Namaskar/Good morning Hajur !
Sanchai Hajur (How are you)?
Hajur in Nepali is very common word and have different actions according to the
context such as yes (if someone call your name or hello in telephone), ok (ok
in yes and no question), name (your shop or restaurant), respect (use hajur
instead of you) etc. This writer is always wondering what meant by Hajur among
non Nepali speakers who are headed of almost UN agencies and INGOs in Nepal for
equality and promotion of human rights in a way and the other around. Do they
aware about its symbolic meaning in Nepali context specially whom they seek changes.
In practical sense, if someone use the word Hajur frequently or followed by
each statement, Hajur connotes higher or creates hierarchy rather simply yes,
ok, or respect. The villagers, poor or powerless people use the word Hajur while
interacting landlords, seniors or powerful people for please or respect or
expecting some favours indirectly. Such interactions distinguished easily even
by lay people. It has deep and wider meaning. By and large, it is being used in
royal or elites since history where scholars, activists, called and used as
symbol of feudal culture at micro level.
The feudal culture, culture of silence or poor mindset is used
as a key challenge by them at their presentation or speech or reports. Sadly,
they do not aware that they are playing key role of promotion of feudal culture
in very deeper level of human psychology and sociology. Many senior employees
who are working or associated with UN agencies and INGOs, self-claimed
feminists and women human rights activists are also use the words such as sap
or sab for (PhD holders or Doctors or the government authorities) and hajur
while passing their comments over social media too. They might disagree that
they are promoting anti force as they intended to do through training,
workshops etc. but it is bitter reality. If they have problem in using sister,
brother, father, mother as Nepali culture has since civilisation, they could
use sir and madam for all male and female respectively. Sadly, people called
sir for male no matter about the competency and positions whereas called sister
or Jee for women. Likewise, many scholars, experts used women when portraying
the anger, laughing cartoons, protest, poems etc. They showed women as weak,
bad etc. For instance, Gaijatra.
These words bring so many other words, ideas or practices
together that reveals the psychological fear, humiliation, domination,
segregation, suppression where very hard to building agency and mutual trust
and respect at large. In development discourse, these words are a form of
masculine, patriarchal character or possess power. Building mutual trust and respect
is the key foundation in order to demystify social norms and values for the social
transformation before, during and after entering or interacting with
communities.
By considering the progress in policies and activism on
equality at all levels and sectors, such words supposed to abolish or minimise in
practice because the same personalities are drafting the policies or advocating
for change at national and international level as scholars, trainer, delegates
etc. For instance, calling president
instead of chairperson or chairman in order to avoid the psychological fear of
masculinity and patriarchy or gender discrimination. They also have been
working on revising many Nepali proverb, songs for same purpose. Sadly, they
are providing training and so on but promoting for same instead of showing
role model.
In contrary to the policies, the practices are spreading as
an epidemic. The bureaucrats who are leading the implementation of democratic
norms and practices, they also heavily started to use such words. The scholars,
secretaries, activists, law makers, politicians remained silent in many public
forums organised by UN agencies and Ministry of women, Children and Social
Welfare where the government officer called Sriman for secretary as like
address for chief justice and judges at court. These are very representative
examples which is becoming viral and anti-current for equality in Nepali
culture. These words sound polite, gentle, positive but they are indicating
negative message or opposition for equality simultaneously. The word Sriman was
debatable word even in legal institutions due to considering gender bias.
Likewise, many activists, scholars etc. are giving neutral
opinions over such practices and words at the name of choice of an individual
which is absolutely bad and sad for the equality. For instance, wearing green
clothes and bangles during the month of Swran. Every year, it has huge and hot
discussions. The individual right or choice could apply if the population is
fully educated with rationality. According to the national data, 57 % female
are literate in Nepal that doesn't mean that they could make decision over
their ideology and body. Due to serious flaws and transition of entire
political process, even the Bachelor or more than that people are not aware on
rational over their study or practices and how can they say that it is a matter
of individual rights. Without knowing rationales of both sides of coin, how the
advocates could leave without interference at the name of choice. In many
cases, people are used and enjoying within due to ignorance and tradition. If
they claimed that it is matter of choice, why are they educating for re-writing
the proverbs. The colours, proverbs, words are imparting the large chunk of
people informally as symbolic interactions which are learned and practice than
the learning from formal settings. As like action, the word also has
significant essence in two ways; whether the word liberate/emancipate or
dominate/suppressed to the direct or indirect receivers. Thus, such practices
are urgent to unpack and peeling up for equality by leaders who are claiming
for advocates for equality and women empowerment. Because the huge portion of
population is urged to change and searching role models today.
Many scholars, leaders are saying that the social
transformation takes time, it's not a night business. Indeed, it's not true at
all due to the time is not like 10 years back, Today, even in the rural and
poor villages people have mobile phones and few items related with social
media. Secondly, today is the era of globalisation, few things beyond the
control of individual interest. Thus, the social transformation is faster than
earlier but needs to un-peeling and unpack of symbolic interactions which has
been floating at micro level largely with scientific basis and evidences. Additionally, need role models who attempted
or best role models from the same context.
