I remember reading something about this in sajha few weeks back. Here's another such story http://www.cybersansar.com/feature/06august/feature.php?id=sapanashree&title=Will%20Singer%20Sapana%20Shree%20never%20return?

Will Singer Sapana Shree never return?

These days Sapana Shree is not in her home town. Wondering where she is? Well, she is working as a restaurant singer in New York of United States of America. She went there on a musical tour but instead of returning planned to stay back. For how long will she stay there? Well, that's a question mark at the moment.

Sapana's stay in New York is not a new gesture considering the number of popular film and music associated people migrating to this 'money land'. We have many stories of famous Nepalese leaving Nepal to take up small odd jobs in America maybe because at the end of the day, name and popularity does not count much. It is money and more money that matters. So, like all others, Sapana is also venturing on her journey towards fulfilling her materialistic satisfaction. Will she never return? "She may return because both her children are in Nepal. But, even this is not sure." reveals an anonymous source. As for us, we can only hope that Sapana returns back soon and continue gifting the music world with her best musical creations.

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।
नेपालीहरुको अरुको निन्दा गर्ने बाहेक कामै छैन,

लाखौं चाइनिजहरु छन यहां, लाखौं भारतिहरु छन यहां,

बल्ल बल्ल आएको एक् नेपाली बहिनी पनि कसैलाइ सहने भएन,

थुक्क,, यी जिउंदा लाजमर्दा असह्यै भएका बिकसित देशमा बांचेका
अबिकसित मस्तिष्कहरु,,,,,

"What is the use of fame, if there is no money associated with it?"

Oh really?

Go tell that to all the socail workers.
I wonder what Mother Teresa would have thought about it.

Hurray, I don't think mother teresa gives a damn about fame

Swatanta Nari, I don't think anyone is bad mouthing this singer. Yes, you are right there are tons of chinese and tons of Indians in USA. But can you imagine someone like Udit Narayan Jha, Salman Khan coming to US for a cultural program and staying here illegally?
If the wellknown people from Nepal start to stay here illegally, the US counslers will most probably come to hear about it. Consequently they will make it harder for other honest and honorable artists and common nepalese to get visa.

We always complanin about how things are hard for Nepalese and in Nepal, but we forget to see that we shoot yourselves on our own foot everytime. It is almost like grabbing the opportunity and closing the door behind for others.

Yes, people have personal reasons for choices they make. But at the same time could we also say that those people are dishonest, in fact criminals to break the law no matter what the reasons are? I am not implying that the singer is here illegally and hence has broken the law since I do not know. My statement only applies for those who fit the profile.

I think it is a delicate balance between responsibility and freedom.
As a singer or even an actors/actress they represent our country because we have given them that status. On the other hand they also have their personal right to do whatever they want. I think that if they want to denounce their celebrity status they are ever more free to do so and I think they should not expect the general public to look at them in the same manner even after they have taken such a drastic step.
They must always remember that with great power comes great responsibility.

Surprisingly for the first time I have to agree with you. So you understand what I am trying to say.

man these fuggers need to get a life. SO WHAT IF THEY WANT TO STAY HERE, THERE OR EVEN ON THE FUGGING MOON. IT IS NONE OF YOUR FUGGIN BUSINESS.

DO YOU HEAR ME ASKING ALL YO FUGGIN SORRY ASSES WHY YOU HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO HELP THE MOTHERLAND ? NOPE DO YOU HEAR THIS SAPANA GAL ASKING YOU WHY YOU HAVE NOT GONE BACK ? NOPE

THEN SHUT THE FU*K UP !!

This is a no brainer. It's her individual decision. So whether you like it or not, you should respect it. She's not in your payscale. She has a right to do whatever she wants. Take it easy on yourselves people.

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Bathroomcoffee,

You sound great today. Good points....

Did you you change your Coffee Brand today??..

That is great...
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See the point is as soon as you become a celebrity, a part of your personal life is publicized. That is a trade off that comes along with becoming popular. People respect you and put you higher up in a pedestal. But my point is that once you as taken such a drastic step such as this, you shouldn't expect people to put you in the same level. You shouldn't still expect people to respect you and think that you can still cling on to the celebrity status. The trade off goes both the ways.

Bathroom Coffee, I guess you have to reduce the level of Caffine in your coffee...

