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.

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.

Our main objective during the last two weeks has been gaining a better understanding of how the museum’s offerings (incl. displays related to our three central themes, CNT sites and demonstrations of traditional handicrafts) are received by visitors. Two school groups from Badahaure Secondary School  and Machhapuchhere Secondary School as well as a larger mixed group of local villagers have enthusiastically shared their reactions in day-long sessions with museum staff. Ellen Width captured their comments (through a translator) and will adjust and supplement TMLC’s displays accordingly. Apart form their positive feedback, their suggestions will greatly enhance both relevance and accuracy of the TMLC’s displays. We gratefully acknowledge their contributions.

In preparation for the monsoon, museum objects have been securely packed for storage, protected from moisture and insects that can destroy these valuable links to Tamagi’s past. The time-consuming process of cataloging and marking these items has also been set in motion. Each item on display has been photographed and all relevant information stored in digital format. This process will continue as new items are added to collections. 

Finally, a Facebook group has been set up for TMLC (Tamagi Museum and Learning Centre), intended not as a replacement for this web site, but rather a supplement providing more frequent updates on TMLC events as well as an informal and more accessible channel for visitors’ comments and suggestions. Please follow it on your FB account.

Three of the four members of the Norwegian Team – Hem, Ellen and Arild – arrived in March to pick up where they left off in November last year. The fourth member, Per, followed in April. In their absence, Narendra and Krishna Maya have moved ahead with the aid of local residents and laborers. Significantly, the face of the once virtually abandoned village is changing rapidly as former residents and curious visitors  from Nepal and abroad are making the journey to Tamagi along greatly improved access roads. Major accomplishments since our last visit are listed below. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome!

Tamagi is gradually being ‘upgraded’ to serve the needs of existing and future residents as new roads are carved out of the rugged terrain and existing roads are improved. Local government authorities are currently constructing a new road passing by Tamagi just below the museum site, terminating in the neighboring village Bhadaure (only 500 meters remain). Newly erected metal power poles passing through Tamagi will soon reconnect the village to the national power grid, making the solar panels and diesel generators obsolete or backup solutions. Having been ‘powerless’ for seven years, full- and part-time residents are eagerly placing their orders for electricity meters in preparation. Local government is also erecting an observation tower at Chyasineh, one of the stops along TMLC’s Culture and Nature Trail (CNT – see below).

Inspired by initiatives such as TMLC and activities described above, former residents are gradually reconnecting with and rediscovering Tamagi. One resident has opened the Tamagi Homestay for visitors and and temporary housing for others currently restoring their homes, another with family ties to Tamagi has returned from Hong Kong to build a new house in the village. We anticipate that this is just the start of Tamagi’s rebirth as a thriving community in the foothills of Panchase. 

TMLC staff have recently completed a Culture & Nature Trail (CNT) allowing visitors to experience not only the museums’s indoor displays and demonstrations, but also encouraging them to visit local vistas up to 2065 meters or sites of historical significance (initially 10 but more have been proposed) surrounding the museum. Guiding and signage will be in English and Nepali. The second major outside attraction will be four farming terraces, easily accessible 100 meters from the main museum building, where traditional agricultural practices will be demonstrated.  Finally, separate housing for TMLC staff without local accommodations has been completed.

In the coming weeks the focus shifts to design of the actual displays in the museum and to demonstrations of traditional handicrafts visitors will enjoy in the TMLC cafe. Stay tuned for updates as we approach the scheduled museum opening in November!

After numerous delays due to the pandemic and illness, work on the TMLC and its surroundings is accelerating with a realistic goal of a soft-opening in April next year. Prior to the arrival of the project team from Norway in October and during our 4-week stay in Tamagi we are pleased and excited to highlight the following accomplishments. Until our next scheduled visit in March 2023, your comments and suggestions are appreciated!

The project team now includes two Norwegian museologists who we were fortunate to meet during our visit to The Midt-Troms Museum in Norway’s arctic region three years ago. Ms Ellen Width, a senior adviser with experience from similar initiatives in Norway and Russia, and Mr Arild Endal, a biologist specialising in plant physiology, have been instrumental in the design and construction of the TMLC exhibits. In addition, Mr Narendra Lama has been recruited to oversee ongoing construction and future operations of TMLC.

Initially, three exhibits will be unveiled in the main museum building and adjoining cafe area early next year: livelihood, local impact of Gurkha recruitment and development/change at village level. Supervised by Narendra locally and Ellen and Arild remotely, design, sourcing and production are in progress.

