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Nepali To English Dictionary

Essay meaning in nepali, meaning of "essay".

Other word with "Essay"

• to compose, write an essay, make, build ,
• composer, essayist, prose writer, creator ,
• essayist, composition writer ,
• to write a composition, to pen an essay ,
• to write an essay or composition
• खाना सर्किनु
• भुसुना किरा
• Punar janma

पाठको अनुवाद

अनुवादका परिणामहरू, कागजातको अनुवाद, ड्र्याग एन्ड ड्रप गर्नुहोस्.

वेबसाइटको अनुवाद

कुनै URL हाल्नुहोस्

फोटोमा भएका टेक्स्ट अनुवाद गर्ने सुविधा

Schmidt Glosbe

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• Contemporary Nepali dictionary : meanings in Nepali

• English-Nepali.com : English-Nepali dictionary

• Nepali-English glossary , Cornell University (2004)

• NepalResearch : Nepali & Sherpa dictionaries ( Sherpa is closed to Tibetan )

• Nepali-English dictionary & Nepali-German dictionary [PDF] (Latin & Nepali characters)

• Practical dictionary of Modern Nepali by Ruth Schmidt (1993)

• Comparative and etymological dictionary of the Nepali language by Ralph Turner (1931)

• Shorter English-Nepali dictionary by T. Warren (1944)

→ Devanagari keyboard to type a text with the Devanagari script

• YouTube : common phrases & alphabet (videos)

• Cornell University : Nepali course

• Nepali, a beginner's primer , conversation and grammar , by Banu Oja & Shambhu Oja (2004)

• Nepalgo : Nepali course & vocabulary by topics

• Nepalese Linguistics : online journal about the languages of Nepal, published by the Linguistic society of Nepal

• The sounds of the English language and Nepali Language by Rajan Kumar Kandel, in Anusheelan research journal (2010)

• The effects of English in the Nepali hinterlands : career gains and identity loss , by Ashok Raj Khati, in Nelta (2013)

• Why English is not a foreign language in Nepal by Ram Ashish Giri, in Journal of world languages (2014)

• Motion events in Nepali by Krishna Parajuli, thesis (2021)

• Négociation des ressources langagières dans les échanges conversationnels népali-anglais by Julian Vasseur, thesis (2021)

• Nepali lessons for teach yourself Nepali by Netra Prasad Paudyal (2014)

• Basic course in Nepali spoken by Tika Karki & Chij Shrestha

• Descriptive grammar of Nepali by Jayaraj Acharya (1991)

• Course in Nepali by David Matthews (1998)

• Colloquial Nepali : learning guide by George Gordon Rogers (1950) (Latin alphabet)

• Grammar of the Népalese language by James Alexander Ayton (1820)

• books & papers about the Nepali language: Google books | Internet archive | Wikipedia

• Kantipur : news in Nepali & English

• BBC : news in Nepali

• NepaliSong : Nepali songs to listen

• Text from the Nepali translated version of Alice's adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll), annoted corpus, by Netra Prasad Paudyal (2014)

• In search of the oldest Nepalese manuscript by Kengo Harimoto, in Rivista degli studi orientali (2011)

• WordProject : translation of the Bible into Nepali

सबै व्यक्ति हरू जन्मजात स्वतन्त्र हुन ती सबैको समान अधिकार र महत्व छ। निजहरूमा विचार शक्ति र सद्धिचार भएकोले निजहरूले आपसमा भातृत्वको भावना बाट व्यवहार गर्नु पर्छ।

→ First article in different languages

→ Universal Declaration of Human Rights : bilingual text, in Nepali, Hindi, English & other languages

→ Nepal : maps, symbols, heritage & documents

→ Hindi & Sanskrit language

→ Tibetan language & Sherpa (Tibetic language)

Writing journeys

13 MIN READ

Excellent essays and outstanding op-eds

Tom Robertson, September 29, 2021, Kathmandu

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Writing Journeys series editor Tom Robertson provides a list of easy tips on how to write better argumentative essays and opinion pieces for newspapers.

At first, I was surprised that, of the many Nepali-language Youtube videos that I’ve made about writing, the most popular was also the longest — a video called Easy Excellent Essays . Once I thought more, though, it became less surprising; writing essays is important and hard. And in schools, most Nepalis don’t get much hands-on essay writing practice. Fortunately, there are several easy-to-learn principles that make writing excellent essays much easier. 

Here are some common questions that people ask me about essays.

How did you learn to write argument essays?

I got a lot of practice in my 11th-grade social studies class. All year, we never faced regular tests, only essay exams. I probably wrote 8 or 10 essays that year and prepared to write three times as many. That gave me a lot of practice with the concise five-paragraph essay: introduction, three body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

That model works well with short articles. But I’ve found that the same writing concepts help with longer articles, journal articles, and even whole books (and also with presentations .) My PhD dissertation, which eventually became a published book, is nothing more than a whole lot of five- , six- , and seven-paragraph essays woven together into nine chapters. 

What is the best way to start an opinion essay?

The first one or two paragraphs are crucial. With short articles, such as an opinion article for the newspaper, I often read just one or two paragraphs and then ask myself, “Is it worth reading this article?” I’m busy and picky. If I can’t tell what the essay is about, or if I think it’s saying something obvious or not new, or if I think the author is not careful with words, I give up partway and move to another article.

Do you start with your main point right away?

That is one effective approach, either right away or at the end of a paragraph that introduces the main topic. In fact, that’s the classic way to start a short argumentative essay such as an op-ed article — with an intro paragraph highlighting the main argument. 

The US military has a term for this: BLUF, or Bottom Line Up Front. Putting the main argument — what you are trying to prove — early makes it much easier for readers. One of the most common mistakes in newspaper op-ed articles is to not make the argument clear early on. Similarly, in an academic article, a big blunder is to jump to the evidence without setting up the question and clarifying the overall argument in an introductory paragraph. For both, I recommend summarizing the main point in a single crystal-clear sentence such as “While X and Y have argued Z, I will argue A and B.”

What about a hook?

I also often start an essay with a ‘hook’ — something to pull in readers — usually an interesting story or a startling statistic or really engaging quotation. But if I do, I’m careful to be concise. Tell your story quickly and clearly, then give the essay’s main topic and your main argument. There’s nothing worse than a long-winded opening to an essay that attempts to be interesting but fails because it doesn’t get to the topic or main argument quickly enough. Unless you are an exceptionally skilled storyteller, hooks must be very clear and very quick. Readers want to know where they are going.

Some people suggest ending the essay similarly to the way you start. What do you think?

That’s effective and easy to do. You can start a personal essay for a college or graduate essay about some life-altering, near-fatal experience you had, move on to other topics in the middle of the essay, and then in the essay’s last sentences, quickly remind readers of the life-altering, near-fatal story again. Doing this can be very powerful. It brings things full circle. It shows how far we’ve come in the essay. It feels elegant. That’s why you see the method often. It works well in op-eds too. 

This long-form opinion piece by Sarita Pariyar uses this technique very well: ‘ The old weight of caste ’. 

For another example in a long essay, see how I start and end my 5,000-word essay in Nepali Times , ‘ The monsoon, and nature’s arithmetic ’.

