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Distraction doesn’t always come with noise. It doesn’t always pull you into  chaos. Sometimes, it comes gently through something beautiful, something  new, something that simply feels different. You may not even realize its  presence at first, but over time, it begins to erode your focus, disconnect you  from your roots, and lead you down a path where you slowly forget what you  once worked so hard to build. Distraction can kill you from the inside not  instantly, but gradually, and often quietly. 

Imagine a flower, deeply rooted in the soil. She has grown there, watered with  care, nurtured with love, strengthened by the patience of time and the hope of  sunlight. Slowly, she begins to bloom a result of all the effort, waiting, and  quiet resilience. But one day, as she stands tall in her garden, a gentle breeze  passes by. It brings with it the scent of freedom, the idea of movement, and a  taste of something the flower has never felt before. She sees butterflies float  by with such grace. She sees the sky not just above her, but as a dream she  longs to touch. She begins to wish to fly, to leave the stillness of the soil, to  wander in the wind. And so, she prays for the wind to take her, to carry her to  joy and freedom. 

When the wind finally comes, she is ready. Excited. Without thinking of where it  might lead, or what she might be leaving behind, she lets go—of her stem, her  leaves, her roots. She lets herself be carried by the breeze. And for a while, it is  beautiful. The feeling of lightness, of flowing freely without any weight, without  any responsibility. She feels seen by the wind, loved by its touch. She even whispers gratitude, saying, “You made me feel free. You reminded me what it’s  like to be alive.” The wind, in that moment, becomes everything she thought  she was missing.  

But in chasing that moment, in leaving behind her grounded life, she forgets  something important: the time it took to grow. The care it took to survive. The  foundation that made her bloom in the first place. The flower does not realize  that while the wind can carry her for a while, it cannot hold her forever. The  roots she abandoned were what made her strong , what gave her life. The  distraction ,sweet, freeing, seductive, pulled her away from herself, and by the  time she sees the truth, it may be too late. 

This is how distraction works in our lives too. It arrives in the form of things we  think we need: people, experiences, or moments that offer quick joy or a  temporary escape from our reality. But in following that fleeting feeling, we may  detach from what grounds us. We may leave behind values, discipline, peace,  or even love all in search of something more exciting. And while there is  nothing wrong with change or curiosity, it becomes dangerous when we  abandon ourselves in the process.

Distraction doesn’t always look like destruction. Sometimes, it looks like  freedom. And that’s why it’s powerful. But we must remember: not everything  that feels good will help us grow. And not every breeze that touches us is  meant to carry us away. 

Supriya Paudel  

BBM VI Semester  

United College

From the time they are young, girls are often told to “be a good girl.” At first, it sounds like a harmless phrase, maybe even a sweet reminder. But behind those words is a lifelong burden of expectations. Being a “good girl” comes with silent rules that decide how a woman should behave, speak, and even think. It is a label society uses to control women, shaping their lives around pleasing others rather than living freely.

In many cultures, including ours, the idea of a “good girl” is linked to how much a woman can fit into set boundaries. She is expected to be quiet, polite, modest, and obedient. She should dress a certain way, speak softly, and never challenge authority. The moment she steps outside these unwritten rules, she is quickly judged. People may call her rude, rebellious, or disrespectful. These words are not just casual comments. They bring real consequences like gossip, judgment, exclusion, or even violence. According to a 2019 UNICEF report, one in three girls worldwide experience gender-based discrimination or violence by the age of 18, highlighting the serious impact of these social expectations.

This pressure follows women at every stage of life. As a child, it could mean being told not to play rough games or talk too loudly. As a teenager, it might restrict her from going out with friends or expressing her opinions openly. As an adult, it often shows up in the form of limited freedom at work, in marriage, or in making personal choices. Many women grow up hiding their true thoughts and dreams just to avoid being labeled the wrong way.

The consequences of this pressure can be far-reaching. Women who do not conform to these standards may face social isolation, difficulty in career advancement, and challenges in personal relationships. Mental health issues such as anxiety and low self-esteem are common among women who feel forced to suppress their true selves to fit societal expectations.

