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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday organized Prof. Yadu Nath Khanal Lecture Series (third edition, 2024) in the presence of high-level government officials, political leaders, diplomats, members from civil society, media and academia. 

In the program, Prof. C. Raja Mohan delivered a keynote speech on the title Nepal-India Relations: Prospects and Pathways. 

The Ministry launched the lecture series in 2022 as a tribute to his distinguished service to the nation.

On the occasion, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal delivered a welcome speech highlighting the purpose of the series and Khanal’s contribution to the country.

She said: “The overarching objective of this program is to provide a distinguished forum for discussions and deliberations and for propagating and exchanging innovative ideas and thoughts on emerging issues of foreign policy and diplomacy. Its core objective is to offer a contemporary outlook on the subject matter that would help practitioners of this field in conducting diplomacy amidst the ever-evolving regional and global dynamism.”

The lecture series is expected to bring in knowledge, expertise, experience and insights from renowned diplomats, policymakers, professors, and researchers on a diverse range of themes on Nepal’s foreign policy conduct, she said. 

“We have envisioned this platform to foster deliberations of different dimensions on Nepal’s foreign policy matters as well as the contemporary pertinent matters in international relation and diplomacy,” she added.

Also speaking the program, Prof. Mohan, one of India’s leading commentators on India’s foreign policy, delivered a speech highlighting the various dimensions of bilateral relations along with changing global and regional scenarios.  

He said: “It is possible to imagine that ‘a Nepal first strategy’ in Kathmandu and ‘a neighborhood first’ policy in Delhi can be brought into greater harmony and produce vast benefits for our peoples.’ Whatever might be our current challenges, there is much room for Kathmandu and Delhi to travel together, hopefully in the future, he said.  He further added that Nepal and India are facing a perilous moment in global affairs that is being sucked into a great power rivalry. He said: “It is also a moment of opportunity. It promises great political agency for small countries and rising powers with the will to take advantage through careful diagnosis and pragmatic engagement.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha delivered the concluding remarks.

The Patan High Court has acquitted cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane of rape.

A division bench of judges Sudarshan Dev Bhatta and Ranju Upreti Dhakal gave clean chit to Lamichhane overturning the order of the Kathmandu District Court.

The Kathmandu District Court on January 10 had sentenced Lamichhane to eight years in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 500,000 for raping a 17-year-old girl in Kathmandu hotel.

A single bench of judge Shishir Raj Dhakal, who was convicted of rape on December 29, delivered the verdict after the final hearing.

Later, he filed an appeal at the High Court on March claiming that he was innocent in the rape case.

After listening to the concluding statements of both sides, the judges also watched CCTV footage. The judges watched CCTV footage of Lamichhane and Gaushala-26 entering and exiting the hotel.

The Gaushala-26 claiming herself as a minor on September 7 had filed a rape against Lamichhane at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala.

The court, however, concluded that the girl, who filed the rape case, was not minor.

The girl in the complaint had said that she was raped at a hotel in Gaushala, Kathmandu.

If you’ve ever traveled along the Prithivi Highway, you might have noticed a small market called Baireni Bazar. About 166 years ago, Mahesh Khola, a small tributary of the Trisuli River, flowed over Baireni. Around 1858, Subba Homnath Khatiwada and his father, Mukhiya Pandit Nandalal Khatiwada, decided to connect Mahesh Khola and Trisuli in Galchhi to use the three kilometers long riverbed and valley for agriculture.

However, there was a 300-meter-high hill between these two rivers. So, Subba and his father decided to remove that hill. They were the tax collectors (mukhiya) of that area and called hundreds of volunteers from 15 villages with their traditional arms and farming equipment.

They also collected a special ingredient to melt the strong stones supporting the hill – gahat, the horse gram. It’s said that they collected 17 muri (almost 11 kilograms) and cooked it in four different vessels, using the soup to melt the foundation stones of the hill.

Gahat, also known as horse gram or kulthi in Madhesh, has a rich history in South Asia. Researchers suggest that people have been eating horse gram since 2500 BC, for over 4500 years, making it older than the Ganga Basin Civilization and the Vedic Civilization. During the time of the Saraswati River Civilization and Harappan Civilization, horse gram was commonly consumed. Evidence of this lentil has been found during excavations in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh of India, indicating its use in the Harappan era.

The medicinal properties of horse gram are mentioned in ancient texts like the Vedas and Tamil Sangam literature. In Tamil Sangam literature, many books describe the properties of horse gram. Excavations in Payyampalli village in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu have revealed evidence of animal domestication and plant cultivation, with pottery making and Horse gram cultivation found in the village.

Overall, horse gram has been a staple in South Asian diets for thousands of years, with its historical significance dating back to ancient civilizations.

Horse gram is considered one of the most nutritious pulses available. According to Ayurveda, it’s a superfood that offers numerous health benefits. It’s known to be effective against diabetes, cholesterol, and kidney problems. The nutrients in horse gram help reduce hunger and make you feel full faster, making it ideal for weight loss. Its name comes from its historical use as both human food and feed for horses.

Despite its nutritional value, horse gram is often seen as a food for the poor, especially in southern India. This misconception has led to less research on its benefits compared to other pulses. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend horse gram as a diuretic, which helps increase urine flow and can be consumed as a soup twice a day for four weeks to see results.

According to Ayurvedic practitioners, horse gram is known for its diuretic properties, which help increase urine flow. Consuming horse gram soup twice a day for four weeks can show visible results in this regard.

