Rebuild the blackboard before the boardroom

Rebuild the blackboard before the boardroom

Two images from the past fortnight refuse to leave me. The first is a head teacher's voice, cracking slightly on the phone, describing the ten minutes he had to get 900 children out of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School before the Trishuli river took it.

Two images from the past fortnight refuse to leave me. The first is a head teacher's voice, cracking slightly on the phone, describing the ten minutes he had to get 900 children out of Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School before the Trishuli river took it.

Opinion 2 h ago

Rethinking disaster risk in Nepal: What will we do differently before the next natural hazard?

Rethinking disaster risk in Nepal: What will we do differently before the next...

The recent catastrophic disaster in Nepal has once again confronted us with the extraordinary power and complexity of natural processes and extremes.

The recent catastrophic disaster in Nepal has once again confronted us with the extraordinary power and complexity of natural processes and extremes.

Opinion 14 h ago

The rising threat from the roof of the world: Nepal's Himalayan glacier disaster demands urgent action

The rising threat from the roof of the world: Nepal's Himalayan glacier disaster...

On the morning of August 26, 2026, the Himalayas delivered a catastrophic reminder of their growing menace. At approximately 9:00 AM local time, a massive flash flood surged down the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibet Autonomous Region in China into Nepal's Rasuwa district.

On the morning of August 26, 2026, the Himalayas delivered a catastrophic reminder of their growing menace. At approximately 9:00 AM local time, a massive flash flood surged down the Bhote Koshi River from the Tibet Autonomous Region in China into Nepal's Rasuwa district.

Opinion 1d ago

Nepal must measure, monitor and speak with evidence

Nepal must measure, monitor and speak with evidence

Prime Minister, as Nepal prepares to present its position internationally on the present Himalayan climate crisis, I believe we must approach the matter with calmness, scientific evidence and diplomatic confidence—not anger, provocation or political theatre.

Prime Minister, as Nepal prepares to present its position internationally on the present Himalayan climate crisis, I believe we must approach the matter with calmness, scientific evidence and diplomatic confidence—not anger, provocation or political theatre.

Opinion 2d ago

A Himalayan tsunami, and who will pay the bill?

A Himalayan tsunami, and who will pay the bill?

Nepal was climbing slowly, against the odds. The 2015 earthquake killed nearly nine thousand people and buried a decade of planning.

Nepal was climbing slowly, against the odds. The 2015 earthquake killed nearly nine thousand people and buried a decade of planning.

Opinion 2d ago

The pressure conundrum: The long and short of stress

The pressure conundrum: The long and short of stress

To cut a long story short, our stress response originates in and is co-ordinated by the brain. Long before a stress response takes place in us, we perceive a threat to our well-being. This may involve all manner of conscious and unconscious thoughts, beliefs, memories, and emotions.

To cut a long story short, our stress response originates in and is co-ordinated by the brain. Long before a stress response takes place in us, we perceive a threat to our well-being. This may involve all manner of conscious and unconscious thoughts, beliefs, memories, and emotions.

Opinion 03 Sep, 2026

Why didn't people react to the warning? Perhaps the problem was not the warning

Why didn't people react to the warning? Perhaps the problem was not the warning

This is perhaps one of the most important questions emerging from last week’s glacial rock avalanche and flood. A simple answer I keep hearing is: “Bro, because every single person thought it was the same as last year.” That answer sounds simple, but it reveals something much deeper about how people interpret disaster warnings.

This is perhaps one of the most important questions emerging from last week’s glacial rock avalanche and flood. A simple answer I keep hearing is: “Bro, because every single person thought it was the same as last year.” That answer sounds simple, but it reveals something much deeper about how people interpret disaster warnings.

Opinion 03 Sep, 2026

Rasuwa was 'not an ordinary flood'. The danger is making it normal

Rasuwa was 'not an ordinary flood'. The danger is making it normal

In November 2025, while crossing Langtang on the Great Himalaya Trail for a climate documentary, I walked beneath Langtang Lirung and up to its base camp before continuing west through Syabrubesi towards the Ruby Valley.

In November 2025, while crossing Langtang on the Great Himalaya Trail for a climate documentary, I walked beneath Langtang Lirung and up to its base camp before continuing west through Syabrubesi towards the Ruby Valley.

Opinion 02 Sep, 2026

Bhotekoshi catastrophe: Need to prepare for the worse to come

Bhotekoshi catastrophe: Need to prepare for the worse to come

The Bhotekoshi debris flow and flood of August 26 have left the whole country in a state of shock. Not only Nepal but also our northern neighbour, China, was caught unawares despite its economic and technological might.

The Bhotekoshi debris flow and flood of August 26 have left the whole country in a state of shock. Not only Nepal but also our northern neighbour, China, was caught unawares despite its economic and technological might.

Opinion 02 Sep, 2026

Why the Nepali Army deserves more

Why the Nepali Army deserves more

I was in Dhunche, Rasuwa, for four days in the immediate aftermath of the devastating GLOF disaster. Amid the extraordinary devastation and immense human suffering, I saw the Nepali Army working with remarkable discipline, urgency and dedication.

I was in Dhunche, Rasuwa, for four days in the immediate aftermath of the devastating GLOF disaster. Amid the extraordinary devastation and immense human suffering, I saw the Nepali Army working with remarkable discipline, urgency and dedication.

Opinion 02 Sep, 2026

Nepal must now understand where the world is heading

Nepal must now understand where the world is heading

For decades, Nepal has viewed its rivers primarily through the lens of how many megawatts of electricity they can generate.

For decades, Nepal has viewed its rivers primarily through the lens of how many megawatts of electricity they can generate.

Opinion 01 Sep, 2026

The agony of climate injustice and Nepal's economic self-reliance: Policy proposals for LDC graduation and national reconstruction

The agony of climate injustice and Nepal's economic self-reliance: Policy proposals...

In terms of annual global carbon emissions, China ranks first, followed by the United States second, and then India, Russia, and the European Union (EU).

In terms of annual global carbon emissions, China ranks first, followed by the United States second, and then India, Russia, and the European Union (EU).

Opinion 31 Aug, 2026

When upstream construction and secrecy becomes downstream risk

When upstream construction and secrecy becomes downstream risk

Across the Himalayan arc, where mountains rise like ancient arbiters of destiny and where nations have long mistaken altitude for insulation, Nepal’s recent catastrophe has become a summons that no government in the region can afford to disregard.

Across the Himalayan arc, where mountains rise like ancient arbiters of destiny and where nations have long mistaken altitude for insulation, Nepal’s recent catastrophe has become a summons that no government in the region can afford to disregard.

Opinion 30 Aug, 2026

Nepal is owed restitution, not aid

Nepal is owed restitution, not aid

I was in a village above the Trishuli valley some years ago, watching a district officer explain to a group of foreign donors why the road they had funded had washed away twice in three monsoons.

I was in a village above the Trishuli valley some years ago, watching a district officer explain to a group of foreign donors why the road they had funded had washed away twice in three monsoons.

Opinion 30 Aug, 2026

Revitalising the jute industry: A call for thorough examination

Revitalising the jute industry: A call for thorough examination

The government’s recent move to form a committee to examine and propose measures for reviving the long-ailing Biratnagar Jute Mills (BJM) deserves close scrutiny.

The government’s recent move to form a committee to examine and propose measures for reviving the long-ailing Biratnagar Jute Mills (BJM) deserves close scrutiny.

Opinion 30 Aug, 2026

Look within before looking outside: Why Nepali industry should embrace decarbonisation

Look within before looking outside: Why Nepali industry should embrace...

For many factory owners, the word "decarbonisation" conjures images of climate summits, foreign pledges, and government red tape, one more burden imposed from outside the factory gate.

For many factory owners, the word "decarbonisation" conjures images of climate summits, foreign pledges, and government red tape, one more burden imposed from outside the factory gate.

Opinion 27 Aug, 2026

Geopolitics in Nepal: It's incredible twists and turns

Geopolitics in Nepal: It's incredible twists and turns

Geopolitics has long been a buzzword in international politics, and it has now entered the realm of Nepali politics as never before.

Geopolitics has long been a buzzword in international politics, and it has now entered the realm of Nepali politics as never before.

Opinion 26 Aug, 2026

Nepal must leapfrog the internet: Stop measuring yesterday's internet. Build tomorrow's digital economy

Nepal must leapfrog the internet: Stop measuring yesterday's internet. Build...

I spent three years inside government trying to make this argument. I could not convince many of my government brothers then. Today, however, the question has become much bigger than the price of an internet package. Nepal must decide whether it wants to build tomorrow’s digital economy—or continue investing in yesterday’s physical infrastructure.

I spent three years inside government trying to make this argument. I could not convince many of my government brothers then. Today, however, the question has become much bigger than the price of an internet package. Nepal must decide whether it wants to build tomorrow’s digital economy—or continue investing in yesterday’s physical infrastructure.

Opinion 25 Aug, 2026

Nepal's formalisation machinery is there: Now make it work

Nepal's formalisation machinery is there: Now make it work

Nepal does not suffer from a shortage of formalisation policy. What it needs now is a way of making the many institutions it has already built work together as one, and a clearer sense of what would make ordinary workers and small enterprises want to step into those systems on their own.

Nepal does not suffer from a shortage of formalisation policy. What it needs now is a way of making the many institutions it has already built work together as one, and a clearer sense of what would make ordinary workers and small enterprises want to step into those systems on their own.

Opinion 25 Aug, 2026

Real teaching for a disabled child: What a bottle cap taught me that the classroom couldn't

Real teaching for a disabled child: What a bottle cap taught me that the classroom...

Nepal's classrooms are entering their biggest technology push yet. The government has promised high-speed internet, digital materials, and AI-based learning in 10,000 community schools, backed by a budget of more than 200 billion rupees. Smart boards are coming.

Nepal's classrooms are entering their biggest technology push yet. The government has promised high-speed internet, digital materials, and AI-based learning in 10,000 community schools, backed by a budget of more than 200 billion rupees. Smart boards are coming.

Opinion 24 Aug, 2026