping Things Whole by Mark Strand makes us realize the reason of moving. He said that we have the reason of moving to keep things whole. Or we want to do something to become whole or perfect in our so we move here and there. We should realize the fact that our life is dynamic and we have to do new things to get new taste of life.

It makes our life more enthusiastic and interesting. We have been seeking happiness in our life which is also possible through change. If we have new things we can experience the thrill of life that instills some more energy. Let’s take an example of our own home. If any new person has come in our home, our little children would take supper or lunch well. The mothers often complain their children haven’t taken anything or they have difficulty of feeding them. If I go to my relatives, I used to feed their babies what they have prepared. They would feel interesting with me as I have given some change in child’s daily house hold chores. So the change is liked by each people either young or old.

It’s a kind of vitamin or mineral that we have to instill in our life. Our psychology also gets such vitamin and mineral like our body. The body would get from different items what we eat, whereas our psychology or mind has got such elements from change. We often go to meet our relatives or some places to refresh our mind with some change. As a corollary, change is necessary and compulsory factor for sustaining our life. 

Woe and Nepalese Politics

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

I have read a story of Anton Chekhov, i.e. Woe, which I think is equal to the Nepalese politics these days. In our politics also there is woe that can’t be removed anyway. The main persons are the political leaders who have created woe in politics. I have found the similarity of these two incidents in real practice. The woe that happened to the drunkard would be same to the Nepalese politics.

We have the habit of praising some persons when s/he is dead or they have been stripped from any position. We don’t have the habit of getting benefit of him/her when they are in position rather we praise them when they have been dropped down. It means we have some defect in our thinking and in doing. We have created woe ourselves for the sake of petty benefit. We can’t think for the welfare of the people and are left behind all the time.

According to the story, a drunkard, Grigory’s wife was sick. He had taken her to hospital. He had a monologue while he had been carrying his wife to the doctor, Ivanich. Unfortunately, the wife, Matryona was dead on the way and then only the turner, Grigory had felt sad though he hadn’t cared her throughout his life.

The story is about woe from two sides: on the one hand, woe started to Grigory; on the other hand, his wife had died of woe in her life. Grigory had remembered his wife as “young, pretty, gay, and prosperous” when she was dead. He remembered her virtues only she had passed away.

Its 2016 July, the political dirty game has been going on in Nepal. Prime Minister K. P. Oli didn’t resign from his position till the discussion of no-vote of confident proposal in Legislature. He was regarded as a dictator, selfish, cruel, dacoits, gangster who tried to lengthen his tenure only. The opponents had taken him as one of the dictators who had wanted to take power himself only. The lawyers had also been divided into two factions. Favorites argued that he couldn’t be thrown out of the chair; whereas opponents reacted that he should have resigned when no-vote proposal was filed against him.

He resigned when the discussion of no-vote of confident proposal was on progress; then opponents would praise him as one of the dedicated ‘royal leader’. He was a good fellow of democracy who obeyed the norms and values of democracy. Some of them would regard him as one of the dignified persons. They also added that he was the only Prime Minister who would be guard of National Sovereignty etc. 

The main character of the story Grigory also did the same thing to his wife. He was a drunkard. Matryona’s family had married them as Grigory was a skillful man. The situation turned opposite as he became drunkard. He used to treat her badly and was forced her to beg at the street corner. Unfortunately she was sick and died on the carriage while he had been carrying to the doctor’s clinic. When she was dead he praised her as one of the pretty, gay and young woman. She was a kind woman for him then when she had passed away. Till she was in the carriage, he hadn’t known her death; he would threaten and curse her. When he found her dead he praised her with all his might.

The same context can be found in these two incidents. Chekhov had written such story in the 1940s taking the Russian context and it came to true in Nepal in 2016 also. The political leaders have been doing the same. They have been treating their friends in the same way as mentioned. They take their opponents as one of the selfish, dictator, cruel, adamant and so on. When they quit from their position they would start praising them.

They would always pronounce a phrase that “there is no permanent enemy or friend in politics”. Those who haven’t known ethics in their life would argue in such a way. Like Grigory, they have also the same problem. Till the life of her wife, he had taken her as a witch; when she died and his sorrowful days have started he praised her. The political leaders of our country have also generated the same feelings. They tried to hide their shame saying that there is neither enemy nor friend in politics. So they are no more different than drunkard, Grigory. 

