Friday, December 26, 2008

Happy New Year!

As the new year blossoms,
May the journey of your life be fragrant with new opportunities,
Your days be bright with new hopes and your heart be happy with love!
Happy New Year!
Akimashite Omedetto Gozaimasu!
(明けましておめでとうございます。)

Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana!
(नयाँ बर्सको सुभकामना !)
Best wishes from
Pralhad & Anupama
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Baby knowing the favorite word !

See the following video how the baby
is responding her parent's query :

When parent get fruits from their offspring

We are born from the womb of mother. The responsibility of ones parent last till they have last breath in the earth. So pure and so sacred love -they give to their children. We move with their warm shadows. Their love is selfless and dedicated. Their life is just devoted in their offsrings's raring and caring. Whatever problems they face, it is never disclosed to their children. Their achievement is their sons and daughters. They get satisfaction when they are able to fulfil their childrens's wish. So their devotion is infinite which is priceless.

They mold us in such a way that we can face this world. With all the obstacles, they make our life independent. In ancient era, there was discrimination between a son and a daughter but now the trend has been changing to see both as equal. Now both are treated as a gift of God.

If we flashback our childhood days with all those nostalgic moments, we will be mesmerised. It was those precious moments which cannot be expressed in words. As all individual do have their own expressions, in my view I am speechless. I think I am blessed in that sense.

I was born in the lap of caring parent. I learn to walk supporting their fingers. I see this world from their eyes and I am in this situation because of my parent. It is because of them that I am in this beautiful current situation.

We have to be always greatful to our parents because they are the living and talking GOD. Whatever we serve and give they will be happy to receive. They are happy even with our small achievement and a token of love. We must care our parents by whatever means and wherever we are. Their blessings are always with us.

(Written by -Anupama Poudel)

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Critical Life Skills

While educational system is an important and an integral part of the society, it has become heavily overrated. Statistics have shown that many of the people who graduate from college often use only a small percentage of the skills that they learned from college.

When you consider the huge amount that is spent on tuition fee, one may think of learning as much or more from college.The monopoly on education that college has, has ensured that many high paying jobs will hire only those who have a degree from a recognized college or university, which may force students to opt for studying at premier educational institutions.

Those who are self taught, or who gained their knowledge outside the college system may have no chance to apply.One must note that there are a multitude of skills which are simply impossible for you to effectively learn in a class room environment. One of the biggest life skills that you can develop is the ability to create a network.

Networking

A network is critically important for success in today's world; no one person, no matter how talented they are, can do everything by themselves.

Some of the most successful people in the world are often individuals who had an enormous amount of people working in the background; this network of individuals helped them reach their goals. Henry Ford and Bill Gates would not have achieved their success had they tried to do everything by themselves. At the same time, being successful in this capacity requires you to be good with people. You must be likable, sociable, and respectful, and you must be able to bring skills to the table which no one else has. The only thing worse than not building a network is building a network with the wrong people.

Networking with the wrong people can destroy you. This is a common problem that many people make, and the consequences can be dire, even fatal.

As you progress throughout life, you will find yourself encountering different kinds of people, some are not intelligent and are not well read. It is better to avoid individuals who tend to have a negative outlook on life, and tend to waste their time doing unproductive things as opposed to trying to better themselves.

Speed Reading

Another skill which can prove to be highly valuable is speed reading. Knowledge is power, and the one who has an edge in knowledge is the one who will have more chance to win and succeed.

Speed reading is a real skill that you can develop, and acquiring it will allow you to cover enormous amounts of material within a short period of time; while others make guesses about how the world works, you will be able to make decisions based on the vast amount of knowledge which you have read about, and it is easy to see the power that you will gain as a result.

There is no substitute for reading, because television or mainstream magazines will rarely provide you with the critical knowledge that you will need to survive and prosper; these sources of information are fed to the masses by the editorial elite.

Goal Setting

You will not make it far in life if you do not know how to set goals. Most people have no goal or their goals are vague (to get rich, buy a house, get a high paying job, etc). Successful people set real goals, specific goals that will allow them to get the things they want. Then, after setting the goals, they actually work towards them, because talk is cheap, and actions always speak louder.

(Source: Exforsys)

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER AND REHABILITATIVE APPROACH

Neurological disorder is becoming very common nowadays. Some of us might have faced in the family or in their surroundings with the neurological problems. It is due to increased urbanization, sedative life, increased rate of accident, food habit, increased depression and stress, involvement of hereditary disorder, congenital problems and many more.

We can broadly divide the neurological disorder into two groups:


1) Upper motor neuron disorder (UMN)-Under spastic category

2) Lower motor neuron disorder(LMN)-Under flaccid category


We can generalise the neurological disorder into followings:


1) Infectious disorder: Encephalitis, Meningitis, Polio, Epidural abscess etc.


2) Trauma : Head injury,spinal cord injury(Rx depend upon the level of lesions)


3) Neuromuscular disorder : Facial palsy, Bell's palsy,Cervical spondylosis, Carpel tunnel syndrome, Peripheral neuropathy, Diabetic neuropathy, Muscular dystrophy, Mysathenia gravis, Gullian Barre Syndrome etc.


4) Degenerative disorders: Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Alzheimer's Disease etc.


5) Functional disorders: Headache, Seizure, Dizziness, Neuralgia etc.



General Neurological Rehabilitation Program:


1. Promote activity of daily living (ADL)


2. Gait, Posture and Balance training


3. Speech therapy


4. Bladder and Bowel training


5. Counseling


6. Improve muscle and balance training in different parts of the body, Starting from head, Shoulder girdle, Trunk, Pelvis, Lower extremities


7. Therapeutic exercises to improve function, movement, coordination, range of motion


8. Reduce spasticity, flaccidity by the mobilization, manipulation


9. Reduce pain by the electrical modalities


10. Improve Respiration by different Respiratory techniques


11. Social skill training


12. Improve cognition impairments like difficulty in Concentration, Attention, Coordination, Judgement etc


13. Education regarding the patients problem and awareness of their disease


14. Proper home advice


Above mentioned points are all the basic therapeutic programmes for the neurological conditions. I hope this programs may aware my readers about the Neurological problems and its rehabilitation in general. I hope this will benefit the patient from my effort through your voice and help.Only clinical advice has to be followed in the home Lets approach the patient with empathetic approach rather then sympathetic.


(Written by: Anupama Poudel)



Friday, December 19, 2008

TALKING ABOUT SLEEPING !!!

