Spurious IDs mushroom

ANKIT ADHIKARI

KATHMANDU, SEP 29

Pritam Bhandari, 24, of Tilganga coolly admits that he uses a fake student identity card to get transportation discounts.

As Bhandari has already given the TU Bachelor level third year exam, he is already out of his college. The results of his exams are not out yet but his student ID card has expired. Still, as someone waiting for his results, he feels he is still entitled to a student discount.

“I am still a student, waiting to enroll in a master’s course,” he said. Since student status is determined by valid ID cards, when it came to getting discount on transportation Bhandari had to pay full fare when he travelled around. “So I approached one of my relatives, a librarian in a college and he provided me an ID card valid for three years,” he said.

Unlike Bhandari, Madhu Khadka, 23, of Anamnagar, who also gave TU third year exams this year has not found anyone who would help him get a fake ID card. “I have to travel around four times a day and as I am still unemployed, I can’t afford to pay the transportation fares without a discount.”

As the country’s oldest and largest university, TU delays publication of results by more than six months every academic year, and students are forced to either  pay full fare or get fake IDs. Many  resort to the former.

  “It’s futile to argue with fare collectors in the bus when your ID shows that you are no longer a student,” said Bibek Gurung, a student. “That leaves us little choice but to get a fake one.”

 It is easier to make fake ID cards for those who know how to use photoshop or graphic designing, said Gurung. “Once you have designed a format of any college, you can easily print it,” he giggled. “You can paste any stamp on such ID cards as the conductors only check photographs and expiry date.”  Most of the fare collectors or khalasis are barely literate.

Colleges pass the buck to the university. “As soon as the final exams are over, any person enrolled in the institution ceases to be a student,” said Gopal Chandra Pokhrel, campus Chief of Ratna Rajya College.

“There won’t be any problem if the TU publishes results on time,” Pokhrel added. “If TU delays results for five years, we can’t take responsibility for each student of the college for such a long time. Students are our responsibility only as long as they are under our academic programme.” 

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 30 

ANKIT ADHIKARI & PRAGATI SHAHI

KATHMANDU, SEP 29

Around 1,000 heritage sites across the country dating back to more than 100 years and lying neglected are about to get a facelift as a part of the government’s initiative to assess the status of important monument and archaeological sites.

The Department of Archaeology (DoA) under the Ministry of Culture launched a three-year programme starting from 2008-2009 to list all important ancient monuments and historical sites in 72 districts except the three districts of Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The programme is nearing its end this year, according to DoA officials.

Roughly, more than 5,000 historical and cultural sites, idols, monuments and temples have been identified as both nationally and internationally important sites in the country till date.

Unlike in the past, this time the DoA has attempted to keep records of the monuments representing other ethnic religions beside Hinduism and Buddhism. Though some century-old mosques have been found in different parts of the Tarai, the department states that no church older than 100 years has been found so far in the country.

“This research is also likely to provide some momentum to the abandoned temples and stupas situated in remote districts namely Kalikot, Jumla, Mustang, Darchula, Baitadi, Jajarkot and others,” said Ram Kunwar, an excavation official at the DoA. “The number of temples depict the cultural richness and strength of these areas.”

However, according to Kunwar, though the structure of such temples still seem strong most of these are already abandoned. “No one living in those areas is aware of the historical importance of these temples,” he said. “People have already stopped worshipping at these temples as they lack idols of gods and goddesses.”

“These temples, in some places, have even become shelters for animals,” Kunwar added. “Historically, these temples are even more important as they

have not been repaired after they were established centuries ago. These temples are as they were. So, they depict the original forms of historic art. Temples like Pashupati and Changunarayan in urban areas have already seen renovations.”

The recently identified sites are categorically divided into three groups depending upon their importance — national, regional and local.

Interestingly, the study of DoA shows that the remote villages in the western parts of the country have got more of the monuments compared to the Tarai regions, but are in a sorry state. “There are many archaeological sites in the Tarai and lots of remains of ancient settlements can be found there,” added Kunwar. “However, Tarai areas do not have many  cultural monuments including temples and gumbas depicting aspects of history.” Though the DoA plans to go for immediate renovation of the monuments once the listing completes, it is hampered by meagre budget.

