Virtual Wishes of Happy Birthday

 

Text by: Diwakar Pyakurel

Sagarmatha College

diwapyak@gmail.com

"Happy Birthday to you, wishing more fun, success and progress in the coming year!" I wrote on her Facebook wall, just after I signed in my account before leaving for my college. Unexpectedly I met her that afternoon when I was on the way to Baneshwor. We shared 'Hello', 'How are you?', 'I'm fine' and 'Ba-Bye' to each other and continued to own journeys. When I signed in my Facebook that night, I got the notification that she had commented on my post. I found that she had written 'Thank you!' for my post. I gave a 'like' to that!

This real incident on a particular day of last week urged me to think some aspects of growing "fb"-culture. Facebook is popularly known as social network/media. But, do we ever examine its un/sociability?

Facebook has been overwhelmingly popular among internet-literates in Nepal and in other parts of the world. Being all-time active and updated on Facebook has become a matter of prestige for many youths among their friend circles. It has been indeed helpful to connect ourselves with long-lost friends and far-flied relatives. Facebook is really a useful book on which you can find many useful and interesting faces.

But, let's discuss about my introductory incident. What difference would be there if I didn't have Facebook account; or if Facebook didn't have birthday reminding application? If I had remembered her birthday, I would call/send SMS to her wishing something good, and she would reply me 'Thanks!' But, if I hadn't remembered the date, the day would go so and so as other days. Simple!

But, I had known the date and really met her face-to-face, I would surely said Happy Birthday in front of her face as well.

There might be hundreds of friends on your Facebook. Probably about a quarter may be unknown to you (so is the case for me!). Another fourth might be covered by some sort of known-by-all celebrities from many sectors of your interest and they don't really interact with you. The remaining half might be your people (including close and distant friends, family members, relatives, teachers and even some friends and families of your friends). And, interestingly you will be reminded of everyone's birthday. During the last ten days, there was no any day without any birthday notification, on my "fb" profile. To my surprise, April 1 was seven persons' birthday. (I guess some of them have purposively cited the date as to make us April Fool!).

And, I am habituated to wish them all happy birthday, no matter whether or how much I know to them. Thus, I feel same if it was my school time best friend or any celebrity writer, who is on my "fb" friend list. After all, I post the same message to everyone. Thus, Facebook birthday reminder has somehow been something like a wallpaper of my room that I observe everyday "taken for granted" and I use that everyday without knowing that I am using it.

To much surprise, some of the friends comment, "Thanks, but this is my LEGAL birthday, and my ACTUAL birthday is on x day of the y month." Or, some claim that the date was their actual birthday; however they will celebrate the legal one. There are many people who remind us that the "fb" birthday is according to solar calendar, but they celebrate according to lunar calendar (TITHI system). We can't calculate the number of persons who haven't mentioned their actual date of birth. Let's not spend much time to talk about those people who just mention any day of the year as their birthday just because there is the space to keep it.

In this way, virtual birthday wishes are taken for granted by many of its senders and receivers. They know that is there. They know it is to remind one about his/her nears' and dears' birthdays. And, they express wishes with decorative metaphors. But, the irony teases you when you happen to forget the matter that today was her birthday even after you meet her by face!

Birthdays were the occasion that would provide you the opportunity to celebrate the past success and enjoy the future dreams, with your family and friends. There were times when you would be so happy to hear 'Happy Birthday' from someone. This would be a matter of curiosity for your closed ones to plan together a celebration and offer you a surprise gift. It would be a memorable time for you when you would pay all bills of your friends at college canteen and the friends would immediately sing "Happy Birthday to you" for you. But thanks to Facebook that makes you alone, but with mere virtual birthday wishes without meanings, and words without expressions.

Let me claim again that Facebook has offered us fantastic service to connect ourselves with our world. It is nicer that it reminds us of some important dates for some people, who are important for us. The application is really helpful to celebrate those significant times with good spirits of prayers and wishes. But, do we actually take is so? Have we been able enough to enjoy all the benefits of such applications? To be more precise, has the birthday reminder really reminded you for the real birthday wishes and celebrations? Or, are they only wallpaper where you look everyday but don't care of its colors and composition?

