जीवन मार्ग
Introduction
Jeevan Marg (जीवन मार्ग, "The Path of Life") is a reportage (रिपोर्ताज) chapter in the Class 12 Nepali course. Based on a conversation with a struggling-turned-successful entrepreneur named Chhiring (छिरिङ), it carries a message of nationalism and entrepreneurship: that industries built on Nepal's own identity, resources and labour can lead both a person and the nation to prosperity.
Summary
The reportage centres on the Chomolungma Industrial Enterprise (चोमोलुङ्मा औद्योगिक प्रतिष्ठान), an establishment that reflects Nepal's original identity and makes full use of local raw materials. Its products (bamboo household goods, handicrafts and food items) have become popular at home and abroad precisely because they are rooted in Nepali originality. Nepalis scattered across the world have not forgotten their identity and eagerly seek out such original products, so the market for genuine Nepali goods keeps growing worldwide. The writer, whose own home slowly filled with Chomolungma products, was drawn to write this reportage about the enterprise and the man behind it.
That man is Chhiring, the enterprise's visionary, main investor and director, born into a poor family as the eldest son. His father made a hard living carrying loads, and when he died unexpectedly, young Chhiring took on the family's responsibility. His education seemed finished: until a foreign tourist's help won him a scholarship. Working as a school cleaner while studying, he passed his school examinations, became a teacher, and after graduating took a government job. Later he left the job for the trekking business, travelled to many countries, and spent some years working in Japan, where he learned the true value of time, labour and resources, and the lesson that something could be done in his own country.
Back in Nepal, he rejected the profitable land-plotting business, which destroys farmland to spread a concrete jungle. Instead, using Nepal's originality, resources and workforce, he founded the Chomolungma Industrial Enterprise and became a successful entrepreneur. The reportage stresses his business principles: never compromise on quality, practise healthy competition and cooperation instead of blind imitation, dare to imagine new ideas and take risks, and grow rich by making others prosperous too. As the proverb quoted in the chapter says, "देखासिकी गरी खा, आरिसे मरी जा": learn from others' good work and prosper; envy them and perish.
Theme
Life is struggle, and only those who work tirelessly through hardship succeed. The chapter teaches that entrepreneurship built on one's own country's identity, resources and skills (with quality, original thinking and healthy competition) is the true path of life, leading to self-reliance for the individual and development and prosperity for the nation.
Main Characters
Chhiring: the central figure: a far-sighted, struggle-hardened entrepreneur from a poor family who rose from porter's son and school cleaner to founder of the Chomolungma Industrial Enterprise, wishing prosperity for Nepal and all Nepalis.