अमेरिकाको न्यूयोर्कमा गए राति सम्पन्न खेलमा अमेरिकालाई सात विकेटले हराउँदै भारत विश्वकपको सुपर आठमा पुगेको हो । लगातार तेस्रो जित हात पारेको भारत छ अङ्क जोड्दै समूह ‘ए’ बाट सुपर ८ मा प्रवेश गर्ने पहिलो टोली बन्यो । सोही समूहमा रहेको अमेरिका तीन खेलबाट चार अङ्कसहित दोस्रो स्थानमा छ । पाकिस्तान र क्यानाडाको समान दुई अङ्क छ । आयरल्यान्डले अङ्क खाता खोल्न सकेको छैन ।

खेलमा अमेरिकाले निर्धारित २० ओभरमा आठ विकेट गुमाउँदै एक सय ११ रनको लक्ष्य प्रस्तुत गरेको थियो । जवाफमा भारतले १८ दशमलव ३ ओभरमा तीन विकेट गुमाउँदै लक्ष्य पूरा गरेको अन्तरराष्ट्रिय सञ्चारमाध्यमहरूले जनाएका छन् । 

भारतका लागि सूर्यकुमार यादवले ४९ बलमा दुई चौका र दुई छक्कासहित सर्वाधिक ५० रनको योगदान दिए । त्यस्तै ऋषभ दुबेले ३१ रन बनाए भने ऋषभ पन्तले १८ रनको योगदान दिए । 

अमेरिकाका सौरभ नेत्रवालकरले दुई विकेट लिए भने अली खानले एक विकेट झारे । त्यसअघि टस हारेर पहिला ब्याटिङ गरेको अमेरिकाका ओपनर सायन जहान्गिरलाई अर्शदीप सिंहले पहिलो बलमै आउट गर्दै दबाब दिएका थिए । त्यसपछि नितिश कुमारले २३ बलमा सर्वाधिक २७ रनको योगदान गरे भने अर्का ओपनर स्टेभन टेलरले ३० बलमा २४ रन बनाए । 

भारतका अर्शदीप एक्लैले चार विकेट लिए भने हार्दिक पाण्डेयाले दुई तथा एक्सर पटेलले एक विकेट लिए 

संस्थापक सेयर बिक्री सम्बन्धी सिद्धार्थ बैंकको सूचना

 Apply : hr@unitedajodinsurance.com

Pokhrel, a cybersecurity expert and digital marketing guru, has carved a niche in recovering locked, hacked, and disabled social media accounts. From Facebook’s two-factor authentication hurdles to YouTube channels with millions of subscribers, his expertise has brought relief to many.

His success extends beyond individual cases. Pokhrel actively volunteers to educate young people about cyber awareness, empowering them to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. This dedication to creating a safer social media environment makes him a true advocate for digital well-being.

“Regaining access to a locked account can feel like winning the lottery,” says Pokhrel. “But what truly motivates me is empowering people with the knowledge to protect themselves online and fostering a positive digital space for everyone, especially the younger generation.”

Pokhrel’s impact extends beyond national borders. His work has garnered international attention, with individuals from various countries seeking his assistance. This global reach highlights the growing need for cybersecurity expertise and digital literacy education, areas where Pokhrel is making a significant difference.

As the digital world continues to evolve, so too will the challenges it presents. However, with individuals like Suraj Pokhrel leading the way, we can hope for a future where social media remains a platform for connection and opportunity, not a source of frustration and vulnerability.

Reports indicate that impacted users are encountering difficulties logging back in, with their passwords being rejected. However, it’s important to note that the issue lies with the outage rather than incorrect passwords. The sudden logout has raised concerns among the user base, prompting questions about the cause and duration of the disruption.

Facebook, the parent company of both Messenger and Instagram, has yet to release an official statement addressing the outage. As users eagerly await updates, social media platforms have seen a surge in posts expressing frustration and confusion about the unexpected disruption.

The outage highlights the dependency of millions on these platforms for communication and social interaction. It remains to be seen how quickly Facebook can resolve the issue and restore normalcy to its services.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.

We feel very proud and honored to be honored with the prestigious ‘Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award’. All the awardees shared their happiness with us. The prestigious ‘Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award’ was presented during the town hall meeting. Professor Prabhat Dixit could not attend the honors program as he is in Nepal. A large number of Nepalese were present at the town hall meeting in Euless, Texas. Nepalese ethinic Euless City Councilor Tika Paudyal and NCSC president Sita Sapkota were present as guests for the program to honor the three people who were honored with the prestigious ‘Presidential Life Time Achievement Award’ in front of all the Nepalese.

