Here's the link.
http://nepaljapan.com/gallery/DC/New_Folder/july/chalchitra%20mahotsab.htm

Haaa, Bicharo Shiva bro!!

If any of us were there, in that situation, we'd have done the same, may be more... hah.

They said they wouldn't do that post '90 political change, boy, they lied. ha...
In a new mellennium, if they do it better, I won't be surprised. :D

यो सब नौटंकी हो :D

OK,

It's been a slow day, so let me take up your posting.

On this PUBLICLY available site, ANY part of your or anyone else's posting can be used to pass comments on -- both good or bad.

Maybe you are new to this whole Sajha thing, but this is the nature of FREE-FLOWING and a DEMOCRATIC nature of public discussions. This is why, I tolerate Nepe's
postings, while he, presumably, tolerates mine . . . and life goes on just fine.

You are a democrat; why do you have such a difficult time dealing with the fact that
any part of your posting can be picked by anyone to comment upon publicly?

I certainly have NO problem if you or others do the same to my comments.
This give-and-take of ideas and opinions is what makes Sajha Sajha.

FYI, I have NEVER claimed myself as "a brilliant product of Harvard Business School".
Most Sajha visitors know this. If others portray me as such, then, they are being
kind and untruthful.

Hence, my simple request to you: If you are going to use my words against me (and that's fine!), then, FIRST at least please quote me accurately.

That's the basic act of decency you can do. At least, I have NEVER misquoted you!
Else, your use of FALSE evidence and FALSE quotes make you look doubly khattam.

If engineers like you (and I FULLY know that this reference to your engineering background pisses you off, and hence I am using this for the LAST time), repeatedly FAIL to consider counter-arguments and counter-evidence to any position, then,
it's sad that despite your technical education, you remain unable to use its tools to understand and explain social issues around us by using simple and clear
straightforward logic.

As for my political views, maybe my columns in Nepali Times may give you some ideas
on a case-by-case basis. Meantime, I enjoy challenging so-called democrats on Sajha
to informally sharpen my own thinking about various issues related to Nepal.

oohi
ashu

So Ashu dai, as a real/practical democrat that you are, you won't hesitate to 'raja/ rani ko khutta ma dhogna' in the same way as Shiva Shrestha did? Yes or No? Do me a favour by replying short and precisely to the point.

-One of the self styled democrats.

About bowing sowing ko kura haru,

In the end it all boils down to faith. Think about Shree Shree Shree Shahi Baba. Some people adore him, some people would kiss his feet, some people wouldn't wanna touch him with a 5 ft pole.

Discussing whose faith is betterh whose faith is not is pretty useless because there is not going to be any answer.

Personally I wouldn't treat them any differently than any other person of their age. I would give them the same respect and courtesy that I'd give to anyone who's older than me, because that's my culture.
Even our Nepalese culture of respecting elders and bowing to them might be classified as "Slave Mentality" by the self stylized democrats here.

In the end, different strokes for different folks. Nothing to write home about.

Ashuji
i wish it were not your intent but from the phrasing of your argument (everytime you post, without exception) it appears that you are trying to label all who oppose you as arrogant people - this time the engineers.

the way some US-return, especially kathmandu bahira nadekhneharu, folks behave really sucks. have you ever tried to compare yourself with C K Lal, who is an engineer, writes a column in the Nepali Times as you do which appears above yours both in the magazine's physical layout as well as user rating. C K Lal is an engineer, educated in Nepal and India, and is lot more read, lot more applauded than your highness adamancy.

Will you stop claiming your supremacy just being able to write some english vocabulary beyond Oxford English dictionary's 20000 most-commonly-used list?

Baafre!!! where do I begin? Hmmmmm.... :s

Some of us are not questioning Shiva Shrestha's individual right to "DHOGO" whoever he wants. Yes, that is his own personal, democratic perogative. By the same token, though, it is anyone else's democratic right to criticize what Shiva Shrestha has done, for WHATEVER reason(s). The latter is NOT proposing a jail sentence for him, or torturing him, or banning him from acting in future movies, or harrassing him or his family members, or gang raping him, etc., for crying out loud! There is a HUGE difference between BEING CRITICALLY OPINIONATED AND ENGAGING IN FREE AND HEALTHY DISCUSSIONS, and UNDEMOCRATICALLY ENFORCING THOSE OPINIONS. I have not seen ANY of us opposed to Shiva Shrestha's actions in the above picture indulging in the latter in this thread. So much so for arguments on individual rights.

