Rajendra Mahto: नागरिकता विधेयक खोतल्दा

नागरिकता विधेयक खोतल्दा

राजेन्द्र महतो

नागरिकता राष्ट्रियतासँग जोडिएको सवाल हो । यो नागरिकको अधिकार र दैनिक जीवनलाई प्रभावित गर्ने विषय हो । कुनै पनि व्यक्ति राष्ट्रविहीन रहन सक्दैन । नेपालमा ४०-५० लाख जनता वास्तविक नागरिक हुँदाहुँदै पनि राज्यद्वारा खडा गरिएको समस्याबाट अनागरिक भएका छन् । चार दशकदेखि उनीहरूलाई विभिन्न संवैधानिक तथा कानुनी जटिलता पैदा गरी नागरिकता प्रमाणपत्र दिइएको छैन ।

समस्या नागरिकताको होइन, मानसिकताको हो । कानुनी समस्या संशोधन तथा परिमार्जन गरेर समाधान गर्न सकिन्थ्यो तर एउटै समुदाय विशेषका कानुन तथा नीति निर्माताको मानसिकता ठीक नहुँदा समस्या समाधान हुन सकेको छैन । यस्ता व्यक्तिबाट नियम कानुन निर्माण तथा त्यसको सफल कार्यान्वयन हुन सक्दैन । मधेसीप्रतिको सोचमा परिवर्तन नआई देशको आधा आवादी मधेसी समुदायको नागरिकता समस्या समाधान हुनेवाला छैन । मधेसीप्रति सदीयौंदेखि गरिएको शोषण, भेदभाव, उत्पीडन समाप्त नहुने हो भने भोलि के होला भन्न सकिन्न । स्थिति कति विस्फोटक हुने हो ? परिणाम के के हुन सक्छ ? सायद शासकले अनुमान लगाएका छैनन् ।

यही नागरिकताको सवाल सद्भावना पार्टीले आफ्नो जन्मकालदेखि प्राथमिकताका साथ उठाउँदै आएको छ । नागरिकता राष्ट्रियतासँग जोडिएको सवाल भएकाले अविलम्ब समाधान भएन भने लाखौं मधेसी राष्ट्रियताको खोजीमा निस्कँदा नयाँ रािष्ट्रयता निर्माण गर्न अग्रसर नहोउन् । यस्तो परिस्थिति नबनोस् भनेर जहिले पनि हामी संवेदनशील तथा चिन्तित छांै । एकै चोटीमा नागरिकता समस्या सदाका लागि समाधान हुनुपर्छ । त्यसपछि मुलुकमा कसैले पनि 'नागरिकता' समस्या उठाउन नपरोस् ।

नागरिकता समस्या समाधान गराउँदा कुनै पनि गैरनेपालीले त्यो प्रमाणपत्र पाउनु हुँदैन । त्यसका लागि आवश्यक दण्ड-सजाय व्यवस्था अनिवार्य हुन्छ । तर गैरनेपालीले पाउलान् भन्ने बहानामा कसैलाई पनि नागरिकताबाट वञ्चित गर्नुहुँदैन । मधेसीको मूलभूत समस्या अर्कै हो । उसप्रति गरिएको राजनीतिक, आर्थिक, सामाजिक, सांस्कृतिक, भाषिक शोषण तथा भेदभावविरुद्ध संघर्ष गरी अधिकार तथा अस्तित्व रक्षा गर्दै सम्मानपूर्ण जीवन प्रदान गर्ने अवसर दिलाउन बाँकी छ । राज्य व्यवस्थाको सञ्चालनमा बराबरका हिस्सेदार बनाउन बाँकी छ । अहिलेसम्म मधेसीले यो मुलुकमा एउटा शरणार्थीको जीवनबाहेक के पाएको छ ? त्यसैले मधेसी समुदायको असली लडाइँ त अब सुरु हुन्छ जब नागरिकता समस्या पूर्णरूपमा समाधान हुन्छ ।

सरकारले हालै मन्त्रिपरिषद्बाट पारित गरी प्रतिनिधिसभामा पठाएको नागरिकता विधेयकले वर्षौदेखि जटिल रूपमा रहेको नागरिकता समस्या पूर्णरूपमा समाधान गर्न सक्दैन । किनभने मधेसीप्रतिको प्रतिगमनकारी सोच फेरि हावी हुन लागेको छ । भरखरै सम्पन्न ०६२/०६३ को ऐतिहासिक जनआन्दोलनको मर्म र भावना विपरीत मधेसीको नागरिकताको सवाल आउँदा सरकारले ०४६ को जनआन्दोलन सम्भिmन पुगेको छ । र, विधेयकमा ०४६ चैतसम्म जन्मेकालाई नागरिकता दिने प्रावधान ल्याएको छ । ०४६ को आन्दोलन हुँदा त्यसलाई बिर्सेर ०१९ को निरंकुश पञ्चायती संविधानलाई नागरिकताका लागि जिउँदै राख्ने काम गरियो । र त्यहीअनुरूप ०४७ को मा ०१९ को संविधानको धारा ७ लाई राखेर जिउँदो पारियो । यस प्रकार मधेसीको सवाल आउँदा राज्यपक्ष जहिले पनि संवेदनहीन भएर प्रतिगमनतर्फ गएको देखिन्छ । जबसम्म ०४७ को संविधानको धारा ८ र ९ लाई खारेज गरिँदैन तबसम्म यो विधेयक पास भएर पनि लागू हुन सक्दैन । फेरि कुनै बालकृष्ण न्यौपाने संविधानसँग बाझिएको भनी सर्वोच्च अदालतमा नपुग्ने र कानुन खारेज नहुने कुरा छैन ।

विधेयकको दफा ३ ले जन्मको आधारमा नेपाली नागरिकता प्राप्तिको व्यवस्था गर्दै ०४६ चैत मसान्तभन्दा अगाडि नेपालभित्र जन्म भई स्थायी बसोबास गर्दै आएको जन्मका आधारमा नागरिक हुने भनिएको छ ।

अब प्रश्न उठ्छ- ०४६ चैतपछि जन्मेका नेपालीका सन्तानलाई के गर्ने ? एउटा सन्तान ०४६ चैत पहिले जन्म्यो उसले यस कानुनअनुसार नागरिकता लियो तर अर्को सन्तान चैतपछि नेपालमै जन्मेको छ, त्यसको के हुने ? एउटा सन्तान नागरिक अर्को सन्तान अनागरिक ? ०४६ पछि जन्मेका नागरिकका ती युवा सन्तानले पनि ऐतिहासिक जनआन्दोलनमा भाग लिएका थिए तिनीहरूलाई यो विधेयकले दण्डित गर्न खोजेको त होइन ? के जनआन्दोलनको भावना यही थियो ?

दफा ४ मा वंशजको नाताले नेपालको नागरिकता प्राप्तिको व्यवस्था गर्दै भनिएको छ, कुनै व्यक्तिको जन्म हुँदा निजको बाबु वा आमा नेपालको नागरिक रहेछ भने त्यस्तो व्यक्ति वंशजको नाताले नेपालको नागरिक हुनेछ । यो कानुन कुनै नयाँ होइन, यो प्रावधान नागरिकता ऐन, ०२० को दफा ३ को व्यवस्था हो, जुन प्रस्ट नभएकाले गलत व्याख्या हुँदै आएको छ । यसले ४० वर्षदेखि समस्या बढाउने कार्य गर्दै आएको छ । यहाँ 'नागरिक रहेछ' को अर्थ 'नागरिकता प्राप्त गरेको लाई' र नागरिकता प्राप्त गरेको मितिपछि मात्र नागरिक हुनेजस्तो व्याख्या हालसम्म छ । 'बाबुले नागरिकता लिनुभन्दा पहिले जन्मेका सन्तानलाई' यसले नागरिक मान्न प्रतिबन्ध लगाउँछ । मानौं बाबुले कानुनअनुसार ०४६ चैतअगाडि जन्मेको नाताले अहिले नागरिकता लियो । ०४६ पछि जन्मेको त्यसको सन्तानले कसरी नागरिकता पाउँछ ?

