Nuwakot Palace, to wait or to move?

On this Nepali New Year eve, our team was at Baireni, Dhading. Our initial plan was to return from Baireni itself, but we ended up going Nuwakot. Maybe it was destined for us to be in Nuwakot Darbar (Historical place) on that very special day of New Year. It was 25 km away from Baireni and new place for our team.We enjoyed surfaced road up to Nuwakot bazar, then we followed the dusty road to reach Durbar area. As we stopped, we were surprised to see a lot of roadside Jeri vendors on a row. It seemed like Jeri Festival. Later on, we learned that Jeri was presented as an offering by the pilgrims while visiting the temple.  

We moved towards the palace premises. Despite such a mega earthquake, the building remained there but with damage in many parts. Anyone could figure out that the reconstruction efforts are underway. Nuwakot Palace is believed to have played a pivotal role in shaping the history of modern Nepal. But now, the palace has been a mess because of the several wooden scattered throughout the premises. 

There were some marking on the woods. It looked as if the woods were prepared as 'replicas' of the original woods used in the structure. The structure looked scary as some of its walls had been retained with support from bamboo and woods. We were a big team of 19 people and every time we laughed, we were bit scared as well. 

Picture: Our team is trying to capture the moment and collect memories. 

There were several posters on the background which were directed to government and asking for the instant renovation. The flex prints were all over the premises. We did not find any single wall without such poster. While we appreciate the concerns of local to draw the attention of government, we also thought on what locals could have done.

Picture: A poster in the backdrop posted by Nuwakot Sarokar Society ask the government to reconstruct religious and historical heritages of Nuwakot Palace premises without delay. 

We could see the queue of internal tourists (as it was the first day of the year) and several visitors had been there with the religious purpose. Based on our observation, the flow of tourist can be marked as 'significant'. We also saw several buses which were reserved particularly for the visit. There were also a group of foreign tourists who had been there as they have learned about the historic place. The structure which was built long ago is still standing there tall. The lovely woodcrafts within the trapped structure looked as if they are waiting to be restored back to the beautiful structure again. The architecture itself looked so promising. Nuwakot palace has its own cultural and historical significance as it is the seven-story pal­ace fortress built during the reign of Prithvi Narayan Shah in the 18th century. 

On the way back, we discussed the possibilities to reconstruct the structure back. The work was in progress but the pace of the work might have been much faster had there been some different approaches. As an observer, it appeared as if the locals were more relying on government's action and questioning them rather than putting their effort.

We also recalled on how Bouddhanath was built and restored within a short span of time. It had been all possible with the support and enthusiasm at the local level. One of our colleague who resides at Bouddhanath area, Kathmandu shared on how individual contributed to the rebuilding process. We were so happy to learn that locals had not just provided cash and kind contribution but also provided labor support for several months. Some of the locals also financed for snacks, lunch, and some even contributed for tea/coffee. We were assured that if done properly, local initiation can build a big structure in short period. 

On the way back, we also discussed if the locals could have used the concept of local finance of raised some entry fee so that the fund could have been used for the reconstruction. We also talked if there had been some community members who could share and describe the cultural/historical aspects of the palace and provide guidance. We believe the tourists would not hesitate to pay nominal charges as they do in other places. Well, there are always options and possibilities which need to be tried so that we can bring a positive result. While we can understand that the locals have faced severe damage and still struggling to recover the loss at the individual level. They are still struggling to find ways to recover property and return to normal life. In the meantime, the Nuwakot Durbar is the pride of whole Nuwakot and Nepal. As the member of the community, they are also the custodian of the Nuwakot Durbar. Thus, locals need to take their stake and move for reconstruction. We also talked about how the Sundaridada view tower and information center, Kaski has been seen as one of the places to visit by the tourists in greater Pokhara. 

We returned to our own destinations. Deep in heart, I was touched by the scene of Nuwakot palace. Two days later, I met my colleague who resides at Sundaridada. As we had a discussion about the Nuwakot reconstruction and had also talked about resource center, I asked her about the collection done by the center in general. She responded that on an average, tower collects around NPR 20,000 per month. The tower recorded the arrival of more than 200 visitors on Nepali New Year. The view tower/resource center has created employment at the local level. The information center acts as a platform for local farmers, local business houses to disseminate information and sell the products and items available at local level. The key highlights of various goods and services of the watershed area are available in the information center. The center also displays the variety of rice, vegetable, flora and fauna found at Begnas and Rupa watershed. In addition to that, climatic data is also available at the tower. 

Local items of high value (Honey, Anadi rice, foxtail millet, taro products etc. and other local items are also available). So far, visitors have been found buying local items as the souvenir from Begnas and supporting the initiation done by the community. The branding at landscape level has been helpful for the promotion of local items. The benefit generated from the resource center goes back to the conservation of lake. So, this is a clear example of how the community can be self-reliant and work on its own rather than relying on others support. 

