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Lumbini is a serene and sacred land in Nepal where Buddha, the Light of Asia, was born. Also known as the Enlightened One, Buddha was formerly Prince Siddhartha Gautam of the Shakya clan. He later became known as Shakyamuni and ultimately, the Buddha. Born approximately 2,700 years ago, Siddhartha Gautam’s birthplace has since been revered as a holy site for Buddhists across the world.

Located in the Rupandehi district of southern Nepal’s Tarai plains, Lumbini is a vital Buddhist pilgrimage site. According to tradition, Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautam here in 563 BCE.

Rishikesh Shah writes: “To the east of Kosala, there was in ancient times a republic of the Sakyas known as Kapilvastu. The republic was situated between the Gandaki and Rapti rivers. The Sakyas were Kshatriyas of the Ikshvaku clan, who had established their own republic after severing ties with the kingdom of Kosala. Their land extended northwards to the Himalayan ranges and southwards to a grove of sal trees called Lumbini. It was in this grove that Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion, was born. Lumbini is now called Rupandehi.”

Born into royalty, Siddhartha Gautam was the son of King Suddhodhan and Queen Mayadevi. He enjoyed a life of luxury and comfort. However, upon venturing beyond the palace walls, he was deeply moved by sights of suffering—a beggar, a cripple, a corpse, and a holy man. This encounter awakened in him a desire to discover the root cause of human suffering and find a path to liberation. Renouncing his royal life, he left behind his wife, Yashodhara, and son, Rahul, shedding all royal attachments to live as a wandering ascetic.

Through intense meditation and austerity, Siddhartha ultimately attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya on a full moon night. He experienced direct realization of Nirvana at the age of 35 and dedicated the rest of his life to preaching love, compassion, and the path to liberation until his death at 84.

The teachings of Buddha are centered on the Four Noble Truths. First, life is inherently filled with suffering. Second, the root cause of this suffering is ignorance. Third, it is possible to eliminate ignorance, and therefore suffering. Finally, the way to eliminate ignorance is through the Noble Eightfold Path. This path consists of Right Understanding, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. Additionally, Buddha organized his teachings under three core principles: Prajna (intellectual wisdom), Shila (moral discipline), and Samadhi (spiritual practice). These three correspond closely to the Hindu concepts of Jnana (knowledge), Karma (action), and Bhakti (devotion).

Historical and cultural significance 

Emperor Ashoka of India became a devoted follower of Buddha after the devastating Kalinga war. In 250 BCE, he visited Lumbini and erected a commemorative pillar bearing inscriptions about Buddha’s birth. The inscription reads:

“King Priyadarshi, beloved of the gods, having been anointed twenty years, came in person and worshipped here, saying, ‘Here the Blessed One was born.’ King Priyadarshi exempted the village of Lumbini from taxes and bestowed wealth upon it.”

Ashoka also sent missionaries, including his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra, to spread Buddhism to regions such as Sri Lanka. The site includes a sacred pond, Puskarni, where Queen Mayadevi is said to have bathed before giving birth and also washed the newborn Buddha.

Lumbini is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is being developed under the Master Plan by the Lumbini Development Trust. The area includes monasteries, stupas, meditation centers, and temples built by countries like Japan, China, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, France, and Germany. Even Muslim-majority Bangladesh has announced plans to build a guesthouse for pilgrims, as noted by Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams.

Revival and rediscovery

Lumbini had fallen into obscurity until its rediscovery in 1895 by General Khadga Samsher JB Rana and German archaeologist Alois Anton Fuhrer. Perceval Landon writes: “On 1 Dec 1895, close to the General’s camp, the great Ashokan monolith was discovered in a thicket above the surrounding fields. The site was known by the name Rummindee—a local adaptation of Lumbini.”

Chinese pilgrim records had previously described the site, including the shrine, pond, and pillar. Despite early restrictions on access, Fuhrer glimpsed a sculpture of Mayadevi inside the shrine. The art of sculpture thrived here long before the Gupta period, as evidenced by stone and terracotta statues found during excavations.

Modern-day Lumbini and its challenges

Lumbini has received increased global attention since UN Secretary-General U Thant’s visit in 1970. However, as noted by British scholar David Seddon during his 2014 visit, the site remains in a neglected state. He observed that the Ashokan pillar is submerged in an overgrown pond surrounded by broken railings and rubbish, calling for “loving care” to preserve the heritage.

