Democracy For Nepal

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Language Policy And University Of Pennsylvania

Dear Paramendra,

I'm interested in maintaining a conversation on this issue, but not sure how often I can do so. I erred in thinking that English could be a/the lingua franca in Nepal, because I didn't know that it wasn't taught until so much later. Switzerland is probably not a good model for Nepal, also for the reason that Nepal has so many languages (like INdia) and it would seem to me that a 2 or 3 language formula might not make speakers of some of the languages spoken way up in the mountains happy. I'm also wondering whether "Hindi" is the right language for the Terai; I seem to remember that Maithili is more widely spoken, and in INdia, at least, Maithili speakers don't want to have anything to do with Hindi, or at least they didn't use to. Do you know the American linguist Selma Sonntag who has done some work on the Terai? She's at Humboldt State U. in California, and a member of this list. Her email is sks1@humboldt.edu

I also would hope that you would join this listserv, so you could get the benefit of the thoughts of many other people who think about these issues a lot.

Best,
HS

Two things to add:

(1) My tri-lingual policy for Nepal is not Swiss inspired. I first wrote it down in 1993 while working to launch a political party in Nepal. It is internal, as in imagined. I recently studied the Swiss situation, though, after someone pointed it out to me. I don't think Switzerland has a good model for Nepal to follow though. There is too much balkanization. There has to be standardization in education, with the emphasis on Maths and Science. You want to take cultural pride only so far. The primary task of the education is to prepare the kids for their economic futures.

(2) My "Language Policy" was written months ago. If Google Alerts only now sent it to you, I must say their crawlers are rather slow, especially when it was posted on Google property, Blogger.

Hi Harold. Thanks for your elaborate feedback. Allow me to blog it.

http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com/2006/08/language-policy.html

I will have to disagree about English becoming the lingua franca in Nepal. My language policy only applies to the 10th year in school. Beyond that it should be for the market forces to decide. And if English spreads, so be it. I think the people should be making their own best decisions.

I think Hindi will also stand strong as will Nepali.

How about we engage in a back and forth, to be displayed at my blog?

And thanks for sending out my Language Policy blog entry to your listserv. I would be curious to know what kind of discussion that arouses.

Language is going to be the trickiest issue as Nepal works to write itself a new constitution. Religion is easy. You declare the country a secular state, as all democracies by definition have to. But language?

Maybe you will help me shape up the policy proposals I have been espousing. Your academic background will be a lot of help.

I also request you help me generate some discussion on this in your academic community:
http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com/2006/01/proposed-republican-constitution.html

Thanks. And look forward to talking more.

PS. I lived near U Penn during the summer of 1999, near the movie theater, when I was with Chaitime.com, my dip in the dot com mania. I think you have a beautiful campus. I especially remember liking this enclosed, green space. When you are there, it is like you are not in the city no more.

(In reply to)

Your blog...
Harold F. Schiffman haroldfs@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
Saturday, November 4, 2006 11:58:20 AM
To:paramendra@yahoo.com

Dear Paramendra,

I discovered your blog on Nepal and language policy since I have a google alert on "language policy" sent to me daily, and I operate a listserv on language policy (lgpolicy-list@ccat.sas.upenn.edu) for the Consortium for Language Policy and Planning http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/plc/clpp/

I'm interested in your proposals for a democratic lg. policy for Nepal, based on the model of Switzerland. I would like to point out a couple of things, however. I once worked in a hotel in the French canton of Valais (way back almost 50 years ago) and my purpose was to improve my French. I had just spent a year in Germany learning German.

When I arrived in the area, and started working, I discovered that there were (1) almost no French speaking people working at the hotel--almost all were either German Swiss, other German-speakers (Austria), Italian guest-workers, an English woman married to the German-Swiss manager of the hotel, and one Romanche-speaking woman who spoke good French.

Though as you point out all Swiss are required to study another Swiss language in school, the lingua franca in the country tends to be ENGLISH, and that's because the French Swiss learn standard German, which the Swiss Germans don't like to speak. In the hotel situation with the guest workers, a lot of Italian was spoken, also. My goal of learning French there was not exactly enhanced. OUtside the hotel, in the town, people did speak French, but I didn't have much contact with them.

So I think the Swiss model as applied to Nepal might end up with the same thing--English would become the lingua franca, just as it is to a large extent in India. South Indian don't speak much Hindi, so English has to serve.

Anyway, it's nice to see your proposals. I have forwarded your blog to our listserv today.

