A day with 1974 AD

The horizon of Nepali music is now dotted with many a star, some big, others small. Some of them bask in a brief moment of stardom and then vanish into the thin air. >From time to time, we see the emergence of new bands and groups, trying to make their mark. One band has, however, been making rapid strikes since its advent on the scene. They can be called the Dhruva tara of the genre of Nepali music that they play.

Indeed, the band in question is none other than 1974 AD, now in their seventh year. Before they appeared, Nepalese music was on the verge of breakdown and very few fates in it. At the time completely dominated by the western and the so-called Nepali pop music, the band 1974 AD came as a wave of fresh air. Their lyrically enchanting and deep songs exploded into the Nepali music arena in the mid 90’s.

Formed in the year 1994, this legendary Nepali band started off with Nirakar Yakthumba, Phiroz Shyangden, Bhanu A, Patrick Wilson and Anup Das. Their musical journey started off when their song ‘Malayu le’ hit the airwaves in 1995. Constant play on the TV and the radio floored the listeners all over the country.

The band currently consists of Nirakar on the bass guitars, Phiroz on the lead guitars and the vocals, Bhanu A on the rhythm guitars, Manoj KC on lead guitars, Adrean Pradhan on the drums, Manohar Gurung and Sanjaya Shrestha on the percussion. I had the privilege of interviewing the band 1974 AD on the first day of this month, during a concert organised as a fundraiser for the benefit of the Tindhara Sanskrit Pathshala.

It was a wonderful effort given by some talented youngsters and featured various up coming bands such as the Albatross, Monkey Temple, Brothers In Arms, Ozzobozzo and not to mention the mind blowing performance given by the boys from the Budhanilkantha School. The crowd was mesmerised by the absolutely electric performance given by the 1974AD. They added yet another chapter to their incredible history of live performance for the benefit of those less fortunate than we are.

Philanthropy seems to be the band’s other hallmark besides their lilting songs and music. Over 60% of their performances go for the charity. Their concert on the day of Ghatasthapana raised more than 91 thousand rupees, all of which was donated to the Central Jail library. They have also raised money for the benefit of the handicapped children in Jorpati and for a basketball training centre. Certainly a band with a good mission.

The band meet unprecedented level of success with their debut album, "Time Out" and since then there have been no looking back for this band with their mellifluous tunes. With their exquisite music songs such as ‘Samjhi baschhu’, ‘Sambodhan’ and ‘Pareli ma’, 1974AD is, no doubt, the most popular Nepalese band to date. When asked about their sensitivity towards their audiences, one of the members said that their live performance have always been electric, people have accepted them very well and have always given a positive feedback.

It is a well-known fact that this band has a huge fan following. But I was unaware of their magical until I personally witnessed the phenomenon. Its a band somewhat influenced by the Asian oriental music. I found myself asking about their opinion on oriental and fusion music. Yakthumba , the bass guitarist of the band suggested that the only thing that comes as a drawback is the fact that its failure enter the mainstream. Another major drawback is that some people visualise music in the wrong way. Fusion music brings out the best of all the cultures.

KC, the lead guitarist is the one who loves to fiddle around with the computers. He thinks that modern technology has made recording a lot easier. The band introduced an authentic and exotic touch with the recent addition of Sanjaya Shrestha, the percussionist. Shrestha was previously the member of the band Shristi, a hugely popular fusion band.

Some say that a person born in Nepal has little or no future as a musician. The band members think otherwise. One of the members suggested that people of Nepal are very musical, with all the festivals being associated with music. Unlike the other bands, these young have acquired a decent educational background. Nirakar thinks that it’s a big risk to drop out of school in order to pursue music. He goes on to say that a lot of young people have the notion that one needs to drop out of the college or school in order to make it big in the music industry. The chances are that they will end up being the frustrated musicians.

Nepalese music scenario has seen many of its followers come and go. Some make it big and suddenly vanish into the thin air, while others never really come in the limelight. What actually fuels 1974AD to remain in this field is their flair of music and their commitment towards each other.

However, the first to come in the line is their innumerable number of their fans. As one of the musicians puts it, "Music is something that’s in them". It is something that they would like to share with all their fans. As percussionist Shrestha puts it, "Keep on living with the power of music." Well, this was my first experience of the band’s live performance, but definitely not the last. I came across many who had attended the concert, just to get one glimpse of the band performing. Previously, I wondered what the legend of 1974 AD was. Now, I’m myself acquainted with it. One thing that struck me was the benevolent attitude and the down-to-earth attitude of the members. I expected to encounter some celebrities, and the people I meet were not just some mere musicians. They are people with a purpose. They are here to stay.

