When Form and Protocol (“Sanskriti”) Generally Take Precedent Over and Is Valued More Than Substance…

Post published:November 28, 2020
Post category:Social Justice

When form and protocol generally take precedent over and is valued more than substance, a society struggles to make social, economic, and political progress. One such form and protocol is showing respect for and/or deferring to old men. In this blog post I demonstrate how two old men use the guise of lack respect for old men as a pretext for silencing young adult women of similar academic and professional stature as them for no other reason than the fact that they are female.

Hall of Shame VI: The Lockdown Edition

Post published:November 15, 2020
Post category:Social Justice

The sixth one in the series about Nepal needing a revolution…a revolution of the mind.
Here’s more of one of many MANY reasons why from during the lockdown to contain the coronavirus.

Hold up a Mirror to a Closed and Inward-looking People, They’ll Shatter It

Post published:October 29, 2020
Post category:Kathmandu, Mustang & Nepal

Nepalis on average are a closed and inward looking people. And because of that, when the proverbial mirror is held in front of them, offended, disappointed, or not liking what is reflected back, they generally shatter the mirror. In this blog post, I document one such example from Twitter.

Nepal: Privilege and Entitlement Fostered Myopic Arrogance

Post published:October 2, 2020
Post category:Kathmandu, Mustang & Nepal

There are many many consequences of Nepali society being highly patriarchal and stratified. The Bhramanical patriarchal system stratified along caste lines, for example, has resulted in high caste Hindu men having a monopoly over in position of power and influence. Being there for as long as they have been, they have established a culture that works for them, a culture based, among other things, their arrogance. In blog post, I share one example of how that arrogance translates into what otherwise would be a professional relationship and professional interactions.

“Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear”: Want Respect? Show Respect!

Post published:August 28, 2020
Post category:Nepal Education & Parenting

In Nepal, respect for teachers and administrators is instilled in student through the threat of violence, i.e. fear! That, of course, is despicable, just as Albert Camus says. Getting students to respect teachers is easy: just show them respect by listening to them.

Why Nepalis Take Bigger Issue with Issue-Highlighters Than the Issues Themselves

Post published:August 15, 2020
Post category:Kathmandu, Mustang & Nepal

A society has a long way to go when people have or take a bigger issue with those highlighting, or expounding on, the issues than with the issues themselves. Nepal is one of those societies. I am sure there are a number of different reasons behind that, but here are some reasons. If we are to make social progress, we must be able to have honest exchanges and conversations about the myriad issues our society is plagued by.