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Prashant Rasaily is not a household name in Nepal, not yet. But to a connoisseur of Nepali films, Rasaily has made enormous creative contribution to the industry; he provides a breath of fresh air to the mundane, formulaic portrayal of the Nepali society in mainstream Nepali cinema. From writing screenplay for the ground-breaking “Kaagbeni” (2008) to directing the tell-tale “Acharya” (2011) and then writing, directing, producing and giving music to the critically acclaimed “Katha” (2013), Rasaily has done it all. And he has done so with critical acclaim, a rarity in Nepali cinema.

Hailing from Sikkim, Rasaily has tried his hands in Bolly­wood too, assisting the famous filmmaker Anurag Basu in his Hritik Roshan-starrer “Kites.” The multi-talented filmmaker is currently in Nepal, taking an artistic retreat in the peaceful Pokhara and planning his next venture.

Sunny Mahat for APEX talks to Rasaily about his current work and future plans.

Excerpts:

So is it a total retreat from work for you right now?

I recently returned to Pokhara from Kathmandu after working on an indie film called “Cheeso Ashtray.” I’m providing technical and creative support to a fea­ture-length film being directed by Dinesh Palpali.

You come from Sikkim and probably had better oppor­tunities in India. So why did you choose Nepal and specially Pokhara as your work/rest destination?

I’ve been coming to Nepal regularly since the making of Kagbeni. Nepal is my second home. I hadn’t been here for a few years so I thought I’d come and stay for a while. As for Pokhara, I like this city for its calm and peaceful ambi­ence. I’ve been here for the past four or five months and I have found peace.

Any projects that you’re working on in near future?

A filmmaker’s work is never fixed. I’ll work for whatever project suits me and with whichever team I fancy. I have not committed anywhere yet and I’m keeping my options open. For now, I’m just find­ing peace here in Pokhara and I’m happy to do whatever I can when the time is right.

How important is formal learning in filmmaking, especially for aspiring Nepali filmmakers?

Learning is important no matter what we do. We film­makers either learn in school or on set. But formal learn­ing is still necessary, I think. These days, due to the readily available technology, anyone can make a movie and every­one is becoming a filmmaker. But film-making is not just only about grabbing a cam­era and shooting. It has many technical aspects and you also need to understand life. It’s about your ability to skillfully project your experiences in your work.

I am meeting a lot of young people who’re coming out of the few film schools here, and I see a good future for them. As for myself, even though I am not actually a trainer or a teacher, I want to share whatever I’ve learnt by experience with the new generation of filmmakers.

How much do you follow the Nepali film industry? Do you think it is making progress?

The progress is slow but there is progress. Compared to the number of movies released in Nepal every year, the number of exceptional movies is not that high. I can see some really good work in a few movies and I think that number has to increase to call it progress.

You have experience of working in Bollywood as well. The Bombay-based film industry has gone global lately. Why can’t we produce such global movies?

I think it’s about the thoughts in the first place. So long as you don’t have the right thoughts, you won’t be professional or dedicated. You will not have what it takes to go global. It is our thought patterns that need to change. Some people are already on their way though and doing amazingly. The number of these people has to increase in the industry. Some recent films are really nice and original, like “Kabaddi” and “Pashupati Prasad.” We can see the change coming in the Nepali film industry, but like I’ve said, the change is rather slow.

Thamel stops abruptly after mid­night and so do business oppor­tunities of thousands of people who make a living there. Neither foreign tourists nor local revelers seem happy by this arrangement. “I like to go out and party sometimes on weekends but the timing is a major problem,” says Anu Shres­tha, who is in her early 20s. “Even the late-opening pubs shut down around 2-3 am and then we have nowhere to go. I don’t like going to hotels at night and I can’t go back home to disturb my sleeping family at 3 in the morning. If only they’d let us stay till the morning!”It is in order to address the griev­ance of the likes of Shrestha that the government, for a number of years, has been mulling a 24/7 open Thamel.

In 2015, a meeting between the Kathmandu District Administration, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the Thamel Tourism Development Board and Nepal Police decided to let businesses in Thamel operate for 24 hours. Ek Narayan Aryal, the then CDO of Kathmandu, had declared that Thamel would be open at all hours starting April 14, the Nepali New Year. It wasn’t meant to be.

