One Nepali babu loves Rani. so they marry very soon. Rani says-"she Nepali people and she love Nepali babu".
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Rani Loves Nepali Babu
One Nepali babu loves Rani. so they marry very soon. Rani says-"she Nepali people and she love Nepali babu".
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Janamorcha enforces Far West banda
KATHMANDU, JAN 05 - Life was affected in the Far Western region on Tuesday due to banda enforced by Rastriya Janamorcha Party (RJP) against federalism.
RJP activists staged demonstrations in the headquarters of all nine districts, including Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Doti against the federal structure stipulated in the Interim Constitution. Transportation, marketplaces and academic institutions remained closed due to the strike. Party supporters from rural areas had congregated in the headquarters of nine districts to participate in protests.
The underwhelming idiots
KATHMANDU, JAN 05 - Take an engineering genius who thinks students should be ‘educated’ and not taught, a neurotic dean who believes his 32 years of experience in teaching leaves nothing for him to learn, and an inspiring story of ‘fighting against the system’, and you get 3 Idiots, a supposed-adaptation of the book Five Point Someone that is going to leave expectant moviegoers underwhelmed.3 Idiots begins much the same way Five Point Someone does: by showing the ragging that goes on at even India’s most prestigious colleges. The protagonist, Aamir Khan in the movie, enters by defeating the abusers and standing up for fellow new students. Rancho (Aamir Khan), Farhan (R Mahadevan), and Raju (Sharman Joshi) are new students at the elite Imperial College of Engineering, among the 200 chosen from the 400,000 applicants. While Farhan and Raju intend to spend the four years in college like everyone else, Rancho plans to do things differently. He is an antithesis to the bookish knowledge-driven system, and argues, rather unsuccessfully with his dean, that the college should teach more practical knowledge to the students.
Then follows the rather lengthy Harry Potter-esque exploits by Raju and his friends: taunting the faculty without regards to the consequence, asking questions which would be easily answered in real life, but stump the professors in the movie and win cheers from classmates, and stealing exam papers from the Dean’s office. Despite some interesting sub-plots and story arcs, anyone who has watched the Munnabhai films or read Five Point Someone is going to be disappointed by the antics, and feel that justice has not been done to the book. Several scenes are straight out of the book, even though director Raj Kumar Hirani claims only five percent of the film is based on the book and refuses to give credit to its author, Chetan Bhagat. The three main characters in the film are indistinguishable from the book’s main protagonists, and other major characters — including the dean — clearly been derived from the book
Fortunately, the cast has done a commendable job of bringing an otherwise mediocre story to life. Boman Irani, named Virus by his students, is eerily convincing as an experienced teacher who, after bringing out generations of students, is convinced that he is rarely wrong. Mahadevan, and Joshi very accurately portray the friends of Rancho, a genius who tops his exams without studying. Aamir Khan, though, needs to look for more challenging and diverse roles, and quit taking a role just because it gives him the opportunity to become the ‘cool dude’.
The combination of Khan, and Rajkumar Hirani of Munnabhai fame, should have produced a historical film. Add to that the story of Bhagat’s bestselling novel, and the film should have been a trend-setter, creating new genre by itself, paving way for experimentation, and encouraging more movie adaptation of books in Bollywood. Something has gone wrong, because 3 Idiots is irritatingly moralising, and has a jaded story and plot worthy only of Ekta Kapoor. Despite all this, the film must be given credit for being inspirational and it does have fantastic songs and music. The biggest loser in all this is Bhagat himself, who has not only not been given credit, but also has lost any possibility of creating a true film adaptation of his novel.
Despite its weaknesses, the film has sold well, breaking several records, thanks to Hirani’s and Khan’s past records, and the presence of actors like Irani, Mahadevan, and Kareena Kapoor. Khan and Hirani, though, have squandered their reputation, and moviegoers are bound to think more than once before watching their upcoming works. This film shows when given enough time and money, even Aamir Khan can lose his ‘cool’ image—he would do well if he tried to entertain more, rather than force-feed unsubtle social messages. The characters in the film turn out not to be idiots after all, but looking at the mess they have created in the process, Khan and Hirani could very well be.
