Will Melamchi meet Arun’s fate ?

By Balaram Chaulagain

It is known to many that series of workshops, seminars, interaction programmes and meetings have been held to materialise the long-awaited Melamchi Drinking Water Project (MDWP). All feasibility studies, conducted so far, pointed out that water from Melamchi river in Sindhupalchowk district is a reliable breakthrough to end the perennial dearth of drinking water in the capital and its surroundings. The project is expected to supply 170 million litres of potable water to the Kathmandu Valley daily on the first phase of its completion. Furthermore, 510 million litres of water can be obtained daily from other two neighbouring rivers - Larke and Yangri.

At a time when the parched residents of Kathmandu Valley are hopefully awaiting Melamchi’s water to quench their involuntarily suppressed thirst, the concerned authority, more particularly, Melamchi Water Supply Development Board (MWSDB) has failed to roll the project ahead. The fate of the US$ 400 million MDWP has been solely depending on the executive director of the Board. It is because all executive power, pertaining to project launching, has been vested on MWSDB. Till date, billions of rupees and other resources have been spent in the name of project right from its inception in 1988.

In the context of Nepal, if we were to mitigate the long-term need of drinking water within the Kathmandu Valley, there would be no other alternative except the much-hyped Melamchi Project. Otherwise, it would be more better to shift the capital where abundant drinking water is available. Ironically, no such rays of reliable hopes have emerged, so far. A mega project like Melamchi, designed to fulfil the drinking water needs of the burgeoning population of Kathmandu Valley is, indeed a challenging one. Hence, a strong commitment and understanding among all stockholders, particularly, among donor groups is very crucial, and requires the government to play the key coordination role more effectively.

Melamchi, being a gigantic water project, needs huge amount of investment and other inputs. As such, the project should be completed as soon as possible; otherwise the project expenditure may escalate. Probably, the thirst of Kathmanduites may never be quenched. The relentless price hike seen in the project implementation is a matter of serious concern. According to the information given by MWSDB’s Executive Director, Dinesh Chandra Pyakurel, there is still a shortage of US$ 17 million to launch the project smoothly. Now, the sunny thing seen in the Melamchi Project is the construction of 25 megawatt hydro-power plant at Sundarijal. The construction of hydro-power plant along with the drinking water supply plant is likely to kill two birds with one stone. This attempt is highly laudable and deserves an applause.

Currently, the residents of Kathmandu Valley are compelled to live in water famine. Similarly, a lot of factories, big hotels, carpet washing and drying centres etc. are bearing the brunt of this problem. Advance charges may be levied on these commercial houses prior to the completion of the project. The amount, thus, collected may be spent to meet the paucity of funds needed to kick-off the project. On the basis of the generally accepted standards, the affluent consumers and businessmen should be made to pay certain amount of money for the construction of the project. This scheme may serve to overcome government’s financial constraints. Why has the government failed to adopt this scheme? It would be better than bowing down to different donor groups for the much-needed fund. In the absence of this step, the Melamchi may meet the Arun’s fate.

Besides, other drawbacks detected in the implementation of the project can be attributed to the failure of chosing a short and cheap access road to the project site. Till date, the government and other line agencies are turning a deaf ear in this respect. Now, it seems that the cost of the scheme will surely shoot up as estimated. This is so because the road to be used from Kathmandu to the project site through Arniko Highway via Lamidanda of Kavrepalanchowk district is time-consuming, which in the long-run will definitely increase the project’s cost. Instead, if the MWSDB had chosen the road to the project from Sankhu Bazaar of Kathmandu district to the project site via Bhotechaur of Sindhupalchowk district, it would have certainly shortened the lengthy route.

The fact is that if the road from Sankhu to Melamchi through Bhotechaur can be built, its distance will be just 45 km or less, whereas the length of 150 km has to be traversed from Kathmandu via Bhaktapur and Panchkhal of Kavrepalanchowk district. The construction of a motorable road, from Sankhu Bazaar of Kathmandu through Bhotechaur VDC of Sindhupalchowk, has already been undertaken with the support of World Food Programme Assistance. Besides, one of the focal points of the whole project (Pativanjyang) from where the boring of a 28 km long tunnel is going on, lies just around Bhotechaur.

This is just a tip of the iceberg of anomalies seen in the project’s implementation. Due to the confusion over the nature of the project, donors are going to be more confused. The pace of progress is bound to be retarded.

Obviously, the Valley’s water crisis should be addressed as soon as possible. Otherwise people residing in the capital and its vicinity will suffer due to the scarcity of water. Likewise, we should not delay to address the agony faced by the rural people on the project site. While the people residing in every nook and corner of the capital are compelled to rely on meagre water resources, the residents of Sindhupalchowk, more particularly in and around the project area, are also living in abject poverty. Hence, they should be compensated accordingly since they are fast loosing their natural resources. If we were to materialise the project immediately, we should face the facts squarely. Let us hope that in future, the shortcomings of the project will be eliminated and the pace of development would pick up speed.