Thamel is still the old Cinderella, with her strict midnight deadline—barring a few places that get to run till 2 or 3 am.

“The problem in Thamel right now is that Nepal Police is still understaffed and underequipped to give 24-hour security,” says Ashok Sen, co-owner of Purple Haze, one of the most popular live music ven­ues in Thamel.

Opportunities galore

Like most entrepreneurs in Thamel, Sen is a believer that open­ing Thamel for 24 hours will help lure in more revelers and tourists. Raju Damai, co-owner of Thamel-based Fire and Ibyza dance clubs, agrees. “It will increase the flow of tourists and give them more spend­ing options. More revenues for busi­nesses, more tax for the government and new employment opportunities for locals, what is there not to like about a 24/7 Thamel?” he questions.

Generally, the nightclubs in Thamel are allowed to open till 2 am, a couple of hours later than restaurants and bars because people visit nightclubs at the end of their outing. Both Ibyza and Fire have, however, taken special permits.

“Opening Thamel for 24 hours is not only about restaurants, bars and nightclubs. It’s also about oth­er businesses that cater to tourists in the area,” says Sameer Gurung, President of Thamel Tourism Devel­opment Council (TTDC), an NGO that has been promoting tourism in Thamel since 1989.

“Basic facilities like departmental stores, trekking equipment shops, liquor stores, ATM machines, med­ical stores also need to run 24/7. Only then will tourists be assured that all their needs will be catered to.” Gurung thinks that a 24-hour Thamel will perfectly complement the recent government decision to open the Tribhuvan International Airport for 21 hours a day.

Still more popular

The TTDC is mediating talks between 18 different committees in Thamel and the government for a final approval, to allow all busi­nesses in Thamel to operate round the clock. There are 150 registered hotels/guest houses/lodges, 100 restaurants and 60 bars and night­clubs in the Thamel area alone, according to the NGO. Gurung says the recent introduction of the con­cept of “walking streets” in parts of Thamel, where there are no vehicles allowed, has already increased the allure of the place, and “keeping it open at all hours will make it still more popular”. Gurung points to frequent government changes and equally frequent changes in police leadership as the main hindrance to this ambitious undertaking. The hope is that the ruling left alliance, with a near two-thirds majority, will be able to bring stability.

On law and order, “the prepara­tions are in their final phase,” says Dipak Pokharel, DSP of the Sohra­khutte Police Station that looks after security in Thamel, “In the mean­time, we do what we are supposed to: ensure that Thamel is safe for as long as it stays opens.” The Sohra­khutte station is preparing to handle more responsibilities that will come with the new status of Thamel.

No Khao San Road

But is everyone up for a 24-hour Thamel? Rabi Thapa, the author of “Thamel: Dark Star of Kathman­du”, a biography of the place, is not sold on the idea. “When people say Thamel has to keep up with or become like other tourist hotspots, I ask them ‘why?’. Thamel is unique. Also, which places are we compar­ing ourselves with?” he asks.

Thapa, who has been a regular patron of Thamel for a number of years and has travelled around the world, does not think the west­ern culture in Nepal is developed enough to offer round-the-clock entertainment. He also thinks it is important to consider the wishes of the locals who still live there. “Apart from that, Thamel is not like the Khao San Road in Bangkok. We probably don’t want a 24-hour tourist economy based on sex,” he adds. “We owe part of our youth to Thamel, and yes we were frustrat­ed that places closed early, but we always found ways to have fun, and get trashed anyway,” Thapa says.

But my interviews with various stakeholders in Thamel suggest that Thapa’s is a minority voice. Most say they are in favor of a 24-hour Thamel, if for different reasons. But if it is to happen, when?

The Assistant CDO of Kathmandu, Basu Ghimire, says the committee looking into this issue has a deadline of June 29. “Hopefully, all prepa­rations will be complete by then,” Ghimire added.

With recent developments like introduction of walking streets, 21-hour operation of TIA, no load-shedding, and Melamchi waters only months away, a 24-hour Thamel appears more and more possible.

