Interview

"International Meet Will Discuss Concerns Over Himalayas" Bhikkhu Sanghasena

As temperature has gone up around the world, the heat is melting ice in the Himalayas and glaciers are receding. At a time when scientists have been expressing concern over the situation, a source of inspiration, spiritual in nature, Bhikkhu Sanghasena, a world renowned Buddhist and founder of the Save the Himalaya Foundation (SHF), from Ladakh, India, is hosting an international conference in Nepal next year. As Bhikkhu Sanghasena was recently in Kathmandu to prepare for the international conference in partnership with Binod Chaudhary’s Chaudhary Foundation, BHIKKHU SANGHASENA spoke to KESHAB POUDEL about the importance of his mission at the residence of Dr. Susanne Von Der Heide, a renowned Buddhist scholar and director of SHF’s international relations. Bhikkhu Sanghasena, a simple and humble human being, is renowned for his immense knowledge and wisdom. Excerpts of half an hour interview

By Keshab Poudel Sep 29, 2019

"There Is No Possibility Of A Constitutional Backlash In Nepal"- Bipin Adhikari

Nepal has completed the fourth year of its new constitution and has celebrated this with a lot of fanfare. While the government gave the Constitution Day (September 20) all emphasis it deserves, it is true that some political parties and civil society groups protested against the new Constitution while it was being promulgated in 2015. Some of them gave the constitutional anniversary a cold response, and some observed the day of promulgation as a black day. The concern about the future of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, the seventh constitution, has been open to discussion, given that Nepal bid goodbye to six written constitutions for various reasons, internal and external, in the span of 65 years. On this occasion, Spotlight spoke with constitutional expert Dr Bipin Adhikari, who is also a senior lawyer of Nepal, about the issues surrounding the new constitution and its development.

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Sep 25, 2019

“We Observed Constitution Day As A Black Day” Sarvendra Nath Shukla

As Nepal government celebrated Constitution Day with fanfare, veteran politician and leader of Rashtriya Janta Party Sarvendra Nath Shukla is terming the day as a Black Day boycotting official ceremony and commemorating the day as a martyr’s day. Shukla spoke to NEW SPOTLIGHT from Dhangadhi. Excerpts:

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Sep 22, 2019

Schools Are Stronger When They Work Together In Clusters

ANN BURGESS has worked supporting schools in a variety of contexts: she has been a Local Authority advisor for Primary schools where her responsibilities included leadership training and induction of Head Teachers as well as an Ofsted inspector in the UK. She has worked for British Council since 2002 as a Specialist Advisor in School Leadership and as a Senior Advisor and now as a consultant. She has an extensive international experience in most regions of the world; amongst the countries she has worked with are; Brazil, China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico, Jordan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tunisia and Europe. Ann also presented about importance of embedding internationalism into school curriculum during a Policy Dialogue on “Embedding International Dimension in the Curriculum” held by the British Council Nepal on 20 August 2019 along with the International School Award Ceremony where 41 schools from all over Nepal received the award. During her visit Ann spoke various issues. Excerpts:

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Aug 30, 2019

Nepali Government Should Allow Eligible Diaspora Members To Obtain NRN Citizenship: Ambika P. Adhikari

Ambika P. Adhikari, DDes., who is a Principal Planner at City of Tempe, AZ, USA heading its long-range planning division, is a well known name in Nepalese Diaspora. Obtained Doctorate in Urban Planning and Design from Harvard University, and Master of Architecture from University of Hawaii, he is a Sr. Sustainability Scientist, a frequent Faculty Associate, and was a former Program Manager, and a former Research Professor at Arizona State University (ASU). In Nepal, he was Associate Professor at Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, and Country Representative of IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature). He is a Fellow of American Society of Nepalese Engineers (ASNEngr), a Member of American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), LEED Accredited Professional and has a certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Dr. Adhikari, who has authored one, and co-edited five books related to planning, environment and development. He is active in many Nepali community organizations in North America, spoke to New Spotlight.

