Month: May 2008

World’s newest republic, Nepal

Posted on by Anand Nepal

Nepal has registered itself as the newest republic in the world with a recent declaration to convert the kingdom to a federal democratic republic. Now onward the king is considered an ordinary citizen.

The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) unanimously declared Nepal a republic late on Wednesday night, with only four votes against the declaration. The CA, elected through the landmark election held last month, formally passed the proposal, bidding farewell to the only Hindu King of the world.

The former rebels, CPN-Maoists, won 220 seats in the April 10 ballot, Nepali Congress won 110 seats, while the CPN -UML secured 103 and the newly emerged party Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF), representing Madhes the country’s southern plains along the Indian border, won 52 seats.

The Shah Dynasty that unified and ruled Nepal for the last 240 years, often through bloodshed, came to a peaceful end on MAY 28, 2008. If the rise of the Shahs was spectacular, so was their downfall. In modern history, hardly any monarchy has been abolished either through the ballot or so peacefully.

New Records on top of the world, Mt. Everest

Posted on by Anand Nepal

Two new records were set by two Nepali mountaineers on the top of Mt. Everest.

The first record was set by Appa Sherpa, 48, who climbed the highest peak for the 18th time.

The second record was set by a 76 year old (turning 77 in a few days) senior Min Bahadur Serchan. Sherchan has broken the previous record held by Japanese schoolteacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa, 71, who scaled the Everest in the last year. It is told that Serchan is in good health after the climb in spite of his age.

Oldest everest climber

National Geographic writer Ian Baker accused of stealing statues of archaeological importance

Posted on by Anand Nepal

A person claiming to be writer of National Geographic was found to be trading animal parts and statues of archaeological importance in Nepal.

41 years old Ian Baker, living in Nepal for the last 24 years, had stored statues of archaeological importance, vestiges of various wild animals including skin, skeleton and statues in his Baluwater residence. The police said 121 kinds of goods of archeological importance were seized from the two flats. According to the police, most of the idols, torans (embossed metal plates) and thankas were stolen from temples. The seized items include tiger skins, skeleton of tigers’ heads and other animals.

He escaped being arrested as he is told to be living in Bangkok these days. The house owner Rajesh Maharjan was arrested by the police for the investigation.

This site tells that Baker :  Continue reading

Moral brigade for Bollywood actresses

Posted on by Anand Nepal

A hindu organization in Tamil Nadu, India seem to be forming a ”moral brigade” for film actresses these days. Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) wants to enter actresses’ wardrobes to choose which dress is decent and which is not. The group has filed a complaints against bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat over the issue of improper attire at a film function.

HMK accused the actress of wearing transparent and skimpy clothes. (source)

Mallika does wear bold dresses but I don’t think it is problem of a religious organization to point fingers on them.

 Continue reading