Dawn of life

By Bikash Regmi

What are we born for? Is it material hoardings where we are so desperate about earning so much as to keep our generations running? Or is it for fame that we believe we shall be remembered inspite of our death? In this context, there’s one more question.

Do we know life is impermanent? If the answer is ‘yes’ for you and you still aspire for all the mundane charms, you are either foolish or you still have alot to relish before you can come to the judgement that all this is illusory. Now, if your answer is ‘no’, you better start looking back at your life. A few years back from now you were a child, then a grown-up young man and now an old one. Have you remained a child always? Have you still the same innocence you were once radiant with?

The answer is an imperative ‘no’. If you are never the same as you were before, and if your charisma is not the one you used to have, you better start thinking straight about life as the same principle would apply for your coming years too.

You are bound to change. You can never remain the same. This is universal truth. And changes you will till you breathe your last, ultimately passing your baton to the coming generation.

So, the moral is clear: Our desires run parallel to our impermanent lives. The point where life comes to a halt, desires give out. And all the so-called achievements and merits, as result of those desires, are stifled. They become inconsequential. And needless to say, when a person is himself dead and life has no purpose, what are accomplishments! So what must a being learn to do then when he is still living?

Great teachers have always emphasised on Meditation. This is an art where a being learns to be aware of all the activities his six senses (nose, tongue, ears, eyes, skin and mind) perform. Whatever odor the nose senses, he is aware of it. Whatever the tongue tastes, he is aware of it.

Whatever the ears hear, he is aware of. Whatever object the eyes behold, he is aware of. Whatever the skin touches, he becomes aware of. And whatever thoughts come to the mind, he is aware of them. While he is aware of all that happens with his six senses, he understands with his insight that all those sensations wane.

This reveals to him the secret of impermanence of sensations. Gradually, he wisely comprehends that all of life’s processes are transient. In entirety, he begins to follow that life as a whole is fleeting and so is the universe.

What is happening with him is happening to the universe as well. When all things are rising and decaying, living and dying, what is there to desire for? There is nothing permanent to cling for. Then comes to him the awakening: That life had been wasted in futile desires, one ephemeral hope after another. These small moments of awakening slowly get bigger and bigger by and by wrapping up the entire life in equanimity. Thus the wise man gets one step closer to liberation, personifying the essence of being born a human being.

Temple complex of Lord Pashupatinath

Since thousands of years, the 264-hecate-big complex of Lord Pashupatinath temple by the bank of holy river Bagmati, which shelters around 500 Hindu temples, and also residences of the a thousand or so local people related, have been the centre of creed. Beside being the prime centre of devotion for the Hindus of the Himalayan Kingdom, it has been one of the most adored pilgrimage for the Hindus of India too.

A popular legend has it that a gifted cow used to drizzle milk on a particular knoll by the Bagmati River, on the first step of flourishing of civilization in the Kathmandu Valley thousands of years ago. That was the time when cow herdsmen ruled the valley. One among them became quite curious about the knoll and he dug the place one day, just to discover a "like-a-light" idol of Lord Pashupatinath. The historical cronicles atest that the form of the linga, as the idol, have came into existance in as early as by the begining of the 5th century. However, the present one should not be older than that of 1350 AD as that was the year when a Muslim invader shattered the holy idol into pieces.

After that most of the kings who ruled the country in the past paid homage to the Lord and either re-constructed the prime temple or added individual temples to beautify the complex.

The temple is one among the seven major monument zones that makes the Kathmandu Valley a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from the main shrine, the temples of Basuki, Unmatta Bhairav, Kotilingeshwar and some other are inside the temple courtyard. Guheshowri, Vishowrup, Gorakhanath, Ram, Kirateshwar, Rajrajeshowri, Batsaleshowri, Panchadeval, Bankali and Shitala lie around the holy shrine. And the temples of Battais Putali, Jaya Bageshowri, Charumati Bihar, Chabahil Lokeshowr, Chabahil Stupa, Chandra Vinayak, Bhandareshowr Mahadev, Tamreshowr Mahadev are some among other major shrines of the protected monument zone.

The Pashupatinath Temple area is an abode of rituals and festivals around the calendar. Mahashivaratri is the most widely celebrated festival in the Pashupatinath area. Balachaturdashi, Haritalika Teej, Haribodhini Ekadashi, Harishayani Ekadashi and Mukhastami are some of the local festivals.

A committee was formed in 1977 for the development of the holy area and Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) was founded in 1986 to launch and integrated development of the whole area. A Bagmati Area Development Project is spending quite a lot of money to clean the river that flows along the temple area. There are over 200 youth clubs and social organisations are working in the Pashupati area development. Quite a big number of people, including some well-known industrialists have come up with enthusiastic proposals to improve the area.

But almost all have cooled down before the dreams are materialised. The 15 years old state-funded Trust is still selling the dreams and other clubs are juut dormant. The real status of the prominent Hindu shrine of the Hindu State that lies in the centre of the capital city comes under the leaders’ notice only when their close relatives die and they have to sit there for an hour. Then it can not be unusual that their sentimental proclamation to develop the area dries as the monsoon passes.

The PADT has started collecting entrance fee from the tourists several months ago but any remarkable improvement is yet to be seen. There are scores of temples waiting for restoration, some lucky ones were also granted with too slow projects. The security in the archaeological area is almost nil. News of art theft are on the rise. The Trust plans to improve the area by chasing away the local people, who in fact are a part of the living heritage of the temple area. Thy are not allowed renovating their houses and a nightmare of being dislocated haunts them every night. Illegal construction around the area are going on. Even the monkeys and oxen have been victim of the deteriorating environment. The queue of beggars, hawkers, drug-abusers and pseudo-jogis are what today feature the holy area. Under this circumstances, the holy region which is also a major heritage site too, needs more sincere hands to protect and preserve it.

Renaissance The era of rebirth

By Suvekshya Pant

As the middle ages ended with the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe was brought into the Dark Ages. This Dark Age was a time of barbarians and the countries in this region experienced no advancement. Even the discoveries made by the Romans were forgotten and everything was in a kind of recession. It was with the end of the Dark Ages that Italy became an individual country and the standard of living rose. People now began to trade with other countries and eventually were able to sustain themselves. This meant that they had more time to think.

During the start of the fourteenth century, European scholars became more interested in studying the world around them. Their art became more true to life. They began to explore new lands. The new age in Europe was eventually called "the Renaissance." Renaissance is the period of time between the early sixteenth and late seventeenth century. It is a French word that means "rebirth." Historians consider the Renaissance to be the beginning of modern history.

The Renaissance began in northern Italy and then spread through Europe. Italian cities such as Naples, Genoa, and Venice became centres of trade between Europe and the Middle East. The Italian Renaissance was called the beginning of the modern age. Arab scholars preserved the writings of the ancient Greeks in their libraries. When the Italian cities traded with the Arabs, ideas were exchanged along with goods. These ideas, preserved from the ancient past, served as the basis of the Renaissance.

The Renaissance spirit of curiosity, experimentation, and objectivity were also important to the development of science in Europe. Renaissance scholars emphasized concrete experience over abstract theory and tried to observe the natural world carefully, completely, and without preconceived ideas. This spirit of impartial inquiry was more important to the future of science than any specific achievement.

Many scientific figures were born across Europe. Scholastic speculation reached its peak at Padua and provided essential preparation for the more dramatic achievements of scientists such as Johannes Kepler of Germany and Sir Isaac Newton of England in formulating the laws of motion. The new scientific attitude that arose at Padua during the Renaissance emphasized objectivity and experimentation, and represented another significant accomplishment of the period

The scientific advances of the Renaissance were evident in many fields. Florentine artist Leonardo da Vinci united art with science in his studies of the structures and processes of nature, as well as in his designs for machines and mechanical devices. Important inventions such as gunpowder, the printing press, and the compass were practical results of Renaissance scientific inquiry.

The sense of change in all aspects of life created a favourable atmosphere for artistic experimentation and innovation. Wealth that accumulated in the towns helped support writers and artists. Above all, a new and more varied public audience emerged with expanded tastes and interests. Prosperous townspeople and members of the royal courts demanded greater refinement in the arts and more variety in both form and content. They encouraged artistic treatment of the world in which they lived, but they also valued the classical heritage. This heritage seemed to resemble their own civilization and provided a wealth of ideas and formal models for changes in the arts. In these ways, the Renaissance played a crucial role in the development of modern creative expression.

