A tale of a souvenir

I had a chance to go on a junket recently. It was my first such experience in my four-and-half-month apprenticeship as a reporter. The trip turned out to be important, not because it was the first of its kind, but because it had a lesson for me.

It was a chilly late-December morning. I was representing The Kathmandu Post, and there were two other journalists from two government-run media outfits, as we arrived at the premise of an embassy. (I shall deliberately not disclose the name of the embassy nor the names of the organisation that my journalist friends belonged to.)

We were to go with a diplomat to observe a Highway construction. Our journey was in a Pajero, that most loved vehicle of our politicians. This was my first Pajero ride and I felt as if my fantasy had turned real. All through the day I deluded myself that I am a politician and my voters were waving at me. The Pajero had a diplomat number plate, and this again gave wings to my dreams because I have this secret ambition of being a diplomat some day.

I also remembered what my journalism teacher had once told me: "The life of a reporter is a bed of roses". Indeed it looked like that during the ride although I only know too well that it can also become a bed of thorns.

As we approached Dhulikhel, two police vans were waiting to escort us. Pride again was running its full course through my veins. I was incredibly happy. But at the back of my mind, a touch of anxiety was lurking.

Suddenly one of my companions said, "Hey, Kiran we are heading towards a Maoist area and we might be ambushed". And by the looks and gestures of the policemen escorting the diplomat, I knew that we were not on too safe a territory.

I had not really chatted with the diplomat till that time, but now when I did, the chief of the escort squad scolded me, saying, "Patrakar Mahodaya kura garne hai na hai, yo area ma Maobadi ko bigbigi chha bhanne thaha chhaina?" (respected journalist, don’t you know the area you are in is full of Maoists ?). I was not talking to the diplomat about diplomacy or anything like that, but about the "real Nepal" and its pristine natural beauty as we made our way along the winding highway passing through the Mahabharat range. I wanted to know about the diplomat’s impression of this country as I thought I had the seeds of a feature story there. But whenever the vehicle was stopped for us to take in the breathtaking view of the mountains, I could not get near the diplomat because security eyes were prying on me.

When we finally reached our destination, I felt relief and comfort. But not for long. It was three in the afternoon, and my companions were getting hungry. They were hinting about it in all kinds of ways, and finally, they made their point diplomatically.

The most important part of the story took place when an embassy staff ("political officer") who was accompanying us, told me that there was a souvenir waiting for me. I frankly told the political officer (we had got close during the journey) that I will take it only if it were a simple one. He assured me that it would not be a "heavy" one.

But when I got the "souvenir" in my hands in the form of an envelope, I realised that there was money in it. Apparently to pay us for reporting the Highway visit. I would have nothing to do with the money, and I rejected it outright, saying, "My office pays for my reporting." The embassy staff did everything to convince me, but I did not compromise at all. I returned the envelope. I knew my brief relationship with the political officer had turned sour.

Same with my journalist companions. They would not speak to me after the incident. They did not even bid me goodbye. Did I do anything wrong?

200 houses demolished

Post Report

NAWALPARASI, Jan 12 :With the help of elephants, the police here have demolished over 200 illegal roadside houses at the Dandha market north of the Mahendra Highway.

This show of force was resorted to after the settlers refused to pay heed to a notice issued by the District Administration Office asking them to abandon the houses and leave for their original homes.

Says District Police Officer (DPO) Bishnu Raj Kusum, "We requested the locals several times to return to their previous homes, but to no avail." The officer said these families are not "flood victims" but "land encroachers".

Rough deal for housemaids from Dang

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KHAIRA, Ghorahi, Dang, Jan 12:A dozen villages of Deukhuri Valley here, are in the throes of poverty.

Lacking even basic amenities in their villages, the poverty-stricken families have been sending their girls to towns like Butwal, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and Narayangardh, to work as housemaids. Mostly, the girls are sent on a yearly contract basis.

But most often, their masters flout the contract with impunity and pay the girls far less than promised. Hari Ram at Khairagaon of Gobardiha VDC 9, complains that his daughter is not being paid as per the terms arrived at with her master. His daughter, Mira Chaudhari, has been serving a family in Pokhara for the last 7 years under a contract which pledged her Rs 5,000 a year. But even that meagre sum is not being given to Mira. "My daughter returned home with only Rs 1,000 this year to celebrate the Maghi festival," says the father. Similar is the case with a lot of other Deukhuri families.

Meanwhile, the government plans to rehabilitate 125 Kamaiya families in the two community forests of the VDC at Lalmahiya region, has not been carried out as yet. This has been forcing some of the Kamaiya families to return to their former owners, says a local, Badhu Chaudhari of Laxmipur VDC-4.

One of manpower racket held

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BANKE, Jan 12:The police personnnel here have been able to capture a key member of a gang that has been luring locals to pay up money in the promise of foreign employment.

The arrested, Giriraj Malla of Nepalgunj-19, has been accused of amassing Rs 400,000 from 50 locals in the name of securing jobs in Southeast Asian countries.

Says Bam Dev Gautam, one of the locals who paid up, "He (Malla) collected 30000 from me saying that I will get a job in Malaysia. It was only later that we found out it was just a racket."

Another victim of the accused, Narayan Khadga, said, "I took RS 91,000 loan from my relatives to pay Malla, but instead of sending me to Malaysia I was made to stay one month in Mumbai. I had to return after they told me that my visa was denied."

Officials at the District Administration said that they are earnest about busting this manpower racket. They said requests for passports have increased in the recent days because of this racket.

Locals demand return of land from govt

Amrit Bhatgaunle/Kulchandra Neupane

POKHARA, Jan 12:Local people of Prithvichowk of this tourist city of Pokhara have demanded from the Pokhara Valley Town Development Committee (PVTDC) to return their five-ropani land the government acquired more than two decades ago for establishing government’s central corporations.

The then Pokhara Town Development Project (TDP), which has been now changed into PVTDC, sold five ropanes of land out of 340 ropanis acquired in 1976 to Machhapuchhre Bank defying the existing laws.

The existing law does not allow the sale of the acquired land and makes it mandatory that the land can only be used for the original purpose for which it had been acquired. The law also says that the land, if not used for the original purpose, must be returned to the owners.

These legal grounds have prompted the locals to demand their lands back.

The chairman of the then TDP, Surya Bahadur K.C. had sold the land to the bank in 1998 at a price relatively cheaper to the contemporary one, without even calling a tender. The land lies at the heart of Pokhara – at Prithvichowk.

Ashok Palikhe, chairman of the PVTDC, says that the land was sold to the bank "without fulfilling minimum legal requirements". "The land was sold in an arbitrary way, even without calling a tender. It might have done unauthorised under economic influences," Palikhe told The Kathmandu Post.

"The land would cost more than 15 million rupees at that time," says former chairman of the PVTDC, Naresh Shanker Palikhe.

However, former chairman of the then TDP, KC, who was allegedly responsible for the irregularities in the land deal, claimed that he had urged the government to cancel the land acquirement but did not reply us. "The then committee had also realised the irregularities, and had sent a letter with its decision to cancel the deal to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works."

The government had acquired 34 ropanis of land from 34 families, publishing the notice of acquirement in the official Gazet, Rajpatra, in 1976. Even after 25 years of acquirement, seven families have not yet received the compensation. Local Ram Krishna Pahari complained that he has not yet received the compensation for his 98 ropanis land. "When I approached for the compensation, I was sent to jail for a month by the then Zonal Commissioner," he said. However, the PVTDC denies his complaint.

The PVTDC had compensated Rs 6,000 for a ropani of land by the roadside and Rs 4,500 per ropani in the case of land inside the road. The sufferers in the land acquirement have filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking justice. Similarly, Advocate Ghana Shyam Pokharel has also filed a writ in the same case.

More than a dozen corporations have built their offices in the acquired land. There is still 45 ropanis of land waiting for construction. Some corporations have made shopping complexes for business purpose, which is also against the acquirement law. Some lands sold to a police beat have been encroached upon by the squatters.

The PVTDC has also provided land even to vegetable and agro-businessmen.

More reports of Prithvi Jayanti pouring in

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12: News reports of the Prithvi Jayanti celebrated across the country are still pouring in.

On the occasion of the 280th birth anniversary and National Unity Day, the Sahitya Batika Programme of Nepal Television organised a poetry symposium here Friday.

