PEACE OR POLLS||| BONDING WITH EVEREST DISPUTE THE TAXI DRIVER

AUGUST 15, 2004 VOL. I, NO. 17 www.nation.com.np

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AUGUST 15, 2004 18 A Historic Shift By Suman Pradhan VOL. I, NO. 17 For the first time since its COVER: Kishor Kayastha (9851052778) inception in 1948, the COVER PHOTO: Sagar Shrestha www.nation.com.np has taken the initial tentative steps towards potentially de-linking itself from the monarchy

26 Peace Or Polls By Satish Jung Shahi CPN-UML fears the Deuba government’s rightward tilt but just can’t decide where to go

28 Who’s On Top By John Narayan Parajuli Mountaineering’s traditions of integrity and trust among elite climbers are threatened COVER STORY by the all-too-personal disputes over who is the fastest Everest 20 Go, Go Condo summiteer By John Narayan Parajuli BUSINESS The housing crunch in Katmandu has driven up home prices. But builders have responded with new options. 32 Insuring Health INTERVIEWS: Prabindra Basnet, project manager, Grace Apartments and Surya By Indra Adhikari Bhakta Sanganchhe, deputy director general of Urban Development Board Only 5 percent of Nepalis have health insurance. Why? COLUMNS PROFILE 11 Much Ado About 42 The Book Seller ARTS & SOCIETY Nothing By Satish Jung Shahi By Jogendra Ghimire Twenty-five-year-old Nabaraj Bajagain’s 34 Home Away From ‘Those who can make you believe absur- story is the stuff movies are made of Home dities can make you commit atrocities’ By Yashas Vaidya For Nepalis in the U.S., 30 The Curse Of The LIFESTYLE summer is the best time to Blue Sea come see their friends and By Swarnim Wagle 47 Decline In families in Nepal. It’s time The study of the causes of the wealth Reading? Not Quite to leave now. and poverty of nations By Ajit Baral The habit of reading is actually growing DEPARTMENTS 38 Talking Conscious in Nepal, but much better promotion Purchasing and marketing strategies are necessary to 6 LETTERS By Ujol Sherchan keep up with demand 10 PICTURE OF THE WEEK In a market, consumers cast rupee-votes 14 CAPSULES 16 BIZ BUZZ 40 Crowning Glory By Kunal Lama 44 CITY PAGE A new beauty queen emerges, tearful but 50 Saved By The Bell 52 SNAPSHOTS triumphant, at the end of a gruellingly- By Sudesh Shrestha 56 KHULA MANCH: GANGA RAM KHADGI stultifying-question-&-answer-round- Athlete and fans got a break last week and-embarrassingly-clumsy-song-&- when Rana and Singh factions patched 57 BOOKS: “AGAINST THE CURRENT” dance-routine session up their dispute 58 LAST WORD

5 Letters

Nepal will do “well to learn from

”HARI SHANKAR ADHIKARI

The expat story back. Thus, the Nepalis are increasingly JOHN N. PARAJULI UNNECESSARILY crowded out of the development sector. puts the expats in a flattering There is an old native Indian saying light(“Home Is Where Heart Is,” Cover from South America: “When they [Eu- Story, August 1). For me, his article is ropeans] first came we had all the land, memorable for what was left unsaid. and they had all the Bibles. Today, we Let us not forget that the increase in have all the Bibles, and they have all the expats is also a reflection of failures of land.” Expats are not allowed to buy land the government and our over-depen- in Nepal, but that doesn’t mean that this dence on foreign aid. That they have saying doesn’t offer a cautionary tale. come to help Nepal rings hollow. Who helps whom is debatable. This is not to HARI SHANKAR ADHIKARI say that there are no sincere expats, but BALKHU how to separate them from the “honey In defense of Dor Bahadur eaters,” as Kunal Lama puts it and to dis- courage the latter is a challenge. Over- IN REFERENCE TO HIMALI THAPA’S letter to my article, most foreigners do stays should be granted as per Nepal’s consider Dor Bahadur Bista’s mix of so- assessed “critical” needs, not general ciology and history very useful (“Ke perceived needs. Garne?” Cover Story, Opinion, August 1). Moreover, Nepal will do well to learn It seems to explain to us a lot of things from Bhutan. As Bhutan invested early on that are puzzling when we first come here. in “targeted” human resource develop- If she thinks Bista is wrong or an old hat, ment, it today has enough homegrown that would be an interesting story because teachers to meet its domestic needs. How of the influence the book has in bideshi/ it has been able to make English compul- INGO circles. If she thinks Bista is be- sory in all schools, private or public, start- ing misused to the detriment of Nepal ing from Grade One, for instance, with- (“prop up their reasons for Nepal’s fail- out letting in the Peace Corps, Am- ure”), that could be a great story. bassadors or even Jesuit teachers is a suc- cess story worth emulating. It has also in- JOHN CHILD stituted a cap on the number of expats. SANEPA Nepal should likewise invest in “targeted” human resource development and gradu- Ignoring the Indians? ally phase out the Peace Corps, Youth KUNAL LAMA’S ARTICLE WAS A FUN Ambassadors and foreign Jesuit teachers, read (“Take Your Pick,” Cover Story, and put a cap on the number of expats. Opinion, August 1). Certainly, Much often, development critics de- Kathmandu’s expats defy classification. cry Nepal’s over-dependence on foreign They come in all hues and colors. Funny, aid. Well, we tend to think expats come though, that you never thought of writ- straight from outside riding on foreign aid. ing about Indian expats? There are quite Not true; many come from inside Nepal. a few around. They first come on tourist visas, stay in volunteer jobs and later compete for de- SUPRABASH PRADHAN velopment jobs with Nepalis and stay VIA EMAIL

6 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly Policing traffic know better because they have, many ON THE ROAD AS A MOTORCYCLIST times and during different stints, pre- for six months, I’ve come to realize how pared similar budgets with the same in- Nation Weekly, The Media House, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal (Regd. 113/059-060). chaotic the traffic in Kathmandu is and tent of not attempting to “rock the boat” Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098

that even following traffic rules word- and that for pretty much the same press- EDITOR: Akhilesh Upadhyay by-word is no guarantee to one’s safety ing reasons. Narayan’s criticism of the [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Suman Pradhan (“Policing Traffic,” A Little Word, by government’s aid management record COPY EDITOR: John Child SENIOR STAFF WRITERS: , Satish Jung Shahi, Deepak Thapa, July 25). The Valley’s traf- however does not seem to have stuck Tiku Gauchan fic police themselves aren’t sure that because, as is well-known, the donors STAFF WRITER: John Narayan Parajuli PHOTOJOURNALISTS: Sagar Shrestha, Das Bahadur Maharjan their effort can improve the daily “traf- in Nepal generally have the onus to do DESIGNER: Raj Kumar Shrestha fic riot.” That becomes evident from the everything right from the stage of the EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Indra Adhikari, Yashas Vaidya manner they go about their business. feasibility study of a development AD & CIRCULATION DIRECTOR: Krishna Shrestha OPERATING MANAGER: Ashish Bhattarai They let pedestrians walk in the middle project to its implementation, monitor- MARKETING EXECUTIVES: Sarita Gautam, Rameshwor Ghimire [email protected] of the road, motorcyclists are frequently ing and evaluation. These days they are, SUBSCRIPTION OFFICER: Bipin Raj Ojha on the pavement, and the motorists form in some cases, believed to have started [email protected] ASST. SUBSCRIPTION OFFICER: Jeshna Karmacharya three lines in a two-lane road. And if one giving additional allowance to govern- DISTRIBUTION: Angiras Manandhar bothers to spend some time observing ment employees who work on the their MARKETING CONSULTANT: Kreepa Shrestha the traffic police at a busy intersection, projects leaving their colleagues crest- CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Nripendra Karmacharya you will see that they are having a party fallen and demoralized. It is also un- PUBLISHER: The Mirror Media Pvt. Ltd

out there. A taxi driver is fined for “ille- derstood that they themselves oversee AD ENQUIRIES: Tel. 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 gal parking,” another gets away for a simi- the programs they fund. The govern- COLOR SEPARATION: ScanPro, Pulchowk, 5548861, 5552335 PRINTING: Variety Printing Press, 4278869 lar offence, and yet another happily gets ment role has been reduced to just that DISTRIBUTION: R.B. News, 4232784, 4244679

into an animated conversation with the of a witness. It’s true that government Nation Weekly is published every Monday by The Mirror Media Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The reproduction of the contents of this police himself. The other day I saw a bureaucracy is oversized, inefficient and publication, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the policeman trying to get on top of an ex- ineffective. A decade or so ago a report prior consent of the publisher. tremely fancy bike (probably of a ha- suggested downsizing the bureaucracy Vol. I, No. 17. For the week August 9-15, 2004, released on August 9 rassed biker) at the Thapathali cross- by about 25 percent and reducing the CONTACT number of ministries to roughly 22. roads. While the traffic was in a com- www.nation.com.np plete mess all around him, Mr. Police- The Administrative Reforms Commis- man was busy admiring the bike. Per- sion, which was headed by no less a haps the most apt nickname given to them person than the prime minister him- is one I heard from a taxi driver, who self, recommended several measures for We prefer to receive letters via e-mail, without attachments. Writers should disclose any connection calls them “Ullu (owl) Saab”—one, who enhancing the management skills of the or relationship with the subject of their comments. in the broad daylight, sees nothing. employees and it was approved by the All letters must include an address and daytime and Cabinet. But when the time for imple- evening phone numbers. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space. PARAS ADHIKARI menting them came, the government E-mail: [email protected] KATHMANDU backed down and instead raised their Fax: 4216281 numbers. Narayan’s suggestion that in Mail: Nation Weekly The tightrope walk The Media House, GPO 8975, EPC 5620 order to further improve aid absorp- Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal. B. L. NARAYAN’S “WALKING THE tion, the local elected bodies at the dis- Tight Rope” bears the stamp of a pro- trict and village levels be sufficiently SUBSCRIPTION fessional hand, who bases his appraisal E-mail: [email protected] empowered is to the point. Every gov- Nation Weekly, The Media House, GPO 8975 of the budget on the twin tools of com- ernment since 1956 has indeed done just EPC 5620, Tripureshor, Kathmandu, Nepal parison and analysis (Budget 2004-05, the opposite. Presently there are no Tel: 2111102, 4229825, 4261831, 4263098 July 25). His criticism seems to be well- elected bodies at any levels of the gov- Fax: 4216281 rounded, frank and fair. However, he ernment, and there is no prospect of does not appear to have succeeded in having them in the near future. They all hiding his disapproval of the budget de- have been nominated and are not ac- spite paying handsome eulogy to Fi- countable to the people. As for the po- nance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari, litical parties, which are responsible for who presented a please-all budget, underdevelopment, they say one thing which is bereft of vision, priorities and while in office and quite the contrary subscription purpose. when out of office. Calling this budget Two former finance ministers, namely a “peace budget” would be a mockery [email protected] Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and Dr. Prakash of peace itself. Chandra Lohani, have already gone on record to dismiss the budget as lacking K SINGH THARU 2111102 in focus and direction. They certainly TORONTO, nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 7 ... democracy is

only of use there that it may POLITICS Of the

pass on and come to SPORTS

its flower and fruit in manners

in the highest forms of interaction ARTS & SOCIETY

between people and

their beliefs OPINION For the DEVELOPMENT — in religion, literature,

colleges and schools —

EDUCATION democracy in all public

and private life.

CIVIL CONFLICT Walt Whitman

BUSINESS By the Pople

PEACE BEFORE POLLS|| TICKET TO KOREA UPWARDLY MOBILE | GOSSIP SELLS

AUGUST 8, 2004 VOL. I, NO. 16 www.nation.com.np

60 Pages Now On FALLEN, FALLEN From HisHigh Estate Former Minister Wagle Is Convicted On A Corruption Charge

AL PECI S RT COU PeRS. 30 ISSN 1811-721X ple

PEACE OR POLLS||| BONDING WITH NEPAL EVEREST DISPUTE THE TAXI DRIVER

AUGUST 15, 2004 VOL. I, NO. 17 www.nation.com.np

Peopl RS. 30 ISSN 1811-721X

THE NOTION of nationhood.

