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The school bell rang, the afternoon was a view,

My senior, then, would teach me something new.

He introduced the bat and the spin,

A world of table tennis would begin.

At lunch, we’d play, the plastic ball would fly,

He’d always win with a triumphant cry.

He’d beat me soundly, tease and playfully shove,

But every moment spoke of care and love.

He wasn't just a champion, skilled and fast,

He was the kind of friend you know would last.

My one true friend, who showed me how to be,

In studies, play, and what my future held for me.

You were the map I followed, bold and true,

And all my inspiration, senior, was you.

Ujain Shrestha

A-Levels

Islington College, Kamalpokhari

AI is the computer system to perform the tasks for human intelligence for learning, to problem solving and it also helps to make our decisions. It was invented  by Alan Turing. It was established in 1956. It was successful by having clear goals and preparing data. It was created to replicate human intelligence.  It also helps in student daily life: It provides learning experiences to improve our study and it also makes the students schedules and organises in the student notes. It solves all the difficult questions in a few seconds. It is used all over the world for solving difficult questions.

The problems facing all students’ lives with AI are: the students are using AI for the homework  and the students are not believing in themselves and not confident. They are also not performing well in the activities which are done in school. It also reduces the critical thinking by the students. In this world, I think that 90 percent of people use AI in daily life. If all the students only believe or trust in AI for difficult questions they never become successful in exams. 

AI may affect and cause the persons by the privacy risks, misuse of the privacy photo risks. The people misuse the AI by the  to create or alter videos, images, or audio recordings.  The AI can be at risk sometimes if the hater misuse the privacy photo or something so, we should not believe in AI. 

The solutions to use AI are that we should use the learning algorithm and not misuse AI. AI can also do data analysis to automate processes to improve decision making. We should use high quality training data. By the AI it should understand that the people are in a nice mood or not.

Ultimately, the conclusion of AI is that Alan Turing is the inventor of AI which is very beneficial in our human intelligence life because AI solves all the hard or difficult questions. We should use AI for a certain time. The people shouldn’t misuse the AI to alter photos and videos. For the better improvement in AI that can also do the data analysis to automate processes to improve decision making.  

Kavya Shrestha

Grade: VIII

Aarambha Sanskar Vidyalaya 

The word, ‘feminism’, has its origins in the Latin word ‘femina’ meaning ‘woman’. It emerged in the 19th century, as a belief and movement that supports empowering women to ensure gender equality in an androcentric society. However, even with its widespread belief, its attempt to dismantle the entrenchment of patriarchal systems remains slow and scarce in Nepal and South Asian countries in general.

With the rise of social media, feminism is slowly becoming an infamous topic. It is now frequently associated with misandry. However, in simple words, it has always stood for gender equality and giving women the chance to be treated as equally and unquestionably as men are, in whichever path they choose in their lives.

The growing openness to women engaging in paid employment, entrepreneurial ventures, and generally any pursuits once dominated by men, reflects the growing independence of women. However, persistent disparities in society continue to keep the need for feminism alive. Rekha Pande’s research reveals that workplace inequality remains deeply rooted. Women often earn less than men for the same work, about 82 cents for every dollar, despite having equal education, experience, and family situations. 

Even women in leadership face bias; when Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer announced her pregnancy, many questioned her ability to lead. Society still idealizes the “good” mother as one who prioritizes home and children, while fathers face no such scrutiny. This double standard hinders women’s career growth.

The most significant indicator of the need for feminism in South Asian countries is the alarming prevalence of gender-based violence and crimes against women. Nepal reports 23 percent of women reporting physical violence and eight percent reporting sexual violence since age 15, and higher rates in Madhes Province. 

Systematic reviews identify ecological risk factors: husband’s alcohol use, low education, early marriage, controlling behavior, caste/region marginalisation, and entrenched patriarchal norms. Furthermore, cultural practices such as chhaupadi, child marriage, deuki and kamlari legitimize women’s subordination and amplify vulnerability in our country. 

A counterargument that attributes such violence solely to Nepal’s underdevelopment is weak, as gender-based violence is pervasive across South‑Asia, manifesting as intimate‑partner abuse, dowry‑related killings, street harassment, and technology‑facilitated abuse. In Bangladesh, two‑thirds of women experience some form of violence, with patriarchal customs driving dowry deaths, rape, acid attacks and trafficking. Pakistan’s surveys show roughly one‑third of women suffer domestic violence, especially in rural areas where education and economic dependence are low. 

South Asia has long tied their familial and societal honour to women, which obstructs their independence to make their own choices about their sexuality and reproductive decisions. Alongside this, the core construction of families assigns the senior-most authority of decision-making to the male member, instead of working together towards a happy life. This authority gives the males a perceived right to control the women and the younger ones of the family. This is a practice of gender inequality disguised under the impression of ‘traditions’, simultaneously undermining years of oppression. This pattern also results in violent crimes such as marital rape, wife-beating and denying women access to money, education, or employment. 

Feminist scholars specifically argue that ‘violent patriarchal constructions’ are what legitimize both honor crimes and domestic control. Furthermore, feminist economics highlights a complex relationship where economic empowerment, by unsettling established gender norms, can unfortunately lead to a heightened risk of intimate partner violence. 

It is common to raise women to adjust and ‘keep the peace’ through silence, mediation or clothing that covers the body completely. Even though people of urban areas are practicing the opposite, rural areas still find veiled women caged in their homes, fiercely dominated by their husbands to resort to only housework with no say in household decisions of any kind whatsoever. It is evident that these actions stem from fundamentalist beliefs in countries like ours, with strong orthodox backgrounds and diverse bases for establishment of thought patterns. 

Marriage, a mythologically and culturally respected union for centuries has also functioned as an anti‑feminist agenda. When marriage institutionalises and reproduces gendered hierarchies that limit women’s autonomy and reinforce patriarchal power, it acts as a catalyst of gender inequality and thus births a number of social disorders. By framing the union as a “natural” pairing of a male breadwinner and a female caretaker, marriage normalises a binary division of labour that privileges men’s public roles and confines unwilling women to private, domestic spheres, even through use of force. 

Social identity theory, which refers to one having a strong sense of belonging to one’s own gender group, makes individuals more inclined to uphold that group’s norms. Therefore, in cultures where a woman’s settlement in life is tied to being married, women who do not wish for marriage are judged severely and socially excluded. 

However, it is necessary to understand that feminism is not inherently against marriage. At its core, it’s an idea that no person, regardless of their gender, should be judged or pressured for choosing to marry, or not to marry, at the age or life stage they deem appropriate, entirely out of their own free will and personal choice. It is a movement and revolution for choice and equality. Feminism challenges the expectation that a woman’s value or identity is defined by her marital status which is the principle most South Asian societies run by. It is also a doctrine that advocates for the equal rights of individuals of every gender to define their relationships, identity and structure without facing social penalty. 

In South Asia, feminism remains an essential movement, not as a threat to tradition, but as a call for gender equality, personal choice, and the dismantling of patriarchal structures that limit women’s autonomy and opportunities.

Meghana Saud

BA IIIrd Year

St Xavier’s College, Maitighar

Nepal is seeing an increasing flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), bringing both opportunities and challenges to the country’s economy. FDI occurs when individuals, companies, or investors from other countries put money into Nepalese businesses. This could mean building factories, opening hotels, setting up IT companies, or purchasing shares in existing enterprises.

Unlike simple trade, FDI means that foreign investors become a part of Nepal’s economy, contributing not only money but also skills, technology, and know-how. Over the past few years, the Nepalese government has worked to create a favorable environment for investors by simplifying laws, streamlining approval processes, and offering incentives in priority sectors. These measures are intended to encourage investment across agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, energy, and technology. FDI plays a critical role in Nepal’s development because it brings much-needed capital for growth, generates employment, transfers technology, and strengthens the country’s global economic connections.

