- Wednesday, 8 April 2026
TRN Online
Season Of Unity
Aashish MishraIt is spring, the season of Jatras and celebrations here in Nepal. Beginning from Holi, this season hosts some of the biggest and best-known festivals of the country, including the Ghode Jatra, the Seto and the Rato Machhindranath Jatras, the new year’s Biska (Bisket) Jatra and more. Naturally, these are occasions of joy and relaxation. They also promote social cohesion and unity.The festivals mentioned above are not exclusive to one group or community. They bring people from all walks of life together and provide an opportunity for them to share lived experiences. The Rato Machhindranath Jatra can be a great example of this.This Jatra is executed and celebrated by everyone, regardless of class, caste and religion, of the ancient core city of Patan. God Karunamaya itself is a deity worshipped with equal fervour and dedication by both Hindus and Buddhists and no one from any ethnic and economic background is restricted in any way from pulling the chariot. Women are also allowed to participate in the fun on one special day and children, too, get in on the action by pulling the chariot of Minnath.The Rato Machhindranath Jatra even connects the people of Lalitpur with Dolakha. The Newas of Dolakha also worship the god and hold a chariot festival for it around a month before Lalitpur. This helps to establish a common link between the two districts and unites the multiple Newa communities residing here around one occasion. It is a similar case with Biska which is celebrated, in one way or the other, by all Bhaktapurians as well as those in parts of Kathmandu and Thimi. Holi, also called Phagu, also does the same thing as it is celebrated by most Hindus and even non-Hindus across the country.Of course, this unifying factor is not limited to the festivals of spring only. Take for instance Indra Jatra, a festival celebrated in Autumn, the nine oil-presser (Manandhar) wards are responsible for the selection, transport and erection of the 60 feel high sacred Yansi pole, the Jyapu farmers perform the Devi Pyakha (Goddess Dance) and are involved in conducting numerous processions throughout the Jatra period, a Putuwar from Balaju keeps watch over the Yansi for eight days, a Kusle musician comes and plays the oboe at its feet every day until it is felled, Hindu Rajopadhyayas and Buddhist Bajracharyas act as priests for the images of Indra put on display at Indrachowk, Maru, Kilagal and Nardevi and the mask of the Dagi is kept at the house of a Tuladhar family near Kasthamandap. Since the ascension of Prithvi Narayan Shah to Kathmandu’s throne, various non-Newa castes have also played important roles in the successful conduction and completion of the festival. Every caste plays a vital role for the completion of the Jatra and no task is judged big or small. All those engaged in the festivity are equally important.Nepal’s festivals have crossed geographical, racial and ethnic boundaries and bonded different groups and communities for centuries. However, in recent years, they have started to become exclusionary in the economic aspect. Excess and pomp have made festivals unaffordable for the poor. Too much emphasis on materialism has prevented economically disadvantaged families from participating in and enjoying the celebrations like they used to. This has started to create resentment and dismay which is particularly visible around Dashain and Tihar. It is a sad fact of our time that festivals are only festivals for those with money. For others, it is a reminder of their lack of resources and marginalisation.However, if we get rid of ostentation then festivals, at their core, are still unifying factors for our society.
Pandemic phase of COVID-19 ending?
By A Staff ReporterKathmandu, Apr 16 : For much of the past two years, COVID-19 ruled the world, creating unprecedented challenges to health system. As public health measures, hand washing, wearing masks and maintaining social distance remained part of the new normal. On 23 January 2020, the disease was first detected in Nepal. As mitigation measures the country adopted strict restrictions. During the first wave of the pandemic, the country faced shortage of personal protective equipment including masks and PPE.The second wave, severer than the first one, began to hit the country in April 2021, leaving many patients in dire need of medical oxygen and hospitalisations. On May 11, the country recorded highest single-day coronavirus-related deaths with 225 fatalities and 9,483 new cases within 24 hours. The fragile health care system was overwhelmed. And 8,000 cases were recorded on average on a daily basis. Again, Nepal faced the emergence of the third wave in January 2022. As the new variant of the virus, Omicron, was making a comeback, on January 20, 2022, Nepal recorded an all-time daily high of over 10,200 cases through RT-PCR tests. According to the health experts, the pandemic phase of COVID-19 seems to be ending in Nepal, unless significant and severe new variant emerges. If we see the trend in the world, however, COVID-19 may emerge again, but still we may not face the worst case scenario like that of the second wave, said Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku. There are possibilities of new variants, muted or hybrid, gripping us anytime, so we need to be alert all the time, added Dr. Pun. According to Dr. Chuman Lal Das, director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, though the cases are declining significantly, everyone should remain cautions. “Nobody is safe until everyone is safe from the virus,” said Dr. Das and added that as the cases have not been eradicated from the world, no one knows for sure how it is changing its face and will emerge again anywhere and anytime. As a precautionary measure, the government is still screening people coming from abroad at the Tribhuwan International Airport, said Dr. Das. The pandemic continues to recede for the last one month in Nepal as the cases are reported in two digits or even in a single digit, thanks to the robust vaccination campaign. The government so far has vaccinated 66.3 per cent of its population. The government has done a commendable job regarding vaccination, but still many are reluctant to get the jab, said Dr. Pun and added that it was essential to get vaccinated to fight against any variant of the virus.Dr. Sangita Kausal Mishra, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), requested all to adopt safety health protocols and receive vaccines against COVID-19 to keep the virus at bay.
