Upendra Lamichhane

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Do people have to die for potholes to be filled?

Published On: August 24, 2022 12:30 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

KATHMANDU, August 24: Potholes have made the Dhobi Khola Corridor, which was once lovely, unsafe. The risk of accidents has increased as the potholes on the road are not repaired on time.

‘Flood is bad, govt's dishonesty is worse’

Published On: August 11, 2022 04:23 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

KATHMANDU, August 11: Narayan Prasad Mainali of the landless squatter’s settlement along the Manohara River in Bhaktapur spent the night in waist-deep water on Tuesday due to the flood caused by incessant rain. Mainali, who was living in a small hut with her two children, told Republica that he had lost the hope of 'living' at that time.

Delay in culvert construction leads to inundation in Kapan

Published On: August 7, 2022 02:47 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

KATHMANDU, August 7: Locals said that Kathmandu’s Kapan has been facing the problem of inundation due to the delay in the construction of a box culvert. They said that since the contractor could not complete the construction of the culvert on time and it is not clear how much time it will take more, there is no immediate solution to the inundation problem of Kapan. By mid-July this year, culverts 1400 meters in length should have been constructed, but only 160 meters have been constructed.

Distribution of smart licenses delayed as officials buckpass their responsibility

Published On: June 19, 2022 05:01 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

KATHMANDU, June 19: It has been nine months since Sunil Bada of Bungamati, Lalitpur received his renewal chit. But he has not yet been provided with the ‘smart license’.

US Ambassador Berry tastes Aila and says, “It’s strong!”

Published On: June 2, 2022 07:00 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

A special ceremony was organized at Patan Durbar Square to mark the completion of the renovation of cultural artifacts in the area with the support of $ 150,000 donated by the US government’s Ambassador Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) program. The celebration was also a part of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-US diplomatic relations.

‘Balen Shah has already won hearts, now election remains’

Published On: May 16, 2022 01:22 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

On Sunday, the area near Bhrikutimandap was rejoicing over the lead maintained by Shah in the vote-counting so far. The ambience was no less than a celebration of victory, as if Balen had already won the mayoral race.

Why are Nepalis happy?

Published On: March 23, 2022 04:11 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

Nepal occupies the 85th place in the world and the top position in South Asia in terms of happiness, according to the 10th edition of the World Happiness Report 2022 released ahead of the annual International Day of Happiness on March 20. However, this piece of news came as a surprise for many in Nepal who thought there is hardly anything to be happy about in the country for the past some time. But the Nepalis are still happy. Here is why and how.

Mountain women’s problems are taller than the mountains

Published On: March 9, 2022 11:52 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

‘Women in the Himalayan region are still going through the ups and downs of inequality and discrimination. Illiteracy and health problems make life really, really difficult for women in the region.’

Who is to blame for these casualties?

Published On: July 29, 2021 06:42 PM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

Vehicles have been lazily stopped in a line at the Amlekhgunj-Pathlaiya road section inside Parsa National Park. At the end of the line, there is a vehicle with a message written on its rear side - "Save Tiger''. However, beside it, a 10-year-old Royal Bengal tiger is seen lying on the road, bleeding from its mouth.

Blind but not in the Dark: The Story of Visually-Impaired Football Fans

Published On: June 24, 2021 11:00 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

These visually-impaired Nepalis not only watch football but they have also created images of the football stars in their minds. Visually-impaired Surya Limbu who is a diehard fan of France said Mbappe must be a bit short and fair-skinned while Messi must be fat and dark-skinned.

Lockdown leaves some dairy farmers without fodder

Published On: April 9, 2020 10:13 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

LALITPUR, April 9: Sahadev Niraula, 48, says he was never this upset in his life. When Republica telephoned him on Wednesday morning, he said he was bringing fodder in his bike from Khokana of Lalitpur. If he fails to manage enough of it on time, his cattle may die, he said.

