Submit your Article

Query

I'm a 27-year-old male who works at an IT company. In the past year, while adapting to the work-from-home setup, juggling between work and home life has been hard on me and my partner. At times I get extremely stressed out when my wife doesn’t understand my workload, which in turn has created distance between us. I feel so upset and frustrated. What should I do?  -Dinesh

Answer by Shreeya Giri, Mental Health Advocate, Founder of Happy Minds

First, sit with yourself with a calm mind and try to understand what you’re going through. What is it exactly that has been causing you stress? How is it affecting your relationship? How do you want your relationship to be? What do you want your partner to understand? If what you’re struggling through is vivid to you and you are aware of what is making you feel burnt out, you can communicate better with your partner. 

That leads us to communication, one of the most important parts of any relationship. You are two different people, and what connects you is communicating with each other. It may feel like your partner doesn’t understand what you’re going through and that must be causing more stress. But for her to understand, you must first share your feelings and problems with her. 

Take some time to sit together, with the intent of doing some ‘assertive communication’. Try sharing what you’ve been feeling, and listen to her feelings in turn. For instance, there might be a misunderstanding. Try to remember what may have caused that and think about what you need to feel better, and what you can provide to make her feel better. Listen to her about what she needs as well. That is true communication. 

On the other hand, it is comparatively harder for men to communicate as our society has normalized their suppression of feelings. You need an environment that feels comfortable and safe to share. And that falls on us, ladies. You need to build a space for your husband where he feels like he can share. A relationship is about adjusting and understanding. So adjust to each other’s emotional needs and that will help you understand. 

Sometimes when your partner is showing his emotions through words and is venting, understand that he may only want to be heard. Not every action needs a reaction. When he is complaining about something, don’t rush to put your emotions and needs before his words: try listening to them rather than competing to tell them you too are struggling.

If there is a mental health issue you struggle with, email it to us at [email protected]. We will get your query answered by a trained psychiatrist/psycho-social counselor in the upcoming issue.

January

The Supreme Court of Pakistan orders the Pakistani government to rebuild a Hindu temple—the Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj Samadhi temple in Teri, Karak District. The temple was earlier destroyed by a mob of 1,500 local Muslims led by a local Islamic cleric and supporters of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party in December 2020. As a part of renovation, the temple plans to expand and the houses nearby will have to be razed, irking many locals and Islamists.

February

India and China agree to push for a mutually acceptable resolution of friction points at Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh in a steady and orderly manner. However, in subsequent months, there is little progress on border talks between the two countries.

March  

On March 26 and 27, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Bangladesh at the invitation of his counterpart Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and takes part in two gala celebrations—the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the iconic leader of Bangladesh’s freedom struggle and the country’s first prime minister. Protests erupt across the country, with protestors accusing Modi of committing crimes against humanity during the 2002 Gujarat riots. They slam his anti-Muslim policies and India’s interference in Bangladeshi politics.

April

The United States decides to withdraw US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, stating that “there is no military solution to the challenges Afghanistan faces”. Then Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomes the decision.

May 

X-Press Pearl, a Singaporean container ship, catches fire off the Sri Lankan coast of Colombo, and was engulfed in flames on May 27. The Criminal Investigations Department of Sri Lanka arrests the ship captain in June after the incident draws global attention due its harm to the local biodiversity. 

June 

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives is elected new president of the United Nations General Assembly. Shahid pledges to push for equal access for coronavirus vaccines, a stronger and greener economic recovery and stepped-up efforts to tackle climate change.

July 

Acclaimed Indian photojournalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Danish Siddiqui is killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan on 13 July 2021. He was embedded with a convoy of Afghan security forces and covering a clash between the security forces and the Taliban near a border crossing with Pakistan.

August 

Taliban returns to power in Afghanistan after two decades. Amid the chaos, incumbent Afghan President Ashraf Ghani escapes the country on August 15. America withdraws all its troops, to worldwide condemnation of its ‘hasty’ decision.

September

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden hold their first in-person meeting during Modi’s US visit. Two leaders discuss trade, security and other regional issues. In 2021, India and the US come closer on many issues in the backdrop of souring India-China relations.

October  

A mob damages 66 houses and sets on fire at least 20 homes of Hindus in Bangladesh over an alleged blasphemous social media post. This follows protests by the minority community against temple vandalism incidents during Durga Puja celebrations.

In a step towards resolving their boundary disputes, Bhutan and China sign a three-step roadmap to help speed up talks, at a video meeting of their foreign ministers. The roadmap is expected to kick-start progress on boundary talks that have been stalled for five years.

