Right to Information vs Culture of Secrecy

Right to Information and Right Communication in Nepal

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On July 16, 2025

In Constitution Study, Blogging, Nepal, Nepali

Constitution Study #9: A reflection on the conflict between the Right to Information and the Culture of Secrecy

Case Studies on Right to Information and Right to Communication

According to a report published by FreedomInfo, in 2010, following deadly communal unrest in Kapilvastu, local leaders sought the government’s investigation report to secure fair compensation. The Home Ministry initially refused, citing cabinet secrecy. Undeterred, they appealed to the National Information Commission (NIC), an institution established by the Right to Information Act, 2064 (2007). The commission ordered the government to release the report, which was delivered a year later.

During King Gyanendra’s direct rule after February 1, 2005, Radio Sagarmatha, South Asia’s first independent FM station was banned for broadcasting an interview of Prachanda, the black-listed Maoist leader. The station filed a complaint against the Royal Government’s movement in the Supreme Court. Radio Sagarmatha resumed its broadcast 48 hours and 47 hours following the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the right to communication.

The above examples show that information is power, and communication is key to unlock it. In a democratic society, access to information and freedom of communication are not only constitutional rights, but also essential tools for transparency, accountability, and informed public opinion. The Constitution of Nepal enshrines both the Right to Information (Article 27) and the Right to Communication (Article 19) as fundamental rights. Together, these rights create a framework through which citizens can engage with the state, demand accountability, and participate meaningfully in governance.

Understanding the Rights

Right to Information (RTI)

Article 27 of the Constitution of Nepal states:

“Every citizen shall have the right to demand and receive information on any matter of his or her interest or of public interest. Provided that no one shall be compelled to provide information on any matter which must be maintained confidential in accordance with law.”

This right empowers citizens to access government-held information, including policies, decisions, budgets, expenditures, and plans. It is a legal tool for fighting corruption, ensuring justice, and promoting good governance.

Right to Communication

Article 19 guarantees the freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the freedom of the press, publication, and broadcasting, provided that these rights do not:

  • Undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national unity,
  • Violate public decency or morality,
  • Encourage caste, ethnic, gender, or religious discrimination or hatred,
  • Jeopardize the harmonious relations between federal units.

This right ensures that individuals and media can communicate, report, and express freely, with reasonable legal restrictions.

Procedures for Obtaining Public Information

To operationalize RTI, Nepal enacted the Right to Information Act, 2064 (2007). The Act outlines the following procedures:

  1. Filing a Request: Any Nepali citizen can file a request with a Public Information Officer (PIO) in the concerned office by filling out a standard form or writing an application.
  2. Response Time: The PIO must provide the information within 15 days. In case of threats to life or liberty, the time limit is 24 hours.
  3. Refusal and Appeal: If the information is denied or not provided, the applicant can appeal to the National Information Commission (NIC).
  4. No Need for Reason: The applicant is not required to state the reason for seeking information.

The Economic Survey also emphasizes digital progress in governance, such as broader access to information and banking through ICT expansion.

Exceptions: What Information is Not Accessible

Both the Constitution and the RTI Act list certain exemptions. The following categories are considered restricted:

  • Matters that jeopardize national security or sovereignty
  • Information that undermines foreign relations
  • Internal deliberations of public bodies
  • Confidential information relating to individuals’ privacy
  • Trade secrets or intellectual property of private institutions
  • Ongoing investigations where disclosure may impede justice

These limitations attempt to balance openness with legitimate state and individual interests.

Connection with the Right to Privacy

While RTI promotes transparency, Article 28 of the Constitution guarantees the Right to Privacy. This includes:

  • Privacy of personal life, residence, property, documents, correspondence, and reputation
  • Protection from arbitrary surveillance or disclosure of personal information

Therefore, RTI must be carefully implemented to not infringe upon the privacy rights of individuals. For instance, information about a person’s health, bank account, or family life cannot be disclosed without lawful justification.

This tension between transparency and privacy necessitates a nuanced approach. The state must develop clear guidelines and train public officers to differentiate between public interest and private confidentiality.

Tension between RTI and the Culture of Secrecy

As we have often seen in this Constitution Study series, there are always gaps between constitutional provisions and implementations. Nepal’s government and bureaucracy have a culture of secrecy because of rampant corruption and the silo problem. The government listed 154 kinds of information as “classified,” in 2008. The National Information Commission ordered the government to revise the list.

In 2011, the government again tried to classify 88 types of documents as inaccessible, but the Supreme Court ruled against the decision. In 2023, The government listed 87 documents as “classified”, including those related to procurement (which should actually be transparent), but the list is unavailable in the public domain.

Besides corruption, another reason for problems in classification of documents in Nepal is the lack of clear provisions in the Right to Information Act and the lack of its coordination with the Secrecy of Documents Act 2039 (1982).

Conclusion

The Right to Information and the Right to Communication are pillars of Nepal’s constitutional democracy. They empower citizens, ensure accountability, and enhance public participation. However, their misuse and over-restriction can undermine these very goals. To strike the right balance, the state must improve legal awareness, ensure institutional readiness, digitize access, and respect privacy. Only then can these rights truly serve their constitutional promise of building an open and just society.

A megaphone symbolizing How To Speak in an Oppressive Political Environment

How To Speak in an Oppressive Political Environment

By

On July 15, 2025

In How To, Politics

“You may speak, but can you speak wisely?”
“You may protest, but can you do so without giving them an excuse to silence you?”

Article 17 of the Constitution of Nepal guarantees Freedom of Expression. It also introduces reasonable restrictions, which of course, can be misused. About two weeks ago, a popular YouTube channel, In-Depth Story (IDS) had to close its merchandise store IDS Wears for selling T-shirts with the slogan Kera Ganatantra (Banana Republic) for “disturbing the sovereignty, national unity, and dignity of the country, and so on.” The slogan was provocative and somewhat double meaning. But did it have to be banned? I don’t think so.

