Is parent’s day a business promotion day?

By Rishi Ram Paudyal

Any school names a day as ‘Parents Day’ and invites parents and guardians to observe it. However, it’s very difficult to distinguish whether it is school's advertisement day or it’s a day for parents.

First of all, a school calls for a staff meeting and decides on which day and how it should be observed. Then about one or two months before the stipulated date meant for parents, the preparation begins.

The school’s walls and rooms are whitewashed or painted with other colours. Even if a school doesn’t have any extra activities, they are created then and there and the results are made ready in no time to announce on the parent’s day. If the school doesn’t have teachers for music, dance, yoga, martial arts and so on, they are hired temporarily. Then the music teacher chooses a few students and trains them to sing and play an instrument. The dance teacher selects some good-looking girls and a few boys and teaches them to dance either to a popular folk song or to the latest hit Nepali or Hindi film song.

If a school has any connection with professional artists, the school invites them to train their students to perform plays or other activities. If not, the same school’s Nepali and English teachers do their level best. Announcers are trained to speak English and the male teachers are advised to come in suits and ties if possible and the female teachers in beautiful clothes. The stage is decorated as if it were a bride going to be married soon and the impressive quotations are pasted or written on the wall or are nailed on the calves of the trees. Then the school invites chief and other guests. And they invite a parent or a guardian whom the school knows won’t speak anything against the school to deliver a speech on behalf of all the parents and guardians of the school. After everything is ready invitation cards are sent to parents and guardians.

The parents and guardians unaware of such preparation sit on the chairs or benches to observe their day ‘The Parents Day’.

The programme starts one and a half hours later than the time printed on the invitation cards. Then a student appears to announce in broken English.

The vice-principal with his grim face stands at the stage shaking because he is afraid to deliver his speech in English. The principal speaks in Nepali and reminds the audience that the medium of teaching is in English and that the process will continue in the future too. Then he goes on to say that the school is going to raise the fees since it is impossible to run the school without parents or guardians money.

The male teachers in ties and lady teachers in their best clothes wear smiling faces and watch the programme as it carries on. The guests who are asked to say a few words, deliver their speeches better and longer than any leader.

The programme is long and there is nothing to drink or eat for parents. Neither is there any chance to put a question. Now the different faces of the parents can be seen.

The uneducated and moderately well-to-do parents don’t seem to understand anything. The rich parents don’t seem to bother about anything. The educated and middle class people seem to worry about their children’s education. They seem to be talking to themselves, " How to educate my children and where to send them now? Public schools have turned into political institutions and the private (boarding) schools have become quick income generating institutions which always use different knacks to rob parents".

At last the programme gets over and the principal and his people enjoy the feast but parents return home hungry and probably wishing the next parents day would never take place as it is truly a day to announce increase in fees and to impress parents with outward shows and to promote business of the school.

Condemned to Exploitation Trafficking of Girls, Women in Nepal

There is a Nepalese proverb that states, "investing in girls is like watering a plant in a neighbour’s garden". From birth, many women in Nepal are condemned to a life of second best, a life that may lead to exploitation in many forms. For several thousand women, this will be trafficking for prostitution; a crime of increasing complexity that is now indiscriminate in its reach, affecting women of every area and ethnic group.

In "Condemned to Exploitation", Yubaraj Sangroula discusses the prevalence of the practice today, and how it can arise. This book is an eloquent critique of the relationship between the genders, both in Nepal and outside her borders. Sangroula argues that the existence of the sex market is determined by male desire. Trafficking is thus "the act of feeding the market with victims for exploitation by men." What about women’s choice? Sangroula contends that for the vast majority there is no such thing. Women who have been trafficked are kidnapped and deceived, forced into effectual slavery. Sangroula states that the job of agents of trafficking is made all too easy by girls’ status as "second class citizens" in the home. However, he challenges the perception that poverty is the driving force behind the trade. Rather, it is the "defective value system" in Nepalese society, by which men maintain control over women. These "defective values" are those of the patriarchy, established centuries ago but still at the heart of modern Nepal. These are not only behavioral benchmarks locally, but guide legislation and policy nationwide, permitting people at all levels to turn a blind eye to those that are exploited and abused.

It is this apathy that Sangroula has tried to address, in print and in practice. As one of Nepal’s leading public interest lawyers, he has been active in protecting and promoting the rights of those at risk throughout his career. In 1993, his legal outreach work in the districts of Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot and Dolakha showed him the problems facing communities affected by trafficking first hand. Together with them, and a team of lawyers and law students, the "Community Surveillance System Against Trafficking" (CSSAT) was formed to find some solutions. This program aims to achieve the grassroots prevention of trafficking, and a change in the defective values that perpetuate it. "Condemned to Exploitation" outlines how the program has developed over its short history. Now operational in 244 VDCs, it is led by committees of legally trained volunteers, or "paralegals", who work to maintain vigilance against trafficking, and encourage attitudinal change in their communities. The key to its success has been bringing together people from all social groups, and crucially, involving both men and women.

"Condemned to Exploitation" is only an introduction to what such community-led actions can achieve. But it brings its message home. Case studies and images illustrate the effects of trafficking on its victims, and how people can take prevention into their own hands. As such, the book is not only valuable as a theoretical work, but as a blueprint for action. It will be of interest to activists everywhere, but particularly within South Asia, where communities may find resonance with the experience of those in Nepal.

Sangroula states that, "The crime of trafficking of girls and women for sexual exploitation should be condemned as one of the most inhuman and degrading crimes that has ever occurred." This book is a call to action against it. It must be hoped that it is to be answered.

Ornaments & their Social Bearings

With the dawn of civilization, human beings have started to be more conscious and concerned about their outlook. Out of different items in vogue in this regard, ornaments play a leading role. While exploring the use of ornaments, it dates back to pre-historic period when the ancient people began dangling the bulky and cumbersome materials e.g. stone, metal and others in and around their ear and neck as well as tying the same in arm and wrist, not to mention piercing different body parts. Later came the improved forms of metal ornaments and precious stones, which were naturally convenient on the part of the users. Thus, aesthetic sense gathered momentum as the new generations tried to develop more attractive, lighter and more diverse sorts of ornaments.

Human brain is ever constructive and innovative to devise enticing tools for the individual’s beauty-at-a-glance. Coming to this time, ornaments have been established as part and parcel of an individual in the absence of which an individual’s existence is apparently analogous to the curry without salt. Demands of myriad jewels e.g. gold, diamond, pearl, muga are ever on the rise. Understandably, female beings are gravely obsessed by this fad who are almost the sole users of these glittery stuffs.

Gold undoubtedly outstrips other jewels in demand. Social gatherings including festive occasions, wedding ceremony and the ritzy parties are the exclusive fora of exhibiting jewels of various kinds. No one can even imagine attending such gatherings devoid of some ornaments. Amid these ceremonies, use of ornaments is more than imperative for women. During marriage ceremony, different ornaments are exchanged between the bride and her groom as a part of ritual and tradition which incurs much financial burden to people in general. Entire family’s status is merely measured in terms of the quantity and quality of the jewellery items being displayed by the concerned women.

An individual’s simplicity constantly remains in question and even dubbed as poverty without ornaments in place. This is the reason why hardly few people who can afford them dare shun this reigning trend. Those who possess no or less ornaments and not-so-worthy-enough items are susceptible to receive a disdainful look by the glitter. To keep the social humiliation at bay, ordinary people are compelled to hire or borrow the trendy ornaments. Inasmuch as they are bound to use gold or other valuable metal-plated artificial items too so as to give a false impression to their ever-gazing counterparts. This has created an unhealthy and unwanted competition of jewel-amassing race thus overshadowing intellectuality and other commendable virtues of human being. This trend is not only in existent within our own nation but prevalent throughout Asia.

The longing for jewels is in no way different from the consumption of marijuana, which keeps on growing unabatedly. Striking the right chord of people’s demands, designers launch varieties of jewellery suited with physique and costume whereby the ornaments-savvy folks aptly cash into the opportunity. The elegant folks are so much so frenzy of this trend that they have a pressing urge of adopting every new model day by day. Hence, change of ornaments is what their favourite pastimes.

No doubt, jewels are precious stuff that we can take shelter into at our hard times since they are easily convertible into cash money. On the contrary, eye-catching display makes them vulnerable to theft and of course, they impede the natural smoothness and freer movement, however lesser in extent. Wearing artificial jewels might be a cause of skin ailments e.g. itching and others. Curtailing many natural rights to women and decking them with glittering jewels asserts the fact that female beings are treated only as commodities and they are the mere objects of showcase. Hence, jewels chain their liberty. In deeper connotation, they are buying meekness, tolerance against atrocity to be perpetrated by their male counterparts in lieu of these ornaments.

During recent days, considerable number of women seems to appear in simpler set-up discarding the use of ornament thanks largely to the education and awareness developed among them. To back up the cliché "Women remain incomplete without ornaments" too, it’s all right to use fairer jewel-items but excessive indulgence in it causes negative repercussions in the society.

Gunakar Mahavihar

Out of hundreds of Mahayani Buddhist monasteries, only a few are in proper condition in the Kathmandu Valley. The negligence of the concerned families, people’s tendency to encroach and government’s indifference are to be blamed. But at least a few have proud stories of conservation to tell. The Gunakar Mahavihar (or Chhusya Bahal as locally it is called), at Jyatha, Thamel is one worth mentioning.

The small quadrangle shaped building in a brick-paved courtyard at the middle, has been standing there for the last 353 years. It was a Lhasa merchant named Gunajyoti Bajracharya from the neighbouring monastery of Hemakara Mahavihar (Dhwakha Bahal), who donated a major part of his treasure to have this monastery "renovated" in 1649 (Nepal Era 769). The related inscritption indicates that there had been a small shrine there where the Mahabvihar stands today. King Pratap Malla graced the ritual consecration ceremony performed in 1669 (Nepal Era 787), whom the maker donated a golden crown.

There are two giant lions guarding the main entrance. The torana over the main door bears the image of Pragyaparmita, the goddess of perfection of wisdom. The Mahavihar is a two-storeyed building made of bricks and roofed with tiles. The roof is supported by carved wooden struts with figures of deities on them. The stone plinth is made all round the buildings outside and inside the courtyard.

The central room of the ground floor facing north is the sanctum of the prime deity Akhsyobhya (Kwapadyo in local Newari language). There are four wooden staircases to reach the upper floor. The rooms in the upper floor are dedicated to worshipping of traditional esoteric deities and for the chief worshipper. Other rooms consist of reading room of sutras and reading room of figures of deities. The main entrance and lobby has an open space on either side that can give you a wide view of the courtyard.

When you look at any corner of the couryard, you can find images or the Mahayani Buddhist deities. There are figures of Dhyani Buddhas, five protective goddesses, seven deities representing the planets, six wrathful goddesses, ten wrathful Bhairavs, six Paramitas, six Adi-Buddhas, six Taras, four Maharajahs, twenty one lunar mansions and many more in the struts alone, supporting the roof. On each wing, there are heavily decorated windows, in sets of five or three. They can remind you of the beautiful courtyard of Kumarighar.

The torana at the room of traditional secret deities on the upper floor is decorated with an image of Bajradhara. Only initiated or trained ones are allowed to enter the room. A Buddha Mandala made of wood carving is placed on the ceiling of the shrine. The rooms of central part of the mandala is filled with symbols of gods and goddesses. Apart from Akshyobhya ("Kwapadyo"), there are images of Akshyobhya, Manjushree, Amithabh, Simhanada Lokeshhwor, Harihara Lokeshowr, Amoghpas Lokeshwor, Mahamanjushri, two lions and four inscriptions are found there.

Everyday, the priest washes the face of Kwapadyo, offers him water, tika, flower, rice and incense sticks, rings bells, shows mirror, comes out with the gambasin (a hollow wooden rod) and beats for 08 times, reciting mantra. He then holds a Yak-tail fan and worships the Tathagata with oil lamps.

In the courtyard, one can find figures of Hanuman, two Mahakals, Sariputra and Maudhakalyan, Gunajyoti and his wives, Chaitya, Padmapani Lokeshwor, Dharmadhatu Bagishwor, a pair of elephant guards and a small but beautiful temple in Sikhar style at the middle. Among others, the Mahavihar possesses a rare holy book of Pragyaparamita, which is displayed to the public during the Buddhist festival of Gunla that falls in August.

The priceless monument took a drastic change along with the urbanisation trends some three decades ago. The caretaking families started consuming the ancient monastery as their assets and also used it for private and financial purposes. Obviously, there was nobody to take care of it, and it started decaying slowly. Unaware of the significance of the cultural heritage, the "owners" started adding new windows and doors. The result is that many idols were lost or stolen from the courtyard.

But it was never too late to do something good. The monastery was renovated by 1996 wtih the contributions from IUCN, Nepal Heritage Society, local ward chairman, locals, Department of Archaeology as well as the Federal Republic of Germany.

Expert of Newari Bahals and Chaityas Niles Gutschow helped as a supervisor for the restoration. The completion ceremony was performed on Basanta Panchami on February 17, 2002. The empty monastery is now being utilised as a training centre for the Buddhist ritual and religious dances, etc., according to the Bajracharyas associated with the Monastery trust. Hope, priests of other delapidating monasteries also take lessons from Chhusya Bahal and pull up their shocks to renovate them too.

Chefs Corner
MAY 2002 at Radisson

In today’s scenario, organising an event is not only about rate, it’s about ease of mind and satisfaction of a job well done, whether meetings, corporate theme dinners, conferences, wedding parties…providing rooms, secretarial services, packages…anything.

A perfect way to spend a Saturday with friends and family this month at the Radisson, as it is yet another month full of excitement. Treat yourself to a lavish buffet brunch at The Fun Café where San Miguel Draft Beer flows freely till you can drink no more. This starts from 11.30 am to 2.30 p.m. all on Saturdays.

Also, they have the coke week. Coca- Cola products have always quenched your thirst. For this entire moth Radisson is now going to introduce us some coke flavoured products that will fulfill our hunger as well. The Fun Café will be serving some interesting coke infused culinary marvels like Chicken morsels in Sprite Creame Sauce, spicy Paneer Coca-Cola Masala, Coca-Cola Cappuccino Chocolate Cake and many more. Isn’t it exciting to have such a lot of variety form the coke?

Similarly, if you are looking for a fast and simple meal, the Combo meals provide the easiest solution for your discerning appetite. In Combo 1, we get Salad, Burger or sandwich, fries and coke. And in the second Combo, there is the Burger or the sandwich with fries and pastry. This is available at the Fun Café from three in the afternoon till six for just rupees 350. Also for the music lovers, there is the live music without modification every Friday and Saturday at the popular Italian speciality restaurant, the Olive Garden.

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