From the Editor :  


‘THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF AN EARTHQUAKE’

Ever imagined that such a statement could be true? Well it seems so, as I came to find out while reading an article in one of the national daily newspapers. The article was about the author’s ‘petrifi ed situation’ as he lived through the recent 6.8 magnitude earthquake on September 18 and his consequent realization of how we have been wasting time on futile issues rather than being aware of what is happening with our lives. Yes, if taken positively, we definitely have been forewarned, as this earthquake, although of a larger magnitude than the one at Dharan in 1988 which took 138 lives, was not as catastrophic. And as the author of the article lived to write his tale, we too are lucky to have been able to read it.

In such a backdrop, I was invited to present my views on an interesting and unusual program, ‘Pecha Kucha Night, Kathmandu, Vol. 4’, with the theme, ‘ENVISIONING NEPAL IN 2020’ – unusual in the sense that one had to put forward his/her presentation within twenty slides, each lasting not more than twenty seconds! Interesting, as the twelve speakers from different walks of life presented how they saw the year 2020. And more so since each speaker based their vision on their individual fi eld of interest approaching the subject either in a negative or positive perspective, but all with a common ground of concern - a hope for a better future.

Good to dream, no doubt, but then the dream becomes meaningless if we leave out the word ‘faith’ – something that we are fast losing to false promises, assurances, mismanagement and practicality. At the same time, we must realize that to do something right, we have to analyze where we have gone wrong. Widening of roads by pulling down structures and dismantling pedestrian footpaths may be the immediate solution, but will it solve the ever increasing traffic jams in the city? Or is the recent announcement of the government’s plan for an underground / overhead passenger train in the city, a constructive long term vision towards its solution? Defi nitely not, as this will not only invite more traffi c, but will also be economically unfeasible simply due to the seismic vulnerability of the Valley. Such glaring examples of impractical visions abound all around us since we prefer to look through coloured glasses and opt for easy and immediate solutions - failing to realize that we ourselves are also a part of the system and that tomorrow, if not the day after, our misguided visions will definitely get back to us…

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Contributors

Madan Chitrakar, a regular contributor to SPACES, is an artist, art critic, writer, and holds a masters degree in History and Culture besides a degree in Applied Art from J. J. School of Arts in Mumbai, India
and Iconographic Design from the Netherlands. His writings on art include the book on his late father Tej
B. Chitrakar, ‘Icon of a Transition’, published in 2004. He is presently associated as visiting faculty in the KU Centre for Art & Design. (madanc@ntc.net.np)
Bibhuti Raj Pradhan is an architectural graduate from ‘Sushant School of Art and Architecture’, Gurgaon, Haryana in India and he has been working in John Sanday Associates Pvt. Ltd. for last eight years. Currently he is the senior architect and associates of John Sanday Associates Pvt. Ltd. Some of his prominent projects include ‘Patan Hospital Maternity Ward – Nick Simons Block’ at Lagankhel, ‘Sel-In Pvt. Ltd.’ at Panipokhari and ‘Gurkha Welfare Scheme Residential Home’, an old age home for ex-British Gurkha Servicemen at Pokhara.
Swati Pujari graduated in architecture form Kathmandu Engineering College in 2009. Since then she has been involved in research, design and publication. She was an Editorial Assistant at SPACES and is currently working in the establishment of Devi Trust, a conservation organization dedicated towards preservation of not just monuments but also the intangible tradition and skills of society. (swati.pujari1@gmail.com)
Shivendra Patrabansh, runs his design studio ‘Seed’ and is involved in architecture and interiors. Rather than random concepts and forms, he believes in working with human experience in his designs. His inclination towards green architecture interests him in experimenting with building materials as well as climatic elements of design.

 



 

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Mr. Trilokesh SJB Rana, an accomplished individual in the field of furniture design. Beginning from his school days where he won the ‘Best Craftsman’ award in 1992, Mr. Rana has since gathered several awards including winner at the woodworking show at Olney Central College in 1997, ...
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