Nepali Times - Digital Himalayahimalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/nepalitimes/pdf/Nepali_Times_123.pdf · Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is going through a power struggle

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alf a million children from more than 4,000 schools in the capital are bearingthe brunt of adult politics. And it is not just ordinary politics. It is the demon-stration of raw and violent power: close down, or else we bomb your school.

It has become fairly clear by now that the indefinite valley-wide school strike thatbegan on Monday is not so much about reforming education as furthering theMaoist revolution by bringing the disruptions and hardships to the capital. Andthe method used is terrorising children and parents, so that the schools areforced to close.

To be sure, the education sector seriously needs reforms. Schools in Nepalreflect gross inequities in society: high levels of illiteracy, disparities betweenexpensive private institutions and deprived government schools. So, educationthreatens to perpetuate the rich-poor gap.

The Maoists are exploiting this disparity with their 13-point demand whichincludes nationalisation of private schools, free education, admission for underprivi-leged, scrapping Sanskrit and the national anthem.

The government tried to defuse the strike ultimatum by meeting some ofthese demands with its own education reform package of 6 December, which thepro-Maoist All Nepal Free Student Union (Revolutionary) rejected. There is nowa new non-education demand: lift the “terrorist” tag. The government says giveup violence first.

“There is a possibility that the Maoists are using school closures as a tactic toensure young people entering their struggle,” suggests rights activist Krishna Pahadi.

A recent Nepal country profile by the International Coalition to Stop the Use of ChildSoldiers showed that a third of Maoist militants are underage children, many of themschool drop-outs. The Maoist leadership, from the very beginning of the “people’s war”,had identified students as the “reserve force” in a future “mass uprising”.

The main worry for children, parents and teachers is what will happen to this year’sSLC exams, due next month. At a time when tenth-graders should be preparing for theirtests, schools are closed. “This year, the SLC results will be even bleaker,” cautionseducationist Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya. Every year, at least six in every ten youngNepalis fail their high school exams, and only 17 percent of the students from govern-ment schools pass their SLC. Some rural government schools have a zero pass rate.

The private school association, PABSON says the idea should be to improve govern-ment schools, not punish the ones that have good results. But as the strike enters itssecond week, children are staying home or playing in the streets. Given the rigid positionson both sides, this “class war” is likely to drag on.

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��"�� High-profile westerndiplomacy in Nepalcontinues with the arrivallate Thursday inKathmandu of USAssistant Secretary ofState for South Asia, ChristinaRocca. She will be here till Sunday,meet senior Nepali officials andconsult US embassy staffers. Rocca is the seniormost USofficial to visit Nepal after ColinPowell made a brief stopover inJanuary. Last week, the Britishforeign secretary, Sir Michael Jaywas in Nepal. The flurry of visitssignify western worries about thecurrent conflict in Nepal and itsramifications for regional security,officials told us. Rocca is alsoexpected to discuss a proposed $20million military aid package for thearmy.

3�.�� 4�� After its leader was nominated primeminister by the king, the centre-rightRastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) isgoing through a power strugglewhich will climax in Pokhara onSaturday with the election of a newparty boss. Prime Minister LokendraBahadur Chand and veteran RPPleader Surya Bahadur Thapa arebattling it out for influence. Of thethree contenders, Prakash ChandraLohani and Rabindra Nath Sharmaare considered Thapa loyalists,whereas Pashupati Shumsher Ranais close to Chand. Whoever wins,the RPP will keep its royalist tilt. “Wecan never criticise the monarch theway the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are doing right now,” Lohani toldus. Thapa is a critic of the king’sOctober Fourth move, while Chandhas been trying to get his party’sendorsement for his government.

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Nepali Times is published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd,Chief Editor: Kunda DixitDesign: Kiran [email protected], www.nepalitimes.comAdvertising: Sunaina Shah [email protected]: Anil Karki [email protected]: Sudan Bista [email protected] Kosh Building, Block A-4th Floor, LalitpurGPO Box 7251, Kathmandu, NepalTel: 01-543333-7, Fax: 01-521013Printed at Jagadamba Press, Hattiban: 01-547018/17

oil-based economy.Similarly, in Nepal, one should

ask what legacy can motivateyoung people from the country-side to be so angry and cruel totheir fellows for the promiseoffered by an ideology, such thatthey may be becoming the imageof that they wish to overthrow?It is clear that people know thatsomething is essentially wrongwith the past, because state-ments calling for intensifiedmilitary activity are alwayscombined with the oxymoronicacknowledgement that intensi-fied war must be combined withdevelopment in the countryside.

My question is, if this is thecase, then why has 50 years ofdevelopment led to this war?This whole project euphemisti-cally called development, withoutprinciples or clear objectives,has largely been a war ofmetropolis against the country-side and of petroleum-basedpolities against solar-basedsocieties, combined with awillingness to sacrifice people

(particularly villagers andwomen), communities, cultures,knowledge, biodiversity, and theenvironment for benefits accruinglargely to a relatively small portionof the urban population, largelyoutside of Nepal (e.g., as early as1989 the Third World was handingover $52 billion more in debtpayments than it received in newcredits).

Arms or no arms, Maoists orno Maoists, drastic, basicchanges are going to have to bemade in the direction of society inNepal and in the lives of itscitizens. And if it is any consola-tion, it is a situation that the rest ofthe world is going to have tofollow as oil production peakswithin the next five to twentyyears (per capita production hasbeen declining since 1978) andthe end comes to the oil-basedglobal civilisation, possibly assoon as 30 years from now.

The question is in both caseswhether we act now with thehard choices and build for thefuture, or will we remain mired in

the past and watch peoplecontinue to die in Nepal and, on aworld scale, possibly in billions.

I agree with one of yourcorrespondents that such changewill come not just with reinstitutionof local elections, as he arguedfor, but with a democracy thatbuilds from the bottom, allowingreal needs to direct society,rather than being legislated fromthe top according to compromisesmade between powerful specialinterests.

Stephen Mikesell, by email

��The new council of ministersshould read your editorial “Whatare we waiting for?” (#121). Theyshould have the guts to say “no”for invitations to chief-guestworkshops, talkshops, seminars,book releases, prize-givingceremonies, etc. There are plentyof other people with precious littleto do who could do it instead ofyou... just don’t go...don’t createthe demand. Currently the trend isto invite a high-up official, thehigher-up the better, to open

ceremonies, as they ensure goodTV coverage. That has led to aculture of seminarism andworkshopping where no one isreally listening and no one reallycares. The chief guest neverstays around long enough, andneither does the press. So whatyou get in the evening news islazy workshop journalism withspeech excerpts. Enough of this,let’s call a moratorium on inaugu-rations and speeches. Enoughtalk, let’s see some action.

