#729 24 - 30 October 2014 20 pages Rs 50

BIKRAM RAI Celebrating colours POST-MORTEM WHERE OF A TRAGEDY TO BE A We know that our preparedness ? was disastrous, the question is A retired Nepali how do we reduce the chances soldier who served of needless casualties in future in Singapore tells blizzards, fl oods or earthquakes? authors of a new EDITORIAL book: PAGE 2 “I love Singapore. ust like the palette (top), the country’s top leaders are trying to I am ready to go Jfind a way to craft a new constitution that will embrace all identities back and die for without undermining national unity. Senior leaders of the three main Singapore.” parties meeting at Gokarna Resort (above) over the holidays have so far EYE-WITNESS TO failed to come up with a compromise between single-identity based PAGE 16-17 federalism and the territorial model. But if the ruling NC-UML coalition SEARCH AND RESCUE agrees to increase the proportional representation ratio in future elections IN MUSTANG to make them more inclusive, it could convince the Maoist-Madhesi BY SUBINA SHRESTHA opposition about the rationale for fewer federal units based on geography. PAGE 3 CHONG ZI LIANG 2 EDITORIAL 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 POST-MORTEM OF A TRAGEDY s with the other disasters in this year (Bhote Kosi landslide, Surkhet-Dang flashfloods and the We know that our preparedness was AEverest avalanche) there has been a lot of blame- disastrous, the question is how do throwing after the blizzard last week that claimed at least 45 lives. This is not helpful. we reduce the chances of needless The easiest scapegoat has been the government. There is a lot of things the government didn’t do that it should casualties in future blizzards have done, no doubt. Had there been better regulation, enforcement of existing rules and on safety standards for hundreds of trekkers had already moved up the valley on the porters and guides, the death toll may have been lower. trails to Thorung La and Tilicho who could not be reached. But that would be too much to expect from a bungling Where the government can come in is to require state that is so incompetent it could not even designate telecom companies to build cell phone towers on places an official spokesman to provide the international media like Thorung La, Larkya La, Gokyo and Renjo La which has with a coherent and consistent message about the search heavy trekking traffic in the peak season. This may actually and rescue. be a business proposition for telecom companies which will The Disaster Response Committee did meet at the PMO, benefit from trekkers uploading selfies and videos on social but it underestimated the scale of the disaster, and in typical media from phones. Nepali fashion, hoped for the best. The Nepal Army and ACAP collects $30 from every foreign visitor, and the its rescue helicopter pilots, battle-hardened during the government makes another $10 on the TIMS card. Multiply conflict, did an exemplary job flying in difficult terrain and that by the 100,000 trekkers in Nepal and it adds up to a tricky weather to rescue those stranded in the high passes. whopping $4 million a year just from fees. It would only PIC AND MAP: ANNAPURNA NEPAL AVALANCHE AND BLIZZARD INFO SHARE If some of its choppers had not been commandeered by the take a tiny fraction of that as a one-time cost to build army brass for an ill-timed inspection visit to western Nepal shelters every one hour walk up to Thorung and other survivors to assist in timely search and rescue. on Sunday, more lives may have been saved. popular high passes. These shelters could be leased to tea The wrong response to last week’s tragedy would be for The private sector filled the gap with air support as shop owners in the peak season. the government to make even more regulations that will add well as communication through social media. Much of the The Thorung traverse is not for beginners, and many yet another layer of bureaucracy and corruption. Experience information from the local administration was contradictory, trekkers underestimate its altitude and terrain. Trekking from the TIMS card and trekker permits for national parks sketchy and too obsessed with numbers of dead, missing and companies taking clients to passes above 5,000m could be have shown that the original purpose of those measures has rescued when relatives and friends in Nepal and all over the required to have satellite phones, and better equipment and been lost. As with the Everest avalanche in May that killed world really needed were lists of names, times and places. clothes for their porters and guides. 16 Nepali high-altitude guides, the best way to honour This would have demanded better coordination between the None of the above measures need a lot of money. In the memory of those who died so terribly and needlessly army, local administration and the private sector. fact, had only one of them existed (cell phone signal) on Annapurna is to make sure that we do our best to It was pointed out in this paper last week that the blizzard many people would have perhaps survived the blizzard. minimise the loss of life. was not unprecedented, and there was plenty of warning. The reason trekkers did not get prior warning of the Himalayan climbing and trekking will never be risk free. Information is important, but much more important is to get approaching danger was this lack of communication, and But it is in Nepal’s self-interest to make such an important that information to where it is needed the most. Trekking that was also the reason the outside world had to wait source of employment and revenue to be made as safe as lodges in Manang Village and Jomsom had the news, but so long for news of the identity and whereabouts of the possible for us and our visitors in future.

YOUR SAY www.nepalitimes.com

CHICKEN OR DUCK? Absolutely bang on target at times. Having worked in Manang NEW CHIEF JUSTICE THIS WEEK The decision to revoke this year’s editorial. It’s awesome. and Mustang, I know fi rsthand Congratulations to Chief Justice tax hike for Indian vehicles entering D Joshi that the vagaries of mountain Ram Kumar Prasad Sah. Nepal, as you argue in your weather and effects of altitude (‘Supreme once more’, Binita editorial, could easily have been Yes, Sushil Koirala doesn’t make this area easy trekking only Dahal, #727). This is great news taken by the department of transport have the energy to argue any when the weather is fi ne. The rest for Nepal and Nepalis and will management (‘Neither chicken nor more, so better to quit and vacate of the time, these mountains are encourage people from every

duck’, Editorial, #728). Apart from the chair. The Nepali people need treacherous. corner of the country to dream NEPAL ARMY the fi rst two points of the 5-point not suffer any longer. ‘Dalal & Co’ Jhilke big. I hope CJ Sah has the Most liked on Facebook agreement, none of the others sounds better than ‘Dahal & Co’. courage and guts to undo the Nepal Army continue their rescue have anything to do with Parliament Tapan Das I had passed over the Thorung corruption and degradation of operation in Thorung La on Friday. obstruction. Demands such as La a week before the heavy storm the SC by his predecessors. Most shared on Facebook paying Rs 200,000 to the dead SNOWFALL on my mountain bike and was lucky Mahesh After the storm by Kunda Dixit and the disappeared (are these Avalanche forecasting is to have enjoyed perfect weather. for newly-discovered victims?) commonplace in most mountain What concerns me is that the Hope his appointment is not and legitimising ‘land transactions’ ranges ( ‘After the storm’, Kunda authorities will in the aftermath of just ‘hugely symbolic’ and he is (which we all know were taken over Dixit, #728). The Nepal government this tragedy take a hasty decision indeed the best man for the job by force) simply prove that the deal and ACAP should work together on to curtail some of the freedoms that and gets things cleaned up. was just to accommodate demands installing this technology. A simple make trekking in the David Seddon of Maoists and Madhesi leaders. sign in Manang showing weather such a wonderful experience. I How utterly helpless the NC and the conditions would help save lives realise many people who want CONSENSUS OR VOTE? Most popular on Twitter UML are. True ‘wimps’ as you call and give guides a reason to hold to go trekking do not have the One Madhes or two Madhes, Marching to a diff erent tune by them. eager or inexperienced trekkers knowledge and experience of the call should be made by the Stéphane Huët Anon back. the mountains to go alone and people living in the region, and Most visited online page Ben Ayers thus capable guides are a must. not left upon the political bosses After the storm by Kunda Dixit The Constitution is merely But please let’s avoid blanket (‘Consensus on contention’, a mechanism for the purpose of Trekking agencies are only restrictions that will prevent people Damakant Jayshi, #727). Out Most commented After the storm by Kunda Dixit regulating the work of various concerned about pocketing from enjoying Nepal’s wild places. of the 20 districts in the Tarai, organs of the state. It is not a money. Furthermore, the guides Stephen Keeling seven have Pahadis majorities. mechanism whereby particular employed are not trained for So, why not ask the people Weekly Internet Poll #729 member or particular parties are natural disaster readiness. The government and local residing in these districts to installed in offi ce. Manish authorities should absolutely be make their choice. This is Q. How many states should there be in Nepal? R Ram held to account, just like in the the democratic way to solve Total votes: 445 Foreign media is blaming Doti crash. This is criminal. contentious issues. Nepali politicians are used to a the weather and the crowded Rabi Thapa D Raj lavish lifestyle, they live in a bubble trail. Both detract from key areas of denial, deception and corruption. of responsibility. Regardless of how As Kunda Dixit recommends, to ASS This bubble has to burst. The serious weather might be, it is the save lives in future, just add some This week’s Advertorial Ass Six 11.9% en 5.4% Eight 7% leaders are all the same, and every guide’s responsibility to adequately cellphone towers. And as long as (Have a blast, #727) was T Twelve 2.5% Twelve Five 53.7%

week Kunda Dixit dashes off an be pre-informed of weather trends you are at it, build huts at one hour advertently asinine, was ass- Fourteen 19.6% editorial to expose them. But it falls and forecasts, to keep regular intervals on either side of high phyxiated with Weekly Internet Poll #730 on deaf ears. updates, and to take convincing passes. amusement. To vote go to: www.nepalitimes.com Mahesh decisions and unpopular decisions Derek DD Q. Will we have a constitution by January 2015?