Fire reduces 11 houses, 4 sheds to ashes at Tikalipur, Banke
Ein Bahadur Malla, Deputy Inspector of Police (DSP) and chief at the Area Police Office in Kohalpur, said that the fire caught many houses as it was a time of windy weather and that there was no fire engine at Raptisonari.
Small industries in government priority: Badu
BY A STAFF REPORTER, Kathmandu, Apr. 15 : Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu has said that micro, cottage and small scale industries are the backbone of the country's economy and the key to economic prosperity.He made this remark in an interaction with a delegation of the Federation of Nepal, Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) at the Ministry Wednesday.He said, "Micro, cottage and small industries are in priority of the government. This sector makes the country self-reliant and creates employment. We are ready to discuss what are the problems in this area, and what we should do for the solution.”"We felt that there are some problems in the promotion of this sector after the adoption of federalism in the country. We have to move forward by addressing the problem through the amendment to existing act and policy," he said.FNCCI President Umesh Prasad Singh said that effective implementation of the directive 2071 on the use of domestic goods in public entities should be made for the promotion of domestic goods and the development of local industries.He stressed the need to stop the import of agriculture and other industrial goods which can be produced inside the country.Stating that the state should provide structure and space for the promotion of locally produced goods and development of domestic industries at the federal and in the provinces for opening export houses, he said that arrangements should be made to keep only domestic goods produced by micro, cottage and small entrepreneurs across the country at the centre. "We request the government to keep the concessional loan programme given to women entrepreneurs, agro-industry and other entrepreneurs at 5 per cent," he said.
Two dead, four injured in Palpa bus accident
By Rekhi Ram Rana, Palpa, Apr. 15: At least two passengers have died when a bus skidded some 700 meters off the road at Juthapauwa in Rainadevi Chhahara-6 in the district.According to the police post at Juthapauwa, four passengers have been injured and they have been sent to the Mission Hospital in Tansen for treatment. The cause of the accident is yet to be known.
Nepali arts hold global identity for Nepal: VP Pun
Kathmandu, April 15: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun asserted that the Nepali arts held a global identity for Nepal. He said Nepal is rich in natural and cultural arts. Inaugurating the National Fine Arts Exhibhition-2079 BS at Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Kathmandu today, VP Pun recalled the national luminary Araniko who, according to the VP, held the head of Nepal high abroad through arts. Expressing his happiness over the wide reach of Nepali arts across the world, Pun recalled the pride he had taken to see Nepali folk and modern arts exhibited in Austrian capital-Vienna- some years ago. Stating that Nepali arts, which had over 2,000 years of history, were being created in various genres and techniques lately unlike in traditional form in the past, he underscored the State's support in preserving and conserving the arts. The VP shared that his interest spanned the field of fine arts. On the occasion, NAFA's chancellor Kancha Kumar Karmacharya said that the exhibition would run for a month. A total of 426 paintings by 365 artists from all over the country are on display in the exhibition. VP Pun, on the occasion, awarded senior fine artist duo Krishna Manandhar and Surya Bahadur Chitrakar with 'Araniko Pragya Samman' carrying a purse of Rs 100,000 for each. Similarly, journalist Devendra Thumkeli received 'National Fine Arts Writing Award' while Sushila Tamang was awarded 'Fine Arts Journalism Award'. Also, seven artists were awarded the 'National Fine Arts Award' in different categories and 17 with 'Fine Arts Special Award'. Seven artists from seven provinces received the 'Lalitkala Provincial Award'.
14 new cases, 55 recoveries in 24 hours
Kathmandu, April 15: With 14 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Friday, the nation's novel coronavirus tally has reached 978,648.In 3,030 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the past 24 hours, a total of 14 persons were found infected with SARS-CoV-2, informed the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in its regular update.Likewise, the virus infection was detected in zero people in 873 antigen tests performed in the last 24 hours.Currently, there are 438 active cases of COVID-19 across the nation of which, 19 are admitted to various institutional isolation while 419 patients are placed in home isolation.Of the active patients, nine are admitted to the ICU and one is under treatment with the ventilator facility.Meanwhile, 55 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment in institutional isolation or staying in home isolation recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours. Nepal has now recorded 966,259 cases of recovery, and the recovery rate is at 98.7 per cent.The MoHP on Friday added zero COVID-19 related fatalities to the nation's COVID-19 death toll, which has now reached 11,951.
Provincial, district committees of ruling parties likely to be asked to forge consensus on electoral coalition by April 13
Provincial, district committees of ruling parties likely to be asked to forge consensus on electoral coalition by April 13 NBA decides not to issue LC for import of essentialsChief Minister Rai calls for opening export-oriented industriesCPN (Unified Socialist) forms Election Mobilization Committee Influx of devotees in Muktinath (Photo Feature) Former Finance Ministers draw government's attention to economy Chief Minister Rai calls for opening export-oriented industries Provincial, district committees of ruling parties likely to be asked to forge consensus on electoral coalition by April 13Issues of price increment of petroleum goods will be resolved: Minister Badu Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi sings Nepali song Resham Felili Chief Minister Rai calls for opening export-oriented industries Buddhakrishna piercing his tongue for the ninth time, says it'll be his last Issues of price increment of petroleum goods will be resolved: Minister Badu We are trying to have more Nepali workers in Japan: Deputy Assistant Minister Iwamoto Three new cases, 48 recoveries in 24 hours Buddhakrishna piercing his tongue for the ninth time, says it'll be his last IAEA Says Ukraine Has Requested Help Safeguarding Nuclear Plants Buddhakrishna piercing his tongue for the ninth time, says it'll be his last 2,593 foreign tourists arrived in Nepal yesterday Three new cases, 48 recoveries in 24 hours CPN (Unified Socialist) forms Election Mobilization Committee We are trying to have more Nepali workers in Japan: Deputy Assistant Minister Iwamoto Buddhakrishna piercing his tongue for the ninth time, says it'll be his last Former Finance Ministers draw government's attention to economy Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi sings Nepali song Resham Felili IAEA Says Ukraine Has Requested Help Safeguarding Nuclear Plants Three new cases, 48 recoveries in 24 hours Former Finance Ministers draw government's attention to economy Provincial, district committees of ruling parties likely to be asked to forge consensus on electoral coalition by April 13
We are positive to participate in local level elections: Prakanda
Kathmandu, April 15: A meeting has been held between Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand and Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav'-led CPN (Maoist) spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Vishwakarma 'Prakanda'.During a meeting at the Home Ministry on Friday, Prakanda said that they were positive to participate in the local elections.Home Minister's Press Coordinator Madhusudhan Bhattarai said that the party was demanding the release of party leaders and cadres jailed on various charges and the withdrawal of the charges against them.Both sides have stated that they have reached the final stage of agreement as the talks held repeatedly on this issue have been positive.After the government started the process of withdrawing the issue which can be withdrawn according to the law, the talks became governmental and came close to an agreement.During the meeting, Home Minister Khan said that the process of withdrawing the case has started.
Buddhakrishna piercing his tongue for the ninth time, says it'll be his last
Provincial, district committees of ruling parties likely to be asked to forge consensus on electoral coalition by April 13 NBA decides not to issue LC for import of essentials Provincial, district committees of ruling parties likely to be asked to forge consensus on electoral coalition by April 13 NBA decides not to issue LC for import of essentials
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Govt. accepts USD 659 million grant from U.S.
Kathmandu, April 15: The government has accepted USD 659 million in grant aid from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).This information was given by the government spokesperson Gyanendra Bahadur Karki while announcing the decision of the cabinet meeting held on April 13.He said that the decision was made to accept 659 million dollars in grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).The meeting also decided to accept a concessional loan of USD 150 million from the World Bank Group's International Development Association.Similarly, the meeting has decided to appoint Additional Inspector General of Armed Police Pushpa Ram KC as the Inspector General of the Armed Police Force and to accept the resignation of Ram Adhar Kapar, Chairman of National Housing Company Limited.
