Motorcycle diary: An accidental adventure

Absent-mindedly we chose to take the Daman way while coming to Kathmandu from Hetauda. Initially, we had planned to come through Kulekhani and Dakshinkali. But as I stopped in Bhainse, 9km from Hetauda to Kathmandu, for a cup of tea, I happened to stop it turning towards Daman way. Without thinking much, we took the Daman way after having a salty tea at Bhainse.

भारतको बिकास र प्रगतीको रहस्य

भारतले अंगालेको उदार आर्थिक व्यवस्थाको निरपेक्ष समर्थन गर्ने उदारवादीहरुले त्यहाँको प्रगतिलाई ठुलो उपलब्धिको रुपमा लिन्छन् भने शास्त्रीय समाजवादी वा कम्युनिष्टहरुले तीव्र रुपमा भइरहेको भारतको आर्थिक वृद्धिले ग्रामीण र गरीब जनसंख्यालाई छुन नसकेको र छिट्टै त्यो आन्तरिक द्धन्द्धमा पर्ने भविष्यवाणी गर्ने गरेका छन् । त्यो खाडल दिल्ली वा मुम्बईमा सत्य पनि देखिन्छ कि त्यहाँ गरीव र धनीबिचको खाडल बढीरहेको छ र गरीबहरुको जीवनस्तर घट्दै गैरहेको छ । यो सत्य हेर्न एकपटक भारतको ग्रामीण र पहाडी क्षेत्र घुम्न जाने इच्छा थियो । संयोगवश केही महिनाअघि पश्चिम भारतको उत्तराखण्डका केही गाउँहरु घुम्ने अवसर मिल्यो । त्यहाँ घुमिरहँदा भने मेरो मानस पटलमा भारतको ग्रामीण समुदायको जुन चित्र बनेको थियो, त्योभन्दा बिल्कुल भिन्न अनुभव हुन पुग्यो ।

Tour on Bangladesh Hills

People mostly believe Bangladesh is the country of plains.True. However, there are wonderfully beautiful hills in its eastern districts bordering with India and Myanmar. These are relatively very young hills, maybe one of the youngest in Asia. Huge diversity of flora and fauna found here just enchants anybody. Looking from the distance, it looks like a dense forest. As we go closer, people are living. Here we can see how close the nature and the people can live in harmony.

Holy River in Kathmandu Becoming Sewer

The Bagmati is a river sacred to Hindus everywhere, flowing from Bagdwar on the northern hills of the Kathmandu valley through the heart of the city. It used to be a source of livelihood for people, fauna and flora living in the valley and downstream. It is still thought of as a holy place for cremations, especially the Aryaghat cremation site. Thousands of people throng to Pashupatinath, with the hope of taking a dip in the river and drinking Jala (Sacred Water) from it.

A Day With the Maoist Army

Nov. 21, the government and the Maoists were set to sign the much awaited peace accord. The accord was much awaited because only this would formally end the Maoist violence in Nepal.

All the people were keenly watching the developments in the capital. My colleagues were also urging me not to miss the special signing function. Surely, it would have been an opportunity in the life of a journalist to attend the ceremony, because very few in very few countries ever get the privilege to attend an event where a government and former rebels declare that they have formally denounced war and will opt for peaceful politics.

Nepal to Face Cold, Dark Winter

Nepal is the second richest country in the whole globe in terms of hydro resources. It has a huge theoretical potential for hydropower, estimated to be in the region of 83,000 MW and the economically feasible potential is assessed at 42,000 MW. However, it has only produced 600 MW.

Owing to the lack of financial resources, most of the people are forced to live under darkness in Nepal. Fewer than 3 percent of Nepal's rural population has access to electricity, whereas the total population having access to electricity amounts nearly to 20 percent.

Nepal legislating anti tobacco laws

After the legislation comes into effect, it will be pretty difficult for the smokers openly exhaling smokes in public places.

This shall be an embarrassing news for the smokers and tobacco users in the country. However, Nepal has moved towards legislating anti tobacco laws that will ultimately affect the production, sale and consumption of tobacco. Besides, it will be pretty difficult for the smokers to continue their habit as they have been doing. The House of Representatives has recently ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This ratification entails certain obligations to Nepal government to make certain laws and formulate policies and plans to regulate and control the consumption of tobacco.