Submit your Article

Pawan Alok, 70, is a poet and essayist from Bhojpur who has received numerous awards for his works, including the ‘Pallav Rastriya Samman’, ‘Satyamohan Joshi Satabdi Mahoutsav Puraskar’, ‘Bangladesh Maitri Sang Samman’, ‘Yogmaya Srishti Samman’ and many more. Babita Shrestha from ApEx caught up with Alok to talk about what fuels his love for writing.

What inspired you to write?

My main source of inspiration is my rural hometown. Back during my high school days, one of my teachers encouraged me to hone my literary skills and since then, I’ve been immersed in literature. We used to have many literature events every year and I used to win most of the competitions. My passion grew, and I eventually began submitting my writings to newspapers. My first published work was ‘Prem Ko Abhivyakti’. After moving to Kathmandu, I attended literary events and worked at Nepal Pragya Pratisthan, where I met notable writers such as Balkrishna Sama, Madhav Ghimire, Siddhicharan Shrestha, and others. Meeting them made me want to write even more.

Is there a particular literary form that you prefer?

I started off as a poet. ‘The Poison Tree’ was published in Bangladesh, while ‘Pawan Alok ka Kehi Kavita’ was published in Nepal. Additionally, I’ve also written a travelog, two travel novels, and three essay collections. I enjoy writing travelogs the most and I find myself indulging in that ever so often. So far, ‘Europe ko Jhajhalko’ has been launched, followed by ‘Arun Express’, ‘Kehi Samjhana Kehi Sirjana’, and ‘Pahad Ra Lamatanna Samudra’. I’m now working on two more books that will be published soon.

Can you run us through your writing process?

I’m a travel enthusiast and so far I have visited 30 different countries. I don’t travel to write, but wonderful experiences prompt me. A travelog, to me, is not a lengthy description but rather a subtle flow of emotion and perception. When I travel, I always take a diary with me. I keep track of things that have an impact on me. Later, I’ll attempt to express that in words. Typically, I work on drafts and then go over them multiple times until I’m satisfied. It takes days and sometimes even months to edit my work. I send my manuscript to other travel writers for feedback and criticism before publication since I believe that modifications are vital for good writing. Also, I try to write clearly and simply so that readers are able to understand the real tone and message.

 When did you realize you had an interest in travel writing? Can you share some of your favorite travel memories?

I completed a degree in the United Kingdom, and while living there, I had plenty of opportunities to explore the city. I used to plan trips during the weekend. I had never considered writing about my trips till I read Tana Sharma’s ‘Belaet Tira Baralida’ at the time.

Following that, I began writing other travel memoirs and even travel novels. ‘Pahad Ra Lamatnna Samundra’ is one of my most significant writings which narrates my travels around Nepal and even to other nations. It covers 15 collections of travelogs from my trips to Janakpur, Bhojpur, Bara, and Parsa, as well as foreign nations such as Switzerland, England, the US, Belgium, France, and others.

 In the book, I’ve also included my trip to the lake district where  English writer William Wordsworth grew up. The authorities have preserved his home furnishings. Seeing that, it struck me that we had outstanding Nepali writers as well, but the government has never given them their due. In order to draw attention to that, I have incorporated my sentiments about the issue as well.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a travel writer?

To be honest, not everyone can write or has the drive to do so. Also, it has always been difficult, particularly for Nepali writers, because our government invests little in the promotion of Nepali arts and literature. Publication and marketing are difficult endeavors, and writers frequently face financial constraints. Given the circumstances, I strongly urge the administration to implement comprehensive response plans. I’ve formed my own organization, ‘Yogmaya Rastriya Naari Srasta Samaan’ at my own expense, to pay respect to Yogmaya Neupane’s contributions. This prize recognizes Nepali women authors who continuously contribute to Nepali literature.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to become a travel writer?

Travel writing is not only about descriptions of a place but also about the flow of emotions. Don’t be in a hurry to get published. Make sure you get feedback from other writers or readers and work on polishing your draft. You have to be able to make your readers feel like they are there in that place with you and for that, your writing will have to go through many revisions.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 10.23 points to close at 1,942.68 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2.32 points to close at 373. 90 points.

A total of 4,314,417-unit shares of 276 companies were traded for Rs 1. 07 billion.

Meanwhile, Suryodaya Womi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Similarly, Himal Dolakha Hydropower Company Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 7.81 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 90 trillion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that his visit to China will be fruitful and effective.

The Prime Minister, who will leave for China after taking part in  the United Nations General Assembly in New York, had called a meeting on Sunday morning to discuss the agendas.

