A royal palace looks to regain lost glory

Razen Manandhar

LALITPUR, Feb 1 A major palace in the UNESCO World Heritage Zone of Patan Durbar Square, built over two centuries ago, now belongs to a school-cum-campus which uses it as a dumping house for furniture. It also houses a filthy cafeteria.

Bahadur Shah, the youngest son of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, built the palace for his residence after the Nepal-China War of 1792 AD.

But the palace may yet be rescued as the Executive Committee members of the Bahadur Shah Memorial Academy on Friday inspected the palace and met the school administration.

Adarsha Kanya Niketan High School obtained the palace in 1951, in the early stage of the education movement in Nepal when ancient palaces and monasteries were the main choices of educators to run a school.

The school has now new buildings at the backyard. And the main palace building houses a tea shop and the school administration office on the first floor, a kitchen on the second floor, the third floor is used by student scouts for occasional meetings, while the fourth floor is a seminar hall which is also used as a library.

The palace with three-feet wide bricks and mud-mortar walls, also has inbuilt earthquake-proof mechanisms based on traditional technology.

But the palace is now in a state of decay, with its spacious wooden verandah full of broken furniture.

"This palace is the only reminder of the great regent Bahadur Shah, who did not wear the crown but expanded Nepal much more than King Prithvi Narayan Shah himself," says Dr Bhadra Ratna Bajracharya who holds a doctorate on the late regent and his times.

Making an urgent plea to conserve the once-palace as a national monument, Dr Bajracharya says it used to be the place where the regent spent his life after retirement.

Prof. Mukunda Raj Aryal, the Chief of Central Department of Culture and the Vice-President of Nepal Heritage Site, says that the palace is an archaeological site and should be brought back under state ownership for its permanent conservation and proper utility.

Chief of Patan Museum, Jal Krishna Shrestha, says that since the Bahadur Shah Palace was an integral part of the Patan Palace which is also a World Heritage Zone, the school must hand it over to the state as the school management does not seem to have any "feeling for conservation".

"No school should possess such monuments which in fact is an emblem and property of the nation itself. The government should take it back and take measures to conserve it in time," says Shrestha.

The Department of Archaelology (DOA) did make attempts to conserve the palace with German assistance of around Rs 2.3 million in 1996-98, but the ownership was still with the school.

Chief of World Heritage Section at DOA, Bhim Nepal, says the Section has not taken any step to possess the palace.

Chairman of the Bahadur Shah Memorial Academy Diwakar Bikram Shah, a descendant of Bahadur Shah himself, says that the palace should be returned to the state and conserved as a museum where the regent’s activities could be displayed.

"Bahadur Shah accomplished two-third of the total unification process of Nepal, so he must be regarded as a national hero and his residence a national monument," he says.

But the school administration is just not ready to leave the "building" it got half a century ago.

"Many have come to claim ‘our’ building. But nobody can take it back from the school at any cost," says Nanda Govinda Rajkarnikar, the chief of Adarsha Kanya Campus, who also worked as a headmaster of the school for 16 years.

Call for preservation of endangered languages

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 1 Minister for Culture and Tourism Bal Bahadur KC inaugurated a seminar on Joint Initiative in the National Language and Linguistics was organised by the Royal Nepal Academy here today.

Speaking at the programme Minister K.C stressed the need of preservation of the endangered languages and emphasized the usage of national languages that represent the culture, religion and nationality of the country. Minister K.C said, "Some languages are on the verge of extinction which is a serious crisis the present time is facing." He said, "We should all work together to conserve these endangered assets of our ancestors."

"We are proud of having unity in diversity so it is the pride of the Nepalis that we are rich in culture and languages. A national language always plays a vital role in bringing all other native languages under one umbrella." Minister K.C said.

At the programme presided over by Vice Chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy Mohan Koirala, Professor Dr. Ballav Mani Dahal presented his paper on policies in the national language and linguistics.

On the occasion, Dr. Tika Ram Panthi and member seceratery of the Royal Nepal Academy Tulshi Bhattarai also expressed their views.

Book on Maoist atrocities released

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KATHMANDU, Feb 1 Daughter of martyr Yadu Gautam, Suwani Gautam, released a book titled Maobadi Ugrabampanth ra Prajatantrik Nikas (Maoist Ultra-leftism and Democratic Outlet) authored by Central Committee member of the main opposition CPN-UML Shankar Pokharel amidst a function here today.

The book, which was written after years of fieldwork and experience in the Rapti zone, has largely chastised the Maoists for its ultra-leftist activities and its impact on the present politics of the country.

In the book, Pokharel has compiled nine different articles and analysis written at different span of time during his work in the western Nepal as the in-charge of the party organisation.

Releasing the book, Suwani expressed her happiness over the release of the book that has described the Maoists’ activities as terrorist act. "Did they achieve their goal by murdering my father, Yadu Gautam?" she enquired.

Late Gautam was killed three years ago who was in the western Nepal during an election campaign.

Speaking on the occasion, Central Committee member of the ruling Nepali Congress, Narahari Acharya, said the book has well analysed the overall political situation of the country vis-à-vis the six-year-old Maoist insurgency.

The book contains altogether 16 articles. Addressing the function, General Secretary of CPN-ML Bamdev Gautam said the main opposition should forge a working alliance to close down the Maoist violence.

Officiating Secretary General of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli said the book has analysed the country’s politics from every possible angle.

Minister stresses quality education

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 1 Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjibi Wagle has said that the country is in a dire need of education that makes the students competent and self-reliant citizen.

Speaking at the 22nd anniversary of Pashupati Multiple Campus here today, Minister Wagle expressed the view that our educational policy which has a far-reaching impact in the society, should focus on making the future generation more sober and civilised.

Chief of the Pashupati Multiple Campus Ghatraj Bhattarai informed that the campus has been running classes of different academic levels by charging nominal tuition fees.

On the occasion, Minister Wagle honoured the members of the new building construction committee and presented medals to the students who secured highest marks in various academics.

Wagle also gave away prizes to the student declared best in extra-curricular activities.

Vice-chairman of the board of director of the campus Kabiraj Krishna Bahadur Singh chaired the function.

‘Around 40,000 AIDS victims in country’

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 1 Altogether 2,131 people have been infected by HIV/AIDS and 149 persons have died of the fatal disease in Nepal in the last 15 years, according to the National AIDS and STD Control Centre.

According to the statistics provided by the Centre, the figure came out after 184,050 people underwent blood tests.

The statistics reveals that of the total 1,470 persons who underwent blood test in the year 2001, 264 males and 60 females tested HIV positive.

The cases of HIV/AIDS have been increasing in Nepal after the Centre started testing blood in 1988.

Only four out of 9,475 persons who underwent blood test had tested HIV positive in 1997.

Likewise, 396 out of 3,039 persons who underwent blood test in 2000 were tested HIV positive.

Meanwhile of the total 1,535 persons infected by HIV positive as of December 31, 2001, 363 males and 177 females were found with full blown AIDS.

Of the total HIV/AIDS patients, sex workers stand at 420, clients of sex workers or infected by the sexually-transmitted disease stands at 1,316, housewives stands at 130, persons contracting HIV/AIDS through blood transfusion stands at three, drug abusers stands at 240 and perinatal transmission stands at 22.

According to WHO, the persons suffering from HIV/AIDS in Nepal are estimated to be around 40,000.

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS throughout the world is 40 million. of them, the number of adults is 37.2 million, women 17.6 million and children under 15 years 2.7 million.

Madrasas accused of irregularities

By Manoj Poudel

KAPILVASTU, Feb 1 Management committees of several Madrasas (Muslim schools) in this district have been accused of indulging in irregularities, a report here said.

There are four big registered Madrasas in the district where Muslim people are in a sizeable number. It is also believed that there are over 100 such Madrasas that are yet to be registered in the District Education Office.

These Muslim schools preaching Koran, the holy text of the Islamic world, receive foreign grants from the Islamic counties such as Saudi Arab, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. But people of the Muslim community complain that the grants collected from abroad and local-level are not utilised for right purposes.

Among the Muslim schools, funds of the Jamiya Furkania Islamic Studies Institution located at Avirab VDC, are reported to be misused for personal interest.

"After the news of financial embezzlement came to light we had to lodge a complaint at the district court against Abdul Salaam, then Chairman of the school," said present Chairman, Gaya Suddin Musalman. He added that proper use of the farmland belonging to the institution was possible after the then chairman was ousted.

Apart from the teaching of Koran, these bigger Muslim schools offer courses up to Bachelor degrees in the Arabi, Urdu, English and Hindi languages. It is learnt that around 500 Muslim students have been enrolled in various courses in these big Madrasas.

‘Stigma around leprosy hits Eastern Region’

By Bikash Thapa

BIRATNAGAR, Feb 1 Leprosy patients hiding their disease have made the Eastern Region the most affected area of Nepal, according to Leprosy Relief, an international non-governmental organisation (INGO) working here for the last two decades.

The Dutch INGO’s record shows that there are around eight leprosy patients among each population of 10,000 in the Eastern Region, while the national number is around six.