I recommend Decaf next time

k huncha ta ni basera. aru lai ke ko chaso hola. ppl r so nosy.

let her stay in New York for a year, then to Europe and then somewhere else. let her live the way she wants. anyway she is doing what she loves to do, singing and let other enjoy it. Go for it.

एउटी चेली त्‍यँहा गएर गरेर खान खोज्‍दा के भो त? राम्रो नै मान्‍नपर्छ। लाँखौ लाखलाई ठाँऊ हुँदा उसलाई किन नहोला त?

मुख साह्रो चिलाएको हो भने भारतको नर्करुपी वेश्‍यालयमा छल गरेर पुर्‍याएका हजारौ हाम्री चेलीहरुका उदधारको वारेमा भनौ। कसरी हुन्‍छ ती घटनाहरु!! घट्‍न र घटाउन बाट वचाँऔ।

भारतका वेश्‍यालयहरुमा हाम्री चेलीहरुको दुर्दशा र दुर्भाग्‍य देखेर लाग्‍छ ---माउन्‍ट एभरेष्‍ट, वुद्‍ध र गोरखालीमा गौरव राख्‍ने हाम्रो शिर र नाक (चुच्‍चे र थेपचे जे भएपनि) कँहा देखाउने? नेपाल दिनहु विश्‍वको सवैभन्‍दा गरीव देश भएर गइराखेको छ; राजधानीमा कतिको मोज छ।

लेख्‍न र भन्‍नलाई त जे भनिदिए पनि भो, आदर्शका कुरा गरेर मात्र भएन।

एउटा राजधानी सम्‍म सफा राख्‍न नसक्‍ने सरकार छ, जो आएपनि। सडकमा हिडँदा फोहोरको गन्‍धले हिडँनपरनेहरुले नाक खुम्‍चाएर हिँडछन, नत्र गाडीमा सवार हुनेलाइ के थाहा र के सरोकार। नेपालीहरु साधारणत फोहोरी हुन भनौ भने कतिपय ठामहरुमा सफासुघर वस्‍नेहरु पनि छन।

राजधानीमा नेपालीहरुलाई आफ्‍नो बैठक र पुजा धर्मादिको नाममा सफा भए पुगो। स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य मत्रालयमा मूत्रको वासना चलेको हुन्‍छ; वीर अस्‍पताल वर्षौ देखि माझेर मसकाएर सफा गरिएको छैन। कोहि भन्‍छन - छिँडी र पिँडीमा फोहोर गरनेलाइ जनताको स्‍वास्‍थ्‍यको के मतलव। गोश्‍वारा हुलाक अघिको शौचालयमा गन्‍धले मात्र उर्जा वनाउने हो भने नेपाल धनी हुनेछ।

आशुजी, तपाईको नेपाली टाइम्‍सको कलममा लेख्‍नुहोला, नेपालीलाई शहर र ठाम परिष्‍कार राख्‍न किन नआएको होला? हाम्रा मँत्रीहरु, योजनाविदहरु देखि ऐरे धैरे लुईरे सवै कर्मचारीहरु विदेश गएर देखेका छन कस्‍ता सफा राखिनपर्छ भनेर। ओहदामा भएकाहरु विदेशमा हुदाँ त्‍यँहा देखेका जस्‍ता हाम्रा नेपालमा यस्‍ता उस्‍ता गर्नपर्छ भनेर धाक लाउछन, तर नेपाल फर्के पछि त्‍यही चर्पी गन्‍धेमा झ्‍वाम्‍म! एयरपोर्टमा आईपुगेपछि सबै विर्सिने शपथ लिएका छन क्‍यारे! शहर सफा गर्न सार्क सम्‍मेलन नै पर्खनुपर्ने?