The job of teacher is neglected till now.

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

I have taken this sentence from Teacher Magazine which was published in Nepal in July-August 2016. I found this sentence towards the concluding part of a ‘special report’ which is translated from ‘The Economist’.  Education is the indicator of the development of any country and the job of teaching is the main agent to produce good students or professionals for the future. So the profession should be highly applauded.  

The report has given most of the references from the paper of OECD which is the number one institution of the world to deal with education and development. Besides that we have found number of examples of different countries mostly European, American and Asian countries. Mainly the report focuses on importance of training to the teachers. It has also written that the position of teacher is respectable in Finland, Singapore and Shanghai of China.

Teaching job is one of the neglected jobs in our country as is the concluding line of the report. Mostly people do this job when they don’t have other opportunities as the society also regards teacher as one of the weak, coward and incapable person to get another job. The teachers should feel that he has no capacity to do other job of being incapable or weak. So the sentence is notable here because it strikes me; it is also helpful to see the scenario of eachers in our country.

I would like to mention an experience of a lecturer who was my friend but I haven’t met him these days. He taught in one of the education campuses of Nepal in the capital city, Kathmandu and some private colleges. He told me that he had been attracted from the Korean experience of teaching. He is from Rai family and he had the experience of Korea so he started teaching career.

According to him, Korean people would regard teaching as one of the good professions. According to the report also Korean teachers are paid high in comparison to other countries. Or it is the second highest payment after Japan. The teachers have also given the right of all sorts to teach students. If students reject to read the teacher has got the right to do anything. He reported that one of the Koreans had shown him the scars on his body which happened by the beating of his teacher.

He regretted that he could do nothing to the students here. The students had sought their right first without fulfilling their duty. They have made teachers as a puppet or have fun of them. If something happens to the students, the media will focus it as the biggest issue. Media have made teachers like a great criminal rather than the poachers, corruptors, gangsters, and so on. They have made it like criminal activities and the teacher is totally discouraged. The government is also ready to punish teachers in the name of child right violation ignoring their dedication or duty.

I have experienced that the teacher is travelling on a two edged weapon in our country. On the one hand, teacher should have produce quality irrespective of other factors of the students. On the other hand, they can’t punish students at any cost. Even a trifle warning has also been taken as child right abuse. Hence teachers have been facing much problem in course of teaching. They don’t have security and the payment is also less in comparison to other jobs. Or there is no chance of bribery in teaching. So their job is on the two edged weapon either from payment or from duty perspectives. They have to work by taking high risk themselves; or there is no such institution for their support. Even the teachers’ union also can do nothing in front of I/NGO workers who have been clamoring for the right of children.

They never talk about the duty of students and parents; rather they have sought right and tried to attract money from the donor agencies. The government is too feeble to implement rules and regulations. The teachers and their jobs have been regarded as the weak and useless by the society and teachers themselves. Unless we haven’t made the teaching job more valuable we can’t expect the development of education in the country. 

A Sociological Analysis of Chameleon

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

It’s a story written by Anton Chekhov, a Russian story writer and dramatist. Chameleon is one of the most notable stories of Chekhov. He presented the different colors of a police officer where the authoritarian ruling has been working. The society was divided into two parts in the story. The well-to-do and the poverty stricken people are in the conflict. The police officer Ochumelov, his constable, and a gold smith, Khryukin were main characters.

Actually the indirect conflict is shown between the General and the gold smith. The dog of the General’s brother bits Khryukin. He has chased the dog and is able to catch by the hind leg. Ochumelov encounters it on the way to his duty. He promises to punish the person who has kept such dog. But he hears that the dog belongs to some well-to-do family and he has changed his mind instantly. He thinks that his duty to protect the rich family.

The dog belongs to the General’s brother and he has also got the same respect from the police officer. The social conflict is clearly shown in the story. We can see a class conflict in the story and the prevalence of authority. The rich are respected by the state and there is no value of the poor one.

