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The Nepal Digest Mon Mar 5, 2000: Falgun 15 2056BS: Year9 Volume95 Issue442
Today's Topics (partial list):
Nepal News
Re: Gayatri Mantra
Book review
SEBS - Reunion
Dance addresses
AFVs News
Internship
Healthcare in Nepal
NGO research
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* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
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* "Heros are the ones who give a bit of themselves to the community" *
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Date: February 15, 2000
To: The Nepal Digest <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Nepal News
Source: The Kathmandu Digest
Philanthropic endowments with small donors
Giving donations to achieve fame in this world and credit in the next is a long established Nepali tradition. Guthis, while they functioned effectively, were examples of how contributions from members and income from other resources were mobilized for the purposes of some common good (either in the form of material construction or maintenance or in the performance of a social ritual). Today, we hear about donations of buildings to political parties, contributions of significant size made to hospital, the establishment of endowments for literary awards and for scholarships for daughters-in-law who couldn’t otherwise afford higher education. Older forms of givings by individuals - construction of ghats or renovations of temples - are still going on.
Many such examples of giving are the work of individuals or families. While we do not know the exact volume of such gifts made annually in Nepal, we can say for sure that it runs into crores of rupees. Preliminary investigation suggests that most instances of giving are not mediated by intermediary organizations and there is nothing wrong with such face-to-face contact between the giver and the target groups or institutions.
However it is also the case that our society has developed in ways in which direct contact between those who want to engage in philanthropic activities and those in need of help is increasingly becoming difficult. Hence there is a need for intermediary organizations who can work as a lami between the donors and those in need. Such organizations have to not only raise funds from donors but also manage them properly and disburse them to the genuinely needy.
In this context I celebrate the fact that last Saturday about 100 people walked 10 kms to raise four lakh rupees for a Nepali philanthropic organization, Tewa. Founded in the mid-1990s, Tewa supports women’s initiatives all over Nepal and its endowment will reach 1.5 crore rupees by mid-2000. That is an achievement that deserves emulation by others. However, to invest their energies in the right places, other organizations should pay attention to lessons learnt by Tewa.
In an interaction programme organized by Martin Chautari last month, Tewa’s founder-convenor Rita Thapa remarked that in her experience, Nepal’s burgeoning corporate sector was not yet ready for modern philanthropy! Initially she had expected that Nepal’s sahujis, byaparis, and udyogpatis would be very supportive of her idea. But many attempts at persuasion resulted in very little success. She advises others interested in raising funds not to waste their time visiting Nepali businessmen. Instead she places her hope on the ‘small’ contributors, who slowly but surely, have helped the growth of Tewa’s endowment over the years.
For a people who tend to be mesmerized by the fact that Bill Gates has established a philanthropic organization worth about 17 billion dollars (the world’s second largest such organization after Glaxo Wellcome), it is worth asking why our own corporate sector has such a poor record of giving. In the same interaction programme, management consultant and lawyer Ratna Sansar Shrestha argued that this is so primarily because (a) the net worth of Nepali businessmen is small; and (b) a substantial percentage of their wealth is retained in the form of ‘black money’. Big-donations by sahujis with black money will automatically attract questions regarding the sources of that money and would lead to complications with the tax authorities. It is people with ‘white money’ who would be, provided the correct tax and other incentives, willing to give parts of their wealth away.
These insights suggest that such organizations will have to rely on regular but small-amount donors if they want to establish a sizeable endowment. If that is so, let us do some calculations. If they give themselves a two-year time framework, they will need to find 4167 people who are willing to give Rs 1000 per month for 24 months to create an endowment of 10 crore rupees (Rs 1000 x 24 x 4167 = Rs 10 crore and 8 thousand). It is as simple and as difficult as that! Invested at ten percent, this endowment will generate funds of one crore rupees per year. If 15-20 percent of that is taken away for administrative costs, 80-85 lakh rupees will be available each year, to this organization to support its own or others’ activities.
That is no small amount. In the cultural front, that kind of money can support the work of a good team of artists, writers, and researchers. In the service delivery front, that kind of money can support the education of many children or provide health care facilities to a sizeable rural population. In the activist front, it can support journalists and advocates of various important issues. In other words, this kind of money will enhance both the service delivery and pressure-giving abilities of Nepali civil society.
So what needs to be done to transcend Tewa’s success? First of all, the people involved in setting up these foundations will have to have a ‘clean’ record when it comes to handling finances. Otherwise they will not be able to generate trust amongst the potential donors. Secondly new laws must come into place so that such foundations can be registered as “Trusts” whose endowments cannot be nationalized. As of now, registered as NGOs, such organizations fear that the endowment they have raised can be taken away by the government under certain conditions. Thirdly such foundations will have to have clearly stated goals regarding how the money raised is to be spent.
Fourthly, tax laws will have to be amended to encourage those with white money to give gifts. Currently our laws allow taxpayers to deduct five percent of their net income or one lakh rupees (whichever is less), given away as donations, in their tax returns. Fifthly our property inheritance laws give sons an automatic right to ancestral property. As argued by Ratna Sansar Shrestha, these laws must be revised to encourage property owner to give away their wealth to philanthropic foundations.
Regular small donations by Nepalis can create big philanthropic endowments in Nepal. Are there any takers out there?