The government provides a yearly budget of Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 million which is not enough for renovating and preserving the temples listed. “Billions of rupees need for the total preservation, but the government is not able to alloacte the money,” said Kunwar.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 30

Valley rides haphazard urbanisation tiger

SEP 28
AMRIT MAN TULADHAR

Urban planning has not been a priority in our country. In foreign countries, infrastructure such as roads, drinking water and other aspects are ensured before a house is built. A house can’t be just built anywhere. There are zoning laws that allow residential places to be built in certain areas. But, it is just the opposite in our case. That’s why Kathmandu Valley has one of the most haphazard urbanization scenarios in the world.

In recent years, there have been attempts by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works to maintain the urbanization of the valley. The municipalities concerned too have conducted various studies in this regard. Unfortunately, these plans are limited to paper only. Among the various types of urban planning techniques, four types have been tried in Kathmandu Valley. First is, site and service, which means the government acquires land and plans it in a way to ensure easy accessibility of roads, drinking water, electricity, drainage and other infrastructure. Kuleshwor and Dallu areas are good examples of this method.

Landfill policy is the second method that has been used in the valley. The government makes land it owns available for settlement. Naya Bazaar and Gongabu areas fall under this type of planning. A similar method is being used in the ongoing planning at Liwali, Bhaktapur.  Service cost Guided Land Development (GLD), the third method, involves planning in the existing settlement. Road extension and interconnection are carried out under this scheme. New Baneshwor, Maharajgunj and Maiti Devi areas have gone through this process. The fourth, and probably the best method in the context of Kathmandu’s planning is the integrated action plan (IAP). It is more beneficial than the other three methods because it involves people’s participation.

People of a certain locality are called for discussion and asked to outline their needs. Planning is done as per the suggestions of the locals.  The IAP has been incorporated in the five-year plan of all the municipalities in Kathmandu Valley.  The main challenge in Kathmandu’s planning is ensuring public support for the project. It is hard to convince the people  as they fear they will lose their valuable land. Some even say it is not their concern whether people have proper access to infrastructure in the city.  Even in the first three methods of planning used in Kathmandu there are certain drawbacks. For instance, the site and service method is very costly for the government. Most of the time, people get compensation for their lost land but they do not get their ancestral land back. The government’s failure to settle the landless now residing along river banks has also exacerbated the valley’s plight.

Another challenge for Kathmandu Valley is that it cannot go through horizontal settlement expansion. It was our vision

to save at least 40 percent greenery in the valley but given the rate of immigration, perhaps the only solution is to stop further fragmentation of agricultural land for urbanization while focusing on high-rise buildings to save space.

(As told to Ankit Adhikari and Prasun Singh)

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 29

PADT move threatens Mrigeshwar, Virupakshe value

ANKIT ADHIKARI & PRAGATI SHAHI

KATHMANDU, SEP 23

Two important idols inside Pashupati area—Mrigeshwar Mahadev and Virupakshe (also known as Kali)—are gradually losing their charm after Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) closed the eastern entrance of Pashupatinath Temple citing security reasons.

Locals and priests say a huge crowd used to visit the “small” temple of the two idols situated in the east side of the main temple. “After Pashupati Area Development Trust closed the eastern entrance last year, the number of people coming to worship these idols is on the decline,” said Badri Adhikari, a priest who has been stationed inside the Pashupati area for the last 15 years.

Earlier, people used to worship Mrigeshwar Mahadev before offering prayers at the main temple, added Adhikari. Around a year ago, the eastern gate of the main temple was closed for a day after the Indian priest (the main priest of Pashupatinath Temple) was beaten up by a group of people demanding appointment of Nepali origin priest.

Priests say the idol of Mrigeshwar Mahadev carries the meaning of Pashupati. “Pashupati actually means the incarnation of lord Mahadev as an animal,” said Adhikari. “The idol of Mrigeshwar Mahadev is the only idol which depicts Mahadev’s incarnation as mirga (deer).”

According to Hindu mythology, Mahadev had chosen the Pashupati area as a hideout to trick his wife, goddess Parvati. It is said that once upon a time when Mahadev was on bad terms with Parvati, he came to live in Mrigasthali in the form of a mirga. Later, when Parvati came to know she also came there in the form of a female mirga to placate her husband and take him back to Kailash Parbat, the house of Mahadev and Parvati.

There is another interesting belief associated with the idol of Virupakshe (Kali). The idol, half of which is already underground, is believed to be gradually sinking underneath the earth. Some Hindus believe that when the idol totally disappears underground, the universe will collapse, marking the beginning of a new era after Kaliyug.  “The idol is not sinking. It is exactly in the same state as it was 15 years ago,” said Adhikari. “However, what is important is the belief and sentiments of people associated with these idols.”

