WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 189 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in , Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 36.3 C 14.0 C Tuesday, September 01, 2020 | 16-05-2077 Bhairahawa Jomsom Covid-19 pandemic delays dozens of projects that were on their final lap Apart from time and cost overruns for the private and state projects, the impact will also be on the country’s economy which could incur losses worth billions of rupees.

SANGAM PRASAIN & PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA for such projects to fly in, although it KATHMANDU, AUG 31 has announced that foreigners work- ing for diplomatic missions will be The Gautam Buddha International allowed to enter from September 1. Airport in Bhairahawa was expected After the lockdown was lifted in the to be up and running at the end of this third week of July, projects both big year. Similarly, the 456MW Upper and small, funded either by the gov- Tamakoshi in Dolakha, was to begin ernment or private institutions, were production by October this year. allowed to mobilise workers only for Both the projects were on their final civilian work. lap when the Covid-19 pandemic “Obviously, there is a challenge to struck. There is now uncertainty over bring skilled manpower to install the their completion. equipment, although most of the The two projects needed technical equipment have arrived,” said manpower and experts from abroad. Adhikari. “We will request the gov- The Covid-19-induced lockdown and ernment to allow projects to bring the ban on international flights meant no technicians even if it means charter- one could enter the country. ing flights.” POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA Along with these two, several other The project A woman returns home after buying daily essentials in on Monday. Authorities have issued prohibitory orders in till September 2, restricting all non-essential public large projects have also been delayed. needs to bring technicians from movement and operation of businesses, to contain the coronavirus spread. Shops are allowed to open for only a few hours in the morning. In the case of ’s second inter- Austria, the United States and national airport, foreign technical Vietnam, according to Adhikari, who manpower was set to arrive to install also oversees another international the runway lighting system and other airport being built in Pokhara . Pranab Mukherjee, ’s equipment. The Pokhara International Airport Current efforts to slow the virus not working, The country’s largest hydropower was scheduled to be completed six former president, dies plant is also awaiting foreign techni- months before its stipulated deadline cal manpower for the commissioning of July 10 next year because of the NEW DELHI: and testing, the final phase before good progress it was making before During five time to start antibody tests, doctors say production begins. Covid-19. But officials, now, say that decades in Officials at these projects said they too may not happen. Indian poli- The mass testing, or seroprevalence survey, can provide estimation on the percentage of are unable to definitely tell when they All equipment for the second pack- tics, Pranab will come into operation. age—installation of communication, Mukherjee, people in a population with antibodies against SARS-Cov-2, which causes Covid-19. “We are not sure on the operation navigation and surveillance, air traf- who died on deadline of the airports now,” said fic management and meteorological Monday after Pradip Adhikari, chief of the national equipment—of Gautam - a lung infec- ARJUN POUDEL Monday, taking the tally to 5,724. official at the Department of Health pride projects under the Civil Aviation port is here, but the Thai contractors tion, led some KATHMANDU, AUG 31 The government has been relying Services, who spoke on condition of Authority of Nepal. have not been able to come or send of the on lockdowns and prohibitory orders anonymity, told the Post. “Concerned The government has not said when their technicians. nation’s most REUTERS The restrictions imposed to contain to contain the virus spread. However, authorities then could have restricted it will allow skilled manpower needed >> Continued on page 2 powerful Pranab Mukherjee the coronavirus spread do not seem to health experts have long argued that movements to and from the areas ministries have worked well, if the infection rates– blanket restrictions are not a solution where the cases were high. It could and eventually became its president, across the country and Kathmandu to the pandemic. They say the deci- have helped break the transmission but the ultimate prize still eluded him: Valley–are anything to go by. sions–to impose the lockdown on chain to a large extent, preventing the the prime ministership. The national Covid-19 tally on March 24 and then completely lift it virus taking hold in society.” Mukherjee tested positive for Monday reached 39,460, with 228 after four months without giving a A serology test examines the pres- COVID-19 on Aug. 10 and had been in deaths. proper thought–were wrong. ence of antibodies. When a human hospital since. He was 84. The Health Ministry said that 899 What then the authorities could body is exposed to a foreign pathogen, Valued for his ability to build con- people tested positive, with seven have done? it produces antibodies in response. sensus by exerting his charm to bring deaths, in the last 24 hours. Kathmandu Apart from testing, tracing and Serology tests look for either together disparate groups, Mukherjee Valley recorded 298 new cases on treating, the government should have Immunoglobulin M (IgM) or never won the top job, despite decades resorted to seroprevalence sur- Immunoglobulin G (IgG), the two anti- of loyalty to the Congress party. veys, doctors say. According to bodies developed by the body against The former college teacher and them, seroprevalence surveys the virus. The IgM is the first antibody journalist lacked a grassroots politi- can provide data on the preva- developed by the immune system, so it cal base, but held more than a dozen lence of the virus in communi- is detected during the test first, within federal portfolios between 1973 and ties, thereby helping the authori- a week or two, followed by the IgG, 2012, ranging from commerce and ties locate hotspots and take var- which is detected during another test finance to defence and foreign affairs. ious necessary measures accord- two weeks after the infection. But he could also raise hackles, as ingly. A seroprevalence survey can pro- when finance minister in 2012, he “Had such a survey been car- vide an estimation on the percentage demanded a $2-billion payment from ried out in some Tarai districts, of people in a population with anti- Vodafone as part of a retrospective tax especially Parsa, Morang, and bodies against SARS-Cov-2, which PHOTO COURTESY: GAUTAM BUDDHA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROJECT on long-concluded corporate deals. Dhanusha, we could have known causes Covid-19. The Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa was supposed to start operation by (Full story on page 6) the prevalence of the virus,” an >> Continued on page 2 the end of this year.

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL Government Kathmandu Mayor Shakya partially reopens Demonstrations continue over foreign employment tests positive for Covid-19 hit by pandemic As he had met mayors from other municipalities on custody death of Dalit youth CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Thursday, they are worried they might have been infected. KATHMANDU, AUG 31 Family of Bijay Kumar has refused to accept probe committee formed by Home Ministry. ANUP OJHA According to a report by the public Nepal’s foreign employment sector is KATHMANDU, AUG 31 health department of Kathmandu SHIVA PURI finally reopening after the govern- Metropolitan City, a total of 2,452 posi- RAUTAHAT, AUG 31 ment decided to allow aspirant work- In yet another proof of the unchecked tive cases have been recorded in the ers to go abroad months after it spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in city as of August 29. Friends and relatives of the Dalit youth who died after alleg- stopped issuing permits. Kathmandu Valley, Kathmandu On Monday, 190 positive cases were edly being tortured by police in custody have continued A Cabinet meeting on Sunday decid- Metropolitan City’s Mayor Bidya reported in and their protest in Rautahat, saying they won’t accept the ed to resume issuing labour permits Sundar Shakya tested positive for 372 on Sunday, the Ministry of Health probe committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. for migrant workers after a hiatus of coronavirus on Monday, according to a and Population said. The municipali- Bijay Kumar and six others were arrested on August 19 in over five months. municipality source. ty-wise breakdown of figures for the connection to the death of Niranjan Ram, a local teenager, Minister for Labour, Employment Shakya, who had come under criti- district for the last two days is not in Municipality. Nineteen-year-old Bijay died on and Social Security Rameshwar Ray cism from chairs of wards of his own available. On Sunday, a record 415 per- August 26 and his family members have claimed that he was Yadav said, “Labour permits will now be city for not doing enough to check the sons from the Valley tested positive tortured in custody. issued for countries safe for workers. We spread of the virus, had been pointing while the figure came down to 298 on Police have been saying that Bijay died in the course of need to assess the demand for workers fingers at the federal government for Monday. treatment for a kidney ailment. POST PHOTO: SHIVA PURI from countries deemed safe. Labour per- allowing people to enter the Valley The Covid-19 death toll in the Valley However, a video of Bijay, which was taken in hospital Bijay’s death has sparked protests in Rautahat over the past week. mits will not be issued for all countries without restrictions. stands at 35. The total number of cases prior to his death, shows him saying that he was indeed right away. We have to be cautious.” The mayor visited Grande in the country stands at 39,460 with tortured by plainclothes police and forced to confess to the Rabiraj Khadka, the police chief of Rautahat, in order to The minister, however, did not International Hospital, Tokha, for a 899 new cases reported Monday. The August 16 murder of 17-year-old Niarnjan. extract confession out of Bijay. reveal the names of the countries des- check-up on Sunday with his unwell total death toll is 228, according to the Bijay’s death has sparked protests in Rautahat. His family “There should be a fair investigation and Inspector Singh ignated safe for Nepali workers and wife. His wife has, however, tested ministry. members, friends, local people and rights activists have and the two other police personnel should be brought to the exact date when the Department negative. The extent of the spread of the been staging demonstrations in Garuda Bazar for the past book,” he demanded. of Foreign Employment will start virus had become clear after 30 of the one week. Pariyar also demanded that DSP Mahato and the other issuing the permits. 69 people tested for the virus in Demonstrators took to the street in Garuda Bazaar on officers at Garuda Area Police Office should also face Many Nepali workers who were A total of 2,452 Bagbazar on Friday, said Gyan Monday demanding justice for Bijay. They also burnt the action. looking forward to living and working Bahadur Oli, the city’s Covid-19 focal effigy of Gyan Kumar Mahato, the deputy superintendent Former lawmaker Bishwendra Pasawan has also been in countries of the Persian Gulf positive cases have person. of police at the Area Police Office in Garuda. staging a sit-in in front of Garuda Area Police Office region and Southeast Asia had to post- Meanwhile, those who have had Chief District Officer of Rautahat Indra Dev Yadav said a demanding a fair investigation into the case. pone their plans after the government been recorded in the close contact with Mayor Shakya have three-member committee led by Dolendra Niraula, Meanwhile, a source at the Garuda Area Police Office halted issuing permits in mid-March. said they are worried about their own under-secretary at the Area Administration Office in said Inspector Singh’s team had tortured Bijay on August 18 Nepal’s foreign employment sector city as of August 29. status. Chandranigahapur, is investigating the case. and 19. The source also said that DSP Mahato had also felt the first hit of Covid-19 in late Lalitpur Mayor Chiri Babu The demonstrators, however, doubt the committee will informed DIG Dhiraj Pratap Singh, the chief of Province 2 February when migration to South told the Post on Monday conduct a fair investigation. They have said that they won’t police, about Inspector Singh visiting Bijay in detention Korea was stopped. Until the first week of August, evening that he decided to get himself accept the committee, nor its findings. room to inquire about the murder case. Later, the Qatari government’s tem- Mayor Shakya was reluctant to estab- tested on Tuesday after he heard about “We cannot accept the committee which is represented by After Bijay’s video became public, there has been an out- porary ban on arrivals from 14 coun- lish a quarantine facility or isolation his Kathmandu counterpart’s positive the local administration and the police,” said Dharmendra cry on social media, calling for the removal of Inspector tries, including Nepal, came as the centre in the city. But with the rapid result. Pasawan, a local Dalit leader. Singh. Inspector Singh denied any wrongdoings. He said he first major jolt to the labour migration spread of the virus and growing pres- “After we had a meeting at the home Family members and friends of Bijay have claimed that had gone to Garuda for some other work and that he did not sector, affecting plans of thousands of sure from the people, the mayor on ministry on Thursday, the mayor of some police personnel in plainclothes deployed from the assault Bijay. Nepali workers. Soon, more labour August 10, announced he would build Thimi and I had taken a photo with District Police Office had tortured him in custody. Following widespread protest, the Office of the Chief destination countries enforced simi- integrated isolation centers to accom- Mayor Shakya in the middle. Though Nathuram Pariyar, a Dalit leader, claimed that Police Attorney of Province 2 has recommended that the provin- lar coronavirus containment meas- modate 5,000 people. we maintained distance, I am quite Inspector Nabin Singh and the head constable duo Munna cial police suspend the officers accused in the case. ures with rising cases of Covid-19, But he has little progress to show worried,” said Maharjan. “I have also Singh and Firoj Alam had tortured Bijay. Dipendra Jha, the chief attorney for the province, has leading Nepal to completely halt issu- even three weeks after the announce- been meeting and interacting with The three officers, Pariyar added, were deployed by also called for fair investigation into the case. ing labour permits for an indefinite ment. This means that hundreds of people at the grassroots.” period on March 13. This was the first infected people are forced to isolate Madan Sundar Shrestha, mayor of such blanket ban imposed by the gov- themselves in their homes as hospital the Municipality ernment in the country’s over two beds are unavailable. also plans to get tested on Tuesday. decades of labour migration history. “I am surprised to hear that Mayor According to Shrestha, mayors from Current efforts to slow the virus ... The government has resumed issu- Shakya tested positive,” said Nil Kaji Kathmandu Valley, Minister for ing re-entry permits, allowing migrant Shakya, chairperson of Ward No. 25, Health Bhanubhakta Dhakal, Health >> Continued from page 1 laboratories, where the presence of “This is one of the ways to perform workers who had been in Nepal dur- who had long been accusing Shakya Secretary Laxman Aryal, and Home This then can tell authorities how many antibodies–IgG and IgM–can be detect- more focussed tests and pool testing in ing their job breaks to return to work. of only consulting ward representa- Secretary Maheshowr Neupane were people in a specific population may ed in blood plasma. While the IgM risk areas, thereby saving resources.” Following the decision, over 5,600 tives close to him. among those present at the meeting. have previously contracted the virus. usually disappears from the blood In pool testing, samples from multi- migrant workers have received re-en- “Now, Deputy Mayor Hari Bhabha “Although we had maintained dis- After the end of the lockdown on within a few months after recovery, ple people are tested on the whole try permits for various countries and Khadgi should run our board meet- tance during the meeting, I am plan- July 21, the Health Ministry said it the IgG can be detected for years. batch. If a pool returns a positive are expected to return to work with ings, and she should work actively to ning to have my swab tested on would perform seroprevalence surveys Two types of tests--an enzyme- result, the second phase of testing is the resumption of regular commer- prevent the further spread of the dis- Tuesday,” said Shrestha. “I am already on around 7,500 people. The authorities linked immunosorbent assay, also conducted by breaking down the batch cial flights from Tuesday. ease,” said Shakya. isolating myself.” have yet to conduct the survey. called ELISA and Chemiluminescence into small groups to identify the “We had entrusted the Epidemiology immunoassay (CLIA) test–are per- infected person or people. and Disease Control Division with the formed to check the antibody against If it shows negative, all individuals task of performing serology tests Covid-19 on participants. in the batch are negative. about a month ago,” Dr Sameer Kumar Both tests are considered a gold In an interview with the New York Adhikari, joint spokesperson for the standard for study of antibodies Times in June, Dr Anthony S Fauci, Health Ministry, told the Post. against the coronavirus, according to the director of the National Institute Division officials, however, said Dr Megnath Dhimal, chief researcher of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, since they are already hamstrung by at Nepal Health Research Council. said US officials were having “intense manpower crunch, they sought help “Seroprevalence tests help us iden- discussions” about a possible shift to from the World Health Organization’s tify the risk and contain the spread of “pool testing”. country office in Nepal to provide infection,” said Dhimal. “Such studies “The standard approach to con- technical staff to conduct the tests. help us locate high risk areas so that trolling infectious diseases–testing “We sought the WHO help for tech- the authorities can declare restric- sick people, isolating them and tracing nical staff, as it takes longer to hire tions on those areas and perform poly- their contacts–was not working,” he staff from our system,” Dr Basudev merase chain reaction tests.” said. “The failure was in part because Pandey, director at the Division, told The United Nations in Nepal in its some infected are asymptomatic and the Post, pointing at the byzantine April report “Covid-19 Nepal: unknowingly spreading the virus but bureaucratic process the government Preparedness and Response Plan” also because some people exposed to hiring takes. “The UN agency has set had listed “strengthening capacity the virus are reluctant to self-quaran- the September 4 deadline for applica- and partnerships for operations tine or have no place to do so.” tions. We can start the study once we research–transmission studies and The threat level in Nepal may not are provided with the staff.” sero-surveys” as one of the priority have reached the US level yet, but Doctors and public health experts preparedness activities. what the doctor says does resonate say a lack of political will from the As one of the priority response with the situation here–infected authorities is largely to blame for the activities, the UN called for facilitat- asymptomatic people might be spread- poor response to the pandemic and ing lab-based operations research– ing the virus and some despite getting that the delay in conducting the sero- especially in determining household exposed to the virus are either not prevalence survey is just an example infection rates, asymptomatic infec- going into self-isolation or lack facili- how government officials are refusing tion rates and seroprevalence. ties at home to do so. to recognise a looming catastrophe. Even after spending billions–Rs13 “Since seroprevalence test is signif- According to them, existing human billion by the government’s own admis- icant in conducting pool testing, it resources serving in health facilities sion–authorities now appear to be should be done without delay,” said could have been easily deployed for groping in the dark. Although public Adhikari, the infectious and critical the survey. health experts have been saying that care expert. “Polymerase chain reac- Dr Prbhat Adhikari, an infectious there is enough evidence to prove com- tion tests may not detect the virus disease and critical care expert, said munity spread of the virus, govern- after two weeks have passed since nurses and paramedics can be roped ment officials continue to deny this. infection, but a serology test can pro- POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI in for the initial process, in which “A seroprevalence study can also be vide information on the infection by A herd of stray cattle cross the Bagmati River in Kuleshwor, Kathmandu, on Monday. According to an estimate of the Department of Livestock, they just need to draw blood from helpful in confirming the community detecting the antibody. Thus it helps there are about 7.3 million cows in the country, not counting the stray population, which is estimated to number in the thousands in core city patients and store it properly. spread,” said Dr Kiran Pandey, a con- understand the status of the virus areas, including Kathmandu. The samples then need to be sent to sultant physician at Hams Hospital. penetration in society.” Covid-19 pandemic delays dozens of projects that were on their final lap