-By Pratyoush Onta
---------------------------------------------------
Source: The Independent
Government may appoint two IGPs
-By A Staff Reporter
There is increasing talk that the Nepal Police Force may now have two Inspector Generals of Police
(IGP). Sources close to the present government say the Prime Minister has already been convinced to
take this new decision regarding the police chiefs.
It may be mentioned that in recent years, there has been much controversy whenever a new IGP has
had to be named. There is much lobbying and power play to appoint the chief of the security department
that has 50,000 plus men and women under it.
People feel that the image of the police and its top brass started to deteriorate from the late Eighties,
when they started to indulge in massive corruption. It was during the Panchayat days that for the first
time in the history of the nation, a just retired IGP was arrested on the charge of smuggling drugs and
gold. It may be some sort of an irony that not only has this corrupt person been released but now he is
also an MP of the ruling Nepali Congress. This man is no other than the notorious DB Lama, in whose
house authorities had found gold and drugs worth billions of rupees when he was arrested.
The police has always been a hated, but at the same time feared section of the government. And police
officials right from the bottom rank feel it is their right to indulge in certain luxuries, mostly at the cost of
innocent businessmen. The business people in return, don’t mind giving free gifts and even money to the
police officials, feeling they will be protected when they have any problems with the law and order
people.
From simple cases relating to fights in the neighbourhoods to other more serious crimes and even for
making a driving license, the public have to depend on the police, so they never want to be in the bad
books of the security people. But this does not mean the people love them.
However, the police chiefs have always been well known names, much more well known than their army
counterparts. So the race to be the IGP was always a fierce one.
Regarding the rot that set in the Police Force, though it started from the Panchayat days because of
corruption, the decay really set in the last couple of years when political interference started making
inroads into the police. It is said high ranking police officials, are some of the most corrupt workers
within the government machinery and now they are willingly playing into the hands of the politicians and
bureaucrats.
The pit bottom was reached when three top ranking officials schemed to oust late IGP Ratna Shumsher
Rana, who died very soon after he retired. It was like divine justice when these three then themselves
started fighting with each other. Moti Lal Bohara succeeded late Rana and it is said Bohara was one of
the most corrupt IGPs in recent years. He in turn was succeeded by well-known Achyut Kharel, who in
a coup like act was replaced after just 36 days by Dhruva Pradhan. The media was full of the tug-of-war
that took place between these two at that time and one can imagine what such a spectacle did for the
morale of the personnel working under such officers.
After the Nepali Congress came to power, once more Kharel was reinstated.
Now with a little over a year remaining for Kharel to finish his term, the race has already started on who
will replace him. The media and other close to the police had projected senior AIGP Pradeep Shumsher
as the front runner, but now suddenly the capital is abuzz with the talk that the government is in the
mood to have two IGPs.
But this has in now way cut off the controversy on who will be the IGP. For, there are now four AIGPs
ready to step into the shoes of the chief of police. Some senior policemen also questioned who will
head which section of the police? “In practical terms, this will be a great mistake of the government,”
one such officer said.
He explained that all the police, from the officers to the junior ranks, want to stay on the civil police, who
deal only in administrative work and ordinary crimes. Nobody wants to be in the armed section, where
the personnel not only have to face constant dangers, like from the Maoists, but they will not have the
opportunity to indulge in corruption as well.
One observer pointed out that instead of making controversial figures the IGP, it would be better to
appoint one honest officer to the top post, so that it will serve as a lesson to others that political
lobbying and corruption will be a setback if they want to reach the top.
The most non-controversial AIGP at the moment, is Ram Kaji Bantawa, one of the few honest officers
within the force and who has not been involved in any controversy. The two leading contenders, Pradeep
Shumsher Rana and Krishna Mohan Shrestha are well known names who are linked politically as well,
but these links could prove to be a setback for them.
******************************************************************
From: "Allan Hjorth Christensen" <cal@maersk-pilot.dk>
To: <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - Jan 4, 2000 (19 Poush 2056 BkSm)
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 14:31:55 +0100
Namaste,
I am a Nepali girl studying in Denmark and I was wondering whether The =
Nepal Digest has ever written about our Living Goddess ---Kumari. I have =
to write a report on something in my college ( has to be about 20 pages) =
and I have decided to write about the living Goddess, as not many Danes =
know about her. I have got two books, which I bought the last time I was =
in Nepal, but I will be more than happy to use your article , if you =
have written one . Lots of Thanks.=20
Yours sincerly,
PARMILA Gurung.
******************************************************************
Date: 17 Jan 2000 15:30:51 -0000
To: List Member <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Mailing-List: ListBot mailing list contact AFVsNepal-help@listbot.com
From: "Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal" <AFVsNepal-owner@listbot.com>
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal
1. Stop foul play
Martin Chautari, 17 January 2000
The advertisement by Dugar Brothers & Sons published in Kantipur on 15
January regarding DIESEL microbus named Voyager, manufactured by Mahindra
has caught environmentalists and other concerned individuals by surprise.
