#771 14 - 20 August 2015 20+2 pages Rs 50

TWO THOUSAND WIDOWS ROJITA ADHIKARI

ani Maiya PrajapatiPrajapati (abovee) was serving food to her daughter, daughter son-in- son in THETHE AUTHORITYAUTHORITY TOTO REBUILDREBU Nlaw and their two children when the EDITORIAL PAGE 2 SOULMATES building in Sankhu started shaking violently just before noon on Saturday 25 April. She shouted “let’s go” and ran out of the house, BETTER BUILD BACK IN CYBERSPACE the others couldn’t make it in time and were ’s post-earthquake rehabilitation now hinges crushed. Nani Maiya lost her family and on the formation of a credible and independent home, and is among Nepal’s estimated 2,000 Reconstruction Authority. earthquake widows. Women’s groups say BY SONIA AWALE PAGE 4-5 widows and single mothers need a special An increasing number mechanism for help with ofof Nepalis are fi nding rebuilding homes and livelihoods. IT AIN’T OVER YET theirth partners through BY THE WAY Tinder,Tin Facebook and FULL STORY BY ANURAG ACHARYA PAGE 3 matrimonialma sites. BY ROJITA ADHIKARI ON PAGE 16-17 BOUND BY BOUNDARIES BY KARMA GURUNG nepalitimes.com AS IT HAPPENS  Watch video online PAGEPA 10-11 BY OM ASTHA RAI PAGE 19 2 EDITORIAL 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 THE AUTHORITY TO REBUILD

ow soon the earthquake has been forgotten, been trying to alert the Nepal government about the and the country has drifted back to politics as need to set up a Disaster Management Authority to Husual. The constitution is finally taking shape, oversee preparedness, contingency planning as well as but the attempt by the four top parties to ram through coordinate rescue, relief and rehabilitation when the boundaries of six provinces in the draft last week set earthquake did strike. off a political earthquake. Aftershocks are still being Of course, nothing was done. The bill to set up the felt, especially in western Nepal. authority has been in limbo in parliament – another The delineation of boundaries was ad hoc, casualty of the lack of political will. If that Authority haphazard and arbitrary. If this is what we had to fight had been in place, not only would we have been much and die for in a ten-year war and suffer another decade more prepared but the rescue and relief would also of peace, then we might as well just have stuck to the have been speedier and smoother. five north-south development zones and devolved Despite the government’s lapses on many fronts, political power to them. We would have saved 17,000 it was admittedly overwhelmed by the scale of the Nepali lives, time, money, and a lot of heartache. destruction: more than 700,000 buildings destroyed, However, the 25 April earthquake did give Nepal’s 30,000 classrooms in ruins. However, there were very politics a mighty jolt and woke up our rulers from their few instances of people dying due to lack of emergency slumber. The public’s disillusionment with politicians medical care, 3,000 injured were airlifted and nearly all was so great they had to try to hurriedly pass the got free treatment. The logistics of food and medicines constitution and use that as an excuse for regime BIKRAM RAI has been relatively well managed. Despite the turf change. Hence the 16-point accord. The opposition, battle at national level, CDOs coordinated aid well. including Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the UCPN(M) and Bijay Do we have the political will to save time Local bodies would have performed even better if there had Gachhadar of the MJF(L), are so desperate to get on board the been elected VDC, DDC and municipality councils unity government that they are trying their best to quickly and money to fuse the long-pending Since the Reconstruction Authority with a mandate for quell the anger in the west and the grievances of the Tharu Disaster Management Authority with the rehabilitation over the next five years has still not been set people to move ahead with the constitution. up, our suggestion would be to fuse it with the proposed Since the government of Prime Minister Sushil Koirala is Reconstruction Authority? Disaster Management Authority. We need something more not known for multi-tasking what has fallen by the wayside credible, and a little more permanent. After all, we are in all this is the formation of the Reconstruction Authority obviously because the agency’s head has ministerial rank, a sure to have floods, landslides (and God forbid) another and the delay in the appointment of its head. The lives and powerful mandate and control over a huge budget. Nothing earthquake somewhere in Nepal in the next five years. The livelihoods of three million people in 14 districts affected new after all. But it is costing us our recovery. new head of the Authority, therefore, can then work on by the earthquake depend on it. As our analysis shows, the earthquake was stark proof of rehabilitation of this disaster so that it serves a model for As our coverage graphically illustrates (page 16-17) nearly our lack of disaster preparedness, which in turn was a result earthquake preparedness for the rest of the country as well. 2,000 widows are still waiting for help four months after the of political and governance failure over the past ten years In fact, that is one of the most significant points in quake. More than two million people are living in tents and (page 4-5). We were fortunate that the earthquake spared the draft Reconstruction Policy drawn up by the National tin shelters. Two months after successfully concluding the much of the densely-populated areas of Central Nepal Planning Commission (NPC): to scale up nationwide the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction (ICNR) the catastrophic destruction that seismologists had been reconstruction process in the 14 affected districts. The and getting a pledge of $4.4 billion, the government has gone predicting. But better readiness would have saved many of policy also favours job creation and use of local resources back to sleep. the lives that were lost. while at the same time encouraging the use of better quality The appointment of the CEO to the Reconstruction For the past seven years, an international consortium reconstruction material and earthquake resistant designs. Authority has been deadlocked because of a tussle between of donors including the United States, Australia, Japan, The theme is to coordinate centrally, but implement locally. the ruling NC and the UML over their party candidates – the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had And that may as well be our national motto.

YOUR SAY www.nepalitimes.com THIS WEEK

BORDERING ON BRINKMANSHIP any leaders from the Gang of Four. important issue. More of similar write ups BLACK AND WHITE Someone needs to explain and Grimalji are needed to convince the government to Great job, Captain Lama. The idea defi ne what brinkmanship means start taking corrective action. Keep up the to highlight positive energy is highly to the Netas who dominate the TEXT BOOKS good work. commendable (‘ Life in black and Maobadi, NC and UML (‘Bordering This is yet another damning indictment Mahesh P Adhikari while ‘, Sonia Awale, #769). We on brinkmanship’, Editorial, #770). of the Nepali education system (“U r should focus the achievements of Brinkmanship can wipe you out from welcome, wanna cu ASAP 4 a drink”, No wonder our education system is ordinary people doing extra ordinary existence. Koirala and Dahal and Oli, Sarthak Mani Sharma, #770). Pass the unable to produce expected outcomes. things. Ninety-nine per cent of GOPEN RAI (67,454 PEOPLE REACHED) (85 SHARES) appoint someone soon to head the buck mentality is a continuing approach Where does the budget go? Nepalis are hard working, honest, Reconstruction Authority. People who by education offi cials. Whether it is the Sabitri Gurung loving and peaceful. It's only the Most reached and shared on Facebook lost everything have nothing more to School Sector Reforms Program or corrupt leaders of valley 37-year-old Monica Shahi from Kailali becomes lose. our recent research papers on quality This is unbelievable! Middle Ages are that belong to the 1 per cent that are the fi rst transgender in Nepal to get a passport Ramesh Thapa Magar education, nobody in the Ministry of not over yet. rotten to their core. with category ‘Others’ on Monday. Education seems to want to know about Len Rijnberg Heramba Poudyal Most popular on Twitter The Constitution is merely anything. Just last year they ignored Vacancy: Prime Minister by Ass a mechanism for the purpose of offers to participate in whole system This is a travesty. Someone should be I have been watching Black and (58 retweets, 50 favourites) regulating the work of various organs research, and don’t even respond to answerable to this. White for years, and it has brought Most visited online page of the State. It is not a mechanism for copies of research sent to them by Nepali out the heroism of ordinary Nepalis U r welcome, wanna cu ASAP 4 a drink political parties to be installed in offi ce. email. But maybe that’s the problem, people spreading optimism and by Sarthak Sharma (1,616 views) What should be the policy of the State, receiving advice from educated, SECULARISM hope. Keep it up, Vijay Lama jyu. Most commented how the society should be organised competent, experienced educational The Maoists killed people, politicians Ina Bordering on brinkmanship, Editorial in its social and economic sides are practitioners who are young and female betrayed their oath to constitution, (32 comments) matters which must be decided by is forbidden. This issue will fade away in enabled entirely by a deracinate media VACANCY: PRIME MINISTER the people themselves according a week because nobody is prepared to (‘Commodifying to survive, Bidushi Most Netas have no clue about to the time and circumstances. If stand up and constantly advocate for a Dhungel, #770). It is tiring to be calling out The Ass' sense of humour (‘ Weekly Internet Poll #771 you state in the Constitution that better education system. We are a lone such constant ignorant words emanating VACANCY: Prime Minister ‘, the Q. Do you prefer the six-province model to the the social organisation of the State voice at www.nepalschoolsaid.org from Nepal’s (umm) ‘intellectuals’. A bogus ASS, #760). eight-province model? shall take a particular form, you are Brian Metters article fi lled with borrowed adjectives, and Gopal Gurung Total votes: 104 taking away the liberty of the people pretentious appreciation of real fears, and to decide what should be the social The Ass may think he is court jester fails to address issues. Our ‘Ass’ for Prime Minister, he organisation in which they wish to of the Animal Kingdom, but clearly the Leela is far better than those ‘Asses’. live. This was the reason given by Dr hacks at the Curriculum Development CK Mandal Ambedkar to drop the amendment to Centre are Poet Laureates. As an Indian I suggest all Nepali insert socialism in the preamble of the The Mule people to protest against secularism, and Shame on you guys. Have some Weekly Internet Poll #772 To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Indian Constitution. So, no -ism to be make Nepal a Hindu country. respect for your own prime minister. Well-researched article on a very Bidhubhusan M Q. Has the six-province model addressed the grievances inserted in the Constitution to satisfy Hiren of the Tharu community?

Publisher and Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Associate Editor: Tsering Dolker Gurung | Online Producer: Ayesha Shakya | Design: Kiran Maharjan Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu Nepali Times on Facebook [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005601-08 Fax: +977-1-5005518 Follow @nepalitimes on Twitter Marketing: Arjun Karki, Surendra Sharma [email protected] | Advertorials: Ram Krishna Banjara | Subscriptions: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Follow @nepalitimes on Instagram Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 OPINION 3 It ain’t over yet The parties have arbitrarily drawn state boundaries, but who is going to own this draft constitution? he Dialogue Committee report also expanded jurisdiction this column how farmers in led by UCPN(M) leader of the anti-graft body, and added Morang were more worried TBaburam Bhattarai the Nepal Army chief to the about a failed monsoon than submitted its report suggesting National Security Council. the constitution. Kailali was no amendments to the draft But despite overwhelming different. There was plenty of constitution earlier this week feedback, the draft still has rain here but people seemed fed to CA Chair Subhas Nembang. flaws: it is discriminatory up with regular strikes imposed This was the outcome of towards women with regards by Hindu groups, those for an marathon meetings with to citizenship, exposing the undivided far west province, political stakeholders and took leadership’s patriarchal mindset. and Tharus protesting the six- into account public feedback Women are not the only ones province model. gathered by lawmakers from their wronged. Rekha Chaudhary of respective constituencies. The , Boradandi in Dhangadi does not demographically the fourth care which province she is going largest community with 6.6 per to live in as long as she does cent of national population, not have to shut her shop. But rank top three in 14 out of 20 Phulmati Rana sitting next to her Tarai districts. The national believes her life will improve if census shows that they make MADAN CHAUDHARY/THARUWAN.COM Tharus have strong presence in BY THE WAY up nearly 23 per cent of the CA proceedings on Wednesday and ignoring the huge protests by the province. Anurag Acharya population between Chitwan and citing dissatisfaction with the Tharus.” In Kathmandu, 42 Tharu Kanchanpur. Their population report, Tharu lawmaker Narsingh Indeed, Tharus in the central lawmakers across party lines ratio in Kailali and Kanchanpur Chaudhary said: “This assembly and western Tarai have been have denounced the six state The report was made available is 41.5 and 25.6 per cent has been hijacked by three agitating against the federal model and formed a joint to the lawmakers, following respectively. men.” Rukmini Chaudhary of demarcation for the last four days, struggle committee declaring which it was also tabled in the Yet, the proposed six-model Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya but you wouldn’t know it going a shut down in the Tharuhat Constituent Assembly. After being province has divided the Tharu Manch says the big parties have by the Kathmandu media. The districts for the next 5 days. criticised for failing to finalise population across six provinces, cornered Tharus to a point where Tharus are especially angry about Interestingly, the group is being federal demarcation, the big four disregarding the prescribed fighting back was the only option. Kailali and Kanchanpur being led by Ram Janam Chaudhary of parties had reached an agreement basis of state restructuring. The “My family is now scattered lumped in the Province 6, which MJF-Loktantrik whose Chairman to divide the country into six conceptual report prepared by from Chitwan to Kailali. I am has 19 districts. Bijay Gachhadar, a Tharu provinces, each bordering India in the CA’s State Restructuring and wondering which province I The north-south demarcation himself, is one of the architects the south and 4 of the provinces Power Devolution Committee should call my home,” she told will reduce Tharus to a minority of the six province map that sharing boundary with China to in 2009 had clearly set four me, holding the six-province map. in all three provinces of the excludes Tharus. the north. categories of capability and five She also expressed region, and their leaders say the Last time Tharus hit the The committee report made categories of identity (ethnicity, dissatisfaction over national demarcation was done to benefit streets, the far western Tarai was several changes to the earlier language, region, history and media’s biased coverage of the personal politics of UML’s Bhim shut down for a month. Warns draft, notably ensuring direct geographical continuity) as the protests in the mid-west and the Rawal and NC’s Sher Bahadur Rukmini Chaudhary: “We will do election of local representatives at basis for state restructuring. far west. ‘They are giving all the Deuba and Ramesh Lekhak. it again, if we have to.” village and municipal levels. The Before walking out of the coverage to Surkhet and Jumla Recently, I had reported in @Anurag_Acharya 4 NATION 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771

and confusion due to ministries working at cross purposes. Nepal’s international image was tarnished by the decision to tax relief supplies, or force donations to go to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The government appeared Better build back ungrateful and uncaring in turning Nepal’s post-earthquake rehabilitation now hinges on the formation of a credible and independent Reconstruction Authority back much-needed aid. One commodity in short supply post-disaster were facts. SONIA AWALE Because the mobile network was many of the lives that were lost. The Ministry of Information and functioning, Constituent Assembly Despite international experts Communication that should have members became important not urging the government for the last been holding press briefings every y 9AM on Sunday 26 April, just as sources of information, seven years to set up a Disaster evening was nowhere to be seen. the National Emergency but even to help Indian Air Force Management Authority and have In its absence, rumours flew, BCoordination Centre at pilots navigate helicopters to contingency plans, preparedness there were wild distortions in the Singha Darbar was beginning to fill remote villages. was woefully inadequate. Valiant international press, the scale of up with government officials and Nearly four months after rescues were carried out by Dead Injured the disaster in Kathmandu was politicians. Chief Secretary Leela the earthquake there is still the the army and police, but the 8,789 22,000 exaggerated and the destruction Mani Paudyal arrived riding on the urgent need to help three million government machinery appeared in the districts initially under- back of a motorcycle. Nearly 24 survivors with rehabilitation, but shocked and overwhelmed. reported. Many examples of local hours after the earthquake struck, also to learn lessons on how to be Nepal’s topography made it officials working night and day it was becoming clear that the better prepared for future disasters. difficult initially to even assess never got out. extent of the disaster was much Despite the high death toll and the damage, let alone deliver The Nepal Army and Armed greater outside Kathmandu. destruction, we were lucky the relief supplies. Even countries Police Force had better public The earthquake-proof room time of the earthquake, its with better resources would relations, and highlighted their became the nerve centre, but it was intensity, duration, and frequency have found it difficult to deal Partially Completely destroyed achievements in rescue and obvious there had been no drills of shaking limited the destruction. with the destruction of over damaged homes government buildings relief through the media. But the and there was no contingency However, it is clear that better 700,000 homes. And given 270,00 2,656 government was blamed anyway as planning for disaster management. preparedness would have saved Nepal’s political instability if the army and the police are not a and poor governance, it was part of the government. actually surprising to some A major blunder was the Rastra international relief agencies that Bank’s directive in early May that HOW TO RECONSTRUCT? the government performed as well donations be deposited in the In the absence of the Reconstruction Authority, the National Planning as it did in the first two months. Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Commission has gone ahead to draw up a draft Reconstruction Policy that For all the failures we Fund. As one senior government will be the guideline for post-earthquake rehabilitation of homes and associate with the government, official told us, it had the effect of infrastructure. Its main principles include: more than 3,000 injured were Completely destroyed Partially damaged abruptly turning off the tap on tens classrooms classrooms Centrally-coordinated planning, Uniformity in the relief and help evacuated by helicopter in the of millions of dollars when it was decentralised implementation provided by the government and first three weeks. Few actually 19,000 11,000 needed the most. Build back better using local resources, NGOs, and prioritising the marginalised died because of the lack of In hindsight, it is clear that skills and material Discourage use of second-hand emergency care, 25,000 injured if the Disaster Management Owner-driven reconstruction for private materials including pre-fab housing got free treatment in hospitals, Authority had been in place, homes and donor help for public Scale up policies and programs food and medicines reached most coordination and delivery buildings implemented in earthquake affected affected areas. would have been smoother. In Earthquake resistant designs and areas nationwide This is not to say there its absence, there were multiple quality construction material to be used Draw lessons from India and weren’t shortcomings. There was Completely destroyed Partially damaged decision-makers battling over turf  China and get their help to rebuild Resettlement to be localised to bungling, poor coordination, homes government buildings in Kathmandu. The outpouring of minimise dislocation infrastructure needless bureaucratic delays, 508,724 3,622 international emergency help was 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 BUSINESS 5 BIZ BRIEFS

Turkish Airlines brings media Turkish Airlines is facilitating the arrival of a media team from the Netherlands to Kathmandu. The group will be involved in regular sight-seeing and tours and thereafter promote Nepal as a safe destination. Ncell App Camp Ncell is re-launching its App Camp this year also as a popular mobile app development competition. Mobile apps can be submitted on www.ncellappcamp.com BIKRAM RAI Qatar Airways A350 poorly coordinated rehabilitation process is Qatar Airways has deployed the A350, the most modern aircraft in its fl eet, on and overwhelmed in limbo. The delay has the airline’s Dubai-Doha route. The latest twin-engine widebody will now be the airport. However, disheartened millions fl ying 28 routes worldwide. at the district level, of survivors living in the CDO and local temporary shelters, Levi’s new store administration district authorities Levi’s has now opened a new store at City Centre, Kamalpokhari. Customers can coordinated aid under pressure to REBUILDING purchase Jeans, T-Shirts and other clothes from the latest arrival. The company well, and responded deliver are confused, OURSELVES plans to open more stores in the city soon. efficiently to the and donors whose aid emergency. pledges hinge on the rehabilitation One of the bright spots was agency’s being set up are impatient. Sagarmatha Cement Dealer Meet the role of the National Planning In a meeting this month, the Sagarmatha Cement recently completed its Dealers Meet at Fulbari Resort in Commission, which worked out Asian Development Bank Director Pokhara. It was attended by over 400 people for awards distribution, including of tents inside Singha Darbar General Hun Kim bluntly warned for Best Dealer. to prepare the Post-Disaster that it may cancel its loans if there Needs Assessment report. With was any more delay. Subisu’s new call centre the Finance Ministry it pushed At a time when recovery and Subisu Cablenet has launched a new call centre for its customers. New and through with the International reconstruction should be top existing customers can call (01)4235888, 9801235888 for inquiries, sales and Conference on Nepal’s priorities, Nepal is squandering the technical support. Reconstruction (ICNR) on 25 goodwill it gained at the ICNR. The June in Kathmandu where $4.4 NPC hasn’t waited for the authority billion was pledged. The NPC got to draw up a reconstruction policy crucial help from experts in post- that emphasises self-reliance, disaster planning from Gujarat creating jobs during reconstruction, on setting up an ‘extra-ordinary and restoring livelihoods. mechanism’ for rehabilitation. However, it has been two months and the Reconstruction nepalitimes.com Authority has still not been set  Strategy for recovery #770 up. The nomination of its chief is  Jump-starting the economy #769

