We must learn and grow. Without learning, we will remain stunted, much like malnourished children who cannot grow healthily and happily due to poor nutrition caused by the poverty of the mind (lack of knowledge and ignorance) and the economic conditions of their parents, who are responsible for raising and caring for them. As sensible intellectual beings, we humans need to educate ourselves as best as we can, sharing factual, truthful, and evidence-based knowledge and information to become aware and awaken from our state of ignorance.
Recognizing this, I opened my Facebook account in 2005 while studying for my Master of Public Health degree in Australia. However, once I returned to Nepal in early 2006 after completing my studies, I stopped using Facebook. It was not until 2011, when I went back to Australia for my doctoral program, that I decided to use Facebook again to connect and learn from people and professionals in my home country, Nepal, as well as others around the world. Since then, I have used Facebook as a platform for learning and sharing, aiming to free myself from the darkness of my mind clouded by mythological facts, irrational assertions, claims, and blame that serve to humiliate, dominate, discriminate, and marginalize certain groups of people based on class, caste, and gender.
On Facebook, I used to engage in heated discussions and arguments on the issues I posted, supported by available evidence. As part of my doctoral research, I delved into the topic of discrimination based on biological sex, questioning why such discrimination exists in human society but not in animal society. I sought to understand the root causes of this discrimination and gradually came to realize that irrational mythological knowledge and information, characterized by claims, assertions, blame, shame, manipulation, alteration, cheating, stealing, and fear, have been ruling human society when critically analyzing historical facts and figures. Since then, I have preferred using Facebook over other social media platforms because it allows me to share links to different news portals and articles and express my thoughts and ideas freely, helping to remove the blind spots in our minds.
This morning, a person named Harry Bhatt from the USA shared a link titled "http://www.hindupedia.org/en/Zoroastrianism_and_Hinduism" on a status I posted on December 4, 2014, entitled "Brahmins' Contribution to the Promotion of Buddhism" (see at https://www.facebook.com/notes/laxmi-tamang/brahmins-contribution-for-the-promotion-of-buddhism/10204532546167646/comment_id=10211597880636592¬if_t=note_comment¬if_id=1496167938795768). In response, I wrote, "Zarathustra was a Kashmiri Brahman born near the Urni Jabbar mountain in Uri, a town and tehsil in the Baramulla district, in the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir, India." This morning, I shared this information again in my Facebook status, stating, "However, this may not be easily accepted by many blind followers of dogmatic faith. I find Facebook to be a great source of learning and sharing knowledge and information from across the globe."
When I opened the link, I discovered that Harry Bhatt himself had written an article titled "Zoroastrianism and Hinduism." I copied and pasted the article details into my blog for the convenience of my blog visitors.
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Monday, 29 May 2017
Dilemma while helping unmarried adolescent pregnant girl termination of her pregnancy: Whom to blame? Who is responsible for her condition?
On 30th April, 2017 while I was resting at home due to my illness, diagnosed having a fatty liver with multiple gall stones on 27 May 2017 at Bir Hospital I picked up the phone call from unidentified number from my phone call list. I heard a voice from a female asking me where she can meet me as earliest as possible. I asked her who is she and why she wanted me to meet then she replied saying, "I am your student and there is a pertinent reason why I wanted to meet you that needs to be told personally, not on the phone." I told her that "Tomorrow I have to go to Bir Hospital for my further investigation so you can come there in the afternoon at around 1 PM to meet me".
On 1 May while I was alone sitting at the Chief Nurse Administrator's Office at Bir Hospital she came there. I asked her why she wanted me to meet and what she has to tell me. She seems sad, worry and hesitate to share her problems. Then I asked her posing question, "Does she has problem relating to her study". She said no. Then I questioned her, "Does she has problem relating to her family". She said no. Then again I enquired her posing question "What's the problem then?". Sobbingly she explained that she has a problem with her younger sister. Then I asked her, what's the problem. She said that her young sister who is never married adolescent of 18 years studying in grade 11 staying in a hostel away from her home district (Dolkha) is a pregnant. She further told that her younger sister does not stay with her in Kathmandu but studying in other city, Hetauda [4 hours drive from Kathmandu] and her parents are unknown about the incident and if they know her condition then they might either commit suicide or die due to heart attack relating to preexisting high blood pressure because of societal prestige. I asked her does her sister has boy friend, she said no. Then I asked her how she became pregnant, she replied that her village school teacher forced her to have a sex while she visited her sister's home town in Chitwan district and now she is pregnant of 35 weeks 3 days weighing fetus 2637 gram and AFI 14 as per the ultrasound dated 1 April 2017. She said I need your help to sort it out her sister problem as earliest as possible as she has to sit for grade 11 exam, which is going to be held from 17 May 20017. She further said that she came with me asking for help because I run birthing centre where is can give birth. I was speechless and I could not say anything because he was sobbingly explaining her younger sister condition. I instantly told her please stop crying, I will help her to sort it out her sister's problem. Then I told her I know some doctors who handle such cases but they charge large amount of money because it is illegal. She asked me how much they might charge. I told her I heard they charge NPR 40-50,000 on the case basis. She said she will manage the cash to address her sister problem. I told her do not worry and go home and I will call her either this evening or tomorrow and we will solve her sister problem by 6 May.
While giving her advice some negative thoughts and ideas popped up in my mind regarding termination of her pregnancy inducing illegally consulting with some doctors that I was aware of. I thoughts about those Nepalese lady doctors (obstetricians and gynaecologists) who charge lot of money for incest or raped cases to terminate their pregnancy and make their income source illegally practising inducing labour to terminate 20 weeks or over gestation. I did not know anything about such illegal practices before but after establishing our birthing centre in 2007 I came to know that there are good number of doctors who does such illegal practice to make their income. One of the senior male health professional to whom I knew through some of my colleagues I invited in our birthing centre to help us to place contraception implant for our clients. According to him after retirement from government job he started to work in Kalimati in one of the government employees' obstetrician and gynaecologist's clinic where incest, raped and 20 weeks or over pregnancy are terminated. Listening his story on one hand I thought that it sounds good to help such cases to solve their problems but on other hand from moral aspect it seems that they are using precondition of innocent and ignorant girls and women to make their income source. Instead if they are really there professionally to help adolescent girls and women then they should strive to prevent such incident to occur raising public awareness to prevent incest or raped and/or educate adolescent girls and women to use contraception for their premarital sex or use emergency contraception immediately after having unprotected sex. I was curious to know how they manage such cases then he told me that doctor induce labour for both second (13-28 weeks) and third trimester (29 weeks and over) pregnancy giving Oxycontin intravenously and/or Misoprostol vaginally or sublingual. I further enquired him, what they do if there is third trimester cases and baby is alive then he said some babies are born alive and cry while they terminated and in such incident they suffocate the baby wrapping in a plastic bag. I was shocked hearing such nasty inhumane attitude and behaviour towards innocent babies and could not believe how they can do such being a professional and sensible intellectual human being.
After some months in a television news had broadcast about similar issues how doctors are involving in malpractice terminating second and third trimester pregnancies illegally. In the news it was shown that healthy third trimester death baby body were thrown in a river banks of Kalimati area and else packing in the plastic bags. While watching television I was reflecting on what was shared to me by that man before.
One day, marketing manager gentleman from Kalimati but from another clinic, opposite to the previous senior male where he works came to our birthing centre and told us that if there are any pregnant cases that needs termination but do not have such service in our birthing centre then he suggested us to refer to his doctor's clinic in Kalimati. And for referring such cases in his doctor's clinic he said that we will get commission. From this I realised that there is a chain of networking business for handling incest and rape cases second and third trimester pregnancies. This is the reason how and why when my student asked me help to terminate her younger sister 35 weeks 3 days via 1 April ultrasound but while she approached me and met on 1 May her sister pregnancy week of gestation was 39 weeks 5 days which means full term pregnancy. So I thought about adoption rather than terminating the pregnancy illegally inducing labour and letting suffocating an innocent baby. Then I consulted my friend network circle asking them whether there are someone in their link who want to adopt a baby. Some of them said "yes", some said "no". I approached mainly nurses who are in my link and are working maternity units and maternity hospital. I was very stressed because I did know whether or not I am able to help my student and her as per my given words. She was keep calling me asking whether or not I found the way out. I reassured her telling any how her sister problem will be solved by 6 May, Saturday. I even told her why can't we ask the teacher who had sex with her asked to accept her. But my student told me that he is married and have children and they do not know where he is now. Then I questioned her why her sister remain and did not tell her, why she even didn't take emergency contraception after having sex with him. She said I don't know. She further said she knew about her pregnancy only when she called two days before going through ultrasound telling her that something is moving on her tummy. Then my student asked her whether or not she is having menstruation then her younger sister said no. Only then she said she has suspected that her sister might be pregnant so immediately she called her to come to Kathmandu.