This notice claims that Voyager ( 12 sitter diesel microbus) meets the
Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard (2056) and invites displaced Vikram
tempo owners to buy their products.There is a provision of 75 per cent
concession on custom duty for diesel micro buses if displaced Vikram
tempo's owners want to import them. But the requirement is that diesel
microbuses should meet Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard (2056). The
interesting point here is that the certificate submitted by Dugar
Brothers & Sons to the Department of Transport Management shows that
Voyager does not meet Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standards. This
certificate which is issued by The Automotive Research Association of
India (ARAI) shows that the figure for HC+ NOx (1.33) is higher than what
is given in the Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard (1.13). It is
perplexing to see why big business houses like Dugar Brothers & Sons try
to fool the general public by issuing false advertisement. While they can
still import micro-buses that meet Mass Emission Standard and make profits
in a fare manner, why are they bent upon importing sub-standard microbuses
through illegal means such as influencing government officials through
undertable dealings and deceiving the general public? It is an utterly
dishonest act to enjoy the privileges provided by the government for
Euro I microbuses and import , in contrary, microbuses that in no way
could meet the mass emission standards of the country.
Interestingly enough, the same group has advertised environmentally
friendly electric tempo called Bijlee in the Kantipur the very next day.
There are plenty of opportunities to make money and earn respect by
promoting environmentally friendly vehicles or vehicles that comply with
country's mass emission standards. It would be in the long-term interest
of business houses like Dugar Brothers & Sons that they stick to the
norms and earn credit rather than embroil themselves in disrepute for a
few crores of rupees earned through a foul play.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Population and Environment is considering to
clarify the confusions that have arisen in aftermath of MoPE's notice on
Nepal Vehicular Mass Emission Standards (2056). The Ministry officials
said that they are considering to make certain amendments in some
points of the notice. The points where amendments may be made are:
revoking the provision of import of two-stroke motorcycles and making it
mandatory that petrol vehicles be converted into LPG, LNG, or CNG
vehicle before they enter the country if displaced Vikram tempo owners
want 99 per cent import duty concession and VAT exemption.
2. On the "legality" question of Citizens Monitoring Group (CMG)
In the last posting of AFV News, it was mentioned that in a meeting
organized at the Ministry of Environment and Population (MoPE) between
representatives of core group of CMG, MoPE's joint secretary, and Danish
technical advisor of ESPS, the question regarding the legality of CMG "as
a truly representative association of all NGOs involved in environmental
sector in Kathmandu" was brought up. The news reported that "Most of the
members of core group were in favor of having a loose kind of network
whereby the co-ordinator of core group coordinates with MOPE, ESPS and
CMG. MoPE's officials however were skeptical about the loose network and
insisted that CMG should come as a legal entity in the form of NGO of
NGOs."
While I am glad to note that members of the core group were AGAINST the
idea of making another super-NGO, I was dismayed at the insistence of the
MoPE's Joint Secretary Janak Raj Joshi regarding the need for the same. I
suggest that CMG members continue to resist this MoPE insistence for the
following reasons:
a) Core CMG members are already representatives of registered NGOs. Hence
their presence in CMG is legal. On this basis, MoPE worries for the
legality of CMG must be commented upon as irrelevant.
b) The making of super-NGOs in the mode of Mahasanghs has become quite
fashionable in Nepal these days. However, I am not aware of one single
instance where the creation of such an official super-NGO body has
enhanced the ability of the concerned organizations to champion their
cause.
On the other hand, loose networks of organizations are beginning to show
some results. The already existing collaboration between those
organizations that deal with environmental issues is an example that
proves my point. MoPE officials must be persuaded to see this point.
c) CMG is a citizen's monitoring group. By that very fact, it should not
be the government that should be worried about how representative this
group is of all the NGOs working in the field of environment. It should be
left to CMG as a loose network to demonstrate that it is in fact the
"voice" of those NGOs that are concerned about the issues being addressed
by this group. The proposed workshop is a good idea but it should not be
wasted on discussions regarding the legality of the CMG (although how it
will operate will have to be discussed there).
d) The terms of reference of the task of "monitoring by citizens" should
not be set by the government. Should CMG members fail to make MoPE
officials understand this basic point, it should be expected that the
Danish advisor at MoPE, remembering examples from his own country, would
use his "weight" to argue for this point.
e) The bottomline is this: CMG's constitution and its modes of operation
are NOT the worries of HMG. Hence if the current insistence regarding the
creation of a super-NGO continues on the part of MoPE even after the
workshop, CMG Core Group members should break their discussions with MoPE,
and challenge DANIDA to not go through the finalization of the ESPS 5th
component with a government that can not trust and respect the
intelligence of Nepali environmentalists.
********************************************************************
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 11:30:14 -0500
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
From: Michael Witzel <witzel@fas.harvard.edu>
Subject: Re: Gayatri Mantra / Nepal Digest 1/14,
Rajpal J.P. Singh <a10rjs1@cs.niu.edu> forwarded:
>Subject: Gayatri Mantra and its meaning
>Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 11:18:38 -0500
The message quoted below gives an interpretation of the Gaayatrii mantra
(Rgveda 3. 62.10)
according to a particular line of thought among *modern* Hindu
interpretations. This has little or nothing to do with the *original
intent* of the mantra which can easily be 'deciphered' when reading other
Rgveda stanzas extensively.
Some discussion below:
>GAYATRI MANTRA -ITS MEANING:
>AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA,
this is not part of the mantra but a general invocation (now always used
before starting Vedic recitation, and often preceded by: Harih(i) "Visnu")
>TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
>BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI
>DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT.
>
>Summary of the Mantra
>----------------------
>Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life, Remover of pain and sorrow, The Bestower
>of happiness, Oh! Creator of the Universe, May we receive thy supreme
>sin-destroying light, May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.