www.nation.com.np Picture of the Week

THE GRADUATE: Chief of Army Staff Pyar Jung Thapa at the graduating ceremony of the first all-women batch of the Royal Nepal Army

nation weekly/Sagar Shrestha Legal Eye Much Ado About Nothing

Those who can make you believe absurdities can did not equate beauty first and foremost with physical beauty most of make you commit atrocities. the time. Inner beauty is probably more important than physical appear- Voltaire (1694-1778) ance, but surely beauty pageants are not about the kind of inner beauty that the opponents are talking about or anything as abstract. It is mostly BY JOGENDRA GHIMIRE about physical appearance coupled with poise, presence of mind (wit and humor, if you will) and the way a participant conducts herself on the his past week and the week before, a group of self-appointed stage. There is no reason why the current and former winners of Miss Tdefenders of our cultural ethos and Nepali women’s ashmita tried Nepal contests should be defensive about what the pageants are not. If to undermine the intelligence of the Nepali population. They were the opponents of beauty pageants feel so strongly about inner beauty opposed to the idea of the contest, a that and want to have the element as the deciding vote in a pageant, they selected its tenth batch of winners on Saturday. The annual event took should consider organizing an “inner” beauty pageant. They have my place amid protests from women’s organizations and a forum estab- vote for such a venture. lished recently with a sole objective of opposing beauty pageants. The argument that the participants are not the true representatives of You need not be an ardent supporter of beauty pageants to see the the hill women or Tarai women is equally frivolous. What kind of culture, absurdities in the arguments of those who opposed the event. I will try language or dress code do the opponents of the pageant think repre- to list below some of the arguments offered by those opposing the sents all of Nepal? For a country as diverse as ours, there can’t be one pageant: Former Miss Nepals have not done anything for the society, rigid standard that can be applied to every young woman to judge her physical appearance can not be a measure of one’s beauty, inner Nepali-ness or representative character? What a set of standards do the beauty or creativity is what counts, the participants of the contest are not opponents think should be adhered to, to prove one’s Nepali character? representative of a Nepali woman who lives a difficult life in the hills, the Above all, there is an element of persecution in everything that the participants can neither speak good English nor utter a full sentence in opponents say. By arguing that the participants have sold themselves to Nepali. Then, for a full year after their crowning, the winners become the corporation, they are equating the modeling contract between the nothing but an object of advertisement aspiring model and the company for the corporation that sponsors the to slavery, prompting the young event; they even give up their liberty participants to be unnecessarily by agreeing to not get married for a defensive about themselves. year. That need not be the case. The Without questioning the intentions young women who participate of the opponents, it needs to be in beauty pageants do so with a stressed that their principal opposi- belief that if nothing else, the tion—of using women as a commod- experience will at least make ity to sell goods for a multinational cor- them more confident to face the poration—is hugely patronizing. It tough world in the days ahead. seems to be guided by the assump- Based on the way many of the tion that since the 18+ year-olds who participants of past pageants participate in the pageant are all naïve have fared, there is every rea- and foolish, they don’t realize that they son to believe that their experi- are degrading themselves and their sex EYING FOR THE CROWN ences with the pageants have by presenting themselves as the ob- stood them in good stead. jects of advertisement. The problem with this line of reasoning is obvi- Surely, the organizers have, like organizers of any other high-profile ous. Eighteen-year-olds are legally competent to enter into contracts; event now, hyped the pageant as more than what it is. And there seems they can own or dispose property; they have a right to vote in an elec- to be a feeling among some participants that winning or losing the Miss tion. They should, therefore, be presumed to be able to decide whether Nepal contest is the end of the world in itself. There needs to be some or not they should be a part of the pageantry and whether or not it is moderation on those heightened expectations. Put simply, neither the degrading to model for a corporation. The opponents of the pageant, in participants nor the society at large should take this yearly event for more my view, should rest assured that the participants do not need their than what it actually is: Young ladies want to see for themselves how they patronage. So then the argument about becoming a poster girl for a fare in the real-life situations. multinational’s advertising campaign for the next 12 months seems to But when a self-appointed group of do-gooders and protectors of our come more from the dislike of the idea of globalization and the free flow cultural values starts infringing upon our 18-year-olds’ right to choice, it of ideas, capital and individual, than from a genuine concern for an 18- becomes a serious issue. The next time the opponents of the beauty year-old girl. pageants think about opposing the pageant for all the wrong reasons, I ask The argument that beauty cannot be judged from the physical ap- them to imagine the prospect of a model or an undeserving columnist pearance alone is well-taken, but we would be lying to ourselves if we lecturing them on how immoral or socially useless their profession is. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 11 Dhondup Khangsar Handicraft Center

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corpse in the funeral pyre. Mean- job if the union was not dis- while two Nepali Maoists, who solved. Over 1,200 laborers are were arrested by the Indian police in working on the Middle the town of Baharaich, were handed Marsyangdi project. over to Nepali authorities in Bardiya. The two, identified as Narendra Labor loss Kurmi and Om Prakash Loda, were Nearly 15,000 Nepali workers said to be involved in the murder bound for Iraq were stranded in Rajendra Prasad Sriwastav. Police say Mumbai. Many of them had run the two were running an extortion out of their savings and were be- racket from . ing forced to live in the streets of BACKHOME: PM Deuba being received at the airport after returning from the BIMSTEC conference in Bankok Mumbai. Nepali workers are New NOC mostly hired by construction No movements Overseas to select laborers After mediation by the Ministry of companies or as security guards in Following a confrontation be- through a lottery system. The Education and Sports, two parallel Iraq. Another 5,000 Nepalis were tween local residents and refugees, agency had filed a writ against Nepal Olympic Committees agreed reportedly stranded in Jordan. the Jhapa district administration the decision. The CIAA, how- to form a unified NOC under the restricted movement of refugees ever, has decided to continue its leadership of Rukma Shumsher Schools fees outside the camps in Beldangi. The investigation of alleged irregu- Rana and seek endorsement from The government has put a cap decision was taken by a joint meet- larities against the the International Olympic Com- on school fees for private and ing of refugee organizations, local Overseas, which follows com- mittee. The two separate Olympic boarding schools. Schools will residents and government officials. plaints filed by Deep Bahadur bodies were led by Nepal Sports now charge Rs. 500 for primary The refugees will now have to get Rana and Tulsi Sapkota, both of Council’s Member-Secretary level and Rs. 700 for secondary permission from camp authorities whom have applied for employ- Kishor Bahadur Singh and Rana. level every month and addi- while moving in and out of the ment in Korea. The new committee has 37 mem- tional 50 percent for extra fa- camps. In another development, bers in which Singh has been ap- cilities. PABSON has expressed the European Union announced Mayor’s death pointed as the general secretary. dissatisfaction over the decision. an aid assistance of $2.4 million The Maoists killed Rajendra for the refugees. This will go into Sriwastav, former mayor of Power shutdown Foul play purchasing food for some 3,400 Guleriya Municipality in Bardiya. Construction in the Middle The Court vulnerable babies, malnourished The Maoists attacked him with a Marsyangdi Hydroelectric Project held Puskar Lal Shrestha, editor infants, nursing mothers and the khukuri while he was attending a has come to standstill for more of Nepal Samacharpatra guilty of elderly. funeral of his relative. Earlier, the than two weeks due to the work- defaming Anikendranath Sen, Maoists took Sriwastav and a po- ers’ strike. They have put forward managing director of Asia Pacific Women at work liceman, Ratna Singh Tharu, in a 22-point demand. The strike Communication Associates The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) their custody before ordering ev- began after the contractors, Nepal. The court imposed a fine inducted 197 women into its erybody else present in the fu- Dywidag, banned the labor of Rs. 500, a compensation of Rs. service, the first all-women con- neral to leave. After killing him, union. The company had threat- 5,000 and court expenses amount- tingent to do so after 22 weeks the Maoists threw the mayor’s ened to relieve laborers from their ing to Rs.300 on Shrestha. of training at Chhauni. RNA plans to recruit 251 more women in the second batch in the near Taxi row test passes and pollution test would ing the drivers with hefty fines, future. RNA earlier this year an- be conducted every six months. the drivers said. The drivers had nounced that it would increase he row between the Traffic police have been randomly staged a weeklong protest rally the number of women in its taxi drivers and the conducting these tests and harass- to press their demands. Tgovern- ranks to five percent of the total strength. Currently, there are ment was finally about 500 women soldiers in the settled with the gov- technical sector of the RNA. ernment agreeing to fulfill most of the de- Stay order mands of Nepal The Supreme Court issued an Drivers’ Union. Ac- interim order asking the Minis- cording to the agree- try of Labor and Transport Man- ment, traffic police agement not to enforce a lottery would now stop ha- system to select laborers for rassing the drivers South Korea. The government and that the renewal earlier had ordered Lumbini of the route permits,

14 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly Militia training asked the passengers to get out massive floods in neighboring soon floods. After a high point The Maoists have forced over of the bus before hijacking it. The states of India and . that saw nearly two-thirds of the 500 youths, including school bus was last seen at Hapure in Dhakhwa said they have already country under water, floods con- students, into militia training in Purnadhara VDC of Dang. This received promises of support tinue to recede in much of an undisclosed location in is the site that hosted the last amounting to Rs. 75 million to Bangladesh. Bangladeshi Dadeldhura. A student who round of the peace talks held last help Nepali flood victims. government’s health directorate managed to escape from Maoist August. Around 200 people have died and reported more than 9,000 people captivity reported that the nearly 100,000 families have ill with waterborne diseases. Such youngsters and students of Flight disruptions been affected. Twenty-five dis- illnesses have caused more than above grade six were forcibly A number of international and tricts in the country have been 60 deaths since June, it said. Ac- taken away from Jogbudha. Re- domestic flights were disrupted affected by the floods. cording to the government, the ports said the rebels are training at the Tribhuvan International flooding has left about 20 mil- them to handle arms, plant Airport after an RNAC Twin Local bodies lion people or one-seventh of the landmines and manufacture Otter created a shallow trench The government has handed population in need of food for socket bombs. The rebels picked on the runway while landing. over the responsibility of run- the next five months. It estimates the students who were home Kathmandu-bound flights of ning the local bodies to civil ser- a loss of $7 billion due to dam- during their summer vacation, Gulf Airways and Qatar Airways vants effective from August 5. ages to agriculturr and industrial news reports said. were diverted to the Zia Inter- The Cabinet took the decision. infrastructure and private prop- national Airport in Dhaka. A This is the third time local insti- erty, CBS News reported. Security guards Thai Airways flight to tutions are being run by civil ser- The Malaysian government has and an RNAC flight to Hong vants. The village development Herb ban decided to lift the ban placed on Kong were delayed. committees will be run by secre- The Conservation recruitment of Nepali security taries, municipalities by execu- Area Project management com- guards. Last month during an Aid appeal tive officers and district devel- mittee has enforced a ban on official visit to Nepal, the Ma- Red Cross Nepal has appealed opment committees by local de- Yarsagumba (Cordyceps sinensis) laysian Home Minister Dato for an immediate relief aid velopment officers, Local Devel- collection in Mustang. This, the Ajmi Bin Khalid had said he amounting to Rs. 150 million to opment Minister Yubaraj committee said, will check would ease the restrictions placed provide rescue, relief and reha- Gyawali said. large-scale smuggling. The com- on Nepalis workers. He also said bilitation to flood victims in the mittee will impose a fine of Rs. women will get preference for country. The general secretary of Aid Bangladesh 1,600 on those found collecting employment and the visa pro- the Nepal Red Cross Society, Nepal has offered an assistance Yarsagumba illegally. The com- cess for Nepalis will be simpli- Dev Ratna Dhakhwa, said the of $1,000,000 to the flood vic- mittee has so far recovered 787 fied. This is a special provision plight of flood victims in Nepal tims in Bangladesh. At least 700 Yarsagumba plants with the help for Nepal, according to a Nepal has been overshadowed by the people have died due to mon- of local police. Embassy official in Kuala Lumpur. Drug haul Police at the airport have arrested a Nepali with 1kg of hashish. He was reportedly hiding the contraband valued at around $25,000 inside his shoes. The man, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, faces a life imprisonment with a fine of $600,000. Government Vehicle holdup A group of armed robbers looted Rs. 5,000 each from ten buses and trucks at the Kalakate- Chisapani section of the Mahendra highway in the Mid- Constitution

Constituent west. In a separate incident, Assembly Maoists commandeered a pas- senger bus from Bainsha at Dhanauri in Dang. The Maoists nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 15 Biz Buzz

AIR SAHARA TO OPERATE Bank Group and South Asia Enterprise Devel- ebrated its first anniversary on August 1. The FROM SEPTEMBER opment Facility. It was initiated to promote lo- Create Bath showroom is at Teku. The prod- Air Sahara will commence daily flights on the cal small business growth in developing na- ucts include shower cabins, Jacuzzis, steam Delhi-to-Kathmandu route from September 1. tions by creating a powerful synergy and under- rooms, toilets and cisterns, basins, mixture and The flight will depart from Delhi at 1:10 p.m. scoring a strategic commitment in upcoming tiles from companies like Meinasi, Yinibao, and arrive in Kathmandu at 2:55 p.m. Depar- lives by creating opportunities in small busi- Isabelle, Giessford and more. According to the ture from Kathmandu will be at 4 p.m. and ness. Elite networks will be localizing the con- manager, Create Bath hopes to open new arrival in Delhi at 5:10 p.m. daily. Air Sahara, tent of the SME Toolkit to suit Nepalese con- branches at other locations in the near future. formerly known as Sahara Airlines, is one of text, culture, trends, rules and regulations. It will the leading private airlines in India, flying to 23 also be conducting a number of promotional FAIREVER MANTRA destinations. Its fleet includes new generation workshops in Nepal. LAUNCHED IN NEPAL Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-400 and Cavin Kare India has launched its latest prod- 737-300 and CRJ jet aircrafts. MARGINAL GROWTH IN uct, Fairever Mantra in Nepal. The fairness TOURIST ARRIVALS IN JULY cream is a blend of Himalayan natural herbs ECOTOURISM AND Even though non-Indian visitor arrivals grew by and takes its inspiration from Ayurvedic tradi- CONSERVATION TRAINING BEGINS 18 percent, a 16 percent decrease in Indian tion. The blending ideas for Fairever Mantra A 15-day training session on Ecotourism and market meant that the number of visitors com- are derived from ancient Greek medication and Biodiversity Conservation began on July 27. ing to Nepal by air in July 2004 showed an years of research and development. The prod- The training was organized to develop skilled increment of only one percent compared to uct is available in 25g and 50g tube pack- manpower in issues related to ecotourism and the same period last year, according to figures ages. conservation. The training is conducted by Tour- released by Department of Immigration. ism for Rural and Poverty Alleviation Among the non-Indian visitors to Nepal during SAJHA TO OPERATE Programme’s Programmme Management Of- the month, the major performers continued to BUS SERVICE TO TIBET fice through the Department of National Parks be North Americans and Europeans followed Sajha Yatayat, the state owned transport ser- and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). by Japanese and Chinese visitors. The figures vice, has decided to operate direct bus ser- There are 19 participants in the training includ- are 24 percent lower than the same period in vices from Kathmandu to Lhasa in the Tibet ing officers and rangers from the DNPWC, na- 1999, the country’s best year for tourism. autonomous region of China from September tional parks and senior trainers from Nepal International Visitor Arrivals during July: with a view to promoting tourism, states RSS. Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management. UK: up 17 percent to 1,123 visitors According to the agreement, Nepal and China The Multidisciplinary Consulting Organization is GERMANY: up 15 percent to 468 visitors have signed a deal to start bus service to con- facilitating the training. JAPAN: up six percent to 863 visitors nect the two countries through land route. It FRANCE: up 21 percent to 802 visitors takes two days to reach Lhasa from “ACTION ASIA” FEATURES EVEREST CHINA: up 57 percent to 332 visitors Kathmandu. According to the executive direc- REGION AND MARATHON INDIA: down 16 percent to 7,186 visitors tor of the corporation, Mukund Satyal, “In the The internationally reputed adventure maga- beginning, Sajha Yatayat will start three to four zine based in Hong Kong, “Action Asia,” has CREATE BATH CELEBRATES buses a week and later increase the number of published an eight-page photo-feature on the FIRST ANNIVERSARY vehicles.” Satyal also said that Sajha Yatayat Khumbu region in its July issue. The magazine Create Bath, a shop dealing in bathroom fit- is making preparations to expand its services to has also devoted one full page for a report and tings and fixtures and tiles from China, cel- India shortly.

photos on the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon nw/SS organized on May 29 from Everest base camp to Namche Bazaar. The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon was promoted by the Nepal Tourism Board and organized by Himalaya Expeditions to promote adventure sports . The photos by award winning British photogra- pher, Charles Partwee, based in Japan, reflect the true face of the and the lifestyles of people living in the region. SME TOOLKIT FOR NEPAL A Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently in Dhaka, Bangladesh between South Asia Enterprises Development Facility and Elite Networks and Communications to implement the SME Toolkit product in Nepal. The South Asia SME Toolkit is a project of the Small and Medium Enterprises Department of the World

16 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly

Nepali Congress A HISTORIC SHIFT For the first time since its inception in 1948, the Nepali Congress has taken the initial tentative steps towards potentially de-linking itself from the monarchy

BY SUMAN PRADHAN monarchy and the Maoists. As Mahat puts it, “though we have made the con- NE OF THE LAST MAJOR HURD- stituent assembly one of the options, that les on the constituent assembly option will only be exercised if the Oquestion came tumbling down Maoists guarantee adherence to peace last week when the Nepali Congress and commitment to multi-party democ- adopted the constituent assembly as one racy.” As for the monarchy, it is a signal of three options to resolve the Maoist nw/SS that the King should remain within con- conflict and strengthen democracy. stitutional bounds lest the party change The three options presented by the its position on the monarchy when, and party’s Central Working Committee if, it chooses to exercise the constituent (CWC) are: 1) Re-instatement of the assembly option. dissolved parliament, amendments to This is a turnaround once thought the present Constitution and then elec- NEW DEAL: impossible in the Congress. Credit it tions; 2) referendum to re-write the General to the young students of the Nepal Stu- Secretary Constitution and 3) to form a constitu- Koirala dents’ Union (NSU), a Congress-af- ent assembly by using the present Constitution. While the party has always called for the first option since October 2002 when King Gyanendra sacked an elected government, options two and three present a historic shift in the Congress’ thinking. Even after all other major parties shifted gradually to sup- porting a constituent assembly to write a new constitution, the Congress had stuck around with the present Consti- tution, always arguing that a referen- dum or a constituent assembly may not be the answer to the political troubles Nepal now faces. But last week, after three days of discussion on and debate over a politi- cal proposal by General Secretary Sushil Koirala, the CWC changed its stand. The proposal passed almost unanimously, with only one CWC member, Shailaja Acharya, opposing it formally. “The three options presented by the party are reasonable and balanced, and it is a compromise between the vari- ous views expressed,” says CWC mem- ber Ram Sharan Mahat. “This means we as a party are ready to discuss all issues openly.” With those options, the party is clearly sending a message to both the

18 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly filiated body and the majority of the NSU central committee last month, The CWC’s three options are his- party’s district committees and re- creating further turmoil. The NSU toric in the sense that it not only opens formers within the party leadership dissolution was supposed to be one the way to change the present Constitu- such as Narhari Acharya, Chakra of the issues in the CWC but that has tion (a document the Congress fought Bastola, Ram Chandra Paudel and oth- to wait until the body meets again this hardest to write and implement), but ers. The NSU and Acharya, in particu- week. also paves the way for the party to for- lar, have been at the forefront of the mally re-think its position on the mon- movement calling for change. The stu- REFORMIST: archy. The Congress’ relationship with dents, led by former NSU President Acharya the monarchy has been troubled at the Guru Ghimire and General Secretary best of times and outright hostile at the Gagan Thapa, created enough pressure worst of times. Post-October 2002, the from the streets to make the party stand relationship between the two has hit a up and take notice. Narhari Acharya has nadir. This is reflected in the three op- been extremely vocal in calling for the tions. adoption of the constituent assembly For the first time since its inception option even though most Congress in 1948, the Nepali Congress has taken stalwarts actively opposed it. the initial tentative steps towards poten- But in an irony of sorts, the very tially de-linking itself from the monar- people who made the constituent as- chy, an institution it has always defended, sembly such a big issue within the even at its own cost. If the party does party have been thrown out by the decide to go only for a constituent as-

party leadership. The Congress lead- nw/SS sembly, then there is a possibility that it ership, citing minor squabbles be- could choose to do away with the insti- nw/SS tween Ghimire and Thapa, took the tution for good. extreme step of dissolving the entire This is what some Congress leaders actually want. “We don’t have to abolish the monarchy right now. But at least the party should form a long-term view on the monar- chy. There should be a general statement of policy goals to achieve in the future,” says CWC member Narhari Acharya. Such sentiments are still in the minority in the party. Many party stalwarts point out that just because the Congress opts for a constituent assembly does not mean the party will abolish the monarchy and choose republi- canism. A new constitution could still keep the institution of monarchy but bind it so tightly that it would remain within the confines of constitutional mon- archy. Indeed, this is the hope of many Congress leaders. And in any case, exercising the third option comes with several riders. First and fore- most is that deciding to go for a constituent assembly can only be done by using the present Constitution. What this trans- lates to is: Revive parliament, and let parliament decide nw/SS whether it wants to go for a con- stituent assembly. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 19 GO,GO, GOGO CONDOCONDO

The housing crunch tal. The rising population has caused a BY JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI giant leap in demand for housing. De- in Kathmandu has HE WORSE THINGS GET spite depression in other sectors of the in the rest of the coun- economy, the housing industry is liter- driven up home try, the brighter the real es- ally booming. prices; builders have tate market gets in More than a dozen companies have Kathmandu. Insurgency and sprung up in the last fours year to offer responded with new Tthe attendant economic de- quality housing, sometimes in new cline have sent a flood of forms. The reason is obvious: The mar- options people from the countryside to the capi- ket is lucrative since there is a growing

20 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly Cover Story nw/Sagar Shrestha

CHANGING FACE: One of three housing sites in the Valley developed by Ansal Chaudhary Developers

demand in the relatively safe Valley. “I store, security guards, power backup Like Lama, a growing number of people feel secure here,” says Sabita Lama, a and more. are opting for community living. Building resident at Civil Homes in Bhainsepatti, The Lama family sold the land in individual houses is time-consuming. Con- Lalitpur, who shifted to her present Nakkhu that they had bought to build a dos are relatively cheaper and they come with dwelling two months ago. Lama, whose home when they decided that commu- a range of built-in services. The costs of com- son is currently serving in the British nity living was more comfortable and munity houses and apartments developed by Army, lives with her mother. “It is fan- less expensive than building an individual private companies range between Rs. 700,000 tastic to be here,” she adds with a smile. house and living there. “I don’t have to to Rs. 7 million. Even though condos seem She is more than happy about the worry about water and electricity any- wise alternatives, many still can’t give up the amenities: an in-house departmental more,” Lama says. idea of building their own homes. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 21 Cover Story

to either build houses or buy exist- the advantage of community living? Community ing ones. The need for gaas, baas The idea behind community living is and kapaas (food, shelther and to provide facilities that are not avail- Living Is Safer clothing) never decreases. It grows able in individual houses. Security is geometrically with the rising popu- of paramount importance. Individual lation. More and more people now houses are comparatively less safe. rabindra Basnet, project booming during these bad eco- want independent houses. In the Anyone can break into your house Pmanager of Grace Apart- nomic times? past, a single house was shared by and put a gun to your head. In con- ments, perhaps the city’s Lack of security is driving people a large joint family. But with urban- dos or community living complexes, most ambitious housing project, away from the outlying districts and ization, the concept of nuclear fami- there are security guards and fences tells us why the housing industry is into the . Even lies is taking root. surrounding the whole complex. In booming, despite an economic though there is a depression in the our own case, we plan to install sur- downturn. other sectors of the economy, there As someone involved in develop- veillance cameras and other security is a growing demand for houses, ment of community housing paraphernalia to ensure the safety Why is the housing industry which is natural. People can afford complexes, what do you see as of the community living inside.

Lama still longs for her “own house,” amazing offers wait for prospective buy- at Kusunti Housing. “You can’t do jus- which she wants to build in the future. ers in a city where people are getting in- tice to both.” Her feelings resonate with many other creasingly caught up in their professional Building a house, alongside the at- Nepalis. Buying a home just isn’t the lives. “People now don’t have the time tendant cost of land, in Kathmandu is also same thing. and patience to build a house,” says en- very expensive, several million rupees But that is changing. Even people gineer Rajendra Kumar Shrestha. “It’s at the minimum. Many young profes- who already own a house in Kathmandu difficult to build a house of your own sionals like Ms. Shrestha don’t have the are booking colony apartments, as hous- these days, especially if you are work- expertise and the energy to shop first for ing companies have started to introduce ing,” agrees Kalpana Shrestha (no rela- the land and then oversee a long period innovative constructions. A range of tion with engineer Shrestha), a resident of construction that lasts for several nw/SS

CONCRETE JUNGLE: Kathmandu’s jagged skyline

22 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly months, if not years. There are too many PROJECT SITE TYPE hassles: Hiring a consultant and finding Kathmandu Residency Bagdole Apartments the right contractor is a tough job for Mount View Residency I Harisiddhi Apartments, Duplexes naïve homebuilders. Mount View Residency II Hattiban Apartments “This is where the experts come in,” Comfort Housing Sitapaila Standalone houses says engineer Shrestha, referring to the Sunrise Homes Balkumari Apartments, Duplexes housing companies. Ms. Shrestha, who Civil Homes Bhainsepatti Standalone houses hails from , points to an im- Subha Avas Naya Naikap Duplexes portant benefit of community living. She Oriental Colony Kuleshwore Apartments doesn’t, for example, need to worry Shangrila Villa Gangabu Apartments, Duplexes about burglars breaking into her house Grace Apartments Naxal Apartments when the whole family is away in her Kusunti Housing Kusunti Duplexes native Biratnagar during and . loan has now become as easy as getting a rise Homes’ Neupane. “Professionals, The 12 companies in the Kathmandu bike or car loan. “If you have a stable higher middle-class businessmen, senior market offer a variety of community hous- income, financing through banks is not civil servants, NGO/INGO employees ing apartments, duplexes and indepen- a problem,” says Dilip Neupane, senior and those working abroad.” dent, stand-alone homes. Typically the marketing manager at Sunrise Homes in Then there are also homes and apart- homes can be financed through banks af- Balkumari, Lalitpur. There is a little ments being built for people who already ter a down payment of 20-25 percent. The more to it than that. have one. Grace Apartments in Naxal is price tag for these homes and apartments Not everyone gets a home loan, even designed to cater to the “upper-end” of is tailored to suit the pockets of the with a stable income. “One must have at the market. “Most of our clients are middle-class. Rates start from Rs. 700,000, least Rs. 40,000 monthly income to get a people who already have a home in and a nice two-bedroom flat could cost loan from the banks,” says an employee Kathmandu,” says Prabindra Basnet, about Rs. 2 million. The most expensive at Civil Homes. Many of the new project manager at Grace Apartments. houses cost about Rs. 7 million. projects in Kathmandu do seem to be Fitted with surveillance cameras, Home loan schemes from several designed for people with an upscale-in- videophones and other security para- banks have fueled the boom. Getting the come. “We target four groups,” says Sun- phernalia, Grace Apartments is one of

What can be done in areas like We monitor from time to time to Ason, where there is barely make sure that the companies Buyers Must space for modification? have acted in accordance with the Nothing much can be done at this housing plan approved to them. stage. We can inform the residents We don’t do it alone. We work with Be Careful of the attendant dangers of living the municipalities. We, however, in such an enclosed space in times have the authority to enforce the of calamity. It is too hard now to building codes. attempt any reorganization of the urya Bhakta Sanganchhe, lines. We can only work with existing structures. Private housing companies say Sdeputy director general of them. Municipalities and local the Board is not very coopera- Urban Development institutions must act responsibly. How do you see the emergence tive with them. Board, explains why Kathmandu Why is Kathmandu turning into of private housing companies? We will cooperate with them in has turned into a concrete jungle. a concrete mess? Have they helped in any way in every way we can, but the condi- Kathmandu is littered with ran- urban development? tion is that they must duly fulfill the How do you plan to regulate un- dom constructions. The main rea- Every resident has a role to play in requirements stipulated in the organized construction and ur- son behind it is the lack of urban keeping the city from turning into a building code. ban sprawl in and around infrastructure. People tend to think mess. But prospective buyers Kathmandu? first in terms of land and houses, must be careful that they don’t buy What is the Board doing of its own We have developed building and only when all the housing the right homes from the wrong to promote organized housing? codes to ensure the safety of the constructions are completed do companies. It would be wise to We are developing 13 residen- houses that are being built. We they start to think about commu- ascertain first that the companies tial areas inside Kathmandu cov- monitor the houses to check if nity amenities. Nothing much can ave been duly registered before ering 500 ropanis (37.6 hect- the codes have been complied be done with houses that have buying the homes. ares) of land. We are also mind- with. We are also asking local in- already been built, but if the own- ful that our projects will have stitutions like municipalities to dis- ers want to dismantle and rebuild What are you doing to make enough open space for children courage random constructions. or at least modify their houses, sure housing companies to play. Kathmandu is running out It’s basically up to the local insti- our office will certainly cooperate comply with your building open spaces, which is very un- tutions to enforce such guide- with them. codes? fortunate. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 23

Cover Story

treatment is done on the roof, there won’t be Shridhar Upadhayay, who lives adjacent to the any problem,” says engineer Rajendra Kumar Comfort Housing colony in Sitapaila. “More- Flip Side Shrestha. But you can’t give a 100 percent over they seem to have parties through the guarantee, he insists. whole of the night; the noise of music is un- n People with upscale income maybe living bearable.” n Though community living is being mar- an upscale life inside these fenced colonies, n There are still ambiguities about the legal keted in Kathmandu as a success story, there critics say such projects are unnecessarily di- status and ownership of some of these con- are downsides. Some occupants have com- viding communities between haves and have- dos. Many are nervous about how the infant plained about leaking roofs within days of tak- nots. housing industry would deliver. Officials at the ing over the keys to the houses from the build- n Residents living adjacent to community Urban Development Board say legal compli- ers. Engineers involved in development of housing have complained of noise pollution cations may arise for buyers who have bought community housing point out the reason. “Un- and disturbances. “They have installed a gen- houses without ascertaining whether or not like flat roofs, the sloping roofs designed in erator just next to my house. The noise from the housing companies have been duly regis- such houses often leak. If proper water-proof the generator keeps us awake all night,” says tered.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: nw/DB Grace Apartments, Naxal, the most ambitious housing projects perhaps the Valley’s most (under construction) Kathmandu has ambitious housing project ever seen. There will be an in-house res- taurants, a laundry, a health club, a party hall and more. Company officials admit they are running an overtly upscale project. “We want to set a standard in the housing industry in Nepal,” says Basnet. “This is our flagship project.” If the concept of community living becomes popular, Kathmandu’s ugly sprawl of new homes could grow more slowly. That’s a benefit of the condo life we would all appreciate.

A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES: The Sunrise Homes complex at

nw/SS Balkumari, Lalitpur

nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 25 Politics PEACE OR POLLS?

CPN-UML fears the Deuba government’s rightward tilt but just can’t decide where to go

BY SATISH JUNG SHAHI Raghubir Mahashet, who heads the all possible, he dodged the question, as UML’s election department. “But,” adds would be expected of any election com- HE ELECTION COMMISSION Mahashet, “there is no ground for us to missioner at this difficult juncture. He has been on the hot seat since concretely say that elections will be held merely said, “The updated voter list for TKing Gyanendra sacked Sher within Ekshatthi Saal (by the end of the 2061 Saal will be published by the end of Bahadur Deuba as prime minister in Nepali year, April 2005).” Shrawan (August 17).” October 2002. Deuba’s failure: inability Last week, he represented the UML What followed was far less of a fudge: to hold elections. Bahadur Bhawan in at an all-party meeting at the Election “The parties have to work with a sense of Kantipath, home of the Election Com- Commission, called to listen to the par- solidarity with the Election Commission, mission, is again seeing a flurry of activ- ties’ views on the prospects of elections. and it is also the responsibility of the gov- ity. This comes with the reinstatement Questions regarding election prospects ernment to announce the elections,” he of Deuba, who has been asked again to seemed tricky even to Chief Election said. “We are also meeting with other par- do what he failed to do two years ago: to Commissioner Kesavraj Rajbhandari. ties, including the security forces.” hold elections. On August 5, Rajbhandari invited eight Clearly, the Election Commission is pre- The prime minister has one huge political parties to his office for a “fa- paring itself for polls, come what may. balancing act to perform. His key coali- miliarization” meeting. He was meet- It’s not for the commission to speculate tion partner CPN-UML has said in no ing the party leaders for the first time in whether polls can be held or not: That is uncertain terms that it came to the gov- his official capacity, which came eight a political question that has to be an- ernment to first broker a peace with the months after his appointment. swered by the government in office. Maoists and only then hold elections “Can the elections take place with- More than Prime Minister Deuba, it with the Maoists on board. out the voter list?” he responded rhe- is now the UML that stands on a shaky UML leaders are not mincing words torically when reporters asked him ground. General Secretary Madhav as to where their priorities lie: “We want whether the commission’s district of- Kumar Nepal is on record issuing threats to proceed with the peace talks and in- fices were able to gather and update the of a pullout from the government if dif- clude the Maoists in the elections,” says voter lists. When asked if polls were at ferences with the prime minister con- nw/SS

SHAKY SOLIDARITY: Prime Minister Deuba (right) and Deputy Prime Minister Adhikari

26 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly THOSE WERE THE DAYS: Is the bonhomie being replaced by suspicions? nw/SS

tinue. The PM certainly gives the im- consider withdrawing from the govern- Sahana Pradhan, a standing committee pression that he is more interested in ment. The rationale: The party will member of the UML. “We drew up the polls than peace. completely lose its good will if the Common Minimum Program so that we UML readers are miffed by the state- ceasefire becomes a distant dream and could move forward on a track, but the ments made by the government spokes- the government continues to get parties in government look as if four man and Minister of Information and dragged rightward. “Our top priority horses of a single carriage are trying to Communications Mohammad Mohsin, has always remained a fruitful peace move in different directions.” who said last month that the peace talks, process,” says the UML’s central com- But the prime minister’s colleagues if and when they take place, will have mittee member Subash Nembang. “The have a different take on the story. “The non-negotiable qualifiers: multiparty de- all-party government hasn’t moved in UML is one party that always takes two mocracy and monarchy. This, UML lead- the direction and with the speed the different sides, divides itself into two ers told Nation Weekly, is a breach of party had expected.” factions and ultimately comes out united trust. When the four parties who are cur- Analysts say the discontent in the on issues that are more popular,” says the rently in the government signed the UML rank has deepened with the Deuba aide. Like the aide, many others Common Minimum Program, they government’s reluctance to declare a shrug off the current conflict in the UML made it an open-ended document. The unilateral ceasefire. The UML is insist- as nothing but cleverly orchestrated pres- implicit idea, the leaders say, was to ap- ing on an immediate ceasefire, but Prime sure, more due to populist pressures than proach the negotiations with the Maoists Minister Deuba maintains that a unilat- principled positions. without conditions and gradually nar- eral ceasefire could mean a huge gain for Still, there is no mistaking the anger row down the agenda through mutual the Maoists and that such a ceasefire will within the UML. “Though it is com- agreements over time. collapse over time since the Maoists will mon to wait for the government to com- A UML Standing Committee mem- not be tied up to any commitment. “It plete its 100-day honeymoon period,” ber says that at the committee meeting would be much like the first ceasefire says UML Standing Committee mem- last month, the UML ministers were ac- (in 2001) when Deuba was the prime ber Pradhan, “this government has so far cused of limiting themselves to “passing minister,” says a Deuba aide. failed to provide even a vision of where files” rather than abiding by the mandate UML leaders are getting frustrated it wants to go. The government has no provided by the party and the Common over the fact that their party colleagues in moral standing.” Minimum Program. They are apparently the cabinet don’t seem to be making much The problem is that if the Deuba accused of having fallen well short of pre- headway. “The ministers weren’t sent to government lacks vision, it’s most im- paring grounds for a lasting peace. ride sleek cars and wave flags to fulfill portant coalition partner makes up for Sources within the party say a pow- their own self interests, like the previous the lack by having two. Is it then polls erful UML faction wants the party to Chand and Thapa governments,” says or peace? nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 27 Everest

Mountaineering’s tradi- tions of integrity and trust among elite climbers are threatened by the all-too- WHO’SWHO’S personal dispute over who is the fastest Everest summiteer ONON TOP?TOP? BY JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI

OR MOST PEOPLE CLIMBING Everest is an impossible dream. FEven seasoned mountaineers dance with death when they attempt it. The issue of who has done it fastest has turned two top climbers, once friends, into bitter foes. Pemba Dorjee Sherpa and Lakpa Gyelu Sherpa both claim the record, but allegations of deceit have seriously tarnished the title itself. The controversy has also rocked the small community of top climbers. Mountaineers have traditionally operated on trust and honesty and have been proud of that moral high ground. In the wake of

the feud there are calls for more strin- RACE FOR gent verification mechanisms for record THE SUMMIT attempts to avoid further trouble. Ang Karma Sherpa, general secretary of Nepal Mountaineering Federation and a mem- “Show us the proof,” demands Lakpa. brass flag that I fixed last time [during ber of the probe committee investigat- “Someone who must have seen him atop his record-breaking ascent in 2003], I ing the dispute, says that verification of Everest.” He has a point: there seems to be would have demanded no more proof,” Everest ascents, or of any other high only Pemba’s word to back up his claim. says Lakpa. mountains for that matter, is difficult and “I have all the proof and I have given The rivalry between the two ace even more so for speed climbing. When it to the Ministry [of Tourism],” says climbers surfaced last year during the two top speed climbers are in the fray to Pemba. “I have brought flags from celebrations of the 50th anniversary of claim the same laurel for the same feat, it Everest.” But Lakpa is simply not will- the first ascent of . becomes doubly difficult. ing accept that. “You can buy such flags Pemba had just set a new record with a On May 21 Pemba Dorjee Sherpa in Boudhanath,” he retorts. Although 12-hour-and-45-minute ascent. That stunned everyone by climbing to the top Pemba claimed that he saw a team climb- was broken within three days when of the world in a record-breaking eight ing from the northern side, others say no Lakpa scaled the peak in just 10 hours 56 hours and 10 minutes, beating the pre- one was climbing from the Tibetan side minutes. Pemba then complained to the vious record, held by Lakpa Gyelu on May 21. Even that issue remains to be Ministry of Tourism, asking them to in- Sherpa, by more than two and a half settled. validate Lakpa’s claim and argued that hours. The climb from the 5,300-meter The seven-member committee Lakpa had taken longer than he stated. base camp to the 8,852-meter summit charged with looking into the contro- The Ministry intervened but eventually usually takes about four days. Some versy has two mandates: settle the dis- decided in favor of Lakpa after veteran climbers take weeks. There were some pute and develop guidelines to avoid fu- mountaineer Appa Sherpa testified. raised eyebrows at the time, but offi- ture controversies. There is no fixed stan- Lakpa’s current claim against Pemba cials certified the remarkable achieve- dard for verification. Photographic evi- looks like tit-for-tat, but Lakpa denies ment for the record books. Pemba barely dence, human witnesses, footprints, me- that there is anything personal. “I am not had a chance to celebrate before Lakpa mentos, flags and other items that have competing with Pemba,” says Lakpa. “All filed an application with the Ministry been brought from the top are taken into I am trying to do is to ensure that no one of Tourism questioning Pemba’s word. consideration. “If Pemba had brought the misleads us.”

28 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly nw/SS

other countries norms have been devel- oped to ensure that there are witnesses. Even then there may be no way to verify the testimony. In a bid to verify Pemba’s claim, the probe committee recently wrote to lead- ers of 13 foreign climbing teams. In the letter Ang Karma Sherpa said that the committee had interviewed Nepali guides who were on the mountain dur- ing this time and has collected informa- tion and material evidence relevant to the controversy. “We have felt the infor- mation from the members of expedition teams that were on Mt. Everest for this spring season will also be instrumental in the preparation of the probe committee’s report, which will be pre- sented to the Ministry for a final deci- sion,” he added. Officials say they are waiting for the response from the for- eign climbers. But even before the find- ing is announced, Lakpa has vowed to climb Everest in five hours, without proof, if the committee decides in favor of Pemba.

Many see such attitudes among top mountaineers as a direct fallout of the ex- cessive commercialization of Everest, and the dispute has led to greater skepticism about mountaineering ethics, records and even the value of reaching the top of the world. Cynics point to the recent ava- lanche of Everest summiteers who made it to the top by spending vast sums of money rather than investing a lifetime of effort. Purists lamented the gross disre- spect for mountains, and both Edmund Hillary and Reinhold Messner bemoaned the tourist track to the summit during the golden jubilee celebrations last year. The climb to the top of world has be- The peril is real. More than 180 As the controversy deepens into a come a route for self-promotion too. climbers have died on the mountain major crevasse, the probe committee Both Nepalis and tourists have used suc- since George Mallory and Andrew Irvine will be under pressure to come out cess on Everest to jump from relative tried to summit it in 1924. About 1,300 with a report that not only settles the obscurity to international stardom. There have successfully made it to the top. present dispute but also provides is now an undeclared, cutthroat compe- Despite the odds, wannabe summiteers enough framework to avoid future tition among Sherpa climbers to make a continue to take the risk. But for those controversies in Everest’s name. If they name for themselves, the mountaineer- with bigger ambitions there is another fail, not only Lakpa and Pemba, the ing equivalent of “publish or perish.” danger, the risk of being disputed. Such entire mountaineering community disputes are not unique to Nepal, but in will suffer. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 29 Writing on the Wall THE CURSE OF THE BL

working with variables that cannot be True, as Sachs argues, geography is a BY SWARNIM WAGLÉ measured and tested. These two simple major issue to some countries, especially HESE DAYS, BOTH THE STATE- notions have now spawned a cottage in- landlocked ones like Nepal. Just note run Nepal Television and the pri dustry aimed at answering the following: his claims. i) Of the 35 landlocked coun- Tvate Kantipur Television air if accumulation (human and physical) and tries in the world, the 29 that are out- “people’s views” in their flagship technology drive economic growth, what side Europe are dirt poor, except evening news. On 21 July, supposedly a foster accumulation and technology in the Botswana (well-managed diamond “BP Koirala Memorial Day,” Kantipur first place? In this vein, over the past de- mines) and Belarus (heavy Soviet in- TV asked pedestrians if BP’s protégés cade, some of the best minds in the pro- vestment). ii) The six in Europe are only were making his “sapana saakar.” That this fession have probed the varying influ- technically landlocked, for they are all translation of “dreams fulfilled” has be- ences of “institutions,” “economic inte- well integrated into the European mar- come yawningly boring and vacuous is gration,” and “geography.” Some work in ket and have access to navigable rivers. beyond doubt, but the answer given by this area is fascinating, not least for the iii) Even , the most famous everyone on TV was less dull by only a rigor they have employed for inquiry. For landlocked country, has half its popula- margin: “No. The politicians are not ful- lack of space, I highlight just one strand tion living north of the Alps with ac- filling BP’s dreams,” they said, “the poli- of literature that argues that the role of cess to the Rhine. Some of the poorest ticians are fulfilling their own dreams.” geography is fundamental. There is no countries in Asia are also landlocked: Nepalis, like everyone else, love to hate consensus on this, of course. While the , Bhutan, , politicians for everything that’s awry likes of Jeffrey Sachs argue that it plays a and Nepal. What holds them back? The around us. We wish if only they were huge and direct role, Turkish economists journalistic anger over unhelpful neigh- cleaner and more visionary. Some see the like Dani Rodrik and Daren Acemoglu, bors aside, economists say it is high entire fault in outsiders—the designs of temper the view by saying geography is transport costs that inhibit their ability expansionist India, conspiring Western- important, like trade and economic inte- to engage with the outside world to ers and surplus-extracting capitalists gration, but only to the extent that it indi- trade goods, exchange capital and bor- from the metropolis! Some might even rectly shapes the quality of institutions. row ideas. When this isolation perpetu- blame God for not putting us next to Fin- The new mantra is that all development ates over decades, the outcome is evi- land, Canada or Liechtenstein. Whatever is about institutions. dent. the people’s verdict on the cause of our woes, they span centuries and involve a cast of diverse actors. But the thing with even the most crudely assembled “people’s views” is that some of them rep- resent some of the truth, and open soci- eties are obliged to take note. But do we? Or better still, do they, the economists who have over the past 20 years assumed remarkable ascendancy in Washington and other capitals, shaping policies that in- fluence livelihood choices of millions? In a letter to David Ricardo in 1817, Malthus termed the study of the causes of the wealth and poverty of nations as the “grand object of all inquiries in po- litical economy.” What ails nations that are poor? What did the rich do to be- come rich? Fifty years of mainstream eco- nomics has settled, not too helpfully, for two words: accumulation and technol- ogy. Of course, factors that originate in culture, society, politics and history are important, but most economists avoid

