Lufthansa can be a ticket for NAC towards sucess

Recently the news surfaced that Lufthansa has send a proposal to the Prime Minister(PM) office to become the strategical partner for Nepal Airlines Corporation(NAC) management. The PM office has further forwarded  the proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for further investigation and research.

As per the proposal the Lufthansa would take over the management and would further help Nepal to open the European destination as well as help it would further help rebuild its position and structure. With limited resources the airlines would be immediately  providing 4 airbuses for its operation.

I think this is a great opportunity for NAC to overcome the current problem of institutional corruption and political manipulation If only it could create a system this national carrier could certainly build its reputation in the national and international market. The current practice of political influences and corruption has diluted the national carrier in retrospect of its development and operation.
Similarly with the orthodox system and ground staff manipulation its even hard to book tickets with NAC.  

 History has it that NAC was established 2 years before Thai Airlines  but due to lack of leadership, management and vision it landed itself in the current situation of corruption and mismanagement.

Recently on January 2015, AirlineRatings.com a global airline safety and product rating website listed Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) as the world´s unsafe airlines. Apart from that NAC has been officially been banned to fly in the European Union skies under the latest changes to a list of unsafe carriers last December in 2013.

Lufthansa is the largest airline in Europe, both in terms of overall passengers carried and fleet size when combined with its subsidiaries. It operates services in 18 domestic destinations and 197 international destinations in 78 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe using a fleet of more than 280 aircraft. 

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Social Media outrage on Lokman singh karki daughters wedding

It seemed as if everyone was posting, commenting and sharing  against the Chief commissioner  of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority(CIAA)  Lokman Singh Karki daughter's wedding status on their social networking sites. Some were cursing, some were using foul words and some were just following the so called elite intellectual groups in their mission to provoke others in gaining popularity.  It seemed radically unusual and very funny how people were using negative sentiment to provoke others to gain social media popularity.

May be a viral social media strategy but with negative comments and sentiments one should always understand the impact of social media crisis on other person image and credibility.
Frankly speaking people are just going nuts writing negative about others in #socialmedia. They just want attention and negativity always draws attention.

LSK has been allegedly charged by the so called elite fraternity of  journalists and twitter users for using the official residence for his daughters marriage purposes.
In the past various high level officials from government as well as military and police have conducted marriage ceremonies of their spouses from their official residences. Even the  then Prime Minister (PM) Madhav Kumar Nepal married his daughter from PM residence during his terms as PM of Nepal. Nobody had a problem then and now why this outburst of social tweets and comments. It seems as if he was caught red handed.

But I see something different as Lokman Singh Karki being the head of a pristine institution has set new standard following the basic rules and regulation. He followed all his rules  that he had imposed on the public.

I think that is very ideal. In a country where from past 8 years  the CA members are not being responsible towards the public in giving the constitution, LSK has followed the directives of government  rules and regulation is an example. He specifically didn't invited people despite being head of a pristine institution, avoided dowry and limited the number of groom's invitees and even maintained the food code to be very basic what more could we expect ....

The most amazing thing is after the marriage he went back to his office and resumed his work what more can you expect from a government official and you are accusing this man of abusing his authority.

In argument to those so called controversies, I would just like to say I am not a relative of Lokman sign nor I have any hidden benefits but truth and reality is something that cannot be changed.

The government has given him the home for his daily use and personal  purpose. He despite of his wealth and status maintained his simplicity in following the rules and regulation that he acted upon the public and that is credible. Being a public servant he didn't wasted people's money nor did he wasted any other person's time and we accused him of abusing authority. He has set new standards in following what the so caller preachers have forgotten that is follow what you say and stand up to the thing that you ask others to do or else you have no right to speak.

Thank you for reading ....

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Journalism and storytelling is adapting new ways of technology

So what do you understand by the meaning of #journalist or #journalism. To my understanding a Journalist is a person who brings in stories that are happening in the society. The stories can be good or bad depending upon situation and time. Where as journalism means a channel or structured network that helps to bring out the real news in a more organized way.

Now looking at the current past practice and what is happening how do you feel where journalists and journalism is going?

I think no where I mean to say most of the news published by reputed publications have been questioned for relevance and there has been issues and concern about how and what they have been publishing. I guess even big news papers Kantipur Publication has been marked with the controversy of Anju Baniya to  Ashish Luitel which certainly raises the credibility and accountability towards public. Journalism practice  in Nepal is degrading with no role models and icons, its falling prey to big names where news making process is loosing its essence and news makers are fantasized as celebs.

Its a part of the evolution process but with time and modern values the meaning and definition of journalist and journalism is also changing. The public these days do not accept reality that easy they inquire and they validate that is the reason why even at public sector people are very active in social media and investigation process. People want reliable sources and  they do cross check the information. It is very funny to say even for natural events occurring, one of my journalist friend took reference from social networking site indicating how people were feeling at that moment of time.

Journalism or journalist is a prized profession where the state has granted  special rights and responsibility towards this field. They practice and exercise few specific rights which are specially granted to them recognizing their role and responsibility towards society.