Publisher and Chief Editor: Kunda Dixit Associate Editor: Tsering Dolker Gurung | Online Producer: Ayesha Shakya | Design: Kiran Maharjan Published by Himalmedia Pvt Ltd | Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur | GPO Box 7251 [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 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 3 Go tell it on the mountain Eye-witness account of the aftermath of the tragedy on the Annapurna Circuit last week

him down to Kathmandu. been left in the cold for several questions, the confused Tourism In the small tea stalls, people hours. The sense of entitlement of Minister just directed us to huddled and asked questions. the angry ones was an example of another person. The local MP Why didn’t anybody inform how twisted the trekking industry admitted that he had no idea that the teahouses in Manang that is. The Nepal Army rescue team the rescue and recovery operation the weather was turning? What had to walk down the treacherous was still ongoing. The officials were ACAP and Trekking trail at night to make space for did not seem to understand that Agencies’ Association of Nepal the trekkers in the helicopter. it is their responsibility to seek (TAAN) doing with the $44 they Nepalis will die to save their and process information, and take charge every trekker? What was guests, someone said in Jomsom. informed decisions. the role of the Himalayan Rescue What a strange sentiment, I Back in Kathmandu, people Association? Trekkers who had been at Thorong wondered. were busy blaming hapless The storm struck at midday, Phedi and High Pass, instead The lack of leadership porters, forgetting that everyone when most trekkers would of going back down to Manang, and coordination of disaster -- trekkers, trekking agencies, have been close to the top of began trying to cross Thorung La response was sorely felt. Whose TAAN, ACAP – all bore some the pass. Lives could have been on Friday morning. This meant responsibility was it to warn responsiblity. But what stood SUBINA SHRESTHA in MUSTANG saved if they were fore-warned. 40 extra people had to be rescued lodges and trekkers on the Manang out the most was the inexcusable Two army officers sipped tea by helicopter, at a maximum side that the pass was closed? The ineptitude of Nepal’s central and described how they trekked of two at a time. Trekkers said Army was up on Thorung clearing government. Whether it is y the time we landed in up at 4PM on Tuesday to try to they had no idea that the pass was the pass and recovering bodies, avalanches in the mountains, , it was already rescue people, and how dark closed. and had said it was still too landslides in the hills, or floods B10AM on Thursday 16 it was by the time they arrived One woman was nearly snow- dangerous. But that information in the plains, the government’s October, it had been two days back in Muktinath. Even they blind. Others were frost bitten, and didn’t get to the other side. TAAN disaster response mechanism is since the deadly blizzard lashed had questions: why was there no medics tried to warm their bodies. officials had arrived by then, but woefully inadequate despite all Thorung La. warning? People had a million One tired porter with a bleeding no one knew who was processing the money poured into it. Perhaps Some frost-bitten trekkers questions, but the government was nose said that he did not want to and sharing the information. Or the death of so many foreigners waited anxiously to be rescued. not there to answer them. leave the lodge, but the trekkers did they just not know how to ask will now make the government One distressed man was helping The next morning, the forced him to. It must have been the right questions? realise its shortcomings, and be the army identify bodies, his army chopper left Jomsom for very difficult to find the way The Tourism Minster flew better prepared. friend was amongst the row of Muktinath as soon as it was light through a metre or more of snow in on Friday afternoon with an Perhaps next time, Nepalis five that were waiting to be taken to comb parts of the mountain in Gold Star shoes with 30kg entourage – the Labour Minister, and foreigners alike can avoid away. Indian pilgrims adjusted they had not been able to search packs, but the porter was glad to Tourism Secretary, and MPs from deaths that could have been their saris to enter the shrine the previous day. By 9.30AM, have made it out alive. Manang and Mustang. They were preventable through simple at Muktinath, oblivious to the three bodies had been brought It took the whole day to rescue full of instructions for everyone. weather early warning and post- disaster unfolding around them. down: their boots full of snow and everyone, and by the time the They yelled at the people from disaster coordination. The choppers climbed hands still clutching snow. As the last person was brought down, TAAN: “Did you not know that repeatedly up to the clouds at the choppers flew off again for another it was already six in the evening we have a disaster center in Subina Shrestha is pass, but often came back empty. sortie, soldiers held the tarpaulin and the weather had closed in Kathmandu Airport?” Another one the correspondent The weather was not great that tight so the downwash wouldn’t on Thorung. While most of those shouted: “You have to update us of Al Jazeera day, but they still pulled a man blow it off the bodies. rescued were grateful, some were and tell us what’s going on.” English in Nepal. out alive from the snow and flew Then plans went out of sync. angry and even abusive for having When we started asking @ShresthaSubina 4 BUSINESS 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729

KUNDA DIXIT Connecting Nepal with ropes After decades of delays, new cable car projects are getting ready to get off the ground

ELVIN L SHRESTHA

opeways have long been recognised as an ideal mode of transportation in Nagarkot RNepal, but despite some pioneering KATHMANDU projects the potential has never been fully Thankot developed. Until now. PATAN Several tourism-related cable car Chandragiri projects are coming up in the next year in Sanga , Butwal, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot, and Godavari two in Kathmandu. “Considering Nepal’s topography and Pulchoki socio-economic conditions, ropeways are definitely feasible,” says Guna Raj Dhakal of the group, Ropeway Nepal set up by hotel and cable car is expected to start in Nepali engineers to promote cable car January. Butwal is also planning a tourist- projects in the country. “Building roads is pilgrim cable car next year. six times more expensive than ropeways.” In addition, Ropeway Nepal is getting The best known cable car system in spectacular views of Kathmandu and the POINT OF VIEW: The view of Kathmandu and inquiries from villages across Nepal to Nepal is the one to Manakamana temple mountains beyond. Langtang Himal that will greet visitors when the Thankot- build cargo and passenger ropeways to in . There have also been The project includes a plan to construct Chandragiri cable car is operational next June, which will cross major rivers as well as to shrines smaller ropeway projects to help farmers a 100-room hotel designed by architect be the same equipment used in Manakamana (above). and tourist spots. “There is a lot of interest get their produce to market quicker. Arun Pant on the summit, a Shiva temple from districts like Myagdi and Sindhuli,” However, attempts to start similar and an amusement park at the bottom says Dhakal, whose company designs and ventures at other shrines and mountain station in Thankot. Equipment is being Bhaktapur, one to the top of Sanga fabricates Nepali-made ropeway systems. tops in the past decade have been delayed imported from Austria’s Doppelmayr Hill and a smaller chair-lift project in There have been cargo ropeways run or abandoned due to problems with company which was also used on Nagarkot. Designs for the Sanga cable car by local communities linking Kirne to land acquisition, bureaucracy and local Manakamana. venture are complete and equipment from Bhotechhap for the Khimti Hydropower opposition. Another even more ambitious project a Swiss company have been acquired, project and Darimchhaur to Khaira for But now several projects are getting is going to link Godavari to the top of but local land compensation issues have the Jhimruk Project. There have also been ready to get off the ground. Construction Pulchoki, which at 2,672m is the highest delayed it. successful small gravity ropeways in has begun on a tourist cable car system point on the rim. The Annapurna Cable Car, a joint venture Gorkha, Tanahu and Sindhuli. from Thankot to the summit of Chandragiri project has got its final go-ahead from the between Himalayan Kanko Kaihatsu of Japan and Trans Himalayan Tour of (2,563m) at the western edge of Kathmandu government as well as the local authorities, nepalitimes.com Valley. When it is completed in June and construction is expected to begin in Nepal plan to make a premium hotel on 2015, the 2.4 km cable car link will take December. top of Sarangkot in Pokhara, famous for „ Rust in peace, #209 „ Showing us the ropes, #209 tourists to a temple on top as well as offer There are two other projects in its sunrise views. Construction of the 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 BUSINESS 5

In 1964, when Nepal Ropeway went into operation, it pulled so much electricity from the grid that Kathmandu Valley’s lights dimmed when it was running. Government Ropeway relics apathy, mismanagement and neglect took their toll. The ropeway was never used to more than half its capacity northbound, and epal’s Rana rulers were much more It took another 40 years for Nepal’s the cars always headed back to Nvisionary about the potential for second ropeway to be set up with the US empty. Although it showed its utility ropeways than our contemporary rulers. It government help. The 42km Hetauda- during the Indian blockade (1988-89) and was Chandra Shumshere who installed a Kathmandu Nepal Ropeway (pic, left) cost when monsoon landslides washed off both 22km cargo ropeway between Dhorsing and half as much as the Tribhuvan Highway on Tribhuvan and Prithvi Highways in 1993, Kathmandu in 1924, although he appears to the same route to build. The government- Nepal Ropeway was finally closed down in have preferred ropeways in order to retain run ropeway and the private trucks on the 2001. But its towers still stand and empty Kathmandu Valley’s strategic inaccessibility highway were bitter rivals, and in the end, cars sit frozen above the Kulekhani reservoir. from the Indian plains. the highway won. Kunda Dixit

BIZ BRIEFS nepalitimes.com „ Flying in a ropeway, #491 Huawei Chinese smartphone provider Huawei became the fi rst Chinese company to rank in Interbrand’sTop-100 Best Global Brands of 2014. Huawei was placed 94th in the recently released 15th annual Best Global Brands report. “Huawei is honoured to receive this acknowledgement from Interbrand,” said Shao Yang, Chief Marketing Offi cer, Huawei Consumer Business Group. Top prize Qatar Airways was named “Best Business Class Airline” for second year in row at the Business Traveller Awards 2014 held in London recently. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker said: “Winning this accolade for a second consecutive year is a testament to the fi ve-star service and quality that our customers have come to expect from Qatar Airways.” Golden gate China Southern (CZ) has announced it will fl y to San Francisco International airport from Guangzhou Baiyun International airport via Wuhan Tianhe International airport three times a week starting from 16 December. Previously, passengers booking CZ’s fl ight from Guangzhou to San Francisco had to fl y to New York or Los Angeles, and then take a Delta Air Lines fl ight to reach the city. The route will be served by a 228-seat B787 aircraft. Turkish+Sita Turkish Airlines has again chosen air transport IT specialists SITA to provide telecommunications services for its 120 outstations around the world for the next seven years. Ahmet Bolat, Chief Investment and Technology Offi cer of Turkish Airlines, said: “We’ve partnered with SITA for more than 15 years because they off er us high-quality, high-availability telecom coverage for all our outstations and back that up with excellent service and support.” Network services will be supported by SITA’s global customer service team of more than 2,000 aviation IT specialists and engineers in over 200 countries. Winning gold DishHome handed over prizes to the fi fth and sixth week winners of its “Sworna Utsav” campaign at a program on 20 October. Bal Kumar Giri of Jhapa and Dependra Khati of Rupahehi, who were announced the lucky winners on Kantipur tv’s Call Kantipur program were awarded 10 tola of gold. Brand new Mahindra & Mahindra unveiled the New Generation Scorpio in Kathmandu on Monday. Built on an all new platform, the New Generation Scorpio comes with contemporary exterior styling, luxurious blue-grey interiors and advanced technology features. 6 OPINION 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729

