Remodeled TIA arch becomes an eyesore

 Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, November 19

The 15-year old entrance gate, erected to commemorate golden jubilee of then king Birendra's coronation, is being remodeled for the Nepal Tourism Year 2011. If successful, one million foreign visitors will pass through the gate in the next year.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has invested Rs 15 million to reconstruct the arch.The gate built 15 years ago to commemorate the 25th year of then King Birendra’s coronation cost some Rs 3 million.

Visitors to the airport are confused and put off by the design. "It looks unpleasant and odd," said Prakash Pokhrel, a visitor from Naya Gaon in Gulmi. “It might surprise a stranger, but one who can appreciate a work of art will be shocked," he said.

The experience of local Raj Kumar Pradhan from Sinamangal, Kathmandu was not similar to Pokhrel. "This gate is uglier than the older one," he said. "It is unnatural an unaesthetic."

The arch of the 72 feet high structure designed of modern architecture using metal cladding blending with Stupa and Pagoda styles, designer of the gate Shesh Krishna Shrestha said.

Architect Prajwal Haada said it was entirely inappropriate to mix modern and traditional techniques. "Either it should be completely traditional or modern," he said. "It looks terrified due to lost proportion."

Metal cladding technique was completely horrible and disastrous for Nepal, said architect Varun Rana. "The wood carving, or brick or plaster technique must be used to represent the traditional culture," he said. "There may be vested interest of commission behind importing the metals instead of using local materials."

The designing of the arch was approved by the Civil Maintenance Division (CMD), the supervising and approving body under CAAN after the Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism okayed it.

The design seeks to represent eyes of Buddha (peace) on the main arch, and pagoda style Pashupatinath on the right and left pillars along with metal cladding pillars and wings. Yellow symbolises stupa, brick colour, the Nepali tradition, and golden colour seeks to give continuity to the old golden gate, according to the architect.

Narayan Giri, chief at CMD, admitted that the form of the arch looked odd. “We are discussing internally to modify the top of the arch but it is yet to be decided,” he said.

The contract was signed in 2009 with joint venture Biruwa-Azad-Uma and Pratima, Kathmandu to complete the work by mid July. “It was delayed as the architect provided us the design after seven months. The construction began only in May and will be completed within a month,” said Dinesh Prasad Shrestha, general manager at CAAN.

Designer Shrestha claimed he submitted the design within three months. “Their internal causes including budget row made the construction delay,” he said.

Giri said that 95 per cent work has been completed. “We will install two pagoda mini-temples and a brass pinnacle soon,” he said. “It will look beautiful after completion.”

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Nepal heading towards political collision?

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

KATHMANDU (Nepal), Nov 16-- Nepal’s struggle to become a Federal Democratic Republic makes no more a mirror reflect a thin hope for writing new constitution after the major political parties involve only in their partisan interests rather than national responsibility. Nepal in between two big nations—India and China-- is on verge of failed state leading to political uncertainty and anarchy.

Monarchy, some 240 years old, was abolished from Nepal on May 28, 2008 from legislature. The historical change came as a result of 19-day peaceful People’s Movement II 2006, following Royal take-over of the democracy on February 1, 2005 by then king Gyanendra Shah, who was crowned throne as successor of king Birendra, along with queen, two princes and a princess, who were massacred inside the Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu on June 1, 2001.

The incident took place during the last phase of a decade-long armed conflict ignited by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) under the chairmanship of Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, killing some 15,000 people, including security forces and Maoist cadres. It announced ceasefire in late 2005. CPN-M was tagged terrorist by the Government of Nepal, USA and India among other countries. Although other countries withdrew the terrorist tag, the USA is yet to lift label tagged on the Unified Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (UCPN-M), then CPN-M.

Seven-party alliance including Nepali Congress (NC), a full-democratic party and Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist and Leninist (UCPN-ML), middle path party, joined the hands in 2005 with CPN Maoist, ultra-leftist by signing 12-point pact to overthrow the monarchy from Nepal. The later agreed to follow democratic path while NC and UCPN-ML pledged to set up federal democratic republic of Nepal.

Constituent Assembly (CA) of 601-member poll was held on March 10, 2008 to write the new federal democratic constitution. The two-year tenure ended on May 28, 2010, which has been extended for one year. However, six months have just passed but there is no sign of dealing with the new statute, said constitutional expert Dr Bhimarjun Acharya. “The CA tenure can’t be extended again as per the constitution. Another CA election can be an alternative.”

On the other hand, the political parties have failed to form a new government by electing Prime Minister. The caretaker government led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who resigned on June 30, 2010, is struggling to bring the fiscal budget for the current fiscal year that began on July 17.

The major political parties have been flexing muscles in blame games by neglecting to conclude peace process and write new constitution for a way out of impasse. The NC and UCPN-ML have criticised the UCPN-Maoist for failing to abide by past agreements. While Royalists are for reviving monarchy in the country.

More than 19,000 Maoist combatants, who are inside the cantonments supervised by United Nations Mission in Nepal, are desperate for their settlement. The political parties are yet to finalise the actual number of combatants to be integrated and rehabilitated as per their qualification.

The leaders of UCPN-M, the largest party in CA with 238 members but not with simple majority, have frequently reiterated their opinions over public places to launch another movement to capture state power and enforce communist rule exploiting transitional phase. Maoist chairman Prachanda have usually warned to ‘take over power through people’s revolt’ and appealed people to be ready for the change. UCPN-M senior leaders Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ and Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai have sung similar rhythm but are still uncertain of dates to usurp state power. They said that ‘foreign agents and anti-reactionary forces’ have blocked the Maoists to head the government and termed it as ‘feudalistic forces plotting conspiracy’ against them.

UCN-ML senior leader KP Sharma Oli lambasted the Maoists for conspiring to capture state power. “They will be responsible if the nation falls to a failed state,” Oli said a few days ago. “The dictatorship ultra party or another power is unavoidable unless a consensus is forged on the contentious issues.”

 Meanwhile, NC leaders are firm on their stance not to allow the UCPN-M to lead the government ‘unless it ensures to implement past accords, enshrine new statute and conclude peace process logically.”

The conflict among three major political parties has reached to climax by overshadowing the national interests, each party claiming to head the government. “They have overlooked the national interests for writing new constitution,” said Acharya. “If they fail to write new constitution and conclude peace process to a logical end before May 28, 2011, the country might have to face an abyss leading to political instability in the context of constitutional void,” he added. 

Thus, the Himalayan country will have to face hard times of totalitarianism or autocracy unless the situation turns to positive tunes by understanding national need and accountability. The jarhead politicians are yet to be enlightened with visions and realise the national interests for the sake of people and country to relieve from rising impunity.

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