A multi-lingual songster, 9-year-old Suman enthrals audience

By Ranjana Pradhan

KATHMANDU, Nov 10 – She is just a little girl. Looks like the one living next door. But nine-year-old Suman Chettri mesmerizes everyone with her stunning performance displaying her singing talents so well in seven different languages and that too at such a young age. Nepal can now be proud of her new upcoming star.

Suman can do justice to all the different languages that she sings in. She amazes people when she sits down with her singing aid Harmonium and gets lost in her songs. She sings Nepali, Hindi, English, Tharu, Bengali, Assamese and Bhojpuri songs so well as if she were a native speaker of all these languages.

Suman sings songs written by different writers but she fondly remembers late Narayan Gopal, the Swar Samrat or the melody king of Nepali music as her sole inspirer. Suman is full of praises for the late Swar Samrat, and Indian singer Lata Mangeskar for their awesome voice and undying contribution towards the music world. "I want to sing and become someone like Lata Mangeskar when I grow up," a young, innocent yet confident- looking Suman said as she glanced across her first released album, Pahila Baddaichha.

Noted lyricist Dinesh Adhikari released the album featuring eight songs in the capital Saturday.

"She is simply fabulous, an amazingly talented girl with lots of potentials," he remarked after releasing the album. "We have to protect and nurture Suman’s incredible talent. We should not burden her with heavy loads….We should let her bloom with time and let her present her talent according to her age."

Born on September 21, 1993, in the eastern Indian state of Assam, Suman is presently studying in standard five in Oxford English Boarding School, Butwal in western Nepal. And it is not only singing that she has given all her time and attention to. According to Poonam, one of her two elder sisters, Suman is as attentive towards her studies as she is towards her singing.

"Suman always stands second or third in her exams and it is amazing to see how well she can concentrate on her singing classes as well as in her school works. She is quite an extraordinary child,"she says.

Suman’s parents - father Hira Chettri and mother Shanti Chettri - came to Nepal nine years ago from Assam. Now the Chettris are settled in Butwal with their family of three daughters and a son. Suman was born in Digboi, Assam. Her family migrated to Nepal after her birth.

Suman’s family has full confidence that she has the capabilities to make it big one day. "I am sure she has the talent to excel in the music world," says Suman’s proud father. "I could always see the look of love and admiration for music in Suman’s eyes. She picks up any kind of music that she listens to. She has the inborn talent to sing and tune in to any language as well.

Suman began her singing career two and a half years ago under the guidance of Krishna Ghatani, a musician. Ghatani does not hesitate to give his genuine comments on Suman’s performance. "To possess such exceptional talents and that too at such a young age is very rare," he says. "She has tremendous skills to grow in the music field. I am all praises to her talent and credit also goes a great deal to her family and their undivided support."

Manjul, a renowned musician and poet is full of praises for the budding artiste. "She is indeed talented," he said after listening to her singing in the capital Saturday. "It is the responsibility of we elders to let such talents grow up and prosper. We should help in providing her an independent environment to grow and learn more."

PM releases Chand’s anthology of poetry

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 10 – Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba released an anthology of poetry composed by litterateur and former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand amidst a function here today.

After the release of the anthology Sandhyawali , addressing the gathering of litterateurs and scholars, Prime Minister Deuba said that his government is committed to preserve and promote the Nepali language and culture.

He also shed light on the multi-dimentional personality of former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand. He said, " There are very few men in the world who are politicians as well as litterateurs". He said literature adds taste to politics.

Speaking at the programme different litterateurs and intellectuals shed light on the newly released anthology of poetry and the poet.

Madhav Ghimere, former chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy and senior poet said that poet Chanda was more popular in the literary field than in politics. He also asked the government to take initiatives for the promotion of literature in the country.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Tulsi Bhattarai, member secretary of the Royal Nepal Academy shed light on the personality of the poet and his creation. Sandhyawali is the third anthology of poetry by Chanda. He has already published two poetry anthologies, namely, Indradhanus (in Hindi) and Aparichit. Besides these anthologies, Chand has also published two storybooks, essays and plays. He has been awarded with the Madan Puraskar and the Harischandra Award for his contribution to literature. Sandhyawali consists of 71 poems composed by the poet from 1961 to 1976.