No matter what recognition are there but the credibility of Nepali journalists are degrading. May be its because of lack of monitoring or may be due to lack of sense of morale it is not good.
   
From a watcher perspective I have been observing the industry from past 20 years. I have seen the ups and downs of this field.  Just like the option of life you will also find various option of being a journalist optimistic, pessimist and realist. People are also adapting various ways and means in understanding and interpreting journalism in their own way where this field has changed radically . 

In today's context when you talk about commercial news and main stream journalism it generally means something bad that sells as the standard of true journalism has gone down. Journalists have become sales men selling news hiding behind the prospect of business. More often the real journalist who are driven by morale and ethic are either sidelined or they  have to face the path of power, humiliation and manipulation.

Even if you look at the practice any where else  power, money and network has always driven the path of news making. More or less it would be too rude to say journalism of today is a proactive form of  business and news that are more concerned about opportunities than real storytelling process.

Having said that these group of publications have been infiltrated by so called federation and association who were established for the protection and monitoring the values of journalism but on the contrary they have moved away from their objective in creating a better opportunity for themselves. For instance these days in Nepal the Federation of Nepalese Journalist is more politically associated with various parties than the news making elements. Their appointment and even their election is majorly affected by the ruling government.

I think this is a smaller perspective of what is happening especially in Asia pacific but is a more concerning thing where journalism is derailing from its true meaning. Apart from that the politics and favoritism that goes on is something that needs no voice.  The trues face of journalism is dying in mist of lack of right practice.

 However, the new platform of citizen journalism and social media has given people a new inspiration to express their opinions and views of what they want and feel. I am surprised that the coming up generation of bloggers, activists, citizen Journalist and  normal people are more active about social issues.

If you want to know the current status of Nepal's politics then I do not flip over the newspapers as if you look at the various of newspapers they have their own version. Even with fact, figure and events happening things are reported differently. One can argue about the various perspective and mindset but how can fixed things like fact, figures and events happening be differently reported.  In  one or the other ways they are influenced by various  factors in their new making process. Its a sad and bad example but the truth about what is happening and the so called federation and association are supporting and nurturing this.  I think its better to search the tweet or use a has tag to know what is a happening  around.

So tell me if i am crossing the line in redefining the meaning of journalism or may be i am getting influence by social media. no matter I think journalism/ storytelling / news making  all these are process of   reality that cannot be ignored. it needs a certain credibility from the writers side as well as from the readers side to know what is truth and what is not .

Lastly I would say I would not trust a journalist of Nepal but i would trust a social media has tag where i can see and read reality.

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Facebook and instagram offline

Recently on January 28 2015,  Facebook  and instagram went  offline around 5:15pm AEST. Though users were pre informed about the technical maintenance but the black out  rumored of hacking that spread like fire completely stalled the world when it caught everyone's attentions.

Facebook and instagram were both started as a social media platform but  due to their marketing value they have evolved into commercialized business concept that focuses more towards adds and revenue generation.

Growing from understanding the socializing need to a hot burning cake of revenue generation facebook has evolved itself in variation of changing its look and appearance.

Getting into people's lives of creating a habit of understanding user behavior and pattern, the organization  has gone through various marketing strategies. Just like any other business life-cycle of any organization  facebook and instagram has seen its boom. I believe there has always been a replacement for everything.

If you look at the trend then social media  has been changing from  MSN to Yahoo to HI5 to orkut to various other social networking sites. All of them have seen their top level to bottom point. I think its just a process of evolution and humanity where people practice dynamism. People always want something new that excites and enthralls them.    

The commercialization of Facebook has taken its toll and it has evolved so much but now when technology is also growing and people are also getting fed up with all the nonsense and garbage things happening. I think there would be more attacks and securities threats targeted where it needs to face them. I think its people's choice and want that we all need to respect other than that anything rarely matters

One thing that I know is people love their freedom and no-matter what facebook or not I thing the world will exist and it will be better as the future new option of social media are evolving.

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World bank and its Mobile app news in Nepal

Recently the world bank published a tweet  with the message "Smart Phone app helps #Nepal's Farmers Reports -This week in #SouthAsiaDev"  I think this is completely irrelevant as currently if you look at the internet penetration rate in Nepal, it is just 35% that too is limited with in city areas. The use of mobile phone is just limited with in  urban youths as mobile phone are very expensive and most important the prices of internet is also expensive. In such case scenario how can the user a normal farmer who is below poverty line afford internet.

Though the concept of Agricultural app is extraordinary but it is way beyond time but at current time when the internet prices and mobile devices are so high how can it be affordable and usable.

I think the concept of Agricultural app can be concept of future not present and reality.  

   
 



 

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Political leaders of Nepal have diverted their issue

After reaching the second deadline of the Constitutional Assembly the CA members have protested inside the CA vandalizing the property inside. With protest and shutdown program announced by the Maoist led alliance on 20 January the meeting of CA which was scheduled for a day ahead that happened at the middle of the night where the UCPN and its supporter showed violence and protested with violence. Highlighting their 16 years of conflict struggle they have been demanding a ethnic based federal system with cultural identity where the other political parties have been opposing the proposed system.