Yours,

H. Schiffman

Harold F. Schiffman

Professor of Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
805 Williams Hall Box 6305

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone: (215) 898-5825
Fax: (215) 573-2138

Email: haroldfs@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

On The Web

Language Policy Web Site
Language Policy
language policy website
CMMR: Language Policy & Language Rights
Language Policy Page
LING 540: LANGUAGE POLICY
Southwest Center for Education Equity and Language Diversity ...
Language policy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
language policy
Language futures Europe
iLoveLanguages - Your Guide to Languages on the Web
BBC - Languages - Homepage
BBC World Service | Languages
yourDictionary.com.Comprehensive and Authoritative Language Portal
Language Tools
Language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ethnologue, Languages of the World
Languages in the Yahoo! Directory
The Human-Languages Page
UNESCO | Education - Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Education
TLHomepage

Cultural and linguistic diversity
American Scientist Online - Explaining Linguistic Diversity
Linguistic Course Description
Cultural and Lingusitic Diversity
NCTE - Diversity
EUROPA - Education and Training - Action Plan Promoting language ...
Measuring Linguistic Diversity on the Internet: UNESCO-CI
Foundation For Endangered Languages. Home
RNLD: Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity Home Page
[PDF]
Measuring linguistic diversity on the Internet; 2005
[PDF] Responding to Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Recommendations ...
Cultural and linguistic diversity - The issues - Bullying. No way!
Linguistic diversity and classroom management Theory Into Practice ...
[PDF] What are we referring to when we speak about linguistic diversity ...
EUROPA - Languages - Linguistic Diversity
Linguistic Diversity and Language Theories
[PDF] Draft WGIG Issue Paper on Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
1996 Census results: Linguistic diversity

Monday, November 06, 2006

Kul Chandra Gautam: Home Trip

Not too late
“There is a spirit of solidarity and shared objectives.”

I made a short visit home to Gulmi over Dasain. The message from Gulmi could very well be a message from any of the other 74 districts of Nepal.

Despite the conflict and suspension of many development activities, there has been steady progress in basic education. Enrolment in primary and secondary schools is increasing constantly. There is growing enrolment of girls in schools.

As more children complete primary education, parents are anxious to see them continue to secondary. Many communities have applied for upgrading of their schools to lower-secondary and secondary plus schools, and as they wait, they’ve mobilised local resources to hire additional teachers and build more classrooms.

But, to the considerable frustration of local officials and parents, even after many years the government has not approved the upgrading, accreditation, and funding of a large number of public schools.

At health centres and sub-health posts, government-supplied essential medicines meet less than half a year’s requirements for most communities. This annual allocation needs to be doubled.

The people of Gulmi welcomed the budget announcement that annual block grants for VDCs will be doubled to Rs 1 million. But no directives for the use of these funds have been issued yet. One hopes the Maoists will not seek to take advantage of these additional resources, and that they will be used for effective delivery of basic social services at the community level.

The absence of elected local bodies is a major constraint in the smooth functioning of development activities. But there is a spirit of solidarity and shared objectives. There is heightened awareness of their rights among women and dalits, and acceptance by local communities of their increased participation in development activities.

In part this is thanks to Maoist awareness-raising. Had the Maoists not resorted to extortion, violence, and high-handed behaviour, some of their progressive ideas and actions would have won them genuine, lasting popular support. It is not too late for them to change their ways, focus on their positive, progressive social agenda, and abandon violence, intimidation, and extortion to regain genuine public support and retain it, even if that means a temporary loss of power and influence.

I had not visited my ancestral village for the past six years, and was afraid that Gulmi would be politically polarised. But I was pleasantly surprised to find people continuing to behave cordially as good neighbours. The Maoists and army, who came from outside the village, brought fear and distrust to the community.

People are still afraid of the Maoists. They deeply resent, but tolerate, their extortion. A small number of unarmed Maoists can intimidate large numbers of villagers because of the lurking threat of arms. Minus that threat, people seemed confident that they can work things out among themselves in a democratic, participatory manner.

This has important and hopeful lessons. It is to be assumed that the Nepal Army will remain in the barracks during peace time. The Maoists could stop appointing outsiders and rely on local cadre, who have to live in peace and harmony with their neighbours.

Beyond peace and democracy—as a result of them—people expect rapid improvements in their lives. Nepal must urgently begin to prepare an ambitious post-conflict reconstruction and development plan that can galvanise broad national consensus and international support.

