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On June 29, the Supreme Court issued an interim order to the government to ensure marriage registration of same-sex and other non-traditional heterosexual couples. It was a landmark decision for same-sex couples as well as individuals identifying as part of the LGBTIQA+ community. As per the court’s order the government must now set up a transitional mechanism to register the marriage of same-sex and non-traditional heterosexual couples, and amend the laws related to marriage in the Civil Code 2017. While the queer community and their supporters have lauded the court’s order, some  politicians  have taken it as an affront to their faith and values. One prominent figure offended by the idea of legitimizing same-sex marriage is Kamal Thapa, a former deputy prime minister and the leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party. “The Supreme Court’s decision regarding the registration of same-sex marriages is flawed. Same-sex marriage is against natural law, social norms and culture. Marriage is a sacred relationship between a man and a woman. If same-sex marriage is legalized, it will lead to family confusion and social distortion [translated from Nepali],” the Hindu right-wing leader wrote on his Twitter following the court’s order. People’s perception toward same-sex marriage is divided. While some support Thapa’s ideology, there are individuals who disagree with him at the same time. Rabindra Mishra, senior vice-chairman of RPP, replied to Thapa’s tweet in favor of the LGBTIQA+ community and the court’s recent decision. “When I looked at his [Thapa] tweet, I could see many individuals supporting and defending us against his ideology. That, I think, shows that there are people accepting us gradually,” says Pinky Gurung, president, Blue Diamond Society (BDS). On June 7, Gurung and eight other applicants representing the LGBTIQA+ community had filed a public interest litigation at the Supreme Court, calling for legitimization of same-sex marriage. Gurung says although it is important for her community that the people accept and support same-sex marriage, their main focus right now is to claim the rights they deserve. The court’s decision is also momentous for Nepal as a country itself for being the most queer-friendly country—at least in terms of law—in the whole of South Asia. No wonder, the Supreme Court’s decision was praised by the international community. US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson tweeted, saying the decision was “a significant step toward marriage equality and recognition in Nepal that marriage is a fundamental right.” Australian Ambassador Felicity Volk also tweeted in favor of the court’s decision, saying that “Nepal continues to demonstrate regional leadership in promoting the rights of LBGTIQA+ communities.” It has been a long battle for the queer community of Nepal to have their nuptials recognized as a legal union. The first writ peition to legalize same-sex marriage was filed back in 2004, and the Supreme Court had formed a seven-member committee in 2007 to study the legalization of same-sex marriage. The committee’s report was submitted to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers in 2015, which in turn forwarded  it to the  Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens. But no further actions were taken. Sujan Panta, advocate and legal expert on LGBTIQA+ rights, says that one of the major reasons behind the ministry’s lack of interest to amend the marriage laws to recognize the same-sex union is because many people in the position of power still hold beliefs similar to that of Thapa. “Majority of them still find same-sex marriage to be ‘unnatural’, but with this court order, Nepal took its first step toward legalizing same-sex marriage,” adds Panta. While Nepal’s constitution states that there “shall be no discrimination when it comes to sex or matrimonial status”, the National Civil (Code) Act, 2017, still dictates marriage to be the union between a man and a woman. “If we were to completely legalize same-sex marriage, a total of 18 articles needs to be amended,” says Panta. Sunil Babu Pant, politician  and LGBTIQA+ rights activist, says despite many amendments needed, the marriage registered will be valid and permanent. “The reason the court has ordered for a spearate mechanism to register same-sex marriage is to provide time for the lawmakers to amend the marriage law,” he adds. The LGBTIQA+ community of Nepal has only won half the battle; there are many challenges ahead. But for those who have been deprived of legal marriage documents because of their sexual identity, this is a cause for celebration. Maya Gurung, a 38-year-old transwoman, has been married to her partner Surendra Pandey for the past six years. Now with the court order, Gurung says she is overwhelmed with joy. “Now we can finally feel that our marriage will be legally secure,” she says. Gurung is looking forward to receiving the privileges all married couples do. Not being able to register their marriage had deprived them from several services like opening a joint bank account or registering each other as spouses in hospitals. Registrations at government offices are another hassle. Not having a legal document also deprives couples from participating in their partner’s funeral. Dilmaya (Aniee) Tamang, a 30-year-old transwoman, has been in a living relationship for the past 10 years. The major struggle for her and her partner was finding a flat to rent. “People would ask us for our marriage registration, or our citizenship where we both are registered as males,” she says. With the latest court order, Tamang and her partner can finally be registered as a married couple. “But this won’t be enough. Our society is not yet ready to accept our sexual identity and orientation. We still have a long fight ahead of us,” she says. Gurung, the president of BDS, says the court decision gives same-sex couples some hope for the future. “We have come across many suicides and suicide attempts among same-sex couple because of they were not accepted by our society and made to feel insecure for their sexual identity,” she says. Gurung believes that the Supreme Court has given a lot of couples, married or thinking of getting married, legal validation to their relationship. As for the society’s acceptance, she believes the the process will be gradual, and that the legalization of same-sex marriage will definitely plays a big role in changing the perception of individuals and society. “When there are laws backing us up, people will be compelled to accept that despite their disagreement,” says Gurung. “We also need to spread awareness, not just for acceptance but also to help people come to terms with their sexual orientation.”