>> Continued from page 1 private sector have been at a standstill Hydropower are all languishing. the equipment to pass through. Citing the threat of Covid-19, the “But it could not happen as the Similarly, the progress of Upper for the last six months,” said The Upper Trishuli 3B, a joint ven- The story of the Dhalkebar substa- Chinese authorities have been clear- workers could not be brought to the Tamakoshi Hydropower Project has Shailendra Guragain, immediate past ture project between the Nepal tion of the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur ing limited trucks of goods every day project site due to lockdown,” said been idled with almost 99 percent of president of Independent Power Electricity Authority and Nepal cross-border transmission line pro- on priority basis, particularly medical Lasiwa. “Once the situation normalis- its work complete. Producers Association of Nepal. Telecom, also looks set for missing its ject, which is being constructed to and other consumer goods. es, the work in the main canal will be Bigyan Shrestha, chief of the Upper “Neither construction work of new projected completion deadline of mid- export power from Nepal, is similar. After extensive lobbying, permis- completed within a month.” Tamakoshi project, said even during projects could start nor maintenance March 2021. The 400KV substation is a key sub- sion was granted to clear the supply of Progress on the 14.65km extended the pandemic, works in the project work on ongoing ones could be done, According to the project officials, station to distribute electricity to east equipment by early August. But that main canal has been slow with 75 per- continued, albeit at a slower pace. as the necessary spare parts and man- before the pandemic hit, the progress and west from the 456MW Upper could not happen due to landslides on cent completed. “The project is now at the testing power are not available.” was largely on track. Tamakoshi. It will also be a the bordering Chinese side. “This section was supposed to have and commissioning phase–one of the Guragain said had there not been “But now it will be pushed further major point to export surplus energy “Once the machine arrives, the been completed by mid-June but we most sensitive and final stages in a the pandemic, around 1,500MW of by at least one year,” said Mohan to India. The operational transmission line can be charged with need to extend the deadline,” said hydropower project,” said Shrestha. electricity from the private sector Gautam, managing director of Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 220kV is electricity in 10 to 15 days,” said Lasiwa. “There were around 180 work- “But we have been unable to bring would have been connected to the Upper Trishuli 3B. “We could not being upgraded to a capacity of 400kV Devkota. ers deployed before the lockdown. skilled manpower from India, China national grid by now. work in the dry season and there is for this purpose. The project is also seeking the gov- Now, there are around 60.” and some European countries, as This output from the private sector uncertainty over when the situation The substation was supposed to ernment’s approval to bring Indian Once completed, it will irrigate there were no flights.” alone would have been more than the will normalise so that we can get back start charging electricity in the trans- technical staff to observe the final 14,300 hectares of land. The project which was supposed to total 1,200MW, the highest ever being to work.” mission line by May-end. But equip- testing as it is the cross-border trans- There has been 70 percent progress produce 76 MW in the first phase is generated in the country’s history Work was almost completely stalled ment for substation was stranded at mission line. in the hydropower component. The unlikely to meet the deadline, accord- since the 500KW Pharping as most of Chinese technical staff Kolkata port in India and was brought Another project affected by the pan- reasons are similar--lack of materials ing to Shrestha. Hydroelectric Plant began production who had gone home for the Chinese to Nepal only in June-end. demic is the Rani Jamara Kulariya and manpower. “A pandemic situation will push the in 1911. New Year in January did not return “Bringing Indian technical workers Irrigation Project, also a national The construction sector contributes deadline by at least one month,” “The pandemic has forced the pri- due to international travel restric- to conduct initial testing of the sub- pride project, in Kailali district. Works over seven percent to the national Shrestha told the Post. vate sector to incur heavy losses and tions following the pandemic. station also took time,” said Shukra on intake and feeder canals have economy and contributes to the ser- His assumption is based on the sce- the country’s economy is also suffer- “Of the 60 technical employees who Devkota, chief of the project. already been completed. But works of vice sector as well. nario that the government will allow ing output losses amounting to bil- had gone home, eight to ten returned Then Indian and Nepali workers the main canal and its extension and “The pandemic’s impact on the con- them to bring in the required skilled lions of rupees,” said Guragain. in February, but there is little pro- returned home after the lockdown 4.71MW hydropower project, a compo- struction sector is going to have a manpower by September. Projects like the 140MW Tanahu gress,” said Gautam. which was lifted on July 21. nent of this multipurpose project, severe effect on the economy,” said Projects being developed by the pri- Hydropower Project on the Seti River, Construction equipment of the “Before the lockdown, there were have been badly affected. Shankar Sharma, former vice chair- vate sector have also been badly affect- the 111MW Rasuwagadhi Upper Trishuli 3B project has been nearly 400 workers, now only 80 to 90 Prem Lasiwa, information officer at person of the National Planning ed and many of them are in limbo, as Hydroelectric, the 120MW Rasuwa- stranded at the bordering Chinese are working,” said Devkota. the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Commission. “Given the circumstanc- they too are unable to bring the tech- Bhotekoshi Hydropower, the 102MW town Kerung since January. Even The testing kits for the project are Project, said the works on the 8.86-km es, there will either be meagre growth nical manpower from abroad. Madhya Bhotekoshi Hydropower, and after the reopening of the border, also stranded in Kerung for the last main canal should have been complet- or contraction in the economy in the “Over 90 percent projects of the the 37MW Upper Trishuli 3B Chinese authorities have not cleared one month. ed by mid-April . current fiscal year.”

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 NATIONAL

Suraj Lama with his mother at their home in Rajahar, Nawalparasi.

Despite the bans, Nepalis continue to travel illegally to Afghanistan and Iraq. Suraj Lama at a gym near his home in Nawalparasi.

PHOTOS: PETER GILL Nepali Afghanistan and Iraq victims seek compensation, justice According to the US Labor Department, approximately 300 Nepalis have filed compensation claims for deaths or injuries in the US war zones. However, experts believe the true number of Nepali casualties is far higher.