Sahayatra in Swapna Vatika

Click Above photo to see the images and newstory of the meetings.

मोबाईलको उपयोग र दुरूपयोग

 

शब्द: सरिता भट्ट (Sarita Bhatta)

स्नातक, आम सञ्चार तथा पत्रकारिता (BA in Journalism, Grahmin College)

ग्रामिण क्याम्पस, नेपालटार

"गाँउ-घर या संसारको जुनै कुनामा भए पनि मोबाइलमा एक कल गरेपछि नजिक भएको अनुभूती हुन्छ । सन्चो-विसन्चौ एकै क्षणमा थाँहा हुन्छ"- धुलिखेलको काठमाण्डौ विश्वविद्यालयमा बायोटेक्नोलोजिमा स्नातक गरिरहेका मुकुन्द भण्डारी यसरी मोबाईप्रति आफ्नो कृज्ञता प्रस्तुत गर्छन् । उनी कैलाली जिल्लाको धनगढीबाट १००० किलोमिटर भन्दापनि पूर्व धुलिखेलमा विद्यार्थी जिवन विताईरहेका छन्, सायद त्यसैले होला घरमा दैनिक एकपटक कुरा भएन भने परिवारजन आत्तिने गरेको मुकुन्द बताउँछन् । अझ मोबाइलमा ईन्टर्नेटको सुविधा भएकोले आफुलाई चाहिएको सूचना सजिलैसंग पाईने वताउँछन् मुकुन्दकै मित्र अमोल आचार्य । आफ्नो नयाँ नोकीयाको ई-सिक्क मोडलको मोबाईल हातमा लिँदै अमोल भन्छन्- "यसमा फेसबुक चलाउँदा साथीहरुबारे धेरै जसो कुरा त थाँहा हुन्छ तर समय वितेको पत्तै हुँदैन् । मैले त फेसबुक एकाउन्ड डिएक्टिभेट पनि गरिदिए पढाई बिग्रेला भन्ने डरले" । अमोल जस्तै कति युवाहरुले त मोबाईलकै कारण आफ्नो साथीहरुको सर्कल प्रगाढ रहेको दावी गर्छन् ।

वर्तमानयुगलाई विज्ञान र प्रविधिको युग पनि भन्ने गरिन्छ । सञ्चारक्षेत्रमा देखिएको आकाशे परिवर्तनमा उक्त प्रविधिको निर्णायक हात छ भन्नुमा कसैको दुईमत नहोला र त्ससमा पनि कम्प्युटर ईन्टर्नेट, मोवाईल, रेडियो र टेलिभिजनको सर्वसुलभ पहुँचले गर्दा समाज र व्यक्तिको जिवनमा यसका जति आकर्षक विशेषताहरु सतहिरुपमा देखिन्छन्, उक्तिकै नकारात्मक प्रभावहरु अमोलजस्ता थुप्रै प्रयोगकर्ताहरु भोगीरहेको हाम्रै समाजमा प्रशस्तै उदाहरणहरु छन् ।

 

ग्रमिण कलेज नेपालटारकी छात्रा श्रीजना अधिकारीलाई मोबाईको सानो आकारले खुबै सघाएको बताउँछिन् –"सानो भएकाले साथमा राख्न एकदम सजिलो छ, मनोरञ्जनको लागी ग्याम र च्याट पनि गरिन्छ तर घुम्दा-हिङ्दा बाटो या गाडीमा हराउने पनि उत्तिकै डर हुन्छ "। उनी थप्छिन् "मोबाइल भएन भने त मलाई छटपट्टि नै हुन्छ जस्तो लाग्छ " । त्यसैले होला श्रीजना जस्तै प्रयोगकर्ताहरु नेपालमा मात्रा ६० लाख नाघिसकेको एक तथ्याङकले देखाउँछ । मोबाईल प्रयोगकर्ताको संख्यामा उल्लेख्य वृद्धिसंगै नेटवर्कको समस्या पनि उत्तिकै बढेको र मोबाईल कम्पनिले आफ्नो ग्राहको मर्मलाई राम्ररी सम्बोधन नगरेको थुप्रै विद्यार्थीहरुको गुनासो छ ।