Environmental degradation is another serious concern. According to Ram Charitra Sah, Director of the Center for Public Health and Environmental Development, the proliferation of factories in the region is threatening the ecological sanctity of this sacred land.

Veteran journalist Kanak Mani Dixit has highlighted how despite Lumbini’s prominence, other archaeological treasures like Simraungadh have been neglected. He remarks that while Lumbini has become a central site in the Tarai, Buddhism remains somewhat distant from the region’s current cultural landscape.

Modern scholarship has yet to satisfactorily determine the exact date of the Buddha's Nirvana (death). Nevertheless, India and the world recently celebrated the 2,500th Nirvana Day of the Buddha based on the widely accepted timeline: his birth in 624 BC, enlightenment (Sambodhi) in 589 BC, and Parinirvana in 544 BC.

A survey conducted by Giovanni Verardi identified 136 archaeological sites of varying sizes in Kapilvastu district, with approximately another hundred sites in Rupandehi. Together, these form an extensive landscape that still requires detailed archaeological study. This abundance of sites highlights the need to shift our approach from conserving individual locations to understanding Greater Lumbini as a vast cultural landscape. Planning for Greater Lumbini must be grounded in the establishment of management frameworks that address cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development.

A declaration made during the 20th General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Sydney, Australia, endorsed Nepal’s proposal to recognize, declare, and develop Lumbini as the fountain of world peace and the holiest pilgrimage site for Buddhists. The declaration further urged that the three historical sites—Kapilvastu, Ramagrama, and Devadaha—be similarly developed and studied, alongside continued excavation, conservation, and research efforts. It also emphasized the need for a feasibility study on establishing an International Buddhist University in Lumbini and recommended identifying a suitable institution to serve as an associate center of the World Buddhist University in Thailand.

Delegates also called on the Government of Nepal to make the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) a permanent and autonomous body and urged the United Nations to review the UN Lumbini Development Committee.

Tourism expert Kai Weise has stressed that tourism management in the region must consider the impact of the new airport, the rising number of visitors (both local and international), and the infrastructure and services needed to support them. He also emphasized the importance of protecting the environmental context of Greater Lumbini, including flood management, pollution control (from industry and other sources), and the preservation of significant landscapes through land use regulations. Opportunities for regional development, he noted, should focus on tourism as well as local livelihoods based on agriculture, handicrafts, and other sustainable services, including appropriate housing.

As the great scientist Albert Einstein once said, “If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.” Similarly, notable figures such as Hollywood actor Richard Gere, Burmese political leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and world-renowned golfer Tiger Woods have all expressed admiration for the principles of Buddhism.

Learning shouldn’t be limited to classrooms. We all know that but as the daily grind takes over, learning often takes a backseat. Many people ApEx spoke to confessed that without classes to attend and the threat of exams looming over their heads, they weren’t very likely to try and learn something new by themselves. While that is understandable, there are some skills that can possibly give your career a boost as well as help you feel confident about yourself. The best part is that you don’t even have to spend a lot of time every day to learn these essential skills. Just a few minutes of daily practice are enough. We recommend five handy skills that can help you become better at what you do and force you to be a little creative too, which is always a good thing.

A new language

Studies have shown that learning a new language, activates different parts of your brain and slows down age related changes. Nowadays, it’s not difficult to learn a new language from the comfort of your home. There are many apps that take you through the basics of any language you want to learn in just a few minutes a day. Learning a new language might also help you be considered for promotions especially if you work for multinational companies or open up new job opportunities. You might also be able to look into cultural exchange programs, things who previously had no access to. Additionally, learning a new language is also fun and engaging.

Basic photography skills

All of us take pictures on our phones, but how many of us can actually say that the photos we take are pleasing to look at? Learn the basics of photography through tutorials on YouTube or you can even ask a professional photographer if they would let you tag along during their assignments. Most photographers will let you assist them in their projects. There are many workshops and courses, both physical and virtual, that you can join to pick up a few tips and tricks. You don’t need fancy equipment to take good photos. Just your phone will do.

Graphic design

Graphic design is used in a wide range of fields from marketing and publishing to product design. It’s a great tool of visual communication and thus more important today than ever before. No matter which profession you are in, it helps to have some knowledge of graphic design. Are you interested in print or web design or is it motion graphics that holds a special appeal? Figure out which path you wanna take and get on board with some courses. Learning graphic design is a mentally stimulating activity.

