Radio Jagaran goes on air on Monday

Kathmandu, December 13— Radio Jagaran 93.6 MHz is all set to go on air from Monday, 17 December 2007 at 1:00 PM from its own premises in Butwal 11 in Kalika Nagar. The ceremony of launching of the radio station will be attended by guests including some of the distinguished leaders and representatives from the Seven Party Alliance, Civil Society and the diplomatic community as well.

Radio Jagaran 93.6 MHZ is the only community F.M. radio station among all the 165 F.M. radio stations in Nepal that is owned and managed by Dalits and the excluded community. Therefore this F.M. is aimed to be a model F.M. that will represent the excluded groups in all their functioning mechanisms as well as it will raise their issues.

Radio Jagaran 93.6 MHZ was initiated by Jagaran Media Center (JMC), which was established by Dalit journalists in 2000 to combat caste-based discrimination and promote social inclusion and justice for the Dalits. Since its inception, JMC has implemented various programs to raise awareness at the local, national and international level.

JMC uses various media, including radio, television, and print media, to achieve its goals. Some of JMC’s ongoing activities include: “Katwal,” a community radio program; “Dalan”, a 25 episode awareness-raising soap opera; the well-known JMC E-bulletin, an electronic newsletter; the Dalit Human Rights Monitoring Program; and journalism trainings for Dalits. In addition, JMC runs a Dalit Resource Center and organizes a Face-to-Face program that facilitates discussions between people from the Dalit community, government officials, and civil society on Dalit issues.

DALAN COMING SOON

Hoping For A Different Tele-serial
Prasun Timilsina

IN Nepal, where most of the people live in rural areas, people do not have access to the cinema halls and their best means to entertainment has always been TV serials. Though there are different TV channels presently in the country, they only have access to Nepal Television and the tele-serials. But, the irony is that the present soap operas are city centered and are produced in a modern way which gives the feeling as if they are the straight copies of Bolywood serials.

In the past, there was a tele serial Ujeli which dealt with the child marriage system and then there were other serials Devi, Thorai Pugi Sari that talked of the social factors and dealt the superstitions prevalent in the society. There were tele-serials like Ragat, Samjhauta, Kali Gandakiko Serofero made on the suppressed castes or say Dalits.

Now, director Nabin Subba of Numafung fame is coming up with a tele-serial 'Dalan' which entirely revolves around the state of the Dalits or the lower castes and the problems they face in their life. The serial has tried to explore the problems of the Dalits. It has gone back in history exploring their situation with the political changes in the country from 2007 B.S till now. ?

It's a socio-political subject. Its subject looks general, but we have to remember the fact that Dalits account for almost 20 percent of Nepal's population. I've tried to present their situations covering three generations delving on how they are living," said Subba talking to The Rising Nepal.

When queried as to why he opted for the topic, he said that when he had visited internal Terai about 20 years back he had seen the situation of the Dalits, which inspired him to work on the theme.

There are different NGOs, INGOs and government agencies that are working for the Dalits for the eradication of their problems in the country. Now, it is found that education, better economic status, migration and inter caste marriage have been the factors that can help abolish the system.?Dalit enigma is a cycle. As they don't have access to the foundation and their economic status is also not sound and because of their economic problems they can't educate themselves. This can't have access to the policy making system in the country and they are always in the state as they were," said Subba. ?

We have tried to turn the pages of history, how the country is taking them and how they are being used by the political parties. We have tried to address their problem going to the core."He said that to give the past look and feel in the tele-serial, he has given stress on the attires, language and also the settlement pattern. According to him, he has tried to assimilate all the castes and the discrimination that lie in the Dalits themselves. ?It's not only the upper caste and the lower but in the Dalits too there is discrimination that we have tried present in the film. This is a very vast subject and we have tried to present it in the way they are." He said that he has also used some Dalit technicians and also some from the suppressed castes.

In this regard, producer Purna Baraily also said that the film has tried to present the state of the Dalits with political changes in the country. ?There were tele-serial made on Dalits before but they couldn't deliberate their literal situation so we thought to get in to the film and present them in the way they are," he said giving examples of tele-serials like Ragat, Kali Gandakiko?.?I believe that this film will bring a new wave in the history of tele-serials in the country and it may go international as this will explore and present the real situation of the suppressed castes," said Baraily an informed that it would be aired within this month.

Director Tsering Rhitar, the Mukundo eclat, is the editor in the film. He said, ?This is going to be a revolutionary one and Nabin have given his best in his film making. This is not only an issue based story but the facts that prevail in the society."The tele-serial presented by Jagaran Media Centre is shot in the beautiful locations of Gulmi, Kushma, Parbat where there is a majority of the Dalits and ends in the capital. Written by Aahuti, editing of the nine episodes has been completed. It will be aired by Nepal Television.

Currently, I am in Vanice of Italy

I have been vanice of Italy at this time. Therefor, I couldnot be in touch all of you.So , wait me for 15 days, I would update about Vanice Film Festival and my journey to Vanice, Italy and news of Nepal.

thankyou
Purna
Lido of Vanice, Italy

Badis protesting at Maitighar Mandala

Badis protesting at Maitighar Mandala demanding employment, food, shelter and rehabilitation. They have also demanded fundamental rights and equality in society, Monday, Aug 20 07. nepalnews.com/ANA

People from the Badi community organize a sit-in demanding an end to Deuki, Badi and Jhuma traditions prevalent in western Nepal at the Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Monday.
(Photo: TAPAS THAPA

Badis demand 2 seats in CA, alternative livelihood

BY BABURAM KHAREL

KATHMANDU, Aug 20 - As sex workers, they always had to struggle to make ends meet every day until quite recently. Now they want to turn their backs to a sordid past.
About 400 members of the Badi community are now in the capital for a different struggle - a struggle for social respect and an alternative source of livelihood.
Demanding at least two seats for the Badi community in the Constituent Assembly and farm lands for alternative means of livelihood, the Badi people have launched a series of protest programs. The latest being picketing the Prime Minister's residence Saturday and rallying around Singh Durbar Sunday.
"We are no more sex-slaves and objects of entertainment for other people, we want equal rights to live freely without any interference from those higher in the society," says Durga Badi, a 30-year-old lady from Bardia. "The way society treats us is no more acceptable to us. We are no more untouchable and we want to live as human beings."
Durga is one among the Badi people who traveled to Kathmandu from the south western plains to exert pressure on the government to heed to their 12-point demand, passed recently by a national meeting of the National Badi Struggle Committee. Based on the conclusion that alternative source of income would eventually reinstate the Badi community, the meeting decided to press for land, along with their representation in the constitution-making body to be elected in November.
"As we have a low status in society and don't own any land, we should be provided alternative employment to survive," says Rukmani Badi, 40, from Kailali.
Every Badi has a terrible tale to tell, according to Nirmal Nepali, a 23-year-old male member of the community from Kailali. "Most Badi people live miserable lives along the banks of rivers and can survive only by resorting to the sex-trade and other humiliating professions."
"Now their patience has snapped as all successive governments have been neglecting their misery," he adds.
It is for the first time the neglected Badi community has launched an organized struggle for their right to self respect and alternative livelihood. And, they want to make it last too. "We won't go home until we are guaranteed social respect and alternative means of livelihood," said Nepali. "We are also from this land, we too deserve a right to take part in the process to shape our country's future," Nepali adds.
Posted on: 2007-08-19

Janajati "GAHANA"

Way of Life...

Way of Life will be posted soon. 

Thank you..

