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Laxmi Thapa Magar

Birth: 1946

Death: 2025

Laxmi didi, as she was popularly known, passed away at the age of 79. A resident of Baneshwor, she was not only the owner of a small yet famous tea shop but also the heart of an entire generation’s memories, political discussions, and human warmth. 

Born into a Newar family, she married into a Magar household during a time when inter-caste marriages were rare and frowned upon. She is survived by her son Mohan and two daughters Rita and Gita. Her husband passed away earlier, but her legacy remains alive in the hearts of those she served, laughed with, and inspired.

Her shop was once a traditional two-storey home, but it became something more—a sanctuary. From early morning, 7:00 am onwards, the place would fill with the smell of freshly brewed tea, the sizzle of mutton curry, and the chatter of minds hungry for conversation and connection. More than a local eatery, it was a hub of political thought, literary exchange, and lifelong friendships. Her mutton momo and  curry were famous, but it was her calm smile and generous spirit that made people want to keep coming back.

Senior advocate and former lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari, who has been visiting her shop for nearly 58 years, says, “If her shop had not existed, we would never have met each other. That place was not just a tea shop—it was a bridge. A group of us came together there, people from different districts and backgrounds, and we connected through conversation, debate, and Laxmi’s quiet strength.” “During times when FM radios, televisions, or even regular newspapers weren’t part of everyday life, her shop served as a place where people gathered to read shared copies of Gorkhapatra and other papers, passionately discussing politics and national issues. Figures like Rajendra Kharel, Hari Sharma, and even Kisun Ji would drop by regularly,” he adds. 

From the later years of the Panchayat era to his active political life, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai made it a routine to drink tea and meet party cadres every Saturday at Laxmi didi’s shop.

The small tea shop, housed in a modest building with a tin roof, would be frequented by many leaders and activists alongside Kisunji. Since it was the regular hangout of a top Congress leader, Laxmi didi’s tea shop became a hub for political discussions and debates. During the Panchayat period, when the Nepali Congress was banned, leaders and activists needed no other location—Laxmi didi’s shop was the go-to meeting point.

Even after the restoration of democracy and during his tenure as Kisunji continued to be surrounded by party workers at the tea spot every Saturday. The gatherings were filled with conversations about both joys and hardships.

According to Adhikari, people didn’t just come for the tea; they came for her warmth, her wisdom, and the community she created. Laxmi didi never raised her voice, never turned anyone away. She offered meals to friends even when times were tough. Her kindness wasn’t performative—it was embedded in every action of hers.

Adhikari recalls, during elections, her shop was where people gathered before heading to Ratna Library to vote.

It wasn’t just local figures who recognized the shop’s significance. Even BP Koirala, the  democratic leader and writer, once expressed a wish to join the conversations that took place there. “I would like to be there and have an intellectual conversation with you all,” he reportedly said, “but the smoke doesn’t suit me.” Due to health reasons and the smoking habits of some attendees, he couldn’t visit often—but his words alone marked the space as a recognized hub of intellectual engagement.

Adhikari says that writers may have mentioned her in their essays, where she will be remembered forever. He laments, “Without her, the shop doesn’t feel the same. We miss her very much.”

What do the Nepalis in general think of Karnali? Rather than answering this question outright, let’s explore the roots of the word ‘Karnali’. Epistemologically speaking, Karnali, a region named after the river with the same name, derives its name from Karnal, a musical instrument of the Damai people.

Indeed, Dalit settlements dot the banks of the Karnali, suggesting a historic link between the river and these peoples, their customs and traditions. Most importantly, in Khas language, Karnali is synonymous with a big river. 

Undoubtedly, city dwellers see Karnali as the land of pain, poverty and problems. Aligning with this prevailing mentality, the Nepali media and I/NGOs often portray Karnali as a land of suffering and problems. 

Looking through a different lens, Karnali is very unique, diverse and prosperous. 

Karnali is quite different from images that the media and development agencies often portray, describing the region as poor and backward. It is the land of hope and happiness. The word ‘Karnali’ itself symbolizes musical heritage, culture and civilization. From very early on, Karnali is showing and inviting the state to utilize its resources believing that its rivers, rivulets, lakes, hills, Himalayas, trekking trails, herbs, cultural heritages, Patans (expansive grasslands) have the potential to transform the national economy as a whole. 

