Paush - National Upliftment Monthly

More documents

Recommendations

Info

12 National Upliftment Monthly Cover News Year : 1, Issue : 4 deteriorating Lumbini, they are firstly POLITICS, secondly POLITICS and thirdly POLITICS. Lumbini indeed had suffered a lot from the myopic politics and its dirty manipulations. Apart from redressing pollution of politics, we also have to change our mindset if we really want to talk about Lumbini in a global context. Aspiration alone does not bring result. We have to be liberal, broad-minded, and most importantly sophisticated enough to understand the universal values of democratic norms and consideration. Although Buddhism is secular and liberal, some of us have not been able to forsake the emotional attachment and possessiveness of Lumbini as a religious site. Lumbini may be an intellectual playground for few, a religious place for some and birthplace of many, but a Paradise of Peace like Lumbini cannot be a prerogative of any class, creed and intellectuals. There is no place for ethno-centrism in a World Heritage Site. Feelings are appreciable, so are faith, sentiments and wisdom but they alone are not enough to develop Lumbini. Only the combined effort of religion, wisdom, and action; ‘Dharma, Marma, & Karma’ can bring a logical balanced, and sustainable development in order to create Lumbini a true World Peace City. Conflict management – Nepal was a peaceful country. Ten years of unstable politics has made all Nepalese restless and tensed. In view of current conflict situation in Nepal, peace is of paramount importance to the people. The desire for peace has become almost like an obsessions for them. In this regard, they would welcome any effort- small or big – from any country or institution that would contribute to establishing peace in Nepal. The initiative to establish a world peace city in Lumbini will be highly appreciated in this context. However, Nepal like the rest of the world, we will have to learn to adjust to the fast changing order. In the contemporary world, one has to live in the modern world with modern problems, which are the direct and indirect results of all kinds of conflicts – political, social, racial, religious and economic. It is an irony that the conflict management now has become a profitable profession all over the world. The institutions that manage conflicts are mushrooming very fast. The developed countries are responsible for apple of discords in the developing societies, and they are the ones who benefit from producing and selling arms and ammunition to conflict affected nations. But what a paradox! The conflict management institutions are flourishing in the same developed countries. The so–called the champions of the conflict management countries regard conflict a normal, unavoidable and necessary. They work to create a world and communities where conflict’s position function is maintained and negative tendency are managed in effective way. They prescribe to transform the existing conflicts into positive direction rather than to suppress them. They believe that conflict is best managed in democratic way. Actually, this approach is not very far from truth. However, conflict is the beginning of a procession of resolution that finally lands in amicable solution. But if we are obsessed by self-interest and power politics, and if we become oblivious of other’s wish and choice we can never make progress in conflict resolution. This is the key to the conflict in every sphere of our lives. Therefore conflict is never ending; rather it is ever changing and always growing phenomena. Cultural Harmony and Religious Tolerance- In the context of Lumbini, we are very fortunate that we do not have any serious conflict inside the sacred garden of Lumbini, thanks to the Buddha’s teachings, cultural harmony and religious tolerance. However, some conflicts are noticed to some extent at management level among the trust members, concessionaries and some stakeholders, because conflict is directly proportionate to delivery of services. I also see some indirect intellectual conflicts between the hard-line conservationist and development faddists in Lumbini. It is not yet prominent, but it can create undesirable impacts in future. As usual, when the developers see the cost of everything and values of nothing and similarly when scholars see only value not cost, such attitude and syndrome of not realizing value but cost or vice versa eventually land up in a quagmire where we will be fighting a loosing battle and ultimately leads us to nowhere. Taking into consideration of past political exploitation that took place in Lumbini projects, we still foresee anticipation of such malpractices. I have no intention to blame democracy. I comprehend democracy as a Pandora’s Box that may releases stings and surprises but also spring eternal hope and anticipation. I have faith in democracy, which is a dynamic process of filtering positive results in action. However the problem is anti-establishment syndrome that has confused and frustrated us. Skepticism and anxiety when spread beyond the boundary bring conflict and cause profound impact on society and eventually it affects the country’s future. The disillusioned society needs to be resuscitated with trust, faith, morale and confidence. As truth has many faces, we need to understand its all aspects. When we look at thing from both side of fence, it gives us a sense of judgment and a power of positive thinking. Once we cherish our self-esteem, optimism, confidence and hope, peace prevails. With this hope, I am confident that establishing World Peace City in Lumbini is not an impossible dream. If we are committed and dedicated, we can translate this dream into an action. Think globally, act locally – The objective of the Lumbini World Peace City is not to create mega-city of the world or does it have any intention to deface the existing villages into shantytowns. A world peace city does not carry any feature of cosmopolitan metropolis of the consumer’s world. Precisely speaking, the aim of the Lumbini World Peace City is to recreate a quintessential city system of the Buddha’s era in 21st century format. World Peace City is not at all the vulgar exhibition of modernism.