मोबाईलकै सन्दर्भमा यसका गलत पक्षहरु खोतल्दै ग्रामिण कलेका विनोद अधिकारी भन्छन् – "मोबाईल राम्रो सञ्चार माध्यम त हो तर कक्षामा पढाई भइरहेको बेला रिङगिङ टोन अन गर्ने, च्याट गर्ने, फोन गर्ने र कहिले गित पनि सुन्ने गरेको देख्दा वाक्क लाग्छ ।" उनी थप्छन् – "प्रयोगकर्तामै भर पर्छ " । विनोदको विचारले "चिन्नेलाई श्रिखण्ड नचिन्नेलाई खुर्पाको विड " भन्ने नेपाली उखानलाई सान्दर्भिक बनाउँछ । यस्तै गरी मोबाईल अहिले सबैको अत्यावश्यक साथी भएको स्विकार्छन् उनकै सहपाठी प्रमोद गिरी ।

अविभावकहरुले विद्यार्थी जिवनमा मोबाईलका दुरुपयोग बारे सचेत गराउँदा पनि देखासिकिको भरमा आवश्यकता नै नबुझी मोबाइल किन्ने र परिवारमा आर्थीक भार बढाउने गरेको ग्रामिण कलेजका शिक्षक घनश्याम पुडाशैनी बताउँनुहुन्छ । "उसै त कक्षाम हल्ला गर्न पाए खूसी हुन्छन् त्यहि माथी उनीहरूको गोजीमा मोबाईल भए त के चाहियो र ? कमसेकम कलेज टाईम भरी ४-५ घन्टा मात्र मोबाईल स्विच अफ या साईलेन्ट राख्न सकिन्छ नि"- शिक्षक पुडाशैनी आफ्नो दुखेसो पोख्नुहुन्छ ।

मोबाईलमा रेडियोको सुविधाले ताजा समाचार सुनेर आफूलाई अपडेट गर्नेसकिनेबेला खाली गित मात्र सुनेर मनोरञ्जन लिन नहुने पुडाशेनी जस्तै अरु शिक्षहरुको पनि सल्लाहा छ । यसरी आफन्तसंग नजिक रहनुमा मोबाइले कोसे ढुङगाको भूमिका खेले पनि यसको बेफाईदालाई बुझेर बुद्दीमतापूर्वक उपयोग गरिएन भने एउटा नागरीकलाई चेतनशील समजबाट टाढा बनाउनमा पनि मोबाईल पछि पर्दैन भन्दा अतिशयोक्ति नहोला ।

Sahayatra in Active

 

By Shekhar KC:

Sahayatra-An inter-college media students’ network organized  its meeting at Active College, Basundhara on April 9, 2011 AD Saturday. This meeting was a part of the regular weekly meeting. In the meeting, all the media students were given assignment about preparing text as part of their contribution to our second issue of Sahayatra newsletter that is about to be published at the end of this April, 2011. Amol Acharya, the president of the network and Pasang Tamang, The vice president announced the date of Sahayatra PICNIC i.e Baisakh 10, 2068 B.S. Thankot was decided as the venue but students were searching for other alternative locations. Everybody who were interested to participate in PICNIC were suppose to submit Rs 500 for the covering of their individual cost.

(Below are the photos of the meeting.)

Sahayatra in Active VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

What we do is together and what we gain is togetherness –Sahayatra

 

 

Text: Shekhar KC, KU

Photo: Tara Nath Chaulagain, KU

 

After a long time I attended Sahayatra meeting that was scheduled on 2 April, 2011 at Grahmin Higher Secondary School, Nepaltar. Somewhat 20 to 30 students were present from atleast 10 different colleges in the meeting where I was supposed to present a short introduction to our media students network name “Sahayatra”. Anil Adhikary, a young handsome tip-top guy from Grahmin college coordinated the meeting. His voice still vibrates my ear holes when I recall how he phoned me continuously for two days somewhat 4-5 days before the scheduled date. I am quite impressed with his serious concern for smooth running of Sahayatra and for the presence of students like us who are studying media subjects in different mass communication colleges in Nepal. Chandi Raj Dahal, a media third year students from Kathmandu University addressed the meeting as the Communication coordinator. Let me tell you briefly about the organogram of our mass communication students’ network “Sahayatra”.

