Kathmandu, want to go on a white-people watching vacation? We have the perfect destinations for you!
A holiday package like no other, a holiday package to go watch white people!!
Hall of Shame III
This series is about Nepal needing a revolution…a revolution of the mind.
Here’s more of one of many MANY reasons why.
Unleashing Nepal: The History of Rent-seeking Mentality
This section from Unleashing Nepal describes how the Birta and Jagir systems implemented by Prithvi Narayan Shah created cultural practices and values and shaped some of the attitudes of the upper caste males of the Brahmin, Chhettri and some Newar castes, which, still prevalent in one form or another, has been and continues to also be an impediment to social, economic and political progress. (Another consequence of the systems were to impoverish and marginalize the indigenous population of the country.)
“To Err is Human” But to Err So is Inhumane!
One of the crucial ways our aviation industry in Nepal is failing us and why.
Biswo Dai’s Tharchyang (Retirement Celebrations)
Retirement celebrations were a big deal in the our village of Tangbe in Mustang District. But before 1990, even with a sizeable number of the people living in Pokhara, I don't think many held their celebrations in the city because of the shame they felt in being ethnic Tibetan. Things have changed a lot since then. Here's a glimpse into a celebration that I attended last month.
Traveling in Nepal While Local: Money Talks, Nepalis Walk
Starting in the mid-nineties, I had the opportunity to travel to Nepal as well as live and work in the country briefly. I also traveled and trekked a great deal during that period. Doing so, I learned a great deal about my country and people. As amazing as some of those experiences were, especially the treks, discoveries I made about some of our systems left me wondering if Nepalis are second class citizens in their own country.
Nepal, where keeping your friends happy is more important than defending the country’s constitution
Relationships matter a great deal in Nepal, which, in and of itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. But when a relationship, like friendship, trumps doing the right thing to fend off attack on a freedom guaranteed by the constitution, and therefore on one of the very foundations on which democracy rests, something has gone horrible wrong somewhere.
Trekking in Nepal While Local: Second Class Citizen in One’s Own Country?!
Starting in the mid-nineties, I had the opportunity to travel to Nepal as well as live and work in the country briefly. I also traveled and trekked a great deal during that period. Doing so, I learned a great deal about my country and people. As amazing as some of those experiences were, especially the treks, some of the discoveries I made and some of the experiences I had left a bad taste in my mouth, leaving me to wonder if Nepalis are second class citizens in their own country.
Unleashing Nepal: Institution of Chakari
With permission from the author, I am reproducing interesting parts from the book Unleashing Nepal by Sujeev Shakya. This is the first one and it's about how and who started the very peculiar and regressive chakari (ass-kissing) system in the country.
A Community Reclaiming Identity
Since 1990, little by little, my people from the little village of Tangbe in Mustang District have been reclaiming their identity. Here's one of the ways they are doing that.