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As I sat down to dine at the British parliament, I looked over a variety of dishes, each proudly symbolizing the best of British culture. From welcoming cocktails to chicken, pork to lamb, accompanied by refreshing locally crafted beer, every item on the menu boasted its origin from within the UK. The chicken hailed from the farms of Norfolk and Suffolk, while the turkey was sourced from Herefordshire. Even the bacon had its roots firmly planted in British soil, coming from pigs raised, slaughtered, and cured by a dedicated group of farmers primarily located in East Anglia and Southern England.

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting the British parliament with a few friends, eagerly anticipating a fine dining experience within its historic halls. Stepping into this esteemed institution, I felt as though a long-held dream had finally come to fruition. As an outsider, I’ve always been fascinated by the inner workings of this pillar of democracy, which serves as a shining example of a nation’s constitution and the embodiment of its laws, rights, and duties.

The visit was a scheduled affair, and the excitement was palpable as we looked forward to immersing ourselves in the heart of British governance. Despite a minor setback due to a colleague’s absence from our dinner reservation, the anticipation of experiencing parliamentary discourse and sampling British cuisine with a modern twist remained undiminished. The menu, though not extensive, catered to various dietary needs, showcasing meticulous engineering that represents the diversity of Great Britain’s culinary landscape.

Upon arrival, the grandeur of the architecture matched the gravity of the discussions within. Witnessing passionate debates among MPs on matters of national significance was both enlightening and inspiring. It served as a testament to the democratic process and the commitment of those entrusted with shaping the nation’s future.

During the visit, Harriet Neuman, a dedicated MP’s personal secretary, offered insight into the intricate rules and protocols governing parliamentary proceedings. Her detailed explanation shed light on the hierarchical structure and the meticulous recording of every aspect of parliamentary business.

Meanwhile, we encountered Captain James Robert Billingham, a retired army officer, who somehow was familiar with my social and charity endeavors. He mentioned that he had been following my efforts to promote food from every corner. In response, I attempted to redirect the conversation, emphasizing that momo, a traditional Nepali dish, represents just one facet of Nepal’s rich and diverse culinary heritage.

I highlighted the vastness and diversity of Nepali cuisine, suggesting that perhaps I should invite him to Nepal so he could witness and experience it firsthand. Upon his return, he could potentially serve as a goodwill ambassador for Nepal, sharing his experiences and promoting the country’s culinary richness.

Following the enriching parliamentary experience, we made our way to dinner, eager to indulge in the culinary delights awaiting us. The menu, a reflection of Britain’s culinary heritage, featured locally sourced, seasonal produce transformed into healthy and delicious dishes. The impeccable service added to the overall dining experience.

Like most foodies on the team, they offered or rather tasked me to order a meal with one condition: food must be shared. I ordered the soup of the day for everyone; it was not mentioned as actual soup – it was curried carrot soup. Curry is part of British culture. While ordering soup, I also heard stories about British heritage carrots. Carrots were introduced to Britain by the Flemings during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and were grown mainly in Kent and Surrey. They were also worn as decoration in ladies’ hats.

I also ordered Char grilled English Asparagus with wild garlic, Severn, and Wye Smoked Salmon with horseradish cream, Prawn cocktail, another classic British dish, Pork belly, and of course Fish and Chips. Fish and Chips is like momo in Nepal. At every corner you will find these and you enjoy them with local craft beer batter. I love the tartar sauce, like our achar. What a lovely system serving a selection of warm bread with British butter. The British system knows how to spoil guests in a simple but very effective way. I also ordered green beans with roasted garlic, cauliflower with cheese, and boulangerie potato as a side, and ordered three desserts to share. I love champagne sorbet. In the end, all the plates were empty; the symbol of good food.

Joined by British, Indian, and Nepali friends, the evening at one of Britain’s most revered landmarks sparked conversations about empowering local youth and fostering economic and social growth. My focus remained on building bridges between my homeland, Nepal, and the UK, as well as the rest of the world, through the universal language of food.

As conversations flowed and laughter filled the air, surrounded by beloved friends and colleagues, the evening became an unforgettable memory. It was a perfect blend of intellectual inspiration and culinary pleasure, showcasing the richness of great British culture and hospitality.

Looking back, my visit to the House of Parliament and the subsequent dinner epitomized British tradition and hospitality. It was a journey that left a lasting impression, underscoring the importance of meaningful discourse and savoring life’s simple pleasures with loved ones.

While I was heading back home in London, a question kept nagging at me: Can the canteen of the Nepali parliament serve food produced in Nepal?