त्यस्तै दफा ५ -३) ले जन्मको आधारमा नागरिकता पाउनेलाई 'अंगीकृत' नागरिकता दिने व्यवस्था गरेको छ । त्यतिमात्रै होइन, जुन गरिबसँग केही प्रमाण छैन त्यसका लागि कुनै नागरिकता प्राप्त व्यक्तिको सिफारिसका आधारमा दिने प्रावधान राख्नुको साटो अर्थहीन प्रावधान राखिएको छ ? विधेयकमा तीनजना नागरिकतावालाको सिफारिसले पुग्दैन, उसको नाम मतदाता सूची वा राष्ट्रिय जनगणनामा हुनुपर्‍यो र त्यसको सर्जमिन मुचुल्का हुनु पर्‍यो । यस प्रकार कुनै प्रमाण नहुने नागरिकका लागि व्यवस्था हुन सकेन । आधार र प्रमाण जुटाउन नसकेको कारणले नागरिकता समस्या समाधान गर्न कठिनाइ भएको बिर्सिनु हुँदैन । त्यसमा पनि दिने अधिकारीलाई स्वविवेकीय अधिकार दिइएको छ ।

त्यस्तै दफा १२ मा नागरिकता रद्द गर्ने प्रावधानमा आपत्तिजनक व्यवस्था गरिएको छ । विधेयकमा कुनै नेपाली नागरिकले झूटो विवरण दिई 'नेपाली नागरिकता' लिएमा रद्द गर्ने प्रावधान छ । नेपाली नागरिकको निवेदन फारममा कुनै कारणले गलत उमेर ठेगाना वा कुनै विवरणले नागरिकता नै रद्द गर्ने प्रावधान उचित हो र ?

नागरिकतासम्बन्धी मुद्दा अदालतमा जानुको सट्टा प्रशासनमा राख्नु, अदालतमा पुनरावेदन लाग्ने प्रस्ट व्यवस्था नहुनुजस्ता त्रुटिपूर्ण प्रावधान छन् । बदनियतपूर्वक नागरिकता रद्द गरेमा त्यसको कानुनी उपचारको प्रस्ट व्यवस्था गरिनुपर्छ ।

यो संवेदनशील समस्याको समाधान दृढ इच्छाशक्ति र मानसिकतामा परिवर्तन नभएसम्म हुन सक्दैन । त्यसो हुने हो भने नागरिकता प्रदान गर्न केको कठिनाइ ? विधेयकमा आवश्यक संशोधन र परिमार्जन गरी देखिएका सबै समस्या समाधान खोज्नु आवश्यक छ ।

-लेखक, नेपाल सद्भावना पार्टी -आनन्दीदेवी) का महासचिव हुन् )

Nepal's Terai People In Deplorable Conditions: Mahto
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माओवादीद्वारा निजी वन कब्जा
विपन्नलाई छात्रवृत्ति
दलहरूमा ३३ प्रतिशत 'दलभित्र पुरुष मनोवृत्ति रहे पनि संसद्को निर्णय मान्न कर लागेको छ' महिला संघ कास्की सभापति शारदा पौडेल भन्छिन्- 'अब हुने गाउँदेखि जिल्ला र केन्द्रसम्मको अधिवेशनमा ३३ प्रतिशत महिलाको सहभागिता हुनेछ ।' .... महिला सहभागिताको प्रसंगमा ०५१ को स्थानीय निर्वाचनमा प्रत्येक वडामा १ महिला सदस्य उठाउनै पर्ने बाध्यत्ाा थियो । त्यसले गर्दा ४० हजार महिला नेतृत्वमा पुगे । ..... संसद्को घोषणापछि महिला सहभागिता बढे पनि यथार्थमा सबै संरचनामा ३३ प्रतिशत महिला कुनै पनि दलमा छैनन् । विद्रोही दल माओवादीको जनमुक्ति सेनामा ४० प्रतिशत महिला भएको बताइन्छ । माओवादीले ३३ प्रतिशत होइन, समान सहभागिता हुनुपर्नेमा जोड दिएको छ । .... जनआन्दोलन- २ मा पनि ४० प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी त महिला उत्रिएका थिए अधिकारका लागि । ..... कोेइरालाका अनुसार महिलाले सरकार र आफ्नै दलभित्र आन्दोलन गरिरहनुपर्छ, समान सहभागिताका लागि । ..... 'माओवादीले आफ्नो पार्टीभित्र ५० प्रतिशत महिला सहभागिता गराइसकेको छ ।' माओवादी कास्कीका सेक्रेटरी करणले पनि माओवादीको स्थानीय तहमा ५० प्रतिशत महिला भएको दाबी गरे । माओवादीले पनि शान्तिवार्ता समिति र अन्तरिम संविधान मस्यौदा समितिमा समेत सुरुमा महिलाको नाम प्रस्ताव नगरेकोप्रति सशंकित हुनुपर्ने अवस्था छ ।
नागरिकता विधेयक खोतल्दा
दलको निरंकुशतासँग भ्रष्टाचारको सम्बन्ध सामान्य हिसाबमा एक जिल्लामा दलको कार्यालय चलाउन कमसेकम मासिक १० हजार रुपैयाँ खर्च लाग्छ, कार्यालयको बहाल, बिजुली, पानी, फोन, कर्मचारी आदि । यो दरले ७५ जिल्लामा वर्षमा एउटा दलले ९० लाख रुपैयाँ खर्च गर्छ । साना दलको सबै जिल्लामा कार्यालय हुन्न भने ठूला दलको २ सय ५ निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमै कार्यालय छन् । औसत एउटा दलले वाषिर्क १ करोड रुपैयाँ खर्च गर्ने देखिन्छ । ......... एक निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा एउटा उम्मेदवार र उसको दलले संयुक्तरूपमा जम्मा ३ लाख रुपैयाँमात्र खर्च गरेको अवस्थामा पनि सबै निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा ६ करोड १५ लाख रुपैयाँ खर्च हुन्छ । ...... यत्रो रकम दललाई कहाँबाट आउँछ ? स्वाभाविक उत्तर हुन्छ, व्यापारी वर्ग, कर्मचारी र गैरसरकारी संस्थाबाट । दलको खर्च जोगाड गर्नेले आफ्नो लगानी उपर गर्छन ....... दलका लागि पैसा उठाउने क्रममा राजनेताले आफ्नो ७ पुस्ताका लागि बन्दोबस्त गर्छन् । ....... दलहरू यस विषयमा न पारदर्शी छन् न जवाफदेही । उनीहरू प्राप्त पैसा र खर्च सार्वजनिक गर्दैनन् र यस्ता खर्च लेखापरीक्षण पनि हुन्नन् । ....... दल, व्यापारी, कर्मचारीतन्त्र र गैसस रहेको एउटा चतुर्भुज बनेको हुन्छ । चतुर्भुजको जगको काम दलले गरेका छन् । रमाइलो त के भने दल र कर्मचारीतन्त्र व्यापारी वर्गलाई तस्कर वा 'नाफाखोर' भन्छन्, व्यापारी र गैसस कर्मचारीतन्त्र र दललाई 'घूसखोर' को पदवी दिन्छन् । अधिकांश गैसस 'डलर खेती गर्ने' नामले प्रख्यात छन् । ........ दलहरूमा आन्तरिक लोकतन्त्र छैन, उनीहरू अझै राजनीतिकरूपमा निरंकुश छन् ।...... कांग्रेसमा त निर्णय एक व्यक्तिले गरेर दलका अन्यले पत्रिका पढेर थाहा पाउँछन् । ...... अब बन्ने संविधानमा अनिवार्य रूपमा दलमा आन्तरिक लोकतन्त्र हुनुपर्ने व्यवस्था गरिनुपर्छ । ....... संविधानमा सरकार प्रमुख प्रत्यक्ष निर्वाचनबाट छान्ने व्यवस्था गरेर, मन्त्रिमण्डल गैरसांसद व्यावसायिक व्यक्तिबाट बनाउने व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्छ । सरकार प्रमुखले मन्त्रिमण्डलका लागि मनोनयन गरेका व्यक्ति संसद्मा सुनुवाइ गरेर बहुमत सांसदलाई स्वीकार्य ठहरिएपछि मात्र मन्त्री पदमा नियुक्ति गर्ने व्यवस्था गर्नुपर्छ । यसो गरे एक व्यक्ति एक पदको अवधारणा पनि अवलम्बन हुनजान्छ । ....
हतियार बोकेका ट्रक खोज्दै
केशरमहलको स्वप्न बगैंचा सर्वसाधारणका लागि खुला हुने
सुरक्षा अभावले निजी क्षेत्र संकटमा

