#665 19 - 25 July 2013 20 pages Rs 50

THE ELECTION MIRAGE PEDAL epal’s political leaders should take some time off to study the findings from recent A FEDERATION POWER Npolls. Although disillusionment and OF FACTIONS apathy run high, the people haven’t yet given up INSIDE OUT on them. But they don’t want any more empty promises and slogans. Increasing number of BY MUMA RAM KHANAL Nepalis think federalism may not be so bad, but A new fortnightly column by a majority doesn’t want provinces to be named former Maoist central member after ethnicities. They will vote for the party looks at the Plenum starting that think is best placed to provide them jobs, Friday that seeks to end education, healthcare, and development. the bitter power struggle between Baburam Bhattarai Young Nepali riders are not just bagging prizes and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. in local races, but doing well internationally too. BACK TO THE PEOPLE Paraplegics ride hand bicycles along the old trans- EDITORIAL PAGE 2 PAGE 3 Himalayan trade route to raise money for charity. PAGE 7-9

WATER BABIES: A young boy from Tikathali, Lalitpur swims in the Godavari river to beat the humidity on Wednesday.

BIKRAM RAI 2 EDITORIAL 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 BACK TO THE PEOPLE e have often written in this space in favour of ethnicity-based federalism is about the widespread public still low (17 per cent) with more than half Wsense of disappointment with supporting North-South federal units. leaders who have repeatedly squandered The responses seem to corroborate opportunities to come up with political the findings of The Citizen Survey 2013 compromises necessary to extricate the carried out nationwide in April-May by country from the morass they got us into. International IDEA as well as the results And now, a party-less government that of the Himalmedia Nationwide Public itself is in life support, seems to be having Opinion Poll 2013. private doubts about November polls. The IDEA Citizen Survey showed that But contrary to what we wrote last 69 per cent of Nepalis said they hadn’t week, there seems to be a stirring of yet made up their minds about who they interest among Nepalis about elections. would vote for. Half the respondents were It must be a desperate attempt to cling to confused or did not understand concepts straws that the proportion of people not like federalism, but among those who interested in voting has gone down in did, support for it has risen to 73 per cent the weekly Himalamedia Bazar Poll (See with a majority wanting as few provinces Page 18). The tracking poll carried out as possible. Interestingly, nearly 7 out of every week in 12 urban centres around every 10 respondents said they will vote the country and supported by The Asia along party lines and not along ethnic Foundation, shows that only 22 per cent or communal ones, and more (45 per of the 363 respondents last week were cent) said they would vote for women in the Don’t Know/Won’t Say category, candidates. compared to more than 26 per cent a Nepal’s political leaders should look month ago. DIWAKAR CHETTRI at these poll findings and take lessons. Asked who among the current crop The people haven’t yet given up on them, of top leaders they trust the most, Sushil Koirala of the The good news from public although disillusionment is high. They do not want NC has increased his lead to 13.5 per cent, compared to opinion polls is that Nepalis slogans and extraneous issues to cloud the elections. 12.7. UCPN (M) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has also haven’t given up on the parties, They think federalism is ok, but not by demarcating climbed one point to 8.8 per cent to put him on second provinces along ethnic lines. spot. Baburam Bhattarai, on the other hand, has dropped but they will not vote for crooks The political parties would do well to re-invent from 9.1 per cent to 8.3 per cent in the past month. The and liars from the past themselves, have more women candidates, and not pro-monarchist Kamal Thapa of the RPP-N has nearly field the crooks and liars of the past. The people don’t doubled his rating from 3.6 percent to 6.6 per cent. But Interestingly, the acceptance of federalism among want any more promises, they don’t want speeches. the other leaders, including most Madhesi ones, are all urban respondents appears to be going up steadily in the They will vote for the party that they think is best below 2.5 per cent. past four months from 46 per cent to 56 per cent. Those placed to provide them jobs, education, healthcare, and development.

ON THE WEB www.nepalitimes.com OF WAR BECOMES A MEMORY that have not healed’, #664). Thousands There are vast ideological differences It’s interesting to see how differently of rape and violence cases have not between political parties and leaders THE the three former combatants react to even been reported, so we can only and they are all undecided about the O WEEK questions about the confl ict (‘When imagine what the actual numbers are blueprint that will take Nepal ahead. I like. The state, politicians, and human think the most sensible option now is What do you like the most about war becomes a memory’, Amir monsoon ? Joshi, #664). One is still stuck in his rights NGOs should have made justice to draw up fi ve provinces, ask experts revolutionary past, the other regrets for women a non-negotiable issue to write the constitution, and then his past, and the third one (now in during the peace process, but they promulgate it through the CA. Assem Shamsher Rana: The rain the army) wants to forget his past failed collectively. Even the discourse on Phurpa Tamang Bhichhyan Rai: Less loadshedding and start fresh. These three men justice for victims of war often leaves out Dirgha Raj Karki: The word monsoon represent Nepal in a microcosm. this section of the population. BREAKING UP AND MAKING UP Johan De Meyere: The sudden end of it Now the question is how do we bring Meera R There is no such thing as consensual Sandeep Sharma: Monsoon in Pokhara these diverse values and philosophies politics, it has been invented to deceive Sharad Duwal: The rawness it brings Sudeep Manandhar: Raincoat together and move ahead from our Women are and will continue to the Nepali public (‘Breaking up and bloody past? be the worst victims of armed violence making up’, Anurag Acharya, #664). Ashish Sharma: Greenery Masayo Kiyoto: Inconvenience JB leaders did follow communist ideology across the world and usually they are Consensual politics is impractical, of wanting to bring equality. But their Abhusan Nepali: Jamal ma rafting also the last ones to receive justice. undemocratic, and unhealthy and Andy Collins: Leeches We are probably the only country selfi shness and greed took over and the When (and if) we ever set up a truth the media and politicians alike have Prashant Shrestha : Smiling people in the world where armies of former result is clear for everyone to see. Now and reconciliation commission, women milked this word for their benefi t for Shova Gurung: Everything enemies were peacefully integrated the insurgency has turned into a bitter like Purna Maya need to be a priority. far too long. How can 30 odd parties Neeta Dongol: Falling asleep and this is a fact all Nepalis should memory for the thousands who fought Let’s not squander the commission in with different philosophies come to a be proud of. However, seven years and sacrifi ced their lives on the frontline declaring more ‘martyrs’. consensus in a democratic system? If This week’s Question: after the peace process Nepal’s future as well as those who were killed, Renu Shrestha everyone one had similar views and What do you do to kill time during is as uncertain as ever and it’s not wounded, widowed, and orphaned in the no one disagreed, it would be like a loadshedding? surprising that those who fought the name of revolution. ELECTION SOLUTION partyless panchayat system. Go to www.facebook.com/nepalitimes or war as well as ordinary citizens are Tashi Lama How many more years is Nepal going B www.twitter.com/nepalitimes to respond. growing increasingly disillusioned with to waste declaring election dates and the ‘revolutionary’ leaders who had The choice to be a part of the discussing possibilities, only to have it The last time I arrived, I swear the promised so much. violent confl ict lies solely with the postponed at the last hour (‘The election taxi was the same one I got into in 1983 Nepal we talk a lot about promoting Nistha P former combatants and they need to solution’, Editorial, #664)? Is this not because it had holes in the fl oor then. mother tongues and trying to preserve be responsible for their actions. There getting too tiring? Sometimes I fail to Teresa Green languages like Kusunda with just only It’s sad that people like Jaya is no point blaming others by saying: ‘I understand why and how Nepalis still one speaker and yet we proudly post Bahadur Nyasur (pic, above), who was lied to, I was misled, I was used.’ tolerate all this nonsense. TALKING TAMIL news about how these children are fought for a cause they believed in, You reap what you sow, I have no pity Julia The story about children of Nepali forgetting Nepali. are just going to remain as statistics for these guerrillas who unleashed immigrants in Chennai learning Tamil is Manoj in history. I hope the war has at least horrendous violence in the country. It is pretty clear by now that our interesting, but hype notwithstanding, taught us Nepalis not to blindly trust Ram leaders haven’t learnt any lessons do these children have any other choice TAXI leaders who make grand promises from the fi rst CA elections and are set (‘Talking Tamil’, Bhrikuti Rai, #664)? It’s good that Tribhuvan International but fail to provide even the most basic WOUNDS HAVE NOT HEALED to repeat old mistakes. The number Armugam Airport is fi nally getting new taxis, but necessities. Thank you Toofan Neupane for raising of seats is not a big deal, what is I am wondering if anything has been Ramesh P this vital but often forgotten aspect of more important is how to resolve It’s good to know that these children done about the airport toilet/restrooms the war: women caught between the disagreements over state restructuring, are learning Tamil, but wouldn’t it be (‘Taxi!’, Sunir Pandey, #664)? In the beginning, the Maoist violence of two warring sides (‘Wounds federalism, and system of governance. wise for them to ‘retain’ their Nepali? In Neprikan

Publisher and Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Editor: Trishna Rana | Associate Editor: Tsering Dolker Gurung | Online Editor: Bhrikuti Rai | Design: Kiran Maharjan Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 Kathmandu [email protected] | www.nepalitimes.com | www.himalmedia.com | Tel: 01-5005601-08 Fax: +977-1-5005518 Marketing: Arjun Karki, Surendra Sharma [email protected] | Advertorials: Ram Krishna Banjara | Subscriptions: Santosh Aryal [email protected] Nepali Times on Facebook Follow @nepalitimes on Twitter Printed at Jagadamba Press | 01-5250017-19 | www.jagadambapr.com 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 OPINION 3

