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The Nepal Digest Wednesday 9 August 95: Shrawan 25 2052 BkSm Volume 41 Issue 3
******************************************************************************
* TND Board of Staff *
* ------------------ *
* Editor/Co-ordinator: Rajpal J. Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* TND Archives: Sohan Panta k945184@atlas.kingston.ac.uk *
* SCN Correspondent: Rajesh B. Shrestha rshresth@black.clarku.edu *
* *
* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* *
* "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything" -Dr. MLK *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" - Sirdar Khalifa *
* *
******************************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 1995 15:15:30 +0100 (BST)
From: B J Lawson-mcdowall <hspbjlm@bath.ac.uk>
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - August 8, 1995 (24 Shrawan 2052 BkSm)
Re tld's link between Arun III cancellation and Tibetan dissidents.
Forget it. The Bank didn't need any encouragement to drop Arun, just a
president who wouldn't lose face.
Tintin
*****************************************************************
From: ponta@sas.upenn.edu (Pratyoush R. Onta)
Subject: (fwd) gurkhas in the news
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu (tnd)
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 1995 11:09:01 -0400 (EDT)
Proprietary to the United Press International 1995
August 8, 1995, Tuesday, BC cycle
BYLINE: BY BHOLA RANA
BODY:
Fifty years after Japan's surrender ended World War II, military
analysts point to Nepal's contribution as critical to the Allied victory.
''Without the Nepalese, Britain wouldn't have been able to face the
Japanese threat as the British Army was largely committed to the German
threat,'' said Lt. Col. Nigel Mossop, commanding officer of the British
Gurkhas Depot in Nepal. Lt. Gen. Shridhar Shumshere Rana, president of
the Nepal National Ex- Servicemen's association, echoed the sentiment.
''If Nepal had not participated in the war at that time, Great Britain
would not have been able to mobilize British troops in the European
Theater,'' he said. As many as 200,000 Nepalese fought as British Indian
Army soldiers in Asia and Europe, most of them Gurkha tribesmen from the
hills in the largely mountainous country. ''Nepal participated not to
please colonial Great Britain in neighboring India, but to demonstrate
friendship to a loyal friend,'' said Katmandu's Tribhuvan University
professor Hamenta Shumshere Rana. ''Many died in the war, but the
soldiers served willingly and were compensated by the British.'' An
Australian diplomat who served in Nepal during the war, Butadrian Sever,
says World War II took its toll on the small Himalayan kingdom. In his
book ''Nepal Under the Ranas,'' Sever says Nepal suffered a greater
casualty-to-population ratio than any other country fighting in the war.
In Asia, Nepalese troops served in India, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and
in French Indochina and Dutch Indonesia. Although official VJ Day
celebrations will not be held in Nepal this summer -- Japan is the
country's largest aid donor -- some Nepalese war veterans were scheduled
to participate in ceremonies in London Aug. 19 and 20, the British Embassy
in Katmandu said. Three Nepalese recipients of the Victoria Cross,
Britain's highest award for valor in the armed services, were scheduled to
attend the London ceremonies. ''This will be a last tribute to me for my
relentless service as a soldier and officer,'' said Brig. Gen. Chutra
Bahadur Thapa, a recipient of the Military Cross, Britain's third-highest
gallantry award. Thapa served as a platoon commander in Asia during the
war and recounted his platoon's advance against the Japanese in Burma and
Assam, now part of India. ''We had to dislodge and capture the Japanese
entrenched on Long Tree Hill in Assam,'' he said. After crawling up the
hilltop to a position 300 yards away from the Japanese, Thapa's platoon
found the enemy soldiers to be unarmed because they were digging trenches.
''We attacked and killed scores of Japanese and captured a lot of
ammunition,'' he said. ''This action finally opened the road to Burma from
Assam and Japanese morale totally collapsed.'' Another Nepalese soldier
involved in the campaign to push the Japanese into Burma from India, now
80 years old, recalls the Assam fighting. ''The Japanese were ferocious.
They were stubborn. They were arrogant. They would not retreat,'' Lt. Col.
Bhairab Bahadur Thapa said. ''They would not surrender.'' ''When the war
ended after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we refused to board a
ship to Calcutta from Rangoon,'' he said, explaining his men wanted to
stay on in case the Japanese surrender was a ruse.
South China Morning Post
August 4, 1995
HEADLINE: Hot shots at home on the range
GRAPHIC: (Photo: Eric Li); Top guns . . . marksman Captain Dharmendra
Gurung (left), 41, three times a Queen's Medal winner at the Army's Bisley
contest will probably be the territory's most sought after security guard
when the Gurkhas disband next year. Yan Suk-yee, 24, of the Royal Hong
Kong Regiment, won a Queen's Medal for the territory's women's team.
**********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 16:23:15 -0400
From: eknath@math.cornell.edu (Eknath Belbase (Durrett))
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - August 8, 1995 (24 Shrawan 2052 BkSm)
Re: Bad form
------------
This is with regard to Mr. French Bread's post about using the word "asshole"
wrt Prez Clinton. He makes a comparison between never saying something
insulting about the King in Nepal and never saying something insulting
about the President here. Are you suggesting that codes of acceptable
public speech are IDENTICAL here and there? That they OUGHT to be?
First of all, a king is a king. People insult the prime minister
(especially Girija :] ) all the time. Look at England - the prime minister
often gets a lot of heat (remember all those jokes about Mr. Margaret Thatcher
?) and much of it is insulting, but people generally treat royalty with
a lot more respect. So if you ARE going to have comparable standards then
atleast make sure it applies to similar positions. Secondly, the
standards are NOT comparable. What you are criticising Karki for doing is
something that is considerably milder, especially being in joke form,
than what Rush Limbaugh does on a daily basis, and gets paid to do.
So basically I think your problem has to do with the fact that it is a
dang foreigner who did it as opposed to a true red-blooded American like
yourself. Also, would you complain if some dang foreigner insulted a
high-ranking official of ANOTHER country, say Nigeria? If the answer to that
is no, then your position is on ground even more ideologically shaky. What
you're basically saying is - don't come to my country and then insult
an American. [If you're merely asking that everyone show good taste in all
discourse then OK, I won't argue with you] Well guess what, dude?
Though I may agree with you about it being bad form, your own Supreme
Court has decided that atleast as far as free speech goes, non-resident
aliens have the same rights as yourself - and Rush Limbaugh.
Finally, while we're on the subject of bad form, would you like to guess
how many people think the crack "maybe Karki would be better suited
to being back in Kathmandu, selling thankas..." is in good form?
Eknath Belbase
**********************************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 17:10:42 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Mtn. Bike Touring Nepal - Suggestions?!
From: Barbara Sharp <bsharp@slonet.org>
My husband & I are preparing for an around-the-world adventure, starting
out touring on mountain bikes and possibly doing the whole trip on bikes
if enjoyable.
At this point I could very much use some advise as to how useful a
mountain bike would be in Nepal. We have no objection to storing it for a
time to do a trek but are there also areas we could tour by bike? We
prefer to get away from main tourist areas and into smaller villages.
We anticipate being there Sept & Oct and would be flying into Kathmandu.
Thanks in advance for your assistance! All comments appreciated.
bsharp@slonet.org
*********************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 18:52:23 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: World Bank Cancels Loan for Dam
From: jai@mantra.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj)
World Bank Cancels Loan for Controversial Nepal Dam
By Pratap Chatterjee
WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (IPS) - The World Bank has cancelled plans to
fund a controversial hydro-electric dam in a remote part of the
Nepali Himalayas -- the second time in history that the
multilateral institution has bowed to an international outcry from
environmentalists to abandon a proposed loan.
At midnight on Thursday, hours after most World Bank staff had gone
home, a handful of yawning officials here put the final touches on
the cancellation statement that they had just agreed with Nepali
government officials who were checking into work halfway across the
world in Kathmandu.
The 764-million-dollar, 201-megawatt dam project sparked debate
because of the possible environmental impact of the dam, which was
to have been built in the Arun river valley, and a proposed 122-
kilometer access road.
Anti-dam activists say the river valley contains one of the few
pristine forests left in the Himalayas. It is inhabited by 450,000
people from 10 indigenous groups whose traditional ways of life
were at risk due to the expected in- migration of outsiders via the
access road.
Just over two years ago the Bank came to a similar agreement with
the government of India to pull out of the equally contentious
Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river.
The Narmada decision was made after an independent investigation
led by Bradford Morse, the former head of the United Nations
Development Programme, condemned the planning as well as the
construction of the dam.
The Arun project has been cancelled just before the scheduled
publication of a similar report by the Bank's newly-constituted
inspecation panel, which has been investigating charges by local
citizens that the Bank failed to follow its own policies.
Rumours have been rife around the institution since Gautam Kaji,
one of the Bank's three managing directors, called a special
meeting of the Bank's board of executive directors Wednesday to
inform them that James Wolfensohn, the Bank's new president, had
reached an accord with Manmohan Adhikari, the Nepali prime
minister, to pull out of the project.
''The judgement made over a year ago came out in favour of the
project. Irrespective of whether that was the right or wrong
decision at the time, I have concluded that under today's
circumstances and with the information at ny disposal, the risks to
Nepal were too great to justify proceeding with the project,''
Wolfensohn said in the midnight statement issued to the press.
''This is a victory for Nepal and a stunning defeat for the Bank,''
said Gopal Siwakoti of the Arun Concerned Group, who has been one
of the key opponents of the project, when reached in Kathmandu.
Siwakoti said out that the accord was probably reached in order to
avoid releasing the inspection panel report, which although
significantly watered down by Bank officials, says that the Bank
had made major mistakes.
''This is a very smart face saving measure on the part of the Bank.
It is trying wriggle out of admitting that it violated its own
policies by approving the inspection panel's critical report,''
added Siwakoti.
The limited investigation completed in June by the 11-month-old
inspection panel concluded that the Bank ''failed to observe in
substance the policy requirements for ... resettlement,'' according
to a copy of the final report that was obtained by IPS.
Richard Bissell and Alvaro Umana, two of the three panel members,
travelled to Nepal to meet with local people in the towns of
Amrang, Num, Chhyangkuti, Khandbari, Tumlingtar and Chewabesi.
The people of Tumlingtar told the inspectors that their pleas for
compensation for land seized by the government had been ignored.
Jobs that should have been provided for affected families were also
not provided.
A broader investigation into the economic viability of the project
was scotched by the Bank board. Groups in Nepal and Britain say
there are far cheaper, small-scale alternatives to the dam which
had not been adequately researched by the Bank before it approved
the Arun project.
The panel's investigation of three other aspects of the project --
including environmental impact assessments, the Bank's design of a
regional environmental programme, and the impact of the project on
the indigenous peoples of the valley -- was also restricted by the
board.
It ordered the panel to examine remedial steps, rather than address
the question of whether Bank staff had dealt appropriately with
these problems in the first place.
It was only in April, for example, that the Bank convened a panel
of experts to look into the risks to the dam posed by glacial lake
outbursts. That was six months after the complaint was first
submitted. Activists argued that this problem should have been
covered in the original design. The experts concluded the risks
were real.
The panel also found that the Bank had yet to implement a
''regional environmental action plan,'' although such a plan was
described by Bank staff as ''integral'' to preparations for the
project.
Both the activist groups in Nepal and the World Bank now say that
they will be advocating alternative energy sources for the
mountainous land-locked kingdom.
''We in Nepal are now thinking about launching a positive campaign
for Nepal's power development. Foreign donors are encouraged to
support small and medium hydro power projects that can be managed
by Nepalese and benefit Nepalese and not foreign consultants and
contractors,'' said Siwakoti.
Wolfensohn said that the Bank had already begun talks with Nepali
officials to look for alternatives. A team of Bank officials is
expected to fly to the landlocked mountain nation in the near
future.
The decision has also been welcomed by international groups that
have been campaigning against the building of large hydro-electric
and irrigation projects.
''Hopefully this is a sign of reality on the part of the Bank that
large dams make no economic, environmental or social sense,'' said
Patrick McCully, campaigns director for International Rivers
Network (IRN), a California-based activist group also opposed to
the Arun project.
Not everybody is pleased though. Sources say that Wolfensohn's
decision has made a number of Bank executive directors angry
because they feel it sends the wrong message to borrowers who will
look elsewhere for funding. Despite the flaws in this project, they
worry, other funders are likely to be less attentive to
environmental and related considerations than the Bank.
But activists like IRN's McCully contend that the Bank is the
lender of last resort and if the Bank refuses to fund a project
then nobody else will touch the project.
Courtesy of Joydeep Mitra
*************************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 17:04:56 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Kathmandu: Pashupatinath, pollution and a few more stuff
From: Sujata Rana
One morning I went to Pashupatinath for Darshan. I was quite shocked to
see how the police were treating the older women who were standing in
line for hours to see the Pashupati and get some Phool and Prasad. In
some cases, the police were even using their battans on these women. The
women's line was quite long and static, but what disgusted me the
most was to see a special line of rich marawari tourists (who
had just gotten off the buses) who were getting special treatment, a
special feature, I was told, at Pashupati these days.
Oh yes, I suffered from asthma attack due to ever worsening pollution
problem in the valley. The pollution problem seems to be exacerbated by
traffic grid-locks. In one occasion, it took us one hour just to cross the
Bagmati bridge, all the while getting stuck behind a smoke spewing bus. We
still seem to have garbage problem more than ever.
If tourism is the ticket to our economic success, we should start taking
care of the valley and potentially make it one of the most exotic places
to visit. Kathmandu valley with its unparalleled cultural heritage can
serve as a gateway to lofty himalayas, spectacular valleys and
unique wildlife. I had a feeling that it was losing its luster. I don't
see any reason to give up however. All we need is a few honest policy makers.
Oh yes, I really got sick and tired of never-ending political squabbling.
Everyone loved talking politics, almost continuously. Nevertheless, I
thoroughly enjoyed my visit.
Sujata
***********************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 17:10:23 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: World Bank Kills Arun III
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
The World Bank's cancellation of Arun III funding is a big victory for the
process of capacity building in hydro sector in Nepal. For some years to come,
the local manufacturers and hydro companies can now venture projects that are of
moderate size. Slowly, their COLLECTIVE capacity will increase as has been the
case in the last decade. Arguably, the Arun project concerned many opponents for
the harm it would do to local companies more than the environment. Now, hopefully
more Nepali engineers will be able to handle projects in Nepal. And maybe if Kali
Gandaki's penstock pipes are washed away by a flood in the future, we won't have
to make a special request to Japan and wait for months for a replacement, as
happened with Kulekhani.
Reading recent articles, it becomes clear that international donors never wanted
to fund Arun only and no other project. They are equally interested in smaller
alternatives too; it is just some government officials and NPC in Nepal that
oppose the notion of giving the alternatives a chance. The 10% commission from
contractors of Arun III - which would be around $76.4 million - essentially
'bought' the decision makers from our side. Our former man at NPC, Ram Sharan
Mahat, used to be a big advocate of "small is beautiful" before coming to power.
After taking charge, however, he completely trashed his ideology and started
branding the opposers of Arun as "bikash birodhi" (= opposers of development).
UML had no clear opinion on Arun when it was in opposition. It said it did
not have enough information to oppose Arun although it was skeptical of the
project because of its high cost. Now, UML is expressing surprise that WB has
cancelled Arun's funding!
The "no-option trap" that was claimed to be Arun proved wrong. Active and
grassroot opposition supported by logic has made its thrust felt so massively for
the first time in Nepal. We can hope this will serve an an excellent paradigm for
planners in WB and especially Nepal in the future. The government will also be
wise to co-operate with the private sector and rewrite some of the existing laws
that are impeding the private enterpreneurs.
****************************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 17:08:45 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: World Bank Kills Arun III
From: ponta@mail2.sas.upenn.edu (Pratyoush R. Onta)
Amulya describes Bikash Pandey as heading the environmental
group that opposed Arun III. For the record, this is incorrect. Bikash
and the Alliance for Energy argued against Arun primarily on two points
1) cost/kw of power which for Arun was way high compared to other projects
and
2) capacity building (defined broadly this means both the social and
technical management of the resource) to which Arun was not going to
contribute.
Now that Arun III seems dead, we should think about at least the following:
1) While Arun tamasha continued, the international banks (ADB included)
that were funding the Khimti project (c. 60MW) to be done by Himal Power
Company (of which Butwal Power Company is a major share-holder) in
collaboration with some investors from Norway delayed their financial
commitment long enough to increase the cost of the project on paper by
about 30% (over prices calculated by 1992-93). What inferences might we
draw for the future of private sector power generation in Nepal in light
of the Arun "death" and Khimti "price-hike".
2) To see a US "retaliation" in the death of Arun that is tied to Nepal's
deportation of Tibetans would be hasty in my opinion.Enough doubts about
Arun had been raised within the WB before Manmohan's recent visit to China.
3) I hope Nepal's political bosses will see some sense in the death of
Arun and initiate region wise 20-30MW power plants for which money can be
found more easily. Private parties could be attracted for the same, if
they are provided some guarantees. The next big project, if the govt is
interested is Gandaki-A for which detailed costing has been prepared,
road to dam site and power house from the Siddhartha Raj Marg is already
there (yet to be metal-topped in late 1994), etc.
Let us see if there is batti for us in our future.
Pratyoush Onta
***********************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 17:13:24 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: All the way from Tulsipur, Dang
From: skpandey@athena.mit.edu (Shreekrishna Pandey)
GBNC's president Ashutosh Tiwari is in Tulsipur, Dang this summer, as a volunteer
at Dilli Bahadur Choudhary's Backward Society Education (BASE) organization. You
may recall that Dilli, 25, was in Boston last December as the first person from
South Asia to receive the prestigious $25,000 Reebok International Human Rights
Award. Below is Ashu's message:
It's been more than a month since I have been in Tulsipur. And I have been busy
doing these six things: Listening and listening to many people in and out of
BASE; helping Dilli set up a community legal-aid program; interviewing the
bonded laborers in the BASE's impact area; conducting make-shift
management/leadership and English-speaking trainings for the core BASE staff;
learning the Tharu language, and beginning to write about my experiences, in
English and Nepali, for the Kathmandu-based publications.
I am shocked to meet many Tharus and their families who have become bonded
laborers (kamaiyas) at landlords' for life just to pay back a loan each of Rs
5000($100) or Rs 10,000. Even for the former Kamaiyas - many of whom are
surprisingly fluent in Nepali - chances of getting outside employment are none
due to both the poor economy and the absence of maketable skills.
Against this backdrop, talking about legal rights and civil liberties sounds too
pretentious when the choice to be free can also sadly mean being forced to go
hungry till death. Sometimes, I feel so overwhelmed by the whole range of social
problems and their underlying complexities that I just don't know what to do.
Still, I draw inspiration from Dilli and others, and try to work out activities
for the bonded laborers to link the legal help (for freedom) with the economic
help (for employment). So far, great has been the challenge; greater still has
been the frustration; yet greatest has been the joy at being able to work like
this.
I am grateful to Harvard's "Education for Action" for a social-action grant that
has helped pay for my round-trip air-fare, and to Mr. Julian Sobin and Hemendra
Bohra for further financial help. I am indebted to Professor Bill Fisher at
Harvard for his advice and guidance, as I am to Raju Pradhan, Binoy Yonzon, Nuru
Lama, Faith Adiele, Mala Blon, Bikash Thapaliya, Sarju Shrestha and Mary
Peckham for all sorts of help with the logistics. And, I am thankful to Dilli and
his colleagues at BASE for their support and optimism. And, of course, I am also
grateful to many friends on both the TND and SCN who has responded to my queries
about BASE and Dang.
Ashu can be reached at: Ashutosh Tiwari, C/O Backward Society Education,
Tulsipur, Dang, Nepal. Fax: 011-977-82-20312
**************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Aug 1995 17:03:28 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: news august 3
From: ponta@mail2.sas.upenn.edu (Pratyoush R. Onta)
The Daily Yomiuri, August 4, 1995
HEADLINE: Loans for Nepal dam project to be canceled
BYLINE: Yomiuri Shimbun
DATELINE: TOKYO
BODY:
Apparently bowing to pressure from environmental groups, the World
Bank has
decided to cancel a loan for the construction of a huge dam in Nepal that
Japan was also to help finance, sources familiar with the project said
Thursday.
Although the bank has not clearly stated that pressure from
environmentalists forced it to cancel the loan, the sources said concerns
raised by environmental groups about the impact the $800 million project
would have on Nepal's environment and the people living in the area of the
proposed hydroelectric dam was a factor.
The sources also said the World Bank was concerned about the Nepalese
government's ability to administer construction of the dam.
Once the World Bank officially announces its decision, Japan will
cancel its
plans to provide a loan of $160 million for the project, the sources said.
The Arun Valley dam would create a reservoir holding two million tons of
water on the upper stretches of the Arun River in eastern Nepal.
The project was scheduled to be financed mainly by the World Bank and
industrialized countries including Japan. The Nepalese government was to
provide $100 million in financing. Nepal asked the World Bank to provide
$180 million and requested $130 million from the Asian Development Bank.
Environmental groups and nongovernment organizations have for years
criticized the World Bank for its involvement in projects that they say are
destroying the environments of developing countries.
A Japanese mission sent to the construction site had concluded that
there would be no major impact on the environment. Japan also said it
would be unnecessary to move a number of local residents from the area.
However, Japan has pointed out the necessity for measures to prevent the
dam's collapse should a nearby glacial lake melt.
August 3, 1995, Thursday, BC Cycle
15:40 Central European Time
SECTION: International News
LENGTH: 374 words
HEADLINE: Nepalese to rule on parliament dissolution on August 28
DATELINE: Kathmandu
BODY:
The Nepalese Supreme Court has ended hearings on petitions challenging
the dissolution of the lower house of parliament and said Thursday it will
announce its ruling on August 28.
Seven petitions had been filed at the court against the dissolution of
the lower house of parliament by the minority communist government and the
scheduled holding of elections in November.
Hearing on the constitutional case had begun last month. The main
contention of those against the dissolution of the house was that
opposition parties were ready to form a coalition government when the
Prime Minister, Man Mohan Adhikari, recommended to King Birendra to
dissolve the lower house and hold fresh elections.
The communist minority government was formed in November last year.
The case was heard by an 11-judge bench presided over by the Chief
Justice, Buswa Nath Upadhyaya, who was one of the framers of the present
constitution.
The case had evoked unprecedented interest among the people in Nepal
and led to a virtual polarization among them.
*************************************************************8
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 1995 20:06:44 -0400
From: BAL SUVEDI <BSUVEDI@PHNET.SPH.JHU.EDU>
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: The Nepal Digest - August 7, 1995 (23 Shrawan 2052 BkSm)
Dear Rajpalji,
Namastey.
Thank you so much for sending me the Nepal Digest. I hope that I will
be getting it regularly. Convey my regards to all your fellow-staff.
Thanking you once again, with best regards.
Dr. B. K. Suvedi
*******************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 08:48:03 -0500 (CDT)
From: "Mohan K. Balla" <mballa@ag.auburn.edu>
To: The Editor <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Monthly magazines: Kamana and Sadhana
Rajpalji,
I appreciate your including this information about two monthly
magazines: Kamana and Sadhana in the next issue of TND. Also, I request
you and other netters to provide information on other weekly and monthly
magazines published from Nepal so that interested persons can subscribe to
or make arrangements to get those magazines of their choice.
KAMANA
-------
Kamana is a monthly magazine which basically covers about Nepalese movies
(both big screen and video), artists, music, TV. etc. Contents of the
latest issue (93rd. issue) of the magazine will provide some idea about
the type of the magazine.
Contents:
* 'Khan janena bhane eutai chumban le chalchitra ka dhoka ma tala lagchha'
* 'Bolna najanne bhashama Nir Shah le 'Rajmati' tayar pare'
* 'Action king baneka Shiva Shrestha ............'
* 'Garbha mai harayeka doshro Narayan Gopal'
* 'Darshak sanga thatta garne Dinesh le 'twakka tukka' kin chhode?'
* 'Aja ka Yujin Lama bholi ka Ranjit Gajmer'
* 'Shashtriya sangit ka guru thala parnubho'
* ''Antachhyari' ka Annu Kapur le Nepal bat lakhaun kamaye'
* 'Tapashwi jasta Manahari lai Bombay ma 'Dada' bhanera dhogchhan'
Other regular features:
Movie reviews, shooting reports, pathak ko prasna....., pathak ko dristi
ma, Huinya, patramitrata etc.
SADHANA
-------
Sadhana is a family digest published monthly. The latest issue (no. 30)
includes:
* 'Nakkali doctor dekhi sawadhan'
* 'Mahan patrakar 'Pulitzer' jivan katha
* 'Kimbadanti: atyachari raja ka char mag haru'
* 'Himali jana jivan katha: Antim Faisala'
* 'Aitihasik dharabahik 'Prachin Gorkha'
* 'Bideshi katha: Tyo Panja'
* 'Swasthya charcha- rajaswola pachhi ke hunchha?'
* 'Satya ghatna- Nepali Cheli Bombay bat phutkin'
* 'Khel kheladi- Imran Khan ko bibadaspad bihe'
Regular features:
'Aaj jasko charcha chhaina', Mero ek din, Prasna tapain ko......, Tapain
ko gharma hamro doctor, Ghar parivar, Jana adalat etc.
Both these monthlies are published by Chief Editor and Publisher Mr.
Pushkar Lal Shrestha for Kamana Prakashan Samuha.
Cost of each issue of both Kamana and Sadhana is US $1.00 including
postage by air mail.
For more information, you can directly contact:
Mr. Pushkar Lal Shrestha
Kamana Printers
Kamana Plaza, Bhimsensthan
P.O. Box 2045
Kathmandu
Nepal
-Mohan K. Balla
Auburn University
**************************************************************
From: "Robby Khanal" <RKhanal@state.de.us>
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: re: nepali cds
Dear editor,
I'm also interested in purchasing SUR SUDHA's and other Nepali music on CDs.
If anyone has any information on how I could purchase these, please let me
know. My e-mail address is RKhanal@state.de.us, and my phone # is 302-738-
4052. Thanks. Robby.
********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 01 Aug 1995 23:46:15 EDT
To: nepal-request@cs.niu.edu
From: Jonisa@aol.com
Subject: please publish my request in next newsletter :)
To Editors- N.K. Sharma of Midland, TX; and P.K. Sharma of Palm Beach, FL
suggested I send this request to you. Any help you can give me is greatly
appreciated. Please edit as needed, but please include my E-Mail and address
as listed in the request (not this .aol address, as I am dissconnecting from
AOL soon.)
CULTURE QUEST!!
I am currently seeking stories from our past. Nepal is rich with heritage,
and I am interested ina past that tends to seem farther and farther away. My
father has filled me with a keen sense about the true riches of our culture,
but growing up in the United States has made it all seem a fantasy. I want
my American nephews and my American children to know where they come from,
and a little bit about who they are, so I intend to write illustrated
children's stories from Nepal.
Please think back to the stories your father and your mother told you. Think
aboutthe scary stories your uncle told you. Think about anything in your own
life that identifies Nepal, and then send those stories to me. I will take
good care of them, as my only intention is to preserve my sense of belonging
to a people, to preserve an interesting culture in an ever changing and
computerized U.S.A.
Send your stories to: Nisa D. Sharma, 7493 Chevy Chase #204, Austin, TX
78752
Or E-Mail them to: nsharma@auschron.com
Anything will be helpful, even if the stories are incomplete. Thank You for
your help.
******************************************************************
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 1995 09:23:00 EDT
To: A10rjs1@cs.niu.edu
From: DGURUNG@CLEMSON.EDU
Subject: Repatriation of Tibetans from Nepal
Over 200 Tibetans Repatriated by Nepal Despite UN & US Protests
[Crosslisted from WTN) ----
Forced repatriation of Tibetan asylum seekers is continuing to take place
in Nepal, with at least ten refugees deported this month, after they had
formally sought government protection. The deportations continue in the face
of strong protests from the US, Australia and the UN's High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR), and could have repercussions on western aid to Nepal.
Since April 23rd this year Nepal has repatriated over 200 Tibetans who had
crossed the Himalayas to seek asylum, including three well-known Tibetan
dissidents, while other are currently hiding in the mountains to evade
Nepali police, according to diplomatic sources.
The real figure for forced deportations this year is likely to be as high
as 400. By June this year refugee arrivals in Kathmandu were down by 520
compared to 1994, suggesting that up to 200 other deportations have
probably taken place without being documented by exile Tibetan or western
observers in Nepal.
Until April this year the Nepal authorities allowed Tibetan asylum seekers
who reached Kathmandu to be assessed by UNHCR officials in Kathmandu before
proceeding to India, where asylum is granted. About 2,500 had been helped in
this way each year since 1990.
Nepalese Government ministers deny that there has been any policy change, but
diplomatic sources say that by 19th June at least 14 groups of refugees,
totalling around 210 people, are known to have been handed over by Nepalese
police to the Chinese authorities at the border town of Dram, known in
Chinese as Zhangmu.
[...]
Security patrols have been intensified around Salleri, 70 km south of the
Tibet-Nepal border, as well as other villages in the Solo Khumbu area as
police search for refugees who have crossed the Nangpa-la, the 5,700 metre
pass most often used by Tibetan refugees.
[...]
"The US has urged the Government of Nepal at a senior level to handle these
Tibetan cases according to international procedures and practices," the
[US] State
Department spokesman said, calling on the Nepalese to refer all asylum
seekers to the UNHCR for assessment.
The US authorities are reported to have taken the matter up directly with the
Prime Minister in Nepal and have issued at least two demarches in Kathmandu.
While the State Department emphasised that it has no immediate plans to take
action on US aid to Nepal, worth some $25 million per year, it noted that aid
cuts could not be ruled out.
[...]
Australia has also issued a demarche to the Nepalese on the repatriation
issue, while the British Government has also made its concerns known. [...]
But there was conspicuous silence from the European Union, which has issued
no demarche on the repatriations and which has decided to wait and see if the
policy continues before making any collective statement. European inaction
reflects the growing reluctance of some EU members, notably some
Mediterranean states, to raise human rights issues, particularly in relation
to China. [...]
The deportation policy began in April within days of Prime Minister Man Mohan
Adhikari's first official visit to Beijing since Nepal's Communist Party won
a general election last year, and could indicate increasing closeness to
China. Last month police in Kathmandu raided book shops in Thamel, the
tourist area of the city, seizing stickers with the slogan "Free Tibet" and
detaining at least one shopkeeper, according to a tourist who witnessed a
raid on 23rd June. New elections are due to take place in November, giving
the Nepal Communist Party a chance of strengthening its position.
The most serious case reported so far involves three prominent Tibetan
dissidents who had recently been freed from prison in Lhasa. One, 64 year old
Tsewang Palden, was on conditional release, and is certain to be returned to
prison for his attempted escape to Nepal. He was handed over with nine other
Tibetans on 18th June.
[...]
Tibetans face increased efficiency by Chinese border security forces, who
intercepted 6,838 "illegal emigrants" throughout China in 1994, a 23%
increase on the previous year, according to the People's Daily on 16th
January. The number of Tibetan asylum seekers detained by Chinese police is
not known. Under Chinese law people crossing the border without permission
face a sentence of up to one year in prison, or many years more if accused of
trying to contact the Dalai Lama and his government.
[...]
[names of 19 deportees available from TIN] [end] -
****************************************************************************
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 1995 15:59:54 PDT
To: The Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
From: Dahal Durga <daha9014@uidaho.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - July 14, 1995 (30 Ashadh 2052 BkSm)
Xinhua Reports: Election in Nepal
A total of 97 political parties have registered with the Election
Commission (EC) before the dead line to apply for registration on
Thursday afternoon. Last year there were 69 parties applying for
registration with the EC. This year 28 new parties are born. The total
constituencies are 205 according to the Constitution of Nepal 1990. Any
party needs 103 constituencies be won by public voting to make a
government.
Several returnees from abroad may miss their name in the voter list.
It is hard to correct the missing voters name. Such a person should
appear in front of the EC in a given time, with two witnesses already
registered in the EC book. Ordinary Nepali can not claim "I am a
voter!
It takes three working days to correct the name. First day go check
the book, read from top to bottom, cannot find name. Second day go
talk to some registered honorary Nepali in the desired constituency.
Third day take them in the EC Office, might be feed them in the
restaurant, talk about foreign trips, and be registered.
The real election day comes in November. Get up from the bed, get fresh,
and think to vote. If some one goes to vote, in Urban area in the Valley
of Kathmandu, and may be Birat Nagar, Dharan, Pokhara, or other Cities
the AMALE voters will be on queue a mile. First vote there, and run for
proxi votes in other constituencies, it will be interesting if really
checked the queues in each 20 minutes by Video Cameras.
The newly registered voter may wait gently for his term to vote. He
will ask the police to be entered. Police may look at the voter ID no.
The voter may or may not vote inside. If someone already did this job,
then no worry. The job is done. If the real voter votes, it is a
surprising pleasure to him.
Whoever whatever patriot be, the comming election won't be stopped.
Welcome to this electiion 1995. It will cost Rs.40 crores, 400 million
rupees ($7.92) according to Xinhua. The expenses will be unlimited.
