Submit your Article

Father’s Day is a joyous moment for both fathers and children alike. For children, it’s a day to give thanks to their dads for all they have done for them. For fathers, it’s when they get to take a moment to bless their children in return. ApEx spoke to three fathers to find out what this day means to them, what being a father entails, and their deepest wishes for their children.

Sudip Bolakhe, 23

As a young father, I faced numerous challenges. Working as a conductor and laborer, I struggled financially and was often unable to afford clothes and medicines for my child. It’s something I will never forget. The day my son was born was the happiest day of my life. My parents started talking to me nicely and I felt loved once again. I want my son to study hard and build a successful future for himself. I don’t want him to fall into bad company. Rather, I wish for him to always be able to tell the difference between good and bad. 

Rajiv Rakyan, 66

Being a father is a huge responsibility. You have to take care of your child till they become adults and even then, you can’t stop worrying. As a father, it’s my responsibility to teach my children everything they need to know—the ways of the world and how to find their footing in it. I want to ensure my sons become good people. I want them to be confident and successful. My father isn’t around anymore and I miss him but I take solace in the fact that my sons are there to celebrate Father’s Day with me.

Makhan Lal Lohala, 91

I have four daughters and I’m happy to say that I have done everything I could for them. All of them are married and have families of their own. They are doing well and I’m proud of them. But I want them to remember to be humble, to treat everybody with kindness, make their families happy, and be friends with everyone around them. I wish no one ever speaks ill of them and that they have no enemies. It’s my deepest wish for them. In the Newar community, special events are given a lot of importance. It brings us together, making us feel special and happy. So, I’m looking forward to Father’s Day.

“The combat that started yesterday evening has not ended yet. There  are preliminary estimates of heavy Maoist casualties. Exact numbers  have not been ascertained,” I heard a despondent and anxious voice  on the telephone. 

Before I could even utter a word, the person on the other side said,  “Captain Thapa, the Maoists are going to capture the Khara barracks.  We need to fly there immediately for rescue and reinforcements.” 

The telephone call in the wee hours of 8 April 2005 not only  disturbed my sleep but also my peace of mind. I was at my home in  Sinamangal, Kathmandu. 

It was Lieutenant Colonel Dipak Karki, head of the flight operation  unit of the Royal Nepal Army’s Number 11 Brigade, who was on the  other side of the phone. He repeated, “We have been asked to rescue  the injured and send in reinforcements. We must leave immediately.” 

*** 

I had chanced upon a job as an MI-17 instructor pilot for the  Nepal Army. I got associated with the Air Brigade of the Army after  the government declared an emergency and deployed the Army in  order to end the Maoist war. I had been appointed as an expert pilot to  train Nepal Army pilots and to help with rescue and reinforcements.

Earlier, I used to do similar work for the Nepal Police when the  government had deployed only the force to fight the ‘people’s war’.  Once the government deployed the Army, Brigadier Gunja Man  Lama (of Number 11 Brigade), Pilot Madan KC and others used to  occasionally ask me to fly for the Army as well. 

While working for the police, I used to meet senior Army officers,  who also used to request me to “help the nation” by flying Army  choppers. We also exchanged our experiences during the ‘people’s war’.  I was well acquainted with CoAS Pyar Jung Thapa ever since he was a  Brigadier General. After the Army’s deployment, at his special request,  I started flying Army helicopters at the end of 2001. 

*** 

Continuous flights had made me exhausted and I was in  Kathmandu on a few days’ break. When flights were regular, I spent  most nights in either Nepalgunj or Pokhara. Immediately after my  telephone conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Dipak Karki, I got  ready to fly to Khara in Rukum. 

The main gearbox of the Army’s RN-37 helicopter needed an  overhaul. The average age of a main gear box is 2,000 flight hours  and it needs to be overhauled after that. So the RN-37 helicopter was  grounded at the Tribhuvan International Airport for maintenance. 

Generally, a grounded chopper cannot be flown. In emergencies  or in special situations, it can be flown for a few hours with experts’ approval. 