There are about seventy-eighty thousand Nepalese people living in Texas. This prestigious award has been received by the Nepalese Society of Texas and the entire Nepalese community. The prestigious ‘Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award’ is given to various eminent personalities in recognition of lifelong service and dedication for the betterment of society. This is a prestigious honor given to individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities through volunteerism. The prestigious ‘Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award’ is presented by the President of the United States through a representative affiliated with the US government. Along with the Presidential Award at the prestigious ‘Presidential Life Time Achievement Award’, the honorees are presented with a personalized certificate, official pin, gold medallion, and a letter of congratulation from the President of the United States.

The Nepalese Society of Texas has continuously strived to create a positive impact. Receiving this award from President Joe Biden is not only a milestone for Nepalese Society of Texas and the officers of this organization, but also a reminder of the plans and responsibilities we have taken forward for the society. It promotes unity, understanding, and support for Nepal with its neighboring country, America, and also promotes the important role played by diaspora communities. This ideal belongs to each and every member of our society, whose selfless contribution and selfless service have given us the courage to stand strong in the face of challenges.

Fueled by a spirit of volunteerism, our journey has seen countless initiatives in education, cultural preservation, and humanitarian aid within the United States and in Nepal as well. It is a moment to reflect on our past achievements and a symbol to guide our path in future endeavors. We express our heartfelt gratitude to President Joe Biden and all who support our mission. Inspired by this honor, the Nepalese Society of Texas pledges to continue its service, aiming to make a difference in the lives of those who do high humanitarian service. Also, we are committed to building a more compassionate, understanding, and united world.

The officials of the Nepalese Society of Texas have been honored with this award. May it be a reminder for all of us that, through social service, we will continue to find our purpose and will continue to do so. They have been honored with the prestigious ‘Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award’ for their service to the community, unwavering dedication, hard work, cultural and social upliftment activities, high ethical approach, educational, charitable initiatives, and strong presence in the community for social unity. The Nepalese Society of Texas’s spokesperson, Kiran Paudyal,.

Every year, hundreds of mountaineers arrive with the dream of summiting the world’s highest mountain, Everest. A thousand others come to trek to Everest Base Camp, revelling in the breathtaking scenery. To embark on this journey, they must first reach the gateway to Everest—Lukla which is home to one of the most dangerous airports in the world. The nerve-wracking part of their adventure begins with a 17-minute flight from Ramechhap Airport to Lukla.

During peak tourist season between March to May and September to November, Ramechhap Airport operates at its maximum capacity, handling around 120 daily flights (to and fro) and helicopter trips catering to about 2,000 tourists daily.

The airport and the entire town of Manthali, where the airport is located, experience a surge in activity during the peak season, sometimes leading to overcrowding. The waiting room often faces this issue and the airport staff find it challenging to manage the increased traffic effectively. However, post-tourist season, the airport remains deserted, as it has never been active. There is an eerie silence on the runway, reminiscent of the tranquil flow of the adjacent Tama Koshi river, with its calm turquoise waters.

The locals and businesses in Manthali now want the local government to do most as they say the airport holds significant untapped potential but is currently underutilised and overlooked beyond the trekking season.

Gateway to Lukla

Open for operations in 1979, Ramechhap Airport initially connected Manthali to Kathmandu and subsequently to Janakpur. With no road access, the airport became came as a boon to the locals.

After roads were built around the area, the airport became an afterthought. However, in October 2013, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) started to conduct Lukla flights from Manthali to ease the air traffic in Kathmandu. The number went significantly higher after 2019 which marked a turning point for Ramechhap Airport, transforming it into a pivotal transit point for tourists headed to Lukla.

Although travellers bound for Lukla currently face a four-hour car ride to reach Manthali, the flight distance has been nearly halved as it only takes 17 minutes to reach Lukla.

“We only resumed Lukla flights this year after a lull caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was very busy, with Tara Air, Sita Air, and Summit Air collectively operating 10 flights a day,” says Gyanendra Bhul, joint spokesperson at CAAN.

On any given day during the trekking season, tourists are a common sight in the Manthali area, including the bus station and airport areas. The place gets so busy, that some even pitch up tennts in and around the airport areas to catch the morning flight to Lukla.

However, once the season ends, and flights to Luklac come to a halt, Ramechhap Airport sees near-zero traffic. The runway stays deserted with aeroplanes a rarity during the off-season. Despite this, the airport remains operational, maintaining a minimal staff for potential emergency landings or diversions that other flights might need to undertake. Additionally, the airport serves as a runway for test or practice flights and drills, according to officials.

Lost opportunities

While Lukla flights from Manthali has made life easy for the Tribhuvan International Airport, the life of the locals of Manthali, however, has not changed as much as they thought it would.

