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CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has long been known for his contradictory statements and actions, a trait that dates back to the insurgency period. Despite entering peaceful politics in 2006, Dahal has struggled to shed this inconsistent personality, often saying one thing publicly while pursuing a different agenda behind the scenes. This pattern has continued even after his recent departure from power, as he has oscillated between claiming to avoid power and making moves to re-enter government.

Dahal’s recent actions reflect his frustration with the collapse of his government and his determination to regain power. After losing the premiership, Dahal initially declared that he would not seek to become prime minister again during the current parliamentary term, which lasts until 2027. However, it is evident that his primary focus has been to dismantle the coalition between the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress (NC) and position himself for a return to leadership. 

His efforts to create friction within the ruling coalition are apparent in his recent remarks, where he suggested that the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba might have unsettled UML Chairperson and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Dahal also hinted that the current coalition, formed between two ideologically different parties, would not last long.

During a special session in Parliament on Tuesday, Dahal accused the government of arrogance and heading in the wrong direction. He criticized the government for serving vested interest groups and mafias instead of the people. 

“I was in favor of giving the government all the benefits of doubt during the honeymoon period. I wanted the first debate on the government to take place in the people's court,” he said. “However, after observing the government’s intentions and direction for over 40 days, I have come to the conclusion that the government is heading towards arrogance and in the wrong direction. It is moving towards the madness of numbers and the misuse of power. It is serving vested interest groups, and even more so, the mafias, rather than the people.”

Dahal also expressed regret for breaking the alliance with the NC last March and stated that his party would not remain a passive witness to the government’s misdeeds. Dahal warned that his party would expose and resist the government’s actions in Parliament, reaffirming their commitment to standing against what they perceive as the government’s misuse of power.  

“Many might wonder how such a small opposition can warn and control a two-thirds majority government. Numerically, they may have two-thirds, but the foundation of the government is based on fear, not trust. The way this government was formed, it was exposed to the people right from the beginning and continues to be exposed,” Dahal said. “The people know whose government this is and why it was formed. The government itself is providing the evidence. So, I urge both well-wishers and opponents not to worry about our numbers. To face the people and the opposition, this government needs honesty, which it lacks.”

The Maois chair also accused the current government of trying to suppress the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal and protect other criminals and tarnishing Nepal’s legal, moral, political, and social reputation internationally. 

“By transferring and investigating the capable and courageous police officers who were investigating such a shameful and disgraceful event, what message are you sending to the rest of the world? With the international community watching so closely, where will this shamelessness lead the country’s reputation?” he said.

Dahal also challenged the leaders of both UML and NC, stating that they should not come to him trying to placate him should this alliance face any challenge. 

Despite his public statements of reluctance to re-enter government, Dahal’s actions suggest otherwise. He has already begun fostering alliances with fringe communist parties, positioning himself for future political maneuvering. 

Within the Maoist Center, there is growing skepticism about Dahal’s commitment to staying out of power. Party members have expressed concerns that the party has lost touch with the people due to its continued focus on securing government positions for a select few leaders. During internal discussions, leaders like Deepak Koirala and Suman Devkota emphasized the need for the party to reconnect with the people and move away from its government-centric approach.

UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel noted recently that Dahal still harbors hopes of rejoining the government within the next six months. Pokharel suggested that Dahal’s fixation on power could hinder efforts to address pressing national issues, including constitutional amendments. 

Despite the challenges, the NC-UML coalition remains stable, with NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba committed to continuing the alliance. However, the government’s failure to deliver on its promises could lead to dissatisfaction within the NC, though this is unlikely to threaten the coalition as long as Deuba supports it.

In the meantime, Dahal’s rhetoric in Parliament and his behind-the-scenes maneuvers reflect a leader torn between his party’s principles and his desire for power. While he warns the government of impending resistance, his actions indicate a readiness to seize any opportunity to regain political influence, even if it means contradicting his public statements. 

If our universities do not advance in education, academics, and technology, our national development and international standing will continue to decline. Globally, universities are seen as centers of knowledge, innovation, and research. The identity and development of advanced nations, as well as the progress of human civilization, are often linked to the research and innovation produced by their universities. Historically, institutions like Rishi Muni’s Tapobhoomi and Taxila established India as a global center of knowledge and civilization. Similarly, ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and the achievements of humanity, such as reaching the moon, are the results of university-driven innovations.