GOPEN RAI mired in coalition politics, and 6 NATION 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771

them. While Congress and the UML wasted the last 20 years in typical short-sighted idiocy, looting the treasury when in power or blocking all progress when in opposition, the damage they inflicted on the economy was serious but not terminal. Leave that to the Maoists, who were responsible for more unemployment-creation than all the others combined and the only party far-sighted enough to plan long term job losses well into the future. There are few better ways to wreck a country’s prospects and ensure enduring joblessness than launching a civil war. When the war began in 1996 Nepal was enjoying its strongest economic growth in history, reaping the benefits of an unprecedented liberalisation of the economy. Manufacturing increased and exports of carpets, garments and NT ARCHIVE handicrafts boomed. Some say the fear that prosperity and a growing middle class would undermine their cause led the Maoists to attack the state when they did. Those with Race to the bottom decent jobs and a future have no time for revolution. To ensure such jobs disappear, Maoist- Unemployment creation, honouring the worst affiliated unions sprang out of nowhere and forcibly took over uring the dark days of this picture? (Think: demons, age elected. the government has already factories, hotels and other places war and constant political of.) Imagine that: they have forgotten the quake victims it’s of employment. Needless to say, Dturmoil it seemed at Despite the fact that over percentile points in their anybody’s guess whether these their militant tactics backfired times the world had truly turned 1,500 Nepalis leave the country statistics while we don’t even jobs will actually materialise. (or succeeded?) and many upside down. Bad became each day in search of work, have ball-park figures. For some Maoist opposition leader businesses shut down, leaving good, wrong was suddenly right our leaders rarely mention the strange reason no one ever asks Baburam Bhattarai weighed in more disgruntled workers to and crime paid. Perhaps the economy, much less discuss ways our politicians about Nepal’s saying 500,000 new jobs were manipulate and use, which suited ancient scriptures were correct to improve it. This was painfully unemployment rate or how to needed, though he never said the party just fine. in predicting Kali Yug, the age obvious during the 2013 election improve the moribund economy. anything similar when he was When the war had served of demons, when ‘sin increases campaign when the subject of If a competition was held to see PM. Nonetheless, no other party its primary purpose of gaining exponentially and virtue ceases to creating jobs for the growing which party created more jobs in has spent so much time and the Maoist leadership fabulous flourish’. population never once came up. the past decade they’d all come effort in training and teaching wealth, the party used the CA At the risk of stating the in last. new skills to thousands of young and mindless obstruction of the obvious, there is no other A closer look, in fact, reveals Nepalis. Unfortunately, the constitution to keep the country on earth where that each of the parties actively Maoists taught them all the wrong unstable and ensure prosperity politicians could get away with contributed to job losses while things: armed combat, bomb- (for others) remains a distant blatantly ignoring what voters in power (or opposition) through making, kidnapping, torture and dream. Don’t forget: prosperous care most about. obstructionist policies, greed, the finer points of extortion. societies don’t need Maoists. The Hand relies on predatory tax departments and Many youth left school to join To be fair, most of our MOVING TARGET comparison to avoid getting lulled sheer incompetence. In the the cause, and now that they’ve politicians have never had to Foreign Hand into thinking what happens here national race to the bottom all are been discarded by the party, earn a living so why should they is normal. In most democratic guilty of retarding the nation’s their lack of skills (apart from the worry about jobs? Perhaps they How else can we explain countries elections are won or growth and robbing the young of above-mentioned) makes them feel they’ve already done their Nepal going backwards, with our lost on the economy and the their future, though some more so basically un-employable (except part to reduce unemployment by politicians leading the charge, candidate’s perceived ability to than others. by criminal gangs). hiring all their relatives or maybe while neighbouring countries create jobs. When unemployment In an unprecedented In the upside down world they’re simply realists, who see advance? Instead of competing in America dropped to 7.9 per development, the recent budget of Naya Nepal where bad is Nepal’s unemployable youth as to improve the country’s cent during the last election promised to create 50,000 good, perhaps we should start dispensable, good for nothing future, the parties outdo each campaign, for example, it allowed new jobs in post-earthquake honouring the worst (= best) except demonstrating and rioting. other in wrecking it, through the Democrats to brag about reconstruction, a welcome among us. Since we can’t applaud After all, that’s the only skill-set strikes, corruption, and chronic ‘jobless rate below 8 per cent’, initiative that took a natural any party for creating jobs let’s our leaders ever bothered teaching instability. What’s wrong with which helped Obama get re- disaster to produce. Considering recognise those who destroy them. This stage of the monsoon is everyone's favourite in Kathmandu. Fresh mornings, balmy days where one can work up a sweat, breezy, cool evenings giving way to nightlong rain. The sound of rain on fi elds of ripening maize has sent Nepal's poet laureate into raptures. Expect this romantic rain to continue into the weekend, and enjoy it for another month before the monsoon KKATHMANDUATHMANDU starts to taper off . FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 27° 27° 28° #771 14 - 20 August 2015 20° 20° 19° REMEMBERING THE FUTURE

BIKAS RAUNIAR

on sale are available in a limited edition of 100 per photograph and can be ordered on support.photoktm.com. For this sale, photo.circle took 15 pictures from its Nepal Picture Library archive and 21 from the Peace Corps Nepal Photo History Project which PURNA BAHADUR SHRESTHA has been archiving pictures taken by American volunteers since 1962. “Since Photo Kathmandu will be anchored in Patan, we wanted to find a way to give back to our host city,” explains Gurung Kakshapati who is busy planning the programs at the festival. “It is kind of n 2007, when Nayantara Gurung like we are seeking support from the past Kakshapati and Bhushan Shilpakar to rebuild for the future.” Ifounded photo.circle with the aim of Photo.circle is collaborating with creating a platform for creative photography Preservation Trust in Nepal they hadn’t really thought it (KVPT), an independent organisation would grow into an ambitious attempt to working to safeguard the historic digitally preserve archival images of Nepal. architecture of the Valley to select the Photo.circle’s many workshops and historical houses and patis to be rebuilt. exhibitions over the years created a group “There is support from big donors of world class professional photographers, to rebuild temples and heritage sites,” improved their technique and marketed their says Shilpakar, “but patis which are such work. important places in the social life of Three years after it was set up, the digital MUKUNDA BAHADUR SHRESTHA Kathmandu haven’t got much attention.” archives of Nepal Picture Library already has Since the world has seen many images 50,000 photos provided by individuals from of destruction from Nepal after the 25 their family albums. The collection enables April earthquake, photo.circle wants this the exploration issues of memory, identity “Our idea is to give the Nepali conducted by renowned international sale to show more positive images of the and history through private family images of photography international exposure, and photographers. country. Says Gurung Kakshapati: “It’s Nepal’s past. showcase some of the best work from In the runup to the festival, photo. to tell people Nepal is still strong and In November, photo.circle is organising abroad,” says Shilpakar who is Director circle is organising a print sale of 36 beautiful.” Nepal’s first international photo festival, of Operations of the festival which will archival photographs to raise money for Stéphane Huët Photo Kathmandu, a project Gurung be held from 3-9 November in venues the reconstruction of some of the historical Kakshapati and Shilpakar have been planning throughout Patan. It will feature print and houses and rest-places that came down in http://www.nepalpicturelibrary.org/ for over three years. digital exhibitions as well as workshops Patan during the earthquake. The 36 pictures http://photoktm.com/ 8 EVENTS DINING MUSIC

Krishnarpan, A restaurant in a historic setting which will take you into the exotic cultures of Nepal. The Dwarika’s Hotel, Krishnarpan, (01)4479488, [email protected]

Metal for Nepal, A fund raiser concert with metals bands for the benefi ciary of the earthquake victims. Collaborative photo book, Rs300, 15 August, 2pm, Club 25 Hours, Tangal, Nepal425 launches a crowd-sourcing (01)4437486 drive for a coff ee table book of 700 pictures of the earthquake. All proceeds Back to the 80s, from the sales will go for relief through Call for submission, Photographers, curators, photo-based artists, historians, anthropologists and other Kaiser Cafe, An evening that will bring you back to the VolNepal. practitioners invited to submit work and ideas for digital projection, discussions, Have a BBQ lunch and a glass of wine 80s and the 90s with a live performance http://www.nepal425.com/ performances on the theme ‘TIME’. or beer inside the peaceful Garden of by What’s Up! The night will be followed Deadline 15 September, http://www.photoktm.com Dreams. by a dance party. In Visible, Thamel, (01)4425341 14 August, 8pm, House of Music, Thamel, A photo exhibition by Rohan Thapa Thamel, 9851075172, [email protected] bridges the gap between visually impaired and sighted through E Sports Carnival, perceptual experimentation. The biggest gaming calendar event Till 14 August, Nepal Art Council, Baber 25 August, Civil Mall, registration on GETAWAYS Mahal, (01)4220735, http://ngamersclub.com/esc2015/ [email protected] Inspire with pictures, In celebration of the World Literacy Day, The Non Formal Education Center and UNESCO organise an open photography Downtown, contest on the theme ‘Women’s Literacy’. Go Indian at this restaurant and also Deadline 25 August, [email protected]. order Chinese and Continental. Don’t miss out on the biryani. Earthbag summit, Pulchowk Road, Patan, (01)5010751 Workshops and discussion groups about Pokhara Grande, the benefi ts of earthbag building and A swimming pool to escape from the earthquake resistant design. The Bagmati River Festival, tropic heat, a massage parlour and spa 4 September, 10am – 5pm, The Summit A 4.3km nice scenic rafting which starts to loosen up and a gymnasium to release Hotel, Sanepa, with off erings to the holy Bagmati. stress, great options all around. 15 August, 7am, Gothatar Bagmati bridge, Lakeside, Pokhara, (01)4005025, Wholeness, (01)4361995, [email protected] [email protected], http://www.pokharagrande.com/ A painting exhibition by Puran Khadka whose work is a meditative abstraction Support, full of spiritual awakening. A special fund-raising print sale to Prakriti Bhavin Package, Till 30 October, Park Gallery, Pulchok, contribute towards the rebuilding of An exclusive two-night package tailored for (01)5522307, [email protected] heritage sites in Patan by Kathmandu Nepalis and Expats living in Nepal. Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT). Rs 55,000 (half board basis), valid till Call for filmmakers, http://photoktm.com/#support 30 September, The Dwarika’s Hotel Film Southasia invites submissions of (01)4479488 [email protected] non-fi ction fi lms made after 1 January The Yeti Run, Whisky-tasting fundraiser, 2013 for the tenth edition of the regional Come out and test your strength, One of the most expensive Whisky tasting, fi lm festival to be held in Kathmandu from stamina and teamwork at Nepal’s fi rst including one of only 50 bottles of rare Trisara, 19 to 22 November 2015. obstacle race. Japanese whisky Karuizawa 1983, to raise With dishes like fl ambeed prawns, crispy Submission deadline 15 August 2015, 26 September, St Xavier’s School, Godavari, money for fi ve charities helping victims of chicken, and khao soi, it would be a folly www.fi lmsouthasia.org/submit 9841226397, [email protected] 25 April earthquake. to ignore its aromas. www.whisky.auction and Lazimpat, (01)4410200 http://www.bonhams.com/locations/HK Lost in migration £6,000 per person, limited to 45 places, I have to feed myself, my 3 October 2015, Old Billingsgate Market, Temple Tree Resort and Spa, family and my country is an London A peaceful place to stay, complete with installation by Hitman Gurung http://www.whiskyshow.com/whats-on/ a swimming pool, massage parlour, and refl ecting the hopes and masterclasses/karuizawa-tastings/ sauna, it’ll be hard to leave once you go in. aspirations of migrant workers Gaurighat, Lakeside, (061)465819 as well as the misery and death Monsoon story camp, experienced by families of Journalists and community leaders are Raniban Retreat, those who never return. trained in communicating about climate Situated at the other end of the Phewa Opening on 16 August, 5.30pm, change so people improve agriculture Grill Me, Lake and nested inside the Raniban Forest till 19 August, Siddhartha Art production and be better prepared for A restaurant with a warm ambience and the World Peace Stupa, this retreat Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, adverse weather. and delicious grilled delights. has one of the best views of the Annapurna (01)4218048 21 to 23 August, Patale Gaun, Kavre, Jhamsikhel, (01)5535294 range, Phewa Lake, and Pokhara. [email protected] World Peace Pagoda, Pokhara, (61)692136

NEPAL WHEREVER YOU ARE.

in your lap or palm. www.nepalitimes.com 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 9

a brief moment, they can see as a visually impaired person sees. Thapa does this with sensitivity and perceptiveness, as it were. Every picture has small pips in different THE alignments. These are words used in the Universal Declaration of printed in Braille. In Visible breaks the usual barrier of galleries and museums VISION because visitors are invited to touch the pictures and feel the Braille characters. With In Visible, Thapa wanted to THING provoke interaction between the visually impaired and the sighted. “I think we can learn from each other,” he says about the he leaflet announcing the photo shifting of roles in his exhibition. While exhibition, In Visible, was already blind people are usually those who are Tvery unique. It only had a fingerprint, guided, at In Visible’s launch a visually the dates, the venue and photographer’s impaired mother helps her sighted child to name, Rohan Thapa. For more information understand Braille words on the pictures. about the event, we found out that Thapa conceived this sensory photographs can be used to ‘bridge the gap exploration to highlight visual dependency between the visually impaired and sighted in our society. “It’s our nature to touch,” through perceptual experimentation’. he explains, “like a baby who palpates Last Sunday as one stepped in the everything to explore the world.” With ground floor gallery of the Nepal Art GOPEN RAI touching, sight and hearing, we wish In Council for the In Visible’s launch the first Visible had also stimulated smell and sense to be awakened was hearing -- with they had undergone eye surgery at Tilganga realised the people I was shooting were taste. an ethereal music accompanying a video of Eye Hospital. probably seeing me like this,” he says. Like Stéphane Huët a blinking eye (coming from the archives of When the photographer went to take all great inventions, the technical mistake In Visible the Sudrishti Eye Clinic) on an empty wall. pictures of Tilganga’s patients three years led to a creative new idea. By Rohan Thapa The 72 photographs of In Visible are ago, he had no particular concept in mind. At first, pictures of In Visible look like Set up by photo.circle stuck on six tables displayed in the middle “I just wanted to address the vision issues simple portraits. But for sighted visitors, it Nepal Art Council of the gallery. Each picture is a blurry in Nepal,” he says. The first pictures Thapa becomes disturbing as they are not able to Till 14 August 2015 portrait – 72 people shot by Thapa after processed came out blurred by mistake. “I identify the details of someone’s face. For Durbar Restaurant okarna Forest Resort is not a place you’d go to to eat. The G18-hole golf course and one of the last remaining native forests in Kathmandu Valley are its main attractions. But the Durbar Restaurant is billed as something royal and ‘fit for kings’. That description may be a bit of a stretch as we learnt on a recent visit to sample the restaurant’s most popular dishes. Engaged as we were in the chef’s pre-prandial chitchat, we did not realise how much time had already passed before the first dish, the sweet corn soup (Rs 325), was brought to the table. Though PICS: ARPANA UPADHYAY there was the natural flavour of garlic it wasn’t something to beat-root paste on the side which visual mastery did not even a weekend retreat amidst the get the tastebuds over-excited finally got the buds tingling. The always translate into verdant greenery, classy golf course about -- especially for spice-loving croutons, however, could have gastronomic achievement, and indoor pool areas of this resort. Nepalis. been done better: the cubes did it must be said. But, hey, Gokarna also has a spa with Perhaps the soup simply fit not feel crunchy enough. looks count. The smoked excellent massage facilities. Tucked in with the overall ambience of One of the restaurant's salmon topped with away at the north-eastern fringe the restaurant, which was empty strengths lies in its presentation mayonnaise was reasonable, of the Valley, this former royal when we visited -- as are most of the items in the menu. Almost but lacked the richness of flavour juices had not penetrated the hunting reserve is a destination in restaurants in post-earthquake all of the dishes were great and taste one would expect from fowl's tissues. its own right. Nepal. A throng of conference- visual treats and it felt a bit this popular antipasto. In the end, we were treated The Durbar Restaurant, with attendees did arrive a while later, sacrilegious to be ruining the get- The wine-glazed chicken to the cake of the day, raspberry its seclusion and privacy, is we guess probably for a seminar up by eating them. Smoked (Rs 650) shared the cheese cake (Rs 380) in which the an additional reason to visit. on post-disaster planning. salmon canapé in this same problems with sauce overwhelmed the cheese but Sarthak M Sharma The Caesar Salad (Rs 375) plate of bruschetta OPEN FROM the bruschetta. While it it hit the right note. was smooth, with tender pieces (Rs 375) were striped 7 AM tasted decent, it wasn’t How to get there: head to Gokarna TO It has to be pointed out that of chicken, this time generously beautifully with caramelised 10 PM extraordinary and was a bit dining at Durbar Restaurant should Resort on the way to Sankhu and seasoned, along with an excellent balsamic vinegar. The flat -- as if the marinating be part of a whole-day visit or find Durbar Restaurant. 10

Tinder is a social dating app that lets people discover prospective mates in one's neck of the woods. Like a simple computer game, you just swipe left for people you don’t like and right for people you like. If you like a particular profile and that person SOULMATES in likes you too, it’s a match and only then can you chat with the person. It’s difficult to fake because Tinder is linked to Facebook accounts. Unlike shaadi.com or other traditional dating and matrimonial sites, Tinder is solely based on appearance and an interest between both parties. After KARMA GURUNG causing a revolution in the Americas and even in neighboring India, Nepali Times set out to find ajesh Tuladhar, a 27-year-old what fellow online aficionados in pilot, had just come back Kathmandu felt about this app. Rto Nepal after studying and “I use the app to meet like- graduating from aviation school in minded people. There is no such China and the United States. Back space here to meet people in in Nepal for good as an eligible Kathmandu,” said Nima Tashi. bachelor, he was looking for a “I’m in Bangkok currently and suitable girl. am using the app to meet people After he had little success from Nepal before I arrive,” said head-hunting, a friend suggested Richie Job. he get into the social app Tinder to “I rarely use the app. It’s only look for Nepali girls in his vicinity. when I’m drunk kind of thing. Lol,” A week into browsing through wrote Rakesh Sharma. profiles and searching, Tuladhar Nepali girls' coyness online has shortlisted three young women was a major concern among many with whom he has started chatting men who have resorted to online online separately, unbeknownst to dating, but there are still quite each other. Slowly, he hopes to ask a surprising number of young Nepal’s matrimonial scene is catchin one out on a date. women who keep their profiles “It was much easier for me to active regularly. “When I’m active on the site, few foreign men online because Tinder is becoming popular date and find girls in China than For Sanna Gurung, a 22-year- it is not difficult to get a couple we don’t regularly hang out in among young urban men and here in Nepal, even though we old fashion blogger who lives by of dates in a week,” says Gurung the same places. As for the Nepali women in Nepal and with the expat had a language barrier,” Tuladhar the Internet, online dating is a for whom the Tinder experience men you usually bump into on and tourist community mainly in admits. “Even on Tinder, Nepali boon at this time when she wants is completely different between Friday nights, they just prefer to Kathmandu and Pokhara. Just as women are not very open and they to constantly meet people but also Nepali men and foreigners. approach you online first before most of the 5.3 million Facebook are hard to approach.” focus on her work. “I’ve gotten to know quite a making a move,” says Gurung. accounts in Nepal are of men, 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 11 n CYBERSPACE

FACE-TO-FACE here are 5.3 million Nepalis on Facebook, on Facebook via a mutual friend who also Tand the number is rising as more people happened to be Kumar’s cousin. This made buy smartphones with data plans. Many use things easier to begin conversations between the Facebook app on their phones to fi nd a the two and extended to become a marriage person they can have a relationship with. After made in Facebook. With features like tagging months of on and off chatting via Facebook, friends and knowing each other’s mutual Kumar and Bandana Acharya fi nally tied the friends, the social network has now become a knot last year. Kumar fi rst approached her hotspot for future couples. ONLINE PUNDITS

hen NepalMatrimony.com fi rst began Win 2003, it was a pioneer in the GOPEN RAI fi eeld for online matchmaking. Now with eaeasier Internet access, both the number of mmatrimonial sites and users have boomed. ng fire on Tinder and the social web MMost of these sites charge a fee to keep chcheck of fake profi les and are heavily Tinder is also dominated by men one may question the legitimacy of and matrimonial sites. alaltered to fi t the needs and demands of in the 18-45 age group. the profiles, many of which say the Now our young don’t have to a prospective Nepali bride/groom. The For the more common Nepali young men are ‘currently based in wait for parents or peers to find search engines are driven to fi nd your perfect match from the district you want right down to the soul, the Internet is now filled a Gulf country’. The rising number them a match. The Net will do it desired . Moreover, these days you can also search for Nepalis based in foreign countries. with numerous dating sites just of migrant workers and the for them, and making a profile on Milan and Rhitika Adhikari were two such lovebirds who discovered each other’s profi les via www. for Nepalis like www.shubabibaha. spreading Nepali diaspora has led Tinder is a place to start. shubabibaha.com when in New York. After a brief meet, sparks fl ew, parents agreed, and now the com or www.Nepallove.com where to a proliferation of online dating Some names have been changed two are happily married. To each other. 12

as fairly enigmatic creatures who HAPPENINGS passionately love creating gardens (albeit in very different styles), but evolve to become so much more than just creatures driven by ambition. As you might imagine, being selected by Louis XIV to create the gardens at Versailles is a task that no single person can accomplish on their own. Le Notre, who carries with him the weight of his father’s success in the same profession, is forcibly propelled towards making gardens classically, holding symmetry and proportion above all as models. When le Barra moves one of his carefully placed KESHAV RANA urns at her interview, to interrupt A LILITTTLELE CCHAOSHAOS EXTRA FORCE: A contingent of 120 APF personnel flew to Jumla by an army the precise pattern it was mean to helicopter from Kohalpur on Tuesday to contain protests for an integrated celebrate, Le Notre takes a leap of Karnali province that turned violent. inceince I have a sneaking DDirectedirected by Alan Rickman, a faith that results in the beginning fondness for landscape wonderful actor himself, himself A Little of the oddest of partnerships and Sgardening, and a newfound Chaos, which, barring Le Notre’s a very tender romance. interest in Matthias Schoenaerts character, is mostly fictitious, There are patchy bits in A (who had previously failed to takes a great many liberties with Little Chaos, but they didn’t really impress me in 2012’s Rust and its characters, most of whom bother me. Most of the characters Bone, a grim, dour film by Jacques behave fairly anachronistically, are as well drawn as the two main a choice that pays off due to the ones, making the world of the singular talents of the ensemble film come alive, fleshing out life cast which includes Rickman at the French court in contrast himself as Louis XIV, and the to the gritty struggle of making wonderful, luminous Kate Winslet vast gardens that are equal to as Sabine de Barra an anomalous those very elite. Beautifully filmed MUST SEE (completely fabricated) female and depicting several poignantly Sophia Pande landscape gardener who is flawed relationships, A Little reluctantly recruited by Le Notre Chaos may not delight you quite to help him in the immense as much as it did me, but, at the Audiard), I may have to warn task of designing the gardens at very least, you will probably BIKRAM RAI readers that it is quite possible Versailles. come out of it being amused at AFTER THE AFTERSHOCK: Five-year-old Rashmi Pulami waits for a family that I am unduly biased towards The strengths of this film, the light fun it sometimes pokes member to pick her up from school after a 4.3 magnitude aftershock on Tuesday “A Little Chaos”, a charming quite frankly, lie in the attention at the characters it also lovingly morning. Most schools closed following the tremor epicentred in Kathmandu. period drama starring Schoenaerts to detail given towards the renders. as André Le Nôtre – the famous process of manufacturing French landscape artist who landscapes, and in the relationship nepalitimes.com designed most of the gardens at between the characters of Le Notre  Trailer Versailles. and de Barra, both of whom begin

DEVAKI BISTA FRIENDLIER CITIES: The wheel-chair bound demonstrating in Kathmandu on Monday for handicapped-friendly public facilities to be guaranteed in the new constitution.

