A Historical journey to United States: an adventure in the New World!

“What other can see, I can feel that! My inability to see the things through my physical eyes does not mean the full-stop of my existence! I'd love to go, explore, feel and enjoy the beauty of Nature, the freedom of barrier-free navigation and the power of adventure all around!"

In the cold February days, Exploring the big cities and many other American sites all alone in the blustery weather, struggling with extreme cold, I spent a month in United States from 7 February till 7 March 2016. Although it was my second visit to the United States, it turned out to be totally a series of new and unique experiences for me to enjoy the beauty of American world.

exploring America was like the adventure in the “new world”! America is the “new world” for me in many ways! Things are pretty different than what I do experience in Nepal in terms of accessibility, universal access, transportation system, people’s lives, cultures and many more.

As a matter of fact, America is the home of those who have migrated from all over the world. One can find the cultural diversity and heterogeneity everywhere in the United States. The super-managed development ratio, consideration on the needs of people with disabilities, senior citizens, children and other segments of societies and application of the strategies and implementation of the propublic plans and policies are the most-notable aspect of United States that I admire with my open-heart.

During my stay and exploration in America, primarily, I did my best to make people better understand the situation of Nepal and Nepali after the devastating earthquake. I not only attended a couple of conferences and different meetings and discussion regarding our post-earthquake campaigns, but also I had a self-exploratory trip to different cities all alone where I met amazing people from different walks of life, gave a series of motivational talks and shared my insights and vision for the rebuilding process of Nepal.

Indeed, prior coming to America, I and the team were unceasingly having our post-earthquake campaigns in Nepal, by which Many months, we dedicated to volunteer in the remotest hard-hit areas rattled by devastating earthquake of April 2015, I saw many suffering, witnessed the pathetic stories of people about losing their families and  homes, being injured getting trapped in the rubble etc etc. The wounds of earthquake and the bitter consequences that Nepali were going through was always in my mind. Hence I was firmly determined to do more things for Nepal taking the best use of my adventure in America, and now I think that I was successful to do my best in putting enough efforts to help people understand and act for the rebuilding process of Nepal.

Similarly, another mission of my America adventure was to purchase the independent living tools and adaptive applications as well as mobility aids for the persons with disabilities who got affected from earthquake! So with the self-directed policy, “spend less and do more for Nepal”, I bought assistive appliances such as white canes, magnifiers including children’s games,  toys and the useful stuffs to donate for earthquake victims in Nepal.

Most-importantly, as earthquake made large number of people including the victims living with disabilities massively dependent, my mission was to seek partnership, collaboration  and networking support for the earthquake victims in making them independent through entrepreneurship development. So I clearly put forward the issues and the ways to accomplish the proposed ideas with the people whom I met there. To achieve those goals, I got chance to attend a couple of conferences in the World Bank, held the meeting at National Federation of the blind Washington DC Chapter, met the chairperson of World Bank Youth Group and wonderful American youth activists, change-makers and Leaders who listened my ideas with great interest. In fact, it was like a great networking opportunity for me to co-ordinate more things for the rebuilding process of Nepal.

In addition to the things above, I cultivated the ever-lasting friendship with so many wonderful souls, that I believe, will last forever. And also, I met most of my friends whom I really desired to see. Despite my initial struggle to adjust myself with time-difference, food difference and weather difference, the entire exploration  of East coast turned out to be a memorable momentum that I will miss forever. I visited Washington DC, Virginia, New York City, Buffalo city, Maryland, Boston  and many more sites solo in the blustery weather. Walking in the snow, enjoying the beauty of brisk-walking with friends, meeting some relative and hanging out with them, visiting different organizations including Perkins School for the blind, and getting to know American culture and society more closely were really exciting things for me. The exploration of Great Falls, Inner Harvor, Central Park of New York, Charles-River site of Boston and so many awesome natural sites fascinated me a lot. More than that The powerful Sound that I heard In Niagara Falls was super-amazing that gave me lots of strength that I enjoyed the real beauty by hearing the sound and feeling the entire atmosphere by heart.

Besides the formal and regular things, now, let me share some of the interesting aspects of my America adventure.

During my stay in US, I found some extremely surprising things to me: may be I was like the child, but those things were really intriguing to me!

1.      As my journey was in winter, everytime I went to restaurant, the waiter brought the glass of water filled with ices. The question often came to my mind: Why do they put lots of ices on the water since it was already so cold outside? (Unknown answer by this time)

2.      Since America bring lots of people from developing countries in the names of DV (Diversity Visa/Lottery), exchange programs and  miscellaneous opportunities, but why are they not taking care of their own citizens? This point here I am raising because I faced too many homeless people in the streets of Washington DC who were shouting to me for foodd and money. I was little scared with them sometimes while walking and exploring my ways around.

3.      Punctuality is one of the chief characteristics of developed countries like United States, however, I experienced unbelievable delay with buses in America. I was intending to go to Welmington DE from Washington DC. So I took the ticket which said, the bus would leave at 2 PM. I and my friend, Jaleh Andria, waited until 4 PM just standing and talking outside hoping for the bus to come and get on. People did not say exact reason, but ultimately we cancelled our ticket and trip for that day. Next time also the bus delayed for an hour. I did not understand why mega-buses delay so much in United States.

4.      I found the front doors in the buildings are so heavy in Amreica. I wonder why doors are so heavy there! Sometimes, I could not pull or push as it needed a lot of energy, haha.

