Preserving Folklore

MINISTER for Information and Communication Shiv Raj Joshi has said that His Majesty’s Government is determined and committed to preserve Nepal’s unique culture, including the folklores which depict the true picture of Nepal and national identity. Inaugurating a nationwide competitive folk songs conference organised by Radio Nepal on the occasion of 51st National Democracy Day the other day, the Information and Communication Minister said that opportunities need to be provided to all people from every nook and corner of the country to express and exhibit their traditional values and culture, which ultimately enrich national culture and enhance national dignity. Radio Nepal, right from its inception, has been providing forum and opportunities to different ethnic and cultural groups to promote their cultures. Folklores and folk songs form the components of Nepal’s national culture, which need to be preserved in order to promote Nepal’s unique identity and national culture. Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. In fact, Nepal’s national identity lies in unity in diversity and diversity in unity. Ever since His late Majesty Prithivi Narayan Shah unified Nepal into one strong nation, the unity in diversity has been the main basis of Nepal as a nation state. Various ethnic and lingual communities live in Nepal and because of the policy of cultural diversity, each community practises its own culture in an open and free atmosphere. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 has clearly stipulated that Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country and all ethnic communities are provided freedom to exercise their cultural activities. Unity in diversity is also one of the basic tenets of democracy. As several components constitute national culture, these properties need to be maintained in order to promote and strengthen national cultures of the country. As has been stated by Minister Joshi, the policy of the present government is to promote and develop all cultures that exist in the country. Folk songs, folklores and folk cultures are comparable to the original cultures of the country, which may disappear one day if proper attention is not given for their development. Mass media in general and Radio in particular play a vital role in promoting different national cultures. In view of this, the efforts Radio Nepal has been making for the cause of national culture is, no doubt a laudable job, which needs to be further expanded in the future.

Serious Offence

TWENTY-ONE food manufacturing industries in Biratnagar have been found to be producing sub-standard products. Finally, we have the Food laboratories at the district level showing some work as we had begun to think the laws requiring the food industry to comply with the standards do not exist in our country. Now that the news is in the media, hopefully we will also get to see what action is taken against the companies that do not take health of the people seriously. In a developing country where people in general as consumers are barely aware that quality and standard of food they are consuming has to be maintained and not doing so is punishable, failure on the part of manufactures to do so is doubly grave. That ninety percent of the food samples produced locally collected in Biratnagar were found to be adulterated is not only alarming but shocking. It is outrageous that the businessmen out to make money can become unscrupulous to the extent that they play with human lives. And more surprising is that why was not the food laboratory active earlier. Undoubtedly, Biratnagar is not the only place where such activities are going on. Now to correct the inaction in the past and as a retribution to the damage that has been done to the people, this current incidence could be a beginning to further such actions. Those who commit crimes of the most deceitful kind against the unassuming people, against those innocent, should be put to public shame as well as penalised according to law, so it serves as a deterrent to such activities in future. It is time the law enforcing agencies and the district administrative offices took these crimes seriously, as it is said that the violators until now have been only fined. Since the law provides for a prison term of six months, which in itself is too light, this provision should be enforced with diligence. Therefore, it is necessary that the law enforcing agencies work in close co-ordination with the Food research laboratories in different districts and availed of the existing laws in a most effective manner so the culprits are brought to the book.