Ballav Dahal 

More than two and a half decades have elapsed since I joined The Rising Nepal. Recalling those days, I now feel that the most valuable time of my life has passed swiftly without my notice. Though the job demanded me to be prepared for dealing with numerous challenges and obstacles, the whole journey has been extremely worthwhile. I will always be highly indebted to this newspaper for giving me ample opportunities to learn and develop myself.

When I first came in, I questioned what the office environment would be like. However, to my pleasant surprise, most team members in the office were highly supportive and helpful. So, I became comfortable in no time. That way, the congenial office environment inspired everyone to come together for work.
Life is a roller-coaster ride with various ups and downs. You come across different kinds of people. And in the process, you also gain varied experiences, be it good or bad. Here, I share with you some unique and remarkable incidents associated with my job.

Justice for family of rape victim
In the course of news reporting some 22 years ago, I happened to meet a couple in Duwakot in Bhaktapur district. They were very sad as their seven-year-old daughter had been raped by a 19-year-old boy living in the neighbourhood. They were in a dilemma after the concerned police office refused to move the case forward despite their repeated pleas. That made them suspect that the relatives of the perpetrator had greased the palm of a police inspector who was investigating the case. What was more interesting was that the criminal's side had been able to influence even some doctors working at the Paropakar Maternity Hospital based in Thapathali where the vaginal swab of the victim was tested. We knew that the doctors had been trying to issue a lab report in favour of the perpetrator.

As I was familiar with Narayan Kumar Acharya, who was the chief at the Bhaktapur district police office, I enquired with him why the rape case was not moving ahead. I had expected that he would take it seriously and go into action immediately. But he took it very lightly. Then, I requested him to think about it from the side of the victim's family. "What would you do if the victim was your daughter?" I asked him.

My question may have struck him. He assured me that he would forward the case if the lab report proved it as a crime. To get an accurate lab report, we also had to pile pressure on the doctors involved in the lab test.
I shared all that information with Ram Kumar Kamat, who worked with TRN’s sister publication Gorkhapatra daily. As the issue deserved to be brought to light even from the point of view of humanity, we decided to write a news report highlighting all the developments associated with the incident. As the news was carried by TRN and the Gorkhapatra the next day, the Police Headquarters inquired Acharya as well as the concerned police inspector about the case. The hospital also sent the lab report as it was to the police office. It was easy for Acharya and his team to move the case forward. Based on all the evidence, the rapist was handed a jail term for a couple of years. It generated more confidence in me to work for the oppressed and the voiceless.

Stressful Night Duty
I also spent a couple of years at the night desk. As night shift jobs are rare in Nepal, many used to ask me what type of work I was doing. While hearing the term 'night duty, some would even mistake my job for a security guard's duty.
At that time, even Kathmandu’s core areas were not so safe to be around after evening. We used to return home by office vehicle following the completion of the work. Sometimes we would reach home only after 2 am. Troublemakers like boozers and looters would be encountered at different places like Kapan, Kalopul, Syuchatar and Jadibuti. They would try to stop the vehicle on different pretexts. But their real intentions were to loot something. When the Maoist insurgency was at its peak, even security personnel would stop our vehicle on the way frequently for security reasons.

Strikes, bandhs and blockades were a common occurrence at the time. Solid waste management of the Kathmandu Valley was not good (it is not well-managed even today). We had to pass through various narrow alleys and streets to drop colleagues working with TRN and Gorkhapatra daily. As a lot of garbage would be dumped on roads and streets, our vehicle needed to run over it. The country would frequently report incidents of killings either from the rebel group or the state. Bombs used to explode and firings would take place even inside the valley. We would get panicky when our vehicle passed through the streets where the trash was dumped haphazardly. We would be worried about the possible explosion of bombs there.

Night Desk During Blockade
It was more upsetting to work at the night desk during the economic blockade imposed by India. The nation faced an acute shortage of petroleum products as the import of fuels was limited. We had to spend the night in the office room as the office vehicles could not operate for lack of fuel. What was even more distressing was that the management was least concerned about the plight of those working during odd hours.

Anyway, every profession has a certain level of challenges. And we have to make efforts to develop a positive outlook all the time. Even though TRN has now entered 57 years, there are many issues with it. The management still has a long way to go when it comes to upgrading content, increasing circulation and popularising it through digital technology. Despite all this, I will always remain proud and thankful for the fact that I have been associated with this newspaper.

(Deputy Executive Editor Dahal heads the daily's features section)