Surya Ratna Gubhaju, General Secretary of the Academic Research and Development Action Council (ARDAC) and Gita Bhakta Joshi, President of the University Professors Academic Group (UPAG) also expressed their views on the occasion. The programme was jointly organised by ARDAC and UPAG.

Govt should recognise Nepal Era : Nepal

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 10 - The leader of the main opposition party Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal today emphasized that the government should recognise the Nepal Era as the national calendar of the country.

Addressing the image unveiling programme in Kathmandu, Nepal said the government is using the "imported" Bikram Era even if it is not related to the country, whereas it is reluctant to use the Nepal Era that is directly related with the country’s name and people.

"We may have debate on how we can go about practising Nepal Era but there cannot be no doubt over its Nepaliness. The government should recognise Nepal Era as the official calendar," said Nepal.

He said a son of the country created a history by liberating the whole population from debts which shows that the Nepali history is famous for such citizens who preferred the public benefit to personal interests. "Any country that cannot honour its national heros and respect its history cannot secure its future either," he said.

Chairman of Nepalbhasha Mankaa Khalaa Padma Ratna Tuladhar said though the people do not have to face prohibitions from the local administrations like in the Panchayat days, the government is not showing interest to recognise the glory of the nation even today.

"We must throw away the Bikram Era as it is the remnant of the Indian imperialism," he said.

House of Representative members Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Upper House members Mahesh Mani Dixit and Deputy Mayor Bidur Paudel and ward chairman Ram Bir Manandhar also expressed their views on Nepal Era and contributions of Sankhadhar Sakhwaa on the occasion.

Preservation of Nepali culture stressed

BHAKTAPUR, Nov. 10(RSS)- Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur KC points out that the government, private sector, social organisations and the individuals should come in unison and greatly strive for the preservation and promotion of Nepali culture and tradition.

Minister KC made this remarks while inaugurating a seminar on Newaa Musical Tradition in Madhyapur Thimi jointly organised by the German Development Co-operation Agency and Madhyapur Thimi Art Council here today.

In his inaugural address, Minister KC noted that it is the responsibility of all to preserve Nepali culture at a time when traditional drums are gradually disappearing and the drum players are abandoning their profession.

On the occasion, Minister KC. felicitated Manju Bajra Bajracharya, a renowned musical teacher of Thimi and also presented gifts and letters of appreciation to Krishna Bahadur Prajapati, Bishu Bahadur Prajapati, Santa Bahadur Prajapati, Dil Krishna Prajapati and Subhas Ram Lachhi in recognition of their contributions in propagating Nepalese musical instruments of Thimi within and outside the country.

Similarly, chairman of Lyayamha Puchaa Thimi Shyam Krishna Manandhar presented gifts to senior musical teacher Bajracharya.

Madhyapur Thimi Art Council Chairman Ganeshram Lachhi presided over the function at which Madhyapur Thimi Mayor Madan Krishna Shrestha, Nepal Bhasha Parishad Chancellor Satya Mohan Joshi, Newaa Dey Daboo Chairman Laxman Rajbanshi and Martina from German Development Co-operation Agency also expressed their views.

Controversy puts Mhapuja in limbo

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Nov 10 - Mhapuja, one of the most significant festivals among the Newar community of Nepal is facing a problem since over a decade due to controversy in dates a group of astrologers bring about almost every year, says the community leaders.

The controversy of dates has put the people in a difficult situation as they find it extremely difficult to make time for Mhapuja, which is traditionally celebrated on the evening after Laxmipuja and a day before Bhaitika.

"Mhapuja is the day when the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley worship their own body as a platform to exercise the spiritual power but over a few years due to the controversy in dates people tend not to celebrate the festival at all", they say.

Tihar generally a five-day-long festival of lights contains days for worshipping crow, dog, Laxmi or the Goddess of wealth, cow-dung (Goverdhan) and brothers. According to tradition, the evening of the fourth day of Tihar or the day to worship Goverdhan is celebrated as the Mhapuja.

According to chancellor of Nepalbhasa Academy Satya Mohan Joshi, this festival binds the diverse nature found among the Newars.