“Pashupati Area Development Trust’s decision to close the eastern entrance has, in a way, played with the sentiments of people who want to worship Mrigeshwar Mahadev and Virupakshe.”  “This place, which once used to be a major attraction of Pashupati, seems overshadowed by the PADT’s irresponsible step. If it was closed on the ground of security, more police personnel should have be deployed instead of closing the gate.”

When asked, PADT treasurer Narottam Vaidhya said the gate will be opened as early as possible.


Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 24

NC convention: A plethora of nominations

ANKIT ADHIKARI & KAMAL DEV BHATTARAI

KATHMANDU, SEP 18

Candidates vying for various posts of the Nepali Congress (NC) filed their nominations on Saturday at the party headquarters in Sanepa, Lalitpur.

Altogether 361 nominations for posts including that of the party president, general secretary and central committee members were registered for the election to be held on Tuesday. Party leaders say the number of candidates has sharply gone up in this 12th General Convention (GC) as compared to GCs in the past. The election is going to be highly inclusive in the NC’s history, given the demographics of the candidates.

While three candidates each are in the fray for the post of party president and general secretary, only two candidates will be vying for the treasurer’s chair. The “third front” led by Bhim Bahadur Tamang failed to nominate a candidate for the treasurer’s post.

Besides the three key posts, 353 candidates are contending for 61 seats in the party’s central committee. Names of 30 Dalits, 40 women, 52 indigenous nationalities, 92 from different zones, 29 Madhesis and 11 Muslims were registered for the central committee posts, while 99 candidates are fighting in the open competition.

Five posts have been separated by the party for the Dalits, Indigenous nationalities and Madhesis, while six seats have been reserved for women and one is secured for a candidate in the muslim quota.

NC acting president Sushil Koirala, senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Bhim Bahadur Tamang are fighting for the president’s chair. Similarly, while Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakashman Singh and Narahari Acharya are contending for the post of general secretary, Chitralekha Yadav and Padam Narayan Chaudhari will be vying for the treasurer’s post.

Established leaders eying reservation Even established figures have filed their nominations from reserved seats.

A total of 25 Central Committee members will be selected through an open competition for which 99 members have filed their candidacy.

Interestingly, only two women—Minister Sujata Koirala and CC member Suprabha Ghimire—have registered their candidacy for the open competition instead of fighting from reserved seats for women.

The number of Dalit candidates has also gone up significantly.



Number of candidates

•    Party President: 3 (1 seat)

•    General Secretary: 3 (1 seat)

•    Treasurer: 2 (1 seat)

•    CC member (Open competition): 99 (25 seats)

•    CC member (14 zones): 92 (14 seats)

•    CC member (Dalit): 25 (3 seats)

•    CC member (Dalit - women) : 5 (2 seats)

•    CC member (Indigeneous nationalities): 37 (3 seats)

•    CC member (Indigeneous nationalities women): 15 (2 seats)

•    CC member (Women): 40 (6 seats)

•    CC member (Madhesi): 23 (3 seats)

•    CC member (Madhesi - women): 6 (2 seats)

•    CC member (Muslim): 11 (1 seat)


Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 19

12th Cong plenum opens amid hoopla

ANKIT ADHIKARI

KATHMANDU, SEP 17

The Nepali Congress’ 12th General Convention, which kicked off at the Capital’s Khulamanch with tens of thousands of participants on Friday, may have bigger political implications soon, but its immediate effect in the City was worth noting on the first day.

As the event drew in thousands from across and beyond the country, hotels in areas adjoining the event venue remained totally booked, traffic in the heart of the Capital went haywire with throngs of youth NC supporters rallying around on motorbikes and cars and along the main roads and at major transactions. The entire atmosphere was peppered red, with star embossed NC flags, shouts of “jaya Nepal” and slogans rending the air.

“Democratic” songs composed about the spirit of socialism played on a high note and stage shows by different cultural groups enhanced the lively mood of the convention. “We have come all the way from Nepalgunj to perform,” said Santosh Raj Paudel, a performer and Convention representative.

“We are performing the traditional Mahakali dance,” said Rakesh Bade, one of the Jhaki members from Bhaktapur. A group of doctors were also seen serving the crowd in cases of minor injuries, diarrhoea, headache and nausea. “We received around 65 patients in the last one hour,” said Dr. Upendra Dhungana near Ratna Park. Apart from leaders and NC cadres, the crowd also turned out to be a boon for street vendors selling water, cucumbers, snacks and peanuts. “We are always on the lookout for such events where we can do some business,” said Maya Tuladhar, who was selling water bottles.