For asthmatic patients, a common Ayurvedic remedy is to consume a paste made from boiled horse gram and pepper. This can help reduce cough, cold, and congestion, providing immediate relief and aiding in managing breathing problems, although it’s not a cure for asthma.

They also suggest that due to its diuretic properties, horse gram is effective in assisting the removal of kidney stones. Including horse gram in your regular diet can also help prevent the formation of kidney stones, as it contains certain compounds that make these stones soluble.

Indian scientists have found that raw horse gram seeds have the ability to reduce high blood sugar levels after a meal. They achieve this by slowing down carbohydrate digestion and reducing insulin resistance. This makes horse gram an excellent food choice for diabetics.

Horse gram seeds are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and proteins, which are major antioxidants found in fruits. These antioxidants contribute to overall health and well-being. Raw horse gram is packed with polyphenols, flavonoids, and proteins, making it a nutritious option. It’s also low in fat and high in carbohydrates, which is beneficial for heart health.

Consuming plenty of horse gram can aid in managing obesity as it has the ability to target fatty tissue, thanks to its high phenol content. Horse gram, especially when consumed as soup, can generate heat and energy in the body, keeping you warm on cold winter days. It’s rich in iron, calcium, and protein. It contains the highest calcium content among pulses and is one of the best vegetarian sources of protein. Due to its high iron content, horse gram can help cure irregular menstrual cycles and increase blood hemoglobin levels.

One downside of horse gram is its phytic acid content, which can block nutrient absorption in the body. However, soaking, sprouting, or cooking horse gram seeds before eating can significantly reduce this. Horse gram isn’t just good for humans; it’s beneficial for the land too. Its vines grow quickly and densely, helping to prevent soil erosion, particularly on sloping land with poor mineral content.

Horse Gram is tough and can withstand long periods of drought with minimal effort from farmers. It’s often grown in dry areas with limited access to technology or irrigation, making it a preferred crop. It’s also cultivated in regions where other crops may struggle due to low fertility. Because of its hardiness, it’s a great choice for land reclamation projects.

Next time you enjoy ‘gahat ko daal’, remember to appreciate our ancestors for giving us this superfood, which we seem to have ignored in recent times.

Baral is a UK based R&D chef

Shankar Tiwari wears multiple hats as an author, freelance journalist, and a youth leader of the Nepali Congress. Renowned for his regular columns in national newspapers and his literary works focusing on figures such as BP Koirala, Pradip Giri, and DB Parihar, Tiwari’s persona is a blend of literature and politics. Like BP, he divides his time almost equally between these two domains. Recently, he has put forth his candidacy for the position of central committee member of the Nepali Congress in its 2024 General Convention.

Reflecting on his entry into politics, Tiwari recounted, “During my Bachelor’s studies, amidst King Gyanendra’s takeover, I was more inclined towards study and research than active political involvement. However, an opportunity to stand as a student leader via the Nepal Student Union arose just before the Free Students Union election. It was then that I realized the futility of personal development without addressing the political landscape of our country.”

Tiwari’s interactions with leaders like Gagan Thapa and Pradip Poudel further spurred his interest in political activism.

Asked about the intersection of his roles as an author and a political leader, Tiwari shared, “I’ve delved into the writings of political figures, ranging from Karl Marx to BP Koirala. What I’ve noticed is that writers possess a clarity of thought and secure a lasting place in history.”

Tiwari stressed the enriching impact of both literary and political pursuits on one’s personality. His columns in various newspapers, starting from Himal to Annapurna Post and eventually in Kantipur, not only bolstered his reputation but also provided a platform for personal growth and understanding of national and global literary trends.

Although his previous bid for a central committee position in the Nepali Congress was unsuccessful, Tiwari views it as a valuable learning experience. His vision for reforms, if elected, revolves around prioritizing general elections over party conventions, ensuring leadership renewal, and curbing the tendency of party dominance.

“If the party fails to enter the government after the elections, the party president’s term must be terminated within six months. This will pave the way for a new generation to lead the party,” he said. “In European democracies, it is an established notion that political parties are not rejected but leadership can be rejected. I want to establish the same value here.”

Tiwari’s academic journey, including his study of Gandhi’s philosophy at the Gandhi Center and his observations of student politics at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), solidified his commitment to political activism. He emphasizes the importance of ideological clarity and the necessity for senior leaders to make way for the new generation.

Echoing the liberal values of the Nepali Congress, Tiwari envisions a space for healthy debate and collaboration between different viewpoints. Drawing parallels to past predictions, he sees the party’s role in shaping Nepal’s democratic future.

Advocating for a shift in perspective regarding Nepal’s brain drain, Tiwari perceives migration as a developmental process. He believes that when governance becomes more effective, brain drain can transform into brain gain, fostering innovation and progress within the country.

“Modernization in the country has been driven due to people migrating overseas. Look at Kathmandu, we can see new and innovative businesses, new ways of doing things. It was all possible due to those people who migrated overseas and brought those new ideas back home,” he said.

Tiwari reminisces about his involvement in projects like the biography of DB Parihar, which debunked misconceptions surrounding Nepali cinema’s history. His academic pursuits, particularly in Gandhian studies, reinforced his dedication to social activism over conventional career paths.

In Tiwari’s view, politics should respect and foster cultural and literary expression rather than imposing its will. Positioned as a guiding light for Nepal’s new generation, Tiwari follows in the footsteps of esteemed figures like CK Prasai, Narahari Acharya, and Pradip Giri.