<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110121148/636ce5649c7e80680e096705jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="947" height="1500"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>Countries across the world are using technology to organise, manage, prevent and track Covid-19 rates, while Nepal has fallen behind in the pandemic app race.China, being the first country to contract Covid-19, was naturally first off the mark to launch a ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.mobileeventguide.healthcode&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">health code</a>’ app nationwide. Installing the app was made mandatory by the government, and while many labelled it a breach of privacy and part of China’s state surveillance system, it was also the only effective way to control the virus across a wide population.The app directed people to stay indoors, report their travel history and share knowledge of any symptoms they may be experiencing. Each user then received a coloured QR code to indicate their infection status: red for those considered infected by the virus, yellow for those who may have come into contact with a Covid-positive person, and green code for those who seemed fine and virus-free. Public spaces could only be accessed with a green QR code, to ensure that a Covid-positive individual doesn’t enter, say, a shopping mall and endanger others.India followed China in its contact tracing app (CTA) strategy and method when Prime Minister Modi’s office set up a committee to guide and quickly launch the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nic.goi.aarogyasetu&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AarogyaSetu</a>’ app. AarogyaSetu is Sanskrit for ‘the bridge for liberation from disease’.It was pretty clear that the Indian government was activating a robust PR campaign around the app as soon as it was launched on both Android and iOS app stores. Indian celebrities such as national cricket captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn endorsed the app via video clips requesting citizens to safeguard themselves from getting infected, The app crossed 100 million downloads and broke Pokemon Go’s record of being the fastest growing app ever.It has been one year since the app came into mandatory practice, and now airports, malls, clinics and local businesses ask Indian citizens to show their AarogyaSetu app to report their Covid status before they come into contact. As in China, the app uses the green-if-negative and red-if-positive simple <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/01/business/china-coronavirus-surveillance.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">colour-based communication</a>.The app is not based on prediction but strives for accuracy in reporting. In major cities like Mumbai, the government sends a home testing medical team to test members of households, and if their report is positive, it automatically updates their Covid status on the app, which is linked to their Aadhar Card (government-issued ID).In the United States the federal government did not launch an official app or impose any mandatory rules to use CTAs. Instead, local governments collaborated with Apple and Google to develop regional apps relying on Bluetooth technology, but only for those who wish to use it. These apps ensure user safety by promising not to store personal information on their servers. A survey revealed that roughly 39% of US citizens supported or accepted the use of CTAs to control the pandemic, compared to a whopping 80% in China, indirectly suggesting that the Chinese have more trust in their government institutions than the Americans.Unlike these large economies that developed quick action digital tools under tight timelines, Germany came up with the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.rki.coronawarnapp&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Corona-Warn-App</a>’ months later, without any rush, taking its time to tackle possible data privacy issues. The download of the German app is voluntary, and it is designed to respect people’s privacy by not permanently storing personal information.Iceland launched its ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=is.landlaeknir.rakning&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rakning C-19</a>’ last April, being the country with the highest penetration of any CTA in the world (40% of Icelanders were adopting apps). However, the Icelandic Covid response team claimed that the app alone did not result in high impact. Manual tracing techniques like phone calls were more effective and required alongside the digital tool.Iceland and a few other European countries have been proponents of free but responsible movement, trusting the citizens to follow guidelines without requiring hefty fines that force them to conform. Sweden, however, has flatly rejected the idea of an official tracking app, despite having more Covid-19 cases than neighbours Denmark and Finland.Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and other West Asian countries have rolled out CTAs with Bluetooth tracing, but Qatar has gone a step further warning that citizens who do not cooperate and install the app may face up to three years in jail.Bahrain set a record this year by being the first country with a CTA that allows users to book free vaccine appointments via the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bh.bahrain.corona.tracker&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BeAware</a>’ app, even letting people choose between the Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinopharm vaccines. Bahrain quickly became the second mostst vaccinated country in the world after Israel.Here in Nepal, the government launched the ‘<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=np.com.naxa.covid19&amp;hl=ne&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hamro Swasthya</a>’ app to disseminate information about the pandemic. It is a collaboration between several IT startups and the Ministry of Health and Population to financially and technically support the government in developing an effective app.With over 300,000 app downloads and over 5 million site views, the app offers national Covid-19 updates, but not regional or local detailed information that would help people navigate their areas smartly. There is no guarantee of data privacy or any marketing campaign launched to promote the app’s usage.This lack of transparency and quality of software development is classic governmental mode of functioning. It is ticking the basic boxes and producing a low-cost, low-quality product that neither attracts nor engages the user with well-planned, well-designed communication.Hamro Swasthya is available in both English and Nepali, and the top feature is the Covid self-assessment test that is a questionnaire asking the user to fill personal information along with answers to questions about symptoms faced and recent travel (note: it does not ask for domestic travel history, only international) in order to make an educated guess on whether the user has contracted the virus or not.There is a section on plasma donation, with a form for both donors and those who require a blood donation. Another feature is the suspect report, where anybody can complain about anybody who they suspect is a Covid-positive individual. This feature is clearly not thoroughly thought out, as it can be easily misused.There is a nationwide map to guide people to the nearest hospital, but there is plenty of room of improvement regarding the UX/UI and information provided (lack of address and phone numbers). The best sign of a good app is how often it is improved and optimised. But as the government started rolling out vaccines, information regarding availability is missing in Hamro Swasthya.Saniaa Shah writes this fortnightly column, Tech-Away for Nepali Times. She runs Studio Aakar, a film production studio. Her marketing career helped her develop a keen interest in tech and digital culture.