Rupa Joshi, Tashkent

(5��(5)�8)�8�Finally, Pramod Mishra has struckhome with his article “Patriarchy,female freedom and ShrishaKarki” (#122) on the tragic deathof the film actres. So far, mediareporting, including in your ownpaper, has been more of a rant forShrisha and/or against the editor,Kishore Shrestha. Mr Mishra isvery much right when he saysNepali women (and men too) arecaught between patriarchaltradition and consumerist moder-

nity. Our society itself is in a kindof deep dilemma that we cannotshed our traditional beliefs andvalues, and at the same time, weare attracted by modern ones. Aperson cannot be in two differentworlds at the same time. Shrisha’scase will definitely make so calledNepali gender specialists ponderfemale rights, freedom andconstraints.

ìNamaî, by email

�1)��()9/,:Thank you to CK Lal for “The roadnot taken” (#122), bringing much-needed attention to the situationon Nepal’s roads. Because mywork in Nepal has largely beenlimited to northern Humla District(accessible only by foot or plane),in 8 years of on-off work andresidence in the country I did notuntil this year have the opportunityto use Nepal’s road system to amountainous place. This year, Iwent by car to Dunche inLangtang. To be honest, I hope itwas the last time I travel in or outof Kathmandu by road.

STATE OF THE STATE by CK LAL

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The songs “Things Like This Seemto Happen” and “It Would be Easierto Die”, attributed to Nati Kaji inManjushree Thapa’s Nepaliterature(#122), were authored respectivelyby Yadav Kharel and TirtharajTuladhar. Nati Kaji composed bothsongs.The picture (below) accompanyingSharad KC's "Rajapur's mini-Rolpa"(#122) was by Rameshwar Bohara.–Ed.

By and large I try to under-stand the challenges faced byNepal’s leaders, but by the time Igot back to Kathmandu I wasinfuriated on behalf of theaverage Nepali citizen, who hasno choice but to travel theseroads. I cannot understand whymore attention is not paid to thissituation—especially when terriblefatal accidents, sometimesinvolving entire busloads ofpassengers, are reported nearlyevery week in Nepal’s papers—and those are only the reportsthat make it to the papers! InWestern Nepal, many busaccidents occur which are neverreported in the national newsmedia. Roads as narrow as theone we were on simply cannot

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3/)*/-�8(Bhagirath Yogi’s quote ofSaubhagya Shah’s statement inthe article “Peaceniks onwarpath” (#119) may have beentaken out of context like my ownquote. That Shah “could agree[with the petition] if [the petition-ers] talked about overall USpolicy including the enormousmilitary assistance to Israelevery year” seemed ratherdisingenuous. First, thetragic legacy of USmilitary assistanceto Israel is thebest proofagainst

the logic of military aid. Second,as I cannot speak for all theothers who signed the petition,but I know that some of us havestrongly opposed US military aidnot only to Israel but to manyother countries includingVietnam, Colombia, CentralAmerica, Mujahadeen in Afghani-stan, and to Iraq prior to the GulfWar when the US was armingIraq to the teeth against Iran, inprotest activities and our

journalism—including myletter you quoted fromand in an article of mine(in

adison.IndyMedia.org)last August.

Everything has acontext. Referring to

Deuba’s justification of hispolicy in terms of the waragainst terrorism mentioned byYogi, the Afghan war and 9/11were both aspects of US globalforeign policy aimed at gettingcontrol over dwindling reservesof oil and natural gas reserves inthe sunset years of the global

accommodate the traffic theybear—they cannot bear evenaverage-sized automobilespassing each other at normalspeeds, let alone the morecommonly seen wide buses andlorries.

Why can't the governmentinstall simple, inexpensivetechnologies to address thissituation, such as the largemirrors one can see in othercountries with dangerous roads,which allow drivers to see aroundcorners and anticipate on-comingtraffic? Providing for the safety ofcitizens on public thoroughfares inthis way should be a duty felt byall of Nepal’s elected or inheritedleaders. This is not a particularlyexpensive or unreasonablesuggestion. Would an improve-ment like this help address any ofNepal’s major “developmentchallenges” in any direct way?No. But that’s not the point. Thereis plenty of money and energy inNepal for addressing those majorchallenges, though the wisdomwith which that money and

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energy has been spent (andsubsequent outcomes) may beargued. The point is thatunderlying an insistence onimprovements in road safetyconditions is the kind of civic-minded thinking that could giveNepal’s citizenry the sense thattheir leaders not only think abouttheir welfare, as is the moralobligation of any national leader,but that they do something aboutit as well. With a populace soobviously disenchanted with itsleadership, shifting thinkingtoward civic-mindedness wouldbe a very positive development,indeed.

Kimber Haddix McKay,USA

��Considering myself anaspiring transportation profes-sional, I completely agree withCK Lal’s concern for the need ofa paradigm shift for the safety inthe transportation industry inNepal. No matter how expensivea road you build with mostsophisticated technology, road

��he country is in a serious jam. Till a year ago, the only challenge was how toovercome the Maobadi. Now, layered on top is the unnecessary confusion of thedirection of our democratic polity.

This helps no one else but the Maoists. After all, the insurgency has thrivedfor the past six years mainly because of a chronic bickering between and within parties.That weakened the political parties, just as the royal massacre weakened the monarchy.

So, at a time when both should be leaning on each other for support we have thetwo on the verge of falling out. Only if the forces on the side of parliamentary democ-racy stand up together can the current military stalemate between the Royal NepaleseArmy and the “people’s army” give way to negotiations.

The question is, who will take the initiative? We respectfully suggest that theinitiative should come from His Majesty. It is indeed true that the political parties areresponsible in large measure for this mess, they are in disarray and lack credibility. TheMaoists have killed and cowed down their cadre. But, only the political parties still havethe nationwide reach and command to deliver peace and development.

But the UML and the two Nepali Congresses are rallied against the royal palace.They can make endless mischief for the royal government. After all, the interimcabinet is a mixed bag of ex-politicians, technocrats, and elements who are constantlyspeaking at cross-purposes and don’t seem to be able to keep personal opinions tothemselves.

A course correction is needed, and is best done before it is too late. Either bydesign or due to lack of political energy, the challenge by the political parties of theking’s move is still feeble. But it is only a matter of time. They will ultimately be pushedinto a corner, and when that happens they may either take the high road of proposing anational government with full agreement as to its makeup, or (more likely) they maytake the low road of street agitation. And that will only add to the people’s woes, andend up helping the Maoists.

We can expect the cantankerous political parties to take the low road. But themonarchy must take the high road. His Majesty may want to use the authority that heundoubtedly commands to sit down with the political parties (not one-on-one, but alltogether) to discuss the way ahead. No more name-calling please, he can tell them, just

give me solutions.We all may be surprised at how easily the king and the parties can find a wayout. And when that happens, the next step will be to untie the Maoist knot.

