Apropos of the news story “Buddha was born in Nepal, writes MoFA” ( THT, Jan. 27, Page 5), Nepal is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. Despite being listed in the world heritage list of UNESCO 19 years ago, Nepali bureaucrats have just sent letters to the several friendly countries who have falsely mentioned the birthplace of Gautam Buddha as lying outside the country. I am feeling much embarrassment about what has happened? Why are we not capable of making our own identity? Perhaps it could be the reason that we are one of the poorest countries in South Asia where we have not been able to promote our own identity, culture and tradition of thousands of years. If we cannot believe in our own self-identity and dignity, others will not recognize us as being a distinctive nation having separate language, culture and tradition.

Bhesh Raj Khatiwada, Doha

Urgency

The KP Sharma Oli-led government’s innovative approach of replacing LPG cylinders with that of gas pipeline in the Kathmandu Valley deserves appreciation. It is not that unfeasible as doubted by some sceptics. It is possible because a Japanese-funded project about 14 years ago had identified 14 locations from where a fair amount of methane gas was found to be sufficient to supply natural gas to over 30,000 households for 50 years. But the project was shelved as the previous governments did not feel it necessary to further explore and develop it as a viable alternate to LPG imported from India. It is also said that the natural gas available in Dailekh district can be filled up in LPG bottles and supplied to other parts of the country. We need to conduct detailed tests about the exact amount of deposit of the natural gas in Dailekh. If it proves to be commercially viable, Nepal can also export it making the country self-reliant on energy and also become a prosperous nation within a decade.

Sanjog Karki, Tansen

Example

Apropos of the breaking news story “Nepal slips four ranks in graft perception index” (THT, Jan. 28, Page 1), Nepal’s inverse promotion in the corruption ladder does not come as a surprise. What is astonishing is Bhutan’s cleaner image. We have so much to learn from this tiny Himalayan kingdom, which is doing the rounds in the world as the last Shangri La, be it in quality tourism, gross national happiness index, population control or even in upholding the dignity of the mother tongue and national dress. While our country turns into a hot-pot of veritable problems topped by never-ending political dog-fights, Bhutan is quietly surging ahead in all areas and should serve as an example for all countries, especially the least developed ones in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu