Prem Khatry

The Vedic dictum – 'Charaiveti, Charaiveti' – keep moving- fits perfectly in the nature of the folk culture activities undertaken thus far. Its founding chairperson, the late Prof Jaya Raj Pant used to say – the Lokvarta itself is more of a campaign to establish it fully in the community of experts, followers and practitioners wherever they live. We approach them and try to familiarise them with our mission in their midst. We take our 'train' and caravan all over Nepal and exchange our thoughts with the people. FC is moving not just for the sake of moving; it also finds a place to interact with the folk culture creators and bearers. The word 'loka' or the 'People' was chosen while registering the organisation considering the fact that 'loka' is where there is wisdom, there is unfathomable width and depth of resources and folklorists.

Intangible culture
FC experts and activists keep asking these question – Who are we working for and why? The answer is: First, we are doing it for the sake of our own organisation that we carry on our back. Second, we do it for the people, whose representatives express themselves through their conference materials on annual basis and the locals listen to them. Third, FC feels like working for the government of Nepal. This is the kind of work vested on the shoulder of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. It is intangible culture FC is doing over the years on regular basis. The ministry has recognised it through some support at times. But in terms of regular activities, FC doesn’t much figure in the government activities. Fourth, we are also working for higher academic and cultural institutions like the universities with related departments, the academies, cultural corporations, the guthi (government trust) organisations as well.
Of late the academic institutions like the mid-western university, Surkhet, has incorporated Lokvarta in its syllabi at the graduate level. This was a strong step further to promote folk culture as an integral part of higher education in Nepal and this development was the first of its kind. TU is also said to have a department of Lokvarta. These provisions will surely enhance the growth of folk culture in the academic arena. This also means that study, research and publication envisioned by FC will bear fruits in the years ahead.
The previous issue of TRN gave a brief accounting of how the 9th national conference of FC brought the scholars to Rolpa and how the inaugural ceremony and paper presentation by local writers and FC team at Libang, the headquarters completed. This is to be noted here that the FC team was very impressed by the way Bam Kumari Budhamagar and her team worked hard to manage the conference as a successful event in the short history of the organisation. The event also found 22 local (nearly all from athara magarat) writers – both male and female- who did their best to present the magarat folklore from different perspectives – music, traditional laws and regulations, magar folk songs, traditional healing methods, traditional markets, magar proverbs, among several other themes.
After a warm goodbye to people and honours to event organisers and paper writers, the caravan proceeded toward Madi and Pariwartanpur. These areas have preserved the happy and sad memories of the decade long 'People's War'. Observed deeply, the scars of war are spread over the road, forests, rivers and hills. Stories of stalked deaths and escapes with success and physical losses on both sides are still alive. At Pariwartanpur, the mouth of Madi River has a deep and unique gorge with high rock-cut walls on both sides of the water. A bit down the river, the Village Council was all prepared to welcome the FC team with local food, dances, music and paper presentation.
The next stop – Ghartigaun – on a chilly hill was another attraction event. The local organisers – mostly Ghartimagar – did all they could in the leadership of Krishna Gharti of Tulasi Secondary School, Libang. After the colourful dances – the Paiseru, Charange and others - scholars from both teams presented their papers here as well. Principal Krishna Gharti's mimicry, songs, dances and merrymaking skills were memorable for the FC caravan. On the 6th morning the team left Ghartigaun and moved toward other historic places. At Tribeni, the Deputy Mayor hosted the programme and displayed her power to run the local governments. In fact, Magar females heading the local governments are capable enough to bring about change, Pariwartan, as the name of a Village Council goes.
There were stops where young revolutionaries had laid their lives and fitting memory spots were created. A martyr's widow and her relatives narrated the events near a Sahid Chautari at Dahavan. The Dahavan itself was wrapped by fog and not clearly visible. But at least three meteoroid 'dents' were spotted on the hill there. At Holleri FC caravan was shown the Siva Parvati cave and the beautiful view tower in the premise of Swargadwari Mahaprabhu's enclave near his birthplace. One can command the unique and picturesque view of the hills and mountains from Dhaulagiri to the East from this tower. Earlier the mayor, local elites, officials and teachers welcomed the group now already at Pyuthan.
On the 7th of Kartik the caravan reached Swargadwari, a noted site of pilgrimage known all over Nepal and India as well. This place turned the light of educational and at times posed a challenged to the then Rana regime, particularly Chandra Shumsher himself. Mahaprabhu continued on with his vision to make this place a Sanskrit education hub despite a variety of disturbances. FC team received warm welcome, good food and space for final papers and Concluding ceremony in the midst of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Swargadwari Municipality.

Star speaker
Finally, this was also an occasion to bid goodbye to scores of Rolpa participants led by Bam Kumari Budhamagar, Bhim Budamagar, Krishna Gharti, the singers and dancers as well as others who were together for five days. Speeches were exchanged. The star speaker in all these events was no other than senior professor and veteran folklorist Chura Mani Bandhu, often accompanied by Prof Motilal Parajuli. Sitting quietly but participating with zeal was international guest Pamela Ann Purr. In all, the Atharaha Magrat was in FC focus and it did all it could in hosting the 9th event and handed over the responsibility to hold the 10th to BB Mahato, the coordinator for the Dhanusha event.

(Former Dean of Humanities & Social Sciences, TU and Fulbright scholar from University of California, Khatry writes on cultural issues)