Increasing risk of conjoined twins

By Surendra Khanal

The case of " Ganga" and "Jamuna" is not new to us. Yes, nowadays, the cases of joined twins are increasing. Such twins are becoming the subject matter of many newspapers and agencies. It has been a matter of surprise for normal people and a matter of curiosity and investigation to scientists. Some twins are seen with their heads attached, some have united abdomen, some with united face, some are with two heads and single body or four legs. Animals like cows with extra legs on dorsal side are also found. It is also seen that frogs and minute creatures of ponds, lakes and rivers on the side of industries that dispose their harmful chemicals in them have single leg instead of two or no leg, along with other abnormalities and malformations.

Why does it happen? Before going into the detail, let’s have some information about ‘twins’. Usually a woman gives birth to only one baby at a time, but sometimes more than one child is born at the same time. These are called the cases of multiple births. Frequently, in case of multiple births, the number of babies is two and the babies, thus, born together are called twins. But in certain cases the number mightt be three (triplets), four (quadruplets), five (quintuplets) or even more. This phenomenon when many individuals are born is generally called super foetation. The twins are of three types (1) identical twins (2) fraternal twins and (3) Siamese twins.

Identical twins develop from the same zygote cleaves and becomes two and develop into independent embroyos. In this case, the developing embroyos share the same placenta but are attached to it separately. These twins are also called ‘monozygotic’. Such twins are exactly similar in their genotype; hence these are always of the same sex and show extreme similarities in every respect. However, if such twins are nurtured in dissimilar environmental conditions, we can easily establish which human variations is genetic and which is somatic (i.e. induced by the environmental conditions). Fraternal twins are such twins which develop from the simultaneous fertilization of two eggs by different sperms. Thus, these are like normal brothers and sisters. These are also called ‘dizygotic’ or ‘non-identical twins’. Since fraternal twins develop from different gametes, they differ genotypically; they may have same or different sexes. The genetic variations of such twins can be studied by nurturing them in similar environmental conditions also. The last and more different type is a Siamese twin. Siamese twins are, in fact, identical twins which fail to separate completely from one another, the degree of union varies from superficial one to very deep and complicated as in the case of ‘Ganga’ and ‘Jamuna’ which needed long time and lots of trained doctors and specialists to separate them. They are always of same sex and they hardly survive without good inspection and critical care. Such twins are also called conjoined twins.

Ordinary people may question whether this is the result of sins committed by their mother in the previous life. Such questions should be answered scientifically. To find out the actual causes of such disorganization, different researches have been conducted world wide but not yet in Nepal. These researches have shown that all these things happen because of ‘mutation’. Mutation is 'sudden stable inheritable/transmissible discontinuous variations' which appear in organisms due to permanent change in their genotypes. Studies on the nature of mutation revealed that changes in characteristic occur due to random and spontaneous alteration in the structure of a chromosome, a sequence of bases or even a single base. Mutation can be of two types; a) natural and b) artificial. Natural mutation occurs spontaneously without the effect of outer conditions. An artificial mutation is due to external mutagens. Mutagens are mutation causing factors or agents. They include high-energy electromagnetic radiations such as X-rays, etc; Chemicals like colchicines, caffeine, dyes, pesticides like organophosphorous (e.g.malathin), chloro- compounds (e.g. DDt, BH etc.) and ertain drugs like ‘thalidomide’ in pregnancy also brings malformation in the neonates.

Thus, it is clear that the user of the above mentioned rays, substances and compounds are somewhat more prone to the mutational changes.

The concept

By Satbodh Shrestha

"Concept"- an idea is who knows what a person has in his/her mind. Never can it be elucidated, as fairly unless the person asserts his inner feelings without any reluctance and displays it apparently. As we know, however the concept of a person is unable to understand without clear declaration of his/her view upon us, the concept is either good or bad. It is universal for all that a concept of good makes a person optimistic while the next makes a person pessimistic.

Concept of optimism always leads a person to cope with various hindrances and make his/her life prosperous. The person can easily create his/her own creativity, hidden-talency and build a nation that becomes site of hardworking, love and brotherhood.

Let us now think for our future and put a concept only of making our country beautiful, placid and serene with all our efforts. It is only because life is to live and do everything that we can. The attribute of having good concept is always progressive whereas an idea of taking awful concept makes the human civilization comes to end, ruin the lifestyle.

It would surely become a true excerpt if a person of any standard makes a concept of hardworking, brotherhood, love and affection towards his/her responsibilities and towards his citizen. If a person takes resolute concept for the betterment, there is no one to hinder him/her; there is nothing mightier than his/her determination. People do think that he/she is weak and cannot make up a life. But again, here the concept is wrong. No one is weaker in any field if he/she thinks he/she can accomplish any difficulties.

People, as we regard the highest ranking animal living organism in this earth are the most suitable instances as we reveal upon concept since concept much belongs to people of whom activities influence the resource or entity the most. So let us talk what is there in the inner feeling of people. People are much civilized, cultured and disciplined than any other organism. But there is an amazing question, what is that that enables the civilized and disciplined human to harass the proper setting of life. We also know that life which means lot to live and do, people due to their concept make the life either miserable or blissful.