On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox (mpox) outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It’s a virus that belongs to the same family as smallpox and chickenpox. The outbreak was seen in 112 countries, with a total of 87,972 laboratory-confirmed cases and 1,097 probable cases, including 147 deaths, as of 19 June 2023. And the first case in Nepal was seen recently, on June 16. This has raised several concerns among the public about the possible outbreak of mpox in Nepal. “While mpox isn’t as contagious as Covid-19 since the virus isn’t airborne, there’s still a chance that this one case might lead to an outbreak if we aren’t careful,” says Dr Prajwal Pudasaini, a dermatologist at the Civil Service Hospital, Minbhawan, Kathmandu. According to a WHO report, an infected person can transmit the virus one to four days before showing any symptoms, and until the symptoms/rashes heal. The incubation period (the number of days between the start of infection and showing of symptoms) for the mpox is around three to 17 days. The common symptoms might last two-four weeks, which include high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes. It transmits sexually, through skin-to-skin contact, saliva, mucus, and pus from rashes and droplets. The symptom starts with fever and rashes appear two-three days post-fever. “It can easily be confused with common viral fever, during which people might not maintain the needed distance,” says Dr Pudasaini. Also, since many people aren’t aware of mpox, they might not opt for medical tests. He adds that some might also confuse mpox with chickenpox, not knowing the difference between the rashes. “In the case of mpox, rashes first appear on palms, feet, and genitalia, whereas chickenpox appears all over the body,” he says. The rashes in mpox are filled with mucus/pus, unlike in chickenpox. “Also, people might not stay in isolation thinking they are already immune to chickenpox,” he adds. Despite that, the possibility of an outbreak is quite minimal, especially in Nepal because virus transmission is not possible without close physical contact, says Dr Janak Koirala, professor of infection disease/internal medicine at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS). “Since the first case was quickly identified, it might not have spread in a group,” he says, “But it’s necessary to follow the infected’s travel history, as well as trace and monitor her contacts.” Dr Rudra Marasini, director, Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), says that the 60-year-old infected individual’s contacts have been traced and they are under close observation. “She had a travel history, and we have managed to contact everyone who came into contact with her within the 21 days prior to when her symptoms appeared,” he says. So far, only one of the contacts has shown signs of mpox, but the test result came out negative. Dr Hemanta Chandra Ojha, section chief, Zoonotic and Other Communicable Disease Control Section, EDCD, says other contacts haven’t shown any symptoms of mpox thus far. They will be under observation until the incubation period is over. “Since the illness didn’t originate in Nepal, it’s highly unlikely that this will turn into an outbreak,” he says. But to remain prepared, Dr Marasini mentions that medical professionals in Nepal have received training on dealing with cases of mpox. “We have 14 sites all over Nepal where professionals trained in handling mpox have been stationed,” he says. Dr Dharmendra Karn, a dermatologist, says most healthcare professionals began keeping themselves updated with the mpox virus after an outbreak in 2022. “We didn’t know when it would enter Nepal, so we have always stayed prepared,” he says. Also, for most individuals, the symptoms are only limited to fever and skin rashes, unless they are immuno-compromised. “It might prove to be fatal for infants, elderly and pregnant individuals, as well as people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, existing heart and liver issues, and HIV/AIDS,” says Dr Karn. In these cases, mpox might lead to other complications like meningitis, encephalitis, pneumonia, and organ failure. However, the mortality rate, so far, is less than one percent globally. “Much depends on the type of mpox variant,” says Dr Pudasaini. There are two variants of mpox prevalent globally—Central African (Clade I) and West African (Clade II). Among them, Clade II doesn’t cause much severity, whereas, according to Pudasaini, Clade I is thrice as lethal as the omicron virus. “Not knowing what variant we are dealing with, we can’t be sure on what the outcome might be,” he says. Nevertheless, the 2022 outbreak was caused by the subtype of Clade II called Clade IIb, which isn’t as severe as Clade I. Unfortunately, Nepal doesn’t have the mechanism to identify mpox variants. The best thing to do at the moment, Dr Karn believes, is to go back to the preventive measures everyone took during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We need to start maintaining distance, wearing masks, and using sanitizers,” he says. He adds that it’s necessary to inform people on the possible symptoms of mpox and precautions to take when one shows signs of infection. “Many people don’t even know what mpox is,” he says. Dr Koirala says it’s important to prevent the virus from reaching places like hostels, schools, and workplaces, where there is close contact. “It’s also transmissible from towels, clothes, utensils, and items used by the infected,” he says. If found in places where people remain together in a cluster for long hours, an outbreak cannot be prevented. But if there is an outbreak, doctors and medical professionals ApEx spoke to believe that Nepal’s healthcare system is well-equipped to handle it. “Many hospitals now have good isolation wards, ICUs, and have a good knowledge on dealing with medical crises,” says Dr Santa Kumar Das, deputy director, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. But there are a few improvements needed, like increasing the number of labs that conduct Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for mpox. Currently, the test is only available at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Teku. To prevent the virus from making inroads into the country, a proper screening system must be put in place to know whether a person is suffering from mpox, experts say. “The best way is to prepare a screening questionnaire, and send individuals showing symptoms for a PCR test,” says Dr Koirala. For now, the MoHP has stationed trained individuals at airports to perform proper screening. “We are doing everything we can to prevent the virus from entering the country,” says Dr Marasini. Data: Countries with maximum mpox cases since the 2022 outbreak, as of 6 June 2023

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Symptoms Fever Rashes first appear on the palm, feet and genitalia two-three days post fever. Pus/mucus filled rashes appear all over the body Swollen lymph nodes Control measures Maintain physical distance Wear mask Use sanitizer Raise public awareness on the disease

Smriti Bishwakarma, famously known as ‘Dmriti’, is a 22-year-old rapper from Jhapa, Koshi Province, who got well recognized in the Nepali music industry in a short period of time. Her journey began at the age of 16, right after completing her 10th grade. Rapping, for her, started as a hobby. In fact, she had never thought of becoming a rapper. But six years down the line, she is now fully focused on making a career out of it. Born in Kathmandu, Bishwakarma moved to Jhapa at the age of eight. Although there were a lot of changes she had to adjust to, one thing that always remained consistent, she says, was her family’s love for music. “No one from my family was a professional singer, but they loved singing now and then,” she says. Her childhood was mostly influenced by Bollywood music. And singing for her was a way of spending some quality time with herself. “I mostly got to be invovled in music during the three month break I had after I was done with school,” she says. She wrote her own lyrics and tried to incorporate it in a rap. In the process, she recorded one of her songs on her phone and posted it online. “That’s when my life took a different turn. The post got shared by Uniq Poet, of the best rappers we have,” she adds, “And that’s the reason why I continued doing what I did.” But she hadn’t yet decided to take up music as her career. Most families in Nepal prioritize education. Hers was the same. “They weren’t wrong either. I needed a degree because being an artist comes with a lot of uncertainties,” she says. She joined Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) to pursue a Bachelor’s degree, while pursuing music on the side. The sad thing about that arrangement was that she had no time to invest in music. “I felt like I was starting to lose myself,” she says. So she decided to drop out. But her journey in the Nepal music industry had yet not begun. She got into the industry only after winning the rap battle organized by Break Station, a hip-hop community in Nepal, at the age of 20. “At first, my time within the industry was quite overwhelming. I didn’t know what I was doing and everything was happening so fast,” says Bishwakarma, “But I was having fun too.” She got to mingle with several like-minded individuals which, she says, was quite helpful for her to grow as an artist. She used to record songs in a studio before she came to Kathmandu too, but what she didn’t have were people who understood her work the same way she did. “Having so many people on the same page as me was the best thing I got to experience once I was officially a part of the hip-hop industry,” she says. She thoroughly enjoys her profession and the process of creating. But the best part, she says, is when she listens to the song she made for the first time. “It’s the most satisfying feeling,” she says. But sustaining within the industry, she says, is another challenge. The major problem is making a stable income. “Everyone is doing their best, but we still have a lot to learn in terms of properly distributing albums. Right now, we are solely dependent on live shows to make money,” says Bishwakarma. Secondly, she says that the hip-hop industry is quite male dominated, and some of them are reluctant to acknowledge female rappers. “Even when I won the rap battle, my opponent told me he wanted me to win since I was a girl. It seemed like he was trying to say that he let me win and I didn’t earn it,” she says. She further adds that most people  ask her male colleague if they helped her write the lyrics for her songs. “They don’t want to believe that I wrote it,” she says. Also, she sometimes finds working professionally as a rapper to be quite overwhelming. “Not that I don’t like my work. But everyone needs a break,” she says, adding that is why she likes to go back to Jhapa time and again to stay with her family as well as be by herself. Right now, Bishwakarma is working on an Extended Play (EP) which will come out soon this year. But she is in no hurry. “I want to be patient and create something that I’m proud of,” she says, and it’s the same when it comes to building her career too. She says that she wants to give herself enough time to grow and improve. As far as the future is concerned, Bishwakarma says she doesn’t like to plan ahead.  “All I can do is work hard and see where it takes me,” she says.