The author is a UK based R&D chef

Janakpur, the headquarters of Dhanusha district and part of the Madhes Province, has historical and religious importance. It is the capital of  ancient Mithila, the kingdom which on many of its frontiers is believed to have been guarded by different deities: Kshireshwor in the north, Jaleshwor in the south, Mithileshwor in the east and Kupeshwor in the southwest.

Janakpur is the sacred place where Janaki, the constant consort of Lord Ram and the dutiful daughter of Mithila King (Rajarshi) Janak, was born from the womb of Mother Earth. She is also considered the most celebrated and illustrated heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayan.

Ram, the king of Ayodhya, was married to Sita at Janakpur. The marriage ceremony of Ram and Sita, the two central characters of the Ramayan, is celebrated on the auspicious occasion of Vivah Panchami—the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Mangsir (Nov-Dec). 

The legend preceding the nuptial goes like this. Ram broke a divine bow, which originally belonged to Lord Shiva, into three pieces, ‘qualifying’ him for his marriage with Sita. Per the legend, one piece flew into heaven, another entered Patal (the netherworld) and the third piece landed at the present-day Dhanusha Dham, about 40 km from Janakpur. Today also, visitors can see huge rocks shaped like a bow under a tree in Dhanusha rural municipality.

There are a large number of magnificent temples, large and deep ponds in Janakpur. These ponds are polluted, obscuring the glorious and golden past of the historic city regarded as one of the most sacred spots for millions and millions of Hindu pilgrims from the world over. Especially on occasions such as Vivah Panchami, Ram Navami and Janaki Navami, the faithful visit the city in large numbers.

The charms of Janakpur transcend beyond temples and ponds. Numerous fairs and festivals make Janakpur an attractive destination, making it a famous and foremost destination for religious-spiritual tourists. The historic place where the wedding of Ram and Sita took place is also a wedding destination for countless couples-to-be.

 Temples and more

Janakpur has been rightly called a tiny town of temples. Numerous ancient temples, statues and shrines indeed remind us of the glorious and religious chapters written about Mithila in ancient history books and several scriptures. The Ram-Janaki temple, one of the prime attractions, is a blend of classical and neoclassical design with elements of fortification and unique environmental setting. Its rare architectural elements, among other unique features, draw a large number of visitors from both Nepal and neighboring India. 

Mithila art is expanding its wings. It got an easy entrance into the UN and recently in the G-20 World Summit held in New Delhi. Moreover it has also got the GS (General Standard) trade mark. Janakpur has become the center of Mithila art and craft, but there is no sales counter for Mithila artworks at the Janakpur airport.  

Janakpur, the heart of the Mithila kingdom that embodies the teachings of Maitrei, Yagyabalkya, Gargi and King Janak and his dutiful daughter Janaki in the field of service and sacrifice appears to be losing its glory due to a dirty atmosphere and the lack of efforts aimed at preserving the Ram-Janaki temple and other heritages. The waste and rubbish piled around the temple and the city seem to have gone unnoticed in the eyes of the Greater Janakpur Development Council. 

There have been efforts to preserve this gem of a place, which is encouraging. For example, some youths have been conducting Sandhya Aarati for a decade, further highlighting the significance of the heritage site among visitors from Nepal, and beyond and giving the evenings a sublime, soothing and scented feel.

The sorry state of this priceless heritage site is calling local people, concerned authorities and other stakeholders to come to the fore for its preservation. The sooner they wake up to the task, the better.  

The CPN-UML has decisively won the recent by-elections in Ilam-2 for the House of Representatives and Bajhang (A) for Sudurpashchim Provincial Assembly, signaling a significant shift in political dynamics.

In Ilam-2, Suhang Nembang secured an impressive victory with 27,772 votes, surpassing his closest rival Dambar Bahadur Khadka from the Nepali Congress who garnered 21,942 votes. Similarly, in Bajhang (A), Daman Bahadur Bhandari clinched a narrow win over NC’s Abhishek Bahadur Singh with a margin of just 267 votes.

Prior to the elections, uncertainties loomed due to internal divisions within both the NC and UML, as well as the emergence of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which had shown considerable strength in previous by-elections in Tanahun and Chitwan. However, the latest by-election results underscore the UML’s successful efforts to fortify its organizational structure, reflecting positively on its strategies.

Since the 2022 general elections, the UML has been actively engaging with the public through initiatives like Mission Grassroots and Sankalpa Yatra, demonstrating a commitment to connect with constituents at all levels. Senior UML figures attribute their recent victories to adept management of internal discord in Ilam and Bajhang.

“We are encouraged by the by-elections results. The results show that the party has succeeded in managing the intra-party rift both in Ilam and Bhajang,” a senior UML leader said.  