November  

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not known for backing down from his political moves, announces the repeal of three new agricultural reform laws on November 19, on Guru Nanak Jayanti. The repeal forbids the entry of private players in farming which would have cut farmers’ income.

December  

India’s Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, and 11 others are killed in a Mi-17V5 chopper crash near Coonoor, Nilgiris district, in Tamil Nadu, on December 8. The four-star general is the single-point advisor to the Indian government on military matters.

Amid growing India-China and China-US rivalry, Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India to participate in India-Russia Summit. The two countries agree to enhance bilateral ties. 

January

Amid the political chaos that ensured following Prime Minister KP Oli’s decision to dissolve the federal lower house at the end of 2020, four former chief justices—Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Anup Raj Sharma, Kalyan Shrestha, and Sushila Karki—release a statement on January 8 terming the dissolution unconstitutional. The unprecedented statement by ex-chief justices on a political issue draws mixed reaction.  

February

On February 23, the Supreme Court overturns Prime Minister Oli’s Dec 20 house dissolution, calling it unconstitutional, and orders the government to summon the house within the next 13 days.

March

The Supreme Court on March 7, the day the meeting of the restored House is scheduled, revives the CPN-UML and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), invalidating the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), the outcome of the two parties’ May 2018 merger.

April

Then main opposition Nepali Congress initiates moves to topple Prime Minister Oli and form an alternative government under its leadership with the support of the CPN-Maoist Center and other parties. The party Central Committee on April 3 decides to form a new government under its leadership.

May

President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolves the House of Representatives as per Article 76 (7) yet again and declares two-phase elections—November 12 and November 19—on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. This happens after Prime Minister Oli fails to get a vote of confidence in parliament on May 10.

June

PM Oli expands and reshuffles the cabinet, which now has 14 members from CPN (UML) and 11 from Mahantha Thakur faction of JSPN. The Supreme Court issues an interim order, annulling the cabinet expansion. The order relieves 20 ministers of their positions, with the cabinet now composed of only four ministers.

July 

The Supreme Court on July 12 overturns Prime Minister Oli’s May 21 house dissolution and orders the appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepali Congress president, as prime minister. The five-member constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana says Oli’s claim to the post of prime minister as per Article 76 (5) is unconstitutional. The SC also orders the government to reconvene the house by July 18.

August 

Kul Prasad KC is appointed the chief minister of Lumbini on August 12. On August 18, Ashta Laxmi Shakya is appointed the CM of Bagmati province; there is a fissure in CPN-UML, the largest party in parliament, with the formation of the breakaway CPN (Unified Socialist) under former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal; and the JSPN splits to form LSP led by Mahantha Thakur. The outcome is that there are now six national parties.

September 

The Sher Bahadur Deuba government replaces the KP Oli government’s budget ordinance with a fresh bill on September 10. Finance Minister Janardan Sharma presents a budget of Rs 1.632 trillion, reducing the size by Rs 16.74 billion.

October 

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba leaves for London, UK for the COP26 summit, on October 29. Nepal Bar Association and SC justices protest, seeking the resignation of CJ Cholendra Shamsher JBR following rumors of his involvement in cabinet expansion.

November 

CPN-UML convenes its 10th general convention and re-elects KP Sharma Oli as party chairman, who handsomely defeats Bhim Rawal, his nearest rival for the post.

December 

Nepali Congress holds its 14th general convention. Prime Minister and incumbent party president Sher Bahadur Deuba is re-elected party president. Rastriya Prajatantra Party holds its general convention where Rajendra Lingden beats Kamal Thapa for the party’s top post.

The Mountain and hill areas across the country were covered by fresh snowfall on December 29.

 Along with hills adjacent to Kathmandu valley, Humla, Dolpa, Kalikot districts experienced heavy snowfall compounded by incessant rainfall. According to our correspondents, the fresh snowfall constitutes three meters thick.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light rain is likely to occur at a few places in the hilly region of the country on December 30 as well.  Possibility of light snowfall at some places of the high mountainous region. 

The political document presented by CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the party’s eighth national convention packs in some familiar communist tropes: the street as the ultimate venue of ‘struggle’, the US as a war-mongering global hegemon that must be resisted, and the dangerous designs of national and national reactionaries and anti-revolutionaries who are trying to undo the revolutionary changes the Maoists helped usher in. The document says the MCC compact will be approved only after amendments and only on the basis of broad political consensus.

All this was expected. But therein is also an admission that the post-2006 achievements are under threat largely due to the mother Maoist party’s own weaknesses, chief among them lack of political and ideological clarity, and ‘divisions and anarchy’ in the party organization. The document, prepared by Dahal, is bang on. But if this analysis is correct, then Dahal, who has been at the party’s top position for nearly three decades, must shoulder the bulk of the blame for the steady decline in his party’s popularity.

Also read: Editorial: End House obstruction 

If KP Sharma Oli has a near complete hold over CPN-UML, then Dahal’s monopoly over CPN (Maoist Center) is stronger still. Following the voluntary ouster from the party of Baburam Bhattarai, no one comes remotely close to challenging his leadership of CPN (Maoist Center). This is deliberate. With his keen nose for power, Dahal has over the years systematically dismantled any opposition to his leadership. Fed up by Dahal’s lack of ideological clarity and his tendency to impose his persona on the party, one after another of his comrades, from Bhattarai to Mohan Baidya, left his side. Dahal’s ideological incoherence and his tendency to promise everything to everyone have backfired; the once ‘fierce one’ has become just another political leader.

Sadly, Nepali politics has come to be dominated by individuals—KP Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Dahal himself. The cult of personality is especially strong in Nepali communist parties, and no more so than in the Maoist party. What they put in their official documents is really meaningless. 

Santosh Shah was crowned winner of BBC’s MasterChef: The Professionals Rematch special in scenes that aired tonight after he lost out on the title in 2020. 

The 34-year-old chef, who was dubbed the ‘people’s champion’ in last year’s series, wowed judges Marcus Wareing, Monica Galetti, and Gregg Wallace with his Nepalese cuisine, according to the news report.

Santosh stepped back into the kitchen along with fellow finalists Philli Armitage-Mattin and Bart van der Lee, who appeared on last year’s series, and Jamie Park, who reached the final in 2017.

Speaking to media he said, “I was so delighted to be invited back into the MasterChef kitchen to cook again, and had so much fun being reunited with Bart, Philli, and Jamie from the 2017 series.” 

As 2021 draws to a close, so does another year of engrossed reading. And there is always so much to read about our own country and the neighborhood. The region, by the way, also makes for the most popular non-fiction reads here in Nepal. Here are the ‘Top 10’ non-fiction bestsellers for the year as per Mandala Book Point, Kantipath, Kathmandu.  

1. All Roads Lead North: Nepal’s turn to China by Amish Raj Mulmi 

This book navigates Nepal-China relationship over the past three centuries. Mulmi tries to tackle Sino-Nepal relations from the perspective of those whose lives are directly impacted by the geopolitical developments in this region. He records experiences of Nepal-Tibet traders, former Khampas (Tibetan guerillas), Nepali entrepreneurs and the population living near the country’s northern border with China. Alongside, there’s also a concise modern history of the complex Nepal-China-India relations. The book portrays China’s increased influence in Nepal through trade, tourism and bilateral investment and highlights how that affects people living along the Nepal-China border.

2. India and Asian Geopolitics: The Past, Present by Shivshankar Menon 

The author gives an insight into India’s role after independence, within Asia and the broader world. Menon tries to capture modern India’s navigation of regional geopolitics in order to pursue its foreign policy goals. He also looks at the future and analyzes how India’s policies might evolve in response to the current and new challenges. As India continues to grow economically and gain stature on a global scale, its domestic preoccupations and international choices become more significant. Monon’s long diplomatic career and his grasp of geopolitical and diplomatic history is reflected in his writing. The book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding India’s role in the emerging world order.

3. Unleashing the Vajra by Sujeev Shakya 

Shakya analyses the social, political, and cultural aspects underlying the state of Nepal in order to strategize the recalibrations required to capitalize on its location. He questions the basics of Nepali culture, consumerism, conduct, and convergence of economic activities with its two neighbors, India and China. Nepal now has the opportunity to unleash its economic potential and take advantage of the two populous and emerging economic neighboring powerhouses, but the book asserts that the country has only two decades to realize this potential. There is a good overview of the historical underpinnings of today’s achievements and opportunities. In addition, it offers thoughtful perspectives for readers who have an interest in Nepal’s economic and foreign policies.