While the big NC event at Khulamanch seemed to mesmerise thousands, some road users were not happy at all. A 19-year-old Subesh KC, hanging onto the door of a bus, grumbled, “Leaders are celebrating their big event and we are the ones who have to suffer all the time.” 

Halal food hue and cry 

Nepali Congress leaders representing the Muslim community on Friday complained that they had been deprived of halal food during the convention. As per Muslim tradition, the community is prohibited from consuming other than halal meat. Criticising the party’s management committee for failing to provide halal, the Muslim representatives even warned they would boycott the food unless separate arrangements were made for them. At least 150 elected Muslim representatives from different parts of the country are attending the convention. When asked, Goma Parajuli Ansari, a candidate for the Central Member, said that the management committee has promised to provide halal food from Saturday morning. (PR)

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 18

All is well for NC show

ANKITADHIKARI

KATHMANDU, SEP 15

The registration for delegates to the Nepali Congress’ 12th General Convention (GC) formally began on Wednesday. The process will last three days and will see 3,300 GC representatives registered, including 42 from the NC committees in foreign countries including Malaysia, Japan, UK, US, Belgium and Germany. This is the first time that representatives from overseas have been given voting rights in the convention.

“We are thrilled at this recognition,” said Ananda Bista, a representative from the US wing of the Nepali Congress.

NC officials hope that the registration process will help in holding the convention smoothly. “This will ensure strong record keeping while making the progress of the convention systematic,” said Laxman Prasad Ghimire, Coordinator of the Internal Management Committee (IMC) formed under the Nepali Congress (NC) General Convention Preparations Committee. “This will also avoid unwanted entry of people in the convention,” he said. Winning-certificates of the local level conventions and two copies of auto-sized photographs of representatives will be required for the registration.

“Each representative needs to pay Rs. 1,000 rupees for the registration,” Ghimire said. The money will go towards the arrangement for food and accommodation for the delegates. “Rooms have been booked in more than 100 lodges and hotels in Thamel, Gaushala, Baghbazar, Sundhara and other areas of the city,” said Bal Bahadur KC of organising committee.

 The total cost of food and lodging for all the representatives is estimated to cost around Rs. 10 to 15 million.  “The party will foot the bill from Thursday evening till the end of the convention,” said KC.


Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 16

Buddhas' abode rues state apathy

ANKIT ADHIKARI & PRAGATI SHAHI
KATHMANDU, SEP 15

The environment around this historic, cultural and religious place is unmistakable. Amid the city’s hustle and bustle, it has maintained its pristine beauty and cultural significance. Thousands of Buddha’s sculptures at Mahabudhha Temple impose a calm and serenity in their own right and draw sizeable number of visitors every day.

At a time when the city seems to be gradually losing its glory in terms of historic art and monuments, six-hundred-year-old Mahabuddha Temple in Lalitpur still stands as a testimony to the history, culture and art that once thrived in the Valley.

The temple houses the images of the Buddha representing three ages—past, present and future. There are images of Dipankara Tathagata facing north and the forthcoming Buddha, Maitriya facing southward in the worship chamber. The image of Shakyamuni Buddha facing eastward is enshrined in the main sanctum. 

Some nine thousand terracotta images of Lord Buddha covering the temple’s outer surface is one of the major assets of the temple. Located some 700 meters south of the Patan Durbar Square, a World Heritage Site, the temple is a popular shrine of Tibetan visitors who call it Sange Tungu in their local dialect.

The temple’s history is even more interesting. According to the locals, the brain behind the construction of this brilliant piece of art was Pandit Abhayaraj, who, however, was not able to complete the work during his lifetime. It took his four successive generations to complete the work. In some ways it may remind foreign visitors of Barcelona’s la Segrada Familia (in Spain), the unfinished work of Gaudi that is underway since 1882 and is not expected to be completed before 2026.

It is said Pandit got the idea while on a pilgrimage to various places including Lumbini, Bodhagaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar. Once during his journey, he dreamt that the Goddess Vidyadhari had directed him to build a temple similar to the one in Kushinagar. Overwhelmed by the intuition, he laid the foundation stone for a temple in 1564 A.D. in his own residential courtyard. After his death his sons and grandsons took over the responsibility. It took 36 years to the master artisans Hakuju the grandson and great grandsons Muniju and Ratna Muni to complete the work.

The 1934 earthquake destroyed the temple badly. However, members of the management committee reconstructed the temple with local resources and Rs. 3,100 fovernemnt loan.

