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Breaking the Glass Ceiling is the inspiring and long-awaited story of the first ethnic Gorkha officer to rise to the highest echelons of command in the Indian Army. Commissioned into the Grenadiers—a regiment where Gorkhas traditionally do not serve—Lt General Shakti Gurung’s journey defies norms and challenges assumptions. From leading a frontline corps along the Line of Actual Control to serving as India’s defence attaché in Myanmar, and retiring as the prestigious Military Secretary, his remarkable career covers counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations across J&K, the Northeast, and beyond. Packed with anecdotes, reflections, and sharp observations, this book is a window into the lesser-known realities of military life, strategic diplomacy, and regional complexities.

At its heart, breaking the Glass Ceiling is a personal and political meditation on identity, belonging, and leadership. It explores the Gorkha community’s deep yet often overlooked relationship with India—how they ‘came with the land’, their enduring loyalty, their unacknowledged sacrifices, and their unresolved quest for recognition. The memoir goes beyond the battlefield to examine systemic biases, regional tensions, and the quiet yet powerful resistance of breaking through institutional barriers with integrity and grit.

Lt General Shakti Gurung is a decorated officer and seasoned military leader who has held critical operational and strategic appointments in the Indian Army. A third-generation soldier, he brings a rare perspective shaped by decades of frontline service, administrative leadership, and international defence engagement. His tenure in the MS Branch and experience in India–Myanmar relations offer rich insight into both the inner workings of the armed forces and the geopolitical theatre of South Asia. Breaking the Glass Ceiling marks his debut as an author and a vital voice from a community too long spoken for but seldom heard from.

‘Simsara’ is a good book that offers a unique perspective on the  existing gender, caste and class differences in the society as well as regionalism, culture, values, ghosts, worship, and recognition of human behavior. Written by Nepali journalist and author Basanta Basnet, and based in his hometown of Taplejung district, the strongest aspect of the novel is its use of imagery—a massive pillar bearing the weight of a house, a lonely house that has lost its warmth, a flower blooming on a tree, an old bird wailing, a weak animal, or a human life bound by the chains of compulsion.

The book is poetic and metaphorical. The characters are entrenched in their circumstances and have a lot of psychological trauma and baggage. The story is narrated in first person but in some places you feel like you are hearing the author’s voice and not the character’s, which I think is mainly due to the writing style. In some instances, you get to see how silence can be more terrifying than speech. There is a lot of serious thought given to even the most trivial thing and that, along with the simple, evocative language, makes the novel highly enjoyable. 

A really promising character in the novel is Samvat who passed his SLC in the second division. He has failed to make his parents see that a joint family isn’t an ideal situation. With his parents in the same house, his relationship with his wife suffers and the couple fail to have the daughter they always wanted. His complex emotions give depth to the story. Babu’s character, on the other hand, isn’t able to prove himself as the main pillar of the household. He has no affection for his wife and teenage son. The newly married Kanchi also has no such attachment. Simsara is a swamp where both the father and the son are stuck. 

Simsara basically takes us through a world from the perspective of a teenager. There is a lot of adolescent psychology in it. But we must not mistake it for young adult fiction as the elements of familial relationship in the book make it a must read for people of all ages. The novel makes you ponder about many things like love, guilt, and survival. It’s not the author’s job to take sides and Basnet doesn’t indulge in it either. As humans, we are likely to take sides but authors aren’t allowed that luxury and in Simsara, Basnet shows the turmoils his characters go through and what makes them who they are without judgement. If you are familiar with Basnet’s previous works, you will know what to expect from his writing but Simsara feels refreshing in terms of the world it delves into. 

The book heavily discusses issues of our social, political, gender, religious, and caste differences. As a reader personally I was very affected by the child psychology and trauma in Simsara. We don’t realize how deep rooted these issues are and how badly it affects people. We tend to turn a blind eye to it and reading Simsara made me realize how harmful that can be. Basnet’s third published work Simsara is a fascinating and inspiring story about how our misguided cultural, political, and familial beliefs can have deep psychological impacts.

Fiction

Simsara

Basanta Basnet

Published: 2024

Publisher: FinePrint

Pages: 265, Paperback

The monsoon is here and with it we have the perfect reason to curl up on the couch with a hot beverage and a fun snack and binge watch a series that will blow our minds. At least, that is what I’m doing. I find it immensely satisfying to watch something at the end of the day. It just gives you something to look forward to and you also have a story in your head for times when you need a distraction.

Available on Amazon Prime, the series I’m recommending today are all worth your time. I guarantee you will not be able to watch just a single episode and turn off the TV and go to bed. Mostly thrillers with one comedy thrown in the mix, the five series that I have listed here will have you glued to your seat.

Dupahiya

Featuring the fabulous actor Gajraj Rao widely known for his role in the Neena Gupta starrer ‘Badhai Ho’, Dupahiya is a comedy and satire on the dowry system that is still prevalent in many places across India and Nepal. When the groom’s family asks for a fancy motorbike as dowry, the girl’s family scrambles to get one. But the bike gets stolen and this puts the villagers in a mad frenzy to find it, especially since the village has been crime free for 25 years and all set to be rewarded for it. The characters are well fleshed out and the plot is gripping and fun. It has both light moments as well as emotional scenes. It’s a great mix. You will enjoy this light-hearted series that raises an important issue.