Despite its strategic importance, Ramechhap Airport faces operational challenges and serves as a testament to many lost opportunities, say the local hoteliers and businesspeople.

The influx of tourists using Lukla-bound flights brought about a surge in several hotel businesses in Manthali. In response to the seasonal demand, locals opened guest houses, hotels, and resorts. However, despite the apparent growth in numbers, hoteliers and traders express grave dissatisfaction that the airport remains heavily sidelined and ignored. 

We have requested the authorities and the airlines to expand their flights from Manthali to other destinations so that even in the off-season, the airport and the tourism and hotel business in the area can benefit from it, but it has all gone to deaf ears,” says Pawan Kathayat owner of Manakamana Hotel in Manthali.

He says that their investments are not being valued, pointing out that even during the peak trekking season, individuals often opt to drive to Manthali from Kathmandu early in the morning instead of staying overnight.

Another business operator Shyam Thapa puts this on travel companies who rush their clients from Kathmandu in the early hours with packed breakfast.

“They come in vans and SUVs and fly to Lukla directly. We will not benefit when this happens,” says Thapa. “Only 0.1 per cent of tourists stay overnight in Manthali.”

Thapa even goes on to say how the airport has not created employment either.

“The road has done more to Manthali than this airport has,” he says.

The only time the town sees people is when there is poor weather. This forces people to stay in Manthali waiting for the weather to clear up.

“Ramechhap is taken solely as a transit point. Tourists only spend a night here when they are desperate. Most look for cheap hotels and space here and any failure to cater to them leads to the bad reputation of Manthali and Ramechhap as a whole, which is very disappointing to hear,” says Thapa.

Despite being operational, Ramechhap Airport remains practically inactive for a significant portion of the year, much like the other 18 airports in Nepal.

Correcting the course

Hoteliers and businesspersons advocate for a much-needed shift in tourism practices. They say it was time the government and travel companies considered offering better packages to the tourists encouraging them to spend a night in the town, at the very least.

“The flights to Lukla are all in the morning. This means if the tourists come to Manthali a day earlier, they spend the night here, they get to explore Manthali and some locally famous landmarks here,” says Thapa.

CAAN, however, says all they can do is give the airport flights and the rest is up to the traveller and the agencies they use.

Hoteliers say that connecting the flights will not immediately solve their problems, it requires more affordable and sustainable solutions. They call on the government to study and invest more in tourism and create a market for local produce like dairy.

Also, another untapped potential is the Tama Koshi River which locals believe could be used for rafting and other adventure tourism-related activities.

“We tried for a certain time, but seems like they don’t seem to care,” says Thapa.

Nevertheless, to correct the course, the hoteliers in Ramechhap echo that there is a pressing need for reevaluating the airport’s role beyond being a mere transit point.

The district of Ramechhap grapples with geographical challenges, primarily characterised by the rugged terrain and surrounding hills. This means bigger aeroplanes cannot be diverted here. But, after the renovation, the smaller ones including Twin Otters, donniers and Let 410, can be started, increasing Ramechhap’s two-way connectivity to other districts.

“Initiatives to enhance Ramechhap’s connectivity with Kathmandu and other destinations, throughout the year, could unlock untapped potential. Operating regular flights between Ramechhap and Kathmandu, at the very least, could alleviate the top-down approach we see today and even offer a viable business and travel alternative for the locals in the region,” says Kathayat.

Bhul from CAAN said they tried to operate Kathmandu-Ramechhap flights a few times a week.

“It was not commercially viable. We have to depend on private airlines to run the flights, and they need 70 per cent of the load to cover the cost. Unless they do that, they will never fly there,” says Bhul.

He adds that CAAN is aware of the complaints and assures that if given the viability, they will divert the flights as needed.

The post Ramechhap Airport: Potential to be more than just a ‘transit’ point appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

iQOO, the sub-brand of Vivo after the launch of its flagship, the iQOO 12 has launched the 9 generation of its popular premium mid-range smartphones, the iQOO Neo9 and Neo9 Pro in China. The Neo9 series is the successor of the Neo8 series, including the iQOO Neo8 and Neo8 Pro.

The Neo9 Pro has a new design with an upgraded display, chipset, ultra-wide camera, battery and reverse charging capability. The Neo series is popular for its design and performance at a mid-range price competing as a flagship killer. The sub-brand of Vivo has been doing quite well recently with new design and performance features in all price ranges. The Neo series is also getting attention for the same reason.

Let us see what the smartphone offers in terms of specs.

Specifications of iQOO Neo9 Pro

Design and Display

The design of the iQOO Neo9 Pro is different to its predecessor, the iQOO Neo8 Pro. The camera module hump has now been removed and the dual camera setup has a square-shaped lens with rounded edges.