Pratap Pariyar, a senior citizen from Sinja-Simpati, Jumla district, observes: By nature, Karnali is very multi-colored. Indeed, the region has different specialities that can give the region a turnaround. It has Yarsagumba, a precious herb and Nepal’s longest river—the Karnali—that can generate thousands of megawatts of green energy. Its pastures, waterfalls, Himalayas and other attractions beckon tourists from far and wide. But the general understanding of Nepalis regarding Karnali is very old and immature.
People compare Karnali with a pathetic picture of poverty. Our identification with the pathetic picture, where a child’s face is covered with flies, is condemnable. Indeed, if people investigate or study Karnali, it’s a boon and blessing of nature.  Hydro, herbs and heritage are the gems of Karnali. The region probably has the most unique cultural and religious practices in Nepal. Lama Vishnu is one of the several unique cultural practices whereas Masto is another religious sect that worships Nature only. These are some of the glimpses of the diversity of the region. 

Undoubtedly, Karnali is the land of a boundless potential and myriad possibilities. This is not a subjective statement coming from Nepalis, including the people of Karnali; this is a unanimous voice from international scholars, experts and tourists. But “concerned authorities” of the state have failed to recognize the true potential of Karnali and their activities show a deep-rooted indifference toward the development of the region. 

A case in point: The state has not bothered to conduct proper research on the potential of Karnali and invest in it. The ministers and commissioner of the planning commission are busy seeing only poverty, showing the state’s unwillingness to find out the root cause of poverty and backwardness. In fact, Karnali is not poor; leaders and states make it look so. 

Generally, leaders and stakeholders point to the geography of Karnali as a major barrier to development. If so, why are some of the districts of the Tarai plains suffering from poverty? Why is the economic status of the people living in Namche so high compared to Kathmandu? Situation, mentality and investment matter more than geography. In the context of Karnali, topography is not the cause of poverty as the region has the natural resources necessary to bring prosperity to the entire nation. 

Another aspect that allows the state and the media to label Karnali as a downtrodden region is the sociopolitical aspect marked by impunity, corruption and social disharmony. These factors give the media the content to disclose the dark side and hide the very bright side of Karnali. As a watchdog of the society, the media should write both ‘bad news’ and ‘good news’ about Karnali by monitoring each and every activity with the main focus on the local people’s wellbeing. In this process, it should not spare leaders, who harm Karnali.

Besides these two major components, leaders, cadres, bureaucracy and citizen behavior are responsible for stereotyping Karnali, which they need to shun. From now on, the political representatives of Karnali must act as the voice of the region. Only if they work as the backbone of Karnali will the whole nation be able to see the region in a different light.

Summing up, far from an old and prevailing perception, Karnali is brimming with hope, hydro, herbs and heritage. These resources can surely help Karnali rid itself of its stereotyped image. As for the media, it should change the angle from which it sees and writes about Karnali. The media should explore the real potential of Karnali and inform the people about it. Then only the state and the people will get to know the real Karnali and its potential. 

How is this agrarian country faring in the midst of another paddy plantation season? The once fertile fields of the Madhes have the answer. 

Even in the midst of the monsoon, most of the paddy fields are lying barren in the province known as the grain basket of the country, thanks to a prolonged drought and a lack of irrigation facilities. 

This is not a new phenomenon, by the way. Drought conditions have been prevailing in Madhesh for (at least) about three years, leading to a serious scarcity of drinking water, leave alone water for irrigation. 

A couple of factors are behind this crisis situation. Erratic weather patterns resulting from climate change have played a huge part and so has the degradation of the Chure hills, thanks to an unchecked exploitation of the hills for construction materials like sand, boulders, and deforestation. Aware of the central role of the Chure as a source of water for the fertile fields of Madhesh as well as its burgeoning population, the government has a program dedicated to its conservation, but the efficacy of the program leaves much to be desired. 

The vital role of Madhes in feeding the whole country can be better understood by the fact that the province has 8,02,988 hectares of cultivated land, accounting for about 21.33 percent of total cultivated land (39,24,009 hectares) in the country. The province has 26.4 percent of the paddy fields and 26.56 percent (67,156 hectares) of the horticultural lands (2,52,818 hectares).  

How to revive the grain basket of the country? This is a crucial question before central, provincial and local governments. 

Farmers throughout the country, including in the Madhesh, have been relying on rains for cultivation since ancient times. Any government worth its name should be able to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers, in this day and age, if it is indeed serious about averting a famine. In an era of global warming and climate change, we would do well to opt more and more for less water-intensive crops. 