Hunger Strike - over

The Dalit Civil Movement,which was begun since tuesday a 24-hour relay hunger strike at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu. They were stating that the government ignored their 15-point demands.
Among others, the Dalits have demanded proportional representation in the upcoming constituent assembly. They have demanded that at least 20 percent Dalits should be included in all government agencies. More than 500 Dalit activists including Motilal Nepali,Binod Pahadi, Sahek B.K., Purna Singh Baraily, Dilip Kumar Nepali, Rem B.K., Suvash Kumar Darnal, Ram Nepali, Gaura Nepali, Shankar Biswakarma were sitting in the relay strike.
The agitators had also submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, to which the agitators said government turned deaf ear.

The hunger strike was over today. nepalnews.com

दलित आन्दोलनकर्मी आठ घण्टा पछी रिहा

दलित नागरिक आन्दोलनले संघीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको घोषणा गरी संविधानसभा लगायत राज्यका हरेक निकायमा दलित समुदायको समानुपातिक २० प्रतिशत प्रतिनिधीत्व हुनु पर्छ भन्ने लगाएतका मागहरु लिएर आन्दोलनका कार्यक्रमहरु संचालन गर्दै आई रहेको छ । त्यसै अनुसार विगत २ दिन देखि अवज्ञा आन्दोलन निषेधीत क्षेत्रमा प्रर्दशन गर्ने क्रममा िसंहदरबारको दक्षिण गेटमा प्रदर्शन गर्दा आज प्रहरी र प्रदर्शनकारी विच करिव एक घण्टा झडप भएको थियो । सोही झडप पछि प्रहरीले ४९ जना दलित आन्दोलनकारीलाई गिरफ्तार गरि कमलपोखरी र अनामनगर प्रहरी कार्यालयबाट आठ घण्टा पछी साँझ छ बजे रिहा गरेको छ।
गिरफ्तार पछि प्रहरीले महिला आन्दोलनकारी माथि अभद्र व्यवहार गरेको पनि अनामनगरमा रहेका आन्दोलनकारीहरुले बताएका छन् ।
गिरफ्तारमा परेका आन्दोलनकारीहरुको नामावली यसप्रकार रहेका थिए । कमलपोखरी वडा प्रहरी कार्यालयमा मोतीलाल नेपाली अर्जनकमार वगाले पूर्णिसंह बराईली दिलीप नेपाली गौरा नेपाली सहेस विश्वकर्मा सीताराम विश्वककर्मा जयराम नेपाली बुद्धिराम विश्वकर्मा श्यामकुमार विश्वकर्मा कृष्ण रणपाल अमृत विश्वकर्मा राजकुमार परियार चक्र बराईली कृष्णबहादुर रणपाल रामकुमार सुनाम निर्मल िसंह सन्तोष दर्नाल शैलेन्द्र परियार हरि विक माया लम्साल मिना शंकर सुरेश गान्धारी रहनु भएको थियो भने अनामनगर वडा प्रहरी कार्यालयमा विनोद पहाडी दिपक परियार सुभास दर्नाल ललित परियार राम नेपाली सरिता परियार ओमअधिकारी परियार विनोद परियार अर्जन राई चरिबहादुर गहतराज अर्जन विश्वकर्मा मोहन शंकर ओमप्रकाश रामदाम अशोक दर्नाल पाण्डप केसी शोभा विक रेम विश्वकर्मा सुनिता कटुवाल हरि नेपाली पुजन विश्वकर्मा विरेन्द्रिसंह पुरी विना सुनार प्रकाश महरा भागीरथ चापागाई दिपक विश्वकर्मा केशव न्यौपाने रहनु भएको थियो ।

Police arrest Dalits

Police arrested more than five dozen activists of the Dalit Civil Society Movement when they were trying to stage demonstration at the southern gate of Singha Durbar, the seat of the government, on Thursday. According to the police, the Dalit activists were arrested for breaking the ‘prohibitory orders’ in Singha Durbar which bars all kinds of protests in the area.