The renovation of this historic temple was carried out four years ago with the locals’ support.

According to Jay Bhai Shakya, who is involved with the Guthi that runs the temple, the Department of Archaeology (DoA) declined to provide money for renovation.

It is high time the concerned authority paid due attention to, at least, maintain the worth and elegance of this cultural artifact that draws more than 100 domestic and foreign tourists every day.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 16

NHRC 'conscience' in doghouse

ANKIT ADHIKARI
KATHMANDU, SEP 13

A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) official, who sought investigation into alleged irregularities in the organisation, has been transferred to its remote branch office in Khotang.

Prem Bahadur Thapa, legal officer at the NHRC central office, had demanded investigation into “a number of irregularities” in the organisation. NHRC Secretary Bishal Khanal said the action was taken after it was proved through internal investigation Thapa had sent an “unnamed email” containing claims of “unfounded” irregularities in the office. Khanal said he would not have been transferred had he made complaints openly.

The transfer decision has landed into controversy as two incumbent NHRC members have disapproved the decision stating Thapa had good intentions and that he should have been “awarded” instead. This has come at a time when the office is abuzz with allegations and counter-allegations of corruption and irregularities committed by some NHRC members and the secretary.

“All I did was I raise my voice against irregularities and sought an investigation,” Thapa said. “Since my transfer, I have not attended office. I would rather resign than take the transfer.”

NHRC Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya said action was taken against Thapa as he couldn’t prove the allegations that he had made. Upadhyaya said Thapa sent an email to the NHRC office on July 17 charging Secretary Khanal and other officials with corruption in the process of buying materials needed for a child care centre under NHRC. “The unnamed letter that was delivered through e-mail was sent under the fake name Hari Sharma,” he said.

However, NHRC member KB Rokaya said he and another member Leela Pathak had sought investigation into the allegation and not into who sent the letter. “We demanded a probe into the allegations. The chairman then assigned the secretary to investigate into the unnamed letter. But, the secretary focused not on allegations but on finding out who sent the letter and when he found out that it was Thapa, he transferred him,” said Rokaya.

“We called a meeting of all five NHRC members and Thapa admitted that he had sent the letter,” said Upadhyaya. “When he was asked if he could prove the allegations he made, he said he couldn’t.” Rokaya and Pathak said they do not concur with the decision to transfer Thapa.

Thapa admits that he raised the issue of corruption, but said he was not behind the unnamed letter.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 14

Golden Temple all set to glitter again -- The Buddha’s idol at the temple was built centuries ago by a 12-year-old as a gift to his mother

ANKIT ADHIKARI & PRAGATI SHAHI
KATHMANDU, SEP 07

Once you get into Patan, also nicknamed the ‘City of Beauty’, artifacts intricately entwined with the life and livelihood of the people here are an obvious sight.

Endowed with culturally and historically world-famous sites including the Patan Durbar Square, the city has everything on offer for those who have taste for an exotic environment. The famous Golden Temple, also known as Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, built by King Bhaskar Dev Verma 200 meters north of the Durbar on the way to Kumbheshwor, adds to the grandeur of the city.

The temple is a three-tier Buddhist monastery adorned with a golden facade, four large gateways, a clock tower and two lion sculptures. The golden images of the Buddha, wall carvings and a prayer wheel inside the temple are famous among both Mahayana and Vajrayana sects of Buddhists, referring to the Shakya and Bajracharya families, respectively, in the Newari system. Famous among Newar Buddhists, the temple equally bears the blend of Hinduism. As legends have it, the idol of Buddha at the temple was built centuries ago by a 12-year-old as a gift to his mother. The beauty of the idol was such that a monk from Tibet could not keep himself from stealing it. As the mother was deeply hurt by this incident, the child made an identical idol, only to be stolen by the gods of heaven, leading to the making of a third idol.

After many years, when the idol was excavated, it is believed the mother’s gift was buried. Queen Pingala of Patan supposedly assisted the excavation and building of the Golden Temple.

The person appointed the main priest in the temple must be below 12. According to the priest, also known as bapacha, the idol of Shakyamuni Buddha worships the major Buddha which is originally located at Swoyambhu. Therefore, an identical Swoyambhunath has been built in front of the idol. Every month, a new priest is appointed. “This is third time I have become the priest of the temple,” said 12-year-old Ujjwal Bajracharya. “I have enjoyed and felt spiritual solace each time I have been here.”

As the local community has started renovating the temple, the historical monument gradually losing beauty a few years earlier could be resurrected. The renovation can also impress a lot of tourists especially at a time when the tourism year is approaching.