एयरपोर्रटको कुरा गर्दा के सझना भो भने त्रिभुवन एयरपोर्टको चर्पी, दुवै आऊने र जाने, यति फोहोर छन कि त्‍यहा पनि गन्‍धको ऊर्रजाको उद्‍योग सचालन गरे पनि हुन्‍छ। न त पानी, न त पेपर। चारैतिर फोहोरै फोहोर। सरकारी हाकिमको अफिस, सेरोफेरो, र पियनले चिया वनाऊने ठाम त जन्‍डीस र के के को खानी हो खानी। वाहिर वाट राम्रो देखिए भइगो। नेपाली मेनेजरहरुको एम. बी. ए. को पहिलो पाठ र जनस्‍वास्‍थ्‍यका कार्यकर्ताहरुको त्‍यँहा वाट शुरु हुनपर्छ। पर्यटनका जिम्‍मा लिएर वसेकाहरुले आँऊदा-जाँदा भीआईपी र विजनेस लाऊन्‍ज मात्र होइन, दुइटा सम्‍म उडान हुँदा फोहोर बाथरुममा यात्रुहरुले भोग्‍नपरेका दुख वुझ्‍न ती बाथरुममा पनि जानपर्‍यो।

अन्‍तमा, आशुजी,नेपाली टाइम्‍स वा हिमालखवरपत्रिकालाई पत्र मार्फत यी गुनासोहरु पोखु भन्‍ने सोच्‍दैथिए, यो साझा मार्फत नै तपाइलाइ पोखिदिए।

अझ एउटा सुझाव के भने, खालि सरकारको मात्र मुख ताक्‍न भन्‍दा पर्यटन व्‍यवसायी र अरु शुभचिन्‍तकहरुले आफै ऊदाहरण पेश गर्नपर्‍यो।

पहिले कदमका रुपमा, अन्‍नपुर्ण होटल अघाडिको सडकमा, जँहा थाई, लुफ्‍टहान्‍सा, नाँगलो, येती, इत्‍यादि अफिस छन, पेटीमा सफा टायल राख्‍नपर्‍यो र खाते र मगन्‍तेहरुको भीड हुनदिनुभएन। चटक्‍क फुल गमलाहरुले सजाएर सफा राखे भोलि त्‍यो न्‍यरोड र अरु ठामहरुले पनि सिक्‍नेछन। त्‍यतिका भाडा उठने ठाममा घरधनीले पनि गर्नपर्‍यो वा पर्यटन व्‍यवसायमा सलँग्‍न अफिसहरुले नै यो उदाहरण प्रस्‍तुत गर्नपर्‍यो। कति सरकारको मात्र मुख ताकेर वस्‍ने? प्रत्‍येक अफिसले महिनामा एकदुइ हजार दिन नसक्‍ला त?

नेपालीहरुले आफ्‍नो आगँन आफै सफा राखौ। किन होला पजिटिभ थिगँकिगँका रथी पर्यटन व्‍यवसायी कर्ण शाक्‍यजीलाई यस्‍तो सोच आएन रहेछ।

यो कुरा र त्‍यो 'ग' वाट आऊनेलाई जता चलायो ऊतै लाग्‍छ भन्‍छन।
लामो भयो; समाप्‍त गरौ होला।

I was very thrilled to hear Ms Sapana Shree sing one of my favorites, “Heereko Timilai Akha Le Hoina, Maya Le Ho” at a concert in the US – she was part of the Nabin Bhattarai entourage. I would’ve probably not gotten that chance in Nepal. Be as it may, her absence is a loss for Sapana Shree fans in Nepal or rather Kathmandu. But the debate is more than that.

The reason Ms Shree’s name has come for debate is because she’s considered special. May be she isn’t. May be she is just one among thousands of Nepalese that trek abroad everyday (at the rate of 500 according to news reports) for better opportunities. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, Nepal’s economy has been sustained through the Maoists-insurgency decade by the remittances of these foreign bound workers. Again, reports say, 1 in every 11 households has a family member working abroad. I guess that includes Nepalese working on a seasonal basis in India. The whole economy of Kathmandu seems to revolve around remittances. Despite lamentations about so-called “Lahure Culture” in Nepal (see, http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=81512), it is strongly embedded in the country since historical time – the brave Bal Bhadra, the hero of Nalapani died serving the British Raj (http://www.himalmag.com/2006/march/analysis_5.html). Thousands of Nepalese have and continue to shed blood and sweat for the British Queen (Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia), the Indian state (Sri Lanka, Kashmir), Chinese tycoons and Gulf sheiks. In fact, poor countries, both in terms of human capital and resources, like Nepal can only be sustained by sending their able-bodied population to greener pastures abroad. There is also a huge political dimension to this foreign migration but that’s another story.

