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Britain-Nepal Society
Charge d'Affaires Mr. Prahlad Kumar Prasai of Royal Nepalese Embassy appreciated the efforts of the Britain-Nepal Society in his brief address to Annual General Meeting of Britain-Nepal Society recently held at Royal Nepalese Embassy, London.
Charge d'Affaires Mr. Prasai said" The society was established with a view of foster good relation between two countries. I am happy to say that the society has been successful in its noble objectives of consolidating traditional ties so happily subsisting between two countries and the people. It has created tremendous goodwill for Nepal in the United Kingdom."
Sir Arthur Norman Honoured
His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Patron of the Trust has graciously conferred The Order of PRASHIDDA PRABAL GORKHA DAKSHIN BAHU to Sir Arthur Norman, former trustee and chairperson of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, Europe Chapterin recognisition of his contribution to the cause of nature conservation in Nepal. The Decoration was handed-over to him in a function organised at Royal Nepalese Embassy London.
"British and Nepali schools get together"
An educaional and cultural exchange programme has recently been establised officially involving British and Nepali schools. Hendon School, a North London secondary school, has initiated this project through Mrs Amita Pandey Sen, a Nepalese national. The specific proposal was to share experiences by introducing innovatory projects, especially by imparting environmental education to schools in Kathmandu.
After a visit by the Chairman, Mr. Robert Heath, of the international links department of Hendon school and Mrs Evans, a technology teacher, links were firmly establised with several Kathmandu schools, including Balkumari and Kantipur secondary and Alka primary. Their vist facilitated the setting up of an exhibition at Hendon School on Nepal which was attended by Mr Prahlad Prasai, the First Secretary of the Royal Nepalese Embassy. The Headmaster of Hendon School, Mr R. Llyod, has strongly endorsed the programme and believes that the students from both countries will benefit immensely from such an educational and cultural exchange. At present Hendon School sponsors two Nepalese children financially and has collected donations of resources to send to schools in Kathmandu. They also hope to invite a Nepali teacher in the near future to experience British teaching practices. It is hoped that an exchange of students will eventually take place as well.
A further boost to the project of promoting educational and cultural links was recently given by a London based Nepalese cultural troup called the Koseli, which performed traditional Nepali dance and music at Hendon School. This is an unique project involving ordinary students from two different countries, which, it is hoped, will lead to more and lasting educational exchanges.
Request Letter to H.E
The Sagarmatha Times (ST) have sent a request letter to Royal Nepalese Ambassador His Excellency Dr. Singha Bahadaur Basnyat on matters relating to the selection of schools in remote areas of Nepal for the donation of Nepalese rupees 50,000 (fifty thousand) for the year 1997.
The ST clarified in the letter that the motto of the newspaper published in UK is to participate in the nation's development through social services in Nepal. The letter further clarified that the fund was created from its own resources as the newspaper is of entirley service oriented.
The letter seeked assistance in selection of schools and productive suggestions from His Excellency, the letter was sent on 10th December and awaiting for positive reply. The ST is hoping for further solid action after receiving reply from His Excellency.
The ST Editor-in-Chief, Mr B.P. Joshi will be meeting with Government officials in Kathmandu to discuss on better utilisation of financial assistance to the schools located in the remote areas.
Activities of Yeti-Midlands and North UK
As per communique received from Manchester, following are their activities :
Dance Workshop : Choreographer Andrea Young have conducted a dance workshop for the participants above 4 years of age effective from 7th December 1997. The workshop is aimed to develop Nepali dances and health of the participants through the use of hand and limbs.
The workshop is conducted free of charge to increase the interest of British friends and Nepali youths in line with the preservation of Nepalese culture. The workshops are also going to be conducted in 1998 January and February.
Joint Meeting : The regular meeting of Nepal Himalayan Festival 1998 was held on 13th December at Widdington Library, Manchester in relation with the preparation of the Festival. The Manchester City Council agreed to make available of financial assistance for publicity purpose after the meeting.
Nepalese Language Classes : The classes are regularly conducted on every Saturday from last four years at the Widdington Library to enhance British friends and Nepalese youths residing in UK.
Nepalese New Year : It was decided to celebrate Nepalese New Year 2055 on 12th April 1998. The coordinator Mr Suraj Shrestha Tel : 0161 286 3485 may be contacted for detailed information on the open invitation for the participation.
Nepal Kingdom Foundation Activities :
As per communique received from Nepal Kingdom Foundation, following are their activities :
Mr Madhav Sharma : The trustees of NKF welcome, appreciate and congratulate Mr Mahav Sharma who has reached London on his venture for world tour on his motorbike. A certificate and contribution was presented in a function to Mr Sharma.
Late Ram Tamang remembered : Late Shri Ram Tamang who passed away on 3rd December 1995 was remembered for his marvellous work for the community. A sincere tribute paid by his friends and family in a brief remberance ceremony.
The NKF dedicated its library in the name of late Shri Ram Tamang. The library has abundance stock of Nepalese books and periodicals. The library is being used by scholars, researchers and students in Reading, UK.
Nepali Sunday school : Mr Padma Prakash Shrestha and other friends of cultural activities are conducting Nepali Sunday schools on Nepali language and culture for Nepalese and non Nepalese nationals in Reading. The classes have been conducting since 1993.
Nepalese Buddhist Bihar : Lama Rimpoche is performing Buddhist service with prayers every morning in the Nepalese Buddhist Bihar, Reading. Those interested in the service are requested to contact Nepal Kindom Foundation on Tel : 01734 500 255.
NKF branch in Kathmandu : A branch of NKF is officially registered in Nepal to represent NKF activities in Nepal. The official address of NKF Nepal is located in Chhetrapati, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Queen Elizabeth Unveils Gurkha Statue
By Rabindra Mishra
London: Queen Elizabeth unveiled a statue of a Gurkha Soldier, erected as a permanent memorial of Gurkha service to Britain, in a special ceremony here earlier this month.
One-and-a-half times life size bronze figure was commissioned by The Gurkha Brigade Association Trust, which represents all Gurkha regiments. The figure is erected in Whitehall, an area where British government offices are concentrated. It is also close to the grave of an unknown soldier buried there in recognition of all who died in the first and second world wars. The money for the statue was raised by the trust through donations. The statue, built by one of the leading contemporary British sculptor Philip Jackson, is based on a six-foot figure sculpted in 1924 by Richard Goulden, a reputed war memorial sculptor of the time. The figure stands on a Portland stone plinth and on the principal face under crossed khukuris the engraved words read: The Gurkha Soldier, bravest of the brave/most generous of the generous, never had/country more faithful friends than you.
The people here agree with it. But many Gurkhas in recent years have started questioning whether their faithfulness has been rightly honoured. The Gurkha Army ex-Servicemen’s Association is campaigning for the equal treatment to ex- and serving Gurkhas as their British counterparts. The association says Gurkha soldiers are unfairly treated in pensions and other service conditions. The Gurkhas have been serving the British Crown since 1815, firstly with the Army of the East India Company and from 1948, with the British Army. They have won thirteen Victoria Crosses, Britain’s highest award for gallantry, this century.
The prince consort, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Colonel in Chief of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, the Prince of Wales, were also present at the ceremony, in which a band of the brigade of Gurkhas provided the music. After the unveiling of the statue, a Gurkha pundit also recited lines from Bhagavat Gita.
