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I often sit back on my sundeck/patio attached to the front of my house to enjoy fresh air and an open atmosphere. Staying cooped up all day in the house makes me feel cramped. My hardwood deck with a canvas awning allows me a view of my entire tiny garden. 

One March day, I caught sight of a pair of red-vented bulbul (Pycnontus cafer, Jureli in Nepali) darting around my pencil-pine tree.

Red-vented bulbuls are a common sight around Kathmandu. You can identify this bird by its short black crest, dark brown body with a scaly pattern, white rump, red-colored vent, and black tail tipped in white. 

Confident, curious, and gregarious, it’s amusing to behold the feather on their crest bristle when they are flustered, alarmed, or angry. 

As I watched, I figured the bulbuls were building a nest on my pencil-pine tree, which is almost as high as my two-and-a-half storied house. Pencil pines are a joy to behold. Also called Italian pencil pine (Cupressus sempervirens ‘glauca’), it’s an exotic, slim, fastigiate, evergreen, hardy conifer with dark green foliage. 

It seemed my pencil-pine had outgrown itself—almost 30 ft in four years—near-vertical and tapering to the top—quite an eyeful for my guests. It always reminds me of the columnar structure of the Red Machhindranath chariot.

Days passed, and the brace of bulbuls became an everyday sight. Highly vocal, their chirps, whistles, trills, and excited chattering became a routine, day in and day out. For several days, the twosome eyed me with suspicion but soon realized I was no threat to them. Guess what! They ignored me after a couple of weeks and continued with their business.

The bulbul pair approached in a hawklike glide, perched on a TV cable next to the tree, looked around, and then ducked into the bushy branch some 12 ft from the ground, carrying tiny dry grass and weed straws in their beaks. As weeks followed, the frenzied activity of the birds escalated. 

One day, I observed their beaks held what looked like insects and worms instead of sprigs. Then it crossed my mind that the eggs must have hatched into chicks. A red-vented bulbul lays two to three eggs at a time. So, the nest held two or three baby birds—I reckoned. Wow!

The birds never appeared to relax as their visitations to the nest became endless. Their calls, too, grew louder. I watched in awe at how wary they were of predators. As the mother entered the nest, her male partner rested upon the cable and kept watch. 

One day, a loud shriek shook me while sitting in the living room before my laptop. Startled, I dashed out, fearing something was amiss about the bulbuls. Indeed, it was.

An absolute pandemonium had broken out. An ominous-looking house crow seemed bent on snatching the bulbul nestlings from the nest. With piercing squeals and flailing wings, the frantic parents were snapping at the crow to ward it off. I froze. It took several seconds for me to get a hang of the situation.

I sprang up, grabbed a close-by mop stick, and rushed to the tree, brandishing it, yelling at the top of my voice. That did the trick. The crow panicked and took off. The enraged bulbul-duo gave it a good chase. They flew back soon and attended to their nestlings fawningly. Phew! That was a close call.

Life for the bulbuls seemed to bounce back again. I made it a point to watch them more often than not. But the villainous crow did not appear in the ensuing days, and everything fell to normal.  

One morning as I hung around my garden, I did not see the usual flurry of the bulbuls. Maybe they were gone to forage for food for their nestlings, who I assumed had grown into fledglings.

To my great surprise, I did not see them the entire day—the following day or the next. Then I reckoned the babies must have fully grown and flown off. 

I kept an eye on my pine tree for almost a week but there was no sign of the bulbuls. Both the parents and the fledglings were gone. I couldn’t help feeling nostalgic—how truly I missed them. But I felt flattered that I had helped rescue the bulbul nestlings from mortal danger. 

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Every morning, Ram Narayan Kahar (name changed) wakes up early to start working on his field which is a block away from his ancestral home. His family has been living and farming in Siddharthanagar Municipality, previously known as Bhairahawa, of Lumbini province, for at least six generations. Recently, when we had a chance to talk to him on a fine morning, Ram Narayan and his family members were busy preparing their fields for rice plantation. “Things are not the same for us anymore. We have not been able to produce as much rice lately,” Ram Narayan said in a low, concerned voice. 

He further added, “It has been challenging to procure enough good-quality water to irrigate the land, and working outdoors has been challenging due to the rising air pollution in Bhairahawa.” He pointed to his wife and youngest son while informing us that many of his family members have lately been having respiratory problems. When asked about his family’s history of medical consultations, he said they were not in a position to bear the high medical costs. 

His family members rather take a leave from work to recover from sickness, while also bearing the consequences of losing income by missing work. He summed up this family’s plight by reciting a popular Nepali movie song, Gaai ta badhyo dhungro ma mohi chaina mohi chaina, gariba ko chameli boldine kohi chaina. (“Even though we may have a cow tied the butter-pot, we don’t have butter; oh my dear, there is also no one to speak in favor of the poor like us.”) 