Have you ever watched someone sleep and wondered what he or she was dreaming? The person’s outward appearance would never give it away: slow breathing, eyes occasionally fluttering, but mostly the very picture of peace and stillness. But, appearances can be deceiving. When people sleep, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye. The notion of sleep as the body’s ultimate “down time” has some truth to it, but sleep is also an active process, in which the brain can be remarkably active, even if the body remains (mostly) immobile.

What’s Going On During Sleep?
There is much about sleep that remains mysterious, but experts divide it into two main categories, based on observations of sleeping persons and recordings of the brain’s electrical activity during sleep:
Non-REM sleep– This is divided into four stages, with Stage 1 the lightest and Stage 4 the deepest.
Rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep - During REM sleep, dreaming is common, muscles (other than the eyes) are inactive, and electrical activity in the brain is similar to that of an awake person. The blood pressure and heart and breathing rates may suddenly increase for short periods of time, just as they do during wakefulness
During a typical eight-hour period of sleep, a person drifts from wakefulness to Stage 1 non-REM sleep, through Stages 2, 3 and 4 and finally REM sleep over the first several hours. During the last half of the night, REM sleep and Stage 2 sleep alternate for 90 to 120 minutes each. As we age, brief awakenings increase in frequency, while deeper stages of non-REM sleep decrease.

Why Do We Sleep?

The function of sleep is not entirely clear, but researchers believe that REM sleep is important for solidifying memories, and perhaps for even more critical functions. Rodents completely deprived of REM sleep die after a few weeks. Non-REM sleep, meanwhile, seems to be important in providing a sense of restored energy and ability to concentrate during the day. A number of theories about sleep attempt to explain its role or roles: a restorative for the mind and body in preparation for the day ahead; or a way of reducing energy consumption, to save energy for activities occurring during the day. Some scientists believe that sleep is evolution’s way of improving survival by preventing animals from preying on each other 24 hours a day.
Consequence of Sleep Deprivation


It is hard to define just how much sleep is normal; different people seem to need different amounts. Sleep experts define “enough” sleep as how long a person would sleep if there were no alarm clocks; that is, left to decide entirely on your own, how long would you sleep? The other way to define it is how long one needs to sleep in order to feel alert and rested the next day. However, duration of sleep is not the only thing that matters –; the quality of sleep also matters.
Too little sleep or poor-quality sleep can cause a number of problems, including difficulty with short-term memory, concentration, depression, anxiety, irritability, poor energy and reduced libido. In short, quality of life at work and at home may suffer terribly due to insufficient or poor sleep. All of these problems may resolve when sleep duration increases or sleep quality improves.

One problem related to sleep deprivation deserves particular emphasis: Automobile and truck accidents attributed to sleepy drivers account for thousands of deaths each year.
Although the impact is uncertain in humans, sleep-deprived rodents have reduced immune function and higher susceptibility to infection.


Sleep Disorders

There are more than 80 individual sleep disorders, but they are divided into 4 main categories:
Dyssomnias, in which there is insomnia (difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep), sleepiness during the day, and abnormal sleep-wake timing; examples include sleep apnea and the effects of medications or alcohol Parasomnias, in which there is abnormal behavior around sleep, but without excessive sleepiness or insomnia; examples include sleepwalking or night terrors Medical-psychiatric sleep disorders, in which a condition that causes other problems disrupts or impairs sleep; examples include anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s disease, dementia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Sleep problems that cannot be clearly separated from normal variation, or for which there is no consensus among experts; examples include pregnancy-associated sleep disorder and sleep hyperhidrosis (excessive and unexplained sweating during sleep)


Good Advice for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

There are changes you can make to improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep experts call this “sleep hygiene,” and these measures are routinely recommended for almost anyone complaining of sleep trouble. Some are just common sense, but, unfortunately, many people for whom sleep is a problem do not recognize their importance. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

1.Establish a schedule and stick to it; sleep when you are sleepy but try to get up and go to bed each day at about the same time.
2.Use a fan or other means of creating a steady, soothing sound to drown out other noises.
3.Reduce alcohol and caffeine intake; avoid caffeine after noon and don’t use alcohol as a sedative before bed.
4.Get heavy curtains or shades to block out bright light early in the morning if you are awakening earlier than you’d like.
5.Check your medication list. Because some medicines can interfere with sleep, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the medicines you take.
6.Do not exercise vigorously after within several hours of bedtime.
7.Avoid heavy meals or excessive fluids within an hour or two of bedtime.

The Bottom Line
The importance of sleep is self-evident, yet much remains unknown or uncertain about how we sleep, why we sleep and how to improve sleep. One thing is certain, however: Sleep is not a passive process or a complete “shut down” of the body – many stages of sleep are as active for the mind as being awake. So, the next time you see someone sleeping, keep in mind that though the body may look quiet and peaceful, there is much more to the story.
(Source: yahoohealth)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Japanese way of choosing -“JANKEN”

There are many customs in Japan, and among them, “Janken” is one of the most useful. When two or more people are choosing what to order, they can decide easily and fairly by just using their hands.

Just memorize the three different hand gestures: 1 is called “goo,” which represents a stone. Simply clench your fingers into a fist. 2 is called “choki,” which represents scissors. Extend the index finger and middle finger, and close the rest of the fingers. 3 is called “par,” which represents paper. Simply extend all the fingers.

Participants say “Jan, ken, pon” in unison, then everyone displays either a “goo,” a “choki” or a “par.” “Goo” wins against “choki,” meaning a stone can break scissors. “Choki” wins against “par,” meaning scissors can cut paper, and “par” wins against “goo,” meaning paper can wrap up a stone. When the participants display the same gestures, they try again, saying “aikodesho” until a winner is found.

Many people think janken is a typical Japanese custom, but it is actually practiced in many different forms in other countries, too. It is said to have originated in China, but some say it began in Japan. Because of its convenience, janken is occasionally seen amongst daily life in Japan. It is indispensable for living in Japan and a Japanese culture.
(Source: Hiraganatimes)

Monday, December 15, 2008

Hope for a better life in a new country!


11 DEC 2008,

Dhana Maya Pyakurel is 82 years old. She spent the past 18 years penniless and stateless in a refugee camp in Nepal after being driven out of her country?Bhutan.

The food from relief agencies was never enough, water was scarce and she didn't have any warm clothes for the winter. What kept Dhana Maya going was the slim hope that she could see her homeland again before she dies.

That hope is not likely to be fulfilled. Instead, many of the 110,000 refugees here will be moving further away from Bhutan as they are resettled in third countries under an agreement brokered by the UN. After the process started in March, 7,297 refugees have already been sent to the US, Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia.
Human rights activists say that although resettlement addresses the immediate humanitarian needs of refugees, it lets the Bhutan regime get away with a deliberate process of ethnic cleansing. "The autocratic regime in Bhutan has never recognised us as citizens, and now everyone is washing their hands of us," says Chairman of the Human Rights Organization of Bhutan (HUROB) SB Subba.