NEPAL: Rebels accused of running parallel government Reuters AlertNet, UK
Nepal government begins crackdown on gays Daily News & Analysis, India
Nepal Maoists vow to keep up their protests Hindustan Times, India

मधेशी सांसदहरुद्धारा संसदको वहिष्कार

भदौं २७, पुनःस्थापना भएको प्रतिनिधिसभाको बैठक २७ साउनमा पहिलो पल्ट सत्ताधारी दलले नै बहिष्कार गरेका छन्। मधेशी समुदायले २६ भदौंमा गरेको प्रदर्शनमा प्रहरीले गरेको हस्तक्षेपको विरोधमा सत्तासाझेदार दल नेपाल सदभावना पार्टी आनन्दीदेवी र विपक्षिदल नेपाल सदभावना पार्टीले बहिष्कार गरेका हुन। वहिष्कार गर्नेमा नेसपाका यज्ञजित शाह र मृगेन्द्रकुमार सिंह तथा आनन्दीदेवीका राजेन्द्र महतो छन्। नागरिकता लगायत मधेशी हितका विषयमा निषेधित क्षेत्र सिंहदरवार अगाडी प्रदर्शन गरेका मधेशी समुदायको प्रदर्शनमा प्रहरीले हस्तक्षेप गर्दा कयौं घाईते र गिरफ्तार भएका थिए। मधेशी महिलामाथि पुरुष प्रहरीले लाठि प्रहार र दूर्व्यवहार गरेको प्रदर्शनकारीको आरोप छ। "३ महिनादेखि अरुले धर्ना र तालाबन्दी गर्दा लाठी चार्ज नहुने। मधेशीले गर्दा दमन गर्ने?" आक्रोशित स्वरमा महत्तोले भने, "मधेशीहरुको निम्ति लोकतन्त्र नआए जस्तो लाग्यो। के लोकतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनमा मधेशीको योगदान छैन्?" नेपाली काङग्रेस, जनमोर्चा नेपाल, नेका प्रजातान्त्रिकका सांसदहरुले पनि उक्त हस्तक्षेपको बिरोध गरेका छन्। सरकारले २६ भदौंमा निषेधित क्षेत्रमा हुने गरेका प्रदर्शन कडाईका साथ रोक्ने निर्णय गरेको थियो। त्यसैदिन सरकारले हाल जारी प्रदर्शनहरुलाई सम्बोधन गर्न उपप्रधानमन्त्री अमिक शेरचनको अध्यक्षतामा उच्चस्तरिय समिति गठन गरेको थियो।

Hands Off The Madhesi Activists

Phirangee

Bob Seger was right!!
Friday, Sep 01, 2006 01:49

Today has been one of those days that I think I will likely look back upon for the rest of my life.

I began my surreptitious border crossing adventure yesterday at approximately 4pm, when I said my goodbyes to SC and Vishnu and hopped into a tuk-tuk bound for the New Delhi railway station. SC had himself just returned from a week-long trip to visit his mother, and made it back only a few minutes before I left. With Vishnu in particular though it felt like a real goodbye, as we’d spent the last week "running the place" in SC's absence--cooking food for each other, watching cheesy Indian television together, and in a particularly illicit moment even sharing a beer.

My train left New Delhi only a few minutes late and I found the "AC2" accommodations quite comfortable, though I still didn’t manage to sleep much. We arrived in Gorakhpur (kind of near the Indian/Nepal border) at around 7am, where I caught a 2-hour jeep ride to the border. The jeep's driver snagged me right off the train, baiting me w/ “Rs100 just one passenger.” After talking with a few other drivers and some police officers, I got him down to Rs80, but he still ended up with the last laugh as “just one passenger” turned into 12 people in a jeep that could probably comfortably seat about half that many; so basically I traded numbness in my buttocks and legs and some Nepali kid falling asleep on my shoulder for Rs20.

Upon reaching the border I was again descended upon by a hungry flock of vultures, like the carrion I am, and made the error of walking away with the most vocal, aggressive one. He took me, on his bike rickshaw, first to Indian customs (“oh shit, please don’t notice the switchblade in my pocket!”), then to the Nepalese visa office. From there, he took me, against my request, to a travel agency, where they proceeded to inform (read: lie to) me that I had to book a bus through them and could not just buy a ticket at the bus stand. Note to self: you can always just buy a ticket at the bus stand, or on the side of the road anywhere along the route, for that matter. So they basically fleeced me for a couple hundred extra Nepali Rs, and I still tipped the vulture another Rs40 for biking me around and looking after my stuff. What a good tourist (sucker) I am.

One more short jeep ride later I finally made it to the bus stand, and though a bit bewildered, the bus owner seemed more than happy to let me ride up top on the luggage rack (one more seat inside for him to sell, after all). The bus ride was a long one, as we left the border at probably 11:30am and didn’t arrive in Kathmandu till after 8pm. Several people, including the bus owner and some random German kid, joined me up top for different parts of the ride, but I was the only person who made the entire trip. I could tell by the looks (and cheers!) I got all along the route that a Westerner up top was a quite uncommon sight, although I saw plenty of Nepalis doing it. Though I spent the next several hours in constant fear for my life, and acquiring yet another horrific sunburn, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Without question, Nepal gives Cuba stiff competition for the “absolutely most gorgeous place on planet Earth” contest. In fact, I’m already scheming about coming back and doing this route again, but maybe on foot/bike next time.

So I’m absolutely enamored with Nepal, at least based upon the bus ride and the experience thus far. The air just feels different here. I saw more spectacular scenery (and, I might add, more absolutely gorgeous women) on just an 8-hour bus ride than I think I’ve ever seen before. And the character of the place just seems totally different than India, or at least Delhi. Way more laid-back and fun-natured. Honestly, the word “paradise” just keeps surfacing.