It should be translated:
"We receive that choice splendor of the god Savitar,
who shall impel our thoughts."
(The next two mantras in the Rgveda also ask the god Savitar for gifts or
praise him; the other mantras in this hymn of the poet Visvaamitra refer to
other gods: Indra, Varuna, Marut, Hotraa, Bharatii, Brhaspati, Puusan,
Soma; Mitra and Varuna.)
>Word for Word Meaning of the Mantra
>-----------------------------------
>Aum = Brahma
well, one of the many later (Upanishadic ++) interpretations... Even in the
Shruti (Brahmana texts) it only means "yes" when answering a mantra (while
one says 'tathaa' when answering a mundane shloka), thus a sort of "amen!"
>bhoor = embodiment of vital spiritual energy (pran) ;
Vedic Sanskrit: "the earth" (nominative), no energy here
>bhuwah = destroyer of sufferings
Vedic 'of the earth" (genitive)...
>swaha = embodiment of happiness
svaH (svar) = 'sun, heaven' (nominative) (modern pronunciation svaha)
not = svaahaa, an exclamation added, as all Hindus know, even from Amar
Citra Katha, to offerings into the fire. Old meaning su-aaha 'it has been
well said'
>tat = that ;
'this'
>savitur = bright like sun ;
'of the (god) Savitar (SavitR)', who is not exactly = sun, but is active in
the evening (! when 'all nature goes to sleep') and in the early morning;
his exact nature is still unclear ... later thought of a sun god (in the
morning)
> varenyam = best choicest ;
'to be chosen, wished for' (accusative, with bhargo)
> bhargo = destroyer of sins ;
'radiance, luster', from bhraj 'to shine'
>devasya = divine
even in the Rgveda, just 'of the god' (genitive)
> dheemahi = may imbibe
not 'imbibe', but injunctive of dhaa 'to put' (Injunctive = aorist form,
minus a- , which would be a-dhiimahi; the injunctive is no longer
recognized by Panini who just says: chandasi bahulam, roughly, 'in the Veda
do as you like'). Extra-temporal meaning ("we usally, always receive; ("as
you know, we receive"). Not: 'may'.
Also, not from dhii 'to think, concentrate', present tense would be :
diidhii-(mahe)
> dhiyo = intellect ;
well, dhii = 'thought', not even 'mind', and not 'intellect'
dhiyo = accusative plural (!) 'thoughts'
>yo = who
>naha = our
prachodayat = may inspire ;
not 'inspire' but 'urge forward, impel, instigate';
not 'may' but 'must/shall' or 'will', as this form belongs to the category
of subjunctive (still taught by Panini but not used in post-Vedic texts).
It does not signify a wish, desire (optative: pracodayet), but either
future 'he will instigate' or order 'he must/shall instigate'
(pracodayaat).
>Meaning of Gayatri Mantra
>-------------------------
>Rishis selected the words of various Mantras and arranged them so that they
>not only convey meaning but also create specific power through their
>utterance.
that is, by an large, a post-Vedic idea (cf. on japa, below) . The Vedic
poets (RSi) believed in the power of well-put words, in short, in
complicated poetry by which they wanted to please the gods, with always
'new songs' (also mentioned in this hymn). Such stanzas were believed,
however, to be magically effective even then.
>Gayatri Mantra inspires wisdom.
It wishes for in thoughts, perhaps 'insight'...
>Its meaning is that "May the Almighty God illuminate our intellect to lead
>us along the >righteous path".
Forgetting about the Almight God (too Christian, or monotheistic), roughly
ok., but the (Zoroastrian, Christian) 'righteous path', again, is not
mentioned.
So, the rest is modern speculation:
>All the problems of a person are solved if he/she is endowed with the gift
>of righteous wisdom. Once endowed with far-sighted wisdom, a man is neither
>entangled in calamity nor does he tread the wrong path. A wise man finds
>solution to all outstanding problems. Only those persons who do not think
>correctly find difficulty and take wrong steps due to foolishness.
>Chanting
>of Gayatri Mantra removes this deficiency.
This rather exemplifies the post-Vedic belief in the power of mantra japa.
>The teachings and powers
>incorporated in the Gayatri Mantra fulfill this purpose. Righteous wisdom
>starts emerging soon after Jap (recitation) of this Mantra is performed.
Same idea: japa as the solution to all sorts of problems. Not Vedic. In
the Vedas, one does not mumble, but one acts.
********************************************************************
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 14:18:08 -0800 (PST)
From: ghimire nirmal <go_java@yahoo.com>
Subject: Book review
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Book Review:
The author says that this book is for mainly three
kind of readers:
1. The many for whom the mysterious, marvelous and
miracles of life hold interest and appeal.
2. Searchers after spiritual light who have not yet
found what they seek
3. For most ardent and experienced Sai devotees ,
who can know more about him.
SAI BABA : MAN OF MIRACLES:
Author: Howard Murphet
I was glancing in B&N over the Eastern thoughts.
Then as I was going through I found this book.
I was interested in this book because I have had some
interest in ESP and miracles. I have wondered how
some people rise above the natural laws and perform
miracles.
It is not that I had not heard about SAI BABA. I had
heard about him now and then.
But I had never thought much about him and I let it
pass.
Since past few months I started hearing more about SAI
BABA and his miracles.
So I picked up this book and I am glad I did it.
The author starts with this book. He had gone to
INDIA and before that he had not heard about BABA.