Reacher

Based on Lee Child’s thriller novels, Reacher follows retired military officer Jack Reacher as he gets arrested for a murder he did not commit. He finds himself in the midst of a deadly conspiracy and also on a quest for revenge. The series has an eight out of ten rating on IMDb and is filled with suspense right from the start. Starring Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, the series has three seasons with eight episodes each. The third season came out in 2025. The first season is based on the book ‘Killing Floor’ and premiered in 2022. Reacher is an intriguing character. He is smart and courageous and his dialogues and body language make him even more compelling. You will enjoy getting to know him but you will never be able to predict what he does next and that is where all the fun lies.

The Continental

This limited series has just three episodes but each episode is over an hour long so it’s almost like watching a movie. Spoiler alert: the stage is already set for a second season as the ending shows the possibility of the story becoming even more intense. The Continental is a chain of hotels around the world that is a neutral ground for members of the underworld. Starring Mel Gibson, this action-crime series follows Winston Scott, played by Colin Woodell, as he puts together a team to take over the infamous hotel after his brother is killed in a conspiracy. There’s a lot of drama, action, witty dialogues, and stunning cinematography in this series that can get a bit too violent at times. There is an old world charm to The Continental that makes it different from the rest of the series on this list. 

Suzhal: The Vortex

This is a Tamil series that has two seasons. My issue with series that are dubbed in Hindi or English from another language is that the dialogues feel a little out of sync. I recently watched a Tamil series dubbed in Hindi that had a really good plot but the dialogues of the main character infuriated me, so much so that I couldn’t stand watching the actor on screen. I was skeptical about Suzhal: The Vortex as well since it’s also a Tamil series dubbed in Hindi but it had an 8.1 rating on IMDb and as my friends like to say I’m an IMDb snob. If there’s something that is highly rated on it, I have to watch it. I’m glad I decided to watch the series as it’s engaging and tense. Set against the backdrop of a unique festival, the viewers are drawn into the eye of the storm where myths and faith rule over logic and humanity. The second season starts where the first left off but you don’t have to watch the first to watch the second. I watched both back to back and can’t decide which one I loved more. 

Alex Cross

Alex Cross is a crime, mystery, thriller series written by bestselling author James Patterson. The protagonist is Alex Cross, an African-American police officer who is also a single father. In the Amazon Prime series, Cross, along with his partner, comes across a sadistic serial killer who is targeting people who look like serial killers. Cross is also dealing with his own demons and trying to find his wife’s killer while rushing against time to save the serial killer’s latest victim who he believes is still alive. If you have read Patterson’s books or read thrillers regularly, the plot might be a little predictable but it’s still gripping and fun while it lasts. The characters are relatable, each battling their personal problems and biases. There’s a lot of family dynamics at play too and that makes for a nice little side story. All in all, Alex Cross is a series you might want to binge watch this weekend when you don’t want to do much else.

Nepal’s public debt increased by nearly Rs 200bn over the first 10 months of fiscal year 2024/25, reflecting the government’s growing reliance on borrowing to bridge its budget gap. According to the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), the country’s total public debt rose by Rs 188.3bn during the 10-month period to Rs 2,622bn by mid-May. Such borrowing was at Rs 2,434bn in mid-July last year when the fiscal year began. Total public debt has reached 42.94 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The PDMO raises domestic debts using instruments like treasury bills, development bonds, citizen savings bonds and foreign employment savings bonds.

Of the total debt, 51.69 percent is foreign debt, while 48.31 percent was borrowed from domestic sources. The continued rise in borrowing is largely attributed to the government’s failure to meet revenue targets. With lower-than-expected revenue collection and limited grant inflows, the government has increasingly turned to public debt to finance its spending. The country’s budget deficit rose to Rs 209.12bn in the review period. Data from the Financial Comptroller General’s Office (FCGO) shows total government expenditure in 10 months stood at Rs 1,164.04bn, while total revenue amounted to Rs 954.92bn only.

The government’s projected total spending in the current fiscal year is Rs 1,860trn, while it has set a target to raise Rs 1,419trn in revenue and Rs 52bn in grants. The remainder was expected to be covered by borrowing. However, revenue collection has fallen short, and grants are unlikely to meet even half the target, leaving borrowing as the only viable option before the government.

Through the budget for the current fiscal year, the government has set a borrowing target of Rs 547bn—Rs 217bn from foreign sources and Rs 330bn from domestic markets. By mid-May, the government had raised Rs 390.83bn, or 71.45 percent of the target. This includes Rs 301.14bn in domestic debt and Rs 89.68bn in foreign debt. The government has already met 91.25 percent of its domestic borrowing target. However, it has been able to raise only 41.33 percent of the targeted foreign debt. Total debt declined in the 10th month (mid-April to mid-May) by Rs 44.86bn compared to the previous month mainly due to principal repayments by the government.