Today, whether it’s the groundbreaking research of Nobel laureates or advancements in micro-computer technology, universities play a key role in the development, dissemination, and commercialization of technology. We all aspire to see similar advancements in our own country.

When we compare the educational, academic, and technological progress of neighboring countries like China and India, which gained independence around the same time as Nepal in 1950, it becomes clear that if Nepal does not advance, our national development and international identity will continue to suffer. It is high time that Nepali universities focus on research. In many Nepali universities, research and publication are not only essential for the professional development of academics but also for attaining high-ranking positions within the institutions.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), the umbrella organization of Nepali universities, has played a creative role in the development of higher education in Nepal since its inception. Whether it’s contributing to the development of knowledge and technology, fostering skilled human resources, or promoting research in nationally significant areas, the UGC has been committed to improving higher education in Nepal for three decades. The Commission is not only responsible for providing capital and operational funding for physical infrastructure but also for supporting technology development, quality control, and the delegation of university responsibilities. The UGC works in coordination with relevant federal ministries, especially the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Finance, to connect national universities in Nepal.

This article explores the current role of the University Grants Commission in promoting academic and scientific research, along with future research policies and suggestions. Nepali students will be drawn to local universities only if these institutions engage in innovative research, publish in quality journals, and use research findings for the benefit of society.

Commission’s research activities

While developed countries allocate a significant portion of their national budgets to research and innovation, Nepal has only recently begun this process. The University Grants Commission has taken steps to provide research funding to Nepali universities, offer research training, initiate entrepreneurial programs, and support the publication and presentation of research work. The Research and Scholarship Division of the UGC is active in awarding scholarships to undergraduate students and supporting postgraduate and PhD students in their research. However, the division’s role in fostering a research environment in Nepali universities has been diminishing in recent years.

Over the past decade, the UGC has progressed through seven thematic clusters, funding 50 MPhil, micro-research, and faculty research projects annually. This number has increased to 60 research projects at the PhD level. The UGC is also involved in 17 major research projects with national and international collaboration. Its innovative activities include numerous training programs, publications, and international visits to support young scientists and academic research. The UGC invests around 40 crores annually in these activities and is determined to promote cutting-edge research.

With financial support from the World Bank, the UGC has launched an entrepreneurial program in collaboration with national or provincial universities. This initiative aims to transform the site by engaging approximately 100 young students, teachers, and staff from across Nepal. The UGC also aims to connect Nepali research with the global community and make research more effective by controlling the duplication of efforts.

The UGC’s efforts to create a national research portal, the ‘Research Network Information System’ (RNIS), for university professors across Nepal are expected to have a positive impact. The UGC has also been involved in quality control and the effective implementation of 'Peer Reviewed Journals' by classifying journals published in Nepal.

Proposed new academic and scientific research initiatives

Given the current situation, it is not feasible for the University Grants Commission alone to regulate research activities and conduct quality research. Professors from various universities and hundreds of subject matter experts in different government agencies in Nepal must re-evaluate the research activities of the UGC. As the UGC prepares and circulates regulatory procedures, particularly for MPhil and PhD research, it is the responsibility of every university to improve their postgraduate programs.

The UGC should seize this opportunity to allocate research funds equitably and competitively, thereby increasing research activities across all Nepali universities and higher education institutions. Research development in Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University is already regulated, and newer universities are in the process of doing so. Collaboration between universities should be encouraged to promote and present joint research efforts.

Attracting Nepali students to local universities will require engagement in innovative research, coordination with federal, provincial, and local governments, and publication of research results in quality journals for the benefit of society.

Conclusion

Universities worldwide are synonymous with innovative research. Although research regulatory procedures have been successfully implemented in Nepal’s older universities, newer institutions have only recently begun this process. The UGC has been working for decades to establish and upgrade necessary laboratories for equitable and competitive research in Nepal’s higher educational institutions.

