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The Nepal Digest Friday 11 Apr 97: Chaitra 29 2053BS: Year6 Volume61 Issue3
Today's Topics:
A Circus Show or a Lesson for the Future?
Nepal News
Fictional satire
Not Guilty as Charged
Nepal Law Treats Abortion as Homicide
Nepal Embassy
Volunteering in Nepal
Bhupi's Cold Ashtray
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* TND (The Nepal Digest) Editorial Board *
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* Chief Editor: RJP Singh (Open Position) a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* Columnist: Pramod K. Mishra pkm@acpub.duke.edu *
* SCN Correspondent: Rajesh Shrestha (Open Position) rajs@aleph0.clarku.edu *
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* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
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* "Heros are the ones who give a bit of themselves to the community" *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" -Sirdar_Khalifa *
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From: neup2011@mach1.wlu.ca (Bhanu Neupane u)
Subject: A few Legal questions?
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 23:32:25 GMT
Disclaimer--------------
This is from a very close friend of mine, who wants to remain anonymous.
Please do not direct your responses to me and remove my name from threads
that you may create. Thanks!
Bhanu Neupane
-----------Begin Article-------------
Friends,
I may appear spreading my dirty laundary in a public forum, but I'm
serious in receiving a few valuable suggestions- especially from any
Wokkil Sabs (lawyers) reading it.
In 1991, my elder sister died while giving birth to her first child. I was
out of the country in my trivial pursuit in the academia and whatever I
knew about my sister's untimely (she was 25) death, UNTIL TODAY, was from
my dad's long letters and condolences from friends and family members.
My sister had already had two miscarriages and was stricktly adviced not
to bear any more children. She was married to a rich kid, heritor of a
reknowed bureaucrat/diplomat and a very rich person in Nepal. She died at
Teaching hospiatal when some anaesthesist over-dozed her with some strange
(!) sedative during a simple C-section surgery. (an old issue of the
Journal of Medicine reports C-section as one of the most simple and most
common procedure among women). Following the anaesthesia, she went in a
coma and was put on life support system for a few days but she never came
back to her senses. The baby also died at the birth, which may have been
the effect of the same.
Just today I have received from a family-friend a few letters written by my
sister. This friend has also sent copies of the AIIMS doctor's report, in
which some Dr. Verman has strictly adviced my sister -- after her second
miscarriage -- to not to bear any child in the future. The letters,
written during late 89 to early 91 hint on why she desparately wanted to
have children? One of the letters suggests that my sister was severely
abused and battered, for reasons that she had problems in bearing children
and had brought little "goodies" as Daijo. Although aware of her medical
complications, apparently she wanted to avoid, by putting her life in
jeapardy, at least one of the two continuous and extremely condescending
comments.
In one of her letters, she has written that her first miscarriage could
have been induced, because she was asked to wash (not in a laundromat) in
her 2nd month of pregnancy, over 50 clothes, which included bed-sheets and
stuff. In one of her letters, she has written how she was called names,
such as Baanjh (infertile woman), Bhikmanga ko santan (doughter of a
beggar) etc., which were more to humiliate than to instigate her to bear a
child.
She had consumed or was forced to consume god-only knows how much --
legal-illigal, knowningly-unknowingly, and medical- mambo-jambo --
fertility drugs that she had developed a serious eating disorder. She
never binge, but her whole body swelled to make her look very fat. She was
very despondent and cried at very minor things. I never witnessed these
but my heart bleeds as I write these sentences. Before 89 when I was in
Nepal, I was often told "things" concerning my sister's problems, but,
putting it very frankly, I never ever believed in them. I was young,
little stupid and genuinely naive and always thought that she would make
up stories to get sympathy of my parents and mine. I wish, I could go back
in time and correct things....
Earlier she was also diagnosed, which is clearly written in Dr. Verman's
report, of very abnormal blood-pressure readings and heart problems. The
anaesthesia-theory against my sister's heart condition, therefore, do not
fit straight. If she had a heart condition, only a stupid (or shall I say
an accomplice of a "master-plan"?) doctor would give consent on putting her
in a strong sedation (if you are a doctor and reading these lines, you may
want to set the theory straight for me -thanks).
I also came to know that the Lady doctor, who attended my sister in her
delivery is a very "close" and "personal" friend of her husband's family.
This doctor (sister of a cock-eyed Rambo-ish Hero of Nepali Movies), who
is now practicing gyneacology (?) in the US, was seen crying and repenting
over something (what? I wish I knew?) after my sister went into the coma.
Although I lack suffiecient proof, but I think that she was trying to
hide something hideous(!) behind her tears.
Even after her death she was mistreated. She was a hindu and should have
been given, if not decent (after all she was the Buhari (daughter in law)
of a very rich, influential and powerful man), a modest creamation. I am
told that even a home-less beggar would receive a better creamation than
what was given to my sister. As she died immediately after her delivery,
she was considered untouchable. There was no mandatory bridal-make-up ...
nothing. Her cropse was given to the Podes, who cremated my sister
following as little rituals as possible.
While my mom was senseless for almost three days and almost died of shock,
my Dad, a heart patient, watched all this from a distance (in hinduism, a
father is not allowed to watch the actual wedding and cremation of
daughters, moreover, once a daughter is married, she bacomes a
"prerogative" of the groom's family). How he must have coped with all
that, I can't comprehend, however, my old man still grieves and sheds
tears. Although I have tried, I have never been able to generate the
level of empathy to understand his pain, I always reach my possible
limits.
Yes, there was no obituary, no Kriya (obligatory after-death rituals), no
mourning ... nothing. There was no puja-paths, especially I'm told that
reciting verses of some Purana is mandatory. <<<<<<<NOTHING>>>>>>>. It is
apparent that the family of my sister's husband took her death more as a
relief than a loss.
Although what I have in my possession are small pieces of a large jigsaw
puzzle, but when I put them together they collectively present a very
different and dark side of the reality. I don't want to be straight
forward but the whole circumstantial evidences indicate toward a very
gruesome but very sinister plot against my sister.
If it would all had happend in States, I would have, without a second
thought, filed a law suit against the family members, the doctor and the
hospital. I would have called some prime-time-lives, 20/20s or AJs and
generated a big media hype and public support, but all these happedned
in Nepal -- A country with no respect to women, especially among the
middle and upper-class (this may sound generalized statement..)