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accidents are unavoidable.Statistically, a road accident is afunction of countless number ofindependent and dependentvariables. Accident events are afunction of road design, trafficvolume, driver behaviour,weather condition, vehiclecondition, laws and regulationetc. So even the provision ofbetter design or better vehicledesign will not guaranteecomplete safety. The challengefor us in Nepal is to find one ofthe variables that can behandled within the institutionaland economic framework andfocus on this variable to reducethe number of accidents andincrease safety. A good way tostart would be to perform acountrywide yearly safetystudy, which would help usunderstand the safety factorsinvolved and generate the kindof awareness among politicians,bureaucrats and technocrats, ofhow much the country is losing.Using this study as a platform,numerous ideas can be gener-

ated to increase safety atdifferent levels, ideas for furtherresearch and effective imple-mentation. We don’t needtechnological innovations, whatwe need is an awareness abouttransportation safety.

Rajat Rajbhandari,New Jersey, USA

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by DANIEL LAKHERE AND THERE

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�� %�7��!!�$ ��#��Nepal’s Maoist insurgency in Nepal is likely to spill over to India’s northeast, warns the Washing-ton-based think tank, Centre for Strategic International Studies (CSIS). It said in a report thatinstability in Nepal is already aggravating the security situation in India’s northeast. CSIS saysNepal’s security forces are unlikely to be able to defeat the Maoists, even with US militaryassistance, and the only sustainable solution lies in a negotiated settlement.

“The prospect of a confrontation between the king and political parties while the Maoistinsurgency continues is a dangerous one,” said South Asia experts Mandavi Mehta and NisalaRodrigo in their paper in the CSIS magazine, South Asia Monitor. The authors say US assistanceis increasing from $27.5 million in fiscal 2002 and the administration has requested over $37million for 2003. And for the first time, the US government allocated an additional $12 million formilitary hardware. financing. Britain has extended 6.5 million pounds for the Royal Nepal Army.

Mehta and Rodrigo argue that India has the most to lose from the Maoist threat in Nepal.Maoist collusion with insurgents across the porous Indo-Nepal border, as well as the assistancethey receive from India’s large Nepali population, make it even more difficult to act effectivelyagainst them, they say.

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�$!�� +� #Nepal’s National Human Development Report (NHDR) is one ofthe six winners selected by the United Nations DevelopmentProgram (UNDP) for an award for human development.Besides Nepal, the other countries to receive the awards arethe Arab Region, Bolivia, Botswana, Chile and Indonesia. TheUNDP also selected President Fernando Henrique Cordoso ofBrazil for the Mahbub ul Haq award for outstanding contribu-tion to human development. Nepal’s NHDR, 2001 entitled“Excellence in Support of the Millennium DevelopmentGoals,” focused on poverty reduction and good govern-ance. The report uses Nepal’s tradition in social mobilisationto explain how human development and good governancecould create a “virtuous cycle”, UNDP said.

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(�� $Twenty years after the famous Shanta Bhawan Hospital, a converted royal palace, shiftedsouth to new premises in Patan in 1982, and, accordingly changed its name, the hospital hasmore than doubled in size. Today, Patan Hospital, the foremost example of a community hospitalin Nepal, has 300 beds, double the original number, annual outpatient visits of 330,000, admittedpatients of 16,000 and 600 staff. It’s built a new ward for children, has expanded its operatingtheatre, added a separate orthopedics unit, and has started the Patan Private Clinic, a newpersonalised service. Said Medical Director Dr. Mark Zimmerman on the 20th anniversary of thehospital, “Patan Hospital still retains much that is good from the old Shanta Bhawan Hospital—amission to serve with skill and compassion all who come to us; a special place for the poor; anda Spirit that makes extraordinary things happen”. Last year alone, the hospital gave out theequivalent of over $100,000 in direct charity to the poor.

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9 � �%�!��%��$�!��+�!!��#�� The Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival is over but it has left authorities uptight.Three days after the festival of mountain films ended on 8 December, the government’s FilmDevelopment Board has brought out a public notice which states that individuals or organisa-tions who want to hold film festivals should, in keeping with Film Regulation 2057, get permis-sion from the board and that films should be checked by a censor committee before public andcommercial viewing. The notice comes in the wake of the screening of Jogimara kaJyundaharu, one of the 53 films screened at the festival. In early 2002, 17 construction workersof Jogimara were killed by the army while building a runway in Kalikot district. They werebranded terrorists by the state and their families did not get their dead bodies or any compensa-tion. While some families have conducted the last rites of their loved ones, others still wait,hoping their relatives will return.

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BIZ NEWS

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/��! ��For the first time in the last two decades, Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has turned negative inthe last fiscal year 2001-02, officials said. According to Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Nepal’s GDPgrowth recorded a negative rate of 0.63 percent last year due mainly to negative performances of themanufacturing and tourism sectors. Earlier, preliminary estimates had projected Nepal’s GDP to grow by0.8 percent in the last fiscal year. In the year 2000-01, Nepal’s GDP had grown by 4.83 percent. Withescalating problems at home and abroad, domestic industries saw a decline of -10.79 percent in the fiscalyear ending on July 15, 2002. “We see it as a temporary phenomenon and hope that things will improve assoon as there is improvement in the law and order situation,” said SMN Subhani, director general at CBS.According to CBS, imports went down by 7.7 percent and exports declined by 14.6 percent in the lastfiscal year. The tourism sector also registered a sharp decline. Nineteen years ago (1982/83), GDP growthrate was negative at -2.98 due to a decline in the agricultural sector.

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9�� , �#;�, �#�9�� Fair Trade Group (FTG) Nepal, a private company that promotes fair trade practices among small andmedium enterprises last week organised an annual exhibition, “Fair Trade, Trade Fair” to showcasehandicrafts and other products. Organisers said 2,000 people visited the fair at Tridevi temple in Thamel. Atotal of 14 organisations took part in the event out of which 12 were the members of FTG. “We used tofocus on expatriates in the past but this year our focus was on local consumers and the response wasvery encouraging,” said Nina Shahi, program coordinator at FTG. FTG Nepal is a consortium of handicraft-based fair trade NGOs who also lobby, advocate and offer skills and management training to smallbusinesses.

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3 ��%� ��"Binita Shrestha was chosen “Fair & Lovely Princess for a Day” after a widely publicised promotional drivelaunched by Nepal Lever Limited. Shrestha is entitled to a one day shopping spree worth Rs100,000 with achauffeur driven Mercedes Benz and dinner at a 5-star hotel. The company also gave 60 lucky winnersgift coupons of Rs10,000.

