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Several countries around the world celebrate library culture in their own ways. In Nepal, National Library Day is observed on August 31 with the aim of promoting library culture and strengthening the library sector. This year, under the theme “Our Library: Our Future,” we marked the 18th National Library Day. On this occasion, I would like to share a few thoughts on libraries and the culture of reading.

Libraries worldwide have evolved from being mere government archives of records and documents into public institutions where people seek knowledge and information. Sadly, in today’s world, libraries receive little attention from the public. Yet, they remain vital repositories of wisdom, not just for contemporary society but for generations to come. America was fortunate to have Benjamin Franklin, who pioneered and promoted library culture. The US is now recognized globally for its strong library system, which has also contributed to the growth of world-class educational and research institutions.

In Nepal, however, library culture is still in its early stages. One major reason is that the government does not require schools to maintain dedicated libraries. School libraries are crucial for nurturing reading habits among children. Parents and guardians, too, play an important role in cultivating a love for reading. By setting aside time and space at home for reading, they can inspire children to follow their example—since children often emulate older family members. Gifting books to children on special occasions, instead of transient distractions, can also help foster lifelong learning.

To conclude, at the national level, the best way to commemorate this day is by taking tangible steps to promote and strengthen library culture. At the family level, the most meaningful celebration lies in developing the habit of reading together and sharing ideas. After all, a family that reads together stays together.

Happy National Library Day to all!

Mohishu GC

Grade X

Sanskar Pathshala, Dang

TechX has inaugurated the first session of its “DigiGyan – Digital Yugaka Lagi” digital literacy program at Uttar Bahini Boarding School, targeting students from Grades 7 to 9. The session covered topics including cybersecurity, safe internet use, scam and phishing awareness, and digital responsibility. According to TechX, the initiative aims to equip students with skills needed to navigate the digital landscape.

The program comes at a time when policymakers in Nepal are working to integrate digital literacy into the school curriculum. Education experts have also stressed the importance of incorporating EdTech to improve teaching quality and enhance student learning outcomes. The interactive session received positive responses from students and teachers, and the school administration presented TechX with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Additional sessions under the DigiGyan program are planned in other schools to further promote digital awareness among students.

How gentle I am, just like a cloud, 

You can’t touch me, even though you think you can. 

Soft as I drift with the cool wind, 

Capable of changing with every wind. 

Forgetting my origins, allowing the wind to lead me,

Never hesitating, I lose myself 

I just go along with the flow. 

Oh cloud, you’re never too solid to hold 

Why so gentle, so hard to grasp, 

Never too harsh to fight for yourself. 

All the patience she carries sometimes grows heavy, 

With too much pressure, she bursts. 

She had been keeping it inside for so long, 

Not following the wind, 

Not allowing herself to be diverted, 

Suddenly she stays still, 

Even as the winds blow, 

Even the thunder can’t move her. 

Then that same soft white fairy becomes heavy, 

With deep dark beauty, 

Crying and pouring herself out. 

The world feels the sorrowful beauty she holds, 

While some adored her on her bright, blissful days. 

She embraced both forms of beauty within herself.  

Some noticed the sharp edges in her, 

Others appreciated  how she let her emotions go  

Some criticized her for being too gentle,  

While some just loved her softness and kindness. 

Supriya Paudel  

BBM VI Semester  

United College

Exploring the woods

I was sitting in my room, bored out of my mind, when the doorbell rang. To my surprise, it was my best friend, Tom. You see, Tom is the laziest person I have ever met—he even asks others to tie his shoelaces.

“Hi Tom, how are you?” I asked. Without answering, he walked straight into my room and sat on my bed.

Was he still mad at me for spilling soup in his bag yesterday? Nervously, I asked, “What happened?”

“Nothing,” he replied. “I just came to play.” Relieved, I joined him. We ate chips and played some games, but soon got bored again. That’s when Tom asked, “Have you heard the new rumor about the forest nearby?”

I shook my head nervously. He gave me a strange look. “Okay, no worries, I’ll tell you. At the end of the forest, there’s a haunted house ruled by twelve spirits. Even during the daytime, a candle flickers in the window.”

I didn’t believe him. “Let’s go check it out and see if it’s real,” I challenged.

“I don’t want to!” Tom whined. “I’m scared!” But after some convincing, he finally agreed.

Wrong house

We set off into the forest. After a while, we reached a fork in the road. “Let’s split up,” I suggested. “We’ll call each other when we find the house.”

Reluctantly, Tom agreed. I walked and walked, staring at the ground, when suddenly—bam! I bumped into someone.

“AAAHHH!” I screamed. “AAAHHH!” the other person screamed back.

It was Tom! Somehow, our paths crossed again. Laughing nervously, we continued together until, in the distance, we spotted a massive house.

“That’s the haunted house!” Tom whispered.

We raced toward it, but once inside the gate, we realized it didn’t look haunted at all. Flowers bloomed in the garden, and a beautiful chandelier sparkled inside.