Ram Narayan’s family is representative of the poor families across Nepal. As the country is headed towards economic development, the pressure on the environment has gone unseen. The question of who suffers the most from environmental degradation has been largely overlooked in policy considerations. Like Ram Narayan, a significant section of the marginalized populations of Nepal rely heavily on agriculture and other outdoor works for their economic sustenance. 

Given that they face higher exposure to environmental hazards like ambient air pollution, these marginalized people often bear higher health and socioeconomic burdens of environmental degradation, such as physical sickness and loss of income and productivity. As they are typically not covered by benefits like paid sick leaves and health insurance, their opportunity costs of exposure to environmental pollution are much higher. Hence environmental degradation threatens the country’s homogenous development, which it does by instigating a vicious cycle of poverty, health and socioeconomic disparities and further marginalization—a veritable poverty trap for the socioeconomically vulnerable communities. 

In terms of policy making, what can be done to address the growing environmental inequity in Nepal? The long-term objective should be to improve the quality of the environment—be it by improving the overall quality of the air or water resources—by strictly regulating polluting activities. A plethora of research has shown that improvement in the overall environment translates to significant health and socioeconomic improvements for the marginalized communities. 

Immediately, policymakers should focus on designing policy actions that help bridge the environmental exposure gaps across socioeconomic subgroups. There could be specific programs targeting marginalized workers such as the provision of health insurance. Similarly, subsidizing and providing financing options for environmental protection measures—such as drinking water filters, cleaner cooking stoves, and face masks while working outdoors—and maintaining their robust supply chains can help. 

Finally, environmental awareness programs are needed to increase public awareness and individual actions, especially among the more exposed marginalized groups. These recommendations are in the spirit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that highlight the importance of good health and well-being (SDG goal 3), reducing inequality (SDG goal 10), and creating sustainable cities and communities (SDG goal 11). 

The author has a Phd in Economics from the University of New Mexico

In a major blow to Chinese engagement in infrastructure development in the Himalayan region, the Nepali Army (NA) on June 3 temporarily suspended the contract of two Chinese companies working on the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track for failing to expedite construction. The army had signed two separate contracts, worth some Rs 25 billion, with China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd and Poly Changda Engineering Co. Ltd on 14 May 2021 for the construction of three tunnels, a few bridges, and a partial road under the project. One group in the army was reportedly reluctant to suspend the contracts.

The suspension happened in the backdrop of growing Nepal-US rapprochement after the July 2021 government-change in Kathmandu, followed by Nepal’s clear position on developing BRI projects ‘only’ under Chinese grant/assistance or investment. There was a brief diplomatic squabble via media between the US and China over the ratification of the MCC compact by the Nepali parliament. While China attempted to prevent the ratification, the American response was interpreted by Global Times as interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.

In fact, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on 18 February 2022 stated that “China opposes coercive diplomacy” while commenting on news that the US had urged Nepal to endorse the compact. Moreover, there has been a flurry of high-level visits from the US, including of Under-Secretary of State Uzra Zeya on 20 May 2022. Nepal Army chief and Prime Minister Deuba are scheduled to visit the US in June and early July respectively.

The contract was given to Chinese companies during the tenure of CPN-UML’s KP Oli as prime minister, who is commonly seen as a pro-China leader, despite the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) advice to follow due process. The same contact has been suspended by the ruling Congress under Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is known for his pro-US bent.  Earlier, the Budhi Gandaki project, which was allocated to a Chinese developer by UML-Maoist coalition government in June 2017, was similarly canceled in November 2017 by a Congress government. There is a strong belief among Indian business community and policymakers that Indian projects face inordinate clearance delays at concerned ministries whenever there is a left government in Kathmandu.

Broadly, there are two reasons for the suspension of Chinese contracts. First, the government found that the Chinese contractors have failed to maintain the desired work pace. In a review meeting in January 2022, a parliamentary committee had directed concerned ministries to expedite the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhes fast track project.

Second, the CPN-UML government had overruled the PAC’s April 2021 directive which found that the army had flouted the country’s financial regulations in giving the contract to Chinese companies. The army had selected only two of 43 interested companies as suitable. The PAC had instructed a halt to the contract process as it lacked transparency. The committee had also instructed the Public Procurement Monitoring Office to remove obstruction by preparing necessary documents, guidelines and procedures as soon as possible while proceeding with the contract for the participation of international companies. This could have been one reason behind the misunderstanding between the then CoAS and the former Defence Minister, Ishwar Pokharel who was sacked by Prime Minister Oli in October 2020.

Taking into consideration the PAC suggestions, which were ignored by the Oli government while giving the project to two Chinese contractors, the Congress government has put the contract under review and ordered a temporary halt.

This is not a new thing with Chinese companies and contractors in Nepal. Media reports speak of frequent clashes between Nepali and Chinese workers and delays in delivery of projects across the country. Interestingly, most of these cases are either suppressed at the government level or misinformed to the media under Chinese pressure. For example, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), which was responsible for road-building in Nepal's Sindhupalchowk district, witnessed local resistance over landslides and damages to houses in June 2021. Similarly, the China-sponsored Damak Clean Industrial Park faced stiff opposition from locals in January 2021. The Butwal-Narayanghat road section expansion project was delayed due to protests by laborers demanding minimum wage.

