Articles and Poems

Take a Break From Politics and Read Books

- Rabindra Mishra

On 23rd April, the World Book Day was celebrated around the world. Many leading newspapers carried special supplements to mark the occasion. This writer was reading a piece by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in The Times explaining why books remained so important to him, when the writer started wondering how many books our politicians might have read?

Judging by what they say, how they say it, what they do and the way they do it, it is not difficult to imagine that the majority of them are virtually unread. The stereotype answers to reporters’ questions, lack of imagination and vision, failure to speak correct sentences (communists are slightly better in this regard) and failure to put their thoughts in precise and clear manner are basically the result of lack of reading. Even our prime ministers suffer from such types of deficiencies, let alone other politicians.

Reading books has always been an integral part of the lives of good and great politicians. Vladimir Lenin, Franklin D Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, John F Kennedy, Mao Tse-Tung, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, just to name a few from this century, were all well-read people. It is said that dictators like Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot and Mao Tse-Tung were right about one thing: the power of books. And it was Roosevelt who said in a message to the Booksellers of America in 1942 that "books are weapons...And...make them weapons for man’s freedom."

Most of our present breed of politicians have become leaders not by virtue of their qualities as a leader, but because they had one common redeeming feature: their persistent struggle against the Panchayat regime. Those were the days when they had plenty of time to read either in jail or out of it. But they did not seem to have bothered to ponder then that if they succeeded in their struggle, they had to lead a nation and for that they needed to equip themselves intellectually. A few who read limited themselves mainly to stuff like Bhagavat Geeta and J Krishnamurthy. The communists were happy to wall themselves up within the boundaries of Marx, Engels, Mao and Lenin. Now in the higher reaches of politics, neither the study of Bhagavat Geeta, nor Krishnamurthy nor the parroting of Marxism and Leninism seem to have been of enough help for them.

They also failed to foresee occasions where they would be negotiating for the nation at bilateral, regional and international levels; that they would be responsible for policies affecting the whole country and they would be the ones who would make or break the fate of their people. Looking at their conduct and capabilities, it is difficult to say that they will be able to argue the nation’s case forcefully and their representation will enhance the nation’s standing. It is sad to note that after more than 50 years of struggle, which was punctuated by a brief stint of freedom nearly 40 years ago, the leaders accepted that they were not "mentally prepared" to hold the reins of power when they were handed over to them. In all those years, had they spent some time in reading (history, politics, biographies, auto-biographies etc.) they would probably have made a better start given the peaceful and patient nature of the Nepalese people.

Consequently, when they came to govern, they had no proper understanding of the country’s situation, had no clear notion about the things they wanted to do and they completely failed to feel the pulse of the nation. They knew virtually nothing except a few cliches: "consolidate democracy", "get the economy back on track", "stop corruption" and "improve law and order situation". Each prime minister after assuming office has been making the same promises. However, all of their promises have been showing a persistently downward trend. No one seems to have sat and studied policy documents, Planning Commission reports, academic essays and articles in an effort to develop a programme to reverse that situation. The irony is that even after their experience in government they have failed to identify, what could be regarded as their glaring mistakes and weaknesses. Each time they come to power, they come with an empty head, make the usual noises and leave the scene only to return, leaving us poorer while making themselves obscenely rich. They seem to have no regret, no repentance about their direct role in the increasingly deteriorating condition of the people and the nation.

Coming back to the British Prime Minister’s piece in The Times where he writes: "In the evening I read books with my children...On holiday I get the chance to read what I want, which is often political biographies...This Easter I am reading Norman Davies’s history of Europe as well as a book about F. D. Roosevelt sent to me by President Clinton." The above quote shows that Tony Blair is still a keen reader and his interest in books has not diminished.

Couldn’t our leaders, too, find more time to read? That would certainly make them better at leading instead of plotting to either stay in office or overthrow the existing government. The mention of the British Prime Minister’s reading habits is not an attempt to compare British politicians with their contemporaries in Nepal. However, there can be no doubt that if Nepalese leaders have any desire to lead the nation towards the right direction and be remembered by posterity for their contribution, they need to learn a great deal more. And that learning, again, is only possible through reading.

The Nepalese Plant Information Project In London

Nepal, the Himalayan kingdom, is well known for its magnificent natural and cultural heritage with rich flora and fauna bio-diversity. It is bestowed with a wide range of flowering plants occurring in the tropical Sal forest of Terai (about 60 m above sea level), temperate forests of Rhododendron, Oaks and Pines in the mid hills to the dwarf alpine scrubs (to 6500 m). It is estimated that out of 250,000 species of flowering plants occurring in the world, nearly 6500 species occur in Nepal. It is remarkable to note that about 300 species of flowering plants are strictly endemic to Nepal (not found elsewhere).

Nepal’s unique flora was first explored as early as 1802 AD by Sir Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, a British naturalist, followed by another British Dr. Nathalien Wallich (1820-1821). Based on the collections of Hamilton and Wallich, the first publication on the Flora of Nepal (records of flowering plants) was published by David Don in 1825. Since then a vast number of naturalists and mountaineers visited the country and collected a large number of plant specimens from different parts of the country.

The important herbarium specimens (dried voucher plant specimens) collected from Nepal has been housed in the Natural History Museum London (about 50,000 specimens) followed by the Herbaria of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Edinburgh. Based on this vast collection of specimens, "An Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal" was published in 3 volumes (1978-1982)" by the Natural History Museum London, in collaboration with University of Tokyo. This publication is widely used by the scientific community as a best reference book on Flora of Nepal.

As a follow up work, the Nepalese Plant Information Project was recently launched in the Natural History Museum, London, in collaboration with Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. According to Dr. Krishna Shrestha, the UK based Nepalese Co-ordinator; the project is funded by the Darwin Initiative, Department of Environment UK and will be run for a period of two years. The main objectives of the project are:

• To prepare a computerised database of the important historical plant specimens, with emphasis on the type specimens.

• To capture high resolution electronic/digital images of the type specimens.

• To prepare a bibliography database relevant to the Flora of Nepal.

• To convert the widely popular reference book "Enumeration of the Flowering Plants of Nepal" in to a database formats (in collaboration with University of Tokyo).

The project also aims to establish a Nepalese node of the project in the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University within December 1998 with computer equipment’s. Besides Dr. Shrestha (Post- doctoral Darwin Fellow), who will be here for two years, four post-graduate young botanists (Darwin scholars) will also join the project and receive three months training in the UK. The first group of two trainees will arrive in London in September 1998 and the other two trainees in February 1999.

A planning workshop to launch the project was held on October 26 and 27, 1997 in London and participated by representatives from Nepal, Japan and the UK. Prof. Dayananda Bajracharya, Head of the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University and Dr. Krishna Shrestha, Associate Professor of the same department had participated in the workshop. The project started from October 1997 and will be completed by September 1999. It is hoped that such information will be most useful in understanding the bio-diversity of Nepal and for the in situ and ex-situ conservation of rare, threatened and endangered plant species.

The project is also planned to organise a final workshop in Kathmandu in September 1999 to publicise the completion of the project and to hand over all three sets of databases (electronic information as well as hard copy) to the authorities of Tribhuvan University and the National Herbarium of His Majesty’s Government.

Contact address:
Dr. Krishna Shrestha
Darwin Fellow
Nepalese Plant Information Project
Department of Botany
The Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road SW7 5BD, London
Phone: 0171-938 9429, Fax: : 0171-938 9260
Email: kks@nhm.ac.uk

New experience with British host family

- Miss Shashikala Manandhar
Reading University

Dear Shashikala,

What a lovely name! This is just a little note to say much we are looking forward to welcoming you to our house for New Year. Will you be coming by train and if so, at what time ? Perhaps you will ring me and let me know when you get my letter.

To tell you a little about us , John has early retirement and can now enjoy his hobbies of sailing, walking and bridges. I work part-time and have four dogs. So put in some old clothes when you come and bringing a good pair of shoes and a warm coat. We both like literature, theatre, travel, music and my hobbies include these plus horse riding. We live in the country side, eat mainly vegetarian food and so if you have any special diet just let me know before and I will do my best

Best wishes
Yours sincerely
Stephanja Gardener
‘Springfield’ Wythall via Birmingham

I read a lovely letter written by my host family Mrs Stephanja Gardener twice. I had got a letter to celebrate New Year with a British family. My host family was allocated Mrs Gardener near Birmingham in the countryside. I was so excited because I am going to spend 4 days with an unknown British family to celebrate New Year and that would be first experience in my life.