Shedding light on the contributions of the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, poets Bijaya Udaya Palpali, Jeevnath Dhamala, Shyam Thapa, Sushil Rajopadhyaya, Rambabu Adhikari, Jayaprakash Chaudhary, Ganga Prasad Khatiwadan and Devraj Ghimire recited their poems. Poet and lyricist Prakash Jung Karki presided.

In Tamghas, a talk programme was organised. DDC chairperson Kosha Pokhrel, District Judge Gunaraj Dhungel and campus chief Sashi Panthi expressed their views on the multi-faceted personality of the late King.

The Royal Nepal Academy and Kiran Library jointly organised literary workshop and cultural programmes. The District Sports Development Committee organised a football tournament while Nepal National Society Welfare Association distributed fruits to sick persons at the Tamghas Hospital.

In Siraha, speaking at a talk programme organised by the Siraha DDC, CDO Bhola Prasad Shiwakoti said working for the unity and development of the nation by putting into practice the ideology of the King Prithvinarayan Shah the great is the need of today.

DDC chairman Biseswor Prasad Morwaita presided.

Likewise, in Rajbiraj, on the occasion the Saptari District Development Committee organised a wrestling tournament.

Jogendra Yadav (54kgs), Chandra Narayan Yadav (58 kgs), Balram Mandal and Ranjit Khange (40 kgs), Ram Awatar Yadav (65 kgs) and Baidhadhan Shah (68 kgs) emerged winners.

Similarly, speaking at a programme organised marking the same occasion, National Assembly Vice-Chairman Ramprit Paswan expressed the view that multiparty democracy should be protected and promoted in Nepal a Garden of four castes and 36 creeds.

Chief Judge of Rajbiraj Appellate Court Sharada Prasad Pandit wished this day would inspire us for national unity, regional unity as well as global unity.

In Tulsipur, the Dang Literary and Cultural Academy organised an interaction programme where various speakers shed light on the relevance of the National Unity Day.

At a programme marking the same occasion here yesterday, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh felicitated various persons with extraordinary physical traits or "divinely gifts".

At the programme organised by the Himali Cultural Group, Minister of State Singh honoured Rajan Adhikari, Rajendra Marhattha, Saroj Pujari and Joga Budha who were respectively declared as Nepal’s tallest, thinnest, fattest and shortest persons in the male category.

Similarly, Surina Dhakal (Nepal’s tallest girl), Arati Dhakal (Nepal’s thinnest girl) and Manju Ghimire (Nepal’s shortest girl) were also felicitated on the occasion.

Addressing the function, Minister of State Singh said that it is a welcome sign that the National Unity Day is being celebrated by organising a variety of programmes.

From the chair, president of the Himali Cultural Group D. B. Gurung said that the group will give continuity to such kinds of programmes in the future also.

A variety of cultural programme was also presented on the occasion.

Gorakha : At a talk programme organised to mark the occasion, professor Dr. Tikaram Adhikari and Reader Arjun Bhandari presented two separate working papers entitled "The role of queen Chandra Prabha in moulding the character of the late king Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great" and "Prithvi Narayan Shah : a historic personality."

Krishna Prasad Pokharel and Reader Rudranath Pokharel commented on the working papers.

At the programme, Royal Nepal Academy member Dr. Tikaram Panthi gave away prizes to various persons winning prizes under the three-day Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day programme organised under the joint aegis of the Royal Nepal Academy and Gorkha campus.

On the occasion, various persons shed light on the importance of the National Unity Day and the contributions of the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great in the unification of modern Nepal.

Earlier, the portraits of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen were garlanded and a contingent of Royal Nepal Army and Nepal Police offered royal salute. A huge procession was also taken out from the DDC office premises which made a round of Gorkha Bazaar.

Dhading : The Dhading Literary Association organised a poetry Symposium in which various persons read out poetry pieces.

On the occasion, senior litterateur Bhuvan Hari Sigdel released an anthology of poems entitled "jiban ka katha-byatha" by poet Dilli Raman Sharma.

Legal professionals, the Chief District Officer, representatives of various political parties, intellectuals and social workers highlighted the significance of the National Integration Day on the occasion.

