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President Ram Chandra Paudel's recent visit to Switzerland and the ongoing visit to the Federal Republic of Germany are expected to be instrumental in further consolidating and renewing Nepal's bilateral ties with these European nations.

Germany offered a huge welcome and hospitality to the President and his delegation, reflecting its goodwill towards Nepal. 

The President has been on an official visit to Germany since June 15, 2024 at the friendly invitation of his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The two held a bilateral meeting on Monday and Germany's President assured of much support to Nepal. 

The two Heads of State reportedly reviewed the bilateral relations being based on development support, trade, tourism, investment, and vocational training in a very cordial atmosphere. President Paudel encouraged Germany to support Nepal's agriculture, tourism, and water resources sectors, highlighting them as the development priorities of Nepal.

The President departed for Germany after completing his visit to Switzerland.

President Paudel also extended his invitation to his German counterpart for an official visit to Nepal. The year of Germany's unification coincided with the year of Nepal's restoration of democracy, he recalled.

The visit is expected to contribute additionally to enhancing Nepal's diplomatic relations in the entire Europe.

Political analyst Dr Chandra Dev Bhatta said the Head of State's visit to Germany after a long gap should be considered an important one. "Of late, Nepal's official relations with Europe have not been consolidated as per the expectations and this high-level visit will help address this gap."

He advised that Nepal should take measures to promote its relations with Germany which is the world's third economic power and the most powerful nation in Europe.

"Nepal's presence in Germany and its relations with it have to be sustained as it is the world's third largest economy and a powerful European nation," he added.

In connection with this visit, President Paudel held bilateral talks on June 12 with President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd in Bern before this.

Foreign affairs expert Dinesh Bhattarai also opined that the high-level visit from Nepal after a long time will help further strengthen the climate of trust between the two countries. "Germany is Nepal's close friend. Nepal has special relations with the socialist leaders and party of Germany. Willy Brandt, the former German Chancellor and the leader of the Social Democratic Party and Nepal's popular leader BP Koirala were close friends," he added.

Stating that the visit of the Head of State in itself is meaningful and significant, former ambassador Bhattarai expressed the belief that this visit would contribute to expanding the areas of cooperation in future.

According to him, Nepal can take notable benefit from Germany through export of handicraft goods and carpet, among other goods as well as through tourism promotion.

This is the first time since 1986 that a Head of State from Nepal has made an official visit to Germany.

Dr Suresh Chandra Chalise, the foreign affairs expert to the President, expressed the belief that this visit taking place at the Head of State-level from Nepal after 38 years would contribute towards further strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries.

He stated that the President's visit to the world's third largest economy and Europe's influential country, Germany, would help in increasing investment and trade in Nepal.

Nepal and Germany established diplomatic relations on April 4, 1958. Since then, the ties between the two countries have progressed based on friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai said that the visits taking place at various levels between the two countries would assist in further deepening the mutual relations.

"We are confident that this visit at the Head of State level will contribute in bringing German investment and technology into Nepal. Germany has made a good deal of study and practices on adaptation to safeguard from the effects of climate change, and there are many things that Nepal can learn from this as well," he said.

Bhishma Raj Ojha/RSS

With roots going back to her childhood, singer and songwriter Rachana Dahal’s journey in music is one of innate talent, perseverance, and breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“I have loved singing since my childhood days,” says Dahal, her eyes sparkling with the memories of those formative years. “Even at a young age, I was capable of capturing the melody, music, and tunes much faster than anyone else.” 

Growing up at a time when access to music was limited to television channels and CDs, Dahal’s ability to swiftly pick up tunes became her strength. Her brother, a constant companion and music enthusiast, played a pivotal role by bringing home CDs with diverse collections of songs, allowing Dahal to explore various genres and styles.

Her early exposure to English rock bands like Guns N’ Roses, Linkin Park, and Nirvana significantly influenced her musical taste. “The first song I did cover on was from Guns N’ Roses. I was influenced by English songs,” she says. This eclectic mix of influences helped shape her musical style, blending Western rock elements with her unique touch.

Dahal’s journey from singing at school competitions to writing her own songs was marked by a series of personal milestones and professional achievements. “The first song I released was in 2019, ‘Bhumari’,” she says. Despite having written several songs prior to her debut, Dahal had never considered officially posting her music. “I didn’t have any plans. It just wanted to give it a shot.”