Citizenship education in global perspective

By Ravi Rana Bhat

Achallenge: Name the most pressing issues in the world. Depending on your location and job, you may answer "conserving the bio-diversity" or "saving endangered species" or in more broader sense one might say," conserving the mother earth". Now identify the cause of these issues. Why do we face these and other burning challenges? The answer could vary from "lack of legislation", "excess development" to "lack of feeling of international brotherhood", or any one of myriad of causes. How can we resolve these burning issues? It involves taking a careful look at the "people" side of the problem.

Citizens are not passive beneficiaries, they do most of the work and should be involved in each and every stage of decision making processes. Many times, by raising awareness, providing information about issues and alternative approaches, we can alter outcomes or even prevent conflicts. Building relationships and fostering public understanding will help ensure a more secure future for all human beings. These are the goals of citizenship education.

If we are to safeguard our future and preserve our culture and civilisation, citizenship education is imperative. In a broad sense, citizenship education is a means for preparing the younger generation for effective citizenship through educating them to face realities of contemporary living. Citizenship education cannot be confined to schools only, rather it should be given at all stages and walks of life. The individuality of the person should be developed fully and this will contribute towards the total happiness of the society. For this, the structure of the society and its relation to education need to be studied. There is gulf between the society and education. The individual today is not self-dependent nor motivated. The main reason for this situation is lack of relationship between education and society. Thus, the aim of education should be, to effect all round development of an individual. At present, we are not able to achieve this goal because education is not related to life. This is problem for almost every countries in the world. Any education is not fulfilling the needs of the individual, nor it is able to meet the needs of society.

In such a crucial situation, citizenship education is the most effective tools which has a great influence in spreading various important messages to the people residing in remote rural areas of many developing countries, where most of the citizens are illiterate and living below poverty line, where expensive government literacy programmes have failed. Through this education pattern we given them attractive means and simple methods to make learning fun on most related topics.

Citizenship education provides an opportunity for the citizens to understand their political, socio-economic, environmental and many other important burning issues at various levels (local, national and global) including their own family responsibilities and enables them to reduce these issues. It helps people to imbibe qualities of good citizenship and help them lead their life more democratically. Citizenship education not only focuses on adult population, it is equally important for children. Though, in many country children get this education in schools, incorporated at their curriculum through civic education and subjects like moral sciences, but it has not been so successful because of its impracticality. Children are not taught to appreciate the aesthetic, cultural, economic and ecological values of nature. Therefore, these problems continue when the children become decision-making adults.

Nepali nationalism and stupidity of BBC

By Jagadish B Mathema

The whole world knows how proud Nepalese are regarding their sovereignty and nationalism. Although the British Empire, one time colonised most parts of the world, Nepal remained independent. There was once a saying, "The sun never sets in the British Empire".

Nepal has always fought against aggressors, in the question of sovereignty, which is so dear to Nepalese including the British. There are no questions in the issue of nationalism and sovereignty before the Nepalese people.

There is a saying in Sanskrit "Janani Janmavumi swarga dapi gari yasi" (English translation: The motherland is considered as the heaven for everyone).

BBC is a world renowned broadcasting station, located in Britain and is praised all over the world for its correct, independent as well as analytical views. It is an autonomous organisation. Every person in the world is so addicted to listening to its news reporting and I happen to be one of them. It is understood that in democracy, the right to freedom of expression is everyone’s right, guaranteed by the constitution. However, sometimes, when it hurts the sentiments and emotions, it is an example of stupidity.

This scribe has a great respect for BBC. I always make it a point (as I said earlier) to watch and listen to BBC’s various programmes including the news cast. But BBC’s recent act of putting Nepal’s sovereignty and independent identity under question has tremendously hurt the self-respect of the entire Nepalese and undermined the national independence, sovereignty, self respect and dignity of the Nepalese people. The debate when Nepal and India have so much in common (which is known to everyone) including language, culture and religion, would Nepal be better off under India’s umbrella? What a stupid question.

The CPN-UML leader and former Minister Jhal Nath Khanal has in his statement, published in The Rising Nepal dated September 28 pointed out, "There are many countries in the world who share religion, culture and language and for example, Britain and the United States of America are one of the best examples" — Then, why should not Britain remain under the American umbrella?

Almost all the political parties have condemned it. RPP has gone to the extent of saying, "Nepal has all along been independent of any foreign power and can protect itself" and RPP firmly asserted that Nepal can attain the goals of modernisation and social upliftment without remaining under the umbrella of anyone.

How can a world renowned institution like BBC go to the extent of undermining the sentiments of the sovereign people of Nepal who are proud of their country. Before this ridiculous idea emerged in the minds of BBC programmers, it should have thought about its impact on the minds and self respect of the Nepalese people.

We know that because of geographical compulsion, Nepal is not only landlocked, but ‘India-locked’. But saying that the Nepalese are bound to remain close to India under its umbrella is a big burden to the people of Nepal.

However, the timely apology, which BBC has made is quite right and a timely decision. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has apologised on air for putting up question on its website, which hurt the deep patriotic sentiments of Nepalese people. It further says, "We apologise for any unintended offence caused by the wording of our questions".