Itahari : At a function marking the occasion, DDC chairman Arbinda Prasad Mehta hoisted the national flag and paid profound tributes to the Late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, the builder of modern Nepal.

Chief District Prithvi Officer Ram Prasad Khatiwada said that the Divyopadesh (the wise sayings ) of the late king were still relevant today.

Inaruwa Mayor Khemraj Pokharel expressed concern at what he called ugly designs being made at undermining Nepal’s unity.

Nepali Congress general convention member Sitaram Mehta underlined the need for all to safeguard the country from disintegrative forces.

Central member of the Hariyali Party Nepal Punya Prasad Luintel and Nepal Sadbhavana Party representative Saroj Mishra also expressed their views at the programme.

A contingent of the Royal Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and civil police presented a royal salute on the occasion. A large number of people had gathered for the programme.

Taplejung : The 280th Prithvi Jayanti and National Integration Day was celebrated here amidst the organisation of various programmes.

On the occasion, a portrait of late His Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great was garlanded and his role in unification of Nepal recalled.

Chiefs of the district-based offices, representatives of political parties, educationists, students and social workers were present in large numbers.

Rautahat : The local Saraswati Youth Club of Chandranigahapur organised a programme to mark the occasion. Former lawmaker Uddhav Dhakal inaugurated the programme.

On the occasion, Dhakal highlighted the contributions of the late king Prithvi Narayan Shah the great in Nepal’s unification.

Chief District Officer Dayaram Sharma spoke on the significance of the National Unity Day and the contributions of the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah. On the occasion, former lawmaker Dhakal also initiated the ambulance service being run by the Saraswati Youth Club.

Chautara :A talk programme was held at the DDC office premises in Chautara to mark the occasion.

At the programme, Chief District Officer Madhav Prasad Ojha, Jal Bahadur Lama of the Nepali Congress, Tulsi Man Shrestha of the CPN-UML and Ramesh Rayamajhi of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party shed light on the importance of the divyopadesh in the present context.

VDC chairman Indralal Shrestha presided over the programme.

Palpa : MP Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi, speaking at a programme organised by Palpa District Development Committee on the occasion of the National Unity Day and the 280th Prithvi Jayanti on Friday, said the Divyopadesh of the late king was true and relevant even today as it was in the past. He stressed the need for unity among all the opposition political parties to counter the assault of the terrorists on democracy and the country.

Palpa DDC chairman Jhapendra Bahadur G.C. presided over the programme.

Wake up folks, it’s time for debate on folk culture

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 12:Nepal’s folk art might be vibrant, and might enthral many. But informed debates about folk songs, dances and other forms, hardly take place in the country. All talk is merely restricted to paying cliched paeans to the folk culture, such as it is "rich and diverse", "our country’s treasure and wealth", and so on.

This lack of critical discussions on the country’s folk art, was a major grudge of the speakers gathered today at the Nepal Tourism Board auditorium to brainstorm on the state of folk arts in the country.

"Folk culture is not all about entertainment, it is also a field worthy of study, research, discussion and analysis," said Tulsi Diwas, a noted poet and a folk expert. "Systematic study and research should be carried out in this area."

One of the speakers said that folk art, especially dances, suddenly fell prey to distortions after the restoration of democracy. "This had never happened any time before that," said Subi Shah in his paper, "Nepalese Folk Dance: Yesterday and Today".

"Our original folk culture is now on the verge of extinction," Shah said. He decried that the prevailing "disco and pop culture" has made folk dances "very ugly and vulgar". The country boasts of around 72 types of folk dances, he said.

Along with the dances, traditional folk artistes and their instruments too are under threat. In a paper, "Nepali Folk Musical Instruments: Yesterday and Today", Ram Sharan Darnal said that traditional performers—such as those belonging to the castes Damai, Hudke, Doli, Gandharba and Badi—are quitting their age-old vocation.

"The government should take steps to protect these traditional players. Training programmes should be carried out for newcomers in the traditional performing arts," said Darnal. He identified 36 types of folk musical instruments, saying that many more are yet to be categorised.

In his paper, "Folk Music: Yesterday and Today", folk singer Bulu Mukarung blamed the electronic media for bringing grave damage to folk songs. "The re-mix and pop culture is another factor that has caused a heavy toll," said Mukarung.

