Unleashing Nepal: Private Institutions, Foreign Education And Preference for Paper Degrees

Post published:July 14, 2018
Post category:Nepal Education & Parenting

Short history of the way the education system evolved with the introduction of private schools and even a private University from after 1980. Sadly, education was NOT valued as a means to acquire knowledge and skills, but for the paper degrees. Besides, the institutions themselves struggled to provide quality education -- many imparted no more than just the most basic of skills, that of memorization and regurgitation -- as they mostly functioned as for-profit businesses.

#LifeEh: Of Facial Features and Personalities

Post published:July 13, 2018
Post category:My Personal Stories

Leaving Nepal, I discovered a number of things about myself -- such as my versatile tongue and the exoticness of my facial features -- many of which I probably would not have, had I never left the country. Here are a few of them.

Something (is still) Rotten in The City of Kathmandu

Post published:July 13, 2018
Post category:Kathmandu, Mustang & Nepal

Almost twenty years since I first did a series of episodes on my FM radio program I used to host then, nothing appears to have been done about the MAIN problems plaguing our rivers in Kathmandu valley. Why? Greed, of course!

Durbar High School Comes Down; What Will Go Up?

Post published:July 12, 2018
Post category:Kathmandu, Mustang & Nepal

After a little over a three years since the earthquake struck and caused major damages to the oldest school in the country, Durbar High School, the oldest high school in the country, has been demolished. It's being reconstructed with help from the Chinese government.

USA: A Rigged System For The Benefit of The Rich?

Post published:July 12, 2018
Post category:Social Justice

November 8, 2012: it had just been two days since the re-election of President Obama in the US. That day, I shared, on Facebook, how who is in the White House doesn't make a real difference to the US and the world. I argued that regardless of who is in that House in Washington DC, because the systems in place are completely rigged and those who control, run, and enforce them are corrupt, a significant percentage of the American and world population will continue to suffer.

Here's a reproduction of that Facebook post and the interesting discussion I had underneath it with friends, interesting especially now since the election of Trump to the same office!

“We Cannot use Western paradigms and values to judge Nepali customs and mores.”

Post published:July 7, 2018
Post category:Social Justice

Something I have been curious to learn more about for a while: Why are Nepalis so defensive when it comes to comments about, or criticisms of, their beliefs or cultural practices? And why is one of the objections always, "You can't view it through Western lenses"? Here's an example of one such instance which got me scratching my head...again.