Saniaa Shah

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Tap, Track, Trace and Test

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7a99c7e80680e092df5jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>Between 9-5 jobs, grocery shopping, socialising with friends and family, running errands before and after work, managing the household, keeping up with children’s needs, and more – most women are stretched for time and struggle to watch out for their own health and wellness.Technology can offer what no partner or caring family member can: watching out for you 24/7 and reporting back every day with accurate, thoughtful information that makes you feel informed, confident and supported.FITNESS TRACKERSWomen do not necessarily want to wear a clunky, square fitness tracker that was not made with the female body and nuanced behavioural and lifestyle patterns in mind. Wearable technology like fitness tracking bands, bracelets or watches can be as much of a tech-powered tool as a style statement, so naturally, this category of gadgets has seen a boom of new products and brands in the last few years.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7ac9c7e80680e092df6jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640">Some ladies are happy with a no-fuss device that counts their steps and monitors their heart rate, but others want more. Smart functions offered in these new innovative products targeted at women include: measuring the body’s energy levels, monitoring sleep stages and blood oxygen saturation, a heart rate tracker, checking stress levels, and text message-reading capabilities. These gadgets come with full-featured activity trackers that come in slim, stylishly designed bands with up to 7 days of battery. Some of them are even swim-friendly and weather both rain and shine with no glitches or heating issues. All this, with band colour options like rose gold and pretty pastels!The <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-watch/apple-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Watch Series 5 and 6</a> are the high-end, premium models of this category of devices, with their versatile features and beautiful design. From an ECG app to a Breathe app, this watch comes with all kinds of cool built-in capabilities. The best part is, it looks equally good in the gym as it does at a dinner party.The <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/global/us/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fitbit</a> is a more affordable, almost equally reputable brand, making its name as a leading fitness tracker with a wide product portfolio. The Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Zip, Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Inspire 3 are all extremely advanced yet simple to use tools. While the Versa series is a health and fitness smartwatch with Alexa (virtual assistant) built into it, the Inspire 2 is just a nice fitness tracker that looks fancy but is easy on the wallet. The Zip is a wireless clip-on model that suits older women. Fitbit products are synced with the Fitbit app that monitors everything from workouts and nutrition to stress and sleep. They come in colours like rose pink and cement white.Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.garmin.com/en-US/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Garmin</a>, an American multinational technology company that specialises in GPS technology, offers 10 different series of products, including the likes of Forerunner (best for running), Vivoactive (for fitness fanatics), Vivosmart (for casual, stylish everyday use) and Venu (Apple watch rival) among others. They even have Vivofit Jr models especially created for children.Lesser known but undoubtedly attractive wearables like the <a href="https://www.polar.com/en/vantage/m" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Polar Vantage M</a>, score high in the women-oriented category with a wide range of customisation options and over 130 sports to choose from for accurate feedback. Then there’s <a href="https://ouraring.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oura ring</a>, an innovative fitness tracking finger ring designed for comfort and convenience, keeping your wrists free for bangles, regular watches and such accessories.PERIOD TRACKERS<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b09c7e80680e092df7jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="516"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b29c7e80680e092df8jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="586">Unlike fitness bands and watches, period trackers do not do the work by themselves. You need to assist their Artificial Intelligence by entering personal information regularly to improve prediction and analyses. For women with irregular cycles, a period tracking mobile app proves especially useful because intuitive data-driven technology can help predict your next period, the ovulatory window, high fertility days, and even mood swings and PMS (premenstrual syndrome). For those with regular cycles, planning special holidays or trekking trips and pregnancy becomes extremely easy and precise.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b59c7e80680e092df9jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640">In 2021, period tracking is as quick and easy as remembering to use a sunscreen and moisturising cream. At first, logging in symptoms and marking period days on the app calendar feels like extra work, but after a point, you get into the habit of it and also reap the rewards with automatic notifications and information personalised to your body’s patterns.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111148/636cd7b79c7e80680e092dfajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="197" height="256">Clue, <a href="https://flo.health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Flo</a>, Apple Health, MagicGirl, Period Tracker, Glow and <a href="https://apps.apple.com/lc/app/period-tracker-eve/id1002275138" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eve by Glow</a> make the list of apps that you can download without having to contemplate, carefully study or read reviews before installing them on your phone. While apps like <a href="https://helloclue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Clue</a> and Flo share knowledge and teach you about your body, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.period.tracker.lite&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Period Tracker</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hwgg.mfsn&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MagicGirl</a> are perfect for teens and beginners who are trying to get a hold of the whole mess-free and stress-free management of period cycles. <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glow.android&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Glow app</a> is a fertility tracking app with high ratings, and Eve by Glow is its sister app that zooms in only on the period, sex life and fitness tracking. For iOS users, there is always something special in store (pun intended), and thus, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;cad=rja&amp;uact=8&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiFxfjgvJnvAhXfzTgGHb7oDxIQFjAAegQIAxAD&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fios%2Fhealth%2F&amp;usg=AOvVaw0ygn-8s1za4kjwi9x4Qc9S" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Health</a>, an app that covers the basics, is entirely free, and comes pre-installed in every iPhone under a pink heart icon. Who said technology can’t be cute, anyway?

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Gadgets and apps for the new age women

