Submit your Article

Labor Day is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of workers in our society. While a day to honor the laborers is a good thing, its significance can be diminished if there’s a lack of tangible support or services throughout the year. Rastrika Shakya from ApEx talked to three people to find out what changes they would like to see so that life can be better.

Lok Bahadur Shrestha, 53

I’m originally from Ramechhap, and I’ve been working as a laborer in Lalitpur for the past 30 years. I earn a basic income and provide for my family’s basic needs. To me, no work is too big or too small. Every job deserves equal respect.

I’ve never celebrated Labor Day. Work is essential for sustaining our lives, and although I’ve heard of Labor Day, I’ve never taken a holiday from work for it. We survive on a basic wage, so even one day’s pay is valuable to us. It’s disheartening to see the lack of government support for laborers like myself. The government should provide us with services and ensure our safety. I’m not a member of the worker’s union. I’ve heard they provide services, but I’ve never seen them in action, so I don’t really trust them, and I’m not involved with them either.

Lok B Shrestha, 32

I’ve been working at a catering service for three years now. For me, anything that contributes to making a living is work, and it requires hard work. I help out at a catering service, and the income I earn is sufficient to support my family. However, our work isn’t permanent, and it’s not consistent. We work based on people’s needs. There are days when I work, but there might not be any work the next day, which can be challenging. I hope for better income opportunities for us. We rely on a basic income, but I wish for more stability. I want my children to have good opportunities, which require a good education, and that requires money. Labor Day holidays are appreciated, but we need more ongoing assistance and support.

Yubraj Shrestha, 35

I’ve been working as a laborer for the past six years. For me, work is simply a means to live, to survive, really. I don’t possess any other skills to earn money, so working as a laborer is my only option. I provide for my family with the basic wages I earn. Sometimes, I even take loans just to get by. I’m doing my best to educate my children with the limited income I have.

I wish governments would provide us with skillful training, services, and employment opportunities that would enable us to earn a decent income. I want to be able to provide a good education for my children. Laborers want to feel respected by society too. That’s something I truly wish for.

Education is the foundation of personal growth and empowerment, enabling people to pursue their aspirations and make meaningful contributions to society. But is education in Nepal shaping our futures in the way it should and putting us on the right track? Rastrika Shakya from ApEx talked to three people to find out what changes they would like to see in our education system.

Preeti Karniyar

When it comes to recognizing the current challenges and opportunities, there are various potential areas to focus on such as infrastructure development, vocational training, community engagement, and teacher training. But, in my opinion, curriculum enhancement is one of the most important areas, as it reflects our education standards.

Moreover, with modern educational practices and standards, integrating technology into the curriculum could help students develop digital literacy skills and opportunities for the coming days of artificial intelligence. Enhancing the curriculum offers students with interdisciplinary learning opportunities that indirectly help develop creative and critical thinking skills.

Pushpa Bhandari

The recent appointment of Sumana Shrestha as the education minister is promising. In comparison to the past, education in Nepal is a lot better. The free and compulsory education act ensures that students across Nepal receive basic education. Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah has created the provision of scholarships for high school students, and many institutions have been authorized to run international courses such as the IB and A levels. But there are still some gaps and loopholes in the education system. As a BA student under the TU curriculum, I constantly find my exams being delayed and results being published late. In many cases, exam papers have been lost and all of that is extremely disheartening.

Krish Dangol

Nepal’s education system is progressing, with increasing awareness among people about the importance of education. However, the country’s diverse socio economic landscape presents challenges, as not everyone can afford the expenses associated with good education. It’s concerning to observe schools imposing high fees under various guises such as sports, transportation, and library charges, even at the primary level, which is unacceptable.

One crucial change I would like to see is reforming the education system to ensure that every individual, regardless of their background, has access to quality education. Education is a fundamental right for all, and it’s imperative to provide adequate facilities and ensure accessibility for students despite their backgrounds.

Spring break is here, everyone is getting their trails ready for the trek to experience the breathtaking beauty of Nepal. The top attraction of the season is the vibrant rhododendron flowers blooming just on the lap of mountains and mesmerizing landscape. 

While growing up in Tarai, I never appreciated the flowers that used to bloom in my household or even cared to harvest one. I didn’t have an interest in gardening and wouldn’t get excited seeing growing petals of the hibiscus or any other flowers.

