Expo on stolen heritage to begin today

Kathmandu, Aug. 22

An exhibition presenting the displacement of sacred objects and cultural heritage during colonial rule and its continuing consequences across South Asia, is kicking off at Taragaon Next, Boudha in Kathmandu, on Sunday.

The two-month-long exhibition will run till October 31.

Supported by the Saraf Foundation and curated by Dr. Arshiya Mansoor Lokhandwala, the exhibition – ‘What Empire Took, What Empire Left: Museums, Borders and the Politics of Return in South Asia’ – brings together artists from across South Asia to explore questions of cultural loss, ownership, restitution, memory and the politics surrounding displaced heritage.

The exhibition will showcase how deities, manuscripts, sculptures and ritual objects were removed from living cultural and religious contexts and subsequently reclassified within Western museums and collections. “In these institutional settings, objects once embedded in ritual, community and belief systems often came to be viewed primarily as archaeological, historical or aesthetic artefacts,” the organiser said in a statement.

Participating artists include Temsüyanger Longkumer, Reetu Sattar, Shaurya Kumar, Raqs Media Collective, Mithu Sen, Divya Mehra, Marium Ghani, L.N. Tallur, Roshan Mishra, Bishal Manandhar and Jagath Weerasinghe.

“This exhibition brings South Asia into that urgent discourse, asking not simply what should return, but who holds the power to own, interpret and determine the afterlives of displaced heritage,” Dr. Lokhandwala said.

According to the organiser, rather than presenting cultural loss simply as a historical event, the exhibition will portray the structures that enabled such displacement, including colonial systems of knowledge, illicit markets, institutional complicity and museum practices that historically privileged possession and classification over the cultural and spiritual relationships surrounding an object.

The exhibition draws connections across the region, from sacred objects removed from Nepal's temples to the dispersal of Indian bronzes, Gandharan sculptures originating from present-day Pakistan, and the erosion and displacement of Bangladesh's terracotta heritage.

“It carries particular resonance in Nepal, where the theft and removal of religious sculptures and sacred objects from temples, shrines and public spaces have long raised questions about heritage protection, repatriation and the relationship between communities and their cultural inheritance,” read the statement.

Saraf said that for Nepal, where questions of heritage, loss and return are deeply felt, this exhibition creates an important space for reflection. The programme will also feature discussions on the broader historical, political and ethical questions that inform their artistic practices.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 23 August 2026.   

Guliyo Syau tries to bridge parent-child perception gap

Kathmandu, July 15

Most of the parents confront a serious philosophical and cognitive discrepancy with their kids. While every generation comes up with new understanding and impressions about the world, human beings and relations, the recent ones are even more advanced due to their exposure to modern education system and technology.

But many of the parents don't realise this gap in their worldview and exert pressure on their kids to create something as they want or function in the way they like.

Writer, artist and theatre director Kedar Shrestha has taken an initiative, through a play 'Guliyo Syau (sweet apple)' to show a mirror to such parents, while at the same time telling the kids that they can be creative in their own ways.

He tells a story of a 6-7-year-old kid who loves to colour the pictures but with unconventional shades, quite contrary to the impressions of his mother who keeps on questioning his choices of colour and expresses grievances that her son has become 'senseless'.

The child colours sun in red, quite contrary to the prevalent 'yellow', paints a leaf with brown and sky with black. When his mother expresses dissatisfaction at each of the colour choice, he says that the morning sun is red, dried leaf is brown and night sky is black. Just to prove his point, he paints several stars on the sky as well.

In the end, when he paints an apple with green colour saying it's an unripe fruit, mother says she wants a sweet apple not a 'sour' one. And, only the red apple is the sweet apple. In an effort to make his mother happy, the kid takes a picture of a beautiful red apple from a box with a 'Peppa pig' doll. Mother becomes happy, he becomes joyful.

While the play advances, special characters like bee, Mickey Mouse, and owl keep on coming to the stage to surprise the kid as well as the audiences.