badly. No matter how the districts are aligned, the NC will remain an influential party in the Madhes, unless Off the people, it decides to unnecessarily antagonise local sentiments. It will be more difficult for the NC to find a consensus on number of provinces in the hills, but it is not impossible. for the people To begin with, it should stop treating the issue as a Maoist agenda and see it as an opportunity to address NC’s insecurities grievances of the genuinely marginalised. have pushed it to Yes, there are clearly the conservative identifiable territories in Nepal where certain ethnic fringe, making it a groups dominate. But these areas may be big enough to part of the problem be autonomous areas, not an entire state province. However, if one considers demographic settlement of true democrat never two or more ethnic groups lays exclusive claim (Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, ‘Ato the truth, but sees a Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, part of itself in the opposition’s Khotang, Terhathum, argument as well.’ These Dhankuta, Udaipur, immortal words were penned Okhaldhunga and areas of by leader of Nepal’s democratic Sunsari and Solukhumbu) both movement and Rais and Limbus dominate. So founding figure BP Koirala in his it makes sense to carve out a Jail Journal in the winter of 1963 province that acknowledges after a royal coup ousted him. and protects both of their Last month, NC leaders identity and rights, while travelled around the country safeguarding rights of other preaching BP’s political ideology communities living there. to commemorate the centennial Similarly, in the case of of his birth. But they seem to smaller ethnic groups like have learned little from the man’s Dhimals of Jhapa and Sherpas in Solukhumbu, a clearly Kailali and Kanchanpur likely is that the NC remains ROUNDTABLE: defined autonomous area in the far west, have been suspicious of Madhesi loyalty (l-r) Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Madhav Kumar safeguarding and promoting erased from the proposed two and fears an embargo of Nepal, , Pushpa Kamal their culture and recognising provinces in the Tarai. Large Kathmandu by the Madhes in Dahal, Narayan Kaji Shestha, KP Oli, and their rights can be an amiable swathes of territory in these case inter-provincial rivalries in Ishwar Pokhrel at a meeting of the HLPC at solution. It should be a matter BY THE WAY districts are flatlands with a federal Nepal get bad. Gokarna on Wednesday. of healthy debate whether Anurag Acharya demographical dominance of No honest NC leader will Kathmandu can be a union people belonging to various even try to answer in plain yes territory and the national Madhesi communities. or no which one of these is the absence of any Dalit persona in capital with autonomous broad and tolerant democratic So, one stops to ponder real reason for their formula of its current cabinet and a single Newa region protecting rights outlook. the rationale behind federalism, probably because one representing both Madhesis and culture of this unique Last week, amid a continuing lumping these districts, in the explanation lies in ‘all of and women. community, or a Newa region impasse over contentious issues their entirety, with the hill the above’ or ‘somewhere in So, when an insecure lot of which hosts capital of the including that of federalism, the provinces. The NC could between’. hill male Brahmins sit together country. There is no reason NC came out with not one but be making an electoral Despite being the largest to carve out their own map why both propositions can’t be two alternative proposals on the calculation of securing party that has led Nepal’s of the nation, it is not hard to made workable. number of proposed states, their traditional NC strongholds democratic movement three imagine where the borders will However, while carving structures and names. While both including Morang, where it times, the NC has always be drawn. If the NC’s supposed out proposed provinces, the proposals understandably reflect won five out of nine seats, been insecure about its own fear of being weakened names are best left for the local NC’s consistent concern about and Kanchanpur where it legacy. The reason being its in Madhes is in anyway elected provincial assemblies limiting the number of federal swept all four. It could also undemocratic and feudal responsible for its bizarre to decide democratically. units to make them economically be a well-thought out plan leadership style since the proposal, it should do the fact Democracy is about viable, there is a larger mentality to weaken Madhesi politics days of Girija Prasad Koirala checking. celebrating and protecting that shape its arguments on by isolating flashpoints like that has given the party a bad In the 19 districts of Madhes diversity. As the party that has proposed structure of the federal Duhabi and in the public image, especially amid from Jhapa to Kanchanpur, the won the confidence of Nepal’s provinces. east, and separating the Tharu marginalised communities NC has secured 51 seats out diverse population, NC should In both the models, one movement of Kailali and whose representation within of total 101, which makes it not shy away from addressing cannot help but notice that the Kanchanpur from the western party structure and in the the largest party there. Even if the colourful aspirations of its three districts of Jhapa, Morang districts of Nawalparasi and governments have remained we look at the last CA election electorate. and Sunsari in the east and Rupandehi. But the most dismal. This explains the results, it has not done too @Anurag_Acharya

Did your paper arrive on time this morning? If not, call our 5005601-07 CUSTOMER Ext. 243 CARE Himalmedia Pvt. Ltd. Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur We are not out of the woods yet as far as autumn storms are concerned. Expect some localised shower/ hail in the higher valleys into the weekend. This is the product of a low pressure system that is moving from west to east. It is not a robust system, so the precipitation will not be heavy sustained or widespread. Still, you need to factor it in if you are on a trek, or a picnic. Mornings should be fi ne and a bit chilly with some ground fog along the rivers. Temperature will pick up when the sun comes out in the afternoon. KATHMANDU FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 21° 22° 21° #729 24 - 30 October 2014 11° 9° 9°

PLANET NEPAL Timeline

FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER – SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER

All the days ARTWORK Artistic installations | Kathmandu University of ART AND Arts and Design All the days EXHIBITION Community Seed Banks | LI BIRD

All the days EXHIBITION Family farming, an asset for the planet | CIRAD | IF THE PLANET FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 6PM Performances Komplex Kapharnaüm | Do Not Clean

6PM CONCERT Tangi Penard | Brittany folklore Music

6.45PM Inauguration speeches

7PM CIRCUS Circus Katmandou | Swagatam

8.15PM CONCERT NIGHT

SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER

10AM to 4PM Children Corner | Children Green New Nepal ince 2010, Alliance Française of face in Nepal and around the world. short stories explaining major environmental Kathmandu (AFK) and the French “As United Nations declared 2014 the issues, will kickstart the film festival. A Dark 10.15AM Shorts Film My Dear Little Planet SEmbassy in Nepal has been organising year of Family Farming we chose this theme Cloud on the Top of the World directed by 11AM CONCERT Nepal Army Band Planet Nepal, a biennial art and environment to be part of the worldwide celebrations,” Agnès Moreau, My Trash is Treasure, The Seeds festival, that sees artists, environmentalists, says Ophélie Belin, director of AFK. War, directed by Clément Montfort and Stenka 11.30AM Documentary A Dark Cloud on the Top of the World and organisations come together for the Organisers have prepared a long line- Quillet, will also be screened at the event. The environment cause. up of exhibitions, presentations, and last film will be followed by a debate with co- 12.30 PM CONCERT Tangi Penard | The third edition of the festival will take performances for the two-day event at director, Clément Montfort, Kunda Dixit, Ram Brittany folklore Music place end of the month 31 October. This Tundikhel. French Agricultural Research Bahadur Rana of Li-Bird and noted agronomist, 1PM to Workshop Vermicomposting year, the festival theme is 'Family Farming' to Centre for International Development Madan Rai. 4.30PM Workshop | NBF highlight the neglect that smallholder farms (CIRAD) is curating an exhibition ‘Family French artist Komplex Kapharnaum will 1PM to 5PM FARMERS MARKET Farming, An Asset for the Planet’. Likewise, open the festival with his performance of Do Pokhara-based Li-Bird is putting on display Not Clean, which is a multidisciplinary and 1.30PM Documentary My Trash is a Treasure seed varieties from community seed banks. itinerant show that will start from Shree Sankata 3.15PM CIRCUS Circus Kathmandu | Swagatam A group of organic farmers will also exhibit Temple, in Tebahal, to end at Tundikhel. It their produce at the event. aims at sharing new ways of up cycling and 4.30PM DANCE Nepal Breakdance Foundation | For the arts part of the festival, recycling with the dropouts of the society. Other Save the Earth Right Now Kathmandu University School of Arts and musicians that will play at the fest are French 5PM Action-Theater Red Panda Trust Design students are hosting an exhibition musician Tangi Penard, and Nepali bands Night of installation art, resulting from their and Kutumba. 5.30PM Documentary The Seeds War workshop with American artist Karl Knapp. Says Belin: “We believe this dialogue between 6.30PM DEBATE Discussion The Seeds War Red Panda Trust is putting together a theatre scientific facts and artistic performances is performance to draw attention to the need to an attractive way of raising awareness on our 7.30PM Vijing DJ OOF|Dance Conscious protect endangered species. impact of the environment.” 8.45PM CONCERT KUTUMBA 'My Dear Little Planet', a series of nine Stéphane Huët 8 EVENTS DINING Tihar, Sharing knowledge, K-too, The festival of lights ends this week with Donate old books to those in need If you’re tired of the cold, go in for the Mha puja and Bhai tika. through Gwahali for Diff erently-Abled best steak in Thamel, a warm dining Mha puja: Newars do pujas on People. room, live sports on TV, and free Irish themselves and celebrate their new year. 24 October, 9849250931/9813043484 , coff ee with every main course and Nhu daya bhintuna (Happy New Year!). www.facebook.com/Gwahali seasonal specials. Thamel, (01)4700043 24 October Bhai tika: Sisters do pujas on their Plastic beauty, Public Cave, brothers to protect them from Yama, the The fi rst plastic exhibition in Nepal with While its pizzas, sizzlers, and spring rolls harbinger of death. 25 October international and local exhibitors. are a hit among customers, the main 14 to 16 November, Mandap Salt & Pepper, attraction is karaoke. Espresso, mocha, latte, frappuccino, Murals of Mustang, Dihikopatan, Pokhara, 9856032958 cocktails, liquor, beers and fl avoured Restoring the Murals of Mustang: Entrepreneurs meet, shishas, with an outdoor lake-view A Journey through Body, Soul and Heart A platform to help entrepreneurs expand terrace. Lakeside, Pokhara, (061)463484, by Luigi Fieni. their professional network and to facilitate 9846210568 28 October to 15 November, knowledge sharing and collaboration. Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babarmahal 12 November, 5 to 7pm, King’s College, 9813393561, www.udhyamibhetghat.com Fire and Ice, Vintuna rally, Breathe in, Breathe out, One of the oldest pizzerias in town, Fire A cycle rally to mark Nepal Sambat 1135. Deep and detailed learning and Oh, wonderful, and Ices serves the best pizzas in the city. 24 October, 8am onwards, starting from practice of a number of yogic breathing Musical performances by children of Thamel, (01)4250210 Patan Darbar Square techniques. various orphanages, churches and Rs 1,500, 26 October, 2 to 5pm, schools. Pranamaya Yoga Studio, Patan 29 October, 3 to 5pm, Stuti Prashansa Church, Baafal, 9841021941 Change makers, Tian Rui, Participate in, learn from and create social Photography workshop, If you’re looking for genuinely good projects to address the contemporary A seven-day photography foundational Chinese food this restaurant is the best issues of the country. workshop by experienced and place to go. Thapathali 27 October, Change Fusion Nepal, professional mentors. Minbhawan, New Baneshwor 28 October to 3 November, Image Park, Cosmopolitan Cafe, www.changefusionnepal.com New Road Located in the heart of Basantapur, this cosy cafe off ers arguably the best chicken Click sizzler in town. Basantapur, (01)4225246 Alfresco, Alice restaurant, Planet Nepal, Annapurna, For homemade pastas and other lip- Step in for scrumptious Thakali, Chinese, A two-day art and environment festival, Join photographers Ariel Estulin and Louis smacking Italian delights. Continental and Japanese cuisine. with performances, exhibitions, Au on a unique opportunity to experience Soaltee Crowne Plaza, (01)4273999 Gairidhara, (01)4429207 debates, discussions, screenings and the pristine beauty of Annapurna concerts. (see page 7) mountain ranges through the eyes of Lal Durbar Restaurant, Trisara, professional photographers. 31 October to 1 November, Tundikhel, Authentic Nepali dinner with cultural With dishes like fl ambeed prawns, crispy (01)4241163, www.planetnepal.org.np $1,775, 21 to 30 November, full itinerary on www.outdoorphotojourney.com shows. Hotel Yak & Yeti, Darbar Marg, chicken, and khao soi, it would be a folly (01)4248999, [email protected] to ignore its aromas. Lajimpat 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 9 MUSIC GETAWAYS Deathfest 2015, Atithi Resort, Accomplished local and international a perfect place to stay, nearby pool, Extreme Metal bands come together to massage, sauna, and delicious food. celebrate the glorious genre. Shantipatan, Lakeside, Pokhara. 9 & 10 January 2015, venue to (061)466760/400207, [email protected] be announced Temple Tree, A peaceful place to stay, complete with a swimming pool, massage parlour, and sauna. Gaurighat, Lakeside, (061)465819