In today’s environment, where the UGC plays an additional role in providing technical and financial support to postgraduates, MPhil, PhD, post-doc students, and working professors in Nepali universities, faculty and staff should take this golden opportunity to move forward. It is time for every university to not only conduct academic research but also engage in innovative research that aligns with global market demands and offers long-term social benefits.

Rajan Thapa is the proprietor of Diamond Hill Resort, which is situated in Panauti, in the midst of nature. His grandparents, who raised him, instilled in him an appreciation for hard work and dedication and he credits that for all the successes in life.

Thapa was born in 1970 in Kavre. He wanted to continue his studies after school but due to a financial crisis in his family he couldn’t do so. However, he passed the Public Service Commission exam as a non-gazetted second-class officer. He then worked in Pokhara and Kapilvastu for a few years. He used to travel a lot and got into a lot of accidents which eventually compelled him to leave the job.

After that, he got a chance to work with German-Austrian businessperson, Walter Schweiger. Schweiger had a hotel inside the Boudha Stupa premises. Schweiger encouraged him to learn German and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Food and Beverage. Thapa was then further trained and given the role of the food and beverage manager at Schweiger’s hotel.

“I admired Schweiger a lot. He used to treat me like a business partner and sometimes like a family member too,” says Thapa. “But I felt he used to dominate me in front of the other workers. What I also didn’t like was that there used to be a sign at the entrance of his hotel saying Nepalis weren’t allowed inside. Schweiger did that as he used to think Nepalis were uncivilized and not of high class. Some royals, however, were allowed in the hotel.”

But Schweiger sent him to Germany for training and Thapa is still grateful for that as he got a chance to learn about wood carving and design during that trip. He returned from Germany in 1997 but circumstances led to him resigning from his managerial post at Schweiger’s hotel. “It was a conflict of working styles, especially with his wife,” he says.

He then joined an American franchise company, Sterling Catering, whose manager was John Matthew. With Matthew’s team he got a chance to visit Qatar in 1999 and slowly started traveling to places like UAE, Bahrain etc. “Whenever I think of those days, I thank Matthew for trusting me and taking me to different places around the world with his team. He also made me the operations manager of four five-star hotels which had over 2000 workers,” says Thapa.

However, there too, Thapa faced the same issue. A part-time French chef was paid more than him. “I realized that Nepalis were dominated everywhere and I decided that I wouldn’t work for any foreign company from then on.” After he returned to Nepal, he considered doing something in the hospitality business. However, the environment wasn’t favorable for launching a new hospitality venture. As he had the know-how of wood carving and design, he decided to do something with those skills.

After a short stint with a wood-carving business, he turned his focus to hospitality once again. He built the Stupa Hotel and Café Dew Drops in Boudha and let one of his friends run the café. In 2012, he constructed Balthali Mountain Resort which is now run by his relative. In 2020, he started working on the Diamond Hill Resort project.  

The construction of the hotel started during the first phase of the Covid-19 lockdowns. The pandemic led to many difficulties in sourcing materials and made construction difficult. However, despite numerous hurdles, the hotel began operations in 2022.

Today, the resort focuses on meditation classes and free yoga sessions as the environment there is peaceful and beautiful.  Thapa says that Diamond Hill Resort is slightly on the pricier side but tourists love the resort and are always recommending it to their family and friends. “It’s so popular that we have already started taking bookings for 2025 and 2026,” says Thapa.

Thapa adds that the focus of the resort is to provide excellent services. Since it’s situated in a beautiful area, they have managed to use the location to their advantage and promote the hotel. “You can see the mountain ranges as well as many migratory birds from up there. You will also get great views of the sunrise and sunset, making for stunning photo backdrops,” he says.

Thapa says he has been lucky that the hotel has been popular even in the off seasons. They haven’t had a dry spell yet, he says. People from the community say that the place has been doing well business wise ever since the resort opened its doors. Thapa has encouraged his family and friends to start restaurants and other businesses near the resort and even those have been growing steadily, he says.

“I was born there and I wanted to do something special. I wanted the place to flourish and make a difference in the community. So, I choose to put in all my efforts, skills, hard work and experience that I have gathered from many countries and utilize it in my own motherland,” says Thapa.

