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Established in 2015, Prixa Technologies is among the fast-growing IT companies in Nepal specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), news websites, mobile apps, big data, content management systems, cloud hosting, IT consultation services, and social media marketing and employs over 70 professionals. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and a gold medalist of Pulchowk Campus, Manish Sharma is the co-founder and CEO of Prixa. ApEx talked to Sharma to learn about the IT industry in Nepal. Excerpts: What is Prixa currently working on? At Prixa, we recognize Nepal’s need to adopt modern technologies for growth, while acknowledging that costly foreign solutions often don’t fulfill the needs of the local market. Our main objective is to maximize technology adoption in Nepal by providing affordable, cutting-edge solutions tailored to local businesses and communities, fostering innovation and enabling them to become competitive in the rapidly changing global technology landscape. For instance, we are currently developing AI solutions targeted at the local languages in the Nepali market. We have diversified into different verticals. Over 50 media companies are our clients running on our Snowberry platform. We also work in the sector of advertisement analytics, large-scale cloud computing, display technologies, enterprise software solutions, etc. We operate one of the largest content delivery networks in Nepal scaling to billions of requests each month. We have also increased our efforts in the Internet of Things (IoT). For instance, we are working with government bodies to make low-cost high-precision weather forecast solutions in remote locations. How do you view the current state of Nepal’s IT infrastructure? The IT industry here works in multiple models. For instance, some companies are just upgrading for Nepali clients while the majority of them cater to international clients with mixed models and some are exclusively working for foreign companies. There are lots of challenges for countries like Nepal. Nepal needs to upgrade on a policy basis. We still need a foreign solution to solve our problems but we do not have an easy channel for payment and interaction. We are working with a bunch of cloud providers but we still are facing the hassle of payment. Yet, the IT industry is growing rapidly. How do you see Nepali media websites vis-à-vis the international market? I think media websites in Nepal are more advertisement centric. Business strategies are obviously essential to be sustainable in a market but, currently, we have been observing in our clients that their strategies are deviating towards subscription based for a better experience. The company itself has fully developed user personalization. Besides, I don’t think the media itself is fully prepared for investing on their websites. But, hopefully, with time, it will get better from all dimensions. Riri One is Prixa’s ambitious AI project. Is it a breakthrough for digital media? Riri One was specially designed for services that concern a text-to-speech engine for Nepali languages like Nepali, Newari, and Maithili to create inclusivity in our society of diversified communities. Riri also has Riri Two and Three which will be released soon. Riri Two understands what people are saying. It’s a speech-to-text engine and it is in the pilot phase. While Riri Three is a full end-to-end conversational engine. I feel grateful for collaborating with Annapurna Media Network for Riri One. It’s not a new thing about text-to-speech being launched as it already existed in some smaller projects. But the new breakthrough is that Riri production is life-like and in the Nepali media industry, it is the first of its kind. We are still in beta and there are many things to update. We are seeing a high rate of user response and engagement. We have worked with over 50 media houses but we are seeing the breakthrough for the very first time. Looking at the statistics, we could find that users are consuming audio news more. I believe it’s a great step to fill a gap in the digital media sector. Web security has emerged as a major concern lately. Why are our government websites so vulnerable? In the IT sector, 100 percent data security cannot be guaranteed. Having said that, I wouldn’t deny the fact that data security is a baseline responsibility of IT. I would say that carelessness in practicing ground practices could be one of those problems. The recent hack incident is being seriously investigated by the government. They have even established a security task force and hopefully, it will bring a positive outcome. The management team needs to scrutinize the bottlenecks and the government should be prioritizing fundamental security practices. The government has been managing sensitive data and has been archiving it in digitized form. So, the data breach could hamper public privacy and national security. The common responsibility needs to be examined such that IT companies and the government can coordinate to solve the problems. The data breach is not just a crucial problem in the government sector but also in the private sector. What advice do you have for IT aspirants? I suggest they explore the opportunities in diversified fields but they should be more careful about preparing themselves in a certain direction from ground level. They mustn’t think the opportunities reside only abroad. I would count myself as an example as I had abroad studies and I am doing something here in Nepal by myself and so are my colleagues. We are also accepting freshers in our company to help the aspirants. As this sector is diversified, the more you delve into it, the more you explore the problem and the more you seek out opportunities within the challenges because there are oceans of things that are left undone. What new trends in AI are emerging currently? Rapid advancements in generative AI, such as Chat GPT, Bard AI, LLaMA AI, and many more, have been achieved. The blockchain concept is being adopted by businesses, and decentralized technologies are likewise expanding. Nepal is among the top countries to log in to Chat GPT which shows how interested Nepalis are in new IT trends. The world is advancing with AI, and I think Nepal shouldn’t fall behind. This is how the business world is going toward the AI-driven landscape, which could eventually change quickly and drastically in the future.  

