"They say the rebels came home but it still feels like war"

KATHMANDU, Feb 12: “Democracy is one of the most difficult terms to explain but it is also the easiest to expound. Using a few words and in a short time I am interested in explaining it. Democracy is powering the individual, to make the individual powerful, to make the individual supreme, to make the individual content, to make the individual the focus of every thought is what I feel is democracy,” the articulate voice of the most influential Nepali youth leader and lawmaker Gagan Thapa is immediately recognized. [break]

Tshering Choden - Democracy is

“…they say the rebels came home but it still feels like war,” a well penned rap then follows and wraps up Tshering Choden’s short music video on Democracy which was recently aired on the News Net 2.0 show by NDTV 24x7 as the web video pick of the day.

Choden, a short filmmaker, writer and radio producer for almost a decade is a Nepali participant in the Democracy Video Challenge announced by the U.S. Department of State and private sector partners on the occasion of the first International Day of Democracy.

Suraj Shah - Democracy…”Decision of people is supreme…”

The video challenge was launched online at www.youtube.com/democracychallenege and www.videochallenge.america.gov in fall 2008 and invited entries from young and budding filmmakers, democracy advocates, and the general public above 18 from all over the world.

Prasan - Democracy is

Nepali filmmakers have long taken the lead by enrolling first in this global call to enhance the dialogue on democracy.

And now that the submission deadline is over, 11 entries have been identified so far as submissions from Nepali filmmakers among the 236 entries displayed in the official contest page.

Prachanda Man Shrestha - Democracy is freedom of expression

Overall, the first impression one gets of the video challenge is that of a brand rework exercise which employs new media as its advocacy tool.

Nevertheless, the worldwide video competition will definitely add a new dimension as young people complete the phrase “Democracy is…” within the official three minute time frame.

Min Bahadur Bham - Democracy is- voice of common people.

Choden’s video reflects the confusion the country is marred in as the socio-political and economic transition raises its ghastly shadows of the unreported past.

And within a three minute time frame, she and other Nepali entries, notable among which are Prachanda Man Shrestha, Min Bahadur Bham, Asim Chitrakar and Bigyan Mani Dixit have tried to express it all.

Manoj Kumar Pant - Democracy is an Expression

Dixit has tried something that no other Nepali filmmaker has possibly tried though he slips in a few places as his peers while Choden’s video also introduces a talented rapper.

Dipa Basnet - Democracy Video

Talking to Republica, Choden says, “I am one of the people who just gets confused but I believe one person can not change everything. History stands testimony to this and without the will of people and their support, one person could try and lead but will eventually fall. Leaders should not forget this.”

Bishnu Gautam - Democracy is

Chitrakar, another Nepali participant is a music video editor/ director turned television commercial producer. “Definition is not important. What really matters is how much do people actually care,” he says.

Bigyan Mani Dixit - Democracy is “The Undefinable”

Citing his video’s instance which starts with the country’s dire power cuts, he adds, “Frustration is normal and there is a constant fear of violence being the only channel to vent. Opportunities to express for instance, this video challenge or say painting competition and concerts minimizes the youth unrest.”

Only time will tell how 11 Nepali filmmakers or more will fare as the challenge semifinalists will be selected starting February-March 2009 and an independent jury will narrow down the semifinalists to 21 finalists in April 1 – May 15 2009.

Asim Chitrakar - Democracy is (the nepali way)

Online voting will then be open for the winning videos from May 15 – June 15 2009 after which, seven winners, one each from the Western Hemisphere, Europe, Middle East/North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South 7 Central Asia, East Asia/Pacific and one anonymous winner – will be announced in mid-June 2009 by an independent jury co-chaired by Hernando de Soto [President of the Institute for Liberty and Democracy] and Micheal Apted [President of the Directors Guild of America].

Alok Ghimire - Democracy is Feeling

The six publicly identified winners will then travel in an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Hollywood where they’ll claim their awards amidst a gala screening of the winning videos and hobnob with filmmakers, democracy advocates, media and civil society.