It will be a very obvious statement if I wirte that, in Nepal, women are
considered no better than a combination of an underpaid (or free) cook, a
maid, a care-taker, a nurse and a sex object. Even the severe form of
abuse on woman is considered as Gharayasi Khichalo (minor household fued).
The report of criminal wrong-doing or suspicions have to be filed within
the 30 days of the incident or else it voids as a malicious accusation.
And if the accusation is directed toward some really big shot, the one
who files complain suffers than otherwise. You may refer to the rape case
involving Hem B. Malla's son, a recent murder case that involved a CDO's
son ...there are many more examples to this effect.
Along these lines, I have managed to retrieve a copy of her death
certificate, which does not even deal with the simple issue, such as the
cause of the death, let alone the explanation of the cause. Her hasband's
family has registered her death as normal in the registrar's office
(primalrily to withdraw cash and jwellary that my sister had in her locker
and bank {her pewa}). You'll find it equally abhorrent that only seven
days after the death of my sister, people from her hasband's home came
snooping around my still grieving parents asking for jwellary, sari
etc..that she may have left in my parent's house. They demanded
explanation on every items of luxuary in the house, if it came from my
sister. It was woefully preposterous, being a hindu, my dad would rather
die than even drink a drop of water of my sister's home, let alone take
anything from her. Funny as it may sound, one of the "snooper" is now a
member of the lower house.
My mom and dad, as you can expect, still think their son-in-law as god.
This is a different story that this "god" got married (amidst the march of
live band, panche baja, lavish fireworks and fancy Bhoj-bhaters), just
after a few months of the death of my sister, to an equally-rich man's
daughter and never has visited my mom and dad after the incident, nor he
will...ever.... The "god" (spelled backwards) received a fat Rs. 20
millions in Daijo, way more than Rs. 372,953 that my dad, then a director
in a department in Nepal, had spent for his daughter's wedding.
Now my question is, What would be my best bet? I don't have a case but I
am really angry and feel appallingly helpless....I can't even do anything,
if I do, I jeaopardize my folks back home...
I received the letters today (sunday March 6th) and I am really angry,
frustrated and depondent? I have asked a friend of mine to post this on
the net. I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. BTW, if the
doctor, who attended my sister is on the net -- which I'm pretty certian
-- I would appreciate to hear her side of the story. Once again..she
worked with teaching pospital and is the sister of a popular Nepali Movie
Star.
-- from Somewhere in the US.
******************************************************************
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 12:10:10 EST
To: The Nepal digest Editor <nepal-request@cs.niu.edu>
From: "Pramod K. Mishra" <pkm@acpub.duke.edu>
Subject: A Circus Show or a Lesson for the Future?
Stability. Stability. Stability. And Law and Order. Once again we
have received an assurance that the Nepali government will give
us stability. Mr. Koirala, Mr. Adhikari, Mr. Deoba, with a
sprinkling of Mr. Nepal--everyone promised stability, set out to achieve
stability, and gave us stability. And now, Mr. Chand and Mr. Gautum have
promised the same--stability and law and order--as though stability were
a jinn hidden in their pockets, zipped up, and once they occupy the
Prime-ministerial chair, they will let it out, and it would jump and
dance, whooshing, smoking, talking funny--give us stability.
Stability has become a mirage for the successive governments in
Nepal, and democracy a desert of Westminster model for the Nepali
people. I mean how many governments we have formed since 1990--since the
advent of multi-party system? We have made all kinds of governments:
government with full majority, minority government of the democratic
communists, coalition by the congress, and now back to a Panchayat-day
prime-minister. When it was a majority government, that of Mr. Koirala,
his party members said that he became dictatorial and ceased to hear.
And his own party members toppled him. When we had the largest number of
seats won by the communists, they were still in the minority because they
didn't have more than fifty percent of the parliamentary seats. They,
too, collapsed at the hands of the scared Congress. When the Congress
formed a government in league with the rightists, dissension ravened the
rightists' ranks caused by the communists, and the coalition fell. And
now the communists have formed an alliance and made a Panchayat-time
prime- minister a multi-party prime-minister. Hail the Westminster model
of democracy! Some would say, with glee hidden under their sleeves, hail
multi-party system and democracy itself!
These times of uncertainty are times of introspection and
retrospection as well. We must look back and review Nepal's history in
modern times, in which full promise dawned only after 1950. The
instability between 1950 to 1959 caused a lot of damage instead of repair
and healthy beginning. The story of the seventeen-month-old B.P.
government at that time too difficult to interpret here, but one can
fairly say that the congress government became too drunk with their sweep
of the elections and many nascent communists were less communists than
maneuverers and politickers. So we had thirty years of Panchayat
dictatorship or democracy, depending on your loss or gain, and political
ideology. During the referendum, again such an unstable period, half the
forest wealth in the Terai was sold by the government and half was looted
by the patriots and smuggled to India. The common people just watched
the big drama, beyond their comprehension, beyond their grasp.
The history of multi-party system since 1990, I'm sure, won't be
written differently. This exercise of democracy has become a game of
chairs, always short for the ambitious, for every elected member wants to
occupy chairs. They think, as my CA friend said the other day, that
without power and government, no party can win the election nor people
can come to them. But, even otherwise, I don't blame these parties.
That's what the constitution provides, and the constitution has been
borrowed from one of the oldest democracies. How can it be flawed?
But I think that the present constitution of Nepal is flawed in a
major way. We have had histories of unstable governments in Italy,
Israel, even in India, and in many African countries. Some of them
solved this problem of perpetually unstable governments with the barrel
of the gun giving birth to Abachas, Babangidas, Idi Amins, Boccassas. Or
some such form as even in Thailand, Indonesia, and many other South-East
Asian countries.
I think Nepal's people deserve better, even though they maybe
like Hanuman, the monkey god, before his jump over the ocean to Lanka.
They need education, they need a reminder of their dormant powers in a
democracy, subject as they have been so far to looking up to their rulers
for mercy, for whipping, for governance.
Yes, Nepal's people deserve better from their politicians,
intellectuals, from themselves. The constitution needs to be amended.
After a series of coalition governments, Israel amended its
constitution. They made the post of the prime-minister directly
electible along with the parliamentary seats. Of course, we may not have
to blindly follow Israel, US, or any other country that has built-in
stability in the political structure itself. We may come up with a
different plan for a structural stability. But a debate needs to be
started, both among the intellectuals and the politicians--and a
committee of intellectuals and politicians formed to find a way out of
this quagmire.
As it is, the Westminster system, much suitable as it maybe for
England, as I have said above, is deeply flawed for a country like Nepal,
where both geography and demography, let alone history and economy,
militate against television-driven, media-propelled, empire-boosted
democratic exercise. The poor prime-minister, whether he (let's for now
confine ourselves to this gender alone) is Koirala, or Adhikari, Deoba or
Chand, the poor prime-minister, by the nature of the constitution and the
greed for power and pelf of the elected members of the parliament, within
or without the party, has to spend sleepless nights thinking about the
loss of his chair next morning. What can he do, think--how can he devote
his day and night--planning for the upliftment of his voters, when the
voters' representative themselves become, with the backing of the
constitution, to use a word of my college days, hankerers after power so
he can get pelf? In such a situation, even the police, the civil
servants, and the military, even if they are not corrupt, cannot provide
a direction, guide the hunger and nakedness out of the bodies' of the
people.
Some one or the other would quit the party, conspire and form a
coalition with others and propose the vote of no confidence or
confidence. I mean this whole darn business of confidence or
non-confidence has become a puppet-show, a joke, a high drama and circus
good only for television-- definitely not for the half-naked,
half-starving people living in the dripping huts in the hills, mountains,
and plains of Nepal. If the Westminster model is faulty for a poor
country like Nepal, we can't afford to be its systemic victims for ever.
But we can't do without democracy, either. The barrel of the gun
is no substitute for healthy reassessment of our own system, taking
control over our own destiny and direction. Don't trust men, trust the
system. And the system has to be made stable, democratic, and open to
treatment like any non-divine entity. We have seen and seeing in many
other countries where the system of gun barrel polity leads to; we don't
need it any more. So that's not at all the solution. We have to amend
the constitution, for lots of Nepali people, both inside Nepal and
outside, have grown disillusioned by this farce called the promise and
enactment of stability.
******************************************************************
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 10:52:29 EST
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepal News
Source: The Kathmandu Post
RPP-UML alliance wont be stable
By Akhilesh Upadhyay
Time has mellowed Surya Bahadur Thapa. Old age, coupled with the continued
failure to assert his authority in the party, have in recent years taught the
veteran politician a thing or two. But the RPP(NDP) chairman has lost none of
his political ardor: BILLED AS anti-Palace, he seldom loses an opportunity to
to lambast the "unseen forces that have played havoc in Nepali politics."
RPP(NDP) made a political comeback in the 1994 general elections but the party,
despite being given a historic opportunity to establish itself in the political
mainstream, seems to be gradually squandering the public goodwill. RPP(NDP)
veterans admit much of the anarchy that plagues the party is due to their
inability to thrash out a clear-cut constitution. The party is all set to right the wrong.
Thapa will face the biggest test of his post-democracy political career in a
month or two. In its general assembly meet slated for Jestha (May-June),
RPP(NDP) elects its new chairman, who will enjoy sweeping power unlike the
incumbent. (The party currently has a three-leader arrangement, with Thapa
sharing the chairmanship with Rajeshwor Devkota, and Prime Minister Chand as
its Leader).
During an exclusive interview with The Kathmandu Post yesterday Thapa delved ati
length on the new RPP-UML-NSP coalition, the extra-party forces that are trying
to destabilize democracy and RPP plans to democratize the party. Excerpts:
TKP: Despite your reservation against the new government, you have wished the
Chand government good luck. How long will the government last?
Thapa: Its but natural that I should wish the new government good luck. I hope
it will be able to complete its full term. But so far as the question of long
life is concerned, it very much depends on the government itself. No one can
make predictions this early.
TKP: The RPP-UML alliance that looked far-fetched a year ago suddenly came
into being...
Thapa: As a matter of fact, the exercise for the new coalition began six
months after the last coalition (Deuba government) was formed. A number of
factors however indicate the current alliance is not stable. Some (within the
coalition) are still questioning the Constitution. Second, democratic forces
are weak in Nepal. RPP(NDP) still hasn't evolved as a strong democratic force.
It is only a coincidence that Parliaments current equation has propped us
into an important role. Its momentary. At a time when the RPP(NDP) is anxious
to prove its democratic commitment both inside Nepal and to the international
community, our alliance with UML, a party whose fundamentals are still not
committed to democracy, would weaken the democratic forces in the country.
Second, we cannot work in tandem with UML, given its working style. Third, we
would expose ourselves both in Nepal and outside as the instrument that
weakens the democratic forces and lends support to communism. In the end,
RPP(NDP) may very well appear as an extension to UML. In these set of
circumstances, RPP(NDP) should not align with the UML but explore
possibilities of forming alliance with the democratic parties as I have been
voicing for the last one year.
TKP: But now that the RPP-UML alliance has already been formed, how will the
RPP(NDP) move on?
Thapa: Lets get one thing clear. The NC-led coalition collapsed not due to our
reasons, it was NCs own doing. There are still two explanations being offered
for the fall of the Deuba government: one it was NC's own failure and second,
even if the two NC lawmakers had showed up, the NSP would have abstained.
TKP: Though these events were eventually responsible for the downfall, didn't
the long intra-party feuds in the RPP contribute as much to the instability in
the coalition, and eventually the fall?
Thapa: No, RPP was not the instrument responsible to bring down the government.
RPP did remain divided and some of our MPs even abstained during the confidence
vote but if the Congress and NSP had not weakened the alliance, the government
would have survived the vote. At least technically, you cant blame the RPP
for the failure.
TKP: But wasnt RPP behind the move to explore the alternative to the
"democratic alliance" (NC-RPP-NSP combine) and thus precipitating the
instability?
Thapa: We must accept the reality. Certainly, we were responsible in exploring
the alternative. Not just our party colleagues other persons were also behind
the move to form the alliance with the UML. These extra-party forces have
remained very active for a year to forge such an alliance.
TKP: Can you name the forces...behind the alliance? What kind of impact will
the new alliance have on the countrys democratic future?
Thapa: At least I'm personally not convinced that the government borne out of
contradictions will have a smooth ride ahead. RPP is wholeheartedly committed
to the constitution and RPP, mind you, is only a minor party in the coalition.
UML, the major party in the coalition maintains to this day that its acceptance
of the constitution is at best a "critical support." So much so that UML has
indicated that democracy is only its means the goal is republicanism. Given the
load of contradictions, to expect democratic institutionalization from the new alliance would be farfetched.
TKP: What would then be RPP(NDP)'s role?
Thapa: Its just not the RPP colleagues, others outside were as keen about this
alliance.
TKP: Who are "others"?
Thapa: Journalists are all the time extracting information from others. For a
change I leave this question for you to investigate.
TKP: RPP has been divided into two camps. With two more ministers from your camp
now joining the government, where does the RPP equation stand?
Thapa: Since the party has now been a partner in the government, it matters very
little that one or two colleagues have changed their mind.
TKP: When the 1994 mid-term elections propelled RPP in the kingmaking position,
the party leaders stressed they would not abuse their decisive role in
Parliament. How do you view the party's role since?
Thapa: We have behaved irresponsibly. The RPP has abused its key position. And
the current turmoil is the result of that abuse. If all sides had practiced
value-based politics, the current situation would never have precipitated. In
totality, the political behavior hasn't been in accordance with the spirit of
the constitution.
TKP: You would then admit RPP has been made an instrument for instability...
Thapa: I cant quite deny that. RPP has given a piggyback ride to elements
that are destabilising the democracy.
TKP: What do you then plan to do as the RPP president?
Thapa: The current situation (the new RPP-UML alliance) has emerged despite our
reservation. You have to provide sustenance even to an illegitimate child. We
have no differences inside the party. We are concentrating on the upcoming party
general assembly. We have allowed the current experiment so that lessons would
be learnt. You must save the child from the fire but should not always stop the child from putting his finger in the fire. It is a learning process.
TKP: What could be the interests of the "unseen forces" that are trying to
destabilize democracy?
Thapa: The biggest destabilizing force is the politics of commission. Arun III,
Karnali, Enron, etc. have come to play a crucial role in frequent changes in
government and the distribution of portfolios within a given government. For
this class, its petty economic interest prevails over the national interest.
This force has no scruples.
TKP: Are the extreme-right forces, beside the extreme left forces, active in
destabilizing the democracy?
Thapa: I am not saying that these forces are already dominant. But they are
articulate and coming out very aggressively. Do they have the potential? Yes,
they certainly have. If we are increasingly getting to hear about them, its
because the democratic forces are still weak. They (extremist forces) are not
very strong by themselves but they are making most of this unfortunate
situation.
Source: People's Review
RPP convention on June
by PUSHPA RAJ PRADHAN
The second general convention of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party is going to be
held on 7, 8, 9 of June this
year in Pokhara. The meeting held on Monday under the chairmanship of Parashu
Narayan Chaudhari,
convenor, general convention prepatory committee declared the above date
for the convention. Also, a
meeting of the RPP central election committee convenor Surendra Bahadur Basnet
held the same day made a
decision that the party which are yet to form ward, village, and town level
working committees to do so by 19 April this month.
Any working committees formed thereafter will not be valid, it is noticed.
The forthcoming general
convention of the party will change its organisational structure while
implementing one-man leadership
within the party. Until now, there was troika leadership practice in the party.
Watching over the present
coalition in the government and increasing influence of Prime Minister Lokendra
Bahadur Chand, party
chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa bloc was trying to make delay the convention date.
On the other hand,
Lokendra Bahadur Chand bloc, over viewing a favourable situation to conduct
the general convention as soon as possible.
Thapa bloc, giving argument that the party should prepare for the local
elections, thus, the convention
should be hold only after the local elections. But, Chand bloc won't like to
borrow time for the convention.
Observers say, Thapa, most possibly, will be cornered by the Chand faction in
forthcoming general
convention. Other tiny parties of former panchas are also seriously watching
over the RPP convention that
to whom the party leadership will go. If Chand holds the leadership, many
former panchas dispersed in tiny parties, may join in
******************************************************************
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 10:52:29 EST
From: stdpss02@SHSU.edu
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: RE: The Nepal Digest - April 3, 1997 (19 Chaitra 2053 BkSm)
Dear Mr. Singh,
I would like to thank you very much for regularly keeping me posted
about news from home and about out Nepalese here.
I'd would like to inform you that I am graduating this May and will probably be
leaving my school around the end of April, therefore please stop mailing me
further issues of the digest after the end of April.
I would like to thank you and all your subscribers who have helped me so much
during the course of my thesis research.
I look forward to meeting you all in Boston where I am hoping to complete my
optional practical training.
Thank you very very much.
Poonam Shrestha.
***********************************************************
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 17:05:45 -0500 (EST)
From: Bikash@aol.com
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Fictional satire
(What follows is a FICTIONAL satire.)
Neither here nor there
a fictional satire
by ashu
My name is Dhruba. I hail from Eastern Nepal. In high school and
college, I was on the forefront of anti-Panchayat student union activities.
After finishing my Master's at the Tribhuvan University (TU), I joined
Nepal's civil service. It was then that, eighteen years ago, at the age of
32, I won a Fullbright fellowship to study in the United States.
In the beginning, it was tough adjusting to the American way of
life. I missed Nepal. I missed eating dal-bhaat-gundruk. I missed my
student union activities. I missed listening to Bacchu Kailash's songs, and
I missed reading the then underground Nepali newspapers. Still, I did
reasonably well in my courses. One day, one of my professors asked me to
stay on to finish my doctorate. I obliged happily.
A few years later, I finished my dissertation titled "A
time-series analysis of maize production in Nepal from 1933 to 1973". By the
time it was finished, I was the world's number-one authority on Nepal's
maize production capabilities. I was very proud of this fact until I
realized that no American university showed interest in hiring me. Besides,
my original Fullbright contract stipulated
that I spend at least two years working either in Nepal or in a third
country. Since my future in Nepal seemed uncertain, I went to Canada.
In Canada, life was both easy and hard. Easy, because, thanks to
state-socialism, living expenses were minimal. And hard, because a few jobs
that I did find were as visiting lecturers, with contracts never being
renewed. I thought about going back to Nepal, but couldn't decide for sure.
Then suddenly the Jan Andolan took place and overthrew the Panchayati
system. I was overjoyed.
I began to dust off my democratic credentials to get myself a
juicy post in Nepal. I thought that, with the right moves and the right
connections, I might be made a Planning Commission member. Or, I might even
end up as an advisor to the Prime Minister. Or, who knows, maybe even the
ambassador to the US and Canada.
With great expectations, I rushed home to Nepal, paid homage to
Ganesh Man and Krishna Prasad, and shook hands with everyone from Girija to
Man Mohan to Madan Bhandari. I even wrote for newspapers and appeared on NTV
panel-discussions. But ultimately, I got nothing. Instead, the spoils of
democracy went to my former TU friends. Someone got the UN ambassadorship. A
close rival's father-in-law became the ambassador, and the Planning
Commission membership went to punks with PhDs from India. I was mad as
hell. Was that any way to reward my tyag, tapasya, sangharsha and
bali-daan?
Later years brought no relief. I shuttled back and forth between
Canada, America and Nepal. I accompanied every single Nepali leader on his
taxpayer-financed medical check-up trips to the West. Still, nothing
important came my way. Life was passing me by, and my academic career in the
West was dead due to a lack of serious publications. Obviously, I
couldn't advance much professionally in the West on the sole basis of
where I had earned my PhD from. Yet in Nepal, no matter how many times I
flaunted my American PhD, Canadian connections and polished
sophistication, I was always treated more as a tourist than as a
freedom-loving intellectual patriot with a "can-do" attitude..
Recently, with the rise of Lokendra, I've decided that I've had
enough of Nepal and Nepali politics. I'm convinced that this country will
forever be doomed as long as it fails to recognize Canada- and
America-based Nepali intellectuals like me. And so, frustrated yet feeling
somewhat opportunistic, I recently sold off my old house in Kathmandu and
ancestral land in the Eastern Nepal to pay the mortgage in Totonto.
Condemn me, if you will. But that way, at least, I get to spend
the rest of my life with other patriotic Nepalis abroad -- discussing how
to set Nepal straight through our collective long-distance nostalgia . .
. THE END [This FICTIONAL satire was originally published in The Kathmandu
Post.]
***********************************************************
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 20:33:17 EST
To: tnd@nepal.org
From: REFGID@library.phila.gov
Subject: http://www.nepal.org/tnd.htm
dear editor:
i sent an article a week ago in response to the poem posted in the
March 13 TND. I hope you will not post my article in your next TND issue.
As for what I am going to write next, you may post this one.
To Whom It May Concern:
I am wondering how many of you have read a book titled "Erika and the
King". Written by Erika Leuchtag (a native of Germany), and published in
1958 by Coward-Mccann, Inc., the book offers a fascinating account of life
inside the Royal Palace in the pre-Prajatantra days. Erika goes to Kathmandu
to give regular massage to one of the Queens. Initially, King Tribhuvan is
suspicious of her. She could be a spy placed in the Palace by the Singh Durbar
Ranas. The Rana officials in Singha Durbar wants her to keep "a book of
progress, and perhaps goings-on in the Palace", and report back to them.
Once she realizes how the King is held a virtual prisoner in the Palace,
and people in the dark, she refuses to side with the Ranas who had given
her the job in the first place. Her compassion for the King grows, and later
wins his confidence. I do not want to give the story away, but I want to
mention that the then Indian Ambassador to Nepal and Erika were instrumental
in getting the King out of the country to India when the "prajatantra" was
underway. If you haven't read the book, I think you should. Perhaps the
following facts I gleaned from the book might whet your appetite:
1) The King smoked American cigarettes. The brand Lucky Strike is mentioned.
2) He was a fanatical photographer, and used a Kodak camera. He had catalogues
from all over the world. All the purchases had to be approved by the Ranas
in Singha Durbar. Apparently, they were happy to "spoil" him with all
those gizmos while they held onto the power. Anything to keep the King
happy and keep him in the dark.
3. The cars she saw in Kathmandu: Buick, Rolls Royce, and Cadillac.
4. She taught the King fox trot, one-step, waltz and tango. The King had
jazz record collection, also Schubertian Lieder. One song they danced
to is mentioned: Victor Sylvester's "peg o' my heart."
5. Boris, the legendary Russian Hotelier, supplied King Tribhuvan with
what was termed "sensitive books": materials on politics and philosophies.
Through the perusal of these books, the King became tuned to the goings-on
in the outside world. In the book, the King is portrayed as a pensive,
silent, thoughtful personality who cared about the people but was unable
to do anything about it. Yet he would disguise as a commoner and leave the
Palace at times. That he was scheming to overthrow the Ranas is hinted at.
The king had set his own "agenda" in motion, and had to leave the palace
walls to meet certain key people, etc. etc.---this is hinted at only.
This in part explains why the King missed some "dance lesson appointments"
with the author of the book.
6. The king had tatoos all over his body, from neck to ankle. The motifs
were ferns, flowers and peacock feathers.
7. The king shares whiskey with Erika. The brand is "King of Kings".
8. The palace has its own movie theater. Alas, the author doesn't mention
the movies they screen together along with the Queens. (I am not sure
if the King had any kind of sexual relationship with Erika, and although
they spent plenty of time together away from the Queens).
9. The book was written to repay the King for the gift he had bestowed on the
author: "a very beautiful, very heavy gold bracelet."
10. An excerpt from the book won for Erika a $ 2500 Readers Digest competi-
tition.
P.S.: Go ahead, buy yourself "Lucky Strike" cigarettes and "King of Kings"
whiskey and be a king for a day!!!! Whatever you do, be sure to read
the book. It's a good "period movie" material. Bertolucci who gave us
"The Conformist" should direct it. In fact, the book is kinda dark, and
surreal and claustrophobic. You could almost smell whiffs of fascism
in the air.
******************************************************************
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 09:00:24 EST
To: info-tnd@nepal.org
From: fdesage@francomedia.qc.ca
Subject: Info on Gandaki boarding shool
I am looking for information on Gandaki Boarding School in
Pokhara:adress, phone and fax number... Also about the number of
students, the curriculum, quality of teaching, up to what grade... If
any one knows or have attended that school, I would appreciate info and
personal comments,
Andre Saint-Amand
****************************************************************
Date: Sun, 06 Apr 1997 13:58:00 -0000
To: webmaster-tnd@nepal.org
From: Tercan Baysan <tbaysan@worldbank.org>
Subject: Nepal
Dear whom it may concern,
Hello, I am an eighth grader in Bangladesh and I am doing a
Children's rights project about Nepal. My topic is child labor
in Nepal. I have found very little information about this topic
and am asking that you please give me some web sites dealing with
this issue. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Can Baysan
******************************************************************
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 13:57:45 -0400
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
From: kiran@hydra.rose.brandeis.edu (Namita Kiran)
Subject: not guilty as charged
I try not to comment on the comments of my poems. It's upto the people
however they wish to understand but, it is a different matter when somebody
tries to tell me who I am and what I am based on a single poem. When I
write poems I don't only write about my experience. I also take other
people's experience and give my voice. Sometimes I just imagine the
experience that nobody had felt it yet and writes about it. To attack my
poem because I dared to speak what not all but most of the Nepali feel is
somewhat disconcerting. To tell you the truth neither have I changed my
name nor have I forsaken my gods. It was intended to be a satire to the
people who do it and to some extent to myself also. I am still not passing
judgment.
Nowhere in my poem have I trashed my country. Is it the commentator's
"avid" imagination? Does he see what I myself fail to see when I read *my*
own poem? And, I don't see anywhere when I have sung the song of "America
Beautiful." On the contrary, I am quite mournful (if the commentator
takes a minute to see carefully) that I have lost my innocence and my
mother's voice still haunts me. The poem is about struggle to make a
strange country of ones own. What the poem has is a realistic voice. I
am guilty for being a realist. Nothing more, nothing less.
Sienfield and Friends! Does the commentator know whether I own a TV or
not? What if I tell you I don't own a TV? Even if I did (let's assume for
a second) What if I were to tell you I watch Jim Leher show everyday? What
If I tell you I turn my TV on only when there is Joseph Campbell on? What
if I tell you I don't know the taste of beer and all I like is Cabarnet
Sauvignon? Why this condescending attitude? If one thinks throwing names
such as Joyce and Beckett around makes one intellectual and gives the right
to spew one's own assumptions and biases then I have nothing more to say.
What made the commentator think I am "embarrassed about (her) country's
relative backwardness" (! ). This is your line not mine. My god aren't
we assuming here a lot? My county is not backward. It's your, dear
sir/madam, very eurocentric view. Embarrassed? What was there in my poem
that tells you I am embarrassed of my origin? Actually I am quite proud of
it. Otherwise I would have written about something else. Don't we all
ignore it when we are embarrassed by or of something? Or the author is
talking about reverse psychology? Please don't try to fool me into
believing what I already know. There are many things I don't like about
my country and there are many more things that I don't like about this (the
States) country. Again the poem is about the dilemma and the struggle of
making home away from from not a testament to "America the land of honey
and milk."
Namita Kiran
PS I don't wish to comment on this subject anymore.
**********************************************************
Forwarded By: Rajesh Shrestha <shresth2@husc.harvard.edu>
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 16:24:59 -0400 (EDT)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepal Rough Guide--update posted
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
I've created an update site for my book, The Rough Guide to Nepal. It's
a non-commercial compilation of late-breaking information that I want to
make available to my readers and anyone else out there who can use it. I
intend to update it every couple of weeks, as new info becomes
available.
The information included in the site comes from my contacts in Nepal,
online news media, and travelers like you. So if you've recently
returned from Nepal, I invite you to email me about anything in the book
that needs updating.
The URL is http://www.abwam.com/himexp/rgupdate.html. The site is very
kindly being hosted by the Himalayan Explorers Club, which by the way is
a great resource for anyone planning a trip to that part of the world.
If any of you have stumbled upon the Web site created for my book by
Rough Guides, I can only apologize. It sucks. However, I am hounding
them to improve it, and I've excerpted large parts of my book for them
to post as a sort of FAQ on travel to Nepal. I'll let you know when this
is up and running.
David Reed
Author, The Rough Guide to Nepal
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 16:26:41 -0400 (EDT)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepal Law Treats Abortion as Homicide
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
http://www.oneworld.org/panos/mar97/repnep.html
The material that follows has been provided by Panos
Nepalese Abortion Law Faces Politician-Foe
By Aruna Uprety
Kathmandu - Hundreds of poor, illiterate and desperate Nepalese women are
being imprisoned, torn from their children and often rejected by their
families upon release. The reason: a harsh law which equates abortion with
homicide.
Take the case of 39-year-old farmer Lok Maya Adhikari, who served a year's
sentence for infanticide. Married at 15 and widowed at 32 with five
children, Adhikari told the Japa District Court in July 1995 that she
became pregnant by a family-friend, who took her to a traditional
birth-attendant for an illegal abortion.
She was arrested two days later and, unable to post bail, was held in
detention until sentencing. Upon release she was ostracised by her
husband's family, who retained custody of her children. The alleged father
was also arrested but released after he denied responsibility for the
pregnancy and the abortion.
Fortunately, Adhikari did not pay with her life - for Nepal's abortion law
does not only punish, it kills and it maims. Every year thousands of women
seek out back-alley abortionists whose methods include administering oral
ingestion of chemicals and banned drugs. These 'quacks' are also known to
insert into the vagina such downright dangerous substances as mercury,
sharp pieces of glass and sticks pasted with herbal mixtures or cow dung.
Women die - often horribly - from haemorrhage, blood poisoning and uterine
perforation. Should they survive, they risk chronic disability or
sterility. And there are no mitigating circumstances under the law - even
in cases where the health or life of the mother is threatened, or the
pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
There has been little debate - let alone resistance - to the law so far.
But things could change for the better if Sunil Bhandari, a crusading
politician, can make Parliament see things his way - he wants the law
reformed.
The abortion law in Nepal is a bit of an anomaly. The United Nations Fund
for Population Activities' (UNFPA) latest (1992) data shows that Nepal, a
Hindu Kingdom, is one of eight countries with similar restrictions - most
of the others are Catholic. In India, the only other Hindu-majority
country, religion has been no bar to liberal abortion policies.
"Christians have shown stronger opposition, as missionaries have raised
their concerns about abortion," says Shyam Thapa, technical advisor to
Nepal's Ministries of Health and Population. So controversial is the
debate that the Nepal representative of the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), Dr Al Nahi, while admitting that many women die of
abortion-related complications, declined to comment on the law.
Abortion-related complications are largely responsible for Nepal's
maternal mortality rate of 1,500 per 100,000, according to 1996 UNICEF
statistics. The figure is the highest in South Asia, and nearly double
that of the next in the list - Bangladesh. According to UNFPA advisor Dr
Rita Thapa, more than half of maternal deaths in five major Kathmandu
hospitals result from unsafe abortions.
Many abortion-related deaths go unrecorded, especially in rural areas.
Outside of Kathmandu and other towns, the law is pursued even more
zealously - often at the behest of inquisitive neighbours who alert police
if they suspect a widowed or unmarried women is pregnant and then 'loses'
the baby. Women's rights and legal activists are, however, unable to
obtain accurate figures for the number of women who have been imprisoned
under the law.
Signs of resistance are now apparent. A group of lawyers - the Forum for
Women, Law and Development - is now providing a free legal service for
affected women.
In general, nongovernmental organisations and women's groups have become
more aware of reproductive health issues since the 1994 UN Population
Conference in Cairo and the 1995 Women's Conference in Beijing. Lawmaker
Sunil Bhandari, who is President of the Family Planning Association of
Nepal, went to his Nepal Congress Party in July 1996 for permission to
present a bill calling for change.
The bill's recommendations include legalising abortions carried out by
registered physicians in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy and
thereafter in special cases like rape, incest, life-threatening situations
and where the foetus is diagnosed as being severely handicapped.
The Congress party refused it in committee, arguing that its passage would
lower the morals of young people. Bhandari's move to revive it - this time
with the support of lawyers and doctors - has sparked off rare media
interest on the issue. The original bill is being re-presented in
Parliament this year just as a survey in Kathmandu indicates that many
believe abortion should be legalised with some restrictions.
There is another hopeful sign: Nepal's newly-formed Ministry of Women and
Social Welfare has created 12 sub-committees, including on reproductive
health, based on the recommendations of the Beijing Women's Conference.
Women, the conference said, should have access to quality services to deal
with complications arising from abortions. And governments, it added,
ought to consider reviewing laws that punish women for undergoing illegal
abortions.
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 16:33:40 -0400 (EDT)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepal Embassy
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Dear Friends,
It is with great sorrow I am writing this article and I would like to
get as much input as possible from our readers.
First of all let me introduce myself to you. My name is Gopal Khadgi
residing in San Francisco for the past fifteen years. Since my arrival
in the US, I had renew my passport three times. I sent my passport to
US Embassy in Washington to get it renewed. Twice it was in Panchayat
System and once in our new acheived so called democratic regime.
Naturally, when democracy came, I expected at the least few changes in
the way our Embassy handled the business. But to my suprise and
frustration beyong my comprehension, I did not see any change. I tried
to understand the situation and comprehend our Nepalese System and I
finally came to the conclusion that Just because we got democracy it
does not mean that we will actually get democratic behavior or attitude
from the people who work at the embassy. The reason - I found out that
the same people worked at the embassy so of course we will get the same
treatment.
Many of my friends of sent their passports to Nepalese Embassy for
renewal or to get altogather a new passport. Of course their
expectation was to get their passport returned in a decent time but to
their dissapointment, they may never get their passport or it will take
months and even that only if they inquire about their passport every
week and practically beg for it.
As you guessed it I am quite aggitated with this type of response from
the embassy. They are here to serve the Nepalese people but what they
do is to suck Nepalese blood as they always did. What I am trying to
convey to you is that we need to do something about this attitude. If
you want to do something about this please email me at gopal@sirius.com
and we will togather do something about this for once and ever.
Gopal Khadgi
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 16:35:19 -0400 (EDT)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepal Embassy
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Gopal Khadgi (gopal@sirius.com) wrote:
Dear Friends,
As you guessed it I am quite aggitated with this type of response from
the embassy. They are here to serve the Nepalese people but what they
---end of article----
Just to add...
Worse yet, have any of you ever tried to talk to some one at the embassy?
Obliquely put, certain things, say a dog's tail, don't straighten no
matter how long you put it in a cast (hey! some of our proverbs are really
catchy..ain't they). Metaphorically, the cast being the change of
political system in Nepal. Sometimes I wonder, and bet most of you have
the same juxtaposed perspective on: why our hakim Sahebs' tongues get
coated with honey when they talk with Gora..(Sahibs), while the same "damn
piece of meat" spew condescending and bitter words when dealing with you
and I. I know nothing about allergic reactions or human physiology but have
always yearned to find an answer for this infernal twist in tone??? Not
due to the levity for the fact but, I can put it straight that in or out
of the country (and may I add..during pre and post democracy) one irony
holds equally true. While rest of the world praises the hospitability,
affability, courteousness and much-expected-softness in Nepalis, the same
holds woefully feeble when it comes to Nepali_Hakim_Sahebs dealing with a
fellow Nepali.
It's not a verbatim transcription but enjoy..
Ring..Ring..
Some guy: Hello
Me: Hello is it RN Emabassy?
Some guy: Yes!
Me: Could you please put me through to some one who deals with Nepali
passports..Please
Some guy: Sure...(in the backgorund...mumble Mumbles...minutes
passed..damn this is a long distance call...finally...hakim saheb comse and
picks up the phone)
Hakim: Hello
{i would have appreciated if he would have introduced himself}
Me: Sir, I'm Bhanu. I am a student at .....university. My Nepali passport is
about to expire...could you please explain how should I go about getting a
new one?
Hakim: Tapai Nepali Ho?
Me: HO hazoor! (duh! if I were not a Nepali, why would I be inquiring
about Nepali passport at the first place)
Hakim: Taba Nepali ma kura Garnos' na ta (the bitterness in voice is
piercing). Nepali aundaina?
Me: Testo Hoina Hazoor. Yambessi ko PR ma kam garne manchhe Bideshi ho ki
Bhanthaneko. Maaf Garnos
Hakim: (he is least interested in my explanation!) Anh! Passport ko Kagaj
pathai diunla address dinos'.
Me: Hazoor, it's a bit urgent, I'have to travel soon. Would it be possible
for you to courior it for me please?
Hakim: Hundaina! Chaar din dekhi Sat din Lagchha!
Me: Hajoor tyo Faram Pathauna ho ki Rahdani Me kahan aai Pugna?
Hakim: Kasto kura Nabujhya. Form tapai kahan pugna!
Me: Hazoor, I'll pay for the couriour. Would it be poss....
Hakim: Tapaile tirera hunchha? Hundaina, we use our own postal system.
Me: (and that would be..special brach of US Postal service for RN Embassy, I
guess?) hus ta hazoor. Mero thekana......
After 5 days from that conversation I finally recieved a form. I
couriored it back to them on the same day and I had to wait for 23 days
more before I got my passport. The 27 days were not that excruciating
compared to what I'm facing as an aftermath of some Lekhandas- with a
very BAD hand-writting--'s stupid mistake.
