A book is always the best teacher

A book is always the best teacher

Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho was once asked by a journalist: “Could you please give some advice for those who wish to become a good writer like you?” To which the witty writer replied: “I have three pieces of advice for aspiring writers: Read! Read!! Read!!!”

Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho was once asked by a journalist: “Could you please give some advice for those who wish to become a good writer like you?” To which the witty writer replied: “I have three pieces of advice for aspiring writers: Read! Read!! Read!!!”

Blogs 07 Jun, 2022

Impression of books

Impression of books

Yukio Mishima’s story of harakiri fascinated me. I read his seminal work The Temple of the Golden Pavillion when I was a teenager.

Yukio Mishima’s story of harakiri fascinated me. I read his seminal work The Temple of the Golden Pavillion when I was a teenager.

Blogs 03 Jun, 2022

Quality infrastructure

Quality infrastructure

It’s not enough to build infrastructure assets that produce electricity, provide safe drinking water, or facilitate transport.

It’s not enough to build infrastructure assets that produce electricity, provide safe drinking water, or facilitate transport.

Blogs 03 Jun, 2022

A greener future

A greener future

Mounting concerns over transport emissions contributing to climate change, coupled with the insatiable demand for expensive petroleum from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, have compelled countries around the world to embrace electric vehicles (EVs).

Mounting concerns over transport emissions contributing to climate change, coupled with the insatiable demand for expensive petroleum from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, have compelled countries around the world to embrace electric vehicles (EVs).

Blogs 01 Jun, 2022

Make rape costly and sex be free

Make rape costly and sex be free

It’s distressing to see people unable to venture out of their homes to show their talents out of fear. Instead of giving them an opportunity to perform on stage, should people with talent be held at home? I myself don’t suggest my loved ones to join any beauty pageant or talent audition for now. Sometimes they are not safe even at school.

It’s distressing to see people unable to venture out of their homes to show their talents out of fear. Instead of giving them an opportunity to perform on stage, should people with talent be held at home? I myself don’t suggest my loved ones to join any beauty pageant or talent audition for now. Sometimes they are not safe even at school.

Blogs 01 Jun, 2022

Asia's debt

Asia's debt

Whether one looks across the entire region in its vast diversity, at groups of countries of similar income or geography, or at individual economies, there is no question that Asia has been borrowing fast.

Whether one looks across the entire region in its vast diversity, at groups of countries of similar income or geography, or at individual economies, there is no question that Asia has been borrowing fast.

Blogs 31 May, 2022

Being a parent to ageing parents

Being a parent to ageing parents

A crude sense of wisdom dawned before I embarked on a journey in the far western laps of the hills of Dang as a secondary level teacher.

A crude sense of wisdom dawned before I embarked on a journey in the far western laps of the hills of Dang as a secondary level teacher.

Blogs 31 May, 2022

Pine trees saga

Pine trees saga

Ah, pine forest! Who would not enjoy a walk, or a pause, in the woods of these redolent trees, feasting one’s eyes and relishing the fragrance that so sweetly delights one’s olfactory receptors! Some believe the air slipping through pine trees is good for health.

Ah, pine forest! Who would not enjoy a walk, or a pause, in the woods of these redolent trees, feasting one’s eyes and relishing the fragrance that so sweetly delights one’s olfactory receptors! Some believe the air slipping through pine trees is good for health.

Blogs 30 May, 2022

Staying healthy

Staying healthy

Bhutan was the first country in the world to pursue happiness as a state policy.

Bhutan was the first country in the world to pursue happiness as a state policy.

Blogs 27 May, 2022

Changing mindset

Changing mindset

Kankai Municipality, where I cast my vote, was on national headlines at the very start of the vote counting after the local level election concluded on May 13, Friday.

Kankai Municipality, where I cast my vote, was on national headlines at the very start of the vote counting after the local level election concluded on May 13, Friday.

Blogs 27 May, 2022

Falling groundwater

Falling groundwater

India is the largest user of groundwater globally, extracting more than the United States and China put together.

India is the largest user of groundwater globally, extracting more than the United States and China put together.

Blogs 26 May, 2022

Me goat

Me goat

I was a black goat, young, tall and handsome, living a blissful life frisking and prancing with my mother and siblings, grazing and munching on the fresh green grass on a hillock that my master would lead us to cautiously. I continued to graze and graze on the healthy green growth for a year or so until one day, a stranger arrived, and my master handed me over to him.