Young minds at work VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

There are about 11 central committee members in our Sahayatra. We are on the pipeline to give it a legitimate existence. Till now it has been running just as a students’ group but after we register it and get a registration number with legal permit then we might grow and groom with a bit wide exposure and with great plan of actions.

It’s very necessary for the new or interested one to know about Sahayatra that our organization was formed to create a common a platform to flourish our knowledge and spread it so that it can be helpful for others as well who mightn’t know us but who might be studying media subjects at some corner of this earth and experiencing a true lack of media circle as the present Sahaytris were experiencing some June 6, 2010 when Sahayatra was formally announced at the grant meeting in Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel. We are in same place for the purpose of learning our media skills from one another. It’s not necessary that talent students mightn’t learn anything from a average one. We all have weakness because we can’t learn everything at a time and we can’t be at two places at a single point of time. By that I mean to say that the knowledge we gain at the college we are studying mightn’t be given other media colleges. For example the media lab that is being constructed in Kathmandu University might be missing at other normal colleges in Kathmandu. Also, the reporting experience of a NIC college student might be a new thing to know about for students who have never visited a media house. So, we are in Sahayatra to compensate our shortcomings by sharing our knowledge. We are not here to bring any earth-shattering changes but we hope to bring a gradual change in our media skills that will be very helpful for us not only when we work as a media professional but also to live as a true and honest human who have true thrust for sharing knowledge for the betterment for the world.

There are two main department or let say mechanism namely Communication Department and Publication Department. It has been my honor and privilege as well to work as the coordinator of the publication Department and also chief-editor of our newsletter “Sahayatra”. Chandi Raj Dahal, my junior colleague at Ku media studies is handling the Communication Department. Both departments have their different sets of work and priorities that is clearer on the “About us” section of this blog.

In the meeting of April 2, one significant step we took was to continue our initial newsletter venture. The full-fledged Publication Team was not formed in the hope that it will formed after the students’ participation and zeal are evaluated while we are working together on the due course of preparing the newsletter. Also, Amol Acharya, the incumbent president of this network announced the date of Sahayatra PICNIC which added enthusiasm in the Sahayatris.

The details of the students who were present at the meeting are shows below. (In the hope that nobody will complain in publishing their name and contact numbers or violating their privacy. I mean we are communication students so we needn’t be afraid being contacted or communicated by others. )

There were some works I had given to my friends regarding the newsletter that is going to be published in coming May, 2011. Their names and the topic of the text they were supposed to write are stated below. Hope they get their work done before deadlines. Our Political leaders have already crossed their first deadlines completing the constitution writing process and are in pipeline to cross the second one too. But we, the leader of next generation let’s not repeat what is being done by most of our present leaders.

1. Name	Newsletter job topic	college	email	contact no.
2. Bikash Ghimire	Entertainment	GAMC	ghimire_bka@yahoo.com	9841030499
3. Manoj Parajuli		GAMC	parajulimanoj@yahoo.com	9849524985/ 9808530495
4. Kiran Phuyal	Traffic Jam	BST		974113776
5. Sanju Gurung	Clicking Photos with Captions	BST		9803694177
6. Pratima Karki		BST		9849063653
7. kalpana Baral		BST		9841146232
8. Manisha Magar				9849005544
9. Sanjaya Khanal	Media’s role in Constitution making Process	BST	sanjayakhanal31@yahoo.com	9849612773
10. Dinesh Kumar Tamang	Constitution		lamadinesh009@gmail.com	9849144071
11. Rojeena Chaulagain	womens’ status In Nepal		rojisharma@gmail.com	9843035601
12. Singa bahadur Tamang	kantipur and Nagarik’s coverage in some issue		singadimdumg@yahoo.com	9849110277
13. Srijana Khadka	facebook’s impact in our daily lives	SV campus		9813432005
14. Prativa Dhital	facebook’s impact in our daily lives			9841253760
15. Bhim Lama			b_tamang200@hotmail.com	9849197678
16. Bijaya Thapa		Active Academy, Basundhara	mylove3257@yahoomail.com	9841782876
17. Dipak Khanal			khanaldipak49@yahoo.com	9841782876
18. Sourav Prasai		NIC	prasaisourav2@gmail.com	9804941551
19. Kapil Ranjit		NIC	kapilranjit@gmail.com	9841787321
20. Sirjana Adhikary		Grahmin Higher Secondary School	adhikarisirjana@rocketmail.com	9849118768
21. Sangita Pokhrel		Grahmin Higher Secondary School	srijana_pk@yahoo.com	9808318332
22. Ramila Bhandari		Grahmin Higher Secondary School	bramita24@yahoo.com	9808854645
23. Sangita Gajurel		Grahmin Higher Secondary School	gajurelsanjita@yahoo.com	9849545445
24. Prabha Ghimire		Grahmin Higher Secondary School	prabhaghimire@yahoomail.com	9849110238
25. Sushila Pokharel	Photo and captions	GAMC	susi_luv143@yahoo.com	9804461683, 984104509
26. Sunita Bhujel	coverage of untouchability issues		sunita_bhujel@yahoo.com	9803967053
27. Sarita Bhatta	Varied use of mobile		saritabhatta61@yahoo.com	9841743494
28. Tara Nath Chaulagain		KU	sam2mita@gmail.com	9841044689
29. Bhawana KC			divine_fantasy@hotmail.com	9806581138
30. MC Chauthangi		Grahmin Higher Secondary School	mcchauthanga@gmail.com	9813550499/984326348
31. Rajendra Ghimire
32. Shekhar KC		KU	kushekharkc@gmail.com	9841570025
33. Amol Acharya		KU	amolsansar@gmail.com	9803394256

