http://myrepublica.com/portal/news_rss.php MYREPUBLICA RSS en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 03:19:18 NPT Sat, 25 May 2013 03:19:18 NPT http://myrepublica.com INFO@MYREPUBLICA.COM nilesh_man@hotmail.com http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55094 KATHMANDU, May 22: Career decisions aren’t easy to make. And even when we’ve decided what we want to do in life, we’re presented with many hurdles that we have to overcome. Four students from Herald International College in Maharajgunj share their career plans and anticipations on this week’s edition of Campus Talk. The participants, Anjana Adhikari, Anita Bastola, Ranjita Bhattarai and Anupa Ramudamu are all first year students of Bachelors in Business Studies (BBS) at Herald International.[break] Keshab Thoker/Republica L to R: Anupa Ramudamu, Anita Bastola, Anjana Adhikari and Ranjita Bhattarai. Have you decided about what career path you will choose, yet? Ranjita: I haven’t totally made up my mind but I’m studying BBS so that I can pursue law later on. Anjana: Now that I’ve joined the commerce stream and studied BBS, I want to work in financial institutions afterwards. Anita: I don’t exactly have an aim at the moment but I guess I’d eventually want to work in the banking sector. Anupa: I will finish my Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and then aim to work in the managerial position in a bank. Sometimes, we adopt decisions endorsed by our family and circumstances when deciding what we want to do in life, career wise. But if given a chance, what career option do you want to take up for yourself? Anjana: Nursing has always been my passion but I wasn’t able to get into the government nursing college here. Still today, I am ready to study nursing, if things work out. Anupa: I’m also opting to take a course on becoming an air hostess side by side, with my Bachelors degree. If that works out, I’ll join that field. Ranjita: I’m currently working as a salesperson in my family cosmetic shop. In the long run, after gaining enough skills and earning some seed money, I want to get into the business of selling cosmetics. Anita: I have no intention of starting a business on my own because I had a family grocery store business which recently stopped operations, and I’ve had enough of doing business. My preference is to work in a bank. Any plans to work abroad? Anjana: I don’t want to go abroad. I want to work here in my country itself. Ranjita: I want to go abroad to work and gain experience, and to travel, but not to settle abroad. Anupa: Working abroad is an opportunity to observe and learn how people outside are progressing and to implement those techniques here in Nepal. Anita: I want to go abroad to study further and then I wish to come back home. What are your anticipations regarding your career? Anjana: I guess for all students, there’s a slight fear regarding whether or not we will get jobs in the future. And even when we do get jobs, there’s the question of whether the work will be worth all the studying that we’ve done. Ranjita: Yes, that’s also what I’m worried about. What if after all this studying and hard work, we have to stay idle? When it comes to career guidance, who do you look up to? Ranjita: At first, I seek guidance from my teachers. I also have sisters at home who guide me. Anupa: In my case, I ask my family first and then get advice from teachers. Anjana: My teachers and brothers are always there to help me out. My mom doesn’t have much experience regarding this matter, but my dad gives me suggestions. Anita: Siblings at home and college teachers are whom I look up to for career advice. In our society, men take up the role of the bread winner. But as a woman, what importance do you place on working and earning, even after you get married and start a family? Anjana: If you’re financially independent then you have the liberty to do whatever you want. Your profession is also a part of your identity, and so I know I want to work even after I’m married. Ranjita: After having studied so much, I’m capable of earning. I wouldn’t want to be dependent on anyone else and so I want to continue working after I marry. Anupa: I’d like to also contribute to my family’s finances after I get married and so I will work. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55093 KATHMANDU, May 22: It’s refreshing to hang out with friends, especially after a hard day’s study. The students enrolled in the various Bachelors and Masters programs at Pulchowk Campus of Institute of Engineering in Patan Dhoka, have many options that they can turn to when it comes to filling up their stomachs or relaxing over a cup of tea or in between short breaks and after college hours. College Canteen(s) The large campus area of Pulchowk Campus itself has three canteens in its premises that students can choose to go to – the Central Canteen, the Hostel Canteen and E Café. Each place has its own attractions for students and provides the regular momo-chowmein menu. However, the Hostel canteen is preferred by many for its very reasonable prices. Whereas, when the craving for a Newari Khaja Set calls, students go to the Central Canteen.[break] Moktan Bakery A hangout spot about a few dozen steps away from the campus, the Moktan Bakery is where students really unwind. “We get bakery items like Swiss rolls as well as the normal menu here,” shares Sushant Banjara of Pulchowk Campus. Another student, Prakrit Pokhrel shares, “The buff momo at Moktan Bakery is also good.” Real Bakery This is a small tea and doughnut place, right at the end of the campus stretch, just at the beginning of the main road. Real Bakery is perfect for conversations and a quick bite. Kancha Ko Bhancha Right across the road from the campus is Kancha Ko Bhancha, a neat looking eatery which awaits students with its variety in the menu and an added 15% student discount on the bill. Although students are not that frequent here, the restaurant hopes to be an attraction to students soon, through its discount scheme. Chicken Bowl Momo is a specialty at Kancha Ko Bhancha while there’s also lots of dess http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55092 Dear Swastika, It’s been a while since I’ve been in a relationship. I met this girl who I’m developing feelings for. We used to chat on a daily basis, till late and I asked her out and she accepted. Till now, we’ve gone out a number of times. She used to send me messages as well as missed calls (usually she was the first one to do so) but nowadays she hardly sends me one. She just replies when I send her one. The thing is that I really wanted this to work out so I took things slow with her. But now I think that she’s losing interest in me. Was taking things slow a big mistake? What do you think I should do? Should I just confess my love to her? I just can’t help but think about it.Please help. - Confused Guy Speed up dude!!! We are no longer in the world where lovers write letters and have little pigeons deliver them. The point is – you have to tell her unless she is a wizard who can read minds and hearts. The worst and the most unproductive part in a relationship is plucking out the petals of a rose and guessing – she loves me…she loves me not…she loves me…or may be not. When you meet someone who kindles fire in your heart, and in whose heart you start a fire, the idea is to keep the fire going. If you light the fire and hide in a corner plucking roses, it doesn’t take too long for the fire to turn into ashes. Tell her, at least you will know if there is that fire. Dear Swastika, Me and my girlfriend have been in a relationship for the past four years and you know what four years mean. But we belong to same cast (Ghimire) and same ‘gotra’. Although, I’m not a religious person, I fear no one will accept us in the future and won’t be able to get married. We are on our last semesters and whenever I think about this, it hurts a lot. We cannot imagine living separately. It’s killing me from the inside. Please help. - GG Look deep inside your heart, and look deep into the heart of your beloved. There is obviously a lot of love. But what you need to look for is whether both of you have the courage that it takes to move on with a relationship that is not accepted by family and society. Most of the time, family and society pressures take a toll on married life. You need to look into your hearts and figure out if you can sustain that love in the context where you would be rejected and where doors will be shut on you. There are times in life where the choices are difficult and we can’t have it both ways. This is the time where you make that difficult choice. Ask your hearts, what you can take and what you can’t. Dear Swastika, I have been in arelationship for about two years now and I love him so much. But day by day, I’m starting to feel insecure about our relationship. We fight all the time now without any reason. What should I do to maintain our relationship? I don’t want to lose him. –MK Relationship is not a car that you can maintain. When the magic disappears, it disappears. Sometimes, we fall in love for all the right reasons and then we grow out of it just the way we grow out of that beautiful pink dress from our childhood. Just like a child who leaves the safety of her mother’s warmth and enters the school for the first time, or a woman who leaves her world behind to enter the world of her husband, - there’s always a sense of insecurity that creeps into our hearts. But while there is fear of losing, there is a reality of new possibilities. We leave behind our old lives and enter a new one. We will fall in love again. Dear Swastika, About three months ago, I started smoking. It started off as something I’d do only when I was with friends and when I was drinking but now I’m sort of addicted to it. I’ve also started smoking marijuana and my friends say that I’ve changed a lot. Also, I feel dizzy after smoking. I’m 20 and I don’t know where I’m going with this. I tried quitting but I get so cranky when I’m not smoking. Hope you can help. –Smoker Once upon a time, there were five frogs sitting on a rock just chatting away for hours. They kept thinking that they should go back to work in the pond but they were having way too much fun. There was one hard working frog amongst them who felt the urge to get back to his duty. But there was too much peer pressure to hang out. Finally, it was unbearable. He was sure that he’s going to get in trouble if he doesn’t get back home right away and finish his chores. So he decided to jump back into the pond and head home. You might think that now there are only four frogs left on the rock. You’re wrong. All five frogs are still there. Simply because you “decide,” or “want” to do something doesn’t mean that it gets done. Find a way, seek support of family and friends, see a doctor, but for god’s sake - Jump!!! Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti – a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s has been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55091 KATHMANDU, May 22: “The film is not about the Maoists, but about a family’s journey and the impact that the period of time has on them,” explains Tsering Rithar Sherpa, director of Uma. For Tsering Choden, who wrote the screenplay along with Sherpa and Kumar Bhattarai, the film also speaks about the futility of war.[break] Releasing all over Nepal on Friday, May 24, Uma will, says actress Mithila Sharma, take people back to that important time in the history of the country. Playing mother to Richa Sharma and Saugat Malla in the film, her character could well be the representation of the common citizen caught in the civil war. With Uma, Sherpa has also placed his hopes on bridging the gap between the mainstream and the artsy films in the industry. “While the subject of the film is grave, the treatment is entertaining and emotional which will touch the audience,” he says. Shot in a closed camp in Kavre district, the film’s cast and crew are very comfortable with each other. Richa’s favorite scene is at the beginning of the film. “It’s with my mummy,” she says nodding towards her onscreen mother. CSK/Republica L to R: Tsering Rithar Sherpa, Mithila Sharma, Tsering Choden, Richa Sharma and Pushkar Gurung. Working with Tsering Rithar Sherpa was the biggest attraction of the film for them. From veteran actress Mithila Sharma to the comparatively new Richa Sharma, the sheer talent of the director was enough to make them agree to the film. As a director, Sherpa sounds just the man every actor would love to work with. His actors state that he is very focused, disciplined and positive in his work. He believes that the position of leadership also requires him to ensure that everyone is a good team player, and respecting everyone’s input makes the film that much richer. The recent trend of organizing a workshop before commencing filming is proving to be very helpful. “It helps breaks the ice amongst the cast and crew, share ideas about the script and improvise on the dialogues”, says actor Pushkar Gurung, who goes by the name Commander in the film. An ex Maoist commander was brought in to inform the cast about the technical aspects. “How did they speak, did they say laal salaam, what was their chain of command? These were the crucial things we needed to know,” says Sherpa. It was during these workshops they learnt that in the absence of guns, Maoists trained with bamboos. The desperate times, the political instability, the insurgency and the challenges that the common Nepali people faced are the core of the film. Add doses of humor, romance, drama and songs, what more could an audience expect from a film? Uma has managed to generate excitement not only in Kathmandu but also in Far West places like Dadeldhura. During one of her visits to the district, Sharma answered many interested questions about Uma. “This led me to believe that the public are looking forward to the film,” she says. “We’re hoping that it will cross all the boundaries of mass and class. There’s no reason for people to not relate to the film,” states Choden. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55090 Film Southasia 2013 calls for entries KATHMANDU, May 22: A presentation of the Southasian identity through films and documentaries, the ninth edition of the biennial festival, Film Southasia (FSA) 2013 is scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from October 3 to 6. Run by the non-profit The Southasia Trust, FSA 2013 is currently calling for submissions for non-fiction films and documentaries. Films made after Jan 1, 2011 about Southasia or the Southasian Diaspora are eligible for this festival while the festival is open to filmmakers from all parts of the world. “There’s a lot of cross cultural exchange between the West and the East but very little of it within the Southasian region,” Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati, the Director of the festival highlights the significance of the festival.[break] “Regardless of the proportion of the films that come in, we try to have a fair number of films from every country because the festival represents Southasia to the world and so diversity is important,” she adds. FSA 2013 is also calling upon local filmmakers to be a part of this festival. “Due to the access to DSLR cameras and availability of technology, there are a lot more young Nepali filmmakers than they used to be. We encourage them to send in their films,” says Kakshapati. FSA 2013 will be a platform for Nepali filmmakers to compete with other filmmakers of the region, as well as the world. The FSA jury is on the process of watching entries and selecting films. Films can be sent in for competitive and non-competitive categories. In the competitive category, three awards, that for the best film, the second best film and the best debut filmmaker, will be given. The Best Film will be awarded the ‘Ram Bahadur Trophy’ along with a citation and a cash prize of USD 2,000. The second best film will be awarded a citation and cash prize of USD 1,000. Whereas, the Best Debut Film will be awarded the ‘Tareque Masud Award’ and cash prize of USD 1,000. While preparation for the final days are being made, to keep the Southasian spirit alive here in the host city, FSA is organizing weekly film screenings from its archive at Bikalpa Art Center in Jhamsikhel, every Friday at 6:30 pm. Travelling FSA (TFSA) is also taking film packages to different parts of the world and screenings are currently going on. Deadline for submissions to FSA 2013 is June 30. To submit your entry and for more information, visit www.filmsouthasia.org. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55089 Sharing 15 years of imprisonment with readers KATHMANDU, May 22: Govinda Mainali’s experience of 15 years in a Japanese prison has been penned down in a book ‘Paribanda ka 15 barsa’. The book was launched amongst family members, journalists and well wishers in Union House, Anamnagar on Wednesday, May 22. Mainali read out a few lines from a page in his diary that he kept during his incarceration. The lines spoke of the political situation back home that he kept abreast of even behind bars.[break] Indra Mainali, elder brother of Govinda, expressed the sorrow of the Mainali family during the 15 years of loss and separation with a much loved family member. He also put across the gratefulness of the family toward Kedar Bhakta Mathema, the then ambassador to Japan, who stood by the family and encouraged them to fight for the innocence of Mainali. ‘Paribanda ka 15 barsa’ is published by Shangri-La Books. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55088 KATHMANDU, May 22: He is a poet. A musician. A legend. Born on May 24, 1941, Bob Dylan has remained one of the most influential American musician and song writer rock and roll has ever produced.[break] Dylan has written numerous songs, recorded numerous albums, and received numerous awards, recognition and honors and has always won the hearts of many. ‘Reminiscing Bob Dylan’ is a musical event celebrated to mark Dylan’s 72nd birthday. The event will be held at Summit Hotel in Kupondole and will feature artists who will perform live, the best of Dylan songs. Tickets to this tribute evening are priced at Rs 1,599++ per person (with BBQ Dinner and Open Bar). For reservations, call 5521810, 5524694 (Ext 606, 607). http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55087 Another writing milestone for DB Gurung KATHMANDU, May 22: Fiction and poetry writer DB Gurung’s Breaking Twilight is a romantic novel as well as a metaphysical thriller. Published by Mahaveer Publishers in New Delhi in India, the book, according to the writer is his most ambitious work. “Breaking Twilight is the culmination of my three-decade long literary journey,” says Gurung. The plot of Breaking Twilight revolves around the story of a young girl, Kopila who has joined the Maoist revolution under circumstantial compulsions, including her marriage when still a child and Major Himal Ale, a bachelor in his late thirties. Set in the year 2006, which marks the end of the ten-year long Maoist insurgency, the novel is poignant portrayal of love, loss, yearning, humor, revelation, and finally redemption, while depicting the uncanny survival spirit of its protagonists.[break] Priced at Rs 480, Breaking Twilight can be purchased at major bookstores in Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55055 SHANGHAI, May 22: Calligraphy by Japanese porn star Sola Aoi has sparked a culture war in China, where she has a huge fan base, with purists dismissing the work as "unskilled" after it was reportedly auctioned for $95,000. Eight Chinese characters the actress wrote with brush and ink at a theme park in the eastern city of Ningbo were sold earlier this month, the Liberation Daily newspaper said Wednesday, without identifying the auction house or buyer. [break] "The style of calligraphy is childish, unskilled," said the newspaper, which is backed by Shanghai´s Communist Party branch. Sola Aoi, 29, is best known for her work in adult movies, with some of her less risque titles including Virgin Sky and Cosmic Girl. Despite China´s official censorship of films, pornography is widely available on pirate DVDs. She has recently moved into mainstream films, appearing in one 2010 movie as a zombie-killing stripper, and her Chinese blog has nearly 14 million followers. Her fans have jumped to defend her honour. "´Teacher Aoi´ excels in both performing skills and moral integrity, this price is certainly worth it," Duoyan Sanwei said in a microblog posting. But many dismissed the auction as a marketing ploy by the theme park that sponsored her trip in April. A spokeswoman for the park declined to comment. Dressed demurely in a pink and white dress, the 1m 55cm (five-foot, two-inch) tall actress was surrounded by mainly male fans on her visit, when she wrote: "Fun Phoenix Mountain Theme Park". "This matter is a commercial activity," said the deputy head of the Shanghai Youth Calligraphers Association, Tang Jihui. "Her calligraphy has nothing to do with art and the people buying and selling it don´t care about whether or not what she writes is art," he was quoted by the Liberation Daily as saying. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55044 Miss Nepal as WWF Young Conservation Ambassador KATHMANDU, May 21: Ishani Shrestha, Miss Nepal 2013, is the eighth Young Conservation Ambassador appointed by WWF Nepal. During her inauguration ceremony last month, Ishani promised to work to raise awareness on conservation issues. Starting with Payal Shakya in 2004, WWF Nepal has been appointing the title holder of Miss Nepal as its Young Conservation Ambassador as the best way to disseminate the message of conservation among youth.[break] WWF Nepal believes that Miss Nepal’s influence amongst the youth will build awareness and understanding on conservation issues while also stimulating debates and actions. Akash Shrestha, senior manager at WWF Nepal’s communications and marketing department, says, “Through our ambassadors in turn, we seek to empower youth to be the agents of change for the environment.” The ambassadors either come with an area of interest or work out their own plans and projects with WWF. Till date they have been involved in issues ranging from community participation in conservation and protection of species, climate change and wise use of water. According to WWF, the ambassadors are committed to their role and have taken the effort to learn more about conservation so that they can communicate better. With field visits and interactions with WWF personnel and local community members, they are involved in learning about conservation and other important issues that help them be a better communicator. Ishani was recently in Dhunche in Rasuwa district to participate in the red panda awareness tournament. Speaking of her experience there, she says, “I found that the community was very well informed regarding the importance of conserving the red panda. No one is allowed to hunt in the forests.” “I think it would be interesting to meet poachers and get their perspective. I’d consider it a success if I’m able to dissuade them from poaching,” she further adds. For this year, the ambassador will be fronting The Generation Green youth campaign which will teach the young generation about making smart and environmentally viable decisions that can be incorporated into their lifestyles. Photos Courtesy: WWF Nepal Shristi Shrestha (above) in Khambachen village where she was pres After her stint as the ambassador, Sadichha has become more conscious of little things, like not throwing chewing gum out of car’s window or not throwing wrappers just anywhere. She remembers a home stay village at Dalla in Bardia district. “It was also Nepal Tourism Year and promoting home stay meant that the local economy would receive a boost,” she says. During one of the visits to eco schools, she was presented with a bag made out of gutkas packets and she also planted a tree next to the one planted by Hollywood actor, Leonardo Di Caprio. On whether their roles as the conservation ambassador help bring about effective change, Sadichha states that it does have some impact. “Though it might not be on a large scale, there is a change, however, small. With publicity, a certain interest arises in the issues and that’s how people become aware of things they might not have known. But we can’t really change people. It’s more about the lifestyle than the status of education. We know about things, we’re just not motivated enough to make the changes we should,” she says. Ishani believes that it’s more effective to mobilize and teach the youth and the presence of a role model helps make it possible. “I didn’t even know about Dhunche and the red pandas till I visited the place. So that’s how we learn,” she says. Works done by Young Conservation Ambassadors n Miss Nepal 2004 and the first Young Conservation Ambassador, Payal Shakya, focused on climate change. She travelled to Gokyo in the Everest Region where she observed the impact of changing climate on the Himalayan eco system. The documentary ‘Meltdown in Nepal’ was based on the trip. n Sugarika KC, Miss Nepal 2005, involved herself in promoting participatory conservation, which is basically the approach to connecting traditional knowledge with the scientific for sustainability. n Tackling the importance of water issues for biodiversity and people, Sitashma Chand, Miss Nepal 2007, was also involved in the concerns over freshwater in Nepal. Along the same lines, she was involved in spreading the message of using water wisely, as illustrated in the children’s book ‘The Journey of Pani Prasad’ which she helped to distribute. n Zenisha Moktan centered her role as the Young Conservation Ambassador on raising awareness among the youth on tiger conservation. The Miss Nepal 2009 was also the spokesperson for WWF’s Year of the Tiger Campaign through which she helped release the documentary ‘Tracking the Tiger’. n Miss Nepal 2010, Sadichha Shrestha, launched the first home stay program in Bardia district. She was also part of the Green Hiker-Green Planet organized in Langtang by WWF Nepal and USAID. n Malina Joshi, Miss Nepal 2011, was engaged in a camera trap project in Bardia. This method is useful in capturing animals on films without requiring the presence of a researcher. Malina also visited Indrawati to understand WWF’s climate adaptation work there. A trek to Gosaikunda and participation in the Red Panda trophy tournament in Dhunche were her other engagements as the Young Conservation Ambassador. n Snow leopard monitoring was the focus of Miss Nepal 2012, Shristi Shrestha’s engagements as conservation ambassador. Shristi traveled to Khambachen village in Kanchenjunga where recognizing the work done by the locals she raised funds in order to help improve their lives. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55043 KATHMANDU, May 21: Bestsellers like Atma Katha by Binod Chaudhary and Mayur Times by Narayan Wagle will soon be available to students at a lower price. Keeping in mind the benefit of the student community, nepa-laya is publishing the books labeled as ‘student edition’ at 50% of the original price. While Atma Katha was selling for Rs 395, it will now be available to students at Rs 195. Mayur Times’s original price of Rs 300 will be cut down to Rs 150. Students can purchase the books at ‘Nepal Education and Book Fair 2013’ which will commence this weekend.[break] “Depending upon the demand from the student community, we consider publishing a special student edition, after the sales of the book reaches 5 digits,” shared Saijan Maskey, Chief Executive of publication nepalaya. A similar publishing of Narayan Wagle’s Palpasa Café sold more than 5000 copies in a week. Wagle said, “I am happy to see my book reach as many readers as possible. With the student edition of Palpasa, my reader base had increased to the student mass who otherwise could not afford it. I hope this edition of Mayur Times will also serve the purpose.” Similarly, Chaudhary also said, “I am overwhelmed by the response to my book. Taking the book to the student fraternity is a great idea and I hope the subsidized edition of the book will help cater to a wider student community.” Students can buy the books at the Education Book House stall of Nepal Education and Book Fair which starts this Friday. A book signing session of Atma Katha will be held at the stall on May 25 from 12 to 1 pm. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55042 KATHMANDU, May 2: It’s not been long that Angela Salt, the Director of VSO UK came to visit Nepal, for her very first time. For most of her visit, she’s been in Kaski, visiting schools at which VSO volunteers are working. “It’s amazing to see the children engaged and learning, the teachers learning the ways to teach and the parents involved in the school and community,” says Salt. These schools, she hopes, will become model schools for others in the district. Born in middle of England, Salt’s mother was a cleaner while her father worked as a builder. “I was one of the only people in my family to go to university,” shares Salt who started her career as a teacher and[break] The VSO, which began in the UK 55 years ago, works in over 30 countries in Asia and Africa. It sends volunteers to help people help themselves and change their own lives. “A big part of what we do is to recruit volunteers while another part is to raise money because we need money for the programs and to support the volunteers,” shares Salt, adding, “It’s also important that we communicate all this work to the public, media and politicians so that they all understand that the role of volunteers in making development happen. “The amazing thing about this program, which is funded by the British Government and is called International Citizen Service (ICS) is that, you see the changes in the young people on both sides,” says Salt. The ICS program is a 12-week voluntary service for young adults and volunteers from foreign countries are work together with their native counterparts. “These volunteers are very eager to speak about the benefits they’ve received. The Nepali volunteers will tells us about learning things from their counterpart from Britain and the learning in the community. And the British will talk about lots of sharing and learning. You see lives being changed, first hand,” says Salt. She further adds that for all volunteers, it’s really important what they do in the country. “They make real difference and help people,” says Salt.” Nepali people change their own lives. It’s not about British people doing things to Nepalis, its’ about Nepali people having gained skills and doing things for themselves. When the volunteers go back home, their lives are also changed,” she adds. Salt hopes the VSO can continue to help people in Nepal to help themselves and that Nepalis can build on and spread the skills they’ve learnt regarding education, health and livelihoods. “When you make a real connection with someone from different countries, while working together, and you feel like a change in your heart and head,” says Salt adding, “So now when I go home, I’ll have Nepal in my head and heart.” Salt was featured on “Inspirations: The essence of life”, a personality-based television series presented by Media Gallery and Global Exposition and Management Services in association with Republica. The program is aired on Nepal Television every Wednesday at 10:10pm http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55041 KATHMANDU, May 21: After the two editions of Mega Bank Photo Competition and Exhibition, Photojournalist Club is gearing up for the IME Global IME Bank Nepal Photo Contest and Exhibition 2069 which it promises will be the biggest event for both professional and amateur photographers in the country. Participants can choose to send in their entries for any of the seven categories; Daya Foundation Culture and Tourism, Naturally Nepal Wildlife and Nature, Samsung Galaxy S4 Daily Life, Shikhar Shoe News Photo, RJ Sports, PLO Lubricants Nepal Smile and Photo Story. An expert team of senior photojournalists led by Gopal Chitrakar will be judging the entries. The jury members include Indian senior photojournalist Raghu Rai, senior photographer Mani Lama, Editor of Kantipur Daily Sudhir Sharma, Assistant Professor of Kathmandu University, School of Arts Sujan Chitrakar and Chairman of PJ Club Prakash Mathema.[break] The event also holds a total cash prize of Rs 5, 20,000. Each category will award the top three photographs with cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. The winner of the ‘IME Global IME Bank Photo of the Year’ will be decided by the jury members from the entire submissions and will win Rs 100,000. The best 150 photographs will be picked for the five day exhibition in Kathmandu, and will also be exhibited in Pokhara, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj and Dhangadi. Interested candidates should submit their photograph for the competition by June 15. Participants should be Nepali citizens and only those photographs taken in Nepal will be eligible for the competition. A participant can participate in all categories, and three entries per category are accepted with the exclusion of Photo Story where the participant may send two stories. The category demands at least two photos and not more than twelve. For information on the terms of the competition, log on to www.pjclub.com.np http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55040 KATHMANDU, May 2: The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kathmandu is organizing a Korean Language Speech Contest here in Kathmandu in a joint cooperation with Sejong Korean Language Institute, Korean Association in Nepal, Korean School, Office of the Employment Permit System (EPS) in Nepal and Nepal-Korea Cooperation Council. The final event, the first of its kind in Nepal, will be held on June 7 at the Tourism Board in Exhibition Road. This speech contest, the Embassy encourages, could be a platform for Nepalese to expose their hidden talents of Korean language skills.[break] Participants between 20 to 40 years of age are eligible to take part in the speech competition where they will deliver their speech in the Korean Language on the theme of ‘Dream’. A cash prize of Rs 50,000 will be awarded to the participant who stands first while the second and the third position holders will receive Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively. Furthermore, a consolation prize of Rs 10,000 each for three participants will also be given. The audition leading to the final round will be held on May 25, from 9 AM onwards at the Himalayan Hotel in Kupondole. Participants who wish to audition must be present at this venue along with their identity card. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55039 KATHMANDU, May 21: Actress Nisha Adhikari climbed the Everest peak on Tuesday, May 21. Having left for Everest base camp from Kathmandu on April 9, Adhikari managed to scale the highest peak in the world. She was accompanied on this trip by 11 other people including actor Arjun Karki who reached the summit on Monday, May 20. Adhikari reached the peak at 7:45 in the morning. She had prepared a year in advance for this trip where she went as an assistant of the Chinese expedition team. In late April, she had come under controversy for not being able to produce a permission letter from the Ministry of Tourism to the Everest Pollution Control Committee. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=55038 KATHMANDU, May 21: May Lobby Lounge Promotions is going on full swing at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. Guests at the Lounge can enjoy an assortment of classic French baguette sandwiches with a variety of fillings and English crumble and brownies. Annal Pradhan, Public Relations Executive, stated that the chef usually prepares the menu for the promotions a year in advance, and this May Lobby Lounge Promotions is just one of the many to follow.[break] Guests can choose to enjoy a combination platter that includes chocolate walnut brownie, apple cinnamon crumble accompanied by vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and brandy snaps for Rs 650 plus taxes. At Rs 350 plus taxes, one can also sample either a brownie or a crumble with one of the condiments. The Lounge is also offering delicious French baguette sandwiches for Rs 775. Guests can choose their own fillings from marinated tuna flakes, onion, coriander, tomato and lemon juice; shredded chicken, organic lettuce and mayonnaise; sautéed cottage cheese, green bell pepper and mint chutney; Greek salad and milk feta greens. While enjoying the dishes, guests can take in the beautiful view of the Boudhanath Stupa http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54996 Effective communication helps us better understand a person or situation and enables us to resolve differences, build trust and respect, and create environments where creative ideas, problem solving, affection, and caring can flourish. As simple as communication seems, much of what we try to communicate to others—and what others try to communicate to us—gets misunderstood, which can cause conflict and frustration in personal and professional relationships. By learning these effective communication skills, you can better connect with your spouse, kids, friends, and coworkers.[break] What is effective communication? In the information age, we have to send, receive, and process huge numbers of messages every day. But effective communication is about more than just exchanging information; it’s also about understanding the emotion behind the information. Effective communication can improve relationships at home, work, and in social situations by deepening your connections to others and improving teamwork, decision-making, and problem solving. It enables you to communicate even negative or difficult messages without creating conflict or destroying trust. Effective communication combines a set of skills including nonverbal communication, attentive listening, the ability to manage stress in the moment, and the capacity to recognize and understand your own emotions and those of the person you’re communicating with. While effective communication is a learned skill, it is more effective when it’s spontaneous rather than formulaic. A speech that is read, for example, rarely has the same impact as a speech that’s delivered (or appears to be delivered) spontaneously. Of course, it takes time and effort to develop these skills and become an effective communicator. The more effort and practice you put in, the more instinctive and spontaneous your communication skills will become. Effective communication skills #1: Listening Listening is one of the most important aspects of effective communication. Successful listening means not just understanding the words or the information being communicated, but also understanding how the speaker feels about what they’re communicating. Effective listening can: Make the speaker feel heard and understood, which can help build a stronger, deeper connection between you. Create an environment where everyone feels safe to express ideas, opinions, and feelings, or plan and problem solve in creative ways. Save time by helping clarify information, avoid conflicts and misunderstandings. Relieve negative emotions. When emotions are running high, if the speaker feels that he or she has been truly heard, it can help to calm them down, relieve negative feelings, and allow for real understanding or problem solving to begin. Effective communication skills #2: Nonverbal communication When we communicate things that we care about, we do so mainly using nonverbal signals. Wordless communication, or body language, includes facial expressions, body movement and gestures, eye contact, posture, the tone of your voice, and even your muscle tension and breathing. The way you look, listen, move, and react to another person tells them more about how you’re feeling than words alone ever can. Developing the ability to understand and use nonverbal communication can help you connect with others, express what you really mean, navigate challenging situations, and build better relationships at home and work. You can enhance effective communication by using open body language—arms uncrossed, standing with an open stance or sitting on the edge of your seat, and maintaining eye contact with the person you’re talking to. You can also use body language to emphasize or enhance your verbal message—patting a friend on the back while complimenting him on his success, for example, or pounding your fists to underline your message. Effective communication skills #3: Managing stress In small doses, stress can help you perform under pressure. However, when stress becomes constant and overwhelming, it can hamper effective communication by disrupting your capacity to think clearly and creatively, and act appropriately. When you’re stressed, you’re more likely to misread other people, send confusing or off-putting nonverbal signals, and lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk patterns of behavior. How many times have you felt stressed during a disagreement with your spouse, kids, boss, friends, or coworkers and then said or done something you later regretted? If you can quickly relieve stress and return to a calm state, you’ll not only avoid such regrets, but in many cases you’ll also help to calm the other person as well. It’s only when you’re in a calm, relaxed state that you’ll be able to know whether the situation requires a response, or whether the other person’s signals indicate it would be better to remain silent. Effective communication skills #4: Emotional awareness Emotions play an important role in the way we communicate at home and work. It’s the way you feel, more than the way you think, that motivates you to communicate or to make decisions. The way you react to emotionally driven, nonverbal cues affects both how you understand other people and how they understand you. If you are out of touch with your feelings, and don’t understand how you feel or why you feel that way, you’ll have a hard time communicating your feelings and needs to others. This can result in frustration, misunderstandings, and conflict. When you don’t address what’s really bothering you, you often become embroiled in petty squabbles instead—arguing with your spouse about how the towels should be hung, for example, or with a coworker about whose turn it is to restock the copier. Emotional awareness provides you the tools needed for understanding both yourself and other people, and the real messages they are communicating to you. Although knowing your own feelings may seem simple, many people ignore or try to sedate strong emotions like anger, sadness, and fear. But your ability to communicate depends on being connected to these feelings. If you’re afraid of strong emotions or if you insist on communicating only on a rational level, it will impair your ability to fully understand others, creatively problem solve, resolve conflicts, or build an affectionate connection with someone. Helpguide.org http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54995 KATHMANDU, May 20: Currently program manager for social development at Sparrow SMS, a value-added SMS service (VAS) provider in Nepal, Barsha Paudel, 25, has her career path planned out. Until the age of 40, she plans to work with organizations that help empower grassroots people. After 40, she wants to become a writer. And all along the way, she wants to keep herself engaged with her other projects that are inspired more by her hobbies – like she is doing at the moment – such as traveling often, digitizing the cultural heritage of Nepal in an attempt to preserve it, and reading voraciously. Paudel graduated from Pulchowk Engineering Campus with a Bachelor’s in Electronics and Communications Engineering and later switched to studying Economics her Master’s at the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics. “Economics had always been my subject of interest,” she explains her switch.[break] What’s the nature of your current position at Sparrow SMS? Sparrow SMS has recently started VAS for two social causes. One is the Raise Voice Against Violence Against Women through which people can send a text to a certain number about incidents regarding VAW and seek help from related organizations. The other is a service which provides those seeking blood donations, the names and numbers of ten local blood donors, upon sending a SMS to a designated number. I look after these projects. You shared that earlier you had intentions of starting your own social venture but failed due to certain reasons. What have you learnt from that experience? I had an idea of my own but things didn’t work out because I was unable to gather funds for it, as it was a not-for profit initiative. There are many opportunities in Nepal because there are untapped fields here. But one needs resources, time and qualifications as well as favorable political environments to be able to succeed in any venture. But I haven’t been demotivated. I shared the idea with a friend who is better resourced to implement the idea and who is now pursuing the same venture and I’ll be involved with it in some ways. I see a lot of young people engaging in their own ventures and that’s encouraging. How do your personal and professional lives go along? My personal life and professional life are overlapping. This is probably because my personal motive is in alignment with my professional ones. While working, I find out so many new things about the world and meet enthusiastic people with lots of ideas. This adds to my personal life. Whereas the way I am – open and at ease when talking to people – helps me communicate better at work. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54994 NEW YORK, May 20: There has always been something haunting about Manisha Koirala’s performance that has kept us spellbound in movie after movie for decades. If cinema is a cascade of images, she weaves its golden reams. Whether it is in the effervescent musical Khamoshi or the intensely pensive role of the femme fatale in Dil Se, she has spun an intoxicating spell of mystique and a lure of evanescent beauty fleeting through an emblazoned landscape, rich with meaning.[break] In Bombay, she is a sylph, cloaked in black and cobalt-blue, running down the sweeping shoreline of the azure Arabian Sea, while in 1942: A Love Story, she is the elusive face of dewy-eyed innocence in the midst of a ravaged town, caught in the orange flares of a stormy revolution. Even in an electrifying number such as Humma Humma or a wistful recital in Yeh Dil Sun Raha Hai, her chiseled style is at once joyous and somber, a mark of her exquisite distinction. A consummate actress that she is, her later performances marked the transition into the starker world of unsurpassed greed, corruption, and cruelty in critically-acclaimed movies like Company and Escape from Taliban. And so, in November 2012, it was with a saddened heart that we received the news of her suffering from ovarian cancer. Manisha Koirala in a photo posted on her Facebook account on Sunday, May 19. She could have chosen to remain guarded about her sickness, as most celebrities are wont to do, but instead with the same touching vulnerability, strength, and fervor as in her acting, she reached out to her fans and friends on Facebook and Twitter with updates of her struggle, using poetry, inspirational words, and reminisces. After months long treatment at the Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York, she announced that she is now finally “out of the big trouble,” but aspires to use her celebrity status and personal anecdotes to move and inspire other people who are similarly struggling with life’s isolating battles. “All I want to do from now onwards is to be useful to people who could need little advice. My family and I had no clue how to cope or deal with cancer and its treatments, but since I was a celebrity, people reached out with lot of information. I chose the ones from ex-cancer patients as I knew only they and their caregivers know what it is like to be affected by cancer,” Koirala said in an exclusive interview to The American Bazaar where she spoke candidly about her faith in divine providence and love of her family and fans that helped her rise above the ordeal. Emerging from one of her life’s biggest challenges, she can now rejoice, Aaj main upar! Excerpts from the interview with Manisha Koirala: What is your opinion about preventive mastectomy or hysterectomy for women who have been tested positive for the BRCA1 and 2 gene? As a precedent set by Angelina Jolie, who recently went through an extensive mastectomy, what would be the pros and cons of the situation and the effects on women? If by doing gene testing one can predict inherited diseases and seek a correction/pre-emptive procedures, yes, we must make use of the advancements in medical science for a healthier life. Women must not feel less feminine by removing breasts or ovaries. It is not in the body and its organs but in our heart and soul that femininity lives. And I was very impressed with Brad Pitt for standing by Angelina through this crucial phase. It is important for a partner to be supportive. This separates the men from the boys. There is no need to live under the shadow of fear and one should aspire for quality of life. There is just no question of pros and cons when it’s a matter of peaceful, healthy life. Do you think that, apart from genetic disposition to cancer, lifestyle also plays a key role? What amendments would you suggest in maintaining good health? Cancer came to me as a hurricane unannounced, but then most of the cases are like that. We live unthinkingly about our health until we are pushed to a corner. I am not 100 percent sure if cancer is easily predictable; I was told that “perhaps the estrogen doses that I got some years ago might have triggered cancer in me”, but there is not enough evidence, data to support or deny this. So I am left to wonder. Maybe someday, we will know for sure. In the meantime, one must make do with all the obvious information one has. That would mean eating healthy, exercising, staying stress free. I intend to have more of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans. I think each one of us is made differently; one must listen to our instincts of body and mind. Alternative treatments must be good too but I have little idea, but I believe in a holistic life. In the western world there is a tendency to aggressively deal with tumors, sometimes not even fatal, which has led to harmful effects. There is increased screening and mammograms with false positives. Exposure to CT scans also have a damaging effect on health. What is your take on this issue? I can only wish that everyone pays attention to the body, get regular checkups and get active, especially, if there has been history of cancer in the family. There is not enough information regarding ovarian cancer and, neither did I have any clue nor the doctors I consulted. Initially it was thought to be just food poisoning. Till I got CT scan done. So, basically, I could have been warned four months earlier than I was. We need to speak up, spread the awareness and help people get early diagnosis. How did you cope with your diagnosis and the mental/physical hazards with chemotherapy? The treatment sometimes is worse than the disease, but I think over the years there has been many welcoming changes. Tell us about your experience. I did fairly well thanks to the love and care of my family and friends, fans the world over and the divine. I can’t claim ownership over any of that. I, myself, was caught by surprise when nurses and doctors told me that I did a good job of coping, considering the very strong treatment. I know it was not me but the prayers and blessing of all these people worked, along with the expertise of my doctors here at Sloan Kettering, New York. I am grateful to my wonderful surgeon and oncologist. By the way, I do believe if one is left with no better option, one has to put all the effort forward and then surrender to the divine. My chemo treatment went well. If one can learn to handle fear, it is easier! How has this treatment changed you as a person, and will it have any effect on your career? I intend to live a healthier and more peaceful life. I am sure my career will be better too. Yes, I am more focused on the quality of life, more appreciative and mindful of health, my surroundings and the energy of the people around me. What suggestions do you have for family members who are caregivers to their loved one suffering from cancer? Not everybody is sympathetic or as supportive because of the enormous costs and emotional burden, so I was wondering whether you have a message for them? It’s hugely important to get emotional support. I can’t even imagine how I would do without my family who stuck by me every moment through all this. I hope and pray that every soul gets such a blessing. Cancer is more about the fear factor than anything else, it’s necessary to consult and reach out. It is a harrowing experience for caregivers too but friendships and family-bonding get strengthened in adversity. It gets easy when one knows one is loved and is taken care of. Time now to play it forward. americanbazaaronline.com http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54944 NEW YORK, May 20: Yahoo! geared up for a major announcement Monday said to be a $1.1 billion deal to take over popular blogging platform Tumblr, a move that could bring a younger, hipper audience to the struggling Internet pioneer. The deal, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, if confirmed would be the largest for Yahoo! since Marissa Mayer took over as chief executive last year. Neither Yahoo! nor Tumblr commented on the report. [break] "We don´t comment on rumors or speculation," a Yahoo! spokesman said in an email. Mayer, however, has scheduled a news conference in New York on Monday at which the company said it will unveil "something special." Yahoo! has been looking at a range of possible acquisitions since Mayer took the helm last year and vowed to revive the company, which has faded in the face of competition from Google. Tumblr could be key to Yahoo!´s strategy because of its popularity with younger Internet users. A survey this year conducted by the online data group Survata found Tumblr more popular than Facebook among those aged 13 to 25. While Tumblr generates very little cash, bringing it in the Yahoo! family could offer the potential for new advertising and other revenue sources. John Battelle, an entrepreneur who founded Wired and Federated Media Publishing, said "there are plenty of smart and appropriate takes on why this move makes sense," because the the Web is moving from a static environment to one of "streams" of data. "We´re all shifting our attention to mobile devices, and we´ve adopted the ´stream´ as our preferred method of content discovery and consumption. That stream doesn´t work so well with standard display," he said in a blog post. "And Tumblr was built from the ground up as an activity stream." Roger Kay at Endpoint Technologies said the deal "brings a social element that Yahoo! is missing and a set of new users." But Kay added that "paying $1.1 billion for a company with $13 million in revenue seems a little nuts to me... Those numbers aren´t even earnings, which are surely negative. So, even if Tumblr survives intact, Yahoo is unlikely to get its $1.1 billion back over any interval that falls within a human lifetime." Trip Chowdhry at Global Equities Research said the deal could make sense if Yahoo! creates incentives for the Tumblr team. "They have a very difficult time recruiting smart engineers," Chowdhry said. "They need the team committed to stay at least four years. So the deal should be cash and stock. Cash is bad because it creates no incentives for Tumblr employees. An asset means nothing if the talent leaves." Founded in 2007 and headquartered in New York, Tumblr says it has more than 108 million blogs, 50 billion postings in 12 languages and 175 employees. The website ranking site Alexa lists Tumblr as number 32 in terms of global popularity. The Journal said Yahoo´s board unanimously approved the deal in a meeting by telephone on Friday and that it could be announced Monday. According to the technology website AllThingsD, which is part of the Journal´s parent company, Tumblr founder and chief executive David Karp will get a large cash windfall and also stay at Yahoo! for four years, retaining control over the service. The website said Yahoo! would take a largely "hands-off" approach to Tumblr without integrating into the Internet giant´s other services. But Yahoo! will help support Tumblr´s efforts in advertising and expand distribution, it said. Yahoo! recently failed in a bid to take over the online video site Dailymotion after the French government, which owns a stake, quashed the deal. The California firm is now reported to be interested in another video website, Hulu. Mayer is seeking to help Yahoo! regain its former glory, by emphasizing social media and mobile Internet. Tumblr has grow into one of the most popular social media sites, but has also been dogged by copyright issues. It got a round of funding in 2011 worth $85 million that reportedly valued the operation at $800 million. Karp is a New York native who dropped out of Bronx High School of Science at age 15, according to the technology website TechCrunch´s Crunchbase. He is now 26. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54893 Baglung club and Room to Read set up libraries at 115 community schools BAGLUNG, May 18: Students of a community school in Baglung have been displaying enhanced learning capacity since the establishment of a library in their school. Prior to the opening of the library, the students had nowhere to go to quench their thirst for more knowledge. A class six student of Rudre Peepal Secondary School, Sujan Bhandari says that the library has been a great help in learning about new topics. “We can read reference books as well as others that are not part of the syllabus,” he says.[break] There are poems, story books, dramas, books on general knowledge, biographies of national and international personalities, jokes, and dictionaries available in the library. Reading the various books is expected to expand their knowledge. One can find the students in the library during their free period. In the absence of the teacher, they study in the library and use their time productively. The library teacher has developed the library as a place for practical exercise. The school has even designated a period for library class. The principal, Mamata Sharma, believes that with the introduction of the library, students have improved their reading habits. “The students are making utmost use of the library,” says Sharma, It’s not just the students of Rudre Peepal Secondary School; Kopil Kunwar from Bhimgithe Higher Secondary School, who earlier went out with friends to play during free periods, rushes to the library these days. He is now more interested in reading books than wasting time chatting with friends or playing. “It’s more satisfying if I read,” he says. Dilip Poudel/Republica Students of Rudre Peepal Secondary School study in their school library. These days, both students and teachers are attracted to the libraries. With the support of Gaja Yuwa Club, Baglung and Room to Read, libraries have been installed at schools in Lekhani, Hatiya, Banpa, Malika, Pala, Bhimpokhara, Dhamja, Tangram, Bihu, Resh, Tityang, Bhakunde, Rayadada in the district. Parmanand Kandel, Chairman of Gaja Yuwa Club, says, “Though we setting up libraries as an experiment, now we’ve expanded the project,” says Kandel, “Now, every school in the district wants us to help them establish a library, but it’s difficult to cater to everyone.” Tilak Silwal, Section Officer at District Education Office in Baglung, says that the library has helped improve the state of education. “Reference books are being utilized in the library,” he says. “Though not every school has a library as of now, we can see the opening of libraries in some as a good sign.” Students from lower secondary and secondary levels are allowed to take books home. Primary students enjoy reading their books in the library. Teachers say most primary students prefer reading story books. “Little children love reading stories and poems,” says Sagar Kharel from Bhimgithe Higer Secondary School. “There are different types of books to suit the students’ interest and capacity.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54892 KATHMANDU, May 18: One Friday at one o’clock. A half day at school means it’s time to enjoy eating your meal to satisfy your hunger. But Manoj Gurung has never got a half holiday. If he asks for a half day, his employer rebukes him and threatens to fire him.[break] He has never attended a school. The 12-year-old Manoj works in a hotel by the highway and he is busy picking up after customers. Even though it’s time for the school students to eat their lunch, Manoj still hasn’t eaten his first meal of the day. “Of course, I’m hungry but we’re only allowed to eat after work,” he says. He has to wake up by five in the morning and by the time he gets to bed, it’s usually 10 pm. Because he works in a hotel by the highway, there’s no scheduled time for waking up and sleeping. He explains, “Here we’ve have to get up at any time if a customer comes.” In his previous job at another hotel he earned Rs 500 per month. It’s been three months in this hotel and now he earns Rs 1500 per month. “I had to do a lot of work in the previous hotel and the pay was also less. It’s easier here. I don’t have to wash that many dishes,” he says. The money he earns doesn’t come to him. “Sometimes my father comes from the village and takes the money. It’s been three months he hasn’t come here for the money,” he says. His home is in a remote village in Dhading district. He has two sisters and one brother who live with their parents. On starting work he received a pair of new clothes. “This is new,” he says happily, showing the clothes he is wearing. It’s been three months since he received the new clothes. He wants to go to school. “I wanted to but I could never go. The school was very far in our village. And here at work, there’s no time even to sleep,” he says. There are other young boys his age in the hotel. Some are younger than him. “It’s not just us. There are many others our age,” he says. Like he says, there are many like him washing dishes in the many hotels along the highway but no one has the statistics on how many exactly there are. Manoj is just one example. The hotel he works in is quite near to Kathmandu. From time to time there are speeches on child rights in the capital. However, many like Manoj have no interest in the people who give such speeches, nor do they have any interest in children like Manoj. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54891 KATHMANDU, May 18; ‘Eat well, travel often’ is a simple truth to living life to the fullest. We might be wanderers at heart and wish we could travel to so many places around the globe but due to finances and lack of time, this isn’t always possible. However, there’s no harm in dreaming. We gave our Gennext Facebook followers a free ticket to travel to any place in the world and found out about some of the destinations that they wish to journey to.[break] “I would travel the whole of Nepal,” says Bikalpa Kattel, and then as a second thought he adds, “Or the whole world.” Samikshya Bashishtha, who shares that she hasn’t travelled much, writes that she’d want to go to Rara. “I’d take somebody who can give me good company,” she says. Sabin Maharjan, who wants to travel with his own gang, says that he wants to go to Kagbeni if he wins a lottery ticket to travel. Going international, BJ Dhukuchhu wishes to go to the city that they say, never sleeps. “New York,” he simply states and perhaps that name itself is enough for the wonder that this city can evoke in people. Shristi Maharjan, on the other hand, wants to go to both national as well as international destinations. “If I’d win a lottery ticket, I would go to Pokhara, Kagbeni and Muktinath. I would also love to visit places such as the Marine Beach in Mumbai,” says Shristi, who writes that she would love to travel with her parents as she has always been travelling with them. Travelling is learning. Hence, we should turn our wishful thinking into realities and grasp every opportunity to travel and to make life more worthwhile. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54850 KATHMANDU, May 17: Standing up against the age-old traditions and norms of the society has never been easy. The advent of inter-caste marriages, however not readily, has slowly seen acceptance in our society that is slowly evolving and embracing the phenomena of modernization. Five young people speak on the issue of inter-caste marriages. Pramithas Dhakal and Shiva Bhusal are both computer engineering students at Pulchowk Campus, Mangal Laxmi Prajapati is studying Bachelors in Business Studies at Unique College, Anita Shrestha is in her 12th year at Jana Adarsha College while Kabita Gautam is social media campaigner.[break] Chandra Shekhar Karki/Republica Is intercaste marriage acceptable in your own family? What is your personal take on this? Shiva: If you consider the traditions, then no it isn’t. However a few of my relatives have married out of their caste and there are now living separate from their parents. Personally, I think as long as there’s mutual consent between the two people getting married and they love each other, it shouldn’t be a problem. Pramithas: They aren’t easily accepted in my family, some convincing is needed. I believe that if two people love each other and happy, then there’s no problem with marrying outside of the caste or culture. Anita and Mangal: Like Pramithas said, even in our families, inter-caste is accepted to some extent but only after a lot of convincing. Those who’ve married against the families consent haven’t been accepted into their homes. Inter-caste marriage is normal for us, but not for our parents and grandparents. L to R: Pramithas Dhakal, Shiva Bhusal, Mangal Laxmi Prajapati, Anita Shrestha and Kabita Gautam Kabita: I belong to the Bahun caste and have been married recently, within the caste. In our family, inter-caste marriages aren’t taken that positively. We’ve had a few inter-caste marriages in our family. The couples have been accepted and they’re not discriminated. However, the attitudes towards such marriages haven’t changed. I’m not a believer of caste discriminations and I believe that everyone should work together and live in harmony. Having said that, I think, knowingly, one shouldn’t marry outside their caste, simply because of the cultural differences that might cause problems later on. Although you’re positive about inter-caste marriages, do you think there’s any disadvantage in choosing to marry someone from outside your caste and culture? Kabita: Like I mentioned earlier, differences in culture can cause problems between husband and wife as well as other members of the family. Anita: Couples who’ve chosen to go for it have to go through a lot of challenges. Small differences in culture and tradition can be causes for big problems. Shiva: I think it was some years back that the government had brought this scheme where those who married inter-caste, would get some amount of money. This had led to a lot of people marrying just for the greed of money. Things like this can obviously be a nuisance in our society. Also, there’s also the issue of adapting to a different culture, especially for women. When it comes to choosing your life partners, does the thought of differences in caste come to mind? Mangal: It does at first. No matter how much I embrace modern values, the thought of difference in caste and approval in my family comes in mind. Pramithas: If I have to be frank about it, then yes. Shiva: For me, that isn’t the immediate thought but I guess if the relationship prolongs, that is something that will have to be talked about. Anita: If I start liking someone, there’s always the thought about whether my family will accept our relationship if the other person isn’t from our caste. What would you say is the most positive thing that comes out of a marriage between two people from different castes and cultures? Mangal: The fact that two different families will come together and the potential for understanding each other’s cultures and traditions. Pramithas: Caste discrimination is illogical and this should be eradicated from the society. Perhaps inter-caste marriages will help in this. Kabita: I really like the fact that the next generation out of the couple will be a hybrid of both the cultures. Those children will be more exposed to cultures and traditions, and hence their more likely to be smart and talented. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54849 KATHMANDU, May 17: The summer tans, the ice creams, the burning heat, the savoring of brief summer breeze; the hot season is here. How does summer make you feel, apart from hot and sweaty? What are your plans to beat off the heat in the capital? Sachin Tripathi says, on our Facebook page, that summer makes him lazy. Bharat Gurung bluntly expresses his dislike of the season.[break] But then there’s more to this season than just the heat. Girls can look forward to enjoying summer dresses. Yummy ice creams will be on everyone’s diet plan. Long rides are just the thing to do on sultry evenings. A holiday is in the offing for Shristi Maharjan, 16. An A-Level student at A J Wild Institute of Advanced Studies, Shristi is looking forward to the summer break. “Summer is somehow lively. We will have almost two weeks of holidays and a trip with my family is on the cards,” she says. Prasim Gurung believes that adapting to every season is better than just loving one. “Summer has always been a reminder of the past for me. It’s also a reason to put on a mask and a cap. This summer, I’m looking forward to get some good pictures in street photography. That way it will also take my mind off the heat. Swimming, going to a village to plant rice are just some of the things I want to do,” says Prasim. Sounding very practical, Biva Paudyal says, “Summer is all about ice-creams and golas. It’s not good to love or hate any season. You need to face it so rather than idealizing why not just enjoy what comes your way? Swimming, surrounding yourself with fresh juices; that’s what summers are for.” Well, summer’s definitely here so take a dip in the pool, eat your favorite flavored ice-cream and remember to carry your umbrella. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54848 The busy, bustling city of Kathmandu. The houses, all of them lived in, all of them teeming with life and activity. I must say that I’ve grown to love the houses of Kathmandu and its people. I must say that Kathmandu has a certain charm to it and no, it has nothing to do with the nightlife. Being a teenager, people tend to jump into conclusions and I’m just trying to say that I love Kathmandu for everything it is except a few things, like pollution. Imagine a developed Nepal, from Mechi to Mahakali, every nook and cranny developed with load shedding and water scarcity taking the back seat. No more people dying of diarrhea, no more discrimination and no more crises of daily necessities. Such a wonderful thought! Imagine eco friendly cities all over Nepal. Imagine Nepal selling electricity to countries and imagine our country not suffering from financial crunches and an unstable political scenario. The developed Nepal will see decentralization and people will opt to go back home and not live in small cramped spaces in the capital. Kathmandu’s going to be empty which means not having to wait in a long line at the grocery store or at the bank. But imagine your neighbors’ house empty except one or two people living there who’re rarely home and are mostly travelling. How would it affect you? Kathmandu city is home, this is where I was born and where I grew up. This damned city made me, well, me. With its political instability, strikes, garbage on the road, street children sniffing glue, struggle for supremacy, aggressiveness of people, the long waits to have any work done, has all seeped into my daily life and I can’t imagine living in a different place where nothing is familiar. I do realize that it doesn’t really make sense for me to worry about this because it’s not like I’m going to run away at every chance from this city. I like it here. The heavy smoke clogged air, the huge piles of garbage, the ever-moving crowd at Ason, have all become a part of life and these things have deeply embedded themselves into my life and many others too. The writer has published a novel ‘untitled life’ in 2011. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54847 KATHMANDU, May 17: For those not familiar with the legendary Star Trek movies, the most recent offering from the franchise ‘Star Trek into Darkness’ should still be moderately interesting. It is basically about a group of trained explorers hunting for a highly sophisticated human machine in the outer space in sophisticated spaceships. The film follows Captain Kirk and his crew, including Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Bones (Karl Urban), and Sulu (John Cho) in their explorations and the subsequent adventure in space.[break] Captain Kirk gets demoted due to the last adventure where he violated a rule where the planet’s inhabitants saw their spaceship. A sudden violent rampage by John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), who is an employee of the Starfleet organization, leads Captain Kirk and his faithful crew to planet Kronus where they encounter Klingons. They are attacked by the Klingons with whom humans have a history of bad relationship. We’re presented with a puzzle when the superhuman Harrison comes to their aid. The 3D experience of the film is not very strong, and the opening scenes of the film seem too animated. A brief glimpse of Alice Eve in her underwear is ridiculously unnecessary. Towards the end, the film becomes melodramatic and yet the film is not a total bore. The popular TV drama, The Big Bang Theory, has several references to Star Trek and connecting them finally on the film is kind of fun. Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54846 KATHMANDU, May 17: Twins Arjun and Vishal (Arjun Kapoor) are separated during their childhood and while Arjun is brought up by his rich business tycoon father, Yashvardan (Jackie Shroff). Vishal, who grows up with his mother, was considered dead in an encounter years ago. But secrets come out and the twins cross path again when they are used by a family of police officers, to bring down Yashvardan, who’s a disguised gangster conducting illegal operations masked by his legal businesses. Rishi Kapoor plays a power hungry cop who can go to extremes to have his share of power. Arjun Kapoor puts up a good act in both the roles while Shroff’s character is under emphasized in the movie. As far as acting goes, Sashaa Agha, who plays Ritu, is disappointing perhaps because of the insufficiently developed plots surrounding her.[break] Talking about underdeveloped plots, ‘Aurangzeb’ has many. But perhaps because the story moves on quickly, these loopholes don’t appear as gaping. The way ‘Aurangzeb’ starts out holds great promises for the movie. It has a gripping plot with a suspense element, acting brilliances and the Bollywood drama elements. But as the movie progresses, the potential takes a downfall and by the end of it all, ‘Aurangzeb’ becomes a satisfactory watch that could have been so much better. Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54845 KATHMANDU, May 17: 2013Movies and films are a peek into various world cultures and lifestyle. The 8th Israeli Film Festival is an opportunity for movie lovers in Kathmandu to watch a number of movies from Israel. Organized by the Embassy of Israel, this festival which will begin on May 21 and will continue till May 24, will showcase six of the best films from Israel at the Russian Culture Center in Kamalpokhari. All the selections revolve around the issues of the youth and the relationship between parents and their children.[break] The festival will be open to the public from May 22. Each day, two films will be shown. Through the film festival, the Embassy hopes to be able to familiarize its audience with some realities of life as well as give allow a closer look at youth and special relations that exists between parents and their children. Free passes will be made available at the Embassy of Israel in Lazimpat and also at the Russian Cultural Center, on the screening days. Book free passes at the Embassy (call: 4411811/4413419) to ensure seats for premier of the films. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54844 CNNs Freedom Project’s latest series KATHMANDU, May 17: Cecilia Flores-Oebanda is a fighter. This Filipino native spent her formative years fighting against poverty, then the country’s autocratic regime. She later made it her life’s mission to fight human trafficking. But now the human trafficking crusader is fighting yet another battle, but this time against allegations over corruption charges, which has jeopardized the Visayan Forum Foundation that Oebanda set up two decades ago to fight against modern-day slavery of human and sex trafficking.[break] Oebanda’s very story is the subject of the two-part documentary, “The Fighters,” a part of CNNs Freedom Project’s latest series that puts a spotlight on the flesh trade in the Philippines. Popularly known for its pristine beaches, the country is also notorious for its image that is often linked with the trade of human flesh. The statistic is alarming: An estimated 800,000 people are involved in prostitution with around 60,000 to 100,000 children in the country’s prostitution rings. “The Fighters” provides a close scrutiny of some of the child victims who have been the targets of foreigners often coming to the country seeking young girls, or being involved in cyber sex, a rising trend in the Philippines. Girls as young as 12 are being forced into this new phenomena of sex trade, says Oebanda in the documentary. A young girl testifies her tormenting experience: “At the Internet café, they ask me to take my clothes off and dance in front of the camera,” she says. Other stories are equally disturbing. Sold at an early age of 15, and by 16 this young girl had had dozens of sexual partners; sometimes she was even forced to serve up to 13 customers a day. In order to create a national noise about the sex slavery and human trafficking, Oebanda has made a pact to bring one of the Philippine’s most popular faces to propagate the issue: Congressman Manny Pacquio. A professional boxer turned politician, Oebanda believes that his “popularity and power” could help significantly in the campaign to address human trafficking in the country. And the Congressman has shown his support, from talking to victims of human trafficking and campaigners to taking the message right across to the House of Representatives Plenary Hall. “Slowly but steadily we have turned the tide,” he says during his privileged speech in the hall. “We have won the last few rounds. I think it is time to deliver the knockout punch.” However, as the battle against this crime is being fought, “The Fighters” also reveals Oebanda’s fight against the corruption allegations. It is taking a serious toll on her work as she is not being able to continue her advocacy. For her, “the battleground has now shifted – from the battlefield of trafficking to all the paper[work].” But she asserts in the documentary that she is committed to end this form of modern-day slavery so that the next generation of Filipinos would not have to victimized. “I have a promise that I will never stop until our people are actually free to explore opportunities, to find jobs without the risk of being sold,” Oebanda says. “We Filipinos have dignity. We are not for sale.” The two-part documentary “The Fighters” premieres today and tomorrow at 16:45 pm on CNN International TV. Repeat telecast on Saturday and Sunday at 7:45 am. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54813 LOS ANGELES, May 17: The third time´s the charm for Candice Glover on "American Idol." The booming 23-year-old R&B vocalist from St. Helena Island, S.C., won the Fox singing competition after auditioning a trio of times and making it to the finals this year. Glover looked stunned when "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest announced she bested soulful 22-year-old country singer Kree Harrison from Woodville, Texas. [break] Glover said backstage after winning she learned to "have fun, live in the moment and be confident." "Because in previous years I wasn´t, so that´s definitely the key if you want to audition for the show or have a career," she said. After her crowning, an emotional Glover sobbed her way through her new single "I Am Beautiful." Candice Glover performs on stage after she was announced the winner at the "American Idol" finale at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live on Thursday, May 16, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) Glover´s win marks the first time a female and a nonwhite singer has won the competition since Jordin Sparks dominated the sixth season in 2007. The previous five winners — Phillip Phillips, Scotty McCreery, Lee DeWyze, Kris Allen and David Cook — were all Caucasian guitar players, known to "Idol" fans as WGWGs, or white guys with guitars. The lack of a female champion for the past five years was mocked in a finale bit featuring the female finalists, in cahoots with Sparks, jokingly sabotaging this season´s five male contestants. "The good news is ´Idol´ leftovers have been doing really well on ´The Voice,´" Sparks teased. Besides the coronation of Glover, Thursday´s finale also served as a farewell for Randy Jackson, the show´s last remaining original judge who announced last week that he´s leaving "Idol" to focus on his record label and other business opportunities. Jackson served as a judge on all 12 seasons of "Idol." He first appeared on the panel alongside Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul when the competition debuted in 2002, becoming famous for his easygoing "yo, dawg" rapport with contestants. "I love everybody that walked on this show," Jackson said. He added, "Hopefully, I touched their lives a little bit. They certainly touched mine." Grammy- and Oscar-winning former "Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson returned for Thursday´s finale to duet with Glover on Natalie Cole´s "Inseparable." "I look up to her and, honestly, she is so successful after this show, and I really admire her," said Glover backstage. "I finally got a chance to not only meet her but sing with her." Hudson was among the guest stars who helped fill out the two-hour finale show, including Psy, Frankie Valli, Emeli Sande, Jessie J, Aretha Franklin and former "Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez. Current "Idol" judges Keith Urban and Mariah Carey — along with Jackson on bass — also performed. Jackson previously declared Wednesday´s three-song showdown a dead heat between Harrison and Glover, who have both once been among the show´s low vote-getters during the finals. "The title is freaking amazing, and I´m so proud of Candice, but for me, I´m so thankful I could even stand next to her on the finale," said Harrison, who now lives in Nashville, Tenn. Last year´s finale between Phillips and budding pop diva Jessica Sanchez brought in 132 million votes. The vote totals for Thursday´s finale weren´t shared with viewers. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54812 JOHANNESBURG, May 17: South African police said Friday they had launched a series of murder inquiries after 23 males died while undergoing circumcision during traditional rites of passage into manhood. The 23 -- aged between 13 and 21 -- died in various places across the country´s northeastern Mpumalanga province over the course of a week. [break] "We have opened 22 cases of murder and one of inquest," regional police spokesman Leonard Hlathi told AFP. One of the deaths was labelled inquest because the boy reportedly had an existing health condition. There have been no arrests yet as police compile statements and await post-mortem results. Ritual circumcision is common among South Africa´s ethnic Xhosa, Sotho and Ndebele ethnic groups. Deaths at so-called initiation schools in South Africa are common, with several hundred cases recorded in recent years due to bleeding and infections. Boys spend around a month in secluded bush or mountains areas for the sessions that also include lessons on the virtues of masculine courage and discipline. There are usually two circumcision seasons - in winter during the months of May through July and in summer between November and December. Government and the ruling African National Congress Party have expressed concern at the deaths which have nonetheless sparked little public outrage. Government spokeswoman Phumla Williams called on the initiation schools "to ensure that precautionary health measures are exercised during this period to minimise illnesses and death." Minister in The Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane said he was saddened by the loss of young lives. The "loss of several young lives in Mpumalanga and elsewhere in the country is regrettable," Chabane said this week. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54755  (Updated) MUMBAI, May 16: Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt surrendered on Thursday to face three-and-a-half years in jail for illegal possession of weapons, in a case linked to deadly bombings in Mumbai 20 years ago. Accompanied by family and friends, the 53-year-old was greeted by a crowd of journalists at the gates of his home before travelling in a convoy of cars to a court in the city´s south, where another huge crowd swarmed around his vehicle.[break] Dutt was initially unable to leave the car because of the chaotic media mob that police struggled to control. He eventually entered the court with his sister and wife, and from there he will be transferred to jail. Known as a Bollywood bad boy, Dutt was convicted in 2006 of possessing guns supplied by gangsters who staged the 1993 bomb attacks that killed 257 people, but he was freed on bail after serving 18 months in prison. In March this year the Supreme Court upheld Dutt´s conviction but cut his jail term from six years to five. He was later granted four extra weeks of freedom to work on unfinished movies. The court on Tuesday refused to hear a plea of a film producer who sought more time for Dutt to surrender so he could complete two films still being shot. Analysts estimate about 2.5 billion rupees ($46 million) are riding in Bollywood on the muscular star, who is best known for playing a mobster with a heart of gold in the "Munnabhai" series. On Wednesday, Dutt withdrew another plea to give himself up in a different city, which he had made citing threats to his life. Officials said Mumbai´s Arthur Road jail had received an anonymous death threat letter targeting the actor, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. A top officer of the jail, where Dutt may be taken initially, said Dutt would get adequate security. A string of Bollywood names visited Dutt´s home in the trendy Bandra suburb before he turned himself in, while a Hindu rightwing group protested outside late Wednesday demanding he receive the death penalty, reports said. A heavy police presence stood guard by the residence and the court on Thursday. The actor, whose parents were two of India´s biggest stars, shot to fame in the 1980s in a string of action movies in which he performed his own stunts, earning him the nickname "Deadly Dutt". Dutt, whose mother was Muslim and father Hindu, was acquitted in 2007 of more serious charges of conspiracy in the deadly blasts, which also wounded more than 700 people. The attacks were believed to have been staged by Muslim underworld figures in retaliation for religious riots in which mainly Muslims died, following the razing of an old mosque at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state. The father-of-three was found guilty of possession of an automatic rifle and a pistol, which he insisted were only meant to protect his family in the tense atmosphere in Mumbai following the mosque´s destruction. At a news conference following the hearing in March, Dutt wept as he declared himself "a shattered man" and some prominent figures have called for him to be pardoned. The former heavy drugs user lost his first wife to cancer while his second marriage, to a model, ended in divorce. He wed for a third time in 2008 . Photo:AFP http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54707 KATHMANDU, May 14: Extracurricular activities shape children into well-rounded adults, taking them away from the monotony of classroom hours. Educational institutions have always understood the importance of involving their students in games, debates, drama and art. Included within the school hours, the extra costs of the extracurricular activities are being billed to the parents. Suprabhat Bhandari, Chairman of Guardians Association Nepal, thinks that there are very few schools which try to provide the service that they charge the parents for. He feels that it has become a trend to charge fees for extracurricular activities. He says, “It’s ridiculous how they charge for computer classes for primary-level students. The supervisory system in schools has to be alert.”[break] Dharmadutta Devkota, Chairman of National Parents’ Association, is of similar opinion. He says, “Many schools are ripping off parents under the pretext of extracurricular activities. We monitor the schools and even submit report to the government. But then, the government officials and schools authorities are hand in glove. So nothing comes out of it. “What needs to be done is that the government has to be very strong and responsible towards its citizens. If there are laws, then it needs to monitor them properly. If there is no law, then make one. The parents also need to be aware of their role, and responsibility they cannot let the schools rip them off. They also need to be ready to take action when necessary. Parents with money do not seem to find anything wrong with that. It is the lower middle class families who are suffering under the burden of excess fees.” Sharmila Bajracharya’s children study in GEMS and Shuvatara School. “While I don’t feel that the schools provide as much service as they charge for, I think it depends on the child too. Is he utilizing the facilities available to him? The fee at GEMS is much lower than that of Shuvatara which is quite expensive. And I think Shuvatara pays more attention to extracurricular activities than on studies. I don’t think that’s right in Nepal’s context because we’re still looking for good grades at the end of the day.” Geeta Rana, Principal of Galaxy Public School and President of National Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization of Nepal (NPABSON), explains that fees for extracurricular activities differ from school to school. It also depends on whether facilities are provided frequently or just once a week. The skills of the instructors also raise the fees, says Rana. “At Galaxy, we charge it under the annual fee as we don’t have a separate category for extracurricular activities. Students have seven games to choose from: basketball, football, badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis, cricket and chess. We also have gymnastics and swimming, which are optional. Since it’s seasonal and we need to hire coaches for the duration, students will have to pay extra. We have music lessons in flute, guitar, keyboard, tabla and violin. We charge around Rs 400 per month,” she says. Ullens School offers horse riding classes to its students during winter, and through summer, students have swimming classes for one and a half hours once a week. This is under tuition fees as are other activities. According to Vani Rana, Primary School Coordinator, the school allots 45 minutes for physical education thrice a week. While the lower elementary students run and skip, students of class four and five play football and basketball. The seniors choose from basketball, table tennis, football and wushu. “We have music and art classes twice a week, and dance lessons are conducted once a week. We also have computer classes from class one when students learn the basics like switching on the computer and painting,” she lists. Students seem satisfied with the various sports, music and dance lesson options that their school provides them. “We have sports day, musical day, dance programs, quiz contests and debates in the school. However, it was only within the school, and as class 10 students had to focus on studies, I didn’t participate in any event,” says Paras Kunwar, 16, who has recently appeared for his SLC examinations from Jubilant Higher Secondary School. Class eight students of Gautam High School in Bhote Bahal, Rohit Sarawagi and Sangam Timsina, are happy with their school’s extracurricular activities. “Every Friday, we have almost a full day scheduled for extracurricular activities. From 9:30 o’clock in the morning till 3:30 pm, we have an hour each for library, music/dance and sports,” says Rohit, 14. His bench partner, Sangam, says, “We’re also taken for swimming every Thursday for two hours. We have to pay Rs 80 per week for this. If we don’t go for swimming classes, we can stay back to study. But every one of us goes for swimming. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54706 It goes without saying that student’s use Wikipedia extensively, probably more than any other social group. Although the website’s founder Jimmy Wales once warned readers not to use the website for academic purposes, American research shows that the majority of students browse its pages when researching essays. Most universities and academics distrust the service, my department’s “Essential Guide for Students” leaves no room for ambiguity, warning us: “Never cite Wikipedia.” But why is the academic world so hostile to this vast information resource? And why do students find it so hard to stay away?[break] The greatest strength of Wikipedia is that its contributors can chose which area they want to write about, which, in theory, means they only produce content where they are most qualified to do so. Harvard University’s Professor Yochai Benkler says this explains why Wikipedia has succeeded where other more traditional business models like Microsoft Encarta and Encyclopaedia Britannica have failed. Lancaster Law School academic Dr Richard Austen-Baker illustrates this theory. He registered with Wikipedia to clean up an article on his specialist subject – relational contract theory. The original entry was a bit “raggedy around the edges”, he says. But of course, the article may well have changed since Dr Austen-Baker made his contributions – and therein lies the danger of open source content. Academics discredit the website for several reasons: articles can be written by anyone, not necessarily a world expert; editing and regulation are imperfect and a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing. Vandalism is also common. There are numerous examples of politicians and public figures amending articles about themselves to erase unfavorable material. Wikipedia’s own incomplete list of hoaxes makes interesting and comical reading. Despite Wikipedia’s drawbacks, students will continue to take advantage of the resource – and the default response of academics to simply advise against using the site is unlikely to have much effect. Lancaster lecturer Dr Catherine Easton says students must develop an ability to analyze the nature of the source material within Wikipedia, adding that the educator should ensure there is “a strong, continuing focus on the need to support academic work with references to acceptable scholarly sources”. Both of the academics questioned agree that it is easy to spot essays that are over-reliant on Wikipedia, and that direct citation of the site was always unacceptable. While following the footnotes in Wikipedia pages is a way to access stronger content, they say a critical mind should be applied to each source individually. Dr Austen-Baker says that some articles on Wikipedia can be “exotically inaccurate”, and that undergraduates must familiarize themselves with the equivalent, and often ignored written encyclopedias. He adds that over-reliance on free electronic materials makes it increasingly difficult to publish traditional books at all. Dr Easton believes the “consensus-based” approach employed by Wikipedia might actually make the website’s most popular articles less subjective than the introductions found elsewhere. But, she adds, like any information source, it can only be put to good use when it’s in the hands of a discerning and critical student. The Guardian http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54677 NEW DELHI, May 14: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was set to go to jail this week after India´s top court Tuesday dismissed his last-ditch plea for a review of a five-year sentence related to the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. The muscular, tattooed 53-year-old was convicted by an anti-terrorism court in 2006 of possessing arms supplied by the plotters of the deadly bomb attacks, but was freed on bail after serving 18 months in prison.[break] In March this year the Supreme Court upheld Dutt´s conviction but cut his jail term to five years from six. He now must serve the remaining three-and-a-half-years of his term. A Supreme Court bench on Tuesday refused to hear the plea of a film producer who sought more time for Dutt to surrender so he can complete two films that are still being shot. The court´s decision meant Dutt must surrender to authorities on Thursday to serve the rest of his sentence. Analysts estimate about 2.5 billion rupees ($45 million) is riding in Bollywood on Dutt, whose parents were two of India´s biggest stars. He has some five films in the pipeline that cannot be completed before he goes to prison. The court´s decision came on a day when full-page advertisements appeared in Indian newspapers showing a smiling Dutt dressed in a police uniform for one of his soon-to-be-released movies. The actor shot to fame in the 1980s in a string of action movies in which he performed his own stunts, earning him the nickname "Deadly Dutt". He is best known for playing a mobster with a heart of gold in the "Munnabhai" series. The actor, whose mother was Muslim and father Hindu, was acquitted in 2007 of more serious conspiracy charges in the blasts that killed 257 people. The attacks were seen as retaliation for religious riots in which mainly Muslims died after the razing of an old mosque at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state. Dutt´s first wife died of cancer while his second marriage, to a model, ended in divorce. He wed for a third time in 2008 and has two young children. At a news conference following the March hearing, Dutt declared himself "a shattered man" and some prominent figures have called for the actor to be pardoned. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54670 WASHINGTON, May 14: Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday that she has undergone a double mastectomy to reduce her high risk of breast cancer, saying she is speaking out to encourage women to address threats to their health. Jolie, whose mother died of cancer at the age of 56, said she had managed to keep the issue quiet and continue working. Her medical procedures ended late last month. "But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience," she said.[break] The 37-year-old American actress wrote in an opinion piece entitled "My Medical Choice" in The New York Times that she had chosen the procedure because she carries a faulty gene that increases her risk of both breast and ovarian cancer. Jolie, one of Hollywood´s best-known faces and the partner of actor Brad Pitt, said that because of this gene, known as BRCA1, her doctors estimated she had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. November 9, 2011 file photo shows US movie actors Brad Pitt (L) and Angelina Jolie (R) posing during a photo session prior to the Japan premiere of Pitt´s latest film "Moneyball´ in Tokyo. (AFP) "Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy," she wrote. "I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex," Jolie wrote. She said that on April 27 she completed the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. Jolie said her chances of developing breast cancer are now down to five percent. Jolie and Pitt have three adopted and three biological children. "I can tell my children they don´t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer," Jolie said. Jolie described a several-stage surgical process, the main one of which is an operation that can take up to eight hours as the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place. "You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life," Jolie wrote. The final phase of the process involved reconstruction of the breasts with implants, she said, adding: "There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years and the results can be beautiful." Jolie said Pitt has been a huge source of support. "Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries," she said, adding that "we managed to find moments to laugh together." Jolie said she has only small scars after the ordeal, with nothing alarming for her children to see. "On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity." Jolie, one of the world´s highest-paid performers, said the cost of getting tested for BRCA1 and another faulty gene, called BRCA2, is more than $3,000 in the United States and that this "remains an obstacle for many women". She said she hopes women living under the threat of cancer will be able to get tested. "Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of," Jolie wrote. British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has been working with Jolie in the past few months in her role as UN special envoy for refugee issues to highlight the problem of sexual violence in conflict, said she was a "brave lady". Hague and Jolie visited Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo in March and successfully joined forces at a meeting of G8 finance ministers last month to win a pledge to act against the use of rape as a weapon of war. "She´s a courageous lady, a very professional lady. She´s done a lot of work with me in recent months and travelled with me through some difficult places in the Congo," Hague told Sky News television. "She gave no sign that she was undergoing such treatment. She´s a very brave lady not only to carry on with her work so well during such treatment, also to write about it now and talk about it. She´s a brave lady and will be an inspiration to many." http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54659 KATHMANDU, May 13: Cocktails & Dreams, School of Bar and Beverage Management (Bar Master) in Thapagaon, New Baneshwor, has been providing a two- and three-month diploma course since late 2011. The franchise of Cocktails & Dreams, Delhi, which is also affiliated with Global Bartenders Training Canada (GBTC), is currently conducting classes for its ninth batch. The courses include theory and practical classes three hours a day and six days a week which includes specialized sessions on Mixology, Product Knowledge, Bar Etiquette, Customer Services, Abseiling, Flairing, Cocktail, and Mocktail recipes.[break] Apart from the three-month intensive course for novice and amateur bartenders (Diploma in Bartending) and a two-month and three-week crash courses, the school also provides Spanish language classes, courses for bar waiters and waitresses and ensures internship placements at the end of the course. Upto ten students are enrolled at a time for a course, and currently there are 10 students taking up the three-month course and eight students have enrolled for the two-month program. Photos: Bhaswor Ojha/Republica Raj Kumar DC, Managing Director and instructor of Cocktails & Dreams taking a class on product brands at the School of Bartending and Beverage Management in Thapagaon, New Baneshwor on Monday. Bikram Thapa, 21, one of the students of the Diploma program, is working at the Heritage Hotel in Bhaktapur as a waiter. “I found out about this course through Food & Wine magazine and since I’m working in the hospitality sector, I thought it would be beneficial for me to take this course and develop my bartending skills,” he said. Most of the students at the school are from hotel management backgrounds who are utilizing their gap year by taking up this course. Sujata Phuyal, Riya Swar and Seema Karki completed their Plus 2 in Hotel Management from Xavier International College and are applying abroad to pursue Bachelor in Hotel Management. Sujata, 22, said, “We’re all planning to go to Europe for our higher education, and this course will set the foundation for us. Since we’ll have had some advance knowledge and experience in bartending and beverage department, it’ll be easier for us.” Cocktails & Dreams also provides internship opportunities for its students in between their classes. Riya Swar, who is in her second month of the diploma program, has already interned for Royal Nepal Golf Club’s one-day event, the recently held three-day Tattoo Convention at Hotel Yak & Yeti and an album launch at 1905 Restaurant & Bar. More than twenty students who have completed their diploma from Cocktails & Dreams are currently doing paid internships in Malaysia and India. Milan Limbu, who has just finished the first month of his diploma course, will be starting his six-month paid internship in Malaysia in August. “The bartending industry in Nepal is taking its baby steps and it’ll take some time for the scope to develop domestically. Internationally, there’s so much scope, and with courses like this one, it’s easier for us to get internship and jobs abroad,” said Rai. Girls taking up this course seem equally enthusiastic and ambitious in taking up the career of bartending in Nepal, and if given enough opportunity elsewhere. Preety Nepal, 22, who completed her Bachelor of Business Studies from Xavier International College, says, “Bartending is a male-dominated sector, at least in Nepal. For any of us to go out there and look for jobs, we really need to prove to our prospective employers that we are competent and skilled enough and as good as any male bartender.” Raj Kumar DC, Managing Director of Cocktails & Dreams, is also an instructor. Having completed a six-month Diploma course in bartending from Cocktails & Dreams, Delhi, in 2005, DC has also worked as Manager and Senior Bartender for the then Red Onion Bar in Lazimpat until 2008. The school provides 30% discount for female students and Plus 2 students awaiting their results. “We haven’t heard of a female bartender in Nepal yet and I’m trying to start this trend by providing training to enthusiastic female students who can turn tables in this sector,” said DC. Ranjiv Rai, 25, who completed his course about a year ago from the school currently works as a flairing instructor at Cocktails & Dreams. Rai, who initially pursued the IT sector, now wants to take up bartending professionally and says with so many restaurants and bars opening up here, the scope is finally growing, and in time it might be possible to sustain a career in this field. The fee structure for the course ranges from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. A short course is not enough to pick up on each and every basic of bartending, and DC claims that the school manages to provide adequate knowledge within the http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54657 KATHMANDU, May 13: The new working committee of Producers’ Association has prepared a work plan of three months which was unveiled during a press conference on Monday. “We’ve almost finalized with the Film Development Board to release only two Nepali films per week. The National Film Festival, organized by the board, which is going to be held soon, is just a means of finishing the budget. We haven’t been informed of it. Within three months we will be categorizing the film theatres, trying to stop film piracy, install a box office, form a code of conduct for the censor board as well an advisory desk,” said producer Rajkumar Rai.[break] The nine-point work plan includes an advisory desk to ensure quality of films instead of just quantity, a committee to control piracy, screening of only two films per week, box office, award for film journalism, categorizing the theatres, among others. “We’ve prepared this work plan so that quality films will be produced. This way those who understand films will be able to enter the industry,” he said. He expressed sorrow over the Nepal Motion Pictures’ Association’s carelessness regarding the issue raised by the Producers’ Association. “Despite repeated invitations by the Film Development Board, the Nepal Motion Pictures’ Association has ignored them,” he said. “We’ve given priority to the installation of the box office and the categorizing of movie theatres. It’s because the representative of the Nepal Motion Pictures’ Association hasn’t arrived that we’ve slowed the process. Now we will implement the rules within 15 days,” producer Keshav Bhattarai stated. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54658 KATHMANDU, May 13: Herald International College in Maharajgunj will soon be offering Chartered Accountancy (CA) course to students from the new academic session. The college is also starting Bachelor in Hotel Management, Bachelor in Business Administration, and Masters in Business Administration in a MoU with Anglia Ruskin University and London School of Mathematics, UK.[break] Narayan Prasad Upadhyay, Founder and Campus Chief, sheds more light on the new addition of courses in the college. Why did you choose to introduce CA in the college? As we can see, it’s mostly the institutes in Putali Sadak that are running CA classes. There isn’t any college that’s providing CA students with a full academic environment. Perhaps that’s the reason why the pass rate of students is very low. We wanted to bridge that gap. We’ll be providing practical-based classes with modern technology, and additional study materials for a strong academic environment. What can the students expect from the course? Class 12 graduates or those awaiting their results can enroll for CAP-I or CPT (Foundation) and they need to submit their mark sheets within six months of the date of registration. For CAP-II or IPCC, CAP-I (CPT)-passed or exempted graduates, and for CAP-III or CA Final, CAP-II- or IPCC-passed students can register. We’ll be teaching courses from both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) curricula. We have renowned and well-experienced faculties who have been working in CA education in Nepal with us from the beginning. With guidance from faculties like Rajan Phuyal (FCA, CEMAP, DipFA), Raju Siwakoti (FCA), Apach Kumar Yadav (FCA), Achyut Raj Joshi (FCA), Chandra Kanta Bhandari (FCA), Gyanendra Bahadur Bhari (FCA) and others, students will have the best of CA education in Nepal. We will also take care of internships. What are the positive outcomes from the MoU between Anglia Ruskin University and London School of Mathematics, UK, and Herald International College? We’ll have visiting faculty, of course. Graduates of our college will also find it easy to get visas to the UK, and the University has also informed us that they will be offering job placements to good students. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54612 Movie: Go Goa Gone Directors: Raj Nidimoru, Krishan D.K. Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu, Vir Das, Anand Tiwari, Puja Gupta Music: Sachin-Jigar KATHMANDU, May 13: India’s first zombie movie, “Go Goa Gone,” is an out-and-out entertainment. Kunal Khemu (Hardik), Vir Das (Luv) and Anand Tiwari (Bunny) live together and also work in the same office. While Anand works hard at his job, Hardik and Luv are barely getting through a day at work. The three friends head to Goa for a work/vacation after Bunny is invited for a presentation, and Hardik and Luv decide they also need a break. [break] What happens in Goa is a fun-filled visual experience for the viewer. Hardik and Luv drag Bunny to a rave party organized by a Russian mafia boss after Puja Gupta (Luna) invites Luv. The party is on an island, and they cross the sea on a small boat. After a memorable night, the boys face the new day packed with ‘dead-ly’ surprises. Despite being a zombie-filled movie, it’s full of laughter and the audiences’ shouts of horror are well mingled with laughter. Kunal Khemu as Hardik puts up an easy performance. He’s the naughtiest of the bunch but we learn to like him as the film progresses. Luv is like the boy next door and Vir Das projects him nicely. Boris (Saif Ali Khan) is the savior for the stranded gang who might otherwise have perished at the hands of hungry zombies. He does a funny Russian accent, and though his blond hair is strange, he’ quite the savior, always handy to ‘keel the dead people.’ Like many contemporary Hindi films, it does have its share of sexual innuendoes but we’re thankful that the two directors manage to rein the screen time. Go Goa Gone isn’t a horror flick and that’s why it’s so fun to watch it. The zombies are sufficiently zombie-looking and we’re properly alarmed every time they come onscreen. The soundtrack by Sachin-Jigar is also a nice garnish to the film. All in all, Go Goa Gone does tickle your funny bones. Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54611 KATHMANDU, May 13: Celebrating its 133rd year of its inception, Tuborg is gearing up for a fun filled year to woo customers. Tuborg has plans of mixing music and fun to carry forward the brand’s essence of ‘The Fun Starts Here’ with musical events across town. ‘TUBORG Stage’ has been providing a nationwide musical platform for various genres of artists and music. It has over 41 music events to its credit with the most recent being International MusiKFilm Festival where audiences enjoyed screenings of rare films of music legends like Pink Floyd, Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix. The festival held on April screened films at eight different venues across town. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54570 TULSIPUR, (Dang), May 12: Some eight jailbirds have escaped from the Rolpa prison by digging out a tunnel Saturday night. The inmates ran away through the tunnel at around 12.30 AM, said Rapti Zonal Police Chief Uttam Bahadur Singh. Among the escapees are Arjun Sen, Raj Bahadur Oli, Dhruba Dangi, Champhe BK, Deepak Pun, Basanta Rokam Krishna Oli and Raju Thapa. Most of them are convicted in crimes such as rape, dacoit and rhino horn smuggling, Singh said. Though the police came to know about the jailbreak at around 12.30 last night, security personnel could not open fire to stop the fleeing inmates as they were taking a route through the school residential area, said acting Police Chief in Rolpa, Saroj Poudel. A squad of 19 police personnel were deputed for security at the prison. A massive number of security personnel has been mobilized at checkpoints across the district since last night and the search for the culprits has been intensified, Rapti Police Chief Sing. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54569 Rautahat, May 12: Despite the government’s decision to make education accessible to every child, there are 42,240 children in Rautahat who are still not within the reach of a school. Rautahat has the least literacy rate amongst all 75 districts in the country, and concerned authorities state that one third of the children in the district do not go to school. According to Rural Development Center Rautahat, it is the children of the Dalit and the Muslim communities who are not in schools. Chairman of the Center, Paras Hussein, said that it is the lack of awareness in the parents and the poverty which act as barriers. [break] Children from the Dalit community don’t attend school even though a school is nearby. In Gaur municipality, children play on the school ground but do not study there. Similarly, in Pokhriya Tole and Sabgada Muslim Tole, most children don’t go to school. The majority of children in Rautahat district still do not attend school. (Republica) None of the children from Purenawa Dhagar Tole in Gaur are literate. Almost two hundred children from the area don’t attend the nearby Bhagawati Primary School. Principal Nagendra Prasad Verma says, “Even though their names are enrolled in the school, they don’t come to the school unless they need to take their scholarship. Instead of attending classes, they are busy looking after their pigs and breaking stones.” Newalal Dhangar, a local, has alleged that Dalit children refrain from going to school because they are made to sit on the floor in class while non-Dalit children sit on benches. However, Principal Verma has dismissed the claim and said that if lunch could be arranged for the students, then everyone would attend school. The Gaur Nagarpalika, which is also the district headquarters, has more than 1,000 children out of school, states Rural Development Center Nepal. Rautahat has the largest Muslim community in the country, and Muslim leaders say there has been no development in the tendency of sending children to school. According to Maqsood Alam, member of Juddha Higher Secondary School’s management committee, the practices of involving children in household chores at young age and later sending them to Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata in India in search of work is still prevalent. More than 50,000 youths in the district have left for various Indian cities and other countries looking for work. Also the state of education of young female children of the Muslim community is very underdeveloped. Hussein says that there is a lot to be done about the education of girl children in the community. There are 505 schools in the district, and yet many children don’t go to school. To correct this, the District Education Office has planned to bring all the children to school within this academic calendar. The plan has been made by all the resource persons and school supervisors. It will soon be implemented into a policy with the help of representatives from the media and non-government organizations, says Dilip Kumar Thakur, District Education Officer. He further said that there will be improvement in the literacy of the district. Shiva Chandra Prasad Sah, Principal of Shankar Gudar Higher Secondary School in Samanpur, says because students are not taught in local languages, the literacy rate is the lowest in Rautahat. Sah believes it is easier for students to learn in their mother tongue, Bajjika. According to District Education Officer Thakur, out of the eight districts where the state has decided to enroll 200,000 students, Rautahat is the most illiterate. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54568 KATHMANDU, May 12: Flooded with images and exciting deals of products, we all want something or the other. The days are long gone for most of us when we could just ask our parents to buy it for us. It’s more common for us to save up our pocket money, or a part of our salary in order to buy our heart’s desires. On our Facebook page, sharing his experiences is Sabin Rooney. Sabin says, “I had always wanted a guitar but my parents told me to save money and buy it myself. Though it felt a bit harsh then, I made changes in my expenditure habits. By the end of the year I had saved enough money for a guitar. It was like a dream come true when I held it for the first time in my life. I felt like a rockstar,” [break] A good example of working hard to save up is Nayan Pandey. Nayan, currently pursuing his studies at Cameron University in the US, has recently bought a car for himself. He recollects the satisfactory sacrifices he made in order to buy his car. “I stopped going to McDonalds and Taco Bell. I did not buy an iPhone 5 or a Mac. For the entire semester I did every assignment in the library and made calls from Google Voice and I also talked to my parents on Skype on my roommates’ computers,” he points out. That final moment of having your dream materialize is priceless. And nursing a secret is even fun! “My parents wouldn’t allow me to go for bungee jumping. So I started saving money for the purpose and after almost six months of saving, I finally went for it on March 14, 2011. The experience was breathtaking and indescribable. My best saving return till date. And the best part is that my parents still have no clue,” says Bijay Prakash Mainali, 22, Nepal Engineering College. For Shiva Bhusal, 20, a student at Pulchowk Engineering Campus the excitement also saved from his pocket money so that he could buy an Amazon Kindle. “I was highly fascinated with this device, and I saved for one and a half month so that I could buy it. I ordered it twenty days ago from an online store. It hasn’t arrived yet but I’m sure it’s going to be an amazing experience reading books in my new Kindle,” he says. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54567 KATHMANDU, May 12: Cold Cave, the name that Wesley Eisold likes to refer himself as, is here in Kathmandu to give the city a taste of experimental dark electronic music. Accompanied by keyboardist and vocalist Amy Lee as well as DJ Deyo, Cold Cave played at the House of Music in Thamel on Saturday. Cold Cave is based in Los Angeles and New York and was founded in 2007. Just before the gig, Republica caught up with him to say hello. [break] Tell us something about your music. It’s very experimental, avant-garde noise. I use a lot of thrift-store equipment to create my music. I started out by playing music in my own bedroom with very few equipment and a computer. It has evolved from there. What usually is the theme of the songs you create? Love, mostly. The topics are realistic. My music has to do a lot with loss and my life experiences of moving and travelling. How did Nepal happen? Playing in Nepal is part of a big tour that we’re on right now. We started in Japan and then China and we will be going to Bangkok after Nepal. After that, we will be touring in the US as well as in Europe. How does it feel to be here, for the first time? This is very foreign and abstract but cool. It’s also very comfortable here. Do you think the local audience will be able to identify with your music? In some ways, yes! When we’re walking on the streets, we can hear all the music shops playing electronic music. And, we hear that trance music is popular here. My music is a lot darker than that, but I’m sure people here will like it. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54566 KATHMANDU, May 12: Excited visitors thronged Kingsway in Durbar Marg on May 11 enjoying the 4th Ncell Purple Saturday. Both sides of the streets were lined with games and food stalls. Purple Ncell balloons were being distributed to the visitors. Sanjeev Dulal, 19, was almost an hour early for the concert. The 12th grader at Ambition Academy was with his friends and said that he wouldn’t mind waiting for the concert to begin. [break] This was the first time at Ncell Purple Saturday for Deepti Pradhan, Sharddha Nakarmi and Kriti Pradhan. Deepti, 21, said, “We didn’t know that this was the fourth event. I’m really glad we came. We will watch the concert and play some games.” Shraddha, 19, from Lord Buddha Education Foundation, said, “We played a few games, but we didn’t win anything.” Face painting, food and playing ‘Need for Speed’ was on Satyam Shrestha’s agenda. The 17 year old was with his friends and said that he might also be staying for the concert.  (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha/ Republica) The street came alive with hordes of people visiting the stalls. Some of the game stalls had a long line of people, and many were waiting for game stalls like ‘Need for Speed’ to open. Restaurants like Little Italy, Hot Breads and Thakali Kitchen had also set up food stalls. Children were also enjoying Ncell Purple Saturday. They took turns on the merry go round and the small train track. The huge slides were also a favorite of the children as was the magician performing tricks. Sparsh Sarawagi, 4, had come with his parents and was busy playing on the merry go round. Khushbu Sarawagi, who had visited the previous Ncell Purple Saturday, stated that her son didn’t want to go on the slides as it was too hot. Milan Sharma, Expert - Corporate Communication at Ncell said that the festival was organized to celebrate the Nepali New Year. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54565 KATHMANDU, May 12: As part of its celebration of being in business since more than 160 years, Carlsberg has taken to celebrating the event by hosting a series of 18:47 parties. The parties are being held at various premium restaurants all over Kathmandu. Chopstix in Kumaripati also held one of the 18:47 parties on May 10. Sunny Shrestha, proprietor of Chopstix stated that though they were only taking in reservations, walk- ins were also welcome. “Though our seating capacity is 80 people, we’re expecting around 100 guests. We’ve already had 70 reservations,” he said. Family diners as well as a younger crowd were present for the occasion. [break] The band Anuprastha performed live for the customers and generally set an exciting mood to Carlsberg’s 18:47 celebration. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54527 KATHMANDU, May 10: Visual artist Saurganga Darshandhari describes her work of printmaking as piecing together puzzle pieces. There’s an excited gleam in her eyes as she details her work and what it means to her. Saurganga, 31, has been working professionally as a printmaker since 2009. Her works take inspiration from her surroundings and also from the everyday nuances of womanhood. As she says, there’s no boundary to art. How did you get introduced to printmaking? I didn’t have a clue about printmaking when I was a student at Lalit Kala Campus. I discovered it while exploring the fine art subjects. And as I started working in class, I found it very fascinating. We had to work on zinc and copper plates or wooden blocks. We also worked on the opposite side and wouldn’t know what it was going to look like finally. It was only after we finished work on the plates and printed it on paper that we could see our work. That was very interesting to me.[break] Then I took up printmaking as a major subject when I did my Masters in Bangladesh. One of the advantages of my studies in Bangladesh was that there were many printmakers there. So we could see a variety of works from many artists. Bijay Gajmer/Republica What are the key elements to printmaking? Patience is of utmost importance. It takes us days to complete a work, and it’s only at the end that we see what our work looks like. I work on a zinc plate, and then print it on paper after the work is complete. We have to be very careful when we’re working as we use acid, resin and kerosene for etching. It’s risky for our health. Proper ventilation in the workspace is a must. I’ve replaced kerosene with vegetable oil. And like all other artists, a basic drawing skill is required. You also mentioned installations and performance art. There’s a theme in performance art. However, there are no rehearsals or scripts. I started in 2008. In performance art, I’m the canvas and there’s meaning in me. I think the public isn’t ready for this art yet. I remember when a group of us presented individual performances at Basantapur, the reaction ranged from amazement to people thinking we were mad. I was introduced to installation art in 2003 when I was still a student. Taking something and creating a meaning out of it is fun. My most recent exhibition was at the Kathmandu International Art Festival. What would you say are some of the challenges artists like you are facing here? First, I believe most people still confuse printmaking with printing press. When we hold exhibitions, we like people to understand that printmaking is different from painting and printing press. If they can just differentiate that, then it makes a huge difference to printmakers. Only a few Nepalis have bought my works. Most of my buyers are from abroad. We still have a long way to go in terms of the culture of buying art. We’re yet to understand that art pieces can be very valuable. I would like to request everyone to visit art galleries and exhibitions. If you cannot afford to buy our work, it’s alright; but at least come and see what the Nepali art scene is like. Well, since you mentioned it, what’s the art scene like in Kathmandu? If we’re talking about printmaking, then it’s pretty good. Printmaking has always been a part of our artistic culture, but it’s only recently that it’s being used in contemporary art. We have exhibitions sometimes, and we also hold workshops. I’m part of a group exhibition at Newa Chhen Art Gallery that’s currently being held. There are less than 10 printmakers in Nepal right now, but I’m sure it’ll change in a few years as there are more and more students studying this art. Overall, too, the art scene is going great. There’s an increase in artists and their works are also getting better. We’re also receiving encouragement and support. I see younger artists as a hardworking lot. While there were fewer exhibitions in the past, these days we come across a lot of art shows and events which is very positive for the future of art. Do you think that the art scene is Kathmandu-centric? Yes it is. A regular interchange of artists from various places and workshops could be very helpful. There was some talk about doing so in the past but the budget, however, remains a problem. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54526 KATHMANDU, May 10: Lord Buddha Education Foundation (LBEF) organized a first of its kind event, Placement Day 2013, at its college premises in Maitidevi on Friday. The college turned into a employers-meet-potential-employees venue, during the one day event. A total of 30 companies based in Nepal, from different fields such as IT, banking and trading sectors had their stalls under the LBEF roof where both graduate as well as currently enrolled students participated in the event.[break] “In our country, we see that the industries aren’t getting the skilled manpower that they require and that the skilled manpower available is also not getting the industries that they are looking for. Hence, we have organized this event to bridge that gap,” said Pankaj Jalan, Executive Director of LBEF. “Our students, during their course of study, are also taught about personality development. We guide them in career issues and make sure that we give the job market ready-to-use manpower,” says Jalan. This Placement Day is another step in giving employment access to students. “This is a good opportunity for us; we don’t have to search here and there for jobs. Now, we can just attend this event and find jobs,” said Jyoti Gupta, a BBA graduate from LBEF. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54525 KATHMANDU, May 10: Radha Paudel, Founder President of Action Works Nepal, has the overarching message that an individual’s birthplace is not a choice. “So why should one be discriminated for her caste or gender, or for the fact that she was born into a poor family?” she questions. Born as the fourth girl child of a poor rural family, Radha has four sisters and a brother. Despite being illiterate, her parents harbored a passion for education and sent all their children to school.[break] “In our community, ours was the first family to send all the children, even daughters, to school. We were poor, we didn’t have much land, and my father worked as a laborer. But my parents sent us all to school at any cost,” she says. Today, her sisters are educated independent women. Radha was essentially an anesthetic nurse, working in a government hospital. Over time, she continued her education and went on to study health education. While working in Bharatpur, she came upon a case of a young girl in coma. The girl had been raped by her cousin brother. “It made me realize that I should get out of the four walls of the hospital. Also, encountering child porters in Jumla and seeing a woman die in front of me due to lack of proper medical attention pointed out the need of working in those areas,” she says. Action Works Nepal is working in Jumla and Kalikot in a structured manner, while piloting in Achham, Humla, and Chitwan as well. On an international level, they are working to raise the voice and advocate the issues of equality, among others. Radha believes that it is the mindset of the people that poses as a greater challenge to her work than any geographical difficulties. “We’re trying to reach people through women’s empowerment programs, and other programs as well whereby we educate people in terms of civil and political rights, economic empowerment, gender-based violence, and provide support for any kind of disaster,” she explains. Her parents have always been a source of inspiration for her. Radha remembers her mother telling her that crying was not a solution. “I never saw her cry in front of me. My father taught me about having patience and working consistently in order to achieve a goal,” she states. According to her, as long as a person has passion, then he can contribute and help people no matter where they are, what they are doing and where they are from. She adds, “There’s no restriction or boundary. It is how we’re working and we’re inviting all passionate, likeminded people to join us.” Paudel was featured on “Inspirations: The Essence of Life,” a personality-based television series presented by Media Gallery and Global Exposition and Management Services, in association with Republica. The program is aired on Nepal Television every Wednesday at 10:10pm. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54524 KATHMANDU, May 10: Life is a struggle, perhaps even more so for those people who have difficulties in making ends meet. “Sanghuro,” a Nepali feature film, through its protagonist, Krishna (Sushank Mainali), portrays the hard life of a man who lives in an urban slum community. Krishna works as a paperboy in the morning and lives in a one-room house with his mother, who works as a sweeper and household help. He falls in love with Kamala (Deeya Maskey), a normal girl who works as house helper for a middle-class family. They get married. However, life is anything but easy for the family.[break] There are a lot of intrapersonal conflicts that Krishna goes through. As the film develops, we see things just getting worse for Krishna, as his mother suffers from an accident. Krishna suffers from lack of money and proper employment, and dissatisfaction of his sexual desires due to physical space issues. He reaches such a stage in the movie that he thinks of doing something unspeakable out of desperation. In terms of moviemaking, the film is nicely created, although it is very slow-paced with minimum dialogue. The movie has some interesting B roles as well. Sanghuro is simply a portrayal of a difficult life, and in doing that, it has succeeded. The film is an insight into a life that most of us have probably just heard of or read about, but a life we wouldn’t want to lead. Those who watch Sanghuro (narrow, constrained) will leave the theatre with a heavy heart. Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54523 Apart from aesthetically pleasing visuals and action KATHMANDU, May 10: The first half of Iron Man 3 slacks through Tony Stark’s anxiety attacks; he is still haunted by the images of alien invasions of New York (The Avengers). Nothing substantial occurs in the plot up to the intermission. The climax, involving the character of Mandarin, a terrorist with a series of bombings across America to his credit, is unexpected. The best thing in the third installment to the Iron Man series is probably Ben Kingsley as Mandarin. Although given smaller screen space compared to the ‘man who makes war machines’, Kingsley manages to steal the attention away from Robert Downey Jr.[break] The visuals are as good as it was with the first two films although special effects appear over the top at times. The much talked about scene from the trailer in which Stark saves the lives of 13 people isn’t as exciting in the film. The second half of the movie compensates for all that’s lacking in the first. Apart from handling Tony’s business and putting up with his obsession with suits, Gwyneth Paltrow is seen kicking butts in this film. Apart from the technological extravaganza, elaborate action sequences and Tony Stark’s stubbornness, the film also has a comic relief- most notably, the part in which Stark turns around to shoot a villain who says ‘I hate working here, these guys are so weird!’ and runs. Some may complain how this film lacks character development of Happy Hogan, previously Tony’s bodyguard who now heads Stark Industries’ security department; and friend Colonel Rhodes. The relationship between Stark and Harley, a 10-year old orphan who helps Tony get back to his ‘iron’ feet, is beautifully built up. It’s the classic young boy-meets-his-idol-becomes-his-ally case. Iron Man 3 is a 2-hour something escapade into the hi-tech world and with 3D effects, most of it looks believable. Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54522 KATHMANDU, May 10: The 4th Purple Saturday, organized by Ncell, is being held along Durbar Marg of Kathmandu on Saturday (today), May 11. The festival will host a variety of fun activities for the visitors to indulge in. The visitors can choose from the kids’ zone, interactive game stalls, live game stalls, and music concerts.[break] Food stalls at the event will also be an attraction for the visitors. In a bid to provide something for every visitor, the organizers have face painting, candy shops, merry-go-rounds, drawing stalls, magic and puppet shows for children. Other visitors can watch performances by comedy artist Jitu Nepal. Local artists will also be featured with their cultural Dhime, Lakhe, peacock, yak, leopard and tiger dances. Popular artistes like Adrian Pradhan, Nima Rumba and Kamal Khatri will also be performing for the crowd on Purple Saturday. The festival will start from 11 in the morning to 7 o’clock in the evening. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54429 NEW YORK, May 9: "The Great Gatsby" is an American classic. But that hasn´t stopped Australian director Baz Luhrmann from bringing his trademark style to the tale, set to a provocatively modern soundtrack. With Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role, the movie depicts the wild glamour and energy of Roaring Twenties America, while also evoking a "hollow" feeling at the heart of F. Scott Fitzgerald´s era-defining 1925 novel.[break] Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan also plays a small part in the movie, as a shadowy organized crime figure who helps the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby make his money. Gatsby has fascinated generations of filmmakers, from the silent era the Oscar-winning 1974 adaptation by Jack Clayton, with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow in the main roles. Luhrmann, director of "Strictly Ballroom" (1992), "Romeo and Juliet" (1996), "Moulin Rouge!" (2001) and 2008´s "Australia," chose DiCaprio to play the sharply-dressed Gatsby in the latest version. "I think everyone has some sort of connection to Gatsby," the 38-year-old actor said ahead of the film´s release in the United States on Friday, a few days before it opens the 66th Cannes Film Festival in the south of France. "He is a character that has created himself according to his own imagination and dreams and has lifted himself from his own bootstraps as a poor youth in the Midwest and created this image that is the great Gatsby. "It´s a truly American Story in that regard," said DiCaprio, who so-stars in the movie with Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton. He was presenting the movie at New York´s Plaza Hotel, one of the film´s settings. In his short novel, Fitzgerald used the character of the fabulously wealthy but mysterious Gatsby to portray America in the prosperous 1920s, before the shadow of the Great Depression began to loom. "Here is this emerging democracy that is America in the 1920s and he wants to emulate the Rockefeller of that time period and of course creates his wealth in the underworld, but this is the new land that is America," said DiCaprio. Shot in Australia, Luhrmann´s "The Great Gatsby" is a sumptuous production that seems to follow Gatsby´s own rule for the parties he throws of constant excess. As in some of his past movies, the Australian uses anachronistically modern music in period pieces, here getting Gatsby´s guests to dance to Jay-Z, Florence and The Machine, Fergie or Nero. The filmmaker explained that he used these kind of songs to "liberate" actors on set, notably in one orgy scene. "We were about 20 minutes away from wrapping and we still hadn´t gotten that kind of wild party feel," he said. "So I got all these props and things. I said, ´We have 20 minutes left: let´s turn all the cameras on and go for it.´ "And right in the middle of the jazz, I just turned up very, very loudly a track called ´NIP´ (Niggas in Paris), which is a Jay-Z track which was mixed with jazz, and things took off." Nick Carraway, the story´s narrator and a neighbor and friend of Gatsby, is played by Maguire, who is also a close friend of DiCaprio since they met at an audition for a sitcom more than 20 years ago. That relationship helped on the movie, said Maguire. "Gatsby had an agenda for Nick, but ultimately unfolded into a real friendship and perhaps Gatsby´s only friendship," he said. "I think it was very meaningful to Nick and I definitely have an affection for Leo so it´s easy for me to have an affection for Gatsby as Nick as well." Reviews have been mixed, with industry journal Variety lamenting that "no degree of visual opulence can ultimately free this picture from its lumbering and unimaginative fidelity to the page," of the original novel. Online film website TheWrap was even more blunt. Under the headline "How Many Flappers Make a Flop?" it wrote: "Baz Luhrmann sucks the life out of F. Scott Fitzgerald´s immortal novel and replaces it with empty filigree and overbearing style." The movie opens this weekend in the United States, and much of the rest of the world next week. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54413 KATHMANDU, May 8: There are so many things one usually has to compromise on when shopping for winter- it’s, often, comfort vs style. But summer shopping is a delight, especially shredding off woolies and dull colors for bright print dresses and an entirely colorful ensemble. Prajjwol Bhattarai, 21, who’s currently learning German language at VHS Bhaktapur; Wipashwee Ojha, 19 and Ayush Singh Koirala, 20, students of Development Studies at Kathmandu University and Samrachna Adhikari, A-Level student at Malpi Insitute talk about their shopping sprees during summer.[break] Do you plan to go shopping or just buy as soon as you see something you like? Ayush: I tend to window-shop a lot because we usually hang out at malls. If I see something I like and the price is reasonable; I come back with my mother to buy it. I don’t plan shopping, it happens on the spot. If one of my friends likes the same pair as I do, I threaten him to let it go. It’s a war. Samrachna: I don’t buy anything here; my parents get me clothes from Bangkok. But I window-shop with friends and have bought clothes here a few times. Bijay Gajmer/ Republica From L to R- Samrachna Adhikari, Ayush Singh Koirala, Wipashwee Ojha and Prajjwol Bhattarai. Wipashwee: I am impulsive when it comes to shopping. If I like something, I’ll buy it immediately and if I don’t have the money then, I get the money and go back to the shop the very same day just so it’s not bought by somebody else. I don’t plan to go shopping unless it’s Dashain. Prajwal: I go shopping with my friends. I try outfits when my friends are busy doing the same. I usually have some cash with me so I buy then and there. If not, I go back and get it immediately. Shopping is said to be a retail therapy for girls. How true is that for you? Samrachna: I don’t think shopping is therapeutic for me. Wipashwee: It does happen; I go shopping with my girlfriends whenever I feel low. Especially in the summer because summer outfits are bright and colorful. It’s refreshing and cheers you up. Are you brand conscience? Ayush: As college students, I don’t think we can afford to be brand loyal/ conscious. That doesn’t mean compromising on cheap quality but buying clothes which look good on me and is reasonable in price. Samrachna: I am brand conscious; I prefer Armani jeans and brands like F&F, Wrangler and Polo. My friends are conscious themselves and we look for our brands while window-shopping too. Wipashwee: I am not exactly brand conscious although I like to splurge on dresses from Forever 21 and Atmosphere once in a while. Prajwal: For clothes, I head straight to Peanuts and look around. I am not brand conscious at all but I prefer best quality shoes- Adidas, Nike, Reebok or Converse. How often do you go shopping in summer? Samrachna: My parents get me slightly oversized clothes and I alter them here. I like the local brands of Bangkok as well. If you know where to go and how to pick, Kathmandu is a good place to shop but I don’t like shopping at all. Ayush: I am not a frequent shopper, probably once in two-three months. I get a lot of clothes as gifts so I challenge myself to carry it off. I go shopping to find something I can pair those with. Prajwal: My sisters gift me clothes too, if I don’t like anything I give it to my brother. Like Ayush, I shop to look for something to pair those with. Otherwise, I shop rarely. Do you go shopping with your girlfriend? Prajwal: No, from what I’ve heard shopping with/ for girls is a big hassle. Ayush: I don’t take anyone along other than my mother but I go shopping for others. I give my input as to which one is better or which looks good on her but it is mostly to make it quick. Once, after deciding on a pair and getting it to the counter, she went ‘kinney ra?’ Nothing else teases your temper like that! Do you shop online? Samrachna: I give links to some online shopping sites to my parents. I don’t specify what exactly I want but I tell them to get something similar. But you can’t trust the sites. Wipashwee: I shop for scarves and accessories on accessories.nep and Urban Girl. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54412 Dear Swastika, A few days ago, I saw a girl in my friend’s neighborhood and it was love at first sight. She even smiles back at me every time we see each other. For instance, yesterday, when I was with my friends, she was smiling at me. I think she too has a crush on me. I’m confused as to what I should do? Please help me. - Anil Shahi (Smiles) That feeling of butterflies in the heart…that feeling of slowly rising in love…the anticipation…the guessing…and the endless possibilities of where this love could go. Isn’t that the most beautiful land to be in? You ask me what you should do. There’s nothing to do – the world will continue to go round without you having to do anything. The love will grow, evolve over time, take different shapes and forms, and reach the destiny that it’s supposed to reach. Meanwhile, you should listen to lots of romantic songs, start writing poems, start painting, even though you may not know how to draw a straight line, and pick up a guitar and sing along without any care. And, oh yes, you should smile a lot – like really-really a lot so that your friends can guess that something is up with you. And then, when they find out and start teasing you, you should blush so that the whole world finds out that you darling are sooooo… into love. Dear Swastika, My boyfriend went abroad one year ago and we had regular conversations until some three months before. Two weeks ago, I uploaded some of my photos wearing a skirt and since then he broke up with me because he didn’t like my pictures. He hasn’t spoken to me since. He always forgave me for similar mistakes previously but now I don’t think it’s the photos that led to the breakup. What should I do? I’m really depressed. Please help! - Savvi That must have been a hell of a skirt!!! On a more serious note, long-distance relationships are hard to maintain. Relationships need more than skype and facebook to survive and thrive. Long-distance love is a wholly different realm – emotions get really jumbled up and it’s unclear for people on both sides of the globe. Sometimes when we show anger, it’s a way to say, “I need you to be here.” And when we keep expressing our love constantly and continuously, I’m worried that our love might be losing its strength. So at this time, clarifying the emotions behind what has happened is really important. “Demand” a conversation and not his “forgiveness.” He owes you an honest explanation. Several years down the road, it’s not the breakup that’ll bother you, but it’ll be this feeling of not knowing why the breakup happened that would haunt you forever. Demand!!! And if he still refuses to talk, then trust me, you can conclude that he’s a jerk and move on with your life. Dear Swastika, I and my best friend fell out earlier this year and he’s making my life horrible now. He’s been speaking about me behind my back to everyone and calling me names. And I can’t even ignore him because we’re in the same class. I’ve had fights with him but he won’t stop and I’m really mad right now. What should I do? - Binisha What do you do when there’s a big thunderstorm and the entire world seems near its end? You take shelter somewhere you know is a safe place. You surround yourself with people who love and support you. You pray for the strength to fight your fears. If the wind is blowing away the roof over your head, then you hold the roof with all your mighty strength. And then you wait for all of this to be over soon. Shift your focus from those who hate you to those who love, support and understand you. At any point, if this situation gets to a point where it poses a threat to your safety and wellbeing, reach out to family and friends who can protect you. Find in yourself the strength to rise above the lies. Stand strong. Tell the truths to those who care and listen, and don’t bother about those who aren’t on your side. This thunderstorm too shall pass. Just hold on to yourself with all your mighty strength. Dear Swastika, My mom and dad fight all the time and my siblings are too young to understand what’s happening at home. I have my exams coming up and my mom’s crying so often now. I feel like leaving home. Some advice would be really helpful right now. - Shekhar Pray and ask to be granted “the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” At this time, you have to ask yourself, “What can I change?” If there’s anything, then have the courage to fix it. If you know that there are things you can’t change, then simply accept them. Sometimes our parents have their own karma and we have to leave them to deal with it. As for us, we have to build our own karma. Leaving home is an option that’s only good if you can stop worrying about your family and stay away from the guilt of leaving. So if you can stop worrying by accepting that there are some things that you can change, some and that you can’t, and that you have to do what you have to so that you get through this exam and move on in life, then it won’t matter where you stay or leave – you’ll find peace. Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti – a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s has been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54411 KATHMANDU, May 8: The Ministry of Information and Communications has formed a committee to formulate a national film policy. After repeated requests by film personnel, Madhav Poudel, Information and Communications Minister, has asked to draft the policy and under the coordination of respected filmmaker Yadav Kharel, a committee has been formed to prepare the process and implementation of the policies. The committee will look into the problems of the film industry and also seek for resolutions of those problems. Representatives from the Film Development Board, Nepal Film Producers Association, Nepal Film Directors Society, Nepal Film Association, Nepal Film Journalists Association and Nepal Film Actors Association will comprise the committee and leading the committee will be the head of the Audio Visual and Broadcasting department of the Ministry.[break] The committee can invite advice and suggestions from film journalists, actors and experts from the film industry as per the needs. It has to prepare the process and criteria for the implementation of the draft for the national film policy within two months. Kharel said, “There were some similar committees formed earlier so before jumping to any direct conclusion for the draft on our own, we will review the demands of the past committees. Our main focus is to elevate the film industry and look for ways to make it viable and take it to the international level. We will also see to the requests of the different organizations within the industry.” Dharmendra Marwaita, Chairman of Film Development Board, said that the time frame meant that things could be quite hectic for the seven member committee. “The committee was formed yesterday, and will be meeting soon to discuss and list the important features that we can add to the policy.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54410 KATHMANDU, May 7: The Youth and Small Entrepreneur Self Employment Fund has recently altered a few clauses of its program since its inception six years ago. Amidst assumptions of the program’s suspension, it has added cooperatives to its plan of action, and for the past year has been slowly coming alive. Introduced by the then finance minister Baburam Bhattarai, Youth and Small Entrepreneur Self Employment Fund is being monitored by the Ministry of Finance. The initial plan was to provide financial assistance to the youth through banks, such as the Agriculture Development Bank, Rastriya Banijya Bank and Nepal Bank. Provided the outline of the business the applicants brought forward were feasible, financial assistance was to be granted at zero collateral and pay back within three years scheme.[break] Samjhana Wagle, Public Relations Officer at the Youth and Small Entrepreneur Self Employment Fund Secretariat, explains, “The banks found it difficult to monitor and manage the process by themselves. They didn’t have the reach in many districts, so it was difficult to give proper attention to the program. So we decided to bring in cooperatives; it’s easier for them to evaluate the procedure at the local level.” The cooperatives applying to be part of the program have to present an evaluation of their company and show at least two years of profit. The money is given to them at 7% interest rate. A cooperative is eligible for Rs 5 million of loan per annum, paid in three parts starting with 30% of the amount at the beginning. If the program seems to be running efficiently, another 30% is given to the cooperative and another 40% is lent towards the end. There are around 557 cooperatives operating in 75 districts in the country. There are 20 cooperatives in Surkhet District, 16 in Dhading and 18 in Kavre. In Kathmandu District, some 300 cooperatives have applied for the program. Local cooperatives at the district level process the business plans and applicants and loan the amount. The process takes about a month. An 18 years old, whether educated or not, can apply for the loan and so can a 50 years old person with a business plan. One of the main criteria is that the applicant should be unemployed. Starting from Rs 5,000, a loan up to Rs 200,000 is available, to be repaid within three years at 12% interest to the cooperatives. The interest has to be paid on a monthly basis, while the principal has to be paid back in three installments in three years. Those who manage to repay the entire amount within three years can get back 60% of the interest amount, which means that they will have received the loan only at 4.8% interest rate. “All kinds of business plans are eligible to apply for the fund, though we encourage agricultural entrepreneurship. There’ve been business plans for gemstones and online media, too. As long as they have sufficient skills to do something, anyone can apply for the fund,” says Wagle. Wagle asks, “Why should one go to the Gulf countries when they can work here and help build the country’s economy?” She admits that there were some teething problems and the political situation wasn’t exactly helpful, either. But the past year has seen a great improvement, she says. Binod Kumar Guragain, Executive Director, also agrees to the statement. “There’ve been many small positive stories. This program is helping many young people to do something on their own,” he says. A volunteer from Rukum District, Parshuram Khatri, was at the office of the Youth and Small Entrepreneur Self Employment Fund to present the report of the program. There are seven cooperatives under the program in Rukum, and the Agriculture Development Bank also lends money to the aspirants. The cooperatives have lent 47 candidates Rs 7.9 million in the past year and 95 people borrowed the sum of Rs 10 million from the bank. “Applicants come with agricultural business models concerning vegetable and fruit farming, animal rearing and production of herbs. They also want to open cosmetic shops, small restaurants and produce herbal soaps out of chiure (butter nut). What’s new in Rukum is the farming of rosemary in Khalanga on 60 ropanis of land. A group of 11 people have also come together to start their cattle rearing business. They’ve received Rs 800,000 on loan and have bought 13 Jersey and Holstein cows. Makhmali Mahila Samuha of Seri Gaun in Khalanga has also started a vegetable farming business with the loan of Rs 400,000. Their plan is to sell fresh vegetables in the market,” says Khatri. Khatri comes to Kathmandu around three times a year to present reports. Though a monthly report is supposed to be submitted at the office, volunteers like Khatri only manage to do it a few times in a year. A monthly salary of Rs 15,000 does not enable them to make monthly visits to the capital. District Coordination and Monitoring Committee have been formed for every district. Comprising a coordinator (a representative from the Chamber of Commerce), two members (from a cooperative or a bank and a Section Officer of the District Administration Office) and member secretary (a volunteer of the program), the team works to ensure the proper functioning of the program. The volunteer regularly monitors the applicants’ progress and also brings those who default at payment to justice. The program has had to field off accusations in the past of giving loans to only political party cadres. Denying this, Wagle says that it would have been impossible to manage the fund this long had that been the case. “As long as there’s a concrete plan and some skills to back it, everyone can apply for the fund,” she insists. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54409 KATHMANDU, May 7: A total of a hundred people participated in the 2013 ‘Trishuli Dream N Art program’ on May 4 at Nuwakot. The idea of Lee Gwanghwa and Lee Jin from Korean Overseas Volunteers program, it was brought together by the District Education Office (DEO), Bidur Municipality, District Sports Development Committee and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Participants were asked to draw their dreams, in a bid to raise the importance of art education. Along with students from government schools, teachers and other adults from the area also participated in the program. Bharat Raj Tripathi, Under Secretary, DEO claimed that pictures have a very important role in life and they often speak. Through the program, the organizers intended to raise awareness about art education and perhaps its implementation in schools all over the country. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54312 KATHMANDU, May 6: As children, illustrations have lured us into reading our very first books; colorful Meena cartoons have informed us about various issues; the Archie’s Comics series have entertained us. We’ve grown up with illustrations around us. Thus, while illustrations have played a role in the way we learn, there’s also the possibility of making this the way through which we earn. When it comes to choosing illustration as a career option, Sworup Nhasiju, currently the Creative Art Director of Vichitra Advertising, says that patience is the key virtue for a successful illustrator.[break] “If you aren’t a patient person, this profession might not be for you,” he says, elaborating that a good illustration comes after perfecting a lot of small details, and when working for a client, doing and redoing your work to satisfy and meet the client’s needs. “When you start off, the first one to two years, you might feel like you have no future in this profession. But you need to keep on pushing yourself,” advices Nhasiju, who is a self-learnt illustrator, and has worked with various print media for the past six years. Knowing the right people always helps, and it’s no different in this profession, either. “Once you enter the profession, you need to have the right contacts who will give your work a platform,” Nhasiju continues. Artist Kriti Kaushal Joshi, who is also an Assistant Professor at Kathmandu University (KU) Center for Fine Arts and Design, and teaches illustrations as an elective subject for fine arts students, says that depending on the field of illustration one chooses, one has to have some specific skills. “For example, if one wants to be involved in book illustrations, apart from the basic illustration skills, one also needs to have story development skills,” Joshi elucidates. Another illustrator, Krishna Gopal Shrestha, who has been in this field for the past seven years and is currently involved with Kantipur Publications, says that keeping up with the current time and technological advancements, print illustrators also need to be able to work on computerized platforms. According to all three illustrators – Nhasiju, Joshi and Shrestha – illustration, although an art, is different from fine arts. “However, those who do fine art are usually working for illustration projects on the side,” says Joshi while Shrestha claims, “[But] not all artists can be illustrators.” “When it comes to fine art, artists can create work out of their own experiences, work that is personal to them. But illustration is mostly done for clients, according to their demands,” says Shrestha. “Also, when it comes to illustrations, mostly for awareness campaigns, it has to be done skillfully, yet simply so that everyone can easily understand it,” he adds. Another point to which all three illustrators agree is the scope of this career. “From working for government organizations to INGOs and other institutions, there are lots of work opportunities,” says Shrestha. Other opportunities include, but aren’t limited to, working for the print media and other publication houses, textile designing, comic creations and multimedia storytelling. “One thing to keep in mind is that money shouldn’t be a motivating factor in the initial stages of this profession,” says Nhasiju, adding, “Once you’ve perfected your work skills and created an identity of your own, money will come to you easily.” Shrestha of Kantipur Publications also agrees that it is quite easy to earn a living through this profession, given the fact that you’re good at it. However, there are no institutions offering specialized, in-depth learning in illustration. Nhasiju points out that there is also a lack of good guidance for entrant illustrators. However, he says, “Nowadays, there are so many platforms on the Internet from where you can learn illustration, and also showcase your work.” Nhasiju further emphasizes on the fact that this profession requires lots of practice for perfection. Illustrators develop their skills and also an identity over time on the job. If one is interested in art and thinking of different avenues to explore, then the field of illustration is a good career option to consider. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54311 KATHMANDU, May 6: Shinawatara University (SIU, International) of Thailand, on May 3, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Global College (GC) of Management and Global International College in Kathmandu. According to the understanding, students who enroll with Global Colleges will also be considered as students of Shinawatra University. The students are required to study a year in Nepal and the next year in SIU in order to complete their education or they can also opt to study in Nepal fully. Republica caught up with Prof Dr Voradej Chandarasorn, President, and Asst Prof Dr Chanchai Bunchapattanasakda, Provost and Dean School of Management, of Shinawatra University. Excerpts:[break] How is Shinawatra University’s (SIU, International) affiliation going to benefit students? Prof Dr Voradej: SIU will help Global College develop Masters Degree program here in Kathmandu. Students will have to study the first year here and the year after that in Thailand. The degree will be internationally recognized because SIU is an internationally recognized university. We will also be sending professors from SIU to deliver lectures and professors from here will also do the same. This would benefit the students in both countries. Also, when students come to study in SIU after a year, they will be exposed to an international environment where they will meet students from 26 different countries that they can learn from and grow together. What does SIU specialize in? Asst Prof Dr Chanchai: We are known for our Business Management. Our alumni’s have set their own businesses and worked in multinational companies in the past. Other fields we specialize in are Energy Management and Informational Technology (IT). We also have nursing but it is being taught in Thai language at the moment. In the near future, we hope to deliver lectures in English and welcome international students. Master and Doctoral degrees are also available. In terms of output, we were ranked #1 in school management in Thailand in 2010. How difficult is it to enroll into the program? Prof Dr Voradej: The students will have to apply in GC and face the interview and other processes. Because we’ve already signed an MOU, when students are admitted to Global College, they are automatically students of SIU. The students, however, will have to spend a year here in Kathmandu and then the second year in SIU. Sometime in the future, maybe, the students can come to SIU first and then to GC after that. Are there any provisions of scholarship? Prof Dr Voradej: We gave away full scholarship to two PhD students this time. We also provide loans to students while studying there. And if they are interested, they can work as assistant to lecturers and gain some experience and earn some money as well. Scholarship is definitely a good idea but we are yet to talk to GC management about it. How are the Nepali students, currently studying in SIU, faring? Asst Prof Dr Chanchai: They are doing very good. Most of them are topping the batch. They are very eager to participate in school activities and are academically sound. They are responsible and are doing well, I must say. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54310 A peek into art connoisseur Narrottam Das Shrestha’s collection KATHMANDU, May 6: On wooden aisles, historic and valuable works of art from the Nepali art scene were displayed at the lobby of the Himalayan Bank in Kamaladi on Sunday. These paintings were some of the few from the collection of artist and art collector Shri Narrottam Das Shrestha, who was also the first person to open a commercial art gallery, the Kathmandu Art Gallery, in Nepal in 1994. “Narrottam ji has one of the most important collections of painting in the country,” said Sangeeta Thapa, Director of Siddhartha Arts Foundation. “It took me 10 years to convince Narrottam ji to open his collection to researchers, scholars and students so that a comprehensive book on contemporary Nepali art can finally be written,” she shared.[break] The event, which was organized by Narottam Das Indira Devi Shrestha Guthi and Siddhartha Arts Foundation, also included a presentation by art critic Mukesh Malla on historical artworks based on Shrestha’s collection. The presentation delved into the evolution of Nepali contemporary art and brought into light, its status and issues surrounding it. “These selections and the collection of Shrestha are an encouragement to the Nepali arts scene. It is testimony of the fact that we also have legendary artists in Nepal but we haven’t been able to showcase their artistic brilliance to the world,” said Malla. The chief guest of the event, culture expert Sattya Mohan Joshi, also commented on the contributions and achievements of art connoisseur Shrestha and the contemporary Nepali art scene on the whole. “Narrottam ji’s collections are not only his prized possessions, but they are the treasures of the whole of Nepal,” said Joshi. Joshi also highlighted the importance of studying the background and history of Nepali art in order to understand Nepali art on the whole. Narrottam Das Shrestha’s collection includes works of artists who are credited for the development of contemporary art in Nepal such as Anish Muni Shakya, Tej Bahadur Chitrakar, Chandra Man Maskey, Lain Singh Bangdel, Uttam Nepali as well as paintings by European and Indian artists which once belonged in Rana palaces. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54309 KATHMANDU, May 6: The popularity of Happy Singh Da Dhaba, a Punjabi food experience, at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza has encouraged the organizer to extend the event which started from April 19. Indra Khadka, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager, said, “We had planned to finish the event on May 4. But seeing the positive response from our clients, we decided to add a few more days to the event. The food experience at the Happy Singh Da Dhaba will end on May 11.”[break] Around 60 dinner guests visit the dhaba every evening. Starting every evening from 6:30 o’clock, clients can enjoy the variety of Punjabi dishes till 10:30 at night. The ambience has also been cleverly done to enrich the experience of eating at a real dhaba. There are mud kilns, old Bollywood film posters, and the front of a [Tata?] truck, a garage and a paan shop to add to the guests’ delight. “So that guests get the authentic feel of eating at a Punjabi dhaba, we also play classic Hindi songs at Happy Singh Da Dhaba,” said Rena Sharma, Assistant Manager, Marketing and Public Relations. While most of the dishes are prepared in the hotel kitchen, the tandoor will be functional in the area, and guests can also enjoy fresh rotis. Apart from the fabled staple Punjabi dishes like Makki Ki Roti and Sarson Da Saag, there is an assortment of dishes to choose from: Tawa Gosht, Bhatti Ka Murgh, Fish Amritsari, Kadi Pakoda, Murgh Makhanwala, and a tawa meat station is also being offered. Chef Yuvraj Pokhrel is offering some contemporary twists to traditional Punjabi dishes available at dhabas along South Asian highways. For the adventurous foodie, Chocolate Gulab Jamun and Lahsoon Ki Kheer are some of the new dishes to excite the taste buds. Excluding taxes, the dinner will cost Rs 1,800 per adult and Rs 1,100 for a child. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54308 KATHMANDU, May 6: The Nepali folk instrumental band Kutumba enchanted thousands of Pokharelis with their musical performance on Sunday during the “Ncell Talking for Change” campaign to promote cultural harmony. The group served their popular folk tunes at an open ground in Chiple Dhunga.[break] The ensemble’s Arun Manandhar (on Tungna), Kiran Nepali (on Sarangi), Pavit Maharjan (on percussion), Raju Manandhar (on percussion), Rubin Kumar Shrestha (on flute) and Siddhartha Maharjan (on effects) performed popular folk tunes of Nepal’s Himalayan districts, mid-hills and Tarai. Pavit Maharjan had this to say, “The purpose of the concert is to introduce the traditional melodies of Nepali folk instruments collected from different parts of the country and encourage the people to engage in creative activities.” Prior to the show in Chiple Dhunga, Kutumba also organized a musical performance at Kumudini Homes, one of the schools in Pokhara. During the performance, the band also talked about the importance of education and fulfilling responsibilities of good citizens, motivating them to support the education of poor and disabled children. “Student life is fun and sensitive as well. If we impart good values and positive energy to them, they will work to create bright future for themselves and all,” said Maharjan. During the performance, students and teachers of Kumudini Homes donated books, pencils and other stationery items for distribution to the poor students in rural schools. Ncell has been organizing various programs and events to promote Nepali literature, music and sports, and the campaign is a part in that series of promoting Nepali music. “Kutumba’s efforts to conserve Nepal’s heritage, environment and promote education through music are praiseworthy. Our support to Kutumba reaffirms our commitment to support those genuine social causes,” said Sanju Koirala, Corporate Communication Director of Ncell. Kutumba is scheduled to perform in Hetauda on  May 7. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54261 KATHMANDU, May 6: ‘Uma’, the first commercial feature film by director Tsering Rhitar Sherpa, released its second single of the movie. Musical maestro Gopal Yonzan’s ‘Bann ki Chari’, a four minute song picturized in the backdrop of Uma and Milan’s village shows the progress of Uma and Anil’s relationship, was officially released amidst the media on Sunday at IFA’s office in Anamnagar, Kathmandu. [break] The film, which has three songs including one of Abhaya and the Steam Injuns, has already topped the most anticipated movie’s list according to an online poll and is all set to be released on May 24. Mila Productions, the production house of ‘Uma’, has also inked a deal with a New York based NGO, Empower1, who has reserved the rights to screen the film in the United States and Canada. Empower1, according to the press release, is dedicated to the empowerment of underprivileged children in Nepal by means of quality education, building of life skills and a supportive environment for them to grow and flourish. “‘Uma’ will be released in the US and Canada in June, almost simultaneously, catering to a wider market and I’m hopeful that because of this we will get to invest more in Nepali movies,” said director Sherpa. He hoped that this trend of releasing movies simultaneously all around the world will continue after release of ‘Uma’. Mila Productions, for the first time in the history of film making and keeping in mind the relevance and importance of online campaigns, is also targeting to release an ibook. The ibook, available for free on itunes, is set to give a comprehensive look on all aspects of the film and will be a multi-media treat as the readers will get an extended look into various aspects of the film through text, photos, interviews, audio and video bites. Under the plans is also to make the ibook available for android based phones. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54260 KATHMANDU, May 6: Hotel Annapurna’s Ghar-e-Kabab will now be open for what is dubbed as Executive Lunch from Monday, May 6.. The restaurant has been serving Indian cuisine to its loyal customers for the past three decades. The menu for the Executive Lunch will feature signature dishes like Multani Paneer, Paneer Harra Tikka, among others. There are in fact six different menus prepared for six days of the week, with equal attention paid to vegetarian and non vegetarian palate. [break] The lunch will include dishes like Corn Palak, Hariyali Pulao, Afgani Chicken, Kashmiri Pulao, Dhaba Gosht, Chicken Reshami Kabab, and Tawa Fish. Pickles like Mixed Chili Pickle and Sesame Seed Pickle, and different papads on the menu will enhance the experience of the meal for the guests. At the end of their lunch, they can enjoy Anguri Rabri, Kesari Phirini or Gajar ki Halwa for dessert. The menu has interesting cocktails and mocktails, too. There is Earl Grey MarTEAni which is a gin-based martini with an Earl Grey kick in it. Then there is the Cran Sunrise, a ‘kid version’ of the Tequila Sunrise. A cocktail/mocktail is complementary per meal. Rudra Rimal, Senior Restaurant Manager of the property, said, “We at Ghar-e-Kabab pay special attention to three things: food, music, and personalized service. We like to ensure that our clients are treated equally. Chef Rezi Alam Khan has been with us for 30 years, and the quality of the food has remained the same.” Open from 12 noon, the lunch hour goes up to 2:30 pm. Diners can enjoy their Executive Lunch at Ghar-e-Kabab for Rs 1,250 per person. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54211 KATHMANDU, May 5:  Illustrator Kripa Joshi’s creation, Miss Moti, isn’t your normal comic heroine, in terms of the way in which she’s been created, she breaks the stereotype of Cat Woman and Betty Boop like portrayal of women in comics (and elsewhere). She also isn’t the ordinary comic heroine in terms of her personality either. Here’s more about this inspirational character from her creator. [break] Was there any particular incident that led to the birth of Miss Moti? Miss Moti came out of my struggle with body image issues like being overweight. I wanted to create a positive character that could achieve and accomplish things regardless of her size. I was inspired by my mother who, despite her weight, has never let it hold her back from doing anything. She is very active and full of energy. There are always little elements in my stories that make you think that maybe events are not just in the imagination. When I was doing my BFA in MS University, Baroda, I had made a few painting about being overweight. But the idea of creating a comic came about when I won a Fulbright Scholarship. There I was introduced to a whole new world of comics and graphic novels. I realized the scope of comics and the kind of stories one could tell through that medium. What responses have you received for your work so far? I got such a warm response from people. The best thing is that they respond to the personality and spirit of Miss Moti, her weight is not the focus. One moment that has stayed with me was quite early in my comic career. A plump woman came to my table at a comic convention and after reading the Miss Moti books, she not only bought one for herself but bought two more to distribute to her libraries because she felt it was important for people and children to have a look at her positive character. How has Miss Moti helped you overcome negative body image issues? Miss Moti has helped me feel better about my weight issues and myself. She is the kind of person I would like to be, so she inspires me. Like Miss Moti, I aspire to not let my weight or body image hold me back from doing things I want to do. How would you suggest girls and boys deal with their negative body issues? I think the proliferation of images and advertising these days makes it very difficult for people, especially young adults, to not be influenced by them. Our society puts a lot of emphasis on appearance. And the ease with which images can be retouched now, gives us impossible standard of beauty that is difficult to achieve for a lot of people. And it can be disheartening, for both girls and boys. The physical body is just one part of us.I think the emphasis in the society should be on health rather than on beauty. So my advice would be to be active and do things that you find interesting. If you do interesting things, you become an interesting person and other people will respond to that. Don’t let your looks or insecurities hold you back from doing the things you want to do. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54210 KATHMANDU, May 5: We say beauty is what’s inside us, that the way we look is secondary to the way we behave and yet, so many times, we complain about ourselves. We’re too fat, we’re too short, we’re too dark, we’re too this, we’re too that. But this isn’t entirely our fault. Born in a society that places so much emphasis on appearance, it’s in our conditioning to always seek for beauty in the physical sense, that too, with reference to media-fed definitions of what’s beautiful and what’s not. [break] Dipandita Basnet, 19, was 63kgs about nine months ago and after eight months of exercise and diet control, she now weighs 45kgs. The decision to join the gym was upon the insistence of Basnet’s mother, who wanted her to be fit. Basnet shares that she wasn’t very conscious about her weight earlier, but she now is. She however, isn’t after the perfect zero size figure. Rather, she wants to be healthy. Having said that, Basnet does share some of the insecurities she had when she was plump. “I love shopping. But there were times when I felt uncomfortable telling the salesperson my size. I also felt especially bad when I couldn’t fit into the clothes that I wanted to buy. I also used to feel as if no matter what I wear, I wouldn’t look good in them,” shares Basnet. Today, she says that she feels more confident and has gotten rid of her insecurities. Also, she feels she’s grown up and that her perceptions have changed. “When I was a teenager, I felt like I wasn’t pretty and wanted to be beautiful like other girls. But now, I don’t feel the need to make an effort to be beautiful or appealing,” she says. “There’s this notion that being a woman means being ‘beautiful’. Beauty is perceived as having the perfect look or the perfect figure. Instead, I think the emphasis should be on having a pleasant personality,” she continues. Negative body issues can have deep impacts and it certainly did in the case of Aasna Singh, 15, the Horlicks Whizkid of 2012. Her obsession with her weight, which she later found out, had developed into an eating disorder, started when she was in grade eight. “I wanted to have the perfect 36-24-36 measurement body,” admits Singh. “I was a little flabby then and whenever people used to comment about my weight, it used to get on my nerves,” she says. Singh wouldn’t even eat three proper meals a day and would throw up after eating at times. “I’d reached a stage where I thought that even drinking juice would make me fat,” she says. Her dissatisfaction towards her body led her to feel depressed and often angry towards her family and friends. However, today, almost two years later, Singh has overcome her negative body issues. “I was surfing the internet when I came across this MTV documentary of the singer Demi Lovato through which I found out about her problems with her body and how she overcame them,” shares Singh. “After watching her interview, it inspired me. I didn’t feel alone and I got the strength to overcome my disorder as well,” she says. Although, still today, she sometimes has those moments where she is angry at her body, on the most part, she is satisfied with herself and no longer believes that one’s body defines their beauty. Dissatisfaction towards one’s body doesn’t only come from weight issues. Dark in complexion, or ‘chocolaty’ like she herself puts it, Anuja Khadka, 21, felt discarded at a small age due to her skin color. “When I was in school, there used to be ramp walk shows and dance programs that I was really interested in, but I was never chosen,” says Khadka. Growing up, she never let herself be too worried about her skin color and instead accepted it. “People are bias and think that only fair skin is beautiful. Advertisement that suggests this should be highly discouraged,” adds Khadka. No one is born the same and its useless trying to look like somebody else, is her viewpoint. Hence, she suggests that everyone should worry more about being beautiful inside rather than outside. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54209 KATHMANDU, May 5: The Naga theater stage of Hotel Vajra in Bijeshwori was set up elaborately to indicate the household of a middle class couple. Prim and proper, the apartment overlooked the panoramic view of the mountains on the forefront of the chaotic urban landscape that today’s Kathmandu is. This is the setting in which ‘The God of Carnage’ unfolds. A satirical comedy by Yasmine Reza, which has been adapted to Kathmandu’s context by director, actor and playwright Sabine Lehmann, the play consists of A-list current Nepali acting stars. [break] Actors staging the ‘God of Carnage’, at Hotel Vajra in Bijeshwori on Friday. (Keshab Thoker/Republica) The play is about how the parents of two children, who have been involved in a small knock-off, try to resolve the matter. Shanti Upadhyaya Bajracharya (Samuna KC) and Rajan Bajracharya (Karma) are the parents of the ‘victim’, whose two incisors have been knocked off by Binod Kumar Upreti and Anita Shrestha Upreti’s son. ‘The God of Carnage’ shows how, as grownups, the two couples try to resolve their matter like ‘grownups’ but later get involved into irrational arguments and discussions. The loopholes of a seemingly perfect relationship and personas of the characters are also revealed as the play unfolds. This production of the ‘The God of Carnage’ was a fully entertaining and thought-provoking act which was worked to perfection by the cast and crew. From the performance of the actors to the costumes to the sound effects, every detailed seemed to be thought out and executed perfectly. The local references were a hit and especially appreciated by the audience. The about two-hours long play captivated the audience and managed to portray the life of the middle class in Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54207 Film: Oz: The Great and Powerful Director: Sam Raimi Cast: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams and Zach Braff. KATHMANDU, May 5: Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is an ordinary carnival magician mistakenly taken as the savior of Oz land, where he is transported after a rough ride in the hot air balloon. Confusion looms about who’s the real wicked witch and who should be killed. That’s the story of Oz: The great and powerful. [break] The film starts in black and white and after a while, shifts to color and aren’t we all thankful for that. The Land of Oz is, indeed, magical and colorful with blooming life size flowers, flying monkeys and the Emerald Palace being the center of attraction, where everything begins. Director Sam Raimi has done a wonderful job with just the perfect mixture of humor while weaving the story. It’s nothing like his previous movies like The Evil Dead, Spider Man, Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess, to name a few.  The fight scenes are quite well coordinated, given the fact that he’s directed action movies before. Actor Franco’s acting, as usual, is commendable and add the three witches to that played by Rachel Weisz, Mila Kunis and Michelle Williams, you just wish the movie to go on and on. Characters such as that of the flying monkey and China girl add more amusement in the movie. Adding more magic to the film is the 3D effect, which is very well done with no jerking movement of the camera and the sound just syncs perfectly. On the whole, the movie is perfect for family viewing and people who like fiction with witches, wands and magic. Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54168 TLANTA, May 4: Actress Reese Witherspoon pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge and paid a $100 fine after berating a law enforcement officer while her husband was given a sobriety test — an embarrassing exchange caught on a dashboard camera after the usually squeaky-clean Hollywood star had what she called "one too many" glasses of wine. The video, which was first obtained by TMZ and publicly released by authorities Friday, shows Witherspoon asking the Georgia state trooper after she was placed in custody, "Do you know my name?" and adding, "You´re about to find out who I am."[break] Witherspoon´s lively exchange had already been outlined in a police report, but the video offered a rare glimpse at the actress unfiltered. Witherspoon, an Oscar-winning actress who has built a wholesome professional image, apologized shortly after her arrest, saying she was "deeply embarrassed." Municipal Court of Atlanta Deputy Solicitor Ronda Graham said in a statement that Witherspoon entered the plea and paid the fine, resolving the case. In this April 21, 2013 file photo, Actress Reese Witherspoon attends the premiere of "Mud" hosted by The Cinema Society with FIJI Water & Levi´s at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. (AP) During an interview with ABC on Thursday, Witherspoon said she panicked and said "all kinds of crazy things," including falsely claiming that she was pregnant at one point. She said during the interview that she had too much to drink before her arrest. In the video, the 37-year-old argues with the trooper while he attempts to question her husband, Hollywood agent Jim Toth, after a traffic stop in Atlanta in the pre-dawn hours of April 19. Toth pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving, Graham said. He was fined $600 and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and participate in a program for driving under the influence offenders. That is a "standard sentence for a first-time offender," Graham said. In the dash-cam video, Trooper First Class J. Pyland tells Witherspoon to stay in the couple´s vehicle no fewer than five times. Witherspoon is equally determined to get out and engage him, even at one point feigning to be pregnant and saying she needed to use the bathroom. The video shows the situation quickly escalating. When Witherspoon approaches and continues to try to intervene, the trooper starts placing her under arrest. "You better not arrest me! Are you kidding me?" she asks. "Nope," he responds. She protests again, "I´m an American citizen!" The trooper leans toward her and says, "I told you to get in that car and stay in there didn´t I?" The petite Witherspoon turns to yell at the trooper as he´s handcuffing her, and he warns her against resisting arrest. "This is harassment!" she says. "You´re harassing me as an American citizen! I have done nothing against the law!" Witherspoon´s husband mostly observes the exchange but tries to calm her after the trooper´s warning. "Reese, can you please?" Toth asks. While Witherspoon sits handcuffed in the police car, the trooper returns to view and tells Toth, "I tried." Toth says "I´m sorry," and the trooper adds, "I absolutely 100 percent tried." Witherspoon, the star of hit movies such as "Walk The Line," ´´Legally Blonde," ´´Sweet Home Alabama" and "Election," said during her interview Thursday that "there are so many lessons learned." "When a police officer tells you to stay in the car, you stay in the car," she said. "I learned that for sure. I learned a lot." http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54061 Things students do when bored KATHMANDU, May 1: That feeling of restlessness and disinterest in what’s happening around you, we are of course familiar with it. Yes, the kingdom of boredom is a known turf for most of us. Boredom can strike anywhere but in a student’s life, the most common place of boredom can be a classroom. Not all classrooms are boring. But we’re talking about the seemingly never-ending lectures, the difficult subjects taught in an even more difficult manner, and the teacher-centric education system that fails to catch the interest of the students, and hence making it not possible for the students to effectively learn in the classrooms. When asked whether he gets bored in class, Vishal Basnet, student of Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and Information Technology, replies, “All the time.” [break] Justifying himself, he says, “The way the teacher teaches has nothing to do with practicality and is only about scoring good marks in exams. A teacher comes inside the classroom, gives us notes, and when the class ends, he goes,” he adds. Basnet, who gets bored in such classes often, engages himself with other things to fight boredom. “I start asking questions to the teacher that are silly or irrelevant to what’s being taught, or else, I sleep,” he shares. This is perhaps the story of most students’ lives. No matter how much you are willing to learn inside the classroom, sometimes it becomes difficult to concentrate because what is being taught, or more aptly, the way in which what is being taught, fails to intrigue students. Not all teachers are capable of engaging their students and not all of them can teach effectively. There are those classes where time flies just like that. Students are hooked by what the teacher is saying. There are interactions and a learning atmosphere that there should be in a class. “I get bored in classes where the teachers are very strict,” shares Surakshya Malla, a student in grade 11. “If the way the teacher teaches isn’t interesting, for example, if he or she just starts to lecture, then I lose interest,” says Malla. “When I’m bored in class, I start doodling on the last pages of my copy or I throw paper balls at my friends,” she giggles. Of course, cell phones are a lifesaver, especially if you have a Smartphone full of games, photo editing applications or other apps that are a pastime. “Using cell phone in class is another thing to do when you’re bored,” says Malla whose Samsung Galaxy Y is another cure for boring classes. By the third class of the day, boredom usually strikes in for Bina Bhattarai, a student of Masters in English Literature. Lack of appropriate breaks in between classes makes things monotonous, she says. “However, it also depends on the teacher’s style of teaching. If the teacher is interesting, I’m very attentive, even in the third class,” she says. However, the sole blame can’t be placed on teachers and their teaching methods alone. “But sometimes, I also think that it’s my weakness that I can’t concentrate and be alert in class. So if an important topic is being taught, no matter how boring it is, I force myself to pay attention,” adds Bina. Whenever she’s bored in class, she moves to the last bench and listens to music or reads novels. Sometimes, because her college is liberal, she also goes outside to drink tea with her friends. A classroom is that place where students learn to ask questions, discover new things about the world and become more learned people. Failure of the teachers to engage students and provoke curiosity in them might lead to students being bored and inattentive. This of course, affects learning. Hence, it’s important for teachers to ensure that students have no time to think about doodling, sleeping or engaging in unnecessary side talks in class, and instead are so grasped in what is being taught in class that they don’t want the school bell to ring. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54060 Dear Swastika, I really, and I mean really like this guy but he says he isn’t interested in me because I am 20 and he is 24 turning 25 in a month’s time. He’s always on my mind and he recently stopped accepting gifts from me. I think he has a girlfriend and sometimes I think about meeting her and giving her a piece of my mind and just tell her to get out of his life. How do I handle this? I’m worried but every time I see him, I get aggressive. Help! -Moni For the past several weeks, I have been telling all the lovesick people that we have no control over how other people feel for us. But may be I won’t tell you that. I have been rethinking – if we continue to a person with all our hearts and with persistence and patience, we can perhaps change the way s/he feels about us. True crushes may, however never get replicated. But then if it’s a crush, it will crush sooner or later anyway. So no use bothering – just move on. But if it is love, then continue loving as if it were a prayer – not as if it were a war where you have to beat the other person down. There’s no use fighting at this stage, you’ve lost the war – he likes her, she likes him. But if instead of fighting, we just loved, that might bring change of hearts! My newfound wisdom says that true love like prayers is always answered soon or later. Dear Swastika, I am 17 and I think I’m going under depression. I don’t feel like eating and I end up have arguments with my parents all the time. I don’t know how to react to people anymore. I’ve started thinking twice before I say something and sometimes I just can’t control. What is this? Also, who should I see? I feel like I have the worst life ever. - Bablu The fact that you are reaching out and taking about your depression is a good sign – it is the first step towards healing. Depression is a medical condition that you can treat and get under your control. Sometimes, depression could be caused by some biological conditions – hormonal imbalances - that when treated, will get you out of depression. Depression makes everything seems darker. But I want you to promise yourself to always remember that the world is much more beautiful than what you see right now and that you will stay committed to finding treatment. Your happiness might be just a few pills away. Please do see a psychologist or psychiatrist. Majority of clinics these days have a psychiatrist. Stay committed to your recovery. The most challenging thing about depression is that the one who is depressed is the one who has to actively work towards treatment; no one else can do that for them. Dear Swastika, I recently appeared for my exams of HSEB and I can’t stop panicking. Every time, I sit for the exam, I sweat and I can’t seem to breathe. I’ve never had this and it started just recently. A friend told me that it might be panic attack. Do I see a doctor? Or what? - Neha It is possible that you are suffering for panic disorder, which usually starts in early teens to early adulthood. It is possible that your panic attacks are not just about exams, but deeper fears and trauma that’s triggered by stressful situation such as exams. Sometimes these fears and trauma are so deep in our consciousness that we may not even remember. If not treated, this could have a serious implication on your health and your quality of life. You should definitely see a psychiatrist. Meditation as well as traditional or modern healing seems to have worked for people in ways that are not always clear - but if it works then that’s all we care about. Having an insight into yourself and your symptoms might be really important in your speedy recovery. Please do some internet research on it. To start with www.mayoclinic.com could be an interesting resource. Dear Swastika, I just started working after finishing my undergraduate studies from KU, but my parents are too protective and keep calling me in the evening when I’m hanging around with my colleagues. I’m 22 and I think I am old enough to take care of myself. How do I tell my parents to stop forcing things on me? – Mehul Simply say it in the most plain and simple way possible. Sometimes we overthink things. Our needs are simple, but instead of making a simple request for that simple need, we create Mahabharata it our heads. In your head, you make yourself a Rakshyasa who is about launch war with the Gods. You put up your shields and stack arrows and tighten our defenses in anticipation of a war. In your head you yell at them, they fight back, you get angrier, they start shooting you down, and a war breaks out and arrows start flying in the air. Stop! Wake up. There’re your parents. Tell them what you need – Nicely! You are not Rakshyasa and they are not Gods. Simple tell them casually as many times you need to. Or you can also roll over on the floor like a baby and cry out – stop telling me what to do! That’s an age old technique of how children got what they wanted from their parents. Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti – a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s has been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54059 KATHMANDU, May 1: Moksh in Jhamiskhel came alive with the sound of Jazz music on Tuesday in Lalitpur as people gathered around the musician for some good time. Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC) hosted the annual event, International Jazz Day 2013, where jazz musicians from all over the Valley alongside faculty members of the school performed followed by an open jam session. The celebration of music saw who’s who of Kathmandu attending the event along with the regular music lovers of the Valley.[break] The Jazz Day saw Hari Maharjan, Riju Tuladhar, Pawan Tandukar, Sameer Chettri, Sarthak Upadhaya and Kiran Shahi perform while Cecilie Giskemo from Norway, Marcus Dengate from Australia and Alvaro Torres from Spain joined the band wagon. “The International Jazz Day this year was a huge success. We were not expecting this many people but it’s going great,” said Shreeti Pradhan of Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory. According to her, over 300 people attended the event. During the celebration, which started in the garden and moved to the auditorium in the Moksh premises, acts like Jazz drum solo, bass trio and some soothing acoustic jazz vocals by Nepal Music Center (NMC) and KJC students and faculty members serenaded the event with the crowd yearning for more performances. Nepal’s first and only Jazz Magazine, ‘Hamro Jazz’, was also formally launched during the event. The event was also broadcasted live via Revolution Radio. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54058 KATHMANDU, May 1: Animal Nepal is organizing a musical event for the benefit of street dogs on May 3. The event, For The Love of Dogs, is being organized with the help of Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC) at Attic Bar in Lazimpat. The For The Love of Dogs evening is an occasion where people can combine their love for animals and music for a good cause. The evening is a fundraiser aiming to help the many helpless street dogs in the capital. Part of the funds will go to Mankind for Animals, a club where people are devoting time and money to help dogs.[break] Shristi Singh Shrestha, animal activist, says, “We’ll be donating 30% of the proceeds to Mankind for Animals, and utilizing the rest to run health camps for street dogs and build cemented water containers for all animals. In the health camps, we’ll administer vaccinations and check dogs for injuries. If the cases are serious, we’ll shift them to our main centre. We’ll particularly be concentrating on the area of Swoyambhu as there are a lot of dogs that really need help.” “This musical event is also an awareness generating program for the educated society about the plight of street dogs. We’re also acknowledging the work done by Mankind for Animals. The artists are contributing their time for this good cause,” says Swarnim Lama, Event Manager at KJC. Among the artists performing on the evening are Joint Family International, Subani Moktan, Axata Singh, Prajwal Mukhiya, The Say Project and Dev Lama. Starting from six in the evening, the tickets for the musical event are priced at Rs 500 per person. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54010 KATHMANDU, April 30: A resident of Jumla, Dan Bahadur Buda returned to his village after completing his studies in Kathmandu. At present, he heads the Karnali Alliance for Development and focuses on child rights and protection. Buda, who has a degree in social work, says that, armed with his education, he returned to work for the social issues in his village because there was so much to be done. “A person can choose to work for community and forest development, conservative social traditions, or women’s rights. There’s no dearth of the work you can do,” he says.[break] As Nepal struggles through its development process, more and more young people are opting to study development and social work. According to Keshav Nepal, Coordinator at Nepal School of Social Work, the relevance of the course is very high. “I believe that development students will learn to handle societal problems more efficiently. They will learn to be resilient and help the society. At a time, when even doctors have become mechanical, social workers are very much needed,” he says. While the course is divided into the 40/60 percentage, the institute invests equal effort in theoretical teaching and practical workshops. “We make sure that before our students go for internships, they are well prepared for the basics of their work,” says Nepal. Until some years ago, a degree in development studies was a newer concept. Social work was a more easily available option. Anurag Acharya, Program Manager at the Centre for Investigative Journalism, affirms that and says, “I wanted to study development but social work was the only similar course available then. Due to the lack of the course I even thought of going abroad.” An alumnus of National College, Center for Development Studies, Acharya states that such courses are important to developing countries like Nepal. It is important that young people study and learn about the development factors, and not just in terms of building a career. “I liked the fact that the course wasn’t just classroom-based but it also incorporated field trips. However, there was a huge disconnect between the classroom lessons and the trips. Teaching institutes should work on making the course theoretically strong and welcome room for critical study,” Acharya says. The Midwestern University and International School of Advanced Studies offer Master’s degree in International Cooperation and Development (MICD). Uddhav Raj Poudyal, MICD Director, says, “Through our course, we’re aiming to develop innovative and competent managers to address the need of current human resource gap in the field of development management.” Students will work with a specific focus on current debates and issues in development discourses and contemporary issues in this field. Thus, they will not only be able to understand and analyze challenges in development but also use effective tools and techniques to overcome challenges and problems in the days to come. Ukesh Raj Bhuju, Coordinator at National College Center for Development Studies, says that when medical professionals and engineers find it difficult to deal with village communities when they go out into the fields, it’s the development students who act as the bridge between the community and the technical people. The students know about social mobilization. They have knowledge of public health and environment which proves very helpful. With the core focus of the courses being economics, sociology and environment, students pursuing the course will learn about the socioeconomic issues of the country as well as the different factors of the multidisciplinary course which will sharpen their ability to work and direct development process. In the end, it will provide human resource to manage the growth and improvement rate of the various sectors of the country. Hence, the course will entitle the students to work in various fields, and not just limit themselves to being development professionals. An example is Acharya himself: He is pursuing the question of foreign aid and how the system of aid and grants offered by donors and international agencies work. Niraj Khanal, another alumnus of National College, says that the course gives its students clarity and an opportunity to explore. “And one can choose not just to be a development professional working in I/NGOs but also be entrepreneurs. From working at the grassroots levels to big corporations, such students can do anything,” points out Khanal who is the director of One to Watch. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54009 First Tech Mashup in Kathmandu attracts huge crowds KATHMANDU, April 30: The first Tech Mashup, a speed networking event for IT enthusiasts, held on April 28 at Babar Mahal Revisited in Kathmandu, introduced 15 start-up ventures and developer communities to a crowd of about 300 youngsters. Companies like Grepsr.com, f1 soft and Cloud Factory showed that building successful IT based businesses is indeed possible in Nepal, and communities like Google Developers, WikiMedia, and the Open Source developers attracted bulks of potential supporters to their stalls, as did Karkhana with their prototype robots.[break] The special guest for the event was Bowei Gai, who is on a tour of over 40 countries to explore the tech startup scene and report for www.startupreport.com. The Silicon Valley entrepreneur, who sold his business to LinkedIn, was busy answering questions. Abhinab Basnyat of Biruwa Ventures, one of the supporters of the event, said, “It’s amazing to see how the IT sector [in Nepal] has developed in the recent past. There’s a need to link this (IT) community with Management and Marketing students to develop the exhibited prototypes into actual products and businesses.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=54008 The Interim Election Council in Nepal is calling on ‘fresh’ Constituent Assembly (CA) election soon this year while the minor parties outcry over four parties-led CA proposition. Whatever the outcome of the power talk may be, the reality stands in its place that both the major and minor parties combined, are responsible for the unconstitutional landing of our country and the demise of the previous CA. While one group impels people to go for election, others demand the opposite. Where does the problem actually lie? And what are we, the people, suppose to do about it? Also, can fresh CA election alone guarantee a new constitution?[break] In my opinion, the problem lies in the very understanding of democracy. Democracy in Nepal has been guided by power-centric politics rather than the people. The unhealthy tussle within and between parties have turned people as mere voting objects. Hence, the need to reinstate the essence of democratic norms and values into societies is very much needed. Conducting elections and chanting democratic slogans would mean nothing if the people are not the ones who are on the deciding front. In such a scenario, youth have a major responsibility and their participation can bring about a change to the whole movement. If one wants to see change, one needs to do something about it. Youth too can enter politics and bring about alterations in the field. This can be done by either getting admitted to one of the parties of interest or by forming your own new party. One needs to perform constructive role in fostering real democratic norms and principles within the party activists and changes at the top of any political party hierarchy can be achieved with the pressure coming from the bottom. For those who want to start a party on their own, I wish them luck. Also, young people can contribute from the outside. We have the right to choose and reject any party at any given point of time. Just because our fathers or grandfathers belonged to some party does not mean we have to endorse them too. In my point of view, youth now must choose to stay independent. For many, this idea might sound irrational and difficult but it is possible. Being independent would mean being free to choose among options that’s best for you. Being an independent voter, it gives us the power to continuously engage with the value system of the party and the service it promises to deliver. This perspective could transform the entire dynamics of Nepali politics by redefining the negotiating pattern between the voters and the representatives. Parties will start losing confidence in their long-established vote banks and a gradual transformation can be attained from the politics of blind-faith to the politics of skepticism. My suggestion to the youth is to stay more open, to be more vocal to argue about what we need from whom, and believe in what we receive not in what the leaders promise to deliver. While negotiating, people should have an upper hand. Doing so will change the relation of democracy and politics of Nepal. New Nepal is possible when youth choose to elect issues not faces, lead prospects not flags. If just remaining independent would help us free our politically-tamed minds, then why not fight for freedom? The writer is General Secretary at YUWA, a youth led organization. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53951 KATHMANDU, April 29: Consumer behavior is heavily affected by the advertisements we come across in all forms of media. The effectiveness of any commercial – how convincing it sounds to those at the other end of the TV screen, or how the graphics on the print charms you into building up a brand loyalty – involves creative efforts on the part of those who create these advertisements. Companies outsource this part of the business to advertisement agencies and the ‘creative team,’ working with the subjective art along with consumer psychology, brainstorms on strategies that will later take a shape of a jingle, a tagline or a seemingly lucrative scheme.[break] “There are a lot of parameters that determine the quality of product promotion. For every client, we work closely with what the company believes in and what message it would like to disseminate, depending on the target market. There is also a budget constraint and media options, and the speculation that what is effective in print medium might not work for audio-visual media,” says Harshwardhan Shahani, CEO of Vichitra Advertising, who also looks after the audio-visual department of the creative team at his firm. Balram Jana, Creative Director at Prisma Advertising, however, thinks that budget doesn’t hamper the quality of advertisement as long as you can make effective strategies staying within the constriction. With creative capacity, instead of the conventional platforms, new media can be utilized well. The present scenario is either one of these – dubbing over foreign advertisements that Nepali consumers cannot relate to, and even the few of the domestic commercials seem/sound over the top, and instead of getting hold of us ,ends up being irritating or amusing, to say the least. The trend of celebrity endorsements is slowly picking up in Nepal. Meanwhile, majority of the advertisements still lack creativity without compromising on the element of simplicity. “Budgets are not necessarily always the constraining factors because innovative ideas thrive in spite of limited budgets. The quality of work is largely a team effort – the combined result of the vision of a client and solutions from the agency,” adds Suchitra Gurung, Senior Creative Director at JWT Thompson Nepal. Advertisement makers need to do their homework well before starting out with an ad campaign, and the audience cannot be blamed. Apart from marketing and communication skills, and knowledge of creative tools, team members who can get into the shoes of a consumer and put on the creative hat at the same time can help make an effective commercial. Most advertisement agencies hire art directors with commercial art background, art illustrators with specialized skills, and graphic designers. Educational background, as Balram Jana of Prisma says, isn’t mandatory. “We look for those who are self-taught, say, a graphic designer with no degree in that field but has been working for the last 10 years solely with the knowledge gained from Youtube tutorials and working with creative imaginations.” “Primarily, we look for passion in the candidate. Passion for ideas that can solve marketing and communication problems is what drives our creative team. To be able to put those ideas into functioning solutions, a background in design and copy is crucial. The creative department consists of copywriters, art directors and designers who work together on conceptualizing ideas,” says Gurung of Thompson Nepal, adding,” The audiovisual medium requires proficiency and understanding of the film and radio media to be able to effectively create ideas that work for that medium, and hence a study in the same line is essential to get started. Ultimately, any course you choose only prepares you to step into the field of choice. Succeeding in it is all about passion.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53950 KATHMANDU, April 29: The WhiteHouse Graduate School of Management (WHGSM) is launching the School of Hospitality Management in July at Trade Tower in Thapathali, Kathmandu. “We will operate training facilities, including a full-functioning restaurant and kitchen,” informed Edessa Ramos, Director of International Programs at WHGSM.[break] WHGSM is collaborating with Cesar Ritz University of Switzerland to enable students to pursue Higher Diploma course in Hospitality Management in Kathmandu, to be followed by a one-year finishing program in Switzerland. Upon successful completion of their final year of study in Switzerland, students will achieve a Bachelor of International Business in Hotel and Tourism Management. The education curriculum of the Swiss degree also includes a 6-month internship within the hotel and tourism management industry. The students can then apply for the 3-year Masters program at Swiss Education Group (SEG), operator of the Cesar Ritz centre. “The partnership between WhiteHouse and Cesar Ritz signifies yet another landmark in the development of education in Nepal, particularly in the efforts to helping Nepal students become competitive in pursuing careers in the global hospitality industry,” added Ramos. Talking Swiss education Florent Rondez, CEO of the Swiss Education Group, visited Nepal to lay the groundwork for the collaboration and spoke to Republica about the education provision in his country. How different is the Swiss education system from that of Nepal? We don’t have degrees like SLC and Plus 2. Students are required to have nine years of primary and secondary schooling which is mandatory. High school graduates then go on to Diploma and High Diploma courses. Private institutions have utmost freedom and there isn’t any syllabus provided by the government. We design our own curriculum. Sometimes, when we’re incorporating the modules of British and American universities, we do a mapping and select courses or subjects to add in our previously effective syllabus. Our Masters program, particularly at SEG, is of a year for those who have been studying within the same system, and two years for those who have transferred from some other stream. One year is also allocated for working experience. What are the required qualification and paperwork for students interested in Swiss degree and provisions of financial aid for international students? The procedure is not very complicated. Anybody who’s willing to study the subject and has intentions to return to Nepal can apply for a visa at the Swiss Embassy. The whole process will probably take 2-3 months and there are minimum rejections, usually if a student is overqualified to be studying the program or if he is above/below the age bar. There is also a myth that education all over Europe is free, most private institutions charge tuition fees. SEG doesn’t provide financial aids to any student and there is no provision of student loans. Plus, students have to pay their fees beforehand, and in case they fail to pay by the deadline, they will have to discontinue. What is the curriculum at SEG like? SEG operates five schools and there are more then 5,000 students from over 80 different nationalities. We primarily provide hospitality degrees but there are various pathways in Finance, International Business, Luxury Brand Management, Hotel Designs, Project Developer, and Entrepreneurship. There is this mentality that hospitality is limited to aspects such as culinary and housekeeping but our curriculum is designed in such a way that people of various educational backgrounds, but with interest to work in the hospitality sector, can hone their skills and find employment in various sectors that help in the functioning of this industry. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53949 KATHMANDU, April 29: On the occasion of the golden jubilee of Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet Mahavidyalaya f Kathmandu, JJ Sultans is organizing various Indian classical dance recitals at Nepal Academy Hall on Saturday, May 4. K Bhavya, dance trainer at Indian Cultural Centre, will be presenting Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dance forms.[break] A Kathak solo will be performed by Subima Shrestha. Students from Modern Indian School will present an Odissi dance while artists of Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet Mahavidyalaya are set to perform Kathak dance. Prasang Shrestha of JJ Sultans said, “Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet Mahavidyalaya is one of the first such music and dance schools in Nepal. It’s also a non-profit organization, and we at JJ Sultans are always ready to help such organizations. We’re celebrating its golden jubilee and raising funds to contribute to the organization.” The event will start at six o’clock in the evening. Tickets for the dance recitals are priced at Rs 1,000 and Rs 600 and are available at Rs 750 and Rs 500 for those who will buy them a day before the event. Students are also encouraged to enjoy the event at a special price of Rs 300 per person. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53948 KATHMANDU, April 29: The Guinness World Record has now honored Welcome Event Management who worked to ensure that Rabi Lamichhane’s effort to host the 60 hour long talk show was successful. Lamichhane hosted the ‘Lord Buddha was born in Nepal’ program for three days on News 24, starting on April 11. The Guinness World recognized the effort and the show entered the record as the ‘Longest Marathon Talk Show’. Nita Poudel, Managing Director of Welcome Event Management, said that working on the event was a huge task as it had such a national significance. “We paid minute attention to every detail with great team spirit. This eventually enabled us to conduct the show with effectiveness and efficacy,” she said of the event which required 40 members of her team. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53896 Haribansha Acharya’s biography launched KATHMANDU, April 29: Actor and Comedian Haribansha Acharya along with his other-half of his professional acting life, Madan Krishna Shrestha, are household names. The pair has entertained their audience in numerous acts on both big and small screens. The ‘Ha’ of ‘MaHa’, a synonym to laughter in Nepal, Haribansha Acharya’s biography has been the talk of the town of late. Titled ‘Cheena Harayeko Manchey’, the biography has been published by FinePrint and has been worked on jointly by Acharya, short-story writer Dr Rabindra Sameer and Madan Puraskar Laureate Amar Neupane. [break] L to R: Ramila Pathak Acharya, Haribansha Acharya, Durga Baral (Vatsayan) and Dr Rabindra Sameer, unveiling Baral’s cartoon of Haribansha Acharya to formally launch Acharya’s biography, ‘Cheena Harayeko Manchey’, at Moksh in Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur on Sunday. (Dipesh Shrestha/Republica) On April 28, in the auditorium of Moksh, located in Jhamsikhel in LalitpurKathmandu, which was overflowing with audiences, comprised of the who’s who of Nepal, ‘Cheena Harayeko Manchey’ was launched. The official launch was marked by the unveiling of a cartoon of Haribansha sketched by cartoonist Durga Baral (Vatsayan).The launching coincided with the death anniversary of Acharya’s ex wife, Meera Acharya. “I feel uneasy because it’s Meera’s death anniversary today and happy because my book has been launched,” Acharya expressed his mixed emotions. Being the person that he is, Acharya managed to make the audience laugh during his short address. “It wasn’t in my interest to be born,” Acharya joked, “But after one is born, one has to go through all the struggles that life comes with. That’s what I am doing,” he shared. “I used to dislike the sight of books as a child but here I am today, publishing my own. The situations have led me to writing it,” he said. Madan Puraskar Laureate Neupane praised the book as being an honest and innocent documentation of Acharya’s life. “The book is full of moments that will make you laugh and cry,” he commented. ‘Cheena Harayeko Manchey’ has also come out in 2,000 limited edition copies priced at Rs 2,000. The publishers claim that this is the first limited edition phenomena in Nepal. The proceedings from the book will go towards Meera Care Center, an organization working for the development of poor children in Nepal. Cheena Harayeko Manchey is priced at Rs 398 and can be found in major bookstores in town. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53895 ‘Ukus Mukus’, an answer from two artists through their debut exhibition KATHMANDU, April 29: After some brainstorming, artists Kanchan G Burathoki and Palistha Kakshapati came up with the exact word that would encompass their debut art exhibition as well as the way that Kathmandu, the place both the artists were born and raised in, makes them feel. Ukus Mukus. The Nepali phrase for a kind of uneasiness. A collection of drawings, prints and multimedia artworks which narrates daily life in Kathmandu, the exhibition opened at Park Gallery in Pulchowk on April 28. (Dipesh Shrestha/ Republica) The upper space of the gallery, almost tailor made for Kakshapati’s work, in which she uses terraces as “symbolic representation of an impartial outlook of watching from ‘up above’” is an installation of the a typical terrace of a Nepali household, with black water tanks, clothes left drying on ropes, gas cylinders and empty beer bottles. A video installation of several snippets of different terraces in Kathmandu has been projected on loop in an attempt to “capture the essence of the city, things one might miss while walking on the streets, everyday”. Both Kakshapati’s concept and execution are impressive. While visitors who have grown up in Nepali households will be immediately able to identify with the atmosphere created by the atmosphere, the videos are a peek into the daily lives of the inhabitants of Kathmandu. “I’m not comfortable putting down things on paper and so I work with video and photography,” shares Kakshapati. The lower level of the gallery exhibits Burathoki’s work. A major part of her work titled ‘Lines in the City’ is a mosaic-like collage of small photo pieces showing the various wires and lines that cover Kathmandu. An extension of what she has been doing since she was in college, this series is an expression of Kathmandu’s chaos, just like her other pieces in which the artists explores herself while expressing herself through lines and patterns. Some of her works are accompanied by her poetry, both of which are simple yet deep. In comparison to Kakshapati’s work, Burathoki’s work is definitely more personal. One particular drawing, which is almost comic-strip like in nature, about a mountain flight, is particularly poignant and evokes certain nostalgia, a feeling that especially those who’ve lived a loss in the city, can relate with. “Ukus Mukus, not just refers to the physical space but also delivers the uneasiness in an emotional sense,” says Kakshapati. “These works also depicts an internal state of mind. My works are personal but I’m hoping that everyone will be able to relate with them,” Burathoki adds in. All in all, the exhibition celebrates the love-hate relationship of these two artists with the place that they call home. The exhibition continues till May 12, 2013. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53853 MUMBAI, India, April 28: One hundred years after the screening of a black-and-white silent film, India´s brash, song-and-dance-laden Bollywood film industry celebrates its centenary later this week. The milestone will be marked with the release of "Bombay Talkies", made up of short commemorative films by four leading directors, while India will be honoured as "guest country" at next month´s Cannes festival. [break] Exhibitions in the capital New Delhi are showcasing a century of cinema, including onscreen kissing scenes that originally fell foul of the censors. It is also a time for reflection on how the industry has evolved, from its early screen adaptations of Hindu mythology to the garish romantic escapism of modern blockbusters. Commercially, cinema is thriving: India produced almost 1,500 movies last year and the industry is expected to grow from $2 billion to $3.6 billion in the next five years, according to consultancy KPMG. Leading the way is Hindi-language Bollywood, which took the "B" from its home in Bombay and won the hearts of movie-mad Indians. But old-timers complain that it has become superficial, neglecting to deal with pressing social concerns of the age. "There´s a dumbing down that has taken place in the content. I think we are suffering from what is called the narrative crisis," said veteran director and producer Mahesh Bhatt. He contrasts modern filmmakers with Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, known as the "father of Indian cinema", who brought the first all-Indian feature film to the silver screen in Bombay (now Mumbai) on May 3, 1913. A tale from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, "Raja Harishchandra" quickly became a hit despite its female characters being played by men -- women acting was still widely frowned upon. Phalke made more than 100 films until his silent style fell victim to "talkies" in the 1930s, but the advent of sound technology allowed India cinema to flourish. Bollywood plotlines today can involve stars breaking into song, often in picturesque far-flung locations, apropos of nothing -- a style that may bemuse a Western audience, but one that helps to set Indian cinema apart. "If it was exactly the same thing as Hollywood, Hollywood would have run us over. We don´t have that money," said film critic Anupama Chopra. For her and many others the "golden age" of cinema was the 1950s, when movie greats emerged such as Satyajit Ray, India´s most renowned filmmaker, who hailed from the alternative film hub of West Bengal. It was the era of newly independent India, searching for an identity and producing films such as Mehboob Khan´s 1957 hit "Mother India", which combined social concerns with popular appeal. The 1970s and 80s saw a growing commercialism with the rise of the "masala" movie -- a family entertainer that typically mixed up romance and action, songs and melodrama, a comedy touch and a happy ending. Parallel Cinema continued to focus on realism, with films such as Mahesh Bhatt´s "Arth" (Meaning) in 1982, a gritty tale of an extramarital affair that presented strong female characters. It was a path-breaker in a decade described as the "dark ages" of Hindi cinema, which struggled with the advent of colour television, rampant piracy and dependence on the Mumbai underworld for funding. Things improved after India´s economy opened up in the early 1990s, and again a decade later when filmmaking won formal "industry" status. Both steps encouraged foreign firms, such as Fox and Disney, to invest in Bollywood. But subsequent leaps in technology have not been matched by advances in storytelling, say critics, who lament the formulaic plots, passive roles for women and the copying of Hollywood. Bollywood´s escapist fantasies have long held mass appeal because "there´s enough realism in the common man´s life", said Bhatt. But with ever more TV shows, the Internet and easily available global films, such movies may no longer meet the demands of the educated middle-class. This expanding group "wants to see something better than trash which caters to the common man who drives auto-rickshaws. They want to see a different kind of cinema," said veteran actor Rishi Kapoor. A new crop of experimental filmmakers has started to appear, such as "Hindi indie" darling Anurag Kashyap who is a fixture on the global film festival circuit. Trade analysts say the growth in multiplex cinemas has also encouraged mainstream films to diversify: a surprise hit last year was "Vicky Donor", a romcom about sperm donation. Raj Nidimoru is co-director of upcoming "Go Goa Gone", one of India´s first zombie films, and he believes the move away from staple Bollywood is only just beginning. "This is just a ripple right now, it´s going to become a wave." http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53852 KATHMANDU, April 28: DULLA Shoes is slowly creating waves. Ahmed Dulla has been selling handmade shoes since 2010, right after he graduated from the Footwear Development and Design Institute (FDDI) in India. “I always had the best shoes during my school years,” remembers Ahmed Dulla. In fact, his friends would actually ‘book’ his shoes days in advance. “They would have to tell me beforehand if they wanted to wear a particular pair of shoes so that no one else would get it that day,” he smiles. [break] The soft-spoken 25 years old is probably the first young shoe designer in Nepal. His childhood fascination for shoes grew beyond pestering his parents for expensive shoes – in grade four, he was wearing shoes worth Rs 5,000 – when he had to ask himself what he wanted to do after graduating from high school. He spent three years learning the basics of footwear design at FDDI. When he first discussed his plan to study footwear design, his father asked him to choose a normal career. His uncle asked him why he wanted to be a shoemaker. “That shook up my resolve a bit,” he laughs. “On the day of admission, I asked myself if I really wanted to do this. But since then, there’s been no looking back.” After six months of internship at G-Shoe Export in Mumbai, which exported shoes to companies like Zara, he made up his mind to work independently. He started out by designing men’s footwear. He sold the first pair for Rs 5,000 in India. “I told the customer to pay me what he thought I deserved and that’s the amount he handed me,” he says. Ahmed has sold around 200 pairs of shoes till date both in India and Nepal, without any retail shop. He relies on social media and word of mouth to keep his business going and get new customers. He uploads pictures of new designs to gauge the reaction. Sold within the price range of Rs 2,500 to 3,500, his shoes have to compete with the vast Chinese products in the market. In his own words, his shoes are sleek rather than flamboyant. The responses for his creations are varied. Some have said they started wearing heels, some claim that his heels are comfortable enough even to run in. The quick-thinking designer is always improvising and fixing his designs. During an instance when the back portion of a shoe was very loose, he inserted a piece of paper cleverly within the strap to tighten it. And to loosen a pair, he inserted a plastic full of water inside the shoe. “Then I put the shoes inside the freezer. The water turned to ice and it expanded the shoes as well. It’s simple physics,” he says. While he hasn’t received a single complaint since he started selling his shoes, he shares an incident from his internship days that has made him view individual opinions in a different light. “Once, my boss told me to throw my design in the dustbin because he found it horrible. I threw it. Later, I retrieved it and put it up on Facebook where I received seven orders for it. It was a men’s shoe design but most of the orders were from women. That made me realize that individual opinions don’t have the final say,” he smiles. The constant load shedding and the scarcity of good leather in Nepal are some of the reasons that he now manufactures his shoes in a factory in Mumbai. He okays the leather and the wood (for the heels) before they are manufactured. “There are still many problems. Where it could actually take 10 days to produce 10 pairs of shoes, the factory takes many extra days. Thus, wasting valuable time,” he rues. The lack of skilled laborers in Nepal is a huge problem that not only he suffers from but also big established shoe companies in Nepal. “Sometimes I decide to make myself a pair, and if it’s simple men’s loafers, I can finish it in a day,” he says. Women’s high-heeled shoes are more complicated and time-consuming. He has to be very careful and precise when he designs and makes his shoes. A simple mistake can be costly, as there’s no redoing it. He has to start all over with a fresh piece. The young designer is in talks with Sky Shoes to collaborate on men’s collections. He can also sell his shoes in Holland and Australia where interested retailers have asked to team up. “The only problem is that their sizes are extremely big. Women in Nepal and India wear sizes from 35 and above while abroad, their sizes are 40 and 45,” he states. So his next plans include establishing a small footwear design institute. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53850 KATHMANDU, April 28: Phatteman Sumadhur Sanjh organized by Rotary Club of Mount Everest Lalitpur on Friday at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi saw legendary singer Phatteman Rajbhandari, who has been singing since the age of seven and continues to enthrall the audience even at the age of 77, perform. The singer started the evening with ‘Bachna lai ta bachekai chu’. Rajbhandari then paid a tribute to late lyricist Ram Man Trishit and late singer, composer Shiva Shankar with ‘Kasto maya layiyechha, afnai man maridiney’. Lyricist Kali Prasad Rijal who extensively worked with late Narayan Gopal, said, “Phatteman Rajbhandari represents a generation in which music was a dedication and with his regular commitment to music, he is an exemplary artist for the young generation to look up to.” [break] Legendary singer Phatteman Rajbhandari performing one of his classical numbers during Phatteman Sumadhur Sanjh organized by Rotary Club of Mount Everest Lalitpur at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi on Friday. (Keshab Thoker/Republica) Rijal talked about ‘Banai khayo dadheloley, manai khayo nisthuri ko papi mayaley’ which he had written from a tune Narayan Gopal shared with him. Rajbhandari sang his cover version of ‘Banai khayo dadheloley’ which was originally sung by Narayan Gopal. “It is an honor for me to sing this song, composed by legendary Nati Kaji,” said Rajbhandari before singing. Rijal and lyricist Rajendra Thapa who wrote the lyrics for ‘Timro ek ek dukha maile najikbata dekheko chu’ were felicitated by Rajbhandari with mementos designed from recycled paper by Mahamuni Udas Sikhrakar. “Phatteman dai doesn’t sing songs, the songs sing his glory instead. Over the years, I have penned lyrics for many songs, but this song is very personal to me,” said Thapa. Singer Bala Bhattarai covered the classic ‘Ukali orali haruma’ written by late Chandani Shah, composed by Nati Kaji and sung by late Tara Devi. Sujata Verma accompanied Rajbhandari in singing ‘Ghintang ghintang madalai bajyo’ which Rajbhandari originally sang on Radio Nepal with Tara Devi. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53851 KATHMANDU, April 28: Onion Films, a platform for young film enthusiasts and filmmakers, organized the closing ceremony of Young Cuts - 3, a 20-day filmmaking workshop with screenings of five short films at Sarwanam Theater, Kalikasthan on Saturday. The classroom session of the workshop from December 19 to 23, 2012 was followed by a 15 day filmmaking period in which participants were divided into two teams to make films on two different ideas pitched by the participants themselves. ‘Why I Exist?’ and ‘Interlude’ directed by the third batch of Young Cuts were screened alongside ‘Niyuddha’ and ‘The Stranger’ which were directed by the participants of second batch of the workshop. [break] Apart from this, ‘Akasmik Labh’ or Serendipity directed by the director of Onion Films Govinda Siwakoti was also screened at the event. The film was financed by the proceedings collected from their Mini Film Project which funds young filmmakers with their ‘Donate Re 1 and be a movie producer’ campaign. Manoj Pandit, well-known for his documentary and feature film ventures including the recently released Badhshala; and Rajesh Gongaju, President of the Federation of Film Societies of Nepal and Secretary of International Federation of Film Societies critiqued the five short films screened during the event. Pandit, who wasn’t impressed with the first four films, said he appreciated Siwakoti’s efforts at humor in ‘Akasmik Labh’. “Filmmakers shouldn’t stray away from the narrative storytelling no matter what; also we’ve seeing a lot of dark themes lately. Somebody should start the trend to bring beautiful aspects of life and living onto the screen,” he said. Similalrly, Gongaju who has chaired various national and international juries said, “Every time somebody outside Nepal asks me what the specialty of my country is, I tell them about the diversity that exists here. There are so many good stories in each of our villages, we should stop with the redundant storyline and medium of storytelling and bring forth these interesting stories for everyone to watch.” The screening was followed by certificate distribution program in which Pandit handed over certificates to the recent graduates of Young Cuts. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53788 KATHMANDU, April 27: Rahul Jaykar is a superstar whose alcoholic tendencies are pulling him down. As his friend points out, his career has fallen from huge shows at international venues to those in small towns across India. He meets Aarohi who is eking out a living as a singer in a beer bar. The meeting is like a breath of fresh air for both of them, giving them a much needed new turn in life.[break] For those of us who didn’t know that this was a remake of the old hit film ‘Aashiqui’ starring Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal, the first few minutes of the film will make us worry. The singer superstar, the alcoholic and the melancholic all point towards the Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Rockstar’. To our relief, we soon find out it’s not what we think. Aarohi becomes a star. Rahul concentrates on giving her a chance and trains her to become better. And as she wins one award after another and her career soars to new heights, Rahul’s has gone downhill. He continues to struggle with alcoholism, and even after repeated attempts to give up the habit, he ends up in circumstances that draw him to drink. The viewer can feel that the grey side hasn’t been explored as much as it could have. We see Rahul as someone whose good intentions are constantly thwarted. It would’ve been more natural to see a bitter fading superstar who has to see his girlfriend/protégée shine so bright. Also, the gossips and the subtle and not so subtle putdowns he has to face should have made him a harsher man towards Aarohi. Yet the only guilt he suffers from is the fact that he is pulling her down with him. There is so much love in ‘Aashiqui 2’! As a director, Mohit Suri should have seen his story from all angles. He failed to tell us the story that Rahul tells Aarohi about the sadness in his life. Rahul’s father, who is apparently close to his son, never visits him or helps in any way that matters. In fact, there’re only around three phone calls to establish the father-son relationship. The viewers will have no problem watching the performances of Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. To note is also the fact that though it’s a film about singers and music, there’s no song more memorable than the chorus of ‘Tum Hi Ho.’ Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53790 KATHMANDU, April 27: As culinary director of the Sontoy Hospitality Group in Washington DC, Avinesh Rana, 32, has his hands full managing three restaurants – Sei, Sax, and Oya – the guest lists of which include Michelle Obama, among others. Here, he shares details about his work and personal favorites when it comes to food.[break] What does your duty as Culinary Director entail? How challenging is it to work, keeping in mind three different restaurants? I’m in charge of developing menus for the three restaurants. I also oversee the hiring and training of new staff, scheduling and ordering. My team and I make sure all the plates that go out of the kitchen meets our standards. And at the same time, we make sure the bottom line is being met, which is, keeping food cost and labor cost in check. While it’s challenging, I have a great team in each restaurant that does a great job in maintaining the quality of the kitchen. hat are some of the earliest memories you have of the fondness for food and cooking that motivated you to be a chef? My earliest memories were being in the kitchen with my grandma as she prepared food for the family. Since both my parents worked, I would be left in her care, and as she made dinner, I started being fascinated by the whole process. I would also watch my dad who also likes to cook, and my mom who is phenomenal in the kitchen, cook. All these experiences sharpened my interest and I chose to become a chef as it gave me a platform to be creative and happy. Tell us about the restaurants and the kinds of foods that customers can expect? Each restaurant is different, and it’s challenging to come up with new items for the menu. Restaurant Sei’s menu reflects a Japanese influence. We have an excellent Sushi menu, and along with it, we serve small plates that are inspired by the flavors of South Asia. We serve French Asian-inspired menu at Oya where we basically offer food that is infused with Asian flavors and textures but cooked with French technique and presentation. And at Restaurant Sax, we have a French-inspired menu. We try to highlight local farmers and cheese makers. We use organic produce and natural meats. We have a great cheese selection that we get from our local cheese makers. In your opinion, what are the winning combinations to make a quality restaurant? Location, the food, the service, and the ambiance make for a quality restaurant. Location: If the restaurant isn’t easily accessible, it has a major disadvantage. Food: After all, food is what brings diners to restaurants. The menu has to be fresh and reflect the latest trends. It has to captivate the diner’s interest and at the same time be approachable. It should be affordable and include healthy options. The service: The type of service is dictated by the type of restaurant, and the quality of service should never be compromised. From the host, to the servers, to the valet guys, all these people come in contact with the customers and can affect the experience of the customers. So it’s vital to train the staff in good service etiquette as they are the first and the last interactions a guest has with the restaurant. Diners will often come back even if the food was ok/good and the service was great as opposed to the food was great but the service was ok. The ambience: This is also important because if a place is very trendy, sleek and has a “sexy” vibe, people are always lining up to get in. When you walk into a restaurant with great ambiance, whether it be friendly staff, lovely furnishing, great music, mood lighting, beautiful decor, paintings, fresh flowers – whatever it is, it makes you more comfortable in your surroundings. What are your personal favorites when you sit down to order a meal? Unless I’m really craving for something, I usually order something that looks interesting or something the Chef is known for. Apart from being a sucker for dumplings, I enjoy good steaks. I also enjoy Ramen, especially with pork belly. A couple of really good ramen restaurants have opened in DC because of its recent popularity. And to curb your late night hunger, you can’t go wrong with Korean BBQ. Any plans of extending your culinary magic to Nepal? I just came back to Nepal for a vacation after 12 years. I was really blown away by the culture of eating out. When I left Nepal, eating out was reserved for special occasions. Now casual restaurants are opening everywhere and people are eating some really good food. I would love to open a place in Nepal after a few years but right now I have much to learn. I’m in a great position right now where I can hone my skills further. ----- A dedicated cook in training KATHMANDU: Rahul Shrestha, 19, has always enjoyed cooking. He says, “I enjoy cooking for my family, be it baking cakes, tarts or cooking Thai curries and roast chicken cooked at 70 degrees for five hours.” A student at the University of East Anglia in England, he is planning to utilize his vacations to learn some more. The talented young man has been offered three stints for the summer at Michelin-star restaurants: Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley Hotel in London, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, and Momofuku in New York. “Since I always knew I loved cooking, it was more about following my dream and doing something I love and am passionate about. Being a cook is hard work. It’s not like what’s shown on those cooking shows. We have long hours and we need to work under pressure in a hot environment which needs a lot of commitment. But I believe it suits me very well,” he says. At present, Rahul is focusing on research on the use of science in cooking for multi-sensory cooking, along with developing his own recipes. The fact that he lost 36 kilos of weight has further inspired him to work on creating less calorific dishes without compromising the flavors, he says. Someday he wants to open a fine dining restaurant “Where I can serve my kind of food, which is a mix of classical techniques with modern cooking styles, such as the use of science in cooking or which is referred to as molecular gastronomy,” he says. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53786 KATHMANDU, April 27: According to the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, 37.2% of the total population of Nepal is made up of indigenous people. But as ethnic minorities, the various indigenous communities have been disadvantaged in various aspects. With an aim to uplift the status of indigenous people and to give them a voice through the medium of films, Indigenous Film Archive (IFA) has been organizing the Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival for the past six years. [break] The 7th Nepal International Film Festival (NIIFF) 2013, which is being held simultaneously at City hall and Nepal Tourism Board located in Exhibition Road, started on April 25 and will continue till April 28. “For the past six years, IFA has been uplifting indigenous culture and practices, through films, and also increasing the level of understanding between indigenous and non-indigenous communities,” informs Sangam Pulami Magar, Festival Coordinator of NIIFF. The four day festival is set to screen 50 films from 19 different countries including Nepal, Ethiopia, Taiwan, Australia and USA. ‘Equal Access and Participation of Indigenous People in the Media’ has been set as the theme for the festival this year. “This theme will explore the issues of participation and access to the mainstream media of indigenous people, and how indigenous issues are being covered in the media,” Magar explains. A still from the movie ‘The Well’. In its second day, 15 films, including the first ever film on the Kulung people of Nepal, ‘Telposh’, was screened. Other films included ‘Reel Injun’, a documentary which is an insightful look at the Hollywood Indian and the portrayal of North American Native (USA), ‘Jatra Hadi Gau Ko’ (Nepal), a documentary about the fading Hadi Gau Jatra or carnival, and ‘Overburden’ (Australia), a story of the struggle to preserve the traditional way of life from oil mania. Apart from the IFA productions, other films in the festival will be competing for first, second and third positions. Films are set to be judged by a three-member jury consisting of Carlos Gomez from Colombia, Kui Ing Seng from Taiwan Indigenous Television, and Shashikala Manandhar from Nepal. Films will also be competing in the ‘Nepal Panorama’ category. The winners will be announced on April 28, in a ceremony at Jhapu Samaj, Bholdhoka, Patan. Besides long screenings of various films, the festival also has a small food festival, painting exhibitions and cultural artifacts and products stalls, on the side. ----- Q&A with Navin Subba, Chairperson, IFA What do you think has been the impact of NIIF? Although there are international indigenous festivals bigger in scale than NIIF, it has been accepted as one of the key festivals by indigenous film makers worldwide. We still can do so much more to take this festival to greater heights. In case of the impact in Nepal, our film festival has the highest Nepali programming of 40% Nepali-made films out of the total films being screened. Even if the level of the films isn’t international, we believe we need to give Nepali filmmakers space because there isn’t much platform for indigenous filmmakers. What has been the trend of audiences attending the festival? We see a diverse audience coming to our festival. Normally, there’s stereotype of film festival audiences as being middle class and educated but we’ve broken that. Apart from that, we also see the inflow of a lot of students. How do you think Nepali filmmakers can upgrade the standard of their films? Nepali filmmaking has always seen Indian influence. But we are now breaking away from that. We need to start having the mentality that we will compete with international standards. Yes, there are some young and talented filmmakers and a few who are making their living by making documentaries and films. But Nepali filmmakers, currently, are lacking proper guidance and training. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53787 KATHMANDU, April 27: Encouraging new writing in English from Nepal, La Lit, a literary magazine from Nepal, in partnership with writer Samrat Uphadhyay, is organizing Writing Nepal: A Short Story Contest. The contest, which is open to all Nepali citizens, is looking for short stories under 3,000 words. A part of a project titled ‘The Writer in the World’ supervised by Upadhyay at Indiana University, the entries will be judged solely by Upadhyay.[break] All submissions will be considered for publication in a forthcoming issue of La Lit while an award ceremony, scheduled to be held in June, will acknowledge the finalists. The first, second and third prizes for the contest are Rs 10,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,500 respectively. Entries should be sent in to editor@lalitmag.com. The deadline for submission is May 25, 2013. For submission guidelines, visit www.lalitmag.com. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53789 KATHMANDU, April 27: Under the Sikchya Mero Adhikar (Education – My Right) campaign’s School Improvement Program (SIP), COMMITTED – Nepal recently built three libraries at Thangpalkot VDC and Gunsakot VDC of Sindhupalchowk District. The campaign promotes education as a basic right of every child and is working to establish free and quality education by providing important needs of educational institutions.[break] While students from Sri Raithane Secondary School could access the library since 2012, the libraries at Taltuleswori Primary School and Chilaune Secondary School were set up recently, as was another at Kumveswori Primary School. COMMITTED – Nepal received help from Byung Ro of South Korea and Bank of Kathmandu for the project. Individuals donated books for the libraries and more were collected from organizations, including the Asia Foundation. With support from British volunteers, the library walls were made more welcoming for the students of the schools. COMMITTED – Nepal has also worked to provide science and computer labs at schools, among a host of other significant changes, to upgrade school facilities in the country. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53707 STOCKHOLM, April 25: Swedish police said Thursday they had found a "small amount" of drugs on Canadian pop star Justin Bieber´s tour bus while he was performing in Stockholm. "We conducted a search of Justin Bieber´s bus and found a small amount of drugs," Stockholm police spokesman Lars Bystroem told AFP.[break] Police made the find around 8 pm on Wednesday evening during a raid of the empty bus, which was parked outside the Globen arena, where the 19-year-old singer was performing. The officers in charge of security around the Grand Hotel where Bieber was staying reported a strong odour of marijuana wafting from the bus before the singer and his entourage left for the concert venue. They then contacted the Stockholm police drug squad, Bystroem said. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53682 Funny, awkward college moments KATHMANDU, April 24: Following the current fad of college confession pages, this week we’re reminiscing all the incidents that make our college life memorable – whether it’s that teacher who has a funny accent, a friend who did something stupid and made everyone in the class laugh, including the ever so uptight teacher, or the time when the entire class got punished, and instead of being drowned in guilt, you were happy to stand outside the principal’s office because anything else is interesting than listening to your Math teacher talk about Derivative of a Function.[break] Every student has experienced or witnessed their share of bloopers, faux pas and moments that are too amusing not to be shared over and over again. Here are some of those: I was doing my Plus 2 at Bridgewater International College and this one day I was playing flying saucer with some of the other guys from my class when the saucer ‘flew’ outside the school compound. I climbed the wall, got the saucer and threw it to my friends. I fell flat on the ground while trying to jump off the wall and one of the glasses of my spectacles was lost then. We decided to do a demo to figure out where the glass must have gone. The second time, I jumped off the same wall, I ended up stepping on it and the glass broke. It wasn’t funny then, but in hindsight I find this incident very amusing.    Pradeep Ghimire, 20, Ratna Rajya Campu This guy in my class danced to ‘Kajra Re’ the day before Valentine’s Day this year. He proposed to a girl and the girl declined with ‘hya, timi jau.’ He then replied, ‘ka timi jane kura garira, ma timro lagi bhanera bhagi bhagi ako.’ The whole incident seemed like a rip-off of an episode of a sitcom. Purnima Giri, 19, Reliance Inter Last semester, my college took us to Chitwan for a tour and I went out for a jungle walk with some of my friends. We followed a trail of rhino poop and encountered a mother rhino with her baby. We took a few pictures and changed our directions because we thought it wasn’t safe. Some of my other friends were still clicking pictures when the rhino charged towards us. We ran for our lives. I did my I Sc from St Xavier’s College and this one time we had to prepare ammonia. My group was the first one to complete the assignment. We had been instructed to close our eyes and smell ammonia but ‘I smelled it like I was smelling a flower,’ as my teacher put it. I got a bad headache after that. It was like a spasm and I jumped around. Everybody thought I was excited for having completed the assignment first. To this day, I am known as ‘the girl who smelled ammonia like she was smelling a flower.’ Subima Shrestha, 20, Kathmandu University During one of our English classes, my teacher asked a guy to read out a passage from the book. There was a sentence, ‘She lost her bikini top’ and the guy said, ‘I lost my bikini top’ because he was nervous. He is still ragged by the entire class and even the teacher subtly makes fun of him sometimes. Coming up with funny names for teachers is also fun. Chandani Giri, 18, Bagmati Modern College There are so many of those moments, from watching my friend slip on snow while taking pictures during our college tour to Darjeeling to sitting through a heated argument between a teacher and one of the girls in my class when the teacher left in fury, they’re all fun in one way or the other. The last one to finish lunch in the college canteen is the one who is forced to pay for everybody’s order. That, I think, beats everything else. You should see how fast the guys gobble down food! Deepen Ghale, 20, Brooklyn Colleg We have this teacher who is known for his innuendos – ‘First girls, then boys – and the last one to leave is…well, you know.’ This one time, some of my classmates went for hookah and one of my friend’s uncle happened to be at the same place. He complained to the college management and the teachers assembled some 16 students from the venue, brought them to the college and they were suspended. Although how things turned out wasn’t funny, the way some of my friends who were there, enacted the whole show for us was hilarious. On the first day of the college, nobody spoke to each other and by the end of the two years the entire class would hang out together. Along the way, we had some really funny incidents. Shikha Pradhan, 18, Trinity International College http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53681 What you’ll need: Xacto knife Fabric Handles Glue Paper Scissor Velcro/ Clasp Closure Step 1: Find a book with a cover you like. Use a Xacto knife and cut out all the pages of the book. Cut a piece of fabric the same size as the book cover, fold the edges in 1/2 inch and iron. Step 2: Use some of your fabric to create straps for attaching your handles to the inside of the book. Sew the strips with the right sides facing each other, turn them inside out, fit them through the handles and sew the straps together. Glue the fabric straps to the book and set that aside to let it dry. Step 3: Trace the cover of your book on a large piece of paper, making sure to mark both ends of the spine of the book on your paper. Measure the width of one side of the book, and draw a line that is that same length about 75 degrees from where you marked the beginning of the spine. Duplicate the line to the other side by cutting out the line and the fold the paper over width-wise. Now do the same lengthwise, so you reproduce the triangle on the other side also. Step 4: Cut two pieces of fabric for the lining of the purse. Take one of the pieces, with the right sides of the fabric facing each other, sew the edges of the triangles to the edges of the square. Repeat with the other piece of fabric. Turn one of them inside out. Put the right-side-out piece inside the wrong-side-out piece, and sew around the top edge. Step 5: Sew Velcro onto either side of the purse. Glue the insides to the book frame you created earlier. Depending on the thickness of the spine of the book, you could always make a clasp closure of some kind and glue it at the same time as the handles. Instructables.com http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53680 Dear Swastika, I recently told my family that I am gay, and that I have a boyfriend. Now my family wants me to move out and by this you can say that they are conservative. I don’t know what to do. I don’t have a place to go. I’m doing my Bachelor’s and not working. Please help. - Help Needed I understand. The world is never kind to those who want to change the way things are or challenge the age-old belief systems. Thus, for those of us who are not and choose not to be like the rest must demonstrate extraordinary strength and perseverance. So, roll up your sleeves, pull all your strengths together and prepare your heart to fight this battle. Call up every person you know and seek the support and help you need – for a place to stay or to help you find a job or to find a way to continue your education. Find organizations which have support groups for those who identify themselves as LGBTQ. Fight for it. Remember – when God made you different, she also gave you unlimited power to survive the many challenges that you would face. All you have to do is recognize it and to never ever give up. Dear Swastika, My best friend has a new friend and I think she’s just evil. I don’t want to hang out with her but she’s always there with my friend. How can I tell her that I don’t like her and should not hang with us. Will I sound rude? I don’t want to be rude. - Nish Evil as if she is drooling blood, tearing up people with her sharp nails and chewing people’s soul? Just kidding! On a more serious and a tragic note, we really have no control over other people’s feelings or choices. If you don’t like hanging out with this person, you have the choice not to hang out with her. But I don’t think you have control over what your best friend chooses. Your best friend can choose you or s/he can choose the other friend. I don’t think you can make the decision alone that you don’t want this person to hang out with “us.” To keep a relationship healthy, we must remember not to make decision for the other person; instead, clearly communicate your personal concerns and ask for their perspective. Dear Swastika, I’m 18 and I have a boyfriend who said he loves me but he flirts around with other girls in front of me, making me uncomfortable. I’ve asked him not to do it and he says ‘OK’ but he’s back flirting the next time we’re out. Should I break up with him? -Sush You could break up with him or we could do a fun experiment with your situation. Start flirting around (or pretend to flirt – whichever suits you) with others when you’re with him. If he’s okay with you flirting around, then you should know that you are in the “healthiest” possible relationship where he allows you the freedom that he seeks. If he starts getting grumpy and starts complaining, then you can rub the word ‘hypocrite’ on his face and remind him of the unequal power dynamics in your relationship. Relationship sometime needs opportunities to grow and mature. If we step out of the relationship every time something doesn’t suit us, then it’ll really be inconvenient to keep track of all the people who come in and leave our lives…(just joking!). But on a serious note, the idea of a relationship is perhaps about taking the responsibility for each other’s gradual enlightenment by simply saying, “I’ll share what I know about being in love and being committed so you too can feel truly blessed.” Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti, a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53679 KATHMANDU, April 24: The 7th Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival will be starting on Thursday, April 25 (today) and will go on to screen films till April 28. Organized by the Indigenous Film Archive (IFA) of Nepal, the venues for the festival are City Hall and Nepal Tourism Board on Exhibition Road. The theme for this year’s four-day festival is “Equal Access and Participation of Indigenous Peoples in Media.” The organizers received 69 film entries from 22 countries this year out of which films from 18 countries will be showcased at the festival. There are 27 foreign films, documentaries, music videos and animation films from countries such as Guatemala, New Zealand, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Russia, and Honduras.[break] There are 23 films, documentaries and music videos chosen to be screened from the entries submitted from Nepal. Stories from different Nepal’s ethnic communities such as Chepang, Dhimal, Thakali, Rai and Newar will be screened during the event. The three best films will be decided by a panel of three judges with Carlos Gomez from Colombia, Kui Ing Seng from Taiwan Indigenous Television, and Shashikala Manandhar from Nepal. Under the Nepal Panorama category, the indigenous films from Nepal will compete with each other, and the best film will receive cash prize and a citation. An ‘Encouragement Award’ is also given in this category. A conference on the topic ‘Indigenous Communication Act’ has also been organized for April 27 from 8 to 10 am. Taiwan Indigenous Television is organizing a film workshop on the last day of the festival. Visitors can also enjoy the food festival where they can sample the various dishes from the Magar, Tamang, Newar, Lohorung, Chepang, and Rai indigenous nationalities of Nepal. Handicraft stalls will also be placed at the festival. Festival Director Sanjog Laapthaa Magar thanked the participants without whom the festival wouldn’t be possible. “This year, we’re showing stories and voices which have never been shown or heard before,” he said. The festival will showcase different visual narratives related to the environment, cultures, folk wisdom and languages. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53678 Tattoo artists from twenty different countries to participate KATHMANDU, April 24: The 3rd International Nepal Tattoo Convention is set to begin from April 26 to 28 at Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg, its organizers informed during the press conference organized at Nepal Tourism Board on Tuesday. The event is organized by Nepal Tattoo Private Limited and supported by Nepal Tourism Board. This year, the convention will showcase over 70 national and international tattoo artists from 20 countries like Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mali, Malaysia, Pakistan, Spain, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, and USA, including Nepal.[break] Jondix, the renowned Spanish tattoo artist, will also be giving a two-hour seminar on Tibetan style and Dot tattooing on April 27 from 11am to 1pm. The live contest includes ten categories like Best Leg Piece – Black and Grey, Best Leg Piece – Color, Best Back Piece, Best of the Day, and Best of the Show. The three-day event will include live tattoo seminars, shows, contests, and traditional music and dance performances by HCH Services of Bhaktapur. Sudhan Subedi, PR and Publicity Officer of Nepal Tourism Board, said, “Apart from promoting this body art as a linking factor, we also want to establish Nepal as a tattoo destination which can boost the Nepali tourism market.” Similarly, Bijay Shrestha, Director of the event, further added, “Oriental style, related to Nepali culture, is very popular among tattoo enthusiasts all over the world, and with this convention we hope to bring together the close-knit community of tattoo artists and help them get acquainted further with the richness of Nepali art, history, religion and culture which has inspired several tattoo designs.” The organizers discussed this year’s lineup of tattoo artists which is said to include some world-class artists and noted their interest to participate in the convention as a great achievement for the country, in terms of tourism and international exposure, as well as culture. “There is so much for Nepali artists to learn from these foreign artists who know so much about the significance of religion and culture through symbols,” added Bijay Gurung, one of the organizers and a Kathmandu-based tattoo artist. The first tattoo convention, organized in 2010 on a national level, witnessed participation of domestic tattoo artists and a few from India and Hong Kkong. With the third edition of the event, the organizers added that hygiene has been prioritized, and the selected venue serves the purpose of both hygiene and accommodation. Local artists from tattoo studios of Kathmandu and Pokhara will be participating this year. The three-day convention lasts from 10am to 7pm everyday and tickets priced at Rs 200 each per day are available at all participating tattoo studios, and Rs 500 for the whole series are available at Mohan’s Tattoo Inn, Thamel. For further information, visit www.nepaltattooconvention.com and www.facebook.com/nepaltattoo, or call at 4700629. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53640 MUMBAI, April 24: Indian singing legend Shamshad Begum, who was the voice behind some of the most famous songs in Bollywood musicals, has died in hospital in Mumbai, her family said on Wednesday. She was 94. Begum made her singing debut in 1947 when she began working on national radio and later became one of the most in-demand playback singers who supply the pre-recorded vocals that are then mimed by Bollywood´s leading ladies.[break] One of her most famous performances came in the blockbuster movie Mughal-e-Azam, considered a milestone in Indian cinema. "She passed away last night (Tuesday)," Begum´s daughter Usha told the Press Trust of India news agency, adding that her mother had been unwell for several months. Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said Begum´s singing style had set new benchmarks and described her death as an "irreparable loss" to the world of music. Born in 1919 in the northern Indian city of Amristar, Begum hailed from a conservative family and promised her father to never appear on-screen. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53613 We complain and we argue that there’s nothing much youths can do until and unless they join mainstream politics. But even if we decide to join politics, reaching a position of influence isn´t easy as the older generation is not yet ready to cede the power. It’s a catch-22 situation for the younger generation and most of us have learnt to live with it. A host of issues concerning younger generation in Nepal have not been addressed by the government. Unemployment, among all other problems, tops the list. Every single day, Nepal is losing its “working age” population to Gulf and other countries. Nothing is being done to tap the youthful energies without which development of a country is impossible. [break] Implementation of the youth policy, introduced in 2010, has failed to remedy the situation and the youth today are seeking change of the leadership. On democracy “We can voice ourselves more openly now compared to the past and I think Maoists are to be credited for this change,” says Dipendra KC, 23, president of YUWA, a youth organization based in Kathmandu. He added that people are more aware of their rights now and do not keep mum if they feel deprived of their rights. He is of the view that policy makers understand the role young people can play in the development of the country but are still hesitant to let them take the helms. “If I want to start a business, nobody will finance me. The Yuva Swarojgar Yojana (Youth Self-employment Fund), which was set up to provide loans to young people who want to start a business, is being used for the benefit of cadres of political parties,” KC opines. On the other hand, Pukar Bam, 25, co-founder of Bibekshil Nepali, a political party founded by the youth, agrees with KC and adds that democracy has been fruitful only for some political leaders and party workers. Bam adds that in the recent five to six years, he has seen youth coming back from abroad seeking opportunities to do things at home. "They are very much willing to step out of their comfort zone to bring about change," he says. “I think that’s the only good thing this whole political instability has brought us,” he says, summing that the youths know if they don’t do something, everything will remain the same. Change doesn’t come easy and it takes time. In Nepal, however, change is not something that’s welcomed with open arms. You take a step forward and there will be scores of people trying to pull you back. That’s the point Pushpa Gurung, 23, field coordinator at Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj, wants to make. “Unity has definitely risen since the restoration of democracy but moving forward is still difficult because there is always someone pulling you back. It does not matter even if what you are doing is for the good of the country,” she says. Prasun Rai, 25, an intern at Actionaid Nepal, also raises the issue of youth in the rural areas not being updated with the whole scenario. “Privileged youths are aware about a lot of things but those in the remote areas are unaware of it.” Disagreeing with Rai’s statement, Aman Lama, 21, a member of Activista, a youth platform, says, “They are aware about the happenings. What they lack is the opportunity to express themselves. Since they are far from the capital city, they don’t have much exposure in the media and, hence, we assume that they are unaware.” Lama thinks that youth outside the Valley should also get equal space in media so that they are encouraged to do more. On federalism The erstwhile kingdom of Nepal was renamed Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal on May 28, 2008 when the Constituent Assembly overwhelmingly favored the abolishment of the monarchy. However, the federal system has yet to be given a complete shape as the political parties cannot decide how to go about it and how the separate states should function. The Constituent Assembly served its term for four years but was not able to produce the much anticipated “Constitution of Nepal” due to the inability of the parties to resolve some issues. Rai, who thinks federalism is not suitable for Nepal, shares, “Nepal’s geography is such that federalism doesn’t make sense. People might get services faster and that need not have to travel to Kathmandu to get passports, but the cost of running the country would rise too. And if it’s the development we are talking about, it can still be done without dividing Nepal if we come up with proper plans.” Lama, however, pointed out another problem. “It would be difficult to put in place a proper taxation system. If one state increases the price of basic commodities, what will happen?” questions Lama. He also expressed that some states might be richer than another and that might invite instability. Bam, too, thinks that the overall cost would rise and so would corruption. Also, he says, “We need to ask whether federalism is actually wanted by the people or the leaders. I don’t see any problems with the five development zones. It’s just that it’s not functioning very well due to the inability of the government.” Bam is certain that the elections will take place for a new Constituent Assembly. "We should vote for people only after going through their Curriculum Vitae," he says. “We need to vote for someone who can lead us and not disappoint us and for that to happen, we need to make sure that we vote for the right person.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53580 Bloom Nepal to concentrate on technical and quantitative learning KATHMANDU, April 22: Many of those who could have been child prodigies in their own fraternity might have gone unnoticed due to the socioeconomic causes of education inequity, or simply lack of the necessary ‘push.’ Therefore, a group of Nepali youths who graduated from some of the renowned universities in the world decided to tackle this deficiency.[break] “Bloom Nepal was established with the ideology to identify the talents of those students and polish them. We want to help children embark on a journey of self-discovery,” says Ram Krishna Rijal, Chairman of the Bloom Nepal School Network. The first school of the network, in Ekanta Kuna in Patan, was inaugurated on April 15 and the first session is set to begin from April 28 for classes one, four and seven. Plans to expand the network in various locations over the years, and upgrade each year and eventually incorporate the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at an affordable price are also in the pipeline. According to Rijal, the framework for teaching is based on three pillars – specialized education which includes customized curriculum apart from the syllabus prescribed by the government, good communication skills through the medium of technology and regular reading habit, and technical and financial aid for students to pursue their interests. “We have to follow the government syllabus which will cover most part of the classroom hours. One hour per day will be allocated for specialized courses,” adds Rijal. The school has adapted the syllabus from the Matematička gimnazija (Mathematical Gymnasium) of Serbia and students will take up advanced courses in Math during these extra class hours. For the first year, as they are starting small, the school aims at establishing regular reading habit right from the primary level. “We want to build up reading habit gradually, in a way that doesn’t pressure students so they will start reading because they want to, not because we tell them to,” said Rijal, adding, “In time, we want to incorporate additional courses on arts and sports as per each student’s needs.” “What happens abroad is that if you’re good at one thing, there are several opportunities for you to excel in that particular field and make a living out of it. In Nepal, students are often pressured to be an all-round packages,” says Rabindra Shrestha, administrator of Bloom Nepal who also has plans to teach Economics at the school when classes are upgraded to secondary level. The self-designed curriculum focuses largely on subjects with technical and quantitative base such as Mathematics and Economics which require critical analysis. The first Nationwide Mathematics Olympiad was also organized by the school with the aim of making students at par with the international standard, so after four or five years, these students can represent Nepal in the International Mathematics Olympiad. Despite the fact that the group of proprietors is young, some of them being fresh graduates with no experience, they say they are appreciative of the importance of education and believe that finance should not hamper knowledge. They charge nominal tuition fees and are willing to provide need-based financial aid. Giving back to the country Rijal came up with the idea which would later take the shape of Bloom Nepal when he was studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. “Students there would talk about technology, entrepreneurship, and most importantly, creating things. The environment there made me realize that Nepali youths are misaligned and that it is halting the country from going further,” he says. Rijal, who is originally from Rukum, studied IB in the UK and went to MIT on scholarship, believes that there are many talented students in Nepal who need opportunities and exposure. Similarly, Rabindra, who graduated with a degree in Accounting and Finance from Saint Peters University, US, hopes to change the mentality that being a jack of all trades is important. The school started with the concept of educational reforms, most importantly to progress at the same pace as the rest of the world in terms of education without letting business cloud the ideal motive behind this establishment. The school library, too, will be open to the community of Ekanta Kuna once the sessions begin and slowly to the public at large. Setbacks of being young entrepreneurs The staffs at Bloom Nepal are young, and while it has certain advantages, it has been difficult for them to convince parents regarding their commitments. The group asserts that, as starters, they are willing to take risks and it is easy to streamline ideas. It is equally difficult to retain the energy, especially during the early phases when a lot of manual job is required and things get tiring. “Some of the staffs are fresh graduates and we’ll be organizing distance workshops and feedback mechanisms to track their progress to help them gain effective experiences,” informs Rijal. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53579 KATHMANDU, April 22: Sixty software developers, engineers, designers, and technologists from Kathmandu came together at the NASA International Space Apps Challenge: Kathmandu Hackathon over the weekend of April 20 and 21 at DECC Hall, United World Trade Center at Tripureshwor. The winning team, Mars Odyssey, consisting of Binayak Dhakal, Roshan Bhatta and Sakar Pudasaini, developed an easy-to-use tool to teach children programmatic thinking without the need for technical programming knowledge. The 48 hour event was organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and YoungInnovations within the framework of the SERVIR-Himalaya Initiative supported by USAID. The event was part of the larger NASA International Space Apps Challenge, with similar events being held at the same time in cities on all seven continents.[break] The top three teams were announced at the closing ceremony on Sunday and awarded cash prizes of Rs 30,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000. Arun Aryal, Deepak Pradhan, Roshan Batta, and Anil Karki, members of the team Phoenix, were awarded first runner-up for their all-terrain rover, which showcased the ability of the Mars Rover Curiosity to explore and assist in human research in space. Second-runner up Deep Space 2, comprising of Rabindra Kharel and Deerghayu Shrestha, developed a method to detect and visualize anomalies in spatiotemporal data that could eventually be used to detect hazards and enable faster visualization of the region’s climatic conditions. Sixty participants, including 16 women, divided themselves into 17 teams, and used earth observation resources and geo-ICT tools to work on challenges that included mapping emergency service providers in Kathmandu through an online interface, creating a mobile application that brings information about space and the universe to your fingertips, and developing a means for common people to remotely control and conduct research on ArduSat, an open-source nanosatellite from a personal computer. In the week running up to the Hackathon, Women LEAD, an organization working with female students in the Kathmandu Valley to teach women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and activism, and Karkhana, a for-profit company aimed at developing the culture of experimentation in Nepal in the fields of electronics and technology, organized a bootcamp for seven talented female engineering and IT students, all of whom participated in the Kathmandu Hackathon. ICIMOD and YoungInnovations will submit the top two solutions to NASA for global judging and awards, which will be solely decided by NASA. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53536 LOS ANGELES, April 22: Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon was arrested for disorderly conduct in the US state of Georgia after authorities detained her husband for drunk driving, US media reported Sunday. While cops questioned her husband Jim Toth after seeing the couple´s car swerving early Friday, the actress allegedly did not make any new friends.[break] Entertainment news website TMZ reported she started acting up, asking "Do you know my name?" An officer answered by saying, "No, I don´t need to know your name," to which the 37-year-old reportedly shot back: "You´re about to find out who I am ... You are going to be on national news." Witherspoon, one of Hollywood´s highest paid stars with a reputation as being something of a straight arrow, also became "verbal" and "ornery" at the amount of time police were taking with her husband, according to TMZ. Both the actress, famous for her huge "Legally Blonde" hits, and her spouse were taken to jail, booked and released, TMZ said. Witherspoon, in Georgia to film a new movie, won the best actress Academy Award for 2005´s "Walk the Line." http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53525 JANAKPUR, April 22: Although the importance of Mithila Art is widespread in the capital as well as elsewhere in the world, this art form is limited and hasn’t developed from the mud walls and porches of houses in the Mithila region. This ancient art form was started by housewives, for the purposes of decorating their houses and till date, the art form is taken up mostly by women. Mithila art refers to artworks which depict the daily lifestyle of people belonging to the Mithila region. [break] Mithila art started in 1969 in India’s Mithila Region and came to Nepal in 1990. This art form is prevalent in India and Nepal, but they are different from each other. In Nepal, this art is known as Mithila art whereas it’s known as Madhubani art in India. Although the most artworks from both the regions look similar, Madhubani art is done by sketching pictures with the help of a pen whereas Mithila art is created directly with colors. Comparatively, Mithila art requires less work. However, the demand is greater in the international market. Chanda Kumar Sah, who grew up surrounded by Madhubani art, completed her Masters in Fine Art is now pursuing her interests in Mithila art form. Born and brought up in Bihar and married to a resident of Janakpur, Sah says that she has started to give more importance to Mithila art in her life, so that she can better embrace the culture of Janakpur. Sah officially completed her education 10 years ago and for the past five years, has been working in Mithila arts. She has created over 50 pieces of art work, which she has managed to do in her free time, when she isn’t occupied with her household chores. Sah’s works have been exhibited in many art exhibitions across India. Six years ago, she participated in her first exhibition in Nepal. Although Sah is impressed with the art scenario of Kathmandu, she has learnt of the international popularity of Mithila art, from the same. Hence, upon returning to Janakpur after her first exhibition in Kathmandu, Sah has devoted all her free time to creating Mithila art. Apart from creating art work on her own, Sah has also opened her own Tulika Arts Center in Janakpur. Through this arts center, she gives out training on visual art, fine art, Mithila painting and making handicrafts. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53524 KATHMANDU, April 22: Actress Nisha Adhikari, who set out towards Everest on April 9, has been barred from climbing the peak due to the inability to provide a permission letter from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to Everest Pollution Control Committee (EPCC). According to Mingmar Sherpa, Chief of Seven-Summit Trek Expedition, Nisha as well as actor Arjun Karki, were taken as high altitude workers since it takes more than three months to acquire a permission to climb Mt Everest. He further stated that it’s not against the law. [break] However, Kapindra Rai, Program Coordinator of the Everest Pollution Control Committee, clearly said that a high altitude worker and a climber are different. The certificates that they receive from the Ministry are also different and cannot be used in place of one another, said Rai. Ministry spokesperson, Mohan Sapkota, stated that the actors should have taken permission before they embarked on the expedition instead of disguising themselves as high altitude workers. Both Nepali and foreign citizens are required to pay 25,000 US Dollars in revenue before they scale the highest peak in the world. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53481 KATHMANDU, April 20: A youth initiated and run online radio, Origami Radio, has been operating in the UK since the past month. Born out of a desire to have a platform wherein youths can speak their minds, talk about pertaining issues and generally have a free stage to speak without any rules imposing on them, Origami Radio is Shishir Subba’s brainchild. Shishir, 27, is currently based in Ashford, Kent in the UK. Shishir says, “I started contemplating about how we can actually pour out our frustrations, express our visions, find other people with similar vision and above all, develop mutual respect and cultural understanding among people of all nationalities and religions. I also thought that it is very essential to establish one strong media to connect Nepalese youth across the globe so that they can share, communicate, discuss and be able to make real movements instead of just bashing the government, system and situation of the country back home.”[break] Bijay Rai/Republica L to R: Prabin Shakya and Aman Joshi The programs include a song request and dedication show which is getting quite popular. “We have rough drafts of the radio shows we will be producing very soon. We have decided to open our own studio in Kathmandu as well from where we will run interesting and interactive shows that will be aired globally via internet. Our shows will be about current affairs, and will also include discussions of the history and the critical analysis of them instead of just feeding plain news to passive listeners,” he says. An interesting feature, in the form of Red Record Butt on, in the radio is where anyone can come in to express their thoughts. Everyone is welcome to record their feelings of angst against the country, their feelings on certain situations and anything else they might like to get off their chest. Of course, the records will be supervised for decency before they’re aired. The response in the UK being fairly good, Origami Radio will also be airing out of Nepal in a couple of months. The Nepal team of Origami Radio includes Aman Joshi, 25, and Prabin Shakya, 27, among others and the team is busy preparing to establish the radio here. Aman, who is pursuing ACCA course, says, “Radio is a one way communication medium but through Origami Radio we want to expand it and invite more listeners to join in.” The idea is to involve ordinary young people directly by inviting them to host programs and they will also be paid for their effort. Apart from Origami Radio, these young people also have Origami Pictures and an event management company in the works. Through Origami Pictures, they plan to make documentaries and music videos. Prabin, Program Coordinator at Department of Community Programs at Dhulikhel Hospital, says, “There are two kinds of development works; one is donor funded and the other is solely through the efforts of the citizens here. Such stories need to come out, too.” The UK team has recently released a music video (James Shrestha n GX Souls’ Yo Timile Garda Ho) while those in Nepal are working on a post production of Upendra Shrestha’s video which will be released soon. Aspiring musicians will get an opportunity to realize their dreams through the support of Origami Pictures. The team of Origami Radio intends to host music concerts to raise money and have invited Abhaya Subba and the Steam Injuns to the UK in the summer. Finding capital to establish the online radio is a challenge that the team here is currently facing. The UK team’s seed money of around 600 pounds was also pooled from the members themselves and the generosity of some of the elders. “Our goal is to be sustainable more than profit oriented,” says Aman. Origami Radio for its founders denotes flexibility of imagination and an arena where ‘freedom of expression is respected’. Youth can air their views and make themselves heard. Visit www.origamiradio.com to listen to the programs. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53477 Film: Ek Thi Daayan Director: Kannan Iyer Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Huma Qureshi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kalki Koechlin KATHMANDU, April 21:  ‘Ek Thi Dayaan’ gets right into the scary part from the beginning. A few minutes into the film, where we’re watching Bobo the Baffler (Emraan) perform his magic tricks, we see flashes of a little girl holding an eerie looking doll. [break] Bobo’s haunted with scary hallucinations and voices, and he visits the psychiatrist whom he’s known since childhood. We are taken to his childhood in flashback when he goes through hypnosis. We see him and his little sister go down to hell in an elevator. Then enters Diana (Konkona) into their lives, first as a nanny and later as a step mother.  Bobo firmly believes that Diana is a witch, and he continues to be mistrusting and defiant of her as she continues to fuel his beliefs in the calmest way possible. And as Bobo says, “We were playing cat and mouse but it wasn’t clear who the cat was and who was the mouse.” They maintain a cat mouse relationship, and eventually he is taken to a psychiatrist who dismisses his claims. The film revolves around the age old legends of daayans (witches) whose powers were said to be hidden in their long hair. Konkona is credibly scary and there are some hair raising moments in the film aided by shrill laughter and sudden flashes. But the second half ruins the prospects of the entire film and towards the end; the film is completely messed up. Seeing the daayan crawl down the building wall stops being frightening. Bobo’s supportive girlfriend and later wife, Huma, has a believable role in the film but the same cannot be said for Kalki, who is wasted in her role as the suspected daayan. Also, the moniker ‘Bobo’ is quite distracting and even funny during certain scenes in the film. Screening at QFX Cinemas http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53476  Life lessons learnt the fun way KATHMANDU, April 21: Hitting the theatre to watch ‘The Croods 3D’ might just be the perfect family outing destination this week. This animation promises adventure, entertainment and life lessons, all packed into a fast-paced one and a half hours. The Croods are a family of prehistoric times and have been living in caves, hunting for food and protecting themselves from predators. They follow the rules written on the walls and believe that change is bad and so is anything new. Grug (Cage) is the patriarch of the family, protective, especially of his daughter Eep (Emma Stone), who, unlike her other family members is curious and wants more from life. [break] The world as they know it is about to end (“da da daaaaa!”) and so the family, led by a nomadic boy, Guy (Reynolds), and his ideas embark on a journey. He’s already discovered fire and as their obstacle-filled journey embarks, he comes up with inventions that save the day. The other characters in the story don’t have contributions to the main plot, but are joyful additions that add in some humor to the movie. A simple animation, it gives the message of living life versus simply surviving, embracing and adapting to changes and the importance of love. Although set in pre-historic times, the themes, dialogues and references are pretty much modern and relatable. The movie is sure to be a hit amongst young watchers. However, adult viewers might find a lack of punching comedy scenes. But whatever the case, the movie is worth a watch and whatever your age, it will make you want to go home and give your Dad a hug. Screening at QFX Cinemas http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53475 Director: Joseph Kosinski Cast: Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo, Zoë Bell, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. KATHMANDU, April 21: Oblivion is yet another testimony that Tom Cruise is a Hollywood brat. Constantly overhyped because of his star power, almost all of his action movies drag on and this one is no different. The movie kicks off with Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) having a recurring dream of New York ‘before the war’ and a woman in the Empire State Building. Harper is living in a ‘tower’ sixty years after the war between humans and scavengers in which the latter destroyed the Moon and left the planet Earth lifeless. Harper is a technician living with his Communications Officer, Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). His job is to repair drones which guard the Earth from possible invasions by remaining scavengers. [break] Morgan Freeman’s character comes in with no surprise. His group, who is initially mistaken for scavengers, turns out to be the remaining human survivors on Earth; leather-clad fierce bunch of guys fighting to set their planet free from outer space interference. Oblivion does little or no justice to the genre of science fiction, even the most visually captivating scenes in this movie do not compensate for all that goes on, in the foreground. The movie, with the level of virtual sophistication it has, would have been okay if it weren’t for the confusing narrative. The audience is expected to figure things out on their own and with enough reasoning; one can find a lot of loopholes which makes the movie absurd in the most unflattering way. The title aptly summarizes how the audience is left to feel in the end. Screening at QFX Cinemas http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53480 Children visit the library in their free time DAMAULI, April 20: Til Bahadur Thapa wakes up at six in the morning to finish off work at his employer’s shop. After lunch he heads to the child welfare committee at Ganeshman Chowk at 11. After the child welfare committee started an informal education targeted at child laborers, children like Til Bahadur, who works in Damauli Bazaar as a child labor, has developed a habit of studying. 16-year-old Til Bahadur works in Bikas Ice Cream and tea shop in Damauli. He spends two hours per day studying in the child welfare committee and has made friends with the books at the community child library operated by the welfare committee.[break] “I want to learn English and that’s why I read mostly English language books,” says Til Bahadur, holding a book from the library, adding, “I also read stories, poems and books written in Nepali.” The library is run by the welfare committee through the help of different organizations. The readers of the library’s almost 2100 books are child laborers from Damauli’s hotels and shops. “The library has just been established and since the children come here for informal classes they’re the first readers of these books,” says Santosh Godar, Program Coordinator of Tanahu’s District Child Welfare Committee, “Other children are also welcome to the library.” The children’s library hosts stories, photo stories, child literature, reports, vocabularies and novels in both Nepali and English language. Ramnath Bhattarai, Coordinator of the library operating committee, said that after the district development committee allocated Rs 480,000 in the previous financial year, the library was set up after buying the physical infrastructure and some books. Through Usha Pokhrel, member of the library committee, Nepal Library Foundation donated five computers and thus the attraction of the library has increased. The library has also received books from Govardhan Sharma Memorial Trust, Room to Read, Nepal English Language Teachers Association and the American Embassy. Bhattarai also informed that Help Nepal Network has promised to set up an e-library within a month. According to him, the library will be used as a medium to increase and develop the children’s knowledge and skills as well as keep them in touch with computer skills. “If the children’s free time is utilized properly then there will be positive results,” he said, adding, “Even parents and guardians should encourage the children to go to the library.” The library is normally open from four in the afternoon to seven at night. During holidays, it’s open from two in the afternoon to seven at night. At present, the children have to visit the library to read the book of their choice but seeing the children’s enthusiasm, preparations are ongoing to ensure that children get membership and take the book home. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53439 SEOUL, April 20: "Gangnam Style" star Psy was praised by South Korea´s president and slammed by its state broadcaster all on the same day Thursday, as his new song "Gentleman" made more than just musical waves. While President Park Geun-Hye cited Psy´s "exemplary" respect for copyright principles, KBS television banned the "Gentleman" music video saying it could encourage anti-social behaviour.[break] A KBS statement suggested the offending sequences in the video, which has already clocked up 140 million views on YouTube, showed Psy jaywalking down an empty street and then kicking a traffic cone labelled "No Parking". KBS said the images might set a bad example to younger viewers and did not meet the standards set by the state broadcaster. "We strictly forbid any material that might disturb basic public order," the statement said. The video ban came as President Park Geun-Hye favourably name-checked Psy during a meeting with policymakers in which she urged a "paradigm shift" from an economy based on manufacturing to one that embraced creativity. "Growth led by a few big firms and the government are bound to be limited... we need a healthy ecosystem of creative entrepreneurs," she said, citing late Apple founder Steve Jobs and Microsoft´s Bill Gates as examples. Rampant piracy in IT and cultural products needs to be curbed to encourage more creation of software, she added, praising Psy for paying to borrow a dance move from another K-pop act for his "Gentleman" video. The video features a hip-swinging dance originally performed in 2009 by popular girlband Brown Eyed Girls for their hit "Abracadabra". In order to incorporate the routine, Psy paid an unspecified fee to the team of choreographers who created it. "This recognition of the value of other people´s creativity is a very exemplary case," Park said. The "Gentleman" video shows Psy, wearing his signature sunglasses, dancing at various locations in and around Seoul including a high-end clothing store, restaurant, swimming pool and a library. The storyline features the singer teasing and playing practical jokes on women, such as pulling their chairs away as they are about to sit or untying a woman´s bikini top at a swimming pool. It was the video of "Gangnam Style", and in particular Psy´s signature horse-riding dance, that pushed him to global stardom last year after it was posted on YouTube and turned into a viral sensation. A satire on the luxury lifestyle of Seoul´s upscale Gangnam district, it has become the most-watched YouTube video of all time, registering more than 1.5 billion views since it debuted last July. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53437 KATHMANDU, April 19: Portraying the bleak situations of the people captured by the army during the time of the long Maoist insurgency, Badhshala shows us how innocents suffered alongside the revolutionary Maoist cadres. The film is full of strong names from the current theatre and film industry: Anup Baral, Dayahang Rai, Arpan Thapa, Saugat Malla and Aashant Sharma. It’s known that the beatings during the film are real. When the film opens, we see an army officer, Dayahang Rai, interrogating a masked man. The questioning is followed by equal measures of beatings and verbal abuse. Prisoners are doled out both these abuses in abundance throughout the film.[break] Much of the scenes are captured in mid shots and close-ups, perhaps to let us come closer to the plight of the prisoners and the intensity of the interrogators. The viewer will constantly be reminded of the fact that Anup Baral is very much the theatre actor. An excellent one, no doubt, but the pacing and the expressive movements seem much too large for the silver screen. Aashant Sharma is quite the surprise. His presence is not very long but he does put up a fine performance. We see him as a soldier coming to check the sleeping prisoners who then rouses them up and makes them sing for him. After he bids them to sleep, he comes in to wake them again and punishes them by making them stand up all night. This also makes the viewer understand that it was one of the abuses suffered by the prisoners. Almost the entire portion of the film introduces us to masked men in captivity. As the name suggests, Badhshala is kept within the boundaries of the dirty prison house. We don’t see how the men get there. The prisoners are threatened to confess crimes, divulge names and locations, their families are constantly used as emotional baits, and they’re forced to sign false confessions. There are two prominent characters amongst the prisoners in the film: one who constantly states that he is innocent and the other who claims to be a Maoist upfront. As the film progresses and the abuses continue, these prisoners seem to get stronger in spirit while their physical condition weakens. We see each of them even develop a certain kind of relationship with Dayahang and Anup. The vengeful and seemingly bloodthirsty officer that is Arpan Thapa is a contrast to Anup’s softhearted Major. He gets more and more agitated as the Maoist revolutionary, Saugat Malla, continues to defy. Badhshala is unsatisfying in many points. Not much time has gone by when the film breaks for interval, it doesn’t show us concretely how the innocence of the prisoner was found to be so, the brief presence of women prisoners towards the end appear like an afterthought, and the ending also is quite unimpressive. We’re left to fill in the gaps by ourselves. Pandit has worked to show us the conditions of the prisoners taken in by the army, and while we learn quite a few things from watching the film, we’re still left with an unsatisfied feeling at the end. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53436 KATHMANDU, April 19: Those who are involved in the Occupy Baluwatar Movement call this a fight of principles and not of numbers. Since December 28, 2012, every morning from 9 to 11 am, protesters, however many in number, have gathered outside the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar, standing in solidarity to end impunity and gender-based violence in Nepal. What started after the case of Sita Rai has become a platform to seek justice for one and all. The Occupy Baluwatar Movement reached its 106 days of protesting and fighting against injustice. We talk to some youth dedicated to this movement about what this movement means to them.[break] How did you first join Occupy Baluwatar? Lasata: I found out about this movement through Facebook and through one of my friends who is very active in this movement. As I have to go to college in the morning, I go to Occupy Baluwatar regularly on Saturdays and my holidays. Shail: Up until the 22nd day, I hadn’t gone to protest although I was following the details. Once I got there and saw what it was really like, I started going regularly as well as documenting the process. Bhaswor Ojha/Republica L to R: Dr Sundip Gurung, Dr Umesh Bogati, Lasata Manandhar, Shail Shrestha, Pratik Shrestha and Sushant Rijal Sundip: I had read an article about Sita Rai which was spreading rapidly in the social media, after which I got to know about the movement and joined in. Umesh: I heard about Occupy Baluwatar through a friend. Since I work in a hospital, I don’t get to join in as often as I like to but I make it a point to be present whenever I am free. Sushant: My sister had participated in the protest and that’s how I came to know about it at first. When I found out that this was an open movement led by common people, I started going frequently. Pratik: I came to know about Occupy Baluwatar through the social media and have been regular in the movement since the 2nd day. What does this movement mean to you? Shail: After joining the movement, I came to the realization that we’re the decision-makers. We have this tendency of thinking that others will take decisions for us. Everybody knows that injustice is happening. This movement proves that making decisions is in our hands. Sundip: Everyone talks about patriotism. Occupy Baluwatar is a platform where we can prove our love for our country. It’s an opportunity for the youth do something for our country. Sushant: There wasn’t any ideological conflict. Everyone was in for justice, and the movement was participatory. So it felt like the movement was also a part of me. In a way, while fighting for people who have suffered injustice, we’re also fighting for ourselves because what happened to them today can happen to any one of us tomorrow. Pratik: Occupy Baluwatar is a unique example of peaceful protesting, different from all the bandas and burning-tyres culture which we are used to. Lasata: Like Pratik said, it’s an epitome of a non-violent protest. The very first day that I went there, it awakened feelings of nationalism and patriotisms in me. Umesh: This movement is about taking the chance to do something on your own rather than blaming others for their inaction. We’ve been dedicated to this movement and plan to continue it in the future as well if our demands aren’t met. From allegations of being funded by certain organizations to the movement being diverted from its objectives, there have been some criticisms about Occupy Baluwatar. What are your views on them? Sundip: We’re so used to not being delivered what was promised that no matter what one does, people will be critical about it. When someone criticizes without knowing the issue at hand in depth, that isn’t good. And that’s what’s happening. I believe that there has been a bit of confusion, even in the media, about the movement’s goals. We have short-term and long-term goals. Our short-term goals include the five cases of violence against women whereas our long-term goal seeks to end impunity and political protection. Shail: It’s obvious that at one point, criticisms will start to come in. Critical thinking isn’t necessarily bad. I think that those who criticize need to be more aware about the realities of the movement before saying anything about it and not just be negative about the movement from what they’ve heard elsewhere. Pratik: About Occupy Baluwatar diverting from its agenda, I would like to say that it’s true that Occupy Baluwatar started off with the case of Sita Rai, which in itself is an issue of impunity as well as gender-based violence. The agenda here is addressing the problem of impunity which is prevalent in our country while also focusing on other issues of injustice. Occupy Baluwatar became this platform to seek justice. Sushant: Criticisms could also have come in because of differences in perspectives. There were some who came to the movement and discontinued because perhaps they felt that their perspective wasn’t counted. There were people who believed that blocking roads and calling strikes was the way to go, which differed from the non-violent characteristic of Occupy Baluwatar. Also, it’s not necessary that everyone’s perspective is implemented. Everyone is heard but the idea which is favored by many is put into practice. Failing to internalize a collective decision as one’s own might also lead to conflict and such criticisms. What would you say are the achievements of this movement till date? Sundip: If we look at our short-term demands, most of them have had positive developments. Apart from reaching our targets, I feel that the biggest achievement of Occupy Baluwatar is that it has managed to gather likeminded youth of this country. Umesh: Occupy Baluwatar has shown us that to have our demands met, we don’t have to join political parties or take up violent measures. Lasata: After joining the movement, I’ve become a believer in the fact that when the public unites, we’re able to bring about changes. Power is in our hands. This realization the movement has given to many. Shail: Occupy Baluwatar got people speaking. We’ve heard about how so many people came to report similar cases of injustice which happened to them after finding out about Occupy Baluwatar. Hence, the movement was able to motivate people not to stay silent and to stand up for themselves. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53435 KATHMANDU, April 19: Teach For Nepal (TFN) celebrated its public launch at Hotel Shanker on Thursday. Kedar Bhakta Mathema, former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University; Asko Luukainnen, Finnish Ambassador to Nepal; Peter W Bodde, US Ambassador to Nepal, and Shekhar Golchha, Director at Golchha Organization attended the event.[break] Shisir Khanal, Co-founder and CEO of Teach For Nepal, a national movement that aims to solve the most pervasive social injustice in the country, said, “Today, in Nepal, a child’s place of birth and the socioeconomic context of their parents determine where they study. Over 80% of Nepal’s children are enrolled in public schools but when they sit for the SLC exams, less than 40% pass whereas those who can afford to go to private schools, they secure higher marks and pass and have the option of continuing with their higher education.” Teach for Nepal plans on bringing Nepal’s outstanding university graduates to teach in public schools for two years. The public launch marked the beginning of this approach to end education inequity. This year, 33 young graduates, selected from over 500 applications, begin teaching in 16 schools in Lalitpur District. These young individuals, called Teach for Nepal Fellows, come from all over Nepal and are engineers, journalists, writers, scientists, and development activists. The not-for-profit organization has further plans to increase the number of Fellows every year and place 50 Fellows in 2014 and 100 Fellows in 2015, reaching to more districts and underserved communities in Nepal. Over the long term, it is set to build an alumni network that will work inside and outside of the education system to support long-term transformation. During the two years of placement, the Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in leadership training programs and workshops. “The programs will be designed to enhance the Fellows’ skills set in presentation, project management, communication, critical thinking and writing,” noted Co-founder and Director of Training of TFN, Swastika Shrestha. TFN, being a part of the Teach For All global network, aims to expand educational opportunities internationally by increasing and accelerating the impact of independent social enterprises that enlist their nations’ most promising future leaders in addressing educational needs. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53434 KATHMANDU, April 19: Chanda Devi Shrestha Rai, Executive Director of Sankalpa was born in Gorkha in a middle class family. She recalls having to walk six days to sit for her SLC exams in Kathmandu. Early on, Rai’s father criticized over sending his daughter to school and when she took up nursing, which wasn’t a respectable profession then, it took a long time for her father to convince himself that his daughter was making the right decisions.[break] Rai grew up seeing women die in her village due to lack of proper health services and when she finished her Masters, she went back to her village and established a 15 bed district hospital with the support of the government and the Ministry of Health. She cites this particular event as the stepping stone of her career which also helped her convince her father that she was on the right path. Rai was sent to the American University of Beirut in Denmark on scholarship to continue her studies during the time of civil war. During her one-year tenure as the Executive Director at Sankalpa, Rai has helped in organizing the citizenship campaign of 2012 which persuaded various party leaders to commit themselves in drafting a constitution that favors undisputed rights for all women. Sankalpa’s mission statement is ‘Women’s Alliance for Peace, Justice and Democracy’ and although the organization was initiated in 2006 when the peace process began, it was only in 2011 that it was legally registered. Sankalpa works with several networks and its focus areas include resolution on women participation, security and lobbying against violence on women. The organization has three prime objectives - ensure equality for women of diverse backgrounds, building capacity of women in leadership and participation and advocating on behalf of women. It provides master trainings in regional and VDC level in all 75 districts of the country. Rai cites her parents and teachers as her inspiration. Her unforgettable moment includes the time when she was awaiting her convocation and the Israel massacre forced all the international students to leave Denmark. She went up to her professor and told him that she wouldn’t leave without her certificate. After her professor handed over a printed document, Rai traveled in a cargo ship from Denmark to Israel, Cyprus, Karachi and finally made it back home. “Being a woman, it is important to balance your personal and professional life. Career is important to be self dependent but family is not to be forgotten,” she says. Rai was featured on “Inspirations: The essence of life”, a personality-based television series presented by Media Gallery and Global Exposition and Management Services in association with Republica. The program is aired on Nepal Television every Wednesday at 10:10pm. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53433 KATHMANDU, April 19: The British College (TBC) and the Nepalis Academy of Management (NAM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ensure the promotion and development of management research in Nepal on April 18. NAM aims to promote management research, education and knowledge dissemination in Nepal as well as advance management theory in both local and global contexts.[break] “The British College will support NAM by providing fully furnished offices for free to help assist this not-for-profit organisation achieve its aim and assist them with the publication of their Management Journal,” stated the press release. In return, the Nepalis Academy of Management will provide TBC students with access to practical experiences like providing opportunities to attend and present at academic conferences. NAM is also said to help create an educational environment that will benefit TBC students and faculty members by providing regular access to both local and international lecturers and guest speakers. “Both sides intend to provide forums for academics to present and publish research and promote the development of research and education activities throughout Nepal,” further stated the release. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53340 KATHMANDU, April 18: From crushing on a teacher to making out in library corners to stealing college property – deep dark secrets of high school or college lives are no longer limited to slumber parties or spin the bottle games. Welcome to a new trend of spilling the beans, in front of the entire online community, courtesy Facebook and Google forms, ‘College Confession Pages’. A global online phenomenon, college confession pages are viral at the moment, including in Kathmandu. It’s perhaps the first thing that most students or alumni check on their Facebook pages, and no doubt that it’s the hottest topic in colleges at present. It’s also an example of how individuals will respond to the power of anonymity and an easy access platform to either use or abuse the freedom of expression.[break] Mohit Rauniyar, Little Angels’ School alumnae, found himself hooked to the Little Angels Confession page. “I regularly check this page, even more so after I posted a confession myself, and a girl confessed that she used to like me for four years, back when we were in school. The posts tell funny as well as interesting stories,” shares Rauniyar. “This page is very active. On an average, there’s at least one post every five minutes. In less than a week, the page has received over 2,000 likes already,” he adds. The idea is simple. Someone creates a college confession page of a particular college they are or were associated with and takes up the responsibility of administrating it, waiting for confessions from fellow collegians who can anonymously post in their confessions in a Google form. The confessions that come in are then posted on the institution’s Facebook page, to which there’s public access. Although this page isn’t officially owned by the college authorities, the page does use the name of the institution. The consequences, uncannily, can turn nasty. According to Ayush Man Tamrakar, President of Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) Student Council, KCM Confession page was one of the first to instigate the fad here in Kathmandu. It’s also one of the first to be shut down, due to orders from the college management after the page started to create havoc. “This idea was a powerful tool which, if it had been used in a better way, could have been something positive,” says Tamrakar who believes that this trend was inevitable. However, when in the hands of the wrong people, things tend to quickly go the other way round. “People were crossing their limits with the confessions,” shares Tamrakar. He points out that the power to control the direction of the page was in the hands of the admin, but in this case, they had failed to show responsibility and sensitivity. In a matter of three weeks, for which the page was active, the page managed to disturb the students’ social lives and relationships, says Tamrakar. “People were the same but people’s opinions of other people change,” he opines. However, Tamrakar isn’t totally against such platforms. “These confession pages are a good thing as it allows people to put down their views without fear. However, the way it was being used was an act of defamation,” he continues. Elsewhere, too, the scenario seems to be pretty much similar. Posts have been directed to teachers, friends, seniors, college management, and that too by naming names in derogatory terms and abusive language. Since administrators of these pages have their say in what to post and what not to, the responsibility of making this a fun and positive platform is on the administrator’s shoulders. Lack of discretion and filtering from the administrator’s sides can also easily change the atmosphere of the page and the institution itself. “I started a confessions page for Kathmandu School of Law (KSL) thinking that it would be something fun. And initially, it was fun. There was a lot of previously unseen interaction between seniors and juniors too,” says the admin of KSL Confessions page. “But later, I was flooded with negative posts about teachers, college students and alumni. At first, I posted everything that came in, but later I started being careful about the confessions I made visible on the page,” the admin adds. The admin is now thinking of deactivating the KSL Confessions page. While there are a majority of students who have been hooked by this page and idea (hence, the spread of it like wildfire), there are those who abhor the idea. “No matter how good the intentions of starting such pages, at the end of the day things will turn unpleasant. People are going to get hurt. In these pages, the level of decency is lacking,” opines Smriti Basnet, 20. “This trend caught up so quickly because it’s an exciting pastime for most young people. What could be more interesting than being able to read people’s secrets?” says Basnet who wants to keep her distance from such pages. She hasn’t ‘liked’ her high school’s confession page, although she has taken a brief look at it. Anonymity itself has dual standards. While this invisibility cloak gives the privilege to students to voice their thoughts without having to be fearful of any repercussions, it also can awake their devilish side, and be a free pass to take revenge on or attack their classmates, seniors or teachers on the basis of personal grudges. Yes, there are also innocent crush confessions, funny school anecdotes and some thought-provoking confessions which altogether promote college sprit. But a large part of these pages are breeding a culture of online bullying and hatred. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53339 KATHMANDU, April 18: In its fourth year, KCM Girls on Wheels ’13 is being held on April 20 from eight in the morning. The event is scheduled to start from Civil Mall and end at Kathmandu College of Management in Gwarko. Organized by Kathmandu College of Management BBA 2010-2014 faculty, KCM Girls on Wheels is intended to be a fun women’s scooter rally and an exciting treasure hunt on the way to the finish line.[break] Participants of all age groups are welcome, though a license is a must. The rider should be a female while the pillion rider and navigator could either be a female or a male. They must solve puzzles and complete tasks at around 12 designated checkpoints placed at different points on the route. The winners will be judged on the basis of the tasks done and the time taken to complete the tasks. The participants can then enjoy a feast and a dance party at Purple Haze, Thamel, where the prizes will be distributed. COURTESY: KCM A registration fee of Rs 1,500 per team is required and the team will get two t-shirts, lunch and entrance to the party for the fee. The team who stands first wins two tablets from ENOC, and the second team will be provided with two Sony products from Nepa Hima Trade Link Pvt Ltd worth Rs 30,000. The team that stands third will receive two flight tickets from Yeti Airlines to Pokhara worth Rs 20,000. Other prizes include lucky draw winnings for two Micromax mobiles, gift voucher from Urban Girl and movie tickets from QFX Cinemas. Participation is open to all, and the registration can also be done on the spot during the event itself. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53337 KATHMANDU, April 18: Despite not being allowed outside the college premises during lunch hours, the students of Trinity International College at Dilli Bazaar Heights manage to explore various local eateries in the vicinity after their classes are over. Food items from the likes of fried rice, samosa to momo, chowmein, burger, and sandwich are easily available in the school canteen at reasonable prices, as per the students, but hanging out away from the eyes of teachers and without the compulsion to behave under a certain degree of discipline, as it is in schools and colleges, is obviously more fun.[break] Here are some of the local food joints that some of the past students of the college fondly recall and the current students regularly stop by. Kakako Pasal It is also sometimes referred to as ‘Didiko Pasal.’ Located at the Putali Sadak Chowk, the place is famous for samosa, alu chop and stick-food. It also happens to be on the way to another one of their usual hangout spots. Just a few meters ahead from Kakako Pasal is an alley that houses a small chiya pasal where students gather for morning tea. Humpty Dumpty Pasal These mnemonics that students come up with, especially for their hangout spots, are certainly amusing. The place, which is just beside the college gate, was named after the products that students mostly buy from this shop, (small) packets of Humpty Dumpty noodles. The retail store also has a small space where students go for tea, play the guitar that’s always there and laze around. The salon beside the shop is where the college sends off students with long hair for haircuts. Kavreli Bhojanalaya Kavreli Bhojanalaya offers regular restaurant items on its menu, and one of the main reasons for its popularity is Sound Garden, the practice room on the floor below the eatery. Kavreli Momo Pasal Just around the corner from Trinity College is this small place catering fast food to needy college students. Brother’s Food Café This place quickly earned the name of Daiko Pasal for reasons very obvious. Throughout the years, Daiko Pasal has become the place where most occasions are celebrated, from birthday treats, anniversary treats to treats when someone gets a girlfriend. It serves stick-food and fast food and the Dai there even lets students eat on credit. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53338 KATHMANDU, April 18: The International Center for Academics (ICA) has been awarded the Best Overseas Partner Institution-2013 Award for the Best Services by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India, on the occasion of the 26th Convocation held at the IGNOU headquarters at New Delhi, India on April 12. ICA, which has been providing the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) education in Nepal in affiliation with IGNOU since 2002, was among 82 overseas partner institutions, including the Pan Africa Network, SAARC Tele-Education Network, UNESCO and the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation support centers present in 43 countries.[break] A gold medal and citation were presented to Bisawajit Mukherjee, Chairperson of ICA, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. Bisawajit Mukherjee, chairperson of ICA receiving the ‘Best Overseas Partner Institution - 2013 Award’ from the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee during the 26th Convocation held at the IGNOU headquarters at New Delhi, India on April 12. (Photo courtesy: ICA) This is the second time that ICA has been recognized with the award; ICA had already received the Best Overseas Partner Institution 2010 Award. Besides the achievement of Best Overseas Center, eight students from ICA also received gold medals from IGNOU in the past. Likewise, President of Nepal Dr Ram Baran Yadav conferred on one of the students, Gagan Gurung of ICA, the Nepal Bidhya Bhushan Award in 2011. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53296 NEW DELHI, April 17: India´s top court on Wednesday granted Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt four weeks of freedom before he must return to prison for firearms offences, but refused him more time to meet filming commitments. Dutt, who was convicted for possessing arms supplied by the plotters of deadly blasts in Mumbai in 1993, had appealed on humanitarian grounds for another six months of freedom because of his on-set commitments.[break] In a ruling by the Supreme Court, a two-judge bench said they were "not inclined to extend the time" by the six months Dutt had requested. The muscular, tattooed 53-year-old was freed on bail in 2007 after serving 18 months of a five-year sentence and was allowed his liberty while appealing his conviction. But last month the Supreme Court ruled he must return to jail by April 18 to serve the remainder of his sentence for the possession of firearms supplied by gangland bosses who staged the string of bombings that killed 257 people in Mumbai. At an emotional press conference last month, Dutt, whose late parents were two of India´s biggest film stars, said he would accept his fate and surrender to prison authorities before his deadline. He tearfully said at the time: "I am a shattered man, my family is shattered. These are tough times in my life." The actor, whose mother was Muslim and whose father was Hindu, was acquitted in 2007 of conspiracy charges over the blasts staged by Mumbai´s criminal world. The bombings across the city were seen as retaliation for religious rioting in which mainly Muslims died following the razing of an ancient mosque. Despite the acquittal Dutt was found guilty of possession of an automatic rifle and a pistol, which he insisted were only meant to protect his family amid the highly charged atmosphere in Mumbai following the mosque´s destruction. Analysts estimate there are some 2.5 billion rupees ($45 million) riding on Dutt in Bollywood, with four or five films in the pipeline. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53286 KATHMANDU, April 16: “My name is Mane,” giggles the little boy. The others laugh and call out their names: Tinia, Aaru, and so on. These are their stage names, ones that they happily take on from 10 in the morning to late night. The children of SOS Nepal have been practicing for the play “Tapu” for the last couple of weeks. Prior to that, they were involved in a workshop and then understanding the characters for almost two years with Suman Rayamajhi.[break] Rayamajhi, 28, a theatre actor, has worked in 12 plays and directed three others. This is his fourth play and the third featuring child actors. “It’s kind of difficult to explain what the story exactly is. There are a lot of layers. I would like to call it a journey,” says he. The play is a journey that children take to a magical land where they learn life lessons. “It’s a bit complex because it has factors such as capitalism in it. But I’m convinced that there’s something for each age group that comes to watch the play,” he explains. “Tapu” includes Diya Maskey’s choreography, Night Band’s music set and light design by Bimal Subedi; costume, props and make up by Deepti Sherchan, and Binita Adhikari is an assistant director. Its release on May 2 will also mark the inauguration of Theatre Village, a new theatre house, in Lazimpat. The play will be held for 10 days. The play features 15 children from eight to 14 years of age. Among the only two adults involved in it, one is Bhola Raj Sapkota – of the “Barfi” fame – and the other being Rayamajhi himself, as the narrator. The play was inspired by a line from Indian theatre personality Sudhanva Deshpande’s “Bahut Raat Ho Chali Hai.” “The line spoke of a magic island where there is an abundance of all things that children love, a guardian who takes care of them,” he says. Taking the concept further, the script was materialized by Ayush Niroula. “We added subplots as time went on,” says Rayamajhi. The two years spent in workshop, choosing the actors and the months of explaining and convincing each child of his character was a challenging experience for him. “There have been fun moments, but there were equally challenging moments where I almost gave up. The most challenging part is to have the children hold on to their characters. They do really well when they’re saying their dialogues but, like all children, they get bored easily. They laugh sometimes. I don’t want children just acting for the sake of it. I want actors. I think they’re getting better each day, and I’m hopeful they’ll be very good when it’s time to perform on stage,” he says. He devised a way to hold their attention by making them dream. He says, “I told them that with the play they have a chance to be someone else and have a different life. There will be a lot of people coming to watch them. Their life is always going to be there but this will only be for a few days.” The children are boisterous, but when the director calls out, they immediately quiet down and slip into their characters. They’re not self-conscious. When asked if they feel shy, they reply negatively, explaining that they’re all brothers and sisters. What about in front of the audience? “We won’t see them,” is the cheeky reply. The children call out to him to start with the rehearsal. “There was a time when I had to call them,” remembers Rayamajhi fondly, “But over time, they’ve come to have fun and now they remind me.” The workshop started with 30 children and Rayamajhi picked up the 15 who showed potential. The rest are still eager to join in. They peep in through the window and watch the rehearsals. Rayamajhi had worked with children in two other plays, ‘Green Finger’ and ‘Inside the Brain.’ For the first play, he brought in five visually impaired children from Laboratory School to act for him in a motivating story of youth, and in the second one, Rayamajhi had children from Prisoner’s Association Nepal to present the psychological impact on their upbringing. The way to deal with children is to scold them, love them and make them dream in equal measures, he says. “I want to believe that with this play they’ve started understanding things better. This is because I’ve taught them to understand their characters in depth and I hope this helps them in their daily life,” he says. What is it, the theme that binds his works? “‘Bhogaiko yatra.’ I’m attracted to stories that have a life-changing element in them. I think everyone’s life includes one important life-changing event. I also make short movies and there’s a similar element in them, too. I like it when the character undergoes an extreme experience. He should change. I want him to cross the threshold and I will follow him till he does,” he shares. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53285 I am seeing her after six months and in these six months, her world has turned upside down. I am intimidated by the thought of having to see her face after all that she has been through. What am I going to do if she breaks down when she sees me? After all, I have always been much more to her than just one among the three nieces. What if my presence takes her back to the dreadful day? What should I talk to her about? Should I act as if nothing has happened? I feel I’m being self-centered that I have almost forgotten the anguish of losing my cousin - her only child, and instead, I am looking for excuses to avoid interacting with her. Then finally, she stands in front of me, with a face absolutely devoid of life. Her hair, once compared to the mane of a pony, is now nothing but a lifeless shade of grey. She looks at me with those very eyes, now tired though; gives me a faint smile and asks “How have you been?”[break] Stunned for a moment, unable to track the events occurring, I answer her question, “I’ve been good”. She sits down by the coffee table and I look at her through the coffee vapor. The same face, the same optimistic eyes, the same lips that would curve just to cheer everyone around but now all those traits have a hint of pain in them. I want to talk to her about it, tell her how sorry I am that she had to lose both her husband and her son within two years. But I am such a coward, that I just can’t gather enough courage to talk about the gloomy day that took her only hope of endurance away. When her husband died two years ago with cancer, she almost cried herself to death but her son held her hand and said “Aama, I am here for you. This isn’t the end of our world.” And hence she promised never to shed a drop of tear again for she had her son to take care of. After one and a half years, her son died in a tragic car accident. That day, the neighbors stood there and listened to her heart wrenching scream. Sarita, the next door school teacher, said, “How can anyone be so ill-fated, bichari?” So, here she is today, merely breathing, holding nothing but disappointment and discontent. With her only ray of light gone, how is she to look forward to her future? I am assured that even after six months she has not moved on from that ordeal. In fact, I had thought she would never pick herself up from the devastated state but what I am seeing today is astounding. Although her face says everything, there is not a single trace of her history in the way she behaves or interacts. Her life is at a standstill but nobody can figure that out. When she is sitting among her ‘loved ones’ pretending to be all right, I am there contemplating her strength as she takes the last sip of her coffee. I want to ask what is it that is making her so unbreakable but I’m terrified that very question could break her down again into so many pieces and she could never put herself back together. But I just can’t help wondering. Now that she knows there is nothing to live for, how is she still capable of faking the world as if nothing happened? How does she manage to be perfectly social when she knows that for her, the only thing left to do is wait for her death? I think, if I don’t talk to my aunt today, I’ll regret it forever. Bitter or sweet, truth has to be confronted. So, I get up, take a long breath, walk towards her and just when I am about to bring up that topic, she looks at me, right into my eyes. I feel a whirlwind of emotion passing right through my heart. I turn around, wipe the single drop of tear in my eye (which I didn’t see coming). Then, I look back at her and say “Let me take that coffee mug for you” and walk with that empty coffee mug into the kitchen. I write this as a tribute to my cousin. I hope for his soul to rest in peace and even more, for his family to have strength and faith for brighter days. The writer is a student of computer science and engineering in Allahabad, India. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53284 KATHMANDU, April 16: ‘Kadamandu: A story of one village’ by journalist and filmmaker Ramesh Khadka is all set to be screened at the 9th Al Jazeera International Documentary Film Festival. The festival is a four day event, starting on April 18 and ending on April 21, being organized at Doha. The documentary shows the story of Kadamandu, a village in Western Nepal, where men migrate to other countries, especially India, in search of better opportunities. The men come back afflicted with HIV/AIDS and their wives and children are also affected. ‘Kadamandu’ in 30 minutes introduces us to the problem that exists not only in the village but also in other villages in the far western region.[break] The short film won the ‘Best Documentary’ at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival 2012 (KIMFF). It was also screened at Toronto Nepali Film Festival 2013 and Kathmandu Short Film Festa 2013. Khadka’s other works include ‘Lamas in Dilemma’, ‘Chhau’, ‘Mother of 25’ and ‘Lives of Jawang’. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53283 What all is considered for a new hire KATHMANDU, April 15: Just when you emerge out of a job interview and anticipating an acceptance call, thinking whether you managed to impress the person on the other side of the table or made a complete fool out of yourself instead, makes you go restless and unsure. An ideal resume is not all that counts. Requirements like educational qualifications and work experiences aside, Human Resource (HR) Managers go through a great deal to understand the character and personality of their prospective employees.[break] “The candidates are prepared with answers to certain questions they know will be asked during the interview. With attitude and skill test tools, we catch them off guard, asking questions that have nothing to do with the interview,” says Prajana Waiba Pradhan, Senior HR Officer at WWF Nepal, adding, “It shows how well the person can deal with adversity. You can figure out a person just by talking to them, from their body language, tone of voice and attitude.” Per Oyvind Hansen, HR Director at Ncell, says, “The most important variable to investigate is work experience and performance - what has the candidate delivered? However, one will not avoid looking at personal qualifications. These qualifications can be investigated in a job interview or during reference checks. In an interview, a recruiting manager would, for example, look for personal qualifications such as future plans, communication skills, and relationship skills and, not to forget, leadership skills.” Some applicants, while trying hard to look confident during job interviews, end up giving the impression that they’re over-confident. They should keep in mind that employers don’t hire those they think will disrupt the workplace dynamics which is already in place. Although WWF Nepal is just planning to start a full-fledged internship program, they hire interns for three-months when the workload is high. Interns are guided by people from their respective departments under learning and work plans. Pradhan conducts a one-day workshop for new employees, briefing them on the history and working culture of WWF Nepal after which they are handed over to their respective units. At Ncell, a manager, employing a regular employee or an intern, has the same responsibility - to set goals, to follow up and finally evaluate the performance together with the intern. The intern’s manager is responsible for orienting the intern about relevant issues contributing to successful performance. If it fits in with orientation programs offered for newly employed employees, interns are invited as well. While some firms believe that persistence from the applicants’ side regarding their application shows their interest, Pradhan believes persistence is not necessary. “Overall persistence does show the person’s drive, but if you’re talking about it in terms of their application, it is rather annoying.” Hansen, on the other hand, says, “We select employees based on our values as well. They are - show respect, add value and make it happen. Obviously, one inborn criteria of ‘make it happen’ is persistence. The value rewards behavior that drives change, involves good planning and speedy implementation, a strong flavor of business-mindedness which evidently results in delivery and high performance.” The procedure for hiring a new employee at Ncell begins with announcement of vacancy, evaluation of cover letter and CV and short listing which is followed by the first, second and third interviews and reference checks, if necessary. In addition, a relevant and practical exercise is also administered to the applicant and in some recruitment; personality tests are also conducted. The final interview is done by the HR and the ultimate decision is taken in discussion with the recruiting manager. At WWF Nepal, the vacancy advertisement is circulated online, through the HR network of Association of International NGOs in Nepal (AIN). “The assessment is carried out through objective marking system of the selection panel. Rating sheets are handed out to the panel during interviews and presentations and the decision is, more often than not, undisputed,” says Pradhan. For her, the one thing that makes the most difference on a resume is whether or not an individual is a consistent performer. “We look for somebody who has at least worked in an organization for two years or more because that shows some amount of commitment,” she says, “We also look for someone who’s passionate about conservation. People who don’t believe in the organization’s mission and are only working for money, won’t last long.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53282 Bloom Nepal School inaugurated KATHMANDU, April 15: Two ‘firsts’, the inauguration of Bloom Nepal School and the awarding ceremony of the First Nationwide Mathematics Olympiad, took place in the premises of Bloom Nepal School at Ekantakuna on Monday. Bloom Nepal School is a joint venture of young Nepali’s who graduated from renowned universities from around the world, and are now working in Nepal to provide strong education bases to other Nepali children. The school was formally inaugurated by Dr Jagadish Chandra Pokhrel, one of the Board Directors and former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission.[break] “I’m sure that with the kind of network that you [Bloom Nepal School Team] have, the effort, mind and skills, it will be possible to make Bloom Nepal a model school for many years to come,” said Dr Pokhrel, who also shared that he believed that this school would be able to bridge the gap between bookish knowledge and its application to the realities of our society. The aim of Bloom Nepal, its founders said , was to establish a holistic education platform, one which focuses on both academic learning as well as extracurricular activities. The school has currently opened admissions for classes one, four, five, six, seven and eight. The high distinction achievers and top three students out of the 400 participants from all over the country, who participated in the First Nationwide Mathematics Olympiad on February 23, were awarded with merit certificates. The top three consisted of Prabin Mandal, who stood third, Isha Upreti who stood second and Aditya Agrawal, who stood first, were awarded cash prizes of Rs 20,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively. “During the Olympiad, the questions given to us were tough but as the questions got tougher, I realized it tweaked my interest. It felt good participating and solving the math problems,” shared Prabin Mandal. “Mathematics has always been a subject of my interest and I’d applied for the Olympiad just to test my capabilities,” he added. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53281 KATHMANDU, April 15: Miss Nepal 2013 Ishani Shrestha was welcomed as the Young Conservation Ambassador of WWF Nepal in an event held at its premises in Baluwatar on Monday. Ishani is the 8th Young Conservation Ambassador after Miss Nepal 2012 Shristi Shrestha. On the role of Miss Nepal as a youth ambassador, Conservation Program Director of WWF Nepal, Dr Ghana Gurung said, “With the help of Miss Nepal, we can reach more people and spread awareness.”[break] Bhaswor Ojha/Republica Miss Nepal 2013 Ishani Shrestha is welcomed as the new Young Conservation Ambassador by Conservation Program Director of WWF Nepal, Dr Ghana Gurung. WWF Nepal is also celebrating its 20th year and Dr Gurung added, “It will be an interesting year for Ishani.” Former Miss Nepal, Shristi worked especially for conservation and monitoring of snow leopards. She went to Kanchenjunga where she spent time with the locals learning about their problems as well as monitoring the snow leopards. “It’s been an eye opening experience for me,” she said, adding, “I’ve learnt that simple changes of habit can make a huge impact.” The new Young Conservation Ambassador, Ishani expressed her eagerness to be at the field. “Nepal is rich in flora, fauna and natural resources. I’m looking forward to explore, experience and work towards the conservation of natural resources,” she said. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53128 MAKAWANPUR, April 14: Pampha Praja is happy. The class three student of Shri Batuk Bhairav Primary School in Chisapani Gadi, Makwanpur, has started selling flowers. She sells rhododendrons to the travelers who pass by on the road to Kathmandu from Kulekhani. “The flowers started blooming from late December,” she said, adding, “We’ve been selling them to travelers since then.” She collects the flowers from nearby jungles and sells a bunch for Rs 10. Her income affords her to buy pencils, exercise books and copies and even rice and lentils.[break] “We don’t have money to buy pencils and copies when the flowers are not in bloom,” said Pampha, who belongs to the Chepang community, “Now we have a fistful of money.” She is accompanied by her sister, Sabina, who studies in class two. Sabina explains, “One of us goes to the jungle to pick up the flowers and the other will sell them.” Another class two student, Nisha Praja says that her family members are happy with the income she brings in from selling flowers. “We eat ‘makai ko dhedo’ at other times,” she said, “But now we can buy rice.” Nisha says that she earns Rs 100, and sometimes even Rs 200, per day. Sudip Waiwa studies in class two in a government school at Bhimfedi. He states that he has also been selling the flowers during the season. “This flower has provided us with pencil and copies,” he said, “We are delighted when the flowers start blooming in the jungles.” The children call out ‘lali gurans, lali gurans’ to the passing people on motorcycles and buses. “Some people stop and buy the flowers,” said Pampha, “And some just pass us by.” But she doesn’t feel sad when people don’t buy her flowers. “There are so many people passing by that someone or another will definitely buy them,” she laughs, “We finish selling the flowers we pick by the time it’s evening.” She says they feel happier when people buy their flowers instead of just handing them some money. “When some people try and hand over the money without buying any flowers, we feel bad,” said Sabina, “But when they buy our flowers we feel elated.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53127 “Before I built a wall, I’d ask to know what was I walling in or walling out, and to whom I was like to give offense. Something there is That doesn’t love a wall, That wants it down. It’s the wall in mind that is the real divider.” - Robert Frost Borders are dangerous. It was wonderful to touch the bullet ridden stones on the banks of Bhote koshi and the Helvetas Bridge to hand shake the other land called Tibet. Our north face stands firm for our love to the mother land. The high white hills generally guard the façade and the deep water flows through making deep gorges in her way. And rest is history. The fort was some five hour journey from Syafru in Rasuwa district and the deserted trails gave the ring of our own forgotten villages. This part of Rasuwa comes under Langtang National Park. The Koshi was wild in the middle of two tall hills, giving us a narrow walk through. We reached Timure village at noon, a short rest in a small nice lodge and we wind past to the fort. An army base stopped us for queries and the trail was still curving. It took 45 minutes and the view awaiting us was horrific. The wild growing marijuana plants, a deserted custom office, rain torn pamphlets of Prachanda, and the invisible blood stains on the stone walls screamed our nation’s past, present and the unknown future. The hoarding board read ‘You are walking the Tamang Heritage Trail’. The holes in the fort walls, for the guns, and a narrow look at the Chinese houses through them took us to the time of our old kings and gladiators. Reason can’t justify everything and it can’t justify passion. A deserted land with wild shrubs may seem nothing now but it was everything for those soldiers. Language must’ve been one of the foremost things men discovered. We were speechless when we met some Chinese men/soldiers on the Tibetan side. Standing in the line of time where the nationality divided us into two sides of the river gave us the reality check of our politicized time. No matter how deep the division and how bloodier the history, we are still connected by the bond of neighbourhood. We couldn’t attempt to cross over the bridge yet the lesson was well learnt. There are still barriers to cross and bond to achieve, we thought, as we hurried to return to the Nepal side from the bridge over Bhote Koshi. We walked back to Syafru the next morning. Back there, a visit to Chilime hydropower project was inspiring. It was indeed great to learn that it was an all Nepal project, even though it is supposedly the cheapest project of the country. The fort stood by ironically reminding us of the success of our independent endeavours. Identity is precious, as it is the only thing we are left with when we lose everything in our battle of life. It is so true in the context of Nepal where we lag behind the world by big margins, the divide that started from the time of Rana dynasty. Before that time we were at par with the neighbours. We were a strong trade link for Tibet and ancient Indian states. We used to be the centre for trading salt, wool, and other daily stuff. But we lost our way and it is more visible today, in the era of globalisation, where we have to move ahead neck to neck with the developed world. The present world of brotherhood that joins us together also demands competitive efforts towards progress. That makes it necessary to have a good relation with our neighbours and rightfully take the opportunity of development of Border States. Nepal and China have been friends from the time of Araniko and the friendship stands strong till today. There has been a lot of talk about learning from the rapid growth of China and also become a trade route between the two neighbours. However, we can lose our way if we wallowed in too much in the anticipation of help. Nobody can help us if we don’t help ourselves. We should be more open in our thoughts and deeds. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53126 Aiding 2,000 teachers, 45,000 households and 70,000 primary graders KATHMANDU, April 14: The Dailekh School Project, a collaboration between the Rato Bangala Foundation, the District Education Office, the Village Development Committee (VDC), the Department of Education and all partner schools, is a one of a kind project which has intervened in more than 500 governments funded schools of Dailekh District, improving the quality of education there. Through teacher training programs, supply of materials and delegating field officers to monitor all ongoing programs in order to provide continuity, the Dailekh School Project is imparting the gift of education in this area.[break] On April 5 to 7, Rato Bangala School in partnership with development partners like the Department of Education, UNICEF, the Norwegian Embassy, UNESCO, Rato Bangala Foundation and the Open Society Foundations organized an international conference entitled, ‘Quality in the Classroom’. More than 520 people from different countries like the United States, Australia, Bangladesh, Hongkong and Tanzania participated in this three-day conference which held a total of 12 presentations and 16 different workshops each day. For the conference and especially the presentation of the Dailekh School Project, over 60 people from Dailekh were invited. The Dailekh School Project also had a display of important documents inculcated over the years. The display showcased success case studies regarding life in Dailekh, mid-term reports, brochures, certificates, appreciation letters and agreements signed with different stake holders, at numerous levels. Art and craft work from primary graders in Dailekh were also displayed. Various project aspects like household surveys and school surveys were also demonstrated to give an insight into the working methods of the project. A video documentary shot exclusively in Dailekh during February 2013 was also screened during the event. The video showed the lives and the challenges undertaken by families living in the area as well as the hurdles faced by them on a daily basis along with their success and failures. The video portrayed stories of students, families and the schools touched by the Dailekh School Project. Photographs taken at most partner schools in Dailekh, depicting life before and after the project were also shown. The Dailekh School project has been doing commendable work at primary level schools of Dailekh. Till date, more than 2,000 teachers being trained through the training provided by DSP, as many as 45,000 household have been affected in one way or another while 70,000 primary graders have benefitted by the Dailekh School Project activities. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53125 Movie: Nautanki Saala Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Pooja Salvi, Gaelyn Mendonca Director: Rohan Sippy KATHMANDU, April 14: The first noticeable thing about ‘Nautanki Saala!’ is how beautiful Mumbai looks. For those of us who’s only been seeing Mumbai’s slums and a few high rise buildings in the movies, it was a few minutes into the film before one could accept that it was actually Mumbai. Apparently it was shot in the southern side of the city and looks very quiet and pleasing. The view from Ayushman’s apartment is pretty charming and there are clean paved sidewalks lined with trees that make the viewer wish to live there. [break] As the film’s credit begins rolling in the beginning, we notice that it says it’s based on a French film, ‘Apres Vous’. We also notice a lot of familiar but hard to place faces in the film, like MTV VJ Gaelyn Mendonca, Pooja Salvi and Kunaal Roy Kapur. Ayushmann Khurrana is Ram Parmar or RP, a man whose ‘weakness’ is to help others. The theatre director and actor RP lives with his girlfriend, Chitra, (Gaelyn) and is on his way to her birthday when he sees a man trying to take his own life. Mandar Lele (Kunaal) is a man low on confidence and has no reason to live. RP saves his life, takes him in and attempts to rally his spirits to a new high. The film takes us along the journey where RP’s general soft heartedness and Mandar’s declining sense of purpose collide. There is a lot of drama as RP sets off to find Nandini (Pooja Salvi) and reunite her with Mandar. Most of the characters came off as exasperating; Mandar is a clumsy soul whose wallowing in self pity seems drawn too long. Nandini is a weak woman who can’t seem to wave off a cheating fiancée and admits to being scared of being lonely and RP simply needs to learn to say no. Also, Chitra disappears for a bit in the film and that is strange given the fact that she and RP have recently gotten engaged. However, the film is fun to watch. There is humor and playfulness and the protagonists do their job well. The film has a nice soundtrack and two songs by Ayushmann, who’s still riding high on the success of ‘Vicky Donor’. ‘Sadi Gali Aaja’ and ‘Tu Hi Tu’ are romantic numbers that are definitely hummable. There is a cameo by Abhishek Bachchan, a gimmick by director Sippy, but ‘Nautanki Saala!’ can stand on its own. Screening at QFX Cinemas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53124 KATHMANDU, April 14: The elegant lobby lounge at Hyatt Regency can be both a place to meet and eat. A variety of quick-bites is being offered at the lobby area, every month. Back by popular demand, March specials, croissant sandwiches, muffins and doughnuts will still be available for the whole month of April. A sizeable croissant, stuffed with one of the four variants, is available for Rs 775. Marinated tuna flakes, onion, coriander, tomato and lemon juice and another combination of shredded chicken, organic lettuce and mayonnaise are the two available non-vegetarian filling options. For the vegetarians, the Indian-style sautéed cottage cheese, green bell pepper, mint chutney is a delicious option. While the Greek salad and milk feta greens filling goes well with the buttery croissant as well. For sweet-lovers, the doughnuts, which come topped with either a rich brown dark chocolate topping or a vanilla chocolate topping, might be an irresistible choice. On the other hand, caramelized banana dark chocolate muffin and Kahlua drunken apricot and nougatine are two exciting muffin options, which come with brandy snaps. Add to that, the various sauces that come along in little white bowls as doughnut and muffin dips. Whipped cream, chocolate sauce and strawberry sauce are the dips that accompany each order. The doughnuts and muffins are priced at Rs 350 each whereas a combination platter of both a doughnut and muffin comes for Rs 650. All prices are exclusive of 23% taxes. For more updates about food and more at the Hyatt Regency, visit facebook.com/hyattregencykathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=53022 SEOUL, April 12: "Gangnam Style" star Psy unveiled Friday the follow-up to his global hit with another catchy dance tune infused with his signature self-mocking humour -- but fans had to wait for the all-important video. Even Kim Jong-Un´s threats of nuclear war couldn´t divert world attention from the main event on the Korean peninsula as "Gentleman" hit online music stores in a midnight rolling release across 119 nations.[break] With fans and critics waiting to see whether the "Gangnam Style" singer and his invisible horse-riding dance are more than just a one-hit wonder, the new electro-dance song offers an equally simple and catchy melody. The song -- a satire of a self-proclaimed "gentleman" trying to woo women at a party -- contains more English lyrics than "Gangnam Style" in a clear nod to the singer´s newfound global audience. "Let me tell you about myself. I´m such a charmer with guts, vigour and humour," Psy sings in Korean before launching into the song´s English catch-line: "I´m a mother-father gentleman." "Gonna make you sweat. Gonna make you wet. You know who I am? Wet Psy!" he sings in English. The song went straight to the top of the download charts on half-a-dozen South Korean online music sites, but the critical reaction on social network sites was mixed. A snap poll of 2,000 users on Daum.net, a leading South Korean news portal, saw 38.9 percent rate the song as either good or very good, but 48.3 percent opted for mediocre or dull. "I can´t see this getting quite as big as Gangnam Style... but it is still irritatingly catchy," tweeted @joe_thomas25. But Ahn Jae-Hee, a CD shop owner in Seoul, predicted that "Gentleman" would be "just as big a hit" as its predecessor. Many fans voiced frustration at having to wait for the accompanying video which will reveal Psy´s new dance moves. "This is too similar to ´Gangnam Style´ but far less fun.... I think I´ll wait until I see how good the music video is," tweeted @dark_serika. The video is expected to be unveiled around the time of a promotional concert at Seoul´s World Cup Stadium on Saturday which will be streamed live on YouTube. The 35-year-old rapper offered a possible dance preview in a teasing video message showing off some new moves (www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZTZHashKg&list=PLEC422D53B7588DC7&index=1). It was the video of "Gangnam Style", and in particular Psy´s signature horse-riding dance, that pushed him to global stardom last year after it was posted on YouTube and turned into a viral sensation. A satire on the luxury lifestyle of Seoul´s upscale Gangnam district, it has become the most-watched YouTube video of all time, registering more than 1.5 billion views since it debuted last July. The song topped charts around the world, and inspired a horde of online tributes and parodies, as well as flash mobs of thousands of dancing fans in cities such as Paris and Milan. Psy has promised a "Psy style" take on a traditional Korean dance for the new video. "The dance is one known to all Koreans but new to foreigners. This will be presented in Psy style," he told a South Korean TV news programme earlier this month. The big release comes at a delicate time, with military tensions soaring on the Korean peninsula, and North Korea expected to carry out a provocative missile launch at any moment. The North has even advised foreigners living in South Korea to consider leaving the country, to avoid being caught in a "thermo-nuclear war". South Koreans who have lived with the North´s hostile rhetoric for decades have remained largely unfazed by the crisis, and discussion of Psy´s new single completely overshadowed Pyongyang´s threats on news portals and chat rooms. "Gangnam Style" was always going to be a hard act to follow, and some Psy fans on Friday were urging patience. "People complaining about the song need to relax," flyingkirby posted on the website allkpop.com. "This is the result of getting lucky, and then having the entire world put pressure on you to do the impossible." Already an established artist in South Korea with six albums under his belt, Psy has been building and polishing his own style of quirky, explosive music and flamboyant stage persona since his debut in 2001. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52958 KATHMANDU, April 10: For a moment, let’s assume there are no parental pressures, no financial considerations to be made and no restrictions in choosing the course or the college we want to pursue our further education in. Let’s assume that the decision to study some course is guided purely by students’ free will. Even then, do the courses we choose meet our expectations? Is attaining higher education all that it’s supposed to be in Nepal? We sit down with students currently in their fifth semester for Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Science (BLAS) at Himalayan Whitehouse Int’l College in New Baneshwor and discuss the changes they would want to see in the education that they have been and are currently receiving.[break] Bhaswor Ojha/Republica L to R: Shishir Acharya, Anish Bhandari, Dolma Tamang, Smita Mishra, Bhawana Ayer and Sagar Sharma Naral Why Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (BLAS)? Anish: It’s a different and unique subject which isn’t very common like Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) or Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS). Smita: Because you can enter any field you want, after a degree in BLAS. Bhawana: Plus, it gives us an opportunity to study many different subjects. It touches all the different fields. Sagar: When I took a look at the initial curriculum description, there were subjects related to music and arts, which I found interesting. So I decided to study this course. Dolma: BLAS is not a common subject. It’s also a combination of various subjects from sociology to management to political science. Hence, I found it helpful. Shishir: Because of the variety, the subject has no limits. It covers everything. Was it hard to convince your family to study this subject? Smita: I didn’t have any difficulty in convincing my parents. They were happy that I was studying BLAS. Anish: At first, it was a bit difficult to convince them because they wanted me to study commerce or science. But later, after understanding the nature of the course, they are now convinced. Sagar: Not really, my parents are very supportive. What do you think are the advantages or disadvantages of studying under Purbanchal University (PU)? Smita: The good thing about PU is that it’s offering a course that isn’t available at any other university in Nepal. However, we have to face a lot of irregularity in the case of exams. The management is not very good. This is the main disadvantage. Bhawana: The PU grading system, in comparison to that of Tribhuvan University (TU), puts us students at a slight disadvantage. For example, our internal assessment is only of 20 marks while the rest depends upon the final exams whereas for TU students, the internal assessment itself is worth 40 marks. Anish: PU isn’t that popular and most people aren’t familiar with the board. Hence, we’ve to do some explaining. Sagar: The main disadvantage is that because the exams are so uncertain, it’s hard for us students to prepare for it. What are your favorite subjects in the current curriculum that you’re studying? If you could change one thing about the curriculum, what would it be? Shishir: I’m interested in mass communication and journalism and I wish to make a career out of it later on. The course we’re studying is vast. However, it lacks diversity of pure science subjects as well as other subjects such as health and sex education that would be apt for our generation. Dolma: I like economics as it’s been a subject of my interest for a long time. I feel that the BLAS stream is a bit neglected and isolated. We’re not encouraged to take part in activities. Bhawana: My favorite subjects are the UN and Human Rights system and conflict management. Rather than a change in the current curriculum, I feel that there should be more access to enough reference materials for us students. Smita: I would add music and sports-related subjects into the curriculum. When it comes to favorite subjects in the current curriculum, I like studying UN and Human Rights system and Dynamics of Nepalese History. Anish: I think that physical education should also be included in the curriculum. My favorite subjects up till now are natural resources management and conflict management. Sagar: I think the current curriculum doesn’t really focus on the overall personality development of students. The subjects should challenge students. Apart from that educational, field trips should also be given emphasis, instead of just textbook learning. I’ve always liked literature, so English literature has been my favorite subject. On the whole, what’s your perspective of the existing education system in Nepal? Dolma: The curriculum isn’t practical. Also, we have a very rigid education system which doesn’t allow students to freely choose the stream for their further education if they haven’t scored the marks needed in that stream. Anish: The trend of education leans mostly towards BBA and BBS. Importance should also be placed on other educational options. Also, sports should also be given a priority. Sagar: Colleges are mushrooming in Kathmandu. There isn’t standard education. The motive seems to be making money rather than providing quality education. What can be done to bring the best out of students? Anish: Students should be allowed to study the subject of their choice. Dolma: Like Anish said, there shouldn’t be restrictions for students to study what they want. Parents also shouldn’t pressurize their children regarding this matter. Smita: Teachers should have both qualifications and experience so they can bring the best out of the students. If teachers are very strict, students won’t feel like attending their classes. Shishir: A three-hour examination shouldn’t be used to judge the intellect and capabilities of students. Exams generally don’t motivate students. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52957 Dear Swastika, I would like some advice on bullying. People in my school call me names and hit me but I don’t know what to do and I’m kind of scared to complain. Please help me. - Faiz It’s really sad how sometimes people need to make someone else feel small in order to feel big. The only way they can feel good about themselves is by making other people feel bad. Sadly, that’s who they are. If you can, it’s important that you talk to the people whom you trust and let the bullies know that there are consequences of bullying. But involving other people sometimes gets really messy because they might take the situation out of your hand and put you in a worse condition. What you can do to take care of this situation yourself by looking straight into the eyes of those bullies and tell them – Enough! And tell this to them as many times as they need to hear it and make your voice stronger and firmer each time. It’s time to tell them that they don’t need to make someone feel bad so that they can feel good about themselves, but tell them that you refuse to be that “someone.” That someone is not and will not be you!!![break] Dear Swastika, I’m a recent graduate student and all my friends are applying to colleges abroad for Masters and want me to apply too. But I can’t because I can’t afford it. I know about scholarships but my grades aren’t exactly good. How can I go about it? - Pavan We all have been given enough skills, talents and a bit of luck to go as far as we need to go in life. I was in a similar situation when I finished my 12th grade. My friends whose grades were similar to mine left for the U.S.A. because their financial circumstances were better. I didn’t get enough scholarship to do undergraduates. But instead of getting demotivated by the inequalities of life, I set out on a mission to make the best out of my education. I knew that a degree from Tri-Chandra College wouldn’t take me far. I wanted what U.S. education had to offer. So I volunteered in different organizations, I co-founded a youth organization, I attended talk sessions at Martin Chautari and took on every opportunity there was to learn and grow. Eventually, I went to one of the top Ivy Leave University in the U.S. I believe if we’re persistent enough and if we focus on what we have instead of what we don’t, with time, our deepest and truest desires always come true. Dear Swastika, There is this particular teacher who hits me all the time. I’m a +2 student and I’ve been skipping his classes to avoid him. I want to file a complaint to the administration but I’m scared that they’ll let him go with a warning and I’ll lose grades. What should I do? - Anonymous When I was my in late teens, I used to have these dreams where I would keep running away from something. I wouldn’t know what was chasing me, but I would be petrified. Finally, one day, I got sick of running away. So every night before bed, I started telling myself, “Today I’m not going to run away. Instead, I’ll try to see the face of the person who is chasing me.” One day, a few months later, I finally saw who was chasing me – a thin and frail girl, with white hair, wearing a white dress. I looked at her; she seemed weaker and more scared. I looked at her once again and pushed her off the cliff. White horses appeared around me and I never ran in my dreams again. You can’t run away from this teacher no matter how afraid you are. The only way I know how to get over my biggest fear is to face it. And that’s the advice I give you – face it, deal with it, do everything you need to do to stop running away. Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti – a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s has been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52956 5th Enfield Rendezvous Poker Run is here KATHMANDU, April 10: After the successful road trips from Kathmandu to Last Resort in 2009, Chitwan in 2010 and Pokhara in 2011 and 2012, the 5th annual Enfield Rendezvous Poker Run, organized jointly by Sacred Summits and Stewie Mclean from Australia is back yet again. The event is set for April 13 to 15 and the organizers have decided to stick to Pokhara this time as well.[break] Poker Run, since its inception, has witnessed participants of various nationalities. Including national riders from Kathmandu, Dharan and Chitwan, and Indian participants from Bangalore, Allahabad, Arunachal, Kolkata, Sikkim, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai, some 200 participants on Enfield and other classic motorcycles are expected to ride through the Nepali terrain this year. “Poker Run has become a family event and with age-group ranging from 18-70 years, there’s a lot of friendship. What we do is bring together everyone to celebrate Nepali New Year in style,” said Rabi Thapa, CEO of Sacred Summits and Event Coordinator for Poker Run, adding, “In Pokhara, many of these participants go paragliding, boating, zipline and there are restaurants offering discounts, so it helps in promoting the local economy too.” A card is picked at each pit-stop, leaving the fifth one for Pokhara. The best hand is awarded with different vouchers followed by titles like Best Enfield Award, Best Looking Modified Enfield, Best Supporting/Enthusiastic Woman Enfield Rider, Hard Luck Award for the bike with maximum number of breakdowns, and a new title will be introduced this year for the rider who has traveled the longest kilometers to get to the event. Thapa said, “The event has gained recognition through word-of-mouth even outside the country. We’ve had participants from Denmark, Norway, Luxemburg, Germany and Australia, among others and now motorcycle clubs in India are also showing interest and I’ve come to know that Poker Run is widely talked about in Sri Lanka as well.” Siru Thapa, 22, who first participated in Poker Run in 2011, says she likes going on the road with the community of Enfield riders. “It’s like traveling with your family. I’m looking forward to meeting participants from India and am particularly excited to meet other female riders, too.” Manashri Bordoloi, who’s traveling from Guwahati in Assam with her husband and 10-year-old daughter for Poker Run, said, “I have participated in Rider Mania in India but this is my first Poker Run. I hope to meet other bikers with their Bullets and have fun with my family.” Manashri is representing The Bikerni, All-Women Motorcycle Association of India and is set to reach Kathmandu on Friday.Similarly, Nagkarthik MP representing Wolf Pack Motorcycle Club of Bangaloresaid, “We don’t have poker runs in India. I really liked the concept of getting together a group of people who feel the same way about traveling on bikes, particularly Enfields.” He reached Siliguri on Wednesday evening with three other bikers. Continuing with the tradition of incorporating charity in their event, Poker Run will be supporting Millennium Publication to distribute textbooks and children’s books to a school in Pokhara and will also be promoting the hand washing campaign led by Ministry of Health and Population with UNICEF. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52905 KATHMANDU, April 9: Our capital’s yearly decline into a dusty and dreary place is affecting each one of us. We see less greenery and foliage and suffer from massive dust attacks every time we step out. We wear masks, shield our nose and mouth with our hand, and even instinctively stop our breaths for a second or more. A particularly windy day will leave us covered in grainy bits of dust, our skin and hair suffering desperately. A green Kathmandu is still possible. Planting a tree is a simple and powerful act that any individual can partake in. It’s not time consuming nor does it require constant attention. A person can choose a sapling of any tree that he prefers, and enjoy watching the growth process of the tree. If it’s a fruit tree, he can even take benefit of the fruits it bears.[break] Shanti Maharjan of Kumari Nursery at Sohrakhutte says that less than 10 people in a month come looking to buy a tree sapling. “We stock only a few varieties like pine and Ratki Rani (Jasmine) which cost anywhere between Rs 150 to Rs 800,” she says. Most buyers are from outside the Kathmandu Valley and take at least two saplings. Educational institutions are the base for every child’s learning and development. Schools should focus on the significance of healthy environment not just in theory but most particularly in practice. Through the “One Child One Tree” campaign, a tree is planted for every child starting its first day of school. As it teaches the child to look after her tree and even maintain an emotional connection with it, the child will learn about nature and its importance. The most important thing about this campaign is to learn to maintain the tree. Anyone can participate in the movement and even plant a tree for every child one loves. ChangeFusion Nepal has already started this campaign. They have visited schools and set up flyers to alert people about the importance of the campaign. With the new academic session beginning on April, they expect parents to visit a nursery with their child and choose a tree. The tree will grow along with the child, and awareness regarding the importance of greenery will be stamped on the child. Luna Shrestha Thakur, Founding Director of ChangeFusion Nepal, says, “This way, the relationship between a parent, child and the tree will also be strong. They will spend time with the tree and will be excited at its every new development.” Shikha Bahety, 24, is a member of The Greener Ktm Drive. The club was founded last year and its members meet on the last Saturday of each month. Its first work was to give away free tree saplings at Civil Mall in Sundhara. “We gave away around 150 saplings. Initially, we had to approach people, but later people started approaching us and asking questions. They were curious about what we were doing and why. It was the older generation who showed more interest,” says Shikha. A few months later, the club even planted some 30 tree saplings in Jyoti Hospital in Kalimati. The road expansion program was just beginning then and the pollution was increasing in the area, recollects Shikha. According to Rabin Man Singh, Environment Division Chief at KMC, a target for planting a minimum of one thousand trees in a year is currently being set. A hundred trees have been planted along the road leading from Kalo Pul to Gaushala, and next week, KMC will be planting 100 trees in Teku. “Because of development activities in the capital, we’ve had to take things slowly,” he says. KMC had planted trees along the road from Maitighar to Tinkune which unfortunately had to be cut down due to road expansion. They’re now waiting for the expansion to finish in a few months and will then proceed to plant trees. The older trees around town will also be cut down and replaced with saplings. Planting a tree doesn’t require any complex planning or masses of people. Any individual can do it, and every bit of effort is of tremendous importance. Trees will provide us with healthier environment, less pollution and better looking sights around town. At the least, it’s every person’s responsibility to himself to live healthily. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52904 Kathmandu Hackathon for young programmers KATHMANDU, April 9: NASA International Space Apps Challenge: Kathmandu Hackathon is being organized by ICIMOD within the framework of the SERVIR-Himalaya Initiative supported by USAID and NASA and in collaboration with Young Innovations, a local partner organization. The event is held at Direction Exhibition and Convention Center Hall (DECC), United World Trade Center (UWTC), Tripureshwor, from April 20-21. It’s a global event run by NASA in all seven continents that will take place over a 48-hour period. The program aims to gather 50-60 young innovators –computer engineers, software programmers and IT graduates – from Kathmandu for a collaborative problem solving environment to produce open-source solutions for global challenges using earth observation resources and geo-ICT tools to develop mobile apps, software and hardware, data visualization, and platform solutions. “The event will provide an opportunity for youth in Nepal to harness the expertise and entrepreneurial spirit of citizen explorers to help address global challenges. Participants will be working with experts from ICIMOD to learn more about the issues facing the region, use their skills and knowledge to develop solutions to pressing problems, especially those that are affecting communities in the Himalaya,” states the event’s press release. The deadline to apply for Kathmandu Hackathon is April 15, and interested participants can fill out the registration form at www.spaceappschallenge.org/location/kathmandu. NASA has compiled a list of featured challenges for participants to choose from, and that includes a wide range of topics, including possibilities for software and hardware development, citizen science, and data visualization. Suyesh Pradhan, Research Associate of Capacity Building Geospatial Solutions at ICIMOD, said, “From the challenges prescribed by NASA, we’ve selected those that are relevant in Nepal. We’ll be guiding young programmers in these work areas with the help of satellites and maps, corresponding expertise of both sides.” Any project including at least one participant from Kathmandu is eligible for local prizes – first, second, and third prizes of Rs 30,000, 20,000 and 10,000 respectively. The top two solutions will be submitted to NASA for global judging and awards. One can follow #spaceapps for regular international updates and #spaceapps_ktm for updates on the Kathmandu Hackathon, as well as @spaceappsktm@ICIMOD @MountainGeoPortal or @mobilenepal. Further details are also available at www.facebook.com/spaceappsktm, www.facebook.com/icimod, www.facebook.com/MountainGeoPortal or www. geoportal.icimod.org/ktmhackathon. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52903 KATHMANDU, April 9: Bringing film and music together and celebrating the great musicians, International Musikfilm Festival is scheduled to begin today in Kathmandu. The five day festival is being organized by Tuborg Stage and will be held at various music outlets in the capital ending on April 14. The festival starts with the screening of Pink Floyd at Pompei today at Moksh, Jhamsikhel. It will screen rare films at different venues till April 14. After every screening, a live band will play selected songs of the legendary bands featured in the film, states the press release.[break] The press release further states that it has an exciting array of films for audiences. People can watch films about celebrated musicians like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain during the festival. Uprising: Hip Hop & LA Riots, a film about the genre’s introduction to the mainstream, will also be screened during the festival. The festival will be screening Jimi Hendrix at Purple Haze, Thamel; Ornette Coleman at Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, Jhamsikhel; Ice-T, Rodney King a.o. hip hop legends at House of Music , Thamel; Brian Jonestown´s Massacre at Tings Tea Lounge, Lazimpat; Janis Joplin at Backyard Food & Joint, Jhamsikhel; Kurt Cobain at Reggae Pub, Thamel; Charlie ´Bird´ Parker at White Horse, Baluwatar; Jim Morrison & The Doors at Fluid Bar, Thamel; and Baile Funk with Mr Catra at Sattya, Jawlakhel. For further information and dates, log onto www.tuborg.com.np http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52848 How Sanskrit is being preserved and spread through education KATHMANDU, April 9: The unbroken tradition of teaching and learning Sanskrit language, in Nepal, has seen its share of hindrances, from threats of bloodshed from the Maoist cadres during the insurgency, vandalizing and capturing of Radhakrishna Sanskrit Ved Vidyashram of Sunsari on March 25, 2006 and May 13, 2002’s news of the then-Mahendra Sanskrit University set ablaze citing reasons as Sanskrit language being used as a medium to ‘maintain the hegemony of Hinduism’ in a nation that was declared secular. [break] But 13 Sanskrit schools across the nation running under Nepal Sanskrit University (previously Mahendra Sanskrit University) consist of students from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. (File photo: Bijay Gajmer/ Republica) “The preconceived mentality that Sanskrit is a language of only Brahmins and in particular, sons from poor Brahmin families, has restricted the growth of Sanskrit language in this country,” said Kosh Raj Neupane, who has completed his Masters (Acharya) in Sanskrit and currently teaches Nepali at Tri-Chandra College and has several published works in Sanskrit to his name. According to Neupane, after the introduction of National Education System Plan in higher education in 2030 BS, the English medium propelled the private and institutionalized teaching of Sanskrit, so much so that Sanskrit became suitable only for Brahmin priests. A counter argument to this notion would be best exemplified by Late Dr Jagman Gurung, who is known for his extensive knowledge of Sanskrit language, several Muslims in Kapilvastu, Newars and those from non-Hindu backgrounds who are currently studying Sanskrit across the country. Sizan Tamang, 27 is currently doing his Purva Madhyama (equivalent to Plus 2) at Balmiki Campus after having majored in Tibeto-Burman language under Linguistic Studies from Tribhuvan University. “I am not studying Sanskrit to make a career out of it, it’s just interest. Previously, when I was studying Tibeto-Burman language, my teachers used to talk about Sanskrit and its influence on Indo-Aryan languages including several others spoken all over the world,” he says. According to Sizan and Govinda Poudel, Vice-Principal of Sanskrit Grammar Department at Balmiki Campus, Sanskrit language helps in phonetics and developing strong command over other languages as well. Nepal Sanskrit University, located in Dang with its Information Centre in Basantapur, Kathmandu, is the only Sanskrit University in the country. Apart from the government prescribed curriculum with compulsory subjects, the University has provisions for around 20 subjects ranging from Sanskrit Grammar, Literature, Religious Studies, Buddhist Philosophy, and Religious Chants to Historical Puranas, Vedas, Sarva Darshan, Karma Kanda and Graha (Astrology). The university offers Intermediate (Uttar Madhyama), Bachelor (Shastri), Masters (Acharya) and doctoral courses in Sanskrit and just started the Intermediate courses in Ayurveda and Yoga. Initially only those who have previously studied Sanskrit were eligible for Purva Madhyama (Plus 2) courses but now, those without Sanskrit background can take up a six-month training and sit for exams. Apart from Balmiki Campus, Ved Vidyashram in Gaushala provides secondary level education in Sanskrit and evening classes are also conducted at Ranipokhari School. Narad Poudel, Administrative Officer at the University’s Information Centre in Basantapur, informed that the University gives allowance to Sanskrit students - Rs 900 to male Brahmin students, Rs 1000 to female Brahmin students and Rs 1800 to dalit students and those from indigenous communities. Santosh Dahal, 19, one of the Sanskrit students from Balmiki Campus, says, “Sanskrit is one of the oldest languages in the world which has influenced many different languages and thus, is difficult to learn. Once you’ve mastered it, learning any other language becomes very easy.” When asked what career he plans on following, Dahal said, “The course is so diverse, it deals with Literature, Astrology, Philosophy, Grammar, Language History to name a few and although you are majoring in Sanskrit, the course is such that a student can go outside and work as a generalist.” The employment prospect of Sanskrit is wider than we have ever thought of, and with so many foreign universities providing summer courses and integrating Sanskrit as a compulsory subjects elsewhere, Sanskrit students have lot of career alternatives to choose from. Most of these students go on to become teachers, having taken up either Nepali or English later; and Sanskrit students can always practice their knowledge of Puranas and Vedas and take up Karma Kanda professionally. Nepal Army also calls for applicants for the post of army priests with a minimum qualification of SLC in Sanskrit and according to Govinda Poudel, Vice-Principal at Balmiki Campus, around 40 to 50 of his students go onto become army priests every year. Apart from these, the expertise in Sanskrit language is also utilized in the Department of Archaeology, particularly in historic archives and Public Service Commission. “Many of our students have also gone up to become Sanskrit littérateurs and since the course also covers many subjects of Arts, it is easy for them to swing jobs,” adds Poudel. Sanskrit remains one of the few languages which has been unaffected by time, it still follows the grammar founded by Panini, known among Sanskrit and Nepali scholars for it’s nearly 4, 000 scientific formulas and complexity. With every batch of Sanskrit students who graduate, from Nepal and elsewhere, the future of Sanskrit language, its scipts and epics is secured furthermore. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52847 KATHMANDU, April 9: At 26, Shilshila Acharya has a passion for volunteering and social work, an interest and academic degree in environment and a personality that yearns for explorations and exposure. With a Bachelor’s degree in Environment Science from Kathmandu University and a Masters in Biodiversity and Environment Management through the NOMA Program, Acharya is currently the Program Lead for Hamri Bahini – the Green Angels. [break] Her profession right now seems almost tailor-made for her as this job, which allows her to interact with people, also fulfills her wishes to give back to the society and to pursue her passion for the environment. Hamri Bahini – the Green Angels – is an environmental social enterprise of Himalayan Climate Initiative that will create respectable green jobs for disadvantaged young women while addressing Kathmandu’s environmental problems. Heading this project from its start, Shilshila shares her experiences and aspirations. What have you learnt from your work experience with Hamri Bahini – the Green Angels? I’ve seen how an idea from a brief talk can grow into such a big scale. Apart from that, I’ve learnt how to raise funds, work with partner organizations, and most importantly, to be a manager. It’s no longer about doing well as an individual; rather it’s about teamwork. What are some challenges that you’ve faced during your course of work? This is the first time I’m working in an NGO setup, and everything is new to me. Initially, because the works here were different from what I was used to, I used to be a bit apprehensive. But now I’m happy where I am. What’s your working philosophy? I believe in honesty in one’s work and being humble. What do you aspire to do in the near future? I want to complete the whole cycle with Hamri Bahini, to take it to a level where the initiative is able to sustain itself. Then after gaining enough experiences, about five to seven years, I wish to start something on my own in the field of social work. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52846 KATHMANDU, April 9: Motif Language & Abroad Studies is organizing an education fair at The Everest Hotel, New Baneshwor today. The fair specifically aims students who are interested to pursue their higher education in Australia.[break] Starting from 10:30 in the morning, the fair has four Australian universities from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane participating. Students can choose to attend seminars during the fair and those qualified could also get scholarships. On the spot admission and other offers are also available. The fair ends at 6 in the evening. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52845 KATHMANDU, April 9: Kutumba, the Nepali folk instrumental band, is all set to perform a series of concerts in three different places across the Kathmandu Valley. The popular band is set to enthrall the audience first at Patan Durbar Square on April 9. The next performance will also mark the Nepali New Year and will be held on April 14 at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu. People can also catch the band on April 18 at Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Bhaktapur for the last performance of the series. [break] Pavit Maharjan of Kutumba said that the theme of their concert is ‘Talking for Change.’ The band’s message to everyone is to make positive contributions to the society. “Along with the musical treat, we’ll also send a message to make positive contributions, however small or big,” he said. Ncell is supporting Kutumba’s performances and music lovers can enjoy the music free of cost at all the events. “Music entertains and also motivates us to do creative work. Hence, Kutumba’s performances are our New Year gifts to our clients as well as the general public,” said Sanju Koirala, Corporate Communication Director at Ncell. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52844 KATHMANDU, April 9: Actress Nisha Adhikari will soon be heading to the highest peak of the world. She plans to scale Mt Everest, and supporting her endeavor is Mega Bank. At a press meet on Monday, Mega Bank’s CEO Anil Keshari Shah announced the company’s decision to support the actor. Shah also presented her with a flag bearing Mega Bank’s logo to stick on top of the peak. [break] Mega Bank CEO Anil Keshari Shah supports actress Nisha Adhikari in her effort to climb Mt Everest. “We’re determined to make Mega Bank every Nepali’s bank. Therefore, we encourage everyone from footballers to photo journalists. We’re trying to encourage every Nepali from different fields, hence we’re supporting actress Nisha Adhikari,” he said, adding, “Nepali women, from the Tarai to the Himalayan regions, are very able and we’re proud to support Nisha’s attempt to climb Mount Everest.” The actor is leaving for Everest on April 9, carrying the theme of “Save Yourself by Saving Nature.” She is the world’s first female Rotarian and television presenter to attempt the ascent of the world’s tallest mountain. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52759 KATHMANDU, April 7: Bleeding every month isn’t a choice for girls. Albeit the fact that menstruation is a natural biological process, there’s both physical pain and social stigma attached to it, which makes these days in the newly girl-turned-woman’s life more traumatic than it should really be. [break] One important thing girls should remember during their periods is hygiene, says Dr Nafisa Malla, of Public Health Concern Trust (PHECT) Nepal. “Some have the habit of wearing the same sanitary pads for too long, even two to three days. Pads should be changed regularly in order to prevent infections,” she informs. According to Dr Malla, the best way to clean the vaginal area is with clean water and soap, one which you are used to. When it comes to physical wellbeing during menstruation, Dr Malla pinpoints certain things that should be kept in mind and followed. “Just because one is menstruating doesn’t mean one has to spend those days in bed or with no physical activity. There has to be some form of light exercises that should continue while menstruating,” she advises. Another emphasis is on diet. “Because there’s loss of blood, one needs to take in food that is rich in iron,” says Dr Malla. Such foods include fruits such as pomegranate, watermelon and dates and other edibles such as liver, leafy greens, egg yolk, beans and pulses. “During menstruation, one has to be not only physically, but mentally sound as well,” says Dr Malla. “Our culture has many rules that restrict women who are menstruating, to touch certain places and people in the household. This can have a negative effect on them. For example, if they are hungry, they can’t even cook something for themselves on their own, because they are restricted to go into the kitchen area during those days,” she adds. Forget extreme traditions such as ‘Chaupadi’ that takes place in rural areas of Nepal, customs of restriction and limitations that are still present in urban areas alone can evoke feelings of frustration and sadness, especially during a time when the body is going through many hormonal changes. Physical pain during periods is also a common reason for absenteeism at school.  “Menstrual pain is mostly common in young and unmarried girls,” says Dr Malla, she explains, “In simple words, this is because the outlet in unmarried girls is very tiny and constricting and hence the blood has to be forced out.” To ensure that there’s easy flow of blood, simple exercises should be done. Walking, cycling or light swimming are good exercises that will help in easing the pain. “Hot compressions can also reduce pain while painkillers can also be taken, after seeing a doctor,” she recommends. When the pain gets unbearable, it’s best to talk about it to your parent or siblings and then seek help from a doctor. Although this phenomenon is a hush-hush topic in the society and may be made to feel like it’s something a girl should be ashamed of, it really is not. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52758 PARBAT, April 7: Two youths from Baglung have invested 7 million in an agricultural farm in Parbat. Sikandar Shahi from Bohora Gau and Rabindra Subedi from Sarkuwa are now operating ‘Kaligandaki Organic Krishi Farm’ in Sahashradhara. Shahi left his job in Korea that earned him Rs 100,000 per month to start something of his own in Nepal. The youths have leased 15 ropanis of land from five farmers for 10 years for a monthly rent of Rs 100,000. They’ve started planting vegetables and their plan includes fish and poultry farming and rearing cattle and goat. [break] They have zucchini, cucumber, beans, spinach and tomatoes in their farm. Preparations are in full swing to plant coriander, radish, carrot and cabbage. They’ve constructed a green house out of bamboo and plastic over five ropanis of land where the vegetables are planted, and they’re growing beans without using sticks as support. Under the direct monitoring of agriculture technicians, the use of pesticidies has been minimized while farming. Ram Prasad Pulami, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture was happy to learn of the youths’ efforts. “At a time when it’s popular to go abroad to earn money, it’s good that young people are starting to work in agriculture,” he said, adding, “The ministry is committed to help such young people.” Shahi says that the work skill and technology he learnt while working in Korea has helped him in the agriculture business. “With the work experience from abroad, I’m modernizing the generation old profession of agriculture,” he said, “The plan is to get maximum profit out of minimum investment with the help of technology.” Since the land is right next to the Pokhara-Baglung highway, they are sure that it will not be difficult to transport the vegetables to the market. “The farm is between Baglung and Kusma market so we can easily sell the vegetables,” he said, “We’re planning to replace the vegetables that come in from the Tarai districts.” Sahashradhara is in the banks of the Kali Gandaki River and is very advantageous for vegetable farming says the District Agriculture Development Office in Parbat. “The land is extremely fertile and it’s sure to generate a good quantity of vegetables,” informed Senior Agriculture Development Officer Basu Regmi. They have invested Rs 3 million to start their agriculture business as well as the poultry farm. Their intention is to invest Rs 977,000 to rear goats, Rs 300,000 for fish farming and then another Rs 300,000 for cattle farming. The youths are also preparing to work under the supervision of agro technicians. They have hired six people in their farm and the employees earn Rs 5,000 per month and are also provided with food. Shahi informed that after the farm becomes fully functional, 15 more people will be employed. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52757 KATHMANDU, April 7: Kantipur HISSAN EduFair 2013 is set to commence from May 16 at Bhrikuti Mandap, and will end on May 19. The education fair is a joint venture of Higher Secondary Schools’ Association Nepal (HISSAN) and Kantipur Publications. The expo aims to promote educational institutions in Nepal. Kunal Shrestha, Executive Manager at Kantipur Publications, said, “There’s a new synergy with the partnership and can be a good contribution to the education system.” He further said that the fair would be a good way to gain students’ insights into what they’re seeking in an educational institution. [break] Yubraj Sharma, Chairperson of the fair, pointed out that the difference in the fair was because of the involvement of the private sectors. Sharma said that it was a coming together of private institutions and more than financial competition, this fair would bring out the cooperativeness of the private institutions. “This is also an opportunity to show that what the private intuitions are doing and what they have to offer,” he said. The fair is set to have 70 stalls and is targeting 200,000 visitors. Booking for the stall is open till April 10. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52712 KATHMANDU, April 5: Whatever recovery that the Nepali film scene has seen in the last few years can be accredited to a handful of young filmmakers. They decided to deviate from the monotony that had taken over our industry and succeeded in earning the audience’s trust back, among whom Nepali films had once become synonymous to hilarity. A couple of films later, Nepali youth audience, although hesitant and hence selective, are now heading to theatres to pay for and watch Nepali movies. There’s nothing like watching a homemade movie that’s at par with the standard that was once deemed unlikely.[break] Nischal Basnet, 32, who wrote and directed ‘‘Loot’’; multifaceted Prashant Rasaily, 34, with two films under his belt – ‘Acharya’ and ‘Kathaa’; and aspiring filmmaker Kshitiz Shrestha, 27, who has co-directed short films like Ma Janna, Nagarjuna and Shukrakeet and hopes to start with feature films in the near future, talk about film aesthetics and donning the director’s hat. What first got you interested in filmmaking? Nischal: It hasn’t been long since I ventured into filmmaking, just around four years. I got into this out of total frustration. As an audience, none of the Nepali films was appealing, and after returning from Sydney, I gave myself a time limit of five years to make a movie. Filmmaking was never a hobby; I just ended up trying my hand at it. Prashant: I always played with my imagination, even as a child. When I was 11, I made a wooden film projector and I used to make my sisters watch films on it. The progress wasn’t sudden; it slowly came to me – taking photographs, thinking of stories, trying different things. Kshitiz: I have always been artistically inclined, and when I met a few likeminded people, we started a visual media company, Chhaproma Productions, around a year and a half ago. Since then, we’ve been making short films. L to R: Nischal Basnet, Prashant Rasaily and Kshitiz Shrestha. Who are your favorite Nepali actors? Prashant: As a director, you should be able to ask what you want from actors. There are so many good actors here but the question is, can you ask? Nischal: I like working with those I’m comfortable with, those who are welcome to criticism. It’s not talent we lack; it’s just that luck favors some. Kshitiz: I’m a fan of screen actors with theatre background but I find non-actors and their rawness the most interesting. A director is a collaborator. How do you choose your cast and crew? Prashant: I work with what is available; it’s either theatre guys or non-filming people. For ‘Kathaa’, the entire crew consisted of 25 people who were not from the film background but were interested in learning. The shooting was basically like a workshop. Nischal: I always ask my college friends to help me, it’s like bartering – they help me in my films and I return the favor. We always pay each other, though – it’s just the question of how much. Working with those outside my friends’ circle, I’ve realized that young filmmakers are welcoming suggestions from other crew members. Some technicians have told me that they usually wouldn’t know what the movie they were working for was about. We gave small roles to some of the crew members in ‘Loot’ and they suggested how things could be done differently. Has it ever happened to you that a film turned out differently from what you desired? Nischal: There’s always some dissatisfaction during the post-production. You realize that you could’ve done a few things differently, but a film doesn’t completely stray away from the initial plan. A few here and there, but it’s likely that the film might turn out better than you thought. Prashant: You just keep working on every aspect until you’re completely sure it sticks. We planned on shooting a horror movie before we decided on ‘Kathaa’. I like playing with crafts and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with changing the story furthermore. But it’s extremely important to know where you’re starting and ending the story. Things in between can change; ‘Kathaa’ was made without a script; so everything happened impromptu. Kshitiz: I make it a point to filter clichés in my stories and am consciously looking for uniqueness. Is it a filmmaker’s role to worry about what audiences want? Prashant: I write what I feel first. I think of human emotions because that’s something everybody can relate to, and then I pass it on to a friend. Nischal: Firstly, I have to like what I’m writing. I insist on making films that seem realistic which people watching can relate to in one way or the other. Majority of Nepali movies have the same larger-than-life elements. What’s the point of making a movie that’s not even close to life? Have you had any instances where you had to compromise with your story to make it more appealing? Nischal: No, compromising with aesthetics just to market one’s films is not my principle. We had to shoot some traffic scenes for ‘Loot’ but permission from the concerned authorities was unavailable, so we secretly shot some of the fight scenes in the alleys of Bhaktapur. Uncooperativeness aside, restrictions like these actually help you get more creative instead. It’s challenging. I don’t make films for profit. I consider myself fortunate to have a lot of people watching my film. Prashant: I don’t compromise, I suffer. There’s an international market for Nepali movies now, so there’s more than one way to earn money from movies. I am only interested in recovering my investment, and marketing gimmicks don’t affect my work or the way I work. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52709 KATHMANDU, April 5: Had ‘Vigilante’ not been Nepal’s first 3D movie, there would perhaps be nothing exciting about watching it. However, the 3D gimmick is just not enough to push the movie into a must watch list. The movie grabs every opportunity it can to slip in 3D tricks that will at times, startle attentive viewers, and at other times, be nuisance. When the movie begins, we know there have been four murders in the jungle and that Niraj, (Subash Thapa), after being left by his lover on the day of his wedding, has attempted a suicide. From there, the movie goes backwards, introducing six characters, going on a road trip. On the way, one of their vehicles stop functioning and they spend the night outside the house of an angry lumberjack (Shanker Acharya). When two of the friends go missing, the rest three go searching in the jungle.[break] While the names of some characters unfold way too later in the movie, each one’s personality unfolds right at the beginning. Director Khanal retains his ‘Chapali Height’ starrer Raj Ghimire in this movie as well, portraying him and his girlfriend (Priyanka Karki) as a very physically intimate couple. The character played by Arjun Gurung is portrayed as a lecherous pothead while Shikha Shahi is a provocative woman who’s after Niraj. Menuka Pradhan plays Melina, the girl who has visions of the future, and it is through her visions that the audience gets the forecasting of the violent fate that await the characters in the jungle. However, why she’s capable of those visions remains unexplained in the movie. There are sexual jokes in the movie which are uncalled for. In fact, the movie has many unnecessary plots, scenes and details. Room has been made for actress Priyanka Karki’s good dancing skills in a ‘spin the bottle’ game where Karki performs a seductive dance to a Hindi song, followed by an awkward dance by Shikha Shahi’s character in another Hindi number to ‘challenge’ Karki. The spin the bottle game becomes a platform for some important confessions that justify the way the story turns out; however, there are some unrealistic reactions to confessions, which seem very strange. The suspense element is there and isn’t easily decipherable however, the ominous background music has been used too obviously, perhaps in an attempt to add the thrill in this ‘thriller’. Editing falls short in some scenes, especially in the part where Arjun Gurung’s beaten up character, who is stuck in a pit and starts singing songs. The scene was perhaps there to lighten the atmosphere but the director has managed to slip in an obvious reference of his previous make. Vigilante has incepted the 3D mode to Nepali cinema. Other than that, it does nothing noteworthy. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52708 KATHMANDU, April 5: The remake of the iconic 1981 ‘Chashme Baddoor’ has turned out to be a bad replica. Granted it does squeeze out a few laughs from the audience here and there, the film is really not very entertaining. It has the all the right ingredients that Bollywood normally uses these days; the cheap jokes, the innuendoes, and the comic characters. Three friends – Ali Zafar, Siddharth and Divyendu Sharma – live in Goa. They owe money to their landlady, Lilette Dubey, and the local café owned by Rishi Kapoor. Siddharth and Divyendu are the rascals while Ali is the good boy in the group. Newcomer Taapsee does a reasonable job in this mediocre film, and the two rascals stick to their over-the-top characters, and this demands some acting of the same. In fact, the whole film seems more like a parody than a comic caper. Taapsee’s character, Sima, runs off to Goa to live with her uncle and grandma after her father’s repeated attempts to marry her off. Soon she falls into Divyendu and Siddharth’s sights and the two try to sweet talk her, failing which each makes up a grand story of their conquest. Ali meets her by accident and they fall in love. Just when all’s well in the romance kingdom, Siddharth and Divyendu find out who their friend has fallen in love with. There are snippets of popular songs from the past to irritate the audience more. The first half seems to flow at a leisurely pace while the latter half moves quickly. There are too many scenes inside a mall which makes no sense and there is almost no scene capturing the loveliness of Goa. The veteran actors, however, are a saving grace of the film. It was good watching Lilette Dubey on screen after so long. Rishi Kapoor seems to have found a new life in the industry with his varied choice of roles in films like ‘Agneepath,’ ‘Student of the Year’ and now the macho tattooed bachelor. He tap dances, too. Anupam Kher plays sparring twins and father and uncle to Taapsee as an army officer intent on marrying his daughter off to an army man and a professor rooting for his niece to marry a civilian. He is a bit irritating, probably because he’s never at his best when doing comic roles. David Dhawan’s film seems so long at times and the songs are simply annoying. But people could enjoy the film if they don’t judge and have no problem sitting through a mindless comedy. Screening at QFX Cinema http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52711 The Year 2012 was the year of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Several leading platforms for learning, including Coursera, Udacity and EdX Online launched their services during February to April 2013. With these three startups in the technology market, education has somehow been “democratized.” The course content that was available to a handful of people is now available to the global audience. Today, Coursera has a user base of more than 2.8 million and offers 313 courses from 62 different universities from around the globe while Udacity offers 22 courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and EdX offers 32 different courses from universities like Harvard and MIT. Also, EdX on its blog on March 3, 2013 announced that its system will be available open source to ease the usage of technology for education from June 1, 2013.[break] These MOOCs can be very beneficial to all those who seek to learn in the true sense. A few courses do offer the certificate of completion; however, most of the courses don’t provide the credentials. The contents that are delivered through these sites are outstanding and the discussion forums and quizzes aid the learning process. In a normal course, students from more than 150 countries sign up and express their opinions over the forums, and these virtual study groups give a unique sense of learning and expand the horizon of the applicability of the contents. Over the last 11 months, universities in the US have been heavily debating on the new trend of education. At one end of the world, technology is growing rapidly and the debate is on whether the courses should be open and free while, unfortunately, guess papers and guidebooks are all sold out in the market as exams approach. There are countless points which could be discussed and scrutinized to see how outdated a teaching/learning mechanism we have. Even when we compare the two leading universities of the country, Tribhuvan University (TU) and Kathmandu University (KU), there is huge gap between their teaching and learning methodologies. All universities, professors and students must feel the urgency of sensing the global educational trends. Everybody cannot afford Ivy Leagues but they can afford to sit in front of a computer and taste the way teaching/learning is done. However, initiatives from universities alone are not capable enough for the change that we want to see. Students should also, at least, try the subjects of their interest. Since these courses are generally shorter in length, students can give it a try. There are also constraints to this new option. With only 19% of Nepal’s population having access to Internet, language and with other barriers, it might seem difficult to attend the virtual classrooms. However, a few measures can be taken to give this new taste not only to students, colleges or universities but to all those who opt for broadening their horizon. The government’s Youth Information Centers (YIC) and Information Centers at the VDC level could also be used as strategic learning centers for many young people. This could foster the rural learners’ accessibility to the world-class education. Furthermore, different learning centers and libraries established by several organizations in the country can be established as strategic learning centers and attract students to use their resources to learn. Colleges and universities can arrange a learning environment for their students in their respective colleges and universities. This will provide platforms to students who don’t regularly access computer and Internet. In addition, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can also be encouraged to provide access to these learning portals at subsidized rates. It’s never too late to start. It has not even been a year but these MOOCs are booming. You can start your own learning experience at www.coursera.org, www.udacity.com or www.edx.org today. The writer is the President of YUWA, a youth led not-for-profit organization. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52710 And help a Nepali child embark on a creative journey KATHMANDU, April 5: Regardless of whether or not your New Year resolutions include charity, take some time to sort through your bookshelves and see if you have any illustrated children’s books to give away. Shiksha Nepal has started its “Euta Kitab Literacy Campaign 2015” with an aim to provide a book to every Nepali child and develop a reading culture among children. The campaign appeals to people to donate at least one children’s book on the occasion of Nepali New Year 2070 Bikram Sambat (BS) to reach the goal of 100,000 children’s books by 2015.[break] The campaign addresses every child’s right to education. “Your generosity will help a child embark on the journey of imagination and wisdom that the pictures and stories have to offer,” reads SN’s press release. The campaign kick-started on February, and in less than two months SN has already received contributions of around 8,000 books. With further contributions of 2,000 children’s books, the organization plans on distributing those 10,000 books to students of various schools in Dolpa District of Karnali Zone before April 25. “Other than promoting the campaign through personal networks and social media, we visited eight schools to promote the campaign and we recently collected around 600 books from the staff of ICIMOD. We’re planning to visit other schools and offices urging people to contribute books or support us financially,” said Prem Bahadur Bohara, Founder and CEO of Shiksha Nepal. He further added, “We’re looking for books in both English and Nepali. While children, who are just beginning to read, can understand Nepali stories easily, English stories should make them curious to learn the language further so that they can engage more in the story.” People outside Kathmandu or those willing to sponsor can also deposit Rs 125 (amount equivalent to a book’s price) in Shiksha Nepal’s account #0050010057877 at Mega Bank. Those interested in contributing can contact Shiksha Nepal’s office in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu or directly notify at program@shikshanepal.com. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52588 KATHMANDU, April 3: Smart devices are in the hands of a growing number of people and the youth in town aren’t far behind in riding the tech wave. Personal computers have, since long ago, become as important as pencils and erasers, and now, smart devices are taking up space in the pockets and backpacks of college goers. When her laptop stopped functioning, Sunaina Singh Shrestha, 22, replaced it with an iPad mini. The iPad was sent by her father from abroad upon her request. “I don’t have to use my laptop anymore as I can do everything I need to with my iPad, from studying for my exams to Facebooking,” says Sunaina.[break] As a student whose field of study requires a lot of field visits, Sunaina finds it very convenient to carry her iPad mini to different places and use it for data gathering purposes on the field. “It’s light and portable. Unlike a laptop, it doesn’t require a separate bag, it fits inside my handbag easily,” she adds. “I use my iPad almost 12 hours a day,” shares Sunaina. Supral’s top five app picks 1.     Voxer 2.     Dead Trigger (game) 3.     nLocate 4.     Google Sky Map 5.     Polaris Office 4.0 Utkrista Malla, 19, uses two different Apple products. The first, an iPhone 4, was a gift from his brother while the iPad 2 actually belongs to his father. “My father bought it but I use it more,” says Utrkrista. An A-Level student studying science, his virtual bookshelf on the iPad is filled with Physics past examination paper samples and novels. “I use my iPad to practice from past papers, during my exams and also use it for math, to create graphs for quadratic equations,” he adds. “During load shedding hours, my iPad is a savior. It has a 10-hour battery life and there are a lot of things that I can do on it,” says Utkrista who, apart from using it for his college studies, also engages in various entertainment options that this device provides. Movies, interactive games, and some just-for-laughs applications, the iPad has a plethora of entertainment applications as well. “One of the main reasons I like my iPad and iPhone is the vast applications that the devices offer. Plus, these gadgets have very simple and easy-to-use interfaces,” says Utkrista. He feels, however, that no matter how handy an iPad is, it can’t replace a laptop. He also thinks that living in Nepal, the iPad isn’t as much as it could be, due to the expensive 3G connections and slow GPRS connections. Utkrista’s top five app picks 1.    iBooks 2.    Infinity Blade 2 (game) 3.    Morfo 4.    Shazam 5.    Photo FX Ultra A non-believer in Apple products but a self-proclaimed techno nerd, Supral Raj Joshi, 21, brought a smart device three months ago after a lot of thought. “I saved money for a year to buy a good phone. I wanted a windows phone at first but then settled for an Android,” shares Supral. He carries a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and has no intentions to upgrade his device at least for the next five years. “For a movie buff like me, my phone is a blessing. It has a big screen and it’s very convenient for me to watch movies anywhere, especially on long road trips. The battery life is amazing as well. You can probably watch up to three two-hour-long movies at one go,” he adds. Features like handwriting recognition and voice memos, he believes, make his phone even more fun to use. Sunaina’s top five app picks 1.    Apps Gone Free 2. Candy Crush Saga (game) 3.    Instagram 4.    iZip 5.     Faceboo “I like the Android platform because whole network of app developers from all around the world who create cool apps are available for free,” says Supral. Apart from the usual calling and texting, and then watching a lot of movies and playing games, Supral also makes good use of his Smartphone to become smarter himself. “I learn a new word each day through SAT Word a Day,” shares Supral, adding, “Plus, whenever I can’t find a location around the city, I take out my phone and seek help from Google maps.” Supral believes that owning a Smartphone, one should use it to its full potential. As for him, he is always exploring his gadget and using it to the fullest. High-end gadgets and gizmos, whether as gifts or one’s own purchases, are finding their way into the hands of youth most of whom are updated and upgraded with the happenings in the tech world. With one click solutions for entertainment, easy access to social networking sites and applications for almost everything to anything, these gadgets, which are easy to use, have also been easily loved by many. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52587 Dear Swastika, When I was 13, my parents separated and I haven’t been normal since. I just gave up school and got in trouble most of the time. I just thought, “What’s the point?” But now I realize what I’ve missed. I’m 16 now and appearing for my SLC next year. I’ve just ruined my life. - Subek Once upon a time, there was a wise Yogi that other Yogis found very weird. The most unacceptable thing was that unlike others who woke up early in the morning for meditation and puja, this yogi would wake up whenever he wanted and do the rituals whenever it suited him. Other yogis thought he was a fake, who was bringing disgrace to all other yogis. So one of them finally decided to confront him and asked: “How can you be a yogi if you don’t wake up early and do the rituals?” The wise yogi replied, “You all wake up when it’s morning, but for me, when my eyes open is when morning begins.” Good Morning, Subek! The moment when your eyes opened to the fact that you had lost some years of your life in darkness, that realization is the beginning of a new morning. Don’t worry what everyone else was doing all these years. This is where your new chapter in life begins. Limitless possibilities wait. Dear Swastika, I’m 17 and I don’t know why, but I feel guilty all the time. Even when people are nice to me, I feel guilty and it’s really frustrating me. Is this normal in teen years? I just wanted to know if everybody else feels the same too. - Akash Deep inside, we are all eight-years-old. Somewhere around those years, something happened to us – someone told us we were not good enough, or that we would never succeed in life, or that we don’t deserve what we have, and we believed it to be true. Try going back to that time when you were seven, eight or perhaps earlier. You might reach that moment in life where someone perhaps told you that the problems of your family were your fault, or that they were struggling in life for you. These ideas we form during our childhood haunt us for a very long time and affect us in ways we don’t always realize. When you find that moment in the past where someone made you feel guilty and you internalized that guilt, you will begin to heal. Think, reflect, and dig into your past, and when you find that hurtful moment, bury it down to ashes. Start your life afresh. Dear Swastika, I am a grade-12 student and I don’t really like going out too often. But now I’ve realized that I don’t have friends outside college. I want to change my lifestyle but can’t seem to do so. I’m a shy person and don’t really gel with people. Got some tips for me? - Anonymous What do you value more in life – having many friends with a hi-bye relationship or a few friends with whom you share a deeper friendship? Unfortunately, they come in that exact combo. You can’t have many friends with deep meaning relationship. If you spend some time figuring out what kind of friendship you want, you might realize that what you have right now is amazing enough. If you feel you would rather have more friends, then you can join youth clubs and organizations working on issues that you are interested in. But caution – you should know that you don’t have to gel well with each and everyone you meet out there. If you can stand them without feeling like choking them every time they speak, consider them friends! Make a choice – a few friends with deeper relationship, or many friends with casual relationship, and then keep your expectations real. Dear Swastika, My friends do drugs and I’ve been offered many times. I usually say ‘no’ but I’m afraid I might be left out of the group if I don’t take it. I know it is peer pressure, but I don’t want to lose my friends. How can I get them to quit? - Concerned There are three options in life – To be, not to be, and to run away. “To be” means you would have to take drugs that would allow you to keep your friends. But would take your life to a completely tragic direction? If you choose “not to be,” you will have to try to change your friends before they change you. But even a man like Mahatma Gandhi in his autobiography, “My Experiment with Life,” recalls a time when he tried to change a bad company but instead found himself going against his own culture and belief system. If he were answering your question instead of me, he would tell you that sometimes when you’re not powerful enough to change others or strong enough to stay uninfluenced, that’s when you choose the third option in life – to run away. He would tell you: “You cannot change your friends, but you can always change friends.” Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti, a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52586 KATHMANDU, April 3: Audiences can now watch “Badhshala” in theatres on April 19. The film was scheduled to be released on March 8 across the nation but was held back due to the army’s issue with the film’s use of army uniform. Towards the end of January, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) had written to the Ministry of Information and Communications instructing it to ban the screening of the film, stating that the filmmaker had not sought permission from Nepal Army to use the uniform before filming.[break] The filmmakers then requested the army to watch the film before making any decision and had even said that they would approach the court to seek justice. Manoj Pandit, director of the film said, “The army sent a no-objection letter last Monday after which the Censor Board watched the film on Friday. ‘Badhshala’ was finally passed through the Censor Board yesterday.” Pandit confirmed the release date of the film on April 19 and said, “I would like to request everyone who comes to watch ‘Badhshala’ to come with an open mind. I hope they don’t carry the last few months’ issues of the film with me. Without any prejudice or expectations, I’m sure they will enjoy the film more.” The film was released in the UK and Australia towards the end of March and was well received by audiences there. It is also set to be released in the US in a couple of days. The film stars Anup Baral, Dayahang Rai, Sarita Giri, Saugat Malla, Arpan Thapa, and Samuna KC. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52541 KATHMANDU, April 3: Volunteers of The Gen Nep-Nation First, an initiative of Himalayan Climate Initiative and CG (Chaudhary Group) Foundation were recognized at a program organized at the Chandbagh School, Bansbari on Tuesday. The Gen Nep-Nation First was formally set up by the youths on October 1, 2012. 125 Gen Nep-Nation First volunteers have put in 13,446 hours of volunteering service working on their self designed projects which is set to begin outside the capital soon. The online volunteering facility set up by the initiative allows networking between volunteers and agencies seeking services of volunteers. [break] Binod Chaudhary, president of Chaudhary Group, and Damodar Lamichhane, mentor of Chaudhary, handing over certificates to the volunteers at an event at the Chandbagh School in Bansbari on Tuesday. Binod Chaudhary, President of Chaudhary Group; Nirvana Chaudhary, Managing Director of Chaudhary Group; Anil Chitrakar, Chairperson of Himalayan Climate Initiative and Prashant Singh, Founder and CEO of Himalayan Climate Initiative were present during the event to congratulate the Gen Nep volunteers on their achievements and wished them well for their future endeavors. Several celebrities like Nirnaya Shrestha, Raymon Das Shrestha, Shreya Sotang, and Prachanda Shrestha joined in the ceremony. Binod Chaudhary, President of Chaudhary Group, said, “Nation-First, the word is so powerful in itself. If we had put these words into practice, our nation would have a different fate today.” The Gen Nep-Nation First volunteers have, so far, worked in helping disadvantaged young women and reducing use of polythene shopping bags in the supermarkets of Kathmandu, raising funds, forging partnerships with corporate houses, development agencies and setting up a social enterprise. The advocacy of The Gen Nep-Nation First volunteers led to the reduction of polythene bag consumption in Kathmandu by 25% to 40% at five different stores of Nepal’s largest supermarket chain. If annualized, this accomplishment would lead to lessening the consumption of polythene shopping bags in Kathmandu up to 4 million pieces a year. With the help of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and several leading private sector organizations of Nepal, the idea for ‘Hamri Bahini Green Shopping’ took shape which has provided livelihoods opportunities to 68 women, mostly from disadvantaged background. Anil Chitrakar, Chairperson of HCI, said, “The Gen Nep is more than just a volunteering platform. It teaches the youth to collaborate, critically think and help communicate creative ideas.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52540 Youth more aware about blood donation KATHMANDU, April 3: If you’re anywhere between 17 and 65 years of age and weigh at least 60kgs, you’re eligible to donate blood. It was during a trip to New Road in Kathmandu three years ago when Anita Shrestha first donated blood. “There was a blood donation program going on and I just walked in,” says the 20-year-old resident of Thimi, Bhaktapur. Anita has donated blood five times since, the most recent being a month ago during a program organized by a finance cooperative company. [break] Blood donation campaigns have started to multiply in the last couple of years in the Kathmandu Valley. Many organizations arrange blood donation programs, and educational institutions have also begun to participate in the drive to be of help to a person in need. Students are aware of the role they’re playing when they offer to help out a sick person. It’s not feasible to say that people are still ignorant of the importance of blood donation, at least in urban areas. Keeping a minimum gap of three months, men can donate blood four times in one year while women are advised to donate only twice a year, this to balance the risk of iron deficiency. In the annual progress report (2011/12) of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Nepal Red Cross Society, it states that it collected 177,195 units of blood in that year, and it was an increase of about 4.5% compared to the previous year. Male donors comprised 84.4% and female donors were 15.6%. Established in 2011, Youth for Blood has helped more than 1,700 people till date. The foundation for the organization was laid when Saroj Karki, 22, was asked to find a blood donor for a friend. “That’s when I discovered what an acute problem we had. There was no one willing to donate blood. There was no awareness and people simply weren’t interested to help. I felt the pain,” says the president of Youth for Blood. Saroj is a 2nd year student of journalism at Mahendra Morang Campus in Biratnagar where the organization is headquartered. He started out with a few friends and now in the last two years, it has branched out to Kathmandu, Dharan, Lahan, Damak and Duhabi. Saroj first donated blood when he was 19, and has done it a total of 10 times. He says it’s only those in need who could tell how very important it is that we donate blood. The Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) of Nepal Red Cross Society works in 62 districts in the country, with 85 blood banks in the districts. It has 21 district-level blood banks and 31 emergency units. Blood banks organize donation programs, collect blood from donors which is then separated, typed and stored for use. A unit of blood is priced differently at private and government hospitals where a patient has to pay Rs 525 and Rs 510, respectively, according to BTS. The debate about the price for the blood, which is given free of cost by donors, is ongoing with hospital authorities stating that it’s the technical aspect whose cost is being covered by the price. Chetraj Ojha, Medical Technologist at Teaching Hospital, says, “We charge Rs 760 for the blood test and when we get it from BTS, we add Rs 110 to their price of Rs 510. This is due to the cross match test that we do here.” Ojha further says, “Most people who come here are between 20 and 40 years. Those in their 20s are still not a large number.” 3rd year General Medicine students of Nepal Institute of Medical Science and Technology, Mahendra Thapa and Jeevan Khatri were recently in the office of Blood Transfusion Service of Nepal Red Cross Society. The 19-year-olds were registering to organize a blood donation program at their college on April 5. Mahendra says, “We talked it over with our teachers before coming here.” “The Red Cross will be supporting us technically and we will organize the rest,” says Jeevan, for whom this will be a second time donating blood. With an estimated 70 students, they hope things will go as planned. Willing persons are checked for health risks before they are allowed to donate blood. A healthy person with no lung, liver and heart diseases can donate blood. Those suffering from diseases like jaundice, malaria, typhoid, asthma, diabetes can’t donate blood, either. People under chronic medication and pregnant women also can’t donate blood. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52539 A Nepali project competing for the Clinton Global Initiative Award 2013 KATHMANDU, April 3: “What keeps me motivated and working hard is the huge differences I see, right after I cross borders from Nepal,” says Kanchan Amatya, 19, a youth activist and an aspiring social entrepreneur who was recently invited by former President Bill Clinton to compete for the Clinton Global Initiative Award 2013 for her initiative “Sustainable Fish Farming”. [break] Currently pursuing her Bachelors in International Relations and Business in University of Oklahoma, Amatya has taken up the mission of empowering 500 villagers from poverty stricken households in Baseri village of Dhading district through ‘Self-sustainable Income Generating and Feeding program’ which will provide funding as well as training to the farmers, enabling them to start their own fish farms in the existing local ponds and paddies. “The financial assistance will be given at a 5% interest rate by which the first microfinance initiative will start in the village,” informs Amatya. “The proceeds from the fisheries in the public ponds will be used to establish a school library and other village development works, just like the villagers suggested,” she adds. Amatya claims that this project will be the first in the rural hilly region to introduce rice-fish farming and aquaculture technique. “Baseri village, located in the isolated western part of Nepal, is one of the most vulnerable and forgotten rural communities that is currently facing severe problems of poverty, malnutrition and unemployment. This village cries for income generating activity as poverty has crippled the lives of all the villagers,” Amatya explains the stark reality of the people living in this village which is also one of the places that has been most affected by the decade-long conflict in Nepal. “The immediate need of the initiation of the project by constructing Fish Farms and introducing rice-fish farming as a relief to the villagers from the on-going severe poverty and hunger is undeniable,” Amatya believes. “The villagers are currently unaware of the economic potential of the available resources such as sufficient fresh water source, public ponds and rice paddies,” she adds. According to Amatya’s research, the average production of rice in the village is about 4 ton/ha per crop. “The same amount of fish can be easily obtained with limited input,” shares Amatya, adding, “ But the price of fish is 20 times higher than that of rice which means that farmers can get 20 times higher revenue from the same area of land.” This means that the project can significantly boost the economic condition of the villagers. To support Amatya and her project, vote at www.cgiu.org/bracket. Voting will end on April 4 at 2:00pm ET. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52538 The development of Professional Social Work (SW) education in Nepal is in its ‘youth’ stage. It has completed 17 years since its inception in 1996. Like any adolescent, SW education in Nepal is experiencing complex issues and challenges. Many social work graduates drop out prior to their Masters in Social Work while over 1,000 students from more than 34 colleges under four different universities graduate each year in Nepal. But not even one-tenth of these graduates opt for Master’s degrees. Many argue that having insufficient institutions to pursue Master’s degree program in Nepal is the primary reason behind such a huge dropout rate. Others add that the low quality of the available Master’s-level SW education is the key reason for such withdrawal. I think the problems lie within the colleges offering Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. There’s a crisis in the philosophical, pedagogical and administrative understanding of SW education. Philosophical relates to “why should a college start a social work education and how should it orient its students who want to pursue this discipline.” Usually, colleges are seen to have started SW courses not with the objective of producing social workers to deal with social problems professionally but with the objective of making money from maximum admissions. Similarly, students also have big dreams of getting handsome salary and beautiful jobs immediately after their graduation. The misconception starts from this point. Pedagogical raises the questions on “the teaching methodology of the colleges.” SW education, like other technical disciplines, focuses on building three major components in students: knowledge, skills and values. SW education, being a multi-disciplinary subject, derives its knowledge from older disciplines like sociology, anthropology, economics, philosophy, etc. To translate this multifaceted knowledge into SW practices requires a broad understanding of skills, and while applying these skills, there are values and ethical considerations to which social workers must subscribe to. But SW colleges are failing to satisfy students’ requirements in all three components. Also, it is also important to know who is running the management, what is the academic background of the faculty members, who prepares the syllabus, etc. Sadly, in most SW colleges, the presence of academic social workers into the college management, faculty and program development is very minimal. Individuals from other disciplines, mainly sociology, economics, management, are running SW colleges. These are the principal reasons for the maximum dropouts and it can only be corrected by fulfilling the philosophical, pedagogical and administrative components. Another popular issue among Nepali SW graduates is regarding the recognition as professionals. There is an emerging thought that SW graduates should be awarded with professional ‘license’ by government entities like the Social Welfare Council (SWC). Another thought is that I/NGOs, service sectors like hospitals and schools must reserve job seats for these SW license holders. Recognition of any individual or profession depends on performance. The recognition of social work is associated with the services it delivers to the target groups. While delivering the services, three components usually shape the action: knowledge, skills and values. It’s time, therefore, to do some homework and address the loopholes in the SW education system. Let us transform the college system to bring back hope in the professional social work education in Nepal. The writer is a graduate of Social Work and is pursuing his Masters degree in Development Studies (MDevs) at Kathmandu University. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52537 KATHMANDU, April 3: New singles release every week and it’s all hot and happening on the airwaves around town but not so much in the clubs, the last time we checked in. If only Kathmandu’s DJ’s checked out Top Spin on Republica, they’d know what Kathmanduites are listening to. However, you are reading this and you’re about to know what singles are making big at the moment. Read on and get music-fied! [break] Rihanna featuring Future – Loveee Song With the recent cut off Rihanna’s current disc ‘Unapologetic’, RiRi proves once again that she can set, and often raise, the bar for modern pop music. There are hard-hitting club songs, feel-good dance jams and a surprising abundance of heartfelt ballads, all of which showcase Rihanna´s voice in ways the listener hasn´t heard before. Well, categorized under the latter is “Loveee Song” – an amazing collaboration with Future. Definitely worth listening to! Nicole Scherzinger – Boomerang Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger has revealed one more single that is going to be included in her upcoming album. Backed with powerful synthesizers and a pulsing dance-pop beat courtesy of Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, “Boomerang” is a club friendly track that is eyeing higher ranks on charts. On the other hand, as the title suggests, the lyrics is all about her ability to always turn things around for the better. You need to judge how this sounds. We think it sounds fantastic! Will.i.am featuring Justin Bieber – That Power Will.i.am teamed up with Britney Spears for “Scream and Shout”, the first single off his fourth solo album titled ‘#Willpower’, and now he’s collaborated with another huge pop star, Justin Bieber. JB is slowly being considered to be featured by other artists and this happens to be one of them. The new duet is called “That Power” which of course happens to be an auto tune drenched dance track. Do listen when you have the time. Kat Deluna featuring Costi – Always on my Mind Who doesn’t like Kat Deluna, especially for her hits “Am I Dreaming” and “Whine Up”? You’re going to have more reasons to love her, thanks to her fresh offering “Always on my Mind”. Featuring Dr Costi, it’s got a catchy hook and a very Caribbean feel to it. However, it sounds a lot like Jojo’s smash “Baby, It’s you” but it’s so infectious, we think one can overlook that fact. Sean Kingston featuring Chris Brown & Wiz Khalifa – Beat It “Beautiful Girls” hitmaker Sean Kingston returns to the scene with a brand new single! “Beat It” is the lead track off his upcoming album ‘Back 2 Life’. In addition to sharing its title with one of Michael Jackson‘s biggest hits, the joint packs not one but two top-shelf guest features; “Steel City” hitmaker Wiz Khalifa and R&B giant Chris Brown. The record seems to have all the makings of a hit and the trio seems to have good times rolling. You definitely need to listen to this! Also listen to: Caro Emerald – Tangled Up Ceelo Green featuring Lauriana – Only You Alex Hepburn – Under David Archuleta – Don’t Run Away Pitbull featuring Christina Aguilera – Feel This Moment Song list and information courtesy: Hits FM 91.2 http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52494 KATHMANDU, April 1: Academic competition puts a lot of pressure on students, especially on those who cannot excel in subjects that are deemed compulsory in schools. “Tuition classes have become a fad in the current context since everybody, including students who fare well in exams, seem to be opting for tuition classes,” says Krishna Kushwaha who teaches Math for A-Level students at Rato Bangala School and also occasionally gives home tuitions. The current scenario looks something like this - not much priority is given to how student performs during the first two terms of school year and if it seems like the student cannot score average marks to get promoted to the next class, the teacher hints the only other alternative there is hiring a tuition teacher and making sure the entire course is covered before exams.[break] Tuition classes focus primarily on what kind of questions will be asked in exams and how much marks will be allocated to each of them. It wouldn’t be fair to say that classes like these don’t delve into concepts in detail, but the foremost priority becomes solving this-many-questions and scoring at least 40%. “Starting tuition classes just two or three months before the final exam means limited time in hand and vast course to cover. The teacher will have to rush through everything to prepare the student for the exam. This could be the reason for exorbitant tuition fees,” says Ratan Bhatta, a secondary level Math teacher at Meridian International School, Baluwatar. Are tuition classes worth the money? Is it even necessary at all or can students rely on themselves to work hard and commit themselves more academically? “Students barely make it through daily classes without anticipating for the class to be over. Then there are friends who suggest different ideas to pass time. Between all this, there is no way a student can give his 100% in class,” says Surya Nepal, 27, who has been giving home tuitions and classes for Math and Science at private tuition institutes for over a decade. Surya also cites the teacher-student ratio as a hindrance to effective classroom environment, “In Nepal, there is this mentality that a classroom of around 40 students means the school is big when really the maximum number of students per teacher should not be more than 20. It becomes difficult for the teacher to handle all the students and few of them get away with just killing time instead of paying attention.” Similarly, Bhatta addresses another issue - long classroom hours for a subject which after a while becomes absolutely boring. “Students, even if they want to, cannot keep listening to the teacher for 45 minutes or one hour. If we could break down the time frame and cover the course in a medium that is interactive and entertaining, students would learn a thing or two without feeling like they are ‘studying’ something they will have to write in exam.” The reason, according to both Nepal and Bhatta, for maximum number of students finding subjects like Math and Science absolutely boring is because of the way it is taught in schools, in a way that kills quick thinking and usage of analytical brain in students. As a result, students dread the idea of studying these subjects and end up failing in them. Nepal also says, “There’s a reason why Optional Math is called optional. Some schools make it compulsory for students to take up the subject thinking students can learn it by rote and score high marks and they can boast about the percentage of distinction holders from their school. This rote-learning practice and business point-of-view is the reason why students have to join tuition classes.” Aditi Pandey, 18 has been taking home tuition time and again for subjects like Economics and Math for Plus 2 and Bachelors. For her, it is difficult to pay attention in a classroom because there is always so much going on around and the atmosphere isn’t focus-friendly. “But you’re all by yourself at home tuition and you have to concentrate then,” she adds. “For me tuition is to cover up on whatever I’ve missed in class,” says ninth-grade Merina Pandey who studied home tuition for three months before her final exams, “Math and Science are considered to be very important and unlike other subjects you cannot just read and understand things in these subjects, one needs to have understood the basics. Plus it is likely for students to score highest in these two subjects, provided that they know everything that’s included in the course.” The trend of home tuitions have become a supplementary income source for many teachers and also, students like Surya Nepal who have been studying and giving tuition classes at the same time. “My only problem has been time management, otherwise I think this is an ideal way to sustain for students- learning and sharing what you’ve learnt at the same time.” Krishna Kushuwaha, however, prefers teaching in classroom to giving tuition classes. “I am prepared for classes which is why I think classroom environment is more effective. In tuitions, I only solve questions that students ask me to and deal with concepts they are not clear with,” he says, adding, “I don’t encourage students to take home tuitions. I’d have my students work hard by themselves instead. This is why I don’t regularly give tuition classes myself.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52442 Glimpse of Nepal Fashion Week 2013 KATHMANDU, April 1:  The eighth edition of the TGIF Nepal Fashion Week (NFW) kicked off on March 27 and ended on March 30 at Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu. The event saw who’s who of the capital attending the show, some chicly dressed while some just seemed like they were attending a random party in town. [break] A joint venture between the IEC School of Arts and Fashion and The Himalayan Times since 2009, the event’s main objective, according to the press release, has been to take Nepali fashion industry to greater heights with each passing year and, this year too, the organizers hoped not to leave any stones unturned. But the actual event did not show off such exuberance, at least the designed screamed that out loud. (Photo: Bijay Gajmer/ Republica) Compared to NFW, 2011, the show lacked good designs and it all seemed like everything was done in a rush. However, the event was organized well and the timing of the music and everything was set right. The makeup and hair, well, wasn’t really a treat to the eyes while choreographer Prashant Tamrakar’s job was ‘ok’ but we expected a little more from him. The ‘Disney Princess’ sequence’s choreography was just too long and boring. Designers from IEC School of Arts and Fashion were seriously not up to the mark and perhaps their designs need to be checked before it’s actually showcased on the runway. On the third day of the event, during many sequences, the designs showcased were not well stitched and fitted and the flowing threads didn’t add any charm. The outfits were not well ironed either. Also, something to be noted by the models and their coordinators, perhaps is that one cannot be chewing a gum or have band aid while walking the runway. All in all, TGIF Nepal Fashion Week 2013 went on smoothly and was well coordinated but did not really exhibit any promising designers for the future. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52397 LOS ANGELES, March 31: A rare, signed copy of The Beatles´ album "Sgt. Pepper´s Lonely Hearts Club Band" has been sold for a record $290,500 at auction, The Hollywood Reporter said. The entertainment magazine reported on its website that the album, signed by all four members of the famous band, was purchased Saturday through Dallas-based Heritage Auctions by an unnamed buyer from the Midwest.[break] Earlier estimates suggested the album would sell for about $30,000, the publication said. The Beatles are believed to have signed the cover around June 1967 when the album was released. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the previous record for a signed Beatles album cover was $150,000, which was paid for a copy of "Meet the Beatles." http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52340 KATHMANDU, March 29: Tenzin Tseten Bhutia is pleasant to talk to and the conversation flows freely. After working for Himalayan Couture for six years, he’s now ventured into his own clothing line – Tenzin Tseten Bhutia Creations. The fashion designer has been in Nepal since the early days of fashion and has seen the industry progress. He’s candid about the situation and says, “Nepal isn’t ready for creativity yet.” But Tenzin is still hopeful and a lot wiser.[break] It’s been around six years since you joined the fashion industry. What was it like then? There were no particular fashion designers in the scene then. The concept was that tailors were the only people to go to if you needed something stitched. Apart from that, people would talk about the boutiques in Kupondole who were specializing in sarees. There was no media presence in the fashion scene then. I remember Nuzhat Qazi was there to compete with me. (Laughs). It’s only been a year or so that we’ve seen new designers on the rise.{break] How’s the industry now? Do you think it’s competitive? No, not at all. We’re still only a handful and I think the new crop of designers is trying to discover what works for them. I thought there were a couple of very good designs during the Trendsetters Fashion Show. But we’ve also seen a few rip-offs, and that’s where the media should come in. I believe that with more young people in the media, there’s been an evolution where fashion reporting is concerned. Since they know what’s going on, they’re keen to report on it. But I think everyone should be responsible and keep an eye on the fashion scene abroad too so that there’s no rip off and no hype over it. Because what will the rest of the designers do? They might come to believe that it’s okay to take someone else’s design and flaunt it as their own. In your opinion, what does the fashion industry really need at the moment? There’s a very important gap that can only be filled by textile designers. There are no textile designers in Nepal and there’s no course for textile designers in the country. Every fashion house, or designer actually, needs a textile designer to work with. They’re the ones who will work on the fabric and enhance the design. They help take the design to the next level, and with a certain design on the material, it becomes exclusive and customers will like that. I hope the fashion institutes will seriously consider adding textile designing to their syllabus. How has your creative sensibilities evolved? In the past, I would lean towards ethnicity and have a good dose of culture in my clothes. I worked with brocade and made sure there was a distinct stamp of ethnicity. However, I came to realize that clothes with western silhouettes are more favored and that clothes need to be contemporary. So I’m curbing my tendency to work like I did before and create clothes that my customers will easily love. Isn’t that bad for your creativity? In some ways, yes. Nepal isn’t ready for creativity yet. This is also my advice to upcoming designers: try to understand the market and design your clothes accordingly. But I still stick to certain silhouettes that I really prefer. For instance, I prefer the mermaid shape whenever I work with gowns, and when it comes to making skirts, the A line silhouette is what I prefer. Let’s talk about fashion weeks. How important are they for designers? I’ve done almost five or six shows this year. Fashion weeks and shows are very important in terms of visibility. We can show our work and that way we can sustain in the market. But when it comes to buyers, I’ll be honest and say that there’s nothing for designers in that respect. In all my years here, I’m yet to meet any buyer, and those designers who say differently aren’t being honest. So doing shows is just a way of remaining in people’s memories. Also, these days I don’t agree to participate in every show I’m offered. I research the company and their record before I agree to participate. I’ve had some experiences in the past and I’ve learnt it’s wiser to know who you’re working with. Has it become easier for a freelance designer to sustain himself? It’s been almost a year. Well, people here mostly order clothes only when they have a special place to go to. So the majority of my clients comprise people residing abroad. They send orders through email and social networking sites. It’s much more affordable for them than for the people here. As soon as the political situation gets better and the cost of living is stable, then I’m sure the industry will get better. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52339 KATHMANDU, March 29:GI Joe: Retaliation begins just where GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra left off. Few months, in between the first and the sequel, is a mirage since the Joes, once again with their sophisticated gadgets, are seen executing delirious fight sequences. Retaliation comprises new Joes, with Channing Tatum returning to the second installment as Captain Duke and Zartan, having intruded the White House in The Rise of Cobra, is still masquerading as the President.[break] The Joes are framed for stealing munitions from Pakistan and are killed in a following attack with only three survivors, Roadblock, Flint and Lady Jaye. While the three remaining heroes set on their quest to retaliate, Lady Jaye through gesture analysis gets the hint that ‘the President is not the President’. Meanwhile Storm Shadow and Cobra Commander, with assistance from Firefly escape the high-security prison. Storm Shadow retreats to the mountains to recover from burns on his back. The film is fast-paced right from the beginning to the end. The hi-tech fighting equipments and watching ninjas ascending and descending the mountains in 3D send shivers down your spine. The thrills of maroon ninjas fighting Snake Eyes and Jinx against the backdrop of breathtaking mountains is probably the best part of the whole movie. The eastern-meets-western flavor of physical combat puts all the characters in place and defines each of their roles perfectly. But the plot comprising too many characters caught up between the two sides is a little confusing. Some might even have trouble figuring out who’s the Snake Eyes and the Cobra Commander especially during the close-ups and mid-shots when the lower half of Cobra Commander’s robe isn’t there to distinguish. Despite not having a solid plot to back it up, the film does not bore you because everything happens so fast in this movie. Plus there’s nothing like watching Bruce Willis work two heavy guns while crouching on the back of a car and Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) fighting even outside the ring. Make sure you watch it in 3D though http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52236 KATHMANDU, March 27: Another batch of students, a total of 547,165, appeared for their School Leaving Certificate (SLC) Examinations this year. Many of those who did their schooling in Nepal are familiar with SLC and all the preparations and pressures that come with it. We take seven students from Asian College of Higher Studies in Patan down their SLC memory lane and talk about the good and bad in this event.[break] Republica Back L to R: Sujata Bhujel, Pritam Shakya, Bikram K Pandey, Kumar Chemjong, Front L to R: Nirjana Shrestha, Swechha Adhikari, Prakriti Sharma Participants: 1. Bikram K Pandey, Class 11, Hotel Management 2. Swechha Adhikari, Class 11, Hotel Management 3. Pritam Shakya, Class 11, Computer Science 4. Kumar Chemjong, Class 11, Business Studies 5. Sujata Bhujel, 1st year BBS 6. Nirjana Shrestha, Class 11, Business Studies 7. Prakriti Sharma, 11, Computer Science When thinking of your SLC days, what comes to mind? Sujata: The image of the Iron Gate and the fact that it decides our future. Bikram: I stayed in hostel, so I remember those days when we didn’t have enough sleep because we would always go to bed late and be woken up early morning to study. Pritam: I remember the days when stayed up late at nights to study. Prakriti: For me, those days were about studying. We had to be in school from 6 am to 6 pm. Do you think SLC deserves the ‘Iron Gate’ title that it’s often given? Nirjana: I don’t think we can refer to SLC exams as an ‘Iron Gate’ because the academics in plus two levels are even more difficult. Swechha: The ‘Iron Gate’ reference could’ve been justifiable had SLC exams been fair, lawful and strict about students giving their exams properly. Kumar: After SLC, other ‘golden gates’ open up for us. So in this sense, SLC is an Iron Gate. Sujata: I would say that successfully completing SLC exams is the first step of the ladder for students. Prakriti: Even after SLC, we still have more years left to study. So I don’t think it truly is an Iron Gate. Pritam: Class 11 and 12 are tougher than SLC. SLC actually isn’t very challenging, so it’s not really an Iron Gate. Bikram: In today’s context, no. But during the previous generations, it used to be. There’s a vast difference in the importance and value of SLC now and then. What would you say is the positive aspects of SLC? Kumar: It increases your efficiency and because you have to study a lot, you find out what preparation method works best for you. Swechha: After you finish your SLC, you tend to feel a bit grown up. It brings a sense of maturity, although that doesn’t last long (giggles). Nirjana: Sitting for the SLC exam gives you a sort of self-confidence, I think. Negative aspects of SLC? Bikram: There are a lot of discrepancies when it comes to checking the answer papers. Both students and teachers who check the papers are to blame for this. We hear of so many ill practices and corrupt activities related to how the papers are checked. Which I think is for real because I’ve seen so many people who’ve done really well in their exams get very low marks whereas people who haven’t worked hard get good percentages in the end. Prakriti: I speak from my own experience. I’ve seen incidents like a teacher writing down the answer on the white board during the examination because apparently the students paid the invigilators off. Also, parents give so much importance to SLC! As if there are no other exams after that which we would have to sit for. Kumar: There’s a lot of family pressure during the SLC time which is not healthy for the students. Pritam: SLC can ruin a student’s life in the sense that if a student scores only lesser percentage than required, then the student isn’t allowed to join the faculty they want to in their Plus Two levels. What improvements should be brought to the existing SLC practice? Nirjana: Teachers mostly focus on three subjects: science, math and optional math. Coaching classes are also provided for these subjects only. However, the focus should also be on helping students in other subjects because some students might find other subjects difficult. Sujata: I agree. Mostly, Nepali as a subject is thought to be very easy. But many students fail in this subject in their SLC. So other subjects should also be given priority. Kumar: Emphasis should be given to practical knowledge and learning methods, not rote learning. Prakriti: There shouldn’t be bias when it comes to checking answer papers. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52235 KATHMANDU, March 27; A competition of intellect, creativity, team spirit and strength of the mind, the 7th Battle of the Brains organized by and held at Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) in Gwarko, Kathmandu, saw the participation of seven colleges of the Valley. The event, which was organized by KCM Career Club, and sponsored by merojob.com, Everest Bank Ltd, Shibako Auto Trading and ECS Teenz, was opened by Maria E I Shrestha, Vice President of KCM, and representatives from merojob.com.[break] Ace Institute of Management were the ultimate winners of the event while Modern Indian School A-Levels and Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM), stood second and third, respectively. A team of students from each college participated in various competitions such as debate, advertisement making, extempore, case study, quiz and team building, and the collective score of each of the competitive categories were added to give out the winning score. After the prize distribution ceremony, a post-event party took place at the college premises to celebrate the success of the 7th Battle of the Brains. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52234 KATHMANDU, March 27: Students of Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) in Gwarko are currently waiting for their college cafeteria to restart its services. Meanwhile, the students have been regularly hanging out at the food joints in the locality. Ghumti Khaja Ghar It’s all veggie at Ghumti. Despite the fact that it doesn’t serve mass favorites such as buff momos, the place is quite popular among students for Chauchau Sandeko, Waiwai/Rara Fry, Veg Momos, and Roti Alu. A little further from the downhill by the college’s main entrance and after a sharp turn, Ghumti is originally just ‘Khaja Ghar’ but got its name from the turn that leads to the small shuttered space. Students don’t mind standing out and eating because the food is so good. Blue Moon Food Land Blue Moon is exactly opposite to Ghumti, is spacious and serves Samosa Tarkari, Buff Momo, Alu Paratha, Pani Puri and “10 Rupyako Kulfi.” Best Food Café (BFC) BFC is across the road from KCM, next to B&B Hospital. “Moderate price range but relatively expensive” is how a student chose to describe BFC. Although a fast food joint, ironically the café is infamous for slow service. But their Naan Tarkari makes up for all that. Didiko Pasal (Fresh Café) Funnily enough, Didiko Pasal is run by dais. Students assume that the didi probably got married and went away. It’s located by the downhill of KCM and serves Buff Chowmein, Momo, and sandwich and bakery items. One of the main reasons why the pasal is popular is because students, when broke, can order on credit and pay later; and the tea and coffee there are, as students put it, “atti sahi.” Batuk Bhairav Khaja Ghar Batuk is where students of KCM go for their ‘after-party’ post-event retreats and celebrations because it’s close to college and cheap. Chhoila, Alu and non-veg items are available here. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52233 I became friends with this guy I liked about a month and a half ago. We’ve been texting and hanging out and everyone’s assuming we’re dating but he says he just wants to be friends. Any advice on how to get out of the friends zone? - Anonymous There are two types of people in this world. First are the ones who fall in love at the first sight and move into a relationship at the speed of a jet. Then there are the second type who take forever to move from one step to the next. There is a chance that your guy could be type two. Within type two, there are again two types – the ones who are straight forward about their feelings and will easily confess when they are ready, and others who overthink about what the other person might be thinking and wait for the other person to confess first. If your guy is the second type, it might be important for him to get a clear signal that you are ready to move to step two in your relationship. If he’s more like type one, you might want to give him some more time. This is always the trickiest part of a relationship – if you step in too quickly, he might be intimidated; but if you wait for too long, he might dwindle away. I realized about a month ago that a lot of the things I used to do together with my friend were stupid. I haven’t really hung out with him and now he’s all mad because I don’t see him. And he’s turning into a blabbermouth. What should I do? - Sujan What if you went to him and said exactly how you feel that you have done things together with him that you’re not really proud of and thus feel the need to take some time alone to step back and reflect over your actions? I think you have matured to a point where you are realizing and reflecting upon your previous actions. But you can’t overlook the fact that knowingly or unknowingly you validated or drove your friend towards those moments of stupidity. What if you acknowledged your share and cleared out your friend’s confusion and frustration over losing you? Maybe all he wants is a proper farewell? He is always smiling at me, winking, and whenever I look at him, he’s looking at me and we make eye contact. I asked him whom he liked and he said he would rather have that conversation in person. I’m scared and excited. What’s going to happen? - Enthu Girl I am excited for you too!!! In fact, the most exciting moment in life is the moment of anticipation – of not knowing what waits, of hoping that it might just be what you’ve been dreaming about. Enjoy your moment of anticipation. Soon, he will have said what he wants to say. The curtains will fall, the suspense will be over. Who knows what he will say, what will or will not happen – don’t build any expectations around it. No matter what he says or doesn’t, this moment of excitement is yours – love this moment. I’m 18 and my friend’s actions in class confuse me. He implies sometimes that he could be gay but he flirts with girls all the time. If he is gay, I want to be there for him. How do I put through this message? - Ajay If he says he “could” be gay, then he is obviously in the “could” zone. It is possible that he is taking time to be sure about his own sexuality – for some people, it does take time to clear out confusions. If you feel safe sharing your feelings with him, you should go ahead with a cautious expectation that he might not reciprocate the same feelings to you. You can let him know that you understand that he could still be figuring things out and that you are there for him. But having said that, you might want to be a little cautious about people who are still in the “could” zone. Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti, a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52189 TORONTO, March 26: While students in Nepal attend boarding schools to learn the English language, children in Toronto, Canada are interested to learn Nepali. Every Tuesday evening, a group of young people are seen talking in Nepali in a street near Rose Avenue Junior Public School. They carry with them pens, exercise books and Nepali ‘barakhari’ (alphabet) book. As they enter the classroom, they greet their teacher, Sama, with a Namaste instead of a good evening before they start their lesson. Some start with reciting the alphabets while some practice writing it; some practice reading lines from their books and others just write sentences. Sama Upadhyay is a very busy teacher. And since her students come from different levels, she has a hard time integrating them in the class. Some of her students were born in Canada, some have come from Nepal and some have a little knowledge of the Nepali language.[break] In Nepal, ` taught in St Mary’s School in Kathmandu and that experience has helped her teach Nepali in Canada. There are more than 50 Nepali children learning the language from her. Along with her, there are other Nepali residents in Toronto who’ve initiated classes for learning Nepali since 2004. “At that time it was difficult to get students since there were less Nepalis living in Canada,” said Sama, in between lessons, “These days parents are aware that they need to teach their children their language and so the student population has also increased.” With the increasing volume of students in the language class, an extra class has been introduced since last year and there are two Nepali language classes actively functioning at the moment. Some students come from far away to learn Nepali, even managing a journey of an hour and more just for the class. There’s talk of adding an extra class to meet the requirements of the rising number of students, informs Sama. The class could operate in Scarborough where more and more Nepalis are settling down. Parents are very happy that their children are learning Nepali. “It’s not definite that we will always live in Canada,” said Yam Khatri, a restaurateur, “We might return to Nepal one day and if our children do not have any idea or knowledge of the Nepali language and culture, then it’s going to be very difficult for them. Hence, it’s important for them to learn about their language and culture.” He adds, “It’s a pleasure to hear them speak in their accented Nepali and it’s also the love for Nepal which makes us want our children to learn Nepali.” Laxman Subedi, originally from Baglung, says, “When we were in Nepal, I would be happy to hear my daughter speak in English. But after we came here, it started worrying me thinking what if she forgets Nepali and that’s why I’ve enrolled my daughter, Anuja, in the language class. I’m happy now that she can speak good Nepali.” There are a lot of residents in Canada who’ve come from different cultures and the government provides a teacher if there are at least 20 students interested to learn a language. Similarly, for the Nepali classes, the government has managed a salary for the teacher and other expenses through Toronto District School Board. The class is taught every Tuesday from 4:30 in the afternoon to 6:30 in the evening. Along with the Nepali language class, there are 14 other languages being taught in Rose Avenue Junior Public School. Some of the other languages include Tamil, Bengali and Urdu. Toronto District School Board’s Language Learning Program Coordinator Jayanti Rajendra said that the love Nepali students have for the language has moved him. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52188 Those were the exact words we chanted while moving to and from the so called Columbus at the Fun Park. The wait for this exam was finally over. No longer would we have optional mathematical nightmares nor would our mathematics teacher appear in our dreams again. No longer would we have to look at those irritating books, scolding ourselves and cursing those books. No longer would we have to wake up early in the morning, at least for the coming three months. We felt as if the whole studying part of our life was over. Now we have nothing to do. This three-month holiday seems to be a new life for all of us: A life to do what we like, to enjoy, have fun, and to live our life to the fullest.[break] Anyhow, preparing for the SLC exams wasn’t easy. There was always tons of pressure on us SLC-appearing students. It wasn’t because it would be tough but because of the attention we got. I remember even long-distance relatives calling and asking, “Aren’t you appearing for your SLC this time? How’s your preparation going?” They acted as if the SLC was a battle of the Mahabharata, and one would become a great person once it was over. They really made me feel that I was facing something extraordinarily tough and they directly jumped on the whole preparation thing. Another tough thing for a student like me was how to answer the questions. Everyone tried her best in the exams. After all, 10 years of education would finally be proven by this exam. But how would the exams go? Coming to the studying bit, it wasn’t really difficult for students attending school regularly and studying properly. Personally, my exam days weren’t so easy. Honestly speaking, I couldn’t sleep the whole night before the very first examination. But compared to my fear, I found the exams easy. But there were also conditions which made it irritating. On the very first day, we were lost on our way to the exam hall. After scanning each and every door, we finally found the room we were supposed to be in. When we entered the hall and saw the benches, it took us aback. The benches were small, maybe one third of our heights, and the desks, on which we had to write, were cracked. We had no option but to adapt to the environment, and so we did. However, my bench mate was ruining everything because he tried to copy each and every sentence of mine. The moment I didn’t let him see my page, he would start irritating me. The worst feeling was after the exams when I saw the news on television. It said that the year’s SLC examinations went on smoothly and that it was better than previous years. Really? Seriously? The interesting thing, however, about the exam days were people from different colleges and bridge course centers offering us various course choices. Our hands were always full of prospectuses and pamphlets. Academic choices for our future were provided on the spot, and I thought it was good, except for the pushing and pulling, and the large number of people trying to hand over their college brochures to us. The overall SLC experiences were full of excitement and it was, above all, something different than the usual. However, I really hope and pray for improvements in the system for the next batches of SLC candidates. The writer recently appeared for her SLC examinations from Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute in Kathmand http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52187 KATHMANDU, March 26: Nepal Fashion Week’s eighth edition is all set to kick off on March 27 at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu and will continue till March 30. Nepal Fashion Week 2013, the biggest glamour and fashion event, is a joint venture between IEC School of Art and Fashion and The Himalayan Times. 78 designers are participating in the fashion week while 16 Nepali models and four Indian models will be flaunting the designs on the runway. The runway will also see popular Nepali models Aastha Pokhrel and Oshima Banu as well as media personalities like Nagma Shrestha and Subekshya Khadka. Shristi Shrestha, Jharana Bajracharya, Nisha Adhikari and Prashant Tamrakar were announced as showstoppers in the press release. The themes of the participating designers varies and ranges from glamorous sounding ones like Bollywood, Red Carpet, Elle and Chanel Gaga to ones with an ethnic touch like Fusion of Nepali Silk, Craft Revival and Sanskriti. The event is set to start at 7:30 in the evening and will be followed by a cocktail reception and an after party DJ session. As stated in the press release, the organizers also view Nepal Fashion Week as a platform to pursue business for designers and potential buyers. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52149 Nepal losing its few Veterinary doctors KATHMANDU, March 25: As an agrarian country and livestock product-based enterprises being one of the major businesses in both rural and urban areas of Nepal, the number of veterinary graduates is disappointing. There are currently three institutes that offer veterinary science courses – Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) in Rampur, Chitwan (TU); Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (HICAST) under Purbanchal University in Kalanki and the newly established Nepal Polytechnic Institute in Bharatpur, Chitwan.[break] The Bachelor course is a five-year program comprising ten semesters – nine semesters of course and a six \-month internship. Serene Amatya, 21, student of Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc and AH) at HICAST, feels that people, especially in the urban areas, limit veterinary science to pet treatments and many do not know that it is a multi-disciplinary subject. Another student from HICAST, Rahul Shrestha, 22, took up this course to continue his family business. “My grandfather was a veterinary compounder who started Nepal Veterinary Distributors in Tangal. My father is also involved in this business and I also want to do the same,” he says. According to Serene and Rahul, the course includes Anatomy, Biochemistry, Nutrition, Meat Technology, Grassland Management, Dairy and Sausage Production and extended subjects like Sociology and Law. “It’s a vast course from studying bone structures to comparative anatomical study of equine, canine, poultry, avian, bovine and swine,” says Serene, adding, “We have technical aspects to study and fieldwork that is required to extend information from research centers to practitioners (farmers).” “Veterinary science primarily focuses on techniques to handle animals before moving to diagnosis or treatment,” says Dr Jeevan Lal Amatya who completed his postgraduate degree on Nutrition from Anddra Pradesh, India. Amatya worked for the Government of Nepal for six months before working for an Indian pharmaceutical company for five years. He started a hatchery in Thankot in 1986, a feed mill in Chitwan in 1980 and a veterinary pharmaceutical company in 1992. Dr Amatya’s career, which has spanned over 30 years, is a sufficient example of the prospect of this branch of science. “Livestock production alongside agriculture greatly contributes to Nepal’s GDP and we have a big poultry sector with approximately one million poultry being produced in one week and 500,000 birds a day in Kathmandu alone. This scale of great livestock and poultry production needs veterinarians to meet increasing food demands (especially protein sources – milk, meat, egg) without compromising on the food quality,” said Dr Amatya, adding, “The cattle population in Nepal is three times more than that of the human population but 600,000 goats are still imported every year from India. There are scopes for fisheries and livestock production here in Nepal which significantly involves veterinarians.” There are around 60,000 pets in the Kathmandu Valley alone and the ratio of veterinary doctors, most of whom are involved in private practice, to animal patients is 1:2,000. Despite such potential and prospects in this field, the number of veterinary graduates is limited. The three institutes have 30 seats each and while approximately 90 veterinarians graduate each year, according to Dr Amatya, and around 30 retire. Another major problem, prominent in this field, is brain drain. There are around 700 practicing veterinarians in Nepal while over 200 are abroad and 100 have retired, according to the data of Nepal Veterinary Association. Dr Rebanta Kumar Bhattarai, Assistant Professor at the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology at IAAS, Rampur, says the scope of veterinary science is great in the pocket areas of agriculture and animal husbandry and also in private businesses involving livestock and wildlife. He cites the lack of manpower as the biggest problem at this point of time, “Even countries with smaller area have ten to eleven thousand veterinarians while Nepal is losing its few to foreign soil,” he added. Sikesh Manandhar, 23, who is currently studying in the eighth semester at IAAS, says, “The course itself is wide and includes everything there is to know about animals. One of the most interesting things for me is the fact that this course requires me to study Economics.” Sikesh feels that as a student of veterinary field, it is frustrating to see that people do not value lives of animals as much as they do of human lives. Despite these problems, veterinary science is slowly exploring its prospects, not just here in Nepal but internationally as well – with many veterinarians teaching and working abroad http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52146 Paleti to feature friendship of Shrawan Mukarang and Aavaas KATHMANDU, March 25: heirs is a friendship that is born out of the intersection of their individual forms of creation. Their relationship would almost amount to nothing without poetry and music, the two say. They are admirers of each other’s talents and opponents when it comes to certain debates about philosophy, politics and life but they are two sides of the same coin that makes heart-touching songs. Shrawan Mukarung is poet and lyricist. Aavaas is more renowned as a music composer and singer although he also writes lyrics and poetry. The duo has made around two dozens of songs happen, the most popular ones being ‘Gaunthali,’ ‘Lamppost muni,’ ‘O Tenzin’ and ‘Pirai pirko bhari.’ Excerpts from a conversation: How did you two meet? Aavaas: We first got to know each other through poetry back in the days when our songs and poems were published in newspapers. I used to read Srawan’s poems. We must have met a couple of times in different events in Kathmandu but we became good friends after we started working together. I used to write my own songs and my friends suggested that I start composing and singing others’ lyrics as well. So I was in search of a good song writer. Shrawan: I would say it’s our attraction to creation that brought us closer. I had read his poetry collection, ‘Bhugolmathi Ubhiyeko Jaitun’ and was impressed. Perhaps then I searched for him. It was only later that I found out about his works in music. What do like the most about each other’s works? Aavaas: He has an unconventional style of writing and he writes with ease. Shrawan: Not everyone is capable of going into the depth of a song. Aavaas has this quality. The kind of songs he creates is not only for his self-satisfaction but also for the society and nation. He brings out the shadowed stories of the society into his music and has the potential to take Nepali music to a higher level. What would you say is the common ground for you, as a pair, when it comes to your creations? Aavaas: We believe in telling our stories through that of others’ and telling others’ stories through ourselves. Both of us try to bring out voices of the voiceless in our art. Do you have disagreements and discrepancies while working together? Shrawan: Our discussions aren’t like those between two lovers or between Sharukh Khan and Salman Khan. We have meaningful debates and discrepancies. Aavaas: We never have ego tussles, we only argue on issues but we don’t let the arguments disrupt the harmony of our relationship. Shrawan Mukarung and Aavaas will be a part of the next edition of Paleti, a series promoting Nepali contemporary music. The event will be held at nepa~laya in Kalikasthan on March 29 from 5:30 pm onwards. Tickets are priced at Rs 1,000 (Paleti snacks and one complimentary drink included http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52148 KATHMANDU, March 25: Currently the Director of Operations and Strategy at Parakhi, an online guide of hotels in Nepal, Nirmal Thapa’s career is fueled by his passion for startups. “I’m a big believer in following one’s passion,” says Thapa. With a MBA in marketing management, Thapa holds several experiences of working in companies abroad. Read on to find out more about his work ethics and inclination towards startups.[break] First off, why startups? I like building things. I find the challenge of innovation, along with the risk in it, very exciting. That’s why I like startups because it’s all about applying your creativity and connections. Do you see a lot of potentials in Nepal for startups? Definitely. It’s an exciting time to be there in Nepal and start something. There are a lot of good opportunities. Plus, Nepal is that kind of place where, if you have a good job, you can afford a very healthy lifestyle. The living expenses are not so high. What are your long term plans? I want to make sure Parakhi continues to grow, both as a team and in terms of revenue. I wish to keep the startup culture in Nepal alive. What are some of your work ethics, and as a leader, what do you look for in a team? My belief is in doing the work that one really loves. I like projects that are creative and out of the box, ones which require team effort to be successful. I value time a lot. When it comes to colleagues, I like working with people who are passionate about what they do, regardless of the field they are in. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced while working here? The work challenges here are unique, in a way. We have to adjust with unexpected strikes, load shedding at a lot of holidays. But there’s a very social environment at work here and I like that a lot about working in Nepal. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52147 KATHMANDU, March 25: In an event at Hotel Radisson on Monday, British Council Nepal awarded nine schools with International Schools Award (ISA). The awards were of different categories, such as full award, intermediate award and foundation award. The schools receiving the full award were Gurukul Academy, Annal Jyoti Boarding School, Nagarjuna Academy Higher Secondary School, Harvard Academy, Apex School and Karunanidhi Education Foundation Higher Secondary School. The intermediate award was granted to Bhu Pu Sainik English Higher Secondary Boarding School and Balodaya Higher Secondary School. Paramount Public School won the foundation award.[break] According to the press release, Mahashram Sharma, Joint secretary at the Ministry of Education congratulated all the schools and expressed appreciation towards British Council for initiating ISA to encourage “project based” learning in schools. He emphasized on the point of partnering with state owned schools so that the learning can be shared in mutual ways. Started in 2012, the award is based upon projects taken up by schools, including a collaborative project based on school curriculum with partner schools. A panel of judges from the British Council, Department of Education and Curriculum Department Centre judged the schools on the learning outcome of the projects. The award is recognition of the schools’ excellent teaching and learning process and nurturing of global citizenship in young people. While encouraging innovation and team building, it is also holistic in its approach to school development and helps schools in developing exchange of ideas. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52084 Holi, just the thought of it takes me back to 27 Janak Road, Calcutta (Kolkata) during the early sixties. Rolling back my memories to that particular day in 1964 brings forward our overcrowded house where Holi started after breakfast. That day, Holi in our house officially started with baba putting red tika on everyone’s forehead. Soon the color frenzy struck and all the members were grabbing each other to smear color accompanied by plenty of yelling, laughing and running around. By midday, all were tired but no one was in the mood to quit just yet, so we decided to go outside and look at others enjoying Holi.[break] We were standing just outside the main iron gate when a colorful group of people from our tole approached us. Since we were out of colors, they lent us some and we all played color one more time. In the meantime, another group from another tole came. No one was willing to let them pass by, but the problem was, we still had no colors left. I’m sure you’re imagining what we might have done, right? Well, when the other group came closer, we caught them and some pretended to smear colors and enjoyed a kind of satisfaction at being able to rearrange the color already present there. While others grabbed one member at a time from the other group and dragged him to the nearby tube-well. One held him while the other pumped water and drenched him. This looked like one fun thing to do. Now all became excited one more time and regardless of who belonged to which group. All got a chance to get drenched beneath the tube well. Finally, all laughed and exchanged good wishes and left their merry way. As evening drew, all of us were in pensive mood, relaxing, recounting and laughing as incidents were described one more time. Soon enough, someone knocked on the veranda metal door. I looked out to find a lady with a fairly big tray covered with a nice lace cover. Upon inquiry, I was told our neighbor had sent us some sweets. Confused, I called my mom. She came and told the lady that we weren’t expecting sweets and that she should take it back. But the lady insisted that the sweets were for us. Unable to convince her, my mom accepted the sweets. It was a pleasant surprise and we immediately finished it. After about an hour later, the lady came back and said that the sweets were meant for another house and wondered if she could have the sweets back. Now that was a problem, there were no sweets left and we told her that. Disappointed, she left with tearful eyes. We thought the day had finally ended, but nature was not ready to call it a day just yet. After dinner, many of the family members were already asleep but the children, too excited by the day’s events, were wide awake. Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. Almost like nature had had a tad bit more ‘bhang’ and just wanted to shake it off. All of us rushed outside. The day finally ended with all wide awake, waiting for yet another quake to pass by despite being very tired. Even now when I remember that day, the visions become very vivid and my whole body starts to tingle with the excitement of that day. Have you had any such vivid experience? Think about it. Pokharel is an educationist, consultant and author of several children’s books. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52083 Once there lived a boy named Jahir who always came up with questions that no one could answer. One day, it was raining heavily and Jahir sat on a chair in front of the window and cupped his face with both his hands and thought about nature. When he started thinking of it, questions struck his mind. He started asking himself, “Why does the sun always rise and set? Why can’t it stay in the same place, and what’s the purpose of the moon if the nights have to be dark?” Jahir was sad because he did not know the answers to the questions. He asked every person of his village but no one could answer. From that day, he grew sad and never laughed or smiled. One day, Jahir was roaming the street when he suddenly met a sage. The sage asked him, “Why do you look so sad? Do you have any problem?” Jahir poured out his heart. The sage then looked solemnly at Jahir’s face and said, “You can get the right answer through meditation.” He meditated for years and years, and at last, he got enlightened. After he was done, he started teaching people what he had truly learnt. People were encouraged by his teaching and they also started meditating. Jahir was kind to elders and loved children, and people respected him for that. Soon he became the most enlightened person of his time. Yashaswi is a student of grade three at Triyog Higher Secondary School in Dhapasi, Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52082 Eleven-year-old Emily Elizabeth Davis has been told for her entire life that her destiny is to become a poet, just like her famous namesake, Emily Dickinson. But Emily doesn’t even really like poetry, and she has a secret career ambition that she suspects her English-professor mother will frown on. Then a seeming tragedy strikes: just after discovering that it contains an important family secret, she accidentally loses the special copy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry that was given to her at birth. As Emily and her friends search for the lost book in used bookstores and thrift shops all across town, Emily’s understanding of destiny begins to unravel and then rewrite itself in a marvelous new way. In her third novel, Kathryn Fitzmaurice again weaves a richly textured and delightful story about unexpected connections, about the ways that friends can help us see ourselves for who we truly are, and about the most perfect kinds of happy endings: those that happen just on time. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52081 KATHMANDU, March 24: Prashant Rasaily hasn’t attended any filmmaking institute. "Life’s been my only teacher," says the 33-year-old writer and director. After his debut film, “Acharya” in 2010, “Kathaa” is the second feature film made by the Sikkim-based moviemaker. “Kathaa” was selected to be screened at the Goteborg International Film Festival in Sweden recently.[break] How and where did the interest in filmmaking arise in you? I started playing with filmmaking tools in 1998. Playing with my imagination has always been a part of my life, and hence, my interest grew in filmmaking. What did you think about the response to your first film “Acharya”? Acharya was appreciated by those who watched it. What I felt good about it was the fact that many people from all walks of life watched it. What are some of the most important things to remember while making a film? While we know about the important technical aspects we need to make a film, it´s also extremely important to know what one is doing. That´s the most important aspect of filmmaking. Most often, we tend to get confused in the middle of the process and get lost. This is because while our beginnings have basic structure, the latter phases are often fogged in the process. How and in what ways is “Kathaa” different from your first film? Kathaa is different from Acharya in many ways. Acharya was based on reality while Kathaa is fictional. From the budget to the number of cast and crew involved in these two films, everything varies. This latter movie tells the story of a mute girl (Kumari) and a Yak herder (Kaanchha). It’s about their love, dreams, separation and loss. How do you choose the subject when you’re planning to make a film? I don´t really plan much, especially when it comes to subject and genre. For instance, Kathaa was created without any script. Many stories come to my mind but only the ones that go all the way down to my heart get to shine on the silver screen. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52027 Trendsetters dazzles Kathmanduites KATHMANDU, March 24: We hoped that the budding fashion industry would someday reach new heights and that the fashion shows would become better. Along those lines, Trendsetters, the fashion show held at Hotel Annapurna in Durbar Marg on Friday, somewhat took the fashion shows to a newer height. A presentation of Vootoo Entertainment, 10 designers flaunted their creativity and the evening went on smooth. [break] Starting the event, actor Priyanka Karki, bold enough to get strapped to a crane wire, flew on stage and danced to will.i.am and Britney Spears’s new single, ‘Scream and Shout’ while the audience looked a bit dazed, not knowing how to react. Well, that was good? Wasn’t it? (Photo: Keshab Thoker/ Republica) The technical glitches however, killed the mood, especially when one of the hosts said, “Please continue with the music”. The video was not clear and the sound was just bad. But the same can’t be said about the hair and makeup and the choreography. Sakil Kunwar was flawless with the makeups and hair, while Bipin Gurung’s choreography was different and well arranged. Oodni Boutique kick-started the evening with the beautifully stitched Lehenga’s with the colors blending perfectly with the gold patterns used. Mamta Gurung Joshi along with the other designers from House of Fashion’s work was commendable. Upholding the theme, spring and summer collection, the colors and the materials used were cool and very summery! Bishwa Gautam’s collection came out not so interesting with some exceptions. Some of the dresses worn were ‘ok’ while the rest kind of looked the same. So was the case with Subexya Bhadel’s designs. The colors used were good and the prints were decent but it could’ve been better. If the designs’ were an outcome of south Indian influence, well it couldn’t really be seen but the music sure made it clear that it was. Really? Astik Sherchan’s designs were good except the one pink ‘pajama’ like wear. Didn’t get what it really was but the materials used by the designer was fine. While Tenzin Tseten Bhutia´s creations played safe and the materials used were the same throughout differing only in designs, which were right on summery. Suruchira Shakya and Bina Ghaley’s effort could also be seen but, again, could’ve been better. Ghaley had an interesting mix of colors while that of Shakya’s wasn’t really summer/spring. Also, during the show, the first jeans made in Nepal, Now Jeans, also showcased their collection and well, it looked like jeans. All in all, the fashion show was worth attending and fared better than last year´s and, in comparison to other shows around town, was worth being mentioned on Facebook as a status update. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52026 Film Review Director: Prashant Rasaily Cast: Saugat Malla, Usha Rajak, Timothy Rai KATHMANDU, March 24: Gnathang is a remote village in East Sikkim, a perfect location for Kanchha and Kumari’s love story. After the misplaced role of environmentalist turned jungle protector in ‘Chhadke,’ Saugaat Malla is back as Kanchha, the yak herder in Prashant Rasaily’s film. [break] Usha Rajak plays Kumari, a mute girl who lives with her mother and is very much in love with Kanchha, bringing him food, feeding him and touching his face lovingly every now and then. Though there is only minimal dialogue between the mute girl and the stuttering yak herder, the love is apparent between the two. One of the most beautiful scenes in the film is where they play with the rays of the sun, twirling their hands and fingers and flirting with each other. [break] The story takes a turn when Kanchha accompanies his friend, Sonam, up in the mountains to herd yaks. With the prospect of earning money and then marrying his Kumari, Kanchha bids farewell to Kumari leaving for many months. The film addresses the persisting stigma attached to unwed mothers as we see Kumari’s mother abandoning her and the village people cursing and spitting on her. In one poignant scene after another, we watch Kumari steal a dog’s meal and relish it despite stabbing pain in her eyes. A bit later she crawls up a hill to reach the place that’s full of memories of happier times. As befitting the remote location, there are many frames in the film with only a single person centered in the vast mountain region surrounded by sweeping hills, boulders and a smattering of flowers. Sometimes, they are shrouded in the thick morning mist and at times, we see them walking in the beautiful bright day. Sikkim’s Timothy Rai as Sonam is endearing. The rotund man is a pleasure to watch and has done his job perfectly. The film’s only problem could be the ending, in the scene where the audience could be disgruntled to hear the mute girl utter ‘Kanchha.’ Though there were only around 30 people in the theatre, the applause at the end of the film’s screening could signify a success story for the director. Screening at QFX cinemas http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52025 The form of expression that´s all about young and positive vibes KATHMANDU, March 24: There’s propaganda on Kathmandu streets. This or that political party is always calling for some or the other of their programs to be made successful. There are sleazy film posters advertising their cheesy stories. Written on the walls of Kathmandu, mostly, is a side of the city that most of us probably don’t want to be representative of this place that has become home to us. [break] But that is slowly changing. Mural by mural, brushes and rollers are becoming weapons of mass creation; artistic minds are coming out to turn the entire walls of Kathmandu into their canvas. (Photos courtesy: Kolor Kathmandu) Giving a huge boost to the nascent street art scene of Kathmandu, Kolor Kathmandu, a year-long project by Sattya Media Arts Collective and funded by Prince Claus foundation from Netherlands, aims to transform the face of the city with artistic hues that can truly become a representation of the ‘new’ and young nation that Nepal is emerging to become. The project engages young local artists as well as international artists to create 75 murals, each representing the 75 districts of Nepal. “We want to bring elements from all the districts to Kathmandu so that it can be a true representation of the capital,” states Yuki Poudyal, the Director of Kolor Kathmandu, who wants the project to be bigger than the organization that it started through. She believes that, “If we do this right, street art can rebrand Kathmandu and be a place for art tourism.” As Shraddha Shrestha, one of the artists in the project, talks about what she’s been doing with Kolor Kathmandu, the dabs of yellow, blue and red on her fingers and hands do a little dance of their own. Shrestha has already finished a mural on Bajura district on the wall of St Xavier’s College in Maitighar and is now working with Red Zuan from Social Creatives, a community arts organization in Singapore, to create another mural based on Lamjung. Shrestha who has always been a street art enthusiast, joined Kolor Kathmandu as it was a platform to be involved with other artists and to create work based on a local theme. “Plus, we’re getting paid for every mural. We usually don’t get paid to do street art, here,” she adds. “People in Kathmandu are still only into traditional forms of art and while painting in different places, I get asked about the philosophy behind it,” shares Shrestha. The fact that street art allows a larger public access is one reason why she’s drawn to this medium of expression. “A wall is just another medium for creation. Like a canvas or a piece of paper,” she says. Zuan, who is collaborating with Shrestha, and is an artist, who has been involved with this form of art for the past four years, comes from Singapore, “Where the street art scene is pretty huge for a small country like ours,” he says. For him, street art is awareness that art exists everywhere and anywhere. Another aspect of this project is that it brings international names in the street art scenario to Kathmandu to collaborate with local artists and to create art related to Nepal, in their own unique artistic voices. Yes, the murals will be representative of the 75 districts but the individual interpretations and voice of the artists will also be fused into these works or art. Anish Bajracharya, who is a Graphic Communication major from Kathmandu University Center for Art and Design, is at work at a wall opposite the basketball court in Bhanimandal with Thaib Abdul Wahab, another representative from Social Creatives. Together they are making, what, in its initial stage, looks like a strawberry and raspberry flavor-coated doughnut. This is Bajracharya’s literal interpretation of Bara district with a modern twist. ‘Bara’ for him also means a Newari lentil patty dish. He has brought this interpretation of his, together with the tradition of Gadhimai festival which takes place in Bara, once in five years. The Gadhimai festival involves what is considered to be the world’s largest animal sacrificing event. “I wanted to include Gadhimai in my mural but I didn’t want it to be so gruesome. So I’m creating a more surreal scene, using a lot of candy colors but still touching upon this intense subject matter,” puts Bajracharya. His want to paint big things and to not limit his work inside galleries, is what got Bajracharya into street art. The mural he is currently working on is about three stories high and will take around three days to finish. “You see film posters and political slogans on the streets, which are not beautiful at all,” he says, adding, “Street art like this can even become a landmark. Some people even click photographs in front of them, like it were a monument.” One third of Kolor Kathmandu has already materialized on the streets of Kathmandu, from locations such as Dillibazaar to Sankhamul. Negative, positive or mixed comments, whatever they might be, if not provoke a thought in your mind, these street arts and wall murals will definitely catch your eye, at least once. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=52024 The question paper in my hand read out a clear instruction; Section A: Long Questions. Each question carries 20 marks. After three hours of continuous writing, I was done with my paper. As soon as I stepped out from the examination hall, one of my friends came up to me and said, “So then, you’re going to top the class this time.” Surprised by his remarks, I simply asked him what made him think so. To which he replied, “Oh common, I saw you staple three additional answer sheets with your initial answer paper.” I could only manage a smile. [break] I believe every student in our country must have experienced such circumstances. The key issue that I’m trying to bring up is about the students’ perception towards the entire educational system. Many students believe in an invalid, baseless and self made theory that the volume of answers is directly proportional to the marks obtained. Be it tenth graders or MBA graduates, students still follow the trend of writing long rambling answers with the anticipation of scoring good grades. This shows a high degree of reluctance in students while weighing the quality versus quantity dimension of an answer. However, I do not blame the students for this. Instead my scrutiny shifts towards the authorities and institutions responsible for the betterment of our educational system. With globalization fiercely challenging and questioning the roots of every service industry, I think our educational system needs to undergo a genuine reform in numerous aspects. Most of the ageing educational institutions in our country have a common problem regarding the staffing of instructors and lecturers who still are glued to their traditional ways of teaching. Honestly, we’ve seen a lot of experienced teachers who can locate exactly the page number and paragraph of a theorem without looking into the book, but are clueless when a student enquires something not related to the course book. Hence, the modern practice of education demands teachers to be updated in their expertise irrespective of their experience. Meanwhile, the ways of course delivery also needs reshuffling. Students can no longer rely on classroom notes and lectures for a holistic development. Role plays, presentations, report assignments and case studies are effective tools for learning which many private educational institutes have incorporated in their curriculum, yet in a limited scale. On the other hand, course developers and designers need to be careful while selecting the appropriate subjects for study. My own academic experience has made me realize that I’ve already studied many subjects that will have no practical implication or relevance in my personal or professional life. These courses are merely redundant and a burden to the students. Establishing a balance between the system and the evaluating mechanism ensures an overall excellence in the system. In order to do so, the concerned authorities must start to prioritize quality over volume while appraising students’ performance. Besides, it is also important to identify multidimensional criteria for evaluating students. Implementing such system would raise the bars of standard as well as help students get judged based upon their understanding and not upon the amount of ink spent on the paper. The writer is currently pursuing Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Ace Institute of Management. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51977 KATHMANDU, March 23: Miss Nepal World 2013 Ishani Shrestha’s stress-relief therapy is painting. The next day after being crowned this year’s beauty queen, Ishani, tall and clad in white, spoke to Republica about how her life has changed since the night before, what she was like as a child, and what she wants to grow up to be. [break] How has your life changed since being crowned Miss Nepal? Nothing, as of yet, has changed. But this morning on my way to The Hidden Treasure office, as I was waiting for my aunt to take her car out of the driveway, this lady, who I think was dropping off her kid to school, approached me with a smile and addressed me as Miss Nepal. That was a moment of quite an epiphany. Ishaani is calm and takes time before answering any question but not long enough to bore you. Her gestures affirm what she says, gets nervous trying to frame her answers but never fidgety. “I have a page on Facebook and the likes grew to 55,000 overnight. The page is now flooded with comments, and each one of them boosts my confidence,” she adds. What were you like as a child? Where did you study? I went to Triyog Higher Secondary School in Dhapasi and completed my high school from Colorado, USA. I’m currently in my second year of Dentistry at People’s Dental College. I grew up with my sister who is just a few years younger. I was a tomboy and was really protective of her. I had short hair, wore oversized t-shirts and shorts and played basketball. I was a happy child, energetic and I can’t recall ever being passive. Her interests have always been painting and dancing. She likes sketching and drawing live objects and says she’s comfortable with drawing Lord Ganesh; she had drawn Ganesh in five minutes for Miss Nepal’s talent round. How did the transition occur? I really don’t know. It must’ve been during my high school years when I started leaning towards glamour, getting interested in makeup and hairstyles. But Miss Nepal had always been a dream, I remember watching the finale live from 1994 and practicing how to walk like those contestants did. How confident were you about coming in the first place? I believed in myself, everything I did was focused on and around the crown. I wouldn’t say I was absolutely sure that I would win but I kept telling myself that I just might. Even if I hadn’t, I didn’t have a day to regret. I’ve learnt so much during the grooming sessions and now, with the preparation for Miss World starting next week, I’m excited to learn some more. What was the reaction like from your family? My parents are open-minded and have always been supportive of whatever I want to pursue, as long as it’s not something decadent. My parents were crying and my father said he was proud to have me as his daughter. What was going on in your mind prior to being announced Miss Nepal? I was so nervous; I was holding Sumi’s and Sipora’s hands tight. I even started crying out of nervousness and remembered what Rachana Ma’am had told us throughout the training – to smile no matter what happens. I smiled, nevertheless. As Shristi Shrestha’s successor, are you nervous about living up to the expectations? She has certainly set the bar high. My jaws dropped when she first started speaking to us during the grooming sessions, I had sweaty palms and I remember telling myself, “I have to be there where she’s now, talking to the next batch of Miss Nepal participants.” I shall try my best not to disappoint myself and my people. Runner-ups share Rojisha Shahi (Thakuri) Miss Nepal Earth 2013 Miss Nepal Earth 2013 Rojisha Shahi (Thakuri), 19, says she used to be a normal college going student and hadn’t even expected to be on the top 5. “I can be really irritating, I am that girl in class who is always asking questions,” she shared. Born to a musician father, Rojisha says she doesn’t have a good voice but likes to sing anyway. She went to the same school as Miss Nepal 2005 Sugarika KC did - Bal Deeksha Sadan in Gwarko.  “I used to look up to her photo in school and tell myself that someday I will have my photo up like that. The school asked for my photo today, I am super excited,” she said. Right when she was announced Miss Nepal Earth 2013 the night before, Rojisha saw two people jump up from their seats in the audience. Her parents were nearly as excited as she was. Shritima Shah Miss Nepal International 2013 Miss Nepal International 2013 Shritima Shah studied in St Mary’s High School and went off to Dehradun for her higher education, where, she says, she grew out of the cocoon of shyness. She participated in various beauty pageants in Dehradun, representing her college. Some friends suggested that she participate in Miss India, “But I’m a Nepali and I decided to participate in Miss Nepal instead,” she said. Shritima says her mother is her closest friend and she takes her mother everywhere she goes because she is comfortable with and around her. Her memory of the night before is that of Suvekshya Khadka, who handed over her crown to Shritima, saying “Babe, I knew you’d win.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51976 Kathmandu celebrates World Poetry Day KATHMANDU, March 23: On World Poetry Day, Kathmandu came alive as a poetry hub with poetic events which were held to commemorate this day. Poemandu The BP Koirala India Nepal Foundation and Embassy of India in Kathmandu launched “Poemandu,” a monthly poetry recitation program, at the Nepal Bharat Library in Sundhara, on this day. Poemandu is a poetry series which aims to provide platforms for poets from Nepal and India to come together and share their love for poetry. From L to R: Secretary of BP Koirala India Nepal Foundation Abhay Kumar, Nepal’s National Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Deputy Chief of Mission of Indian Embassy Jaideep Mazumdar, Chancellor of Nepal Academy Bairagi Kainla and Poet and Translator Yuyutshu RD Sharma. Nepal’s National Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire and Bairagi Kaila, Chancellor of Nepal Academy, were the chief guests at the event. Beginning his remarks with two lines from his own poem, Ghimire said, “As the world is getting materialistic, people’s interest in arts and literature is decreasing. However, arts and literature are equally important in a developed society.” The inaugural ceremony saw the presence of over 30 poets who recited their poems in various languages, including Nepali, English, Hindi, Nepal Bhasha (Newari), Maithili, Hindi and Bhojpuri. WordMill: The New Wave An evening of spoken word poetry and music, WordMill: The New Wave at Jatra Café in Thamel was all about youth expressions. Organized by Word Warriors, a Kathmandu-based slam poetry group, the intimate event had over a dozen young poets reciting their poems on diverse themes, including being an introvert, Nepal’s politics, Nepal Police’s recent act of snipping long hair of men, and of being comfortable with whoever you are. The winners of the QC Awards 2013: Voice Your Words slam competition – Anuja Khadka, Birat Shrestha, and Shreya Dhital – debuted in a public performance along with older names in the slam poetry scene of Nepal, such as Gaurab Subba, Yanik Shrestha, and Ujjwala Maharjan. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51975 Strikes, changes and a better education system on the table KATHMANDU, March 23: Students’ unions take up our problems, our discomfort and they strive to make life better for students and the public alike. But our country’s most effective way of doing that seems to be declaring ‘banda”-s and strikes, and every time we hear one called on by one students’ union or the other or by political parties, we crease our faces and resignation fills our souls. [break] Republica sat down with a few student leaders and members of students’ unions to understand how effective the unions think strikes are and why some important causes are seemingly not important enough for strikes to be declared by them. Lekhnath Pokhrel, Central Committee Member of Nepal Student Union; Nabina Lama, Vice President, and Radhika Khatiwada, Central Committee Member of All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU); Sarad Rasaili, President of All Nepal National Free Students Union Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R) and Ramesh Malla, Vice Chairman of All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) share their views and debate the state of student unions in the country. In this combo photo, from left to right, Lekhnath Pokhrel, Nabina Lama, Ramesh Malla and Radhika Khatiwada. (Photo: Bijay Gajmer/ Republica) What are the reasons that student unions cite for calling on strikes? Lekhnath: Strikes happen because the government doesn’t look at our best interests. When we approach them for discourse, they’re never agreeable. It’s not in the student mindset to create a ruckus. However, the apathetic government compels us to fight for our rights. If we don’t take to the streets, we don’t get any response. Sarad: Students don’t protest or fight out of fun or a sense of enjoyment. It’s a responsibility given to us by history. Students’ protests are the biggest contribution to the country’s positive changes. This is true not only for Nepal, but for the rest of the world, too. The age factor is a huge advantage for the students. There’s energy, vigor and enthusiasm on their sides. Also, if there’s a threat to the country, the army will protect us, if there are criminal activities, then it’ll be looked after by the police. But who will step up when a citizen’s democratic rights are being threatened? “Yuwaharu hatiyarbinako sena ho.” Nabina: We’re like a pressure group. When we look at the problems related to students or even women, it all points to the politics in our country. Once it’s fine, I think we’ll be fine, too. We wouldn’t have to fight for our rights. What we’re doing is presenting the voice of all youth. Do you think that student unions are only taking up populist causes? Sarad: I don’t agree with that. The government needs to ensure that there is peace, employment and stability in the lives of the citizens. But it’s corrupt and is totally dependent on commissions. For instance, there was no need for the price hike in public transport. But since a government is stepping down, it wants to get something and they know that with the SLC Board Examinations going on, it’s not the right time for the student unions to strike. Lekhnath: I don’t believe we have any populist agenda. We’re there to protest against every kind of injustice, and not only ones that will easily fire up people. If we don’t speak up, then no one will. Students have been at the forefront of every change in the country. Public issues are taken up only by students. Tribhuvan University (TU) has a host of problems. What’s being done to address them? Ramesh: Our union has always been the one with the loudest voice concerning proper functioning academic calendar for TU. We even made a draft of an academic calendar that TU could use later but the university hasn’t done anything with it. Ultimately, it’s up to them to do something. They should initiate to provide quality education to students, take regular classes, and make sure that the examinations are held on time and that results are promptly published. If TU can start changing a few things, then we’re all ready to help out. But the university hasn’t been able to take its educational program forward according to the times and the needs of the day. As student unions have made much contribution to the changing political scenario, TU hasn’t been equally inclined to the educational needs of the country. I’m afraid Nepal’s educational future looks very dark if changes aren’t brought about immediately. How can you change the current scenario of the unions? Radhika: A student union is an organization that will speak out against any injustice. However, these days our protests have been less focused on education and societal rights. The strikes have become more and more politically inclined. I agree that our country isn’t good at listening to the demands of the common people. Our protests should be focused on developing the country, improving our society and not be influenced by politics. Ramesh: It’s time we confronted the fact that maybe the youth is being misused instead of being utilized properly. To minimize or control the violence that occurs during strikes, we should start being more responsible. Instead of cursing the leaders of today, we should think about how we’re turning out. We’re the future and it’s in our hands to develop the country. And that’s the way we should align our thoughts, our ideas and plans. Generate ideas that will change our future. While the political scenario has affected us, I think we’re also lagging behind in being responsible and initiating changes. Nabina: We can start by being more united. That’s one of the biggest challenges we have. We’re politically influenced. When a union wants to protest against something, then it faces opposition from another union. I think we need unity and commitment to fight for a common cause that will benefit everyone. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51936 NEW DELHI, March 22: India´s film community on Friday reacted with dismay and rallied behind popular Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt after the Supreme Court upheld a weapons conviction and ordered him to report to prison within a month. Character actor Jaya Bachchan, a lawmaker in Parliament, said she would meet with the governor of Maharashtra state to plead for Dutt´s cause.[break] "I am going to appeal to the governor that Sanjay be pardoned. He has suffered a lot and is a changed person," Bachchan, the wife of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, told reporters Friday. Top Bollywood stars and directors tweeted their support for Dutt after the court sentenced him to five years in prison for illegal possession of weapons supplied by Mumbai crime bosses linked to a 1993 terror attack that killed 257 people. Leading actors Ranbir Kapoor and Vidya Balan were among the first of a stream of Bollywood A-listers to visit Dutt´s home to offer sympathy and support to the actor and his family. In this Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 file photo, popular Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt waves during a film shooting in Srinagar, India. (AP Files) Film director Mahesh Bhatt tweeted: "Heart broken. Just heard that Sanjay Dutt has to go to jail for 5 years. I expected mercy! Alas it did not happen." Dutt, 53, originally had been sentenced to serve six years in prison on the charge of possessing an automatic rifle and a pistol that were supplied to him by men subsequently convicted in the bombings. He served 18 months in jail before he was released on bail in November 2007 pending an appeal to the top court. Dutt has maintained that he knew nothing about the bombing plot and that he asked for the guns to protect his family — his mother was Muslim and his father Hindu — after receiving threats during sectarian riots in Mumbai. Dutt is the son of Nargis and Sunil Dutt, two legendary Bollywood stars. They fell in love in 1957 during the making of an early blockbuster film, "Mother India." Sunil Dutt later entered politics, and served as a Congress party lawmaker and a federal sports minister. The trial into the Mumbai bombings lasted more than 18 years, during which Sanjay Dutt pursued his acting career, acting in several blockbuster films and earning a huge following. He gained enormous popularity for a series of Hindi films in which he played the role of a reformed thug who follows the teachings of nonviolence advocate and Indian independence hero Mohandas Gandhi. Trade analysts said Dutt´s jail term will be a huge financial blow for the industry. Two of Dutt´s films are being readied for release, but several other projects are midway and are likely to be delayed as he serves the remaining three and a half years of his sentence. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51822 (Update IV with photos) KATHMANDU, March 20: Ishani Shrestha was crowned Miss Nepal World 2013 during the grand finale held at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi on Wednesday evening. “I am beyond happy. Thank you for getting me here. My hard work and determination has paid off,” said an emotional Shrestha right after being crowned.[break] Rojisha Shahi (Thakuri) and Shritima Shah were crowned Miss Nepal Earth 2013 and Miss Nepal International 2013 respectively. The finale started with the introduction round in which 18 participants walked the stage while their pre-recorded voiceovers were playing in the background. After the first round, the top ten semifinalists were shortlisted. A jury of ten judges asked questions to the shortlisted contestants after which five finalists were selected on the basis of their answers and pre-judging which took place at International Club, Sanepa on March 16. The jury comprised Dr Aarati Shah, director of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital; Aditya Baral, director of PR/Publicity at Nepal Tourism Board; Malina Joshi, Miss Nepal World 2011; Bala Bahadur Kunwar who has previously served as Nepal’s ambassador to Sri Lanka and Pakistan; Charu Malhotra, deputy corporate affairs manager at Kantipur TV; Salman Latif Rawn, managing director of Bottlers Nepal; Sarojani Sherchan, director of Thames International College; Rajendra Shalabh, associate professor of law at Tribhuvan University and executive director of CG Entertainment; actress and media personality Reema Bishwakarma and Anup Bahadur Malla, president of Nepal Carpet Exporters’ Association. Apart from a dance performance by actress Priyanka Karki, a group of dancers also put up a B-boying dance routine during the event. For the final round, chief judge Tirtha Man Shakya, former chairman of the Nepal Law Reform Commission, asked the five finalists if they’d prefer nuclear family or joint family. Prior to announcing the winners, Miss Nepal World 2012 Shristi Shrestha gave her farewell speech in which she described her one-year reign as a beautiful journey full of exceptional memories. “One minute I’d be attending a high-profile event and the next, I’d be in a place where the nearest health post is four days away,” she said, adding that the support she received during her participation in the Miss World contest proves that Nepalis stand for each other. Among the subtitles, Shritima Shah was declared Miss Photogenic, Meghna Shrestha won the title of Miss Punctuality, Ishani Shrestha won the Best Walk title, Samikshya Shrestha was declared Miss Personality, Riju Shrestha won the Miss Beautiful Smile title, Sipora Gurung was declared Miss Talent; and Ashmita Sitoula won the Fanta Miss Bubbly title with maximum number of likes. Miss Nepal World, Miss Nepal Earth and Miss Nepal International received flight tickets from Thai Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Nepal Airlines respectively. Former Miss Nepal Malvika Subba and RJ/VJ Sanjay Gupta hosted the event and they announced that starting this year Shangrila Housing will be giving the winners an apartment at the Sun City apartments in Pepsicola, Bhaktapur. Miss Nepal 2013 Ishani Shrestha (C) along with First Runner-up Rojina Shahi Thakuri (L) and Second Runner-up Shritima Shah wave to crowd after winning titles. (Photo: Keshab Thoker) Miss Nepal 2013 Ishani Shrestha (Photo: Keshab Thoker) (Photo: Keshab Thoker) http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51807 KATHMANDU, March 19: “One day, my mother yelled at me and hit me after she found out I was looking for work. I tried to explain to her that I wanted to be able to go to school, so I wanted to work. But she got furious and said that I wasn’t her daughter anymore. It’s been five years since I last saw her,” says Babita (name changed), a 16-year-old who is currently studying in class eight in Mahendra Boudha Higher Secondary School in Boudha.[break] Childhood isn’t all about rainbows and butterflies, at least not for some children who’ve had to go through a lot of suffering and hardships. These children have had to take up adult-like responsibilities way before they are normally required to and are still struggling. When Babita talks about her scarred childhood, she’s strong vocally. She talks about how she hasn’t seen her father all her life, how her mother used to drink and bring different men home all the time, how she had to quit school because three months of her tuition fees at school was pending. After her mother left, she started working as house help with a family so that she could go to school. Keshab Thoker/Republica “Now that I know what it feels like, I only hope that no child has to experience working at someone else’s house,” she says. “They (the family she worked for) used to scold me and beat me up for even the smallest mistakes that I made. If I woke up late, they kicked me off my bed,” she shares. Yet she put up with all that just to be able to go to school. There always would be too much work, she shares, speaking of days when she had to go to school on an empty stomach because there was no time to eat in the morning, due to her workload. “The Didi used to always sit and watch TV while I had to do every chore imaginable, from doing the dishes to taking care of the baby,” says Babita. She didn’t have much time to give to schoolwork and because she couldn’t practice enough, she’s been failing in mathematics. But last year, she had had it. “So I put my books and some clothes in my bag and threw it from the terrace, then slowly crept out of the house at 2am and ran away,” she shares. “I spent the night at Swoyambhu and went to a friend’s house, which is where I’ve been living now,” she adds. Babita is fearless and wishes to become a social worker in the future. “I want to correct my parents’ mistake by becoming a good person and show the world that just because the parents went the wrong way; their children don’t necessarily have to do the same,” says Babita, her tearful eyes showing the desperation to prove the world otherwise. Today, she’s living with a friend and her friend’s mother who’s been kind enough to take care of Babita, like she was her own daughter. Things are slightly better for her now that she’s found a way to be free from modern-day slavery. But for 13-year-old Sunita (name changed), juggling housework at her employer’s house and doing well at school are still a challenge. “The house chores are very hard,” says Sunita who shares that she has to clean the whole house and do heavy laundry at least three times a week, among other chores. “They yell at me all the time and complain that I haven’t been working well and they also beat me,” she says. The eldest of three children, Sunita lost both her parents and came to Kathmandu to work for a family who promised her to let her go to a good school. She’s now studying in class seven at Shram Rastriya Secondary School in Tusal. “I only get to study in the afternoons after I’m done with all my works,” says Sunita, adding, “They (her employees) ask me not to study using electricity.” While the family rarely buys her stationery, they are also unwilling to buy her medicine when she’s ill. “They bring me medicine only if I’m very sick,” she shares, adding that she has to work even then. There’s no extra money for her at work, the family pays her by paying for her education. Opportunity for education is the only reason she’s here, far away from her brother and sister in Sankhuwasabha which, at the moment, would be beautiful with all the blossoming of the rhododendrons, she recalls. Even though Salina, 15, lives with her own family, she still has to work a lot at home and so can’t allot time for her education. With eyeliner and a faint coat of lipstick on, Salina looks a bit too old for her age. But the maturity in her character compliments. A student of class eight at Mahendra Boudha Higher Secondary School, she’s the eldest of her siblings and has taken up the responsibility of running the house and taking care of her brother and sister while her parents are mostly battling their differences out. “I hate festivities because that’s the time when my parents get most drunk and start to fight,” recollects Salina who sometimes tries to separate her parents and gets hurt in the process. Her brother is at an age where he can understand what’s going on but Salina makes it a point to shield her little sister from her parents’ fights and sends her off to her uncle’s place during those times. She likes to cook but hates doing all the other housework. “I can study only after putting my siblings to sleep after 9pm,” she says, sharing that she usually studies till 11pm. There are times when she can’t complete her homework but she rarely tells her teachers the real reason. “I tell them that there was no electricity,” she smiles. “I feel that there’s no one in our country who will empathize with the troubles of children like me,” Salina says, adding, “I want to grow up to be a teacher who will not only teach but also be there for the students.” There’s so much to learn about life from these children, and so much they would want to say if they knew there was someone trustworthy who would listen to them and help them out. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51806 Out of the 2.2 billion children in the world, less than 1% has access to financial education and financial inclusion. This is an important financial challenge that the world is currently facing. Many youths and children lack financial literacy and access to proper financial services. Though there are many financial services available for children, many are still unaware of it. Global youth unemployment stands at 12.6%, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO). Many adolescents live in poverty and many are financially vulnerable. This is the scenario of today’s world.[break] Child and Youth Finance International (CYFI) has been trying its best to address this global issue with partnership from several organizations around the world. Basically, the movement aims to promote and expand financial inclusion and holistic education for children and youths. The core principles of the organization are focused firmly on increasing the financial protection and empowerment of the adolescents. The foundation of CYFI lies in financial literacy. As financial literacy is increasingly being seen as an essential skill for one’s social and economic well-being, tailoring financial education programming to children and youth is an important component in the transition from childhood to adulthood. It is vital for the development of the next generation of financially responsible, economic citizens. Thus, the CYFI movement believes that financial education is imperative to the young builders of tomorrow. Youths should definitely learn about budgeting, about businesses and how one can be entrepreneurial. They should be able to develop and analyze business plans for an enterprise along with being able to assess the risks and threats in order to capitalize on a social or financial opportunity. The initial target of CYFI is to reach 100 million children in 100 countries by 2015. At present, CYFI has been working with 179 different organizations around the world and this has also been initiated in Nepal. This week marks the celebration of the International Child and Youth Finance Week and several efforts are being made by the central bank, the UN agencies and other financial stakeholders in order to mark this celebration. An interaction program is scheduled to be held on March 21 at Hotel Annapurna in Kathmandu between adolescents and policymakers. However, more awareness is required to reach the grassroots level. Financial institutions should also come up with more programs and events to mark the CYFI week. Better strategies should be implemented in order to encourage more youths to open bank accounts, and commercial banks should introduce child-friendly policies. The main purpose of this movement in Nepal is to raise awareness among the youths regarding the available financial services. It also focuses on ensuring that the economic rights of children are respected at all times. Such unified efforts are definitely a positive initiative for Nepal, and along with the financial stakeholders, everyone should try the level best to encourage this movement. Let us all welcome this movement that embarks on a new journey to a financially inclusive society. The writer is an A-Level Graduate from Rato Bangala School, Lalitpur. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51805 KATHMANDU, March 19: A conference on Youths’ Role in Water Resources Conservation was jointly organized by Nepalbani Network, Paschim Paaila, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) and National Youth Federation Nepal (NYFN) on March 18 at ENPHO’s office in Thapagaon, Kathmandu. The conference was a part of the Nepal Water Week which started on March 14 and will continue till March 23.[break] Lokraj Awasthi, General Secretary of NYFN started the program with an introduction of Nepal Water Week, highlighting its activities – such as cleaning of cultural heritage landmarks, holding friendly football match, hiking, inter-religious assembly on water conservation, scientific conference, workshop for housewives on solid waste and wastewater management, rainwater harvesting, and groundwater recharging; and water picnic – being organized during the Water Week. Jeevan Bhandari, News Editor of Nepalbani Network, talked about the growing interest among youths regarding water conservation as a result of water crisis and explained how media can help them inform about their roles in conserving water resources. Bhashwor Ojha/Republica Participants listen to Megh Ale, Founder President of Nepal River Conservation Trust during the conference on Youths’ Role in Water Resources Conservation at Thapagaon, Kathmandu on Monday. Megh Ale, Founder President of Nepal River Conservation Trust and chief guest at the event, said, “Youths aren’t change-makers yet but they are our hope,” adding, “All of us grew up reading that Nepal has 6,000 rivers and rivulets; and over 83,000MW hydroelectricity production potentials. But there’s no information and transparency regarding how many have been lost as a result of river treaties, how many are flowing and how many have run dry.” Ale called water ‘flowing gasoline’ and said, “Human civilizations all over the world started on the banks of rivers but over the years, it has become a dividing factor. Unless we change our perception of these water resources, war is inevitable. Rivers can be uniting factors.” Ale also talked about the River Movement and its 5-point demands to the government: Formulation of the National River Policy, declaring one river in each watershed as a protected area, and free flowing, protecting Bhote Koshi, Trishuli and its sections for adventure tourism activities and livelihood of the people, stopping direct disposal of waste, sand and gravel mining in rivers to keep them free from bulldozers and scavengers, and formulation and implementation of Rafting Information Management System (RIMS) to promote Nepal as world’s best whitewater destination. Rajesh Adhikari, Program Manager of ENPHO, dealt with the technical aspects, delving into WHO’s Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. “There are three ways water is polluted – at the source, due to poor handling, and during transmission and storage.” Participants from Youth Advisory Council Nepal, Narendra Khatiwada, Santosh Prasai and Mina Majhakoti, raised questions regarding adaptation and medication of water resources during climate change, groundwater recharging and water quality tests. Similarly, one of the youth participants, Unnati Rawal, who is originally from Bajura, talked about the difficulty people in her village face. “People who live up in the hills have to walk for hours to fetch water even though there are plenty of water sources. The pipelines are destroyed every year due to flood and landslides.” Alongside the issues of water pollution and inefficiency of various mechanisms undertaken by the government, such as the recently established Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), inaccessibility emerged as one of the major issues Nepali citizens are facing in terms of availing of water. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51753 KATHMANDU, March 18: Arranged by Rotary International District 3292, a group of young professionals went on a 30-day trip to the UK as part of the Group Study Exchange program. From September 20 to October 21, Suyesh Pradhan, Dipika Shrestha, Shresna Basnet, and Roshani Manadhar experienced a cultural/vocational excursion that Dipika terms as “a lifetime opportunity.” Led by Rotarian Nugal Vaidya, the team gave presentations about Nepal and visited various organizations, schools and vocational organizations.[break] A young professional between 25 and 40 years of age can apply for the Group Study Exchange program which selects candidates after a round of essay writing and interview. While it’s not mandatory to be a member of a Rotary club, it’s vital that a candidate gets sponsorship from one of the clubs. Suyesh, 27, who works as a web developer at The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), sharing his experience of the program, says, “Each of us was taken to organizations relating to our work. I visited some IT companies who work with geographic information system (GIS).” The allure of staying with host families was one of the main reasons Dipika decided to apply for the program. The 26-years-old works as a project associate for BBC Media Action’s Climate Asia and Humanitarian Project. The chance to experience their culture and norms firsthand was very attractive, she says. “We stayed with six host families and the opportunity made me realize that while we value our culture deeply and follow it, we’re not very good at following rules whereas they’re very disciplined and strict about it.” From Left to Right: Suyesh Pradhan, Nighat Malik, Deborah O’Brien and Dipika Shrestha Visiting schools, hospitals and many other organizations and learning about the way they are run was an eye opener for her. “Looking at the government schools there and our schools here there’s a vast difference in the way they function. I believe the program makes us think about such things and we come away with a long term impact from the trip,” she explains earnestly. One of the things that touched her deeply was seeing people setting up donation boxes with the intention of contributing to organizations like WaterAid, UNICEF etc. “We use terms like donors, donor agency and funds, and we’ve seen how a huge sum from the funds is used for projects here. But seeing where a part of the funds actually comes from and the effort of the individual was humbling,” she says. The team also visited some of the offices of BBC Radio and she says, “They all have a backup plan in case a natural calamity occurs and there’s a problem with the infrastructure here. At BBC Media Action, we’re working on it. We have an emergency radio that will communicate a lifeline program but in the rest of the media houses in our country we have no such plans.” Similarly, District 1220 from the UK visited Nepal. Sarah Dunham from the Rotary Club of Newark Castle, Tom Erskine from the Rotary Club of Mapperley and Arnold, Nighat Malik from the Rotary Club of Nottingham and Deborah O’Brien from the Rotary Club of Drone Valley were also in Nepal for a month. Led by David Hood, a member of Rotary Club of Wirksworth, the team landed in Nepal on February 20 and returned to the UKon March 18. Starting with Dhulikhel and then Bhaktapur, they went to Pokhara, Baglung, Kusma, Palpa, Rupandehi, Parasi, Bharatpur, Chitwan and Kathmandu, visiting hospitals, schools and many organizations along the way. For Nighat, 38, it was a rollercoaster of emotions ever since they arrived. No one day has been the same, she says. They stayed with nine host families. “I won’t be forgetting ‘dal bhat,’” she laughs. “I will try to forget it but it’ll live in my memory forever.” Deborah, also 38, adds, “We met so many people and were a part of their families that I feel very privileged.” Both of them remember the visits to ABC/Nepal and SOS Nepal. Nighat, who works a manager for children and family services for local government in the UK, says that many of the places they visited were related to her line of work. “But I’ll remember ABC/Nepal and the way they empower women to engage in education and trainings. I want to help spread awareness once I’m home,” she says. Deborah is a Business Solution Analyst at Royal Mail and she was taken for visits to the government post offices and SkyNet Worldwide Express. “We face similar challenges because of declining mail volume. It was a bit old fashioned here compared to the UK where we’ve had to be more efficient and step up to the mark because of the many competitions,” she says. Nighat believes such exchange programs help with personal growth. Learning about new culture, new food and living new experiences boost confidence. She says, “I’ll most remember my host families, every single one of them. This is my first experience with Nepal but this is a relationship for a lifetime.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51752 KATHMANDU, March 18: What are some of the exchange programs that the US offers to students in Nepal? Students can apply to the United States Educational Foundation (USEF) in Nepal for the Fulbright Scholarship. One of the other exchange programs we directly manage is Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) where students can choose either New Media in Journalism or Public Policy and Government Leadership. The students live with host families in the US for five weeks. We send five students each for the two courses while there is no allocated number of students that we can send for the Fulbright Scholarship. How important is it for students to participate in such exchange programs? It’s incredibly important. We have a two-way exchange and we believe that when students become a part of the cultural exchange program they not only learn new things but better relationship between the countries also develops. The US has many international students who come from different ethnic backgrounds with different political and religious views. So a student on a cultural exchange trip will get to learn many new things. There’s so much to learn from the new perspectives from all the new people that they meet. The exposure that they otherwise might not have will be beneficial to the students. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51750 KATHMANDU, March 18: The new academic session will see as many as 150 schools using the Midas eClass software that has been developed by Midas Technologies. Designed as per the government’s curriculum, Midas eClass is a teaching software that will aid children’s learning. Schools are looking forward to adapt the software to make their teaching methods technology friendly. An animated interactive audio-visual teaching tool, its fun and colorful storytelling methods is guaranteed to keep children interested during their lessons. Chhatra Hari Karki, Managing Director, Midas Technologies, says, “We started creating it a long time ago. Initially, we had a few foreigners to train students from Lalit Kala Campus and today we have 120 animators from the college working on it. We’ve taken each chapter from important subjects of the curriculum and used an audio visual method to teach students. Instead of the usual way where a teacher teaches his students on a blackboard, Midas eClass opens the class with a film about the chapter. Then it is followed by an interaction session with the students. We’ve also designed that interaction session in a video game pattern so that children can be fully involved. I think this helps the children concentrate more on their studies as they will find their classes very interesting.” “At present we have designed the software according to the curriculum of class 1 and class 5. We will start developing the curriculum for higher levels after we estimate the demand and requirement from schools,” states Karki. The company‘s product has attracted schools and will be featured in more than 150 schools all over the country. There are 105 schools from Kathmandu who will be using this technology to teach their students in the coming academic session. Pokhara has around 21 schools adapting Midas eClass while Purwanchal and Butwal have around 16 and 12 schools respectively embracing this technology. 40 schools from around the country have already tested this software in the past. Teachers have also already undergone training to familiar themselves with the audio visual medium of tutoring students. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51749 Miss Nepal live on Nepal Television on March 20 KATHMANDU, March 18: For the generations that grew up watching the Miss Nepal beauty pageant live on Nepal Television every year, the name The Hidden Treasure sounds familiar. And the first thing that comes to your mind, as soon as it’s mentioned, is Miss Nepal. Having started with the pageant in 1994, the organization has helped participants grow and has itself grown with each new edition of the contest of “beauty and brains.”[break] Rachana Gurung Sharma, choreographer of the pageant since 1994, recalls the early years when cellphones and Internet weren’t at hand. “We had cassettes, and unlike today, Internet was a far cry. Now we can google who’s the new Miss Universe or the Miss World but back then, we had videos and lack of resources would sometime prevent us from getting the girls (participants) acquainted with the international pageants,” she adds. Sharma has witnessed the competition up and close for almost two decades and asserts that it has grown over the years. Girls come from various educational backgrounds, exposures and experiences; and although all of them aren’t on the same level, it’s Sharma’s responsibility to teach them etiquettes, communication skills and presentation, starting from the basics. Gopal Sundarlal Kakshapati, Chairman of The Hidden Treasure, has noticed that in recent years, participants from diverse educational backgrounds have come to participate, from the field of medicine, commerce and even practicing nurses. He also says girls are more confident now, they know what they’re doing and what they want to do ahead, with a focused goal in mind. “Support from parents is also strong. Before, some girls would participate without the knowledge of their families. Slowly, the society is turning receptive,” he says, adding, “We can’t and have never tried to go against but hand in hand with society.” On the context of Miss Nepal and most pageants accused of focusing more on the beauty factor, Sharma says, “We can easily pick 10-15 tall, beautiful girls, put up a show and declare one of them as the winner. But having the ability to represent your country is a huge responsibility. A lot more is dealt with than just walking pretty. “The reason why people fail is because of their ways of dealing with people. There’s the oomph factor but it also requires wit, presence of mind and that’s what we help the young participants inculcate in the training sessions,” she adds. Those following Miss Nepal will know that the prizes for the Miss Nepal winners change every year. Somebody is given a car, the very next year it comes down to a scooter and the following year, it’s a meager cash prize of Rs 50, 000. It all depends on the sponsors and Kakshapati says prizes are not an incentive for Miss Nepal aspirants. “The crown is the most important thing for them, the prize is secondary. I have never come across a contest like that,” he says. Another thing that makes rounds at this time of the year, when the pageant is at its peak, is the story that Miss Nepals have to pay a certain amount of money generated from all of their assignments to The Hidden Treasure, while they are on contract for a year. Affirming this, Kakshapati informed that Miss Nepals are entitled to 60%. “This is to protect the interest of our sponsorships. They can’t directly work unless it’s arranged by The Hidden Treasure, like making it sure that the girls aren’t promoting a competing product of our sponsors,” he says. “We look into the nature of the program and the assignment and decide whether or not the offer can be accepted.” With last year’s representatives setting benchmarks on the international arena, The Hidden Treasure is planning to provide a further training package that Sharma says will be “especially focused and advanced so our girls can get noticed and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with girls from other parts of the world.” The finale of Miss Nepal 2013 is scheduled for March 20 at Nepal Academy Hall in Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51699 Kathmandu, March 18: Even before its release on Friday, March 15, “Jolly LLB,” a film starring Boman Irani and Arshad Warsi in the lead roles, was already making headlines. A group of lawyers of Meerut submitted a petition to the Delhi High Court against the movie’s release. The lawyers claimed that the scenes in the trailer were defamatory to them. But the judge ruled against it, saying a decision could not be made solely on the basis of a few scenes, and “Jolly LLB” made it to the theatres on the scheduled date. [break] The story is basically about a rich spoilt kid from a privileged family involved in a hit-and-run case, killing six pavement dwellers in the dead of the night, and a small-town lawyer from Meerut, Jolly (Warsi) who takes on the case against the high and mighty attorney Rajpal (Irani) brought in to defend the rich lad. It takes a dig on the justice system and its loopholes and tries to bring to light great divides between the haves and the have-nots. Director/Writer: Subhash Kapoor Music Director: Krsna Actors: Boman Irani, Arshad Warsi, Amrita Rao, Saurabh Shukla, Harsh Chhaya, Sanjay Mishra The story is predictable but has its moments. While you won’t be surprised at the turn of events, it will have you chuckling and shaking your head. Writer-director Subhash Kapoor makes the story come alive with vivacious humor, one-liners and some touches of satire. The first half of the movie is light and goes nowhere in terms of storytelling but the pace picks up in the second half which is mostly courtroom drama. Now here´s comes hitch. The screenplay is the lifeline of any film, and “Jolly LLB” suffers due to inept writing. Barring a couple of attention-grabbing moments, the rest is bland. But then, the actors come to the rescue. Arshad Warsi is an underrated but brilliant actor who manages to bring his character to life, and plays the role of a poor but good lawyer to the hilt. Boman Irani is smooth, and with his eyebrow-raising and lip-curling demeanor, portrays the urbane, well-dressed, flawless English- speaking attorney without a glitch. The combination of Warsi and Irani is, as always, a delight to watch but the chemistry between them could’ve been better. Amrita Rao, who plays Warsi’s love interest, is dismissible and unconvincing with dialogue delivery so poor you’ll wish you had brought earplugs to stop the whiny noise from reaching your brain. Thankfully, she doesn’t hog the screen much. But to her credit, her lack of vanity is quite endearing. Saurabh Shukla, as the wise old judge presiding over the case, shines. His sloppiness and indolence, as the munching-on-parathas with a towel clad over a starched white vest in between courtroom sessions, are riveting. The editing isn’t crisp, and though the film doesn’t drag on, you wish you could fast forward through some bits. The narrative is jerky and not completely convincing. Even the end leaves you restless. Like you’ve watched a film and had to walk away without really knowing what happened in the end. The music, though it gets you humming during the movie, is forgettable once you leave the theatre. Though there are quite a few hiccups in the film overall, the three central characters, namely, Irani, Warsi, and Shukla, who carry the weight of the film on their shoulders, have done the best they could, and it shows. These characters and their character depictions are the saving graces of the film. Occasionally emotional, at times melodramatic, quite often sharp and witty, this provocative courtroom drama is a one-time watch that you can and cannot afford to miss. You won’t regret either decision. The choice is yours! http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51698 KATHMANDU, March 18: The 8th Sundance Music Festival, held at Last Resort located on top a green river gorge close to the Tibetan border, rocked the mountains on March 16 and 17. A crowd totaling to 300 plus attended the festival, according to the organizers. The fest officially started with a tabla and drums mix fusion music followed by the Boyz Next Door who covered Nepali and English singles leaving the crowd wooing and singing along. [break] (Photo: Republica) Subani moktan, who was also seen enjoying the thrilling Canyon Swing on Sunday, entertained the audience with some originals numbers and English singles cover. Also playing during the festival was Albatross with some covers and songs from their previous albums. DJ Rabbit and DJ BPM kept the night alive with heart thumping music till 1 in the morning. “The festival has been a success and it’s great to see you all here on a Sunday morning,” said Nirakar Yakthumba of Moksh, who coordinated and directed the musicians for the event. He further added that Last Resort and Moksh will be back next year and the year after that and will continue the tradition of the festival. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51653 Two groups working to improve the community scenario in Kakarvitta JHAPA, March 17: Right on the Nepal-India border at the eastern end, there’s a lot of transaction going on in Kakarvitta. People come and people go but they leave behind seeds for social disorder and crime. The people here face the woes of an open border. Amongst the youth clubs that have been established in Kakarvitta, two such clubs are Readers Jhapa and Knight Chess Club (KCC). While the first recently organized a hallmark event which has already given Kakarvitta and Jhapa the lead, when it comes to decentralizing the literary gathering scene of Nepal, otherwise limited to Kathmandu, the later is known for its continuous works in curbing the social problems of Kakarvitta and its neighboring regions. Knight Chess Club Beating the heat of social problems and disorder, Knight Chess Club is an umbrella for the youth of Kakarvitta to better their personal welfare by developing their community. What started 15 years ago as a circle of youth with a passion for playing chess has now evolved into one of the most active youth clubs working for the development of Kakarvitta, its original ground and other towns in Mechinagar, Jhapa. Photo credit: KCC Students participating in a program organized by Knight Chess Club and its other partners during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Kakarvitta. “After four years of formation, we decided that we should also expand to other sectors, apart from chess,” says Dilip Subedi, the current President of KCC. KCC has two main branches of interest – sports and social activities. Along with taking part in national and international sports activities, from its flagship chess tournaments to football and cricket, when it comes to social activities, the main focus is on health. “We face a lot of different problems due to the fact that we’re living in an open border area,” shares Govinda Neupane, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Club. Sex trade, drug abuse and the threat from HIV/AIDS are some of the burning social problems in this area. “We’ve been working towards the prevention of HIV/AIDS, primarily with various concerned groups such as injecting drug users and labor migrants,” informs Subedi who opines, “The problem faced by youth here is that they haven’t been able to receive the level of education that they should. There isn’t much platform for the youth, either. Most of them are only after entertainment and having fun.” Tackling this issue, KCC focuses on peer education and conducts awareness programs. Programs include one-on-one outreaches, condom promotion, orientations in schools and amongst mother groups. “KCC has also established an HIV/AIDS service center which provides HIV tests and free treatment. “We’re also engaging youth through sports and counseling them through this medium,” adds Subedi. Although the club has done significant works in its working areas, Subedi feels that people still haven’t understood the objectives of KCC thoroughly. This he sees as a main challenge for the club. While the club has over 300 members, KCC has a mix of youths as well as senior mentors. Sujan Pradhan is one of the youngest members in the executive board for the club this year. “Young members are important in this club because KCC targets problems of the youth and a youth-to-youth interaction is necessary to best solve these problems,” says Pradhan. For him, the main incentive in joining this club was the fact that it was an apolitical and rising club in the area working for social welfare. “There’re very few opportunities for youth here, and so most youth go to work abroad and don’t intend to come back,” Pradhan says. This in fact, has been the issue for the whole nation, and Mechinagar is no exception to this issue. “Those who don’t get to work abroad get involved in illegal work,” he adds. Pradhan believes that the club could be more effective by not only working with issues of drugs and HIV/AIDS but also addressing other issues of the youth that might be directly or indirectly fuelling drug abuse and the contraction of HIV/AIDS. Readers Jhapa The hunger for literature and reading brought together readers of Jhapa from various walks of life, and placed them in a beautiful garden in the Water Supply Office at Kakarvitta every Saturday to talk books and beyond. The group is the result of the common passion for reading and discourse between Ujjwal Prasai and Sailesh Dahal as well as the other 33 members, collectively known as Readers Jhapa. Photo Credit: Krishna Sinjali Local students observing the photography exhibition, a part of the Arts and Literature Festival 2069 in Kakarvitta, organized by Readers Jhapa. “Ujjwal and I used to always share with each other what we’ve read and we then decided that we wanted to extend this sharing to others as well,” says Sailesh who is one of the executive members of the group. “The youth here don’t have faith in education as they go for easy money. There’re also many ways that the youth can get their hands on easy money. Money is given a lot of priority but we want to establish the notion that education and reading are also very important,” says Dahal. Apart from the weekly meetings and a few small-scale interaction programs around literature and journalism, Readers Jhapa has recently conducted a noteworthy national level Arts and Literature Festival 2069 which is deemed to be the first of its kind outside of the nation’s capital. With dialogues and interactions on a variety of literary, cultural and sociopolitical issues, the three-day festival was able to bridge the gap between Kathmandu-based writers and writers from other corners of the country. “Through this festival, we wanted to give Kakarvitta a new identity, one that is related to the arts and literature,” Ujjwal Prasai, President of Readers Jhapa, said. With a vision to promote continuous reading and to develop reading culture in the area, the club plans to organize a mega event every two years while plans to establish a proper library in the community are also in the pipeline. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51652 Kathmandu, March 17: Tangible change comes gradually with a change in the mindset. Young activists from Activista are working to achieve the latter to ensure that the former kind of change comes into the slum communities of urban areas in Nepal. There are 50,000 inhabitants living in some 2,763 households of some 63 squatters in Kathmandu alone. [break] The Global Change Spring 2013 Activista is focusing on the slum community for its project and has designed a campaign, ‘Our House, Our Rights’ which was launched on March 9. Youth from Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan are initiating this campaign. “Our focus is on housing rights of the slum community. It’s a burning issue nowadays, very relevant in Nepal and it hasn’t received much attention from the government. We’re creating awareness and sensitization to remove the negative image of people towards slums,” informed Maryam Akram, a participant from Pakistan, during a press meet held at the Global Platform Nepal office in Gyaneshwor on March 16. Photo credit: Activista Activista activists at a slum in Chitwan during their research for the ‘Our House, Our Rights’ campaign. “The people from slums also tend to have a negative attitude towards people outside of the slum,” added Abdul Rehman, another youth from Pakistan. “We’re working with both sides to remove the negativity,” he continued. After the research phase, which was carried out in slum areas in Kathmandu as well as Chitwan, the youth have come up with various strategies to promote the campaign and receive results. Another Activista member and a youth from the slum community, Himal Neupane said, “The first problem is that the urban slum as such, haven’t been defined.” He shed light on the fact that although the slum people are looking to conduct dialogue with policy makers, they haven’t been able to do so. Hence, the campaign will also be facilitating the process of conversation between the two parties. There’re plans to collaborate with local partners such as Lumanti, UN Habitat, Nepal Basobas Samaj and Nepal Mahila Ekta to give continuity to the campaign after Activista’s nine-week long program ends. “Because of some black sheep in the slums, the actual slum dwellers are neglected,” said Akram while Neupane added that the whole campaign was all about ensuring that the actual slum community get lawful and legal housing rights as well as social security that they are entitled to, from the government. A photo and essay competition on the theme of the slum community was held through the Facebook platform and the group has been visiting colleges to interact with youths and increase awareness about this issue. On March 20, a road-side exhibition of photographs pertaining to the slums will be held in Thamel while a small rally will be organized on March 23 as well. In order to bridge the gap between the slum community and the other urban communities, a football match between the slum football teams and college students in Kathmandu will be organized. A Holi celebration in the slum communities is also scheduled during the festival. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51595 KATHMANDU, March 16: Amidst classes, extracurricular activities, friendship and homework, we encounter cases of prejudice and favoritism during the long formative school years. It may be subtle or blunt, but for the students who witness it, there’s nothing remotely pleasing about it. It’s easy to remember that time the teacher passed you over for a role in the school play for the person who was more outgoing. Perhaps you’re still smarting at the injustice, or maybe it’s no more than a tasteless memory.[break] For Nistha Tripathi, it’s frustrating to miss out on opportunities just because of her weakness in mathematics. The 9th grader at St Mary’s High School says, “I’m weak in Maths but I do well in all the other subjects at school. Yet I miss out on opportunities like emceeing during a school event. It ultimately goes to students who are very good in their studies. “Also, the fact that there’s no transparency when there’s a prospect to represent your school for essay competitions or such events. It’s irksome. Most students don’t even find out about it until someone’s already been chosen, and normally the chosen ones are either head girls or class representatives. I believe all students should get equal opportunities to audition or try out for the various extracurricular activities they want to be involved in,” she adds. Ethang Nembang, 16, says, “If any fight broke out in school, my name would be dragged in. That was surprising because at that exact time I would be nowhere near the place.” The class 9 student says that it probably happened due to the fact that teachers think he’s mischievous. “That doesn’t mean that I’m always fighting or creating trouble. When such things happen, the best you can do is explain to the teacher that you’re not involved. They won’t always believe you, however,” he says. Not all students have had to face prejudices. Binita Shrestha, 17, is a grade 11 student at Modern College. So far, she’s not undergone any unpleasant memories of partiality and bias. “I think it’s because we have good relations with our teachers,” she says. However, she states that were she to face any kind of discrimination, she wouldn’t let it rest. She says, “In such situations, I would let my parents know about it so that they can talk it over with the school authorities.” Niraj Poudel, 17, from DAV School, remembers small instances of being unfairly treated in his school years. Yet, what could he have done, he shrugs. He’s happy that since he started his 11th grade, he’s not had to go through any partiality. The reason behind this, he surmises, could be because of the short duration he has to spend in class. “Unlike in schools where we have to spend almost the whole day around our friends and teachers, we have only a few hours to spend with our teachers in college. I think this leads to less interaction and less misunderstandings,” he says. So is being on good terms with one’s teachers the definitive point of not facing bias? A teacher should realize that if he/she’s showing favoritism or excluding certain students due to some ‘feeling,’ then something wrong is being done. Whether the cases are small, like pointing to a talkative student every time there’s noise in the classroom, or bigger instances where only a certain student is always given grace marks when there are clearly a few more of them in need. Having a discussion with the teacher may not always work out, but it’s certainly worth a try. The student can ask what he’s done wrong and then explain his point of view to the teacher. Both parties should keep an open mind and be respectful of each other. That’s also the advice that Smriti Lama has for her students. Smriti is currently teaching Science at Malpi International School and says that though she’s never heard or seen any cases of prejudice against students at Malpi, she has heard of various instances of bias against students in the other schools she has worked at. “Students would often share their confusion with me when they encountered such problems. I’ve heard of partiality when a certain student is related to a teacher, also cases of bias based on caste and ethnicity,” she says. At Malpi, she explains, they offer students a holistic education and a homely environment where the relationship between teachers and students are warm. An educator should be taking the responsibility given to him seriously. It should be clear that prejudice has no place in an educational institution, and that a teacher has no right to look at a student differently just because of certain qualities. The role of a teacher is to guide his students to positive things, not leave them with bitter memories. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51594 I was a typical Kathmandu boy who had never visited places until I joined Invertis University in India for my engineering studies. My decision made my parents anxious because I was not exactly known for my responsible behavior. I never arranged my book shelf neither did I, ever, cleaned my room or helped mom in any of her household chores. My belongings were always scattered all over the floor with none of my necessary accessories within my reach. The story is different today. Six months in the hostel has built a new boy within me. Routine morning breakfast, strict lecture hours, timely lunch in the hostel’s mess and loads of assignments, these are now my best friends. With no television to pass time with, I severely missed those live cricket matches, serials like ‘Tito satya’ and ‘Meri Basyae’. For a few initial weeks, I felt like I was a bird being caged, literally. Furthermore, with hostel outing allowed only once a week, the situation developed was easy to be compared with “A Salt in a Wound”. Nonetheless these restrictions molded a different person within me. Now, I wash my clothes. I have understood how difficult it was for my mom to wash all our dirty clothes.[break] Now, in the hostel, the bed sheets are properly done, and all my personal paraphernalia like cell phone, watch, shoes and apparel are in their respective places. My leisure hours are well spent reading novels. Apart from these habits, I now know the real value of money. I think at least three times before spending on anything. Albeit my parents wanting to send over as much money as I want, I just think it’s awful to splurge over unnecessary stuff. The best part of my hostel stay, I must say, is the interaction with my companions. Compatriots from various corners of Nepal as well as Indian counterparts are now inseparable part of my life. Most importantly the horizon of one’s knowledge gets shared among different pals. Difficult problems are discussed and within the group we find an easy solution. Similarly the meaning of “sharing is caring” strengthens its height to the apex level. For instance, I’m using my roommate’s laptop to write this article. Nevertheless I always miss my parents, relatives and my country. I miss my mom when I get sick and desperately want a bowl of soup. My sister’s absence is felt the most when I think of doing something stupid. Dad’s sarcastic but valuable suggestions keep occupying my mind. Moreover the amount of respect and love I have generated for my country, after being away from it, is tremendous. Couple of months ago, Kathmandu was the most neglected city in my life but now it’s the loveliest city in the world. Though some people strongly believe that hostel is a gateway for developing certain bad habits, it’s not completely true. The statement holds some truth since many private hostels across our country have been shut because of disciplinary actions. But in such cases, the culprit is an individual student. On the contrary, hostel life has taught me several fruitful lessons which will definitely play a vital role in my near future. I find myself more disciplined, punctual and responsible than I was. The writer is a student at Invertis University in India. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51593 KATHMANDU, March 15: Irish Pub at Lazimpat is all set to host St Patrick’s weekend on March 16 and 17. Celebrated throughout the world on March 17, Irish Pub wants to give its customers an extra day to celebrate Saint Patrick´s Day or the Feast of Saint Patrick. The event will begin each day from 4pm and will last till midnight. Customers can take part in the Irish Pub challenge which rewards the person who can drink three bottles of beer in the shortest time period with a cash prize of Rs 5000.[break] The competition will start at 4 pm on the first day of the celebration and will end at exactly 11:59 on March 17. With purchase of two Carlsberg beers, customers can enjoy one more beer free of cost. In keeping with the tradition of wearing green, those who are attired in green can enjoy a free ‘Leprechaun Shooter’. One of the proprietors of the pub, Amun Thapa says, “Irish Pub is the authentic place to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Kathmandu because it’s the first Irish Pub in the country and everything in the pub is Irish.” Customers can also watch ‘The Sarodist’ perform on both days. The band will perform both Nepali and Irish songs. KATHMANU, March 15: Capital Grill, located at Baluwatar, invites its customers to celebrate St Patrick’s Day which falls on Sunday, March 17. With the theme of ‘Go Green,’ everything from the ambience, lights and the decoration will take up the color green which is associated with St Patrick’s Day. The event will start from 5 pm onwards and DJ Rips will ensure that the crowd enjoys their evening. Visitors can also catch popular bands like Albatross and Joint Family International playing some of their most well known songs at the event. Dipesh Ghale of Capital Grill says, “We had a limited number of printed green t-shirts for sale which have already been sold out. To make things interesting, we’re offering green beer and also a chance to take a picture with flex cutout of a Leprechaun.” Capital Grill is also offering a free shuttle service from Thamel to Capital Grill every half an hour. It’s hiring two electric buses which seats http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51592 KATHMANDU, March 15: The fifth week of Romanov Rock n’ Nepal witnessed veteran Blues band Rusty Nails perform for an energetic crowd of around 150 people at Tamas Laya, Naxal on March 15. Mt 8848 is now all set to take the stage next at Kasi Restaurant in Durbar Marg on Saturday.[break] The band comprising Pharendra Limbu on bass, Darshan Rai on vocals, Nirmal Gartuala on lead guitar, Ritesh Puri on rhythm guitar and Binod Lama on drums; has had hits like ‘Maski Maski’ and ‘Bideskal ko Lathi’. Romanov Rock n’ Nepal is a series of rock events that has been making weekends happening for Kathmanduites for some time now. Don’t miss out on performances by some of Nepal’s most popular bands and musicians. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/romanovrocknnepal http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51485 JHAPA, March 14: Be it in Kakarvitta or Kathmandu, youth have the power to make or break a place and its future. But sometimes there are hindrances that they face which not only work against their individual lives but collectively jeopardize the development of that place or even the whole country. Despite the hurdles they face and the limitations they have to live under, seven energetic and determined youth from Mechinagar, currently studying in Himalayan English Academy in Dhulabari, Jhapa, speak about their aspirations and the major problems faced by most of the youth from this region. [break] Participants: 1. Shankar Dahal, Class 11, Commerce 2. Padam bhandari, Class 11, Commerce 3. Sudikshya Nirola, Class 11, Humanities 4. Kanchan Bhattarai, Class 11, Commerce 5. Jaya Sharma, Class 11, Commerce 6. Asma Gautam, Class 11, Humanities 7. Khem Kumar Gurung, Class 11, Commerce In terms of further education and career, what are your plans? Shankar: I’m not very positive about going to work abroad because it’s a short-term thing. Plus, if we work hard in Nepal itselfhere, we’ll end up doing well. I plan to complete my Bachelors here itself and want to be a banker or a journalist. Padam: Looking at the booming of cooperatives and banks, I want to work in the banking sector. But, I also wish I could be a detective. Khem: I want to become a Chartered Accountant but can’t afford studying it. I’ll study Bachelors in Business Studies. I don’t have plans to go elsewhere to study. I think, environment wise, it’s best to stay in your own home home and study. Sudikshya: I think I’ll study plus two again because now I want to move to commerce. I’ve realized that people don’t value humanities and arts education much and think low of those who opt for those fields. Asma: I disagree. I think that studying humanities of or arts is also a good option. There’s ample scope in NGOs and INGOs these days. I want to go to Kathmandu and study journalism. Jaya: If my parents can afford it, I want to study nursing. Kanchan: I’ve always been interested in the banking sector ever since I was a child. Pursuing my further education depends on what my family says but I want to be employed in a bank and will surely get a job after my plus twos. L to R: Padam Bhandari, Kanchan Bhattarai, Jaya Sharma, Asma Gautam, Sudikshya Nirola, Shankar Dahal and Khem Kumar Gurung. Young people, especially in their teen ages, have a lot going on. Personally, who do you share your problems with and confide in? Asma: My mom. She’s very understanding. Padam: When it comes to talking about problems, I do it with my friends. Jaya: Generally, parents don’t understand our problems and instead put they tend to put the blame on us. That’s why it’s uncomfortable to share problems with parents. I talk to my friends. Kanchan: I share with my mom. If there’s something that I feel awkward sharing about, with mom, I tell my friends. Shankar: I’m mostly unable to give much time to my friends. But my parents are very supportive and I go to them with my problems. What are some of the major problems and issues faced by youth in Mechinagar? Shankar: Most youth here, don’t continue their studies after their SLC or after high school. They fall for the attractive but most often misleading advertisements about foreign employment that come out in the media. I come from rural Jhapa and some of the youth there also drop out of school, opting to work as tractor-drivers. They’re more into making easy money rather than getting good education and have the mentality that education is not very important. Khem: Drug addiction is also very common here. We have an open border here, and there’s a lot of illegal drug trade that goes on. Drugs are easily accessible to youth, most of whom are living without proper guardians as their parents are working overseas. They have a lot of money in hand and they to spend it and they spend it on drugs and alcohol. Sudikshya: For girls, child marriage is another problem. Most girls get married before the age of 18. Kanchan: Early age marriage is something that I’ve also faced. I’m married as well. Most girls here are pressurized to marry right after they reach 17 or 18 years of age because there’s a belief that if girls cross a certain age, they won’t get be desirable for marriage. Apart from this, kidnapping, rape and sex trade are also evils here. What do you think should be done to tackle these problems? Asma: When it comes to addressing these problems, not much has been done. I think we need to go into depth and tackle the root of the problems. When it comes to drug abuse, there’s no proper investigation in terms of who are the ones who are selling these drugs. Jaya: There’re rules but their implementations are absent. Being strict about rule violations is a way to solve youth problems such as drug abuse and road accidents. Kanchan: Proper communication and awareness are keys. They say when you educate a mother, you educate the whole family. I think mothers should be made aware about such issues faced by the youth currently. A good way to do this is through Nepali TV serials, since they watch them a lot. Khem: Power talks here and there are no rule of law. People who are linked to various politicians always get away with the wrongs that they do. This should be dealt with. Asma: There’s a lot of corruption be it in the educational field, or elsewhere. This is making things worse. Shankar: Job opportunities should be provided so that the youth aren’t frustrated and are not looking to make easy money. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51415 KATHMANDU, March 13: The March 15 concert of the Deep Purple at Dasarath Stadium in the capital has been postponed. Satish Singh of the Jet Set PR Entertainment, one of the organizers, informed about the postponement of the event. Citing frequent general strikes in Nepal, the English band is now set to fly straight to London from Singapore. The band members were due in Kathmandu today via Dubai after finishing their concert in Singapore. The event was a joint collaboration of the JPR Entertainment and ODC Entertainment. [break] The band was established in 1968 and currently consists of Ian Paice on percussion, Roger Glover on bass guitar, Ian Gillan on vocals, harmonica and percussion, Steve Morse on guitar and Don Airey on organ and keyboards. Deep Purple have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, including 7.5 million certified units in the US alone. The band has a number of hits including ´Shadow of deep purple´, ´Fireball, and ´The house of blue lights´. The tickets to the concert were priced at Rs 500, Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 10,000. The next date of the concert has not been fixed. Related: Deep Purple to dazzle Ktm! http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51416 KATHMANDU, March 12: Sixty youths from 29 districts of Nepal gathered in Pokhara recently with the determination to work for the development of the country. Members of the US Embassy Youth Council promised to work for the development of their community, and Anil Shah, Executive Director of Mega Bank, boosted their resolve. “The youth are not only the builders of the nation, they are also the present. Hence, my belief is not on my relatives, my friends, or even the political leaders, but on the youths of the nation,” said Shah. This statement managed to encourage the participating youths who came from various places, diverse communities and different employment and who had diverse views.[break] The participants had resolved to bring in positive thoughts to their society and thus build the nation. Carrying the belief that it was not by burning tires on the road but by involving young people in the policymaking level that the nation can be made prosperous and each participant had the same dream of a “beautiful peaceful Nepal.” “Don’t the young people have the guts to be involved in politics without burning tires?” asked Karuna Parajuli from Pokhara who is studying in Kathmandu and is a member of the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU). She stated that it was time that the young minds represented Nepal and if they have to snatch some power and authority from the leaders in order to develop the country, then so be it. She explained that she had joined the US Embassy Youth Council to unify youths who carry similar dream of developing the nation. Republica Members of the US Embassy Youth Council discuss and share stories during the youth conference in Pokhara. The young participants dream of a ‘beautiful, peaceful Nepal’ and are putting in efforts to see this dream come true. ANNFSU’s leader Menka Pachai has similar thoughts. “We’re not allowed to take up the actual role of the youth in politics,” she said desolately. “So now we’ve to assume the responsibility we have and help in boosting our country.” Surat Giri, a researcher, has different experiences to support his belief on why the country is not developing. He understands that though Nepali youth put in their best in various areas, the fact that they cannot reach the policy making level is a drawback. “It’s essential that youth should be involved and be allowed to participate in policymaking level,” he said. “Youth participation is important in their issues. I’m thinking of raising such issues through the Council.” Kailali district’s Rup Sunar wants to do something for the Dalit youths. “These youths are still very far from the reach of information,” he said. “I’m working to ensure that they have the access to information and even to employment.” Neha Poudel from Birgunj says that she joined the Council to do something for the society. “In various areas in the Terai region, marijuana is still illegally farmed,” she said, “With a group of young friends, I’m working on stopping marijuana farming.” Lured by the prospect of good income, the people in the district are now habituated to smoke marijuana. “Many young people are now addicted to it and some have even lost their lives due to it,” she said. “We’re now working on stopping the farming of marijuana and encourage other kinds of farming.” Neha has worked in an organization called Syano Paila in Birgunj, taking the responsibility of raising funds. At present, she is involved in a campaign to stop human trafficking. She believes that traffickers should be brought to book, and through Syano Paila, she is striving to see justice done. She plans to strengthen this campaign with the help and coordination of more young people. A participant of Miss Nepal 2011, she won the title of fourth runner-up as well as Miss Popular Choice. Sushil Adhikari is visually impaired and he is grieved that the government has not paid any attention to the rights of the handicapped. He has trained many visually impaired people in computer and is working to change the way the society views them along with other handicapped people. “We’ve not yet been able to enjoy or exercise our fundamental rights set by the government,” he said. “So I aspire to spread positive messages in the society and do creative work.” He as worked for voice software which is installed in mobiles and helps visually impaired people. The software helps them to maintain their privacy. A nursing graduate from Lalitpur, Pawitra Basnet gives training in basic healthcare and reproductive health in schools and community. She says that she doesn’t have any intention of going abroad to work. The image of people dying of common diseases in remote areas is trapped in Santosh Nepali’s mind. From Jumla district, he says, “Since there’s no health service facility, people have died of common diseases in remote areas. My plan is to have health services available to the people there.” Saroj Karki works with Youth for Blood in Biratnagar. The organization was set up two years ago and now has branches in Dharan, Lahan, Damak and Kathmandu. Saroj says that till now it has helped more than 1,500 people by providing fresh blood. Ganesh Dhungana from Dhading says that Nepali youths do not have reading habit. “We’ve operated libraries in 15 schools in the district. We’ve also built the biggest library in the district,” he says. He is the leader of Yuwa Sanjal. They have published four books, two each in English and Nepali, and have also been presented with an international award. Affiliated with Antardristi as a psychological consultant, Rajani Bharati works with children who are victims of torture and sex abuse. She trains them in dance, music and yoga and also spends a day of each month with 21 children who live in Opportunity Village in Hemja in Kaski. Twenty-six year old Shivaraj Chaulagai from Ratamata in Sindhuli runs computer classes at a local school. “We’ve started compulsory computer classes in three schools of Kavre, Ramechhap and Sindhuli,” he said. “We’re planning to take computer literacy in all villages.” Shivaraj started the campaign with four friends while studying at Western Region Engineering Campus in Lamachaur and they have plans to expand it in other districts. Media person Sabana Paudel used to conduct a slot for women’s rights and against domestic violence on her weekly radio programs, touching on issues of trafficking in women, domestic violence, dowry and violation of human rights. She said, “Many women who were victims were able to get justice through the radio programs.” he, in her radio shows, used to call on youths and sometimes politicians. Paudel, who ran the radio show on women’s rights for 27 weeks, currently works for Nepal Television as a newsreader. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51414 The preset idiosyncrasy that exists among us often shows that we tend to remain placid and indifferent towards the circumstances surrounding us. We observe and realize the wrongdoings around us, yet we stay mum and least bothered. I’m not sure whether it’s due to mere lethargy or fear, but this sort of attitude is the reason behind our sufferings and frustrations. What amuses me the most is the youth population brandishing arrogant excuses by simply saying, “Well, I don’t care because politics isn’t my cup of tea.” Youth today lack awareness regarding such sensitive issues and has provided an uncontrolled autonomy to authorities who, in return, are exercising and implementing irrelevant practices.[break] Another link that adds up to the chain of troubles escaping the Pandora’s Box is the failure of the political parties. To bluntly speak out, these political parties have disappointed us on numerous occasions. More precisely, Nepali youths have been let down by the hollow extravagant speeches and fake promises made by politicians who continually crave for power. Recollecting memories of the pre-election atmosphere, a vibrant energy in the younger generation was visible which was partly filled with hope and excitement. The fact that they were contributing to a vision of a New Nepal had even stirred a feeling of pride in them. But now, after four years of massive setback, the faith has tremendously declined, if it hasn’t disappeared yet. I’m certain that the upcoming elections, with whatever essence it carries, will not be welcomed with the same amount of zeal and enthusiasm. To outline a funnier side, my sympathies are with the parties for their vis-à-vis encounters during the pre-election campaigns later this year. The third and the most critical problem that we’re facing is the unavailability of infrastructures and facilities. How can the state think of properly utilizing and mobilizing its youths when the basic necessities are substandard? It’s obvious that we require some level of assurance and motivation to work productively for the country. Unfortunately, the state hasn’t been able to generate and offer the adequate level of services to us. When the issue of development comes into the picture, however, it’s unfair to solely blame only the state for its incompetence. As any law abiding citizen, everyone should be equally conscious and cooperative through their duties and obligations. It’s time, therefore, that we realized our responsibilities, just as we instantly do for our rights. I know that listing out problems doesn’t produce readymade solutions. However, it’s always said that “a problem well identified is half solved.” Furthermore, it’s important for us to openly discuss and place our opinions regarding the pertinent affairs surrounding us. Social initiatives like ‘Occupy Baluwatar’ and ‘Stand up against police atrocity,’ to name a few, are efforts that need to be widely appreciated. The writer is an MBA student at Ace Institute of Management in Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51370 LOS ANGELES, March 12: Authorities and celebrities were grappling Monday with how to respond to a website that posted what appears to be private financial information about top government officials and stars such as Jay-Z and Mel Gibson. Los Angeles police said they were investigating how the Social Security number, address and a credit report of the police chief ended up on the site.[break] The site also posted the same information about FBI Director Robert Mueller; the bureau said it was aware of the site but declined to say whether it was investigating. The site also targeted stars such as Beyonce, Ashton Kutcher, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton. Info posted about Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not include credit reports but included addresses and other sensitive information. Social Security numbers posted on Gibson, Jay-Z and others matched records in public databases. The site, which bears an Internet suffix originally assigned to the Soviet Union, expanded throughout the day Monday to add entries on Britney Spears, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and others. In this Feb. 12, 2013 photo, Beyonce Knowles attends the premiere of "Beyonce: Life Is But A Dream" at the Ziegfeld Theatre, in New York. (AP0 It did not state how the information was obtained or why the 11 people targeted on the site were selected, describing the records only as "secret files." A Twitter profile linked to the site and created after its existence was first reported by celebrity website TMZ included an anti-police message in Russian. Several of the purported credit reports appear to have been generated last week. Representatives for each person targeted either declined to comment on the accuracy of the information that was posted, or they did not return messages seeking comment. Los Angeles police Cmdr. Andrew Smith said the LAPD was investigating the posting of Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck´s information and would also investigate the posting of info on any celebrities who live in the city. He said confidential information on top police officials has been posted online at least twice before. "People get mad at us, go on the Internet and try to find information about us, and post it all on one site," Smith said. "The best word I can use to describe it is creepy," he said about the practice known as doxxing. "It´s a creepy thing to do." Frank Preciado, assistant officer in charge at the LAPD online section, said the postings are also illegal. He said the information was likely taken from what is supposed to be a secure database of city employees. Several of the pages featured unflattering pictures of the celebrities or government officials whose information was posted. The site´s page on Beck includes a taunting reference to former officer Christopher Dorner, who apparently committed suicide after he killed four people during a multi-day rampage. Beck´s page included the message "(hash)YouCantCornerTheDorner" and an image of a woman protesting police corruption. While government officials often have to disclose details on their finances — and celebrity divorces sometimes feature public financial data — the information posted online exceeds those disclosures. Social Security numbers are rarely included in public records anymore because they can be used for identity theft. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51359 KATHAMNDU, March 11: Come every Saturday at 8 AM, a group of youths gathers at the World Bank’s Public Information Center (PIC) Hall located at Hotel Yak & Yeti Complex. Followed by a round of greetings and handshakes, they sit down for the formal session of the morning. Smart Club is a public speaking and debating platform started in 2005 by Youth Initiatives, a youth-led organization, and over the course of eight years has seen many students come and go.[break] The Club and its weekly sessions are managed by the Club Coordination Team (CCT) of five members which has tenure of six months. The first session is the formal session which entirely focuses on public speaking. Every week, three participants (a pre-decided speaker, a self-decided speaker and an impromptu speaker) are selected as speakers who get five minutes each to speak on a pre-decided topic. Speakers get to express their views in strict English and even the smallest of mistakes are recorded by the role-takers. A commentator is assigned for each speaker along with a grammarian and a time keeper. The Over Critical Analyst (OCA) concludes the session by reviewing the overall performances of all three speakers – whether or not they managed to stick to the format and time limit. Photos Courtesy: Saifullah Muhammad Members of Smart Club during one of their Saturday sessions at the World Bank’s Public Information Center (PIC) Hall in Yak & Yeti Hotel, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu. A grand finale takes place every fourth week in which three best speakers of three previous sessions compete. This strictly formal session goes on for an hour, sometimes an hour and a half; and after a fifteen-minute tea break, the same hall resonates with voices, loud and argumentative this time. The topic for the informal session last week was whether or not the Chief Justice should be made Prime Minister. While the proposition team argued that if two posts are held by the same person, there will be monopoly, and since there is no Legislature in Nepal at present, taking legal actions in case of breach of power becomes difficult. The opposition team presented counter arguments that the only solution to the current political deadlock is fusing the Executive and Judiciary. Bishnu Rokaya, 21, who has been attending these sessions for a year was one of the members in the proposition team. Infused with the spirit of the ongoing debate, he said, “If the CJ can be made PM, where’s the necessity of political parties? Why is there so much focus on the political culture of agreement?” These sessions provoke curiosity in these young minds, so much can be learnt just from listening to the speakers take reference or give examples to support their arguments. Pradeep Niroula, 16, who was from the opposition team, argued, “The CJ is the best option Nepal has and it’s a leap of faith the country should take at this point of time.” The informal debate session is lenient compared to the first one. After a two-minute preparation time for the proposition and opposition teams, five speakers from each team get a minute each to present their arguments. The debate is followed by a zero hour in which participants and even those from the audience can speak. A member from each team gives reply speech to sum up their arguments in the end. After the debate is over, the members decide on a topic and speakers for the next week, role-takers are appointed (members volunteer gladly) by the CCT. Apart from public speaking, documentary screenings are also organized and guest speakers are invited from time to time. Different styles of debating are incorporated in the informal sessions, from the British Parliamentary style to World Schools Debating Championship, and Karl Popper format. Youth Initiative also organizes a public speaking workshop every six month for Smart club members. A person has to attend at least three sessions before s/he can participate in the sessions. Pradeep Parajuli, Treasurer of Youth Initiatives, used to be an active member of Smart Club in 2009 and served thrice as a member of CCT. Currently, he looks after the Club as a supervisor. Looking back at his days as a Smart Club member, he says, “For me, learning comes from sharing and listening to new ideas every week and meeting 50-60 people who come to the sessions with the same enthusiasm as mine was informative.” Saifullah Muhammad, 19, who is a member of CCT says, “I used to get nervous while doing presentations in school, I wasn’t much of a talker, either. But after joining Smart Club and listening to so many people, I slowly started getting comfortable with the idea of sharing my opinions without hesitation and without letting nervousness in the way.” “We haven’t brought about any groundbreaking changes by debating here but the collective opinions of all of us create this flow of energy that makes us passionate about public speaking. These discussions help us to think critically,” said Pradeep Niroula, 16. For more information about Smart Club and their activities, visit their Facebook page and group. You can also go through the weekly session reports and speeches of the best speakers on their blog – oursmartclub.blogspot.com. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51358 KATHMANDU, March 11: As a photographer, it’s not the ‘in-your-face’ subjects but the little, commonly unnoticed details that grab his attentions. He was never a book-smart person; instead, a practical learner. He prefers independent ventures rather than working for others. Entrepreneurship and exploring into various creative fields is the way to go for Julian Alister James, Director of F-stop Studio and Creative Director of Earthy wear, a Nepali hemp-clothing line. A designer, photographer, filmmaker and a soon-to-be restaurateur with Mama’s Curries in Pulchowk, James is currently doing a bit of this and also a bit of that.[break] After completing media technology course from Delhi, James came to Kathmandu, hoping to work with animation. But back then, there wasn’t a favorable atmosphere for that. He explored his options and got into photography. He shares his long-term plans, experiences and challenges of working in Nepal. Julian Alister James From where did you begin your career? I started working in 2007. I worked with Quest Entertainment as a still photographer for Sano Sansar, I’ve been involved with “Aacharya” and “Sold”, the latter also a movie based on the namesake book, which will be out next year. I’ve also worked with small documentaries for INGO projects. How did Earthy happen? Earthy is actually the concept of Srijana Limbu and Subin Shakya, which was conceived three years ago. It’s all about promoting Nepali designs and artists. The three of us collaborate and come up with designs and concepts. I usually work with photographs and manipulate them to create designs. That’s my style when it comes to designing. What are the challenges that you face? With Earthy, it’s still a bit difficult to reach the Kathmandu-based crowd because hemp clothing is organic and a little expensive. But that’s slowly changing. We’re building up the taste right now but the plan is to set up a brand, which will especially be perfect souvenirs for Nepalis abroad, who miss home. When it comes to photography and filmmaking, I personally feel that there are constraints to my creativity when I have to work for others. There’s the budget issue, amongst others, due to which I sometimes have to compromise with my shots. For those who are foraying in the creative fields, do you think there’s financial sustainability? Once you have the exposure, I think it is. You just need the right contacts. Plus, there’s so much to do here in Kathmandu in the sense that there are many untouched subjects and areas that you can be the first in. There’s not much competition and it’s much easier to start something here. You just need to make that effort. In the long term, what work do you think you’ll eventually settle in? I think I’ll eventually work as a director of photography. But that’ll take some time as it takes a lot of knowledge and experience. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51357 KATHMANDU, March 11: The cabinet has decided to present Arohan Gurukul with one million and the Lyricists’ Association of Nepal with Rs 500,000. The resolution was reached against the previous decision made by the political parties to stop important appointments and also to stop giving away grants carelessly. Though Arohan Gurukul has initially asked the government for three million to pay off its debts, the government has only granted one million to help the theatre group. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51356 JHAPA, March 11: The second day of the star-studded three-day Arts and Literature Festival 2069, held in Kakarvitta saw more excitement and participation from the audience. Panel discussions about ‘Jhapa on the news’ with Narayan Wagle, Mohan Kaji, Chandra Bhandari and Raju Adhikari, ‘Women and Nepali proverbs’ with Kunta Sharma, Bhawani Chhetri, Manisha Gauchan and Munaraj Serma, and the debate on Federalism with panelists Hari Rokka, Gagan Thapa, Ghanashyam Bhusal and Bishwaprakash Sharma were amongst the most engaging sessions. Kathmandu-based slam poets from Word Warriors, who have been conducting workshops in schools in Jhapa, also performed their set of English, Nepali and Newari poems.[break] A local youth drama group staged ‘Nepal Aama’, a drama based on the murder of a journalist, and emphasized on the need of security for journalists and the rule of law in Nepal, through their act. Sessions on Nepali youth, Nepali education and reading culture and a poetry session from local poets will follow on the final day of the festival. Organized by Readers Jhapa, a local group of literary enthusiasts, the first Arts and Literature Festival kicked off in Mechi Community Hall in Kakarvitta, Jhapa on March 10. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51355 KATHMANDU, March 11: Fanta Miss Nepal 2013 contestants gathered together at the Russian Cultural Centre for the talent round on Monday. The 18 finalists had prepared a variety of talents to show the audience and the judges. To judge the aspirants were Chandra Rabi Shrestha, President of Kathmandu Jaycees; Bishnu Chemjong, Miss Nepal 2011’s winner of talent round; Govinda Rai, film director and Rupesh Pradhan, Past President of Rotary Club of Bagmati. The show was hosted by Sanjay Gupta, and he started by introducing the talent round as an integral part of Miss Nepal. As the show progressed, he pressed upon everyone to cheer for them asking that they remember that the contestants were not professionals.[break] Sipora Gurung, contestant number 3, presented a dance and kick started the event. The event had a mix of western and cultural dances, speeches on gender inequality and the safety issues of women, one act plays, drama, painting and even two presentations of dress designing. Ishani Shrestha, contestant number 6, painted the good luck God Ganesha. Each contestant was given a time frame of five minutes to perform and show their talent to the audience and the judges. The winner of the talent round will be announced during the finale which is scheduled to take place on March 20. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51303 KATHMANDU, March 11: Kai Po Che is an entertainer. Abhishek Kapoor delivers yet again after the resounding success of ‘Rock On!!’ in 2008. Adapted for the screen from Chetan Bhagat’s novel ‘The Three Mistakes of My Life’, the film is set in Ahmedabad, India and is centered on the lives of three friends Ishaan, Omkar and Govind. [break] Ishaan is the passionate cricket lover who never managed to get beyond playing for the district level, Omi is the town Pandit’s son and Gobi is the one with a burning desire to earn money and make it big. There is Ali, the boy who promises sixers every time he picks up a batand this talent infuses Ishaan with a new passion. The friends open a shop cum sports coaching cum tuition place for Maths, and dream gleefully of bigger things. The boys’ earnestness will make us want to root for them as they traverse around the challenges life has to offer. As the friends push each other and start to focus their attention on what they individually do best, their friendships and beliefs get tested. Like in the book, the film touches upon the beginning of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Omi’s uncle is the local party leader whose political rival is Ali’s father. The boys, especially Omi, unwittingly get entrenched into politics and it is then we see Omi slowly transform into a man with a purpose. A successful TV actor, this is Sushant Singh Rajput’s film debut and he’s done a fine job, leaving the viewer appreciating his presence. Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav take us along in the perfectly believable daily going on of their small town life that is punctuated with little victories and big catastrophes. In fact, the cast of the film develop into credible characters and their lives in the small town are ordinary without any speck of glamour. What works in ‘Kai Po Che’ is the effort to present the characters within the image of the small town boy. Ishaan’s frustration with his inability to take his love for cricket further and the subsequent squabbles with his father over the lack of any apparent ambition; the hardworking Gobi whose sole intention is to earn money and move on to better things; Omi who is very attached to Ishaan but is slowly drawn into his uncle’s way of seeing things. The focus of the film remains the friendship amongst the boys, which though tried and tested, manages to come through. There are no routine Bollywood dances, just some pleasing music. After ‘Three Idiots’ and ‘Kai Po Che’ perhaps it would be safe to assume that Chetan Bhagat’s books are better suited to the big screen? Screening at QFX cinemas http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51302 KATHMANDU, March 11: Deepak Rauniyar’s film ‘Highway’ staring Dayahang Rai, Reecha Sharma, Saugat Malla has recently been honored by New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Highway has been chosen to inaugurate MoMA’s ContemporAsian, a program showcasing contemporary Asian cinema. MoMA will also screen the film for a week at Roy and Niuta Titus cinema theatre from April 25 to May 1. Director Rauniyar and co-producer Danny Glover will be at hand to present the film in New York. Actor Asha Magrati, executive producer Mita Hosali, co-producer Joslyn Barnes and editor David Barker will also be present at the first screening of the film. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51304 JHAPA, March 11: The big Mechi Community Hall in Kakarvitta, Jhapa contained Nepali literary greatness, all gathered for the Art and Literary Festival 2069, first of its kind for Jhapa. Organized by Readers Jhapa, a local group of literary enthusiasts, the three-day festival was inaugurated on March 10.[break] The festival formally started with the Chief Guest, Ganga Prasad Upreti, Vice Chancellor of Nepal Academy, signing his name of a canvas, followed by other litterateurs. “This festival is the brainchild of positive and energetic youth of Jhapa,” commented Upreti, adding, “This festival has decentralized the literature and arts scene which earlier used to only be centered in Kathmandu.” Engaging panel discussions on poetry and its readership, literature from across the border and the revival of national languages were held while author Khagendra Sangroula gave his two cents on contemporary time and literature. “Today’s interactions were quite exciting. I enjoyed the session on poetry and its readership where the participating poets accepted the fact that there was a lack of quality poem writing. The session concluded that there are a lot of readers of poetry but that poetry was not accessible to these readers,” shared Uday Adhikari, a commentator and reader from Chitwan. “The talk by Khagendra Sangroula was also interesting as he delved into contemporary Nepali literature and opined that writers currently, don’t prefer taking the risk and writing about deep or grave subjects. He mentioned that particularly, no one has been able to write well on the ten-year long insurgency period in Nepal,” added Adhikari. “Art and Literature Festival 2069 is a festival of words, perspectives, talent, skill and culture,” said Ujjwal Prasai, Chairman of the festival. Like he, as the Chairman of the festival, hopes the festival, which now gives Jhapa a lead in the region for the successful initiation of a National festival of the arts and literature, will go on to be an identity of Kakarvitta. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51253 The transitions from blocking roads to smoking up KATHMANDU, March 10: As kids, Shivaratri meant blocking roads with strings and ropes, listening to others talk about the crowd at Pashupatinath. Grown up, the festival is closely associated with smoking marijuana. [break] Blocking roads during Mahashivaratri, as many of us might have realized, is a phase. Children do it for pure fun, more often than not, not knowing the myth behind the tradition. “It used to be very cold during Shivaratri before and people, who fasted and awoke all night worshipping Shiva, blocked roads asking for firewood to keep themselves warm through the night with bonfire (samidha). With time, kids started blocking roads asking for money,” shared Madan Kumar Rijal, Associate Professor of Culture at Tribhuvan University. The kids, however, grow out of it once they are teenagers. Samrat Sigdel, 18, recalls blocking roads in his locality until he was 15. “I remember a lot of people would get annoyed when I was blocking roads with my friends while some would just laugh and hand over coins to us,” he said, adding, “After that, it was embarrassing to stand by and ask for money on the road and everyone my age had grown out of it and it was no longer fun.” Samrat had a faint idea about the myth behind blocking roads, “I know originally people asked for firewood instead of money but I don’t exactly know the story behind collecting firewood,” he said. He admits that when he sees kids blocking roads these days, it annoys him. Similarly, Reetu Joshi, 18, continued with it till she was in her fourth grade although she didn’t and still doesn’t know how the tradition of blocking roads came about. “I started blocking roads with my cousins simply because I’d seen other kids do it. Back then, this was how we had fun during the Shivaratri holiday,” she said. “We used to do it amongst our family, calling up relatives and asking them to come out and give us money. If we couldn’t collect money by blocking roads, my father used to give it himself and would buy us something at the end of the day,” she shared. The tradition in Reetu’s family originally started when her grandfather asked the kids in the family to ask for vegetables and firewood while blocking roads. At the end of the day, her grandfather would buy lentils and rice from the guthi’s money and the collected vegetables were cooked with the collected firewood. “He would then distribute the food among the poor families in our locality,” recollected Reetu. “After that, me and my friends thought blocking roads was childish and a little embarrassing for teenagers.” Shivaratri meaning ‘the night of Shiva’ is celebrated by the Hindu population on the ‘magh chaturdasi’. While ‘Krishna parksha chaturdasi’ of every month is called Shivaratri, this one is the Mahashivaratri which is believed to be the day when Lord Shiva is happiest. While there are various mythical stories and different versions of each associated with the day, according to Professor Rijal the two stories from ‘Garudh Puran’ and ‘Skanda Puran’ led to celebrating Shivaratri. “Sundarsen in Garudh Puran and Chandal (Kirati) in Skanda Puran both were hunters who ended up spending the night in the forest. They decided to spend the night on a Bael tree and because they were hungry and couldn’t sleep, they plucked leaves off the tree and threw them on the ground and their bottles leaked water too, which fell on the shivalinga (phallic symbol) under the tree. Later, when they dropped their bows and bent down to get it, it was considered as worshipping the shivalinga. Since they had worshipped the shivalinga , although unconsciously, both of them were blessed with salvation and hence, the day is celebrated every year as Mahashivaratri,” added Professor Rijal. Worshippers of Shiva (shaiva–margis) fast and worship different forms of Lord Shiva by staying up all night. This is where the marijuana smoking comes in as Shiva is believed to be an avid smoker and marijuana smoking on this day is called taking ‘Shivako Prasad’ or ‘Shiva Buti’. Rijal also expressed that Shiva is known for accepting negative habits and worshippers, sadhus and babas smoke particularly on this day in reverence to Shiva. Nineteen-year-old Siddhant Subedi plans to visit the Pashupati temple with his friends and smoke up in honor of Lord Shiva. “Although this has become more of an excuse for people to smoke and less of a tradition, society is liberal when it comes to marijuana smoking on this day,” he says. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51252 KATHMANDU, March 10: It’s annoying when you have to pay for the apps that you want to use. It’s more annoying when you can afford to buy the app but still can’t because you don’t have a credit card. Nonetheless, there are plenty of free apps that can fulfill the need of yours. Browse through the list below and install what’s needed. [break] 1. Viber: Viber allows you to call, text, and send photos worldwide for free to over 140 million users. This app is available for Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Phone and many more devices. If you use an iPhone and hating the fact that you can’t purchase Whatsapp, Viber is made just for you and you can even call! It’s an easy way to connect to your loved one, provided you have internet access. 2. Facebook: Many phones these days come with the Facebook app but you have to download it, it’s free of cost! The fastest growing social network site keeps you up-to-date with your friends and even play games, like Words with Friends etc. Share pictures, check-in and have a fun time with this free app available for all kinds of devices. 3. Skype: Skype is basically a free voice and video call service to anyone else on Skype. Whether they’re on an Android, iPhone, Mac or PC, as well as IMs, this app has made it easier to connect to friends and family, no matter where they are. If you can, you can also purchase credits and make cheap international calls. 4. Nepal Loadshedding Schedule: The land of the loadshedding got what it really needed on a Smartphone. Nepal Load Shedding Schedule is a free app and serves all users with smart way to view the loadshedding schedule. You can view, create widget, send sms schedule, receive notification before/after the loadshedding. Sadly, it doesn’t come with a flashlight widget! 5. Tiny Flashlight+LED: Flashlight app for your device! Easy to use and very useful, especially when you don’t have electricity and don’t know where you kept those set of matches to light the candle. Tiny Flashlight is currently the best led flashlight app on the Android Market. 6. Opera Mini Web Browser: If you’re using 3G service and paying a lot for the datas you’ve drawn, Opera Mini Web Browser might help bring that bill down. With the speed and efficient controls, Opera Mini Web Brower is ahead of all other browsers and it reduces data costs with the help of the unique compression technology. The best thing is, however, is that it’s free of cost to download and use. 7. Whatsapp Messenger: WhatsApp Messenger is a smartphone messenger available for Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Phone and Nokia phones. The app uses 3G or WiFi (when available) to message with friends and family. The app is free of cost for upto a year on Anroid but on iPhones, you have to purchase it. 8. iDownloader: It’s annoying when you buy an iPhone and it doesn’t let you download any songs or videos. iDownloader will put a stop to just that. Once you download and install this free app on your iPhone, it’ll download just about any kind of file and save it on its own folder and you can even password protect it! 9. Instagram: With over 100 million users who love Instagram, this is got to be the hottest app around. It’s free, fun and a simple way to make and share photos on your device. Pick a preset from the several filtered effects or tilt-shift blur to breathe a new life into your pictures. Transform the everyday mundane moments into a piece of art and show off to the world! 10. Wordweb: If you’re the kind of person who wants to know the meaning of something as soon as you hear it and use it in your future conversations, Wordweb is the app for you. This free offline English dictionary and thesaurus with synonyms, related words and great search, also pronounces the words for you and there are absolutely no adverts. Keep you dictionary updated, and you’re life will be much easier. Who uses the bulky dictionaries anymore? http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51251 KATHMANDU, March 10: ‘Ring the Bell’ campaign was launched on March 8, marking the occasion of International Women’s Day. The campaign, organized by MenEngage Nepal and Save the Children, is a call to all men to protest and take definite action against violence against women. The campaign is designed to conclude on December 10, which celebrates International Human Rights Day, by which it aims to gather the promises of one million boys and men around the world to stand up to end violence against women and girls. [break] “Our experiences tell us that having laws and policies alone are not enough to end the various forms of gender based violence unless men and boys are more respectful of women and girls. This campaign is part of a call for action on individuals and collective actions to challenge structures, ideologies, behaviors, practices and traditional cultures that perpetuate the cycle of violence,” said Laxman Belbase, regional coordinator of MenEngage South Asia. Based on the ‘Bell Bajaun’ campaign which was launched by Breakthrough in India in 2008, ‘Ring the Bell’ is the global introduction. The campaign has helped to change the way domestic violence is viewed in India. It has since been adapted in China, Malaysia, Pakistan and Vietnam. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is the first global ambassador of ‘Ring the Bell’. The campaign not only asks boys and men to help stop violence against women but also asks them to challenge, educate, interrupt, push, respect, share, stand, support, teach kids and donate. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51250 KATHMANDU, March 10: Kirtipur based Pusapa Sadan Boarding High School announced that it will honor students securing places in top ten among the students throughout the country in the upcoming School Leaving Certificate (SLC) result will be conferred with gold medals. “Our students who secure the top positions among the students who appear in the exams across the country in SLC result will be honored with one tola gold metal,” informed Mahesh Shrestha, founder of the school, at a function organized to observe the 29th parent’s day, during which the guardians also participated in various sporting events. [break] Binod Gyawali, Managing Director of Nepal Republic Media awarding a certificate to a winning student during parent’s day of Pushpa Sadan School in Kirtipur on Saturday. (Keshab Thoker/Republica) Shrestha also informed that the new scheme is meant to encourage the students as four of its student had already secured places among the top ten lists after the school announced cash prized for the highest achievers in the past. Amit Yadav and Gaurab Subedi, outstanding achievers in the SLC exams last year received cash prizes of Rs 10, 000 each. On the behalf of guardians, Binod Gyawali and Prof Dr Ram Prasad Gyawali distributed the prizes to the winner students of the extra curricular activities. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51249 To perform with Deep Purple in Kathmandu KATHMANDU, March 10: Director turned screenwriter, producer, actor, playback singer, lyricist and a television host; he doesn’t have a bucket list to follow but just goes with the flow. Farhan Akhtar, at the moment, is all set to perform with the international rock band, Deep Purple, in Kathmandu on March 15. The concert is being organized jointly by Jet Set PR Entertainment and ODC Entertainment and is being promoted by Utsav Events. Republica caught up with Farhan Akhtar for an interview. Excerpts:[break] How much of a Deep Purple fan are you? And how excited are you? I’m a big fan of Deep Purple and I have been into their music since my teen years. We had this vinyl record, as I recall now, of the band’s album ‘Machine Head’ and I used to listen to that. I’m very excited to be sharing a stage with them in Kathmandu. Are you excited to visit Nepal as well? The last time I visited Nepal was in 1989, so I’m quite sure it has changed a lot. Also, the people love Deep Purple’s music and so do I. I’m already excited to visit Kathmandu and meet Deep Purple. This is like a dream come true for me. HEYUGUYS.CO.UK What’s in the pipeline for you? What are you busy with at the moment? I just finished shooting for ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ in Ladakh and I’m also working on this romantic comedy movie with Vidya Balan. A few projects and collaborations with other musicians are also in the pipeline. When I’m not working and busy, I just like to go sky diving (laughs). How did the shooting for ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ in Ladakh go? It was challenging to shoot in Ladakh. I’m extremely fortunate to be acting as Milkha Singh, a former Indian athlete. The shoot was an intense experience and had a lot of challenges. But as an actor, you want to take on new challenges and try something new. That’s just what I did. Dil Chahta Hai was a turning point in your career and now whatever you do makes it to the news. How do you feel? Frankly, I just feel old and I keep convincing myself that I’m not that old (laughs). Looking back 12 years to ‘Dil Chahata Hain’, it was an unplanned venture but definitely a dream come true for sure. It makes me so happy when people still say that they remember the film and that they can associate with it. As a director, I could not be more proud. Are you planning to take on the director’s seat anytime soon? Writing and directing are my first love and I will definitely do it. But one cannot push something and make it happen just because one loves it. It has to be the right story and the right script and everything should fall in the right place. May be that will happen soon, only time will tell. You are a public figure and you’re surrounded with rumors and negative news. How do you deal with it? I just don’t react. Thankfully I have not been involved in big scandals (smiles) but if the rumor or news has no truth in it, it will die its natural death. The best thing to do is not reacting. You are a director, singer, lyricist, screen writer, actor, producer and television host. Not that there is much remaining but what else do you want to do in life? I don’t want to have a bucket list of things I want to do or want to be. I think you have to work towards what you want in life. At the moment, I’m enjoying what I’m doing and I haven’t given a thought about what I want to do more. Tickets for the Deep Purple concert are available at: t City Centre, Kamalpokhari; Bakery Café, Bhatbhateni Super Store, Bhatbhateni; Saleways, all stores; New Orleans Restaurant & Bar, Thamel and Jhamel, CT, Bauddha, New Road, Kirtipur; Casapagoda, Durbar Square; Saurav Music, Thamel; Buzz Café, Baluwater; Blue Note, Suwal Video, Bhumi and Trisara Restaurant, Lazimpat; Sulux Centre, Durbar Marg; Sherpa Mall, Coffee Express, Durbar Marg; Road House Café, all outlets; Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat; Puma Showroom, Durbar Marg; Vesper Café and 8 Degrees, Jhamel; Testi n Tipsy, Jamal; Game Station, New Road; Camellion, Freak Street, Basantapur; Tashi, Bauddha; Blink, Kumaripati; Sweet16, Bagbazar; Susimine, Kupondole; Dhokaima Café, Patan Dhoka; DMC Building, Pulchowk and Rangsansar, Kalanki. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51248 KATHMANDU, March 10: Carlsberg’s premium consumers celebrated an exclusive 18:47 party at Trisara Garden Restaurant in Lazimpat on Friday. Anil Singh was the main attraction of the event, and keeping true to the spirit of the party, he started singing exactly at 18:47 hours, singing his most popular numbers ‘I Love You’, ‘Prem Patra’, ‘Arkai ki’ and ‘Pari’. [break] Building up interaction with the crowd, MC Sonia Shrestha made sure that the event was fun for everyone. The crowd was encouraged to join in the interesting games from which some even grabbed the Carlsberg 18:47 premium gift hampers. With around 300 premium consumers attending the party, it was a deemed a success by the team. Carlsberg has more plans for exciting 18:47 parties this month. The parties will be on an invitation basis and will be held at various premium outlets in Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51247 KATHMANDU, March 10: Amod Bhattarai’s collection of short stories ‘Chapters’ was released on Saturday at Xavier Academy, Lazimpat. The event was organized by Nepal Library Association. The anthology is the writer’s fourth book. Bhattarai writes in Nepali and his other books include ‘Chhatima Tap Rakhera’ and ‘Masita Pani Dukhane Ghau Chha’. His latest work has been translated into English by Prawin Adhikari. Former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University Professor Kedar Bhakta Mathema launched the book in the event. [break] Former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University Professor Kedar Bhakta Mathema launching Amod Bhattarai’s anthology of short stories, ‘Chapters’, on Saturday at Lazimpat. (Bijay Gajmer/Republica) He reminisced the times when he had lent young Bhattarai books of the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, Guy de Maupassant and later Kafka. Addressing the crowd present, he also said, “The public release of a book is a happy occasion for both the writer and the readers. ‘Chapters’ is a collection of simple stories based on simple human values.” Stating that the stories are well written, he went on to say that if good short stories are really meant to be read in a single setting then the anthology is definitely a good one. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51246 KATHMANDU, March 10: Nepal Dog Show, an event organized by House of Rajkarnicar and Mt Everest Kennel Club, was held on Saturday at St Xaviers School in Jawalakhel. The main highlight of the event was the competition to find the best Show Championship dog. The dogs were divided into seven classes; Gun dogs, Hounds, Toy, Utility, Working, Pastoral and Terrier. Each dog had to be submitted for a health check up and needed the vet’s approval before they were allowed to compete. The participating fee was priced at Rs 1000. [break] Avinash Malla, Program Coordinator, said, “There will be a winner from each class and then the award for the Best in Show Championship will be given to the best dog. The dogs will be judged on their breed characteristics.” The winner of the event later was handed a cash prize of Rs 10,000, 60 kgs of dog food from Smart Hand Dog Food and two mountain flights from Buddha Air. The competition was being judged by Juliette Cunliffe, a licensed judge from England. There were around 15 stalls in the event selling food, medicine and accessories for the dogs as well as selling a few pups. The entry was priced at Rs 70 for students and Rs 100 for others. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51194 KATHMANDU, March 8: There is a wind turbine in a village in Upper Mustang that lights up five bulbs in four houses. The turbine was installed and tested in June last year and began functioning from November. “It’s doing pretty well, and people call me to give me updates about it,” laughs Tashi Bista. A student at Tri-Chandra College, he is pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Arts with a major in Psychology. He wishes that people would know more about the place where almost 6000 people are functioning without a hospital, where there’s an acute scarcity of water and where the grants are spoiling the locals. “It’s sad how the people there are the least contributors of global warming but are the most affected,” he says.[break] Where did you come up with the idea of installing a wind turbine? In 2011, I was travelling to Ellora Caves in Maharastra discussing ways to harness the abundant wind energy in Mustang when I learnt that Jorge Ayarza, a wind expert, was staying in Auroville Ashram in Tamil Nadu. After I returned to Nepal, I started a fund raiser through which Funjok Gurung from Mustang and Jiwan Kumar Oli from Butwal was able to go to the Auroville Ashram to learn how to make a wind turbine from Ayarza. Jiwan had worked as an Alternative Energy Assistant with Annapurna Conservation Area Project for five years, and his technical expertise was important. The normal wind speed in Mustang is six meters per second. So it can generate 10 kilowatts of wind energy per hour. We installed an 800 watt wind turbine in Nyamdok village. Since fiberglass is expensive, we used wood to construct the blades. We also asked the villagers to help. I’ve found that including villagers during the meeting, asking for their opinions and listening to them works wonderfully. It gives them a feeling of togetherness and a sense of community purpose. The wind turbine has the villagers excited, and like me they’re looking to a few more installations. They take walks around it every day. The turbine is installed at a distant area so there’s no visual pollution. There are beautiful 14th century monasteries there, and we didn’t want that view to be blocked. Why did you opt to harness the wind energy in Mustang? You have to understand that wind is viewed as a hazard in Mustang. People are constantly complaining about how last night’s wind shattered their window pane, how it brings in so much cold. I wished they would see it as something useful to them. In a race amongst wind, solar and hydro energy, the first will win the latter two because of the scarcity of water and the fragility of the solar panels. Also, building a wind turbine is cheaper. Utilizing the wind energy solves a lot of problems for them. The locals will have electricity, they can use it to heat up water and the problem of sanitation will be lessened. The villagers can also start cooking their meals using electricity. Currently, they use caragana, a thorny plant which the villagers dry on their rooftops and use to cook food, as fuel. . Now with the extra meals that have to be cooked for the tourists there is extra need for fuel. People have begun marking territories to pick up caragana. Wind turbines will also facilitate the introduction of electrical cooking. Photos: Dipesh Shrestha/Republica How do you plan to take your idea further? I’ve been sharing my ideas with the locals and the District Development Committee (DDC). There was talk of an international organization ready to fund the plan for some more turbines but I declined their help. The objective is to make sure that the villagers become a self sustainable community and we hope to receive grants from the district level. It’s quite easy to build a turbine and we want to see locals involved in the process. The plan, as we go on, is to have two bulbs per household. Then perhaps, we could ask them to pay Rs 50 per month. The money collected will go to a trust which will see to the repair and the maintenance of the wind turbines. You seem to be very busy. What are you doing next, and how do you make time for everything? I’ve exams in a few months and then I’ll be heading to Mustang. Apart from the wind turbine project, I volunteer in the capacity of a manager in Community Resource Action Joint Sub Committee (CRAJSC) there. CRAJSC was established by UNDP’s Upper Mustang Bio Diversity Project. UNDP stopped its funding after five years due to which the project closed. I was still volunteering as a teacher when I heard about it. CRAJSC is very important for Mustang because it takes care of everything. There was no reason for it to stop functioning. Next, I will be off to Ladakh in India. My girlfriend is putting together a museum in a monastery. She’s collecting and restoring artifacts for the museum. I’m the Public Relations Manager for Nepal and India. I don’t make any structured plans. I’m just lucky things have fallen into place. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51193 KATHMANDU, Mar 8: Coinciding with International Women’s Day, a new project on gender equality in politics was launched jointly by Nepali youth and student politicians and DEMO Finland, a co-operative organization for Finnish parliamentary parties which seeks to enhance democracy by carrying out and facilitating collaborative projects between Finnish political parties and political movements in developing countries, at Nepal Tourism Board, Exhibition Road in Kathmandu on Friday. “Gender equality is a major challenge for democracy everywhere in the world and very much so in Nepal,” said Riikka Jalonen, pointing out the crux of the matter. Through discussions, speeches from key speakers such as Nepali Congress leader Chitralekha Yadav, Himal Sharma, the Chairman of the Youth Wing of CPM UML and Mahesh Basnet, the Chairman of the student wing of UCPN Maoist and a forum theatre performed by Bardali Drama Group, the issue of women in politics was highlighted.[break] Youth for Gender Equality in Politics’ is a three-year long collaboration of 18 Nepali political youth and student organizations organized under the common umbrella of Joint Youth & Students Platform (JYSP). It is supported by DEMO Finland and the European Union. “There’s participation of women in politics, in great numbers but these women politicians are rarely in the decision-making positions,” shared Sarika Jaiswal, project coordinator. “This project will ensure meaningful participation of women in Nepali politics,” she added. The project will be carried out in 16 selected districts of the country while Kathmandu will be the site for central level of training. The objectives of this training are to make politics accessible to Nepali women by demystifying this sector which plays a vital role in the development of any country. “We will be training women with the very basic issues of politics,” explained Jaiswal, so that politics as a subject is no longer complex and muddled. From how to deliver effective speeches to structures of a political party, the training sessions aim to enhance women participation and increase the competence and number of young women engaging in politics. Local training organizations such as ASMITA and NILD are the implementing partners for this project. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51192 KATHMANDU, March 8: Born in Gorkha to a lower middle class family, Shiva Prasad Aryal, the Country Director of Helvetas, did his schooling in Gorkha and came to Kathmandu only after his SLC examinations. In Kathmandu, he studied up to Master’s level at Tribhuvan University in commerce and business administration. “Helvetas has a long history in Nepal. We’ve been doing various types of works in sectors such as infrastructure, skill training, agriculture and governance,” Aryal says. Helvetas was established in 1955 in Switzerland and a year after it came to Nepal.[break] By mid-July 2009, about 5,000 trail bridges have been constructed in Nepal and there is a potential demand of 6,000 additional bridges. Out of the 5,000 trail bridges, over 2,000 have been constructed mainly by Helvetas Nepal which is an organization working in sustainable development. “We work very closely with the government while constructing these trail bridges. We are not only working in Nepal but also supporting other countries by sending Nepali technicians to those places,” shares Aryal. Helvetas Nepal has supported countries like Ethiopia and Indonesia in the past three years and soon work will be starting in Laos, Burundi and Rwanda. “Most of our activities target livelihood and income,” he adds. Helvetas also is involved with governance-related work. “We’re supporting VDCs to develop their periodic plan. Plus, we also give farmers business-related education through our Farmers’ Business School,” shares Aryal. In the Terai, Helvetas piloted a product-based initiative, promoting banana production in Western Terai. Also, local farmers are now being taught to produce paper from the banana trunks after harvest. Moving on to his personal career, he says that there’s one particular moment where he’s glad he made the right decision in terms of his career development. “I was offered to work at a Bhutanese refugee camp by Oxfam. But I was under pressure because I was in college,” Aryal speaks of the dilemma he faced between taking the work opportunity and leaving college. He decided on the former and years later, he’s glad he took the chance. When it comes to inspiration, he shares that he’s inspired by his father. “In my lifetime, when I felt I wasn’t doing good or doing the right thing, my father always told me that I needn’t worry and I should learn from my mistakes,” shares Aryal. “He told me that I should continue to do things, expecting good results and one day I would succeed. Now, during the times when I fail at things, I remember those words,” he continues. “I’m not an intelligent person but I’m certainly diligent,” admits Aryal. He says that it’s important for people to understand their roles and responsibilities, be it at home or at work. “After that, I carry out my roles and responsibilities honestly. I like to be honest, at least with myself,” he adds. Aryal also places importance on self-satisfaction and says that wherever he’s today, it’s due to him being honest to himself. He also suggests that others do the same for success. Aryal was featured on “Inspirations: The Essence of Life,” a personality-based television series presented by Media Gallery and Global Exposition and Management Services, in association with Republica. The program is aired on Nepal Television every Wednesday at 10:10pm. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51191 KATHMANDU, March 8: Complementing the global theme of the 103rd International Women´s Day, “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women”, the USAID-funded Hariyo Ban Program of WWF Nepal, held the finale event of the campaign “Amplifying unheard voices of women’s leadership in conservation and climate change”, at Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg on Friday. The event, which started on February 7, held auditions in six districts of Chitwan Annapurna Landscape (Kaski, Tanahu, Lamjung, Gorkha, Palpa and Mustang) and nine districts of Terai Arc Landscape (Dhading, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Dang, Banke, Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur).[break] Focusing on raising voices from the local to the national level through women’s inspiring stories via songs and poetry, the winners of the auditions from the districts sang and recited their poems based on conservation and nature, at the finale. Ritu Lama from Hetauda, Makwanpur won the song category while Basanta Subedi from Hemja, Kaski bagged the poetry category at national level. The finalist’s songs and poems are also to be recorded and played on national radio and FM stations, to create awareness on women’s roles in conservation and climate change. Photos courtesy: WWF Nepal Participants of the campaign “Amplifying unheard voices of women’s leadership in conservation and climate change” stand with Sheila Lutjens and John Stamm, Deputy Mission Director and General Development Office (GDO) Director of USAID, Nepal respectively at Hotel Yak & Yeti, Durbar Marg on Friday. During the program, Chief Guest Anuradha Koirala, CNN Hero 2010 and Chairperson of Maiti Nepal, said that women are at the frontline of climate change, both as suffers and also as the ones creating alternative strategies and solutions. “Climate change has a big gender dimension and hence it is important that women’s voices and interests are heard and amplified through meaningful representation,” she added. Hailing the effort of the Hariyo Ban Program, Koirala imparted that events like these will provide further momentum to promote women’s leadership roles in conservation and climate change. During the program, two women and man change agents who have worked to promote women´s leadership in conservation and climate change, were also recognized. In addition, Durga Gole form Makwanpur and Ek Bahadur Budhathoki Magar from Gorkha were also recognized for their exceptional work in promoting women´s engagement in conservation and increasing women´s participation in decision making as change agents. In addition to this Nanda Kunwar from Kailali was given special recognition to honor her bravery, leadership and high level of commitment in conservation and climate change. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51190 Charity scooter rally followed by art exhibition on the first day KATHMANDU, March 8: The first day of Care Nepal’s Women’s Week 2013 managed by Kgarira.com began with a charity scooter rally at 8am at Kathmandu Durbar Square on Friday. Despite the petrol shortage, over 80 people participated in the rally. Media personality Malvika Subba was declared Care Nepal’s Goodwill Ambassador for 2013 prior to the rally and she flagged off the rally which covered various junctions of the capital before concluding at Patan Durbar Square.[Break] The fund collected from the registration of participants is set to go to Saathi’s Domestic Violence Survivors’ Shelter and Hamri Baini, both organizations working for women. A short talk program, on the various aspects of Women’s Week 2013 and how the event aims at celebrating the International Women’s Day, was organized at Patan Durbar Square with Cathy Riley, Assistant Country Director of Care Nepal, Shreya Singh, Communication and PR Manager at Care Nepal and Malvika Subba. Director of Art Department at Nepal Academy of Fine Arts and Chief Guest of the program, Shanta Kumar Rai inaugurated the art exhibition followed by a short speech and distributed canvases to participants of the art workshop. Workshop Coordinator from Da Mind Tree (DMT) Raju Pithakote, in his welcome speech, acknowledged the opportunity to present the condition of women through the medium of colors. “The paintings that are on display here provide strong voices that will hopefully help in raising awareness about the gender-based violence which is prevalent in our country,” he said. Around 20 artistes participated in the workshop after which they sat down to paint on the themes related to women and sub-themes like struggle and strength. Many paintings portrayed hardships of women represented through abstract mediums like the one by Erina Tamrakar in which she has painted a red chili and geographical aspects like portrayal of a woman as a country and as hills. Paintings by foreign artists were also put on display alongside the Nepali artistes. Sorada Vanikkal from Thailand painted one titled ‘A piece of personality’, Caroline Aquin’s series on dancing portrayed feet, waist, shoulder and ‘mudras’ of a woman dancing and Sonia Josserand-Mercier’s ‘Glimpse of a Mermaid’ and ‘Lilith Revisited’ were symbolic representation of the power of women. While the mermaid presented both the intense desire and profound fear of the feminine; Lilith, in Judaism mythology, is Adam’s twin and the Anima, the feminine subconscious of man. “For me, Lilith is a representation of the free woman, strong and independent, with great powers of seduction and mystery,” said Sonia. The exhibition is scheduled to go on till March 10 and the second day of the event will include outdoor documentary and film screenings at Kathmandu Durbar Square starting from 6pm. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51189 KATHMANDU, March 8: Those who missed out on watching the documentary “Who will be a Gurkha?” during the 10th Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) can catch it in theatres from March 15. The documentary by filmmaker Kesang Tseten won the first prize in the International Category adjudged by the KIMFF jury. The film follows young Nepali aspirants through a rigorous selection process, and the different reasons behind the candidates’ desire to join the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas. Gurkhas have been fighting for Britain for some 200 years, and the tradition continues to this day.[break] “Documentaries are generally thought of as being sober, serious and boring,” said Tseten. “While that’s often true, in fact, the documentary is a wonderful form that’s full of possibilities, encompassing a wide range of methods of telling stories and cinematic practice.” As cinema halls screen mostly feature films in Nepal, it’s a rare event for a documentary to make it to the theatres here. “Usually, documentaries are shown at film festivals and small venues, so this will test the public appetite for documentaries. A cinema release for a documentary is very difficult or impossible in all of South Asia, but it’s happening in Nepal,” said Tseten. The documentary enjoyed a good response at KIMFF where it drew 1,500 viewers in three screenings. Apart from the first prize in the international category, it also won the Audience Award at KIMFF. The film premiered at the International Film Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA) and was one of 16 films to compete in the prestigious Main Competition at the same festival. It is further scheduled to be screened next at the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival in Greece and at Eurodocs in Oslo, Norway. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51151 SEOUL, South Korea, March 8: The impish boy who showed off his dance moves alongside PSY in "Gangnam Style" is hoping to go viral, too. The 7-year-old nicknamed "Little PSY" is releasing an electro pop song next week through iTunes. The boy, whose real name is Hwang Min-woo, says he wants to gain global fame like his "big brother," PSY.[break] Sporting a black suit and a sleek haircut, Min-woo performed at a news conference in South Korea on Wednesday. He is the latest recruit in the increasingly global K-pop industry. Min-woo is a second-grader and his mother comes from Vietnam. Meanwhile, the big PSY has released a "Gangnam Style" remix and is continuing his worldwide tour. The video released on YouTube in July has a record 1.39 billion views. Hwang Min-woo, also known as a Little PSY, poses for the media at a commercial studio in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 8. (AP) In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo. South Korean Hwang Min-woo, the 7-year-old nicknamed "Little PSY," performs during a concert in Seoul, South Korea. (AP) http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51081 Taking woman a long way KATHMANDU, March 7: Half a dozen bangles on each of her hands, she doesn’t let her pachyauri fall off her head. She isn’t literate but she can deftly copy designs and has managed to make her husband’s name in one of her bangles, with silver sequins. Pinki Das has been making bangles for seven years now, after learning this skill in one of the trainings on bangle-making in her village. Out of the two women who took this training, she’s the only one who has continued and sells her handmade bangles in her small family-run cosmetic shop in Pureshwor in Dhanusha. [break] Women in her village aren’t allowed to go out of their houses easily.. This is Pinki Das’s first time in Kathmandu and she’s made the journey from her house in Pureshwor in Dhanusa to the city with her husband. Back home, she rarely leaves her house. Her mother-in-law brings her all the materials she requires to make bangles and even accompanies her in case she has to travel to take various trainings. A combo picture of, from left to right, Durga Danuwar, Pinki Das and Parbati Das. (Republica) Pinki was married off to her husband when she was 15-years-old. At that time, she hadn’t even met him. She now lives with her in-laws and has two sons. With the profit that she gets from selling her bangles, she pays for her children’s education. She wishes to travel to different places to attend various training programs to gain more skills and make new friends. Business is good and she wants to continue but if she could afford to buy machines, work would be much easier for her. As such, she has simple goals. Nothing radical or rebellious. But you can’t misunderstand her obedience to her society’s boundaries for her naivety. Sure, she admits that were she to travel to Kathmandu alone, given the fact that she can’t read or write or speak Nepali, she’d be lost. But Pinki is very capable and highly aware of the fact that women have to be financially independent. “A woman has to do all the household work but she’s rarely given any credit. Whereas a man, he might only be earning Rs 100 and spending half of it on alcohol, but he has a certain status in the society,” says Pinki. “All women should earn at least some money so they don’t have to always beg for money,” adds Pinki. She hopes that other women like her, also become more aware and capable to learn and do something that isn’t limited to household chores. Surely making a name of her own and becoming an inspiration to all women is Parbati Rai from Bagaha, Udayapur. She’s strong and confident and one can tell that the struggles in her life have shaped her to become the woman she is. Parbati believes that a person becomes an entrepreneur, either for the money or for the name. “I took up the incense making business out of dearth,” she says. After receiving training on incense-making, she took the risk and borrowed Rs 6,000 from the Srijana Women’s Group in her village, of which she was the president, and invested in making incenses. She hired women to make incense for her and took up the responsibility to market the product. Today, she employs around 23 women and makes about Rs 15,000 every month. Life is much better for Parbati but, she recalls the times when there was no food to eat and no place to call home. She used to be an athlete and even has experience travelling to the SAARC nations, representing Nepal. But her sports career ended after she got married and had children. She married out of her cast after falling in love with a Newar man who left her five months pregnant with their first child. She was on the verge of taking her life and was preparing to hang herself, ready to kick the stool when her unborn baby made her first movement inside her and kicked her into her proper senses. She then resolved to live for her child. With some financial help from her brother, she went on a search for her husband and was able to find him. She lived with him after that but life wasn’t easy. It’s much better now. “I may not be able to give my two daughters expensive clothes, but I can very well afford to clothe them decently, educate them and prepare them for the future,” says Parbati. She wants her daughters to grow up to become business women while she herself wishes to expand her incense-making business. “People should be empathetic. Women should especially understand each other’s pain and come together,” shares Parbati who has been helping other women back home. She also believes that perseverance is important and that although there are different struggles that one has to go through, one shouldn’t act out of frustration. Frustration. This isn’t an unknown feeling for Durga Danuwar too, a resident of Jogidaha in Udayapur. Differently-abled there was times when she felt ashamed of her bad foot. But she didn’t let her resolution falter. Married to a simple, laborer man, money was never enough at home. Hence, she started making dalmot with a mere Rs 300 investment, after receiving some training on the same. From half kg to now 20 kgs per day, Durga makes about Rs 800 to900 profit on a daily basis. Work isn’t easy. “But I’m not afraid of hard work,” she says. Her hand is full of burn marks, testimonies of her hard work, the ones she got from mistakenly landing her hand in a wok full of hot oil. Durga goes from shop to shop, sometimes even on foot, to sell her products. She’s got a supportive family and a loving husband and she feels lucky about that. With support from her family and her continuous determination, she wants to be able to give employment to struggling women from her village. Today, she’s not only supporting her family but is also involved with training other women like her on making dalmot and has travelled from Illam to Dailekh, conducting training programs. Durga, Parbati and Pinki are examples of the fact that a little push can go a long way. For city-businessmen and entrepreneurs born amidst opportunities and prospects, who talk millions of investment and billions of returns, what these women have been doing might not mean anything. But they’re inspiration to many women struggling with lack of education, economic deprivation and social bias. Pinki Das, Parbati Rai and Durga are amongst the women entrepreneurs supported by the Ministry of Industry, UNDP and AusAID. They’re also featured in a documentary series ‘Sangarsha’ which will be showcased at the Russian Culture Center in Kamalpokhari to mark the International Women’s Day. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51080 KATHMANDU, March 7: The students of Xavier International College at Kalo Pul (Black Bridge) aren’t allowed to go outside the college premises during lunch breaks. Although they gobble down whatever is available in the college canteen, post-college hours are spent at various food joints around Kalo Pul. Apart from devouring on samosa, chowmein, ‘puri-tarkari,’ spicy c-momos, chhole bhature (referred to as ‘bhatoora’ curry by most students) and ‘alu tarkari’ at the college canteen, students, still in their uniform, can be seen at these food joints even long after the college is over. [break] Hai Grand Fast Food Café Just a couple of houses away from Xavier Int’l College, this café is most popular among students for burgers, c-momos, chowmein, thukpa, Newar delicacies (chhoila mostly). And of course, conversation simulators – tea and coffee! Bhawana Khaja Ghar Just opposite Hai Grand is Bhawana Khaja Ghar, a typical ‘khaja ghar’ with long benches behind the curtain where students frequently order chowmein, thukpa and alu chana. Diya Bakery Diya Bakery is that place where students gather before college for handshakes and ‘What’s ups?’ and after college for quick sips of tea and coffee before heading home. The regulars at this bakery order tea and doughnuts the most but during the course of summer afternoons just ice-cream or cold drinks and a lot of lazing around. ‘Kalopul Café’ Originally Om Tandoori Restaurant, this place has earned the name of ‘Kalopul Café’ because of its location – right by the main road in Kalo Pul. Although the price range here is slightly higher from all other hangouts, students frequent it for momo, fried rice and chowmein. Small and clean, and the TV there is always playing ‘lok dohori’ or whatever is on Kantipur Television. Bhetghat Khaja Ghar Bhetghat is right beside Bhawana Khaja Ghar and is  famous for ‘chauchau sadeko,’ egg chowmein, alu roti, chana alu, apart from chowmein, momo and thukpa. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51045 Miss Nepal 2013 on March 20 KATHMANDU, March 5: After postponing twice, the finale of this year’s Miss Nepal has been set for March 20 and is scheduled to take place at Nepal Academy Hall in Kathmandu. Since February 11, the rigorous grooming sessions have kept the 18 finalists absolutely busy. Republica caught up with them just after one of their sessions with Rachana Gurung Sharma, Trainer of Miss Nepal.[break] This year’s list of contestants comprises of many known faces. Many of them have had brief stints in modeling but what’s striking is the different educational backgrounds these girls come from. Samikshya Shrestha, 21, just returned after completing her two-year diploma in Language and Communication in Japan and says if she wins, she’ll help her grandfather’s organization for underprivileged children - Peace Wave Nepal. National volleyball player Sipora Gurung, who is also one of the contestants this year and is awaiting the release of her film, Ghalek ‘The Sign of Love’, said, “Miss Nepal was one of the things in my bucket list and this is every Nepali girl’s dream and I’m no different.” Similarly, Ishani Shrestha, said, “I have been watching Miss Nepal on TV since 1994 and I remember I used to try walking like the contestants. This has always been a dream for me.” She also cites the training sessions as absolutely fruitful, “We have had visitors from even unexpected fields like spirituality apart from the usual fields like communication and photography; and we have been visiting different places like Maiti Nepal, WWF Nepal and Bottlers Nepal.” Familiar faces also included Ashmita Sitoula who is also a VJ for Mountain TV and was one of the participants of Miss Teen 2011. “I look for satisfaction more than success and I’m satisfied when I’m helping someone,” said the student of Social Work at Thames College, adding “I like to meet people and my career plans will benefit a lot from this platform and what it has to offer.” Apart from those with modeling experience, a few of the contestants also have had other beauty pageant experiences before Miss Nepal. Like 22-year old Meghna Shrestha who was the 1st runner-up of Miss Teen College 2008, Sumi Lama (Moktan) who won the title of Miss Tamang 2012, Riju Shrestha who was one of the top 5 finalists of Miss Global 2012, Bindu KC who won the ‘Face of the Year’ in 2012 in Bangalore and Oshima Banu who won the ‘Classic Face’ of Classic Diamonds Jewelry in 2012. With experiences of this sort, competition is tough but the 18 finalists look anything but nervous. While the country is anticipating the finale, the ladies are going through daily grooming sessions at International Club, Sanepa from morning to evening. May the best one win! http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51044 KATHMANDU, March 5: “A sportswoman faces difficulties, but in spite of that she needs to get up and try harder,” says Jamuna Gurung. The 28-year-old Center Forward in the APF Women’s Football Team loves being a football player, and says it has brought her immense joy. Introduced to the game by her brother, Jamuna has been playing football since she was 15-years-old and despite the fact that she’s currently being treated for an injury, she talks lovingly of the game. Similarly, Ayasha Shakya glows when talking about taekwondo. Ayasha, 25, has brought back many medals from international tournaments like the 11th South Asian Games held in Bangladesh and the 6th Korea Open Int’l TKD Championship.[break] 17-years-old Ramila Tandukar is looking forward to playing in an international volleyball tournament. The 11th grader of Edmark Academy, she loves going to different places all over the country for national matches and recounts with childlike glee about prizes during those games. “It’s such an encouragement,” she says. Women’s martial arts, football and cricket are doing well at present. Sanjib Mishra, sports analyst, says that the field of martial arts has been very active and has been sending its players to international tournaments. Football and cricket are also doing very well, and with the APF offering contracts and jobs to the players, things are looking good for women in sports. Bijay Gajmer/Republica From R—L: Ayasha Shakya, National Taekwondo Player, and Ramila Tandukar, National Volleyball Player. The biggest problem for a professional sportswoman, however, is her family and the society, according to him. “She needs to have their support if she wants to continue with her career. Next is the problem of marriage. Just when she is in her prime stage, professionally, her family might want her to get married after which she requires permission from her new family. The other problem she goes through is the lack of proper dressing rooms and toilets. It’s time the sports organization started taking it seriously,” he opines. To invite more women in sports, the infrastructure must be developed as should the training facilities opine these women. Ayasha says, “It’s important that our coaches be updated as the years pass. There are better ways to train, as we learn from our international trainings. If we inculcate these during the regular trainings at home, our skills will surely develop.” The captain of the national women’s cricket team, Rubina Chettri, also has the same stand. Regular training of the whole team would only benefit their game play, she says. “Also, there should be more league matches. Right now, we go through rigorous trainings only before a big game. We will reach perfection only with more practice,” she states. Rubina ticks off commitment, discipline, dedication and passion as the four most important things for any sportsperson. “I am satisfied with where cricket is right now. The pay is much better these days. I believe the cricket organization is doing their best for us and because of their efforts, young players can get encouraged to join the game,” she shares. Rubina states that there are more opportunities in women’s cricket as they can participate in international games quicker than their male counterparts. Photos: Republica The National Women’s Cricket Team during one of their trainings. There’s no gender partiality in taekwondo, says Ayasha. “Our coaches don’t believe in partiality. We are frequently partnered with male player during practice and when we are sparring with them, there’s no hint of male condescension from their side. They take us as opponents. In fact, I believe that fighting them enhances my endurance capability. If I can stand against their strength then I can fight any woman,” she laughs. Ayasha also works as an assistant coach at the National Sports Council and would love to see more women in sports. Children can explore their potential and skill more seriously if schools introduce sports as a mandatory subject. A good coach can work wonders, as proved by Ramila who speaks fondly of her school principal and coach, Kumar Rai. Rai’s passion and his teaching methods was what made volleyball dearer to her. Providing scholarships to gifted children will be an incentive for both children and parents. With studies to challenge the mind and sports to make them healthy, schools can finally present a complete education package. As children grow up, they can decide to take their interest forward and step into the world of professional sport http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=51043 KATHMANDU, March 5: On this year’s International Women’s Day, Care Nepal’s Women’s Week 2013 will include a series of events in and around the capital, starting from March 8. A scooter rally on March 8 will start from Kathmandu Durbar Square at 8am and will conclude at Patan Durbar Square where the Art and Photography Exhibition will be inaugurated by senior artist Shashikala Tiwari.[break] Registration for the scooter rally is set at Rs 200 per participant and is an open call to anyone interested. According to Shreya Singh, Communication and PR Manager at Care Nepal, the proceeds from the rally will go to Saathi’s Domestic Violence Survivors’ Shelter and Hamri Baini, both organizations working for women. “The rally has been organized mainly to raise awareness about gender-based violence and to create solidarity, gather people from all walks of life. It’s not just women who can participate; all those who are interested can participate in whatever vehicles they have,” said Singh. The Art and Photography Exhibition from March 8 to March 10 at Patan Durbar Square will include paintings and photographs by eminent women artistes and photographers of Nepal. The exhibit will be open from 10am to 4pm; and the first day of the event will also include a workshop which will be conducted by artistes from Da Mind Tree, a Kathmandu-based art group. The artworks on display will focus on and portray women’s issues and will also be on sale. 25% of the proceeds from sale will be given to Saathi and Hamri Baini. The exhibition is open to visitors for free. Program schedules for March 9 include outdoor documentary and film screenings at Kathmandu Durbar Square from 6pm to 8pm. The program will be inaugurated by social worker and recipient of CNN Hero 2012 Pushpa Basnet. “We have movie clippings on domestic and gender-based violence from various organizations like Saathi, including some from Care Nepal and documentaries from both amateur and professional documentary filmmakers,” informed Singh. The entrance to the event is free. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50993 KATHMANDU, March 5: Technology has challenged the conventional idea that you have to be physically present in the classroom. In recent years, distance education and online courses are offered by several universities around the world which is a boon for students who want foreign degrees but have other commitments keeping them from on-campus learning. [break] Prajana Waiba Pradhan, Senior HR Officer at WWF Nepal completed her Masters in Sustainable Development through Sikkim Manipal University’s distance education program in 2005. The university sent syllabus and study materials through postal mail and she self-studied throughout the course of her two-year program. Pradhan also did her Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) two years ago. She attended classes thrice weekly at the International Centre for Academics (ICA), the partner institution of IGNOU in Nepal. “If I have to compare the experience of self-study and classes (referred to as ‘counseling sessions’ at ICA), I think attending sessions at ICA was better. Everybody there was working, so it was a good place to interact,” said Pradhan, adding, “When you’re self-studying, there’s nobody to guide/coach you and you yourself have to take time out to meet your deadlines (assignments).” For somebody who is laidback, not having someone to pressure you, might be a problem. You’re not bound to take things seriously since there’s nobody to monitor you. But for someone who is serious enough, this freedom can be well utilized. President of Kathmandu Cycle City 2020 Shail Shrestha, 26, is the only student of Distance Education at ICA, Gyaneshwor. “Since I’m the only student studying this subject, I don’t attend regular classes. I self-study and consult online for materials. I usually refer to print materials for study because of load-shedding problem and visual presentations for reference,” he said. Shrestha is also a filmmaker and says distance learning has given him freedom to pursue all his interests apart from education. “Since the early years of school, we have always had parents and teachers pressuring us with rules and certain deadlines, but the freedom this medium offers is advantageous or not, depending on the individual – say, it doesn’t work for someone who can only work under pressure,” added Shrestha. Prateebha Tuladhar, a broadcast journalist at Kantipur TV and Nepal Correspondent for German Press Agency, also completed her MA in Journalism from Ateneo de Manila University’s low-residency program. Under the low-residency program, it required her to attend classes on campus for sometime before moving onto the online course. She attended her first two semesters on campus and completed the last two through distance education. “I wanted to pursue a degree that would help me interact with international students. But I was also working, so the low-residency program fit in perfectly,” said Tuladhar. “If you’re on campus, you get to interact on a personal level. Having said that, technology has compensated with virtual platforms like social media and lectures podcasts,” she added. Universities around the world use Blackboard, a software for online course delivery which has virtual classrooms and discussion boards. Tuladhar says, “If you want to initiate a discussion, you can post it on the discussion board, and it helps you interact directly with professors and other students.” But this global medium has its own share of problems. “The pressure is greater,” says Tuladhar. “You have assignments to submit and online weekly lectures to attend.” And on top of that, Internet speed isn’t great here. “As a student from Nepal, I was constantly competing with students from all over the world in this aspect. I often couldn’t listen to podcasts because the Internet was slow,” added Tuladhar. Similarly, Nabin Baral, who is currently pursuing his diploma in Photojournalism at the same university, cites Internet speed and loadshedding as his biggest problems. “Teachers use a lot of multimedia techniques to provide references, and we have ‘chat classes’ every week. Between those and work, it gets hectic, especially because you have to coordinate everything with the loadshedding schedule,” added Baral who works as a photographer for ICIMOD. Technology continues to change with the times we live in, in more ways than we can imagine. From the tradition of ‘gurukul’ to distance education now, we’ve come a long way. Nepal to have its own open university for distance learning KATHMANDU, March 5 (Republica): “Wouldn’t it be great if a lecture given at Kirtipur were accessible to students in Humla?” – Dr Pramod Dhakal, Board Member, OUIDC The idea to establish the Open University of Nepal (OUN), Nepal’s first distance education institution, was envisioned in 2010. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), in partnership with the Canada Foundation for Nepal (CFFN), Ministry of Education, and Athabasca University, Canada, have been working since then to get the idea operational. “There are no laws regarding university education in Nepal. Tribhuvan University has its own and other universities have their own set of laws. This idea can take shape only when there is one set to govern all the universities,” said Dr Pramod Dhakal, Board Member of Open University Infrastructure Development Board (OUIDC), the committee formed by the Cabinet and chaired by the Education Minister. The committee has been looking into this prospect for the last six years, and according to Dhakal, it’ll be at least three more years before Nepal has its own open university of distance learning. “Today, it’s not necessary for students to be physically present in classrooms. Technology has in fact helped to create stimulative learning environment, more enhanced than the traditional medium,” said Dhakal. Nepal’s prospective first Open University is said to have a low-residency program, according to Dhakal. When asked about the problems of loadshedding and Internet speed, Dhakal said, “Those problems can be tackled by making study materials and virtual platforms accessible to students through offline devices.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50992 KATHMANDU, March 5: A movement which aims to create a holistic environment for the children so that they can remain healthy, active and happy in their schools, ‘Support MY School (SMS)’ is the initiative of Coca-Cola and UN HABITAT as well as its supporting partners such as Clean Energy Nepal, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) and local municipal authorities. The campaign has gained success in India and is now here in Nepal. [break] Formally announced during a press meet at Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu on Monday, the first phase of SMS will incorporate 10 schools from Lalitpur, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. These schools were chosen on the basis of need, the initiatives they have been taking despite having limited resources and the recommendation of the local government. Representatives of Coca-Cola, UN HABITAT, Principal of the various schools and a student from Shree Tika Vidyashram Higher Secondary School in Sanepa, Lalitpur, one of the campaign sites, pose for a photograph at the launch of the ‘Support My School’ campaign at Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu on Monday. (Bhaswor Ojha/Republica) “Less than 25% of public schools have separate toilets for girls and boys and clean drinking water is not available in most schools,” shared Neeraj Garg, Vice President, Operations-South West Asia, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia Business Unit. “This is a ‘golden triangle’ partnership of a corporation, INGO/NGO and government to provide various elements such as sanitation and drinking water supply to schools,” he added. Other elements covered by SMS include establishment of recreational amenities such as libraries and playgrounds, rainwater harvesting mechanisms as well as promotion of environmental awareness through Green Audits and tree plantation drives. “This is a unique and necessary campaign for a country like ours,” said Bhushan Tuladhar, Regional Technical Advisor-South Asia at the Urban Basic Services Branch at UN-HABITAT. He stressed on the importance to create a learning environment in schools and also said that the campaign could only be sustained through the participation of the school management and its students. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50991 KATHMANDU, March 5: The Image Ark Gallery in Kulihma Tole in Patan was uniquely set up with bamboo installations that held photographs and were easily able to catch the attention of passersby. These photographs belonged to the series ‘The Playhouse of our Grandparents’, a work of photographer Nicolas Henry, which has already been carried out in over 45 countries.[break] Along with this exhibition, photographer Floriane de Lassée is also exhibiting her works of ‘How Much Can you Carry?’ series. Unique in their conceptualizations and symbolism, both these exhibitions opened at the Image Ark Gallery on Sunday. ‘The Playhouse of our Grandparents’ is an idea that most of us have grown up with – playing ‘playhouse’ as children. With nothing more than his camera, a bag of rope, clothespins and some studio spotlights, Nicolas set out to travel communities in the world and interact with them, creating ‘playhouses’ or photo theatres out of the materials and artifacts found in the community, that are important to the local people and photographing them. “I ask people to share their stories and after some dialogue, we collectively decide what scenario to create, depending on what is important to the people,” shares Nicolas. In one such photograph, an elderly women is posing from inside a frame decorated with photographs of various gods and goddesses while in another, a man on an airplane is declaring his love to the woman he loves. Through these still moments, Nicolas tells many stories about religion, belief, education and love. ‘How Much Can you Carry?’ was conceptualized by Floriane de Lassée while on a bus in Africa. “I generally don’t do portraits but when I was in Africa, I saw so many people, especially women, carrying all sorts of things,” Floriane shares her inspiration. The photographs are symbolic of the weights of life that people have to carry. Floriane has toured various countries which includes Ethopia, Rwanda and, now, Nepal. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50990 KATHMANDU, March 5: Ganesh Dev Panday worked in Mumbai for six years, the latter period as an assistant director, before returning to Nepal. He’s now busy with the post-production of “Manjari” which is set to be released on March 22. His directorial debut, “Malatiko Bhatti,” may not have been as satisfying as he hoped for, but he’s very upbeat about “Manjari.” Based on a true story, the movie will delight film buffs of all ages. He’s sure of that. [break] Was making films always your ultimate goal? Filmmaking has always been the only thing I wanted to do. When I was 10 in Butwal, I took up the job of pasting film posters in the town in return for two free film tickets. I loved watching films. I loved reading comics, and that’s where I got introduced to the concept of storyboarding. We had a sweets shop, and as I couldn’t buy comic books, I would steal some sweets from the shop and exchange them for a comic book. As I grew older, I occupied myself with hosting shows, and then took up small jobs creating advertisements for radio. I failed to find work in television shows in Kathmandu and then I went to Mumbai. I worked as a trainee assistant, an assistant director, and finally, I was working as a chief assistant director with a show at Sony when I decided to come back. Photo: Bijay Gajmer/ Republica How was your experience of filming “Malatiko Bhatti”? The primary thing is that there’s a certain laxity when it comes to working as a professional here. In Mumbai, everything’s structured better, and I wasn’t used to certain working conditions here. And of course, there are technical difficulties in Nepal. Let’s talk about “Manjari.” It has a story with a universal appeal. Anyone can relate to it. It’s a true story that I heard from someone who heard it from someone else. It was the universal appeal of the story that drew me to it. I’ve paid attention to every little detail. Hence, there are no big stars in it. It’s about a young boy and girl from a small town. The actors justify their roles. There is the feel of a small town in every frame. Sujata Koirala plays the protagonist, and I’m definite that, as the story progresses, people will come to love her character. “Manjari” is a romantic drama, and there’s good music, humor, with good actors, good professional people working on the film. What do you have to say about the film industry here? It’s my opinion that with the entry of the new crop of filmmakers, the older ones are getting their act together. I don’t believe when people talk about there being no market for Nepali films. If there’s nothing good in what’s being offered, people will obviously turn to substitutes to fulfill the demand. It’s up to us to make films that will satisfy our audience. What I’ve realized is that if a script is even half as good, people don’t hesitate to watch it. It’s our responsibility to meet that need. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50880 Police transgression of human rights spurs protest KATHMANDU, March 3: The misplaced ideas and campaign of Nepal Police to bring down ‘crimes’ and ‘hooliganism’ by rounding up young men with long hair and piercings and subjugating them to a haircut has ignited an outpouring of outrage. The act of hauling up some 700 youths and taking down their names, finger prints and photos on February 25 has resulted in the police receiving flak. [break] Protesting against this violation of human rights, Basantapur on Saturday filled up with more than 300 people for a peaceful demonstration. Many also carried placards, one of which read ‘I have long hair. I’m not a criminal’. Youth gather with placards at Basantapur in Kathmandu on Saturday to protest against the violation of human rights when around 700 youths were arrested by Nepal Police for sporting long hair and piercings on February 25. (Bhaswor Ojha/Republica) Started initially on Facebook on Thursday, it gained momentum as volunteers began joining the cause. Roman Gautam, one of the volunteers and protesters, informed that they had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to challenge the legality of the police action on Friday, but it was dismissed as being too superficial. There was a round of collection of signatures during the protest to add to the weight of the PIL which they are planning to file again within a day or two. Tsewang Tamang, 22, is an architecture student at Kathmandu Engineering College who was present to support the show of solidarity against the abuse of human rights. Even though Tsewang’s hair length would inspire no ire from the police, he said, “The length of my hair is irrelevant to the cause. I’m here to protest against the action of the police.” It’s a more personal matter for Bijay Shrestha, 23, however. Bijay’s long hair is tucked beneath a cap, and his piercings are visible. When asked if he’s hiding the length of his hair, he laughed and said, “Not really.” However, he has his share of experiences. “I do small gigs around town, and it’s late when I return home. The police, then, cause unnecessary trouble,” he said. Diwas Gurung, 20, also sports long hair. He was present with his group of friends to support the remonstration. Stating that the actions of the police were wrong, artist Milan Rai said that an individual’s body is no one’s business. Musicians Abhaya Subba, Mukti Shakya, Robin Tamang, Yama Buddha and Divesh Mulmi were also present at the scene, and sang songs to add to the cause. Those with and without long hair and piercings continue to be baffled by the objective of the police campaign, and wonder how long hair is related to criminal activities. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50879 Party time starts with a sip of whisky or beer and it’s a familiar situation for young people these days. Alcohol consumption has always been associated with having fun and enjoying life. Be it any ceremony or just meeting friends, all we need is a peg of alcohol to enjoy or to release pressure. [break]  The alcohol we consume to have fun in life may be harmful and it’s a known fact that excessive and irresponsible drinking takes away lives. However, alcohol is not harmful from every prospect. Doctors confirm that a limited amount of alcohol may be helpful in some cases. It is a common conclusion that drinking for the first time is the worst experience for many people. But as you adapt yourself to alcohol, no matter how bitter it tastes, you will fall to its trap and it can even lead to alcoholism. Alcoholism is a state where you are physically addicted to alcohol and continue to drink, despite having physical, mental and social problems and also troubles with family or at work. Alcohol can manipulate your relationship and life. A more interesting fact is that though alcoholism is generated through a drinking habit, alcoholism is not actually a habit. It is a disease. I heard a man say, “You drink a glass of milk every day before going to bed but on a given day if you forget to drink milk, you aren’t going to suffocate because you can change your habit for a day. It’s not the same with alcohol. If you’re an alcoholic and you don’t get a drink for a day, you’re going to get mad for it. You would do anything to have a peg of alcohol.” We see actors in the movies speak fluently and with immense emotion once they are drunk but in reality after a person is drunk, he can be nothing but silly. Alcohol develops receptors in the first consumption and continuously multiplies as you drink. A person who drinks only occasionally has the ability to lose these receptors quickly but the process of cleansing these receptors is very slow in the body of a person who is a regular drinker. As a result, these receptors create law of demand function in the brain. They order alcohol and literally go on strike when their needs aren’t fulfilled. The more the occasions or stress or difficulty, the more will be the demand. Drinking regularly is harmful in every prospect but this doesn’t mean that those who drink occasionally are free from this disease. In fact, occasional drinkers can be more violent at times. The tendency of drinking like there’s no tomorrow is the principle of alcoholics. Many alcoholics have climbed back to normal life, proving that it is possible to live happily without alcohol. Let us be aware in time so that we would leave no point left to regret in future. Be healthy, quit alcohol. The writer is a student of Bachelor’s in Business Administration at Universal College, Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50878 KATHMANDU, March 3: QC Awards 2013: The Poetry Slam witnessed performances by some of Kathmandu’s young poets who touched on themes ranging from loneliness, death, rape and politics to love, friendship and even having to say goodbye to a water bottle. “This country’s been suppressed for a long time, slam poetry is what I’d call expression over suppression,” said Yanik Shrestha, one of the judges of QC Awards: The Poetry Slam. [break] The finale of the inter-school poetry slam organized by Quixote’s Cove bookshop and Word Warriors, the first slam poetry group of Kathmandu, in collaboration with the US Embassy was held on Saturday at Lincoln School, Ravi Bhavan. The competition was divided into four phases starting from submissions of original poems, a one-day workshop held at Ullens School, Khumaltar on February 18 followed by auditions and competition. Photos: Keshab Thoker Organizers received over 70 submissions and after the workshop, which focused on writing, performing and editing poetry, auditions were conducted on February 23 at three different venues - Kathmandu International Study Centre (KISC), Dhobighat; Thames International College, Old Baneshwar and Lincoln School. 21 participants were short-listed for the finale which had two consecutive rounds of competition. Top 10 scoring participants proceeded on to the last round of the competition. Apart from the requirement for the poems to be less than or up to three minutes, participants also had to perform different poems in each of the last rounds. Top five scoring participants - Shreya Dhital from Lincoln School; Birat Shrestha from GoldenGate International College; Shiva Bhusal from IOE, Pulchowk Campus; Janam Maharjan from Nepal Engineering College and Anuja Khadka from Kathmandu University were awarded the QC Awards 2013. Sanket Shrestha, 18, was one of the top 10 finalists and said he first started writing poems when he was studying in Buddhanilkantha School but stopped for a while when he joined Rato Bangala School. “I attended one of Ujjwala didi’s workshops last year and it made me resume writing poetry,” he shared. Program Coordinator Ujjwala Maharjan is a member of Word Warriors and was also one of the top five winners of the first edition of the slam poetry contest back in 2010. Talking about how slam poetry has helped her become more confident, Maharjan said, “It has helped me know that I matter; my voice, presence and existence. It has helped me discover myself not just as a poet but also as a teacher,” referring to conducting slam poetry workshops in different schools of Kathmandu. For Sanket, slam poetry is a means of expression that helps him bring out the alternate part of him residing inside. “It helps you talk about things you’re usually afraid to discuss and say things you wouldn’t otherwise,” he said, adding that he rarely sits down to write poems. “I usually talk to myself and jot things down; most of my poems have been written in that manner but if I sit down with an idea, I try to make it as personal as possible so people listening can relate to it,” he shared. This was the first time Shreya and Birat tried their hands at slam poetry and they were amongst the five winners. “My English teacher told me about the competition and I love the stage so I decided to give it a try,” shared Shreya, for whom slam poetry is also a means to express. Similarly, Birat is used to writing lyrics for his metal band, Fractions, but this was his first attempt at poetry. “I work more on my sounds and rhythmic flow but writing comes easily. It resonates a person’s being,” he said. Ambika Giri, scriptwriter and director of BBC’s Katha Mitho Sarangi Ko; Rabi Thapa, editor of online literary magazine La.Lit; Yuyutshu RD Sharma, renowned poet and translator; Yanik Shrestha, a poet and the Director of Passage International, a study-abroad facilitator; and Susan Parker-Burns, Head of Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Kathmandu judged the finale of the contest. Nepal’s nascent slam poetry scene KATHMANDU, March 3 (REPUBLICA): Suvani and Pranab Singh of Quixote’s Cove talk about the growing scene of slam poetry in Nepal and its future prospects. How has the scene grown since 2010? Pranab: A lot more people know what slam poetry is now. Nepal is a poetry-based country and we have traditions of oral story-telling like Swasthani. With slam poetry, we are basically trying to revive this culture. What topics are mostly covered by the young spoken word poets? Pranab: We have been working with the same age-group for two years now so topically, it has been consistent. Participants usually write about teenage issues like not having their say, love, break-ups and politics and general situation of the country. Suvani: The topics young poets choose to write on tells you what youths are reading and are influenced by. Many write about current events not just of national but regional level. It tells you what impacts them and in what degree. Is the slam poetry scene getting better with each passing year? Pranab: From the time when we started to now, a lot more people are involved in slam poetry. The Facebook page of Word Warriors has been an interactive medium between aspiring spoken Word poets of Kathmandu. It has provided a platform for young minds to put their voice forward which is why a lot of schools have agreed to host workshops and events like this one. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50877 KATHMANDU, March 3: Kathmandu University High School (KUHS) in association with Child Reach Nepal organized an exhibit of student’s art work at the Nepal Art Council in Baber Mahal which was titled ‘Bird, Broadening Biodiversity’. Inaugurated on Saturday, by Madan Krishna Shrestha, Hari Bansha Acharya and Malvika Subba, the exhibition showcased 81 pieces of acrylic on canvas paintings of the various bird species found in Nepal. School students studying in class four to class nine prepared the paintings over a one month time period. KUHS has an active bird watching club through which the students have been learning about varieties of birds, by going to various places such as Shivapuri, Phulchoki and Sundarijal. “This is the attempt of the students to bring an aspect of nature on to the canvas,” commented Jagat Ram Dhukhwa, art teacher at the school, who worked with the students and guided them to come to the current results.[break] Photo: Bhaswor Ojha/ Republica “During the process of making these paintings, we got to learn about the diversity of birds found in Nepal,” shared Abhishek Acharya, a participating student.The students and partner organizations of this event hope to stir conversations on conservation of birds in Nepal, through this exhibition. The exhibition is to conclude on March 5, 2013. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50721 KATHMANDU, Feb 27: A break from the academic grind and an opportunity to learn by doing, the various college clubs are an integral part of a college campus. At least, this is what Erna Tamrakar, 21, believes. Erna, who’s the current President of the Career Club at Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) says, “I’ve always been more interested in organizing events rather than participating in them.”[break] KCM has a number of functioning clubs such as the IT Club, Social Welfare Club, Sports Club, Publication Club, Career Club, and Arts Club out of which Erna was drawn to the Career Club. Education isn’t just about sitting for lectures in classrooms, studying course books and getting good grades in the exams. “Clubs give us the firsthand experiences that are useful for us later on,” says Erna. “The Career Club, for example, organizes various events such as Extempore Competition which develops your on-the-spot thinking and speaking skills. The Debate Competition which enhances debating and reasoning skills, and Team-building Competitions which can help you work in a team in organizations,” she explains. Purely run by students, these clubs organize dozens of both intra- and inter-college events. Battle of the Brains, Inter-College Music Competition, and Girls on Wheels are some of the popular inter-college events organized by KCM which target the general youth. “The biggest challenge for us is to get people to participate and attend the events and also to make sure that the participants benefit from these events,” says Erna. Personally, too, she’s seen herself gradually becoming an extrovert. “As President, I’ve got responsibilities and now I’ve become comfortable about taking the first initiative and talking to people,” she adds. Aishwarya Rani Singh, 20, was the founder of the Social Service Club at her school, St Mary’s High School, back in 2008. “In our school, there were clubs but all of them were run by teachers or Sisters. So I formed the Social Service Club as a student initiative,” says Aishwarya who shares that she always had the urge to do social work and hence created a medium to do so, by herself, at school. “Although when it comes to colleges, the quality of education is the most important factor, the presence of extracurricular activities determines how forward the college is,” she continues, adding that college or even school clubs are platforms for students to show their talents. “Club activities enhance students’ personalities and break the monotony of college,” adds Aishwarya. Realizing the importance of effective college clubs, the students of Thames International College have revived the initially inactive Student Council and three clubs that run under it. Social Work Club, Management Club and IT Club are the three clubs that work together with the Student Council to organize events on the calendar such as blood-donation programs, sports week, welcome and farewell parties, interaction programs with entrepreneurs and successful personalities and hiking and trekking activities. Sagar Malla, Vice-President of the Student Council, believes that events, when organized by students, are better than those organized by the college management, in the sense that the student-initiated and student-organized events are more inclined to incorporating ideas from students and having better judgments on the likes and dislike of students. “Working in college clubs gives an idea about how organizations work and they enable students to handle challenging situations as well as showcase their talents,” says Sagar. Although the image of the clubs at Thames was negative because of their failure to work effectively in the past, Sagar says that this is changing. “Our image is more positive right now. We’ve been organizing many events and programs and getting the support of the students as well as the college management,” he adds. For Sagar, the motivation to be a part of the Student Council has been the opportunity to organize events. “I’ve always had an interest in organizing events, and being a part of the Student Council has allowed me to do that. Plus, I get to interact with a lot of people as well,” he shares. Saugat Gautam, Assistant Coordinator at the Department of Social Science at Thames International College, says, “Clubs should be in every college as it’s a medium through which you can experiment with the things you studied. Plus, it makes you aware of the professional arenas even before you actually enter one.” Saugat, who himself is the Vice President at Rotract Club of Kathmandu Mid-Town, places a lot of importance on college clubs for the all-round development of students. Talking about the clubs at Thames, he says, “The clubs are thematic and the students organize and facilitate programs that will help the students.” For the effective running of clubs, Saugat suggests that students should make sure that club activities don’t overlap class schedules and other basic aspects of a student’s life. “Also, students need to take ownership of the clubs for them to be successful,” adds Sagar. In today’s competitive world where only learning by books no longer imparts comparative advantages to students who aspire to become successful professionals, college clubs provide the needed exposure. They encourage the spirit of camaraderie and put students in real-world scenarios of working and getting things done. Surely, students are required to give time to club activities and focus on their academics as well, but college clubs are more of an enhancement of college life, rather than a distraction. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50720 KATHMANDU, Feb 27: The winners of the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards from Nepal were honored at a ceremony at The Everest Hotel on February 27. Minister of Education Dinanath Sharma was the chief guest at the program who awarded the students who achieved the total highest cumulative marks across a number of subjects in the Cambridge International AS and Cambridge International A Level. Similarly, Country Director of British Council Nepal Brendan McSharry, Regional Manager, South Asia of Cambridge International Examinations, William Bickerdike, and Guy Harrison, Chargé d’ Affaires of British Embassy, awarded students for their exceptional performances in Cambridge examinations, including the highest marks in Nepal in a single subject and the highest marks scored in the world.[break] Students from Xavier International School and GEMS Institute of Higher Education performed classical and folk dances in between the distribution of awards. William Bickerdike congratulated the recipients. “We’re here to celebrate excellence and achievements of these students who are being honored today and I hope they will be torchbearers of the 200-year-old deep-running relationship of Nepal and the UK,” said he. Minister Dinanath Sharma attested that students can compete anywhere in the world and thanked the British Council and the University of Cambridge for bringing quality education in Nepal. Kabir Khadgi, Examinations Services Manager at the British Council Nepal, concluded the ceremony with a vote of thanks. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50719 I’m 18. Last year I proposed to a girl and she accepted it. At that time she was very interested in me but nowadays she doesn’t care much. I’ve been having doubts that she’s someone else. What should I do? Should I ask her about it? Please help me. - Shreeshan Lama Adolescence, late teens to early twenties, is a phase where things are constantly changing – our belief systems, our values, and our likes and dislikes. It’s a phase in life where we figure things about ourselves. We are thus bound to be confused about love and relationships. It’s very difficult for teenage couples because most often they grow and evolve in different ways. In a few years, you yourself may realize that you don’t share anything in common with your girlfriend anymore. If you decide to ask her if she’s no longer interested in the relationship or if she’s seeing someone else, remember that it’s all but natural and thus respect what she’s going through. My boyfriend and I have been going out for nearly three years now but I think he’s losing interest in me. I love him too much to leave him. What do I do without him? - Alisha I hear you. This isn’t easy. It really sucks because either way it hurts – to be in a relationship where your partner has lost interest in you or to let go of a long meaningful relationship. Having said that, you should consider the possibility that he may have gotten so comfortable and secure being with you that he’s no longer feels the need to constantly reinforce or display his interest in you. Girls often misunderstand guys’ sense of security in a relationship. Guys never understand girls’ need to be reassured. But if that’s not the case and your relationship is on the verge of ending, remember that you have three beautiful years to look back and cherish, and another loving and meaningful relationship is waiting at the next turn. I have a crush on this guy and we flirt around. But one of my friends has had a crush on him since we all joined college. Though he’s already told her that he’s not interested in her, she’s still hopeful. I don’t want to lose a good friend by going out with my crush. Please help - Unknown Hmm… This is a very sticky situation. But if you were to fast forward your life ten years from now, a couple things could be happening. You might barely be in touch with your good friend, you might still be with this guy and your friendship will also still be strong, or you may be with some other guy and have some other great friends in life. Nobody is indispensable, and your life will move on. What’s the point of taking life so seriously when nothing is certain and possibilities are limitless. Standing by your friends, or starting a meaningful relationship, whatever makes you happy today, is the way to go. Every time I sit to study, I end up cleaning my room or stare at the tubelight or do something ridiculous and kill time. How can I focus more? I am 23 and a bachelor and I’m old enough to realize it but I haven’t just yet. - Kapil It’s possible that you’re simply not interested in the subjects you’ve chosen, or you could be suffering from the problem of procrastination. Procrastination, I’ve learnt, has to do with anxiety resulting from perfectionism deeply rooted in self-doubt and a sense of insecurity. If you grew up having your parents or teachers comparing you with someone “better” than you all the time, or put excessive amount of expectations, you could’ve developed a fear of failing to meet those excessively high standards. Self-reflection and self-realization could be an effective tool in going back to the past and acknowledging the reasons behind your anxiety. Along with the process of self-healing is the practice of self-motivation and discipline. Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti – a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s has been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50718 Spreading the message of ´good human values KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Humanitarian and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living, arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday, February 26, and will be in the country till March 1. His itinerary for the four days is filled with various interaction programs as well as a visit to the Pashupatinath Temple.[break] Late in the evening on Tuesday, he addressed a gathering on the topic of “Spirituality and Socio-Political Transformation for Prosperity” at Radisson Hotel in Lazimpat. The audience comprised businessmen, army officers and political leaders. Sharing the platform with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was Jhalnath Khanal, Chairman of CPN-UML, Ram Chandra Poudel, Vice President of Nepali Congress, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, leader of Unified CPN (Maoist), and Prakash Chandra Lohani, Co-Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that spirituality can bring transformation, and that peace and prosperity cannot exist without one another. He also said, “Good human values and spirituality are essential everywhere. Inner peace is also important. Human beings are striving for inner peace, which brings confidence and compassion in their lives. Corruption begins when the sense of belonging ends. Spirituality motivates people to do good work for society.” He will also be launching the Volunteer for a Prosperous Nepal campaign which encourages citizens to serve their country for one hour everyday. During the four days, he will also be visiting Pokhara, Biratnagar, and Dharan. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50717 KATHMANDU, Feb 27: If you’re looking for an enjoyable start to your weekend, then catching live performances of Albatross and Mukti n Revival would perhaps be ideal. In the third week of the Romanov Rock n’ Nepal Concert , the bands will be performing on Friday, March 1. Albatross will be performing at Trisara in Lazimpat and you can watch Mukti n Revival at Pavilion Food Court in Chabahil.[break] The groups are counted as two of the most popular bands of the country. The four-member band of Albatross is made up of Shirish Dali on vocal, Sunny Manandhar on guitar, Avaya Siddhi Bajracharya on bass, and Niraj Bajracharya on drums. Some of their most popular songs include ‘Chihanki Pari,’ ‘Timi Bhane,’ ‘Shristi Ra Dristi,’ ‘Freedom Looks Good,’ and ‘Abhiman’. The alternative rock band has been enjoying a lot of popularity since its inception, and has been a favorite of those who frequent concerts. Considered the leader of the Blues music scene in Nepal, Mukti n Revival has Roshan Kansakar on bass, Sunit Kansakar on guitar, and Rabindra Shrestha on drums accompanying Mukti Shakya on vocal. The frontman, Mukti Shakya, is one of the best known and loved musicians of Nepal. Their songs like ‘Chaubandi Cholo,’ ‘Kati Kura Garchhu Bhani,’and ‘Dalli Resham’ have been successful in pleasing their wide range of fans. Both bands enjoy a lot of popularity and love among music lovers and are amongst the most successful bands in Nepal. Make sure you don’t miss watching them playing your favorite songs. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50716 KATHMANDU, Feb 27: The British Council in Kathmandu brought in two music experts from the UK for a two-day workshop from February 26 for music professionals and upcoming artists at British Council, Lainchaur. Ruth Daniel, co-founder of Un-Convention which was established four years ago with the aim to strengthen music infrastructure all over the world from grassroots level and Sharon Dean, music publisher and founder of Respect Music discussed commercial aspects of music making with attendees which included Manoj KC of 1974 AD, Roshan Sharma, music teacher at Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, and Garima Gurung Shah, among others.[break] According to Daniel, they have already conducted similar workshops in 22 different countries, including Uganda, Venezuela, Colombia, Australia, and India, and this is their 44th event focusing on building sustainable career in music. On the first day, participants discussed how they can utilize digital tools and develop entrepreneurial skills in terms of promoting music and organizing big music festivals. “My area of expertise is music copyright, and artistes should be aware of their rights and how they can make a good living through their music,” added Dean who is a Board Member of the Association for Independent Music (AIM), Director of the London Chapter of National Association of Recording Industry Professionals (NARIP) and was previously the Director of Licensing at Performing Right Society (PRS). One of Un-Convention’s focuses is to mobilize artistes all over the world and create a network of artistes at workshops conducted in these places. “Apart from informing these artistes about how the music industry works and the importance of web platform in music promotion, we also plan on collaborating communities so different genres and styles can get recognition outside their place of origin,” said Daniel who is a musician herself and owns a record label in the UK. When asked about what challenges musicians in Nepal face, participants pointed out problems like no access to good quality instruments, studios, lack of brand sponsorships and big-scale music festivals for domestic bands. The second day of the workshop focused primarily on organizing concerts. Daniel presented five case studies of some of the world’s biggest music festivals and discussed management aspects of big-scale events. One of the participants, Deepesh Chaudhary, 20, who is a music student at Nepal Music Centre (NMC), said, “Comparing the music scene of Nepal and elsewhere, the condition here is far from worse. While it’s possible for musicians to survive on royalty payments abroad, it’s a far-fetched dream for musicians in Nepal.” “After attending this workshop, I’ve learnt how to promote my band, how to sell my music in the market that’s out there, and ultimately to make a career out of this line,” said Suraj Malla of the band Blue in Silence. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50715 KATHMANDU, Feb 27: The workshop will be followed by a fusion performance by Martina Topley-Bird, vocalist and songwriter from the UK with Kutumba on February 28 at Patan Durbar Square. This is Martina’s first event with Un-Convention but she has already collaborated with artistes from the likes of Massive Attack, Gorillaz, rapper Common and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.[break] Martina has already released three solo albums, and her last one was about reinterpreting her previous works in different parameters. “I tried to pick on the essential recognizable elements and focus on them,” she says. She also beatboxes but admits she isn’t very good at it. “I can only do kick drum and snare but those are all I need for now,” she adds. Here, she discusses about her genre of music, improvising with Kutumba, and what all she’ll be performing on Thursday. What instruments do you play and will be playing at the concert on Thursday? I play keyboard and piano and a little bit of guitar. I’m learning ukulele right now. I’ll be playing one song on guitar, apart from vocals, and I hope I get to use my pedal. We’ll be playing some of my songs – Poison, Baby Blue, Too Tough to Die – with longer instrumental sections for Kutumba. We will also be recording the live sessions. So if I;m not able to collaborate with Kutumba like I had hoped, we’ll have that. Which genre do you identify your music with and was it difficult to improvise with Kutumba? My music is largely identified as trip-hop but there are Blues and Jazz influences in my vocals. Although I use loop station to overdub my vocals and create backing tracks, usually, when I’m performing, I use only live instruments. So there’s no electronic music then. It’s eclectic. My songs have simple chords. So what I did was playing one of my songs and let the guys from Kutumba figure out the melody and work on the rhythm. I’ve chosen songs in which the rhythm is negotiable and the melody is strong enough in itself. What did you discuss with the participants during the workshop this morning? They asked me about my career and how things have changed. We discussed ways an artist can monetize his/her music, and one of the important things is to put pressure on the government to make them realize the commercial importance of music and that it can be an export. As a recording artist, my biggest concern is copyright laws and ways I can make money apart from touring. It was disheartening to know that there aren’t strict copyright laws in Nepal. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50651 KATHMANDU, Feb 26: “…she was eight years old our first day of grade three when she got called ugly… …in grade five they taped a sign to her desk that read beware of dog to this day despite a loving husband she doesn’t think she’s beautiful because of a birthmark that takes up a little less than half of her face kids used to say she looks like a wrong answer that someone tried to erase but couldn’t quite get the job done…” – Shane Koyczan, ‘To this Day’[break] Whether we see bullying taking place or not, whether we deny its occurrence or accept it, it’s a reality, in every school, in all parts of the world. Bullying can take place outside the boundaries of a school and can take place in the workplace, at home or over the Internet. But the impact of bullying that happens at school, a place which plays an enormous role in the shaping of the child to become an adult, is perhaps the most long-lasting, as suggested by Shane Koyczan in his poem. Taunted and ostracized for having an Indian origin, a girl in one of the schools in Kathmandu was on the verge of leaving her school. In another case, Kartika Yadav, 20, recalls being bullied. “I don’t speak much and I’m a quiet person. Because of this, I’ve been behaved to badly,” says Kartika. She also remembers when in grade two and three, how she and a girl from a class were ‘best friends’ but later the girl started to outcast Kartika and ruin her relationship with other girls from her class as well. “I used to come home and cry and I always hung out with my sister’s friends,” Kartika says, adding, “Now, I’ve matured and I’ve come to accept that there’s nothing wrong with me. But I still think that that incident has somehow made me unable to easily make new friends.” Name-calling, physical torture, emotional blackmail or psychological tortures are all forms of bullying, which as Dr Niti Rana, the pioneer in research regarding school bullying in Nepal and the Chairperson of Rakshya Nepal, puts it, “is a natural human phenomenon which happens in every part of the world. In a school, where different children are put together for a certain time period, when there’s no adult supervision, it’s a natural urge of some children to pick on others,” she adds. As Dr Rana defines this phenomenon, bullying is any sort of hurtful behavior which causes stress or pain to the victim over a period of time. “The occurrence of repeated acts of aggression, both physical and emotional, is important when we identify bullying,” shares Dr Rana. According to her, bullying cannot be completely eradicated. “All ‘we’ (the government, school management, teachers, parents and guardians) can do is be aware of the problem, not deny it, try and manage and minimize it by being prepared to tackle it,” she says. There are many different reasons why particular children are bullies. Dr Rana opines that the feeling of aggression and the want to hurt others might be inherent in a child, but that it’s surely the family, community, school and national scenario that fuel the feeling to surface as acts of bullying. “The crux of the phenomenon is that it’s very well hidden from adults,” adds Dr Rana. In almost all cases, the act of bullying is unspoken of by the one bullying and also by the one being bullied, due to fear. This very fact is also something that Sharmila Pokhrel (name changed for privacy), a teacher who has been teaching school students for the past 11 years, has noticed during her years of experience. Sharmila, who herself, along with a friend of hers, was bullied during her early school years, recalls an incident where the girl who bullied her used to put a pencil between her fingers and press it. “I also have my own kids who talk about their experiences and their friends’ experiences of being bullied, and having gone through it myself, I know how deep this issue is,” says Sharmila. “Teachers in most schools are generally unaware of what’s happening to their students when it comes to social aspects. They have to be aware about the small nuances passed around within the classroom,” she adds, suggesting that the way to make sure that no child is being bullied at school is for teachers to be sensitive and empathetic. One of the ways Sharmlia adopts to be more aware about what’s happening to her students is asking them to write a journal, which is meant to be read by her. From student journals, she’s been able to uncover many issues, such as bullying, that her students were going through. “However, for this, the students have to be able to trust the teacher and be comfortable. The teacher has to keep that trust as well anddeal with the issue sensitively,” she adds. Dr Niti Rana also says that extreme vigilance at school and home and keeping a constant watch for bullying signs and symptoms is the way to tackle this important and urgent problem of bullying. “We as adults don’t tend to connect the signs to school bullying,” says Dr Rana, giving the example of a torn shirt. If a child comes home with a torn shirt, we normally think that the child must have fallen down when in reality it could be that the child was made to fall on purpose or was manhandled. On the whole, Dr Rana emphasizes on the need to take school-bullying as a serious issue and advocates collaboration between the education ministry, the school management, teachers and family members to control school-bullying. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50650 KATHMANDU, Feb 26: After two years of English language learning, computer skills and leadership training from English Access Micro Scholarship Program provided by the US Embassy in association with Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA), 40 students received their certificates at a graduation ceremony last Monday. The group is the first Access Program graduates in Nepal.[break] Patricia Mahoney, the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in Kathmandu, addressed the graduating youth, their parents and teachers. This is stated in the press release. She encouraged the graduates to continue with their studies and aspire for the future they imagine for themselves. The NELTA teachers receive frequent trainings, and they impart their knowledge to other teachers who teach in government schools. The Access Program believes its success can also be credited to the dedicated teachers of NELTA. Every participating student passed his final examinations in 2012 and many continue to score good grades. There are two more groups, comprising 40 students each, from Gorkha and Bhairahawa who will be graduating this week. Through the Access Program, disadvantaged youths of 13 to 20 years in over 85 countries receive training in English language, computer and leadership skills. As for the participating students from Nepal, they study in government schools, and are equally divided into 20 boys and 20 girls. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50649 More of the world’s elite universities are joining the rush to offer “massive open online courses,” but it’s still uncertain whether so-called MOOCs will help more students earn college degrees. Coursera and edX, two of the leading MOOC providers, on Thursday announced major expansions that will roughly double the number of universities offering free online courses through their websites. The US based edX, which was founded in May by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said it will add six new institutions, including five outside the US, which will offer at least 25 additional courses. US based Coursera said it will add 29 institutions, including 16 outside the United States. Over the next several months, the schools will offer 90 new courses, including some taught in French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. “Having courses taught in other languages will enable more students to take our classes,” said Andrew Ng, a Stanford University professor who co-founded Coursera last April. MOOCs have attracted millions of students and captured the public imagination over the past year, allowing people from all walks of life to learn from leading scholars at elite universities — free of charge. Coursera currently offers 220 courses from 33 institutions and has almost 2.8 million registered users who have signed up for nearly 10 million courses. Only a fraction of enrollees actually complete the courses, in part because it’s easy and free to sign up. The 29 new Coursera partners include Chinese University of Hong Kong, Technical University of Denmark, National Autonomous University of Mexico as well as the universities of Copenhagen, Geneva and Toyko. EdX, which currently offers 25 courses from six universities and has 700,000 registered users, will add six new members: Australian National University, Delft University of Technology, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, McGill University, Rice University and the University of Toronto. Delft University in the Netherlands will be the first edX partner to provide courses as “open content,” which means that other universities are free to incorporate the materials in their offerings, said Agarwal. “People can reuse it and remix it,” Agarwal said. But the question remains: Can these large-scale, highly automated classes help increase college completion rates or lower the cost of earning a degree? So far, only a small number of institutions are offering degree credit for MOOCs, but that could change if more colleges determine the digital classes meet their academic standards. Earlier this month, the American Council on Education said it will recommend credit for five Coursera courses. The association is evaluating more MOOCs for possible credit recommendations, which many schools use to decide whether to grant credit for nontraditional courses. Critics say online-only courses have unacceptably high dropout rates and aren’t well-suited for struggling students who need more face-to-face interaction and mentoring to succeed. EdX’s Agarwal said colleges should use MOOCs to improve, rather than replace, campus-based education by combining online lessons with classroom instruction. San Jose State University students who recently took a “blended” version of an edX engineering class performed significantly better than students who took the classroom-based course, he added. “I really believe the blended model is really a key approach to improving campus education,” said edX President Anant Agarwal. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50648 When I got distinction in my SLC, my friends, teachers and relatives wanted me to pursue science because of the illusion that a distinction holder should study science. But I decided to study humanities instead. “Are you serious? You shouldn’t study humanities.”, “You’ll get no other options in Bachelors when you study humanities.”, “You’ll regret later on.”, and similar remarks headed my way after I took the decision. My sole aim is to become a lawyer. So, for that, humanities would be the appropriate faculty, as science is for medical and technical field and management is for business and marketing sector. One of my relatives cautioned me, “You can join law even when you study science or management. So go for science.” But I argued why I should study something which has no connection, whatsoever, for what we are going to study in Bachelors?[break] Plus 2 is the base of our future, the pinnacle of our aim and the threshold of our career. If I had opted for science, my two years’ study would somehow go in vain for none of the texts of science are applicable in law. Humanities, at least, will help me improve my command over the English language and communication skills which will, in turn, help me during my advocacy when I actually become a lawyer. I have seen and heard many students joining the management field in bachelors after pursuing science in Plus 2 and I really feel sorry for them. I believe one should be serious when choosing the field of education after SLC. Whatever you study, make it practicable in your life. Let’s not limit them within our certificates. Choose the faculty that will strongly help you in your Bachelors degree because Plus 2 is actually the real determiner of our career. They say “Be what you want, not what others want you to be!”. Hence, this is an appeal to every student to be obstinate regarding your passion, be determined in it, and to every parents, let your children be what they want and let them explore themselves in their dream. If you are determined, there is nothing that can deter you from reaching your goal. As Paulo Coelho puts it, “When you want something, the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” The writer is a grade 12 student at MOLIHSS in Kumaripati, Lalitpur. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50647 KATHMANDU, Feb 26: In the process of settling the dispute that “Badhshala” has unwittingly been brought in, the film was sent to the Censor Board a week ago and an invitation to a screening had been extended to Nepal Army. However, the process still appears to be in a state of limbo and the film remains quaratined. Directed by Manoj Pandit, the film deals with torture inflicted by army personnel, and it came in the army’s line of fire for the use of army uniform without prior permission. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) had sent a letter to the Ministry of Information and Communications towards the end of January asking for the ban of the film.[break] nepalitvshow.com Sounding a bit exasperated with the entire situation, Mohan Dotel, producer of the film explains, “We were told to send an official letter which we did, but no one showed up for the screening. Now the Ministry of Information and Communications has requested the MoD in a letter to come and watch the film. The letter has been forwarded to the Army Headquarters, and we’re all waiting for some response.” Dotel added that he had personally visited the Army Headquarters but apart from the standard reply of ‘it’s in process,’ there’s been nothing new. He said, “I don’t know what they mean when they tell us ‘it’s in process.’ The letter they had sent to the Ministry of Information and Communication was stamped as high priority but judging from their reaction, it’s confusing as to what they mean to do.” “Badhshala” was scheduled to be released on March 8 http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50597 What all is needed for a successful career in banking KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Finance industry is one of the most sought after career paths all over the world and aspirants often do not have proper guidance regarding where and how to get started. Three of Nepal’s leading bankers share their experiences and suggest business students on how they can shape their career in this field.[break] Ashoke SJB Rana CEO, Himalayan Bank Limited “Finance industry has a lot of scope in Nepal but for somebody planning to work abroad, it is not feasible due to recession. There are a lot of restrictions,” he says. What Rana has noticed is that a lot of business students here have no all-round education, they lack financial skills. “Whenever we hire young graduates, it takes almost TWO years for them to become useful to us,” he adds. There are a lot of aspects in the banking sector which requires manpower with various educational backgrounds from Operations, credits to IT. According to Rana, a lot of banks are successful from Operations and suggests that baking aspirants first get into that and then move to credits. A lot of banks in the West go to universities, talk to professors and recruit from there. The banks hire students in their senior year as interns but it is not practiced here, recruitment is not transparent. The trend of preferential opportunities is rampant and the question is how outstanding students get noticed. “We tend to hire applicants who are quite persistent; they leave their CVs and follow up with HR. It tells you that they are interested and they easily come to attention,” says Rana. Talking about the finance industry and his job, Rana believes that banks have great power, especially with the growth of small scale businesses with microfinance and in private sectors. He says, “It tells you a lot about the country’s situation, how challenging the economic environment is. With broad economic activity, there are a lot of aspects you have to look into.” For aspiring bankers, he says it is much easier to work in the 2nd level management because then you have certain responsibilities. “But when you move from being a specialist to a generalist, you have all sorts of areas to take care of whether it is dealing with HR issues, revenue targets or financial risks. You can’t get away with it,” he said when asked what his post demands. Raveena Des Raj Shrestha Chief of Consumer Banking and Corporate Affairs, Mega Bank Nepal Limited Raveena Des Raj Shrestha started her career in banking as a Trainee Assistant in ANZ Grindlays Bank at Standard Chartered and worked there for 13 years. Then, she headed the Consumer Lending department at Nabil Bank for over six years and has been with Mega Bank since its inception three years ago. “Finance forms a very integral part of an organized society and therefore, this industry will always have prospects. In the national context, banking is still viewed as a secure and stable profession but the most important thing is an individual’s interest in what this profession entails or any profession for that matter,” says Shrestha who has been involved with banking for over 22 years now. She suggests that aspirants, other than qualification, find out their core strengths and get dedicated to a department or function. She says, “Banking maybe about numbers eventually but there are various departments that comprise a bank.” Business students planning on taking up this career should be prepared to put in long hours to learn the technical aspects of banking and continue to work with the understanding that there really are no shortcuts to anything. “As a banker one must be prepared to dedicate oneself completely to very demanding and sometimes quite challenging times given the pace at which one needs to work so the challenge to keep one’s head about you and maintain one’s balance lest you burn out is a huge challenge because after all, this is the business of money and money can be a very tricky business,” adds Shrestha. Suman Joshi CEO, Laxmi Bank Limited Suman Joshi worked with ANZ Grindlays Bank for 11 years and moved up through ranks and gained varied exposure to different aspects of banking. He also worked for ANZ Grindlays, India from its office in Nepal, Kumari Bank and Bank of Kathmandu . He has been heading Laxmi Bank since its inception in 2002. Joshi’s job entails taking a lot of decisions many of which have far reaching connotations. “And they say it’s lonely at the top,” he adds. A CEO needs to listen to many people, take many factors into account before making decisions. He relies on inputs from his colleagues, information at hand and most of all his own experience while making decisions. More often than not, his most important job is to make sure that his colleagues are appropriately resourced to manage various areas of the bank. He says, “You’re only as good as your team is and I’m proud to have a very good one.” “The country’s economy is at a juncture where Nepali banking landscape is beginning to change in favor of consolidation. Apart from challenges posed by lack of economic growth, a big concern now is that of increasing operational risk due to a number of factors including quality of human resource,” says Joshi, adding, “What’s positive though is that there’s growing awareness of this challenge and banks are taking steps to address it. As for the scope of banking sector, it remains huge. Our financial system is still far from being sophisticated and it will evolve tremendously if supported by economic growth. Also, this sector is transparent and largely professionally driven. A performing manager will continue to find job security and financial stability in this sector.” According to Joshi, aspiring bankers should be honest and committed to their jobs because consistently good performers experience a rewarding career in a bank. However, he has noticed that there’s a tendency to jump ship and take on higher positions in different banks without actually gaining enough experience and knowledge. This trend is largely responsible for increasing operational risk banks are exposed to today. It is important to build a sound base of knowledge, experience and credibility to secure a good career.  “A lot of common sense, hard work and focus on being fundamentally strong in your chosen field are required. Please do not try to fast-track your career without necessary skills and knowledge,” suggests Joshi who has been working in this field for 23 years now. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50596 KATHMANDU, Feb 24: The small stage in Lalitpur Secondary School in Lagankhel, Patan, was overcrowded with enthusiastic school students and dancers from Spectrum Dance Theatre, yet the lot managed to make enough room from themselves to hop, stretch and turn around. A company of eight dancers and staff from the Seattle-based Spectrum Dance Theater were interacting with the students, teaching them some dance steps, as a part of the DanceMotion USA cultural exchange program, for which the company had come to Nepal on Saturday.[break] The student of Lalitpur Secondary School performed some traditional dances for the company while the company also performed at the school in an outreach program held on Sunday. “We performed a traditional dance and then volunteered to learn some hip-hop style steps from the visiting dancers,” shared Ina Acharya, a sixth grader. As much as the students were excited about the whole dance exchange, the company dancers were also ecstatic to see the students. “This was a fantastic start to our program,” said Donald Byrd who is the Artistic Director of Spectrum Dance Theater. “The students inspired us,” he added. A partnership between the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the US State Department, the program is an exchange of cultures through dance and the arts. After visiting schools in Kathmandu and Pokhara and working with local dancers as well as artistic organizations, the group will also be touring Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The company, comprising Donald Byrd, Ty Alexander Cheng, Vincent Michael Lopez, Derek Crescenti, Jade Curtis, Donald Jones, Shadou Mintrone, Kate Monthy, Stacie Williams, and Kate Ashworth is diverse with dancers from various disciplines of dance ranging from ballet to hip-hop. “Beautiful costumes, gestures and different sounds, these three elements in the traditional dances performed by the students were very unfamiliar yet interesting for me,” remarked Ty who was surprised to see that even little boys were performing with such zeal. “When I was a kid, dancing was an alternate lifestyle. Boys who danced used to get outcast-ed and put into a certain category,” he shared. “It’s remarkable these students are learning about the diversity of culture through dances and not just studying about it in the classroom. They’re actually embodying the aspects of their culture. We don’t have anything like it in the USA,” Donald added. The rhythms, the costumes and the enthusiasm of the students impressed the group. “It’s great to see people who really want to experience dancing,” commented Kate Ashworth, the Technical Director for the company. Four workshops at different venues will be held in Kathmandu this week. “The workshop will be an insight into American culture,” said Jade Curtis. Summarizing the aesthetic of the project, Donald said, “These workshops are a way of sharing who we are, not saying ‘You should be like us.’ It’s also about giving these dance artists the experiences of a different culture,” he continued. Although different in styles, the art of dancing was successful in surpassing cultural and age differences and bringing two contrasting cultures in a rhythmic sync. The program will culminate with a public performance at Naach Ghar on March 1. Seats to the show are available to the general public on a first come-first serve basis. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50595 KATHMANDU, Feb 25: Ncell Rocks concert put up an enjoyable performance in Lahan on Monday for music lovers. According to the press release, there were over 8,000 present in the concert, which was held at Shree Pashupati Higher Secondary School in Lahan Bazar. Kamal Khatri started the concert with popular numbers like ‘Aatma Ma’ and ‘Korera Prem Patra’. The presence of artists like Nima Rumba, Adrian Pradhan, Rajina Rimal and Shreya Shotang heightened the fun quotient of the concert.[break] The audience danced and sang along with the artists. Ncell Rocks also provided local artists a platform to entertain the crowd and with additional entertaining acts like DJ sessions and B-Boying dance performances, the concert was thoroughly enjoyed by those present. Photo Courtesy: Ncell Ncell Rocks Lahan: Singer Kamal Khatri performing his hit numbers during the Ncell Rocks concert in Lahan on Monday. More than 8,000 Ncell customers and music lovers watched the concert on the day. Janakpur, too, got to enjoy the concert which was held within the premise of Janakpur Cigarette Factory on Saturday. There were around 12,000 strong crowd enjoying the concert, as stated in the press release. “We thank our customers and music lovers for making Ncell Rocks successful,” said Milan Sharma, Corporate Communication Expert at Ncell. “Ncell Rocks did not just entertain the music lovers, but also gave opportunities to the local artists to share stage with the national artists,” he added. Free tickets to the concert was provided to new customers as well as existing subscribers of Ncell on purchase of SIM cards and recharge cards worth Rs 100 and above. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50534 LOS ANGELES, Feb 25: Ben Affleck´s "Argo," a film about a fake movie, has earned a very real prize: best picture at the Academy Awards. From the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama joined Jack Nicholson to help present the final prize. "There are eight great films that have every right, as much a right to be up here as we do," Affleck said of the other best-picture nominees.[break] In share-the-wealth mode, Oscar voters spread Sunday´s honors among a range of films, with "Argo" winning three trophies but "Life of Pi" leading with four. Daniel Day-Lewis joined a select group of recipients with his third Oscar, taking the best-actor trophy for his monumental performance as Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War saga "Lincoln." "Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence triumphed in Hollywood´s big games, winning the best actress as a damaged soul in "Silver Linings Playbook," while Ang Lee pulled off a huge upset as best director for "Life of Pi." Anne Hathaway went from propping up leaden sidekick James Franco at the Academy Awards to hefting a golden statue of her own with a supporting-actress Oscar win as a doomed mother-turned-prostitute in the musical "Les Miserables." Christoph Waltz won his second supporting-actor Oscar for a Tarantino film, this time as a genteel bounty hunter in the slave-revenge saga "Django Unchained." Tarantino also won his second Oscar, for original screenplay for "Django." Ang Lee pulled off a major upset, won best director for the shipwreck story "Life of Pi," taking the prize over Steven Spielberg, who had been favored for "Lincoln." Lawrence took a fall on her way to the stage, tripping on the steps. "You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell," Lawrence joked as the crowd gave her a standing ovation. At 22, Lawrence is the second-youngest woman to win best actress, behind Marlee Matlin, who was 21 when she won for "Children of a Lesser God." Lawrence also is the third-youngest best-actress contender ever, earning her first nomination at age 20 two years ago for her breakout role in "Winter´s Bone," the film that took her from virtual unknown to one of Hollywood´s most-versatile and sought-after performers. With a monumental performance as Abraham Lincoln, Day-Lewis became the only performer to win three best-actor Oscars, adding to the honors he earned for "My Left Foot" and "There Will Be Blood." He´s just the sixth actor to earn three or more Oscars, tied with Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman and Walter Brennan with three each, and just behind Katharine Hepburn, who won four. Hathaway, whose perkiness helped carry her and the listless Franco through an ill-starred stint as Oscar hosts two years ago, is the third performer in a musical to win supporting actress during the genre´s resurgence in the last decade. "It came true," said Hathaway, who joins 2002 supporting-actress winner Catherine Zeta-Jones for "Chicago" and 2006 recipient Jennifer Hudson for "Dreamgirls." Hathaway had warm thanks for "Les Miz" co-star Hugh Jackman, with whom she once sang a duet at the Oscars when he was the show´s host. Hathaway´s Oscar came for her role as noble but fallen Fantine in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway smash that was based on Victor Hugo´s epic novel of revolution, romance and redemption in 19th century France. "Life of Pi" also won for Mychael Danna´s multicultural musical score that blends Indian and Western instruments and influences, plus cinematography and visual effects. "I really want to thank you for believing this story and sharing this incredible journey with me," Lee said to all who worked on the film, a surprise blockbuster about a youth trapped on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. A veteran performer in Germany and his native Austria, Waltz had been a virtual unknown in Hollywood when Tarantino cast him as a gleefully evil Nazi in 2009´s "Inglourious Basterds," which won him his first Oscar. "I have to cast the right people to make those characters come alive," said Tarantino, who won previously for "Pulp Fiction. "And boy, this time, did I do it. Thank you so much, guys." Waltz has since done a handful of other Hollywood movies, but it´s Tarantino who has given him his two choicest roles. Backstage, Waltz had a simple explanation for why the collaboration works. "Quentin writes poetry, and I like poetry," Waltz said. Oscar host Seth MacFarlane opened with a mildly edgy monologue that offered the usual polite jabs at the academy, the stars and the industry. He took a poke at academy voters over the snub of Ben Affleck, who missed out on a directing nomination for best-picture favorite "Argo," a thriller about the CIA´s plot to rescue six Americans during the Iranian hostage crisis. "The story was so top secret that the film´s director is unknown to the academy," MacFarlane said. "They know they screwed up. Ben, it´s not your fault." "Argo" also claimed the Oscar for adapted screenplay for Chris Terrio, who worked with Affleck to create a liberally embellished story based on an article about the rescue and part of CIA operative Tony Mendez´s memoir. Terrio dedicated the award to Mendez, saying "33 years ago, Tony, using nothing but his creativity and his intelligence, Tony got six people out of a bad situation." The foreign-language prize went to Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke´s old-age love story "Amour," which had been a major surprise with five nominations, including picture, director and original screenplay for Haneke and best actress for Emmanuelle Riva, who turned 86 on Sunday and would be the oldest acting winner ever. The top prize winner at last year´s Cannes Film Festival, "Amour" follows the agonizing story of an elderly man (Jean-Louis Trintignant) tending his wife (Riva) as she declines from age and illness. Haneke thanked his own wife for supporting him in his work for 30 years. "You are the center of my life," Haneke said. The Scottish adventure "Brave," from Disney´s Pixar Animation unit, was named best animated feature. Pixar films have won seven of the 12 Oscars since the category was added. "I just happen to be wearing the kilt," said "Brave" co-director Mark Andrews, who took the stage in his trademark Scottish garment. The upbeat musical portrait "Searching for Sugar Man" took the documentary feature prize. The film follows the quest of two South African fans to discover the fate of acclaimed but obscure singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, who dropped out of sight after two albums in the 1970s and was rumored to have died a bitter death. "Thanks to one of the greatest singers ever, Rodriguez," said "Sugar Man" director Malik Bendjelloul. There was a rare tie in one category, with the Osama bin Laden thriller "Zero Dark Thirty" and the James Bond tale "Skyfall" each winning for sound editing. William Shatner made a guest appearance as his "Star Trek" character Capt. James Kirk, appearing on a giant screen above the stage during MacFarlane´s monologue, saying he came back in time to stop the host from ruining the Oscars. "Your jokes are tasteless and inappropriate, and everyone ends up hating you," said Shatner, who revealed a headline supposedly from the next day´s newspaper that read, "Seth MacFarlane worst Oscar host ever." The performance-heavy Oscars also included an opening number featuring Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum, who did a classy dance while MacFarlane crooned "The Way You Look Tonight." Daniel Radcliffe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt then joined MacFarlane for an elegant musical rendition of "High Hopes." Halle Berry introduced a tribute to the Bond franchise, in which she has co-starred, as the British super-spy celebrated his 50th anniversary on the big-screen last year with the latest adventure "Skyfall." Shirley Bassey sang her theme song to the 1960s Bond tale "Goldfinger." Later, pop star Adele performed her theme tune from "Skyfall," which won the best-song Oscar. Barbra Streisand injected some musical sentiment into the show´s segment memorializing Hollywood figures who died in the past year as she sang "The Way We Were," the Oscar-winning song she did in the film of the same name. A salute to the resurgence of movie musicals in the last decade included Oscar winners Zeta-Jones singing "All That Jazz" from "Chicago" and Hudson doing "And I Am Telling You I´m Not Going" from "Dreamgirls." Hathaway and Jackman joined cast mates of best-picture contender "Les Miserables" to sing songs from their musical. Academy officials said all performances were sung live. Fans had pondered how far MacFarlane the impudent creator of "Family Guy," might push the normally prim and proper Oscars. MacFarlane was generally polite and respectful, showcasing his charm, wit and vocal gifts. MacFarlane did press his luck a bit on an Abraham Lincoln joke, noting that Raymond Massey preceded "Lincoln" star Daniel Day-Lewis as an Oscar nominee for 1940´s "Abe Lincoln in Illinois." "I would argue that the actor who really got inside Lincoln´s head was John Wilkes Booth," MacFarlane wisecracked, earning some groans from the crowd. "A hundred and 50 years later, and it´s still too soon?"         http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50594 Your Mom is yelling at you, “Eat your vegetables, dear” and you make a face not wanting to. Imagine, a mother plant telling its baby, “Eat your meat, dear.’ It sounds funny, right? Well, it’s not funny. It’s a reality of life. Believe it or not, there are meat-eating plants found in nature. Some flowering plants have evolved a method of capturing and digesting insects as a source of nitrogen. You must be thinking, “Why would these plants need an additional supply of nitrogen, especially when they live in organically rich bogs?” Well, it’s entirely possible that the pH of water and soil, where they grow, is too acidic for nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonia from protein decay into nitrite and nitrate ions. As a result, nitrification can’t take place. Thus, in the absence of nitrification process, there’s a shortage of nitrite and nitrate ions. So, to obtain supplemental supply of nitrogen, carnivorous plants have evolved a mechanism. They use the sneakiest of tricks to trap their insect dinners. Generally, you’re excited about seeing  zoos and animals. But once you start looking at plants, you’ll find equal excitement, too. Don’t believe me? Take a look at some the unique plants. Yes, they are meat-eating plants. Just look at all they do in their fight for survival. Pitcher plants Pitcher plants feed on insects that slide into their pitcher-shaped leaf structures and get stuck. Each “pitcher” has a thickened rim and a lid at the apex. The lid serves as a barrier to prevent its prey from climbing out of the pitcher, and the hapless victim ultimately drowns in a pool of digestive enzymes at the bottom of the pitcher. Some pitcher plants also trap frogs and small rodents. Would you believe that when the frogs are digested, all that remains are the skin on frogs’ feet, which, resists digestion? These look like small matching frog slippers. Sundews As you can see in the picture, the elongated leaf of a sundew plant is covered with dense, gland-tipped hairs. These hairs are very sticky, and with its help, the plant traps insects. Tiny midge flies get stuck to the sticky hairs. These flies are slowly and enzymatically digested and absorbed by the plant. Venus’ Fly Trap Imagine a cricket crawling towards the leaves of a Venus flytrap. What do you think will happen? Well, the plant shuts tight, trapping the insect. The fly is imprisoned within a jail of interlocking hairs along the leaf margin. The fly trapped between the folded halves of the Venus’ fly’s trap leaf blade is gradually digested by digestive enzymes from glands on the leaf surface that break down the proteins of the imprisoned victim. Thus the plant gets its supplemental source of nitrogen. Bladderworts Would you believe that the Bladderwort is the only carnivorous plant with a true “trapdoor”? Well, yes, the airtight door is hinged to allow easy entry; but like a door, it can’t be forced open from inside. Special trigger hairs near the lower free edge of the door cause it to open. When a minute aquatic organism touches one of these extremely sensitive hairs, it acts as a lever, multiplying the force of impact and distorts the door. This breaks the watertight seal, and since the bladder contains a partial vacuum, the victim is sucked in. So, the next time you look at a plant, don’t think of it as a helpless being. Go ahead and look around to see how it protects itself. I’m sure you’re going to have lots of fun doing that. Pokharel is an educationist, consultant and author of several children’s books. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50593 KATHMANDU, Feb 24: The 3rd Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival came to a conclusion on Sunday. The festival opened on Thursday at the Nepal Tourism Board with the screening of ‘Saving Face’ directed by Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Gail Mooney’s ‘Opening Our Eyes’ which follows 11 ordinary but inspiring people around the world was the closing film. After the screening, aspiring filmmakers and interested people sat through a Master Class conducted by Dan Wolman, Israeli director of ‘Gei Oni’. The talk was divided into three parts where he talked about independent filmmaking, the history of Israeli cinema and his works.[break] Purna Singh Baraily, Festival Director and Chairperson of the Human Rights Film Center, said that they were very excited and happy with the response garnered by the festival. “There was a very good response and I believe we had around 5000 people during the four days of the festival. We will take this as an encouragement and create a better festival for the coming year,” he said. 25 films from countries like Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Norway, Japan, Egypt, Israel, and USA were screened during the festival. Go on and make films: Dan Wolman The 71-year-old energetic filmmaker, Dan Wolman believes that there should be no hesitation and barriers when it comes to making films. His film ‘Gei Oni’ was screened Saturday at the festival. ‘Gei Oni’ was adapted from Shulamit Lapid’s novel, and Wolman says he was fascinated when he read it. Very successful in Israel, the film has won awards from countries like China, France, Germany and recently awarded the ‘Best Film’ in the World Cinema section of the Delhi International Film Festival. The film is set some 140 years back. How relevant is the film to Israel today? The political conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians is a very major thing. Through ‘Gei Oni’ we see how the seed of what continues today was just being sown. The Jewish people actually paid money for the land they occupied and since Palestine was a part of the Ottoman Empire then, there were Arabs living peacefully alongside the Jews and the Palestinians. That was a different relationship then. Many people see the film as a picture of the old Israel. The spirit of helping one another was very strong at that time and there was something very pure. Also, I think people liked the film because there was something very naïve there. What’s the most important thing to remember while adapting literature into a film? I like to see it as a spring board. I don’t believe that I need to stick to every plot of the book to the last detail. I made a film called ‘My Michael’, which was a very popular book by perhaps the most popular author of my country. The book is very metaphorical, and there’s not much action in it. So if I had made a film sticking to every detail of the book, then I would just have a woman sitting on a chair with her head full of thoughts. I take the idea not the entire thing. Even with ‘Gei Oni’, I changed the ending. In the novel, the hero dies but I made sure that the characters have a happy ending. Someone wrote to me, ‘Dan thanks for taking me from the land of words to the land of images with no pain’. That makes me think that I didn’t betray the novel. What suggestion do you have for aspiring filmmakers? I see most young filmmakers fear. They think that to make a film takes a lot of money. But something has happened because of digital photography. It’s so simple to make a films now. Write a script, get some friends and shoot on a weekend. I’m trying to give strength to people to not be afraid and just go ahead. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50479 Creating shorts for fun KATHMANDU, Feb 24: A short clipping of a Nepali film featuring a serious conversation between a certain actor and actress was doing the rounds in the internet until recently. The yellowish tinge of the video, the very 90-ish actors, and the hilarious dialogues had everyone in stitches. It kept popping up every now and then, and people still couldn’t get enough of the English speaking actor. [break] YouTube is a Mecca for all things entertainment and we love to laugh. The maze of videos provides us with endless hours of amusement and we love it for the various surprising gems it can pop up. Nepali youth have also been introduced to creating their own videos and earning laughs for their effort. YouTube is easy to work with, and is now a smart tool through which to harness creativity and tickle the funny bones of the masses. The pretty Yeshi Dolma Lama is a chameleon. People know her as Yeshigaga in her YouTube videos where she costars with the very good sport Tenzin Tseley. The duo has acted together in short videos like ‘Sir and Student’ and ‘Dad ko Rajniti’, and the videos continue receiving many hits every week. In the latter video, the normally fragile looking pretty girl effortlessly portrays a portly father, Nikhil’s (Tenzin Tseley) friend Hari and Nikhil’s younger brother. Her videos are popular because the essence of the comedy that her audiences derive from it is from parts of their own lives. “People find something funny if it has some truth. My videos are not just an idea but they are actually the experiences that I have gone through while in Nepal. I think viewers loved my ‘Sir and Student’ video as they were able to relate to it. I am sure most of my Nepali friends have similar experiences. When I sit down to write a script, I just pick one of my memories and re-write them so it would not just be funny to me but also to others.” Her words have the essence of truth. Totally involved in every step of the creative process, Yeshi’s dialogues are very neatly timed and funny. Who would fail to laugh at Nikhil saying ‘Jhandai ek minute bhayo’ after hurriedly hanging up on Hari? It’s a difficult task to make people laugh. For Yeshi, one of the most difficult parts of the process in filming is “making Tseley remember his dialogue”. She laughs! Sobering up, she continues to say that translating her thoughts into words is tasking, and that she hates writing scripts. She has received an appreciation letter for her videos from Nepal Television in USA and her ‘Sir and Student’ video has been aired on National TV in Biratnagar. Along with her fans, she has discovered a new talent within herself. However, she’s not considering on turning a serious filmmaker anytime soon. Laughing, she says that she is happy with her 10 minute films and two crew members. That nasal toned ‘Honey Bunny’ who sings to his Pumpkin was brought to our attention through the advertisement of Indian cellular company, Idea. Our television screens played it for all of some 30 seconds, and we sang along with the nasal toned man. On December last year, Paul Shah and a team from urstyletv.com in Kathmandu launched music video for the song. As a testimony to the fun blend of the quirkiness of the song and the cute actors the viewership has shot above 1.2 million within two months of its release. Paul, 23, says that he knew the video would be popular, but he had underestimated the extent of it. “When Idea uploaded just the audio, there were thousands of hits in just a month, so I was sure that a video accompanying the audio would be popular,” he says. Next, a film built around the song is on the works for the team. Based in the United Kingdom, the five member team of Hawachex Entertainment was brought together by their collective interest in photography, acting, editing and directing. Ashik, Munesh, Dipak, Ajay and Raj began with ‘Nepali Spiderman’ in August last year. They worked on a silent film ‘Nepali Chopstick’ which is basically picked up from one of Mr Bean’s films. On where the ideas come from, Raj credits it to imagination and good movies. While the comic element is predominant in most of their videos, the team is trying to include more social issues, cultural values and patriotism in their stories and believe that a touch of humor in their stories will pull down any barriers. Humor is definitely an ice breaker, and as difficult as it is to make people laugh, it is very rewarding to find your work appreciated. As more and more young people start to explore uncharted territories of their personalities and skills, the world is united by their efforts. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50478 KATHMANDU, Feb 24: When given the chance, the youth will come out to showcase the undiscovered talents inside them. Some will even have you taken aback. Students from Balbyabasayee Kendra Secondary School and Mahendra Bouddha Higher Secondary School got this chance to share their stories and showcase their talents through an intercultural exchange program which involved playwriting and performance workshops. Organized by B.R.I.D.G.E (Building Relationships and Inspiring Dialogue through Global Exchange) Theatre Project, an international arts organization based in Los Angeles, California, and SPACE (Search for Identity), a local Nepali theatre company, the week-long workshops allowed the young students of 10 to 16 years of age, to write their own plays, perform them as well as perform plays written by students from Ecuador in South America, one of the earlier B.R.I.D.G.E Theatre Project destination. Students from Balbyabasayee Kendra Secondary School and Mahendra Bouddha Higher Secondary School perform their original plays at Mandala Theatre in Anamnagar on Saturday. (Keshab Thoker/ Republica) The workshop was facilitated by established actors and writers from Hollywood, Adam Kalersperis, who has appeared in dozens of theatrical performances, TV shows and film including ER and The Dark Knight while and Joe Quintero, who has appeared in films such as Shaft, Exiles in NY and TV shows such as Numbers, NYPD Blue and Law & Order. The co-founders of B.R.I.D.G.E conceived the project in 2009. “Our main goal is to bridge cultural gaps and to allow different young people to see that we’re all more similar than different,” said Adam for whom the project is a way of giving back to the community through acting and teaching. Putting in extra time and energy, the two are juggling their personal careers and this project. “We’ve been very fortunate and it’s rewarding to be a part of a storytelling team. But what’s more rewarding is to be able to share that with other and what’s even more rewarding is to do that with the youth,” said Joe. During the workshop, the two interacted with the young participants, asking them personal questions about their values and what was important to them. “We discovered that almost all of the students have great wishes and give importance to education,” shared Adam. “We found that a lot of them were concerned about their family, their economy and financial situation,” added Joe, “This became the seeds of exploration for the plays.” Both the facilitators were impressed with the students and commented that platforms like SPACE were the way to go when it came to fostering a better arts and theatre scene in Nepal. “We’ve been involved with professional development with the SPACE team and shared our teaching methods so that they will be able to execute similar programs in other schools in Nepal,” shared Joe. A special presentation of the results from the workshop was showcased at the Mandala Theatre in Anamanagar on Saturday. Readings of the first acts of eight original student-written plays as well as two plays which were written by students from Ecuador were staged. The plays written by the Nepali students revolved around themes such as untouchability and discrimination against girl child. The plays from Ecuador were staged in a Nepali context and were based on themes such as cultural values and career aspirations of the youth from Ecuador. “We got a chance to learn a lot about how to write and perform plays,” shared Hima Rai, a ninth grader from Balbyabasayee Kendra Secondary School. “The plays we wrote are about the everyday lives of Nepali people and the stark realities of our society,” she said, adding, “We’re very happy that the plays we’ve written will be taken to other countries.” “We also got to learn about the culture of Ecuador and are very proud to have performed a play from there,” shared Sagar Kadel, another participant and an eighth grader from Mahendra Bouddha Higher Secondary School. The Nepali partners of this workshop, SPACE, who found the Project through a Google search and were able to fix this workshop, are arts and theatre passionate who believe in linking arts with development. “We’ve been working with youth from the very beginning because we believe that through arts and theatre, we can transfer and reinforce in them, the societal values that have deteriorated in our country,” said Shree Krishna Thapa, Executive Director of SPACE. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50431 KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Students from Balbyabasayee Kendra Secondary School and Mahendra Bouddha Higher Secondary School in Kathmandu, participated in a playwriting and performance workshops conducted by B.R.I.D.G.E Theatre Project, an international arts organization based in Los Angeles, California and SPACE, a local Nepali theatre company. [break] B.R.I.D.G.E Theatre Project, co-founded by Executive Artistic Directors Adam Kalesperis and Joe Quintero, lives up to its name of building relationships and inspiring dialogue through global exchange. B.R.I.D.G.E and SPACE worked together with students aged 10 to 16 years, the end results of which were original plays written by the students themselves. Hence, to showcase the culmination of this workshop, a special presentation will take place at 2 pm at Mandala Theatre in Anamnagar on February 23. Selected scenes will be read and performed by Nepali actors while the Nepali youth will be performing plays written by students from Ecuador in South America. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50430 KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Nattu gave us ‘Ma Dherai Maya Garchu’ in 2008, which propelled her to YouTube fame. Since then she’s uploaded other songs, covers and funny videos. The 23-year-old was born Natasha Shah, but the name Nattu is what she is known as to most people. One of the most popular videos by this funny girl is ‘The Official Momo Song’ where she sings about the love for the popular dish. Here, she laughs and talks about her work and life. [break] You compose your own music and write your own songs. What are some of your favorite and the most challenging part/process of creating something new? The most challenging part, in my opinion, must be the emotion. The best songs I’ve composed so far were written when my emotional tide was high. Regardless of whether the emotions are positive or negative, words seems to flow easily at that moment. When I say words, I mean meaningful rhymes that let the audience know exactly what you are singing about and they can even relate to it. For me, it’s difficult to write a love song when I’m not in love. That’s how I work. Every song that I’ve written tells a story of my life and that I find very challenging because not all the moments in your life are special. Like they say, “Every day is not Sunday”. Do you ever feel creatively challenged? How do you deal with it? Of course there are moments where I go through a rough time, creatively. When I get into that phase, I just try and not think about music for a while. Go out, hang with my friends over coffee, get some fresh air, get inspired by the environment and then start to work on the project again. If not, then I need a good sleep. It always works. Where did the ‘Ma Dherai Maya Garchu’ song come from? I was young (15), naive and head over heels in love and I thought writing a song about it in Nepali would make my feelings stand out. Somehow, I always thought that describing your emotions in Nepali makes it more meaningful and dramatic. Even curse words, for example, sound much more offensive when said in Nepali, don’t you think? Which video of yours do you count as your personal favorite? Settling on one is tough as I love all my videos equally. I think it shows how I have gradually improved in most aspects. I used to be a horrible Nepali singer, with the “quirey” accent, but that has changed now due to lots of practice and dedication to improve my pronunciation. But out of all the videos, I can say that I had the most fun working to become an Avatar. I had no clue what I was using on my face but I just knew I had to be BLUE. When you’re going through YouTube, whose channel do you never miss? The Wong Fu Productions and The Ellen show. Those are the two channels I will never miss out on. I love Wong Fu’s works because they are amazing at making videos and since I aspire to become a filmmaker in the future. Their creativity, style and music videos are stunning works of art. And Ellen DeGeneres is one of my biggest role models. I love her humor, personality and her uniqueness. We know Nattu as someone who is musically talented and as a good comic (through the videos). How are you in your personal life? What are your other interests and passion? Off screen, I am just like any ordinary person. I love hanging out with my friends and family. I don’t know if people know this but I actually like pampering myself once in a while by visiting a spa. I can also be spontaneous and just pack up and leave. What projects are you currently involved in, and what is it that has you excited for the coming days? I am currently working on my album and I might have a few movie projects heading towards me this year. Yes, I might be acting in films too now. On March 2, I will be performing at Bryan’s Grill House in an event called “The Celeb Launch Party”. How do you deal with criticism and negative feedback? Just recently I have mastered “The Arts of Ignoring” taught by a very good friend, Sayal. It has reduced the negativity and boosted my self-esteem. I am always open to constructive criticism. I listen to them and try and work on my flaws but there are some comments that attack my personal life and it’s upsetting to see how some people can be so crude and unsupportive. However, “The Arts of Ignoring” comes to my aid and I try to be the bigger person. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50429 KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Scott Faila, Country Director of Oxfam Nepal, recalls growing up in the United States. Originally of Italian ancestry, Faila’s grandparents were immigrants. He was born and raised in Connecticut in what he calls “a safe environment, no crimes or threats, there was always food on the table, great education.” “I lived in a bubble, didn’t even know what the rest of the world was like. I was clueless and now after all my subsequent experiences, I’ve come to realize how extremely privileged I was,” he said referring to growing up in a large family with three brothers, a sister and many cousins. [break] After completing his university education, Faila, who has a degree in engineering, decided to live and work overseas. “I was full of idealism and joined the Peace Corps in 1973. I’ve been working in the field of development since then and haven’t gone back to America,” added Faila who is married to a Nepali for the last 18 years. He has so far worked in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia, starting in Malaysia where he worked until 1976. He was previously involved with Care and worked in Indonesia, Haiti, Ethiopia, Nepal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, and Egypt. According to Faila, Oxfam is concerned about people’s rights, especially the vulnerable and excluded ones. The organization, which has been working in Nepal for 30 years, puts a particular emphasis on women. One of the major focus areas of Oxfam Nepal is disaster risk reduction work in Terai and flood-prone communities like Saptari and Dhanusha, including earthquake preparedness works in Kathmandu and a few municipalities in the Terai. Oxfam recently completed a major overhaul in strengthening of the water system in the Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj. Other recent accomplishments include participation in climate change discussions in Doha. Food security programs centered on the Far-West region including Darchula, Dailekh, Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Surkhet are also one of the major focus areas of Oxfam. When growing up, Faila was highly inspired by Martin Luther King, John Kennedy who started the Peace Corps, Gandhi who made him interested to come to Asia and Nelson Mandela. “I’ve witnessed all kinds of poverty and suffering people undergo, like famine in east Africa, in Somalia, Sudan, Haiti which have impacted me tremendously,” Faila said, adding he has always struggled to understand why there’s so much injustice and inequality in the world, and the people he mentioned above as his inspirations in particular were trying to rectify injustice and inequality. When asked what message he would like to give to Nepali people, Faila said Nepali people, especially the political class, have to ask themselves some serious questions, like why is it that six years after the Peace Agreement they haven’t made sufficient progress, why are there 500,000 Nepalis in Malaysia and several hundred thousands in the Middle East; and why has Nepal’s economy gone to a point where 25% of it is remittances from people overseas. Faila was featured on “Inspirations: The Essence of Life,” a personality-based television series presented by Media Gallery and Global Exposition and Management Services in association with Republica. The program is aired on Nepal Television every Wednesday at 10:10pm. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50428 KATHMANDU, Feb 23: The film “Chhadke” has an array of talents from the likes of Saugat Malla, Arpan Thapa, Dayahang Rai, Sunil Pokhrel and Namrata Shrestha. New faces, too, do impressive jobs. Nikun Shrestha is a welcome addition to Nepali films and the presence of Robin Tamang (of Robin and the New Revolution) has definitely brought in more publicity for the film.Kameshwor Chaurasiya is another good actor and Bipin Karki elicits laughter as the skinny, comical Bindu. [break] The story begins like this. A young man (Nikun Shrestha) returns from America to his hometown of Chitwan. As he fails to find a satisfying job, he spends much of his time with childhood friends (Kameshwor Chaurasiya and Bipin Karki) who acquaint him with Chitwan’s notorious Royal Gang (Robin Tamang, Arpan Thapa, Dayahang Rai, and Namrata Shrestha). As the film’s pace heightens, we see the young man’s descent from a bystander to the heart of the criminal world. It’s safe to say that Nigam Shrestha’s Chhadke was one of the most awaited Nepali films. Ever since its star cast and the trailer were revealed to the public, which has only recently acquired a taste for Nepali cinema, it was waiting on tenterhooks for the film’s release. Director Shrestha should have limited his story to the world of gangsters, illegal poaching and political hooligans. Instead, the audience has to sit through more than half of the film trying to understand the purpose of Saugat Malla’s presence. We’re introduced to him during the first few minutes of the film when he’s heading to Chitwan for his research on plants. But then, his character seems neither here nor there while the film moves on. Of course, his presence is justified in the latter half but somehow connecting it with first half of the film is a dreary job. Robin Tamang’s character should have been stamped with more authority. While his performance was pleasing, his character failed to justify the hype and expectation generated during the last few months. The bike-riding, chain-smoking and gun-wielding Namrata Shrestha gives a performance that has improved since her last film. Arpan Thapa, sporting his moustache, dark glasses and a scarf, was hardly recognizable in the film posters, and he continues to work on making his craft better. Saugat Malla’s might not be a relevant role but as always, it’s hard not to appreciate the talents of the actor. The film’s cinematography credits are given to Sanjay Lama and Hari Ghale, and there are plenty of wonderful moments in the film. The much admired Night Band’s “Ek Kan Dui” is a soothing musical story. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50427 KATHMANDU, Feb 23: The 18 finalists of Miss Nepal 2013 pageant visited the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Nepal’s office at Baluwatar on Friday for an interactive session. “One of you will be directly working with us as a young conservation ambassador,” said Simrika Sharma, Senior Communication Officer at WWF Nepal, and described the areas that past Misses Nepal chose to work with and their efforts during their one-year reign as the conservation ambassador of the not-for-profit organization. [break] Akash Shrestha, WWF Nepal’s Senior Manager of Communication and Marketing, provided an overview of what they have been doing in Nepal, introducing its mission “to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.” Miss Nepal finalists during the interactive session at WWF Nepal’s office in Baluwatar on Friday. (Keshav Thoker/ Republica) Shrestha also gave a presentation on the focus areas of WWF Nepal starting from the 1960s with rhino conservation and working with protected areas. “From the ’80s to the ’90s, WWF’s focus shifted to integrated conservation and development, and since 2000, we’ve been working on landscape-level conservation,” added Shrestha, explaining the three key landscapes WWF works in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), Sacred Himalayan Landscape, and Chitwan Annapurna Linkage. Contestants Samikshya Shrestha, Rojisha Shahi Thakuri, Ishani Shrestha, Riju Shrestha, Sumi Moktan (Lama) and Asmita Sitaula questioned the representatives of WWF regarding elephant poaching for ivory tusk, stray animals in Kathmandu, sacrificing animals for religion like in the Gadhimai Mela and to Taleju Bhawani and wood smuggling. Answering Sumi Moktan (Lama)’s question about how WWF manages to follow up on their projects, Ghana S Gurung, Conservation Program Director of WWF, said, “We don’t start something we can’t deliver and there are a lot of aspects we have to consider when starting a project, from legal framework, financial resources, to revenues.” The Miss Nepal 2013 pageant is scheduled to take place on March 15, 2013. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50426 KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Nepali Alternative Rock band Monkey Temple enthralled the audience at Tamarind in Jhamsikhel and Electric Pagoda in Thamel as a part of the Romanov Rock n’ Nepal Concert series. In its second week, this series gives you another good reason to rock and roll to – Jindabaad. While the band has already given good head-banging moments to music lovers at Backyard in Jhamsikhel, there’s still one more chance to be a part of the rock party with Jindabaad, Kathmandu’s own ‘art rock’ band. [break] (Photo: Bijay  Gajmer/ Republica) Let your hair down this Saturday in a concert with Jindabaad who will be performing at Purple Haze in Thamel on February 23. Romanov Rock n’ Nepal will feature various popular rock bands and musicians, and the series is also set out to take Rock n’ Roll to cities outside Kathmandu, thus aiming to reach both the eastern and the westerns ends of Nepal. Entry to the show is free! http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50425 KATHMANDU, Feb 23: The 3rd Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival opened on February 21 at the Nepal Tourism Board in Exhibition Road, with the showcasing of Saving Face, a 2012 Best Documentary Short Oscar directed by Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. As per the set scheduled, the films are being screened at the Nepal Tourism Board from 11 am to 5 pm. A total of 4,000 to 5,000 audiences are expected to attend this festival, shared Purna Singh Baraily, Festival Director and Chairperson of the Human Rights Film Center. [break] “We’re very overwhelmed to see the participation from the audience,” said Baraily. Altogether 25 films from countries including Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Norway, Japan, Egypt, Israel, and USA are a part of this festival. Films such as ‘Silenced Voice’ by Beate Arnestad, ‘Let them Blossom’ by Amrita Das Gupta, ‘A Nation Called Bangla’ by Polash Rosul, ‘Uttorer Sur – The Northern Symphony’ by Shaneoy Cacoly, ‘Resurrected and The Last Message’ by Ganesh Pandey and ‘Tahrir’ by Khaled Sayed were showcased on the second day of the festival. Although the festival features an A-list of both fiction and non-fiction films, Baraily recommends that films such as ‘Saving Face’, ‘Brokering News-Media Money’ and ‘Middlemen’, ‘Gei Oni’ and ‘Opening Our Eyes’ are must-watches.