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9� �� #�#!��Nepal’s total foreign trade in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (2002-03) has declined by over fivepercent. According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), total exports plummeted by 20.5 percent while the totalimports registered a marginal growth of 1.8 percent. The trade deficit during the period widened by afurther 25 percent to Rs16.28 billion, the NRB said. During the period, trade deficit with India rose by over90 percent to Rs 6.4 billion while trade deficit with the third countries rose by 2.1 percent to Rs 9.88 billion.Officials say the disturbance in law and order and a low demand for Nepali products in the internationalmarket has lowered the country’s foreign trade.

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-��!�� > ��?�� A 30-member Nepali business delegation is attending the sixth meeting of the Nepal-China Non-governmen-tal Cooperation Forum in Guangzhou this week to discuss trade and investment. The delegation is led byBinod Bahadur Shrestha of FNCCI. The meeting takes place each year alternatively in Nepal and China andis aimed at extending bilateral trade and investment. Shrestha said Nepal will seek joint ventures inhydropower production, utilisation of human resources, processing of medicinal herbs and use ofappropriate agricultural technology. Nepal presently has an annual trade deficit of $150 million with China.Nepal would try to improve air services and banking so it can atract more Chinese tourists, he said.

by ARTHA BEEDECONOMIC SENSE

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Nepali Times: So, how does it feel like to be on the other side?Ravi Bhakta Shrestha: I was the president of the FNCCI whenHis Majesty entrusted his confidence in me and assigned methis new responsibility. This is not exactly a role reversal, but Ibelieve my background from the private sector will help me indischarging my duties in this ministry. In my past three weeks inoffice I have been studying the problems affecting the tourismsector, which is the economic backbone of the country. I haveheld consultations with those in the tourism sector. We haveidentified major problems and are discussing strategies toaddress them which will be short, medium and long-term innature. We have already started implementing short-termmeasures.

What exactly are these measures?Tourism in Nepal has not done well in the last few years. At therequest of entrepreneurs, including the Hotel Association ofNepal (HAN), we have recommended ministries like Finance,Labour and Water Resources re-schedule loans and taxes, givehotels the status of an industry and entitle them to similarbenefits. The ministry has also directed Royal Nepal Airlines toimprove its day-to-day performance, curb anomalies and comeup with what they call a debt inventory. We are also thinking ofdeveloping Kathmandu as an international travel hub.

None of this is really new, is it?Due to its geo-strategic location, Kathmandu can serve as a hubfor international flights from Tibet, parts of China, northernstates of India and other countries in the region. In order toattract transit tourists, our ministry has already recommendedthree-day duty free visas to transit passengers. After getting

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suggestions from concerned ministries, we will take thisproposal to the cabinet. They will come into force only after thecabinet decision. We are also considering requests to addinternational flights to Nepal and bring back reputed companieslike Singapore and Lufthansa.

There has been some back-and-forth on the issue of privatis-ing Royal Nepal Airlines. What is the final word on that?RNAC has a very important role to play in the development oftourism in Nepal. But the present status quo can’t continue. So,to rescue thenational flag carrier and make it effective, we are going toimplement recommendations made by the Shankar Sharmacommittee. Out of the two options—to privatise or turn it into apublic limited company—privatising the RNAC will take muchlonger. We are considering the second option. The final decisionwill be taken by the Council of Ministers.

You can do all this, but tourism is affected by political instabil-ity. How are your short-term measures going to help?Besides water resources, tourism offers great potential for thedevelopment of our country. With holy places like Lumbini andPashupatinath, we can promote religious tourism. Similarly,Nepal can also be promoted as a destination for sports tourismby selling sports like cricket, golf and elephant polo. Unlike inIndia, we have yet to develop the concept of domestic tourism.We already have infrastructure to attract tourists from all over theworld. What we need now are effective strate-gies and aggressive marketing.

We have seen sporadic incidences ofviolence in remote parts of the country magni-

fied by the media, giving Nepal a bad image. We need to pro-mote Nepal as a safe and attractive destination on the basis thatnot a single tourist has been harmed in the last seven years ofthe insurgency.

As a member of the cabinet, what is your response to criticswho say you have not been able to hit the ground running?It is our job to prove that we are different (than the previousgovernments). The government is working hard to fulfil the five-point mandate entrusted to it by His Majesty. All of us know thatpeace and stability is vital for the development of economy aswell as tourism in the country. This government needs supportfrom all sections of society, including the political parties, civilsociety and entrepreneurs to meet those objectives. The govern-ment has given top priority to restoring law and order in thecountry which won’t be possible without support. We must not

forget our country is passingthrough a very fluid and critical

time. If the situation is notarrested in time, things could

get worse. We urge every-one to cooperate.

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In “In the Forest Hangs a Bridge,” a film screened at the recently concludedKathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, a community in north eastIndia gets together to build a bridge. The film, which is an account of theconstruction of a bridge, and an evocation of the tribal community that makesit possible, is also a reflection on the strength, as well as the fragility, of theidea of community.

“It’s a great film and basically reflects similar efforts of communities inthe Nepali hills to build bridges,” says Varja Roukema, who with her team hasorganised a photographic exhibition dedicated to trail bridges built by communi-ties around Nepal at the Patan Museum.

The exhibition is a celebration of the 1,051 bridges constructed so far. “Ofcourse, there are differences. Today, rudimentary materials like reed havebeen replaced by modern materials like galvanised steel. But it is thecommunity that decides where and when they want a bridge.” The exhibition,which is on till 15 December, provides a close-up view of communities fromeast to west Nepal who have built bridges that will connect their village to othersettlements, important markets and essential services.

About 100 photographs selected from more than two thousand picturestaken by on-site supervisors and workers are on display. They’ve beencleaned and edited to provide viewers with an insight into the process, thelabour, and community spirit which goes into building bridges all around Nepal.The trail bridge project received a UN Best Practice Laureate in 2002.

1000 Community Bridges Photo ExitbitionPatan Museum10 am - 5 pm, up to 15 DecemberFor more information call: 527828, 521054

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Nepali Times is now available on PEPCWorldwide vending machines at major airportsand hotel chains. Receive 40 pages of the latesteditions of Nepali Times and selected materialfrom Himal South Asian and Himal Khabarpatrikain high-quality laser print.

Price: US$ 2.50, all major credit cards accepted.

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2��.CANBERRA - The Victorian Court of Appeal has overturned anearlier ruling awarding over $400,000 in damages to a dyingsmoker after dismissing a tobacco giant’s defence on thegrounds that it had destroyed thousands of relevant documents.The court ruled in favour of a subsidiary of British AmericanTobacco (BAT), the world’s second biggest tobacco company,and ordered a new trial on behalf of the smoker, Rolah McCabe,who died from lung cancer in October.

