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Right since it started playing in the Thamel pub circuit back in 2008/2009, “Pariwartan” has been a busy band. Busy to the point that it was playing six nights a week, in and outside Thamel. In the pre-covid era, the band was one of the most sought-after set of musicians for live performances, traveling across Nepal to play at different venues. Pariwartan performs cover songs, in English and Nepali, ranging from modern pop to classic rock.

“The initial plan was not only to play covers but also to create our own music,” says Deepak Gurung, bass player and the only remaining founding member of the band that has in time gone through multiple line-up changes. After a string of trials and errors with different band members, the 37-year-old Gurung has finally found the perfect bandmates in singer/guitarist Gopi Shrestha, drummer Yugal Shahi and guitarist Pravesh Thapa Magar, all of whom are in their mid-20s. Joining the band between 2018 and 2019, the three reciprocate Gurung’s trust as they look to collectively forge a new identity.

When the pandemic shut down venues across the country and forced musicians to hibernate, the band took the time to finally create and record its own music. Pariwartan released its debut single “Ma Chu” in July 2020 and has since been writing more music in preparation for its debut album. “We have eight songs ready for the full-length album that we plan to release this June or July,” Gurung says.

With a background of playing cover music of artists of all genres, what genre does Pariwartan identify with? “We don’t know that yet,” says the singer Shrestha. “Our songs have turned out to be of multiple genres, so we can’t exactly tell people what genre we belong to.” Shrestha, with the help of guitarist Magar, writes the initial frame for Pariwartan’s music while other band members chip in with ideas to complete the songs. Sometimes, new material is made spontaneously in the band’s rehearsal space.

For a band that has made an image for itself doing covers, breaking out with originals is difficult. The audiences are so used to hearing regular covers that they don’t accept anything new from the band, especially its original music. This has been true of many past bands that were successful as cover artists but failed to win audiences with their originals. For Pariwartan, this has not been the case, its members say. “Surprisingly, our audiences request us to play originals at our shows,” Magar says. “Some even ask us to play all our originals.” Gurung says this is something his band is proud of.

After its debut album, Pariwartan might change its playlist to only originals. That, at least, is the plan. They want to be recognized for creating their own music. “The plan was always there,” Shrestha says. “We just found the right time to do so.”

The band has been keeping aside its earnings from shows to finance its music. Studio time, audio post production, music video production and promotion all require significant resources. With all of them (besides Gurung) dependent on music for their livelihood, the band has had to be astute with their funds.

As for now, the band is back to doing shows and preparing for the album. It recently released the official video for its single “Timi Ra Ma” and has a couple more music videos in the pipeline before the album release. Band manager Bijay Khadka then plans to organize a nationwide tour for Pariwartan to the album.

“I remember we were opening for the mighty Albatross at the end of 2018, when our guitarist Pravesh came to me and told me we would never reach their level if we stuck to playing covers,” Gurung ends with a recollection. “It was a big realization and we finally got into making our own music. Hope we succeed.”

The iconic Dharahara at Sundhara in Kathmandu, which collapsed during the April 2015 earthquake, is now in the final stages of its rebuilding. Prime Minister KP Oli has shown special interest in the ‘Historic Dharahara Reconstruction’ project that is being undertaken by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA). During his first term as prime minister, Oli had in February 2016 announced the Mero Dharahara Ma Banaunchu (‘I will construct my Dharahara’) fundraising campaign. Oli, during his second stint as prime minister, laid the foundation stone for the new Dharahara on 28 December 2019. The project is a rare work of government undertaking making rapid progress. Construction continued even during the lockdown. Previously a nine-story tower built by Bhimsen Thapa in 1832 as a watchtower, the new Dharahara will have 22 stories, but the architectural style will be the same as the old one. The new tower will have a bigger diameter and a height of 72 meters, and have two elevators along with traditional stairs leading to the top. Being built at an estimated Rs 3.48 billion over 2.8 acres, the reconstructed Dharahara will have a garden, a museum, a color fountain, an exhibition hall, a parking lot, and shops inside its premises.