A Friday night in Thamel. A full house bar, live music blaring, the band enjoying themselves and so are the guests, both tourists as well as locals. But just as the clock strikes midnight, the venue owners and staff get a tense look on their faces, last orders are called for and the band hurriedly announce their last song for the night. Even so, it would be a lucky day for bar owners. Most of the times, they would be forced to shut down well before midnight, as police sirens start blaring and the men-in-blue barge in.

“This has been a problem for a number of years now,” says a bar owner in Thamel who refused to be named. “I have been locked up for the night on a few occasions. My only fault—not making my guests leave my premises before the curfew began.” Most business owners around Thamel support him and allege the cops of destroying their business by imposing strict rules.

“We are only obeying orders,” the cops retort. “We are here to provide security and prevent any untoward incidents, and we do just that.” But they say they are also preparing for a 24-hour Thamel.

But will it really happen, and when? And will such a development be welcomed by all?

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In a recently released report, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) estimated that the country’s per capita income would cross $1,000 mark for the very first time. CBS—the central agency for the collection, consolidation, processing, analy­sis, publication and dissemination of statistics—also started the first-ever national economic census this month. Nepal’s per capita income, says the CBS, will reach $1,012 in the current fiscal 2017-18 that ends mid-July. Considering the bleak economic picture of the country that was pained in finance minister Yubaraj Khatiwada’s white-paper last month, this is a welcome news. It could help the country achieve its goal of upgrading its status from a ‘least developed country’ to a ‘developing country’ by 2022. According to the CBS, the rise in economic activities including in construction and min­ing, as well as a robust service sector, helped expand the economy, which ultimately reflected in the higher per capita income.

In order to get the developing country status, a least developed country should meet at least two of the three criteria set by the United Nations related to per capita income, human asset index and economic vulnerability index. A country needs to have a per capita income of $1,242 or more to be called a developing country, provided the other two criteria are also met.

But considering all the factors that are pulling down the economy, is the estimated income growth of $135 (or 15.39 percent) from last fiscal’s $877 sustainable?

The projected economic growth for the current fiscal is 5.89 per­cent, which is healthy enough. Yet, at the same time, the out­flow of funds from the coun­try exceeded inflows by Rs 24.7 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal (mid-July to mid- March), increasing the trade deficit by over 23 percent. Meanwhile, the balance of payments (BoP) deficit of Rs 24.7 billion recorded in that period has exerted pressure on foreign exchange reserves. In the month of March, the reserves fell by 3.4 percent, to $10.1 billion, accord­ing to the Nepal Rastra Bank.

Nor is the trade situation any better. Nepal’s foreign income has not been able to meet expenses as imports have far exceeded exports, resulting in whopping Rs 713.9 bil­lion trade deficit (27 percent of the GDP) in the first eight months of the current fiscal.

Economist Chandan Sapkota calls the increase in per capita income positive, which, he says, owes to the rapid growth in nominal GDP. But when asked if the real GDP growth in the past few years is sustainable, Sapkota says, “The growth rates of recent times are the result of increased government spending on reconstruction and growth in both demand and supply of construction materials. But unless there are fun­damental changes in the economy, this might not be sustainable.”

Another temporary stimulus that boosted the economy was the elections, Sapkota says. The gov­ernment spent a huge amount in election administration and security personnel, which led to the injection of new cash into the economy and temporarily increased employment. Per capita income increased too.

“But we have to keep up the momentum.” Sapkota says. “There’s not always going to be post-earth­quake reconstruction and elections.”

In his view, the only way the high economic and income growth wit­nessed this year will be sustained is if a more favorable environment is cre­ated for private and foreign investors and if the budget is disbursed more systematically.

Books, bakes—cakes, pies, donuts, bread—organic coffee, bacon and eggs, fajitas and much more. Sounds like a foodie’s dream or a bookworm’s wonder­land and it always comes true at Bodhi Books and Bakes. Located in the quieter part of the busy Ring Road in Maharaj­gunj (around 300 meters from the Bhatbhateni Supermarket on the way to Dhumbarahi), this is a cozy favorite hangout of many regular customers, famous for its food, coffee, ambience and an assortment of books it hous­es. One can either sit down and read one of the books off-the-shelf from the rich collection there, or buy them for later read­ing at home.

