Foundation felicitates five teachers

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A non-profit formed by family and friends of late Devi Timsina in America, Devi Timsina Foundation, felicitated five schoolteachers from camps.

Schoolteachers felicitated by the Devi Timsina Foundation (Picture: Hem Giri/BNS)

Those felicitated by the Foundation on Saturday included two teachers from New Horizon Academy and three from Beldangi. The teachers have been serving at the Bhutanese Refugee Education Program (BREP) under the Caritas Nepal for 22 years.

The Foundation awarded Khemraj Nepal and KB Nepal from NHA, and Bewaki Subba, Dirgha Basnet and Khadga Bahadur Rai from Beldangi-based Pancha-oti English School (PES) with cash prize of Rs 5100 each and a certificate for their selfless service to education in the camp.

Field Director of Caritas Nepal, Father Amalraj, inaugurated the felicitation program on Saturday in Sanischare camp by offering a garland over a photograph of late Devi Timsina, who passed away at a young age after his resettlement in America.

Camp Secretaries of both Beldangi and Sanischare camps and Dr Bhampa Rai were also present during the program.

According to the Foundation’s representative Prakash Adhikari, the non-profit is also aiming to award scholarships to School Leaving Certificate (SLC) graduates in future.

अमेरिकी नागरिकताको परिक्षाका प्रश्न-उत्तर नेपालीमा

न्यु ह्याम्सर – ‘अक्षरिका’ नेपाली न्युजलेटरले अमेरिकी नागरिकताको परिक्षाका प्रश्न-उत्तर नेपालीमा तयार पारेको छ । अमेरिकामा नजन्मेको र यहाँ बस्ने विचार भएको नेपाली-भाषीलाई सहयोग पुगोस् भनी यो तयार पारिएको हो ।

सामान्यतः अमेरिकी नागरिकता पाउन तपाईं स्थायी बासिन्दा भएको पाँच वर्ष हुनुपर्छ । भूटानी शरणार्थीको हकमा अमेरिका भित्रिएको पाँच वर्ष हुनुपर्छ । सो अवधि पुग्नुअघि ४ वर्ष ९ महिनामा नागरिकताका लागि आवेदन युएस सिटिजनशिप एन्ड इमिग्रेसन सरभिसेस् (युएससिआइएस) मा दिनुपर्छ । सन् २००८ मार्चमा अमेरिकामा भूटानी शरणार्थीको पहिलो समूह आएको हो । यो प्रश्न-उत्तर उहाँहरूलाई बढी लक्षित गरेर तयार पारिएको हो । सन् २०१३ जनवरी अन्तिमसम्म अमेरिकामा ६३ हजार ९ सय ७६ भूटानी पुनर्स्थापित भइसक्नुभएको छ ।

नागरिकताका लागि आवेदन दिएपछि युएससिआइएसका अधिकारीले आवेदकको अन्तर्वार्ता लिन्छन् । अंग्रेजी भाषाको साधारण परीक्षा र नागरिक-शास्त्रको परीक्षासमेतको नेचरलाइजेसन टेस्ट  उत्तीर्ण गर्नुपर्छ ।

परीक्षामा प्रश्न अंग्रेजीमा सोधिनेछ र जवाफ पनि अंग्रेजीमै दिनुपर्नेछ । यसले नेपाली-भाषीलाई प्रश्न-उत्तर बुझ्न सहायता गर्नेछ ।

नागरिक-शास्त्रको परीक्षा इतिहास र सरकारसम्बन्धी हुन्छ । यसमा १ सय संभावित प्रश्न छन् । युएससिआइएसका अधिकारीले यी एक सयमध्ये १० प्रश्न सोध्छन् । नागरिकताका आवेदकले १० मध्ये कम्तिमा ६ प्रश्नको सही उत्तर दिनुपर्छ ।

युएससिआइएसले ती प्रश्न र उत्तरहरू विभिन्न तरिकाले आफ्नो वेबसाइट www.uscis.gov मा उपलब्ध गराएको छ । त्यस्तै वेबसाइटमै प्रश्न र उत्तरहरू सुन्न-मिल्ने तथा खेलेर पढ्न पाता-पातामा एकातर्फ प्रश्न र अर्कोतर्फ उत्तर भएको पनि पाइन्छ । युएससिआइएसले यस्ता सामग्री स्पेनिश र अन्य भाषाहरूमा प्रकाशित गरेको छ । तर नेपाली-भाषामा प्रकाशित गरेको छैन । ‘ज्ञान ज्योति केन्द्र’बाट प्रकाशित यो पुस्तिकामा अनौपचारिक नेपाली अनुवाद गरिएको छ । प्रत्येक प्रश्न र उत्तरहरूलाई सँग-सँगै राखिएको छ ।

यी प्रश्न-उत्तर ‘ज्ञान ज्योति केन्द्र’को यो लिंकमा उपलब्ध छ – http://www.gyanjyotikendra.org/civicstest.pdf

यी प्रश्नको अनुवाद ‘अक्षरिका’का सम्पादक राजेश कोइरालाले गरेका हुन् भने सम्पादन डग हलले गरेका हुन् ।

Royals return home from B’desh

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King Jigme Khesar and Queen Gyaltsuen returned home Tuesday after completing his five-day official visit to Bangladesh.

While in Dhaka, the King called on Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Zillur Rahman, and held discussions on bilateral issues. The royals also attended a dinner party hosted by PM Hasina in her residence.

Their Majesties visited the Dharmarajika Bauddha Vihara, a Buddhist monastery in Dhaka and laid the foundation stone for the Atisha statue and pagoda to be built at the monastery, reported the Kuensel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Jhesar accompanied by Economic Affairs Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister-In-Charge, Khandu Wangchuck, and Economic Affairs Secretary, Sonam Tshering.

This was the second visit of the royals to Bangladesh after the coronation. He had visited Dhaka on March 26, 2011 as a special guest during 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.

BMS mobilizes donations for Beldangi-II fire victims

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Bhutan Media Society (BMS) distributed Rs 113,643 that the society collected through online donation drive for recent victims of Beldangi-II, Tuesday.

Involving the camp management committee of Beldangi, BMS provided a cash support of Rs 1800 each for 63 households displaced by a massive fire in December.

Speaking at the distribution program, Camp Secretary Sanchahang Subba lauded the initiative to sympathize fire victims. “The camp management committee is thankful to the Bhutan Media Society for supporting the fire victims,” Subba said.

Involving the Punya Foundation, the Society collected the funds for the fire victims in December – January.

Two community organizations, Bhutanese Community in the Netherlands (BCN) and Bhutanese Welfare Association (BWA) in the United Kingdom, six resettled Bhutanese and two American citizens donated funds for the fire victims.

The donations included USD 500 (William Gillett), USD 20 (Dil Mishra), USD 25 (Ratna Subba), USD 10 (Dhananjayah Khatiwada), USD 50 (Julia Freeman-Woolpert), AUD 25 (Tulsi Upreti), USD 100 (Parsuram Sharma-Luitel) and AUD 21 (Tal Rai).

Similarly, organizational donations included 303.05 Euros from BCN and USD 250 from BWA.

Bhutan press freedom index drops by 12 positions

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Placing Bhutan at the 82nd position, Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontier (RSF) said the press freedom index of Bhutan has fallen by 12 positions in 2012. In the previous year, the Bhutan’s position was 70.

The same three European countries that headed the index last year hold the top three positions again this year, the RSF report said.

For the third year running, Finland has distinguished itself as the country that most respects media freedom. It is followed by the Netherlands and Norway.

Although many criteria are considered, ranging from legislation to violence against journalists, democratic countries occupy the top of the index while dictatorial countries occupy the last three positions. Again it is the same three as last year – Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea, according to the report.

Similarly, Nepal suffered the same fate dropping the index from 106 to 118, while India has continued to remain at the lowest position (140th position in 2012) since 2002 because of increasing impunity for violence against journalists, and internet censorship at grow.

The media watchdog was founded in 1985, and has been continuously working to defend and protect journalists around the world. It has around 120 correspondents worldwide.

K5 in Bangladesh

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King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk arrived the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, with Queen Gyaltsuen, on a five-day official visit.

According to media reports from Bangladesh, the country’s Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni received the Bhutanese royals on Thursday.

While in Dhaka, the King is scheduled to call on Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Zillur Rahman, and hold discussions on bilateral issues.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Jhesar is accompanied by Economic Affairs Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister-In-Charge, Khandu Wangchuck, and Economic Affairs Secretary, Sonam Tshering.

This is the second visit of the royals to Bangladesh after the coronation. He had visited Dhaka on March 26, 2011 as a special guest during 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.

भूटानी चित्रकार नवल खतिवडासँग एक क्षण

अष्ट्रेलियाको सिड्नीमा नेपियन आर्ट एन्ड डिजाइन सेन्टरले भर्खरै आयोजना गरेको पिपुलस् च्वाइस् आर्ट अवार्ड र स्टुडेन्ट एक्वीसिटिभ आर्ट अवार्ड दुवै पुरस्कारबाट सम्मानित भएका छन् नवल खतिवडा । हुन त गत सालको प्रतिस्पर्धामा पनि उनका चित्र छनोटमा नपरेका होइनन् तर यस वर्षको अनलाइन् छनोटमा भने सबैभन्दा उच्च मत पाएको छ र सो चित्रलाई पेन्रिथ रिजनल ग्यालरी र लेवेस्ट बेक्वेस्टमा राखिने जानकारी गराएको छ ।

चित्रकार खतिवडासँग कुरा गर्दै अन्तरवार्ताकार पदम काफ्ले

लगातारका यी दुई वर्षमा नवल खतिवडाका चित्र छनोटमा पर्नु निश्चय नै भूटानी चित्रकला क्षेत्रको एकातिर गौरवको विषय हो भने अर्कातिर नवलको सफल चित्रकारिता प्रमाणित हुँदै जानु पनि हो ।

भूटानमा जन्मिएर नेपालमा प्रारम्भिक शिक्षा हासिल गरेको र वर्तमान अष्ट्रेलियामा अध्ययनरत नवलको जीवनको मुख्य अभिरुचि नै चित्रकारिता रहेको उनी स्वयम् बताउछन् । एक कर्मठ भुटानी युवा चित्रकारसंग पदम काफ्लेले लिएको अन्तरवार्ताको सार संक्षेप:

आफ्नो परिचय दिनुपर्दा कसरी दिन मनपराउनुहुन्छ ?
हजुर, मेरो नाम नवल खतिवडा हो र चित्रकारिता विधाको शिक्षार्थी हुँ ।

चित्रकलालाई कसरी परिभाषित गर्नु उपयुक्त ठान्नु हुन्छ ?
चित्र भनेको केही वा कसैको तस्बिर हो, मानव मनको अनुभूतिलाई सचित्र उतार्नु नै चित्रकला हो , अझ यस सन्दर्भमा हृदयको गहन अनुभूतिलाई चित्रात्मक स्वरूप प्रदान गर्नु नै चित्रकला हो मेरो अनुभवमा ।

पिपुलस् च्वाइस् आर्ट अवार्ड प्राप्त चित्र / तस्बिर: पदम काफ्ले

भर्खरै प्राप्त सफलताका विषयमा स्पष्ट जानकारी गराइदिनु होस् न …
म वर्तमानमा चित्रकाला क्षेत्रमा अध्ययनरत भएकाले समय समयमा अष्ट्रेलियाको सिड्नी तथा अन्य भागमा अयोजना हुने विभिन्न चित्रकला प्रदर्शनीमा भाग लिने गर्छु । यसै क्रममा २०११ र १२ मा मेरो चित्र सिड्नीको व्ल्याकटाउन कला पुरस्कारमा छनोट भएको थियो भने २०१२ सालमा नै फिसर घोस्ट आर्ट अवार्डको खुला चित्रकला पुरस्कारमा छनोट भएको थियो । २०१३ मा आएर नेपियन आर्टस् एन्ड डिजाइन सेन्टरले आयोजना गरेको पिपुल्स् च्वाइज आर्ट अवार्ड र स्टुडेन्स् एक्वीसिटिभ आर्ट अवार्ड प्राप्त गरेको छु ।

कस्ता प्रकारका चित्र बनाउनुहुन्छ ? र विषयवस्तु कसरी छनोट गर्नुहुन्छ ?
म सबै प्रकारका चित्र बनाउन रुचाउँछु तथापि मेरो विशेष क्षेत्र भनेको पेन्टिङ , ड्रइङ र प्रिन्टमेकिङ रहेको छ । अब विषयवस्तुको छनोटको कुरा गर्नुपर्दा मेरो पृष्टभूिम एक त अति साधारणका साथै धेरै कुराको अभावमा खट्किएको र हुर्किएको हुनाले होला मेरो चित्रको विषयवस्तु भनेको समाजमा रहेका असहाय, गरिबी, उत्पीडन र सामाजिक मर्म, संस्कृति तथा पूर्वीय जीवनशैलीका भावनाहरुको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्ने खालको बन्ने वा छनोट हुने गरेको छ ।

