Some time back I found myself watching more than three dozen videos in one sitting that made my eyes bloat like anything and yet my work was not half done. Because, there were more than six dozens videos to be watched for me to get the clear view of it. Me, not being a political person, was compelled to watch all those small videos to understand what is associated with politically. Because, it was also related with women's right issue, I have no choice but to watch all those videos individually and then grasp the core collective meaning of it; even if, politics fails to grip my attention squarely. In that videos women right activists voiced their concerns about the rights of women's and wondered we have done so much in the past years and yet why this 2072 constitution is clipping the rights of women than that was more liberal in 2047 ?
Why, is the big question which a couple of women’s right activists raised, when they were given a chance to raise voice for women's rights. We all know media plays a huge role in every society to bring the much sought change. There is no doubt, this is one of the right vehicle to bring change in society. We also know that men in our society, mainly who are in mainstream media; are scared of brilliant and intelligent woman. It seems they are not comfortable when she opens her open mouth or pen. I am sure you must have read and kept quiet when you have read about pain of periods or post pregnancy problems written by a man who is not an expert but just a journalist [man] like any other woman journalists in my country. Why the media bosses did not feel comfortable to give that job to our female journalist to pen down on subjects that is purely ours[?], well the simple answer is he must have felt shy about it.
Well our mainstream media are biased about the issues that are related to women. Be it her basic rights, gender issues and equal rights, VAW cases; they are simply scared to open talk about it. They view our women right activists as merely people who work only to earn dollar, as if, this is not our society’s problem but the issues of INGO or NGOs. Realizing this, to become the collective voice of women's Sancharika Samuha was established around 1998. Well when I watch their TV show Samakone which is funded project which is viewed by men in this society, as the borrowed concept. And our society do not need such drastic changes as our society as women rights activists fights or demand for. Being a feminist, I really have decided not to pass any comments on Samakone program which is at times way of the track to find the rights of women. I really did kept myself away from passing comments on it even though they were off the track in their search to find answer, thinking being a feminist I should not raise question to others who are also raising voice for women’s right. Sometimes, some differences and some mistake needs to be ignored with wide open eyes and ears also.
Recently, I read an article in Nagariknews by Mr. Subash Ghimire, editor Republica, how an ex-president of Harvard had to resign from his position in 2005 after his controversial speech saying one reason there are relatively few women in top positions in science may be "issues of intrinsic aptitude." The remarks were made at a small seminar on January 14. When The Boston Globe reported on the remarks -- and the anger of some women who heard them -- the comments became the focus of an international debate.
After reading this piece of article, my mind is reeling back to the time when Nirmala Sharma, President of Sancharika Samuha appointed Gunaraj Luitel as editor just after he wrote that contradicting article on Setopati. Where he twisting the whole episode of acid attack - which is a serious form of crime against VAW - into a caste base issue - which is a lot less punishable crime compared to acid attack. There was no voice raised by a single women right activist against that twisting of a case. On top of that there was this appointment to tease the women right activist or the journalist of this country. That appointment made me go what ! ? ! No women right activists/journalist within the Sancharika Samuha raised their voice on this appointment nor there was a single article on this matter in any mainstream media. How come we don't have a single journalists working within or outside of sancharika samuha to raise voice against that appointment, at least I did not read it anywhere. I really wonder why ?
Had it been in any other country, chances are very high that she would have to resign from her position for such appointment. Where she sided with the man who twisted the whole discourse in media. It diverted people demanding punishment for culprit to suddenly sympathy as he was rejected due to his lower caste. Why no journalists [ does she really has to be a woman journalist ?] raised their voice, when Sangita Pulami Magar’s the acid attack victim and the Jiban BK case was overturned so swiftly by the power of pen of a journalist who has so strong pen and opinion like Mr. Luitel.
Can he do that ? When I read that article, I was stunned. But, may be that was not enough. What is more interesting to pay attention here is, Mr luitel left the team of Sancharika Samuha in less than 30 days to join Nagarik as its editor. No other person can find better way to slap on the face of feminist journalists as well as activists on her face than Mr Luitel did so swiftly with his this two act, back to back. But then, I really wonder why, no one said a word about this also ? And how come Mrs Sharma can ignore the whole episode and yet appoint him as the editor of a Sancharika online which main objective is to raise voice for women's rights ? Was that because the journalists [all female] in Sancharika did not wanted to lose friendship with Mr. Luitel. Or this also could be they wanted to keep the road opening for future posting when they live this alternative media to mainstream media ? Can these journalist be trusted to raise voice for women’s right, who need them to their voice ? I seriously doubt so.
What I really have not been able to ignore still is, when there are some rape news or news that is about equal right issue [currently citizenship issue] on Nagarik new site the management of the NagarikNews won't edit or delete the most filthy and degrading comments that are targeted to the rape victims, mostly on women of VAW cases. On top of that I also don't get a chance to read news or coverage raising voice on such news coverage in any other news portals that is run by feminist journalists. Why they are feeling uncomfortable to raise voice for such news also ? What stops them to tell the news site bosses not to do so ? am I the only watchdog in this country to keep eye on them ? It really leaves me wondering all the time. Still the most important point is why all the clusters of women right activist are not calling everyone to join the protest. Well where are journalist who pens on women's right issue ? And I don't have a slightest trust on Sancharika Samuha will make this news on priority, unless they will get extra fund to run the news from Norwegian Embassy.
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