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The Nepal Digest Monday 1 May 95: Baishakh 18 2051 BkSm Volume 38 Issue 1
******************************************************************************
* TND Board of Staff *
* ------------------ *
* Editor/Co-ordinator: Rajpal J. Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* SCN Liaison: Rajesh B. Shrestha rshresth@black.clarku.edu *
* Consultant Editor: Padam P. Sharma sharma@plains.nodak.edu *
* TND Archives: Sohan Panta k945184@atlas.kingston.ac.uk *
* Book Reviews Columns: Pratyoush R. Onta ponta@sas.upenn.edu *
* News Correspondent Rajendra P Shrestha rajendra@dartmouth.edu *
* *
* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* *
* "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything" -Dr. MLK *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" - Sirdar Khalifa *
* *
******************************************************************************
*************************************************************
From: Rajendra.P.Shrestha@Dartmouth.EDU (Rajendra P. Shrestha)
Subject: News4/13-16
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
April 14
---------------------
Nepali Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari returned home tonight
after a successful five-day official visit to India. "My visit to
india is successful and positive," the Prime Minister told newsmen
upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport. According to a joint
communique published at the end of the visit, both sides agreed that
Nepal would get facility of additional Indian ports of Kandla and
Bombay on the same terms as being available to Indian nationals. At
the same time, India agreed to assist Nepal in constructing 18 bridges
on the East-West highway, undertake joint survey for the East-West
railway and aid Nepal in the regular supply of commodities like
petroleum products, salt, sugar and rice.
April 16
Prime Minister Adhikari Leaves for China
Excerpts from Reuters, UPI, Xinhua and DPA reports
Nepalese Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikary left for China on Sunday
saying Nepal should act as bridge to peace and development between
India and China.
Adhikary said his visit to China, Nepal's northern neighbour ''will
be as successful as was my visit to India.''
Adhikari, who will spend the night in Hong Kong, begins his China
visit Monday at the invitation of his chinese counterpart Li Peng.
While in China, the Nepalese Prime Minister will meet with Chinese
President Jiang Zemin, hold talks with Chinese Premier Li Peng and
meet with Chairman Li Ruihuan of the National Committee Of The Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference. He is also carrying a
letter from King Birendra to China's leaders, diplomatic sources said.
He leaves for Mongolia on Friday.
There are no outstanding problems between China and Nepal and the
visit is seen in Kathmandu primarily as a goodwill trip. Adhikari said
that he would seek to promote trade and joint ventures with
neighboring Tibet, and discuss improving transportation and roads
between Nepal and Tibet.
But political observers also see the visit as being designed to
balance the one to India which Adhikari concluded Friday.
NEPAL'S SHAME; Girl-Trafficking Meets a Determined Roadblock
By John Ward Anderson in Kathmandu for the Washington Post
Anuradha Koirala does not go by the book. Life is too short, the
bureaucracy too large and the system too corrupt to get bogged down in
fine print, especially when you're trying to help little girls who are
rape victims or enslaved prostitutes.
Koirala marches around her small four-bedroom house like a drill
sergeant -- face stern, manner crisp. Discipline is important when
your home is shelter to more than 40 abused and exploited children no
one else wants.
"The children have to learn to be bold -- they can't sit around and
weep," she says, jaw set and eyes flashing, as if by sheer willpower
the frail former schoolteacher could drive this lesson home.
A 12-year-old girl who was raped by her father walks past, and
Koirala reaches out to sneak a mischievous tickle. The stiffness melts
into a puddle of giggles and hugs and tenderness.
Later, the horrors that these children have suffered, the personal
debt that Koirala has piled up while helping them, the legal battles
to arrest their abusers seem to crash down upon her. Her shoulders
stoop in fatigue and her weathered face softens, deepening the creases
and making her appear 10 years older than her 44 years.
But a consuming anger propels Anuradha Koirala forward. Two years
ago it prompted her to form an organization called Maiti Nepal,
meaning Mother's House. She started by making personal loans of 1,000
rupees (about $ 20) to nine female beggars and prostitutes in Nepal's
capital of Katmandu so they could set up street stalls to sell
vegetables, cigarettes and candies -- and, she hoped, reshape their
lives.
The shelter is now the centerpiece of Koirala's crusade. There she
has surrounded herself with the human residue of Nepal's most
insidious social evils: child prostitution and international
trafficking in women, particularly to brothels in India.
Experts believe there are more than 100,000 Nepalese prostitutes in
India, many of whom were either forcefully abducted or tricked into
going there by friends and family who had sold them to pimps and
brothel owners for prices that range from $ 40 to $ 1,000. After a
so-called "breaking-in" period, during which they are often gang-raped
by employees of the brothel, the women and children are forced to have
sex with as many as 35 men per day for as little as $ 1 per
client. Often all the proceeds go to the brothel owner.
Nepalese women are favored by Indian men because of their facial
features and light skin, according to social workers. Many are taken
to Indian cities when they are as young as 12. They are literally
locked into houses and cages for years and released only when they are
too old to attract customers or if they catch a sexually transmitted
disease, such as AIDS. Beat police take bribes to look the other way,
while officers leave the brothels alone because the owners are
protected by corrupt politicians.
It is against this backdrop that Koirala ("Anu" to her friends)
found her life's purpose.
A chart on the wall of Koirala's home lists her residents. That
week she had 48, from a 24-day-old infant to a 31-year-old
woman. Koirala, her 14-year-old son and four boys shared one bedroom;
the remaining 44 women and girls -- including 14 former prostitutes
and 10 girls returned from brothels in Bombay -- slept in the other
bedrooms and the halls.
Koirala feeds her guests, clothes them and sees to their education
or job training. But her chief goal, she says, is to provide them with
a safe and loving home. The older girls care for the youngest, they
cut each other's hair, wash their clothes, cook their own
meals. Everybody jumps to help the blind girl negotiate her way
through the chaos.
There are six volunteer workers, but Maiti Nepal is really a
one-woman show, right down to the funding. Koirala lost her main
donor, UNICEF, when she refused to return children to their families,
arguing that the parents had gone through no counseling or
rehabilitation programs and the children would end up back on the
streets. She has kept her organization running for the past four
months on a $ 3,000 loan from her sister, plus private donations of
food, clothes and blankets.
There is little time anymore for the long walks she used to take
through the Pashupatinath neighborhood of Katmandu -- an area renowned
as a haven for destitute, desperate people -- after her husband left
her six years ago to marry his aunt. Now, she says, he wants to disown
her, knowing full well that for many in this male-dominated Hindu
kingdom, it would be the ultimate disgrace. "I'm going to call him
this weekend and tell him, 'I'm disowning you!' " she sneered recently
while retracing one of the walks where the idea of Maiti Nepal was
born.
"I talked to the women, and they were all like me, but they were
illiterate and had no one and there was poverty and they were
helpless," she said. "I told them, 'You're healthy with two arms and
two legs. Why do you beg? Start doing something on your own and stop
forcing yourselves and your children into such a filthy place.' "
Now, with seed money from Koirala, there are 16 women running small
sidewalk stands, repaying her at a rate of three rupees per day. They
are not all success stories, but even the worst is better off. "At
least she's not doing regular prostitution and she doesn't beg,"
Koirala said.
Some of the women had small children and, at their request, Koirala
agreed to care for them while their mothers worked. Word spread, and a
flood of unwanted kids began appearing at her doorstep.
The girls in particular piqued Koirala's concern.
"If a girl is not given a safe home, she will be used," Koirala
said, "and children do not understand sex. I used to ask the girls
about it, and all they said was, 'If we don't do it, we don't get
money.' "
Government and private reports are replete with complaints that not
enough is known about child prostitution and girl trafficking in
Nepal. For Koirala, it is enough to know that it has been happening
for decades, under the protective eye of corrupt police and
politicians, and that between 5,000 and 7,000 Nepalese women and girls
are taken to Indian brothels every year. Social activists say that 20
percent are younger than 16 and more than a third are taken there
forcibly or lured with the false promise of jobs or marriage.
"That life is like a hell," said Sunita Biswakarma, 28, whose
boyfriend sold her to a Bombay brothel owner for about $ 500 when she
was 19. She escaped after 2 1/2 years, but had to leave her son
behind. Now, Koirala is helping her start a small business and wants
to help retrieve the son whom Biswakarma has not seen in seven years.
"Whoever I came into contact with said they wanted to go back to
Nepal, " Biswakarma said, claiming that 14 other Nepalese girls and
women were held at the brothel and forced to have sex with as many as
15 people a day (the price: as little as 30 cents per man). "Even if
you have to beg, life is better in Nepal, " she said.
In recent decades, economic and social factors have fueled the boom
in prostitution and trafficking in women, activists said. The
population of Nepal (19 million) is doubling every 26 years, leading
to an acute land shortage that is crippling local
economies. Unemployment (46 percent), poverty (the per capita annual
income is $ 180) and illiteracy (62 percent total, 87 percent for
women) have combined with the low status of women to produce enormous
pressure in the mountainous areas of Nepal to sell women.
The sale of women and girls also has roots in Nepalese culture and
religion. Certain "untouchable" caste women are traditionally
prostitutes, while other castes allow their unmarried women to be sold
as offerings to temples, where they invariably become prostitutes to
support themselves.
The practice is so ingrained in some areas, according to studies,
that entire villages have been depopulated of women. With the sale of
a young woman bringing as much as 10 years' income, husbands even sell
their wives, and brothers sell their sisters. Often, after
indoctrination into the brothels, the girls will return to their
villages with cash, jewelry and new clothes, putting pressure on other
families to force or sell their girls into the trade.
