Strengthen The Soul

PRIME MINISTER Girija Prasad Koirala, while inaugurating the First International Conference on Kirat religion and the 116th birth anniversary of Falgunanda, the Kirat Dharmaguru, the other day, observed that different communities, cultures and customs are the soul of Nepal. Certainly, Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi-religious country. The late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, who unified Nepal by conquering the then small principalities scattered everywhere on the lap of the mighty Himalayas, in his dibya upadesh, had termed Nepal to be a "common garden of four castes and 36 sub-castes". And even over 230 years after the Great King’s erudite observation, Nepal has still managed to retain its multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-cultural characteristics and identity. All this amply testifies to the fact that while Nepal has evolved and established a unique identity of its own, it has also succeeded in preserving its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi-religious characteristics. That too, without any ethnic, communal or even religious violence till date. This is what sets Nepal apart from those countries populated by various races, tribes and communities—but where sectarian or communal clashes seem to be a re-occurring feature. As for the Nepalese, it is indeed a matter of pride for them to know that Nepal has never ever witnessed such ethnic or communal or religious clashes. And as long as the Nepalese retain their pacifist outlook as well as their age-old tolerant nature to respect all religions, cultures and customs, Nepal will never suffer from the problems originated from the religious or communal clashes.

Undoubtedly, cultures, customs and religions are the identities of any nations. However, with the world fast changing into a Global Village due to the rapid advancement in science and technology, especially in the field of communications, it has become urgent to preserve our age-old traditions and cultures that have inspired us to live in peaceful co-existence. Since Nepal is truly the totality of the religions, cultures and customs of its diverse races, tribes and communities its true identity would be endangered in the absence of any one of them. Thus it is the duty of all to unitedly work to preserve the diverse cultures, languages, traditions, customs and religions of the country. The Constitution has also guaranteed all the people the rights to promote their cultures, languages and traditions. While they are at it, it behooves upon them to respect the fundamental rights of other Nepalese communities to also preserve and protect their distinct customs, traditions and religions. Only then would Nepal’s unique identity in the world—herein, a nation where there is unity among diversity—be preserved for posterity.

Discrimination, Unintended

GENDER discrimination is not something many would be found guilty of anymore, at least not when one has to give lip service and that too publicly. It is now considered no less than a sacrilege if any body begs to differ at public forums. Therefore nobody would dare to be found caught mouthing gender insensitive opinions anymore. May be many of us have become educated on gender issues and many of us do mean it genuinely when we talk of gender discrimination. May be some of us sincerely believe in gender equality. But gender sensitivity does not come by repeating rhetorics alone. Nor does it come through gender education only. As Supreme Court Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal put it recently during an interaction, many discriminations also take place without any ill-intention. Such discrimination are not deliberate but are a product of the existing traditional, social and economic structure and the orthodox beliefs. We perpetrate such discrimination without even realising that something is amiss. There is a need to bring about change in the values of how we see women and men in society. This will come only through greater visibility of women in all fields of work outside home. For action speaks for itself. We might cry and shout ourselves hoarse trying to prove that women are just as good as men, but one example of a woman doing a man’s job just as well or sometimes even better is enough to drive home the point. There is a need for setting examples that speak for the cause better than the theories. Therefore the positive stories of women who have proved their strength quietly— they may be house-wives or working women, have to be focused on. There have been many instances of exceptional and dogged courage among a great number of women at the face of adversities during all times, even among our mothers and grand mothers. It would be a strong point for the cause if we look at those positive examples which speak volumes for women’s strength. And perhaps this kind of awareness of women’s strength among the women we know will help us desist from unintended discriminations.