Re: Melting Everest and Falling Mountains

By: Himalayan Voice

Expert writer to the Ezine Aricles Mr. Hari Prasad Shrestha's book ' Melting Everest and falling Mountains ' is collection of events and issues of Nepal, Tibet and South Asia.

First article of book indicates seriousness of ice-melting caused by global warming. Furthermore,every day, thousands of cubic meters of sand, boulder and aggregates are being exported from Nepal to India to build large infrastructures in India. These natural resources are removed from riverbeds, riverbanks and also excavated from the ground near the foothills of the Chure hills. The removal of sand and boulders in Nepal can be seen in most of the rivers of southern Terai of Nepal. This exploitation work of natural resources is increasing in massive scale, beyond the bearing capacity of the rivers and the hill slopes of Nepal.

Major issues and realities been described in this book. The heart-touching depiction of Tibetan refugees and features of South Asian economy are other topics of interest to the readers.

The back cover of the book says - Former Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once famously said about Gurkhas: If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha. Nepal is considered to be the world's biggest museum. Nepal has always been considered as the holiest of the holy lands for the Hindu and the Buddhists. Still, the Nepalese social structure indicates primordial characteristics, if a man is born as Kami (blacksmith) he cannot be a Brahmin and Brahmin cannot be a Kami. This tiny country is bearing the influx of refugees. Tibetans are continuously crossing the risky Himalayan border to enter Nepal. Never-ending political transitional period has destabilized this nation. Power shortage has darkened the life of people and Nepal has lost its efficiency in implementing even small power projects to fulfill its internal power demands. Quota restriction and non-tariff barriers imposed by USA and India on major Nepalese production crumpled exports of Nepal and the whole economy became ailing after that intolerable fright.

The writer has depicted a marvellous picture of Nepal as world's biggest museum.. Since time immortal, Nepal has always been considered as the holiest of the holy lands for the Hindu and the Buddhists. Nepali people are well known for their language of generosity.

All important issues of the Himalayan nation is being covered by means of the core essays. Nepal's agriculture sector is not in a condition to even fulfill its families' food requirements. Not only in Karnali Zone but in entire Himalayan region of Nepal, the long queues for rice have been never-ending phenomenon. If food grains had not been imported and not distributed by the World Food Program of the United Nations, the food crisis would have been very serious. This shows the real condition and development status of the agriculture sector in Nepal.

The book seems to be serious about landlord's exploitation of weaker communities for labor by force has been a widespread phenomenon all over the country in different names. Only the degree of exploitation is different.

The writer has praised INGOs as agent of social change. INGOs may have their own objectives in entering villages of Nepal but where government's presence is zero NGOs are serving anyway in such areas has been praised by the writer. NGOs do not only distribute food to hungry, clothes to naked people, and medicine to the sick, but also advocate for the rights of the deprived. They work with communities together, and initiate social movement whenever necessary in the process of empowering the people.

In the article article "Nation's Failure by Power Failure "the writer portrays that the cause root problem of the power sector in Nepal is due to instability and red- tapism and powerful vested interest group (water mafias). The never ending load-shedding has darkened the future of Nepali people. The world's second largest hydro power potential country has been among the lowest power producer of the world.

The fine article the Risky Himalayan Crossings the author has marvelously explains about difficulties faced by the Tibetans who want to leave China through crossing the Himalayas, hiding the eyes of Chinese security forces. He writes-There are equal chances of victory and disappointment. Many days, they pass through lonely mountains, even out of trail by the fear of being detained, many times without food and water. If befall ailing en-route, they have to carry on their journey in such condition, too. Some time, they snooze under open sky of snow and wind. An ordinary over and under aged person hardly can trek in that trails, who are caught attempting to cross the border often face torture and varying periods of imprisonments.
The writer seems to be fully frustrated with the metropolitan mismanagement of the Kathmandu city. In the piece of writing Need for New Capital city he says, the city is suffering, from deteriorating air quality, unplanned infrastructure and housing growth, environmental risks, water contamination, lack of enforcement of stricter environmental regulations, growth limitations of drinking water, power, energy, roads and transportation. Trash piled up on the streets is a normal phenomenon and only 5% of wastes are recycled. There are almost no public transportation facilities by the government. Air pollution gets into the soil and contaminates it. Vehicles emit poison. Kathmandu is failing to retain her beauty day by day and it would not be exaggerating to say that the modern metropolitan character has been transforming into a gigantic squalid conurbation.

The writer believes that south Asia will be a leading region of the word economy. The article 'South Asia: The Emerging Region for Trade and Investment' portrays the good future of all the eight countries of south Asia.

How Nepal's economy is ailing due to strikes and bandha. Mr. Shrestha's article 'Strikes in Highways' explains the inner strike problem of Nepal. Protests and demonstrations are frequent recurring event in Nepal and any occasion can turn violent. Political meetings and rallies take place throughout the country. Tension between rival political groups can happen any time. Sporadic incidents of politically motivated violent may continue to occur throughout the country. These are some of the short descriptions of the book but this book contains other important features as well.

In the article the Dilemma of Economic Development External investors in Nepal do not feel very secure to invest. Infl uence of political parties and their organizations, insecurity, power shortage, weak infrastructure, labour problems, strikes have hampered industrial and commercial base in Nepal; Nepal has to re-think seriously.

The language of the book is simple. A writer from the mid-western region of Nepal has made great effort to write first book in English language. The readers in writer's home town Nepalgunj, in Nepal as well as worldwide readers are advised to spend few hours to read this book. It is difficult to find such consolidated book on Nepal, Tibet and South Asia and difficult to find negative aspects of the book. This book has been powered by pothi.com of Bangalore India. The readers can obtain print book (print on demand )or e-book by log in Pothi.com/pothi. This online buying print book and online reading facilities would help to the reader of Nepal and facility readers worldwide