"This show of pomp and affluence often makes a tremendous impact,"
said a report on trafficking by ABC Nepal, one of the first groups to
fight the sale of women. "On most occasions, such women [who have
returned] take part actively in trafficking of new girls or even their
own relatives."
Enter Maiti Nepal. Last September, Koirala mobilized 180 people,
including police, college students, doctors and other social
activists, to go door-to-door in 16 mountain villages north of
Katmandu to educate, berate and threaten residents about selling their
girls. A month later, she launched a similar operation at 71 Katmandu
Valley carpet factories, where unsuspecting girls are often placed for
a few weeks before being spirited away to India.
"When we went to the villages, they took out knives and said,
'We'll sell our daughters,' and tried to chase us away, until they saw
the police," Koirala said. "We have said we'll go after them, and
they're scared now in the villages."
A police official in Melamchi, a town with a long history of
trafficking, said the effort was paying off. About 25 people have been
arrested in the last three months, he said; nine of the arrests were
attributed to a Maiti Nepal program to encourage informants.
Others said there was still a long way to go.
"What's the point?" asked Gopal Lama, a trader who lives across
from the Melamchi police station. "One political party puts them in
jail, another party comes to power and lets them out."
For Koirala, it's part of the struggle that keeps her going.
"If I were teaching in school, I could earn 6,000 rupees [about $
120] a month, and that's enough for my son and me, but it holds no
charm," she said recently while walking among the beggar women and
prostitutes in Pashupatinath. "I wanted something to keep me busy 24
hours a day, otherwise I'd be in the same state as these other
women."
**************************************************************
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 14:33:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: Nabin NePal <st0076@student-mail.jsu.edu>
Subject: kabita
Hi Mr. Diwas Khati,
Namaste.
I wanted to send a kabita to TND, but I don't know where to send. May be
you can help.
" WHEN THE SKY IS BADLY OVERCASTED "
ON THE THORNY WAY OF LIFE
WHEN YOU ARE LEFT ALONE
TO FACE THE WORLD
HOW MONOTONOUS THE HEART BECOMES, ASK ME
WHEN THERE IS NOWHERE TO LOOK UPON
AND WHEN THE SKY IS BADLY OVERCASTED.
Thanks.
Nabin
**************************************************************
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 1995 18:09:51 +0700
From: Suman Kumar Manandhar <a94314@cs.ait.ac.th>
Subject: A Book Guide
You may choose the latest bestsellers off the bookshelves for this
summer's reading. Alternatively, I have compiled a list of "old-fashioned"
books for you. You can find this list on my home page also at address
http://www.cs.ait.ac.th/~a94314/. Happy reading!
*A Many-Splendoured Thing*
Han Suyin
A limpid love story between a Chinese lady and a British reporter.
The language is so beautiful that you will want to note down the
lines (as I did).
Excerpts follow:
Most people do not wish to remember suffering. My concern is not
to forget it. It is not merciful to forget; to obliterate the live
sore of remembrance with creeping, bloodless scar tissue. For me
always the unabated rawness, the fresh profitable spur of pain.
... at twenty dreaming of sixty-five; in youth aspiring to safe
senility. For the security of death, they forsook living.
Who wants to be immortal when beauty is so mortal? I had rather be
a red flower in your hair.
... everything has come alive, every moment a shooting star.
I have dreamed a wonderful dream; of life, and love, of laughter,
and tears, and good and ill, and all these things which are equal
under Heaven, which equalizes all things.
A wonderful dream, my many-splendoured thing.
*Bracken*
Elizabeth West
This is a simple novel about a man who's been told by his doctor
that he is going to die in a few months. He goes to live in the
countryside to spend his last days and befriends a gypsy boy named
Bracken. And Bracken shows him how beautiful the world is, every
day, every minute of it. I do not know whether this book is
available in the market today - I found a condensed version of this
book in a Reader's Digest collection at AWON Library in Kathmandu.
*New Enlarged Anthology of Robert Frost's Poems*
With an introduction and commentary by Louis Untermeyer
Illustrated by John O'Hara Cosgrave II
A good selection of Frost's poems. Illustrations add a fourth
dimension to the timeless appeal of these simple verse.
*How to Be Your Own Best Friend*
Mildred Newman and Bernard Berkowitz with Jean Owen
A book which shows you how you can be happy. It will lift your
spirits as you come face to face with your personality. The
authors are a husband-and-wife psychiatrist team.
*Summer Lightning*
P G Wodehouse
This is a book to make you laugh and roll all over the floor. The
story of young people falling in and out of love in a
roller-coaster turn of events. There is the absent-minded Lord
Emsworth fawning over his pig, his disapproving sister and a host
of other colourful characters that keep the story rolling. And
when uncle Galahad, who firmly believes that any non-alcoholic
drink is hazardous to health, is around, the action is non-stop.
*Jonathan Livingstone Seagull*
Richard Bach
Bach's best book. An allegorical story - it soars like the main
character of the book, a maverick seagull who is always trying out
new ideas. A modern Aesop's fable.
*All Creatures Great and Small*
James Herriot
>From the first paragraph to the last page you cannot but smile -
sometimes through your tears. And I guarantee that you will not
stop at that last page because you will go on to read all the
sequels, All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Things Wise and
Wonderful and The Lord God Made Them All. The author died recently
but his books will endure for ever. The books describe a
veterinary surgeon's life in a rural part of England called the
Dales. It is full of stories about farmers, their cows and goats,
and other people's dogs and cats - and soon you will realize that
the tiny flame of life burning inside a dying calf is as beautiful
a treasure as we are ever likely to find.
*Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam*
done into English by Edward Fitzgerald
with illustrations by Marjorie Anderson
Translated from the Arabic, the verse flows non-stop like the wine
it glorifies. A small book but a joy to read.
some excerpts:
And this delightful Herb whose tender Green
Fledges the River's Lip on which we lean -
Ah, lean upon it lightly! for who knows
>From what once lovely Lip it springs unseen!
Ah Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire
To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
Would not we shatter it to bits - and then
Remould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!
*The Prophet*
Kahlil Gibran
This is a parable of a prophet living on an island who bestows his
wisdom upon the local people. A book that explains life and death,
and pain and joy in a language that defies description. A good
book to give as a gift - the gift may be the most valuable you have
ever given anyone.
some excerpts:
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your
understanding.
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the
same music.
Is not the dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that
is unquenchable?
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is
worthy of all else from you.
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can
contain.
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit the very wood that was
hollowed with knives?
Life, and all that lives, is conceived in the mist and not in the
crystal.
And who knows but a crystal is mist in decay?
I have translated this book into Nepali. I have a dream of
publishing it some day.
Happy New Year 2052 to you all.
Suman Kumar Manandhar, a94314@cs.ait.ac.th, http://www.cs.ait.ac.th/~a94314/
*****************************************************************
From: "Heather C. Stewart" <hstewart@moose.uvm.edu>
Subject: Looking for info. on Hindu Women
Dear Editor,
It would be great if you could send this out to all TND members:
NAMASTE!
I am a student at the University of Vermont, and I am writing a paper
for my sociology class on the status of women in Nepal. I am interested in the
recent change of government to communism, and the effects it has had on
women. If anyone on the TND can share or help me find some information on this
subject I would be
very grateful. Anything regarding the status of Hindu women would be
appreciated!
Dhanyabad!!!
hstewart@moose.uvm.edu
*****************************************************************
From: "DEEPAK DUTTA" <94013515@zaphod.riv.csu.edu.au>
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 11:40:26 GMT-10
Subject: information regarding trekking in Nepal
To,
The editor,TND
Can you please include this questionaire in the digest.
Can someone tell me what would be the best place for trekking in
Nepal during the month of May? A friend of mine is going to Nepal and
she is really interested in going for trekking, maybe for a short
trekking trip. I find myself unable to give her any idea regarding
where she should go to. It would be really kind if any of the netters
subscribed to TND can provide me some information.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2052, to all the
Nepalese netters of TND.
EMAIL.
94013515@zaphod.riv.csu.edu.au
*********************************************************************
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 95 22:00:33 EST
From: "anup s.pande" <anup_s.pande@smtpgtwy.berea.edu>
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Yastai cha RNAC
Namaste,
This is to comment about the recent posting about Royal Nepal
Airlines by Dr. Pokhrel. As far as the age of the aircraft go, it is true that
the ones in domestic service date as early as the sixties. One might have heard
the long list of 'pravidhik karanle garda' delays and cancellations of RA
domestic flights every night at 9pm on the radio. While such delays and
cancellations very often occur because of the weather, mechanical problems with
the aircraft also equally contribute to them and these frequent mechanical
problems simply occur due to the age of the aircraft. Those who flew domestic
sectors around 1990 might have noticed the inconvenience when only one of the
three 'thotra' Avros were operational.
Talking about the fleet in international flights, RA currently operates two
757s (bought in 1988) and an Airbus 310(introduced sometime in the 80's) on
lease which are one of the most modern jets in service. Therefore I can not
agree with the point that RNAC jets are old and painful for a few hours of
flight. Although I have never flown an international flight on RA, I have heard
several times that passengers who boarded with everything confirmed in the US
would get bumped at London becuase their record does not exist in their
computers at London. Therefore, we can observe the reservation system of RNAC.
Another dissatisfaction I would like to express is about its service to
Osaka. Why in the world does an airline at the verge of bankruptcy have to fly
to the most expensive airport of the world (11 times(?) more expensive to land
than at Tokyo, Narita)? In addition, RA is not allowed to carry passengers or
cargo from Shanghai to Osaka. I wonder how many seats would reamin empty. If
it has to fly into Japan, why doesn't it go to Tokyo which has a lower landing
cost? Also there are more flights from the US or any where else in the world to
Tokyo than to Osaka, so that it can be used as a connecting point for those
flying from the US or Canada. A connection via Tokyo, encompassing a more
central location in Japan would also help to reduce the cost of expensive
domestic travel in Japan. High operating costs may be the reason that the
frequency of flights into Kansai has been reduced to one from two flights a
week.
Arko kura about domestic flights; as a student I travelled with 25% discount
to get which I had to show my valid id and proof of age while purchasing the
ticket. However before boarding a flight, I do not remember a single time that
my id was checked. Threfore I suspect that there may be a lot of nonstudents
flying with student discount. Sometime around 1991 or 1992 I remember reading
an article on some weekly newspaper(Bimarsha or Deshantar?) that a passenger
wrapped in bandages boarded a flight at Simikot. Once he landed at Nepalgunj,
he went to the toilet, pilled off all the bandages and walked out as a normal
healthy man. He was identified as the district health worker. There was
another report with a photograph showing the pilot taking out fuel from the
airplane( reported to be about 60 litres, price per litre Rs 13.60) at Rumjatar
airport. These are perhaps only small examples of irregularities going in our
rastriya dhwaja bahak. I do not think I need to describe about the
irregularities at most of the remote airports as well as the hub cities.
This is just a small compilation of my personal experiences and views as
well as what I have heard and read. I would appreciate any feedbacks.
Sadhanyabd
Anup Pande (anup_s.pande@berea.edu)
**********************************************************
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 15:58:09 -0500
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
From: rajesh@koz.struct.civil.saitama-u.ac.jp (Rajesh Adhikari)
Subject: New Year Gift... Nepali Calendar 2052
Hello there,
Happy New Year to all of you.
Here is the Calendar for year 2052 written in LaTeX.
It was originally created by Hem Raj Joshi (GERMANY) and
thanks (if any) should go to him.
I hope it is helpful to some.
-- Rajesh Adhikari
********************* CUT HERE ************************
\documentstyle[12pt]{article}
\parindent=0cm
\topmargin=-1cm
\headheight=0cm
\headsep=0cm
\textwidth=14cm
\textheight=33cm
\begin{document}
\begin{center}
\Large{\sf Nepali Calendar ({\it 2052 B.S})}
\end{center}
\scriptsize
\begin{tabular}{|c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c|} \\
\hline
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Baishakh}\it{(Apr14-May14)}}&
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Jestha}\it{(May15-jun14)}} \\
\hline
\scriptsize
Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa&Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa \\
\hline
${31}_{14}$& & & & & ${1}_{14}$& ${2}_{15}$& &
${1}_{15}$ & ${2}_{16}$ &${3}_{17}$ &${4}_{18}$ &${5}_{19}$ &${6}_{20}$ \\
\hline
$3_{16}$&${4}_{17}$&${5}_{18}$&${6}_{19}$&${7}_{20}$&${8}_{21}$&${9}_{22}$&
${7}_{21}$&${8}_{22}$&${9}_{23}$&${10}_{24}$&${11}_{25}$&${12}_{26}$&${13}_{
27}$ \\
\hline
${10}_{23}$&${11}_{24}$&${12}_{25}$&${13}_{26}$&${14}_{27}$&${15}_{28}$&${16
}_{29}$&
${14}_{28}$&${15}_{29}$&${16}_{30}$&${17}_{31}$&${18}_{1}$&${19}_{2}$&${20}_
{3}$ \\
\hline
${17}_{30}$&${18}_{1}$&${19}_{2}$&${20}_{3}$&${21}_{4}$&${22}_{5}$&${23}_{6}
$&${21}_{4}$&${22}_{5}$&${23}_{6}$&${24}_{7}$&${25}_{8}$&${26}_{9}$&${27}_{1
0}$ \\
\hline
${24}_{7}$&${25}_{8}$&${26}_{9}$&${27}_{10}$&${28}_{11}$&${29}_{12}$&${30}_{
13}$&${28}_{11}$&${29}_{12}$&${30}_{13}$&${31}_{14}$&&& \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\marginpar{\bf 1995 {\it A.D}}
\vspace{4mm}
\begin{tabular}{|c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c|} \\
\hline
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Aasad}\it{(Jun15-jul16)}}&
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Shravan}\it{(May17-Aug16)}} \\
\hline
Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa&Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa \\
\hline
${32}_{16}$& & & &${1}_{15}$ & ${2}_{16}$& ${3}_{17}$& &${1}_{17}$ &
${2}_{18}$&${3}_{19}$ &${4}_{20}$ &${5}_{21}$ &${6}_{22}$ \\
\hline
${4}_{18}$&${5}_{19}$&${6}_{20}$&${7}_{21}$&${8}_{22}$&${9}_{23}$&${10}_{24}$&
${7}_{23}$&${8}_{24}$&${9}_{25}$&${10}_{26}$&${11}_{27}$&${12}_{28}$&${13}_{
29}$ \\
\hline
${11}_{25}$&${12}_{26}$&${13}_{27}$&${14}_{28}$&${15}_{29}$&${16}_{30}$&${17
}_{1}$&
${14}_{30}$&${15}_{31}$&${16}_{1}$&${17}_{2}$&${18}_{3}$&${19}_{4}$&${20}_{5
}$ \\
\hline
${18}_{2}$&${19}_{3}$&${20}_{4}$&${21}_{5}$&${22}_{6}$&${23}_{7}$&${24}_{8}$
&${21}_{6}$&${22}_{7}$&${23}_{8}$&${24}_{9}$&${25}_{10}$&${26}_{11}$&${27}_{
12}$ \\
\hline
${25}_{9}$&${26}_{10}$&${27}_{11}$&${28}_{12}$&${29}_{13}$&${30}_{14}$&${31}
_{15}$&${28}_{13}$&${29}_{14}$&${30}_{15}$&${31}_{16}$&&& \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\vspace{4mm}
\begin{tabular}{|c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c|} \\
\hline
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Bhadra}\it{(Aug17-Sep16)}}&
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Aaswin}\it{(Sep17-Oct17)}} \\
\hline
Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa&Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa \\
\hline
& & & &${1}_{17}$ & ${2}_{18}$& ${3}_{19}$&
${1}_{17}$&${2}_{18}$ &${3}_{19}$ &${4}_{20}$ &${5}_{21}$ &${6}_{22}$
&${7}_{23}$\\
\hline
${4}_{20}$&${5}_{21}$&${6}_{22}$&${7}_{23}$&${8}_{24}$&${9}_{25}$&${10}_{26}$&
${8}_{24}$&${9}_{25}$&${10}_{26}$&${11}_{27}$&${12}_{28}$&${13}_{29}$&${14}_
{30}$ \\
\hline
${11}_{27}$&${12}_{28}$&${13}_{29}$&${14}_{30}$&${15}_{31}$&${16}_{1}$&${17}
_{2}$&
${15}_{1}$&${16}_{2}$&${17}_{3}$&${18}_{4}$&${19}_{5}$&${20}_{6}$&${21}_{7}$ \\
\hline
${18}_{3}$&${19}_{4}$&${20}_{5}$&${21}_{6}$&${22}_{7}$&${23}_{8}$&${24}_{9}$&
${22}_{8}$&${23}_{9}$&${24}_{10}$&${25}_{11}$&${26}_{12}$&${27}_{13}$&${28}_
{14}$ \\
\hline
${25}_{10}$&${26}_{11}$&${27}_{12}$&${28}_{13}$&${29}_{14}$&${30}_{15}$&${31
}_{16}$&
${29}_{15}$&${30}_{16}$&${31}_{17}$&&&& \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\vspace{4mm}
\begin{tabular}{|c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c|} \\
\hline
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Kartik}\it{(Oct18-Nov16)}}&
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Mangsir}\it{(Nov17-Dec15)}} \\
\hline
Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa&Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa \\
\hline
&&&${1}_{18}$&${2}_{19}$&${3}_{20}$&${4}_{21}$&&&&&&${1}_{17}$&${2}_{18}$ \\
\hline
${5}_{22}$&${6}_{23}$&${7}_{24}$&${8}_{25}$&${9}_{26}$&${10}_{27}$&${11}_{28}$&
${3}_{19}$&${4}_{20}$&${5}_{21}$&${6}_{22}$&${7}_{23}$&${8}_{24}$&${9}_{25}$ \\
\hline
${12}_{29}$&${13}_{30}$&${14}_{31}$&${15}_{1}$&${16}_{2}$&${17}_{3}$&${18}_{4}$&
${10}_{26}$&${11}_{27}$&${12}_{28}$&${13}_{29}$&${14}_{30}$&${15}_{1}$&${16}
_{2}$ \\
\hline
${19}_{5}$&${20}_{6}$&${21}_{7}$&${22}_{8}$&${23}_{9}$&${24}_{10}$&${25}_{11}$&
${17}_{3}$&${18}_{4}$&${19}_{5}$&${20}_{6}$&${21}_{7}$&${22}_{8}$&${23}_{9}$ \\
\hline
${26}_{12}$&${27}_{13}$&${28}_{14}$&${29}_{15}$&${30}_{16}$&&&
${24}_{10}$&${25}_{11}$&${26}_{12}$&${27}_{13}$&${28}_{14}$&${29}_{15}$& \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\vspace{4mm}
\begin{tabular}{|c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c|} \\
\hline
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Pous}\it{(Dec16-Jan13)}}&
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Maagh}\it{(Jan14-Feb12)}} \\
\hline
Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa&Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa \\
\hline
&&&&&&${1}_{16}$&
${1}_{14}$&${2}_{15}$&${3}_{16}$&${4}_{17}$&${5}_{18}$&${6}_{19}$&${7}_{20}$ \\
\hline
${2}_{17}$&${3}_{18}$&${4}_{19}$&${5}_{20}$&${6}_{21}$&${7}_{22}$&${8}_{23}$&
${8}_{21}$&${9}_{22}$&${10}_{23}$&${11}_{24}$&${12}_{25}$&${13}_{26}$&${14}_
{27}$ \\
\hline
${9}_{24}$&${10}_{25}$&${11}_{26}$&${12}_{27}$&${13}_{28}$&${14}_{29}$&${15}
_{30}$&
${15}_{28}$&${16}_{29}$&${17}_{30}$&${18}_{31}$&${19}_{1}$&${20}_{2}$&${21}_
{3}$ \\
\hline
${16}_{31}$&${17}_{1}$&${18}_{2}$&${19}_{3}$&${20}_{4}$&${21}_{5}$&${22}_{6}$&
${22}_{4}$&${23}_{5}$&${24}_{6}$&${25}_{7}$&${26}_{8}$&${27}_{9}$&${28}_{10}$ \\
\hline
${23}_{7}$&${24}_{8}$&${25}_{9}$&${26}_{10}$&${27}_{11}$&${28}_{12}$&${29}_{
13}$&
${29}_{11}$&${30}_{12}$&&&&&\\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\marginpar{\bf 1996 {\it A.D}}
\vspace{4mm}
\begin{tabular}{|c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c| c|} \\
\hline
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Falgun}\it{(Feb13-Mar13)}}&
\multicolumn{7}{|c|}{\bf{Chaitra}\it{(Mar14-Apr12)}} \\
\hline
Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa&Su&Mo&Tu&We&Th&Fr&Sa \\
\hline
&&${1}_{13}$&${2}_{14}$&${3}_{15}$&${4}_{16}$&${5}_{17}$&
&&&&${1}_{14}$&${2}_{15}$&${3}_{16}$ \\
\hline
${6}_{18}$&${7}_{19}$&${8}_{20}$&${9}_{21}$&${10}_{22}$&${11}_{23}$&${12}_{24}$&
${4}_{17}$&${5}_{18}$&${6}_{19}$&${7}_{20}$&${8}_{21}$&${9}_{22}$&${10}_{23}$ \\
\hline
${13}_{25}$&${14}_{26}$&${15}_{27}$&${16}_{28}$&${17}_{29}$&${18}_{1}$&${19}
_{2}$&
${11}_{24}$&${12}_{25}$&${13}_{26}$&${14}_{27}$&${15}_{28}$&${16}_{29}$&${17
}_{30}$ \\
\hline
${20}_{3}$&${21}_{4}$&${22}_{5}$&${23}_{6}$&${24}_{7}$&${25}_{8}$&${26}_{9}$&
${18}_{31}$&${19}_{1}$&${20}_{2}$&${21}_{3}$&${22}_{4}$&${23}_{5}$&${24}_{6}$ \\
\hline
${27}_{10}$&${28}_{11}$&${29}_{12}$&${30}_{13}$&&&&
${25}_{7}$&${26}_{8}$&${27}_{9}$&${28}_{10}$&${29}_{11}$&${30}_{12}$& \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\tiny
\begin{itemize}
\item {\bf\underline{Some important Dates}}: {\bf Baishakh}: New Year(1),
Matatirtha Aunshee(16),Buddha Jayantee(31)\\
{\bf Aasad}:Harishayani Ekadashee Brata(24); Sravan:Rakshya Bandan(25),
Gai Jatra(26)\\
{\bf Bhadra}:Krishnastamee(1),Kushe Aunshee(26),Teej(13); {\bf Aasvin}:
Ghatasthapana(9),
Fulpatee(15)\\
Vijaya Dashamee(17),Kojagrat Purnima(21){\bf Kartik}:Lakshmee Puja(6),Bhai
Teeka(8)\\
Haribodhini Ekadashee(3),{\bf Pous}: Maagh Snanarmbha(21) {\bf Maagh}:
Shreepanchamee(12)\\
Shosthanee Brat Samadhee(22), {\bf Falgun}: Shivaratree(5), Holee Purnima(21);\\
Chaitra:Chaitraastamee(14),Raam Navamee(15)
\item {\bf\underline{Biheko Lagan}}: {\bf
Baishakh}(6,7,8,9,18,19,20,25,26,27,28,29);
{\bf Jestha}(1,3,4,5,10,11,16,17,24,25,28,29,30,31);\\
{\bf Aasad}(2,6,7,8,18,20,21);{\bf Mangseer}(2,3,10,15,16,20,21);{\bf
Maagh}(2,10,15,16,17,25,26,29);\\
{\bf Falgun}(2,3,8,9,14,15,16,20,21,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30)\\
\end{itemize}
\end{document}
% *************************** END of The Calendar ********************
*************************************************************************
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 1995 21:01:26 -0400 (EDT)
From: Pravignya Regmi <pregmi@emerald.tufts.edu>
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: HELP NEPAL SAVE ENVIRONMENT-III
IS IT NEPALS' TURN AFTER ETHIOPIA, SUDAN AND SOMALIA ?
_______________________________________________________
A six year old dead baby only with the bony skeleton and protruding
belley is being carried to graveyard. Her mother with bulging eyes has no
tears to weep. She has already lost four children and herself is ready to
collapse at any time. Besides that she has witnessed the mass funeral of
of famine corpses that are partially wrapped in jute sacks and simply
thrown in the desert that was once a green fertile land. Perplexed with
extream calamity she holds her daughter tightly on her chest before saying
her final good bye. Staring long in the grave, she wonders with vacant
mind.
This is a depiction of the hell in the "Garud Purana" which is
recited, on the thirteenth day of a persons' demise, by the Brahmin
priests in the Hindu tradition. It seems like that the descriptions are
no more legendary myth but simply a vivid reality - a reality of
environmental degradation - a consequence of desertification.
Despite heavy use and exploitation of the arable land, Nepal has not
yet suffered such catastroph like the African countries for two major
reasons. First is the presence of the Himalayas that block the highly
saturated monsoon winds causing rain in Nepal; therby, creating numerous
springs and glaciars for lives. Second is the fertile alluvial soils of
the Terai region which is capable of producing great quantity of crops.
However, there are some questions: How far will the land sustain
the pressure of ever accelarating demands ? Will the springs continue to
flow ? And will "Chyangba" and "Maichang" have oppertunity to make
"peerati" in the deep green forest while collecting fodder ?
Common Trends of Environmental Degradation.
___________________________________________
Following are the eight simple facts for environmental degradation that
are shared by Nepal and the major causes of famine in the African
countries, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan in GENERAL. I leave these facts to
analyse to my readers to extrapolate the Nepals' environmental destiny.
Fact # 1. All the three countries mentioned above are struggling with
severe desertification while Nepal has alarmingly encountered
the problem of land degradation. Land degradation is
usually the first scence of desertification. Some
10,000 acres of land in western Nepal has started
desertification (HMG, Env. 1992). Nepal loses millions
of cubic feet of fertile top soil every year resulting in
exposure of subsoil which is not suitable for plants as it
lacks required organic constituents.
Shifting areas of cultivation on the mountain slopes and
flooding in the Terai region has resulted in massive landslides
and soil erosion.
Fact # 2. Deforestation is common in all the countries creating numerous
environmental problems. About 90% of the Nepalese fuelneeds are
met with firewood obtained from forest. Trees are stripped of
branches for fodder and fuelwood needs that reduces plants' repro-
ductive ability. Furthermore, Nepal is heading to the same way
of trampling forests by grazing cattle, which is another major
reason for deforestation, like Somalia did (on Ogaden grasslands
on Ethiopian land). Trampling effect compacts soil, makes land
barren and kills saplings. It starts from a margin of a forest
and consumes all at the end leaving deserted earth behind.
Fact # 3. Poor percentage of arable cropland exerts pressure on fertile land
and decreases fertility. Nepal compared to the African countries
holds high percentage, i.e. 18.84%, of arable cropland compared
to that of Ethiopia 11.4%, Sudan 5.14% and Somalia 1.62%; however,
soil fertility on mountains is limited and ever deteriorating.
This point exposes the fear of local famines. A point to think -
is growing demand of food and limited supply a diagnostic symptom
of famine ?
Fact # 4. All of the countries are heavily depended on traditional methods
of farming. The fact of Sudan, lacking natural vegetation is
largely because of the effects of centuries of cultivation, can
be somehow applied to view future Nepal. Our croplands are busy
through out the year producing some kind of grains. The land has
almost no time to restore its lost fertility because of such
continious use. Hey and other crop biproducts are not
recycled in Nepal; except, some of it in the form of organic
manure is scattered in "Khet" and "Baries" before cultivation.
Next cause is the improper land use; for example, corn, that has
very poor capcity to hold soil, is grown on hill slopes during
monsoon. This causes rapid soil erosion and heavy leaching of
essential minerals contributing a significant role of land
desertification.
Fact # 5. Rate of population growth is high among all the countries.
Ethiopia holds highest rate, i.e. 2.91% which is followed by
Sudan 2.88% Nepal 2.66% and Somalia 1.94%. This will lead high
population which means exploitation of virgin lands (unless there are
other methods) to meet the new demands. High population density has
multidimenssional effects on ecological dynamics that leads further
deterioration in ecosystems.