This was in 60s. At that time some Indians he met had
told him that yogis in INDIA existed at earlier
times but now the country was into materialism and
not much into spiritualism.
But as he was travelling India and questioning to
himself if there were really any good yogis still
around.
-
He somehow was guided to SAI BABA.
Now this author was skeptic and did not just believe
what others said. So he thought he would observe BABA
carefully and figure out the truth.
At the beginning the author describes SAI BABA and
his early childhood and what he was as a child.
And then how he became know n as BABA and how he is
the incarnation of Shridi SAI BABA.
The author himself is puzzled when BABA performs
miracles in front of him and he cannot believe it. He
witnesses this again and again numerous times. The
most common being his Vibhuti, which he brought out
many times.
Still the author is puzzled and finally he comes to
get personal visits with BABA and comes to know him
Better. Then he realizes that a mere magician could
not be performing such feats and that he was not being
hypnotized.
He suggests a couple of reasons for this thing.
First of all BABA does not do this thing for
popularity but he does it for his disciples, to help
them.
He always gives discourses in spiritual topic and
does bhajans etc. And his miracles are not like
producing commercial stuff. But mostly he
materializes Vibhuti for disciple, lockets with gods
pictures etc.
If I go one describing his miracles there is a lot
to say.
But it ranges from simple things to surgical
operations and even saving lives.
The author also interviewed many of his disciples and
there are people from all walks of life in that .
He talked with few Indian scientists of that time and
some top diplomats and heard their comments and heard
the miracles that they had witnessed.
Then the author in one chapter mentions the
te4aching of SAI BABA. Actually his life actually is
his mission his work and his love for disciples and
humankind.
And finally the author talks about SAI BABA as an
Avatar, as a Reincarnate of Vishnu.
As Krishna had mentioned in Gita" THAT at the time
when the world needs me I will come/"
Did he come as SAI BABA this time?
I found this book very interesting, touching and
uplifting.
Maybe some of you have heard about SAI BABA and maybe
some of you have even had the opportunity to meet
him.
I have had faith on him from before but lately my
faith has increased in him.
If you do not believe in miracles and don't believe
in SAI BABA this is a nice book to read and judge
for yourself. Of course judgement is a personal
opinion.
But I would like to hear from anybody who has some
interest in SAI BABA and I would really enjoy to hear
from someone who has personally met him.
Nirmal Ghimire
My email is
Go_java@yahoo.com or
******************************************************************
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 09:52:40 -0500
Subject: SEBS - Reunion
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Dear Editor,
Could you please post the following message in the next few issues of TND.
Dear Fellow Alumni and Friends of Society of Ex - Budhanilkantha Students ,
We are planning to host our First SEBS- US reunion. It will be held during July
4th weekend. Please visit http://www.rajan.com/sebs and participate in
discussions for sebs isues, reunion location and other current updates.
Sincerely,
Kiran 268B
*******************************************************************************
Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 15:56:12 +0700 (SE Asia Standard Time)
From: Narayan Lal Shrestha <narayans@ait.ac.th>
To: tnd@nepal.org
Subject: Bikram Sambat and AD.
Hello,
Is there any website where I can find the equivalents of bikram sambat in
AD for as back as B.S. 2006, 2030 and 2035.
Thank you.
Narayan Lal Shrestha |Tel: 66-2-524-5761
Asian Institute of Technology |
***************************************************************************
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 14:37:59 +0100
From: "Hans-Joachim Voelkel" <VoelkelH@Salzgitter-Inter.de>
To: <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Hi
** High Priority **
Hi
As we have been informed there are 2 pipe-mills in Nepal, i.e.
Himali Pipe Co
and Pashupati Pipes and Tubes Ltd.
As we have no other source we would kindly ask you to provide to us =
address etc, if possible for you, to the following E-mail
Thanks in advance for you help!
Kind regards
T. Gorzny
Salzgitter International /Germany
**********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 22:30:41 +0200
To: webmaster-tnd@nepal.org
From: Directory Team <grdance@hol.gr>
Subject: Dance addresses
Dear Sirs
We are looking for persons or groups who are active in dance in your country.
Folk dance, ballroom, ballet or any other kind of dance.
We are assigned by the Unesco CID to list all the addresses of dance and
dancers in every country, but in some countries we have no contacts.
This is a non-commercial operation by the official international
organization for dance.
Listing is free of charge.
Details in our web site
www.unesco.org/ngo/cid
Thank you for replying
Prof. Akis Raftis
Pesident
International Dance Council - CID UNESCO
**************************************************************
From: "Nepal Football Fan Club" <nffc@himal.enet.com.np>
To: <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Pls visit Web Site
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2000 09:06:32 +0800
Nepal Football Fan Club (NFFC)
PO BOX # 5235
Maharajgunj, Chakra Path,
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel 373458 or 416326
Fax 373234 or 416326
Email: nffc@himal.enet.com.np and info@bhakundo.org.np
Web Site: http://www.bhakundo.org.np
Also visit http://www.west-lindsey.freeuk.com/nepal.htm
Bhakundo means football in Nepalese language.
