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.
These extracts from Unleashing Nepal describe how, through education, the Rana Regime and the Shah autocrats furthered their ethnic and nationalistic agenda, enabling the social, political, and economic advancement of the hill so-called high caste Hindus (Khas Aryas) while oppressing -- and hindering the advancement of -- the others.
At a session last month with a little over four dozen parents from twenty-five schools, I shared three things they can do to fill the gap with their children's education in Nepal. Reproduced in the blog post are details of those three things and other important bits from that session.
Curiosity might kill the cat but Nepali culture and school culture kill curiosity in children as well as their innate sense of wonder they are born with. Education, quality education can change that.