This easy and effective writing technique shows a defining feature of essays — that the material in them “holds together.” Everything — the beginning, middle, and end — is somehow connected to a single question or theme. The fancy name for this is ‘coherence’. An essay is not a list — a loosely connected collection of info — but a more focused set of interlinked facts, info, and opinion. The key concept is interconnection. Starting and ending with the same story or theme shows this concept well. 

Ok, you’ve got us through the introduction. What then?

Next come body paragraphs or body sections. Generally two-to-four of each but sometimes more. Here, my advice is short paragraphs with the main point at the beginning. A new paragraph signals to readers that a new idea is coming. Don’t keep them guessing what it is. Bottom Line Up Front. BLUF.

When you say short, how short do you mean?  

One-to-four sentences for newspaper articles. A little longer for academic writing. Most academic articles have paragraphs that are way too long. Most readers get lost or bored or both. Nothing helped my writing more than learning to write focused paragraphs. One paragraph equals one idea.

How do you order the body paragraphs?

Generally, either thematically or chronologically. Follow the same order as in the introduction — or fix the introduction so it mimics the order of paragraphs. That makes it much easier for readers. Otherwise, it’s like light switches that don’t align with the lights they turn on — it’s counterintuitive and confusing. 

The key thing is that there needs to be a logical order and you need to show it to the readers. If your structure is logical but the readers can’t actually see the logic, that’s not very helpful. You want to build your argument, step by step. It’s often effective to use numbers to organize your paragraphs. 

I hear you have a good metaphor for thinking about the essay writer’s role. 

I find it helpful to think about an essay as a journey or trip for the readers. Readers start in one location and move to three or four other places. Then they arrive at a final location. 

Your job, as author, is to be the tour guide. At the beginning, explain where you are going and why. That’s the essay’s introduction. Why should readers care? Then actually take them to several locations and explain what they should be looking at and why. Each stopping point is a body paragraph. Make sure readers don’t get lost. Make sure they know what they are looking at. 

The best tour guides know where readers might get confused and so they make the right path very clear. But once readers know where they are, the best tour guides get out of the way, so as not to distract from or block what’s important. 

At the end of the trip, the tour guide helps readers make sense of the trip, to find meaning in what they saw. That’s the essay’s conclusion. After a journey, it is often useful to look back to where you started and remind readers of what you talked about at the beginning of the journey, and each step of the way. 

What is your approach to transitions?

The most effective transitions involve no special transition words. Instead, they rely upon logic that is so clear that even without help readers can easily see the necessary jumps from topic to topic. Sometimes all they need is the paragraph break that says ‘Hey reader, here comes a new idea’.

But, and this is crucial, especially when there’s a change in time or place or argument, readers need more help. The best transitions provide clarity about the new context and do so quickly: “In nineteenth century France, …” Or, “In India in the 1970s,…” What a great transition! Clear and quick, right at the beginning. Along these lines, I love using the word “but” or “yet” at a paragraph’s beginning as a signpost. One short word says so much.

How do you make an essay interesting? How do you keep readers wanting to read on?

In each and every paragraph I ask myself this question. I’m always thinking about the reader and how to keep him or her interested. 

One thing that helps far more than you might realize is keeping things concise. Keep paragraphs short and focused. Cut the unnecessary words. Most first and second drafts are way too loooooong. [See my tips on writing concisely ‘ Less is more ’.] 

For content: Don’t state the obvious. Pay attention to what surprises you. If you find it surprising, your readers probably will too. Ask a probing question. Create a mystery or puzzle to solve. Collect startling statistics and powerful quotations. Build paragraphs around them. I often think of my essays as a trip from one juicy quotation to another, from one interesting person’s views to another. My essay is really not much more than several great quotes strung together.

One final note: It’s helpful to pay attention to what makes engaging writing engaging. I love Roy Peter Clark’s advice on this: Whenever you can’t put a book down, put it down and analyze what makes it so interesting. 

Is it ok to repeat things?

Except in one situation, repetition is boring, and deadening. Weed it out of every sentence. Adding words that don’t add much — what is called ‘wordiness’ — makes reading your sentences a chore. Inexperienced writers sometimes use two words when one is actually more powerful. Same for sentences. In some drafts, I cut every other sentence because all they do is repeat the previous sentences.

The exception is when you’ve gone on for a while and readers might get confused by all the details and lose track of the larger argument. In those moments, a little repetition from the author — Hey forgetful reader, again, here’s why this long story is so important — can be a lifesaver. I think of this as ‘strategic repetition’. The best writers can do this orienting, reminding work with just a word or two or quick list. 

When you sit down to write, do you actually write the way you describe here? Do you really write that way?  

No, not at all. What I describe here is how I re-write and re-re-write. When I write, I often have a rough outline, a narrative arc, and several juicy quotes and startling statistics in mind. I turn each quotation or two into a paragraph, then decide the most logical order. Often, it’s not until the end that I realize my overall argument — often, it comes out most clearly in the last few paragraphs. And only then do I go back and write my introduction, making sure my topic and my main argument is clear from the beginning. I usually can’t write that introduction until I’ve done at least a first draft.

After a draft is complete I look at everything I’ve got again and again from the perspective of the imagined reader to see if it’s clear. I value clarity above all else. I make a new outline (a ‘reverse’ outline) to make sure that what I’m trying to say is clear and where I want it. I always do several drafts and, if it’s important, I always show it to someone else for feedback. 

What is your favorite tip for essays? 

I think I’ve given most of them: hook, BLUF, short paragraphs, great quotes, remember the reader, cut, cut, cut, and, of course, strategic repetition. 

How should you conclude an argument essay? 

Because newspaper articles often follow different rules than essays, they often end with a reminder or gesture toward the article’s main point but try to end with a bang — what they call a ‘kicker’ — a powerful quotation or witty line. 

But classic essays, op-ed articles, and academic articles need to spotlight the argument. In the conclusion, the main goal is to clearly re-iterate the main argument and show how things fit together. You don’t want readers to leave the article with some confusion about exactly what your main point is. That is the biggest possible blunder.

In my view, with the conclusion, it’s much better to be clear even if a little repetitive. That’s much better than being elegant but confusing. That said, there are ways to remind of your main argument and its importance in artful, elegant, memorable ways.

I recommend studying how authors end their articles and essays in different contexts. Collect and study the best strategies for ending effectively. 

Resources and links

• See Mitho Lekhai Youtube video: Easy Excellent Essays ( Full and Short versions)
• See Mitho Lekhai Youtube video: Juicy Wild Dogs (Analysis of an excellent article)
• ‘ Man’s Best Friend ’ (Sample 5-paragraph essay)
• Macalester College one-minute videos on writing

Recommended Essays

• Sarita Pariyar, ‘ The media’s portrayal of Dalits is incomplete ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2020. 
• Sujeev Shakya, ‘ Change begins at home: The way the government functions is a reflection on Nepali society ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2020. 
• Kunti Adhikary, ‘ Multiple realities ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2018.
• Shradha Ghale, ‘ Men in green ’, The Kathmandu Post , 2018. 
• Prashanta Khanal, ‘ Rethinking Kathmandu ’, The Record , 2020.
• Deepak Thapa, ‘ The eternal dream of self-government ’, The Kathmandu Post, 2020.

Footnote. This article was first published as part of a book.

Tom Robertson  Tom Robertson, PhD, is an environmental historian who writes about Kathmandu and Nepali history. His Nepali-language video series on writing, 'Mitho Lekhai', is available on Youtube. His most recent article, 'No smoke without fire in Kathmandu’, appeared on March 5 in Nepali Times.

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51+ Nepali Essay Topics Lists | Nibandha Topics

Hello Dear Students, Are you searching for Nepali Essay Topics to write an essay and submit to your teacher? If so, you are in the right place. You can scroll below to list the Nepali Essay or Nibadha Topics Lists.

An essay can be short or long. It depends on the level of the student. A lower-level student is asked short and a higher-level student is asked for long essays. Essay writing skill helps the teacher to measure a student’s writing skill of a student.

Basically, there are three parts to an essay introduction, body, and conclusion. In the first introduction part, a student needs to write a basic introduction about an essay topic, explain detail in the body part, then write a summary and suggestions in the last conclusion part.

Lists of Nepali Essay Topics

We had tried to cover as much as possible Nepali Essay Topics in this article. We hope that you found this post helpful.

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• Countries and Their Cultures
• Culture of Nepal

Culture Name

Alternative name, orientation.

Identification. Nepal is named for the Kathmandu Valley, where the nation's founder established a capital in the late eighteenth century. Nepali culture represents a fusion of Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Mongolian influences, the result of a long history of migration, conquest, and trade.

Location and Geography. Nepal is a roughly rectangular country with an area of 147,181 square miles (381,200 square kilometers). To the south, west, and east it is bordered by Indian states; to the north lies Tibet. Nepal is home to the Himalayan Mountains, including Mount Everest. From the summit of Everest, the topography plunges to just above sea level at the Gangetic Plain on the southern border. This drop divides the country into three horizontal zones: the high mountains, the lush central hills, and the flat, arid Terai region in the south. Fast-moving, snow-fed rivers cut through the hills and mountains from north to south, carving deep valleys and steep ridges. The rugged topography has created numerous ecological niches to which different ethnic groups have adapted. Although trade has brought distinct ethnic groups into contact, the geography has created diversity in language and subsistence practices. The result is a country with over thirty-six ethnic groups and over fifty languages.

Demography. The population in 1997 was just over 22.6 million. Although infant mortality rates are extremely high, fertility rates are higher. High birth rates in rural areas have led to land shortages, forcing immigration to the Terai, where farmland is more plentiful, and to urban areas, where jobs are available. Migration into cities has led to over-crowding and pollution. The Kathmandu Valley has a population of approximately 700,000.

Linguistic Affiliation. After conquering much of the territory that constitutes modern Nepal, King Prithvi Narayan Shah (1743–1775) established Gorkhali (Nepali) as the national language. Nepali is an Indo-European language derived from Sanskrit with which it shares and most residents speak at least some Nepali, which is the medium of government, education, and most radio and television broadcasts. For many people Nepali is secondary to the language of their ethnic group or region. This situation puts certain groups at a disadvantage in terms of education and civil service positions. Since the institution of a multiparty democracy in 1990, linguistic issues have emerged as hotly debated topics.

Symbolism. The culture has many symbols from Hindu and Buddhist sources. Auspicious signs, including the ancient Hindu swastika and Shiva's trident, decorate buses, trucks, and walls. Other significant symbols are the emblems (tree, plow, sun) used to designate political parties.

Prominent among symbols for the nation as a whole are the national flower and bird, the rhododendron and danfe; the flag; the plumed crown worn by the kings; and the crossed kukhris (curved knives) of the Gurkhas, mercenary regiments that have fought for the British Army in a number of wars. Images of the current monarch and the royal family are displayed in many homes and places of business. In nationalistic rhetoric the metaphor of a garden with many different kinds of flowers is used to symbolize national unity amid cultural diversity.

History and Ethnic Relations

The birth of the nation is dated to Prithvi Narayan Shah's conquest of the Kathmandu Valley kingdoms in 1768. The expansionist reigns of Shah and his successors carved out a territory twice the size of modern Nepal. However, territorial clashes with the Chinese in the late eighteenth century and the British in the early nineteenth century pushed the borders back to their current configuration.

National Identity. To unify a geographically and culturally divided land, Shah perpetuated the culture and language of high-caste Hindus and instituted a social hierarchy in which non-Hindus as well as Hindus were ranked according to caste-based principles. Caste laws were further articulated in the National Code of 1854.

By privileging the language and culture of high-caste Hindus, the state has marginalized non-Hindu and low-caste groups. Resentment in recent years has led to the organization of ethnopolitical parties, agitation for minority rights, and talk about the formation of a separate state for Mongolian ethnic groups.

Despite ethnic unrest, Nepalis have a strong sense of national identity and pride. Sacred Hindu and Buddhist sites and the spectacular mountains draw tourists and pilgrims and give citizens a sense of importance in the world. Other natural resources, such as rivers and flora and fauna are a source of national pride.

Hindu castes and Buddhist and animist ethnic groups were historically collapsed into a single caste hierarchy. At the top are high-caste Hindus. Below them are alcohol-drinking ( matwali ) castes, which include Mongolian ethnic groups. At the bottom are untouchable Hindu castes that have traditionally performed occupations considered defiling by higher castes. The Newars of the Kathmandu Valley have a caste system that has been absorbed into the national caste hierarchy.

Historically, members of the highest castes have owned the majority of land and enjoyed the greatest political and economic privileges. Members of lower castes have been excluded from political representation and economic opportunities. The untouchable castes were not permitted to own land, and their civil liberties were circumscribed by law. Caste discrimination is officially illegal but has not disappeared. In 1991, 80 percent of positions in the civil service, army, and police were occupied by members of the two highest castes.

Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space

Nepal historically was one of the least urbanized countries in the world, but urbanization is accelerating, especially in the capital, and urban sprawl and pollution have become serious problems. Kathmandu and the neighboring cities of Patan and Bhaktapur are known for pagoda-style and shikhara temples, Buddhist stupas, palaces, and multistory brick houses with elaborately carved wooden door frames and screened windows. Although the largest and most famous buildings are well maintained, many smaller temples and older residential buildings are falling into disrepair.

At the height of British rule in India, the Rana rulers incorporated Western architectural styles into palaces and public buildings. Rana palaces convey a sense of grandeur and clear separation from the peasantry. The current king's palace's scale and fortress-like quality illustrate the distance between king and commoner.

Rural architecture is generally very simple, reflecting the building styles of different caste and ethnic groups, the materials available, and the climate. Rural houses generally have one or two stories and are made of mud brick with a thatched roof. Village houses tend to be clustered in river valleys or along ridge tops.

Food and Economy

Food in Daily Life. Many Nepalis do not feel that they have eaten a real meal unless it has included a sizable helping of rice. Most residents eat a large rice meal twice a day, usually at midmorning and in the early evening. Rice generally is served with dal, a lentil dish, and tarkari, a cooked vegetable. Often, the meal includes a pickle achar, made of a fruit or vegetable. In poorer and higher-altitude areas, where rice is scarce, the staple is dhiro, a thick mush made of corn or millet. In areas where wheat is plentiful, rice may be supplemented by flat bread, roti. Most families eat from individual plates while seated on the floor. Though some urbanites use Western utensils, it is more common to eat with the hands.

Conventions regarding eating and drinking are tied to caste. Orthodox high-caste Hindus are strictly vegetarian and do not drink alcohol. Other castes may drink alcohol and eat pork and even beef. Traditionally, caste rules also dictate who may eat with or accept food from whom. Members of the higher castes were particularly reluctant to eat food prepared by strangers. Consequently, eating out has not been a major part of the culture. However, caste rules are relaxing to suit the modern world, and the tourist economy is making restaurants a common feature of urban life.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. At weddings and other important life-cycle events, feasts are generally hosted by the families directly involved, and numerous guests are invited. At such occasions, it is customary to seat guests on woven grass mats on the ground outside one's home, often in lines separating castes and honoring people of high status. Food is served on leaf plates, which can be easily disposed of. These customs, however, like most others, vary by caste-ethnic groups, and are changing rapidly to suit modern tastes.

Basic Economy. The large majority of the people are subsistence farmers who grow rice, maize, millet, barley, wheat, and vegetables. At low altitudes, agriculture is the principal means of subsistence, while at higher altitudes agropastoralism prevails. Many households maintain chickens and goats. However, few families own more than a small number of cows, water buffalo, or yaks because the mountainous topography does not provide grazing land for large animals.

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. This poverty can be attributed to scarce natural resources, a difficult terrain, landlocked geography, and a weak infrastructure but also to feudal land tenure systems, government corruption, and the ineffectiveness of development efforts. Foreign aid rarely goes to the neediest sectors of the population but is concentrate in urban areas, providing jobs for the urban middle class. The name of the national currency is rupee.

Land Tenure and Property. Historically, a handful of landlords held most agricultural land. Civil servants often were paid in land grants, governing their land on an absentee basis and collecting taxes from tenant-farming peasants. Since the 1950s, efforts have been made to protect the rights of tenants, but without the redistribution of land.

Overpopulation has exacerbated land shortages. Nearly every acre of arable land has been farmed intensively. Deforestation for wood and animal fodder has created serious erosion.

Commercial Activities. The majority of commercial activity takes place at small, family-owned shops or in the stalls of sidewalk vendors. With the exception of locally grown fruits and vegetables, many products are imported from India and, to a lesser extent, China and the West. Jute, sugar, cigarettes, beer, matches, shoes, chemicals, cement, and bricks are produced locally. Carpet and garment manufacturing has increased significantly, providing foreign exchange. Since the late 1950s, tourism has increased rapidly; trekking, mountaineering, white-water rafting, and canoeing have drawn tourists from the West and other parts of Asia. The tourism industry has sparked the commercial production of crafts and souvenirs and created a number of service positions, such as trekking guides and porters. Tourism also has fueled the black market, where drugs are sold and foreign currency is exchanged.

Major Industries. There was no industrial development until the middle of the twentieth century. Much of earliest industrial development was accomplished with the help of private entrepreneurs from India and foreign aid from the Soviet Union, China, and the West. Early development focused on the use of jute, sugar, and tea; modern industries include the manufacturing of brick, tile, and construction materials; paper making; grain processing; vegetable oil extraction; sugar refining; and the brewing of beer.

Trade. Nepal is heavily dependent on trade from India and China. The large majority of imported goods pass through India. Transportation of goods is limited by the terrain. Although roads connect many major commercial centers, in much of the country goods are transported by porters and pack animals. The few roads are difficult to maintain and subject to landslides and flooding. Railroads in the southern flatlands connect many Terai cities to commercial centers in India but do not extend into the hills. Nepal's export goods include carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute, and grain. Tourism is another primary export commodity. Imports include gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, and fertilizers.

Division of Labor. Historically, caste was loosely correlated with occupational specialization. Tailors, smiths, and cobblers were the lowest, untouchable castes, and priests and warriors were the two highest Hindu castes. However, the large majority of people are farmers, an occupation that is not caste-specific.

Social Stratification

Classes and Castes. Historically, caste and class status paralleled each other, with the highest castes having the most land, capital, and political influence. The lowest castes could not own property or receive an education. Although caste distinctions are no longer supported by law, caste relations have shaped present-day social stratification: Untouchables continue to be the poorest sector of society, while the upper castes tend to be wealthy and politically dominant. While land is still the principal measure of wealth, some castes that specialize in trade and commerce have fared better under modern capitalism than have landowning castes. Changes in the economic and political system have opened some opportunities for members of historically disadvantaged castes.

Political Life

Government. The Shah dynasty has ruled the country since its unification, except during the Rana period from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. During the Rana administration, the Shah monarchs were stripped of power and the country was ruled by a series of prime ministers from the Rana noble family. In 1950, the Shah kings were restored to the throne and a constitutional monarchy was established that eventually took the form of the panchayat system. Under this system, political parties were illegal and the country was governed by local and national assemblies controlled by the palace. In 1990, the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (People's Movement) initiated a series of popular demonstrations for democratic reforms, eventually forcing the king to abolish the panchayat system and institute a multiparty democracy.

The country is divided administratively into fourteen zones and seventy-five districts. Local and district-level administers answer to national ministries that are guided by policies set by a bicameral legislature made up of a House of Representatives and a National Council. The majority party in the House of Representatives appoints the prime minister. The executive branch consists of the king and the Council of Ministers.

Leadership and Political Officials. The government is plagued by corruption, and officials often rely on bribes to supplement their income. It is widely believed that influence and employment in government are achieved through personal and family connections. The king is viewed with ambivalence. He and his family have been criticized for corruption and political repression, but photos of the royal family are a popular symbol of national identity and many people think of the king as the living embodiment of the nation and an avatar of the god Vishnu.

Social Problems and Control. International attention has focused on the plight of girls who have been lured or abducted from villages to work as prostitutes in Indian cities and child laborers in carpet factories. Prostitution has increased the spread of AIDS. Foreign boycotts of Nepali carpets have helped curb the use of child labor but have not addressed the larger social problems that force children to become family wage earners.

Military Activity. The military is small and poorly equipped. Its primary purpose is to reinforce the police in maintaining domestic stability. Some Royal Nepal Army personnel have served in United Nations peacekeeping forces. A number of Nepalis, particularly of the hill ethnic groups, have served in Gurkha regiments. To many villagers, service in the British Army represents a significant economic opportunity, and in some areas soldiers' remittances support the local economy.

Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations

Aid organizations are involved in health care, family planning, community development, literacy, women's rights, and economic development for low castes and tribal groups. However, many projects are initiated without an understanding of the physical and cultural environment and serve the interests of foreign companies and local elites.

Gender Roles and Statuses

Division of Labor by Gender. Only men plow, while fetching water is generally considered women's work. Women cook, care for children, wash clothes, and collect firewood and fodder. Men perform the heavier agricultural tasks and often engage in trade, portering, and other work outside the village. Both men and women perform physically demanding labor, but women tend to work longer hours, have less free time, and die younger. In urban areas, men are far more likely to work outside the home. Increasingly, educational opportunities are available to both men and women, and there are women in professional positions. Women also frequently work in family businesses as shopkeepers and seamstresses.

