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TUESDAY 27 JANUARY 2015 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside American Sniper CAMPUS tops box office • Indian schools in Qatar mark Indian for second week Republic Day P | 4-5 P | 8-9 COMMUNITY • ACD meets at residence of Indonesian envoy P | 6 RECIPE CONTEST • Send in your best recipe and win a dinner voucher for two P | 7 HEALTH • Breast cancer patients lack knowledge END OF of their tumours P | 11 AN ERA TECHNOLOGY • Apple 27in iMac with For generations, traders retina 5K display: Oh and their colourful herds my that screen of mules and yaks were P | 12 a lifeline for remote communities in the heart LEARN ARABIC of Nepal’s formidable and • Learn commonly often dangerous Himalayas. used Arabic words and their meanings P | 13 2 PLUS | TUESDAY 27 JANUARY 2015 COVER STORY End of the road for Nepal’s traditional Himalayan ‘caravans’ By Ammu Kannampilly or generations, traders and their colourful herds of mules and yaks were a lifeline for Fremote communities in the heart of Nepal’s formidable and often dangerous Himalayas. The traders bravely plied an ancient trail, ferrying salt, grains and other goods between neighbouring China’s vast Tibetan plateau and Nepal’s mid- dle hills, a profession that endured for centuries. But the Nepal government’s plan to build a road through the isolated bor- der region means the traders’ liveli- hood and their traditional way of life will almost certainly be lost. A caravan worker prepares goods The road will allow cars and trucks for transportation from Simikot some for the first time to transport goods 430km north west of Kathmandu. that have been borne almost exclusively by the traders’ teams of animals known as caravans. neighbouring districts, in Nepal’s top Herders sleep in shifts, taking turns something else for a living but this is “We don’t go where there are roads, northwest corner. to tend a fire and watch out for snow the only work I can do,” the father of only to places which have no road Not everyone despairs of the new leopards, wolves and other predators. four said. access. We can’t even begin to compete road. Many of Humla’s 50,000-odd The profession, highlighted in the Many traders struggle to make a with trucks,” trader Rachhe Kami said residents living high in the Himalayas 1999 Oscar-nominated film Himalaya, decent living in this impoverished cor- as he loaded up his mules in Simikot hope tonnes of currently scarce goods is risky. ner of the world, with communities town, some 3,000 metres (9,840 feet) will soon be quickly and cheaply One of Kami’s colleagues fell into a now sourcing some goods from neigh- above sea level. delivered. river and drowned last year and the bouring India and elsewhere. “When the road is built, I am going During trading season, lasting 38-year-old nearly lost his own life But 50 years ago, business was brisk, to have a big problem. No work will roughly from March until November, when he was caught in a snowstorm profits were high and the animals come my way,” he said of selling his when the weather is good, Kami spends near the Nepal-China border in 2012. decked in bells and colourful bridles goods to communities in Humla and every night outdoors on the trail. “I thought then that I should do ruled the snow-capped mountains. PLUS | TUESDAY 27 JANUARY 2015 3 ‘Life force’ “The caravans used to be the life force of this region — supplying every household with rice, grains, salt, whatever they needed,” 67-year-old Tondhup Lama said. Lama was a teenager when he followed his father and grandfather into the business, bartering locally- grown barley for Tibetan salt, which he would then trade for rice from Nepal’s middle hills. The fortnight-long journey to the border revealed a world untouched by modernity. “There was nothing there — we would negotiate with Tibetan nomads living in tents, who would bring us salt and wool which we would barter for grain,” he said. “Back then, we were the rich ones.” The business suffered its first serious setback when Nepal introduced subsidised supplies of iodised salt from India in 1973, aiming to curb illnesses such as goitre and cretinism. The market for Tibetan salt took a hit but traders adapted quickly, sourcing cheap clothing from India, which they would sell for cash within Nepal or barter for wool and butter at the China border. Mountain goats carry goods from the China In a good month, Lama’s family earned up to border along the street in Simikot. 