June is the LGBTIQA+ Pride Month. From drag shows to open mics, a lot has happened in the past few days to celebrate and support non-binary and genderqueer individuals. Shops and online stores are selling products in rainbow colors. Restaurants and bars are giving special discounts. People believe it’s an act of showing solidarity and support but the LGBTIQA+ community feels the same support is lacking in the other times of the year. Anik Rana Magar, an LGBTIQA+ rights activist, believes there’s a lot of hypocrisy among ‘allies’ who show their support during the pride month. “Organizations, media, and people are willing to organize programs, sponsor events, as well as walk with us in rallies only during the pride month,” she says, “But for the rest of the months, they don’t respond to any of our requests.” For this year’s pride month, Magar has planned to conduct a pride parade in Rupandehi, a district in western Nepal. A well-established company, she says, approached her to sponsor the parade. “It’s the same company that has turned a deaf ear to our call for support in the past,” she adds. Nilam Poudel, a make-up artist and LGBTIQA+ rights activist, agrees with Magar. Poudel frequently organizes events and fashion shows where, she says, those who are invited don’t even bother showing up. But in June everyone from politicians to actors to influencers are present. “During the pride month, I think many of us are also subjected to subtle discrimination in the name of positivity and support,” she says. For instance, receiving gifts as an influencer. “It’s not about the gifts but the fact that I’m only remembered in June. It’s not the same for other influencers,” she says. Sarita KC, executive director at Mitini Nepal, an LGBTIQA+ rights organization, on the other hand, thinks differently. She believes that the support shown during June should be taken positively. “It’s a sign of solidarity. Everyone is trying to show their support in their own way. I don’t think that’s bad,” she says. But Poudel maintains there are people who carry a personal and selfish agenda behind showing their solidarity. She recently visited a restaurant that has been giving several discounts, commemorating the pride month. “It’s the same place that has discriminated against people I know that belong to the queer community. So, is it a sign of solidarity or just a business strategy?” she questions. Many non-governmental organizations, according to the activists, organize/invest in several programs and events in June. But Dilu Buduja (Badri Pun) from CPN (Unified Socialist) who identifies as a transman, believes it hasn’t made much impact on uplifting the lives of the people belonging to LGBTIQA+ community in rural areas. “I’m not against celebrating pride month, but it’s quite Kathmandu-centric,” he says, “And the lives of people from our communities won’t get any better if we don’t focus on the problems faced by people in the remote parts of Nepal.” Buduja also finds the role of the media to be a bit problematic. During the pride month, the media extensively covers news related to the LGBTIQA+ community, but the same enthusiasm lacks all year round. Even now, he says, articles are only about pride parade and other ‘entertaining’ events, with none focusing on the actual problems and scrutiny they face. “For instance, why don’t we see articles about the underrepresentation of people from our community in politics during the time of election? Our issues are often overlooked,” he says. Magar, the LGBTIQA+ rights activist, says she has been asked to give several interviews ever since June started. “I’m grateful for the platform I’m being given, but at the same time these are the same media outlets that have refrained from giving our issues any space during the rest of the months,” she says. Also, unlike the pride parade, LGBTIQA+ rights activists say, many rallies are organized during the other times of the year—be it regarding the legalization of same-sex marriage or citizenship issues—get minimal coverage. Aayam Poudel, a 24-year-old gay man, believes it’s because media outlets are more focused on getting good photos to pull in readers. “We don’t wear the same flashy clothes and carry rainbow flags at other rallies/protests, and that doesn’t grab the media’s attention,” he says. Bhumika Shrestha, an LGBTIQA+ rights activist, says it’s not that news media outlets haven’t shown interest in queer rights issues, but since the  pride month is globally celebrated, it receives more attention. “There are journalists who support us through their coverage of programs and events we organize, be it in June or in any other month,” she says. Nevertheless, she believes that the