The menu starts with a la carte breakfast options as well as English, American and Nepali breakfast sets, each given a unique touch by the skilled kitchen staff. Then the cus­tomers get to choose from the ‘Soul Food’ section. Intrigued? “The Soul Food section features the stuff that make your soul happy,” says Bipin­iti Pradhan, the manager at Bodhi. Indeed, smoky fajitas, burri­tos, saucy spaghetti, nachos, pan pizzas and other comfort foods really reach your soul.

For the more health conscious, Bodhi’s health food options are equally delightful. Buckwheat pan­cakes and crepes make for a healthy as well as tasty choice. But the most interesting dish on the menu is the 'Superfood Chia-seed Pudding' (chia seeds soaked in soya and coconut milk, topped with seasonal fruits and sliced almonds).

And for those with a sweet-tooth, Bodhi’s assortment of freshly baked brownies and cakes are a treat. Cheese cake, nutty choco­late oat bars, chocolate mud cake, Pumpkin cake topped with watermelon and flax seeds and chocolate fudge brownies are just dessert for any food connoisseur. And most of the des­serts are avail­able in gluten-free options. Talk about eating your heart out and staying healthy, Bodhi does that for you.

The freshly prepared meals at Bodhi come at moderate prices and given the ‘intellectual’ air the place projects, it has, in three years of its operation, become a favorite hangout of many famous writers, poets, artists, actors and other folks. “We have a strict policy of not dis­turbing our customers,” Bidushi Dhungel, co-owner of Bodhi says. “They can sit here reading for hours with only a cup of coffee and make themselves comfortable as if they are in their own homes. Most of our regular customers call this their second home.”

Another unique thing about Bodhi is that all of its eight staffs are cooks, cutting down the possibility of inconsistency should one or more kitchen staff be unavailable. So the food remains consistently good and this allows the returning customers to get the same taste, always.

So a complete package of ambi­ence, food and drinks, without breaking the banks, our team of reviewers highly recommend Bodhi Books and Bakes.

The government is set to bring strict laws against religious conversions. Currently, Chris­tianity is rapidly spreading, raising concerns in a country which was until recently the only Hindu state in the world. Individuals, Hindu orga­nizations, fringe political parties and even government offices have been accusing INGOs and Nepali churches of proselytizing the mar­ginalized communities by offering them various incentives. In October 2017, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari signed into law a bill criminalizing religious conversions and any act that “hurts religious sentiments”. The law is set to come into effect from August.

“This is a clear violation of our human rights,” says Tanka Sub­edi, Senior Pastor/Founder at Lal­itpur-based Family of God church. Subedi was born in a Nepali Chris­tian family in Baglung. His moth­er was a Christian missionary in the 1970s and his family has always been devout Protestants. “Evangel­ical and Catholic churches existed in Nepal even before King Prithivi Narayan Shah embarked on his uni­fication campaign. He drove away dozens of Christian families from the country, and the current govern­ment is trying to do the same now,” Subedi, who is also a human rights activist, says.

“We have thousands, perhaps millions, of Christians in Nepal now, and we have been living in harmo­ny with people of other faiths for centuries. The government’s recent decision seems to be targeted at the Christians who vote and pay taxes, just like any other Nepali.”

According to the 2011 census, Christians make up less than 1.5 percent of Nepal’s population of about 29 million. The majority of Nepali Christians are evangelical Protestants. Although no recent government data is available, the number of new converts is speculated to have increased mas­sively, particularly after the April 2015 earthquake and the entry of Christian missionaries involved in reconstruction and resettlement in rural regions. Various I/NGOs have been accused of distributing Bibles along with relief materials in the affected regions and of converting women and children in return for food and clothes.

“They can’t come to our homes and lure us into accepting their religion with money and magic,” says Mohan Banjade, former law secretary and one of the main pro­ponents of the new laws against conversion. “Historically, Christi­anity is characterized by bloodshed and massive human exodus as the Roman church massacred millions of pagans. Even in modern times, Western countries where Christi­anity is the predominant religion have conquered and converted countless people in Africa and Asia.