The real voter marker ink will cost Rs.3 crore. But election
commission will not buy the stainy ink so expensive. In place they
will use ordinary ink, may be washable by the proxier.
Just right after the announcement of the elction, lots of AMALE's will be
seen on the street singing and chanting the rhymes they are asigned.
Several temos do this job 24 hours, non stop, carrying two AMALE workers
and a tape recorder with a loud speaker. Everybody are paid. Good
employment.
Walk around the city, or go anywhere, even by bus or taxi,if any wall
appears will be nicely painted. Some body like it or not, the painters
are good paid. Sometimes, the wall owner also is paid good.
>From my side, I have no objection for comming election. Girija
operated last election, and Man Mohan is operating the comming
election. What I wish is, come one party with atleast 104 to 155
seats. If 155+, that works to change the constitution of Nepal. If
just 104, that will work for one full term, provided not dividing,
like last year. Elections are doing good for the development of
Constitution. People are people finally, they should be
respected.
Comments of lots of expenses is useless. This expense is unavoidable,
for the survival of Nepali gin for tomorrow. It is not acceptable to me
to neglect the voting rights of the people and make somebody selectively
on power.
Last year, the same time the same thing happened in Nepal. I had to
share my part as I am. I did not think some body come and
secure our country, we have to secure our country, at least by
slogans. So, went and queued to vote. Some checkers found my
namelegible to vote, some found already voted. I voted to Prakas Man
Singh, (Professor of Statics, Tri Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan University)
son of the Great SARBAMANYA, LAUHAPURUS, Ganesh Man Singh, from
Dillibazar Constituency. It was a real fun. I wish you have fun too.
**************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 07 Aug 1995 18:11:37 PDT
To: nepal-request@cs.niu.edu
From: "shailesh ghimire" <ghimi_s@whitworth.edu>
Subject: Reply to Micheal Nord: Child Labor
Dear Micheal,
I think child labor is an issue which any developing country
will have to face. It is not a phenomenon just in Nepal but in many other
economically struggling country. But for westerners I just have one
thing to say " HANDS OFF ". We will deal with it on our own. I am not
being uptight about it nor am I insensitive to the atrocity of child
labor.
Appaling conditions of work are very relative. What is
appaling and by whose standards do you determine what is appaling?
Aren't the mine holes that 1840 workers in Britian were working in
appaling compared to 1990 Britian? If there were a more ecnonomically
adavnced country in 1840 should that country have boycotted coal from
Britian and hence hindered Britians road to economic prosperity?
It is unfortunate that Nepali children should have to work
under such conditions in the 1990's but we can't do much about it. I
am an elite member of the system and cannot make decisions for them
but I can at least make sure that the products which they make sell's
abroad so that their children will not have to suffer. For any
country to prosper a few generations will have to suffer. And in
Nepals case this is the generation which will have to suffer.
Therefore the best thing the developed countries can do is open trade
further. Westerners who are concerned about this should ask their
governments to lower tarrifs on carpets and similar products. While
we the elite in the developing countries should make sure that these
benifits trickle down to those who are sacrificing. That is a much
better thing to do than just shun down an industry in a country like
Nepal.
I am open to any form of comments on this issue.
Shailesh Ghimire.
ghimi_s@whitworth.edu
**********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 16:42:37 -0400
From: eknath@math.cornell.edu (Eknath Belbase (Durrett))
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - August 8, 1995 (24 Shrawan 2052 BkSm)
Re: Child Labor
---------------
In this discussion of child labor, those taking the position that it
is purely evil seem to be ignoring a couple of important points:
--------------------------------------------------------
Say we ARE able to put everyone under 16 in school - we find the
money to do this. What about the income that those kids and their
families now lose? Is the government going to reimburse them, too, or just
say "too bad, guys - we've decided its more important for your kids to be
able to read than to eat"?
And what about those kids that are not working for some outside employer but
for their families - whether in agriculture, selling vegetables, or
helping with the sewing shop?
What you are ignoring is the historical connection between changes in the
economy and the prohibition of child labor. In this country children
worked too - until this century, even. While the industrial revolution
was going on it was prevalent throughout Europe as well. It was only after
this era that anti child-labor legislation BECAME PRACTICAL. You're applying
post-industrial revolution values to a country that has not undergone one -
something that may just lead to more problems. Sure it would be great if
every kid in Nepal under the age of 16 could be sent to school for free.
What would be even BETTER is if their families could deal with it!
Finally, a small note related to cultural imperialism. Do we all believe
that free and compulsory education till age 16 is pure good, now?
Say you do educate all kids with the current standard curriculum. Of what
value will this education be to them given the current structure of the
economy? My more general point is that one ought to be more cautious
applying values that arose in different historical/economical settings
out-of-context to Nepal just because it is the current vogue here.
**********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 17:34:29 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Research on Public Transport in KTM
From: es8rkb@ballarat.edu.au
Hi netters,
I'm doing a project on the likelyhood of public transport in Kathmandu, with
the intention of producing a public transport strategy (hopefully). The glitch
however is that, its soo difficult to find the info. on Kathmandu Transport
system (if there is any??) If anybody has information, even a very minor one,
please write to me. I would be eternally grateful.
One of my friend told me that there was some overseas aid working on traffic
management in KTM. Is it true? If so which one is it?
Danyabad in advance.
Depika Sherchan
Melbourne. Australia
s931093@minyos.xx.rmit.edu.au
*********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 17:35:34 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: The Arun III Project: What Next?
From: bohara@unm.edu (Alok Bohara ECONOMICS)
The Arun III project: Some Thoughts
Alok Bohara
Finally, the World Bank has spoken. The Arun III project will
not materialize. I would not reiterate and try to list all of
the possible factors influencing the bank's final decision not to
fund the project. But, what I observed in all of the discussions
and news is the fact that the proponents of the project basically
failed to make compelling arguments. To me, there seems to be
four negative elements.
Jobs: The project is too complex for Nepalese engineers and
technicians, hence it would promote foreign dependency. The
construction jobs would also have to employ thousands of non-
Nepalese (from across the border) workers. Put these together,
the project does not create jobs for Nepalese workers that one
would expect from a mega-project like this.
Higher Energy Prices: The consumers would have to pay higher
energy prices.
Environmental Fallout: There is a fear that the pristine
Himalayan valleys would suffer environmental degradation.
Cultural Erosion: The country cannot afford to have several
thousand workers from across the border working in such a
pristine valley for a long period. A case in point is our
garment industry and the transformation of our cultural
heartland, Kathmandu valley.
Not being involved in the Arun III Project myself, I would very
much like to hear from you some benefits especially weighed
against the negative arguments outlined above.