but internal party dynamics have gotten even more complicated. In the past, Dahal played the balancing role between Bhattarai’s ‘parliamentary’ line and the radical line of Baidya. If both leave the party, however, Dahal will have no option but to unite with Baidya. Which is why the chairman is hell-bent on keeping Bhattarai on board by offering him the ‘senior leader’ lollipop. The November elections has given Dahal a further sense of urgency to keep Bhattarai reined in. The two may distrust each other, but they need each other. The extended meeting of the party will be a formality to endorse a pre-mediated secret deal that Dahal and Bhattarai will have to strike. But it will shatter the ambition of other leaders, even though Bhattarai’s return to the fold amidst garlands will be hailed as a great achievement. The crisis within the UCPN (M) therefore is not really ideological, but rather the clash of ambitions between Dahal and Bhattarai. Unless a new system in which all positions and members are elected is introduced, the party’s special congress will just be a show in A federation of factions which everything, as usual, has been decided beforehand. helmsman-in-chief for over in the hierarchy and has been portray it as a selfless act of two decades now. discussing this with Dahal who sacrifice. Everyone knows Muma Ram Khanal was a INSIDE OUT The UCPN (M) is today has kept ignoring it. Finally, he Bhattarai wasn’t renouncing central leader of the CPN a federation of factions. couldn’t take it anymore and anything, he just wanted a more (Maoist) during the insurgency. Muma Ram Khanal Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal resigned as vice-chairman last senior position. His new column, Inside Out, is finding it more difficult than week in typical hypocritical Bhattarai has been offered will appear every fortnight in during the conflict to maintain fashion in which he tried to the position of ‘senior leader’, Nepali Times. a balance among the groupists. Almost In open political milieu of the everyting is on present, Dahal can’t hypnotise his cadre with revolutionary hold until the speeches anymore. That is why he has kept postponing internal power the party congress on various struggle within pretexts. The Hetauda Congress in the UCPN (M) April was held after the party split and at a time of relative is sorted out ideological conformity, the party started toeing an almost ‘parliamentary’ line, but it ll eyes should now be remained under one-man rule. on the preparations for Certainly, the present crisis Athe proposed all-party would not have arisen if the roundtable meeting, but the election of the vital posts media focus is on the UCPN and members of the central (M) Plenum which has been committee had been held in called on Friday to resolve Hetauda. a ridiculous ideological and Quite the opposite, political dispute within the the system of individual party. designation was put in place Lenin used to say that the on the recommendation of organisation of a communist Pushpa Kamal Dahal and party is the organisation of the Baburam Bhattarai to solve the hierarchy of its leaders. There is problem of exclusion of their a pecking order of committees own loyalists and the leaders under a chairman and all of the particular faction from leftists, ultra-leftists, reformists, the top echelons of the party. even revisionists around the The other leaders, who world operate under this have understood the reality Leninist party structure. of how the influential posts The UCPN (M) is no of a party are converted into different. No matter how cash from their seniors, now loudly the party utters the have started to stake a claim term ‘democratic centralism’, to the principal posts and its methods and manner the demand to distribute of mobilising the cadre are party positions has reached a individualistic and centralist. climax. An organisation controlled and Bhattarai clearly represents directed by a single person who those most dissatisfied with is always above everyone else Dahal’s hold on power and cannot survive for long. The cult of personality. After the clamour for a share of power party split, it was impossible and party posts within the for Bhattarai to stay on as vice- UCPN (M) represents a reaction chairman on equal footing to the position-mongering of with Narayan Kaji Shrestha. its chairman who has been the He wanted to be Number Two 4 INTERVIEW 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665

GOALS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Millennium Development Goals 2015 Proposed SDG Focus Areas 1 End poverty and hunger 1 Green jobs, youth employment, and social inclusion 2 Achieve universal primary education 2 Energy access, effi ciency, sustainability 3 Promote gender equality and empower women 3 Food security and sustainable agriculture 4 Reduce child mortality 4 Water 5 Improve maternal health 5 Sustainable cities 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases 6 Management of the oceans, fi sheries, and other 7 Ensure environmental sustainability marine resources 8 Develop a global partnership for development 7 Improved resilience and disaster preparedness

action is possible when there is agreement at the global level and have had an impact on the current discussions for SDGs and post-2015 Development Agenda in both the process and content. Through a more inclusive process, 70 UN member states are discussing and negotiating the SDGs and they have also recognised the need for sustainable development with equal treatment of all three dimensions -economic, social, and environmental- in the implementation. The SDGs will be for all countries, not just for developing ones, and will work on priorities that now need to be clustered into a few goals that build on the MDGs.

Aren’t century-long targets too long? How are we ever going to make sure the targets are met? KUNDA DIXIT The discussions at the UN on SDGs are ongoing and is hoped to be completed by September 2015. The goals will be an action plan for the next 15 years with immediate and urgent actions to achieving long-term goals. At the global level, SDGs will be aspirational Move over, MDGs. and universal, and a participatory approach will help countries define national targets to meet these goals. The metrics will be important and common indicators will ensure the measurement will be a part of national Here come the SDGs. statistical bureaus. Surendra Shrestha served in the United Are there going to be resources for poorer countries to Nations Environment Program’s Rio+20 meet the basic needs targets? An expert working group on finance from over 30 Secretariat as Team Leader for Institutional countries will begin deliberations on finance for Framework for Sustainable Development that sustainable development. Given the current financial is drawing up new sustainable development landscape, the discussions will include ODA, technology support as well as issues such as trade. The BRICS goals for the 21st century. He explained countries are expected to play a bigger role in both the the goals to Nepali Times during a visit to governance and contribution of the financial architecture Kathmandu this week. for the 21st century. Nepal has made dramatic progress in attaining almost Nepali Times: Having been involved in negotiations at The intensity and frequency of natural disasters are all of the MDGs. What are our prospects vis-a-vis SDGs? the United Nations for new Sustainable Development increasing due to climate change. Inequality is causing Nepal is a member of the Open Working Group on SDGs Goals, can you tell our readers what these goals are civil unrest. Current scientific knowledge compels us and will be a signatory to the SDGs when it is completed meant to be and why they are important? to have a more holistic approach to address these crises in 2015. The Planning Commission will need to embrace Surendra Shrestha: The SDGs are meant to be a as countries. The SDGs are a part of discussions at the the SDGs in its planning process and, as a country in coherent, collective response of 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly for the post-2015 the less developed category, Nepal will receive external UN to the multiple crises that humanity faces. The goals Development Agenda that will set the direction for the assistance to achieve the SDGs like the MDGs with are important because they are about our children and rest of the 21st century. political support. collective actions for survival and existence on planet Earth. So, the SDGs have been influenced by the success of the Personally, what was the most challenging part of the The world population has grown exponentially since Millennium Development Goals? negotiations? the start of the industrial revolution. We are now 7.3 The MDGs have brought the international community In the Secretariat it was to communicate to the billion and, in two decades, the population is expected together around eight mainly social goals for developing negotiators the complex technical issues in a simple to stabilise at nine billion. Our resource intensive countries. These targetted the ‘bottom billion’ and easy to understand briefs and to understand the group lifestyle is depleting natural resources and environment provided direction and focus for the donor community. dynamics to reach a consensus on a given topic and their services faster than nature is able to replenish them. MDGs that expire in 2015 have shown that collective interconnectedness to other topics. 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 BUSINESS 5

Reserve. Addressing that fl aw requires renationalisation of banking and breaking BIZ BRIEFS Weapons of mass up the activities of large fi nancial institutions. For European bankers, and some governments, current efforts Talking business by the US to revise its approach to the Seven countries participated in the regional economic destruction operation of foreign bank subsidiaries conference organised by Qatar Airways in within its territory highlight that Kathmandu. The two-day event focused on HAROLD JAMES IN PRINCETON underwrote most of the world’s trade; imperative. They view the US move as the theme ‘Own the Business’. Lloyds provided insurance for the a new sort of fi nancial protectionism and world’s shipping. These fi nancial are threatening retaliation. s we approach the hundredth networks provided the information Geopolitics is intruding into banking Winning duos anniversary of the outbreak that enabled the British government practice elsewhere as well. Russian Sahana Bajracharya and Dawa Steven AWorld War I, the lessons of to discover the sensitive strategic banks are trying to acquire assets in Sherpa won the EcoSport Amazing Motor 1914 are about more than simply the vulnerabilities of the opposing alliance. Central and Eastern Europe. European rally organised by GO Ford. The winning duo dangers of national animosities. The For Britain’s rivals, the fi nancial banks are playing a much-reduced role received air tickets to Bangkok while two other origins of the Great War include a panic of 1907 demonstrated the in Asian trade fi nance. Chinese banks teams won several gift hampers. fascinating precedent concerning how necessity of mobilising fi nancial power are being pushed to expand their role in fi nancial globalisation can become the themselves. The US, for its part, global commerce. Many countries have equivalent of a national arms race, recognised that it needed a central begun to look at fi nancial protectionism New face thereby increasing the vulnerability of bank analogous to the Bank of England. as a way to increase their political Captain of the Nepali Cricket Team, Paras the international order. American fi nanciers were persuaded leverage. Khadka, has been signed as the brand In 1907, a major fi nancial crisis that New York needed to develop its The next step in this logic is to ambassador for Pulsar motorbike. Khadka emanating from the United States own commercial trading system to think about how fi nancial power can be will endorse the brand for three years and affected the rest of the world and handle bills of exchange in the same directed to national advantage in the will feature in its promotional campaigns demonstrated the fragility of the entire way as the London market and arrange case of a diplomatic confl ict. Sanctions and activities. international fi nancial system. The are a routine (and not terribly successful) response to the current fi nancial crisis part of the pressure applied to rogue is replaying a similar dynamic. The states like Iran and North Korea. But S&D aftermath of the 1907 crash drove the fi nancial pressure can be much more Everest Bank recently entered into an agreement hegemonic power of the time – Great powerfully applied to countries that with Nepal Stock Exchange to enlist its debenture. Britain – to refl ect on how it could use are deeply embedded in the global The contract was signed between AK Ahluwalia, its fi nancial clout to enhance its overall economy. CEO of Everest Bank and Sitaram Thapaliya, strategic capacity. In 1907, in the wake of an epochal General Manager of NEPSE on Sunday. Between 1905 and 1908, the fi nancial crisis that almost brought British Admiralty developed the broad a complete global collapse, several outlines of a plan for fi nancial and countries started to think of fi nance Sporty delight economic warfare against Europe’s primarily as an instrument of raw power Agni Incorporated unveiled Mahindra SUV Quanto in rising power, Germany. Economic their monetisation (or ‘acceptance’). that could and should be turned to Kathmandu. Powered by a 1.5 litre mCR100 diesel warfare, if implemented in full, would Some of the dynamics of the national advantage. That kind of thinking engine, Quanto will be available across Nepal at wreck Germany’s fi nancial system pre-1914 fi nancial world are now re- brought war in 1914. A century later, Mahindra dealerships in four variants. and force it out of any military confl ict. emerging. In the aftermath of the 2008 in 2007-2008, the world experienced When Britain’s naval visionaries fi nancial crisis, fi nancial institutions an even greater fi nancial shock and confronted a rival in the form of the appear both as dangerous weapons of nationalistic passions have fl ared up in Kaiser’s Germany, they understood mass economic destruction, but also as its wake. Destructive strategies may not Cash cash how power could thrive on fi nancial potential instruments for the application be far behind. Pepsi announced the fourth week’s daily winners of its fragility. of national power. www.project-syndicate.org 20-20 campaign. The winning numbers are 509879I, Pre-1914 Britain anticipated In managing the 2008 crisis, 983060N, 591538Y, 162895I, 341617F, 729879Q and the private-public partnership that foreign banks’ dependence on US- Harold James is Professor of History 887690H. The grand prize winner will take home Rs 2 today links technology giants such dollar funding constituted a major and International Affairs at Princeton million at the end of the campaign. as Google, Apple, or Verizon to US weakness and required the provision University and Professor of History at the intelligence agencies. London banks of large swap lines by the Federal European University Institute, Florence. 6 OPINION 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665

