ShradhaGiriblogs

I have been thinking lately about all things that mattered once. Let me start with a classic scrap book, 4x8inch with a Axl Rose on the cover. One of my seniors had taken a keen interest in developing my scrap book as the coolest one (not that anyone won a prize) in our school which means both my senior and I dedicated a whole bunch of time and indulged heavily in my fixed pocket money. It turned out excellent. On my senior's insistence I had the pages ordered in pink, green and yellow color and had it hard bound. Sorry if I am being extra indulgent in describing my scrap book but all I remember is the amount of time and dedication I spent in developing the most prized possession of my life. I was in grade 8, the scrap book with the Axl Rose and autographs of 3 boys meant the world to me (it was a big deal in an all-girls school). One of my sisters pointed out - this won't mean a thing to you when you become older, at that time I was in high-school. You know how things ...

Breastfeeding boosts the immune systems of infants and ultimately has a positive impact on public health   B reastfeeding is essential for the survival and proper development of human beings. In time, the development of society, along with shifting work patterns and societal pressure to follow cultural and religious norms, has devalued breastfeeding. This is true even in urban areas. Although Nepal has a relatively small urban population, campaigns targeted at urban mothers are essential. According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011, while breastfeeding within an hour of birth was more common in urban areas (51 percent) than in rural areas (44 percent), exclusive breastfeeding for more than six months was comparatively lower with urban mothers.   In the first hours and days after childbirth, a mother produces the first milk, called colostrum—the most potent natural immune system booster known to science. Mothers in rural areas usually throw away this firs...

So what prompts a girl to give up her life? The decision to end one’s life must be one of the scariest one for someone who intends to commit suicide. I was a fool once because I often thought about ending my life when I broke up with my boyfriend or when I failed an exam. It sounds ridiculous now, but back then I believed life stopped and I wouldn’t be able to get over my problems. I am sure everyone in their lifetime thinks ending one’s life will end all problems. I like to think I am wiser now it must be the constant failing and the frequent setbacks from different relationships – I believe life gives much more than we ask for. This blog isn’t about Bhoomika Kocchar who ended her life at such a ripe age, an age where endless possibilities waited for her; this blog is dedicated to all the women who are fighting their demons in their houses. One of my friends casually commented about Bhoomika’s death and she said, “I can’t come to sympathize her death, she had so many options.” ...

Santosh a 12 year old boy cycled 75 km on 20 th July. A father and his 10 year old daughter finished their 50 km ride at 7pm – better late than never. Our guard, Suklal Tamang 23 completed the 50 km kora in a gearless cycle – a tremendous feat. While I gave up half way and hitched a ride home in a taxi. “I saw many of you today, are you cycling to put pressure on the government to develop cycling pavements?” enquired the taxi driver. There are a lot of issues and important decisions that our government must act on to improve the lives of millions of rural people. But Kathmandu Kora cycling event was much more than pressurizing the government. The cause was owned by every individual cycling on 20 th July – raise 1 million rupees to build a model eco friendly birthing centre in Baitadi. This event has made the general population realize that little contributions can help make a difference. The event witnessed more than 900 online registrations with around 700 riders showing u...

" Never had I witnessed a disaster situation and I was there in the midst of the floods where I saw houses being swept away by the fury of the Mahakali River. With no signs of the rain stopping, I was disoriented and confused before a sense of panic set in. " Darchula District was hit hard by four days of incessant rain starting from 15 to 18 June, 2013. The details in this blog are based on the accounts from Gagan Singh Thagunna, Save the Children's Social Mobilization & Communication Officer based in Dhangadi. An eight member team had travelled to Darchula District in far west Nepal by road on 14 th of June to conduct a media advocacy training workshop for the Suhaara project staff. The rain started to pour the next day and it rained all day and into the night. When Gagan woke up at 5:30 in the morning of 16 th June he saw a list of missed calls in his cell phone. He immediately called his supervisor Laxmi Raj Joshi and soon learned about the mess the p...