Banjade says that the proselytiz­ers’ main assertion that “their God is the only God and everyone else is inferior” is unacceptable. He has therefore been actively lobbying against religious conversions and I/NGOs involved in spreading Chris­tianity in Nepal under the guise of humanitarian work. When asked if the government’s ban on reli­gious conversion goes against the country’s secular character, Banjade says, “We have been fed wrong information on secularism. Secularism is a British concept devised to separate the state and the church at a time in history when the church played an active part in politics and was often stronger than the mon­archs. What these dollar funded Christians are doing today is nether secular or democratic.”

There has of late been a rise in hostility between Nepali Hindus/Buddhists and the newly convert­ed Christians. The hate-filled war of words between the adherents of the two religions has escalated on social media—for instance on Facebook pages like ‘People’s Cam­paign Against Christian Conversa­tion—and is reaching a point where the discussion may easily boil over into open hostility.

Christian organizations claim that more than a million people in Nepal identify themselves as Christians, and the country has one of the fast­est growing Christian populations in the world. According to the Fed­eration of National Christian Nepal, 65 percent of Nepali Christians are Dalits. While the Christian orga­nizations claim that it is people’s faith in their god that is convert­ing born Hindus and Buddhists into Christians, other factors are clearly at play. For example the pro­portion of Christianity is high among those who have been traditionally discriminated against in the tradi­tional Hindu caste structure and those from dirt poor families. Then there is the accusation that pros­elytizers even pay peo­ple to convert.

“This is not a religion but an industry,” Banjade says. “They do door-to-door marketing to hire new recruits and they are more loyal to London and Rome than they are to Nepal.” Banjade’s reference is to the hundreds of Christian missionaries distributing pamphlets and Bibles at people’s homes and public places. Their target is usually the so-called “lower castes” and indigent people. Housewives, unemployed youths and children are being lured into the churches with promises of food, music and equality. Also, many pastors perform ‘healing mir­acles’ that convince the old and the sick to get baptized.

“Those who engage in door-to-door marketing are not Chris­tians, says Subedi of Family of God church, “They are either Jehovah’s Witnesses or followers of this Kore­an religion called Ahn Sahng-hong.” According to Subedi, converting to Christianity in protestant churches takes up to a year. A person wanting to convert needs to go to church regularly and be declared ‘qualified’ by the church to be converted. Also, before the final conversion, the per­son is asked if he/she is motivated by anything besides pure belief. Subedi may be talking about his and some other churches, but that doesn’t allay the concerns of those who have seen eyewitness accounts and vid­eos of instant conversion of people in the quake-affected communities in Barpak and Laprak.

“It’s a sad thing for us. We’re sell­ing our religion, our belief and our heritage for dollars,” says Mahendra Bhandari, a devout Hindu and a political activist. “We declared our­selves a secular state to please our neighbors and a few donors. We still have no problem living in harmony with our peers of other religions. But they have started discriminat­ing against us. They claim that their God is the only God and we’re all ‘pagans’. How can they, whose reli­gion is just 2000 years old, have the nerve to say that to us who are followers of an ancient religion?”

As the antagonism between Chris­tians and non-Christians grows, the government’s decision to imme­diately ban religious conversion is unlikely to resolve the issue. Yes, if some NGOs are involved in forced conversions by offering people various incentives, they should be stopped. But if the goal is to lessen the growing resentment between different religions, cultures and castes in a country which has recently come out of a decade-long war and a huge natural disaster, then perhaps more needs to be done than merely passing new laws.

The government is all set to bring a law to ban any form of religious conversion. This has drawn flak from various religious groups, mainly Christian organizations that feel “targeted” because the government, in their view, is targeting one religion, by training its focus on foreigners and NGOs involved in spreading Christianity. Indeed, the government has clearly stated that it will cancel the registrations of charities that double as Christian missionaries. Also, any foreigner found involved in proselytization in Nepal will be summarily deported.