Anyway, while searching for a couple to adopt the baby I came to know that most of the couples who do not have their own child are anticipating to adopt boy baby rather than girl and in our case we were not aware whether she has boy or girl fetus because sex identification was not done. Therefore, initially some of the women who decided to adopt the baby said they do not want to take risk agreeing to adopt the baby because if she gave the birth of a girl then they would not accept it.
Out of many to whom I approached, I phoned to a male nurse who is working in a maternity hospital asking for help and he was quite positive towards my request then asked me to text details about the case. Then on 3 May at 10:12 AM I sms him below message:
"Dear Bro,
Thanks for your warm response about the raped case pregnancy. After I talked with you about the pregnant girl aged 18 her elder sister called and told me that as per USG dated 1 April 2017 her week of gestation is 35 weeks 3 days. She was raped in Chitwan by her teacher. Originally she is from Dholka district but currently studying in Hetauda. She is sitting for grade 11 exam next month on 3 Jestha (16 May). So she needs to go to Hetauda for her exam.
Currently she is in Kathmandu with her elder sister. Therefore, want to give birth as soon as possible this week and rest for a week for her exam.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you
Laxmi Tamang"
He replied me at 10:40 AM on the same date writing,
"Dr Laxmi,
Good morning, I have talked with Dr Anju Mandal, a gynaecologist. She manages to take for rape case pregnancy baby her relatives. But you have to bring at Om Sai Modern Care Clinic behind the Nagarjun School Dr Anju. Ok"
Then I replied him at 11:19 Am, on the same date writing,
"Thanks a lot. Where is the exact location and when should I bring her."
He replied, "Lalitpur, Kupandole, inside Hanumanthan."
However, in my inner head and heart I was not willing to give this innocent unborn baby let adopt by this lady doctor from tarai origin since I heard that some doctors from Tarai would sell a baby to India to make money. Therefore, I was wondering other option searching for a couple and people to adopt this unborn baby from mountain and hill origin ethic background.
Next day on 4th May at the Ministry of Health I had a meeting with Nursing and Midwifery Policy formation group where I shared about this case with some of my seniors about the case and one of the senior nursing leader madam who happened to be a President of Nursing Association of Nepal said her relative is looking for a baby to adopt. When she asked me about the ethnic group of the pregnant girl I told her that she belongs to the same ethnic group "Brahman" as yours. Then she asked me to send the detail information about the case so I forward the same message that I sent to a male nurse earlier. She told me that she will talk to her relative and will inform me tomorrow. Then next day, she called me, saying that although her relative wanted to adopt the baby but they are looking for a boy baby so would not want to take risk accepting the challenge of unborn fetus. I hope to get solve the problem faded away and I was panicking because of the due date that I gave to her was approaching. Perhaps around 9-10 nurses of my network I approached but all had different stories to tell having couples on their link to adopt a baby but some of them wanted a male baby and some are abroad or away from the Kathmandu valley at the moment. Even I thought about adopting by our APS birthing centre asking our support staff/helper to take care for a baby that I shared to our birthing centre's chairperson, Rashmi Rajopadhyaya but came to know that she has to go for 14 days holiday in the village for his mother-in-law death ritual.
On the other hand, I was receiving frequent calls from my student and I was keep reassuring her anyhow I'll sort it out by 6 May. I also suggested her to educate and provide psychological support to her sister to prepare mentally visualising to give normal vaginal birth teaching breathing exercise and also tell her to walk around and take hot drink to progress the labour once labour pain starts.
Then 6th May knocked my door. It was Saturday morning I was nervous wondering how I am going to solve her problem and to whom to contact for. Again hoping to find out solution I recalled to our birthing centre Chairperson. She said she had before someone who was looking for a baby to adopt. Then I request her to find out whether or not she is still interested to adopt a baby. However, there was a slim chance at this last hour to adopt the baby so again I sent sms at 9:51 Am on 6th May to a male nurse writing,
"Sorry I am out of touch from you because I was not well and diagnosed having a fatty liver with multiple gall bladder stones at Bir Hospital. We have plan to bring today and now already full term. I suppose if I just send client along with her sister should it be find."
He replied me at 12:17 PM texting me,
"If possible you must come for helping her sister. Another easy to find the clinic address doctor's mobile number is 9841208603."
However, while waiting his reply I was trying to find out other option as well then all of a sudden I remember one of the private hospitals' Matron to whom I came to know just a month before. She said that in her hospital they have been handing such cases and there is one doctor in her contact who is looking for a baby to adopt. I asked her about the cost and she said only around NPR 7000/- has to pay for labour charge and rest they'll take care of it. She asked me to send the case immediately to the hospital then I suggested my student to take her sister in that hospital. Then they went to the hospital at 11 AM. At around 1 PM I received a phone call from the woman to whom our Birthing Centre's Chairperson asked her whether or not she is still want to adopt a baby. I told her it is too late because we found a doctor who is ready to adopt a baby. With regret for calling late she told me that "It was my bad luck that I couldn't get this unborn baby to adopt which is my ethic background so ready to adopt irrespective of sex because we have tried several time IVF but couldn't succeeded. So in the near future if you find such case please let me know." I said "Sure I'll late you know but this is very rare case that came to me".
A matron informed me that she has to go through all blood tests because doctor has plan to induce the labour at 4 AM next day early in the morning. Then on 7 May at 1:49 AM my student sent me sms writing,
"Had spontaneous delivery at 1:10 AM, gave birth of a male baby weighing 3000 gram and both mother and baby are fine."
Then I sms her at 4:02 Am texting, "That's great! Congratulation!"
I felt relieved thinking that everything went well. Otherwise I was bit worried initially about inducing the labour because while inducing the labour always everything won't go well. Some time due to fetal distress surgery needs to be performed.
Sadly at 7:00 Am I received a text from my student saying,
"Mam please receive my phone calls. The doctor who wanted to adopt a baby is not in Kathmandu, she is out of Kathmandu I came to know. Now what shall be done?"
Once I received the message I called the hospital's matron and she said the same think but has someone else who wants to adopt the baby if I agreed will inform that person. I told her I'll call her again. Then I called back to the same lady who was sad not having a baby and approached me late. She was very excited when I told her that the girl has a healthy baby boy weighing 3000 gram at 1:10 AM and is ready for you to adopt. She said she was nervous to know that she got the baby which she was not expecting.
Anyway this is how sad and bad story turned into happy ending but I still feel sad and bad to my student's younger sister because she has to go through physically and psychologically turmoil situation for 10 months for the situation that she didn't commit any crime and at the end she has to handover her lovely healthy baby to the unknown couple.
This incident put me in dilemma whether I did good or bad for humanity while helping to this innocent adolescent girl, her sister (my student) and her innocent baby. On one hand I think I did good because my student sister got an opportunity to pursue her education and also her baby got good parent of a similar ethnic background. Besides also couple who did not have a baby despite frequent IVF got a healthy baby.
While going through these 6 days psychological turmoil within myself in helping out my student and her younger sister I was questioning to myself how come grade 11 student didn't know about emergency contraceptive pills, why she didn't take the pillls, how come she never ever thought that she was pregnant once her menstruation stop, and also how come she didn't feel any quickening after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and many such questions were popped up in my mind. I think this is the failure of school sex education. I am wondering and pondering to whom to blame for this situation. Who is responsible for this incident to occur? Adolescent girls? Her parents? Her society? Her schools? Her teachers? or Government system?
This could be just the tip of the iceberg of the adolescent forced pregnancy. There could be many such hidden cases that's why some of the medical professionals are involving in illegally terminating second and third trimester pregnancies making their good source of income and also have been anecdotally reported that many young adolescents and unmarried youths are seeking abortion services especially in private clinics in Nepal. As a healthcare professional I am in favour of prevention rather than problem to occur and cure because curative service is costly both economically as well as psychologically in addition to physically. To do this massive awareness raising campaigns and activities need to be implemented widely and frequently.
