Kathmandu, March 20, 2006

Dry winter is now truly over. Mother Nature is changing to pave way for a new state of affairs. In the air, as meteorologists say, is thunders with highly welcome isolated showers. Met men are bracing for what they say as “Build-up System” in the run-up-to the monsoon which could hit the nation by June. “The time has begun for the hot wind to go up due to the heat of the sun,” senior meteorologist Mani Shakya said by way of pointing out subtle changes taking place in the atmosphere now. He indicated at every possibility of brief thundershowers any time. Reason being “land heating has already begun.” He also indicated at the remote possibility of showers lashing the capital and some parts of the country. He said since the effect of the westerly wind is not so strong, “the rainfall may be brief and isolated.” Senior meteorologist Mandira Rajbahak said since “it is a pre-monsoon season one should expect frequent thunder”. “It is natural to have thunder during this season,” Rajbahak said, adding brief showers could surprise all. “Predicting rainfall during this time is rather difficult though. It may be recalled that the parched nation had March 10 experienced a cloudy weather with light to moderate rainfall over most parts of the country something which brought some relief.

Kathmandu, March 20, 2006

At a time when the agitation against regression has become cloying, sermons from well-wishers boring and democracy stays buried six fathoms deep, the powers that be opened the gates of Singha Durbar for a team from the Mother of Parliament led by Sir John Stanley. The visiting MPs, on a see and learn mission, inspected every nook and cranny of the lower and upper houses of parliament and posed for a photograph with Speaker Taranath Rannabhat, who had sat on his chair. The last time he had done so was April 17, 2002, The lower House of parliament was dissolved on May 22, 2002, by the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, now roaring for its revival. “I am feeling proud and happy as I had been when I became Speaker” Ranabhat said. Asked how they felt observing the state of the Nepalese parliament, Sir John said: “This is a very important moment in our visit. The chairs of the Speaker (of HoR), and the Chairman of National Assembly were gifted by Britain, which symbolises the close ties between the two countries. We would like to see a fully functional democracy in Nepal.” “Even the British parliament did not sit for some time in history, but then we did bring our parliament back,” Sir John added when asked about the possibility of parliament revival here in Nepal.