Such a situation emerged on the morning after the attack in  Khara when we needed to fly there for rescue and reinforcements.  A three-member committee comprising Brigadier Gunja Man Lama  (head of the Air Brigade), Colonel Santosh Karki (an engineer in the  same brigade) and I was formed. It recommended that the grounded  helicopter, which had a capacity of 21 people, be flown for a maximum  of 10 hours. Then, together with co-pilot Major Kiran Thapa, flight  engineer Hira Lal Maharjan and 32 rangers of the Mahabir battalion  (and some ammunition), I flew toward Bhairahawa.

It was probably around seven in the morning when we set off. In Bhairahawa, we added a few rangers and arms and ammunition to  the chopper and then headed for the Army’s Mid-Western Division in  Nepalgunj. 

*** 

After the shock of the Khara attack, an eerie silence had enveloped the  Mid-Western Division. Even the air seemed to have stilled. Telephone  rings sounded deafeningly noisy. The faces of army officials looked tense and disheartened. We could not meet Division head Dipak Bikram JBR, as he had already flown to Musikot earlier in the morning.  

But when he landed in Musikot, he could talk to me on a military  telephone set. He sounded anxious and despondent. “It all depends on  you now, Captain Th apa. Save us from being overrun.” 

Before talking to Rana, I had spoken on the phone with Home  Secretary Chandi Prasad Shrestha and AIG Rajendra Bahadur Singh,  both of whom had stressed on the need for a quick rescue, given the  scale of the destruction. I could tell from the concerns of all these  high-level officers that the government had accorded a high level of  prestige to the Khara combat. 

In fact, I had even heard that on the morning of April 8, King Gyanendra had told CoAS Pyar Jung Thapa that the Army had to win the Khara battle, no matter what. “What on earth is the Army doing?”  the king had apparently yelled. 

*** 

The Maoist attack in Khara had become a hot topic for everyone—from the king to the ordinary citizens. The king, the home minister, the army chief, the heads of the two police forces as well as other high level security officials were all waiting with bated breath to find out the  outcome of the Khara battle. 

Of all the attacks that the Maoists had launched till then, Khara  was considered the biggest. Word had it that their preparation was as intense as the attack. The rebels’ videos and documents that became  public after the peace process make it clear that they had employed  maximum strength in the Khara attack. 

While the main planner of the attack was none other than Pushpa  Kamal Dahal, the Supreme Commander of the ‘people’s army’, the battle had been commanded by Nanda Kishor Pun  and Janardan Sharma, respectively the heads of the central  and western divisions of the rebels’ army. Now Pun has twice been  elected Vice-President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.  Sharma was Home Minister under the Congress-Maoist coalition  government and later the Finance Minister. 

The Maoists had created their own military structure during the  ‘people’s war’. Like the Nepali Army, the rebels had mobilized their  ‘people’s army’ in organizational units ranging from a militia to a  division. They claimed to have three divisions—eastern, central and  western—of which they consolidated the full strength of two in order  to mount an attack on the army’s Khara security basecamp on 7 April 2005. 

The Maoists had been claiming that mid-western districts such as  Rolpa, Rukum, Jajarkot and Salyan were their bases. They had their  ‘shelters’, and carried out most of their activities, in the remotest  settlements of these districts. 

They had assessed that they would further fortify their strongholds  if they could defeat the Nepal Army at Khara. And they had adopted a fitting military strategy. 

*** 

The fighting between the Maoist guerillas and the army started  before dusk on April 7. The rebels had kept their preparations for the  attack extremely secret, so the army got reliable intelligence about it  only late that afternoon. 

An army officer deployed at the Khara basecamp recalled the  incident thus: “We had information about an imminent attack, and about the preparations for it, three days earlier. But we did not have  precise intelligence on where and when the attack would take place.  On the afternoon of April 7, we were informed by local sources that  there would be an attack that evening. So we stayed alert and even  made an evening patrol.” 

