WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 117 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 35.4 C 13.5 C Sunday, June 21, 2020 | 07-03-2077 Dhangadi Jomsom All-male Secretariat decides on citizenship, an issue that largely concerns women If the ruling Nepal Communist Party does not take steps to make its committees more inclusive, its decisions could lose moral authority, women leaders say.

TIKA R PRADHAN parties with five days to come to a KATHMANDU, JUNE 20 decision. While many in the ruling party are An all-male ruling party Secretariat in favour of the Secretariat’s decision, has decided on an issue that largely the party’s women leaders have taken concerns the interest of women. an exception to the fact that the deci- A Saturday meeting of the sion was taken by an all-male coterie Nepal Communist Party (NCP)’s of rulers, especially when the decision Secretariat decided that foreign women directly affects women. married to Nepali men would only “Our party’s existing structure be eligible for naturalised citizenship neither follows its own documents after seven years and once they nor national and international com- had provided proof of renouncing mitments,” Binda Pandey, a ruling their earlier citizenship. party lawmaker and rights activist, There was no discussion on the pro- told the Post. vision for foreign men married to “Women-free zones are not accept- Nepali women. able to Nepali society any more.” According to Clause 5.1 of the According to Pandey, the ruling Citizenship Act, foreign women are party needs to undertake more efforts immediately eligible for citizenship to make its decision-making more upon marriage to a Nepali man inclusive, especially when it comes to while there are no provisions for a for- issues that directly affect certain com- eign man who marries a Nepali munities. woman, requiring foreign men to Women leaders said that while spend a minimum of 15 years in Nepal they had no issue with the party’s before being eligible to apply for natu- decision per se, they believe that the ralised citizenship. discussion itself is problematic An amendment bill to change these since it only discussed how foreign provisions has been in discussion at women could gain citizenship and not Parliament for the last two years, with foreign men. no conclusion. Whatever decision is taken must On Thursday, the parliamentary apply equally to both males and POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA State Affairs and Good Governance females, said Pandey. People shield themselves with an umbrella during the showers in Kathmandu on Saturday. Committee provided the political >> Continued on page 5 When Oli speaks before Parliament, there is no telling what he will say Political commentators say the prime minister tends to address Parliament like he is speaking to his party cadres, veering off topic, cracking jokes and even ridiculing others.

BINOD GHIMIRE point. But Speakers generally loathe KATHMANDU, JUNE 20 to call out the prime minister for two reasons, said Ranabhat. One, it is Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli likes expected that the executive head of to ramble. His public persona is that the country will not make unsubstan- of a people’s person, someone tiated comments, and two, Speakers who cracks jokes, makes off-hand are afraid of angering the prime min- remarks and is always ready with an ister, who is often their party boss. YOUR FUTURE ukhan-tukka, a folksy saying. That Prime ministers usually hold higher style of public speaking had endeared positions in the party and Speakers him to the public even while masking return to party politics after their the very serious consequences of his five-year tenure is over. statements. “Ours is not a mature democracy, Oli’s style of speaking might have nor do we have a long parliamentary been tailor-made for the political cir- history. We, therefore, see Speakers HAS IT ALL cuit but in Parliament, it has wasted staying loyal to the prime minister of time and put a damper on the House the party they belong to,” Ranabhat business, say political analysts. Oli told the Post. tends to ramble for hours and veer off Ranabhat said that the prime minis- The University of Adelaide is ranked topic, often resorting to lectures on ter, while speaking in Parliament, subjects he personally knows needs to understand that he is not just in the top 1% of universities globally, little about. addressing lawmakers but also the with our graduates’ employability skills Hari Roka, a political citizenry and even international commentator, said that Oli observers. amongst the highest in Australia. As a doesn’t seem to differenti- “The way Oli speaks in Parliament member of Australia’s prestigious Group ate between Parliament might suit his personality but it and party meetings. doesn’t suit the executive head of of Eight research-intensive universities, “In most cases, Oli is Nepal,” he said. all our degrees and courses - whether wasting crucial parliamen- Political analysts too say that tary time making unnecessary state- addressing Parliament is markedly delivered on campus or online - ensure ments that have no basis,” Roka told different from speaking before party our students gain deep discipline the Post. “He doesn’t seem to care cadres. Members of Parliament gener- about parliamentary decorum.” ally have specific queries and require knowledge and broad transferable On June 10, Oli got up before the focussed, evidence-based discussions capabilities to explore every future House of Representatives to answer rather than political speech-making. queries on the new budget, but “But Oli seems to be guided by the opportunity. instead, he spent a significant amount perception that controversial remarks of time talking about the coronavirus are necessary to command attention,” and the “immunity” of Nepalis. said Krishna Pokharel, a Tribhuvan Get started with us online in 2020 and When opposition lawmaker Gagan University professor of Political we look forward to welcoming you onto Thapa questioned Oli, asking him for Science. “However, it is true that when the scientific evidence behind his speaking in Parliament, one must our beautiful, green campus in 2021. claims, Oli openly ridiculed a sitting focus on what they are trying to say.” Member of Parliament, and his party Oli often arrives at Parliament with members laughed. Public health sheafs of notes but he doesn’t read off experts have categorically denied any a script and tends to improvise as he medical or scientific basis for Oli’s goes along. This can lead to the prime APPLY TODAY, claims that Nepalis have stronger POST ILLUSTRATION: DEEPAK GAUTAM minister getting sidetracked for an FORAPPLY A FUTURE TODAY RICH WITH POTENTIAL. immune systems. hour, rambling about something that Again, a week later, when he Assembly on Thursday, Oli once again struck his head rather than what he adelaide.edu.au appeared before the National veered off topic for over two hours came to discuss. and made more unsubstantiated But Pokharel too agreed with claims about the benefits of tur- Ranabhat, saying that rather than an meric, ginger and garlic and how Oli problem, this is a problem with the their consumption would pre- immaturity of Nepal’s parliamentary vent Covid-19. There is, once practice, which is largely to be expect- again, no evidence that turmer- ed since no Parliament has functioned ic, ginger or garlic ward off smoothly in recent memory and no Covid-19, although they do have government has served its full term. proven health benefits. “It is a tragedy that there have been According to former House some prime ministers who tried to speaker Tara Nath Ranabhat, it avoid the House,” said Pokharel. “And CRICOS No. 00123M is the responsibility of the then there are those like Oli who can’t Speaker to rein in the prime seem to stop making unnecessarily minister if he doesn’t stick to his long speeches.”

C M Y K SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY

Inside the Post Quote of the day

When Oli speaks before Parliament, there is National no telling what he will say, Page 1 Laxmi was working as a domestic help for three families to support her own fam- ily of four before the government enforced a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Soon after the lockdown was put in place, Laxmi found “In most cases, Oli is wasting crucial herself out of work. parliamentary time making unnecessary statements that have no basis. He Opinion The stories of people with longing and passion for returning home to escape doesn’t seem to care about Covid-19 are not imbued with lyrical imagination. It’s a grim reality. But deep down, the ruling passions is the same—returning home. parliamentary decorum.” Hari Roka, a political commentator, on Money Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Apple’s Friday decision to close stores in four states with surging coronavirus cases highlights a question that other businesses may soon face: Stay open or prepare for more shutdowns? Most read online World The World Health Organization warned Friday of a “new and dangerous phase” Police arrest in-laws over death of Hetauda woman of the coronavirus pandemic, as infections continued to surge in the Americas, with Brazil registering more than one million cases. Police have arrested a man and his daughter in connection with the gruesome death of a woman in Hetauda on Tuesday. The death of Susmita Kc, 26, which has triggered discussions on social media, could be a case of murder, investiga- Culture & Arts tors and kin of the woman say while the in-laws of the deceased say she might When fitness and dance instructor Keshav Thapa, along with his team of four have killed herself. dancers and two technical helpers, reached one of the quarantine centres in Surkhet on Wednesday morning, people rushed excitedly out of their rooms onto Ruling party’s virtual meeting with the Chinese Communist an open space in the centre. Party draws widespread criticism for being ill-timed A one-day virtual workshop held between the communist parties of Nepal and China has drawn widespread criticism from both ruling and opposition leaders for coming at a time when relations between India and China are at a critical News Quiz juncture after a violent clash along the disputed border in Ladakh.