Rock tribute, A tribute to legendary hard rock band, Guns n Roses by Nepali project band Destruction. 15 November, 3 to 6pm, Purple Haze Rock Bar, Thamel Neydo Bass camp, A Tihar-festival gig with performances Starry Night BBQ, Monastery, from Riddim Radicals, Ranzen EZ Riser Catch Ciney Gurung live as you chomp on Home to many signifi cant religious sites (Mumbai) and Symbiz Sound (Berlin). your meat stick. of the great siddhas. Leave your troubles 25 October, 9pm onwards, Club 25 Hours, Rs 1,299, 7pm onwards, Fridays, Shambala behind and book a room. Tangal Garden Café. Hotel Shangri-La, (01)4412999 Pharping, Kathmandu, www.neydohotel.com

Barahi Jungle Lodge, The fi rst eco-jungle lodge of Chitwan directly overlooks the Chitwan National Park. Spa, boutique guest room, individual and two-in-one private villas, the choice is yours. Andrauli, West Chitwan, www.barahijunglelodge.com Waterfront Resort, Music mania, The lakeside hotel invites you for special Performances by Nepali bands The Edge Band, X-Mantra, and international bands barbeque dinners on Friday and lunches Steve Iko (Denmark), and Thermal And A Quarter (India). on Saturday. 13 December, 12pm onwards, Bhrikuti Mandap, www.nepalmusicfestival.org Sedi Height, Lakeside road, Pokhara, www.waterfronthotelnepal.com 10

Kristian Persson Elements

KJ Denhert

GUILLAUME ZEMOR

Anges Takats

Cadenza with friends Navin Chhetri of Cadenza

NIRANJAN SHRESTHA Oozing talent at Jazz fo Judges at this year's premium jazz contest for you

STÉPHANE HUËT Berkeley School of Music in with the other members playing Boston, was first up. The band well-coordinated segments. Suraj covered Miles Davis’ Donna Lee in Pant’s guitar riff gave a dreamy ozens of spectators had an original contemporary fusion atmosphere to Doxy Ltd’s next come to appreciate the adaptation. They continued with composition, Divide. But the band Dfour groups shortlisted Autumn Leaves before ending with really captivated the audience to compete for the outstanding their own composition. For this with its audacious reggae version jazz band of 2014. Each had last song, Nikesh Shakya offered a of Dave Brubeck’s Take 5, driven to perform three songs in thrilling experience to the crowd by an energetic Babin Wagle on front of the international jury by switching his guitar to a sarod. bass. During this tight set, Doxy composed of Pity Cabrera, The second band on stage Ltd showed sensible musical Tran Vaun Trat, Emmanuel was Doxy Ltd (pic, right) led by exchanges among its members. Hailemariam and Johan Hansén the pianist Suyog Sotang, who The ethereal mood of the Larson – all musicians of performed a fascinating set with competition was then altered by Jazzmandu 2014 lineup. two of their own compositions. the rhythmic drive of Mr Green. Nikesh Shakya, who Forgive is a ballad in which Suyog This trio started with a cover of Pat recently graduated from Sotang plays spacious piano parts Metheny on which the guitarist, 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 11

less creative. Tropic Green put an end to this misconception with their STÉPHANE HUËT performance. This cosmopolitan jazz ensemble based in Singapore has eight usic for unity, peace and members originally from Cuba, Japan, compassion’. The slogan Mexico, United States and Singapore. ‘Mmight seem a bit cheesy, Their clockwork musical arrangements, but it certainly made sense to the composed by pianist Susan Harmer, spectators of Jazzmandu 2014 that put forward the mosaic of infl uences of concluded on Wednesday. This year the band members. At the Jazz Bazaar, the jazz festival of Kathmandu showed Tropic Green even spiced up its set how music is a strong bridge between by playing a short melody of a Nepali diff erent cultures. song. The transboundary character But undoubtedly, the most exciting of the music was most vivid in Jazz at and original band of Jazzmandu 2014 Patan at Yala Maya Kendra on Tuesday has been the Swedish combo Kristian 21 October. International artists met Persson Elements, who added a touch traditional musicians Gurudev Kamat, of hiphop and funk to Scandinavian jazz Suraj Raj Shrestha, Rabin Lal Shrestha that aroused nostalgic feelings of Stevie BIKRAM RAI and Santosh Bhakta Shrestha to create Wonder’s early days. fusion tunes. Neither the jazz nor Leader Kristian Persson said: Dhrupad Caravan the Nepali rhythms drowned out the “When I met my band members, I other, both seamlessly interweaving immediately felt that they were the

GUILLAUME ZEMOR with each other. The performances perfect choice.” This was quite obvious seemed even more amazing knowing during the concert at House of Music that the musicians had rehearsed only for Valley Jams. The joy of the band one day before the show. playing together was infectious to the There were two highlights in crowd that couldn’t resist dancing in the Jazz at Patan. First was the poetic aisles. conversation between Rabin Lal This same team spirit could be SWINGING Shrestha’s tabla and Rasmus Svensson- seen during gigs of Pity Cabrera Trio. Blixt’s drums. The climax was attained Considering that the band was formed when the stage was brightened by only few months before Jazzmandu the bliss of Tihar, and the Day of the 2014, the three musicians showed a WITHOUT Crow. A choir composed of KJC faculty striking coordination – drummer Tran Jazzmandu 2014 spanned members and Australian, Ange Takats, Vuan Trat and bassist Bruno Schorp national boundaries with the interpreted Deusi Bhailo. The jazz giving a groovy punch to Cabrera’s progression led by Cadenza Collective classical-Latin melodies on the piano. universal language of music highlighted this classical Tihar song In a completely diff erent setting, the BORDERS with brio to enchant the audience. Australian Ange Takats performed alone Earlier at the Jazz Bazaar in with an acoustic guitar at Jazzmandu.