Sewing and stitching

Many people don’t know how to mend a popped button and it’s unfortunate because you end up spending a lot of time and money fixing small things. We believe sewing and stitching are skills everyone should possess. And it’s not hard to learn either. But if you can work with a needle and thread, why not take things a step further by learning how to sew and stitch some basic items. This is something you can do as a family activity as well. Think about it, won’t it be fun to wear clothes that you made yourself? And if things turn out well, you can even start thinking of running a small clothes business in the future. 

Public speaking

Everyone, irrespective of who you are and what you do, can benefit from a public speaking course. It will make you more confident and better able to express yourself. These days, many organizations and corporate houses have realized the importance of public speaking and hold workshops and training for their staff. You can also learn public speaking by listening to experts in the field and picking up pointers on how to be a more effective communicator. This is a soft skill that has huge benefits.

Despite the ongoing deterioration of the United States’ decades-long diplomatic reputation under its 47th president and his foreign policy approach, one YouTuber and streamer is changing the game as a surprising representative of America to the world. iShowSpeed, aka Darren Watkins Jr., is an American YouTuber known for his high-energy IRL (in real life) livestreams, which at their peak draw over a million viewers. But he’s more than just another influencer—in many ways, he’s become an unlikely tool of soft diplomacy and cultural representation.

What is Track II diplomacy?

In simple terms, Track II diplomacy refers to any form of cross-border engagement, cultural exchange, soft power cultivation, or interaction between nations that occurs outside official diplomatic channels. This includes activities conducted by NGOs, think tanks, academics, artists, and even individuals. While the term originated in the world of international relations as a supplementary channel—often used in times when formal (Track I) diplomacy fails—its meaning has expanded with time to include new, more decentralized forms of global engagement.

The redefinition of Track II diplomacy

Track II diplomacy is informal and non-structured. Traditionally, public figures like influencers would not be seen as part of this framework. But with the evolution of people-to-people diplomacy, digital creators like iShowSpeed now fit squarely within this expanded definition.

Through his content, Watkins promotes Western values—not through propaganda, but simply by being himself. His livestreams integrate naturally with the local cultures he visits, bringing authenticity and spontaneity to cross-cultural encounters. His personality-driven interactions bring joy, surprise, and connection to millions. He makes foreign people and places feel familiar and real, and in doing so, helps shape international perceptions in ways formal diplomacy often can’t.

But who is this streamer?

Darren Watkins Jr., known online as Speed, began as a gaming YouTuber before rising to fame through provocative stunts, viral skits, controversial moments, and relentless content creation. His love for Cristiano Ronaldo made him especially popular across the Global South. But it was his international tours—from his Europe trip in 2023 to his recent tour of China in 2025—that cemented him as a household name among Gen Z internet-goers.

To date, he has visited more than 30 countries, including India and Thailand. With his spontaneous street encounters, humorous remarks, people-first approach, and genuine curiosity, he presents each country as it is to a massive global audience. His live streams—and the short-form content clipped from them—reach tens or even hundreds of millions of viewers.

So, can he be called a diplomat?

The simple answer is: no, he is not a diplomat in the official sense. But he is a representative—an unofficial cultural ambassador of sorts. With honorary mayor status in Lima, Peru, and a meeting with Albania’s prime minister under his belt, Speed is increasingly engaged in what can only be described as digital-era diplomacy.

According to Viewstats, his YouTube channel garnered 339 million views in the past 28 days alone. When you add in shorts, clips, and social media reposts, the number easily climbs to 500 million–1 billion views a month. That is an unmatched platform—an opportunity any tourism-reliant country should seriously consider tapping into.

His recent IRL streams from China gained huge traction online. Many western viewers even described his unfiltered portrayal of the country as a refreshing counter to decades of anti-China narratives. The Embassy of China in the US praised him in a tweet: “The 20-year-old… is bridging cultural gaps and creating alternative channels for foreign audiences to understand a vibrant China.”

A call for a lobby

Given Speed’s influence, and the fact that he has previously expressed a desire to visit Nepal (a clip is linked), this is the moment for Nepal to act. A joint initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), or other relevant agencies and stakeholders could use this opportunity to invite him. 

