-Yam Bahadur Dura
1.
Background and context
This
article aims at mapping readers' feedback in a Nepali online news portal. The
study is based on readers' feedback appearing within a given timeframe on the
portal. The news portal, Onlinekhabar
is one of the more popular news-based websites run by Nepalese citizens, with
popularity both within and outside the country. Onlinekhabar delivers
content mainly in Nepal language, as well as provides a limited amount of
content in English language. However, with the contents in English drawing
negligible feedback during the study period (December 1 to 8, 2015), such
feedback were therefore not taken into the purview of the study. Altogether, a
total of seven items (news, analysis, interview, and opinion article) in Nepali
language, and the feedback these items had garnered during the study period were
taken into account.
The
study was limited to the mapping of feedback for only one news portal, despite
original intention of analyzing the information for at least three news
portals. Unfortunately, no other Nepali news portals had enough readers'
feedback that could meet the purpose of the study during the said period. While
this may have made the scope of this study a little narrower, it does however
provide a dipstick into the readers' tendencies such as leaving comments,
questions or other forms of feedback.
The
study was carried out at a time when the 'Madhesh
Movement' was at a high following the promulgation of Nepal's constitution.
This also coincided with the unofficial economic blockade by India. As the said
movement was sparked by the promulgation of Nepal's Constitution on September
20, 2015, most of the contents therefore highlight Nepal's worsening internal politics
as well as the injured relations between Nepal and India. Thus, the contents
studied and analyzed here belong to one of the most politically heated periods
in Nepal's history.
A
total of 71 feedback (figure 1) drawn by 7 items (contents) published on Onlinekhabar
in the period of one week were taken into consideration. These contents consist
of 1 opinion article, 1 interview, 1 analysis, and 4 news items. Different
aspects of feedback have been studied to gauge the readers' feelings and
viewpoints. The contents have been analyzed with regard to length of text, as
well as the nature/type of readers' point of view, identity, language, tone, and
timeline (timeframe).
Table 1: Summary of contents and feedback considered in the study
|
SN
|
Title
|
Category
|
Date of posting
|
No. of feedback
|
Timeframe
|
||
|
Posted (NST)*
|
Feedback tracking (NST) *
|
Time span
|
|||||
|
1
|
This is why it is impossible to merge Nepal in India
|
Article/ opinion
|
Dec. 1, 2015
|
3
|
3:34 PM
|
11: 24 AM (next day)
|
18:24 hours
|
|
2
|
Kingship comes back if Oli fails to address the problem in two weeks :
(Interview with RPP leader Dilnath Giri)
|
Interview
|
Dec. 3, 2015
|
25
|
11:53 AM
|
3:32 PM (same day)
|
3:39 hours
|
|
3
|
Former king Gyanendra's son-in-law to former prime minister Sher
Bahadur's brother-in-law have been involved in transaction of gas and oil
|
News analysis
|
Dec. 3, 2015
|
3
|
12:15 PM
|
3:29 PM (same day)
|
3:14 hours
|
|
4
|
Tri-lateral dialogue between the government, Nepali Congress and the Madheshi Front is to take place this
evening
|
News
|
Dec. 4, 2015
|
3
|
10:01 AM
|
2:55 PM
(same day)
|
4:14 hours
|
|
5
|
We had raised a snake beneath the staircases, and it was in our knowledge
that it will bite us one day: UML leader Rajendra Pandey
|
News
|
Dec. 6, 2015
|
2
|
2:33 PM
|
4:47 PM
(same day)
|
2:14 hours
|
|
6
|
Nepal should be pressurized even if it draws criticisms: Former Indian Ambassador Mukherjee
|
News
|
Dec. 7, 2015
|
30
|
7:00 PM
|
9: 23 AM
(Next day)
|
12:23 hours
|
|
7
|
National Muslim Alliance alienates itself from the Madhesi Front
|
News
|
Dec. 8, 2015
|
5
|
1:03 PM
|
2:19 PM
|
1:16 hours
|
*
Nepal Standard Time
Key
words and phrases: Online news portal, Onlinekhabar,
mapping readers' feedback, readers' point of view, identity, web 2.0, etc.
2.
Dimensions of readers' feedback
The
Internet has brought revolutionary changes in communication. It provides an
opportunity for individuals to easily become producers, mediators, commentators
and distributors of any kind of messages and opinions without additional costs,
given that the individual has the access to the Internet and is using a
suitable device (Acharya, 2012:5).
This
immense possibility of the internet has been revolutionized by 'web 2.0' – one
of the popular features of the Internet – which provides immense opportunities
for readers (visitors) to express their views freely, and in a smart way. Online
news portals have taken advantage of 'web 2.0' to attract followers, through
providing them with a wonderful platform to interact.
As
'WhatIs.com', an online IT encyclopedia, defines, 'Web 2.0 is the current state of online technology as it compares to
the early days of the Web, characterized by greater user interactivity and
collaboration, more pervasive network connectivity and enhanced communication
channels.'
Keeping
this great feature of online news portal in mind, this section examines
different aspects and dimensions of selected readers' feedback which appeared
on Onlinekhabar during the study period (December 1 to 8, 2015).
2.
1. Length of text
A
counting of words in readers' feedback suggests a wide variation in the length
of text. In Nepali (Devanagari), the longest and the shortest were respectively
257 and 3 words. In English, the longest and the shortest were 94 and 3 words
respectively. In Roman, the longest and the shortest ones were 97 and 3 words
respectively.
The
longest feedback among the Nepali comments came from a reader who identified her/himself
as Shantidoot (in English,
messenger of peace). The reader with this impersonal identity wrote a
letter as feedback, addressing former Indian Ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee
(b.1949). Mr. Mukherjee was the Indian Ambassador to Nepal during 2004-2008.
This letter is in response to the news entitled 'Nepal should be pressurized even if it draws criticisms: Former Indian
Ambassador Mukherjee' (December 7, 2015). The crux of the 257-word letter was
that India should not interfere in Nepal's domestic policies and affairs.
A
reader who identified himself as Tilak Shrestha wrote the longest feedback
among the English ones. This was written in response to an interview with a Rastriya
Prajanta Party-Nepal (RPP-N)
leader Dilnath Giri (December 3, 2015). The title of the interview was 'Kingship comes back if [Prime Minister KP] Oli
fails to address the problem in two weeks'.Tilak Shrestha coincided his
stance with the RPP-N leader, expressing that Nepal should remain a Hindu
State. He objected to secularism, saying that 'Dharma nirapexata [secularism] is imposed by Europeans to facilitate religious
conversions. It is imposed on us using Maoists and other traitors. It must be
rejected.'
The
longest among the feedback in Roman (Hindi) came from a reader who identified
himself as Saaj Aale Magar. Magar's view also came in connection to the
statement of former Indian Ambassador Mukherjee discussed above. Magar opined that
India has no grounds to teach Nepal a lesson, as there are rampant injustices
against Muslims and Nepali-speaking community in India.
The
shortest among the feedback in Nepali, English and Roman were of 3, 4 and 3
words respectively. These were respectively, 'Jaya Swatantra Madhesh' (let victory be of Madhesh), 'Good. I like it'
and 'Ekdam sahi ho' (it is extremely true).
The
feedback 'Jaya Swatantra Madhesh' came from a reader who identified her/himself
as Madhesi Awaaj (voice of the Madhesh).
The reader expressed the want for an independent Madhesh, and thus gave a voice to the 'Madhesh movement' indirectly. This feedback is connected to the
statement made by former Indian Ambassador Mukharjee. He had quoted that Nepal
has not given enough rights to the Madheshi
people.
'Good.
I like it' – the shortest feedback in English – came from a user identified as Kashi
Ram Khatri in reply to another user Rajan Ghimire Jigyasu's feedback on the ideas expressed by the RPP-N leader Dilnath
Giri regarding the possibilities of re-emergence of kingship in Nepal. Rajan
Ghimire 'Jigyasu' remarked that three
major parties [Nepali Congress, United Marxist and Leninists (CPN-UML), and
Maoists United, now known as the CPN-Maoist Centre] are betraying the nation. He
has also expressed quite sarcastically that the increasing number of provinces (proposed
in the new, federal set up for Nepal) will create a situation where the number
of (elected) leaders will surpass that of people.
'Ekdam
sahi ho' (it is extremely true) – the shortest feedback in
Roman script – came from a person who identified himself as Kabin. He wrote this
expression in response to the views of another reader who identified her/himself
as 'Shantidoot' (discussed above, the letter addressing the 'irrational'
statement made by former Indian Ambassador Mukherjee). Kabin seemed to endorse Shantidoot's simmering response to Mukherjee's
statement.
2.2
Readers' point of view
A
wide array of readers' viewpoints can be seen in the feedback studied. Common
issues that could be inferred from these feedback includes a nationalistic
sentiment, anti-India feelings, sense of hatred against political leaders,
views and counter-views on secularism and conflicting views on Hindu state,
views for and against federal republic and kingdom, clashing opinions on 'Madhesh movement'.