“Fighting started in the evening when the soldiers patrolling the  area struck the invading Maoists with long-range weapons. The Maoist  guerrillas were marching ahead from Khumcheti Danda and Gidde  Danda, while opening fire with long-range weapons. Soldiers from  the Musikot Gulma had set off for Khara, but they could not advance  much because of the ambushes set up on the way,” added the officer. 

As the night wore on, the fighting intensified. The Maoist guerrillas  fired at and advanced toward the basecamp from all sides. They  used 81-mortars, GPMGs, two-inch mortars, as well as long-range  weapons. The sounds of the firing and explosions and the war cries  turned Khara into a battlefield throughout the night. “After 10 pm, the  two sides fought a close battle. The Maoists tried to enter the camp by  digging a trench under Gate 1, but we opened fire and stopped them  right there. Throughout the night, they tried to cut the wires around  the barracks and get inside, but could not,” recounted some soldiers  after they were rescued. 

Police personnel at the Khara basecamp fought under the unified command of the army. Once they were rescued, we could tell from  their condition that they had battled for long hours—18 hours straight. During the battle, a night-vision helicopter reached Khara twice—first at midnight and again at 3 am. The rescued soldiers said, “After  the copters struck, the firing subsided but did not end. Both sides  continued firing until dawn.”  

The Maoists had adopted the strategy employed by the British in  the battle of Nalapani. Word had spread from early in the morning  that the rebels had, for the past 18 hours, blocked the flow of water  to the Khara camp from Maru VDC. It was essential that food, water,  arms and ammunition, and reinforcements be taken to Khara. An even greater humanitarian imperative was to rescue the injured soldiers. As such, the pressure I faced was mounting. 

***  

Army choppers had started flying in Khara’s skies from early  morning on April 8. Army pilot Pratigya Rana, a careful pilot and a  good friend of mine, had repeatedly tried landing an MI-17 helicopter  at the basecamp, but in vain. 

As I was preparing to fly from Nepalgunj to Musikot in the  afternoon, I got news that an MI-17 helicopter had been shot. Earlier  in the morning, we had news that another chopper—Lancer, flown  by Major Subash Thapa—had been struck by bullets. Lancer, a small  helicopter made specifically for war, has guns pointing out from both  sides. 

Major Thapa had risked landing the chopper in the barracks  premises while simultaneously firing bullets and dropping bombs. But  he was forced to fly back to Musikot after his chopper was struck by  Maoist bullets.  

Major Thapa was also one of the most careful and intelligent pilots  that the Nepal Army had. But when his helicopter was hit, army  officers sank deep into despair. 

They warned me to be alert. I had set off from Nepalgunj at around 1. Communicating with me via their radio set, they said, “The Maoists  have used long-range weapons. It’s risky, you might get shot. Exercise  caution.”  

Some army officers even expressed surprise that a civilian would take  such a risk. “We serve in the army and are compelled to do this. You are  a civilian. Why do you put your life at risk?” a ranger asked me. 

Whenever I heard such comments, I used to get more determined  about turning the soldiers’ despair into my motivation. Maybe I  inherited my ancestors’ bold and courageous traits. Their legacy would  not survive if I could not play hide-and-seek with risk. That’s partly  why I had become accustomed to taking risks. 

In the initial days of the Maoist ‘people’s war’, I got involved in  it as a commercial pilot flying for the Nepal Police. When the war  intensified, the state eventually decided to deploy the army to fight the  rebels. This pushed private helicopter companies and pilots like us into  a very difficult situation.  

As risks increased, some of these companies balked, but I felt it  was wrong to help when conditions are easy and walk away when they  are tough. So I did not shy away from risks and kept carrying out  humanitarian rescues in the decade-long ‘people’s war’. 

I rescued not only state security personnel, but did not hesitate to  rescue injured Maoist combatants either. On some occasions, I even  rescued rebel fighters without letting the security personnel know. 

