Boju Bajai

A very special Valentine's Day episode dedicated to our lovely listeners who have been with us for the last eight years! Thank you so much for being part of our laugh and guff gaff. It feels like we’ve actually become boju and bajai in podcast years. So your grannies next door are a bit tired, and desperately in need of some aaram, and will be going on a season break after this episode. We will use this time to work on new projects, hopefully, different from what you have seen/heard in the last eight years.

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This is also a perfect opportunity for you to listen to our past episodes (bojubajai.org/episodes), read our newsletter, and check out our videos on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/bojubajai)

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Please don’t miss us much hai, cos हम हैं राही प्यार के, फिर मिलेंगे चलते चलते ;p See you after the season break.

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Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Please read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai bojubajai.substack.com/

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

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Related readings:

- A new global gender divide is emerging, Financial Times

https://www.ft.com/content/29fd9b5c-2f35-41bf-9d4c-994db4e12998

- Why is South Korea so conservative, a thread on X

https://twitter.com/HeejungChung/status/1752279887547601036

- Shame on you CAN! https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take-20-shame-on-you-can

- Guff Gaff with wildlife researcher turned social entrepreneur Priya Joshi about her professional and personal journey, her complicated relationship with motherhood, and her attempt at creating a nurturing, kind online community for young Nepali mothers like her.

https://bojubajai.org/episodes/88-guff-gaff-with-priya-joshi/

- Nursing pillows are associated with more than 160 infant deaths, NBC investigation finds

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nursing-pillow-baby-deaths-breastfeeding-infant-investigation-rcna97725

Boju Bajai in conversation with journalist Bidhya Rai. We talk about her experience being a woman inside and outside the newsroom, her journey from Bhojpur to Kathmandu, and why her relationship with social media has deteriorated over the years. Bidhya is an award-winning journalist who has consistently reported on stories about the most marginalised communities in Nepal through an intersectional lens, from disability rights to cyber security, gender and climate change. In 2023, she won a South Asia Laadli Media Awards for gender sensitive reporting. This conversation was recorded in May 2023. Bidhya is a reporter at Kantipur.

You can follow Bidhya Rai on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bidhya.bantawa2053/

Here’s a list of Bidhya’s stories:

‘लैगिंक हिंसा रोक्न गर्न लगानी बढाउनुपर्छ’, Kantipur

https://ekantipur.com/news/2023/11/27/investment-to-prevent-gender-violence-57-35.html?author=1

महिला तथा बालिकामाथि अनलाइन हिंसाको कहर, Kantipur, https://ekantipur.com/news/2023/11/26/the-ravages-of-online-violence-against-women-and-girls-47-32.html?author=1

चौथो अंग : पत्रकारितामा भविष्य छैन भनेर सिनियर पत्रकारले निरुत्साहित गराउँदा नयाँ पुस्ता डराए, Ukeraa, https://ukeraa.com/news/detail/143407/

Bhojpur farmers vexed by falling productivity, The Kathmandu Post

https://kathmandupost.com/money/2018/01/08/bhojpur-farmers-vexed-by-falling-productivity

विमानस्थलको होडबाजीमा एक दशकमा डेढ अर्ब खर्च, Kantipur https://ekantipur.com/news/2024/01/15/one-and-a-half-billion-spent-in-a-decade-on-airport-gambling-03-16.html

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Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that centre and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

Please read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai here 👉🏼 bojubajai.substack.com/

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

Boju Bajai in conversation with Dr. Dovan Rai, a researcher, writer, and educator. In this episode, we talk about Dovan's experiences as a woman working in STEM and education, her writings about Nepal's long history of failed political leadership, and the role and effectiveness of civil society in Nepal.

Dovan Rai is passionate about making quality education accessible and has worked at OLE Nepal where she designed educational software for public schools in Nepal. She studied engineering at Pulchowk Campus and has a PhD in Computer science from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts.

She is currently working as a visiting lecturer in the computer science department at Mount Holyoke College. She is also a development board member of the University of Nepal (UoN) and writes on socio-political issues of Nepal.

You can follow Dr. Dovan Rai on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dovan_rai 

Related readings

नेपाल– आशा र निराशाको ढिकीच्याउँ, Setopati

https://www.setopati.com/cover-story/setopati-debate/308113

तरे संसार घुमिआम्ला, झरे माछा भइजाम्ला, Naya Patrika https://jhannaya.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/1457/2021-08-07

बहुसांस्कृतिक राष्ट्रमा धार्मिक सहिष्णुता, Naya Patrika

https://jhannaya.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/1513/2021-10-02

The women who are changing the face of tech in Nepal, The Kathmandu Post https://tkpo.st/2LdKgef

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai 

Please read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai here 👉🏼 bojubajai.substack.com

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/ 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/ 

Twitter: twitter.com/BojuBajai  

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/ 

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

Boju Bajai in conversation with writer and lawyer Durga Karki. In this episode, we talk about her writing journey as a young बुद्धिजीवि in Nepal, her grad school experience at Harvard, and her recent decision to stay off social media as much as possible.