In The News

Summit meeting adjourned, will resume on Tuesday morning NepalNews
Baluwatar meeting continues, leaders claim they are narrowing down differences leaders of seven parties and the Maoists engaged in series of bilateral, trilateral and multilateral consultations. ..... the issue of arms management has been 'almost settled' as per the understanding to have single lock system in the Maoist cantonment with UN technology installed to monitor it ....... interim constitution, interim legislature and interim government.
Prachanda meets with Koirala, others; discusses political package Maoist supremo Prachanda met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in the presence of UN secretary general’s personal representative to Nepal, Ian Martin, at Koirala’s official residence in Baluwatar ...... The Maoists would keep some weapons with them for the security of the weapons storage ...... On monarchy, Prachanda said the first meeting of the constituent assembly would settle this issue.
Today’s summit meeting will be decisive: Ananta
DPM Oli meets with Indian PM, foreign minister
Parliamentary sub-committee recommends to nationalise King's excess land in excess of the ceiling fixed by the law. ..... also asked the government to nationalise and set up a trust to take care of the land late King Birendra and his family members owned. ..... The Act Regarding Land, 1977, states that a person can own 25 ropanis in Kathmandu, 10 bighas in Terai and 70 ropanis in hilly districts. Moreover, one can own five ropanis in Kathmandu valley, one bigha in Terai and five ropanis in hilly districts for housing purpose. ..... also recommended that the government scrap the name of the royal family members as tenants from the Guthi land held by the royalty. ..... Gyanendra and his kin have been occupying 50,926 ropanis of land in 14 districts. ...... the royal family members have encroached public lands. ..... also suggested that some forest areas owned by the royal family should be converted into national parks and reserves and rest should be handed over to the local communities in the form of community forests.
NC for nationalizing traditional properties of the King The meeting of Central Working Committee (CWC) of Nepali Congress has decided to nationalize "all traditional properties except personal assets" of the King. ...... Koirala reiterated that his party favored letting the ceremonial monarchy continue until the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) decides its fate
Terathum businessmen protest Maoist 'extortion'
Home Ministry directs police, CDO to check Maoists' disruptive activities
Govt, UNHCR to conduct census of Bhutanese refugees
Prachanda meets PM Koirala; claims breakthrough on arms management
Nepal Janatrantik Party starts donation drive in far western Nepal the Nepal Janatrantik Party, which recently announced to raise arms to protect monarchy, has started collecting donations in the far western region. ....... A few days ago, the NJP sent letters to 27 businessmen of Banbas in India, demanding Rs 50,000 from each of them.
RPP factions fight over party name and flag
Belgian FM meets PM Koirala; ‘Belgium is ready to assist Nepal’
Summit level talks to be held soon: DPM Sherchan
Parliamentary democracy system can include all, says PM Koirala

Pancheshwar project: India, Nepal to hold talks NDTV.com, India 6000 MW Mahakali-Pancheshwar hydel power project ...... The project has seen very little progress since an agreement on it was signed by the two countries nine years ago. .... Besides generating large amount of power, the project will also help irrigate about 10 lakh hectares of land in India and one lakh hectares of land in Nepal. ..... storage-cum-hydro power project on Rapti river called Nau Mure
Nepal arms deal with rebels ready-leader Reuters AlertNet, UK
Canadian architects to micro-finance low-income housing in Nepal Canadian Architect, Canada

No reduction in corruption: TI report Kantipur As last year, Finland, Iceland and Switzerland bagged the top spots as the countries with the least corruption. Meanwhile, Haiti brought up the rear in the corruption index as the world's most corrupt country. In the subcontinent, Bhutan came out cleanest while Bangladesh was declared the most corrupt. According to the index, Pakistan and Bangladesh have more corruption than Nepal.
Prachanda to make his first public address in 25 years
Businessmen protest Maoist diktat, shut down Myaglung bazaar
Locals rendered homeless due to army camp
US offer ‘not in favor of refugees’
ँराजनीतिक मुद्दा सुल्भिmयो’ सहमतिमा लकअपमा रहेका दुवै पक्ष्ाको हतियार संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघले अनुगमन गर्ने र त्यसको साँचो कसैले छोए संघको अनुगमन टोलीसमक्ष घन्टी बज्ने व्यवस्था गरिएको उनले बताए । 'अन्तमा हामीले बनाएको कोठामा हतियार राखी एकल ताल्चा लगाउने, त्यसको साँचो जनमुक्ति सेनाको कमान्डरले राखी संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघले अनुगमन गर्ने र साँचो खोल्न खोजे राष्ट्रसंघको 'मोनिटरिङ टोली' समक्ष घन्टी बज्ने प्रणालीमा हामी सैद्धान्तिक सहमतिमा पुग्यौं ।' दुवै पक्ष अन्तरिम विधानमा राजालाई अधिकार र स्रोतविहीन बनाएर राख्ने र राजतन्त्रको भविष्य संविधानसभा पहिलो बैठकबाटै गर्ने सहमति भएको प्रचण्डले बताए । प्रचण्डले 'जनमतसंग्रहको कुराले जनतामाझ अन्योल आउने अवस्था देखेकाले' संविधानसभा पहिलो बैठकबाटै राजतन्त्रको टुंगो लगाउनेमा सहमति भएको बताए । उनले अन्तरिम संसद्मा प्रतिगमनमा लागेका बाहेक वर्तमान संसदका सबै सदस्यलाई राख्ने र माओवादीलाई पनि कांग्रेस र एमाले बराबरै सिट संख्या दिने सहमति भएको पनि बताए । 'हतियारमा ताला लगाउँदा' शत्रुले आक्रमण गरे भने के गर्ने भन्ने कार्यकर्ताको जिज्ञासामा उनले 'चाबी अरूलाई नबुझाई आफैंसँग रहने भएकाले यस्तो अवस्था आए हतियार झिकेर लड्ने' बताए ।
जनआन्दोलनका घाइतेलाई २५ लाख
माओवादी गतिविधिमा कडाइ गर्न निर्देशन
आत्मदाहको चेतावनी
गैंडा संरक्षणमा माओवादी खट्ने
नेपाल र मोरिआर्टीको पुतला जलाइयो
सैनिक ऐनका बुँदामा आपत्ति’
तामाकोशी बेच्ने षड्यन्त्र
राज्य पुनर्संरचना र पहिचानको प्रश्न
गैरआवासीय नेपाली र दोहोरो नागरिकता