1. A one-day virtual workshop a. Schools POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI The lockdown has put an end to all sex work and pushed between the communist parties b. Banks A man passes through a barrier installed to carry out road repair works at Mangalbazaar in sex workers into poverty of Nepal and China was organ- c. NGOs Lalitpur on Saturday. On March 11, when the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandem- ised by which department of d. Recruiting agencies ic and health professionals started stressing the importance of maintaining the ruling party? physical distancing to curb the spread of the infection, the sex industry, whose a. Central Committee 4. What is the maximum number main selling point is physical intimacy, was dealt a huge blow. b. Politburo committee of people allowed to gather in c. Secretariat religious and cultural events ? On this day in history d. School department a. 25 Government bars movement of people and b. 15 vehicles from 10pm to 5am c. 20 Mayawati confirmed new CM of UP d. 30 The government has issued a series of directives, including restricting the LUCKNOW - A woman from the Hindu “untouchable” caste was confirmed as movement of people and vehicles from 10 pm to 5 am, as part of its strategy to 5. The Nepal Communist Party chief minister of India’s most populous state here on Tuesday following two- ease the lockdown in different stages. The directives come four days after the has decided to allow natural- and-a-half weeks of political drama verging on the bizarre. government decided to gradually ease the lockdown from June 15, and following ised citizenship to foreign Mayawati, 39, received 249 votes in the 425-seat assembly of Uttar Pradesh to the issuance of Lockdown Security Standards-2020 on Friday. women married to Nepali men become the first woman chief minister of the sprawling northern state and the POST PHOTO after how many years? first from the bottom rung on the Hindu caste ladder. a. 6 Mayawati, who heads the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP, Majority Socialist 2. When did the government b. 10 Party), won a majority in the legislature by joining forces with the Hindu reviv- decide to cancel this year’s SEE c. 8 alist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People’s Party). due to Covid-19 pandemic? d. 7 A law graduate and member of the upper house of the federal parliament, she Corrections a. June 10 pledged following her victory to “work for every section of society”. b. June 15 6. Which former Barcelona player Our reporters and editors do their best to make sure our reporting is free from c. June 5 has been ordered by a Spanish The Kathmandu Post errors. But when we make mistakes that warrant correction, we will be transparent d. June 7 Court to pay 6.7m euros to the June 21, 1995 and clarify at the bottom of the specific article. club? If you believe we have got something wrong and it requires correction, please 3. The Social Welfare Council has a. Andres Iniesta email us at [email protected] with “correction” in the subject line. urged which sector to invest in b. Neymar Answers to News Quiz: 1(d), 2(a), 3(c), 4(b), 5(d), 6(b) For the most recent corrections, visit kathmandupost.com/corrections. the management of quarantine c. Eric Abidal centres and isolation wards? d. Carles Puyol HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) CANCER (June 22-July 22) LIBRA (September 23-October 22) CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) *** *** **** **** Perseverance takes patience, but it rewards you Sure, being diplomatic is wonderful and all, but You could be the recipient of some significant Take this day off from heavy-duty thinking. It’s with more than you can ever imagine. Right today you shouldn’t feel like you have to mince kindness today, but there might be some strings time to slow down the pace and put your family now, you need to just keep going. Stick with your words, especially with the people who are attached. Some people see you as a ticket to get and friends first. Send some messages to the things long enough and eventually they’ll start jerking you around. These folks need to know them where they want to be. But what they people you care about most. Let them know to make sense. Thereafter, everything you do that you aren’t going to put up with any more don’t know is that you’re smarter than the aver- what’s up in your life, and ask about what’s will have much more purpose. Even the things baloney. It’s a good time to flex your muscles age person, and you aren’t going to let them fool going on with them. One or two people could that used to confuse you will suddenly click in a and step into a bigger power position. you. Just play along. have some exciting news to share. whole new way today.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) LEO (July 23-August 22) SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** ***** ** *** You may have a little bit of extra money in your No matter how unlikely success might seem Wear your thick skin today, because you could Don’t let your appreciation for someone else’s account right now, but don’t spend it. It needs to from where you’re standing right now, amazing get some criticism that isn’t very constructive. accomplishment turn into jealousy today. The stay there! It’s much wiser to play it cool and things can happen. You can’t give up hope! But none of what you’re told will get deep grass is not necessarily greener. Before you start keep your finances for that rainy day that you Think positively, because you know deep in your enough to really sting. Most comments will be coveting what they have, you need to remind know will come. You should play it conserva- heart that the game isn’t over and you still have somewhat reasonable, but if someone has some yourself that what is right for them might not be tively in all areas of your life right now, includ- plenty of energy to keep going. What you need is feedback that strikes you as particularly abra- right for you. It can be hard to feel content with ing a developing relationship. still out there, and you will find it. sive, take it with a grain of salt. your own life, but you have to try.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) VIRGO (August 23-September 22) SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) PISCES (February 19-March 20) **** *** *** *** You can’t let silly little spats blow out of propor- If you’re feeling confused right now, distracting The people you will get along the best with You could find it very rewarding to explore some tion today. Peace must be maintained, no matter yourself from all the conflicting emotions you’re today are the thinkers and planners. Given the aspect of culture today, whether it’s art, music, how much you have to compromise to make it working through would be a wise idea. Have a mental state you’re in right now, you won’t or fiction, you’ll be sucked into the experience happen. A particularly combative person has good time doing something silly. Watch a goofy have much patience for flighty folks who are all immediately. Seeing, hearing, or reading some- been kicking up a lot of dust, but they won’t be movie or do some online shopping. Move these about feelings and creativity. You won’t be will- one’s artistic expressions will inspire new ideas the rabble-rouser today. Don’t assume you know emotions out of your mind for a few hours and ing to bend to the will of people, but you might in you. Plus, you’ll get a wonderful sense of how things are going to be. you can return to them later with a clearer head. change your mind about something. community.

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 03 | SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 NATIONAL Out-of-job domestic workers are struggling Shortage of excise for survival even as lockdown is relaxed stickers likely to deepen Up to 85 percent of domestic workers lost their jobs during the lockdown—and now there is no safety net for them. after Indonesian company

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL mented. When you have workers in KATHMANDU, JUNE 20 such a situation, then we can see fails to sign contract the impact of Covid-19 situation Laxmi was working as a domestic help much, much higher,” said Richard for three families to support her own Howard, director of the ILO Country family of four before the government Office for Nepal. Authorities look for alternatives as they can’t issue fresh enforced a nationwide lockdown to “They have faced salary cuts or not prevent the spread of coronavirus. been paid or could not reach the work- bids or award the contract to the second-ranked bidder. Soon after the lockdown was put in place due to the lockdown. The Covid- place, Laxmi found herself out of 19 situation shows that we must take PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA to the court,” the official said. “Until work. “The families who employed care of those vulnerable workers.” KATHMANDU, JUNE 20 the court clears this legal challenge, me asked me not to come to work out According to the participants of we cannot issue fresh bids for the of the fear of the coronavirus infec- the interaction, the government Officials at the Inland Revenue exercise stickers,” said Shivadevi tion,” Laxmi said. should change its lens of seeing only Department, which has been reeling Dahal, another deputy director gener- Though one of Laxmi’s employers construction workers as informal sec- under a shortage of excise stickers al at the department. eventually called her back to work, the tor workers and pay attention to and that go on alcohol and tobacco prod- The tax authority failed to complete wage she is earning now is not enough give due recognition to domestic work- ucts sold in Nepal, heaved a sigh of the bidding process after the Supreme for her to look after her family. ers as well. relief in February after the Supreme Court in November last year, issued a “I work for one family now and Makhamala Pathak, a domestic Court verdict allowed them to resusci- stay order against the procurement they have even provided me with a worker and a trade union leader asso- tate plans to buy such stickers. plan and the order was lifted on place to stay. The rent is covered by my ciated with the GEFONT, said even But the relief was short-lived as February 24. Various Nepali printing work as a domestic help, but it’s diffi- after the lockdown has been relaxed, Perusahaan Umum Percetakan Uang companies had moved court against cult to take care of my other personal many domestic workers were still out Republik Indonesia (Perum Peruri), the plan. and family needs after losing the other of work and without money. the Indonesian company selected to Meanwhile, the department’s stock two jobs.” “A large number of domestic work- supply the stickers in March, didn’t of stickers has been depleted. As per Things have become particularly ers are also single women and the sole show up to sign a contract with the the law, excise stickers need to be past- hard for Laxmi because her husband breadwinner for the families. They department. ed on liquor and tobacco products also lost her job during the lockdown. are still waiting for their salaries as “The Indonesian company has before they are sold in the market. The couple has two school-going SHUTTERSTOCK the lockdown was announced without failed to show up to sign the contract,” “We have already run out of stick- children. Domestic Workers’ Federation, more tributed by the government also could any warning,” said Pathak. said Thaneshwor Gautam, deputy ers for imported liquors and some Like Laxmi, Tara also lost her job as than 85 percent of the workers who not reach many domestic workers, “These workers are going through director general at the department. types of cigarettes,” Dahal said. “We a domestic worker during the lock- provided domestic help services lost who are mostly single women living financial and psychological pressure. “So, we have confiscated the compa- will soon run out of stickers for other down. She, too, worked for three fami- their jobs during the lockdown. in rented rooms or in squatter If only they were formally registered ny’s performance bonds and are initi- cigarettes and tobacco products.” lies in Lalitpur until the lockdown “The pandemic was an unexpected settlements. and their minimum wage were fixed, ating legal action against the compa- She said the department has been was enforced on March 24. situation for all the domestic workers. “By the second week of the lock- they would not have to go through a lot ny.” Officials hinted that the provision allowing producers of liquor and ciga- With no family savings and her hus- Our rapid study has shown that more down, most of them had run out of of hardship.” in the Public Procurement Act, which rettes to use stickers meant for other band, a construction labourer, out of than 85 percent of the domestic work- money and food. For getting govern- Labour leaders and rights activists allows government agencies to recom- categories. “For example, we have job, Tara’s family has been struggling ers are now unemployed,” said KC, ment relief, they needed a recommen- have proposed that domestic workers mend blacklisting a company that allowed the use of the stickers meant to make ends meet these days. who is also the general secretary of dation from their landlords, who were should be registered with their respec- refuses to sign the contract after win- for filter-based cigarettes for non-fil- After the country went into the the Home Workers’ Trade Union of not ready to do so. Many workers also tive local government offices and the ning the bid. ter-based cigarettes,” she said. lockdown, all non-essential services Nepal, a sister wing of the General faced rent hikes during the lock- government should come up with a Perum Peruri’s failure to sign the She, however, said that this can’t go and activities were suspended. Shops Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions down,” said KC. “Meanwhile, those special relief package for domestic contract has complicated the case fur- on for a long time. “Even if the cur- and businesses were closed and the (GEFONT). living in squatters could not claim the workers, as there is no sign of them ther as the government can neither rent legal challenges are cleared and a people were not allowed outside, According to Nepal Labour Survey relief items. As a result, many of returning to work anytime soon. award the contact to the second-ranked fresh bid is issued immediately, it will except in case of emergencies. (2017-18), nearly 73,000 Nepalis are them walked hundreds of kilometres They have also recommended teach- bidder, nor can it start the bidding take around 10 months to get the deliv- The ramifications of the Covid-19 employed as domestic help by private to return to their home towns.” ing new skills so that out-of-job domes- process afresh. ery of stickers,” she said. lockdown was felt across all sectors of households. Nearly two-thirds of them During an interaction organised by tic workers can make some income. A Lithuanian company, another bid- Given this context, the department the economy. Thousands of people are women. the International Labour Organization “There has been a dilemma regard- der for the contract, has filed a case has formed a study team led by Dahal involved in both the formal and infor- Domestic workers, who are mostly (ILO) and Women’s Rehabilitation ing the payment of domestic against the tax authority at the to study available alternatives to pro- mal work sectors either lost their jobs, women, either work as live-in work- Centre (WOREC) Nepal to discuss workers. As domestic workers have Supreme Court citing section 27(6) of cure stickers. suffered pay cuts or were forced to ers, meaning they work and stay in impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on not worked during the lockdown, their the Public Procurement Act, which “We are studying the possibility of stay on leave by their employers. their employers’ houses, or work sev- domestic workers in the country, employers might not be ready to pay says contracts should be awarded printing the stickers at the printing With the public movement blocked eral jobs like Laxmi and Tara and live domestic workers, labour rights activ- them,” said Prashant Dangol, a repre- to the second-ranked bidder if the press of the Department of Printing and physical distancing becoming the separately with their own families. ists and labour leaders stressed the sentative of domestic workers place- first-ranked bidder refuses to sign the and Janak Education Materials norm to protect oneself from the risk KC said domestic workers suffered need of helping household workers to ment agencies. Because this is an contract. Centre,” said Dahal. of catching the coronavirus, a majori- more also because most of their wages cope with the adverse effects of the extraordinary situation caused by the But, a senior official at the tax “We are also studying whether pri- ty of the people working as domestic are spent on food, rent and schooling pandemic. Covid-19 pandemic, we need to come authority said that there were issues vate printing presses can supply us help lost their jobs. of their children, leaving little to noth- “In Nepal, a large number of work- up with a modality regarding with the Lithuanian bid that don’t the stickers as some private sector According to Gyanu KC, an execu- ing for savings. ers are employed in the informal sec- domestic workers work and their allow it to be awarded the contract. printers have printed recharge cards tive member of the International She added the relief materials dis- tor, where labour laws are not imple- remunerations.” “We are in the process of responding of Nepal Telecom and Ncell.”

