The smarter entertainment Weekly
Transcription
The smarter entertainment Weekly
Every Thursday issue 224 Rs 40 12 June 2014 22 h]i& 2071 The Smarter Entertainment Weekly Summer Stirrings Nothing feels better than a chilled cocktail glass in a hot summer sun. Get ready for exciting days ahead! ! Newsfeed k ckstart Top 3 Events 1 Till date, no other Nepali writer has found acclaimed like Samrat Upadhyay, the writer of “Arresting God in Kathmandu”. The professor at Indiana University is currently in town for a creative writing workshop, which follows with an open lecture on 7 June. The value of workshops like this is in the fact that they create a space for the literarily inclined to come together in the practice of the craft, and find encouragement and nourishment for their literary ambitions,” says Prawin Adhikari ( author of the Vanishing Act), “So the sole motive of this lecture is to encourage young writers by giving them the opportunity of interacting with seasoned practitioners of the craft.” Date: 7 June (Saturday), Time: 10:00 am to 12: 00 pm Venue: Thames College, Old Baneshwor Price: Free entrance (participants accepted on a first-come-first serve basis) #metadata Subash Thebe, artist-in-residence at the Kathmandu Contemporary Arts Centre, has put together a new exhibition at Siddhartha Art Gallery. Titled #metadata, the paintings reflect the artist’s latest theme i.e. the observation and criticism of western mainstream media, along with a few gestural illustrations that were inspired by music. Thebe works on canvas, steel, mirror, and readymade frames. The exhibition also includes video installations. Date: 6 June-19 June Venue: Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited 2 Guillaume Blanc (Jazz Violinist) There aren’t many jazz violinists and Guillaume Blanc is certainly one of the best. In his project Electric Suites, the musicians aim to sound like machines and thus have been recreating the sound and the language of rhythm boxes and synthesizers using classical instruments (violin, viola). A project that is situated somewhere between tradition and innovation, Electric Suites draws inspiration from Eastern European folk, beat, jazz, and classical music, somehow combining them all to create a sound of their own. Date: 6 June Time: 8 pm Entrance: Free Venue: Jazz Upstairs, Lazimpat With events to the left and right, Fr!day makes it a little bit easier for you to choose events to check out this week and the next. Here are our top three picks. POST US: Email event details to [email protected] or call 5011571/ 5011639/ 5011730/ 5011731 for listings. Listings are free but inclusion is not guaranteed due to limited space. Days to go Writing Nepal 2014: A lecture by Samrat Upadhyay 3 6 FIFA COUNTDOWN The highly anticipated 2014 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from 12 June to 13 July in Brazil. This edition features all the countries that have won the tournament at one time or another, including Uruguay, Italy, Germany, England, Argentina, France, Spain, and Brazil. This will be Brazil’s second occasion as hosts. The 1950 FIFA World Cup had also been held in the football-crazy nation. Where Can I go watch FIFA? The next best thing to watching a World Cup match in a stadium is watching a World Cup match in a bar with a raucous crowd. FR!DAY brings to you a list of happening places where the World Cup fever will be at its highest. Nepal House, Baluwatar Contact: 9803573260 Preliminary to main games with a large screen as well as a projector Namlo Garden Restaurant Sports Bar FC, Jhamsikhel Contact: 0984-9302118 Arena Sports Lounge, Thamel 01-4700283 De gaa Restro Lounge Contact: 9851103087 Moksh, Jhamsikhel Contact: 5528362 Preliminary matches (that start from 10 p.m) and the main games Kumaripati, Lalitpur Contact: 015008679 The Factory Thamel, 014701185 (Nepali TIme) World CUP Schedule Brazil Vs Croatia 1:45 AM, 13 June 2014 Argentina Vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 3:45 AM, 16 June 2014 Spain Vs Netherlands 00:45 AM, 14 June 2014 Germany Vs Portugal 9:45 PM, 16 June 2014 Colombia Vs Greece 9:45 PM, 14 June 2014 Belgium Vs Algeria 9:45 PM, 17 June 2014 England Vs Italy 3:45 AM, 15 June 2014 Russia Vs South Korea 3:45 AM, 18 June 2014 Cote D’Ivoire Vs Japan 6:45 AM, 15 June 2014 Colombia Vs Cote D’Ivoire 9:45 PM, 19 June 2014 4 Kickstart//Get Started 6 The Buddhist Chekhov Speaks Product Courtesy: Ekta Books, Thapathali Clearly, no Nepali writer has attained the extent of acclaim in international literary circles than Samrat Upadhyay. The professor at Indiana University is currently in town for a creative writing workshop, which follows with an open lecture on 7 June. Samyam Shrestha T he history of Nepali literature goes back a long way, a scene that has bestowed the readers with a plethora of wonderful works by writers as vivid and varied as Bhanubhakta to Parijat. However, it hasn’t been long since the wave of English writing Nepalese has demanded public attention – the void that was filled perhaps with Manjushree Thapa’s early works, among others. However, times are changing, and who would explain it better than the acclaimed writer, and Professor of Creative Writing at Indiana University, Samrat Upadhyay himself. The “Arresting God in Kathmandu” author is in Kathmandu for “Writing Nepal 2014”, a workshop in collaboration between the MFA in Creative Writing program at Indiana University, Quixote’s Cove, and La.Lit, the literary magazine. The three-day intensive workshop (4 - 6 June) deals primarily with content, stylistics and themes, rather than grammar and language. Although registration is already closed, an open lecture by the professor on 7 June is something enthusiasts can still put into their planners. The lecture will see Upadhyay talk about writing and the creative process, and about editing a work through various drafts, and ways to improve your creative writing skills among other things. He will also be reading from his upcoming novel, “The City Son” out later this year. Joining him will be Britt Ashley, Allie Barkmeier, Tia Clark, and Alexander Weinstein. These American writers and poets are accomplished practitioners of the writing craft, who will be leading various writing workshops, and will read short excerpts from their works as well. A writing workshop will follow. “The value of workshops like this is in the fact that they create a space for the literarily inclined to come together in the practice of the craft, and find encouragement and nourishment for their literary ambitions,” says Adhikari, “So the sole motive of this lecture is to encourage young writers by giving them the opportunity of interacting with seasoned practitioners of the craft.” The lecture and the subsequent workshops (which will take place at Thames College) are free and open to the public. However, since seats are limited, participants will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. The changing face of the Nepali literary scene “Because of the success of various publishing houses, literature in Nepali is flourishing. Our novelists, poets and dramaturges are experimenting boldly and producing work that regularly defies expectations and confounds the imagination. The same cannot be said of Nepali writing in English. Whereas Nepali writing in English had been confined largely to fiction, they have also finally made a mark in credible non-fiction writing in English, with the imminent publication of Prashant Jha, Aditya Adhikari and Thomas Bell’s books on Nepali history – ancient “Very few writers have found acclaim inside and outside the country. Perhaps that will change,” shares Prawin Adhikari, assistant editor at La.Lit, the literary magazine, and one of the organizers of the workshop. and contemporary. Writers like Rabi Thapa, Rajani Thapa, Pranaya Rana and Weena Pun are in the process of publishing their works. Manjushree Thapa and Samrat Upadhyay, both stalwarts in the Nepali writing in English scene, are publishing their third novels each. This year has already seen books from Sushma Joshi and Prawin Adhikari. There are many others actively pursuing a writing career, and making their marks. The future, inevitably, is exciting!” – La.Lit the literary magazine At a glance What Writing Nepal 2014: Samrat Upadhyay Lecture Who La.Lit, the literary magazine, MFA in Creative Writing program at Indiana University, and Quixote’s Cove – the Bookshop Where Thames College, Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu When 7 June (Saturday) Time 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Price Free entrance (but since seats are limited, participants will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis) In case you haven’t heard about Samrat Upadhyay • He is the first Nepali-born fiction writer to be published in the West. • His first book, the short story collection “Arresting God in Kathmandu” was the recipient of the Whiting Writers’ Award, which earned him the title of “The Buddhist Chekhov” from the San Francisco Chronicle. The book was also a pick for the 2001 Barnes and Noble Discover Great Writers Program. • “Arresting God in Kathmandu” has been translated into French and Greek. • His stories have been read live on National Public Radio and published widely as well as in Scribner’s Best of the Writing Workshops and Best American Short Stories 1999. • His second short story collection, “The Royal Ghosts”, won the 2007 Asian American Literary Award. • His new novel “The City Son” will be published later this year. • He is the Martha C. Kraft Professor of Humanities at Indiana University. Let the reviews do the talking • “Like a Buddhist Chekhov… Upadhyay speaks to common truths.” – San Francisco Chronicle • “Upadhyay is among the smoothest and most noiseless of contemporary writers.” – Los Angeles Times • “Samrat Upadhyay brings us in contact with a world that is somehow both very far away and very familiar.” – New York Times • “Upadhyay’s writing is complex and delicate.” – Baltimore Sun • “Upadhyay’s characters linger. They are captured with such concise, illuminating precision that one begins to feel that they might just be real.” – Christian Science Monitor • “Upadhyay illuminates the shadow corners of his characters’ psyches, as well as the complex social and political realities of life in Nepal, with equal grace.” – Elle About the organizers: La.Lit La.Lit (www.lalitmag.com) is a literary magazine that celebrates the beauty of writing. It features original and translated fiction, non-fiction, and poetry; photography and graphic art; and exclusive interviews and news from the world of literature. Initially, they published in English and Nepali, but now also welcome translations from other languages. The magazine aims to bring contemporary achievements in world literature to Nepal, and equally, take Nepali and South Asian literature to the world. Kickstart//Events Out & About 8 Hippies Night Date: 13 June, Friday, Time: 7 p.m to 2 a.m Venue: Blue Galaxy Discotheque, Hotel Yak and Yeti Looking to let your hair down and party till the wee hours of the morning? Hippies Night at the Blue Galaxy Discotheque is just the party for you. The event features DJ Pratish, the official DJ of Channel [V] India, as well as hip music from the 60s - an era when Nepal was known as a mecca for hippies. Slogans like “Make Love not War“ became associated with the hippie culture in Nepal, and so did the sounds of rock and roll that was introduced to the country by the flower children. ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE SHOW 2014 Date: 7 June (Saturday), Time: 3:00 pm onwards Venue: Purple Haze Rock Bar, Thamel Contact: 9843664132/ 9804946107 Ticket: Rs. 300 (Pre Sales) and Rs. 500 (Door Sales) After the success of Kathmandu on the Run: Tribute to Pink Floyd, the organizers present another tribute, this time to rock legends, Led Zeppelin. Like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin too has been exceedingly popular amongst Nepali music aficionados. Purple Haze Rock Bar will be hosting the three hour long event that will see around 18 Led Zep songs being covered by local musicians. While the Floyd covers were performed by popular Thamel band, Strings, Saujanya Bhattarai, the managing director of the organizing team, says: “This time we have combined various musicians to form a band called Custard Pie, which is also the name of a popular Zeppelin song.” “There aren’t many jazz violinists and Guillaume Blanc is certainly one of the best. In his project Electric Suites, he defends eccentric compositions of a high quality” - Didier Lockwood. The musicians of Electric Suites aim to sound like machines and thus have been recreating the sound and the language of rhythm boxes and synthesizers using classical instruments (violin, viola). A project that is situated somewhere between tradition and innovation, Electric Suites draws inspiration from Eastern European folk, beat, jazz, and classical music, somehow combining them all to create a sound of their own. Nima Rumba & the Legend Date: 7 June (Saturday), Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Faces Lounge, NarsinghChowk Catch Nima Rumba, the versatile singer and actor, will be performing live with his band The Legend at Faces Lounge on Saturday, 7 June. Date: 14 June, Saturday, Time: 7:00 P.M, Venue: MOKSH Ticket Price: Rs. 2500 (Available at Moksh, Last Resort Mandala Street & Friends Café, Thamel. Date: 28 and 29 June Time: 6:30pm - 10:00pm in UTC+05:45 Ticket Price: 1950/- Adults 1000/- Children below 10 yrs. Free for children below 5 yrs. Tickets available at : http:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ropainthe-rice-planting-festival-2014tickets-11536751735 If you want to have fun by connecting with nature, the Ropain Rice Planting Festival is just the event for you. Rice, the staple meal of the country, is planted every summer as the rain sets in the valley. The Ropain Festival is being organized this year at Bajrabarahi, Lalitpur in the southern outskirts of the valley. Celebrate the rain showers this summer by celebrating ropain (along with sumptuous Newari dishes!). The Alliance française of Kathmandu is putting together a flea market where second hand books can be bought and sold at the cheapest prices. Visit Alliance française in Teku on Saturday 14 June from 10 am to 4 pm for children’s books, art books, fiction, comics, and many more. Royal Splash at Annapurna Date: 21 June (Saturday), Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Venue: Hotel Annapurna, Durbar Marg Contact: +977 1-4221711 Looking to spend a fun filled day next to a lavish pool with mouth-watering food and barbecue stalls this summer? Hotel de L’ Annapurna is hosting the Royal Splash at its poolside with food, music, and cool beverages along with the beats of DJ Finnzok and DJ BPM to burn off those extra calories. What better way to celebrate summer and World Music Day. Every Tuesday Rohit John Chhetri Time: 7pm onwards Location: Jhamsikhel Contact: 5528362 Himalayan Pizza and Newa club Party people, listen up! If you are wondering what to do during a lazy Saturday this June, go to Hawaii! No, not the real Hawaii, go be a part of Fiesta De’ Hawaiian 2. After the success of Fiesta De’ Hawaiian in 2013, Wild Players, in association with Oggy Entertainers Nepal, will be bringing a slice of Hawaii to our city. Last year, the main attraction was the Choco Fiesta but this time, there will be more attractions including a chance to be a Hawaiian Queen or King. For the complete Hawaiian feel, attendees will enter the venue through the Tiki Hut Tunnel and, of course, there will be a number of DJs (DJ SUDAN, DJ SURAJ, NOISE BROTHERS, DJ FR3Q, and DJ MANIZ) to heat up the dance floor. Not to mention the Choco Fiesta with Choco Pools, Choco Dance Competition, and Choco Shower. Additionally, the Tiki Bar promises to give you the Hawaiian taste with special Hawaiian cocktails. ROPAIN THE RICE PLANTING FESTIVAL Mero Asha is a social initiative by Heartbeat Nepal, an organization that works for the betterment of street children. Their art exhibition and musical dinner night is jointly supported by The Last Resort and Moksh. “We hope to collect enough funds to build the much needed safe houses for street kids,” state the organizers. The event features live jazz performances and an exhibition of paintings by street children. “We hope we can contribute even more to the fundraiser by selling some of the paintings,” they add. Moksh Date: 7 June (Saturday), Time: 11 am to 11 pm, Venue: International Club, Sanepa Date: 18 &19 July, Time: Jul 18 at 6:15pm to Jul 19 at 4:15am Venue: Patan Dhoka (Starting Point) Registration:http://kathmandukora. net/2m4pyutar/ Date: 14 June (Saturday), Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Venue: Alliance française of Kathmandu “Children International Day” Date: 06 June, 2014 Time: 5pm to 6.15pm Venue: Russian Centre of Science and Culture Sushila Arts Academy (SAA), in association with the Russian Centre of Science and Culture, is organizing a Special Celebration Program on the occasion of Children International Day. Students of the academy, from the age of four and onwards, will be performing various dance forms such as Chariya, Kathak, Spanish Flamenco, Classic Ballet, and Freestyle, along with artistic gymnastic performances and contemporary dances. The program also includes guitar, violin and vocal/ choir performances. SAA believes that children and youths can develop into confident individuals if certain skills are developed, qualities that will enable them to succeed in today’s world even if they do not pursue Arts as a career. Exclusive Friday Retreat Date: 6 June (Friday) Time: 2:30 (pick up point at Sorakhutte) Contact: 9801136111 Borderlands Eco-Adventure Resort offers a peaceful and serene outdoor rafting event every Friday, a retreat for those who want to get out of the hassles of modern day life. Its retreat package helps you find your own space, read a book, indulge in any fun activities, and/or quench your thirst with adventurous activities. First Christmas in the trenches Date: 3 June, Time: 6:30 pm Venue: Banshi Ghat Marg, Teku Road Premier noël dans les tranchées) First Christmas in the trenches, a documentary directed by Michael Gaumnitz in 2005 is being hosted by Alliance Francaise of Kathmandu. The documentary approaches the Great War through the soldiers’ mail sent to the frontlines. Thursday: 5 June Others (jazz and contemporary vocal quartet) Friday: 6 June Ninaad (eastern fusion) Saturday: 7 June What the funk!! (funky party music) Time: 7:00pm to 10:00pm Location: Thamel (next to Hotel Manang) Contact: 9849196991 (Jacko) Embassy Restro & Bar Thursday: 5 June Salsa by Riyaz Shrestha Friday: 6 June Prayash (band) Sunday (8 June), Monday (9 June), Tuesday (10 June) Piano night by Pema Saturday: 7 June Dharmendra Sewan Time: 6:30pm onwards Location: Lazimpat Contact: 4424040 Tamarind Restro and Bar Thursday, Sunday and Monday Live piano by Sunil Singh Wednesday: 11 June Prayash (band) Saturday: 9 June Supersonic (band) Time: 7:00pm to 10:00pm Location: Jhamsikhel Contact: 5522626 Jazz Upstairs Wednesday: 11 June Monsix (Gypsy Jazz) Time: 7:00pm onwards Location: Lazimpat Contact: 4416983 Madhusala Every Friday till Wednesday Uday & Manila Sotang live with Jeewan Kalapremi and Nava Ratna (band) Time: 7:15-11:30 pm Location: Durbar Marg Contact: 4223613 Tamas Laya Wednesday: 11 May Open Night with Jovan Friday: 30 May (Naxal) Accoustix Time: 7:00-10:00pm Location: Naxal Contact: 4414395 8 Degrees Friday 6 May Loadshedding (band) Time: 7:00pm onwards Location: Jhamsikhel Contact: 5543740 Manny’s Eateries Every Friday Shabnam Gurung & Dinesh Neupane (Soft Hidustani and Nepali music along with ghazals) Time: 6:45pm to 10:30pm Location: Ekantakuna Contact: 015536919 ADOPT a PET Date: 7 June (Saturday) Venue: Rastriya Sabhagriha Nepal Kennel Club is organizing a local dog adoption program at the Rastriya Sabhagriha. If you have always wanted a faithful companion, visit Rastriya Sabhagriha this Saturday and adopt the newest addition to your family. This event needs a lot of support because there are numerous puppies that lack a home, love, and care. They deserve to be happy too, so here is your chance to change the life of a warm and friendly being. The event is organized by Nepal Kennel Club and hosted by Mount Everest Kennel Club. Food ART & THEATER LIVE BBQ SOLITUDES Date: 30 May (Every Friday) Time: 6:00 pm onwards Venue: Nepal House, Baluwatar Contact: 9803573260 live wire FIESTA DE’ HAWAIIAN 2 Kathmandu Kora Flea Market Books MERO ASHA Date: 6 June, Time: 8 pm, Entrance: Free Venue: Jazz Upstairs, Lazimpat MISCELLANEOUS The Kathmandu Kora Cycling Challenge 2014 will start from the third Saturday of July with riders undertaking a personal challenge of 50 km, 75 km and 100 km around Kathmandu Valley. In each of the editions of the Kora Challenge, riders have pledged to raise money for a cause. The first edition in 2011 pledged nearly half a million Nepali Rupees for a school and orphanage in Kathmandu, the second raised nearly a million rupees to upgrade a birthing facility in Rukum, and the third edition, which had about 800 riders, raised over 1.7 million to build a birthing facility in Sharmali, Baitadi. This year’s pledge is even bigger - the campaign aims to raise two million to build an eco- designed birthing facility in Pyutar, South Lalitpur. MUSIC & PARTIES Guillaume Blanc (Jazz Violinist) 9 Nepal House might just be establishing its niche in the restaurant and eatery market but the cuisines they serve definitely have already established relishing memory on people’s taste buds. From coming Friday, Nepal House will be hosting a live BBQ set every weekend. You may just walk in, no entry fee hassle and lay back to relax at the soothing ambience of the Restaurant. Drinks that go along the smoked, sophisticated meat are also available at the eatery which makes the Friday evening visit even better. Pool BBQ Date: 1 June (Every Saturday) Time: 11:00 am onwards Venue: Hotel Annapurna, Durbarmarg Contact: 4221711 Summer is here and so is the season of swimming. Keeping that in mind, Hotel Annapurna recently unveiled its large new pool that will be playing host to a barbecue every Saturday. Special meal packages will be made every week exclusively for the event. Date: 20 May (Tuesday) to 6 June (Friday) Venue: Image Ark Gallery Interested in photography? Then visit Image Ark Gallery as it holds an exhibition by Palvi Maria Helves. “The harsh windy seashore of my childhood north, the forest where I go to find myself again and again, the nature in all its forms, is my source of inspiration.” states the statement of the artist. Graduated from the West Finland Institute for Art, Craft and Design in 1995 and further deepened her studies in visual arts and art therapy, the artist used and held camera motion and/ or filters to allow long exposure times. #metadata Date: 6 June-19 June Venue: Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited Subash Thebe, artist-inresidence at the Kathmandu Contemporary Arts Centre, has put together a new exhibition at Siddhartha Art Gallery. Titled #metadata, the paintings reflect the artist’s latest theme i.e. the observation and criticism of western mainstream media, along with a few gestural illustrations that were inspired by music. Thebe works on canvas, steel, mirror, and readymade frames. The exhibition also includes video installations. AFK DRAMA WORKSHOP Date: 13 May to 18 June, Venue: Alliance française of Kathmandu Ticket Price: Rs. 100, Contact: [email protected] Alliance Française is organizing its second drama workshop that will take place every Wednesday from 10 am to 1 pm for six weeks from 13 May to 18 June! At the workshop, participants will create an original performance piece and a public presentation for a special event at Alliance Française. The ability to speak French is not necessary and beginners and non-beginners alike are welcome. Compulsory registrations [limited to 15 participants For further information please contact: general.afk@ gmail.com Koseli School’s “Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai with Anupam Kher” Date: 11 July (Friday), Time: 5:00 pm Venue: Army Officer’s Club, Bhadrakali Ticket Price: 5,000/- Golden tickets (main event + entry to the after party) 3000/- Silver tickets (main event + entry to the after party) 1,500/- Bronze tickets (main event) Contact: 9801034345, 9801074430, 9801037873, [email protected] Koseli School Nepal presents Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai with Anupam Kher [Live in Nepal]. Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai has received acclaim from millions of people around the world, and will also be aired on Colors TV soon. Proceeds from the show will go towards educating the children of Koseli School. THE NEW Wantrepreneurs 30 MAY, KUSOM Communication is a necessity when you are starting up a business venture, and networking is an important skill that one needs to work on to seal business deals. The E-talk that the students of KUSOM College of Management organized emphasized the need for communication and transparency to test new ventures in the world of practicality. Anti-Clockwise from Top: Kavi Raj Joshi, Dr. Bhola Thapa,Aparmita Tuladhar and Ayush Manandhar, Pradeep Jung Pandey, Peter W. Bodde,Shovha Kanta Dev,Saurabh Jyoti. Paleti is back! 30 May, Nepa~laya The first day of this year’s Paleti series was dedicated to the veteran Nepali contemporary music singers who lost their lives last year. Bhim ‘Birag’, Fatheman Rajbhandari, Ram Man Trishit and Mira Thapa are four of the veterans of Nepali music scene who passed away. To pay tribute to these personalities who have made invaluable contribution to Nepali music, singers Aavas and Mina along with the accompanying musicians performed the deceased artists’ classic hit songs. With the songs that was already taking the audience back in time, the singers added to the nostalgia by sharing stories of how the songs were composed and produced. Clockwise from bottom: Nagendra Rai, Prem Dhoj Pradhan, Ram Krishna Duwal, Amrit Gurung, Mina and Aavash, Kiran Krishna Shrestha. Nokia Hits the Sweet Spot 30 May, Soaltee Crowne Plaza Nokia launched two exclusive mobile handsets, Nokia Lumia 630 and Nokia XL, in a launch cum resellers’ meet, which was followed by dinner for the Nokia family in Nepal. Attendees included the personnel involved with the distribution and services of Nokia gadgets in Nepal, mainly from Neoteric Nepal and Paramount Electronics Pvt Ltd, the authorized distributors of the brand in Nepal. Clockwise from bottom: Yogesh Roy, Radi Ahmed Chowdhury, Vishal Agrawal, Manisha Shrestha, Zunica Prasai. Neelima Reopens 30 MAY, ALFA-BETA COMPLEX Hall of Frame Neelima’s Fashion Studio which was first located at City Center reopened the store at Baneshwor in Alfa-Beta Complex because she wanted to open the store in her own complex. According to her, she had been planning to open the store here since the last two years but didn’t due to the road expansion work that was going on until few months ago. Arts under a Summer sky 30-31 May, Shaligram Complex, Jawalakhel Summer Arts Festival, a two-day fest celebrating music, poetry, drama, films, and visual art, was organized by PAN Asia Creativity at the Shaligram Complex in Jawalakhel. Indian journalist, author, and columnist Jug Suraiya, as well as writer Bunny Suraiya, were also a part of the festival along with local writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, and theatre actors. Nilima Jayan Subba Manandhar Santishi Shrestha Clockwise: Chirag Bangdel, Gopi Lal Acharya, Saguna Shah, Simma Rai, Greta Rana, Prakash Subedi. gives t r a , s l a “Art he catalyzes t r a , e p us ho d art n a , s t h g thou love.” spreads angdel B g a r i h -C Nisha Adhikari Ramesh Upreti Kiran Rana Upreti Karishma Manandhar Kickstart//Week That Was 12 Week That Was May 21 Gomez also met UNICEFsupported Female Community Health Volunteers in Gangaparaspur Village and learned about their efforts to reduce illness and death among children and mothers. In Hapur Village, she met with the women of the Paralegal Committee and the Gender-Based Violence Watch Group who mediate cases of conflict, divorce, domestic violence, child abuse and more. Gomez also spoke with a couple of survivors who had been helped by the Committee. In Dokrena/ Khaira Village, she interacted with the youth saw them perform a skit about sanitation and practiced proper hand-washing techniques. In the village of Kohalpur, Gomez met with young people who had been recruited into the armed conflict. Calling the trip an “eyeopener,” Gomez said, “The children of Nepal have taught me that with a lot of passion, optimism and hard work, anything is possible. That’s the message I would like to convey to young people across the world: Believe in your dreams and pursue them.” Cricket Craze A Layman’s Perspective Live weaving and sale To promote and recognize the visually impaired women’s cricket team, Cricket Association of Blind Nepal conducted visually impaired women’s cricket tournament between teams from Bagmati and Kaski. The day long event was held at Pulchowk Engineering Campus. The day also saw a friendly cricket match between celebrities, participated by film maker, Nischal Basnet, and actress, Nisha Adhikari. The event was organized by ElectroMedical Solutions in association with Women’s Dreams and House Wife’s Association of Nepal. The funds raised from the event will go to the visually impaired women’s cricket team. The gypsy exhibition of photographs, ‘Drishya’ which was held at Patan Durbar Square on 26 May and Basantapur Durbar Square on 27 May was an initiative taken by students of Bachelors in Social Work at St Xavier’s College, Maitighar. Amateur photographers, the group of 43 students, exhibited some 50 photographs. Drishya communicated the daily issues that people in the city face. The collection titled ‘Two Faces’ which focused on heritage and its mismanagement, was one of the many collections that caught the attention of the audience. Other themes in the exhibition included child labor, old age, food and hygiene and family literacy. Lahar Srijana opened their exhibition at The City Museum Kathmandu where the organization showcased the crafts made by local Tharu women who used to be construction workers. The exhibits included mats, stools, sweaters, and clothes made by fibres like banana fibres, hemp and elephant grass as well as pottery and agro products (honey and turmeric powder) which were also on the sale. At the same time, live demonstration of mat and stool making and sketches were done during the exhibition. Since 2012, Lahar Srijana is working to promote the untapped skills and talents of people living in rural Nepal through vocational training and is supported by Narayan Sumsher Thapa Trust. Pulchowk, May 31 UNICEF Ambassador Selena Gomez Visits Nepal Actress, multi-platinum recording artist and UNICEF Ambassador Selena Gomez has returned back to her country from a visit to Nepal. During her trip, Gomez saw firsthand impact of UNICEF’s programs that help children survive and develop. After going back, she said, “This visit to Nepal was extraordinarily powerful—at times, devastating and heartbreaking, but also incredibly inspiring”. During her trip, Gomez visited Satbariya Rapti Secondary School, supported by UNICEF. The child club members of Satbariya School sang a Nepali folk song, playing musical instruments presented to them as a gift by Gomez. She later joined students when they performed traditional dances of the Tharu community. “It was amazing to learn from these young boys and girls about how they are influencing their peers as well as adults on issues that have an impact on their lives,” said Gomez. “Many of the children I talked to expressed a desire to be future leaders in their society, and I was moved to hear them emphasize the importance of education.” 13 All Winners of Yamaha Winning Express Announced Everest Marathon 2014 May 30, Teku Yamaha Showroom Kathmandu, May 29 Himalayan Expedition proudly announced that the 12th edition of Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon was a success. The event is being organized by Himalayan Expedition since 2003 on May 29 to commemorate the day Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary conquered the world’s highest peak, Everest, for the first time on May 29, 1953. This year, Sudip Kulung Rai, the winner of 2011 and the runner up of 2010 secured first position in marathon. Bhim Bahadur Gurung of Nepal Army Club and Suman Kulung Rai were the first and second runner ups respectively. After winning, a 26-year old Sudip from Solukhumbu district said, “I was not much hopeful that I would finish on top. But I thought I would gain the second or third position. I am really pleased to finish the race in first position”. Similarly, Ang Chuttin Sherpa, Mingma Lhamu Sherpa and Lhahak Futi Sherpa earned the first, second and third spots in women’s marathon respectively. In the foreigner’s category of the marathon, Robert Celinski became the winner. He was followed Amid a lucky draw program held at Yamaha showroom in Teku, on 30 May, MAW Enterprises, the sole authorized distributor of Yamaha motorcycles and scooters in Nepal announced the fourth and final lucky winnerPurna Bahadur Karki, who will be getting opportunity of free round trip to Brazil during FIFA World Cup 2014. A resident of Pathari, Morang, he had bought a Yamaha motorcycle from its dealer, New Pathibhara Auto Plaza, Pathari. The names of the other three lucky winners are: Raja Babu Dangol, Kedar Nath Sharma Khanal and Roshan Khadka. by Radek Serwinsk who became second and British Timothy Watson who became third. Likewise, the 60k Extreme Challenge had been added last year to celebrate the diamond jubilee (60 years) of the first ascent of Everest. 17 runners including, 10 foreigners and 7 Nepali had participated in the newly introduced event running for the second year. Nepali Army runner Samir Tamang stood first whereas Hom Lal Shrestha earned second position and DB Kulung Rai became third. Similarly, in half marathon, Karl David Turkovi of Australia secured first position, Belgium runner Geremy Kersten finished second and Australian female runner Amanda Ryan stood third. The prize for the top three finishers of the men’s marathon and Everest Extreme Ultra Marathon was NRs 100,000, NRs 70,000 and NRs 50,000 respectively. Similarly, the prize for top three finishers of foreigner Category marathon, women’s marathon and half marathon was NRs 50,000, NRs 30,000 and NRs 20,000 respectively. MAW Enterprises, conducted this scheme entitled – ‘Yamaha Winning Express’ to mark the beginning of New Year 2071. As per the scheme, buyers of any of the Yamaha twowheeler motorcycle and scooter model were offered sure shot cash prize of Rs. 7,100. More than 3000 Yamaha motorcycles are reported to be sold within this scheme. China Southern In Nepal as felt items, silver jewelery, home decors, art works, and clothing items. The clothing items, predominantly cotton that goes well with the summer, were a hit among people. All of the 15 stalls consisted of items that promoted local art and artists. Karavan Kathmandu aims to return around September in a different venue with additional stalls to give you an opportunity to buy unique Nepali products. Publisher: ECS MEDIA Pvt. Ltd. Editor: Sunil Raj Shrestha Director, Editorial & Marketing: Nripendra Karmacharya Sr. Manager, Editorial & Marketing: SUDEEP SHAKYA Editorial Manager: utsav shakya Legal Advisor: Hira Regmi Color Separation & Printed at: WordScape The Printer Pvt. Ltd. Bhaisepati, Lalitpur 5590306, 5591112 Distributor: Kasthamandap Distribution Pvt. Ltd. 424.7241 Disclaimer Details of the event listings are accurate as per information received before the date the weekly goes for printing. Fr!day is not responsible for any changes. Columnists are entitled to their own views and opinions. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ECS Media and the organizaton cannot be held liable for the same. Readers are encouraged to write to us at [email protected] Our sister publications The Smarter Entertainment Weekly Sub-Editor: Sujan G.Amatya Copy Editor: Vishal rai Editorial Co-ordinator: ASTHA JOSHI In-house writers: girish subedi Design Executive: Sunil Maharjan Assistant Design Executive: Rabi Maharjan, Samir Raj Tamrakar Design Assistants: Narayan Maharjan, Sudip Maharjan Manager, Photography: Dash B. Maharjan Assistant Manager, Photography: Hari Maharjan Photographers: Prajwal maharjan, Rabindra Prajapati, Umesh basnet, Yogendra Maharjan, niraj maharjan, Ashmin maharjan, Amar Rai Business Development Head: Angiras Manandhar Assistant Manager, Business Development: Sachin Tamrakar Sr. Executive, Business Development: nirbheek subedi Ad Enquiries: [email protected] Sr. Executive, Production & Distribution: Bikram shrestha Subscription & Distribution Coordinator: Sujan shrestha Official Digital Marketing Partner - ADS MARKET PVT. LTD [4218069] www.facebook.com/fridayweekly Naxal, May 31 Tamas Laya, witnessed the first quarterly pop-up bazaar, with selected and unique Nepali designer products which would have otherwise gone unnoticed in Kathmandu. These products are directly exported abroad as most of the organizations do not have showrooms in Nepal. Karavan Kathmandu aims to be held every three months in a different venue promoting and exhibiting Nepali products such Durbar Marg, June 1 bazaar D.A.O. Lalitpur Regd. No.77-066/67 ECS Media Pvt. Ltd, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal. 5011571. No. 224 12 June 2014 Karavan Kathmandu Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, May 26-27 China Southern Airline Company Limited (CZ), which ranks first in Asia and third among the 240 Airlines in IATA in terms of fleet size, will be operating double daily flight effective from 15 July for the route Guangzhou-Kathmandu-Guangzhou. The new flight timing will be 0830 Departure from Guangzhou and arrival at Kathmandu at 1055, and Departure from Kathmandu at 1155 and arrive at Guangzhou at 1830. Currently, CZ is operating everyday flight to Guangzhou- Kathmandu -Guangzhou with its Airbus 319. Starting from July 15 with the new flights, passengers can now get connection to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Perth, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Los Angles, and New York City via Guangzhou. Qatar Airways Commences Full Operations at HIA Qatar Airways recently commenced full operations at its new state-of-the-art hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA). The operations for all airlines were transferred to HIA after the first Qatar Airways commercial flight QR1113 from Bahrain landed at HIA. His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways, said, “This is yet another milestone in the rich history of Qatar Airways, and one that will allow us to fully realize our ambitions, and to offer our passengers the very best of services, both in the air and on the ground”. Passengers travelling on that historic day were greeted with roses, dates, coffee, chocolate and Qatari flags. They were also able to take advantage of the many new services available at Hamad International Airport, like free Wi-Fi, play areas for children, multiple quiet areas to relax, along an amazing array of shopping and eating options. At HIA, there are more than 70 retail outlets which offer an unprecedented selection of designer labels, high street fashion, electronics, gourmet foods and much more. Qatar Duty Free at HIA has more than 30 cafes and restaurants with a luxurious selection of global and local cuisine. The passengers travelling via HIA has been advised to arrive three hours before their flight because the check-in closes one hour before departure for Economy Class, and 45 minutes before departure for First and Business Class. e-Gates are also operational in both the departures and arrivals areas, offering holders of an e-Gate Card a swift journey through the new airport. Kumari Bank Limited and Sanima Bank Limited Signs an Agreement Kumari Bank Limited and Sanima Bank Limited have recently signed an agreement to provide Kumari Remit service from the 27 branches of Sanima Bank Limited. The agreement was sign to extend remittance service throughout Nepal. Kumari Bank Limited has been providing inward remittance from States of Qatar, UAE, Malaysia, USA, Russia and Other Gulf and European Countries. Now, the fund remitted by migrant workers through Kumari Remit from any part of the world can be conveniently received by their beneficiary here in Nepal from the branch network of Sanima Bank Limited. Kia Rolls Out New Soul Continental Associates Pvt. Ltd., the sole distributor of Kia Motors has launched new Soul in the Nepali market. It is sleeker and sophisticated than its previous version which was introduced in 2011. New Soul comes in 1.6 petrol and diesel variants and a range of color options to choose from. With a 5 star safety rating by Euro NCAP under its belt, the new Soul has a fantastic design and impressive interior. Some of the features integrated in this car are smart key, push button start, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera and so on. The introductory price is 47 lakhs for petrol engine and 51 lakhs for diesel engine. 14 Partylines Chitter - chatter Heard at Events Issue 224 | 12 June 2014 -UNICEF Ambassador Selena Gomez, on her trip to Nepal on behalf of UNICEF. Gomez is playing an active role in advocating for the world’s most vulnerable children on behalf of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. Summer Stirrings “We Nepalese are born entrepreneurs.” - Dr.Bhola Thapa, Registrar of Kathmandu University, at E-talk organized by Entreprenuers’ Lab at KUSOM. Nothing feels better than a chilled cocktail glass in the hot summer sun. The more the merrier, especially if you’re at your favorite venue. “No work, no gain.” – Pradeep Jung Pandey, President of Federation of Nepali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to attendees at E-talk, organized by Entreprenuers’ Lab at KUSOM. Girish Subedi “This is our opening match!” – Suarpana Shahi, Marketing Executive, Hotel de L’ Annapurna, at the Ambassador Cookout, part of the Indian Cultural Festival 2014, on the commencement of the food festival season at the hotel. Selena Gomez “Entrepreneurs are heroes. They take risks, and are willing to invest in an idea that can give service to people’s problems.” – His Excellency Peter W. Bodde, U.S Ambassador to Nepal, at E-talk, organized by Entreprenuers’ Lab at KUSOM. Suarpana Shahi Pradeep Jung Pandey Classified READ The Smarter Entertainment Weekly EVERY THURSDAY ! enterta nment “This visit (to Nepal) was extraordinarily powerful—at times, devastating and heartbreaking, but also incredibly inspiring..” Entertainment//Highspirits 16 It’s a hot afternoon in Jhamsikhel. Thankfully, I’m on my way to the cool environs of Tamarind, one of the most popular places in the area, to learn about summer cocktails. As I approach the reception, three individuals, who had already been informed about my visit, greet me. They lead me to the bar and introduce me to Deepak Ghorasaine, the resident bartender who has been making exquisite drinks, especially cocktails, for the past seven years. Ghorasaine gets to the point straight away. He starts talking about the most popular base spirit for cocktails - vodka. “The interesting thing about vodka is that it can be blended with any kind of combination, especially when it comes to smell and color,” he explains. Tamarind has fifty varieties of cocktails, the most popular being their Love Poison. According to Ghorasaine, patrons prefer the drink for its soothing taste. Customized vodka cocktails too are made according to consumer demands. Opposite Tamarind is Backyard Foodjoint and Pub. The bartender here is an expert who takes his job very seriously. “A true bartender doesn’t just serve liquor,” says Rukesh Gurung, the bartender at Backyard. “Playing with liquor and colors is, in fact, a part of his or her soul.” Gurung, who holds an advanced diploma in hospitality management, believes vodka is perfect for making cocktails because of its flexibility with varied flavors. “The drinks that complement it are those with creamy and juicy flavors,” he says. Ruslan, the most popular vodka in the local market, is suitable for classic cocktails because of its clean taste, adds Gurung. Drinks Courtesy Backyard, 5548968, Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur Ingredients: Vodka: 30 ml Mango juice: 60 ml Chilli flakes Price: NRs. 300 Bay Breeze As the name suggests, this drink makes you feel like you’re waiting for a ship that is approaching across the bay, while you drink to your health and a safe journey ahead. All aboard? Ingredients: Vodka: 45 ml Cranberry juice: 60 ml Pineapple juice: 60 ml Price: NRs. 350 Cranberry Kick Here comes another kicker! Cranberry Kick is mostly composed of North American cranberry juice, but the presence of orange and pineapple does not fail to bring about the feel of sitting in a soft boggy area where this acid berry grows. Do keep in mind that the wetlands can be treacherous if you do not step carefully! Ingredients: Vodka: 45 ml Cranberry juice: 60 ml Orange juice: 60 ml Pineapple juice: 60 ml Menthe Verte (greenish in color and mint flavored) Price: NRs. 350 A few other vodka cocktails to crave for White Russian Vodka: 45 ml Kalua: 15 ml Milk: 30 ml Price: NRs. 300 Woo-Woo Vodka: 45 ml Peach schnapps: 15 ml Cranberry: 60 ml Price: NRs. 300 Rukesh Gurung Spicy Mango Tini Usually served in a martini glass, this cocktail makes you imagine you’re on a tropical beach, sipping your troubles away. Entertainment//Feature 18 Humble Beginnings Although there hasn’t been a lot of publicity surrounding the Ncell NPL, it’s time for Nepali cricket fans to rejoice as they finally have a league that they can call their own Prabal Man Dhaubhadel by Shakti Gauchan, while Sharad Veswakar lifted the first ever Ncell NPL trophy. The matches were held from 14 to 24 May and the games were played at Fapla Cricket Ground, Dhangadi, Kailali and District Sports Development Committee Ground, Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur. Played in a Round Robin format, four teams out of six qualified for the knockout stages. Vishal Warriors and Colors X-Factors failed to advance into the knockout stages while the rest of the squads marched on. In the semis, the Giants triumphed over the Legends while Tej got the better of the Gurkhas. For his exceptional efforts with the ball, Bhuvan Karki (Panchakanya Tej) received the Man of the Series award. Karki managed to take 14 wickets in the tournament. On the batting side, Pradeep Airee of the Kantipur Gurkhas had the highest run tally with 212 runs. Although Panchakanya Tej might have been crowned the 50-over format champions, the tournament is not yet over - the T20 format still remains. The stakes for the T20 format are pretty much the same, with the winners receiving NRs 2 lakhs and the runners-up being awarded NRs 1 lakh. Compared to the 50-over tournament, which people weren’t even aware of until the final was over, the general awareness about the T20 series has been rising. The lack of publicity for the 50-over tournament was criticized by the fans, and although cricnepal and cricketlok have played phenomenal roles in updating the public with realtime updates and news, there have been no plans to stream or broadcast the matches on television. Cricket fans in the capital have a reason to rejoice though since the T20 matches will take place at the Tribhuvan University ground. According to the latest update, the T20 series has been postponed for a few days. It will now commence from 7 June and will last for 10 days. This was when the viewers realized the potential in cricket and the lack of a proper system and infrastructure for the game in our country. The Ncell NPL might have lacked promotion and there may have been several fallacies on the part of the management but it’s a start nonetheless. We can only hope that the coming days of Nepali cricket are brighter. As we look forward to the upbeat format of the wonderful game of cricket, we wish all the competing teams the very best of luck. Sharad Veswakar, Captain of Panchakanya Tej, with his recent win. T hat Nepali cricket is on a high is a fact that no one can dispute. It is, therefore, no wonder that Nepali cricket fans have grown in number as well as in loyalty. Despite falling shy of a World Cup berth recently, Nepal’s cricket stars have become heroes and household names. “Cricket has become a religion in Nepal,” stated our national team captain, Paras Khadka, whose team agonizingly failed to qualify for the coming World Cup due to a low net run rate. The qualifiers were a tipping point for Nepali cricket because, after persistently keeping up with enemy attacks on the international stage, it was quite a feat for the feebly endowed cricket association of our nation and its unglamorously equipped warriors to have made it so far with so little ammo. This was when the viewers realized the potential in cricket and the lack of a proper system and infrastructure for the game in our country. Soon after, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) came under much scrutiny and suffered a huge blow after the national squad also called in a strike. Unlike football that yields millions in cash and awards during domestic leagues, not to mention the grants for structure and facility development, cricket has largely remained under the radar (until recently). It was thus no wonder that the agitation seemed valid. Meanwhile, Zohra Sports Management partnered with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), with Ncell as the title sponsors, for the biggest domestic tournament ever to be staged in the country. Titled Ncell Nepal Premier League 2014, the country’s inaugural domestic cricket league featured superstars from the national team and several emerging young talents. The 50-over format of the first edition of the Ncell NPL took place successfully with Panchakanya Tej walking away as the victors. Contested over 10 days amongst six teams, Panchakanya Tej were crowned winners after their massive win over co-finalists Jagdamba Giants who fell 97 short of the target of 200. Other teams that were part of the tournament were Vishal Group Warriors, Colors X-Factors, Kantipur Gurkhas, and Sagarmatha Legends captained by national players Paras Khadka, Gyanendra Malla, Basanta Regmi, and Binod Bhandari respectively. The runners-up, Jagdamba Giants were led Entertainment//One Question 20 Ole ALA! The biggest football tournament of the world, FIFA World Cup 2014 is about to kick-off in a few more days. The FIFA Fever has already hit Kathmandu with people showing off their teams color on the street, Facebook, and Twitter, and we asked 7 well-known personalities who they were rooting for and their best FIFA memory. Q Arpan Thapa I haven’t decided on the team I’ll be supporting this year but my all time favorite is Brazil. In 1998, my school friends and I made plans to watch the semifinals together. But since it was a late night match, we ended up falling asleep and woke up only after it was over. That would certainly be my favorite World Cup moment. (Arpan Thapa is an actor who is best known for his role in Birami Shahar (2011). Thapa will soon be making his directorial debut with Mukhauta) Exploring Nepali Dining There are three things you need to know about dining at Bhojan Griha: 1) getting there can be tricky, 2) the quality of the food is not to be worried about, and 3) work on your whistles. Contact: 4416423, 4411603; Dillibazar Which team are you rooting for, and What is your favourite FIFA World Cup moment? Entertainment//Timeoff 21 Akriti Shilpakar I Nisha Adhikari I am rooting for Germany this time. When I was younger, I used to watch the World Cup with my dad and brother. Those moments mean a lot to me today. I used to think waking up in the middle of the night for the matches and listening to my dad’s comments were boring, but it’s only now that I realize how special those times were. (Nisha Adhikari is an actress and model. Her film Mukhauta will be hitting theaters soon.) Adrian Pradhan I used to support England but I have been too busy for football lately. My favorite World Cup moment took place when I was in Germany in 2006. The World Cup was being held there, and although I couldn’t go to the stadium, I enjoyed watching girls cheer for their teams. (Adrian Pradhan is a singer, songwriter, and composer. The exdrummer of the band, 1974 A.D., he now has a solo career.) Amun Thapa I will be supporting Spain and Germany this time. My favorite World Cup moment took place in 2002 when I was a student at St. Xaviers’s. All 600 of us were taken to a hall where the semi-final match was shown. There was so much screaming and yelling! I wouldn’t want any of that now but it was fun back then. (Amun Thapa, a business strategist, is the founder of sastodeal.com.) Shailee Basnet I haven’t made up my mind although I’m waiting for the day Nepal qualifies for the World Cup. I still remember the time in 10th grade when my friends and I started placing bets on who would win the tournament. (Shailee Basnet is the coordinator or The Jack, as she likes calling herself, of the Seven Summit Women Team. She has also had a stint as a stand-up comedian and hopes to be a scriptwriter in the near future.) Rabin Shrestha I am rooting for England this season. When I was in Singapore, I watched a match between Spain and Germany. I was supporting Spain then and as soon as they scored, I cheered. The people around me gave me cold, angry stares; I hadn’t realized I was amongst Germany supporters! (Rabin Shrestha is the CEO of Reef Entertainment and the Executive Director of Reef Restaurant & Lounge Bar. His latest film Mukhauta will be releasing soon.) Lucia De Vries I don’t really like football but I always support Holland. My favorite World Cup memory would be walking along Holland’s empty streets. With everyone busy enjoying the matches indoors, the streets would be deserted, making me feeI like I owned the entire city. (Lucia De Vries is the director of Animal Nepal, an organization that helps animals and raises awareness about animal cruelty.) refuse to admit that I am terrible with directions, which is why I am going to blame the restaurant’s location for me having to take an unnecessary tour around Putalisadak. Housed on a humongous property, you will find Bhojan Griha on the second right when heading towards Putalisadak chowk from the main intersection of Dillibazaar. There is a signboard placed at the mouth of the alley indicating the restaurant’s existence, but it is very easy to miss, which explains my earlier statement. The eatery is tucked away around 100 meters inside. I later found out that almost anyone in Dillibazaar could have directed me to the place. If only I had known about it earlier! This piece of information will probably come in handy while planning a visit to the restaurant, which you will after you’ve done reading this article. The grand building can be intimidating. I stood outside the equally grand wrought iron gate for a minute or two before I was confident that I was in the right place. The building used to be a palace belonging to the high priest of the royal family. 107 years old, it was only in the year 1997 that Bharat Basnet, the owner of the eatery, decided to revive the abandoned palace. What used to be a dark hole of rickety stairs, mossladen walls, and termite-infested wood was transformed into a full running restaurant within a year. Sixteen years down the road, I am here to find out what the fuss is really about and whether it still retains the charm of the old days. Dinner at Bhojan Griha starts a little before seven. We were scheduled for a set dinner, which is a four-course meal, consisting of starters, soup, the main course, and dessert. We were seated in the Putali Hall on the second floor, which is as smartly set as the rest of the four halls. On our way in, a rather heavy brass jar poured out water for us to wash our hands. We took a table in the far-end next to the long windows. It allowed a cool summer breeze from the outside to come in, along with a few uninvited guests expecting a bloody feast. Once we had chosen our drinks, we were offered aila, a traditional home-brewed alcohol. The first of the starters reached our table then. It was Popcorn, with a touch of butter, which is always a welcome appetizer. Next was Aalu Jeera; an unfaltering partnership of cumin and potatoes. The heat and kick of cumin gels well with the sweet potatoes, bringing out the best result one can wish for. The final starter was Chicken Momo. One word of advice: you need to let the waitress know if you want a vegetarian dinner in advance. The soup that arrived was Kwati ko suruwa, a Newari dish made out of various sprouted beans. The portion was small but adequate, considering the rest of the course awaiting us. The main course was a typical Nepali thali, consisting of plain boiled rice, lentil soup, three types of curries (mushroom, chicken and potato), a side of tomato pickle with a hint of timur, fried fish, and green vegetables. It was a sumptuous meal, pleasing both to the taste and the heart. For dessert, a very sweet yogurt called Sikarni was served. The almost custard like dish was the perfect end to the entire dining experience. The first of many cultural programs had kicked off by the end of the starter. The live singing was paired with cultural dances from the Gurung, Magar, Sherpa, and Things to Know • There are five halls altogether: Kantipur, Mini Kantipur, Basantapur, Putali, and Mini Putali. All have low seating arrangement. • Bhojan Griha tries to use Nepal-made products exclusively. It is a commendable effort and one they have been quite successful at. • Everything that lands on your plate, except for the meat, is organic. Almost all of their veggies and spices come from Kheti Bazaar, one of their sister organizations. Aila, a home brewed Nepali alcohol, comes from a supplier in Bhaktapur. • The set dinner consists of 15 items, including the aila. • They only offer fish and chicken for non-veg options. • Dinner is always accompanied by cultural programs. Lunch is not. • Reservations are highly recommended. Newar communities. After each break, the team would return again with a new performance, allowing the guests to enjoy the food and the presence of their companions. A round of applause, cheers, and whistles followed each performance. Some of the guests were excited enough to join the dancing themselves. Which brings me to my third point - learning to whistle. I wanted to, but since I can’t, I was left wishing I could. In a nutshell, Bhojan Griha, with its history, culture, ambience, and authentic food makes for an ideal destination for an overall Nepali dining experience, one that should be felt first hand. “The cultural performances keep changing everyday. No evening is the same,” shared Samir K.C., the manager of the restaurant. Chef’s Recommendation Nepali Set Chicken/ Mutton choela Entertainment//Sports//Football 22 Road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup IV The World Cup is an opportunity for players to prove their worth on the world stage.The 2014 FIFA World Cup will see the absence of some big names but it still has enough stars to make the tournament worthwhile. Issue 224 | 12 June 2014 th nk Sunnivh Subba T he World Cup is the biggest stage for players to showcase their talent and to carve a name in football history. But not all good players get a chance to be a part of the World Cup. Due to their respective countries failing to qualify for the tournament, there are quite a few stars missing from this edition. Among the notable names in the absentee list are Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored the most goals in the French League and was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and Welshman Gareth Bale, the world’s most expensive footballer, who lifted the Champions League in his first season with Real Madrid. and Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski. Similarly, Argentinian Carlos Tevez, Brazil’s Kaka, and France’s Samir Nasri are some high profile names that didn’t make the cut. In the last edition of Road to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, we look at the final groups: Group G and Group H and what can be expected from them. Group G is an interesting set with a couple of mouth-watering fixtures lined up. It consists of European powerhouse Germany and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, alongside a strong Ghana, and a very energetic USA. Group H is rather balanced with a young and exciting Belgium team drawn against Russia, coached by the hard man Fabio Capello, alongside Asia’s most successful World Cup team the Republic of Korea, and the relatively inexperienced Algeria. Watch out! Soon as the whistle starts a football match, we glue ourselves to our seats to root for our teams for the entire game. Watching a movie draws the same amount of attention. If the movie happens to be about football, we’re sure to be hooked. Here are a selected few of those ‘kicker’ blockbusters that should get you in the FIFA World Cup 2014 mood. Samyak Moktan 1 Goal! Made in full collaboration with FIFA, Goal has actual teams and players make delightful cameras throughout the film. The plot revolves around the idea of ‘dreams coming true’. Santiago Munez works in a Chinese restaurant and dreams of playing football professionally. His life takes a turn when a former Newcastle United player notices him play and arranges to get him a tryout for a professional team. The second installment, Goal II: Living the Dream, was released in February 2007 and the third installment, Goal! III: Taking on the World, was released straight to DVD in June 2009. Group G Group H Three-time world champions Germany are not only the favourites to top Group G but also one of the heavyweight contenders to take the title. They have managed to reach the semi-finals, at the very least, in their last four major tournaments. Germany has a host of players who are at the peak of their careers and plying their trade in the top European league teams. But the most significant pick by the German coach is Lazio striker Miroslav Klose who has scored 14 goals in the past three World Cups and who will be looking to break Brazilian Ronaldo’s record of 15. However, it won’t be a cakewalk for Germany. The World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo, will captain and lead the attack for Portugal, a team that has more than a decent squad to compete against Germany. Ghana will be eager to avenge their narrow defeat against Germany in 2010 with two German-based players, the Boateng brothers, in the squad. And the USA, coached by former German international Jurgen Klinsmann, is bound to put up a fight with their energetic style of play. German coach Joachim Low was formerly an assistant to USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann during his stint with the German national team and it promises to be an interesting encounter. All four teams reached the last 16 at South Africa 2010 but this time getting to the next round won’t be easy. Group H seems evenly distributed but European duo Belgium and Russia will kick off as slight favourites against Algeria and the Republic of Korea. Belgium is making a World Cup appearance for the first time since Korea/Japan 2002 and they, among the four countries in the group, are the most experienced with 11 previous campaigns. Belgium has high hopes this year with a talented crop of players such as Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Vincent Kompany at their disposal. The country’s return to the world stage can be credited to this golden generation and a coach who brings the best out of the players. The only downside is that Belgium’s squad is a bit too young with not enough experience in the international arena. Russia will try to leave a positive impression this time, as they will be hosting the 2018 World Cup. In 2002, the Republic of Korea performed well on their home soil, going as far as the semi-finals under the then coach Guus Hiddink, but they haven’t been able to replicate the same success since. With young and fast players like Kim Bo-Kyung and Park Chu-Young in the squad, Korea seems like a side that will not go down without a fight. Algeria failed to score a single goal in their three group games at South Africa 2010 and, hopefully, this year they will come will all guns blazing to find the net more often than their last outing. Belgium has not lost to Russia since 1982 and they will try to keep it that way to top the group. (Germany, Portugal, Ghana, and the USA) 2 Shaolin Soccer An incredibly entertaining movie, Shaolin Soccer was made in 2001 in Hong Kong. The comedy is about a former Shaolin monk who reunites his five brothers, years after their master’s death. The team gets together and applies their superhuman martial arts skill to play soccer, bringing Shaolin Kungfu to the masses. Watch it just to see the brilliant action scenes and Kungfu-style -soccer. (Belgium, Algeria, Russia, and the Republic of Korea) 3 Bend it like Beckham Released in 2002, this Gurinder Chadha movie garnered a huge fan falling across the world with its unique storyline and catchy film title. The movie is about an 18-year old Punjabi girl in London who is absolutely in love with football. Her conservative Sikh parents forbid her from playing but she manages to join a women’s team and makes it to the top league. Don’t forget to spot David Beckham in his short cameo in the movie. 4 The Cup Entirely shot in a Tibetan refugee village in Himachal Pradesh, India it involves two young football-crazy Tibetan refugee novice monks. They live in a remote Himalayan monastery and the plot of the movie revolves around the 1998 World Cup. Desperate to watch the game, the monks try to obtain a television for the monastery and face many challenges in the process. The movie is directed by Khyentse Norbu, himself a Tibetan Lama. It was screened at the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes. Hold your breath, Kathmanduites! How healthy is life in Kathmandu? We know the place is polluted but what is the situation exactly like? With increasing vehicles and rampant construction, every day in the city exposes us to serious threats. Here are a few facts that show how bad the situation currently is. Anubhuti Poudyal Think//Issues That Matter Y ou look great, a friend of mine tells me. I would have been flattered if not for the mask covering all of my face but my eyes. I ask him how he recognized me in the first place. I don’t know what you look like without it now, he jokes. With seemingly permanent masks covering our faces, we move bravely from Lazimpat to Lainchaur to Naxal to Kamal Pokhari and around the city day in and day out. Covered in dust (when it is dry) and dirt (when it is raining) we move at a snail’s pace in public vehicles with nothing but our meager attempt at fighting the air pollution that has made Kathmandu almost unlivable. Air pollution statistics According to the World Health Organization, air pollution in towns and cities kill 1.3 million people globally each year. UK estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people die prematurely each year as a direct result of exposure to air pollution. Nepal ranked 177th out of 178 countries for air quality in the 2014 Environmental Performance Index. In one of the rare researches done on air pollution and professional exposure to Particulate Matter (PM) in Nepal, it was found that the level of PM 2.5 exceeded 500 micrograms per cubic meter on some days, 20 times higher than the WHO recommended standard. The smog in Paris that had led to intense measures such as the banning of cars in 2014 had a PM 2.5 of 110 micrograms per cubic meter. Vehicular emissions We have been so focused on creating bigger and better streets that little thought has been put into the extra vehicular emissions that come with the widening of roads. Statistically, the number of vehicles in Kathmandu goes up by about 13 per cent annually. Unsurprisingly, more than three fourths of this increasing number is attributed to motorcycles and the remaining to cars and other vehicles. A little above two percent of the total number is attributed to public transportation. This shows how intent we are on owning a vehicle instead of using public transportation. The Vehicular Emission Testing (VET) calls for the maintenance of vehicles in order to ensure lower emissions. The green stickers that we see on four wheelers and heavy vehicles are all part of the VET. However, examinations in the four government owned testing centers are not compulsory for most vehicles. The situation is limited to heavy vehicles with motorcycles being completely excluded. 24 Walking through Durbar Marg during load shedding hours makes one realize how much we rely on power backups these days. With restaurants and shopping centers providing us light when our homes are dark, it’s easy to forget the effect load shedding has on our lungs The increase in vehicles and a dire need to reconsider new management strategies have increased the pollution in an already polluted Kathmandu. The situation will take time to change positively. “Generating” pollution Walking through Durbar Marg during load shedding hours makes one realize how much we rely on power backups these days. With restaurants and shopping centers providing us light when our homes are dark, it’s easy to forget the effect load shedding has on our lungs. Nepal Oil Corporation sold around 299,419 kilolitres of diesel in the fiscal year 2006/07 which then increased to 648,512 in 2011/12, mostly for use in generators. The emission from generators mostly consists of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and particulate matter, none of which do any good to the environment. Bricks and kilns There was a time when brick factories and kilns were the only major problems affecting Kathmandu’s environment. Although we have bigger and more urgent matters to deal with now, the lack of precise environmental regulations in the business hasn’t been helping our lungs. But with the Brick Clean Network (BCN) one can expect the situation to change soon. Masking the disappointment It has been more than two years since I walked to Kamal Pokhari with a friend who’d just returned from the USA. He pointed out the road that soon disappeared into what seemed to be a whirlpool of dust swirling and engulfing all in sight. I remember being disappointed then. And today is no different. Do masks actually work? They might, depending on what you have around your nose. PM 10 consists of larger particles that can be trapped in the nasal hair. But the regular masks we wear offer no protection against the finer and more dangerous PM 2.5. A study in Beijing, one of the worst cities in terms of pollution, calculated the penetrance of aerosols through different materials. The results showed cotton handkerchiefs (72%) to have the highest penetrance. Surgical masks were safer at 20%. Teflon filters, with a 0.66% penetrance level, were the most effective. However, they do come at a steeper price (NRs. 2000). Living in a polluted city Acting as a group and being responsible can help make Kathmandu a healthier and happier place. That, however, takes time. Meanwhile, here are a few immediate solutions to protect yourself and your family from air pollution: Reduce outdoor activity when pollution is at its highest, usually from dawn to dusk. If you are using air conditioning, try inner circulation to help purify the air and prevent external exposure. Masks can assist in preventing exposure to air pollution. Avoid exercising in high pollution areas. Morning walks in the polluted sections of the city do more harm than good. Know your body. If you have breathing difficulties and are prone to frequent throat infections, consult your physician and take additional preventive measures. The health hazards of air pollution go beyond respiratory systems, and eventually affect the heart. It is essential to take precautions. What is PM 2.5? • Everyone keeps talking about PM 2.5. But do you know what it is? • Particles that are smaller than 2.5 micrometers (1/30th of human hair) are called fine particles. • The soluble part of PM 2.5 enters the blood stream and the insoluble part remains lodged in the lungs. • It is responsible for the toxicity in blood and can even affect the nervous system and heart muscles. • PM 2.5 can cause placental blood toxicity that can hamper the growth of babies. Exposure to PM 2.5 in the first month of pregnancy is particularly risky. • People with heart or respiratory disease, elderly, pregnant women, and children are especially affected by PM 2.5. Think//Issues That Matter 25 Fill Our Tanks! Studies have predicted a severe scarcity of water by the year 2030, but if we buckle up right away, we just might be able to prevent the water crisis, and myriad of diseases. Srizu Bajracharya D id you know that we could be dying because the water level inside Kathmandu Valley is depleting? Almost half of humanity will face water scarcity by 2030 states the research report of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Environmental Outlook to 2030. And the symptoms are already visible. Many Pokharis and Dhunge Dhara which used to supply running water have already dried out in Kathmandu valley. And people are suffering from water born diseases because they have no access to clean water. People have to call up for water – hence, we see water tankers roaming around the city. We can act okay even now by blaming the problems as an outcome of the unmanaged Water system in Kathmandu but the truth is we have actually no one but ourselves to blame for the water crisis and the diseases that are growing rampantly. You might think you can save water by closing the tap when you are not using it or supply your house with water by digging a well in the compound. But that too is not going to work because we have surpassed the time when water problem was just a small problem that could be solved by well pumps and spouts. Water crisis has grown into a bigger problem and is now eating the society slowly. Substantially, because we ignored when we had to take an action. The rivers in the valley are drying out and the ground water is getting worse in its quality. We are actually living inside a drainage system and the only reason we are surviving it is because we are in Kathmandu where we have plenty of medicine and awareness program for diseases like Diarrhea, Cholera and Typhoid. Rautahat recently, was hit by an epidemic cholera. 700 locals were infected. That number will never be faced in Kathmandu because we have health posts delivering health service. But there is a high chance in the future that we may face their condition not because of the disease but because of thirst. The solution we can adhere to - is easy to communicate but in reality to go ahead with a water conservation plan is challenging in itself. For it delves with our behavior to the environment, our habitual inhabitance to tolerate problems even in the extreme level and to motivate people to take stand for the unmanaged garbage disposal system and river pollution. And that isn’t easy at all. You cannot change a system by just Here is how you can save water • Recharge groundwater • Grow treatment plants around your waste water tank • Systemize rain water harvesting • Recycle water use According to the WHO, “Worldwide, 13 million deaths can be prevented every year by making our environments healthier.” You can always prevent diseases by following these tips • Drink clean water. • Wash your hands properly and habituate yourself with clean habits. • If you are about to consume a meat product, cook it thoroughly. • Consume only pasteurized meat products According to UN figures, rapid population growth and increased industrial demand has tripled water withdrawals over the last 50 years. Think//Issues That Matter eradicating the problem. We need a solution that can function the society’s water system. Megh Ale the founder of Nepal River conservation Trust realized it earlier on and therefore he brings people together by celebrating Bagmati River Festival and collects volunteer for the cleaning campaign. “People will not agree to help right away , we need to make people understand why we are doing what we are doing.” Mahesh Basnet Chairman of High Power for Integrated Bagmati Development Committee says “ to solve water problem we have to have a master plan, manpower and budget and it is really difficult to bring people together and to convince them to make up a system. We have no river policy and laws that punishes people who don’t go by the rules. Had we empowered river organizations there would have been no water pollution and no land encroachment.” Mahesh Basnet after working for decades in the Bagmati cleaning campaign realized that an arm political commitment and media support is very necessary to carry out a developmental plan. He worries why the concerned people aren’t taking any necessary initiatives. “I can totally see how we can solve water crisis in Kathmandu and I am surprised that people are not working towards this idea. The rivers are drying out because sand and 26 stones of the river are being exploited illegally. These sand and stones hold water. Plus, we have deforestation to deal with which withers land and dries out water. What we can do is systemize rain water harvesting and ground water recharge water. We can build dams that can supply water in the dry seasons as well. If we are able to carry out this plan we can save up to 75% of water in Kathmandu Valley” says Mahesh Basnet who feels confident that his concept will work one hundred percent to solve water problem. He further says “if we are able to treat waste water by treatment plants we will never have to go through this water problem at all.” “The encroaching land due to population growth should be controlled. The squatters living by the riverside should be managed elsewhere because they are the ones who are going to be affected, for that is from where diseases can get epidemic because they are living by the sewage pipes. And that’s how epidemics get haphazard” says Basnet. People these days enjoy rain than sun because we have no good source of water. We enjoy the drizzle hoping the water level will rise up, hoping our tanks will be filled. May be it’s time for us to do away with a system to build another of hope. May be we don’t have to call for the tankers to fill our water tanks after all. The “Dirty” Article “Waste” needs to be obliterated - from Kathmandu, from the world, and, eventually, our vocabulary. Nischal Neupane I t’s all about “waste.” Bear with me while I define my understanding of the word. To me, “waste” is the useless byproduct of energy systems, the difference between the input and the output, the barrier to a utopian 100% efficient perfect machine, the bad guy. And, sadly it is here to stay. Why? Because our planet is full of flawed energy systems and literally everything in this world - animate and inanimate - produces waste. The human body, your house, your motorbike, even your bicycle (during manufacturing), your city, the list goes on. Managing that “waste” is now one of the biggest headaches of the world. The governments of developed countries are racking their brains trying to stop the world looking like the backdrop of the PIXAR masterpiece Wall E. While the movie does provide a few delightful moments, it visibly points at the direction our planet is heading towards. Our city - dusty old Kathmandu - isn’t immune to the problem. If you are a morning person and are out and about before 8:00, you will see cohorts of municipality trucks scooping waste off the streets. In recent years, we have all been familiar with the private sector “whistle blowers” who collect our garbage at our doors. According to the KMC’s 2008 survey, the booming metro produces about 365 tons of waste per day. The metropolitan office claims about 93% of the waste generated is collected and about 23 tons of it remains unmanaged. Most of the collected waste is then hauled to small collection points (in case of private companies) and the transfer station in Teku (in case of KMC vehicles) and then later sent to the landfill site in Okharpauwa, Sisdol, Nuwakot. The same study also looked at the waste composition of the Valley, which showed that 63% of the waste is organic. Plastic makes up for 11% of the total haul and paper comes in a close third with 9%. The metropolitan city spends 37.5 million USD per year just managing the waste. Think//Issues That Matter 27 But to give credit where it’s due, the waste situation of Kathmandu Valley has vastly improved in the last decade or so. The KMC has largely been able to keep open dumping off the streets. If you ignore the calamitous banks of the Bagmati and a few scraps of plastic flying in the afternoon thermals, Kathmandu looks decent in the light of noon. Having said that, I do think it is the right time to change our approach in managing waste. After all, all the city is doing with the waste is hide it, tucking it away where it can’t be stumbled upon. The current approach will do for a few decades, but like I stated earlier, there is no end to the production of waste. What happens when we run out of open ground to dig and hide things underneath? What happens when the cost of petrol rises so high that it’ll be completely unfeasible for trucks to transport the 350 tons of garbage that we put on the streets on a daily basis? Obviously, it’s easy to point out the problems but, in this case, it’s equally easy to pick out the solutions as well. You might be familiar with the “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” slogan, accompanied by the “Segregate at source” chant. There’s nothing wrong with the slogans and principles, it’s acting upon them that’s difficult. The biggest actors with the ability to address the issue are, without a doubt, the individuals who make the choices but there are some institutions that can also play a major role in changing the mindsets of the public for good. The change has to start in our school systems and it has to start with the kindergarten students. Children should be taught to segregate waste. Schools need to come up with better ways of managing their junk and not just be content with the façade of declaring themselves “plastic free zones.” The next institution that needs to play a major role is the government. It can start off by formulating laws that are specific and devoid of loopholes. For example, the Local Self Governance Act-1999 stipulates that local governments are responsible for the management of waste but doesn’t state how it’s supposed to be managed. This means, if a municipality decides to dump waste in the holiest river of Nepal as a way of “managing” it, the body can certainly do so. The Solid Waste Management Act of Obviously, it’s easy to point out the problems but, in this case, it’s equally easy to pick out the solutions as well. 2011 is another vague, unspecific piece of document that is supposed to govern the solid waste management sector. There have been a few technical guidelines out, but until they come into action, the document will sit on a shelf and eventually ends up as “waste” itself. Ironic? Once the laws and policies are sorted out, the government needs to come up with monitoring mechanisms. It also needs to actually act on the consequences that it sets in those very same laws and policies. The next step would be to provide the public with the required hardware. Public garbage bins, for example, are scarce in the Valley. People trying to help out have been forced to carry little pieces of junk in their pockets until a bin is spotted. All of it is okay until you have a banana peel to throw or a leftover samosa that you couldn’t finish. Composting bins should be promoted at household levels on a big scale; vermi composting can be presented as an option to manage organic waste, and tax cuts should be provided to encourage people who take the initiative to manage their organic waste at their own level. After all, 65% of the daily waste is organic and can be managed in the Valley itself. It would save the KMC a ton of money that could otherwise be used for other environmentally friendly initiatives. Next, the municipality needs to incentivize the sector so that entrepreneurs can be brought in to invest in waste management. If you visit the numerous scrap centers on the banks of the Bagmati run by informal waste workers, you will find that the waste sector might be one of the biggest trading points in our country where millions of rupees exchange hands per day. The government and the municipalities should step in to regulate the trading, and promote it with proper incentives. The rights of informal waste workers should be recognized and they should be celebrated for their role in trying to keep Kathmandu clean. Last but not the least, and probably one of the hardest things to do, is to eliminate the word “waste” itself. The “Zero Waste” movement is going full swing in Europe at the moment, and Nepal needs to learn from it. There will be a lot of strife and a lot of changing of our work methods to even start scratching at the concept, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start. We all have roles to play, and if we begin right away, we might be able to do just that i.e. eliminate the word “waste” forever. Think//Issues That Matter 28 The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly? Hospitals and health care facilities need to ensure that they are centers of healing rather than hubs for breeding more patients through their careless waste management practices. Nischal Neupane T here has been a proliferation of hospitals in Kathmandu in the last decade or so. While some consider the ever-growing number of hospitals a positive transformation, there are skeptics who point out otherwise. For them, more hospitals mean more demand, and the only people who demand hospitals are patients. So, by that logic, more hospitals equate to more patients and more patients equate to a collectively sick society. That can’t be good news! Even worse are the reports that these centers of healing are inadvertently (or advertently) creating more patients by mismanaging their waste. Like all institutions that consume energy to function, hospitals generate waste as well. But unlike your regular kitchen garbage, the byproduct of hospital procedures contain all sorts of hazardous items - contaminated needles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, amputated body parts, etc. So, what happens to the waste that comes out of the ever-growing hospitals in Kathmandu? Most tend to burn or dump their garbage in the municipal waste stream or end up in the riverbanks, while some are buried. Burning HCW produces Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) like dioxins and furans, which have been classified as one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet. Furthemore, dumping HCW poses a direct risk to the waste handlers and gradual contamination of ground and surface water harms the public. One of the primary concerns of improper disposal of HCW is the risk posed by syringes to waste workers and the public alike. In 2000, WHO estimated that contaminated injections with contaminated syringes caused 21 million hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections (32% of all new infections), two million hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections (40% of all new infections); and at least 260 000 HIV infections (5% of all new infections). Furthermore, there is also a looming risk of undestroyed syringes being repacked and resold in the pharmacies. So what is being done about the problem? Let’s start with the government. The policies formulated throughout the years regarding the issue of improper healthcare waste management have remained largely ambiguous. The Local Self Governance Act of 1999 empowers local governments to fine anyone up to Rs. 15000 for haphazard dumping of solid waste but, ironically, doesn’t require the local governments to make provisions to manage hazardous waste. The Solid Waste Management Act of 2011 mentions medical waste under Chapter 10: Miscellaneous. According to the text, all hospitals are required to have a proper waste management system in order to be approved for an establishment license. But, while doing that, the act fails miserably in defining what “proper waste management systems” are, thus providing a leeway for health institutions to define them according to their needs. A comprehensive guideline for proper HCW management is lacking as well, and that contributes to further exacerbate the already bad scenario. Additionally, the government doesn’t have physical infrastructures that cater to the management of HCW in place either. Not everything is bleak though. Bir Hospital, Nepal’s oldest hospital, has led the initiative by being the first to introduce a non-burn Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) system. Bir Hospital segregates its detritus at the source, follows WHO guidelines for safe transportation of waste, disinfects using non incineration methods, and recycles and composts possible waste volume before disposing the remains in the municipal waste stream. The hospital is a certified safe injection and mercury free facility - it actually is the only establishment with a safe mercury storage house in Nepal. The institution also raises additional funds by selling its disinfected waste to scrap dealers, enough for minor repairs and maintenance activities. Seeing Bir’s transformation, other hospitals have followed suit. With technical guidance from HECAF’s HCWM program, Norvic International Hospital has shunned its waste burning practices and embraced a proper waste management system. Kathmandu Model Hospital is another institution that has taken up its waste management responsibility. The safe management of HCW is definitely not rocket science and can be Nischal Neupane, currently working in the non-profit sector, deeply cares about environmental issues, wants to play a role in creating a green and environmentally conscious Nepal, and cannot imagine his life without music. achieved with a strong commitment on the part of the hospital management. The first step, of course, is the change in the mindsets of healthcare workers and their willingness to embrace the change. Once that is out of the way, healthcare facilities need to institutionalize HCWM. This entails forming HCWM committees and building the capacity of their staff. Proper segregation of waste is paramount to the efficacy of HCWM systems. Segregation bins used for the system should be accompanied by proper labeling through easy-to-read text and pictures. Once the risk and non-risk waste are separated, they should be transported safely to the designated treatment center. HCW workers who are responsible for collecting and transporting waste should be well protected and must wear Personal Protective Equipment at all times. Risk waste should be disinfected using an autoclave. After non-risk waste is disinfected, most of it can be recycled. The biodegradable waste that is generated at the hospital can be composted or used to generate biogas with the help of a bio digester. Special attention should go towards managing needles. Syringes should be dismantled immediately after use with a needle cutter after which they should be collected in a separate container. The needles then need to be disinfected in an autoclave and encapsulated to prevent needle stick injuries. With a strong commitment from hospitals and other health care facilities, proper guidelines on HCW management, relevant policies, and monitoring mechanisms, proper HCW management can be achieved. Of course, the task is not easy but that’s no excuse to not give it a shot, is it? Think//Fr!day Films MOVIE REVIEW 30 Morass and Miracles P Prawin Adhikari igeons – the winged infestation of city life – circle the sky a few times, flit together in the air, bank and return to their old perches. At the least, they have that security – of returning to their perches after the brief flight. And what a privilege that can be! To forage and seek betterment of one sort or another, and return to the safety of the familiar four-walls where one has built a life! Nothing pushes individuals to the brink of dissolution by snatching away that security and privilege as does the faceless, merciless vastness of a metropolis. Hansal Mehta’s City Lights – an authorized remake of Metro Manila – is less about Mumbai the physical being than it is about Bombay, the glittering lure shining ever brighter since its conception and growth as the gateway to Company India. Rajkumar Rao’s Deepak Singh is an ex-army family man from a small town in Rajasthan. He has never known anything but hierarchy: when the moneylenders come to evict him from his shop, he falls to their feet and begs – ‘Hukum!’ Thus uprooted from everything he knows, he is forced to bundle up his family and travel to Mumbai, the bright jewel on the Arabian Sea. When his wife Rakhi – played by Patralekha – voices her doubts, Deepak says tenderly – Mumbai mein toh samandar bhi hai! Mumbai has a sea! Abundance is by itself a signal of limitless opportunities. Never mind the improbability of success choosing you its champion. Homelessness in a big city immediately affects the sense of self-worth. First, one must find a source of water to which one can return, and from where one can take water away. Second, one must find a place to relieve oneself. Third: a dependable source of food. Then, a place quiet and covered to try and sleep off the fatigue that comes from foraging for water and food, and from the constant worry that what little you have – by the way of good health, the knickknack you can’t abandon, the peace of mind that walks the tightrope between clarity and delusion – will not be yours tomorrow. A big city drives forward not on the reflected starlight of the few who attain success, but the fire that consumes the millions who toil to keep the city inching forward. So it is for Deepak Singh’s little family: promptly upon arrival, Mumbai teaches them a lesson, and grinds them to the nethermost rung: as close to Hell as a father can bear to bring his family. They turn to strangers. Deepak Singh seeks gainful employment: He goes to the BR Ambedkar vāchanālaya – a reading library – to study the classifieds. That seems a touching, telling detail: the most downtrodden in the moment grasp at each other for support. City Lights is full of such details where, with a miniscule gesture, the story gains depth. This should be a mainstay characteristic of narrative filmmaking; after all, cinema is nothing if not value-addition through gainful employment of details from disparate art forms coming together in a scene. But it is still a rare enough quality in Nepali and Hindi movies that what should be commonplace becomes something celebrated. Mumbai is full of contradictions – this very sentiment is a cliché about Mumbai, and is often shown by contrasting the skyward mansions of billionaires, often stealing directly above the sun and air of their neighbors, with the thousands of slum-dwellers surviving in the ramshackle sprawl of their shadows. City Lights doesn’t dwell too much on such easy clichés. Instead, it rushes to throw the characters into the cauldron: to watch them writhe in agony, to hear their desperate cries. When a city is as vast and indifferent as Mumbai, it seems less discriminating when it metes out humiliation: when a woman decides to work as a dance-girl, she is appraised by making her remove her shawl and turn around. She is entering a market where only her body is of value, and the cost of entry is the humiliation of being stripped naked by the male employer’s gaze. Later, when a couple of men ask a gangster for a favor – in a city like Mumbai, everyone asks for favors unashamedly, and also does favors, with the understanding that it will be repaid – they are made to undress, literally, and turn around. In both scenes, the hands of the men in the position of power are illuminated by smart-phone screens. These screens allow men to ignore those weaker than themselves. Smart phones can play the music to whose tune the poor must dance. They can make the right phone calls and make all troubles disappear. They aren’t just accessories: they are badges of power and class. Even a pimp can get his way with a police inspector if he is carrying an expensive phone: the police inspector will play a video game on his phone while a helpless man seeks justice at his feet. Repeatedly, at crucial moments in the movie, the rich and the powerful play with CityLights Directed by Hansal Mehta Produced by Mukesh Bhatt Screenplay by Ritesh Shah Based on Metro Manila by Sean Ellis Starring Rajkummar Rao, Patraleka Music by Jeet Ganguly, Raju Singh Editing by Apurva Asrani Distributed by Vishesh Films, Fox Star Studios Running time 126 minutes Language Hindi their smart phones: yet another barrier that gives them the sanctuary through separation from the toiling masses. I have not seen Metro Manila – written by Sean Ellis – but the adaptation by Ritesh Shah, City Lights, feels authentic and rooted in its milieu. The director, the cinematographer, and the protagonist, Rajkumar Rao, must all share the credit for this success. Rao slips into his character sometimes simply by folding the sleeves of his shirt: self-respect and naiveté, the mark of a small-town upright family man. Mumbai doesn’t have to be the teeming streets or the chaos of the railway stations. It can be an unfinished apartment high up in a tower – once finished, it will sell for half a million dollars, but for now the Singh family may squat there. There are no walls or panes between the privacy of the family and the city below. But, it makes you wonder – isn’t it the same half-million dollar view? Is it really the barrier of a window pane that separates the fortunes of those who reside in the clouds, and those innumerable Atlases who hold aloft the sky from where bright jewels hang? “Poverty is a disease,” Singh’s partner at his new job tells him. If poverty is a disease, City Light shows Mumbai as the ICU in a hospital where a poor man goes to cure one disease and returns with another – deadlier – infection, his lot no more improved than when he arrived. And Deepak proves a formidable foil to the city’s cruelty – one never ceases to root for him, even when his mettle begins to dissolve. If the metropolis opens its maws to chew him alive, Deepak Singh is determined to escape it, but not without giving it a worthy fight. By stripping Mumbai of its starlight and glamour – on the side of fantasy or of squalor – City Lights succeeds in illuminating the darkness that necessarily comes with the light. I only hope that it is still in the theaters in the coming weekend – this movie recommends itself at many different levels, each very satisfying and rewarding. Prawin Adhikari writes fiction and screenplays, and teaches. He is an assistant editor with La.Lit, the literary magazine, accessible online at www.lalitmag.com His collection of short stories The Vanishing Act was published in March, 2014, by Rupa Publications.
Similar documents
I am from the Generation I am from the Generation
the games that have been played on our soil for the longest time. We, the people however, are the biggest convicts here.We should be playing games that were born in our nation instead of blindly fo...
More information