This is our second meeting in Grahmin College where Sri Ram Khanal sir and Anil Adhikary saathi deserve some gratitude and credit for arranging space and time for meeting in the critical hours when Sahayatra lacks even its office. But lacking money and infrastructures shouldn’t be the reason to retard our activities because such issues have been already tedious topic for us in our country where most of the people only know how to snatch their rights without following their duties. What I believe is that we media students are young and mentally strong and determined enough to stir our work ahead even if we don’t have money. Our dedication and honesty is what matters more.

Personally I am quite satisfied at some level as well as happy being in Sahayatra because I have friends who shares common but diversified level of understanding in the various issues relevant to media sector. Their ambitions and working ability trigger mine and I have always felt my existence as a media students having bright future in that circle. Infact, everyone should feel in the same way because what we do is together and what we gain is togetherness. That is what goes in line with our network nomenclature “Sahayatra”- “journey together’.

(best of luck till next Blog Post and see you all in Active College, Basundhara on April 09, 2011 A.D. See below the pictures of Grahmin meeting on April 02, 2011. )

GRAND MEETING

SAHAYATRA is organizing a grand meeting of its member colleges on 2nd April, 2011 in Gramid Adarsha Multiple College, Nepaltar. A total of 80 students from around 20 colleges are expected to participate in the meeting.
The meeting will finalize the PUBLICATION and COMMUNICATION unit of SAHAYATRA. Following are plans that are to be carried out under the two broad topics.

1) Communication Unit:

• Reformation
• Registration of the Organization
• Fund collection and Allocation
• Picnic
• Research Team formation
• Lecture Series
• Photocopy intensive training
• Debate intensive training
• Inclusion of new colleges in the network

2) Publication Unit:

• Reformation
• Paper registration

Format of tomorrow's program is expected to be in this form:

a) Collection of registration form of SAHAYATRA.
b) Welcome speech by Secretary.
c) Speech by President.
d) Presentation about SAHAYATRA by Publication Coordinator.
e) Formation of Communication as well as Publication unit and allocating respective works, budgets and deadline.
f) Distribution of the first newspaper of SAHAYATRA.
g) Final say.

Unless otherwise the program will start sharply at 11 am and will end before 2 pm.

LECTURE SERIES (NIC COLLEGE)- POSTPONED

The lecture to be organized in NIC College by SAHAYATRA has been postponed due to some managerial problem.

The lecture will probably be undertaken next week. Though next update on the organizing of lecture will be made.

Forming Student Network

Introduction

            Network is an interconnected system of things or people. In communications, the most accurate and simplest definition of a network refers to the cables and electronic components that amplify the signals going through the cables. The amplifying equipment is necessary to ensure accurate communication and make the signal stronger if it needs to go long distances. 

