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Kathmandu: A candlelight vigil was observed at Maitighar Mandala on the evening of March 13 in mem­ory of those killed in the recent US-Bangla plane crash at Tribhuvan International Airport. The event organizer, Sakshyam Foundation Nepal, an organization of health practitioners, expressed condolenc­es for the bereaved family members, and wished eternal peace to the departed souls. Doctors, nurses and health workers attended the vigil.

Foundation Chairman Dr CK Singh said the deaths of many students returning home after completing their medical studies in Bangla­desh was an irreparable loss to the country. The foundation demanded that the government provide proper treatment to the injured.

Fifty-one persons died in the crash, while 21 others are receiving treatment at differ­ent hospitals in Kathmandu. Similarly, students from Nepal Law Campus organized their own candlelight vigil on the same day. RSS

APEX BUREAU: Last week saw a unique three-in-one event at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babar Mahal Revisited. The focus was on Dolpo and one family in particular. Dorje Dolma talked about her book “Yak Girl” which is her memoir as a young girl growing up in Dolpo. Also on display at the gallery were drawings by herself and her sister, Sumchog Kersbergen.

Following her talk and a demonstration of Dolpo dance there was a showing of a Dutch documentary “The Only Son” which follows her brother Pema’s journey back to their village in Dolpa where his parents wish him to marry. It is interesting to note that all three siblings live overseas—Dorje in America and Sumchog and Pema in The Netherlands.

Meantime, one of family members who does remain in Nepal, is Uncle Tenzin Norbu, a renowned artist whose work appears in many publications, including National Geographic Magazine, and the film Himalaya. Known for his fusion of the traditional and the contemporary, Norbu has exhibited around the world including in the US, France, Switzerland and Japan. While working to preserve the culture and traditions of Dolpo, Norbu supports Shree Siddhartha Kula Mountain Primary School which he founded in his native valley.

Speaking later, Norbu talked about his recent works which incorpo­rate Dolpo and Buddhist dharma into the New York skyline. Anoth­er acknowledges the plight of the planet; informally called Melting Ice Cream, this is about climate change. These works appeal to both his traditional and modern sides and arouse much interest among art critics and students.

It’s only been a month and half since 60-year-old Manmaya Aangbo, a resident of Papundin in the east­ern hill district of Panchthar, started learning to write ka, kha, ga.

“I could already recite the alphabets, now I’m able to write them,” she says. “Can age stop you from learning?”

Aangbo can now write her name and her place of residence. “Only now has my desire to read and write been fulfilled,” she says.

Aangbo intends to be fully liter­ate in the Nepali alphabets. “In the beginning, it was tough even to hold a pen. Writing felt more exhaust­ing than working the land. Now my hands don’t tire while writing. I’m happy that I can write a bit,” she says.

As many as 18 women like Aangbo, all of them above 50, have recently started learning to read and write in a classroom of Papundin Adharb­hoot School. Their goal is to be able to read texts in Nepali and to write them.

“It’s fun,” says 59-year-old Gori­maya Aangbo. “But studying is harder than doing household chores. It’s amazing that children study at all. It was a mistake to beat them up when they struggled at school.”

She’s promised herself that she won’t beat her children anymore when they fail to do well in exams.

Bimanata Aangbo, a local resident who has taken on the responsibility of teaching the old women, cor­roborates their stories. “Yes, they are now used to holding a pen,” she shares.

By BHIM KUMAR BASKOTA, PHIDIM

Dharan, a sub-metropolis in the eastern hills, is planning to generate energy from waste. It has already signed a 20-year agreement with ‘Venture Waste to Energy Pvt Ltd’. The company has said that it will immediately start generating energy after installing a plant with a daily capacity of processing 30 metric tons of trash. According to Dharan’s mayor Tara Subba, the agreement has paved the way for making the town even prettier and cleaner. He added that the plant would create local jobs and help reduce imports.

The plant will have three units, said Jenesh Shrestha, chairman of the power plant company, at its joint press conference with the Dharan sub-metropolitan office. The first plant will separate the trash, the sec­ond will produce natural cooking gas and the third will bottle gas.

Sunil Nepal, project manager at Dharan sub-metropolitan office, said the town produces 35 metric tons of waste every day, of which 22 metric tons can be used to generate gas. He added that the waste Dharan produc­es can generate 1,100 kg of natural cooking gas and 5,600 kg of organic fertilizer every day. “This venture is the first of its kind in Nepal,” said deputy mayor Manju Bhandari.

By RATNAPRASAD ACHARYA, DHARAN