While giving her advice some negative thoughts and ideas popped up in my mind regarding termination of her pregnancy inducing illegally consulting with some doctors that I was aware of. I thoughts about those Nepalese lady doctors (obstetricians and gynaecologists) who charge lot of money for incest or raped cases to terminate their pregnancy and make their income source illegally practising inducing labour to terminate 20 weeks or over gestation. I did not know anything about such illegal practices before but after establishing our birthing centre in 2007 I came to know that there are good number of doctors who does such illegal practice to make their income. One of the senior male health professional to whom I knew through some of my colleagues I invited in our birthing centre to help us to place contraception implant for our clients. According to him after retirement from government job he started to work in Kalimati in one of the government employees' obstetrician and gynaecologist's clinic where incest, raped and 20 weeks or over pregnancy are terminated. Listening his story on one hand I thought that it sounds good to help such cases to solve their problems but on other hand from moral aspect it seems that they are using precondition of innocent and ignorant girls and women to make their income source. Instead if they are really there professionally to help adolescent girls and women then they should strive to prevent such incident to occur raising public awareness to prevent incest or raped and/or educate adolescent girls and women to use contraception for their premarital sex or use emergency contraception immediately after having unprotected sex. I was curious to know how they manage such cases then he told me that doctor induce labour for both second (13-28 weeks) and third trimester (29 weeks and over) pregnancy giving Oxycontin intravenously and/or Misoprostol vaginally or sublingual. I further enquired him, what they do if there is third trimester cases and baby is alive then he said some babies are born alive and cry while they terminated and in such incident they suffocate the baby wrapping in a plastic bag. I was shocked hearing such nasty inhumane attitude and behaviour towards innocent babies and could not believe how they can do such being a professional and sensible intellectual human being.
After some months in a television news had broadcast about similar issues how doctors are involving in malpractice terminating second and third trimester pregnancies illegally. In the news it was shown that healthy third trimester death baby body were thrown in a river banks of Kalimati area and else packing in the plastic bags. While watching television I was reflecting on what was shared to me by that man before.
One day, marketing manager gentleman from Kalimati but from another clinic, opposite to the previous senior male where he works came to our birthing centre and told us that if there are any pregnant cases that needs termination but do not have such service in our birthing centre then he suggested us to refer to his doctor's clinic in Kalimati. And for referring such cases in his doctor's clinic he said that we will get commission. From this I realised that there is a chain of networking business for handling incest and rape cases second and third trimester pregnancies. This is the reason how and why when my student asked me help to terminate her younger sister 35 weeks 3 days via 1 April ultrasound but while she approached me and met on 1 May her sister pregnancy week of gestation was 39 weeks 5 days which means full term pregnancy. So I thought about adoption rather than terminating the pregnancy illegally inducing labour and letting suffocating an innocent baby. Then I consulted my friend network circle asking them whether there are someone in their link who want to adopt a baby. Some of them said "yes", some said "no". I approached mainly nurses who are in my link and are working maternity units and maternity hospital. I was very stressed because I did know whether or not I am able to help my student and her as per my given words. She was keep calling me asking whether or not I found the way out. I reassured her telling any how her sister problem will be solved by 6 May, Saturday. I even told her why can't we ask the teacher who had sex with her asked to accept her. But my student told me that he is married and have children and they do not know where he is now. Then I questioned her why her sister remain and did not tell her, why she even didn't take emergency contraception after having sex with him. She said I don't know. She further said she knew about her pregnancy only when she called two days before going through ultrasound telling her that something is moving on her tummy. Then my student asked her whether or not she is having menstruation then her younger sister said no. Only then she said she has suspected that her sister might be pregnant so immediately she called her to come to Kathmandu.
Anyway, while searching for a couple to adopt the baby I came to know that most of the couples who do not have their own child are anticipating to adopt boy baby rather than girl and in our case we were not aware whether she has boy or girl fetus because sex identification was not done. Therefore, initially some of the women who decided to adopt the baby said they do not want to take risk agreeing to adopt the baby because if she gave the birth of a girl then they would not accept it.
Out of many to whom I approached, I phoned to a male nurse who is working in a maternity hospital asking for help and he was quite positive towards my request then asked me to text details about the case. Then on 3 May at 10:12 AM I sms him below message:
"Dear Bro,
Thanks for your warm response about the raped case pregnancy. After I talked with you about the pregnant girl aged 18 her elder sister called and told me that as per USG dated 1 April 2017 her week of gestation is 35 weeks 3 days. She was raped in Chitwan by her teacher. Originally she is from Dholka district but currently studying in Hetauda. She is sitting for grade 11 exam next month on 3 Jestha (16 May). So she needs to go to Hetauda for her exam.
Currently she is in Kathmandu with her elder sister. Therefore, want to give birth as soon as possible this week and rest for a week for her exam.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you
Laxmi Tamang"
He replied me at 10:40 AM on the same date writing,
"Dr Laxmi,
Good morning, I have talked with Dr Anju Mandal, a gynaecologist. She manages to take for rape case pregnancy baby her relatives. But you have to bring at Om Sai Modern Care Clinic behind the Nagarjun School Dr Anju. Ok"
Then I replied him at 11:19 Am, on the same date writing,
"Thanks a lot. Where is the exact location and when should I bring her."
He replied, "Lalitpur, Kupandole, inside Hanumanthan."
However, in my inner head and heart I was not willing to give this innocent unborn baby let adopt by this lady doctor from tarai origin since I heard that some doctors from Tarai would sell a baby to India to make money. Therefore, I was wondering other option searching for a couple and people to adopt this unborn baby from mountain and hill origin ethic background.
Next day on 4th May at the Ministry of Health I had a meeting with Nursing and Midwifery Policy formation group where I shared about this case with some of my seniors about the case and one of the senior nursing leader madam who happened to be a President of Nursing Association of Nepal said her relative is looking for a baby to adopt. When she asked me about the ethnic group of the pregnant girl I told her that she belongs to the same ethnic group "Brahman" as yours. Then she asked me to send the detail information about the case so I forward the same message that I sent to a male nurse earlier. She told me that she will talk to her relative and will inform me tomorrow. Then next day, she called me, saying that although her relative wanted to adopt the baby but they are looking for a boy baby so would not want to take risk accepting the challenge of unborn fetus. I hope to get solve the problem faded away and I was panicking because of the due date that I gave to her was approaching. Perhaps around 9-10 nurses of my network I approached but all had different stories to tell having couples on their link to adopt a baby but some of them wanted a male baby and some are abroad or away from the Kathmandu valley at the moment. Even I thought about adopting by our APS birthing centre asking our support staff/helper to take care for a baby that I shared to our birthing centre's chairperson, Rashmi Rajopadhyaya but came to know that she has to go for 14 days holiday in the village for his mother-in-law death ritual.
On the other hand, I was receiving frequent calls from my student and I was keep reassuring her anyhow I'll sort it out by 6 May. I also suggested her to educate and provide psychological support to her sister to prepare mentally visualising to give normal vaginal birth teaching breathing exercise and also tell her to walk around and take hot drink to progress the labour once labour pain starts.
Then 6th May knocked my door. It was Saturday morning I was nervous wondering how I am going to solve her problem and to whom to contact for. Again hoping to find out solution I recalled to our birthing centre Chairperson. She said she had before someone who was looking for a baby to adopt. Then I request her to find out whether or not she is still interested to adopt a baby. However, there was a slim chance at this last hour to adopt the baby so again I sent sms at 9:51 Am on 6th May to a male nurse writing,
"Sorry I am out of touch from you because I was not well and diagnosed having a fatty liver with multiple gall bladder stones at Bir Hospital. We have plan to bring today and now already full term. I suppose if I just send client along with her sister should it be find."
He replied me at 12:17 PM texting me,
"If possible you must come for helping her sister. Another easy to find the clinic address doctor's mobile number is 9841208603."
However, while waiting his reply I was trying to find out other option as well then all of a sudden I remember one of the private hospitals' Matron to whom I came to know just a month before. She said that in her hospital they have been handing such cases and there is one doctor in her contact who is looking for a baby to adopt. I asked her about the cost and she said only around NPR 7000/- has to pay for labour charge and rest they'll take care of it. She asked me to send the case immediately to the hospital then I suggested my student to take her sister in that hospital. Then they went to the hospital at 11 AM. At around 1 PM I received a phone call from the woman to whom our Birthing Centre's Chairperson asked her whether or not she is still want to adopt a baby. I told her it is too late because we found a doctor who is ready to adopt a baby. With regret for calling late she told me that "It was my bad luck that I couldn't get this unborn baby to adopt which is my ethic background so ready to adopt irrespective of sex because we have tried several time IVF but couldn't succeeded. So in the near future if you find such case please let me know." I said "Sure I'll late you know but this is very rare case that came to me".
A matron informed me that she has to go through all blood tests because doctor has plan to induce the labour at 4 AM next day early in the morning. Then on 7 May at 1:49 AM my student sent me sms writing,
"Had spontaneous delivery at 1:10 AM, gave birth of a male baby weighing 3000 gram and both mother and baby are fine."
Then I sms her at 4:02 Am texting, "That's great! Congratulation!"