FAFT’s (Financial Action Task Force) ‘grey’ list and create a more conducive environment for foreign direct investment, unless there is long-term political stability and continuity in economic policy, we will carry on being regarded as the poorest and sickest country in the region. Trips to China and India have long been a rite of passage for our prime ministers, but it took more than a decade after Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji’s tour in May 2001 for the next premier to step on Nepali soil. Cancelled at the last minute and rescheduled, when Wen Jiabao finally made it to Kathmandu in January 2012, the visit lasted for just five hours. Nepal was just on the way from somewhere DIWAKAR CHETTRI to somewhere. India’s record is even more abysmal, with the last prime ministerial visit taking place 16 years ago. Compare this to Bangladesh, In the global blind spot Bhutan, and Afghanistan which have been hosting successive Indian and Nepal is in serious need of rebranding and restoring self-esteem Chinese prime ministers and presidents – almost one rotocol violations by uproar in Nepal. first time our leaders have major visit a year. For three former prime ministers, Not a single newspaper chosen to ignore protocol. years now, Nepal has also Pministers, and leaders could resist dashing off an From Baburam Bhattarai to had no ambassador in the as they queued up outside outraged editorial. Many saw Pushpa Kamal Dahal, from country that is politically Dwarika’s Hotel last week to it as an affront to Nepal’s Madhav Kumar Nepal to GP and economically the most HERE WE GO meet Indian Minister of External sovereignty and national pride. Koirala, they have all been important to us. Trishna Rana Affairs Salman Khurshid set Though such criticism was not guilty of hosting or visiting Outside of South Asia, off a self-righteous nationalistic unwarranted, this was not the ambassadors and dignitaries too, Nepal seems to have without the knowledge of the lost what little clout it had. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Barring the occasional trips While a particularly by heads of aid agencies and egregious example of our experts, high profile visitors leadership’s lack of political just don’t bother anymore. acumen and tact, the queue It is as though Europe and at Dwarika’s was only the United States have the latest proof of Nepal’s outsourced their Nepal sinking image in regional policy to New Delhi and so and global politics. What a Kathmandu pit-stop is no does it say about a country longer deemed necessary. when ex-prime ministers Although bilateral line up to kowtow before a relationships hinge on more foreign minister and use the than glossy photo-ops, occasion to bad mouth fellow these visits have symbolic Nepalis, weave excuses, value. Former Secretary of grovel and beg, and come State Hillary Clinton made up with no coordinated a two-day pit visit to Dhaka national response to resolve during her Asia trip last our national crisis? Never in year before heading to India. our history, not even when While confirming the value our neighbour to the south the Obama administration was British India, have we placed on economic ties stooped so low. with Bangladesh, the trip One might argue that also marked the US’s Nepal is an important trading endorsement of Bangladesh and investment partner for as a role model for other its northern and southern developing countries where neighbours and this may trade now supersedes aid. give us an inflated opinion It’s not surprising, then, about our own geo-strategic that except for major events importance. Given our like Everest anniversaries economic crisis and political and plane crashes, Nepal mismanagement, the only falls in the international reason our neighbours are media’s blind spot. The interested in us is because scant coverage it gets is Nepal might just blow up. usually heavily influenced Our trade deficit with by Indian views, with the India of Rs 290 billion a year nation pegged somewhere is so heavily lopsided that between a failing and a India doesn’t even see it in failed state. its own national interest Nepal is in serious need anymore. Petroleum imports of rebranding and restoring have doubled in three years its self-esteem. The place and because of our lack of to start is to stop blaming foresight in switching to others and each other. renewable energy, it will Nepali leaders need to first continue to grow. deliver on promises to their And even as we try to own people and get our extricate ourselves from the politics right.

It is normal for the monsoon to offer brief lulls between rain fronts. Which is why temperature on Tuesday shot up to 28 Celsius and it felt like 35 KATHMANDU because of the humidity. This trend will continue with the precipitation mainly in the night. Indian met simulations have shown that a major monsoon trough is building up in the Bay of Bengal and is likely to bring another pulse into eastern and central Nepal next week. The weekend, however, will see passing showers, sometimes heavy and cool rainy nights.

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 27° 26° 29° #665 19 - 25 July 2013 18° 19° 19°

backgrounds and lack exposure to the sport from the Ravenswell Foundation, a Swiss during their childhoods. Most start on simple organisation that promotes development TYLER MCMAHON Indian or Chinese bikes with basic gears and through entrepreneurship and sport. brakes and no suspension, working, saving To fill the gap in the racing circuit, the and going into debt to upgrade their bikes. Himalayan MTB Cross-Country Cup Race decade ago, there were a handful Riders like Ajay and Narayan now have Series was started a month ago by with of Nepali mountain bikers. It professional bikes only because of their hard its first race in June. Five more races are wasn’t surprising considering work and generous donors. Infrastructure planned and the organisers want to turn it Amountain biking is one of the and financial support are largely missing: into an annual event. more expensive individual sports in the there are few training facilities and qualified On an individual level, Jenny Lama world. Today not only is it incredibly instructors and riders mostly pay out of and Santosh Rai who run Himalayan popular as a recreational activity among their own pockets for equipment, training, Singletrack, a mountain bike retail store young Nepalis, but local riders are nutrition, and race fees. and tour operating company, recently dominating races at home and a few even Training, however, is not the only started the first professional mountain abroad despite the obvious lack of support Young Nepali riders issue. To excel at the international level, bike team in Nepal called Singletrack and resources. Nepali riders need a better race culture and Team. “We created this team because Ajay Pandit Chhetri, current Nepal continue to dominate greater exposure to a variety of terrains we wanted to build a public profile of national champion, three-time Yak Attack local races, but need and competitions so that they can build riders, encourage local interest, and get winner and 2013’s runner up, won three greater exposure and experience. “Training can only take us so far, businesses involved in sponsorship,” say of the seven races in the UK this year, it’s the actual racing experience that helps Rai and Lama. “We hope others follow most recently the Midlands Cross-Country financial support to excel us make it to the next level. And for this our lead.” As more young Nepalis take Championships 100-kilometre marathon. at the international level we need a well-organised, regular local race up mountain biking, there couldn’t be a In 2011 he placed second in the Trans circuit as well as opportunities to take part in better time for corporations to step up and Wales Mountain Bike Stage Race, the international events,” explains Chhetri. sponsor teams. largest in the UK. nationally) and Roan Tamang (5th Yak Attack, Recognition of local riders is also limited. With their unmatched talent and Narayan Gopal Maharjan, this year’s 3rd ranked nationally) both of whom are Chhetri admits he is more recognised passion, Nepali riders are more than Yak Attack winner, last year’s runner up under 20. However, the challenges for Nepali in Europe because of his Yak Attack and capable of competing with the world’s top and currently the 2nd nationally ranked cyclists have remained more or less the European success than he is in Nepal despite riders. What they need now is increased rider, has what his coach, Ton Evers, same. While international racers have the being a three-time national champion and local support, professional teams and calls “sustained power he has never seen support of their national cycling federation Yak Attack winner. Maharjan, Aayman, and races, along with more opportunities to on longer climbs”. On a pre-Yak Attack and race professionally for teams sponsored Roan lost out on valuable experience on the race internationally. Here’s to Rio 2016 ride with competitors, his heart rate was by companies who get free marketing international race circuit this year when they and beyond. 15-20 per cent lower on the climbs than supporting them, in Nepal even top riders were denied visas to the US for a two-month professional riders, meaning he required don’t have this privilege. race program developed by Yak Attack Go online for longer version of this article significantly less effort. This power was They usually come from simple participant Robert Burnett and supported by nepalitimes.com on full display as he dominated the field US companies. on the way to victory. However, there have been some signs Yak attack, #597 Along with Chhetri and Maharjan of progress. The Nepal Cycling Association Yak attack 2013, #649 there are several younger riders with recently received international support for Watch videos of the Midlands XC Race series tremendous potential including Aayman training riders for the 2016 Olympics in Rio Tamang (3rd place Yak Attack, 4th ranked RACE to the TOP

ATTACK: Ajay Pandit Chhetri, Roan Tamang, Rohin Adams, and Narayan Gopal Maharjan during December's Trans-Nepal MTB Race which Maharjan won and Chhetri finished 3rd (left to right). Ajay Pandit Chhetri at the Trans- Wales competition in the UK in 2011. 8 Crisscrossing the

TSERING DOLKER GURUNG

1981: Four Indian Army men - captains HC Kohli (team leader), H Chauhan, Nima Dorji Sherpa, Nar Bahadur Gurung- set out to traverse the entire Himalayan range alpine style. If they succeed, they will be the first to complete the trans-Himalayan expedition, setting a new record. 1982: After 485 days of hiking through leech infested jungles in Arunachal Pradesh of north east India, trudging through vast stretches of snow, climbing three peaks, crisscrossing 48 passes and glaciers, and experiencing the mountain life of three countries- session. Says Gurung: “Some India, Bhutan, Nepal- the men of my fondest memories in the complete their mission by army are from the time I spent at unfurling the Indian flag at the mountaineering and skiing 6,110m in Karakoram Pass, institute in Kashmir. And the day Ladakh. At a press conference I found out I had been chosen for in Delhi, the team introduces the expedition, I was the happiest their fifth member Druk, man alive.” a Tibetan mastiff found in The team set out on 15 January Bhumthang valley of Bhutan who 1981 from Gelling at the Indo- accompanied the soldiers as they in Kathmandu. Born in Pokhara, Gurung’s face lights up as expeditions of all time,” he says. Tibet border in Arunachal Pradesh. completed the 8,000km journey. Gurung joined the Indian Army he sets out a collage of photos, Sponsored by the Indian From there on they marched to Druk seems unfazed by all the in the 1970s. After retirement scraps of old newspaper clippings, Army Adventure Foundation, the Bomdila, before crossing into Paro attention. in 2000, the 66-year-old father and route maps in front of us expedition was the brain-child and Thimpu in Bhutan, Gangtok in More than 30 years since the of four spent a few months in and begins to reminisce about of its director, Lt Col SS Singh, Sikkim, and entering Nepal via the team completed its phenomenal Darjeeling before heading home the journey that made history who worked closely with the four Kanchenjunga range. In the Nepal 1981 expedition, we meet Nar to start a trekking agency with a and inspired a generation. “Ours men in outlining possible routes circuit of the expedition, the team Bahadur Gurung (pic, far right) friend. was one of the most difficult and also supervising the training passed through Makalu Base Camp,