*** 

Once I was in Dolpa with foodstuffs, ammunition, etc. for the Nepal  Police. A local businessman from Dunai, who supplied foodstuffs and  other essential items to the police and the army, asked me if I could  take a sick woman to Surkhet. The woman was frail and was dressed in  rags. Her name was Satya Pahadi and she was a Maoist cadre. 

The security personnel did not hear about it at all. 

Despite knowing that she was a Maoist cadre, I was willing to  fly her to Surkhet. I thought a sick person’s first necessity is medical  treatment. It’s also a natural right. I felt she should not be deprived of  treatment.  

As the helicopter was packed, I put her in the cockpit and dropped  her in Surkhet. Before we parted ways, she gave me her phone number.  I even called the number a couple of times to inquire after her. But  the calls did not go through. But five years later, after the Maoists  joined the peace process, she called me—as the minister for peace and  reconstruction. 

She had been appointed the minister in 2011 under the coalition  government led by Dr Baburam Bhattarai. I don’t know why, but she  called me on the very day of her appointment and reminded me of the day I took her to Surkhet. Pahadi is married to Shakti Bahadur Basnet,  a lawmaker elected in the 2017 elections from the district of Jajarkot. (He later became the Minister for Forest and Environment.) 

*** 

While on the surface it looked like I was working for the state,  my priority was humanitarian rescue, because unlike the security  personnel, I was not mobilized to fight the Maoists. My role as a  humanitarian rescuer was akin to that of a doctor who is solemnly  bound to treat all patients. Once I dedicated my career to flying, I  thought (and still think) of rescue work as my duty. 

While the Khara combat was going on, the victory or defeat of one  particular side was not my primary concern. Rather, I had thought  that taking food and water to those who needed them and rescuing  the soldiers who were on the brink of death were humanitarian—and  thus my primary—concern. 

*** 

The combat had not ended when I reached Khara in the afternoon.  There were Maoist guerrillas on the high hills surrounding the barracks,  ready with long-range weapons to strike at army helicopters. Their  sole aim was to prevent the choppers from landing at the barracks.  They had probably calculated they would win the battle if they could  prevent reinforcements from coming. And they seemed to be acting  accordingly. 

Two copters had already been shot. Army pilots were losing hope  they could land at the basecamp. I faced a colossal challenge. I wanted  to land a chopper at the Khara basecamp at any cost. 

Khara, which is at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet from sea  level, connects Rukum, Salyan, and Rolpa. To its east lies the village  of Simrut, to its west Jhulneta, to its north Muru, and to its south  Dalsingh. Musikot, the district headquarters, is about 5 km west of  Khara.

From Nepalgunj, I first flew to Musikot. Other choppers were at  the barracks in Bohoragaun; I couldn’t find a place there and landed  mine at Musikot airport, where a few army officers were present. 

Their radio sets were constantly buzzing. I could hear the soldiers  who were still fighting, asking for reinforcements. 

People in the nearby Musikot bazaar were terrified and therefore  very quiet. The sounds of the firing and explosions had added to the fear. 

I communicated with Division Chief Dipak Bikram JBR, who  was at Musikot barracks. “Captain Thapa, you are our last hope!” His  request and confidence in me added to my sense of duty. 

All eyes were on me because my team was considered the last  option. Everyone was hoping we would fly. “The injured are about to  die. We have run out of food. There is a shortage of water. We need  ammunition, or the Maoists will capture the basecamp…” was what  we could hear from the radio sets. 

My mind was turbulent, and I was questioning myself: “Why did  I come here? Is it not to rescue the soldiers? Have I really served my  purpose?” 

After being buffeted by a barrage of questions, I was gradually filled  with a unique sense of energy and courage. Finally, I resolved to land  at the Khara security basecamp. 

Just as I was making a sketch of the area and asking the commanders  of the ranger force to take their seats on the two sides of the chopper,  I got a call on my cell phone from AIG Rajendra Bahadur Singh. He  said, “If we don’t have reinforcements in the next 20 to 30 minutes, the  Maoists will capture Khara.” This made me more impatient. Without  wasting another minute, I made my way to the helicopter. 

