37 research outputs found
A Tiger for Malgudi: Representation of Cultural Deterioration
No full textThis research article concentrates on cultural deterioration as projected in R. K. Narayan's A Tiger for Malagudi. The author picturizes the pain of post-colonial India that was struggling to preserve her pre-colonial culture. The novel depicts how the colonizers injected their philosophies in the psyche of the colonized. The concept of “we superior” allured the society. The temptation of new culture grew more in India and that transformed the society into new hybrid culture. On the backdrop of colonial era, the novel demonstrates a tendency of new culture and its impact upon Indian society. Characters are placed to exhibit how colonized adopt new culture and so much so that they even converse their names to be incorporated in British culture. British culture and practice restructured Indian society. Postcolonial theory and theory of mimicry are applied in this dissertation as a framework for analyzing the condition of Indian culture. The colonial period established British cultures which by mixing with Indian culture turn out to be hybrid deteriorating the traditional Indian culture. With view of advanced culture, Indian society accredited new culture. Colonial period in India transformed social and cultural structure
Pema’s Quest in Shambhala (2024)
No full textShambhala is a mystical kingdom in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, a centre of spiritual and philosophical discourse. It focuses on Pema's quest in Nepal. It examines the symbolic and thematic features present in the film Shambhala, directed by Min Bahadur Bham. The film, which delves deeply into the protagonist's private and spiritual journey, projects the search for meaning and identity. A qualitative research methodology is employed in this paper, focusing on the investigation of narrative elements of the film Shambhala. The research looks at the filmmaking techniques, dialogues and visual treatments to analyse the thematic issues of the film. In addition, Stuart Hall's cultural theory and philosophical discourse will be used to contextualise the film within the Nepalese context. In addition, Erik Erikson's theory of psychological development, Henri Tajfel's theory of social identity and John Turner's theories of self-categorisation are used to analyse self-identity. For conflict, Leon Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory and Carl Jung's Jungian shadow theory are used, while for spirituality, Abraham Maslow's self-actualisation, Ken Wilber and Stanislav Grov's transpersonal psychology are used. These perspectives help to examine how Pema's identity has been shaped, contested and reinterpreted over time. The paper uses narrative analysis, thematic interpretation and cultural theory to explore the deeper meanings behind the film's content and to illuminate its broader philosophical implications. It argues that Shambhala functions as a mythical exemplar of self-discovery, in which Pema's physical excursion is reflected as an inner transformation towards self-awareness, conflict resolution and spiritual enlightenment. 
Women’s Bodies as a Site of Cultural Inscriptions in Deepa Mehta’s Fire
No full textDeepa Mehta, Indo-Canadian director’s Fire was released in 1996. The film is the first among her trilogy. It is influential because of her representation of a same-sex relationship in a traditional Indian society of that period of time. This research paper investigates how women’s bodies function as sites of cultural inscriptions in Fire. Fire retains patriarchal ideologies, socio-religious norms, and heteronormative anticipations that frame women’s understandings and bodies. Research questions in this paper are: what kinds of inscriptions are imposed on women’s bodies in Fire, how these inscriptions are enforced and maintained and how Fire contests and subverts these inscriptions? The paper employs qualitative research approach, utilizing textual and filmic analysis. Deepa Mehta’s Fire is the primary text. Feminist theory, postcolonial studies, and Michel Foucault’s discourse on power and the body are the major lenses used to analyze the film Fire. Feminist theories, cultural theory, and scholarly analyses of Fire comprise the secondary source of this paper. This study is based on feminist theory, specifically Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity and Michel Foucault’s philosophies on disciplining of the body. Furthermore, postcolonial feminist critiques postulate comprehensions into the juncture of gender, culture, and power structures in Fire. Deepa Mehta’s Fire functions as an influential criticism of patriarchal cultural inscriptions on women’s bodies. By foregrounding female longings and resistance, the film encounters prevailing chronicles that standardize women’s identities. It contributes to feminist and postcolonial discourses by emphasizing how cultural inscriptions function and how they can be subverted. 