THIRA L BHUSAL PM-IN-WAITING: UML Chair KP Oli practices rock-climbing on a training wall at the Pasang Lhamu Centre after a meeting at his nearby party headquarter on Tuesday.

DEVAKI BISTA COOPERATING ON BUS TRANSPORT: Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Sajha Yatayat on Tuesday signed a Rs 100 million deal to expand the existing public transport service in Kathmandu Valley. 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #77113

functionality, which it integrates into its heads-up-display. While smartphone integration in cars is nothing new, Terra has come up with an innovative way to utilise your iPhone (3GS – 5) while you are An electrifying ride up and about on your two-wheeler. The two-passenger scooter A stylish, impressive necessity in the age of petrol queues features a small LCD display on its console, and most of the space is occupied by an iPhone dock. The lectric scooters may fall low rider places their iPhone in that on the ‘hip’ meter compared receptacle, in landscape mode, and Eto their fossil-fuelled Terra’s proprietary app is then able counterparts, but in a country to provide real-time information, where riders have to regularly such as power consumption and queue up to fill remaining battery life, along with their tanks trip statistics such as duration, and deal distance, average/maximum with volatile speed, and power consumption. fuel prices, Further, all of the recorded data investing in a can be monitored through the battery-powered web. The smart phone application two wheeler may is updated regularly by Terra, to not be such a bad ensure that it is ahead of the pack. idea. The A4000i runs on a rear in- One of the problems wheel motor which is powered by is that these eco-friendly a removable 48-volt/40-Ah lithium scooters often receive flak battery. Once fully charged - this for being unattractive. A takes 4.5 hours - the A4000i is relatively new entrant able to operate for over 60 km into the e-scooter at a maximum of 60 km/h. This market, Terra Motor is perfect for getting around the Corps of Japan, aims city. It boasts both front and rear to shake off that disc brakes, should you need to myth with its launch stop at once. Terra has also built of its stylish A4000i its battery to last. With a life of e-scooter. approximately 50,000 km, it goes The scooter boasts five times the distance as most a Japanese build and e-scooters. design. Available in a white- and-blue colour scheme, the Yantrick’s Verdict: An attractive 118 kg A4000i looks classy and bike that will have you hitting the feels comfortable and balanced road while everyone else is lining under your feet. Undoubtedly, up to fill the tank. Ranging from the A4000i’s USP is the iPhone Rs 150,000 to 400,000 14 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 MAYBE BABY It is unfair to expect a woman to be a great mother, e are all used to hearing that cook two meals a day while keeping the a woman’s life is incomplete daughter, sister, wife, niece, aunt, a successful professional house in order. I admire women who are Wwithout giving birth to new life. who can still cook two meals a day able to do it all, but most of us are not Women today, all over the world and capable of such superpowers. even in Nepal now, are more likely to There are also cases in which having delay marriage than those a generation a baby is not possible because of health ago, a practice that pushes back time to or financial reasons. The booming have babies while women continue to business of fertility clinics and/or focus on their career. surrogacy does help fulfill dreams for More and more women are choosing some people to have children, but it is not to have children. The US Census expensive and many can’t afford it. Plus, Bureau stats say that more women raising a child is expensive. Many are are opting not to have children, and just not ready to take care of someone ‘childlessness’ continues to grow in the else, and think they could do a lot more U.S. with the money needed to send a child to a decent school for one academic year. A parent needs to be selfless and prioritise the child over everything else, and it is unfair to have a child for the sake of it when one is not ready. I have ALL IN THE MIND no desire to have a child in the near Anjana Rajbhandary future. But ask me again in six months, who knows. Sara had a different reason for Pooja, 28, is a strong independent having a baby. “My relationship with my professional who does not think choosing husband was not going well so I thought to be childless is a major issue. “I value having a child would make it better. It my freedom and without a baby, I can did not. I feel guilty for that decision but take more risks in life without worrying. I love my baby more than anything in I can go anywhere, anytime I want, and the world. I wish it was under different that is important to me,” she says. circumstances.” Many people call this growing ‘trend’ It is clear that two people need to selfish, shallow and self-absorbed love each other before they decide to because it is a beautiful thing to create bring another life into this world. My life. I am not against women having best friend Shailu is the most amazing children at all, but raising a child well woman I have ever met and an excellent is probably the most difficult task mother to Sammy, 2, and Abby, 1. any woman can undertake. It is a “You never know it is possible to love commitment. someone else so much till you become a Katha is a 33-year-old lawyer who mother,” Shailu says, and she also has loves her nieces and says: “I love children a very loving and supportive husband but I have never had the maternal Jeff. These two girls are lucky to have instinct. I have a lot more to achieve in parents that love them and love each life and I cannot do that if I have children other, and that is the ideal environment now.” in which to bring a new life. It is unfair to expect women to be all- Women choose not to have a baby rounders in life by being a great daughter, for various reasons. We need to respect wife, mother or sister with a successful ANJANA RAJBHANDARY their choices and keep our opinions and career, who raises children and is able to views to ourselves. 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 NATION 15 The August Offensive This is the fifth in the series on the experiences of the Gurkhas at Gallipoli exactly 100 years ago in August 15.

DAVID SEDDON area. The Ottoman commanders also dismissed the possibility of an assault against the Sari he Gallipoli Campaign had Bair range due to the rugged started on two main terrain. Only Mustafa Kemal, Tfronts, Anzac and Helles, commander of the Ottoman 19th and for three months since Division at Anzac, expected the invasion of 25 April 1915, the attack against the heights the Allies had attempted to but he was unable to convince carry the offensive on the Helles his superiors to significantly battlefield at enormous cost for strengthen the defences — only little gain. In August 1915, the one regiment was moved to the British command proposed a sector north of Anzac. new operation to reinvigorate the campaign by capturing the Sari Bair ridge, the high ground The ‘Break-out’ that dominated the middle of In fact, the Allies considered the peninsula above the Anzac the main peaks of the Sari Bair landing. New assaults on Ottoman Ridge to be the prime target, and positions on the peninsula were a night attack launched from planned, with the offensive to start the Anzac Cove beach-head was on 6 August. It was hoped that the intended to be the battle winning arrival of fresh troops would give blow. The bold (and in retrospect the commander of the Allied forces over-ambitious) plan to break the one more chance to advance, this stalemate called for a vigorous time from Anzac Cove north of offensive from ANZAC, the Helles. 13th Division and the 29th Indian For this offensive the Brigade combined with a surprise commander of the Mediterranean landing at Suvla Bay by IX Corps, Expeditionary Force, General Sir under cover of a diversionary Ian Hamilton, was provided by attack in the Helles area to pin SARI BAIR BY TERENCE CUNEO Kitchener with three British New down the Ottoman forces and Army divisions: the 10th (Irish) prevent reinforcements being sent responsible and de facto corps forbidding task, with rugged Division, the 11th (Northern) to the north. When the orders commander. The approximately steep spurs rising up from Division and the 13th (Western) were issued for the offensive, 4,800 strong ‘Indian’ force was gullies which were covered Division — all previously some of the officers were to serve as the northern flank with dense prickly clumps of untried in battle. He was later deeply sceptical - particularly of ANZAC after the 29th Indian scrub. 29 Indian Brigade set reinforced with two Territorial as to whether it was physically Brigade (including the three off in the dark, with inaccurate Army divisions; the 53rd (Welsh) possible to carry out the planned Gurkha battalions that had been maps and without having had Division and the 54th (East flanking march at night in the involved previously) landed at the chance to reconnoitre the Anglian) Division and one division dreadful country north of Anzac. Anzac cove on 5 and 6 August. It ground beforehand; all told, it of dismounted yeomanry; as well One such was Major Cecil was decided that the new army was a hazardous enterprise, the as the 2nd Mounted Division. Allanson, now commanding divisions would actually land successful outcome of which It was becoming a big war. The the 1/6th Gurkha Rifles, who at Suvla after Godley’s troops depended on the Chunk Bair aged Sir Frederick Stopford was confided his thoughts to his diary had launched their attack in the peak being captured before sent out as supreme commander on 2 August: hills above Anzac – via Lone daylight on 7 August’. of IX Corps at Gallipoli. He had Pine, Baby 700, Chunuk Bair, Starting out in the evening actually retired in 1909 and had “When the method of attack Hills Q, 971 and 60 – and all Under the overall command of 6 August, the advance began never commanded men in battle. was disclosed to me confidentially would combine to attack the of Major-General Alexander from the Anzac position and by His appointment was made that afternoon I gasped. It is to be Third Ridge. The 29th Indian Godley, the attacking force the early hours of the morning based solely on seniority, but his remembered that Anzac is completely Brigade, under Major General included the New Zealand the lower peaks had been hesitancy during the preparations invested by the enemy; that no one has H Vaughan Cox was part of this and Australian Division, the reached and the way to the top for the landing should have been able to reconnoitre the ground plan, supposedly coming up to British 13th Division plus a appeared to be open. However, warned Hamilton that he was not a outside and that no one can absolutely attack Hills Q and 971 located on couple of extra infantry brigades. the advance seems to have been fit choice for the command. guarantee the map. There are no villages Sari Bair. The plan was for two assaulting delayed. Smith refers to the ‘lack There had been some doubt and no inhabitants to help one, and the The main operation started columns to march out of Anzac of any prior reconnaissance by about whether the British would whole country seemed to be stiff, with on 6 August, with a fresh on the night of 6 August. The junior leaders (which) began abandon the campaign but this very sharp rocky cliffs, covered with thick landing 8 km north of Anzac right-hand column, comprising to play an important part as was dispelled when Winston scrub. at Suvla Bay in conjunction with the New Zealand Infantry columns were delayed because Churchill made a careless speech I have a few ideas about night the Australian and New Zealand Brigade under Brigadier- guides lost direction’. Cox’s in Dundee, stating that the battle marches, their great difficulty and the Army Corps mounting an attack General Francis Johnston, would column, on the left, progressed would continue whatever the need of careful reconnaissance; but north into the rugged country head for Chunuk Bair. The left- slowly; tired, lost and scattered sacrifices. The enemy was now when I was told that we were to break alongside the Sari Bair range hand column would head for Hill in the ravines, it never got close well aware that a renewal of through the opposing outpost line at 10 with the aim of capturing the 971 and neighbouring Hill Q. Both to the objective of Hill 971. the offensive was imminent. pm on the 6th, march along the sea coast high ground and linking with objectives were expected to be The 2/10th and 1/5th Consequently the Ottoman Fifth for three miles then turn at right angles the Suvla landing. The attack captured by the early hours of 7 Gurkhas, plus one company Army underwent a re-organisation and attempt to get under this big ridge from the Anzac perimeter was August – ideally by dawn. of the 2/5th newly arrived and an expansion to 16 divisions. about two miles inland, by dawn, and to be directed against two peaks It has been remarked that ‘the from France, set off to capture Ten of these defended the existing covered from the sea by innumerable of the Sari Bair range: Chunuk terrain over which the advancing Hill Q. The 1/6th reinforced battlefields (six at Helles, which small hills and nullahs, I felt, “What one Bair and Hill 971. To distract force would have to move was the Australians, who were had seen the bulk of the early would have done to a subaltern at a the enemy from the impending rugged in the extreme, with attacking the adjacent peak fighting, and four at Anzac). Three promotion examination who made any offensive, on 6 August, at 5.30 steep spurs and gullies covered (Hill 971). Two companies of divisions defended the Asian such proposition?” pm, an attack was made at Lone with dense prickly scrub. The Gurkhas lost contact with their shore of the Dardanelles and The more the plan was detailed as Pine by the infantry brigades few maps available were all column and instead offered to three divisions of the Ottoman the time got nearer, the less I liked it, of the Australian 1st Division. inaccurate, the guides had little help the three companies of XVI Corps defended the Gulf of especially as in my own regiment there While the attack was ultimately knowledge of the ground having the Auckland battalion attack Saros north of Bulair at the neck of were four officers out of seven who had successful in capturing the had too little time for a thorough Chunuk Bair. The column on the peninsula. never done a night march in their lives. Ottoman trenches, it was counter- reconnaissance. This would the left heading for Chunuk Bair, The German and Ottoman The one hope was that the scheme was so productive as a diversion as it have been considered formidable under the command of General generals anticipated that the bold it might be successful.” attracted reinforcements to the country to pass through in A H Baldwin, had a simpler offensive would involve a north. Another costly diversion peacetime during daylight hours; navigation task as their route ‘breakout’ from Anzac, but Zulu Day for the break-out was carried out at Helles which the Gurkhas and those who were was to some degree visible from were unsure whether it would from Anzac as well as the Suvla resulted in a pointless struggle to follow them were expected to the old Anzac perimeter. But the be north (towards Suvla) or landings was fixed for the night over a patch of ground known make their way through it in the guides still lost their way – as south (towards Gaba Tepe). A of 6-7 August. Major General as Krithia Vineyard. As was the dark, in the face of a determined Hamilton reported, ‘in plain new British landing was also Alexander John Godley, who was case at Lone Pine, the British and well-equipped enemy’ English, Baldwin, owing to the considered likely, but Suvla was in charge of the New Zealand action at Helles did not restrain Smith also comments, darkness and the awful country, not rated highly as a candidate, and Australia Division and the Ottoman defenders from presumably drawing on the lost his way’. consequently only a modest force was ‘loathed by the rank and sending reinforcements north to same source as Farwell, that ‘the of four battalions defended the file’, would be the commander the Sari Bair range. nature of the ground made it a (Next week: Uphill Work) 16 NATION 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771