The pandemic may have set back the year in many ways, but the gears of the tech-verse have been moving ahead quietly, with gadgets taking up more and more space in the daily life of urban Nepalis.All it takes is the right gizmo at the right time for us to forget that we ever lived with tiny inconveniences and administered most tasks manually.From fancy disinfectants to air filters, gadgets become a way to improve health and quality of life, and these items are all available in Nepal. Investing in a WiFi range extender makes life easier, while gadgets like the ring light and pocket printers are not just trendy, but a bang for the rupee.Godrej Viroshield 4.0Living in a time where health precaution is a priority, there could not be a more relevant device: Godrej Viroshield 4.0 is a disinfecting device that claims to destroy 99% viruses in 2 to 6 minutes through UV-C rays.An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) lab tested and certified product, its 4 UV bulbs carry out UVC sterilisation—a widely used method of dry killing pathogens—on products ranging from masks and gloves to groceries, parcels, toys, and documents. Medicines, batteries and power banks cannot be de-germed.With a capacity of up to 30 litres, Viroshield can be used to disinfect multiple items at once, saving time and energy, and is perfect inside home entrances, in the lobby, or the first room that you enter when you get home.Price: NPR 21,790 18,790Where to buy: <a href="http://www.cgdigital.com.np/">www.cgdigital.com.np</a><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111120/636cd1099c7e80680e08f88djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="454"/><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111120/636cd10b9c7e80680e08f88ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="640">Bbluv HEPA Air PurifierIf you are asthmatic or allergic to dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, mould, mites, or bacteria, this air scrubber is your ally. If you are also extra sensitive to odours from pets or smoke, this may prove to be a smart purchase. The Bbluv 3-in-1 HEPA Air Purifier uses triple air purification with activated carbon and ionising technology to remove 99.7% of harmful allergens and pollutants. The device sits on a table and works quietly by itself, making it easy to leave in the kids’ bedroom or play room, so it does not disturb them while they sleep or study.With a simple intuitive touch control panel with 2 speeds of air purifying intensity and a coloured LED indicator, its levels can be adjusted to accommodate your need. The HEPA Purifier filters all particles larger than 0.3 microns, and comes with an air filter that lasts 12 months. It is quick and easy to install and replace. You can order a new air filter from multiple e-commerce websites in Nepal.Price: NPR 7,090Where to buy: <a href="http://www.gajabko.com/">www.gajabko.com</a>Portable Rechargeable Selfie Ring LightFor those who do not want to experiment and spend a couple thousand rupees on a 2m tall ring light with a tripod, here is a mini-version. During the lockdown we realised that camera ring lights are not just for onscreen celebrities, but could come in handy when shooting a new TikTok video, or during online office presentations. They up your image quality and make you look that much better.The tiny gadget comes with 1 selfie light and a USB cord to connect to your phone for a recharge. The clamping thickness of up to 15mm allows the ring light to be easily attached to most cell phone models. With 1.5 hours of charge time, it gives 2 hours of usage. The LED is bright enough for your selfie needs and has three levels of brightness, adjustable to different lighting conditions. This one is for the Tik-Tokers, the Instagram artists and selfie-savvy Gen Z or millennial consumers.Price: NPR 799 449Where to buy: <a href="http://www.bestdealsnepal.com.np/">www.bestdealsnepal.com.np</a><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111120/636cd10d9c7e80680e08f88fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1367" height="1500"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111120/636cd1109c7e80680e08f890jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="350">Netgear WiFi Range Extender EX6120A WiFi range extender, does exactly what its names suggests: It extends the range of your Internet connectivity at home so that you can access your favourite streams from any corner of your home or join a Zoom call without having to move around, trying to get better reception. Netgear WiFi Range Extender EX6120 does just this alongside offering outstanding features and efficiency.The AC dual band WiFi device covers a range of 111m2 and lets 20 devices to be connected at one time. It can repeat up to 1200 Mbps Internet speed and its FastLane technology makes it an optimum choice for users who stream HD content and play video games online.The compact form factor hardly takes up space and plugs in neatly in a wall socket. It works with any wireless router, gateway or cable modem, of any brand, as well as any up-to-date Internet browser (Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, MS Edge). Netgear also offers 1 fast Ethernet port for maximum speed in wired devices such as a computer, video game console or a smart TV.Price: NPR 10,900 6,200Where to buy: <a href="http://www.sastodeal.com/">www.sastodeal.com</a>Huawei Portable Photo Printer (Pocket Printer)While the sharing of digital images via social media platforms is all the rage, nothing beats the feel of there being a printed image that captures a cherished memory. The Huawei Portable Photo Printer enables you to bring to life your smartphone photographs through beautiful 50x76mm prints. The printer conveniently slips into your pocket and all you need to do is take it out, connect it to your smart device via Bluetooth and press print to turn your images into mementos.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110111120/636cd1119c7e80680e08f891jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="338" height="336">Lightweight and compact, this brilliant little gadget uses inkless printing technology with a resolution of 313x490dpi, print speed of about 1 minute and comes with 10 sticky photo papers that you can keep replenishing. Whether you are traveling, getting together with friends and family or simply wish to gift someone a beautiful photograph, the Huawei Portable Photo Printer is just the thing to carry around and spread joy.Price: NPR 19,999 9,989Where to buy: <a href="http://www.daraz.com.np/">www.daraz.com.np</a>