Despite the above stated interesting and surprising facts, questions and concerns of my observation, I really spent such a wonderful time in United States, and learned a great deal of life and adventure as well.

I was not only visiting the different places and gaining surprising experiences, but at the same time, I was also making a close-obsdrvation on American accessibility, universal access and universal design. Having observed the best practice of “accessibility and Universal Design”, I was blown away really. Things were pretty accessible everywhere. I did not feel that I was not able to see. The systm and the rules were so effective and disabled-friendly that we need to learn so much things from America while applying accessibility guidelines and its principles in the developing countries like Nepal.

Well, we can't make Nepal like America overnight, but with patience, persistence and perseverance, we can definitely localize our system and infrastructures

in the way to make the things accessible, inclusive and barrier-free for all! Our future lies in our hands! Let's go together, let's grow together! This is the message and the central theme of my America adventure!

"Break in the Blog": Where and Why was I Lost?

As I go to new places and meet up people, I often begin to introduce who I am and  what I do. Along with my identity  in youth and disability-rights activism, social campaigning, media and technology, I mention myself as a blogger! But my blogging world is not frequent these days, why? Many people might have thought about it, right?

Well, this is indeed a genuine concern. Over the few months, I was not able to come back and write to my blog. Things turned extremely hectic, and I had to be far away from the frequent use of technology. Our post-earthquake campaigns brought me to so amny remotest places where I had never been where the access of the internet was utterely impossible. The massive power-cut problem, more focus towards relief, rehabilitation and recovery works for the earthquake victims kept me extremely busy that I merely could use internet for the personal/professional communications: E-mailing and internet browsing!

Despite the gap and break in the blogging world, I have now back here with much enthusiasm to disseminate more updates of my life, works and our post-earthquake activities. Also, I recently came back from a month-long adventure in United States filled with new insights, ideas and concepts that I really would love to share.

Anyways, with the firm promise to make my blog up-to-date, I’d like to let you know that the more interesting stuffs are on the way, which I can’t wait to tell and share with you all!

Need for Risk-free Mobility: World White Cane Safety Day

“Tip-Tap, Tip-tap!”
“What is this?”
“This is ‘white cane’.”
“What is White cane?”
“It’s the eye of those who can’t see: a symbol of independence!”

Ok, the special Day is here with us: the World  White Cane Safety Day, October 15!!

Well, for those who are still wondering what really the what cane is, I am here to tell you everything.

White Cane is a special stick that blind and visually-impaired people use for  their day-to-day mobility.

Since I am also a visually-impaired, I, of course, use white cane. It’s been an indispensable part of my life, like my shadow, or like appendage! It’s been almost 13 years since I started using white cane. Many people on the streets still do not know the significance of the White Cane. while  walking around, daily I have to face many questions about white cane! Some people do ask if the cane shows the way where we are intending to go! some wonder why people with visual impairment use white cane as such

In other words, many times, people bump, knock into us and get tangled with our Canes, even though we are walking calmly on our right ways! Now what all these ignorance’s mean to us? I think the answer is straight-forward: lack of awareness, of course! So, what can we do to generate and raise the public awareness about white cane then? Definitely, among the several ways, observing White Cane Safety Day and letting people know what in fact the white cane means are the crucial things to do, right?

Thus, We believe by celebrating the White Cane safety Day, it will raise the public awareness of what the white cane symbolizes: independence, safety and identity of blind and visually-impaired!

Taking this best opportunity, I would like to request all of you that when you see a person holding white cane or walking with a White Cane, recognize the person is blind and cannot see you, so help him/her to cross the road, give way if you are walking and slow down or stop if you are driving.

We all should understand that it’s not the matter of pity, but it’s the matter of priority; it’s not the matter of charity, but it’s the matter of opportunity!!! Helping the persons with white cane for the independent mobility, indeed, is one of the greatest help one can ever offer. Let’s assist blind and visually-impaired for the risk-free mobility!

Now let’s talk a little bit about the history and background behind the initiation of this day. According to te information given by National Federation for the Blind (NFB) America, on October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the Congress was signed into law authorizing the President of the United States to proclaim October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day." This resolution said: "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives", that the President, Lyndon B. Johnson, is hereby authorized to issue annually a proclamation designating October 15 as White Cane Safety Day and calling upon the people of the United States to observe such a day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” This groundbreaking step germinated in United States, soon, got a universal form of global  Day, by which many countries, one after another, started to accept and observe this day annually in October 15 with miscellaneous programs.

In Nepal, this day marks a special space in the entire disability-related event. Under the leadership of Nepal Association of Blind, (NAB), the big rally is organized with  series of speeches by prominent visually-impaired figures, awareness programs on white canes such as street-drama, interaction with political leaders and so on. Not only that white canes are distributed free of cost, and blind/visually-impaired celebrate the independent and risk-free mobility.

The facts are intensely visible in Nepal that our roads are not accessible, even in the urban areas including the capital city of Kathmandu.  Hence, these days, our main lobby and advocacy are primarily concerned with pressurizing government to adopt “accessibility” as an obligatory aspect and ensure the blind-friendly roads and infrastructures in the country.

 

Here, more awareness are needed. The activities and the endeavors that we are focusing are not enough. First we need to raise public awareness on the significance of white cane and then we need to make government realize the importance of accessible infrastructures in Nepal.

Let’s hope for the better situation for our barrier-free mobility.  Sky is limitless, of course.

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!
 

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!