The lens design bears a resemblance to the flagship iQOO 12‘s camera module. However, instead of featuring a single prominent camera bump, the lenses are distinctively separated.

The Neo9 Pro has three colour options, Fighting Black, Nautical Blue and Red and White Soul. The Black and Blue colour option has a frosted glass back and keeps away the fingerprints. The Red and White Soul colour option has a leather back which has a unique white stripe along the camera module side with stitches connecting to the red colour.

On the front, the Neo9 Pro has a centred hole-punch cutout which houses the selfie camera. The bezels are also minimal for a premium look and feel. It has an LTPO AMOLED panel with a 6.78-inch screen size, a 20:9 ratio and an impressive 93.43 per cent screen-to-body ratio. It has a resolution of 2,800 × 1,260 and supports a wide range of 1.07 billion colours. It has support for HDR and also an 8,000,000:1 contrast ratio. With a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, the display ensures smooth and fluid visuals.

Performance and Storage

The iQOO Neo9 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset built on a 4nm architecture for powerful performance. Its octa-core CPU configuration is a mixture of high-speed Cortex-X4 cores clocked at 3.25 GHz, alongside additional Cortex-X4 and Cortex-A720 cores. It is equipped with the Immortalis-G720 GPU for graphics rendering for a smooth gaming and multimedia experience. It runs on OriginOS 4 based on the Android 14 operating system.

The iQOO Neo9 Pro is available in two RAM options: 12GB and 16GB. The 12GB variant is offered with either a base storage of 256GB or an extended 512GB option. Meanwhile, the 16GB version comes with a 512GB storage option or an even larger 1TB variant.

Camera

The iQOO Neo9 Pro has a dual rear camera setup, headlined by a powerful 50MP Sony customized VCS IMX920 sensor which is paired with a 50MP flagship ultra-wide-angle lens. The main rear camera features an aperture of f/1.88 while the wide-angle lens has an f/2.0 aperture. Additionally, the main rear camera supports OIS anti-shake technology for steady and blur-free images, while both rear cameras feature video anti-shake functionality, enabling smooth video recording.

The rear camera has support for up to 20x digital zoom. The shooting modes for the rear camera include night scene, snapshot, portrait, photo, video, micro movie, high pixel, panorama, slow motion, time-lapse photography, super moon, ultra-clear document, time slowdown, Professional and Jovi ScanMP4. The iQOO Neo9 Pro’s rear camera has video recording capabilities of up to 8K, 4K, 1080p videos and 1080p slow-motion videos.

On the front, the iQOO Neo9 Pro has a 16MP selfie camera with an f/2.45 aperture. It also has various shooting modes, including portrait, photo, video and micro-movie. As for video recording, it can record videos of up to 1080p which could be better with support for up to 4k videos.

Battery and Others

The iQOO Neo9 Pro boasts a hefty 5,160mAh battery. For charging it supports fast 120W wired charging and reverse wired charging capacity to charge other devices. Connectivity-wise, it supports Wi-Fi standards up to 802.11ac/6/7 for fast and reliable internet access and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connections. It has support for both LTE and 5G networks and dual SIM capability for high-speed data and connectivity options.

The phone also features stereo speakers for immersive audio. It has a wide range of sensors like an accelerometer, ambient light, proximity, gyro, electronic compass, physical gyroscope, infrared remote control, flicker sensor, and an under-display fingerprint sensor.

As for colour options; the iQOO Neo9 Pro is available in Fighting Black, Nautical Blue and Red and White Soul colours.

The iQOO Neo9 Pro when launched can be expected around Rs 65,000 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, Rs 70,000 for the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variant, Rs 77,000 for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant, and Rs 85,000 for the 16GB RAM and 1TB storage variant in Nepal.

The post iQOO Neo9 Pro: Luxurious design and performance at a mid-range price appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

There always lies a dark realm in cultural practices in any society. It has been prevalent without any questions brought up against them, and those questions were repressed because of power, whether it be economic or political.

People were uneducated and believed in some divine power, because of this they accepted such discrimination and repression as their fate. Such concepts are still in existence in Nepali society; voiceless people are dominated by people in power, and the voices are not let to sprout.

In response to misconceptions regarding fate and social status, cultural studies have emerged to delve into these practices. They aim to expose how representations have been misconstrued, often favouring those in positions of power.

One can view such malpractices through different lenses, either it be through feminism or Marxism. In the end, it is all about how such malpractices prevalent in Nepali society are represented to exercise the ideology of people in power.

