साथीसँग मनका कुरा

महिलाहरू आपसमा दुःखेसो गरिरहेका थिए । उनीहरूमध्येकी एउटी भनिरहेकी थिइन्, 'छोराछोरीको व्यवहार सम्झदा दिक्क लाग्छ । कति दुःख सहेर हुर्कार्इयो, छोराछोरी भने मनमौजी भएर निस्किए । अबेला घर र्फकन्छन्, कहाँ गएका थियौ भनेर सोध्दा साथीसँग थिएँ भन्छन् । लुसुक्क कोठामा छिर्छन्, ढोका थुनेर फोनमा घन्टौं गफ गर्छन् ।' अर्कीले भनिन्, 'मेरी छोरी पनि त्यस्तै छे । के कुरा गर्ने होला त्यति लामो ? कोसँग कुरा गर्ने होला ? के कुरा गर्छाै, कोसँग गर्छौ भनेर सोध्न पनि हुँदैन, रिसाइहाल्छे । कर गरेर सोध्यो भने 'तपाईंलाई बोझ भएँ म घर छाडेर जान्छु भन्छे ।' हाम्रो पालामा परिवारको अनुशासन कति राम्रो थियो । सबै नियममा बस्थे । अहिले त के देख्नुपरेको हो ?' अर्कीले थपिन्, 'अझ केके देख्नु-भोग्नुपर्ने हो ।'अहिलेका अभिभावकहरूका कथा-व्यथा यस्तै हुन्छन् । एउटा निश्चित परम्परागत संस्कारमा बाँचेका महिला वा पुरुषलाई किशोरावस्थाका केटाकेटीको आधुनिक व्यवहारले निराश बनाउने गरेको छ । समय परिवर्तन भएको कुरा थाहा हुँदाहुँदै पनि उनीहरूको चित्त बुझाउन गाह्रो हुन्छ । किशोरावस्थाका केटाकेटी साथीसँग यति धेरै आशक्त किन हुन्छन् भन्ने थाहा नभएर यस्तो समस्या देखिएको विभिन्न अनुसन्धानले देखाएको छ । मनका कुरा साथीसँग 'मनको बह कसैलाई नकह' भन्ने हाम्रो पुरानो कथन समयसँगै परिवर्तन भएको छ । जीवनमा सुख-दुःखका घटना घटिरहेका हुन्छन् । ती घटनाले खुसी वा तनावका संवेगहरू जन्माउँछन् । ती संवेगलाई मनपरेको व्यक्तिसँग व्यक्त गर्न पाउँदा मन हलुका हुन्छ । मनको भारी शारीरिक भारीभन्दा गहौ्रं हुन्छ । मनको भारी अरूसँग बिसाउँदा हलुको हुन्छ । मनका खुसी वा दुःखका संवेग पोख्न हरेक उमेरका मानिसलाई आˆनो उमेर मिल्दो साथी चाहिन्छ । व्यक्ति समान उमेर, समान रहनसहन वा समान किसिमका सुख-दुःख भएका व्यक्तिसँग खुलेर कुरा गर्न सक्छ । आफ्ना समस्या वा सुख-दुःख सुन्ने मानिसले यसमा फरक मत वा तर्क-बितर्क गर्दैनन् । बरु ती कुरामा सहमति तथा सहानुभूति व्यक्त गर्छन् ।मनको बह ओकल्न नपाए तनाव उत्पन्न हुन्छ । तनावले अनिद्रा, उक्त रक्तचाप, मुटुसम्बन्धी रोगलाई मलजल पुग्छ । स्वस्थ रहने विभिन्न उपाय साथीसँग मनको कुरा व्यक्त गर्नु पनि हो । यही यथार्थअनुरूप हरेक उमेरका मानिस आˆनो मनको कुरा सुनाउन साथीसंगी बनाउँछन् । मन मिल्ने साथीसँगको भेटघाट एंव कुराकानीले मानिसको मनमा उत्पन्न खुसी वा तनाव व्यवस्थापन गर्न सहयोग पुर्‍याउनुका साथै जीवन जिउने कला पनि सिकाउँछ । हाम्रो समाजमा धेरैजसो महिला घरपरिवारको सानो परिधिभित्र सीमित छन् । उता घरबाहिर पुगेर केही देख्ने वा सुन्ने अवसर पाएका तर परम्परागत सोचमा भने परिवर्तन ल्याउन नसकेका पुरुषहरू जीवनसाथीसँग आफूले सुने-जानेका कुरा सुनाउँदैनन् । उनीहरूको परम्परागत सोच पत्नीलाई आदर्श पत्नीका रूपमा मात्र स्वीकार गर्न चाहन्छन् । जसको भूमिका सन्तान जन्माउनु तथा परिवारको सेवामा समर्पित हुनु हो । यस्तो पारिवारिक वातावरणमा जीवनयापन गर्न बाध्य महिलाहरूको सोचको घेरा सानो हुन्छ । आफूसँग लुटपुटिँदै हुर्किएका सन्तानले आफूलाई वास्ता गर्न छाडेपछि आमाहरू त्यसै निराश हुन्छन् । हाम्रो परम्परागत संस्कारमा आमाबुबाहरू किशोरावस्थामा प्रवेश गरेका आˆना छोराछोरीसँग खुलेर कुरा गर्ने चलन बिरलै पाइन्छ । छोराछोरी पनि किशोरावस्थामा पुगेपछि आˆनो छुट्टै अस्तित्व खोज्न थाल्छन् । यो कुरा आमाबाबुलाई त्यति सह्य हुँदैन । उमेरले ल्याएको परिवर्तनका कारण आमाबाबुप्रति छोराछोरी एक हात पर हुन थाले आमाबाबु दुई हात पर भैदिन्छन् । छोराछोरीले आफूले चाहेको भन्दा अलिकति फरक व्यवहार देखाए पनि आमाबाबुले 'छिमेकी वा आफन्तका छोराछोरी असल छन् मेरा मात्र गएगुजि्रएका आवारा भए' भन्न थाल्छन् । जथाभावी व्यवहार गरेर वा गाली-बेइज्जती गरेर छोराछोरीको मन दुखाउन सके छोराछोरी आफ्नो काबुमा आउँछन् भन्ने सोचको विकास हुन्छ । 'शिर उमि्रयोे....बैस पलायो, पैसाका लागि मात्र आमाबाबु खोज्छन् यिनीहरू' जस्ता कमसल सोच राखेर आफ्ना किशोरावस्थाका छोराछोरीलाई आफूबाट अझ टाढा पुर्‍याउने काम धेरै अभिभावकबाटै भैरहेको हुन्छ । यसले गर्दा केटाकेटीको मनमा अभिभावकप्रति विद्रोहको भावना उत्पन्न हुन थाल्छ ।किशोरावस्था सुरु भएपछि शरीरमा हार्मोन उत्पन्न हुन थाल्छन् । त्यसपछि किशोर-किशोरीका मनमा यौनसम्बन्धी कुरा सोच्न मन लाग्ने, विपरीत लिङ्गप्रति आकषिर्त हुने, रोमान्स गर्न तथा प्रेम गर्न मन लाग्ने आदि चाहना मनमा आउँछन् । यसैबेला मनले यौनसाथीको खोजी गर्न थाल्छ । हार्मोन परिवर्तनकै कारण यौनसम्बन्धी रुचि जाग्न थाल्छ । मनमा उठेको यौनप्रतिको कौतूहलता तथा चाहनाका कुरालाई किशोर-किशोरीहरू अभिभावकलाई सुनाउन सक्दैनन् । यी कुरा सुन्न-सुनाउन उनीहरू साथीसंगी बनाउँछन् । यसबाहेक यौनसम्बन्धी पुस्तक पढेर पनि उनीहरू जानकारी लिन्छन् तथा मन शान्त गर्छन् । किशोरावस्थाका केटाकेटीमा अर्काको देखासिखी गर्ने बानी हुन्छ । चलचित्र तथा साथीका बानी-व्यवहारको देखासिखी गरी असुक्षित यौन सम्पर्क गर्न पुगे अनिश्चित गर्भधारण तथा यौन रोग लाग्ने खतरामा पर्छन् । कुनै पनि उमेरका मानिसले आˆनो सुख-दुःख व्यक्त गर्ने साथी बनाउनु राम्रो कुरा हो । साथीहरूको दबाब वा करकापमा परेर किशोर-किशोरीहरू जोखिमपूर्ण यौन व्यवहार गर्न वा लागूपदार्थको दुव्र्यसनमा फस्न सक्छन् । फलस्वरूप किशोर-किशोरी कुनै पनि कुराको सही तथा असल निर्णय गर्न सक्दैनन् । आˆनो मनमा लागेको कुरा भन्न पाउनु हरेक मानिसको अधिकार हो । अरूले भनेको कुरा ध्यान दिएर सुन्नु र अरूको विचार बुझ्नु तथा जथाभावी नबोल्नु किशोर-किशोरीको जिम्मेवारी हो । किशोरावस्थाका केटाकेटीको भावना बुझिदिनु अभिभावकहरूको कर्तव्य पनि हो । दैनिक जीवनमा आइपरेका सुख-दुःखलाई आत्मीय व्यक्तिसँग बाँड्न पाउनुपर्छ । यद्यपि यस्ता कुरा निश्चित एवं विश्वासी व्यक्तिसँग मात्र बाँड्नुपर्छ । दुःख सुन्ने कोही नभएको अवस्थामा एक्लै आँसु बगाएर रुनु पनि राम्रो हो । आँसुले मनको बोझलाई कम गर्छ । सिर्जनात्मक सोच राख्ोर खेलकुद, साहित्य, संगीत, लेखाइ-पढाइमा व्यस्त रहँदा पनि मनको बोझ कम गर्न सघाउ पुग्छ ।

• करिश्मा कार्की, जलपरी, पौडी खेलाडी

१८ वर्षीया करिश्मा कार्की सन् २००० देखि पौडी खेलमा निरन्तर लागिपरेकी छिन् । सन् २००२ मा हाइस्कुल अध्ययनरत छँदै खेल जीवन प्रारम्भ गरेकी कार्कीले हालसम्म करबि २ सय वटा पदक हात पारसिकेकी छिन् । १३ वर्षको उमेरमा राष्ट्रिय स्तरको पौडी प्रतियोगितामा १३ वटा मेडल हात पार्न सफल करिश्माले सन् २००४ मा पाकिस्तानमा भएको नवौं साफ गेममा चौधौं स्थान हासिल गरेकी थिइन् । हालसम्म उनले ८ वटा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय प्रतिस्पर्धामा भाग लिइसकेकी छिन् । पल्सर पपुलर प्लेयर अफ दि इयरको नोमिनेसनमा परेकी कार्कीले उक्त विधामा दोस्रो स्थान हासिल गरनि् भने उनी प्लेयर अफ दि इयर-२०६५ पनि घोषित भइन् । सन् २००८ मा बेइजिङ ओलम्पिकमा सहभागी करिश्माले पाँचौं राष्ट्रिय खेलकुद प्रतियोगितामा बाह्र वटा स्वर्णपदक हात पारेर नयाँ इतिहास कायम गरेकी थिइन् ।ब्याचलर इन आर्किटेक्चर प्रथम वर्षकी विद्यार्थी कार्की गीत सुन्ने, साथीहरूसँग घुम्ने, नयाँ-नयाँ ठाउँको यात्रा गर्ने कुरामा रुचि राख्छिन् । क्याजुअल वेयरमा ठाँटिएर हिँड्न रुचाउने करिश्मा पिज्जा र पानीपुरीकी पारखी हुन् । सफलता प्राप्त गर्ने सूत्रका सम्बन्धमा प्रश्न गर्दा उनी भन्छिन्-परश्रिम नै सफलताको साँचो हो । चाहे जुनसुकै क्षेत्रमा किन नहोस् पूर्ण रूपमा समर्पित भएर लागे सफलता टाढा छैन ।' करिश्माकी एउटी दिदी-बैंगलोर तथा दाइ अमेरकिामा छन् । ममी-ड्याडीसँग सिफलमा बस्दै आएकी कार्कीसँग एउटा भाइ छन् । कार्कीका अनुसार कमै मानिस हुन्छन् जोआफ्नो क्षेत्रका टाइकुन बन्न सक्छन्, तसर्थ आफूमा दृढता चाहिन्छ नाम, दाम तथा प्रतिष्ठा कमाउन । आर्किटेक्ट इन्जिनियर बन्ने लक्ष्य बोकेकी करिश्मा अहिलेका युवाहरूलाई सन्देश दिन्छिन्-हामी युवा करयिर कन्सस्हुनुपर्छ । उनले भनिन्-फुर्सदै हुँदैन, भैहाल्यो भने होमवर्क गर्नुका साथै साथीहरूसँग बाहिर घुम्न जान्छु । घुमेका ठाउँमध्ये मलाई पोखरा असाध्यै मनपर्‍यो । स्वीमिङ र अध्ययनलाई सँगसँगै लिएर जानसक्नु नै आफ्नो जीवनको ठूलो उपलब्धि मान्ने करिश्मा भन्छिन्-'म यसैमा खुसी छु ।'

O Tempora! O Mores!!

What are you calculating? He wants to know about the ‘mission’, not ‘commission’.

Energy from the air

KATHMANDU, NOV 28 - At a time when the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is preparing to increase the number of power cut hours, three young students, who are on a mission to tap wind energy in the Capital, have successfully installed the country’s tallest three-blade wind turbine in Lalitpur’s Laakuri Bhanjyang. According to the students, the three-blade wind turbine can generate more than 1000 watts of electricity when the turbine moves at a speed of 300-350 revolution per minute (RPM). The turbine has been designed to produce 1500 watts of power at the wind speed of 8 to 10 m/s. The initial rotating wind speed for this turbine is 0.5m/s and the cut-in wind speed (also called power-generating wind speed) is 2 to 2.5m/s. The wind-blades have a diameter of 11 feet. It took a month for the three-member team of Amrit Singh Thapa, Bishow Kumar Shrestha, and Nirjwal Mukarung to build the turbine at a Laakuri Bhanjyang-based resort. “The power generated by the windmill is the same amount of energy required for the functioning of the resort’s restaurant and kitchen,” said Thapa. “This proves that the Capital has the potential to tap wind energy at a large scale.” The team stated that it set up the entire infrastructure at a cost of Rs. 300.000, and, according to Thapa, the investment would see returns within three years. As per the team’s survey, the Capital has huge potential for tapping wind energy. Thapa says that the hub height for wind turbines needs to be at least 20 metre above the ground for the turbine to work. Accordingly, maximum energy can be tapped in the Valley in locations that experience greater wind speed, such as Nagdhunga, Bhaisepati height, Pharping, Satdobato, Chapagaun height, Sunakothi, Dapakhel height, Khumaltar height, Koteshwor, Nagarkot, Lubhu, Lamataar, Kalimati, Sundhara, Tundikhel and Swoyambhu. Thapa had previously led a team that built a wind turbine on the rooftop of the Kathmandu Engineering Campus in Kalimati, which generates 1.5 KW of electricity at a speed of 300-350 RPM. After the successful installation of wind turbines in these two locations, the team has now been offered the chance to build another wind turbine near the Tribhuvan International Airport. “The response from public has been quite encouraging,” said an upbeat Thapa.

NEWSLINE

NOV 28 - Bombs in RPP-N officeKATHMANDU: Panic gripped activists of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) when two bombs were found in their office at Tudaldevi on Saturday. A bomb disposal team from Nepal Army and Armed Police Force later defused the explosives. Bishwakant, who is said to be the spokesperson for the underground outfit Samyukta Jaatiya Janabidroha, owned up to the act over telephone. He said his outfit has initiated action against those who were against federalism and republic. Police also recovered a pamphlet of the outfit from the site.

Govt to put cap on CEO salary, perks

KATHMANDU, NOV 28 - Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said on Saturday that the government would limit perks and benefits to be paid to chief executive officers of the corporate houses including banks and financial institutions."There is a huge gap between the perks and benefits that go to CEOs and the lower level employees. The government wants to reduce the gap," he said while addressing a programme organised by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Employees' Union. "The government will put cap on CEO's salary and benefit by amending the existing Act," he said. When the central bank is itself preparing for putting cap on perks and benefits of CEOs of financial institutions, the minister also echoed the same voice. The NRB has already informed the Nepal Bankers' Association (NBA) about its plans to make guideline aiming to limit their pay. The NBA is a forum of CEOs of the commercial banks.NRB governor Bijaya Nath Bhattarai had said at a programme on 'corporate governance in financial sector' on Nov. 23 that the unjustified sharing of available resources amongst the stakeholders had been the cause of internal conflict. The issue of balance distribution of remuneration and other benefits amongst stakeholders has posed as a challenge to corporate governance in the financial sector, he had told the gathering.According to an NRB study, the perks and salary of a CEO of a national level commercial bank ranges from Rs 500,000 to Rs 1.4 million. The NRB argument has remained that the huge amount of perks and benefits were being given to the head honchos, even if the financial condition of the bank concerned was not very sound. The NRB study also concluded that the practice of awarding huge pay to the CEOs and other subordinates was also putting pressure on the management, especially of new banks, to increase earnings by many folds in order to pay their increased liabilities. This often instigates the management to make massive risky investment in productive sectors like land and real estate that are rejected by established banks, said the official.

Are we civilised yet?

NOV 28 - In a gathering at my Kathmandu house where we incidentally sat around and ate buffalo momo dumplings, I said, “I wonder what psychological trauma the people around Gadhimai feel through all the pain of the sacrificed animals!” My logic, that somehow the violence inflicted on the animals must reflect on the humans, and that somehow this would lead to more violence, was smartly counteracted by a learned friend (he asked me not to use his name but identify him, tongue-in-cheek, as “learned friend”) who said, “But think about their beliefs. This is a deeply engrained tradition of animal sacrifice that goes back hundreds of years. They believe that the sacrifice brings them good luck, and you can’t beat that.” The talk then moved to gruesome descriptions of animal sacrifice in Aacham where men make 500 cuts on an animal before slaughtering it, and another event in which people get the bulls drunk before leading them to a blood-soaked death fight in Bhaktapur. “The people are at fault for the violence, not the bulls!” said one listener indignantly, when we were trying to figure out, in our ayla-muddled states, whether the bulls or the humans were more cruel.

Early marriage

NOV 28 - Last week, I met one of my childhood friends. Speechless, we embraced each other with tearful eyes. We had not met since she was married off by her parents when she studying in class 8. Even then, we had wept together for the whole night. We were helpless to do anything. Now a mother of two, she had once dreamt of being a nurse. (Ironically, she is now nursing her husband and children.) In school, she used to tell me about how she would become a nurse, work in a hospital, earn money, and be a renowned person. But all her dreams shattered when she got married. Mired in poverty, she now looked much older than she really was.While the number of seminars and discussions on women’s empowerment is increasing, many innocent girls suffer the fate of my friend. Women’s empowerment requires removal of all obstacles to women’s participation in all spheres of public and private life. But by denying girls opportunities and compromising their development in areas such as education, livelihood skills and personal growth, early marriage violates a girl’s right to a secure future. The young bride is put under great pressure to become a woman and a mother at a time when she is ill-prepared for these roles, lacking decision-making and negotiating skills and capabilities which would help develop as a person.When girls are married off when still in school, they are deprived of education. Low level of education in turn means poor health and low self-esteem. Early marriage means girls are disempowered and made victims of gender-based inequality at an early age. The fact that early marriage is still in practice in underdeveloped countries like Nepal underscores the level of poverty in these places. A family marries off daughters early to lessen its economic burden. Though the heads of governments commit themselves to reduce global poverty and make right to development a ‘reality for everyone’, the majority of women in the world still live on less than a dollar a day. Women, thus, suffer doubly — because of their gender and their poverty.

SAGA from Malaysia

KATHMANDU, NOV 28 - The path they take at the end is tragic and leaves a grim tale behind: Phone calls from family members to send money back home to foot rising expenditures and pay back the loan, and frustration of being cheated by the manpower agencies that broker migrant workers' decent earning jobs. Many in Malaysia have chosen to kill themselves and the trend is steadily on the rise. “Dinesh Rai (name changed) su-ddenly stopped coming to my restaurant. Later, I came to know that he had committed suicide,” said Bishwo Rai, owner of Khukuri Restaurant in the Malaysian capital. “He had spent a huge amount of money to come to Malaysia, but couldn't pay back the loan as he was deceived by the manpower company,” said Rai. According to Rai, in the last few months Dinesh was very frustrated and frequently narrated his conversation with his wife back home. “As usual, his wife kept calling him up in Kuala Lumpur for money. He felt his wife would not understand the situation he was in.” On an average, one Nepali migrant worker commits suicide every month, according to the Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Some 79 have committed suicide in the last five years, embassy sources said. “This year alone, as many as 16 suicide cases have been reported.” “Mental stress starts taking its toll as workers begin approaching foreign employment agencies and borrowing money,” said Karma Gurung, vice-president of the Non-Resident Nepalis' Association (NRNA) in Malaysia. The dreams of a majority of Nepali workers are shattered after they arrive in the country, said Gurung, who has been living in the Southeast Asian nation for 27 years. “Invariably, they never get the salary they are promised before leaving Nepal. That frustrates them on day one. The level of frustration rises, particularly when family members start pressuring the migrants to send money home to pay the huge loans that they borrowed before departure and to foot the increasing household expenditures,” said Gurung. At some point, maintained Gurung, everything becomes unbearable and the sole breadwinners of the family just decide to give in, taking the path of suicide. Nepali Ambassador to Malaysia Rishi Adhikari said hundreds of migrant workers throng the embassy every day, complaining that they are not paid what they were promised back home. “Soon, they are caught in a trap — neither they can earn enough money nor can they return home, “ said Adhikari. “Quite a few try to find solace in alcohol, in vain,” Adhikari said, asking workers to “think a hundred times before choosing foreign employment.”

Nepalese butchers laud mass animal sacrifice

BARIYAPUR, Nepal — Kabir Jung Rana is a Nepalese bank clerk by profession, but this week he took a break to butcher buffalo at the world's biggest animal sacrifice.

Worshippers travelled long distances, many coming from neighbouring India, to attend the Gadhimai festival which is held every five years in southern Nepal to appease the Hindu goddess of power.

"It is not an easy task to kill the animals but once I entered the slaughtering field with my sword I felt blessed with some kind of divine power and that kept me going," Rana told AFP after the two-day event ended on Wednesday.

"I slaughtered around 20 buffalo in 2004. This time I managed to behead about 70. I wish the sacrifice has not ended."

On Tuesday 250 sword-wielding butchers slaughtered around 20,000 buffalo, while the following day hundreds of thousands of people offered smaller animals to Gadhimai.

Priests said at least 150,000 goats, roosters, ducks and pigeons were sacrificed at the temple, and thousands more were killed in surrounding fields.

"You need a lot of courage to kill the animals," said Rana, 34, who works in nearby Birgunj town. "It is a privilege to be the part of the culture that has continued for centuries and it would be immoral to go against tradition."

Chief priest of the temple Mangal Chaudhary Tharu told AFP that the event, which was condemned by animal rights campaigners, had been a great success.

"We are overwhelmed by the number of devotees and sacrifices made to the goddess despite criticism. We are happy that the tradition has continued," Tharu said.

Animal rights activists have struggled to spread their message that the sacrifice is cruel in deeply conservative Nepal.

Their cause is supported by the well-known Indian animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi and by the French film star turned campaigner Brigitte Bardot, who wrote to Nepal's president urging him to ban the event.

But the government provided 4.5 million rupees (60,000 dollars) in funding for the festival, which is lucrative for organisers who sell the hides to contractors after the slaughter.

Munna Bahadur Khadgi, a professional butcher, said he had enjoyed the chance to give the goddess "something in return."

"Gadhimai has been kind enough for me to have a good life and I take this slaughter as a way of saying 'thank you'," said the 40-year-old, who said he had killed 200 buffalo this year.

"I make money by killing animals normally but at the festival I do it for spiritual satisfaction. It is the least that I could do for the goddess and I didn't want to miss this opportunity."

For 31-year-old Abhimanyu Rana, the slaughtering was in keeping with the family's religious belief and practice.

"When I was young I had seen my dad and grandpa slaughtering animals. I am proud that I am continuing the family history," said Rana, who owns a local restaurant.

"I was not scared at all because I was doing it for Gadhimai. I don't feel guilty because I know I was making the goddess happy."

Nepal’s Premier Resigns After Power Struggle Over Army Chief

KATMANDU,

In a televised address to the nation, the prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who goes by the name Prachanda, said he was stepping down, one day after Nepal’s president overruled his decision to fire the army chief, Rookmangud Katawal.

“I announce, through this address, my resignation from the cabinet I have chaired so as to put an end to this difficult situation and create a positive environment for salvaging democracy, nationalism and the peace process that are currently at risk,” Prachanda, a former Maoist guerrilla fighter, said in his 13-minute address.

Clusters of people gathered in front of television shops in the capital, Katmandu, to watch the prime minister give his address as a continuing power crisis left many parts of the city without electricity.

Prachanda’s party entered into competitive politics after signing a peace deal in 2006, ending a decade-long Maoist rebellion. He became prime minister in August after four months of political wrangling; in May, the nation’s elected Constituent Assembly declared the nation a federal republic, ending 239 years of Hindu monarchy.

Plunging Nepal into a fresh political crisis after a decade of war, the prime minister resigned Monday in a power struggle over his dismissal of the army chief.

CULTUURHISTORIE

Het werkgebied is de noordelijke regio. Van West-Friesland tot Polen en het bovenste puntje van Denemarken, oftewel de Zeven Zeelanden van weleer. Dit gebied heeft voor ons een buitengewoon interessante historie, die we graag met anderen willen delen door er programma’s in briljante kwaliteit over te maken.

We laten de noordelijke cultuurhistorie niet alleen herleven, maar geven deze ook een nieuw glansrijk leven. Met aansprekende methoden en met inzet van moderne audiovisuele middelen ontdekken kinderen, ouders en grootouders spelenderwijs hun oorsprong en raken gemotiveerd deze over te brengen op anderen.

HistoryClip is een voorbeeld van een succesvol project. Op dit moment wordt het in het Friese Lauwersland in de praktijk gebracht.

प्रेमीको बाइक

Kathमाडौंको व्यस्त सडक, बबरमहलमा हुइँकिरहेको बाइकबाट मस्त तरुनी एक्कासि भ्यागुतो पछारिएझंै पिच रोडमा पछारिई भने उसको हालत के होला ? बिहीबार दिउँसो यस्तै भयो । 'रफ क्यारेक्टर' को 'ब्वाई-प|mेन्ड' ले चलाएको बाइकको पछाडि बसेकी शालीन चरित्रकी 'गर्ल-प|mेन्ड' आफ्नो प्रेमीको बाइक हँकाइबाट त्यसै पनि भयभीत थिई । त्यही भयले गर्दा उसले आफ्नो प्रेमीलाई राम्ररी समात्न सकिन । सवारीहरूको भीडमा बाइकको बे्रक लगाउँदा एक्कासि प्रेमिका पछारिन पुगी । भाग्य बलियो रहेछ । धन्न पछाडिका सवारीधनीले इमर्जेन्सी ब्रेक हान्नाले युवतीलाई ठूलो चोट भने लाग्न पाएन ।

घटना वास्तविक हो । तर, फिल्म सुटिङको । निर्माणाधीन फिल्म हो- यही माया होको छायांकन बरबरमहलको व्यस्त सडकमा भइरहेको थियो । नायक राज तिमिल्सिना रफ स्टाइलमा बाइक हाँकिरहेका थिए । उनको पछाडि नवनायिका जानकी -जिया) केसी बसेकी थिइन् । हुँइकिरहेको बाइकबाट हिरोइन एक्कासि बीचबाटोमा पछारिइन् । रफ पारामा चलाएको बाइकमा राम्ररी बस्न नजानेकाले उनी पछारिएकी थिइन् ।
'धन्न भाग्यले बाँचिन् जिया,' दुर्घटनाका बारे बताउँदै निर्देशक दीपक श्रेष्ठले आत्तिँदै फोनमा भने, 'पछाडिबाट आइरहेका गाडीले इमर्जेन्सी ब्रेक नलगाएको भए ठूलो दुर्घटना हुने थियो ।' फिल्मको कथाअनुसार हालको नयाँ पुस्ताको रूपमा उभ्याइएका नायक राजको चरित्रले शालीन चरित्रकी केटी -जिया) पट्याउँछ । केटी नमान्दा-नमान्दै पनि केटाले बाइक व्यस्त सडकमा जिक्ज्याक पारामा हाक्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । तिनै सटअगाडि गाडीमा क्यामेरा राखेर खिचिँदै थिए । एक्कासि हिरोइन बाटोमा पछारिएपछि त्यहाँ कोलाहल मच्चिन पुग्यो । मान्छेहरूको भीड अझै बढ्यो । पछारिएकी हिरोइनलाई त टेन्सन हुने नै भयो । त्यसभन्दा बढी टेन्सन निर्देशक दीपकलाई भयो । 'साह्रै डर लाग्यो, जियालाई पछाडिको गाडीको चक्काले भेटे पनि चोट भने लाग्न पाएन,' निर्देशक अझै पनि आत्तिँदै थिए, 'यस्तो डरलाग्दो घटना त मेरो कुनै फिल्ममा पनि भएको थिएन ।' जियाले आफूलाई नसमातेकाले आत्तिएर बाइकबाट लडेको बताउँछन् नायक राज । भन्छन्, 'मैले मेरो क्यारेक्टरअनुसार रफ पारामा बाइक हाँकिरहेको थिएँ । बे्रक लगाउँदा उनले मलाई समात्न सकिनन् अनि लडिन् ।' यही फिल्मबाट पहिलोपटक नायिका बनेकी जिया आफ्नै असावधानीका कारण दुर्घटनामा परेकी बताउँछन् फिल्म आबद्ध प्राविधिक । निर्देशक दीपकले बताएअनुसार जियाको पाखुरामा चोट लागेको छ । भित्री चोट देखिएको छैन । दुर्घटनापछि जियाबाहेक राजको सट मात्र खिचिएको थियो ।

मौसमी गुरुङ

कुनै समय ‘च्याङ्बा है च्याङ्बा’को रिमिक्सले चर्चित बनेकी गायिका मौसमी गुरुङ श्रीमानभन्दा बाबुआमासँगको बसाइ सहज हुने बताउँछिन्। स्वतन्त्रता उपभोगका दृष्टिले पनि अविवाहित रहनु राम्रो ठान्ने गुरुङको भनाइ छ- ‘चाहेको लुगा लगाउन पाइन्छ नि त।’ मौसमीसँग दश प्रश्नः

१. संसारको सबैभन्दा आकर्षक पुरुष
टम क्रुज ।

२. साथमा कहिल्यै नछुट्ने दुई वस्तु
ब्याग ।
मोबाइल ।

३. अरुलाई थाहा नभएका तपाईका तीन कुरा
लुगामा बुट्टा भर्छु ।
राम्रो डान्स गर्छु ।
ब्युटिसियन कोर्स गरेकी छु ।

४. तपाईंलाई साथी बनाउनुपर्ने चार कारण
फरासिली छु ।
सहयोगी छु ।
क्षणिक होइन, दिगो सम्बन्ध राख्ने गर्छु ।
भेटघाट र फोन गरिरहन्छु ।

५. अविवाहित हुनुका पाँच फाइदा
लोग्नेभन्दा आमाबुबाको मातहतमा सजिलो हुन्छ ।
आफ्नो रुचिको करिअर बनाउन सकिन्छ ।
कामका लागि गरिने यात्रामा अवरोध हुँदैन ।
चाहेको लुगा लगाउन रोकतोक हुँदैन ।
व्यावहारिक हुनु पर्दैन ।

६. सुन्दर रहन गरिने ६ काम
आँखाको विशेष मेकअप गर्छु ।
मुक्तिनाथ हर्बलका उत्पादन प्रयोग गर्छु ।
फेसप्याक प्रयोग गर्छु ।
सनक्रिम लगाउँछु ।
घरमा बनाएको गाजल लगाउँछु ।
योग गर्छु ।

७. तपाईलाई मीठो लाग्नॆ सात परिकार
बर्गर ।
स्यान्डविच ।
चिकेन चिल्ली ।
पुलाउ ।
आलुदम ।
आइसक्रिम ।
जुसको ककटेल ।

८. काठमाडौंका आठ समस्या
ट्राफिक ।
लोडसेडिङ ।
पानी ।
बिग्रिएको बाटो ।
सरकारी काममा हुने ढिलासुस्ती ।
जुलुस ।
असुरक्षा ।
मोबाइल नेटवर्क ।

९. केटाको मन नपर्ने नौ बानी
ठूलो गफ हाँक्ने ।
केटीको अगाडि मुख छाड्ने ।
सार्वजनिक ठाउँमा चुरोट खाने ।
जाँडरक्सी खाएर बबाल गर्ने ।
शंका गर्ने ।
लागूऔषध सेवन गर्ने ।
मारपिट गर्ने ।
फाल्तु बस्ने ।
केटीलाई हेप्ने ।

१०. छुट्टी मनाउने दस तरिका
घरमै बस्ने ।
किनमेलमा जाने ।
घुम्न जाने ।
गीत सुन्ने र गाउने ।
घरमै बसेर फिल्म हेर्ने ।
नयाँ परिकार बनाएर खाने ।
साथीसँग भेटघाट गर्ने ।
घरको काम गर्ने ।
इन्टरनेट चलाउने ।
किताब पढ्ने ।

HIGH DEFINITION

Omdat ik altijd graag voorop heb gelopen als het om kwaliteit en nieuwe media gaat, zal voortaan een belangrijk deel van het werk in High Definition te bewonderen zijn. Niet alleen op televisie maar ook op Blu-Ray Disc en het HD Internet.
FIlmen met Ikegami was altijd al een lust. Het resultaat stak er altijd met kop en schouders boven uit. Eerst in 768 x 576 later in 1080 x 720, maar als je ooit op 35 mm film hebt gewerkt, is video op dat niveau toch surrogaat. Tenminste als het gaat om oplossend vermogen, kleur- en contrastweergave en projectiekwaliteit. Met de komst van Full HD televisie begint het er zowaar op te lijken. National Geographic Channel HD, History Channel HD en Discovery Channel HD zenden reeds via de kabel in High Definition uit. Als het originele materiaal ook in HD is opgenomen is het een openbaring! De bioscoop in eigen huis.

फिल्म लाइनका तीन साथी

फिल्म लाइनमा कोही कसैको स्थायी शत्रु र स्थायी मित्र हुँदैन भन्ने उद्धरणप्रति नायिका सञ्चिता लुइँटेलको पनि सहमति रहेछ । 'हो, यहाँ कोही कसैको स्थायी मित्र हुँदो रहेनछ, न त स्थायी शत्रु नै । अहिलेसम्म मैले नभोगेकी भए पनि अरू सहकर्मीको देखेर महसुुस भएको छ,' नायिका सञ्चिताले फिल्म लाइनमा आफ्नो 'जिक्री दोस्त' कोही नभएको बताउँदै व्यावसायिक रूपमा निकट रहेका तथा मिल्ने साथीको रूपमा भने नायक निखिल उप्रेती अनि नायिकाहरू उषा पौडेल र ऋचा घिमिरेको नाम लिन्छिन् । आठ वर्षको फिल्मी 'करिअर' मा नजिक भएका यी तीन सहकर्मीसँग सञ्चिताको फिल्मबाहेक अन्य विषयमा भने कुनै सरोकार हुने गरेको छैन रे । यी तीनैजनासँग उनको प्रायः दिनहुँजसो फोनमा गफ हुने गर्छ । 'अधिकांश समय सुटिङमा बित्ने गरेकाले भेटघाट हुने थलो सुटिङ स्पट नै हो । नत्र फोनमै कुरा हुन्छ,' सञ्चिता भन्छिन्, 'फिल्मकै कुरा बढी हुन्छन् । उषा र ऋचाले मैले गरेको कामको समीक्ष्ाा गर्छन् । निखिलजीले भने सुझाव-सल्लाह पनि दिने गर्नुहुन्छ ।' उषा सँगै फिल्म खेलेर साथी भएकी होइन रहिछन् उनको । अनि, ऋचा पनि । उनीहरूसँग 'प्राइभेट फंसन' मा परिचय भएको अनि 'ट्युनिङ' मिलेर साथी भएका रहेछन् उनको । उषा र ऋचालेझैं आफूले पनि उनीहरू खेलेको फिल्म सकभर हलमै गएर, नभए सिडीमा ल्याएर भए पर्ने हेर्ने गरेको बताउँछिन् सञ्चिता । 'असल साथीको कर्तव्य पनि यही हो कि उसले गरेको कामको सबल-दुर्बल, दुवै पक्ष औंल्याइदिनु,' सञ्चिता भन्छिन्, 'कुनै पक्ष कमजोर छ भने खुलेर भन्नुपर्छ । साथी भन्दैमा जे कुरा पनि राम्रो छ भनिदियो भने उसले आफूलाई कहिल्यै सुधार्न सक्दैन । त्यसैले म आफूलाई लागेको कुरा उनीहरूलाई भनिदिन्छु ।' नायक निखिलसँग भने भन्नै सकिनँ फिल्मको सुटिङका क्रममा पहिलो परिचय भएको बताउने सञ्चिता निखिलभन्दा सिनियर हुन्, फिल्म लाइनमा प्रवेशको हिसाबले । सञ्चिता र निखिलले पहिलोपटक पापी मान्छेमा सँगै काम गरेका थिए । तर, उक्त फिल्ममा उनीहरू ज्ाोडी नभई दाजु-बहिनीको भूमिकामा थिए । पहिलोपटक जोडीको रूपमा अभिनय गरेको उनीहरूको फिल्म भने चोर सिपाही हो । चोर सिपाहीपछि नै आफूहरूबीच निकटता बढेको बताउँछिन् सञ्चिता । 'निखिलजी फेयर हुनुहुन्छ । उहाँमा देखावटी आडम्बर छैन । मनमा लागेको कुरा बोलिदिइहाल्नुहुन्छ ।' निखिलको राम्रो बानीका बारेमा सञ्चिता भन्छिन्, 'सादा जीवन उच्च विचार छ उहाँमा ।' सञ्चिता र निखिलको सामीप्य बढ्नुमा अर्काे कारण पनि छ- दुवैको मूलघर एकै ठाउँ सर्लाही । फिल्मी साइनो गाढा भए तापनि व्यावहारिक रूपमा भने आफ्ना यी तीन साथीबीच घर आईजाई हुने गर्दैन रे उनको । 'एक-अर्काको घर जाने, लन्च, डिनर गर्ने भने भएको छैन,' सञ्चिताले भनिन् । भेटघाट पनि सुटिङकै क्रममा हुन्छ कि कुनै अन्य फंसनमा । तीन आत्मीय साथी आफूले बनाउन नचाहेर पनि होइन, नपाएर पनि होइन सञ्चिताका साथी थोरै भएका । 'किताब र साथ्ाी थोरै, तर राम्रा हुन्' यही उक्ति लागू रहेछ यिनको सन्दर्भमा पनि । सीमित आत्मीय साथीका नाम लिनुपर्‍यो भने सम्झन नै नपर्ने रहेछ उनलाई । फ्याट्ट-फ्याट्ट नाम लिइन्- सुनिल शिल्पकार, मुना मुखिया र बिञ्जु श्रेष्ठको । यीमध्ये उनको सबैभन्दा नजिकका साथी रहेछन् सुनिल । आफ्नो घरनजिकैका तथा उमेर, विचार, आनीबानी तथा सोचाइसमेत मिल्ने तथा आठ कक्षादेखि सँगै पढेकाले सुनिल उनका खास मित्र बन्न पुगे । सुनिलसँग आफ्ना सुखदुःखका प्रत्येक कुरा 'सेयर' हुने गरेको बताउँदै सञ्चिताले भनिन्, 'मैले उसका, उसले मेरा प्रत्येक पर्सनल फिलिंसहरू सेयर गथ्याँर्ैै । उसले कुरा बुझथ्यो, सल्लाह पनि दिन्थ्यो । तर...,' सञ्चिताको मुहार एकाएक न्यासि्रयो, 'ऊ गएको आठ महिना हुन लाग्यो ।' सञ्चिता न्यासि्रनुको कारण रहेछ- सुनिल अस्टे्रलिया उड्नु । 'मेरो सुखदुःखको भारी बिसाउने साथी ऊ नै थियो । आई एम मिसिङ हिम,' सञ्चिताले भनिन्, 'सुनिलजस्तो फिलिंस बुझ्ने साथी कमै हुन्छन् ।' बिञ्जु श्रेष्ठ, सञ्चिताकी स्कुलदेखिकी साथी हुन्, जो अहिले डे्रस डिजाइनिङ कोर्स गरिरहेकी छिन् । बिञ्जुले पनि उनलाई जीवनका मोडहरूमा साथ, सहयोग, सल्लाह र सहानुभूति दिएकी छिन् । बानेश्वरको मञ्जुश्री स्कुल पढ्दाखेरि गाँसिएको बिञ्जुसँगको मित्रता अहिलेसम्म पनि उत्तिकै गाढा रूपमा कायम छ सञ्चिताको । बिञ्जु र आफ्नो पेसा एक-अर्कामा कहीँकतै सम्बन्धित भए पनि आफूहरूको भेट कार्यव्यस्तताले गर्दा हम्मेसी नहुने गरेको बताउँछिन् । 'फोनमा भने गफ भइरहन्छ । बिञ्जुबाट मैले व्यावहारिक धेरै सिकेकी छु,' बिञ्जु आफ्नो फिल्मको असल दर्शक भएको बताउँछिन् सञ्चिता । 'उनले मेरो अभिनयको तारिफ गर्छिन्,' सञ्चिताले सुनाइन्, 'मैले अभिनय गरेका प्रायः फिल्म हेरेकी बताउँछिन् । कतिपय नौला कुरा उनीबाटै थाहा पाउँछु ।' स्नातकसम्म सँगै पढेकी झापाकी साथी मुना मुखियासँग सञ्चिताको कहिलेकाहीँ मात्र भेट हुने गर्छ । मुनाको न्युरोडमा ब्युटिपार्लर छ । फुर्सद मिल्यो भने सञ्चिता उनकोमा पुगिहाल्छिन् । 'मुना मेरो हित चाहने साथी हुन् । मैले गरेको अभिनय हेरेर समीक्षा गर्छिन् । उनीसँग धेरैजसो पढाइकै बारेमा कुरा हुन्छ ।' मुनाले कहिलेकाहीँ फिल्म नै नहेरीकन यसो भएन/त्यसो भएन पनि भन्ने गर्छिन् रे सञ्चितालाई । 'उनले गरेका धेरै कमेन्ट सत्यताका नजिक हुन्छन्,' सञ्चिताले भनिन्, 'मुनामा असल साथीमा हुनुपर्ने सम्पूर्ण गुण छन् ।' हरेक समस्यालाई सहजताका साथ समाधान गर्ने मुनाको बानीबाट सञ्चिता प्रभावित भएकी रहिछन् । 'गाँस छोड्नू तर साथ नछोड्नू' सञ्चितामा पनि लागू भएको रहेछ । सञ्चिताले भन्दै गइन्, 'हम्मेसी म कसैको, मेरो कोही साथी बन्दैन । बनिहाल्यो भने टुट्ने चान्सै हुँदैन ।' त्यस्तो मित्रता केही गरी टुटिहाल्यो भने हालत कस्तो होला त सञ्चिता ? 'साथ टुटे, दिल टुट्छ । टुटेको दिल सिउने सियो कहाँ बनेको छ र ?'

गरिमा पन्त, अभिनेत्री

१. नेपालको नम्बर एक हिरोइन को हो ?करिश्मा मानन्धर ।
२. साथमा कहिल्यै नछुट्ने दुई चीज ?मोबाइल ।पर्स ।
३. अरुलाई थाहा नभएका तपाईका तीन रहस्य ?रक्सी खाएकोमान्छे भेट्दा सात्तो जान्छ ।सर्पदेखि एकदमै डराउँछु ।कविता लेख्छु।
४. राम्रा चार नेता ?प्रचण्ड ।बाबुराम भट्टराई । माधव नेपाल।रामचन्द्र पौडेल ।

५. अविवाहित हुनुको पाँच फाइदा ? उत्तरदायित्व कम हुन्छ।स्वतन्त्र भइन्छ ।बुबाआमासागै बस्न पाइन्छ ।औपचारिकतानिर्वाह गर्नु पर्दैन ।माया बाँडिादैन ।
६. सुन्दर रहन गरिने ६ काम ?सकारात्मक सोचाइ राख्छु।खानपिनमा ध्यान दिन्छु ।योगा र व्यायाम गर्छु ।पानी प्रशस्त पिउँछु ।लिप ग्लस लगाउँछु । घरमा बनाएकोगाजल लगाउँछु ।
७. तपाई गइरहने सात मन्दिर ?पशुपति । बगलामुखी । मनकामना । तनहुँको घर गएको बेला अकला मन्दिर।तनहुँकै छाब्दी बाराही ।दक्षिणकाली ।नयाँ बजारको म्हेपी मन्दिर ।
८. काठमाडौंका दिक्क लाग्ने आठ समस्या ? प्रदुषण ।ट्राफिक जाम ।निष्ठुरी छिमेकी ।पानी ।लोडसेडिङ ।असभ्यमानिस ।अरुको आलोचना गर्ने जमात ।असुरक्षा ।
९. केटा मान्छेको मन नपर्ने नौ बानी ?द्वैध चरित्र ।साँचो भावनाको खिल्ली उडाउने ।रक्सी खाएर बबाल गर्ने ।हल्का।केटीलाई सम्मान नगर्ने ।हल्लेर हिँड्ने ।अरुलाई होच्याउने ।अहम् पालेर बस्ने ।गुण्डागर्दी गर्ने ।
१०. छुट्टी मनाउने दस तरिका घरमै बस्ने ।टिभी हेर्ने ।डायरी लेख्ने ।साथीसँग गफ गर्ने । घुम्न जाने ।किनमेल गर्ने।परिवारसाग लामो यात्रा गर्ने ।हलमा फिल्म हेर्न जाने ।खाना बनाउन सिक्ने । फेसबुक चलाउने ।

