MUSIC and MAN..Healing Nepal

People say that music is connected to our souls. Apparently, this seems true as people begin to involuntarily shake their heads when they hear a particular song. Some may question: Does this really happen? Yes, of course! I am pretty sure Adolf Hitler enjoyed the Nazi beats and Osama Bin Laden loved songs which said something like, "Oh America, you're going down down daaaoooonnn!"
What makes music such a dynamic form of communication to the soul? Music has got something divine that connects it to the soul, and that divine something is yet to be discovered. My little sister, who can't even speak an authentic word (no one can when they are just five months into the world), begins moving her arms and legs with a consuming light in her eyes upon hearing any form of music.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a vast increase in the number of people listening to music with the increasing popularity of the radio. Music then began to be known as the art of exploring new rhythms, styles and sounds.
People also began to see music as a medium for self-enlightenment. In the 1960s, people believed that music combined with very strong psychedelic substances like LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) could be a tool for changing us into what we are supposed to be. Regular users said that it enabled them to see through the invisible mask that everyone had put on themselves. They said that it powered their spiritual side and enabled them to understand life and death.
People also claim that you can judge a person's character by the kind of music he likes and the components of a song - music, lyrics, vocal, tone - that he focuses more on. For instance, if someone likes Bob Dylan, there is a 95 per cent chance that he/she is a quiet, critical, honest and emotional person. I have met a few people who act as if they like Bob Dylan or the Beatles (but they don't actually) making room for the other 5 per cent I mentioned earlier.
Music is a tool that can reduce chronic pain, improve our mood, decrease the blood pressure, help stroke recovery, lower the heart rate, calm down, and enhance our ability to learn and many other countless things. A study report that inspired me to write this article claimed that music could reduce chronic pain from diseases such as osteoarthritis by 21 per cent and depression by 25 per cent. Also those listening to Celtic, classical or Indian (raga) can significantly lower their blood pressure, too.
Music is a powerful tool, an unchanged reality, a fine bright spot in the dark, a curious stare into the unknown. Music gives us wings; it carries us through uncertainties; it gives us ears to listen to our spirit. Most importantly, it is a weapon of truth and is free!

SOCIETY CILILI"S"ED

I look at you and witness the change. I start reasoning within my authority; and muffle the truth inside a blanket as I reluctantly began to judge you. I hate you! You are DESPICABLE. What if I am wrong? What if you are not something I see from the outside? What if you are as pure as gold? Do I despise myself then ?

Everyday you show up with frothy ideas that might seem to resonate with your concerns. You might be aware of the hunger and disease; you might have the knowledge of violence and rape. In the end, you take it for granted: that people are hungry; that disease is consuming civilization and mankind;that violence and rape rest on the pedestal.Invisibly. And there you are, taking it for granted; say these things happen. Why don't you do something about it then ?

Playing by the Rules ?

    During the time of crisis in the country devastated by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the so-called "leaders" of the country have their inner animals on leash. Reports of political parties forcing engineers to mark the buildings, belonging to their own that saw minor damage after the tremor, as "completely inhabitable" and put them up to receive the aid money have surfaced. While numerous inhabitants of the 8 quake affected districts still wait for any kind of help, this gruesome act has led us to a question ; "who do we trust now?"


  Only after a month of the event that devastated central Nepal, these evidences of selfish extremes has only deepened the pain. A couple of days ago media person Krishna Bohara was assaulted for "just asking questions". This pathetic act only suggest that Nepal might be heading the way that Haiti did in 2010.


   Most of the relief material brought in the country have been stacked up in government offices, routinely disappearing, and have not been able to reach where necessary. Officials speak of a certain "process" they need to follow at Monsoon's door which is sure to drain away if assisted by any further delay. "So far monsoon has been kind on us by being late" says TMDP secretariat member Ajay Jha, "had it started, the people north would just be lost".


    Another shocking revelation said that council of ministers refused technical help from Japan and asked for money instead saying "we will build, re-create" ourselves. This news, although, is not confirmed, it doesn't really seem impossible.

Crafting Theft and Insecure Nepal

While the locals of the city of Janakpurdham believe in the progress the city would make with the Indian government's endeavour of building the 59-Km railway line, extending further, the raw materials stationed at different places along the construction line are reported being stolen.

 Ramchandra Sah, Executive Chief of the Railway Office in Janakpurdham, says " the cases of theft are occurring in lack of adequate human resources to guard the old infrastructures of the railway". 

 "This is shameful and inhuman" says local Ramchandra Pathak who used to be a regular passenger of the poor Railways. Alam kalwari, a local guard, shared his concerns and fears of being man-handled since there are lack of manpower guarding the lines stacks up an impending doom over the property.

Indian government is set to expand the railway into a broad gauge railway (badi line) and the investment already sums up to 240 million only for  compensation to households in Dhanusha, Mahottari and Siraha. The workers here are removing the old infrastructures like the railway tracks, engine of the old bogies and making way for the big relief to Janakpur.

However, very less attention has been thrown at this misfortune and the losses could sum up to be exasperating on a country stricken by the recent earthquake that has devastated the people, the economy and has all of us contempt. The risk of theft and loss remains, and our sufferings extended.