The concept

Our understanding works regarding different signs that exist in society, which further are shaped by our cultural, economic and political ideologies. Regarding the effect of such signs in our lives, Roland Barthes, a French Philosopher, brought up the concept of myth formation, how it shapes society and understanding of people, and how it is a major source for the exercise of power.

For Barthes, myth is similar to Marx’s concept of ideology, yet ideology is subject to scrutiny through its cultural manifestations. These manifestations are natural and transparent through mythologies, which means the ideologies are exercised through myths, and the understanding of ideologies is different according to culture.

Myth is a semiological system, it is a form of signification yet it differs from ordinary speech and language. Myth works in two levels —surface level and deeper level. At the surface level, it is the first order of signification, which is denotative and does not produce arbitrary meaning, thus leading to the naturalisation of myth. But in the second order of signification, the sign is thus further processed which is associated with the ideological meaning of the myth and produces connotative meaning.

Here, myth appears as something different and holds another truth, thus working on a deeper level. Hence, everything can be a myth if it is defused through a particular discourse. To understand it better, let’s take an example of a beauty products advertisement.

When Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan comes up with a fairness cream ‘Fair and handsome’, the denotative meaning is just an actor talking about the use of fairness cream.

When we go into the connotative level, which is also desired by the companies of those products, the same actor becomes a source of inspiration, an idol of beauty, an alpha male, and the product he talks about becomes the source to reach that level.

Thus, myths are produced and disposed among the working class to accept it to be a natural phenomenon that they must carry to reach a higher position.

Nepali society

There are many myths prevalent in Nepali society defused through Hindu scriptures (discourse). One such practice is the caste system, where people are marginalised based on their caste, regarding low-status birth.

According to Purush Sukta of Rigved, verse 10.90.12, it is believed different categories of people are born from different body parts of the Brahma (Purush), the Brahmans are born from the mouth, the Kshatriyas from the arms, the Vaishyas from the thighs and the Shudras from the feet.

The first order of signification of the verse portrays denotative meaning about the qualities a human possesses, the ‘Purush’ in the Ved is the cosmic intelligence, which works with the matter (Prakriti) to create the duality essential for existence, it’s basically ‘material’ and ‘supernatural’ qualities human possess.

From this cosmic intelligence, we derive the four most desirable traits of human nature: wisdom, nobility, industry and facility; Brahman – wisdom, Kshatriya – nobility, courage, Vaishya – industriousness, Shudra – talent, and facility.

But the formation of myth interpreted it differently, the ideology of superiority and inferiority was defused in the name of ‘Dharma’. In India, during British colonisation, the verses were translated by Christian Missionaries in a different way to defuse their ideology of regarding Indian people as uncivilised and barbaric.

This was how myths about the hierarchy of people were implanted in the minds of Hindus, at the top were the Brahmans who were mainly teachers and intellectuals and are believed to have come from Brahma’s head, the Kshatriyas, or the warriors and rulers, supposedly from his arms.

The third slot went to the Vaishyas, or the traders, who were created from his thighs. At the bottom of the heap were the Shudras, who came from Brahma’s feet and did all the menial jobs.

This influenced Britishers to divide and rule, and people were forced to adopt types of work according to their caste, which is still prevalent today.

According to Dor Bahadur Bista, ancient Nepal never seemed to have adopted a caste system, people believed in Shamanism, until the influence of Khas Brahmanism, which developed in the Sinja Valley of Karnali.

People in power wanted to be superior to those being ruled, and the Brahmans wanted to increase their influence, hence the common interests of the two parties started to impose different practices of hierarchy in the Nepali society.

Those wearing sacred thread (janai) were considered pure and of higher caste, whereas those drinking alcohol were considered lesser. Due to this influence, people converted into Brahmans and Kshatriyas, wearing the sacred thread, hence believed to be superior to others. Yet those hierarchies were only seen in religious practices, until the 14th century, when King Jayasthiti Malla introduced caste principles and conduct according to the Manusmriti code of the Hindus (Bista, 39).

He prescribed professional activities, lifestyles, and practices according to caste levels, and made it punishable for anyone who violated the rules. In the 19th century, Junga Bahadur Rana, desperate to raise his status to the highest possible level introduced the caste system to a much greater degree than the Malla kings.

The society became more complex and stratified, and people started following untouchability. It was a sin for lower caste people to enter the temple, or go against the cultural practices, for Shudras, since they were believed to have been born from Brahma’s feet, were forced to remain under the feet of the people in power.

Women in Nepal were already suffering a lot because of patriarchy and patriarchal ideology, hence were double marginalised. Before the Rana prime minister Chandra Shumsher, women were burned alive along with their dead husbands, who regarded women as the possession of males.