Earlier this year, Victorian Supreme Court Justice GeoffreyEames struck out British American Tobacco Australia Services’(BATAS) defence and awarded McCabe her damage claims.Large numbers of documents about the health effects oftobacco, as well as backup copies of the documents on compactdiscs, were destroyed in 1998 following the dismissal of anotherunsuccessful case against BAT Australia.

The win makes it difficult for smokers to successfully sueBAT on the grounds that their legal defence has been compro-mised simply because of the destruction of documents. Theoutcome of the case was crucial for BAT. The legal casecontinues on behalf of McCabe’s estate. (IPS)

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�D�%� ��+� !#JOHANNESBURG - European Union (EU) trade commissionerPascal Lamy is upbeat at the prospect of a World Trade Organi-sation (WTO) deal to ease access to cheap medicine fordeveloping countries, despite the failure of technical talks inGeneva last week. On a three country trip to southern Africa hespoke of the EU’s support for the medicines talks and in order to“inject dynamism” into the Doha trade round. These negotiationsrelate to the progress of the Doha Declaration, where changesto the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agree-ment made clear that healthcare took precedence over trade.

The 140-odd member states of the WTO must by the endof Dec 2002 give substance to the agreement by making therelevant changes to TRIPS. This would allow a greaternumber of developing countries to manufacture and/orimport generic copies of patented drugs as well asissue compulsory licences on patented drugs, allof which have the function of lowering theprices of life-saving drugs. One of theissues hampering progress is attemptsby countries with big pharmaceuticalcompany to sub-categorise develop-ing countries by income, therebylimiting access to the newmedicines laws. (IPS)

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)�#�� %��WASHINGTON - The United States and international financialinstitutions are partly to blame for the famine in Africa becausethey push policies that fatten the coffers of multinational firms atthe expense of local economies and poor people, says a newreport from US-based Food First and the Institute for Food andDevelopment Policy.

Countries in southern and eastern Africa are in the throes ofan unfolding famine that threatens millions of people. SomeWestern officials have said that the famine is due to a conver-gence of multiple factors, some natural, such as drought andfloods. But other observers, including some African officialsand civil society activists, say “man-made” reasons, likegovernment policy and programs promoted by internationalcreditors are at fault.

The Food First report is among few that point a fingerdirectly at US policies, arguing that as economic restructuringworks to erode a country of its food sovereignty, it also aids USmultinationals to pry open new markets for genetically modifiedfood, which is largely banned in the EU and Japan.

Raj Patel, author of the report, believes food aid is productsupport for US farmers disguised by an “unimpeachable veneerof humanitarianism”. (IPS)

Anyone who finds this friendlyand street-smart dog

(named Baina) lost on28 November fromPulchowk area will

be rewarded.

Call 536356 or 536338.

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by MICHAEL QUINLANCOMMENT

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B��!� $��#NEW DELHI - After brutal beatings and police detention, environmentalactivists have been promised free access to the pesticides factory incentral Bhopal city, formerly owned by Union Carbide, which in 1984was the scene of the world’s worst ever industrial disaster. Thepromise was made by Digvijay Singh, chief minister of MadhyaPradesh who said permission would be given for carrying out soiltests and containment work on the site heavily contaminated withtoxic chemicals.

Singh has instructed his officers to drop charges against activistsof the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) who wereviolently stopped by police last month from “containing” some of thehazardous waste lying abandoned at the plant, now owned by USbased Dow Chemicals. Joshi said the police brutality and the arrestsof 56 activists, 13 of them foreign nationals, reeked of the govern-ment protecting the interests of Dow Chemicals rather than that ofthe hapless victims or the safety of ordinary people in Bhopal.Various Indian governments appear to have colluded with UnionCarbide in cover-up jobs. (IPS)

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�� TOKYO - The deaths of two inmates and revelations of torture ofprisoners have again brought to the fore the inhumane conditions andpoor human rights record in Japanese prisons, concerns repeatedlyraised by rights watchdogs and ignored by authorities. While the useof restraining leather belts with attached leather manacles, commonlyused in Japanese correction cells, has decreased in some prisons,the Nagoya prison has recorded an increase in its use from 53 in2001 to 148 so far this year.

Handcuffed prisoners often have to eat their meals and sleepwithout the devices being removed, treatment designed to ignore thehumanity of the victim, says Koichi Kikuta, professor of law at MeijiUniversity. Prisoners cannot subscribe to newspapers, can write onlyone letter a month to relatives, and all letters are subject to censor-ship with deletions common. Japan has 189 prisons with 65,000inmates, and prisons have 14.4 percent more inmates than they canhandle. Former inmates who were tortured while in detention havebegun to sue Japanese prisons. This despite the odds, as only aboutfive cases out of an average of 70 cases filed annually, win. (IPS)

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3��)�JAKARTA – The latest peace accord signed between the Indonesiangovernment and Acehnese rebels is not the first attempt at peace, butmany Acehnese hope the pact will be the last. The agreement, signedin Geneva, consists of nine articles and heralds the end of a 26-year-old separatist conflict between Jakarta and this Indonesian provincethat has claimed over 10,000 Acehnese lives. The accord allowsautonomy and elections in 2004 for a government, which would beallowed to keep up to 70 percent of the province’s oil and gasrevenues.

Jakarta, which had insisted that the Aceh conflict was a domesticone and rejected any foreign interference in it, for the first timeallowed a foreign monitoring team in the province. The Free AcehMovement separatist rebels, formally known by their Indonesianacronym GAM, has not shown their clear acceptance of the Jakarta-proposed Special Autonomy Law as it goes against its stand forAceh’s independence from Indonesia. Representatives from 23countries plus international financial institutions like World Bank andAsian Development Bank have pledged financial support for thereconstruction of Aceh. (IPS)

by DANIEL C. LYNCHANALYSIS

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Pradip Nepal, central working committee memberCPN-UML, in Jana Astha, 11 December

Within a single week 150,000 Nepalis expressed theirsupport for policies adopted by the CPN-UML tooppose the regressive royal move. The newspapers,which had previously claimed that political partiescould not mobilise people published 11 differentreports on the mass mobilisation. Some newspapers“black out” the news because their claims have beenrefuted. The largest mass meeting was organised inButwal where, according to official government tallies,nearly 60,000 people participated. More than 25,000people turned up for the meetings in Pokhara.

I should have been happy, but I wasn’t. On my returnafter the radio therapy sessions I had written in the last32 years the state had only tortured me. This time ithelped me and I should return the favour. I don’t needto be grateful for my cure. I need to pay the country backbefore I leave this world. But a news item by the RSSlast week made me change my mind again. Perhaps I

would’ve been happier if I had died of my disease. Dr. Devkota can you give me the gift ofdeath?