I was a black goat, young, tall and handsome, living a blissful life frisking and prancing with my mother and siblings, grazing and munching on the fresh green grass on a hillock that my master would lead us to cautiously. I continued to graze and graze on the healthy green growth for a year or so until one day, a stranger arrived, and my master handed me over to him.

Blogs 26 May, 2022

Water management

Water management

Indonesia’s urban centers currently face severe and interlinked water security challenges: inadequate and inequitable access to water supply and sanitation services, persistent flooding, poor environmental water quality, unplanned settlements, and in some regions, dramatic land subsidence, all of which are exacerbated by climate change.

Indonesia’s urban centers currently face severe and interlinked water security challenges: inadequate and inequitable access to water supply and sanitation services, persistent flooding, poor environmental water quality, unplanned settlements, and in some regions, dramatic land subsidence, all of which are exacerbated by climate change.

Blogs 25 May, 2022

Tibetan medicine: healing the ancient way

Tibetan medicine: healing the ancient way

A text on Tibetan medicine says: “Always remember the two principal causes of disease: unhealthy food and unhealthy lifestyle.” In 2010, India officially recognised Tibetan medicine as a “science of healing” and enshrined it within the nation’s healthcare system, paving the way for future research and investment into the spiritual discipline.

A text on Tibetan medicine says: “Always remember the two principal causes of disease: unhealthy food and unhealthy lifestyle.” In 2010, India officially recognised Tibetan medicine as a “science of healing” and enshrined it within the nation’s healthcare system, paving the way for future research and investment into the spiritual discipline.

Blogs 24 May, 2022

Jobs form home

Jobs form home

As we gradually learn to live with COVID-19, employees are returning to offices in some parts of the world. It will be a very different world of work. Characterised by evolving policies and guidelines, the new normal of work ranges from on-site work to full work-from-home set-ups to hybrid arrangements.

As we gradually learn to live with COVID-19, employees are returning to offices in some parts of the world. It will be a very different world of work. Characterised by evolving policies and guidelines, the new normal of work ranges from on-site work to full work-from-home set-ups to hybrid arrangements.

Blogs 20 May, 2022

Go, get them

Go, get them

A fortnight ago, my wife and I decided to go to Thamel.

A fortnight ago, my wife and I decided to go to Thamel.

Blogs 20 May, 2022

Climate change affects farming

Climate change affects farming

Most Nepali people still depend on agriculture for maintaining their livelihood. Since climate change has affected this sector a lot, agricultural production is likely to dwindle in the years to come, impeding the people, especially the poor, even to subsist.

Most Nepali people still depend on agriculture for maintaining their livelihood. Since climate change has affected this sector a lot, agricultural production is likely to dwindle in the years to come, impeding the people, especially the poor, even to subsist.

Blogs 19 May, 2022

Meal mantra and mindfulness

Meal mantra and mindfulness

When was the last time you genuinely appreciated a meal? A desirable meal is one that is full of colour, flavour and aroma. However, we hardly notice, feel, smell and taste the food mindfully due to the conundrums of everyday life.

When was the last time you genuinely appreciated a meal? A desirable meal is one that is full of colour, flavour and aroma. However, we hardly notice, feel, smell and taste the food mindfully due to the conundrums of everyday life.

Blogs 17 May, 2022

Social inclusion

Social inclusion

The nexus between poverty and disability has been strongly documented in Cambodia.

The nexus between poverty and disability has been strongly documented in Cambodia.

Blogs 17 May, 2022

A toxic saga

A toxic saga

We find an extremely poisonous plant in Nepal’s forests, and it’s called angeri. It’s toxic in that if goats or cows eat angeri shoots – although animals seem to know whether or not a plant is safe – they usually die of swollen bellies. That’s why stockmen keep an eye on the presence of the plant – which is fairly common – so that their livestock does not feed on it and returns home unscathed.

We find an extremely poisonous plant in Nepal’s forests, and it’s called angeri. It’s toxic in that if goats or cows eat angeri shoots – although animals seem to know whether or not a plant is safe – they usually die of swollen bellies. That’s why stockmen keep an eye on the presence of the plant – which is fairly common – so that their livestock does not feed on it and returns home unscathed.

Blogs 10 May, 2022