Monthly Archives: February 2009

A Life Ordinary: Story of a Nepali Chowkidar in Delhi

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By Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal

[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared in the paper. Extended version of this story was published in Nepali in today's Kantipur Koseli. See it here as it appeared in Koseli. Plus, here is my take on India's Valentines culture in today's Op-Ed of Kantipur.]

Bishnu Prasad Nepal does not work in one of those Indian call centres in Gurgaon that serve American customers, but every evening as the clock hits eight he gets ready for his duty for the next 12 hours. It’s been years since he drew the conclusion that he was born to guard a residential complex in south Delhi with two weapons: a cane and a whistle. As he patrols tapping his cane and blowing his whistle at midnight Bishnu occasionally thinks about the dream that he sees during the daytime. “I wish to make a small home,” said Bishnu who was on duty in a recent chilly night. “That’s it.” Continue reading →

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Of Plastics and Facebook

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The Post‘s Delhi correspondent is bemused by the controversy over plastics and discovers Facebook is ideal for keeping in touch with friends back home

Dinesh Wagle
Wagle Street Journal
[This article originally appeared on the Op-Ed page of the Kathmandu Post today. See it here as it appeared on the paper. Here is the Nepali version [PDF] of the same article that appeared in today’s Kantipur.]

Plastic bags have become pariahs in Delhi. They are also dominating headlines for all the bad reasons. The government of Delhi completely banned them in January following a court order in August last year. “We shopkeepers are unable to provide plastic bags/carry bags to our customers,” says a Feb. 2 notice pasted on the wall of Sheti Store in my neighbourhood where I buy rice and other goods. “Customers are requested to bring bags themselves.” Plastic bags are blamed for having caused enormous harm to the environment as they are not disposable and, when thrown out on the streets, they usually choke sewage and end up as food for stray animals. Continue reading →