Laxmi Bahadur Shakya, coordinator of the Hirnaya Varna Mahavihar Renovation Committee, said the maintenance began in Jan. 2009 with the help of Lalitpur Sub-metropolis Office and was expected to be completed in 2011.

Shakya said the earthquake of 1934 caused an inclination of the temple while the wooden blocks supporting the structure are partially decayed and need replacement. The repair work is said to be taking place after a century. “When we first asked the Department of Archaeology for permission to repair the temple, it was unheeded,” said Shakya. “We are now forced to limit our efforts to replacement of the decayed materials.”

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 8

Cracks in history

ANKIT ADHIKARI

SEP 04

It comes as no surprise to hear Prakash Darnal, an archaeologist with the Department of Archaeology, say that the only monuments that seem to interest renovation projects are those around the three Durbar Squares of Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. After all, dilapidated temples and monuments with moss on the walls and ugly, greyish cracks are not an uncommon sight within the Capital’s lanes. Still, Darnal’s admission comes as a final blow on what was once affectionately called the City of Temples.

Yes, there are renovation projects underway that seek to restore the glory of these cultural relics, but like Darnal says, most of them are restricted to popular tourist sites. And that is where the problem lies: government departments and private organisations working towards renovation tend to ignore lesser-known monuments.

“Many temples and other brilliant masterpieces of history have been abandoned,” Darnal says, “While a few are being preserved, hundreds of other equally-important monuments such as the ghat adjoining Teku and Thapathali, the ghat of Sankhamul, Sundari ghat, the temple of Bhimsen in Gokarna and the idol of Bishnu Bikranta at Tilganga have been neglected.”

Darnal’s list is an off-the-cuff list that does not include many structures that are in dire need of repair. He says a project is initiated only after local communities file an application for the renovation. “Government departments and organisations should be more active in identifying and renovating monuments to solve this problem.”

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) office, under the supervision of the DoA, does renovate historical sites in Kathmandu only after a community files an application. Even then, locals have to bear a portion of the costs. “Locals bear anywhere between 30 to 40 percent of the costs,” says Dipesh Singh, heritage department official at the KMC office. But, “KMC bears the whole cost where local communities are unable to afford the renovations.” Singh gives the example of the undergoing restoration of Naxal Bhagwati, where locals have put in up to 40 percent of the costs.

The three municipalities within the Valley have an annual budget of Rs. 20 to 30 million each earmarked for restoration. Bhaktapur and Patan too involve themselves only after local communities apply for a project, and in both the municipalities, communities have to bear a portion of the costs. “With Nepal Tourism Year 2011 approaching, we have been renovating the major temples surrounding Durbar Square,” says Bindu Prasad Guragain, Chief Executive Officer of Bhaktapur Municipality.

There are private organisations like the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT) that conducts renovation projects, but these are restricted to popular tourist spots as well. “We have been renovating the temples around Mangal Bazaar,” says Raju Roka, KVPT Manager. “Renovations in Sundari Chowk and the water spout of Tusa Hiti are underway under the US$86,000 grant provided by the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservations.” Roka says though they currently only renovate monuments inside Patan, they are looking to restore more across the Valley once they get sufficient funding.

According to social entrepreneur Anil Chitrakar, the popularity of the Durbar Squares is the sole reason why these areas are prioritised. As these areas are also the main sources for revenue collection, organisations focus more on them. “It would be better if the revenue collected from these places could be utilised in the conservation of other areas,” he said. “But factors like corruption and unwillingness to preserve history are gradually degrading our historical identity.”

Darnal believes the lackadaisical approach by the government in recognising monuments of cultural importance has led to the current state of affairs. “Responsible organisations should not wait for applications to conduct renovation projects. At the same time, the government should allocate adequate budget and form strong policies for the restoration of historical sites.”

Chitrakar believes what is needed is a public-private partnership that involves local communities. “A nexus needs to be built among the government bodies and private organisations as well as local communities to run a heritage protection campaign in the Valley. The involvement of the local communities helps ensure that the preservation of such sites is sustainable.”

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 5

Pashupati's Bishnu Bikranta a picture of utter neglect

ANKIT ADHIKARI & PRAGATI SHAHI
KATHMANDU, AUG 31

At a distance of about 300 meters from Gaushala on the Ring Road lies one of Nepal’s important cultural heritage sites. Hidden in the bushes, the site has become a dumping ground and lies inside the premises of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). A drainage runs close-by, adding poignancy to the diminishing beauty of the site where the idol of Bishnu Bikranta is located, in an utterly neglected state.