Children and older people are a valuable source of household labor. In rural families, young children collect firewood, mind animals, and watch younger children. Older people may serve on village councils. In urban areas and larger towns, children attend school; rural children may or may not, depending on the proximity of schools, the availability of teachers, and the work required of them at home.

The Relative Status of Women and Men. Women often describe themselves as "the lower caste" in relation to men and generally occupy a subordinate social position. However, the freedoms and opportunities available to women vary widely by ethnic group and caste. Women of the highest castes have their public mobility constrained, for their reputation is critical to family and caste honor. Women of lower castes and classes often play a larger wage-earning role, have greater mobility, and are more outspoken around men. Gender roles are slowly shifting in urban areas, where greater numbers of women are receiving an education and joining the work force.

Marriage, Family, and Kinship

Hindu castes do not generally approve of cross-cousin marriage, which is preferred among some Mongolian ethnic groups. Among some groups, a brideprice substitutes for a dowry. In others, clan exogamy is an important feature of marriages. Until recently, polygyny was legal and relatively common. Now it is illegal and found only in the older generation and in remote areas. Child marriages were considered especially auspicious, and while they continue to be practiced in rural areas, they are now prohibited by law. Love marriage is gaining in popularity in the cities, where romantic films and music inform popular sentiment and the economy offers younger people economic independence from the extended family.

Domestic Unit. Among landholding Hindu castes, a high value is placed on joint family arrangements in which the sons of a household, along with their parents, wives, and children, live together, sharing resources and expenses. Within the household, the old have authority over the young, and men over women. Typically, new daughters-in-law occupy the lowest position. Until a new bride has produced children, she is subject to the hardest work and often the harshest criticism in her husband's household. Older women, often wield a great deal of influence within the household.

The emphasis in joint families is on filial loyalty and agnatic solidarity over individualism. In urban areas, an increasing number of couples are opting for nuclear family arrangements.

Inheritance. Fathers are legally obligated to leave equal portions of land to each son. Daughters do not inherit paternal property unless they remain unmarried past age thirty-five. Although ideally sons manage their father's land together as part of a joint family, familial land tends to be divided, with holdings diminishing in every generation.

Kin Groups. Patrilineal kin groups form the nucleus of households, function as corporate units, and determine inheritance patterns. A man belongs permanently to the kinship group of his father, while a woman changes membership from her natal kin group to the kin group of her husband at the time of marriage. Because family connections are critical in providing access to political influence and economic opportunities, marriage alliances are planned carefully to expand kinship networks and strengthen social ties. Although women join the husband's household, they maintain emotional ties and contact with their families. If a woman is mistreated in her husband's household, she may escape to her father's house or receive support from her male kin. Consequently, women often prefer to marry men from the same villages.

Socialization

Infant Care. Infants are carried on the mothers' back, held by a shawl tied tightly across her chest. Babies are breast-fed on demand, and sleep with their mothers until they are displaced by a new baby or are old enough to share a bed with siblings. Infants and small children often wear amulets and bracelets to protect them from supernatural forces. Parents sometimes line a baby's eyes with kohl to prevent eye infections.

Child Rearing and Education. Mothers are the primary providers of child care, but children also are cared for and socialized by older siblings, cousins, and grandparents. Often children as young as five or six mind younger children. Neighbors are entitled to cuddle, instruct, and discipline children, who are in turn expected to obey and defer to senior members of the family and community. Children address their elders by using the honorific form of Nepali, while adults speak to children using more familiar language. Because authority in households depends on seniority, the relative ages of siblings is important and children are often addressed by birth order.

Certain household rituals mark key stages in child's development, including the first taste of rice and the first haircut. When a girl reaches puberty, she goes through a period of seclusion in which she is prohibited from seeing male family members. Although she may receive special foods and is not expected to work, the experience is an acknowledgment of the pollution associated with female sexuality and reproductivity.

From an early age, children are expected to contribute labor to the household. The law entitles both girls and boys to schooling; however, if a family needs help at home or cannot spare the money for uniforms, books, and school fees, only the sons are sent to school. It is believed that education is wasted on girls, who will marry and take their wage-earning abilities to another household. Boys marry and stay at home, and their education is considered a wise investment.

The customary greeting is to press one's palms together in front of the chest and say namaste ("I greet the god within you"). Men in urban areas have adopted the custom of shaking hands. In the mainstream culture, physical contact between the sexes is not appropriate in public. Although men may be openly affectionate with men and women with women, even married couples do not demonstrate physical affection in public. Some ethnic groups permit more open contact between the sexes.

Hospitality is essential. Guests are always offered food and are not permitted to help with food preparation or cleaning after a meal. It is polite to eat with only the right hand; the hand used to eat food must not touch anything else until it has been thoroughly washed, for saliva is considered defiling. When drinking from a common water vessel, people do not touch the rim to their lips. It is insulting to hit someone with a shoe or sandal, point the soles of one's feet at someone, and step over a person.

Religious Beliefs. Eighty-six percent of Nepalis are Hindus, 8 percent are Buddhists, 4 percent are Muslims, and just over 1 percent are Christians. On a day-to-day level, Hindus practice their religion by "doing puja, " making offerings and prayers to particular deities. While certain days and occasions are designated as auspicious, this form of worship can be performed at any time.

Buddhism is practiced in the Theravadan form. There are two primary Buddhist traditions: the Buddhism of Tibetan refugees and high-altitude ethnic groups with cultural roots in Tibet and the Tantric form practiced by Newars.

There is a strong animistic and shamanic tradition. Belief in ghosts, spirits, and witchcraft is widespread, especially in rural areas. Spiteful witches, hungry ghosts, and angry spirits are thought to inflict illness and misfortune. Shamans mediate between the human and supernatural realms to discover the cause of illness and recommend treatment.

Religious Practitioners. Many forms of Hindu worship do not require the mediation of a priest. At key rites of passage such as weddings and funerals, Brahmin priests read Vedic scriptures and ensure the correct performance of rituals. At temples, priests care for religious icons, which are believed to contain the essence of the deities they represent. They are responsible for ensuring the purity of the temple and overseeing elaborate pujas.

Buddhist monasteries train young initiates in philosophy and meditation. Lay followers gain religious merit by making financial contributions to monasteries, where religious rites are performed on behalf of the general population. Within Buddhism there is a clerical hierarchy, with highly esteemed lamas occupying the positions of greatest influence. Monks and nuns of all ranks shave their heads, wear maroon robes, and embrace a life of celibacy and religious observance.

Rituals and Holy Places. Nepal occupies a special place in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. According to Hindu mythology, the Himalayas are the abode of the gods, and are specifically associated with Shiva, one of the three principal Hindu deities. Pashupatinath, a large Shiva temple in Kathmandu, is among the holiest sites in Nepal and attracts Hindu pilgrims from all over South Asia. Pashupatinath is only one of thousands of temples and shrines scattered throughout Nepal, however. In the Kathmandu Valley alone, there are hundreds of such shrines, large and small, in which the major gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon, as well as local and minor divinities, are worshiped. Many of these shrines are constructed near rivers or at the base of pipal trees, which are themselves considered sacred. For Buddhists, Nepal is significant as the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It is also home to a number of important Buddhist monasteries and supas, including Boudha and Swayambhu, whose domeshaped architecture and painted all-seeing eyes have become symbols of the Kathamandu Valley.