My human hands Don't have the mystic touch To rewind time nor freeze it. But, I can, however, Turn the arms of your watch a bit. Twisting the nods ever-so slightly, Making us strangers with time. Warped and wayward We would lose touch with reality, For eternity you'd be mine. Abhigya Shrestha, Grade: 10 Rato Bangala School

Every story is similar But never the same. Sometimes, it might feel like a war But life is just as through an aim.   Aim makes many stops At major points of one’s life fight, Even when your smile drops A good moment is never out of sight.   People say happiness doesn’t last forever But so doesn’t misery, That’s the thing, they don’t understand ever The thought of it is kind a scary.   It’s scary because they easily forget The value the worth of being alive  It’s scary because all they know is hate Their minds, full of thoughts, buzzing like a bee’s hive.   Though every life ever born It’s beautiful, that’s why to strive Life isn’t paper to be torn So,even in great sorrow you’ll enjoy it if you thrive.   Asma Miya Grade: 7  Meridian International School

"A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform." Indeed, women play a significant role in society—a wife, a mother, a sister, a caretaker etc. They have a better understanding of the social structure and are more compassionate towards the needs of others. Only an educated mother will weigh the importance of female education and women's empowerment. Talking about women's empowerment, it refers to providing women with all the rights in order to live freely without any fear. Women have been facing issues since the day they were born -- fighting for their rights and freedom. In a country like Nepal where goddesses are worshipped, at the same time a woman faces sexual abuse, harassment, gender violence, is denied the right of education and becomes the next case of domestic violence. Though the work is made up of both men and women, men have been regarded as the family's most powerful members. They were the family's decision makers and financially in charge whereas women are believed to be responsible for household chores and taking care of family. Nevertheless, women have the right to participate equally in education, society, the economy and politics. Almost all countries, regardless of how progressive, have a history of mistreating women and Nepal belongs to one of those. In ancient Nepal, Sati tradition was deeply rooted. Social problems such as Chhaupadi and the dowry system are still deeply rooted in the society causing various mental and physical problems leading to many injustice to women. Some of the practices are still being followed in some places of Nepal. Many girls and women are raped, sexually abused, attacked with acid. The state has not been able to give justice to Nirmala Panta, who was raped and murdered. The acid attack victims are coping up with mental and physical problems. Women should not stay behind someone's shadow. They should come forward and express themselves. The first step towards women empowerment starts by supporting their opinions and providing education. A well-educated woman is confident, outspoken and is able to make decisions. Improved female education leads to higher levels of economic growth. Women's empowerment is the need of the hour in all the countries because awareness among women is important for them to understand their rights. If they are aware of their basic rights only then women will be able to fight for it. Women should be encouraged to pursue their dreams, self-esteem and confidence. Women empowerment is not just a fight for equal rights. It is the upliftment of women from a society constantly pulling them. Women have the ability not only to shape their lives but also to shape their lives. The government should eliminate violence against women, end illiteracy by educating all girls and women, equally treating men and women, should have equal participation in politics and political decision making and in economic activities so that no female will have to be deprived of their rights.    Alisha Sapkota Grade: 9 Campion School

