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Photos: LB Thapa Want to collect your renewed driving license? Be prepared to stand in a queue for hours! By LB Thapa To make a long story short, my driving licence expired in 2025. As usual, I went to the Department of Transport Management in Kaski with the receipt required to collect my renewed licence. The last time I renewed my licence, I had to wait almost four years before receiving it. Ironically, by the time I finally got the renewed licence, it was due for renewal again the following year. Recently, however, I read in several newspapers that the government had committed itself to clearing the backlog of pending licence printing as quickly as possible. Encouraged by this news, I arrived at the Transport Management Office in Kaski at around 10 a.m. To my astonishment, I found an enormous queue stretching from the licence distribution window all the way to the main road—far beyond the office premises. To be honest, the sight of such a long queue was intimidating. Standing for h...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa VRINDAVAN Its spiritual importance and the challenge of Fake Sadhus By LB Thapa , lately in Vrindavan   Vrindavan, located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most sacred places in Hinduism. It is closely associated with the childhood and youthful pastimes of Lord Krishna and occupies a special place in the hearts of millions of devotees around the world. According to Hindu tradition, Krishna spent much of his early life in and around Vrindavan, performing divine pastimes with the gopis, cowherd boys, and the residents of Braj. The town is home to numerous ancient and modern temples, including Banke Bihari Temple, ISKCON Temple, Radha Raman Temple, and Prem Mandir. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit Vrindavan to seek spiritual inspiration, participate in devotional activities, and experience the sacred atmosphere of the land associated with Krishna.   The importance of Vrindavan extends beyond religion. It represents a livin...

Photo: Edwin Mijares   A SHORT STORY The cold sand of the Seti River By LB Thapa Preeti avoided the guard’s watchful gaze and quietly slipped past the tightly stretched barbed-wire fence behind Pokhara Stadium. The area had been declared off-limits after the devastating earthquake of April 2015 left deep fissures along the banks of the Seti River—fissures that had already claimed the lives of many domestic animals. To prevent further tragedies, authorities had erected a strong fence around the most dangerous sections.   Carefully making her way through tall grass and treacherous cracks in the ground, Preeti climbed onto a large boulder overlooking the river. From there, she had a clear view of the Seti far below, where foaming white water rushed through a narrow rocky gorge.   She glanced around to ensure no one had seen her. The dense bushes and towering grass concealed her from passersby near the stadium. Satisfied that she was alone, she sat on the boulder and stared...

From IT engineer to Cow Savior By LB Thapa After earning a degree in IT engineering, most people dream of landing a high-paying job and living a life of comfort and luxury. That’s the typical expectation, right? But what if I told you that the man I’m about to introduce holds that same prestigious IT degree—yet made a conscious choice to run a Gaushala, caring for abandoned cows instead? Hard to believe, isn’t it? Meet Nanda Gopal Das, the founder of Pokhara Gaushala Ashram in Majuwa, Pokhara. About eight years ago, he started the shelter with just five cows. “I was deeply moved when I saw old and injured cows—Gaumata—left abandoned on the streets. They were weak, wounded, and in terrible shape. Seeing their suffering broke my heart,” Das recalls. Nanda Gopal Das earned his B.Tech in Information Technology in 2019. Like many young people, he dreamed of working hard and eventually settling abroad with his family. He even worked for a reputable company in the UK for two years. Life...

Image:ChatGPT/Concept:LB Thapa   The glamour, a short story By LB Thapa The acting bug had stung Diwakar when he was in his early teens. After completing his +2 education, Diwakar decided to pursue his dream. His dream was to become a popular cinema star in Nepali cinema. But his parents were against his idea. They told him that he should take up acting as a pastime hobby but not as a career. Captain Padam Bahadur, Diwakar’s father, had already made it clear that he should complete a master’s degree and a PhD before joining a college in Palpa. Outwardly, Diwakar agreed with his father, but deep down in his heart, he sincerely apologized to his father for not being able to fulfill his dream.  Diwakar was sent to Kathmandu for higher education, where he rented an apartment at Jawlakhel. After getting admission to a college, Diwakar gave all his attention to making a career in the field of cinema. He started visiting different filmmakers, directors, and producers and asking t...

Photo: Mumtahina Tanni  The silent crisis: Medical waste management in Nepal By LB Thapa Nepal’s healthcare system has expanded significantly over the past two decades, with increased numbers of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers in both urban and rural areas. However, this progress has brought an unintended consequence: a dramatic rise in medical waste. From used syringes and contaminated bandages to expired pharmaceuticals and pathological remains, medical waste has become a silent environmental and public health crisis.   Although the government has issued strict warnings time and again and insists on following prescribed guidelines, the current situation has not improved so much. Due to lack of infrastructure and coupled with negligence by hospitals and municipalities, the situation has only turned bad to worse in recent years.     Current situation of medical waste management in Nepal   In practice, medical waste management in Ne...