Death and the Afterlife. Hindus and Buddhists believe in reincarnation. An individual's meritorious actions in life will grant him or her a higher rebirth. In both religions the immediate goal is to live virtuously in order to move progressively through higher births and higher states of consciousness. Ultimately, the goal is to attain enlightenment, stopping the cycle of rebirth.

In the Hindu tradition, the dead are cremated, preferably on the banks of a river. It is customary for a son to perform the funeral rites. Some Buddhists also cremate bodies. Others perform what are called "sky burials," in which corpses are cut up and left at sacred sites for vultures to carry away.

Medicine and Health Care

Infant mortality is high, respiratory and intestinal diseases are endemic, and malnutrition is widespread in a country where life expectancy is fifty-seven years. Contributing to this situation are poverty, poor hygiene, and lack of health care. There are hospitals only in urban areas, and they are poorly equipped and unhygienic. Rural health clinics often lack personnel, equipment, and medicines. Western biomedical practices have social prestige, but many poor people cannot afford this type of health care. Many people consult shamans and other religious practitioners. Others look to Ayurvedic medicine, in which illness is thought to be caused by imbalances in the bodily humors. Treatment involves correcting these imbalances, principally through diet. Nepalis combine Ayurvedic, shamanic, biomedical, and other systems.

Although health conditions are poor, malaria has been eradicated. Development efforts have focused on immunization, birth control, and basic medical care. However, the success of all such projects seems to correlate with the education levels of women, which are extremely low.

The Arts and Humanities

Graphic Arts. Much of Nepali art is religious. Newari artisans create cast-bronze statuary of Buddhist and Hindu deities as well as intricately painted tangkas that describe Buddhist cosmology. The creation and contemplation of such art constitutes a religious act.

Performance Arts. Dramatic productions often focus on religious themes drawn from Hindu epics, although political satire and other comedic forms are also popular. There is a rich musical heritage, with a number of distinctive instruments and vocal styles, and music has become an marker of identity for the younger generation. Older people prefer folk and religious music; younger people, especially in urban areas, are attracted to romantic and experimental film music as well as fusions of Western and Asian genres.

The State of the Physical and Social Sciences

Universities are underfunded, faculties are poorly paid, and library resources are meager. Nepalis accord less respect to degrees from universities than to degrees obtained abroad and many scholars seek opportunities to study overseas or in India. Despite these limitations, some fine scholarship has emerged, particularly in the social sciences. In the post-1990 period, political reforms have permitted a more open and critical intellectual environment.

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Since the very first call Thomas replied prompt and without any delays. He organised a pre-sale survey as well as haul-out / external hull survey of the yacht. When we arrived from Johannesburg everything was in place and Thomas handled all the paperwork, very professional. He even helped offloading the old life raft, took it in his own vehicle to get a quote for servicing, collected, delivered it for a second opinion… all on his own expense. Nothing we asked extra was too much. This was certainly a very good boat buying experience and we can recommend Thomas / Yacht & Power Sales without hesitation.

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Essay on Nepali Culture

Students are often asked to write an essay on Nepali Culture in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Nepali Culture

Introduction to nepali culture.

Nepali culture is like a beautiful garden with many kinds of flowers. It is a mix of traditions, values, and customs. This culture comes from the people of Nepal, a country in South Asia. It is known for its mountains, like Mount Everest, and its history.

Language and Religion

In Nepal, many people speak Nepali, but there are over 120 other languages too. Religion is important, with Hinduism and Buddhism being the most followed. Many festivals come from these religions, which people celebrate with joy.

Festivals and Food

Nepali festivals are colorful and full of life. Dashain and Tihar are the biggest ones. People eat special foods, play music, and enjoy dances. The food in Nepal is tasty and includes dishes like dal bhat (rice and lentils) and momo (dumplings).

Traditional Clothing

In Nepal, traditional clothes are worn with pride. Men wear a daura-suruwal and women wear a sari or kurta. These clothes are often made with bright colors and fine materials, showing the beauty of Nepali handwork.

Art and Music

Art and music are important in Nepal. Paintings and sculptures show stories of gods and daily life. The music is made with instruments like the madal and sarangi, creating tunes that are both happy and sad.

250 Words Essay on Nepali Culture

Nepali culture is like a beautiful garden with many kinds of flowers. It is rich with traditions, festivals, music, and dances. Nepal is a country in South Asia, home to the tall Mount Everest and many other mountains. The people living there come from different backgrounds and speak many languages, but they all share the culture of Nepal.

Festivals and Celebrations

One of the most important parts of Nepali culture is festivals. Dashain is the biggest festival where families come together, enjoy food, and children get gifts. Tihar, another festival, is when people light up their homes with candles and lamps. They also honor animals like crows, dogs, and cows. These festivals show how Nepalese people love family, nature, and animals.

Food in Nepal

The food of Nepal is tasty and unique. Dal Bhat, which is rice and lentil soup, is a common meal. Momos, which are like dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, are very popular too. The food is not just about eating; it is a way for families to sit together and share their day.

In Nepal, people wear special clothes that are part of their culture. Men often wear a dress called Daura-Suruwal and a cap named Dhaka Topi. Women wear beautiful long skirts called Gunyu Cholo. These clothes are not just for daily wear but also for special occasions to show respect to their culture.

In conclusion, Nepali culture is full of life, colors, and joy. It brings people together through festivals, food, and clothing. Even though it has many different parts, they all fit together to make the culture of Nepal special and interesting for everyone, especially for students learning about new places in the world.

500 Words Essay on Nepali Culture

Nepali culture is like a beautiful garden with many kinds of flowers. It is rich with traditions, art, festivals, and music. Nepal is a small country between China and India. Yet, it has a big heart filled with cultural treasures. People from different backgrounds live together in Nepal, sharing their customs and beliefs.

In Nepal, many languages are spoken. Nepali is the main language, but people also speak Maithili, Bhojpuri, and dozens of other languages. This shows how diverse the country is. Religion is a big part of life in Nepal. Most people follow Hinduism or Buddhism. The two religions mix in many ways, showing respect and peace among the people.

Nepal is known for its colorful festivals. Dashain is the biggest festival. It is a time when families come together, share food, and give blessings. Tihar, also known as the festival of lights, is another important celebration. People light up their homes and honor animals like dogs and cows. These festivals show the joy and kindness in Nepali culture.

Food and Cuisine

Food in Nepal is tasty and unique. Dal Bhat, a dish of lentils and rice, is eaten almost every day. Momos, which are dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, are a favorite snack. The food is not just about taste; it is also about bringing family and friends together to share a meal.

The clothes in Nepal are bright and beautiful. Women often wear sarees or a long skirt called a ‘gunyu cholo’. Men wear a ‘daura suruwal’, which is a shirt and trousers with a Nepali style. These clothes are worn with pride, especially during festivals and important events. They are a symbol of the Nepali way of life.