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Nepali Mandir Meeting

Nepali Mandir Meeting
Jackson Heights
Prospect Park

Earlier in the afternoon I participated in the Board meeting of the Nepali Mandir. The attendance was impressive. There were a few newcomers like Sanjaya Parajuli. I have an hour of video from the event that I will post here soon.

Surprisingly the majority of the participants wanted to keep the Mandir intact. But there were a few disagreeing opinions. I have been a supporter of the Mandir since its inception, but I don't like the idea of people not living up to their commitments, and getting Chandra Prakash Sharma stuck in the process.

The issue has to be looked at from a few different angles.

Community Center Idea: A Few Options
Nepali Community Center
Nepali Mandir Board Meeting
Democracy Diwali At The Nepali Mandir
Nepali Mandir

I suggested if we were to dismantle the Mandir, let's focus on two online options. Chandra Prakash Sharma (Chandra Prakash Sharma 2) has bought the domain name NepaliEvents.com. Let's have that as the site that has information on all Nepali events in the city. And let's build my NYC Nepali mailing list. All organizations will organize events. There would be this one website that tells you about it. And we would use the mailing list to publicize the events. We would also go the word of mouth route. Mine was a barebones proposal.

There are a total of maybe 10 Hindu and Buddhist festival events that have to be organized for the community per year. Is it not better to organize those events at existing pieces of real estate like the Dibya Dham temple, and instead focus our efforts on increasing participation? The current Nepali Mandir has only been good for a few Board meetings.

Teej Photos 5
Teej Photos 4
Teej Photos 3
Teej Photos 2
Teej Photos 1

November 6

But I thought about it overnight and this is what I would like to say.

Let's keep the Nepali Mandir going. Let's organize a much larger meeting later this month. A Nepali lady who makes $1000 a month has pledged $150 to rent the hall for the purpose. The hall is near the Mandir premises.
Let's find 200 Nepalis who will pay $5 a month for rent. We will have 20 Board members. Each Board member should find at least 10 Nepalis for the purpose.
The Mandir is $10,000 in debt. I think 100 of the richest Nepalis in the city should each pay $100 and be done with the debt.
Shift the Ganesha and Buddha statues to where the refrigerator is now. Leave the lights on 24/7. So devotees can get "darshan" any time of day or night, regardless of if the Mandir is open or not. The Mandir has a glass door, and is on the ground floor of a beautiful street.
Get rid of the barber shop "prayer wheel" outside.
Put a huge sign called Nepali Mandir where the barber shop sign used to be, same size.
Ram Chandra Thapa makes sure the Mandir is open during weekends. We should commend him for that.
There are 20 Nepalis who have keys to the temple. The key should be left only with those who will open the Mandir for at least one hour each week. So get some of the keys back.
The new Mandir location is better than the old location. For bigger events and larger crowds we have the hall that can be rented for $150 per event. The actual Mandir is where you go for darshan, and you are in and out. Between the Mandir and the hall, we can hope to do even some of the larger festival events. What is next? Shivaratri? Maghe Sankranti? Holi?
Let's keep this Mandir going, and let's keep our other options open. Is there talk among the Ridgewood Nepalis to set up another Mandir? Should the two be merged? Where would be the new location?
We might go back to a bigger, more expensive, nearer to Jackson Heights place down the line. But that will have to be a place that sustains itself. Perhaps dance and language classes for Monday to Friday to generate income. Also rent out the space for birthday parties and the like.
200 Nepalis who put in $5 a month. That looks doable. What do you think?

Chandra Prakash Sharma, Paramendra Bhagat: Nepali Convention Worries

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