Traditions are pots of happiness and togetherness. Traditions are intended to be a commemoration of pleasure and joy, an occasion that unites people rather than inflicting the deaths of helpless, innocent creatures and leaving a select few wretched and lonely for the rest of their lives. A newspaper recently published an article inviting people to engage in the ‘cruelty’ custom of the ‘Gadhimai festival’.  The Gadhimai Temple in the Bara area of Nepal hosts the greatest animal sacrifice in the world once every five years in our nation. This ritual has been done in Nepal for a long time and is nothing more than inhumane treatment disguised as tradition. Innocent and vulnerable lives are lost. Countless defenseless creatures meet their horrible fate every year due to religious dogma, which is irrational in and of itself. We, as humans, should be sensible enough to discontinue something that causes nothing but misery. Giving something the name of ‘tradition’ doesn’t make it right in any way. Despite the country's reputation for being a devoutly religious and spiritual nation, many Nepali people are guilty of treating animals cruelly. The mistreatment of animals is especially prevalent in urban areas, where pets and livestock are often kept in cramped and unsanitary conditions. All in the name of ‘tradition’, animals are then brutally murdered. Torture and murdering helpless animals should not be considered a tradition. People have long attempted to rationalize heinous acts by citing tradition. Tradition, on the other hand, does not make anything correct. Gadhimai festival is a barbaric blood “culture” that should have been abandoned to the annals of history long ago. It is a torture, mutilation, and slaughter of animals for amusement and thrill, according to many, regardless of its history. Thousands of buffaloes are slain in the hope of bringing prosperity and putting a stop to sin. Isn’t the act of murdering animals itself evil? If we are the cause of evil, how can it eradicate it and offer wealth to us? No religion endorses the practice of animal sacrifice. Hindu religious scriptures even state ‘love others, serve others, aid others, hurt never’ as the foundation of religion. Animal sacrifice is not a religious practice; rather, it is a societal atrocity that is rooted in myths and goes against the teachings of Hinduism, which uphold the principle of non-violence.  Hinduism’s central tenet is the idea that God dwells within every living thing, even vulnerable animals. Giving these barbaric acts the label of ‘religion and tradition’ is thus an act of human folly and lack of self-awareness. The use of animals for entertainment purposes is also a problem in Nepal. Elephants, in particular, are often subjected to cruel treatment in order to entertain tourists. Many elephants are kept in cramped and unsanitary conditions, and are subjected to physical abuse in order to make them perform tricks. Stray animals are another group that are often subjected to cruelty in Nepal. Stray dogs, in particular, are often beaten, kicked, and thrown stones at by people who see them as a nuisance.  There are also reports of people poisoning stray dogs in order to get rid of them. Despite these issues, there are also many individuals and organizations working to combat animal cruelty in Nepal. Animal Nepal, for example, is a non-profit organization that works to improve the welfare of animals in Nepal through education, advocacy, and direct care. Similarly, the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre provides medical care and shelter to stray dogs and other animals in need. According to me, we as a society should come up with an alternative for this extremely cruel act named tradition. People in the city can arrange a fair where people can come dressed up as any historic figures they like and hold campaigns or acts in the same area to attract media attention. It also gives a fantastic chance to raise awareness about the suffering that animals endure during religious events. It allows us to reach out to those who are unaware of the cruelty that occurs during these festivals. The fair will give people a joyful, fun-filled alternative to these events that is devoid of brutality. Those who wish to celebrate are welcome to attend the fair and give their contribution to the cause. This can be done every year and will fulfill all the requirements that a tradition needs to have, i.e.; a sense of togetherness and joy. Overall, the practice of killing animals for the sake of religion should be discouraged and outlawed. Animals are living entities with the ability to act, and as such, have the same rights as us, human beings. Respect should be shown for their right to coexist peacefully with others and the environment. Never will a god call for the blood of one of his creations. Animal sacrifices are a primitive, evil, and purely superstitious tradition. Animal torture committed in the name of superstitions and rituals cannot be justified by religion. Making the lives of innocent people unhappy and hurting animals for your amusement is an act of selfishness and cruelty, and calling it tradition doesn't make it acceptable. While animal cruelty remains a serious issue in Nepal, there are also signs of progress and hope for the future. By raising awareness of the issue and supporting organizations that work to protect animals, it is possible to make a difference and improve the lives of animals in Nepal. As indicated above, the alternative will help people unify while also serving the objective of raising awareness against animal abuse. Let’s make it a tradition, and let’s do it right this time. Ananya Shri Mundara Grade 11, Pathways World School

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 6. 90 points to close at 1,926.40 points on Sunday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 52 points to close at 363. 26 points. A total of 3,163,389 unit shares of 259 companies were traded for Rs 1. 06 billion. Meanwhile, Manushi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, Unique Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and Shuvam Power Limited were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Sanima Growth Fund was the top loser with its price dropped by 8. 56 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 78 trillion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is seeking a vote of confidence in the Parliament meeting at 1 pm on Monday. House of Representatives Speaker Devraj Ghimire said that the Prime Minister is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence in the Parliament meeting at 1 pm tomorrow. Dahal, who was elected as the Prime Minister on December 25, sought a vote of confidence on January 10. Prime Minister Dahal is seeking a vote of confidence again after the CPN-UML, who gave a vote of confidence to PM Dahal at that time, left the government with the support extended to it. A 10-party alliance has agreed to give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Dahal. A meeting of the coalition held in Baluwatar on Saturday decided to give a vote of confidence to PM Dahal. The 10-party alliance consists of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janamat Party, Rastriya Janamorcha, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Democratic Socialist Party, Nepal Samajbadi Party and Aam Janata Party.    

The Bill on Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment), 2079 has been tabled in the Parliament on Sunday. Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma on behalf of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal tabled the Bill in the Parliament meeting this afternoon. Now, the clause-wise discussion will be held in Bill.