coverage isn’t enough because they [Nepali news media] aren’t willing to approach the queer community members to understand and report on their issues. The coverage is mostly event based. Pinky Gurung, president of Blue Diamond Society, a LGBTIQA+ rights organization in Nepal, says that pride month has become more of a trend than a time for advocacy. But at the same time, it’s definitely bringing some change, albeit gradual. Even in the case of the pride parade, Gurung says that the number of participants, excluding the ones belonging to the LGBTIQA+ community, have been increasing, which shows people are trying to understand and accept them. “People are making an effort to understand the history behind the pride parade and its importance to queer individuals,” she says. But despite that, activists believe that the Nepali community has an open mind toward the LGBTIQA+ community during the pride month, but refrains from doing so all year round. “Maybe it’s because the mood is celebratory that people seem to accept us,” says Magar. “But we’re often subjected to derogatory comments and names for the rest of the year, making it difficult for us to accept ourselves.” Experts say

• Anik Rana Magar, an LGBTIQA+ rights activist, believes there’s a lot of hypocrisy among ‘allies’ who show their support during the pride month.
• “During the pride month, I think many of us are also subjected to subtle discrimination in the name of positivity and support,” says Nilam Poudel, a make-up artist and LGBTIQA+ rights activist.
• Bhumika Shrestha, an LGBTIQA+ rights activist, says it’s not that news media outlets haven’t shown interest in queer rights issues, but since the  pride month is globally celebrated, it receives more attention.

Dipen Niraula, a 22-year-old living in Bhangal, Budhanilkantha, doesn’t like to go out as parking in Kathmandu is a hassle. But stepping out is inevitable, and he finds himself searching for paid parking spaces. When he finally does, he has to be ready to pay a hefty sum, even if it’s just for a few hours. “Even if I park my vehicle for just five minutes, I have to pay the full fee. It’s so unfair,” he says. Parking on the roadside isn’t an option as the traffic police will seize his two-wheeler. Kishor Rana Magar, a 30-year-old living in Mid-Baneshwor, Kathmandu, says sometimes parking areas are quite far from his actual destination. He laments that first you waste time finding a parking space and then you have to walk quite a distance, which takes more time, to get to where you have to be. “But what can I do? There isn’t any other option,” he says. Kathmandu has always struggled with parking. Since the number of vehicles on the road is increasing every year, it will only get worse, unless some serious measures are taken.  The initiative of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor Balen Shah to do away with street parking has decreased traffic congestion, says SSP Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson, Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police. But it has led to parking issues. However, he insists the public should be willing to walk a little rather than park their vehicles haphazardly (and illegally) on the road. Sanjaya Uprety, associate professor of urban planning at Pulchowk Campus, Lalitpur, and the general secretary of the Regional and Urban Planner’s Society of Nepal (RUPSON), says the reason behind the lack of parking spaces is because the city didn’t factor their need while constructing roads and various landmarks. Take for instance the lack of service lanes for street parking. “It’s essential for people who might need to be somewhere for just five or ten minutes. But here they end up paying the full parking fee even if it’s just for a few minutes,” he says. Bhatta believes since many roads in Kathmandu are narrow, constructing service lanes on those streets is now impossible. “The ones that were constructed recently have service lanes,” he says. Uprety says that the government hasn’t been able to come up with innovative ideas to make parking spaces more accessible to people. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, the ground floor of every commercial building should have a parking space along with the basement. “It’s not just rules but also proper implementation that can create enough parking spaces,” he says. “I can’t comment on the progress but Shah’s initiative to have a parking facility in the basement of every building in Kathmandu is a good start.” Even if the number of parking spaces increases through this initiative, the cost of parking is still an issue. Avash Saakha, a 30-year-old living in Bhaktapur, says that he needs to pay around Rs 80-100 per hour to park his four-wheeler. Some days, he puts aside an extra Rs 500 just to pay for parking. Niraula adds it would be much easier if the government were to provide free parking spaces in busy areas. Nabin Manandhar, spokesperson, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office (KMC), acknowledges that the cost for parking in Kathmandu is high. But he says KMC has been working on reducing the prices. However, he confesses it’s not feasible for the government to provide free parking spaces. “Safety is important when it comes to parking, and we need to pay for the guards,” he explains. So for one’s own vehicle’s safety, the public shouldn’t demand free parking