PETER GILL & JANAKRAJ SAPKOTA Gurung and Handley. According to District, doctors discovered a 1-inch Castro, among others. KATHMANDU, AUG 31 Handley, the duo have since won com- piece of metal shrapnel still lodged in Typically, law firms deduct their pensation for over 30 Nepali victims his lower back. fees from the victims’ compensation, Kamala Thapa, of Bakrang, Gorkha from Iraq and Afghanistan, including In 2011, Lama saw an advertisement but they do not take any money if the District, was married and a mother by deaths and injuries. Handley and Gurung had posted in victim loses the case. Sometimes, if age 19. As her baby daughter was tot- Because there is no time limit for Kantipur for a “Know Your Rights” the plaintiff is a victim of egregious tering around their village home and filing cases so long as the employer workshop in Kathmandu, targeted at abuse, the US government pays for his speaking her first words, tragic events never reported the incident to the migrants returning from Afghanistan or her lawyer’s fees. For example, the halfway around the world changed American government, Handley has and Iraq. Lama went to Kathmandu government paid Fryzsman and both mother and daughter’s lives for- been able help disabled workers even with his contract and other docu- Handley for representing the 12 mur- ever. In late August 2004, militants years after their injuries occurred. ments to meet the American lawyer. dered Nepalis in Iraq, so the victims from the Ansar Al-Sunna terrorist For some victims, the compensation Handley agreed to take on Lama’s case kept 100% of their compensation. group kidnapped and executed 12 came as a godsend long after they had because the compensation Lama Handley has also undertaken some Nepali migrant workers in Iraq. given up hope. received did not appear to meet cases pro bono. In 2012, in the memory Among them was Kamala’s husband, With her compensation money, the standards set by the DBA. However, of one of his clients killed in Jit Bahadur. Kamala bought land and built a small Handley soon discovered that Afghanistan, Handley established the Kamala’s daughter, who was 22 home in the Buddhanilkantha neigh- Blue Marines Services had gone Thaman Gurung and Matthew months old when her father was borhood of Kathmandu. She sends out of business — which led to years Handley Scholarship Fund. According killed, is now a Class 11 student in her daughter to a good college in the of delay. to Amanda Gurung, Member- Kathmandu. Sixteen years after losing city, and runs her own tailoring busi- Finally, in 2018, more than nine Secretary of the Chandra Gurung her husband, Kamala says, “When I ness. “I wouldn’t have had any of this years after his injury, the US Conservation Foundation, the parent hear about Nepalis today who contin- had we not won the compensation Department of Labor agreed to com- organization that oversees the schol- ue to go to work in conflict zones like case,” she says. “I owe it all to [Gurung pensate Lama using a special govern- arship, the fund has provided scholar- Iraq, and they get injured or killed in and Handley].” ment fund. For Lama, the money ships for nearly a dozen underprivi- attacks there, the memories come Another of Handley’s clients, Suraj eased his worries. leged students in Kaski District for back. I can’t read those types of news Lama, went to Iraq in 2005, just a year “Now I can support myself and my college-level studies. stories–I just skim the headlines.” after the 12 Nepalis were murdered. mother, instead of begging from my Handley and Gurung say many The 2004 murders were seared into Unlike the 12 men, the 21-year-old brothers,” he says. Lama joined a Nepali victims remain unaware of Nepal’s national memory by a video POST ARCHIVES Lama chose to go to Iraq. After losing local gym in Gaindakot, where he con- their rights under the DBA. Indeed, that went viral through shared VCDs, Photo taken from a video posted by Ansar Al-Sunna militants, showing one of the Nepali his father the previous year, Lama tinues physiotherapy to strengthen employers often try to keep the law a memory cards, and public screenings. hostages in Iraq. went hoping to earn enough money to the muscles injured 12 years ago. secret from workers. Many victims (In those days, YouTube was not yet support his mother back in Rajahar, Another client of Handley’s, have yet to start the process to receive widespread.) A government investiga- ent company, Haliburton). KBR sup- insurance company demanding com- Nawalparasi. For a while, Lama Gunaraj Dahal, was injured in their legally mandated compensation. tion committee formed soon after the plied and managed US bases through- pensation under an American law worked for a catering company at the Afghanistan in 2008 while working for What should Nepalis who think murders found that the Kathmandu- out Iraq, hiring workers from all over known as the Defense Base Act (DBA). Al-Asad Airbase, where the 12 men the American company Supreme Site they may be eligible for DBA compen- based Moonlight Manpower Company the world as cooks, guards, drivers, The DBA requires US government would have worked had they survived Services. Dahal slipped and fell while sation do? had tricked the men into going to Iraq, mechanics, janitors, and for other contractors and sub-contractors in their journey. carrying an air conditioner at the “Ask for copies of all documents promising jobs in Jordan instead. positions. Through sub-contracts with war zones to buy special insurance Dissatisfied with the salary, Lama company’s warehouse in Kabul. With that you sign, or take photos with your Tens of thousands of angry protes- a Jordanian firm and a Kathmandu- that will compensate employees for later took a new job with a different nerve damage to his leg and difficulty phone,” says Handley. “Before leav- tors took to the streets in Kathmandu, based manpower agency, KBR had injuries and deaths. It sets standards company managing trash at a landfill walking, the company sent Dahal ing, ask what insurance exists in the ransacking and setting fire to the recruited the Nepalis to work at the for compensation based on formulas on another American base, home and fired him in early 2009. event you are injured or killed.” manpower agency as well as dozens of laundry service on the American that take into account the type of inju- Al-Taqqadum, near the Iraqi city of “I arrived at the airport in Gurung adds: “If you’ve been other offices. Others used the opportu- Al-Asad Airbase in Western Iraq. The ry, the employee’s salary, and the num- Fallujah. On October 2, 2008, Lama Kathmandu in a wheelchair,” says injured, don’t sign any documents you nity to lash out at Islam by attacking men were on their way from Jordan to ber and age of family members the was at Al-Taqqadum when he was Dahal. “I thought – is the rest of my don’t understand, because you could mosques, Middle Eastern embassies, their new jobs when they were kid- employee supports. struck in the abdomen by a bullet or life ruined?” get cheated. Find a good lawyer — and even Gulf airline offices. napped by Ansar Al-Sunna militants. Gurung spent months traveling missile fired by Iraqi insurgents. He Handley filed an application for dis- someone who knows the American Few Nepalis were aware that the As part of his research, Simpson around Nepal collecting the benefi- was rushed to a hospital, underwent ability payment for Dahal under the law and has experience — and get American military and a large traveled to Nepal and met Ganesh ciaries’ necessary bio-data to file the surgery, and then spent several DBA, and eventually negotiated a advice from them.” American corporation had also played Gurung, an academic at the Nepal claims: birth certificates, marriage months convalescing. compensation settlement with the an important role in the Nepalis’ Institute for Development Studies. records, and other official documents. “The last thing I remember was an insurance company. Dahal started his Migration today deaths. Months later, it emerged that (Today, Gurung is a member of the He shared these with the lawyers, who explosion and a lot of dust or smoke. own air conditioning repair service in After the 12 Nepalis were kidnapped the men had been destined for work government think-tank Policy then submitted them to the US When I regained consciousness, I was Kathmandu, where he now employs and murdered, the Nepali government for the military contracting corpora- Research Institute). Gurung, who Department of Labor along with in the hospital and a week had passed four people. banned citizens from traveling to Iraq tion Kellogg Brown and Root, or KBR, researches migration, helped Simpson applications for compensation. by,” says Lama. “It’s the compensation money that in September 2004. The ban was brief- on an American base in Iraq. A year locate the victims’ families. According to Handley, compensa- Eventually, his company, the Dubai- made this possible,” says Dahal. ly lifted in 2010, but reimposed shortly later, the men’s families sued KBR for Three of the 12 men came from a tion cases usually move for when all based Blue Marines Services, sent thereafter, and continues today. Most compensation for their loved ones’ destitute village near Janakpur. “They the proper documents are submitted him back to Nepal with $5,000, crutch- American legal teams work in Afghanistan has been banned deaths. After a long legal battle, the lived in a little hut. One mother was to the Department of Labor. However, es, and a nasty scar on his stomach. In addition to Handley’s current law since 2016, after a bus full of Nepali families eventually won their compen- partly paralyzed,” says Gurung. “I KBR’s insurer challenged the 12 When Lama returned home to Nepal, firm, which is named Handley Farah security guards were killed by a sui- sation case in 2008. cried when I saw how they were living. Nepalis’ claims, arguing they were he had a long scar on his stomach and and Anderson, several other firms cide bomber in Kabul. Following the incident, the Nepali I thought: the men migrated abroad to incomplete because they did not had to use crutches to walk. also help non-Americans get compen- However, despite the bans, Nepalis government banned citizens from escape this poverty, only to die in Iraq!” include the men’s contracts — which Lama struggled to recover. Pain in sated under the DBA. These include continue to travel illegally to Iraq and working in Iraq. However, many tens After her husband died, Kamala had been lost. his pelvic area prevented him from Handley’s old firm, Cohen Milstein, as Afghanistan to perform work duties of thousands of Nepalis have ignored and her daughter moved to As a result, the case moved to working, and when he went to the well as Strong Point Law Firm and that are, in many cases, essential to the ban and traveled to both Iraq and Kathmandu, where they lived at the administrative court. Fortunately, the UMN hospital in Tansen, Palpa Barnett, Lerner, Karsen, Frankel and the American military’s operations. Afghanistan since 2004 to work for US Tulsi Meher Ashram. Remembering victims’ lawyers were able to prove In Iraq, Nepali migrants have formed contractors. When these workers are that time in her life, Kamala says, “I the men were working for KBR based organizations such as the Nepal injured or killed, most do not know didn’t know anything about my rights. on strong circumstantial evidence, Migrants’ Society, Nepal Tamang they are entitled to compensation, and I had no idea my husband’s employer including testimony from a man who Ghedung Kurdistan, Nepali Women’s their employers often deny them prop- owed him compensation.” had been trafficked to Iraq with the 12 Society Kurdistan, Kurdistani er benefits. After Simpson published his story but who was in a different vehicle, and Migrants’ Nepali Society, and the Non- Today, lawyers are assisting Nepali in the Tribune in late 2005, the case therefore made it to Al-Asad alive. Resident Nepalis Association of Iraq. victims from American war zones to received public attention in the US. In 2008, the American court ruled in The president of the latter associa- exercise their legally-mandated right Soon, Simpson put Gurung in touch favor of the Nepalis. Nine of the 12 tion, Lalkaji Gurung, estimates that to compensation. with a team of American lawyers who families received compensation, but there are currently around 15,000 said they could help the families. three did not because the victims were Nepalis in that country, of whom Fighting the military-contractor The team, from the Washington- unmarried and had no living parents around 5,000 work on various US nexus based law firm Cohen Milstein, was (under US law, siblings are not eligible bases. Experts estimate that to date, In 2004, after seeing the videotape of led by the human rights lawyer beneficiaries). close to 50,000 Nepalis have worked in the 12 murders, many people won- Agnieska Fryzsman and supported by Fryzsman and Handley also filed a both Iraq and Afghanistan. dered: what were the Nepali men a young lawyer named Matthew separate case in US federal court “Illegalizing migration doesn’t stop doing in Iraq? Handley. Handley had been a Peace against KBR for human trafficking, people from migrating. It just makes We know the answer, thanks to Cam Corps Volunteer in Nepal in the 1990s, since the 12 Nepali men had been the degree of vulnerability go way Simpson, an American investigative helping villagers build latrines. He tricked into going to Iraq. Ultimately, up,” says Gurung. journalist at the Chicago Tribune spoke Nepali and was familiar with they lost this case — not for lack of US Department of Labor data show newspaper. the hardships of migrant Nepalis evidence, but because the court decid- that only around 300 Nepalis have ever Through extensive research in 2004 abroad, though he had never encoun- ed it did not have proper jurisdiction filed compensation claims under the and 2005, Simpson found that the men tered a case so egregious as the 12 for the case. DBA. Gurung says he thinks the actu- had been sent to work for a sub-con- murdered men in Iraq. al number of Nepalis injured and tractor of KBR, a corporation with With the help of the American law- Many new cases killed is far higher. deep ties to the American military and yers, the victims’ families filed com- The victory in the 12 Nepalis’ DBA politics. (Former Vice President Dick pensation claims against KBR, its case marked the beginning of a long PHOTO: MATTHEW HANDLEY Center for Investigative Journalism, Cheney was once CEO of KBR’s par- Jordanian sub-contractor, and their and productive partnership between Matthew Handley and Ganesh Gurung at a press conference. Nepal funded this reporting.