As per the passport..I am no longer Bhanu Neupane but my name reads as
BHANU NEW PANE. Every time I apply for a visa or submit passport as an
identification, I have to give lengthy and trivial explaination. I have
concocted a story for that: in short, I make them believe that in Nepali
Barnamala new and Neu are written exactly the same, and if the person
dealing does not find it plausible, I tell the the truth that some one
screwed it up at the Embassy. Amazingly,the latter explanation always
works. May be people working in embassies do behave the same..regardless
of the country.
Bh@nu.Neupane
neup2011@mach1.wlu.ca
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 16:37:05 -0400 (EDT)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Nepal Embassy
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Well I also had a bitter experience with RNE in DC. Luckily I was around
DC at the time I had to renew by wifes passport (which includes my son
also in the same passport). Went to the embassy and first thing I saw
was this guy who was glued to the computer palying some game and was
playing till the end of my conversation with Mr. Hakim Sab.
Well since I was in DC for some work, I requested that they finish all
the paper work the same day if possible. Somehow, he agreed and could
get the passport renewed in about 3-4 hours. When I got the passport, my
son was specified as a daughter. Well in the old passport it is clearly
written "son of Mr. xxx Siddhartha ..". Well this guy made him a
daughter and was written "daugher of Mr xxx Siddhartha". How could
someone not figure out that Siddhartha is a boy's name. They just
crossed out the "daughter" and wrote "son" above it. And the hand
writting, oh my god, it was so bad, my wife had a tough time in Bangkok.
I think those people are there to serve Nepali people staying in US. And
they better get someone who is qualified to do the job (with a good hand
writting).
Sanjay & Shailina Bajracharya
***********************************************************
Date: Mon, 07 Apr 1997 18:01:23 -0500 (EST)
From: atuladhar@clarku.edu
Subject: Re: Nepali Suicides are "funny"...
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
The suicides rates of Nepaal are *funny* for Mahesh Ghimire.
Mr Ghimire sees no reason to be alarmed by suicides rates that are three
times the murder rate in Nepal. According to CBS, 1994, the four year
average ratio of suicides to murder in Nepal from 1989/90 to 92/93 was 2.3
to 1.0. I think it is alarming that the current ratio is over 3:1.
Mr Ghimire seems to think it is "scientific" to compare only murders with
murders and that compring suicides to murders is illegit. It is probably
not worthwhile trying to persuade his scientific brain that suicides and
murders have long been considered evidence of social pathologies. Since we
are dealing with suicdies in a Hindu country where HIndu social mores are
dominant in affecting personal and social world view and relations, it is
logical we look towards place based explanations.Surely, Mr ghimire does
not want commentators to seek explanations of suicides in Hindu country
with happenings in US China or INdia, If this is Mr Ghimire's new global
social theory, I am unaware of it.
Re, his harking to pseudo-positivisitc jargon of "control group" and
scientific studies, one would guess that all of his well ordered logic,
knowledge and conclusions are based on faultless scientific logic. If so,
he must be true guru on the mountain-top, in the more imperfect world we
live in, a small percentage of our wisdom is based on scientic study or
logic and a lot is based on cultural belife systems and non-scientific
ways of thinkkings. INdeed, the whole premise of positivisitc though and
world view that undergirds jargons like control group has been seriously
questioned in social sciences but if Mr Ghimire thinks that is the
faultless path to wisdom, that is prerogative....
In the end, mr ghimire must be thanked for taking an interest in this
topic.
amulya t
**********************************************************
Date: Mon, 07 Apr 1997 21:08:37 PDT
To: info-tnd@nepal.org
From: Peter Turner <lacerate@imagina.com>
Subject: Volunteering in Nepal
I am currently working on a master of social work degree and would very
much like to spend a few months in Nepal as a part of my field practice
requirement.
I am particularly interested in women's health, social, and economic
issues.
I could be in Nepal from mid September '97 to early December '97.
I would be glad to send a resume of personal data and employment
experience to and agency or program that is interested in what I may
have to offer.
I may be reached via email at ddarville@hotmail.com
or via snail mail: Darla Darville
7433 SW 53rd Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97219
Thank-you.
Darla
*******************************************************
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 13:33:51 EDT
To: info-tnd@nepal.org
From: Denise Casey <caseyd1@alpha.lasalle.edu>
Subject: volunteer information
Hi,
My name is Densie Casey and I am requesting information regarding
volunteer opportunities in Nepal through your organization. I am going
to be graduation college in a few weeks and would be available for
several months. Please send brochures and an application to:
Denise Casey
122 Baur St.
N. Babylon, NY 11703
USA
Also, it would be greatly appreciated if you could email me back right
away confirming the receiving of this message because I will be leaving
this email address in a few weeks. Thanks again!
Denise Casey
******************************************************************
From: MH8@soas.ac.uk
To: rshresth@BBN.COM
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 1997 16:34:56 GMT
Subject: Cold Ashtray
I just read your note on the Nepal Digest. I'm probably your Brit. I
translated some of Bhupi's poems, including Chiso Ashtray, in a book
entitled 'Himalayan Voices' which was published by the University of
California Press in 1991. An Indian reprint came out a few years ago so
it should still be available in Kathmandu. For copyright purposes you
need to contact the University of California Press at Berkeley. Hope
this helps.
Michael Hutt
School of Oriental and African Studies London
tel. 171-323-6240/6251
fax 171-436-3844 or 171-436-2664
e-mail mh8@soas.ac.uk
*****************************************************************
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 01:16:29 PDT
To: webmaster-tnd@nepal.org
From: Andrew McClurg <amcclurg@demand-sys.com>
Subject: Nepal link
Namaste!
I have found your webpage on Nepal interesting and useful. I have
recently returned from a three month stay in Nepal, and I'm working on
developing a Nepal-related page. My primary focus is on the Mustang
region.
I have linked your page on mine, and if you feel so inclined, I'd
truthfully like your opinion, comments, and perhaps a link to my own page
on your Nepal Links page.
You can find my site at:
http://www.csun.edu/~hbven034
**********************************************************
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 00:20:43 EDT
To: info-tnd@nepal.org
From: Mattw/AnithaA <mtw@omnitechgc.com>
Subject: information
hi! we are looking to volunteer overseas (hopefully Nepal). we would
like some information on opportunities beginning in the next six
months. please send by e-mail, or snail to:
matthew winer
anitha abraham
750 collins avenue #10
miami beach, fl 33139
thanks!
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