Right gizmos at the right time

<figure><img width="1500" height="900" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191124/636bf0cf4b0ad905ca02f033jpeg.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Actress Shilpa Maskey in Maya Handicrafts Jewelry's Asarfi mala necklace and Former Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada promoting her own line of Glambisque palette. Photos: MAYA HANDICRAFTS JEWELRY and GLAMBISQUE INSTAGRAM</figcaption></figure>Staff at <a href="https://mayahjewelry.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maya Handicrafts Jewelry</a> in Thamel, are busy these days managing delivery for handmade silver jewellery ordered by customers in Kathmandu, Butwal, Pokhara, Dharan, as well as from outside Nepal. The store has seen its <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/nepal-e-shopping-booms-under-covid-19/">online sales peak</a> despite the pandemic, making for up to 70% of total transactions. Encouraged by their success, the owners opened Nakkali, to sell gold-plated jewellery. Up to 90% sales are currently conducted through digital platforms. “Nepalis now have an easy access to online shopping because of increased Internet connectivity. This, coupled with better online service has translated into healthy digital sales. The pandemic has only accelerated the growth,” says Samir Shakya of Maya Handicrafts. Following the Covid-19 lockdown, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/glambisque/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Glambisque</a>, an up-and-coming Nepali cosmetics brand, shut down its stores in Lazimpat and Labim Mall. Since then, the two-year-old company has been operating only online. The sales have been more or less the same, but 100% driven by <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/nepals-budding-e-commerce-ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">digital transactions</a>. “At this rate we won’t even need to have physical stores anymore when things get back to normal,” says Shalini Rana of Glambisque. “<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/daraz-finds-nepalis-still-shy-to-shop-online/">People weren’t comfortable</a> with online shopping in the past. Lockdowns and safety protocols however forced them to try it out. And upon finding that it’s reliable and convenient, they have now gotten used to it.” Small and medium businesses like Maya Handicrafts Jewelry and Glambisque use social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, to market their products. Increasingly, more companies are also using e-commerce platforms like Daraz and Sastodeal to advertise their goods. Payments are usually made via e-wallets (e-Sewa, Khalti, IME pay) or by cash on delivery. Goods are either home delivered or couriered if clients are outside Kathmandu.  <figure><img width="1000" height="667" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191124/636bf0d24b0ad905ca02f034jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>“Nepal was already transitioning to e-commerce and digital market, but the pandemic sped up the process and provided a much-needed boost,” explains digital marketer, Saniaa Shah.  “Even so, businesses with a hybrid presence are ahead of the others. Also, certain categories such as healthy food, fitness and gadgets which are directly on the rise due to the pandemic are more popular,” she adds.   Many people turned to organic produce and super foods during the pandemic, with the hope of building immunity against coronavirus. The inclination towards a healthy diet and fitness caused online grocery and health stores to thrive.    The increasing need to stay ‘online’ has also had an impact on businesses selling electronic items. People have been upgrading their smartphones and computers for webinars and online classes, which increased business for gadgets and repair shops.  <a href="https://hamrobazaar.com/">Hamrobazaar</a> online classified has seen 40% increase in overall traffic since the pandemic. Categories like computers and laptops and two wheelers — because public transport is now considered unsafe — have the most enquires in this Nepali version of eBay.   Covid-19 seems to have made people health conscious as well as tech savvy.  Bibek Neupane of <a href="https://juasstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Juas Health Food Store</a> says, “Before the pandemic, people interested in our products used to ask for our physical stores. Now they call us up for home delivery of ayurvedic items like shilajit, and Keto diet ingredients.” Capitalising on the growing online market, former Miss Nepal Anushka Shrestha also recently launched <a href="https://www.facebook.com/makkuse.np/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Makkusé</a>, an online dessert store that specialises in Nepal's authentic and traditional sweets (such as Gundpak and Pustakari) with modern touch.  <figure><img width="739" height="399" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191124/636bf0d54b0ad905ca02f035jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Not all businesses have found the trend towards online shopping as encouraging. Despite demand and overwhelming enquiries, <a href="https://misumicosmetics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Misumi Korean cosmetics</a> in Labim Mall has not been able to stock up because they haven’t been able to import goods due to lockdowns and restrictions. The recently launched online handicraft store, <a href="https://www.durbar-square.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Durbar Square</a>, is also still waiting for sales to pick up. Even so, Suresh Shrestha of <a href="https://www.ratnabook.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ratna Books</a> says the shift towards online shopping has other benefits besides a growth in sales. “It has also allowed us to understand the taste of our consumers. This is an invaluable information for better future planning,” he says.  <figure><img width="1000" height="667" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191124/636bf0d64b0ad905ca02f036jpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Nepal’s proposed Electronic Commerce Bill is expected to standardise online transitions while protecting user data and privacy. It also has provisions for easy return, exchange and refunds, and traders found violating the rules will be fined up to Rs300,000. As per the draft, <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/outdated-laws-limited-ecommerce-hold-back-tech-industry%20,3547">e-commerce</a> businesses will need to be registered with the Company Registrar Office and obtain a licence to operate, which needs to be renewed every year. Despite the entry into Nepal’s online retail market of China’s <a href="https://www.alibaba.com/?src=sem_ggl&amp;cmpgn=407465347&amp;adgrp=26917222987&amp;fditm=&amp;tgt=kwd-40556346123&amp;locintrst=&amp;locphyscl=1011034&amp;mtchtyp=e&amp;ntwrk=g&amp;device=c&amp;dvcmdl=&amp;creative=232561557314&amp;plcmnt=&amp;plcmntcat=&amp;p1=&amp;p2=&amp;aceid=&amp;position=&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8IPYmonx7QIVCX8rCh0F_g5tEAAYASAAEgKfrvD_BwE">Alibaba</a> through <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/daraz-launches-stimulus-package-to-promote-e-commerce/">Daraz</a> and India’s <a href="https://www.flipkart.com/">Flipkart</a> via <a href="https://www.sastodeal.com/">Sastodeal</a>, e-commerce is still at a nascent stage. But one of the side effects of Covid-19 is that it is set to grow in the next few years as more people find online shopping safe, convenient and time efficient. “This boom in online shopping is driven by pandemic-induced need. It might be challenging to sustain it, but not if we improve consumers’ online shopping experience,” says Manohar Adhikari of <a href="https://foodmandu.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Foodmandu</a>. “Stocking up on quality goods, and improved infrastructure with a reliable street address system would be key in upping the online shopping game," he adds.