Tax holiday over for former king Gyanendra
KATHMANDU, JAN 05 - The government has rejected former king Gyanendra Shah’s plea for tax waiver on his personal and family property, including utility bills. A meeting of the Cabinet committee on bills on Tuesday decided to ask the former king to clear all outstanding dues since being deposed after the Constituent Assembly election in 2008. As per the latest decision, he will also have to pay electricity, telephone and water bills.
“Now he is a common citizen and will have to pay all taxes as other citizens,” said Minister for Law and Justice Prem Bahadur Singh. The former king had written to the Finance Ministry in August 2009 requesting tax waiver. He had also sought details of unpaid taxes and bills after the country turned into a republic.
According to sources, outstanding dues and tax liabilities will cost the former monarch a whopping Rs. 200 million. Before the republic, the then palace had enjoyed a complete tax holiday. The former king was interested in paying taxes after Nepal turned into a republic. “The decision brings him and his family under the tax net. He has to pay taxes and related liabilities after May, 8, 2008. The government will collect taxes and tariffs as he has become a common citizen,” said Singh.
The meeting also endorsed the bill related to arbitration that mostly encourages reconciliation between two parties in a single case.
As the government has motivated people to opt for mediation rather than go to higher courts if a case involving them does not receive the desired verdict. Though the programme was launched across the country, a proper law was lacking.
According to Minister Singh, a writ petition can be lodged in all 75 district courts following the bill’s endorsement
“Now he is a common citizen and will have to pay all taxes as other citizens,” said Minister for Law and Justice Prem Bahadur Singh. The former king had written to the Finance Ministry in August 2009 requesting tax waiver. He had also sought details of unpaid taxes and bills after the country turned into a republic.
According to sources, outstanding dues and tax liabilities will cost the former monarch a whopping Rs. 200 million. Before the republic, the then palace had enjoyed a complete tax holiday. The former king was interested in paying taxes after Nepal turned into a republic. “The decision brings him and his family under the tax net. He has to pay taxes and related liabilities after May, 8, 2008. The government will collect taxes and tariffs as he has become a common citizen,” said Singh.
The meeting also endorsed the bill related to arbitration that mostly encourages reconciliation between two parties in a single case.
As the government has motivated people to opt for mediation rather than go to higher courts if a case involving them does not receive the desired verdict. Though the programme was launched across the country, a proper law was lacking.
According to Minister Singh, a writ petition can be lodged in all 75 district courts following the bill’s endorsement
The old man and the Nobel
The historical developments of the past few weeks, it seems to me, have been arising out of serendipity. Among the important events were the Maoist decision to end the obstruction of the Constituent Assembly (CA) proceedings, and the decision of Nepali Congress (NC) to prepare a five-page-long resume of the party president, the 86-year old Girija Prasad Koirala alias Girijababu, following the Cabinet decision to recommend his name for Nobel Peace Prize. The NC central body must have constituted a committee of people whose political understanding is good and who can write well because that resume was being prepared for international consumption. As a student of textual pragmatics I got mighty interested in this minuscule project of the grand old democratic party. The first page of the resume, apparently, will mention birth dates, etc while the remaining four pages will describe the grand narrative of Girijababu’s epic battle to establish democracy in this land. What a project! Tears could have come to my eyes after reading this news. But I controlled my emotions.
But soon, a feeling of shock overtook my ecstasy. I was surprised that this grand old party should make it appear as though writing resume of their octogenarian leader was their first historical engagement. Questions coursed through my mind. Why hadn’t the NC or Girijababu’s family circle ever drafted a resume of this man for so long? Does the party think ‘five pages’ will be enough to write the grand history of this man? Did they have to wake up only after a jumbo size coalition Cabinet passed the noble resolution of Nobel Peace Prize for Girijababu? I spoke to some senior NC leaders about it. One somewhat inebriated leader said that this was a routine affair. In that response, I got no hint of Girijababu’s epic battle appearing anywhere in the resume. I secretly wished I had gone to Prachanda instead, asked him if he would mind writing the resume of Girijababu in ‘five pages,’ and read his spontaneous response. I have the following reasons for my interest in Girijababu’s resume.
