Cheerful as Cherry

 Be Cheerful as Cherry !!!

Greater Nepal

Map of Greater Nepal 

Nepal was big country and from time to time it has become squeezed due to internal and external conflicts. In the latest history when the farsighted King Prithvi  Narayan Shah the Great started the foundation of modern Nepal 250 years ago, there were more than 50 small kingdoms in Nepal alone. The unification campaign continued even after his early death by his descendants and noblemen in the palace with the help of patriotic persons. However at that time British East India Company, which has entered India in the name of business, started to colonize Indian kingdoms. Nepal had to fought with the British troops to protect the sovereignty and the war continued for 2 years (1814-1816). The war came to end with the humiliating Sugauli treaty (1816 March 4) in which Nepal had to give up large part of her territory like the Sikkim , Darjeeling, Dinapur in the East and parts between Mahakali and Sutlej river in the west. Currently Dinapur lies in Bangladesh (East Pakistan from 1947-1971) while other parts are in India once the British rule was over in 1947. The 1950 Nepal- India Friendship treaty clause 8 scraps the Sugauli treaty which means that the areas held by British India no longer valid. However, those areas are in the control of India and Bangladesh. Many historians have raised this issue.Even there is movement of Greater Nepal is launched with the notion that Nationalism never die. They opined that even in the current border between India and Nepal, India is not behaving well with Nepal like by encroaching the border, terrorizing Nepali people along the border with the excessive use of force by SSB force and so on. They hope that if Greater Nepal can be made successful Nepal will be free from the shackles of Indian expansionism. Lets see whether this comes in reality in near future or not. 

Next time the blog about India Nepal relationship will be discussed.

Nelson Mandela: Freedom Fighter

Without justice there is no peace.

Without peace there is no progress. 

Without progress there is no prosperity. 

In the history of mankind there are times when a light of hope emerges from the darkness to brighten the masses. Such is the story of Nobel peace prize winner and first democratically elected president of South Africa: Nelson Mandela, a true iconic yet indisputable figure in current time. He has struggled most of his fertile time for the benefit of humanity and did this by fighting the apartheid in South Africa for which he was imprisoned for 27 years in isolated Robben ( literal meaning Seal in dutch) island. It  is to be noted that this island has been used for isolation of prisoners from 17th century. Because of connection with Mandela, now this prison has been designated as world heritage site.

Nelson Mandela (Photo: Kjetil Ree )

 Though there is saying that all people are equal but in practice that is not true. People are treated based on their religion, color, race, nationality and  economic status and so on. The situation goes bad when the parent like institution government unfairly treats it people using its power. Such had happened in modern times- 20th century when the white dominated government introduced laws to segregate the people based on color of skin (racial group) making them superior group among other groups. Separated spaces  were allocated in every aspects of life: housing, public spaces and even education. It was even illegal to marry with other group. Draconian laws were especially targeted against the majority black people who were the right owner of nation. White people have emigrated there in search of opportunity in colonial times. They were treated as second class citizen in their own country. Such a heinous act cannot be tolerated by a people of good heart. Many people marched against the apartheid and struggled for making the justful society. Nelson Mandela was prominent figure in this struggle. Born in 18 July 1918, he studied in Wats University. He was politically affiliated to African National Congress ANC, established in 1912. After the Sharpville massacre, in which peaceful 69 anti-apartheid  protesters were killed by government, Nelson Mandela and other  leaders turned to violence to end the unjust of apartheid. He was caught in this process in 1961 and  sent to solitary prison to be released only in 1990. 
     Many nations including Nepal supported Mandela and his cause. South Africa was boycotted internationally and many nations refused to recognize the country. Nepal was one of the nations to raise the voice in international arena. Nepal made diplomatic relation to South Africa only after the end of apartheid and on the same day as Nelson became president (10th May 1994). Nepal has opened its embassy in Pretoria in 2010 after the increased relationship.
     Many people around the world regard him a true statesman as once he became the president of South Africa he tried to make reconciliatory approach with all sections of society including the tyranny group of White people to make a new path of freedom. The truth and reconciliation commission is highly regarded model of transition to conflict torn society. He did not show any lust of power as he refused to held office for second term. In his untiring fight for the inalienable human rights of people United Nations declare the International Mandela day since 2009 (on his 90th birthday). This year theme on his 94th birthday is "Take Action, Inspire Change: Make Every Day a Mandela Day.” Lets come together in this noble cause. 