Durga Karki is a lawyer by training, a journalist by interest, and a writer by passion. She writes both fiction and non-fiction in various national dailies and online portals on issues ranging from feminism to federalism. Her first book - a collection of short stories - 'Kumari Prashnaharu' was published in 2020. She recently graduated with a master's degree from Harvard University.

Listen to Boju Bajai Reads featuring Durga Karki, reading her short story ‘साथे’ from her book “कुमारी प्रश्नहरू” https://link.chtbl.com/bbreadsftdurgakarki

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

You can follow Durga Karki on

Twitter: https://twitter.com/durgakrk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/durga.karki.96

You can listen to our earlier episode of सोझो केटो, surveillance and social media featuring Durga Karki from Jan 2020

https://youtu.be/YGS8GtqSiKE?si=ZauTuY6o4NYuDiz6

Related readings

'यस्तो पनि देश?', Setopati

https://www.setopati.com/cover-story/setopati-debate/308373

हिमालमा के छ?, Setopati

https://www.setopati.com/opinion/254137

Please read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai here 👉🏼 bojubajai.substack.com/

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

This is the third installment of Boju Bajai Reads where we get our favorite writers to read their writings. And this time, we are thrilled to have writer Durga Karki reading her short story ‘साथे’ from her book “कुमारी प्रश्नहरू”.

We are releasing our episode ‘Guff Gaff with Durga Karki’ on December 2. So please mark your calendar hai.

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

You can follow Durga Karki on

Twitter: https://twitter.com/durgakrk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/durga.karki.96

You can listen to our earlier episode of सोझो केटो, surveillance and social media featuring Durga Karki from Jan 2020

Related readings

'यस्तो पनि देश?', Setopati

https://www.setopati.com/cover-story/setopati-debate/308373

हिमालमा के छ?, Setopati

https://www.setopati.com/opinion/254137

Please read and subscribe to our newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai here 👉🏼 bojubajai.substack.com/

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Music by Ashot Danielyan (pixabay)

In this episode, journalist Manju Telor explores the working conditions of overworked and underpaid nurses in Nepal. How does that affect the quality of care in Nepal’s hospitals, and what can the institutions within which these care professionals work do better?

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai for a roundup of news and feminist views from Nepal and the Nepali internet.

Read and subscribe here: https://bojubajai.substack.com/welcome

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that centre and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

Related readings:

Boju Bajai #70 Looking Back: Women at the Covid-19 frontline: https://bojubajai.org/episodes/women-at-the-covid-19-frontline/

३२ वर्षदेखि थपिएन डाक्टरको दरबन्दी, Manju Telor, Naya Patrika https://www.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/118513/2023-07-04

Boju Bajai in conversation with Dr. Amina Singh. In this episode, we talk about various aspects of Nepal’s education system by exploring issues like how students in Nepali classrooms are taught history and civic studies, and why there is an urgent need for Nepali classrooms to equip students with the skills to think critically, question and reason.

Amina Singh worked as a management consultant in the development sector for almost a decade conducting assessment studies, reviews, and evaluations for NGOs, INGOs, and multi/bilateral agencies. She earned her PhD from the Centre for Research in Learning and Change at the University of Technology, Sydney in 2015. Amina currently works as an independent researcher and educator, with an interest in community development, civic engagement, educational governance, and teaching learning practices in higher education. She is an adjunct faculty at Kathmandu University. She is currently engaged as a member of the University of Nepal Development Board and the Chair of the Academic Planning Committee.

This episode was recorded in May 2023.

Related readings

You can read some of Amina Singh’s published articles here https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amina-Singh

पुस्तक “पैदल अनुसन्धान : प्रयोग र सम्भावना” माथि अमिना सिंहको समीक्षा https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_4cTGPtwz0

Non-state Actors’ Collaboration in Education in Nepal: Possibilities and Challenges https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HrgnP5Yy9s

Nepal Conversations: Dr Amina Singh, Member - University of Nepal Development Board, Nepal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pm7tSQ_20c

Take 31: The Kids Are Not OK, Cold Takes by Boju Bajai https://bojubajai.substack.com/p/take-31-the-kids-are-not-ok

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai for a roundup of news and feminist views from Nepal and the Nepali internet.