spaces. But the price can and should be made reasonable, he says. Restaurants, stores, and offices also need to provide parking space for those who visit these places. Manandhar says KMC has been working on a plan to build a parking area under Tundikhel. It would be a basement parking that can accommodate many vehicles. “We will be talking to the experts about its feasibility and will be proceeding with the work if there aren’t any issues,” he says. On the other hand, Uprety believes it’s also important to think of the ecological impact of these kinds of parking spaces. “In my opinion, building a parking space under Tundikhel is a bad idea since it will bring about a lot of ecological issues that the government is willing to overlook,” he says. He feels the same about multi-storey parking in Kathmandu, which is one of the many plans under the comprehensive ‘Brihattar Master Plan’ initiated by Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA). “Kathmandu is prone to disasters, and having a multi-storey parking lot isn’t the best option for the city,” says Uprety. The only solution, he says, in order to provide enough parking space is to promote public transport. He believes the reason why the public prefers to use private vehicles is because the public transportation is neither reliable nor comfortable. It’s usually packed and it takes more time to reach the destination since the vehicles make many unauthorized stops. Furthermore, they don’t reach every nook and corner of the city. “If public transport were better and efficient, people would automatically resort to using them instead of driving their own vehicles,” he says. Niraula agrees. He says if he could travel easily in a bus or a tempo, he would choose that over zipping around in his scooter. Manandhar says that the KMC has been developing an app that will let the users know the routes of public vehicles as well as their time of arrival at a particular stop. “This initiative was taken to make sure that the public will not have to wait a long time just to catch a bus,” he says. Will that be enough to solve Kathmandu’s parking problems though? Perhaps not, but it might be a good place to start.

Where was the last time you drank a glass of wine? I asked this question to a few of my friends and colleagues. Their answers were similar and expected. It was either at a party, a gathering or when there was an occasion or something to celebrate. It was the same for me too. I never thought of wine as a drink I could have casually. But I was compelled to change my mind after visiting South Side Wine Bar, a quaint little place inside Gyanmandala, Jhamiskhel, Lalitpur. “In Nepal, wine seems like a luxury. It’s expensive, and not many people understand it. But I want to make it simple,” says the proprietor of the place, François Driard. He is originally from France but has been living in Nepal for the past 16 years. The idea of opening a wine bar came to him when he realized there weren’t many places that offered good wine at affordable prices. Through the South Side, he is looking forward to making wine a common and go-to drink for everyone. “It’s so much more than just a celebratory drink,” he says, “A wine bar can be just another place to relax, meet new people, and enjoy a nice drink after a hectic day.” The wines they serve are quite limited, and none of them are sweet. They’re the ones that Driard personally approves and likes. Since he mostly prefers dry wine, they are the only ones you’ll get at the South Side. “But I can vouch for every wine we serve. They are some of the best wines you’ll get in Nepal,” says Driard. The ones we tried were Biscardo Borgo San Lorenzo Soave, a white wine, and Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mouton Cadet, a red wine. We had no complaints. And nothing goes better with wine than cheese, which you’ll get at the South Side Wine Bar. Being a cheesemaker too, he has established a cheese shop called Yak & Co inside Gyanmandala, from where you can order a platter of Himalayan French Cheese, his own product. The ones we tried were Alpha, Camembert, Yak Cheddar, and Gherkins to refresh our taste buds. Alpha and Yak Cheddar are somewhat similar to the kind of cheese we are generally used to. Camembert is somewhat different. It’s a bit soft, creamy, and has an earthy taste that some might not prefer. But as someone who loves cheese, I couldn’t have enough of it. And the bite of Gherkins I took now and then kept me refreshed.  If you are looking for something more filling, they serve Panini too, and it goes perfectly with wine. The ones we had were smoked chicken and pork. Believe me when I say that a bite of this perfectly cooked and cheesy dish is what you need when you want some food in your tummy to balance out the effects of the alcohol. You’ll notice that there aren’t any spices used while making the dish, except tomatoes, cheese, and meat. There’s a reason for that. It’s usually bland food items that go well with wine. Thus the only food items you’ll find here are cheese platter and panini.  The place is exceptionally beautiful in the evening. With warm, yellow lights and trees around, the bar is calming and vibrant. Although some might think that the place is too small and accommodates a limited number of people at a time, that’s what makes the bar so peaceful. It’s not noisy or crowded, and you can enjoy your evening without having to put up with loud music. What I liked, even more, is the fact that it’s a perfect place to visit on your own. And you’ll enjoy talking to the bartenders and customers around. It’ll just take a glass of wine to start a conversation. Their specials: 