On the flip side, Kathmandu seems, at least on first impression, to be even a bit more broke-down than Delhi. If this perception is correct, perhaps that’s a result of not being the capital city of a colonialist power, as Delhi was. There are also no shortage of men here who seem very eager to “help,” which is difficult for me to take on face value given the India experience. I gave the Louisiana brothers that I met in McLeod Ganj (Daniel & Mike) a call upon my arrival, and it initially sounded as though their guest house was full. When I asked them for other housing suggestions however, they offered to bunk up together and give me one of their rooms. Some fine Southern hospitality, even way over here on the other side of the planet, and the perfect ending to a near-perfect day.

In any event, 3 days in Kathmandu before heading off to Lhasa. We’ll see how it goes…


Pilgrimages, Politics, and Southern Hospitality
Monday, Sep 04, 2006 06:09

I was quite fortunate to have connected with Daniel and Mike Smith, two rockin’ Louisiana boys far from home but quite at home in the world. I met these fellers in McLeod Ganj at the Dalai Lama’s teachings, and they too assured me that Nepal was not only safe, but a grand destination. Like myself, Mike is a Fulbright scholar, and he’ll be based in Chapagaon, Nepal for the next several months.

Aside from just being fun fellas to hang out with, both of them have spent a significant amount of time in different parts of Asia, and gave me lots and lots of mini-lessons in Eastern religion, Asian culture, and language during the few days we spent exploring Kathmandu together.

With Mike being a religions scholar, much of our tourist activity revolved around sacred sites in Kathmandu, and there are sacred sites a’plenty. We visited a sacred Tibetan Buddhist site called the Boudha Nath Stupa (the world’s largest stupa at a whopping 36 meters high) and the Holy Area of Pashupati Nath (a sacred Hindu site), both part of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Area. After a full day of holiness, we found ourselves in need of blowing off a little steam, so we wandered through Tamil (the backpacker section of Kathmandu, similar to Paharganj in New Delhi), sampling the local delicacies or just sitting around in a Nepali bar drinking shite beer and watching hordes of drunken Nepali men engage in what someone called “homosociality” on the dance floor.

There was also a political element to my visit to Kathmandu (of course!) that was facilitated by my old college buddy Paramendra. Paramendra is a “Madhesi,” an “ethnic minority” group in Nepal that has been heavily discriminated against. I’ve heard Paramendra compare the situation of Madhesis in Nepal to that of African Americans throughout U.S. history. Paramendra, who has been residing in the U.S. since graduating from Berea, has been working full-time on helping to build democracy back home in Nepal, and has cultivated many contacts there as a result. Mike and Daniel are both pretty politically-astute fellas, so the three of us spent a day trying to track down and meet with some of Paramendra’s contacts. Ram, the owner of the guest house where Mike, Daniel, and I are staying, is also a Madhesi, and he joined us for part of the day as well (details and pics are forthcoming, P, I promise!!).

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the incredibly significant political events that have transpired in Nepal in recent months, I’d recommend checking out United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal. Basically, a revolution has taken place in which the Nepali people have decided they’d much rather live in a republic than a monarchy, and they’ve not so politely asked the King to step down. Now they just have to navigate some sticky areas including when, whether, and how new elections will be held, disagreements over the ultimate fate of the monarchy, and when, whether, and how the Maoist insurgents and the Nepali army are going to disarm. Obviously there’s lots more to it than that, and I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface, but between what I’ve read on my own and what I’ve learned from Mike and Paramendra, I grasp that it’s an important moment in Nepali, and global, history, and I’m excited to have gotten to have a peek. Hopefully more peeks to come…

All in all, I found Kathmandu a fascinating, enjoyable city, probably more so than any city I’ve visited thus far, and would very much like to return there some time. Actually, that pretty much goes for Nepal as a whole—-this visit was far too short. I finished my last night in Nepal back at the guest house, passing on a ton of hip-hop to Ram and packing up my belongings. As excited as I was to get the next leg of my trip underway, I was also pretty bummed to leave.

Moonlight over Qomolangma
Monday, Sep 11, 2006 05:59

Bright and early on the fifth, a driver met me at the house and took me to the meet-up site for the trip to Lhasa. We loaded our luggage up top, took our seats, and got underway probably shortly after 6 a.m.. Again, the drive through Nepal was gorgeous. We drove up, up, up into the clouds, through a landscape rife with lush mountainscapes and an astonishing number of waterfalls.

As expected (and even somewhat hoped for), our bus was stopped by Maoist insurgents, who demanded Rs500 (approx. $6.60) toll from each passenger. I was somewhat put off however, by their complete lack of showmanship: a 13-year old boy with a Che’ t-shirt and a worn-out looking older feller that I could have easily taken—no guns, no ambush, and really not even any threats except the threat of inevitable delay, as our tour guides and driver seemed uninterested in busting through the “blockade.” Apparently I wasn’t the only one who was put off—nearly all the Spanish and Chinese tourists refused to pay the toll. I tried to explain to the Spaniards what was happening in my broken Spanish, but they actually understood quite well and were simply being obstinate—referring to the Maoists as “vandals” and “drug addicts.” At some point, our tour guide became quite upset, and told the Spaniards they would have to pay up or get off the bus. For a moment I wondered if this might be some sort of a scam that he had a part in. Finally I became quite bored and annoyed with our little stand-off and simply climbed out my window and up to the roof of the bus, where I relaxed in the sun until the stand-off had ended (eventually I guess the Maoists were willing to settle for significantly less, and I think several people still managed to get away without paying anything).

The young Spaniard who had been most argumentative (and who looks a lot like Che’ himself) and the tour guide joined me on the roof shortly thereafter and we proceeded to get to know one another and have a nice political discussion. It turns out that the tour guide (who’s of Tibetan descent and is probably only a 2nd generation Nepali) not only doesn’t care much for the Maoists, but actually still favors the monarchy—a rarity amongst Nepalis these days, especially young ones. As for my own perspective on the Maoists and why I was so willing to pay up, well, I guess I am just feeling a lot more awkward in the role of tourist than most folks seem to be. Having grown up in a tourism-centered economy and seeing firsthand what that can mean in terms of inequality, commodification, and detriment to one’s home, I kind of feel like natives have a right to fleece the tourists. And of course, any tourist with a survival instinct will resist being fleeced, but I think they should do so with the double-consciousness of one who is both exploited and exploiter.

In terms of the Maoists, well, I’d definitely be interested in hearing how many Nepalis might respond to this assertion, but I actually perceive them to have played a positive role in the overthrow of the monarchy; i.e., I doubt if the “April revolution” could have happened if the Maoists weren’t already controlling a significant chunk of the countryside and hadn’t been waging concerted warfare on the monarchy for some time. Not to say that I agree completely with their politics, but I certainly have enough respect for them to pay up when I pass through territory that they control and have wrested from the central government at the cost of their lives. Monarchy anywhere is tyranny—screw the monarchy!

So anyway, political disagreements aside, we three fellers had a beautiful, enjoyable ride together up there on the roof, passing by the highest bungee jump site in the world, and were eventually joined by several other passengers. We arrived at the Nepal/China border, lugged our belongings through customs (much less hassle than I’d expected), and met up with our Tibetan tour guides. From there we began what would be a pretty rough drive through western Tibet. Between the road conditions, the dodgy food and hotels (the place in Nylam where we stayed the first night was particularly awful), and the dramatic changes in altitude, I spent much of these first few days feeling like someone with a really bad hangover. A combination of fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, heavy, incurable headaches, and difficulty breathing—altitude sickness ain’t nothin’ to mess with.

