‘CRI has familiarised Nepal to the Chinese’

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Apr. 10: Language can be a good tool for friendship and to strengthen relations between peoples, said Chen Minyi, Vice President of China Radio International, who is currently on a visit to Nepal.

The China Radio International (CRI) broadcasts in 43 languages, including Nepali, around the world. The CRI started broadcasting in the Nepali language in 1975, and in its almost three-decade long service, it has helped introduce Nepal to the Chinese people and China to its Nepali listeners.
After graduating from the Beijing Broadcasting Institute in the Nepali language in 1969, Chen joined the CRI. In 1979, he came to Nepal to study Nepali language in Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur. During the two years he was here, he studied Nepali literature and Nepal’s history. “Chudamani Bandhu was one of the teachers, who taught us,” he still remembers. He had visited Nepal as a special correspondent during the visit of Chinese President Li in 1984.

This time he came to Nepal after more than 17 years. He said during his flight to Kathmandu in the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation aircraft, he went through the Gorkhapatra to refresh his language skill.

He said through the CRI they have also introduced Nepali literature in the Chinese language. One of the most popular among them was Aamako Sapana by Gopal Prasad Rimal, he said. He said the CRI had also broadcast six poems of Her late Majesty Queen Aishwarya.

The main objective of broadcasting the Nepali language is to acquaint Nepalese about China - its history, culture, customs, ethnic groups, development and other aspects of Chinese life. The Radio also allows the Chinese people to know about Nepal. “But the primary theme is to increase friendship,” he said.

Now, CRI has a team of 13 for the Nepali language broadcasts, and 12 of them are Chinese, all equally adept in the Nepali language. Some have even taken up Nepali names like Barsha, Megha, Ravi and Keshari Maiya to make themselves familiar with the Nepalese listeners.

The CRI broadcasts to 180 countries around the world, and Chen said they receive more than one million letters every year. There are also 3,000 CRI fan clubs around the world.

Presently, Chen leads a team of seven members to participate in the prize distribution in the radio quiz contest on ‘Science and Technology in Present China’ held in 2002. “The other objective is to meet with the listeners and to listen to their views about our programmes,” he said. The prize distribution ceremony was organised on April 7. Currently, the CRI broadcasts every day for one hour in two separate broadcasts.

Additional relief fund for Saptar ifire victims

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KATHMANDU, Apr. 10: His Majesty’s Government has sanctioned additional amount of Rs. 500,000 to provide further relief materials to the fire affected families in Belhi Chapena VDC of Saptari district.
According to the Home Ministry, 1,169 houses of 500 families of Ward Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the VDC were gutted in fire that broke out from the house of Ram Avatar Mandal, a resident of Ward No. 5 Tuesday.Mandal was injured in the fire. Fire brigades from Rajbiraj and Lahan took control of the fire with the help of local administration, locals, Royal Nepal Army and the Nepal Police.
Rs. 35 million worth of property was lost in the fire and relief has been distributed by the local Red Cross, the chambers of commerce and industry and administration, the Ministry informed.

Deuba urges journos to write for democracy

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KATHMANDU, Apr. 10: Former prime minister and president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that since freedom of press is protected only in a democracy, the journalists should always write in favour of democracy.

Addressing a programme organised on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the ‘Seemangkan Weekly’ newspaper here today, he expressed the view that the Nepali press sector has made important contribution to the democratic movement in Nepal.

On the occasion he also released a collection of the editorials published in the Seemangkan Weekly entitled ‘the editorials published in the Seemangkan Weekly part—3’.

Senior poet Madhav Ghimire said that the country is in need of journalists who use their pens in favour of the country’s identity and nationality and of statesman capable of steering the country on the right direction.Poet Ghimire also launched a poetry anthology entitled ‘Ankha Chhito Kholnu Chha’ penned by poet and editor and publisher of the weekly Bharat Raj Pidit.

