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In Boston, Massachusetts, US, Rukmini Karki works as a senior advocate for the Asian Task Force For Domestic Violence (ATASK), a group that helps Asian victims of domestic violence. She is one of the most well-known figures in the Asian community in the US for her steadfast support for women’s empowerment and social justice.

Karki, who is of Nepali descent and was raised in India, became involved in social justice advocacy after observing various forms of cultural inequality in the society. Since 1997, she has advocated for human rights, women’s rights, and gender equality. She has a degree in law and a master’s in sociology and anthropology.

After she returned to Nepal, she began working for Plan International, where she spent four years promoting girl’s education and women’s empowerment. She worked on several gender action plans and gender equity projects like the Third Livestock Development Project before moving to the US in 2005. With nine years of experience, getting a job at ATASK was a breeze.

“Domestic abuse is particularly not seen as violence in Nepal,” says Karki as she reflects on her time working for gender equality in Nepal. “The use of physical force such as kicking or beating enjoys a strange kind of acceptance.” Immigrants from Nepal and other countries who live in the United States experience a range of abuse and violence.  In the US, she says, domestic violence is a heinous crime.  Karki fights for social change and tries to eliminate linguistic and cultural gaps in Asian communities. She is proficient in six languages, including Nepali, English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhojpuri, and Manipuri making her a valuable asset at ATASK as she can connect with non-English speakers caught in abusive relationships.

“Domestic violence is all about power and control. It can happen to anyone and it has no gender, age, or color bar,” says Karki, adding that violence doesn’t always mean physical abuse but encompasses emotional and psychological abuse as well. Based on her experience, she says that the majority of cases involve dependent visa holders, notably wives who are subjected to abuse and are threatened with deportation by their spouses. A large number of crimes go unreported because the women are anxious about their perceived inferior social and economic status in society.

Karki says domestic violence isn’t as pervasive as it is in Nepal since the process of justice is backed and subsidized by the government. She has a strong network with the government, police, medical community, legal community, and other service providers to support victims who have been physically hurt or emotionally traumatized.

Karki shares the story of one of her most striking cases, involving an Indian woman who got the helpline number of ATASK through doctors. The victim’s husband tortured her for five years.  Karki was shocked to know that the victim was kept inside the house, she had never seen a one-dollar bill and she knew little about American life. Karki taught her everything about the bus system, Uber, and other daily activities. Also, she helped her get a restraining order against her spouse.

Apart from that, she and her team have continuously assisted many people by offering free English language classes and government housing for victims during the transitional period. In cases that involve child custody, they have offered victims free attorney services, if they are unable to pay for one. What sets her team apart is knowledge about the victim’s culture and language, their focus on bridging the gap, and unequivocal and emotional support through awareness and education

With technological developments, she says, their reach has increased. She recalls how someone found her on TikTok. However, she does not always believe that technology is as helpful as it’s made out to be. She has been stalked by the abuser of one of the victims. Having learned from the experience, she now keeps herself on high alert to deal with any potential issues.  “I’m not afraid of them because this is what I have chosen to do and helping others makes me happy,” she says.  But she is often at the receiving end of a lot of animosity. She says, “I have been falsely accused of destroying families and relationships.”

She has been assisting numerous Nepalis living in the US and wants to connect with victims to provide the resources she has access to. She has also collaborated with the Centre for Women’s Awareness and Development (CWAD) to assist divorced Nepali women in claiming generational property.

Karki believes that the current lot of Nepali women leaders are incredibly strong and she values their contribution to social justice. But she also thinks there is no consistency in the fight against violence or support for the victims. As a senior advocate, she encourages everyone, especially those in positions of power, to continue with the struggle until the bitter end, regardless of the outcome.