Else, the only positive argument for this project would have to
be that it is a "prestige project" for Nepal and her proud
people. If this is the prevailing logic for this project then it
is, at least to me, a self-destructive and highly impractical way
to make economic decision.
What Next?
Currently we have virtually no other natural or man-made
resources to export. And without a viable exportable commodity
it is hard to envision Nepal ever pulling an "engine of economic
growth" and be prosporous. Even Vietnam has abdandoned its
close-door policy of economic isolation and has embraced an open
market philosophy.
So, I would like to initiate a debate along the following line.
First, let me assert the following proposition:
A potentially huge hydro energy in Nepal is the ticket
to her economic salvation. (The other is tourism.)
Due to a lack of our own industrial base in Nepal, can
we really harness this energy for our benefit without
"interacting" with the next-door (future) economic
giant India? Believe me, India is moving forward big
time. How can we then chart a strategy so that
(northern) India would be a big market for our hydro
power?
Or, do you think we can harness our huge hydro power
and improve our living standard without ever worrying
about the Indian market and its booming economy? How
would we do this, and how long do you think it would
take?
****************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 17:36:41 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Sur-Sudha a big success in New York!
From: Pradeep Bista <pbista@scisun.sci.ccny.cuny.edu>
The Sur-Sudha concert held here in New York by The Alliance for Democracy
and Human Rights in Nepal (ADHRC) was left with cheers and many minutes
of clapping this Saturday.
The group, consisting of Prem Rana "Autari"(flute), Bijaya Vaidya(Sitar),
and Surendra Shrestha(Tabla), played numbers from their album "Images of
Nepal." Among the songs played were "Rajamati Kumati," "Chhyanba ho,"
and others.
The pacific, heartwarming (and healing) music was accompanied at times by
the graceful, vibrant, and very articulated dance of Charan Pradhan, who
also is travelling with the group.
The program conducted at Columbia University left the audience with
spellbinding effect as they clapped and shouted "once more" filling the
whole autditorium. At the end, some of the members of the audience along
with the talents from New York who also had some items, were led to the
stage by Charan Pradhan--there was a celebration, almost a carnival!!!
Sur-Sudha is planning to travel all over the US. I, for sure, know that
they're going to Washington DC. So for all of you out there, don't miss it!
--Pradeep
*****************************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 17:37:00 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: September issue of Chautari
From: Pradeep Bista <pbista@scisun.sci.ccny.cuny.edu>
The August issue of "Chautari" was printed and released on August 5th.
Although it was commended by many here in New York, it lacks information
on important areas like Travel in Nepal.
The September issue of Chautari will be printed during the first week in
September. We seek contribution from all of you. Please send 150-200
word articles (on any topic) in either English or Nepali to:
Chautari
45-13 79th St.
Elmhust, NY 11373
call at (718)898-6556; (718)397-0571; (718)729-6836 for more information.
The deadline for article submission is by the 15th of August. If you
sent your snail-mail address before August 5th to my address, you will
soon be receiving the August issue of Chautari. If you did not, and
would like to receive the September issue, please e-mail me:
pbista@scisun.sci.ccny.cuny.edu so that your name can be included in the
list.
We are planning on putting up a WWW page for Chautari; I'll keep you
posted of any further advancements.
--Pradeep
**************************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 17:38:31 -0400
From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (Rajesh B. Shrestha)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: sponsoring visitor
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
i disagree: don't blame the u.s. embassy for their strictness in
distributing visas to nepalese.
as a peace corps volunteer in nepal, i dozens of my nepali friends asked
me to help them come to america. most proposed getting student or tourist
visas, though they admitted to me that they really intended to work in the
u.s.
i finally did agree to help one friend who was a trekking guide, spoke
excellent english, and owned a prosperous business. he SAID he was coming
to the states to set up some business deals with travel agents here. i
had known him for 3 years, had met his friends & family, etc. etc. i
considered him to be one of my closest nepali friends. he got his visa,
came to the states, and never returned to nepal. i later learned that he
had lied to me from the very beginning and never had any intention of
returning to nepal.
the embassy hassled me for having written his recommendation, and told me
that this was not unusual. in fact, 75% of the nepalese that come to the
u.s. stay and work illegally. for single nepali males, the rate is even
higher. why should the embassy trust nepalis when your countrymen who
have been granted visas in the past so blatantly ignored the law and their
responsibilities?
i currently volunteer with a refugee resettlement program and feel that
there are many otheres in the world whose very lives are at risk, and are
far more deserving of a chance to emigrate to the u.s.
*************************************************************
From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (Rajesh B. Shrestha)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Hindu Festivals
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
In article <DCpsMq.ux1@ns1.nodak.edu>,
Padam Sharma <psharma@emh1.tic.bismarck.nd.us> wrote:
>[...]
>Nepal follows a different calendar system than in the West [...]
>[...]
Maybe you, Padam, can explain me something: when I was in Nepal last
November, I was told that I was very lucky since it was "Diwali" (or was it
"Dipawali"?) time. For what I understood, besides being an important hindu
feast, it's also the new year for Newari people. I was also told that
another calendar in use in Nepal is the budist (or tibetan, I don't know if
they're are the same), as well of the western julian calendar.
My questions: what's wrong and right in what I was told? Is the calendar
you sent the "oficial" one? Is it used outside Nepal? Is Dewali celebrated
diferently in other hindu countries?
Thank you very much for your attention and your already sent calendar.
Regards
= J. Mario Pires - Centro de Fusao Nuclear =
= Instituto Superior Tecnico - Univ. Tecnica de Lisboa =
= Av Rovisco Pais, P-1096 Lisboa Codex, Portugal =
****************************************************************
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 17:40:15 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: news august 7
From: ponta@mail2.sas.upenn.edu (Pratyoush R. Onta)
DATELINE: kathmandu, august 7; ITEM NO: 0807043
BODY:
the nepalese government is firmly committed to improving the conditions
of all ethnic communities through effective programs and long-term
strategies, deputy prime minister madhav kumar nepal said sunday. the
government has already identified the target communities and launched
appropriate programs, he said at a forum on the endangered tribe of raute,
which was organized by tribhuvan university in kathmandu. nanda singh, a
student of the university, has conducted a thorough research on the mainly
nomadic tribe. nepal used to rely on foreigners for such kind of detailed
research in the past, the deputy prime minister said. according to the
research by singh, the total population of rautes is 475 in nepal and 505
in india. some of the rautes have settled down while others remain
nomadic.