From Nylam, the trip proceeded pretty much as before, the hotels and roads fortunately increasing in quality as we proceeded. We made stops along the way to visit some Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and a cool-looking old fort near Gyantse that was built around 1400 A.D. From Gyantse, we made one last full-day drive to Lhasa, again taking a serious off-road course most of the way. That last day we went through two sizable passes, and also stopped off at the gorgeous Yamdrok Tso, or Turquoise Lake. We finally arrived in Lhasa on the 10th, most of us pretty worn out and a bit testy, but also happy to be done with the drive.

All in all, in the span of less than a week, we went from an altitude of 2300m in Kathmandu, to a high of over 5200m near Lhatze, and back “down” to 3650m here in Lhasa (which is still one of the world’s highest cities, apparently). I have no idea how many miles we’ve traveled, though it feels epic. I think that I’ve finally acclimatized, at least in the sense that I can sleep pretty well now and am no longer having frequent dizzy spells, though I’m obviously nowhere near the level of Sarah, a well-traveled British woman in our tour group who I found out ran a half-marathon yesterday. I still get winded incredibly easily and have little energy beyond that required of our tour schedule.

The other good thing about arriving in Lhasa is that it has a sizable airport, hence providing me with a cover story as to how I made my way here from Delhi. So from this point we’ll switch back to the regularly-scheduled programming at my other travel log, where I can fill you in on all the exciting details about Lhasa and the last leg of my overland journey to Beijing. If you don’t have that address, just let me know and I’ll send it to you. Hope you’ve enjoyed my “Himalayan Hangover.”

Yours truly,
Ammon Hennessey


Jason Fults

Story:

I took a few of my own meandering gaits around town, walking down streets that turned into rock that turned into dirt that turned into empty, grassy lots, then back into city. Along the way I sampled some yummy street food and got my first Nepali haircut. It was probably the most physically intimate experience I’ve ever had with another man. Aside from some serious precision work with the scissors and straight razor, brother-man busted out some sort of cream afterwards and gave me a full-on head/face massage. I had thought he was finished once he put the razor away, and stood up to pay when he said “sit please” and proceeded to massage away. Intense—I was light-headed when I left the place.

I like the small town feel of Kathmandu, at least this section of it. Though from what folks have told me, the city is growing at an uncontrollable rate and the infrastructure is not keeping up. This story seems to be a common one amongst major cities in the developing world.

Story:

On our political field trip, we first visited Vijay at JAGHRIT Nepal, an NGO which works for the rights of Madhesis. We chilled there for about an hour and I recorded the conversation. We then found our way to the Nepal Sadbhawana Party office, a political party which stands for Madhesi rights, among other things. Unfortunately, no one there spoke much English, but we were shuffled into a room full of apparent leaders of the Nepali youth movement (the NSP office also houses the Nepal Youth Front). We had quite a broken conversation with them—-part Nepali, part English—-but translation difficulties aside there was a lot of energy in the room and I really enjoyed meeting them. I mean, these kids, within just a few weeks of our visit, had been out in the streets fighting with cops, had been to jail, and had probably had friends who were seriously injured or perhaps even killed in the struggle. But they’d won! Incredible!

Baburam Bhattarai On The Impending Peace Talks

In case you have not noticed, I like to pay close attention to the utterances of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. I greatly admire his writing style. He is also a top Maoist. So his words are authoritative. He is no dogmatic communist. He sees himself renewing the communist ideology for the new realities of the 21st century. When he says democratic republic, I think he means it.

"I have no love for the monarchy," Girija Koirala has recently said. I think the Maoists are painting him to be something he is not. The country is going to be a republic, but that will happen at the time of the constituent assembly elections, not now. And that is fine.

The real issue is of arms management. (Girija Prachanda Brinkmanship)

You have to walk and chew gum at the same time. It is not arms management or the political issues. Both have to go together. All Maoist arms will be confined to barracks. That applies also to arms currently in the hands of the 100,000 strong Maoist militia. I draw no distinction between militia and soldier. (100,000 Maoist Militia Must Disarm)

DDR, SSR. Baburam Bhattarai is for security sector restructuring. So am I. The Maoists are not being asked to surrender. They are being asked to become a political party. Political parties do not have armies.

The part that is not going to fly is where 36,000 Maoist soldiers will be in barracks, but 100,000 Maoist militia will still be in the villages, armed. That is a total deal breaker.

There sure is a need for an interim state. But the Maoist formula for the interim parliament of 101 seats to the Maoists, 101 to the seven parties, and 101 to civil society is arbitrary and misguided. (Interim Parliament: 101 Members Total)

My formula still gives them something close to one third of the seats. But it is fair to the seven parties. And I agree to their saying there can not be any ninth party in that parliament. The April Revolution was the work of eight parties.

The civil society has to stay outside the parliament to continue being what it is.

All three branches of government will have to be redesigned, true. But you start first with the legislature. You elect a new one. The eight parties do not have a mandate yet. That mandate can be had through the ballot box.

The modalities of the constituent assembly will be for the interim legislature to discuss and decide. The shape of the federalism can not be decided right now. That will be for the constituent assembly to decide. I urge the Maoists to not overload the summit talks.

Similarly, land reform can not be an agenda of the summit talks. Land reform will have to be tackled after the formation of a new parliament born out of a new constitution shaped by the constituent assembly. But the Maoists are free to put forth their policy proposal on the topic and try and win the hearts of the people based on that.

I am very much for land reform. I think that will be a great way to raise productivity in the agriculture sector.

I am surprised neither side is talking in terms of a Truth And Reconciliation Commission. (Land Reform, Truth And Reconciliation) I am surprised transparent party finances are not being proposed for the interim constitution. The Maoist money can distort the constituent assembly elections as bad as the Maoist arms. (Arms Management, Money Management) I am surprised the Maoists are not even thinking in terms of state funded parties. They perhaps feel they are too rich for now. (Proposed Constitution) Only with state funded parties do you take the air out of the Prachanda talk of a democratic republic being a stepping stone to something else.

Much is expected of the summit talks. I am cautiously optimistic.