BIKRAM RAI Gokarna Resort on 18 October, Before her fi rst live performance at the Dhrupad Caravan was another Jazz Bazaar, she was nervous about the beautiful demonstration of music reception of a Nepali audience. But pushing boundaries. The project in Takats’ lyrics and music charmed those itself is a melting pot with Nepali Vishal who attended the Gokarna gig. Her dry Bhattarai and Japanese Inoue Sou who wit defi nitely helped. met in 2008 when they were studying Jazzmandu 2014 showcased dhrupad music in Bhopal, India with extremely talented artists from various the Gundecha Brothers. generations and origins. Created by As the headline act at Jazzmandu Navin Chettri in 2002, the festival has 2014, American artist KJ Denhert’s fostered dozens of artistic encounters performances revealed elements of between international bands from reggae, sounds from Senegal brought diverse cultural backgrounds. These in by her bassist Mamadou Ba. reunions have enabled unique concerts. “I like to think I’m like Sting who The only complaint is that Jazzmandu used to play rock music with jazz does not sell recordings of the concerts. musicians,” she explained. Indeed, Denhert showed her versatility during the jams with artists from different nepalitimes.com Bruno Schorp and Rasmus Swensson-Blixt origins at Jazzmandu 2014. „ Watch videos of Jazz at Patan from Tuesday, 22 October. Big bands are often said to be NIRANJAN SHRESTHA BIKRAM RAI r the Next Generation ngsters were hard pressed to decide who was best

Subash Siwa, showed his graceful Nepali song, Mangal Dhun. The Sotang: “I felt we could win, but talent. The peculiar sound of Mr two musicians then surprised the Mr Green was really good too Green was revealed by a jaunty audience with an entertaining and so I had my doubts.” composition with Birat Basnet version of the jazz classic, Blue As the winners of Jazz for playing jerky drum parts. The Bossa with the tabla handling the the Next Generation 2014, Doxy band finally ended its set with rhythm duties. Ltd were invited to stage along Sonny Rollin’s Oleo. After deliberation, the judges with the international artists The musical experimentation understandably chose Doxy for the Jazz Bazaar at Gokarna continued with the duet GT, Ltd as the outstanding band. Forest Resort on Saturday. The formed just three days before Musicianship aside, Suyog and his band was also rewarded a free Jazzmandu for the Next Generation fellow musicians complemented session at the Jazz Mean Studio competition. Table player Ramesh each other. Subash Siwa, received to record a single. Pache Magar accompanied the the outstanding musician award, “We are working on more guitarist Sudip Naubag to unite the a much-deserved accolade original compositions for Nepali classical music to jazz. GT because Mr Green’s guitarist is the ourselves,” said Sotang, “and began with a pleasant East-West archetype of virtuosity. we hope to produce 20 original fusion revision of the traditional Said Doxy Ltd pianist Suyog songs.” 12 CERTIFIED

COPYMiller debate on originality, love, nature of duty and family, the relationship begins to change; the people we initially thought were strangers start to blur into a bickering, playful long married couple who share an unruly child and are struggling to come to terms with their complex 15-year- HAPPENINGS s the autumn season comes Kiarostami’s Certified Copy which long marriage. round and with it the Oscar premiered at the Cannes Film Binoche is a phenom in Ascramble, I tend to start Festival in 2010. this film, playing a woman half my usual rant on the rather sad This film is made in the spirit of neurotic but also tremendously fact that we, living in Nepal, have films by Éric Rohmer, Michelangelo sensitive and sensual, in a multi- almost no access to the heavy Antonioni, and more recently lingual role where she switches weight films that come out this Richard Linklater’s trilogy of the from English to Italian to French Before films, all of which deal with (which is her mother tongue). She the nature of a couple’s relationship is undoubtedly Kiarostami’s muse over the course of the narrative, and in many ways the strength switching smoothly between real and focus of a film that might have life drama and philosophical otherwise collapsed without her musings. prodigious talents – after all, it MUST SEE Starring the beautiful and witty is not easy to make a film where Sophia Pande Juliette Binoche as the unnamed all people really do is walk and main character - a French woman talk, albeit through a gorgeous RSS time of year as contenders in the living in Italy who deals in antiques, medieval Italian town. END OF FAST: Minister for Peace and Reconstruction feeds run-up to the awards season. and one day goes on a rather This film, as with many such Ganga Maya Adhikari at Bir Hospital on Saturday. Adhikari who had been on Hopefully, as time goes by, strange journey with an Englishman “talky” movies, may not be quite a fast-unto-death demanding justice for her son ended her hunger strike on Saturday. Nepali theatres will start giving named James Miller (played by your cup of tea, but be patient, space to the more independent of the almost egregiously handsome Certified Copy is the work of a cinema; the smaller, quite stellar opera singer William Shimell in a master filmmaker and it is worthy films that seldom get shown here. first time role), this is a cipher of of your attention. While I will try to bring these a film that is as fascinating as it is contenders to your attention infuriating. nepalitimes.com over the next few months, this Over the course of the day as „ Trailer week I am writing about Abbas Binoche’s character and James

ALL NEW: Managing director of Agni Inc Cabinet Shrestha and Sagar Bhadkamkar of Mahindra & Mahindra unveil the New Generation Scorpio in Kathmandu on Monday.

BIKRAM RAI OUR DAY: Police dogs wait for their turn to be worshipped at the Nepal Police Academy during Kukur Tihar on Wednesday.

KUNDA DIXIT CYBER TALK: Paul Myers of the BBC Academy at a lecture on Investigating Online organised by Nepali Times and the Centre for Investigative Journalism on Wednesday. 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 13

classrooms for Jhor Mahakal School in Kathmandu which will benefit 400 students every year. RTN has so far helped over 30 government schools in areas like Bhairawa, Birganj, Parsa, Morang, Biratnagar and Madi oliticians are always calling for a ‘roundtable by building and providing hostels, classrooms, toilets, meeting’ to forge a consensus on the constitution, furniture and drinking water facilities. Pbut the social service organisation Round Table There are 19 ‘Tables’ throughout Nepal, each with Nepal (RTN) has been at it since 1989 to promote between 15 to 25 members, each focusing on different service through fellowship. The organisation provides service projects. Tablers meet every month to discuss a platform for the young to make the most out of reports, plans and project funds. They organise fund- their spare time and take part in corporate social raising events, and explore sponsors for their education responsibility activities. work. Golchha is proud that RTN has zero overhead, Today, RTN has 280 members between the ages all the money raised goes directly into implementing of 18 and 40. “Young people are the agents of change projects and is not diverted for administrative for Nepal’s future development, and they have a expenses. responsibility towards society,” says Akash Golchha RTN is currently planning an annual Carnival and who started heading RTN this year. RTN is different Go-kart Competition in December, and the proceeds from other service organisations like Rotary and Lions will be used for its Freedom Through Education in that it has younger members. initiative. A similar event last year raised Rs 1,600,000. RTN is one of the over 65 Round Tables all Occasionally, international sponsors and other Round over the world that are a part of Round Table Tables in Europe also support education projects in International. Round Table members meet regularly, Nepal through RTN. discuss and network with other Tablers across the In 2016, RTN is hosting a World Meet in Kathmandu globe. which more than 400 Tablers from different Round RTN has focused on schools through its Freedom Tables are expected to attend. Through Education to improve the quality of instruction Currently, the average age of Nepali members of in Nepal. Golchha explains: “Education is a priority RTN is around 37. Golchha hopes to bring this down sector that needs to be developed not just to make to twenties. He says: “We are continuously looking for children self-reliant, but also so it can be a catalyst for new members, sponsors and schools. Service through ROUND overall development of the country.” fellowships is not just a social engagement project, Rather than simply giving cash money as donations, it is making friends, networking and learning as RTN builds and upgrades infrastructure for schools all well.” over Nepal. Recently, in collaboration with Round Table Elvin L Shrestha TABLE NEPAL Switzerland, RTN raised Rs 2.5 million to build eight www.roundtablenepal.org Safa

afa Chaurasi Byanjan touts itself as being a truly Chaurasi Sauthentic Nepali restaurant, so imagine my surprise when the lewdly blown up posters displayed show pasta and French fries and Byanjan burgers galore. But then again what is truly Nepali cuisine? of restaurants in Kathmandu to your order. So there are things to On asking one of the owners serve ostrich, so we decided on recommend about Safa Chaurasi to explain this dichotomy the Grilled Ostrich with Chips Byanjan. And to be honest the between name and fare he told and Salad (Rs 999). The charred place was packed the evening I me that Chaurasi Byanjan refers (actually, burnt) three pieces of visited it. So will I be going back? to 84 varieties of food prepared ostrich meat were dry and burnt The answer, surprisingly, is yes… according to exacting traditional beyond redemption. The country only for their excellent dal bhat methods and dependent upon fries that came with the meat were thalis. recipes passed down generations. tasty even though they were burnt. Ruby Tuesday The restaurant opened seeking to I had asked for the Chef’s preserve these fast disappearing Special which was the intriguing How to get there: Safa Chaurasi methods of cooking and to remind sounding Apple Chicken (Rs 600). Byanjan is located between Naya customers of our rich culinary they caved in to the crushing indigenous varieties of rice and What was placed before me was a Baneshwor department store and heritage. In principle extremely pressure to provide momos and such. plate overflowing with a mound Everest bank on Madan Bhandari laudatory, but in practice thukpas and pizzas – fare that is The restaurant is in New of cheese rice, cubed chicken Road in New Baneshwor. impossible to sustain. To survive available in practically every other Baneshwor and is ‘truly’ Nepali in breast in a thick Manchurian style restaurant in Kathmandu. one sense at least - the complete gravy with boiled pieces of apple, So why visit this particular lack of any aesthetic sensibilities steamed vegetables, baby corn restaurant? Because, the to speak of. The main restaurant fritters, and a hollowed-out apple aforementioned owner informs is housed inside a large shed-like with a strange tasting dark sauce me, the vegetables are organically structure that could be emptied to in it. Your five servings of fruits farmed at their own farm in host banquets and receptions. The and vegetables for the day on one Lamatar, the meat available is all organic coffee station is housed in plate. I am still confused about halal and butchered in their own a bamboo structure painted green, the dish and I don’t like being abattoir, their fish is fresh and and the whole area is altogether confused about food. the rice is sourced directly from higgledy-piggeldy, ramshackle at Safa Chaurasi serves a Nepali farmers in the Tarai. They also best. There is parking enough for buffet lunch from 9.30am to 2pm. serve ostrich meat. Additionally, about 10 cars but the land isn’t They also make meat kattiya, in their attempt to provide fresh leveled. For a restaurant that isn’t a slow-cooked clay pot dish locally sourced food, they work even a year old, the aura is that of in a style that is indigenous to with small farmers and provide resignation at best, defeat at worst. Rautahat, but this requires you them a place to vendor their On to the food. They proudly to call in before-hand to place produce-fresh honey, yacons, said they were among a handful 14 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729

