Apropos of the news story “Condolences pour in for Koirala.” (THT, Feb.10, Page 2), sadly, our Sushil Da has left us forever after his sudden demise. His simple style and virtues of integrity and conviction, nurtured by over 60 years in politics with allegiance to the leadership and principles of Nepal’s foremost leader, BP Koirala, was commendable. Despite several opportunities to serve as a senior minister with the portfolio of his choosing, he refused to join the government.

He did not marry in his lifetime and it was said that he was married to democracy. His charismatic character

impressed us all. His absence in our political arena is a great loss for us in these particularly difficult times.

Saroj Wagle, Dumarwana, Bara

Business skills

Apropos of the “BizBriefs: Deutsche Bank debts” (THT, Feb 10, Page 13), the continuing wild swings in the international market have forced the German banking giant to reassure its investors of the bank’s good financial health even ‘as banking shares around the world take a hammering on slow-down fears’. In our neighbourhood, one of the biggest Indian banks, PNB,has taken a steep 93 per cent loss in quarterly profit with its shares trading at INR88.20 or NPR 141.20 in Mumbai (PNB profit plunges, THT, Feb 10, Page 14). In contrast, PNB’s local partner’s share is hovering at a mindboggling NPR 2400 in Nepse. If PNB were to shift their operations to the Kathmandu Valley, their investors and shareholders will be running riot in NPR 2400-a-share roller coaster rather than trudging along in NPR 141.20 Padmini Premier that still fills the Mumbai roads despite being the financial capital of an emerging economic powerhouse of a nation. Meanwhile, PNB’s local partner, as per reports in the media, has been also continuously hogging the third spot in market capitalization after Nepal Doorsanchar Company and Nabil Bank. We seem to be completely immune to market vagaries. Or, do our banks’ high shares and unfailing profits point to our managers’ better business skills? Can they teach PNB, Goldman Sach, Deutsch Bank, UBS a lesson or two in tempestuous business weather? Come rain or sunshine, earthquake or landslide, drought or flood, official or unofficial blockade and even serious decimation of agro, hydro, tourism, manufacturing, livestock etc all fail to arrest the natural progression of our bank shares to the sky. What is the secret of our banks’ success? It is no wonder that every single republican wants to be a banker. Our government should ask the banks for the secret of their success and apply the same to put Republican Nepal Pvt Ltd on the fast track to growth. We cannot but salute our banks irrespective of the secrets of their success.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu