www.fridayweekly.com.np SUBSCRIBER COPY ISSUE 34 | RS. 20 September 16 - 22, 2010 | ef› #!–cflZjg ^, @)^& ������AND MORE ���������������������������������� EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY | EVERY THURSDAY 3 114 107 17 PAGE 3 SPOTLIGHT HALFWAY CONSUME One Question Ruchika Ahmed Hots for Yoga Kool Kitchens Are schools and educational We talk with this bud- Bikram Yoga is in town With international standard institutes responsible for ding artist about her latest and Fr!day lets you try out products readily available, get causing brain drain in the exhibition. the yoga that everybody is set to give your kitchen a country? Fr!day asked around. talking about. ‘cool’ makeover. Bikram YOGA Comes to Kathmandu – Leah Olson rom wall to mirrored wall clearing toxins from the body, Bikram Yoga, which has more in Kathmandu’s Bikram developing muscle tone, pro- than 700 studios scattered around Yoga studio, students moting weight loss and increas- the world, has attained an almost Fare contorted in pretzel- ing flexibility. cult-like following from yogis, like shapes, bent forward, grip- Kathmandu got its own health aficionados and celebrities ping the back of their ankles Bikram Yoga studio 14 months who swear by the health benefits. with their hands. The furnace ago when owner Mohan Sthapit All Bikram Yoga instructors in the room is blasting heat returned to his native Nepal to have trained with Choudhury and the students are dripping open a Bikram branch after liv- himself and are certified to teach with sweat, saturating the tow- ing in San Francisco, California, the yoga series. els that cover their yoga mats for nearly 20 years. The studio, At a recent evening class, below. After two sets of the which is located in Thamel near students filtered into the stu- posture, which is called Ardha OR2K restaurant, offers classes dio, filling the room to its full Chandrasana with Pada Hastasa- in the mornings and evenings. capacity. Like its international na, the students stand up, wipe The trademark 26 posture counterparts, the Kathmandu the perspiration from their series was developed by Indian- Bikram Yoga studio has also brows and relax before enter- born yoga guru Bikram Choud- gained a steady following of Hackett Jolinda demonstration by: Posture ing into the next pose. hury in the early 1970s. Choud- both locals and foreigners. Bikram Yoga involves 26 hury’s yoga has continued to “We have a great group of postures including two breath- gain international popularity students here,” said Jolinda ing exercises and is practiced due to the intense, sweat-fueled Hackett, a visiting Bikram Yoga for 90 minutes in a room heated workout that’s said to vastly instructor from the United to 41ºC. Performing the yoga improve overall health and States. “People here love it and posture series in the extreme well-being and reduce the risk everyone is so enthusiastic.” ! Learn more at: www.bikramyoganepal.com ECS Media heat is said to be beneficial in of injury from other sports. turn to page 10 for more of it! Give Life Rivers of The what’s An evening of Pilgrim- Enigma on good music, age He uses coffee, fun and great A photogra- oil, salt and the people. Be a phy exhibition likes to make things to do part of this by Nepali his paintings. event and sup- and Indian photojournalists aims to Intrigued? Then port a worthy shed light on the religious and cultural don’t miss this cause. importance of sacred rivers in our lives. exhibition. this week page 8 18 September (Saturday), 4 pm 17 September (Friday), 4:30 pm 17 September (Friday) 2 page3 Issue 34 September 16 -22, 2010 Fr!day one question By encouraging students to go abroad, are schools, colleges and educational institutes promoting brain drain? With schools and educational institutes giving so much emphasis on studying abroad, is it possible that students are making their decisions on the basis of what these institutions say? And to what extent does this contribute to brain drain? Fr!day finds out. — Suyasha Sitaula and Shreeya Joshi NARAYAN PRASAD SUPRIYA TULADHAR SHARMA VJ, Image Channel Principal, Budhanilkantha School Encouraging students to study I do not think schools and colleges are abroad doesn’t necessarily cause responsible for this. The government ROHIT SAIJU brain drain. However, most people should have necessary policies in place coming from a less developed Consultant Eye Surgeon to ensure that the students come back country who go abroad for studies to their country. We, at Budhanilkantha tend to stay back and work, and not i don’t think there is a problem of School, educate our students to stay return home. Brain drain is usually brain drain actually. When students and work for the country itself. As far prevalent among middle-class Nepali go abroad to study, they