So much for India and Indian hating. We could learn a lot from them. Rajeev’s mission: Raise hope in Nepal’s villages BY TILAK P. POKHAREL ,Kathmandu Post,12/07/2005 NEW YORK, Dec 6 - When Rajeev Goyal, an Indian-American who spent more than two years in Nepal as a Peace Corps volunteer, asked for donations for the cause of poor Nepalis from the dais of a New York University (NYU) hall, the audience rose up with cash and cheques. In less than five minutes, he collected more than US$ 3000, then $5000, $10,000… and finally he managed to raise over $28,000 within three hours. The event, organized under the title "Shiksha ko Asha" (Hope for Education) by the Living Earth Institute and the Rotary Club of Plainsboro (New Jersey), aimed at raising about $40,000 for improving school infrastructure and providing scholarships to poor students in various villages of Dhankuta district, where Rajeev had worked as a Peace Corps volunteer. Inspired by the poor Nepali people, the doctorate student of law at NYU started raising funds last year when he managed to collect $14,000 under the theme "Paani ko Asha" (Hope for Water). The amount was spent in Namje village in the same district. Likewise, he had also collected $30,000 from Indian doctors for water projects in the areas where he was working in 2001-03. While Rajeev played the role of project manager, Fulbright scholar at NYU Sarah Atwood served as the event manager. Others involved in organizing the event included Edwin Jorge, former director of a Peace Corps recruiting office in New York; Dr. Tara Niraula of Columbia University; LG Khambache; Sarahana Shrestha; and Sujan Niraula. On the occasion, "Paani ko Asha" awards were given to Rashmi Shrestha and Sabina Thapa for their outstanding involvement in fundraising and campaigning against domestic violence respectively. The highest amount - $5,000 - was donated jointly by Sanjay and Rashmi Shrestha. When asked what he felt about the termination of Peace Corps activities in Nepal owing to security concerns last year, Rajeev said, "I am deeply saddened by the suspension of the program and I hope that Peace Corps Nepal can start up again… Nepal has given so much to Peace Corps volunteers and vice versa.