The idol, considered to be one of the oldest idols found with written inscription, was built by Mandev, the first Lichhavi king, and dates back to the around 1600s. There is significant weathering effect on the idol. So much so that some of the inscription at the bottom of the stone is disfigured beyond recognition. Hardly anybody is visiting the site. Even guides don’t show this site to tourists visiting the Pashupati area.

According to historians, the idol depicts lord Vishnu, also known as Trivikram Vaman. “This idol makes it clear that ancient people followed Baishnav religion,” says historian Prakash Darnal. According to him, this idol also has an important myth associated with it. It is said that when Baliraja, one of the most generous Hindu king, had a reputation by virtue of his generosity that threatened lord Indra’s generousness. Lord Vishnu felt it necessary to protect the glory of Indra. Vishnu thought of an idea and went to Baliraja’s palace in the disguise of Vaman (dwarf) begged with Baliraja to prove an area that could be covered by his legs.

As soon as Baliraja promised to give him what he wanted, Vishnu reincarnated into a humongous size and put his one leg in the sky and the second on earth, covering all the area of universe. Vishnu asked Baliraja where he should keep his third leg. Helpless Baliraja had no option but to tell Vishnu to keep his third leg on his own head. Which led to Baliraja’s death and finally Indra had no challenger.

“The negligence of the concerned authorities has not only diminished the importance of this idol, it has also seriously affected the historical and cultural significance of this important monument,” says historian Darnal. 

PADT treasurer Narottam Vaidhya says the trust is planningto construct a temple at the site encircling the idol.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 1

NHRC commissioner Pathak says she is treated like dirt

ANKIT ADHIKARI

KATHMANDU AUG. 30

 One of the members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has claimed she is “insecure” at the office.

NHRC member Lila Pathak called up the Post on Sunday evening and said she was “intimidated” by around 17 NHRC staffers on Aug. 23 at her office cabin and that she had not been present in the office ever since. She said she has reported the incident to the Home Minister and the Prime Minister demanding security so that she could resume her work.

On the afternoon of Aug. 23, 17 officials of the human rights watchdog including Bed Prasad Bhattarai, Subarna Karmacharya, Achyut Acharya and Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, according to Pathak, stormed into her cabin and intimidated her saying “We don’t want a commissioner like you. We want you to get out of your cabin so that we could padlock it.”

“I had raised my voice against irregularities in provident fund of the NHRC staffers and opposed its decision to raise salary,” said Pathak. “While the salary of the same-level government staffers has not been increased, NHRC can’t hike the pays of its officials on its own. I opposed it saying it was unethical, which made everyone furious.” “While the 17 bullied me for an hour in my office, no one intervened or helped me,” she lamented. “Although I lodged a written complaint with the Chairman, no action has been taken against the culprits. This proves other officials too are involved in the conspiracy to demoralise me, ultimately compelling me to resign. I don’t feel secure in the office that ignored my complaint.”

However, according to NHRC Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya, a probe into the matter is underway. “Complaints of intimidation were filed both by the delegation of 17 officials as well as Pathak,” he said.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- August 31

Aussie pedals globe for Environment

ANKIT ADHIKARI
KATHMANDU, AUG 26

In a bid to tell the world how important our environment is, this man has chosen to be a wanderer for eight long years.

Meet Chris Roach, an Australian who aims to cycle across 100,000 km of the globe to raise awareness about environment among different races in the world.
 

Nepal is the eighth country he is visiting while he wishes to cycle through around 42 more countries. He came to Nepal a week ago after cycling through Tibet. Roach is planning to visit Pokhara during his two-week stay in Nepal, India being his next destination.
 

The 28-year-old environment activist says cycling is synonymous with meditation for him. “My passion for adventure is the main factor that has motivated me to cycle,” he says. “I have not really planned what I am going to do after I return home. Let’s see what sort of human this expedition brings out of myself.”
 

His tour so far to Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Tibet was a “solace” to him. He also had some “bitter experiences” when he had to endure some minor accidents. “Luckily I have not experienced anything very unpleasant till now. Nevertheless, cycling through China’s hills to Tibet was tough.” 
 

“I am ready to face and tackle the challenges that are likely to come my way,” he added. 
 

The journey, according to him, is not just about personal fun.
 

“This expedition is also about raising funds for an Australian human rights organisation called Oxfam international. I am earning one Australian dollar per kilometre.”
 