I felt relieved thinking that everything went well. Otherwise I was bit worried initially about inducing the labour because while inducing the labour always everything won't go well. Some time due to fetal distress surgery needs to be performed.
Sadly at 7:00 Am I received a text from my student saying,
"Mam please receive my phone calls. The doctor who wanted to adopt a baby is not in Kathmandu, she is out of Kathmandu I came to know. Now what shall be done?"
Once I received the message I called the hospital's matron and she said the same think but has someone else who wants to adopt the baby if I agreed will inform that person. I told her I'll call her again. Then I called back to the same lady who was sad not having a baby and approached me late. She was very excited when I told her that the girl has a healthy baby boy weighing 3000 gram at 1:10 AM and is ready for you to adopt. She said she was nervous to know that she got the baby which she was not expecting.
Anyway this is how sad and bad story turned into happy ending but I still feel sad and bad to my student's younger sister because she has to go through physically and psychologically turmoil situation for 10 months for the situation that she didn't commit any crime and at the end she has to handover her lovely healthy baby to the unknown couple.
This incident put me in dilemma whether I did good or bad for humanity while helping to this innocent adolescent girl, her sister (my student) and her innocent baby. On one hand I think I did good because my student sister got an opportunity to pursue her education and also her baby got good parent of a similar ethnic background. Besides also couple who did not have a baby despite frequent IVF got a healthy baby.
While going through these 6 days psychological turmoil within myself in helping out my student and her younger sister I was questioning to myself how come grade 11 student didn't know about emergency contraceptive pills, why she didn't take the pillls, how come she never ever thought that she was pregnant once her menstruation stop, and also how come she didn't feel any quickening after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and many such questions were popped up in my mind. I think this is the failure of school sex education. I am wondering and pondering to whom to blame for this situation. Who is responsible for this incident to occur? Adolescent girls? Her parents? Her society? Her schools? Her teachers? or Government system?
This could be just the tip of the iceberg of the adolescent forced pregnancy. There could be many such hidden cases that's why some of the medical professionals are involving in illegally terminating second and third trimester pregnancies making their good source of income and also have been anecdotally reported that many young adolescents and unmarried youths are seeking abortion services especially in private clinics in Nepal. As a healthcare professional I am in favour of prevention rather than problem to occur and cure because curative service is costly both economically as well as psychologically in addition to physically. To do this massive awareness raising campaigns and activities need to be implemented widely and frequently.
History should not be mystery that's my motto
इतिहास रहस्यमय हुनु हुँदैन (History should not be mystery.) भन्ने मेरो मान्यता छ किन कि इतिहासले हामीलाई तितो मिठो जस्तो छ त्यस्तै पाठ सिकाई भविष्यमा कसरी सुध्रिन्दै अग्रगमनको मार्गमा लम्किने ध्रव तारा झैँ चम्किदै भन्ने सत्य, तथ्य र यथार्थ प्रमाणमा आधारित अनुभवजन्य ज्ञान, शिक्षा र दिक्षा दिलाउने गर्छन |
विगत विना वर्तमान र वर्तमान विना भविष्य हुन्न भन्ने हामी सबैलाई हिमालको सुद्ध पानी र सिसा झैँ छर्लङ्ग छ मानवताको लागि |
तर जहिले पनि सामन्ती मनोभ्रष्ट शासक, शोसक, सत्ता लिप्त सरकारले हाम्रो देश र समाजको सामाजिक, आर्थिक, संस्कृतिक, भाषिक, धार्मिक र राजनीतिक इतिहासहरु रहस्यमय बनाउदै आई रहेका पाउछौ |
हामीलाई मात्र घोकाएको छ पृथ्वी नारायण शाह महान शासक थिए जसले नेपालको एकीकरण गरे भनेर |
तर वास्तवमा हामीले हाम्रो नेपालको इतिहास बुझ्ने हो भने पृथ्वी नारायण शाहले आफ्नो राज्य विस्तार गर्नु बाहेक केहि गरेका थिएनन भन्ने बुझ्छौ जब हामी ऐतिहासिक प्रजातान्त्रिक योद्धा वि.पी.कोइराला लगायत नेपालको इतिहास शिरोमणि बाबुराम आचार्य, मानवशास्त्री प्रयाग राज शर्मा, मानवशास्त्री डोर बहादुर विष्ट लगायत अन्य इतिहासविद, मानवशास्त्री, समाजशास्त्री र प्रजातान्त्रिक योद्धाहरुद्वारा लेखिएका लेखहरु अध्धयन गर्ने गर्छौ तब सबै मज्जाले बुझिन्छ को कस्ता थिए र कसले के का लागि के गरेका थिए मानवता वा दानावताको लागि भनेर |
त्यसैले सत्य, तथ्य र यथार्थमा आधारित इतिहासलाई लुकाईएर वा तोडमोड गरेर भ्रामिक असत्य, तथ्यहीन मनगन्ढे इतिहास सामन्ती अति मनुबादी हिन्दुवादी शासक, शोसक सत्ता लिप्त सरकारहरुले लेखाई नेपालको शिक्षा प्रणालीको पाठ्यक्रममा लादेर हामीलाई पढाउने गरेको भरमा मात्र हामीले नेपालको इतिहास यस्तो रहेछ भनेर अडकल बाजी गरेर किन कुनै सिमित समुदाय, जात, वर्ण, वर्ग, लिङ्ग, धर्म, भाषा, संस्कार, संस्कृति र भेषभुषा पहिरिने व्यक्तिहरु मात्र आज नेपाल राज्यको प्रत्येक कार्यपालिका, व्यवस्थापिका र न्यायपालिका प्रणालीमा राजकाज गर्ने गर्छन र अन्य सिमान्तकृत, पिछडिएका , अशिक्षित विपन्न समुदाय, जात, वर्ण, वर्ग, लिङ्ग, धर्म, भाषा, संस्कार, संस्कृति र भेषभुषा पहिरिने पृथक परिस्थिति र परिबेशमा रहदै बस्दै आई रहेका छन् र राज्यसंग सामाजिक न्याय, सहअस्तित्व र समानताको लागि आफ्नो हक अधिकार खोजि विभिन्न अभियान विद्रोह र क्रान्ति गर्दै आई रहेको छ भनेर बुझ्न सकिन्छ |
राष्ट्रियताः नेपालको सन्दर्भमा विपी कोइराला
२०१७ सालको काण्ड भइसकेपछि पनि एउटा सञ्जनले मसँग यो तर्क पेस गर्नुभयो, ‘राजा अत्याचारी, निरंकुश र घोर जनविरोधी भए पनि राष्ट्रवादी त हो ।’ म एकछिन स्तम्भित भएर उसको मुख हेर्न थालें, ती विद्वान् सज्जनको चिन्तनमाथि २०१७ सालको काण्डले कुनै प्रभाव नपरेको देख्दा र जनताको मौलिक अधिकारको अपहरणलाई राष्ट्रवादिताको प्रमाण भन्ठान्दा ।
एकछिनपछि मैले सोचेर भनें, राष्ट्रियतासँग जनताको केही सम्बन्ध छ कि छैन ? कि जनतासँग बिल्कुलै असंलग्न तत्व हो त्यो ?