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Aug 13, 2019

Sexual Violence Is One Of The Most Heinous Crimes

Herta Däubler-Gmelin is a German lawyer, academic and a former politician of the Social Democratic Party. She served as Federal Minister of Justice from 1998 to 2002, and as a Member of the Bundestag from 1972 to 2009. She currently teaches as an honorary professor of political science at the Free University of Berlin, particularly on international relations and human rights. In 2011 she was the Hemmerle Professor at RWTH Aachen University. She spoke to New Spotlight on various issues. Excerpts:

By A Correspondent Jul 19, 2019

Donor Should Not Involve In Local Capacity Building And Governance Agenda In Nepal: Shailendra Sigdel

Shailendra Sigdel, an Independent Management Consulting Professional, has over three decades of experience in governance sector. Executive Director of Foundation for Development Management with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry, he has skills in Policy Analysis, Organizational Development, Public Policy, Economic Development, and Capacity Building. Strong business development professional, a graduate from the University of Birmingham, Sigdel spoke to New Spotlight on current political and structural transformation in Nepal. Excerpts of his interview:

By A Correspondent Jun 30, 2019

The Guthi System Should Be Regarded As Important Intangible Cultural Heritage’- Prof David Gellner

Professor of Social Anthropology and a Fellow of All Souls College in the University of Oxford, DR DAVID GELLNER, has carried out anthropological research in Nepal since 1982. His two monographs on Buddhism in Nepal are Monk, Householder, and Tantric Priest: Newar Buddhism and its Hierarchy of Ritual (CUP, 1992) and (with Sarah LeVine)Rebuilding Buddhism: The Theravada Movement in Twentieth-Century Nepal (Harvard, 2005). A collection of his essays, The Anthropology of Buddhism and Hinduism: Weberian Themes was published by OUP in 2001. He spoke to SOUTH ASIA TIME on the significance of Guthi system in Nepal and recent controversy regarding the bill (which has now been withdrawn by the Nepal government). Excerpts of the interview:

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Jun 23, 2019

"Korean Government Has Put Nepal In The Priority List" Ambassador Park Young-sik

At a time when Nepal is working to woo the investors from the Republic of Korea, Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Nepal Park Young-sik spoke to New Spotlight on various issues regarding the present state of Nepal and Korea Relations. Excerpts:

By A Correspondent May 27, 2019

"There Is Every Reason To Celebrate The 1st Of May 2019 Proudly And Full Of Hope"

As Nepal is celebrting May Day organising various programs Annette Schlicht, Resident Representative of Friedrich Ebert Foundation Nepal spoke to New Spotlight on various labor related issues. Excerpts:

By A Correspondent May 05, 2019

"OHW Works To Reduce The Risk Of Maternal And Neonatal Mortality"

At a time when Nepal has been launching national campaign for quality population extending safe delivery health centers with skilled birth attendant, One Heart World-Wide, a United States based INGOs has been supporting to Nepal’s priority sector establishing safe health centers. If Nepal needs to reduce maternal mortality and infant mortality, there need to have programs for safe pregnancies and healthy babies. ARLENE SAMEN, APRN, president and founder of One Heart World-Wide, who recently visited Nepal, spoke to NEW SPOTLIGHT on various issues regarding the organizations. Excerpts:

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Apr 15, 2019

Nepal Has To Prepare A Policy To Prevent Death And Destruciotn From Strom

Former director General of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DoHM) DR. RISHI RAM SHARMA is a well known meteorologist having a long experience working in the sector. After almost five years working as a Director General of DoHM, Dr. Sharma has been transferred to Water and Energy Commission secretariat recently. Following the deadly storm in Bara and Parsa, there is a growing debate over whether DoHM is capable enough to predict or preempt this kind of phenomenon in future, Dr. Sharma spoke to NEW SPOTLIGHT On various issues. Excerpts:

