Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 310-330) / Microfiche. / xiii, 330 leaves, bound ill., maps 29 cm

The objective in this research is to examine the production and performance of theatrical activities aiming at bringing about social change in both development and political intervention. My investigation began with Aarohan Theatre Group, a Kathmandu-based professional company and subsequently extended to Maoist cultural troupes. I have taken a critical perspective considering theatre as a mode of socio-cultural practice embedded in the wider socio-political reality. Thus, I present an account of what it means to do theatre and live by theatre in contemporary Nepal, from 2005 to 2006, through the artists' perspective. Co-performance, that is participation in some performances, complemented participant observation as a methodology. Theatre provides an outstanding context for both social reflection and symbolic action. In a manner similar to ritual, theatrical performances can become deliberate means for both constructing and de-constructing power and symbolically legitimizing or de-legitimizing authority. In Nepal, modern artistic and political theatre developed side by side. First, an historical overview of its development will set the scene for understanding the role played by theatrical performances in the years 2005-2006. In fact, during my fieldwork, history repeated itself. The restrictions on civil rights imposed by the king through the 2005 Emergency affected both street and proscenium theatre activities. Subsequently, ethnographic descriptions will illustrate the theatrical apparatus that the king employed to legitimize his power and how autocracy was similarly resisted and fought against in the streets through theatrical forms of protest and street theatre, loktantrik natak. I will then narrow my focus to a specific form of participatory street performance, kachahari natak, to describe how it was adopted and adapted in Nepal and how the theatre group developed as an organization. In conclusion, 1 will draw comparisons between different forms of 'theatre for social change', kachahari natak, loktantrik natak and Maoist cultural programmes.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

This study focuses on Bhaktapur Durbar Square, one of the monument zone of Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site which lies within a Bhaktapur city, an ancient historic town. Through survey research targeting local people and key informants interviews, this study tried to investigate on the domains of major impacts from the cultural tourism in Bhaktapur Durbar Square from the perspective of local community. The study then explores the different factors serving to generate the impacts from macro and micro level of context. Macro level deals with the international and national context whereas micro level deals with local context. Using data collection methods such as interviews with organizations involved in the management of WHS, tourism, expert interviews, primary and secondary data analysis, which is to explore factors affecting the generation of tourism impacts for the community, is carried out. By combining the research conducted at the community level and the many influencing factors, the study intends to explain the socio-economic-cultural heritage impacts at the community level in light of the management or governing process of the WHS, the institutional arrangement as well as the interactions between organizations, and in the context of policy – which is reflected in the current legal framework influencing the site. This study finds that cultural tourism in Bhaktapur has contributed significantly to local government’s tax revenue particularly through tourist entry fee which in turn contributed in the conservation of the world heritage properties. However, the study also found that there have been limited positive impacts of cultural tourism for the majority of local people i.e. farmers group. Tourism has not encouraged the growth in the agriculture sector – a sector in which more than 60% of the farmers are involved. The concentrated tourism development at the core area of the city imparts the economic disparity among the people one who live in the core area and one beyond it. This study also found that tourism in Bhaktapur has limited impacts in raising the standard of living, household income, skills and training, infrastructure and public facilities. In the analysis of factors in the international context, this study argues that the nomination process, guidance from relevant international organizations and development in WHS discourse have influenced the cultural tourism development – although not directly. In terms of the national context, it finds that there is a lack of comprehensive policies and planning for conservation and tourism development which works in separate institutional framework. Analysis of factors in the local context, problems at the local area, such as decreasing agriculture land, inefficient management plan, lack of political commitment, lack of awareness and education, limited scope of work, lack of community organization, etc contribute to the perceived tourism impacts. This study finds institutional problems such as lack of planning mechanism, difficulties in coordination as well as legal framework that prevent the management system from working together to address local issues. This study recommends that a strong cooperation and coordination mechanism should be established under the framework of comprehensive community development and management plan in order to develop local economy alongside with tourism and contributing to wider benefits to the local community. A community based tourism strategy is recommended in order to reduce the disparity, directly benefiting the community and encouraging the local community to involve in decision making process. All of these efforts may help to realize at the micro level, the ideal of WHS for development that has been stated by organizations such as UNESCO in the macro level. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Graduation date: 2003 / Best scan available on figures. Original figures are dark.

Educational response to climate change is one of the measures to prepare people to combat climate change. This thesis explores the lived experiences of secondary Science teachers from Kathmandu Valley on the perception of climate change, the way they handled climate change issues in the classroom setting, the problems and challenges they came across in climate change communication in the classrooms and the relevance of existing secondary Science curriculum in relation to climate change. The thesis is built upon the study of secondary Science curriculum, relevant literature on climate change education and the interviews with secondary Science teachers, teaching Science at secondary level in different schools of Kathmandu Valley.  The results showed that the teachers were convinced and concerned on the ongoing climate change and stressed on knowledge for climate change actions; they were found to introduce climate change issues contextually and relating to the topics like greenhouse effect, ozone layer depletion they teach; lack of resources, exclusion of climate change in the secondary Science curriculum, their own limited knowledge on climate change, the unpractical theory and marks oriented educational system, and shifting of the responsibilities by the students hindered effective climate change communication in the classroom settings. The findings have been discussed in relation to social learning theory and relevant literature.

Aim: Our goal with this study was to see the well-being index among adolescents in Kathmandu, Nepal. But also to investigate the factors that contribute to well-being and what the adolescents believe is the most important thing.  Method: The method used in this study was a questionnaire, it included eight questions with 44 adolescents participating. Group interviews were used by help with mindmap, groups of  3-4 adolescents to investigate their perspective of well-being used. We chose to do both because we wanted the results of the index and the adolescents thoughts about well-being to emerge.  Results: The results from the questionnaire showed that 34,1 percent among the adolescents have 80-90% well-being according to the PWI scale we applied. According to the adolescents’ own estimated level of well-being, about 68 percent of them have good well-being and 30 percent of them have a really good well-being. However the PWI scale shows that only 9 percent have a really good well-being. The results of the group interviews showed the most important thing for well-being according to the adolescents are satisfaction, quality of life, happiness, love (friends, family, relationship), education, health and social service.

Thesis (B.A.)--Bryn Mawr College, Growth and Structure of Cities Program, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 590-616).