‘We should be true to our own style’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 30: The chance of receiving three different awards within a month’s time is something that does not favor anyone no matter how diligent and hardworking he or she may be. But by bagging "Nepal Samman-2058", "Life Time Achievement Award on Motion Picture-2058" and "Nepal Rastriya Chalachitra Samman-2058" within a period of one month, musician Shambhujeet Baskota has proved his mettle in the heart of music lovers.

Another notable aspect about Baskota, 41, could be his successful attempt in composing 59 different musical tones in a newly released musical movie called "Gauthali".

"In my reading, Gauthali is a movie with a large number of different musical tones. This has contributed significantly to the success of the movie," Baskota, the recipient of about a dozen of awards, says. It is Baskota who is the musician of that movie.

Within ten years of prediction of noted singer late Narayan Gopal Gurubacharya, Baskota emerged out to become an inseparable part in the Nepalese music sector without whose endeavor the making of celluloid Nepali movies remains incomplete.

During his 25 years’ career as a musician, Baskota has contributed his music to about 157 celluloid cinemas and to dozens of tele-serials and soap operas.

So much so, Baskota, a graduate in various disciplines including music, has a lot of signature tunes like in the logo music of Nepal Television, logo music of NTV’s news, slogan for cancer relief society and so on.

Baskota’s command over the traditional, folk, classical and popular music also rests in making the music of historical movies like "Prempinda", "Simarekha" and "Basanti" successful and melodious.

"I studied a lot about the music and musical instrument of the Rana period before setting music to the songs of films like "Prempinda" and "Basanti", he says.

"More than that his ingenuity lies in blending the traditional folk music with the taste of modern audience," Durga Aryal of Baneshwore appreciates him.

"More importantly, some of Baskota’s musical debuts have replaced Hindi songs on social occasions like marriage ceremony.

Famous Nepali singers ranging from Narayan Gopal to Ram Krishna Dhakal, and Navin Bhattarai to Devika Pradhan feel comfortable in singing to Baskota’s musical composition. He has not only prepared musical tune to Nepali singers but also to notable Hindi artistes like Asha Bhosle, Kabita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam and Kumar Sanu.

Also a singer by himself, Baskota believes that it is their responsibility to preserve and promote Nepali culture and tradition.

"But we should be true to our own style and tradition, he replies as to whether he copied western musical trend.

A lover of Yadav Kharel and Neer Shah’s lyrics, Baskota was in his sweet seventeen when he received the gold medal from His late Majesty King Mahendra for the performance in his debut play "Bhakta Pralhad".

Apart from composing music to a number of songs, Baskota presently works as the music director at Royal Nepal Academy. He is also associated with other institutions related with music and dance.

Legal aspect on prevention of AIDS discussed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept. 30: Participants at a workshop entitled ‘Legal Environment for HIV/AIDS Prevention’ emphasised the need to make amendments in the Drug (Control) Act 2033 B. S. for risk mitigation of the growing problem of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS.

Organised recently by Youth Power Nepal, legal professionals and health workers took part in the workshop.

Dr. Chop Lal Bhushal said that the effective provisions have to be included in the laws so as to control the drug abuse in the society.

Addressing the workshop, advocate Sapana Malla Pradhan expressed the view that the controlling of drug abuse could be instrumental in mitigating the magnitude of HIV/AIDS.

On the occasion, Chetnath Ghimire, Narendra Prasad Pathak, Satish Krishan Kharel, Ekraj Bhandari, Baburaja Joshi, Yadunath Khanal, Sushila Regmi, Milan Kumar Rai, Dr. Ranjit Bhakta Pradahnang and Mukund Adhikari also spoke about the importance of amending the provisions of the existing Drug (Control) Act.

Chairman of Youth Power Nepal Rishi Raj Ojha chaired the function.

