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The Nepal Academy has unveiled a new contribution to Nepali children’s literature with the publication of ‘Pragya Nepali Balgeet’, a 422-page anthology edited by writer and journalist Gopi Krishna Dhungana.  

The book is divided into three chapters, each showcasing a unique aspect of Nepali children’s songs (balgeet in Nepali). The first chapter offers a comprehensive 32-page critique titled ‘Principles, Traditions, and Trends of Nepali children song’, exploring the theoretical and historical evolution of the genre. The second chapter features two songs each by 159 children’s songwriters, with a brief introduction of each contributor. The third chapter presents 56 songs archived in Radio Nepal’s Sound Museum.  

Prominent contributors include luminaries such as Dinesh Adhikari, Prof Dr Krishnahari Baral, Dr Devi Nepal, and many others. The work is priced at Rs 600 and offers insights into themes of national identity, social issues, and religious philosophy.  

Chancellor Bhupal Rai highlighted the book’s importance in nurturing children’s interest in Nepali literature. Vice-chancellor Bimal Krishna Niwa remarked that the songs would appeal to children and serve as a tool for imparting values and lessons. Editor Dhungana emphasized the lack of institutional collections of children’s songs and expressed hope that the book would meet the cultural and literary needs of the country’s youth.  

This comprehensive collection, combining theoretical insights and a treasure trove of songs, aims to enrich the field of Nepali children’s literature and serve as a resource for fostering creativity and learning among young minds.

In honor of Human Rights Day, the 8th Inter A-Level Speech Competition was held at Global College International’s Auditorium Hall. Focused on the theme “Human Rights Today: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”, the competition featured speeches from students across 15 A-Level colleges, addressing critical global issues related to human rights. The event, which was live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, allowed a wider audience to engage with the discussions.

The competition was judged by Pradeep Sharma, Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University, and Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor of The Annapurna Express. Their expertise in political science, human rights, and journalism played a key role in evaluating the participants’ ideas, presentation, and address to the current global issues today.

The winner, Sadhabi Mahat from Rato Bangla School, emphasized that dignity, freedom, and justice are worth fighting for and encouraged youth to take action, starting with small steps. Janvi Subedi, the first runner-up from Kasthamandap Academy, stressed the need to address minority rights. Hridaya Joshi, the second runner-up from Global College, called on the youth to view human rights as a responsibility rather than a privilege taken for granted. She focused on the discrepancies between proclaimed human rights and stark ground reality that point at gross violation of human rights. 

At the event’s conclusion, Suraj Baral, Executive Director of the A-Levels program at GCI, presented certificates to participants and volunteers. The judges were also honoured with tokens of appreciation by Subash Shrestha, Principal of GCI. Rishav Dev Khanal, Program Coordinator, congratulated all participants, highlighting the event’s role in reinforcing the college’s commitment to responsible citizenship and leadership.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Annapurna Media Network Chapter, held its general convention on Dec 12, and unanimously elected its new leadership team. 

The elected office bearers include Ramkala Khadka as President, Sunita Karki as Vice-president, Madan Chaudhary as Secretary, Purushottam Ghimire as Joint Secretary, and Sirjana Subedi as Treasurer. 

Pratik Ghimire, Giriprasad Bhusal, Nitu Ghale, Aajabi Poudyal, Bibhor Adhikari, and Abhishek Maharjan were elected as members. The newly formed team will work towards addressing the pressing issues faced by journalists and strengthening the chapter’s role in advocating for media rights and professional development.

Annapurna Media Network (AMN) is set to organize a one-day conclave on law titled ‘LawScape 2025’ on 10 Jan 2025. The event aims to bring together government dignitaries, legal experts, academics, and policymakers to discuss and explore key aspects of Nepal’s evolving legal framework. On Thursday, AMN unveiled the official logo for LawScape 2025. 

The conclave is designed to foster dialogue on significant legal issues and provide a platform for policy recommendations to strengthen Nepal’s legal framework through collaboration among stakeholders.

LawScape 2025 aims to reflect on Nepal’s legal and political developments over recent decades, including the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal in 2015. It seeks to address pressing challenges such as ensuring constitutional integrity, addressing transitional justice, modernizing laws for emerging sectors, and aligning with international standards.

The event will feature five sessions covering topics such as constitutional challenges, travel law, criminal law, cybercrime, transitional justice, corporate law, and international law. This comprehensive exploration of Nepal’s legal landscape will address both domestic and international perspectives.

During the logo unveiling ceremony, AMN Chairperson Capt Rameshwar Thapa stated, “Every citizen should understand the constitution in straightforward terms. To achieve this, we need experts who can simplify its complexities. This conclave aims to make the constitution more accessible.”

General Manager Manoj Basnet shared that the day-long event will include five sessions, each featuring one moderator and four speakers. “We expect around 200 participants, including international speakers and guests from the US and India,” he added.

Bhupal Luitel, News Chief of Annapurna Radio Nepal, remarked that the outcomes of the conclave could provide valuable feedback for the government and law commissions. However, he acknowledged that addressing such complex issues in a single day is a challenge. “This initiative is crucial in the current context and has great potential for shaping a better future,” Luitel said.

Shambhu Katel, News Chief of Annapurnapost.com, highlighted the uniqueness of the initiative: “While organizing various types of conclaves is common, focusing specifically on law is rare in Nepal. This makes it a significant and noteworthy event.”

Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor of The Annapurna Express, emphasized the importance of a knowledge-centric approach over a business-oriented one. “It is our responsibility to engage and inform the public. Media houses often organize such conclaves, and it is crucial to continue doing so,” Bhattarai noted.

Suresh Poudel, Creative Director of AP1 HD Television, stressed the importance of meaningful presentations and innovative approaches. “The event must aim for a fruitful and impactful conclusion. Thinking outside the box in design and organization is essential,” Poudel said.

Akhanda Bhandari, Editor-in-Chief of Annapurna Post, underscored the significance of the conclave in the current political climate. “This event can help the general public better understand the law and the constitution. We plan to invite the Prime Minister, the Law Minister, and the Chief Justice to ensure their participation and input,” Bhandari added.