While the unplanned urbanization has diminished the beauty of Kathmandu city, the once beautiful city lives only in the memories of our grandfathers and grandmothers. Many of us listen to the stories of yesteryears before the unplanned urbanization turned the city into a ‘concrete jungle’ bearing the population beyond its capacity. But Kiran Chitrakar is one such lucky person whose grandfather not only left him with the stories of the heavenly city but also the vivid pictures.
Kiran Chitrakar’s grandfather Dirgha Man Chitrakar and father Ganesh Man Chitrakar captured the Kathmandu city from 1901-1945. Their pictures tell the story of architectural touchstones of the city and the changes that underwent, showing the modern city in the making. Inheriting photography as a profession, Kiran Chitrakar works for Nepal Television and is looking after Ganesh Photo Labs, founded by his father. Kiran Chitrakar is also handling the photographic treasures left behind by his grandfather and father including the first aerial photographs of the Kathmandu Valley taken by his father.
‘Can you imagine, this used to be the same Kathmandu,’ says Kiran as he flips through the old photos adding, ‘There is no space now, except Tudikhel.’ Kiran sees little possibility of managing the crammed houses and congested roads. He argues that the photographs by his father and grandfather could have been used as a reference by the city planning and management. ‘The government officials do not know the value of these photographs, let alone use this for the city’s benefit,’ Kiran expresses his nuisance.
According to Kiran, the core durbar areas in both Kathmandu and Patan have been the major disappointment over the years. Also, he expresses astonishment as well as frustration over the idea of narrowing down the city’s rivers rather than campaigning for cleaning and restoring them. ‘It is not that these structures and resources cannot be renewed,’ states Kiran, ‘some of the places and buildings such as Garden of Dreams and Dharahara prove that these can be maintained and preserved.’
Kiran believes that blaming only the government will not help at all. The people are themselves not aware. He thinks that the people do not support any programs introduced by the government and thus the many planning programs have failed in the Kathmandu Valley.
The photographs of Kathmandu before the 1934 earthquake and Sighadurbar before it was burnt down are of historical importance for scholars, students and general people as well. Kiran wants to compile these photographs along with others in a book to document them and make it viable even for the general public. Kiran hopes that the book will make people compare what Kathmandu was then and what is left now, and help make them aware of their mistakes. The book will also be a step towards documenting history and preserving the old photographs.
Kiran still owns the glass slides negatives of the photographs but their archiving has now become a huge problem. ‘This is an earthquake zone and these fragile glass plates can be easily destroyed,’ says Kiran. He ultimately is looking forward to open a museum, also showcasing the cameras used by Dirgha Man Chitrakar and Ganesh Man Chitrakar. But there are a lot of financial difficulties to overcome. He has approached the government but does not have their nod, thus he is looking for other donors. Meanwhile, he is also open to working with academic institutions. The colleges and libraries wish to print them and frame them for the walls of their libraries and halls. ‘I don’t need the money, I just want these photographs preserved and open to public view, as long as they are rightfully accredited.’ declares Kiran.
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