The Eighth South Asian Federation (SAF) Games is less than a week away now. Apart from having pride in Nepal hosting this regional sporting extravaganza, Ms. has also been greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm that this event has generated among the people here. From small school going children to campus students and poets and others, virtually all have come forward to make the occasion a Ògrand successÓ. So what pains one now, is remembering that Nepalese sport officials had turned down the opportunity to host this Games, which could generate so much nationalistic fervor, not once, but twice in the last couple of years. But while it is useless to cry over split milk now, it does make you wonder whether the turbulent political times in the country could have been averted had this Games been organised when it should have been some years back?

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Also on the SAF Games, strident voices against some activities taking place in the preparation works of this Games have been heard on the streets and in the Parliament. In fact a ruling was made in the House for the Minister of Sports to appear before it and answer some questions the MPs had raised. It can be understood that there will be some dissatisfaction when such a huge project is being undertaken, but why are the SAF Games Organising Committee officials silent even when serious accusations of corruption and smuggling are being made against it? Specially so, when it has a effective tool like a full fledged Press and Publicity Committee to handle such issues.

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It was disheartening to see Vikram tempos plying on the streets of Kathmandu even after the deadline set for its ouster passed on Friday midnight. If the government cannot implement even this ÒpopularÓ decision, which has the backing of the majority of the people, it is difficult to see it doing other things, like for example implementing the highly controversial VAT or even removing the slum market at the Exhibition grounds in the centre of the City.

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The Miss Nepal beauty pageant always seems draw some sort of a controversy or the other. The protest of the women’s activists who feel that women are being Òexploited and used like commoditiesÓ is understandable. Also the protest at the venue of the contest and then the lack of patience shown by the police in violently dispersing the protesters are also things which now have come to be taken as part of the game. However what one fails to comprehend is the lack of sportsman spirit among the contestants themselves. Last year the organisers had a hard time hiding their red faces when the winner of the Miss Nepal title flitted away from their grasp and decided to settle down in the US of A before her reign was over. Now we have a runner-up calling the judges of the contest incompetent! This girl has also defied the organisers by saying to a newspaper that the title winner was actually no competition for her. ÒI won the Miss Talent title and also the Miss Photogenic title, so how could she be declared the winner?Ó, she logically questioned. Another accusation saying that the new Miss Nepal was actually not a Nepali, has also not brought out any response from Hidden Treasure, the organisers of the contest. In spite of all such controversies, if they decide to hold the contest again next year and not remain hidden, then perhaps the Treasure executives will have to add a new regimen to the training of the contestants and that should be ÒdisciplineÓ.

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Like during Christmas times at other places, big and petty crimes, mostly stealing, increases here in Nepal before the big festival of Dasain. If one cares to look at police records, then probably they will say that there is a marked increase of such incidents during such times, which unfortunately happens to be now (mid-September till end of October). But what new trend Ms. has found after hearing the complaints of many victims, is the petty level to which thieves are lowering themselves. For example people are losing slippers and shoes at temples, clothes are being stolen from hanging lines and a cycle or even a water pump is being stealthily taken away. People must be pretty desperate to steal such things. Perhaps that is why some sage Nepali said that Dasain was dasa (curse) for a bread earner, even if he or she happens to be a thief.

Well, that’s all for this week, goodbye and take care.

-Ms. Kristi