अब उनको पालो थियो छक्क भएर मतिर हेर्ने, मेरो प्रश्नको आशय नबुझेर ! हो पनि । उनले र उनीजस्ता धेरै सदाशय व्यक्तिहरूले राष्ट्रियताको सम्बन्धमा विचार गरेर आफ्नो मस्तिष्कलाई थकाउन चाहेका छैनन् । तिनका लागि राष्ट्रियता एउटा शून्य नारा मात्र हो । मैले यहाँ राजाको स्तुतिगान गर्नेहरूको कुरा भनेको होइन, जसका लागि दरबारबाट वेतन पाउञ्जेल राजालाई विष्णुको अवतार मानेर ठाउँ–कुठाउँ, मौका–बेमौका स्तुतिगान गर्न बिराउँदैनन् ।
अब उनको पालो थियो छक्क भएर मतिर हेर्ने, मेरो प्रश्नको आशय नबुझेर ! हो पनि । उनले र उनीजस्ता धेरै सदाशय व्यक्तिहरूले राष्ट्रियताको सम्बन्धमा विचार गरेर आफ्नो मस्तिष्कलाई थकाउन चाहेका छैनन् । तिनका लागि राष्ट्रियता एउटा शून्य नारा मात्र हो । मैले यहाँ राजाको स्तुतिगान गर्नेहरूको कुरा भनेको होइन, जसका लागि दरबारबाट वेतन पाउञ्जेल राजालाई विष्णुको अवतार मानेर ठाउँ–कुठाउँ, मौका–बेमौका स्तुतिगान गर्न बिराउँदैनन् ।
मसँग प्रश्न गर्ने व्यक्ति त्यसखालका थिएनन् । उनी आफूलाई नेपालको राजनीतिमा निष्पक्षपाती व्यक्ति भन्ठान्थे । नेपालको राजनीतिले जुन उग्ररूप धारण गरेको छ, त्यसमा निष्पक्षताको सिद्धान्तले सदाशय व्यक्तिहरूका उपर कत्रो भ्रम पार्न सक्छ, त्यसको प्रमाण थिए, ती विद्वान् सज्जन ।
गोरखा राज्यको विस्तार राष्ट्रिय एकताको अभियान थिएन, न त्यस समयका शासकहरू नेपाली राष्ट्रिय भावनाले प्रेरित नै थिए, न त गोरखा राज्य विस्तारको यन्त्र, गोरखा पल्टनका सिपाही या अफिसरहरू नै राष्ट्रवादी थिए । गोरखाली राजाहरूले विजय अभियान प्रारम्भ गरेका थिए र तिनीहरूको चरित्र विजेताको थियो, राष्ट्रिय नेताको होइन, जसले गर्दा विजित देशहरूका राजा र प्रजाहरूसँग कोमल व्यवहार गरिएन । काठमाण्डूका नेवार प्रजाहरूलाई अद्यावधि त्यसको गुनासो छ ।
मैले भनें, के जनताको अधिकार खोसेर राष्ट्रियताको रक्षा हुन्छ ? राजा महेन्द्रले गरेका कामहरूमा सबभन्दा ऐतिहासिक २०१७ सालको काण्ड होइन, जसद्वारा उनलाई इतिहासले पछि पनि सम्झला, कृतज्ञताका साथ होस् या घृणाका साथ ? त्यो के कुनै अर्थमा पनि राष्ट्रिय अभियान थियो, जनताका प्रतिनिधिहरूको सभा (संसद्)लाई चाल्र्स प्रथमले ब्रिटिस संसद्लाई भंग गरेको जस्तो भंग गरे । (चार्ल्स प्रथमले भंग गरेको संसद्ले जनताको त्यति प्रतिनिधित्व गर्दैनथ्यो, जति कि नेपालको २०१७ सालको संसद्ले नेपालीको गथ्र्यो । तैपनि चाल्र्स प्रथम व्यक्तिले भन्दा बढी राष्ट्रिय प्रतिनिधित्व त्यस संसद्ले गथ्र्यो )
मैले ती सज्जनको चर्चा विषय प्रवेशको हेतुले झिकें । ती सज्जनमात्र कोरा नाराका शिकार भएका छैनन् भन्ने प्रमाण केही दिनपछि नै मैले पाएँ । विराटनगरको इलीट क्लबमा मैले भाषण दिएपछि एउटा प्रश्न देशभक्ति र राष्ट्रियतालाई लिएर मलाई सोधियो । मलाई सम्बोधित प्रश्नको उत्तरमा मैले प्रश्नकर्तालाई सोधें, राष्ट्र भनेको के हो ? नेपाल भनेको के हो ? देश भनेको के हो ? जनता होइन र ? यदि जनताको अधिकार खोसिन्छ भने देशको हित कसरी त्यसले रक्षा गर्यो ?
मैले भन्न खोजेको के हो भनें देश भन्नोस् चाहे राष्ट्र भन्नोस्; त्यो भूगोल होइन, त्यो माटो होइन । त्यो यथार्थमा जनता हो । जुन कुराले जनताको हित हुन्छ, त्यही कुरो देशहितको कुरो हो । जनताको अधिकार देशको अधिकार हो । जनताको अधिकार हनन् देशको अधिकार हनन् हो । यदि नेपाल भूगोलबाट एक करोड नेपाली जनताको आबादी लोप भयो भने मेरो अर्थमा नेपाल लोप हुन्छ, यद्यपि भूगोल आफ्नो ठाउँमा जस्ताको तस्तै स्थायी भइरहनेछ । जुन दिन (अर्थात् १ पौष २०१७) देशवासीहरूले प्राप्त गरेको मौलिक अधिकार खोसियो, वाक स्वतन्त्रता, संगठन स्वतन्त्रताआदिदेखि जनता वञ्चित पारिए, जनप्रतिनिधिहरू थुनिए, संसद् विघटित पारियो, फेला पर्न सकेका संसद् सदस्य एकलाई पनि नछाडेर बन्दी बनाइयो, संसद् अध्यक्ष थुनिए, निर्वाचित प्रधानमन्त्री, राजनीतिमा लागेका कोही पनि व्यक्ति त्यस राजाको दमन–चक्रबाट जोगिएनन्, चाहे ती भूतपूर्व प्रधानमन्त्री हुन् या साधारण कार्यकर्ता । त्यस दिनपछि पनि कसैले राजालाई राष्ट्रियताको समर्थक या प्रतीक मान्छ भने त्योजस्तो ठूलो भ्रम नेपालको राजनीतिक सम्बन्धमा अर्को कुनै हुनसक्दैन । त्यस दिन स्पष्ट रूपबाट राजाले आफूलाई जनताभन्दा पृथक् तत्वमात्र होइन कि विरोधी तत्वको रूपमा प्रकट गरे ।
राष्ट्रियताको विवेचनामा सर्वप्रथम तत्व र अन्तिम तत्व पनि जनता हो । राष्ट्रियता जनताको सामूहिक मनोभावनालाई लक्षित गर्ने शब्द हो । सामूहिक रूपबाट समयमा आइपर्ने व्यापक समस्याहरूको समाधानमा लाग्नु पर्दा सहज किसिमले उत्पन्न हुने जनभावना नै राष्ट्रियता हो । राष्ट्रियताको यस परिभाषामा तीन तत्व सामेल छन् ः व्यापक समस्या, त्यसको समाधानको सामूहिक प्रयत्न र त्यस प्रयत्नबाट सहज किसिमले उत्पन्न हुने भावनात्मक एकता । अर्को शब्दमा राष्ट्रियता भन्नाले लक्षित गर्ने तत्वहरू – १) जनता, २) तिनका अगाडि उपस्थित भएको समस्या ३) त्यस समस्याको सबैले मिलेर समाधान गर्ने दिशापट्टिको सामूहिक प्रयत्न र ४) त्यस प्रयत्नमा अनुभव गरेको एकताको भावना । यसरी राष्ट्रियताको विचार गर्दा भूगोलको भूमिका गौण भएर जान्छ ।
राष्ट्रियताको विचार गर्दा हामीले जनताको सन्दर्भमा सोच्ने बानी गर्नुपर्छ अनि मात्र त्यससम्बन्धी सत्यउपर प्रकाश पर्नसक्छ । नत्र भने एउटा भागको अर्थमा त्यसलाई लिन थाल्यौं भने राष्ट्रियता भन्ने शब्दलाई कुनै पनि धूर्त तानाशाह या राजनीतिज्ञले आफ्नो स्वार्थसिद्धि गर्ने र जनताको अधिकारलाई अपहरण गर्ने हतियार बनाउनसक्छ । यो कुरा राजाले गर्न थालेका छन् । आफ्नो तानाशाही व्यवस्था (हुकुमी शासन)लाई टेवा दिनका लागि राष्ट्रियताको नारा प्रचारित भइरहेको छ । यस कुरालाई बुझ्नको निम्ति हामीले २००७ सालको प्रजातान्त्रिक आन्दोलनको दमनको सिलसिलामा राष्ट्रियताको नारालाई प्रचार गरेर राणा शासकले आफ्नो हुकुमी राज्य कायम राख्न गरेको प्रयत्नलाई बिर्सनु हुन्न । यहाँसम्म कि वर्तमान राजा र उनका पितासम्मलाई पनि अराष्ट्रिय तत्व घोषित गरी उनीहरू सबैलाई राज्यचुत् गर्ने काम राणा शासकले गरेको थियो । अहिलेका राजाबाट चालिएको राष्ट्रियताको प्रचार पनि राणाहरूबाट चालिएको प्रचारको हूबहू अनुरूप हो, भाषामा भन्नुहोस, चाहे प्रचार–प्रणालीमा । दुवैको उद्देश्य हो – १. हुकुमी राज्यको स्थापना २. प्रजातन्त्रको बढ्दो मागका विरुद्ध षड्यन्त्र । कार्यकारणले जब राजा जनताको पक्षमा गाभिन पुगेका थिए, त्यसबखतमा उनी तिनताकको तानाशाहको दृष्टिमा अराष्ट्रिय तत्व ठहरिए र राज्यच्युत् गरिए । आज तिनै राजा मोहन शमशेरको स्थानमा पुगेर, मोहन शमशेरकै हतियार प्रयोग गरेर प्रजातन्त्रपक्षीयहरूको दमन गर्दै राष्ट्रियताको प्रचार गराउँदै छन् ।