Fact # 6. The three African countries have been suffering severe problem of
famine while Nepal confronts malnutrion. Malnutrion is a kind
mild famine that can grow to severe when environment turns harsh.
Fact # 7. Poverty is the harsh reality of all the four contries. Majority
of the people even can not sustain their lives if they are deprived
to extract resources from forest. People are poor and
environmentally illiterate. Consequence is rapid deterioration of
local ecology; thereby, whole country.
Fact # 8. Democracy is new to Nepal and has been practicing its virtues.
However, corruption and nepotism have not been completely eli-
minated. Nepal, of course, does not suffer from brutal civil wars
as Somalia, though strong political tensions and prejudice
still persist among the political parties. If the political system
worsens (let us not hope that), no one knows what will happen !
A Fable That Can be True
__________________________
It is likely (this is not a prediction) to observe the scene
mentioned on the first para of this article if the current rate of
environmental degradation continues in Nepal, NO DOUBT SOONER OR LATER,
unless measures are taken or alternatives are derived to prevent form
future calamity. We need to visualize this RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT and move
SMARTLY forwards for environmental protection.
Environmental protection for economic development, production and
use for all ! Let us join hand and move towards the GOAL!
Pravigya Regmi
_______________
(Note: The data is based on the Environmental Alamanac 1994. Some
facts have been extracted from Enclyc. Brit., other ref. can be provided
upon request)
*********************************************************************
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 11:31:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: RAKSHA DEVI MALAKAR <raksha@ent.umass.edu>
Subject: Hello!
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Dear Rajpal,
I am looking for a contact person or address in Nepal, to get permission
to trap some gypsy moths in Nepal . Do you have any idea about it?
Thanks.
Raksha
*****************************************************************
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 11:44:07 +0500
From: nshresth@capital.edu (Nischal Shrestha)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Street
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2052
Some facts about street gangs.
1920s - Chicago becomes the nation's gang capital during
Prohibition;Mexican immigrants form first HIspanic gangs in barrios of
Los Angeles;Eastern and Southern European immigrants continue flocking to
ethnic enclaves in New York City that gave rise to many gangs.
1950s - Southern blacks migrate to Northern inner cities;classic era of
teen street gangs counseled by social workers;wave of Puerto Rican
immigrants arrives in New York City.
1960s - Gangs take on traits from Civil Rights, Black Muslim and radical
youth movements;government channels some gangs into anti-poverty work.
To be continued...
Bye.
Nischal.
******************************************************************
Date: 19 Apr 1995 10:38:22 U
From: "Hridaya Bajracharya" <hridaya_bajracharya@sec.educ.ualberta.ca>
Subject: Sanskrit is not an icon of
To: "The Nepal Digest" <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: 4/18/95
Sanskrit is not an icon of discontent 15:11
I was taken aback in the reviving in TND of the issues of Radio news in
Sanskrit. I was already reading some fine arguments in SCN, that argued that
it was not the issue of Sanskrit as such rather it is the issue of how it is
being used, almost in an irritating way to the normal rational or even
spiritual thinking minds. The big quesion, I think, is why news in Sanskrit?
Will there be anyone who would listen to it for the sole purpose of getting
the news? And, is there a group for whom it is difficult to understand other
language but sanskrit for the purpose of news? Based on my limited personal
perception of who Padma Ratna is, I think these might be the rational issues
why he resigned in frustration not being able to make his political allies
realize the rational dimension of the issues. Perhaps, if sanskrit were to
be used for revealing what it held in the form of spiritual imaginations,
the beauty of the wisdom it held in the form of stories, poetry and granthas,
it would have been appreciated by all. I personally would love to hear
utterance of Veda and Upanishad, or quotes from Gita, in lovely voice, a soft
shastriye music in the background and with a crisp positive spiritual
translation would certainly help quench aesthetic thirst.
The other issue I think is the unspoken but implicit intention of groups of
people for or against Sanskrit -- making it an icon to hurt the sentiments of
the other. Sanskrit, it seems is now being thought of as an inheritance of a
particular group of people both by those in favour and opposing it, the way
it is being made "pewa" (unquestioned vocation) by few flares up the issue.
Why and how it came this way will remain confusing arguments and
counterarguments, but do we need to argue and counterargue on this except to
pick a bone of discontent? I think we should take it as a starting ground --
a reality that exist but not necessarily that we wanted. As any truthful
historian will show and so the truthful sociologist will point out that
Nepal (Valley in the past and the Himalayas to the Terai in the present) has
been a melting pot where to begin with castes were given away on one's own
profession and choice rather spontaneously. Beyond that there existed such
powerful tantric traditions based on the paradigmatically leading hindu and
buddhist philosophies for which learning of the philosophy and culture and
initiation counted to belong to a social group, not the creed by birth or
other social things, this too remained stagnated at the beginning phase. I
am bringing this point to argue that the currently surfacing issue of
janajati etc. is a constructed surfacial reality. Underneath a thin coating
of recent history what we find is a process that would show a more humanist
and consciencious social dynamics. I reject the idea that Newar is a
janajati, rather it symolized the integrative social entity that included all
people from all over Nepal as it could be understood in its origination
contexts, and also beyond. A linguistic and etimology will also testify it.
We don't have to look far beyond into history to find this point, a cursory
jorney into the variety of people included within the term will clearly
illustrate it. I meaned to use this argument in saying that there is no need
for people who would like to live symbolized by the word or those who see it
as a group and want to use newer term "Nepali" to get in animosity unless
there is an ulterior motive to subjugate the concept of Nepal as a Nation.
Nepal as a true nation should and will remain melting pot and with all
multitude of people in the same pot affected by each other continually
creating newer picture. From a positive perspective spiritual as well as
social, one should take pride and love in saying that within one's own body
there are genetic and cultural ingredients of all people who were different
to begin with in the Nepali context of the past and who were combined with
the consciencious efforts of the great thinkers and social reformers of
various era. A purist stand simply does not have a rational, historical
root, at least in Nepal. If one tries to claim such thing it is no more that
a facist mockery. Any radical attempt to oust one kind by the other through
iconization should be made irrelevant not the converse. It is the strength
of the heritage of Nepali people that developed its authentic philosophy of
integration and remoulding such as we find in the temples, shrines and
culture of Nepal where all is mixed and without boundary between hindu,
buddhist and indigenous ideas and concepts, that Nepal has been made a
lovable, respectable, and pleasant nation. Sanskrit shoud be taken in a
similar ground -- a source of our heritage that is respectable and lovable,
not a stone to hurtle at one anothr to hurt, or glass to break into pieces.
And I am sure we are capable of carrying on our heritage. My optimism is
flared up by the reporting of Ashu of New Year's eve celebration in Boston.
We edmontonians are little zealous of the pomp and pleasure it seemed to have
created there in having all heads with different ideas together to celebrate
Nepali way, nevertheless we too celebrated the new year almost similar way.
And I am sure many people that we identify as we "Nepali" celebrated it in
Nepal and abroad. And that exactly is the potent Nepaliness present within
us all. Perhaps to help it come in prominent way we must single out and
remove negative attitudes of rendering others to a disadvantaged situation
and say khuching. A true Nepali's heart really ache in having to live in
such negative situation.
Namaste with best Wishes for all of us for the year 2052.
Hridaya
*****************************************************************
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 00:17:59 -0700
From: aeb947062@rccvax.ait.ac.th
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: ABOUT SANSKRIT ISSUE
Dear Editor
Rajpaljee Namaste
Through the popular TND I request you to circulate this message to all of the
TND members.The message is about broadcasting of Sanskrit language from the
radio Nepal and its reaction by various Nepalis inside and outside of the
country. THIS IS SPECIALLY THE RESPONSE TO NURU LAMA,WHO WROTE ABOUT
BROADCASTING OF SANSKRIT FROM RADIO NEPAL. MR LAMA SHOWED HIS DISSATISFACTION IN
tnd ON 14th APRIL.
This is a general rule that when a stone is thrown in a pool there
comes some waves in the pool. No body in the world deny that Vedas are the
oldest books in the world and written in Sanskrit and it is well
documented. So Sanskrit is the mother of all the languagoes. Now a days there
is no such big groups speaking sanskrit. We Nepali should take pride that Vedas
were written by the sage like Ved Vyas who might have borned in
Nepal.I am particular about Nuru Lama who blamed Pahadiya to be fan of
Sanskrit. Pahadiya according to Lama refers to Brhaman and Kshtri. I don,t know
from where Mr. lama coined the term pahadiya for Brhamin and Kshtri.If truely
speaking Lama and Tamang ( as referred by Mr. Lama ) are more Pahadiyas than
Brhamin and Kshetri as the formers live in high mountains compared with the
laters.I do agree that there are many ethnic minorities in Nepal and their
culture should folurished in Nepal. One can think of his /her culture and
tradition not on the cost of others. There is no harm of flourishing Sanskrit in
Nepal. Many festival and culture and tradition are based on Hindu philosophy
written in sanskrit
language. I can say with proof that Buddhism is one of the tenth incarnations
of Hinduism. It is well documented long before buddhism developed. Hinduism
does no harm to any of the religions of the world. You can talk ,discuss and
even
show your disagreement towards hinduism in an amicable way which generally not
allowed in other religions. Hidduism is
very rich in philosophy. Many epics are present in Sanskrit language which are
in verge of extinction. There is an urgent need to preserve those valuable
epics not only for Hindu but also for the generation to come in the world as a
whole. If you ( Nuru Lama ) really worried about your society and deserve
responsibility you can talk of your grievances not on the cost of Brhaman and
Kshetri. You should maintain communal harmony of the country like Nepal by
respecting the norms and values of others which is only duty of a patrotic
Nepali. You can not blame majority simply because of their generosity and
patriotism. We should respect all ethnicities and perserve all the social values
present in the country. The social values may be language,script,culture.
norms,tradition and whatsoever is maintained in the society. Learned person
like you should not do any sentimental things that can disturb age old societal
structure of the conutry like ours.Present government of Nepal has done atleast
a right job by broadcasting sanskrit from radio Nepal. It is a good start and
we should ask government to come forward to clear cut policy on multi language
broadcast policy. If we study sanskrit and do research in those age old epics
we can even find miracle from them. Germany and many western countries have
done lot in the sanskrit and benifitted from that. I can give you a simple
example of Germany airline "LUFTHANSA" IT IS the sanskrit word LUPTA + HANSA
which means unseen goose. By this meaning flying science might have developed.