“This is an unfortunate development,” says Tanka Subedi, a pastor at a local Protestant church. “We have a right to follow any religion we choose and by drafting laws against our religion, the government is depriving us of our basic right.” In his view, ban on religious conversions will lead to an exodus of hundreds of pastors and hence the Christian followers here will be without spiritual guides.

But former law secretary and an activist against religious conversions, Mohan Banjade, welcomes the government decision as a step toward protecting the ancient traditions and cultures of the former Hindu state. “We have a right to defend our religion as well,” Banjade says. “They can’t come into our homes and coerce us into following a Western religion. Isn’t the freedom to follow a religion of our choice our human right too?”

With each side feeling victimized and cornered, this is one debate that is not dying down anytime soon, with or without new laws against conversion.

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The comedian duo-turned-hu­manitarians now want to build the largest stadium in Nepal. The pro­posed Lord Buddha Internation­al Stadium will spread over 500 ropanis (62.5 acres) and the main stadium will have a seating capac­ity of over 40,000. Importantly, it will meet the International Cricket Council standards to be able to host international matches. Not just that. The stadium premises will also be equipped with the latest facilities for the players.

“We already have a mas­terplan. We are looking to finalize the venue within days,” says Kattel. “The government is helping us find a suitable piece of land. We will start as soon as we select one.” The Dhurmus Suntali Foundation has put together a team of engi­neers, sports experts, advisors as well as donors from all over the world to complete the estimated Rs 2-billion project. “Since the day we announced the stadium, we have received overwhelming support from Nepalis all over the world. With their contribution and govern­ment support, we will complete the project in record time,” Kattel says.

The government’s job?

With Prime Minister KP Oli and Sports Minister Jagat Bishwakarma pledging support, the foundation has already gotten the government’s green light.

But isn’t the government, which is collecting billions in taxes every year, the right body to undertake such a plan, instead of a charity formed for a completely different purpose? Kattel laughs and asks in return, “If we do not, who will? Are we just going to sit there and blame the government for everything? The government has its own priorities. It may not always be possible for the government to fulfill all our needs. You can think of the foundation as a mediator to speed things up.”

The foundation, after its success­ful rebuilding campaigns, is shifting focus to sports in line with public demand. “Our boys have been mak­ing us proud in the international are­na although we lack even basic facil­ities. We thought, with a little effort on our part, we could encourage our players as well as inspire the youth to take up sports seriously,” Ghimire says. “Before, we were working for small communities. Now this project is for the pride of the whole country and we believe every Nepali will take part enthusiastically.”

The only fully operational crick­et stadium in Nepal right now is the Tribhuvan University cricket stadium at Kirtipur, with a stand­ing capacity of around 20,000—not an ideal venue for international competitions. Another proposed cricket ground at Mulpani has been ‘under-construction’ for almost 15 years with no final date given for its completion. Also, Dashrath Ran­gashala, the only multi-sport arena in Nepal, is in a dismal state and is being reconstructed for the SAF games in 2019. In this context, a full-fledged sports village had become a necessity and the pro­posed Lord Buddha Inter­national Stadium looks to fill that void.

“We will not just build a stadi­um but also make it sustainable in the long run,” Kattel says. “After its completion, the stadium will be operated by a committee comprised of government officials as well as our team members. Any profit made will be pumped back into Nepali sports.”

Politics looms

Capitalizing on their household screen names, both Kattel and Ghi­mire have put brakes on their suc­cessful careers as actors to devote time to social work. After the 2015 earthquake, the duo was seen less on television and more on quake-af­fected sites in different parts of Nepal to help affected communities rebuild and rehabilitate. “We used to make people laugh as comedians and we now still make people hap­py with our humanitarian work,” Ghimire says. “We do miss acting though. But right now the stadium project has our full attention.”

After making the jump from acting to social work, would they ever consider going into politics? 

“You never know,” Ghimire says. “Till the earthquake, we were living for ourselves. We were at the peak of our careers and had plenty of time for ourselves and our families. We had never thought we would be involved in social service. But things changed after the disaster. We changed as persons. If, in the future, time and situation demands Dhurmus and Suntali be involved in politics, we are ready to accept that role too, just to keep people happy”.