However, there is growing support among younger refugees to opt for resettlement. They want to go to a new country to start over. Vice-chairman of the Bhutan Student Union Mukti Raj Gurung, who is also planning to relocate, says: "Our generation wants to belong somewhere, we don't want more uncertainty."

But there is also a fierce revolutionary streak gathering strength in the camps, and the anger is directed at the government that forced them out. More than 60 per cent of the Bhutan Communist Party-Marxist Leninist (Birat) consists of refugees aged less than 30. One supporter, Kalam, says resettlement just shifts the problem, adding: "To relocate the refugees is like rewarding the dictatorial regime in Bhutan." His party now has the avowed goal of overthrowing the Bhutan regime.

The rise of the Maoists in Nepal has bolstered support among the revolutionary-minded refugees in the camps. Kalam is already thinking ahead, "We'll have an international group of Lhotsampas soon."

Radicals like Kalam's group have been accused of threatening those who want to leave. Conflict between those who want to relocate and those who don't is common, although less so than earlier this year.

In May, three people were killed in bombs planted by hardliners opposing the resettlement. The WFP, UNHCR and IOM warned that further attacks could force them to reassess assistance to the camps.

But as news from recently resettled filter back to the camps, the numbers of those opting to go is swelling. "In spite of the conflict and the problems involved, we plan to cross eight thousand before Christmas," says David Dethrik, who heads the relocation program of UNHCR.
Among those who have relocated this year, 7,010 have gone to the US, 393 to Australia, 129 to New Zealand, 17 to the Netherlands, 13 to Denmark and 19 to Norway. The number of refugees who've applied for relocation has exceeded 63,000, while 3,200 are waiting for flights out before the end of the year.

(Source: Nepalitimes)

Friday, December 12, 2008

BITTER TRUTH OF LIFE!

Life is so precious Gift of God. The existence of its own body is only because of its soul. Till the soul is with us, our external personality is with us but when it leaves it, we are no more then a wooden block.

So it is the boon of Almighty that we born with the human personality. Being a human being doesn't mean that he/she is blessed but being a real humanity is the matter of concern. Now the world is changing in a rapid way but the attitude of one's being a human being is lacking. The technology and the advancement is on one side but if we see the attitude of human being, it is really a shameful. People are searching for something and running behind it like a following shadows but do they knew that in his/her destination, whether he/she is moving with a real soul? Do they move with a real humanity?Do they move selflessly? Do they move without overtaking others? I am sure this question will remain unanswered.

Completing human cycle-Getting born, infancy, toddlerhood, childhood, adolescent, adulthood, middle age, then old age doesn't mean that we achieved our destination of being a real soul. But if we esteem ourselves that what we did or what we are going to do, matters a lot.

Human being is also blessed with different senses compared to other creatures.We are having reasoning sense, vocal sense, imagination,expressions etc. So God gifted us all those not only for our own body but also to share among the human personality. That's why we have human facial expressions, like smiling expression, surprising expression, anger expression, sad expressions. So human being is having different voluntary and involuntary senses. At least if he/she is able to control its voluntary sense according to its situations and environment he/she is considered to be a human being.

A single words matter a lot. It can admire you if you are using it properly to proper person but if you fail, you will miss not only your own dignity but also respect from others. And you will be no more then a hatred. So being a human personality we need to enhance our mind.

"You should always learn ,with life comes wisdom and wisdom comes courage to live your life selflessly. The more you learn about yourselves and the experiences surrounding yourselves,the more opportunities you have to make your life better and more fulfilling".
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Written by-Anupama Poudel

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Proud of you!

It is a great moment to all Nepalese living anywhere in the world to enjoy the achievement of the fellow Nepalese on the special occasion of successful test flight of aeroplane. It was a long cherished dream that actually comes true.

We have heard that Gehendra Shamshere and his team had designed aircraft that flew from Syoumbhu to Guheswori in the time of Rana regime(1846-1950A.D.). But it has not been confirmed. It was in the time of the dark ages of Rana regime that had kept the country in the isolation from the outside world and thereby pushed the country 100 years back.

Only after 1950s, we had an opportunity to get the education for all. So it is only about 60 years (that means 2 generations)that we have the chance to get education. Still many people have not been able to see the bright shade of the education. We need to do that. But in spite of all these odds we have full of talents and skill to drive the world!

Now the Nepalese people have been global in distribution serving their minds and shoulders in the service of humanity. The development of the nation very much depends upon the science and technology. Besides these there is need of feeling of the self identity and dignity. The successful test flight of the aircraft by Nepalese for the very first time has given impetus in this regards.

It is high time that we should appreciate the talent and the diligence of the team and motivate all others to come forward in the development of nation, wherever and whatever we are.

Congratulation to all who are directly and indirectly involved in this successful accomplishment!
Bravo ! You did it !

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The video of the construction of aircraft can be seen in the following video:

Saturday, December 6, 2008

SMS saved Life !

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Monday, November 24, 2008

Best Lesson


Once upon a time there was a king . One day he was distributing sweets to the people. There was queue for taking the sweets. There was a girl who was looking overall activities. King went to that girl and offered the sweets. But she denied and said that she would not take any sweets free of cost. King became surprised and asked why? She said, 'I have got such lessons that we should not take any things free of cost'. Then king asked from where you got such lessons; then the girl said she got such lesson from her mother. The king had strong desire to meet with her mother.

He met her mother and asked questions. The mother said that God have given us two hands and two legs to do work and fill the stomach which is located in between them. One can use others' property only if they are suffered from diseases or very old or very young and unable to do job physically. Otherwise it will be sin for taking anyone’s property free of cost. Then king asked where is your husband? Then she said he is no more in this world. He was rich and the property was sufficient for her to sustain but she sold them all. She added ," I had no any rights to use his property because I was her wife but I didn’t have contributed any thing for that property. And I used that money for constructing well and pond so that people and animal can drink water." Now a days she used to go jungle and brings firewood and sell in the market and used money for daily activities and she was totally satisfied from her job. The king was shocked from her great thinking and said that he got the best lesson ever from her.
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(The contribution was made by Er. Pradeep Uprety.)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Happy International Children's Day !


