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People generally prefer private schools to public ones. But this does not apply to one public school in Bhojpur. The Janasewa Basic School at Bhojpur Municipality-7 is these days drawing more students compared to rival private schools in the vicinity.

Wanting their children to learn English, parents often send them to private schools that supposedly teach them ‘better in English medium’. Many private schools even advertise themselves as ‘English only’ zones. As the public schools don’t place such emphasis on teaching English, parents tend to shun them, and these schools are often neglected. The quality of education on offer is thus generally poor. Parents are willing to pay much more to private schools.

In the case of Janasewa though parents are enrolling their children in the school even by withdrawing them from private schools. This year, 52 new students were enrolled. The school is being developed as the district’s model government school. It uses teaching style and curriculum that are similar to those of private schools. Better exam results also naturally attract parents and guardians.

“They teach the same way boarding [private] schools teach. They use English medium. Results are good too,” says Tulasi Poudel, a parent. “It saves us from the high cost of boarding [private] schools.”

“Low-income people like us would be greatly relieved if all public schools had such good standards,” he adds. “We could then give English education to our children, and they would excel in studies.”

Apart from English medium, other important features of this school are: regular classes, good discipline, regularity of teachers and students, focus on classroom activities, and teacher-student engagement. Parents say the school offers them quality education at minimal cost.

Many public schools in the district were merged or closed down in recent years due to their poor teacher quality and their inability to attract good students. Not Janasewa; even relatively better-off parents send their wards here. As per school records, its alumni have done well in higher studies too.

“Although it is a public school, we offer the standard of private schools. We also offer scholarships and boarding facilities,” says teacher Sikshika Shrestha. “Our students are disciplined and both our teachers and students value the importance of time and learning.”

According to Headmaster Thir Bahadur Shrestha, teachers in other public schools are often more involved in politics rather on teaching. “This is why the quality of education in public schools is in a decline. These teachers are better qualified and better trained than their private school counterparts. The problem is that they don’t like working.”

The district has 341 basic and 69 secondary-level public schools where 61,240 students are enrolled. Among other things, lack of designated subject teachers and teachers’ frequent absence ail most.

A ruling party taskforce has recommended substantial amendment of MCC accord. Is this possible?

Officially, we are yet to get the taskforce document. Based on media reports of the comments made by leaders, what I can say is that the comments are not substantial. You have to understand that the amendment process is long and difficult. Among other things, it has been said that the MCC compact violates Nepal’s constitution, which is not true. A communique to this effect has already been exchanged. We are not sure if the taskforce got that communique. There are other communiques, too, over other points. Some of the MCC points can be clarified if they are unclear. If there is a need for further clarification, an exchange of letters would be the shortest route.

Do you think the opposition to the MCC is ideological? Many ruling party leaders continue to see the US and all projects under it as ‘imperialist’. 

I don’t think so. What I would say is that some people have spoken against it on ideological grounds based on fake news and disinformation about the MCC. There are apparently around 500 websites disseminating fake news about the MCC compact. They say there is the MCC in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is wrong. There is no MCC project in the countries with American troops. The contents of fringe online media and social media show some bias. But mainstream political leaders are mostly in favor of maintaining cordial ties with the US.

How do you tackle the persistent perception that the MCC is part of US military strategy?

There are two issues here. First, as the MCC is time-bound, we do not have time to wait for such perceptions to die down. Once we start building the power transmission lines, towers and sub-stations, people will see our actual work. Seeing is believing. When people see the work, they will know that it is not military. As soon as parliamentary ratification and other conditions are met, we will go for speedy implementation. People will gradually understand what the MCC is all about. Similarly, not everyone can understand the 78-page long MCC compact document that was prepared by lawyers. These are international-standard documents and adhere to international norms. Unfortunately, some people are commenting on it without even reading the document or properly understanding the terms and conditions.

What are the important deadlines related to the MCC compact?

We have to understand that nothing lasts forever. We have fixed 30 June 2020 as the date of the accord’s entry into force. If we fail to meet that deadline, there will be credibility issue. So, June 30 is a critical date. Nepal government has dispatched a letter assuring that the compact will come into force after June 30. Non-compliance means violation of this commitment.

There could be further discussions, but it is beyond my jurisdiction to say what will happen after that date. But at the current rate, we could miss the deadline. The fiscal year of US government ends September-October. If the MCC is not endorsed before that, there will be uncertainty.