The Dalits are calling for the fulfillment of their demands, which includes 20 percent reservation for people from Dalit community in Constituent Assembly including all the state organs, scholarships and free edu cation for Dalit students. The Dalit activists had just started their sit-in protest at 10 am when the police intervened and arrested 49 of its activists.

According to the leader of Dalit Civil Society Movement, Binod Pahadi, there was no reason for the police to have resorted to force to quell the peaceful demonstration. He also accused the police of misbehaving with woman agitators. He said in the process, two of its woman activists sustained injuries. From nepalnews.com

Kathmandu to Karanchi

Quaide-Azam : Karanchi-Pakistan


Golden Tample :India


A View from the Train


A Queue for the Border Checking in Wagha Border


A Riding



World Social Forum Conference


Quaide-Azam:Karanchi-Pakistan

NEPAL’S MAOISTS: PURISTS OR PRAGMATISTS?

Nepal’s Maoists have changed their strategy and tactics but not yet their goals. In 1996 they launched a "people’s war" to establish a communist republic but ten years later ended it by accepting multiparty democracy; their armed struggle targeted the parliamentary system but they are now working alongside their former enemies, the mainstream parties, in an interim legislature and coalition government. Their commitment to pluralistic politics and society is far from definitive, and their future course will depend on both internal and external factors. While they have signed up to a peaceful, multiparty transition, they continue to hone alternative plans for more revolutionary change.

Maoist strategy is shaped by a tension between purity and pragmatism. Although they stick to certain established principles, they have long been willing to shift course if they identify strategic weaknesses. Their changed approach was demanded by recognition of three critical flaws in their original plan: (i) they concluded their belief in military victory had been misplaced; (ii) they acknowledged they had misread the likelihood of determined international opposition; and (iii) they woke up to the failures that caused the collapse of twentieth-century communist regimes.
Despite having an authoritarian outlook, the Maoists maintained a culture of debate within their party; key issues have been widely discussed and hotly contested. From the end of the 1990s, they have moved gradually toward a more moderate stance. They changed positions in acknowledging the 1990 democracy movement as a success (they had earlier characterised it as a "betrayal"), in abandoning the immediate goal of a Mao-style "new democracy" and, in November 2005, by aligning themselves with the mainstream parties in favour of multiparty democracy. (For the Report)

Dalit Movement

Representatives of the Dalit community staging a sit-in program at Maitighar urging for a complete inclusive proportional election system on the up coming Constituent Assembly (CA) elections and the upcoming budget must be people oriented.

Dalan Tele-Serial

Introduction

Dalan is a television serial that portrays how the laws of the land affected Dalits and role it played for Dalits to become Dalits. It is also a story about the Dalits emancipation movement against these oppression, the heroes of the movement and future vision for the emancipation.

Social and political history between 1991-2007 has been taken into account for analysis
as for serial script that has been portrayed in the serial. Dalan is focused on the issue of caste based discrimination faced by Dalits. The serial covers the geographical area of western Nepal to the capital city. It presents social environment of various castes and tries to corner out the psychological framework formed by the state. Dalan is a presentation of Nepalese social history from Dalits' perspective.

Why Dalan:
Film is a medium of free expression. Nepalese films have failed to picture the sentiments of Nepal's Dalits, indigenous people, women and the marginalized community. The development of Nepalese film started around 1950.

"1 language 1 dress, 1 religion 1 caste" slogan put forth by the state was a failure as it could not prioritise other languages and castes. King Mahendra brought Indian artists to play in the cinemas to save the "Khas culture" and preserve his one culture policy. But in recent times there are films that raise Dalits issue.

Short films and documentaries on Dalits are insufficient, so a 'Dalan' was felt as a need. Dalan fills the gap, fight discrimination and corners the psychological mind-set of society.

