My Republica

Akhilesh Tripathi

Copy editor at Republica.
tripthakhilesh@gmail.com

A Letter to the Constitution of Nepal, 2015

Published On: September 20, 2023 10:00 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

It’s your ninth birthday today. And the people who whipped you up eight years ago have decided to throw you a shindig. Get ready for the extravaganza! They've got "grand" programs loaded with political speeches that are essentially just verbal fireworks, and they're happening in every district HQ today.

Calm Down, Mayor Saap, Calm Down!

Published On: September 4, 2023 08:00 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) has once again thrust himself into the limelight, and it's as if he's the star of a never-ending soap opera. Since late Saturday evening, he's been popping up everywhere, from casual tea-shop banter to highbrow intellectual debates. Newsrooms have morphed into Balen-themed bingo parlors, and trust me, the stakes are high!

Nepal’s Chaotic Corruption Circus

Published On: August 24, 2023 03:00 PM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

In today’s modern era, trying to judge someone by their appearance is like attempting to decipher a Rubik's Cube while riding a unicycle blindfolded. It's as tricky as figuring out who's a thief, a pickpocket, a robber, or heaven forbid, a politician!

Displaced by 2015 quake, at least 699 households struggle for housing in lower Rasuwa even over two years after dissolution of NRA

Published On: June 7, 2023 09:40 PM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

KHALTE, RASUWA, June 7: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), established with the sole purpose of rebuilding public as well as private houses destroyed by the 2015 earthquake, was dissolved over two years ago. However, it would be a terrible mistake to assume that every Nepali who lost their homes to the quake has a decent roof over their heads.

Why PM Dahal should reconsider his India visit

Published On: May 30, 2023 11:36 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is going to India tomorrow on a four-day official visit. Both countries have already announced the visit officially. However, the visit, Dahal’s first foreign visit since assuming office last December, has sparked questions and concerns about the timing and appropriateness of the trip. While both governments emphasize the importance of cordial relations, a range of unresolved issues, most notably the territorial dispute, loom large between the two nations.

NPC: Nepal’s National Planning Circus! (Humor)

Published On: May 24, 2023 10:32 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

Listen up folks, Nepal is gearing up to unleash the next national budget, and the country’s National Planning Commission (NPC) is back in the spotlight. The NPC is akin to "Fishy" Dhamala — always in the media, but about as useful as a waterproof towel! The NPC has been busy concocting grandiose plans for Nepal's development while the rest of us are left scratching our heads, desperately trying to catch a decent Wi-Fi signal in our humble abodes! I mean, seriously, have you taken a gander at how much progress the country has made over the decades? It's like observing a sloth endeavoring to ascend a tree — agonizingly sluggish and downright painful!

The Ridiculously Absurd Smile!

Published On: May 16, 2023 11:30 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

This photo tells a story. The story of our remarkable protagonist! A former Maoist cadre turned deputy prime minister turned ‘corruption maestro’. Truly, a journey of meteoric rise and fall, fit for the annals of political comedy!

Nepal: The Land of Law-breaking Government!

Published On: May 9, 2023 11:00 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

If you're searching for a country that puts kindergarten classrooms to shame with its rule overload, Nepal is your jackpot! It's like the lawyers in this country are playing an epic game of "Keep Up with the Laws" that even they can't win.

Lamichhane and the Long Arm of the Law

Published On: April 9, 2023 12:00 PM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

It looks like Rabi Lamichhane has had a sudden change of heart towards Prime Minister Dahal. He used to criticize him left, right, and center when he was a journalist, but now he has to tiptoe carefully through the Prime Minister's legs like a tiny mouse to avoid going to jail!

Another Asinine Comparison

Published On: April 1, 2023 07:30 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

As citizens, we rely on our government to make decisions that benefit society as a whole. But it’s no secret that government policies and decisions are often frustrating and perplexing. The government’s actions often seem to benefit only a select few. From tax hikes to confusing legislation, it can feel like the government is making things more difficult rather than easier!

Petitions holding PM Dahal accountable for Maoist War deaths and destruction: What next?

Published On: March 5, 2023 08:00 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

KATHMANDU, March 5: Nepali politics currently stands at a critical and pivotal juncture. The recent order by the Supreme Court on Friday has mandated the apex court administration to register two petitions, which have levied serious accusations against Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. These petitions hold him responsible for the loss of life, damage, and destruction that occurred during the decade-long Maoist insurgency. They demand his immediate arrest and a thorough investigation into the severe charges brought against him.

The Poor and Politics in Nepal: Some Random Thoughts

Published On: February 6, 2023 09:00 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

It's a good thing that we have a wealth of "isms" – communism, Marxism, Leninism, Maoism, socialism, liberalism, capitalism etc - to choose from to solve poverty, because clearly, just one isn't enough!

Why can’t CIAA probe cabinet decisions? Supreme Court asks govt

Published On: January 6, 2023 08:35 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

KATHMANDU, Jan 6: The Supreme Court has asked the government why it shouldn’t scrap the legal provision that prevents the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the constitutional anti-corruption watchdog, from investigating the policy decisions taken by the Council of Ministers.

Who will be Nepal’s next PM?

Published On: December 15, 2022 08:30 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

But the crucial question is: Who will be the new Prime Minister?

Fool Us Once, Fool Us Twice…

Published On: October 20, 2022 08:00 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

We have a whole month to think wisely about who to give our valuable vote on November 20. I hope none of you will vote for the same people who have been responsible for the mess the country finds itself in today. I also hope you won’t be confused anymore with their hollow speeches and pompous talk and will vote for the change you really want to see.

NOV 20 Polls: Let’s Stop the Snollygosters!

Published On: September 4, 2022 02:00 PM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

The next elections are scheduled for November 20. We all should take this as a golden opportunity and cast our ballots such that we don’t have to repent for the next five years. This is an opportunity which should not be missed. Let’s throw the snollygosters out of political offices and other positions of power. Let’s stop them this time.

Will Kathmandu Vote for Balen Shah?

Published On: May 4, 2022 07:47 PM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

Holding a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering, rapper Balen Shah seems to have been able to strike a chord with the younger generation of voters. The popularity of his songs and election promos on the internet proves this.

Kishun Ji: A True Hero

Published On: December 23, 2021 01:11 PM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

Kishun Ji’s unexpected death left a void in Nepali politics that could never be filled. It is not sufficient to say that he was one of the few main leaders who led the process of transitioning Nepal from an absolute monarchy to a multi-party democracy.

Every Day is Kukur Tihar for Sneha Shrestha, the Dog Savior

Published On: November 3, 2021 08:17 AM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

KATHMANDU, Nov 3: It’s Kukur Tihar today. That day of the year when we Nepalis worship and celebrate dogs for their loyalty and service to humankind. The day is not just reserved for our beloved pets; stray dogs, too, are honored with garlands of flowers and nice treats on this ‘day of the dogs’. But many of us express our special love, care and affection to them only on this particular day.

Why I think Rabindra Mishra is right

Published On: August 3, 2021 07:05 PM NPT By: Akhilesh Tripathi

Gone are the days when you could silence critics of republicanism, federalism and secularism by calling them ‘regressive’ and ‘monarchists’.