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Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa  Why Panmasala, Pan, Tobacco, Jarda, and Gutka should be banned in Nepal! By LB Thapa Panmasala, pan, tobacco, jarda, and gutka are widely consumed products in many South Asian countries, including Nepal and India. Although some people consider them a part of their daily habit or cultural tradition, the harmful effects of these substances on public health and the environment cannot be ignored. The growing consumption of these products has become a serious concern because they not only damage human health but also contribute to poor sanitation and public nuisance. Considering their harmful consequences, Nepal should seriously consider banning panmasala, pan, tobacco, jarda, and gutka. One of the strongest reasons for banning these products is their devastating impact on human health. Most gutka, jarda, and tobacco products contain nicotine and numerous harmful chemicals that are highly addictive. Once people become addicted, it becomes extremely di...

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...

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...

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...

Image:ChatGPT/Concept: LBThapa   The sanctity of the House of Representatives By LB Thapa There’s a certain sense of respect and dignity inside the House of Representatives. How the House behaves matters—it shapes how the world sees Nepal’s democracy. It’s not just about fancy walls or a nice hall. This place is meant to be the heart of democracy, a mirror of the nation’s soul, where the hopes and fears of 30 million Nepalis—from the hills of Humla to the plains of Jhapa—are supposed to be heard.   In the past, the House was known for its passionate but respectful debates. Leaders like B.P. Koirala and Ganesh Man Singh showed that even the Prime Minister had to listen to the Speaker’s gavel. Back then, words were the only weapons, and the enemy was an argument, not a person.   An honorable Member of Parliament (MP) is expected to act in a way that respects this legacy. They’re not activists or street protesters inside the House. They’re lawmakers, trusted with peo...

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 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...