C M Y K SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 | 04 OPINION Homeward journey in difficult times

Stories of people longing to go home during the pandemic show the grim realities of these uncertain times.

ABHI SUBEDI WORDS & ECHOES

The massive movement of Nepalis migrants and their efforts to go home propelled by the fear of Covid-19 has opened up a number of questions about home and state. In the media were two kinds of pictures—movements made within the country and efforts made from outside to go home. Thanks to the efforts of the audio-visual media we saw the graphic pictures of their difficult jour- neys, the chaos and the egregious side of the management. The pictures are getting grimmer and more hopeless as the days go by. It is not easy to hold anybody particu- larly responsible during such extraordi- nary times. But looking at what could have been done and what is not done, we can say the homeward journeys of the Nepalis especially those returning from India could have been made more respect- able, humane and manageable. The home- ward journey of the people has been diffi- cult, and their managements appear to be chaotic. The spate of movements to go home in recent months has also opened challenging pictures of home and exile. Those who are waiting to return home in countries other than India are in dire sit- uations because the native brands of com- missions and omissions have gone into play in that.

Invisible to the state Though we knew millions of Nepali and SHUTTERSTOCK Indian working class people crossing the The phenomenon of displacement, or tainty, which adds to the already existing But it seems to have crossed the limits. of the First World War. borders to work, never had we seen them moving away from home, is more com- sense of doubt that anything magical will People’s homeward journeys have Alaka Atreya Chudal, a university panting to reach home in hordes as we mon than returning home. People get happen suddenly in the state of Nepal. turned into ghoulish and sardonic teacher and researcher at Vienna saw this time, thanks to the availability uprooted owing to the harsh conditions The failure of the state, its indifference to laughter. We ask the same question University, has been doing works on the of the visual media. What struck me most they have to endure. They either go to the fate of the people and its tenacity to again—are the people of the earth now theme of the Gurkhas who fought and was the common nature of their suffer- refugee camps or into exiles. Exilic condi- the principles of crony capitalism have condemned to realise that there is no suffered during the First World ing, their urge to reach home covering tions are interpreted in political and liter- become manifest in the situation of such thing as home any more? This, even War. Under the title ‘What Can a Song hundreds, even thousands, of kilometres ary terms. The famous scholar Edward non-management of the quarantine cen- though people still feel deep down that Do to You? A Life Story of a Gurkha on foot. These journeys with bleeding Said has written eloquently on this sub- tres and testing. whatever may be the condition, home Prisoner in World War I’, she writes, bare feet, and the total mismanagement ject in his book Reflections on Exile and It’s so miserably ignored that the peo- remains the most important space to ‘More than 940,000 South Asian soldiers of those who crossed the borders reveal Other Essays (2000). People become disen- ple who have come thus far on the way to return to. and labourers were shipped across as never before the poor and work- franchised, become part of the armed their homes are condemned to linger in There are many literary writings and oceans between August 1914 and October ing-class people’s tenuous relationship movements or they simply suffer as the infernal huddles. There is no point in artworks about returning home. I read a 1918 to help sustain the British war with the state. The very moving and cru- described by Frantz Fanon in his often-cit- repeating that the pandemic situation is moving novel entitled You Can’t Go Home effort. Of these, some 200,000 Gurkha cial part of the narrative is that they have ed book The Wretched of The Earth (2004). very difficult and full of challenges for Again (1940) by Thomas Wolfe when I was soldiers are reported to have served in the homes somewhere on this earth, where The drive towards home by people who the government. But what is very clearly in college. That was the first novel I read British Indian Army, with one in 10 they feel that they can survive however are invisible to the state is the power of a visible is the way the people’s homeward about the intense passion of returning never returning home from the battle- hard the conditions may be. And the one new order that is revealed by Covid-19 all journeys are thwarted so ignominiously; home but failing. I read many other nov- field’. (Journal of South Asian Studies: topic not addressed by any kinds of poli- over the world. the situation could have been saved with els about this desire to return home. In April 26, 2020). tics—socialist, communist, non-secular a little effort and management especially Nepali, one story of Indra Bahadur Rai The stories of people with longing and or secular, is the welfare of these people. Crossed the limits in terms of managing the quarantine entitled ‘Jayamaya Aafu Matrai passion for returning home to escape As revealed by the pandemic conditions I want to focus on the Nepali scenario. homes and testing. Home as a space with Likhapani Aaipugi’, dramatised and per- Covid-19 are not imbued with lyrical suffered by many around the world, the The Nepalis who are returning home, and value, hope and human condition could formed by Sunil Pokharel on May 3, 2017 imagination. It’s a grim reality. But deep poor have neither governments nor who want to return, are not inspired by have been used productively. People’s in Kathmandu, is the latest theatrical down, the ruling passion is the same— states. They are invisible, but they have any plans that they would see as the bases journeys to their homes could have been oeuvre on the subject of the passion of returning home. To understand that pas- homes. That is the most moving part of of their starting a life in their native land. made possible if these two conditions returning home by people of the Nepali sion is the mantra of respecting and the story. The pandemic represents fear and uncer- were fulfilled in time. community living in Burma at the time helping the returnees. Gateway to Nepali art

