A Token of Love
One of the great things about being a Fulbrighter is that there are always . . . more Fulbrights! Probably to maximize the investment in the South Asian Scholars, Fulbright offers Regional Grants to work with other universities in South Asia in select countries — I chose Nepal. I was lucky to be able to connect with visionary lawyers and faculty at Katmandu University School of Law who were interested in starting a legal clinic and who got their Dean’s support — with that letter of invitation and a short grant application, I was ready to go.
Arriving in Nepal was magical — even just the airport.
Me in the Nepal airport with a statue of Lord Buddha.
In Delhi I hadn’t had the opportunity to visit any Buddhist sites, so I was excited to have Lord Buddha greet me at the airport. Although I thought of Nepal as a place where people go to do Buddhist pilgrimages (which is true — there are famous temples and stupas — a dome shaped Buddhist shrine containing a relic — including the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini) — but most of the country, 82%, identifies as Hindu. My friends told me that in Nepal, Hindus and Buddhists often worship at each other’s temples and regard them as shared places of worship. Imagine.
Since Katmandu University was located about an hour outside of Katmandu in Dhulikhel (and since I was craving a good dose of nature) I chose the kind-of nearby small organic farm resort called Namo Buddha (thanks to the recommendation of Adam Grotsky, the Executive Director of USIEF, the United States-India Educational Foundation in Delhi). I arrived late at night — but awoke to coffee at my doorstep and a view of mist covering the Himalayas.
View from my doorway.
My little hobbit-like cabin.
Next step, Katmandu University. I was welcomed by Professor Shiva Bisangke and a busy day followed meeting with the Dean, Prof. Dr. Rishikesh Wagle, and then additional faculty interested in the clinical effort such as Dr. Shiva Giri, Professor Bishal Khanal, Dr. Shiva Giri, Professor Santosh KC, Prof. Padma Rijal, and Prof. Sombhojen Limbu.
We went through some needs-assessment focused discussions with student and community leaders (including the District Bar Association and the District Legal Aid Committee), and some brainstorming, and developed a short-term plan for a clinic, an adivisory committee on experiential learning, and a continuining legal education program.
I enjoyed lunch outside with the faculty and a special dinner with dumplings, or “momos.”
View from the law school.
After our closing meeting, where I had the pleasure of meeting one of the founders of the law school, faculty member, erstwhile supporter and Constitutional scholar, Dr. Bipin Adhikari, I was delighted to receive a very special plaque. I had received plaques before, but never “A Token of Love.”
From left to right Dean Wagle, me, Dr. Shiva Giri, Dr. Bipin Adhikari, and Prof. Shiva Bisangke.
The trip included some time for me to explore the sacred Buddhist site of Namo Buddha and the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery and some sight-seeing in Katmandu.
Entrance to the monastery.
Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery.
Prayer flags on the path down the mountain out of the monastery.
Visionary lawyers and international educators Prajwal Gyawali and Aastha Dahal at a tea break on our day of sight-seeing in Katmandu.