Spontaneity or compulsions aside, the decision of NC top-brass is important for a few reasons. Their total endorsement of the Cabinet’s decision is interesting. This decision must have given the NC CWC an occasion to think of this old man with a modicum of respect after a season of discontent. The CWC, it seems to me, almost despises Girijababu for the peccadillo of making his daughter Sujata Koirala the deputy prime minister. She is an interesting lady who works without much plan and without commitments and ideologies. She creates small storms that easily pass over the political landscape without ripping off the roofs of hamlets. Her recent statement against the country going federal is an interesting dramatic burlesque.
The discontent of NC top-brass with Girijababu goes deeper. First, as the famous Bertrand Russell would say, it is the lust for power. The position taken by Sujata, it later appeared, was coveted by some seniors. When the country needed much more serious discussions about resolving deadlocks and making the constitution, the NC spent its salacious energy on Sujata. They also coined a Freudian Sanskrit terminology putrimoha (too much love for daughter) to critique Girijababu. The male-dominated party leaders glibly used sexist and politically incorrect language.
Secondly, the ‘winter of discontent’ opens up other caveats. Girijababu’s candid conversations with Prachanda show statesmanship. Every time he meets Prachanda it seems the political impasse moves a few inches closer to solution. The recent series of meetings between Prachanda and Girijababu made NC CWC suspicious and angry. The lessons of history cannot be learned by confusing its characters. A frank assessment of the history of past four years shows that Girijababu and Prachanda played crucial roles in the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on Nov. 21, 2006. Other leaders played important roles, too. But these two politicians, as the recent discontents within their respective parties retroactively show, must have struggled hard to convince party comrades.
The Cabinet decision to nominate Grijababu is a symbolic act of recognition. My questions to NC are: By accepting the Cabinet decision, have you accepted the historical fact that Girijababu and Prachanda had played very important parts in the peace process? Did the peace process this old man made possible result solely form NC policies or was it the result of the colossal success achieved in bringing one of the strongest guerrilla forces in the world out of the jungle to the conference table and then to the parliament? If you accept the latter, why grill Girijababu every time he meets Maoist leaders to broker peace? What would be the content of the grand four pages in your resume? Why has NC written nothing about this man’s long struggle for freedom and democracy so far? Why did you have to wait for the decision of an uneasy Cabinet to recognise Girijababu’s contribution in the twilight of history to write a few pages about his long history of struggles and successes?
Clearly, by nominating Girijababu for Nobel Peace Prize, the political alliance running the government has brought to the fore the contradictions of their understanding of history. They reject the very basis of Girijababu’s success in bringing peace but accept that he played the most crucial role in this process. NC leaders are openly expressing their ambivalence and their misreading of history and harshly critique Girijababu for bringing the Maoists in. That is a very naïve reading of history. Girijababu did not bring the Maoists in. It was an agreement between powerful forces in the country; Girijababu understood that correctly and tried hard to bring the warring parties together. Prachanda and his comrades recognise Girijababu’s contribution better than NC stalwarts, according to my understanding. I asked some Maoist leaders, would they rather nominate Prachanda for Nobel? They said recognising Girijababu’s contribution would be akin to honouring Prachanda’s contribution. And they were happy. I guess that is a more correct reading of history.
A few more questions are in order. Why does the Cabinet make it the responsibility of the NC to draft a resume of Girijababu? Is the nomination of NC president for the prize yet another gesture of coalition politics rather than a call of the nation? Otherwise, why could not the Cabinet request historians like Triratna Manandhar and Pratyoush Onta to write a short booklet about Girijababu’s role in history highlighting why he deserves this honour instead of throwing it to the court of discontented NC leaders who are analysing Girijababu’s psychological complexes more than his political achievements?
Your first step is correct, but what lessons you have learned from Girijababu’s epic battle is what matters more.