The public, she says, should be given enough information about their rights and government initiatives about laws regarding gender-based violence. The government of Nepal should allocate a separate budget to assist victims of violence, she says. Most importantly, she wishes for a society where victims of violence can speak without inhibition. “Silence is another form of self-harm. No matter how challenging a situation might be, there are countless alternatives and resources available for support,” she says. 

Louise Kennedy’s debut novel ‘Trespasses’ is set in Northern Ireland during the 1970s when the country was going through the Troubles (an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998.) It’s a simple story that feels a little sluggish at times. Kennedy, by her own admittance, came late to fiction writing. Born a few miles outside Belfast, she spent almost three decades working as a chef, before writing the stories that made up her first book, ‘The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac’.

Cushla Lavery is 24 years old and she’s a primary school teacher in Belfast. She sometimes helps her brother, Eamonn, at the family pub, which is a regular haunt of leering and aggressive British soldiers. One day, she meets Michael Agnew. He is handsome and charming. But the Protestant barrister who defends unjustly arrested young Catholic men is also married. Michael asks Cushla to teach him and his friends to speak Irish. He takes her to an Irish-language evening and, on the way home, one thing leads to another and romance ensues.

But romance isn’t the only plotline of the novel. There are other narrative strands. Cushla’s mother is an alcoholic and there’s that mother-daughter dynamic in the story as well. Then there’s Cushla’s relationship with a boy from her class. Davy McGeown is bullied by his peers and Cushla kind of takes him under her wings. Then things come crashing down for Cushla and the narratives intersect.

Through the parallel storylines, you understand Cushla and see why she’s embarked on a forbidden relationship, despite maybe having faulted her initially. Trespasses is largely narrated in a series of vignettes with Cushla’s affair with Michael tying it all together. Violence is so normalized that it’s never actively discussed in the plot. But the threat of death, from bombs and guns, is evident on every page. Some chapters begin with news headlines about deadly explosions and arrests. You realize everything is happening in a war zone. It adds an underlying tension to the story and keeps you hooked.

This is more a character-driven story than a plot-driven one. Kennedy has fleshed out the characters really well and you find yourself empathizing with them all, even the gin-addled Gina. Cushla’s thoughts and dialogues are relatable and you will root for her despite her questionable actions in some instances. Overall, Trespasses is a beautiful and devastating novel that explores a lot of emotions.

Fiction

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60417483 

Trespasses

Louise Kennedy

Published: 2022

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Pages: 311, Paperback

I’m a 30-year-old woman and I have been feeling uninspired and lonely for the last few months. I used to be an early riser and quite active throughout the day. But now I tend to sleep till late and I feel lazy at work. On my off days, I tend to sleep a lot. I tell myself I will turn a new leaf from the next day but I haven’t been able to get back on track. What do you suggest I do?

 Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

 It seems like you are going through adjustment stress, transition stress, or maybe even an existential crisis. You’ve been wanting to do things but aren’t being able to actually do them. I would like you to know that it’s completely normal sometimes. You must be going through some struggles which might have influenced passivity. I assume there’s a sense of hope in reality.

The first thing I recommend you do is try figuring out the reason for your loneliness. If you can’t fix the problem yourself, you can try the community behavioral approach that might help to fix your negative thought pattern and help you deal with demotivation and laziness. For disturbed sleep, low motivation, and the loneliness you are currently struggling with, you can try scheduling activities that you enjoy.  Also, it’s necessary to hold on to a sense of achievement to break the cycle of demotivation. You can start by setting short-term goals or by participating in social activities. Try building a sense of purpose and achieve the goal. It can help bring some much-needed positivity in your days.

 You should also work on sleep hygiene and control screen time before bed. Physical exercises like skipping, walking, and jogging also help us stay motivated, albeit subconsciously. Importantly, you should be mindful that this is just a phase and you will eventually make progress. I suggest you try working on both physical and emotional actions without burdening yourself. You can rely on your family and friends for support. Another great thing would be to spend some time in nature. If these measures aren’t helping you, then I would advise you to seek professional help.