पूर्वीय र पाश्चात्य चित्रकालालाई वर्तमान सन्दर्भमा कसरी हेरिन्छ र यसमा पाइने समानता र भिन्नता केकस्ता रहेका छन् ?
यस प्रश्नलाई अलि सचेतताका साथ उत्तर दिनुपर्ने हुनाले म के भन्न रुचाउंछु भने पाश्चात्य कला साहित्य सुविधा सम्पन्न र अलि पहिलादेखि नै यस क्षेत्रको विकास भएको देखिन्छ तर पूर्वीय भनेको अभावमा खट्किदै र निकै पछिको सुरुवात भएकाले अलि पछि दौडिएको अनुभव हुन्छ ।
अनि समानता र भिन्नताका विषयमा कुरा गर्दा पाश्चात्य चित्रकलामा प्रायश दैनिक क्रियाकलाप , धार्मिक र राजनैतिक विषयवस्तु समिटिएका हुन्छन् भने पूर्वीयमा चाहिँ सांस्कृतिक, रीतिरिवाज र आफ्नै परिवेशलाई झल्काउने र सामाजिक जीवनको सेरोफेरोमा हुर्किएको चित्रकारिताको विषयवस्तु प्राय हुने गरेको पाइन्छ ।

स्टुडेन्ट एक्वीसिटिभ आर्ट अवार्ड प्राप्त चित्र / तस्बिर: पदम काफ्ले

भूटानी चित्रकलाको ऐतिहासिक पाटो के कस्तो छ संक्षेपमा बताइदिनुहोस् न …
भूटानभित्र चित्रकलाको विकासको कुरा गर्नुपूर्व क्राफ्ट अर्थात् हस्तकलाको विकास चाहिँ पहिलादेखि नै थियो र १६ औं शताब्दीतिर तेन्जिङ राब्गेको शासनकालमा हस्तकलाको विकास र वृद्धि निकै राम्रोसँग भएर आएको ऐतिहासिक दस्ताबेज पाइन्छ तर चित्रकलाको प्रारम्भिक अवस्था यस्तै थियो भन्ने ऐतिहासिक प्रमाण जुटाउन निकै नै गाह्रो भएको छ अनुसन्धाताहरुलाई।

विश्वमा छरिएर बसोबास गर्दै गरेका समग्र भूटानी समाजलाई चित्रकारिताका विषयमा के सन्देश दिन रुचाउनुहुन्छ ?
प्रत्येक मानवमा केही न केही कला अथवा सीप रहेको हुन्छ , आफूले त्यसलाई पहिचान गरी जीवनमा अपनाउने गर्नुपर्छ । आफूले आफ्नैभित्र भएका सिर्जनशील सीपलाई सम्मान गर्न सिक्नु र कलाकारिता मानव जीवनको प्रत्यक्ष ऐना भएकाले यसलाई गलत परिभाषित हुनबाट बचाउंदै लैजानु आजको आवश्यकता भएको छ र अन्तमा समग्र भुटानी सिर्जनशील हातहरुलाई हामी भुटानीहरुको सांस्कृतिक अस्तित्व, जीवनशैली र आफ्नोपनमा बाँच्न सकौं भन्ने सन्देशका साथै शुभकामना ।

‘Sachhi’ becomes fourth book on Bhutanese refugee issue to arrive in bookstores within one year

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At least four books on the Bhutanese refugee issue have arrived in bookstores in less than a year with the Y.N. Chamlagain’s book, Sachhi, officially launched on Saturday in Jhapa.

Freshly published books on the Bhutanese issue

Of the four, two books are authored by the Dutch writers  Alice Anna Verheij and Eveline van de Putte. The ‘Headwind, Laxmi’s Story‘ is a novel by Alicej, while ‘Unforgotten‘ is a photobook by Eveline and Alice. A Dutch NGO Empowerment Foundation has published these books.

