This Country is Yours

Cave, Bāghdwār, 2012

 

 Headwaters of Bagmati River, Bāghdwār, 2012

 

Sabita Poudel’s Bible, Banshighat, one of fourteen squatter settlements along the banks of Bagmati River, 2012

 

Statue of Juddha Shamsher, National Museum of Nepal, 2012

Hat Vendor, near Ratna Park, 2012

Ang Kazi Sherpa, General Secretary, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, 2012

 

RamSahay Prasad Yadav,  General Secretary, Madeshi People’s Rights Forum, 2012

Sarita Pariyar,  Samata Foundation, a policy research and advocacy think tank for Dalits (untouchable groups), 2012

Friday Prayers, Jame Mosque, 2012

Bhakti Shah, Human Rights Officer, Blue Diamond Society, organization advocating LGBTI rights, 2012

Sapana Malla Pradhan, President, Forum for Women, Law and Development, 2012

International Convention Centre, where Constituent Assembly met for four years and failed on its mandate to write Nepal's constitution, 2012 

Migrant worker Surya Bahadur Thapa Magar day before leaving for Saudi Arabia, 2012

 

  Museum Attendants Ambika Dhungana and Anju Luitel, National Museum of Nepal, 2012

Kathmandu’s Road Expansion Project, Bansbari, 2012

CK Lal, Columnist and Commentator, 2012

Krishna Bhattachan, Professor, Central Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, 2012

Bagmati River, Gokarna, 2012

Artist Statement: This Country is Yours

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Background:

Nepal is going through dramatic transformation. After 239 years, monarchical rule has come to an end. The country witnessed a decade-long Maoist rebellion that resulted in over 16,000 deaths and displaced over 100,000. Various social and political movements, and discourses of equality and justice have heightened. Last May, the elected Constituent Assembly was dissolved after it failed to deliver its mandate of writing Nepal’s constitution after four years of deliberation. Currently, there is contestation on a federal model between forces seeking change and the status quo.

The Project:

This Country is Yours, started in 2012 is a long-term body of work, and is inspired by Robert Frank’s The Americans. The work focuses on Kathmandu and looks at the six social and political movements of Nepal which include: women, Adibasi Janajati (indigenous nationalities), Dalit (untouchable groups), Madeshi (minority groups from southern plains adjoining India), the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex community and religious minorities. Besides the six movements, I am also photographing on the streets, visiting newly built housing developments, offices of political parties and other places that reflect the social and political vernacular of Nepal. As Frank, I am weaving together pictures of quite disparate and complicated, but intertwined ideas. I am using Bagmati River, which meanders through Kathmandu to thread together the diverse set of images of landscapes, portraits and interiors. In This Country is Yours, I am interested in encapsulating the essence of the social and political transformation of Nepal.

As an artist, I am interested in the intersection of the personal and the political. While my work looks at the social and political transformation of Nepal, it is also a reflection of my own transnational experience between North America and Nepal. The work introspectively looks at the issues of nationalism, transnationalism and the sense of occupying multiple places concurrently. This Country is Yours is about political struggle, imminent liberation and transformation.

Note: My website will be updated in April 2013

4th Toronto Nepali Film Festival

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TNFF 2011 Volunteers with performers Deepali Lindbloom and Swechchha Pokhrel

A really fun and engaging project that I am involved is Toronto Nepali Film Festival. It is a grassroots organization based in Toronto that was established in 2010 in order to create an international platform for the burgeoning independent Nepali filmmaking industry. Sustained by ticket sales and small business/individual sponsorships, TNFF 2012 attracted 400 audiences.

Filmmaker Julie Bridgham and juror June Chua, TNFF 2010

The fourth Toronto Nepali Film Festival will take place in Toronto on March 8 and 9, 2013. Filmmakers from anywhere in the world can submit films and one does not have to be Nepali. The only criterion is that the film has to pertain to Nepal or Nepalis. Any genres including experimental, shorts, animation and musical can be submitted. This year the film submission deadline is on Nov 23^rd, 2012. Filmmakers can either submit films directly in Toronto or in Kathmandu. For more information in Kathmandu, contact Lakshya Dhungana at curator@tnff.ca or 984 321 1109. In Toronto, contact me at curator@tnff.ca. This year’s festival will be juried and programmed by our following three-member jury:

Manjushree Thapa

Manjushree Thapa is a writer from Nepal now living in Canada. She has written two novels, Seasons of Flight and The Tutor of History, a short story collection, Tilled Earth, and four books of non-fiction: The Lives We Have Lost, Forget Kathmandu (shortlisted for the Lettre Ulysses Award), A Boy from Siklis, and Mustang Bhot in Fragments. She has also compiled and translated The Country Is Yours, a collection of stories and poems by forty-nine Nepali writers. Her writing has appeared in New York Times, London Review of Books, Los Angeles Review of Books and Newsweek. www.manjushreethapa.com