The Chameliya project has seen cost overruns and the contractor being dragged into a corruption case. China Gezhouba, which bagged the engineering procurement construction (EPC) contract of Upper Trishuli 3A, unsuccessfully tried to upgrade the project's capacity to 90 MW in 2013, flouting the contract document. Further, the government had to terminate the contract with China Railway 15 Bureau Group because of slow progress in tunnel-digging works of the Melamchi Water Supply Project. Chinese contractors have also been blamed for delays in building a substation of a transmission line at Dhalkebar as well as the Kulekhani III Hydropower Project.

After their tactic of acquiring projects through political means and flouting contract norms failed, Chinese Embassy officials in Kathmandu started criticizing the new Deuba government over delays in allocating projects to Chinese companies. Speaking at a virtual press meet on 22 April 2022, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqui said “the policy inconsistency of the Government of Nepal has put Chinese investors into trouble.”

Moreover, China has been dissatisfied with the Congress government’s decision to build Budhi Gandaki with national investment. At the same time, China understands the importance of having a left government in Kathmandu to address its security (Tibet) concerns and safeguard economic interests in the Himalayas. So China would want a return of a communist government after the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

The author is a Research Fellow, MP-IDSA. Views are personal

Operating with Emotional Intelligence (EI) means being smarter with feelings. This means being able to acknowledge, identify, label and understand emotions in self and others. It means understanding that our emotions affect the way we see ourselves, others and the world and therefore taking this into consideration to regulate our behaviors. 

Without emotional intelligence, we are quick to make assumptions. Conversely, if we are emotionally intelligent, we understand that most misunderstandings and miscommunication comes down to assumptions we make and therefore ask: khas ma k bhaeko ho (‘what really happened’)? As the saying goes, we don’t respond to what happens. We respond to our perception of what happens. 

When we lack EI, we take things personally and therefore, are quick to either blame or self-blame. Having EI means understanding that underneath judgments and blame we have about ourselves, about others or judgments others have about us, are difficult feelings and unmet needs. Identifying, labeling and understanding these feelings and needs are crucial to solving problems.

A lack of EI means reluctance to communicate what’s truly important. We give in to a deep fear about the judgments others will have if we communicate what it is that we need. Fear of rejection means it feels safer to not communicate rather than risking asking for something and not getting it. With EI, we understand that anything we say or do comes down to needs that are important to us in that moment (and this can't be automatically understood by others). Therefore we make the effort to transform vague expectations like ‘I wish they supported me’ to a specific request that would meet the need like ‘Can you write this section of this report for me by Sunday?’ to forming a clear agreement ‘Okay, so we have agreed that you’ll write half of the section by Tuesday’.

A few examples of these principles played out in everyday interactions:
Without EI: My teammates are so irritating! (Notice the lack of accountability for one’s feelings.)

With EI: When the meeting starts 10 minutes later than scheduled and that too without prior agenda being communicated, I feel irritated because I would have liked: a) to make the best use of my time b) focus on the other project where my inputs have a direct impact on the outcome. I’d like to request my manager if we can start communicating agendas prior to the meeting. (notice how we take full accountability for our feelings and needs and look for an action that would help.)

Without EI: I had to come to this party because of them! (Notice the lack of accountability for the choice we’ve made.)

With EI: Although initially I was reluctant to come to the party because I wanted time for myself, I still chose to come because coming here would be a way for me to show my support to the newly wed. I’d like to leave earlier than my friends because I still want some time for myself after this. (Notice how we take accountability for our choice.)

Listening with and without Emotional Intelligence:

When the other person says: “You’ve changed so much! You don’t like hanging out with us these days!”

Without EI: This person is insulting me in front of everyone! Of course I wouldn’t hang out with such insensitive people. No wonder I’ve outgrown them!

With EI: I’m upset that this person would question my intention. I’d appreciate if he was curious about me first. But it also seems like he wants to connect and socialize with me but as I haven’t hung out with this group for over six months, he seems annoyed at my lack of participation.

When the other person says: “You’re an amazing team player!”

Without EI: I’m not good at accepting compliments. I’ll just laugh it off by saying it is not a big deal.

With EI: I feel so joyful to know that I’ve been able to contribute as a team member. Can you tell me what exactly I said/did that helped you? Knowing this would help me better understand what it is that I could continue doing.

To catch yourself operating without emotional intelligence, use the following lens:

We are quick to diagnose (blame, judge, criticize).

We deny responsibility for their choice (I had to do it).

We speak in terms of who deserves what rather than trying to truly connect with others (they will know how I felt when they go through something similar!)

We make constant demands of others (by inducing fear, shame or guilt).

The author is co-founder of My Emotions Matter, an education initiative that helps individuals and teams learn the mindset and skills of Emotional Intelligence. Learn more at myemotionsmatter.com