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Dashain Festival And Kites

Article Hub — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:49:55 +0000

During the Dashain festival, kite flying is a huge hit. It is not a religious event, but it is a lot of fun during the holiday season. Autumn is also a very relaxing season. This season does not have any extremes of temperature.

It can be played both indoors and outdoors, although most people prefer to fly kites outside since they like large wide areas where they can fly their kites freely. Some people prefer to fly kites from the tops of their buildings.

However, there is a risk of falling while flying kites from rooftops because most men and children will fall. They become thoughtless and carefree, losing their body’s balance. There is also no rain during this time of year. The end of the rainy season is also signaled by the kite-flying event. Farmers are unburdened this season because they do not have to cultivate anything.

They are relaxed and wish to spend their time flying kites in the open sky. They also beg to Indra, the god of rain, to stop it raining because it is no longer necessary. There is a very popular folk rhyme that I would like to quote here:

“Rain, Rain go away,
Come again another day
Rain, Rain go to Spain
Do not show your face again.”

In the background, they can also enjoy a seven-colored rainbow. ‘When I see a rainbow in the sky, my heart jumps up,’ remarked William Wordsworth, one of the most famous romantic writers. It is a source of enormous joy to fly a kite in the blue sky while admiring the rainbow’s magnificence.

They also think that flying a kite provides happiness, good health, and mental tranquility. It is also seen to be a sign of family harmony and success.

Festivals in Mithilanchal are more than just religious, social, and sentimental. Some people enjoy the annual ritual of flying kites on the auspicious occasion of Dashain’s main celebration. This celebration is well known for its health advantages.

People flying kites today reap the benefits of the sunrays as the season transitions to a more relaxing and delicious one, working as a remedy for the human body, which becomes diseased and dry during the summer.

When a person flies a kite in the sun, the body is exposed to UV rays, which kills bacteria and eliminates insanity. Dasain is a religious festival that is observed in Nepal and India as a pleasant and pleasurable occasion.

The state of Gujarat is the epicenter of this event, which is known as UTTARAYAN. Gujarat Tourism hosts an annual international kite festival that attracts visitors from all over the world.

During this time, the calm blue sky is speckled with thousands of colorful kites of various shapes, sizes, and designs. Tukkals (illuminated box kites) are flown into the sky at night, typically strung together on a single line, creating a mesmerizing sight.

Kite-flying is also a significant aspect of religious rituals as an adoration to the Sun God, thanking him for the crops’ richness. A special 24-hour kite market opens in Ahmedabad the weekend before the event.

The kites are a sight to behold from sunrise to sunset, as people shift their base to rooftops, kites and reels in hand. During ‘kite wars,’ shouts of Kai Po Che are typical as soon as one gets to sever another kite string, signaling victory. In Nepal’s blue and clear sky, kite fliers are also engaged in a tug of war.

If they win, they relish their success. They yell ‘changa chait’ in Nepali at a high volume. People in Mithilanchal, particularly children, are ecstatic if they win this competition and yell out loudly to convey their excitement. Every year, Nepalese businesspeople import ready-made kites from India, their neighbor.

They also get lattais from there, which they use to cut the strings of other kites soaring across the sky. Locals are now making different sizes of kites and kite flowers based on the preferences of the purchasers.

Making of Kites

Kites are composed of bamboo and lightweight paper. Abrasives (a particular blend of glass powder and rice paste) are added to the cotton string MANJHA to make it strong and sharp enough to cut other kite strings. Manjha is the best string to utilize in this situation. Kites range in size from nine inches to three feet.

Multi-colored kites are now available, and when flown, they make a beautiful spectacle in the sky. Every year, the world’s largest kite festival takes place in Paris, France’s capital.

Mithila paintings once adorned and drawn kites once represented Maithili culture in a global kite flying competition held in Paris. Ramesh Shreshtha, a Nepali poet located in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, deserves credit. In that international competition, he represented Nepal. Mr Shrestha entrusted me with overseeing these types of kites from Janakpur, the Mithila arts and crafts capital.

Mr Ajit Sah, a well-known artist and the owner of Mithila Arts and Crafts in Janakpur, was commissioned to paint Mithila artwork on three dozen kites and deliver them to me. I handed them on to Mr Shreshtha, who happens to be my next-door neighbor in Kathmandu. First and foremost, Mithila painting was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to soar across the skies of Paris.

Precaution: One of my villagers, who loved kite flying and used to fly kites in the mid–day light throughout the autumn season, got one-eyed as a result of repeatedly focusing one of his eyes on kite flying.

(The author is culture expert)

source: risingnepal

Digital Banking In The Spotlight

Article Hub — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 13:58:42 +0000

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has announced its monetary policy, which places a strong emphasis on digital banking. It has sparked interest in cryptocurrencies and the rise of digital finance. If the policy is effectively implemented, the current fiscal year will represent a watershed moment in the banking sector’s digital transition.

According to the monetary policy, the current fiscal year 2021/22 will be designated as the ‘Digital Payment Promotion Year,’ with the goal of reducing cash payments.

The government’s revenue and all forms of payments, such as social security allowances, pensions, and so on, will be paid using bank’s digital payment methods. Infrastructures will be monitored and awareness programs will be held in order to implement it.

Payment service

Following that, payment service providers and payment system operators will be encouraged to extend their operations to include electronic payment services for customers of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and cooperatives. This will make digital financing much more accessible.

In the policy, it is also stated that the limit on digital payment transactions would be reviewed. Due to the pandemic, people are transitioning from physical to digital payment methods, therefore this feature will undoubtedly help a huge number of customers.

For the first time, the policy mentions digital currency. As previously mentioned, the Central Bank will conduct a feasibility study for digital currency in light of the growing use of the currency worldwide.

This will not only pave the way for the introduction of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), but it will also pave the way for a formal discussion about cryptocurrencies, its potential, and its future in Nepal.

More than 83 countries throughout the world, accounting for 90% of global GDP, are now studying the usage of digital currencies, according to the Think Tank Atlantic Council.

Five countries’ central banks had used cryptocurrencies in an official capacity. Cryptocurrency is based on blockchain technology, which is a decentralized network that organizes and records transactions across numerous computers.

The security of this technology is part of its attractiveness. The most popular cryptocurrencies now are Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, Binance Coin, Cardano, and others.

According to the policy, a national payment switch for Nepal’s own payment card will be established this year. It specifies the installation of a national payment switch for the settlement and recording of payment transactions within Nepal, as well as the usage of Nepal’s own payment card and the interconnection of electronic payment devices.

NRB will carry out this task through its subsidiary Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL). This will end the current reliance on payment switches in foreign countries.

People can now apply for loans without having to physically visit banks or financial organizations (BFIs). As stated in the monetary policy, the NRB will develop digital loan guidance for BFIs to disburse digital loans.

Following its implementation, the service receiver can apply for a loan from the comfort of their own home, and the loan will be disbursed by banks and financial institutions when the application has been approved online. The amount of time it takes to process a loan will eventually decrease.

Digital KYC

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) will deploy digital KYC, which would eliminate the need for consumers to visit the bank to submit and update their personal information. The e-KYC system will be deployed based on technology, simplifying the customer identification method, as specified in the policy. It would not only make life easier for consumers and BFIs, but it will also save money for both parties.