Earlier, when I predicted the defamation of the political leaders would begin, my friendsscolded me for being too suspicious. They expected a degree of decency from the government.Unfortunately I was right. The state owned news agency RSS, referring to an old report, tried totarnish the image of pro-multiparty leaders for spending more than Rs 10 million on medicalexpenditures. The RSS generally ignores reports released by the Public Accounts Committee,but this time it cited an old report to raise the issue. It is obvious that it is an attempt to damagethe image of political leaders so that the general people overlook what’s happening within thepresent government.

The ones without character will be unaffected, and those with strong characters are neverassassinated by the press. When Shrisha Karki committed suicide, Kishor Shrestha waslambasted for his actions. Politicians may not commit suicide, but the RSS news was not lesspainful in any way. Even Kishor Shrestha had not twisted the truth so severely. The RSS per-spective makes it look like Man Mohan Adhikari had extracted Rs 450,000 to pay a printingpress for publishing election campaign leaflets. What can be a bigger journalistic crime thanthe deliberate obstruction of truth and the fudging of facts?

It could have been lauded if RSS had dared to write that a person who is a minister in thepresent “clean” government had his campaign leaflet bills reimbursed from the medical fundprovided to parliamentarians. But by twisting the truth it has blackened the face of the NepalPress Council and the Federation of Nepalese Journalists. I am not sure whether the council,federation and other media organisations that bashed Kishor would be able to even touch theRSS. It remains to be seen if the guardians of morality who compelled Kishor to publiclyapologise will be able to order the RSS to do the same.

Nepal has a precept and tradition of financially supporting the medical treatment of thosewho contribute to the country. The late Man Mohan Adhikari and KP Oli were both offered thesebenefits, as mentioned in the PAC report, after a serious helicopter accident. The RSS reportmade it look like the political leaders had grafted the money out of the national coffer. It wasjust a case of our country paying respect to these personalities for their contributions.

I state here that these series of attempts to defame the pro-multiparty leaders will continue,because it is not merely journalism but, in fact, is politics.

Chalphal, 8 December

It’s soon going to be mandatory for pillion riders towear helmets and for drivers to wear seat belts. TheValley Traffic Police Office hasn’t stated the exactdate when the rule will be implemented but they arepreparing drivers to adjust to this rule. The Vehicleand Transport Act 2049 provides for safety measuresfor vehicle drivers and pillion riders but so far therules haven’t been enforced.

Experts feel it’s time to implement these lawswith the increase in the number of vehicles anddeteriorating road conditions. The KathmanduValley Traffic Control Police office held a discussionprogram last week highlighting the need for helmetsand safety belts. This would see a decrease infatalities, especially in two wheeler accidents.Motorcylists, pillion riders, and pedestrians werelikely to get hurt on an equal ratio according toaccident data collected by the Valley Traffic PoliceOffice over the past six months and a surveyconducted among 185 motorcyclists at Bir Hospital.The survey revealed 32.2 percent of the driverssuffered serious head injuries. The figures head

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injuries among pillion riders and pedestrians were19.4 percent and 48.4 percent. Fatalities amongdrivers was 33.3 percent, the same among pillionriders was 32.4 percent, and 33.4 percent forpedestrians. The survey also indicated that 40percent of the drivers, 18.9 percent of the pillionriders, and 40.6 percent of pedestrians sufferedbroken limbs during accidents. The KathmanduValley Traffic Police Office, however, maintains thatwhile motorcyclists are likely to suffer 80 percentinjuries in an accident, their passengers will suffer100 percent injuries.

The question is why did it take a decade toimplement an act that was made 10 years ago? Theneed is greater today, say traffic officials, owing to agreater number of vehicles and the deterioratingcondition of roads. On 28 November, the NationalTransport Security Committee meeting chaired bythe Minister for Labour and Transport passed theproposal. However, traffic experts feel it will taketime before we see results because transportentrepreneurs will need time to fit their vehicleswith safety belts. The sale of motorbike helmets isexpected to rise.

�13 - 19 DECEMBER 2002 -/3)6��,�7/(5�(,1�:�)-��*26,2�/

��9� � ";��HHSundarijalToday’s Rising Nepal carried the news of confirmation by theSupreme Court of death sentences passed by one mantribunal. What is intriguing is that BK Mishra was also involvedin the statement of Capt Yagya Bahadur Thapa. This newssays that Captain has made the statement before the trialcourt that by a joint direction of Girija, GM and BK, he wasmade the leader of the group that went to captureOkhaldhunga and set up a parallel govt there. I can under-stand GM and GP but why BK? What is the purpose of thegovt in getting this statement from Capt Thapa? BK hasrecently been given amnesty and had only less than 2 monthsago come to Kathmandu to test the validity of the amnesty. Hehas been pardoned—does amnesty granted to him extend tothis case also in which he has been involved? GM thinks thathe has been implicated in this case just to affront India. Hethought when BK was amnestized that it was a part of theappeasement policy towards India. I am a little worried by thenews. At least it complicates the situation in which thechances of a dialogue between the king and us would appearless clear if anything, GM remains firm in his conviction thatthe king has no alternative to a compromise with us. He isequally firm that his relation with India is deteriorating, andthere is no chance of the differences with India beingcomposed. Why I am not so cock sure?

I am in tolerably good mood. The black moods that I usedto be subjected to I am free from—although my health is notthat good. I get headaches, which is a new symptom with me.I never suffered from headache, lack of sound sleep. I nowknow what headache means.But now I get constant head-ache and buzzing noise in my head. I think I have lost someweight also. I hope it is nothing serious. The tensions involvedin the initial period of adjustment to the life of a total segre-gated incarceration may be the main factor for the loss ofweight.

I didn’t write anything today. Brooded over an article onthe importance of party politics in Nepal which I propose towrite. Jotted down some points for the article. Since a fewdays I am in a mood of writing, but lack of any books,particularly reference books and congenial and helpfulcompany like that of Shailaja who can assist me in any workis impeding my enthusiasm. I am conscious of the poor qualityof my writing. This is because there are no reference books. Ineed general books also. They titillate my imagination andprove provocative—a kind of useful dialogue is started. I needan intelligent assistant also, it also provokes my thinking ability.My political writing particularly is some kind of statement of myconviction or defence of my stand. It is again in the nature of

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a dialogue. I also very much need Shailaja today in this moodof mind when I am itching for writing. She understands meand has her own mind too.