The police officer has changed his ideas as the chameleon lizard has changed its color. At first Ochumelov is ready to punish the dog holder. When he hears that the dog belongs to the General’s brother, he has changed his ideas. Rather he blames the gold smith that he may have scratched himself. He also makes fun that he has tried to stick cigarette in the mouth of the dog the dog would bite him.

The story can be also matched with the Nepalese context. The same situation is going on these days in our country. The Russian realist movement in the 1940s comes to true to us in the 21^st century. So we should go several steps to meet the goal of development like the Western world. The same type of sociological problem is existing in our country these days.

The poor people have no chance to get justice. The administration is operating to foster authoritarian. The poor people wouldn’t get any chance unless the privileged have got it. The class conflict is going on in our context these days. We have got equality in paper not in practice as Khryukin argues in the story.

The realist presents the real incident which is happening daily in our life. They are able to present the general incidents in a vivid way. Thus the stories of Russians like Anton Chekhov have spoken the problem of grass root level. They have been able to present the reality of the society. Mostly the realists have taken the miniature incidents of the society and develop into a story so that they can be the true friends of common people.

Summary of Chameleon

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

Ochumelov was a police officer who is crossing the market place in course of doing his duty. He was being followed by a constable carrying the sieve full of blue berries. They have listened a nose a person along with the whining of a dog. It was a gold-smith, Khryukin who had been following a dog as the dog had bitten him. He wanted that the police should punish the person who had tamed such dog.

Khryukin requested the Ochumelov to give him compensation as he was a working man. He also requested him to control such biting dog which might harm others as well. Ochumelov at first was ready to punish the dog owner. He also told that he was willing to obey the regulations. While the discussion was going on, a voce came from the crowd that the dog belonged to General Zhigalov.

Then he changed his mind and asked Khryukin how the dog had bitten him. According to him he was a tall man and the dog was small. So there was no chance of biting by the dog to such a tall man. Rather he blamed that Khryukin had scratched his hand himself.

Khryukin argued that all men were equal before law. He should have got justice at any cost. He also argued that his brother had also been working as a police. But Ochumelov told him to stop arguing. The constable said that the dog didn’t belong to the general because he had seem them different. They were expensive and graceful. The constable also told to Khryukin that it shouldn’t be let without punishment.

After sometimes the constable again changed his mind and said that the dog would belong to General. Then Ochumelov made a joke that Khryukin would try to put cigarette to the dog’s mouth so he had been beaten. Then he threatened the gold smith to stop showing his silly finger.

After sometimes, the chef of general, Prokhor had come to take the dog. He told that the dog belonged to Ivanich, General’s brother. Prokhor took the dog with him. all the crowd laughed at Khryukin and Ochumelov again threatened him and went ahead on his way to market place. 

A Competitive Market

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

Last time I visited Budhanilkantha Temple, one of the original Gods of Hindus according to mythology. The vendors were staying around the temple to sell flowers and other things that are needed for worshipping. They have put different stalls to sell flowers to the pilgrims. If any person has gone there all of them would could call him/her taking flowers in their hand. They would heavily bargain with the pilgrims. They declare fewer price to attract the customers and bargain later on adding other things.

The situation is quite serious. They have called the pilgrims in such a way that some bad thing is going to happen around the temple. Some of them would do Namaste to attract the pilgrims. Some of them would light fire and round the flower so that they could sell it. Some of them would thrust their flowers to the pilgrims forcefully. It seems as if the pilgrims should buy their flowers at any cost.

I have stayed sometimes watching their activities. They have presented the example of the maligned persons beside the temple. They have competed in such a way that would make me realize the process of competitive market. It is competitive market in the sense that the vendors would compete not the customers. The customers would pay more money to them for everything. If they would buy the things or bargain they would abuse the customers. So the customers wouldn’t speak anymore to them.

If the customers would bargain they would abuse them and abused them as “beggar”. Thus the competitive market is from the vendors’ side not the side of the pilgrims. The pilgrims were made victim from their behaviors. The persons who have been staying as vendors would blame others as beggars. So the market is quite violent beside the temple.