Aside from the foregoing, the monetary policy 2021/22 stipulated that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating in rural regions would be eligible for a special refinancing facility. This will aid in the expansion of the internet in rural sections of the country, hence increasing access to digital services in those areas.

Looking closely at the monetary policy, it appears that positive steps have been achieved in the banking sector’s digitalization. However, there are a number of obstacles to overcome.

If properly implemented, it will allow the digital ecosystem to thrive, assisting in the realization of the ‘Digital Nepal’ vision. The NRB, banks and financial institutions (BFIs), service providers, and stakeholders should all work together and share equal responsibility for the policy’s implementation.

source: rising nepal

Strengthening The Knowledge Economy

Article Hub — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:59:48 +0000

Strengthening the knowledge economy, a consumption and manufacturing system founded on intellectual capital.

The wealthy countries are currently undergoing the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), whereas the least developed countries, such as Nepal, are lagging behind and unable to benefit from it. The knowledge economy, also known as the knowledge-based economy, digital economy, tech economy, and information economy, is one of the four pillars of the 4IR.

Data and information are also the fuel for the knowledge economy (KE). The generation, storage, and use of data has increased dramatically across the world as digital activities increasingly dominate every area of human life. By 2025, an estimated 465 exabytes of data will be created every day, bringing the total amount of data to more than 180 zettabytes.

In 2010, just 2 zettabytes of data were created and used. Such a massive rise in data shows that digital activities have opened up new employment, innovation, and service delivery options.

The KE, sometimes known as the new economy, is the shift from a labor- and capital-based economy to one based on skill and intelligence. It is the consequence of a creative and innovative mind that has drastically reduced labor’s position in the economy.

Although labor is an element of human resources, KE is dominated by the knowledge faculty. The assets, which include land and money, are dismissed as capital.

The more original data you generate, analyze, and use, the more you earn. Technology, innovation, and education are all integrated in the knowledge economy to produce disruptive business – a radical revolution in the production, supply, and consumption of goods and services. The global internet giants—Facebook, Amazon, Uber, Google, Apple, and others—are the most visible examples.

As a result, knowledge economy is inextricably related to the ability to create, store, use, and analyze data with exceptional skill. Infrastructure development, as well as regulatory and legal reforms, are both necessary for this to happen.

Internet growth

We are being obliged to adopt alternatives to several tasks and services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nepalis, too, consumed a large amount of internet broadband, and mobile phone purchases increased at an alarming rate. During the previous year’s blockade, internet usage in Nepal increased by 35%.

The internet and smart gadgets are vital for virtual classes for students or work-from-home parents, transaction of takeout food, and ride-hailing services. Thousands of Nepalis joined ride-sharing services as drivers after being freed of various skilled and unskilled jobs.

Despite the difficulties, drivers of ride-sharing services took advantage of the lack of public buses on the road. Another key area that thrived during the pandemic was mobile banking.

Despite the fact that these digital activities had already begun before to the pandemic, COVID-19 required that Nepal develop its digital economy. The Digital Nepal Framework (DNF) is at the forefront of development in the legal and policy sectors to supplement KE.

The digitalization of dozens of industries has been extensively discussed. It was brought in to help Nepal prepare for the digital economy.

The government responded by launching apps such as Nagarik App and MeroKitta. These will surely contribute to the development of a digital Nepal by enhancing digital services. In addition to government initiatives, a number of private sector organizations have made the Apps available to those in need.

However, it is concerning that the draft e-commerce bill has yet to be thoroughly debated due to a shortage of MPs. After prolonged debate in parliament, the e-commerce bill will be passed, regulating e-business, including revenue generating.

However, the aforementioned measures are primarily focused on assisting customers and service seekers. In order for the KE to survive in the country, it must properly utilize digital technology. The mere reduction of administrative burdens through the use of particular apps does not create an environment conducive to KE.

Digital data must be monetised, and revenue from digital business must be secured. Information should be used in such a way that it serves as a foundation of national economic growth. The promotion of current government and business sector digital efforts, as well as the generation of new data, its usage, and links to economic activity, lays the groundwork for KE.

Double burden

How Nepal provides stepping stones to connect agriculture to the current transformation is also critical. Worrying is the fact that Nepal mostly missed the industrial revolutions, which have now progressed to the fourth stage in rich countries. We are bound to be pleased with the news that farmers are now receiving tillers, at a time when others are benefiting from 4IR.

Nepal is thus faced with a dual challenge: first, to continue and systematize the country’s fragmented digital activities, and second, to modernize agriculture and connect it to the industrial revolution.

Other obstacles to Nepal’s entry into KE include a lack of data, a lack of digital literacy, an inability to retain technology human resources, a lack of attention to vocational and technical education, a lack of investment in research and development, and a risk-averse culture.

It will be critical for the government to keep high-skilled and technological human resources in the country while also creating an environment favourable to digital entrepreneurship.

source: rising nepal

Nag Panchami 2021

Article Hub — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 14:00:16 +0000

Nag Panchami, which falls on Shukla Paksha Panchami in the Shrawan month, is one of such major days. It will be commemorated this year on August 13th. Snakes are venerated as humans on this day. Snakes are associated with Lord Shiva, thus devotees pray to him to protect them from serpents.

Nag Panchami is observed on the Panchami or the Fifth Day of the Shukal Paksh i.e. Lunar Period during Shrawan Month, according to Hindu Calendar.

On this day, devotees of Lord Shiva offer milk in temples, make Kheer at home, and fast to worship snakes, who have an inextricable bond with the Lord because He wears them as Ornaments around his neck and body.

Because Lord Shiva lived in the Himalayas and the jungles as a Yogi, snakes are an important component of his aura. Other Hindu gods are linked to snakes, such as Lord Brahma, who created Sheshnag (King of Serpents) and rests on his coil, and Lord Krishna, who vanquished Kaliya (Black Snake) in Vrindavan on the banks of the Yamuna river.

On this day, Hindus who observe Nag Panchami religiously worship twelve serpents: Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padma, Kambala, Karkotaka, Ashvatara, Dhritarashtra, Shankhapala, Kaliya, Takshaka, and Pingala. On this day, they recite the Mahamritunjya Mantra and meditate on Lord Shiva’s name by reciting “Om Namaha Shivaya.”

The idols of Dieties and Snakes are cleaned in milk and worshipped on Nag Panchami. People pray to the Lords to protect them and their loved ones from snakes, as snakes emerge from their hiding places in search of dry locations at this time of year. Snakes, despite their poison, are thought to be placid and harmless creatures who only become violent when they are harmed by humans.

Snakes should not be killed in Hindu tradition; instead, they should be respected and politely asked to leave if they enter someone’s home or get in the way. To commemorate Nag Panchami, Hindus fast on this day and present flowers, milk, and milk-based delicacies to temples, as well as distributing Prasad to the poor.

In the case of Nepal, it is believed that Nagas stopped rain from falling on the country in ancient times. Because the king of the time was also a Tantric, he used his ability to make Nagas release rain. The monarch was successful, but he also praised the Nagas’ majestic might by turning the day of triumph into the Nag Panchami festival.