20,000 rupees ($201) — enough to keep them going during harsh winters when heavy snowfall blocks key mountain passes. never thought about our needs,” former Humla law- On sale at the border are cheap Chinese clothing, “It was a challenging life but I enjoyed the adven- maker Chhakka Bahadur Lama said. agricultural equipment and liquor. ture, the travel,” he said. Unable to make ends meet, longtime herders like Most agree that modernity must come to the Less than a decade later, the Nepal government Tondhup Lama quit the trade, selling his yaks, sheep neglected region, but lament the impending disap- dealt another blow and this time business would not and horses to take up farming. pearance of the caravans. bounce back. “Our way of life is simply too primitive to survive New rules designed to protect forests allowed local End of an era in the modern age,” ex-lawmaker Lama said. residents to charge traders high taxes for use of tra- Today, the few traders left say they have no other “It’s not just a question of a traditional economy ditional grazing grounds for their animals. employment options and although they still travel to ending, it’s a culture melting away, it’s the end of an “Policy planners in Kathmandu never considered the China border, the Tibetan nomads have vanished era and a sad day in many ways.” what this would mean for us mountain people, they and the trade has changed. AFP Nepalese caravan worker and family members. Mules and donkey loaded with goods. 4 PLUS | TUESDAY 27 JANUARY 2015 CAMPUS Indian schools mark Republic Day Loyola International School cel- Loyola International School ebrated the 66th Republic Day of India for the first time at the school premises. Prasad Pogaru, Principal, unfurled the Indian flag and addressed students and par- ents. The event included a colorful dance show by KG 2 students and a recital of patriotic songs by Grade 2 and 3 students. Students arrived clad in costumes representing dif- ferent states and cultures of India. A speech was given by Shreya Rajesh of Grade 2. Teachers participated in the event performing a skit to display the cultures of the country. MES Indian School ES Indian School marked The Scouts and Guides, members of the 66th Republic Day Campus Care Force (CCF), the stu- of India at the Open Air dents of Kindergarten, Junior, Boys’, MAuditorium of the school. Girls’ and CBSE-i Sections of the On 26th January 1950, the Indian con- school were carrying the national flags stitution came into force making India a with patriotic zest and fervor. republic. Ceremonial parade, pageantry, Shamsuddeen Abdul Kadar, Sr procession, patriotic songs, dances and Vice President, K P Abdul Azeez, various cultural programmes were General Secretary, P K Mohamed, showcased to mark the importance of Vice President, MES Governing the day. Board, V K Abdul Rahman, Kuzhimal V V Mahmood, President, MES Kunhahamed, members of the School Governing Board, Chief Guest of the Management, A P Sasidharan, day, hoisted the Indian National Flag Principal, Vice-Principals and Heads of on the occasion. Sections, school officials and students “Our country is a symbol of great attended the ceremonial function. diversity in unity that we hold close to Sparsh Garg, Assistant Head Boy our hearts. I wish this feeling of oneness and Pavithera Lingendra, Assistant reflects in our words and deeds as we Head Girl, compered the function. strive for a glorious future”, remarked Ikbal N.M., Head, Department of the chief guest while addressing the Social Science, coordinated the event. A school official addressing the audience. gathering. The Peninsula hantiniketan Indian School cel- contribution towards making India one Shantiniketan ebrated the 66th Republic Day of the most popular democratic govern- with a cultural programme ment in the world. The KG Wing dis- Indian School Sorganised by the Social Science played the burning issues confronting Department. the Indian Government and the effec- The day began with hoisting of the tiveness and support of the people in Indian flag by Shihabudeen Pullath, overcoming theses issues that sets an Vice-Principal Admin. He addressed example before the world. the gathering with a motivational speech The Junior Section students pre- and advised staff to work with sincerity sented a patriotic song — “A Salute to and dedication to take SIS to a greater our Great Leaders and Nation.” The heights. Middle School enlightened the gather- The teachers presented patriotic ing portraying all the six fundamental songs that reflected the rich culture and rights and their importance in a citi- tradition of India. Shakir Hussain, HOD, zen’s life in a Republic. The Secondary Social Science, recalled the sacrifice of Section presented “Yesterday, Today and patriots and leaders who laid down their Tomorrow” to relive the history of the lives for the cause of freedom and took freedom struggle. They went further to India towards development. portray India of their dreams As part of celebrations students from Dudley O’ Connor delivered the vote different sections presented tableau to of thanks and appreciated the support showcase the images of Indian freedom of the teachers and admin staff for struggle.

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