The people who have visited temple should face much problem with their business. People go the temple to get peace or to worship the God. Instead they would be cheated from outer premises of the temple. The vendors would cheat them at first and they entered into the temple where they would be cheated by the priests. The priests wouldn’t show their interest to those who didn’t give them money. When I visited Budhanilkantha, two of the priests put tika on my forehead forcefully. I didn’t give any money to them. So they have expressed anger against me. Rather I chose an old man and get tika from him. When I had been doing that others would frown which I could see from their face.

The vendor market around the temple is too much competitive and violent. They would compete with their own partners however the pilgrims would be the victim. In this way, it is not good to do such activity around temple area. They should have been controlled neither they would defame the value of pilgrimage. The people who have visited the temple area should be conscious at first what to buy and where to buy. Finally, the vendors should be discouraged and it should be made systematic by the site Protection Committee. 

Going Temple

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

People often go temple to worship God whom they believe. Our common belief is that only the religious people would go to temple to get blessed from the God. We have been guided with the same philosophy since long. Our concept of God is quite sincere, obliging, framed, and so on. Almost all the people have such belief except some atheist. Even atheists also have argued with the belief and try to prove that there is no God.

The concept of God is too much limited to worshipping so we have confined the concept of God from other aspects. Mainly, temple is known as the abode of God so people go to worship God to make him/her happy or be blessed. Hindu people have called it as temple and other religious people have used their own language to call the abode of God. We can get more than worshipping from the temple which I am going to mention in the following paragraphs.

We can get peace going to temple. When we go to temple we can’t think about other things. We have the belief that the God would know our mind because God can listen from our spirit. People believe in God and they are getting feared that the God would listen his/her voice. In this way, they wouldn’t do any mistake going to temple. If we go to temple, we will forget all the tricks and our mind is full of peacefulness so that we can get rid of such pressure even for a moment. Mostly, we have the belief that only the faithful person would visit temple. So the concept of God is to realize peace in restless human mind.

The other thing is that we learn morality going temple. We have visited temple since we have belief in God. The concept of people is formed accordingly that they shouldn’t do any immoral activities going to temple. These people would have been haunted that the God had known their immoral activities and they would be forced to obey the God. In other words, obeying God means following the moral aspects of human life. We must be ethical and our behaviors shouldn’t affect others. The world is a common ground for all the creatures and the God would hold control over them. Thus the people who would believe in God would be ethical in their life so the society can be systematic.

On the other hand, people can utilize their leisure time going to temple. Mostly, people would visit temple in their holidays. Those who are busy throughout the week would visit temple at the week end or on holiday along with his/her family. It can also be a good time to be utilized along with the blessing of the God. Moreover, we can go to our history. Our forefathers would go to pilgrimage once or twice a year. At that time they would enjoy their holiday from their pressure of work going to pilgrimage. They have gone to pilgrimage like today’s tourism. These days also we can see many persons who have gone for religious tour. These people have been rescued from their household chores and go for tour. Hence they have gone to worship their God along with tour to visit new places.

In this way, we shouldn’t take going temple as worshipping God only. We have been doing various other activities which is impossible in our common life. In the name of God we have been able to get peace, learn ethics, and spend our leisure time happily. Hence we have taken various benefits in the name of God. 

Women Friend

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

Last time I was going to college from Swoyambhu. It was raining and there was no sign of sunny day. I had walked from home to college without umbrella. I couldn’t return back as I reached far from home. If I returned back, it would be late to reach to college so I decided to go anyway. I could take vehicle till the stop, and then I had to walk to the college till 10 minutes.

While walking on the way I had stopped to several stops taking shelter in each steps. Sometimes I had to stop because of heavy rain. Anyway I had been managing but I had hardly crossed some distance of 2 minutes. I got wet and thought that it would be better to ask help with some persons. I had been looking for male who had got umbrella. However, I couldn’t get any person who had got umbrella. I had seen only the girls and women walking with umbrella.

I thought to ask support of them but I couldn’t decide it as I had remembered the essay written by Shyam Prasad Sharma. His essay’s topic was “Woman Friend”. According to the plot there was a woman who had also been walking in the rain with the umbrella and the writer had also wanted to take help with her. He couldn’t do that like me.