Cover News Year : 1, Issue : 4 National Upliftment Monthly 13 Conventional wisdom says ‘think globally, act locally’. The strategy of developing Lumbini World Peace City is to build up a small selfcontained, traditional and low cost but conventional, comprehensive and innovative city system with lots and lots of greeneries. In other words, the city carries a flavor of revisited nostalgia of Kapilbastu. This is a modest attempt to recreate a town planning system like Bhaktapur. The cultural landscape of the whole city system should be predominantly inspired by the timehonored tradition, which will be a vernacular architectural renaissance in a true sense. There should not be any hanging wires, no chemical, biological, and visible and sound pollution. Charming roads adorned with avenue plantation connect adorable inexpensive household, which are not taller than the height of the tree or monuments. Basic facilities such as water, electricity, sanitation and drainage facilities, school, community college and hospital will be provided to the denizens of the Lumbini World Peace City. The economic activities should be supplemented with cooperative farming, dairies, cottage industries, soft tourism, micro financing, and other value-based entrepreneurship but not polluting industries. In a nutshell, Lumbini World Peace City should be a cultural, natural, social, religious, archeological and most importantly an eco-friendly city with a sublime landscape that enhance an ambiance of unified symbol of peace and harmony. Dr Kwaak and Dr. Brenes have recommended four books of agenda to develop Lumbini and serve as a road map comprising short, medium and long–term plans. I fully agree with their most visionary and innovative agenda. They are 1. Metaphysical Templates for the Urban Designers and Regional Planner. The designing and planning of the World Peace City is not to create and develop a city of ‘consumerism, competition and greed’. The urban design of the Lumbini World Peace City should ‘depart from the statusquo of the metropolitan character rather it serves to help us enter into a more harmonious, sustainable, and equal global village civilization signifying especially the teaching of Buddha and the UN’s vision of peace.’ Dr. Kwaak and Dr. Brenes further draws attention on designing and planning the World Peace City that the governance and system of management based on social and economic justice; creation of environmentally sound and culturally conserving development alternatives; education for the promotion of global community values; the vision for the future and its sustenance of a credible multi-religious vibrant faith community. 2. Urban Design Master Plan- This is intended to embody the shape of the World Peace City The key attributes should resonate in the urban design of the World Peace City as a 21st century city; educational city; world citizen city; peace city; environmental city; cultural city. They further suggest seven planning components for the development of the Lumbini World Peace City. 1- Overall vision concept; 2- Land use and built form; 3- movement and circulation; 4- landscape water, and ecological preservation; 5- public facilities allocation; 6- telecommunication and infrastructure; 7- and implementation and phasing program. Why World Peace City- Lumbini is the place where mind and heart cherish for peace. This is the land when eyes are closed, heart opens. Kindness, compassion and empathy are the synonym of Buddhism. The eyes of Buddha are the emblem of love. And Lumbini symbolized ultimate peace and harmony. If there is any appropriate place in this region to be declared a World Peace City, it is the Lumbini. This is the important task to be performed; not that we would but we should and we could. There are more than enough reasons to make Lumbini a World Peace City. • Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, apostle of peace • Lumbini is a sacred place of worship for million of Buddhists from all over the world. • Lumbini is a World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO. • Lumbini is the Fountain of the World Peace endorsed by the World Buddhist Summit. • Lumbini provides ultimate ambiance of peace and harmony. • Lumbini has fascinating monasteries run by various countries. • Lumbini is full of monks, clergies, religious and spiritual leaders. When the mere presence of a person of peace can be an inspiration to others and even affect the surrounding, just imagine with so many monasteries, monks and religious person in Lumbini, how much they could play roles in disseminating peace. This is the biggest inspirational source of peace to make Lumbini a World Peace City. • Lumbini has a potential to develop as a world class Pilgrimage Site. • Goutam Buddha airport near Lumbini is eventually going to be an international airport. • World Buddhist University is going to be established here. • Lumbini lies in the religious triangle of the World’s Buddhist circuit. • Mobilization of economic and technical grants, fund and resources are easier, because of its historic, architectural and natural importance. International organizations like UNDP, UNESCO, IUCN, International Crane Foundation, Bilateral and multi-lateral government agencies, leading world Buddhist organizations and foundations have already shown lots of interest in developing Lumbini as natural and cultural heritage site. • Lumbini is a fastest growing tourism destination, which is now conspicuously visible in the World map of tourism. With so much of tourism potential, Lumbini cannot stay in an unprivileged rural state. • The present village level administration cannot cope with growing demand and needs. It is incapable to address the evergrowing challenges of cosmopolitan nature. No one can stop the inevitable growth of urbanizing in Lumbini. Before any unplanned and uncontrolled urban growth takes an ugly grip, Lumbini has to be planned, designed and developed as World Peace City before it’s too late. • And finally and most importantly peace still prevails in Lumbini. In the recent history of Lumbini, not
Page 1 and 2: Year : 1, Issue : 4 Publication for
Page 3 and 4: NATIONAL UPLIFTMENT MONTHLY Year :
Page 5 and 6: Cover News Year : 1, Issue : 4 Nati
Page 7 and 8: Year : 1, Issue : 4 National Uplift
Page 11: Year : 1, Issue : 4 National Uplift
Page 25 and 26: Year : 1, Issue : 4 Cuisine Nationa
Page 37 and 38: Others Year : 1, Issue : 4 National
Page 41 and 42: Tourism Year : 1, Issue : 4 Nationa
Page 43 and 44: Tourism Year : 1, Issue : 4 Nationa

Paush - National Upliftment Monthly

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?