Even if the MCC and Nepal government agree on deadline extension, the US Congress can transfer unspent money to other heads. They could also withdraw the unspent budget. So it is a risky path. As it is, we have already lost five months, which in turn has greatly affected the morale of our staff.

Again, given the limited time, is there a chance of substantial changes in the compact?

It would not be difficult to explain some points through letters of clarification. For a substantial change, it should first land at the MCC board that includes the US Secretary of State. It would be difficult to justify the amendment to him because the compact was signed after sufficient discussion between the two sides. So it is better to finalize it through clarification letters.

There are also questions in Nepal about the need for parliamentary ratification of the MCC compact.

The rationale behind parliamentary ratification is to give legal status to the compact. There could be legal obstacles, and problems could arise, for instance while felling trees. Domestic procurement laws could be attracted. But we do not work as per the procurement law of Nepal. We follow MCC procurement guidelines. Therefore, the compact should be given the status of law for smooth project implementation. In case of conflict, the compact is implemented in line with section 7.1 of the agreement. On the interpretation of this provision, legal opinion was sought. Nepal government settled for a parliamentary approval through simple majority after legal consultations.  

Many people including senior NCP leaders are of the view that the US should clarify that the MCC is not a part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy.

It is up to the American government to say whether it is part of the IPS. What I have been repeatedly saying that the IPS is not an alliance. It is rather related to US foreign policy that covers areas from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean. It is about democracy, development, and defense. It is a policy document. In some policies we could align with the US and we can be partners. We can object to other policies that are not appropriate for us. We have that right. Nepal follows Panchasheel and America has its own policy. We the have power and capacity to pick and choose. So does it matter if it is a part of the IPS?  If China says tomorrow that everything that comes from China is under BRI, what would be our position? What will we do if the Indians say something similar?

The country should choose which path to pursue. The compact document has not mentioned anything about the IPS, so I do not understand what type of amendment we seek. Let us just follow what is written in the official documents that we have signed. We have to look at our relation with the US in the past 70 years.  We have to take decisions in a rational way.

Sri Lanka recently decided to reject a similar MCC grant. This has also fueled suspicions here.

Nepal and Sri Lanka have distinct political histories. From 2007-2009, Sri Lanka faced an ethnic civil war. Thousands of people were killed. There was international objection over extrajudicial and civilian killings. The UN and western governments took strong positions. They dragged many top Lankan army officials into war crimes. If you have followed recent news out of Sri Lanka, this had a direct bearing on the proposed MCC grant.

The MCC in Sri Lanka is related to road improvement and land management. Land management was aimed at digitalizing data and adopting new methodology. A section of people portrayed it as a data secrecy issue and termed it objectionable. However, the Sri Lankan government has not taken a firm decision that it would not receive the MCC grant. The current government is a transitional one as parliamentary election is due in December. The cases of Sri Lanka and Nepal are entirely different, and the position of Nepali leaders is not akin to those of Sri Lankans.

If there is no parliamentary approval, what could be the implications?

On the part of Nepal, there would be serious damage as the Nepal Electricity Authority has signed several Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) that are contingent on the construction of the Gorakhpur-Butwal transmission line under the MCC compact. The PPAs will be affected if the transmission line is not built. The proposed transmission line under the MCC can carry up to 3,000 MW electricity. The power sector in Nepal will take years to recover if this is not implemented. 

Next, the World Bank, JICA, Asian Development Bank and other international organizations visit our office and consult us about the transmission line. They synchronize their transmission lines accordingly. If the compact is not endorsed, it will affect their projects as well. It will give a message that doing projects in Nepal is difficult. It will be a big setback for the country as well as all foreign companies that are investing in Nepal’s hydropower. It would be difficult for us to even convene investment summits.

Nepal and the US have a 70-year history of cooperation. The US was the first country to support Nepal’s bid for UN membership. The MCC compact entails the biggest grant the US has provided to Nepal. It took more than five years to sign the project. I think no country should reject this. It is already signed, the design is ready, the office is already there, and the staff is working. It is not good to create disputes now.