It made me think once about the relation between male and female. In the 21^st century also we can’t make our society equal. We have problem to speak with women and so on. We don’t have coordination and there is distinction between man and woman. Our mind is shaped with our traditional belief.

While talking it, I remember that one of the college student raised question to me. He stated that the girls who wear half pants were thought to be odd. He asked if boys wear half pants were common and the girls were odd. Or out society would rate them as ill-natured girls. His argument also made me realized that we are far back though we have been running in the 21^st century.

If we don’t have consciousness, we can’t progress in our life. To be changed from traditional norms and values, we need education. As our society is not well educated we have faced such kinds of problem. We can’t get friends in need as well. We have been guided with our narrow conscience so we find differences between boys and girls; men and women; upper caste and lower caste; rich and poor and so on.

Only in uneducated society we have found such problem due to the lack of conscience. The society is the combination of all sectors of people either gender, class, caste and so on. So we should have conscience to accept all sorts of people under one umbrella. We should have formed such behavior which is acceptable to all. We have been performing barbaric nature from the above two examples.

The barbaric society has only divided people by caste, class, and gender. From the division, they would influence the rule of the society. Thus it helped in social reproduction system which is the idiomatic factor to stop the progression of the society. We should believe on social production system so that change is possible in our society. We have been running with the reproduction system so that we have been far behind in course of social development.

Time

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

“I am going sir” one of the teachers said to me. Rather than telling him goodbye, I looked towards the watch which was hanging towards the right side of the office room. He said “no need to look at the watch”. It was already 3.00 pm and the teachers could leave after that.

I smiled turning towards the teacher realizing my mistake and his understanding towards me. It has already time so he has tested me. I never speak unnecessary things to the teachers. Once rule is made known to the teachers, they should follow it. And it is also not so good habit to tease after them all the time. I have just supervised their work and take out the points. I don’t tell anything to them at the spot. I call them in the office room and make them aware about the rules so that they could be treated well.

Though I didn’t tell him in words, he would realize the matter that he had already pointed my mistake. I felt little bit ashamed that he has known already. I also felt proud that he has known me well since he has been working with us for two years. He is used to me. I think that the gesture is much more important than the words. If I have pronounced the words it may have negative consequence. After all he has known it.

I thought that time is time so we have to follow it any way. Time is much valuable to us as it has been limited. I realized the importance of time when the teacher has commented me. Though I have thought that I understood the importance of time, he had already indicated me. Time is the matter that determines our success and failure. We should follow time to be successful in our life. if we can’t we will lose everything in our life. If we can understand the value of time we don’t have problem in our life or we can lessen the problem what we have faced.

Time is time so that we should do work on time. If we don’t respect time, we are going to damage our life. I teach a poem by W.B.Yeats in class 12. It says that time is the greatest force in our life. It can also change young man to old man. The poet has lamented that the time has changed him from young man to old man. So he wanted to ‘spit’ on the face of time. People don’t value the time though it is an essential factor that guides us in every step of our life.

People say that time is the greatest healer of all sorts of sorrows, diseases, incidents etc. I heard it, may be 2 days before, at that time I just heard it from one of the persons. I didn’t care at that time rather I took it as a colloquialism. Today, I realize that time is our duty and it is moving us in every moment. So I must follow time neither it would drift me away. Why do I look at the watch? It is ticking continuously. Till the time I think about time, my time is fleeting.

I should go home and do the work what comes in front of me as time has guided me. I must hold the sense of time as I can’t stop it. We should respect time and, then time can help us. If we utilize time, it can also help us in all the steps of life.  

Root of Problem

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

A medium sized private school located at the suburb area of Kathmandu City, capital city of Nepali. Four people are sitting inside principal’s room: one is principal, Pritam and others are peons (aayas). It is raining outside and the climate is somehow warm-cold as it is rainy season.

Pritam: (Dial telephone and a woman at the door). You three sisters can come here. I have to talk to you.

(All of them come after sometimes. They take seat, two of them at the front of the Principal’s chair and one of them is at the left side sofa.)

Pritam: (Not looking towards them, seems busy of doing some table work). What’s happening these days. I can’t stand it. The system has been degrading. (Pointing to the left side sister). You have spoken with the guardian giving the detail that school had made you work. So the child became wounded.