TMLC has actively sought out partners from Nepal’s academic community who have expressed interest in the preservation of our cultural heritage. Following up on this, Hem, Per and Dr. Sumitra M. Gurung were invited to Lumbini Buddhist University to explore areas of shared interest in April this year. In October this was followed up by a very fruitful meeting with LBU Vice-Chancellor Professor Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya in Tamagi. The following week the project team attended a workshop organised by LBU in Kathmandu where we were introduced to faculty members, notably LBU’s MA Museum & Gallery Practices staff Lecturer Swosti Rajbhandari Kayastha and Program Coordinator Karna Bahadur Maharjan. These discussions underscored our shared interests and commitments and resulted in a LOI (Letter of Intent) outlining collaboration in various ares within LBU’s MA programme in museology incl. provision of laboratory facilities for research and training of students in Tamagi.

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Significant progress has also been made on museum infrastructure in Tamagi. The office/storage annex next to the museum is nearing completion. Internet/Wi-Fi has been installed with coverage in the entire museum area. Initially, a diesel generator supplies power for construction and lighting, but sourcing of solar panels is ongoing. In addition, poles have recently been erected in the area and it is anticipated that Tamagi will once again be linked to the national power grid.

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Finishing touches on the teahouse have been completed making it suitable for not only visitors’ meals but also exhibits, seminars and hands-on demonstrations of arts and crafts. Since this is an open air facility, curtains have been added for special events such as seminars and video screenings. Work on staff quarters is ongoing with scheduled completion early 2023.

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The TMLC site is expanding to include points of interest within walking distance. Farming terraces located 100 metres from the main museum building have been prepared . Traditional farming practices such as intercropping, crop rotation, cover cropping and organic composting will be demonstrated in this area in the appropriate seasons. This area will be an integral part of TMLC’s livelihood focus, offering visitors displays and demonstrations of traditional agricultural products and practices.
In addition, a short satellite excursion route in the Tamagi area has been mapped out. Displays at selected locations (e.g. shrines, landscape vistas, botanical points of interest, etc.) will be erected in March 2023.

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In order to gain a basic understanding of local youth (one of TMLC’s main target groups), the team scheduled a visit to neighbouring Bahadure Secondary School (grade 9 and upward). Interaction with students and teachers gave team members a more ‘grounded’ understanding of schools’ curriculum and student engagement with their cultural heritage.

Finally, to familiarise team members with similar initiatives in Nepal, visits to several museums in and around Pokhara including The Gurkha Museum at British Camp in Pokhara, International Mountaineering Museum and The Regional Museum of Gandaki Province were scheduled. Of special interest was the Himalayan Cottage and Museum in the Gurung village of Tanchowk displaying a collection of artifacts from this and surrounding villages. The owner of the Tanchowk museum has expressed interest in collaboration with the TMLC/LBU project.

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Finally, after over two years in pandemic lockdown, we return to Tamagi to pick up where we left off. Arriving in Tamagi and experiencing the pre-monsoon atmosphere and leeches was invigorating! Thanks to the efforts of our resident custodians and recently recruited staff the buildings and their surroundings were intact but in need of minor maintenance, e.g. replacing prayer flags, cleaning & tidying up, etc. The TMLC team now includes two new members who will be responsible for local management, security, sourcing and coordination of all future construction. Krishna Maya Gurung and Suraj Sunar are both local residents and thus familiar with the resources that will be required to complete construction of the TMLC.

For some time it has been our intention to partner with like-minded academic institutions in Nepal that see the potential in a long range collaborative venture with TMLC. With that goal, three members of the TMLC team (Hem Gurung, Per Helmersen and Dr. Sumitra M. Gurung) journeyed to Lumbini where they received a very warm welcome and engaged in an open dialogue with the VC and several top level academics at Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU). This dialogue will continue in the days to come.

Building foundation work for a two-room administration annex on the TMLC site will start this Summer, scheduled completion by November. A flexible solution will ensure a more efficient working environment for TMLC staff during the initial construction phase of the museum and, after opening, serve as administrative headquarters. Finally, the main access roads leading to Tamagi are continuously being upgraded to accommodate small and large vehicles during the entire year. Locally, two days of intensive landscaping around the TMLC museum building has increased its ’visibility’ and made access by vehicles safer and more convenient.

