Younger generation lured by Western music

By Perina Pathak

KATHMANDU, March 6 - Call it a trend or glamour, music students these days are mostly studying western musical instruments, like the guitar or drums or keyboard or the octa-pad (electric drum).

What makes them take up only the western musical instruments when it comes to music. Are they more comfortable with the instruments or is the traditional Nepali music instruments very hard to play?

According to music composer, Nhyu Bajracharya, the younger generation wants to be modern by playing the modern instruments.

While music students are inclined towards modern musical instruments but the traditional or folk instruments (madal, sarangi, tungana, damphu etc) and classical instruments (sitar, tabla, harmonium, dil-ruba, sarod, bansuri, violin) are fading out and rarely in use. It takes only somebody with a serious interest and dedication to sitdown and learn these instrument, which is lacking in the younger generations of today.

Those teaching in the music schools say that modern instruments are easier to learn as they are very easy to use and one single instrument can set the tone and note of the songs, which according to them is a tough when it comes to traditional instruments.

Music directors say that they also use the modern western instruments to compose a song.

"For example, a synthesizer is a musical instrument which can give every kind of tone and note of every musical instrument even of classical and folk", says music director Milan Moktan, owner of the music school Sadhana Kala Kendra. "There are lots of facilities and it is very easy to compose music," he adds.

"Our folk instrument Sarangi which cannot be found anywhere in the world and has a very unique tone is now out of use because of incomplete note," says a music director. "Classical notations are incomplete compared to staff (international) notations - which can be intertwined with classical notation too", tells Moktan.

For the classical player it is not just the musician but the listeners too must have some knowledge about the classical instruments. Otherwise the listener will dislike the music. "But he who likes classical music avoids modern music", says Moktan.

"Traditional player use swarlipi (word notation) that is not understood by musicians from other countries. It is better to convert it to staff notation", says Bajracharya. "There will always be some difference if a replication of swarlipi is attempted," he adds.

It is a fact that music composers too prefer to hire music players who are capable of composing music, which usually ends up that they are trained in western music. And the music composers do not like to take any blame for the feared extinction of the traditional instruments.

"People are accepting and using instrument that is full of facilities, easy to learn and teach," says Bajracharya. "And it is not the composer’s fault to adopt and compose music based on notations that are easy to use."

Another reason for adopting modern instrument is that today’s youngsters are more inclined towards fast music, which the western instruments easily give.

And then there is the fear about the extinction of traditional instruments. "If the trend of using modern instrument goes on as it is now, traditional instruments may be extinct or remain in the showcases of the museum within a century," says Moktan.

He feels that the government should seriously consider something to preserve these instruments, which carry the identity of the nation.

The musicians say that foreign experts have developed new instruments inspired by our traditional instruments. While the modern musical instruments are still in use our folk instrument is out of use, they complain. Like, concert flute is developed from Bansuri (traditional flute), rolling drum from tabla, tabla again was developed from Madal, they say.

Another reason for people not choosing to learn the traditional and folk instrument is that they fear of being an outcast in a society which is overwhelmingly awed by the western music.

Whatever the reasons for joining the guitar or other musical instrument classes, music classes have proved to be even a place for socialisation. "All my friends are learning the modern/western instrument and I am just here to socialise", says Prajaya Sharma a student taking guitar classes. You learn something about the music, instruments and make or be with friends at the same time.

Destruction of Buddhist artifacts condemned

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KATHMANDU, March 6 - Several political and non-government organizations have heavily condemned the Taliban regime for its wanton destruction of Buddhist artifacts in the Bamiyan province of Afghanistan, here today.

NC Parliamentary Party office today protested the Taliban decision and expressed deep shock and concerns saying that it strongly condemned such action.

"Through ages, apostle of peace Lord Buddha’s statues have been not only a source of religious inspiration but also have been an example of ancient civilization and those behind the destruction of the statues have tarnished human civilization," the release from NC Parliamentary Party office said.

The party appeals to the international community of nations to join hands against such forces at work.

Similarly, Nepal Communist Party, CPN-ML, Central Office in its press release said that the Taliban must immediately stop the destruction of Buddhist artifacts. The CPN-ML also appealed to the United Nations Organization to immediately intervene and save the ancient statues from being destroyed.

The Nepal Students’ Union has also appealed to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan to take immediate action on the Taliban militia. While a press release from the Organization of Buddhist Monasteries of Lalitpur, Nepal, called on all the Buddhist Organization, Government, UNO and International social and cultural organizations to join hands for the protection and preservation of Buddhist artifacts and relics in Afghanistan.

The Buddhist Communication Center organized a forty-five minute rally in which various Buddhist monks, preachers and its members took part. The organization appealed to all to protect the Buddhist statues.

Similarly, The Explore Nepal Group, said in its release, "at a time when the world peace is threatened by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, it is important that a country like Afghanistan tittering on the edge of war learnt Buddha’s peace message."