Around a month back, Rama Basnet from Khotang was arrested for expressing her frustration towards politicians in few TikTok videos. The words she chose mocked a politician’s disability. However, she got support from the opposition party because of the way she was arrested.

These examples speak volumes about the awareness of the constitution and laws we have as citizen. We know we can speak, but we often don’t know how to speak. We’ve heard of rights, but rarely do we hear about the restrictions that come along with them. And that’s when we trip over.

Let’s get straight to it. Here are a few principles that might save our voice and case, while upholding the law.

1. Say Less. Mean More.

Power doesn’t like being called out, but artists and writers use often use metaphors, satire, and symbolism to mock it.

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is truly metaphoric and symbolic. Using pigs, horses, and other farm animals, Orwell mocks Soviet Communism and warns how an ideal can become exploitative.

Another symbolism I vividly remember is that of a new politician in Sanjeev Upreti’s Ghanachakkar. When there is an announcement that a flawless leader has arrived in Kathmandu, the narrator goes to see him. However, in no time, the leader turns into an onion. The multi-layered towering onion is a metaphor for secrecy, corruption, and inflated ego of politicians in Nepal.

So, our best bet is to be poetic and ambiguous. Let the reader add two and two.

But can satire backfire?

Did you notice the word “bet”? Actually, I am reminded of Krishna Lal Adhikari’s story. He was a Nayab Subba during the rule of Chandra Shamsher. His duties in the field of agriculture gave him a lot of knowledge on maize plantation and published a scientific book titled, “Makai ko Kheti.” Some sycophants, however, saw it as a mockery against Chandra Shamsher and his generals. Although Adhikari never meant to satire, he was tried and imprisoned for nine years until he died of tuberculosis.

So, yeah. We still need to be careful while using symbols and metaphors.

2. Displace the Target

We don’t talk about today’s leaders directly. Talking about a character or an imaginary village or a tyrannical ruler from history will work. Readers will connect the dots. Not everything needs to be spelled out.

But we still need to remember Krishna Lal Adhikari and be cautious.

3. Borrow Their Language

The safest thing we can do is use the Constitution, parliamentary and other recorded speeches. We can quote government slogans back at them. When the system tries to silence you, reply with its own words. Just like the leaders and stooges owned the insult of Jhole as a treasure, we should own up the laws and use them to our advantage. It’s hard to arrest someone for saying what’s written or in accordance with the law.

We should use your rights and stand tall before the law. But power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We should be careful not to assume the state will honour them fairly.

4. Protest Creatively, Not Predictably

Instead of shouting in front of microphones, we can try standing silently with a placard. Ujjwal Thapa and his party did it successfully. We can also post an ironic meme or writing a children’s story (like Orwell) that says what the editorial can’t.

From Occupy Baluwatar to Jayatu Sanskritam, peaceful creativity has always been harder to crush than violent slogans.

5. Build a Chorus

One person speaking is a complaint. Ten thousand people speaking is a movement. If you’re afraid of being targeted, amplify others—and let them amplify you. Even whisper campaigns can be effective when they echo.

But It’s Still Dangerous

Today, we can be investigated for a Facebook post, dragged into court over a short story, and even labelled a traitor for asking questions. I’ve felt the chill myself while writing. I wonder at times: Is this going too far? Will this get me in trouble?

This Isn’t Fair!

Yes, nobody should have to think this hard before speaking. But when expression is policed, speech must become strategy.

This isn’t a call for cowardice. It’s a call for craft.
This isn’t about avoiding the truth. It’s about delivering it smartly enough to survive.

Speak. Silence protects no one. But speak like you know someone powerful is listening. And looking for an excuse to catch you.

And yet, here I am.

Because what’s the alternative? Silence? Cynicism? That’s not living. That’s waiting.

To Speak Is to Build Justice

The truth is: oppression isn’t just about silencing people. It’s about systemic injustice. It’s about making them believe that speech doesn’t matter. That it won’t change anything. But it does. It always has.

Change begins with someone saying, This is wrong.
It grows when someone else says, I agree.
And it becomes unstoppable when people say it together even if they just have to whisper.

जनसङ्ख्या नीतिले सम्बोधन गर्न खोजेको परिदृश्य

राष्ट्रिय जनसङ्ख्या नीति, २०८२ मार्फत नेपालले सम्बोधन गर्न खोजेका विषयहरू

By

On July 15, 2025

In नेपाली, विचार

विश्व जनसङ्ख्या दिवस (असार २७) को अवसरमा नेपाल सरकारले नयाँ जनसङ्ख्या नीति सार्वजनिक गर्‍यो। त्यस कार्यक्रममा प्रधानमन्त्रीले भन्नुभएको वाक्यांश, “२० वर्षमा विवाह गर, ३० वर्षमा तीन सन्तान जन्माऊ” सामाजिक सञ्जालमा निकै चर्चित भयो। प्रधानमन्त्रीका धेरै भनाइहरूजस्तै यसले पनि मीम र मजाकको रूपमा व्यापक ध्यान पायो। धेरै युवाहरूले सरकारलाई रोजगारीको सट्टा उत्पादनशील जनशक्तिलाई विदेश पठाउने योजनाको आलोचना गरे। तर सामाजिक सञ्जालको चर्चाले २०७८ को जनगणनाले देखाएको चित्रलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने गरी तयार गरिएको राष्ट्रिय जनसङ्ख्या नीति २०८२ ले उठाएका केही गम्भीर मुद्दाहरू छायामा परे।