"DHOGNE PRATHA" as such is not being questioned either. I would do that to my parents any given moment, perhaps to some of my dearest teachers too. I do that everyday to The Almighty after my daily puja-paath. I might even do that to ANY individual whom I believe has done tremendous good to humanity. So much so for arguments on cultural aspect of what Shiva Shrestha has done in the above picture.

The real and the only question, therefore, is on why he would do that to the individual concerned in the picture, namely Komal Shah.

Notwithstanding the fact that the monarchs of Japan and Thailand perhaps have done a lot more good to their respective people than the monarch of Nepal has done to his, I would still oppose Thai people crawling to greet their monarch and the Japanese bowing low to theirs IF the people are doing it simply because they are royals, and not because of the formers' deeds. There are some obvious examples of royals doing tremendous good to humanity. Take Princess Di, for example. She utilized her royal stature to help the needy and the poor all around the world. On a large scale too. Now, if anyone would have DHOGO-ed Princess Di out of sheer respect for what she has done -- and if that person's way of expressing that respect was to DHOGO -- let him/her do that. Glory be all his/hers. [Another level of respect for Princess Di: I strongly suspect if she would have let people DHOGO her like that.]

The point is, we need not show respect of that magnitude (by DHOGING) to someone merely because that someone happned to be born a royal. There maybe some who would genuinely believe that Komal Shah has done tremendous good to the Nepali people and would like to show respect to her by DHOGO-ing her. Shiva Shrestha very well could have been one of them. That is FINE. HOWEVER, the fact remains that Nepalis in general are TAUGHT, i.e., MANIPULATED, to believe that we must do that to the members of the royal family just because they are born royals. It is about time we began to question NOT the cultural practice of DHOGNE PRATHA, but to whom we bestow respects of such grandiose magnitude. That's all.

I wonder if some of us here questioning the questions raised about DHOGO-ing the royals would have done that themselves too -- particularly to Paras Shah -- if it came to that. Or, for that matter, to naabaalak Hridayandra Shah, who is not as notoriously screwed up like his father, but neither has he had the opportunity to prove his magnificent kindness and genorosity, but still is an innocent, yet a ROYAL child.

Shiba shrestha ley rani ko goo khaye pani khawosh, kina feri lamo lamo lekh upalekh ma bahas sahas. Dhett ke garya tyesto bhanyo ani sakkyo. Lamo lamo mahakabye lekhnu parne karan ta kehi thiyena.

One thing that I have noticed around the clock here in sajha is that there is a anti royal group who have unmetered hate towards the royals in Nepal. At any point they will raise thier heads to denouce the royals.

My thought on this is, either do something about it, go back to Nepal and take care of them, become a shahid or something, or else stop boring us with the same shit everyday. Obviously you don't hate them enough to leave your present cosy lifestyle. If you really hate them my advice and suggestion is go to Nepal and actively work on getting them out of the country or take the power away from them.

All this negativity in sajha can't be good for you fellars. Ulcer hola ke ke hola ke ke. Tyehi kura hazar choti sunda sunne lai wakka lagi sakyo. Kati matra badbadauna sakney ho yo keta haru tyo pani tyehi yeuta kura.

All talk and no action makes jack look pretty stupid.

I think in that picture, it seems somethings dropped and Shiva Shrestha went to pick it up.

I like the anthropological explanation given by Isolated Freak to certain behavior of humans or group of humans which define a culture. However, I would also like to stress the fact that due to the submissive behavior, which could be explained as showing respect to authority or elders, found in Nepalese culture, we are exposing our venerability to manipulation and abuse. Moreover, we are also considering the elasticity of one?s mind to judge who is to be respected or to be bowed down on, and what criteria makes them so.
Even though I do not comply with US mentality of ?Respect should be earned,? at the same time it is quite ridiculous to respect or submit to just about anyone without knowing the full credentials of such person or position. For me, we should respect a person as an individual unless that respect is taken advantage of, unlike in Nepal, where we keep respecting any elders even when they wipe their feet all over us.

Hare Shiva..shiva... kina etro halla....

Arule sutukkai bhui sorera garchhan, Shiva Shrestha le TV camera ko aghi garyo. Akhir farak tetti ho. Way to go Shiva, you are a good role model for the new generation!

Now you have paid your respect publicly to the queeen in Thai style, it is upto the royalties to live upto the standard of the Thai monarch. I, for one, would not mind paying my respect to the King and Queen in the Thai style if that is what comes from my inner self which is to be generated from the deeds of the monarch.

?There maybe some who would genuinely believe that Komal Shah has done tremendous good to the Nepali people and would like to show respect to her by DHOGO-ing her. Shiva Shrestha very well could have been one of them.?