Read and subscribe here: https://bojubajai.substack.com/welcome

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that centre and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

Resharing this episode from 2020 where our guests Shailee and Pallavi challenge the boundaries and definitions of what it means to be a Nepali. Happy Constitution Day!

In this episode, @shaileeism and @PayalPallavi take over Boju Bajai and talk about what it means to be a Madhesi, a Nepali, and a Madhesi woman in Nepal.

Disclaimer - This episode contains two un-beeped expletives, ध्यान दिएर सुन्नुस् होला :)

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai for a roundup of news and feminist views from Nepal and the Nepali internet.

Read and subscribe here: https://bojubajai.substack.com/welcome

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

Disclaimer: This episode contains foul language and is intended for 18+ listeners.

In this episode, we talk to wildlife researcher turned social entrepreneur Priya Joshi about her professional and personal journey, her complicated relationship with motherhood, and her attempt at creating a nurturing, kind online community for young Nepali mothers like her.

Priya Joshi started her career as a wildlife researcher and later switched gears to start MakerKT, which organizes workshops to spark a DIY culture among Nepali women and kids. She also runs the Instagram page Ama Mama to share resources on parenting, as well as stories and struggles of parenting.

You can follow Priya Joshi and her work on Instagram:

Maker Keti https://instagram.com/maker.keti?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Priya https://instagram.com/chyantulimyau?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Aama.Mama https://www.instagram.com/aama.mama/?hl=en

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai for a roundup of news and feminist views from Nepal and the Nepali internet.

Read and subscribe here: https://bojubajai.substack.com/welcome

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

Follow @Bojubajai on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bojubajai/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bojubajai/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BojuBajai

YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

Boju Bajai in conversation with writer Shivani Singh Tharu. In this episode, we talk about Shivani’s journey from tv to writing and her relationship with Kathmandu and Kathmandu’s elite institutions as a Tharu woman from Nepalgunj. She also speaks candidly about the struggles of being a full-time writer in Nepal, her creative process, and dabbling across different genres of writing.

Shivani started her career in tv as the host, producer, and scriptwriter for  ‘Mero Geet Mero Sandesh’ and ‘Mulyankan’ on Nepal Television. She later went on to write the critically acclaimed play ‘Virtual Reality’ and also worked as a scriptwriter/director for the radio drama ‘Katha Mitho Sarangiko’ produced by BBC Media Action.  

She used to be a columnist for Wave Magazine and is a regular contributor to Kantipur Koseli and Naya Patrika. Her debut novel ‘Kathmandu ma Ek Din’ was published in 2018 and she was honored with the Sundar Prasad Shah 'Dukhi' literary prize the same year..

  

Listen to Boju Bajai Reads featuring Shivani Singh Tharu, reading an excerpt from her piece महुवा published in Naya Patrika: ⁠https://link.chtbl.com/bbreadsftshivanisinghtharu⁠ 

You can follow Shivani Singh Tharu on Facebook and Twitter: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/shivanisingh.tharu.3⁠ 

⁠https://twitter.com/shivanitharu⁠ 

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai for a roundup of news and feminist views from Nepal and the Nepali internet.

Read and subscribe here: ⁠https://bojubajai.substack.com/welcome⁠ 

Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that centre and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to support our work, please consider being our patron here: ⁠www.patreon.com/bojubajai⁠ 

Follow @⁠Bojubajai⁠ on social media for more laughs and guff gaff:

Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/bojubajai/⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/bojubajai/⁠ 

Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/BojuBajai⁠ 

YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/c/BojuBajai/⁠ 

Boju Bajai theme music by Flekke

Reading list

Shivani’s Kathmandu, Nepali Times ⁠https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/shivanis-kathmandu⁠

महुवा, Naya Patrika

 ⁠https://jhannaya.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/419/2019-08-10⁠ 

भुइँतला : डेरा–संसारको पाताललोक, Kantipur

⁠https://ekantipur.com/koseli/2020/11/27/16064814304432906.html⁠ 

नाकको भूगोल, Kantipur

⁠https://ekantipur.com/koseli/2022/01/29/164342883582051896.html?author=1⁠ 

कोरोनाकल्प, Kantipur

⁠https://ekantipur.com/koseli/2021/07/03/162527663132599220.html?author=1⁠ 

कविता : सहर गायब भएपछि, Kantipur

⁠https://ekantipur.com/literature/2020/05/03/158849493718083446.html?author=1⁠ 

मान्छेको रङ हजार, Setopati

⁠https://www.setopati.com/blog/4069⁠