This shows how the power of patriarchy treated women as objects which had to go along with their dead husbands. It is believed in Hindu culture that a wife should always be there with her husband throughout their life, but the myth of being together to death was proposed by those in power (males) through the discourse of ‘Dharma’.

The denotative meaning of being together with the husband through myth imposed the ideology of patriarchy, regarding women as possession of males, and should die along with them. Though such practice was abolished long ago, the caste system never went off affecting females, who were already marginalised by patriarchy.

So-called Dalit women were beaten, forced to consume faeces, and given the tag of witch. Even now, we hear such news, which is because of the exercise of power by males. Women are either possessions or witches in the eye of patriarchy.

Though some Dalit women are progressing, it is not the same for all, it clearly shows how power affects people. The life of a Dalit woman in some remote village is not as same as that of living in towns. Even though their economic status affects them, an economically strong Dalit woman is enjoying her life freely, without any obstacles, rather than participation, but an economically weak woman is still struggling to find her place in society.

Over time, representations change, and the caste system strongly prevalent in Nepali society is slowly changing. The connotative meaning born superior and inferior has been overtaken by one being superior and inferior because of their deeds, which is also another myth. Since there is no measurement to determine what is wrong and what is right. Hence, people in power keep on producing such myths to exercise their power and establish their superiority.

The post The exercise of power and caste system in Nepali society appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

Nepal, situated at the vortex of expanding interest of her neighbours in South Asia and southwest China, holds a unique geopolitical position in the region and the world. Nepal’s geographic location has always made it necessary for her to pursue a balanced foreign policy to gain goodwill from her immediate neighbours and other powers beyond the region. However, present-day Nepal has failed to attain these objectives.

As a result, the country has become a venue for rivalry between the two regional powers and the powers beyond. Nepal should turn the pages of history and learn lessons from the past; she should adopt those policies from the past, which had enabled her to keep all foreign powers at arm’s length, ensure internal stability and thrive economically at the same time.

Regional geopolitical history

A brief survey of the regional geopolitical history illustrates that Nepal, shielded by the Himalayan rampart in the north and the thick malaria-infested forests in the southern Terai and further made inaccessible by the Chure and the Mahabharata ranges, had always remained a sovereign state.

However, its immediate neighbours, Tibet and India, were not so fortunate. In the north, due to their domestic conflict, the Chinese intervened in Tibet’s internal affairs in the 1720s. Towards the south, the Mughal power in India started to collapse in the 1750s, and the English East India Company, who had entered India as traders, started reaping the rewards of their successful campaigns.

Even in such a situation, the tiny principalities of this Himalayan region managed to remain isolated from regional politics, protected by these two formidable barriers.

When King Prithivi Narayan Shah initiated his military campaign to unify Nepal in the north, the Chinese had already deputed their Amban (Chinese Military Governors) to monitor and control local events in Tibet in 1728.

In the south, the English East India Company had established itself as a military power and vigorously expanded its control over the Indian subcontinent. However, the Gorkhas thwarted their ambitions and annihilated them at Shinduli on November 6, 1767.

Based on his deep understanding of Nepal’s delicate geo-strategic location, the great strategist Prithvi Narayan Shah compared Nepal to a “Yam between two boulders” and stressed that Nepal must maintain a policy of equilibrium between its immediate neighbours.

After the Anglo-Nepal War(1814-18160), the British curtailed Nepal’s expansion and rose as an undisputable power in the Indian subcontinent. Towards the north, by 1818, more than 10 countries, including Nepal, were sending tribute missions to China, and the Chinese considered these countries to be under their suzerainty.

However, after 1840, the Northern Imperial power started to decline. Furthermore, the influence of France and Russia around the Indian subcontinent also started to decrease. Fluctuations in power are inevitable in geopolitics; thus, given the harsh international reality of the 19th century, the Ranas of Nepal adopted a realistic approach and sought a friendly relationship with the British in India.

Yet, the Northern neighbour’s attempts to assert her claim over Nepal had not ended. In 1913, they had invited Nepal to join her in a union of the “Five Affiliated races, namely Han Chinese, Manchus, Mongolians, Tibetans, and Muslims.”

They categorised Nepal amongst the so-called lost Chinese territories they hoped to reclaim. Thus, China sent numerous missions to Nepal to reaffirm its claim. Scholars mention that even in 1939, Mao Tse-tung had stated, “Nepal, Bhutan, and Burma were independent states that the Chinese had lost to the British Empire.”  

