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Ann Patchett is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have read and loved ‘Run’, ‘Commonwealth’, and ‘Bel Canto’. I have a copy of ‘The Dutch House’ on my shelf reserved for that time when I hit a reading slump. I know Patchett will get me out of it. I recently came across one of her essay collections while browsing at the bookstore. I had no intention of buying a book. I had made a pact with my husband that I wouldn’t buy any books in January. I was waiting for a friend and had stepped into the bookstore to kill some time.

But there were only two copies of ‘These Precious Days’ and I had never seen the book at any other bookstore. I just couldn’t walk away. I went back to the bookstore a few days ago to buy a copy for my friend. The blurb at the back of the book says, ‘Read it, cherish it, buy a copy for your best friend, then read it once more.’ I want to give this book to anyone who is feeling upset or unsettled in life. It’s filled with nuggets of hard-earned wisdom. Patchett’s writing takes your mind off things. And you can relate to so many things that it makes you feel a little less lonely.

The essays are personal. In one Patchett talks about her relationship with her three fathers, and how each of them taught her different things. “Without ever meaning to, my father taught me at a very early age to give up on the idea of approval,” writes Patchett while speaking about her father’s scorn for her writing. When her mother remarried for the third time, Patchett was just 27. Something about her mother’s easy approach to marriage, of not giving up on it despite hers not working out, made Patchett more accepting of life’s ups and downs.

In another essay, she talks about the hardships in a writer’s life, the uncertainty that comes with being a writer, and the many pressures and pitfalls of publishing. Another deals with the often harrowing and intrusive questions that are raised about her decision not to have children. “To have a child required the willful forgetting of what childhood was actually like; it required you to turn away from the very real chance that you do to the person you loved most in the world the exact same thing that was done to you. No. No, thank you.”

In Those Precious Days, the longest essay of the collection and the one the anthology is named after, she writes about her friend Sooki’s battle with cancer. Patchett and Sooki strike up a rare friendship after the two cross paths when Patchett is called upon to interview Tom Hanks for his book, ‘Uncommon Type’. Sooki is his assistant. There are also lighthearted essays that are filled with warmth and humor. She writes about how owning a bookstore has changed her life. She writes about her mother, her husband, and her dog. That everyone and everything is just fodder for a writer is made evident by her eagerness to write about them all.

 Some essays are short and some are long. But they all feel complete by themselves. Many of them have been previously published in various publications, though the book versions have been slightly tweaked. Patchett’s insight and compassion infuse life into the stories. Patchett is first and foremost a storyteller but she shines as an essayist too. “Essays never filled my days,” she says in the first one in the collection, “But they reminded me that I was still a writer when I wasn’t writing a novel.”

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56922687-these-precious-days  

Those Precious Days

Ann Patchett

Published: 2021

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Pages: 322, Paperback

Political and constitutional changes have been a long-drawn-out affair, in the case of Nepal. 

For instance, the Constituent Assembly (CA) materialized 55 long years (in 2008) after its germination as an idea in 1951 following the advent of democracy. This delay can be attributed to manipulation on the part of our political parties.

One school of thought, though, assumes that the historic charter (the Constitution of 2015) promulgated through a CA does not have much to do with popular aspirations of Nepali citizens, whereas the other argues that it does. 

Sovereign Nepali citizens and their representatives—leaders of political parties—presumably have a central role in determining the kind of political systems they want and the roadmap for the future, with the Constitution acting as a point of reference. 

But our political parties are not acting in line with their very own manifestos and ideologies, giving rise to a state of impunity. First and foremost, these forces need to become clean, clear and accountable toward their political manifestos and ideologies. If this happens, we will have a drastic transformation in our views and visions. 

The derivatives

We encounter a lot of confusion while trying to trace the roots of our parliamentary democracy. Discourses tend to show that external diplomatic influences played a pivotal role in the establishment of democracy in Nepal rather than the domestic forces. This couriers a miserable deal with our preamble of sovereign state and somehow paves a depraved way out. 

What shall we do in such a scenario? Opt for a diplomatic transformation?

Amid all this, the to and fro of the former king has political parties, the old guard in particular, panicked along with the Hindutva factor. However, the new forces are quite upbeat and have already begun preparing for 2027, when general elections will take place. 

Hindutva does not necessarily mean an absolute religious rule. Rather, it can lay the foundation for good governance. Caught in a crossroads, Nepal has a gigantic opportunity to put its development agenda on the front-burner by going for collective bargaining with external forces like India, China, the US and the UK instead of focusing on the trivial issues.  

Parliamentary democracy constitutes a robust foundation in the countries with a laissez-faire governing system, where power is vested in the public or citizens. However, laissez-faire may result in despotism in the long run. This very idea of political shift may lead to an imbalance of power between the government bodies as seen now in Nepal between federal and local governments. A clear example of this imbalance is the relation between Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the federal government of Nepal. Potential tyranny, lack of trust between coalition partners and tyranny by majority can also be a clumsy manner for political derivation maintained through parliamentary democracy.