I asked the 20 rangers to sit on two sides of the chopper so as to  maintain balance. We loaded the chopper with ammunition and flew. The soldiers had aimed long-range weapons out from the  helicopter’s windows. I had asked them to resist using the weapons  as far as possible. “Fire your weapons only if the Maoists shoot at the helicopter,” I had told them. But when the Maoists started firing  indiscriminately at the chopper, the soldiers started firing back. I instructed co-pilot Kiran Thapa to stay calm and monitor the  radio signals, but did not offer him details on how I was going to land.  On the hills close to the Khara basecamp, I could see Maoist guerrillas  ready to shoot at helicopters. So it would have been extremely risky to  fly close to those hills. 

“Alpha, Bravo…” I was constantly hearing such phrases on the radio. Because the  Maoists had made off with the army’s radio sets, I could hear their  conversations, yells and groans. I could also hear them say, “The bird’s  here, strike.” 

The Maoist fighters referred to helicopters as birds. Firing—at and  from the helicopter—continued unabated. I took it to an abnormal  altitude—an unusual state in which the chopper looks wobbly from the  ground, as if it’s about to crash—in an attempt to confuse the Maoists. 

My chopper was at an altitude of about 7,000 ft. In normal  situations, landing takes place at a normal speed. But at that moment,  the helicopter was directly above the helipad and was descending at a  high speed. I made a vertical descent and landed the chopper on the  barracks premises. 

I had calculated that even if the Maoists fired at the helicopter, they  would miss because of the high speed. That turned out to be the right  calculation. All their attempts were in vain. The copter landed safely.  

The soldiers got out fast and started taking positions. They also  started unloading the ammunition. The injured were being loaded  onto the chopper. I could not get out of the cockpit, but I looked  around. The ground was strewn with corpses. It was a heart-rending  scene. I flew back to the Musikot airport with some injured soldiers. 

Later, I flew back to Khara with reinforcements. Afterward, other  army choppers also landed there. Copters that had been hit with  bullets and were put away in the barracks started flying after regular  maintenance.

Finally the Maoist guerrillas who had surrounded the Khara  basecamp started retreating. They were forced to do so after we  dropped arms and ammunition and almost 150 additional soldiers at  the barracks. 

When I was back in Nepalgunj, I saw Division Chief General  Dipak Bikram JBR. “You saved Khara from being overrun,” he said  while patting my shoulder in a sign of appreciation. “Now we can look  to His Majesty for approval.” 

He added, “Only army personnel are eligible for the Nepali Tara  medal. Despite being a civilian, your contribution is no smaller than  that of a soldier. I will recommend you for Nepali Tara.” 

“I didn’t do it for a medal, General. I took the risk for humanitarian  reasons and as a duty to the nation. I don’t need a medal,” I replied. Rana did not say anything in response; he just kept patting my  shoulder. 

AIG Rajendra Bahadur Singh and Home Secretary Chandi Prasad Shrestha also called and congratulated me. 

*** 

I returned to Kathmandu two days after the Khara rescue. Army  Chief Pyar Jung Thapa invited me over to his official residence at  Shashi Bhawan for breakfast. He seemed extremely happy with my  work. “You have done a great job,” he said enthusiastically. “Your  courageous work has salvaged the army’s honor.” 

During breakfast, CoAS Thapa also expressed concern over my  security. He thought I could have incurred the ire of the Maoists  because of my involvement at Khara, and he offered me a place at  Shashi Bhawan. I expressed gratitude for his kindness but told him  that I would remain safe outside as well. 

*** 

While more than 250 Maoist combatants lost their lives in the April 7 Khara attack, only three army personnel were killed.

It was the Maoists’ second attack on Khara. Earlier, the Maoists had  attacked Khara and Damachaur (Salyan) simultaneously on 27 May 2002 and had suffered a terrible defeat in which they lost about 150  combatants. The first defeat at Khara had forced the Maoists to reassess  their military strategy. The second failure became a turning point for  them, one which compelled them to give up their violent movement. 