Condom Use at Last Sexual Intercourse and Its Correlates among Males and Females Aged 15–49 Years in Nepal
No full textThis study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of condom use at last sexual intercourse among people aged 15–49 years in Nepal. Secondary data analysis was performed using the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011. The study was restricted to the respondents who reported ever having had sexual intercourse; 9843 females and 3017 males were included. Condom use was assessed by asking if respondents used condoms in their most recent sexual intercourse. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed using Complex Sample Analysis Procedure to adjust for sample weight and multistage sampling design. Overall, 7.6% of total, and 16.3% of males and 6.2% of females reported using condoms in their last sexual intercourse. Living in Far-Western region, age and wealth quintile were positively associated with condom use in both males and females. Being unmarried was the most important predictor of condom use among males. Higher education was associated with increased likelihood of condom use in females. However, mobility, having multiple sexual partners, and HIV knowledge were not significant correlates of condom use in both sexes. A big difference was observed in the variance accounted for males and females; indicating use of condoms is poorly predicted by the variables included in the study among females. Condom use was more associated with sociodemographic factors than with sexual behavior and HIV knowledge
A Healthy City Project: A Case Study of Wonju City, South Korea and its Relevance to the Cities in Nepal
No full text Introduction: One of the goals of sustainable development is to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The healthy city approach is becoming increasingly important in addressing a large number of urban health problems and promoting healthy lifestyles in city dwellers.Objectives: We performed a case study of the healthy city project in Wonju, South Korea to find out its characteristics and approaches, and to explore its relevance to the cities in Nepal.Methods: We conducted a case study of the healthy city Wonju project by reviewing relevant published articles and web pages of the city (http://healthycity.wonju.go.kr), alliance for healthy cities, Korean statistical information service and World Health Organization. We also reviewed articles and documents related to healthy cities in South-East Asian countries and Nepal.Results: The healthy city Wonju project, started in 2004, executed its five-year plan between 2006 and 2010, and is currently running with its 10 year long-term plan (2011- 2020). For its success, Wonju City has been awarded six times by WHO. Recently, Wonju city organized the seventh global conference of the AFHC in August, 2016 in Wonju with the main theme of “our cities, our health, our future”. Key features of the healthy city Wonju project included: Strong political commitment of local government, financing the healthy city initiative with tobacco consumption tax, partnerships with universities, well organized healthy city teams under city administration, coordination with national and regional healthy cities alliance, community participation, and involvement in research for evidence-based planning and evaluation. Nepal, one of the fast urbanizing countries in South-East Asia faces large number of urban health problems.Conclusions: Though numbers of cities and city dwellers are increasing rapidly, Nepal lacks healthy city projects and networking. The approaches of healthy city Wonju might be useful for developing countries such as Nepal to initiate and develop healthy cities projects in a sustainable way. Journal of Gandaki Medical CollegeVol. 10, No. 1, 2017, page: 34-42</jats:p
Representation of Religion in Nepali Brihat Shabdakosh- (2075)
No full textNepali Brihat Shabdakosh (2075 B. S), claims that it has selected those lexical items which are available in the Nepali speech communities. This article contends the claim and proposes of lexicographers’ ideology guides the content of the dictionary. It focuses on: How different religions/religious people are named and referred to linguistically? What kind of religious traits, features, qualities and features are ascribed to them? How are the lexical items related to religion are explained, defined and presented? To meet the objectives, it implies qualitative approach and uses content analysis method to exhibit the disproportional representation of religions in the Kosh. Swatantra Varna 'Ra' is selected for this purpose. Critical discourse analysis is used as a tool to scrutinize the lexical items. Primarily all the lexical items under the Swatantra Varna 'Ra' are studied and a list of lexicons related to all religions is prepared. Then the selected lexicons are scrutinized from the lenses of critical discourse analysis to meet the objectives of the study. The findings establish the fact that Hinduism is overlexicalized and other religions are excluded, misrepresented, backgrounded, underlexicalized/overlexicalized, intensified and mitigated. This signifies that the whole Kosh-2075 reflects the psyche of Hindu Brahmin upper-class lexicographers
A Healthy City Project: A Case Study of Wonju City, South Korea and its Relevance to the Cities in Nepal
No full textIntroduction: One of the goals of sustainable development is to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The healthy city approach is becoming increasingly important in addressing a large number of urban health problems and promoting healthy lifestyles in city dwellers.