The way forward

The literacy rate has gone up in Nepal, as indicated by the 2021 census, possibly pointing toward rising public awareness, among others. Thanks to growing factionalism within their ranks, political forces are losing their cadres and followers, prompting new generations to seek alternatives of the old guard. 

All this is likely to deal the status-quoists a huge blow in the next general elections, with the scholar and well-versed political marcher possibly fielding their candidacies. 

To minimize the damage, the old guard needs to minimize social, developmental and inclusive gaps via politically collaborative foundations. Their focus should be on maintaining the rule of law, ending impunity, striving for economic reforms through diplomatic dialogues, and development of politically collaborative environments.

Do you want to learn about fashion, history, politics, and economics?  There are many brilliant podcasts on each of the subjects, and more are regularly being made. The good news is that podcasting shows no signs of slowing down. You can discover amazing content on anything you are curious about. What you consider to be the ‘best’ depends on what you are looking for but here are our top five picks.

The Daily

The Daily is the second most popular podcast in the world after the Joe Rogan Experience. It has 25 to 45-minute-long episodes on the latest, most relevant news. It is hosted by American journalists Michael Barbaro and Sabrina Tavernise. The podcast was launched in 2017. Through conversations with the New York Times journalists, their sources, and other newsmakers, the podcast covers compelling issues and stories. There is also music and necessary audio clips to enhance the episodes. News doesn’t have to feel dry and rushed when you make it a habit to tune into The Daily podcast.

Stuff You Should Know

If you are curious about the world and how things work in general then this is the perfect podcast for you. Started in 2008, the podcast has over 1400 episodes and covers a wide range of topics. You will get to learn about how police interrogation works, what money laundering entails, schizophrenia, mummies, and many other interesting things. There are also short episodes, that are 10 minutes long, on boba tea, evil eye, etc. that you can listen to during your daily commute to work. The two hosts have great banter which makes for easy, fun listening.

On Purpose

If you want to improve your life and be inspired to change, this podcast, hosted by Jay Shetty, British podcaster, author, and life coach, might be what you are looking for. It’s one of the most popular self-development podcasts available today. Shetty interviews renowned personalities like Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Drew Barrymore among others, covering a hoard of topics like productivity, relationships, parenting, conquering fear, etc. There are episodes on how to create the perfect morning routine, manage sleep, interact with toxic family members, and other helpful tips and tricks that can go a long way in making your life better.

Huberman Lab

Andrew Huberman, the 48-year-old Stanford University neuroscientist, hosts the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast consistently ranks among the top 10 podcasts on Spotify and Apple and has more than 4.8 million subscribers on YouTube. The first episode was aired in 2021. Since then, Huberman has gone on to sell tickets to live shows and even signed a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster. The first book is supposed to be out this year. It speaks volumes of the show’s popularity. The podcast is informative and unbiased. Huberman also brings in experts to talk about different things related to science. The result is incredible insight on how we can use science to improve our lives, and perhaps even live longer.

Incredible Women

In the Incredible Women podcast, you meet successful women from all walks of life who will talk you through their ups and downs. These are women who are bringing radical change in the fields of fashion, art, films, and music. The podcast is about celebrating some global heroines while inspiring the listeners to do and be their best. It’s currently in its seventh season. Some topics of discussion include redefining beauty standards and challenging social media; courage, hope, and raising women’s rights; fashion, technology, and the future of design, among others. Each episode is around 30 minutes long, making it just right for when you are bored and need a recharge. The conversations are enlightening and don’t, at any point, feel dragged out.

Stone crafting is an art form that requires a lot of concentration. It’s a highly skilled craft that involves sculpting and engraving on flat slabs of stone. Artisans use various tools like chisel and hammer, and the level of carving that is achievable if done with the right techniques is simply amazing.

On a recent visit to the Swayambhunath temple, I chanced upon a souvenir shop that sold stone carvings ranging from religious symbols and deities to mythological scenes and intricate patterns. I approached the man who was there. He told me he was the artist behind the crafts, before adding that it could take up to two months for complex designs and 3D sculptures. “Carving isn’t only an artistic expression but also a method to convey spiritual and cultural aspects rooted in the Nepali tradition,” he said.

Skilled artisans select the appropriate type of stone, considering factors like color, texture, and durability. Common choices include marble, granite, or soapstone, each offering a distinct canvas for the artist’s vision. The first step involves rough carving of the stone into a basic form, setting the foundation for the intricate details that will follow.

Stone carving has ancient origins that date back to prehistoric times, and has been preserved to date by passing the skills to younger generations. The earliest evidence of stone carving can be traced to the Paleolithic era when primitive tools were used to carve simple shapes and figures into rocks and stones. Although many advanced tools and machines have been developed now, handmade stone carvings still sell at the highest price range as it takes time, effort, and skills.