Sonia Awale

Nepal goes online shopping in 2020

<figure><img width="1500" height="900" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181156/636be9ea9c7e80680e0878eajpeg.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Actress Shilpa Maskey in Maya Handicrafts Jewelry's Asarfi mala necklace and Former Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada promoting her own line of Glambisque palette. Photos: MAYA HANDICRAFTS JEWELRY and GLAMBISQUE INSTAGRAM</figcaption></figure>Staff at <a href="https://mayahjewelry.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Maya Handicrafts Jewelry</a> in Thamel, are busy these days managing delivery for handmade silver jewellery ordered by customers in Kathmandu, Butwal, Pokhara, Dharan, as well as from outside Nepal. The store has seen its <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/nepal-e-shopping-booms-under-covid-19/">online sales peak</a> despite the pandemic, making for up to 70% of total transactions. Encouraged by their success, the owners opened Nakkali, to sell gold-plated jewellery. Up to 90% sales are currently conducted through digital platforms. “Nepalis now have an easy access to online shopping because of increased Internet connectivity. This, coupled with better online service has translated into healthy digital sales. The pandemic has only accelerated the growth,” says Samir Shakya of Maya Handicrafts. Following the Covid-19 lockdown, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/glambisque/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Glambisque</a>, an up-and-coming Nepali cosmetics brand, shut down its stores in Lazimpat and Labim Mall. Since then, the two-year-old company has been operating only online. The sales have been more or less the same, but 100% driven by <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/nepals-budding-e-commerce-ecosystem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">digital transactions</a>. “At this rate we won’t even need to have physical stores anymore when things get back to normal,” says Shalini Rana of Glambisque. “<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/daraz-finds-nepalis-still-shy-to-shop-online/">People weren’t comfortable</a> with online shopping in the past. Lockdowns and safety protocols however forced them to try it out. And upon finding that it’s reliable and convenient, they have now gotten used to it.” Small and medium businesses like Maya Handicrafts Jewelry and Glambisque use social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, to market their products. Increasingly, more companies are also using e-commerce platforms like Daraz and Sastodeal to advertise their goods. Payments are usually made via e-wallets (e-Sewa, Khalti, IME pay) or by cash on delivery. Goods are either home delivered or couriered if clients are outside Kathmandu.  <figure><img width="1000" height="667" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181156/636be9ee9c7e80680e0878ebjpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>“Nepal was already transitioning to e-commerce and digital market, but the pandemic sped up the process and provided a much-needed boost,” explains digital marketer, Saniaa Shah.  “Even so, businesses with a hybrid presence are ahead of the others. Also, certain categories such as healthy food, fitness and gadgets which are directly on the rise due to the pandemic are more popular,” she adds.   Many people turned to organic produce and super foods during the pandemic, with the hope of building immunity against coronavirus. The inclination towards a healthy diet and fitness caused online grocery and health stores to thrive.    The increasing need to stay ‘online’ has also had an impact on businesses selling electronic items. People have been upgrading their smartphones and computers for webinars and online classes, which increased business for gadgets and repair shops.  <a href="https://hamrobazaar.com/">Hamrobazaar</a> online classified has seen 40% increase in overall traffic since the pandemic. Categories like computers and laptops and two wheelers — because public transport is now considered unsafe — have the most enquires in this Nepali version of eBay.   Covid-19 seems to have made people health conscious as well as tech savvy.  Bibek Neupane of <a href="https://juasstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Juas Health Food Store</a> says, “Before the pandemic, people interested in our products used to ask for our physical stores. Now they call us up for home delivery of ayurvedic items like shilajit, and Keto diet ingredients.” Capitalising on the growing online market, former Miss Nepal Anushka Shrestha also recently launched <a href="https://www.facebook.com/makkuse.np/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Makkusé</a>, an online dessert store that specialises in Nepal's authentic and traditional sweets (such as Gundpak and Pustakari) with modern touch.  <figure><img width="739" height="399" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181156/636be9f09c7e80680e0878ecjpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Not all businesses have found the trend towards online shopping as encouraging. Despite demand and overwhelming enquiries, <a href="https://misumicosmetics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Misumi Korean cosmetics</a> in Labim Mall has not been able to stock up because they haven’t been able to import goods due to lockdowns and restrictions. The recently launched online handicraft store, <a href="https://www.durbar-square.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Durbar Square</a>, is also still waiting for sales to pick up. Even so, Suresh Shrestha of <a href="https://www.ratnabook.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ratna Books</a> says the shift towards online shopping has other benefits besides a growth in sales. “It has also allowed us to understand the taste of our consumers. This is an invaluable information for better future planning,” he says.  <figure><img width="1000" height="667" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181156/636be9f29c7e80680e0878edjpeg.jpg" alt=""><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Nepal’s proposed Electronic Commerce Bill is expected to standardise online transitions while protecting user data and privacy. It also has provisions for easy return, exchange and refunds, and traders found violating the rules will be fined up to Rs300,000. As per the draft, <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/outdated-laws-limited-ecommerce-hold-back-tech-industry%20,3547">e-commerce</a> businesses will need to be registered with the Company Registrar Office and obtain a licence to operate, which needs to be renewed every year. Despite the entry into Nepal’s online retail market of China’s <a href="https://www.alibaba.com/?src=sem_ggl&amp;cmpgn=407465347&amp;adgrp=26917222987&amp;fditm=&amp;tgt=kwd-40556346123&amp;locintrst=&amp;locphyscl=1011034&amp;mtchtyp=e&amp;ntwrk=g&amp;device=c&amp;dvcmdl=&amp;creative=232561557314&amp;plcmnt=&amp;plcmntcat=&amp;p1=&amp;p2=&amp;aceid=&amp;position=&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8IPYmonx7QIVCX8rCh0F_g5tEAAYASAAEgKfrvD_BwE">Alibaba</a> through <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/business/daraz-launches-stimulus-package-to-promote-e-commerce/">Daraz</a> and India’s <a href="https://www.flipkart.com/">Flipkart</a> via <a href="https://www.sastodeal.com/">Sastodeal</a>, e-commerce is still at a nascent stage. But one of the side effects of Covid-19 is that it is set to grow in the next few years as more people find online shopping safe, convenient and time efficient. “This boom in online shopping is driven by pandemic-induced need. It might be challenging to sustain it, but not if we improve consumers’ online shopping experience,” says Manohar Adhikari of <a href="https://foodmandu.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Foodmandu</a>. “Stocking up on quality goods, and improved infrastructure with a reliable street address system would be key in upping the online shopping game," he adds.

<a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/waiting-for-bipin-joshi" target="_blank">Nepali student Bipin Joshi</a>, who was taken captive by Hamas on 7 October 2023, was not on the list of those freed following the end of the bombardment and fighting in Gaza.&nbsp; On Monday morning, the Israeli military notified Bipin's family and Nepal’s ambassador to Israel Dhan Prasad Pandit, that there is no evidence of him still being alive. However, Nepal's Foreign Ministry is yet to be notified by Israel's government of Bipin's status. The news came three days after a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect, and hostage and prisoner exchanges by the two sides started Monday morning.&nbsp; Almost 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisions are expected to be released by Israel in exchange for the hostages during the next phase of the peace deal between the two parties, and the bodies of deceased hostages remaining in Gaza are also expected to be returned.&nbsp; Bipin Joshi was among a group of Nepalis who had arrived in Israel in 2023 just weeks before 7 October 2023 as part of a ‘learn and earn’ program to work and earn in kibbutz farms there.&nbsp; Along with other students Joshi had been working on a farm in Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel near Gaza. <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/war-in-israel-earthquake-and-grief-in-nepal">Ten Nepali students were killed </a>while taking cover in shelters near their farms in two separate attacks by Hamas fighters.&nbsp; Joshi’s colleagues, fellow Nepalis who survived the attack, recall gunmen lobbing two grenades into the bunker that they had taken cover in. Bipin hurled one of the grenades out, they say, but the other one exploded, killing and injuring Nepalis inside. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shortly after, Bipin was captured by Hamas along with a Thai national and led away into Gaza. CCTV footage showed Bipin alive and at a hospital in Gaza on the day of the attack itself after he was taken hostage.&nbsp; Thirty-one Thai citizens, who like Nepalis worked in farms in Israel, were taken hostage during the Hamas attack, the highest number of foreign captives in October 2023.&nbsp; <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/deft-diplomacy-freed-thai-hostages">Deft Thai diplomatic engagement</a> with officials from Iran, Egypt, and Qatar brought about the release of 23 of its nationals in 2023. Five more Thai nationals were released earlier this year.&nbsp; In August, Joshi’s family visited Israel at the invitation of the government and urged the international community to push for his return. Bipin’s mother Padma and sister Pushpa have been at the United Nations to lobby for his release.&nbsp; His family last week also released a video clip of Bipin briefly speaking on camera, reportedly obtained by Israel and said to be filmed in November 2023, around a month after he was taken captive. Joshi looks healthy in that video.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20251013091028_d551c7f88204c52217152fb5db655bb5a5f8bf2cff1e6a055326ebf64453ff9f.png" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20251013091028_d551c7f88204c52217152fb5db655bb5a5f8bf2cff1e6a055326ebf64453ff9f" data-rendition-name="original" width="2848" height="1528" loading="lazy" alt="Bipin Joshi NT"> </figure>  More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed during the last two years of the genocide in Gaza. About 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, while more than 251, including Bipin Joshi, were taken as captives.&nbsp; This is the third ceasefire implemented in Gaza since 7 October 2023 after previous ones in November 2023 and January 2025. This 20-point deal facilitated by intermediaries US, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt included terms for Hamas to give up its arms, and for a devastated Gaza to be governed by a Palestinian body of independent technocrats, while Israeli troops will withdraw in stages from Gaza.&nbsp; Hamas has agreed to relinquish control of Gaza, but has rejected the demand for disarmament, saying the group will demobilise but is prepared to resume fighting if Israel breaches the ceasefire.&nbsp; Following the ceasefire, Palestinians in Gaza have begun long journeys back to homes reduced to rubble by Israel’s two-year assault on the strip. The flow of humanitarian aid in the city has also increased following the peace deal.&nbsp; Israel's closure of humanitarian corridors in the past months had blocked the entry of food and medicine into Gaza, causing widespread famine. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has said that the restriction of aid into the beseiged city has left as many as <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/news-releases/gaza-unrwa%E2%80%99s-lancet-study-reveals-alarming-surge-child-malnutrition">54,600 children acutely malnourished</a>.&nbsp; Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump landed in Israel on Monday as hostages were being released, and world leaders are expected to head to Egypt for an international summit to discuss the next steps in Gaza, Israel, and West Asia.&nbsp;