If a person goes on having a good concept and toil for the good outcomes for development, it becomes certain for any one of us to believe on the person as the person makes his/her life meaningful. Thus we got to know that life, which is influenced by the concept of people, is to be highly appreciable and appropriate so to combat and cope any intricacy for and the next.

For the same, we can have our country for an illustration. Nepal, a piece of land with snow-clad mountains, rugged hills, blush green forest, valleys full of patchwork of terraced fields and ribbons of rivers and many more exquisite resources, has multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, multi religion society. But now why the status has not been so appropriate as we say our country a peace loving country. Yes again here the concept influences. People who are the nation builders are only responsible for the country to shape it out in the right figure. No doubt if people don’t think much but get a peaceful and a short suitable concept of a developed country, there doesn’t exist any detrimental activities and increments in social crimes.There is no such force that neutralizes the peril activities by and crime or guilt by another crime or guilt, there is only a vital, crucial, decisive entity- the concept of love, mutual understanding, development and brotherhood. If a person puts an idea of love and development for the country, he is much more than the person who thinks, he or she is a citizen of the country for which it has to pay a lot.

It is more indispensable to think for every citizen from the smallest to the highest esteem of the country that what he or she has done for his or her country despite, than what his or her country has done for him or her.

For this, the best alternative is only to have a concept of love, understanding, brotherhood, and development not for a person, not for a society but for the country. We do know what is life? What is it for? What is necessary for the life? But why we can’t disentangle all the problems and in a simple manner with having respects to our country put a concept of harmony and accordance and love our country as much as our country loves us.

Sun & Moon in traditional Nepali art

By Dhurba K Deep

The sun and moon in Nepalese culture have always been regarded as two divine witnesses from heaven. So in Nepal every socio-religious ceremony traditionally regarded auspicious always begins with the lighting of a ceremonial oil lamp called Sukunda, which symbolizes the sun god. The Regveda, generally believed to have existed around 1800 B.C. has described the sun as the soul of the entire existence and called him the illuminator of all three worlds. Here is a very significant Vedic hymn dedicated to sun god, which reads:

"Let’s us meditate on the glory of great divine light bearer. May he always enlighten our inner mind".

In the early Vedic period- the sun was given different names for different purposes. The sun in his visual form is generally called Soorya whereas his invisible form is called ‘Savitri’. Vishnu Purana (an ancient Hindu text) has a very interesting story to tell about the wedding of the sun god, Soorya. It is said that he married Sanjna, the most beautiful daughter of the great operator of this universe, Prajapati. The newly wed couple lived together for some time. But Sanjna soon faced a great difficulty to adjust herself to the personality of her most brilliant husband. When she could not bear his light any longer she departed herself from him and lived all alone. It is said that when she left home, she left behind her shadow too, of which she was totally unaware. Soorya, the great lover of his wife mistook it for his beloved wife Sanjna. But very soon she realized that her shadow (chhaya) was not his real wife. He then tried to figure out where she could be. Very soon by means of his divine power he sensed that his wife had mysteriously become a wild mare. Shocked with this discovery, he simply could not help but become a horse himself and united himself with his beloved wife again.

It is said that later on, the father of Sanjna, the great creator by realizing his daughter’s misery considerably reduced his son-in-law’s light with which some powerful weapons were made and were given to different Gods and Goddesses to use for different purposes. Ever since then the divine couple lived together very happily.

Now let’s discuss about a very interesting legend about why birds sing during sunrise and sunset. The legend says that in the beginning of creation the primordial cosmic egg (this universe) was divided into two parts namely the silver part and the golden part. The silver part became the earth and the golden part the heaven. The eggshells became the mountains and their interior parts became the clouds. The veins of the egg became the rivers and the liquid element became the oceans. But everything that came into existence out of this cosmic egg was dead cold. Eventually the sun came out for the first time on the earth. It was only after that there was warmth and pleasure everywhere. Overwhelmed with this joy the creatures all over the world yelled out with great excitement and sang to everybody’s great delight. Ever since then, it is said that birds sing joyously during sunrise and sunset.

Now let’s discuss a bit about the moon too. The moon in the Vedas was identified as Soma, very significantly meant for sacrificial offering. Soma also meant ‘amrita’ or ‘amborisa’ the dirink of immortality. The full moon is also often compared to the marvelous white cup specially built for the gods to drink amrita or amborisa. According to one legend it is divided into 14 small portions, which are to be consumed by the gods everyday one portion a sip at a time until they are all used up in two weeks time. However they can have it refilled only by the favour of the sun god Soorya.

It is said once a demon called Rahu saw the gods gathering in a big assembly hall enjoying amrita. He could not resist to have some for himself too. So he disguised himself as a god and joined the gods. But the moon immediately recognized Rahu and chopped off his head.

