Gorkhapatra Contributes To Build Inclusive Society: Vice President Yadav

Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav has said that Gorkhapatra Corporation has been providing truthful and reliable information, education and entertainment as the official voice of the nation for more than a century. He made this remark while addressing a programme ‘Resurrection with Determination: Gork hapatra Discourse on Recovery and Resilience’ organised by Gorkhapatra Corporation in Lalitpur on Thursday, December 18, 2025:

His full speech 

On the historic occasion of the 125th year (Silver Centenary) of Gorkhapatra Daily, which has a glorious history in the field of journalism in Nepal, and the 61st year of Nepal’s first English-language broadsheet daily, The Rising Nepal, I express my heartfelt gratitude to Gorkhapatra Corporation and all the dignitaries present here for the important organisation of the ‘Gorkhapatra Discourse on Recovery and Resilience’ programme. On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Corporation family.

Today, we have gathered here through the ‘Resurrection with Determination: Gorkhapatra Discourse’ programme to discuss important dimensions of Nepal’s economic revival, the investment environment and future development strategies, smart infrastructure development and management, private sector confidence and capital mobilisation, and policy facilitation. It is positive that this gathering is being organised by Gorkhapatra Corporation, the foundation of Nepali journalism.

The participation of high-ranking government officials, policymakers, industrialists, experts, analysts and mainstream media personnel in this important economic debate, the ‘Gorkhapatra Discourse’, organised by Gorkhapatra Corporation to contribute to making the country’s economy dynamic through the operation of the Gorkhapatra Academy, is commendable.

I am confident that this debate will reach concrete conclusions by deeply analysing the state, challenges and prospects of the country’s overall economy, including the government’s efforts and the expectations of the private sector. In particular, I expect that an environment of cooperation will be created through important conclusions in various dimensions of Nepal’s economy and policy reforms after the recent Gen Z movement.

Gorkhapatra Corporation has been providing truthful and reliable information, education and entertainment as the official voice of the nation for more than a century. I am pleased that Gorkhapatra has made a significant contribution to building an inclusive society and further strengthening national unity in a multilingual and multicultural country like Nepal by presenting content in 46 national languages. It has been guiding the country’s economic development, public debate and national dialogue, while also acting as an information bridge between the government, civil society and stakeholders.

Established as a corporation in 1901, Gorkhapatra has been continuously contributing to national service through multifaceted publications. Magazines such as Madhuparka, Yubamanch and Muna have made Gorkhapatra a symbol of pride by covering all sections of society. Introducing Nepal to the world through Gorkhapatra Online and The Rising Nepal Online, while embracing the modern digital era, is a historic achievement of this corporation.

Today’s era is the digital era. The speed and reach of news are being defined by digital media. Gorkhapatra should be able to maintain credibility and factual accuracy by taking the lead in digital journalism. Another commendable step is its efforts to establish itself as a priceless heritage for future generations through archival journalism, which preserves facts, history and evidence. This leadership initiative of Gorkhapatra is also important in the context of the Gen Z movement, which has emerged with demands for transparency, good governance, a corruption-free society, smooth public services and employment opportunities within the country, giving the nation a new direction.

The Gorkhapatra Corporation is not only a heritage of journalism but also a living document of Nepali society, culture, history and change. From the darkness of the Rana regime to the establishment and institutional consolidation of the Federal Democratic Republic, Gorkhapatra has continuously written in favour of the people's voice, aspirations, rights and freedom. It has made a significant contribution to the promotion of democratic values, social justice and national unity.

In the current context, the interim government faces the challenge of simultaneously advancing economic development while prioritising elections. Creating an environment of mutual trust between the government and the private sector to mobilise the capital accumulated in banks and financial institutions into productive sectors is the need of the day. I am confident that increased investment in agriculture, water resources, tourism and infrastructure will lead to job creation, increased income and production, and will give overall economic development new momentum. It is necessary for the government and the private sector to move forward shoulder to shoulder in the best interest of the country.May this discourse programme prove helpful in bringing the government, policymakers and the private sector onto one platform to find ways to collaborate towards sustainably reviving the damage suffered by both the government and the private sector and overcoming the slowdown in economic activities.

Only modern infrastructure makes a nation competitive. Journalism should be able to play a monitoring role to ensure transparency and accountability in infrastructure development. 

The private sector is the economic engine of the nation. Journalism should encourage the private sector, provide policy clarity and help create an investment-friendly environment. As far as policy facilitation is concerned, policies need to be clear, simple and implementable. Journalism should be able to serve as a medium for channeling the voice of the people into policymaking.

Finally, this discussion is a visionary step by the Corporation to contribute to revival and sustainable development with determination amid global economic uncertainty and Nepal’s own challenges. I am confident that the ‘Gorkhapatra Discourse’ will chart a roadmap for national revival alongside discussions on journalism. We should make a resolve to strengthen the federal democratic republic by practising inclusive, digital, documentable and responsible journalism.

Expressing my belief that this economic debate programme will make a positive and fruitful contribution to the country’s economy in many ways, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all those honoured today and once again convey my best wishes for the complete success of this important discourse.

(Speech translated by Pallav Bhusal.)