After receiving the suggestions, Prime Minister Dahal said that he is trying to make his upcoming visit to China more fruitful.

“I will try to make the visit effective by fixing the agendas keeping in mind the suggestions given by you,” he said.

Before leaving for the northern neighbor, former prime ministers and foreign ministers said that it is necessary to review the implementation status of the agreements made with him in the past.

The participants suggested to the Prime Minister to convince the neighboring countries about the non-aligned foreign policy of Nepal, maintain balanced diplomatic relations, take into consideration the issues of mutual concern and including each other’s security.

In response, Prime Minister Dahal said that he is committed to maintaining balanced relationships with all the countries of the world including the neighbors and Nepal’s non-aligned foreign policy.

Similarly, the Prime Minister said that he will appraise the United Nations General Assembly of Nepal’s peace process, development efforts and impact of climate change among others.

Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Democratic Socialist Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut and Rastriya Janamorcha Party Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC among others were present in the meeting.

Prime Minister Dahal is leaving for New York to take part in the United Nations General Assembly on September 16.

He is scheduled to leave for China from there.

The curfew order that had been in effect in Malangawa, the district headquarters of Sarlahi, since Saturday, was lifted at 8 am on Sunday. However, the prohibitory order remains in place, according to Chief District Officer Indra Dev Yadav.

With the removal of the curfew order, life here has started returning to normalcy. Markets have reopened and transport services have resumed. A large number of security personnel have been mobilized in different parts of the city.

According to Sarlahi's Police Chief Naresh Raj Subedi, during the period of the prohibitory order, all forms of protest programs, demonstrations and mass meetings have been banned.

The curfew was imposed at 5 pm on Saturday to ease tension after two groups clashed, using rocks, while returning after immersing the idol of Hindu deity Krishna on Friday evening as part of the celebration of the Krishna Janmashtami festival. 

Subsequent demonstrations and clashes took place in the city on Saturday, prompting the local administration to issue the curfew order.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 111, 900 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 112, 300 per tola on Friday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 111, 350 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1,395 per tola today.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been suggested to take the neighboring countries into confidence.

During a meeting with leaders of major political parties representing the Parliament, foreign minister and former foreign ministers among others at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar on Sunday, they suggested the Prime Minister move ahead by taking China and India into confidence.

After the meeting, former foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey said that China and India are losing trust in Nepal’s leaders.

“China and India are losing confidence from Nepal’s leaders. Why did they lose their trust? Why did they not trust Nepal? We have suggested to the Prime Minister to understand this matter,” he said.

He suggested the Prime Minister immediately create an environment of trust with neighboring countries.

Similarly, Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut has suggested inquiring about the measures China has adopted to alleviate poverty.

He also suggested the Prime Minister create an environment to open Chinese industries in Nepal.

“The fertilizer factory should also be opened immediately,” he said.

We all know it’s important to exercise but not all of us are able to find the time to go for a walk or head to the gym. It’s especially challenging to get up at the break of dawn and get ready to work out, especially when it’s pouring outside like it tends to do these days. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the effort to squeeze in a quick workout before heading out for the day. There are plenty of YouTube channels that can help you. Here we are recommending some of the most popular ones.

Tone It Up

The founders of Tone It Up Karena Dawn and Katrina Scott have built a fitness empire by sharing their workout methods. Their workouts focus on toning and sculpting the body by using light weights and resistance bands. Their app has a huge variety of workouts but there are many free workout videos on their YouTube channel as well. The workouts are short and fun and you can pick the one you are in the mood for—someday you might just want to work on your upper body while on other days you can opt for their whole-body workout. They also talk about nutrition and share interesting recipes to help you stay healthy and fit.

Yoga with Kassandra

Start your day with this workout routine and we guarantee you will have a good day. Kassandra’s workouts are easy to follow and highly effective. It’s also ideal for those who are just starting out on their yoga or fitness journey. With over two million subscribers, Kassandra’s channel has a variety of videos to suit different needs. Yoga with Kassandra is especially great if you want to work on your flexibility. The stretching routines are good early-morning workouts or when you want to move your muscles after sitting all day long. You will also find dedicated workouts for sciatica relief.

Livestrong.com

This channel has everything you will perhaps ever need fitness-wise. From videos on pre-workout meditation and warm-ups to strength training and cardio, you will be spoilt for choice. You can also find tutorials to help you master basic workout moves like squats and tuck jumps. There are plenty of engaging exercise challenges that you can take up. There are short five-minute exercises as well as 30-minute ones that provide a good workout. You will also find healthy recipes that are quick and easy to make.