In a very ancient book of iconography the moon is described as an anthropomorphic deity having white complexion, and riding a chariot drawn by ten horses. He is depicted holding the mace in his left hand and his right hand bestowing protection for his devotees. His chariot is drawn by two charioteers. The antelope is the emblem of his divine personality.

However, in the traditional Nepalese art the sun and moon are generally depicted as two watchful eternal eyes of supreme being. These emblems which are very stylistically painted or carved in ancient Nepalese doorways are quite common in Nepal.

The sun and moon are very widely worshipped in this country. These two ancient deities have occupied a highly esteemed place in the Nepalese national flag. The most important part of Nepalese flag is a totally contrast all other flags of various countries in terms of shape.

The two triangle flag shows a stylish moon at the top and the sun below, both in spotless pure white symbolizing the eternal eyes of the almighty god that can see everything of this universe. Its background is rich red, which symbolizes Shakti, the immanent energy in action. The blue border embracing the red portion of the flag is symbolic of the peace loving nature of Nepal. This colourful flag is said to have a very ancient origin. Some pundits date it back to the Vedic period which roughly goes way back to three thousand years before Christ.

Garden of Dreams

By Razen Manandhar

We can hardly trace any garden made by Licchivi, Malla and early Shah rulers today, though they used to attract lovers of art. Perhaps their passion for built environment prevented them to think about green gardens. It was as late as in 1920s that a "whimsy" genius Keshar Samshere from the aristocratic Rana family built an unparalleled garden in the premise of his residential building. After surviving pathetic decades of negligence by government staff, the fragile piece of earth is on the way to be revived. Good news is on the pipeline: Lovers of nature and heritage conservation hold your breath.

The Garden of Dreams (Swapna Bagaicha in Nepali), the only one of its kind in the Himalayan Kingdom is stretched to eight and a half ropani of land today, though it used to occupy 14 ropani. It is located just a street across Narayanhiti Royal Palace and five minutes walk from Thamel. Hidden under the high walls and tumultuous office atmosphere, there lies the wreckage of seven-decade-old treasure of the Garden of Dreams.

The construction of the garden was commissioned by Field Marshal Keshar Shumsher between the period 1920 - 28. It is said that though a passionate lover of art and science, he was a luxurious. He one day happen to gain one hundred thousand rupees from his father Prime Minster Chandra Shamsher. Bewildered with the treasure he earned within a wink of time, he decided to built a legendary garden, doing all his best to make his dreams come true.

Originally, there was a long straight canal with several bridges across it. There were six unique pavilions each meant for different seasons - Basanta or spring, Grishma or early summer, Barkha or Monsoon, Hemanta or early autumn, Sharad or later autumn to early winter and Shishir or winter. However, presently, only three pavilions remain there, as half of the garden was turned into modern shopping complexes of Thamel.

Amazingly, the garden is an example of the European art and architecture made possible with the traditional Nepali masonry technique. All the surrounding walls, pavilions, pillars, pedestals, bars, pond, flower vases, animals and human figures give us an impression of European garden architecture. It is surprising the garden was creation of two India-returned architects Kumar Narshingh Rana and Kishor Narshingh Rana.

The realistic figures, columns, steps Keshar Samshere used to collect from his voluminous collection of European books on gardens were "foreign" to traditional masons. But they showed their craftsmanship in copying European objects in traditional brick and surkhi-mortar.

After the days of the Ranas were over, the Keshar Mahal came into the possession of Ministry of Education and Sports. The government staff never realised the value of the garden and one after another, the hakims turned the pavilions into their offices. The collection of over 50 species of trees and flowers simply become unwanted shrubs and the species of birds that used to visit the green garden also turned their backs. The green field, pond, stone steps and other art objects, including the discarded figure of Sphinx and the beheaded "sculpture" of Laxmi in Greek attire are waiting for true lovers of art and heritage to revive them.

Like the proverbial silver lining of the dark cloud, tourism expert Karna Shakya’s eyes happen to fall on the garden in Visit Nepal Year 1998. He and his company ultimately collected as much as one million dollar to conserve the unique garden. Thus, the visionary and challenging project launched on September 25 of 1998, supported by Australian Development Cooperation through Eco-Himal and International GO involved in Nepal’s tourism development.

A board has been formed for the conservation of the garden. The secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports chairs the board, which is supported by development and legal sub-committees. The committee has planned to slap entrance fee, at least to secure the valuable guardian. The pavilions will also be leased to make standard restaurant and a cafe. The income raised from the garden will be used to maintain the garden and also to uplift Keshar Library. Though the project aims to be completed by 2006, it will be partially opened from September 2002.

According to the plan, apart from renovating the garden, a lost pavilion will be constructed and a new entrance will be open from Thamel side.

Site Architect Prabal Thapa is working in full speed with his around two dozen technicians to bring back the charm of the past in built and green environment. The team, with consultants, are working on old pictures, resource persons to revived the shadowed past, without deforming the original structure.

"We have almost completed all the infrastructure part, which is very important part though not visible. Lots of things are yet to be done, still," said Thapa.

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