नेपालको जनसङ्ख्या सम्बन्धी चिन्ताहरू

१. घट्दो वृद्धिदर

२०७८ को जनगणना अनुसार नेपालको वार्षिक जनसंख्या वृद्धिदर ०.९२% मात्र रहेको छ, जुन २०६८ को १.३५% भन्दा कम हो। कुल प्रजनन दर १.९४ मा झरेको छ, जुन अपेक्षित २.१ भन्दा तल छ। अघिल्लो दशकमा नेपालले युवा जनशक्तिमा आधारित ‘जनसाङ्ख्यिक लाभांश’ को कुरा गर्थ्यो, तर अब त्यो लाभांश गुम्ने संकेत देखिएको छ।

१.१ सम्भावित नकारात्मक जनसाङ्ख्यिक लाभांश

घट्दो वृद्धिदरका कारण १५–५९ वर्षको सक्रिय जनसङ्ख्या घट्नेछ। यद्यपि नेपालमा हाल ६२% सक्रिय जनसङ्ख्या छ, यो अझै घटेमा उत्पादनका लागि आवश्यक मानव स्रोत अभाव हुनसक्छ।

१.२ वृद्ध जनसङ्ख्या

२०६८ मा ८.१% जनसङ्ख्या ६० वर्ष माथिका थिए भने अहिले त्यो १०.२१% पुगेको छ। स्वास्थ्य सेवामा सुधारसँगै यो दर अझ बढ्नेछ। वृद्ध जनसङ्ख्या हेरचाहमा सरकार र सक्रिय जनसङ्ख्याले थप खर्च व्यहोर्नु पर्नेछ।

१.३ पूर्वाधारको न्यून उपयोग

जनसङ्ख्या कम हुँदा निर्माण भएका पूर्वाधार प्रयोगमा नआउने सम्भावना हुन्छ। मानवीय स्रोतको अभावले आर्थिक गतिविधिमा समेत असर पार्दछ।

१.४ परिवार नियोजन कार्यक्रमको उल्टो दिशा

सरकारले अब युवालाई सन्तान जन्माउन प्रोत्साहित गर्नुपर्ने अवस्था आएको छ। तर विवाह गर्न र बच्चा जन्माउन चाहने युवाको सङ्ख्या कम छ। बेरोजगारी, महँगी, र उद्यमशीलताको अवसरको अभाव यसको प्रमुख कारण हो।

२. तीव्र बाह्य बसाईसराई

२०२३ मा मात्र ७०,९१५ नेपालीहरू स्थायी रूपमा देश छाडे। ८ लाखभन्दा बढी नेपाली विदेश रोजगारीमा गए, जसको ८९.५% पुरुष थिए। १ लाखभन्दा बढी विद्यार्थीहरू अध्ययनका लागि विदेश गए। थोरै मात्र फर्किए।
यो विश्वव्यापीकरण प्रेरित प्रवृत्तिले देशको कुशल जनशक्ति गुमाएको छ। साथै, प्रवासी नेपालीहरू विदेशी देशहरूमा स्थायी बसोबास गर्न थालेपछि रेमिट्यान्सको स्रोत समेत गुम्ने डर देखिएको छ।

३. प्रविधिमा तीव्र परिवर्तन

गत पाँच वर्षमा प्रविधिले काम गर्ने तरिका परिवर्तन गरेको छ। अटोमेसन, रोबोटिक्स, र कृत्रिम बौद्धिकता (AI) ले श्रमिकको आवश्यकता घटाएको छ। नेपाल प्रविधि उत्पादन गर्न र अपनाउनमा पछि परेको अवस्था छ। अर्कोतर्फ, विकसित देशहरूमा श्रमिकको माग घट्न सक्नेछ जसले गर्दा नेपालमा बेरोजगारी बढ्न सक्ने खतरा छ।

माथिका समस्याहरू समाधान गर्न प्रस्तावित नीतिहरू

जनसङ्ख्या नीति २०८२ अनुसार, परिवार नियोजन कार्यक्रमहरूलाई समसामयिक आवश्यकताअनुसार पुनरावलोकन गर्ने भनिएको छ। यसले प्रजनन स्वास्थ्य सेवामा सुधार ल्याउने, जन्मदर बढाउने, र युवाहरूलाई विवाह र सन्तानप्रति प्रोत्साहित गर्ने लक्ष्य राखेको छ।

बाह्य रोजगारलाई सीपमा आधारित बनाउने, AI जस्ता प्रविधिहरूमा ज्ञान बढाउने, र राष्ट्रिय विकासमा मानव स्रोत प्रयोग गर्ने नीति बनाइएको छ।
आन्तरिक प्रवासलाई व्यवस्थित गर्न:

  • सूचना प्रणाली सुधार्ने
  • ग्रामीण क्षेत्रमा आर्थिक क्रियाकलाप विस्तार गर्ने
  • एकीकृत बस्ती विकासमार्फत आन्तरिक बसाई सराइ प्रणालीकरण गर्ने भनिएको छ।

प्रविधि सम्बन्धी चुनौती समाधान गर्न:

  • शिक्षा प्रणालीलाई उद्यमशीलता र उत्पादनमुखी बनाउने
  • सीप र दक्षता अभिवृद्धि गर्ने,
  • AI र नयाँ प्रविधिमा प्रशिक्षण दिने,
  • पर्यटन, कृषि, पूर्वाधार, वनजन्य उद्योगमा लगानी बढाउने नीति प्रस्ताव गरिएको छ।

व्यवहारिक वास्तविकता

नीति जति नै विस्तृत भए पनि यथार्थ फरक छ। पूर्वाधार कमजोर छन्, शिक्षा प्रणाली प्रभावहीन छ, र युवाको निराशा चुलिएको छ। सरकारले यदि संरचनागत सुधार नगरेर केवल विदेशमा युवालाई पठाउने नीति अपनायो भने, नीतिले अपेक्षित परिणाम दिन सक्दैन।
उद्यमशीलता र आमरोजगारीमा लगानी नगरीकन जनसङ्ख्या नीति असफल हुने सम्भावना धेरै छ।