Though a political instability rules in the country but political leaders showcasing such outrage and chaos before the second dissolution of the CA term certainly means its hard and unfortunate to have no constitution situation. Protest programs outside CA has already been started by general public demanding constitution.

From past 8 years Nepalese have been waiting for their constitution where they have only faced corruption, power politics, manipulation etc

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The new Airbus of Nepal Airlines

The new Airbus 320-200 of Nepal Airlines, its a proud moment for us the citizen to see how NA is trying to survive. Though due to lack management and political manipulation the Airlines is in loss from the pass few decades but the pride of flying a national carrier cannot be compensated with anything else 

I hope and pray that Nepal Airlines grows with proper management and business so that one day it will fly to all over the world and the flag of Nepal would be respected in all countries.


    

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Nepal Police has no credibility

Early morning I had a scuffle with some thugs who tried to intimidate me.
In front of my home there big public property where kids come and play. We have had no problem and issues but lately a group of teenagers have been teaming up in playing football creating social menace in the society. The teenagers have not only been smoking weed but at times their language is insanely untollerable. We have been ignoring this and at times we have reported this to the Nepal police but as they like to say we have limited resources so we cannot do anything....

Coming back to the story, they play the ball harshly and hit the doors and enter the premises without permission. Most of the times when they are confronted they would reply back with slangs. We have been constantly requesting them to playing slowly but with their raising attitude and behavior its getting in tolerable.

After the incident we the society people went to the sorakhutte police station for report.  Their first reaction was very annoying as the thugs were already there in the police station. The officers instead of assuring us started shouting at us and they were very absurd as if we were the culprits. One of the relatives of the thugs was there. I think he had staged the police man with some understanding that we were being ignored.  After raising our voices the situation came in control and they agreed to listen to us.

I say what is this we pay taxes and at the same end we have to face the harsh consequences.

It made me feel as if Nepal's police is very biased toward power, position and money.

I could not understand the relative relationship of why police treats the normal public like this.

Why are we so pathetic to bear all this ........

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NAC not bad a as expected

Recently, I had the opportunity to fly with the national carrier Ra-405 to thailand. I was pretty surprise with the performance and the level of service that I experienced during my trip and I must say was not bad.

Working in the tourism industry for more than 10 years, I had heard so many things about Nepal Airlines and was in a delima of what to expect and how to react. I had early traveled to various other international destination so I had an idea about international flying standards and condition. But to my amazement flying in the national carrier was quite different than flying with foreign airlines. Apart from that the normal perception of thinking NAC to be bad and un-comforting was completely wrong. I think it was not the best but I would say it was not the worst, in fact it was better than the international airlines that I had traveled with. 

The flight attendants were very smart and very focused towards their duties and responsibilities. 

Moreover, the attendants were very responsive and duly served as per your requirement. I wish the government would further work in its management as its not just a facility but traveling in a national is a  matter of national  pride for any #Nepali.

We all are very busy in our lives where most of the times believe what is being told in news and media which most of the times proves to be correct but in most case the news and stories are partially told. Hiding the reality having benefit of doubt to the story teller. Being a journalist and working in #journalism for more than 13 years, one thing I can be sure of is Nepal's media are very biased towards their, commercial objectives and very few  journalists practice #EthicalJournalism .

What we hear and experience is just the matter of what the reporters want to show rather than showcasing the reality.

It was a proud feeling traveling a national carrier and hope the government further work on the working condition of #NAC.

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PK may be the best movie for 2014 but has no soul to it

From its initial soft launching in October PK invited un-wanted attention with its poster and controversial statements in regards to religion. The movie was fully planned with better strategy and presentation in targeting its modern audience.
Though it is creating its record in the history of Bollywood but from a viewers point of view I find PK extraordinarily waste of time and nonsense. I personally think people loved this movie in craze of Amir khan and his legacy of profound creativity that he prolongs.

The movie hugely targets the orthodox prejudice tradition and taunts the religion and culture about its drawback.

The movie starts with a ultra modern theory of an Alien who lands up in a deserts and later on grasps the language and culture. Now tell me who would be dumb enough not to know the landing of a spaceship in the territory of India. More could have been done to add in adapting the current technological development and what India stands for in terms of Astronomy.

The movie tries to collaborates towards focusing the normality of Indian lifestyle but somewhere down the lane it also highlights the Indian cultural transitional phase and dramatic issues of Indo Pakistan relationship with a new twist.

A love triangle with a country angle in the middle is more confusing than anything but one thing is very credible that Mr Amir khan has done is he has tried to bring in his experience of a philanthropist that he worked in Satyamayaba Jayate a TV series.

Not to be rude I guess Vinod Chopra must hard time shooting and directing this movie than arguing with amir khan contemplating the situation and scene.

Everything works in India with the Khans, reality is for a movie to work well in Bollywood it doesn't need a good script and good technical support  but it takes big names and their experience.  
 

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