But Ms Shree is not just anybody is Nepal. She is a well-known singer – even I know her. Many people probably put her on a pedestal and look up to her as a role model. Role models define the norms. When people like her or Ms. Karishma Manadhar or Mr Saroj Khanal or Mr Ram Raja or others that define the norms quit their career and leave Nepal for something that Nepalese consider “beneath their level” then it becomes socially acceptable. It is one thing for uneducated, jobless villager to go to work at a construction site in Malaysia or an oil rig in the Gulf. But it is a different matter when professionals, artists, teachers, police and army officers, and community leaders go abroad to do odd jobs. What’s the impact on those remaining behind? What’s the impact on those growing up? What the impact on the country? The point being that Nepal urgently needs positive roles models who are living and breathing in Nepal. Only then will the country gain self-confidence, a basic ingredient to make any progress.

The sad part of foreign work is that the dark sides are not highlighted to the folks back home. The myth remains in Nepal that working in foreign land is bliss. I have met professionals who had reputed jobs in Nepal but quit to come to the US to work illegally. Now they’re stuck. They can’t do what they were trained for because they don’t have legal papers. They can’t tell the reality of living in the underground economy to folks back home. I would recommend a Swiss-Turkish movie, “The Journey of Hope” to those who haven’t seen it – I am sure lot of people can relate to that story.

Going back to Ms Shree. I am sure she is doing fine. My understanding is that artists can get their permanent residency quite easily in the US – they are under special category. I guess that’s another reason why we are seeing so many Nepalese artists migrating to the US.

I dont believe anyone cares if these celibrities/singers/entertainers stay here legally or not. Only thing people over here care is that they(celibrities) be present at different Nepali functions/festivals/programs/melas to entertain people.

The worse thing is that the people make fun of(or shun) these celibrities for staying here illegally. It such a crappy thing to entertain folks here and get shunned in return.

Leave them the fucccck alone..u morons!!!

I am really sorry for those who spent a hell lot of moeny to come here. Now they have a worse job they would never do back home and living like a pig. I seriously feel that is really bad. I wish, sapana shree is still preserving her artistic ability and will give abck to the nepali society whenever her life permits her to do so.

Mirmiray-ji wrote:

"आशुजी, तपाईको नेपाली टाइम्‍सको कलममा लेख्‍नुहोला, नेपालीलाई शहर र ठाम परिष्‍कार राख्‍न किन नआएको होला? हाम्रा मँत्रीहरु, योजनाविदहरु देखि ऐरे धैरे लुईरे सवै कर्मचारीहरु विदेश गएर देखेका छन कस्‍ता सफा राखिनपर्छ भनेर।"

Mirmiray-ji,

What we -- Nepalis -- know and what we do are two different things.
And the two do not match, and that's fine, for that's life.

So, there's this huge knowing-doing gap -- as you have mentioned one example of this.
But I am NOT worried about this gap.
If we do all that we know, then we will NOT be humans, but gods and goddesses! :-)

So, OK: We have a solid waste disposal problem in Kathmandu because we have never
taken the time to think critically and then act decisively on the issue.

Yes, we all share the goal: that of keeping Kathmandu clean.
Nobody disputes this goal.

What is at dispute is HOW to achieve that goal.

Should we rely on traditional sweepers and cleaners who report to municipal officers?
Should we being in private waste-disposal businesses who can clean up the mess and make a profit in the process?
What do our environmentalists say about the issue?
Are recycling waste products in KTM too costly (more inputs for fewer outputs); and if so, could we look for ways to lower that cost?

And on and on . . .

Mirmiray-ji, the point is: it's not enough to have to our planners visit various countries and come back with ideas. We have been doing that since 1951, and we have what
we have today, which is far from ideal.

So the point is this: Whenever there are PRIVATE issues are involved (say, about cleaning personal rooms and ghar), we tend to do a pretty good job.

But whenever there are PUBLIC issues are involved (say, doing something to enhance the cleanliness around temples, parks, streets and so on), we tend to do a lousy job.

The question is: What explains this private cleanliness and public squalor? After all, the people are the same. Why do they behave one way in one setting and the other way in another setting?

Any effective solid waste management program needs to start by tryingt o answer that question, and then put in activities that reduce the level of solid waste problem in Kathmandu.

My two cents.

Thank you Mirmiray-ji for your kind words.

Writing the NT column is fun, and I do it for the love of it.

But, alas, truth be told, the power and the influence it's supposed to confer on me remains vastly exaggerated :-(

oohi
ashu