The UML’s unveiling of the Mission ‘84 campaign, aimed at the 2027 general elections, indicates a strategic push to ascend as the leading political force. The outcomes of the Ilam-2 and Bajhang (A) by-elections hint at a potential shift in power dynamics, with the UML poised to challenge the NC’s dominance.

Conversely, the NC faces a significant setback in the aftermath of the recent by-elections, echoing previous defeats to the RSP in Tanahu and Chitwan. Meanwhile, the erosion of voter support, exemplified by a substantial decline in votes for both the NC and UML in Ilam, underscores the urgent need for both parties to reassess their strategies.

The overall votes of both UML and NC have gone down in Ilam. In the 2022 general elections, the UML candidate Subas Chandra Nembang had secured 30,020 votes, while the NC’s Dambar Bahadur Khadka had garnered 29,006 votes. In the latest by-election, the UML candidate secured around 2,000 fewer votes than last time and the NC lost around 7,000 votes. 

Losing around 7,000 voters should be a matter of grave concern for the NC, but the party leadership seems unfazed.

The rise of identity politics, particularly evident in Ilam’s electoral landscape, presents a formidable challenge to traditional parties like the NC and UML. Independent candidate Dakendra Singh Limbu’s robust performance underscores the resonance of identity-based narratives, posing a challenge for established parties.

Whether they believe it or not, despite UML’s victory in the recent by-elections, major political parties face serious challenges in the coming days. A key challenge for the established old parties is to retain their cadres and supporters.

And while the RSP candidate did not put on a strong electoral show, the party’s rising popularity, especially among young voters, cannot be discounted when Nepal goes to general elections in 2027.  

Looking ahead, both the NC and UML confront an uphill challenge of retaining their support base amidst the emergence of new political forces like the RSP. The need for organizational rejuvenation, coupled with a shift toward younger, more dynamic leadership, emerges as a critical imperative for both parties.

It could be argued that Suhang Nembang won the by-election in Ilam-2 due to the sympathy vote following the death of his father and former UML Vice-chairperson Subas Chandra Nembang. But the party, unlike the NC, has at least realized that there are problems within the party organization and that support base is dwindling. The party is willing to put in the hard work necessary to retain its cadres and voters. 

For the NC, the latest by-election results once again send a clear message that the party needs to wake up and  work hard to strengthen its organizational strength, resolve the intra-party rift, and pick young and fresh candidates. It is no more business as usual.

The Supreme Court has summoned Yuvaraj Kandel, publisher of sidhakura.com, and Navin Dhungana, executive editor, to respond to allegations of contempt of court. 

The case stems from the publication of fake audiovisual news reports defaming a sitting justice, senior advocates, and media personalities. Justices Nahkul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana on Monday ordered Kandel and Dhungana to appear before the court on May 2 at 10 am to justify their dissemination of fake content undermining the independent judiciary.

The Supreme Court initiated a suo moto contempt case against Kandel and Dhungana following fraudulent news reports published on sidhakura.com and its YouTube channel. The reports accused  Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Chairperson of Annapurna Media Network Capt Rameshwar Thapa, and Chairperson of Kantipur Media Group Kailash Sirohiya, special correspondent of Annapurna Post Surendra Kafle, and senior advocates Hari Upreti and Kishor Bista, among others, of organizing a clandestine meeting to dismiss more than 400 corruption cases.

The apex court has also directed Nepal Police to investigate the matter.

Thapa and Sirohiya have denounced the fake contents, labeling them premeditated and malicious. The press fraternity and regulatory bodies have also expressed concerns over the contents published by sidhakura.com.

Govinda Ghimire, deputy registrar at the Supreme Court, filed a petition on behalf of the Supreme Court on Sunday as per Article 128(4) of the Constitution of Nepal, section 17(1) of the Judicial Administration Act and Supreme Court regulations. The petition demands maximum punishment for the defendants under relevant laws. 

The Supreme Court said that the prima facie finding of the contents published by sidhakura.com suggest that they were created to scandalize the court.     

Meanwhile, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has also urged the authorities concerned to investigate and take action against sidhakura.com.

Issuing a statement on Monday, the anti-graft body said that it is inconceivable for the commission to be involved in any other activities other than following the decision of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court and investigating and prosecuting complaints within its jurisdiction.

The CIAA also refuted any involvement in misleading activities, as claimed by sidhakura.com.

In response to the contempt case, sidhakura.com has removed the fake videos from its platforms. This move comes after initially refusing to comply with instructions from the Press Council Nepal. 

Press Council Chairman Balkrishna Basnet said they ordered sidhakura.com to take down the audiovisual contents within 24 hours. The contents were suspicious at a first glance, they were clearly biased, not based on any facts, and in violation of the journalistic code of ethics, he added.