*******************************************************************************
Date: 27 Jan 2000 11:15:30 -0000
Message-ID: <948971730.1073.qmail@ech>
To: List Member <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
From: "Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal" <AFVsNepal-owner@listbot.com>
Subject: AFVs News
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Nepal
1. What are EV Battery Chargers?
EV battery Chargers are equipment used for charging EV batteries once
they are discharged to a certain limit. Electric vehicle battery chargers
are units which accept AC main line current and convert that into DC
current in a manner consistent with battery charging requirements. They
commence with what is known as a bulk charge which is a higher current
charging to accomplish the "Bulk" of the charging.
Later the current becomes more limited and this is called the absorbtion
stage. The absorbtion stage exists because batteries tend to become soaked
(much like a sponge when filled with water) and then it can only accept
more
current as the plates absorb electricity. In the end, a final stage called
"float stage" is accomplished by much smaller amounts of current in a
trickle charge manner to do the final dressing of the battery. This is
also
called a gassing stage where electrolyte is brought to a bubbling level and
the plates are cleansed of sulphation build up.
Chargers should have constant current in the beginning stage of charge.
Then
the charger current should decrease and the voltage should remain constant
in second stage. In the third stage the current should be very much less
and the voltage would constantly rise until the automatic cut off.
In general, each battery manufacturer will have a preferred charging
algorithm that will lead to the longest battery life. If proper chargers
are used and disciplines followed, then EV operation costs will be lowered
to that extent.
2. Invitation for Earth Day 2000 Asia activities
Earth Day 2000 Asia invites you to join air check and bandanna project. If
you are interested to join, read the details below.
1) Air check project
One of simultaneous actions we are contemplating is Air Check, measuring
the
concentration of NO2 in air. Why Air Check? Because you may not know how
good or bad the air quality in your area is, because you may want to
compare
it with the national average to further work on air quality improvement,
because it is easy to participate (testing materials are small and it
takes
only one hour), because air is one medium connecting all of us together.
More importantly, through Air Check, we want all participants to think
about
Climate change and Ozone Depletion. Climate change is a phenomenon of
increase in temperature on the earth, raising sea level and bringing about
extreme events worldwide. Ozone Depletion is a phenomenon of destruction
of
ozone layer, exposing the planet to increased harmful ultraviolet
radiation.
A major cause of Climate change is emissions of CO2 and for Ozone
Depletion,
it is CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) gases.
So, in addition to NO2 testing, participants are also asked to do research
on annual emission volumes of CO2 and CFCs of their countries or regions.
Through Earth Day 2000 Asia, we are hoping to give as many people to think
about impacts of our daily life to local as well as global environmental
issues. The air check kit for this project only requires 1 hour to see
the density of NO2 and it's very easy. You can do it wherever and
whenever you want.
2) Bandanna project
Another project is wearing Earth Day Bandanna on April 22, 2000. It is
also
very simple but appealing. Wherever we are, whatever we do, we all care
about the environment and on the day of Earth Day we take some action to
express our commitments in protecting this planet.
Earth Day Bandanna not only gives you an easy guide to spot other
environmentalists around you but also helps raise public awareness for
environmental protection if the bandanna is advertised well beforehand.
**Both air check kits and bandannas are manufactured from now on and
distributed to you by Earth Day 2000 JAPAN in April, 2000.
Please fill out a Questionnaire below and e-mail to Earth Day 2000 JAPAN
(fornet@earthday-j.org) upon your participation. Looking forward to your
involvement !
Best regards,
Asian NGO Coalition
Earth Day 2000 JAPAN
LEADERS Nepal
Supported by KIKO Network
Contact : Earth Day 2000 JAPAN
TEL +81-3-3263-9022 FAX +81-3-3263-9463 E-mail fornet@earthday-j.org
Nishikawa Bldg. 2nd fl., Kojimachi 2-7-3, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083 JAPAN
****Earth Day 2000 Asia; Questionnaire****
As Earth Day 2000 is just 3 months ahead, your prompt reply would be most
appreciated!!
Your Name:
Organization:
Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
URL:
a) Are you interested in joining Air Check?
Yes No
b) If yes, how many groups including your group are you going to call for
participation?
[ ] groups
b-1)How many individuals are you expecting to join?
[ ] people
b-2) Is English language instruction okay for your participants to use?
Yes No
[If no, please let us know the language ]
b-3) Can your group contribute money for testing materials?
Yes No
[if yes, please let us know about how much (it costs about US$ 0.5 for one
testing ]
c) Are you interested in the Bandanna project?
Yes No
d) If yes, how many bandannas are you expecting to need?
[ ] units
d-1) Can your group contribute money for bandannas?
Yes No
[if yes, please let us know about how much (it costs about US$ 1 - 2 for
one
bandanna):
*N O T E*
You can join the project with/without contribution.
Turning in your answer by fax or e-mail is appreciated.
1st Deadline : February 1st, 2000
2nd Deadline : February 15, 2000
Final Deadline : March 1st, 2000
*************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 12:25:56 -0500
From: gte@prism.gatech.edu
To: nepal-request@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - Nov 11, 1994 (25 Kartik 2051 BkSm)
Hi, I'm an RA for Prof Goodman ar the Georgia Institute of Technology,
and I need to get a list of official Nepalese government websites. Can
you help me? We're trying to find out the extent of proliferation of the
internet in Nepal, as well as how much it is used, ie. how many hits
these websites have had.
My name is Lakshmi Rajagopal, and my e-mail is gte336k@prism.gatech.edu
Thanks a lot!