नेपालको राजनीतिको सबभन्दा महत्वपूर्ण एउटा कुरा के छ भने नेपालको राजनीतिको केवल दुई पक्ष छन्- राजापक्ष (हुकुमी शासक पक्ष) अर्को, जनता पक्ष (प्रजातान्त्रिक पक्ष) । जो पनि तानाशाह हुन्छ या उसको पृष्ठपोषक हुन्छ, उसको हतियार सामरिक दृष्टिबाट होस्, चाहे सैद्धान्तिक–प्रचारात्मक दृष्टिबाट होस्, एकै किसिमको हुन्छ; तानाशाह २००७ सालको श्री मोहनशमशेर होस्, चाहे २०१७ सालका श्री महेन्द्र । पाठकलाई राणापक्षबाट २००७ सालमा गरिएको प्रचार एक पटक फेरि पढेर आफ्नो स्मृतिलाई ताजा पार्न म अनुरोध गर्दछु; किनभने त्यसबाट मैले भन्न खोजेको कुरा स्पष्ट हुन्छ र त्यसको प्रामाणिकता सिद्ध हुन्छ ।
राष्ट्रियताको इतिहास
राष्ट्रियतालाई अध्ययन गर्दा नेपालको इतिहासमाथि सानो दृष्टिपात गर्नु आवश्यक छ । इतिहासले यससम्बन्धमा के भन्छ ? वर्तमान नेपालको गठन गोर्खाको एउटा राजा पृथ्वीनारायण शाहको विजय–अभियानको सफल परिणाम हो । १८औं शदीमा हिन्दुस्तानका भूभागमा अनेकौं राजा–महाराजा जागीरदार तथा साहसी सरदारहरू मुगल साम्राज्यको अन्त्यपछि उत्पन्न अशान्ति र अस्थिरताको स्थितिको लाभ उठाउँदै आफ्नो आफ्नो क्षेत्रको विस्तार र नयाँ नयाँ राज्यहरूको गठनमा तँछाड कि मछाड भन्दै विजयको होडमा लागेका थिए । त्यस्तै एउटा राजा पृथ्वीनारायण शाह हुन् । आफ्ना छिमेकका राजा–रजवाडाहरूभन्दा उनी बढ्ता साहसी तथा उनका सेना सञ्चालकहरू शत्रुपक्षभन्दा अधिक दक्ष र रणकौशलयुक्त थिए । पृथ्वीनारायण शाह तथा उनका तुरन्तैका उत्तराधिकारीको उद्देश्य गोरखा राज्यको विस्तारभन्दा बढी अरु केही थिएन । त्यो राष्ट्रिय एकताको अभियान थियो भनेर त्यसलाई एउटा ऐतिहासिक महत्व दिन खोज्नु गलत हुनेछ । कमसेकम त्यस समयमा नेपाली राष्ट्रियता भन्ने भावना या कल्पनासम्म पनि थिएन । त्यो त पछि उदय भएको एउटा ऐतिहासिक तत्व हो ।
ब्रिटिस साम्राज्यको जग पनि त्यस समयमै बस्न थालेको थियो । हिन्दुस्तानी उपमहाद्विपको तत्कालीन राजनीतिक स्थितिमा राजा–रजवाडाहरूका बीच राज्य विस्तारको होड चलिरहेको थियो । त्यही होडको फाइदा उठाएर अंग्रेजहरू ब्रिटिस साम्राज्यको स्थापना गर्न सफल भए । ब्रिटिस साम्राज्यको स्थापनाको प्रक्रियामा अंग्रेजहरूले आफ्नो बृहत्तर स्वार्थको हितलाई ध्यानमा राखेर हिन्दुस्तानका अधिकांश आर्थिक दृष्टिले लोभनीय भागलाई त आफ्नो सोझो कब्जामा गरे, बाँकी रहेको भागमा स्थानीय शासकहरूसँग विभिन्न प्रकारको सन्धि गरे । नेपालसँग पनि सन् १८१६ मा सुगौलीको सन्धि भएको थियो । ती सन्धिहरू यस अर्थमा पनि असमान थिए कि ती सन्धिद्वारा देशी शासकहरूलाई धेरथोर अधिकार प्राप्त थिए अनि तद्नुरूप उनीहरूको सम्मान र प्रशस्ति र तोपको सलामीको संख्या निर्धारित गरिएको थियो । ब्रिटिसहरूले यस श्रेणीबद्ध ढंगले भारतीय भूगोलमा परेका देशी राज्यहरूसँग एकएक गरेर युद्ध गर्दै भिन्न–भिन्न प्रकारको सम्बन्धको एउटा जाल बुनेर राखेका थिए । त्यस व्यवस्थामा उनीहरूले नेपाललाई सबभन्दा ठूलो र सम्मानित स्थान दिएका थिए अनि क्रमशः निजाम, कश्मीर, बडौदाआदिको स्थान आउँथ्यो । सुगौली सन्धिले गोरखा राज्य विस्तारको अधियान समाप्त पार्यो ।
ब्रिटिस साम्राज्यको जग पनि त्यस समयमै बस्न थालेको थियो । हिन्दुस्तानी उपमहाद्विपको तत्कालीन राजनीतिक स्थितिमा राजा–रजवाडाहरूका बीच राज्य विस्तारको होड चलिरहेको थियो । त्यही होडको फाइदा उठाएर अंग्रेजहरू ब्रिटिस साम्राज्यको स्थापना गर्न सफल भए । ब्रिटिस साम्राज्यको स्थापनाको प्रक्रियामा अंग्रेजहरूले आफ्नो बृहत्तर स्वार्थको हितलाई ध्यानमा राखेर हिन्दुस्तानका अधिकांश आर्थिक दृष्टिले लोभनीय भागलाई त आफ्नो सोझो कब्जामा गरे, बाँकी रहेको भागमा स्थानीय शासकहरूसँग विभिन्न प्रकारको सन्धि गरे । नेपालसँग पनि सन् १८१६ मा सुगौलीको सन्धि भएको थियो । ती सन्धिहरू यस अर्थमा पनि असमान थिए कि ती सन्धिद्वारा देशी शासकहरूलाई धेरथोर अधिकार प्राप्त थिए अनि तद्नुरूप उनीहरूको सम्मान र प्रशस्ति र तोपको सलामीको संख्या निर्धारित गरिएको थियो । ब्रिटिसहरूले यस श्रेणीबद्ध ढंगले भारतीय भूगोलमा परेका देशी राज्यहरूसँग एकएक गरेर युद्ध गर्दै भिन्न–भिन्न प्रकारको सम्बन्धको एउटा जाल बुनेर राखेका थिए । त्यस व्यवस्थामा उनीहरूले नेपाललाई सबभन्दा ठूलो र सम्मानित स्थान दिएका थिए अनि क्रमशः निजाम, कश्मीर, बडौदाआदिको स्थान आउँथ्यो । सुगौली सन्धिले गोरखा राज्य विस्तारको अधियान समाप्त पार्यो ।
गोरखा राज्यको विस्तार राष्ट्रिय एकताको अभियान थिएन, न त्यस समयका शासकहरू नेपाली राष्ट्रिय भावनाले प्रेरित नै थिए, न त गोरखा राज्य विस्तारको यन्त्र, गोरखा पल्टनका सिपाही या अफिसरहरू नै राष्ट्रवादी थिए । गोरखाली राजाहरूले विजय अभियान प्रारम्भ गरेका थिए र तिनीहरूको चरित्र विजेताको थियो, राष्ट्रिय नेताको होइन, जसले गर्दा विजित देशहरूका राजा र प्रजाहरूसँग कोमल व्यवहार गरिएन । काठमाण्डूका नेवार प्रजाहरूलाई अद्यावधि त्यसको गुनासो छ ।
सुगौली सन्धिले नेपाल देशको भूगोल निर्धारित ग¥यो, राष्ट्रको निर्माण त्यसले गरेन । हो, त्यस दिनदेखि भविष्यको बृहत्तर नेपाली समाजको एउटा आफ्नो निश्चित थलो भयो । एउटा देशको गठन भयो, यस निर्धारित र निश्चित भूभागमा बस्ने यावत् जातिहरूको, विभिन्न धर्मावलम्बीहरूको, अनेक भाषाभाषीहरूको, एउटा देश नेपालको उदय भयो । गोरखा शासक तथा तिनका अनुयायीहरूको विजय–अभियानको परिणामस्वरूप र साथै ब्रिटिस विदेशी विजेताहरूको त्यस्तै अभियानसँग जुध्न पुगेर बन्नगएको नेपाल देशको इतिहास सन् १८१६ को सुगौली सन्धिबाट प्रारम्भ हुन्छ ।
त्यसपछि राष्ट्रियताको उदयका लागि सामग्री तैयार भयो- १. एउटै राजाको मातहत देशभरि एक किसिमको शासन व्यवस्था कायम भयो २. देशभर व्याप्त शासन व्यवस्थाको सञ्चालनको भाषा माध्यम नेपाली भाषा भयो । प्रशासकीय एकताको सन्दर्भमै नेपाली भाषाको उदयको इतिहासको अध्ययन हुनसक्ने हुनाले राष्ट्रियताको उदयका लागि तैयार भएका प्रारम्भिक सामग्रीहरूको चर्चा गर्दा प्रशासकीय एकताको अन्तर्गतमै नेपाली भाषाको व्यापक प्रयोगको चर्चा गर्न सकिन्छ । र, त्यसरी दुई प्रकारको सामग्रीहरूको चर्चा गर्नु सट्टा एउटा मूल सामग्रीको चर्चा गरे पुग्छ । अर्थात् सन् १८१६ मा नेपाली राष्ट्रियताको उदयका लागि गोरखा राजाहरूको विजय अभियानको एउटा अप्रत्याशित सामग्री फेला पर्यो ।
