First-ever Poubha show in Harvard

Post Reporter

Kathmandu, Feb 10: The hallowed Harvard University, USA, for the first time in its long history, is staging an exhibition of Poubha paintings from February 8-28. Eighteen paintings of the well-known Kathmandu-based Poubha artist, Lok Chitrakar, are on display at the Duddle Hall of the University, said the organisers here today.

40-year-old Chitrakar is believed to be the first Nepali painter to have been given the privilege of a solo exhibition by the Harvard University. The exhibition is being managed by Shailesh Gongol, a US-based Nepali artist.

Poubha art, which gave birth to Thangka paintings, is the most ancient art form of Kathmandu Valley.

KC stresses on broad demoratic alliance

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Spokesperson of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), Arjun Narsingh KC today came down heavily on some NC Central Committee members for going against the concept of broad democratic alliance.

"It is absurd to go against the concept of broad democratic alliance when the country is in crisis," said K.C while addressing an interaction programme organised here today by the Federation for Democratic Co-ordination Committee.

He added that formation of broad democratic alliance is only the possible solution to end the current crisis. "The concept of broad democratic alliance emerged as the country desperately need a solution to overcome the present crisis," said KC.

The spokesperson also said that the corruption has been the major obstacle for the country to move ahead in different fronts. "If the corruption is uprooted then our country can definitely make headway in different sectors,"
said KC.

Speaking at the same programme, State Minister for Land Reforms and Mangament, Dilli Raj Sharma stressed on the need of unity within the party. "The internal squabble within the NC is making difficult to resolve the present crisis," said Sharma.

Sharma added that had the government been serious in dialogue with the Maoists, this problem wouldn’t have emerged. "Not only the Maoists but the government is equally responsible for the present ‘fluid situation’," said Sharma.

Plea to declare bael national fruit of Nepal

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: A one day-workshop on bael (wood apple) concluded here Saturday urging the government to declare bael as the "national fruit" of Nepal.

Nepal does not have its national fruit though it has national flower, animal and bird among other national emblems.

"We do not have a national fruit, so the government should now declare bael the national fruit of Nepal," said Dr. Gyan Lal Shrestha, the executive director of Green Energy Mission (GEM). The GEM is a non-governmental organisation working in the research of bael in Nepal.

Bael is a wild fruit that is found in different parts of Terai Churiya hills, inner Terai and river basins areas of the country in tropical and subtropical climates.

Participants of the workshop said that bael, also called Bengal Quince, is religiously, econoically,culturally, environmentally and medicinally important.

Prof. Dr. Hrishi Ram Pokharel, a Sanskrit scholar presenting his working paper at the workshop said that the fruit represents respect and belief in the religious sculptures as its fruit and leaves are used in religious ceremonies.

Dr. Narendra Nath Tiwari, an aurvedic expert, said that the root, barks, flower, seeds and the bael fruit itself can be used as a medicine of a number of diseases.

According to Rasmila Shrestha, a botanist, the value of the fruit is yet to be realised and the fruit could even be used as a raw material for jam and oil.

Despite these values of the wild fruit, no initiatives have been taken to preserve it. According to Damodar Prasad Parajuli, a joint secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, the Beal forests, particulary in the Terai are continuously declining. "Some of the bael forests were cleared for agriculture, expansion works, resettlement purposes and cotton cultivation in the past," Parajuli told the gathering at the workshop.

The workshop was inaugurated by Gopal Man Shrestha, Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation. Shrestha in his address said that the Ministry would consider the proposal of declaring bael as the national fruit of Nepal.

Bir hospital lacks sanitation

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Bir hospital, the oldest hospital, lacks the proper sanitation in its emergency section, say the patients.

"The piles of dirt and its smelling forces people twist their noses. The toilets are stinking .It seems that it has not been cleaned for months." says Hari Bahadur Thapa, a patient from Chitwan.

Although it is a government-owned hospital, it does not remain out of criticism. The negligence of doctors and delay services of this section are the problems, often rise by the patients and the guardians.

Sanjit Karki, who brought his son from Makwanpur district to the hospital, blames the negligence of doctors.

He complained that patients are crying for help but doctors hardly listen them in this section.

Similarly, Sunita Manandhar of Kalanki charges ‘’ the senior doctors hardly appear in this section, only trainee doctors come to treat the patients’’

However, the emergency administration denies such charges and says that the blames are baseless.

" It is a baseless blame" says Dr Basanta Bahadur Pant, the in-charge of the emergence section of the hospital.

He said that the doctors first study cases and they provide immediate treatment for the serious patients after discussing about the case and best way of treatment.

The Director of the hospital, Dr Manohar Lal Shrestha rejects this blame that the senior doctors neglect the patients in the emergency section.

He says, "The trainee doctors are supervised by the senior doctors. The trainees are not given any responsibility in the treatment. They only write the history of cases’’.

Dr Shrestha further clarifies on sanitation issue, "The hospital has given to the private sector on lease for the proper sanitation of this section’’

Bir hospital is the highly empowered and well-equipped hospital in Nepal. The hospital receives 200-250 patients every day from different parts of the country in its various wards.