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Two killers: Cities and centralism Work or perish The federal government’s The state is morally bound to safeguard its lack of support for the citizens working in precarious conditions abroad. vulnerable is going to add to the death toll. Two news stories published in the past couple of days have put a spotlight on the plight of Nepali citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable who are often forced to take risks to earn a ACHYUT WAGLE living in foreign lands as the state continues to turn its back on them. One, published in the Post in association with the Centre for Investigative Journalism-Nepal, explores how Nepalis who are injured or killed while working for American contractors in US war zones like Afghanistan and Iraq are often sent home with only token compensation—or none at all. The other news is about Qatar raising minimum wage and Paul Collier, one of the most famous lifting curbs on changing jobs for migrant workers. The Gulf development economists of our times nation, which is hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has been and author of several bestselling books invariably chided by rights bodies for exploiting migrant including The Bottom Billions (2007) workers. But this time around, it has earned accolades by and The Future of Capitalism (2017), agencies like the United Nations and Amnesty International. equated British cities of the 1840s with Qatar is among the most favoured destinations for Nepali killing fields. The industrial revolution migrant workers and hosts around 400,000 Nepalis as per the (1780-1830) had triggered rapid indus- latest Nepal Migration Report. trialisation and urbanisation. The The lack of employment at home and the state’s absolute British rural population rushed to emerging megacities that had become indifference towards its citizens abroad have for long put new manufacturing hubs. A combina- millions of poor Nepalis between a rock and a hard place. An tion of inadequate urban infrastruc- estimated 1,500 Nepalis used to leave the country legally for ture for the added population, pollution jobs in the Persian Gulf, Malaysia and South Korea before the from coal-burning factories, cramped pandemic-induced lockdown. Then there are some ‘lucrative’ accommodations, poor quality of water destinations that Nepal has banned for Nepali migrant work- supply, malnutrition and lack of proper SHUTTERSTOCK ers but still attract the desperate Nepalis who reach there via personal hygiene etc. resulted in fre- ulated with illegal settlements and measures that were proven in the high- lines were given. But the federal gov- alternative routes. Those destinations promise good remu- quent outburst of cholera, often in epi- without basic facilities like potable ly affected areas of the world. But dur- ernment has refused to budge from the nerations but come with huge risks. demic scales, and scarlet fever. They water, electricity and housing with ing the four-month-long lockdown, the idea of fully centralised control of pro- Chandra Pun Magar of Banke died last year in Kabul, killed hundreds of thousands of young proper flow of air. For example, in the government only managed to bungle curement and order. As a result, the Afghanistan while working for a US contractor when Taliban migrants. Limited healthcare facilities Dharavi slum area of Mumbai, India, everything—in procuring related local government representatives who then available were invariably over- on average, 270,000 people live in every healthcare materials, in managing are dedicating their sincere efforts in suicide bombers attacked the compound where US officials whelmed by the speed of the conta- square kilometre. In Nepal, according quarantines and lockdowns, in adding every possible aspect of Covid-19 con- and the workers were housed. Kishor Singh Thakuri was gions and the number of patients at to a World Bank estimate, more than 50 testing and tracing facilities, and in tainment and cure measures have wounded in his stomach from a bullet accidentally fired by any given time. The average life expec- percent among the urban population equipping the hospitals adequately for started to speak out about the complete American soldiers. Both were denied proper compensation. tancy at birth in many large British lives in slums or in cramped, shared critical care. lack of support of the federal govern- They were unaware of the legal procedures and lacked the cities (except London) then dropped to accommodations. In these conditions, The public healthcare system of ment extended to them. On the contra- wherewithal to challenge the pittance they were paid in com- as low as 30 years at one point of time. social distancing, a prerequisite to con- Nepal is naturally overwhelmed, as ry, the federal government, in the pre- pensation. But the Nepali state has been oblivious to such tain the coronavirus, becomes practi- well as being centred in the federal or text of the pandemic, is infringing events concerning the lives of its citizens all along. Congested living cally impossible. Awareness of these provincial capitals. It is miserably upon the decision-making authority of Doha’s recent announcement to reform its labour laws, At present, the world is in the ever-tight- inhabitants is constrained by limited understaffed, underfunded and grossly the local level, blatantly defying the raise the minimum wage by 25 percent to 1,000 riyals ($275 or ening grip of the novel coronavirus access to information and level of edu- mismanaged. But, fortunately, as a spirit of fiscal federalism. pandemic. Even after a hundred and cation. These have a telling effect on boon of the free-market policies that There are at least five thousand pri- Rs32,203) a month and scrap the requirement for workers to eighty years, the cities of the world, their social behaviour. This is exactly the country in a brief stint of three vate hospital beds that are lying idle in get permission from their employers to change jobs are sure sadly, continue to be the major killing the reason why densely populated cit- years (1992-95) implemented, Nepal has Nepal. The experience of other coun- to receive appreciation in Nepal. After all, Nepali migrants fields from transmissions, like of ies including the Kathmandu Valley an impressive network of private hos- tries shows that, given sincere effort workers’ sweat and blood in foreign lands like Qatar has Covid-19. The cities in the developing are becoming the new hotspots of pitals and medical schools spread and the necessary will, every adequate helped the country’s economy remain afloat. world in particular are turning out to Covid-19 transmission. across the country. The government, facility, from schools to buses, can be Remittance accounts for around one-third of the country’s be more vulnerable, as their fundamen- The Nepali state has also grossly with timely and appropriate policies converted into medical facilities. The economy. But how the Nepali state fails to respond when its tal condition is still comparable to the underestimated the compulsion of this and operations guidelines, had the Chinese city of Wuhan set up tented citizens are ill-treated or cheated in the destination countries British cities of the 1840s. Urban economically vulnerable section that opportunity to utilise and mobilise hospitals within a week to accommo- needs no explanation. The recent erratic moves by the gov- migration has grown exponentially, needs to earn every day to survive. The these important resources. Even now, date ten thousand patients. The reality ernment regarding the Nepalis stranded in various countries even in developing and emerging econ- state mechanism has failed to provide when the situation already looks dan- of the situation in Nepal is that the after they lost their jobs to the pandemic show just how apa- omies. alternative means for survival, a must gerously precarious, the government government is not putting sincere UNESCAP, a United Nations’ agency, until the vulnerable can return to some with its deep-rooted ‘License Raj’ mind- efforts to provide treatment to Covid-19 thetic it is towards its citizens. estimates that India has around 139 gainful employment. The clandestine set is toying with a half-hearted patients while patients are dying in Despite pledges from several governments in the past, none million internal migrant workers movements of urban migrants to find approach towards utilising the readily extreme inhuman situations. Most are has found a way to retain the workforce in the country. employed in sectors like construction, ways to survive—circumventing secu- available infrastructure, manpower suffering due to the lack of timely Poverty is a major factor that forces many Nepali youths to hospitality and manufacturing. The rity barriers even during the lock- and facilities that are in private hands. treatment, as they are forced to hop leave home. And out of desperation, some even choose to apparel sector in Bangladesh has about down—are only adding to the risk. This is one very costly miss which the between different hospitals and cities. embark on risky journeys and land where their work is four million migrant workers and government must immediately recon- Here again, a recent government fraught with danger. There’s an urgent need for the govern- Nepal has about two million. Long and Costly misses sider. instruction that makes Health Ministry ment to check people’s illegal migration to work as mercenar- severe Covid-19 induced lockdowns in When Nepal first imposed a nationwide Further, the federal government did approval mandatory before referring a ies in war zones. these economies has impacted jobs and lockdown in the last week of March, not adequately and wholeheartedly Covid-19 patient to another hospital for And should a situation arise, like in the cases of Chandra Pun livelihoods of millions of these inter- the situation here seemed to be much partner with both provincial and local further treatment is turning out to be a nal migrants. The urban-rural reverse safer than several other countries. One governments in the fight against the major problem. This is because the Magar and Kishor Singh Thakuri, the government must find migration during the initial days of of the reasons for that psychological virus. Local governments were and ministry is taking a long time to the courage to intervene. The government must also ensure that lockdown and, lately, their re-entry into cushion was the sheer hope that the still are enthusiastic to contribute to respond to approve referral requests of Nepali citizens aren’t cheated and mistreated in destination the cities has been an additional cause political leadership would learn from the cause of virus containment. In fact, even critical patients. Such mala fide countries. The government is morally bound to safeguard its of the rapid spread of the virus. the experiences, good or bad, of other they are best placed to do so, if resourc- centralism is proving to be a larger citizens and step up to the plate to fulfil its responsibility. Many of these cities are densely pop- countries, and introduce containment es, technical support and clear guide- killer than the novel coronavirus itself.

