On Friday, April 12th, 2024, a much-awaited Tamagi Museum Learning Research Trust Steering Committee meeting was held at HQ in Tamagi. After their arrival on the 10th, members participated in a guided tour of the Culture and Nature Trail (CNT) and museum on the 11th followed by the trust’s third Steering Committee meeting – the first to be convened in Tamagi – on the following day. The trust’s Founder and Chairperson, Mr. Hem Gurung, served as organizer and host for the Tamagi session.
A highlight of the event was a full day’s trekking on the Culture and Nature Trail along the well-maintained stone pathways, passing local shrines and sacred places, wild forests, and popular viewpoints, with occasional rest stops at numerous traditional Chautaris along the way. Trekking not only stimulated the senses and energized participants, but also served to unify committee members and enhanced their understanding of TMLRT’s foundational commitments and priorities. The invigorating guided tour along the CNT generated numerous ideas for future initiatives that were followed up during the committee meeting on the following day.
Steering Committee:
1. Hem Bahadur Gurung – Chairperson and Founder
2. Dr. Shailendra Bahadur Thakali, Vice-chairperson
3. Dan Bahadur Rawal – Secretary
4. Om Bahadur Gurung – Treasurer
5. Lok Bahadur Gurung – Joint Secretary
6. Dr. Sumitra Manandhar Gurung – Member
7. Sundar Gurung – Member
Other participants:
1. Ms. Ellen Width, Norway (on MS Team) – Advisor
2. Mr. Per Helmersen, Norway – Advisor
3. Mr. Arild Endal, Norway -Advisor
4. Nirdesh Gurung – Staff
5. Suraj Sunar – Staff
6. Prem lal Sunar – Staff
The Steering Committee meeting conducted in Nepali language covered issues on budget management, accounting, reporting to the government, task distribution among the committee members, and approval of advisory board members. A professional chartered accountant was invited to present basic guidelines covering finance management and reporting as stipulated by government authorities. The committee meeting was followed by informative English language presentations by Ms Ellen Width (live via Microsoft Teams from her home in Norway) updating committee members on operational aspects and future requirements of TMLC, Mr Arild Endal describing current upgrades along the CNT and agricultural terraces and Mr Per Helmersen presenting potential application areas linked to the WorldLink fiber network recently installed in Tamagi.
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The Tamagi Culture and Nature Trail (CNT) was established in 2023 in the hills above Tamagi extending up to Koefera Thana. The names of places of interest along the trail have been marked with standard format signs identifying them as stops along the CNT. Each sign includes a unique QR code linked to information about the site instantly accessible via mobile phones or (if stored) remotely via web browsers. Initially, the sites included Baharana Thana, Mroje, Chesyhne, Naiche, Devi Thana, Koefera Thana, Kol Jumsame and Khogyu. A sign has also been erected at Tigyu.
Recently the trail has been extended to include additional places with similar signage. New sites include Kula Kya, Tamaginasa, Rhiteba, Lisadhu, Chaudhukhola, Phyagyu, Mujadanda, and Kyumola. Sites as well as the trail have been cleared of vegetation. A revised map of the trail including these new sites will soon be issued.
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More good news from Tamagi and TMLC… WorldLink’s optical fiber network has recently been extended up to Tamagi and inclusion in the national power grid is rumoured to be around the corner (meters have already been supplied to the museum). Solar power will be a useful and affordable backup solution, but we will no longer be 100% dependent on it. TMLC and Tamagi are now linked to the outside world, and, significantly, the entire planet is connected to Tamagi. TMLC will utilize this network to extend the reach of our services while monitoring the overall impact it has on Tamagi village as a whole*. TMLC’s resources including databases, real-time participation in demonstrations, festivals and other special events available around the globe as well as facilities for academics visiting or carrying out research in Tamagi and surroundings (e.g. seminars, workshops, consulting with colleagues) will be available 24/7. TMLC’s administrative procedures will also benefit. Remote monitoring and consulting with local staff have now been implemented. The Microsoft Teams mediated presentation by Ellen Width, currently in Norway, illustrates the potential of online meetings.
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* The impact this infrastructure (in addition to ongoing road expansion) will have on Tamagi’s ‘rebirth’ remains to be seen, so if you or someone you know would consider documenting the process in the form of a thesis or dissertation, we can offer a local research platform to get them started. If interested, contact us at info@tamagicentre.org.