Devotees hang an image of Naga high above their doorway on Nag Panchami and do puja with the requisite puja ingredients. Snakes are fed by leaving food offerings in the yards and fields. On this day, devotees flock to Naga temples throughout the valley, including Nagpokhari, Taudaha, and Nagdaha.

The Persistence of the "Learning Styles" Myth

Article Hub — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 14:02:22 +0000

Teachers should have to pass licensure examinations of instructional expertise before they can work in a classroom, according to reasonable individuals. However, it’s difficult to argue that, if such a test is to be conducted, the questions should be based on the best data we have about how children learn. Right?

In fact, according to my research, government-distributed test-preparation materials for high-stakes certification exams in 29 states include the debunked theory of “learning styles,” which claims that tailoring instruction to students’ preferred mode of learning—for example, seeing, listening, or physically engaging in content-aligned activities—is beneficial.

My research expands on previous research that found the concept in textbooks and teacher trainings all around the United States. The availability of such content encourages the spread of a false theory.

There is little evidence that creating classes that cater to various learning styles helps students learn faster. Nonetheless, teacher candidates are told to keep these pseudoscientific type categories in mind at all times.

The concept of “learning styles” persists and is popular in the field, in part because many teachers are unaware of the scientific evidence that refutes it. When education and teacher preparation are informed by empirical evidence, they perform better than when they are not. It is critical to ensure that instructors are equipped with actual learning insights rather than falsehoods.

No Proof for Learning Styles Boost

Have you ever been told, “I’m a visual learner?” It’s a typical statement based on the assumption that different people learn in different ways. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles are the most commonly mentioned, and they suggest that some people learn best by looking at pictures, while others learn best by hearing, and still others learn best by doing hands-on activities.

Despite a dearth of evidence that such styles exist (see “Unlocking the Science of How Kids Think,” features, Summer 2018), the belief that kids have distinct learning styles and learn best through these channels has shaped teacher practice for decades.

The idea in learning styles, like many other misunderstandings about learning and the brain, is based on an inaccurate interpretation of solid study findings and scientifically confirmed facts. Various forms of information, for example, are processed in different areas of the brain. It’s also true that people differ in terms of their abilities and preferences.

However, thorough study reviews and meta-analyses assessing the validity of learning styles and their applicability to education have come to the same result since the 1970s: there is little to no empirical evidence that learning styles are real, despite their intuitive appeal.

They are considered a “neuromyth” by the domains of cognitive psychology and neuroscience, which reject the practice of tailoring education to an individual’s preferred learning style in order to increase learning. Believing in learning styles has been compared to believing in fortunetelling in these disciplines.

Then there’s the educational community, where students’ learning styles are still a hot topic and a pedagogical emphasis. Despite the lack of evidence supporting an influence, researchers continue to investigate the notion in response to a growing industry promoting learning-styles tests and therapies to educators.

Even with the cheeky offer of a $5,000 cash reward for anyone who can demonstrate a positive benefit of mixing learning styles into an educational intervention, the proof eludes us year after year.

“It does indeed make sense to speak of students who, in comparison to their peers, have poor visual–spatial ability and strong verbal ability,” wrote cognitive psychologists Doug Rohrer and Hal Pashler in a 2012 research review, “but this does not imply that such students will learn anatomy better if their textbook has few diagrams.”

Teachers, on the other hand, are steeped in the mythology of learning styles from the beginning of their education. According to a 2016 research by the National Center on Teacher Quality, 67 percent of teacher-preparation programs required students to include learning styles into lesson planning tasks, while 59 percent of textbooks recommended doing so.

76 percent of the 598 educators polled agreed that “individuals learn better when they receive information in their preferred learning style,” and 71 percent agreed that “children have learning styles that are dominated by particular senses,” according to a 2017 study examining the prevalence of neuromyths.

Even when teachers come across sound science, the prominence given to learning styles in courses and licensure tests muddles such signals. According to Joshua Cuevas, when teachers study educational psychology, textbooks treat the topic with skepticism, pointing out the lack of evidence and cautioning against the adoption of unsupported teaching approaches, unlike general education literature. However, textbooks coordinate their content with conventional licensure tests, resulting in inconsistencies in learning style descriptions.

For example, a passage in the margins of the widely used Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice textbook written by Robert E. Slavin and published by Pearson reads: “Teacher certification tests may ask you to design a lesson that would accommodate students’ various learning styles.” Yet in 2019, an issue of Slavin’s newsletter published by the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University stated: “There is no practical utility in knowing students’ learning styles.”

What should instructors believe? It should come as no surprise that the majority of people believe learning styles are significant. Teachers in more than half of the US states are obliged to study learning styles theory as part of their preparation for high-stakes licensure tests.

The Link to Licensure

To determine the scope of the problem, I first evaluated the standards for license and certification to work as an elementary-school teacher in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the assistance of undergraduate students seeking to become certified teachers.

Then we narrowed our attention to states that require aspiring teachers to pass computer-based standardized exams that assess their understanding of instructional approaches. As a result, our sample was limited to 34 states plus the District of Columbia.

We excluded the 16 states that solely require performance-based or content-based assessments since those tests are unlikely to cover learning styles because they do not explicitly examine pedagogical knowledge.

Then we looked through free, publicly available test-preparation materials to see whether there were any mentions of “learning styles” and if the content recommended for changing courses depending on that notion. In total, 29 states and the District of Columbia now require certified study materials that reference learning styles for elementary certification exams. Click here to view the figure

Almost all of those resources advise for adapting education to fit different learning styles. Only one state, Massachusetts, provides study materials that mention learning styles but don’t make a strong case for their use in the classroom. The word “learning styles” is used in this case to describe a poor reaction to a composing exercise.

There is a lot of overlap in licensure test requirements because some jurisdictions cooperate with big testing companies to deliver the tests. For example, 21 states and the District of Columbia require one or more Praxis Series assessments of instructional expertise, which according to study materials may include questions about learning styles.

In addition, nine jurisdictions mandate state-specific examinations to measure instructional content, with seven of them providing free study tools that promote accommodating different learning styles throughout instruction.

Learning styles are emphasized in varied degrees in the publicly available preparation materials. Several advise using learning styles, as well as necessary information, skill levels, and interests, to distinguish and individualize training.

Others ask specific questions about visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning, as well as the instructional approaches that are most suited to kids with various learning styles.

For example, aspiring teachers are asked to “describe some activities that might help students with varying learning styles best learn key concepts” and “give a specific example from your own classroom experience of the effects of differences in learning styles on how people understand and express what they know” in study companions for the various Praxis licensure tests.

The study guide for Oklahoma’s Professional Teaching Examination includes data from a “learning-styles inventory,” which the test taker is asked to analyze, interpret, and quote in a written response.

Misplaced Priorities

So, what should be done when purportedly “right” answers on teacher-licensure exams turn out to be incorrect? Integrating the greatest possible knowledge gathered via empirical study into practice is required for sound professional judgment.

Teachers are experts whose impact on people’s lives cannot be overestimated. It’s vital that they make evidence-based teaching judgments. Several modifications will be required to encourage such behavior.

To begin with, teacher-preparation institutions may be more like medical schools. Programs would be responsible for giving students with the most up-to-date information while highlighting the significance of maintaining current with scientific findings that can impact decision-making under such a model.