Music and Dance

Music and dance are important in Nepal. They tell stories of the land and its people. Traditional instruments like the ‘madal’ and ‘sarangi’ make music that touches the heart. Folk dances are performed during festivals. They are full of energy and smiles, showing the happiness of the Nepali spirit.

Arts and Crafts

Nepali arts and crafts are famous for their beauty. Paintings, pottery, and sculptures are made with great skill. Many of these items show scenes from religion and nature. They are not just things to look at; they are pieces of the soul of Nepal.

Nepali culture is a wonderful mix of people, traditions, and nature. It is like a colorful painting that tells a story of harmony and friendship. The culture is deep and alive, touching everyone who experiences it. It is a treasure that the people of Nepal share with the world, and it makes the country a special place full of warmth and beauty.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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What Stephen Breyer gets wrong about the Supreme Court’s ‘civility’

The public’s trust in the Supreme Court has plummeted , as the conservative supermajority decisions have already stripped Americans of rights and threaten more of the same. But in a new essay published Wednesday in The New York Times , former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer suggests a more pressing concern for the high court and the country: Are the justices friends?

For all Breyer’s anecdotes, the core of his essay is still emphasizing the humanity of justices who are more than willing to de-emphasize the humanity of others in their decisions.

Breyer suggests that differences of opinion between the justices, “important as they are,” must “remain professional, not personal.” This was the case while he was a justice, he writes, and “this meant that we could listen to one another, which increased the chances of agreement or compromise.” Such congeniality is a template for a divided nation, Breyer argues — without going into detail about the actual disagreements between the left and the right on matters like race, gun safety and voting rights.

The retired justice’s piece is filled with anecdotes about the various justices he served alongside ribbing each other and finding connection despite their policy differences. It would all be charming — if it weren’t for the obscene amounts of power those nine justices wield, no matter how chummily they do it. Instead, the sentiment of Breyer’s writing manages to combine that of a disgruntled retiree’s sepia-tinged remembrances and an overly earnest Facebook post. For all Breyer’s anecdotes, the core of his essay is still emphasizing the humanity of justices who are more than willing to de-emphasize the humanity of others in their decisions.

In a sense, this is nothing new for the former justice. It hearkens back to his former traveling debate with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a lion of the conservative originalist movement in the courts. It was their way of demonstrating that strenuous debate over the law doesn’t equate to being enemies who use political calculations in their rulings. “Judges make terrible politicians,” Breyer told a Senate hearing back in 2011 alongside Scalia, arguing that there was little room for making political calculations in their rulings. “We have to make decisions based on reason. That’s it.”

It’s a sentiment that was worthy of a side-eye even at the time, and has only gotten less convincing as the court’s composition has shifted away from the center. Placing civility and agreeability over differing views is a hallmark of the centrist line of thought, using the appearance of goodwill to disguise the depth of division between two positions. Politics is the art of being able to determine the law, and the law is the codified result of a society’s politics. That is never more the case than when decisions of vast importance before the Supreme Court are decided based almost entirely on the political considerations of the justices in the majority.

The gulf between Breyer’s hopes and reality was on display in the momentous 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade’s abortion protections.

The gulf between Breyer’s hopes and reality was on display in the momentous 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade’s abortion protections. In a Times article from this past December on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering ahead of that opinion, Breyer is described as someone who “was sometimes dismissed by other liberals as an overly optimistic institutionalist who underestimated the ambitions of the conservative majority.” It emphasized though his “strong ties with justices on the right” that he hoped could be used to find some kind of consensus on the Dobbs case.

He was deeply mistaken. Unlike the Casey decision in 1992 , there was no consensus that could be forged when the end goal — striking down Roe — was predetermined before the court had heard a single word of the oral arguments. It didn’t matter how many hockey games they’d attended together, or rounds of golf had been played among them. The callous disregard from the majority for the people its decisions affect makes it hard for Chief Justice John Roberts’ complaints about criticisms of the court to find much traction. It’s also why the recent joint appearances of Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Sonia Sotomayor to promote civil debate in the face of polarization, which Breyer’s essay praised, are sure to do little to instill greater trust in the court’s decisions.

The most generous explanation is that Breyer’s intended audience isn’t the average reader of The New York Times, but his former colleagues still serving on the bench. Even if that’s the case, I’m skeptical that reminding them of the good times they’ve shared will do much to affect the actual decisions that are made. If those pleasant memories couldn’t sway his conservative colleagues when Breyer was actually voting on opinions, there’s little reason for them to listen to him now.

Hayes Brown is a writer and editor for MSNBC Daily, where he helps frame the news of the day for readers. He was previously at BuzzFeed News and holds a degree in international relations from Michigan State University.

Opinion Christine Blasey Ford is no hero, if justice is the measure

An earlier version of this column misspelled the name of Mollie Hemingway. This version has been corrected.

Christine Blasey Ford is promoting her new memoir to acclaim from certain quarters, including a glowing review by the New York Times. Meanwhile, the man she accused of being a witness to her alleged sexual assault by now-Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh more than 40 years ago can’t get his own book reviewed or even mentioned by mainstream newspapers.

You know me. I can’t resist flipping over a cow patty to see what’s underneath.

Ford, you’ll recall, is the California psychologist with two front doors in her house who, in testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2018, accused Kavanaugh of assaulting her at a high-school-era party while another boy, Mark Judge, allegedly stood by. Judge, who kept his distance and silence during Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings — in part, he has said , to avoid further harassment by Democratic interlocutors — released his own version of those events and the aftermath in “ The Devil’s Triangle: Mark Judge vs the New American Stasi ” (2022).

As with Kavanaugh, Ford’s accusation against Judge was embraced by most of the news media despite an absence of evidence or corroborating testimony. No one who was supposed to have been at the party where Ford was allegedly assaulted remembered it, or her. Ford herself was unable to nail down the year the party took place (but settled on 1982 after several stabs) or where it was held, how she got there, how she got home or any other details, except that she herself had consumed just one beer, according to her testimony. Her claims against Kavanaugh ultimately were unsubstantiated.

Even so, the awards and accolades for Ford keep coming. During a recent appearance on “The View,” she was nearly sanctified for her “bravery.” Not one of the “View” chin-wags seemed to have done any research. They merely checked the box next to “female” and continued to hold in contempt the male who became a Supreme Court justice. Whoopi Goldberg summed it up: “To face those people the way they were looking and dealing with you, that is bravery under a whole different kind of fire.”

A fair-minded person would also wonder what it was like to be in Kavanaugh’s seat.

And what about Judge? “Roadkill” is the way constitutional lawyer Jonathan Turley described Judge’s invisible role in this tale. Of course, Judge and Kavanaugh were and are distinct people whose adult lives could not be more different. Kavanaugh was the kind of boy who kept a detailed calendar of his busy activities and who had a stellar career as a federal judge.

Judge, who chronicled his heavy-drinking school days in his 1997 book, “ Wasted: Tales of a Gen X Drunk ,” was a teenage alcoholic who had to claw his way to sobriety and suffered accordingly. He told Martha MacCallum during a recent Fox News interview that the effects of being essentially locked in a stockade for public ridicule and condemnation included “suicidal ideation” and “economic issues.”