By A Correspondent Apr 03, 2019

"We Need To Assure Investors That Nepal Is Investment Friendly" Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat

As Nepal has been passing through a political crisis and facing severe economic challenges, former finance minister and leader of Nepali Congress DR.RAM SHARAN MAHAT spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various contemporary issues. Excerpts:

By Keshab Poudel Mar 29, 2019

‘Nepal’s Geo-strategic Challenges Have Not Changed’

Dr. Christian Wagner is a senior fellow on Asia Division at German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), which primarily advises in decision-making on international politics and foreign and security policy to the German government and Bundestag. He has been involved in research on security and strategic affairs of South Asia. Probably one of the best known researchers on South Asia and Nepal in Germany, he spoke on a wide range of issues, including Nepal’s geo-political challenges, impact of China and India’s rivalry in South Asia, the way ahead of Nepalese federalism and experiences with our special representative, Lekhanath Pandey— Lecturer of Tribhuvan University, Nepal and Research Fellow of Humboldt University, Berlin— at SWP headquarters in Berlin, Germany. Excerpt:

By Lekhanath Pandey Mar 26, 2019

World Bank Now Has A Very Large Engagement With Nepal: Faris Hadad-Zervos

As Nepal is passing through a major phase of political and economic transformation, NEW SPOTLIGHT has interviewed FARIS HADAD-ZERVOS, the country manager of the World Bank, Nepal Office, on a wide range of issues related to economy and development. Known for his intensive international experience, Hadad-Zervos, a US national, had joined the World Bank in 1996 in the Private Sector Development Department. He served as Head of Mission for Iraq (2003-2005), Operations Manager for the West Bank and Gaza (2005-2008), and Country Manager for Bolivia (2012-2015) before taking a leave of absence from the World Bank to serve as the Deputy Head of the Quartet Office for the Middle East Peace Process, based in Jerusalem. Hadad-Zervos holds a Master's Degree in Economics from George Mason University, and a Master's Degree in Finance from George Washington University. The full text of his written interview follows:

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Feb 21, 2019

Four Million Nepalese Are Denied Citizenship: Sarvendra Nath Shukla

SARVENDRA NATH SHUKLA, former minister and leader of Rashtriya Janta Party-Nepal, is a well established veteran politician from Madhesh. Having secured victory several times in the national parliament from Rupandehi district, Shukla, who is now a key figure of Madhesh based RJP-Nepal, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various contemporary political issue. Excerpts:

By Keshab Poudel Feb 16, 2019

ELCA Priority Is Human Capacity Building: Dr. Ishida

Visiting Nepal several times in the past few years and travelling to different parts of the country to see the projects supported and funded by Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Rev. Dr. Y. Franklin Ishida, Director, Asian and the Pacific Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was in Nepal recently. Rev. Dr. Ishida spoke to New Spotlight on various issues regarding ELCA's supported programs and projects. Excerpts:

By NEW SPOTLIGHT ONLINE Feb 15, 2019

“The British Council Vave Got A Lot To Offer"

CHRIS TWEEDALE, the Chief Executive of GEP Academies and a Consultant to the British Council, gave an informative presentation about the importance of teacher training and improving school leadership development in Nepal at the Education Symposium on 14 January 2019. With 28 years of teaching experience and posts within the UK Government to advise school policy and development, including in the British Council where he has worked with them for over six years, Tweedale spoke with SAIMA PUN about why the British Council’s Education Symposium is significant for Nepal.

By Saima Pun Jan 26, 2019

“You Get Violence Everywhere…The Problem Here, I Think, Is That There’s No Safety Net”

WENDY MARSTON BEM, Co-Founder and Advisor of Burns Violence Survivors (BVS) Nepal, the only organisation in the country dedicated to supporting burn victims, has been helping this cause for more than a decade before BVS was established in 2008. Mrs Marston sat down with SAIMA PUN to talk about how she came to settle down in Nepal and her work of helping Nepalis in desperate need of burn support.