DOUBLE SUFFERING: After dreaming at night that her husband is still alive and her house is intact, Nani Maiya Prajapati (right) is reminded every morning that both are gone. She also lost her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren in this ruin of her home in Sankhu.

Sunita Chitrakar (left) has been living with her two sons under a tent for the past three months. She doesn’t know how to get roofing material and her Rs 15,000 emergency help.

Purna Laxmi Khadgi (below) showing a wedding photograph with her pharmacist husband who was killed with her one-and-a-half year old son when their home in Bhaktapur collapsed.

2,000 widows Women who lost their husbands in the earthquake suffer bereavement and a lonely struggle for survival

ROJITA ADHIKARI in-law, two grandchildren and 9,000 people with were the ones who provided by an anonymous donor. in BHAKTAPUR mother-in-law were buried 55 per cent of them did all the paperwork She looks dazed. under her house After a night of female. Nepal Police in the VDCs. The In nearby Dadhikot, 33-year- forgetting, she is reminded every estimates that up to widows and single old Sunita Chitrakar also lost her very morning when Nani morning of her loss. Time has not 2,000 women lost women now have to husband who was a carpenter, Maiya Prajapati, 47, gets up, healed, the wounds in her soul their husbands, and learn to do all this by and is now struggling to take care Eshe peers across the bed to are as raw as ever. there are another REBUILDING themselves, as they of her two children. check if her husband is there and Nani Maiya was serving food 50,000 single women OURSELVES try to claim the Rs Three months after the over the field to see if her home to her daughter, son-in-law and whose houses 15,000 emergency earthquake, even though she lives is still standing, just as in her their two children when the collapsed. For the relief and apply for close to the capital, Sunita has not dreams. They aren’t there. building started shaking violently. widows and single mothers, reconstruction grants. received any money or roofing Nani Maiya’s life is never She shouted “let’s go” and ran out the struggle for survival after Nani Maiya, who farmed material and is still living in a going back to what it was before of the house. The others couldn’t the earthquake has been doubly while her husband worked as a fraying tent with her children. 25 April. She is reminded every make it in time and were crushed. difficult because they are alone to labourer, cannot read or write. Others with men in the families morning of the horror of that “I am the only survivor in the rebuild and take care of families. Her citizenship papers and all have built temporary shelters Saturday just before noon in family. I lost everyone. I wish I In patriarchal rural Nepal, it is land registration documents are from roofing material provided Sankhu when buildings caved had died too,” sobs Nani Maiya, mostly the men who earned, made buried in the ruin, and she has by the government, and they have in with a frightful roar and her dressed in mourning white. important financial and other been living in a small shed made got their Rs 15,000. husband, daughter and son- The earthquake killed nearly decisions in the household. They of two corrugated zinc sheets “No one told me where to go, 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 NATION 17

PICS: ROJITA ADHIKARI

how to get the relief material,” collapsed and it buried my have enough money for her son’s says Sunita. “During storms, I husband and son. I miss them school. “My husband loved me have to hold on to the flaps so the both terribly, I remember my son so much he didn’t want me to get Special need tent won’t blow away. We need most at his feeding time.” a job, how can I live without him Rs 12,000 a month to survive, and Purna Laxmi has a degree now?” says Subhadra. there is now no money for food, in pharmacy and her husband For the nearly 3 million omen’s groups and relief volunteers say widows and single mothers need to pay for school fees.” had a drug store. They were people directly affected by the Wspecial attention in post-earthquake rehabilitation because of the loss of Purna Laxmi Khadgi, was relatively well off, but the loss earthquake, life is a struggle but breadwinner and the stigma of widowhood in patriarchal Nepali society. They will be married off when she was 19 and of her husband has left Purna is slowly returning to normal. needing financial and psycho-social support well into the future. had been living with her husband Laxmi without support. She has But for the 2,000 widows like “Single women and widows will need a separate mechanism for support to for 11 years in Bhaktapur. Her been living for over three months Nani Maiya Prajapati, Purna rebuild homes and livelihoods,” says Lili Thapa of the Women for Human Right, husband and their one-and-half in a temporary shed built by her Laxmi Khadgi, Sunita Chitrakar Single Women Group. Thapa wants a Rs 50 million special fund for single mothers year old son were killed. She and brother-in-law. “I have to survive and Subhadra Marikhun, there is and widows and a special relief structure to reach them. her daughter survived. for the sake of my daughter,” she another dimension of loss. They When we put that to Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare Nilam KC, “My husband and son were says. need long-term help. she admitted such a program had not been planned yet. But she added: “We have sleeping inside the house that Subhadra Marikhun also lost looked at trafficking and sexual violence in shelters, but I will keep the agenda of Saturday,” Purna Laxmi recalls, “I her husband and her house is nepalitimes.com widows and single mothers in the meeting of the council of ministers.” survived because I was washing gone. She cannot sleep because  More pictures online clothes outside. The building she is worried that she will not 18 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771

though the draft guarantees ‘complete press freedom’ it still gives rulers undemocratic Finally federalism loopholes to muzzle the press. It is encouraging that the Editorial in Kantipur, 10 August Nepal’s national morale. It will parties could push through also prove wrong those who said with a federal structure with that the CA would never write fewer provinces. There will be Unless something unprecedented the constitution, federalism isn’t differences about boundaries. But happens, the country is sure to possible, or that demarcation agreeing on this model will open have a new constitution in a few was not feasible. The challenge up a debate about devolution days. This will mark the end of is to implement the new federal and these will have to be the peace process during which structure, and the constitution addressed as we move along. It is we came through a ceasefire, the will be judged on how that is impossible to have a constitution YOUTH DAY 2015 demobilisation and disarmament done. that everyone agrees on 100 per Now, I invite our young leader of fighters. Certainly, the current The draft reflects the cent. Even some leaders of the to say a few words. draft has some problems. Let’s suggestions made by the four main parties who are behind hope the door to resolve them public during consultations this draft are not happy with will be kept open. Still, it is a and feedback. There have been some of the provisions. But they Basu Kshitiz in Annapurna Post, great achievement that we are changes in the provisions for looked at the national interest 12 August soon going to have a Federal citizenship. Women and and compromised on each other’s Democratic Constitution after have been given more rights. positions. It is the responsibility ten years of waiting. This Local officials will now be of the top leaders to address announcement alone will restore directly elected. However, even some of the more vociferous QUOTE OF THE WEEK opposition to the current draft. The biggest weakness of this process so far is that the Forum The extremists who boycotted the elections, Nepal and TMLP are not part “the rightists who never wanted the

of it. But the fact that there is a Constituent Assembly and the secessionists province that is east-west and have joined hands to sabotages“ the located in the plains is itself an achievement. That is more than constitution writing process, but we will not can be said for the Tharus. As a let them succeed last resort future disputes can be resolved through future elections UML Chair KP Oli in onlinekhabar.com, 13 August because the constitution can be amended as long as there is that mandate. No group now should push itself out of the national mainstream. BIKRAM RAI Stalked by No more bloodshed malnutrition