hen news broke of ‘sludging’ in the circulation of the fist fight between blood. CMS is also common among WSherpa guides and three the high mountain dwellers of international Alpine-style climbers South America. on last year, many From intrauterine life to were left astounded. After all, infancy to adulthood, Tibetans violence was something that seem to have a protective mechanism that helps them cope with altitude. The natural ability In the genes to adapt in high altitude when combined with training makes experienced climbers to summit derive their ancestry) population to Han Chinese parents may them able to perform difficult Mount Everest. The rescue teams and the recently-settled Han have pulmonary hypertension tasks like putting up ropes, setting DHANVANTARI that performed “long line” high Chinese population in the (increased blood pressure in the up camps, and other exertion- Buddha Basnyat, MD altitude rescues in the Annapurna Tibetan plateau. Tibetan women blood vessels of the lungs) leading related work better at high altitude and regions of the have generally uncomplicated to heart failure. This condition is areas. the world didn’t associate with Himalayas in the wake of last pregnancies compared to the seldom seen in a newborn Tibetan These physiological findings Sherpas, the mountain community week’s blizzards were comprised relatively complication-ridden infant. Even if a Han Chinese have been corroborated by known for their friendly and mainly of Sherpas. pregnancies of the Han Chinese infant survives childhood, she the molecular discovery of the helpful nature. Different versions This column will not extend women. In fact this problem is finds herself at a greater chance potentially protective hypoxia of the event debating how and on that debate further but so acute that most expectant to suffer from chronic mountain inducible factor (HIF) gene by Peter why the brawl happened and what look into what makes Sherpas Han Chinese women move to sickness (CMS). CMS is rarely seen Ratcliff and Greg Semenza. A flurry this would mean for the future of physiologically well-adapted to lower altitudes during the course in Tibetans. of medical reports has revealed mountaineering and tourism in performing arduous tasks like of their pregnancy for safer As opposed to acute mountain people with Tibetans ancestry Nepal emerged in the media soon fixing ropes at high altitudes. delivery. sickness (AMS) which is regularly possess the HIF gene, but not after. There is a sharp contrast It seems people of Tibetan seen in the Nepal Himalayas, CMS the Han Chinese. No wonder the Every spring season, the high in the adaptive mechanism origin are better adapted to is characterised by excessive Sherpas are agile in helping people altitude guides fix ropes, set up between high altitude Tibetan hypoxia (low oxygen) even red blood cells and leads to whether it is for guiding or rescue camps and pave the way for less (from whom the before their birth. Infants born heart failure and strokes due to operations in the Himalayas.

GIZMO by YANTRICK NOTED amsung’s fabled Galaxy Note series has the Note 3, because it is still 5.7 inches across. Both the rear and the front-facing cameras been credited with coining the term Forget the dimensions, the real distinction have increased pixel-counts to 16MP and 3.7MP S‘phablet,’ and rightly so. The Note series to be made here is how they have improved from 13MP and 2.0MP respectively. The inclusion proved that there was a huge market for the performance. As soon as you power it of an ‘Optical Image Stabilization’ mode results in oversized phones, and Galaxy Note phones up, the upgrade will strike you – visually at blur-free and incredibly detailed and rich images. are now the industry benchmark by which all fi rst. Screen resolution has been enhanced to Oh, and it also shoots videos in 4K resolutions. phablets are measured. Last year’s Note 3 was 2,650 X 1,440 pixels and the screen is an HD Other features include a fi ngerprint scanner a brilliant phone, packed with specifi cations and AMOLED (improved from the Note 3’s 1080p added security, and staples like the IR Blaster, features that put it on top of the smartphone pile. display), resulting in an incredibly detailed NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0 are also present. While With the Galaxy Note 4, it is safe to say Samsung 515 PPI display that is impressively bright, its 3220 mAh battery is almost identical to the has outdone the success of its superlative clear and sharp. Note 3’s 3200 mAH battery, the Note 4 in fact is predecessor. Running on Android 4.4 (KitKat), the Note more effi cient on usage: power now lasts a full Samsung phones have always packed in 4 has upgrades under the hood as well. It is day on a single charge. the latest specifications and features, but the powered by a 2.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon plastic build that they have been sticking with 805 processor and 3GB RAM, resulting in a Yantrick’s Verdict: Available in black, religiously over the years was always somewhat blazingly fast phone capable of handling the while, gold or pink, the Note 4 will of a letdown. However, the Note 4 has righted the Note series. most intense of multi-tasking, expertly proven cement its place at the top of the that wrong with a metal-rimmed smartphone The Note 4 retains its predecessor’s textured by the split-screen mode. The Note 4’s stylus, phablet pyramid. But because of its top- sporting silver accents around the rim and back which now also sports a heart-rate sensor. the S Pen, has also been altered, and is now of-the-range specs, it will also cost you buttons which look sharp. This helps to class up Size-wise, there is not much of a diff erence from more responsive and smoother than ever. upwards of Rs 85,000. 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 OPINION 15 going under-cover or silent sleuthing. Any Police Academy would teach that to its cadets, and ours should also include a class Good cop, bad cop in public relations and establish a protocol for talking to the public firmly, but politely. Lately, the police’s high- Nepal Police needs a overhaul in its behavior, not just its uniforms handedness has got a boost from the arbitrary and misguided e were sitting in G Café I put that question to advocate attempt by their boss-in-chief, in Baudha, enjoying Madhav Kumar Basnet. “The Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam Wthe glorious autumn police can’t enter into any at moral policing. He issued an weather with dozens of other restaurant or hotel without prior edict that Tihar celebrations tourists and young people. notice,” he replied, “and entering should end at 7PM (later amended Suddenly, there was a commotion a kitchen with a sniffer dog is to 9PM after a public outcry). outside and a group of police actually a breach of the law.” Check into a hotel with a entered the room with a sniffer That is a pertinent question female relative these days and dog in tow. at a time when the Nepal Police, the cops pounce on you – they which is the guardian of the law, come to the firm conclusion that seems to flout its own regulations you are with a prostitute. Even if by invading private space, she is a girlfriend, or a mistress treating everyone as guilty until what business is it of the police? proven innocent and randomly So what if a man and a woman stopping anyone on the street in are completing a transaction ON THE ROAD the name of security or alcohol of a sexual nature? They aren’t Guna Raj Luitel abuse by drivers. As the SAARC BIKRAM RAI building a bomb or plotting a Summit approaches, this paranoia terrorist attack, for god’s sake. about security is only going to get to ponder rampant abuse of it off or face a fine. There are good cops and The police wanted to go into worse. authority by Police which seems And yet, ear-piercing air horns bad cops, of course. And, to be the kitchen, but owner Vishwa A citizen or a business has to have become a law onto itself. blast the streets outside hospitals, fair, police at checkpoints have Maskey argued with them: “Pets the right to know why it is being Some of the measures taken by trucks on the Ring Road belch become more civil these days, are not allowed in the kitchen, searched, a warrant is necessary. Traffic Police against drinking acrid black carcinogenic diesel and don’t treat you as a criminal it’s against the law,” he said. The Law enforcement officials have and driving have yielded results, smoke and no one pulls them up. for just sitting in the driver’s police then climbed to the upper no right to just walk into private but there is an emphasis on We have an interesting seat. Recently, the Nepal Police floors, which was a residential property. So, Maskey went to the addressing petty infringements phenomenon in Nepal where the changed its uniform as part of its area, and inspected that too. neighbour police station to lodge like jay-walking and lane police aggressively tries to make image makeover. They should Maskey was furious. “Can a complaint. indiscipline when more serious its presence felt everywhere: know it doesn’t matter what they police just come inside your A senior policeman said he crimes go unpunished. whether it is barking rudely at the wear, what is important is how home or place of business had no idea why G Café had been Park buses on a public x-ray machine at the airport they behave, whether they follow without a warrant?” he asked. searched, but he had a hunch. sidewalk, and the syndicate faces (especially at migrant workers) the law, and whether they are A group of police entering a “Mathiko Adesh hunuparchha,” no punishment, but park your or being arrogant and abusive effective in busting the really home or business has a negative he said, using the catch-all motorcycle in the same space towards drivers for no reason serious crime in the capital. As impact on the owner in the term passing the buck to some and the police slaps a fine. One at all, it is as if the uniform is a Deng Xiao Ping said: “It doesn’t neighbourhood, and taints the unnamed higher-up authority motorcyclist who turned on license to be rude. matter whether a cat is black reputation of the innocent. When which allows police to get away his headlights in the daytime You don’t ensure security by or white, as long as it catches it is a restaurant, it can impact on with anything. for safety reasons was recently a heavy and visible presence, it is mice.” business. Maskey’s plight forces us stopped by a cop and told to turn done by melting into the crowd, @gunaraj 16 NATION 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 Where to