counterparts like Rangoli or Kolam, ing the medieval period could have influ- Newars create artwork in geometrical patterns do not form the enced the local art scene as well. It was basis of door art. It is mainly associated not until I examined British surgeon almost everything and with decoration used to welcome the new Henry Oldfield’s paintings from 1850 that bride which also signifies the status of I found the eyes as the original symbols everywhere, and the doors to women in the community, according to on the doors, and then the Kalash, but researcher Bal Gopal Shrestha. parrots were nowhere to be found. Either their homes are no exception. The idea of a sacred or honorific gate- peacocks as the vehicle of Kaumaari, or way, or a torana, is quite popular in most swans for Brahmaayani are the only two SANYUKTA SHRESTHA Hindu and Buddhist traditions in South birds making frequent appearances in Asia. In Nepal, while Buddhists paint classical Nepali paintings. Parrots can Pancha Budhha on top, Hindus paint very well be a more recent addition. Bramha-Vishnu-Maheshwor-Ganesh- Perhaps Nepali door art can be consid- Kumar. This variation within the ered as one of the most interesting and tradition of door art is in itself the hall- rare phenomena in traditional art history mark of Nepal’s age-old religious toler- in light of how it was exploited by the ance. Historically, skills were passed on Panchayat system (1960-90) to fulfil its Anyone who has been to Kathmandu can- from one generation to the next within undemocratic policy of ‘one nation, one not miss the sight of front doors painted the family lineage of Newars. Families language’. Not only did it marginalise with a pair of eyes, parrots and Kalash on involved in creating artworks were from ethnic languages, but it also misrepre- either side. Many of us must have won- the occupational caste called Pun or sented traditional art; the evidence can be dered why they are there. Born and Chitrakar. According to Prof David seen in various public gates erected in brought up in Kathmandu in the late Gellner, Newars can be divided into 64 Kathmandu, including New Road and 1970s, I used to take every aspect of our castes. Gérard Toffin identified some 20 Tundikhel. art tradition as granted. However, it was different occasions when Chitrakars not until 2006, when I returned from my were supposed to provide their artistic False patriotism first trip to London, that I started docu- services. In an attempt to force false patriotism, the menting these doors which are now to be Nepali artists have been heavily then government insensitively contami- seen few and far between. involved in creating art for centuries. nated the profound meanings of tradi- Although the city of Kathmandu boasts However, the least importance was given tional art elements with symbolic a 2000-year-old history, it was opened to to documentation and dissemination. As replacements—like the cow which was the rest of the world only 70 years ago. a consequence, we have come to the pres- declared the national animal, and the The culture of the Newars, believed to ent situation when neither the practition- rhododendron, the national flower—that have originated around 300 BC, flourished ers are able to explain anything clearly, grossly misled the known theories of ico- in and around the Valley. Today, their cul- nor can the consumers of art appreciate nography. tural heritage forms a part of the proud its essence. Even when clients commis- The hitherto isolated Nepali tradition- collection of almost every museum in the sion a door art, they have it around their al art took its biggest turn some 170 years world. Particularly noted for their mas- doors as a ritual requirement without ago when Bhaju Macha Chitrakar was tery in art, Newars create artwork in necessarily knowing its inherent mean- allowed to join South Asia’s first diplo- almost everything and everywhere, and ing. While veteran Prem Man Chitrakar matic visit to England, led by de facto the building of their residences is no rightly notes the varying design of eyes ruler Jung Bahadur Rana. Although we exception. among Buddhists (meditative) and know very little about how photography Hindus (wide open), the late master artist started in Nepal, thanks to Susanne von Yet to be studied Gyankar Vajracharya saw the Swasti-Chi, der Heide’s account of Dirgha Man Much has been written about their ritual a unique auspicious mark with which Chitrakar’s career and works, we know act of drawing the manda: or mandala on most Nepali scriptures start, as another that the Chitrakars were expert camera- the floor, but their door art is yet to be regular inclusion just above the parrot. men by the late 19th century, finding studied in depth. Even in the local lan- This symbol is also seen in the door dia- themselves busy taking portraits and guage, Nepal Bhasa, there seems to be no gram in a 200-year-old artist’s notebook family photos of the Ranas. Puns or fixed name for the artwork around Newar possessed by Vishnu Bahadur Chitrakar Chitrakars, who were hired at every wed- front doors. While senior traditional art- of Bhaktapur, where the late Gyankar ding or any other occasion for their paint- ist Lok Chitrakar refers to the door art as was also from. PHOTO COURTESY: SANYUKTA SHRESTHA ing services, today stay away from the Cha-Chin, meaning clay symbols, author Lok Chitrakar agrees that in light of no for vision and Kalash for completeness no available records. Newar doors which used to be incomplete Ishwor Man Sinya has called it Anga: available records, there is a lot of confu- and prosperity. Prof Tulsi Lal Singh sug- The historic relationship between without their art. Their clients happily go Kipaa or wall art. Veteran traditional sion as to why these symbols are actually gests if it has any connection with Shuka- Kathmandu and the Tarai cannot be for a much cheaper alternative of cus- artist Prem Man Chitrakar identifies it as painted. Culture expert Tejeshwor Babu Baakha, an imported Nepal Bhasa fable ignored. It must be noted that unlike in tom-made prints on paper. Lukhaa Dvaa, meaning entry gate. Unlike Gongah assumes the parrot as a repre- involving a parrot. These are but entirely Newar art, parrots appear quite frequent- the floor art of manda: or even the Indian sentative of wisdom or perfection, eyes their personal interpretations based on ly in Mithila art. Cultural exchanges dur- Shrestha is a writer based in London.

C M Y K 05 | SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 NATIONAL Pokhara University finds itself at a Seven years since the Mahakali crossroads jeopardising students’ future floods, victims await compensation “Because there have been no meet- ings of executive and academic coun- cils, many decisions of lasting impor- Residents of Khalanga fear possible floods every monsoon, as the embankments tance are pending,” Khadka said. “The ramifications of this will be seen for that were damaged seven years ago are yet to be reconstructed. years to come.” The consequences will also be financial, said Narabahadur Bista, deputy chair of an association of institutes affiliated with PU. “Many colleges affiliated to PU have started online classes on their own, but since the university has issued no regulations, they lack authority,” he said. At the heart of this fiasco is a dis- pute in power-sharing among the political parties and even between the POST PHOTO prime minister and education minis- The future of as many as 40,000 students is insecure as the varsity has been without ter, professors at the university say. the vice-chancellor and registrar for over nine months. According to existing laws, a three-member committee led by the DEEPAK PARIYAR selection was partisan, the said uni- federal education minister is tasked KASKI, JUNE 20 versities have since then held meet- with referring the vice-chancellor for ings of executive and academic com- each university to the prime minister. The academic future of around 40,000 mittees, tried online classes and have “The crisis at the university students attending Pokhara University devised plans to examine the students’ remains unsolved because the prime hangs in the balance while the univer- academic performances. But Pokhara minister and education minister are sity itself is at a crossroads. There is University hasn’t come up with such at loggerheads over the appointment much confusion in the administra- alternative methods of education of a vice-chancellor, as both want to tion, as all academic and exam pro- amid the pandemic which has forced appoint people closer to them,” a pro- grammes are halted since the chair of thousands of students indoors. fessor at PU said on the condition of two key positions--registrar and vice- Nearly 7,000 students who have anonymity. chancellor--has been vacant for the passed graduate and postgraduate Another professor, Hemraj Pandey, past nine months. It’s been a year degrees through PU have yet to receive who is also the chair of Professors’ since a meeting of the executive their results and migration and tran- Association, PU, said that the crisis council and academic council was script certificates. The convocation stemmed out of the overt power-shar- last held. ceremony, which was scheduled for ing agreements prevalent in key uni- Kushan Poudel, an MBA student at November, 2019, has been postponed versity positions. He went on to say Pokhara University, is worried his indefinitely. The remuneration of lec- that if the situation persisted, it would two-year course might extend to three turers is halted, as the institution has lead to the dissolution of the universi- years since he is yet to receive his yet to endorse a budget for the fiscal ty itself. results for the second trimester. year 2020-21. Admission for post-grad- “There might be some issues attrib- The government in November last uate degrees, scheduled for March, utable to the Covid crisis, but the cri- year had appointed vice-chancellors has yet to commence. sis at the university precedes it,” he for three other top universities--Trib- Haribahadur Khadka, dean of the said. “The crisis stemmed from the POST PHOTO: MANOJ BADU huvan, Kathmandu and Purbanchal. Management stream, said the fact that the political leaders want to The Mahakali floods of 2013 had swept away 56 homes and killed at least 12 people in Darchula district. Although the decision was surround- university is currently running basic appoint people near to them, regard- ed by controversy with claims that the operations only. less of their seniority or merit.” MANOJ BADU Dhami, a resident of Khalanga who the flood-affected individuals five DARCHULA, JUNE 20 was displaced by the Mahakali floods, months ago. In the current fiscal told the Post. “Most families who lost year’s policy and programme, we have It’s been seven years since the their property to the flood have moved a scheme to find out ways to provide Mahakali floods swept away 56 homes away while some are still taking shel- grants and subsidies to the victims In Parbat, health Nepal says India and China must and killed at least 12 people in ter with their relatives.” through various government facili- Darchula district, but the displaced According to the estimate prepared ties.” The construction of the embank- resolve dispute by peaceful means flood victims are still awaiting com- by the District Administration Office, ment along the Mahakali River in workers decry lack of pensation and resettlement. the floods of 2013 had swept away Darchula has been left incomplete POST REPORT On the night of June 16, 2013, the houses, land plots and shops of 353 since its initiation soon after the KATHMANDU, JUNE 20 flooded Mahakali broke its embank- families and destroyed properties floods in 2013. The construction work proper isolation facility ments and entered Khalanga, the dis- worth more than Rs1.27 billion. was started through a five-year master Nepal said on Saturday that the ongoing boundary disputes trict headquarters of Darchula, Ragubir Singh Thagunna, secretary plan. AGANDHAR TIWARI between China and India must be resolved through peaceful resulting in loss of lives and property. of the Mahakali Flood Victims According to the master plan, the PARBAT, JUNE 20 means. “Nepal maintains that disputes between the countries Every year with the onset of mon- Struggle Committee, said, “The then construction of the embankment should be resolved through peaceful means,” the Ministry of soon, the locals in the area fear possi- Cabinet decision had decided to pro- should have been completed within The five health workers in Parbat who were diagnosed Foreign Affairs said in a statement. ble floods, as the embankments that vide soft loans to the flood-affected the fiscal year 2018-19. with Covid-19 on Thursday have yet to be placed in isola- Tensions between the two nuclear-armed Asian neighbours were damaged seven years ago are yet businessmen and had also assured Kamal Singh Mahat, acting chief at tion, as the district’s health administration faces have reached new highs since a violent clash on Monday to be reconstructed. grants to the flood-affected families if the Mahakali River Control Project, resource crunch amid surging cases of infection. between the Indian and Chinese armies in the disputed Galwan Since the government has not they apply for foreign employment said the construction of around 100 The district hospital has urged the authorities con- Valley resulted in the death of at least 20 Indian soldiers and an brought any concrete programme to and other government facilities. But metres of embankment in the core cerned to arrange for a hotel or a government building to unknown number on the Chinese side. resettle flood victims, most of them the decision has not been implement- area remains to be completed. keep the infected health workers.’ “Nepal has always stood firmly for regional and world are on the verge of being displaced ed yet.” According to him, the banks “Around 60 metres of embankment One of the infected health workers had gone to his peace,” reads the statement. “In the context of recent develop- from the district headquarters. in Darchula are not willing to provide in the Bangabagad area and around 40 village in Bihadi Rural Municipality before he was diag- ments in the Galwan valley area between our friendly neigh- “The government did not bring any loans to the flood victims, as they metres in the Pulghat area are yet to nosed and he remains there, said Sambhu Prasad Regmi, bours India and China, Nepal is confident that both the neigh- relief package and it still hasn’t reset- don’t have any land or property. be constructed,” said Mahat. “The chief district officer and coordinator of the district-level bouring countries will resolve, in the spirit of good neighbour- tled us. In the past seven years, all it However, Mayor of Mahakali project was delayed due to insufficient corona control command post. liness, their mutual differences through peaceful means in has done is hand out Rs 35,000 to each Municipality Hansharaj Bhatta said, funding and consequences of the 2015 “He will be brought to the hospital soon,” he said. favour of bilateral, regional and world peace and stability.” flood-affected families,” Kamal Singh “We had distributed 200 ID cards to earthquakes.” The other infected health workers are isolating them- selves in the hospital quarters, where they lack food and other facilities. “Four of the infected are isolating themselves in the hospital quarters but they are worried about their Renowned educationist and health,” a hospital official said over the phone. “There is also the fear of contracting the infection among other health workers who share the same building.” social worker Angur Baba Shishir Devkota, medical superintendent of the dis- trict hospital, said they were still waiting for the author- ities to respond to their request for a proper accommoda- Joshi passes away tion to keep the infected health workers in isolation. “We have requested the authorities for a proper POST REPORT accommodation but we haven’t heard from them yet,” KATHMANDU, JUNE 20 Devkota said. A team of health workers has also sent a letter to the Renowned educationist and corona control district command, pointing to the severe social worker Angur Baba Joshi negligence in the handling of the coronavirus crisis in died at the age of 89 on Saturday. the Parbat. Joshi, who had been a cancer “If the existing situation persists, then more health patient for a long time, died while workers will get infected,” the letter reads. “This risks undergoing treatment at the the spread of the virus among service seekers and we Neuro Hospital in Kathmandu, won’t be able to treat them. We call for an urgent atten- according to family members. tion to this situation.” Joshi was born in Dillibazaar, CDO Regmi, however, blamed the health workers for Kathmandu. Despite being mar- FILE PHOTO not staying in the designated isolation centre for front ried at the early age of 11, she Angur Baba Joshi line workers. completed her School Leaving “We had decided to turn Blue Angel Resort in Kushma Certificate in 1948 and went on to do a Bachelor’s in political as an isolation centre for health workers, but they science and Sanskrit from Banaras in India. In 1957, she and returned saying the place was filthy,” Regmi said. “We her husband both went to the United Kingdom to pursue higher have asked the resort administration to clean it up and education under the Colombo Plan scholarships. She pursued a place the health workers there.” Masters and PhD at Oxford University, becoming the first Devkota said that with the infection among the staff, Nepali woman to attend the prestigious institution. the hospital has limited human resources to treat the Upon her return from the UK in 1962, Joshi was appointed patients. principal of Padma Kanya Campus in Kathmandu, the first The hospital had assigned eight health workers for woman principal in Nepal. corona treatment and half of them have been infected. Joshi was well-known in Nepal as a career educationist and “The infected staff were treating the patients until POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR social worker. She chaired a number of social organisations they themselves tested positive for the virus,” Devkota A protester covers himself in turmeric as he lies on the sidewalk during a peaceful protest in the Capital on Saturday. Youths across the country that supported education for girls and provided employment to said. have been protesting against the government, demanding an effective response to the Covid-19 pandemic. women. With close links to the royal family, Joshi was even appointed a member of the national Panchayat by king Birendra. All-male Secretariat decides on citizenship, an issue that ...