I am not authorized trasnlator of the word Lufthanha so it might have other
literal meanung. If Germans might have narrowed their vision like those of us
who protest Sanskrit they would not have borrowed that word from Sanskrit.So in
my view there is nothing to be blamed sanskrit as the languase of Pahadiyas. You
are either misinformed or ignored your knowledge about respect to other
language .You can love your language and culture by not hurting other language
and culture. You are free to talk of your demand not on the cost of other.
There
is a constitutional guarantee to preserve all languages and culture in
Nepal.Ther is one saying which I want to remind of you that one can exercise
his/her right and duty without disturbing other's right and duty.Mr Nuru Lama
you are most welcomed to discuss about your point in any forum in a more
civilized way. You are talking about your minority. If you think of yourself
Nepalese caste or culture is a minority when you come up with a little broad
view. Nepale group in India and else where are fighting for their sole
existence. If you talk of like your sentiments Nepalese in Darjling and Sikkim
and in Bhutan will lost anywhere. Even though you blamed Brhamin and Kshetri as
Pahadiya I think we ,Brhaman and Kshtri love your language and culture more
than you love . We are worried about the country as a whole and to preserve
each an every cultural heritage of the country is the sole responsibility of
every conscious citizen. You are in America as a Nepali not as a Lama sect. You
should first think of your country, society and your community. Your feeling of
ultra communality does harm to Nepalese in the long run. Come forward with a
whole hearted program to support your grievances. we , the so called Pahadiya
in your term will be in front line in battle field. Nepal has irrigated blood
of many ethnicity for the inditity we reserve at present which is the result of
multicultured communal harmony. We really feel hurt in the sorrow and pain of our
neighbour irrespect of caste, creed, culture , tratition and custom of the
society being whole community as NEPALE.Although there are so many differences
among many Nepalese ethnicities we come to share our feelings as family members
when there comes some challenge from outside or inside. Whatever you are
trying to pressure your idea by throwing your anguish for Sanskrit language you
are trying to fulfil your selfish nature. Your motive will not function in
Nepali soil . Your community members will come forward with their right of
preserving their culture not in the cost of others. We all Nepali work together
for the solidarity of our mother land.You see communal political parties such
as JANAJATI AND SADBHABANA are outrightly rejected by Nepalese people who are
millions times wiser than slave mentality person like us who stay out of
country and try to destabilize communal harmony of the country.
Mr. Lama by now you should be clear about the idea what I am talking of .
. You can hear lot from other in your place if there are Brhamans and
Kshtris. Be clear that I am not in favour of any particular caste rather I am
interested in whole Nepale community like a flower bunch of marigold which if
disturbed one petal could make ugly not only the flower but also the plant as a
whole.
Thank you very much for giving an unnecesaary issue for discussion
Yours
Mina Nath Paudel
Asian Institute of Technology , Bangkok,Thailand.
********************************************************************
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 13:56:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: ST941806@PIP.CC.BRANDEIS.EDU
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - April 18, 1995 (5 Baishakh 2052 BkSm)
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Hi, this is going to be about Sanskrit broadcast in the Radio Nepal
and >Padma Ratna's resignation.
Nuru brought a very fascinating point up...and i agreee with him
except the part where he heralds Mr Pdma Ratna Tuladhar's
resignation. The devision between pahadiya and janajati is definitely
worth discussing but I am afraid, It is quite irrelevant to
Mr Padma Ratna's resignation.
I grew up in Ktm, in a newar tole, and i know it by my
experience that he stresses upon the differences between
pahadiyas and newars, and not janajati and pahadiyas.
He is a newar himself who holds that newar tradition is at great risk
He goes on to say that presence of non-newar people[esp, parbatyas ie.
bahun and chettri] has adultarated the neweri culture. he stands to
support and enhance newari. And it is my conclusion that he feels threat
by sanskrit broadcast. He draws his votes maily form the Newars in the
valley and i see his resignation as another step to reassure his
people that he is still for Newars.
There are things i respect about Mr Padma Ratna Tuladhar and about
certain things i blame him os trying to creat a gap between the
culturally diverse people who seem to be quite comfortable in
Kathmandu....but i intend to keep this mail short ..so namaste!
but i surely hope that the readers now understand that the resignation
of Mr Padma Ratna Tuladhar has more to do wiht the Newar and
parbhate than Pahadiya-Janajati.
umanga
*****************************************************
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
From: peircer@ohsu.edu (Robert Peirce)
Date: Wed Apr 19 11:32:31 PDT 1995
Subject: temporary stoppage of TND
I will be away for more than a month (in Nepal) and request that you not send
TND at that time. I will make a new request on my return.
Many thanks! I have been getting a lot out of it and am grateful to you!
Robert Peirce
peircer@ohsu.edu
***********************************************************
From: Edward Wallis Carter IV <edwardiv@grove.ufl.EDU>
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - April 18, 1995 (5 Baishakh 2052 BkSm)
Thanks for signing me on to the Nepal Digest. It is really great!
Edward Carter IV
Dept of Geography
Univ of Florida
voice: (904) 371-8217 (Gainesville)
(904) 392-0494 (school)
(904) 392-8855 (fax)
***************************************************************
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 14:51:40 -0400 (EDT)
From: Pravignya Regmi <pregmi@emerald.tufts.edu>
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: HELP NEPAL SAVE ENVIRONMENT-III
Help Nepal Save Environment-III
IS IT NEPALS' TURN AFTER ETHIOPIA, SUDAN AND SOMALIA ?
_______________________________________________________
A six year old dead baby only with the bony skeleton and protruding
belley is being carried to a graveyard. Her mother with bulging eyes has no
tears to weep. She has already lost four children and herself is ready to
collapse at any time. Besides that she has witnessed the mass funeral of
of famine corpses that are partially wrapped in jute sacks and simply
thrown in the desert that was once a green fertile land. Perplexed with
extream calamity she holds her daughter tightly on her chest before saying
her final good bye. Staring long in the grave, she wonders with vacant
mind.
This is a depiction of the hell in the "Garud Purana" which is
recited, on the thirteenth day of a persons' demise, by the Brahmin
priests in the Hindu tradition. It seems like that the descriptions are
no more legendary myth but simply a vivid reality - a reality of
environmental degradation - a consequence of desertification.
Despite heavy use and exploitation of the arable land, Nepal has not
yet suffered such catastroph like the African countries for two major
reasons. First is the presence of the Himalayas that block the highly
saturated monsoon winds causing rain in Nepal; therby, creating numerous
springs and glaciars for lives. Second is the fertile alluvial soils of
the Terai region which is capable of producing great quantity of crops.
However, there are some questions: How far will the land sustain the
pressure of ever accelarating demands ? Will the springs continue to flow
? Will the birds be chirping by the cool "peepal chautaries ? And will
"Chyangba" and "Maichang" have oppertunity to make "peerati" in the deep
green forest while collecting fodder ?
Common Trends of Environmental Degradation.
___________________________________________
Following are the eight simple facts for environmental degradation that
are shared by Nepal and the major causes of famine in the African
countries, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan in GENERAL and they are all
interrelated to each other. I leave these facts to
analyse to my readers to extrapolate the Nepals' environmental destiny.
Fact # 1.| All the three countries mentioned above are struggling with
Deserti- | severe desertification while Nepal has alarmingly encountered
fication | the problem of land degradation. Land degradation is
usually the first scence of desertification. Some
10,000 acres of land in western Nepal has started
desertification (HMG, Env. 1992). Nepal loses millions
of cubic feet of fertile top soil every year resulting in
exposure of subsoil which is not suitable for plants as it
lacks required organic constituents.
Shifting areas of cultivation on the mountain slopes and
flooding in the Terai region has resulted in massive landslides
and soil erosion.
Fact # 2.| Deforestation is common in all the countries creating numerous
Defores- | environmental problems. About 90% of the Nepalese fuelneeds are
tation | met with firewood obtained from forest. Trees are stripped of
branches for fodder and fuelwood needs that reduces plants' repro-
ductive ability. Furthermore, Nepal is heading to the same way
of trampling forests by grazing cattle, which is another major
reason for deforestation, like Somalia did (on Ogaden grasslands
on Ethiopian land). Trampling effect compacts soil, makes land
barren and kills saplings. It starts from a margin of a forest
and consumes all at the end leaving deserted earth behind.
