He was just seven when his mother died, and her sister was just a toddler. His bonding with his sister was special, he said over the phone, and then his voice choked. His sister, a seventh grader, was lying in a hospital bed after a six-month pregnancy was aborted.

KATHMANDU, July 24: He looked exhausted. His memory lane took him to the painful moment while talking about his darling late daughter Geeta Dhakal. With teary eyes and trembling voice, Hareram Dhakal, 72, was just trying to plead the world to pressure for justice as the country's judiciary shattered his faith.

KATHMANDU, July 17: Prakash Nepali, lawyer and a lecturer, is not shocked by these numbers: 16 Dalits were killed by non-Dalits in the last decade alone. The latest tragedy in Rukum makes the toll 20, he said. Nepali said that 75 untouchability-related cases have been registered since the Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability Act, 2068 was promulgated in 2011. However, not a single case has been established as an untouchability offence, deserving a maximum punishment to the guilty. “Zero percent success in providing justice to Dalits,” said Nepali.

KATHMANDU, July 2: When Sarbendra Khanal was the Inspector General of Nepal Police (IGP), Thakur Gyawaly, the current IGP was one of the senior investigating officers deployed to resolve the rape and murder of Nirmala Panta. Both the IGPs had said in interviews in February that the Nirmala case will be a top priority. While Khanal had stated that 'the police has already come to a conclusion on its part and only some legal processes remain for the end result; Gyawaly had asserted that giving justice to Nirmala would be one of his topmost priorities.

When her neighbors had introduced Annapurna to Republica five months ago, she 'was a woman who had not smiled for over a decade.' The neighbors told us that Annapurna's husband, Kabir, needs to be held responsible for her situation and that action must be taken against him. To the volley of charges against her man, the old fragile-looking lady only gave a mute response. When asked if she wanted him to realize his mistake, she said in a faint voice, “He has sugar, pressure”. It was heart wrenching that Annapurna Rijal, 66, was concerned about Kabir's health. Republica then ran her story in January 2020.

When Rihan slept for a little longer, Ekta and Sanjeev would check his pulse to see if he had left the world. Whenever he vomited regularly and underwent excess pain, the parents silently prayed for his peaceful end. There was not a single day when Ekta and Sanjeev did not  fear that it could be their last day with their son, Rihan.

KATHMANDU, June 17: Their close friends from the non-Dalit community, whenever took them to their house, there would be a deal before they reach the doorstep. “Please don't tell your surname,” the Dalits would be told. Falling in love, accidently or thoughtfully, without being caste conscious is always a nightmare for them. They have dozens of told and untold stories hidden in their souls that continue to haunt them. And the biggest torture is that they know their children will not get any better world to live in.

KATHMANDU, June 10: It has been four decades since Hari Krishna Shrestha, 56, has been feeding and taking care of animals at the central zoo in Jawalakhel. This is the only zoo in the country and is home to dozens of species of mammals, fish, reptiles and birds.  His long association with the precious creatures means he can read their faces. The ongoing lockdown amid the coronavirus threat has affected the species in the zoo; their behavior shows that they are missing humans, said Hari Krishna. He was busy feeding monkeys on Saturday evening.

KATHMANDU, June 6: The death of a former Maoist combatant, Manish Yadav, 28, (original name Sarita Yadav), who was found hanging at his residence in a remote village in Saptari on Wednesday, should not have been a silent episode. He was not fighting to make the world a brighter place for the common people, but he was a hope to the vulnerable minorities who are often forced to fit into the frame set by the majority.

KATHMANDU, May 31: Jainudin Ansari, a tailor from Birgunj, was living a normal life, then terror struck. All 18 members of his family, including his four-and-half-month old grandchild, were tested positive for coronavirus. Following this, they were taken to Narayani Sub Regional Hospital, Birgunj, where the isolation wards were already packed.

Brother is a loving word, but holds a little meaning in Kaliyug. This is the age where the closest hurts you the most. There are two typical well known 'brothers' in South Asia who have once again captured wide attention. The big brother and small brother have not yet settled their boundaries and the story is interesting!

Sabina Shahi, a health worker from Dhangadi, vaccinated dozens of children below two years of age in the last three days. Nearly 140 parents came on Tuesday alone at Beli Health Center to get their children vaccinated. Some of them had recently returned from India and they did not bring vaccination records. Shahi had no choice but to vaccinate all the children indiscriminately. And she did so without wearing proper gloves, goggles or a cap.

While reports claim that individuals with the symptoms are not being entertained by private hospitals triggering a riskier and chaotic situation, the government's coordination is seen not very effective to handle the national crisis. Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali spoke to Republica's Anjali Subedi on these issues. Excerpt:

KATHMANDU, Feb 11: Monday was just another day for Nirmala Panta’s mother Durga Devi. She was preparing to come home from work (she is a peon at the Bhimdutta Municipality office) when some media persons came to her and asked if she knew that police headquarters has scrapped the report of the investigations led by AIG Dhiru Basnet into the rape and murder of her daughter.

KATHMANDU, Jan 27: I can't fly in the sky with splashing gleam and carry some wind on my wing's lap I can't attract the world by blowing my beautiful voice But I won't flush any tears which can sink the lawn

KATHMANDU, Jan 11: If there is still something that worries Annapurna Rijal, a 66-year-old who can barely cook for herself, it is the health issues of the only man in her life. As she moves in and out of the decrepit little room she rents at Sanepa, Lalitpur she counts the days remaining till Thursday. That is when he visits her. He is now all of 70 and they do not talk much when they meet. The fire in their relationship has long subsided. But as soon as he has left, Annapurna starts the countdown to next Thursday. This is how it has been for over 15 years now.

Life can be made much happier by following some simple tricks. Here are some of the exciting habits that you should pay attention to in 2020. These simple habits could help make your life more vibrant and meaningful.

KATHMANDU, Dec 28: After many years of trial and error, Nepal Police has finally figured out a way to make community police functional. The Community-Police Partnership (CPP), launched by the law enforcement agency over a year ago, has reached out to thousands of local committees in making crime control a shared responsibility.

KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Lila Devkota, who died in a hit and run at Budhanilakantha on Saturday, was everything for her family. She was the emotional and financial pillar for four children and reliable support of her husband. A close relative told Republica that her eldest daughter left for Japan just six month ago in pursuit of opportunities there. And for this, Lila sold whatever jewelry she had besides incurring other arrangements. Another daughter, a Bachelor’s first year student in Kathmandu, collapsed on learning of her mother’s sudden death. She had to be hospitalized and given oxygen. “She could not take it, she collapsed,” the close relative said, cautioning not to intrude on the family’s tragic hour.

KATHMANDU, Dec 10: Even though cases of violence are largely being reported these days, this does not clearly include cases related to women with disabilities. Due to the lack of support at home and society, women who have physical or mental issues continue to be suppressed and silenced, and it is more so in the rural areas, they say.