1

2 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 9

Determination, team spirit, and love for adventure took four soldiers on a never-before continent attempted journey through the Himalayas

Sherpini Col, Baruntse Glacier, vegetables and food, Gurung three other men? “All of us West Col, and Amphulaptsa Pass to playfully admits, was another big had immense determination. Everest Base Camp, before coming challenge. No matter how tough down to Namche Bajar, and Wasn’t it tough living in rugged things got, we always heading up to Tashi-Laptsa Pass to terrain, temperature extremes, stayed focused on our goals Rolwaling Himal and finally ending and rooming in a single tent with and that is why we were their 15 months long journey in successful,” he explains. Ladakh. Of the remaining We ask the ex-army man what members, ND Sherpa passed was most challenging during the away in the late nineties, journey? “The snow,” he replies Kohli like Gurung runs a instantly. It was snow that almost trekking agency in the UK, MISSION POSSIBLE (l-r): General claimed their lives, twice. The first and Chauhan is serving as Srinivas Kumar Sinha greets HC time an avalanche caught the team the president of the Indian Kohli (not seen) H Chauhan, ND off guard in the Everest region and Mountaineering Foundation. Sherpa, and NB Gurung at a recep- the second time, it swept two of After the success of the tion in Shimla in May 1982. The them in Spiti valley in Himachal Indian Army’s expedition, team at the Everest Base Camp in Pradesh where the team was others followed. That June 1981. Druk is seen here with skiing. Luckily, except for the loss same year, Peter Hillary ENDS the team in a newspaper clipping of equipment and Kohli’s camera, and his team set out to KAROKORAM PASS from May 1982. there were no other casualties. trek from Kanchenjunga MAY 5, 1982 Surviving on dehydrated to K2 in Pakistan, followed LEH by Arlene Blum and Hugh Swift in 1982 who walked KIBAR MARCH 8, 1982 from Bhutan to Ladakh. A MANA PASS TRANS-HIMALAYAN EXPEDITION 1981-82 British women’s team also (20,200 FT) DEC 19, 1981 walked the route in 1983 POOH JAN 15, 1982 starting from Sikkim, and LARKE PASS WEST COL MARCH 6, 1981 in 1991, Australian Sorrel JOSHIMATH STARTS (18,000FT) (20,300 FT) CROSSED INTO BHUTAN Wilby and her husband NANDA DEVI JUMLA OCT 6, 1981 JUNE 20, 1981 GELLING Chris Ciantar completed the (JAN 15,1981) 6,500 km journey from the EVEREST Indus Valley in Pakistan to ANNAPURNA MAKALU Arunachal Pradesh. DHARCHULA KATHMANDU BOMDILA NOV 80, 1981 THIMPU Given a chance would GANGTOK Gurung like to do this all over again? “Absolutely,” he LAMOSANGU ROTANGLA replies without hesitating. AUG 26, 1981 (18,000 FT)

roof of the world. None of the participants had hand-cycled for so long at one go and certainly not at such high altitude through rough roads. Before Williams and her team went to Lhasa, doctors had recommended seeking an easier challenge, but they persevered and even returned a day earlier RIDE ON than scheduled. RIDE ON “Surprisingly, it was tougher on our able-bodied cyclists than it was for us,” says Williams. “The 100km from the 4 turnoff to Everest Base Camp through Rongbuk was all rough road and was harder efore Catriona Williams had a riding for us.” THE ROOF accident that led to a spinal cord injury The team also included tetraplegics THE ROOF fellow-New Zealanders Neil Cudby and Bthat paralysed her, she never gave much thought to cycling. But earlier this Rob Creagh and when they finally got to month she returned from a grueling two- the Everest Base Camp one of their bikes week ride across the Himalaya from Lhasa to broke down, so the remaining two towed Kathmandu via Mt Everest Base Camp. him to the destination. It was a world-first Her team of 15 cyclists, among whom for tetraplegics to have done the Lhasa- were three tetraplegics including herself, Kathmandu ride. Williams says the feeling rode their hand cycles along the old trans- of having overcome this momentous task Himalayan trading route in a campaign to has still not sunk in. raise $1 million to help find a cure for spinal “It was a personal goal for the three of cord injury. us, to see how far our bodies would go,” Williams was New Zealand’s champion says Williams. “But the main aim was to equestrian and had represented her country raise awareness and money, so that kids in competitions all over the world. In 2002 who break their necks get help. Even if she fell off a horse at a championship and there is no time for us to fully recover and suffered from injuries to her spinal cord and be able to walk and dance again, we want to needed a wheelchair to move. Not one to make a difference for the next generation.” be confined, she started The Catwalk Spinal The team raised $600,000 and Williams Injury Trust to raise awareness about spinal hopes this will help fund spinal cord injury. cord injury. Says Williams: “Life is not measured by The goal this time was to make cycling as the number of breaths we take, but by the difficult as possible by riding down from the moments that take our breath away.” Sunir Pandey

1 WHEEL POWER (l-r): Neil Cudby, Catriona www.catwalk.org.nz Williams, and Rob Creagh at Everest Base Camp at 5,200 metres. nepalitimes.com 2 Check point to enter Everest Base Camp. 3 Heading down to Pangla from Rongbuk valley. Pedal Power, #659 4 Everest appears briefly through the clouds Watch interview of Catriona Williams 3 from the campsite next to Rongbuk monastery. 10 10 years of insurgency. Everyday Dhokaima Cafe, exquisite ambience, except Tuesday, 11 am to 4 pm, friendly service, cosy bar, place to EVENTS (01)5549948, DINING see and be seen at. Patan Dhoka, Yala www.madanpuraskar.org Maya Kendra, 5522113 photographer Munem Wasif that revolves around water problems Cut! write a script, win $2700 Degaa Resto Lounge, for mouth faced by his country. 25 July to prize money, and make your own watering Newari and Indian cuisine. 15 August, 10am to 6pm, Alliance movie. Deadline 15 August, www. Kumaripati, (01)5008679 Francaise of Kathmandu, Teku road, newnepalicinema.com/script2013 (01)4241163/4242832 Peri Peri, home of legendary Together for Baitadi, ride to raise Portugese fl amed grilled chicken, Bottoms up, let your taste buds and money to build an eco-friendly enjoy dishes served with the olfactory nerves go on a joy ride at birthing facility in Baitadi. 20 July, TASS AND TAWA, savour a wide trademark piri piri sauce. Jhamsikhel, the 10th Annual wine tasting festival register at www.socialtours.blogspot variety of Nepali meat dishes and 9808563803 at Kilroys. Rs 200 per glass or Rs 800 reserve your palate for the heavenly per half litre.July to August, Kilroy’s, Voices, a talk program with media Chusta. Pulchok, Kathmandu Thamel, (01)4250440/41 personalities Kunda Dixit and Narayan Wagle. 19 July, 4 pm, Nepal Eel Festival @ Mako's, enjoy a four- Goal, team up with friends and take Bharat Library, Nepal Airlines Building, course combination of Japanese MCUBE CHAKATI GUFF, talk and on other teams in the KTM Nights New Road delicacies and don’t miss out on the presentation by visual artist Ashmina Cup futsal tournament. Rs 8000 per house specialty green tea ice-cream. CHOPSTIX, savoury Asian food Ranjit. 19 July, 4 to 6 pm, Gallery team, 27 to 28 July, 8 am to 8pm, Report it, hone your report writing Rs 2000, 15 to 22 July, Mako's Japanese cooked in true Chinese fashion Mcube, Chakupat, Lalitpur Grassroots Recreational Centre, skills with at this three day workshop. Restaurant, The Dwarika's Hotel, sure to charm and impress. Try the Mandikatar, 9841342635 Rs 6000, 26 to 28 july, 9.30am to Battisputali, (01) 4479488 famous drums of heaven. Kumaripati, Monsoon Yoga @ Monastery, engage 4.30pm, CareerMaster Nepal and HR (01)5551118 in classic Ashtanga yoga, walk to a Development Center, Pulchok, Lalitpur, famous meditation cave nearby, and (01)5524891 Yellow Chilli, enjoy renowned Indian learn about Buddhism from the of chef Sanjeev Kapoor's signature Neydo Monastery. Rs 9750, 20 to 21 Photography Workshop, learn the Indian delicacies and a variety July, 8am to 7pm, Neydo Monastery, tricks of basic photography with in- of other mouthwatering dishes. Pharping, Pranayama Yoga class lectures and practical shooting Thapathali assignments. Rs 4000, 21 July to 14 Parda, watch the Nepali adaptation August, Sundays and Wednesdays, 5 of Tennessee Williams' classic A to 7pm, photo.circle HQ, Jhamsikhel, DÉLICES DE FRANCE, taste a piece Street Car Named Desire by the Lalitpur, [email protected]. of France in the heart of Kathmandu. Freelancers Nepal. 19 July, Mandala np. Thamel Theatre, Anamnagar NEVER SORRY, the inside story Talk Talk, meet and share your ideas Boudha Stupa Restaurant and Café, Critical Mass, be a part of a cycling of Ai Wei Wei, who inspired global with Jon Shrestha, the 19-year-old bide your time in the free wi-fi zone movement that is taking place in 300 audiences and blurred the boundaries author of crime fi ction novel The as you enjoy wood fi red pizzas, cities around the world and pedal of art and politics. 19 July, 5.30pm, Darkside. 22 July,4.30 to 6 pm, Pasa home-made pastas and Tibetan around town on the last Friday of Sattya Media Arts, Jhamsikhel Yard, Lalitpur gyakok, Boudha, 9841484408 every month. 26 July, 5.30 to 7.30pm, (01)5523486 Tudhikhel Spak and Friends, don't miss an Cafe Cheeno, comfortable and ALICE RESTAURANT, step in A People War, a permanent evening of music, dance, and stand- elegant, Cafe Cheeno is the perfect for scrumptious Thakali, Chinese, Goalmari, Bangladesh’s Own Island, exhibition of photographs that up comedy. 19 July, 7.45pm, Moksh, place to have a cup of coff ee and chat Continental, and Japanese cuisine. a photo exhibition by Bangladeshi portrays the reality of Nepal through Jhamsikhel with friends. Patan Dhoka Gairidhara, (01)4429207

GO ELECTRIC Good as new 2010 model

full-electric Reva-i for sale.

