Phoolko Ankhama Released

by Pawas Manandhar

The release of Ani Choying’s book Phoolko Ankhama was a major success, with the book selling out on just the second day of its release. The autobiographical that talks about Choying’s childhood and her decision to become a nun, is written in a simple yet evocative prose with references to her early life as well as her motivations.

“Upon request of the distributor, we have placed a second print run order to the press,” confirmed Kiran Shrestha of Nepa-laya, adding that they had to go for a second print after the book had sold out. The book is a Nepali translation of the original published in French back in 2008 by Oh! Editions and has since, been published in 12 languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, English, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Slovenian and Hungarian. The Nepali edition was translated by Girish Giri and is distributed by Education Book House.

One in two Nepalis has access to telephone

One in two Nepalis now has access to basic telecom services including mobile service. According to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), tele-density has reached more than 50 percent from 1.47 percent a decade ago.

The latest statistics of the NTA show that the country’s telecom subscriber base has increased to 13.51 million. According to a preliminary report of the National Population Census 2011, the country’s total population is 26.62 million. “Based on the census report, telecom density has already crossed 50 percent,” said NTA spokesperson Kailash Prasad Neupane. The NTA said that it would publish its management information system (MIS) report based on the latest population of the country from the next issue. Till now, it has been measuring tele-density on the basis of the projected population of 28.58 million.

Based on this figure, the country’s total tele-density stands at 47.27 percent. Telecom density includes the penetration rate of 2.94 in fixed line, 41.70 percent in mobile service and 2.63 percent in the others category. Tele-density is the number of telephone lines per 100 inhabitants in a particular country or territory.

Ten years ago in 2001, Nepal’s tele-density was 1.39 percent in fixed line and 0.08 percent in mobile telephony service. The increment over the last decade has been attributed to a rapid growth in the wireless communication sector following the entry of private operators. The tele-density was 0.1 percent in 1981 and 0.4 percent in 1991, according to International Telecommunication Union.

The GSM mobile service that was launched in 1999 by Nepal Telecom changed the whole scenario. Even though it was expensive earlier, the entry of private players brought a paradigm shift, making mobile service accessible and cheaper.

With three major players—Nepal Telecom, Ncell and United Telecom—fighting for supremacy, prices have become affordable leading to an increase in the subscriber base. Launching of pre-paid mobile service, reduced tariff resulting from competition and availability of cheaper handsets have played a big role in increasing the country’s tele-density status.

Telecom experts said Nepal could achieve more provided there are sound policies and infrastructure sharing is done. “There is a huge potential for more progress in the sector by using the Rs 3 billion available in the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund and sharing infrastructure,” said an official at the authority. “However, work on this front has not moved ahead as anticipated.”

As of mid-August this year, mobile services are being used by 11.91 million people, fixed line service by 840,828 and 753,213 persons have subscribed to LM and GMPCAS services. Nepal Telecom has a total subscriber base of 6.83 million, Ncell 5.84 million, United Telecom 578,435 subscribers and three other small operators 252,026. (Source : ekantipur)

GXSOUL & COD Album Launch Party in UK

OFFICIAL LAUNCH PARTY *UK Premier RAAT VAARI : GXSOUL ft. COD*

Venue : The Lightbox, 6a South Lambeth, London Sw8lsp 

Date : Saturday, 5th November [ 10pm to 6am ]

Ladies Free Befo 11pm

£7.99 / £9.99 @ Door

Gentlemen £9.99 / £11.99 @ Door

Students & Soldiers : 20% off door price

Don’t block roads for VIPs: PM

Dekhi Dekhi - Ft. Sarah Gurung Tetsuka & Anup Pandey

 Behind the Scenes Images. Here is the promo of Dekhi Dekhi by Deepesh Kishor Bhattarai. Very Interesting song.

Eelum Dixit Biography

Eelum Dixit, is a director, actor and co-founder of the Nepali theatre group Nepal Shakes. Eelum is the son of the famous Kanak Dixit and a part of the influential Dixit clan. He is carving his own niche in the world of theatre. He has gained popularity by working in a tele-serial called Hamro Team aired on Kantipur Television recently. He is now upcoming with his lead role in a much talked about movie “Highway”.

Ani Choying's life in a book

It was Nhyoo Bajracharya’s “Phoolko Ankha ma” that introduced Ani Choying Drolma to the world, but there’s more to this mellifluous singer known for her genteel demeanour. Those seeking a glimpse of the person behind the persona, the book to acquire is Phoolko Ankha ma. 