Also, the drought afflicting Nepal’s southern plains and beyond have laid bare a misplaced priority of the government. For decades, the government’s focus has been on transboundary water cooperation rather than on meeting domestic requirements of water for drinking, irrigation, navigation and green energy generation. 

The government should learn lessons from the parched fields and act accordingly. 

The long-standing comradely relationship between KP Sharma Oli and Bidya Devi Bhandari has soured. Soon after Bhandari openly challenged her removal from the post of party chair, the Central Committee of CPN-UML officially decided to bar the former head of state from active party politics.

Although UML leaders have defended the midnight decision, claiming it was made to uphold the sanctity of the presidential office, many within the party and the general public remain unconvinced. While it’s still unclear how this episode will unfold, Bhandari has signaled her intent to stay active in party politics. However, by denying her even an ordinary party membership, the UML has created a barrier for her to engage directly with party leaders and cadres.

Previously, there were assumptions that a fair number of party leaders and cadres might support Bhandari, but the Central Committee meeting told a different story. Only a handful of leaders stood by her, while the overwhelming majority sided with Oli, which is likely due to his current status as Prime Minister. Just two leaders, Surendra Pandey and Yubaraj Gyawali, opposed the party’s decision to bar Bhandari from political involvement.

Bhandari’s limited support within the party’s Central Committee poses a serious challenge to her ability to become politically active or pose a meaningful challenge to Oli, who retains a firm grip on the party. Oli is poised to secure a third consecutive term as party leader, barring any dramatic developments. In Bhandari’s absence, no leader appears willing to contest the party leadership at the upcoming general convention.

Meanwhile, within the Nepali Congress (NC), senior leader Shekhar Koirala has been meeting with both ruling and opposition party leaders, though the reasons remain unclear. Prime Minister Oli, however, reportedly views these meetings as attempts to unseat his government. Seven NC second-rung leaders also held a luncheon at Prakash Man Singh’s residence, but the meeting failed to generate any notable impact within the party.

Koirala has separately met opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former President Bhandari. He has grown increasingly vocal in criticizing the government, arguing that UML is attacking the core values of the NC and that the party should withdraw from the coalition. Some speculate that Koirala is positioning himself to become prime minister by dismantling the current coalition. However, he lacks the numbers needed to become the parliamentary party leader. Koirala believes that if he can ascend to the premiership before the party’s general convention, he could influence the party’s internal elections.

Several key bills related to land, education, and the Constitutional Council have become contentious issues among coalition partners. Serious differences persist between NC and UML on these matters, and while they may not immediately threaten the coalition, they are a source of growing friction. Senior leaders from both parties are engaged in ongoing discussions, but efforts to bridge the divide have thus far failed. NC leaders are also pressuring President Ram Chandra Poudel to reject the bill concerning the Constitutional Council.

UML is under public scrutiny for its apparent double standards on the “cooling-off” period in the Civil Service Bill. While some of its National Assembly members support removing this provision, both the NC and the CPN (Maoist Center) are firmly opposed to any compromise. In a previous incident, the bureaucracy altered a draft bill passed by the House of Representatives, prompting the formation of a probe panel to investigate.

Within the Maoist Center, the rift between party chair Dahal and Janardhan Sharma is deepening. Sharma is reportedly trying to form a rival faction within the party. Recently, he publicly remarked that apart from Manmohan Adhikari, all communist leaders have engaged in the accumulation of vast wealth, a comment that has irritated Dahal. While several second-tier leaders are seeking a change in leadership, Dahal remains unwilling to step down.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party, once in the national spotlight, is now mired in internal disunity. Senior leaders like Dhawal Shumsher Rana and Prakash Chandra Lohani have criticized party chair Rajendra Lingden for alleged bias against party members and cadres. Senior leader Rabindra Mishra, however, remains silent amid the growing intra-party conflict.

This week, media reports suggested that Prime Minister Oli is planning an official visit to New Delhi. Some outlets have speculated on possible dates, but officials have yet to confirm details. Nonetheless, both countries have recently discussed important matters such as mutual legal assistance and an extradition treaty.

The government has declared Madhesh Province a disaster-affected zone due to a prolonged drought that has severely impacted drinking water supplies, irrigation, and agriculture. Climate change is dramatically reshaping life in the region, from drying springs to plummeting rice yields. Locals say they feel increasingly estranged from the very elements that once sustained them. “Neither the rice feels like ours anymore, nor the water,” many say, as parched fields and vanishing water sources force families to walk miles just to collect a single bucket.