Having to pay and struggle for visas for some countries, Roach sometimes wonders how the world would have been had there not been anything like national boundaries.
 

Talking about Nepal, Roach said Nepalis are the most cooperative people he ever met. “The people here are so cooperative and the traffic jam here has really amazed me,” he giggled. “Traffic jam has taught me many cycling skills but it’s really amazing to see the cows causing traffic jams.”

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- August 27

Air crash victims hard to identify

ANKIT ADHIKARI
KATHMANDU, AUG 25

The bodies of the three crew members—Captain Laxman Prakash Shah, Co-Pilot Sophia Singh and flight attendant Sarah Sherpa—who were killed in the Makwanpur plane crash, were handed over to their relatives on Wednesday.

Doctors handed over the bodies to the relatives after identification following the examination of their remains. “The rest of the bodies are yet to be identified,” said Dr. Pramod Shrestha, of TU Teaching Hospital.

According to Shrestha, doctors involved in the bodies’ examination are facing difficulty in identifying the dead persons as the bodies have shattered into more than 150 fragments.

“In a discussion with doctors relatives of the deceased could not decide whether the dismembered bodies should be taken abroad for DNA testing,” Dr. Shrestha added. The doctors have also appealed to the police to fetch foreign specialists for the identification process as they failed to complete the task due to lack of forensic technology in the country. According to Pramod Pandey, Marketing Manager of Agni Air, their aircraft took the family members of the deceased to the crash site on Wednesday. “An internal investigation panel is being formed by Agni Air to probe the incident,” said Shrestha.

Meanwhile, officials have said that the official investigation hasn’t started yet. “The investigation will hopefully be start from Thursday,” said Laxman Prasad Sharma, Spokesperson and Joint Secretary of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN).

CAAN formed an investigation committee headed by aviation expert Kumar Prasad Upadhyaya on Tuesday. The members of the committee are Rajan Pokhrel, Rajendra Man Shakya, Suresh Acharya, and Sarada Bhakta Rajbhandari.

Meanwhile, a security team has stepped up search of the remaining parts of the crashed plane. “The team is drying up water in the site and searching for the remaining parts of the plane,” said SP Ram Prasad Shrestha.

Fourteen persons, including three crew members, were killed in the Agni Air plane crash in Makwanpur on Tuesday.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- August 26

New generation and politics don't mix

ANKIT ADHIKARI

KATHMANDU, AUG 23 

As a series of political deadlocks has left Nepali politics bereft of any excitement for even the most politically-savvy, disillusionment among youngsters is at an all-time high.

A recent survey undertaken among youngsters, parents, psychologists and politicians shows that over 65 percent of the youth living in the capital have a “hate-politics” attitude. Experts mourn that this mounting apathy of youth towards politics signals the start of an intellectual crisis that may have repercussions for the nation’s future.
 

Naturally parents are worried about their children’s opinion about politics. “It has become almost a fashion statement to declare their lack of interest or even in extreme cases, hatred,” said Mumaram Adhikari, a father of two boys.  They are not serious about anything of national importance, he lamented. “Who will take the responsibility for the nation if the youth remain unconcerned about politics?” he questioned.
 

Youths from well-to-do families  in Nepal’s cities and towns, who are in their late teens or early 20s and who attend private colleges, are more indifferent to politics than others, said Gagan Thapa, Constitution Assembly (CA) member. “The students in government colleges are more aware of politics because of various students’ unions.” Thapa said the political community should reach out to these groups to engage them constructively in politics.
 

As per the survey, a large number of youth don’t care for politics citing reasons like lack of excitement and glamour in it. “Politics is such a dirty game,” said Ranjan Adhikari, 20, a Hotel Management student at NATHMS College, Kathmandu. “Since it has no glamour in it, it is no good learning about politics.”
 

According to Adhikari, politics is nothing but “legalised robbery”. “Sitting in their chairs, the netas (leaders) get the right to rob the nation,” he added. But Suresh Gautam, 29, Adhikari’s cousin, who is also an English teacher is critical of people who distance themselves from politics without even getting a basic idea about it. “Politics has been misinterpreted by youth,” he said.
 

Psychologists blame political leaders for the increasing disillusionment. Said Ganga Pathak, a senior psychologist, “When a leader becomes unable to live up to the people’s expectations, the consequences are obvious.” She argued that the ongoing gladiatorial politics are having deeply affecting perceptions. Unless politicians become responsible and begin working on their image, a sizeable chunk of today’s youth will be lost.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- August 24