For the purpose of simplicity, intelligence may be defined as mental faculties, such as, discernment, wit, acumen, brilliance, smartness, shrewdness, perspicacity, sagacity, etc. Intelligence also applies to facts and figures in general and sensitive information of investigative, political, military and/or national value. Other connotations of the word are irrelevant to this essay and will be [...]

The Universe is stupid and was probably hastily conceived. The Earth should have been an equal distance away from the Sun, so that I wouldn't feel so damn cold. To counter the human ageing effect resulting in the shortened Earth year, Earth could well have bounced to the heavens and back again intermittently while going [...]

I’ve noticed people being disdained and slandered for what they say right here at EU. This isn’t the right way to communicate. It is, instead, a mirror image of our times where everyone claims legitimacy - whether it be integrity, knowledge, wisdom, judgments, conjectures, etc. The same also affects the political circles with each claiming [...]

The Maoists:

The Maoists insurgency and tactics were carbon copies of ” the people’s war” as practiced by the Khmer Rouge, Sendero Luminoso, the Naxalites, the Shining Path of Peru (Prachanda Path for Nepal)., etc. The tactics were a) Mass Line: parallel administration aimed to resolve local problems aligned with political aspirations of the party - [...]

The clock ticks nine and I head for the window
Another hopeful day, hopefully
Thuds of approaching footsteps down below
See her crossing the road skillfully
 
 
Jeans and top: the usual cosmopolitan expression
Cascading rivers of burgundy on top
Subtle traces of burnt sienna in her complexion
Arrested by beauty, my senses get locked up
 
 
Hellos of varying decibels compete within
Unable to surface [...]

Is there anything on the news about a large, bright sparkling star in the heavens? I've been following a star (could be a planet, maybe Venus) towards the east for the last 30 minutes. It's 5:38 am right now in Kathmandu. Over the last 30 minutes, the star travelled an eye distance of one foot [...]

Prashant Tamang has won the Indian Idol competition. It is 1:21 am in Kathmandu at the moment and Nepali brothers and sisters are celebrating this win emphatically - I hear roars, whistles, fire crackers bursting in the neighborhood. I congratulate Prashant for having won the competition and wish him all the best in his job and singing career. [...]

This inescapable journey of unfolding secrets
Revealing, rewarding and punishing too
I see confusing paths and their various outlets
But, caved in, I’m helpless as time goes through
 
 
The trails of glitters, allurements and artifice are there
Superimposed in shadows of lust and vanity
Buried are the remnants of piety and prayer
So are the passages to wisdom and sagacity
 
 
Trust and honesty [...]

To destroy is bestial, to love: harmony; to improvise: ingenious. To do all is human. Desires shape continuity, but existence remains ephemeral. Times change and so do prevalent realities, we somehow learn to compromise and accommodate. Determination defines means; persistence, measures to live on.
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“Welcome aboard unit 14a, sector 104089, and your new abode”, greeted Dr. [...]

Past experiences have left a defining legacy. We passionately advocate change, but fail to institutionalize the same. We manage bandh’s and uprisings, but can’t envision, plan, team work, implement and develop. We find fault in stereotypes and systems, but forgo introspection and self examination. We value simplicity and continuity, but avoid challenges. Our words speak [...]

Verity stands melancholy, engulfed by oblivion
Perturbed by the practices of worldly apathy
The implements of materialism dictates existence
Reality befits a contorted ideology
Fundamentalism plays its ugly machinations
Deterring holistic integrity
Humanity advances to the spirit of modernization
Ignorance: the human epitome
Religious and racial bias thwarts eclecticism
Positivism taints spiritual profundity
All the great ones cosmically misconstrued
Humanity traverses a simplified odyssey
Simple minds fantasize [...]

See the foreground: dark, barren and grey
A stockpile of hue: scattered astray
Could be a war, an awakening, defiance or play
Welcome home: good to see you today
 
Look around you, but try not to glare
Panorama is horrific; aesthetics is rare
Empathy is now a stranger, so be aware
Trust only yourself - you’re the only one fair
 
There are no [...]

Polarization of power centers that began during King Mahendra’s reign has gradually dividing the country into various political pockets. Throughout our history, various political centers have collaborated with the other to fight a common political enemy. Later, the same collaborators have become arch rivals. Why? Because, there was never a culture of unity, collaboration and [...]

This is an attempt to find solutions to Nepal’s present problems through historical analysis. I believe that problems should be solved by clinically analyzing their roots. Countries like Nepal, that are diverse in ethnicities, cultures, creeds, religions, languages and demographic peculiarities are usually challenged by varied:
- Levels of literacy.
- Social structures, practices and cultures.
- Ethnic [...]

People alienated from society on grounds of ideological indoctrination escape the mainstream, turning into noncommittal, introverted personalities. They exchange denial with beliefs of conceived utopia that they regard as panacea for all ills inflicting society. In due course of voluntary reclusion, their ideological stronghold turns into ideological imprisonment and the personalities find all means justifiable [...]