http://ekantipur.com/saturday/2013/06/07/as-it-is/voices--shades-of-grey/249698.html In China, the one child policy has imposed a huge burden on young married couples as they are left to care for two sets of graying parents The situation in Nepal might not be quite the same, but here too, young and middle-aged couples, very often with children of their own, shoulder the responsibilities of taking care of their parents and parents-in-law. A happy family where grandparents and grandchildren live together, and where parents provide for everything might sound perfect. But things are hardly as simple as that. Caring for the elderly is a subject matter seldom discussed in Nepal. It is almost taboo to speak of indecisions and doubts regarding the issue but we need to open our eyes and face the reality. The past few decades have seen massive changes in the way our society functions, though, and siblings often share responsibility for their ageing parents. Man and woman stand mo...

Would you cycle for a cause if that cause is orchestrated to save new born lives? I would; not because I work for Save the Children; I care because I am a mother. Did you know that 33,600 children in Nepal die each year before they turn 5? And, did you know that the first 1000 days (the day a child is conceived until the child turns 2.5 years old) is the most critical window period for a child’s survival and its overall growth? (learn about the first 1000 days at www.savethechildren.org ) This July 20 th , Save the Children in partnership with Social Tours is organizing Kora Cycling event with the objective to raise NRs 100,000,0 to build a model birthing centre in Baitadi. Baitadi is the farthest western district of Nepal and is deprived of road access and basic infrastructures. For people living in Shamali VDC, it takes them 2 days on foot to reach the nearest district hospital and 3-4 hours walk to the nearest health post. There is a silver lining - a sub health post is situa...

“ I am a terrible mother ,” the phrase rings naturally in my head when I constantly scream at my three and a half year old daughter with an urge to spank her often. She is a monster in disguise I reason myself when I leave for work heavy with guilt and tears almost brimming from the corner of my eyes once in a while. There are days when she cries from the minute she wakes up only because she does not want to go to school. These days make me want to take a hike and never return.   But then there are days when she lets out a faint smile begging me to hold her just once before I leave home melts my heart. The mornings when she wakes up happy and cuddles beside me makes me want to have more cute babies just like her. And the time when she comes running to me proclaiming her love louder and louder swells my heart so large I take a long breath to grasp enough air in my lungs. Yes I know, these cute devils grow up fast and I am frequently reminded by my loved ones to spend more time...

Six decades ago, my mother was the only girl child in her classroom. Her cousins and the community turned against my grandfather for sending a girl to school. A smart girl who often tutored math courses to her younger sisters in law. I wonder what kind of life my mother would lead had she completed her education. Always shy and composed my mother has learned the art of hiding her emotions when times have tested her and her faith shaken. Six decades later and a whirlwind of events, my mother defied all odds to remain strong in the face of all her children - never breaking down. Many times when I would ask my mother how she met dad, she would speak in monosyllables without giving the story a romantic spin – my only interest for romance left for imagination. She must have sensed my intention and sometimes she let out a faint smile but never encouraging me. The questions I asked then as a teenager vary widely to the questions, I ask now as a mother. Being a mother, I now understan...

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2013/04/26/on-saturday/eespeaking-english/248047.html “If one has to earn a MBA degree to work in a management position and an Engineering degree to become an Engineer why are teachers in Nepal teaching without an education degree?” The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of The Economist , has attempted to measure countries that are best for a newborn. I checked and rechecked the whole list and was sad to see Nepal missing from the good lists again. Nothing surprising though, I reckon we may never appear in the list until our children continue ispeaking English. Being a mother of a toddler is tiring enough, finding a proper kindergarten in Kathmandu is depressing. I admitted my daughter in a Montessori exactly a year ago hoping for better. Of course, I won’t blame the school for not teaching my daughter everything there is to teach in a year but I do blame the Montessori for teaching my daughter to i speak En...