Fourth shot protects against severe Omicron outcomes; COVID may increase risk of rare eye blood clots
By Nancy Lapid, April 14 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review.The fourth vaccine dose protects against Omicron for at least a monthA fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (PFE.N) and BioNTech (22UAy.DE) provided significant added protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death for at least a month in older individuals, according to a study from Israel conducted when the Omicron variant was dominant.The estimated effectiveness of the fourth dose during days 7 to 30 after it was administered compared with a third dose given at least fourth months earlier was 45% against infection, 55% for symptomatic disease, 68% for hospitalization, 62% for severe disease and 74% for death, the research team reported on Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study compared 182,122 individuals aged 60 and older who received a fourth dose and 182,122 very similar people who had received a third dose but not a fourth."The results of our real-world study suggest that a fourth vaccine dose is, at least initially, effective against the Omicron variant," the researchers said. "Additional follow-up will allow further assessment of the protection provided by the fourth dose over time." A recently published larger Israeli study that looked only at rates of breakthrough infections and serious illness after the fourth dose found that efficacy waned quickly versus infection but held steady versus severe illness.COVID-19 may increase the risk for rare eye clotsPatients with COVID-19 may have an increased risk of rare vision-threatening blood clots in the eye for months afterwards, new findings suggest.Because SARS-CoV-2 infections increase the risk of blood vessel obstructions at other sites in the body, researchers studied nearly half a million COVID-19 patients to see whether they would develop clots in the veins or arteries of the retina, the nerve tissue at the back of the eye that receives images and sends them to the brain. Over the next six months, 65 patients had a retinal vein occlusion. While that number is low, it reflects a statistically significant 54% increase compared with pre-COVID infection rates, according to a report published on Thursday in JAMA Ophthalmology. Retinal artery clots were 35% more common after COVID-19 than before, but that difference might have been due to chance. The clots most often occurred in patients with other conditions that increased their risk of blood vessel problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.Clot risk did not appear to be associated with the severity of the coronavirus infection. The study cannot prove that COVID-19 caused the clots in these patients' eyes, the researchers noted, saying larger studies of the issue are needed.Risk of breakthrough infections tied to psychiatric problemsPeople with mental health problems are at higher risk for breakthrough infections after receiving COVID-19 vaccines, new data show.Researchers in California tracked more than a quarter of a million fully vaccinated patients in the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system. Nearly all were men, and roughly half had received at least one psychiatric diagnosis in the past five years. Overall, 14.8% developed COVID infections despite vaccination. Compared to study participants without a psychiatric diagnosis, those over age 65 with substance abuse, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder or anxiety faced up to a 24% higher risk of breakthrough infections, the study found. For those under 65, risks were up to 11% higher than for those without a psychiatric history, the researchers reported on Thursday in JAMA Network Open."Our research suggests that increased breakthrough infections in people with psychiatric disorders cannot be entirely explained by socio-demographic factors or pre-existing conditions," said study leader Aoife O'Donovan of the San Francisco VA Health Care System. "It's possible that immunity following vaccination wanes more quickly or more strongly for people with psychiatric disorders and/or they could have less protection to newer variants."
Govt. positive to address demands: Home Minister Khand
Kathmandu, April 15: A meeting has been held between the Government of Nepal and the Janamat Party led by Sike Raut.In a meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday, discussions were held on the implementation of the previous agreements between the government and the Janamat Party.The government team was led by Home Minister Bal Krishna Khan and Janmat Party Chairman Raut.