The ‘Sapanako Samadi‘ is a research-based fiction by Dr Tara Lal Shrestha, a lecturer at the Tribhuwan University from Kathmandu.

While, ‘Sachhi’ is a reminiscence of the true history, narrated by Chamlagain, a Nepali-speaking Bhutanese in exile.

Presenting his views earlier today during the book launching program organized at Damak, author Chamlagain said the book was his first attempt to narrate various sufferings and situations of the thousands of fellow citizens that he witnessed from close quarters.

Chairperson of the Jestha Nagarik Pratisthan of Damak, Bhawani Dahal, chaired the program, where  Sapanako Samadi’s writer Dr Tara Lal Shrestha was present as chief guest. Dr Shrestha has edited the Chamlagain’s book.

From left, Dr KP Subedi, Bhawani Dahal, author YN Chamlagain, and Dr Tara Lal Shrestha during the book launching program (Picture : BNS)

Rights activist Dr K P Subedi and lecturer from Damak Multiple Campus Dhananjaya Baskota critically reviewed the book during the program, also attended Dr Bhumpa Rai, and 100 plus participants.

The speakers have even claimed that ‘Sachhi’ could be the first significant book on capturing the firsthand history of Bhutanese refugees’.

Reviewing the ‘Sachhi’, Baskota said the scenes of the Maikhola of Jhapa, where the first four families arrived and stayed there as Bhutanese refugees and their pains, depicted by author Chaulagai were no less than the sterile land and situation presented by T.S. Eliot his poem ‘The West Land’.

While, Dr Shrestha expressed his joy for getting such an opportunity to edit the book, published by the Discourse Publications.

The 239-page book is priced Rs 275 in the Nepali book market.

According to Chamlagain, arrangements to distribute books to interested readers around the world would be channelized very soon.

BNDP to initiate process to consolidate movement, says Dr Dhakal

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Acting President and Executive Chief of the Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP), Dr DNS Dhakal, said his party would initiate process to consolidate the movement focussing at repatriation of willing refugees to Bhutan and deepening of the Non-Resident Bhutanese (NRB) network.

Dr Dhakal

Issuing a press statement on February 7 on the occasion of the party’s anniversary, Dr Dhakal also called upon all the party members to continue to be part of the movement irrespective of dispersion because of the third country resettlement program.

“The BNDP has crossed two decades of its existence in exile. The party is committed for establishment of inclusive democracy in Bhutan and repatriation of willing refugees to their own place with honor and dignity,” said Dr Dhakal in his statement.

Welcoming the recent changes in the system of governance in Bhutan, BNDP has also sent best wishes to the contesting political parties inside the country in the forthcoming general election.

“This is a beginning of the process that will help achieve our longterm goal,” added he.

Dr Dhakal further said his party would continue considering resettled refugees as NRB.

“The recognition of the resettled refugees as NRB by democratically elected parliament of Bhutan will continue to be one of the campaign agendas of the party.”

JVT disqualifies 174 genuine Bhutanese : Gautam

Coordinator of a group formed by 174 disqualified asylum seekers, Purna Gautam, has claimed that including himself all 174 persons are genuine Bhutanese.

Purna Gautam (Picture courtesy : Dikesh Lama)

In a special telephonic interview with the Bhutan News Service after his release from 11-day custody, Gautam claimed that he possessed sufficient documents to prove him as a Bhutanese citizen.

“I have every document as required by the Government of Nepal and the United Nations for High Commissioner for Refugees,” Coordinator Gautam clarified.

According to him, he has a separate hut in his name, official census slip provided by the Refugee Coordination Unit (RCU) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, land ownership paper from Bhutan and academic certificates showing his schooling in the camp.

“My three sisters have already been resettled. We four brothers have been left at limbo,” he added, claiming he attended both interviews conducted by the Joint Verification Team (JVT) in 2008 and 2012.

Eighteen Bhutanese asylum seekers including Gautam were released on bail of Rs 500 by the Chief District Officer of Jhapa, Narendra Sharma, on Thursday.

The CDO has sternly warned them of not to involve in any kind of protests in the camps, and asked them to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs to press the ministry for their refugee identity cards, according to Gautam.

“We have been told that we are genuine Bhutanese by the Chief District Officer and must qualify for obtaining the refugee identity cards.”