30 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly institutions more or less persisted even tured or processed agricultural exports, after colonial independence, they argue, and we can convert our perceived geo- much of today’s fate can be accounted graphical liability into tourism and wa- LUE SEA by how institutions originated. Colo- ter wealth, and other service-based in- nies like the U.S., Canada, New Zealand dustries. As for institutional quality, it and Australia had settlers adapting Eu- is we who create bad men and bad in- BETTER FUTURE ropean institutions that were conducive stitutions, and as long as we remain But surely, geography is not destiny. Even to wealth creation. In parts where em- democratic, there is hope that we can if it shaped outcomes over the long run, pire builders couldn’t settle en masse contest, choose and improve our ways this doesn’t absolve our politicians of because of disease or heat, like much of and means. Yet, still, some of the handi- their ineptitude. And, if geography is key, sub-Saharan Africa, they set up “extrac- caps are so severe that even with halved how do we explain the dramatic differ- tive” institutions to siphon away the loot. corruption, increased investment, ences in economic progress made by Without reading the authors’ highly ceased violence and better rulers, we South Korea, but not North Korea, and technical papers, these claims sound may never ever be gloriously rich. Even by West Germany but not the East, who naïve, but the message they seek to con- if we start doing many things right from share the same land and climate. The vey is that it is bad institutions run by now on, so as to trigger growth, say, at answer, then, must lie in policies and bad men that affect development. Once rates as miraculous as 8% per annum for institutions that accord varying impor- institutional variables are controlled for, the next 12 years, our per capita income tance to rule of law (including expro- they say, geography’s role in shaping will still be under 500 dollars per year, priation risks and property rights) and outcomes is minimal. one of the world’s poorest. But the credible incentives to create wealth. In a As the Geography-versus-Institu- larger point is this: While we will never recent series of papers from the National tions debate rages on in the ivory tow- become Singapore or Seychelles, we Bureau of Economic Research in Mas- ers of the American East Coast, where can do better than now. With those sachusetts, Acemoglu, Johnson and does this leave a landlocked Nepal? growth rates over the next 12 years, we Robinson employ sophisticated econo- Further, with institutions that are ei- can halve our illiteracy and infant mor- metric work to gain useful policy in- ther non-existent, or worse, resemble tality, better our roads, schools, hospi- sights. Using mortality rates of European what economists call the “extractive” tals and water supply and even afford sailors, bishops and soldiers in the colo- kind, after the Belgian exploits of the nicer parks and libraries. But these nies between the 17th and 19th centuries, Congo, does this then mean we are modest goals will still require they argue that depending on whether doomed? Not quite—we can always Herculean efforts, and looking at where the colonists could settle in their new work around our geographical con- things stand at present, we can only land or not affected the type of institu- straints by making shipping less rel- dream or despair. tions they set up. Since the qua lity of evant through lightweight manufac- THREE CURSES So, next time we blame politicians for not making BP’s dreams “saakar,” neo- classical economists would also have us curse the following three facts. First, for most of the past 200 years, we had insti- tutions and rulers who resembled the Belgians in the Congo. Second, at 61 meters above sea level, the district of Jhapa only narrowly misses a port and a beach. And third, Prithivi Narayan Shah died one year earlier than historically prudent—a year after his death in 1775, Adam Smith published “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations” detailing the virtues of water-carriage, markets and industry. And if Shah had survived Smith’s trea- tise, he wouldn’t have stopped his con- quest in River Teesta. He would have marched all the way to claim the blue seas of Bengal, and we just might have had a different Nepal. Views expressed in this column are personal, and do not necessarily reflect those of institutions the writer is affiliated with. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 31 Business INSURING HEALTH

Only 5 percent of Nepalis have health insurance. Why? Our own investigations found that frauds are easy to pull off—either BY INDRA ADHIKARI (HGIC) Subarna Shrestha says his com- through personal contacts or bribes. A pany has faced high rates of fraud and number of doctors provide receipts NSURGENCY-RELATED RISKS, A attributes them to fake documents claim- without a checkup, and clinics provide new consciousness about personal ants produce. This, he fears, can com- medical bills without the need to actu- Ihealth care, rising medical costs and pletely undermine the expansion of the ally buy the medicines. These docu- the threat of cross-border health haz- fledgling health insurance services in the ments resemble originals and are hard ards, such as SARS, have driven up de- country. Verifying documents can be ex- to distinguish. Investigation of the mand for health insurance in urban parts tremely dicey and complicated, as few documents is further complicated by of the country. clinics, nursing homes and hospitals constant changes of doctors in clinics. Despite the demand, there are few keep a history of the patients. It is also Few Nepalis have personal or family options for personal health insurance, not too difficult to produce false docu- doctors who could provide a single- partly because insurance companies have ments. source paper trail for the insurance become wary of the all-pervasive vio- This substantially increases the risk companies. “We cannot possibly keep lence. More importantly, companies of fraudulent claims during compensa- investigating a single case for months,” who did enter the market say they had a tion. “Few medical records are found in says an executive at an insurance com- high rate of fraudulent claims. Most hospitals when we try to verify the docu- pany. “This will end up costing us have now stopped providing coverage ments,” says Menu Manandhar of the dearly. We have to stop the process athens2004.com to individuals, choosing instead to cover Himalayan General Insurance. somewhere.” groups of clients through packages is- sued to particular organizations that they think are reliable. Insurance companies also avoid nw/SS providing any kind of coverage to resi- dents in areas perceived as “highly af- fected” by the insurgency, and even residents of Kathmandu are not cov- ered for injuries resulting from vio- lence. The argument: The violence is so widespread in the present-day Nepal that issuing coverage for haz- ards related to violence would bleed the companies to death. “We had no claimants for the last two years,” says Karuna Manandhar, manager of United Insurance Com- pany, in reference to fraudulent claims. The company’s packages are designed for large business houses, hotels, INGOs and local staff at diplomatic missions. This is a safe business prac- tice, according to insurance compa- nies. It minimizes risk of fraud, since group insures get their claims inves- tigated before sending them for reim- bursement. Relying on individual insurers for business can be risky, as insurance com- panies have found. General manager of Himalayan General Insurance Company

32 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly The problems have driven most in-

surers out of the business. Last year the nw/SS government announced that civil ser- vants and security personnel would be covered by a health insurance policy. The Rs. 160 million allocation was aimed at providing coverage of up to Rs. 200,000 for the first 200 claimants and Rs. 40,000 for “normal treatment” (routine exami- nations). But the idea just didn’t fly: No insurance company showed any interest in the multi-million-rupee project. “We were absolutely certain that there would be just too many frauds,” says an insur- ance executive. But fraud is not the only reason why health insurance hasn’t really taken off in Nepal. For many people, insurance premiums are unaffordable, even if cov- erage is available: Health insurance is an out-of-reach luxury. Government hos- pitals are the place to go, but only when you are really sick. Trishna Shrestha, a student at Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur, is well aware how health in- surance would make her life easier, but buying a policy is beyond her means.

“My first priority is education. Health insurance would cost me more that I can afford,” she says. Bima Samitee, the government body charged with monitoring insurance ser- vices in the country, does not have records, but the number of Nepalis in- sured for health is below five percent, according to the general manager at Rastriya Bima Sansthan, Khem Prasad Baral. In the , 85 percent of people have health insurance. Company owners themselves con- cede that the premiums are high and most of their clients are covered through company policies. Generally, premium rates for individuals range from Rs. 350 to Rs. 1,750 per annum and Rs. 1,050 to Rs. 5,250 per family. The age limit is 69, and there are sub- stantial exclusions. Anal Gautam, an officer with Micro Enterprises Development Program, looked around for a personal health in- surance policy for years but just could not convince any company to issue him one. “Finally, I was mighty relieved that I was insured through the organization I now work with,” he adds. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 33 Society

lifestyle and its people. Upadhaya, Sushana’s grandfather, says that her par- ents “do not want their children to for- Home Away get their culture.” He himself feels strongly about this for his granddaugh- ter, who was born in the United States. “Our roots are important,” he says, and he wants his granddaughter to know From Home them when she is still young and at an impressionable age.

For Nepalis in the U.S., summer is the best time to come see their friends and families in Nepal. It’s time to leave now.

BY YASHAS VAIDYA now at the end of their summer vaca- tion. To them, Nepal is home away from ight-year-old Sushana Pokhrel is home. They come to meet their fami- sitting on the floor in her lies, ageing parents, old friends or just to EBattisputali residence watching get plain pampered by their grandpar- HBO, just like she would be in her apart- ents. ment in Queens, New York during the For Sushana, it’s all been about being holidays. She is dressed in a black kurta with her grandparents. Her parents, who and sporting a mehendi pattern on her otherwise have been shuttling regularly hand. She picked it up quick enough. to Kathmandu, couldn’t make it this time. She arrived in Kathmandu on July 8 with “She considers Nepal her home,” says her aunt, who had been to New York as her grandfather. Since her arrival in July, well. By her side are her doting grand- Sushana has been visiting her relatives parents. and practicing her Nepali. The other day “She is like any ordinary Nepali kid,” she celebrated her birthday and missed says her grandfather, Mukund Prasad none of the excitement of the parties in Upadhaya, a retired Roads Department New York. engineer. “She spends most of her time Family is probably the strongest at- playing with other children in the fam- traction for non-resident Nepalis. Take, ily.” Meanwhile, Sushana remains for example, Binod Basnet, who is a wrapped up in the movie, betraying no permanent resident of the United hint that she is missing her parents, who States. Basnet, a Certified Public Ac- are in New York. She is content answer- countant, went to the United States in ing simple questions. When asked her 1988. He is now working in an auditing name, she spells it out, to make sure it is firm in Manhattan and has come back taken down right. She is neither outspo- to Nepal after five years. He is here to ken nor shy. In the summer heat, with see his mother, who is 70. These have her long hair let loose, her impassive face been hectic times for Basnet, meeting is a picture of calm. as many friends and relatives as possible. The summer in the Untied States is “There are tons of things to do,” he says the time when schools close for the while relaxing by a pool at the Aroma longest vacation of the year, almost Sports Center in Sanepa. “But it’s pri- three months, from late June to early marily to see my Mum who has not September. This is when most Ameri- been feeling all too well.” And much can students can head out for an ex- like others, he headed out of the United tended visit. Everything has to be fin- States now because it is his daughter’s ished and the travelers must be home summer vacation. well before the new school calendar be- For the likes of Sushana, though, gins in the fall. these short sabbaticals in Nepal don’t This schedule also allows the par- only mean time spent with a large num- ents a deserved annual break from their ber of relatives. It is an opportunity for hectic routines. Many like Sushana, are them to see first-hand Nepal’s culture,

34 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly Basnet wants his five-year-old speak Nepali at home in America as the culture, since they can interact with daughter, Upasana, to know about well,” says Basnet. Upasana is splash- other Nepalis freely without feeling like Nepal and to get to know her relatives ing around the Sanepa pool in her a foreigner, a stranger in the family. With too. It was important to visit Biratnagar black-blue swimsuit. this in mind, Upadhaya has been trying to let her meet her maternal grandpar- Many feel that the hard to teach his granddaughter Nepali. ents. Upsana, like Sushana, was born is an important connection that will “Your Nepali-ness remains until you in the United States and is a U.S. citi- give these kids a speak Nepali,” says Upadhaya. zen. “After two months in Nepal, she is firm grip on Sushana has already picked up a almost always speaking Nepali now. I lot. Though not fluent, she can take that as a bonus, though we mostly still hold her own in a con- versation. Upadhaya is now introducing her to writing the BONDING: Sushana language. with her grandfather Namita Kiran-Thuene, a resident of Boston, came here in May after she gave birth to her second child. For her, a newborn in the United States meant too much of a hassle. She found that a nanny for her new- born was not a big deal here as in the United States. A rolling stone her- self, she thought the best time to hit athe road was while her four-and-a-half-year- old daughter, Carla-Nina, had her sum- mer vacation at school. While most Nepalis from abroad prefer to spend time catching up with their relatives and friends, Kiran-

NOTHING LIKE Thuene’s days are packed with learn- NEPAL: Basnet ing new things. She has been taking always feels lessons on yoga and meditation, sew- welcomed ing and folk dancing. “These are things I have always thought of doing.” Now that she has the time, she is enjoying herself. But she is not too excited about the prospect of visiting Nepal frequently, though she stresses that she has enjoyed her stay every time she’s been here. “Nepalis abroad are so emotionally at- ROLLING STONE: Kiran- tached to Nepal,” she says. “Many of Thuene makes them keep coming back to Nepal ev- most of her ery year.” She wishes that they would stay wherever she happens just as well go out and see the world, to be “Europe and the Alps.” At least the younger Nepalis abroad are doing that, she feels. To others, there’s nothing like home. “You feel great, exhilarated when you’re here,” says Basnet. “I’d love to come here every year, if I only could afford it maybe once every two years.” Going to Europe would cost him just as much. But he still prefers Nepal. “After all, you are always welcome here,” he says with a smile. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 35 Free Hair cutting and counselling Free Mendi painting everyday Free Tattoo painting everyday Fashion Show Yarley Cosmetic Show Free counselling from well known Dieticians Free Stone prescribe from Stone specialist / Astrologer Free NIVEA baby products for your healthy KIDS- (Come with your baby to win NIVEA baby of the day title) TEX. WORLD A mark of high quality

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Opp. N. B. Bank, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 4780395 Through The Looking Glass Talking Conscious Purchasing

In a democracy, citizens cast ballots to elect a government. In a market, consumers cast rupee- votes, which decide whether small farmers, street vendors and kirana pasals have a future in an era of super-marketization.

BY UJOL SHERCHAN tion and its demonstration effects; favor local and indigenous products over imports; and usually buy from upstarts, small vendors or service have been noticing this expat lady buying from this same vendor on providers. Their number is few, but growing. The poor in general are not Ithe footpath of Ekanta Kuna and practicing her Nepali for sometime conscious purchasers because they have little choice but to buy from now. Two for the price of one! She drives a blue-plate car. I wonder the informal sector. A trekker who eats at an eklo bhatti in remote Nepal if she is practicing “conscious purchasing,” out of a desire to help the is not a conscious purchaser, if that is the only eatery along that 10-mile upstart when she could have done her grocery shopping in better places. stretch: He has no choice. A trekker who decides to stay overnight at a I will never know, for I am too shy to ask. However, this best practice roadside inn rather than in a three-star hotel is a conscious purchaser. raises an interesting possibility: spreading disposable income where it Conscious purchasing involves choices, which the relatively affluent have matters more. more of. While consumers are constantly bombarded with reminders of What is “conscious purchasing?” Any of the following or more: a) where to cast their rupee-votes (in conspicuous consumption, of course), buying from upstarts, small vendors or mom-pop shops rather than from very little exists in the way of promoting conscious purchasing or more more upscale or corporate suppliers; b) buying directly from the farmer equitable purchasing. The expat lady, therefore, sets a beautiful counter- or producer; c) buying from stores run by cooperatives that offer em- example. ployment to the disadvantaged and the marginalized (fair trade); and d) Any criticism? Detractors argue that conscious purchasing will only buying environmentally sound products (green movement). The caveat encourage rural-urban migration and blame street vendors for polluting is that conscious purchasing is not always pro-poor and not always and overcrowding public space. Fact is: Rural-urban or urban-urban practical. migration is here to stay. And the detractors are better off going after the Will it contribute to more balanced development? The affluent con- bigger polluting or congesting fish, not the bottom feeders. sumers wield substantial purchasing power. It appears that if they tilt Debunking quality: People tend to associate quality with anything their spending more often toward the urban informal sector—the bread that is neat, clean and standardized, but this is sometimes a fallacy. A and butter of the urban poor, slum dwellers and farmers—then they can case in point: A shiny, beautiful eggplant is more likely to have been create huge impact. In a democracy, citizens cast votes to elect a gov- doused with pesticide than a somewhat shriveled and not so shiny one. ernment. In a market economy, consumers cast rupee-votes, which A worm can always be removed before the vegetable is cooked; pesti- may yet decide whether small farmers, street vendors and kirana pasals cides are harder to remove. Current purchasing ignorance therefore have a future in an era of super-marketization. means that the poor farmer who cannot or does not want to use pesti- Why focus on the urban informal sector? The informal sector offers cide is neglected at the expense of the richer, I-don’t-care-if-you-die-of- one of the best hopes for reducing poverty and hunger as it generates pesticide using farmer who produces for the preferences of the market. employment for both migrants to urban centers and the urban labor What are the costs and benefits? You sacrifice market-dictated quality, force. Its role as an engine of devel- warranties and convenience—things opment is only growing, if the devel- ROADSIDE DHABA: Purchasing you can easily do without often consciously or conveniently? oping world trend is any indication. enough, even if this smacks of irratio- However, our government continues nal behavior—as well as risk being to neglect this sector. Municipalities called a “miser.” But you end up feel- tend to be harsh on street vendors: ing damn good about yourself. Municipality cops going after the Should you practice it? I once per- hapless street vendors is a disturb- suaded my foreign friend to try out ing recurrent sight, even though the tongba. Today he prefers local liquors latter clothe the urban poor better to imports. Try conscious purchasing than anyone else. Moreover, the in- more often, and you may convert formal sector not only subsidizes the for good. The idea is not to do an formal sector, but also plays an im- about turn, but to practice it more portant role in urban waste often. Not because you have to, but materials. because you want to. Go spread a Who are the conscious purchas- little dough! ers? In general, conscious purchas- P.S. In the meantime, I may yet ers detest commercials; avoid muster enough nerve to ask that brands in favor of generic goods, expat lady why she does her grocery frown upon conspicuous consump- shopping on the footpath.

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BY KUNAL LAMA them will be with titles such as “Vatika Fairness Face Pack Miss Beautiful Complex”; “Dabur Lal Toothpaste Miss Beautiful Smile”; “Real Fruit s a slogan, “Miss Nepal 2004” seems to have come a cropper. Juice Miss Natural Talent,” beats me. Besides excelling at badminton, AInstead of shunning Nepal, visitors from all over the world ap- and football. And what is the connection, if I may so rudely pear to be landing at our doorsteps in increasing numbers. Just inquire, between fruit juice and natural talent? (At least the other two sort into the eighth month of this year, tourist arrivals have already recorded of made absolute sense.) Especially since most of them displayed their an increment of 31.8 percent over the same period last year. So a big talent, if reports are to be believed, by either singing or dancing. There “Boo!” to the Japanese Embassy’s travel advisory to their citizens “ to was no mention of drinking fruit juice till knocked out senseless. Perhaps avoid visiting Nepal unless absolutely necessary.” I’m sure the 28 or so Mr. was right in claiming that all the beauty con- Japanese restaurants in the Valley are breathing huge sighs of relief. tests are organized with the vested interest of capitalistic societies! Heaps of over-ripening nattos and gallons of miso soup just idly ferment- Actually, and personally, I rather support these beauty pageants. ing away are just too noxious a thought to contemplate. Thank God, we Forget the endless and pointless debates about “breaking the shackles have been spared this virulent variant of a

biogas attack. And a very low-bowed Arigato nw/SS to all the Japanese tourists, 863 in July alone, for giving us the benefit of the doubt. However, for Dabur Vatika, the official spon- sors, and Hidden Treasure, the organizers, “Miss Nepal 2004” is going swimmingly, so far. Already into its 10th year, this beauty con- test is gathering strength, though still a bit short on stature. Faced with 58 starry-eyed appli- cants this year, they had the challenging task of whittling down the field to 23 finalists though, inexplicably, only 18 are to be featured for the final event. (Maybe the sponsors and the or- ganizers are the only ones adhering to Minis- ter Pant’s radical “lottery” system. If it were left to Lumbini Overseas, all 58, and many more, would have reached the finals. What a show that would have of chauvinism” or “women are not objects and neither are they show- been!) pieces.” If 58 beautiful Nepali girls want to show Nepal and the world Mr. Gajendra Man Rajbhansi, the Managing Director of Hidden Trea- that they are equal to the challenge of balancing a diamantéed-tiara sure, whose joyful dilemma it has been to select young, beautiful and delicately on their intricate hairdos (“De Beers Costume Jewellery Miss intelligent women year after year, states “We all support Miss Nepal Perfect Poise”); neatly side-stepping the trailing folds of their voluminous as concerned citizens to represent Nepal in the international arena.” gowns (“Microsoft Search Engine Miss Nifty Navigator”); smiling and The 18 finalists of this year are young alright; beauty has always been in waving tirelessly to a gaping crowd of shameless oglers (“Association of the eye of the beholder; as for intelligent, now let’s have a quick look. Dance & Cabin Restaurants Miss Unfazed & Unfatigued”); managing not Smiling. Singing. Dancing. Listening to music. Badminton. Basket- to perspire profusely under the intense spotlight (“Rexona Underarm ball. Swimming. Watching football, and bowling (Bowling?). Deodorant Miss Super Cool and Super Dry”); and staying firmly focused When I did a quick search on what these beauty-queens-to-be like to on the welfare of the world and its disadvantaged populace (we know do most or are best at, these activities sprang to the top, before I could these titles), then I say “Go, girls! Go get them! Show them what you are even say “Google.” It seems we have better chances at the Athens made of!” Olympics than at or Miss Asia-Pacific or Miss Earth, what with So a new beauty queen emerges, tearful but triumphant, at the end all the sporting and athletic talents these ladies possess. Of course, the of a gruellingly-stultifying-question-&-answer-round-and-embarrassingly- more mundane interests in children’s welfare, women’s rights, poverty clumsy-song-&-dance-routine session stretched over unendingly stupe- alleviation and social issues were also expressed. How on earth they will fying hours. You have worked hard, and now you have won. Wear your manage to achieve all of these lofty ambitions, encumbered as some of crown lightly oh! Miss Nepal 2004.

40 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly MAITIGHAR, KATHMANDU, NEPAL Ph: 4268898 Profile The Book Seller

BY SATISH JUNG SHAHI WENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD T Nabaraj Bajagain’s story is the stuff movies are made of. A penniless 18-year-old boy comes to Kathmandu from Gorkha, full of

inspiration to make it big some day. He nw/SS struggles into business with help from friends and, a few years later, becomes the owner of one of the country’s major publishing and book distribution houses. Eight years on, the Patali Sadak-based company, Buddha Academic Enterprises, is only one of his many projects. “I feel really odd when someone says I’ve become very successful,” says Bajagain, “In fact, luck has shone since I came to Kathmandu from my village in Marel.” He adds, “It was the first time I ever saw a television set in my life, and life here was fantastic.” Bajagain left for Kathmandu immediately after he completed his SLC exam, without even informing his parents. He sensed the toll educating his elder brothers and sisters had taken on his parents’ limited finances. So it was time to move, to earn his keep. Like a lot of other starry- eyed kids before him, he left his village with vague dreams of a better tomorrow. Once in Kathmandu, a maternal uncle found him a job in a publishing house where he worked up to 17 hours straight and got big orders. He quit after six months when he was not paid a penny. That experience motivated Bajagain to start his own business. He borrowed Rs. 10,000 and signed up partners, including two government employees and the son of a former British Army soldier, who was studying at Hira Ratna Campus, just as Bajagain was. The first book they published was Prem Raj Panta’s “Handbook of Social Science, Research Methodology.” “We sold them directly to customers and displayed them at libraries without middlemen, as we wanted to avoid paying commissions to booksellers,” recalls Bajagain. The book sold 1,200 copies and made Rs. 100,000 for the company. That was just a beginning of Bajagain’s success story.

42 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly “Book distribution at that time in Kathmandu was limited to 12 family-run companies, and they hardly allowed a new entrant in their business,” says Bajagain. “Distributors in India believed no other new Nepali company could do better than those already existing.” Bajagain picked up a little Hindi from Zee TV and went overland to New Delhi with Rs. 2 million of borrowed money to convince the Indian distributors to give him a good price. “Most of the capital required came through a local money lending group of former British Army soldiers’ families in Samakusi at 36 percent interest and 50 percent share in the business,” he adds. His success with the deal was a turning point. Soon Buddha Academic Enterprises would bid for a major World Bank project. His company won a joint bid; Bajagain’s business recorded a turnover of Rs. 34.5 million while the partner company managed only Rs. 1–1.5 million. “The difference soon built great trust with customers, and even the intellectual crowd at Tribhuvan University recognized us, as all the books we sent had our company stamp,” adds Bajagain. From that contract, Bajagain was able to pay off his loans as well as record a profit of nearly Rs. 7 million for each of the partners. His partners went on to other businesses; he decided to try his luck in publishing. “There were only a few Nepali writers, each of whom wrote on 10 different topics,” says Bajagain, “I wanted to change that and focus on specialized writing with quality publishing.” He went directly to well-known university professors to convince them to write. The tactic seems to have paid off. So far he has 65 publications, mostly manage- ment books for Tribhuvan and universities. One well-received project is a book on accountancy for 10+2 students, written by 12 well-known writers. “Another one on economics, written by eight writers, is in the pipeline,” he adds. The thickest book he has published is the 795-page “Accounting for Financial Analysis and Planning,” written by Bijay P. Shrestha, Yamesh M. Singh, Narendra Sharma and Khagendra Ojha and edited by Ramesh Pandey. “I want Nepali books to replace Indian ones,” says Bajagain,

nw/SS “We will compete with quality books written by senior writers and with complete series on a specialized topic.” Bajagain has more than publishing to keep him busy. Inspired by his own travels, he has entered the travel business with ’s Encounters Overland Adventure, and he owns a tuition center, the National Academy for Research and Counseling Center. In recent times, his business skills have been tested with his appointment as exclusive distributor for Samsung products to the Royal Nepal Army and Nepal Police. All this at the age of 25. There’s a world to conquer out there, and at this rate Bajagain might just manage it. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 43 CITY ThisWeek EVENTS ART CHARCOAL EXHIBITIONS DRAWINGS This week The Indigo Gallery will be featuring Youdhisthir Maharjan’s drawings. Embodying his mantra—“patience, innovation and liber- alism,” this exhibition all in all is the artist’s view of life. Maharjan’s charcoal pencil softly outlines forms on textured paper with a de- liberation wed to permanence— charcoal not recognizing the con- cept of mistake. He uses French cartridge paper, charcoal brushes made of bamboo and soft cotton cloth to apply the powder on larger Violin areas and to create extreme soft- ness and fineness. Ranging from beautiful landscapes to frequent Maestro nighttime views of temples and squares—suited to blacks and grays, Maharjan lives the Asian art of inhalation and exhalation. His eyes and hands also grasp the Johar Ali Khan is the son and he has earned a name for him- human spirit, and set it out to pa- disciple of Late Ustad Gohar Ali self worldwide. He also has cre- per like a moth released from a Khan, the violin genius of In- ated innovative and thematic cupped hand. dian music. Belonging to the music with artists and groups of At The Indigo Gallery, Naxal. Open- famous Patiala family known for international repute. ing: 11 a.m. on August 14. Till Au- their musical brilliance, Khan is On the occasion of the 58th In- gust 29. Gallery Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 a graded artist of the All India dependence Day of India, the p.m. For information: 4411724. Radio and TV. He specializes in Indian Embassy is organizing a the systematic elaboration of musical feast featuring this mas- Raag melodies and has an inno- ter violinist. The program will Tibetan Craft vative approach in presenting be held at the Birendra Interna- Taan. He is also well versed in tional Convention Center on Antique and replicate fine exquisite “Raag Dari” (purity of Raga) and August 13 starting from 5:30 Tibetan boxes on display. Susan’s “Tant Kari” (techniques of vio- p.m. Collection, Kathmandu Guest House, lin) on the violin. With his good For passes, contact: The Indian Thamel. Till August 31. For information: hold over Indian classical music, Embassy, Lainchaur, 4410900. 4700632, 9851055435.