Although the word 'network' was initially used in the communications field only it is now being used persistently in every sector. For eg- Ujjyalo 90 Network, a network of community radios in Nepal. Others example are- Hotel Association of Kathmandu, Golden Gate Education Foundation etc.

"Networking is not a one-way street, but a two-or more way road. It is always about a win-win situation, in which all parties are satisfied. The important concept in the network is that everyone is comfortable with both giving help and making requests" (Ahvenainen 5)

With the motto of taking and giving help to students of media, mass communication and journalism a network named "SAHAYATRA- an inter college media students network" has been formed from the student level.

Concept of Sahayatra

The number of institutions that give courses in media, journalism and mass communication is increasing.  In the similar way students’ attraction and interest toward media, journalism and mass communication is also growing. Every year a lot of students get enrolled in the programs run by Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu University, Purvanchal University and Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) to study mass communication and journalism.

The present situation revealed that students who are pursuing their education in the mass communication field are not aware of the strength and space for improvement in the academic and professional field of the same discipline. In this context, realizing the importance of a network, that should have been established much earlier SAHAYATRA- an inter college media students network has been formed.

The main objectives of this network to establish an association between students of different colleges so that an environment of mutual sharing is created and to help students grow in the practical field of the discipline.

The initiation for the formation of network was taken by Media Studies Group of Kathmandu University. Before establishing the network "SAHAYATRA- an inter college media students network"  a program named "SAHAYATRA- an inter college media students meet" was organized in Kathmandu University by the students of Media Studies. It is only through the program the network has been successfully formed because it provided the necessary platform for the students to interact about the possibilities of working together in a network. The program was conducted in three stride. In the first phase, pre-discussion program was held to have discussions about the network to be formed and it's possible structure. The main program was  concentrated on conveying the situation and status of media in Nepal via. academicians and professionals of media industry. In the third step a post-discussion program was held to review the main porgram and officially form the network.

SAHAYATRA-an inter college media students network is the first of its kind in Nepal. At present 22 colleges are working together in the network. Presently the network is working to make it's bylaws and register it in the District Administrative Office. The network is shortly publishing a twelve pages newspaper and it is also organizing "all nepal media quiz contest". So far everything is going well and we are working hard for the organization's bright future.

Ways to Start a Networking Group

Starting a networking group takes time and effort. Not only do you have to create excitement, but you also have to sustain the momentum so people continue to attend. Five things to remember….

1. Ensure that you build a solid board of directors or volunteers. You can't do this alone, so enlist the help of volunteers who share your vision.
2. Craft your association bylaws early. This will save you alot of grief in the long run. The bylaws help you to govern your group so that it runs more smoothly. It also helps you in deciding how elections will be run, how board members will be replaced and how you'll manage your group's money.
3. Plan your year's events before you launch your group. Nothing will irritate new members more than to attend a launch for your new networking group with no other events planned for the rest of the year. Keep the momentum going by ensuring you have planned out the timing of your future events. If possible, make it the same time each month eg. the third Thursday or the first Monday. That way, people can plan ahead.
4. Decide early what your mission and strategy is for the first year. Being able to briefly tell people why you're doing, what you're doing can make the difference. Understand why you're creating this new networking group by crafting a winning mission statement and strategies for the upcoming year.
5. Understand whether your new group conflicts with another. People are more willing to support networking groups that offer something new.

Prospects and Challenges

Every thing comes up with both prospects and challenges. So have SAHAYATRA done. It also have chance equal to succeed or fail. 

Concentrating on the brighter part of the network we can say it can turn out to be a platform for students of media, mass communication and journalism to grind their skills by participating in different media related activities of SAHAYATRA and show their presence in the media market.

Since SAHAYATRA network is still in its early days so it's obvious for it to have challenges more than prospects. Regarding challenges, the ability to maintain good communication between the students of the network is of greatest challenge. Secondly, there comes the monetary issue because financial support is very important for an organization to run and perform it's activities. Moreover all the members of SAHAYATRA- an inter college media students meet are students and thus can't donate big sum of money to the network. The issue of regularity is the third challenge for the network because we all are students and we know that students have tendency to panic in difficult conditions which could end up their involvement form the network.

Contributor: Amol Acharya