To Hell in a Handcart
Nepali Times ईspecial 4 - 10 April 2025 #1255
Dear Comrades,
Some of you have been complaining at the friendly neighbourhood watering hole that Nepal is going to hell in a handcart. First of all, what’s wrong with going to hell? It can’t be worse than it already is, can it? Secondly, I don’t know if a handcart is the best way to get there.
Anyway, the point is that our plutocrats are not doing enough to wreck this country. Compared to some of the world’s greatest democracies, their efforts are half-hearted at best. We have a lot to learn about cronyism and nepotism from Kaka Sam. He is way ahead of us in self-destructive behaviour.
Nevertheless, it must be said that the 10% tariff offers a huge opportunity for Nepal to expand trade with the United States because our dog chews, yarsagumba and lab animal exports are now going to be much cheaper than the competition.
I have one word of advice for all of you out there who can’t stop complaining about how bad things are in Nepal: Goodbye. Wait, leaving already? Take me with you.
While geopolitical earthquakes rock the world, here in Nepal this month we are marking the tenth anniversary of the 2015 disaster. And Nepali Times is carrying special content this week and in the lead-up to the 25 April issue.
In a roundup titled ‘11:56, 25 April 2015’ on page 1, I contend that despite the tragic loss of nearly 9,000 lives, the earthquake ten years ago could have been much worse had it not occurred on a Saturday.
The most serious loss of life was when an avalanche triggered by the earthquake wiped Langtang village off the map, killing hundreds. The famous Langtang cheese factory was destroyed and rebuilt, but now faces an even bigger threat from outmigration and decline in yak herds. Sonia Awale reports in Langtang After 10 Years on page 4-5.
On the centrespread, Sangya Lamsal and Vishad Raj Onta visit Bungamati and Bhaktapur to assess the rebuilding of the two historic towns that bore the brunt of the earthquake: Bungamati Builds Back and Bhaktapur 2.0 on pages 6-7.
The series Diaspora Diaries in its 62nd episode is also by migrant worker Eaman Eakal who was working as a security guard in Dubai when the earthquake hit and destroyed his home. He turned his worry into helping with earthquake relief, and documenting the raw emotion in poetry and song. Read his account and watch video clip: Away from Home When Nepal Shook, pages 10-11.
Also on those pages, Aseem Bastola reports from Portugal about how the rising popularity of the anti-immigrant Chega party worries thousands of Nepalis there about their residence status. In Limbo in Lisbon.
The Nepali Times newsroom will be back next week with the New Year issue. Write to us at editors@nepalitimes.com with comments and ideas.
Kunda Dixit