Nepathya's New Album

Kathmandu. November 19, 2009
Nepathya, the premier folk-rock band of Nepal is set to release its new album.This release is believed to end a more than three-year long wait for Nepathya fans.
"As our society heads to a peaceful and prosperous future with the new constitution being written, we wanted to come up with a fun filled romantic album, but the current situation inspired us otherwise. This album has ended up being patriotic and peace longing" says Amrit Gurung - the front man of Nepathya highlighting the content of the album.
The album contains 8 tracks, which includes new as well as few songs from its back catalogue to suite the theme of the Album.
Title of the album - Mero Desh comes from the track penned by poet Vikram Subba, and the cover design simply holds the National Flag made with some brush strokes by designer Navin Joshi. The design compliments Nepathya edition of the extremely popular patriotic number Rato ra Chandra Surya, also included in the album.
"We love this song and have been performing Rato ra Chandra Surya during concerts since 2001. I am glad and grateful to respected Ambar dai (Ambar Gurung) for allowing us to record this number." clarifies Amrit. "This song also portrays our love to our National emblem."
Other songs included in the album are Norden Rumba's Kasaile Sodhe, new edition of Pravin Gurung's Ukali Orali, Basanta Thapa's Sundar Shnata Nepal, Aavaas' Rangeen Chara, and Tirtha Shrestha's Aama.
nepa~laya, the producer of the album is releasing it on the 21st of November without much fanfare.
"The reason why we have dated the release for the 21st, is to express a musical commemoration to the 3rd Anniversary of Nepal's Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Though Amrit will not be here on that day - he suggested the connection and we agreed," says Kiran Krishna Shrestha of nepa~laya.
"It has been 3 long years since the CPA and we want to use this occasion to remind all concerned of the achievement Nepal had made. We hope it comes to a logical conclusion with the new constitution we all have been waiting for," adds Amrit before departing for Malaysia to attend the Asia Society - Asia 21 Young Leader's Summit.
Asia 21 Summit brings together 200 selected young leaders with diverse background from Asia and the United States to deliberate on wide-ranging agenda.
"We have recorded all the songs in the album from our heart. We hope our audience will accept this as they have in the past," says the humble pony tailed singer. "Hope we can come back with a more fun filled album soon. It is said art is the mirror of the society, so I believe this is the image that has been reflected through us for now" he concludes.
Mero Desh, has been produced and released by nepa~laya and will be available in the market through the distribution network of Ranjana Cassettes.
People After War - the third book in A People War Trilogy releasing soon
Kathmandu, 18th Nov 2009.
nepa~laya is launching the third part of its A People War trilogy and opening a permanent exhibit of images of the Nepal conflict on 21st November 2009, which also coincides the signing of the third anniversary of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. (CPA).
The third book is called People After War and follows A People War (2006) and Never Again (2008) books. All three books were edited by Kunda Dixit and focus on the civilian victims of the ten-year conflict that killed more than 15,000 Nepalis.
A People War was a picture book and nepa~laya took the photographs in it on a travelling exhibition to 32 districts in 2007-8. It was visited by 350,000 people, some of whose testimonies about the war are published in the second book, Never Again.
The third volume in the trilogy, People After War, goes back to some of the characters in the pictures in the first book to find out how their lives have been in the intervening years since their photographs were taken.
Says Kunda Dixit: “We have found ordinary people with extraordinary stories, and they are all uplifting because they prove just how resilient and hopeful the Nepali people are about the future despite the sorrows of war that they lived through.”
People After War features photographs and profiles of a brother and sister who fought on opposite sides during the war and are finally reunited with their father, a vigilante who turned into a sadhu after the ceasefire, and the daily struggle of survival of the relatives of those who were killed or disappeared during the war.
“The books serve to remind us of the horrors of what we Nepalis experienced and how long it takes for the wounds to heal,” adds Dixit. “It is important to remember so that society can resolve its differences peacefully without having to suffer an even more devastating conflicts in future.”
nepa~laya and Madan Puraskar are collaborating to put the images from A People War trilogy in a permanent exhibition at Madan Puraskar in Patan Dhoka. The exhibition will also have additional photographs from the conflict and be a repository for people’s testimonies about the war.
“We hope that the exhibition will become the nucleus of a peace museum that can have an archival as well as educational function,” explains nepa~laya’s Kiran Krishna Shrestha.
Exhibits of the stories from People After War are also being taken on a travelling show to seven places beyond Kathmandu from 23 November – 12 December.
It will visit Itahari, Ilam, Damak, Hetauda, Kawasoti, Nepalganj and Tansen.
Amrit represents Nepal in ASIA 21 YOUNG LEADERS SUMMIT, MALAYSIA
(Kuala Lumpur, November 17, 2009)Amrit Gurung of Nepal's Musical Band Nepathya has been chosen among more than 150 emerging leaders from some 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific region who will participate in the Asia Society’s fourth annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, to be held in Kuala Lumpur from November 20-22, 2009.
Gurung joins other young leaders from various sectors, all under and around age 40, who will explore “The Changing Face of Leadership: Crisis and Opportunity” at the Summit.
The Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit is part of a larger initiative designed to help emerging leaders from across the region to develop common approaches to meet its shared challenges. “Asia 21 seeks to build networks of trust across geographic boundaries and help next generation leaders to educate one another in the highest ideals of values-based leadership,” said Asia Society Executive Vice President Jamie Metzl, who spearheads the program. “We need new types of leaders from every country who can both understand the transnational nature of the challenges we face and work together to address them, and are thrilled that Mr. Amrit Gurung will be joining our network.”
A poet, musician, singer, photographer, filmmaker and traveler, AmritGurung is one of Nepal's most recognized faces. His art reflects hisstrong beliefs about protecting peace, justice and nature. Amrit is the man behind Nepal's foremost folk rock band, Nepathya, and isa role model by Nepal's young adults. He uses the medium of music and photography to spread his message of peace directly to the people. He is a compulsive traveler and has trekked across 70 of Nepal's 75 districts, collecting folk lyrics and music.
Amrit took his peace concerts around Nepal, while the country was at war.
"I have found the arts, especially music, to be the most important way to create a more just and tolerant society. It really works, and it would bevery enriching for me to discuss this theme with Asia's future politicians, business leaders, activists, media and fellow-artists." said Amrit GurungEstablished by the Asia Society with support from Founding International Sponsor, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the Asia 21 Summit is the pre-eminent gathering of Asia’s most dynamic and accomplished young leaders from the Asia-Pacific region. To date, the network counts more than 500 alumni, including businessmen, documentary filmmakers, environmental activists, human rights advocates, members of parliament, military personnel, performance artists, and social entrepreneurs.
“We’re proud to support the Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit,” said Tom Montag, president of Global Banking and Markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “As a global organization committed to deepening and strengthening our public and private sector relationships in the Asia-Pacific region, we’re honored to be part of an initiative that encourages prominent young leaders to collectively confront Asia’s challenges and opportunities.”
Ambar Gurung Mesmerizes Pokhara
Normally it is Pokhara which mesmerizes those who go there with its serene beauty. But it was an otherway round experience and a nice change to witness Ambar Gurung mesmerizing Pokhara. The music maestro performed for Paleti series in Pokhara and the audience was spell bound. It was a well attended event by all the who-is-who from music art and literature field of Pokhara. Teertha Shrestha, Jas Kaji Gurung, Amar Pokhareli, Saru Bhakta and Durga Baral were some of the eager attendants. Noted music composer Karma Yonjan had arrived from Darjeeling to attend the show.
Ambar Gurung captivated the audience with his feelings while he presented "Ma Ambar Hoon", "Bataas Le Jhaareka", "Timi Bhool Ma Paryou", "Yo Jindagi Ko Ke Kura" and "Nau Lakh Taara Udae". He also shared some nostalgic memories related to his compositions. Gurung's 'dear deciple' (in his own words) Aavaas presented some of the unheard compositions which were treat to the ears. Ambar Gurung was moved to tears when he rendered "Jaba Duniyale" and patted him on the shoulders. Aavaas also excelled in "Jasai Kesh Timile Phinjayou" and "Chamkirako Timi Hera." Budding talent Meena Niraula presented somegolden oldies by Aruna Lama like "Pohor Saal Khusi Phatda", and "Sabaile Bhanthe". She also accompanied the maestro for a duet "Tipa Yo Jowan", and Aavaas for "E Kanchha Mlaai Sun Ko Tara".
Noted film maker Binod Serchan said,"I could not miss this once in a life time opportunity to witness the great artiste perform.Where are such music now days?"