Fact # 3.|Poor percentage of arable cropland exerts pressure on fertile land
Less ar- |and decreases fertility. Nepal compared to the African countries
able |holds high percentage, i.e. 18.84%, of arable cropland compared
land |to that of Ethiopia 11.4%, Sudan 5.14% and Somalia 1.62%; however,
soil fertility on mountains is limited and ever deteriorating.
This point exposes the fear of local famines. A point to think -
is growing demand of food and limited supply a diagnostic symptom
of famine ?
Fact # 4.|All of the countries are heavily depended on traditional methods
Heavy |of farming. The fact of Sudan, lacking natural vegetation is
land |largely because of the effects of centuries of cultivation, can
use |be somehow applied to view future Nepal. Our croplands are busy
through out the year producing some kind of grains. The land has
almost no time to restore its lost fertility because of such
perpetual use. Hey and other crop biproducts are not
recycled in Nepal; except, some of it in the form of organic
manure is scattered in "Khet" and "Baries" before cultivation.
Next cause is the improper land use; for example, corn, that has
very poor capcity to hold soil, is grown on hill slopes during
monsoon. This causes rapid soil erosion and heavy leaching of
essential minerals contributing a significant role of land
desertification.
Fact # 5.|Rate of population growth is high among all the countries.
Rate of |Ethiopia holds highest rate, i.e. 2.91% which is followed by
pop |Sudan 2.88% Nepal 2.66% and Somalia 1.94%. This will lead high
growth |population which means exploitation of virgin lands (unless there are
other methods) to meet the new demands. High population density has
multidimenssional effects on ecological dynamics that leads further
deterioration in ecosystems.
Fact # 6.|The three African countries have been suffering severe problem of
Malnu- |famine while Nepal confronts malnutrion. Malnutrion is a kind
trition |mild famine that can grow to severe when environment turns harsh.
Fact # 7.|Poverty is the harsh reality of all the four contries. Majority
Poverty |of the people even can not sustain their lives if they are deprived
to extract resources from forest. People are poor and
environmentally illiterate. Consequence is rapid deterioration of
local ecology; thereby, whole country.
Fact # 8.|Democracy is new to Nepal and has been practicing its virtues.
Politics |However, corruption and nepotism have not been completely eli-
minated. Nepal, of course, does not suffer from brutal civil wars
as Somalia, though strong political tensions and prejudice
still persist among the political parties. If the political system
worsens (let us not hope that), no one knows what will happen !
A Fable That Can be True
__________________________
It is likely (this is not a prediction) to observe the scene
mentioned on the first para of this article if the current rate of
environmental degradation continues in Nepal, NO DOUBT SOONER OR LATER,
unless measures are taken or alternatives are derived to prevent form
future calamity. We need to visualize this RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT and move
SMARTLY forwards for environmental protection.
Environmental protection for economic development, production and
use for all ! Let us join hand and move towards the GOAL!
Pravigya Regmi
(Note: The data is based on the Environmental Alamanac 1994. Some
facts have been extracted from Enclyc. Brit., other ref. can be provided
upon request)
***************************************************************8
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 1995 16:01:29 -1000
From: Ratna Shrestha <ratna@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu>
To: Pravignya Regmi <pregmi@emerald.tufts.edu>, NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Re: economic goggles
On Wed, 19 Apr 1995, Pravignya Regmi wrote:
>
> Dear Mr. Ratna,
> This a little note in response to your comments about my publication
> about the himalayan environment. i did not send it on TND cause it might
> turn into bogus disputes over environmental protection and economics
> rather than something substantial work.
> Your idea of deposit is great. I think (not sure) similar idea has
> been implemented in annapurna area conservation project ACAP. Nepal needs
> people like you who can take economic development and environmental
> protection parallely. Good thought!
> i would like to take an oppertunity to ask you some questions;
>
> - what other factors can you deleneate besides two, i.e. trekkers and env
> policy ? there seem one more which is local developmment due to tourism.
> it creates trash which is spreaded all arround, the point basiclly goes to
> the tourism again. threfore, deleneating the speciefic reasons is not
> "blame" and in my article i have conciously tried to refrain from this
> accusation, i.e. i have quoted what a magazine wrote. if X slaps Y and if
> it is a realilty, then argument of X is not blame. it is question of
> justice.
** Dear Pravignya,
Garbage problem is a bad thing and there is no harm in using the
word "Blame" to its creators. My response was in support to your
argument. To be more specific, I just ranked the points you raised.
>
> -what do you mean by environmentally friendly mountaineers? how many of
> them are ? can you tell a person who does not enjoy natural beauty ?
> question here is not who like mountains or nature lover but is WHO CARES
> FOR NATURE . as far i understand it is not an issue of environmental
> justice, but is an issue of protection from further destruction, is an
> issue of maintaining nature for long term use. yes ! if trekkers do not
> care the environment, then they should not be allowed. himalayas should be
> banned for all not only to trekkers but to a nepali who litters.
* All the mountaineers are not litterers, so it is unfair to tax
every body at par. My argument against protectionism in no way meant it
was for destruction. I was clear on this issue. I empasized on the judicious use
of our natural resources, against the total ban. I reiterate that a total
ban strips off the occupation of many people who depend on mountaineering
activities for their livelihood. Moreover it does injustice against those
trekkers who are there to enjoy nature but not to litter. My proposal
of Deposit-Refund system takes care of all these issues. A total ban can
not discriminate between polluters and non polluters.
> -i have an evidence of littering by an american team that left 500 kgs of
> garbage in everest - they did not care. nepal mountaineering asso. NMA
> strives to raise a fund of 10,000 dollars and gets hard times. where are
> these environmentally friendly people? the cost of cleaning all himalayas
> might have gone more than collected revenues - it seems like the economic
> benefit that we obtained was the price of dumping.
It will be again unfair to call everybody litterers just because
an american team did it. If we are short of revenue, the solution
is simple: raise the tax per potential damage a team can cause but
don't raise the tax on an adhoc basis.>
> - if you want to increase the number of trekkers every year to expand
> economically, how do you deal with the carrying capacity ? sustainable
> development is not unlimited - it is sometime less productive. please read
> the eighth five year planning and figure out its vagueness ? there are
> several policy paradoxes, some of them are :
> *keep the economy up or cut down tourist?
> *encouraging tourism or discouraging? etc. i can provide if you want.
* We can not boost our economy by cutting down tourists in dollar terms
given all other things the same. There is only one optimal carrying
capacity of any resource, and our intelligence lies on hitting that
balance. I am sure that we are far behind that balance in both the
counts: the environmental quality and the economy. There are ample rooms
for the improvements of both but with the use of right policy tools
only. >
> -was it the policy failure because of poor theory to stop deforestation
> that you mentioned on your comment? did you look if it was because of
> corruption and nepotism ? because of "thekedaars" ? i have a causin who
> earned millions in a year and tells me what he did proudly. Nepal aama ko
> chhati ma laat hanchan mutthivar manishle . sampti ko moha le. desh
> bechhan ek raatma.
> tapai kasto policy banaoonuhunchha yesto corruption rokna? mero
> bichharma ek matra oopaya chha- tyo ho janata lai vatavaraan ko gyan
> dine. sahi upayog garne - prakriti ko pooja thyahi ho.
* The problems underlying the corruptions and nepotism is something
to do with the enforcement of the rules. If our rules are wrong their
enforcement part can not be right. The formulation of the right rules is not
a panacea, however it does mitigate the problems substantially. The
concept of common property, private property are a few examples worth
mentioning in this context.
>
> -where did you read that me insisting on"protection" only ? thre is a line
> of sustainable development somewhere please read that carefully.
>
> - to an environmentalist, economic benefit is ONE OF THE BENEFITS BUT NOT
> ALL, other values are spiritual, ethical, educational and asthetics.
> environemntalists do not always accept economics as the supreme one -
> environmentalist is born to care nature but not to exploite it all in the
> name of economic development-he saves for use, he practices frugalism -
> which is his principle.
* An economist of course does place a dollar (Rupees) value on what
you call ethical, educational, and asthetics use both at present
and the future. May be the approportion of the values is not accurate but
it is a lot better than just doing nothing at all and practice protectionism
without sufficient thoughts for yourself and future generation.
I have no problem if you want to save it for use, practice frugalism;
I guess my comment on your previous posting adequately reflects this theme.
> please read the issue of 'old growth forest and spotted owl' in the
> usa. similarly garrison diverson project, snail darter cases. in the
> spotted owl issue, million dollar lumber was sacrificed for a tiny
> disappearing owl. what a great justice is it . see how US endangered
> species act stopped it. listen what american people said. it was the
> issue of few rich economic stakeholders and whole conservation oriented
> americans. apply this analogy to our himalayas, it is bigger than the owl.
> you oppose it ! you opposed protection ? what do you want- destruction ?
> when you talk about sustainable development, you must also focus on the
> trade off between the concrete development and nature exploitation. AND
> PROTECTION IS NEVER FOR NOTHING - IT IS FOR USE. i did not mean that stop
> himalayas and let no one go there ! i insisted - use it, see it, but also
> care for its capacity to hold pressure, dont litter, save it for future
> generation, keep it natural. this is simple.
* I reiterate that my opposition is for total ban, I would prefer
to use words like judicious use, sustainability etc instead of
PROTECTION. It just sounds too radical for me; sorry about that.
> -it seemed to me like you did not read the artical carefully in order
> to understand what it says exactly. if one wants to deviate the meaning
> of something, it can be easily done-every sentence, word can be modified.
> brilliant people usually read articles with positive attitude first.