The Explore Nepal said that it is always ready to join hands against the Fascist forces for the protection and preservation of the works of arts and culture.

Likewise, Nepal Patriotic Organisation, an NGO working to promote the nation, nationality, peace and humanity has condemned the destruction of the statues.

"The news of the demolition of priceless Buddha’s statues in Afghanistan by Islamic militia has shocked the heart of all that belong to the birthplace of Lord Buddha," says the press release issued by the organisation.

The release also appeals to the International Communities including Islamic World to take actions against such petty and low-minded activities.

Similarly the Rastrya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and the National Peoples’ Front have also condemned the action of the Taliban.

Seventh National Magar convention concludes

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DHARAN, March 6 - The seventh national convention of Nepal Magar Association urged the government to conduct an impartial enquiry into the effects of the Maoist "People’s War" on Magar people and make arrangement for compensation, rehabilitation and release from detention of people belonging to the Magar community.

The association has urged the government to form a commission, to hold an enquiry and to identify Magars killed, detained and displaced as a result of the Maoist movement.

More than 50 people belonging to Magar community have died in Pyuthan district alone in the course of "People’s War" waged by the Maoists over the last six years, former central member of the association Balbhadra Kumari Magar told The Kathmandu Post.

The three-day national convention, held at the local Stadium, concluded on Monday after electing its 18-member central committee and re-electing Gore Bahadur Khapangi as the central committee president. The vice-president, general secretary, treasurer and secretary elected to the central committee are Dev Bahadur Rana Magar, Jhak Bhadur Thapa Magar, Yam Bahadur Budhathoki Magar and Bir Bahadur Budhathoki Magar respectively.

The convention has also demanded that the government allocate seats for Magars in the fields of education, employment and government service and allocate fund for the development of Magar language.

Thugs cheat money from locals

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MORANG, March 6 - Police here arrested five people on charges of deceiving locals in the name of getting their eyes examined by senior surgeons from Tilganga Eye Hospital and abroad.

Those apprehended are Central Chairman of BP Thought Rural Development Project, Hari Bhakta Sangraula, the Project Director, Madhav Subedi, General Secretary, Krishna Raj Koirala, Treasurer Bishnu Chapagain and Regional Chairman of the Project, Tulasi Chapagain, according to Superintendent of Police, Krishna Bahadur Thapa at the Morang District Police Office.

The accused were at large after collecting more than Rs 200,000 as fees in advance from more than 800 people in the Madhumalla VDC on Sunday and Saturday in the pretext of holding an eye-camp. SP Thapa said that the accused were arrested with evidence in Damak, Jhapa on Monday.

SP Thapa said that the accused were arrested after the victims gheraoed the eye-camp complaining that they were simply examined by an assistant health worker from the Golchha Eye Hospital.

Reality of the deception came to the fore after an eye patient, Kuber Rai, from Ilam, said that he had already paid Rs 17,000 to the organisers for his eye transplant, Police Inspector Bhim Dahal, who was on duty at the eye-camp, quoted Rai as saying.

The swindlers had collected Rs 17,000 for an eye transplant, Rs 1,500 for putting up a contact lens and Rs 50 for an ordinary check up from each person.

Police said that accused would be prosecuted on charges of deception.

Speeches puzzle bereaved Lamas

By Kulchandra Neupane & Shukraraj Pant

GORKHA, March 6 - The bare-footed and tattered Lamas from the northern frontier Prok VDC listened carefully to the speeches addressed by leaders on a decked marquee.

They, however, could not fully comprehend what the leaders were talking about as they could hardly speak Nepali. A total of 54 starved Lamas trekked for 7-days to arrive at the district headquarters for the first time to receive relief materials for the property destroyed by a fire on 2 February.

A total of 52 homes, two monasteries and the wheat crops at ward No-4 and 5 of the VDC were burnt to a cinder after the fire caught them from a nearby jungle. Over 300 people have become homeless due to the deadly fire.

The Lamas dropped in the district headquarters at a time when leaders from various political parties were addressing the district council meeting that opened on Monday.

But nobody spoke a word about the agony faced by the homeless Lamas. Rather, the ruling and opposition party leaders focused their speeches on the issues which the poor Lamas could not grasp.

The fire victims are picketing in the open sky with a bleak hope of relief from the government. But they have not been provided any relief even though it has been more than a month they have been languishing without food and shelters.

Fed up with the partisan views during the opening function, Prok VDC Chairman, Kunsang Namgel, said, "We are least concerned with the party politics, what we need is relief."

The VDC and locals have been supporting the fire victims since they became homeless.

"The fire could not be extinguished soon because of very less snowfall during this year’s winter," Chairman of Ward No-4, Henan Gyamjo, said, "The fire not only destroyed our foodstuff but also the growing crops."

