Episode 1:
"Mountain Identity"

The first in a series of pilot radio programmes is entitled "Mountain Identity". It is about how mountain/hill people from the villages of Katike and Bhojine in and around Nagarkot, northeast of Kathmandu valley, perceive themselves in relation to those who live in the plains or cities. The Tamang people of these villages are instantly recognizable by outsiders, especially tourists who come to Nagarkot for a panoramic view of the silvery Himalaya to the north as well as for sunrise and sunset. Tamangs are fair-skinned with somewhat stubby nose, and small eyes that are imbued with emotions and devotion that run as high as the mountains to the north. However, they are not the only inhabitants in these parts.

Man Bahadur Tamang: "Cold water, chilly wind. At least we see the Himalaya from here. Food tastes good in the mountain. Anyone can tell I am a mountain dweller by looking at how I'm dressed: in suruwal (tight Nepali pants), bhoto (Nepali tops), and waistcoat. We do not wear suits-pants like you do."

Kanchi Tamang: "Anyone can tell right off that we are from the mountain. Our language, way of dressing and walking give us away. Our style of wearing lungi (sarong), blouse, our Tamang lingo, and sense of fashion are different. Language is also different."

Dhurba Prasad Basthakotha: "Alpine land or mountain - where it snows. Cold. Many work in the field wearing bhoto-kachchhad, distinctive walking style, when we see a vehicle, we are easily frightened, so we hurry to the side of the road, they can tell right off we are 'mountain people.'"

Anjana Tamang: "Village girls are simple; city girls are into fashion. Because we live here in the mountain, we have to clean cowsheds, go to forests, cut fodder and grass…that's what we do."

Sita Sundash: "They can tell us from our fashion, language. We do agriculture only…so money problem is common."

Murali Nepali: "From our names, and lingos, they can tell we are mountain people. Doing agricultural work means our clothes are often soiled and dirty. That's how we farmers are: If we work for ten days, we obsess about our work for 20 days."

Dil Maya Pakhrin: "City people - eat lunch and head for work, don't they? Us? No work. So we wake up, make tea, drink and then cook lunch. City people have jobs to go to; we don't."

Ram Adhikari: "Mountain people are fit as a fiddle, energetic, and have simple lifestyle. Our customs are different. Unlike the people of Kathmandu, we are very straightforward in nature."

Nani Maiya Tamang: "City people know we are mountain people because we do not normally dress up except during festivals - and they say we do not know how to dress up. Our lingos, clothes set us apart. We wear a 1500-rupee sari carelessly. Since don't dress smart, so they say we are 'hill-billies'. We do not know how to cross the road, so they can tell. We walk differently."

Laxman Giri: "You can tell city people and mountain people apart from their lingos, attires, walking styles and behaviours."

3. How Do Experts View This Issue?

Dr. Mangal Singh Manandhar, Professor of Geography, Tribhuvan University: "You can tell a mountain by looking at its landscape. An elevated landmass is a mountain. UK's Ben Nevis is less than 4,500 feet. Our valley (Kathmandu valley) is at an elevation of 4400 feet. Nepalis call a high-altitude landmass 'mountain', and la  low altitude landmass 'thumko' (hillock). Also what pass for 'hillocks' in Nepal are called 'mountains' in many parts of the world. Therefore, any landmass of considerable height is a mountain."

Ram Prasad Khandel, President of Nepali Folk Music Museum: "Musical instruments found in mountains are not played in fast tempo - for example, selo and tunga. When you come to the hill region, music is played in all sorts of styles: high pitch, fast, and slow. The ascent is not much, you trudge up slowly and then descend rapidly down a tortuous trail, and for this reason the music played here is also of a mixed type: fast and slow, like suddenly losing one's temper and instantaneously rediscovering the joy of living."

Dr. Pitambar Sharma, Geographical Development Expert: "Mountain culture is different from other cultures. If you go to  mountain regions of other parts of the world, say to Bolivia or Ecuador in South America, and come back to the mountains of Nepal, you sense some commonalities. People's capacity to adapt to mountain environment - coping mechanism - is more or less similar no matter which mountain regions of the world they come from."

Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Natural Resources Policy Specialist, ICIMOD: "It's very chilly in the mountains, and mountain people like to drink indigenous liquors such as jand. They wear woolen clothes. They raise livestock: their livelihood options are limited. For this reason, they are usually poor; however, they are cheerful and easygoing. They are very welcoming of visitors and show good hospitality. They have a good sense of community, and like to work together."

Dr. Pitamber Sharma, Geographical Development Expert: "Mountains and hills have always been exploited. Forests are felled and taken downstream. Flowing water generates electricity, which, too, is distributed downstream, but not always in the mountain. Planes fly to cities. What natural resources they have, they sell them at bargain prices. However, changes have come to Nepal. Mountains have always been cheated, and they've become an export point for human resources. Gorkhalis left Nepal for India, joined the British Army and fought in wars. Go to mountain regions of Pakistan and India, you'll see that mountain economy means remittance economy: out-migrating for employment and sending money back home. Now people are slowly realizing that there are resources in mountains, and if they can be tapped sustainably for their benefits, mountain development is possible."

Dr. Eklabya Sharma, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, ICIMOD: "Eating habits are different in mountains. Items found here and working style are different. Energy requirement is also greater since the mountain inhabitant has to trudge up and down the mountains, carrying loads. Mountain cultures are very different from those of the plains. 

"Their food requirements cannot be met by agriculture alone, so their relationship with forests is one of dependency. Wild edible fruits and vegetables found in forests supplement their unmet needs. Agriculture provides food for 5-6 months a year only, and their off-farm livelihood options are limited. They cannot afford good education for their kids. When they return home from travel outside bringing in new ideas, they often have no capability to implement them. There are also many good things in mountain areas. Tourism has brought about economic development where tourists go.

"Development plans designed for the plains when applied in mountains invariably fail. So the mountain people lag behind in education, agriculture, road, and housing sectors. What is amiss in the national planning is the mountain perspective. Development plans that do not take into account mountain specificities do not succeed in mountain areas. There has not been much improvement in planning for mountain development.

"Mountain regions are rich in resources, but sadly, the mountain people in general are poor. If we look at biodiversity, it is possible to make lots of money from medicinal herbs and aromatic plants. There are many opportunities for empowering mountain people. Development can be brought about through the sale of energy produced by hydro-projects, for instance. Mountain people have been in the forefront of conservation of their mountain environment. Economic assistance for conservation is also being talked about in international forums. 

"That we have not been able to take advantage of natural resources is our problem. Take the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region encompassing eight countries, for instance. For better management of natural resources for development, all the eight countries must forge regional cooperation. India and China have big market potentials. Water flows from Nepal to India and Bangladesh. How do we tap these opportunities and how do we harness natural resources for mutual benefits? 

"Increasingly, people are realizing that mountains are not a curse, but potentially a boon."

a. Radio script of episode 1, Nepali version (PDF)
b. Hills vs. Mountains
c. Short profile on the Tamang