Gurkhas in Kathmandu whose Singaporean authors ask why their homes are crammed with jade merlions and other mementos. country treats Gurkha commandos who However, there is a sense of resentment building up about defend their country so shabbily pensions which haven’t kept up with inflation in Nepal. KUNDA DIXIT also have to leave Singapore with their families hen Chong Zi Liang Action Group and the Special when they retire. Children born was interning at Nepali Tactics and Reserve. and brought up in Singapore are WTimes in Kathmandu As portrayed in Kesang suddenly uprooted, and suffer 2009, he met young college Tseten’s 2012 documentary, dislocation in Nepal. What’s students who looked and behaved Who will be a Gurkha, more worse, although Nepali students like fellow Singaporeans, spoke than 15,000 young Nepali men could till recently study in English with a Singaporean lilt. aspire to be Gurkhas, and after a Singapore, Gurkha children still But they were not from gruelling selection process, only don’t get student visas to go back. Singapore. They were sons and 400 are chosen every year. One Chong hints that it is perhaps daughters of Nepalis who had hundred of these are actually for the British officers who command served in the Gurkha Contingent the Singapore Gurkha Contingent. the Gurkha Contingent who of the Singapore Police Force, and As Chong cites in his book, lack sensitivity to deal with the had returned to Nepal. Chong’s there is no formal agreement Nepalis. Which may have been journalistic instincts kicked in, between Nepal and Singapore the reason behind a serious brawl and after profiling them for this about Gurkha recruitment, between new Gurkha recruits and newspaper he went on to do a and the Singapore government their British officers at Mount final year project, and finally a subcontracts their selection to Vernon in 2008. book on them. the British Army. British officers Gurkha children born in “I was struck by how alike command and manage the Singapore are not entitled to we were, they were exactly like Contingent in Mount Vernon in Singaporean citizenship, and my friends from school,” Chong Singapore. many Singaporeans themselves recalled. After four years shuttling feel this is unjust. Architect between the two countries and Richard Ho, who wanted to hire many interviews later, Chong Nirmal Rana, born of Gurkha and his classmate from Nanyang parents in Singapore, found out Technological University, he couldn’t. Chong quotes Ho as Zakaria Zainal, have produced saying: “I felt ashamed that my The Invisible Force: Singapore country treats people like this.” Gurkhas -- an intimate and Kaji Thapa, who was born endearing portrait of Gurkhas and in Singapore in 1955, finally got their families, their hopes and his residence card in 2010 after aspirations, and their nostalgia for a long, hard legal battle even Singapore. though many foreigners can get Chong, who now works for PR after staying for just five years. the digital edition of The Straits As Singaporeans, Chong and The Invisible Force Times, finally found a publisher Zainal feel passionately about (Ethos Books) and The Invisible Singapore Gurkhas this, and want to correct the Force was launched recently in Chong Zi Liang injustice with their book. Singapore. with Zakaria Zainal Chong’s own words resound “The Gurkha involvement with Ethos books, 2014 Singapore as a cry for fairness: “What does it Singapore is more than 65 years 90 pages, illustrated say when we repay such devotion old, it is older than independent www.ethosbooks.com.sg by saying no to their requests to Singapore itself,” Chong said remain among us?” in an interview soon after the After the Japanese capture As for the Gurkhas, the words book launch. “This is a story that of Singapore in 1942, Gurkhas of one elderly veteran of the anti- needed to be told because so few played an important role in the communist war of the 1960s in Singaporeans are aware of the British counterattack, and after Malaya, whom Chong interviews Gurkhas.” the war the Gurkhas were once in Kathmandu, says it all: “I love Although the number of more deployed to fight Maoist Singapore. I am ready to go back Gurkhas in the British Army has guerrillas in the jungles of and die for Singapore.” gone down, in Singapore it has Malaya. Since then, they helped grown from 700 in 1990 to 2,000 quell race riots in the 1960s, and as the Nepali soldiers take on in the konfrontasi with Indonesia. nepalitimes.com more tasks in guarding important Chong and Zainal interview „ Becoming their fathers, #637 „ Invisible force, #511 facilities, and serve in the Special scores of retired Singapore 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 NATION 17 be a Gurkha?

SINGAPORE VETS (pictures from the book, clockwise from left): The poster on Sergeant Lal Ale’s fridge in Kathmandu reminds him of his favourite beer during his time in Singapore from 1978 to 2004. Singapore-born Umesh Rana and Dino Gurung hang out at Darbar Marg in Kathmandu. Tulsi Gurung served from 1951 to 1972, a tumultous phase in Singapore’s history. Staff Sergeant Chandra Gurung with a picture of an award a few years before his retirement. Chandra Gurung in Singapore Police Force uniform before retirement in 1988. Corporal Ishor Thapa served from 1978 to 2004, and got a job in Iraq after retiring.

ALL PICS: CHONG ZI LIANG 18 FROM THE NEPALI PRESS 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 The country beyond the clouds is a story by Narayan Dhakal. I don’t know it by heart but I make things up along the way. The country Teacher, teacher is a utopia, a kind of Ram Rajya with social welfare, because I want the students to get inspired and do what is moral. The students Bijay Mani Poudel in setopati.com, “Look, sir. I’ve made a bulb light itself using want to know when the serialised story will 21 October this circuit.” be over. Two years, I say. They say, please I see he has made this circuit out of an finish this story before you go. old switch and a torchlight bulb. Hoisal is The science story is based on a children’s It is seven in the morning and I am returning excited that if you put more batteries serially, book by Stephen Hawking and his daughter from the shed. The shed is a cow-pen this makes the light brighter. We do other Lucy’s work. Again, I take artistic licence. converted into a hostel for students who are such experiments and end by discussing When I tell them about weightlessness in giving their SLC exams next April. Abdul Kalam. space they are all ears. When I show them There is no one around the snaking On to Grade 9, also known as Fluorine, a video about zero gravity, their amazement foot trail, only nettle bushes on both sides. at the third bell. The students want to sing knows no bounds. The story of Bhagat Two days ago Miraj was asking if we could Buddhi Krishna Lamichhane’s Pindhi ma Bahadur, a story I wrote about the struggles Rabindra Manandhar in Nepal, 19 October generate electricity from the acid present in basera merai aama rudi hun. Today we are of a child somehow matches with an Indian nettles. In reply I gave him a galvanometer discussing Darwin. I let them interpret it in film called I am Kalam.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK so he could find it out for himself. No results their own way. Some write stories, some The fifth bell takes me back to Grade yet. write songs, some even poems about 10. We start with Subhas Chandra Bose, At 9:15 the first bell sounds for a Grade evolution. Bhim Maya has written a dohori although we are revising our lesson about We never wished for“ federalism. It is the 10 coaching class, which we’ve labelled song about the extinction of dinosaurs to the the universe. The sixth bell is for Grade 6, “ foreigners who put upon us the heavy burden Faraday. The students begin the day singing, tune of Lalupate jharyo bhui tira, which all of called ‘Newton’. The students want to sing of federalism. Yo mann ta mero Nepali ho. I write the dates us sing to end the class. Hami dherai sana chhaun, hamro mutu sano in English and Nepali and then a saying by The fourth bell signals my free hour chha before we discuss photosynthesis. I take Rastriya Janamorcha Chairman Chitra Bahadur K.C, Annapurna Gandhi: “In a gentle way, you can shake the which I spend walking around the school. them out to a tree and ask them how plants Post, 20 October world.” We spend some time discussing Grade 5 students are playing marbles in the eat. They have their own opinions, but most Gandhi. field. Their class teacher is out in the sun, of them say plants make their own food. But where is the stove? Everyone laughs. I tell them about stomata, xylem, phloem and chlorophyll. At the end of class everyone shows me their diary. Amrit’s letters are too bold, I tell him to be lighter with his pen. To Norsang I say drawing a diko over the letters is like roofing a house – the rain will get in if you don’t have a roof. Young This is the end of my day. Or it should be. But again I see Grade 10 idling about, the economics teacher is absent. So I take them in and do something productive. The final mothers bell rings. In the staff room, they are talking about a Dhruba BC, Rajdhani, 20 October student who has eloped. I return to my own room. Why did Suntali elope? Later I find out this was arranged by a sister-in-law. It’s ACHHAM: This week, Laxmi BK of Binayak became a mother SUNIR PANDEY a custom around here: first you elope, later at only 15. The district hospital said her delivery was normal you get married. Although there has been a but her newborn hardly weighs one and a half kilos. In the same We are learning about sound and echoes idling with her child. I have never seen her revolution in our politics, our culture is still delivery room was Rekha BK, 17, of Mangalsen, who suffered from today. I take them out to the terraces and teach. But the principal never bats an eyelid, the same. contractions for a whole day before giving birth. instruct them to empty their lungs shouting. maybe he is intimidated. I return to our shed in the evening. “Although the conditions of these two and their children are Expectedly, the echo returns. Everyone is It’s the same with the resource person Jyameng has brought me some rayo saag and stable, not every teenage mother is as lucky,” says staff nurse puzzled. Ashok, leaning on the utis tree, and the school regulator. In fact, both jobs a long stalk of sugarcane. Pradip gives me Ganga Budha Magar. In the last year alone Magar saw 43 cases of wonders why we don’t hear echoes in flat are handled by one person, an utterly some bojho. I make them practice Maths, miscarriages, all from teen mothers. places. resource-less man whom I’ve seen only twice Science, English, and Social Studies. The numbers are startling: 412 women out of 861 who came for At the end of class, Surbir, who has at school. Once he wanted to collect some At midnight, I read a page and go to assisted delivery at the district hospital and Bayalpata Hospital in been declared ‘journalist of the year’, pipes statistics for the new term, another time he sleep on a straw bed, inside the shed. July and August were teenagers. There are no guarantees that teenage up: “Sir, please let us sing Namsa Namsa.” wanted to log the coordinates of this Outside, and on the roof, there is the rush brides aren’t giving birth at other health facilities or at home. This is a Tamang language translation of the place into a GPS. of rain. popular song Gaun gaun bata utha. Soon they I take Grade 5 away from their marbles, begin singing it in Nepali, Tamang and even even though they are not my responsibility. Bijay Mani Poudel works for Teach for Nepal. Maithili. Madan wants to hear the story about the At the second bell, I go to Grade 8 aka country beyond the clouds. Yasodhara wants Oxygen. The students start by singing Gopal to hear the science story I related to Grade 7. nepalitimes.com Prasad Rimal’s Rato ra chandra surya. Scientist Basna Maya has another request – the story „ Teaching for the future, #694 of the year Bisham brings out his homework: of Bhagat Bahadur. Oli bites