The play is being staged at the Mandala Theatre and the entire theatre, from its courtyard to the stage, is decorated to please the children. Red and green apples are decorated on the trees, a makeshift gate is created with a picture of a red apple and theatre is decorated with a lot of stars. Special seating arrangements are made for the children and they can participate in the play, intermittently.

Manish Byanju as a kid has delivered an amazing performance. He speaks less but tells a lot. Elina Nakarmi acts as the mother and Sanjita Parajuli as animals. Writer and director Shrestha said that the 'Sweet Apple' is a semi non-verbal play about the conflict between children's psychology, their smart perspective and their parent's perspective. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 July 2026.         

Nepal Art and Culture Festival 2025 set to dazzle from September 5

Kathmandu, Aug. 24

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Nepal Art Council (NAC), in collaboration with all four metropolitan cities of the Kathmandu Valley, are set to organise the first-ever Nepal Art and Culture Festival 2025.

The festival will take place from September 5 to 26 across Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, and Kirtipur.

Sagar Shumsher Rana, President of the NAC, said that such cultural festivals are of great significance not only in Nepal but also internationally, and the aim is to elevate the event to a global platform. According to him, the festival is designed to attract both domestic and international tourists.

Likewise, CEO of the NTB, Deepak Raj Joshi, said that while Nepal is often recognised as a destination for adventure tourism, this festival seeks to portray the country as a rich repository of culture and heritage.

“We must preserve our unique culture and promote the grandeur of our heritage worldwide. We believe that a festival of this nature will not only increase tourist arrivals but also contribute to economic growth,” he said.

Chairperson of the Festival Organising Committee and President of the Hotel Association Nepal (HAN), Binayak Shah, highlighted Nepal as a top destination for a ‘lifetime experience’,  and said, “This festival, initiated under our efforts to link tourism with festivals and cultural events, is expected to contribute to the growth of tourism.”

Festival Coordinator Ayusha Shrestha said that the festival, running for three weeks, will feature 40 different events. Commencing with Indra Jatra, the festival will serve as a comprehensive celebration of the Valley’s heritage, art, and culture.

According to the organisers, the festival will feature cultural exhibitions, displays of art and craftsmanship, music and dance performances, traditional cuisine, and opportunities to experience Nepal’s living culture.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 August 2025.  

Kishor Sharma comes up with 'Living in the Mist'

 Kathmandu, Oct. 18

Kishor Shrama has come up with his photo book 'Living in the Mist' that features and documents the life, culture and costumes of Raute community in western Nepal.

Sharma who is a documentary photographer, filmmaker, and writer, has produced this book with a decade-long effort and multiple trips to the hills of western Nepal following the nomadic Raute people.

Over the years of working, his own outlook on the Raute has changed from simply documenting them to wanting to create more dialogue about the community.

“This photo book has witnessed and experienced the ups and downs of my journey as a photographer. Here, I have attempted to record the lives of its protagonists, the Rautes, and their struggles. I am overwhelmed today with emotions to see my 12-year-long effort become a reality,” said Sharma.

The Rautes are considered to be the last nomadic people of Nepal. They do not own land and have refused to accept citizenship documents offered by the state. 'Living in the Mist' offers a glimpse into their lives and their resistance towards being governed by a ‘modern' world. It compels us to imagine the possibility of alternative and autonomous ways of living.

"Sharma's photography and films composedly defend the nuanced simplicity of people, life, and their landscape. Sharma has extensive experience in documenting stories through photos and films, working with diverse communities throughout Asia," said Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati, Director of photo.circle, publisher of the book.

She said that this new publication is part of photo.circle’s efforts to create a publishing platform for Nepali photographers. “With space in mainstream print media shrinking, it is not easy for Nepali photographers to get their work published. We have been trying to support Nepali photographers to publish their work and we hope these books and important stories like the one Kishor is telling us, have the long shelf lives that they deserve,” said Kakshapati.

The book has been designed by Kerala based Italian book designer Valentina Abenevoli and all texts have been translated by Prawin Adhikari.

