Stark Reality

THE public craze for going abroad and settling there, especially in the advanced countries of the Western world, would subside if the people here could realise the social reality of those coveted lands. The individualistic approach of the machine-line people, the rush and materialistic living will make one feel isolated in the bustling crowd. People have no time to have a friendly chat with friends and families. Their high mobility to grab the best of the opportunities has forced them to lead a regulated life. Though this has had an advantage, that is a tremendous economic progress, it certainly has degraded the human values indispensable for meaningful existence.

Last month I went to Holland to attend a month-long training-cum-workshop on world music. I got fed up with the social life of the people there and finally realised the importance of our culture which, despite our people’s stark poverty and hardship, is full of warm human relationships, collectiveness, love and care.

A. Phunyal
Dillibazar, Kathmandu