COMMUNICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF NEPAL

Importance of Communication

Communication is the means of transmitting news, views, ideas and opinions to the people. Communication has brought the people and the countries on the world close to one another. We can watch the people, places and their culture on the television. Internet, phone, fax, e-mail are easiest and quickest means to communicate with our family members, friends, and neighbours who are far away for us. The world shrunk due to the means of communication. Communication is one of the most important infrastructure of development. In other to develop any sector of our country, we required ideas and opinions of other people who are expect and specialized. This is not possible without communication.

If the communication is advanced and efficient, the transmissions of ideas and opinions will be quick and effectively which will help to carry out development activities successfully and efficiently.

Communication in the past

· The development of Communication has been very late in Nepal.

· Postal service was the oldest and traditional means of Communication, limited only in few district. The postal service was only for government purpose.

· Radio service was obstructed due to the present of hills and mountains. A very few people could listen to the radio.

· Formerly, telephone was used only in Kathmandu during the Rana regime. This services enjoyed by the limited number of people.

· The only newspaper published was Gorkhapatra. The newspaper was available only in a few places and among a handful of people. Majority of the people could not enjoy the facility of newspapers.

· Transportation was difficult and underdeveloped. Therefore, communication facility could not reach everywhere among the people.

Present State of Communication in Nepal

· Telephone services has been established in the headquarters of all 75 districts of the country.

· Telephone services is available in all urban areas and hundreds of villages.

· For the last few years mobile telephone service is in use in the main cities of the nation.

· Apart from Central Transmission Centre, Radio Nepal has 5 Regional Transmission centres in the regions.

· FM radio stations have been established in many cities like Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Itahari, Dhankuta, Chitwan, Pokhara, Hetauda, Birgunj, Surkhet, Dipayal, Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, etc. FM stations belong to private sectors.

· There are 2743 national and local newspapers/journals (daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, three monthly, four monthly, half yearly and yearly). Among them 1500 are regularly published. (Central Bureau of Statistics, 2058)

· Nepal Television broadcasts its programmes for 24 hours, Regional transmission began from Kohalpur Transmission through satellite began in the year 2057. This became viable from all parts of the country and from more than 16 countries of the Asia continent.

· Many Television channels like Channel Nepal, Kantipur Television, Sagarmatha Television, Image Channel, Avenues Television, etc are run by private sectors.

· There are modern means of communication like fax, e-mail and internet available particularly in the urban areas.

· Communication link is established with almost all countries of the world.

An essential means of development is communication. Communication is defined as the means of passing information, thought, ideas, instructions, knowledge, etc from person to person. There are various means of communication available in Nepal such as newspaper, radio, television, satellite telephone, telegram, fax, computer and internet. Nepal constitutions has provided right of information to every citizen.

Postal Services were started in 1880 AD. Letter, parcels, money order are sent through the post office. Nepali people can send and receive letters from different parts of Nepal and from all over the world.

Radio is another means of communication. Radio Nepal was established in 1951 AD. Radio is the cheapest means of communication. Its transmission center is in Singha Durbar. Radio broadcasts news in different languages. There are 24 FM radio stations in Nepal. Noted radio stations are:
Radio Nepal ------------------ Kathmandu
Kantipur FM ------------------ Kathmandu-Dhankuta
Hits FM ------------------------ Kathmandu
Annapurna FM ---------------- Pokhara
Koshi FM ---------------------- Biratnagar
Janaki FM ---------------------- Janakpur
Sagarmatha FM --------------- Lalitpur
Times FM ---------------------- Kathmandu
Classic FM --------------------- Kathmandu
Saptakoshi ---------------------- Biratnagar

Television is a very effective means of communication. Electricity is needed for it. Television telecasts news, views, advertisement and different programmes. Nepal Television was established in 1985 AD and it transmission station is at Singha Durbar. It is run by the government. Kantipur Television, Channel Nepal and Image Channel are providing their services. They are popular for providing independent news and views.
The Gorkhapatra is the first newspaper of Nepal. Gorkhapatra was established in 1901 AD. Some newspapers of Nepal are:
Daily : Gorkhapatra, Kantipur, Nepal Samacharpatra, The Himalayan Times, Rajdhani, The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post.
Weekly : Vimarsha, Chhalphal, Deshantar, Tarun, Samakalin, Jana Astha
Fortnightly : Himal, Nepal
Monthly : Madhupark, Kamana, Nari

Apart from these means of communications recently mobile (telephone), fax, wireless, telex, email, internet, films etc. are becoming popular in Nepal.