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Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa The imperative for a redefinition of Nepal-India relations By LB Thapa The relationship between Nepal and India is often cited as a unique example of bilateral ties, defined by deep-rooted cultural affinity, an open border, and pervasive economic interdependence. Legally institutionalized by the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, this "special relationship" grants citizens of both nations reciprocal rights to reside, work, and trade without visas.   Even after decades, the trend is continued as not much has changed in the course of political landscape. The open border and free entry of the people have definitely consolidated social and economic ties between India and Nepal.       However, beneath the surface of fraternity lies a complex narrative of power asymmetry. For many in Nepal, the historical trajectory suggests that India has seldom viewed a fully independent, economically self-sustained Nepal as being in its strategic ...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa   BEYOND ROTE LEARNING A need for a sea change in the SEE examination By LB Thapa The Secondary Education Examination (SEE) is an important moment for millions of Nepali students. In this context, the government deserves a brief but sincere appreciation for its commendable efficiency in publishing the SEE results within a single month of the examinations’ conclusion. This promptness not only alleviates the anxiety of students and parents but also provides a crucial window for students to plan their higher secondary pathways without disruptive delays. Thus, the determination shown by the present government is no doubt a welcome step toward transparency and accountability in Nepal’s public education system.   A brief glance at this year’s results compared to previous ones reveals a familiar yet troubling pattern. While the overall pass percentage has seen minor fluctuations—occasionally sustained by grace marks or lenient checking—the consisten...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa The Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura dispute: A Himalayan impasse By LB Thapa The map of South Asia, drawn and redrawn by the hands of empire, diplomacy, and war, contains few border disputes as intricate and persistently challenging as the one between India and Nepal over the high-altitude trijunction of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura. What appears on some maps as a mere sliver of land in the shadow of the Himalayas represents a clash of legal interpretations, national pride, and strategic interests. As India and China move forward with the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass without Kathmandu’s formal consent, a century-old disagreement has once again flared into a modern diplomatic crisis, testing the limits of the unique "Roti-Beti" relationship between New Delhi and Kathmandu.   The genesis of the dispute lies in the Treaty of Sugauli of 1816, signed between the Gorkha Kingdom and the British East India Company following the Ang...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa   RSP Connecting politics with career and professionalism By LB Thapa Are you planning to contest elections on a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) ticket? If so, you now need to prove your ability by completing a course at the Leadership Academy. In RSP, getting a ticket no longer depends on money—you need to pass an exam.  For years, we have witnessed the chaos outside leaders’ doorsteps in the months leading up to elections: briefcases exchanged for tickets and the deep-rooted practices of nepotism and favoritism. This bitter reality of Nepali politics has long been suffered by the people. Now, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has introduced a decision that could shake the very foundation of how election tickets are distributed in Nepal. But what exactly is this Candidate Club and Leadership Academy? What does the Academy teach? And how does RSP intend to stop the broker system and the setting of ticket distribution?  In the upcoming loca...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa   INDIA A land of warmth and warning for the female traveler By LB Thapa India is a country of profound contradictions. For the female traveler, it can be both enchanting and unnerving. On one hand, the subcontinent offers mysterious ancient temples, vibrant festivals, and legendary hospitality. On the other, headlines about brutal rapes, harassment, and theft involving foreign tourists have stained its global image. The question is not whether India is absolutely safe or unsafe — the truth lies in the gray space between fear and reality.  To deny the problem would be disingenuous. India has witnessed high-profile cases that rightfully alarm the world. In 2014, a 52-year-old Danish tourist was robbed and gang-raped in New Delhi’s Paharganj area, a popular backpacker hub. In 2019, a 28-year-old Brazilian national reported being gang-raped by seven men in the same city. These are not isolated whispers but documented tragedies. Foreign female trav...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa   Harka Sampang: Nepal’s most productive unemployment killer By LB Thapa Psychologists and MRI experts agree: Harka Sampang might just be the most misunderstood creature to ever wander the Earth. Some even whisper that he has no mind to mind—which is convenient, because people across the country spit venom at him day and night. Does he care? Not in the slightest. You can’t offend someone who’s running on blank, as his critics lovingly put it.   But wait. Before you grab your torch and pitchfork, let’s talk about Harka’s one undeniable superpower: he has single-handedly employed more Nepali youths than any government scheme ever did.   No, this is not a dream. No, you do not need a resume. Let me explain.   The Facebook typhoon   Harka Sampang, the proud president of the Shram Sanskriti Party (SSP), has achieved what no politician has dared: he’s become the undisputed heavyweight champion of Facebook status updates. He doesn’t jus...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept/LB Thapa   Over one thousand JHOLE appointees of various political parties are confirmed to lose their jobs! By LB Thapa If you oppose corruption, mismanagement, nepotism, favoritism, black marketing, and bribery, then you must wholeheartedly appreciate and support Balen’s government. If you disagree with any of these, then you belong with Harke and his company.   Balen’s government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against those thugs and parasites who grew rich by sucking the blood of poor Nepali people and hoarding stacks of notes in their homes. But even that wasn't enough. These political leaders went on to grossly misuse state power, making political appointments for their party cadres in as many as 52 government and non-government departments.   Now the government is preparing to sack around 1,200 political appointees made during the previous government's tenure, which had filled various state agencies with Congress, UML, and Maoist party c...

Image: ChatGPT/Read 2b Happy   The UK's quiet collapse By LB Thapa The United Kingdom was once the world’s dream destination. Today, however, many people there say that even buying food has become a struggle. At the same time, the country is facing a shortage of workers. On one hand, the cost of living has risen so sharply that people are finding it hard to afford basic food items. On the other hand, companies cannot find enough workers. The situation has worsened further as millions of people leave the UK every year. This raises an important question: Is the United Kingdom slowly becoming unlivable? And if so, what is happening to one of the world’s most powerful economies?   Cities like London were once considered global financial hubs, where dreams of career growth, high salaries, and a world-class lifestyle defined their identity. But now, the reality is changing—and this change is so significant that experts are calling it a "silent crisis."   The most alarming sign ...

Image: ChatGPT/Read 2B Happy     How Trump's goon diplomacy is bankrupting U.S. credibility By LB Thapa One should never forget that power comes with responsibility. The greater the power, the greater the need to behave responsibly. Many economically and militarily powerful nations act sensibly, intelligently, and diplomatically. But the way Donald Trump behaves can only be described as "goon diplomacy."   "Might is right"—this phrase fits Donald Trump perfectly. He appears to act more like a local thug (galika gunda) who intimidates nations and orchestrates the kidnapping of a sovereign nation's president. And that's not all. He also threatens to seize Greenland at any moment, spreading fear, panic, and terror among nations.   Trump’s reckless behavior has severely tarnished America’s image as a guardian of democracy. He is acting more like a brutal dictator—his actions even worse than those of Saddam Hussein or Muammar Gaddafi. Today, Donald Trum...