Senior journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikari commented on a working paper entitled “The problems faced by the weeklies in Nepal and the ways of remedy’ presented by journalist Purushottam Dahal.
Litterateurs Prof. (Dr.) Kumar Bahadur Joshi, Ramesh Khakurel, Rudra Kharel, Chandra Bhandari, Subeer Khanal and others also expressed their views at the programme presided over by Pidit.

Suth Asian astrologers to hold conventioin Kathmandu

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Apr. 10: The 2nd South Asian Astrologers’ Convention is going to be held in Kathmandu from April 21- 23 with the objective of preparing an action plan to disseminate and extend knowledge about astrology in the region. It also aims to formally establish a Federation of South Asian Astrologers.

Representatives from Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka will take part in the convention organised by the National Astrology Science Service Committee, Nepal.

More than a dozen working papers will be presented during the convention. Some of them are entitled ‘Astrology and Natural Calamity’ (earthquakes, flood and storms), ‘Bases for Computing Calendar and Planets’, ‘Possible Impact of Eclipse in the World’ and ‘Astrology, Family Planning and Conjugal Life’, among others.

Only the English, Nepali, Sanskrit and Hindi languages will be allowed as medium for communication during the convention, states a press statement of the committee.

The committee has set some conditions for the people willing to participate in the regional conference. For a Nepalese national, it has fixed Rs. 1,001 as entrance fee while people from other countries have to pay Rs. 30,001 for the same.

Poetry anthology released

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Apr. 10: Poet and vice-chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy Mohan Koirala launching an album ‘Anjali’ said today that poetry should have musical quality.

Anjali is a collection of 29 poems by 24 renowned poets, including Laxmi Prasad Devkota. The poems were recited by poet Prakash Sayami who had selected the poems to raise funds for Shankar Lamichhane Essay Trust on the occasion of the 75th memorial day of prominent essayist and experimental late poet Shankar Lamichhane.

Speaking at the programme organised by Bhawak Abhiyan Nepal, poet Tulasi Diwas said that a poem and music are interrelated but with different essence. “Until they are sung, they become incomplete,” added Diwas.We should record the poems and if it is in the poets’ own voice it is all the better, said Prakash Sayami. The coming generation will get the opportunity to hear the poems in the voice of their creators, Sayami said. “You can enjoy reading poems as well as listening to them.”
At the programme chaired by Hari Prasad Rimal, director, musician, and singer, poet Shrawan Mukarung and musician Shakti Ballav highlighted the essence of music for healthy living.
The programme was conducted by Deepak Raj Pandey, where litteratures and lyricists like Ratna Shamsher Thapa, Shree Purush Dhakal, Ram Man Trishit, Nagendra Sharma and Sabita Dhungana were also present.

Chaite Dashain observed

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KATHMANDU, Apr. 10: Chaite Dashain, the great festival of the Hindus, was observed throughout the Kingdom today with piety and devotion.

The festival of ‘Chaite Dashain’ is celebrated every year on the eighth day of the waxing moon in the month of Chait according to the lunar calendar. The festival epitomises the victory of divine forces over devilish forces and truth over falsehood. Goddess Durga Bhawani who is the symbol of power and truth is worshipped on this day.Devotees thronged the shrines devoted to different goddesses in the Kathmandu Valley since early morning today. A large number of devotees could be seen at Guheshwari, Dakshinkali, Shova Bhagawati, Raktakali, Naxal Bhagawati, Kalikasthan and Maitidevi temples.

The Devi Bhagawat, Kalika Puran and other religious scriptures were also recited at various places today.

It is stated in the scriptures that taking the ‘Ashoka’ tree blossoms frees one from diseases and worries.

NSP appeals for assistance to five victims

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KATHMANDU, Apr. 10: The Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) in a press release published today called on the government, local bodies, and NGOs to assist and provide humanitarian services to the fire victims of Belhi Chapena VDC of Saptari district. The party requested all the general public to be alert on such fires in Terai during dry season.