Why all countries should contribute to ending global poverty

high-income countries could keep the Amid a global pandemic, the commitment at 0.7 percent of GNI, while upper-middle-income countries world needs a universal would contribute 0.35 percent. Lower- middle-income countries would ear- development commitment mark 0.2 percent of their GNI, with lower-income countries contributing sooner rather than later. just 0.1 percent. These are gross con- tributions, not net. In this scenario, the total finance available for develop- ANDY SUMNER ment would amount to almost $500 billion per year. These additional resources could, in principle, lift the remaining approx- imately 750 million people out of $1.90-per-day poverty; end hunger and malnutrition for an estimated 1.5 bil- lion people; end preventable child Trillions of dollars have already been mortality; make primary and second- spent on the global response to the ary schooling possible for all Covid-19 pandemic, and no one knows children; and provide access to safe what the final bill will be. Is it possible and affordable drinking water to respond to a much longer crisis— for over one billion people, as well as global poverty—with even a fraction providing adequate sanitation for of these resources? more than two billion people. And in Richer countries are currently com- this scaled-contribution scenario, $200 mitted to spending 0.7 percent of their billion would still remain available to gross national income (GNI) on inter- support the achievement of other national development aid. This target SDGs. was established by the Pearson Developing countries would gain by Commission in 1969, and approved in contributing, because a universal a United Nations General Assembly development commitment would lead resolution the following year. to more resources for those countries Countries reached this agreement a overall. Moreover, and equally half-century ago in a world in which important, contributing would ensure global poverty was at very high levels. that poorer countries have a voice in At the time, the world was justifiably funds’ governance, whether symboli- perceived in binary terms: The North DE VISU/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM cally, as a sign of their moral right to was wealthy, and the South was poor. need even more urgent. My colleagues highly aid-dependent states are home the population in developing coun- tion in developing countries remains be heard, or physically, as members of Much has changed in the interven- and I propose a scaled financial com- to approximately 10 percent of the tries, down from around 50 percent 40 poor. Furthermore, poverty does not the board deciding on priorities and ing 50 years. Some countries have met mitment to development, with a twist: population of developing countries— years ago. only occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and policies. the 0.7 percent target, but many others it should be universal across all coun- not a ‘bottom billion’, but a bottom But poverty remains at startling in fragile or conflict-affected states. It There are undoubtedly numerous have yet to do so. Many developing tries, rich and poor. half-billion. levels when measured at the World is widespread. In short, the second other questions our proposal raises. countries experienced rapid economic Before describing the proposal, it is The other ‘new middle’ comprises Bank’s poverty thresholds of $3.20 and ‘new middle’ are those in developing But the principle remains simple: growth in the 2000s—not only China necessary to ask what has changed those who have escaped poverty, but $5.50 per day. It is sobering to note that countries living above the $1.90 pover- Every country pays into the system, and India, but also a number of since the 0.7 percent-of-GNI target was remain vulnerable to falling back into every 10 cents added to the poverty ty line, but below the $13 vulnerabili- and the money is spent on ending African countries. Although all gains adopted. During this period, two ‘new it. This group, as we show, represents line increases the global headcount of ty-to-future-poverty threshold. global poverty. Amid a global pandem- are currently in jeopardy, prior to the middles’ emerged. The first is an more than two-thirds of the develop- the poor by 100 million. Moreover, the Against this backdrop, and amid the ic, and with the SDG deadline a decade pandemic, at least, the world had increase in the number of middle-in- ing world’s people. poverty count at $1.90 doubles when global pandemic, our proposal calls away, the world needs a universal entered a new era, with fewer low-in- come countries—now home to much If measured using the World Bank’s one considers multidimensional pov- for a ‘universal development commit- development commitment sooner come countries. At the same time, the of the developing world’s population. definition of extreme poverty—living erty, which includes health, educa- ment’ (UDC) from all countries—rich rather than later. higher global ambitions set out in the In many of these countries, aid levels on $1.90 or less per day—global pover- tion, and nutrition. and poor alike. Given their aim of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are already low relative to domestic ty has fallen (although the decline is When using a threshold that is asso- poverty eradication, the SDGs would Sumner is professor of International (SDGs), committed countries to end resources and non-public internation- more modest when China is excluded), ciated with a permanent escape from inevitably be the core focus of any Development at King’s College London poverty in all its forms by 2030. al flows. At the other end of the spec- and income has grown among many the risk of future poverty—$13 per day such UDC. and a non-resident senior research A new era needs a new approach. trum, about 30 countries remain of the world’s poorest. Extreme pover- in 2011 purchasing-power-parity One option for a UDC would be to fellow at UNU-WIDER. The Covid-19 pandemic makes this ‘stuck’ in terms of growth. These ty now affects only some 10 percent of terms—some 80 percent of the popula- institute a sliding scale. For example, —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 MONEY India’s economy shrinks record With economy hit by Covid-19, sales of motorcycles 23.9 percent in and cars down by up to 50 percent, dealers say June quarter With continued restrictions on movement despite , when sales pick up, approaching, dealers are now pinning hopes on next year. REUTERS NEW DELHI, AUG 31 TSERING NGODUP LAMA keting at CG Motocorp, the authorised KATHMANDU, AUG 31 distributor of Maruti Suzuki cars in India’s economy contracted at its Nepal. “It didn’t help that since steepest pace on record of 23.9 percent In 2014, Bikash Oli bought his first November 2018, Nepal Rastra Bank in the June quarter as the pandemic motorcycle—a Bajaj Pulsar 150. For directive only allows banks and finan- lockdown cut consumer and business Oli, then an undergraduate student, cial institutions to only provide up to spending, putting pressure on the gov- the motorcycle became his primary 50 percent as loan against the actual ernment and central bank for addi- mode of transportation. valuation of vehicles, which means tional stimulus and a rate cut. When Oli graduated in 2017 and customers have to pay 50 percent down The gross domestic product (GDP) started working, he also began saving payment.” data released on Monday showed con- so that he could upgrade his motorcy- Sales have declined by nearly 50 sumer spending, private investments cle. “I have always enjoyed off-road percent compared to last year’s busi- and exports all collapsed during the riding, and I wanted my next motorcy- ness during the same period, said world’s strictest lockdown imposed in cle to be something that could handle Shakya. late March to combat the Covid-19 off-road terrains,” said Oli. According to the data of Trade and pandemic. By early 2020, Oli had saved enough Export Promotion Centre, the country The read-out for the June quarter and had zeroed in on a few models. imported cars, jeeps and vans worth was worse than the 18.3 percent con- “On top of the list was Hero Xpulse Rs12.91 billion in the fiscal year 2019- traction forecast of analysts in a 200. The motorcycle was well within 20, a sharp decline of 26.56 percent Reuters poll. It was also lower than a my budget and it seemed like a decent compared to the fiscal year 2018-19 3.1 percent growth rate for the previ- off-roader, too,” said Oli. “Having when the import figure stood at ous quarter and upwardly-revised 5.2 saved enough, my plan was to buy a Rs17.58 billion. percent growth in June quarter of new one this year.” Similarly, the country imported 2019. Some private economists have In March, which is when automo- cars, jeeps and vans worth Rs12.94 said the fiscal year that began in April bile dealers start announcing their billion in 2015-16, Rs16.83 billion 2016- could see a contraction of nearly 10 Nepali New Year offers, Nepal went 17 and Rs17.97 billion in the fiscal year percent, the worst performance since into lockdown to curb the spread of 2017-18. India won independence from British the coronavirus. When the lockdown POST FILE PHOTO The Trade and Export Promotion colonial rule in 1947 and likely to push protracted for months and the econo- Amid an uncertain economic climate, demand for motorcycles and passenger cars have slowed significantly with imports of the former down 18 Centre figures do not include customs millions into poverty. my took a hit, Oli’s salary was signif- percent and the latter 27 percent in the fiscal year 2019-20 compared to the previous fiscal year. duty. According to the integrated cus- Prime Minister Narendra Modi icantly deducted. tom rate 2019-20 of the Department of announced a $266 billion stimulus “I realised that buying a new motor- zero down payment and zero percent because Covid-19 has made travelling up with offers and schemes. Laxmi Customs, the customs duty for two package in May, including credit guar- cycle in the uncertain economic cli- finance; HH Bajaj, the authorised dis- in public transportations risky.” Intercontinental, the authorised dis- wheelers varies between 105.66 per- antees on bank loans and free food mate wasn’t a wise decision,” said Oli. tributors of Bajaj two-wheelers in With the odd-even rule for vehicles, tributors of Hyundai cars in Nepal, cent to 135.04 percent while that for grains to poor people, but consumer During the first nation-wide lock- Nepal, offered discounts for custom- there were four wheeler owners buy- offered cash discounts on certain four-wheelers is between 225.44 per- demand and manufacturing have yet down, 90 percent of economic activi- ers purchasing motorcycles in cash, ing two wheelers as an alternative Hyundai models and service vouchers cent to 306.8 percent depending on the to recover. ties in the country came to a halt. zero percent interest for customers mode of transportation, said Agrawal. to medical workers. cylinder capacity. Businesses, big and small, are strug- willing to pay 50 percent down pay- But the segment of buyers that was “When we reopened in July we According to Krishna Prasad Dulal, gling; thousands of jobs have been ment; Jagdamba Motors, the author- largely missing, say auto executives, adopted stringent safety measures at president of Nepal Automobile FOREX lost, and pay cuts have become the ised distributors of TVS motorcycles were those purchasing a second all our showrooms and service centres Dealers’ Association, overall vehicle norm across industries. In a country in Nepal, offered zero percent interest motorcycle or upgrading to a new one. too and even offered online booking import has plunged by 50 percent com- where automobiles are generally rates and a long term EMI. “The economic uncertainty has options for our customers,” said pared to the same period last year.“Be US Dollar 118.08 expensive, Covid-19’s impact on the The schemes and offers did help in made people very conscious about Rupesh Sharma Bhatta, general man- it two-wheeler or four-wheelers, the Euro 140.92 economy and the lockdowns have garnering interest. spending. Another reason people don’t ager of Laxmi Intercontinental, the whole industry has suffered huge loss- caused automobile sales figures to hit “When the lockdown was lifted, our want to spend their savings is because authorised distributor of Hyundai es, and until and unless life doesn’t go Pound Sterling 157.39 record lows. showrooms saw a lot of footfalls. they are largely worried for medical cars in Nepal . back to normalcy, the industry will And with infections on a steep rise, There were a lot of enquiries,” said care,” said Singh. But that did not help much. continue to incur losses,” said Dulal. Japanese Yen 11.15 industry stakeholders aren’t very Danekhu. According to the import data of At Hyundai, overall sales have been With cases of the coronavirus ris- Chinese Yuan 17.25 optimistic about the foreseeable “Sales figures too were encourag- Trade and Export Promotion Centre, down this year by as much 40 to 50 ing and uncertainty over how long the future. ing.” Nepal imported two-wheelers worth percent compared to last year and in prohibitory orders in different parts Qatari Riyal 32.43 “The nationwide lockdown was Danekhu said Yamaha even man- Rs18.76 billion in the 2019-20 fiscal the month between the time the lock- of the country will continue, automo- Australian Dollar 86.89 announced at the peak sales time,” aged to meet its Shrawan month’s year, a decline of 18.11 percent com- down was lifted on July 21 and and bile dealers are worried because said Ramesh Danekhu, marketing [mid-July to mid-August 15] target. pared to the 2018-19 fiscal year when prohibitory orders came into place on Dashain and Tihar are nearing. Malaysian Ringit 28.35 communications manager at Morang TVS and Bajaj said they did decent the figure stood at Rs22.91 billion. August 19, sales have been down 30 “The months from September to Auto Works, the authorised distribu- business. There has been a gradual increase percent, according to Bhatta. November are the most important Saudi Arab Riyal 31.49 tor of Yamaha two-wheelers in Nepal. “After months of zero-sales, the in the import of motorcycles in the Many customers who had booked months for automobile companies in Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank After Dashain and Tihar, sales of business after the lockdown was a past few years with the import bill of cars before the nation-wide lockdown, Nepal. This window is when our com- vehicles are normally high during the huge boost to us,” said Punam Singh, Rs15.37 billion in the fiscal year 2015- say auto executives, have also decided pany makes 40 percent of its annual Shares Nepali New Year in mid-April. assistant general manager-marketing 16, Rs20 billion in the fiscal year 2016- to postpone purchases for now. “Given sale,” said Shakya of CG Motocorp. Yamaha, according to Dhaneku, at HH Bajaj. 17, and Rs21.74 billion in the fiscal that a lot has changed in the past few It’s best not to have any hope for this Nepse 1,484.99pts 1.53% makes 20 percent of their annual sales Apart from the schemes and offers, year 2017-18. months, some customers who have year, says Dulal. “Given how the during the Nepali New Year period. there were several factors that led to While two-wheelers recorded booked cars with us have opted to wait Covid-19 situation is in the country, HIGHEST GAINERS “But this year, due to the lockdown we the surge in demand post-lockdown, encouraging sales when the lockdown for the time being,” said Bhatta. it’s best the automobile industry for- NRIC USLB NRN SPDL AKPL RRHP 10% 9.94% 9.88% 9.65% 9.45% 9.28% had zero sales,” said Danekhu. say auto executives. was lifted, the same wasn’t the case for The story is similar in the case gets this year,” said Dulal. “All we can After the lockdown was lifted on “The four-month-long lockdown cre- four-wheelers. Unlike two-wheelers, of Maruti Suzuki cars, the other do is hope that by next year, some MODERATE GAINERS July 21, industry executives said they ated pent-up demand. When show- buying a four-wheeler—the least popular brand. semblance will return and we can all PPCL UNHPL BARUN PMHPL KPCL HGI 9.24% 9.09% 8.99% 8.86% 7.48% 7.46% were hopeful that things would get rooms finally opened, people flocked expensive of which cost two million “When the first phase lockdown got focus on getting our businesses back better. Accordingly, they started to buy motorcycles,” said Deepak rupees—in Nepal is a high-value over, we did see an encouraging num- on track.” MODERATE LOSERS CORBL VLBS GRDBL SFCL GFCL JBBL launching schemes and discounts Agrawal, vice president of Jagdamba investment. ber of enquiries, but those enquiries -1.63% -1.68% -1.74% -1.79% -1.95% -2.29% offers. Motors. “There was also a segment of To woo customers in these difficult didn’t really convert into sales,” (Krishana Prasain contributed

HIGHEST LOSERS Yamaha offered two-wheelers on buyers who bought motorcycles times, four-wheeler brands did come Karan Shakya, senior manager-mar- reporting) SINDU GMFIL MDB OHL GGBSL HDHPC -2.36% -2.38% -2.62% -3.72% -4.58% -7.29%

BULLION PRICE PER TOLA WTO now leaderless as Fine Gold Rs 97,500 Silver Rs 1,365 chief Azevedo steps down

SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA REUTERS Washington’s blockade on the appoint- GENEVA/BRUSSELS, AUG 31 ment of new judges. Azevedo, a Brazilian, is heading for GASOLINE WATCH The World Trade Organization’s direc- a job at PepsiCo Inc and eight candi- tor-general Roberto Azevedo steps dates are vying to replace him. down on Monday, leaving the In 1999, a four-month gap leadership already-damaged global watchdog vacuum was widely seen as damaging, leaderless as it faces the biggest crisis and guidelines to prevent a repeat in its 25-year history. envisaged the 164 members selecting a As the WTO’s influence seeps away, temporary replacement from among rising international tensions and pro- four current deputies. But tectionism during a Covid-induced Washington’s insistence on its candi- slowdown, most obviously between date prevented agreement, leaving a China and President Donald Trump’s vacuum that will last for months. US administration, make reform In theory, a winner should be select- of global trade rules ever more ed by November 7, under an agreed urgent. elimination process that seeks to have “This is indeed a new—though alas a new director-general appointed by not unsurprising—low point for the consensus. WTO,” said Rohinton Medhora, presi- In practice, trade sources say the dent of the Centre for International uncertainty around the presidential Governance Innovation. election on November 3 in the United “The organisation has been direc- States, which has not said publicly tionless for some time, several years which candidate it prefers, could delay in fact, and will now be functionally matters further. leaderless.” The 2021 budget, due to be set at POST PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN In particular, the WTO appeals the end of the year, which Washington A farmer picks tomato at a farm in New Naikap, Kathmandu. Vegetable prices have shot up in Kathmandu Valley after the government imposed court, which rules on international might question, could also be a restrictions on transport and people’s movement to prevent the spread of Covid-19. trade disputes, has been paralysed by hurdle. BIZLINE Japan looks to AI as Covid-19 challenges go-and-see quality system Yetichem Distributors imports first batch of Remdesivir REUTERS skill and expertise, but it’s not very more genchi genbutsu procedures, a higher, and more consistent.” KATHMANDU: Yetichem Distributors TOKYO, AUG 31 creative,” Chief Executive Hiroshi spokesman said: “We are always look- However, automating inspections is has brought in the first batch of Otsuka told Reuters. “We’d like to Japanese firms ing at ways to improve our manufac- challenging, given the need to teach Remdesivir—a medicine used for At a factory south of Japan’s Toyota release workers from those tasks.” normally task turing processes, including automat- robots to identify tens of thousands of the treatment of Covid-19—to Nepal. City, robots have started sharing the Global manufacturers have long ing processes where it makes sense possible defects for a specific product The batch of 480 vials is manufac- work of quality-control inspectors, as used robots in production while leav- workers to monitor to do so.” and apply that learning instantly. tured by Cipla Limited under the the pandemic accelerates a shift from ing the knotty work of spotting flaws Improvements in artificial intelli- Musashi Seimitsu’s low defect rate brand name ‘CIPREMI’ and is Toyota’s vaunted “go and see” system mainly to humans. But social distanc- the production line. gence (AI) have come in tandem with of one per 50,000 units left the firm available for Rs6,400 per vial, the low- which helped revolutionise mass pro- ing measures to prevent the spread of increasingly affordable equipment but without enough defective examples to est priced generic version of duction in the 20th century. Covid-19 have prompted a rethink of also stricter quality requirements develop an efficient AI algorithm. Remdesivir as part of Cipla’s efforts Inside the auto-parts plant of the factory floor. embraced by Japanese manufacturers from customers. But a solution came from Israeli to give patients access to this essen- Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co Ltd, a That has spurred the increased use for decades with almost religious “We’re increasingly seeing a gap entrepreneur Ran Poliakine, who tial therapy. The company was given robotic arm picks up and spins a of robots and other technology for zeal. between the quality of products made applied AI and optics technology he accelerated regulatory approval by bevel gear, scanning its teeth against a quality control, including remote That process tasks workers with on regular production lines and the had used in medical diagnostics to the the Department of Drug light in search of surface flaws. The monitoring which was already being constantly monitoring all aspects of quality our customers demand,” said production line. Administration, the Ministry of inspection takes about two seconds— adopted before the pandemic. the production line to spot irregulari- Kazutaka Nagaoka, chief manufactur- His idea was to teach the machine Health and Population in light similar to that of highly trained In Japan, such approaches repre- ties, and has made quality control one ing officer at Japan Display, a supplier to spot the good, rather than the bad, of the urgent need for promising employees who check around 1,000 sent an acute departure from the of the last human hold-outs in other- to Apple Inc as well as numerous by basing the algorithm on up to Covid-19 treatments in Nepal, units per shift. “genchi genbutsu”, go-and-see meth- wise automated factories. automakers. 100 perfect or near-perfect units—a according to the press release issued “Inspecting 1,000 of the exact same odology developed as part of the Yet even at Toyota Motor Corp “The quality of products made on modification of the so-called golden by the company. thing day-in day-out requires a lot of Toyota Production System and itself, when asked about automating automated lines is overwhelmingly sample.