“Sharma is a self-aware outsider-observer who constantly reflects on his learnings and un-learnings, during the course of his meetings with the Raute,” writes Sohrab Hura, an established photographer and filmmaker, and a member of Magnum Photos.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of Sharma's photos is being exhibited at Patan House, Dhaugal in Lalitpur which will last until November 30, except Mondays and Dashain and Tihar. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal on 19 October 2023. 

Tuhure, a hero of revolutionary movement: PM Prachanda

 Kathmandu, Aug. 27

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said that singer JB Tuhure is a hero of the revolutionary movement and a beloved singer of the people.

Speaking at the launch of the book 'Janabolika Avishranta Gayak' published in the memory of late singer JB Tuhure on Sunday afternoon, he said that the government honoured him with the title of 'Janagayak-People's Singer'.

He appreciated the contribution of Tuhure to the music and society.

PM Prachanda said, "JB Tuhure was a stalwart leader of the progressive literary and musical movement of Nepal, an unswerving traveller of political and social transformation and a popular singer who created a sense of rebellion against the oppression of the people by the feudal unitary patriarchal power."

Stating that Tuhure was dedicated to the liberation and change of the country and the people since his childhood, PM Prachanda maintained that his creations, life and deeds prove that he was full of energy, overflowing with positive vitality, and full of strong aspirations for the liberation and change for the people.

Due to his unique contribution to the left democratic political movement and musical field of Nepal, the recently held cabinet meeting awarded Tuhure with the national honour of the 'People's Singer', said PM Prachanda.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 August 2023. 

Tube Well brings alive Tarai life

Kathmandu, July 18

While the victims of loan sharks from southern Tarai have been agitating in the Capital demanding that the government should save their property illegally captured by the loan sharks, Purano Ghar Theatre in Sinamangal is staging a play Tube Well with an identical theme where a feudal lord in collusion with his henchmen plays foul with farmers in his village.

Hariya is an illiterate farmer in a village, apparently from Bara/Parsa district, according to the writer and director of the play, Rosan Subedi, who is living by ploughing his field. But lack of irrigation is troubling him and his neighbours in the village as they were unable to grow enough crops to feed their families. One day, a government official,  Lal Bahadur Khadka, comes to the village with a proposal to install a tube well and finds that Hariya's farm is the best for setting up the facility.

However, head of the village, and his henchman Chitta Ranjan, want to install it in the latter's field. Meanwhile, the chief also wants to increase the production and smuggling of cannabis in the field. Their collusion creates multiple turns in the story. The play not only presents the traditional 'lenders' who are still active in the Tearai but also the rampant corruption in government agencies.

Rajib Chaudhary, Nisha Dahal, Shrawan Yadav, Arbind Kumar Mourya, Rohit Rajak, Kundan and Bhuwan Luhar have given some of the finest theatrical performances.

As director Subedi said, the drama could be a representative case of the Tarai, especially the Madhes Province. It takes the audience directly to a Tarai village with a traditional house where Hariya with his wife Munni, friend Nandan, and nephew Mangala is living a good life. For the people who haven't experienced life in the Tarai, this play presents a taste of it in the Capital.

The play is presented in Bhojpuri language which also could be a new taste for the audience here. Produces of the play have minutely worked in the stage design, costume, music and other ambiences to offer a real taste of life in a Tarai village about three decades ago.

The director of the play has woven the story like a cinema and creates multiple twists in the story which leaves a thrilling impression on the part of audience. In addition to it, he has presented multiple activities on the stage as it happens at the village centre. The spectator is instantly taken there.

Playback music is another strong part of the play. Singer Januka Nepal and musicians Sharad Rai, Dipesh Rai and Rajkamal Fakir mesmerise with their live melodies throughout the drama. Januka's voice sounds perfectly a Madhesi one. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 July 2023.   

NITFest concludes

Kathmandu, Dec. 3

The 2^nd Nepal International Theater Festival 2079 (NITFest 2022) concluded on Saturday.

In the event, which started with the slogan 'Theatre for Social Transformation: A Celebration of Diversity' on November 25, 18 plays from 12 countries were staged. Various workshops, interactions, and masterclasses were also organised during the festival.