>> Continued from page 1 tral committee member and former minis- ers recently met party chair Pushpa Kamal post. “Let’s use the word ‘citizen’ that “We have been urging the parties that ter for women, children and social welfare, Dahal to lobby for lowering the seven-year applies equally to both genders and ensure the relevant clause should not say ‘man’ or told the Post. “All the committees must be time frame. equality.” ‘woman’ but ‘citizen’, so as not to discrimi- made inclusive immediately, with whatev- “We were in favour of lowering the time Women leaders say that representation nate on the basis of sex,” said Pandey, who er percent is possible for now.” frame to four years but the party ignored is often critical to understanding how cer- is one of the most vocal proponents of The ruling party’s decision on natural- our demands,” said Chand Tara Kumari, a tain issues affect certain communities. A women’s representation in all party com- ised citizenship is in sharp contrast to the ruling party lawmaker and former chair of handful of leaders who share the same mittees. “The clause must say--‘any foreign stance of the main opposition Nepali the National Women’s Commission. gender and ethnolinguistic background citizen marrying a Nepali citizen’.” Congress, which is in favour of allowing Conspicuously missing in the entire cannot understand the issues of all of Other women leaders say that the deci- naturalised citizenship for foreign women debate is the provision for foreign men to Nepal’s diverse communities, they say. sions made by the party’s top committees married to Nepali men almost immediate- seek citizenship after marrying a Nepali “Without inclusion, party leaders could themselves come under question if ly. The Madhes-based parties--Samajbadi woman. Women’s right activists have long won’t take decisions unless those decisions they are not made more inclusive. The and Rastriya Janata Party--have both sup- demanded clarity in the Citizenship Act affect them personally,” said Anjana nine-member Secretariat has no women ported the Congress as Madhesis tend to regarding a path to citizenship for foreign Bishankhe, a lawmaker and central while the 45-member Standing Committee share close cross-border connections with men, saying that existing provisions are committee member. has just two women. Most committees are India, including by kinship and marriage. discriminatory. “But the way leaders are moving largely made up of Khas-Arya Brahmin Many ruling party leaders, however, Koirala, like Pandey, believes that this forward, the agendas of underprivileged men with little representation of women, have long maintained that there should be will no longer be a problem if the parties groups have been forgotten. There is Madhesis, Dalits and indigenous groups. a seven-year provision for foreign women adopt more gender-neutral language. not a single woman in the party Secretariat “We have so many capable women lead- to acquire naturalised citizenship, in line “On the issue of Nepali citizenship, the and it is taking the party’s most crucial ers who can be included in all the party’s with citizenship provisions in India. But provisions must be the same for both men decisions. How can they decide in our decisive committees,” Asha Koirala, a cen- some women leaders and Madhesi lawmak- and women,” Koirala said in a Facebook favour?”

C M Y K SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 | 06 MONEY

FOREX Airbus extends US Dollar 122.20 Nepal Investment Board approves Euro 136.88 furloughs in UK, Pound Sterling 151.22 Japanese Yen 11.43 seven projects worth Rs 185.43 billion Spain to tackle Chinese Yuan 17.26 The 44th meeting of the board chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday also decided to grant a survey licence to Covid-19 fallout Qatari Riyal 33.56

Australian Dollar 84.05 Risen Energy Singapore for the development and operation of two separate, and Nepal’s largest, 125MW solar power projects. REUTERS TOULOUSE, JUNE 20 Malaysian Ringit 28.63 POST REPORT Damak Clean Industrial Park, KATHMANDU, JUNE 20 Muktinath Cable Car, Multi-Modal European planemaker Airbus SE Saudi Arab Riyal 32.58 Logistics Park, and Private Freight said on Friday it is extending Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank The Investment Board of Nepal has Terminal and Bulk Handling furlough programmes for 5,300 of its approved investment of Rs 185.43 bil- Facilities. employees in Spain and the United lion for seven different projects. The preparation of these detailed Kingdom in its latest effort to cope PRICE PER TOLA The 44th meeting of the board held project reports have been affected by with the impact of the coronavirus BULLION at Baluwatar on Friday approved the the Covid-19 pandemic. outbreak. investment. Among the approved In October last year, Damak “This will be effective from 20th Fine Gold Rs 89,900 investments, five are hydropower pro- Clean Industrial Park, a China- May till 30th September and affects all jects and two cement projects. invested company, had signed a Airbus Operations SL employees in Silver Rs 930 The board said that it has approved Memorandum of Understanding with Spain [with some exceptions], which investment of Rs78.65 billion for the the Investment Board for the China- means around 3,100 employees”, an SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA 327MW Upper Marshyangdi-2 Nepal Friendship Industrial Park in Airbus spokesman told Reuters in an Hydropower Project, which lies in Damak, Jhapa. emailed statement Lamjung and Manang. Lhasa Economic and Technological “Airbus Helicopters and Airbus DS GASOLINE WATCH The meeting also approved Development Zone Investment employees in Spain are not impacted”, investment of Rs6.30 billion for the Development Company Limited is the spokesman said. development of 42.9MW Ankhukhola investing in the project which aims to In the United Kingdom, the period Hydropower Project in Dhading. develop complete industrial infra- of furlough for about 2,200 Airbus Ankhukhola has secured $46 mil- structure for industries to operate. workers will start on July 20 and end lion from different banks and the In September 2018, the Investment on Aug. 9, the statement said. Hydroelectricity Investment and Board and Muktinath Darshan signed “In France, all employees of the Development Company. In May 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding to commercial aircraft division are in Ankhukhola signed a power purchase prepare a detailed project report for some way affected”, the spokesman agreement with the Nepal Electricity the construction of a 84-km cable car said. He added about 29,500 employees Authority. service from Birethanti of Myagdi in France were working on average The board also approved investment PHOTO COURTESY: NEPAL INVESTMENT BOARD district to Muktinath Temple in about 30 percent shorter weeks. of Rs 10.31 billion for the 57.3MW Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli chairs the 44th meeting of Nepal Investment Board on Friday. Mustang district. Sources told Reuters in May that Myagdi Khola Hydropower Project in In December last year, the Europe’s largest aerospace group was Myagdi and Rs13.57 billion for the under the state-owned China Nuclear development and operation of two Investment Board, CG Logistics and exploring restructuring plans 97.2MW Isuwa Khola Hydropower Power Group. separate 125 MW solar power projects Sharaf Group of the UAE signed a involving the possibility of “deep” job Project in Sankhuwasabha. According to a statement issued by in Banke and Kapilvastu under the Memorandum of Understanding to cuts as it braced for a prolonged coro- Likewise, the meeting approved the Investment Board of Nepal, an public-private-partnership model. construct and operate a Multi-Modal navirus crisis after furloughing thou- investment of Rs28.06 billion for the investment of Rs32.50 billion has been The project, which will include a Logistics Park in Biratnagar. sands of workers. development of the 164MW approved for the development of Dang 20MW storage capacity, will be Nepal’s Similarly, in June, Flash Freight The company had told senior staff Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Cement Industries and Rs15.05 billion largest solar farm. Logistics was approved by the it must be “resized” in plans to be set Project in Mustang and Myagdi. The for Samrat Cement Industries, also in According to the Investment Board, Investment Board to conduct a feasi- out around end-June. project is being developed by Chinese Dang. The meeting also decided to the meeting has also decided to extend bility study for the development of a The coronavirus pandemic has led Yunnan Xinhua Water Conservancy provide a survey licence to Risen the deadline to submit the detailed freight terminal and bulk handling to a global airline crisis, with carriers and Hydropower Investment Company, Energy Singapore JV PTE for the project report for four projects— facilities in Birgunj and Bhairahawa. and suppliers pleading for help. Apple re-closes some stores, raising economic concerns