Major population statistics of Nepal

Population concerns Nepal is looking to address with the 2082 Policy

By

On July 14, 2025

In Opinion, Nepal, Nepali, Public Interest

On the occasion of World Population Day on July 11 (Ashadh 27), Nepal published a new population policy. The Prime Minister’s statement, “Get married at twenty and have three children by thirty,” got huge attention in the social media. As with many of the statements the PM makes, it turned into jokes and memes. Many youths also criticised the government for creating unemployment and focusing on sending the productive population abroad. Although the statement created a buzz, it also made the youths on social media miss serious concerns put forth by the National Population Policy, 2082.

Some population statistics (Source: Population | National Population and and Housing Census 2021 Results)

1. Declining Growth Rate

The 2021 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) averages Nepal’s annual growth rate of 0.92% per year in the decade 2068-2078 B.S. (2011-2021). This is a decline from 1.35% per year in the 2068 (2011) Census. Similarly, the total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen to 1.94, well below the desired 2.1. In the last decade, population policies talked about demographic dividend—the higher number of youths contributing to national development. The new trends indicate that Nepal may be losing that edge and have raised many concerns for the future.

1.1 Potential Negative Demographic Dividend

A decrease in the population growth rate implies a smaller number of children and the reduction of the active population, aged 15-59, in the future. Although Nepal hasn’t been able to utilise its 62% active population, a reduction indicates an even worse scenario, where there will be a shortage of human resources for production. This will negatively affect human capital formation and the economic growth.

1.2 Aging Population

In 2068, the population above 60 was 8.1% of the total population. The population of the elderly is now 10.21%. Improved health care has and will shoot up the number even higher in the coming decades. The government may have to spend more on the elderly’s health. The reduced active population will have to spend more on the care of their parents, creating economic pressure.

1.3 Underutilisation of Infrastructure

A lower population may not have the need for a large number of infrastructures. Also, the lack of human resources owes to the decline in development and economic activities.

1.4 Reversal of Family Planning Programmes

The government will now have to encourage youths to have more children, and the PM’s statement seems relevant in that context. However, the majority of the youth are not ready to get married, let alone have three children by their thirties. Employment opportunities are scarce, inflation is high, and there is no encouragement to industries and entrepreneurship. Given our situation, it is easier to press for a lower number of children. How can one think of marrying and having three children when surviving alone is a struggle?

2. Rapid Out-Migration

Nepal has a high rate of out-migration. For instance, in 2023, the Department of Immigration’s data showed that 70,915 (36,663 men and 34,251 women) left the country to reside elsewhere permanently. Similarly, 808,415 Nepali citizens went for foreign employment, of which 89.5% were males. Moreover, 108,542 (~55% male and 45% female) students went abroad to pursue their studies. Very few return back to Nepal. Out-migration driven by globalisation has not only reduced the population but also deprived Nepal of skilled human resources vital for national development.

The fact that more people are settling in other countries with their families means that Nepal is losing its source of remittance. Although the Nepalese diaspora has been contributing to various development endeavours, it is uncertain whether they will continue doing so if they don’t have any familial roots in Nepal.

3. Drastic Change in Technology

In the last five years, technology has changed at a breakneck pace, changing the way the world operates. Many labour-intensive works are now being replaced by automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Nepal lags behind in the development and adoption of new technologies. There is also a possibility of reduced labour demand in developed countries. The National Population Policy acknowledges that the rapid growth in technology might elevate the problem of unemployment at home and abroad.

Policy Proposals to Solve the Above Problems

To address the problems caused by low growth rate, the National Population Policy 2082 proposes to revisit and revise family planning programs to align with current and future demographic trends and strengthen reproductive health services. The open-ended policy wording means that for now, the government will work towards increasing birth rate and modifying family planning programmes.

The policy aims to make foreign employment skill-based, prioritise the knowledge on AI, and utilize the human resources on national development. For internal migration, the policy aims to strengthen information and data systems, increase economic activities in rural areas to create employment, and systematize internal migration through integrated settlement development.

For addressing the challenges brought about by technology, the policy proposes revising the education system to be entrepreneurship, and production-focused, prioritize skill and competence enhancement in new technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) for Nepali workers, and increasing investment in productive sectors like tourism, modern agriculture, infrastructure development, and forest product processing to expand employment and self-employment opportunities.

Ground Realities

Despite elaborate policy proposals, the ground realities show a different picture. Infrastructures are subpar, the quality of education is questionable, the influence of globalisation is insurmountable, and the frustration of the youth is higher than Mount Everest. There is no way the government can stop the youth from going abroad in search of opportunities. It might even encourage out-migration to improve the economy via remittance. Unless Nepal improves infrastructures and encourages the youth for entrepreneurship and mass employment, the National Population Policy has very little chance of success.

Site Update 4: AMP

Site Update #4: AMP version on mobile

By

On July 6, 2025

In Site Update

Why AMP?

One of the major issues with mobile version of Stories of Sandeept, as shown by Google PageSpeed Insights, is its low speed on loading. To address the issue, I installed the AMP plugin, which loads the site faster.

How does the AMP version look?

The AMP version is now the default view when you first open the website on your mobile browser.

Figure 1. AMP version on Mobile

You can opt out of the AMP view by clicking on the “Exit mobile version” at the end of the webpage.

Figure 2. Exit mobile (AMP) version

Exiting the mobile version takes you to the original view (the noAMP version).