The story behind 'photo of the year'

Published On: February 9, 2020 09:04 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: A baby with an unusually large head and fragile body lying helplessly in front of a woman, seemingly the baby's mother, caught the attention of a photo journalist Navesh Chitrakar while he was walking past a road in Kathmandu on March 1, last year. The woman apparently from the Madhes community was begging for help. Chitrakar, who is associated with Reuters, introduced himself to the lady, received her contact number and captured the image of the two in his camera.

A buffalo farmer in Bhaisepati

Published On: January 18, 2020 08:57 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

LALITPUR, Jan 18: Sahadev Niraula, 48, has no idea why the place where he lives at is called Bhaisepati (Bhaisi is the Nepali word for a buffalo). But he indeed has a huge business associated with buffaloes at Bhaisepati of Lalitpur and earns as much as Rs 150,000 a month from it. It has been five long years since buffalo farming has kept him quite busy and happy.

Disaster victims suffer as fund of billions of rupees remains unused

Published On: June 8, 2019 03:05 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

KATHMANDU, June 8: A massive flood in the Bheri River displaced the family of Man Bahadur Kathayat, a local of Surkhet, in August 2014. The flood even swept away his properties — clothes and cooking pots. Since then, his nine-member family has been taking shelter at a temporary shelter built by the government.

CDO’s driver taken into custody for investigation

Published On: February 2, 2019 09:33 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

BARA, Feb 1: The District Police Office (DPO), Bara, has taken Jagat Narayan Raut Kurmi, a driver of the District Administration Office (DAO), into custody for investigations into a road accident on January 26 in which a Superintendent of Police (SP) was killed and a chief district officer (CDO) was critically injured.

Unlike others, Mushahar children inherit debt

Published On: January 5, 2019 08:15 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

SAPTARI, Jan 5: They are Mushahars, one of the marginalized communities in Saptari and Siraha districts who live hand to mouth. Most of them are also called ‘haruwa’ or ‘charuwa’ and the tag itself defines the nature of their work and lifestyle.

No end to ‘slavery’ in some Madhes communities

Published On: December 29, 2018 09:19 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

SAPTARI, Dec 29: Ram Dev Sada was not even 10 years old when he started working for landlords. He is 70 now. And life has not changed much for him. Neither he has a house in his name, nor any plot of land.

More and more communities falling in love with Chhat

Published On: November 12, 2018 06:00 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

KATHMANDU, Nov 12: Until a few years ago, the celebration of Chhat was limited to the people of the plains. Hill based communities had not embraced it. This time, as per the list of Gaurighat Chhat Puja Samitee, over 30 percent of people who have booked for puja on the day are from the hills. Remarkably, even Muslims have registered their names for such pujas. "Chhat is now becoming everyone's festival. Everyone loves it," said Anil Singh, coordinator of Gaurighat Chhat Puja Samitee. "People from the hill communities are increasily taking part in Chhat puja."

In a quest for yoga-land

Published On: November 3, 2018 10:30 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

Angela Chronis, a resident of Virginia, USA, has been learning Yoga at Nepal Yoga Academy, Bhaktapur. She wakes up early and starts her daily ritual followed by chanting mantras and bhajan. Post that, she joins the other yoga practitioners and does different yoga exercises.

Bhaktapur potter overjoyed to see half-century old photograph

Published On: August 25, 2018 07:19 AM NPT By: Upendra Lamichhane

BHAKTAPUR, Aug 25: Half a century ago, cameras were hardly found in the city of Bhaktapur. However, the locals would sometimes spot 'khaires' (white skinned foreigners) roaming around the alleys of the ancient city with the 'weird' object back then. Bhaktapur, a city which is rich in heritage, has been a great charm for tourists since ages. They captured the moments and scenario of the city in their cameras since the advent of photography in Nepal. And when someone comes to know that he/she was also one among those in the captured in those images, the person's happiness knows no bounds.