Thank you for the timely article by Hemalata Rai ("Shrinking Tundikhel", #107). Few clarifications. Tundikhel literally means an open space for practicing archery and martial sports. Nearly all our district headquarters have a Tundikhel. The discovery of a dhunge dhara of Bishu Varma Rajbansi (571-616 AD) while constructing the underground pedestrian walkway in Ratna Park shows that Tundikhel is at least 1,400 years old. In that period, no citizens of Kathmandu ever encroached on the space. All encroachments have been done by for government purposes.

During the Rana regime, the army took good care of the grounds, cultural activities and grazing were not restricted. Fencing Tundikhel was never a necessaity then, nor is it now. The historic khari ko bot got capital punishment (without trial), up came the Sainik Manch, Khula Manch and Ratna park. Tundikhel lost much of its grandeur and value because of this compartmentalisation and fencing. With the pile driving for the foundation of the Sanchaya Kosh Building, the Sundhara went dry, another Bagmati Civilisation heritage was lost forever.

Then came democracy, and today a 9 ft high metal fence is encircling and enclosing Tundikhel at a cost of Rs 28.1 million. The justification given is: "Kathmandu's only open space is being encroached." Oh yes? Who is encroaching? It's not the people. A simple Rana-style trespass prohibition law enforced by the army would have done the trick, why did we need a fence?

Let us start restoring Tundikhel to its lost glory by making a living museum of the Bibhu Varma water spout. The city planners should also make the people of Kathmandu feel that Tundikhel belongs to them, it belongs to all of us, we must have a say in how it is preserved.

And finally, we are not living in Jung Bahadur's or Bhimsen Thapa's time. The location of the Royal Nepal Army headquarters in the centre of town may not be the best location from the strategic point of view. The army's present facilities on Tundikhel should not be misused, unused, underused or overused by whichever civilian authority inherits it. It should be given back to the people.

Huta Ram Baidya
Tripureswor