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Films @ Lazimpat Gallery Café N N Marg. Everyday. Time: 12-3 Free admission. All profits from O GOI G p.m. For information: 4230890. food and drinks will go to PA Orphanage, Nepal. Executive Lunch Fantastic Fridays Time: 7 p.m. For information: Executive Lunch available A musical night with lip-smack- 4428549. for Rs. 170. At Bhanchha ing food. Jazz and club music by Ghar Restaurant, Kamaladi. various bands. At the Club, August 10: Kill Bill 1 For information: 4225172. Bhatbhateni. Every Friday. Time: Kill Bill is Academy Award win- 7-11 p.m. No Cover Charge. ning writer-director, Quentin vengeance is unclear, but the Summit BBQ Tarantino’s latest venture. The question is, will The Bride com- Barbeque with vegetarian Electronic Open Air Party first part of the two-part movie plete her ultimate goal, to kill Bill? specials. At Summit Hotel. Chill out garden. House, Hard, starts with a bloody massacre at Cast: Uma Thurnam, David Every Friday. For informa- Progressive and Psychedelic a recently retired master assassin’s Carradine, Lucy Liu, Daryl tion: 5521810. Trance with the Funky Buddha (Uma Thurman) wedding day Hannah, Michael Madsen, Psy. Club. At the Funky Bud- by a five-member gang led by Michael Parks, Bo Svenson. Continental dha Bar & Cafe (Old Scores Bar). Bill, her onetime boss and lover. delicacies Every Friday. Time: 7:30 p.m. to But The Bride survives the bru- Cine-Club Chef ’s special. At Keyman 6 a.m. Free Entrance. For infor- tal attack. She wakes up after a Movie: L’627 (1992). At Alliance Royal Saino Resturant, Durbar mation: 4411991. four-year-long coma to wreak Francaise, Tripureshwore. Free vengeance by hunting down the admission. Date: August 15. open to all. For information: Film @ Chautari: Michael killers in Bill’s posse. Time: 2 p.m. For information: 4256239, 4240059. Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. Time: 4241163, 4242832. 3 p.m. August 12: Kill Bill 2 This week at There were five on her list. Now Celebrating 25 years : AUGUST 13 it’s three. O-Ren Ishii and Vernita Choo Choo Train: Kids carni- AUGUST 10 YOUTH DISCUSSION Green were the first to fall. Now val, frolic-filled fun. At Shangri- MANGALBARE DISCUSSION Youth Initiative in collaboration The Bride is out to finish the job la Hotel, Lazimpat. Date: Au- Topic: Legal fight of journalists with Martin Chautari organizes by killing Elle Driver, Budd, and gust 14. For information: against illegal detention. Pun- Youth Discussion Series. Time: last of all, Bill. However, some- 44212999. dits: Vimarjun Acharya, advo- 3 p.m. thing has thrown off her plans a cate and Pradeep Ghimire, bit. Her daughter (whom she was Martin Chautari CEHURDES. Time: 5 p.m. AUGUST 15 pregnant with as she was getting Opens discussions at Martin POLITICAL DISCUSSION married) is still alive. What affect Chautari, Prasuti Griha Marga AUGUST 12 Topic: Dalit Movement in Far- will this have on her quest for 509, Thapathali. Participation is MEDIA DISCUSSION western Region. Pundit: Ganesh Bi.Ka. Time: 3 p.m. HAMI NEPALI HAUN Dunga Daud HAMI NEPALI HAUN Dunga Daud—A Corporate artyNepal.com is the ultimate Challenge, is a downriver raft- Pguide to partying for all party ing challenge between corpo- fanatics. PartyNepal caters to the rate houses from Sundarijal to young generation that is forever look- Gokarna on August 14. Ten to ing for a party. From salsa dances to 15 teams will be competing in techno beats, PartyNepal has done this timed race. The event, pro- it all. Now, PartyNepal has come up moted by the Nepal Tourism with something different. Unlike par- Board, organized by the Nepal ties with young people grooving to River Conservation Trust the latest western music, “Hami (NRCT) and co-organised by Nepali Haun” will be a night to cel- the Nepal Association of Raft- ebrate us being Nepali. With the ing Agents (NARA), is aimed theme, “Proud to be a Nepali,” this at sensitizing the corporate party is organized with the sole pur- Partygoers will be served with local At the Rox Bar, Hyatt Regency. houses to the and also pro- pose of conveying the message that raksi as a welcome drink. Even the Date: August 14. Time: 7 p.m. Tick- viding a welcome break by tak- no matter what we do we are still decor at the Rox will be completely ets: 399 per person, includes ing time to enjoy and celebrate Nepalis. Many Nepali celebrity guests Nepali and Nepali wardrobe is en- welcome drink. For information: the river. For information: will be present during the program. couraged for the night. 9851068871. 4435207. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 45 YourYour MedicalMedical billbill.. PlanPlan ForFor YourYour GoodGood HealthHealth Now.Now.

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published 20 years back,” says Maheshwor Acharya, a bibliophile. Yadhav Dhungana, who heads Sajha Prakashan, the largest publishing house DECLINE IN in the country, also doesn’t think that the readership is on the decline. “The print- run of our titles used to be 1,100 copies, but now that has gone up. BP Koirala’s story collections now have a print run in READING? excess of 3,000 copies,” he says. “The population has grown. The lit- eracy rate has gone up. Schools have started to focus on outside learning as well. It is therefore only natural for the NOTNOT QUITEQUITE readership to rise,” said Madhav Gautam of Himalaya Book Stall, Dillibazaar. “But has it grown at the same rates as population or literacy? Maybe not,” he says. The habit of reading is actually growing in Nepal, but One reason is much better promotion and marketing strategies that book market- ing is still in its are necessary to keep up with demand infancy here. “None of our Ask A. B. Shrestha, BY AJIT BARAL booksellers proprietor of Educa- send their uring a recent NTV interview tional Book Shop at books for with Bijaya Kurmar, essayist Jamal, if reading is on the DKamal Mani Dixit said that the decline in Nepal and he reading habit in Nepal is on the decline. will eagerly point to 9,000 He offered the case of Madan Pursakar copies of Samrat Upadhyay’s Pustakalaya, which remains empty most “Arresting God in Kathmandu” of the time, as evidence. Like Dixit, already sold. “Nine thousand many others believe that television, the isn’t a small number in a tiny Internet, movies and videogames have country like Nepal,” he adds. No, it cut into our reading time. isn’t. But “Arresting God” would prob- Is it actually so? Apparently not. ably have not enjoyed such a large read- None of the booksellers in ership if it hadn’t broken into the hal- Kathmandu we talked to said that Nepali lowed pages of The New York Times readers are moving away from the stores. Review of Books and hadn’t received One bookseller said that if Madan wide attention by the mass media in Pursakar Pustakalaya remains empty most Nepal and the United States. of the time, it is because it limits access “My father wouldn’t have read ‘Ar- and prohibits photocopying materials. resting God in Kathmandu’ if it were He says, “Go to the Nepal-India Cul- tural Center Library and you will know whether book reading is on the increase or not.” The Nepal- India Center’s library may be the busiest in Nepal. On average 160 persons visit the library every day. The library at the British Council is also very popular, despite a Rs. 4,000 annual fee, and the public read- ing room and collection at Keshar Mahal bustles all afternoon. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 47 review,” says Gautam, requesting this re- who are also retailers porter to don’t send their publica- come to his store to get a tions to other bookstores review copy of his latest to avoid competition. publication. Dhungana, It’s been more than the Sajha chief, acknowl- five years since the Na- edges that they don’t send tional Association of books for review. Even Book Publishers and Sell- though reviews are the ers was established to best way for news of new promote Nepali books. books to reach readers, it’s Like so many other orga- still uncommon. nizations, the association In 1978, Sajha pub- is afflicted with the little- lished “The Road to No- work-but-too-much-talk where,” one of the best syndrome. Booksellers books to have come out of complain that it is hardly Nepal. It had a print-run doing much to promote of only 1,100 copies but books. One bookseller hasn’t sold out even after 26 years. That dia campaign to promote books. A hun- went so far as to claim that the organiza- should shame our publishing industry. dred copies of Hillary Clinton’s “Living tion is being used for personal gains, re- “Sajha isn’t concerned about promot- History” got sold from his store alone, ferring to some association members ing and marketing its books,” says Kamal perhaps due to the trickle-down effect who are now on a foreign trip. Prakash Malla, writer and a retired pro- of the media hype in the west over the Weak marketing and shortsightedness fessor of Tribhuvan University. Many book. have dampened the Nepali book mar- other Sajha books are also languishing. “A strong tie-up between publishers ket, but this can be fixed. Cooperation Sajha published Mani Dixit’s novel and the media doesn’t exist in Nepal, as among publishers and booksellers “Come Tomorrow” more than two de- it does in India or in the west, so books backed up by strong promotion cam- cades back; it still hasn’t sold out. But get very little space in Nepali newspa- paigns will fuel the increasing interest 500 copies of the same novel printed by pers,” says writer . in books. People like Dixit are mistaken an Indian publishing house two years ago Nepali publishers seldom organize read- to think that interest in books has sold out quickly. ing sessions and book-talk programs, declined. Quite the contrary, as publish- Education Book Shop’s Shrestha says both time-tested promotional tools. ers of good books who market them well that there is a need for an aggressive me- Booksellers point out that publishers will find out.

48 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly SHANGRILA ad Sports

SavedSaved ByBy TheThe BellBell nw/SS

Athletes and fans got a break last week when the Rana five-hour-long joint meeting, the two and Singh factions patched up their dispute over the Nepal sides came to a consensus for a 37-mem- Olympic Committee. Let’s hope the feud is really over. ber committee. “The ministry ratified it on Monday (August 2),” says Nidhi. “The Nepal needs good, professional sports management. controversy surrounding the Olympic movement in Nepal is all over now,” he adds. “Nepal will participate under one BY SUDESH SHRESTHA professional enough, which keeps in mind the well-being of the athlete who Olympic committee.” arly this year, the thrill of victory are sweating it out on the court,” says Just as earlier, Rana heads the new was tarnished for one Nepali Olympian Sangina Baidya, Nepal’s only committee but the Sports Council mem- Emedal winners at the South Asian medal prospect. “It comes as a breath of ber-secretary, Singh assumes the all-im- Federation (SAF) Games. Standing on fresh air for athletes.” portant position of general secretary. In- the podium should have been the That fresh air seemed to have come siders say this was one of the key stick- highpoint of his life, but the bitter con- out of smoke-filled rooms. It took two ing points during the negotiations. While troversy within the Nepali athletic long meetings on the first two days of neither party would divulge any details, community preyed on his mind. The ath- August to break the ice. “The first meet- sources at the ministry say the Singh fac- lete, an ninth SAF Games medalist in ing lasted for over three hours, and we tion traded formal recognition of the Islamabad, says that “the Nepali contin- convinced the two groups to accept a (NOC) by gent, despite wearing a cloak of unity, re- compromise for a single committee,” the Sports Council for four key posi- mained deeply divided, especially the of- says Minister for Education and Sports tions in the reconvened body. ficials.” He adds, “Naturally the players Bimalendra Nidhi. According to him, Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan, who was were filled with tension and uncertainty.” both parties were asked to propose the general secretary in the past committee, Fortunately, his fellow athletes par- names for the new committee. After a has become the first vice-president. ticipating in the 28th Olympiad in the Siddheshwor Kumar Singh and Mohan Greek capital Athens will be free to com- Rai, both from the Singh faction, share pete without having to face the same psy- the vice-presidency with Dhurba Kumar chological burden. Timilsina and Indra Bahadur Serchan. Thanks to the timely intervention of Purushottam Shrestha is the treasurer. the Ministry of Education and Sports, Both Rana and Singh, who have in- the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC) dulged in the bitter battle of attrition for and the National Sports Council(NSC) over a year, seemed happy that the com- have buried a long-festering feud. On promise was possible at all. “The con- the eve of the Olympics, NOC’s Rumka flict is behind us now,” says Rana. “We’ll Shumsher Rana and NSC’s Kishore work in unison.” Rana says he will now Bahadur Singh have made peace over notify both the International Olympic who gets to control Nepal’s own Olym- Committee and Olympic Council of pic committee. But the peace may have Asia of the amicable settlement to the well come at a high price and could at dispute. And Singh echoes the senti- best be temporary. ments: “Both of us have now The ministry’s compromise was agreed on a common goal, to nw/SS simple enough: bring in all the strive for the development disgruntled members of either of . That I faction on board the reconstituted think is more important NOC. And the result: A jumbo of- than anything else at the ficial contingent will possibly be moment.” Fingers in Athens. “The decision looks Rukma crossed. Shumsher Rana 50 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly

Snapshots BY DHRITI BHATTA

By his own admission, KEDAR BHAKTA MATHEMA is a rolling stone. He has been ambassador to Japan, vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University, a researcher— among other things on why the SLC failure rates are so high. Mathema is in the news again: as the winner of the newly instituted Hem Bahadur Malla Recognition Prize, named after a management executive at Salt Trading Corporation. The award carries a purse of Rs. 100,000 for his excellence in “academic coordination.” What is the rolling stone going Like A to do with the money? You guessed it right. “I will use the money for some educational Rolling Stone purpose,” says Mathema, insisting that the honor was totally unexpected. Waste-free Valley

Meet ASHA KAJI, the newest arrival to the Valley. Askai, as he is popularly known, is an exemplary citizen, intelligent, and always concerned about the environmental hazards. This farmer is on the move to promote waste recycling. “Why throw out waste? Convert it into money,” Askai urges the public. He is the new mascot for a waste-free Kathmandu Valley. Askai was on the run all of last week, meeting citizens in all five municipalities inside the Valley- Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur and . Let’s hope they heed his message.