With Speed recently concluding his Mongolia visit and not having declared his next destination, now is the perfect time. Whether through official or unofficial channels, Nepal could become the next stage for a cultural spotlight of immense scale. His visit could bring unmatched global attention to our temples, mountains, food, traditions, and everyday people.

The changing world of engagement

As the world grapples with growing isolationism, deglobalization, and geopolitical tensions, the internet remains a rare unifying thread. In this climate, content creators—streamers, YouTubers, influencers—function as informal ambassadors. They shape narratives, build bridges, and create empathy across borders.

This is more than just tourism promotion. It’s people-to-people diplomacy. It’s democratic soft power in action. Through the web, we see that people everywhere laugh, cry, hope, and dream in similar ways. These shared human experiences matter more than treaties, summits, or statecraft. Speed may not be a traditional diplomat—but in today’s world, he represents something just as powerful: connection.

Dibya Deep Acharya, International Relations, MA, Tribhuvan University

Storage is one of the most important aspects of every home. We all need it and lots of it too. But it’s often the one thing we lack. As we accumulate stuff over the years, we run out of space to keep them all and find ourselves struggling to manage our homes.

Proper storage can be a lifesaver. And the good thing is that you don’t need big homes for extra storage space. There are plenty of ingenious ideas that you can use to maximize storage space in your homes. Here we present some great storage solutions that can help you keep your home clutter free (and no, we aren’t going to tell you to stow things under the bed).

Functional coffee tables and ottomans

A great coffee table can make your living space come alive but it can also double as storage. These days, you can get tables with hidden storage space underneath them or those with shelves on the sides instead of legs. You can also customize your own coffee table to suit your needs. Build a deep one with storage inside or choose one where the top moves to varying heights depending on how much stuff you put underneath. You can also use ottomans as coffee tables. You simply have to put a wooden or metallic tray on top to display items you normally would like vases or coasters on the center table. Ottomans are great storage solutions as they look sleek and can be made in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

Baskets and boxes

Pretty baskets and boxes can be used to store things out of sight. From towels and toilet paper to charging cables and makeup items, you can store almost anything in big wicker baskets or lovely paper boxes with interesting designs on them. This will help keep your home tidy as well as maintain a sense of order. Most of the time, similar things tend to be kept in different drawers and in many places. Grouping them together and storing them in boxes and baskets can save space and help you find them easily when you need them. We suggest you get paper boxes in the same color to store similar items. For example, get green boxes for cords and electrical items, yellow for makeup and other personal knick knacks, and blue for medicines and such supplies. This can help you identify items without having to open each box.

Hidden storage spaces

You can have a local carpenter build simple shelves and cabinets in unused spaces like below the staircase and forgotten corners of your home like the awkward space between two rooms or the landing of the stairs. You can find many great designs on Pinterest and even Instagram. You can also strategically stow filing cabinets in corners of your home to maximize space or build concealed shelves along the walls. There are plenty of sleek cabinet designs that merge seamlessly on the walls. If you have a window space that is unused, consider building a seating area along the length of it. You can have storage underneath the seats. This idea can also be used in dining table benches or your living room sofa. The key here is to look at furniture pieces with a fresh eye and figure out which can double as storage space.

Kitchen island

Kitchen spaces need to be functional and practical. But they also tend to be the most under-utilized space in terms of storage. Just because a kitchen is where you cook your meals doesn’t mean it can’t be a space where you can aesthetically store your utensils and equipment. A kitchen island can be a great way to incorporate functionality into your space while adding tons of storage to it. Consider building one in the center of your kitchen. The top can be used to do all the work like chopping and prepping for meals while you can store pretty much anything in the cabinets and drawers underneath. If you think having an island at the center of your kitchen might make the area seem congested, you can also build a smaller one on one side of the area to ensure it doesn’t get in the way.

Revamp your entryway

Oftentimes, the entryway in your homes is the most unused and empty space in the house. At the most, we will have a table there to drop our keys and wallets. Otherwise it’s just a place that connects your front door to the rest of the house, a space you don’t give much thought to while decorating. Make use of this space while trying to maximize storage in your home. You don’t need a large lobby area to do this. A simple bench with storage underneath to put your shoes and maybe a rack to hang your bags and coats can keep this area from becoming cluttered. You can also use a large cabinet to partition the area from the rest of your space and use this as additional storage.