Sunita: I didn’t mean so. The guardian treats us like a friend thus I dealt her in the same way.

Rammaya: (Some facial gestures only she is listening to others).

Renu: (Smiling only).

Pritam: You have told that you have to work in the ground. I don’t know whose duty was that? May be I have done wrong of asking you to work yesterday. I told that one of you could go to classroom and there is complain today.

Sunita: It happened two or three days before. The miss was busy in the class. Either she did homework or she was busy on cell phone. So it was the fault of the miss.

Renu: Yes, this is the situation.

Pritam: (Giving order) Go and call that miss, Renu.

(Renu goes down to call Miss Sarita and she comes to the office room as Renu stays in the class).

Sunita: I told that one of us should go to class as you told but they didn’t listen to me. (Signaling to other two sisters).

Pritam: (Angrily). What happened miss in class? Why is there complain all the time? How was the boy hurt?

Sarita: (Speaking nervously and angrily). I haven’t done that. The sisters were out so the incident would happen. Sir always blames us only.

Pritam: (To sisters). Listen! She has also same complain what I told you yesterday.

Sarita: (clatteringly). It’s common that the students are too much naughty. I hadn’t seen that he had got Ludo in his hand. When Supriya wanted he didn’t give her and they fought. I didn’t know that.

Pritam: (Angrily). You try to seem dry over water. You want to shift blame to others. You are the responsible person in the class so I should ask to you. I don’t know other things. I have seen that your students are always making noise and they always sit in a mess. You have been seen on mobile when the class was over.

Sarita: (Low voice). When do you see me on mobile?

Pritam: I have seen you many times. You must be serious when there is class and it’s your duty to control all the students. And you should report if the sisters don’t help you.

(Pritam told Sarita to go to classroom. Renu enters into the office room. Mr Jhalak and Saugat, vice-principal also enter into the room. Jhalak sits towards left side sofa and Saugat sits towards right side.)

Pritam: (Being serious). There is something missing everywhere. I have realized it that for the last two months there was no system at all. Some disturbance is there due to construction work. But I can’t know, what is missing where?

Renu: (Speaking in a sinking voice). If you have seen our fault, we can get job anywhere. May be we have to wait for some months, may be two or three.

Sunita: (Supporting Renu). I can also get job anywhere may be I have to wait for two to three months.

Jhalak: (In a commanding voice). You shouldn’t say so. You have to follow the duty what you have been given. If you say so it would be against of the rule of the organization….

Pritam: (Signing Jhalak to stop). How do you draw the negative meaning only? If you go somewhere, can you get job without working? If you leave here, you should be remembered by us forever so that your skill is tested.

Renu: (In a sinking voice). I am the oldest in this institution. I think I have been doing better.

Saugat: It doesn’t mean that who is old or new staff. You should follow the duty. You shouldn’t say so and we also don’t say that you can’t get job anywhere.

Pritam: (Assuring). You shouldn’t say so. If you go to new place, you are new there, what will be your position? If you can’t do good here, how can the new employer think that you can perform well?

Sunita: (Being emotional). I didn’t do mistake. If there is mistaken, I didn’t mind what you tell. Last time I was staying in the canteen because I have stomach ache. I went there to take hot water. But the condition of the school is being bad. The teachers have shifted their duty to one another… (pause)

Pritam: Who is that?

Renu: (Laughing). All of them are same.

Sunita: …. The construction work is going on. Parents complain each day and we have consulted them as the construction work is going on. (Being even more emotional). I am telling you honestly that the situation is bad. If it will be same in the future, your investment is going waste. You have invested so much money. If you can’t improve the situation, it will be bad. So you need to think on time. I think that all the parents have paid money for their children and I think same like me and do the work.

Pritam: (Being serious). So I have been telling the same thing that the situation is being bad. I call you here to discuss about that. You should give us information duly so that we can implement new programs and policies.

(Pritam told them to go out and three sisters have gone out)

Jhalak: (Being joyous). Do you know? We can understand the root of problem from peons.

Pritam: So I called them here to talk. I have done it when I have seen problems in school.