• Wine 
• Cheese Platter 
• Panini 

Animals suffer on the streets of Kathmandu every day. People abuse them, they get into accidents, and they have nowhere to go during extreme weather conditions. Some die horrible deaths, and finding food is always a challenge. Anushka Nepal from ApEx talked to Beena Pant, an animal rights activist and a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Nepal, an organization working for animal welfare, to discuss how street animals can be protected. What poses risks to stray animals? One of the major factors that put most stray animals at risk is road accidents. Every day, we come across several hit-and-run cases and the animals hurt don’t get treated on time. The other one is the abuse they face from people in their locality. People kick or throw stones at them for barking, roaming around shops, and even without reason. Not only are there cases where animals have suffered severe injuries as a result, but they also go through a lot of emotional and mental trauma. They get agitated, become violent, and the cycle of abuse continues. The other issue we see is animals having food that’s not good for their health. They feed on garbage or leftovers from households and shops, which have chicken or fish bones. They often choke on the bones and suffer from internal injuries. Sometimes, they ingest plastics, nails, coins, and metal objects while searching for food in garbage piles. Around five years back, we removed 17 kilograms of these materials from the stomach of a calf. Also, since most of them are exposed to extreme weather conditions, they suffer from many other health complications. How is the state of strays in Kathmandu?  It’s terrible. There are many hit-and-run cases. People leave the animal they hit on the street to suffer. Open wounds often get infected, and many animals don’t survive. The other problem we find in dogs is health issues like scabies and cancer. There are also dogs suffering from distemper and parvovirus. There are some areas near jungles where many dogs suffer from rabies. In city areas, it’s not that common since most of them get vaccinated, although we do come across a few. But the problem with rabies is mostly seen in the outskirts of Kathmandu. Governmental and non-governmental organizations have been neutering dogs. Has that brought about any substantial change in the number of stray dogs found in Kathmandu? To some extent, it has. But when it comes to neutering dogs, a lot of wards in Kathmandu don’t do it regularly. Dogs get neutered for a certain period and then the work stops. The same happened when Kathmandu Metropolitan City started neutering dogs. So the female dogs that haven’t been neutered reproduce and the numbers keep multiplying. Wards that have taken the job of neutering dogs seriously have fewer puppies. But, at the same time, some wards have been neutering dogs just for the sake of showing their work on paper. They don’t follow through and the outcome isn’t as fruitful as it could have been. If we were to neuter dogs systematically in each ward without leaving a single dog behind, the result would be visible within a year or two. I think organizations like ours have to put a little more effort into it. There are laws on animal rights but are they being properly implemented?  There are laws backing up animal rights, but the implementation is quite weak. One of the reasons behind that is even police officers are reluctant to file complaints or take action. There is a lack of sensitivity towards animals. I believe that even animal welfare groups have not put in much effort to change that. We could do so much more in terms of awareness, but I believe that maybe we have been slacking off a little on that front. I think those working for animal welfare should focus a little more on awareness campaigns or any other method/programs that will let people know that there are consequences of harming animals. We need to start from the police station itself since even authorities are unwilling to take action when an animal is hurt. There are only a few who care. What do you think is the reason behind peoples’ insensitivity towards animals? Firstly, people think of animals as more of an object than a living being. They aren’t empathetic of their pain and suffering, which is why many don’t refrain from abusing them time and again. They don’t want to accept the fact that stray animals are also part of a community. For instance, recently in Budhanilkantha-6, where our shelter for animals is located, around 200 hundred people gathered to chase the dogs out. They didn’t want to consider the fact that most of them were sick. They were bothered by the constant barking. Secondly, these people are also not aware of the legal aspect that backs up animal rights. It’s mostly because the laws that exist are barely implemented. Even during the incident I mentioned, it took the police an hour to arrive at the location, and that too after I made some phone calls asking for favors. Before that, no one had come. The public has no fear of any consequences, and that gives them the confidence to do whatever they want.