BeFit

The 10 minutes or less workout series in this channel will be a boon for those lazy days when you don’t want to exercise or when you are in a rush and don’t have much time. Though short, they are perfect fat-burning or body-sculpting workouts. They have over three million subscribers, many of whom have left raving reviews. There is a ‘You Asked For It’ section which is basically where the subscriber's questions related to fitness and health have been answered by experts in the field. You get to train with top fitness trainers like Denise Austin, Jane Fonda, Billy Blanks Jr., Scott Herman, Keaira LaShae, and more. We recommend their Health Hacks section where there are plenty of videos on how to lead a healthy life.

Chloe Ting

With over 24m subscribers, this is perhaps the most popular channel on this list. Ting won the Female Fitness Influencer of the Year award in 2021. As a certified personal trainer and YouTube content creator, her goal is to make health and fitness accessible to all by providing free workout programs and sharing free recipes with her audience. She joined YouTube in 2011 and has 415 videos on her channel. Ting offers short, to-the-point workout challenges (most of them are under 20 minutes), that target specific areas of the body. You can do the arm workout one day, do legs the next day, and then move on to something else the day after and get a complete workout like that. You will never get bored. Ting also shares recipes that will complement your fitness goals.

Walk at Home

Created by Leslie Sansone, Walk at Home is a leading fitness walking brand and creator of the original walking workout. Walk at Home’s popular YouTube channel has over four million subscribers and is ranked as one of the top fitness channels on YouTube. If you like to go for walks but are unable to do so because of rain or lack of open spaces near your home, Walk at Home can help. You will be able to get those steps in without having to leave the comfort of your home and have some fun while at it. Sansone and her vibrant group of instructors guide you through easy-to-follow fitness walking regimens that are perfect for beginners and seniors.

Nourish Move Love

Lindsey Bomgren who runs the YouTube channel Nourish Move Love is a certified personal trainer and pre-and-postnatal fitness instructor. She believes in quick and effective home workouts that get good results. In just 10 to 30 minutes, you will be able to burn calories and lose weight. If you are regular with her workouts, you will be able to keep the weight off as well, without stressing yourself out. The workouts are mostly low-intensity but high-impact ones and you will be able to feel the difference in your muscles and mood after just one session.

Rescuers searching for survivors dug through the rubble of collapsed houses in remote mountain villages of Morocco on Saturday, as armed forces were pressed into action in the wake of the country’s deadliest earthquake in more than 60 years, Aljazeera reported. 

Authorities declared three days of national mourning after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake killed more than 2,012 people and injured 2,059, with many left homeless.

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI ordered the armed forces to mobilise specialised search and rescue teams and a surgical field hospital, according to a statement from the military.

The quake that struck in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains late on Friday night damaged historic buildings in Marrakesh – the nearest city to the epicentre – while most of the fatalities were reported in mountainous areas to the south in the Al-Haouz and Taroudant provinces.

In the mountain village of Tafeghaghte near the quake’s epicentre, virtually no buildings were left standing. The traditional clay bricks used by the region’s Berber inhabitants proved no match for the rare quake, according to Aljazeera.

“Three of my grandchildren and their mother were killed – they are still under the rubble,” villager Omar Benhanna, 72, told AFP. “Just a while ago, we were all playing together.”

The epicentre of the earthquake was at a depth of 18.5km (11.5 miles) and occurred about 72km (44 miles) northeast of Marrakesh, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Lahcen Haddad, a Moroccan senator and former minister, says the authorities are responding quickly despite the many challenges, including difficult terrain.

“Moroccan authorities are … getting people to hospitals in Marrakesh. There has been a call to give blood. After the Al Hoceima earthquake in 2004, [authorities] put together a mega plan for a rapid intervention,” he told Al Jazeera.

In historic Marrakesh, people could be seen on state TV clustering in the streets, afraid to go back inside buildings that might still be unstable.

The city’s famous Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century, was damaged but the extent was not immediately clear. Its 69-metre (226-foot) minaret is known as the “roof of Marrakesh”. Moroccans also posted videos showing damage to parts of the famous red walls that surround the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Aljazeera reported.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced that a Cup of African Nations qualifier against Liberia, due to have been played on Saturday in the coastal city of Agadir, had been postponed indefinitely.

The Red Cross said it was mobilising resources to support the Moroccan Red Crescent but its Middle East and North Africa director, Hossam Elsharkawi, warned: “We are looking at many months if not years of response.”

The Moroccan armed forces will deploy rescue teams to provide affected areas with clean drinking water, food supplies, tents and blankets, authorities said.