Warm welcome to His Excellency Rt. Honourable President of India Pranab Mukherjee in a Nepal visit! Of course, the whole world might have been focusing on the glorious event.

In this crucial moment, I am going to put my experience and perception as a food for thoughts to the concerned authorities, executives, and researchers.

Reality based creative ideas, comments and suggestions could be the mental insights as their breakfast for strategic planning and decision making.

It goes without saying that, since the last few decades some non-traditional security threats (multidisciplinary) have been threatening nearest and dearest brotherhood-ness and geo-political, socio-cultural entities of Nepal-India relations.

There is dearth of ethical and accountable leadership.

Humane and humanity should not be discarded. In general appreciation, it is felt that the oldest politicians are the common key problems and youths are a part of the solution on the foundation of shifting paradigms.

Meanwhile, how to be the part of the solution is the complex issue. Transformation with the pace of shifting paradigms is a must in strengthening the national sovereignty and integrity of both nations and respective citizens. A comprehensive integrated effort can overcome the common issues and challenges.

The mercantilist style of leadership must be discouraged. Only stable, peaceful and developed Nepal could assist her neighbours respectfully.

Finally, cosmological way with mutual benefit and shared understanding could be an effective move for the betterment in the days ahead. If the truth is bitter, let us swallow, it is better to cure the maladies timely.

Thakur Mohan Shrestha, Kathmandu

Tourism

I agree with Ram Dayal Rakesh’s thought (THT, October 26, page 8) that there is considerable scope for a further expansion of tourism to Madesh.

Of course, it is already an important destination for religious tourists and pilgrims (Hindus and Buddhists) but the rich cultural heritage, particularly of Janakpur - and of Mithila more generally - in terms of literature going back to the Ramayana, the distinctive forms of art currently being produced (by the Janakpur Women’s Development Centre among others) and the amazing lakes or ponds (which are the subject of recent cleaning by various local groups), are well worth advertising more widely in Nepal and abroad.

More recent heritage in the form of the old railway linking Janakpurdam to India - which is sadly neglected but could be a major attraction for railway enthusiasts, and boost to the town’s economy - could also be publicised.

But local tourist and travel agencies need to improve the transport links particularly to and from Kathmandu while the municipal authorities need urgently to clean up the town of Janakpur and improve the roads.

David Seddon, Kathmandu