Synopsis:
A Brahmin by origin Harihar falls in love with Tulki, a Dalit girl. Tulki becomes pregnant on the due course. News spread like a rapid fire. To save the image of Brahmin family, Harihar is sent to Benaras. The lovebird returns from middle of serial again. Tulki suicidal attempt goes in vain. Harihar feels guilty about the whole thing and they are together again. When Harihar decides to take responsibility of Tulki, a village-meeting (Kachahari) takes place which decides to expel the Harihar and Tulki, cut their hair half and a pig tied to them.

Harihar faces the downward mobility and turns into Damai, a low caste in the hierarchy. To cope with the hand to mouth problem, he reaches western Baglung-Parvat. A child is born to them. Dhambare Damai gives space to them when he finds them of the same caste. When difficulty arises in the child naming ceremony Dhambere comes to help economically. Harihar along with Tulki start their life as a bonded laborer to return the borrowed money. He builds a small hut and turns into a Haliya. Both of them die passing a difficult life.

Their son Juthe is troubled with life when his parents died. He moves ahead tackling the problems. He marries and had many children. Most of his sons died and daughters were
used as a sex labor in the red light area of Mumbai, India. Juthe starts working in Bistas (landlords) house. He dies from falling through a hill while carrying goods. His wife Kali and son Mane faces with the burden of life. After the death of Kali, son Mane finds his uncle Ramji Nepali as a help. He comes to Kathmandu for higher studies. He changes his name to Manav from Mane. He progresses in the city. He rents a room without letting anyone know about his caste and falls in love with a non dalit girl. At the end, he opens up himself as Dalit. There is a change in his psychology with the political change in the country. Feeling guilty for lying about his caste, he returns to village shouldering responsibility of saving his identity, his communal identity.

Making of Dalan
The making of Dalan wasn't an easy task. It went through difficult times. To finalize the storyline and dialogues, viewers' response from 5 development regions, political scientists, sociologists, film critics, journalists, and Dalit activists' inputs were used and discussions were made in a large scale. A summarized version of report of Nepalese and foreign films and documentaries were prepared. The theme of the report was followed in the film. Storyline was a major success.

Actors/ Actresses were sought as per the role and selected simultaneously. Auditions were done at Kathmandu, Pokhara, Kusma and at the shooting spot. The successful were provided with orientation training on acting to meet with the goal. Bests at the orientation were given with chance to act in Dalan.

To make serial more timely and suitable, costumes, tools and houses were used. Selection of cloths, Nepali-cap style, Khaddar clothing to jeans and polyesters were given much attention. 2 horses from Ghandruk, Golghar, and 2 schools were booked for the film. Almost 150 houses were thatched to give the picture of 1950. Many people were used to make the scenes real. To authorize the facts presented in the serial, some historical monuments were used, like the address of King Mahendra of 1st Poush 2017 has been presented in a short radio version.

Places of shootings:

Khaulalakuri, Durlung, Chuwa VDC's of Parvat, headquarter Kushma and Baglung bazaar were the places used for the shootings. After the completion at western belt, kathmandu valley and the surroundings were used for final shots.

Coming soon
Dalan is in its final stage. Almost 8 episodes, animation, casting, and a title song have already been made. Currently, work is going on for background music. By mixing sounds; and background music. Dalan will be ready for a broadcast at the national television.

Crew members:
Local coordination: Krishna B.K., Nirmal Nepali
Costume: Bodhraj Paudel
Make-up: Pushpan Lama
Light incharge: Babu Shrestha
Production controller: Padam Subba
Production assistant: Rajan Puar, Suraj Thapa
Vocals: Pratima Sunam and Narendra Pyasi
Asst. Director: Rajesh Bishwakarma, Anup Subedi, Diwash Rai
Casting Director: Anup Baral

Editor: Chiringritar Sherpa
Music: Subha Bdr. Sunam
Title song: Shrawan Mukarung
Cameraman: Siddhartha Shakya, Mohan Shah
Writer: Aahuti
Producer: Purna Singh Baraily
Director: Nabin Subba