Road To Success Of Gurkha Justice Campaign
Dr. Mulibir Rai, The Anglo-Nepal relationship began in the middle of the Anglo Nepal war from 1814 to 1816. One particular battle event led two adversaries to shake hands and befriend each other. Lieutenant (Later General) Frederick Young did not flee the battle with his men. Instead, he became captive to the Gorkhalis. As he was asked why he had not run away. His stark and manly reply – "I have not come so far to run away," astonished the Gorkhali Army. They treated the officer like a guest rather than a captive. The hostility turned into friendship at once. While the war was still scrambling to its equivocal conclusion in 1816, the formation of the Gurkha regiments, not one but three, was already underway in mid-1815 at Young's request, approved by General David Ochterlony. Hence, Young bragged, “I went in as one man and came out as three thousand.” The number continuously grew throughout the century until the cold war settled in the early 1990s.Gurkhas' ValourEver since, the Gurkhas’ valor resonated in every battle, from the Pindari War in 1817 to the recent Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. They achieved over three thousand medals for bravery, including thirteen Victoria Cross at the cost of over 44,000 lives. Numerous eulogies and testimonials from the British Commanders permeate the British military literature. Among them is a famous statement by former Indian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: "If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha." Some critics may find this overly magnified version of appreciation of the Gurkhas’ selfless commitment to building the British Empire. However, its authenticity can be validated only by those British commanders, including Major James Rutherford Lumley, father of a renowned British actor Juana Lumley, who would not have survived the battle had the Gurkhas not been there to protect them. Only the biblical texts can appropriately put this selfless phenomenon: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lays down his life for his friends." Professor Sir Ralf Turner remembers his Gurkha comrades, "uncomplaining and enduring hunger and thirst and wounds, and at the last, your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had a country more faithful friends than you."Unfortunately, with the ending of the wars, the friendship abruptly ended unilaterally. Gurkhas were told, ‘Aba ladȃi sakiyo, tapaiǹharu januhos; War has ended, now you go home." Gurkhas simply grinned and left for a home virtually empty-handed, leaving thousands of fellow Gurkhas dead behind. Yet, Gurkhas' service in the British Army has continued with the same loyalty and courage throughout the centuries. Ironically, the British who invariably portrayed the Gurkhas as fearless and peerless soldiers in literature never made even the slightest effort to honour their own words in practice. It has been over two decades since the Gurkhas began the Gurkha justice campaign making a gentle demand for equality in pay and pensions. Approximately 40,000 Gurkhas had joined the movement in the 1990s. The number gradually dwindled to less than 15,000 now, meaning many Gurkhas died without the pension, which they sincerely hoped for decades. More than 70,000 Gurkha offspring are in the Middle East, Malaysia, and other South-East Asian parts, toiling for mere subsistence. Had the British Government taken sensible and appropriate action by offering equal pay and perks to the Gurkhas, their offspring would have certainly been in a better position as Gurkhas could have afforded a good education.For the UK Government, the demise of many hopeful Gurkha veterans and their offspring’s travails could be nothing. Still, it is evident exploitation of the salt of the earth and a shameful failure of the British Government, whom we once considered the world's empire and champion of human rights, to deliver justice to the demised ones and their offspring. As the UK Government’s injustice to the Gurkhas continues, the Gurkhas recall the morbid history of their side. During the great wartime, there was no household in the hills which would not have lost at least one family member in the war. Furthermore, the study shows that as the British began recruiting the best and bright youths of the indigenous groups from the hills of Nepal into the British army, there was a massive brain drain among these groups. As a result, their representation in Nepalese politics, administration and bureaucracy remained ominously empty and dangerously absent. Moreover, the British Government's ill-favored behaviors toward the Gurkhas added insult to injury, which is far more painful than the one they sustained from bullets on the battlefield.Justice CampaignThe Gurkha justice campaign initiated by the GEASO (Gurkha Ex-Serviceman Organisation) in the early 1990s took well over a decade to pulsate in the British parliament, even though the movement had begun to yield some results in installment in 2004. At least not until Peter Carroll, a Liberal Democrat political party member whom Joanna Lumley calls a “driving energy” actor Joanna Lumley herself and the Liberal Democrats’ Leader Nick Clegg drove full pelt 2009, was the UK government serious about grievances of the campaigners, the GAESO and BGWS. As a result, the UK Government announced the settlement rights for the Gurkhas. The Guardian wrote that “The move comes as a major victory for The Sun’s crusade for Gurkha justice” and it was celebrated across the Gurkha community both in the UK and Nepal. Lumley famously remarked that Gordon Brown was "a brave man who made a brave decision on behalf of the bravest of the brave." She shed tears of joy. Martin Howe, one of the legal team representing the Gurkhas, David Enright and many MPs openly commented on themselves as proud MPs who felt proud to fight for the brave Gurkhas' settlement right. It was indeed a watershed moment in the history of the Gurkhas in the British Army. However, unfortunately, these