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Nepal should step up efforts to join any sub-regional, regional and international organization whose objectives are compatible with her foreign policy objectives and priorities. 

With Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the UAE set to become its new members on Jan 1 next year, BRICS (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is one such organization that our country should make efforts to be a part of. The bloc aims to promote international peace, stability, cooperation and investment and these objectives are similar to Nepal’s foreign policy objectives. 

So, our country should make attempts to be a member of this grouping.

If our party—the CPN-UML—comes to power, we will intensify our engagements to join sub-regional, regional and international organizations whose vision, missions and objectives are in sync with our foreign policy objectives and priorities. Of course, BRICS is one of the organizations that we will strive to join. 

The author, a CPN-UML standing committee member, is the chief of the party’s foreign affairs department

Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) members have strongly criticized the government’s performance in an ongoing CWC meeting. They have raised concerns about the government’s failure to effectively manage governance, combat corruption, and revive the struggling economy.

The CWC members have further warned that the current economic crisis has the potential to escalate social tensions and lead to law and order issues. They have also urged Party President Sher Bahadur Deuba to reconsider the support it is lending to the Dahal-led government.

Pradip Paudel: Several of our party leaders hold ministerial portfolios in this government, but I cannot tell a single good thing that they have accomplished. The economy is heading toward disaster. Around 33 percent of shop space in Kathmandu is closed. The prices of essential goods and food grains are soaring. The party president should tell the government to address these pressing issues. It is crucial for the Nepali Congress to have a meaningful presence in the government. 

Binod Chaudhary: Our Central Committee is too much focused on political matters while the economic and development issues are taking a back seat. The government should develop a clear road map to bring back the youths who are working abroad and to revive the stagnant development works and ailing industrial sector. We have to understand the current problems faced by the business sector. As the largest party, the Nepali Congress should come up with a 10-year plan to address the challenges facing the country.

Ram Janam Chaudhry: In the absence of job opportunities at home, our youths are leaving the country in droves. Meanwhile, the economy is on the verge of collapse. The party leadership should strongly urge the Ministry of Finance, which is led by NC leader Prakash Saran Mahat, to come up with a clear strategy to address the economic challenges.

Rajiv Dhungana: The Nepali Congress is a significant part of this government. So it is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation of the government's performance. While the government has opened some corruption cases, people have not witnessed a decrease in corruption. In fact, corruption has increased under the current government. The law and order situation continues to deteriorate, and businesspeople face a host of challenges.

Bhim Parajuli: This government should take immediate action to address the economic crisis. The role of Minister for Home Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha is not satisfactory. He has taken a selective approach to controlling corruption, targeting only Nepali Congress leaders. Our party leadership has not adequately prepared for the political crisis unfolding in Koshi province.

Laxmi Pariyar: The ongoing economic crisis would lead to an increase in crime in society. Are there any initiatives from the government in order to address the crisis that the country is facing today? What is the government’s road map to end the current crisis? Small businesses are facing a lot of challenges. The Nepali Congress is leading the Finance Ministry, but it has done nothing to address the economic challenges.   

Shiva Humagain: There are problems both in the government as well as in the party. But there seems to be a distinct lack of discipline within our party. This became apparent when our leader Bal Krishna Khand was arrested without substantial proof, and a group of our leaders met Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha to thank him. As far as this government is concerned, it has failed to comprehend that the people are extremely frustrated. The cost of living is increasing and the economy is hurting, but the government seems to have no plans to address these challenges.      

Shankar Bhandari: The Nepali Congress should stand in favor of federalism and Hinduism. In the previous Mahasamiti meeting, we had submitted a memorandum demanding for the reinstatement of Hindu state, but the party had not acted on it. The upcoming Mahasamiti meeting should take up this agenda because there have been systematic efforts to attack the Hindu agenda. The party should also consider scrapping the federal structure, which has not only become a huge economic burden but also a threat to our national security. Supporting secularism and Hinduism may be the compulsion of some leaders, but it is fatal for the party as well as the country.

Shyam Ghimire: The Nepali Congress, as a largest party, should be able to provide a clear road map to the government as well as society in general. Currently, the people are deeply frustrated with the political and economic crises. Many of them blame us for these problems.

Jivan Bahadur Shahi: We are yet to prepare the legal as well as institutional mechanisms for effective implementation of federalism. There is a lack of clarity on the party's position on federalism and other issues. If the party does not like federalism, let’s get rid of it. If not, let’s take the initiative to formulate the laws required for federalism to function smoothly. 

Ramesh Lekhak: The main opposition, CPN-UML, is not playing a constructive role in Parliament. This has created a lot of problems. The UML is obstructing the House even on tiny issues and as a result, Parliament is not performing its duties effectively. The Nepali Congress should take the necessary steps to address this situation.

Surendra Raj Pandey: There has been an all-round attack on federalism. Our party does not have a clear position on federalism and secularism. Our ruling political parties are not serious about formulating laws to implement federalism. Do we want to keep federalism or do we want to dismantle it? As the largest party, the Nepali Congress should come up with a clear position.