MALLA’S MIX SINDHU MALLA of “Sasuralima” fame has turned the tables on her fans. After a long list of folk hits, Malla’s debut album “Kaha” is a collection of pop and modern songs. The remixed version of Pradip Rimal’s “Jhaljhali Aakhama” is the prime attraction. But she’s not the one to rest on her laurels. Just a few days after her first release, her second offering “Chitikkai Bhachhu Re,” a collection of Teej songs, also hit the market with a bang. Malla is taking new trails alright, but still continuing what she is best at: the folk songs.

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nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 55 Khula Manch The Taxi Driver

athmandu commuters have put up with much, Kbut the traffic jam on the afternoon of July 29 was a new low. Traffic in Kathmandu came to a complete standstill in a unique protest as taxi drivers, members of the Nepal Drivers’ Union, blocked roads with their vehicles. Commuters, who were stuck for hours in the jam, are still furious. But the drivers are full of nw/SS

praise for the man behind the protests, There are no parking facilities and the There are cases where drivers have been Ganga Ram Khadgi, head of the laws are biased against the taxi driver. jailed for the whole day when their front- union, who highlighted their long- That law makes us constantly report to seat passenger wasn’t wearing a seat belt. standing cause against what they call the authorities even when renewing our We have agreed that the driver’s duty is police atrocities. Khadgi talked to Satish road permit. You have to also remember to make the passenger aware of the Jung Shahi of Nation Weekly about that each driver has to pay at least Rs. 800 seatbelt rule, but he shouldn’t be pun- police behavior towards the drivers, to the taxi owner, whether they earn that ished for the passenger’s wrongdoing. problems within the taxi business and much or not. We have repeatedly asked Regarding the identity card, we weren’t their extreme protest. the Naaptaul Bibhaag to take measures to against the system at all. We only wanted control cheating. Their own people run it to be designed to make it easy for driv- Do the police treat the taxi drivers as most of the taxis, and it is they who are ers to drive different taxis. The present badly as you have been claiming? cheating. There is a mafia running the identity card doesn’t allow that. On po- Definitely. They book us for worse traf- taxi business right from the top. That was lice atrocities, the Valley’s Senior Super- fic offences than we have committed and why we were protesting. intendent of Police Surendra Pal has hand over the chits to us after seizing given his mobile number to contact him our license. We are fined anywhere from But was a chakka jam that paralyzed if such situations arise. He has assured Rs. 200 to Rs. 5,000 for minor offences Kathmandu the right thing to do? that all uniformed policemen unneces- that would be fined Rs. 25. They force It wasn’t our plan at all. Initially we were sarily troubling taxi drivers will be pun- us to bribe them even when we want to only rallying from Sinamangal to ished. A committee has been formed to perform our duties honestly. There are Koteshwore, when police interfered and follow up on all our demands. many cases where drivers have given up their license just because they don’t want We are fined anywhere There are claims that the Maoists have to face the police again. infiltrated Kathmandu as taxi drivers? from Rs. 200 to Rs. That’s not true. We are all laborers. We But the taxi drivers are also cheating 5,000 for minor earn our living by working hard. We honest customers with their doctored honestly hope that peace will prevail meters offences very soon. Many of our taxis have been We have been protesting against these damaged by the Maoists, and violence electronic meters since they were intro- beat up some of our drivers. You have to has put our lives in danger. We do not duced, saying they can be easily doctored. also remember that there are around 2,500 want to associate ourselves with such ac- That is why we want the government to members in our union, and I don’t deny tivities as being carried out by the break the exclusivity of fixing meters and some of them might have been motivated Maoists. allow us to do it ourselves. The present by wrong intentions. The government, meter seals distributed by the govern- on the other hand, knew the repercus- Will you resort to another crippling ment are not strong either, and when they sions the chakka jam could create. They chakka jam again if the demands aren’t break, fingers are pointed at us only. The turned a deaf ear to our demands. But it met? government is equally responsible. was unfortunate the chakka jam took We are well aware that the chakka jam place. can harm the daily lives of the innocent. Will that not mean that you will be play- For us, it was a compulsion. I will have ing both the police and the policed? You also want to remove the rule on to sit with my colleagues and decide how Look, there are a lot of other factors that compulsory seat belts and identity to move ahead if our demands aren’t met. make taxi drivers cheat customers. cards? I will do as they decide.

56 AUGUST 15, 2004 | nation weekly Books Paeans And Platitudes BY AJIT BARAL the world to the theft of ancient Nepali Boo art and has been responsible for the re- ery few biographies have been turn of some prominent items. k written in Nepal, but no one de- After Bangdel’s death in October Mar V served a good one more than Lain 2002, newspaper stories portrayed Singh Bangdel, Nepal’s foremost painter, Bangdel as the central figure in Nepali writer, humanist and art historian. We modernism. The book’s epilogue tack- fter months of training for the 18 Miss should be thankful to Don les but fails to answer the contentious ANepal participants, the curtains have Messerschmidt and Bangdel’s daughter, issue: Was Bangdel really the “father of finally fallen on the Dabur Vatika Miss Nepal Dina Bangdel, for embarking on the long modern Nepali art”? 2004. Those on stage who were beamed and arduous journey of writing the life The ten-page reference section through national television live were se- story of one of Nepal’s most loved per- shows that the biography is written with lected out of total 58 applications in two sonalities. some academic rigor, but it is also riddled different stages. Though Kathmandu still The book is divided into two parts: with shortcomings. Bangdel’s daughter, dominated the demography of the partici- Bangdel’s Life and Bangdel’s Art. Start- Dina, with whom Messerschmidt wrote pants, there were still some from far off as ing from the migration of Bangdel’s the book, doesn’t appear in the biogra- Parbhat, Dhangadi, and Dharan. grandfather to Darjeeling, the writers phy. Nor does Bangdel’s wife, Manu, Nation Weekly met with some of the par- sketch out Bangdel’s childhood, his except for a description of Bangdel’s stay ticipants in the International Club, where schooling and love for drawing. in Paris and London. These omissions they were attending their training since July Bangdel’s travels, first to Calcutta for make the canvas of Bangdel’s life seem 5, to inquire about their reading habits. Here art studies and later to unfinished. The writers is what they had to say: Paris and his associations take what Bangdel says at with eminent people like face value and don’t feel the 1. Sarah Gurung: “Sands of Time” by Sidney Satyajit Ray, Picasso, need to corroborate from Sheldon is her favorite and she is currently Braque, the Indonesian other sources. They say reading “Women on Power.” artist Affandi and BP that many improvements 2. Dhartee Sunwar: “Chicken Soup for the Koirala take up much of took place during his stints Soul: A Christmas Treasury” is her favorite the “Life” section. as chancellor and member and she is currently reading “Harry Potter & Koriala’s comment, of the Royal Nepal Acad- the Goblet of Fire” by J. K. Rowling. “Bangdel-ji, you must emy, but details are con- 3. Shrismita Amatya: “Rage of Angels” by come to Nepal,” and late spicuously absent. Sidney Sheldon is her favorite and is she King Mahendra’s exhorta- One comes across ref- currently reading “Stranger in the Mirror.” tions finally persuaded AGAINST THE CURRENT erences throughout the 4. Shailaja Basnet: “Daddy” by Danielle him to return, uncertainly, (The Life of ) book that suggest that Steele is her favorite and she is currently read- to Kathmandu and led to Author: Don Bangdel was insecure ing “Tell Me Your Dreams” by Sidney Sheldon. his long tenure at the Messerschmidt (with Dina about his Nepali identity. 5. Suzan Gurung: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Royal . Bangdel) Why? Was it a mere figment Coelho is her favorite and she is currently The second part deals Orchid Press (Bangkok) of his imagination, or was reading “Congo” by Michael Crichton. exclusively with Bangdel’s Price: Rs. 850 there something more than 6. Arati Anand: “Muna Madan” by Laxmi work in literature, art and Pages: 236 what met the eye? The Prasad Devkota is her favorite. art history. He was equally writers fail to dig into the 7. Sukriti Baskota: “Mass of Deception” gifted in all three. Bangdel heralded so- psychology of his insecurity. The writ- published by Mills and Boon is her favorite cial realism in Nepali with his novels ers say that Bangdel was disillusioned and she is currently reading “Sands of Time” “Outside the Country,” “Maternal by the deposition of Prime Minister BP by Sidney Sheldon. Home” and “The Cripple’s Friend.” He Koirala, but they fail to explain why he 8. Mahima Bhattachan: “The Diary of Anne translated the world’s greatest short sto- later came to Nepal at the request of the Frank” by Anne Frank is her favorite and she ries for the benefit of Nepali readers, very King who deposed him. There are is currently reading “Chicken Soup for the and he wrote travelogues. He was in the many such issues with the book. Soul.” forefront of the beginnings of Nepali This biography portrays Bangdel as 9. Bimina Ranjit: “Ladies Coupe” by Anita modernism and worked in varied styles if he were cut out in gold. He wasn’t, Nair is her favorite and she is currently read- and forms, greatly influencing the next surely. We need a better-rounded biog- ing “Eleventh Hour.” generation of artists. His research on raphy that brings out other shades of 10. Payal Shakya: “Bend in the Road” by Nepal’s ancient art and architecture is the man, his life and his influence on Nicholas Sparks is her favorite and she is extensive and unsurpassed. The book Nepali art. That would be an interest- currently reading “Harry Potter and the Pris- “Stolen Images of Nepal” helped awaken ing read. oner of Azkaban” by J. K. Rowling. nation weekly | AUGUST 15, 2004 57 Last Word

PIONEER IN The Everest Call NEPALI & NEWARI CUISINE he government is expected to an- ing his sick brother. Messner insists Establised Since 1989 nounce an important verdict any Gunther was swept by an avalanche. Like Tday. It’s been a high-stakes battle: Herzog in the 50s, Messner would be-

EXPLORE 45 Two young Sherpa climbers are fighting come an international celebrity over MINUTES OF it out over who holds the speed climb- time. He now has several firsts to his CULTURE & ing record for Everest. It all began on credit: first to climb Everest without ETHNICITY EVERY May 21 when Pemba Dorjee climbed the oxygen, first to scale all 14 eight- EVENING world’s tallest mountain in a record eight thousanders, first to traverse Antarctica 7:00 PM hours and 10 minutes. And Lakpa Gyelu, without the aid of machines or dogs. ONWARDS whose pervious record had been bettered The accusations against Herzog are by more than two and a half hours, de- as damaging. Very few know that his Bhanchha Ghar For Details: cided to question the claim. climbing partners Louis Lachnenal, 4225172, KEYMAN, 4228723(T), Controversies have always been the Lionel Terray and Gaston Rebuffat were KAMALADI KATHMANDU E-mail: stuff of climbing legends. Mountaineer- far more accomplished climbers than [email protected] ing successes, after all, have launched Herzog, an executive at a rubber com- some extremely successful careers and pany in 1950. In a bid to save their frost- made simple people instant celebrities. bitten team leader Herzog, Terray and Tenzing Norgay, Edmund Hillary, Rebuffat never made it to the summit. Reinhold Messner have now become Worse, before leaving for Nepal, Herzog household names. made all the members of his team sign a But the mother of all climbing con- contract that put a five-year moratorium troversies dates back to 1924. Did George on writing about the Annapurna expedi- Leigh Mallory and his young climbing tion. Herzog’s own “Annapurna,” which partner Andrew Irvine conquer Everest, is laced with all the drama of the 1950 30 years before Tenzing and Hillary did? ascent and sufferings thereafter, became The 1924 Everest expedition has come to a mountaineering classic. It has sold light particularly after 1999 when the more than 11 million copies to date. Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition Herzog has been mayor of Chamonix, discovered Mallory’s body on the North minister of youth and sports in the gov- Face of Everest. Though there are no ernment headed by Charles de Gulle and Nepal's Natural Himalayan splendor, just three hours drive from Kathmandu, at the banks of mighty Bhote Koshi river, clinching evidences to insist that the Brit- the CEO for several companies. It’s only there lies - The Borderland ... A perfect ambience of Nature & Adventure. ons had made it to the summit, research- in recent years people have begun to ers have presented stacks of circumstan- question whether his historic Thamel, Kathmandu, Tel: 4425836, 4700894 Fax: 4435207, [email protected] tial evidence to argue that they had. Annapurna conquest was all that heroic. www.borderlandresorts.com Fresh controversies have erupted Ever since Tenzing Norgay’s success over the achievements of two of the in 1950, the conquest Everest has stirred Pashmina world’s most famous living climbers. the imagination of every single Nepali. MANUFACTURER OF HAND WOVEN PASHMINA GOODS The achievements of Maurice Herzog And to many young Shrepas, the call of and Reinhold Messner could get irrepa- the world’s tallest mountain and the at- rably tarnished over charges of foul play. tendant stardom is too strong to resist. Herzog became a hero in post-war One of them best answered the ques- France after the ascent of Annapurna in tion for us: “It is the recognition that 1950. He was the leader of the first expe- comes with the Everest success,” says Ang dition to scale an “eight-thousander” Karma Sherpa, president of the Nepal (above 8,000 meters). Mountaineering Federation. “It is the ul- Perhaps the most accomplished timate.” Now part of the fact-finding climber of all time, Messner, now 59, team that is looking into the latest began his career in 1970 with the con- Everest controversy, Ang Karma is try- quest of Nanga Parbat. His climbing ing his best to make sure that it remains partner and brother, Gunther died dur- that way. ing the descent down an unexplored route. Other members of the climbing NOW INTRODUCING AN EXCLUSIVE RANGE OF SAREES SHOWROOM: # 351, Third Floor, Bishal Bazar, New Road team are now saying Messner was more tel: 977-1-4242258 | fax: 977-1-4223344, 4435617 concerned about personal glory than sav- [email protected] Akhilesh Upadhyay, Editor

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