Bloodletting, for example, is no longer taught or tested in medical schools since it has been disproved. Similarly, there are no questions concerning bloodletting on board certification tests, which could legitimize a practice that is not only unproductive but also hazardous.

Requiring that teacher-preparation programs and licensing exams satisfy medical-exam criteria for scientific correctness would allow aspiring teachers to concentrate on established teaching methods.

In addition, preparation programs must teach aspiring teachers how to be critical consumers of research. We don’t want our future teachers to accept without question what publishing corporations advertise to them in order to inform instructional decisions, any more than we want doctors to accept without question what pharmaceutical businesses market to them in order to inform treatment decisions.

Failure to take these actions could have serious consequences for teachers and students across the country. Consider another example of a research-practice mismatch: reading education in American schools.

Because the vast majority of instructors are not trained in the science of reading, they rely on common practices and word of mouth to teach reading once they enter the classroom.

As a result, despite considerable evidence showing the way toward a more methodical, effective manner of training, “whole language”-style instruction disguised as “balanced literacy” remains popular. Meanwhile, one out of every three fourth-graders in the United States is unable to read at a basic level.

It’s legitimate to wonder how learning styles theory might be harmful to students. Isn’t it true that aspiring teachers must be able to recognize and accept individual differences as well as comprehend the need of differentiated instruction? Isn’t it true that implementing learning-styles theory into training is incompatible with these fundamental principles?

Teachers shift attention and effort away from instructional practices that are backed by a considerable body of research when they strive to accommodate learning styles that have no empirical evidence.

There are instructional principles and practices for effective learning that are backed by convergent empirical evidence from different fields—practical information that teachers should understand when they first join the classroom. When time is spent analyzing learning styles in training programs, time is not spent addressing proven techniques to improve student learning.

According to a textbook survey conducted by the National Council on Teacher Quality, 59 percent of textbooks did not even mention the six most effective teaching approaches identified by the Institute for Education Statistics more than a decade ago, and just 15% devoted a full page on them.

It was only two books back then, and they only covered two of the six strategies. In the meantime, more than half of textbooks contained information on learning styles. Teachers can learn to assess and differentiate instruction based on individuals’ level of mastery of necessary skills and knowledge—important criteria that actually influence student learning—rather than learning to assess, group, and organize instruction for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

Other potentially harmful implications of learning-styles-based instruction, as documented by Daniel Willingham, include the misallocation of teachers’ time and effort. Students have the option to act on their label.

If a student believes she or he has a dominating learning style, she or he may ignore effective learning tactics or even entire courses that she or he believes are more appropriate for a learning type she or he does not believe suits them.

Furthermore, because people may choose which sort of mental processing they utilize, pupils who are told they have a dominant learning style may try to process material in that style even if it isn’t appropriate for the job. In addition, teachers who try to accommodate many learning styles in a session rather than focusing on the most effective ways to convey the material might have a negative impact on student learning by producing cognitive overload.

Coursework Corrections

Educators and administrators of teacher preparation programs should avoid spreading a notion that has a negative impact on student achievement and motivation. However, if they want to maintain high certification rates and help students realize their ambitions of owning their own classrooms, they must adequately prepare candidates for licensure tests.

As a result, until the content of licensure tests more closely reflects evidence-based practice and learning science concepts, teacher educators are left with a less-than-ideal strategy for limiting the damage.

Teacher educators can teach candidates that accommodating student learning styles is not supported by research while stressing evidence-informed instruction through a careful selection of journal articles and textbooks. They can, however, advise their aspiring teachers to overlook scientific facts in order to acquire the “right” response on licensure exams. Some educational psychology textbooks appear to have already gone down this road, which may lead students to doubt the validity of the licensure tests as a whole.

Reviewing the substance of those exams does appear to be necessary. State departments of education could perform a beneficial service by searching the mandatory licensure tests that assess knowledge of instructional methods and deleting topics without a sufficient evidence base, rather than testing students on material with no empirical backing.

Learning-styles theory isn’t the only thing that fits this description—Praxis tests also contain things like Maslow’s hierarchy of requirements, which isn’t backed up by facts.

It is the obligation of both test developers and teacher educators to stay current on learning and teaching research. What they choose to include in course syllabi and on licensure exams is more than a statement about what future teachers should study, according to the field of education. It’s also a statement about how much empirical knowledge is valued in the field.

_William Furey an assistant professor at Manhattan College. _

ACCA curriculum at The British College

Article Hub — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 14:03:17 +0000

The British College has an excellent profile that includes top achieving students – an ACCA World test topper and frequent ACCA Nepal country toppers – having prepared hundreds of students for ACCA examinations since 2012.

The ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) curriculum is offered at The British Professional College, which is owned by The British College Kathmandu. With approximately 527,000 students and 219,000 fully certified members scattered over 179 countries, the ACCA is the largest and fastest-growing international professional accountancy association.

The ACCA curriculum has designated the British Professional College as a GOLD ALP, which recognizes the quality of tuition, student experience, and pass rates. Since 2012, the College has educated hundreds of students for ACCA tests, and its alumni include top performers such as an ACCA World exam topper and frequent ACCA Nepal country toppers.

The college has invested in cutting-edge facilities, unparalleled student services, and a dedicated internship and placement department to assist students in finding articleships and placements. To help with this, the college has formed an MOUS with a number of organizations.

The British Professional College is the first ALP in Nepal to provide regular classes using online platforms at all levels during the COVID-19 cycle, with expert teachers with varied, relevant professional expertise for all ACCA curriculum papers.

In addition, as an alternative, the college has been offering online classes. Despite the COVID-19 issue, remote invigilated mock exams and final ACCA curriculum exams are held during lockdown.

The institution will continue to assess and improve exceptional student outcomes and experiences by partnering with students to understand their concerns. Our students are also active volunteers in supporting their peers, and the College tutors ensure that students are informed of all of their study and support options.

The college thanks all of its instructors, staff, students, parents, and civil society members for their contributions to the college’s study and other activities involving alternative technology. We continue to work together to ensure student success and safety, and we stand ready to provide student support in any situation at this trying time.

Professor Mary, a former Director of Learning at ACCA curriculum, was recently appointed Executive Principal at The British College says:

“As an ACCA-qualified accountant, I’ve benefited from being a competent accountant throughout my career. The knowledge and abilities taught by ACCA curriculum have been extremely useful in my leadership responsibilities at Hewlett Packard Research Laboratories, a number of universities, and a professional organization.

The current situation is terrible all around the world, with the pandemic and climate change having far-reaching consequences. I believe that obtaining a professional qualification that indicates the ability to perform not only accounting and auditing, but also analytics, digital modeling, fintech, creative business modeling, and leadership, will equip students for a successful career in a rapidly changing world.

Students will be able to adapt to new and growing industries, such as agritech, as well as new and emerging jobs in governance, business partnership, and digital infrastructure, thanks to their ACCA professional and technical abilities. I am encouraged by the British Professional College’s early success and look forward to its continued success in the future.”

For more information on the ACCA admissions and scholarship program or to find detailed information, please contact the British Professional College at +977 1 5111100/1/2 | Ext.100

To learn more, visit the link given below:
Click here

Techno-feudalism is taking over

Article Hub — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:04:05 +0000

Many people have predicted the end of capitalism way too soon. But it’s possible that it’s true this time.