कुनै विजेताले पनि देशहरूको विजय गरिसकेपछि आफ्नो विजेताको लक्षण र गुणलाई नमासेर पनि विजित देशहरू (भूभागहरू)उपर आफ्नो प्रशासनयन्त्र कायम गर्नुपर्छ । शाह शासकहरूले त्यही काम गरे । तिनीहरूले विजित नेपाली भूभागमा आफ्नो प्रशासन कायम गरे तर विजेताको आफ्नो लक्षण र गुण–दोषलाई कायम नै राखे । २ सय वर्षपछि पनि, आजसम्म पनि नेपालका राजाले विजेताको आफ्नो स्वरूप छाड्न सकेका छैनन् र जनता पक्षकाले प्रजाका प्रतिनिधिहरू एउटै थलोमा उभिनुपर्छ भन्ने कुरा गर्दा उनीहरूले राजाको दमनको शिकार हुनुपर्छ । कतिपय दरबारियाहरू जनतालाई दमन गर्ने अभियानमा पल्टनको प्रयोगलाई राजाको साहसी कदम र राजमुकुटलाई दाउमा राखेको कुरा झेंपेर पनि गर्नसक्छन्, मानौं देश नेपालीहरूको नभएर राजाको पैतृक सम्पत्ति हो, मानौं राजमुकुट राष्ट्रिय प्रतीक नभएर राजाको व्यक्तिगत शीरशोभा हो, जसलाई बहुमूल्य भएकोले हारजीतको दाउमा राख्ने अधिकार उनलाई प्राप्त छ ।
नेपालको राष्ट्रियताको इतिहासमा सन् १८१६ पछिको काललाई नेपाली भाषाको विकासलाई छाडेर मरुभूमि युग भने पनि हुन्छ, जबकि शासक वर्गको विजयको बाढी रोकिएपछि उनीहरूको शासन र राजनीति केबल दरबारी षड्यन्त्रको दोस्रो नाम हुनपुग्छ । गोरखा पल्टन र त्यसका नेतागण, ‘गोरखालीहरूका विजय अभियानमा अप्रत्याशित रूपले एउटा ठूलो ऐतिहासिक कार्य’ नेपालको वर्तमान विस्तृति गरेपछि आफ्नो अरु कुनै ऐतिहासिक जिम्मेदारीको अभावमा, दरबारको षड्यन्त्रको एउटा हथकण्डा वा हतियार बन्नपुगे । राष्ट्रिय भावनाको सिर्जना नभएकोले तिनीहरू राष्ट्रिय सेनामा परिणत हुनसकेनन् । राज्य विस्तारमा क्षेत्रीय विजयको मार्ग पनि अवरुद्ध भएपछि गोरखा पल्टन केवल भरौटे पल्टन हुनगयो, दरबारका षड्यन्त्रकारीहरूको स्वार्थसिद्धिमा प्रयोग होइदिने शक्तिको रूपमा उनीहरू अवतीर्ण भए । आज पनि नेपालको पल्टन शाही पल्टनमात्र भएर रहेको छ, राष्ट्रिय पल्टन हुनपाएको छैन । यसको विवेचना अर्को अवसरमा गर्नेछु ।
यस लेखमा यतिमात्र भन्ने मेरो उद्देश्य हो कि शासकले र उनका अनुयायीहरूले देशमा राष्ट्रियताको निर्माणका लागि आफ्नो सक्रियता देखाएनन् । विभिन्न जाति र धर्मावलम्बीहरूको ठूलो नेपाली जमातलाई राष्ट्रको रूपमा गठन गर्ने प्रयास उनीहरूबाट भएन । प्रशासक जमिनदारी खालको केवल तिरो उठाउने व्यवस्थामात्र बनेर रह्यो, त्यसमा राष्ट्र निर्माणको भावनाले पटक्कै ठाउँ पाएन । पल्टन केवल गोरखाली पल्टन बनेर रह्यो, जसको दृष्टिकोण विदेशीसँग मुकाबिला गर्नु नपरेकोले र जसको भर्तीको आधार सीमित भएकोले राष्ट्रिय हुनसकेन । सेना एउटा त्यस्तो तत्व हो, जसको माध्यमद्वारा विभिन्न जाति तथा भाषाभाषीहरूलाई एउटै संगठनमा आबद्ध गरेर राष्ट्रियताको चेतना दिनसकिन्छ, त्यो भएन । सिविल सर्विस पनि राष्ट्रिय हुनसकेन, किनभने योग्यताको आधारमा, अरु कुनै निश्चित आधारमा त्यसको गठन भएन । शासकको खुशीमा सर्विसवालाहरूको योग्यता निर्भर रहने हुनाले तिनीहरूमा चाकरी मनोवृत्तिले प्रोत्साहन पायो । झन् वार्षिक पजनीको प्रणालीले गर्दा यो मनोवृत्तिले चरम सीमा प्राप्त ग¥यो । तिनीहरू राजाको नोकर भए, न कि राष्ट्रको सेवक ।
नेपाली राष्ट्रियता
यदि शासकले नेपाली समाज र नेपाल देशको हितको ध्यान राखेको भए सबभन्दा पहिले उनको प्रयत्न नेपाली राष्ट्रियताको सिर्जना गर्नपट्टि लाग्ने थियो । नेपालको शासन व्यवस्थाको आधुनिकीकरण र नेपाली जनताको असहनीय दारिद्र्यको निराकरण जनताको सामूहिक प्रयासको आधारमा गर्नसकिन्थ्यो । शासनयन्त्रमा जनताको सक्रिय सहयोग तथा गरिबी मेटाउने प्रयत्नमा, जनताको सामूहिक राष्ट्रिय अभियान, दुवै साथ साथ हुनसकेका भए नेपाल यति पिछडिएको देश रहने थिएन । गरिबी मेटाउनका लागि प्रयुक्त तथा शासनयन्त्रमा सहयोगी भएका जनतामा यत्रो ठूलो राष्ट्रिय शक्ति आउने थियो कि नेपालको आधुनिकीकरणको बाटो सरल भएर जाने थियो । शाह हुन् चाहे राणा हुन्, कुनै राजाले पनि यस दिशापट्टि ध्यान दिएनन् । राष्ट्रियता एउटा ठूलो शक्ति हो, ऊर्जा हो भन्ने कुरोपट्टि उनीहरूको ध्यान गएन । ध्यान गएको भए पनि राष्ट्रिय शक्तिको उदय आफ्नो निहित स्वार्थका लागि घातक सम्झेर त्यसको विकासको सारा बाटो थुनेर राखे । हजारौंको संख्यामा नेपाली जनतालाई विदेशी पल्टनमा जागीर खाएर उदरपूर्ति गर्न कर लाउने तत्वले राष्ट्रियताको ढिँढोरा पिटेको सुहाउँदैन ।
यदि शासकले नेपाली समाज र नेपाल देशको हितको ध्यान राखेको भए सबभन्दा पहिले उनको प्रयत्न नेपाली राष्ट्रियताको सिर्जना गर्नपट्टि लाग्ने थियो । नेपालको शासन व्यवस्थाको आधुनिकीकरण र नेपाली जनताको असहनीय दारिद्र्यको निराकरण जनताको सामूहिक प्रयासको आधारमा गर्नसकिन्थ्यो । शासनयन्त्रमा जनताको सक्रिय सहयोग तथा गरिबी मेटाउने प्रयत्नमा, जनताको सामूहिक राष्ट्रिय अभियान, दुवै साथ साथ हुनसकेका भए नेपाल यति पिछडिएको देश रहने थिएन । गरिबी मेटाउनका लागि प्रयुक्त तथा शासनयन्त्रमा सहयोगी भएका जनतामा यत्रो ठूलो राष्ट्रिय शक्ति आउने थियो कि नेपालको आधुनिकीकरणको बाटो सरल भएर जाने थियो । शाह हुन् चाहे राणा हुन्, कुनै राजाले पनि यस दिशापट्टि ध्यान दिएनन् । राष्ट्रियता एउटा ठूलो शक्ति हो, ऊर्जा हो भन्ने कुरोपट्टि उनीहरूको ध्यान गएन । ध्यान गएको भए पनि राष्ट्रिय शक्तिको उदय आफ्नो निहित स्वार्थका लागि घातक सम्झेर त्यसको विकासको सारा बाटो थुनेर राखे । हजारौंको संख्यामा नेपाली जनतालाई विदेशी पल्टनमा जागीर खाएर उदरपूर्ति गर्न कर लाउने तत्वले राष्ट्रियताको ढिँढोरा पिटेको सुहाउँदैन ।
मैले भन्न खोजेको के हो भने सन् १८१६ पछि नेपाल देश बन्यो, नेपाल राष्ट्र बनाउने प्रयत्न भएन, शरीरको ढाँचा खडा भयो, त्यसमा आत्मा आउन सकेन; फ्रेम बनाइयो तर तस्बीर राखिएन; भाँडो कुँदियो, तर त्यसभित्र राखिने तत्व राखिएन । उपर्युक्त ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषणको प्रकाशमा यो भन्न सकिन्छ कि जहिले जहिले पनि नेपालको एकतन्त्री शासन व्यवस्थाविरुद्ध आवाज उठ्यो, त्यो राष्ट्रियताको आवाज थियो । शासनयन्त्रमा प्रजाको समावेश प्रजातन्त्रको मूलभूत सिद्धान्त हो र नेपालको राष्ट्रियताको जग पनि यही एउटा मूलभूत सिद्धान्तमा टिक्छ । साथै राष्ट्रिय भावनाबाट प्रेरित नेपाली जनताले गरिबीको चुनौतीको सामूहिक रूपबाट मुकाबिला गर्नसक्छ । प्रजातन्त्र र राष्ट्रियता नेपालको वर्तमान स्थितिमा पर्यायवाची शब्दजस्तो हुन पुगेका छन् ।