Visit Nepal 2020 kicked off with the unveiling of the oversized yetis, the much-reviled campaign logo. No sooner had the year started, coronavirus hit China, from which Nepal expected at least 500,000 tourists this year. The number of Chinese tourists soon collapsed. With much of the world now under the grip of the dreaded virus, Nepal’s signature tourism campaign has been called off. The hospitality sector that had borrowed heavily in anticipation of the Visit Nepal tourist bump has been walloped: average hotel occupancy is barely 15 percent. Restaurants are deserted in the fear of corona contagion. Travel in and outside the country has slowed to a trickle, wrecking aviation.
As if that were not enough, the re-appointment of Yubaraj Khatiwada as minister of finance, despite his dismal performance in the past two years, has sapped any remaining confidence of businessmen and investors. The stock-market that witnessed an exuberant rise when the news of his exit surfaced has since the confirmation of his re-appointment seen a bloodbath. There are more signs of trouble for Nepal. India’s GDP growth is now under-6 percent. Even without the corona epidemic, the Chinese economy was similarly slowing, and corona has firmly put on the skids. The Oli government, which had been banking on developing Nepal as a ‘vibrant economic bridge’ between these two giants, seems to have run out of ideas.

It’s easy to panic in this situation. In fact, not one thing seems to be going right for the economy. Yet this is precisely when calm is needed. Khatiwada has always been a critic of ‘laissez faire’ capitalism, and a strong advocate of greater state involvement in the economy. That would not necessarily be bad for a country in Nepal’s stage of development. It has indeed become vital to secure the interests of the poor from crony capitalists. Yet Khatiwada seems to believe that most private actors are crooks and only by wielding a stick can they be brought in line.

Instead of supporting the economy and setting the foundation for a welfare state, in line with the government’s commitment, his measures have demotivated businessmen and entrepreneurs and scared away investors. Khatiwada has a second chance to redeem himself. The monetary policy is far too tight for these troubling times. How will he lay the foundation of a functioning welfare state if he doesn’t have any money to work with? Surely, he doesn’t believe the government can achieve its ambitious economic goals without the help of the private sector. In fact, right now Nepal needs all the help it can get, from all legitimate sources in and outside the country.

“Just a slap?,” Amrita or Ammu (Taapsee Pannu) is asked again and again as she looks for validation, comfort and justice against an incident of physical abuse she has to bear from her husband Vikram (Pavail Gulati). A housewife in an affluent household, Ammu’s life had been seemingly normal before the incident.

She lives a comfortable life with her husband and mother-in-law (Tanvi Azmi) in a posh house with all the modern amenities. A zealous homemaker, Ammu’s lives her life in the same daily loop: doing chores, and taking care of her husband, mother-in-law, and the house. But one day when her drunk husband slaps her in front of party guests, things change for her. 

Ammu starts questioning her position in the marriage. Where is her self-respect and dignity, she asks herself? Her life begins to unravel and she misses her pre-marriage happiness and freedom. The sacrifices she made in the marriage haunt her. Then the revelation that she, as an obedient housewife, has turned into nothing more than a commodity for her husband and her family strikes her hard. Ammu thus starts legal proceedings against her husband. All that for a slap. Because the slap rattles her conscience. 

Directed and co-written by Anubhav Sinha, “Thappad” (‘Slap’) is a film that uses one incident of domestic violence to tell a representational tale of millions of women facing domestic violence, marital rape, and deeply embedded misogyny in India and the subcontinent.

With no notable big names from Bollywood, besides the talented Taapsee, and a host of other equally gifted performers, Thappad is a film that paves the way for women-centered narratives that question the male privilege. Thappad delves into the lives of different women and disturbs deeply-held notions of orthodox families and women’s roles therein.

Right from the introduction, Thappad captivates the audience and lets them know that it is taking up much more than a couple’s relationship. The introduction shots of all relevant characters in different settings, living different lives but eating the same orange candy (popsicles), gives a clear message that the film will surpass the ‘hero-heroine’ narrative and give everyone equal space to tell their stories. This shared burden of storytelling makes the film even more captivating.

With stellar acting by Taapsee and the supporting cast, Thappad is a sensible movie that discusses the dynamics of husband-wife relationships in orthodox South East Asian families. The film cleverly blames men for the toxic relationships they create but also the society and even women who have been submissive for generations to give men the privilege of treating them like commodities. Thappad questions the self-beliefs that enslave the housewives. What makes them give up their lives, dreams and comforts to create that ‘perfect household’? Why have generation after generation of women been teaching their young daughters to sacrifice themselves to save far-from-perfect conjugal relations?

After directing socially compelling movies like Mulk (2018) and Article 15 (2019), Director Sinha has put out another gem that doesn’t overly dramatize relationships and reactions and gives life lessons in all their subtlety.