��9� � ";��HHSometimes I am assailed with doubts as to the correctness ofour present line in pursuance of which we returned to Nepalwithout any assurance from the opposite side of a positiveresponse to our line. I remember Sushila’s advice not to returnto Nepal in such uncertain, in her mind, negative attitudes onthe part of the king. She never thought that the king wouldrespond to our gesture in the same spirit of nationalism inwhich we have made it. With Mahendra, according to her,such a gesture would have perhaps produced some goodresults, but with the present king nobody could be sure ofanything. In such a situation, the decision of ours to return toNepal were fraught with extensive danger. Moreover,according to her reasoning, the king would feel greatlyrelieved to have us at his disposal and would be happy topromptly throw us behind bars and be done with a problem.The fight for democracy would suffer once we were removedfrom the position from where we could actively guide themovement. She was fully convinced that our imprisonmentwould be the end of the struggle for democracy in Nepal. Shehas very sound instinct. I don’t know if her instinct in thepresent case of ours is also sound. Of course, I did notaccept her argument. As a matter of fact I didn’t evenconsider it seriously. Today I remember her admonition anddoubts assail me. In two previous occasions also I didn’taccept her advice—1. When I became Home Minister in spiteof her advice to me against it, 2. At the time of my being PMshe again advised me not to go in for that office. Her idea ofthe role that fitted me was of a Gandhi, who exercisedinfluence without being in the seat of power. According to her,this denial on my part would enhance my standing with thepeople and educate my colleagues and political workers onthe idea that there was a better way of serving people thanthrough the occupation of seats of power. The unseemly rushfor power would be curbed by my grand gesture, etc etc. Idon’t know if it would have been better so far as I amconcerned if I had acted on Sushila’s advice, whether myeffectiveness as a political leader would have been greater orwhether it would have been reduced to nullity. I am, however,inclined to think that on those two occasions in the past heradvice was not sound if only from a purely success point ofview. The two important offices that I occupied did add up tomy personality and political prestige. The present direction ofours is irrevocable. Do dear Sushila, even you should wishnow that I have taken a correct decision.

In the December Himal

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Diasporiac dispositions: Fashioning the NRI

The ‘Madrasi’ of Malaysia: Being ‘Indian’ in Southeast Asia

Exposing the saffron brigade’s fundraising scam

Starvation amidst surplus: The business of hunger

Ved Mehta’s tempest of self-revelation

Sashaying through structural adjustment: The ugly business of beauty

Hindutva indoctrination: Growing into their knickers

Nepal’s bloody November

Tibetan cadres today: Collaborators or patriots?

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Give yourself the gift of Reflexology !email: buddhasfeet or ring 425-931

Visit Ground Zero Fine wines,designer candles, cards, exclusiveNepali paper products,silver jewellery, wooden items,perfumes and more. Darbar Marg,opposite Hotel de l’Annapurna

� *�,: 13 - 19 DECEMBER 2002 -/3)6��,�7/(

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KATHMANDU VALLEY

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“Rishtey” follows the traditional Indian cinematheme of relationships; entangled, complicatedand peppered with song-and-dance routines.Director Indra Kumar directs Anil Kapoor(Suraj), Karishma Kapoor (Komal) and ShilpaShetty (Vyjanthi) in a drama about love, fam-ily and friendships. Rumour has it that “Rishtey”is a remake of 1974’s “Kunwara Baap”. Surajand Komal were once happily married butcircumstances tore them apart. The one per-son who can bring them back together isVyjanthi, the colourful fisherwoman. Thismovie will undoubtedly follow true and triedHindi film formulas—expect a tearjerker with ahappy ending.

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This satellite image taken on Wednesday afternoonshows a westerly front over Pakistan being smeared bythe jetstream. The Himalayan range is keeping the worstof the cold at bay, but this front is threatening someprecipitation into western Nepal, which needs the rainbadly. But the front lacks strength and moisture to driveon towards Kathmandu. By the time they arrive here,they will have been wrung out by the cold and dry polarwinds. Expect wisps of high clouds that will dim thesunshine and foggy mornings that will send the mercuryplummeting further.

��

� Snow and other adventures: “Poems in Frames” by Mark Wyatt at LazimpatGallery Café, Lazimpat.

� Cubism by Surendra, paintings by Shova and ceramic sculptures by CecileHoudret at Park Gallery till 25 December. Park Gallery, Patan. 522307

� Woodturning in Kathmandu by Dan Hogan, and Unspoken Words: newTibetan Calligraphy by Dhumakhang at Indigo Gallery, Kathmandu. 8AM-6PM till14 January. 413580

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� Meditation for the lazy and the inspired with Wayne Amtzis. 5.30-6.30PM on 13 December.Free entry. Live classical vocal music by Sunita Mishra and Indira Maharjan.5-6PM on 15 December. Rs 100. Both at Everest Book Shop, Baber Mahal [email protected]. 253337

� Shukrabar Classical Music at Patan Museum on Friday, 13 December, 5PM onwards TicketsRs 500. 218517

� Summit Christmas Bazaar Textiles, wood carvings, ceramics and barbeque. 4-9PM,13 December. Free entry. Summit Hotel. 521810

� Hyatt Winter Tennis Championships from 16-21 December, all categories. Hyatt RegencyKathmandu, 491234

� Teaching and Tara Initiation by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. 4PM on 14 December (minimumdonation Rs.500). Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Kamaladi, Ganesthan.email:[email protected]. 221875

� “Licence to Thrill” Premiere Party at 1905 with Chef Thomas Kilroy at 1905, Kantipath. Rs 2000for the movie at Jai Nepal Cinema followed by drinks, dinner and dance. Tickets at Kilroy (414448),1905 (225272) and Jai Nepal (442220)

� Religious peace rally organised by the Religion and Peace Academy Nepal (RAPAN) begins at2PM from Bhadrakali on 14 December. 415213

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� Carlsberg Rock Yatra 1974 AD in concert, 4 PM onwards on 14 December at Dasrath Stadium.Tickets at Nanglo Bakery Café and Blue Bird Departmental Stores. 529726

� Jatra ma JAZZ Standard jazz tunes by Friends of Music. 6.30 PM onwards on 15 December.Chaksibari, Thamel. 211010

� Live music by Catch 22, Friday nights at the 40,000 ½ ft Bar, Rum Doodle Restaurant, Thamel.414336

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� The Coffee Shop, Hotel de l’Annapurna introduces a fine range of world class coffees fromKenya, Brazil and Colombia.

� Paddy Foley’s Irish Pub A wide range of drinks and food. Live music on Wednesday, Thursdayand Sunday nights. 416096.

� Friday Indulgence Taste 12 Scottish single malts for Rs 999 at the Piano Lounge, Hotel Yak andYeti. 248999

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� Multi Cuisine at Nanglo’s Deli, relocated to Durbar Marg. 224707� Wood fired pizzas, cocktails and coffee at the Roadhouse Café, Thamel� Christmas hampers and special pastries at The Lounge, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu from

21 December. 491234� Taste of Beijing Roast duck and other Chinese meat, fish and vegetarian delicacies. Beijing Roast

Duck Restaurant, Birendra International Convention Centre. 468589� Tukche Thakali Kitchen Buckwheat, barley, bean, and dried meat specialties. Also brunch with

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� Bardia Bonkers Freshwater dolphins, giant tigers, elephants, safaris, rafting, evening cocktails,traditional food. [email protected].

