Newa: Museum is on anvil in Kathmandu

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

KATHMANDU: Plans are afoot to build a Newa: Museum, a treasury of the rich Newari culture to be set up in Kathmandu.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on June 6 floated an idea to build four museums including ethnographic and cultural museums. But his list does not include the Newa Museum showcasing the Newari culture, which is at the centre of the country’s art and heritage.
However, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has plans to set up the museum as a prominent cultural heritage. “KMC has started its work on the plan it approved of 10 months ago,” said Sarbottam Dangol, representative, all-party mechanism, Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City has set aside Rs 0.5 million for the conservation of traditional musical instruments, another Rs 0.5 million for establishing the Nepal Bhasha Institute and Rs 1.5 million for the 22 schools teaching Newari language. The plan costs a total of Rs 45 million.
“The metropolis has allocated Rs 30 million this fiscal while the remaining amount will be released next fiscal,” Dangol told this daily.
A nine-member working committee headed by Dangol to execute the plan has been formed. Two sites have been chosen for the purpose.
There are 1.24 million Newars in the country, according to the 2001 Census.
The Newars are known for their unique culture, painting, archaeology and sculpture.
The world heritage sites — Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square, among others — are credited to them.
“This culture is a cornerstone of the national identity,” said cultural expert Satya Mohan Joshi. “Establishing a Newari museum will do justice to their contribution and rich culture,” he added.
Joshi suggested that 30 ropanis of land could be used for the museum in Kirtipur if needed. “Considering easy access for the tourists, we have chosen Shova Bhagawati and Kathmandu Durbar Square, Basantapur, for the site,” said Dongol.
There is four ropanis of land at Shova Bhagawati. Moreover, the land used
by Nepal Sanskrit University at Basantapur is an option, too.
“We have initiated the process of land acquisition,” he said. The deal needs the final seal of the Cabinet.
Dangol said the preliminary design of the museum had been prepared. “We will develop the final design once the land is acquired,” said Suraj Shakya, engineer, Heritage Division, Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

This news was published on The Himalayan Times, June 12, 2009.