Who should watch it?

The only problem with Thappad is its length of 2hrs 24min and the stretched second half. But the storytelling is still captivating and this is easily one of the most important movies Bollywood has produced in recent times. A must watch for its compelling storyline and visionary filmmaking.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Drama

Run time: 2hrs 24min

Director: Anubhav Sinha

Cast: Tapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati, Dia Mirza

 Nepathya Live: Shikshya Ko Lagi Sangeet

4:30 pm, Saturday, Feb 29

Bhrikuti Mandap

Kathmandu, Nepal

“Shikshya Ko Lagi Sangeet” is a charity concert to promote the initiative of “Better Infrastructure for Better Education,” featuring the most popular band in Nepal— Nepathya.

BBQ at the Terrace

6:30 pm, Feb 28-29

Terrace Garden, Hotel Radisson

Lazimpat, Kathmandu

Head to the Terrace at Radisson Kathmandu for an exquisite experience of fresh, grilled, smoky and flavorful BBQ with amazing views from the rooftop.

 Kurt Cobain Birthday Bash

7 pm, Saturday, Feb 29

LOD: Lord of the Drinks

Thamel, Kathmandu

Join the bands Papercut, Newaz and Albatross in celebrating the birthday of the late grunge legend Kurt Cobain. The bands will perform Nirvana songs as a tribute.

 A Reunion of the Souls

1 pm, Saturday, Feb 29

Dalai-La Boutique Hotel

Thamel, Kathmandu

Photographers and co-founders of The Raw Society— Jorge Delgado Fotografía and Christelle Enquist—open their photography exhibition at the Dalai-La Boutique Hotel on Feb 29. The exhibit features 32 photographs that will be on display and sold in a silent auction to raise funds for the Karma Lekshey Ling School.

Q. What one thing annoys you the most?
A. Fake behavior.
Q. Do you have a song that reminds you of a relationship?
A. I used to sing “Chahana sakkiyo, bahana sakkiyo” a lot with my childhood friend Sneha. That song reminds me of how she guided and encouraged me to sing.
Q. Have you ever tried something you knew you were really bad at?
A. I was really bad at singing, but I tried.
Q. What fashion trend do you just not get?
A. I don’t keep up with the fashion trends but pairing a blazer with biker shorts is a big no!
Q. On a scale of 1 to 10 how “cool” are you?
A. I’m very cool. So 10 on 10!
Q. What is your best attribute?
A. I can manipulate people in a good way.
Q. Describe yourself as a teenager in three words.
A. Competitive, funny and bright.
Q. If you could be from any other decade (or era), which would it be?
A. I wouldn’t want to go to any other decade.
Q. New clothes or new phone?
A. New phone!
Q. Name a book you read that positively shaped you.
A. Not a big time reader but I really enjoyed Buddhisagar’s “Karnali Blues” for the friendship portrayed
in it.

The finals of the 16th Kathmandu College of Management Inter Col­lege Music Competition (KCM ICMC) held at the Bhrikuti Mandap Grounds on Febru­ary 22 saw 10 bands selected from the preliminary rounds for the title. With hundreds of music lovers in the audience, the female-fronted “Paradigm Shift” took home the grand prize of Rs 80,000 and also won the individual titles of Best Bassist, Best Drummer, and Best Guitarist which had the cash prizes of Rs 10,000 each. Metal bands “Obscure” and “Lapax” were declared first and sec­ond runners-up respectively while the blues-based ensem­ble “Alankar” won the Judges Favorite award and the tile of Best Vocalist.

Organized annually to support budding talents in music, the 16th KCM ICMC had last year’s winners Psy­chopath performing along­side Chakachak, Jindabad, and Albatross.

Although pronouncing its name might feel a little hard, dining at the Jham­kefaal Restaurant and Bar can be a refreshing experience. For one, it’s located at Kapurdhara, where you won’t find many restaurants that offer such a clean and com­fortable dining experience. And for its ambience and food, it is inex­pensive. So inexpensive that we’re at the verge of comparing it to the local ‘khaja ghar’ food we order at work every day. The food at Jhamkefaal is an everyday affair too. It’s a bit of a multi-cuisine menu with the regular “momo/chowmein” as high­lights but there’s more when you carefully go through it. And you also get freshly brewed coffee—so its way better than our “khaja ghar.”