NATIONAL8 (Spotlight Weekly]

Times Change

Kathmandu's famed clock tower has fallen into neglect, threatening an important link to the past

BY AKSHAY SHARMA

As you walk south of the base pillars of Ghantaghar (clock tower) in Kathmandu, sneaking past the Trichandra College (TC) guards, you will come upon a sundial with a fragile lock.

Ghantaghar is the only public clock for the people of Katmandu. It used to be more than that when it was built. "A few rich and powerful people had watches then. Even until 20 years ago, it was a luxury to wear a watch for an ordinary Nepali. Ghantaghar was the only way we could keep track of the time,"remembers Sitaram Pokhrel, who been working as a college for nearly 20 years.

"The chimes of Ghantaghar used to be heard from a far greater distance then. When the clock struck twelve, a one-gun salute used to be fired to let the people know. I kind of miss that,"says a nostalgic Asim Poudel, a college groundskeeper.

Ghantaghar : Running out of time

For many Kathmanduites, Ghantaghar, built by prime minister Bir Sumsher, is a city symbol that remains neglected. The original clock tower was designed after the Big Ben of London, as Western influence crept into Nepalese architecture during the Rana era.

The Ghantaghar that stands today was rebuilt after the 1990 BS earthquake, standing on site of the original.

The Department of Archeology and Trichandra College are supposed to preserve Ghantaghar. " I have approached the vice-chancellor of Tribhuwan University and the Director-General of the Archeology Department insisting that the building and the complex must be renovated,"said Dr S.B Karmacharya, campus chief of Trichandra College.

The college, built by prime minister Chandra Sumsher, was founded on the same complex. "That part of the college represents a part of the Rana period, which is a part of our history. It needs to be looked after by the army in the same way it has been protecting the country's forests. The monument may seem to be irrelevant today, since watches have become cheaper, but it should be protected as something of the past for future generations,"says Chiring Sherpa, another student of the college.

It is said that two authorized people have the keys and have to wind the clock two times a week. The sun dial is equipped to tell the time of all the countries of the world. This beautiful artifact wears a neglected look.

"Increasing the number of guards or raising the wall will not help us against thieves. The most important factor is awareness. Renovating the monument will cost about 1 million dollars,"said Dr Karmacharya, adding that something would be done to preserve these artifacts.

SAARC SUMMIT
Uncertain Future

SAARC is in limbo as relations between its two biggest members remain icy

By KESHAB POUDEL

Sri Lanka's effort to revive the delayed summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was finally aborted when India cold-shouldered a proposal forwarded by Sri Lankan's foreign minister.

Two weeks ago, senior members of South Asian civil society urged the members countries to convene the summit that was to have taken place in Kathmandu last year.

As long as relations between India and Pakistan continue to be frosty, the possibility of convening the eleventh SAARC summit appears dim.

Although Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar took the initiative to convene the summit, he was frustrated when he saw virtually no response from India.

"The SAARC summit will not be revived soon," said Kadirgamar.

During his two-day visit to Nepal, Kadirgamar meet his Nepalese counterpart Chakra Prasad Bastola and discussed bilateral and regional issues.

"Although all countries want to convene the SAARC summit, the present situation between India and Pakistan does not allow that to happen soon," said Kadirgamar.

As the two big South Asian countries continue to lock their horns, small states like Nepal and Sri Lanka cannot do anything to convene the summit.

"Nepal and Sri Lanka hold a similar stand as both countries want to continue the process of regional cooperation," said a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Despite differences over holding the summit, SAARC member states agreed to hold a meeting of the standing committee. Seven technical committee meetings are due next year.

GREEK FM's VISIT
Searching For A Partner

Geographically, Nepal and Greece are far from each other, but they share certain similarities stemming from the fact that both countries have a long and unique history.

The Nepalese people know Greece as the country of Alexander the Great, Plato and Aristotle. Although Nepal and Greece established diplomatic relations a long time ago, there had been few efforts to establish high-level contacts.

At a time when Greece can play a very important role in the European Union to project the cause of Nepal, the visit of Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou has much significance.

"The visit will help to explore the possibility of new areas of cooperation between the two countries," said Papandreou.

During his talks with Nepalese Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola, the Greek foreign minister made a number of proposals to enhance bilateral relations.