This is how capitalism ends: with an evolutionary whimper rather than a revolutionary bang. Similarly to how it gradually superseded feudalism until the mass of human relations were market-based and feudalism was swept away, capitalism is now being overthrown by a new economic mode: techno-feudalism.

This is a big claim, and it comes after a lot of premature predictions about capitalism’s demise, especially from the left. But it’s possible that it’s true this time.

For quite some time, the hints have been visible. Bond and stock prices have been rising in lockstep, occasionally decreasing but always in lockstep, despite the fact that they should be moving in different directions. Similarly, as future returns become more unclear, the cost of capital (the return required to purchase an asset) should be declining; instead, it has been rising.

On August 12 of last year, perhaps the clearest hint that something major is afoot appeared. On that day, we learnt that the UK’s national income had plummeted by more than 20% in the first seven months of 2020, far exceeding even the most severe estimates.

The London Stock Exchange soared more than 2% a few minutes later. Nothing like it has ever happened before. Finance had completely separated itself from the rest of the economy.

Do these remarkable developments, however, imply that we no longer live in a capitalist society? After all, capitalism has gone through major revolutions in the past. Shouldn’t we simply prepare for its most recent incarnation? No, I don’t believe so.

What we’re witnessing isn’t just another phase of capitalism’s evolution. It’s something more serious and concerning.

Yes, capitalism has experienced radical transformations at least twice since the late 19th century. With the second industrial revolution, electromagnetism ushered in massive networked organizations and the megabanks required to finance them, it underwent its first major change from competitive to oligopoly.

As history’s major movers, Ford, Edison, and Krupp replaced Adam Smith’s baker, brewer, and butcher. The ensuing tumultuous cycle of mega-debts and mega-returns finally led to the 1929 crisis, the New Deal, and, after World War II, the Bretton Woods system, which gave a rare era of stability despite its financial limits.

The demise of Bretton Woods in 1971 ushered in the second phase of capitalism’s evolution.

The US powered capitalism’s most energetic globalisation phase, with a steady flow of German, Japanese, and, later, Chinese profits back into Wall Street financing it all, as America’s growing trade deficit became the world’s provider of aggregate demand, sucking in the net exports of Germany, Japan, and, later, China.

Wall Street functionaries, on the other hand, needed freedom from all New Deal and Bretton Woods restraints in order to fulfill their position.

Oligopolistic capitalism became financialised capitalism as a result of deregulation. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Lehman Brothers were the new protagonists of capitalism, just as Ford, Edison, and Krupp had supplanted Smith’s baker, brewer, and butcher.

While these seismic shifts had far-reaching consequences (the Great Depression, WWII, the Great Recession, and the post-2009 Long Stagnation), they did not alter capitalism’s core feature: a system based on private profit and rents taken through some market mechanism.

Yes, the shift from Smithian to oligopolistic capitalism boosted profits astronomically and allowed conglomerates to take substantial rents from consumers thanks to their massive market dominance (i.e., their newfound freedom from competition).

Yes, Wall Street used market-based techniques of daylight robbery to collect rents from society. Nonetheless, private earnings increased by rents collected through some market—one held by, say, General Electric or Coca-Cola, or dreamed up by Goldman Sachs—driven both oligopoly and financialised capitalism.

Then everything changed after 2008. A significant schism has arisen since the G7 central banks banded together in April 2009 to employ their money-printing capacity to refloat global banking. The global economy today is propelled by the continuous creation of central bank money rather than private profit.

Meanwhile, value extraction has evolved away from markets and toward digital platforms like Facebook and Amazon, which behave more like private fiefdoms or estates than oligopolistic businesses.

What happened on August 12, 2020, can be explained by the fact that central banks’ balance sheets, not earnings, drive the economy. Upon hearing the bad news, financiers thought to themselves, “Great!” Panicked, the Bank of England will print even more pounds and send them to us.

It’s time to invest in stocks! ‘ Central banks all over the West print money, which financiers lend to firms, who then use it to buy back their stock (whose prices have decoupled from profits). Meanwhile, digital platforms have supplanted markets as the primary source of private wealth. For the first time in history, practically everyone creates huge firms’ capital stock for free.

That’s what it means to use Google Maps to post photos to Facebook or to travel about while connected to it.

Traditional capitalist sectors haven’t vanished entirely, of course. Many feudal links remained intact in the early nineteenth century, but capitalist interactions had begun to take hold. Capitalist ties are still intact today, but techno-feudalist relations are gaining ground.

If I’m correct, every stimulus package will be both too big and too small. Without causing a series of company bankruptcies, no interest rate will ever be consistent with full employment. And class-based politics, in which capital-friendly parties struggle with labor-friendly ones, is over.

But, while capitalism may come to a halt with a whimper, the bang may be only around the corner. If those who suffer from techno-feudal exploitation and mind-numbing inequity find a collective voice, it will be loud.

– Project Syndicate, Yanis Varoufakis https://kathmandupost.com/author/yanis-varoufakis

Source – The Kathmandu Post

Positive and Negative Impact of Online Education

Article Hub — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 14:11:12 +0000

Today’s world is the world of Information and Technology. The rapid development in the IT sector has made the life of people easier as it has provided an upgrade to the traditional approaches. Handwritten letters have been replaced by emails and instant messages, movie halls have been replaced by OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, banking sectors have also adapted online bankings, physical newspapers have found alternatives in online portals etc. Similarly the effect is also seen in the field of education. With advancement in technology such as high speed internet and mobile phones, laptops, tablets available to everyone, online education has become one of the best things to happen to people.

Everyone from kids and teenagers to grownups and working professionals have been fascinated by online education. The main attraction point of online education is that people do not need to travel long distances to attend a lecture of a few hours, they can attend the lectures and read course materials from the comfort of their home or other places. Also, online courses offer people an advantage in the form of autonomy and flexibility of time. It can be planned according to their schedule which may include full-time employment, internship, family time etc.

In the past, there was a concept of distance learning, even before technology was at its peak. Televisions and Radios used to broadcast programs where instructors explained about their course materials. It has been seen from the research that the most successful schools are the ones who adapt to the changing times, as they can fulfil the expectation of students, parents and society. We can’t simply put traditional education in the drowning side of the boat as it has its own advantages, but what needs to be done is leveraging online education to make our education systems more effective.

People who take online courses seem to have a greater amount of motivation and self-discipline than classroom based courses. The traditional classroom based approaches enforce various things to the students taking the classes, which may not be a motivating factor to all. But in the online courses, it can be seen that the students tend to set their own goals, progress trackings and deadlines by themselves and follow it as per their requirement. But, it doesn’t mean that there are not two way interactions in online courses between the students and the instructors.

The platforms which provide online courses offer communication mediums among the students and instructors such as forums, instant messagings, emails etc. Various informative materials that couldn’t be displayed properly in traditional classes due to lack of resources can be easily shown in online classes in the form of animations, videos, interactive activities etc. which can contribute to effective learning and communication.