Nagarik, 21 October

UML Chairman KP Oli on Pushpa Kamal According to the Regional Health Directorate (RHD) in Dipayal, Dahal: an increasing number of young mothers are signing up for maternity “We made him the head of HLPC on facilities in the Far West. Almost 11,000 teenagers (out of a regional the condition that he would help us pass total of 38,224) came for safe deliveries in the last 12 months, among the constitution. Then he sides with the whom 38 mothers and 1,086 babies died from complications. opposition and shows his dual character.” Health workers here are satisfied they’ve been able to convince “We have a clear two-thirds majority, so women from remote places to turn up for institutional deliveries, but we will pass the constitution on the strength teenage weddings are out of their control. RHD stats show up to 37 of our numbers if they don’t agree with us.” per cent of girls in the Far West get pregnant in their teens. “We agreed to six states if the Maoists The health of both mother and child is at higher risk when young were willing to cooperate, else it’s going to couples have children without gaps between each child. Jaumati be four.” Sunar (pic) of Sera is only 17 but already has two sons. “We will not let them separate the fertile “If this continues, we will have trouble achieving the millennium Tarai from the barren hills.” development goal of reducing infant mortality rate to 16 per 1,000 “You think 22 parties can sabotage live births,” says Siddharaj Bhatta, a health assistant at RHD. constitution writing by assembling 2,000 people? How can you ask for referendum just because four leaders failed?” “One man’s selfishness can’t put the nepalitimes.com country’s interests at risk, so Dahal can stop „ Phone engaged, #721 deluding himself.” „ Stunted development, #719 BIKRAM RAI „ Nepali Ama, #240, 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 NATION 19

Memories of terror in Madi A decade after the bomb that killed 36 bus passengers, survivors are abandoned by the state and suffer physical and mental trauma

PICS: NARAYAN DHUNGANA

NARAYAN DHUNGANA deaf from the blast is listed under is having to single-handedly the blast but authorities at the THE UNDEAD: Mankumari Chhetri and In CHITWAN ‘minimal injury/disabled’ and care for all three members of her district administration in 2005 said her son, Ashish who is not eligible for received Rs 52,000, which she says family and herself. All she got he was making things up. Later compensation because he is officially listed was a pittance. was Rs 40,000 eight years ago. the CDO told him they lost his as ‘dead’. ine years after the Maoists When Man Kumari wrote “I spend every day feeling file. Ishwari resubmitted papers bombed a passenger bus in to the PRM in November 2007 financially and psychologically in 2008, but these were again Bishnumaya BK with her children, showing NChitwan’s Madi region, the about a scholarship for her son, bankrupt. How can we live like lost. He tried a third time in 2012 her leg wounds. Her husband was survivors and victims’ families are she was rebuffed. Five years this?” asks Bishnumaya. and was instructed to go to the psychologically affected by the bomb and still dealing with psychological later, she got the local Peace Ganga Bahadur Gurung of PRM in Kathmandu. This year, often turns violent. trauma and economic hardship. Committee to write to the Chitwan Ayodhyapuri was injured when Ishwari was told there were no For survivors, the biggest district office about her son, but he tried to help the survivors at war survivor files registered in his Lalshri Gurung shows the picture of her son, challenge is still getting state the administration ignored the the scene of the blast. He thought name. By then he had spent more Ganga Bahadur, to her grand-daughter. recognition of the permanent request. After a prolonged battle it was just a flesh wound but than Rs 30,000 just to prove his Ganga Bahadur suffered mental trauma from physical disabilities they against an apathetic bureaucracy one and a half years later, he injuries were legitimate. the blast and committed suicide. suffered from the massive Ashish, now 13, got an annual Rs suddenly started suffering from Laxmi Poudel had her five- bomb. Compensation has been 34,000 scholarship. But mental illness. Then month-old daugher Prasiddhi on distributed, but selectively and officially he is still listed his father died and her lap and was travelling in the Rs 150,000 each for the two, but money has long gone. as dead. while he was going to bus with her grandmother when nothing for another grandson Ashish Chhetri (pic, above) was For a decade, the Dhading for the funeral, the bomb went off. Prasiddhi who was injured. His son Prem, six years old and accompanying survivors has suffered he jumped into the was thrown off the bus and was frustrated by the bureaucracy and his mother Man Kumari to hospital physical and mental Gandaki and drowned found near the river. She is now 10 obstacles ran away from home. in Bharatpur on the fateful day trauma from the attack, himself. and cannot walk, she has trouble Lekhnath Adhikari, the deputy- in 2004. Authorities found but their families “My son became studying and has nightmares. chairman of the Badarmudhe mother and son thrown onto the have also suffered mad because of the She never got any help from the Attack Victims Committee, spent riverbank and rushed them to the indirectly. Tired of PEACE long-term effect of the government. nine months in bed recovering emergency. Man Kumari woke up waiting for government BUILDING bus bomb, God knows Sita Subedi of Ayodhyapuri from his injuries. He was on a after 12 hours of intensive care, compensation, how many other people was injured while her husband wheel chair for another year-and- but Ashish was in a coma for two Purna Bahadur Gharti GC sold will end up like him,” says his Atmaram and daughter Anjila half and four years on crutches. He weeks. Today Ashish has a scar his land to pay for the Rs 300,000 mother. died. At a program held at the has spent Rs 600,000 on medical around his head like the rim of a needed for treatment of his Although the government Badarmudhe site to mark the ninth bills, with no help from the state. saucer and says he gets constant injuries. As a result, he now says 52 people were injured anniversary of the blast earlier this Says Adhikari: “If the headaches and has difficulty cannot afford to send his son and in the blast, the local victims year, she was visibly distraught government refuses to remember studying. daughter to college. committee has built a monument and traumatised.Sita says she has us victims of the Madi bomb In Kathmandu, records at the When Bishnumaya BK’s at the site, where an additional fainted while crossing the river to even now, God knows how many Peace and Reconstruction Ministry husband, Chandra, found his wife 23 people are listed as injured. travel to Bharatpur. Sita’s name is tragedies will follow.” (PRM) have Ashish at number 39 and 11-month-old son amidst None of them have received on the list of insurgency victims at (Centre for Investigative on the list of those who died in the wreckage of the bombed compensation. When they go to the PRM in Kathmandu, but she Journalism) the blast, which is why he was out bus, he was psychologically district administration office in has not received a paisa. not eligible for any compensation scarred and is still unbalanced. He Bharatpur to make their case, Seventy-six-year-old Man and medical costs that survivors often turns violent, and once beat bureaucrats accuse them of lying. Bahadur Baraili lost his daughter- nepalitimes.com are entitled to. His mother, who up his other son so badly he has Ishwari Prasad Poudel in-law and grandson in the blast. „ Memories of mass murder, #301 „ Nine years later, still in shock, #713 was badly wounded and became head injuries. Today, Bishnumaya and his wife were injured in He received compensation of 20 BACK SIDE 24 - 30 OCTOBER 2014 #729 www.nepalitimes.com www.nepalitimes.com

Worshipping the national animal PAST PRESENT FUTURE DIWAKAR CHETTRI

If we don’t reach an ancient Egyptians who even built agreement today, we will pyramids to immortalise their spend three days at a resort dead pets. Giza has three of them: over Tihar. Please bring your cards, comrades. one for Fido, one for Fucche and one for Lucky. Then comes Friday, which is Guy Puja and is set aside for none other than the holy cow. This is the day when you can call your boss a cow and mean it as a compliment. During the monarchy days, the cow was our national animal but in the new federal secular constitution we have it on good authority that the cow will be replaced by the ome of the more discerning them a plethora of sweetmeats donkey. Ahem. among you readers may which they totally ignore because Nevertheless, cattle still have Shave realised by now that (despite its name) a sweetmeat is the right of way in the major we are in the midst of celebrating vegetarian and the crows would throughfares of the capital and this is yet another festival. After killing much rather dine on a plethora an indication of the reverence we still and eating anything that moved of rotting cadavers. But it’s the accord our ex-national animal. over Dasain, we are now in Tihar, thought that counts, and how No other animals, not even those the festival in which we worship appropriate that at least once a sitting in the High Level Political anything that moves. In fact, with year we recognise the valuable Mechanism have as much Pashupati Nath as the patron deity assistance that crows provide to priority as Kathmandu’s urban of our secular federal republic, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City livestock. The prime minister’s Nepal’s zoological society has as volunteer scavengers and honour motorcade, on its way to the by now appeased the vehicles them in nationally-televised Gokarna retreat this week for a of all our gods and goddesses by ceremonies. last-ditch attempt to write a new worshipping the animals in us. Thursday is when we can say constitution, had to make a slight One indication of the “Oh my dog!” and actually mean detour into the sidewalk when considerable respect and devotion it literally. This is the day we have a bovine traffic island at Chabel we shower on our fellow creatures set aside to worship man’s best refused to budge despite sirens and is evidenced in the way we friend and to reward with treats commandos armed to the teeth. So, pamper the higher mammals by Fido, Fuchhe and Lucky for being we aren’t bullshitting when we say allowing them free access to our around when we need them most that we still care about cows. national highways and street to provide us with security in these In conclusion, and on behalf of intersections. Every year, this troubled times by yowling non-stop all the animals who feel left out this adulation for our four-legged and all night at everyone in general and Tihar, let me assure them that feathered friends reaches a climax no one in particular. they are not forgotten. Ours is an at Tihar when we set aside one But disregarding our own inclusive people’s democratic day for specialised attention to personal discomfort and sleep republic now and this means all each of them. deprivation, on Wednesday animals great and small have the We started on Tuesday with we got up at the crack of dawn right. to their own day of veneration. National Crow Day to honour on Dog Day to round up the So, from next year’s Tihar, by Yamaraj’s roving ambassador and neighbourhood dingo pack and presidential decree, we shall also plenipotentiary. Devotees get up feed them body parts of fellow mark Musa Tihar, early in the morning and travel animals, resisting the temptation House Fly Day, the to the banks of the Bagmati to lace it with pulverised sleeping Day of the Vultures where crows can be found pills. This veneration of our and the partaking of their communal nocturnal canine choir has a long Ass Puja Day. breakfast on the city’s choicest and glorious tradition that has garbage. We then proceed to offer been passed down to us from the The Ass

CDO Regd No 194/056/57 Lalitpur, Central Region Postal Regd. No 09/066/67