It is true that every cloud has a silver lining, but in cases like the one in question, we must note the thickness of that lining. Firstly, power cut is not something to be happy about. It upsets the entire schedule and causes loads of trouble, especially in cities like Kathmandu where the daily life largely depends on electricity. But if we have to look for its positive aspects then there are a handful like reduction in television time and increase in quality time with family and friends. But I don’t think that it is much of a consolation when we are facing such a heavy power cut in our everyday lives. In the 21st century, if a developing country like Nepal which also happens to be one of the world’s richest countries in water resources, is forced into darkness for several hours a day, then it is a really heavy price to pay. Appliances like inverters and generators are limited to a certain group of people who can afford them but do the remaining people deserve to have their daily routine hampered persistently? We can have a terrific time with our loved ones even without load shedding, can’t we?

— Nitya Pandey

I give very little time to my family as I am always using the net and just live in the virtual world. But after load shedding, something good has happened. I have become very close to my brother. Before I used to fight with my him, but now in those 2-3 hours of load shedding, we talk with each other. It was so much fun to be with him. Thanks to load shedding.

— Suraz, Boudha

No, power cuts can’t be called ‘the silver lining’. Being close to family and friends during power cuts is just an excuse. We can do the same when the power is there but we don’t do it simply because we don’t think it’s worthwhile. If there is a will, there is always a way. If someone really wants to be closer to their family then they don’t have to wait for power cuts. It is nothing but a lame excuse. But, yes, I do believe that

the power cut has some

positive aspects too. It has taught us to utilise time properly and also taught us the value of time. Before we just used to waste our time watching television or on computers, but now we can utilise the same time on more fruitful things.

— Pankaj Agrawal

It is a silver lining as electricity bills will be lower. Besides, we have more time for friends and family. We are not bound to watch unnecessary television programmes, instead, a lot of those time are being utilised on reading books. In fact, it has helped me a lot. My television hours are totally cut off and it’s a pleasure to use that time for something good.

— Arun Thing

In my case, it really doesn’t matter whether there are power cuts or not, because I know how to manage time for my work and for my family. If you really care about your family and friends then no work can bar you from getting you together with your family or friends. It’s family that comes first in the hierarchy of priorities. If somebody tries to say that s/he doesn’t get time to spend with their family members, it’s only because of television programmes and other things.

— Rajesh Chaudhary, KU

To catch a silver lining in power cut, in my opinion, is one example of being over optimistic. If we want to, we can control the number of hours we watch television, and also we can manage

time for family and others. We don’t need a catalyst

like power cuts to avoid watching television or to give time to family.

— Omkar Pandey, Kadaghari

Even though we live in the 21st century, we still face problems like lack of water supply, irregular electricity flow and ineffective network systems that make us feel like we are still living in 18th century. It’s true that living with irregular power cuts definitely creates inconveniences in all of our daily lives. Yet, these problems sometimes bring some joy as well. The power cut has indirectly provided us wonderful opportunities to spend quality time with our family and friends. In the past, I myself would spend lots of time watching television or on the computer. Unknowingly, I gave very little time to my family and friends. But now, I am spending more time with my family and having lots of fun with my friends. I am getting closer to them and living my life to the fullest, which I think wouldn’t have been possible without power cuts.

— Devi Sherpa, Pokhara

Either people are weak enough to let the idiot box dominate their lives or they just can’t spare time from work or study for their family. But, those whose priorities are friends and family do not wait for power cuts to spend time together. If quality family time is merely a substitute for the television or any other thing running on electricity, then it is not a proper one, because these things are done out of love, care, concern, not because you do not have anything else to do. These excessive power cuts we are having are nothing but a huge disadvantage. People from all walks of life are having a tough time due to lengthy power cuts. We feel we do not belong to 21st century working in candle light. Half the electronic gadgets are rusting away because as soon as it starts running there is no telling when it might just shut down. Files lost, music stopped and sudden darkness, frankly, this cloud has no silver lining. And the irony is this is the second richest country in water resources.

— Rhea Gurung,

Maharajgunj

On one hand it is good to have daily power cuts as it gives time to spend with family and friends. Most of the time people spend their time watching television and working on computers. When there is a power cut, they have nothing to do except spend time with their family or talk to friends over the phone. On the other hand, these power cuts have obstructed many development works. From communication to running industries, power cuts are obstacles.

— Navalok Sharma

Difficulties laden by power cuts has paralysed our life, but provided us the chance to strengthen our relationships. Everyone is busy and usually need special occasions to gather with family and friends. Thus, freezing relationships can be revitalised by utilising this time to gather and talk about ourselves, as power cuts are not a matter of a day but daily. I, too, go to meet many friends during power cuts as I can’t use my computer nor watch television. For me, it’s an opportunity to play my guitar, listen to music and sit around my parents and talk with my sister. It’s quite obvious that everyone enjoys talking and sharing their daily experiences, which really brings us closer and brings fragrance in our relation. Difficult times should be utilised as stepping stones to walk forward. Thus, cursing NEA for the power cuts is not the solution, but we have to search the silver lining, the way to utilise time.

— Dilip Dachhepati,

Pulchowk Campus

Problems like power cuts that are being faced by Nepalis are not a silver lining. They are barriers we created for ourselves by not conserving our resources, by not choosing good political leaders and by not having a feeling of patriotism in our hearts. It is not a silver lining, it is a result of our carelessness in our past. Unless and until we wake up now these kinds of problems will remain.

— Prabs

Yes, to some extent, power cuts are a sliver

lining, but I think power cuts in the nights are affecting a lot of us, especially in our studies. For lazy lads, power cuts has provided an obvious reason to escape from studying.

— Nabina Awal

I do not agree that load shedding has a silver lining. Load shedding is caused

by our political leaders

because they are not thinking about the future of Nepal. Our country has not produced one megawatt electricity in the last six years, but the population grew by 10 per cent in the last 10 years.

— Chabi Raman Baral

This load shedding has made life miserable, especially for those who go to work. When we wake up there is no light, when we are back home there is no light. We cannot study because of this load shedding and it’s so difficult to manage everything in the dark.

— Diksha

I think that power cuts do have its own advantages. Due to modernisation people have become too busy and do not have time for their family and friends. Because of load shedding it has provided them free time which they can give their family and friends. Similarly, for those parents whose children are always glued to the television, load shedding has done wonders. And for those people who stay out late at night, now they can go home early and get proper rest and be hea-lthy. For those who do not like to study but are forced to do so, load shedding has come as a boon. So, I think load shedding has benefited a lot of people.

— Raju Odari

Everything has a good and bad aspect. For people who don’t have work, load shedding is even more free time, but for people who have work, they really get irritated by it. For me, it’s both good and bad. I never used to make time for my family due to my hectic school days, but now I enjoy spe-nding time with my brother, sitting near the fire singing songs, chatting about sch-ool and sharing our thou-ghts with our parents. I have a lot of fun with my family these days. But the negative side of it is that it is hampering my studies. Anyways, thanks to loadsheding, it has really helped me to get close with my family.

— Mira, Bhaisipati

I think frequent power cut-offs has made me lazy. I don’t study when the electricity is gone as I love to stay idle in the dark. However, it has brought me close to my parents as I get to share my thoughts with them more than I used to before. I also get time to talk with my friends on the phone and through sms.

— Bibhor

I think these cuts do have ‘a silver lining’. These days, we don’t get to watch TV and we get a chance to be with family members, which is a totally different experience. Earlier, we used to sit in front of the TV as soon as we reached home and didn’t even do our homework. But nowadays due to these cuts we atleast have time to help in the household chores and do some homework during these power cuts.

— Roseina Shrestha

It is an inconvenience because it is helping robbers. Everyday we come to know about a robbery during the nighttime when there is power cut. Besides, it’s making students’ lives harder, and many people are bored as they can’t watch their favourite television shows. Load shedding should be ‘abolished’ soon.

— Sonisa Sharma

I am a student and I believe that students should save every microsecond from being wasted. But these daily power cuts are wasting invaluable time that students need. Around 40 per cent of my classmates say they couldn’t complete their assignments because of load shedding. Either students should learn to cope with the present situation of the country or the government should eliminate daily cuts to save the future of Nepal from being spoiled.

— Samjhana Lama, NHA, Machchhegaun

I do not agree that load shedding is an appropriate excuse to eke out time with our families and children. Parents always spare some time for their kids everyday, regardless of power cut. Millions of Nepali currency is draining out buying diesel, petrol and kerosene to operate generators for power. Industries have been badly affected and our economy has been severely paralysed. Important educational television programmes especially devised for housewives and children have been disrupted.

— Chhabilal Chhetri

Though every thing has advantages and disadvantages, I don’t think load shedding is a good thing. Nepal is one of the richest countries in water resources, so these power cuts are not favourable for our country. It’s obstructing industries, tourism sector, which are the sources of major income for us.

— Prakash Rai

It is absolutely wrong that load shedding is a ‘silver lining in the cloud’. We just get handicapped after load shedding — no television, no computer, no Internet and it sometimes even becomes difficult to get our cell phones charged. We just lose our contact with the rest of the world. Load shedding is the most boring period. We even face thefts during these hours. Load shedding can never be silver lining.

— Saroj Bhurtel

Load shedding is not a silver lining. Such talks are just ways of escaping from our national shame. How can we call the regression as the source of progression? What about the losses that the nation has incurred due to load shedding? What if we begin to think that illiteracy also has some silver lining? Hours of power cuts are forcing us to live in the dark, under the lamp. If we try not to watch television, even when there is electricity, we can. But how shall we adopt to live in the dark? I think such ideas aren’t inventive ones, rather regressive when the whole country is talking about ‘New Nepal’. Is this the dream of a New Nepal?

— Razan

Long hours of power cuts have certainly forced us to inconveniently pass time. Due to these power cuts, we can’t enjoy television programmes and we can’t work for long hours even when we need to. We, Nepalis need to work hard to use our hydropower, either with our own initiative or with the aid of foreign countries. We have lots of water resources, the difficulties we are facing should encourage us to move forward to change things and use hydropower to generate enough electricity in our country. So, I believe that this inconvenience will help us realise what we should do to use our resources not only for us but for generations to come.

— Mohan Narshingh Shrestha, Jwagal, Kupondol

Power cuts may be called ‘the silver lining,’ but Nepal being a developing country, it is not suitable here. It has more disadvantages than advantages. The advantage it has is that people who watch too much television have cut down on the habit and spend time with family and friends. But our industrial and production sector has been harshly affected, as well as the educational sector, private and government firms, and bu-siness organisations. There are no limits to the negatives. Because of this power cut I couldn’t send this email before Wednesday. So a solution is necessary to minimise the problem.

— Deena Shrestha,

Dillibazaar Kanya College