Border towns in the West: Commonalities and Differences
Border towns are places where political and cultural geographies are stretched to their limits. They are known for their roughness and raw energy and marred by informal trade and rampant corruption. Having an open border with India, many Nepali cities are considered to be border towns. Among them, three of the most important border towns in West Nepal are–Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj and Siddharthanagar. Although all three of these towns border Uttar Pradesh on the Indian side, they vary significantly in socioeconomic terms.
From Anxiety to Amazement: My First Trip to Bajhang
Travel is a great teacher. Encountering new landscapes, people and cultures introduces one to the variety life offers and broadens one’s perspective. On a recent field trip to Sudur Paschim aimed at identifying champions for freshwater policy change and conservation of aquatic biodiversity in the Karnali, Mahakali, and West Rapti river basins, we made Bajhang […]
A Matter of Change
A recent visit to Middle Rapti gave me a different perspective on socio-economic development. It provided an interesting observation on the virtual presence of the government and the consequences of haphazard urbanization. Often, we argue that the construction of infrastructure (especially road infrastructure) is necessary for the development of economies. While there is no denying that developing infrastructure is a must for development, it is equally important to consider the environmental consequences of development. For this reason, the convoluted relationship between urbanization and the environment must be well understood. For instance, unplanned construction of roads can have adverse effects on river watersheds, aquatic habitats and ecological biodiversity.
Journey to the West
I am always excited at the prospect of traveling to new places. Doing so allows me to transcend the day-to-day and traverse unfamiliar paths. Discovering new places and experiencing new cultures allows me to widen my cultural competence and expand my worldview. As such, I am always on the lookout for my next great adventure […]
Celebrating Nepathya 25th year Anniversary
Growing up in a missionary school in Darjeeling during the 90s provided me with many opportunities to explore different genres of music ranging from Christian gospels to head-banging heavy metal. My school days usually began with the singing of gospel songs, transitioning to the likes of The Beatles, Cat Stevens, John Denver during music classes […]
Mingalabar Myanmar
When most Nepalis think of Myanmar, they think of Buddhism, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Rohingya crisis. Very few are aware that there is a sizeable population of Nepali-speaking Burmese living in Myanmar. I had met a few Nepali Burmese in Thailand when I travelled there in 2012, but remained largely ignorant of their […]
beed @ 10
When I quit my job as Group President of Tara Management and Bhote Koshi Power Company after spending twenty years with the group, I did so to follow my inner call—to establish a management consulting and financial advisory firm that would extend its operations beyond Nepal. The firm was envisioned as a platform that would […]
The Changing Face of Rwanda
One of the fastest growing economies in East Africa, Rwanda sustained high GDP growth of around 8% per year between 2001 and 2013. When I first visited the country in 2013, I was impressed by its fresh out of school attitude with its high aspirations, ambitions and risk-taking nature. Rwanda was geared to conquer the […]
Lessons from Bhutan
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Bhutan on a work trip. Based on what I had heard and read, my perception of the country was that of a strict and reserved state that had once expelled thousands of people of Nepali origin due a perceived cultural threat. Upon visiting the country, I was pleasantly […]
The Mugu Experience
Travelling has always been a learning experience for me. Though people love to go for popular treks like the Annapurna base camp (ABC) and the Everest base camp (EBC), they rarely opt for a trek to remote places of Nepal. Since many tourists visit places like ABC every year, the trails are well developed and […]
Beed Travel Diaries
“Where are we travelling” is the first line that comes to my mind when signing up for an assignment. The nature of assignments undertaken at beed and the passion to work out of the box have resulted in travels to diverse destinations and meeting diverse people across Nepal and across continents. Every assignment undertaken at […]
Nepali Movies: Competing Against the Big Leagues
Disclaimer Before I begin my thoughts, I would like to admit that I am neither a movie critic nor anyone associated with the Nepali movie industry, but someone with a soft corner for homemade Nepali movies. All the views expressed in this article are solely for the purpose of introducing and promoting the Nepali movie […]