Figure 3. The noAMP version on mobile

New Issue

The current theme, Lovecraft, does not seem to support AMP. That’s why Figure 1 has left-aligned images. I tried using new themes, but they didn’t support the categorised pages. I guess it’s because I had modified the functions.php file on my current theme. I think I should look into it. You can expect a new theme by next week, which will probably increase the website’s speed on mobile.

Satya tensed after listening to what he did while hallucinating

Satya-Part Five: Am I hallucinating?

By

On July 3, 2025

In My Story

Life has become better since I have stopped hallucinating. The doctor has stopped my medicines. He is worried I might suffer from another disease because of the weight I have gained.

Although I don’t have a job yet, I am feeling more confident. The interview I had taken the other day had gone well. The executives trusted that I would be able to cope with the work pressure. Meanwhile, I am taking Kalpana on a date today. We have distanced each other for so long that I think I need to make some effort to keep her happy. She is watching her favourite TV show. I block her view and say, “Do you want to go out on a date?”

Her eyes glow. I continue, “I don’t have a job yet, but who knows if I can give you enough time.”

Kalpana’s eyes tear up, which she wipes quickly. She stands up, hugs me, and asks. “What’s the plan?”

“Let’s see.” Pretending that I am reading a list, I say, “The first on the list is to go to a movie. Then taste some new food and come back.”

“It’s a simple one,” she says.

Isn’t she happy? What can I add to the plan? I’m worried.

“But I approve.”

I am relieved. Kalpana then opens the wardrobe, takes out half a dozen saris, and asks me to choose one from among them.

“Wear whichever you want,” I say.

“Don’t say that. Select one. I’ll wear whichever you choose.”

I pick a blue sari with beautiful golden flowers. Kalpana pouts. “I knew you’d choose this.”

“Oh, did you? So you know I’d make a terrible choice.”

“What? No! You don’t make terrible choices. I trust you.”

“After all that has happened?”

“Umm.” She nods.

Before we leave, Kalpana puts a pocketknife in her favourite handbag.

“Why did you put that pocketknife?” I asked.

“It will come in handy in case we buy some fruits.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Are you scared?” Kalpana asks.

“No,” I reply with a smile. “Why should I be afraid when you’re with me?”

We hurry and get into a microbus. “No motorcycle.” I had said because I had wanted to walk with her, looking into her eyes whenever I pleased. We go to a theatre on the top of a mall. The movie is alright in bits, but it’s a disappointment. Still, we sit all through the movie holding hands and hugging each other in the darkness.

We dine at a restaurant nearby. The food is delicious, and the live music is enjoyable. I ask for the band to sing a romantic song, dedicating it to Kalpana. To my surprise, they sang it so well—almost the same as the original.

The night had ripened when we left for home. Microbuses were no longer available. I wanted to hire a taxi, but Kalpana said, “Let’s walk.”

“But it’s a long walk. Almost an hour. And it’s dark in most places.”

“Are you scared of the dark?”

“No, I’m not,” I try to sound brave.

“Okay. Anyway, I don’t have to worry when I’m with you, Satya.”

We walk hand in hand, talking about the things we like—just like the time we were in love years ago. We talk about philosophy, religion, books, sports, movies, music, and so on. We sing and dance on the street. Finally, everything has become all right.

Is this happiness an illusion, though? I feel a strange tingle when we arrive at a dark street almost five minutes from home. It is a familiar street that cared for me while I was learning to walk with my parents. In this street, I used to burst into laughter when I kicked my friends, and then they came after me. The flowers on its sides had also bloomed the day I had first found love with Kalpana. But now, it seems unfamiliar. It feels uncaring and gloomy and smells not of flowers but of death and rot.

“What are you thinking, Satya?”

I turn around. Kalpana’s gait has changed. She seems to be mocking me. “What happened, Satya? There is always something going on in your head. What’s bothering you?”

Her voice is not the usual soft melody. It has changed into the vile tone—the one she used to have when she wanted to kill me. All of a sudden, she leaps at me. I dodge and slap her hard. She staggers. I hit her again and again until she drops on the cold pitch. I smirk, seeing her getting what she deserved. But she shocks me by getting up, stealing the knife from my pocket, and stabbing me in the stomach. One. Two. Three. “I should have done this earlier,” she whispers. “There is no point in living with a madman like you.”

She runs away as I collapse, waiting for death on the street that smells of death and rot.

I wake up to the sounds of footsteps. Somebody must have called up the ambulance. One of them performs first aid and carries me on a stretcher. One of the four men carrying me was saying, “I don’t want to save this man.”

“Me too,” says another. “Who’d want to help a guy who stabbed his wife, then stabbed himself, and put the knife in his wife’s hand so that it seems like she did the crime?”

The third speaks up, “Thankfully, some people saw him during the action. Otherwise, everyone would have blamed her.”

“I feel for the wife,” the fourth says. “Even when she was losing her consciousness, she was pleading not to do anything to this piece of shit.”

What? Why are they talking about things that have not happened? What happened to Kalpana? Did I really stab her? Fear creeps in. What if they are telling the truth? Will Kalpana forgive me as she has always done? Even if she does forgive me, how am I going to live with the guilt? How can I face my parents and friends? I can’t imagine the shame I have brought to them. I don’t want to live. I’d better be dead… Better be dead!

← Part Four

Overhyping the SEE can be stressful to teenager students

SEE is still overhyped in 2025; It’s time we move beyond the hype

By

On June 30, 2025

In Opinion, Blogging, Education, essay

The results of the 10th Grade, Secondary Education Examination (SEE) create a huge buzz in Nepal. No other exam results get such hype. The overemphasis and craze for SEE results is the legacy of its predecessor, the School Leaving Certificate (SLC), which was called the Iron Gate because of the lucrative education and job opportunities it opened. Since the SLC is now taken at Grade 12 and has become the key credential for jobs and higher education, the SEE has lost its former importance. Unfortunately, SEE still takes centre stage in Nepal’s education, pressuring students, teachers, schools, and parents.

