National 8 (Spotlight Weekly)

Images Of History

A scholar working on the origin of Malla Kings of the West Nepal exhibits photographs of ubiquitous pillars of the region

By THAKUR AMGAI

"To know where you want to go, you need to know where you come from," said researcher Tim Harward as he was briefing the background behind the photographs that he had put up for exhibition at Siddhartha Art Gallery on September 16. Behind him the photographs were telling where we, the Nepalese, came from. We are going through the most difficult period in the history and it seems we are confused where we want to go. As Harward says, the reason could be because we do not know much regarding where we came from. Simply put, we are very less knowledgeable about our history.

To know where we hailed from, a study of history is a must. We as Nepalese have put very less effort in searching for our roots. However, a researcher from the western hemisphere has done a laudable job by bringing out the least cared for, yet probably the most significant elements of history. Photographs taken by him reveal various facts about the historical events and could prove to be a very strong beginning point for further research on history.

According to Harward, in Western Nepal there are many pillars that have been erected for specific purposes. Some of them to indicate the victory known as 'Bir Khamba', while others to depict the religious carvings to show the tradition of those days. Harward, who has been working in Nepal since 1998 on the origins and history of the Malla Kings of the West got inspired to bring out this issue to public notice concerned at their apparent neglect.

In the exhibition titled "Historical Pillar Stones of India and Nepal" at the ground floor of SAG, more than two dozen images captured during his research in the Western Nepal and Kumao and Garhwal of India were put up. The images serve as the window to peep into the culture, tradition, religion and events in the Baisee and Chaubisee rajyas that extended up to Kumao and Garhwal. The independent kingdoms existed in Nepal before King Prithvi Narayan Shah united Nepal into a single country.

The Khas community comprising of Brahmins and Kshyatriyas who are at the helm of bureaucracy, politics and other influential sectors are considered to have hailed from the Chaubisee Rajyas - presently the Karnali region, which is ironically the most underdeveloped part of the country now.

Probably because they live in the most difficult time of the history, the natives seem to have least knowledge about the origin and history of the pillars.

The exhibition is an eye-opener in that it can serve as a very enriching resource for students of history and archaeology. The pictures of war, religious ceremonies and nature, among others, reveal the lifestyle and beliefs of our ancestors. The scriptures not only reveal the chronology, but also tell us a lot about the language used in those times.

Drawing The Details

A child psychologist depicts an anthology of insignificant details of his life in beautiful colors and forms

By THAKUR AMGAI

Peeping outside the window or carrying out one's daily chores constitute regular job, which are not considered significant by anybody. However, we fail to understand that these are the kind of actions that take up most of our time. And when they are something, doing which we spend most of our time, can they be really termed 'insignificant'?

The answer to this question is subjective to individuals, but artists and litterateurs have always learned to make these insignificant things significant by their magical skill of expression. They turn the insignificant details of the world into masterpieces of art or poem.

Mark Jordan has done exactly the same. A child psychologist by profession, Jordan has excelled in another facet of life - as an artist. In an exhibition titled 'Insignificant Details Of Life' at the first floor of Siddhartha Art Gallery, Jordan has shown how significant these things are in our life.

He cuts out photographs as he looks out of the window and pastes them to make a beautiful collage. He uses bright colors, often in contrast to add to the beauty of the paintings.

In addition to the traditional painting and collages, Jordan has also experimented with the use of newspaper cuttings, photographs and painting all in the same art. Jordan's paintings are soothing to the eyes and meaningful in that they comply with your little details of life as well.