Suddenly, I was craving spring break to go on a trip “To see rhododendrons.” It can’t be the entire reason why I am desperate to have spring break, there must be some profound connection. 

Well, it is not an ordinary flower—it is a national flower that holds a special place in every Nepali heart—but for me, it also happened to be my lifesaver a long time back.

I was just about two years old when I accidentally (of course) ate a fish bone that got stuck in my throat. After a few minutes when I was coughing blood and crying with pain. Everyone panicked seeing me like that. My mother and aunt were trying to help but they were sort of helpless for a moment. They were just trying to figure out how to take that fish bone out of my throat when somebody remembered the herbal benefits of rhododendron which could help with stuck bone. 

Fortunately, my elder cousin, who had just returned from her educational tour, had gotten rhododendrons from her trip which she kept inside her book. Suddenly, she remembered and took out the dried petals of rhododendron from her book and gave them to mother. She rubbed leaves around my neck and dropped a few petals in my mouth.

The tale about rhododendrons’ benefits turned out to be true; it helped me swallow that fish bone, and the rhododendron saved my life. I don’t know if I can ever find out if this was just a mere miracle or a rhododendron miracle, but I will always be grateful for its existence and its inhabitants in Nepal. It was not the most interesting story, but it was a life-saving story where I can’t think of a rhododendron without recalling this incident that happened almost eighteen years ago.

As I mentioned earlier, rhododendrons with their more than thirty species residing in Nepal are true gems to Nepal with their vibrant spirit and symbolic representation, and their impeccable beauty adds a magnificent view of nature. 

Oftentimes, we humans appreciate beauty in the wrong way, some by default and some by design. For instance, plucking rhododendrons to make videos and pictures and a few times we get so possessive of beauty that we want to carry that beauty without even bothering to think twice, if they want to come along with us. 

Rhododendrons are resilient plants. They can regenerate themselves but only if branches are plucked carefully without damaging the main stems. 

Regrettably, we have seen and found the excessive plucking of branches or rhododendrons in social media flaunting themselves with the trend. This massive careless activity needs to stop, which is directly affecting the ecological system creating tension for the sustainable environment. 

Wanderers of life never come to cease, I often thought when will I get to meet my life-savior? How will my first interaction with a rhododendron be, will I appreciate the beauty it beholds or the beauty of healing? Will it be a different feeling for me when I first get to see a rhododendron right in front of my eyes? Will it still hold a different place in my heart after it’s gone?

Now, at the age of twenty, I have come to believe it will indeed be different but I’m not sure what that ‘different’ feeling will be. Will it be gratifying or mortifying?

Each person’s journey through the year is unique, shaped by individual experiences, challenges, triumphs, and personal growth. If we carry the lessons close to our hearts, we can embrace challenges with courage, foster connections with compassion, and sow seeds of hope for a brighter and more resilient future. Rastrika Shakya from ApEx spoke to three people to find out what was the most important lesson they learned in the past year.

Merry Jones Chaudhary

There is a saying that it doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop but the Nepali year 2080 was a year of ups and downs, hindering my path and progress. It made me realize that much like our city roads our lives too can’t be smooth and hassle-free. I learned that you need to handle situations with grace and find joy in the little things. I learned never to give up, go along with the flow, and try to make the best of every situation. In a way, it made me more confident to take on the challenges that come my way.

Biren Shrestha

I discovered that there is a lot of joy in learning and that it’s the path to proficiency. Being involved in multiple dramas, poetry, and journalism projects has been a progressive and productive journey. Next, I learned camaraderie, and how to be associated with people I hold dear. Surprisingly, even studying was a breeze, providing a refreshing level of satisfaction. Towards the tail-end of the Nepali year, several deep conversations and poetry sessions later, I learned to recognize my needs and the things that shape me. But mainly, I understood pain and how to wield and learn from it to become a better person.

Aadarsha Bhandari

My interactions, studies, and exposure to professionals in the field I belong to have helped me learn different things throughout the years. I can say that I’m better able to deal with different kinds of individuals today than I was a couple of years ago. I’m not scared of coming out of my comfort zone because I’ve realized that’s the only way to grow. The year 2080 has helped to polish my communications and interpersonal skills. One of the major lessons I learnt was to let things go and to not let the past affect your present or just get stuck in it.