But things are changing. Around the world, women are starting to push back against this outdated idea. They are standing up and saying that being a “good girl” does not mean being silent or submissive. A woman can be confident, ambitious, outspoken, and still be good. She can make bold decisions, follow her dreams, and question unfair rules. Being a good person should be about honesty, kindness, and respect, not about fitting into a narrow idea of how women should behave.

Social media and global movements have played a major role in empowering women to challenge these stereotypes. Platforms allow women to share their stories and support each other, creating communities that celebrate individuality rather than conformity. Campaigns focused on gender equality and women’s rights have brought these conversations into public spaces, encouraging both young girls and adults to rethink the old labels.

It is time for society to stop using words like “good girl” or “bad girl” to control women. Instead, we should teach everyone to be themselves, no matter their gender. Empowerment comes when women are respected for who they are, not for how well they follow someone else’s rules. This change has to begin at home, in schools, and in everyday conversations. Parents should raise daughters to be brave, curious, and strong. Teachers should encourage girls to ask questions, lead, and think for themselves. Communities should stand by women who choose a different path. Most importantly, women must believe in their own worth and stop waiting for anyone’s approval.

The world does not need more “good girls” who stay quiet out of fear. It needs women who know their value and are free to live life on their terms. The old idea of the “good girl” belongs in the past. The future belongs to women who refuse to let society define their identity.

Aarya Risal

BSW

St Xavier’s College, Maitighar

The other day, our classroom was buzzing with a discussion on “Our Aim in Life.” As usual, most of my friends said they wanted to become doctors or engineers. A few mentioned IT professionals or fashion designers. But I noticed something missing—nobody said they wanted to become a farmer. This gave me food for thought. Nepal is known as an “agrarian country,” yet farming is not considered a dream job by young people. Why is that?

Part of the reason is how society looks down on farmers. Even though farmers work the hardest to feed us all, they are rarely respected. On top of that, government policies have often failed them. Every year, we hear news about dairy or sugarcane farmers not getting paid for months, sometimes even years. Farmers also struggle to get fair prices for their crops. They face problems like poor access to fertilizer before planting season, low yields, and lack of support in modern techniques. No wonder young people hesitate to see farming as their future. It feels like a risky path with little reward.

But should it be this way? I don’t think so. If the government invested more in agriculture, things could change. For example, schools could introduce agriculture as a compulsory subject so students learn its importance from an early age. Farmers could be given proper training, fair market access, and incentives. Programs that promote organic farming and sustainable methods would not only make agriculture attractive to youth but also make our country healthier and stronger.

Farmers are the real heroes of our society. Without them, we would not have food on our plates. They deserve more respect, support, and recognition. It is time we say proudly: Kudos to farmers!

Sushant Chaudhary 

Grade X 

Sanskar Pathshala, Dang

Nepal has recently witnessed a wave of violent protests, initially triggered by the government’s controversial decision to ban social media platforms. While these demonstrations reflect domestic frustrations ranging from nepotism and corruption to high unemployment, they have simultaneously become fertile ground for disinformation campaigns. 

A closer examination reveals that Pakistan-based social media accounts have actively sought to hijack the narrative, shifting blame toward India and framing it as the primary destabilizing force in South Asia.

This phenomenon demonstrates how modern digital propaganda transcends national borders, turning real grievances into geopolitical instruments. By analyzing the patterns, players, and methods involved, we can better understand how this campaign was designed, why Nepal was chosen as the latest battleground, and what its broader implications are for regional politics.

The first wave of misleading posts emerged not from Nepal but from Pakistani social media circles. Accounts began alleging that India was operating fake Nepali bot accounts to engineer unrest, punishing Nepal for engaging diplomatically with China’s President Xi Jinping. They claimed India had adopted a systematic strategy to destabilize its neighbors, citing Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh as “previous victims.”

Crucially, these narratives were not spontaneous. They followed a tested playbook:

Initial trigger posts: The first notable push came from Ahmad Hassan Al-Arbi, a self-styled “defense analyst.” He had previously accused India of staging false flag operations, including the Pahalgam terror attack. His thread blaming India for Nepal’s protests became the seed for a larger campaign.