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 | 06 WORLD India’s daily Covid tally tops global rank yet again Its coronavirus deaths went up by 971 in 24 hours, taking the tally to 64,469, the health ministry said.

REUTERS “People are not following precau- MUMBAI, AUG 31 tionary steps and are violating the Covid protocols,” he said on Twitter. India reported 78,512 novel coronavi- “From Monday onwards there rus infections on Monday, more than shall be visible strict action taken any other country but fewer than the against those who violate the norms previous day when it posted the of social distancing or found not wear- world’s biggest, single-day tally, as ing a face mask.” authorities looked to open more sec- But at the same time, fears are tors of the economy. growing for the world’s fifth-largest On Sunday, India’s total of 78,761 economy, with a contraction in gross new cases exceeded the previous glob- domestic product for the June quarter al record of 77,299 in the United States expected to be announced later on July 16, a Reuters tally of official on Monday. data showed. Hoping to avert more serious eco- The world’s second-most populous nomic damage, the government is country has been posting the highest relaxing restrictions and has single-day caseload in the world since announced that urban metro trains Aug 7. At 3.62 million cases, India is can resume services from Sept. 7. fast catching up to the United States Also, up to 100 people will be allowed and Brazil in terms of total cases but to congregate for events including AP/SS it has a lower death rate. religious and political functions later Panda cubs Meng Xiang, right, and Meng Yuan, climb in their enclosure during their first birthday in Berlin, Germany, on Monday. India’s coronavirus deaths went in September. up by 971 in the past 24 hours, taking India’s second-most industrialised the tally to 64,469, the health ministry state of Tamil Nadu said it would par- said. tially open public transport, allow The huge numbers have got author- shopping malls and places of worship ities worried, especially with people to operate, abolish full shutdowns on Pranab Mukherjee, India’s former president in rural areas largely abandoning Sundays and increase flights. rules aimed at stopping the spread, The government is also allowing officials say. states to let some school staff report to Kumar Sanjay Krishna, the chief duty and has resisted pressure to secretary of Assam, one of the worst- delay exams slated to start Tuesday, who never became prime minister, dies at 84 hit states, attributed the increasing with more than 2 million students cases to more testing, the opening of aiming for admission to medical and REUTERS cal base, but held more than a dozen But Mukherjee managed to regain the economy and complacency. engineering schools. NEW DELHI, AUG 31 federal portfolios between 1973 and his proximity to the Congress 2012, ranging from commerce leadership and the Gandhi family, During five decades in Indian politics, and finance to defence and foreign becoming one of India’s most influen- Pranab Mukherjee, who died on affairs. tial politicians during the 1990s Monday after a lung infection, led But he could also raise hackles, as and 2000s. some of the nation’s most powerful when finance minister in 2012, he “Everybody realised he was so clev- ministries and eventually became its demanded a $2-billion payment from er that they would rather have him as president, but the ultimate prize still Vodafone, then India’s largest over- a number two than a number one,” eluded him: the prime ministership. seas corporate investor, as part of a said Sanjaya Baru, a former adviser to Mukherjee tested positive for Covid- retrospective tax on long-concluded Manmohan Singh, who beat 19 on Aug 10 and had been in hospital corporate deals. Mukherjee to the top job in 2004. since. He was 84. Mukherjee entered parliament in Mukherjee’s reward then should Valued for his ability to build con- 1969, following his father into the have been a stint as prime minister, sensus by exerting his charm to bring Congress party led by Indira Gandhi, by his own estimation as well as together disparate groups, Mukherjee just as she steered the country on a that of some others, but he was never won the top job, despite decades sharp turn towards socialism. passed over by Rajiv’s Italian-born of loyalty to the Congress party. He rose under Gandhi’s mentor- widow, Sonia, who gave it instead AP/RSS REUTERS The former college teacher and ship, only to be sidelined by her son, to Singh, an Oxbridge-trained A health worker takes a nasal swab sample to test for Covid-19 at a government health center Pranab Mukherjee journalist lacked a grassroots politi- Rajiv, after elections in 1984. economist. in Hyderabad, India, on Monday.

BRIEFING Australia to probe foreign Indian army says it thwarted Chinese

Lawyer found guilty of contempt, fined one rupee influence at universities attempt to occupy disputed territory NEW DELHI: India’s top court on AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ing new powers to scrap deals between Monday imposed a symbolic fine of SYDNEY, AUG 31 local authorities and foreign coun- REUTERS PLA troops violated the previous con- one rupee on a prominent lawyer tries that threaten the national inter- NEW DELHI, AUG 31 sensus arrived at during military and found guilty of criminal contempt for Australia’s parliament is set to probe est—sweeping powers that would The latest incident diplomatic engagements during the posts on Twitter that were critical of alleged foreign interference at public extend to universities. Indian forces foiled an attempt by ongoing standoff in Eastern Ladakh senior judges, which he declined to universities, a government minister It also comes less than a year after Chinese troops to occupy a hill on the occurred on and carried out provocative military apologise for. A three-member bench said Monday, as concerns grow about Australia announced new guidelines Asian giants’ disputed border in the Saturday night on movements to change the status quo,” of the Supreme Court said that law- Chinese influence. for universities for research collabora- western , officials in New the Indian army spokesman Colonel yer Prashant Bhushan must pay the A proposed inquiry by the security tion, cybersecurity, and international Delhi said on Monday, following the the shores of the Aman Anand said in a statement. fine by Sept 15, failing which he could and intelligence committee follows a partnerships. latest flare-up between the two nucle- He said Indian soldiers foiled the be imprisoned for three months and series of controversies over China’s Tudge said the inquiry would “go ar-armed neighbours. Pangong Tso lake. Chinese bid to “unilaterally change barred from practice for three years. clout on Australian campuses, rang- further” than previous probes into Having spotted the Chinese troops’ facts on the ground.” He did not pro- The case sparked a debate around ing from hacks of university data to alleged foreign interference. movement, Indian troops mobilised to vide any details. free speech and the judiciary’s open- questionable financial donations and “We need to be assured and the pub- deter further encroachment, and the Pangong Tso lake, where the two sides But a source in New Delhi briefed ness to criticism, with thousands of intimidation of Beijing’s critics. lic need to be assured that there isn’t confrontation did not escalate into a have been locked in a faceoff since on the incident said Chinese troops lawyers backing Bhushan and argu- Concerns have also been raised that foreign interference in our uni- clash between the two sides, Indian April, the Indian army said. had tried to advance on a hill on ing that the court was being too about the nature of research links versities sector,” he said. He did not military and government sources told In June, 20 Indian soldiers were shores of the lake, which India consid- harsh. “Freedom of expression is between academics and scientists in say if the probe was aimed at China. Reuters. killed in hand-to-hand fighting with ers part of its territory. there but rights of others should also the two countries. The Australian newspaper reported China rejected the accusation that Chinese troops in the nearby Galwan Chinese troops were “deterred be respected,” the court said while Alan Tudge, the minister for popu- that Home Affairs Minister Peter People’s Liberation Army (PLA) valley. That was was the neighbours’ by quick movement” of the Indian imposing the fine on Bhushan. lation and cities, told Sky News the Dutton outlined the terms of refer- troops had breached the border, but most serious military clash in more troops, the source said. Still, the mooted inquiry was the latest govern- ence for the inquiry in a letter Sunday tensions between the two armies in than half a century. Both sides had Chinese forces had made some ment attempt to tackle spiralling for- to committee head Andrew Hastie, a the freezing snow deserts of the agreed to pull back after that clash, ingress, clearly violating the Line of Ishiba is people’s choice eign interference now at “levels not government parliamentarian and out- Ladakh region have been running but the Indian Army accused Chinese Actual Control, the de facto border, for next Japan PM, polls show seen since World War II”. spoken China critic. high for several months. forces of violating that accord over the source said. TOKYO: Former Japanese Defence The move comes after Canberra Advisors to Dutton did not respond The latest incident occurred on the weekend. China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Minister Shigeru Ishiba is the most announced last week that it was seek- to a request for comment. Saturday night on the shores of “On the night of 29/30 August 2020, the Indian allegations. popular choice among the public to be the next prime minister, media opinion polls showed, as the race kicks off to succeed Shinzo Abe after his abrupt resignation last week. But Ishiba, a vocal Abe critic, could face How a $13 device is helping Delhi fight coronavirus an uphill battle if he does declare his candidacy, with local media reporting Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide REUTERS isolated at home, Jain said. ters,” said Dr Hemant Kalra, a pulmo- Suga was set to receive the backing NEW DELHI, AUG 31 For regular monitoring, doctors nologist in New Delhi, adding that of several major factions within the told Jain that patients would either cheap, sub-standard oximeters flood- ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Twice a day, New Delhi health worker have to visit hospitals or use the inex- ing the market were also a problem. Japan does not elect its leader by Kamal receives a flurry of pensive oxygen monitors, many of Jain, however, said the govern- direct popular vote. Under the coun- WhatsApp messages from coronavi- which are made in China. ment’s program had worked effective- try’s parliamentary political system, rus patients, containing either a Delhi has recorded around 173,000 ly, with not a single fatality among the lawmakers elect a prime minister two-digit reading from a tiny medical infections with a little over 4,400 thousands of patients in home isola- who is usually the leader of the rul- device or a photo of its glowing deaths. Only 14,700 cases remain tion the last month and a half. ing party. display. active and many hospital beds are now Oximeters have also helped cut She scans the numbers from the empty. Other cities across the world down on expensive hospitalisation for 1,000 rupee ($13) oxygen monitor, have also deployed the device. mild cases, Jain said, saving more US suspends some training in known as pulse oximeter, checking to In May, at the height of its outbreak, than 10 times the device’s price for ensure they are all above the pre- Singapore distributed several thou- each day in hospital. South Korea after deadly crash scribed 95 mark and then notes them sand oximeters to migrant workers On a warm, humid day last week, SEOUL: The United States military down in her logbook. isolated in cramped dormitories, health worker Kumari pulled on a command in South Korea said on “When we didn’t have this, we which had become an epicenter for the protective suit, a mask and goggles, Monday it would suspend training at wouldn’t know about their oxygen lev- virus’s spread. before walking down the narrow lanes a range after four South Korean civil- els,” said Kumari, explaining how her Singapore’s health ministry said of the Chirag Delhi neighborhood. ians were killed in a crash with an team would worry about patients’ con- oximeters allowed workers “to proac- Together with a similarly dressed armoured vehicle late on Sunday. An ditions rapidly worsening when REUTERS tively monitor their own health status colleague, she stopped at Satish SUV crashed with a military India’s capital was badly short of hos- A medical worker puts a pulse oximeter on a woman’s finger to check her oxygen level during and reach out for medical assistance Kumar Soni’s home to check on him armoured vehicle at about 9:30 pm on pital beds. “Now we can find out in a door-to-door survey for the coronavirus disease amidst its spread in Ahmedabad. if needed”. and three family members who were Sunday, on a public road about 5 km time and safely refer patients to the In India, too, other places have ending their 10-day isolation period, from a live-fire range used by the US hospital.” ing in the densely populated city of 20 third-highest number of coronavirus picked up on Delhi’s model. Since late and to collect two government-issued and South Korean militaries in Delhi’s government has so far dis- million, sending panicked residents cases, and states across the country July, the northeastern state of Assam pulse oximeters. Pocheon. All four people in the SUV tributed pulse oximeters to more than rushing to hospitals. have deployed a variety of measures has provided nearly 4,000 oximeters to Soni, a 59-year-old jeweller, said died, while one US soldier suffered 32,000 people for free, putting them at “If we hadn’t done this, there to fight the pandemic. patients in home isolation. the device helped the family ease light injuries and was sent to the hos- the heart of a plan to isolate most would’ve been no room to even stand In Delhi, health authorities started Some doctors are concerned that their fears and anxiety as they slowly pital, the department said. US Forces asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic in our hospitals,” Delhi’s health min- noticing “happy hypoxemia”—low patients may not always know how to recovered. Korea said the vehicle belonged to the coronavirus patients in their homes. ister, Satyendar Jain, told Reuters. blood oxygen levels without any use the device. “It’s not that big a disease,” he said. 2nd Infantry Division-ROK/US The program was devised in May, With more than 3.5 million infec- breathlessness—that was leading to “It’s very important to train patients “If the oxygen level is fine, then there Combined Division. (AGENCIES) when coronavirus cases started surg- tions, India has reported the world’s complications in coronavirus patients properly on how to use pulse oxime- isn’t much danger.”

