Recognise true heroes

It is surprising that while we honour people from all sectors — laureates, actors, etc — we easily forget our traditional artists and craftsmen who help preserve our culture and tradition. For example, there is an octogenarian mask-maker in Thimi, who has been making traditional

masks all his life. He is highly respected in his community and is known as the ‘Prestige of Thimi.’ But he remains unknown outside this small place. Cities like Bhaktapur and Kathmandu retain their traditional aura, thanks to people like him. If these people give up their traditional jobs, the cultural fabric of these historic places will be gone. That will have a direct bearing on our tourism industry. Let us learn to recognise and honour our real heroes

in time.

Anita Chitrakar, Thimi

Lopsided

I disagree with your July 25 editorial supporting India’s bid for UNSC permanent membership because it is pro-Indian. The problem with India has been her attitude towards her

neighbours. Given that Nepal remains landlocked between India and China, she has to weigh in the positions of both the neighbours in defining her own in this respect. Therefore, a quid pro quo from India will make it easy for Nepal to go the whole hog in her favour. Such policy shift should essentially manifest in India putting pressure on the Nepali Maoists to return to non-violent democratic process in Nepal and in her help to achieve the dignified repatriation of the Bhutanese refugees who were shown one-way street to Nepal over Indian territory more than a dozen years ago.

Bihari K Shrestha, via email

Impressive

I am highly impressed by the Credos “Meditation” by Aparita Bhandari being published in THT for the last few days. The writer manifests the amalgamation of good culture and rich vision. The nuance with which she guides people to living a spiritual life seems to stem from her close study of the Hindu culture. I also believe that religious rituals like the counting of rosaries and deep meditation takes one closer to God. The narration of her yoga sessions and meditative states are equally illuminating.

Neetu Kafle, via email

Laudatory

This is in reference to Dewan Rai’s write-up ‘Consumers’ call’ published in the

Perspectives on July 24. His article “Hygienists posing as dentists” shows the urgent need for Nepal Dental Association (NDA), Nepal Medical Council (NMC) and other concerned government bodies to come together to stop the unaccredited dentists from duping the gullible patients. Lack of awareness among the patients makes them highly susceptible for

extortion by these fake dentists. Most patients don’t even care to check the accreditations of their dentists. The NDA and NMC must set strict guidelines for the registration of dental clinics, which in turn should be monitored by a separate government body. Meanwhile, I would like to congratulate Rai for his outstanding article.

A C Regmi, Battisputali

Erroneous

The author of Palpasa Café is Narayan Wagle and not Kiran Wagle as published in THT on July 26.

Bikas Rauniar, via e-mail