Gopal Kiranti in www.onlinekhabar.com, sooner or later. As in India, we have strengths Naya Patrika, 9 August others were found to be 9 August and challenges to create more federal provinces in underweight or stunted. Nepal in future. Our biggest strength is political “It is worrying that the awareness and aspirations raised within the Cases of malnutrition have children with severe malnutrition “We should welcome the new deal signed by oppressed communities. And the challenge is to been detected among children haven’t reached hospitals,” said the four major parties Saturday night to carve out organise them to keep struggling to achieve their living in shelters in earthquake Girija Raj Subedi of the Nutrition six federal provinces. The United National Front political aspirations. affected districts, but despite Division which had deployed of the UCPN(M) has decided to accept the deal Although our National United Front has advice from health workers 10,000 Female Ccommunity because it will institutionalise federalism and accepted the deal, we are against allowing they haven’t been taken to Health Volunteers, 4,000 health democratic . Everyone who aspires to Biratnagar to treat the Kirat land as its colony. hospitals. A study conducted workers and 900 others for see the Constituent Assembly achieving its goal of We will keep fighting for an autonomous Kirat by Child Health Division under the study in which they went promulgating a new constitution should accept the province. People of Magarant and Tharuhat have Department of Health Services house-to-house. The surveyors deal. contributed immensely to the ‘people’s war’. So (DOHS) showed that 422 children also looked at the condition The agreement on the six-province model let us accept the six-province model for the time between 6 months and five of pregnant and lactating was inevitable because of the Madhesi parties’ being, and keep fighting for autonomous Kirat, years out of the 1,055 referred women after the earthquake opposition to a draft constitution sans boundaries Magarant, Limbuwan,Tharuhat, Tamsaling, for further treatment for severe and distributed vitamin A, iron of federal provinces, the new balance of power in Tamuwan, Khasan and Newa provinces. undernourishment haven’t gone and folic acid tablets, promoted the second CA, and public feedback from across the Those who have accused Pushpa Kamal to hospitals. The survey looked supplementary food, breast country. Too much Nepali blood has already been Dahal of kowtowing to the NC and the UML are at the nutrition status between feeding and nutritious food. shed to achieve this deal. We should not shed more. reactionaries hell-bent on stopping the CA from 28 June-5 July in Sindhupalchok, Over 40 per cent of children in In India, only 11 states were created when passing the new constitution.” Dolakha, Ramechap, Gorkha, Nepal under 5 were stunting due the constitution was passed. But the number of Kirati of the UCPN(M) started his political Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, to lack of nutrition even before states has reached 30 by now, and we are sure that career by launching a separate armed struggle for Kavre, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, the earthquake. Eleven per cent Bodoland and Gorkhaland will also be declared an autonomous Khambuwan Province. Lalitpur, Sindhuli, Makawanpur suffered wasting and 46 per cent and Okhaldhunga. Ten thousand had anemia.

When people saw a blind boy going to the school But gradually, people started understanding his like other children, parents started bringing their cause and showed benevolence. He is now taking differently abled children to school, too, to enroll care of 53 disabled children in three houses he rents them. This posed a new challenge for Maharjan, near the school where they get lessons in music, More able since many of them weren’t blind, but deaf. So, he painting, photography, sewing, knitting as a part of went to the Kathmandu Deaf Association and taught their rehabilitation. Sajana Baral in Himal Khabarpatrika, 9-15 August himself sign language. Dangol, the boy who changed Maharjan’s life 26 A few years later, Maharjan was visiting the years ago himself teaches visually impaired students nearby town of Khokana where he saw a four-year to read and write. Another of Maharjan’s blind On a fine morning in 1989 a young boy of 14 entered a old boy paralysed from the waist down crawling students, Satish Raj Pandey, hosts a program on teacher’s room at a local school in Bungamati and said: on the ground. “It just hurt my heart to see that. I Kalika FM. “I want to study as well.” talked with his parents and brought him with me,” The people who once accused him of being a That boy, Jivan Dangol was blind and the school had recalls Maharjan who then got a tutor to teach him fool now praise his selflessness. “Disability is not a no provision to teach visually impaired students. But physiotherapy. problem or a burden,” muses Maharjan, “give them a Dayaram Maharjan, one of the teachers couldn’t bring In 2001, Maharjan registered the Disabled chance, they’ll be more able than the able-bodied.” himself to reject a boy so determined to study. So, he Service Association and rented a room from taught himself Braille and started teaching Dangol. Karyabinayak Mandir Sudar Samiti, giving lessons “We didn’t have a typewriter, so we wrote with chalk to his three disabled students there. However, there nepalitimes.com was opposition from other parents who didn’t want  Dayaram’s Adarsha #691 on a slate,” recalls Maharjan, now 50. “But within a year  Diff erent, but able #574 Jivan was able to attend class like others.” disabled children around the temple complex.

GOPEN RAI We believe that knowledge is the starting point to generate a conversation. DESTINATION This monthly knowledge series has been initiated in order to raise important questions and stimulate debate within Nepal’s tourism industry. It is hoped that structuring the conversation based on new knowledge and developing an open platform to share ideas will lead to action, positive

siddharthinc works to build a sustainable future growth and impact in both the public and private sector. NEPAL www.siddharthinc.com 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 Innovations in Nepal’s Tourism Industry

epal’s tourism industry seems to be Products and services need to be significantly attract more leisure tourists and pilgrims from heritage sites rests with the artisans who are rebounding. The industry is more improved if Nepal is to regain the confidence closer by, especially India and China. One way actively participating to restore them, and with the Noptimistic now than several weeks ago. of incoming tourists and attract more visitors. to do so can be by promoting Nepal’s intangible close-by resident who has a faithful link with the Safety assurances, especially for trekking areas Improving rural and urban infrastructure, training assets. physical assets. Can we promote these intangible have helped. As have the relaxing of travel personnel and developing safe trekking systems Some cultural heritage sites were destroyed, assets that are within the hearts and minds of advisories from other . Nepal should would help improve quality and tourist experience. though many remain fully intact. What is the the people of Nepal? The coming months have continue to be promoted as a safe destination to New products should also be identified and larger story behind and around these damaged countless festivals and celebrations. There should visit, but there should also be a focus on using promoted. A focus also needs to go towards monuments? These sites are maintained by a be a drive to attract tourists to come to Nepal for the impact of the earthquake to come up with rebranding Nepal’s image to reach a wider diverse set of communities that are more than these experiences. A particular drive could be innovations and improvements to the tourism audience. Nepal does need to encourage more willing to share their culture and traditions with towards bringing non-resident Nepalis back for key industry. trekkers and mountaineers, but it also needs to tourists. The history and significance of damaged festivals as a boost to the tourism industry.

BADIMALIKA BARDIA Explore the vast grasslands, nomadic NATIONAL PARK shepherds and terrace fields on your This untouched wilderness in the Tarai way to the Badimalika temple. Khaptad borders the eastern bank of the Karnali National Park is close-by. Enjoy views of River in Bardiya. It contains one of the mountain peaks like Mount Api from the largest stretches of tiger habitat. Enjoy other temple premises. The area is lively and features of the park such as the crocodile festive during Janai Purnima and Ganga breeding centre, Tharu cultural museum, Dasaharaara festivals. and the elephant breeding centre.

UNIVERSALTREKKINGNEPAL.COM

LetsLets promote new and existinge products by emphasising SURMA SAROVAR tthehe peoplepeople and the culture.cultu Here are some examples Surma Sarovar Lake in Bajhang district lies at an altitude ooff new destinationsdestinations andand old traditions that tourism of 4,300m. It is believed that taking a dip in this lake entreentrepreneurspreneurs can use tot diversify their products helps cure skin diseases, and please Goddess Surma who helps one to fulfill their wishes. The trekking route to Surma Sarovar itself is a major attraction. During the end of July, thousands of pilgrims come for a big annual festival called Birijaat to take ritual baths.

LOWER MANASLU Trek through the homeland of modern Nepal’s unifier, King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha. Explore LUMBALUMBA SUMBASUMBA the historic, ecological and cultural splendour on the Trek through Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and famous Manaslu Circuit Trek. The Lower Manaslu meet Nepal’s various ethnic groups like the Limbus, route is more moderate and passes through some Sherpas, Rai, Gurung, and Tamangs. Explore famous places such as Gorkha Bazaar and Barpak. alpine grasslands, temperate and sub-tropical forests, and low river valleys, and get a glimpse of MISSIONNEPAL.COM the endangered snow leopard and red panda. GANESH HIMAL (RUBY VALLEY) BLOG.NEPALADVISOR.COM The trek falls between Manaslu Conservation Area INDRA JATRA and Langtang National Park. Get a panoramic view Indra Jatra is believed to be a festival of classical of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Lamjung, Langtang, dances. It is celebrated by both and Lirung and other several peaks. Walk through Buddhists. One can observe many varieties hillsides filled with blossoming rhododendron, of traditional Nepali dances on this day. The pass through beautiful villages of people including festival is named after Lord Indra, known as Tamang, , Gurung and observe their the king of heavens and the god of rain. culture, and catch a glimpse of wild animals such (August/September) as the Thars and musk deer.

VISITHIMALAYASTREK.COM

DASAIN CHHATH PARBA Dasain is a biggest festival of the year During this four-day festival, commonly (September/ October). This 15 day festival celebrated by people in the , devotees celebrates the triumph of good over evil, and is worship the rising and setting sun. Men and symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the demon women prepare special dishes of rice and Mahisasur. The goddess Durga is worshiped with molasses and feast after an audience with pujas, offerings and sacrifices throughout Nepal. the sun. They take dips in sacred rivers and Dasain also commemorates the great victory of lakes with a belief that it will bring prosperity Lord Ram over Ravana, the king of demons. and happiness to them and their family (November).

MYADVENTUREHOLIDAYS.BLOGSPOT.COM ANTONIONODAR.COM TIJ TIHAR HOLIDAYS Tij is a three-day long celebration for women Tihar, the festival of lights, is celebrated for five days wherein they feast before the day of fasting (November). Nepalis worship ‘Yamaraj’, lord of the and sing, dance and pray while celebrating the netherworld, in different forms in these five days. festival. Hindu women pray for marital happiness, They worship crows, dogs, cows, Goddess Laxmi, wellbeing of their family and purification of themselves, and their siblings. Houses are decorated themselves. The festival is traditionally dedicated with candles, oil lamps, and electric light, people to Goddess and her union with Lord . celebrate by singing and dancing, while traditional HOLIDAYWORLD.COM.NP (August/September) ESSAYSPEECHWALA.COM food items are cooked in abundance. 20 TOURISM 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 Nepali businesses need to introduce new products to the market

CHINA nstituting a system of ‘Destination KEY ASIAN MARKET Management Organisations’ for key # Holiday pleasure tourists 70 Itourism hubs in Nepal can foster effective collaboration and linkages Young, Free Independent Travelers, (% of incoming in 2013) among tourism entrepreneurs. Tourism Main niche market Shopping enthusiasts, gambling, business and Visiting friends and associations can support such effort along Relatives (VFR) with the creation of ‘tourism product clusters’. Development of flagship attractions can also go hand in hand JAPAN with this initiative. Tourism associations along with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) should also 72 design and implement an ‘event strategy’ Seniors - growing population of for Nepal. There is now a need to market people aged 60+ who are core Nepal’s intangible assets from across the outbound travelers country and calendar. Creating a strategy to promote these intangibles should serve a variety of target markets. Such a strategy INDIA THAILAND SOUTH KOREA may also help to improve seasonality patterns in the tourism industry. 36 43 56 More soft adventure products where MALAYSIA higher levels of comfort are required Shopping, Holiday packages, Couples Short getaways, Educational travel, Low cost air travel, Religious travel, should also be introduced and developed and Honeymooners, Luxury travel, VFR, Religious/pilgrimage travel Luxury segment, Honeymoon market, Families with children Adventure travel to cater to older tourists and those that 67 have a shorter vacation time. Such types Holiday, Leisure, Business, of products are especially necessary for Religious travel Asian outbound travellers.