will ‘grow’ as adopting international curriculum and families where parents cannot and learn more. and i’m sure they will preparing students for studying abroad is assure their kids a job when they come back when their country is in concerned, we have to prepare the stu- return. Most kids from well-off families do come back after studies as need of them. it’s more of a situation dents to compete internationally. Study- they already have a job lined up for them by their parents. Middle-class of brain circulation that’s going on, not ing abroad is good. It is just that we have families are, therefore, more prone to brain drain than upper-class ones. brain drain. to make sure the students come back. SUBASH GAUCHAN RABI KARMACHARYA SELENA MALLA SIDDHI Business Head of PAC Asia Executive Director, OLE Nepal Educational Advisor, USEF-Nepal No. it’s not only the educational institu- i don’t think it’s fair to hold one institution I think that, ultimately, it’s up to the tions’ fault that students are leaving the responsible for the growing tendency of bright students to determine whether study- country for further studies. The situation young minds going abroad and not returning. ing abroad is appropriate for them, to in the country itself is such that parents We should consider it a national pride when determine their futures, and to deter- want their children to go abroad to our students gain admission to renowned in- mine how to contribute to their home study, and even students themselves stitutes overseas. The ‘drain’ takes place when countries after completion of their want this. If there was stability on the a high percentage chooses not to return after studies. I feel that higher education – political front, then maybe they would graduation. Most blame lack of opportunities whether completed abroad or at home want to study here. Students have to and appreciation in Nepal for their hard- – often empowers students to make think about their own education first earned skills and knowledge. If we are to reverse this trend, we should valuable contributions to their home and, right now, going abroad seems to be encourage them to rise up to the challenge of using their education, expe- countries. the best option. rience and exposure to create opportunities instead of waiting for one. page3 make your statement talk of the town “ninety-five percent of all the events in Kathmandu are organized for charity. As a human, as a nation, we should all work to- wards any cause and fully support them.” NITESH LINKHA RAI, Band Manager, Albatross, on why he is supporting the ‘give Life blood’ initiative. “we’re doing our best to recruit participants who are willing to donate their blood.” SUBODH DAS SHRESTHA, Joint Secretary General, ANBUG, on how ANBUG is supporting the ‘give Life blood’ initiative hall of frame “We hope that our fans will also be The Celebration big-hearted enough to support this NIC Bank celebrated its 12th year in business. The mega cause and give their blood to save a life.” event at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza saw sharp-suited head honchos turn up for the event. Some glimpses. SHIRISH DALI, Vocalist, Albatross, on what he and his band hope to bring to the ‘give Life blood’ initiative. “through the ‘give Life blood’ initiative, we can now ask people to donate blood in case of an emergency by sending sms’s; ensuring that we never run out of it. This I think is quite extraordinary. ” DR. MANITA RAJKARNIKAR, Executive Director, NRCS Central Blood Transfusion Service, on the importance of this event to the Blood Bank. “this event is interesting because it brings together passionate people – passionate about the Beetle car (ANBUG), passionate about music (Albatross) and passionate about selling branded cars (Chevrolet) for a noble cause, and proves that we can all find a common ground for an important social cause.” STUTI BASNYET K.C., Communication and Outreach Specialist, USAID, on reasons why she would be participating in the ‘give Life blood’ campaign. 4 feature Issue 34 September 16 -22, 2010 Fr!day enturing to decipher an As a Nepali woman artist, are many artists working with artistic endeavor is often what are your experiences and contemporary medium, which is a labor of understand- observations? very good for the development of ing. I saw Ruchika K.C. V Women are, by nature, capable art here. Ahmed’s first solo exhibition, ‘Men of multi-tasking. Today’s wom- “Art is fundamentally an ex- of God’, at the KCAC with renewed en are doing everything that is pression of what the artist feels vigor – a love of aesthetics and cre- spot light humanly possible. I have a two- and wants to convey.” The no- ativity comes naturally to many year-old daughter, and I would tion of ‘being’, unfettered by people.