ASSOCIATED PRESS Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. In FLORIDA, JUNE 20 public remarks Friday, Rosengren said he expected the economic rebound Apple’s Friday decision to close stores this year would be less than what was in four states with surging coronavi- initially hoped for at the pandemic’s rus cases highlights a question that outset, and that the unemployment other businesses may soon face: Stay rate would remain in double-digits. open or prepare for more shutdowns? States such as Utah and Oregon are Apple, like many other major US pausing the reopening of their econo- retailers, shut down all of its US loca- mies amid a spike in cases, while oth- tions in March. On Friday, it said it ers like Texas and Arizona have not would shut 11 stores, six in Arizona, changed their plans. Arizona this two in Florida, two in North Carolina REUTERS week did mandate that businesses and one in South Carolina that it had Customers distance before entering an implement social distancing, and reopened just a few weeks ago. Apple Store in New York City, New York. Phoenix made masks mandatory in The move heightens concerns that public. the pandemic might keep the economy Association, for instance, announced Like many of the biggest players in in the doldrums longer than expected. Friday that ships will not be sailing the technology industry, Apple has Those worries sent stocks on Wall from US ports until at least Sept. 15, been faring far better than most com- Street lower. It’s not clear whether extending a pause put in place because panies amid pandemic-induced reces- other retailers will follow en masse, of the coronavirus pandemic. sion. The store closures won’t put a although one analyst expects hard-hit The auto industry, meanwhile, has significant dent in Apple’s sales, said stores to stay open unless forced to seen its efforts to restart production Wedbush Securities Daniel Ives, but close by local authorities. hampered in part by infected workers. they are “a worrisome trend.” Many other businesses, including Because US efforts to contain the The Cupertino, California, compa- manufacturing, travel, dining, and pandemic haven’t been particularly ny has continued to sell iPhones and entertainment, have been steadily reo- successful, the situation “could ulti- other products online, and other pening where they can while taking mately lead to a need for more pro- retailers can do so as well if they health precautions. But some have longed shut-downs” that would reduce decide to close, said Craig Johnson, POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN recently pulled back or paused their consumer spending and cost jobs, said president of retail consultancy A beautician wearing personal protective equipment attends to a customer at a shop in Banasthali, Kathmandu. plans. The Cruise Lines International Eric Rosengren, president of the Customer Growth Partners. Argentina extends Time is money: The armchair traders of lockdown REUTERS Two weeks ago, a flurry of activity STOCKHOLM, JUNE 20 was seen in bankrupt or soon-to-be- $65 billion debt deadline bankrupt stocks with Hertz, At 7am on Friday morning, Dean d’Ar- Chesapeake, Whiting and JC Penney co, 31, a phone shop manager from rising 300 percent to 500 percent before Belfast, Northern Ireland, logged on pulling back a bit, leaving seasoned to July 24 after talks stall for his last day as a round-the-clock traders scratching their heads. armchair stock market trader. “It feels like betting when it comes REUTERS dollar, plus an additional export- During almost three months on to struggling companies,” said BUENOS AIRES, JUNE 20 linked sweetener. coronavirus furlough, he was one of a McVeigh, who bought shares in Two of the main groups said in a swelling number of stuck-at-home Valaris, a company which he doesn’t Argentina will extend a deadline for statement on Friday they remained punters using their free time to ride a expect to survive but still made him $65 billion debt restructuring talks by ready to engage constructively climbing stock market which rebound- a profit. more than a month, the country’s with Argentina, though were disap- ed after a giant slump in March. The pair say that in general, though, economy ministry said late on Friday, pointed with the government’s deci- As lockdown lifts, d’Arco is now buying stocks feels different to gam- after negotiations with creditors sion to “terminate dialogue” with returning to work, but he doesn’t plan bling because it is not a win-or-lose stalled this week leaving a deal hang- creditors. on giving up his new-found interest in proposition like betting on the out- ing in the balance. Despite the tensions, the two sides financial markets entirely. come of a football match. The extension to July 24 comes with should eventually be able to reach a “It’s given me a routine, a reason to More recently, anxiety about a sec- creditors and the government at an deal, analysts said. get out of bed in the morning,” d’Arco ond wave of coronavirus infections impasse, with one bondholder group “While it would have been better said of his time on furlough, adding has hit markets, with the S&P 500 last slamming the negotiations this week that negotiations continued with more that his new hobby was also a wel- week suffering its worst weekly as a “failure”. Reuters reported that constructive statements, this is not come social activity. decline since March 20. the Friday deadline would be pushed the first time the restructuring would Along with his friend Damian “I didn’t get too badly caught by the back. seem to be at an impasse,” Morgan McVeigh, 31, the pair put in 70-plus big dip. I took most of my capital out The delay gives breathing room for Stanley said in a note. hours a week on trading apps, when some stocks rose beyond their the two sides to defuse tensions and It said that at a 10 percent exit yield, staking a substantial part of their pre-pandemic level, as that just felt bridge the remaining divide after hav- the government’s offer was worth savings in the process, despite neither unnatural to me,” said McVeigh, ing made significant progress over around 49.7 cents, while the most having prior experience in financial adding he wished he’d taken out all recent months. aggressive counter from two groups, markets. his funds. The South American grains produc- including names like BlackRock, “I only play with savings I can Both men said it will be impossible er, long a boom-and-bust economy that Fidelity and AllianceBernstein, was afford to lose and I’ve made a to trade as intensely when they return in May defaulted for a ninth time, has worth around 57 cents. good return and have no regrets,” REUTERS to work, so they plan to change twice improved a proposal to revamp “At less than 8 points difference, it McVeigh, who is a quantity-surveyor Daytrader Rachael McVeigh sits in front of computers with his daughter Avril at home during their trading strategy to focus on long- its foreign debt. A deal is key to avert- would not benefit either side to com- by trade, said. the coronavirus disease outbreak, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. term stocks. ing a long and messy legal standoff. pletely break away from negotia- Around the world, online retail bro- “The way things are now, if you “We are going to pick ourselves up tions,” the investment bank said, add- kers are booming this year, with glob- economist for Swedish trading app as oil. A WhatsApp messenger group take your eyes off it for a moment and we are going to find an agree- ing it stuck by its view that a deal al app eToro increasing new account Avanza. chat set up to plan a now-cancelled you can lose serious cash,” McVeigh ment,” center-left Peronist President would be reached in the third quarter openings by 400 percent, compared to “Stock market gains have mostly holiday became an active stock market said, adding: “But I won’t stop, I enjoy Alberto Fernandez, who took office of the year. the same period last year. been led by government and central discussion forum when McVeigh it too much.” last December, said in a radio broad- Goldman Sachs said while risks had EToro customers invested $300 bil- bank stimulus, but increased retail started talking about the plight of his D’Arco said he plans to buy into cast on Friday, adding he was “confi- risen, the two sides may ultimately lion in Q1, part of a global surge in trading activity has pushed up prices ex-employer, a listed company he had innovative tech companies, ones he dent” a deal could be reached. find a way to bridge a gap it calculated activity on retail trading platforms and caused volatility in specific small staff shares in. calls “future game changers”. Creditor groups are demanding at 5 cents and “avoid a disorderly and which played a role in the recent stock cap stocks,” she said. Fuelled by the stimulus packages, McVeigh, the more pragmatic of Argentina improve the offer further, contentious default.” The country’s market rally. McVeigh said he has invested trading indexes have rallied hard pair, said: “I expect there to be a crash while the government stance is that over-the-counter bonds rose on aver- “We began to see record levels of around 5000 pounds ($6,300) and made since lows in March, with the Nasdaq soon. I plan on picking up underval- it cannot cede ground after raising its age 1.2 percent on Friday after losing activity when the coronavirus pan- a 20 percent profit by trading around last week briefly beating the 10,000 ued stocks when that happens and proposal to around 50 cents on the ground a day earlier. demic started,” said Johanna Kull, an 80 companies and commodities such mark for the first time. hold them for long-term gain.”