On the concluding day, a panel discussion on 'Different Dimensions of Stage Acting and Film Acting' was organised where Khagendra Lamichhane, film director and artiste, interacted with artistes Dayahang Rai, Suraksha Pant, Meen Bham, among others.

Another attraction of Saturday was the premier of 'Kubhindoko Katha', a play by Mandala Theatre, organiser of the festival. Pranish Magar has written the play based on a folk tale prepared during a playwriting workshop conducted by Mandala. It was directed by Dayahang Rai with co-direction by Vikas Joshi and choreography by Pramila Khanal.

Minister of Finance, Janardhan Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Music and Drama Academy Harihar Sharma, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah, Deputy mayor of Budhanilkantha Municipality, Anita Lama, and directors and artistes from different countries participated in the closing ceremony.

Earlier on Friday, the eighth day of the festival, India's drama ‘Blackboard Land’ and ‘Nomad’, a play from Argentina, were staged.

Directed by Rajesh Singh, ‘Blackboard Land’ told the story of three people who met in a secluded place during the war. As the story progresses, differences between them lead to conflict and eventually to physical violence.

Similarly, the Argentinian drama ‘Nomad’, directed by Constanza Bitthoff, in musical and physical style presented the campaign of social change.

On the same day, a panel discussion was held under the title 'Why is theater review necessary?' Suraj Subedi interacted with writer, reviewer Dhruvasatya, actors Namrata KC and Kedar Shrestha. There was an interaction on the need for theater review, its impact and the current review procedure. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 December 2022.  

Nepali painting exhibition in Beijing

Kathmandu, Oct. 24
Photography exhibition entitled ‘Beautiful Nepal’ was held at the Wenchang Gallery of Summer Palace in Beijing on Thursday.  

The photographs on display depict diverse aspects of Nepal’s natural, cultural and historical resources and heritage, and aim to promote Nepal’s tourism resources in preparation of Visit Nepal Year 2020.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, the exhibition will run until November 7.

Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Sushil K Lamsal highlighted the deepening people-to-people relations between Nepal and China, and expressed the hope that the exhibition would help the Chinese people to better appreciate Nepal’s tourism attractions.

He invited the Chinese tourists to visit Nepal on the occasion of Visit Nepal Year 2020.

In his remarks, Su Bensheng, Vice-President of Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC), expressed happiness over co-hosting the exhibition and hoped that the event would enhance greater understanding about Nepal among the Chinese people.

The exhibition was jointly organised by the embassy and Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, with the support of Beijing Park Management Centre and the Summer Palace.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 October 2019. 

Nepal Photo Exhibition held in Chittagong

Kathmandu, July 12

A Nepal photo exhibition programme has been organised in Chittagong of Bangladesh on Saturday.

Titled as 'The Small Heaven', the expo included photo display of religious, historical, natural and cultural heritages and adventure tourism activities.

The programme was jointly organised by the Bandipur Unesco Club and Rotaract Club of Islamabad Chittagong at the local press club. The event was organised on the silver jubilee of the Rotaract club and about 1,000 people observed the exhibition, said Bishnu Kanta Ghimire, coordinator of the programme. 

A programme 'Adventure Nepal 2020' was also announced on the occasion. "We have announced the programme to make Nepal a hub of adventure sports at the international level. About 100 adventure sports enthusiasts will participate in the event," said Tika Ram Paneru, President of the Unesco club.

The two clubs are organising joint programmes, adventure camps and cultural exchange since 2013. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily. 

'An extraordinary journey' priemered in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Nov. 11: One Youth, an organisation working in the education and social sectors in Nepal, has premiered its first documentary, ‘An extraordinary journey’, in Kathmandu.

Produced under the banner of Mitra Films and directed by Jasper Neupane and Rashmita Limbu, the documentary tells the tale about the effort of young people to take educational materials to the remote villages in the mountains and establish library and small computer labs in schools.

‘An extraordinary journey’ is a 37-minute documentary showing the work of One Youth to improve education in rural schools in Khotand and Solukhumbu while walking 25 days to the Everest Base Camp. The documentary is divided into 12 different chapters.

Damli Secondary School in Khotang district and Janata School in Lokhim of Solukhumbu district were the major shooting locations for the documentary.

Co-director Neupane said that the theme of the documentary was to make everyone aware that anything was possible only if you set your mind towards it.

The documentary has been also premiered in the United States of America, Sweden and Australia. Co-director of the documentary and Secretary of One Youth Rashmita Limbu said that the organisation had completed its projects in various districts in eastern Nepal and the new project would be executed in the far western region.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 November 2018. 

'Singhadurbar-2' to begin from today

Kathmandu, July 27:

The second season of tele-drama ‘Singha Durbar’ will be aired every Saturday on Nepal Television from July 28.

The 13-episode drama is produced by Search for Common Ground – Nepal in collaboration with Subha Media Home with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United Nations agencies in Nepal.

According to the producers, the new season of the drama focuses on the challenges and opportunities that Nepal faces under its new federal structure.

The series continues to highlight the political journey of the main protagonist and Nepal’s first reel life Prime Minister, Asha Singh, played by veteran actor Gauri Malla.

It will profile how she leads the country to successfully adopt the federal structure as well as related policies and plans.

“The series will also touch upon issues related to federalization; human trafficking; disaster risk reduction and management; and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) rights,” said the USAID.

 The secretary of Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA), Dinesh Thapaliya said, “The TV series aims to bridge the gap between the people and the government, and aspires to capacitate them on issues related to governance and federalism.” 

The show is directed by Nabin Subba and features actors like Ramesh Ranjan Jha, Pramod Agrahari, Ramesh Budhathoki, Alok Thapa, Badal Bhatta, Prakash Ghimire and Suresh Chaudhary.

The script of the drama is penned by and team led by Abhinash Bikram Shah and Tsering Choden which included Prabin Adhikari, Sampada Malla and Surash Poudel.

“We have presented a more humanized character—a Prime Minister who is afraid to fail the expectation of the people, and an ensemble of characters who represent current day leaders and the public,” said Subba.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 July 2018. 

Shrestha performs at Pum and ASSITEJ festivals

Kathmandu, July 25: Theatre artiste Kedar Shrestha has enacted a solo-performance at the Pum Theatre Festival and ASSITEJ Korea International Summer Theatre Festival in South Korea. ASSITEJ is the umbrella organisation of the international children’s theatre around the world.

He presented a play ‘Mr. Moon, Miss Sun and Mrs. Crow’. The play was created during a month long Asian Artiste Residence Workshop organised in South Korea.

Shrestha directed and acted in the play developed out of a famous Korean folk tale in the supervision of Song Inhyun, Director of Mindule Theatre and Pum Festival.

He is the Founder and Art Director of the Theatre Centre for Children (TCC) Nepal and Theatre Mall, and is participated in the workshop representing ASSITEJ Nepal.

The play tells a story of a struggle of hungry brother and sister who are waiting for their mother and fight with a cunning tiger. A crow gives them company in their struggle against the tiger. The mother saves her kids posthumously, and the two siblings become Moon and Sun.

Shrestha performed all five characters in the play.

The festival is running in 26 years. According to Shrestha, the workshop was attended by 10 artistes from South Korea, Nepal, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Pakistan while the festival witnessed the performance from many countries across the world.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 July 2018. 

JICA holds photo exhibition on reconstruction

Lalitpur, Apr. 20: 

Chief Executive Officer of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Yuba Raj Bhusal said that the government had given priority to the rebuilding of the private houses.

I would like to urge the international community and humanitarian organisations to support us in the reconstruction of houses other infrastructure, he said while inaugurating the Photo Exhibition on Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s recovery and reconstruction efforts in Nepal at the Labim Mall, Pulchowk.

The exhibition was organised to mark the 3^rd anniversary of the devastating Gorkha Earthquake 2015.

Chief Representative of JICA Nepal Jun Sakuma said that the exhibition was organised to highlight the progress and achievements made in the last three years and to promote awareness and understanding of JICA’s support based on the ‘Build Back Better’ principle. 

The exhibition was jointly inaugurated by Bhusal and Sakuma. It will run till Tuesday.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 21 April 2018

Purnima set to scale Mt. Everest

Kathmandu, Apr. 3: Photojournalist Purnima Shrestha is set to summit Mt. Everest.

She is also planning toorganise photo exhibitions at the Base Camp as well as Camp 1, 2 and 3 on the way to the top of the world.

This will be the first ever photo exhibition on the lap of Mt. Everest.

“I will be exhibiting about 25 photographs depicting culture and people at work. The exhibition will be organised even at the Camp 3 if there were a favourable weather,” she said at a press conference held on Tuesday to announce her expedition.

The Base Camp lies at an altitude of 5,335 metres, Camp 1 at 6,000 m., Camp 2 at 6,400 m, Camp 3 at 7,200 m and Camp 4 at 7,950 m.

Shrestha, who has already conquered Mt. Manaslu, is scaling the world’s highest mountain with the theme ‘Awareness on Cervical Cancer’.

She has joined hands with the Karuna Foundation Nepal and Female Cancer Foundation Holland to promote awareness on cervical cancer screening and prevention.

“Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths for women worldwide. Cervical cancer ranks as the first most frequent cancer among women in Nepal – between 15 and 44 years of age,” said the Foundation in a press statement.

It said that through Purnima’s venture, the foundation will reach not only Nepali population but to the global level. Her expedition will begin on 6^th April. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 April 2018. 

'Odyssey of Art' begins at Art Council

Kathmandu, Nov. 18:

The 12^th Annual Group Art Exhibition of the Spectrum Art Association kicked off in Nepal Art Council hall from Saturday. 

The five-day exhibition, titled as ‘Odyssey of Art’, features about 100 paintings created by 14 artists.

For the first time in Nepal, the exhibition has displayed art drawn on eggs of ostrich.

“The art on ostrich eggs has the production of our wish to do new creation. It might be something that the tourists can take back home as a souvenir from Nepal,” said Indra Shrestha, Chiarman of the Association. 

He said that the egg art can be sold at Rs. 5,000.

Artists have used acrylic, oil, watercolour, mixed media on canvas and drawing American cartridge as the medium to draw paintings of various themes such as peace, Lumbini, couple, togetherness and many others. 

Most of the pieces of arts are bright and try to tell the story of hope, festival and tranquillity, and some of the paintings depict folk art such as Mithila culture.

Shrestha said that the Association had been in the promotion of Nepali art for the last one and a half decades and organised many workshops and art exhibitions in the Kathmandu Valley and other districts like Gulmi, Sindhupalchok and Kaski. 

“We have also organised workshops for the school level students. The aim of such programmes is to sensitize them to the world of art,” he said. 

Vice-President of the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Umesh Lal Shrestha said that the business community was not sensitive towards the art and paintings. 

“Perhaps, many of the businessmen don’t understand your creation. The FNCCI will support you in creating the market of artistic creations. Let’s organise an art awareness programme at the FNCCI for the business people,” he said. 

Meanwhile, photographer Kishor Shrestha is exhibiting his solo photo exhibition along with the paintings at the Art Council.

He is displaying 18 photos related mountains, Himalayas, tourism and religious sites.

Int'l Women in Engineering Day celebrated in Nepal

Lalitpur, June 23: On the occasion of the International Women in Engineering Day, the Rural Access Programme (RAP3) – a joint project of the government and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) – organised a photo exhibition of women engineers in Nepal.

Organised at the Nepal Engineers’ Association (NEA) office at Pulchowk, the exhibition included photos and sayings of the Nepali women engineers from various fields such as computer, architect, civil and electronic.

One of the major attraction of the exhibition was the photo of the first women engineer of Nepal, Shanti Malla.

“We have tried to present their opinion on engineering field. This is the first time we are celebrating this Day in Nepal,” said Ayasta Pokharel, a graduate engineer at RAP3.

The exhibition showcased 40 photos of female engineers, their work and portraits. British ambassador to Nepal Richard Morris inaugurated the exhibition amidst a programme.

The International Women in Engineering Day takes place on 23 June annually.