Nepali hostage in Gaza not alive: Israel

In the very first page of the first chapter of Nepal 2043: The Road to Prosperity are two maps. The first places Nepal right at the epicentre of Asia, and in the second the Kathmandu is at exactly the midpoint between Mumbai and Beijing. With his trademark optimism, author Sujeev Shakya says Nepal is not land-locked but land-linked to three billion people in China and India. We just need those two economic engines to pull us in the same direction. ‘With China and India becoming the two largest economies in the world in the next two decades … Nepal is the most valuable piece of real estate in the world,’ Shakya writes. For one thing, Nepal does not look beyond India and China for tourism — with the right policies it can attract millions of tourists just from those two countries. Nepal is set to graduate from a low- to a middle-income country by 2026 and to a high-income country in 2043 — hence the name of the book. The year 2043 in the Bikram Sambat calendar is also 2100 — a new Nepali century. The book delves into the past, present and future of Nepal and analyses enablers including hydropower, a fundamental transformation of which will drive the 2043 goal. The commoditisation of electricity will be the biggest transformation. Nepal can deploy ‘Cyber Gurkhas’ to attract foreign investors with the management of data centres with climate friendly renewable energy. Access to technology such as precision agriculture, a data-driven approach to farming to improve food production, reduce environmental impact and enhance profitability could be Nepal’s strategy into 2043 and beyond. ‘Earlier, we needed ploughs and strong hands in agriculture. Now, you need a computer and strong fingers,” Shakya writes, citing a neighbour’s son who inspects his crops from drone cameras. A farmer in an Ilam teashop tells the author he asks AI questions in Nepali, and it answers promptly. The biggest enabler of all is Nepal’s young demography with 62% of the population in the active 15-60 age bracket, while 28% are younger than 14. Nepal’s dependency ratio has dropped to the lowest in history with 100 Nepalis having to support 62 dependents. But this demographic dividend window is closing. Nepal’s total fertility rate declined from 2.62% in 1981 to 0.92% in 2021 — below replacement level. We have less than 30 years left to make the best use of the youth, many of whom are currently studying and working abroad. Nepal’s biggest resource, therefore, is its diaspora spread across the world who send home $20 billion a year. Migration is not just a necessity but an aspiration for many Nepalis, and they are an important source of contacts, investment and soft power. This young and educated group has taken advantage of connectivity and digitisation in all arenas of national life. TikTok and Instagram have become e-commerce platforms, or mobile app-riven digital services. Nepal’s software companies exported over $1 billion worth of IT products last year. Next we need a change in the bureaucratic mindset to eliminate paper and manual processes, which would also contribute to reducing corruption. Shakya comes up with many revelations: 81% of Nepalis live in houses they own, much higher than most other South Asian countries which means higher disposable income. Nepal has the highest tax-to-GDP ratio in South Asia. The banking sector is twice the size of Bangladesh despite Nepal having just one-fifth of its population. In 2021, 12.62% of the population had demat accounts in Nepal, while India had only 5.32%. For every five male investors, there are four women in Nepal while it is 10:1 in India. With such figures and prospects, how come Nepal just went through a violent uprising that took the shortest time to topple a democratically-elected government in modern history? One early chapter of 2043 is actually dedicated to how Nepalis have always thrived on chaos. When people faced up to 20 hours of power cuts a day, people worked around the load-shedding schedule, woke up at ungodly hours to cook and stock up on inverters. They did not put up a fight, or even protest. ''Generally, Nepalis are used to taking things lying down, and perhaps this also needs to change,' says Shakya, writing that line before last month’s uprising. ‘On the one hand, some of these issues speak volumes about the average Nepali’s patience and perhaps optimism that things will change in the long run. On the other hand, one is also forced to wonder how much longer they will be able to put up with unfavourable conditions if things don’t change.’ It does seem Nepali had enough with corruption, governance failure and political apathy to the concerns of ordinary people. The final chapter lists the non-negotiables to realise the 2043 Nepal Roadmap: democratic values and freedom of speech, a capitalist welfare state and socio-political transformation to tackle corruption and impunity. The book notes, ‘Countries transitioning to democratic rule experienced a 20% increase in GDP over a 25 year period compared to what they would have achieved under authoritarian regimes. After the end of the Shah rule in 2006, Nepal’s GDP rose from US$10 billion to US$44 billion by 2024.’ The government’s Vision 2030 document projects Nepal’s GDP at US$100 billion, and the Vision 2043 estimates that it will be a US$423 billion economy with a per capita of US$12,100. However, it will need more than optimism and practical action to make these projections real. China and India loom large throughout the book with examples of small city states like Singapore which have taken advantage of their strategic location. Despite the tension between India and China, the two will have to collaborate given the inherent advantages. China has replaced the United States as India’s biggest trading partner. Sujeev Shakya is a great admirer of former Singaporean diplomat and author Kishore Mahbubani, and he has written a blurb for the book. He quotes Mahbubani saying that for the past 2,000 years, apart from the last two hundred, Asian countries have dominated the world, and it is quite natural that the world’s economic centre is returning to Asia. And Nepal is strategically placed to make the most of it because of its location between two of the world’s fastest growing economies. We just have to get our politics right, and have a strategy for equitable growth in the new Nepali century.  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20251016091052_78b2d1495d59cd492a17693e0e770b65230c7cb749393ac6643f4676b73832ef.jpg" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20251016091052_78b2d1495d59cd492a17693e0e770b65230c7cb749393ac6643f4676b73832ef" data-rendition-name="original" width="1136" height="702" loading="lazy" alt="Sujeev Shakya book details NT"></figure>