Picture: Begnas-Rupa Information Center and View Tower

I think Nuwakot Palace will be a top priority for every visitor who reaches Nuwakot district. If one visits Nuwakot palace at currrent conditition, one would certainly feel demotivated. What if when representatives from Government Agency/INGO/NGO visits Nuwakot Durbar premises with an interest to support Nuwakot Palace Reconstruction? Will they still be interested in providing the support or not? Well, I think, they might show reluctance on providing support as they might not be convinced on the 'buy-in' and 'drive' from the locals. But, had there been an environment which could have reflected local initiation and willingness to move, organization/agency would be convinced and show readiness to provide additional support. 

We completed year 2 of the mega earthquake and several structures devastated by the earthquake are not yet repaired. I hope the example of Bouddhanath reconstruction and Sundaridada view tower/information center motivates us. Local initiations can make difference. The status of progress on post-earthquake reconstruction has been slower. Examples from Dhurmus-Suntali foundation motivates us to be hopeful. Nuwakot Durbar will be reconstructed for sure. We think that it will take a long time if it is left at its current pace. But if locals support the reconstruction and join hands, it will be easy for government and other stakeholders as well to speed up the work.  Locals need to make a start and bring ways for co-finance. At the end of the day, we wish to see the Nuwakot palace restored soon. 

Opportunities

Few Years Ago.

BA First Year

First day of class. (I was there on third day only. It was quite different experience to go to public college. It was like maze for me. I was not sure about the roads, the buildings and classes. As it was first day I had allocated around 25 minutes margin before the classes started. It took me full 20 minutes to locate my class. I was completely exhausted by the time I was able to find my class.)

First period was just over. Suddenly everyone started moving out like crowds. Everyone was rushing as if there was disaster. I could not locate, what went wrong? Though, I did not leave my seat, I was like pushed by the students who were jumping out of their desks. I learnt later that they were actually rushing to get seat in next classes for next period so that they can learn with better lecturers. That sounds funny. I continued to continue in same space and learn at same class; hmm I was better with good lecturers as I hesitated to rush. I noticed that there were more boys in class than girls.

BA Second Year 

By the time our classes of second year were concluding, I realized boys were disappearing. (Don't worry, it's not magic, they were either queuing up for taking foreign study consultancy services, joined Korean Language classes, trying to find reliable Manpower (they still call it manpower) and had dropped due to some other reasons. 

BA Third Year 

Classes were running faster than ever before. And tuition classes were on full swing. Finding more students in tuition centers than in college was not a surprise. Be that at regular classes or tuition classes, I felt there were more girls in the classes. 

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I finished bachelor course. Life continued moving, I enrolled into Masters. One day, we were attentively listening lectures from our Lecturer on 'Feminism'.

He stated, 'I think we are doing better. On Masters Classes, there are less boys and more girls, not just girls but lot of married women as well. So, people are no more hesitating to send girls to school/college, in fact they are sending their daughter in laws to College. Well, this is amazing."

Why should anyone stop just being married? Why Masters classes can't have more girls?

I tried to understand what notion did his statements carried in depth. Somehow I realized our lecturer's connotation was in positive tone. He was not complaining on the presence of more girl students, but was happy that more women have access to higher studies. He left in a while. I felt quite happy; in fact I felt like celebrating girl's power and treat ourselves as we could made up-to Masters. I took a while to have a look at time. As I noticed last class had went on for extra 10 minutes. I waved my friends on my bench and rushed to catch bus so that i could reach office in time.

Soon, I was busy settling lot of papers at my desk and mails at my inbox. By afternoon, I was trying to prepare a cup of Coffee Office lobby. I could hear two of my colleagues (Bhim and Arogya) giggling out loud. Till the time I had creamy Coffee ready, I was quite upset to overhear the conversation.

My ethics told me not to join the colleagues' conversation, whereas my inner heart suggested me that I need to intrude in between these gossips. I decided to join. Arogya was continuing to listen remaining in his revolving chair and was bit careful and his wide giggling face somehow compressed when I joined them with a cup in my hand. He opened his specs and wiped it with the pink fabric. Bhim was standing and speaking while leaning on working table.

Bhim tried to conclude, 'So, this is the reason that we should have no womens. No additional women staffs on our section for the time being'.

I tried to remain at ease and asked politely, 'May I know the reason why women staff should be strictly not recruited in your section? Ah.. Let me correct, our section.

We are in same section right, Admin and Finance?'

'I am fine with women staffs working in Admin. But for Finance, no way.'

'Can you elaborate this further, Bhim Sir?'

'See Sima Miss, we have to work after office hour as well. We need to rush to banks and tax offices. We may need to work till late evening; we may need to work on weekend and holidays as well?

'Oh, I see. Are these all reasons sufficient or you have more?'

'Ah.. Women staffs can't work like donkeys as male staffs do?'

'Are you going to recruit donkeys to carry loads or human resources?'

'Of course, we are hiring human resources'.

I responded, 'Well, I am aware that nature of our work demands extra hour works often and out of office movement as well. But women staff can easily do all these if we provided enough support. We just need to be cooperative'.

