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“Time is the music and death is the applause in the dance of life. The beauty of our existence is defined by the way we move to the pulse.”

In this stage of life as mysterious as it seems, the perspective of time itself is bizarre. What is time? What we know about it is it started somewhere in the past (probably when you were born: at least for you this definition is true). But we can no longer describe anything on this day in such a generalized and isolated way. So, what actually is it? Even if it has no tangible effect, you can still feel its impact and it somehow propels you on, whether you like it or not. You were born 18 years ago and not probably 16 million kilometers in the past. We plan our whole life with respect to time which is like an object that is fixed with space and we are moving along it like a passenger taking a ride in a bus. Join me as we embark on three different perspectives on time, unraveling the complexities of time and savoring the moments it unfolds.

The typical frame of reference: What do you think time is? Objectively, time is the space between two events. You woke up, had a cup of tea. The very space between these two events is time. It could be five minutes or 30 minutes or an hour. But what may be an objective event for you may not hold the same significance for me. I could still be sleeping. We can see that time is a subjective experience and is not the same for everybody. Our calendar lies to us by showing only one Saturday, but there are as many Saturdays as there are humans on this planet. You could be scrolling TikTok on a Friday night, but I might be in a business meeting. So where are these observations leading us to? 

Time is relative and doesn’t progress linearly for everybody. On one hand, when you are in a state of flow—a state of focus and enjoyment— time flies. On the other hand, when we are very bored, either it is the event of going to school or daily reading, time moves very slowly for us. The pause in your watch does not halt the progression of time. This simplicity may not endure in the exploration of the remaining two perspectives.

The religious frame of reference: What mask could religion and monks possibly take off from the face of time that occupies a whole new section in this article, what is time? It is the space between two thoughts. Some Eastern philosophies, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, view time as cyclical rather than linear. The cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth (reincarnation) is seen as an eternal recurrence until spiritual enlightenment is achieved. It is common for monotheistic religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity to view time as a component of a divine design. It is believed that everything happens in accordance with God's plan, and that time passes linearly and leads to a preset destination that is frequently connected to ideas like salvation, judgment, or the afterlife. Religiously, time is viewed as an eternal illusion, a concept that accompanies us from birth to the tranquil embrace of death. 

The scientific frame of reference (Thanks for giving your precious time and question again): “What is time?” To answer this let’s imagine from the beginning with another question: “Did the universe have a beginning or it existed forever?” If it didn’t have one, then there would be an infinite period of time before any event and titling it like that would be absurd, right? Should there be any beginning? But why should time itself begin at one particular time?

We can relate time with the beginning of the universe or before the beginning of the universe as there may arise two sides where one could account on the theory that universe had existed forever or on the theory that it was set in motion at some finite time in such a manner as to look as though it had existed forever. Here we enter into the realm of scientific understanding of time apart from different theories of the beginning of the universe from this one discovery. But before we know about that discovery why on earth do we need to know about the universe in this very article about time. Here comes Einstein to defend my article by his theory of relativity where he relates time with space considering time to be the fourth dimension.

Being a three-dimensional creature, while it may be hard to imagine the fourth direction apart from the three-dimensional space which we can easily perceive, there is some evidence however which supports the idea of the existence of the fourth dimension and we are moving along it right now. Einstein proposed that space and time are interconnected, connecting the fourth dimension much like the three spatial axes. Without time our three-dimensional space wouldn’t move; it would rather be in one state at its time which allows us to move in it. This proves the importance of time even if we cannot see it (being out of our realm). But why can’t we see it?

Many objects are obscure to us, not because our perception is poor, but simply because these objects are outside of the realm of our conception. Let us consider that we three-dimensional beings are packed in a two-dimensional plane and the third plane being time. Now move that two-dimensional person upward in the plane of time considering that direction to be future and leftover direction to be past so the higher up our two-dimensional person gets, the older he becomes. This feels like our daily life. There is like a magical constant force that is pushing us towards that dimension at some constant rate and we sadly can’t control it. It may be misleading to say we cannot control the rate of time flow in our life because Einstein allowed us in his special relativity postulate equations to move slower with time as we move faster in space. Well, that’s the gossip for another article.

All of these ideas that we are drawing about time and space are by assuming we are rational beings who are free to observe the universe as we want and draw logical deductions from what we see. Time is the most unknown of all unknown things. Time is like an arrow which moves forward piercing the space and heart of a physicist, trailing away a fundamental question: “Try to understand me, if you can!”