With the start of the Russia-Ukraine war last year, the global situation has also changed drastically. Geopolitical tensions are rising and there is a legitimate threat of global energy and food crises. After the war, there has been a lot of discussion regarding Nepal’s formal position as well. In this context, ApEx talked to Russian Ambassador Aleksei Novikov on a host of global and Nepal-Russia relations. Excerpts.

1. After the Russia-Ukraine war, global security is becoming increasingly complex and uncertain. Geopolitical rivalries, nuclear proliferation, food security and financial crises raise questions about our ability to maintain stability. What is your take on it ? 

The subject matter of this issue is rather complex; however, there are a few clear reasons why global security is threatened nowadays.  Firstly, the very possibility of the dominance of one country, or let’s say, a group of particular states must disappear. I strongly believe that a truly democratic world must be multipolar and shall be based on generally recognized international legal norms, primarily the principles of the UN charter. Secondly, those who ignore these principles are not embarrassed by the fact that their actions are creating new risks, undermining supply chains as well as food and energy security. For example, the number of countries headed by the US who try to “contain Russia” and flood the Kiev regime with weapons is provoking the risk of spreading weapons around the world, which may lead to an outburst of international terrorism. Everyone should learn that every action has its consequences. We believe it is important that the UN, which has of late been fairly quiet in this regard, should act proactively and step up its efforts in fighting global threats without the double standards.

2. Since you mentioned energy security, how can we address this issue ?

Energy prices have risen consistently over the past year and a half, which Western leaders purposefully keep silent about. This was the result of the policy of the central banks of the United States, Great Britain, EU states to print unsecured funds. An increase in the money supply naturally caused inflation. Price hikes were also triggered by disruptions in supply chains due to the coronavirus lockdowns in various parts of the world. The surge in fuel prices was provoked by the attempts of the West to unleash a trade and sanctions war against Russia. Europe has created a deficit in the market with its own hands, stopping the purchase of Russian oil and gas, as well as seriously complicating their transportation to third countries. Replacing Russian fuel, the Old World began to buy it from the markets of Asia and Africa, thereby giving impetus to prices. Thus, the rise in fuel prices is in no way caused by Russia's actions. Moreover, Russia tried to contribute to the normalization of the market situation by supplying oil to friendly countries at a 20-30 percent discount.

3. What about the global food crisis?  

According to the FAO, the Russian Federation is one of the largest food producers in the world, it is a significant net exporter of agricultural products. For instance, in 2022, Russia harvested a record grain crop of 158 million tons, exported 70 million tons of agricultural products and food (cereals, oils, fish and seafood, etc.) to 160 countries of the world. As of today, every fifth export batch of wheat in the world is of Russian origin. The Russian Federation consistently advocates ensuring the activities of the FAO strictly within its mandate and without politicization. Solving the problem of food security and nutrition for all is possible only through the coherent and collective efforts of the entire international community. In the agricultural season 2023/24, Russian farmers plan to harvest at least 123 million tons of grain; half of it will be exported. In addition, the FAO confirms that the Russian Federation is one of the leading exporters of fertilizers, the largest in terms of the mineral ones. We are also the world's leading producer of other types of fertilizers, with up to 70 percent of the Russian exported fertilizers going to the developing countries of the Global South.

There have been many accusations of Russia blocking 20 million tonnes of grains in Ukrainian storage facilities, but the harsh reality of that issue is that the poorest countries are actually being held hostage to the EU and Washington’s ambitions. For the EU, food security problems are a side effect of anti-Russia policies and Western attempts to protect its self-serving “rules-based order.”

The projects to export agricultural products from Ukraine, including through EU’s so-called solidarity corridors, proved to be a humanitarian sham. Fodder corn, not wheat, became the main export in this scheme. It is the EU that needs this commodity more than others, and became the main recipient of these shipments (only 3 percent of the Ukrainian part of the “Black Sea Initiative” went to the poorest countries). The Russian part of the “package” had not been implemented at all.