REBRANDING Improving Products and Services Focus on content and he earthquake has provided a unique  Design and implement improved and opportunity for Nepal’s tourism expanded tourism market research overcome seasonality Tindustry to improve the products and systems covering data collection, services it offers. An immediate form of research, analysis and information ebranding efforts of Nepal’s tourism sector could travel writers and bloggers from Nepal’s key markets (existing and targeted) can complement efforts to improvement can come from higher quality dissemination. This effort can start by Rbegin with training for tour operators, hoteliers, and services. Training service personnel (e.g. conducting exit surveys at the airport tourism professionals to focus on storytelling. By working create better content and online presence. Various organizations have already taken such an initiative. first aid training to porters), certification and key attractions (Ministry of with bloggers and content creators to share stories systems for guides, encouraging guides Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation). and build online brand, NTB and trade associations NTB has to become the main organizing body to help spread clear and consistent message about Nepal. to learn another language and better  Design and implement a new can inspire customer confidence. Effort towards the communicate Nepal’s intangibles, electronic application process for ‘NepalNow’ website is an encouraging start. As they Seasonal sales campaigns need to be more aware of the domestic market, especially with regular visitor management training programs tourist visas to Nepal (Department of should, sectors have come together to launch combined for managers and operators, etc. could Immigration) efforts and significantly increase their online presence. festivals that provide short breaks throughout the significantly improve the quality of service  Design and enforce tourism/land Familiarisation tours for tour operators, journalists, year, and academic holidays such as in summer and winter. Better seasonal marketing is very important in of Nepal’s tourism industry. use planning policies and practices, Nepal to minimise seasonal fluctuations and improve The private sector does need to take mainly with regard to planning NEPALI VISITORS utilisation of destinations, facilities and services. initiatives to improve quality, however, controls, waste management at TO NATIONAL PARKS Better campaigns in Asian markets can significantly NTB and relevant ministries also have a sensitive destinations (Ministry of (Source: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, mitigate risks from seasonality. Monsoons are cooler number of responsibilities they must fulfil: Urban Development, Ministry of Annual Report 2011-2012) in Nepal than India and is a festive period that needs Federal and Local Development, etc.) to be leveraged to attract more Indian tourists. More  Upgrade runway and taxi space, as  Develop and enforce international Chinese tourists can be enticed during winter to well as management at Tribhuvan standards for health and safety across celebrate the Chinese New Year in Nepal. International Airport (Ministry of all aspects of the tourism supply SHUKLAPHANTA NATIONAL PARK Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation) chain 365 BARDIA NATIONAL PARK Nepal Tourism Recovery, a Facebook group with more than 6,000 5,654 SHIVAPURI NATIONAL PARK members, is taking these immediate steps to improve the tourism industry: PARSA WILDLIFE 137,618 Improving our international airport, starting with a welcoming graffiti 311 Creating promotional videos of Nepal Developing a website for ‘NepalNOW’ TOTAL KOSHI TAPPU WILDLIFE Organizing a promotional event for Gai Jatra 188,966 CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK 39,748 5,275 * Ideas in the back page have been retrieved from Tourism Development International’s 2014 study 40% of all entry is that of domestic tourists. on trends in the Nepali tourism market. How do we expand the market for them and Diaspora tourists? 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 NATION 21 Bound by boundaries WHAT NOW? The Constitution Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee has If the disputed districts must be recarved to bring the Madhesi, sent the text of the constitution to the Drafting Committee to Tharus and Janajatis on board, let us do it. finalise the document. Here is a timeline: 12 24 6 AUGUST AUGUST The CPDCC of the Constituent Assembly The CA will endorse the constitution by (CA) endorsed the new constitution’s approving each article with two-thirds 4 draft with boundaries of six majority, and the CA Chair Subhas federal provinces. Nembang will verify it. 3 1 17 27 AUGUST AUGUST The CA’s Constitution Drafting Committee President Ram Baran Yaday will issue (CDC) will finalise the constitution’s the new constitution. revised draft. One week after: Change of 22 government, K P Oli becomes new Prime Minister 5 AUGUST The constitution will be tabled in the CA One month after: New President as a bill. Two days will be allotted for 2 amending the bill. efore the Maoist insurgency not as vocal anymore, with its tucking some district boundaries. escalated beyond the Janajati members on the verge of If the Madhesi and Tharus own Bmid-western hills nearly peeling off. the new constitution if parts of 20 years ago, the separatist FSFN lawmaker Birendra the five disputed districts of the Khambuwan Liberation Front in Mahato says: “If the one Madhes Tarai are given to them, the four the east had gone underground province is not possible, we can parties should be ready for it. We and taken up arms. accept two states in the Tarai. are not signing a treaty with a But Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari foreign country by giving up our should be part of the eastern territory, after all. Madhes province.” Some other Federating the country is just Madhesi CA members, even from a process of strengthening unity. the FSFN, admit that they can And as Kiranti says: “The battle compromise even if the southern for more rights will never end in AS IT HAPPENS belts of just Sunsari–Morang, and a democracy. Even after the new Om Astha Rai not Jhapa, are integrated with the constitution, the struggle will go eastern Madhes province. on.” Founded by firebrand radical Second-wrung leaders of the @omastharai Gopal Kiranti, the group bombed MJF(D), the only Madhesi party Sanskrit schools, shot dead that signed the 8 August deal, are political rivals and threatened also not happy with boundaries to chase away - of federal provinces. The MJF(D) after creating an autonomous leaders Jitendra Dev and Ram Khambuwan Province. Janam Chaudhary stopped their After two decades, the Front President Bijaya Gachhadar for no longer exists, and Kiranti is a eight hours from signing the deal. staunch supporter of the Maoist But they eventually relented and Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal. When left the Singha Darbar, and a Dahal signed a deal with the NC, crestfallen Gachhadar finally did the UML and the MJF(D) on 8 the deed. August to carve out six federal Although MJF(D) leaders, provinces it obviated once and apart from Gachhadar, are against for all the autonomy that Kiranti the deal they are not with other fought for. Madhesi parties, either. Dev But Kiranti hailed the deal says they can accept as many and urged pro-federalism forces to as three provinces in the Tarai. welcome the six-province model And Chaudhary says they can (see page 18). The transformation accept the six-province federalism of Kiranti from a radical fighter if Kailali is divided between into a pragmatic politician, is Province 5 and 6. So their perhaps best explained by what discontent seems to just stem Dahal said after the deal: “We had from integration of the Tharu- to compromise because we are dominated parts of Kailali and now weak.” Kanchanpur with Province 6. Indeed, Kiranti contested the In the east, the Limbuwan second CA elections from Jhapa groups now say their province and faced a humiliating defeat at is “too large”. That is a weak the hands of the UML Chair KP argument and the Janajatis are Oli. Had Oli lost the 2013 election, unlikely to descend to the streets as in 2008, the whole story could demanding a smaller province. have been different. Kiranti would The protests in the mid-west are have probably not welcomed merely manifestations of anger a deal that has led to violent over reckless division of the protests in many western parts development zone and districts. of the country. Or the deal itself Not a single major identity group would have not been possible. is now on the streets demanding The dynamics of CA-II are Single Madhes, Limbuwan different from CA-I, and there is and Khambuwan. The Tharus a growing realisation among the are the only ones who have a Madhesi and Janajatis that their legitimate demand and have dream of federalism is achievable. descended on the streets, but even The Madhesi parties, except for here parceling out Kailali and the one that Upendra leads, Kanchanpur may pacify them. have already given up their radical The six-province federalism demand for a Single Madhes model looks like a workable province. Even Yadav’s Federal proposition, but the four parties Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) is need to tweak it by snipping and 22 BACK SIDE 14 - 20 AUGUST 2015 #771 www.nepalitimes.com www.nepalitimes.com

These maps of boundaries, methinks, will adequately meet demands in the PAST PRESENT FUTURE spirit of give and take (mostly take) so Provincial mentality DIWAKAR CHETTRI that everyone will be satisfied that these grievances will be addressed: nyhoo, the headlines are peppered only one answer: “Who do you think this week with refutations. I am, Dr Ambedkar?” But to cut a long 1. Province#6 doesn’t like the way AEveryone is in denial: KPO has story short and to get you off my hair, I it is shaped and wants to have more denied that he is in a tearing hurry to be have prepared the following models for proportionate and symmetrical dimensions Prime Minister. Jhusil Da has denied that provincial boundaries and handed them so it looks more attractive. he is reluctant to step down, is perfectly over to the Monologue Committee to do as 2. Province#5 is perfectly happy with happy where he is, and stoking opposition they deem fit: its good looks and doesn’t want to oblige to the draft constitution so that he can Province#6. get one last freebie to New York for the 1. East-West 28 Province Model 3. The northern part of Province#6 UNGA. PKD has issued a strong denial that wants to bifurcate and create a separate he wants to be president so that he will Province#7 so that it can be even poorer be immune from prosecution for gobbling than Province#2. up mucho arabs meant for his guerreros, 4. The southern part of Province#6 and also for having sent a whole bunch of wants to secede from Province#5 even people to kingdom come. Luckily, people before it is formed in order to create a in this country have so little trust in the 2. North-South 28 Province Model separate province so it can plunder its froth estate that they don’t believe the forests by itself. denials. Still, the leaders are not denying 5. Now that Province#2 has got a that they are deniers. Plains Province, it wants the borders to be Everyone’s priority now is to get extended to the mountains so that it can be the dreadlocked draught of the new more viable by selling off the waters of the constitution over and done with so we Kosi. can all go back to medieval fun and games 6. No way Provinces#1 and #3 will give 3. The 3,895 Province Model to make perfect arsonists of ourselves by even an inch of their territory to #2 since burning tyres while they are still attached they want to sell off the waters of the Kosi to parked cars. It was inevitable that all themselves. this would ultimately all boil down to 7. Some in Province#1 think it’s too big territory. In the Darwinian sense, protecting and want to divide it into Province#1a and one’s property and watering the perimeter Province#1b. of one’s domain periodically by peeing 8. All Provinces want to have access to on the neighbour’s front yard is a time- 4. The 4-Province Model both the India and China borders so that honoured tradition handed down to us they can facilitate Sino-Indian trade in from one generation to the next by our wildlife contraband. Kangresistan Proboscis Monkey ancestors. Which is why 9. Province #5 doesn’t have access to the Eh-Maledom demonstrators are setting fire to police cars Baddieland Chinese border and wants in Surkhet -- they can’t help it, they are Ma-desh a 100km tunnel to Tibet so hardwired to risk life and limb to protect it can continue smuggling the sovereignty and territorial integrity of 5. The No-Province Model yarsagumba.yar the United Karnali (UK). 10. Province#2 wants Many of you have Tweeted to The thethe distinction of being the Ass in the past week, imploring that I LeastLea Developed Province make sense of what is happening to the so as to be eligible for more constitution. To all your queries, I have grantsgra from the Centre. The Ass

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