We explored the mansion, passing through endless halls and climbing a grand staircase, until we opened a small door. Inside, a family of six sat around a table.

“Come in, boys,” the mother said kindly. Nervously, we sat down. She asked, “What are you searching for?”

“A haunted house,” we replied. She laughed. “There’s no haunted house in this forest.” “I knew it!” I shouted.

But Tom leaned over and whispered, “She’s lying. I just know it.”

That night, the family gave us dinner and showed us to a room. Exhausted, we fell asleep quickly.

Something strange

The next morning, the house was empty. No family, no voices—just silence. We ran through the halls calling out, but no one was there. It was eerie. “Let’s leave now,” I told Tom. We grabbed some food from the kitchen for the journey and hurried outside. Suddenly, someone called our names. “AAAGGGHHHHH!” we screamed.

It was our parents. Furious and relieved, they told us they had searched all night and even put up missing posters all over town. Without another word, they dragged us home. Our adventure had ended.

The missing posters

The very next day, we went to school. On the projector screen during assembly, our missing poster was displayed. Even the principal looked emotional. Then a fifth grader shouted, “OH MY GOD! THE MISSING GUYS ARE HERE!”

Everyone turned to stare at us like we were aliens from another planet. The principal called us on stage. “Where were you two?” he asked politely. We said nothing. “WHERE WERE YOU?” he repeated, louder this time.

Still, we stayed silent. Furious, he scolded us in front of the whole school. For the rest of the day, classmates, teachers, even strangers kept asking the same question. An old lady stopped us on the street, the shopkeeper asked too—it was endless. Tired and annoyed, we just ignored them.

The news

That evening, I finally felt some relief sitting at home. After finishing homework and dinner, I sat with my family to watch the news. Suddenly, the reporter showed the photos of two boys who had been lost and found.

I leaned closer. It was me and Tom! “AAARRRRGGGHHHH!” I screamed.

My parents gave me a puzzled look. I told them everything—that people had been asking the same questions all day, and now even the news was covering it. It was so, so annoying.

This is the first in a two-part series. The second part will be published next week

Shreyashi Sigdel

Grade VII

Euro School, Chhauni

A human trafficking racket involved in taking Nepalis to India and selling their kidneys has been exposed. Police have arrested the ringleader, Shyam Krishna Bhandari, along with his associate Sujan Bharati. According to the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau, the gang had lured people from districts including Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Sindhuli, Nuwakot and Dhading with various promises before transporting them to India for organ trade.

The arrests were made at the Kanchanpur and Birgunj border points while the suspects were entering Nepal from India. The Bureau has registered four cases against the group, based on complaints from five victims. The investigation, launched under the operation code-named Life Field, revealed that the gang arranged transportation to New Delhi for those willing to sell their kidneys. Earlier, three other individuals linked to the group were arrested on Aug 5.

Police continued their probe based on victim testimonies and statements from the detained suspects. During interrogation, Bhandari confessed that the victims were kept at a hotel in Kasturba Niketan, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, where doctors were brought in for blood tests and medical examinations. He admitted that victims were sedated, blindfolded and kept in hospitals for three to four days before sending them back to Nepal.

Bhandari also told police that he lured individuals by promising InRs 600,000 for a kidney. However, one victim reported receiving only InRs 5,000. He further confessed to facilitating the removal of kidneys from at least 25 people, though investigators believe the network has trafficked kidneys from over 100 individuals.

Police say further investigation is underway.

The Mid-Hill Highway's Rukum-West section has been obstructed since this morning due to a landslide following a landslide at Kalekhola-8 in Chaurjahari Municipality.

According to Avinash Aryal, Information Officer of the Road Division Office, the landslide has buried the bridge over the river.

It has been learnt that a team with equipment has been deployed to clear the landslide debris.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the opening of a regional summit on Sunday in Tianjin, in a formal thaw between the two nuclear-armed powers, Associated Press reported.

Modi is on his first visit to China since relations between the two sides deteriorated after Chinese and Indian soldiers engaged in deadly border clashes in 2020. Modi is visiting as part of India’s membership into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional political, economic and security group founded by China.

Ahead of Modi’s visit, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi flew to New Delhi earlier in August, as the two sides announced their rapprochement. Both governments pledged to restart border talks, and resume issuing visas and direct flights, according to Associated Press.

Wang’s visit coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on India for its purchase of Russian oil, but Delhi’s process of rebuilding ties with China had been in the works for months

Thousands of people have held protests across Mexico to highlight the country's many enforced disappearances and demand more action by officials to tackle them.

Relatives and friends of missing people, as well as human rights activists, marched through the streets of Mexico City, Guadalajara, Córdoba and other cities calling for justice and urged the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum to help find their missing loved ones.

More than 130,000 people have been reported as missing in Mexico. Almost all the disappearances have occurred since 2007, when then-President Felipe Calderón launched his "war on drugs".

In many cases, those disappeared have been forcibly recruited into the drug cartels – or murdered for resisting.