Harihar Sharma, General Manager of the government-run Sanskritik Sansthan, urged for "united efforts" to "preserve and promote" folk culture in the country. While the Chairman of the Sansthan, Ridhi Baba Pradhan, was of the opinion that mere government efforts are not sufficient to preserve the "dying folk culture".

Bal Bahadur K.C, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, inaugurated the programme attended by around 100 cultural experts and lovers.

Health assistant Bajracharya felicitated

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KATHMANDU, Jan 12 : Minister for Population and Environment Prem Lal Singh felicitated health assistant and social worker Sanu Kaji Bajracharya by handing over a cash prize of Rs 25,001 at a programme organised here today.

Health assistant Bajracharya was born in Kathmandu in the year 1968 BS. He started serving in the health sector at the age of 15 and has already worked for 65 years. During that period he also served at the Bhadragoal Central Jail. He used to help late Ganesh Man Singh, Sukra Raj Shastri and other distinguished patriots of the nation who were imprisoned during the oligarchical Rana regime. Speaking at the programme, health assistant Bajracharya expressed his gratitude towards the organisers for felicitating him and others who have always supported him. Bajracharya expressed happiness saying, " I am very happy to receive this honour."

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Singh encouraged people to take Bajracharya as an example and serve the nation. Minister said, " Bajracharya always helped the people with selfless objective and we should learn from him."

Similarly, Minister of State for Health Mohan Bahadur Basnet, lawmaker Tirtha Ram Dangol, senior health assistant Indra Bahadur Napit, social worker Krishna Das Shrestha and various other personalities expressed their views on Bajracharya and encouraged people to follow the footsteps of Bajracharya.

Ananda Kuti school marks golden jubilee

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KATHMANDU, Jan 12: A blood donation and sports competition programme was organised here today by the Ananda Kuti Vidyapeeth, one of the pioneer private boarding schools of Nepal, to mark its golden jubilee.

Addressing the function, State Minister for Health Mohan Bahadur Basnet praised the role of the school that it has played in producing much-needed educated and trained manpower for the development of the country.

Expressing concern over the growing commercialization of education in the country, he said that the government is making every possible effort to provide affordable and quality education to the people. He also expressed his delight over the successful 5 decades service to the nation and assured his cooperation to improve the quality of education.

Ratna Bahadur Bajracharya, principal of the school highlighted various activities of the school and said that the school has contributed a lot in the education sector of the country. He also informed that in its 50 years history, the school altogether has secured 22 positions in the top ten of the School Leaving Certificate (SLC), including 5 times in board first. " The record made by the school by attaining top three positions in the SLC board has not yet been broken," he said.

He also appreciated the financial assistance worth Rs 8 hundred thousand extended by the Chinese Buddhist Association in 1960, which played a crucial role in the expansion of the school.

Binaya Bikram Shah, President of the Anandakuti Alumni Association briefed the activities of the association and informed that AAA is going to organise 5-day long various programmes starting from February 12 to mark the golden jubilee of the school.

The school that started a glorious educational endeavour in 1952 with a group of six students in the Gurukul style, has so far produced more than 6,000 educated citizens.

Buddhist idols stolen

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KATHMANDU, Jan 12 :Three ancient Buddhist idols were stolen from the heart of the capital despite police and armymen mobilised around the city to protect the city from the Maoists’ possible terrorist attacks in the night.

Three undated ancient idols, two of Tara and one of a monk, all idols around 18 inches high, were stolen from Lagan Bahal monastery, Ward No. 21 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City on Wednesday night.

"When we woke up, we saw the idols were missing," a woman who lives nearby said.

A local Buddhist scholar Harsha Muni Shakya said the thieves stole around 125 years old three idols all gilded with gold, including a bell and a conch shell used for daily ritual in the temple but they did not touch the main Buddha idol which was quite big in size.

"I don’t know how they could esape when there were so many police in the streets of the city," he said. The case was reproted at local Jansewa Ward Police Station on the same day.

Police sources at the station said the case is under investigation. They took three men in custody on the charges of stealing but later they were all released. They were found innocent, the police sources said.