November the 20th is International Children’s Day. According to UNICEF’s 2007 statistics there are 60,000 children dying each day, with 26,000 under the age of 5. Today we highlight and salute some of our record breakers who have raised money and awareness for children’s charities:

Largest rag doll
The largest rag doll measured 4.62 m (15 ft 2 in) tall and was made by volunteers to support the UNICEF vaccination campaign in Genova, Italy in 2005

Most people breast feeding
The most women breast feeding simultaneously was 3,541 at an event organised by Children for Breastfeeding Inc., and the City of Manila in partnership with Nurturers of the Earth Inc., UNICEF and the Department of Health of the Republic of the Philippines at the San Andres Sports Complex and Cultural Center, Malate, Manila, Philippines on 4 May 2006

Most valuable collection of coins
The most valuable pile of coins had a total value of 44,395,727.96 Portugese escudos (£152,217) and consisted of 666,809 Portuguese coins of various denominations. Gathered by Realizar-Eventos Especiais and counted at the Portuguese Pavilion at Expo 98, Lisbon on 30 September 1998, the amount raised was donated to UNICEF.

Most sovereign countries visited in six months
John Bougen and James Irving (both New Zealand) visited 191 of the world's 193 sovereign countries in 167 days 15 hr 39 min from 28 August 2002 to 12 February 2003. Their journey, called All Nations Quest, was in support of the Save the Children charity.


Source:Guiness World

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Travelling back to Ancient Rome !


Google launches Ancient Rome 3D on Google Earth, making it easy and fun to explore the historic city as it stood centuries ago.

Through Google Earth, students, teachers, tourists and historians can:
  • View a virtual representation of the city in 320 AD at the height of its development as the capital of the Roman Empire.

  • Fly around the city using Google Earth's unique navigation.
    Explore more than 6700 historic buildings.

  • Zoom in to discover the detailed interiors of eleven ancient structures including the Colosseum.

  • Learn about Ancient Rome through information bubbles written by expert historians.
Ancient Rome 3D is one of the most extensive collections of three-dimensional buildings - and the first ancient city - to be found on Google Earth. Within the Ancient Rome 3D layer users can visit the Roman Forum, stand in the centre of the Colosseum, trace the footsteps of the gladiators in the Ludus Magnus, stand on the Rostra, swoop over the Basilica Julia, fly under The Arch of Constantine or even examine the detail on the facade of the Basilica of Maxentius. The project has been developed by Google in collaboration with Past Perfect Productions and the University of California, Los Angeles and the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities (IATH) at the University of Virginia.