Recent data through Sept 2025 highlights a promising trend for Nepal. During the first two months of the fiscal year, Nepal secured Rs 33.09bn in FDI commitments across 236 projects, including 225 small-scale, four medium-scale, and seven large-scale industries. The agriculture sector accounted for the highest value of commitments, with Rs 21.598bn pledged for nine projects. Tourism followed with Rs 6.692bn for 79 projects, while manufacturing, services, and energy sectors received Rs 1.24bn, Rs 2.815bn, and Rs 182.55m, respectively. Additionally, the Information Technology sector secured Rs 562.754m across 120 projects. These investments are expected to generate employment for thousands of Nepalis, provide new opportunities for local businesses to partner with foreign investors, and bring in advanced technologies and modern business practices.

Since the establishment of the Department of Industry, Nepal has approved 7,475 projects with total FDI commitments amounting to Rs 684.51bn. Despite the strong commitments, only a portion of this promised investment has been realized, with net FDI inflows for fiscal year 2023/24 totaling Rs 8.4bn, marking a 36.1 percent increase from the previous year. The total FDI stock in Nepal as of mid-2024 reached Rs 333bn, with the service sector holding the largest share at 40.5 percent, followed by industry and manufacturing at 29 percent each. Investors originate from around 60 countries, with India, China, Singapore, Ireland, and South Korea topping the list, while Bagmati Province continues to receive the highest concentration of investments, accounting for 62 percent of total FDI stock.

Several reforms and government initiatives have contributed to this upward trend in investment. Legal changes have simplified procedures for investors, including the introduction of an automatic approval route for certain projects, allowing investors to receive faster approval without multiple layers of bureaucracy. Foreign investors can now invest through registered venture capital or specialized funds, while some restrictions remain in certain agricultural sectors, such as dairy or vegetable production, unless projects focus on exports.

The Department of Industry has also improved visa arrangements for investors, their representatives, and family members, making Nepal a more welcoming destination for foreign capital. Faster approval processes reduce delays and costs, encouraging investors to launch projects promptly. The government’s support, combined with sector-specific incentives and reforms, has improved Nepal’s appeal as an investment destination and fostered confidence among international companies looking to participate in the country’s economic growth.

Despite these positive developments, challenges remain in ensuring that FDI commitments translate into actual investments. Historically, only about 31.9 percent of approved projects are realized due to delays in project implementation, long setup times, or changes in investor priorities. Weak infrastructure, including limited access to reliable electricity, water, and transport networks, continues to impede large-scale projects, particularly in less developed regions. Governance and risk management remain concerns for investors, as corruption, bureaucratic delays, and uncertainties about property rights can affect the safety of capital and the return on investment.

Long-term projects, such as hydropower plants, industrial complexes, and large-scale tourism initiatives, require stability, robust regulatory frameworks, and efficient administration. Furthermore, foreign investors often need guidance on repatriation of profits and management of financial obligations to avoid excessive debt accumulation. These factors highlight the importance of addressing institutional weaknesses, upgrading infrastructure, and ensuring transparent and predictable legal processes.

Corporate law firm in Nepal have emerged as vital partners in supporting foreign investors. These firms provide comprehensive legal guidance on FDI regulations, company registration, tax obligations, and compliance requirements. They assist investors in setting up businesses, whether as joint ventures with local partners or as wholly foreign-owned entities.

Legal experts also draft and negotiate complex agreements, including Share Subscription Agreements, Share Purchase Agreements, and Technology Transfer Agreements. Law firms support investors in obtaining regulatory approvals, managing visas, and resolving disputes, ensuring contractual rights are protected. By advising on finance structures, dividend repatriation, and ongoing compliance, corporate law firms reduce risk and improve the likelihood of successful long-term investment.

With the right legal and regulatory support, combined with continued reforms and government incentives, Nepal has the potential to leverage FDI as a powerful engine for sustainable economic growth, regional development, employment generation, and technological advancement, ultimately benefiting the country’s economy and its citizens.

Prabin Kumar Yadav

Kathmandu School of Law