I came to Kathmandu in 1975 intent on not studying law. At first I tried to study medicine as well as a few other things but wasn’t successful, so ended up biting the bullet and applying to Law school but I failed with this too. I went to the school’s office to find out why I hadn’t passed and was told that I’d answered the test using old criteria. My school was teaching old laws and subsequently caused me to fail.
By Alex Bushnell May 04, 2018
Robin Marston has been a leading figure in Nepali tourism and trekking for nearly forty years. He led Mountain Travel, Nepal’s first trekking agency, for twelve years and managed the famous Summit Hotel for fourteen years. Since then, he’s played an important role in conservation and charity work, and has left a lasting legacy in Nepal. It was my second time meeting Robin, and this time he invited me to his home for our interview. I met him in the lobby of the Summit Hotel before he led me to his house just next door. Outside his gate I was surprised to see a sheep, an animal I hadn’t seen since arriving in Nepal. I wasn’t even sure if they existed here. I was even more surprised when Robin called for “Shobha” to come inside with us. We sat in his garden, eating biscuits, drinking tea and petting Shobha the sheep, and started the interview.
By Alex Bushnell Mar 23, 2018
Following the appointment of Chief Executive Officer Yubaraj Bhusal, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has amended some regulations and guidelines to make the procedures for private housing grant easy over the last three and half months. CEO Bhusal, who has worked in different ministries as a secretary, including in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Commission, is a seasoned bureaucrat with his own developmental approach. Excerpts:
By Keshab Poudel Feb 18, 2018
For an organization, the first 25 years mark a very important milestone. So, for the Himalayan Bank Ltd, a premier private sector joint venture bank, its recent silver jubilee celebration was special. Founded with the initiative of Nepal’s first governor Himalaya Shumsher Rana, Himalaya Bank Ltd has made immense contribution in transforming Nepal’s financial sector and in Nepal’s overall economic and social development. Although financial institutions are in dozens, Himalaya Bank has its own glory, credibility and prestige in the financial sector of Nepal as well as abroad. The task of running the bank, retaining its credibility in the present context, is undertaken by Chief Executive Officer Ashoke SJB Rana, son of Himalaya Sumsher Rana, who celebrated his 90th birthday recently. As Nepal’s economy is growing in a new political structure, CEO Ashoke SJB Rana spoke to New Spotlight on various issues. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Feb 05, 2018
Although almost three years have passed since recent earthquakes devastated Nepal, overwhelming numbers of victims are yet to find a respite. Min Bahadur Shahi, convener of HAMI, spoke to New Spotlight on related issues.
By A Correspondent Jan 21, 2018
Despite the decline in the generation of electricity from the domestic power plants, Nepal Electricity Authority is supplying electricity to the country without shedding the power load. At a time when there is a growing rumor about the possibility the load-shedding schedules returning, Kul Man Ghising, Managing Director of NEA, spoke to New Spotlight on the likely scenarios. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Jan 07, 2018
Having worked in the sanitation sector, mainly in the Open Defection Free (ODF) campaign, for a long time, MADAN KUMAR MALLA, monitoring and evaluation specialist at UN Habitat, knows the many lapses and strengths of the program. As Nepal is close to the end of 2017, Malla spoke to New Spotlight on various issues, including the state of ODF in Nepal. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Dec 09, 2017
As Nepal has just completed three tiers of elections in the last one year, Krishna Man Pradhan, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Law Society and general secretary of the General Election Observation Committee (GEOC), spoke to NEW SPOLIGHT about his own experience. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Dec 04, 2017
Paul I. Norton, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, has worked in Nepal for quite a long time in the process of repatriation of Bhutanese Refugees. The IOM chief of Nepal mission spoke to New Spotlight on various issues on migration and refugees. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Nov 26, 2017
A senior Nepali police officer has been talking about the “pride and honor” he feels being able to serve his country as part of the UN peacekeeping operation in South Sudan, known as UNMISS.
By A Correspondent Sep 26, 2017
When KUL MAN GHISING was appointed a year ago as the Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal was amidst an energy crisis with up to 14 hours of power cut. With Ghising at the helm of NEA, everything changed. Ghising spoke to New SPOTLIGHT on various issues. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Sep 24, 2017
Supporting Various Programs in civic education, democracy human rights, workers’ rights and gender, Annette Schlicht Resident Representative Friedrich Ebert Foundation has been supporting Nepal for long time. Annette Schlicht, Resident Representative of Friedrich Ebert Foundation Nepal spoke to New Spotlight on various issues regarding the role of the FES in coming years. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Sep 24, 2017
Gautam SJB Rana is well known for showing a way to go in preserving the Rana Palaces. Gautam Shumsher renovated a small shed of Babarmahal, which is now the grand Babarmahal Revisited. A great, great grandson of Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher; great grandson of Babar Shumsher, grandson of Mrigendra Shumsher, and son of former Major General Aditya SJB Rana, Gautam Shumsher spoke to New Spotlight on various issues. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Aug 27, 2017
Young and dynamic, joint secretary Yam Lal Bhoosal is the spokesperson of the National Reconstruction Authority. As a hard working bureaucrat, Bhoosal spoke to New Spotlight in response to the complaints about the lackluster reconstruction process and on various related issues. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Aug 27, 2017
As the election date has already been announced and the Election Commission is preparing for the next elections, Begendra Raj Sharma Poudel, member secretary of the Electoral Constituency Delineation Commission, spoke to New Spotlight. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Aug 27, 2017
With almost two decades in the legal business, Gandhi & Associates, a Nepali law firm, has proven itself as a modern corporate law firm, manned by young and old lawyers of note. With a renowned person like RAJU MAN SINGH MALLA, former law secretary, behind it, the law firm has a jewel in its crown. At a time when Nepal is asking foreign companies to come and invest in Nepal, Malla spoke to NEW SPOTLIGHT on various issues. Excerpts:
By A Correspondent Aug 13, 2017
At a time when everyone is concentrating on the preservation of heritage sites built during the Lichchhavi and Malla periods, the palaces built during the period of Thapas and Ranas are gradually vanishing along with the political history of the period. However, environmental activist CHANDA RANA, who has been taking the lead to save Rana Palaces and heritage, is fighting a lonely battle.
By A Correspondent Aug 12, 2017