Fukushima Japan Nuclear Disaster Report 2012

The new findings by the Japanese parliamentary report highlights the shortcomings of the response to the nuclear disaster after the 2011 Japan  mega earthquake and tsunami. The disaster has left many people to be displaced and some areas uninhabitable for decades. The report praises the then prime minister  for forcing the TEPCO for continuing their efforts to cool down the power-plant  in Fukushima. It guides the government for future response and be a good lesson for other nations with nuclear power plants. 

Nepal being surrounded by nuclear countries: India, China and Pakistan and any catastrophe in these nuclear plants will have serious implication to all neighboring countries including Nepal.So the preventive measures should be taken by all responsible countries to avert any nuclear disasters. 

Watch this video from cnn

Happy Birthday Pranjal

 Happy Birthday  Prince PRANJAL !!!

Wishing you all the great things in life, hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest.

Cartoons and Manga

Prince Pranjal enjoying the cartoon
Narita Airport, Japan (2011)

Prince Pranjal has a great passion for children song and cartoons especially ANPANMAN, DISNEY characters like Mickey mouse, Donald duck and POCOYO. Cartoons are very lovely and humorous. They increase the imagination and reasoning power. Beside these, they teach us about the good things and give moral lessons. Even grown up people can enjoy the cartoons. In many parts of the world it is has been a myth that cartoons are meant for children only. But in Japan cartoons/comics called MANGA are very popular among people of all age. Now this trend has become viral to other nations with introduction of Manga in other local languages. Manga is a booming business estimated of ¥ 420 billion ($5.5 billion) in 2009. Hope this kind of informative as well as entertaining business be grown all nook and corners of world for the sake of love and peace.

Day in Photo -4

Splendid  interior view with glass and steel

Summer time in Bondi Beach, Australia

Enjoying summer in Bondi Beach, Australia
Photo: Pradeep Uprety

This month is June 2012. The climate in Japan is getting hot and in coming months of July and August will be more hot and humid: difficult to bear. However, there are ways to relax this time: with water. It is time to enjoy the beaches even  in scorching  sun. People will search for the coolness and hence will flock to swimming pools and beaches. There are many beautiful places to enjoy the beauty of nature in this summer time.  Australian beaches are famous in the world for their beauty. Even though it is winter in Australia we can enjoy them by looking pictures. Chiba beach is famous in Japan where many people came to enjoy for surfing as well as swimming. 

Day in Photo -3

Enjoy the life
 like warrior riding on horse

Day in Photo -2

Building  looking like a sculptor 

Day in Photo-1

Prince Pranjal Posing for Photo

Freedom is not "free"

Statue of Liberty, Japan

Liberty or freedom is dear to all. Throughout the history there are stories of struggles for the freedom from the shackles of oppressions. The oppressions may be religious, social, cultural or political. People have fought for the independence of their beloved nation when colonial power excesses their limits. The American War of Independence is an example where brave Americans fought with colonial master Britain. Once people are successful in their aim they construct memorial to honor the freedom fighters as well as to make a history for the coming generations so that they can learn from the history. They also want to show that freedom is not free and it should be taken with care and veneration.

In the American War of Independence, France actively supported the American cause. To commemorate the victory France offered a gift, a statue, to America as a token of friendship from the people of France to the people of United States. It is 46 meter high and designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. The statue represents the Libertas, Roman goddess of freedom. Established in 1886 and located in New York, it is an icon of city similar to the Opera House of Sydney. Since then it has become an icon of freedom and democracy. If someone happens to New York, s/he tries to be there to feel from the nearest distance. It is not only national monument of USA but also world heritage site (since 1984).

Since all can't be in New York, hundreds of replicas of statue of liberty have been made throughout the world. One replica (1/4 th of size) is given by American community to the France is located in the Paris. Here in Japan we can feel and observe the replica is Odaiba, Tokyo. It is located in the sea beach with nice background of beautiful buildings and Rainbow Bridge. In the cherry blossom the place is full with visitors.