proud MPs had little or no knowledge that whilst the “historic announcement” was being made in the British Parliament, thousands of veterans were fighting the poverty, disease and injury they sustained on the battlefield. The new ‘historic announcement’ on pension applied to those who joined the British Army after 30 September 1993.To that effect, for the Gurkhas, it was just a half-done job; hence, the campaign continued. One of the campaign groups, BGWS filed the case with the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights). The court's verdict was delivered: The Court was satisfied that Gurkha soldiers had been treated differently from other soldiers in the British Army as concerned their entitlement to a pension and that the difference in treatment could be regarded as less favourable.Court BattleFurthermore, given the changes to the Gurkhas' situation, the Court accepted that by 2007- the date of the offer to transfer-Gurkha soldiers had been in a similar situation to other soldiers in the British Army. However, the Court considered that any difference in treatment on grounds of nationality had been objectively and reasonably justified. In particular, the cut-off point, 1 July 1997, for different treatment of accrued pension had not been arbitrary as it represented the transfer of the Gurkhas had started forming ties with the country.Likewise, the Court considered that any difference in treatment based on age had also been objectively and reasonably justified.Given the above statement made by the court, there seemed to have no points from the aggrieved party been taken into consideration; hence the verdict resembled nothing but a foregone conclusion rather than the justice made out of a thorough investigation. However, the BGWS somehow appeared to be convinced by the verdict.The remaining campaign groups, including GAESO, UBGAE, and other freshly formed groups, with added, so-called 13 points demands, pressed on to finish the unfinished business. A founding leader of Satyagraha Gyanraj Rai staged the third round of hunger strikes in London. Staging a hunger strike is considered not an effective practice to achieve objectives unless, like Nelson Mandela, a global icon of freedom puts, the outside world learns of it. From the Anglo-Irish war in the early 18th century to the recent insulate Britain campaign, the track records show that the hunger strikes seemed to have little impact on success as the British Government knows how to wheedle strikers. We have even witnessed a similar event in Nepal. Dr Govinda K.C. staged hunger strikes on multiple occasions demanding corrections in the Government’s bureaucratic policies within the medical sector, including affordable tuition fees for students from the working-class background, all to no avail. Governments worldwide have a universal template to deal with hunger strikes - make a promise first and break it later. Hence, the next move of the British Government is almost visible that it will propound its formulaic plan that is not to seek retrospective amendment in pension. The letter dated 17 March 2022 from Lt Gen Wardlaw, Colonel Commander of the Brigade of Gurkhas, to Major (Retired) Bhimbahadur Gurung, Chairman of the RAN, is a cue to the outcome of impending talks between the so-called GtoG (Government to Government). This article, by no means, alludes that the Gurkhas will have the same fate - grinning and bearing it; however, it strongly suggests that there are some preliminary actions to be taken and precautions to be considered to achieve success. Setting theoretical and analytical discourse on how the Gurkhas have to prepare for the justice battle aside, the most critical and immediate action is to be united unconditionally. It is a no-brainer that "united we stand divided we fall". This is the universal truth. Scholars have tested it on politics, psychology, social studies, physics and biology. So much so that it has been examined on clonal integration and its relationship to invasiveness. IntegrationThe study demonstrated the "general performance benefits of clonal integration, at least in the short term, and suggest that clonal integration contributes to the success of clonal plants." No logic can and will refute this truth/theory. Unfortunately, the Gurkhas seem to have ignored the fact that division leads only to demise for we see at least five different Gurkha campaign groups heading to the same destination - justice. Some groups have a louder voice for dignity and integrity than others. They claim that the demand for dignity and integrity will be fulfilled only if Gurkhas are treated as equally as their British counterparts. Other groups too have the same demand - equal treatment. It is common to have different opinions, but only a few find a wise way to churn those opinions and produce cream beau ideal. In the Gurkhas' context, the objective, vision and mission are clear, the direction is straightforward, the paraphernalia is in place, and the vehicle is ready. Furthermore, the setting from which the Gurkhas are launching the assault is oriental, and the position in which the Gurkhas are is subaltern. Therefore, the author strongly believes that the Gurkhas' unity is "the key" to securing victory over injustice.(A former Gurkha British soldier, Dr. Rai holds a PhD and currently teaches at a London-based college)
Personal Events Registration Week begins
Kathmandu, April 15 : Personal Events Registration Week has begun in Tokha municipality of Kathmandu from today. The Department of National Identity Card and Civil Registration has launched the Week at the municipality till April 20. Mayor Prakash Adhikari said that registration of personal events like birth, death, marriage, divorce and migration have been started in all wards of the municipality. He also requested all Tokha folks to participate in the Week. The municipality has asked the citizens, who are eligible to get social security allowance, to register their details in the ward office. Tokha municipality has 11 wards.