*** 

Even after the Maoists joined the peace process, various reports  and investigative news stories on their military strategy have been  published. 

Journalist Bhojraj Bhat has written: ‘Fierce army action following the Khara attack forced the Maoists  to change their old strategy. King Gyanendra’s growing ambition to  rule unilaterally also played a part in making Prachanda softer toward  parliamentary parties and India. What is surprising is that immediately  after Khara, Prachanda sent Baburam, who was facing action from the  party, to Delhi together with Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the head of the  Maoists’ foreign affairs department. The parliamentary parties and the  Maoists got closer after that. And four months later, the Maoists held  the Chunbang meeting, which paved their way to the peace process.’ (20  Feb 2011, Nepal weekly) 

*** 

From the eyes of a pilot who saw and experienced the ‘people’s  war’ first-hand, the battle of Khara was indeed a turning point for the  Maoists, after which their path diverted away from war. They eventually  joined the peace process and are now part of mainstream politics. 

During the decade-long Maoist ‘people’s war’, I reached many  places for rescue and reinforcements. I saw the combat and the fresh  battlefields up close. I experienced the country’s pain and tears when  one Nepali shed the blood of another. The war days are etched in my  memory in layers.

Many attempts were made to bring Nepali society, which was  trapped in a cycle of violence and counter-violence, back to peace.  Many individuals, parties, organizations and power centers have played  important roles in this. The Maoists abandoned the ‘people’s war’ and  were drawn into peaceful politics through mutual understanding and  cooperation with parliamentary parties. Behind this are many reasons—national, international and geopolitical. 

It was the helicopters that forced the Maoists to retreat at Khara.  The choppers’ role had been much appreciated. When I look back, I  feel that the risk I took was worthwhile.

Excerpt from the book ‘Into the Fire’ by Capt Rameshwar Thapa. This book, an essential reference on the decade-long armed conflict in Nepal, is grounded in hard facts and is set to launch on Aug 31

Nepal, compared to other South Asian countries, has taken a giant leap in recognizing sexual and reproductive rights through various levels. While the progress is not yet sufficient, it has certainly hit the ground running. Article 38(2) of the Constitution of Nepal 2015, has guaranteed the right to safe motherhood and reproductive health. In Nepal, access to safe abortion services is regulated under the ‘Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act’ (SMRH Act) of 2018. This Act decriminalizes abortion and provides legal provisions for women to access safe abortion services. The SMRH Act allows for abortion on several grounds, including cases where the continuation of pregnancy poses a risk to the life or physical or mental health of the woman, cases of rape or incest, fetal abnormalities, or when the pregnancy is a result of contraceptive failure in married couples. Abortion is permitted up to 28 weeks of gestation in cases where the woman's life is in danger, and up to 12 weeks of gestation for other reasons. In certain circumstances, with the approval of a medical board, abortions can be performed up to 28 weeks. Aborting female no longer requires spousal/parental/judicial consent and that somehow releases the air of objectivity for authorization. That being said,  given the societal structure, the traditional norms and values override this legal provision, as many women still seek parental/spousal authorization for abortion. Therefore, despite laws in place, the musical chair of de-facto authorization for abortion continues.

Third-party authorization is a requirement imposed by law or policy, or in practice, that a party other than the woman, girl, or other pregnant people must authorize an abortion where other applicable legal requirements for lawful abortion have been met. The specifics of third-party consent laws vary from country to country and sometimes even within different regions or states of a country. Over the years, women’s reproductive autonomy was/has been heavily controlled by the third party, namely parents, spouses, and the judicial authority. The deep-rooted patriarchy in Nepal still challenges a woman’s right to reproduction despite laws prohibiting it. The Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Rights Act 2017 does not require third-party authorization for abortion, although the practices in Nepal direct otherwise. Given the situation that values, culture, and tradition drive Nepali society, the decision in these matters seems to be collective rather than individual.

