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.

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Keep your pet forever even if it is dead

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 7

This is how a master loves his pet one tames. Prudhyumna Mishra of Kaldhara, Kathmandu mourned deeply when his pet died a few months ago after he tamed it for 14 years.

This is just an example of generosity that a master is fond of pets. “I grieved a lot and felt extremely sad as my dog left this world. I wanted to be with it till the end though I know we all are mortal,” Mishra said. “If possible, I would like his body to keep at my home forever.”

“Don’t worry. You can display it in your room as in a museum. Now, it is possible to keep pet’s body just like alive through using the taxidermy technique,” said Dev Chandra Shrestha, the only taxidermist of the country. Shrestha has been working in the Natural History Museum (NHM) for the last 32 years.

The museum has thousands of specimens of animals and insects including indigenous and rare ones. “It is very important to keep the samples of the animals as well as raising awareness to preserve such wildlife for the next generation,” said Dr Keshab Shrestha, chief at the NHM.

“You can use the taxidermy method at your home too if you get a simple two-day training and some objects such as blade, corn powder, cotton, alcohol, spirit, resin, scissor, knife, coir, needle, nylon string and glue,” said Dev Chandra. “First, you have to sort out all the flesh and fat from the body of an animal by protecting feather skin contact.”

“Then, you need to work on it immediately after you get the fresh dead body of animal and maintain its body looking alive by using this method,” said Shrestha. “One of my students told me that she used this method and kept her dead parrot for good.”

Hari Prasad Sharma, lecturer at the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, said that it was very useful to utilise the dead bodies of animal for various purposes. “We can decorate our houses from it and also sell it to others for earning money from the animal you find dead in your area,” said Sharma, who is getting taxidermy training at the NHM.

The NHH in cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund is providing training for the students of campuses and schools, teachers and other persons interested in nature conservation. Dr Shrestha said, “Two dozens of individuals are being trained this time.”

The NHM has provided training for about 1,000 persons. “We can provide training to anybody interested at minimal cost for training materials only,” added Dr Shrestha.

This news was published on THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, June 8, 2009.

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