Diamond Hill Resort has only had a soft opening till date. Before the grand opening, Thapa has plans to add a sauna and build a swimming pool as well. He wants the hotel to be unlike any other five-star hotel in the country. Thapa believes Nepalis can dream big and use their skills to achieve their dreams rather than relying on others to make their wishes come true. “All we need is the will to succeed in life, free from negative or harmful thoughts,” he says.

There is an oft-repeated quote that goes like this: “Life is like a rollercoaster, but it’s your choice to scream or enjoy the ride.” It’s a quote that resonates with many of us, and I’m sure most of you have come across it at some point. Personally, I’ve used this quote many times, but its true meaning became apparent when I consciously started to notice my feelings. 

Today, I stand before you to share my journey of self-discovery and personal growth. I did an experiment where I noted down every single thought that crossed my mind for the past two weeks. I took a deep dive into self-reflection. I made it a point to write down my thoughts, feelings, and experiences that crossed my mind every day. I didn’t hold back—I wrote about the things that were bothering me the most, what made me happy, and the challenges I faced. It was like being on a rollercoaster, with ups and downs. There were moments of anxiety and times when I felt overwhelmed, but there were also little sparks of happiness. Through it all, I learned how powerful it is to focus on the positive side of life.

When I summed up what I had jotted down for the past two weeks, I realized that life is not always a bed of roses, and it is up to us to shape our perspective and find the silver linings in every situation. Let me share with you some of the feelings I noted down and the valuable lessons I learned along the way.

Firstly, anxiety seemed to show up more often than I would have preferred. There were mornings when I woke up with a racing heart, unsure of what was causing my anxiety. It felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders, and my mind was filled with worries. I discovered that cortisol levels (stress hormones) are higher in the morning, which is why practicing meditation and mindfulness in the morning can help calm us down. By writing down my thoughts, I started to understand why I felt this way and faced it directly. I learned to take deep breaths, remind myself of my abilities and focus on the positive side of things. This helped me become more resilient and conquer my anxious thoughts.

Secondly, there were moments when I felt like I was going crazy. The daily pressures of life, work deadlines and responsibilities felt like an overwhelming burden, pushing me to the brink of my sanity. Some days, I felt lost and unproductive, causing me to fall behind on my tasks. However, amidst this chaos, I learned the value of self-care and self-compassion. I discovered that by taking small breaks, practicing mindfulness and taking care of my well-being, I could regain clarity and regain control over my thoughts. This project taught me how important it is to prioritize my mental health and find inner peace even in the midst of life’s chaos.

Lastly, there were moments of pure happiness that broke through the clouds. There were days when I woke up feeling energized and content. It was during these instances that I experienced the incredible power of positivity. By intentionally focusing on the positive aspects of my life, even the smallest ones, I could magnify those moments of joy. I came to understand that happiness is not a distant destination, but rather a state of mind. By cultivating gratitude and cherishing the simple pleasures, I was able to create a more meaningful and satisfying life.

Through my gratitude journal, I was constantly reminded that one of the things I am incredibly grateful for is my family. Their love and care are constants in my life, and I appreciate them deeply on a daily basis. They have been my rock, providing support and encouragement through all the ups and downs. Their presence brings me comfort, and their unwavering love fills my heart with warmth. This project reminded me to cherish and express my gratitude for my family, as their presence is truly a blessing in my life.

By focusing on the positive and jotting down my feelings, I have grown in immeasurable ways. I have learned to reframe my negative responses, to conquer my anxiety, to nurture my mental well-being, and to embrace the power of positivity. Life will always present challenges, but it is up to us to choose how we respond to them. I now understand that by focusing on the positive, we can find strength in adversity, joy in the mundane, and growth in every experience.

The quote—life is a rollercoaster—suggests that just as a rollercoaster can evoke a range of emotions such as excitement, fear and anticipation, life also presents us with a mix of experiences and emotions. It highlights the ever-changing nature of life and reminds us that we can’t always control or predict what will happen next.

All those who are reading this, I encourage each one of you to embark on your own journey of self-discovery. Take the time to reflect on your thoughts, emotions and experiences. Embrace the power of focusing on the positive side of life. Let us cultivate resilience, nurture our mental well-being and find happiness in the smallest of moments. Together, let us make the choice to embrace positivity and make a lasting impact on ourselves and those around us.