Asha Stucki-Subba
“We may have different religions,different languages,different colored skin. But we all belong to one human race.” Kofi Annan
A bunch of different groups of flowers that have been fastened together and attractively arranged on formal occasions called flower bouquet. The flower bouquet is to vary significantly and individually.
“Phool ko thunga” at every Nepali event in Switzerland it is pleasure to see nepali ethnicity authenticity, colourful joyful fresh and present. It is always privilege to take part in such event. There are many reason and topic to share with each other. The balance among swiss and nepali old and new generation. Upon other terms; social and political issues are some how the center point of the event. The vibration of emotions are clearly recognisable on the faces of active and passive participants. One can take part or stay aside. In any case it is interesting. All of a sudden I got abstract by a question, “what is your samaj”? In Nepali society the “samaj” is similar to society apart from high or poor class it indicates mainly the ethnic groups from Nepal. Somehow I was not ready to confront myself with this question; to be honest I had no proper reply ready, cause I had no idea with which samaj should I link my identity. Instead of giving a reply I ask question to myself, should I say humanity is my samaj? would that be acceptable and applicable? I put myself into contradiction. Is the samaj based upon unity and diversity? Is the unity opposite of uniformity? Is diversity essential to unity? Yes diversity enriches unity.
At the Metta it has been prescribed; diversity at the surface level, unity at the heart level. We human celebrate the tremendous diversity of humankind in race, gender, orientation, religion, language, beliefs, professions, interest etc. We build unity in our family with our neighbours, in our community, our workplace, among cultures and nations which holds us together, following the different tradition and culture which diverse societies and ethnicity . The sense of unity which keeps and bonded people together. This fundamental unity can be observed among the different ethnic groups in Nepali culture in physical as well as in their behave. The concept of diversity encircle acceptance and respect. That means each individual is unique and recognising our individual differences. A while ago we all sang the national anthem of Nepal lyricist Byakul Maila (Pradeep Kumar Rai) The words has been clearly picturize and framed as the whole nepali and not for individual nepali samaj and indentity! “Sayaun thunga phool ka hami eutai mala Nepali, Sarvabhaum bhai phailieka mechi-mahakali. Prakritka koti-koti sampadako anchala, virharuka ragata le swatantra ra atal. Gyanabhumi shantibhumi tarai pahad himal. Akhanda yo pyaro hamro matribhumi Nepal. Bahul jati basha dharma sanskriti chan bishal. Ajragami rashtra hamro jaya jaya Nepal.
Samaj is nothing but our social surrounding and the contribution of every single productive member in the society. To prepare a bouquet of flower, there is hard work of a farmer. Transported from a village to our city by someone, packed by someone, bought by someone, prepared by someone then sold by someone. Hence samaj should not be the identity of individual race and caste. Eventually we belong to one human race.
