About Spiny Babbler

BASICS
Named after a bird species considered extinct for 106 years and rediscovered in the Rara region by S. Dillon Ripley, Spiny Babbler works with the arts, education, and knowledge management. Its logo is that of a baman dwarf - also considered Barun, the water god - and is carved in stone under a stone water spout at the fourth century Gum Vihar complex northeast of Kathmandu. Throughout its existence, Spiny Babbler has invested significant emotion, intellect, and financial resource into its work and tried to deliver the best and finest to the institutions, individuals, and products that it works with. Pallav Ranjan founded Spiny Babbler in 1991 and leads its 3 legal entities.

STRUCTURE

1. A not-for-profit (incorporated 4 September 2004) works to make positive impact on human life through the use of the arts, education, and communication. It is registered with ward no. 15 of Kathmandu Municipality, District Development Committee and the District Administration Office (registration number 79/061/62); Inland Revenue Department (PAN number 302-141-087); and Social Welfare Council (affiliation number 16651).
2. An education bionetwork (incorporated 30 December 1983) offers specialty education through high school, preschool, and club. Students from around the world, the best schools of Nepal, as well as those who are deprived take advantage of the education offered through short- and long-term involvement. It is registered with ward no. 2 of Lalitpur sub-municipality (registration number 598/2cha), Department of Education (code number 25-207-0073), Inland Revenue Department (PAN 302-539-800), and the Company Registrar's Office (registration number 21002).
3. Outreach and Communication Center (incorporated 18 December 2003) offers professional documentation, knowledge management and outreach material packaging services in the content, print, web, and full HD film media to international development organizations in Nepal. It is registered at ward no. 15 of Kathmandu Municipality, Inland Revenue Department (PAN 302-539-800), and the Company Registrar's Office (registration number 26352).

SPREAD
Spiny Babbler efforts in the arts, education, and communication have spanned across six continents and reached deep into some of the most remote areas of Nepal. It has crossed the gender, ethnic, economic, education, creative, and technical divides and its work has been effective, inclusive, and appreciated.

• Global and local spread:
  People from more than 14 countries have engaged locally in our event, project, and program offerings for at least a month or more. Citizens of Scotland, UK, Japan, China, Laos, Bangladesh, USA, Switzerland, Canada, Netherlands, France, and Nepal have been involved. Schools from 20 nations including Iran to deep China contributed to our effort in mountain environment education. 22 universities in the Australasian region and their creative writing departments collaborated with Spiny Babbler. 100+ leading poets, including 10 Nobel laureates contributed to our efforts. In Nepal people from Dhanusha, Morang, Parsa, Chitwan, Banke, Bardia as well as Dadeldhura, Surkhet, Tetang (Upper Mustang), Thudam (far east), Ilam have been a part of our programs and events. The finest of writers, artists, musicians, creators, doctors, development and social workers and administrators have been involved.


• Across the economic divide:
  Young people who study at Lincoln School, the British School, Rato Bangala, St. Xavier's, St. Mary's, Ullens, Shuvatara and other educational establishments have benefitted from the creative, academic, and entertainment opportunities offered by Spiny Babbler. People with less resources from communities such as Sankhu, Taudaha, and Thaiba; 150+ schools of which many were public and government; people at risk in Kanti Children's Hospital, Lagankhel Mental Hospital, Thapathali Prashuti Griha (Maternity Hospital); and shelter homes for children from the street, girls at risk, children of prison inmates have been engaged. St. Xavier's 50th anniversary (golden jubilee) saw Spiny Babbler's extensive involvement and a keynote speech by founder Pallav Ranjan. Spiny Babbler was invited to speak at St. Xavier's College's 25th anniversary (silver jubilee) celebrations. Search for Common Ground, ICIMOD, ILO, ADRA, GIZ, World Vision, SNV, Save the Children and various United Nations programs have been supported through products and projects.


• Quarter of century's experience:
  Gender, specially-abled, ethnic, or the other marginalized, Spiny Babbler has reached across divides and works in a humanized, individualized, customized, and specialized manner. Spiny Babbler helped Save the Children come up with a program for the health and life of under 5 year olds. With UNDP, it prepared the pre-Beijing Conference gender manual. It helped UNICEF ROSA, the regional body, prepare the earliest of violence against women and girls guidelines. It worked with ICIMOD to prepare a publication on women of the Hindu-Kush Himalayas based on a workshop that involved 270 women from 6 nations. It has 25 years of experience in the arts, education, and communication.


• Creative and technical:
  Spiny Babbler has been celebrated for creativity by national and international critics including prime ministers, mayors, artists, writers, and social leaders. Technically explorative, its website at www.spinybabbler.com (later www.spinybabbler.org) was one of the earliest in Nepal in 1996 and was the only one to receive five stars in a Nepali Times review of sites. It was featured by BBC radio's international broadcast. Spiny Babbler came out with the first of 3D products in 2001 and prepared a 30 minute 3D computer generated imaging and traditional video combination for UNICEF. It was also among the earliest organizations to work with a centralized and networked computer systems and backed-up data technology. Lain Singh Bangdel, Mohan Koirala, Madhav Ghimmire, Shashi Shah and the finest of creators of Nepal have been involved.

SOME COMMENTS

I feel proud that an organization like Spiny Babbler is operating from my city.
- Buddhi Raj Bajracharya, mayor, Lalitpur

Spiny Babbler is among those attempts that I appreciate the most.
- G.P. Koirala, prime minister of Nepal

As culture and religion form our national identities, the importance of presentations such as the one Spiny Babbler has made - in English, Nepali, Newari, and Sanskrit - cannot be understated.
- Swami Prapanacharya, religious leader and scholar

This novel contributes something new to the field of Nepalese literature. The totality of the aspirations, ambitions and struggles of real people like a driver, shopkeeper, and land transaction official have been captured successfully.- Govinda Bahadur Malla "Gothaley"

I believe that this form of alternative cinema can start a new wave of filmmaking in our country. This film can be the new chapter in the history of Nepalese films.- Tulsi Ghimmire, filmmaker

There is very little songwriting of this style in Nepal. Because the songs are different from those that are commonly heard, proper absorption and commitment are required to delight in them.
- Kali Prasad Rijal, songwriter

A well-made docudrama based on ground reality. Its story, characters, sets, issues, and solutions are very realistic. It can make a difference to people in villages, their day-to-day lives.
- Yadav Kharel, actor and director