The video is



Source: Google

Sunday, November 16, 2008

बैंक : मन्दिरदेखि कफीहाउससम्म

---बिनु रिजाल
आर्थिक कारोबारका लागि अहिले मानिसहरू बैंकको ढोका चहार्छन् । प्राचीन समयमा आर्थिक कारोबारका लागि मानिसहरू बैंक हैन मन्दिरमा जाने गरेको देखिन्छ । प्राचीन विश्वमा धेरै मानिसको पैसाको कारोबार गर्ने र सामान धितोमा राख्ने केन्द्रका रूपमा मन्दिरहरू विकास भएका थिए ।
ऋण, बचत र धितो बैंकिङ क्षेत्रमा सबै भन्दा बढी प्रयोग हुने शब्द हुन् । परापूर्व कालमा यी शब्दहरू चर्चामा थिएन । परापूर्व कालमा अहिलेका जस्ता आधुनिक बैंक पनि थिएनन् । सामान किन्न जाँदा एक झोला पैसा बोकेर जानुपर्थ्यो । पैसा चोरी हुने डर थियो । त्यसो त अहिलेको जस्तो पैसा सिक्का र नोटमा पनि हुँदैनथ्यो । 'बार्टर सिस्टम'मा हामीले प्रयोग गर्ने वस्तु तथा जनावरहरू नै लेनदेनका माध्यम थिए । प्राचीन विश्वमा धार्मिक मन्दिरहरूलाई पहिलो 'बैंकका रूपमा लिइन्थ्यो । पैसाको आविष्कार हुनुभन्दा अगाडि नै मन्दिरहरू बनिसकेका थिए । निक्षेप संकलन र ऋण प्रदान गर्ने कामसमेत मन्दिरले गर्दथे । निक्षेप, धरौटी र ऋणका रूपमा पहिले अन्नपात, घरपालुवा जनावर र कृषिक्षेत्रमा प्रयोग गरिने औजारहरू प्रयोग हुन्थे । त्यसपछि बिस्तारै बहुमूल्य सुन, चाँदीजस्ता धातुहरू प्रयोग हुन थाले । मन्दिर तथा दरबारहरू अन्य ठाउँभन्दा सुरक्षित थिए । राम्रोसित बनाइएकाले मन्दिरमा चोरी हुने सम्भावना कम हुन्थ्यो । मन्दिरमा धरौटी वा आफ्ना सम्पत्ति सुरक्षाका लागि राखिने चलन थियो । यसरी सामान धितोमा राख्नेले मन्दिरबाट कर्जा पनि लिन पाउँथ्यो ।
इसाको १८ औँ शताब्दीपूर्व बेबिलोनमा रहेका मन्दिरका पुजारीले व्यापारीलाई ऋण दिन थाले । त्यतिखेर बेबिलोनमा हाम्मुरावी संहिता लागू हुँदासम्म त बैंकिङ प्रक्रिया लागू गर्ने कानुनको विकास भइसकेको थियो । प्राचीन गि्रसमा पनि परापूर्व कालदेखि नै बैंकिङ पद्धति भएको देखिन्छ । गि्रसका मन्दिरहरूले ऋण, धरौटी, सिक्का सट्टापट्टा र सिक्काको आधिकारिकता प्रदान गर्ने काम गर्थे ।गि्रसको तटमा ऋण लिएको एउटा तथ्य पनि छ । पैसा तिरेका एक ग्राहकका लागि व्यापारीले सानो चिटमा 'नगद' लेख्थे । त्यो चिट देखाएर ती मानिसले अर्का सहरका व्यापारीबाट पैसा लिनसक्ने व्यवस्था गरिएको थियो ।
पाँचौँ शताब्दी इसापूर्वतिर पाइथियसले एसिया माइनरभरि 'मर्चेन्ट बैंक' चलाए । उनी नै पहिलो 'बैंकर' हुन् । गि्रसका सहरमा थुप्र्रै 'विदेशी' बैंकरहरू भएको बताइन्छ । ३७१ इसापूर्वमा दास भएर जन्मिएका पाइसियन गि्रसका सबैभन्दा धनी र प्रख्यात बैंकर बने । मेडिटेरियन विश्वमा ऋणमा आधारित बैंकिङहरू वृद्धि भए । इजिप्टमा पहिलेदेखि नै धातुका साथ अन्नपातलाई पैसाका रूपमा लिइँदै आएको थियो । त्यहाँ राष्ट्रको बैंकका रूपमा अन्नपात गृहस्थापना गरिएको थियो । टोलिमिजको गि्रक शासनअन्तर्गत -३३०-३२० इशापूर्व) इजिप्ट परेपछि, छरिएर रहेका असंख्य बैंकलाई थुप्रै खाद्यान्न बैंकहरूमा परिवर्तन गरियो । अलेक्जान्दि्रयामा यसको मुख्य शाखा खोलियो । केन्द्रीय बैंकमा देशभरिका खाद्यान्न बैंकमा भएका कारोबारको रेकर्ड राख्ने गरिन्थ्यो । यी खाद्यान्न बैंकको सन्जालले क्रेडिट सिस्टममा काम गथ्र्यो । तेस्रो शताब्दी इसापूर्वतिर एजियन आइल्यान्डको डिलोसले बैंकिङ क्षेत्रका रूपमा प्रख्याति पायो । रोममा स्थापना भएका बैंकहरू प्रायः यही मोडलमा आधारित थिए । प्राचीन रोमले बैंकिङका प्रशासनिक पाटोमा निकै सुधार गर्‍यो । वित्तीय संस्था र वित्तीय अभ्यासमा नियमहरूको विकास भयो । ऋणमा ब्याज र धरौटीमा ब्याज निकै प्रतिस्पर्धी तथा धेरै विकसित भयो । तर, रोमन बैंकहरू सीमित थिए । रोमन सम्राट् ग्यालिनियस (२६०-२६८) को शासनमा बैंकिङ सिस्टममा अस्थायी रूपमा रोक लाग्यो । ग्यालिनियसले बनाएका सिक्कालाई बैंकले अस्वीकार गरेपछि अस्थायी रूपमा बैंकमा रोक लागेको हो । क्रिस्चियानिटीको आगमनपछि बैंकिङ सिस्टममा थप प्रतिबन्ध लाग्यो । क्रिस्चियानिटीले ब्याजमा कर्जा लिनुलाई अनैतिक काम मान्दथ्यो । यसरी कर्जा लिने मानिसलाई त्यतिबेलाको समाजले नैतिक पतन भएको जस्तो व्यवहार गर्दथ्यो । रोमन साम्राज्यको पतनसँगै पश्चिमा युरोपमा बैंकलाई बेवास्ता गरियो । सन् ११०० तिर 'धर्मयुद्ध'मा धेरै पैसा एक ठाउँबाट अर्काे ठाउँमा सार्नुपरेकाले बैंकको पुनरागमन भयो । ११५६ मा जेनोआमा पहिलो विदेशी एक्सेन्च कन्ट्राक्ट स्थापना भयो । दुई दाजुभाइले ११५ जिनोइज पाउन्ड एक्सेन्जमार्फत कारोबार गर्न लिए । त्यो पैसा आफ्नो कन्स्टान्टिनोपोलको एजेन्टमार्फत एक महिनापछि 'धर्मयोद्धा' फर्काउने सहमति भएको थियो । यसपछिका शताब्दीमा यस्ता किसिमका सम्झौतामा वृद्धि भयो । समयको फरकका कारण हुने फाइदालाई अनैतिक मानिँदैनथ्यो । सन् ११६२ मा राजा हेनरी द्वितीयले 'धर्मयुद्ध' का लागि सहयोग गर्न कर लगाए । मन्दिरका कर्मचारी र अस्पतालका स्टाफहरूले होलील्यान्डमा बैंकरको काम गरे । आधुनिक पश्चिमा वित्तीय संस्था र वित्तीय इतिहास लन्डनको कफीहाउसबाट सुरु भएको मानिन्छ । १५६५ मा लन्डन रोयल एक्सचेन्जको स्थापना भयो । त्यतिबेलासम्म पैसाको सट्टापट्टा गर्ने व्यक्तिले आफूलाई 'बैंकर्स' भन्न थालिसकेका थिए । 'बैंक' भन्नाले बैंकरको अफिसलाई बुझन्थ्यो । बैंक शब्दको अहिलेको जस्तो अर्थ थिएन । बैंकहरूको पनि श्रेणी थियो । राज्यका प्रमुखसँग सोझै कारोबार गर्ने प्रथम श्रेणीका बैंकर हुन्थे भने पैसा सट्टापट्टा गर्ने सहरका केन्द्रहरू दोस्रो श्रेणीमा पर्थे । धितो पसल -लोम्बार्ड) तेस्रो नम्बरमा पर्थे । अहिले पनि केही युरोपेली सहरमा लोम्बार्ड स्टि्रटहरू छन् जहाँ धितो पसल रहेका छन् ।
१६०९ मा एम्सटर्डममा एम्सटर्डम एक्सचेन्ज बैंक स्थापना भयो । औद्योगिक क्रान्ति नहुन्जेलसम्म एम्सटर्डम विश्वको वित्तीय केन्द्र बन्यो । एडम स्मिथ (१७७६) को समयवरिपरि बैंकिङ उद्योगमा व्यापक वृद्धि भयो । स्वामित्व र लगानीको प्रणालीले वित्तीय मामिलामा राज्यको हस्तक्षेपलाई घटायो, प्रतिस्पर्धासामु रहेका तगारा हटायो । भारतमा १८ औँ शताब्दीको पहिलो दशकमा बैंकिङ प्रणालीको उदय भयो । भारतमा स्थापित पहिला बैंकहरूमा जनरल बैङक अफ इन्डिया (१७८६) र बैंक अफ हिन्दुस्तान थिए । अहिले यी दुवै बैंक अस्तित्वमा छैनन् । अस्तित्वमा रहेकामध्ये सबैभन्दा पुरानो स्टेट बैंक अफ इन्डिया हो । यसको सुरुवात १८०६ मा कलकत्ता द बैंक अफ बंगालका रूपमा भएको थियो ।
Source : Naya Patrika

Friday, November 7, 2008

Feelings from the heart !


"Bashudaiva Kutumbhakam"

Ancient sages have taught us that world is a common ground for all and we should have the feeling of the brotherhood. The relevance of this thing in the present context is still high because the ego of being superior to other still exists. There are still many followers of different religions, faiths or ideologies who try to either hate others or do not want to coexist peacefully.

The ideology of religion is self discipline and to the highest extent to achieve the self realization. Allmost all religions preach not to hurt others, help the needy and give due respect to elders and love to the youngers. When the destination is same why we should argue and impose to others one's ideology of religion to others. We must try our best to coexist in peaceful religious life.