Amplification: What began as scattered posts by cyborg like accounts quickly gained traction through amplifiers larger accounts with audiences between 3,000 and 300,000 followers. Their role was to provide visibility and legitimacy to otherwise fringe claims.

Media recycling: Outlets like the Kashmir Media Service picked up these threads and published them as news, quoting the same Pakistani social media users as “commentators.” These circular references created an illusion of expert validation.

Repetition by repeat offenders: Prominent disinformation spreaders on X such as @iMustansarPK and @Fizz_Urooj, previously involved in pushing fabricated stories like “Kashmir shutdown” or “Operation Sindoor,” reappeared to recycle and reinforce the new claims.

Hashtag narratives: Phrases like “India = Net Destabilizer” gained traction between Sept 4–9. X posts in English targeted global audiences, while Urdu language posts catered to regional and domestic Pakistani users.

The players behind the campaign

Several recurring actors surfaced in this disinformation drive:

Cyborg accounts: Semi-automated accounts that rapidly produced and retweeted content to create artificial trends.
Amplifiers: Medium-to-large accounts like @IntelPk and @faizannriaz, which carried the narrative to wider audiences.

Legacy disinformation accounts: Profiles such as @HelloPKofficial and @mohsin_o2, known for praising Pakistan’s “cyber warriors” during past Indo-Pak tensions, returned to recycle the “India destabilizer” trope.

Thematic hashtags and frames: By positioning India as a “net destabilizer” instead of a “net security provider,” these accounts sought to undercut India’s diplomatic positioning in South Asia. The interplay of these actors ensured that what started as isolated claims rapidly evolved into a widely circulated narrative. Within just eight days, a freshly minted storyline had been established and accepted by segments of online discourse.

Why Nepal?

The choice of Nepal as the newest stage for this campaign is not coincidental. Several factors make it an attractive target for disinformation:

Strategic geography: Sandwiched between India and China, Nepal is particularly vulnerable to narratives that highlight “great power meddling.”

Historical sensitivities: Anti India sentiment has historically flared in Nepal, particularly around border disputes and trade dependencies. Propagandists exploit these pre-existing tensions to lend credibility to fabricated stories.

Domestic instability: With Nepal’s youth disillusioned by unemployment and corruption, foreign narratives blaming external interference resonate more easily.

Regional projection: By portraying India as interfering in Nepal, attempts to universalize its anti-India messaging across South Asia, tying together disparate events in Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh, under one conspiratorial frame.

Implications for South Asia

This disinformation drive is not merely about Nepal—it reflects a broader contest over narrative dominance in South Asia. By projecting India as the destabilizer, Pakistan aims to achieve several goals:

Diplomatic isolation: Undermine India’s image as a regional stabilizer and counterweight to China.

Information warfare: Distract from Pakistan’s own domestic crises by shifting attention to Indian actions.

Psychological impact: Erode trust between India and its neighbors by sowing doubt and suspicion.

For Nepal, however, this campaign is doubly harmful. It distorts legitimate grievances, weakening the credibility of protesters’ demands, and risks polarizing society along manufactured foreign-policy lines.

Nepal’s protests are a reflection of frustration with governance failures, not the product of Indian interference. Yet Pakistan’s disinformation machinery has opportunistically hijacked the narrative, reframing a domestic movement as a geopolitical conspiracy. This campaign, spearheaded by a familiar ecosystem of Pakistani accounts and digital outlets, once again illustrates how online propaganda can reshape perceptions of unfolding events in real time.

The challenge for policymakers, media platforms, and civil society lies in exposing and countering these narratives before they calcify into “common knowledge.” For Nepal, the greater danger is that its citizens’ real grievances risk being overshadowed by a synthetic blame game manufactured far beyond its borders. And for South Asia, the episode underscores the urgent need for a collective response to the rising weaponization of information in the digital age.

The author is the National Chairperson of Muslim Students Organisation of India MSO, he writes on a wide range of issues, including, Sufism, Public Policy, Geopolitics and Information Warfare