One
reader Tilak Shrestha refuted ex-envoy Mukherjee's point of view on Nepal and
how India should treat Nepal. Mr. Mukherjee was quoted as saying, 'Nepal embraced
democracy, but has not provided Madheshi
people with the fruits of democracy'. Onlinekhabar had repackaged Mukherjee-related news from an article published
in an Indian newspaper.
In
his response, Tilak Shrestha portrayed Nepal as a sovereign nation, saying that
Nepali people can make their constitution on their own. He opines that India
doesn't have to worry about Nepal. Another reader (with an impersonal identity)
also added to the argument against Mukherjee's viewpoint, enquiring where "the
severe discrimination in the current Nepalese constitution" was. Mukherjee's
statement seemed to spark a strong sense of nationalism and anti-India feelings
among Nepalese readers. Almost all readers nurtured nationalism in their
feedback, expressing a strong discontentment to Indian stance on 'Madhesh Movement', and India's unofficial
economic blockade to Nepal.
Many
of the feedback which appeared on the news portal suggested that political
leaders are some of the most disliked figures in Nepal. This may not be a new
phenomenon in Nepal, but most readers during the study period seemed not in
favor of the political leaders. Some of them went as far as to criticize the
leaders taking their names as well. The crux of their resentment with the
leaders was that the political leaders are behind the painful sufferings of Nepali
people.
Opinions
were however divided on the issue of secularism. Nepal is already a secular
state. However, the debate on secularism versus Hindu state has been a
continuing one. Some of the readers were in favor of a secular state and some were
against it. A good number of readers were in favor of a Hindu state.
Interestingly, one of the proponents of secular state rejected the idea of
Hindu state using a provocative expression, 'if Nepal becomes a Hindu state,
Islamic State (IS) will attack Nepal.'
The
constitution hails Nepal as a federal democratic republic.
Legal and political arrangements are already underway to develop or promote
federal structures. In this scenario, the debate on re-emergence of a kingdom
versus institutionalization of federal republican governance may have gained futile
momentum, although people continue to debate on the issue. One of the
supporters of the ex-king wrote 'Raja aau desh bachau' (Oh! King, come
and save the nation). The supporter of kingship opines that the king is a
patron of the nation, and can rescue Nepal and Nepali people from the painful present
situation.
Anti-king
feelings were also rampant. A proponent of the republic stated that kingdom
cannot replace republic state at any cost. Another supporter challenged that any
return of a kingdom would also mean the return of the 'people's war' (in
reference to the armed conflict prior to the peace accord a decade ago). Views
and counterviews on kingdom were noticed endlessly in the virtual world,
although there may be no impact or possibilities of discussions on this issue.
The
'Madhesh movement' was noticed as
another important issue that was immensely popular in discussions, and making
headlines across most online news portals, but also followed in general by
provocative reactions (feedback). Many readers felt that the 'Madhesh movement' is an 'India-backed movement'.
Their comments suggested that India was backing the Madheshi political leaders only to fulfill its own selfish motives.
This could have been the reason or "understanding" why ex-envoy Mukherjee
was so heavily criticized. The key force behind the Madheshi movement, the Madheshi Morcha (Madheshi Front), was also widely criticized in these conversations.
It is quite interesting that very few feedback appeared in favor of 'Madhesh moverment'. One of these was noted
to be in favor of an independent Madhesh
(see above: 2.1. Length of text, para 6; page 4).
2.3
Identity
The
identity of the readers in terms of their names can be classified in at least
three categories:
a.
Full name (27 readers),
b.
First name (26 readers),
and
c.
Impersonal name (18 readers)
This
paints a mosaic of the identity used by readers when providing their feedback. It
may easily be inferred that those who used impersonal names intend to hide
their real identities. These impersonal
identities of the readers give some sense of preparedness and awareness about possible
implications (or adverse results) for expressing opinions using their real
identity.
Some
examples of impersonal identities used by readers were: Nepali Sewak (one
who serves Nepal), Madhesi Awaaj (voice of the Madhesh), Shaantidoot (peace ambassador), Prajatantrabadi
ek Nepali (a democrat Nepali), Nepali, and so on. These identities can
be said to have been adopted to shield their real identities from possible future
criticism or harm.
No
geographical locations of the readers appeared to be disclosed in their
feedback.