As mentioned in our last post nearly a year ago, our scheduled TMLC activities at Tamagi, Kaski were disrupted and put on hold due to the global COVID-19 surge. Faced with changing travel restrictions and in order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved, our scheduled project mission’s visit to Nepal in March/April 2020 from Norway was, regrettably,  postponed.

2020 has been a year of uncertainty and 2021 – although we see light at the end of the tunnel – promises to be equally unpredictable. We are, however, confident that containment strategies designed to limit spread of the Coronavirus and its mutated variants combined with the prospects of a (hopefully) equitable distribution of effective vaccines will enable us to resume work on the TMLC project at some point later this year or early 2022. Our commitment and strategy to give continuation of this unique village-based project remain unchanged and the required infrastructure is in place. As soon as the COVID-19 situation in Nepal and in Norway permit, project work will be resumed! In the interim updates will be posted on this web site so please check in occasionally. We also welcome your comments and suggestions.

While we all wait for our next visit to Tamagi, we hope this informal hand-held camera & drone ‘unguided tour’ of Tamagi will remind us of the cultural significance of the village as well as its breathtaking surroundings.

The Management Team    

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the much-anticipated visit of the Norwegian Mission to Nepal during the last two weeks of March and beginning of April has been postponed. Scheduled meetings with Norwegian Embassy staff and the TMLC management team in Nepal have been put on hold until travel restriction are lifted. We are monitoring the situation as it develops and are confident that this is only a temporary setback. In the meantime, we are fortunate to have coordination and communication tools via internet that allow us to make some progress, albeit in a less efficient manner than we had envisioned.

We hope to reschedule our trip in September, circumstances permitting, and encourage our team members, TMLC supporters and their families to follow WHO guidelines so we can all pick up where we left off as soon as this is advisable.  

Hem Gurung

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The main objective of this visit was surveying the TMLC site’s physical configuration and staking out the boundaries separating property owned and to be controlled by TMLC and adjacent land holdings in Tamagi. Stone fences have now been erected along the borders in order to clearly demarcate the TMLC land holdings for future reference. Access road, parking and maneuvering space for vehicles arriving at the TMLC site have also been expanded and upgraded. The foundation for a 1,60 x 1,00 meter marble stone displaying the names of supporters and contributors has also been erected next to the main museum building. The names will be engraved by stone masons in Patan at a later point.

Remaining work on the visitors’ toilet and mounting of iron railing in the multi-function café/tea house is currently nearing completion.

The legal process required to register TMLC as an independent non-profit organization under Nepali law is ongoing. Finding capable and committed individuals to fill the various organizational positions as specified by the legal framework has proved to be more time-consuming than anticipated. However, Basudha and our legal advisor are making good progress.

In March and April 2020 a team consisting of Hem, Per and two experts from Mid-Troms Museum in Bardufoss, Norway (a dynamic regional museum above the Arctic Circle – see previous posting) will arrive in Tamagi to start design and production of the museum’s main exhibits as well as conceptualization of the TMLC satellite sites along the path that will guide visitors to various points of interest in Tamagi.

On the occasion of the annual Tamagi ex-pat gathering in Farnborough outside of London on Saturday 27^th of July, TMLC representatives had an opportunity to update participants on the current status of the museum project. Hem, Per, Basudha and Madhu had various roles on this.

While Hem informed about the current financial status and future plans, Per stressed the importance of local participation and anchoring of the project. Basudha and Madhu gave Power Point presentations as a general introduction to the project including an overview of information collected so far in collaboration with Sustainable Mountain Architecture (SMA), a non-profit consultancy based in Kathmandu.

During the event, more cash contributions were collected and portraits of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi rendered by Nikita Gurung (21), the very talented eldest daughter of Narendra Gurung (Mathemai Para) and a third generation girl of Tamagi origin living in UK, were presented to the project. At present Nikita is working towards a pharmacy degree in UK.

Before the gathering, Hem conducted two separate video interviews with Lt. Ram Bahadur Gurung (85) and Subedar Karna Bahadur Gurung (84). Both of these elderly gentlemen are from Tamagi and are now part of the large Gurung community in UK. Since few written accounts exist, their unique recollections will be extremely valuable additions to the TMLC permanent historical archive. The interviews focused on early life events in Tamagi, their army service where they fought for the British Empire as well as other cultural and social values with which the younger generation is, presumably, unfamiliar. Similar interviews will be scheduled in the future.

Hem