The Pressure of SEE

In 2022, I taught six 10th graders and twelve 9th graders at a private school. The 10th graders were worried about their SEE. The school management and parents were tense too. Lockdowns had affected their classes, and we had about three months to complete more than 75% of the syllabus of compulsory maths, science, and additional maths. They were taking classes from six in the morning to eight in the evening. The regular classes were, however, between ten and four. They were under immense pressure.

And I was under pressure myself. I was with them throughout their second half, teaching them three subjects in regular time as well as during the extra classes. Later, when they were all compulsorily hostelized for the last month before the SEE, the only thing they had to do was study. If they did anything else, they would be punished with canes.

I was against beating students and even controlling them, however. I always encouraged them to ask about the problems they did not understand, discuss their perspectives on Nepalese politics, and discuss how they used technology. Such an openness created some friction between me and the school management, but eventually, the students coped with the pressure and completed their SEE with outstanding GPAs.

How I gave the SLC

You can say my teaching experience was a special situation created by unprecedented lockdowns, but the 10th graders, especially from private schools, have been going through the same routine for decades. It’s how I studied, and it’s how the new generation still does. Nothing has changed, and perhaps, we have normalised the pressure.

Fifteen years ago I gave my SLC. That entire year, I woke up at 5 AM for school, returning home for meals and attending classes until 6:30 PM, followed by additional tuition from 7 to 8 PM. I often did homework until midnight, feeling exhausted but motivated by the mantra of a “better future.” After completing my SLC, I spent the first week sleeping in the hope of recovering from the intense routine.

This experience mirrors what my students went through years later, showing how entrenched our exam culture still is.

What has changed?

The SLC dropped the percentage marking system in 2016 and adopted GPA (most people still don’t understand it). Two years later, the SLC itself shifted from Grade 10 to Grade 12, with its value intact but hype reduced. The Grade 10 exams got a new name, the SEE. But the education system has remained the same (some say it has worsened); students, teachers, and parents still face the same pressure; and there is still unnecessary hype around it.

Why is SEE overhyped?

SLC’s legacy

As I said earlier in the essay, one of the major reasons for the overemphasis on SEE is the legacy of the SLC. For a long time, Grade 10 was the end of school education. The result of SLC opened the door to university degrees and job opportunities. Until four or five batches before I took the SLC, the exams included questions from grades 9 and 10. Without rigorous preparation, it was difficult to crack the exam.

The government seems to have understood the effect of pressure on students due to the SLC. It stopped declaring the toppers officially, removed Grade 9’s course from the exams, introduced the GPA, and even changed the name. But the media still find toppers, and schools still compete to admit them.

Promotions of schools

Schools with SLC board toppers, a high number of distinctions, and first divisions used to be featured in national magazines. They used to see increased admissions. Schools competed to make their students toppers. Colleges and higher secondary schools that admitted toppers automatically attracted other guardians and students.

The same story continues in the SEE era. Media (traditional and social media alike) absurdly highlight students securing 4.0 GPAs as the toppers when it’s possible for students with lower GPAs to actually beat them, as I show in an example in this article. Higher secondary schools, most of them still marketing as “colleges,” label themselves as “topper’s choice.” SEE results are thus easier promotion tools for schools.

Mentality of the older generation

The SLC generation, including me, is still influential in making policy decisions. It also dictates the ways students should work towards their SEE. Teachers and parents are also from the older generation, where SLC used to be a tough nut to crack. They did the same things they are now imposing on the new generation, probably passing on the same trauma.

What should we do?

We should stop hyping the SEE

SEE is one of the many exams students gave in the past and will give in the future. Schools and teachers should facilitate students, not scare them. They should allow students to play, engage in sports, and participate in extra-curricular activities. Curriculum should be enjoyable and emphasise practicality and creativity. Parents should help their children stay calm, reduce pressure at home, and allow them to pursue their hobbies or interests.

We should listen to the students

Students of the present generation are full of creativity. Social media have also made them well-informed, even though mainstream media say otherwise. They are aware of the political and economic environment of Nepal as well as that of abroad because their siblings migrated there for education and/or work. They are also full of curiosity. Talking to them gives schools and teachers a fresh perspective on the world they are living in. It helps teachers modify their ways of teaching to meet their expectations. Students also learn critical thinking and even understand the adult world.

We should encourage better teaching and learning environment

Better teaching environment in Nepal often translates into classes with strict discipline, one-way communication from the teacher, and non-questioning students. Discipline is non-negotiable, but it is wrong to stop questions in the name of disciplining students. Like I said before, there should be a meaningful interaction between teachers and students. Schools should encourage discussions between the teachers and students. They should facilitate practical education and reward creativity.

Conclusion

Overemphasis on the SEE results may have some promotional advantage for schools, but other than that, it creates pressure on everyone. Despite the government’s intention to decrease the pressure on students of Grade 10, our mindset and education system are sticking with the old ways. Parents, teachers, school administration, and the media should work in tandem to reduce stress on the students. When we stop overhyping SEE, we get schools that prioritise creative learning, teachers who encourage critical thinking, and parents who allow pursuits other than study. Students, thus, get a learning environment where they are loved, respected, and less stressed.

An image after Satya realises that Kalpana loves him

Satya – Part Four: She Loves Me?

By

On June 26, 2025

In My Story

Bright light hurts my eyes. It takes me some time to adapt to it. Have I died? Is this heaven? No, it is not. If I were in heaven, I should not have felt pain. I should have been free. But I can’t even move. I realise that I’m strapped to the bed. The sharp odour of spirit hits my nose. It’s a hospital.