Positive impact of online education

Efficiency
The instructors can efficiently deliver lessons to their students via online platforms. The lectures can be recorded and shared with the students. Various course materials such as videos, PDFs, audio clips, diagrams etc. can be used effectively by the instructors as part of their teaching materials. The time of students is also saved significantly, where in traditional classes the major time of students is spent in note takings.

Accessibility of Time and Place
One of the most acknowledged and loved advantages of online education is that it allows both the instructors and students to attend the class from any location of their choice. Not only that, the educational institutions can have students from all across the world enrolled in their classes instead of being restricted by geographical boundaries. The recorded lectures, videos and course materials can be accessed at any time in the future whenever required.

Affordability
Getting high quality education can come with a high cost, depending on various factors. Not only the education institutes are quite expensive, but for the students to enroll in such institutes and take classes they may need to travel cross-countries and spend a fortune to sustain their living costs like apartments, meals, transportation etc. Online education eliminates all of those external expenses. Moreover, all the course and study materials are available online, which is more affordable and manageable than physical papers and books.

Improved Student Attendance
It can be seen that students who take physical classes tend to miss their classes due to various reasons, long distance travel being one. But online classes can be taken from any location of their choice, there are less chances of students missing out on their classes and getting full attendance.

Suits a variety of learning styles
Different people have different learning styles. Some can concentrate in noisy environments with lots of people present, some need a quieter environment to get the gist of what they are learning and get distracted by large groups of people present. The students taking online classes can adjust their environment as per their need and personalize it in the way they find it comfortable.

Negative impact of online education

Inability to focus on screens
Devices such as mobiles, tablets and laptops which are used for online classes are not only used for classes but for a variety of purposes such as entertainment, communication/social media etc. The students can get distracted and lose focus from the course they are taking and spend their time in other applications during the lecture time.

Technological issues
Technological issues are one of the primary challenges in online education. Online education requires a stable and high speed internet connectivity as well as electricity. In recent years, high speed internet connectivity has been widely available in major cities and developed countries, but there still are places where internet connection is barely reachable and disruptive. This can create issues while attending the online classes and students may miss their lectures.

Sense of Isolation
Having a friend to directly interact with and discuss on course materials is a really big plus point for people to understand course materials. Online education provides minimal physical interaction between students and teachers. This can result in a sense of isolation for the students. The online platforms need to allow some form of communication to reduce the sense of isolation among the students.

Environmental Distractions
Since students and teachers can take the online classes from places of their choice, the majority of time their place of choice becomes their own room or some public places such as library or cafe etc. There can be lots of environmental distractions in such places by family members or third party people.

Lengthy Screen Time
Staring at a laptop or mobile screen for a long time can have some health hazards such as issues with eyes, or headache to many people. The increase in screen time is one of the biggest concerns and disadvantages of online learning. The students can also develop bad body posture and hunches by staying in front of the screen for a long time.

Spreading Humanity by Kavita Rai

Article Hub — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:44:31 +0000

Why on Earth am I here for? Is there any purpose behind my existence? Why is this problem happening to me only? These questions have definitely hit us once in our life while we find ourselves in problematic situations. As a human, we have the quality of thinking, reasoning, analyzing, desire for growth, unlimited wants, showing emotions, and so on. People think so many things about self, future career, sources of self satisfaction, feeling loved by people, getting help during difficulties and celebration during success. After all humans need humans in every step of their lives.However, if a person forgets his/her selfish interests at times of crisis but sees others’ pains, sufferings and necessities which drives him/her to help them by giving focus, time and concern as feeling his/her own problem then it is considered to be humanity. Humanity is the quality of being human who cares, serves and helps for the every living creature when and where possible. It is a way of extending unconditional love without expecting to get anything in return. Therefore spreading humanity is also a nature of supporting many living creatures during the time of needs through dividing the cooperating team in respected areas.

The factors that shapes humanity are environment, nature, nurture, culture, religion, heredity, needs, behavior, ethics, moral, etc. No wonder, from the existence of human civilization on the Earth, humanity has been in practice. Our ancestors helped each others living together, hunting, gathering necessities, sharing, encompassing the tradition and culture to new generations being united. Even a small child feels sad when s/he sees an injured animal on the street. This kind of feeling leads him/her to bring happiness to that animal even not knowing how. Humanity is either being learned by observation or by insight learning.When people had problems due to natural calamities, economical instabilities, social crisis, etc. there had been humans who supported to fulfill the basic need for those people. In past, people showed humanity by providing alms, donations, charity and relief. In the history of Nepal, there used to be the construction of ‘pati’, ‘pauwa’ ( shelter for resting), ‘dharmabhakari’ ( practice of collecting grains for hungry people), community organizations to practice culture and traditions from birth to death, etc. that spread humanity. From the religious perspective, humanity started to grow as people believed that helping helpless would give them salvation after death which is termed ‘mokshya’. Slowly and gradually, the social, voluntary , governmental and non governmental organizations started to emerge.

Whether by accidents or through careful planning, there have been people throughout time who stand out for spreading humanity during their lifetimes or even after their deaths. Marie Curie, who formulated the theory of radioactive was once denied to have higher studies in Krakow University because of being woman. Despite the prejudice society in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, she succeed to invent radioactive. Though she died from an illness that resulted from her long exposure to radiation, she spread humanity through her contribution which is still used for research in nuclear physics and for medicinal utility to treat cancers saving many lives. Consonantly, Florence Nightingale, “the Lady with the Lamp” as a young woman turned down proposals of marriage and ignored the social conventions of the day for a woman of her standing. She attempted to improve hospital conditions, improved the freshwater supply, set new standards for sanitation, introduced fresh fruits and vegetables into patients’ diets and even used her own money to buy equipment for the hospital. Within one year of arriving in Scutari she had transformed her field hospital and the mortality rate for wounded soldiers dropped from 60% to 2.2%.

Spreading humanity is not confronting with the social evil and bad practices but transforming righteous concept into action. Change always starts first in mind. Nelson Mandela’s support for reconciliation within South Africa after many years of racial dislocation has helped to heal the division and forged a transition towards multiracial democracy. Mahatma Gandhi, a man of great moral courage, won the admiration of millions of Indians, as well as many Europeans. He is still upheld as the finest example of peaceful but forceful protest by people across the globe. Anuradha Koirala, a Nepalese social activist dedicated herself to help victims of sex trafficking, rescuing and rehabilitating women and girls. Likewise, Mother Teresa discovered her true calling to help those who no one else would touch, the desperately poor, sick and undervalued people of the slums. The reason behind changing their mind thinking about others is just because of humanitarian feeling. It is humanity that separates human from other species. On one hand, many of these people contributed their lives for the sake of spreading humanity and on the other hand, they became sources of inspiration to millions of people who decided to lit the light into dark lives of others. The organizations like Lions Clubs International Foundation, Leo Clubs, Red Cross, Scouts, Rotary Club, Junior Chamber International, etc. are based on the Humanitarian spirit working for children, youths, women, elder citizens, health and well beings, services and community service initiatives were developed. Working together in huge networking, these organizations have been identifying the world’s most crucial needs and supporting them in their efforts to spread humanity where it is needed most.