Khimti-Arniko route bus fare increased by Rs 5

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Manthali, Sept.30: People of Manthali have become angry after the increase of the bus fare of the Khimti-Arniko route. The Araniko Transportation Service, which started running four buses on the 17-kilometre route since Ashad, recently increased the fare from Rs. 25 to Rs.30 citing bad condition of the roads and longer time to reach to the destination.

But the passengers have complained that the increment was because the coming of the festival season.

"The bus-runners injustified increment because in other routes also the fare is about Rs. 25 for the same distance," said Bishnu Subedi, a resident of Sangutar.

However, the bus owners said the administration is not showing much interest to maintain the roads. "Bad road means more time and also more fuel and wear and tear of the bus."

But Trilok Prasad Shrestha, CDO of the Ramechhap, said they are doing their best to carry out the maintenance work. "We have requested the Division Office of the Road Department. Now, the monsoon has come to an end and the work will start soon," he said. He also said that the CDO office has asked the bus entrepreneur not to increase the fare.

Security bodies formed to tackle theft, robbery

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Butwal, Sept. 30: As organised robberies are on the increase for the past few days, it has created panic among the locals in various parts of Rupandehi district.

Considering the growing number of robbery and theft cases, the local people have formed local security committees to protect themselves and their property. Until now, security committees have been formed in Dumraksha, Paroha, Padsari and some other villages of the district.

During the last month, the areas have witnessed a sudden spurt in such cases in Pausari, Chiliya, in the vicinity of Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) area and other different parts of the district. The robbers have also looted a large quantity of gold and cash in the area. Only yesterday the robbers were able to escape with thousands of rupees from Barseha Village Development Committee (VDC).

Police have been blaming the residents of Jhinjaka village of Dhanusha district for the robbery and theft in Rupandehi district. But they have yet to round up any person involved in such criminal activities.

Gangs of criminals create a kind of terror among the residents of Lumbini, Bhairawa and the western parts of the district during the night.

The district police office has mobilised more police personnel to control criminal activities.

Child labour cases on increase

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bharatpur, Sept. 30: The Act related to Children as enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 2048 and also the Labour Act 2048 has strictly prohibited employment of children under fourteen in any kind job and labour. But all these rights are seems to be limited in words only as the number in child labour is increasing day by day.

"I am compelled to sell the fruits," said Asraf Ali of eleven years who sells fruit at the Bharatpur bus park. The brutal habit of drunkard father made him leave home three years ago. Since then he has been doing the job.

Similarly, 13-year-old Shyam Bhadur Ghale is another such child one, who is also the victim of similar circumstance. He begs at the bus stop to look after himself and his aged mother. His father stopped looking after him and his mother since he married for the second time. The father now lives with his younger wife leaving Shyam and his mother to their own fates.

These two are only two of the hundreds of examples mentioned in a report of the ILO. The report of ILO and the Democratic Confederation of Trade Union shows there are 98 such children in Bharatpur and Ratnagar area of Chitwan who are forced to carry on with their own lives.

The weak economic condition of family, negligence of the parents and illiteracy are the main cause of children being driven out of their homes to work in hotels, carpet and factories and also as domestics and cleaner of three-wheelers and buses.

The government agency, private agencies and agencies from outside the country seems to be ineffective in reducing the number of child labour.

However, the Nepal Teachers’ Union, Youth Clubs and various donor agencise have started projects against child labour. A pilot project has been started in Chitwan with the support of International Labour Organization, IPEEC and Democratic Confederation of Trade Union.

The Nepal Teachers’ Union with the help of ILO has provided scholarships for poor students project. Similarly, Youth Club of Narayangarh has begun informal street children education programme with the assistance of Save the Children.

The pilot project has already benefitted 208 children, said director of Democratic Confederation of Trade Union Tulsi Chapagain. According to President of Nepal Teachers’ Union Hari Raj Paudel, twenty children are provided scholarship of Rs 1000 for admission and sixty students are provided free coaching class.

According to ILO reports, there are 120 million child labours worldwide and 61 per cent of them are in Asia. Nepal is estimated to have about 5 million children who are directly or indirectly involved in child labour.