“I realized there were already plenty of private and governmental schools,” says Mahabir Pun, a teacher, researcher, scientist, and social entrepreneur, who once dreamt of establishing an education establishment for the underprivileged of rural Nepal. “So, I thought, why not instead focus on innovation and research centers for the country’s development?”

So it was that Nangi village in Myagdi district, his birthplace, had wireless internet connections by 2003, a time even the country’s major cities were deprived of decent internet facilities. Pun then sourced computers from donors and distributed them to surrounding villages. He also produced electricity from small hydro generators, and assembled handmade wooden-box CPUs.

Pun’s loftiest vision was to arrange vocational training for rural folks so that they could be more employable, both at home and abroad. Alongside, he was keen to help poverty-stricken folks engage in income-generating programs. Thus the computers he got in grant were used in online teaching, in establishing an e-market for local products. The lure of reliable internet also helped bring more trekkers to his village.

“Visions will only be wishes if we don’t share and work on them,” claims Pun, who publicized his primary proposal via the BBC, resulting in the formation of the National Innovation Center (NIC) in 2012. His goal was to boost innovation and invention. It is now registered as a non-profit research organization and is in the process of producing and selling 10 MW electricity, the profit from which will be reinvested in the center.

As of now, coffee roasting machines, solar dryers, and drones are the NIC’s major projects, produced as they are easily marketable. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the center made PPE kits and repaired medical equipment.

A man whose childhood was spent doing household chores and grazing cattle is determined to continue to lead a simple lifestyle. “Your dress and getup don’t establish your brand—your thoughts do,” he says. Moreover, Pun adds, “People, mainly youths, try to mirror the living standards of foreigners these days. They should rather look to borrow the foreigners’ progressive thinking and creativity.”

“During my time, we couldn't even think of studying abroad. Medical and engineering colleges were yet to start in Nepal, and people’s horizons were limited,” Pun recalls. But now things are vastly different, and yet, Pun rues, most of our able-bodied youths want to go abroad.

The 66-years old Pun reckons the new generation is not mature enough to take over the NIC. “I am ready to hand over, but so far I haven’t met a person who can give full time to the center without expecting a penny of profit in return,” he explains. “The center also needs someone capable of making fast, logical decisions.”

The jovial Pun likes to use his social media accounts to show a funny and fun-loving side of himself. (His dances with center colleagues have been smash hits.) More importantly, he uses Facebook and Twitter to publicize donations and expenditures.

The newly-announced ‘Galaxy 4k TV’ has among its lineup a television program, Aabiskar (‘Invention’), featuring Mahabir Pun. As the producers have been tight-lipped about the program, there is a lot of speculation about whether Pun will be a full-time presenter or put in only a guest appearance. Pun’s absence during the program’s announcement had also raised questions.

On being queried about it, Pun explains, “The television program could promote a culture of research. They consulted me too, but I might not have the skill to present a TV program.” He says he will for sure appear occasionally but he adds that it will be impossible for him to spare scheduled time for the show.

What’s something you’d like to talk about but no one asks?

May be about my long-lost hobby, i.e. indoor gardening.

Where would you travel if you knew you would have to stay there for up to a year?

New Zealand. After watching Falling in Love (1984), I am so tempted to experience its rural lifestyle.

In one word, what is the greatest challenge you have faced in your career?

Undermined.

Do you like surprises?

Of course I like surprises but only pleasant ones. Who doesn’t like momentary excitement?

Who would you want to be stranded with on a deserted island?

Obviously with my daughter.

If you could go back in time to change one thing in your life, what would it be?

I won’t. I own all my imperfection and mistakes. They have helped me be a better person.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of love?

Giving up sleep...

If you were the ruler of your own country what would be the first law you would make?

Free health care access for every citizen.

What is the favorite part about your career?

Meeting people from diverse walks of life and learning from them.

If you could win an Olympic medal for a sport, real or imaginary, what would it be?

I donno. I can’t think of real games but if there were medals for marathon talking, I can bag at least a bronze.