I had sent my photograph with the letter so that it might be easy to know me when Mrs Gardener will come to pick-me up at station. I phoned her before one day and told - ‘ I am coming tomorrow, please do not forget to come to station. I will be wearing Nepali jacket as in my photo.’

She also told me -’ OK. I will wear a blue jacket, my hair is blonde with boy’s -cut. I have spectacles and I will bring one dog for recognising me easily. I will be waiting at the waiting room. One thing, there are two stations in Birmingham, You get down in International station. Go on two stairs and I will be there. Don’t worry. I will definitely be there. Have a safe journey, bye and good luck.’ I was impressed with her mild voice and lovely words.

The next day, I caught a train and to kill time I started to read a brochure sent with the letter from the host family organiser. There were some necessary informations to remember before going.

• Contact the host family by phone or letter before going.
• Buy a return ticket.
• Take the telephone number and address of host family.
• Take adequate money and don’t borrow money from your host family.
• You must pay your share of any outings during the visit.
• Offer help but don’t insist. Always make your own bed and offer to help with the washing up.
• Take warm coat and sweater, strong shoes, boots, raincoat etc. in winter.
• use telephone, if urgent be sure to ask your host first , then offer to pay for call.
• take a gift from your country or a packet of chocolate or a bunch of flower.
• after returning, send a thank-you card or thank by phone.

I got down at International station. It was quite contrary to my imagination. I went up and saw one woman waving her hand as gesture of welcome. She was similer that described in phone. Yes, she was Mrs Gardner. She hugged and kissed me. I thought it is her culture which is very different from mine. I responded and immediately liked her. We reached Wythall country side in 20 minutes. It was a quite and lovely place with large grazing areas for cows. Lots of tiny houses in planned manner with a beautiful garden in front of each house.

A big lake…farms….forests…neat and broad roads….! It was one of the countryside in England. I compared it with my country’s village. I got very different. Wythall is very developed and clean than my villages. Only rich families stay in countryside in England.that is fresh air without pollution.

Mr. John opened the door and welcomed me. On entering they gave me a Christmas present. It was lovely bath accessories which I had never experienced before. I liked it and thanked them. Then they introduced me with their four dogs who were barking at me saying that, "these are four children." They were small and with square faces. This was the first time I had seen such dogs. Suddenly two of them sat on my legs and the other on my shoulders and they loved me too much. I could not move for a while, like a statue.

It was 31st December, we celebrated New Year’s Eve opening a bottle of champagne. John and Stephanja said,’ Happy New Year’ to me . They gave a piece of cake and also blessed me with hug and kisses. I did the same to them and presented Nepali woolen cap, Nepali hand made papers and beautiful post card of Mt. Everest. They became so happy looking at Nepalese presents. We had photographs.

We gossiped for an hour about Nepal and Nepalese literature written by women. I showed them my three published books, - one is story collection and rest two novels.

1st January 1998, at breakfast, Stefanja told me - "Today I would like to take you to Stratford, a famous writers birth place. I am sure you will like it , because you are also a writer. We do not want to go to Birmingham, parking is problem there, OK ? Any problem ?"

"Ok… no problem for me. Stratford is fine I like to go there" I said and Stephanja laughed. We went to Stratford . Oh it was really a beautiful place.. so nice…so clean.. my heart danced for a while. It is a small town at the bank of river Avon. There were lots of ducks swimming at the river.

The sun light was bright. We went to a big park where there were sculptures of artists played in Shakespeare’s drama. A big building of Shakespeare’s theatre was unique and traditional type with beautiful sceneries around. I took lot of photographs and enjoyed too much.

Approximately 300 years ago, Shakespeare was born in that place. His birth place now museum was made of wood. Looking that I remembered our old house in Kathmandu. The design of the door and windows are really looks like the old houses in Kathmandu.

It is different environment inside the museum. I saw a sculpture pf young Shakespeare reading a book sitting on a chair. That sculpture looked alive. There were lot of other photographs of him and his families. There were also display of things used by him. Among them, his writing pen and paper on the table at one corner of room attracted me too much.