"This festival embodies the ethnical unity and hereditary common original culture of the Newars," said Joshi, quoting the Birtamod Declaration of 1995 recognised by the second national conference of the Newars.

However, General Secretary of Newaa Dey Daboo (Newar National Forum) Naresh Bir Shakya said that since a decade or so, the chain of festive events has not been regular except once or twice.

Shakya said "A handful of astrologers want to distort the spirit of Tihar to please some high profile people."

Prem Man Chitrakar, the chairman of Nepal Traditional Artists’ Association, who has been publishing the lunar calendars since the last 11 years said that though different social organisations publish calendars for the following year - from Tihar to Tihar, a Calendar Decision-making Committee (CDC) dispatches a notice through state-owned media a week before the festival and most of the time they change the five-day series of the festival.

"They (CDC members) turn it into either four-day or six-day long, saying it is decided according to the lunar movement", Citrakar said.

He added, "A number of astrologers want to please the Royal Palace by setting the appropriate time of Bhaitika as per the Royal Authority’s demand. As a result, the former day, that is the day of Mhapuja, keeps shifting," he said.

Chitrakar further added that the date of this year’s Mhapuja had been set a year ago when his association, including other two dozen bodies published calendars according to the Nepal Era, which follows the lunar movement. "But CDC, as usual, published a notice on November 5 which claimed that what we set a year ago is wrong and warned that unwanted hazards would follow if CDC’s new timing is not followed."

Most of the astrologers had fixed this year’s Laxmipuja for November 15 and Mhapuja on November 16, leaving November 17 for Bhaitika following the lunar calendar a year ago. But last week, CDC issued a notice that Bhaitika must be carried out on November 16 Friday and carrying out Bhaitika on 17 would not be appropriate.

Chairman of CDC Dr Mangal Raj Joshi said that it is the committee’s duty to find out auspicious time of Bhaitika for the Palace and the general public also follows it.

"We issue the notice for interest of the general public saying that they should follow the dates issued by us. Bhaitika is the festival of all the people whereas Mhapuja is only celebrated by the Newars. In this context we have to give priority to Bhaitika rather than Mhapuja," he admitted.

On the other hand, cultural scholar Maheshwor Juju Rajopadhyay charged Dr Joshi for working under other people’s pressure and that even he himself cannot follow what he prescribes through the fabricated notice of CDC.

"Last year he said that the date of the festival should be determined with the lunar date of the time of the sunrise but this year he contradicted his own philosophy and followed the clock," Rajopadhyaya said.

Dr Joshi has prescribed us to first "invite" Laxmi in homes and then go to worship dogs — which is just against the tradition.

He warned, "In many cases a group has been quite active in suggesting people to celebrate religious festivals on wrong dates. This is why serious ominous events are taking place in the country. And even bigger catastrophe will follow if not checked in time."

Wheat seeds to farmers

SIRAHA, Nov 10 (RSS) - His Majesty’s Government is to provide 70 metric tones of improved seeds of wheat to farmers of the 22 vdcs lying northern and southern parts of Siraha district at the 50 percent subsidised rate.

The decision to this effect was taken by a meeting that convened under the chairmanship of the district agriculture development committee Bisheshwar Prasad Marweta bearing in mind the drought this year took place in these vdcs and a massive damage of crops here due to incessant rainfall.

Farmers of the region will be able to cultivate wheat on about 583 hectares of land from the seeds. About 4,000 households are to benefit directly from the assistance to be provided by His Majesty’s government.

Also participating at the meeting were Bhola Prasad Shiwakoti, officiating agriculture development officer Shankar Lal Shakya.

The committee is also learnt to have issued direction to the concerned bodies to make the improved seeds available to the farmers on time.

Meanwhile, farmers of Siraha district have started harvesting paddy speedily. This year, the farmers cultivated paddy of local as well as improved species in the district. The yields of paddy this year, is expected to have touched the figure of 179,800 metric tons.

This year, paddy was cultivated on about 62,000 hectares of land in Siraha district.

According to J.T.A Geni Lal Yadav, paddy crop this year, will be excellent because of the sufficient water-logging on the paddy field of the district which fall back upon the rain water till the time for harvesting, thanks to adequate downpour this year.

As the yields of paddy is expected to be increased, the price of paddy this year, will be cheaper alike in the last year.