Spreading humanity is a gift. Not everyone is born with this gift. On the contrary, there are humans on the Earth who abuse other’s right, give physical and mental tolerances, violate the laws and regulations, corrupts, etc. which show their self-centered nature and obsessions to the materialistic world. The news of murder, trafficking, sexual harassment, cyber crimes, and so on are still spreading in so-called civilized stage of human civilization. Along with the advancement of science and technologies, those people got an easier and short ways for earning self-motives by misusing other creatures. Some have the habit of pulling legs of people who wants to grow. Instead of praising the people who does great things for helpless, they criticize and make fun of those social works. They spread rumors, fears, anxiety, etc. to others not letting them to have faith. Meanwhile, many people and organizations just perform act of humanitarian service to get name, fame, prestige and power not concerning about others sufferings. They take photographs and video graphs without asking the permission to the victims for making an effective report not the social work. They even do not realize about the principles of doing social work but corrupt and steal the reliefs and aids which are ready to be given for needy ones.

Spreading humanity is an important thing in the world. Every living creature need humanity and kindness and spreading them is essential. Humanity secures the right of freedom, life equality, opinion, information, etc. even of the tiniest creature. It helps everyone to grow together especially uplifting the marginalized and vulnerable group from their condition. Humanity doesn’t judge the people on the basis of age, sex, gender, class, caste, religion, etc. but comforts all physically, socially, emotionally, psychologically and naturally. It heals the broken heart, rises hope to do good thing, gives family to the abandoned person, friend to the lonely and conserves the biodiversity. It is the thing that brings self-actualization and satisfaction which money can’t buy.

In the consequences of trouble, any individual can perform humanity from their own areas. Politicians can maintain proper care for citizens; doctors, nurses and medical reformers can provide physical, mental, social and emotional well-being to the patients; social workers can support the needy ones by providing basic needs and awareness programmes; industrialists, businessmen and entrepreneurs can financially assist; psychologists and psychiatry can treat the psychological conditions of traumatized victims; teachers can educate the students and give counseling through recreational activities; news reporters and journalists can link or mediate between the experts, politicians and sponsors with the public for interaction. Above all, an individual can also help the neighbors living next door. For spreading humanity, there is no criteria to be qualified as a professionals but it’s a willpower which let an individual to perform it.

To sum up, it has been a challenging thing for the humans living on the Earth whether to be responsible for spreading humanity or just live for self. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the USA addressed his citizens by saying, “And so my fellow American, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” The same challenge address for every human in present as well. Many practice humanitarian service to get some benefits but it puts a big question mark for all of us what have we done for our family, friends, relatives, neighbors, community and overall country. Those who spread humanity have already found the answer of why are they living on the Earth and what their purposes are. Let’s not give up but grow up in spreading humanity because it is a greatest gift we can give anyone.

Virgin Toy

Article Hub — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 14:59:31 +0000

Authored by : Salina Shrestha

I was happy once,
Happy go lucky person,
But today, I am apart with the pain I never thought I would be
Crying inside with the heavy heart and smile on my face, that doesn’t even suit me anymore
The word glory, happy, satisfied
Its deep down and its root kept right there
Everytime I try to pull it up
It pains, it aches, it hurts
It hurts as if I am taking out skin from my body
The nerves coming out
You can fell the pain right ?
That’s the exact pain I felt 2 years ago in that dark red room

Where every faces tried to see the layers of me tearing me apart inner and out
With a heavy heart I breathe, I breathe a while
Trying to forget that evil face, I close my eyes and it just passes by
A black shadow, screaming at me to tear myself and that’s the last chills i felt
The chills got locked in that red room
A part of me is far away today locked in that red room
The soul i say is not in my body
The air i breath dosent go inside me
I just stand , stand numb , screaming from the inner voice
Rooted deep , heard only by me
No one else , no one else
Yes , yes i am not loving the way i am right now
But i am more scared with the outer world
Thats right there , right there in front of me
Seeing me with its ruthless eyes to grab me and push me to the corners again like the two years ago that bloody night which flowed from my vagina
And thats the last scream i ever did
And that again day when the scream was heard only by me
That day, i just not lost the word virgin from me
i lost my faith
My hope
And got down on knees with the word humanity
I havent seen the light its hidden behind the curtain in my room
The dusty varandas door locked since then has all junk over it
And my hands shakes to open it
As i see the door i see the back shadow coming in one by one and ripping off my jeans and tshirt
and i just pull myself from the light
And i remeber the time when i woke up fast just to see those beautiful sun rise

Its been a while that i havent even seen a mirror too
As in the verge of forgetting i see the stich on my forhead turning into a scar which can never be removed
And i feel that black shadow did it on purpose to make me remember the bang on my head so hard in that red room and my red blood seen only by me that day and only by me now

(This Poem is the winning Poem of the Poetry Challenge organized by Leo Club of Kathmandu Chabahil, District 325 A2 Nepal, under 7 day 7 activities challenge conducted from 4th April to 10th April 2020)

Spreading Humanity by Saru Paudel

Article Hub — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 14:45:26 +0000

Humanity can be defined as the attribute or quality of being of human; the specific nature in which human beings are separated from other species like birds, mammals, reptiles, aquatic beings and so on. Humanity is the abstract quality that makes a living being human. Human beings are kind, compassionate, respectful that distinguish them from other beings of the planet. The definition of humanity cannot be constant or specific as in the history of human beings, several cruel acts have also been performed along with the humanly kind acts. But the definition of ‘Spreading Humanity’ can be specific as it can be simply defined as distribution of humanity in a positive, kind and disciplined way.

Kindness is the best form of humanity making it unique than other beings. As we have been learning since childhood to ‘be kind’ to others, it is the most essential aspect of our life that builds anyone’s character, personality, highness, and impression in a broader interest of own personal life. Showing compassion and benevolence is humanity which symbolizes human love towards each other. Several acts have been performed by great human beings in the history of mankind that show humanity. To name such people, some of them are Gautam Buddha, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi.

Gautam Buddha taught world the eight fold paths of life including rightful thoughts, right understanding, right efforts, right action giving brighter light to the meaning of humanity by giving answers to what right and wrong is, what good and bad is, what boon and curse is. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to the service of mankind specially poor and disabled people by setting up hospitals, ensuring medical facilities to the poor. Similarly, Nelson Mandela eradicated racism between white and black people then. Mahatma Gandhi rescued the India from the tyranny of a foreign country. These people selflessly gave up their life to serve and help the people in need of food, medicine, freedom. They taught the world and the future generation what it takes to be a human. Talking about the current situation of the world, the outbreak of the deadly corona virus has led to the death of thousands of people which has automatically given rise to the humanity of people; people including movie celebrities, politicians, businessman and even common people are donating a lot of money, food, masks and other necessities to those affected by the corona outbreak thus showing their humanity. This proves that humanity is far more contagious than any deadly virus or war.

But as the world is going ahead, the true meaning of humanity has been corrupted. Not to mention, the outbreak of ongoing spreading corona virus has been discovered as a result of inhuman behavior towards the animals. The rape cases never stop to be increasing. Innocent people are getting murdered relentlessly. Justice is nowhere to be seen. Cruelty can be seen growing in the people. Animals are showing more humanity than human themselves. People nowadays are running after money, fame and power leaving humanity behind.