Janadesh article by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai

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zflGtjftf{sf] t];|f] dxŒjk"0f{ Ph]08f cGtl/d Joj:yflksf, sfo{kflnsf / Gofokflnsfsf] lgdf{0f / ;f/tM cGtl/d ;+ljwfg jf cGtl/d /fHo;Qfsf] lgdf{0f xf] . cf7a'“b] ;xdltdf xfnsf] u[xo'4sf] bf}/fg cl:tTjdf /x]sf k'/fgf] / gof“ ;Qfsf ;a} c+ux? lj36g u/]/ gof“ cGtl/d ;Qf lgdf{0f ug{] s'/f ul/Psf] 5 . k'/fgf] ;Qfsf] d'Vo c+u ;+;b / gof“ ;Qfsf] d'Vo c+u :yfgLo hg;Qf b'a}nfO{ lj36g u/]/ ;xdltn] csf{] Joj:yf ug{] eGg'sf] tfTko{ ToxL xf] . k|s6 ?kdf Tolt dfq elgP klg cGto{df uP/ x]bf{ / a'‰bf ;Qfsf tLg k|d'v c+u eGg] ul/Psf Joj:yflksf -;+;b_, sfo{kflnsf -;/sf/ / k|zf;goGq_ / Gofokflnsf -cbfnt_ tLg} yl/sf] k'gu{7g xf] eGg] a'‰g s'g} sl7gfO kb{}g . lsgls clxn];Dd ;fdGtjfb / /fhtGqsf] k[i7kf]if0f ub{}cfPsf] k'/fgf] ;Qfsf oL tLgj6} c+usf] ;dofg's"n / oyf]lrt k'gu{7g gu/L b]zdf ;Rrf nf]stGq of u0ftGq ;+:yfut x'g} ;Sb}g . of] s'“hL k|ZgnfO{ ga'e]m/ jf a'em krfP/ sltko tTjx?n] dfcf]jfbLnfO{ ;d]t k'/fg} ;Qfsf tL tLg j6} c+udf x'Ng] h'g k|oTg ub{5g\ / dfcf]jfbLnfO{ …cf7f}+Ú ;+;bjfbL kf6L{df ?kfGt/0f ug{] h'g ;kgf b]Vb5g\ Tof] w]/} 3fts / vt/gfs 5 / To;df bz jif{sf] eLif0f /Qm:gfgaf6 u'h|]sf] qmflGtsf/L dfcf]jfbL zlQm km:g} ;Sb}g / km:g} x'“b}g . oxf“g]/ c? ;+;bLo nf]stflGqs zlQmx?n] klg /fd|/L cfTd;ft ug{'kg{] s'/f s] xf] eg] ;]gf em}+ k|zf;goGq / cbfntsf] ;d]t ;+:yfut?kn] nf]stflGqs k'g;{+/rgf gu/Lsg b]zdf nf]stflGqs u0ftGq :yfkgf / ;+:yfut ug{ ;Dej} 5}g . To;}n] cGtl/d cjlwdf klg ;a} k'/fgf lgod–sfg'gnfO{ cGtl/d ljwfgcg'?k kl/jt{g gu/L / lghfdlt / Goflos ;]jfsf pRr clwsf/Lx?sf] k'glg{o'lQm gu/L /fHo / ;dfhsf] nf]stflGqs ?kfGt/0f x'g} ;Sb}g . of] k|ZgnfO{ xNsf?kdf lng' cfTd3ftL x'g] lglZrt 5 . To;/L g} cGtl/d ljwflosf / cGtl/d ;/sf/sf] lgdf{0f k'/fgf] ;+;bLo l;6sf cfwf/df xf]Og bzjif{] hgo'4 / P]ltxfl;s hgcfGbf]ngkl5sf] w/ftnLo oyfy{df cfwfl/t gof“ /fhgLlts zlQm ;Gt'ng cg';f/ ul/g' cToGt h?/L 5 . dfcf]jfbLn] /fhtGqlj/f]wL cfGbf]ngsf tLg ;xofqL zlQmx?– ;+;bjfbL, dfcf]jfbL / gful/s ;dfh tyf cGo ;d"x / JolQmTjx?sf] ;d'lrt k|ltlglwTj x'g] u/L gof“ ljwflosf / ;/sf/ lgdf{0f ug{] s'/f p7fpg'sf] tfTko{ ToxL xf] . jftf{sf] qmddf w/ftnLo oyfy{sf] cf“sng ug{]af/] 5nkmn / k|ltlglwTjsf] ;+Vofdf yk36 x'g;Sb5 t/ of] lqkIfLo k|ltlglwTjsf] l;4fGt / k|0ffnLnfO{ ckgfpg' lgtfGt h?/L 5 . zflGtjftf{sf] ;kmntfsf] lglDt Jojxfl/s lx;fan] of] Pp6f cToGt dxŒjk"0f{ kIf xf] .
zflGtjftf{sf] rf}yf] dxŒjk"0f{ Ph]08f ;+ljwfg;efsf] lgjf{rgsf] ljlw / k|ltlglwTj k|0ffnL xf] . xfn ljBdfg PsfTds /fHok|0ffnLdf cfwfl/t k|ltlglwTjsf] ljlw / …lhTg]n] ;a} nfg]Ú lgjf{rgsf] tl/sf nf]stflGqs / j}1flgs 5}g . To;}n] ljleGg ju{, hflt, If]q, lnË / ;d'bfosf] ;dfg'kflts k|ltlglwTj x'g] u/L gof“ lgjf{rg / k|ltlglwTjsf] k|0ffnL ckgfpg cTofjZos 5 . o;sf] lglDt Psflt/ b]znfO{ gf} j6f :jfoQ If]qx?sf] ;+3fTds k|0ffnLdf k'gu{7g u/L hftLo / If]qLo k|ltlglwTj ;'lglZrt ul/g'kb{5 eg] csf{]lt/ bnut cfwf/df ;dfg'kflts lgjf{rg k|0ffnL nfu" u/]/ dlxnf, blnt cflbsf] ;xL k|ltlglwTjsf] Uof/]G6L ul/g'kb{5 . ;du|df tTsfn b]zdf ;+3fTds k|0ffnL nfu" u/]/ / ;dfg'kflts lgjf{rg k4lt cg'z/0f u/]/ ;+ljwfg;efnfO{ ;f“Rr} g} ;a} If]q, hflt, dw]z, dlxnf, blnt, pTkLl8t ju{ cflbsf] ;xL k|ltlglwTj ePsf] ;fj{ef}d lgsfosf] ?kdf :yflkt ug{] Uof/]G6L ul/g'kb{5 h;n] dfq} hgo'4 / hgcfGbf]ngsf] efjgf / dd{sf] sb/ x'g]5 . ;fy} lgjf{rg cufj} gful/stfsf] ;d:of xn ug{' o; ;Gbe{df dxŒjk"0f{ kIf x'g]5 .
zflGtjftf{sf] kf“rf} dxŒjk"0f{ Ph]08f tTsfnLg Go"gtd cfly{s–;fdflhs k'g;{+/rgf xf] . dfcf]jfbLn] rlr{t $) ;"qLo dfukqsf] a]nfb]lv g} qmflGtsf/L e"ld;'wf/, /fli6«o cf}Bf]lusLs/0f, lzIff–:jf:Yo, /f]huf/Lsf] Uof/]G6L cflb tTsfnLg hghLljsfsf k|ZgnfO{ lg/Gt/?kdf p7fp“b} cfO/x]sf] 5 . ax';+Vos hgtfsf hLjg;+u k|ToIf ;/f]sf/ /fVg] oL cfly{s–;fdflhs k|ZgnfO{ 7Ls;+u ;Daf]wg gu/L b]zdf lbuf] zflGt axfnL x'g} ;Sb}g . k|d'v ;+;bjfbL kf6L{x?sf] cfly{s Ph]08f pxL k'/fg} /fhtGqjfbL k~rfotL zf;sx?sf] h:tf] ;fdGtjfb / ;fd|fHojfb k/:t /x“b} cfPsf] l:yltdf sd;]sd ;fdGtL e"ld;DaGwsf] k"0f{ pGd"ng ug{], /fli6«o cy{tGqnfO{ afx\o Psflwsf/ k"“hLjfbL r+u'naf6 d'Qm ug{] / lzIff, :jf:Yo, cfjf; / /f]huf/L df}lns clwsf/sf] ?kdf ;a} gful/snfO{ ;'lglZrt ug{] s'/f casf] zflGtjftf{ / ;Demf}tfsf] cleGg c+u aGg} kb{5 .
zflGtjftf{sf] 5}7f}+ dxŒjk"0f{ Ph]08f ;z:q åGåsf] ;dflKt ;+u;+u} åGåkLl8tx?sf] Joj:yfkg, k'g:yf{kgf / /fli6«o zflGt–;"nx xf] . o; ;Gbe{df ;lxb / ;lxb kl/jf/, a]kQf kfl/Psf gful/sx?, o'4sf 3fOt] / ckf+ux?, lj:yflktx? cflbsf] ;d:of ;dfwfgsf] k|Zg dxŒjk"0f{ x'G5 . ;du|df cf;Gg lzv/jftf{sf] eljio log} d"ne"t ljifox?n] lgwf{l/t ug{] 5g\ . ;a}sf] Wofg To;tk{m hfcf];\ .
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October 1: Sonam Sherpa Event: Movie

Date: Sunday, October 1, 2006
Show Times: 1:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M., 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
Event Info:

A small film could not have a bigger philosophical question: what is more important, inner development or outward social action?

In a nunnery in the high desert mountains of Mustang, a revered abbess dies, leaving signs that she will be reborn in the precious human form. Prayers and ritual must be done to help her consciousness into its next rebirth, but the nunnery coffers are empty.

The senior nuns decide that the only way out is get back money loaned out by the nunnery. A mysterious loan was made out to an equally mysterious Mr. Tashi who visited the senior nun in her last days. Given the shady rumors about Mr. Tashi, the nuns are convinced he took advantage of her in her dying state.

The two nuns assigned the mission to retrieve the money are Karma, a free-spirited nun, and her opposite, a textbook nun, Sonam. Mr. Tashi proves elusive. His shadowy trail leads them from the cloistered world of the high mountains, to the sin cities, and a host of small cruelties.

Will Karma be successful recuperating the money loaned to Tashi?

The movie, Karma – A Journey to Consciousness, is directed by Tsering Rhitar Sherpa, under whose belt is Mukundo, which was Nepal's Official Entry for Academy Awards (OSCAR) in Best Foreign Language Film in 2000. His documentary The Spirit Doesn't Come Anymore, won Best Film Award, Film South Asia (Festival of South Asian Documentary Films), Kathmandu, Nepal in 1997 and Best Indigenous Filmmaker of the Year, Parnu Anthropological Film Festival, Estonia in 1998.

Other critically acclaimed body of work includes, Tears of Torture, a documentary film about a Tibetan nun who crossed snow passes and Chinese police check posts to escape from Tibet on foot, Highway to Hell, about trafficking of girls from Nepal to India, Dignity in Exile, a documentary film about the renaissance of Tibetan culture in exile.

His latest film, which is not yet released, Karma; is a feature film about two Buddhist nuns from a remote nunnery in Mustang region of Nepal, who are sent down to track an elusive local businessman and recover the money that he owes to the nunnery. This film is 90 minutes long and is in Nepali and Tibetan with English subtitle.

As the movie wraps its tour of North America, which is organized by Ex-Mussoori Alumni Association of Nepal (www.exmussoorie.com), to benefit their project "Home Away from Home", it makes it final stop in New York, before it heads back to Nepal for its official release to the general public.

KARMA will be shown on Sunday, October 1, 2006 in Eagle Theater, Jackson Heights, Queens. Show Times are 1:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M., 5:00 P.M. AND 7:00 P.M.

To buy your tickets online, please visit http://sherpakyidug.org/karma/. Or you can buy tickets at following establishments.

In Queens.

Himalayan Yak Restaurant
72-20 Roosevelt Avenue
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Tel: (718) 779-1119

Om Tibet Restaurant
40-05 73 St
Jackson Heights, NY
(718) 672-3080

Tibet Mobile
73-19 A 37th Road
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(917) 574-1443

Yeti Nepalese & Japanese Cuisine
43-16 Queens Blvd. (between 43rd and 44th Streets)
Sunnyside, NY 11104
718-784-9384

Eagle Theater
73-07 37th Rd
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 565-8783


In Manhattan

TIBET EMPORIUM
156 Sullivan St
New York, NY 10012-3007
(212) 228-8991

TIBET KAILASH
48 Greenwich Ave
New York, NY 10011
(212) 255-9572

TIBET – Himalayan Gifts & Accessories
213 West 80th Street
New York, N.Y. 10024
( 212 ) 873 - 9884

Thank you for your support.

Venue: Eagle Theater, 73-07 37th Road, Jackson Heights, NY 11372


Hello All:

I am writing to you today about a movie I am asked to screen in New York as a grand finale to its tour of the USA and Canada.

The movie, Karma – A Journey to Consciousness, is directed by Tsering Rhitar Sherpa, under whose belt is Mukundo, which was Nepal's Official Entry for Academy Awards (OSCAR) in Best Foreign Language Film in 2000. His documentary The Spirit Doesn't Come Anymore, won Best Film Award, Film South Asia (Festival of South Asian Documentary Films), Kathmandu, Nepal in 1997 and Best Indigenous Filmmaker of the Year, Parnu Anthropological Film Festival, Estonia in 1998.

Other critically acclaimed body of work includes, Tears of Torture, a documentary film about a Tibetan nun who crossed snow passes and Chinese police check posts to escape from Tibet on foot, Highway to Hell, about trafficking of girls from Nepal to India, Dignity in Exile, a documentary film about the renaissance of Tibetan culture in exile.

His latest film, which is not yet released, Karma; is a feature film about two Buddhist nuns from a remote nunnery in Mustang region of Nepal, who are sent down to track an elusive local businessman and recover the money that he owes to the nunnery. This film is 90 minutes long and is in Tibetan and Nepali with English subtitle.

As the movie wraps its tour of North America, which is organized by Ex-Mussoori Alumni Association of Nepal (www.exmussoorie.com), to benefit their project "Home Away from Home", it makes it final stop in New York, before it heads back to Nepal for its official release to the general public.

I have arranged for Karma to be screened in Eagle Theater in Jackson Heights in Queens, New York. It will be shown on Sunday, October 1, 2006 – at 1:00 P.M., 3:00 P.M., 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. Tickets are only $10.00.

As friends (and families) of mine, you are hereby requested to give me a helping hand by doing whatever you can to make this a grand success. What can you do, you may ask. Here is my wish list.

1. Organize among your friends to go to the movies together and order tickets from me or buy them from others who approach you. (You're welcome to buy them online by logging on to SherpaKyidug.org/karma and pay by Paypal or any major credit cards).

2. Help me sell tickets to your friends and family. Write to me and I'll arrange to hand you over some tickets.

3. Spread the word.

I may or may not have been of any help to others in the past. I can't even assure you if I can be of any assistance to anyone in the future either. But, let me be the first one to ask you for your hand – as I have taken this responsibility to make Karma's screening a grand success, I am very aware of the fact that it is just not possible without the unconditional support by friends (and family) like you.

I look forward to positive responses from you, and seeing you all do whatever you can to make me look good. Can I have your assurance on that?

Sincerely,

Sonam G. Sherpa

Below are some helpful links to web sites that relates to Karma – A Journey to Consciousness.

http://karma-movie.com/

http://exmussoorie.com

http://sherpakyidug.org/karma/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi05Qlo_wcI

PS - My sincere apologies if you happen to get this e-mail more than once.

Sonam,

I would like to have 15 tickets for me. I am sure there will be many friends and families who would give a helping hand to you to make this a grand program. Beside, By seeing and promoting such movies, we will be supporting a Sherpa Film maker, a Nobel cause and wonderful story. I am glad that you have decided to organize this show.

Thank you

Tsewang sherpalama

More Sonam Sherpa Videos
More Events: Sushil Koirala, September 9



Invitation to 97th Devkota Jayanti and Poetic Evening
in New York

What: The 97th Devkota Anniversary and the Literary Evening
When: Saturday, October 14, 2006.
Time: 6:00 PM to 9 PM
Where: DHAKA MILONAYOTON (next to Haat Bazar) 37-11 73rd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Organizer: International Nepali Literary Society ( INLS) New York Chapter

Attractions of the Program:
Guests:
H.E. Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN
Mr. Kul Chandra Gautam- Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF- New York
Mr. Murari Raj Sharma- Former Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN
Mr. Homnath Subedi – Distinguished poet and Novelist, Washington D.C.
Prof. Mohan Sitoula, Poet, Critic, Essayist and President INLS –HQ (Washington D.C.)
Dr. Tara Niraula, Research Scholar, Columbia University

Prof .Dr. Harihar Bhattari- Writer ( NC)
Ananta Risal – President- INLS- NJ Chapter

Many Local Organizational Heads will also be participating in it
It will be a fairly large gathering of poets , poetess , youths and children and the spectators in their gala dresses
As the poets' voices will be resounding, the songs and dances of the artists will give a flavor and beauty to catch the mood of the moment .


