March 22 Event, Deuba In New York

The School of International and Public Affairs

Columbia University

New York City

Sponsored by

The Southern Asian Institute

(SAI)

With the assistance of

The South Asian Graduate Students Association

(SAGA)

Nepal –the Himalayan Hotspot. From Shangri-la To….?

Wednesday, March 22^nd, 2006

2 pm – 6.30 pm

Room 1501 at the School of International and Public Affairs

420 West 118^th St., 15^th Floor, New York, NY 10023

This half-day conference will focus on the possibilities, as well as the problems or challenges, in the strategically located kingdom of Nepal today and look at the prospects for the future.

Nepalese and foreign experts and public figures from different professional fields will present their views and analyses of the political, economic and social situation in this landlocked South Asian country embedded between China and India, discuss the issues and hopefully conclude with recommendations for the way forward.

Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal’s Prime Minister from 1995 to 1997, 2001 to 2002, and again from June 2, 2004 until February 1, 2005, who was released from prison in February 2006 by an order of Nepal’s Supreme Court, after being sentenced to two years in prison in July 2005, under corruption charges, by the Royal Commission for Corruption Control, which was ordered disbanded by the Supreme Court, will make a key presentation.

This colloquium will be hosted by Professor Jenik Radon, Harriman Institute, SIPA, Columbia University, with the support of Khagendra Gharti-Chhetry, Esq., Chhetry & Associates, P.C. Professor Catherine Nepomnyashchy, Director of Harriman Institute, Columbia University will open the conference.

The conference’s topics include:

1) Domestic and International Balance: Turmoil (Maoists) and in between China and India

2) A Governmental Structure for a Secure Future, Democracy and/or Royal Rule

3) Nepal’s Economic Place in the Sun: from Tourism to Hydropower

4) A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: How Do We Get There?

5) Future Perspectives, Practical Steps

6) Closing Remarks

For questions, please contact Prof. Jenik Radon or his assistant, Jasmine Henz, via e-mail or phone.

Jenik Radon Jr2218@columbia.edu +1 212 496 2700 ; Jasmine Henz jasminehenz@radonoffices.com +1 212 496 2700

Nepal Conference

Nepal – The Himalayan Hotspot.

From Shangri-la to…?

_______________

School of International and Public Affairs

Columbia University

March 22, 2006

(Wednesday)

Dag Hammarskjold Lounge

(Room 1501)

Sponsored by

The Southern Asian Institute

(SAI)

With the assistance of

The South Asian Graduate Students Association

(SAGA)

Nepal – The Himalayan Hotspot.

From Shangri-la to…?

2:00 – 2:15: Welcome:

Catherine Nepomnyashchy, Director of Harriman Institute, Columbia University, and

Khagendra Gharti-Chhetry, Esq. Chhetry & Associates, P.C

.

Introduction:

Jenik Radon, Esq., Harriman Institute, Adj. Asst., Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University

2:15 – 3:00: 1) Domestic and International Balance: Turmoil (Maoists) and

in between China and India

Moderator: Khagendra Gharti-Chhetry, Esq., Chhetry & Associates, P.C.

Speakers:

• Murari Raj Sharma, former Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Nepal to the United Nations
• Dinesh Tripathi, Advocate at Nepal’s Supreme Court, Tripathi Law House, Kathmandu, Nepal

3:00 – 3:50: 2) A Governmental Structure for a Secure Future, Democracy and/or

Royal Rule

Moderator: Tara Niraula, Senior Research Scholar and Research

Director at Teachers College, Columbia University

Speakers:

• Amy Cohen, Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Ohio State University
• H. E. Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Nepal to the United Nations

3:50 – 4:10: Coffee/Refreshments

4:10 – 5:10: 3) Nepal’s Economic Place in the Sun: From Tourism to Hydropower

Moderator: Leon Weil, Former US Ambassador to the Kingdom of

Nepal

Speakers:

• Alok K. Bohara, Professor at the Department of Economics, University of New Mexico
• Surendra Devkota, Visiting Professor at the School for International Training, World Learning, Brattleboro, Vermont

5:10 – 6:10: 4) A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow: How Do We Get There?

Moderator: Shiva Gautam, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of

Biostatistics, Harvard-Thorndike General Clinical Research Center at

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School

Speakers:

• Smita Narula, Assistant Professor of Clinical Law, Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, New York University School of Law
• Arzu Rana-Deuba, Executive Chairperson of Samanata Institute for Social and Gender Issues, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Deepak Thapa, journalist and writer affiliated with the Center for International Conflict Resolution, Columbia University; recipient of The Asia Foundation's William P. Fuller Fellowship in Conflict Resolution
• Sam Zarifi, Research Director, Asia Department, Human Rights Watch

6:10 – 6:40: 5) Keynote Address: Future Perspectives, Practical Steps

Moderator: Jenik Radon, Esq., Harriman Institute, Adj. Asst. Professor at

SIPA/Columbia University

Speaker: Hon. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal’s Prime Minister from 1995

to 1997, 2001 to 2002, and from June 2, 2004 until February 1, 2005, Kathmandu, Nepal

6:40: 6) Closing Remarks: Jenik Radon Esq., Harriman Institute, Adj. Asst.

Professor at SIPA/Columbia University