Kiran Paudyal

Grade XII

Trinity International College, Dillibazar

Beneath the veil of night, my dear moon hides, 

Behind the shroud of clouds, her beauty slides, 

With patience, I’ll await her radiant grace, 

Till she unveils her luminous, timeless face. 

Countless hours I’ve spent in silent reverie, 

A cosmic dance between her and me, 

From earthly realm to the great unknown, 

I'll watch her glow, from life to stone. 

In the stillness of night, our connection is spun, 

Eternal love for the radiant one, 

For in her glow, I find my delight, 

A celestial bond, infinite and bright.

She orbits through my mind, regular everyday, 

A guiding light in the night, in friendship’s shade, 

Oh! What a beautiful thing did god made, 

Hope, her shining beauty will never end. 

Name: Samir Lamsal

Class: 10

School: Oxford Secondary School, Gaindakot 2, Nawalpur

In our thriving communities, where green spaces offer solace and shared environments foster companionship, responsible dog ownership becomes paramount. While the joy of canine companionship is undeniable, it comes with the duty to ensure that our furry friends leave no trace behind, especially in areas frequented by neighbors.

Owning a dog is not solely a personal choice; it entails committing to a larger social fabric. When dog owners take the responsibility to clean up after their pets, they contribute to a cleaner and more pleasant environment for everyone. This simple act fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility. Despite the shared understanding of pet care responsibilities, a few individuals choose to shroud their actions in the obscurity of night, neglecting their dogs' needs until the late hours. The consequence? A morning revelation for neighbors who wake to find dog waste left unattended, right at their doorsteps or in open areas nearby.

A local resident, expressing the sentiments of many, shares, “I have witnessed numerous instances of people discarding their dogs' waste in open areas. Sometimes, they even choose to do this thoughtlessly right in front of our homes, creating an unsightly and unsanitary situation for those of us living nearby.”

This revelation raises significant questions about the commitment of a few dog owners to the well-being and cleanliness of the community. In a neighborhood where shared spaces contribute to the overall quality of life, responsible pet ownership is not merely a suggestion but an essential obligation.

Aditi Parajuli

AS Level

Chelsea International Academy

Be aware of your digital footprint, sharing online doesn’t come for free. Check out how it impacts your career. To check your digital footprint, search yourself in the browser.

Digital footprint is one of the less talked about topics that many people are not aware of. Moreover, the current internet culture of Nepal is prone to have a negative digital footprint. Whenever you use the internet, you leave behind a trail of data and information about your activities on the internet, such information is known as your digital footprint. It includes records, traces and data generated by interactions online, including social media posts, website visits, online purchases, search engine queries, and other online interactions like sharing posts, status, and reactions in social media. 

One should be concerned about their digital footprint as they are relatively permanent and impossible to delete it completely. It determines a person’s digital reputation, status and personality which is equally considered as important as their offline reputation. The worst case scenario would be exploitation of your digital footprint for cybercrimes such as phishing, identity theft and so on. In 2019, USA required individuals applying for a visa to provide their usernames or “identifiers” for several common social media platforms used in past five years.

Impact on employment

Moreover, Digital footprint undoubtedly impacts on once career in aspect of employment, admission and visa processing. Employers can check their potential employees’ digital footprints, particularly their social media, before making hiring decisions. This practice can be widely found in big corporate offices, Multinational companies and foreign institutes. According to Gitnux, 57 percent of recruiters take a candidate’s digital footprint into consideration in their hiring process. A person who regularly posts offensive or unprofessional comments on social media is seen as lacking in judgment and maturity. Similarly, images depicting irresponsible behavior or participation in controversial activities can create a negative impression on potential employees. 

Impact on University admission 

Universities check their applicants’ digital footprints before accepting them too. With single-digit admissions, Harvard University in Massachusetts is one of the toughest schools to get into. But in recent years, some students who passed that high bar have been cut off from admission before they even stepped foot on campus. The reason: inappropriate social media posts. Especially in the context of scholarship Kalpan’s Survey found that around 65 percent of admission officers check digital footprints. Engaging in inappropriate comments, derogatory language, or illegal behavior can raise concerns about an individual’s character and fit into the university community. Admissions officers aim to select students who reflect the institution’s values, and problematic digital skills can be a red flag in the screening process.

In the context of Nepal, the practice of checking digital footprint is increasing rapidly. The impact of digital footprint on job opportunities and university admissions cannot be underestimated. It is important for individuals to realize that their online activity and content can have a long-term impact on their future prospects. By actively monitoring and nurturing their digital presence, individuals can leverage their digital footprint to gain advantage.

Manish Khadka 

IIIrd Year

Kathmandu School of Law