दशैं आयो, माँगेर खायो...

Dasain, the biggest festival for almost all Nepalese people around the globe. Hence also known as BADA Dasain. The weather's perfect, the mood is just right, and everyone is rich, if not with money but at least in their hearts.

BUT. There is always a BUT. But the festival has always been a pain in the, you know where, for me. Why? Because I am surrounded by BEGGARS till the festival is over. Yes beggars who come well dressed, talk nice and seem almost ready to lick your balls.

Ok stop imagining because your mind is wandering somewhere else. These aren't the Sunny Leone types. These are the ugly bastards who've defamed this beautiful festival by making a begging bowl out of it. From event organizers, to government officials, to police, to local clubs, to newspaper delivery man and mostly the media.

"Dasain ko lagi kei chaina...?" is the most common sentence I and am sure many like me have to hear during this period. It's not about whether one can spend a bit and keep their bloody mouth shut. It's about how we as a society have developed into parasites who think it's their fundamental right to feed on someone else. And one thing I appreciate about them is that they've very finely developed the skill of making you feel guilty if you don't help them or scare the shit out of you in case you don't comply.

Sometimes I blame the international fraternity who've inculcated this habit among us at a macro level.

I'm sure there are many who'll agree to me when I say people take you for granted when it comes to getting things done for free. But that still is tolerable as long as you feel it's right.

But when it comes to forcing someone, I get pissed off. I even get pissed off when I see a Fire Engine Truck with the label "Donated by the Indian Government". Why? Can't we even afford to buy a fire engine? Can't we even build our own local roads? Can't we have simple solar lamps for our streets with our own money?

Have we really stopped feeling proud on our achievements? Has the country that prides in never having been colonized, now prides in getting as much for FREE as possible? Has it become a Nepalese culture to get everything for FREE?

I'm just honestly perplexed and wonder. And honestly I don't have an answer for that.

This small write up just ends here with this question for all to answer.

P.S. I've used an image that was provided for free without any copyright and the source is mentioned below, just in case someone thinks I'm a hypocrite.

Image Source: http://nepalicalendar.rat32.com/happy-dashain-2071-cards-wallpapers/

What's on Your Mind ???

What's on your mind? It's exactly what Facebook asks me everyday. And then I think, "Yes, What T F is on my mind today?" And then my fingers start twitching to type in that blank space. But something holds me back. Then again the question strikes back but now it asks me, "What REALLY is on my mind?". And that is when I filter out many thoughts that I think shouldn't be there.

So when I think of filling up that space, many a times I've been naive and very very ignorant and inconsiderate spewing out absolutely worthless crap. And the latest feature of facebook reminding you with what you did in the past has helped me understand that. Sometimes it's embarrassing.

So the question is what should be your Facebook status or any status on any social network?

Well I've tried to learn and improve with what I update on Facebook. I don't deny the fact that some impulsive posts still are naive and worthless. But now I've categorized what should be as follows:

1. It should be FUN.

And I'm not talking about fun for yourself only but fun for others as well. You can't just say I don't give a fuck about who thinks what of this. You're actually responsible, to a large extent, for his/her reaction because you're related socially through this virtual platform and you're both there for each other. If you think otherwise then just unfriend that person or move out of the social network space. And also you don't have the right to feel offended if that person unfriends you. So make it fun for yourself and other people as well. Personal stuffs are also fun sometimes. And sometimes even non-personal stuffs which you think is fun are absolutely annoying. Well your likes and comments should give you a clear idea of categorizing your content.

2. When not FUN, it should be INFORMATIVE

Let it be something that'll intrigue the readers. Give them something to think about. Give them something new that they've never known or thought of. Social media can be a wonderful platform to share knowledge. Being a lecturer, I read a lot of articles, journals, watch videos and share them, that most often leads to a discussion with my students who further read, watch and share them. I use this social platform to clarify a lot of myths many a times. So many people on social media are again foolish enough to read, believe and further share fake and unnecessary material. I try my best to aware these people about the authenticity of things shared over Facebook.