> analyse the direction of foolhardly and naive way in the middle of the
> night BY YOURSELF leaving all your degrees behind, your logics behind -
> simpleton will look perfect. take off the goggles of economic glass and
> see the nature with your natural eyes. it has differet essence- it has
> depth -it has wonder-it has reality-and it has
> everything that you never ever imagined !!!!!
>
> finally, thanks for your interest.>
>
> pravigya.
>
* Of course it would be foolhardy to embrace the idea which lacks
a well defined regime with open arms. But it definitely does not mean that
your idea is stupid. Oftentimes, criticisms can be virtue and simple
statements like i used can make every body aware and more ponderous
before jumping to conclusions.
I welcome more healthy discussions from all the netters. Thank you.
Ratna K. Shrestha
Box 1261, 1777 EW road
Honolulu, Hi 96848 > >
>From dk@accunix.wjc.edu Thu Apr 20 10:28:11 1995
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From: dk@accunix.wjc.edu (Diwas Khati - student)
Message-Id: <9504201517.AA11382@accunix.wjc.edu>
Subject: hi
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 11:17:17 -0400 (EDT)
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL23]
Content-Type: text
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In a recent issue of TND Mr. Ratna K. Shrestha from Honolulu, HI,
mentioned something he called "deposit-refund system" as a way to check
the pollution problem in the Everest and other mountain regions of Nepal.
At the same time Mr Shrestha disagrees that any kind of high fee or charge
could help solve the problem. My question to Mr. Shrestha is that if the
tax system or the reward system has failed to control pollution in the US,
and has instead increased pollution, how can the "deposit-refund system"
work, as this is a "refundable tax", very similar to the pollution tax
described in other words? Just curious to know more from some intellectual
in this field. (this is not Ashu's "intellectual")
In the same issue of TND, Sujata Rana of Seattle wanted an end to the
on-going BKS debate and at the same time felt that there was a gender
bias going on in the net. The "gender bias" that Rana felt in the BKS
issue is obvious---the questions being raised were of the "all-boys era"
of BKS. I hear that changes have taken place to include girls too, which
is very encouraging. So I do not think there was any intentional gender
bias going while talking on BKS. But let me remind Rana that the whole
issue, in the substance, was the misuse and abuse of tax-rupees, and BKS,
then a luxury boardhouse for boys, was just an instrument for the debate.
comments welcome
sawid
***********************************************************
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 13:45:06 -0400
From: rshresth@black.clarku.edu (RaJesh B. Shrestha)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Annapurna Circuit
Cross-posted from SCN:
---------------------
Frank F Kroger (fkroger@coho.halcyon.com) wrote:
: J.deJong@kub.nl (Le promeneur) writes:
: >- how busy is the track
: The word is "trek", the word comes from the Dutch via the South
: African Boers. "Trek" in Dutch means "pull", the Boers had covered wagons
: that they pulled. Trekkers in Nepal dont't pull any kind of wagon, but
: the term has come to mean a 'a strenous journey.'
: Anyway, to answer your question: 5000-10,000 trekkers per year 'do' the
: Annapurna Circuit. The majority of these do so in the spring and fall,
: summer is monsoon time and in the winter the Thorung La (pass) tends to
: be closed. The annual number is far less than the number of people you
: can expect to run into at a US national park on the July the 4th weekend.
: Most people go anti-clockwise around the Annapurna Massive, if the pass is
: closed you will meet people coming back, discouraged. Don't get
: discouraged, the chances are good the pass will be open by the time you
: get there.
: If you walk fast you will pass some people. If you go slow you will be
: passed. If you walk at 'average' speed you will meet fewer people.
: People tend to congregate at certain places. In Manang to hear the
: Himalayan Rescue Association talk about high altitude sickness (do go and
: attend, it may save your life.) Because of the danger of high alt.
: sickness people also like to have a rest day at Manang. You can explore
: the lake and the glacier. I also saw some vultures eating dead horses
: that had been dumped in a stream ( I got to within about 2 meters of
: them, they are very graceful when you see them gliding in the air, but up
: close they look more revolting.)
: At Thorung Phedi people congregate to go over the pass. Normal departure
: time is between 3 am and 6 am, so that you get over the pass before the
: snow gets too sloshy as the sun warms it up at the summit..It helps if the
: moon is available to light up your way. Please boycott the rolls and
: other bready things that are baked at Thorung Phedi: all the brush for
: miles around is being sacrificed in the oven for it and you are better off
: eating porridge before starting over the pass. The porridge contains more
: water to help counteract dehydration at the high altidude.
: The next place where people congregate is Tatto (hot) pani (water) the
: site of some VERY HOT hot springs. You will loll in the concrete pool
: with Hindu Sadhus from India who are on their way to the shrines at
: Muktinath.
: After Tatopani there is a day of continuous climbing to Gorepani where,
: early the next morning, everyone who can drag themselves out of bed at
: dawn climbs another couple of hundred meters up to Poon Hill for a view
: of Daulaghiri, the Annapurnas and Machapuchare and a few other peaks.
: All in all, you will meet some people along the way. You will probably
: like them, as they are people like yourself who are into travel and
: adventure and are willing to leave the comfort of the Holiday Inn far behind.
: >- can you camp in the wild
: Yes. If you plan to do this it would be a good idea to bring a tent that
: doesnt let too much wind in. It is possible to go from lodge to lodge.
: I took a tent on my trek to Makalu and one night the only reasonably
: flat place to camp was on the trail (it wasnt very busy, especially at
: night.) The coldest night I have ever spent anywhere was in the Annapurna
: Sanctuary. There I slept in a hut with the wind blowing through the
: cracks between the rock in the wall. I had tried to invite myself into
: the (wind proof) tent of some Americans who were camped nearby to no avail.
: Even though I slept between my Sherpa guide and another Nepali who was
: there I was COLD that night (and the space blanket I had wrapped around
: myself retained all the moisture from my body so that my sleeping bag was
: soaking wet in the morning.
: >- how cold does it get on the highest parts of the track
: Cold enough. Good idea to be prepared with down jacket, warm pants, long
: underwear. Hat, and gloves. Dont forget to bring sunglasses
: against the glare. Remember to keep drinking liquids even when it is very
: cold. One time trekking at high altitude I felt very strange, not well,
: but I couldnt explain what was wrong with what I was feeling. Having
: descended a ways I drank some water and within minutes I felt better, I
: had experienced the biochemichal side effects of dehydration. As I
: mentioned earlier, porridge (or soup) can be a good way to take in WARM
: liquids at altitude.
: >Did you enjoy your track?
: What do you think? s8*)
: Frank
: Dutch in Seattle
*****************************************************************
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 13:45:31 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: Global Hindu Electronic Network: THe Hindu Universe
From: editor@rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu (digest editor)
Hindu Students Council, Global Hindu Electronic Network is proud to
present, the most comprehensive WWW Home page for Hindu Dharma:
The Hindu Universe.
Now you can access entire text of Hindu scriptures, and latest news and views
from Bharat(India) Online.
To access the Hindu Universe, use the URL:
http://rbhatnagar.csm.uc.edu:8080/hindu_universe.html
This will give us all to beta test the site.
This New Hindu Universe Page has the following:
1. Home Page for Hindu Students Council (under construction)
2. Archives of the newsgroup Alt.Hindu, links to Alt.Religion.Vaisnava
in addition to links to other Hindu dharma related newsgroups.
3. Introduction to Hindu Dharma
4. Hindu Scriptures: Entire Ramayana, Entire Mahabharata, Bhagawad Gita,
Patangali, Vande Mataram etc.
5. Links to articles/sites on Jain Dharma
6. Links to articles/sites on Buddha Dharma
7. Links to articles/sites on Sikh Dharma
8. References: Listing of Temples in North America, Hindu Names
9. Home Page for Swami Vivekananda, including entire text of Chicago Addresses
10. Links to Interesting Hindu Pages: Bhakti Marga, Sprit WWW etc.
11. Shlokas, Bhajans and Publications: Including Links to Hinduism Today and
Back to Godhead publications
12. Hindu Festivals
13. Home Page for RSS
14. Home Page for Vishwa Hindu Paridhad
15. Bharat: News, Views and History: Containing the Links to the Following:
16. News From Bharat: Latest News from misc.news.southasia and our own
reporters
17. HSC Kashmir Campaign: Historical and contemporary information about
Kashmir
18. Reference Center For Hindutva: Articles about Hindutva Movement
19. Reference Center For Terrorism in India: Articles, congressional
records etc.
20. Reference Center For Shree Rama Janmabhoomi Movement
21. Comparative Anthologies of Sacred Texts
Much more is on the way!
regards,
Ajay Shah
for GHEN and Hindu Students Council
********************************************************************
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 13:46:43 -0400
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
From: Pratyoush Onta
Subject: Info on No.of school students
I am trying to figure out how many students passed through grades four
and five in Nepali schools between roughly 1967 and 1990. Sources I have
consulted do not help me to arrive at this cumulative no. If anyone
knows of any statistical data that would be useful for me, I would
appreciate if s/he would write to me directly at ponta@sas.upenn.edu
Also if anyone knows specific details regarding how school textbooks were
written and compiled in Nepal during the 1960s and the
1970s, I would appreciate your contacting me at the above address.
Thanks,
Pratyoush
*****************************************************************
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 13:43:50 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dahal Durga <daha9014@uidaho.edu>
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - April 18, 1995 (5 Baishakh 2052 BkSm)
The first Lady Pilot from Nepal is not Rakshya Rana, The Music Professor
Lady now teaching in T.U. She is from Patan, and was Treasurer of Nepal
Pradhyapak Sangh, several years ago. Try to Learn.
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