AUGUST 8, 1995, TUESDAY
HEADLINE: nepali pm encourages women to attain more rights
DATELINE: kathmandu, august 8; ITEM NO: 0808070
BODY:
nepali prime minister man mohan adhikari encouraged nepali women to
take the initiative to do away with undemocratic social attitudes towards
them and attain the same rights as their male counterparts. the prime
minister made his call while addressing a gathering of 400 women at a
kathmandu constituency near his official residence monday. "in our
male-dominated society, women are discriminated against not only in the
family and society but also in the better positions in society through the
promotion of their skills, education and efficiency. he said that the
present government is determined to work out various programs for the
rights and well-being of women. the prime minister promised that if the
communist party of nepal (cpn-uml) comes to power again with an absolute
majority in the forthcoming election, it will amend the laws that are not
conducive to the rights and well-being of women. the fresh mid-poll is
scheduled for november 23. adhikari also called for cooperation from
non-governmental organizations in helping improve the health and education
of women and children. at the gathering, all speakers stressed the need
to give special attention to the improvement of the socio-economic and
educational status of women, to amend those acts that are against women's
rights and well-being, and to end all kinds of discrimination against
women.
************************************************************
Subject: Keeping up with IT events in Nepal
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 1995 18:15:53 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Rajesh B. Shrestha" <rshresth@BBN.COM>
Keeping Up with IT events in Nepal
----------------------------------
According to a recent estimate, a whopping 500 Nepalis would be graduating in
the field of Computing every year when Kathmandu University and Tribhuvan
University offer degrees in C.S. in 3 years. Currently, about 200 Nepalis
graduate with computer-related degrees outside Nepal.
The Information Technology (IT) field is seen to be one of the more
promising new technologies for a developing country like Nepal with little
alternate means of growth. Recent examples of success in our next-door-neighbor
India has further propelled the confidence that Nepal has the ability to
succeed in the international market of computing services.
IT industry is poised to take off in Nepal. With the formation of Computer
Association of Nepal (CAN), computer industry in Nepal has rejuvenated. CAN,
an industry-wide representation from the private sector, is providing the
leadership that complements the ailing National Computer Center (NCC).
Several significant IT events have had taken place in Nepal recently:
* Computer Infotech, organized by CAN
* Seminar on Export of Computer Software and Software Services, co-sponsored by
CAN, International Trade Center, ITC (Geneva) and Trade Promotion Center, TPC
(Nepal).
* Computer sales in Nepal has increased from a puny 8,000 to more than
25,000 a year in the last decade (estimated figures).
* Computer firms in Nepal are authorised trade and service representatives of
major global players including Microsoft, Novell, Borland, Hewlett Packard,
Lotus, Compaq, Dell and Digital.
* Nepal now has full Internet connectivity, installed by Mercantile Office
Systems
* Nepal Telecom now offers public WAN connectivity through its X.25 networks
* Although at a small scale, several software vendors and independent
developers are actually exporting software NOW.
It's time that IT industry in Nepal be taken seriously. And it's time that we
encourage and invest in this high potential service industry.
How do you keep up with these recent IT happenings in Nepal? How can computer
professionals living/working outside Nepal contribute to the IT development in
Nepal?
To start with, subscribe to CORE Computer Magazine...
CORE, the first computer magazine published in Nepal, is the bridge that can
connect you to the IT industry in Nepal and the region, bringing you relevant
IT news and issues and interesting Nepali perspectives. CORE has come to be a
mouthpiece for the computer industry in Nepal and has been actively promoting
the industry since its inception.
Right now, CORE magazine is offering subscription to new individuals at a
special annual rate of just US $9 (including postage for foreign addresses).
To subscribe to CORE, please send your name and mailing address with your check of
US $9 payable to CORE at the following address:
CORE
Computer Oriented Engineers (P) Ltd.
PO Box 5327
Pako, New Road
Kathmandu
NEPAL
Phone # (977)-1-223638
(US$ checks are accepted in Nepal.)
CORE magazine is meant for both computer professionals and illiterate. I have a
few copies of the latest edition and I am willing to distribute it free as a
sample copy for the first few early birds.
Send me your request at the following address:
2 St. Mary Rd.
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA
While you remain abreast with computer news from Nepal, you would be helping
the computer industry in Nepal take shape.
Thank you all for your willingness to help.
(Each issue of CORE Computer Magazine is published in the second week of odd
English months. Please allow time for postage.)
Rajesh B. Shrestha rshresth@bbn.com
Cambridge, MA rajs@aleph0.clarku.edu
***********************************************************
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 1995 17:07:08 +1000 (EST)
From: "Rai / Rajani (SCI)" <u955122@student.canberra.edu.au>
To: Nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Can you send me Nepal Digest from now?
Respected Editor,
I am doing Maseter's degree in the Applied Science from
this semister in the University of Canberra.Uptill now I am reading the
news from my friend but I need the news in my address so please send me
the Nepal Digest onward in my address.
I will be really thank ful to u all.
Thanks.
**********************************************************************
From: IO20856@MAINE.maine.edu (Suresh Raut)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 95 12:06:17 EDT
Thought of sharing these poems with you all....Just a try.
The content may seem vague here and there, they are not meant to.
These are my very personal writings; these represent some of my
special sentiments (?). Hope you will find them worthy of your
time.
1. Good times
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How long you go telling this
story of non-existence :)
You know how I am; stubborn,
care only when I am concerned.
Last night I had a dream,
in which we flew way up in the sky.
Finding you beside me,
I had a very great time of my life.
Exploring your beautiful eyes,
I saw your self, speaking through them
Confused....you looked regretting
of the things we together did.
Things are bound to happen that way,
when one wants to experience the touch.
magical! may be not, we try to make it so
when there is a warmth of mingling breaths.
The sensation that builts, lasts for a while
But the feeling of touch lingers, if you recall.
This recollection is what makes me think
that I enjoyed the time and the sweet dream.
As I woke up, you were gone
but I kept thinking of you.
The feel of lingering touch, and mingling breaths
were still there, as I more longed for you.
Now I wish
that it was not a Dream!!!
or was it?
+++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++ +++++++
2. Good-Bye
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you can see, the time has come
you will be gone by tomorrow.
A lonely soul will be left behind
without a dear friend and nowhere to go.
I know we had disagreements,
but we always made compromises.
They all make me sad now,....'cause
I can't fight this loneliness alone.
'Just the thought of your nervous smile;
the way you always approached to me,
and your own kind of fighting style*',
all make me wonder now,
'eventhough you were irritating sometimes,
I found a good and honest friend in you....,
always striving for the basic attention!!!'
Like the hope you have, like the color there is
may your time in your vacation land
be as sweet and as dreamy....., to mesmerise you
and provide you the experience of godly kingdom.
Gladly I plan to forget all the bad memories
you have given and I have tolerated.
I will consider them all, misunderstandings!
so you can breath and enjoy your time.
what's the use, when I say I hurt?
Means nothing when wind blows away the words
and there is a lack of similar experience.
Just enjoy, I might see you again.
If not in the same way, in different terms.
Eventhough we are on the same boat, remember!
our destinations are far and farther away.
******************************************************************************
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******************************************************************************
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