Rajee Aryal

Rajee Aryal is from Kathmandu and received her BA in Computer Science and Mathematics in the United States. She worked as a software engineer for nearly a decade, maintaining a private practice in painting, drawing and writing.  Her writings on the importance of Arts and Literature to an individual and the society have been published in the Kathmandu Post.  Rajee is currently pursuing her MFA in Painting and Drawing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Arts and Design and the Sullivan Galleries in Chicago. www.rajeearyal.com

Sharelene Bamboat

Sharlene Bamboat is a Toronto based mixed media artist, working predominantly in film, video and performance. Drawing on queer critique, she takes up narratives of belonging and identification in order to challenge, subvert, question, and play with the categories of the nation, race, ethnicity, gender and desire. Bamboat’s work has exhibited across Canada, Europe, India, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. She is on the programming committee of the Pleasure Dome Film & Video Collective, as well as the programmer for SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre) in Toronto. www.sharlenebamboat.com

Pravesh Gurung's Nabariyeko Jhari (A Silent Monsoon)

Historically TNFF has received around 50 films each year. In the past we have received films from Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, USA and Nepal. Approximately 10 films ranging from documentary, animation, short and drama are showcased each year. Some of previously screened films include Bhedako Ko Oon Jasto (In Search of a Song), The Sari Soldiers, Daughters of Everest, Forgive! Forget Not!, In Search of the Riyal, Pooja, Sherpas: The True Heroes of Mount Everest, Buwega Maanatuna (The Spinner of Flights), Journey to Yarsa, KusheeBhaneko (A Thing Called Happiness), Ma Ksuhi Chu (I am Happy) and Buried in Tears. Each year Audience Choice Award and Jurors Choice Award are awarded, and they both carry a monetary prize.

You can follow TNFF on Twitter, Facebook or Youtube.

TNFF 2012 Promo Video

Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival (NIIFF) 2012

A belated blog entry:

While I was in Nepal this past summer, I had the pleasure of attending NIIFF 2012 that took place in Kathmandu between July 12 and 15. This was the sixth edition of the festival organized by IndigenousFilm Archive (IFA). IFA’s mandate to promote, train and archive Nepali filmmaking goes beyond indigenous groups. According to Sanjog Laaphaa Magar, the Director of NIIFF 2012, the festival is the world’s third largest Indigenous film festival. ImagineNATIVEFilm + Media Art Festival in Toronto is the largest.

At NIIFF 2012, I attended its inaugural ceremony held at Rastryia Sabha Griha. During the various introductions and speeches made by organizers and guests, the important role of IFA in Nepal’s Indigenous Nationalities movement was highlighted. Former indigenous Constituent Assembly members from different political parties such as Dev Gurung, Prithivi Subba Gurung, Suresh Ale Magar, Pasang Sherpa, Lucky Sherpa, Shanti Jirel, Indra Bahadur Gurung, Sita Gurung, Pari Thapa, Oon Sari Gharti Magar, Lila Subba, Jeep Tsering Sherpa and Ang Dawa Sherpa were felicitated during the inaugural of the festival. The leaders were presented with a special letter of recognition for their historic role played in the CA through indigenous caucus to protect the rights of indigenous people with a firm stand on single identity based federalism in Nepal. Rajkumar Lekhi Tharu, the President of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) made a fiery speech outlining the historic fight of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples in Nepal’s current political juncture.

Rastriya Sabha Griha

Rastriya Sabha Griha, the venue of NIIFF had an uplifting and festive spirit with dancers and musicians from different indigenous groups such as Newar, Rai, Limbu, Tharu and Chepang performing. A definitive highlight was the Indigenous Food Festival with the following mouth-watering menu:

Lhomi: Tea Momo, Phapar Roti, Potato

Limbu: Sel, Yangben (Jheaw) and Pork Meat, Tongba, Aloodum

Magar: Batuk Roti, Pork Meat and Kodoko Raksi (Alcohol)

Majhi: Tama And Fish, Golmadi And Wine Made Of Beaten Rice

Tharu: Ghoghi, Chethari and Fish

Tamang: Sel, Roti, Gundruk Ko Achaar, Local Alcohol And Goru Ko Sukuti

Newar: Samayamoji, Bara, Yamari, Chatomari and Choila

Sunuwar: Kinima, Thetla, Khame, Gormali and Plate

Lohorung: Soruwa, Sel, Black Pork Meat and Achaar(Pickle)

Chepang: Ghhithaa, Bhyakur, Dhindo and Sishnu. 

The four-day festival screened over fifty films from all over the world including Canada, Cambodia, Switzerland, Taiwan, India, Ecuador, Bolivia, USA, Australia, Suriname, Philippines, South Africa, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand and Nepal. I really enjoyed Loonibha Tuladhar’s documentary Tunes from the Soil on the music band Kutumba. Knocking on Heaven’s Door was a passionate film from India interweaving personal stories of devotional music, blues, pop, punk and rock musicians.