C M Y K 07 | SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 WORLD WHO warns of coronavirus danger China unveils details of as Brazil infections hit one million national security law for A vaccine remains months off at best despite several trials, and scientists are making daily discoveries about the virus. Hong Kong amid backlash

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE REUTERS degree of autonomy for 50 years under RIO DE JANEIRO, JUNE 20 BEIJING/HONG KONG, JUNE 20 what is known as the “one country two systems” formula of governance, The World Health Organization Beijing unveiled details of its new although democracy activists say warned Friday of a “new and danger- national security law for Hong Kong Beijing has increasingly tightened its ous phase” of the coronavirus pan- on Saturday, paving the way for the grip over the city. demic, as infections continued most profound change to the city’s Beijing proposed the new legisla- to surge in the Americas, with way of life since it returned to Chinese tion last month, drawing a swift Brazil registering more than one rule in 1997. rebuke from Britain and the million cases. The much-anticipated legislation, United States. Colombia and Mexico also passed which has provoked deep concerns On Friday, Secretary of State Mike bleak milestones, as their death tolls in Washington and Europe, includes Pompeo said Washington would in topped 2,000 and 20,000, respectively, a national security office for Hong future treat Hong Kong as a Chinese showing how the virus continues Kong to collect intelligence and han- city, rather than a semi-autonomous ravaging the Americas and parts of dle crimes against national security, one, and the United States was work- Asia even as Europe starts to ease out the official Xinhua news agency ing its way through a decision-making of lockdown. reported. process over who would be held The measures imposed to halt the It said Hong Kong leader Carrie accountable over curbs to Hong Kong’s spread of the disease have caused Lam could also appoint specific judges freedoms. crippling economic damage, but the to hear national security cases, a move Underscoring global concerns over WHO warned against giving in to iso- likely to unnerve some investors, dip- the move, the European Parliament on lation fatigue. lomats and business leaders in the Friday voted in favour of taking China “The world is in a new and danger- global financial hub. to the International Court of Justice ous phase. Many people are under- National security activities would in The Hague if Beijing imposes the standably fed up with being at protect human rights and freedom of security law on Hong Kong.] home... but the virus is still spreading speech and assembly, it added, without fast,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom providing details. Ghebreyesus told a virtual press China says the draft law is aimed at conference. tackling separatist activity, subver- Hong Kong says the The virus has now killed more than REUTERS sion, terrorism and collusion with law will not erode 458,000 people and infected 8.6 million A man receives a nucleic acid test at a makeshift testing site after a new outbreak of Covid-19 in Beijing, China on Saturday. foreign forces, but critics fear it will worldwide. crush wide-ranging freedoms that are investor confidence A vaccine remains months off at from the economic impact of the sion following two outbreaks in Rome. than the strain currently spreading seen as key to Hong Kong’s status as a best despite several trials, and scien- health crisis, bought more time Many European countries followed there. global financial centre. and abiding people tists are still making daily discoveries to negotiate its $66 billion debt Italy into lockdown, and most have Zhang Yong of the Chinese Center The details of the law were unveiled about the virus, its symptoms and the restructuring with creditors, who only recently begun reopening. for Disease Control and Prevention following a three-day meeting of the need not worry. extent to which it may have spread agreed to extend the deadline once Facing the biggest recession in EU (CDC) raised the possibility the virus top decision-making body of China’s before being identified. again, to July 24. history, leaders held a virtual summit lurked in imported frozen food or in parliament. Brazil, which has the second-high- In Europe, researchers in Italy said on the European Commission’s pro- the wholesale market itself, resulting The exact time frame for enacting China has repeatedly warned for- est number of infections and deaths they had found evidence the virus was posal for a 750 billion euro ($840 bil- in similarities to older strains. the law was unclear, although eign governments against interfering after the United States, reported a one- present there in December, months lion) rescue fund. However, they fell The United States has the highest political analysts expect it will take in its internal affairs. day record of nearly 55,000 new infec- before its first confirmed cases and short of reaching a deal. death toll by far, at more than 119,000, effect ahead of key Legislative Officials in Beijing and Hong Kong tions, becoming the second country to about the same time the disease was Opposition is fierce from the “fru- and the world’s largest economy is Council elections in Hong Kong on have been at pains to reassure inves- pass one million cases. first reported in China. gal four”—Netherlands, Sweden, taking a beating in a year when September 6. tors that the law will not erode the The health ministry said the jump Researchers discovered genetic Denmark and Austria. But Italy and President Donald Trump seeks re-elec- China’s move to impose the law city’s high degree of autonomy, insist- was caused by “instability” in its traces of SARS-CoV-2—as the virus is Spain, hit first and hardest by the pan- tion. However, top US expert Anthony directly on Hong Kong, bypassing the ing it will only target a minority of reporting system, which delayed pre- officially known—in samples of waste demic, are crippled by overstretched Fauci said in an interview with AFP city’s legislature, comes after a year of “troublemakers” who pose a threat to vious days’ figures for some states. water collected in Milan and Turin at finances. After largely bringing the he was optimistic America would not sometimes violent anti-government national security. Brazil’s death toll now stands at the end of last year, and Bologna in virus under control and easing restric- impose a new lockdown. and anti-Beijing protests that main- Hong Kong has said the law will nearly 49,000, and has risen by more January, the ISS institute said. tions, China is now fighting a new He predicted it would instead focus land and local authorities blame “for- not erode investor confidence and than 1,000 each of the past four days— Italy’s first confirmed cases were cluster linked to a wholesale market on “trying to better control those eign forces” for fomenting. people who abide by it have no reason though its curve finally appears to be not until February. in Beijing. areas of the country that seem to be Some political commentators say to worry. starting to flatten. Italy was the first European coun- Authorities launched a nationwide having a surge of cases.” the law is aimed at sealing Hong Despite such assurances, the law Authorities in Mexico City mean- try to be hit by the virus and the first campaign to inspect food imports, test Fauci said he was hopeful for a vac- Kong’s “second return” to the mother- has alarmed business groups, diplo- while pushed back a planned reopen- in the world to impose a nationwide tens of thousands of people and lock cine, calling early trial results land after Britain’s 1997 handover mats and rights organisations, further ing of the economy from next week to lockdown, in early March. down affected neighbourhoods. “encouraging”. failed to bring residents of the restive strained ties between the United the following, saying the rate of infec- ISS, Italy’s top health agency, also Chinese officials said genome data Still, Apple said it was closing some city to heel. States and China, and prompted the tion was still too high. urged caution after last week seeing suggested the new outbreak in Beijing stores in US states experiencing a At the time of the handover, China G7 foreign ministers to urge Beijing And Argentina, which is reeling “warning signs” of virus transmis- “came from Europe”, but was older surge in infections. promised to allow Hong Kong a high not to go through with it.