The changed scenario in World War II

World War II completely changed the existing world order. The collapse of imperial powers and the flowering of nationalism in colonised countries was followed by India gaining independence in 1947 and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

After independence, India adopted a policy of integrating her smaller neighbours into her security perimeter to promote India’s interests. Amidst these regional changes, the Ranas, desperate to save their regime, signed the controversial Peace and Friendship and Trade and Commerce treaty with the Indians on July 31, 1950.

According to scholars, the 1950 treaty attempted to abolish the sovereign status of Nepal recognised by the British through the 1923 treaty. However, because the UK, US and France had entered into diplomatic relations with Nepal before India gained independence, India refrained from taking direct action against Nepal, as it had done against the Indian princely states and Sikkim. Otherwise, Nepal’s fate would have been sealed if that had not been the case.

Across the northern border, after what China terms “liberating Tibet” in 1950, Mao had stated, “Tibet as the palm and Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Ladakh and the north-eastern frontiers areas of India as the fingers.”

This statement illustrates China’s regional policy and its initial views of Nepal during that period. Only from 1955 onwards, after the Bandung Conference, did China and Nepal establish preliminary contacts that paved the way for establishing diplomatic relations. Since then, the relationship has gained steady momentum in the ensuing years.

At the beginning of the Cold War, the India – China relationship had been symbolised by  the slogan “Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai.”However, the honeymoon period ended after the brothers fought a war in 1962.

Nepal’s unique geostrategic location between the two antagonistic powers of Asia, India and China, and the bitter relation between the United States and the Soviet Union ensured that almost all the powerful international actors became involved in Nepal.

Thus, hoping to prevent the rise of communist movements in Nepal and to keep it safe from China’s and the former Soviet Union’s influence, the United States started to assist Nepal in the 1950s. During that period, Nepal took full advantage of the situation by exploiting the differences of interest between the neighbours and the global powers.

Nepal’s diplomatic relationships

Nepal’s interaction history with our two immediate neighbours demonstrates that China has always remained the critical balancer in Nepal’s external politics. Using the Chinese factor, Bhimsen Thapa managed to keep the British at arm’s length while he advanced towards the areas west of River Mahakali. China has always supported independent decisions made by Nepal, from Nepal’s Zone of Peace proposal during the Cold War to the more dynamic, balanced diplomacy of the present era.

On the other hand, after independence, India’s policy towards Nepal clearly illustrates that it desires to infringe on Nepal’s independent status and ultimately bring Nepal under her fold. India’s insolence has led to many political upheavals between the two countries.

Determined to maintain their special status, time and again, the Indians have imposed blockades on Nepal and signed multiple agreements with various groups in Nepal, which has been detrimental to Nepal’s domestic and foreign policy.

She has not only encroached on Nepali territory but even established military posts inside Nepal’s territory and laid claim to them. These incidents have exposed India’s true intentions, thus leading many intellectuals to conclude that India has engineered political changes in Nepal to assert control over Nepal.

As for the US-Nepal relations, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ideological war ended, and the US interest in Nepal also faded. The American aid decreased substantially.

However, with the recent rise of China, the US has sought to maintain closer links with India, and given Nepal’s geostrategic importance, their interest in Nepal has also increased. The Americans have thus sought to reengage more intensely with Nepal.

Scholars have noted that the Trump administration had listed Nepal as a critical partner and sought to expand its defence relationship with Nepal. The present Biden administration aims to influence Nepal to shape the strategic environment in which China operates.

They proposed a grant agreement under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in September 2017 to develop the country’s electrical transmission lines and road network. However, many critics interpret MCC as a part of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy directed against China. However, Delhi firmly believes the US Indo-Pacific Strategy is a concept that is not directed against a third country.

The Chinese consider the US’s growing strategic interests in Nepal a threat and want to counter it. Thus, they have prioritised their relationship with Nepal, and as a sign of their goodwill, Beijing signed a transit transport agreement for third-country trade with Kathmandu in 2016.

This agreement ended Nepal’s exclusive reliance on India for transit trade. Then, in May 2017, Nepal became a signatory to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. During President Xi Jinping’s visit to Nepal in 2019, Nepal and China upgraded their comprehensive partnership to a strategic cooperation. The northern neighbour has established close military and security relations with Nepal and has overtaken India and the US in terms of military aid in recent years.

Both of Nepal’s strong neighbours have adopted different policies towards Nepal. Furthermore, with the US’s determination to place Nepal at the vanguard of their China strategy, Prithvi Narayan Shah’s Yam is caught between these three boulders and has become the focal point of their competition.

Lessons to learn from King Prithvi Narayan Shah

In such a scenario, Nepal must heed the past, take lessons from King Prithvi Narayan Shah and adopt his policies. He had managed to keep all the foreign powers at arm’s length while at the same time ensuring internal stability and a thriving economy.