Hospital?

Why am I alive? Kalpana, Chetan, Manas, Dad, Mom, everyone wanted to kill me. They trapped me and injected something in my blood, didn’t they? Yet, I’m still alive! They don’t want to kill me but torture me? Why? Do they enjoy seeing me in pain? How could they stoop this low?

I don’t remember their faces, though. Memories are foggy.

A woman comes into the room. She is wearing a white tunic. She checks my vitals and asks, “How are you feeling?”

“I feel…” I pause for a while. What should I say? Should I be happy for being alive? Or should I feel shit for being strapped? In the end, I said, “I feel nothing.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“I wish I could read all your feelings so that I can heal you.”

I stare at her as the nurse speaks. She looks familiar, but I can’t tell how I know her. The effort I make to remember her exhausts me. My eyes are heavy. I fall asleep before she goes out of the room.

I don’t know how many days, weeks, or months have passed in this white room. I sleep a lot. I am strapped except when I am escorted to the washroom. A small set of staff takes care of me. They are within earshot. They bring me food and medicine and leave nothing behind. The weird thing is that I haven’t seen that nurse again. I have inquired about her, but nobody knows her. I am not sure if the doctor can help me. But how do I ask him?

The doctor scares me. He is gigantic, bald, and has a big moustache. He asks me the same questions in his hoarse voice every day: Who are you? How do you feel? Do you want to meet your family or friends? Had I sustained any injury during childhood? My answers, too, are fixed: I’m Satya; I feel nothing; I don’t want to meet anyone; I had no life-threatening injury during childhood. Before he left, he would ask, “Do you have something to share with me?”

“No,” I said, as always.

He stared at me, and I stared back at him. The more I gazed into his eyes, the more I started feeling that he was not scary. I finally decide to talk. “I want to ask you to know something.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Really?”

“Yes. It’s important.”

“How long have you been wanting to say it to me?”

“Do you know what I want to ask?”

“Maybe.”

“What do you know, doctor?”

The old doctor strokes his chin. “Well, I’ve heard that you’re looking for a nurse. And that you’ve not found her.”

“So, you know. Why didn’t you do anything?”

He shrugs. “You never asked.”

I don’t buy it. “You could have helped me.”

“Actually, I don’t know how to help you.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know any nurse that entered this room that night. In fact, I had strictly ordered them not to come in.”

“What?”

“I’m curious as well. How did she look?”

“I can’t give you the details, but she felt familiar.”

“Familiar?” He strokes his chin again and murmurs. “Hmm… family? Friend?”

“Hmm. I don’t think so, doctor.”

“I feel she is important to you. I have no idea how I can help you, but I’ll try.”

The doctor has left, but our conversation lingers in my mind. I had denied any connection to my family or friends, but do I really know them? I struggle to recall the faces of my parents and Kalpana. My images of my friends are all blurred. I don’t understand anything. I feel helpless. Fear creeps in, then sadness. I can’t hold my feelings anymore. I bury my face in the pillow and spill out all the emotions in the form of tears.

“What happened, Satya? Why are you crying?”

The voice startles me. It’s that nurse. Still unable to contain my emotions, I wail. She comes closer, sits on my bed, and caresses my hair. She does not say anything until I let go of all my feelings and stop crying. 

“I don’t know… I don’t know anyone… I can’t remember anyone.”

“You will, Satya. You need some rest.”

“How can I rest when I don’t have memories of anyone? How do I rest knowing nobody loves me?”

“Look at me, Satya.”

I can’t look at her. I don’t have the strength to talk to her. But she keeps insisting. I turn around and see her smiling. A comforting smile. Looking into my eyes, she says, “Weren’t you looking for me?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you ignoring me when I am here with you?”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Where have you been?”

“I have always been with you.”

“Hmm… How?”

“I am in your heart, Satya.”

I am perplexed while her smile widens. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“It’s still not the same as being with you.”

“You don’t always need to be with the person you love. All you need to do is to spare a thought for them.”

I have heard that somewhere. Why does this nurse feel close to my heart?

“Because,” she says. “You know me, Satya.”

Is she reading my mind? Who is she?

“You know me, Satya. I’m the one you’ve loved.”

My eyes widen. I recognise her. “You’re—”

“I’m—”

“Kalpana.” We say in unison.

Memories flood into my mind. The faces of my parents became clear. Manas, Chetan, and all my friends smile at me. Kalpana is grinning with them. She looks just like the first time we met. I had been crazy to even think she was going to kill me. I hate myself.

“Don’t hate yourself, Satya,” Kalpana says. “We love you no matter what. You were ill. Now, you’ve become well.”

I am soaked in tears of joy. I sleep peacefully for the first time in who knows how long.

← Part Three

Part Five →

A sketch representing parenting a toddler and a newborn

Jealousy, Tantrums, and Love: Parenting a Toddler and a Newborn

By

On June 24, 2025

In Blogging, Family

Last week, we were blessed with our second child. This newborn boy gave us immense joy but also brought some challenges, particularly in parenting a toddler and a newborn.

When our son was conceived, our daughter was just 19 months old. Now, at 28 months, she is in a tender phase. Fortunately, we live in a joint family, and my parents were supportive throughout the pregnancy. My wife carried the baby while continuing to care for our daughter with relative ease, and that allowed me time to manage work, studies, and household responsibilities.

This week, however, everything changed.

As my wife got admitted to the hospital for the delivery, and my mother stayed with her, the full responsibility of caring for our toddler fell on me. I realised how demanding and unpredictable this age can be. Managing her diet, facing her tantrums, and soothing her aggression require a whole new level of patience (and I am generally a patient guy). It’s difficult to say when her mood changes from calm to aggressive and when she demands chocolates and junk food. Saying “no” is hard; handling the consequences is even harder.