2.4
Language
Of
the 71 feedback studied, 33 appeared in Nepali (Devanagari script). In the same
way, 19 and 16 appeared in English language and Roman script respectively. Furthermore,
a fusion of these scripts/languages were noticed: 2 and 1 respectively found as
fusion of English language with Roman, and Roman script with Devanagari. One
feedback was found in Hindi language, albeit written in Roman script.
Figure 1: Languages used by readers in providing their feedback (n=71)
The diversity in language implicitly, as
well as explicitly, provides an insight into the level of education, language
competence and socio-cultural backgrounds of the readers. Majority of the
comments were found to be below-average in terms of grammar and syntax.
2.5
Tone
Majority
of the readers appeared to be aggressive towards their targets. Some of the
readers made pejorative remarks. One commentator has termed the political
leaders as 'dogs'. Some other commentators were found quite sober, one of them
suggesting that the political leaders maintain calm and not lose their cool.
This particular expression was in reference to UML leader Rajendra Pandey, who had
made an aggressive remark against Mr. Lok Maan Singh Karki, then-Chief
Commissioner, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), after the CIAA had sent a letter alleging
corruption charges to Mr. Pandey.
Commentators (readers) suggested UML
leader Pandey, 'Don't worry if you have not committed any misdeeds. The state
has the rights to investigate on you. You are not above the law.' Mr. Pandey
was reported as saying, 'We had raised a snake beneath the staircases, and it
was in our knowledge that it will bite us one day.'
2.6
Timeframe
Only those items or contents, and corresponding
feedback, which appeared within the period of 8 days (December 1 to 8, 2016). These
seven items, of 4 types, are indicated in the figure below, and in further
detail in table 1 above (see page 1).
Figure 2: Contents or items studied (n=7)
Some interesting observations could be made from the
timing of the feedback. For instance, it was quite interesting that no feedback
appeared on December 5. Overall however, the first four contents (Serial numbers
1, 2, 3 and 4 in table 1, page 1) respectively drew 3, 25, 3 and 3 feedback
during the study period. The time span required for these contents to
accumulate were 18:24 hours, 3:39 hours, 3:14 hours and 4:14
hours respectively. In similar fashion, the last three
contents studied (Serial numbers 5, 6 and 7 in table 1, page 1) respectively received
2, 30, and 5 feedback within a time span of 2.14 hours, 12.23 hours, and 1.6
hours respectively.
Another
interesting observation is that one item (serial no. 2) received 25 feedback in
a time span of just 3:39 hours, while another item (serial no. 6) received only
30 feedback in a time span of 12:23 hours. These contrasting situations suggest
quite clearly that the tendency of readers' responses is also determined by the
seriousness of issues, and not by the time span. However, both the issues were
serious and burning in Nepal's context at the time, and were both taken quite seriously
by the readers. Contents of serial numbers 6 and 2 stood first and second
respectively among the feedback studied.
3.
Conclusion
Online
platforms have given audiences a great opportunity to get their voices heard
worldwide, which was almost impossible in print media. These platforms have
been promoting democracy and the freedom of opinion and expression in an
unprecedented way. These definitely promote the spirits of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 (UDHR, Article 19) and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 (ICCPR, Article 19). These should
therefore be regarded as a positive step towards building an equitable society.
Nepali
audiences (readers) – as everywhere across the world – have been taking
advantage of the advent of the internet and its various applications and
platforms like the online news portals to get their voices heard. This miniature
study suggests that Nepali audiences are almost habituated to express their
feelings, and do not hesitate to expressing any kind of feelings.
One
of the suggestive observations is that however serious the issue, online
readers have a tendency to read the materials quite sooner rather than later,
with responses timed similarly. It may seem that the days when one could post
something online and get responses for a long period of time seem numbered – a
trend that may not be for online news portals alone, and for the wider
application of the internet platform.
Like
other contemporary societies, Nepal is going through a huge socio-political and
cultural transition, which has by now painted a different picture of the Nepali
society as we knew it. They have accepted the inevitable changes, reserving
some space within themselves for socio-cultural legacies. With more education
and more consciousness about their rights than previous generations, they look
more rights-centric now than ever before. These kinds of changes and evolved attitudes
were reflected in the feedback they posted on the online news platform.
