I read Mr. Padma Jyoti's comment ("On Bandhs", #25) on the Internet. During my recent trips to Nepal, I have witnessed a few bandhs myself and I must say the city was surreally tranquil because of the lack of traffic congestion, noise and air pollution. Seriously, these bandhs are probably pretty good to clear the smog-choked environment. What the safa tempos or the government's environmental policies could not achieve, the "bandhs" probably do. We should not underestimate the ultimate motive of our political parties in calling for shutdowns from time to time. It's the environment, stupid!

Subarna Bhattachan
Lawrence, Kansas