I am also noticing that our daughter is going through an emotional turmoil (of course, she cannot explain it) as she sees her brother being nurtured. She had been excited to meet her baby brother, thinking he would talk and play with her right away. She was eager to kiss, cuddle, and caress him. But when her brother does not talk and play, and when we warn her not to caress and kiss him hard, she gets visibly upset.

What affects her most, though, is the shift in her mother’s attention. Due to the Caesarean section, my wife cannot hold our daughter on her lap or play with her the way she used to. And while the baby gets to lie next to his mother and be constantly cared for, our daughter is sometimes pushed away because of physical and emotional exhaustion. I have seen her frowns when her mother gets irritated by her playful touches. These frowns at times turn into aggression when she slaps me and my sister. Lately, she’s also been craving sugar and chocolates more frequently, and calming her has become increasingly difficult.

As a father, I feel guilty at times. Our daughter is too young to handle her emotions. And we were not prepared for her tantrums and mood swings. While I think she will slowly cope with the situation, I am also discussing these things with my wife, parents, and sister to help our daughter grow emotionally strong.

My mother often says that I became more introverted and emotionally distant from her. I don’t want that to happen to my daughter. I want her to suppress her feelings or feel sidelined. I want to help her to feel heard and loved. I want her to bond strongly with her mother and little brother so that she stays as expressive as she is now.

This journey of parenting two under three has just begun, and every day brings new lessons. If you have had such experiences, please include them in the comment box. We would love to learn from you.

Satya restrained as he shouts, Kill Me with Chetan in the background

Satya – Part Three: Kill Me!

By

On June 19, 2025

In My Story

I escaped the slaughterhouse, but I had nowhere to go.

I had never before noticed how alone Kalpana had made me. She had gained so much influence over my parents that they were doing whatever she made them do. Her soft voice and cheerful nature had impressed them from the start. They had shared many secrets with her even before we had married. Sometimes, even I did not know the things my parents had told Kalpana. She had won their trust, while my miscommunication with them made us distant. They did not trust me with the family affairs. They thought I was unreliable with my decisions. They always said I argued aggressively while discussing things. Because Kalpana had become the daughter they never had, they abandoned me. They were supporting her in her murderous intent!

I had to go somewhere. But where?

I had lost communication with all my friends. It was my fault that I trusted her, that I gave her my full attention. I loved her. I used to share everything with her. I gave her my phone while she was not content with her small, low-tech phone. She then logged me out of all the social media and deleted my contacts. She never let me use the phone. She would chat with her friends and talk with her parents until the battery drained. If she saw me near the phone while it was charging, she would say, “Don’t use the phone while it’s charging.” I started using the phone after she slept. It was a successful move for a while. However, she used to wake up, throw the phone away, and say, “Why aren’t you sleeping? Hold me instead of that phone.” I would comply.

And where did that get me? Nowhere to go when I needed help!

Thinking hard, you popped up in my mind, Chetan. You were my best friend. Kalpana had cut me off from you. But I knew where you lived and worked. Since it was evening, I guessed you might be home. So, I came. As I ran, a thought came up in my mind. What if you, too, had been under Kalpana’s influence? What if you had turned into a predator? But I told myself to have some faith because you are my best friend.

You were home, as I expected. You greeted me with a smile. “Long time no see, bro. You really surprised me this evening. Let’s go out and chill. What do you say?”

“No, Chetan. I need your help. Kalpana is trying to kill me. Her brother and my parents are in it as well. I just managed to escape and come here.”

You scratched your brow, waved me in, and shut the door. “What are you saying, Satya?

“I don’t know, bro,” I said. “I’m confused. I don’t know what to do.”

“Maybe you should talk to someone. Hey, who’s better for that than your best friend?”

I sigh in relief. “I can’t tell you how light I’m feeling right now. You’re the only person that can help me out.”

You took me to your living room and sat on the sofa facing the door. I got nervous that the door was behind me, but I reminded myself that I don’t need to be paranoid.

Before I began my story, you took your phone out of your pocket and texted someone as you said, “I had an important meeting, but I cancelled it. No meeting is bigger than my best friend in need.” You put the phone back into your pocket and scratched your brow again. “I don’t get it, Satya. Kalpana loves you. I’m sure she won’t do anything to harm you. And why would Uncle and Aunty want to kill their only child?”

When I finish telling you everything, you say, “I can’t believe Kalpana would ever think of murdering you.”

“How much time have you spent with her, Chetan? I’ve spent eight years with her. I know her better than you do.”

You shake your head. “You’re right, but why didn’t you let me know earlier? I could have helped you, Satya.”

“Kalpana cut me off from you, Chetan. She deleted my phone contacts and blocked you on social media. When I realised it and asked her about it, she said, ‘He’s become successful. He does not need you now.’ Can you believe it?”

His mouth gaped. “I can’t believe she said that. But I’ve heard it from you, so there is no reason I shouldn’t believe it.”

“Thank you…” I hear a clamour. “Wait… What’s the noise? Who’s coming in? Who have you called?”

You stutter. “N-nothing, Satya.”

The footsteps come closer. You are sweating.

“You treacherous swine!” I pounce on you and manage to land a punch on your face. “You texted them that I have come here?”

I want to kill you, but Manas’s goons catch me from behind and pull me back on the couch. I can do nothing but shout at you, “You’ve betrayed me. Everyone has abandoned me. It’s better to die than live this miserable life. Kill me! KILL ME!”

“We’re not trying to kill you, Satya,” you say. “We are helping you. Trust me. You need it.”

“This is your help? Your help is worse than death,” I scream. Manas and his goons overwhelm me. I am burning with rage as they jab something on my shoulder. My vision blurs. I…am…dying!

← Part Two 

Part Four →

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