Lakshmi
**********************************************************************
From: "Joshua Bierman" <jjames89@hotmail.com>
To: tnd@nepal.org
Subject: Internship
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 13:27:03 PST
To the members of The TND Foundation: My name is Joshua Bierman and I am a
Cultural/Bio-social Anthropology student at Western Washington University in
Bellingham, Washington. I realize your time is valuable, so I will make
this breif. I wish to conduct research in Nepal concerning the loss of
tradition due to the trekking. I realize that your organization is
concerned with issues such as this. I realize that this is not an easy
endeavor, and would like to find some kind of internship in which my
presence with an organization like yours would benefit us both. My plans
are flexible, and my time frame is this summer. The goals of your
orgnaization seem very interesting to me and would likely parallel my
research. If anyone there has any advice, direction, or opportunities,
please let me know. Thank you and have a good day.
Sincerely, Joshua Bierman
**************************************************************************
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 17:58:29 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
To: tnd@nepal.org
Subject: Nepal Digest query
From: C.Ortiz@sussex.ac.uk (Carlos Ortiz)
I'm doing academic research at the University of Sussex, UK. One of the
areas I'm currently working is related to privatization of security
trends world-wide. Recently, I came across a few pages from the Nepal
Digest dated 31 May 1995, on an open discussion on "Gurkhas and
Post-Army Jobs" initiated by Pratyoush Onta. Though brief, I found the
issue fascinating. I just accessed your main website trying to search
for a continuation on the discussion since 1995. Could you please assist
me? I cannot find a way to search for the specific topic among so many
other issues raised. I couldn't access your website www.gurkhas.org, is
it still running? I'll greatly appreciate any assistance you could offer
me on that topic.
I'm not aware how many people from Nepal is around this University, but
if you want some help in promoting your site here, please let me know.
Thanks
Carlos Ortiz
International Relations and Politics
Graduate Research Centre in the Social Sciences
University of Sussex
********************************************************************
From: satbir@gto.net.om
To: <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Information request.
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 14:34:20 +0400
To : TND FOUNDATION, NEPAL.
Dear Sir
We want to come to Nepal and stay for the entire holiday duration of 3 =
to 4 weeks. For this, we think that a furnished apartment or =
cottage/villa etc. will be more affordable than hotels. We could not =
find any such option on the internet. Can you please help us?
We require furnished accommodation (preferably with basic kitchen =
amenities) for about 4 to 6 adults and 2 to 4 kids. Two or three rooms =
villa/apartment can suit, depending upon what is available in Nepal. =20
Our Nationality is Indian.
Looking forward to your reply,
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Satbir Singh
******************************************************************
From: "Louise Grant" <lgrant@charter.net>
To: <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: Healthcare in Nepal
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 16:30:41 -0500
I am a doctoral student at the University of Tennessee taking a course =
in International Health. I am studying the state of healthcare in the =
country of Nepal and hope you can respond or refer my questions to =
someone else familiar with the issue of healthcare in Nepal.=20
Can you describe healthcare delivery in Nepal, in rural settings? urban =
settings?
What seems to be the most prevalent type of healthcare delivered? To =
whom?
Who pays for healthcare? Is there insurance? If so for whom?
What is the major health problem in Nepal? How is it treated?
Growing up in Nepal, what type of healthcare can the average person =
expect to receive? When? Where?
I appreciate any assistance or referrals you can provide.
Sincerely,
Louise P. Grant, M.S, R.D., LDN
***************************************************************
From: CauxSP@aol.com
Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2000 15:06:26 EST
Subject: Assistance
To: tnd@nepal.org
I am looking for funding on behalf of a student Nepal who wants to take a
month-long course in Conflict Resolution. Do you know of any organizations
that would help fund her tuition or airfare?
Thank you,
Naila Sherman
Washington, DC
*******************************************************************
From: CGVBPLYR@aol.com
Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2000 22:37:33 EST
Subject: Question
To: tnd@nepal.org
I would like to know if Nepal had any specific feelings regarding the Bejing
women's crisis going on right now. I am going to represent Nepal in the
Model United Nations competition, and I was wondering if you had any insight.
Thanks,
Melissa Hinze
Cedar Grove, WI
*******************************************************************
From: "Charlotte Zeamer" <czeamer@hotmail.com>
To: tnd@nepal.org, leah@wlink.com.np, maitinepal@wlink.com.np
Subject: NGO research
Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2000 18:25:44 PST
Dear Sir or Madam,
My name is Charlotte Zeamer, and I am a graduate student at the School for
International Training in Brattleboro, VT, USA. I am involved in a research
project on the activities and affiliations of Non-Governmental Organizations
in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka, and I would like to invite you to participate
in this research. The survey which I have prepared will inquire into the
projects, financial statements, and long-term goals of the organizations
surveyed. The results will be compiled and analyzed for the purposes of the
class, and will be shared only with the professor of the class.
I and my colleagues at the School for International Training are all
Master's Candidates in International and Intercultural Management. We are
all looking for practical experience and exposure to NGOs overseas to
fulfill a 7-month to one year term of service, depending on the interests
and needs of the students and NGOs all over the world. If you choose to
participate, I can offer to publicize whatever information you like about
your organization that an interested graduate student here could use to
contact you about work or internship with you.