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY

BRIEFING Hamilton sweeps La Liga claims Messi’s contract still valid to dominant Paire pulls out of US Open after positive Covid-19 test The Argentine insists his contract allows him to leave on a free transfer—a claim disputed by Barcelona and now by La Liga. Belgian win NEW YORK: France’s Benoit Paire has REUTERS tested positive for Covid-19 and pulled BARCELONA, AUG 31 REUTERS out of the US Open starting on LONDON, AUG 31 Monday, French sports daily L’Equipe La Liga on Sunday released a state- reported. Paire, seeded 17th at the ment saying Lionel Messi’s Barcelona Lewis Hamilton took another step Grand Slam event, had been sched- contract was still valid, days after his towards a record-equalling seventh uled to play Poland’s Kamil shock announcement that he wants to Formula One title on Sunday with a Majchrzak in the first round at leave the club and hours after he failed dominant lights-to-flag victory in the Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. to attend a pre-season medical. Belgian Grand Prix. Paire’s name no longer appeared on Messi’s failure to show for his medi- The Briton, who had started from the list of seeds on the tournament cal underlined the 33-year-old’s deter- pole position after an inspired qualify- website on Sunday and the men’s mination to leave the club he has been ing display, was at the front for every draw showed Majchrzak would play with throughout his career. The six- single lap as he led team mate Valtteri Spain’s Marcel Granollers. The times world player of the year insists Bottas across the line for a Mercedes 31-year-old Paire did not complete his he has a clause in his contract that one-two. Hamilton looked to be in per- Western & Southern Open first-round allows him to leave on a free trans- fect control in the lead after retaining match against Croatia’s Borna Coric fer—a claim disputed by Barcelona his advantage at the start and down as he appeared unwell during the and now by La Liga. The ruling body the long flat-out blast to the Les match and asked for a doctor in the said the only way a club can sign the Combes chicane despite a snap of opening set before retiring in the sec- Argentine forward is if he triggers a oversteer. ond while trailing 6-0 1-0. L’Equipe release clause of 700-million euros The durability of his tyres, which reported that fellow Frenchmen ($833 million). “In compliance with stirred memories of his winning Richard Gasquet, Adrian Mannarino, the applicable rule, La Liga will not three-wheeled limp to the line at his Gregoire Barrere and Edouard Roger approve a request to be de-registered home British Grand Prix, raised some Vasselin were also asked to self-iso- as a player with the Spanish football concern for the champion. But even late in their hotel rooms after Paire’s federation, unless the amount in those worries, which injected a hint of positive test. the release clause has been paid,” La jeopardy into the otherwise straight- Liga said. forward race, proved unfounded as he Messi had been due at Barcelona’s crossed the line a comfortable 8.4 sec- Fulham sign Reed, Lemina training ground at 10.15am local time onds clear of his Finnish stablemate. LONDON: Fulham have strengthened Sunday but a club source confirmed “I know it’s not necessarily what their midfield ahead of the new he had not arrived. everybody always wants to see, a Premier League season by signing La Liga’s stance is a blow to Messi’s Mercedes at the front,” said Hamilton, Harrison Reed and Mario Lemina hopes of a quick departure and to who now has a 50-point lead in the from Southampton. Reed, who spent those clubs wishing to sign him. REUTERS championship over Bottas and is 47 the 2019-20 season on loan at Fulham, Premier League Manchester City are La Liga’s stance is a blow to the six-time world player of the year Messi’s hopes of a quick departure and to those clubs willing to sign him. ahead of Red Bull’s third-placed fin- had signed a four-year contract with the favourites which would allow isher Max Verstappen. “But no matter the option to extend by a year, the Messi to link up with his former Tuesday he wished to leave immedi- argue that that date—nominally the to choose what he wants,” Eva how much success we have, we just club said. The 25-year-old was an inte- Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola ately, plunging the club into new end of the season—is now irrelevant Domingo, 39, said as she took a photo keep our heads down.” gral part of Scott Parker’s promo- but even the Abu Dhabi-owned turmoil less than two weeks after after the coronavirus pandemic forced of graffiti depicting Messi as Hamilton’s win was the 89th of his tion-winning side and played every club might find a 700 million-euro their humiliating 8-2 Champions an extension of the La Liga season Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara career, putting him ever closer to minute of their three Championship fee, plus Messi’s huge salary, a League quarter-final defeat by Bayern deep into August. pulling along a suitcase saying matching Michael Schumacher’s play-off games. Lemina arrives on a deal-breaker. Munich. Messi’s adoring fans at Barcelona Manchester. seven title triumphs and leaving him season-long loan with an option to Messi, who has won more than 30 Messi’s lawyers plan to invoke a were split over his apparent determi- “I think he should sit down and talk just two short of the German’s record buy. The Gabon international joined major trophies with the Spanish clause in his four-year contract, signed nation to force a move. “A captain if he wants to go, he should pay 700 tally of 91 race victories. It was also Southampton from Juventus in 2017 club and scored more than 600 goals, in 2017, which would have allowed the cannot abandon ship if it is sinking, million, and if not, then one more the champion’s fifth win from and was loaned out to Turkish club earns around one million euros forward to leave the club for free if he but there isn’t much time left until the year here,” said Pablo Garcia, wearing seven races so far this season and the Galatasaray last season. (AGENCIES) per week. He informed Barca on had requested it by June 10. They will end of his career and he has the right an FC Barcelona face mask. fourth of his career on the Spa- Francorchamps track. Bottas, winner of the season-open- ing Austrian Grand Prix but now effectively two whole race victories behind Hamilton, said: “I think Lewis Lyon win fifth straight women’s title Morgan leads England to victory was faultless today.” Verstappen, the only non-Mercedes ASSOCIATED PRESS Lyon’s Le Sommer, Wendie Renard and Sarah ASSOCIATED PRESS England move into a 1-0 series lead on a day winner so far this year, took his sixth SAN SEBASTIÁN, AUG 31 Bouhaddi each won their seventh European title, MANCHESTER, AUG 31 when the BBC screened live coverage of a consecutive podium. Ricciardo fin- moving them one clear of the men’s record held by cricket match for the first time in 21 years. ished fourth for Renault, while also Lyon extended their European dominance by beat- Paco Gento. “It’s actually quite difficult to believe England captain Eoin Morgan smashed 66 Morgan is averaging 48.4 with a strike-rate taking the extra point for fastest lap. ing Wolfsburg 3-1 to win their fifth straight women’s we have managed our fifth straight title, to be hon- runs off 33 balls to help his side to a five-wick- of 174.1 in the 14 T20s he has played for Team mate Esteban Ocon rounded off Champions League title on Sunday. est,” Bouhaddi said. “We’re super proud of our- et win over Pakistan in the second Twenty20 England since the start of last year. “Even a strong weekend for the French man- Eugénie Le Sommer, Saki Kumagai and Sara selves, it was a very difficult competition.” international on Sunday. before the series started, within T20 cricket in ufacturer by snatching fifth on the last Bjork Gunnarsdóttir scored for Lyon as they It was the fourth final between the two clubs, and Pakistan scored a challenging 195-4 after the last two years in internationals and some lap from Red Bull’s Alexander Albon. clinched a record-extending seventh Champions their third in the last five years. Wolfsburg’s only losing the toss at the Old Trafford before domestic are my best numbers to date which is Lando Norris, the sole McLaren in League trophy. Wolfsburg, seeking their third title triumph over Lyon came in the first final between England finished on 199-5 in 19.1 overs. great,” Morgan said. “Before I became captain, the race after team mate Carlos Sainz after back-to-back triumphs in 2013 and 2014, got on the teams in 2013. It was Wolfsburg’s first loss in 41 England openers Jonny Bairstow (44) and Tom jumping up and down the order I didn’t feel failed to make the start due to an the board with Alex Popp after their French rival games, since a 4-2 home defeat in the Champions Banton (20) shared a 66-run partnership. When that comfortable with it, but now that it’s my exhaust issue, was seventh while had opened a two-goal lead in the first half. League quarterfinals against Lyon in March 2019. they departed in the space of two balls, decision I feel more at ease,” he added. Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly took Wolfsburg also lost the final to Lyon in 2016 and Lyon still haven’t lost a competitive match since the Morgan came in to hit six fours and four sixes Pakistan’s innings, bolstered by 56 from 44 ‘Driver of the Day’ honours in eighth. 2018. French Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain in to keep the momentum going. He was dis- balls from captain Babar Azam and a more Ferrari, winners in Belgium for the Le Sommer opened the scoring in the 25th minute May 2018. In the semi-finals of the final-eight mini missed with 18 required in the last three overs belligerent 69 from 36 deliveries by Mohammad last two years, finished out of the before Kumagai added to the lead shortly before tournament played without fans in northern Spain, but Dawid Malan, the junior partner in a Hafeez, was in vain and they now must win points as their lack of speed was laid halftime. Gunnarsdóttir sealed the victory in the Lyon beat PSG and Wolfsburg defeated Barcelona. match-changing 112-run stand with Morgan, the third and final T20 on Tuesday to avoid a bare on Spa’s long straights. Sebastian 88th after Popp had got Wolfsburg on the board in The final was played at the Real Sociedad’s went to another fifty to help England over the series defeat. The first T20 was abandoned as a Vettel, leaving Ferrari at the end of the 58th. “We played a great season, we can be Anoeta Stadium in the Basque city of San line with five balls to spare. no result because of rain in Manchester on the year, was 13th, a place ahead of proud, and I can proud to be part of this team,” Sebastián. Athletic Bilbao’s San Mamés stadium Malan’s unbeaten 54 in 36 balls—his seventh Friday.Earlier, England won a rain-affected last year’s pole-sitter and winner Popp said. also hosted games. 50-plus score in only 12 T20 innings—helped Test series 1-0. Charles Leclerc. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) ** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) ***** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Being frank is the name of the game today, and It’s time to be more vulnerable in a growing relation- One of the best things you can do for yourself today You could be moving at high speed today, probably the good news is that it won’t be as hard for you as it ship before that wall gets torn down! Things are is be expressive, and put your whole body into it! much faster than everyone around you. The reason will be for some! You’ll have a lot of fun telling it moving forward whether you like it or not, and you Wave your hands, shake your head, and do a little behind this acceleration might not be clear to you, like it is and watching how people react to your will really be missing out on something special if dance if it will get your point across. Let the world but it could have something to do with a recent con- opinions. you don’t hop on and let down your guard. know how you’re feeling by the way you act. flict with someone close.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) **** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) **** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) **** Sure, it might feel like everything you’re Focus on building new relationships. Your current You have a new attitude about a difficult decision You’re in a very responsible phase, getting the job dealing with today is confusing, but it will be ones are all doing well enough to be left alone for a you have to make. You’re ready to take a bigger risk done on time and doing it well, so well, in fact, that by confusing in a very good way! Your mind will be while. You have the right amount of curiosity about and enjoy a greater reward. This is a wonderful sign tonight you could have little if anything on your agitated, but it will also be firing its synapses in a what makes other people tick right now, and you that your confidence is growing and your sense of plate. Some of your friends are noticing this and you whole new way. know just the right questions to ask. adventure is back. can expect at least one of them to ask you for tips.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) *** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Try to make time for conversation today. The There might be a lot of drama going on today, but you There’s a clown in your life whose jovial act is start- Keep a lid on some drama that’s about to boil over topic isn’t too important, but the level of discourse is. won’t be suffering under the bright lights of center ing to grate on you, but it looks like you’re the only between two of your acquaintances. Do your part by Seek out a person you think is even smarter than stage. At most, you will be a peripheral player. All one who is sick of their tricks. Everyone else just not adding fuel to the fire. It might be hard to keep a you. It might take a while, of course, but it will be you have to do is just roll with the emotional erup- thinks they’re hilarious, which is only going to juicy bit of gossip to yourself, but why toss it out into worth it! tions and odd arguments as they come. annoy you more. the middle of things? CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 01, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 How Indra came to be one of Kathmandu's most celebrated festivals As festivities have been halted this year because of the pandemic, the Post takes a look at the history of the Newa festival and the many legends that surround it.