A couple of years ago, I watched the Netflix adaptation of ‘Behind Her Eyes’ by Sarah Pinborough. It was a slow-burn thriller about a single mother who unwittingly becomes a part of twisted mind games when she begins an affair with her psychiatrist boss while secretly befriending his mysterious wife. The ending shocked me. I hadn’t seen it coming. I really enjoyed the series but I wished I had read the book before watching it.

So naturally I was excited to come across ‘Insomnia’ by Pinborough. Reading the blurb and the reviews I was sure it was a gripping and unsettling psychological thriller. But it took me a while to get through Insomnia because it was so dark and dense. I’d have to put down the book after a few chapters to process what I had just read.

The plot is actually creepy. Emma has a great life: a successful career as a lawyer, a husband, Robert, and two children, Chloe and Will. But she’s unable to sleep and that is really messing with her head. Emma’s insomnia causes blackouts, makes her doubt her actions and question everything and everybody around her. When the police become involved, Emma starts wondering what she is capable of.

Emma and her older sister Phoebe grew up in foster care after their mother was admitted to a psychiatric facility on her 40th birthday. As Emma’s 40th birthday approaches and she finds herself struggling to sleep, she fears the ‘bad blood’ that made her mother go mad is affecting her too. She can’t trust her husband or her sister, both of whom are hiding things from her. Worse, her son Will is terrified of her and her daughter Chloe is a rebellious teenager.

There is a lot going on and it is all very paranoia-inducing. It’s difficult to trust any of the characters in the book. Everyone seems to have a sinister motive behind their actions. Or is Emma the real villain, her own worst enemy who is as deluded and psychotic as everyone around her is claiming she is? The horror/thriller aspect of the story is subtle but disturbing. It comes unexpectedly and takes root in your heart and mind.

Reading Insomnia also makes you wonder what traits you have inherited from your family. Do we all become our parents and embrace their faults and weaknesses? I can’t say I loved the book but I enjoyed reading it. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a scary book to get lost in during the weekend.

Fiction

Insomnia

Sarah Pinborough

Published: 2023

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 342, Paperback

As a young chef, I was fascinated by the idea of chaurasi byanjan, which means a grand feast featuring 84 different dishes all served at once. It’s not your typical three- or four-course meal. It’s an incredible array of flavors and textures. ‘Chaurasi’ in Nepali means 84, and ‘byanjan’ refers to various types of food. This intriguing tradition is deeply rooted in Nepali culture and is reserved for special occasions like weddings and rice-feeding ceremonies, which mark a child’s transition to solid foods.

I started looking for information about these 84 dishes in books and online, but I couldn’t find much. Gradually, I went from just being a chef to becoming a research and development chef with a hobby of exploring Nepali cuisine and promoting it internationally. When I had some free time, I searched the internet to learn more about chaurasi byanjan. I was fascinated by it and wanted to learn more.

I found something similar called ‘chhpan bhog’ in the Indian context. It was a completely vegetarian meal that used to be served to Lord Krishna. So, I wondered, did Nepali people add 28 meat dishes to the 56 dishes of chhpan bhog? The problem was I didn’t know much Sanskrit which made it really hard to access Eastern knowledge. There had to be some way for me to find out more about this elaborate feast.

I turned to people who seemed knowledgeable about chaurasi byanjan. The first theory connects it to Maharshi Charak, the father of Ayurveda, and his book Charak Samhita, but detailed information is scarce. Another theory links it to the wedding ceremony of Ram and Sita, hosted by King Janak. Yet the details are elusive. There are many other theories too but the information is either limited or vague.

The most convincing theory suggests that this tradition began during the Malla dynasty and it’s purely an indigenous way of serving a feast. It’s said that this tradition continues at Bikramshil Mahabihar (Bhagwan Bahal) in Thamel, Kathmandu.

After uncovering these facts, I sought out gurus with knowledge of chaurasi byanjan. After months of following these experts, some claimed to be writing books on the subject, promising details upon publication, while others said it was their lifelong research and chose not to share. People claimed to know about it but were hesitant to share the details.

I resumed my research and discovered that chaurasi byanjan is more than just a feast. It’s a celebration of balance and variety. Each dish on the menu holds a special significance, whether it’s the spiced lentils of bara or the fermented leafy greens of gundruk. The culinary journey begins with staples like rice and dal, representing the heart of Nepali cuisine, and extends to intricate desserts like peda and rasgulla, showcasing the country’s sweet tooth.

Chaurasi byanjan doesn’t have a fixed set of varieties. It all depends on preferences, seasonality, locality, region, and the dishes typically associated with celebrations. The choices of a multimillionaire and a middle-class family would differ. Exploring Nepal’s chaurasi byanjan is a sensory journey, offering insights into the rich tapestry of culture, the abundance of nature, and the artistry of cuisine that defines this remarkable culinary tradition. Next time you see a feast laid out, try noticing all the different food and drinks there are on the special spread.