Nepalese people movement 2006 and role of Mass Media

September 12, 2006 at 5:54 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Back ground ofNepal media history and politics                        Nepal is an economically deprived country, which lies in between two emerging nation India and China.Nepal took a shape of nation when king Prihivi Narayan Shah  of Nepal  conquered 42 small states of Nepal in to  single country called Kingdom of Nepal.During those time king Prithivi Narayan Shah used to appoint ‘ Katuwal’  to  disseminate  messages .Katuwal   post ,generally carried by man, whose duty is to spread important  message with the help of drums staying  at heights. He moves from place to place ,gather masses  by beating drum and share  messages and news of states. During   those days   katuwal used to be authentic source of news about festival announcement. Army  recruitments , tax systems. This system can be traced as earlier form of mass media used in Nepal to disseminate news inNepal history Same trends continuous later in Nepal until the then Rana Primie minister Janga bahadur brought Gidde press (eagle press) from
United Kingdom. Bringing gidde press from UK can be taken as milestone in development of media inNepal.  This press was used to published bills and laws ofNepal during 1850’s this media was used to disseminate news of royal families and Rana.They did not carry views and ideas of common people.Gorkhapatra is the oldest newspaper   printed in
Nepal which started in 1870s.gorkhapatra is own by government so they carries governments news and favor government rather than publishing new of citizen. After establishment of democracy in 1950, influence of media rises inNepal. This was democratic era. Many newspaper and magazines started publishing voices of people.  Again,   King Mahendra   seized democracy and started party less   Panchayat system it was beginning of Dark Age again. This age continued until 1990.After people movement of 1990 King Birendra, son of former King Mahendra re established democracy and started living as constituent king.   In order to encourage people voices and safeguard democracy new constitution made on 1990 gave right of information .right to publication and free press laws so that media could act as fourth   part ofNepal government. Soon after restoration of democracy many newspaper, magazines, radio stations and TV stations started to disseminate news views and entertainment. PresentlyNepal has about 10 daily broadsheets .100 of weekly, 8 satellite TV 30  and FM stations After restoration of democracy in 1990, Nepal was heading towards develop but due to political instability between leaders, emergence of Maoist with slogan of republicanNepal checked the flow of development.In 2004, the then Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba dissolved parliament. However, due to Maoist terror he could not made an environment for election. later on again  ,King Gyanendra took the supreme power of country in his hand and started ruling according to his own will .he appointed minister who were not members of parliaments. His acts were totally against constitution of
Nepal 1990.As it was unconstitutional move by king, whole media attacked him with editorial views and news. Along with that leader of seven party alliances started to demand for restoration of parliament and step back of king from active politics. However, king Gynandries did not heard that, he mobilized army to control Maoists. He brought ordinance to control press, which had provision to censorship, punishment to media person and journalist for publishing news and editorial against king and his family. He banned airing of news from fm stations claiming that fm is just for entertainment propose rather than information. He organized local level to elect his supporters as seven party alliances denied election and its results too. As king move was against constitution, major donor countries like USA,Denmark,
Norway stop giving loans and grants for development. Along with that, violation of human rises  sky rocketed . Due to all these  steps of king , Nepal turned in to 20 th failed    country of world,according to survey  done by US Foreign Policy magazine and the US-based Fund for Peace think-tank.During last 2 years, due to influence of mass media   agenda setting popularity of king   gone down. People started demonstration for absolute democracy constituent assembly as Nepalese are fading up of king rules. Finally,  the frustration of Nepalese leads to 20 days long people movement, which took place from April 2nd to April 26 th of 2006. After 24 days long strikes and curfew king restored parliament and called seven party alliance to form government. King agreed to draft new constitution after holding election for constituent assembly. He agreed  with SPA demand to bring Maoist on mainstream  politics so that peace could be restore  in Nepal .during those 24 days strikes, and curfew mass media plays vital  role  to disseminate  news ,views and ideas  of strikes along with that  it persuade people  for need  of democracy. It helps to bring masses on street against autocratic king. Roles of various media in 24 days long people movement ofNepal is  described below                                                                                                          Newspaper                                                                                                                      Newspaper is the major source of information in Nepal .As 40percent of people are only  illiterates inNepal, only few around 500 thousand (according to circulation) read it daily. In spite of that it have great impact  on educated people  as they are stake holder in mass movement too as they are  aware of liberty ,importance of  democracy, freedom . Kantipur national daily plays a vital role in disseminating news of people movement as its pro-king newspaper. It continuously gives news against kings act and make public aware about king autocratic nature. Photos and news of mass movement on katipo made people t come out of home and participate in movement. As Kantipur has largest network of journalist in Nepal, it covered news from different part ofNepal which helps to create solidarity for democracy. When  Kantipur was publishing news about people move .Gorkhapatra. Government owned newspaper was only publishing news on small development issues.                               Radio                                                                                  radioo has largest number of audiences than any other media in   Nepal .Radio is taken as friend of poor as they are cheaper and affordable too. Radio covers 80 percent population of
Nepal .mainly FM stations plays great role during people movement 2006 as they inform about updates of rallies and curfews. Protests    going  on various parts of cities. These updates motivated people to join hands for people rallies. Along with that some FM stations like Nepal FM played patriotic and inspiring song of Ramesh like “gau gau bata utho (awake from every  place) which inspires citizen to ask for their rights.   FM stations motivate to break curfew too.                                                                                                             Television Kantipur TV,Nepal 1 continuously gave news about movement. Kantipur TV used to broadcast live reporting from streets ofKatmandu showing lathi charge and rubber bullet firing done by army and police cadres towards demonstrators .Kantipur news, which is taken as authentic ,broadcasted interview of civil leaded and intellectual who speaks on necessity of democracy                                                                                                                Website  Though only few people use internet inNepal .Internet turned in to important news source for people who were leaving abroad. Website  like ekantipur.com. nepalnews.com.parewa.com. himalkhabar.com updated news on their portal .which spread through out the world in a second. During 20 days, most of that website was visited more than 500thousand times a day. along with news portals  blog site of Nepal such as blog.com.np,bloggers Nepal .com.mysansar .com played a crucial role  to spread  views   of republicanNepal ,role of king .Blog was famous as these  sites are  sites where many intellectual drop their ideas and thoughts.                                                                                          Role of foreign media covering news of people movement of 2006   Previously foreign media always used to portray Nepal as land of
Buddha or a land of innocent and smily people. During Hippie period, they stereotyped Nepal asland ofHippies as at that time it was safe and peace land for Hippie’s t have drugsNews of Nepal was published so rarely in foreign media, but this time it was not so .CNN.BBS fox news covered Nepal events with priority .along with that LA time .New York post published a news report onNepal issues. They  openly criticized step of king and supported people and call for end of terror.Most of the time  foreign  media  used to portrays king as incarnation of god(in Hindu religion  king is taken as god) but this time foreign media  change their  perspectives and wrote and broadcasted what t really a people of Nepal  think about him .

Sexual minorities in Nepal

April 28, 2006 at 5:44 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Nepal is economically deprived small land locked country which is located between India and
China. It’s small Himalayan country with lots of small villages and few towns.
Nepal has population of about 24.70 million. 80 percent of total population is Hindu. Mostly they are conservative in thoughts and they pursue strong determination towards their traditional culture, religion, belief and sex life. Sex is considered taboo in Nepalese society along with it it’s a private affairs between husband and wife. None like to speak about sex publicly. Extra marital sex. Sex with prostitute, premarital affairs   are considered offensive and act against social norms and values.

  Most of the population of
Nepal are Hindu. They considered homosexuality as offensive act against social practices and it’s totally unacceptable   in society too.

 But with influence of foreign world and popular media culture
Nepal is being free and frank in issues of sex affairs. But it’s mainly in urban area where there is influence of media, foreign culture and education too. At a time issues of homosexuality is also rising as number of homosexual is in increasing order too. Homosexuality is burning issues in Nepalese society these days. Along with that its prominent issues for  Sociologist to discuss  and research in  subject  of homosexuality in closed  society   of Nepalese.

 

             

 


Nepal and homosexuals  In culturally  rigid society of  Nepal, homosexuality  is still  illegal , though  Constitution of Nepal  1990 provides  right of  equality to every citizen without  discriminating   in terms of sex ,gender, race ,class religion .According to  organization named,Blue Diamond society, which works in favor of homosexual and sexual minorities like gays and lesbians, there are about 2000 sexual  minorities  who are in touch with BDS.  There are about 150 sexual minorities who are member of BDS.    But actual number of sexual minorities is still unknown. Reason behind that is they don’t want to come in front of society and introduce themselves as homosexual or someone with different sexual attitudes. homosexuals  doesn’t want to come to social periphery as  they are afraid  of inequality and discrimination  they have to face  for being  sexual minorities . Sexual minorities have to face uphill struggle for tolerance, recognition and rights. Conservative Nepalese society only accepts two gender-male or female, and one type of sexuality – heterosexuality .these homosexuals don’t fit in into categories and act outside‘s
Nepal ‘s social norms. So they   are treated discriminately in Nepalese society.Activities of homosexuals, media coverage and its effects on society 

Activities of homosexual and sexual minorities are
Kathmandu, Capital of Nepal, centered. Its is centered in Katmandu because there is organization called Blue Diamond Society which binds gays and lesbians of
Nepal .

 Another reason behind that is that
Katmandu being a capital is influenced from western culture and its somehow free place for sexual minorities to express themselves.

 

 

News of gays and lesbians in
Nepal came out in media on 1998 when two women got married. They were first arrested but later on released    as there was no law again same sex marriage.  

News and events of sexual minorities increase after sexual minorities formed an organization called Blue Diamond Society.

In August 2004, 39 members of BDS were arrested on public nuisance charges and beaten up whilst in custody. This news spread like fire in local national dailies and magazine alone with international media. This incident helps them to come in to light to ask for their right and privileges.

 Blue Diamond society itself organize sexual minorities fashion show, rally, demonstrations gay jatra (festival). Most of these events are covered by local newspaper; magazine and TV.most of them give them space in entertainment section rather than top stories day. 