Spot on! You hit the nail on the head.

That?s precisely what I meant in my earlier post when I said that I could sort of see why he did what he did.

Shiva Shrestha is a grown-up man and not a teenager. I am sure he is perfectly capable of making decisions for himself without having to be told what is good or what is bad.

Lokman,

We have YOU, who genuinely believe Queen Komal Shaha has done tremendous good to Nepal by farting in the Royal Commode of the Narayan Hiti Royal Palace.

Now, it behooves on your part to pay homage to such hermit soul by KHUTTA-DHOG, CHAK-KANYAI, you name any.

KING KOMAL KO DARTING FARTING ? AMAR RAHOS !!!

KING KOMAL KO BOWEL MOVEMENT ? JINDABAD !!!

Thou are such a lucky bastard, the Royal Commode of the Narayan Hiti. Making some Sajhaites like Lokman Jealous.

Thought I would add this...

Before 'what good has the queen done' question is asked - Shiva Shrestha isn't necessarily expressing his reverence to the queen per se, rather the gesture is directed towards the institution of monarchy as the queen does represent it.

Maybe Shiva Shrestha sees the monarchy as the ultimate guardian of the nation and people as many Nepalis do.

Houston, you are one of the most negative persons I have seen on here. You are a sad case. You really are. What can I say..?

Lokman,

I have no respect for sycophants and their fealty. This is the coolest I could be.

Be positive with sycophants, for me that would be a tall order to meet

shiva dai le stage dhognu bhayeko ho sathi haru...thats what artists do...

"I have no respect for sycophants and their fealty."

A pot calling kettle and everything black... How charming!

"Notwithstanding the fact that the monarchs of Japan and Thailand perhaps have done a lot more good to their respective people than the monarch of Nepal has done to his, I would still oppose Thai people crawling to greet their monarch and the Japanese bowing low to theirs IF the people are doing it simply because they are royals, and not because of the formers' deeds. "

Anil ji,

I strongly disagree with your above statement. I don't know much about Thailand since I am yet to study South East Asian politics and society in detail, but as far as Japan is concerned, as far as my little understanding of the Japanese society goes, the Japanese people bow down to greet their monarch/members of the Royal family, because of the respect for the institution. The Japanese system, just like our's is based on hierarchical order. Before the Tokagawa Shogunate period, the society was a fiefdom where the landlords had their Samurai soldiers, who believed in the Boshido code of honor, which put the "master/landlord" above everything else. Then after the Tokagawa takeover, the Tokagawa Shogunate (the institution) became the "authority" and the landlords along with their Samurai soldiers bowed down to the Shoguns. Then came the Meiji restoration of 1860s, when the Emperor assumed the state controls and the Shinto religion was promoted as the official religion of Japan, and the Emperor made the high priest of the Yakashuni Shrine, the people's loyalty shifted towards the emperor. Then the state to "reinforce" the people's loyalty and submission to the monarch, actively promoted the myth of "yamato" spirit and Amatesrasu Omikami, which was again reinforced with the concept of Kokutai (imperial polity), which continued till August 15, 1945. If you look at the history of Japan, the Japanese monarchy has done more harm to the nation than any other monarchy. It dragged Japan into two world wars, and the monarchy's over ambition was what led to the disastrous bombings of Japan. Despite all this, the population which is a mixture of the Shinto, Buddhists and Christians, still revers the King, because of Japan's tradition and culture of "submission". The Japanese were/are fully aware of the fact that the two world wars Japan got involved with was fought in the name of the emperor, and all the massacres and tortures that the troops of the Japanese Army inflicted on the people of China, Korea and the Philippines, had been, approved, if not ordered, by the emperor, Hirohito. And despite all this, Hirohito continued to rule Japan. Even a staunch democrat like Douglas Mcarthur, who had all the necessary powres to make Japan a republic, had to retain the institution of monarchy to preserve the "social" order. The Kokutai, in its altered form exists even today.