Retrofitting Nepal for future shocks

In the aftermath of the GenZ protests last month, as new PM Sushila Karki chose the first members of her Council of Ministers, youth collectives urged that it reflect the country’s diversity by including women, youth and people from various ethnic and socio-cultural backgrounds.&nbsp;
It took another couple of weeks for Karki to include &nbsp;bureaucrat and public health expert Sangeeta Mishra as &nbsp;Health Minister in her next tranche of ministers. Almost immediately, people dug up a video of Mishra calling herself “Nepali, but a native Indian”.
She was telling it like it was: Mishra is a naturalised Nepali citizen. But there was outrage in the ultra-nationalistic cybersphere. Mishra’s name was withdrawn from the list of ministers, with government officials citing an ongoing investigation at the CIAA.&nbsp;
With her Cabinet still incomplete a month after taking office, Prime Minister Karki was preparing to induct GenZ as ministers. A leak in the media floated the names, one of which was of Tashi Lhazom, a climate activist and filmmaker from Humla’s Limi Valley.&nbsp;
Almost immediately, social media erupted with discriminatory, xenophobic and misogynistic epithets against her: that she supported a separatist movement, that she was a foreign agent, that her citizenship was disputed, that she did not ‘look’ or ‘speak’ like a Nepali.&nbsp;
Political figures like Gyanendra Shahi, a prominent voice calling for the restoration of a Hindu monarchy, added fuel to the fire by making bigoted and false remarks about her heritage.
The former Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission, Mohna Ansari, wrote on social media that it was shameful to question Lhazom’s identity: ‘Ms Tashi Lhazom is as Nepali as you are. Our society’s ugliest face and biggest flaw is doubting our own. Real patriotism embraces diversity — fake nationalism must end.’
Ansari, a human rights lawyer and activist, has also often been subject to Islamophobic and derogatory comments on digital platforms. &nbsp;
In response, the Indigenous GenZ Collective released Lhazom’s Nepali citizenship certificate to debunk the mistruths spreading on digital as well as mainstream media.
What makes a Nepali? What does a Nepali look or sound like? Who is a Nepali?
‘Had my name been Tashi Poudel, Thapa, Bhattarai or Ghimire, this would not have happened,’ Lhazom said in an interview with Kantipur following an avalanche of bigotry against her. ‘They questioned me because I do not look Nepali, or speak Nepali like a Khas. Because it is not my mother tongue.’
It is an indictment of Nepali society that indigenous Nepalis have to present proof, at the slightest inconvenience of mostly the dominant groups, of being a citizen of this nation simply because they might not fit into an imagined idea of Nepali nationhood by virtue of physical appearance, speech, geography, or faith.
And while we celebrate the successes of Nepal-born naturalised foreign citizens (some now hold elected office in the US) we refuse to afford the same respect to naturalised Nepali citizens, and those born in Nepal to excluded groups, nor do we expect them to work in the national interest if they are given responsibility to govern. And women are singled out twice as much for scrutiny.
Then cyber Nepal went into a tizzy when videos appeared of a biker’s group clad in black t-shirts emblazoned with the acronym ‘TOB’ which was interpreted to stand for ‘Tibetan Original Blood’ and linked to the Free Tibet movement.
The accusations snowballed into disinformation, xenophobia, and even calls for violence against Nepalis of Tibetan heritage and the Tibetan community in Nepal.&nbsp;
In the aftermath of the September protest, the hope was that politics and the bureaucracy would finally be rid of orthodox political actors. But first, we as a nation need to collectively examine the biases and bigotry that exist in Nepal’s socio-cultural space.&nbsp;
Otherwise, Nepal’s multiculturalism will be limited to just words in the Constitution and political tokenism.
No one who is in government now or in future can be expected to be completely free of subjective opinions, ideology, affiliation to a cause, or prior activism. And such criticism falls disproportionately on activists, advocates, and members from underserved and underrepresented communities.&nbsp;
One cannot be apolitical and hope to participate in politics, and as we move forward to rebuild the system it must not just reflect diverse communities, but also celebrate diversity of thought and beliefs.&nbsp;
Resorting to ethnocentrism, racism and chauvinism with conspiracy theories and discriminatory dog-whistling about fellow citizens is a disservice to Nepali nationhood. It is Nepal’s diversity that makes us strong.&nbsp;
Shristi Karki

What makes a Nepali?