ANKIT KHADGI Kathmandu, many significant KATHMANDU changes did, however, take place after the Shahs took over the or the Newa people of Valley. Kathmandu, Yenya, In his essay, The Indra Jatra of also known as Indra Kathmandu as a Royal festival: Jatra, is their biggest Past and Present, Gerard Toffin festival. In the eight notes that after the Shah inva- days the festival is sion, many of the rituals started Fobserved, streets and temples in including Parbatiya Brahmin the heart of old Kathmandu are pujaris, which in the past were lined with samaya bajis, which performed by Newa people. are later devoured by the locals. Likewise, it’s also believed that Masked dances, representing var- the tradition of worshipping Swet ious deities and demons, are per- Bhairav, a large idol of Bhairav, formed in the vicinity of old which except in Chaitra Dashain Newa settlements, which also wit- and Indra Jatra isn’t displayed for ness three chariots—of Kumari, the public, started only after Rana Bhairav, and Ganesh—parading Bahadur Shah built it. on the streets, with people pulling Similarly, many cultural the chariots with much excite- POST FILE PHOTO experts also believe that some of ment and fervour. After completing her chariot procession, the Kumari of Kathmandu is presented in front of devotees and the head of state. It is believed that the procession of the Living the traditions that take place dur- “Yenya is a multi-faceted cele- was started by the last Malla king of Kathmandu, Jayaprakash Malla. ing Indra Jatra are also a result of bration, having cultural, reli- the enactment of the Shah inva- gious, and social significance in sion. For instance, in Hyumata, Newa culture, which sees the near Basantapur, lights are placed involvement of every Newa caste in a wheel-like structure and then group,” says Chunda Bajracharya, the wheel is moved, which accord- a culture expert. ing to is a reenactment This year, however, for the first of an event that took place during time in history, the streets of Ye the Shah invasion. (Kathmandu) will not come alive. “When Prithivi Narayan Shah The procession of the Kumari’s attacked Kathmandu, chariot should have started with Jayaprakash Malla took refuge in Indra Jatra, which falls today. But Patan. It is believed that while the because of the pandemic, Yenya, King was away, the people of along with all festivals, has been Hyumata had assured him that called off by the government due they would move the lights until it to health concerns. An eerie quiet was safe for him to return,” says hangs in the air. Tuladhar. “In Nepalbhasa, ‘hyu’ To mark the festival, the Post means moving and ‘mata’ means deep-dives into the many tales POST FILE PHOTO POST FILE PHOTO lights. That’s how the place got its surrounding the origin of the fes- With the erecting of Ya Sin: the festival of Indra Jatra begins in Kathmandu. A walks through a sea of people during the eight-day festival. name, and the people are still fol- tival, how it has evolved over the lowing the tradition of moving years and its significance in Newa the lights in a wheel-like struc- society. ture as a way of enacting the old Tracing the festival’s origin history,” he says. As diverse as the Valley’s cul- How recent changes have affect- tures are, so are the tales of origin ed the festival of Indra Jatra, its grandest festi- With the end of the Shah dynas- val. “There are many accepted ty, there was a big debate sur- versions attached to the origin of rounding Indra Jatra, and other Indra Jatra, each having its own major festivals. In 2008, after significance and logic,” says Nepal became a secular and Bajracharya. republic state, the then Finance But the most common, and Minister Baburam Bhattarai most accepted, story is the one in announced the national budget on which Lord Indra himself came to the eve of Indra Jatra. The budget (the old name of included less government funding Kathmandu Valley). It is believed and subsidy to Hindu festivals, that Indra came in search of pari- staying that the state would no jat, a flower which his mother, longer give priority to a particu- Vasundhara, needed to perform a lar religion. puja with. Disguised in human Hundreds of people took to the form, he was captured for stealing streets, protesting the govern- the flowers in a garden in Maru POST FILE PHOTO POST FILE PHOTO ment’s decision, which was the tole, leading the locals to arrest The mask of Swet Bhairava, which is kept covered throughout the year and A woman drinks rice wine that gushes out of Swet Bhairava’s mouth. The ritual, only time, according to Gautam and parade him in the centre of displayed to the public only during Indra Jatra. until 2015, was only limited to men. Ratna Shakya, the festival had the town, with his hands tied. faced some obstructions in its his- According to Gautam Ratna Kathmandu’s jatra, Bhaktapur The evolution of the Jatra ports that it was only during the Researcher Prerna Pradhan tory. Shakya, chair of Indra Jatra also celebrates Indra Jatra for According to Abhas reign of Pratap Singh Shah, in the says the inclusion of Kumari The government later agreed to Byawasthapam Samittee, the eight days, with its own unique Rajopadhyaya, an anthropologist, 18th century, that the pole-erect- Jatra in Indra Jatra was more of a all the demands, and with whole festival is a reenactment of traditions and practises, among Indra Jatra is a festival that exten- ing ceremony was celebrated on political move than a religious and organising committee’s lead- this very tale. Indra was then which the figure of keeping sively symbolises the changes Bhadra Shukla Dwadashi. Before one, made by Jayaprakash Malla ership the fervour and grandeur later rescued by his mother, who bukhyacha, scarecrow in various that have taken place in the Valley that, it used to be observed a day to legitimise his power. During of Indra Jatra remained intact. promised the locals that their places is common. According to over thousands of years with the earlier. his reign, it is believed that Malla Since then, new additions have farms would receive enough dew Tuladhar, the use of figurines like change in rule of power. “From According to Subarna Shakya, was struggling to keep power, as been made that have tried to make in the coming winters in exchange a scarecrow supports the theory people praying to Indra and then a cultural expert and a social both neighboring kings had their the celebrations more gen- for Indra. that Newa society, which initially to Bhairav and the addition of worker, it was also during the eyes on Kathmandu and so did der-friendly: in 2012, it was But Bajracharya believes that was agrarian, celebrated the festi- Kumari, all of these elements rep- reign of Pratap Malla that the Gorkha’s Prithivi Narayan Shah, announced that women could also Indra Jatra existed even during val to mark the change of the resent the changes that took place tradition of celebrating Ya Sin: who had already made efforts to pull the chariot of Kumari and the Vedic period. “The celebra- season as well as highlight the in Newa society,” says Thanegu with fervour and grand invade the valley. drink rice beer, prasad of Swet tion of Indra Jatra and the erec- importance and value of fertile Rajopadhyaya, who’s also a priest. manner started. “While it’s men- “The Kumari Jatra played a Bhairava, which before 2015 was tion of Ya Sin:, which is a pole land since scarecrows from time One of the biggest changes that tioned in the Rig Veda that the very crucial role to establish his only limited to men, says Gautam erected on Bhadra Shukla immemorial has been used in has been traced in the celebration tradition of hoisting the flag in territory and gain favour in the Ratna Shakya. Dwadashi that marks the begin- fields. eyes of his subjects. It was his Last year, Kathmandu’s mayor ning of the festival, is also men- “The association of Indra with way of claiming that space where Bidya Ratna Shakya had also tioned in the Natyashastra,” says the festival started after he could perform the role of both invited representatives of differ- Bajracharya. The Natyashastra is flourished in the country. The most common, and most a devotee and the king of the val- ent nations to participate in the a text dating back to Otherwise, the festival has a deep ley,” writes Pradhan in her festival with the intent to increase between 200 BCE and 200 CE. connection with the culture of accepted, story of origin is the one research paper titled Sacred visibility of the Jatra as part of Indra Jatra is also believed to worshipping nature,” says Space, Spectacle and Being the Visit Nepal Year 2020 cam- have been started in the 10th cen- Tuladhar. in which Lord Indra himself came Visible: Exploring the Indra Jatra paign. tury, during the reign of Sanskritist, art historian and to Nepal Mandala. Festival of Kathmandu. But as the festival has been Gunakama Deva, who, according scholar Gautama While Indra Jatra is held with called off because of the pandem- to Bajracharya, also started the also agrees with the theory that high religious regard, it also ic, according to Gautam Ratna trend of Lakhey and Pulu Kishi Indra Jatra was celebrated since marks a significant day in the Shakya, only necessary puja will Pyakhan (dance) during the Jatra. pre-Hindu times and calls it a fes- of Indra Jatra is the day when Ya Indra’s name was auspicious, Mandala, as in be conducted this year. “We are Subarna Shakya believes that tival originated to pay honour to sin: is erected. During the first here the tradition became big 1770 during Indra Jatra, Prithivi only doing the puja and rituals Gunakamadeva also built 12 idols nature as well as ancestors. “The day of Indra Jatra, Ya Sin: only after Pratap Malla intro- Narayan Shah attacked that should be carried out. of Bhairav, with the Akash Newars did not have the concept Thanegu, in Nepalbhasa (or Indra duced the tradition of hoisting Kathmandu, later annexing it. Likewise, we are also doing a Bhairav in the middle, leading to of god before they came in contact Dhwaja Rohan in Nepali), a wood- the flag in the premises of “The king (Jayaprakash Malla) kshama puja, with a hope that the the demarcation of Kathmandu’s with Sanskrit-speaking people en log made from a tree located in Basantapur Durbar Square,” says was busy pulling Kumari’s chari- pandemic will soon end and we geography back then and also and their literature. They wor- Nala, Bhaktapur, is brought and Subarna Shakya. ot. In the meantime, Prithivi will be able to conduct Indra Jatra establishing the tradition of wor- shipped their ancestors as super- erected in the premises of Another significant change is Narayan Shah with his army like before,” he adds. shiping Bhairav during Indra natural beings, hence they joined Hanuman Dhoka. The tradition the inclusion of Kumari Jatra, attacked Kathmandu and sat on While the pandemic has Jatra. the name Indra with aju, ances- of bringing and pulling the log is the procession of the Living the throne,” says Subarna stopped Indra Jatra from taking The festival’s significance tor/grandfather, forming Indra carried out by Sayamis or Goddess, which is said to be start- Shakya. “Jayaprakash Malla then place this year, for Newa people, While many scholars and aju, grandfather Indra,” writes Manandhars and the ceremonial ed by the last Malla king of ran away to Patan and then the the festival symbolises a unity priests commonly accept the reli- Vajracharya in Nepalese Seasons: pole is erected at an auspicious Kathmandu, Jayaprakash Malla. Shahs’ rule formally began in that has existed for as long as they gious tales of Indra’s arrival in Rain and Rituals, giving reason to time with pooja and fanfare along According to Bajracharya, while Kathmandu, which later led to the can remember, says Rajopadhyaya, Nepal Mandala, leading to the cel- why Newa people refer to Indra as with shots of gunfire. the tradition of worshipping formation of present-day Nepal,” a feeling they need to hold ebration of Indra Jatra, heritage Indra aju. However, Rajopadhyaya says Kumari started a long way back, he says. onto at a difficult time like this. conservation activist Alok Siddhi “Aju Dya () that for centuries the pole was it was Jayaprakash Malla, who Although cultural experts and “Indra Jatra not only symbolises Tuladhar argues that the festival means the divine ancestor, the erected on Bhadra Shukla built the Kumari house, and anthropologists say that the Shah the unity of Newa people, as has a deeper meaning attached to sky-god responsible for making Dwadashi, the 12th day of the included Kumari’s procession in dynasty respected the traditions everyone participates in the cele- the culture and traditions of seasonal rain. The autumn festi- Nepali calendar. To back Indra Jatra, which was of Indra Jatra and didn’t interfere brations, it also signifies the mul- Newa society—worshipping val is a thanksgiving rite in hon- Rajopadhyaya’s claim, French later followed by the inclusion of much, as they wanted to legiti- tiplicity and the plurality of cul- nature and ancestors. our of the ancestral sky god,” he ethnologist, Gerard Toffin says the procession of Bhairav and mise their power and threshold ture within the Newa communi- Although not as popular as writes in his book. that there is evidence that sup- Ganesh. among the inhabitants of ty,” he says.

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