Balkrishna Basnet has been a part of Nepali news media for the past 28 years. He began his career as a journalist in 1995, and he is now the chairman of the Press Council Nepal. The 45-year-old, who has been holding the position for the past two years, is the youngest chairman in the history of the council. With years of experience in dealing with Nepali news media, Basnet has plans to make the necessary changes in Nepal’s media industry. But a part of him still reminisces about the time he was a reporter. Born in Dolakha, Basnet was 17 when he began working for ‘Chalfal Saptahik’, one of the weekly newspapers back in the 90s. “I consider this to be the first stage of my career,” he says. At the time, weekly newspapers/magazines were all the rage. But daily papers were rare. Working for the magazine, he says, he learned a lot about reporting. “It wasn’t enough, but I knew I was headed somewhere,” he says. He worked there for around eight years before establishing his publication, Dolakha Today Monthly, and also becoming the editor of Sagarmatha Times Monthly. “The second stage of my career began in 2000 when I joined Kantipur as an intern,” says Basnet, adding he soon became a full-time reporter for the newspaper. He worked there for 19 years. Despite knowing the dos and don’ts of being a reporter and landing the job, Basnet says he felt he still didn’t know enough about journalism. He held a Bachelor’s degree in law but didn’t have any training in journalism, which is why he decided to take a one-year training at Nepal Press Institute (NPI). Working in Kantipur, he says, was the best time of his career. Not only did he make a name for himself, but got a chance to learn and improve with every article he wrote. It wasn’t just his love for journalism but also the work environment that pushed him to do his best. “Newsrooms used to be quite different back then,” he says. Basnet recalls instances where he worked all night and got his byline on the morning newspaper. “Everyone would be working at odd hours. It was motivating,” he says. But what he enjoyed the most was how each story was pursued. “We used to constantly follow up on a story until it reached a certain conclusion,” he says. In his case, most of it used to be court reporting. “Reporters never let any of their stories die, and that made an impact,” he says. Sometimes everyone would be working on the same topic but pursuing different angles to highlight every aspect of a certain issue. “I remember days when every article published would be related to the same topic but each piece covered different aspects of it,” he says. Basnet did court reporting for around eight years in Kantipur. He also worked on several investigative pieces like the Robinson scandal (the case of an international drug lord Gordon William Robinson who was arrested in Kathmandu), the Jha scandal, and the case of Saphala Devi, who had been waiting for 40 years demanding justice from the Supreme Court. “Nepal’s journalism played a huge role in pressurizing authorities on doing their job well,” he says. However, he laments that Nepali journalism lacks the same enthusiasm and quality of reporting. It’s not all bad, he’s quick to clarify, but he believes Nepali news media needs some important amendments. Most media houses, he says, don’t have enough resources, which clearly has taken a toll on the quality of reporting. Then, he mentions that the increasing number of online news media (including YouTube channels) has also decreased the credibility of news. “Most journalists are also unaware of media literacy,” he says. He plans on working on these issues as the chairman of the press council. “One is to take action on journalists who fail to abide by the journalistic code of conduct,” he says and that has already begun. Anyone found guilty has to pay for and attend the class given by the officials at the council to remove their name from the council’s blacklist. “The first person to attend the class was Rishi Dhamala,” he says. He also started a program that gives training to reporters and has been working on managing and monitoring YouTube channels and online news portals. “Change takes time,” says Basnet. Although several works are in progress, he says it will take a few years for us to witness some substantial changes in Nepal’s media industry. Nevertheless, he believes that as long as there are honest and hardworking journalists, Nepali news media can bounce back. “It’s a field with tremendous scope that will never become irrelevant,” he says.