Voice for Disability Rights: International Day for the Persons with Disabilities, today!

“I am not a different human, I didn’t fall from the moon either, just as you enjoy your human rights, I, too, wanna exercise and help other exercise the rights with equality and dignity. Yes, I can not see this physical world through my physical eyes, but my inability to see is not my sickness nor is this my frailty to perceive the things. I am, indeed,  very proud of my disability as I always view my disability, not as a problem, but as an indispensable property.”

Dear friends, be informed that today is The 23rd International Day for the Persons with Disabilities. The annual observance of the International Day for the persons with disabilities was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic & cultural life.

 Hellen Keller says, "disability is not the matter of ability, but it's the matter of perception." Disability is not sickness or frailty, this is, in fact, is the state of diversity. Indeed, Disability doesn’t mean inability: a person can achieve almost anything for-which he/she has unlimited enthusiasm, willingness and determination. So any kind of impairment must not be a barrier for the enjoyment of the unhindered participation, full-equality and dignified livelihood in every facet of the society. Since disability rights are universal rights to be recognized and promoted everywhere, we are striving to put an ongoing and tireless effort in advocating and informing for the disability rights in Nepal.. Let me repeat again that disability is neither a “full-stop” of existence nor do we want to be considered as “Second-class Citizens”. This is the time that we need to have resounding voice for accessible, inclusive and barrier-free society! Charity-based approach should be transformed into the right-based approach, which is the need and our voice for the equality in every facet of social life. Let’s not count today what kind of harvest we have now reaped, instead, our concern should be on what kind of seeds we plant each day which would help us grow, navigate and live the independent lives!

So today, I’d like to re-express my commitment to act for the fact and to fight for the rights from my place.. Now my dearest friends, let’s do our best and move on together to remove/minimize barriers, to uphold disability-rights, and to ensure the name, fame, identity and dignity of persons with disabilities.. Friends, please express your commitment today so that everybody will come to know that you are in favor of disability-rights, accessible infrastructures, risk-free mobility & barrier-free societies.. Let us know that you are and will be with us always.. Keep in your mind that you don’t have to do big things for persons with disabilities, please treat them equally, understand their sentiments and always remember that no matter wherever we live, whatsoever languages we do speak, whatsoever religions we follow, and whichever ideological convictions we do have, the language of humanity is universal and understood universally!. May our journey for the quest of barrier-free society and disability-related awareness campaigns instigate all of us to achieve the flavor of inclusiveness..

Thank you.

Back to Blog

Hello Friends!

After the gap of some months, I am now back with more vibrant updates, news and views!

Please keep your eye on my blog! Tonnes of thanks to you all for your unceasing support and encouragement!
 

World Press Freedom Day today

 

 

Friends, do you listen/read/watch news everyday? Have you ever thought of those great journalists who relentlessly work, explore, and even face threats, challenges  and series of obstacles to bring daily news to the public? Do you think you could feel comfortable without media/news-papers? Dropping these questions for you, I’d like to inform you that today marks the World Press Freedom Day 2014. This day is annually observed on May 3 to inform people that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights. Not only that, this is a global observance that paves the way to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, to assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence, and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

While talking about it’s history, World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1993 as an outgrowth of the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press. This seminar took place in Namibia in 1991 and led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting Independent and Pluralistic Media.

The Windhoek Declaration called to establish, maintain and foster an independent, pluralistic and free press. It emphasized the importance of a free press for developing and maintaining democracy in a nation, and for economic development. Thus, World Press Freedom Day is celebrated annually on May 3, the date on which the Windhoek Declaration was adopted.

Although World Press Freedom Day has only been celebrated since 1993, it has much deeper roots in the United Nations. Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights states that everyone “has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers".

According to the UN’s website, this year, the focus is given to the three major inter-related thematic areas: the media’s importance in development, safety of journalists in the rule of law, and sustainability and integrity of journalism.

 

To define “Press freedom” in simple words, it can be worth-mentioning that press freedom is a condition of disseminating news, views, write-ups, editorials and features via press or media freely and independently without prior-restriction, fear or interference. In the context of Nepal, the interim constitution, in it’s article 15, guarantees  the freedom of press in the explicit way.

Today, the importance of press or media is so pervasive that we can’t detach ourselves from the ever-growing influence of it in every facet of our lives. Objectivity, accuracy, unequivocal flow of information, and balance in opinion  always make the space of press  in the highest position. Happy World Press Freedom Day!!

 

 

Get inspired today: The Adhikari Brothers and how to change philantropy and social work paradigms

Usually, everyone is engaged in some sorts of social works to contribute something in the society. In the same way, my passion for social work has made me much bolder in getting out of the limited social boundary and keep on battling with various social stigmas in Nepal. My brother Bashudev, who is also visually-impaired, is not only a real hero for me but also an unlimited source of inspiration in my life. Together we have been devotedly committed to bringing a series of impactful changes in the lives of Nepali visually-impaired through miscellaneous ways. We both are now immensely encouraged to have known that our efforts, our works, our untainted spirit for social-works have now been recognized and circulated through the awesome article. Simone Galimberti,  Co-Founder of an outstanding social venture, ENGAGE Nepal: Toward the Volunteering Inspired Society, wrote an article about me, my brother Bashudev and our self-help group known as "Bright Star Society". To those who want to know us more closely, I think this article will be a great

reference.  Thinking that this article will immensely inspire the readers, I am now going to share the link where you can access and read this incredibly amazing write up.

http://sharing4good.org/article/adhikari-brothers-and-how-change-philantropy-and-social-work-paradigms#main-content

Indeed, we need to do something good for the people around gladly whatsoever our creed is. Yes, we can't do everything at once, but we can definitely do something, can't we?  we are here to make a meaningful difference in the society. So let's get going and let's make a change in real sense! Hope you find this article somewhat inspiring and interesting in
some ways:)

The Greatest Nepali Glory, Nepali New Year 2071 today: extending my warmest greetings and best wishes

 

It’s a wonderful Spring time, the time of regeneration, germination, the time of novelty and the time of great joy. More than this fact, in Nepal, this is a time of glorious  fervor and celebration - the Nepali New Year, known to locals as Navavarsha or Naya Varsha today. the entire Nepali hearts have now united with great enthusiasm to welcome our Brand New Year 2071, a new starting point of the year. Happy new year 2071 my friends!! This is a very important day to develop the new vision, new mission and new beginning expressing some new commitments, vowing to avoid negative feelings.

The Nepali calendar of Bikram Sambat (or Bikram Era which is 56/57 year-ahead than English Year) also runs for twelve months, however, the first month is Baishakh, which corresponds with mid April (14/15 April) on the world-recognized Gregorian calendar. Navavarsha is a immensely pleasurable time for those residing in Nepal and those who are visiting the country in spring. Nepal boasts a large number of festivals and religious events These occasions are always held with high regard by the Nepalese people and everyone is eager to participate.. The entire country comes to life with colorful celebrations, rejoicing and social entertainment. On the day of Nepal's New Year, people typically get together with family and friends for parties and picnics, however, people have their own way expressing and exchanging the words of best-wishes among each other. Apart from these, Navavarsha is also a day of religious importance to many, especially to Hindu women. In the morning people long to make their way to temple to perform puja, (worship), which means a ritual offering presented to their gods/goddesses. Then the Nepalese walk around the temple in a clockwise direction ringing the bells attached to the temple as they go. The entire country is filled with cheerful smiles and merry-making spreading the best-wishes among relatives, friends and well-wishers.

Likewise, Nepal's New Year is accompanied by Bisket Jatra or the Festival of Bisket in Bhaktapur district. This very important festival in Nepal is a commemoration of the renowned battle of Mahabharata. A large wooden post is set up in the town square and is representative of the victory gained in the battle. Frightening images of local deities stand upon chariots. These gods and godesses are worshiped with offerings of coins, flowers and blood. Images of Bhairab and Bhadra are also hauled around the city on chariots so that they may enjoy a view of the city. A tug-of-war takes place with residents from the lower part of Bhaktapur competing against those from upper Bhaktapur. The group which wins this event is said to be blessed with a wonderful year ahead.

Indeed, tourists in Nepal during the Nepali New Year find the celebrations most interesting, blissful, intriguing and enjoyable.

Well, my New Year day has just started and I just wanted to share some of the information about Nepali New Year to those who are non-Nepali interested to know about the significance and the mystery behind our new-year celebration.

 

Now, without further delay, I’d like to extend my best wishes and warmest greetings to everyone reading this post on the auspicious occasion of Nava varsha 2071. May our doors of success be always open to us. May we see opportunities in every step we move forward. May the presence of the encouraging factors never hide from all of us.

As a matter of fact, for me, the year 2070 turned out to be a year full of struggle, ups and downs, success, learning, sharing and unleashing my own leadership potentials.  Frankly speaking, 2070 was the year of data loss for me, my hard-drive got damaged and I had to lose lots of important data, which was a sheer-headache that I experienced. Similarly, a couple of weeks ago, I was pick-pocketted in Ratnapark and my mobile phone was stolen, and also I had to face some trecheries from the friends whom I used to believe.  But looking on the bright sides of the things, I got to learn so many things about the world, nature of people, life, and  got to know lots of great friends around! Yes, time, sometimes, becomes quite hectic, topsy-turvy and full of stresses, yet, accepting the reality and compromising with the newly-created environment as well as adjusting/adapting with the chaotic  circumstances really make us much bolder and adventurous. I believe that we can live stress free even though we live in a stress-filled world, but it might require some will-power, the power to perceive the world with fair eyes, power to judge with wisdom and to think with the deeper insights.

In fact, it is not possible to change  everything in one day, one week or one year even; this is a process, a journey to create a better world for us! Knowing this fact is one thing, but taking the actions is totally different thing. So, it’s a time to try some new and extra things, now it’s the time to take the actions. Let us try to learn something from the every moment we spend., everything we do in our lives shapes our personality, and the friendship that we cultivate and the time spent with the friends, family and great people are always missable to a greater extent. Happy New Year 2071 once again. We’ll turn a new unit with great interest.

Good luck and all the best!

 

 

Getting Started with my Journey to the World of Blogging

Hello, hi and Namaste! This is me Sushil Adhikari from Kathmandu, Nepal.

Having unlimited passion to make a difference in the world, I am a visually-impaired person dedicated myself in advocating for the barrier-free society with the aim of contributing for the impactful social change in Nepal, making people aware of disability-rights and issues from dawn till dusk and empowering visually-impaired fellows through information technology. At the age of 11, I lost my sight, but I never lost my vision. And this vision has made me what I am today, and of course, my determination and my vision led me today in starting this blog in order to disseminate my voice, to share my experiences and to inform and inspire the people around! I am a computer instructor, a sound editor, blogger, writer and social worker. Today, on the auspicious occasion of Nepali New Year, I’d like to inaugurate my blog with this first post. Through this blog, I am committed to bringing a series of positive changes in the campaign of social transformation helping people understand the lives of blind and visually-impaired in our society, the social perception to the persons with disabilities, my experiences including my own story of struggle, endeavors and success, my journey to the social work, my personal stuffs,  and my unceasing words on awareness-generating messages etc etc. In addition, for those, who want to know and learn about Nepal, Nepali and our culture, I will do my best to make them understand our context in explicit way. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please stop by here often and leave your feedbacks, comments and suggestions that will really function as encouragement to my entire blogging venture.