3. Nov -Dec 2011

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 ‘petrified 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.
While the city planners dream of underground/
overhead trains, children in villages go to
school on such precarious transport.
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 field 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.
Such glazing may be the aesthetic design
demand of the day, but these same
aesthetically beautiful pieces can be lethal in
the event of an earthquake.
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? Definitely not, as this will not only
invite more traffic, 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…
In spite of the inevitable earthquake,
the concerned authorities are oblivious
to the hazard posed by the construction
of such slender structures.
spacesnepal.com 14
November - December 2011
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