यस सन्दर्भमा राष्ट्रियताको विवेचना गर्दा २००७ सालको क्रान्तिको महत्व अत्यन्त ठूलो छ । नेपालको इतिहासमा शायद पहिलो पटक जनता तत्वबाट एउटा सामूहिक प्रयास गरियो । मेचीदेखि महाकालीसम्म तराई, पहाड र उपत्यकाका अनेक जाति, वर्ण, धर्मावलम्बीहरूले सम्मिलित आवाज उठाए । एउटा सशक्त देशव्यापी भावना जागृत भयो, राष्ट्रियताको उदय भयो । यो भन्नसकिन्छ कि राष्ट्रियताको विकासमा २००७ सालको क्रान्ति एउटा बलियो पाइलाको प्रथम चाल थियो । के त्यसभन्दा पहिले देशव्यापी आधारमा नेपाली जनताले एउटा भावनामा बाँधिएर कुनै कार्य सम्पादित ग¥यो ? २००७ सालको क्रान्तिको यस महत्वलाई बिर्सनुहुन्न । त्यसले शासन–व्यवस्थामा मात्र परिवर्तन ल्याएन, राष्ट्रियताको भावनाको पनि उदय गरायो । शासन–व्यवस्था त कोतपर्वले पनि परिवर्तन गरेको थियो । २००७ सालपछि राष्ट्रियतालाई विकसित हुने मौका प्राप्त भयो, जनतालाई प्रारम्भिक प्रजातान्त्रिक अधिकार प्राप्त भएकोले । देशभरिमा राजनीतिक–सामाजिक पार्टीहरू स्थापित भए, जसमा धेरैजसो देशव्यापी भए । प्रत्येक पार्टीले आफ्नो आफ्नो मञ्चबाट देशका कुन कुनामा आफ्नो देशव्यापी प्रोग्रामको घोषणा गरे, सामाजिक हुन्, चाहे आर्थिक, चाहे राजनीतिक । देशका जनताको आवाज बुलन्द हुनथाल्यो ।
२००७ सालको प्रजातान्त्रिक क्रान्तिले राणाहरूको एकतन्त्री शासनमात्र समाप्त गरेन, नेपाल नेपाली जनताको हो भन्ने भावना पनि ल्यायो र नेपाली भन्नाले धर्म, वर्ण, लिङ्गभेदरहित नेपाल राज्यभित्र बस्ने यावत् नेपाली नागरिक परिलक्षित गर्ने भावना त्यसले सिर्जना गर्यो । २०१५ सालको आमचुनावले राष्ट्रियताको अभिवृद्धिमा मद्दत गर्यो । संसद् एउटा राष्ट्रियसभा थियो । २०१७ सालमा राजाले राष्ट्रियताको बढ्दो गतिलाई सैनिक बल–प्रयोगद्वारा एक्कैचोटि रोके । उनी १० साल (२००७–२०१७)को राष्ट्रियताको प्राप्तिलाई समाप्त गरेर आफू पुनः विजेताको रूपमा प्रकट भए । २००७ सालमा मुकुट एउटा राष्ट्रिय प्रतीकजस्तो भएको थियो, मुकुटधारीको जेसुकै आन्तरिक इरादा भएता पनि । २०१७ सालमा त्यो मुकुट राष्ट्रिय प्रतीक नभएर एउटा विजेताको शीरशोभा हुनपुगेको छ ।
२०१७ पौष १ गतेको काण्ड यस दृष्टिबाट न केवल घोर अप्रजातान्त्रिक हो, त्यो घोर अराष्ट्रिय पनि हो । जनताको मौलिक अधिकारको हननलाई कुनै पनि अर्थमा राष्ट्रियताको कदम भन्न सकिन्न ।
– साभारः तरूण बुलेटिन नं. २, सन् १९७१
Wednesday, 10 May 2017
Feature of my story as a sexual and reproductive health champion
Dr. Laxmi Tamang: A Champion for Sexual and Reproductive Health
published in Australia Global Alumni, 14 February 2017 [1]
Brought up in a semi-urban area near Dharan of Eastern Nepal, Dr. Tamang had a dream of being a nurse. She was determined, hardworking and passionate about her dream.
Her dream, however, was shattered when she was accused of cheating in her school leaving examination. As she had not committed the crime, she felt insulted and left the school.
Four years passed. One day, while carrying a heavy basket of fodder, she realized she wanted to change her life. She decided to give her schooling a second try. That decision changed her life.
“I would never have become a nurse if I did not join the school again” said Dr. Tamang.
She rejoined the school and set her sights on being admitted to nursing college.
Her hard work paid off. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and developed herself as a staff nurse.
Her passion for further study led her to apply for an Australia Awards scholarship in 2004 and was awarded a scholarship to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health at the University of New South Wales. Following her Masters study she was also awarded an Australian Leadership Award (ALA) to pursue her doctoral studies at the University of Sydney which she completed in 2015.
As part of her academic project in Australia, she took part in fieldwork where she observed the threat many women face due to unsafe delivery conditions in Nepal.
Upon completing her academic program, Dr. Tamang teamed up with her friends and established Adharbhut Prasuti Sewa Birthing Centre (APSBC). The Center provides safe delivery services to women free of charge while charging nominal fees for other reproductive health related services.
Dr. Tamang notes reproductive health to be a gender issue in Nepal, as many mothers drop out of antenatal checkups and safe delivery services due to lack of support from their husbands.
Today, Dr. Tamang is actively involved in advocating for better Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services in Nepal. With the support of other professionals, she has coordinated efforts to shape the Midwifery Society in Nepal through which she has been addressing issues related to SRH in the country. She has conducted research on obstetric violence and has organized a panel discussion on the deployment of a midwifery workforce in Nepal during the second national midwifery conference.
Dr. Tamang says, she is determined to continue her work in improving SRH services in Nepal using the analytical skills she gained in Australia, and use her Australia Awards experience to advocate for socio-political issues in the country.
References
1. Dr. Laxmi Tamang: A Champion for Sexual and Reproductive Health published in Australia Global Alumni, 14 February 2017 accessed from https://globalalumni.gov.au/AlumniStories/Details?ArticleId=283
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