'I am not here to cooperate with women staffs. Simply, they will work less than me and I will have additional jobs. I will not simply allow my boss to recruit women staffs.'

I was feeling quite uncomfortable by then. Yet I did not give up. 'Do you think some of my assignments has been incomplete just because I am Woman'?

'No'.

'Do you think my quality of work have been degraded because I am Woman'?

'No'.

'Do you think the performance at my current position would have been better had there been man doing this job'?

'No'.

'Why it is so?'

'You are doing good job. I think good enough. I think you are doing exemplary work.'

'Then why have you problems if we hire women staff in our section?'

'Because women can't work as men do in Office'?

Gosh.. I was annoyed by his statements. Yet, ensuring enabling work environment was one of my primary task. So I could not let him go with his 'Anti women thinking for his section'.

'You have been working with Ms. Neelam for couple of years, do you have any instance she could not complete her work because she was woman'.

'No, never. In fact there is no single room of defect in her work. She can easily handle multiple tasks. In some situations, while dealing with service providers, though I am not dealing with them directly, I am quite irritated. I feel like slapping service providers for all stupid demands. But she handles them with much comfort.'

'Do you feel you could have done job better had you been doing the functions/roles which Ms. Neelam is doing right now.'

'No. She is more than perfect for her job. She is role-model'.

I now knew how I can convince him.

'See, you yourself are telling that women staff in our section is doing their jobs perfectly. No work has been hampered just because they are women.'

'But both staffs you referred are good ones including you.'

'If you have already two women staffs who are doing excellent jobs right at your section, you can't deny that upon hiring another women staff she could do even more excellent jobs. Please don't just negate on women's ability to work. Together we can create better work environment and work for achievement of organization's goal. We are working for gender equity and social inclusion in our Programmes. This is not achieved without having diverse workforce.'

His face was not as stiff and his eyes somehow told he was curious to listen. I realized somehow it's the best time to convince him.

I continued, 'Diverse staff means getting diverse ideas as well. Not only this, this is like having more innovations and learning from different culture as well. When we are diverse then we can better connect with our diverse impact groups. We always tell our impact groups on social justice and inclusion. They will believe and follow us if only we have diverse workforce. That's living up to what we say. Our work can be easily done by women staff, we should not have such biases, otherwise, we will never have enabling work environment'.

'Hmm. I think I know the notion why everyone else tells we should have diverse staffs. I just knew the real reason. I am happy to work from whichever background s/he comes.'

I took deep breathe. My eyes rested on my colleague sitting on chair who was gazing.

'Are you Ok?', I asked to Arogya.

He responded with wide smile.

'I feel like enlightened. I should thank him for questions and you for the responses. I am convinced fully and will convince whoever has questions on inclusion and diversity'.

I was happier than ever. I believed at least these two friends can now convince others as well.

We hired women staff in Finance Section. She is continuing to perform excellent job and all of her colleagues including Bhim are providing her ample cooperation.

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I have friend who have been teaching in same Private institutions for long time. Not only this, they have been teaching for same level throughout their service period. As I ask them on why it is so, they simply answer "being women, our School Management thinks we can't control students as Men do. I keep on arguing with them, yet, none of my friend attempted to convince School Management. Some of my friends have completed Masters Degree. They have rich knowledge yet they are limited to their primary level still from where their career started. At times, I feel I may be trying to tickle in their problems when I ask them if they were able to go beyond their assignments and stop myself from asking question.

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'Have you ever been denied from some opportunities just because you are women?

This was the question put forth by me to women applicants during job interview. Somehow I felt like restless to hear the response of interviewee. I somehow felt like while asking that particular question, I felt like nervous. Don't know if someone noticed me or not.

The responses were quite different. Some were never denied, some were often and some were denied for few times. Some were denied at home, some at school, some at college, and some at work-space. While some were denied to eat what they wanted, some were denied to dress on the way they intended, some were denied to have friends as they wished, some were denied to visit places they wanted, some were denied to study what they wanted, some were denied to work where they wanted, some were not offered job just because they were women.

Yet these are lucky girls who could at least make up-to here. Several should have dropped their wish and let it go. Some would have struggled and continued and some would have felt tired of struggling and just let go the things in the manner they go simply. The selection process was over, the results were amazing. The selected list had diverse, competent, committed and confident perspective staffs. We were happy to receive young professionals including women staff committed to do best in job with firm decision to work in some of most remote districts.

As the new staffs joined duty, we had brief introduction and welcome programme at Office Meeting Hall. After returning from welcome programme, I was working to finalize presentation for orientation for the recently hired colleagues, Bhim was there. As I asked him if he wanted any help from me.

He responded, 'You had briefed me on the importance of diverse work force. Seeing these young professionals and their commitments to work I am feeling delighted. I was like surprised to see on how they introduced themselves on such different and meaningful way. I feel it will be great to work with diverse people and learn from their experience and background.

I was more than happy to see complete transformation in him.  

Yes, more opportunities to work with diverse people and learn from diverse ideas.