BRIEFING India, China accuse

Macron seeks review of fraud case against ex-PM each other of violating PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron has called for a probe into claims that prosecutors were pressured to move de facto border fast in a fraud inquiry against former prime minister Francois Fillon, his REUTERS main right-wing rival in France’s NEW DELHI/ BEIJING, JUNE 20 2017 presidential race. Fillon lost Chinese ministry what many considered a walkover India and China on Saturday each spokesman accuses vote after a newspaper report claimed traded accusations that the other that he orchestrated a fake parlia- had violated their shared de facto bor- Indian troops of mentary assistant job for his wife der, an area that this week became the that saw her paid hundreds of thou- site of the deadliest clash in half a provocation in tense sands of euros in public funds. A rul- century between the two nucle- ing will be handed down on June 29 ar-armed giants. Himalayan area. after a trial in which Fillon vigorous- A day after Indian Prime Minister ly denied the claims, saying he was Narendra Modi sought to downplay the victim of a political hit job. The Monday’s clash, which killed at least roads, bridges and other facilities in scandal flared anew this week after it 20 Indian soldiers and injured more the region. emerged that the former head of than 70, his government blamed The Indian troops “crossed the Line France’s Financial Prosecutor’s the Chinese side for seeking to erect of Actual Control” and attacked Office (PNF) told lawmakers she had structures “just across the Line Chinese officers and soldiers who sustained “pressure” and “very strict of Actual Control,” as the demarca- were there for negotiation, triggering oversight” aimed at bringing charges tion is known, and refusing India’s “fierce physical conflicts”, Zhao said. quickly against Fillon. request to stop. China has not released any casualty India will not allow any unilateral figures for its troops. changes to the disputed border, it said Modi on Friday appeared to down- Statue of Confederate general in a statement. play the clash with Chinese troops, toppled in Washington Chinese foreign ministry spokes- saying, “Nobody has intruded into our WASHINGTON: Protesters pulled down a man Zhao Lijian accused Indian border, neither is anybody there now, statue of a Confederate general in troops of a “deliberate provocation” nor have our posts been captured.” Washington late on Friday, part of a in the tense Himalayan area. Troops remain locked in a face-off wave of anti-racism demonstrations In a series of tweets, Zhao said the at several locations along the poorly in the United States. Television imag- Galwan Valley was on the Chinese defined Line of Action Control, REUTERS es showed the statue of Albert Pike, side of the line and that Indians despite talks between local command- Assa Traore, sister of Adama Traore, a 24-year-old Black Frenchman who died in 2016 in police custody, speaks during a protest against police which was located near Judiciary had since April unilaterally built ers to de-escalate. brutality, racial inequality and the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd in Paris. Square, being pulled down with ropes as protesters cheered “Black Lives Matter.” They then used flammable liquid to set a fire on the statue. Police put out the fire. President Donald Trump said in a tweet, “The The African refugees and migrants trapped inside Yemen’s war DC Police are not doing their job as they watch a statue be ripped down & burn. These people should be imme- REUTERS One in every eight Yemenis has north into wealthy Saudi Arabia and diately arrested. A disgrace to our ADEN/ SANAA, JUNE 20 been internally displaced by the six- beyond. Country!” There have been protests year conflict and 280,000 foreign Largely Ethiopian, they suffer the against racism and police brutality Despite six years of war and hardship refugees also live there. Yemen hosts same traffickers, abuse, rape and theft across the country and around the in Yemen, Somali refugee Bader the second-largest Somali refugee as refugees, often living side-by-side in world since last month. Hassan had stuck it out hoping for a population. squatter camps in the main cities. better life than in his homeland. After Houthi authorities in May “When [migrants and refugees] But the coronavirus pandemic has announced their first coronavirus reach the UNHCR office or our part- Polish question offer of fire pushed his precarious existence to the case in a Somali national found dead ners they are often without anything, edge, and now he wants out. in a Sanaa hotel, African migrants not even identity documents most of engines to boost voter turnout “Me, my wife and my son want to and refugees have been increasingly the time,” said Beuze. WARSAW: Poland’s government is live in a good place, like other people,” stigmatised, the United Nations and As coronavirus concerns mount, offering fire engines to small munici- the Somali-born 32-year-old said in the migrants said. U.N. migration agency IOM says palities that register high turnout in capital Sanaa. “They ask ‘what’s your nationality: migrants are being forcibly trans- next week’s close-run presidential As a refugee he has lived his life in Yemen, Somalia?’ I say Somali and ferred out of urban areas to hard-to- election, but the opposition said the Yemen with no state or charity sup- they say ‘sorry, goodbye’,” Hassan said access locations, including more than initiative appeared to be thinly veiled port, he said. He dropped out of school of potential customers. 1,300 forcibly moved north to south vote-buying. The interior ministry early to earn a living and now washes Tensions between host and refugee since late April. campaign will award one fire truck cars in the street. and migrant communities over Ethiopian migrant Abdelaziz came each to the municipalities that log the “But how do we live now when coro- Yemen’s scarce resources have histor- by sea, but said his journey to Saudi highest turnout in the country’s 16 na is also shutting off car washing?” ically been low, but the relationship is was blocked by northern authorities. regions during the June 28 first- he said. coming under strain as Yemen’s woes “There were 250 of us on the sea round vote. Only districts with less Divided between Houthi authorities deepen, the U.N. refugee agency’s journey we paid 1,500 Saudi riyals than 20,000 inhabitants will be eligi- in the north and the Yemeni govern- (UNHCR) Jean-Nicolas Beuze said ($400) for. Around five died,” he said ble for the trucks because they have ment in the south, Yemen today from Sanaa. from the bare roadside garden where struggled to raise the down payment is a land of displacement with 80 Alongside refugees, around 100,000 he and dozens of other African required to buy the vehicles with REUTERS percent of the population reliant on migrants also arrive each year by sea migrants sleep on cardboard. financing from the ministry. (AGENCIES) Somali refugee Bader Abdullah Hassan sits with his son at their house in Sanaa, Yemen. humanitarian aid. from the Horn of Africa hoping to trek He desperately wants to leave.

C M Y K SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & ARTS (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Music and dance keep people’s Radio Kantipur to spirit alive at quarantine centres dedicate entire day to To lessen people’s stress and anxiety, a couple of independent groups in Surkhet have been mark World Music Day providing free, socially-distanced entertainment sessions for people in quarantine. Over 50 artists—including Bipul Chhetri and Prateek along with us in a total zeal,” said Lamgade. Lamgade and his team of 10 members Kuhad—will join the day-long show to talk music. make sure that they maintain safe distance (of at least 10 to 15 metres) between them and the people at quarantine centres at all POST REPORT they have been organising open air times. They also use sanitizers, gloves and LALITPUR concerts annually, this year due to masks for protection. Their plan is to per- the pandemic they are making use form at as many quarantine centres as pos- adio Kantipur in coordi- of the radio—because of its wide sible and to continue performing as long as nation with the French reach—to celebrate music. there are quarantine facilities. Embassy and Alliance “We’ve always hosted some kind Lamgade says that when he saw reports Française de Katmandou of event every year. Due to the pan- of how Nepali migrant workers were strug- is dedicating an entire demic that is not possible, which is gling to find their way home and how peo- day to celebrate World why we’ve decided to tie up with ple were living in pitiable conditions in RMusic Day on June 21. Kantipur FM and do something like poorly organised quarantine, the band According to Sanjay Gupta, a this,” says Prabin Rana, Deputy members felt that they could use music to radio jockey at Radio Kantipur, the Director at AFK. PHOTO COURTESY: KESHAV THAPA brighten up people’s days. programme will feature both Nepali For the programme, Gupta says Keshav Thapa with his team has been conducting dance sessions in three quarantine centres in the “There are people in quarantine who are and international musicians, lyri- that they won’t be asking the artists Karnali region for the past one month. facing stigmatisation, who are suffering cists, singers and bands from 8am to to sing songs. Instead, they will have from homesickness and anxiety. Although 8pm. a conversation with the artists about ELISHA SHRESTHA “Quarantine centres have turned out to this is a difficult time, we want them to “We’re inviting over 50 artists music and play their songs on the KATHMANDU be a hostile and isolated place where, return to their homes safe and with some both from Nepal and abroad to talk radio instead. “We want the day to be because of ae lack of entertainment facili- good memories of them singing and danc- to them about how they’re feeling about celebrating everything related hen fitness and dance ties, most people are staying idle. Staying ing,” said Lamgade. during the time of the pandemic,” to music. Hence, we’ll be talking to instructor Keshav like that in an already stressful situation People across the world have been using says Gupta, who is also a popular everyone—from composers to leg- Thapa, along with his can have severe effects mentally,” he says. music and dance as a refuge to ease their emcee. “If things were normal, most ends to even young emerging sing- team of four dancers Along with dance sessions, Thapa also anxiety and boredom in these uncertain of them would be performing at var- ers,” he says. and two technical help- conducts basic meditation classes. “I times. There are also videos that have gone ious events around the country. But Popular singers like Bipul Chettri, ers, reached one of the thought I could use dance therapy and med- viral, such as the one from Italy where peo- due to the pandemic, most of them Deepak Bajracharya, Samridhi Rai, Wquarantine centres in Surkhet on itation to lift their spirit and motivate ple took to their balconies, windows and will be home.” Sugam Pokharel, Sunita Dulal and Wednesday morning, people rushed excit- them,” said Thapa, who has also been pro- rooftops to sing to lift each others’ spirits World Music Day is an annual lyricist Yadav Khanal are a few edly out of their rooms onto an open space viding food and sleeping mats for the people and to show gratitude to frontline health- event that is observed in over 120 Nepali artists who will be taking in the centre. in quarantine centres. care workers. countries the world over to celebrate part in the show. While, Aisha In a matter of minutes, speakers were play- Over the last few months, the Covid-19 Thapa says that by helping others, he is music in all its forms. Alliance Fukusima (USA), Caravana Palace ing the popular Nepali song ‘Mohani Lagla outbreak has driven millions of Nepali helping himself to stay positive amid the Française de Katmandou has been (France) and Prateek Kuhad (India) Hai’ and everyone was following Thapa’s migrant workers to return to their homes crisis. “In the beginning, I was helping the celebrating World Music Day in are some of the international artists steps, as he took centre stage and danced at a only to find themselves ending up in poorly people in need by distributing food and Kathmandu by organising live who will be speaking at the show. safe distance of 10 metres. managed quarantine centres, where they water. However, soon, I ran out of money. I events in the Valley by giving a plat- World Music Day started in 1982 as For the past one month now, Thapa, with spend long days of anxiousness and bore- was in agony because I didn’t know how I form for upcoming artists to show- Fete de la Musique, a music festival, his team, has been visiting three quaran- dom. In such a situation, people—from local could help. Then I realised that I could use case their talents since 1994. While in France. tine centres around Karnali region, con- and national artists—are doing their bit by my dance skills to help people around me. ducting free dance and meditation sessions reaching out to those quarantined and help- This experience has made me realise that for people isolated in quarantine centres. ing them by uplifting their spirits through anyone can help in their own ways to make The sessions are being held with permis- meditation, music and dance. this world a better place,” said Thapa. sion from the ward chairman. Suraj Lamgade, a lead singer of Blooms Both Thapa and Lamgade said that they “One brother here told me it’s the high- Band, a local music band in Surkhet, said have been overwhelmed by the positive light of his day. It is just a nice feeling to see that his band has teamed up with Zapprs responses from the people at the quarantine them moving and having fun,” said Thapa, Band, another local music band, in order to centres and the local authorities. Lamgade a Surkhet native. Thapa is professionally perform concerts in different quarantine said that they have also received invitations based in Kathmandu but moved back home centres around Surkhet. from other districts, like Dhangadi, to sing as the lockdown was announced to be with “For five days now, we have visited four for the people in the quarantine centres. his family. He says he came up with the idea different quarantine centres to perform a “The other day, it was raining when we of conducting these sessions in quarantine one-hour gig for our brothers and sisters in reached one of our quarantine centres. And centres to encourage people living there to quarantine centres. ‘Lok’ and ‘Dohori’ my students were outside, waiting for us, in POST PHOTO stay positive and to remind them that there songs are high on demand and we have the rain. I felt so overwhelmed and happy that The programme is jointly coordinated by French Embassy and Alliance Française de are people who care for their well-being. amazing audiences who dance and sing they are enjoying our sessions,” said Thapa. Kathmandu.

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