In this age of technology and science, we are in desperate need to spread humanity and make everyone realize the essentiality of it. The increasing pollution, extinction of species regularly, global warming can only be minimized if people understand the meaning of humanity and prefer sustainable development rather than just being in a rat race towards money, fame and power. This represents the necessity of spreading humanity.

Humanity is not something that you store in a piggy bank and later use it for future, it is something like knowledge or thoughts; the more you give the more it gets spread. Humanity cannot be spread just by writing essays on ‘Humanity’, conducting essay competitions or giving lectures. Humanity appears when you show your kindness, when you help those in need of help selflessly without any expectation in a natural way at the time of emergencies. Humanity is when you take your ill grandmother to the hospital instead of going on dates, when you stop someone if you find them disrespecting girls or women in a public area, when you give half of your food to a hungry person beside you, when you give justice if you are a judge or a police, when you refuse to take money from your tenant during emergencies like current corona virus outbreak if you are a house owner. Humanity does not only mean providing millions, dozens or more, it means how much you can provide according to your financial status. There is humanity in little and small things as well. Humanity is also loving the people you care and caring the people you love. Spreading humanity is spreading love, positivity, care, respect, kindness, help. There is a story in which a king shows his humanity by sacrificing his own body flesh to save a pigeon from an eagle and then later finds out the eagle and the pigeon being angels from heaven and gets precious rewards and heaven after death due to his humanly deeds. So, it is the positive thought and action of people that makes them human being which means if you have a nice thought and perform right positive action then you are showing humanity.

Finally, from the aforementioned facts and my logics, I would like to conclude my essay leaving a statement that humanity is like flowers. Flowers when distributed, it leave its fragrance. Likewise, humanity leaves love, care, kindness, compassion, respect, positivity when spread. Thus, when humanity appears, humanity spreads.

Spreading Humanity by Sabina Lamsal

Article Hub — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 14:44:59 +0000

Do you know what is the precious things within us that will grow more as we serve? If you say YES! And your answer is humanity you are pretty smart. The word humanity is derived from Latin “Humanitas” which means human nature or kindness. The essence of humanity lies in being humane. Humanity is where soul meets life. A feeling of positivity, willingness to serve with truth, love, peace and unity is all needed to define you as a good human being. Every creature on this Earth deserves to live a life for which they are intended to. Humanity can also mean showing kindness, empathy, benevolence and compassion to fellow humans and every other living creature. Humanity can only be spread and nurtured in the presence of good human minds.

Given that humanity is the love and consideration for every living being into existence, spreading humanity is not an easy job. I believe “A good heart and a rational mind are all that is needed to serve humanity.” Let’s start by doing a small act of kindness. Even lifting the heavy bag for an old woman, helping a differently-abled person to cross the road, saving some of your pocket money to buy bread to street children struggling for food counts to the level. All these countless acts of kindness continue to enhance day to day lives and emotional well-being of people around the globe. Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Malala Yousafzai, Anuradha Koirala are some of the influential personalities who have spent their whole life fighting for social rights by serving humanity. The greatness lies when you show kindness to others in any way possible.

If I ask you, who is one of the richest people on this earth? Well! Every one spells hurriedly- Bill Gates, the founder and CEO of Microsoft. But let’s learn from Mr Gates, who did he think richer than him? In an interview, when Gates was asked the same question, he replied that the newspaper vendor who used to sell the newspaper at the airport is richer than him. When Gates was young and passed by the vendor, he didn’t have small changes to buy the newspaper. The man gave him the newspaper for free. This was not just a single time. The man was happy to quench his thirst of news by giving him newspaper for free the second time too. When Gates visited the same man after 19 years and offered to fulfil his any dreams for the kindness he showed in the past, the man replied “I helped you when I was poor and had nothing. But you are trying to help me when you have everything. So your help can’t match with mine.” Gates turned speechless at this. Not only Gates, everyone will get touched by the statement. It is obvious from Gates’ experience that one does not need a hefty bank account to contribute to humanitarian activities. It is one of it but not all of it.

Humanity adds fuel to our life. But there has been a contradiction to the universal law of the humankind in today’s world. We the Homo sapiens are known for intellectual power, making us be considered as the superior most among living beings in the Earth. With tremendous amounts of advancements in science and technology, selfish acts exhibited by the human to maintain quality of life with overconsumption of available natural resources has led rest living on earth suffering. Ironically, human has become more selfish and greedy than ever before. We are wandering around in this ecosystem violently in search of monetary happiness. The natural resources are depleting day by day and the list of extinct animals is getting longer with every tick of a watch. The world is waking and vigilant 24/7 today, leaving but Has the humanity within us slept forever? Does the most intelligent creature of the planet bear no responsibility to protect other innocent beings?

The world is craving for humanity when there is a clash between people and countries for supremacy in terms of religion, territory or power. It is very sad to know that the level of ethical and moral values of man is declining day by day. The god within the human is becoming dumb and the devil is louder. Somewhat our happiness is relying on the suffering of others. Cruel acts like disregarding animal welfare, speaks the brutality of man towards animals to a large extent. Nevertheless, terrorism is the result of malpractice of socio-political issues. Just for some nasty reasons, man is betraying man. The more the society is boasting of being educated and civilized, the more is the incidence of criminal activities like rape, sexual harassment, murder, gender biases, smuggling. Hence, because of the high sense of disparity in every one of us that drives our thoughts, actions and intentions to react accordingly with various aspects of human life which had sequentially over the years infected other’s mind to propel dishonesty, falsehood, atrocities, ruthless and brutality in this world.

Ronald Reagan once said, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Start helping underprivileged group, speak for the welfare of speechless animals, fight for social injustice. This all activities could spread a positive message to the community. It’s a boon of time in my life that I, being a LEO under Lions club international; am somehow able to contribute towards the needs of society. The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. We do not need to worship in the temple to make god happy if we succeed to make one innocent soul happy. Here, I would like to present the lively example of Humanity into action. United Nations (UN) is the largest intergovernmental organization, established after the second world war, working consistently to maintain peace and harmony among nations. Similarly, Amnesty International is a global movement working to secure human rights for those who are the victim of injustice. Lions Club International is serving the world by giving hope and impacting the lives of needy ones from its very beginning. Leo clubs are the youth projects of Lions international promoting leadership, experience and opportunity among youths via social services in the fields of health, education, environment and self-development, etc. Similarly, in the present context of, the pandemicity of COVID-19; devastating infectious disease by Corona Virus the humanitarian efforts and commitment shown by people, government and non-governmental sector in national and international level is praiseworthy. These affairs do signify humanitarian spirit lies obviously at the core of every humankind in this globe. Our constitution has also provided a special space for humanity, as a fundamental right; which guarantees social justice, religious freedom, equality to every citizen. Stand and do something that would add purpose to one’s life appealing the sense of humanity.

In a nutshell, being a human, it is our sole duty to promote and assure humanity in this perpetual universe. Let us see humanity as a garland that binds the 8 billion people in the world as one society. Let us come together to spread humanity and make humanity a way to express our love and goodness to all living creatures. After all, it is our humane deeds that would signify our purpose of living in this world. The good heart always serves for humanity and let humanity guide us. Don’t humiliate, it’s a time to celebrate humanity. Proudly say YES to being human!