Nepa~laya is bringing out the Nepali edition of Ani Choying Drolma's autobiography, which has been already published in 12 languages.

“I guess, all that struggle made me resilient and self reliant, it motivated me to take up challenges life has to offer and help others like me,” shared the singer.

Phoolko Ankhama, the book is the collaborative effort of French writer, Laurence Debril and Ani Choying and was first published in 2008. Her struggle as a refugee child growing up in Kathmandu and her decision to become a nun is told in simple, yet deep prose in the book.

"If I had not become a nun, I would have probably been an unidentified wife and a mother of probably3-4 children," confesses Ani Choying, adding, "my decision to become a nun and furthermore the blessings I got from my mentors, has made my life more worthwhile. I am thankful that through the talent my Gurus helped me identify from within, I am being able to serve many people and our society."
Ani’s positive outlook on life has made her a living proof that a troubled childhood is not the end of the world, but can open new horizons in life.

The book has been published in 11 other languages including German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, English, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Slovenian and Hungarian.

The Nepali edition of the book has been translated by Girish Giri. Sharing his experience, Giri said, "It was no easy feat. Translating the text and retaining its authenticity was a real challenge. I could have written three books during the time I spent working on this one, but it was once in lifetime offer to work with Ani."

The book is being published in Nepali with formal arrangement with the original copyright owners, Oh! Editions of France and should hit the bookstands by Dasain.

"I am glad my story is finally coming home to Nepal," said the singer who’s glad her book is coming to Nepali audience after being read in 12 languages, worldwide.  She has contributed all the earnings from her book to the welfare of kidney patients in Nepal. 

Gurkhas at risk

Ready to rock: More than 17,000 young Nepalis took the doko test last year in an attempt to win one of 230 places in the Gurkhas Photo: GETTY IMAGES

For nearly a century, it has been a test that has wrung a smile from even the most sadistic British Army recruiting sergeant. Weighed down with 58lb of rocks, would-be members of the Gurkha Regiment run three miles up a Himalayan mountain track, bearing their load not in a rucksack but in a doko, a wicker basket carried only via a strap across the forehead.

By Colin Freeman in Kathmandu

Like thousands of other young Nepalis hoping to succeed in this summer's annual intake, Sundar Adhikara, 20, has already trained hard enough to complete the doko test within the requisite 48 minutes: his best, so far, is 35. Yet now another obstacle is looming to his dream of joining the historic regiment – Nepal's newly elected government wants to scrap it altogether.

The threat comes from the country's powerful Maoists, who swept to office in April amid growing discontent at the poverty that entry into the Gurkhas has long provided an escape route from. Last week they abolished the 240-year-old monarchy, ordering King Gyanendra to vacate his palace in downtown Kathmandu. But royalty is not the only institution at odds with their far-Left agenda: they also view the Gurkhas as a "militia" from the imperial age.

"Shameful activities like the employment of Nepalis in foreign armed services like the British Gurkhas need to be stopped," declared a pledge in the Maoist election manifesto. "All Nepalis should take up respectful and useful jobs inside the country itself."

However, with the average Nepali earning less than £300 a year, there is little popular support for dismantling the Gurkhas, who have traditionally enjoyed huge status among their fellow countrymen.

Just how coveted the regiment is becomes clear from the application rates to the British Army's official recruitment centre in the mountain-ringed city of Pokhara. Last year, more than 17,000 Nepalese youths applied for just 230 places.

So great, indeed, is the competition for places that a thriving industry now exists in private colleges that groom would-be recruits for the intake test – the equivalent of the "crammers" that help students get into Oxford and Cambridge.

Mr Adhikara is one of several hundred pupils enrolled at Bull's Gym in Kathmandu, where a banner above the gate promises "British Army physical training and education for potential recruits".

The three-month course, including basic maths and English, costs 20,000 Nepali rupees (£150), a large sum for his family, but well worth the investment if he qualifies for the regiment, where he will earn five times that per month.

"In Nepal, it is a great glory to be in the British Army, the most advanced in the world," he said. "Nobody else from my family has ever joined, and I want to set an example."

Even to get through the door of Bull's Gym, recruits have to meet strict criteria: they must be between 17 and 21, be at least 5ft 2in tall and have no more than two fillings in their teeth.

