- Friday, 22 August 2025
Parmeshwar Devkota
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Karnali Needs Better Infrastructures
It has numerous hills and dales and the shortest route to Kailash Manasarobar and Rara Lake. Air travel has been risky due to the frequent weather changes. Likewise, narrow and poor conditions of roads or lack of road access have hindered domestic and foreign tourists from exploring the region. The Nepal Army constructed road that has connected Dunai, the headquarters of Dolpa, to the national road network after years of hard work.
Tackling Climate Change
The 29th conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is underway in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. While the heads of government or state of many nations are participating in it, aroun
Promote Tree Plantation
As the season of monsoon begins, government and non-government offices, local, social and political organisations have started tree plantation campaign. But they are apparently engaged in publicity stunt before planting the saplings. Environment activists, mayors and even ministers are seen holding saplings in their hands before cameras with big smiles on their faces. Then they rush to post their photos in the social media so that other people know their works. However, this is outdated trend of tree plantation which was practiced by the past rulers such as royalties and Panchas. There have been mega tree plantation drive in different parts of country and their efficacy should be examined. The Division Forest Office in Banke alone is going to plant three hundred thousand saplings this year. Similarly, Rurukshetra Rural Municipality in Gulmi dis
Get Prepared For Spring Disasters
People with extraordinary minds, such as writers, poets, artists, and others, seldom get tired of praising the spring season. But the people with seemingly average minds, like farmers, labourers and elderlies, who have a huge knowledge and experience of natural phenomena, fear the season. They take extra-precautions during this season. That's because cases of wildfire, dry-landslide, floods and avalanche become regular events during this time, when we are especially scared of two things: forest fire and devastating flood. We are in the midst of the spring. However, in sharp contrast to the fulsome praise, Nepal is currently battling hundreds of incidents of fires engulfing forests and settlements. Images sent by NASA FIRMS satellite show hundreds of forest fires sweeping the vast swaths of land from low Terai to high mountains. Three Nepali Army personnel died in course of dousing forest fire in Manang recently. Over two-hundred houses have been destroyed by fire in Rukum West and property and animal sheds worth fiercer, with over a hundred houses already gutted in those districts. With the arrival of spring, fire incidents have become frighteni
Don't Turn Clock Back
Medical entrepreneur Durga Parsai's Kathmandu-centric movement for the revival of monarchy has made the headlines. To counter it, Mahesh Basnet, leader of the youth wing of the main opposition CPN-UML, also organised a mass gathering. As they began flexing muscles in favour of and against monarchy and traded barbs against each other, the capital's denizens had an uneasy feeling whether a bigger conflict was taking place in the time of normalcy. But, such fear turned out groundless. In the past, scores of political theories came into existence but only reasonable and practical political principles are in vogue and obsolete ones have been dumped in the dustbin of history. Today concepts of democracy, rep
Integrated Settlements
Geologists claim that Nepal lies in the seismically active region. So, earthquakes, small or big, are regular phenomena in the country. An earthquake happens when the seismic energy is released to the surface of the earth suddenly. As the quake hits certain part of the earth, its surface and structures on it begin shivering because it is the course shifting the tectonic plates deep below in the crust. The countries which sit on the fault-lines are vulnerable to earthquakes. Like Nepal, Japan is also prone to quake in this region. But, the difference is that Japan bears no heavy losses even in high magnitude earthquakes. Japanese are so confident and fearless that they do not run away from their houses even when major shocks and after-shocks hit them. Nor do they face huge devastation. We should take our cues from their quake-resilient structures. Nepal has incurred heavy loss of lives and prope
Pick Fruit-bearing Plants
Gardening demands skill, knowledge and selection of right plants which would yield fruits in the given environment. If we select fruit-bearing plants for our parks, river corridors and gardens, they can give fruit which can be consumed or sold for the public welfares. But the plants which are just planted for beautification purpose meet single purpose. The difference between fruit- yielding plants and show plants can be compared with two female pigs - sterilised and not sterilised. The pig in the latter case can conceive and give birth to several puppies at a time for years, which he can use for a variety of purposes; while in the former, the owner has to serve the pig, but cannot survive on it.
Bring Change To Nation
The then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) Winston Churchill, in his speech in the House of Commons in November 1947, said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Churchill’s statement does not match with words and spirit on two grounds. First, the word ‘worst’ he uses is more than bad. It carries a derogatory meaning which undermines the very political system. Second, if Churchill wanted to define democracy, he must have incorporated terms like ‘most uncertain game of greed and ambitions’ in it, because, in reality, democracy is the most uncertain game played by the ambitious and greedy leaders.
Resettle Squatters
The Bagmati, Bishnumati and Hanumante are the main rivers in the Kathmandu Valley. The country's rich and vibrant cities -- Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur – have flourished on the banks of these rivers, giving a birth to Bagmati Civilisation in the ancient time. With civilisation, affluent society comes into existence. However, the river banks are also settled by landless squatters owing to the structural inequality in the society. Squatters' settlements expose abject poverty, shortage of amenities and unhygienic environment. But there is also a tendency to occupy the state's land by fake homeless people who use it for commercial benefit.
Sibling Rivalry Heralds Cultural Renaissance
Mayors of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and Dharan Sub-Metropolis-- Balendra Shah and Harka Sampang Rai-- have been criticising each other's working style much to the chagrin of their well-wishers. In some instances, their attacks have gone even to personal level. When the waste management hit the capital city, Rai humiliated Shah: “If I had not been here in Kathmandu, the waste would not have been collected.”
Death, Be Not Proud
After the demise of a family member, almost all believers and some non-believers wish to perform certain rituals in honour of the dead. The rituals date back to as early as the evolution of the society from where one comes or adopts. But, even the rituals appear to be shallow in many respects. First, the rituals are one-sided. They are only committed to teaching the kin and kith of the dead that s/he just departed from this world for good. So, there is no reason to lament and wail for him/her. And, the second proble
Follow Manu's Rule
In the Medieval Period, religious values used to be the guiding principles of society, and priests used to be role models. With the passage of time, contribution of visionary and revolutionary philosophers and sacrifices of people, the old systems were replaced by the new ones. Politics became an engine of change, with politicians ruling the roost. Like the priests in the past, statesmen have become role models of the present-day society. As our forefathers had expected honesty, compassion, integrity, leadership quality, and confidence from the priests, so we expect them from our leaders now.
People With Patriotism
A popular saying goes - nations are artificial constructs, their boundaries drawn in the blood of past wars. This adage is applicable to all the nations around the world in general; whereas it specifically applies to the people of China. It is because the brave Chinese people have been fighting for the territorial integrity, restoration of dignity, and prosperity since the very beginning of the establishment of their nation.
Disinterested Doctors
As we catch one disease or the other, we have no option but to rush to hospital for treatment. Allopathic doctors and nurses are the ones who help us return from the jaws of death. Being life saviours, they must not be humiliated. Instead, they should be honoured and appreciated for their vital role in protecting us from different ailments. However, we are often taken aback when we find the same doctors and nurses working actively in one institution do not seriously commit to their duty in other hospitals. This issue must be brought to discussion.
Climate Change Is Not A Hoax
This part of the planet remains hotter in June and July because of the celestial position of the sun. Despite this unavoidable position of the earth, we have been facing an additional rise in temperature annually since the 18th century. It was the same period when the then superpower, the Great Britain, had launched the first Industrial Revolution. The British industrialists had started using energy sources randomly. They used coal, woods, and petroleum products excessively.
