At 36, I Still Struggle To Believe Periods Aren't Impure. Here's Why.
I grew up in a traditional Newar Hindu family in Nepal, and I was taught from a young age about chhaupadi ― the menstrual taboo in Nepali ― and that periods are dirty and impure.
Anjana Rajbhandary is a freelance writer who has written for The HuffPost, The Chicago Tribune & Nepali Times Newspaper. She has interned at Unicef and UN Women and is most passionate writing about gender issues and mental health, however, her articles about relationships/heartbreaks are the most popular. An only child and obviously a psychology major, she is a big fan of the band ‘Odesza’.
I grew up in a traditional Newar Hindu family in Nepal, and I was taught from a young age about chhaupadi ― the menstrual taboo in Nepali ― and that periods are dirty and impure.
International News and Media
Writer and editor Anjana Rajbhandary, who was born in Nepal and now lives in Logan Square, is used to tone-deaf questions about what she is and expectations that she should fit Asian stereotypes. She has never climbed Mount Everest. And being called "exotic" isn't as flattering as you may think.
Anjana Rajbhandary, Certified Mental Health Professional and columnist/sub editor at Nepali Times, discusses the mental health ramifications of the Nepal earthquake of April 2015. Links to follow Anjana's work: https://twitter.com/anjyrajy/ https://anjyrajy.wordpress.com https://www.facebook.com/nepalitimes http://nepalitimes.com/regular-columns/opinion/coming-out-stronger-earthquake,479
Nepal's Information Minister answers your questions, one week on from the earthquake
Nepali Times Newspaper
Anita, 44, started withdrawing from the social scene. She started gaining weight. She said she had misplaced the joy in her life. She was depressed, but people thought she would get over it. She did not. She was found dead in her bedroom recently next to an empty bottle of pesticide.
It started like just any other Saturday morning, we were busy preparing for a wedding to go to in the afternoon. But, as they say, 'it takes an instant to change lifetime' and at 11.56AM on 25 April that is exactly what happened. The geography of our history crumbled into a pile of dust.
Deepti Gurung's older daughter had to give up her dream of being a doctor because the medical college would not admit her without a Nepali citizenship certificate. She doesn't have one simply because Nepali law doesn't allow citizenship in the name of the mother.
Our country is used to the male species making supposedly innocent comments to obscene gestures, and whistling at women in public. Most women pretend like it never happened. What may seem like a harmless act marks the beginning of a potentially dangerous series of harassment towards women.
'Ask Anjana Anything' on Nepali Times Newspaper
Hi all, It has almost been 3 weeks since the big earthquake and the strong aftershock last Tuesday, we are slowly starting to get back into our usual routines, while there are still plenty of people who are concerned with how they will shelter themselves during the upcoming monsoon season because they have lost their homes.
I hope you are all taking care of each other. Last Saturday's earthquake has affected millions of Nepalis. Experiencing and dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster is traumatising for many people. Witnessing loved ones lose their lives and their homes can cause severe and persistent posttraumatic stress and grief.
I find it sad that sometimes families prioritise society's judgement over their children's happiness. When we love someone, we should accept them for who they are-not what they 'should' become. For more questions email me: [email protected] or @AnjyRajy. I am a 26-year-old girl born and raised in Kathmandu.
Miscellaneous
I was recently talking to a friend about relationships when she said something that really stuck with me: "Relationships aren't easy. They take work. You have to change with them. People think it's a cliché to change for another person, but if you want to continue being with someone else, you have to let yourself grow, and growth is change."
We live in a selfish world where there are people who would do anything to have things their way; they will manipulate, use, and even destroy other people for their own benefit. All they do is care about themselves.
「自己中」というと、あまりいいイメージではないかもしれません。でも、人生において自分自身をケアすることは、何より大事なこと。世界を旅するライター、Anjana Rajbhandaryは、「 Thought Catalog 」でこう語ります。「自己中になろうと決めたのは、私にとって人生で最高の決断」と。その8つの理由とは? ...
It is a story that some know very well, a story that some wish they understood better, and a story that some women live every day. It is the story of the traditional modern women.