4. What is your take on Nepal’s decision to vote against Russia in UN voting on Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Russia considers Nepal a friendly state and we deeply respect its people, leadership and rich history. As you know, this year marks the 67th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our countries and I am very happy to state that since 1956, our cooperation has been built on the basis of mutual respect, trust and concern for each other's interests.  However, some aspects of Nepal’s diplomacy seem to have changed. We got used to seeing Nepal as one of the most outstanding leaders of the non-alignment movement and the strong follower of neutral international policy. Not just Russia, but the whole world admired how perfectly Nepal implemented the Pancha Shila philosophy in its external policy. Nevertheless, the way Nepal supported confrontational anti-Russian resolutions during the UN 11th emergency special session does not contribute neither to relations with Russia, nor to the traditional Nepali approach in the international organizations. I sincerely admire the Nepali people, their honesty and optimistic attitude. Many of them told me that they supported and cheered Russia and its culture. During our conversations, literally everybody said how thankful they were for all the support that the USSR had provided Nepal with. And this makes me happy. I believe that we have many things in common. As we look forward, we remain committed to strengthening the ties between the peoples and governments of Russia and Nepal, to celebrating our shared history and achievements.

5. Out of this perspective, how can Nepal and Russia work on the regional and international platforms?

The legal framework of the bilateral partnership consists of the number of existing agreements. Both Russia and Nepal are guided mainly by traditional multilateral international acts, primarily UN documents. Over the past years and decades, enormous changes have taken place in our countries and in the world. But the feelings of sympathy between the two peoples and the desire to deepen multifaceted bilateral cooperation have not changed. Our relations have a mutually beneficial ground and all the joint international efforts must be based on that principle. We have no tensions, our ties remain friendly despite all the efforts to spoil them. And answering your question, I would like to point out that all the future prospects of cooperation in the regional and international platforms shall stick to the same attitude as before—trust and support without relying on those who wish to draw our nations apart.

6. Lastly, what are the new initiatives that Russia is taking to enhance bilateral ties including resuming flights between two countries?

First of all, Russia and Nepal are developing cooperation in infrastructure and railway construction. This August I had a wonderful opportunity to negotiate with Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala. Besides that, we maintain active contacts with the leadership of the Nepali railway industry. During the talks, the Nepali side expressed its interest in attracting RZD International and other Russian companies for the construction of the Pokhara-Ridi road, East-West railway, as well as a project to build a light metro in Kathmandu. We are also working closely with the Nepali friends in hydro energy development, having preliminary agreements on the possible participation of a Russian state company “Inter RAO” in the implementation of four projects for the construction of hydroelectric power plants in the Himalayan republic with a capacity of 300 MW or more. We believe that Nepal is interested in developing cooperation in the field of electricity generation and its export.

Agriculture continues to be one of the most promising areas of cooperation between Russia and Nepal. There have been many meetings with the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development that contributed to the active development of contacts in this field. The prospects of Russian-Nepali cooperation in agriculture, in particular, the supply of chemical fertilizers were on the agenda. We are actively exploring the possibility of joint construction of a plant for the production of chemical fertilizers in Nepal and we hope Russian farmers will shortly visit Nepal to explore the possibility of creating greenhouse complexes, including their construction in high-altitude areas. Training programs for Nepali specialists in Russia and study opportunities for Nepali students in Russian agricultural universities are discussed as well. 

Today young people from Nepal have the opportunity to receive free scholarships to study in Russia. Moreover the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia already expressed its readiness to increase the number of positions for Nepali nationals to study in various programs and specialties (including medicine and IT) in the Russian educational institutions within quota of the Russian Government for 2024/25 academic year. And of course, establishing the direct flights between Kathmandu and Moscow is of essential importance to us. Such a measure would contribute to strengthening cooperation in all areas.