Success Story

THE immunisation programme against Polio has yielded positive results over the past three years. The fact that not even a single case of Polio has been traced in the past ten months provides ample grounds to term the programme a major success. The efforts on the part of the Health Ministry have been forthcoming in eradicating the once virulent disease. Though there have not been any cases of Polio in the past ten months as reported by the Ministry, we still need to push ahead with the immunisation drive. In keeping with the proclamation of the World Health Organisation to eradicate Polio completely by the year 2000, His Majesty’s Government has been launching immunisation programmes every year. The third immunisation programme is scheduled to be held throughout the country on December 1, 2001 and January 19, 2002. The government aims to administer Polio drops to nearly four million children under the age of five through the mobilisation of seventy four thousand volunteers this time around. It should be noted here that the success of the programme would undoubtedly hinge on widespread media campaigning on the programme. The role of the media is particularly significant in that it could carry out the task of raising widespread awareness among the denizens about the risks their children could pose if they failed to get them immunised. Official statistics reveals that there were around thirty five thousand polio cases in the year 1988. This figure was expected to decrease by 90 per cent in the course of a decade. Only 723 new cases of Polio were detected in the year 2000. Of the total cases, 272 lived in the South East Asian countries. This year 132 new cases have been detected in the region as of October 1 and of these 114 were from Indian States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Though there have not been any new cases in Nepal, it still needs to take the precautionary measures to avoid the possibility of the malady entering the country any time across the open border. It is indeed a heartening news that the health authorities in Nepal have also included mopping up in districts vulnerable to Polio penetration. The mopping up needs to be carried out with due earnestness in order to bring success to the third immunisation programme in the offing.

Nepal’s Unique Dances

IN the Kathmandu Valley Inter-School Classical Dance Competition organised the other day by the Students and Teachers’ Association of Prabhat Madhyamik Vidhyalaya of Naghal, Kathmandu, budding students from ten schools performed classical dances such as Charya, Kumari, Manjushree, Annapurna, Bajrayogini, Bhairav-kali, Aryatara, Kaumarya and Mahamanjushree. Not only that, these talented students captivated the audience as they performed their dances based on classical music known as the ragas. As in all such competitions, only four out of the ten dance troupes in the competition walked away with the first, second, third and the consolation prizes. However, the members of the remaining dance troupes should and must not be disheartened. Rather, they too are worthy of praise since they have, through a combination of concentration, patience, practice and techniques, contributed their mite in not only bringing such classical dances to a wider audience but, more importantly, they have ensured their continued survival for future generations. For, it is verily these young dancers who, having mastered the art of performing such intricate classical dances, will be popularising them. And, in doing so, handing these rich heritage down to future generations.

Not only Kathmandu Valley but the entire nation is rich in such dance heritage. The simple reason being that Nepal, over the centuries, has become a home to diverse races, tribes and communities that still adhere to their unique socio-cultural and religious practices. Amongst them, their dances are one. So much so that almost all the diverse communities that reside in Nepal have their own dance forms and techniques that, inspite of the inroads being made by foreign influences in the nation’s socio-cultural sphere, have still managed to hold their own. If some of these unique dances are singularly distinctive due to their intricate techniques that are invariably based on mythological and religious themes, then others are popular for their fluid yet spontaneous forms. Similarly, if some are only danced during certain socio-cultural or religious events, then others have no such strictures. Nevertheless, the sum of all such unique dances is representative of what Nepal is both to its citizens and foreign visitors alike: that is, a stage with varied yet unique repertoire of dances. Hence, it is the duty of all citizens to ensure the survival of these unique dances. And what better way than to teach these peerless dances to the school and college-going students?