If I may send you the survey of 10 questions by e-mail, please reply to this
e-mail at your earliest convenience.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Charlotte Zeamer
Master's Candidate in International and Intercultural Management
School for International Training, Vermont, USA
******************************************************************
To: tnd@nepal.org
Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2000 13:56:10 -0500
From: Ashok Chander <shakchan@MIT.EDU>
To whom it may concern:
My name is Ashok Chander and I am a third year undergraduate student at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. I am
writing to you on behalf of a student organization that is dedicated to
promoting interantional development issues on campus. One of our major goals
for the new year is to establish contact with an organizatoin in Nepal that
works on social development issues. We hope with this contact we will be able
to establish a realtionship with this organization, helping them in any way
they feel appropriate. Our primary motive for this is so that we may create
an opportunity on campus for enthusiastic MIT students to work with the
organizatoin in Nepal for a summer in a volunteer capacity in whatever project
the particular Nepalanese organization has in mind. We feel very strongly
that more of these types of opportunities are needed around campus. It is our
general impression that too few of the highly talented and motivated
individuals on this campus are not aware of the pressing needs of many
individuals of the international commmunity. As a result graduates of this
school will have little or no desire to use their skills or resources later
on in life to aid the efforts of organizations involved in the international
development movement.
We plan on funding this summer internship program primarily with grants that
we receive from M.I.T, and are very confident in our ability to obtain these
funds. We, however, are still looking for an organization in Nepal that would
be interested in this type of relationship. If you could offer information to
help us with our search we would be greatly appreciative. Given our school's
expertise and focus, we hoped that the organizatoin would be focused on
providing technology, from seeds to computers, to the people of Nepal, or
conduct some form of research, public health or otherwise, but are not set in
that thinking. Thank you for you time and consideration.
Best Wishes,
Ashok Chander
shakchan@mit.edu
617-290-8015
"We are the music makers,
the dreamers of dreams."
- Roald Dahl
*************************************************************
From: "Shrestha, Sudhir X" <sshresth@amfam.com>
To: <tnd@nepal.org>
Subject: names of senators
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 11:43:48 -0600
Hello to everyone out there!
I am writing to find out the names of the US Senators that recently visited
Nepal during the week of Jan. 17th. There were about 3-4 U.S. Senators.
The names were published in the Nepalnews.com but not in the KTM Post. I
do not know if the names/news were/was published in any other journals.
There is no archive list for the Nepalnews.com that lists the news of the
same week.
If anyone out there knows of it, please email me at SSHRESTH@AMFAM.COM
Thank you. Namaste and Happy Millennium to everyone!!!!
Sudhir Shrestha
Milwaukee
***************************************************************************
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 19:42:29 +0100
Subject: help wanted!
From: Christian Weinreich <christianw@n-a.dk>
To: <webmaster-tnd@nepal.org>
Hi,
Do you have an e-mail address/fax for Naresh Gurung of Nightingale
Travellers Service in Thamel, Kathmandu (just opposite The Everest Steak
House)?
Thanks!
Christian
Denmark
******************************************************************************
* *
* The Nepal Digest(TND) is a publication of TND Foundation, a global *
* not-for-profit information and resource center committed to promoting *
* issues concerning Nepal. All members of tnd@nepal.org will get a copy of *
* The Nepal Digest (TND). Membership is free of charge and open to all. *
* *
* TND Foundation Home Page: http://www.nepal.org *
* http://www.himalaya.org *
* http://www.gurkhas.org *
* For Information: tnd@nepal.org *
* webmaster: ugiri@uswest.com *
* *
* TND Foundation contributions (TAX-DEDUCTIBLE) can be mailed payable to: *
* TND Foundation *
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* *
* Subscription/Deletion requests : mailto:nepal-reques@cs.niu.edu *
* Provide one line message: sub nepal "lastname, firstname, mi" <user@host> *
* [OPTIONAL] Provide few lines about your occupation, address, phone for *
* TND database to: <TND@NEPAL.ORG> *
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* Postal-Mail Correspondences to: TND Foundation *
* P.O. Box 8206 *
* White Plains, NY 10602 *
* USA *
* *
* Digest Contributions: mailto:NEPAL@MP.CS.NIU.EDU *
* THE EDITOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ARTICLES FOR CLARITY. *
* Contributors need to supply Header for the article, email, and full name. *
* *
* Postings are divided into following categories that are listed in the *
* order below. Please provide category-type in the header of your e-mail. *
* *
* 1. Message from TND Editorial Staff *
* TND Foundation News/Message *
* 2. Letter to the Editor *
* Letter to TND Foundation *
* 3. TAJA_KHABAR: Current News *
* 4. KATHA_KABITA: Literature *
* 5. KURA_KANI: Economics *
* Agriculture/Forestry *
* Health *
* Education *
* Technology *
* Social/Cultural Issues *
* Environment/Population *
* Women/Children *
* Tourism *
* Foreign Policy *
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* 6. CHOOT_KILA (Humor, Recipies, Movie Reviews, Sattaires etc.) *
* 7. JAN_KARI: Classifides (Matrimonials, Jobs etc) *
* 8. KHOJ_KHABAR (Inquiring about Nepal, Nepalis etc. ) *
* 9. TITAR_BITAR: Miscellaneous (Immigration and Taxex etc. ) *
* *
* COPYRIGHT NOTE *
* -------------- *
* The content contributors are responsible for any copyright violations. *
* TND, a non-profit electronic journal, will publish articles that have *
* been published in other electronic or paper journal with proper credit *
* to the original media. *
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******************************************************************************
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