“The selection of the films was done, keeping in mind, the Nepali context and relevance,” adds Baraily. Saving Face, which tells the tale of acid-attack survivors from Pakistan, is a film that is contextually relevant to the gender-based violence against women that still takes place in parts of Nepal. It is scheduled to be rescreened on February 23 at 4:15 pm and will be followed by a discussion conducted by Burns Violence Survivors Nepal. Dan Wolman, Israeli director of Gei Oni, will also be conducting a Master Class for filmmakers on February 24 at 4 pm. “This is a good learning opportunity for aspiring Nepali filmmakers to discuss Wolman’s works and to learn about the different directing techniques and styles he uses,” shared Baraily. The festival will end on February 24. For screening schedules, visit hrfilmcenter.org. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50317 KATHMANDU, Feb 20: As young people, we look for different options to fulfill our aspirations. Hard work will pay. Therefore, we study hard to get the grades, to get accepted into a good college, to establish our careers the way we want to, to live the life we dream of. Six young people pursuing their Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) degree from Everest College in Thapathali share their career goals and how they plan to achieve it.[break] Participants: 1. Urika Shrestha, 7th Semester, 21 2. Sagun Sangroula, 7th Semester, 22 3. Anil Ghimire, 5th Semester, 21 4. Pragati Dahal, 1st Semester, 18 5. Sushan Bista, 1st Semester, 19 6. Abhishek Mishra, 7th Semester, 21 What’s the reason behind pursuing your current degree? Urika: I was always interested in management and so BBA was my first priority. Sagun: Actually, I had studied science after SLC to pursue a career in medicine. But I lost interest in that field and so I joined this field. Anil: I was never good at science subjects. I had no other option other than going into management. Pragati: As a child, whenever anyone asked me what I wanted to become later in life, I always used to say that I wanted to become a manager. This interest developed and so I’m pursuing my education in the same field. Sushan: I actually wanted to become an air hostess. But because this sector isn’t very good in Nepal, I don’t want to take the risks. So I joined BBA as a backup. Abhishek: My family background is in the business sector and my interest is also in the same. Hence, as BBA is the only course which provides practical knowledge when it comes to management, I decided to opt for this degree. Did any of you have plans to study at Bachelor’s level abroad or was Nepal your first choice? Anil: I had plans to study abroad after my +2 education, but I was recommended otherwise by my relative who is abroad. So I decided to finish BBA in Nepal and then go abroad for my further studies. What are your plans after doing BBA? Sagun: I’ll be taking a break for a few months, a year at the most. Then I want to work in the production sector and later on get a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA). Urika: I plan to continue my studies without any gap. So I’ll be pursuing my MBA degree and then move on to work in the banking sector, a career choice that I’ve always been attracted to. Anil: I don’t think I can get into a good MBA college in Nepal, so I’ll be going abroad to study MBA. After that, I want to become an entrepreneur, most probably in event management. Abhishek: I have two plans set for myself. I’ll either continue my studies or start working. I want to start something on my own in manufacturing. Pragati: Besides management, I’m also interested in law. So along with getting my MBA, I’ll also try to get a law degree. Sushan: After completing my BBA, I’ll train to become an airhostess and try to get a good job in with some airlines. Do you want to go abroad for your studies and for work? And do you have plans to settle there? Sagun: I plan to work abroad for two to four years in countries like the USA and Australia. After gaining experience, I’ll come back to Nepal. Sushan: I have cousins in Australia, so when it comes to going abroad, that’s my first preference. If I get a chance to settle down there, why come back? Urika and Pragati: Like Sagun said, I want to study abroad and work there, for experience and knowledge. Then I’ll come back to Nepal. Anil: I’ll go abroad, to Australia. But as for settling down there, I think that’ll only happen if I get married to a girl who has provisions for permanent residency. Abhishek: As soon as I finish my studies, and if I go abroad, I’ll return to Nepal. I believe we have the capabilities and the potential to do something right here and I don’t want to give up on that. What attracts you to study and work abroad? For young people like you, what would change the want to settle abroad? Urika: Going abroad would mean going to the USA and Australia for me. These are lands of opportunities. They not only have good education systems but it’s also relatively easy to find work and earn money there. I think the main reason Nepali youth are settling abroad is due to the frustrating political scenario of our country. So a change in the political system, maturity in the educational system and provision of opportunities would help keep the youth back in Nepal. Sagun: Like Urika said, the opportunity for strong education and employment are what pull young people like me abroad. To prevent young people from settling abroad, I think, instead of creating strict regulations, the government should create opportunities. Only then those Nepalis who have settled in foreign countries will be motivated to return. Anil: The reason I want to go to Australia is because I have a relative there who has an MBA college of his own. So it’s easier for me. As to how young Nepalis can be encouraged not to seek to go abroad for long terms, there needs to be a stable environment in our country that will allow the youth to live and work in Nepal itself. Pragati: To make the youth stay in Nepal, reforms should be made in the very foundations of all our systems. For me, the deal with going abroad, especially USA, is that I have cousins there who advise me to do so. Sushan: The lack of political stability and the tradition of favoritism which is so popular in our country are pushing young people abroad. When capable youth don’t get jobs in their own country, they look for options in other countries. Abhishek: I wish to study abroad for the certificate and recognition. Countries like the US and Australia aren’t only places where you get good opportunities but you also get trained how to obtain them. In Nepal, we have a lot of potential. What we lack is entrepreneurship and people who will take the stand to create opportunities http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50316 SLC is coming up and I’ve been studying and studying and my parents keep exerting more pressure. I know they love me and want me to get good marks but it’s getting a bit too much for me to handle. Why don’t they understand what I’m going through? - Shruti I’m sure the extra pressure is making things worse for you right now. Our parents come from a time where opportunities were limited and access to higher education and decent jobs were very hard to find for people from middle class families. Good education and exceptionally high academic achievement was their key to the opportunities they would otherwise never have. Whether they would find a job, get promoted, or get a decent salary to start a life in the city, were all correlated to their academic achievements. That was the story of their times. We’re fortunate that there are relatively more opportunities and access. Nevertheless, I understand that when pressure comes not as an encouragement but as an incessant fear and obsession, it can be really disturbing. There’s no other way but to have an assertive conversation with your parents where you acknowledge their concerns and their side of the story but assure that you’re doing your personal best to achieve your goals in life. My father has been an alcoholic for a very long time. While he’s happy in his own world, our family has been torn apart. I’ve been told that people have the right to be happy. Should I then stop trying to change him? What makes him happy is making my life miserable. I’m 23 and I’m frustrated. What about my right to be happy? - Anonymous The question perhaps is not whether you should or should not change him, rather if you “can” change any person to do anything. If your father has been an alcoholic for a long time, the chances that he’s going to change are slim. You could try to check him into a rehab or get medical help, but it’s easier said than done. You could provide emotional support to your father, which is also difficult when you are so young yourself and don’t have the emotional tools . Thus, as harsh as it may sound, the best way might be for you to move on and carry on with your life. Your life shouldn’t stop for something that you have no control over. Instead, what you can do is stop allowing this problem to affect you and put an extended pause in your life. You have the right to be happy, to pursue your dreams, and to develop your professional career towards a fulfilling life. Bunch of sad and tired people can’t make anything better. Your happiness, your achievements, your light might become the force that brings back the family together. I’m tired of my friends trying to fix me with a girl. At the moment, I don’t want to date anyone. But friends keep fixing me up. How can I tell them, without being rude, that I just don’t want to date? - Outdated It’s very hard to find friends who care and are this persistent. The worse is when no one’s trying to fix you up, no one to take that extra step in trying to understand what you’re going through and making an attempt to support you even before you ask for it. If they think you should be dating, they probably feel it’s time for you to heal and move on from whatever is holding you back. We all need a gentle “push” sometimes to shake us out of our setbacks. Sometimes, we get addicted to sadness, to pain, or to suffering and that addiction stops us from moving towards healing. If you think you are in the process of healing and just need more time, assure your friend about it and communicate that you need time. But if you know you’re stuck, close your eyes, fold your hands, and let your friends give you that little push. How does “IT” feel? Is “IT” a conscious feeling? How do I differentiate between “IT” and Infatuation? Should “IT” be perfect? Does true “IT” only happen once? Is there anything as true “IT” or is it just “IT”. How do I become sure in IT and about IT? Is IT a process and is there any formula for IT? What is love? - Anonymous Are you planning to get a PhD in IT? If not, what are you going to do with the definition of IT? When you’re young, IT fills your life with joy and excitement and IT helps you grow into a better person. The only time when you have to start looking at the dictionary for the meaning of IT is perhaps when you’re about to make a lifetime commitment. When that time comes, you’ll have some grey hair, moustache and some wisdom that will signal you if IT is real or not. At that time, you want to remember, “Love feels very sure.” If you find yourself holding the ring and still wondering if it’s love or infatuation, then you are in trouble – it most likely is infatuation. But rewind to the present as you’re still young. Until that day comes, instead of getting into the facts and figures, why not just ask yourself, “Am I truly happy?” If you’re joyous, deeply content and the world seems to be moving in slow motion, then it really doesn’t matter if it’s IT or SHIT. Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti – a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She’s has been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50315 What you’ll need: Leather (at least 3x4 inches) Soldering Iron (or Wood burning tool) Xacto knife Pen and paper Sharp Pointy Object (Awl, drill, screw driver, thick needle, punch, ice pick) Scissors Key Ring Needle Thread Candle A punch A rivet (back and front) A rivet setter A Sewing Awl Step 1: Fold your paper in half and draw half a heart the size you want your key fob to be (about 2”). Trace the heart cut out onto the leather, any relatively thick leather will work. Measure about a half inch centered over the top of the heart. Use the Xacto knife to cut out the heart. To get the curves of the heart, cut in small sections. You can clean the edges after the shape is completely cut out. Step 2: Use either the wedge tip on a wood burning tool, or the thinnest tip on a soldering iron. After heating up the iron, burn a short line (1/16 to 1/8 inch) on the edge of the leather heart starting from the tip. Words, pictures or designs can be added to the center or it can be left as it is. Step 3: Place the top of the rivet just above the peak of the heart and press. Use one of the sharp pointy objects (carefully) to create a hole in the first layer. Then, fold the flap of leather behind and using the first hole as a guide, punch a hole through the other side. Lining up the holes, place the bottom part or the rivet on the back, and the top of the rivet on the front. Feed the key ring through the loop. Step 4: Use a sharp pointy object to punch holes, using your design as a guide. Thread a needle, doubling the thread. With the leather folded, start sewing at the back. Push your needle through the first hole, down through the second. Loop one last time, so both ends are in the back of the piece and then double knot. If the knot hangs out a bit just poke it into the nearest hole. Feed the key ring through the loop. instructables.com http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50314 Art and photography exhibition, ‘Mustang – A Spiritual Odyssey’ inaugurated KATHMANDU, Feb 20: Apart from the regular artists, art patrons and enthusiasts, a group of monks all the way from Mustang were present at the opening of ‘Mustang – A Spiritual Odyssey’, an exhibition of thangkas, photographs, and a sand mandala installation, which took place at the Siddartha Art Gallery in Baber Mahal, Kathmandu Revisited on Wednesday. Marking the third edition of the Australian Himalayan Art Award program, which funds emerging Nepali artists each year, the exhibition was inaugurated by Susan Grace, Australian Ambassador to Nepal. “The work here is sensational,” she commented, adding, “It’s a feast to all of the senses.”[break] A visitor observes  the thankga paintings on display as part of the exhibition The ground floor of the gallery showcased 15 thangkas created by Pasang Lama, recipient of the 2012 Australian Himalayan Art Award, and his group of artist friends. The thankgas are painted with skin glue and powder colors. While the first floor demonstrated the sand mandala in progress, the uppermost floor exhibits photographs by Italian photographer Luigi Fieni and Kyentse Gurung, a Sakya monk who discovered the world of photography a couple of years ago, upon receiving professional shooting equipment from donors. Monks at work, the dances of Mustang, its landscape and people are some of the subjects of the photographs. During the exhibition, a masked dance was also performed by five monks. Known as ‘gheysar’, this dance is held at the annual Tiji Festival in Mustang. As printed in little note http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50261 KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Ram Rijal has many interesting ideas. Currently in the offing are the Nationwide Math Olympiad and Bloom Nepal School. A Mathematics graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, Rijal is now working with the World Bank as a Junior Professional Associate. For the 25-year-old, returning to Nepal was always the plan and says that the ideas generated when he was still a student. The Nationwide Math Olympiad is scheduled to take place on February 23, 2013 and will be held in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Butwal, Surkhet, Bharatpur and Dang. The competition will test the Math skills and abilities of students from class 11 and 12 where in the students will be solving six questions in three hours. The questions for the Math Olympiad were set by MIT graduates. Rijal says, “The questions will be very hard, but we want the participants to try their best and even if they manage to answer one question correctly, it’s great.” More than 700 participants have been registered for the competition, and considering its novelty, he is happy with the turnout.[break] The ultimate goal of the Nationwide Math Olympiad is to give a platform to the students and be the innovator by sending participants to the International Math Olympiad. Nepal doesn’t fare too badly in the international Math scene, believes Rijal and this competition is aimed at bringing out dormant talents and providing them direction and opportunities. While the top three from the competition will be taking home a cash prize of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, the rest of the top 10 will be benefitting too. As Rijal explains, “Those who will get the 10 best scores in the nation can definitely get into the best schools in the world. They just need the necessary guidance and support, and that’s what we will provide. We’re going to connect them with our network in America who will help them in the application process from preparing for the SATs, compiling essays and selecting colleges that are right for them.” This, however, is no guarantee of admission to the colleges abroad. That depends on the capability of the students, but the admission process is made easier and hassle free. According to him, the Math culture has always been important in the international field. “It’s said that quantitative skills is very important for sustainable development. But in Nepal, Math has been limited to teaching capability. Through the Math Olympiad and then Bloom School of Mathematics, we hope to start a positive vibe for Mathematics,” says the Math enthusiast. Based on the principle of providing a holistic education, Bloom Nepal is designed to be a network of schools that will offer the students a chance to pursue and polish their passion. To be inaugurated on April 28, later this year, the school at Ekantakuna is to be the first of 18 schools that Rijal is intending to set up all over the country within the next eight years. The schools are proposed to be established in Butwal, Biratangar, Pokhara, Dang, Nepalgunj, Jumla, Syangjha, Birgunj, Dharan and Narayanghat. Accepting that this is rather an ambitious plan, he says, “We will work towards the goal, but will, of course, be flexible along the way and work accordingly.” An hour of the elective subject of their choice after a regular day of school will do students a lot of good. Rijal’s plan is to establish a School of Mathematics, a School of Computer Science and one for the arts and the elective subjects will be conducted to meet the international standard. The school will have classes from four to 12 and will follow the International Baccalaureate structure. Rijal says, “It’s my experience from having met brilliant students at MIT that if the interests and passions of the children are sharpened from a young age, they will continue to develop their skills. And that’s what we are trying to do in Bloom Nepal.” Volunteers will be tutoring the students initially, but as it’s not a sustainable plan and he has already come up with other options. Toppers from Tribhuvan and Kathmandu University will be hired and trained in order to be able to provide quality education to the young minds. For someone who’s always intended to return to his country, Rijal’s enthusiastic beginning could be an example for many. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50260 The number of students studying for UK degrees in overseas countries increased 13% last year, as universities focused their energies on international recruitment. International offshoots of UK universities, partnerships with foreign institutions and online study mean there are now more students on UK university courses abroad than there are international and EU students coming to the UK to study. Some 571,000 students studied abroad in 2011-12, a third more than in 2009-10, with universities enrolling most students in Malaysia, Singapore and Pakistan. Oxford Brookes, which offers students training with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) the option to also study for a degree in applied accounting, recruited by far the most students overseas (251,990 or 44% of those studying UK degrees abroad). It was followed by the University of London (45,680), the Open University (42,685) and the University of Wales (16,250). The rise in UK transnational educational – where students are located in a country different from the one where their awarding university is based – comes as the number of students from India and Pakistan studying in Britain fell for the first time last year. University leaders fear that new visa rules and negative rhetoric from government prompted the slump in enrolments.[break] By running courses overseas, UK universities can take their education to students who cannot make the trip to the UK, says Joanna Newman, director of the UK Higher Education International Unit. Such arrangements help universities boost their brand abroad, says Alex Bols, executive director of the 1994 Group, which represents smaller research-intensive universities. “However,” he warns, “there are also major reputational risks if it goes wrong – both for the institution involved and for the sector more generally.” Where universities are one step removed from the teaching offered, it is much harder for them to monitor student experience, adds Bols. News that universities such as UCL are opening branches as far afield as Qatar has attracted headlines over recent years, but it reality, international campuses account for very few (6.7%) transnational students. Bols has reason to warn of the dangers as universities scramble to find a foothold in a lucrative overseas market. The University of Wales’s overseas collaborations ran into problems with the Quality Assurance Agency, the body that regulates UK higher education, over standards on courses run by partner institutions. The Guardian http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50259 The production of paper started during the second century BC when T’sai Lun invented papermaking in China. Later, the knowledge of paper production reached High Himalayas via Tibet. Then in 12th century AD, Lokta handmade paper production started and since has been inherent to the Nepalis culture. According to FHAN (Federation of Handicraft Association Nepal) 2006, handmade products are the fifth largest export products in the handicraft category. The Nepali companies general adapt an export strategy to represent themselves in the international market. But before any company of this industry ventures into the foreign market, they must reassess and redesign their whole strategic framework to ensure success.[break] Nepalis handmade paper industries now need to prospect countries for export than relying on existing ones for growth prospects. India can be a very good market for Nepal made handmade paper with the population standing at 1.21 billion (Census 2011), a growing economy and significant proportion of people having high purchasing power, it is a huge market to cater to. The geographical proximity and pegged exchange rate are just added advantages. Nepal has always been close to India through its similarities in culture, taste and preference, increasing the probability of Nepalis handmade paper being accepted in India. To facilitate the trade with India, there are various bilateral trade relations between the two governments. However, India being world’s leading exporter of handicrafts employing more than 6 million artisans and craftsmen, Nepalis handicrafts will face tough competition. For the export in the Indian market the primary aspect would be increasing the awareness level of the Indians about the product. Even though India is our neighboring country, the inhabitants are largely unaware about the Lokta paper that is unique. Marketing strategy brings to mind the 4P’s approach, setting the product, price, place and promotion strategy of the product. The products have to be customized according to the taste of the inhabitants with a touch of Nepali feel to it. Pricing should be done on a very transparent basis with proper listing of all the breakdown pricing. Agreements with the local buyers can also be done to keep a low margin for the products to be available at a lower cost. As this product is pricy, targeting places with affluent urban citizens from metropolitan towns and tourist destinations could be a better option. For the promotion setting up temporary stalls in the malls around cities of India is a viable option also. Social media mediums like Facebook, Twitter, which is the most cost-effective medium in this information age could be put to use too. Over the years, Nepali made handmade paper and paper products have gained recognition in the international market but there seems to be a requirement of government support for sustainability and growth. Companies want the government to join hands with them for economic progression. It is understood that there is less support from government but companies can try from their end to promote their products themselves. There is high reliance on the promotions gained only through participation in fairs and seminars organized by WFTO (World Free Trade Organization) which is a laidback approach. The capacity of skilled manpower can be expanded by giving trainings to locals, which can help companies fulfill larger orders. Strategic alliance with companies or federation of handicrafts abroad can add value in marketing and expansion of Nepalis handmade paper product. Lokta paper has many special characteristics which the firms should flaunt to the world for it to become an exclusive product and the companies should look for alternative capacity expansion and rigorous market exploration to meet the international demand. The writer is an MBA student at KUSOM and the article is based on the research done by Vuelo Unida group. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50258 KATHMANDU, Feb 19: In making the film ‘Maina’, Kedar Prasad Pathak has chosen a serious and a thought provoking subject. On February 17 in 2004, a young girl was arrested by a group of soldiers after they failed to find her mother, Devi Sunuwar. This was during the 10 years of Maoists insurgency, and that was the last anyone saw of Maina who was only 15-years-old. The story of her torture and murder at the hands of the soldiers and Devi’s fight for justice for her daughter shook the nation.[break] Pathak, who has always been an advocate of good and meaningful cinema, found the story of Maina a compelling one. Though the film was completed in 2008, it was released after five years on February 15 this year. The filmmaker talks about the challenges of filming Maina and the importance of the film to nation. Excerpts: Maina’s story is undeniably gripping. But can you pinpoint what was the exact reason behind your decision to tell this story? I was looking for a strong subject and at that time, I was already finalizing a script dealing with violence against women. But then Maina was a compelling story, one which needed to be told to everyone. I believe she stands for every victim during the 10 year long fight of the Maoists. The greatest challenge came in the form of the words of Maina’s mother who asked me if I have it in me to bear the problems that would crop up if I took up Maina’s story. It was an incentive that drove me to the subject and the filming of it. You’ve said that you received threats during the filming. How did you manage to keep the threats from hurting your work? Those came in friendly or in the guise of a well wisher, but I could always sense the gravity behind them. To counter the threats, I called in social and human rights organizations for their support. There was a time when I was ready to flee the country. I had a motorbike with a tank full of petrol on standby and my script and some money. But with the transition in the country’s politics in 2006, it became easier for me to continue. What would the youth today gain from Maina? The Maoist insurgency affected everyone, and through the film they will be able to understand a very important piece of history. It will be an educative process for them. Maina will be a very important film in the history of Nepali cinema. It speaks not only of one young girl and her family’s plight, but is a story of everyone affected during the insurgency. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50174 NEW YORK, Feb 18: How accurate is "Zero Dark Thirty"? Is "Lincoln" an epic of historical recreation or a high school history lesson? What did you think of "Django Unchained"? Can we get Anne Hathaway something to eat, already? As a crop, this year´s nine best picture nominees has been one of the most talk-provoking, op-Ed-generating bunches in recent Oscar history. From "Argo" to "Life of Pi," they´ve largely been popular at the box office, too.[break] This year, the question "Have you seen ...?" has been a frequent one, and often the reply has been positive. The movies have been debated, criticized, mulled over and tweeted. Above all, they´ve been relevant. That hasn´t always been the case, particularly in years where most best-picture candidates — and this is no slight to their worthiness — have struggled to surpass $100 million at the domestic box office. Last year, of the nine nominees, only "The Help" managed to pass that threshold. This year, five have ("Argo," ´´Les Miserables," ´´Lincoln," ´´Django" and "Life of Pi") and two more are very close ("Zero Dark Thirty" and "Silver Linings Playbook"). This film image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Bryan Cranston, left, as Jack O’Donnell and Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in "Argo," a rescue thriller about the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. (AP) Many of this year´s nominees have done particularly well overseas. Ang Lee´s "Life of Pi" has proved an international juggernaut, approaching $600 million worldwide. The most heartwarming story of this year´s Oscars isn´t necessarily the 9-year-old star of "Beasts of the Southern Wild," Quvenzhane Wallis. It could very well be the pervasive success of serious films for adults. Part of what makes this year´s class remarkable is that they aren´t obvious box-office draws. Westerns are supposed to be dated. Excessively detailed stories about congressional politics aren´t usually popcorn-munching hits. Religious-minded films centered on an unknown young actor and a digital tiger adrift on a boat don´t typically steamroll like a superhero blockbuster. "The movies worked," Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of the Weinstein Co., which released "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Django Unchained," said at a recent Producers Guild of America event. He called the best picture nominees "the best collection of movies we´ve had in 20 years" and claimed the studios have a new boldness to "just go for it." That´s probably overstating the artistic drive of the studios, which are already on to releasing their typical mid-winter dreck ahead of their bloated summer franchise films. But the studios are also well represented at this year´s Oscars: Warner Bros. has "Argo," Universal has "Les Miserables," Disney has "Lincoln," Fox has "Life of Pi" and Sony has "Zero Dark Thirty." Several of those films were produced with outside financing, but they all benefited from the strong distribution and marketing of a major studio. It all points to strong health for Hollywood: A star-studded awards gala of nine varied movies to cap a boffo 2012. The year´s domestic box office hit a record $10.8 billion and the number of tickets sold increased for the first time in three years. "The good news is there´s a robust body of moviegoers seeing quality films. That´s the real story," says Peter Guber, the veteran producer and chairman of Mandalay Entertainment who produced the best picture-winning "Rain Man," among others. "I have great hope that the films this year that did all this business will spawn more adult films and more films that have thoughtful content. I hope that will be the case, I really do," says Guber. "But if you look at the lineup for this year, what you´ll see is sequels, remakes, re-dos, prequels and franchises." This year´s class is still missing a heavyweight, like "Avatar" or "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" (which drive viewers to the telecast), or the drama of something like Kathryn Bigelow and "The Hurt Locker" going up against ex-husband James Cameron and "Avatar." ´´Argo" vs. "Lincoln," as many believe the competition has come down to, "is not much of a horse race," Gruber says. That idiosyncratic movies by talented filmmakers from Ang Lee to Quentin Tarantino can be so lucrative, albeit not on the scale of the $1.1 billion-making "Skyfall," suggests that risk-taking can pay off. (There still are cautionary tales like Paul Thomas Anderson´s "The Master," which earned only $25.7 million worldwide, a fraction of its budget.) The trend for adult dramas had been going in the other direction, prompting worries about the diminishing appeal of the theatrical experience in a time of ceaseless digital entertainment, the loss of independent studios specializing in films for adult audiences, and television´s rise as the first destination for today´s best dramas. All of those concerns still have credence, but much of the critical discussion in 2012 turned not merely cynical but downright dismal. Many, including New Yorker critic David Denby (who released the book "Do the Movies Have a Future?") pondered the shrinking stature of movies in American public life. But at least this Oscar´s batch has vibrancy, with films that have provoked audiences. Bigelow crafted "Zero Dark Thirty" as an almost documentary-like early draft of history, leading up to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. She intended, she said, "to ask the audience to lean into their own conclusions" — and, boy, have they. No movie has been more hotly debated, from the corridors of Washington to the multiplexes of suburbia. At a time when teenager-targeted extravaganzas increasingly crowd out quality films for adults, this year´s best picture films made the argument for being a little daring. "Every movie is unknown," said Lee. "If it´s known, then no studio would lose money." http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50166 HEBER SPRINGS, Arkansas, Feb 18: Mindy McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, has died in Arkansas in an apparent suicide. She was 37. The Cleburne County Sheriff´s Office said in a news release that McCready was found dead Sunday at a residence in Heber Springs from what appeared to be a single, self-inflicted gunshot to the head. An autopsy was pending.[break] It wasn´t the first suicide attempt for the troubled singer, whose list of problems only continued to grow in 2013. McCready entered court-ordered rehab earlier this month after her father told a judge she was no longer taking care of herself or her children and was abusing drugs and alcohol. Her sons were put in foster care at the time, but it´s not clear where Zander and Zayne were at the time of McCready´s death. McCready´s longtime boyfriend David Wilson, the father of her younger son, died last month in Arkansas. Authorities found his body on the same porch where they discovered McCready´s on Sunday, and his death also was investigated as a suicide. In this undated file photo, country singer Mindy McCready performs in Nashville, Tenn. McCready, who hit the top of the country charts before personal problems sidetracked her career, died Sunday, Feb. 17. (AP Files) The front porch light remained on Sunday night at McCready´s home in the wooded lakefront community filled with large homes. Yellow crime-scene tape blocked off the front of the house, and a deputy sat watch over the property, referring questions to the sheriff. A pickup truck remained in the driveway. Wilson´s passing struck McCready hard. She issued a statement last month lamenting his death. She called him her soul mate and a caregiver to her sons in an interview with NBC´s "Today." She said she´d never gone through anything as painful as his death. "I just keep telling myself that the more suffering that I go through, the greater character I´ll have," she said, according to a transcript of the interview. News of McCready´s death spread quickly Sunday night on Twitter, with major country stars paying their respects to the onetime Nashville darling. "Too much tragedy to overcome. R.I.P Mindy McCready," wrote Natalie Maines of The Dixie Chicks. And Jason Aldean added: "Just heard about Mindy McCready. My thoughts and prayers are with her 2 boys and her family." Melinda Gayle McCready arrived in Nashville in 1994 still in her teens with tapes of her karaoke vocals and earned a recording contract with BNA Records. In 1996, her "Guys Do It All the Time" hit No. 1 and its dig at male chauvinism endeared her to females. Her other hits included "Ten Thousand Angels," also in 1996, and her album by that title sold 2 million copies. She spent the next 15 years chasing another hit as personal problems began plaguing her. Her problems included a custody battle with her mother over one of her sons, an overdose and discord in her love life. McCready took her older son, Zander, from her mother and the boy´s legal guardian, Gayle Inge, in late 2011. She fled to Arkansas without permission over what she called child abuse fears. Authorities eventually found McCready hiding in a residence without permission and took the boy into custody. She and Wilson had a son, Zayne, in April 2012. The older son´s father is McCready´s former boyfriend Billy McKnight. In May 2010, she was hospitalized briefly after police responded to an overdose call at a home in North Fort Myers, Florida, owned by her mother. This followed a stint on "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew," where she declared herself to be clean from drugs. She is the fifth celebrity appearing on that show to have died. But her troubles began earlier. In 2004, she was charged with obtaining the painkiller OxyContin fraudulently at a pharmacy. She pleaded guilty and was placed on three years´ probation. She violated the probation with a drunken driving arrest in May 2005. A few days after that arrest, she was beaten and her boyfriend at the time was charged with attempted criminal homicide. Then she attempted suicide in July 2005, overdosed in September 2005 and slit her wrists in December 2008. Also that year, McCready was charged in Arizona with hindering prosecution and unlawful use of transportation. Those charges stemmed from an alleged attempt in June 2005 to purchase two high performance boats, but she claimed she was trying to stop a con man. In July 2007, she was arrested in her hometown of Fort Myers, Florida, on misdemeanor charges of scratching her mother on the face during a scuffle and resisting sheriff´s deputies. She made headlines again in April 2008 when she claimed a longtime relationship with baseball great Roger Clemens. Published reports at the time said she met the pitcher at a Florida karaoke bar when she was 15 and he was 28 and married. In June 2008, McCready was arrested and charged with violating her probation by falsifying her community service records relating to the 2004 drug charge. A month later, she entered an extended care facility for undisclosed treatment, and followed that with a 60-day jail sentence in the Williamson County jail. McCready found some peace after her appearance on "Celebrity Rehab" and told The Associated Press in early 2010 she hoped to get her career restarted, write a book about her experiences and begin production on a reality show. She felt she´d finally gained some control over her life. "It is a giant whirlwind of chaos all the time," she said. "I call my life a beautiful mess and organized chaos. It´s just always been like that. My entire life things have been attracted to me and vice versa that turn into chaotic nightmares or I create the chaos myself. I think that´s really the life of a celebrity, of a big, huge, giant personality." http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50158 KATHMANDU, Feb 18: After inciting controversy over its use of army uniform and the subsequent protest by the army, Badhshala seeks to get the green light and continue its journey towards movie theatres. In the film, Badhshala depicts torture inflicted by army personnel. Following the Ministry of Defense’s letter to the Ministry of Information and Communications, in late January, expressing its displeasure at the use of army uniform and asking for the ban of the film, it has now been submitted to the Censor Board and its fate will be decided on Tuesday, February 19. [break] Director Manoj Pandit informed that the tax for the film was paid today and concerned army personnel have also been invited to a screening on Tuesday. “I’ve requested them to join us on Tuesday for the screening. I’m hopeful that once they watch the film their doubts will be cleared, and everything can be settled,” he said. The army was unavailable for any comments. If permission is granted after careful observation by the Censor Board, Badhshala will be released on March 8. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50116 KATHMANDU, Feb 17: Sunil Rai, 28, recently bought a pair of red trousers. He ordered it from an online clothing store and is immensely satisfied with the trousers. He says, “The quality is good, it’s trendy and there’s no hassle of bargaining. The price was also reasonable, and I have no complaints.” Many of us know of at least one online clothing store. Comb through the social networking sites, and you will see how it has seeped into the world and found its customer base. Like for everything else, the networking sites are a boon to these stores. In Nepal too, we’re seeing a change in the way people are shopping for clothes and accessories. The small shops and big malls are no longer the only paradise in the shoppers’ heaven. Online clothing stores are making their presence felt. [break] For instance, Fmirror (www.fmirror.com) has been operating since the last two years. Srawan Shrestha owns the store with his wife, Anju Rai, and says that the response to the store has been ‘overwhelming’. “The range of our customers starts with 12-year-old children and they go up to people who are 60-years-old. Today, we’ve got around 2500 customers,” shares Srawan. Anju was in London where she saw the boom in the market for online shopping, and decided it was worth a try in Nepal. While the majority of their customers belong to Kathmandu, they do receive their share of orders from customers in Dharan, Pokhara and Chitwan. Online stores see more feasibility in retaining their online identity instead of branching to a store in a mall. There’s no need to undergo the hassle of scouting a perfect location or forking the monthly rent for the space occupied. A social networking site demands no rent, there’s much more interaction and feedback from shoppers. Sanjay Shrestha, 27, owner of Up&Sass (www.upandsass.com) confirms this.  “There’s no need to worry about the perfect location and its rent or the decor of the shop to impress and attract customers. That capital can actually be invested to develop other aspects of an online store business,” he says, adding, “Facebook is an effective and a cheap marketing tool.” The terribly reality of load shedding is, without a doubt, the biggest nemesis of most businesses and entrepreneurs here. With their core existence depending on online visibility and online reach, the frequent and long hours of load shedding leads to trouble. “It’s a big hindrance as it prevents us from updating our page and our customers, too, will not be able to frequent Up & Sass as often as they would like,” he says. Since online stores generally order their products from abroad and from different shops and websites, there are minimal chances of meeting your outfit doppelganger while you are out and about. That is the biggest advantage and what really draws in customers to online stores. It is what led to the launch of Up&Sass. Sanjay fondly recalls his wife’s complaint about the difficulty of finding clothes her size in shops and the high chance of bumping into someone else wearing the same stuff. On September last year, Up&Sass started its operations and three months later, www.upandsass.com was launched. He says that he wouldn’t categorize the store as a success just yet, but is happy with the response and support it’s been generating. “All our products are from the UK. We offer high street brands such as ASOS, New Look, Topshop, and Miss Selfridge. We specifically hand pick all of our products through the brands’ websites and we select the latest trends to hit the UK so our customers can be the first ones to strut them in Nepal,” he says. Customers also seem satisfied with this shopping experience. It’s the quality of clothes, the chance to wear something not found in every other store in the capital not to mention the latest trends that has made online shopping a favorite with Rubeena Dutt, 39, ex-editor of Wave Magazine. Apart from the basics, she’s turned to online stores to provide her with everything else the past year. “The quality of clothes is just so much better, and with that guarantee, it’s no hardship to put in the money for clothes I like. Anyway, the products we get in the shops here are not available for less than a couple of thousand rupees and it’s wiser to shop from online stores,” she extols the virtues of online stores. Customers can leisurely flip through the photos of the latest offerings in their favorite online store, and can also get their orders delivered at a convenient time and place. Up&Sass accepts its products if they’re returned within three days in good condition with the tags intact. Full refund is also possible. Work is hard for owners of the stores, however. Attention to detail is required in running the stores, just like in any other stores. Sanjay speaks to people thinking of opening up an online clothing store, “Just because it is an online store doesn’t mean one is allowed to be laid back and just upload photos of the products. The amount of effort and time you put in reflects your store. You have to keep yourself updated with new trends. Also, be wise when it comes to pricing the products. Don’t over price thinking about the profit you’ll gain. Customers will be turned off by exuberant prices. Lastly, give importance to how you display your products as it’s the only way to attract people since they are not able to touch and feel.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50115 KATHMANDU, Feb 17: One of 50 stalls in Nagarik Junkiri Kids Jamboree 2013 at Jawalakhel Football Ground is that of Universal Concepts of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS). The stall on the right corner of the venue has abacuses which attract young visitors instantly. A video showing students of UCMAS and discussing benefits of the course is playing throughout the day. [break] UCMAS, an internationally recognized medium of learning with its principle office in Malaysia, is being practiced in more than 55 countries around the world. The course boasts of improving children’s concentration power, hearing capacity, listening power, logical application, creativity and building photographic memory. Students of age 4 to 12 can take the course in various countries but in Nepal, the course has been allocated for students between the age of 5 and 13. “Students work up to triple digit and 20 rows of arithmetic sums,” informed Executive Director of national franchisee of UCMAS in Nepal, Kailash Kunwar Chhetri. “As soon as we hear ‘3’ or any number, the image that comes in our minds is of the number itself. When I say an apple, you don’t think of number one but an apple. What I am trying to say is that learning should be visual based, students should be able to picture things when they are learning about it,” explained Chhetri to parents inquiring about the program at the stall. Shalav was one of the many curious visitors at the stall. He was with his wife and one-year-old daughter. The parents started teaching their daughter basic numbers by flashing flashcards and their daughter is already learning the basics of Spanish and Mandarin language. Children, along with their parents, look at the various games offered by one of the stalls at the Nagarik Junkiri Kids Jamboree 2013 at the Jawalakhel Football Ground in Patan. The children’s extravaganza is set to conclude on February 18. (Bijay Rai/Republica) Really interested in the UCMAS course, Shalav asked Chhetri if he could enroll his daughter at the age of three or three and a half. “We try and keep her engaged but we also make sure that she doesn’t get bored. It is hard for children to focus on things and they easily lose their concentration. If she starts learning now she’ll be as good as a native speaker in the future,” shared Shalav, adding parents should be enthusiastic at least in their early learning phase. Similarly, Kiran Dhakal, who has a five-year-old son, said, “I had enrolled my eldest son in the UCMAS course. My complaint is that the classes are on Saturdays and children cannot even enjoy their day-off.” “My suggestion is UCMAS should coordinate with schools and incorporate classes within school’s timetable. I have to cancel my day-outs to take my son to UCMAS classes. It would be easier for us if it’s included in the school hours,” he further added. The stall also has games where students are given arithmetic sums to calculate and upon solving them, gift hampers can be won! A complete extravaganza for children, which includes food, fun, shopping as well as entertainment, Nagarik Junkiri Kids Jamboree 2013 began on February 15 and will conclude on February 18, 2013. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50114 As management students, we have to face a great dilemma after graduating. We find ourselves at the crossroads of life and face the ambiguity of choosing what we want to pursue in life. Basically, there are two major options: employment or entrepreneurship. Both the options have their own rewards and drawbacks. Various talk programs, seminars and guest workshops today are trying to develop and enhance entrepreneurial spirit among the business and management students. But, is it really a wise decision for us, students, to jump into entrepreneurship? Or are there certain factors that need to be considered? [break] Entrepreneurship generally refers to a process of action an entrepreneur undertakes to establish her enterprise, which can also be referred as YOB (Your Own Business). An entrepreneur is the one who tries to capitalize opportunities from the environment. He’s someone who looks at a problem from a different angle and perceives it as an opportunity. Gain or profits for an entrepreneur is enormous and unlimited. One can grow very fast as an entrepreneur which may not be possible just by holding a job. Similarly, an entrepreneur has control over the work schedule and can choose when to work and when to take some time off. An entrepreneur has the freedom to make his own decisions and a chance to shape one’s career. Hence, it is an exciting field which can take an individual to greatest heights of success. On the other hand, there are a lot of advantages of being employed too. Employment ensures financial security as it provides a fixed regular payment. A job also helps to maintain work-life balance as an employee can leave the work at the office desk at the end of the day and spend the rest of the time as he likes. As an employee, you will also be less exposed to stress and tension as there is someone else to make the major decisions for you. All you have to do is follow the orders and get paid for the same. Being an employee also provides various benefits like medical, vacation and other fringe benefits. Most importantly, employment does not involve the risk that entrepreneurs or business owners have on their shoulders. As far as I am concerned, I don’t think that everyone should be an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is incredible and exciting, but we should also understand that it is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. Being an entrepreneur, one can earn a lot of money, can enjoy flexibility in work, and can follow his/her dreams, but one should keep in mind that not all dreams come true. Though there are a lot of advantages associated with entrepreneurship, being an entrepreneur is a big responsibility and comes with a lot of risks. One may end up losing everything (mainly huge capital and time), while trying to be an entrepreneur. One cannot simply overlook the advantages and benefits one can reap through employment. However, for an entrepreneur filled with determination and self-motivation, sky is the limit. The writer is a student of BBA at Thames International College in Kathmandu. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50113 Students not satisfied with the education system KATHMANDU, Feb 17: As the development process of Nepal remains stagnant, and unemployment and strife continues, it is perhaps time to re-evaluate the education system here. With little or no practical education, and a heavy burden of theoretical knowledge, the curriculum is stale and beds for serious changes. Students voice their discontentment and share their views on what needs to be done. [break] Aashish Bhattarai, 21, is preparing to pursue Engineering, and he says, “The education system of Nepal is not enough to meet the practical knowledge requirement which is necessary for the future. Our education is theory based. While it is good to see that more and more colleges are being established, most of them are motivated by profit. We need an education system that is responsive to the environment, national vision and value system that we want to promote.” The significance of practical knowledge as well as the large gap between the need of the hour and the reality of the theory driven curriculum is being felt by many. Shristi Maharjan, 16, an A-Level student of A J Wild Institute of Advanced Studies, believes that the education system should change. “It’s really old. In my opinion, there should be more of practical and less of theory. New and more practical based curriculum should be introduced in schools and colleges,” she says. On our Facebook page, Anjana Timilsina also states her agreement. “There must be practical as well as theoretical education in equal portions. The teaching system should not only be exam oriented but more focused on learning and involving students. The students must not only be evaluated by the terminal marks but also be judged from his daily performance and his creativity,” says she. “I am a 4th year civil engineering student,” says Rakesh Roshan, adding, “What I’ve realized is that in my field there is more need of practical knowledge. Our education system fails because we don’t have that type of education system where a student can learn equally in practice and in theory. Instead, we have tons of theoretical knowledge and are left to suffer practically in life. Our education system is solely based on just educating people and no improvement in the standards. What I studied in class 10 is still being studied by the younger batch.” According to Kavita Gautam, students just seem to be studying just to get the certificate rather than to boost their capacity and skills. She continues to explain the views of many, “There isn’t any proper monitoring or education system; a science teacher has an English background, and a Math teacher comes from an Education background. Tuition class hours are increasing . Furthermore, a teacher teaches a student that A is for an apple, and gives the same task as homework. The question remains same for the weekly and final tests and the student never learns that A could also be for an airplane or an ankle. With a proper education system, the products of our schools will never have to be unemployed or seek jobs abroad.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50112 Exciting performances by crowd’s favorite artists KATHMANDU, Feb 17: Close Up Love Fest 2013 ended with a full day event at Civil Mall, Sundhara on Saturday. The grand finale of the fest, which began on February 5 with college interactions and programs at different venues of Kathmandu, included performances by Atripta Band, Shine Band, Anil Singh, Naren Limbu, Sugam Pokharel and Mt 8848 on the second floor of Civil Mall. Similarly, Hem & The Band and Subani Moktan also performed at the Food Court on the fifth floor. Students of Sitapaila Dance Academy performed a flash mob, salsa dance and B-boying in the afternoon. The stage on the second floor of Civil Mall on the final day of Close Up Love Fest in Kathmandu. (Dipesh Shrestha/Republica) Interactive game stalls on android phones, touch pads with projection on LCD screen were also installed and winners were given gift hampers from Close Up, gift vouchers from the Food Court in Civil Mall and Cafereena in Sherpa Mall. Free QFX movie tickets were also offered depending on the game. The main attraction of the program was the Love Lounge, a temporary discotheque for couples on the third floor. “We chose two best love messages from each venue and out of the 12 selected messages, the best one received a pair of Samsung Duos mobile phone,” said Pranaya Hoda, Marketing Officer, and one of the organizers, from Unilever Nepal. Kumdini Acharya’s message was declared as the best message and was gifted with a pair of Samsung phones. According to Hoda, 800 free movie tickets were also distributed among participants in Love Booths across six different venues and colleges. “All the performances were great, it’s awesome,” said Anil Sunuwar, 22, who was enjoying Naren Limbu’s performance with two of his friends. Gopal Soni, 23, was seen dedicating a love message on a message board to his girlfriend in Rajasthan. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50064 AMSTERDAM, Feb 16: Swedish photographer Paul Hansen won the 2012 World Press Photo award Friday for newspaper Dagens Nyheter with a picture of two Palestinian children killed in an Israeli missile strike being carried to their funeral. The picture shows a group of men marching the dead bodies through a narrow street in Gaza City. The victims, a brother and sister, are wrapped in white cloth with only their faces showing.[break] “The strength of the pictures lies in the way it contrasts the anger and sorrow of the adults with the innocence of the children,” said jury member Mayu Mohanna of Peru. “It’s a picture I will not forget.” World Press Photo, one of photojournalism’s most prestigious contests, issued awards in nine categories to 54 photographers of 32 nationalities. Hansen’s Nov. 20 shot won top prize in both the spot news single photograph category and the overall competition. It portrays 2-year-old Suhaib Hijazi and her 3-year-old brother Muhammad, who were killed when their house was destroyed by the Israeli attack. They are being carried by grieving uncles, as their father Fouad was also killed, and his body can be seen in the background of the picture. The children’s mother, whose name was not provided, was in intensive care. “This prize is the highest honor you can get in the profession,” Hansen told The Associated Press. “I’m very happy, but also very sad. The family lost two children and the mother is unconscious in a hospital.” “These situations are so visually complex,” he added. “It’s difficult to convey the emotions, to translate what is happening. The light is harsh and there are a lot of people. World Press Photo jury president Santiago Lyon (L) and Managing Director of World Press Photo Michael Munneke look at the contest´s winning photo during the annoucement of it in Amsterdam on February 15, 2013. Photographer Paul Hansen from Sweden won the 56th World Press Photo Contest with a picture of men carrying the bodies of two dead children in Gaza City. AFP  “But in the alley the light bounced off the walls, so I thought this is a place where you can see that it’s a procession. ... You get the depth in the image, and the bouncing light.” Violence in the Middle East, and its effect upon civilians, was the dominant theme in the hard news categories. The Associated Press won seven awards in all, including top prizes for a spot news series for Bernat Armangue of Spain for photos he took in Gaza during November; and for Rodrigo Abd of Argentina for general news single photograph, with a picture of a woman with a bloodstained face weeping in Idib, Syria, on March 10. She was identified as Aida, and her photo of silent grief is in some ways a reverse image of Hansen’s winning shot. She received severe injuries when her house was shelled by the Syrian Army, killing her husband and two children. In other categories, Wei Seng Chen of Malaysia won in the sports singles category with a shot of what might be considered a local “extreme sport”: a man clutching the tails of two bulls as they pull him through a watery rice field in Batu Sangkar, Indonesia. The competition also includes portrait series, scenes from everyday life, and nature photography, among others. The contest drew entries from professional press photographers, photojournalists and documentary photographers across the world. In all, 103,481 images were submitted by 5,666 photographers from 124 countries. The photos were submitted anonymously to a panel of 19 jury members, chaired by AP Director of Photography Santiago Lyon, and judged in multiple rounds. The winners were all “stellar examples of first-rate photojournalism,” Lyon said. Other judges came from Germany, Iraq, Peru, France, Sweden, China, Britain, Spain, Azerbaijan, South Africa, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the U.S. Hansen will receive a (euro) 10,000 prize at ceremonies and the opening of the year’s exhibition April 25-27 in Amsterdam. World Press Photo 1st prize General News Single by Rodrigo Abd, Argentina, for The Associated Press, Aida cries while recovering from severe injuries she received when her house was shelled by the Syrian Army. Her husband and two children were fatally wounded during the shelling in Idib, north Syria, March 10, 2012./AP Micah Albert was awarded first prize in the contemporary issues single category for this photograph of a woman working as a trash picker at a 30-acre dump in Nairobi, Kenya/AP. Emin Ozmen won second prize in the spot news single category for this picture of Syrian opposition fighters interrogating and torturing an informant in Aleppo, taken on 31 July 2012. First prize in contemporary issues stories went to Maika Elan for her portrayal of a lesbian couple, Phan Thi Thuy Vy and Dang Thi Bich Bay, in Vietnam/AP. First prize in daily life stories was awarded to Fausto Podavini for an intimate set of photographs of Mirella caring for her husband, Luigi, suffering from Alzheimer´s, in Rome/AP. First prize in sports features stories went to Jan Grarup for his photographs of a women´s basketball team in Mogadishu who have an armed guard/AP. First prize in the sports action single category was awarded to Wei Seng Chen for this photograph taken at the Pacu Jawi bull race in Batu Sangkar, West Sumatra, Indonesia, on 12 February 2012/AP. The Swedish photographer Paul Hansen won the World Press Photo of the Year award for this image of mourners carrying brothers two-year-old Suhaib Hijazi and three-year-old Muhammad, who were killed when their house was destroyed by an Israeli missile strike in Gaza City on 20 November 2012/AFP. World Press Photo 2nd prize Daily Life Single by Soren Bidstrup, Denmark, for Berlingske, shows summer holiday camping. Someone is up a little too early in Jeselo, Italy, July 8, 2012/AP German photographer Christian Ziegler won 1st prize in the Nature - Singles category for this image of an endangered Southern Cassowary feeding on the fruit of the Blue Quandang tree, taken in Australia/AP.   Paul Nicklen from Canada was awarded 1st prize in the Nature - Stories category for this image of Emperor Penguins he took for National Geographic magazine. It was taken in the Ross Sea, Antarctica/AP.   http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50072 KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Nepal Music School celebrated its 7th anniversary and Saraswatii Puja at the school premises on Friday. Renowned musicians, like Kali Prasad Rijal and Shila Bahadur Moktan, were present to honor the double festivity. Students offered musical performances for the audience, and were also joined in by their teachers. Two welcome songs ushered in the occasion, and were followed by a classical dance performance. There was an equal mix of both eastern and western musical influences, as students presented all genres of songs and music for the audience. From a melodious rendition of popular singer Astha B’s ‘Ma ta ekkaisau sadi ki keti hu’, to a soulful tribute to Narayan Gopal and then a drum led instrumental rock performance, the event was enjoyable for everyone.[break] Dipesh Shrestha/ Republica Singer and composer Amber Gurung presents a token of appreciation to a teacher during the 7th anniversary celebration of Nepal Music School on Friday. Ambar Gurung was the chief guest for the event and true to his passion for music, he told the students, “A true musician is one who learns music from the heart.” Further, he advised them to make the most of the opportunity to learn. At the same occasion, students were also presented with certificates of merit. After going through the school’s list of programs and recent achievements, Principal Iman Bikram Shah, concluded the event by talking about the school’s “commitment to promote music education.” http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50071 Celebrating love by giving KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Hotel Annapurna extended its support to Jayanti Memorial Trust by organizing an event, ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, on February 14. The event was also a part of the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity and through this event it aimed to raise funds to help heart patients who come from an economically unsound background. Jayanti Memorial Trust, set up in 2001 in the memory of Jayanti Shah, seeks to help heart patients in need of financial aid. Through the Trust, the patients are provided with medicines, medical devices and financial aid.[break] Sahana Bajracharya was the host for the evening, and she commenced the evening’s enjoyment by asking various people in the audience about the significance of love for them. As stated in the press release, ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, was an evening dedicated to romance, poetry, dance and live music. The evening saw performances by Murad Ali and Riddhi Thapa in a story woven together from scenes from films like Scent of a Woman, Autumn in New York, Frankie & Johnny and Once Upon A Time in America. Directed by Divya Dev and choreographed by Pratima Shrestha, the act was mixed with poetry recitals and dances. Upendra Lal Singh filled up the pauses with romantic melodies on the piano. Bringing his wonderful musical presence to the evening, Hemant Rana sang many popular Nepali, Hindi, Sufi and Ghazal songs to entertain the listeners. Dil Chahta Hai was sponsored by Qatar Airways and supported by Pespi, Lavazza and Sagtima Exim. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50070 March 15: Mark your calendar KATHMANDU, Feb 15: It’s official! The English rock band formed in 1968 in Hertford, England, Deep Purple is to rock Kathmanduites. A joint collaboration of Jet Set PR Entertainment and ODC Entertainment and promoted by Utsav Events, the rock band is set to perform in Kathmandu at the Dasrath Rangasala located in Tripuresthwore on March 15, 2013. “The band is currently touring the world and will be arriving to Kathmandu via Dubai once they finish their concert in Singapore,” informed Simanta Gurung, Director of ODC at the press meet held at Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat on Friday. The band was to play in New Delhi, India before coming to Kathmandu but the concert there has been cancelled.[break] Considered the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, the band, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, has been referred to as the “unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid 70’s”. Deep Purple have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, including 7.5 million certified units in the US alone. The band, which ranked number 22 on VH1’s Greatest Artist of Hard Rock Program, currently consists of Ian Paice on percussion, Roger Glover on bass guitar, Ian Gillan on vocals, harmonica and percussion, Steve Morse on guitar and Don Airey on organ and keyboards. “The production, this time, will be more difficult as Deep Purple has more production requirement than our earlier event, ‘Bryan Adams Live’,” stated the press release. Speaking on the same line, Director Gurung of ODC further added that unlike Atif Aslam’s concert a little earlier, lights, sounds and other production equipments will be brought in from India and the concert, “will be fantastic”. Keshab Thoker/Republica Representatives of Jet Set PR Entertainment, ODC Entertainment, Utsav Events and United Brewery during the press meet at the Radisson Hotel on Friday to announce the concert of Deep Purple in Kathmandu. The English rock band are set to perform in the capital on March 15, 2013 Tickets for the concert are priced at Rs 500, Rs 1000, Rs 2000 and Rs 10,000 for VVIP tickets, which will be available on limited number. “We have considered the price for students this time, hence it’s affordable,” said Gurung, adding, “15,000 to 20,000 people attended Bryan Adams’ concert but we hope more people will attend this time.” The tickets are to go on sale from February 20 and will be available at all the Bakery Café outlets and via www.esewa.com.np. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50075 KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Lex Kassenberg, Country Director of Care Nepal, was a witness to the political upheaval of Panchayat System to multi-party democracy. “I was here in the 80s, 90s and hopes were incredibly high then. Political parties were dealing with challenges thrown at them,” he says, adding, “People are disappointed that their expectations didn’t materialize but I see incredible progress especially in the rural areas.” Born in 1956 about 25 km west of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Kassenberg studied Land and Water Management at Wageningen University. He recalls growing up by the sea with three younger brothers.[break] After having worked in Nepal for a short period of time, Kassenberg went on to work with the UN in Philippines for two years. He returned to Nepal but immediately moved to Brussels where Care’s International Secretariat was located. He has experiences of working in Kenya, Somalia and Afghanistan. Kassenberg is married to a Nepali whom he met while doing a short consultancy job for the World Bank in 1983 and they got married in 1985. Care is an INGO with the objective to fight poverty by specifically working with girls and women. “Care has quite evolved since early 1980s when the organization was directly involved in the construction of suspension bridges,” he recalls. Care Nepal has started projects with Asian Development Bank and currently works on Women empowerment, health projects, natural resources, adaptation and climate change. The organization has 200 staff, 50 of whom are based in Kathmandu while others are spread out in 44 districts. The development projects are concentrated on far west and they have their offices in Nepalgunj, Pokhara, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Dhankuta including Kathmandu. Care Nepal is a member of Association of International NGOs in Nepal (AIN) of which Kassenberg is the vice-chair. The organization has organized awareness programs related to HIV AIDS in the far west providing information and has even made an agreement with the local rickshaw union to make people going to and coming from India stop at information booths. Apart from that, Care Nepal is also involved with mother and child health care, building birthing centers, improving equipments and infrastructure of health posts. When asked about what inspires him the most, he recalls his encounter with Edna Adan, wife of former President of Somalia and the then foreign minister. “She was building a maternity hospital on a former execution ground and she explained that the place of death was becoming the place of birth. She is an incredibly dedicated human being. When I met her she was living low-key and humble but she had lots of fascinating stories to share.” His unforgettable moments include the time he was trekking in Langtang in around 1986/7 when he witnessed Halley’s Comet passing by against the clear sky. “It happens only once in 76 years and it was a unique opportunity to be in such a fascinating landscape,” he explains. He also talks about meeting Desmond Tutu during one of Care’s conference in South Africa - “he is an interesting individual with unbelievable sense of humor,” he adds. Kassenberg was featured on “Inspirations: The essence of life”, a personality-based television series presented by Media Gallery and Global Exposition and Management Services in association with Republica. The program is aired on Nepal Television every Wednesday at 10:10pm. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50074 KATHMANDU, Feb 15: A complete extravaganza for children, which includes food, fun, shopping as well as entertainment, Nagarik Junkiri Kids Jamboree 2013 is a fair organized by Rise Global event Management Company. The four-day long fair which began on Friday at the Jawalakhel Football Ground, in line with the Saraswati Puja, was inaugurated by Badri Neupane, Minister for women, children and social welfare. With 50 stalls and outdoor games, the event is targeted to bring in 50,000 visitors altogether, says Rajan Neupane, Managing Director of Rise Global. “Every child is special and through this event, we want to give a child all the fun and happiness that he or she deserves,” he said.[break] Stalls from Ngames club.com, Kathmandu Children Club, SABAH Nepal, BN Pustak Sansar and UCMAS Mental Arithmetic Nepal can be found at the fair whose special highlights includes live Angry Birds game, Universal Planetarium, talent competitions, and a seminar on child psychology and parenting advice and support. Sakshyam Pradhan and Pranaya Mathema, students from Swarnim School, were going through books at a book stall. “This is the first time that I’ve come to such a fair,” shared Sakshyam. Both the students had heard about Kids Jamboree at school and were especially looking forward to the angry birds live game and the planetarium. The event is scheduled to end on February 18, 2013. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50073 KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Webster University Thailand is organizing “Preparing for University - A Leap Ahead” workshop and “Career Building Workshop 2013” on February 16 and 17 respectively at Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat. “Preparing for University - A Leap Ahead” workshop will focus on providing students with information on how to search and prepare for university after high school in a presentation provided by a professional counselor. [break] The workshop will also discuss the transitional phase from high school to university level, change in learning environment and process. “Students will be also given guidance on how to prepare applications and documents for admission and scholarships. The interactive session will be most suitable for students who are applying for undergraduate programs in the United States or Universities in Asia offering an American curriculum. Students will also get an opportunity to attend Undergraduate “demo class,” stated the press release. Similarly, “Career Building Workshop” is designed to help undergraduate students to focus in their future profession and choose graduate courses accordingly. The workshops will be conducted by Webster University Thailand’s professor Dr Kenneth Houston and Director of Admissions and Marketing Samrat Ray Chaudhuri. Webster University Thailand is an American accredited university and part of a global network of international campuses. It offers American accredited courses in undergraduate and graduate programs from Media, Business, Psychology and International Relations. It is the only American University in Thailand and all degrees are issued by Webster University, St Louis (Missouri, USA). Interested students can pre-register for invitations by calling at 5011500 or 4117494. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=50076 KATHMANDU, Feb 15: Judging someone before getting to know the person is involuntary. Having a preconceived notion is natural, especially if you’re one of those people who judge others by what they’re wearing whether it’s the attention-seeking colorful socks or decent pair of shoes. Auras Bhandari, 20 a student of Civil Engineering at Kathmandu Engineering College; Reetu Joshi, 18, +2 graduate, who is currently involved with Kolor Kathmandu; Rijan Upadhyay, 20, who is soon leaving for Bangalore, India to study IT; Yogesh Upreti, 19, a student of Computer Engineering at Kathmandu Engineering College and Priyanka Pradhan, 21, student of Bachelor of Business Administration- Banking and Insurance (BBA BI) at Apex College, share their views on dressing up, how conscious are they about looking good and if they judge people by their clothes.[break] Chandra Shekhar Karki/Republi How conscious are you about dressing up? Reetu: I am pretty conscious about how I look especially if I am going out for parties or a date. I check myself out in the mirror and ask my brother, who suggests me what to wear and what not to wear. He rates me out of 10. Auras: I don’t care about matching colors of my outfits. I choose clothes I haven’t worn in a while, only stopping to check that it’s not dirty. Rijan: I check the weather before leaving my house and dress up accordingly. Whatever looks good on me, I wear it. Yogesh: I am not at all conscious. I pick one and wear it until it’s dirty. It’s a basic instinct to dress up according to the weather. Priyanka: I wouldn’t say I am that conscious about dressing up, although I am very particular about my hair. As long as my hair looks fine, I don’t care what I’m wearing. Do you feel pressured to dress up well if your friends are very conscious? Reetu: My friends aren’t that conscious but I make it a point to update myself with the latest trends. I like vintage clothing and I think the main thing is to know how to pair things up. Rijan: I don’t think anyone needs to feel pressured to dress up well especially by friends. We don’t judge each other with what we wear. Priyanka: Sometimes, when I see girls pulling off flashy clothes I wish I could do that too. But it’s only momentary. Today, all the girls in my class were in kurthas for Saraswati Puja and I was the only one wearing jeans. I felt a little awkward but no peer pressure really. How interested are you in fashion, do you follow the latest trends? Reetu: I think fashion is pretty important. I follow fashion blogs and often Google fashion tips. I buy clothes that I won’t wear it on a day-to-day basis because you never know when you need them. Auras: I am never up-to-date with the fashion trends. I am the kind of person who rushes to store in a hurry, buy clothes and shoes only when I need them. Rijan: I don’t believe in trends. As long as you’re wearing clothes that suit you, it should be fine. Yogesh: I am against the idea of following latest trends. Fashion is propaganda. Someone else tells you what you look good in and with all these fashion magazines, people strive to look like models; you have something to compare yourself too. Priyanka: I don’t buy clothes I can’t afford and I usually pick up trends after they have faded out. That way, I think, you don’t end up looking like everyone else. Do you judge people by the clothes they wear or like they say shoes, watches? Priyanka: You can tell a lot about a person by the bag s/he’s carrying and shoes. Yogesh: I find it hard to believe that one can judge another person just by clothes. I don’t have that habit. Rijan: I look at their faces and if they look interesting, I’ll check out what they’re wearing. But I am not judgmental about it. I tend to notice t-shirts if it’s a guy and bags in case of girls. Auras: Honestly, I don’t know how to judge a person by clothes s/he is wearing. Reetu: It is very natural for anyone to judge somebody like that since it is the first impression of the other person before s/he opens their mouth. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49997 BANGKOK, Feb 15: A kiss lasting nearly two-and-a-half days propelled one determined Thai couple to a new record for the world´s longest smooch on Valentine´s Day, organisers said Friday. Hospital security guard Ekkachai Tiranarat, 44, and 33-year-old housewife Laksana locked lips for 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds, smashing last year´s Guinness World Record by more than eight hours.[break] The romance of the clinch may have been marred by competition rules requiring contestants to remain on their feet throughout, slurp food and liquids through a straw and even go to the toilet while continuing to press their lips together. "They were very exhausted because they did not sleep for two-and-a-half days, they had to stand all the time so they were very weak," Sompron Naksuetrong, vice president of event organiser Ripley´s Believe It or Not!, told AFP. The "kissathon" ended shortly before midnight on Valentine´s Day, with the male couple who won last year unable to maintain their smooch, collapsing just two minutes before Ekkachai and Laksana. The pair won 100,000 baht ($3,300) cash and two diamond rings. Organisers said they did not plan to hold another competition next year after three straight years of bettering the record in Thailand and will wait for a challenge in another country. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49952 KATHMANDU, Feb 13: Two people, who were strangers, meet through a social networking site, or through a chat room and fall in love. We’re talking about love of modern times, where technology plays a matchmaker’s role. There are two sides to everything but here, we’re bringing to you, the success side, of finding love through technology. Here’s the story of how three young people met the love of their life, through technology and the internet.[break] Samriddhi Rai (Journalist and Former Miss Tourism Queen International Nepal) and Yachnit SJB Rana (Aeronautical Engineer and model) Samridhhi and Yachnit’s relationship has been going on strong for a near three years now. Yachnit’s profile came up as a Facebook friend suggestion or ‘People You May Know’. “I normally don’t check out suggestions because I’m quite busy with other things but that day, I was home, doing nothing and was just on the internet. And I happened to check his profile,” shares Samriddhi. The two had 12 mutual friends on Facebook but didn’t know each other in person. How they became friends on Facebook or who added whom is still a mystery to both Yachnit and Samriddhi, who as she puts it, are two “very social-network friendly people”. After a ‘Do I know you?’ chat message from Yachnit, their conversation began. “We had a very fun first Facebook conversation,” recalls Samriddhi, who admits that she was very impressed then. “Sounds cheesy, but yes, he ‘had me at hello’,” she adds. Their Facebook chats developed to Skype messages and then voice calls and video chats. “Gradually discovering the many facades of each other, we became really good friends over the internet as he was in the UK studying at that time,” Samriddhi shares. When Yachnit came back to Nepal, three months later, they had their first meeting. “And the rest is history!” says Samridhhi, adding, “I’d have to say that ours was the kind of love that didn’t take time to develop like most others. There were fireworks in the first Facebook chat, fireworks when we first met, and I am really glad that after almost three years of being doing together now, the fireworks are still very much intact.” Samridhhi says that being the kind of a person that she is, she was very open to meeting her kind of a person through anywhere. “I have to thank Facebook, because it’s through Facebook that I met Yachnit,” she says. However, although the social network site did help them meet and come together, the couple recently discovered last week, that they were in the same pre-school and in the same class as three- year-olds. “I guess destiny had it all figured out after all,” says a smiling Samriddhi. Supriya Pradhan Shrestha (RJ) and Avinash Shrestha (UI Engineer) Supriya, who is a believer of destiny, and the fact that there are odd possibilities of meeting ‘the one’, is living the kind of a love story that she was never skeptic about. She tied the knot with Avinash, on November 29, 2012, after being in relationship with each other for six years. Supriya and Avinash met as Venus and Naughty during the SMS Dating scheme that then Mero Mobile had introduced. The demo service was launched for free for a while and as a Mero Mobile user, Supriya took this chance to create a profile of her own. She and a friend of hers were just fooling around, by checking out profiles. She had sent a message to a profile and was waiting for the reply when another person with the profile name as Naughty, sent her a message. This is how they met. “During the demo service time, I talked to a lot of people. But it never lasted long, except with him. For some reason, we were able to keep in touch through SMS for weeks,” says Supriya, “We exchanged email addresses and just before the demo service was about to be terminated, I had this instinct to send him my phone number. And so I did,” she shares. Supriya and Avinash continued talking to each other on the phone and via MSN messenger. After three months of this, they decided to meet in person. They became good friends and were tracing between being friends and being lovers. It was only in October, that they officially became lovers. “I made the first move. I collected all my guts and expressed my love for him,” says Supriya. Avinash was perhaps waiting for this moment and he confirmed that he reciprocated her feelings. “He perfectly met the category of the ideal man that I was looking for,” Supriya says. They’re love has deepened over the years but even till today, Supriya is still ‘Venus’ on Avinash’s phone and Avinash is still ‘Naughty’ on hers. Bipin Nakarmi (DJ BPM) and his girlfriend DJ BPM has no idea how R landed up on his Facebook friend’s list but he’s sure glad that she did. They used to exchange casual hellos over chat. One night, R sent him an online message, requesting for a recharge card, since it was already late, and she couldn’t get one herself. “She needed to call her then boyfriend and sent me the message. Coincidentally, my cousin had a store where recharge cards were available and so I got a recharge pin number from him and sent it to her,” shares Bipin. This is the incident that led them to chatting more. The two had found a common ground. “We used to talk about our previous relationships and how we missed the person we used to be in a relationship with,” recalls Bipin. They became friends, and chatting with each other before going to sleep, turned into a habit. And after a couple of meetings, which became like daily routine, they became the best of friends. “We hung out with my friends and soon we had the same circle,” Bipin shares. At one such meeting, suddenly, he realized that he actually loved her. It took R, some time to realize the same. But they came on the same page and are now in a relationship which is already two years old. They are a very romantic couple. And although R comes from a very strict family due to which she has to be very careful about her relationship (and hence her name cannot be revealed here), the two find ways to be together. He also often makes mixed-tapes for her, as a gesture of expressing his love, which we think is still cute. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49950 KATHMANDU, Feb 13: For love birds, spoken words may be enough when it comes to expressing love. But, when you go that extra mile and do something special, there’s no doubt that the one you love will be all smiles and happy. There are myriad ways of expressing love, which we’ve heard of, and perhaps many ways that we’ve done so. From taking the timeless route of writing romantic letters or, in this digital age, writing romantic emails to buying gifts and goodies, gestures of expressing love speaks volumes about how deep one’s love is. And these gestures don’t always have to be materialistic. Atharba Mali, 20, a student at Shanker Dev Campus says that love is all about understanding each other. Hence, he feels that even without pronouncing those words, love can be felt. “I would be very caring and will help her in any way I can,” he shares his way of showing his love.[break] Prizma Ghimire, 19, a student of Bachelors in Social Work at St Xavier’s College, has a serious crush on a person but has not been in a relationship. “I have this habit of writing diaries. When it comes to expressing love, I may not be able to go on bent knees, but I will show him all that I have written about him in my diary,” says Prizma, who believes that love starts with friendship. She feels that although she hasn’t directly told her crush about her feelings, he does have some hints about how she feels. She has also written poems for him. “But not the lovey dovey kind,” she says, adding, “I’ve written simple ones about how we met and we came across each other.” Currently single but already experienced in love, Supral Raj Joshi, 21, student and a Radio Presenter at Kantipur FM shares that he tries to stay away from cheesy ways. “I don’t like either ‘Archies or Hallmark’ way of expressing love,” he says. For Supral, text messages are the new love letters and deleting text messages is the new old burning of love letters. Recalling the most romantic thing he did, he shares, “In 2011, sometime in August, when it was my then girlfriend’s birthday, I caught a bus to her hostel in Dhulikhel at 5:30 in the morning and stood outside her hostel, while it was drizzling, to wish her happy birthday.” Whenever, he felt like it, Supral also sang songs for his then girlfriend, on the phone. He has also written a Facebook note, ‘The Story of How We Met’ and shared his love story with others. This was his way of showing his love for his girlfriend then. Love is larger than gender, age or other labels. Maybe the way we show love has evolved with time, over the years, but this feeling and bond love remains unchanged. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49949 KATHMANDU, Feb 13: Advertized as ‘a complete children fair’, Kids Jamboree has a wide range of events aimed at children. The fair starts from February 15 at the Jawlakhel Football Ground and lasts for four days, ending on February 18. Starting each day at 11 am, the fair is free for all students and will close at 6pm. While the fair’s target audience is primary level to class 10 students, Kids Jamboree has something for everyone and also invites students of higher levels to join in the fun. Children will be guaranteed to enjoy the four day festival with many fun activities designed for them. They can choose to participate in the art competition, face painting event, and even have fun during the fashion show. The main attraction of the fair is the multimedia controlled solar system. This can be enjoyed by children and adults, students and teachers. The 25 minutes long program will take the audience through the galaxy. From L-R: Suresh Shrestha, managing director of Flow Media, Sashi Khadka, CEO of Rise Global, Bikash Bastola, managing director of Bibhusi International and Sushil Rawat, managing director of Capital FM. Sponsoring the fair is Bibhusi International and expressing the company’s good intentions, Bikash Bastola, Managing Director, said, “It’s a good platform for us to be able to interact directly with our customers in the exhibition and get feedbacks.” Every child is special’ Sashi Khadka, CEO, Rise Global and Program Director of Kids Jamboree, talks about the upcoming fair and its many events. From a puja on the first day, to a fashion show, observing the solar system and going live on air, it’s exciting events are guaranteed to make the four days of the fair very memorable for the children. Where did the idea for a fair dedicated to children take shape? Every child is special, and deserves love and attention. However, with the increasing pressures of today, parents haven’t been able to lavish as much attention on their children as they would like to. So this is an attempt to connect and give families time together. We were a team of 15 people and we worked for three months to research, plan and execute Kids Jamboree. Our plan is to continue this and hold one Kids Jamboree each year. Our objective is to make sure that children are not only having fun but learning something along the way. So what have you lined up for the visitors? Our inauguration day is the day the nation worships the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati. We are conducting a puja to start off the festival. Some of the interesting things we have lined up are Kids Jamboree FM, Little Fashion Parade, Chillar Party, and the multimedia powered solar system. The Kids Jamboree FM, in association with Capital FM, will be going live and this will give children the chance to host their own programs. We have brought in some famous personalities who will be talking about their childhood and children will get the chance to be the host. The Chillar Party is a platform for every child with every kind of talent. Even if a child can whistle, he will be given the chance to go up on stage and do it. We will also have food stalls and shopping opportunities during the fair. Since the fair is titled ‘Kids Jamboree’, what are the things of interest you have for the slightly older student crowd? There is, of course, the multimedia powered solar system presentation which will be interesting for everyone. It’s the first time something like this is happening and we’re sure that everyone from young children to adults will enjoy it. There is also a book stall which should interest the higher level of students. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49951 I’m 24 and I’ve been going out with this 22-year-old guy. But he hasn’t asked me to be his girlfriend. Should I wait? Also, my friends think he is ugly and dirty looking. - Trisa What would you do if it didn’t matter what your friends said about this guy? What would you do if it didn’t matter what he asked you, or didn’t ask you? What would you do? Would you want to like him? Would you consider being in love or would you want him to be the one? If not, why bother? Why bother about him or your friends. Not every journey has a destination. If sharing few moments of your life with him adds some happiness in your life, then why bother taking it further than it needs to. Just live this day, love this moment. There is this boy who I liked and he liked me too but I dumped him a few months back and I felt terrible. Now I am back with him but every time I go out with him, I am confused and upset again. What’s happening to me really? HELP! - Confused When we fall in love, the most amazing thing that happens is that we begin to realize who we are. We learn things about ourselves that we never knew existed within us. When we fall in love, we evolve, and sometimes in the process of evolving, we realize that what we thought was love wasn’t love to begin with. Then we feel guilty, because we think when we offered someone our love, we gave a lifelong guarantee along with it. In our heart we know, we have changed and we can no longer feel the same way. Yet that guilt pushes us back to the street we no longer belong to. Then we pretend as if pretending will make the numb heart feel alive. Love ends, but we hold on to each other because the idea of ‘separation’ is painful. Yet somewhere deep in our heart, we know, we’d both be better off if we moved on to different lanes to meet our individual destinies. My girlfriend used to diet a lot and still does. She’s thin as ever but still doesn’t eat healthy. And now she’s joined yoga and aerobics. How can I convince her? - Prasun If you are convinced that your girlfriend’s dieting is unhealthy and there is a persistent obsession about weight and body image, she could be heading towards serious eating disorder - anorexia. Please read some online resource on anorexia. Most often eating disorders are about compensating some other emotional and psychological needs – things like depression, loneliness, insecurity, pressure to be perfect, or feeling out of control. Being able to get her to admit that she has a problem and consulting a nutritionist to bring her back to healthy living, and getting psychological counseling and therapy, is easier said than done. Desire for change and treatment has to be driven by her. There is very little you can do. Yet, you can acknowledge that her problems are deeper and she needs care, support, and understanding. The last thing she needs is people to judge her, or to try control her life. Express how concerned you are and support her to work through her inner turmoil. If untreated, eating disorder could have serious health risks. I have been talking to this guy over SMS for some time. He’s a friend’s friend. Do you think I need to take permission from my friend to meet him or ask him out? - Sheetal Love is complicated, but I think friendship is the most complicated human relationship. Expectations in friendships are so unclear. You never know what’s going to make them upset and what’s going to completely set them on fire. Additionally, each of our friends is so different from another - our relationship and our level of comfort varies. There’s no law that says that you have to take permission from your friend to date their friend without telling them. There’s no moral code as far as I know. But to every action there is a reaction. What would your friend’s reaction be? Would she even care that you guys met? Would you be able to gossip and laugh it off with your friend or will it seriously jeopardize your friendship? Which one do you value more? Swastika Shrestha is the founder of Anuvuti – a social enterprise that engages young people in service-learning. She has been coaching and mentoring young people in different capacities for over a decade. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49892 Get fit. Have fun. Save lives KATHMANDU, Feb 12: Every Saturday morning in Dharan around 150 people gather in Yalambar Park. At exactly 7am, they start running from the park heading to the long road of Tin Kune jungle and back. They run 3.5 kilometers every time. Dharan Run was initiated, on May 2011, by Santosh Rai after he experienced firsthand benefits of regular running. Rai, 33, lives in the United Kingdom and has been a regular participant of Park Run UK for the last four years. “I’ve completed 125 runs,” he says, adding that he wanted to introduce the physical and mental benefits of running to his hometown of Dharan.[break] Dharan Run is basically modeled around Park Run, which is organized every week, is free of cost and takes place within parks. The first run had 24 participants and the highest number of participants in a week is numbered at 223, informs Manish Tamang, 30, President of Dharan Run. Almost 1800 runners have been registered in Dharan Run since its establishment. Promoting a healthy lifestyle and a belief that prevention is a much wiser step than cure, its motto of ‘Get Fit, Have Fun, Save Lives’ says it all. To encourage and motivate, participants receive key rings, t-shirts and even shoes and other accessories. While adults are presented with a t-shirt after completing 50 runs, those under 19 years of age will receive a t-shirt after completing 20 runs. Every year, three best runners are announced and they receive running shoes and jackets, among other things. Newa Fundraising Shop, which sells an assortment of new and used merchandise, provides the clothes and accessories. It’s been supporting the organization since the beginning, and Tamang says, “It is an integral part of Dharan Run.” Donations from UK, Hong Kong and Brunei make up a large portion of the shop’s goods, and it sells clothes, furniture, books, etc. It aims to help disabled people. The shop’s UK core team of Santosh Rai, Purshottam Rai, Anil Rai and Tika Limbu, collect the goods and send it to Nepal, which is then sold through the shop and the fund distributed to help the needy. Age is no bar. Participants as young as 8 years old come enthusiastically to run, and some runners are also in their late forties. Young children are every bit as keen as their seniors. While most of them have only a vague idea of the health benefits of running, they’re an enthusiastic crowd, nonetheless, running in their slippers, or even barefoot. Though male participation has always been prominent, women are also enthusiastic runners. Of the 150 runners each Saturday, female participation stands at around 55. It’s almost been a year since Jyoti Tamang, 18, became a member of Dharan Run. Accompanied by her friends and elder sister, she joins the other runners every Saturday and returns home energetic. She runs without fail every Saturday and has seen a marked improvement in her stamina. She says, “I’ve improved in long distance running over the past few months.” Junior Resident Dr Kumbha Raj Joshi, who is pursuing his MDS at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, has been an active participant for the past five months. Dr Joshi, 27, is a basketball player and says that the benefits of the weekly running are many. “It’s helped in improving my stamina and is a sort of training for my games. And I feel fresh and active throughout the entire day after the morning run,” he lists. Strengthening and building of community ties is another benefit. Runners develop a sense of camaraderie, and he adds, “I enjoy interacting with all the other participants and it’s a stress reliever.” On February 16, an estimated crowd of 700 people will be gathering in Bhanu Chowk at 6:30 in the morning. At exact 7:30, the Newa Charity 8K Run/Walk will kick off and the participants will either run or walk from the start point to Putali Line and go towards the hilltop of Buda Subba. The race is also being supported by Newa Fundraising Shop. Founder Rai has already tried the route and says it was a fun run of 40 minutes. The upcoming Newa Charity 8K Run/Walk also has Dr Joshi excited. Even though the route is double the normal length, he’s certain that it’ll be no hardship for him. Similarly, Jyoti is looking forward to the event and says, “I’ll do my best.” A registration fee of Rs 100 and Rs 150 will have to be paid by members of Dharan Run and new participants, respectively, for which they also get a t-shirt. Of the 500 plus people who have already registered for the run, 350 are new participants. Tamang says, “Initially, we had only given orders of 500, but now with the increasing number of registration an extra 200 orders have been placed.” The prize money stands at Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 for the winners, and is equal for both the male and female category. The best three runners under 16 in each category will also be presented with a trophy and a medal http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49891 KATHMANDU, Feb 12: A 12-member executive committee was elected at the first national convention of National Youth Federation Nepal (NYFN) on February 9 in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur. Representatives from 52 districts participated in the convention and the executive members will have a working tenure of three years.[break] Kabindra Burlakoti from Gorkha was elected President while Raju Bajiko from Bhaktapur was elected Vice President. Similarly, Lokraj Awasthi from Bajhang was elected General Secretary and Nikunj Bhandari from Jhapa and Pawan Adhikari from Dang as Secretaries. Sushila KC from Lalitpur was Treasurer elect while Madhav Lohani BK from Rupandehi, Parmeshwar Sah from Siraha, Bhadragol Kirati from Solukhumbu, Harka Bahadur Khadka from Bajhang, Nurakanta Neupane from Nawalparasi, Sujan Ghale from Dhading, and Tribhuwan BC from Surkhet were elected members. NYFN is the umbrella organization of youth organizations all over Nepal. It has its offices in 69 districts and individuals as well as organizations can be members of the federation. NYFN recently organized Nepal Youth Forum 2013 from February 6 to8 in which 250 youths from 70 districts and 20 international delegates participated. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49890 KATHMANDU, Feb 12: Just before Valentine’s Day, the modern calendar offers various other occasions for celebration of love like Rose Day (February 7) and Hug Day (February 13). Making good use of these given celebrative days, the students at Thames International College in Battisputali celebrated ‘Rose Day: Concern for Elderly’ on February 12. The students of Social Work from first year, after a round of brainstorming and a small survey at various old age homes, gathered that the majority of elderly people wanted some form of entertainment like bhajans, singing and dancing. Hence, to make this available to them, the students held a fund raising event through Rose Day celebration.[break]  A rose-selling stall was installed at the college premises for five days where students and teachers placed their orders for roses. The students also took charge of the delivery, upon request. They charged Rs 60 per rose and a total of around 160 roses were sold, informed Saugat Gautam, the Assistant Coordinator for Department of Social Science at the College. He further added, “The profit from the sales will be used to organize recreational activities such as movie screenings and cultural event at old age homes such as Pashupati Bridashram in Pashupati and Nisaya Sadan in Tinkune. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49889 The reading culture among teens is dying out while television and computers have completely taken over. Why would a sane teenager read a book when they can play computer games or watch TV? Books are for geeks and nerds so why would a cool kid read? These are just some of the very sentiments of teenagers in Nepal. If you talk to any book seller, they will admit that the book sales have been dropping lately. They blame the digitization of books (now known as ebooks) and unavailability of sought after books. They admit that Nepal is completely dependent on India for the import of books and so those which don’t enter India don’t enter Nepal. Further scrutiny also reveal that the customers are mostly older people rather than teenagers. The price of books can also be blamed for the decline in sales. The normal price of a book ranges from Rs 400 to Rs 600 in average and goes only higher for more popular books. Then there is the major problem of availability. Of course in the capital and other urban areas bookshops are easily found but in the rural areas there are hardly any shops that sell books except course books. And since Nepal has more rural than urban areas most teenagers do not have access to them. Survey of the libraries show that they are purchasing fewer and fewer books each year and the membership rate dwindling down. People just don’t have time for books anymore it seems. Another survey has proven that teenagers, not just in Nepal but all around the world are more into pulp fiction rather than books with value in literature.[break] Another concern among those teens who read books is that they read books in English rather than in Nepali. This is often the case with teenagers in urban areas and it is in an increasing trend. The reign of computers and television over the hearts of teenager has the most drastic impact on their reading habits. They just aren’t bothered about reading books anymore. If we want a good story, we can just watch a movie. If we need some adventure and fun, there’s always a computer game waiting for you. So, again what importance does books have? Well, books are portals to a different and unique world. They can make you laugh and cry, jump with joy or bang your head with irritation. Besides the joy and experience of reading a book is vastly different than watching programs or movies. Take the Da Vinci code, Life of Pi or even the Harry Potter series, people admit that the books are much better. Reading books increases your vocabulary, provides information you would not get on the internet about various subjects and forces you to think out of the box. Reading books are not just fun but they are necessary. So go ahead and grab a book. You won’t regret it! The writer is an A-Level student at Rato Bangala School, Lalitpur. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49888 KATHMANDU, Feb 12: A poster exhibition entitled ‘The Czech Republic – Amazing Wonders from the Heart of Europe’, organized by the Consul of Czech Republic in Kathmandu and curated by ARTNepal, was inaugurated by the Minister of Culture and Civil Aviation Posta Bahadur Bogati at the Nepal Art Council in Babar Mahal on February 11.   Speaking at the inauguration function, Minister Bogati said that art and culture can’t be bounded within physical boundaries and that both Nepal and the Czech Republic were rich in culture. He further said that the exhibition would help Nepalis to know more about art and culture of the Czech Republic, which would strengthen the mutual relationship between the two countries.[break] Similarly, Dr Michal Lukes, Director General of National Museum of the Czech Republic, and Miloslav Stasek, the ambassador of the Czech Republic to Nepal, talked about the art, culture, nature and life style of the Czech Republic. Kiran Manandhar, the Chancellor of Nepal Fine Arts Academy and Sangeeta Thapa, the President of Siddartha Art Gallery, were also present at this exhibition which showcased 42 different posters which depict various aspects of life such as art, production, development and inventions. The exhibition is scheduled to end on February 15. http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=49880 NEW YORK, Feb 12: Nancy Zwiers was genuinely psyched to see "Lincoln," but something happened between the ticket purchase and the credits. Off screen, that is. "Yes, I fell asleep," confessed the 54-year-old. "I only have two clear memories of the movie: a bunch of old white guys sitting around talking and Sally Field in a perpetual state of angst."[break] That was shortly after its release in October. Fast forward to January, and a dozen Academy Award nominations for the 150-minute epic and another accolade has emerged: nap worthy, with and without apologies to Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis. Movie napping is almost certainly as old as cinema itself. It strikes the overtired and the well-rested, film nuts and occasional theatergoers. Some blame it on soporific popcorn. Others on the enveloping darkness and a comfy seat. The theater is too hot. The theater is too cold, too crowded, not crowded enough ... Any which way, cinematic snoozing seems near epidemic proportions this awards season with buzz with extra ZZZs for "Lincoln," the 157-minute sung "Les Miserables," the 169-minute "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure" and others cited as good for a snore, but not always due to extra minutes. Forget the theory that movie watchers of a certain age are more heavily afflicted. "I don´t realize I do it and I wake up 20 minutes later and then everyone´s, like, you were asleep," said Rose Liu, 31. "I snore and then it´s embarrassing, but I really can´t control it. I wake up and I´m re-energized!" Liu has movie dozed on dates and out with friends, some of whom have nudged her awake at the request of strangers sitting nearby. She, too, was done-in by "Lincoln." She´s not a fan, but she also caught some shuteye during the two-hour "Argo," which she liked. A power napper in regular life and a moviegoer about once a month, Liu acknowledged it would make sense to avoid late screenings, but that´s usually not possible. Count psychologist Jennifer Thomas, 43, as a nap person outside of theaters and in. With four kids at home, she watches a lot on Netflix but gets out to the theater about once every three months. Thomas decided to take in "Life of Pi&qu