‘Ananda Kuti Vidyapeeth will go on forever’

Ananda Kuti Vidyapeeth, the only Buddhist school of the country, is also one of its oldest private schools. Established in the year 1952 on the northern hill slope of Swoyambhu, the institution was founded by late Venerable Dr. Amritananda Mahasthavir, along with his disciple Nhuchchhe Bahadur Bajracharya. As the school celebrates 50 years of its existence as one of the premier educational institutions, its Principal for the past 40 years, Ratna Bahadur Bajracharya, talked to Somesh Verma of The Kathmandu Post about the school history, challenges, and his students. Excerpts:

TKP: What was the reason behind establishing an educational institution based on the Gurukul system in the middle of the 20th century?

Bajracharya: We should not forget that the school was founded by a Buddhist monk who had renounced his property. It was set up with a high motivation towards service, not with the purpose of minting money. So it was natural of him to think of the Gurukul system as the most suitable one.

We, here, have to remember that the students then were not charged any fees, and the food ration was brought from their homes. However, later, a lot of practical problems cropped up with the system, and a modern way of running the school had to be initiated.

TKP: Ananda Kuti Vidyapeeth was once considered one of the best schools in the country. What do you think is the reason behind its decline, do you think it has failed to grow as the times changed?

Bajracharya: No doubt. For the first 35 years, it was unchallenged as an educational institution. However, it would be wrong to say that Ananda Kuti failed to grow just because it now has to face competition from other schools. From 2014 BS, the year when our first batch appeared in the SLC examinations, our average success percentage remain at 91.8%.

After the adoption of liberal and privatisation policy in education in the year 2037 BS, the New Education System Plan (NESP—2028-2033 BS) collapsed, and a lot of private schools mushroomed. The number of private schools in the country swelled from 15 to 8000. Some of them proved to be very enterprising, and Ananda Kuti could no longer be singled out for academic excellence. We also have had to reshape our school, but without sacrificing its fundamental objective of being a service-oriented organisation.

TKP:At the ripe age of 50, how do you rate the success of the school?

Bajracharya:Ananda Kuti has lived 50 years in deeds, not in years. Its academic achievements have been excellent. (In the year 2027 BS, all the three top positions in the SLC examinations went to the school, a record which has remained unchallenged so far).

Our main achievement has been in being a dynamic school. When we had started Ananda Kuti Science College, it was considered as one of the best in the country. Unfortunately it had to be closed down under the NESP in 2032 BS. Even now, we have made changes converting the school into a fully co-ed one and opening up the Ananda Kuti Asian College which has 10+2, Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS) and a CA programme, starting from the Golden Jubilee Year.

TKP: How do you feel being a long-serving principal of one of the oldest private schools of the country?

Bajracharya:I feel honoured and privileged to have been associated with the school since the time of its establishment. Perhaps I am the only person in the country to have worked for the same institution for such a long time. Having been here for so long makes me feel good as it has shaped my identity. I do not have any sort of remorse for sticking to this job. I feel that my job is great.

TKP:Education sector has witnessed a sea change since the school was established. How do you think your school will cater to its students in this modern, commercialised context of schooling?

Bajracharya: So far as Ananda Kuti is concerned, it will definitely not deviate from its original policy of running the school on a non-profit making basis. Having said that, our efforts will be concentrated on sustaining the excellence in education and character-formation of the students. We are proud that our products, 3000 of them, are well placed in the society.

TKP:You have already completed 50 years, what now?

Bajracharya:Man may come and man may go. But Ananda Kuti Vidyapeeth will go on forever. It is a well established institute, the foundation of which cannot be shaken. We will continue our endeavour to produce good citizens for the country.

Food supply to Humla labourers cut off

By Jay Bahadur Rokaya

SIMIKOT, Feb 10: The labourers in the remote district of Humla involved in the construction of a road from the Nepal-Tibetan border town of Hilsa to Simikot, headquarters of Humla, have been deprived of foodgrains, which they have come on receiving until recently for their labour, as supplies have not arrived at the border due to inclement weather, according to the District Development Committee (DDC) here.

The construction work has also stopped for the last five months due to severe cold.

Last year the Food for Work Project of the World Food Programme of the United Nations, had agreed to send the necessary cereals to the labourers. The project sent 178 metric tonnes last year, while 392 metric tonnes of grains were sent in the beginning of this year through north Tibet, says a DDC official.

The construction of the road, which will link the Simikot headquarters of the underdeveloped mountainous district with northern Tibet, was undertaken two years ago by the DDC to put an end to the isolation of the district. Funds for the road are being raised by the DDC itself.

More than 400 labourers began construction work in a bid to feed themselves and their families who have been starving, says labourer Tendup Lama. "But we have received no food for the last two months," he says. "I went to Hilsa twice but returned empty-handed."

Around 25 representatives of labourers have been waiting for food at the border for the last one month, says Lama. "Everyone is asking each other if there is any news of the arrival of food," Lama says.