Kantipur television, local TV channel in
Nepal had made a documentary based on life, activities, behavior and attitudes of gays and lesbians on 2004. It helps   them to spread their voice to common people.

Blue diamond society itself published weekly magazine called “blue diamond’ in support of gays and lesbians movement, it covers articles of different news about sexual minorities of whole world

 

 

 

 

 During initial  days  these  groups of homosexual were interpreted  as  bad  spot of society as media  was also biased at  that time . But with the change in time, with transition of values and positive media portrayals   they are not treated badly. These days’ media inform   about their activities rather than interpreting dark side of their stories.  Nepalese  society is also slowly  adopting  these changing phenomenon  as media is continuosly setting  agenda on public mind, to treat  sexual  minorities   as part of society rather than crowd of people  who are physically and mentally  sick and sex  addicted.

reaction again and again

April 5, 2006 at 1:56 am | Posted in i think, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

We   are now in   second half of the spring semester .After analyzing and interpreting various aspects of Racial, Cultural discriminatory practices, now we are analyzing and discussing on issues of Homosexuality and its impacts.     After spring break, we discussed on topic like Gender Stereotype, Sexual Prejudice, Models of Manhood, and Masculinity as homophobia. In order to interpret and know    their approaches on our society we go through “Off the Straight and Narrow” and another movie called “Boys don’t cry”     On March 13 th, we talked about Gender Stereotype and Sexual Prejudice. Gender is   socially  defined  expectations for masculine and feminine  behavior. Gender streotypes is the prejudice or self-evaluation of gender on the basic of role played by women or men in the society.     Basically here in America, men are stereotypes  as aggressive ,macho  ,muscular ,strong, intellectual , competent and decisive   whereas women are  stereotype as passive,caretaker,sex object ,weak ,emotional ,need  input ,indecisive .    I was quite surprised to see same thing repeating about gender stereotype in US, which used to be same in third world country like mine. I had not imagined that
USA have same feeling and attitudes towards women as they are in minds of illerate poor Nepalese back in my country. Looking from eyes of mine, I   think women are competent, independent and decisive    in
USA than in my country.    Sexual Prejudice refers to all negative attitudes based on sexual orientation of human, whether   they are homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual. However, in these cases prejudice is almost towards homosexual behavior and groups of people who are gays, lesbians and bisexual as they are one who represent minorities. They are discriminated because they are less in number and societies always want to stop voices of minorities. If the cases are totally against laws and practices of society, they are more eager to stop it by hook or crook.               I think sexual prejudice is taken as negative   as it is some thing, which is not in our society and culture from long time. It is  considered unnatural too. As this practice is almost   against  the rule of nature of “opposite attracts”. Sexual Prejudice carries the voices of heterosexual majority so they want to suppress voices of minorities. For those reason attitudes   of heterosexual towards homosexual is always negative, violent and hostile.     I think in our society dominant   model of masculinity is heterosexual masculinity or manhood .but as gay a do not want to continue the typical model of manhood they suffers from oppression and discrimination of being unnatural.      Masculinity is defined by physical strength, bravado, exclusive heterosexuality suppression of vulnerable emotions such as remote uncertainty. Homophobia is a person who have negative attitude towards gay, lesbians and bisexual.     Kimmal had taken “manhood” as central organizing principle of our cultural definition of manhood   .Culturally man are taken as brave, decisive muscular confident,      I personally feel that Kimmel is true in his statement as everyman want to prove   him as being “man”. In order to prove himself he can do anything and can goes to any level to fulfill that. He even can take the help of violence to complete it. He do that because he fears from being insulted as man  without  manhood . In addition,    the   word “man without manhood” evokes him to do anything.      Heterosexual masculinity is the cultural pressure on males   to be masculine in traits as they are cultural beliefs, which is in practice   from long time ago.     In order to know the important of manhood hood we can just cite example of Napoleon (King), George Washington (Father of America), Alexander (warrior) or film stars like Tom Cruise or Arnold, they are popular of their masculinity. They are popular because of their big muscles, power, violent character, decisive nature. It shows important of manhood in our society. I think it shows   how much manhood matters in society and our surrounding.     I observe    that standard of masculinity vary from time to time, culture to culture, and place to place but always masculinity is defined as different and superior from feminity.     “Boys do not cry, is the film made on 1999, which was based on true story of Brandon Teena who embodies the ongoing dilemma of masculine identity.  Whole film is set on small town in
Nebraska and film revolves around a girl who wants to be boy.      Film is able to portrays the dynamic nature of a Brandon Teena who wanted to be boy from girl. Film focused on complicated issues of transgenderism   and its negative effects on society.    “ Off the Straight and Narrow “is the documentary, which talked about the  images of gays and lesbians in television from early 1960s until now. It is documentary to cast a critical cast over the growth of gay and lesbians and their images on TV. I think documentary is able to show     changing attitudes of society towards homosexuals. Along with that, it shows changing coverage of homosexual  issues in TV and other forms of mass media.

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