Call or SMS: 9851084153 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 11 MUSIC GETAWAYS

Hotel Landmark, made entirely from traditional Nepali brick and woodcraft, this hotel is rich not only in heritage, but also in services and boasts an award winning restaurant, the Hungry Eye. Pokhara, (061)462908/3096/48 97,www.landmarkpokhara.com KORA he third edition of the TKathmandu Kora Cycling MONKEY TEMPLE LIVE, the band Challenge will take place on will perform its new single Sangai and Saturday. More than 700 cyclists covers of Incubus and Wolfmother have registered to take part in among others. 19 July, Casa De Cass, the challenge that aims to raise 1 Pulchowk million rupees to build a model eco- friendly birthing centre in Baitadi. The Kora is a circuit route of the Kathmandu valley’s lower hills, sub urban areas and sights. Participants can choose TEMPLE TREE RESORT AND to take on the 50 km challenge SPA, a peaceful place to stay, or the more demanding 75 km. REGGAE EXPLOZION, share the complete with a swimming pool, For each kilometer covered, reggae vibes in an evening with Joint massage parlour and sauna- it also the Kathmandu Kora requests Family Internationale. 19 July, 7.45pm hosts three diff erent restaurants participants to pledge Rs 100 for onwards, House of Music , Thamel to cater to your needs. Gaurighat, support. Lakeside, 977-61-465819 If you are not a cyclist, Live at Cafe 32, live music and you can help by choosing to delicious food every Friday. 6pm Dhulikhel Mountain Resort, sponsor a few kilometers or onwards, Café 32, Battisputali, announces summer bonanza off er. others cyclists taking on the (01)4244231 Make the resort your home for a challenge. Last year’s challenge price you just can't beat. Dhulikhel, saw participation of 300 riders (011)490114/494 and collectively raised over Rs 950,000 which went towards Park Village Hotel, enjoy relaxing building a birthing facility at yoga, detox and Ayurveda Samritu in Rukum. treatments, and retreats under one roof and get 10 per cent off Date: 20 July 2013 MUSIC JAMS, enjoy great live on all Ayurvedic treatments. Time: 7am music every Tuesday. 7pm, Moksh, Budhanilkantha, 98010 66 661, Place: Patan Durbar Square Jhamsikhel www.himalayanwellness.com.np www.kathmandukora.net

ead down to Patan Museum and show Kutumba live Hyour support for Baby Life Home- a home for children infected with HIV/AIDS. Moving forward with the motto 'altruism is religion', for children Baby Life Home has been providing shelter and education to infected children from Dang, Baitadi, and Salyan Nepali folk instrumental band Kutumba performs live along with Hari Maharjan and Monsif to support the home. Also enjoy Slam poetry by Word Warriors.

Entrance: Rs 300 Date: 19 July Time: 5pm onwards Venue: Patan Museum Courtyard 12 GIZMO by YANTRICK meet their most trusted vendors to get the finest tuna, octopus, salmon roe, and many other such delicate essentials to make their Home-made froyo near perfect sushi. Takashi meanwhile was et’s say your love handles are getting heftier, you can’t keep pushed out of the restaurant after away from the carbs, the doc has told you to lose 10 kg fast, but his 10 year long apprenticeship Lyou can’t keep away from ice cream. Conundrum. (all apprentices must remain for If you are the type of person who must end a high-carb meal with a minimum of 10 years before an even-higher carb triple scoop of butterscotch vanilla, salvation is they are ever allowed the title of at hand. You can now make frozen yoghurt, smoothies and sorbets, in ‘chef’) by Jiro himself who knew the comfort of your kitchen. that according to strict Japanese Being endowed with a wide girth, Yantrick acquired a Cuisinart tradition there is only space for the ICE-21 Frozen Yoghurt Maker and has since been indulging the sweet older son to take over the business. tooth without being riddled with guilt about the midriff . This is a cool Both sons are clearly very machine in every sense of the word: simple, sturdy, easy-to-use, talented and rigorously trained, and you surprise yourself with the ease with which you can prepare but it is unclear whether either of creative desserts for your guests. And it’s all over in 20 minutes from them will be able to emerge from start to fi nish. behind the shadow of the god-like The way it works Jiro who is so revered that when he is this: a bowl with places a lovingly handcrafted sushi a special chemical in front of his customers they are inside is frozen often too nervous to eat. beforehand in the These complex human deep freeze of dynamics, as well as the finding, your fridge. Since preparing, and making of the sushi this substance is at are expertly but unobtrusively below zero when it filmed by Gelb himself in a crystal freezes, the yoghurt clear cinematographic style that is also freezes when perfect for such a closely observed it comes in contact documentary. with the sides of the Most documentary makers bowl and is stirred manipulate their subject matter, by an electric motor writing scripts in advance and unit. tweaking their subject’s behaviour The 21, by the to create more drama. This is way, doesn’t stand clearly not Gelb’s method. Having for the 21st century, the precise eye and the instinct but for 21 litres of Sushi fascinating is that in to choose the right subject, he (avoid the 50 litre addition to the film being about steps back, letting events unfold model unless you want to start a restaurant). This is an adequate one man’s quest for perfection, for themselves, and so they do, volume for a family of six and you can easily serve a party with 10 MUST SEE it is also a fascinating cultural with each character stepping guests, provided your desserts are so popular that they keep coming Sophia Pande study disguised as a character forward quietly, gently, and yet back to the kitchen for thirds and fourths. study of that one man and his trustingly so that we get a true To start, stick your freezer bowl into the coldest part of the deep peculiarities. While Jiro may dream sense of whom they are. This is the freeze so that it is completely frozen. In fact, leave it there at all times s your profession your passion? of perfect sushi, he is far from hallmark of a great documentary so you can make your dessert immediately, otherwise it may take up If it isn’t shouldn’t it be? Well, perfect himself. Even at 85 he is maker. to 10 hours to freeze over. You then insert the freezer bowl into the Iof course we all know it isn’t a powerhouse, focused on his Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a maker’s base and immediately load the raw yoghurt. The fruit chunks that easy, after all, how many of passion, a hard taskmaster, and a pleasure to watch, it will make you and whatever else you want to embellish it with should be added us are able to live for our work? To demanding father to his two sons, ravenously hungry and wanting only just before the end of the process. The yoghurt thickens and is be able to spring out of bed with Yoshikazu and Takashi, both of to rush to the nearest sushi place, magically frozen by the cold being transported from the freezer bowl. the proverbial song in our hearts who apprenticed at his restaurant. it will make you want to book the The Yantrick, as you can tell, is bowled over by this yantra. There because we are anticipating a day Yoshikazu, the eldest, who next flight to Japan, but it will also are a few downsides, the contraption seems to be needlessly noisy of doing what we love? Most of is 50 but still works under his make you think about traditions, for something so small. Cuisinart should supply an optional silencer us work so we can live, but not father is expected to take over good or bad, and whether or not (joking). You also have to be careful not to leave the yoghurt churning Jiro Ono, the 85-year-old Michelin the restaurant after Jiro. As that much hard work over the on too long and sometimes there is a problem scraping the yoghurt starred chef who wakes in the hardworking and loyal as he is, course of an entire life time is out of the bowl with the spatula. And at 2,600 baht at a sale in mornings having dreamt about Yoshikazu still chafes under his worth it for a moment or two of Bangkok’s Siam Centre, it is a steal. Someone should import these how to perfect his already sublime father’s autocratic system. After ephemeral perfection. Perhaps it is, machines to Kathmandu and give the ice cream wallahs a run for their sushi and heads to his revered Jiro collapsed at the age of 70 at if we could just get our hands on money. but tiny 10 seat restaurant to the seafood market, Yoshikazu has some of Jiro’s sushi. implement his newest strategy to taken over the hallowed task of YANTRICK’s Verdict: A perfectly cool machine for the hot monsoon make that perfect mouthful. choosing the day’s seafood. This nepalitimes.com days that turns healthy yoghurt cheaply and quickly into a means every morning he wakes Made in 2011 by David Watch trailer fabulous dessert. Even the kids won’t ask for ice cream any more. Gelb, what makes Jiro Dreams up at an unearthly hour to go and 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 13

Secondly, the excitement with which young students embraced slam poetry during the workshops and school visits with some teenagers attending the lit fest solely for the spoken word performances made us realise From the page how thirsty Nepali youngsters are for such creative outlets, almost non-existent in our education system. The next major event this year is the to the stage QC Awards: Slamming in Surkhet 2013. Organised by Quixote’s Cove bookshop UJJWALA MAHARJAN helps. A group trying to spread and promote in collaboration with Word Warriors and spoken word, Word Warriors provides Kopila Valley School, six Word Warriors will budding artists that gentle nudge. travel to western Nepal for the 10-day event hen Samip Dhungel performed his Formed right after the QC Awards which begins on 1 August where they will poem Chura at Kala Saahitya Utsav 2010, the first slam poetry workshop and visit schools, perform, and train teachers. Win Jhapa in March this year, gasps competition in Nepal, Word Warriors was Surkhet will also host its first ever inter- of ‘amma’, ‘wow’, ‘once more’ filled the air. more or less restricted to its Facebook school slam poetry contest. At the school where he was conducting a page in its early days. A handful of poets Khotang, Pokhara, Birganj, Chitwan, workshop for young poets, his poem drew began performing at events around town and Itahari are in the pipeline with plans similar reactions. and slowly the art form gained recognition. to reach out to as many closet poets in the Seeing Samip so confident and poised on Eventually, the group started organising country as possible. That said, raising funds stage, it was hard to believe that the 24-year- workshops in different venues, schools, and has and will be a major challenge as we old preferred the four walls of his room as recently held a second inter-school slam continue to generate momentum for what his audience. And even though he had been poetry competition. we hope will be a nation-wide slam poetry a member of Word Warriors, a slam poetry This year, Word Warriors is trying to take competition. group since 2011, he didn’t venture out. the slam movement outside Kathmandu Ujjwala Maharjan is a Word Warrior. That changed seven months ago when he in search of creative voices from all over attended a workshop by visiting American Nepal. The art and literature festival and www.facebook.com/SpokenWordNepal slam poet - Sarah Kay. Samip is now not just school visits in Jhapa were a great start www.facebook.com/groups/ performing poetry, but also teaching the art. for two main reasons: one, Word Warriors wordwarriorsnepal For some, the inspiration to make got an opportunity to perform alongside the leap from page to stage comes from Nepali poets like Manu Manjil, Swapnil watching poetry performances - live or Smriti, Bhupin, and Buddhisagar and expose nepalitimes.com on YouTube. For others like Samip getting the audience filled with Nepali literary Watch videos of Word Warriors together with aspiring poets in a workshop stalwarts to this new kind of art form. ANUJA KHADKA