Chuden Kabimo is in Kathmandu to receive this year’s Madan Puraskar prize for his novel, <a href="https://thuprai.com/book/urmal/?srsltid=AfmBOopuAcN_Emi7s7ptdJNBJhP17OQEkWBwF2OjbkZik99xCWS4sqPn" target="_blank">उरमाल</a> that is set among the tea plantations and their workers in northeast India’s Dooar plains.&nbsp; The award ceremony was postponed due to Nepal's violent GenZ protests, and his trip had to overcome highways and bridges destroyed by this week’s heavy rains in the Darjeeling hills and across the border in Nepal.&nbsp; Kabimo’s previous work, <a href="https://thuprai.com/book/faatsung/?srsltid=AfmBOopwCankD0dycz4oef2BifQlIq1vWwHSawc33IPiBWExo_n8YAb3" target="_blank">फातसुङ</a> was the story of the Gorkhaland Movement in Darjeeling 30 years ago told through fictionlised characters and their friendships, their love for the land, and revolution. Song of the Soil is its English translation by Ajit Baral published in 2021, and there are also Hindi and Bengali translations.&nbsp; The Gorkhaland Movement sought to create a separate state for Nepali-speaking Indians of West Bengal. There is plenty of violence, arson, and young death in the book, and a poignant contemplation on the 8-9 September Gen Z protests in Nepal.&nbsp; The plot is structured as a story, inside of a story, inside of a story, and starts off as the narrator gets the bad news that his childhood friend Ripden was killed in a landslide. He heads back to the site, Malbung, where he was born.&nbsp; He reminisces about his days in school with the rebellious Ripden, who encouraged the narrator to skip school and led him on adventures instead. He remembers villagers who sold their farms for alcohol, and dedicated teachers who helped them dream of better lives.&nbsp; Ripden lives with his uncle. His mother died when he was four, and his father disappeared in the Movement. One day he hears that his father is in fact dead as well, and decides to run away to a village called Lolay. There the pair meet Nasim, who is involved in the Gorkhaland Movement as a child soldier.&nbsp; Chuden Kabimo is of the Lepcha community, a people fiercely proud of their identity, homeland, history, and myths. He weaves together the stories of the characters, detailing their motivation to rebel. ‘I may give up my life, I may give up my soul. But Gorkhaland, I will have anyhow,’ says one leader of the Movement.&nbsp; It is the story of all revolutions where young idealistic people join with the best of intentions, but things betray their initial hopes. The spirit of the revolution can get everyone to protest, even those who do not want to be so involved, but they get killed anyway. Much like what happened outside Parliament last month in Kathmandu.&nbsp; Others think of personal success through the movement, and dream of a day where even the pigs can eat rice and every house has a swimming pool. Others keep themselves going through with alcohol and remembering past, present, or potential lovers.&nbsp; Ajit Baral’s translation has short, crisp sentences that make the 200 pages move along at a fast clip. The sparse language allows the writer to recede to the background as the story unfolds by itself. &nbsp; Kabimo condenses love stories into a chapter or sometimes just a few paragraphs. This works because the story of the revolution must be at the centre, and all else is tangential. Characters are sometimes introduced only to be killed off quickly.&nbsp; Like in all revolutions, there are factions and they are fighting among themselves, against Communists, or against the police. Readers not familiar with Gorkhaland may find it difficult to keep track, but this also parallels the real confusion of a society in turmoil.&nbsp; Kabimo also tends to start his chapters with statements like ‘history is written by those who stumble in life’ which sounds better in Nepali, and something is lost in translation. &nbsp; Read with the recent Nepal protests in mind, there is almost a sense of relief that the fires that spread here burnt themselves out so quickly. But in Song of the Soil, the revolution is never-ending with villages and families living in terror and deprivation.&nbsp; It seems that the longer insurrections last, the more people die, and groups become divided making it easier to subvert the original goal of a revolution.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20251012051032_089e7a01ed5afdad35c7a298024e65893b8cf252eb2fce3b919e72c60a3c7a8f.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20251012051032_089e7a01ed5afdad35c7a298024e65893b8cf252eb2fce3b919e72c60a3c7a8f" data-rendition-name="original" width="1136" height="702" loading="lazy" alt="Song of the soil NT"> </figure>  --- <h2>"I make sure I am always connected to the story"</h2> - Chuden Kabimo, the winner of this year's Madan Puraskar literary prize for the book Urmaal Nepali Times: Your journalism about the Gorkhaland Movement inspired your earlier novel, Faatsung. What was your process in learning about tea plantation workers for Urmaal? Chuden Kabimo: I had been reporting on the second Gorkhaland movement, so it was easy for me to write Faatsung. For Urmaal, I lived with the tea plantation community. I started work six months after Faatsung was published, heading to the Dooars and exploring it. I had gone with the intention of writing a story about child marriage in a community there.&nbsp; I talked to the locals and the workers, and the need to write Urmaal started pulling me. I would often think that I had enough material for my story, but then I would want to add certain elements, which kept me going back over the five years it took to write the book.&nbsp; How does all that information you gather develop into a storyline and characters?&nbsp; When I start the book I don’t know how the plot will start and end. I talk to many people from different backgrounds. Each person tends to introduce me to other people that I should speak to.&nbsp; I listen to their stories. As the stories start to fit together, I get a sense of the plot and that is where my characters come from. For a single character I need to bring together the stories of many people, maybe ten or twelve. It is not possible to base a character on a single individual all the time. I start where I want to, and as I keep writing the story slowly takes shape. I wrote what ended up becoming the last chapter for Urmaal, first.&nbsp; What about your actual writing process? I wake up early in the morning, then I either go cycling or play football. Then I get back and &nbsp;sit at my computer for sometimes two hours. I sometimes write only two lines in the two hours, sometimes I can write five hundred words. I don’t set a word count for myself. I cannot write a lot at once, I am a slow writer, but I strongly believe that you have to write daily.&nbsp; When you do not write daily, especially for a novel, you tend to lose the connection to the story. I just make sure that I am always connected to the story, which helps me always think about it even when I am on the bus or something.&nbsp; What does winning the Madan Puraskar mean to you?&nbsp; I feel that the Madan Puraskar is the biggest prize in Nepali literature, so it is a source of great pride for me.&nbsp; When I wrote my first book, I hadn’t thought of winning any prizes. When I wrote Faatsung I was thinking much more of Kalimpong and Darjeeling. What Faatsung did for me was make me recognised. A lot of people in Nepal liked it too. How to outdo Faatsung was a challenge for me when I wrote Urmaal. After the book was published, it was getting some good reviews but I didn’t expect it to win the Madan Puraskar. I was at home reading in Siliguri when I got the news.&nbsp; For other awards, like the JCB, they had contacted me to tell me that I had been shortlisted or that I won, but to not reveal it to anyone. It was the opposite with the Madan Puraskar. I was notified via Facebook!&nbsp; It was a unique type of happiness. It is also great motivation for me to work on my third novel. Perhaps I will do something about Sikkim, moving away from Gorkhaland.&nbsp; How does it feel being recognised in Nepal? Six years ago, readers in Nepal did not know who I was. I was new to Nepal and Nepal was new to me. I grew up in rural Kalimpong, and we only had a radio for entertainment. On the radio, we used to listen to Nepali programs, which developed an emotional attachment to the country.&nbsp; I came to Kathmandu for the first time for Faatsung, and it was a lot of fun seeing the places that I had heard about on the radio. The journey after that, of the love the readers have shown for the book and now the prize, has been very meaningful.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20251012051032_98bbbef41bc3ca68f0e8c84edd40f7e6c5bd012186e09a08b4ed9631fd9a009b.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="20251012051032_98bbbef41bc3ca68f0e8c84edd40f7e6c5bd012186e09a08b4ed9631fd9a009b" data-rendition-name="original" width="1136" height="702" loading="lazy" alt="Urmaal NT"> </figure>

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