� Birdwatching, short hikes, writing 30 minutes from Kathmandu at Shivapuri National Park.Rs 1,850 per person with dinner and breakfast, Rs 925 per child 5-14 years Shivapuri HeightsCottage, www.escape2nepal.com. Email: [email protected]

� Tea House Combo Room, breakfast, Nepali thali dinner, swimming, jacuzzi. Rs 700 per head ontwin sharing for Nepalis and expats, Tea House Inn, Nagarkot. 410432

� Writing Retreat Full board package. Aesthetic living, innovative thinking, creative writing andnature at Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. 375280

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he work of the Indian artist, PrakaashChandwadkar has undergone a steady transforma-tion in the past two years. In the group show Artists

Without Borders, Prakaash’s paintings stood outthrough their unfolding energy. Prakaash embodiedhimself through the repeated thrust of the brush and apersistent outpouring of colour. In his next two shows atthe Siddhartha Gallery—Bodhi Leaves and BamiyanBuddha—Prakaash relied on the steady presence of asingle field of colour and the locating force ofBuddhist symbol.

Prakaash’s temperament cooled down; his chaoticdiaspora of colour held to the centre and a presence ofpeace emanated from his work. In Shakti-SthalPrakaash attempts to integrate these two strategies.Embodied energy and placating space meet in theseworks. The signifying presence of Hindu and Buddhistsymbols place the viewer in a centrifugal field of colourwithin or near cloud banks of centripetal brush strokes.Each painting has a quality of its own, but the displayas a whole establishes a space that is both contempla-tive and expressive. The repetition of symbols acrossthe boundaries of the paintings seduces the viewer intobelieving in the redemptive power and beauty ofpainting.

The matrix for this work is Kathmandu Valley. Forthe Bamiyan Buddha exhibit Prakaash took hundredsof photos of Buddhas located throughout the Valley.

REVIEW by WAYNE AMTZIS

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These he set in his paintings. For Shakti-SthalPrakaash visited the power places to photograph idol,stone, tree root, shrine, niche and alcove—whereverthe hand of the worshipper could be seen. Hundreds ofphotos representing these intimate sources of poweralso figure in this multifaceted exhibit. Where theworshipper offers powder, blood or the touch of herhand in rites of worship, Prakaash paints. The immedi-ate force of that which is worshipped is diminished andyet reclaimed. With the photos the presence of theShakti-Sthal almost manifests itself. To bring forth thepower of the stone-shaped gods and the colourfulblessings of puja, Prakaash has printed in vinyl 4x5foot enlargements of the smaller idols. With theseimages as with the paintings, beauty usurps innateforce and the contemplative power of the intellectdemands appreciation rather than worship.

It may be that Prakaash wishes to extend thisreclamation to the very space of the gallery. Attempt-ing to establish a contemporary Shakti-Sthal, Prakaashhas set, within the forest of his paintings and photos, abrass lingam in a mandala of water surrounded by fourtelevisions screening images of a man and a woman(Wang Sai Kwan and Sujata Sitoula) dancing. Doesthis improvised shrine and dance suggest the secularequivalent of worship? On the second floor of thegallery Prakaash’s brass lingam has grown in height—this time surrounded by an encampment of photos. Forthe casual onlooker an exhibit of painting, photogra-phy, sculpture and installation in a gallery settingevokes not the awe-felt immediacy of devotion but thesmile that accompanies an aesthetic sense of pleas-ure. When the power gained through contact with theValley’s Buddhas and Hindu deities manifests throughthe muted energy of his brush work, where the matrix ofthat encounter remains in the paintings and throughthe interplay of the depicted icons, Prakaash’s workbecomes a Shakti-Sthal. �

Shakti-Sthal, Power Places of the Valley: the multi-media art of Prakaash ChandwadkarSiddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited.Till 8 January.

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For more details: 521810

CELEBRATE your X-MAS atDHULIKHEL LODGE RESORT

Escape from Kathmandu and enjoy your Christmas at scenicDhulikhel Lodge Resort Dining with panoramic Himalayan

views, Goreto Fireplace Bar.Includes a Glass of wine, Accommodation, Special Christ-

mas dinner, Breakfast and More…

Per couple per room rate NRs. 2002.0050% discount for second night stay.

Contact: 222389, 011-61114 Fax: 222926, 011-64001

� 13 - 19 DECEMBER 2002 -/3)6��,�7/(

CDO Regd No. 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No. 04/058/59

by Kunda Dixit

2�# �7"�5�� NEPALI SOCIETY

hey say only true romanticsunderstand gazals, slowsentimental songs that talk

of lovers’ eye lashes, brokenhearts and starry nights. Thesecold winter evenings in a hiddencorner in Chabahil you will hearthe melancholy melodies ofNepali and Hindi gazals oflegends like the late NarayanGopal, Amber Gurung, andJagjit Singh wafting into thealleyway.

No, it’s not a gazal restau-rant we are about to visit. It is thehome of Sailesh and SailendraSingh. The brothers are not yourusual gazal singers clad in

5�7��Indian kurtas, and 24-year-oldSailesh and his two years siblingSailendra are not celebrity names.Like most prodigies Sailesh’sinterest in music started at a veryyoung age when his father noticedhim playing percussion with any oldcans, or even the dinner plate.

At the age of five he waspresented with a madal, and hisfather remembers how the shop-keeper was so amazed at Sailesh’stalent he gave a hefty discount onthe instrument. Sailesh was furtherencouraged in school by his musicteacher who sharpened his skillswith a variety of drums. In 1987, hisperformance in front of the entireroyal family with 12 different drumsat the same time won him praisesfrom the Queen Mother herself.

But as he approachedadolescence, Sailesh foundhimself in trouble. His voicestarted to crack. Luckily, hisdeeper voice turned out not tobe a disadvantage at all.And to give his songs thesame melody as before,Sailesh started playingthe harmonium and

taught his brother to play thetabla.

By then both the brothers wereready to get into serious music. Atthe first nationwide NarayanGopal Music Trust competition in1987, Sailesh stood second,beating several hundred competi-tors from all over the country. Twoyears later he won the first prize inthe same competition. “I sawNepal had all this music talent,and it’s only because they don’tget the exposure and theopportunity that they remainhidden,” says Sailesh. Last yearhis duet song with a femalepartner was nominated in the HitsFM Music Awards.

With their whole lives aheadof them, the sky is the limit

for the talented Singhbrothers. So, what plans?

Sailesh answerssolemnly: “We want

to make ourcountry proudof us.” �

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Documents

Nepali Times - Digital Himalayahimalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/nepalitimes/pdf/Nepali_Times_123.pdf · Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is going through a power struggle