Establishing TMLC as a Trust within the Nepali legal system has been a priority for some time. A trust – referred to as a Guthi in the Nepali system – provides legal protection for the trustor’s assets and ensures that they are distributed in accordance with his/her intentions and expressed wishes. After an extended (and at times frustrating) process, TMLC has been granted this legal status under Nepali law and registered in the Land Revenue Office of Kaski (Kaski Maalpot Karyalaya) – a unique accomplishment for this type of institution, we have been told. With the assistance of a legal adviser and Nepali civil society experts, an application process was initiated by TMLC founder and the Trust’s newly appointed Chairperson, Hem Gurung, in October 2023 and successfully completed in January the following year.
The TMLC Steering Committee (from left to right on photo): Mr. Lok B. Gurung (Joint Secretary/Saha sachib), Mr. Dan B. Rawal (Secretary/Sachib), Mr. Sundar Gurung (Member/Sadasya), Mr. Hem B. Gurung (Chairperson), Dr. Sumitra M. Gurung (Member/Sadasya), Dr. Shailendra Thakali (Vice Chairperson) and Mr. Om B. Gurung (Treasurer/Koshyadhachhe).
The legal name of the TMLC Trust shall be Tamagi Museum Learning Research Trust – in Nepali Tamagi Sangrahalaya Adhyan Anushandhan Guthi. The Trust’s main office will be in Pokhara Municipality Ward nr. 23, Tamagi in the Kaski District of Nepal. The Guthi’s assets include three recently-erected buildings and one ropani 13 Ana land as the property. In addition to existing infrastructure, the Guthi also has a Rs 5 lakh initial deposit in its Ahhcya Kos account to cover future expenses.
As specified in its terms of reference, the Guthi will have a Steering Committee consisting of seven members (see above photo) and a advisory board made up of 11 members with three positions allocated for international resource persons or institutions. The advisory board will be finalised in the immediate future. The fist physical meeting of the Steering Committee was held in Kimdole, Kathmandu.
In addition to signatures, thumbprints on documents are required and Sumitra’s right thumb makes it official! When the remaining Steering Committee members perform the same ritual, TMLC (or Tamagi Museum Learning Research Trust, to use its registered name) is officially a Guthi.
Sundar, Vice-Wardleader, Hem, Rawal and Chakrapani at Pokhara Municipality, Ward nr 23. This is the first step of the Guthi legal registration process where receiving the Ward’s recommendation is required in order to proceed.