4. The Politics of Nepal: Persistence and Change in an Asian Monarchy by Leo E. Rose & Margaret Welpley Fisher

The book offers a systematic introduction to the Nepali political system. Rose has always been invested in Nepali politics from when he first co-wrote Democratic Innovations in Nepal with Bhuban Lal Joshi, about two personalities from extreme sides of the political spectrum: King Mahendra and the first elected Prime Minister, BP Koirala. Nepali politics had long been neglected by scholars and was largely unknown to the outside world until mid-fifties, even though Nepal is quite unique considering it has never been reduced to a colonial status and it was one of the few Asian countries where monarchy was the chief agency in the modernization of traditional institutions. 

5. Beyond Possible by Nimsdai Purja 

Beyond Possible tells the reader that anything is possible, as long as you have hope and determination. Nimsdai Purja takes us on his journey of achieving the seemingly impossible: scaling 14 mountains of over 8,000m in six months and six days under ‘Project Possible’. Along the way he saved several stricken climbers and put spotlight on climate change and the Nepali climbing community. Not only does the book talk about his bravery but also moments he wavered due to his near-death experiences in an avalanche and the frustration when no other climbers were helping him rescue lost climbers. One encounters a world which is so ruthless that death is a common phenomenon. 

6. Nehru, Tibet and China by Avtar Singh Bhasin

Bhasin analyses history to understand why Indo-China relations continue to remain tenuous. The book analyses events from 1949 to the Indo-China war in 1962 and its aftermath to provide more context about the bilateral dynamic. Jawaharlal Nehru’s futile attempts to prevent the communists from taking over Tibet and the fleeing of the 14th Dalai Lama to India was the onset of India’s souring relations with China, he writes. Documents and archives are used to make the narrative authentic and credible. A synopsis highlights how policies were made during this critical period in India-China relations as well as their continued relevance. 

7. Political Economy of Social Change and Development in Nepal by Jeevan R. Sharma

Nepal has been undergoing various socio-political and economic changes since the 1950s. From a hierarchical monarchy to a republican order which has engrained ideas of human rights and equality, there has been a gradual shift in the political economy of rural livelihoods and deeply penetrated ideas of development and modernity in the countryside. Focusing on local discourses and experiences, it draws attention to the power of historical processes and how they produce ideas of equality, human rights, and citizenship. Sharma also builds on the scholarship in Nepal from a multi-disciplinary and synoptic perspective. 

8. Backfire in Nepal: How India Lost Plot to China by Sanjay Upadhya

The author takes the reader through a timeline of Nepal-India relations in the past 15 years. Starting with Nepal’s own Comprehensive Peace Agreement (2006) to the signing of the new transit, security, and strategic treaties between Nepal and China most recently, Upadhya highlights seminal developments that have enhanced China’s role while reducing India’s in this landlocked country. He discusses China’s growing investments in Nepal as well as a number of high-level visits, including from Chinese President Xi Jinping. As is clear from the book, the 2015 unofficial border blockade was, in many ways, the turning point in China’s engagement in Nepal. The book is a must read for anyone who is interested in understanding recent developments in India-Nepal relations. 

9. Kathmandu Dilemma: Resetting India-Nepal Ties by Ranjit Rae 

Rae examines the contemporary state of India-Nepal relations and offers a plethora of details in bilateral ties. After the 2015 blockade, the relations have gone through several ups and downs. And with China increasing its influence in Nepal, the author argues, the country could become a closely-contested geopolitical battleground. The book is at its most interesting when Rae talks about Nepal as one of the best assignments for an Indian diplomat.

10. The Power of Geography: Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World by Tim Marshall

Mountains, deserts, and distances will have an eternal mark on national character and international relations. Marshall spotlights ten regions that are set to shape global politics and power: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain, and Space. He explains how a region’s geography and physical characteristics affect its leaders’ decisions. Like its predecessor ‘Prisoners of Geography’, the book provides a thoughtful introduction to crucial concepts of international politics through the prism of geography. Any student of geography, in any of its manifestations, would love this book. 

(Compiled by Paridhi Bhutra)

CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has said that America’s grant under Millennium Challenge Corporation(MCC) could be endorsed by Parliament only after amending some clauses.

In a political document presented in the party's 8th General Convention that began on December 26, Prachanda has said that it cannot be endorsed without amendment. According to a member, Prachanda told his party cadres that MCC would be amended to serve the national interest.

The ruling coalition is sharply divided over MCC. Speaking at the inaugural session of the Maoist convention, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba defended MCC stating that there are not any provisions that would hurt national interests. Parties plan to table MCC in Parliament after the Maoist party concludes its convention. The Maoist jamboree, however, is likely to endorse Prachanda’s position on MCC. America, however, said that the MCC compact cannot be amended.