Letter to
the editor
Dear Editor,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am a regular visitor to Nepal for many years; actually I just
returned to Germany last week. More than 4 weeks ago I sent a letter (mail) to the
magazine HIMAL. But as they didn't care to answer, now I would like to inform some people
who might be a bit more concerned with the plight of some of the poor people of
Kathmandu. - I hope that you might be some of these concerned people. So please
find enclosed the mail that I sent to HIMAL at the end of February and one scan of the
photo that I talk about.
Best regards
Jürgen Dahm
Ladies and Gentlemen,
this letter is regarding to the nepali issue of HIMAL that
reported about the problems and costs of the health system. I cannot read Nepali but I can
perfectly and fluently understand what the people talk about. I happen to pay for the
schooling of nearly 50 poor nepali children and the medical needs of many more. And 4 of
them happen to be the sons and one daughter of exactly that poor woman that you used
(abused?) for the fake title-photo of this issue of your magazine.
Can you imagine the reaction of so many people who
know this poor woman; especially those people who cannot read or write? The first thing I
heard, even before I had seen the photo, was "Shankar's mother is in the
newspaper because she paid with a fake 1000-Rupies bill". Other versions came up, the
rumours were growing quickly until I bought the magazine and asked a nepali friend
to read for us what it was all about. And the children told us that the mother remembered
very well that she was photographed in Thamel, sitting by the road side and was given 20
Rupies for this. Can you imagine what all this meant to this poor beggar woman who could
never afford to spend 1000 Rs. on anything? Can you imagine what it means for the
children? And what do people think (if they didn't understand this was a fake photo) who
next day see this woman again sitting by the road side and begging for 5 Rupies, some
coins and a little bit "chamal".
I was a very regular reader of the english version
of HIMAL before it became "Himal South Asia" and I remember very well that your
concerns used to be not only with protection of the environment, but also with the
protection of culture and of people. The abusing of this woman for this title photo seems
to fit very badly with your former policies. - Or have they changed?
I should be very happy to receive an answer. (Or
even an apology to this woman and her children?????)
Best regards, Jürgen Dahm
Sophienstr. 24, 68165 Mannheim, Germany
ph. 0049-621-416501
e-mail: juergendahm@hotmail.com |