But soon, a feeling of shock overtook my ecstasy. I was surprised that this grand old party should make it appear as though writing resume of their octogenarian leader was their first historical engagement. Questions coursed through my mind. Why hadn’t the NC or Girijababu’s family circle ever drafted a resume of this man for so long? Does the party think ‘five pages’ will be enough to write the grand history of this man? Did they have to wake up only after a jumbo size coalition Cabinet passed the noble resolution of Nobel Peace Prize for Girijababu? I spoke to some senior NC leaders about it. One somewhat inebriated leader said that this was a routine affair. In that response, I got no hint of Girijababu’s epic battle appearing anywhere in the resume. I secretly wished I had gone to Prachanda instead, asked him if he would mind writing the resume of Girijababu in ‘five pages,’ and read his spontaneous response. I have the following reasons for my interest in Girijababu’s resume.
Spontaneity or compulsions aside, the decision of NC top-brass is important for a few reasons. Their total endorsement of the Cabinet’s decision is interesting. This decision must have given the NC CWC an occasion to think of this old man with a modicum of respect after a season of discontent. The CWC, it seems to me, almost despises Girijababu for the peccadillo of making his daughter Sujata Koirala the deputy prime minister. She is an interesting lady who works without much plan and without commitments and ideologies. She creates small storms that easily pass over the political landscape without ripping off the roofs of hamlets. Her recent statement against the country going federal is an interesting dramatic burlesque.
The discontent of NC top-brass with Girijababu goes deeper. First, as the famous Bertrand Russell would say, it is the lust for power. The position taken by Sujata, it later appeared, was coveted by some seniors. When the country needed much more serious discussions about resolving deadlocks and making the constitution, the NC spent its salacious energy on Sujata. They also coined a Freudian Sanskrit terminology putrimoha (too much love for daughter) to critique Girijababu. The male-dominated party leaders glibly used sexist and politically incorrect language.
Secondly, the ‘winter of discontent’ opens up other caveats. Girijababu’s candid conversations with Prachanda show statesmanship. Every time he meets Prachanda it seems the political impasse moves a few inches closer to solution. The recent series of meetings between Prachanda and Girijababu made NC CWC suspicious and angry. The lessons of history cannot be learned by confusing its characters. A frank assessment of the history of past four years shows that Girijababu and Prachanda played crucial roles in the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on Nov. 21, 2006. Other leaders played important roles, too. But these two politicians, as the recent discontents within their respective parties retroactively show, must have struggled hard to convince party comrades.
The Cabinet decision to nominate Grijababu is a symbolic act of recognition. My questions to NC are: By accepting the Cabinet decision, have you accepted the historical fact that Girijababu and Prachanda had played very important parts in the peace process? Did the peace process this old man made possible result solely form NC policies or was it the result of the colossal success achieved in bringing one of the strongest guerrilla forces in the world out of the jungle to the conference table and then to the parliament? If you accept the latter, why grill Girijababu every time he meets Maoist leaders to broker peace? What would be the content of the grand four pages in your resume? Why has NC written nothing about this man’s long struggle for freedom and democracy so far? Why did you have to wait for the decision of an uneasy Cabinet to recognise Girijababu’s contribution in the twilight of history to write a few pages about his long history of struggles and successes?
Clearly, by nominating Girijababu for Nobel Peace Prize, the political alliance running the government has brought to the fore the contradictions of their understanding of history. They reject the very basis of Girijababu’s success in bringing peace but accept that he played the most crucial role in this process. NC leaders are openly expressing their ambivalence and their misreading of history and harshly critique Girijababu for bringing the Maoists in. That is a very naïve reading of history. Girijababu did not bring the Maoists in. It was an agreement between powerful forces in the country; Girijababu understood that correctly and tried hard to bring the warring parties together. Prachanda and his comrades recognise Girijababu’s contribution better than NC stalwarts, according to my understanding. I asked some Maoist leaders, would they rather nominate Prachanda for Nobel? They said recognising Girijababu’s contribution would be akin to honouring Prachanda’s contribution. And they were happy. I guess that is a more correct reading of history.
