The Monkey Mind

(PC:  https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/how-nepal-has-tried-to-tackle-the-covid19-pandemic-66173/ )     In Nepal , as we are going through the second phase of lockdown, social work is indispensable more than ever. For individuals, families, and communities across the nation, there is a need for immediate assistance which the government has sadly been unable to be responsible for. What it could only do is keep people hostage in their own homes while the ruling government can centralize more authority and power in its grasp. Even though I am not a political animal, I could perceive the frustration evident in the minds of both apolitical and political communities. Also, the game of politics and the abuse of power has been ringing like a siren in social media platforms and major news channels. But, sadly it has fallen on the deaf ears. Therefore, it is a necessity for social organizations and social workers to step up and bridge the gap of the needy and more fortunate during these sad

"Happiness is overrated. How could it be? How could it be not?" Look in each and every face visible online on social media or on glossy pages of magazines and newspapers. Beautiful faces with the perfect body of amazon or the chiseled body of Spartan, they are still in vogue. Their charming smile haloed by the “celebritism” still mesmerizes the eyes and ignites the greed to have something similar. They represent the epitome of success. The sweet smell of happiness within the success beckons not only the unsuspecting mind but also the intellectual Consumerism has driven greed. The greed to earn more money and spend more. Cosmetics, apparel, and outer image enhanced with social media like Instagram and Snapchat. They claim they can impart to your happiness forever. There is always competition to be the new hype, author of the next viral item (video or photo) and yet it never seems to end. As long as people know how to gossip as they have been doing since the stone age, the so-c

 It is natural to be attracted to the opposite sex. That is what we call "crush" And when we go further it becomes "relationship" A feeling of connection and companionship exists. The relationship is the beginning of a serious aspect of life that either pulls someone to madness or pushes them to the top.  Going further or be back to safety it is unto the seeker.  When love comes knocking, it feels like the whole world is with you or against you. Your so-called love takes all the mental space and does away all the physical needs; hunger, thirst, sleep, and the very reason why you are alive, willing to live. That is the heart talking if the heart could so speak.  But, if we take a moment. Reflect all our feelings in the cold rationale. It is untrue, the world does not care. The one whom you have feelings for may never look at you. Until you confess. Confess with all the courage you could muster.  Imagine, you are the girl. How would you feel when someone suddenly come

 Online Learning is more popular than ever. Social distancing has bolstered its influence as fear of COVID-19 is growing continuously. Especially in developing countries like Nepal, where the health system is still poor, this has been an alternative to traditional learning. Yet, its suitability is equally questioned on its viability in terms of factors like economy, socio-psychological, poor infrastructure, and such.  Physical presence has been part of our learning process be it formal education or vocational. Besides that, as social beings, we learn through "physical" communication, competition, and co-operation. Only when we are there like actually there, then we feel we are part of the learning process. It is considered part of our social life where we enjoy the physical presence of others. Why do most of us prefer hard copies of books rather than online PDF/E-pub? Why we make time for friends to have a cup of tea? It is because we give importance to the presence that can

  Plato, "Knowledge is the statement adhering three aspects: truth, justification and belief." Besides truth, justification and belief, knowledge should be measured based on the value. To understand the value, first there is the need to understand information. Everyone has a myriad quantity of information on the tip of the finger. How? Its' the internet! The internet offers us a lot of information. But its value based on the amount is questionable. In turn, how much of the information can be knowledge? Valuable in terms of person, his/her needs, time (immediate/in near future/situational), place (education/work/spiritual palace), material significance (income/investment/expense), knowledge is so understood. It is then inferred as the information i.e. valuable to a particular person/group for a particular purpose for a particular time/place. Thereby, knowledge is a untapped resource until put into use, on the basis of which human endeavors are started, continued and then

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” Helen Keller American educator Helen Keller overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one of the 20th century's leading humanitarians. And she did it with her lifelong teacher and friend Anne Sullivan. Their first memorable moment was when Keller learned to spell "W-A-T-E-R" with the help of Anne.  That beautiful moment opened her to an entire whole world she did not know existed. Here is one of the rare videos recorded sharing their experience together:   Later Helen wrote world-renowned books like The Story of My Life (1905) with help of Anne and her husband, The World I Live In (1908), Out of the dark (1913), Light In My Darkness (1927), and many more.  S he traveled to over 35 countries and changed the lives of millions with hope and courage. She taught the world even those who are differently able can help others, bring lasting change, and share happiness.   It is strange but true, by giving we a

"We are beings of habit. Without a doubt, we live in the comfort of familiarity. It makes everything so much more easier to live in a routine. Yet life is not only about constancy. We need to change according to the changing world."  Like a truck slamming you in the middle of sidewalk change comes knocking on the door. COVID-19 came with a bam, then isolation and now loosening of the lock-down. Of course there was tell-tail signs. Yet, like everything else, we normal people choose to ignore it. It is what we do. We look up at tragedy of Civil wars or starvation. We pity those mentioned in the news headlines one day. Then, live our life as usual another. It is the nature which we cannot undo and we are powerless to bring big changes ourselves. Only when it has effects to our personal world and thereby "us" then we take steps to adjust our personal space to adapt to the inevitable change. With the prolonged social isolation, we have changed the way we do things. We ne