Her songwriting process, Dahal explains, is anything but linear. “There is never a concrete songwriting process,” she says. Sometimes a melody comes first, other times it’s a thought or a feeling that demands expression. “Sometimes a song may take 15 minutes to an entire day.” For Dahal, the bridge of a song holds particular fascination and importance. “In any song, the bridge is the most important part.”

However, the path to success has not been without challenges. The Covid-19 lockdown was a significant setback for Dahal who thrives on live performances. “I’m a person who loves performing,” she says. She had to find solace in writing and introspection. “Lockdown was an experience for me. I learned a lot. I wrote a lot.”

One of Dahal’s ongoing battles is with the gender disparity in the music industry. “I feel we haven’t seen a female headliner yet,” she says. This absence of female representation is something Dahal is determined to change. “I’m working hard to change this mentality.”

Her music reflects not just personal experiences but also societal observations. Her recent project ‘Ma Sakdina’ addresses the expectations placed on women in Nepali society. “This song is about the life of a woman which circles around either being a good daughter or a good daughter-in-law,” she says. The album, ‘Janmadaag’, meaning generational curse, encapsulates these themes, urging listeners to confront and challenge societal norms.

In addition to her captivating melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, Dahal has a unique approach to her live performances. “I like to scream as much as possible,” she says with a grin. “I also want my listeners to scream. We have a lot of bottled-up emotions, and how do we get them out?”  Dahal says her concerts are more than just musical performances. They are therapeutic sessions where emotions are released.

“I want people to come to my concerts and scream their hearts out,” she urges passionately. “Let them be like a therapy session, where we can all collectively release our pent-up feelings and find solace in the power of music.” It’s this raw authenticity and connection with her audience that sets Dahal apart as not just a musician, but a healer through her art.

Dahal’s personal life is intertwined with her professional journey. She speaks fondly of her supportive family, particularly her brother, who is also a musician. “The person who has full support from their parents is probably the luckiest person on earth,” she says. Their understanding and encouragement have been crucial in her pursuit of music.

Looking ahead, Dahal envisions a future filled with music, performances, and personal fulfillment. “I see myself being happy, doing shows and making more music, writing more songs, gaining more experiences, and having lots of cats,” she says with a laugh.

For upcoming musicians, Dahal’s advice is simple yet profound. “Break the wall. Sometimes you feel powerful. You are full of ideas, plans, and visualization. The next day you might feel exactly the opposite way and feel down. Never trust that phase when you are down. Always keep your visualization high and explore your music.”

Reflecting on her aspirations for the broader arts community in Nepal, Dahal emphasizes the need for change and growth. “We talk about and praise international artists, but I think it’s our time to reach the international level. Someone has to level up and take a step to break the boundaries.”

An essential part of Dahal’s journey has been her collaboration with Nirvi Kalpo, a company that has significantly contributed to her growth as a performing artist. “With the help of Nirvi Kalpo, I’ve been doing great shows. Nirvi Kalpo has been a huge part of how I’m establishing myself. This partnership has enabled her to connect with the audience and expand her reach.

With unwavering dedication and passion for music, Dahal is not just creating songs she’s paving the way for future generations of musicians to dream big and challenge the status quo. As she continues to break barriers and inspire with her art, the music industry in Nepal will undoubtedly feel her impact.

Prakash Thamsuhang is a Panchthar-born poet and essayist currently based in Ilam, where he leads Yakthung Lekhak Sangh and Ilam Nagar Sahitya Kala Sangit Pratisthan. He has been felicitated with several awards, including Dibyabikram Nembang Smriti award, Manamaya Smriti award, and Srisas Hong Kong award, for his works. His recent book, Shabdathum, collection of essays (2023) garnered critical acclaim. Ken Subedi conversed with Thamsuhang about poetry and essays.

You have written poetry as well as essays. What is more close to your heart and why?

I have been writing poems and essays together from the very beginning of my writing journey. Though I published works of essays after 17 years of publication of works of poetry, I share my thoughts and feelings through essays that I can’t express through poetry. I think the first condition for an essay is thought. Other elements required for an essay are secondary subject matters. But poetry strongly demands art as well as thoughts. An essay is like building a wall of stone, whereas poetry is an art of making a statue of stone. I love reading and writing poetry a lot. I am a great admirer of the way poetry strikes mind and soul with supernatural power.

Can you share a few common elements between poetry and essays? Or are they completely different from one another?

The common element of poetry and essays is thought. Essay and poetry both are the ideological weapons of a poet, through which the poet strives to make a positive impact upon the mind of a reader. I say that there should be in-depth feelings in both the genres, poetry and essay. An essay becomes sharp if a poetic element is mixed in it as good readers comment so. Contemplation, reflection and philosophy are also the common elements of both the genres. Poetry and essays have different structures altogether.  However, some experimental poets have been writing prose poetry. To criticize Nepali poets and poetry, some have been accused of creating poetry by pressing enter key in essays. Poetry has to tell many things with a few words. Essays, on the other hand, do not have word limitations.

What inspires one to become a poet and a writer? 

There has been much evidence when the writers produce literature as a matter of a response pertaining to significant events. Literature is being written out of such an urge in Nepal as well. For example, Nepali literature is being written based on the ten years’ civil war. Similarly, literature is being written on environmental crises, social transformation, etc. But what I think is the aesthetic consciousness of the writer along with the subject matter is an important thing. Is literature in favor of social justice or not? I think that a writer’s effort should lie in making society beautiful. Writers and poets should strive to make the earth worth living for all creatures. 

What books have the most influence on your writing?

I find a lot of ideas in books. Imagination is the most important aspect for me that I find in them. My reading journey started with comics and Muna magazine during my young age. Indian detective novels and Prakash Kovid’s Love novels, which I read during my teenage years, taught me to love words. I read somewhat serious books during my college life. They helped me in developing thoughts. Some of the books taught me to know myself. They taught me to understand the difference between religion and spiritualism. These books surely have their impact upon my writing.

There is a greater impact of books of Bairagi Kaila’s poems in my writing. Philosophical and cultural consciousness, proper use of myth and expressive skills found in Kaila’s poems impress me a lot. I also take inspiration from the essays of Shankar Lamichhane. His unique and extraordinary writing skill surprises me more when I re-read them.

Do you agree that contemporary poets have started writing in other genres like essays and novels? Do you think that authors should write across a variety of genres or should they stick to one?

There is much evidence that a poet can write in other genres too. Recently, as you said, poets are in the race of writing fiction. I agree. The poetic quality of a poet, when used in a work of fiction, can illuminate the work. There isn’t any uniform rule that a poet should just write poetry. I don’t feel bad if a poet presents his capability through different mediums.

Dragonflies are recognized by their long, slender abdomen; large globular eyes, often making up a large portion of the head; short antennae; and long wings. The extant dragonflies are placed in the Odonata order, which is divided into two suborders: the Zygoptera, or damselflies, and the Anisoptera, or true dragonflies. There are about 6400 species of dragonflies and damsels. Dragonflies are generally larger, more robust, and have a stronger flight than damselflies. Damselflies are smaller and have slender and taper wings toward their bases, whereas dragonflies are larger and have hind wings broadening at their bases.

Dragonfly eggs are laid underwater among plants or in silt, which is nicely hidden away from predators. Once hatched, a nymph will spend most of their life—months to years—in this stage before crawling out of the water to turn into a dragonfly. Damselfly larvae can be separated from dragonfly larvae by their caudal lamellae, which are fin-like structures at the end of their abdomen that act as external gills. The adult stage will occur when they have molted, leaving behind an exuvia. Almost all Odonata species need a vertical substrate to emerge from their nymphal life stage into their adult life stage. Adults live for a few weeks to a few months.

Dragonfly as a bioindicator of wetlands

Dragonflies are used as a bioindicator as they are highly sensitive to changes in aquatic habitat. They require clean bodies of water for breeding and feeding, so any alterations in water quality can directly impact their population. Factors like water temperature, acidity, turbidity, or pollution can dramatically upset the survival of the young insect larvae. If dragonflies and damselflies are present in a lake or stream, it indicates good water quality. By studying the presence or absence of different dragonfly species, we can assess the overall health of wetland ecosystems. Further, because their diet consists entirely of insects, dragonfly density is directly proportional to the population of prey. Dragonflies and damselflies are also crucial, as they feed on disease-causing mosquitoes and flies and serve as prey for birds and fish.

Threats and conservation

Nearly 16 percent of the world’s dragonflies and damselflies are at risk of extinction. Primarily due to the destruction and pollution of wetlands. To protect these beautiful, useful insects, protection of the wetland ecosystem (especially in urban areas) is foremost. Avoiding the use of pesticides, which in one way kills its prey, and rainwater carries all the pollutants to wetland, degrading the water quality where nymphs live. Additionally, planting aquatic plants in wetland will help, as it acts as a substrate where female dragonflies can lay eggs and also during the molting period.