Articles by Guest Author

Tremor Earthquake

Articles March 1, 2023

Major Tremor Threats in the Himalayan Belt: Are We Prepared?

The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake and its aftershocks that hit southeastern Turkey along its border with Syria continues to rise. As I write these lines, the death toll has reached 51,134. The first quake occurred at 4:17 AM (01:17 GMT) on Monday, February 6, 2023 and was centered in the Pazarchik district of Karamanmaras province. Less than 12 hours later, a second quake of magnitude 7.6 hit the same area. After the earthquake, more than 100 aftershocks were recorded.

Lain Singh Bangdel with wife Manu Kumari Thapa

Articles July 23, 2022

The Moon, He Created Muluk Bahira

“sympathy for the poor emerges from the hearts of the poor. One beggar knows the pain of another.” The dog, he says, is “a creature similar to me, who begs to eat.” – Bangdel wrote in his most famous short novel The Cripple’s Friend.

Manipur Landslide, Noney

Articles, Manipur July 6, 2022

Why does our Disaster Management System Fail? Reflections from the Tupul landslide, Noney district, Manipur 

The proposed railway project to address the transportation needs of the region turned out to be an invited disaster. The lacuna is not only in having appropriate regulations, but also in the implementation of the plans, sometimes in the plan itself.  Still, most of the disaster management plans are post-disaster oriented, as in the case of a landslide at the railway project site. The project should have been timely planned and technically equipped to reduce the risk of human forces involved.

Good News

Articles July 4, 2022

Will the “Good News” ever come?

Baje always carried a radio set with him; a radio set he was very proud to own because it was given to him personally by Durga Malla. He often reiterated that Durga Malla received that radio as a gift from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. While giving the radio to Baje, Malla had said; “One day ‘good news’ for the Gorkhas will come from this radio”. Therefore, Baje has been keeping the radio secure, and patiently waiting for the‘good news’ to finally come.

J.C.B

Articles May 6, 2022

The Politics of J.C.B

One of our readers has written the following to highlight how J.C.B led politics could lead to environmental catastrophe and how the silence of the government/authorities in this whole sordid saga is alarming

Pandemic Parents Bivek Tamang & Sangmu Thendup

Stories March 26, 2022

Two Year Later, Pandemic made us the Parents who we are

Fathers’ too undergo serious emotional pain and experience tremendous nervousness. That was the time I truly realized that it’s not easy to become a father. I was looking for a support or even a distraction but none came to my rescue. To make matter worse there was a big television screen with flashing reports on increasing number of positive cases in India.

Mirik Lake

Local February 1, 2022

Mirik Lake (Sumendu Lake) is Turning into a Sewage Dump

Mirik Lake also known as the Sumendu Lake is probably the first such artificial lake in the entire Hills. Made to attract tourism, which it has been able to do, the lake has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in this region. Many people here in the hamlet are dependent on tourism, as Mirik neither has fertile soil for agriculture nor there being many other means of employment.