Another biggest thing we should take care is the politics. Politics has often been described as the dirty game. Even then it the thing which runs in every moment of our life everywhere. It is like the head of the society which governs all the major things. The political ideology may be communism, democracy or the worst case the dictatorship. It is in the interest of all to give the best chance to people to explore the highest possible thing. Politics should not be the ends but should be the means of progress and prosperity.

(To be continued..)

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Birthday !!!

PRAGYA
Wishing you a day as special as you are .......
Happy Birthday to You!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

HAPPY TIHAR

Wishing our dear readers and wellwishers
a very happy, and joyful Tihar .

HAPPY DIPAWALI !!!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

PRINCE AND ANIMALS









ONCE upon a time a king had a son named Prince Wicked. He was fierce and cruel, and he spoke to nobody without abuse, or blows. Like grit in the eye, was Prince Wicked to every one, both in the palace and out of it.

His people said to one another, "If he acts this way while he is a prince, how will he act when he is king?"

One day when the prince was swimming in the river, suddenly a great storm came on, and it grew very dark.

In the darkness the servants who were with the prince swam from him, saying to themselves, "Let us leave him alone in the river, and he may drown."

When they reached the shore, some of the servants who had not gone into the river said, "Where is Prince Wicked?" "Isn't he here?" they asked. "Perhaps he came out of the river in the darkness and went home." Then the servants all went back to the palace.

The king asked where his son was, and again the servants said: "Isn't he here, O King? A great storm came on soon after we went into the water. It grew very dark. When we came out of the water the prince was not with us."

At once the king had the gates thrown open. He and all his men searched up and down the banks of the river for the missing prince. But no trace of him could be found.

In the darkness the prince had been swept down the river. He was crying for fear he would drown when he came across a log. He climbed upon the log, and floated farther down the river.
When the great storm arose, the water rushed into the homes of a Rat and a Snake who lived on the river bank. The Rat and the Snake swam out into the river and found the same log the prince had found. The Snake climbed upon one end of the log, and the Rat climbed upon the other.

On the river's bank a cottonwood-tree grew, and a young Parrot lived in its branches. The storm pulled up this tree, and it fell into the river. The heavy rain beat down the Parrot when it tried to fly, and it could not go far. Looking down it saw the log and flew down to rest. Now there were four on the log floating down stream together. Just around the bend in the river a certain poor man had built himself a hut. As he walked to and fro late at night listening to the storm, he heard the loud cries of the prince. The poor man said to himself: "I must get that man out of the water. I must save his life." So he shouted: "I will save you! I will save you!" as he swam out in the river.

Soon he reached the log, and pushing it by one end, he soon pushed it into the bank. The prince jumped up and down, he was so glad to be safe and sound on dry land.Then the poor man saw the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot, and carried them to his hut. He built a fire, putting the animals near it so they could get dry. He took care of them first, because they were the weaker, and afterwards he looked after the comfort of the prince.

Then the poor man brought food and set it before them, looking after the animals first and the prince afterwards. This made the young prince angry, and he said to himself: "This poor man does not treat me like a prince. He takes care of the animals before taking care of me." Then the prince began to hate the poor man.

A few days later, when the prince, and the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot were rested, and the storm was all over, the Snake said good-by to the poor man with these words: "Father, you have been very kind to me, I know where there is some buried gold. If ever you want gold, you have only to come to my home and call, 'Snake!' and I will show you the buried gold. It shall all be yours."

Next the Rat said good-by to the poor man. "If ever you want money," said the Rat, "come to my home, and call out, 'Rat!' and I will show you where a great deal of money is buried near my home. It shall all be yours."

Then the Parrot came, saying: "Father, silver and gold have I none, but if you ever want choice rice, come to where I live and call, 'Parrot!' and I will call all my family and friends together, and we will gather the choicest rice in the fields for you."

Last came the prince. In his heart he hated the poor man who had saved his life. But he pretended to be as thankful as the animals had been, saying, "Come to me when I am king, and I will give you great riches." So saying, he went away.

Not long after this the prince's father died, and Prince Wicked was made king. He was then very rich.

By and by the poor man said to himself: "Each of the four whose lives I saved made a promise to me. I will see if they will keep their promises."

First of all he went to the Snake, and standing, near his hole, the poor man called out, "Snake!"
At once the Snake darted forth, and with every mark of respect he said: "Father, in this place there is much gold. Dig it up and take it all."

"Very well," said the poor man. "When I need it, I will not forget."

After visiting for a while, the poor man said good-by to the Snake, and went to where the Rat lived, calling out, "Rat!"

The Rat came at once, and did as the Snake had done, showing the poor man where the money was buried.

"When I need it, I will come for it," said the poor man.
Going next to the Parrot, he called out, "Parrot!" and the bird flew down from the tree-top as soon as he heard the call.

"O Father," said the Parrot, "shall I call together all my family and friends to gather choice rice for you?"

The poor man, seeing that the Parrot was willing and ready to keep his promise, said: "I do not need rice now. If ever I do, I will not forget your offer."

Last of all, the poor man went into the city where the king lived. The king, seated on his great white elephant, was riding through the city. The king saw the poor man, and said to himself: "That poor man has come to ask me for the great riches I promised to give him. I must have his head cut off before he can tell the people how he saved my life when I was the prince."

So the king called his servants to him and said: "You see that poor man over there? Seize him and bind him, beat him at every corner of the street as you march him out of the city, and then chop off his head."

The servants had to obey their king. So they seized and bound the poor man. They beat him at every corner of the street. The poor man did not cry out, but he said, over and over again, "It is better to save poor, weak animals than to save a prince."

At last some wise men among the crowds along the street asked the poor man what prince he had saved. Then the poor man told the whole story, ending with the words, "By saving your king, I brought all this pain upon myself."

The wise men and all the rest of the crowd cried out: "This poor man saved the life of our king, and now the king has ordered him to be killed. How can we be sure that he will not have any, or all, of us killed? Let us kill him." And in their anger they rushed from every side upon the king as he rode on his elephant, and with arrows and stones they killed him then and there.
Then they made the poor man king, and set him to rule over them.

The poor man ruled his people well. One day he decided once more to try the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot. So, followed by many servants, the king went to where the Snake lived.

At the call of "Snake!" out came the Snake from his hole saying, "Here, O King, is your treasure; take it."

"I will," said the king. "And I want you to come with me."

Then the king had his servants dig up the gold.

Going to where the Rat lived, the king called, "Rat!" Out came the Rat, and bowing low to the king, the Rat said, "Take all the money buried here and have your servants carry it away."
"I will," said the king, and he asked the Rat to go with him and the Snake.

Then the king went to where the Parrot lived, and called, "Parrot!" The Parrot flew down to the king's feet and said, "O King, shall I and my family and my friends gather choice rice for you?"
"Not now, not until rice is needed," said the king. "Will you come with us?" The Parrot was glad to join them.

So with the gold, and the money, and with the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot as well, the king went back to the city.

The king had the gold and the money hidden away in the palace. He had a tube of gold made for the Snake to live in. He had a glass box made for the Rat's home, and a cage of gold for the Parrot. Each had the food he liked best of all to eat every day, and so these four lived happily all their lives.
Moral -"Be greatful to those who help you in need."

Friday, October 24, 2008

The National Emblem



The new emblem reflects spirit of loktantra marked by inclusiveness and gender parity. The description of the emblem is as follows: "It is round in shape with national flag on the top of its centre encircled by rhododendron, the national flower. Inside the circle lies Mt. Everest, hill, map of Nepal and handshake of a man and a woman. Below the circle reads the Sanskrit verse 'janani janmbhumisch sworgadapi gariyasi' which means the 'mother and the motherland are greater than heaven'."

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Doctor Who Understood Birds' Language


कथा
चराको भाषा बुझ्ने वैद्य
-उद्धव उपाध्याय


धेरै पुराना कुरा हो । यूनान (ग्रीस) मा एकजना भविष्य बताउने मानिस थियो । उसको नाम मेलाम्पस थियो । उसले भविष्य त बताउथ्यो नै, राम्रो उपचार गर्ने वैद्य पनि थियो । उसले उपचार गरेपछि रोग र्फकंदैनथ्यो ।


पहिले उसमा यस्तो शक्ति थिएन । भविष्य देख्ने र औषीध गर्ने शक्ति उसलाई सर्पले दिएको थियो । एकदिनको कुरा हो मेलाम्पसका नोकरहरूले सर्पका जोडीलाई मारेछन् । उनीहरू त सर्पका बच्चाहरूलाई पनि मार्न चाहन्थे तर मेलाम्पसले उनीहरूलाई बचाए । सर्पका बच्चाहरू खुसी भए । एकदिन मेलाम्पस निदाएको बेला, ती सर्पहरूले मेलाम्पसको आखा र कानमा चाटे । यो घटना पछि मेलाम्पसले भविष्य देख्ने र औषधी गर्ने शक्ति पायो । साथै ऊ पशुपन्छी र किराहरूको भाषासमेत बुझ्न सक्ने भयो ।

यसरी दिन बित्दै गयो । एकदिन मेलाम्पसको भाइ दुःखी हुदै बसिरहेको थियो । यसको कारण बताउदै उसले भन्यो, "म राजा निलियसकी छोरी पेरोसाग विवाह गर्न चाहन्छु । राजाले यसका लागि एक शर्त राखेका छन् । शर्तअनुसार मैले फिलेकसको गाई लगेर दिनुपर्छ । फिलेकसको गाई ल्याउन असम्भव छ । कहिल्यै नसुत्ने डरलाग्दा कुकुरले रेखदेख गरिरहेको हुन्छ ।

मेलाम्पसले सान्त्वना दिदै भाइलाई भन्यो "चिन्ता नगर । ती गाई म ल्याएर दिउाला ।" गाई चोरी गर्दैगर्दा ऊ पक्राउमा पर्‍यो फिलेकसले एक वर्षको सजाया सुनाई जेलमा बन्द गर्‍यो ।

एक रात विचित्रको घटना भयो । मेलाम्पस जेलको कोठरीमा लेटी रहेको थियो । निद्रा लागेको थिएन । उसले दलिनमा दुईवटा घमिराबीच भएको कुरा सुन्यो । एउटा धमिरा अर्को धमिरालाई भन्दै थियो - भोलि बिहान बाहिरको रूख खोक्रो भएर ढल्छ र यो जेलको कोठा पनि भत्किन्छ ।

धमिराहरूको कुरा सुनेर मेलाम्पस आत्तिएर चिच्याउन थाल्यो । 'मलाई बचाउ । मलाई अर्को कोठामा सार ।' उसको आवाज सुनेर जेलका कर्मचारीहरू हड्बडाउाादै आए । ऊ 'मलाई बचाउ, मलाई अर्को कोठामा लैजाउ' भनी कराइरहेको थियो । कर्मचारीहरूले उसको कोठा बदले । केही बेरपछि बिहान भयो र बाहिर धमिराले मक्किएको रूख पनि ढल्यो र जेलको कोठा भत्कियो ।

यो देखेर जेलका अफिसरहरू छक्क परे । उनीहरूलाई मेलाम्पस निकै ठूला भविष्य बताउन सक्ने मानिस जस्तो लाग्यो । उसाग अलौकिक शक्ति भएको अनुमान पनि उनीहरूले गरे । जेलका अफिसरहरू तत्कालै फिलेकसकहा गई सबै वृत्तान्त बताए । उसलाई पनि फिलेकससाग ईश्वरीय शक्ति रहेको जस्तो लाग्यो ।
उसले मेलाम्पसलाई जेलमुक्त गर्‍यो । फिलेकसको छोरा इम्पmीकल्सको सन्तान थिएन । त्यसैले उनीहरू दुःखी थिए । फिलेकसले छोराको उपचार गरिदिन मेलाम्पससाग अनुरोध गरे । मेलाम्पस मौका हेरिरहेका थिए । उसले पनि शर्त राख्यो र भन्यो -"म उपचार त गरिदिन्छु तर बदलामा मलाई तपाइर्ाको गाई चाहिन्छ ।

फिलेकस गाई दिन तयार भयो । अनि मेलाम्पस औषधी उपचारमा तल्लिन रहृयो । एकैछिन पछि, महलको छानामा दुईवटा गिद्ध आएर बसे । उनीहरू कुरा गर्न थाले । एउटा गिद्धले भन्यो -'यो यही स्थान त हो नि हामी धेरै वर्ष पहिले पनि आएको थियौं ।"

अर्को गिद्धले भन्यो - 'अ, हो त नि ! त्यतिबेला इम्पmीकल्स सानै थियो । बुबाको हातमा छुरा देखेर इम्पmीकल्स कस्तो डराएको थियो । त्यो देखेर इम्पmीकल्स भाग्यो, उसलाई रोक्न बाबु पनि पछिपछि दौडे । छुरा भुइमा खस्ला भन्ने डरले बुबाले छुरालाई नास्पातीको रूखमा घोपेर छोराको पछिपछि लागे । त्यो छुरा आजसम्म पनि रूखमै गाडिएरै रहेको छ ।"