This day is organised to cherish the achievements of women engineers and to draw attention of society on the careers in engineers and technical roles for women.

NEA and UK’s Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) supported the programme.

‘A Quite Desire’ showcases Tagore’s life

Kathmandu, May 28: Ruchika Theatre Group of India staged ‘A Quite Desire’, a theatrical performance depicting glimpses from the life of Nobel Prize winner Bengali poet Rabindra Nath Tagore, at the Army Officer’s Club on Sunday.

The play depicts the psychological ups and downs in Kadambari Devi, sister-in-law of Tagore, who jealously loves her brother-in-law who was of the same age. When Kadambari Devi was married to Jyotirindranath Tagore, elder brother of Rabindra, she was 9 years old.

As Jyoti is busy in various works along with his business, Rabindra and Kadambari become playmates and companions, and affection between them keeps growing.

The drama comes to an end with the suicide from an overdose of sleeping tablets taken by Kadambari after the marriage of Rabindra with Mrinalini Devi.

Written and directed by Feisal Alkazi, the play beautifully portrays the companionship between Rabindra and his sister-in-law, Kadambari, and the social impact of the events.

She was the first and only reader of Rabindra’s creations till they got published. And, when his books were published, he earned wide accolades from around the Indian subcontinent.

Jealousy is clearly visible in the eyes of Kadambari when Rabindra receives various gifts and gold from the king of a neighbouring state as an appreciation of his beautiful poems, and while reciting the letters sent to him with admiration of his creations.

In his initial days, most of the poems by Rabindra were written on Kadambari.

Alkazi is successful in presenting the paradox of relationship between the two on stage.

“The marriage of Rabindra’s elder brother Jyoti to nine-year-old Kadambari, two years older than himself, brought a whole new dimension to his experience of the world. For the longest tie, she was his only reader, friend, confidante and, above all, his muse,” said Alkazi.

He said that the play tried to explore the relationship through the medium of Tagore’s own words.

The fact that Kadambari committed suicide four months after Tagore’s marriage indicates the depth of their bond.

The play has used many pieces of prose, poetry and music of Tagore. The major three characters of the play Jyoti, Kadambari and Rabindra were performed by Jaipreet Singh, Smita Mazumdar Rajaram and Armaan M Alkazi respectively.

The drama was presented by the BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, Embassy of India, and Kathmandu.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Dev facilitated the artistes and said that such events would help in deepening the cultural and people-to-people relations between the two neighbours.

(Published in The Rising Nepal Daily, May 29, 2017)

Nepali art exhibition in the USA

Kathmandu, Apr. 3:

StoryCycle, in association with Fort Worth Community Arts Center and Crafted in Kathmandu, is organizing 'Nepal Show 2017', a three-week exhibition of art, craft and multimedia.

Chairman of Rotary Foundation Paul Lucas will inaugurate the show on April 7 at Forth Worth Community Arts Center, Gendy Street, Fort Worth, USA.

“We are trying to promote storytelling using arts, crafts and multimedia and this is first experiment for us to showcase such multiple approach for storytelling. This show will help to promote artists and also promote Nepal’s positive image in the world,” Curator of the show Saurav Dhakal, said in a press conference.     

The exhibition will be on show in the United States from April 7 - April 26, 2017.

"We will present the life and work of these people through photographs, written documentation, videos and physical objects. The presentation will provide a holistic view of the fine arts and crafts as they are at this point," said Dhakal.

The exhibition will feature a collection of artworks from Everest StoryCamp that was led by artist RK Thapa, and recently conducted Dumja Art Camp, both organized by the StoryCycle.

"We will showcase “Stories from Everest and Apa Sherpa” and “Stories from the Epicenter and Beyond” as a major video story. We also have a collection of photos by Nabin Baral and Saurav Dhakal," read a statement issued by the organizer.

In the kids art segment, the art and painting prepared by Shreeya Pokhrel and Rawdeep Pokhrel titled Colourful Brain will be presented at the exhibition.

StoryCycle is based in USA and Nepal and is a storytelling platform that encourages people from grassroots to tell their stories and bring change in society.