3. It's a great place to SELL

Yes, SELL. The world is going digital and why not marketing and selling your product digitally? I've realized it to be the best platform to market and sell your stuff. The mainstream media has become very expensive and its credibility and effectivity is highly questionable these days. And for young entrepreneurs and low-cost startups, there's no better place than the web to promote. So when Facebook asks you "What's on your mind" just answer back with "I've got my product on my mind". For a hundredth of the cost of mainstream media you can reach the actual customers you want. Sometimes it just happens for free. Depends on how creative you are.

4. Protest, Revolt, Change.

Social Media is the People's Media. And I've always believed in that. In a country like Nepal where most media are dishonest, biased and corrupt, social media can be used effectively to fight against the anarchic discrimination of mainstream media. Virality is the key. It's a place where you can complain to the Government, criticize yellow journalism, whitsle blow against the culprits, debate and make people aware in mass about it. Personally some of my own efforts have borne results and since then my trust in it has grown. Sometimes the pressure can build up to such an extent that the concerned authorities are compelled to act.

5. The SAND BAG

Last but not the least, it's a "Sand Bag". It's a great psychological let out sometimes. But please, limit it to only sometimes. Because again too much of your psychological let out is again no fun for other people, which takes us back to point number 1. The best thing is always having some real person to talk to but I can understand that there can be situations when you can't, and yes then comes this blank space where you write your heart out.

Now this may not be the exhaustive list of how to properly fill up that blank space but I'm sure it will help people who're still confused.

And yes the link to this blog is also going in that blank space as well.

99 Shop Syndrome

It started with the phrase "Harek maal aath aana" meaning every product for 50 paisa, that my dad used to tell us about. He used to put up a shop at Lal Bazaar during the '60's and there would be an array of products ranging from combs, to toys to mirrors, all available for 50 paise.

Then my dad again used to talk about the dollar shops in the US of A with the same concept. And long after coming back from the land of dreams, and when I had grown up enough to pursue my career in marketing, came the 99 shops in Nepal.

For us it was nothing new. But for the Kathmanduites it was exciting. There were 99 shops everywhere. Even the regular retailers with a good reputation converted their shops to 99 shops. Then one fine morning I woke and all those 99 shops had vanished. Or some had changed to 199 and 299 and 399 shops. Meaning it really weren't the 99 shops that it was supposed to be, purely defeating the purpose. Many lost a lot of money too. And what killed it was it's growth itself. It grew so rapidly, making it a fad, that actually none of them could continue sustainably.

Well still the people of Kathmandu haven't understood. And I thought this "99 Shop Syndrome" a term coined by myself, is here to stay.

So where can we see this syndrome right now? Well it's there everywhere except for the fact that it's a bit more visible in, ofcourse lucrative businesses. But it's not about the businesses that has concerned me anymore. It's the business of the businesses. Yes I'm talking about STARTUPS and the investment in these startups by the venture capitalists or investors.

Yes as an underdeveloped nation this was much needed. But with a few personal experiences, I've come to the conclusion that many of these 'business of businesses' aren't here for the REAL BUSINESS, i.e., encouraging startups and letting them grow and make them sustainable in the future. Many have come with a different motive of making a quick buck within a few months, many have come with a motive of exploiting someone's lucrative idea, and many have come with a purpose of taking a shortcut to success using someone elses idea as the ladder, or rather an elevator.
Again someone will come and argue that if someone is benefiting then WHY NOT? Yes that is there but the Nepalese scenario has never been so open minded regarding some outsiders being involved and hence big profit making partnerships have collapsed. Also in some cases the lack of integrity among the stakeholders have caused many great ventures to perish.

But again why am I talking about all this? Well you can also ask yourself this question. Do you want want the zeal of the young entrepreneurial generation to be crushed below the heavy stones of mistrust, exploitation and unethical practices? Of course not.
And that's one main reason that compels me to think and act about the sporadic germination of unhealthy investment scenario.