The point is: Asians have different value systems. Our religions teach us to be submit to the authorities/institutions. This is how it works. The west is an individualistic society, where as the East is a holistic society, where one's family, authority, and the State have a deep impact on any individual's life. You cannot sperate the individual or society from the state, nor make the individuals believe that the state is an artifical creation. We tend to (consiously or unconsciously) link the state with the social, religious and metaphysical aspects. The state thus, becomes something so complicated that the individuals do not even bother to question it (no matter what kid of system you have), and bow down to the authorty/institutions. The state is linked with the heaven and the ruler/monarch is seen as having some sort of divinbe powers. "The mandate of heaven", "he son of Amaterasu Omikami" or "the incarnation of Bishnu/Boddhisatva" or viewing the ruler as their father figure, is one way the Asians have come to demistify the state/monarch. Its not being not liberal, democratic or free, its just they don't want to and they cannot apply the western concept of "artificialty of the state" in these places. Their collective thinking is shaped by the tradition, religion, kinship structure and other anthropological aspects, and that's that. Therefore, you cannot criticize or loathe their cultural practice, just because they tend to see the monarchs/authorities differently than you. Nor you can insult the collective intelligence of these people by saying they are "manipulated" people. Think of Asia as not an extension of the west, but as consisting of the societies that are so different from the west. Then you'll understand why people bow low or crawl to greet their monarchs.

I know Ashu does not believe in numbers, which are outside of his interests or his ideological beliefs. Ironically, it is also a news with numbers (I am FULLY sure that Ashu does not believe in media too !).

***
एफएम समाचारमा शतप्रतिशत मत
कान्तिपुर संवाददाता

काठमाडौं, असार ३० - 'एफएममा समाचार चाहिन्छ/चाहिँदैन' भन्ने विषयमा बिहीबार अधिराज्यभर सम्पन्न निर्वाचनका झन्डै शतप्र्रतिशत सहभागीले 'चाहिन्छ' भन्ने पक्षमा मतदान गरेका छन् । राजधानीमा मात्र ९९ दशमलव ५ प्रतिशत मत 'चाहिन्छ' भन्ने पक्षमा खसेको छ ।
माघ १९ पछि सरकारले एफएम रेडियो समाचार प्रसारण गर्न रोक लगाएपछि त्यसविरुद्घ संघर्षरत स्वतन्त्र रेडियो बचाऊ आन्दोलनले सर्वसाधारणको विचार बुझ्न निर्वाचन गराएको थियो ।

नयाँ बानेश्वर चोकमा अपराह्न ५ बजेदेखि एक घन्टासम्म भएको निर्वाचनमा २ हजार १ सय १८ मत खसेको थियो । यसमध्ये २ हजार १७ मत समाचार चाहिन्छ, २७ मत चाहिँदैन भन्ने पक्षमा खसेको थियो भने ७४ मत बदर भयो ।

नतिजा घोषणा गर्दै निर्वाचन सुपरिवेक्षक एवं प्रमुख निर्वाचन अधिकृत मानव अधिकारवादी सुबोधराज प्याकुरेलले समाचार प्रसारण गर्न पाउनुपर्छ भन्ने पक्ष्ामा रहेको पुष्टि भएको बताउनुभयो ।

'सरकार थोरै पनि जनमतको सम्मान गर्न चाहन्छ भने अहिलेदेखि नै समाचार प्रसारणमा फुकुवा गर्न माग गर्छु,' उहाँले नतिजा घोषणा गर्दै भन्नुभयो । निर्वाचनमा सर्वासाधारणहरूले उत्सुकतापूर्वक भाग लिएका थिए । निर्वाचनकै क्रममा सञ्चारकर्मीहरूले मोबाइल सेवा खोल्न माग गर्दै 'मोबाइल सेट' पनि प्रदर्शन गरे । प्रदर्शनमा नेपाली प्रेसको अवस्था अध्ययन गर्न आएको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मिडिया मिसनका पदाधिकारीले पनि ऐक्यबद्घता प्रदर्शन गरेका थिए ।

यसैगरी दाङमा भएको तीन घन्टा लामो निर्वाचनमा ५ हजार चाहिन्छ, १ सय २७ चाहिँदैन भन्ने पक्ष र ४१ मत बदर भएको थियो । यसै गरी परासीमा सम्पन्न मतदानमा भाग लिएका ६ सय ५० मतदातामध्ये ६ सय १२ जनाले समाचार प्रसारणका पक्ष्ामा मत हालेको कान्तिपुर समाचारदाताले जनाएका छन् ।

हेटौंडामा मतदानका सहभागीमध्ये ९८ प्रतिशतले एफएमले समाचार प्रसारण गर्न पाउनुपर्छ भन्ने पक्षमा मतदान गरे । विराटनगरमा भएको निर्वाचनमा १ सय ९१ र विपक्षमा १६ मत र तीन मत बदर भएको छ ।

***
---
OK
*Enjoying the only-negative comments from Self-Styled Professional-Commentators*

are "manipulated" people. Think of Asia as not an extension of the west, but as consisting of the societies that are so different from the west where you cannot apply the western value systems to judge their performences.