The
world is full of thoughts and counter-thoughts, and thesis and anti-thesis – Nepali
society cannot be an exception to these contrasting beliefs, opinions,
perceptions and even experiences. The
debate between 'perception versus reality' on different issues must be taken as
only natural during a transitional period, and it has definitely generated
views and counterviews among the Nepali community. It is only natural then that
such views and counterviews have spilled on to the virtual public sphere of
online news portal. Almost all issues studied and analyzed here fall under the
jurisdiction of aforesaid topics. For these reasons, controversies and
arguments between two sets of thoughts are only natural, both in the actual
world and in the virtual world. Even so, nothing can replace universally
accepted democratic norms and values.
The
virtual world of online news portal seems to be governed by these topics, which
is quite natural. However, the tone of feedback often seemed to deviate towards
negativity – up to the point where people did not respect each other's freedoms
and beliefs. This latter observation is critical to our circumstance; it can
hamper the spirit of our dream to develop an equitable and civilized society. We
have yet to realize that there is a need of protecting virtual public space for
good learnings and ensuring civic behavior as in the real world.
अनलाइनखबर । (सन् २०१५) । आलोचना
सहेर भए पनि नेपाललाई दबाव जारी राख्नुपर्छ : भारतीय पूर्वराजदूत मुखर्जी (Nepal should be pressurized even if it
draws criticisms: Former Indian
Ambassador Mukherjee)। Retrieved from: http://www.onlinekhabar.com/2015/12/359733/ on December 7, 2015.
अनलाइनखबर । (सन् २०१५) । ग्यास र तेलको कारोबारमा
पूर्वराजाका ज्वाइँदेखि शेरबहादुरका सालासम्म ! (Former king Gyanendra's son-in-law to former prime
minister Sher Bahadur's brother-in-law have been involved in transaction of gas
and oil) । Retrieved from
http://www.onlinekhabar.com/2015/12/358061/ on December 3, 2015.
अनलाइनखबर । (सन् २०१५) । तराईलाई भारतमा गाभ्न
यसकारण असम्भव (This is why it is impossible to merge Nepal
in India) । Retrieved from:
अनलाइनखबर ।
(सन् २०१५) । दुई सातामा ओली असफल भए
राजतन्त्र फर्किन्छः राप्रपा नेपाल (Kingship comes back if Oli fails to
address the problem in two weeks : RPP Nepal) । Retrieved
from http://www.onlinekhabar.com/2015/12/358252/ on
December 3, 2015
अनलाइनखबर । (सन् २०१५) । भर्याङमुनि साप पालेका
थियौं, टोक्छ भन्ने थाहा थियो: राजेन्द्र पाण्डे (We had raised a snake
beneath the staircases, and it was our in knowledge that it bites us one day:
UML leader Rajendra Pandey)।
अनलाइनखबर । (सन् २०१५) । राष्ट्रिय
मुस्लिम गठबन्धन मधेसी मोर्चाबाट अलग (National Muslim
Alliance Alienates itself from Madhesi Front) । Retrieved from: http://www.onlinekhabar.com/2015/12/360054/ on December 8, 2015.
अनलाइनखबर । (सन् २०१५) । सरकार, कांग्रेस र मधेसी मोर्चाको
त्रिपक्षीय वार्ता साँझ (Tri-lateral dialogue among
government, Congress and Madheshi Front is to take place this evening) । Retrieved from:
http://www.onlinekhabar.com/2015/12/358359/ on December 4, 2015.
Acharya, Ujjwal. (2012). Online Media in Nepal: Need for Policy
Intervention. Kathmandu: Alliance for Social Dialogue. Retrieved from: http://research.butmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/online_media_in_nepal_UjjwalAcharya.pdf. accessed on January 9, 2015.
Embassy of India
(Kathmandu, Nepal). (2016). Previous Ambassadors. Retrieved from http://www.indianembassy.org.np/index1.php?option=e6r5wlVM8od_u8Y0CdwsDiTfg0cohLLpEcNS8hphu-0&id=PNhhtjKCPnWueLYvCJ1-HzWqDzcVM2RRbQZpr2_eB2Q accessed on January 10, 2016
Mukharjee,
Shiv Shankar. (2016). 'News analysis: India should ignore criticism of its
Nepal policy, continue what it's doing.' The Times of India. Retrieved
from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/News-analysis-India-should-ignore-criticism-of-its-Nepal-policy-continue-what-its-doing/articleshow/49098388.cms
on January 13, 2016
SOAS University of
London. (2016). Mr Shiv Shankar
Mukherjee. Retrieved from
https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/fellows/mr-shiv-shankar-mukherjee/
on January 10, 2016
WhatIs.com. (2016). Web
2.0. Retrieved from: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/Web-20-or-Web-2 on
January 12, 2016