Objectives: We performed a case study of the healthy city project in Wonju, South Korea to find out its characteristics and approaches, and to explore its relevance to the cities in Nepal.
Methods: We conducted a case study of the healthy city Wonju project by reviewing relevant published articles and web pages of the city (http://healthycity.wonju.go.kr), alliance for healthy cities, Korean statistical information service and World Health Organization. We also reviewed articles and documents related to healthy cities in South-East Asian countries and Nepal.
Results: The healthy city Wonju project, started in 2004, executed its five-year plan between 2006 and 2010, and is currently running with its 10 year long-term plan (2011- 2020). For its success, Wonju City has been awarded six times by WHO. Recently, Wonju city organized the seventh global conference of the AFHC in August, 2016 in Wonju with the main theme of “our cities, our health, our future”. Key features of the healthy city Wonju project included: Strong political commitment of local government, financing the healthy city initiative with tobacco consumption tax, partnerships with universities, well organized healthy city teams under city administration, coordination with national and regional healthy cities alliance, community participation, and involvement in research for evidence-based planning and evaluation. Nepal, one of the fast urbanizing countries in South-East Asia faces large number of urban health problems.
Conclusions: Though numbers of cities and city dwellers are increasing rapidly, Nepal lacks healthy city projects and networking. The approaches of healthy city Wonju might be useful for developing countries such as Nepal to initiate and develop healthy cities projects in a sustainable way.
Journal of Gandaki Medical College
Vol. 10, No. 1, 2017, page: 34-4
Role of Knowledge, Sociodemographic, and Behavioral Factors on Lifetime HIV Testing among Adult Population in Nepal: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional National Survey
No full textHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is important to HIV prevention, treatment, and care. We aimed to assess the role of sociodemographic, behavioral factors and HIV knowledge on HIV testing among people aged 15–49 years in Nepal. The 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey data was used for secondary data analysis. Herein, 9843 women and 3017 men who had experienced coitus were included. The respondents were asked if they underwent HIV testing and received the test results in their lifetime. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied at 5% level of significance. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed separately for women and men. Of the total, 18.0% of men and 7.4% of women had been tested for HIV in their lifetime. As compared to the age of 15 to 24 years, males aged 25 to 29 years were more likely to report, whereas females aged 35 to 49 years were less likely to report HIV testing. Lower caste groups had more likelihood of reporting HIV testing than the other caste in both sexes. The odds of being tested for HIV were significantly higher among those who had higher education in both sexes. There was significant positive association between HIV testing and economic status in males whereas this association was reverse among females. The male respondents who spent more than one month away from home in the last 12 months were 1.68 times more likely to have been tested for HIV in their lifetime. Having multiple sexual partners was associated with higher odds of testing for HIV in both sexes. Having comprehensive HIV knowledge was independently associated with the reporting of higher odds of HIV testing in females. Promotion of HIV testing should consider sociodemographic factors, sexual behavior, and imparting comprehensive HIV knowledge
Assessment of phytochemical content, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of three medicinal plants of Nepal
No full textThe Theme of Betrayal in Tagore’s Home and The World
No full textRabindranath Tagore was a prolific author who earned name and fame worldwide for his contribution in literature. Tagore depicts the different shades of man’s life through the characters of his novels. Tagore touches the different issues like : the struggle for freedom, the existence of good and evil of the world. Tagore’s The Home and the World deals with the theme of betrayal and the relationship of husband and wife and how the wife realizes her mistake at the end of the novel This paper is a sincere effort to display how the betrayal of Bimala effects Nikhil’s life and how she is deceived by her idol Sandip