Trainees then attend two-hour sessions at dawn and dusk daily, studying English and maths and also mastering other fitness benchmarks: 70 sit-ups in two minutes, and 14 chin-ups in a row.

The gym was set up in 1994 by Krishna Kumar Pun, 46, previously a PT instructor as Cpl Pun 62970 of 2/2 Gurkha Regiment.

"I set it up because I knew exactly what recruits would need to learn," he said. "But it isn't just about fitness – recruits will only get in if they have the necessary self-discipline."

The Army's acquaintance with the Gurkhas goes back almost 200 years, when officers were astonished by the toughness of the Nepali mountain fighters who made incursions into colonial territory in India.

Britain co-opted them into its imperial forces, and during the two world wars, the Gurkhas suffered 43,000 casualties and won 26 Victoria Crosses – more than any other regiment. Recently they have seen fierce fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Whether that relationship will now end for ever remains to be seen. In recent weeks, the Maoist politicians appear to have backed off their manifesto pledge, saying the regiment is a subject for "discussion" rather than imminent abolition.

Britain's Ministry of Defence hopes they may eventually decide against it, as does Mr Pun. "This tradition is about 200 years old," he said, pointing with a burly forearm to the photos of successful former pupils that deck his office walls. "It would be nice if it continued."

New social Network in Nepal Thulo.com

This is new social network in Nepal which have been using lot of Nepalese people now a day.You can log in with Facebook too. click here for thulo.com link 

Changing trend of Dashain festival

The usually fresh clear sky, the relatively empty roads of Kathmandu and the overcrowded shopping malls and shops at this time of the year reminds us that Dashain is here. It is that time of the year when people celebrating this auspicious festival halt their mundane work and just indulge in merry making.

Dashain  is all about family time, catching up with your relatives and celebrating to continue our traditions. For youngsters, it’s more like having a free time from the hectic schedules and college assignments and simply t give into the festive mood. 

Having a family gathering, playing cards, flying kites and visiting relatives to receive the tika among others is a part of this festival.  But over the years, the way people celebrate Dashain  seems to be changing. However, has this change altered their perception towards this festival as well?

Rakshya Khadka, 19, a college student is of the opinion that the festival of Dashain has changed a lot over the years. As a child, she witnessed a lot of rituals taking place. But with time, the rituals have been cut short and the values attached to it are gradually changing.

Moreover she thinks that it has become more fashion oriented with people flaunting their social status during Dashain time. “It is no more like a family affair since youngsters are lost in their own world and they seem to participate less in the rituals like receiving tika from the elders and visiting the temples. Even if they do, they do it just for the sake of celebrating it,” she adds.



Rakshya feels that the religious aspect has decreased over the years and with it Dashain has lost the charm it had before.

She further explains how for youngsters, Dashain acts as an excuse to excessively indulge in drinking and gambling. “They tend to overlook the religious aspect and they just get carried away.”

But contrary to what Khadka thinks, Pratesh Giri, 24 thinks that Dashain hasn’t changed at all. “No matter how less religious the young people may be, when it comes to Dashain, they do follow the rituals and they never forget its true essence.”

He recalls how every year it’s all about receiving tika from the elders, having a family gathering and relishing the scrumptious food. “The vibrant ambience of Dashain is always there and it is one of the best times of the year as those celebrating it as well as though who cherish the longest break of the year.”

Samesh Joshi, 23, a recent undergraduate came back to the country after completing his studies from the USA last year. “When I came back I was so looking forward to celebrating Dashain. I use to miss the days when I was a kid and thought that it would just be the same,” he explains.

But celebrating Dashain after so many years, he felt that it was not the same anymore. “Many relatives have gone abroad to study and my brother is also not here so last year’s Dashain felt empty. During festival times, you tend to miss your closed ones and it doesn’t feel the same without them.”

Another student, Rashmi Khatiwada, 22, thinks that as a kid Dashain would mean buying new clothes, receiving money but with growing age all that anticipation fades away. “As we grow old, it is more like a responsibility and the fun part is missed out while carrying out all the duties.”

Dashain has a cultural importance and is a festival to bond and strengthen family relations and social harmony.

Rashmi, feels that even though modernization has changed the way people perceive Dashain, one should not forget the religious aspect of it. “Festival like Dashain is our identity, so we should respect it.  The younger generation needs to be more aware about it to keep the traditions alive for the coming years.”