Ten famous homeschooled people

By  Stacy Condrat

1.Agatha Christie was a painfully shy girl, so her mom homeschooled her even though her two older siblings attended private school.

2. Pearl S. Buck was born in West Virginia, but her family moved to China when she was just three months old. She was homeschooled by a Confucian scholar and learned English as a second language from her mom.

3. Alexander Graham Bell was homeschooled by his mother until he was about 10. It was at this point that she started to go deaf and didn’t feel she could properly educate him any more. Her deafness inspired Bell to study acoustics and sound later in life.

4. If Thomas Edison was around today, he would probably be diagnosed with ADD – he left public school after only three months because his mind wouldn’t stop wandering. His mom homeschooled him after that, and he credited her with the success of his education: “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me; and I felt I had something to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”

5. Ansel Adams was homeschooled at the age of 12 after his “wild laughter and undisguised contempt for the inept ramblings of his teachers” disrupted the classroom. His father took on his education from that point forward.

6. Robert Frost hated school so much he would get physically ill at the thought of going. He was homeschooled until his high school years.

7. Woodrow Wilson studied under his dad, one of the founders of the Southern Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS). He didn’t learn to read until he was about 12. He took a few classes at a school in Augusta, Georgia, to supplement his father’s teachings, and ended up spending a year at Davidson College before transferring to Princeton.

8. Mozart was educated by his dad as the Mozart family toured Europe from 1763-1766.

9. Laura Ingalls Wilder was homeschooled until her parents finally settled in De Smet in what was then Dakota Territory. She started teaching school herself when she was only 15 years old.

10. Louisa May Alcott studied mostly with her dad, but had a few lessons from family friends Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Can you imagine?

(Collected by - Er. Pradeep Uprety, Source : Different websites )

South Asia Then and Now

South Asia in 1805. Note Nepal written as NIPAL on the top

Nepal has been an independent country throughout her history. Even when the great neighbors viz.,  India and China were subjected to foreign powers, Nepal managed to preserve its independence.This is the reason why we can now have an identity as Nepal and Nepali in international arena. In the coming years too Nepal must preserve its territorial integrity. True Nepali people living  in or outside Nepal love their county first and  ready to do anything to preserve the nation and make her more strong in every front of development.We must give prosperous and independent Nepal to our next generation. 

South Asia in 2012. Note the emergence of new nations

First anniversary of The 2011 March 11 Japan Earthquake

Devastation caused by Tsunami.
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Today is  the first anniversary of The 2011 March 11 Japan Earthquake. Magnitude was 9 and its effect was felt in Eastern Japan rocking both Tokyo and Chiba. More than 20,000 people are dead or missing and property worth of 300 billion dollar was estimated to be loss. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was deadly in terms of casualty as more than 200,000 people are dead. However, from  economic terms The 2011 March 11 Japan Earthquake is costliest in recent history. Most tragedy is due to the nuclear disaster in Fukushima nuclear plant which was damaged heavily due to earthquake and tsunami. Though the dedicated engineers and   workers are able to stabilize the plant, still there is danger. Many people around the place have to be evacuated and many could not return back to their home as the radiation level is still high. 

However, the most important part is the resilience shown by people. There was not panic or chaos as in other part of world after disaster. Even in USA, after the hurricane Katrina there were some visible disturbances, chaos and looting. There is no need to talk in other parts of world especially in countries where rule of law is distant future as even in normal time. The sharp contrast for  resilience shown by  Japanese people  may be the due to the following reasons: mono-racial  or homogeneous society  and second is the true Buddhism practice in life. Discipline is  another factor. I should not be reason for trouble to other. Keeping this belief, the society was able to cope this disaster without any social unrest.

Still roaring ! Salute to  sense of courage.
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Still there is hope that we will learn from this disaster and prepare for better in future events from natural hazards. Life is like this. Learning from the past to prepare for the future.

 Resilience! Smiling face even in the time of disaster.
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On this first anniversary of event, 

We would like to offer our deep condolences to bereaved family and sympathy to all those affected. We would also like to salute people who being affected directly by disaster withstand this event bravely and show the true sense of courage and conviction for better future.

Small is Beautiful

Small But Beautiful
A typical courtyard garden in Kyoto, Japan.