BBC has further clarified "the way BBC phrased the question originally gave the impression that many people were suggesting Nepal relinquish its sovereignty and somehow become part of India...". We never meant to suggest it and it is clearly not an issue and we are sorry for any offence caused". Now that BBC has realised its mistake, let us forget and forgive. We are now sure that BBC will not commit such mistake in future.

More than a history of literature

Writing an over 4-hundred-year-old history of the Nepalbhasa history, which has faced timely vissitudes of assistance and interference from the respective dynasties of the Kathmandu Valley in one book could be difficult but Prem Shanti Tuladhar has recently made a venturing attempt on this field.

Long before Nepalbhasa literature as such came into existence, Newar words were used in the Licchavi inscription dating from around 5th century AD. From 1115 AD, this language emerged as a means of expression in written mode.

Harmekhla of NS 1374, a book of shamanistic teaching, is considered as the oldest book written in Nepalbhasa. Quite a big number of books on medicine, justice, astronomy, rituals, veterinary, architecture, archery, music, dance, mathematics, jewellery etc, written in 14th to 17th century have been found. Among them, Gopal Rajbanhsawali of 1389 (half of book is written in Sanskrit), might be the most important document on history which covers the span from the legendary beginning to 14th century.

The writer states that though Nepalbhasa came in usage long ago, it was for the first time used for creative literature in 1605 — a 400 page-long manuscript of Bhagwat Puran was found. Though she indicates that literature might have started quite earlier in forms of ballads.

She divides the whole history in four broad periods — early ancient period, later ancient period, early medieval period, the Renaissance period and the modern period.

King Mahendra Malla (1560-1574) is considered to be the first poet of Nepalbhasa. Kings and queens, the elite group of the country, took part in creative writing. The earliest form of songs were composed in homage of deities, expression of bravery and in the form satires.

King Siddhi Narashingh Malla (1619-1661) was the pioneer in drama-writing, who wrote Ekadashibrata in 1633. King Ranajit Malla alone wrote 14 dramas. The dramas are based on Sanskrit tradition of drama writing and dances had a dominant role in them.

In the later ancient period, that is from the emergence of Shaha dynasty to Janga Bahadur’s taking over of power, Nepalbhasa lost its royal patronage. Still, the Shah kings did not totally boycott the local language - King Rajendra Shah himself was involved in drama writing. In this period, ballads, religious songs, hymns, humorous songs were accumulated from the public sides. Surananda was one of the poets of this period. Like earlier, religious stories remained a major genre of creation.

Medieval period broadly signifies the Rana period. Post-Renaissance period or earlier medieval period witnessed a vital change. Being affected by the inconsistent political chaos, the people turned themselves to chanting sermons for spiritual liberation. The major poets of this period included Abhayananda, prime minister Bhimsen Thapa’s brother.

Writing of a religious book by Pandit Nisthananda and having it printed in Devnagari script (NS 1909) heralded Renaissance in Nepalbhasa history of literature. Following him, many others accepted the time of need. A group of literary figures like Siddhidas Amatya, Jagatsunder Malla, Yogbir Singh etc came forward to revive literature in Nepalbhasa.

Writer Tuladhar took the year 1941, when half a dozen writers were imprisoned virtually on the charge of writing in Nepalbhasa at the dawn of the modern age. Chittadhar Hridaya and others worked even harder in jail for Nepalbhasa literature.

The movement of Nepalbhasa literature took another turn when Radio Nepal banned news broadcasting in this language in 1965. Literary symposiums were organised in local courtyards and campuses and gave birth to countless poets and writers.

Tuladhar traced out a brief sketches of the organisations, working for the development of Nepalbhasa literature, and medals for writers, teaching of Nepalbhasa too.

The writer divides the modern age into two — one, which started in jail and the other which brought the influence of TS Eliot in Nepalbhasa literature. The former period, led by Siddhi Charan Shrestha, was highly dominated by Romanticism. Later, the unfavourable political system induced the writers to show dissatisfaction through poetry. Poets of Gajalan Daagu Cha and Sarasu in 1964 brought a new dimension in poetry — it is called entering in the modern era.

In the same way, stories, essays, satires, plays, novels and criticism arose one by one and developed in their own ways. However, literary development in this period is not as easy to trace as in earlier periods. Along the social structure and life value, people’s thinking also metamorphosed. This timely changes were obviously reflected in the literary creations.

The writer has tried to include as many names of the writers as possible. Rather than imposing subjective theories and including events of personal interest, she has narrated all the major incidents in literary history and social events which made impact on the literary environment.

The writer gives thumbnail pictures of the origins of the Newars, the naming and nature of their language, its script, the calendar propagated by a Newar, the early manuscripts and inscriptions too.

However, it would have been better and comprehensive if the writer limited her book only to the literary history and left other secondary elements for separate editions. She was driven by a need to provide the readers with a book that would give a broad picture of Nepalbhasa.

Reviewed by
Razen Manandhar