Leonardo Da Vinci, an Italian was born in 1452. a great artist and scholar he is most famous for the portrait of ‘Mona Lisa’. Leonardo’s fame grew-but not just for his painting. Leonardo was truly a "Renaissance Man," skilled in many fields. He was a scientist and an inventor as well as an artist. He made notes and drawings of everything he saw. Leonardo invented clever machines, and even designed imitation wings that he hoped would let a person fly like a bird.

Michelangelo Buonarroti of Florence was one of the greatest artists of all time. Like Leonardo, Michelangelo was a "Renaissance Man" of many talents. He was a sculptor, a painter, and an architect. When Michelangelo carved a statue of Moses, he included veins and muscles in the arms and legs. Michelangelo was a devout Christian, and the church was his greatest patron. He designed the dome of St. Peter’s church in Rome. Nearby, Michelangelo’s paintings cover the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the building where new popes have been selected for more than five hundred years.

People began to question the church and its ideas. It was believed that the earth was the centre of the universe and other bodies circled around it. This view was questioned by scientists like Copernicus. This sixteenth century Polish astronomer caused great controversy. He formulated that the sun was in fact the centre of the universe and other planets circled around it.

Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy. He was one of the first to build a telescope and he was the first to direct it to the night time sky and discover mountains on the moon and the moons of Jupiter.

In the second half of the 15th century, European sailors began to plan voyages that would take them beyond the limits of the world they knew. The new interest in the world came in part from the Renaissance, but the main reason was to set up new trading links with spice-producing lands in Asia.

Spices were an essential part of everyday life for the Europeans. Refrigeration had not yet been invented, so the only way to preserve meat was to salt it. Adding spices helped to hide the salty taste. The spices also concealed the taste of meat that had gone bad.

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese. He was one of the first explorers who rejected the idea of Europeans. It was believed that if you travelled further than a particular point in the sea, you would be attacked and eaten by sea creatures. It was also believe that you would also reach the end of the earth and simply fall off. Filled with curiosity, this young sailor set to sea after convincing some civilians. He left Portugal and was able to cross Africa. Although Vasco da Gama never made it back to his country, as he died half-way through the voyage, he managed to prove and important theory which changed the thinking of the people.

The spirit of curiosity was also extended to exploration and navigation. Italian-Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus, English explorer Sir Francis Drake, and others made use of the latest inventions and discoveries in navigation, astronomy, and mathematics.

Christopher Columbus hoped to reach India by sailing west. When the Portuguese king would not sponsor his voyage, he asked Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. After six years, they agreed. When Columbus reached a group of islands across the Atlantic Ocean, he was certain he had reached his goal. Columbus called the native people Indians. This is why the Caribbean islands are known as the West Indies. Columbus made three more voyages to the Caribbean, but he never realized his mistake.

During the Middle Ages, much of Italy was controlled by the Holy Roman Empire. As the emperors and popes fought for control, both were weakened. Several Italian cities formed states that were independent of both the empire and the church. Venice and Florence were two centres of power and wealth that became the cradle of the Renaissance.

Venice was founded in the fifth century by people fleeing from Attila the Hun.. By the 13th century, Venice was the most prosperous city in Europe. The city became rich by collecting taxes on all merchandise brought into its harbours. Venice built huge warships that protected the valuable cargo of its merchant ships from pirate raids. With the vast wealth from trade, many of the leading families of Venice vied with one another to build the finest palaces or support the work of the greatest artists.

Florence, the "city of flowers," was located in the hill country of north-central Italy. It prospered because of the wool industry. Sheep were raised in the rock hill country of central Italy, and Florence was a centre of wool processing. During most of the Renaissance, wealthy merchants dominated Florence.

The merchants competed with one another by building grand palaces for themselves. The merchants were patrons of the arts. Patron comes from the Latin word for father. They hired artists to fill their homes with beautiful paintings and sculptures. Patrons bought rare books and paid scholars to teach their children. The money and encouragement of patrons together with that of the church, made the masterpieces of Renaissance art possible.

In theatre, William Shakespeare was born in England. Perhaps the most famous playwright in history till today, his plays have been read and played throughout time. Some of his works include ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Macbeth’. His writings depict fantasy as well as the life of the time period in which he lived.

There are many more individuals who contributed to the renaissance. In every aspect of life, Europe became more advanced. The structure of society changed as new theories were formed and people began to understand themselves and the world they lived in. If it was not for the Renaissance the door into the world we live in today would never have been opened and we would be far behind in technology, literature, art and science. It is therefore necessary for us to be able to know about this era, which brought about the start of the modern world.

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