A few more questions are in order. Why does the Cabinet make it the responsibility of the NC to draft a resume of Girijababu? Is the nomination of NC president for the prize yet another gesture of coalition politics rather than a call of the nation? Otherwise, why could not the Cabinet request historians like Triratna Manandhar and Pratyoush Onta to write a short booklet about Girijababu’s role in history highlighting why he deserves this honour instead of throwing it to the court of discontented NC leaders who are analysing Girijababu’s psychological complexes more than his political achievements?
Your first step is correct, but what lessons you have learned from Girijababu’s epic battle is what matters more.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Industrial Policy, IEA, FITTA to be amended
KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - The government is reviewing the Industrial Policy-1992 and also amending the Industrial Enterprise Act (IEA) and Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act (FITTA) to ensure WTO compatibility in the policy framework and make investment climate friendlier.
"A team constituted recently to review the policy, has started preparatory works," said Govinda Prasad Kusum, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. The joint Act of IEA and FITTA would be amended as soon as the policy review is completed, he added.
The amended policy, among others, would address issues like industrial security and Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which were not incorporated in the existing policy. It would also pledge new incentives for the foreign investors to boost the foreign direct investment (FDI).
The changes in incentives for the foreign investors is being worked on as per the demand of the private sector that has been advocating that previously committed incentives were being nullified by the Acts enforced later and existing incentives were not adequate to attract FDI.
"The policy reviewing team will work in co-ordination with Finance Ministry while making arrangements for new incentives," he said.
The amended policy is likely to make the government responsible for providing industrial security. However, the private sector would be asked to contribute to the process, mainly in financing the security force.
"Detailed provisions on the matter, however, will be devised through a separate industrial security work-plan that the MoICS will develop in co-ordination with Defence and Home Ministries later," they added.
The policy would also contain guidelines for establishing Special Economic Zones. "However, we feel that separate SEZ Act will be required to devise strategies and incentives related to it," said Kusum.
Although establishing the SEZ in various parts of the country has been integral part of the government programmes, there is no specific policy and legal framework on it.
"Our thrust while preparing the policy will be on streamlining the FDI in the SEZ logistically and we also will focus on diverting the major chunk of the FDI to export-oriented sectors," said officials.
The amended policy would also propose for declaring ‘industrial zones’ in every urban centre to systematise the set up of industrial centres. "It will also deal with broader investment concerns of Non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) like guaranteeing their investments, although detailed provisions on the matter will be addressed through a separate NRN Act," said Kusum.
Also, the amended policy would lay emphasis on institution building and defining regulatory functions of government agencies along with their promotional activities. It would also define hydropower as an industry in the context of FDI coming to the sector and Nepal’s impending accession to World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"The policy will clearly prioritise the industrial sectors on the basis of their competitive potential and impact on the national economy," said the official.
"A team constituted recently to review the policy, has started preparatory works," said Govinda Prasad Kusum, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. The joint Act of IEA and FITTA would be amended as soon as the policy review is completed, he added.
The amended policy, among others, would address issues like industrial security and Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which were not incorporated in the existing policy. It would also pledge new incentives for the foreign investors to boost the foreign direct investment (FDI).
The changes in incentives for the foreign investors is being worked on as per the demand of the private sector that has been advocating that previously committed incentives were being nullified by the Acts enforced later and existing incentives were not adequate to attract FDI.
"The policy reviewing team will work in co-ordination with Finance Ministry while making arrangements for new incentives," he said.
The amended policy is likely to make the government responsible for providing industrial security. However, the private sector would be asked to contribute to the process, mainly in financing the security force.
"Detailed provisions on the matter, however, will be devised through a separate industrial security work-plan that the MoICS will develop in co-ordination with Defence and Home Ministries later," they added.
The policy would also contain guidelines for establishing Special Economic Zones. "However, we feel that separate SEZ Act will be required to devise strategies and incentives related to it," said Kusum.
Although establishing the SEZ in various parts of the country has been integral part of the government programmes, there is no specific policy and legal framework on it.
"Our thrust while preparing the policy will be on streamlining the FDI in the SEZ logistically and we also will focus on diverting the major chunk of the FDI to export-oriented sectors," said officials.
The amended policy would also propose for declaring ‘industrial zones’ in every urban centre to systematise the set up of industrial centres. "It will also deal with broader investment concerns of Non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) like guaranteeing their investments, although detailed provisions on the matter will be addressed through a separate NRN Act," said Kusum.
Also, the amended policy would lay emphasis on institution building and defining regulatory functions of government agencies along with their promotional activities. It would also define hydropower as an industry in the context of FDI coming to the sector and Nepal’s impending accession to World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"The policy will clearly prioritise the industrial sectors on the basis of their competitive potential and impact on the national economy," said the official.
First +2 level school a boon for locals at Abukhaireni
ABUKHAIRENI, Dec 30 - Previously many students of this region were compelled to go to other cities of the country for higher level education after finishing school. The students of Abukhaireni have been relieved of this problem after +2 education was started in Ramshah Secondary School in Abukhaireni with the efforts of the guardians of the local students here.
"This school has now become a good example of the +2 level of education in the whole district compared to other private schools having this level of education", says Rishi K.C, the chairman of this high school.
The school, which was started with the initiation of just three students, now has more than 200 students, highest among any other high school in the district. The +2 level was introduced in this school three years ago with the financial assistance of Rs. 4,00,000 contributed by Drinking Water Consumers Committee of this district and Rs. 3,00,000 collected from among the local guardians of this region. As per stipulations of the District Education Office any school wishing to start the +2 level of education must make a deposit of 7,00,000.
It is learnt that +2 classes are being conducted during the morning while secondary level education during the afternoon. Eight separate teachers have been employed to teach the +2 students alone, and the tuition fees collected from these students go to pay the salary of these teachers. The money collected from admission fees has been utilised in the construction of two new buildings with four and six rooms respectively. Education, humanities, and management streams of education are being provided at this higher secondary school presently.
It is learnt that the students of this region are very happy to get this education without having to leave their home district. Not only local students, but students from as far as, Chyangli, Manakamana, Deurali, Dhuwakot in Gorkha, and Mugling in Chitwan have been coming to this school for higher education.
Initially Rs. 25,000 charged from the students as admission fee has now been reduced to Rs. 15,000. "During the initial stages the management was in dire need to put the school into motion, and now that it is in motion and the condition of the school has improved, we can charge less as admission fees", says K.C.
The students have even been demanding that concerned authorities should start the Bachelor’s level of education in this school so that they can be free from the hassle of going to the main cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, and others for graduate level studies. It is learnt that more than tuition fees the cost of food and lodging is very high in these cities.
"This school has now become a good example of the +2 level of education in the whole district compared to other private schools having this level of education", says Rishi K.C, the chairman of this high school.
The school, which was started with the initiation of just three students, now has more than 200 students, highest among any other high school in the district. The +2 level was introduced in this school three years ago with the financial assistance of Rs. 4,00,000 contributed by Drinking Water Consumers Committee of this district and Rs. 3,00,000 collected from among the local guardians of this region. As per stipulations of the District Education Office any school wishing to start the +2 level of education must make a deposit of 7,00,000.
It is learnt that +2 classes are being conducted during the morning while secondary level education during the afternoon. Eight separate teachers have been employed to teach the +2 students alone, and the tuition fees collected from these students go to pay the salary of these teachers. The money collected from admission fees has been utilised in the construction of two new buildings with four and six rooms respectively. Education, humanities, and management streams of education are being provided at this higher secondary school presently.
It is learnt that the students of this region are very happy to get this education without having to leave their home district. Not only local students, but students from as far as, Chyangli, Manakamana, Deurali, Dhuwakot in Gorkha, and Mugling in Chitwan have been coming to this school for higher education.
Initially Rs. 25,000 charged from the students as admission fee has now been reduced to Rs. 15,000. "During the initial stages the management was in dire need to put the school into motion, and now that it is in motion and the condition of the school has improved, we can charge less as admission fees", says K.C.
The students have even been demanding that concerned authorities should start the Bachelor’s level of education in this school so that they can be free from the hassle of going to the main cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, and others for graduate level studies. It is learnt that more than tuition fees the cost of food and lodging is very high in these cities.
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