Program's Details
Master of the ceremony
Opening
- Honor of the Seats
- Garlanding on the Photo of the Great Poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota
- Welcome speech
- Literary Presentation:
- Poetry Recitation
- Competitive and None Competitive
- Gazals
- Short poetry pieces
- Nepali Song by
- Bhaileni song by a group of artist

There will be speeches from the various speakers and the heads of the Organizations.

Vote of Thanks

Closing Remarks by the Chair

We request all the members of the Nepalese communities living in the USA and specially NY, NJ, CT, Greater DC and other vicinity areas to come to participate in it and make it successful.

Thank you

Gita Khatri
President
INLS- New York Chapter

Nepali Convention: Management

This is a business project. We have found the not for profit model in practice among the Nepalis in America has some serious drawbacks. I have been very impressed with Chandra Prakashji's business background. He is a doer, a go-getter, a people person, an entrepreneur by nature. So it is a core team of two.

Nepali Aawaz is his thing. I am not part of it. He has been a pioneer both in terms of the newspaper and the Nepali Mandir idea.

The first thing we do is bring the costs drastically down. The second thing is we think in terms of customer service. Like I say, dane dane pe likha hai khane bale ka naam, pratyek Nepali ke nidhar pe likha hai paintees dollar.

There is to be a management team. And there are to be the VIP guests, and the convention participants.

On the management team will be team leaders and team members. I am Chairperson, Chandra Prakash Sharma is President. All members of the team will get paid. I think the biggest chunk of the profit will go towards the convention to be held in 2008 as seed money. Payments will be handed out to the management team after the convention. You get paid in dollars, but you also get this huge social reward of having been at the core of the largest Nepali event outside of Nepal. Team leaders and team members should think of it as a job and exhibit professionalism.

I have felt the ethnic prejudice owing to my Madhesi background ever since I moved into the city last June. I am going to play hardball in that department as far as this convention is concerned. Be forewarned.

Gradually we are assembling the team. Efficiency is a top goal. We want team members to have to put in as few hours as possible. There is going to be a major emphasis on online communication to save time. Face time meetings can not be avoided altogether, true, but not all meetings have to happen in person.

Writely
Skype
Google Talk

And there will be some students who will be on $10 per hour during the convention.

One model is where you have about six or 10 team leaders and hope to pay each equally. I don't like that model. It is not fluid enough. More likely each team leader will be assessed separately. So we will have task descriptions. If the early members of the team want to take on more of the tasks, fine. The pay goes up. Or we can have the tasks more distributed whereby no one person is having to do too much.

Some team leaders will get maximum leeway. Some team leaders might get micro managed. It really is a case by case basis thing. Good ideas can come from anywhere. And we expect the various team leaders to perhaps know more in their individual departments than the two senior management individuals. So there will be plenty of listening on our part. There will be much delegation as necessary. But in each case there will be budgetary parameters and perhaps a few other parameters. And when needed, the two senior management will have final say. The veto rests with us, although we hope to use it only sparingly.

We have other business ideas we hope to work on after the convention. Some members of the management team might want to get involved also with those. So perform, deliver, act professional, enjoy. This convention is supposed to be a festival. If you are not having fun being part of the management team, you are hurting the very spirit of the convention. Having fun is the number one qualification.

I am personally skeptical of the family metaphor. If we are not family, we are not family. End of story. We can be colleagues, and friends. We can be business partners. We can be comrades. And all those can be wonderful feelings.

People are encouraged to start applying for positions on the management team. Being in the city helps, but you don't have to be here. You could hope to telecommute.

Communication is key. Talk openly. Respect the team. Respect the goal of the idea.

We are going to start selling tickets right away as soon as the website gets launched.

Every Nepali in New York City who has a green card should be able to vote in the city elections. That is the goal. And that is separate from the convention. I would have worked on it with or without the convention. But the two are related. (Voting Rights For Immigrants In New York City)

I have also launched a project called Nepali Faces. The idea is to take snap shots of thousands of
Nepalis in the city and present them online at this blog. (Nepali Faces 1) When you go to the Nepali events in the city, you end up seeing the same few hundred faces. That bothers me. Where are the other thousands? We need to dig them out. The idea is to dig for oil.

We are going to sell tickets online. And we are going to sell tickets offline. I expect to see somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people at the convention.

The three evening events, and the forums during the day are key. There is work to be done in terms of media relations. There is much work to be done in the convention's relationship with the organizations across the country.

Both Chandra Prakashji and I have several other things we do besides this convention. So don't get confused.

He will be in charge of the Cultural Program and the Concert. I will be in charge of the Inauguration Ceremony and the Forums.

We hope to creat the buzz as we go along. That is good marketing. That also invites broad participation in the decision making process.

The website will be more than a place for information. It will have a sense of community. We will people the site. The entire event is to be video blogged. All participating organizations will have voting powers for some major decisions that are to be made. There will be some real fancy guests at the convention.

Stop being the sorry immigrant. Start seeing the possibilities. Take pride. Push the envelope. Think outside the box. Work hard. Play hard.

Cloud, Pyramid, Glass
The Cloud Model, Not The Pyramid Model

Nepali Faces 1

Nepali Convention 2007: Venue Options: Flushing
Nepali Convention 2007 Shifted To Last Weekend In May
April Convention Venue Options 1
April Convention Market Research 1
Nepali Convention: Venue Options, Website, Core 200
April Convention: Creating A Glowing Core
April Convention: Emerging Picture
Chicago Convention September 2-4
April Revolution, April Convention



In The News

JTMM Bandh Hits Life in Terai the first day of the two-day Terai bandh called by the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM). ..... Rural markets in Lahan, Golbazaar and Mirchaiya as well as in the district headquarters Siraha remained closed. Though some long-route vehicles plied on Mahendra Highway, most short route vehicles stayed off the roads. Academic institutions also remained closed. .... The coordinator of the central ad hoc committee of the JTMM, Jay Krishna Goit, said in a statement that the bandh was called to protest acts of violence, abductions, murders and extortion by the Maoists. He accused the Maoists of trying to intimidate the Madhesi people who are the "native residents of Terai." A report from Janakpur said normal life came to a halt due to the bandh. Markets were closed. So were academic institutions and factories. ...... long and short-route vehicles remained off the roads. Some vehicles plied on the East-West Highway with police escort. A report from Rajbiraj said Saptari bazaar was closed and normal life there affected. Academic institutions remained closed while public and private vehicles remained off the roads. Kalyanpur, Bhardaha, Kanchanpur, Fattehpur, Barsain and Chinnamasta bazaars also remained closed. In Gaighat, normal life was affected in Udaypur due to the JTMM bandh. Both long and short-route vehicles stayed off the roads. In Mahottari, the bandh affected normal life and vehicular movement came to a halt. Passengers were stranded after vehicles remained off the Jaleshwor-Matihani, Jaleshwor-Janakpur and Jaleshwor-Samsi-Bardibas road sections. Passengers had to either walk or take rickshaws to Janakpur.