From a legal perspective, there is a glimmer of hope that the woman’s body autonomy has been respected. Not only the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Rights Act 2017, but various international legal instruments have also mandated women's autonomy. International instruments like CRC/Cedaw stress that the state should repeal laws and regulations that impede rural women’s access to SRH. The following has also been supported by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v Casey, where the Court determined that spousal notification requirements are unconstitutional and placed an undue burden on women’s  liberties. While many believe that judicial authorization for abortion is paramount, Rwanda in 2019 removed judicial authorization requirements for abortion, thereby permitting women over the age of 18 to access abortion without judicial authorization.

States must respect the right of individuals to make independent decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, including whether to have an abortion. The Supreme Court of Nepal seemed very welcoming in respecting women's reproductive autonomy. The Court in the case of Achyut Kharel v Council of Ministers adjudged that a spousal consent requirement for abortion would violate women’s human rights under international law and Nepal’s constitution. Further, in regards to reproductive autonomy, the Supreme Court of Nepal, in the Lakxmi Dikta v Government of Nepal, stated that the right to decide on the number and spacing of one’s children is an essential component of sexual and reproductive rights and reproductive autonomy, and that restrictive abortion laws violate these rights. It also stated that information on the right to decide freely on the number and spacing of children must be included in basic education to fully empower women to exercise this right. 

While such landmark decisions have ensured women's reproductive autonomy, patriarchal lineage continues to impact women’s economic autonomy, often compelling them to seek consent of men even for minor decisions.

Financial resources and social support play a significant role in women’s ability to make informed reproductive choices, including decisions about pregnancy and abortion. Access to economic resources can be substantial, often combined with social support, for women’s ability to access abortion-related information and services. In Latin American countries, in places where abortion is illegal, access to financial resources and emotional support is essential for women to safely access medically supervised abortions in secret clinics. Access to safe and legal abortion services often requires financial resources. In some cases, individuals may choose abortion due to the inability to afford prenatal care, childbirth, or raising a child. Financial constraints can make abortion a more practical option for individuals who are not prepared to bear the costs associated with pregnancy and parenting. However, in Nepal, the situation is more complicated due to the heavy economic dependency of women on men.

This is the prime reason the abortion decision is influenced by the third party’s consent. There is a robust economic dependency of women towards men in rural settings and the decision can barely be taken against a man’s will. Economic disparities and poverty can significantly impact women's access to safe abortion services, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds. Financial constraints, including costs associated with transportation, medical fees, and post-abortion care, can pose significant barriers to obtaining essential reproductive healthcare. Additionally, ensuring access to safe abortion services for women under the age of 18 presents a unique set of challenges that require careful consideration of their best interests. While the SMRH Act may not explicitly require parental consent for minors seeking a safe abortion, it is essential to ensure a balanced approach that prioritizes the well-being of young women in these situations.

Gender inequality often intersects with socioeconomic conditions, making it daring for women to exercise their reproductive rights, including access to safe abortion services. In patriarchal societies like Nepal, many decisions run on the consensus of the male members of the family, and thus females, especially young girls, have limited decision-making power, making abortion decisions on coercion or pressure. Nevertheless, with a focus on policy-level work and reduced economic dependency on men, alongside the protection of women's rights, the de facto third-party authorization for abortion in Nepal comes to an end, validating the provision of de jure prohibition on third-party authorization for abortion.

If our universities do not advance in education, academics, and technology, our national development and international standing will continue to decline. Globally, universities are seen as centers of knowledge, innovation, and research. The identity and development of advanced nations, as well as the progress of human civilization, are often linked to the research and innovation produced by their universities. Historically, institutions like Rishi Muni’s Tapobhoomi and Taxila established India as a global center of knowledge and civilization. Similarly, ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and the achievements of humanity, such as reaching the moon, are the results of university-driven innovations.

Today, whether it’s the groundbreaking research of Nobel laureates or advancements in micro-computer technology, universities play a key role in the development, dissemination, and commercialization of technology. We all aspire to see similar advancements in our own country.