He was an astute politician who understood that external affairs are an extension of internal affairs. An analytic study of his Divya Upadesh (final instructions) clearly illustrates that he strove for internal stability by looking after the welfare of the citizens.

He strengthened the military capability of the country and then cautioned that Nepal’s external affairs should aim to maintain a treaty of friendship with the emperor of China and also keep a treaty of friendship with the emperor of the southern sea.

The great king’s quote not only reflects the essence of unified Nepal’s external and security policy but also contributes to determining her worldview. His instructions have served as a guideline for the Nepali rulers throughout history. Whenever the rulers of Nepal have failed to act according to these warnings and tried to divert internal political conflicts to the external sphere, they have invited trouble.

India believes that Nepal has always remained under its sphere of influence and, thus, does not want China and the US to threaten its leverage, which they term a Big Brother role. Nepal should not discard India’s Big Brother role.

Yet, it needs to adopt a strategy to keep them from interfering in Nepal’s internal affairs, solve the border issues and focus mainly on better managing economic ties. China does not want an increased US presence in Nepal and desires to see Nepal prosper in her manner and not in the American way.

Regarding China, Nepal should ensure that no anti-Chinese activities are conducted on Nepali soil and cautiously prioritise those projects that enhance Nepal’s national interests. The United States thinks Chinese influence over Nepal is malign for their interest.

Nepal should become prudent and ensure that its partnership with the US focuses entirely on economic development and ensures its engagement with the United States does not threaten its immediate neighbour’s national interest and security.

Therefore, present-day Nepal should abide by the great king’s instructions and use its geostrategic location to its advantage as the past rulers had done while dealing with the neighbouring emperors across the sea.

Nepal should strive for internal stability and enhance national unity to present a united front. It must maintain diplomatic relations with its neighbours and the powers beyond in a sensitive manner to widen its room for manoeuvring, protecting and promoting its national interests.

At the same time, it should maintain a strategic balance and respect the fundamental strategic concerns of these global powers, which are unwilling to lose Nepal to the other side and prevent Nepal from emerging as the centre of the geopolitical rivalry of the global powers.

The post Prithvi Narayan Shah, in the light of current geostrategic challenges appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

After the new variant of corona virus 'JN One' started appearing in India, testing has been intensified at Gouriphanta checkpoint. In the last 10 days 9 people returning home from India have been infected. According to Ganesh Saud  who is in charge of the health desk in Gauriphanta from December 3rd to 13th, 300 people were tested for antigens and 9 people were found to be infected.

According to him the infection has been seen in people coming from Delhi, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Currently, only symptomatic and suspected people are being tested. Infection of new variants is increasing in various states of India. Saud said that the samples of those confirmed to be infected have been sent to the national laboratory for testing.

A sample has been sent to a laboratory to identify whether the new variant is JN One. At Gaddachouki checkpoint in Kanchanpur, the health desk has been regularly testing suspected persons. Premsingh Bhandari, Head of the Health Desk, said that the tests were started from December 7 after the infection started increasing in India. No infection has been seen in Gaddachouki yet.

According to Bhandari, two and a half hundred people are entering Nepal every day. Out of which only 30/40 people are being tested. He said that there was a problem in the test when Maitri buses on their way to India's Delhi and Dehradun stopped at the checkpoint. He said that the local administration and security agencies have been requested to stop the buses for testing at the checkpoint. There is a risk that infection may spread in the community if there is no testing at the checkpoint and those who are infected are sent home in public transport.

Baniyani (Jhapa), December 29

A wild elephant killed a man in Shivasatakshi Municipality on Thursday night.

The District Police Office in Jhapa reported that 45-year-old Megh Raj Rai of Dhudhe in the municipality died on the spot in an elephant attack. He was attempting to chase away the tusker, which was demolishing houses in the area.

Four people have been killed by elephants in the past five months in Jhapa district. According to Khagendra Rijal, the spokesperson for the District Police Office Jhapa, property worth Rs 150,000 was destroyed in the elephant’s rampage.

The post Wild elephant kills 1 in Jhapa appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

Bajura, December 29

One person died and another was injured after an SUV fell some 200 metres off the road in Gaumul Rural Municipality in Bajura on Thursday night.

The deceased has been identified as Devendra Nath, 38, of Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality-6 in the district.

Police Inspector Kishor Singh Airee said that the SUV (Se 1 Ja 989) heading to Siyadhunga from Ghatmuna fell off the road after the driver lost control of the vehicle.

Airee reported that Madan Rokaya, an employee at the ticket counter of Jaya Malika Bus Service in the district, has suffered injuries.

The post 1 killed 1 injured in a road accident in Bajura appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.