सफल मोडल बन्ने धुनमा-राधिका

मानिसका इच्छा र आकांक्षा थुप्रै हुन्छन् तर, ती मध्ये कति पुरा हुन्छन् त कति त्यतिकै सेलाएर जान्छन् । कतिइच्छा आकांक्षा पुरा गर्न त थुप्रै संघर्ष गर्नुपर्छ । त्यस्तै आफ्नो सफल मोडल बन्ने इच्छा बोकी मोडलिङ क्षेत्रमासंघर्षरत छिन् राधिका कोइराला । छिमेकी जिल्ला सिन्धुपाल्चोक-दुवाचौर ९, केउरेनीमा करिब १८ वर्षअघिजन्मेकी राधिका कोइराला लामो समयदेखि काभ्रेको बनेपामा बसोबास गर्दै ग्ल्यामरको क्षेत्रको रुपमा चिनिनेमोडलिङप्रति आकर्षित बनी सफल मोडल बन्ने धुनमा छिन् । प्रगति प्रभात एकेडेमी बनेपामा व्यवस्थापनसंकायमा १२ कक्षामा अध्ययनरत उनीस् मोडलिङको मार्फतबाट पनि समाजलाई अग्रगतितर्फ लान सकिनेधारणा राख्छिन् । सानैदेखिको मोडलिङप्रतिको आकर्षण अनि नाम र दाम कमाएर सबैको आकर्षणको केन्द्र बन्नेइच्छाले मोडलिङमा होमिएको उनी वताउँछिन् । सबैले आफूलाई चिनिदेओस् भन्ने आकांक्षा बोकेकी उनकोमोडलिङका अलावा एयर होस्टेज बन्ने उद्देश्य रहेको छ । नृत्य, गायन, मोडलिङ तथा पुराना सिक्का संकलन गर्नेरुची राख्ने राधिका मोडलिङमा भित्रिएको अश्लीलतालाई समयको माग ठान्छिन् । अहिलेको एक्काइसौं शताव्दीकोयुगमा आएर पनि नारीको सुन्दरतालाई अश्लिलताको संज्ञा दिन नहुने उनको ठम्याइ छ । तर, समयको मागभन्दैमा आवश्यकता भन्दा बढी नाङ्गनिु पनि उचित नहुने उनको तर्क छ । मायालाई नै जीवनको प्रमुखआवश्यकता ठान्ने राधिका सेक्सलाई जीवनको पर्याय ठान्छिन् । आवश्यकताअनुसार सेक्सलाई सदुपयोग गर्नजाने जीवन सफल हुन्छ भन्ने मान्यता बोकेकी उनी हालसम्म आफू प्रेम र सेक्सबाट टाढै रहेको दाबी गर्छिन् ।प्रेम प्रसंगबारे कोट्याउँदा अहिलेसम्म भ्याकेन्सी खाली रहेको उनको भनाई छ । मोडलिङ क्षेत्रमा लाग्नेहरु यौनकोमामलामा स्वच्छन्द हुनुलाई स्वाभाविक ठान्ने उनी आफूलाई बुझ्ने युवकको खोजीमा छिन् । आँखाले नै सुन्दरसंसार हेर्न सकिने भएकोलाई राधिकालाई आफ्नो शरीरको अंगहरुमध्ये आफ्नो आँखा र ओठ मन पर्छ रे । उनलाईपुरुषको नशालु आँखाले लट्ठ पार्छ रे । तर पनि आफू कसैको बाहिरी आवरण हेरेर प्रेममा नफस्ने वताउँछिन्राधिका । प्रेम गर्न बाहिरी आवरणभन्दा पनि भित्री गुण तथा व्यवहार हेर्न आवश्यक रहेको उनको बुझाई छ । मिसकलेजमा समेत सहभागी भइ मोडलिङसम्वन्धी थुप्रै अनुभव संगालीसकेकी उनी काठमाडौं व्यूटिपार्लरद्वाराआयोजित पहिलो काभ्रे लेडिज ट्यालेन्ट शोमा १६ जना प्रतिस्पर्धीसँग उपाधिको लागि भिड्दैपछन् । उपाधिआफूले जित्ने आत्मविश्वास बोकेकी राधिका मोडलिङले आफूलाई जीवनको वास्तविकता बुझ्न मद्दत पुर्याएकोवताउँछिन् । नेपाली हुनुमा गर्व गर्ने राधिका मोडलिङ क्षेत्रबाटै समाजका विकृति विसंगतिको अन्त्य गर्नचाहन्छिन् । सीमाभित्रको स्वतन्त्रताले जीवन सफल पार्न मद्दत गर्ने सोचेकी उनी अबसर पाएको खण्डमा म्युजिकभिडियो तथा चलचित्रमा अभिनय गर्नपनि तयार छिन् । ‍

Teej special

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

President Sarkozy says 'no place' for burqa in secular France

AFP - President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday again insisted that the head-to-toe veil worn by some Muslim women had no place in secular France.

"France is a country where there is no place for the burka, where there is no place for the subservience of women," he said in a major speech on French national identity.

France, home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority, has set up a special panel of 32 lawmakers to consider whether a law should be enacted to bar Muslim women from wearing the full veil, known as a burka or niqab.

The country has had a long-running debate on how far it is willing to go to accommodate Islam without undermining the tradition of separating church and state, enshrined in a flagship 1905 law.

In 2004, it passed a law banning headscarves or any other "conspicuous" religious symbols in state schools to defend secularism.

Sarkozy in June said the burka was not a symbol of religious faith but a sign of women's "subservience" and declared that the full veil was "not welcome" here.

He was speaking Thursday in the Alpine town of La Chapelle en Vercors in his first intervention in a countrywide debate launched last month on what it means to be French.

Public meetings are due to take place in some 450 government offices around the country, involving campaigners, students, parents and teachers, unions, business leaders and French and European lawmakers.

The debate will end with a conference early next year on the twin questions of "what it means to be French today" and "what immigration contributes to our national identity."

The Socialist opposition has accused the government of pandering to anti-immigrant sentiment to shore up support on the right ahead of regional elections in March.

It has warned the debate risks alienating France's large communities of immigrant descent.

But Sarkozy said Thursday that "this is a noble debate" and that "those who do not want this debate are afraid of it."

Sarkozy made national identity a key campaign theme when he was running for the presidency in 2007