When we compare the educational, academic, and technological progress of neighboring countries like China and India, which gained independence around the same time as Nepal in 1950, it becomes clear that if Nepal does not advance, our national development and international identity will continue to suffer. It is high time that Nepali universities focus on research. In many Nepali universities, research and publication are not only essential for the professional development of academics but also for attaining high-ranking positions within the institutions.

The University Grants Commission (UGC), the umbrella organization of Nepali universities, has played a creative role in the development of higher education in Nepal since its inception. Whether it’s contributing to the development of knowledge and technology, fostering skilled human resources, or promoting research in nationally significant areas, the UGC has been committed to improving higher education in Nepal for three decades. The Commission is not only responsible for providing capital and operational funding for physical infrastructure but also for supporting technology development, quality control, and the delegation of university responsibilities. The UGC works in coordination with relevant federal ministries, especially the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Finance, to connect national universities in Nepal.

This article explores the current role of the University Grants Commission in promoting academic and scientific research, along with future research policies and suggestions. Nepali students will be drawn to local universities only if these institutions engage in innovative research, publish in quality journals, and use research findings for the benefit of society.

Commission’s research activities

While developed countries allocate a significant portion of their national budgets to research and innovation, Nepal has only recently begun this process. The University Grants Commission has taken steps to provide research funding to Nepali universities, offer research training, initiate entrepreneurial programs, and support the publication and presentation of research work. The Research and Scholarship Division of the UGC is active in awarding scholarships to undergraduate students and supporting postgraduate and PhD students in their research. However, the division’s role in fostering a research environment in Nepali universities has been diminishing in recent years.

Over the past decade, the UGC has progressed through seven thematic clusters, funding 50 MPhil, micro-research, and faculty research projects annually. This number has increased to 60 research projects at the PhD level. The UGC is also involved in 17 major research projects with national and international collaboration. Its innovative activities include numerous training programs, publications, and international visits to support young scientists and academic research. The UGC invests around 40 crores annually in these activities and is determined to promote cutting-edge research.

With financial support from the World Bank, the UGC has launched an entrepreneurial program in collaboration with national or provincial universities. This initiative aims to transform the site by engaging approximately 100 young students, teachers, and staff from across Nepal. The UGC also aims to connect Nepali research with the global community and make research more effective by controlling the duplication of efforts.

The UGC’s efforts to create a national research portal, the ‘Research Network Information System’ (RNIS), for university professors across Nepal are expected to have a positive impact. The UGC has also been involved in quality control and the effective implementation of 'Peer Reviewed Journals' by classifying journals published in Nepal.

Proposed new academic and scientific research initiatives

Given the current situation, it is not feasible for the University Grants Commission alone to regulate research activities and conduct quality research. Professors from various universities and hundreds of subject matter experts in different government agencies in Nepal must re-evaluate the research activities of the UGC. As the UGC prepares and circulates regulatory procedures, particularly for MPhil and PhD research, it is the responsibility of every university to improve their postgraduate programs.

The UGC should seize this opportunity to allocate research funds equitably and competitively, thereby increasing research activities across all Nepali universities and higher education institutions. Research development in Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University is already regulated, and newer universities are in the process of doing so. Collaboration between universities should be encouraged to promote and present joint research efforts.

Attracting Nepali students to local universities will require engagement in innovative research, coordination with federal, provincial, and local governments, and publication of research results in quality journals for the benefit of society.

Conclusion

Universities worldwide are synonymous with innovative research. Although research regulatory procedures have been successfully implemented in Nepal’s older universities, newer institutions have only recently begun this process. The UGC has been working for decades to establish and upgrade necessary laboratories for equitable and competitive research in Nepal’s higher educational institutions.

In today’s environment, where the UGC plays an additional role in providing technical and financial support to postgraduates, MPhil, PhD, post-doc students, and working professors in Nepali universities, faculty and staff should take this golden opportunity to move forward. It is time for every university to not only conduct academic research but also engage in innovative research that aligns with global market demands and offers long-term social benefits.