My Republica

Usha Pokharel

Usha Pokharel is an educationist and author of several children’s books.
usha@pokharel.net

Understanding grief

Published On: February 3, 2018 12:59 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

One can never get over grief, one can only get on with it. You never move on, you move forward with it.

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Being old is no crime

Published On: January 20, 2018 12:47 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

With passage of time perceptions change, situations change and with that, life takes a different course

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What’s in colors?

Published On: January 6, 2018 10:00 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Did you know colors also impact our mood, preferences and actions? They do.

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Young role models

Published On: December 22, 2017 09:06 PM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Don’t ever think that your children are not equipped to deal with life’s hardships. Expose them early.

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Exam phobia

Published On: December 9, 2017 07:28 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Remember the last time your children had their exams? You suspended all their extracurricular activities

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Connecting with the past

Published On: November 25, 2017 12:57 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

I remember a time when, in the absence of internet and cell phones, visiting relatives was a spontaneous act.

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Women’s relationships

Published On: October 28, 2017 12:47 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Women will have to be smart to adjust to the ever-changing relations she has to adjust to throughout her life.

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Thinking of Tihar

Published On: October 15, 2017 01:23 PM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Laxmi is restless and does not stay in one place, so by lighting diyo we try to lure her into our homes.

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Being a girl

Published On: October 7, 2017 12:47 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Although I see smile on the faces of parents after the birth of their first child, a girl, their disappointment is hard to conceal

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Coming of age

Published On: September 23, 2017 12:30 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

One day I was having a nice conversation with my grandson who had come from Poland. He said, ‘I will be celebrating coming of age ceremony next year’. ‘But you already had one three years ago when you had your bartabanda!’ I replied.

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Equality in festivities

Published On: August 26, 2017 12:30 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

If mythology gave conflicting messages and depicted women as weak, men have been no better, always laying down rules for women to follow

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Gifting a daughter

Published On: August 12, 2017 12:36 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Some time ago, during the engagement ceremony of a relative, the purohit mentioned something about ‘baak daan’. That reminded me of kanya daan. I have always felt very uneasy about kanya daan. I feel the very words transform a girl into an object that can be given away. Not just the Hindus, even the westerners ‘give away the bride’. This prompted me to further explore the term kanya daan, which is a tradition passed on from generation to generation. It is religiously sanctioned and socially accepted. I have not found anything against it in religious scriptures either, nor could I find out when it started. But one thing was clear: a girl is a ‘kanya’ before puberty, before she menstruates. Since she needed to be ‘donated’ as per tradition, child marriage naturally followed.

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Menstruation myths

Published On: July 29, 2017 12:45 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Young girls need your love and support to face this ordeal which frightens them already

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Objects of comfort

Published On: July 15, 2017 12:54 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Security objects such as blankets and stuffed toys are part of the emotional support system of children

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Mine, mine, mine

Published On: July 1, 2017 12:35 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Sharing is a vital life skill. As children grow they need to make and keep friends and learn to cooperate

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Sharing happiness

Published On: June 17, 2017 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

I am sure you have noticed that while eating dinner, we come together, share our experiences and build new understanding

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Life’s a drama

Published On: June 3, 2017 12:35 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Academics are important but in life being a clear and confident speaker is as important

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Smell for money

Published On: May 20, 2017 12:15 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

I turned on my TV to catch the end of a commercial with a baby in it. It was an ad for men’s body spray

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What teens really need

Published On: May 6, 2017 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

It turns out my staying home was the best possible thing both for myself as well as for my children

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Timeless bond

Published On: April 22, 2017 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Our society needs more teachers who understand the great value of the guru shishya parampara

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