गिद्धको कुरा सुनेर मेलाम्पसले भन्यो - "तिमीहरूलाई धेरै धन्यवाद ! इम्पmीकल्स सन्तान हुने उपाए के छ, त्यो पनि त बताऊ ।" एउटा गिद्धले भन्यो- "छुरालाई रूखबाट झिकेर पखाल्नु । छुरा धोएको पानी इम्पmीकल्सलाई दस दिनसम्म खुवाउनु । उसलाई ठीक हुन्छ ।"

मेलाम्पसले गिद्धले सिकाएजस्तै उपचार गर्‍यो । एक वर्षभित्र इम्पmीकल्स बाबु बन्यो । फिलेकस नाति देखेर दङ्ग पर्‍यो । मेलाम्पसले गाई पायो । मेलाम्पसले गाई लगेर भाइलाई दियो । राजा निलियसले गाईर् पाएपछि आˆनी छोरीसाग मेलाम्पसको भाइसाग विवाह गरिदियो ।

मेलाम्पसलाई आज पनि अनौठो चिकित्सक तथा भविष्यवक्ताको रूपमा सम्झना गरिन्छ ।

(Source: Muna 2063 Kartik)

The True Truth


-महाकवि लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटा

Last letter of Laxmi Prasad Devkota to his friend

हरि श्रेष्ठजी,

मेरो अगाडि मृत्युको भयङ्कर रूप खडा भइसकेको छ । अहिले कृत्तिम शरीर धारण गर्दैछु । आकाशका तारामण्डल छुन खोज्छु, सक्तिनँ । मैले आफूलाई शान्ति दिन सकिनँ । म उठ्नसके आफैँ पनि आत्महत्या गर्ने थिएँ, अनि मेरा बालबच्चालाई पनि ... । म यस दुनियाँलाई बोझ र चिन्ता दिन चाहन्न । अरूले मलाई बुद्धिजीवी भने तापनि म आˆनो निमित्त मूर्ख भएँ, अन्धो भएँ, म त्यो ज्योतितिर ढल्कन खोज्छु तर अन्धकारले मलाई बोलाइरहन्छ । म यो असहृय वेदना खप्न सक्तिन । पोटासियम साइनेड कसैले दिए म उसलाई आˆनो जीवनको सच्चा साथी सम्झने थिएँ । म अपराधी हुँ, त्यसैले म अपराध मेट्न चाहन्छु । कसैले सके मेरा प्रकाशनका नाम पनि । म विलीन हुन चाहन्छु, मरुभूमिमा जलकणझैँ अब कसले मलाई न चिनून् ।
एक साथी
लक्ष्मीप्रसाद
(सावार : मधुपर्क २०६६ कार्तिक)

Ashok died for a better future


Twenty-one year old Ashok Bhattarai's death in Texas on 28 September wasn't the first time that a Nepali has been a victim of crime abroad. But it was among the first to receive an overwhelming response.

Within days, the Nepali community sprung into action via the internet to raise the $15,000 required to send his body home. Nepalis here are well aware that Ashok may not be the last.

Within a week, a staggering $104,000 poured in through cash, checks and Paypal donations. The money will not replace Ashok, but hopefully it will help ease the financial burden of his family in Parasi who had taken a Rs 900,000 loan to send their son to America.

Ashok had been in the US for 15 months and was studying bioengineering. He was working as a part-time store clerk at the First Stop Food Store in Missouri City, Texas, where he was shot. The assailant was later identified in close circuit videos as 17-year-old Raymond Whitcher who has been arrested.

Ashok was well liked by residents of Missouri City who frequented the convenience store because of his friendly nature. A following of loyal customers organised a memorial service outside the store on 4 October. The next day, the Nepali Association of Houston had another memorial at a funeral home.

Detective Russell Terry, lead investigator of the case, remembered Ashok, and said: "Every time I walked into the store, he would call me Mister Detective, and made jokes. He knew his customers well and what they wanted." Young Nepali students who work in similarly vulnerable situations in gas stations and convenience stores attended the memorial. "This isn't just about Ashok, it could have been any of us," said Manish Satyal, who works in a gas station not far from Ashok's shop.

The crime rate in Houston is the 15th highest in American cities with a murder rate of 5.9 per 100,000. Nepali students here are well aware of the statistics but shrug and say that they have no choice. Their families have sold land, homes and taken loans to send them to America for better education and good careers.

Students enter the United States on an F1 visa, which does not allow them to work off campus but because of expectations and financial obligations back home, they often work in high-risk and vulnerable settings. Karki says he has been robbed at gunpoint several times. In 2002, Divesh Malla was stabbed during a robbery in Houston, but survived.

Students don't tell their families back home about the dangers because they don't want them to worry. Most students like Ashok work nearly 100 hours a week for $6 an hour. The money goes to pay rent, food and school tuition. If there is anything left over, they send it home.

"If we don't get scholarships, we end up working in gas stations and stores, it's not legal but its work," Satyal said, "you learn to live with the fear." Nepalis in Houston president, Rajendra Shrestha, shrugs his shoulders and says that there isn't much that can be done except encourage students to work on campus where there is better security.

Many of Ashok's friends across the United States did not celebrate Dasain this year out of respect for him. On 10 October, the day after Tika, Ashok's body reached home in Nepal and was cremated at Pashupati.

Ashok's mother, Lila Bhattarai, was inconsolable. She remembered her son's last phone call on the morning before he was killed. He had told her: "I'll come home soon."
(Source: nepalitimes )

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Baghdurbar (The Tiger Palace)


The beautiful building complex of BAGHDURBAR
in the Sundhara area.The open space in and around it with lots of tress is impressing. The background is clear with the mountain and Bagmati river. Really it is shangrilla. We have lost the charm of valley with hapazard urbanization . Can this be bring back ? Difficult but not impossible!!!

Singh Durbar (The Lion Palace)


This is the most important Rana palaces as it is still used for the office of the prime minister of Nepal. Built by then prime minister Chandra Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana. It is an example of the western influence in the architecture in Nepal. The Ranas were great fan of the English people and copy their style be it in architecture or in the custom.

Yeti in Nepal



An undated handout picture from Yeti Project Japan, received on October 20, 2008, shows what is alleged to be the footprint of a Yeti (left) measured on the Dhaulagiri mountain and compared to a human footprint (right). A team of Japanese adventurers say they have discovered footprints they believe were made by the legendary yeti said to roam the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Tibet.(AFP/HO)