Lakshya Dhungana announcing the Nepali Panorama Award

The festival closed with a Red Carpet Award Ceremony at Yak and Yeti Hotel, which I had the pleasure of attending with my dear friend/Toronto Nepali Film Festival colleague Laskhya Dhungana. The dinner was delicious and Kutumba closed out the festival with an electric performance. Of the many awards presented at the ceremony, two of the awards; Encouragement Award (w/ cash prize of Rs. 25,000 and Nepali Panorama (w/ cash prize Rs. 15,000) were sponsored by Nepali Janajati Association Canada (NJAC) and TorontoNepali Film Festival (TNFF) respectively. Lakshya presented the Nepali Panorama award to Impression of Lumbini made by filmmaker Lujaw Singh. On behalf of NJAC, I presented Encouragement Award to Cell Phone made by a young filmmaker Phulman Bal Tamang. Golden Drum (Best Film) Award went to Voices in The Clouds from Taiwan.

Presenting the Encouragement Award to Mr. Phulman Bal Tamang

Lakshya in front of Kutumba

Sanjog Laaphaa Magar, the Director of NIIFF 2012 told me, “this year’s festival has been the most successful and we attracted over 30,000 people to our program.” Of the many inspiring social/political developments in Nepal, IFA is certainly a pioneering organization in Nepal’s art/media sector. In the coming years keep an eye out for a new breed of Nepali filmmakers that IFA has been grooming.

Few Nepali Landscapes

Bagmati River, Sundarijal

Kathmandu from Swyambhu

Thapathali

Thapathali

Deers, International Convention Centre

Bagmati River, Gokarna

Shivapuri

Mai Than, Bandipur

Bandipur

Afternoon Showers Over Swayambhu

Sinamangal

Valley Homes in Pictures and Kathmandu's Housing Bubble

The other day I spent few hours photographing at Terraces, property owned by Valley Homes in Sunakothi. My deepest gratitude to Dr. Maya Battachan and Dr. Saroj Baidya for arranging my access to the housing colony. Terraces is smaller in size compared to Civil Homes, but catered for higher end market (see my earlier blog entry on Kathmandu's Housing Colony Experience).

View from Dr. Baidya's rooftop

Unfinished property in Terraces

Bal Krishna Joshi on Kathmandu's Housing Bubble

I recently met my friend Bal Krishna Joshi, who is an innovative and an successful young entrepreneur based in Kathmandu. Thamel.com is his primary business, which caters to Nepalese in the diasporas. Below you will find an excerpt as he explains to me Kathmandu's failing housing economy, over lunch. 

Bal K Joshi

More than 40% of the Nepal's GDP is sustained by remittance. That’s a shit load of freaking money. If you look at the official numbers, they say it is 20%. But another 20% is coming through the informal channels. So 40% of the total GDP, which amounts to little bit over to four billion dollars per year is coming to this country as remittance. And there is not productive use of it. One sector of the remittance directly goes into daal bhat tarkari (typical Nepali staple of rice lentils and curry, in other words for feeding families). These are generally people who have gone abroad from the villages. But more than 40% of the incoming money is going into real estate. One is, we have a cultural stigma of buying a house and buying property.

And also during the insurgency (Maoist), everything but Kathmandu was not safe to live. So people started migrating here. There are two interesting shifts in this migration. In that migration, the early adopters were the people with money from the villages. These are the people who had houses and businesses outside of Kathmandu. But they wanted to something easy to manage, like apartments (condominiums). Once these people came from outside came, it became a very exaggerated economy. Believe it or not in this place (Durbar Marg) the market price for one anna (1 anna = 342.42 sq. feet, 16 annas = 1 ropani = 5,476 sq. feet) is Rs, 10 Karod (approximately US $ 1,130,000). It is not sustainable economy. It is completely exaggerated. That means it’s more expensive than freaking Manhattan. Doesn’t make sense.

And also during the insurgency, industries got closed and shut down. The core competent export industries got reduced. People did not have jobs. So what to do? So the thought of real estate was an easy option. So everybody starting investing in real estate. In the first lot, they started catering to the upper echelon, which is just a very small segment of Nepali society. But there was a whole different need that probably wanted to spend not more than Rs 20 lakhs (US $ 22,598). These are the middle class Nepalese people who wanted a Kathmandu gig. But that sector has been ignored. So most of the apartments that you see are catered to people with money. There are very few ones that are catered to the real market. So the issue now is, those who constructed properties early on, they got cheap loans. And they constructed a lot of housing properties. 