SOMEPLACE ELSE

PICS: PM a treat. I was quite wowed by my first bite, the chicken tasted mild and went well with the pickle-like LHAKPA’S CHULO sourness of the capers. But as I he cut throat competition lokta paper table mats. The menu, sauce and the citrusy of lemon. dug in, I felt it was too mild and among restaurants in Jhamel also made of local lokta paper, Sadly, we had to savour every bite could use a little spice. Tmeans only the fittest (or offers a modest selection of recipes very slowly. The serving was only We wrapped up our meal with ones with very deep pockets) from around the world. Nepali dal- five pieces at Rs 110 each! dark chocolate cake served with survive. Several have pulled their bhat and Newari khaja alongside The menu for the mains read so vanilla ice-cream (Rs 250). The shutters down, only to be quickly Swiss Rösti, Italian Risotto, and Thai good, it was hard to decide. Finally claimed that he had been on a failed cake was warm, spongy and like replaced. Lhakpa’s Chulo is among green curry - take your pick. we settle for pork chops (Rs 590) mission in Kathmandu to find good dark chocolate, not too sweet. a handful that has stuck it out for For starters, we ordered fried and chicken schnitzel (Rs 550). The pork chops, but was thrilled by Combined with vanilla ice-cream, more than four years. prawn wrapped in bacon (Rs pork chops were topped with Sauce Lhakpa’s creation and ate it down to it was the perfect end to the Nestled in a small lane off 550), one of the specials for the Robert and served with steamed the bones. evening. I am going back. Jhamsikehl road, Lhakpa’s exudes day. You can’t really go wrong vegetables and a choice of rice, My chicken schnitzel with PM a quiet and warm ambience, like when you wrap something in home fries or mashed potatoes. capers, on a layer of lemon and an old inn. The restaurant has bacon, but as I took a mouthful I As I chewed, I could feel the chops butter sauce, was served with home How to get there: Take the lane an indoor as well as a garden realised that maybe fried prawn had been marinated well to let fries and fresh organic green salad. next the temple at St Mary’s seating and true to its name, Chulo is the wisest choice. The juicy and the flavours seep in. The portions Coated with flavourful crumbs and parking lot. Walk straight and turn maintains traditional Nepali décor rich combination of the two was were perfectly cut and the meat pan-fried until brown, the chicken right, you will find Lhakpa’s Chulo with earthy colours on its walls and complimented by the Thai sweet was cooked just right. My friend breasts looked like they would be on your left. 14 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665

immediately. Diagnosis is usually established by finding either high serum antibodies against Mystery fever leptospiraor polychromase chain reaction (PCR) test to look for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene leptospira DNA. Neither test is in 2004, leptospirosis ranked readily available in Nepal. fourth (after typhoid, typhus, The highest incidence of this DHANVANTARI and pneumococcal pneumonia) disease is in tropical countries Buddha Basnyat, MD as the cause of fever in over 800 like ours especially during the consecutively admitted hospital summer. In fact this disease is patients. And yet for some reason perceived to be common enough that many travel books advise wenty-five-year-old Ram leptospirosis is still overlooked visitors at high risk (for example Devi Shakya arrived at the by physicians and many medical those partaking in jungle safaris hospital complaining of colleges and residency programs T or recreational water sports like high fever, conjunctivitis, muscle don’t even include the disease in kayaking) to take prophylaxis. pain, and breathing problems their curriculum. One such drug is doxycycline, for a week. Doctors diagnosed Leptospires are organisms but it should only be taken after her with typhoid and began which persist in the kidneys consulting with a doctor who is HAPPENINGS treatment. When her condition of a variety of animals including well-versed in the prevalence, did not improve, they suspected rats. Leptospirosis is acquired prevention, and treatment of meningitis, but ruled it out after when water or soil contaminated leptospirosis. negative test results. While the with urine or reproductive If the doctors who looked after physicians awaited results of her fluids of infected animals gets Ram Devi had used doxycycline blood sample to come back from into abrasions in our skin. The from the beginning, she might Mumbai, she was given three abrasions are typically followed have survived. Unfortunately, this new antibiotics but there was no by flu-like illness approximately humble and inexpensive drug is progress in her condition. Ram one week later. In patients with not used often in Nepal. Hence Devi died on the tenth day of mild Leptospirosis, the symptoms the importance of knowing what hospitalisation. The diagnostic eventually subside. However, are the specific fever-causing report from Mumbai later revealed some like Ram Devi Shakya bugs in our community with that she was suffering from have severe leptospirosis, also which Nepalis may be infected leptospirosis. known as Weil’s Disease which and empirically treating with Leptospirosis comes from is characterised by respiratory appropriate antibiotics based the Greek word leptospira which and renal complications. These on that knowledge even when means finely coiled organisms complications may lead to other laboratory back up is pending (spirochetes). In a study done organ failure and eventually death (specimen sent abroad in this case) BIKRAM RAI at Patan Hospital and published if the diagnosis is not made on or unavailable. in the American Journal of time and medication not started MAN IN BLACK: Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala (centre) arrives at Singha Darbar on Sunday evening to announce the 2013-14 budget. LEPTOSPIROSIS CAUSE: WAS FIRST OBSERVED IN LEPTOSPIRA BACTERIA Transmission: When water or soil contaminated with urine or reproductive fl uids of infected animals gets into human through abrasions or cuts in the skin 1907 SYMPTOMS: high temperature INCUBATION PERIOD DEVAKI BISTA sudden headaches chills MADE IT: A woman provides her digital fingerprint for the voters list at district nausea and vomiting election office in Babarmahal on Monday, the last day for registration. diarrhoea loss of appetite muscle pain 7-14 conjunctivitis DAYS rash TREATMENT: PREVENTION: Early diagnosis and treatment Avoid swimming or wading in water that might be prevent complications and contaminated with animal urine save lives Avoid contact with potentially infected animals Take doxycycline after consulting with physician Wear protective clothing and footwear if you know you might be exposed to contaminated water or soil Travellers who are likely to be Drain contaminated water exposed to contaminated water OUMAIMA GANNOUNI can also take doxycycline Control rats in and around the house TAKING THE PLUNGE: A young boy takes a dive into the Bagmati near Tripureswor on Monday. 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 REGION 15 Thimphu gets the message

RAHUL GOMEZ in THIMPHU Neck, India’s strategic corridor to its northeastern states. Beijing’s offer to Thimphu, therefore, was inimical to rom the Indian perspective, it does India’s interests. look like the opposition PDP’s What really ticked off New Delhi Fvictory in elections in Bhutan on 13 was that Thinley chose not to keep July proved that he who pays the piper India in the loop. He was also deemed calls the tune. to be extremely keen on engaging with The ruling Druk Phuensum Tshogpa the five permanent members of the UN (DPT) seems to have forgotten this (US, China, UK, France, and Russia) during its five-year rule of Bhutan until which India wanted kept out of Bhutan. New Delhi sent a rude reminder by Thimphu had bestowed honorary consul withdrawing subsidies for cooking gas status on citizens of some of these and kerosene from India just days before countries residing in Bhutan. the polls. New Delhi seems to have therefore The price of vital gas and kerosene decided to nip Thinley’s plan before more than doubled and the DPT was China’s growing shadow loomed over swept out of power. Though scrubbing Bhutan and India and the best way to Indian subsidies could not be the send the message was by cutting fuel only reason and Indian excuses about KUNDA DIXIT subsidies just before elections. Free bureaucratic bungling could also be true, lunches are a rarity in international what goes without saying is that India’s But Thinley irked New Delhi by relations and Thinley forgot that. action triggered a political realignment Bhutan’s incumbent playing footsie with China, which wants In New Delhi, foreign policy architects in Thimphu by uniting the opposition rulers forgot that a robust presence in South Asia for are reconciled to the fact that as a against the incumbent DPT. economic reasons and to throw a shield regional power, it will invite hostility of Whatever the truth, the perception he who pays the around Tibet. It seems to be the Tibet sections in neighbouring countries. But in Bhutan is that India interfered in its piper calls the tune factor that prompted Beijing to offer a as with the blockade of the Nepal border internal politics. India could well blame package solution to resolve its border in 1989-90, they haven’t got over their ex-Prime Minister Jigme Thinley for ‘the Government of Bhutan agrees to be dispute with Bhutan, announced on the urge to retaliate as and when they see trying to expand his country’s global guided by the advice of the Government sidelines of the United Nations Rio+ 20 India’s national interests undermined, footprint, establishing diplomatic of India in regard to its external relations’. conference last summer. China said it particularly vis-a-vis China. There is relations with 11 more countries in his Through the revision in 2007, Bhutan was willing to concede its claims in the a price to pay: creating a long-term five-year rule. But it is also true that and India were now only required to north of Bhutan in return for a quid pro perception that India is a bully. India has been helping Bhutan not out of ‘cooperate closely with each other on quo in the country’s west. New Delhi will have to take into altruism but for its own national interest. issues relating to their national interests’. China covets territory in West Bhutan account that as democracy develops Thinley’s global outreach shouldn’t This gave Thimphu the right to conduct for expanding the Chumbi Valley in deeper roots in Bhutan and among have unduly dismayed New Delhi, which its foreign relations as it deemed fit. The Tibet, which would make it easier to its other South Asian neighbours, had agreed to revise in 2007 the Treaty of revision of the treaty was undertaken in conduct military manoeuvres in a narrow governments will respond to the popular Perpetual Peace and Friendship that the an explicit recognition of the sovereignty finger of territory that protrudes down will. Despots, on the other hand, face two countries had signed in 1949. Till of the government that the people of into India. However, this would bring no such compulsions and are easier to then, Article 2 of the treaty stated that Bhutan were then expected to elect soon. China perilously close to the Chicken manipulate. Cricket gets a political spin Congratulate the Kashmiri cricketer Parvez Rasool, but pity him, too race for grabbing opportunities in talent. And Kashmiris who teeming metros. are known not to support the LOOK OUT Kashmiri Muslims, however, Indian cricket team will be in Ajaz Ashraf will still find it difficult to a dilemma. Will they now pray rent a place as their boys will for a stellar performance from be periodically picked up and Rasool and a defeat for India? arvez Rasool was selected interrogated every time a terrorist Many will find it delicious to to represent Team India attack takes place. Rasool imagine him bowling the last Pon the tour of Zimbabwe, himself was detained in 2009 over against Pakistan in an ODI his spinning abilities will now on suspicion of transporting clincher. In such a situation, get spun to promote contesting explosives in his cricket bag. how would the Kashmiri react? political projects. What must have been an Or imagine a situation in Indeed, the Indian cricketer’s ignominy for him will now get which Rasool is declared man Kashmiri identity gives him spun into a story of inspiration of the match. Considering his a special resonance. He isn’t for others who may have penchant to lace his statements a Kashmiri migrant but was encountered such treatment. with the Arabic equivalent born and raised in the northern Rasool will also become an of ‘In the name of Allah, the Indian state where he honed his argument against the Pakistani Compassionate, the Merciful’ bowling skills even as bombs state. He will represent India’s rest assured he will, in his went off all around. Despite regional and religious plurality; acceptance speech, echo the the lack of proper cricket many wouldn’t miss the irony lexicon of Pakistanis who infrastructure, Rasool overcame in his bowling or batting against erroneously perceive themselves the terrifying odds to get into the Pakistan should such a match as representing the Muslim Indian team. involving him occur. cricket world. For many, Rasool For Kashmiris, Rasool’s A Hindustan Times report will become a counter-argument selection represents their state’s claimed in February that the against the idea of Pakistan. fortitude and ability to keep its government was pushing for his You can’t but imagine the sanity intact in the chaos. For selection in the Indian team to flip side of these imagined the rest of India, the emergence ‘win hearts in J&K’. It is irrelevant situations. Suppose Rasool of Rasool symbolises the return application is justified on those who describe New Delhi’s whether or not the news was bowls a poor last over and of relative normalcy to the grounds of preserving the gains policy in the Valley as callous. correct. What was pertinent was loses the match, disappointed Kashmir Valley. from normalcy. His selection will be the perception and hope that voices are likely to hark to his All these arguments, For Delhi, therefore, the articulated in the public sphere his presence in the Indian team Kashmiri identity and drop however, are forgotten in debates inclusion of Rasool in the as a symbol of hope to Kashmiri could have a salutatory impact on innuendos about his betrayal. over the need to withdraw the national team will be projected youth, an invitation to them to Kashmir. The 24-year-old bears draconian Armed Forces Special as evidence of the fairness of the acquire marketable skills and Kashmiris perhaps will feel a heavy burden, in cricket Powers Act (AFSPA). In fact, Indian system, in cricket as well enter what is called the ‘Indian disappointed at the thought that and otherwise because of his in an astonishing example of as in other sectors. But it at once mainstream’, which essentially Rasool was selected because of Kashmiri Muslim identity. circular reasoning, its continued becomes an argument against comprises individuals in the politics and not his cricketing [email protected] 16 NATION BHAKTAPUR’S MITHILA INFLUENCE The invasion of Simraongarh by Gheyas-ud-din Tughlaq in 1352 had a far-reaching impact on Kathmandu Valley