The Lamas on picketing said that their children will die of severe starvation and likely epidemic if the government does not arrange foodstuff for them at least for a year.

District Red Cross Society has decided to provide clothes and kitchen utensils to each fire victim. Likewise, the district administration has also allocated relief funds provided by the Home Ministry.

Local administration said that a package of relief material, including foodstuff and Rs 4,000 in cash to each fire victim family, provided by the Home Ministry, have already been dispatched to border administration on the Nepal-Tibet border.

Prok VDC Chairman Namgel accused the administration of dawdling and giving unnecessary trouble to the victims while providing the relief. "We have arrived here but the administration shows us to the northern border which takes about 15 days to get there," he added.

Assistant Chief District Officer, Ganga Sagar Dhakal, said that he had already dispatched the relief material and Rs 45,000 in cash to support the 53 fire victims although police claimed only 48 homes were destroyed.

Dhakal conceded that the relief material was sent too late and it would not support the victims more than two months to come. "They should be provided relief for a year," Dhakal said.

District Development Committee member from the northern Himali region, Chhewang Ghayaljen, said that the DDC council meeting should arrange special relief package to the fire victims. The only source of livelihood to this area is the wheat farming which was burnt to ashes due to the great fire that engulfed the whole community.

Workshop on information management kicks off

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KATHMANDU, March 6- UNICEF is considering collaboration with Indian IT companies like NIIT and WIPRO in the computer-based learning for schools, and in their use of symbol and sound -driven software for illiterate slum children, Nigel Fisher, Regional Director, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia said Tuesday inaugurating a three-day workshop on Recent Trends in Information Management and Knowledge Sharing organized by Information Exchange Network, IEN here at the Conference Hall, UNICEF ROSA, Lainchaur.

A total of thirty participants from various libraries and departments had assembled at the inaugural session. "The main objective of the workshop is to equip the participants so as to respond to the challenges brought about by the latest developments in information technology and new learning," said Damodar Adhikari, Coordinator, IEN.

To achieve "knowledge-leveraged growth,", immediate reform action is required in the education sector, if children are to acquire the capacity to think critically, to ask questions, to solve problems, to work cooperatively, to imagine—the basic skills of a knowledge-based society," Fisher quoted Anil Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Corporation, India as saying. Fisher had been to India earlier to meet IT experts.

The first of its kind in Nepal, the workshop organized by the IEN is expected to allow participants to explore trends and developments in information management and knowledge-networking. "This is about managing and networking knowledge for development," said Fisher.

Speaking on the situation of libraries in Nepal, D. Thapa, Chief of Nepal National Library said that there is no library regulations or law and that most people do not read for long. He also pointed out that there is no public library in the strict sense of the term and the crux of the problem is unavailability of funds.

Another speaker, R.P. Dulal of Tribhuvan University pointed out that most libraries have no internet and depend upon card system which is cumbersome and time consuming process to find a particular information.

"I’ve come to learn about information resources in Kathmandu that could help my library get the latest information on Internet and IT which will help me to teach my students," said Mary Maxwell, chairperson of the Library Committee and a lecturer at Lalitpur Nursing Campus when asked about the purpose of her participation.

Judy Field, lecturer at Wayne State University, Library and Information Science programme, USA, who arrived here today also presented books on the occasion. Field will share her experience on information management and knowledge sharing through the web on Thursday.

The workshop is scheduled to close on Thursday.

Ceaseless flow of tears makes him blind

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BIRGUNJ, March 6 - A man who had completely lost his eyesight due to continuous weeping after he lost his son, has received the sight of his one eye after one year. He was successfully operated in local Kedia Eye Hospital recently.

"I have received a new life. Industrialist Punam Chand Agrawal and Dr Ramesh Pradhan are just like gods to me," he said after the successful operation of his eye.

Abdesh Kumar Vajpayee,62, had gone to perform puja at one place. He was promised Rs 11 for performing the puja. When the puja was over, the man gave him only one rupee and asked him to go to a pushcart pusher for Rs 10. When Vajpayee met the pushcart pusher, Dilli Ram, an argument broke out between the two and the pushcart pusher started manhandling him. Vajpayee’s 25-year-old son Ajay, who was with him, came to his father’s rescue, but Dilli Ram knifed him to death. It was from this time onward that Bajpayee started crying and his tears flowed ceaselessly eventually making him blind.

Recalling the incident Vajpayee still continues to cry despite the fact that doctors in Kedia Eye Hospital have ordered him not to cry.

The operation of his second eye will be performed in the same hospital after two weeks.

Eye operations of 80 patients, including that of Bajpayee, resident of Kalaiya in Bara district was conducted free of cost with the cooperation of Lions Club and Kedia Eye Hospital, according to the Administrative Officer of the hospital Kapil Dev Tiwari.