Article 1. Nepal, Women and Media Part 1 from LADY AIR: MAKING A DOCUMENTARY IN NEPAL, by Lisa Pellegrino.

28/10/08

LADY AIR: MAKING A DOCUMENTARY IN NEPAL
By Lisa Pellegrino

Article 1, Part 1: Nepal, Women and Media

An introduction to the country of Nepal, the condition of women and the Nepalese media

In May 2008, I traveled to Nepal to make an independent documentary about the condition of women in the country’s rural Plains and how the media (print, radio, television and computer/internet) can be used as a tool of empowerment, education and a source of identity, confidence and career. Over two and a half months, a friend and I traveled across the cities and country-side; staying with local families, visiting countless villages and radio/television stations and conducting interviews and research along the way.

In this first article, I will give a brief introduction to the country of Nepal, the culture, religion and the people. I will also discuss the role of women and the media in the Nepal.

Nepal: A brief Introduction
Nepal is located in South Asia and is a landlocked country, bordered by the People’s Republic of China and India. It is a very mountainous region, with Mount Everest (the highest mountain on Earth) being one of its most famous landmarks. The capital is Kathmandu and the official language is Nepalese, with the most common second language being Hindi. The population is over 29, 000, 000.

Geography- Despite being a small country, Nepal’s landscape is varied and vast, made up of three physical regions; the Terai (plains), the Pahad (hills) and the mountainous Himalayas (highlands).
Politics- After ten years of Civil War between the government and Communist Party of Nepal (the Maoists) which ended in 2006, Nepal turned from being a Hindu monarchy into a federal democratic state in May 2008.

Economy- Nepal is a very poverty stricken country. The main source of income is agriculture. There is great potential for tourism to be a leading income-generator for the country and although this industry does exist, it has been greatly affected by adverse events over the past ten years. Many factors have contributed to the country’s low economic status including the lack of appropriate infrastructure, difficult landscape, being landlocked, the civil war and the lack of natural resources. Consequently; many Nepalese move to urban areas, India, Malaysia and the Gulf countries in search of study and work.

Culture- It has a very diverse culture and the influence of the surrounding nearby countries of India, China and Tibet can all be seen as adding colourful layers to the existing unique Nepalese culture. The country has many ethnic and caste groups, including many indigenous groups. All of these groups have their own distinct languages, customs, food, dress, culture and arts.

Religion- The main religion of Nepal is Hinduism, however there is also a very large Buddhist population and a smaller Muslim and Christian population. Since the country has long been a Hindu monarchy, even those who are not Hindu still celebrate and adhere to many Hindu customs, celebrations and festivals.

Urban and Rural Areas
In Nepal, I found there are many differences between urban and rural area. Like in many countries, urban areas are more densely populated, with many people from rural areas moving to the cities in search of greater job and education opportunities. Rural areas are typified by villages and farming areas and are very often geographically isolated and difficult to reach. This affects transportation to and from various areas, import and export and the exchange and receiving of information and communications including various ICTs (Information Communication Technologies). Transportation is made difficult due to the hilly, mountainous geography, lack of sufficient roads or in some cases the non-existence of transport vehicles and roads. Also, many communication signals (like television and radio) can be difficult to receive in some areas due to the mountainous geography and lack of appropriate infrastructure to receive these signals.

Rural areas are typically more traditional. This is often very positive in terms of continuing and celebrating the unique and strong Nepalese culture and the strong emphasis on family roles and bonds. However, it also means that a variety of groups and individuals experience many difficulties and strict expectations based on their social and/or gender group. For instance; particular ethnic and indigenous groups, lower-caste, certain religious groups, people with disabilities and women often experience discrimination and adverse circumstances and must adhere to very strict cultural and societal rules.

However, due to the many recent developments in the country, many of which are coming directly from the Nepalese people themselves, this is all slowly changing and both rural and urban areas are paving new ways for their country’s future. In rural areas in particular, the media is being used by the people to educate, mobilise and empower their communities.

Pt 1 continues....