BHASKAR KOIRALA

ing Harisingh Deva of attention to subjugating Bengal, Simraongarh must have which he accomplished and Ksat on his heavy-set chair was on his way back when he while a pair of household staff decided on a whim to attack was cross-legged on the black this rather small, but culturally chlorite stone floor massaging important outpost of the Mithila sandalwood oil onto his feet. kingdom. The masseuses must have The Indian art historian been especially drowsy that Heinrich Zimmer, alluding day because of a combination to the general geography of of intolerable humidity, the Simraongarh and the stone postprandial partaking of raw sculptures and artifacts beetle nut, and the soporific discovered there, asserted that calls of cuckoos outside. these ‘works were important Despite the protestations of historically because of the the chief of staff of the royal region’s geographical position household, the servants didn’t between Nepal and Tibet in the seem to have their mind on the north and Java, with its famous job at hand and the king didn’t centres of Buddhist learning, look unduly concerned. in the southeast’. Zimmer was The year was 1352 and of the opinion that the region Simraongarh palace was located ‘inspired to a remarkable deep within the dense jungles degree both the arts and the along what is now the Indio- philosophies of these two Nepal border in Bara and Parsa realms’, inflections as he called districts. Harisingh Deva was a them of the glorious Gupta philosopher king intrinsically period under the Pala and Sena disposed to self-reflection and dynasties (c 730—1250AD). spent a considerable amount The events surrounding the of time pondering the question invasion of Simraongarh were of existence and the meaning going to have a far-reaching of life. He was always on a impact not just on King different wave-length than those Harisingh’s kingdom, but also around him. on Bhaktapur in Kathmandu Fully alert with his chin Valley to the north-west. The cupped in his right hand, he King’s fallback option in case sat gazing around his large of an attack was to retreat to airy verandah that monsoon Bhaktapur, which is indeed afternoon, occasionally glancing what he did. down at the sleepy servants. He was prepared Destiny had placed him on for this attack and had the throne, but he struggled to made particularly special understand why. The question arrangements to safeguard a continually vexed him. powerful tile-shaped mystical A grave expression suddenly diagram (yantra) that was the took hold over the well-groomed family’s tutelary deity and face of King Harisingh—he which he had resolved to turned to his left, then right, and protect at all costs. then slowly towards the ceiling It is this yantra that is now as he simultaneously placed his the centrepiece of Bhaktapur’s hands on the shoulders of either Darbar Square and which is servant indicating to them to discretely housed within the stop moving so he could listen exquisite Mul Chok or Taleju to a distant rumble. “Go!” he temples, accessible only via thundered to the Chief of Staff. the famous golden gate of the Destiny was playing itself out Sun Dhoka. The gate itself before his own very eyes. is crowned by a beautiful His kingdom was being bronze sculpture of a four- invaded by the powerful and headed, ten-armed Durga fierce Gheyas-ud-din Tughlaq of which is an anthropomorphic the Delhi Sultanate, who was of representation of Taleju, or the Turkish extraction. Less than a human depiction of the yantra decade earlier the Tughlaq ruler carried to Bhaktapur during had successfully conquered the flight from Simraongarh Delhi and was turning his by King Harisingh Deva and 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 17

PAST TENSE: The Mulchok where King Harisingh Deva’s ‘yantra’ is now located in a 19th century water colour (right). Painting of the Sun Dhoka in Bhaktapur in 1853 as rendered by Henry Ambrose Oldfi eld (below, right). Bhaktapur Darbar Square in an early photograph from the beginning of the 20th century (below) and today (big picture).

Further readings:

A Test Trench Through the Fortifi cations of Simraonghar, Vidale, Balista, Torrieri, Oct- Nov 1993, Ancient Nepal, Department of Archeology, Kathmandu

Simraonghar: The Forgotten City and its Arts by Cimino, RM, Contributions to Nepalese Studies, CNAS, Tribhuvan University, Vol 13, 1986

Architecture of the Newars. Niels Gutschow 3 volumes.

Art of the Kathmandu Valley, Michael Hutt

History of Nepal series, Dilli Raman Regmi

The Art of Indian Asia Heinrich Zimmer, Pantheon Book

A Fragmentary Inscription from Simraonghar, The Ancient Mithila Capital, Riccardo Garbini, October-November 1993, Ancient Nepal, Department of Archeology Kathmandu The stuff of Mithila he Mithila Kingdom held sway over Kathmandu Valley a connection between the Valley and Mithila, and more Ttwice in the past 1,000 years, its infl uence on the specifi cally between Bhaktapur and Simraongarh, even evolution of Newari culture and language has been well beyond to Karnataka in South India. documented. The fi rst period of Maithil infl uence was Given this historical perspective, the current tussle in the 11th century during the reign of Nayna Deva of between the plains and the hills in Nepal seems petty Simraongarh, located in what is now and banal, based on an inaccurate Bara district, which lead very likely understanding of history. And a time to the dethronement of the princes when relations between Nepal and who ruled Kathmandu Valley. The India are limited to mundane politics second time it was the last king in and petty point-making, it may do well Nayna Deva’s dynasty, Harisingh for us to remember how closely our Deva, who had to fl ee Muslim cultures are intertwined. Instead, the invaders to Kathmandu Valley. lack of a dignifi ed position by Nepal Later, the Malla king of Kathmandu and India’s micro-managing have married Harinsingh Deva’s grand- taken away from the glory of the past. daughter. More research is required to dig Thus, the Malla reign of out the details of these connections, Kathmandu Valley was heavily and a joint Indo-Nepal archaeological infl uenced by Maithil culture. Maithili was the offi cial project is needed of the ancient kingdoms along the plains. language of the court, and Newari music, art and language One could start with Simraongarh, which is a testament derived a lot from Mithila. The Shikhara architecture of the to the bonds between India and Nepal that pre-date both Mahaboudha (this stupa as I understand is a facsimile of nation states. the temple at Bodhagaya) and Krishna temples of Lalitpur Gurudutt Mishra (pic, above) lives in Mahapal of were brought in during this period, indicating an infl uence Lalitpur and his ancestors came to Kathmandu Valley with not just of Mithila, but of south India on Kathmandu Valley. King Harisingh Deva’s entourage more than 700 years ago. Indeed, there appear to be historical records pointing to Maithil Brahmin families like the Mishra and Jhas still live in the midst of Newari families like Shresthas, Pradhans, Bajracharyas, Shakyas, Tamrakars in inner city Patan and Bhaktapur. They speak Nepali with strong Newari accents, observe all the local festivals and are indistinguishable. Bhaskar Bodh Mishra is now 93 and lives in Bhaktapur and also traces his ancestors back to the fi rst Maithil arrivals from Simraongarh in Bhaktapur in the 14th century.

