Long-distance nationalism
By Kumud NepalA recent report by the Institute of International Education showed that the number of Nepali students enrolled in the United States for higher education has gone up by 29.6 percent this year. While this fact seems innocuous, and maybe even positive on light thinking, it brings concern to one’s mind about where the future of the country is headed. It raises valid questions about whether the nation is benefiting by having an important chunk of the population educated abroad or, on the contrary, losing the most energetic section of its demography in the name of foreign education and better opportunities. It wo

Maoists' conundrum
by Bijaya Babu ShiwakotiMaoist ideologue Dr Baburam Bhattarai, on the eve of the People’s Movement of 2006, had argued through an article in a national daily that any movement should have a specific goal and an action plan to achieve that goal. He was hinting at the lack of a specific goal and preparation on the part of the then mainstream parties and the impact it would have on the protest program. Three years down the line, the Maoists are now in the political mainstream and are trying to use peaceful means for their protest program. But it is quite clear that the Maoists do not have a specific objective for their protest program. The protest p

The wall that fell
Rajendra ThakurathiA country infected by years of repression of communism and a crumbled democracy after losing two “world wars” in the span of 25 years. A wall as long as 100 miles, its only purpose to prevent the exodus of the skilled people from the east side to

Getting off in tangents
by Sanjit PradhanangaIf a Hindu priest bore witness to how the Nepalese Diaspora celebrated this year’s Dashain festivities, he would be aghast to say the least. We’d congregated at a Chapel under one skinny foreigner nailed to a cross, while another blessed us by evoking the Gods of our forefathers. To be honest, I don’t even know if the prayer we sent out to heavens that day was accurate, for it was in a tongue I’ve long forgotten. But surely the all-loving G will absolve the audacity of a people, self-exiled from their traditions, trying to cling on to whatever little they remember. Surely the all-compassionate G will empat

10 tips for your own venture in Nepal
ENTREPRENEURS OF NEPAL is an open network forum for young Nepalis. It holds various programs like interactions with Nepali entrepreneurs every month.The forum has compiled 10 tips from established entrepreneurs speaking at their forums, that may help you on your goal to start your own venture in Nepal. Here they are:1. Success takes patience. Min Bahadur Gurung waited almost for a decade before he expanded his one-room cold storage shop to a small department store, which then went on to be today’s Bhat Bhateni Supermarkets at more than one locations.2. Know yourself. Karna Sakya has devised a test that helps you find out how you wor