Five districts in eastern Terai—Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari and Siraha—have the most number of leprosy cases, where 12 out of 10,000 people are suffering from the curable disease, says the INGO which has been running the Eastern Region Leprosy Eradication Project. And among the five, Jhapa is the worst hit with 12.27 leprosy patients among 10,000 people. The population of Jhapa is 6,91,173 as recorded in the National Census last year.

The belief that leprosy is the result of sins is still widespread here, so the patient tries to hide it," says Nandalal Bastola, the project’s Information Officer.

"We registered 2,391 new leprosy patients last year," says Project Chief Puskar Kafle. "Among the 5,213 patients admitted with us, 1,997 have been cured of the disease."

More than 7,000 volunteers and 4,000 Health Officers are working in the Project.

The Project conducted a special "Leprosy Patient Search" programme five months back in the five most affected districts of Terai. "Each house of these districts was visited by the volunteers and they found 1,925 new patients," says Kafle.

The project has already registered more than 74,000 leprosy patients, including 14,000 Indian nationals, and successfully cured 18,000 Nepalese and 8,000 Indians, according to Kafle.

The government of Nepal has pledged to eradicate leprosy by 2003.

However, the leprosy cases overall in the country have reduced. Three years back, nine among 10,000 Nepalese were suffering from leprosy but the ratio has now come down to six, according to Ministry of Health. Nineteeen years ago, the same ratio was 70 in each 10,000.

Nepal is one of the 13 countries in the world where leprosy has not yet been eradicated.

Locals optimistic about bridge over Rapti

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NEPALGUNJ, Feb 1 The people of 9 Village Development Committees (VDCs) here are looking forward for the completion of construction of a steel bridge on Rapti river.

The lack of a bridge on Rapti river bordering with India was the main concerns of these people of south-east edge of Banke district as they have to feel separated from the nation, according to Gyanu KC, a member of parliament representing the district.

There was a festive like
moment on Monday as the construction work of the bridge began amid the traditional puja. "I never thought I could see a bridge here. The bridge will change our fate," said Bahadur Godiya of Kalaphant VDC-1.

The people have to travel 150 kilometres through Indian territory to reach their headquarters Nepalgunj, which is only 50 kilometres in distance. "They are deprived of development infrastructure due to the lack of transportation," said KC.

The government approved the construction of the bridge that is expected to cost 176.6 million rupees last year. The budget of 30 millions is allotted for this year, according to Dinesh Basnet, the division engineer of Divisional Road Office of Nepalgunj.

The contractor of the bridge is ANK and YP Construction which promises to complete it in scheduled period. "We will complete it in 3 years if budget is not barred," said YP Shrestha, the director of the company.

The locals are trying to invite the prime minister to put the foundation stone of the bridge. "If he comes here, he can feel our problems," said Godiya.

Villages yet to receive electricity

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MELAMCHI, Feb 1 The Seventh Electrification Project here which completed its work on schedule was
handed over to the Electricity Authority (EA) two years back. But as the Authority has not been able to distribute the electricity lines, a whopping loss of 4 million rupees is being recorded annually.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) granted 45 million rupees for the Project under the Rural Electrification Programme with an aim of providing electricity to 3000 families of 10 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of 25 districts.

The ADB loan was granted under a one per cent interest rate.

The Seventh Electrification Project completed its work in 2056 and handed over it to the Sunkoshi Electricity Authority. But nine of the 10 VDCs are yet to receive electricity.

The VDCs that will receive electricity are: Ichowk, Melamchi, Shikarpur, Bashgarkha, Mahangkal, Taramarang, Duwachowr, Jayamire, Lagarche, and Bhotenamlang.

Experts say that although the seventh project was completed two years back, due to a conflict between the Electricity Authority and contractors, supply is yet to begin resulting in massive monetary losses. They say that for the electricity lines to be distributed, the power capacity of Panchkhal sub-station should be increased.

The Chief of Banepa-Panchkhal Elecricity Project says the present power of the sub-station is 10.5 MVA, with which it is not feasible to distribute electricity lines.

Chief of Sunkoshi Electicity Distribution Centre, Raju K.C., also says that the power capacity of Panchkhal sub-station should be increased, as well as more staff employed plus additional budget sanctioned.

The staff at EA say that if the electricity lines could have been distributed, annually 40 million rupees could have been earned annually by the Authority instead of the present situation where the Authority has to spend 450,000 rupees every year.

Director of the Seventh Electrification Project, Chhatra Bahadur Bajracharya expressed his ignorance regarding the delay in electrifying the villages.