H C Regan Babu Bhatta from SOS HGS Bharatpur selected as one of 5 winners to represent NEPAL at IOAA

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 ( NAO-2014), first Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, has finally selected its 5 winners who will participate in the 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August in Suceava, Romania. NAO 2014 was launched in the month of January, 2014 and the applications were opened the same time by holding selection exam on March 22 where many participants from all across Nepal participated out of which 20 students were selected. Later in May,  Pre-Closed Camp was held with 12 students  participating and Closed Camp from June 1-7 where 5 winners - Ashirbad Acharya, Bibek Kumar Pandit, H C Regan Babu Bhatta, Kiran Adhikari and Prabesh Koirala selected through our closed camp to represent Nepal at IOAA with the Nepal delegation.

Here is what H C Regan Babu Bhatta has to share with +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -

"I am HC Regan Babu Bhatta aged 16. I have been living in Chitwan since my birth.I have completed my +2 science from SOS HGS Bharatpur.  I have always been enticed by the amazement of astrophysics and I have my own story behind it .         

I remember when I was a child my father used to come home late. Me and my my mother would wait for him sitting on a verandah. I always slept with my head on her lap beholding the brightness of the sky.  She used to  pat on my forehead and tell me the tales of sky, gods and stars and most of the time when I uttered the questions from my half broken words, she remained silent and just widened her lips. 

The silence triggered the violence of word in my mind and flushed the curiosity of astrophysics throughout my body. 

My quest for astronomy aroused further when I read about the stars and other heavenly bodies in books of my secondary and higher secondary courses and the very moment after the completion of my course i got selected in NAO-2014 as top 5 candidates. 

I feel immensely pleased to be the part of NAO and extremely delighted to represent my country in international platform. I also fell pleased to get involved with expertise in field of astrophysics in NAO one week closed camp which further enhanced my interest.    

I do not just merely hope such further events to encounter with my life but also strive to bring such events. Such is the value of this program to me. And through such program I one day want to grow up to be the man who could answer every silence of my mother."

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is the outreach partner of +National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 and will be sharing our conversation with all the five winners in our upcoming post.

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Photos from the Closed Camp

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Bibek Kumar Pandit from St. Xaviers College selected as one of 5 winners to represent NEPAL at IOAA

National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 ( NAO-2014), first Astronomy Olympiad in Nepal, has finally selected its 5 winners who will participate in the 8th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) during August in Suceava, Romania. NAO 2014 was launched in the month of January, 2014 and the applications were opened the same time by holding selection exam on March 22 where many participants from all across Nepal participated out of which 20 students were selected. Later in May,  Pre-Closed Camp was held with 12 students  participating and Closed Camp from June 1-7 where 5 winners - Ashirbad Acharya, Bibek Kumar Pandit, H C Regan Babu Bhatta, Kiran Adhikari and Prabesh Koirala selected through our closed camp to represent Nepal at IOAA with the Nepal delegation.

Here is what Bibek Kumar Pandit has to share with +View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई -

" First of all I am very grateful to NASO and NAO for providing me this platform to enhance my talent. And I would also like to thank all other members of NAO for understanding my ability and selecting me among the 5 members who will be representing our nation in the IOAA. 

I'm feeling very happy about being selected and felling more and more responsible today. First of all when I heard the announcement of the NAO on my College's notice board, I thought, "At least there is someone in Nepal too who admire the talent in the field in astronomy" and the very next day I met Kishor Acharya brother who gave me adequate information about the selection process and also gave me a handbook. I read it and filled the form the very next day. I prepared for the exam and then gave it which was fine enough. After one or two months, the result was out and I was very happy to have my name in the list. Then after my board exams when I had already got 2 assignments before the exams, I prepared it and also completed my third assignment. Then arrived the day of initiation of the closed camp. I was ready for it and had already made my mind to give a tough challenge to the other competitors. My dad has been saying me, 

"If you want to be on time be before time."

So, I reached the assigned destination before 1P.M. which was the given time. I'd a good time in the closed camp. I learned many new things and understood the talent of many new faces. 

When I analyze the whole closed camp I think all the competitors were one over the other but I think the judges have selected the best 5 today. 

Today I think I've done 10% of the task for myself and my career in IOAA but I haven't done anything till now for my nation. I along with other four members will be representing our nation in the IOAA. I feel proud of myself that I can do something to contribute to the good name of the nation. I know I will perform excellently there and every bit of my potential and do as good as possible. This would also be a great opportunity for building my career and help in my future too. The travel to Europe would give me a new experience.  Eventually, it would be a prestige feeling to all the Nepalese people and especially the lovers of Astronomy."

+View Your Choice- तपाईको सोचाई हाम्रो रोजाई - is the outreach partner of +National Astronomy Olympiad 2014 and will be sharing our conversation with all the five winners in our upcoming post.

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Photos from the Closed Camp

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ATHEISM

My father is Hindu. so is my mother. I am not afraid to call  what I am.  am an atheist and proud of it.  will not apologize for what I  do and don’t believe. I will not rename myself in order to hide from hatred, and I will not stay isolated out of the fear of being demonized when united. I can’t stay silent while witnessing cruelty and injustice because I am not just an atheist — I am an atheist who cares.

"Atheists are one of the fastest growing minorities in the world, and many people are choosing to give voice to their views publicly rather than hiding their lack of religious beliefs from their communities. In some cases, this public declaration of atheism can lead to social backlash from friends and family; in other areas, it can even be physically dangerous to admit to atheism." : Atheist Republic

Oxford  defines Atheism as "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God" which may be true for some atheists, in fact very few, but not for all. Every atheist has their own definition and perception of atheism. However, they land up with same conclusion. Atheism simply refers to lack of belief in deities. We, as atheists, do not challenge the existence of god. We simply do  not bother about it, at least I do not. In a broad sense, atheists can be synonymous to realistic. Every atheist may not have same view on a particular matter.There is no degree or type of atheism.

Atheists are not anti-theists; Anti-theism is an attitude of opposition or metaphysical revolt against God. Atheist are tolerant, unlike the anti-theists. We respect the theists and their beliefs but we revolt against injustice, especially when it's in the name of religion or god. We never ask theists to justify  their beliefs. Not all our friends are atheists. We do not  force atheism on anyone, it's just a person's view. Point to be noted : Atheism is not a religion.

No one is born Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Jews or Buddhist or Sikh; No one's born as atheist either ! We can also find many theists in disguise : Theists as long as they are helpless or in need. Take some time, look at yourself and decide who you are !

Feel free and  post your religious  view in the comment box !! 

- Anurag