Three housing colonies sold well. Three housing colonies mean we are talking about less than 100 people. 100 consumers are not going to set precedence for the entire economy. The three colonies that did well were Lazimpat 1 by Comfort Homes, which got sold out within one or two hours. That was around 30 or 40 houses. They did Lazimpat 2, which sold within 3 or 4 hours. And they did Budhanilkantha, which sold in a month. So everybody thought OH WOW this is a great business idea. So basically, now the government decided they wouldn’t give any more loans for real estate. As soon as that happened, financing got stopped; there was cash crunch because all the money that was going into real estate, its interest rate went up to 16 to 18%. How can one buy home and pay off the loan with 16 or 18% interest rate? These people stopped making payments. Now we have this shit load of buildings that are not complete and probably will not be completed for the longest fucking time. So that is the situation.

My New Hero: Sapana Malla Pradhan

Sapana Malla Pradhan is regarded as one of the leading figures of Nepal’s Women’s movement. She is the Founding President of Centre for Women, Law and Development, an NGO dedicated to advocating for the removal of discriminatory laws against Nepali women. She was also a member of the Constituent Assembly representing Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist). The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation awarded her the Gruber International Women’s Right Award for advancing gender equality in 2008. Below is my interview with her, originally in Nepali.

What are some of the laws that discriminate against women in Nepal?

The reason we started Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) is because, although we always worked for women’s rights, but the law itself was an obstruction. The justice system had many discriminatory laws. For example daughters did not have the right to parental property. Women did not have abortion rights. There was not an understanding of the concept that married women could be raped and abused. Even though polygamy was prohibited, its indictment was minimal. Child marriage laws were not effective. In divorce laws, women’s rights were not respected. Women were not allowed to go abroad as migrant workers. There were a lot of discriminatory laws against women, and we challenged each one of these in the court. Looking at the results, there are still three main discriminatory issues against women today. One is in regards to citizenship. Another is regarding inheritance of parental property. Married daughters may not own property, whereas unmarried daughters may, but must return it once married. Laws regarding marriage are still discriminatory. And there are still certain cases and circumstances in which polygamy is still allowed. Besides this, we identified 174 laws that were discriminatory to women and more than 100 of these laws have been rectified.

What is the issue regarding citizenship?

The law says that one can acquire citizenship via mother’s citizenship. However if a women is married to a foreigner, she has to be living in Nepal, her children have to be born in Nepal and the children have to be permanently living in Nepal in order for the children to get citizenship. In other words there is a big difference between being a male and female parent with regards to citizenship. Children of a male parent can be born anywhere. They can get married to anyone and they can live permanently anywhere. Hence the citizenship right of the children of Nepali mothers is highly circumscribed. With matrimonial law, if a Nepali woman is married to a foreigner, the husband cannot acquire Nepali citizenship. On the other hand, if a Nepali man is married to a foreigner, then she can acquire Nepali citizenship. Hence in regards to citizenship rights for Nepali women’s dependents, we have strayed away from the correct path.

What is the overall status of the Women’s rights movement in Nepal?

Well there is never an end to a movement. There is never complete fulfillment of rights. When one says movement, it does not have to be a Sadak (street) movement. A movement can take place inside one’s heart and it can also take place by speaking up. Our main movement (FWLD) works to change the system of discriminatory laws in Nepal by filing cases against the state in the court. We furthered our movement by presenting alternative wording when the state came up with policies. When discussing issues in parliament, we collaborate with political leaders and members of the parliament. We have also started social initiatives. I feel that there has been effective work done in Nepal. But definitely it is not enough. Yesterday we fought for the creation of legal rights. Today we need to fight to implement these legal rights in people’s day-to-day lives.

There are a lot of movements in Nepal such as the Janajati movement, Madesh movement and others. How do they affect the Women’s movement?

There is definitely a struggle for the recognition of identity in Nepal. In fact, this struggle exists throughout the world, and Nepal is not alone in this. Here the struggle of Madeshi and Janajati is also a struggle of identity due to marginalization, and the lack of political recognition. But the good news is with the issues related to women; women from different castes, women who speak different languages, women from different regions and women from different political parties are united and standing together. That is our strength.

How did you get involved in the Women’s movement? Were there any personal reasons or specific influences?

My educational background is in Corporate Law. I did my Masters in Comparative Law (MCL) in Delhi. I went to Italy to train in Corporate and Development Law. I also started working on Corporate Law, but many women would approach me for help with their difficulties. I would not be able to help most of these women due to biased and discriminatory laws. According to what I had understood and learned in law school, the law is the basis for justice, inclusion and equality. But in Nepal this was not possible. The law was itself a hindrance for justice and equality, in many instances. Therefore instead of staying in Corporate Law and making money, I decided to challenge the judicial system of Nepal. I felt like I needed to fight for equality. For these reasons, I decided to partake in this movement.

Related:

Subina Shrestha on Aljazeera on Banning of Nepali Women Workers in the Middle East