in South India under the over- KATHMANDU VALLEY lordship of Chalukya Emperors such as Vikramaditya VI BHAKTAPUR and Somesvara III. They had regularly conducted military campaigns as far north as Mithila which they managed to his entourage and which SIMRAONGARH subdue. subsequently served as the Simraongarh had been a seat basis for establishment of a cult of power for these Karnataka of the goddess called Taleju commanders since around the by subsequent Malla kings of power captivating enough that late 11th century from which Bhaktapur. it would serve as the family god time until the first quarter of the According to historian to successive Malla kings of 14th century and King Harisingh Niels Gutschow, the Mul Chok Bhaktapur. Deva’s flight to Bhaktapur, a mentioned above must have Even more challenging is to mere 250 years intervened. been first constructed in the attempt to unravel an extremely The question therefore course of the 14th century to tricky yet critical question, remains: is there a credible house the new tutelary deity namely whether the origins of historical connection between of the Malla dynasty in her the aforementioned yantra can Bhaktapur and Karnataka? iconic representation as Taleju. be traced back even further However, what is not so clear back than Simraongarh. The Bhaskar Koirala is doing a is an explanation as to why or forefathers of Harisingh Deva, PhD at Peking University and in what respect this yantra or the immediate ascendants of heads the Nepal Institute for iconic representation of Taleju Nayadeva of Mithila, were International and Strategic is significant or embodied earlier ensconced in Karnataka Studies. LUKAS GRIMM 18 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 WEEKLY BAZAR POLL #19 NEPALI TWEETS And what about Nepali politicians making frequent trips to the north and south, how does that refl ect on In weekly polls conducted with the their leadership skills and decision making capacity? support of The Asia Foundation, If the leaders were confi dent in themselves, we would Himal Khabarpatrika asks 375 Do or die have had a constitution by now. The entire leadership respondents in 12 cities across has failed and the ripple effect is evident in our politics, Nepal every Monday for their opinion I wish Marichman Singh a speedy recovery. economy, administration, and diplomacy. Otherwise, there Interview with Surya Bahadur Thapa, Kantipur, 14 July on contemporary issues. This week’s He was a leader who worked for the welfare wouldn’t be any of these chaotic foreign trips. result of interviews is about the of Nepal and Nepalis. If he had been a popularity of political leaders. double tongued politician, the government Baburam Bhattarai’s resignation as vice-chairman of would have sent him to Japan by now. Look Kantipur: Are you confi dent about elections taking the Maoist party has put the issue of age and seniority Who is the most trustworthy leader how we treat a nationalist. place on 19 November? in focus. What is your take on it? in the current group of active Surya Bahadur Thapa: Ordinary Nepalis want We need to involve the younger generation at all levels to politicians? elections since the country has been without elected help lead the country forward. However, it is easier said representatives for far too long. And there are defi nite than done and we have a long way to go before we can signs of progress, for example hand over leadership to the youth. even those parties that weren’t too Comrades, go stop the Trishuli for a day and keen on polls are now beginning to search for those who drowned in the river if Is there any possibility of change their stance. So elections you can. Blocking roads and vehicles is far reuniting with Kamal Thapa’s too easy. should happen on 19 November. RPP (N)? ? Although we had a talk few months Shouldn’t the parties fi rst settle ago we have major ideological on contentious issues so that 22% 13.5% differences on issues of federalism, we don’t repeat the mistakes DON’T NO/CAN’T SAY SUSHIL KOIRALA republic, and democracy. that led to the dissolution of the CA in 2012? I have allocated Rs 20,000 for Nepalis who And what about the contentious are on twitter full-time. Lol. We only have three months issue of constitutional remaining before elections. If monarchy? these issues can be tackled Times have changed and it was the simultaneously with election people’s desire to have a republic. % % preparations then such meetings 8.8 6.9 So we will respect their wish. are welcome. It is best we take the PUSHPA KAMAL DAHAL MADHAV NEPAL discussion to the fl oor of the CA so Either I should be allowed to take the seat What are your thoughts on the that we don’t postpone polls. reserved for females or feel safe standing in former king’s cross-country trip? the aisle. #bus He has the personal freedom to How do you assess the four move around and express his months of Khil Raj Regmi’s views. government? 6.6% 6.1% The current government was formed only to hold free and How do you think your party will fare in the elections? KAMAL THAPA KP OLI fair elections and has no political agendas. And if polls After uniting with Rastriya Prajatantra Party, I am confi dent don’t happen, some other understanding needs to be Just like certain old politicians are asking for that we will perform much better than in 2008. worked out. retirement, I wish someone would encourage two-four personalities to retire from public life And what about the fate of the Maoist party which won and twitter. Fed up. This government is accused of being a foreign a landslide victory in the last CA elections? project. 5.2% 5.2% Without the use force and intimidation, it is going to be The concerns of India and China over Nepal’s internal SHER BAHADUR DEUBA JHALANATH KHANAL very diffi cult for the Maoists this time. stability and election cannot be called foreign intervention. We are in this current position because of our own What kind of federalism does your party advocate? shortcomings. Blaming friendly neighbours is only a sign There is nothing to fear about federalism as long as it is of weakness. The same people who don’t tire of making rights-based and is grounded in science. The only thing % % grand speeches on Environment Day about we need to keep in mind is the number of federal states. 3.6 2.5 MOHAN BAIDYA RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL pollution seem happy taking part in a the The more states there are, the greater the danger of pollution fest wedding procession of 100 cars. instability. Amazing.

2.5% 1.7% UPENDRA YADAV MAHANTA THAKUR

Politics Every day we hear about hundreds/thousands of UML members defecting to the Maoist, Congress, and other parties. Just how many 1.4% 1.1% cadre does the UML have? of poverty RAM B THAPA BIJAYA K GACHHADAR

Bibek Poudel, Setopati, 15 July and the student population. Nepal, on the other hand, has to pay for these subsidies When Finance Minister from the pockets of a small, Shankar Koirala declared a relatively poor taxpaying hike in salary of government population. What is worse is employees during the budget that the blood and sweat of announcement on Sunday ordinary Nepalis which make evening, people immediately these subsidies possible are quipped, “Why has the state being misused by those in increased the salary of power. For example: chartering its staff and neglected helicopter for Pushpa Kamal ordinary citizens?” While Dahal, Kathmandu’s road the question is valid, it is expansion drive, fuel for a difficult one to answer fancy cars, and importing gold given the realities of Nepal’s ornaments. DIWAKAR CHETTRI DIWAKAR economy. The more well-off citizens Everyone in this country there are in a country, the has demands. Students want easier it is to support the less free, quality education, fortunate ones. For example farmers want subsidies, when there are more employed the unemployed want an people, setting aside allowance allowance, and the poor want for the unemployed becomes Chair? I gave that up a long time back. government assistance. But an actual option. So are how can all these demands be we always going to beg for accommodated by an economy subsidies for the poor or are we Abin Shrestha in Kantipur, 18 July that is moving at a snail’s pace? going to open up opportunities Countries that provide for employment and revenue? QUOTE OF THE WEEK citizens with free education, There are seven million

affordable health services, and students in Nepal, are we going Regular budgets are struggling to get subsidies are often bought up to ask for free education to feed “implemented so introducing such “ a during such discussions. But student leaders and pay for big election budget is bound to have what we must not forget is tuition classes or are we going problems in implementation. that these are mostly advanced to work to improve the quality nations where the number of of education so that there are Surendra Pandey, Former Finance earners is significantly higher more qualified Nepalis? The Minister in Naya Patrika, 16 July than the number of unemployed decision is ours. 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 NATION 19

DAMBAR KRISHNA SHRESTHA Have Nepalis forgotten Dharmaraj Thapa?

SUNIR PANDEY exclusion that has driven Nepalis to suffer and migrate for work. The words of these songs are as relevant today as harmaraj Thapa. The very name they were in the 1960s when Thapa first evokes strong feelings of love of recorded them. Dcountry, of Nepal’s mountains, His inspiration was the traditional FORGOTTEN GENIUS: Ninety-year-old poet was progressive and taught me how rivers and plains, and one starts troubadour of Nepal, the gandarvas. and songwriter Dharmaraj Thapa lies bedridden to sing for a cause,” Rana told Nepali humming familiar songs made famous by It was Thapa who first brought at his home in Swayambhunath Thapa (left). Times. Thapa took his daughter on Nepal’s best-known poet and singer. the gandarvas to Nepal’s musical Thapa in his late 20s in this black and white visits to famous Nepali poets like Laxmi photo (right). At age 90, Thapa is bed-ridden at mainstream and recognised their Prasad Devkota, Bal Krishna Sama, and home in Swayambhunath. He cannot role in voicing the Nepali people’s Lekhnath Poudel. talk and doesn’t recognise visitors. stoic acceptance of suffering and related to in order to rouse them. The Thapa was writing till four years ago Thapa’s life was devoted to documenting, hardship. Thapa ‘discovered’ Jhalak lyrics of his songs are simple, everyday when he turned 86. Gyanu Rana was by recording, and conserving Nepal’s Man Gandarva and brought him to the Nepali words and when accompanied by her father’s side this week after he was treasure house of folk lyrics and music. national stage, as well as another 200 the flute, sarangi, and madal they pour brought home from the hospital. She said: At a time when Nepal didn’t even have singers from Pokhara’s Batlechaur where out the Nepali soul. “Now he has stopped recognising us too. roads, he walked right across the country he was born, giving them employment Thapa won the Madan Puraskar for And it looks like the government has also and travelled to the Nepali-speaking parts and even taking one on a tour of China his 1969 book of poetry, Mangali Kusum. forgotten him.” of north-east India in search of poetry with him Later he won the Jagadamba Shree for his life’s work as a poet and folk musician. and songs. Few know that Thapa was involved nepalitimes.com Today, Thapa’s songs like Nepali le even in the democracy struggle during Thapa’s daughter, Gyanu Rana, is an maya maryo and Dhuru dhuru narou the Rana rule and composed the song accomplished singer in her own right. Listen to ama have become eternal anthems for the Prajatantra ko kaphal pakyo where She says her father showed her the way. Nepali le maya maryo Nepali nation, evoking the neglect and he used words and music that people “I grew up in a musical household. He Dhuru dhuru narou ama 20 BACK SIDE 19 - 25 JULY 2013 #665 www.nepalitimes.com www.nepalitimes.com

How to make Nepalis less horny

Two headlines on the front was LKY who was once given Party is not about posts but is pages of the Thursday editions the title of Senior Minister a race between PKD and BRB of two national dailies proved and later Minister Mentor to be president of the republic just how confusing Nepali because they couldn’t find any one day. Having both been politics is. other post for him. BRB has prime minister once, they grudgingly accepted, but has have been there and done

isn’t a round table in the land with a circumference that can hold all 139 political parties. Either one has to be imported, or the partyless gonement of I don’t know about you, but the dropped broad hints that he’d that. Therefore, the possibility Regmi Sir will have to rent Donkey has given up reading rather be called ‘Senior-most of a party reunion, whether the National Stadium for the the papers to try to make head Leader’. What this has proven, or not Baidya Bah will try purpose. There is also a bit of a of tail of the riddle wrapped yet again, is that there is no to foil voting in November, problem about what to call within an enigma that are such thing as a resignation indeed whether there will be this new organism. How about: the Maobaddies. Chairman among Marxist-Leninist- elections at all, now hinge on ‘Apparatus of Apartchicks’, or Awesomeful has tried to Maoist parties. You either die a the outcome of the Plenum that ‘Even-Higher Level Politicians So it looks like the Traffic appease his arch-rival Comrade natural death as a card carrying starts, even as we speak, on Mechanism (E-HLPM)’? Police are finally serious about Red Flag, who resigned from his member, or the party bumps Friday. making Nepalis less horny. This vice-chairman post by offering you off. FG week alone, they amputated to kick him upstairs with the FG 1,000 horns from buses and title of ‘Senior Leader’. PKD It looks like the Kill Raj trucks plying Kathmandu must have got this idea when Unusually reliable sources tell gobarment is in a quandary streets. he air-dashed to Singapore with the Ass that the real power about what to do about the new Bravo! Wish wife Sita last week, because it struggle within the Cash Baddie all-party Gol Mech since there they’d show the same initiative in apprehending trafficked rhino horns, too.

CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 09/069/70