Tree fossils, which are said to be about 200 to 300 million years old, have been found at Bhainse village of Kaski district, Nepal. A team of archaeologist led by Chief Archaeologist of the Department of Archaeology (DOA), Sukra Sagar Shrestha, had adventitiously found the fossils of a tree belonging to the Paleolithic age. In…
Category: English
Truth Is a Pathless Land
“Truth Is a Pathless Land” means there is no path to truth. This statement is a negative response to the various so-called paths that claim to lead to truth.
Newar Women Are Never Widows
In society, a woman is considered a widow after her husband’s death, and her remaining life is expected to be lived according to certain rigid social norms. The concept of widowhood has been seen to disproportionately burden Hindu women. However, even within Hinduism, there is a belief in the Newar community that women never become…
Menstruation: parents fear sin more than their daughters failing in exams
The monthly cycle of menstruation among girls has become an impediment to their pursuit of education in far-western Nepal. For, during periods, school girls are forced to stay at home and not attend school. Laxmi Joshi, who is engaged in community development under Nepal Red Cross Society’s Jogbudha subdivision in Dadeldhura district, some 800 kilometers…
Of monks and Maoists
Everyone has an alter ego, and is subconsciously guided by his/her imaginary self. It seems that Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal is living with a persona who is sharp and dynamic. For him, other seasoned communist leaders like Mohan Bikram Singh, Mohan Baidya and Narayan Man Bijukechhe are not as smart. To articulate what his…
Lumbini woes
Despite the fact that Lumbini is the sacred nativity site of the Buddha and is a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists and others from all over the world, the place has not been developed as expected. The reason is the politicization and corruption in the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) over the past decades. Now that Buddhist…
Buddha in suburbia
Last month, over 75,000 Nepalis gathered at Tundikhel of Kathmandu to recite a few verses of the Dhammapada – a collection of the Buddha’s teachings. Prime Minister KP Oli and some Buddhist monks were also there, reciting the Dhammapada in between racy songs and loud slogans of ‘Buddha was born in Nepal’. The event was…
Lumbini And Kapilvastu: Archaeological Discussion
Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha (563–483 BC), and his hometown, Kapilvastu, are described in various historical sources, including Buddhist texts. Historical and archaeological evidences confirm that the location of both of these sites is currently within the territory of Nepal. Lumbini, which is also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located 300km…
Women Monks – No Trespassing
In the Buddhist religion, men can become monks but women are not allowed to convert as monks. There was a provision for women to convert as monks even at the time of Lord Gautam Buddha. But, it is strange that the same provision has been overshadowed and now women are not allowed to become monks….