I wanted to write some thing on that paper sitting on his chair using his unique pen. I imagined only but, I could not touch.

However I touched and feel the historical pen and that gave greatest satisfaction .I remembered my old house in Kathmandu looking inside of room again. There were wooden ceilings. A lot of wooden and metallic pots which were also similar to our old type pots. I took a lot of photos there with my host in front of museum.

Stratford ! A small quite place , I liked too much. We went to an old designed restaurant for tea.

Stephanja asked me about my culture and country. I described them about our unique culture, natural beauties, Himal and Mt. Everest. They were impressed so much that they expressed their eagerness to visit our country.

We came back and then I went to kitchen and cooked Nepali food as rice, mushroom, potato and tomato achar (pickles), with more spice and with less spice.

John liked with less and Stephanja with more spice. Mine food habit was with more spice and chillies. For that Stephanja had already purchased one packet of green chilly for me.

However, both of them enjoyed Nepali food and asked me to teach her recipie and cooking methods for Nepali vegetables, Dal (pulse) and achar. I wrote about all items in paper for easy to cook and handed over to Stephanja.

During my stay with them, we played game, talked and watched interesting TV programmes - every nights. She played one CD of Chinese song presented to them by Chinese student who had come for Christmas in previous year.

The song was really nice to hear. But I could not understand though the female singer’s mild voice and music composition was really of high standard. I was really impressed by that.

The four days went so fast, I never felt bored.

Stephanja dropped me at the station and she hugged and kissed me again for the last time and thanked me for coming. In turn, I also hugged and kissed her and thanked her for invitation and their hospitality during the stay.

"Call me when you reach home otherwise I will be worrying…" she said

"Sure.. sure..Bye !" I told her but, my eyes were full of tears which I controlled to keep inside my eyes.

My train started to move towards Reading but, her words " call me…………" were echoing my ear and mind. What a hospitality, what a love and affection !

Buddha Bhajans

A Wish

O Buddha ! Give us an audience.
Give refuge to us, the ignorant.

O Buddha ! Give us the blessings of enlightment.

Give us the knowledge which will benefit all beings.

O Buddha ! Be kind and compassionate to us.
Give the eye of wisdom to us, the blind.

By the power of Buddha may all beings be happy.
By the power of Dharma may all find the path of peace.

By the power of Sangha may loving-kindness increase.
May the faith of Triple Gem always be with us.

May we find meaning in our religion.
May we keep all beings happy.

As mortality and virtues increase may our defilement be destroyed.
May we find the path of liberation under your guidance.

(English Translation)

***

World Peace

O Buddha, who came to bring peace to the world.
We come to see you with flowers in our hands.

You were born at Lumbini to become the Buddha.
You were the one who gave peace to all deities, human and beings.

Leaving royal luxuries, you went in search of wisdom.
You were the sage who eradicated sufferings to all who suffer.

You were enlightened under a bodhi tree at Buddhagaya.

You gave the path of peace and elightened wisdom to the world.

You struggled and endured to give us peace.
You were the one who destroyed violence, untruth and corruption.

You were the one who showed equality with the wisdom of non-violence, mortality and truth.
You were the one who showed the path of peace to all who suffer.

(English translation)

* Kind courtesy : The Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society (UK)

The Chase

- Miss Seema Rauniar

I’m running
I’m running
Faster Faster
Quicker Quicker
I try
To get away
But
Someone
Or something
Is pulling me back
I keep running
I look back
Red, White
Blue stripes
Flashing away
The thing starts to blare.

A loud repulsive sound
I run Faster
I’m hot
Sweaty
Frightened
Tired
I push through
The crowds
With all my might
Thumping
Blushing
Shameful
Old granny
Shouts
Abusive language
At me
Now
I am
Very offended
But what
Can I do ?

I have
To run
Can’t stop now
The repulsive sound
Becomes more
repulsive
And more louder
I can hear
The thing
Coming closer
I find a side street
And hide away
The blaring repulsive
sound
Fades away
But it gets
Darker and darker
And I hear howling wind
Through the cracks of
buildings
The church bell chimes
It resounds
In my ear
So many times
That I feel like killing it
The bell chimes
12 times
And a hand
Covers my face……?