Under interrogation by Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kavanaugh was forced to review his youthful beer consumption, which he admitted was gustatory. He wasn’t alone; Ford was a drinker, too, according to friends and outlined in the deeply researched book “ Justice on Trial ” by Mollie Hemingway and Carrie Severino.

In my own research for a book that never came to fruition, I also learned that Ford was a party girl, which means she and I would have been friends. Her real “best friend” at the time, Leland Keyser, was known as her designated driver in those days, according to several of her friends cited in yet another book, “ The Education of Brett Kavanaugh ” by New York Times writers Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly.

A straight-A student and athlete who became a professional golfer, Keyser had her driver’s license at the time of the alleged assault.

Keyser, who felt pressured by Ford’s supporters to confirm Ford’s story, testified to the FBI that she had no recollection of any such party and didn’t know Kavanaugh.

When intimidation didn’t work, Ford and her friends implied that Keyser’s testimony couldn’t be trusted because she had “significant health challenges,” as Ford put it during her testimony. It didn’t take long for the meaning here to become public. Keyser had at one point become addicted to painkillers prescribed for golf-related back and neck injuries. She has suffered years of surgeries and pain that continues today, thanks to her commitment to recovery. No meds. She also has had to cope with the psychological effects of her persecution by the anti-Kavanaugh brigade. At least one person from Team Ford tried to persuade her to adjust her story. She refused.

Meanwhile, after five years of silence, Judge has emerged from his bunker with both barrels blazing. One can stand only so much smearing. He was, after all, accused in the public arena of variously urging Kavanaugh on or trying to stop him, all the while laughing, according to Ford. Like Kavanaugh, Judge was presumed guilty — a tragic by-product of the “believe the woman” orthodoxy that emerged during the #MeToo movement — and justly wants to have his say.

It takes guts to try to breach the #MeToo iron curtain, as Judge is attempting to do. It takes no courage at all to enrich yourself at other people’s expense, as Ford has done. Even if she believes her own story or suffered some traumatic event at some time, in the absence of evidence or corroboration, a measure of doubt is called for. This doesn’t necessarily mean she lied, as Hemingway and Severino have noted.

Both Judge and Keyser, it seems, deserve the applause Ford is receiving for perpetuating a questionable history that has damaged so many people, not to mention the judicial system she says she has sought to protect. We know the truth is otherwise, thanks to a video capture of Ford’s lawyer, Debra Katz, saying that her client wanted to block Kavanaugh because of fears he would vote to reverse Roe v. Wade . Ford’s fears might have been justified, but her tactics — which have netted her $1 million in donations plus overnights at Oprah’s — were not.

Nothing good grows under a cow patty, but Ford sure did step in one.

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Texas' immigration law is being challenged in court amid racial profiling concerns

Adrian Florido

Texas' immigration law has raised fear that it'll promote racial profiling by police. The concerns evoke memories of what happened after Arizona passed its so-called "show me your papers" law in 2010.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

A federal appeals court today heard arguments over the Texas immigration enforcement law known as SB4. It empowers local law enforcement to arrest and deport people who are in the state illegally. SB4 is currently on hold while the Biden administration's legal challenge makes its way through the federal courts. Many of the measure's critics worry that, if it takes effect, it will lead to rampant racial profiling by police. It all sounds very similar to a battle over a law that Arizona passed in 2010 which made it a crime to be undocumented in the state and required police to check the status of people they suspected. NPR's Adrian Florido has this look-back.

ADRIAN FLORIDO, BYLINE: When Arizona's SB1070 was passed in 2010, Reyna Montoya was a college student, undocumented, living with her parents. And the so-called show me your papers law had them in constant fear.

REYNA MONTOYA: My mom, for example, didn't allow me to go to the movie theaters with my friends, and she said that it was better to be cautious and to be safe than sorry.

FLORIDO: When she did go out, avoiding the police became vital.

MONTOYA: Whenever I would get to a stop sign, I started counting five Mississippis very slowly. So I just remember that my hands would start sweating, and I would be extra cautious to ensure that I wouldn't get in any type of encounter with law enforcement.

FLORIDO: Latinos and immigrants like Montoya knew that just the way they looked or spoke could give police a reason to suspect they were undocumented. The law even put Native Americans on alert, along with other U.S. citizens. Mario Carrillo, who's Mexican American, remembers that, when he took a road trip to Tucson from his home in Texas, he made sure to pack his U.S. passport.

MARIO CARRILLO: I can tell you for a fact that if SB1070 had not been put into law right around that time - that I would not have taken my passport. I wouldn't have felt the need to take it.

FLORIDO: As it turned out, he says that, once in Arizona, he was pulled over by a Border Patrol agent who asked if he was a U.S. citizen and who took his passport back to his patrol truck to verify it.

CARRILLO: I'm sure if I had been blond, blue-eyed, you know, I doubt that that same question would have come up.

FLORIDO: Just like the federal government is challenging Texas' law today, it also challenged Arizona's on the grounds that immigration enforcement was a federal responsibility. But a coalition of civil rights groups filed a separate lawsuit in Arizona on different legal grounds. Nicholas Espiritu is one of the attorneys who litigated that case. He's with the National Immigration Law Center. And he says the goal of the lawsuit was to show that SB1070 would have racist outcomes and that it was written with racist intent.

NICHOLAS ESPIRITU: We also wanted to highlight that the whole law was designed in part because of a desire to discriminate against Latinos, and we presented a large amount of evidence in the record to that effect.

FLORIDO: They found emails, writings and speeches in which the law's Republican authors talked about an invasion from Mexico and used other stereotypes to talk about Latinos. Ultimately, in 2012, the Supreme Court ruled, though only on the government's challenge.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED NPR BROADCAST)

MELISSA BLOCK: To the Supreme Court now and a much-anticipated decision on Arizona's controversial immigration law.

FLORIDO: It struck down parts of the law that criminalized being in the state as an undocumented immigrant, but it upheld the section allowing police to investigate people's immigration status if they suspected they were in the country illegally. The civil rights groups spent several more years fighting that provision and eventually settled with the state's attorney general after he agreed to instruct police departments to essentially ignore that part of the law. While it remains on the books today, attorney Nicholas Espiritu says...

ESPIRITU: It can't be used as a mechanism to engage in racial profiling.

FLORIDO: Lisa Magana, a political scientist at Arizona State University, says one reason state officials threw in the towel was because of the immense public backlash. The state gained a reputation as racist. Artists and corporations boycotted.

LISA MAGANA: The state lost lots of money. The impact of boycotts and cancellations of conventions and concerts is what I think had the state rethink these types of laws.

FLORIDO: SB1070 also led many young Latinos and immigrants to activism. That wave of organizing helped turn Republican Arizona into the battleground state it is today. Reyna Montoya, who used to count to five at stop signs, founded a nonprofit called Aliento that helps young undocumented immigrants work through trauma stemming from their status. Many were children during the years of SB1070 and remember worrying their parents might not come home. She says the recent news about Texas' immigration law...

MONTOYA: This has been very triggering and opening up old wounds.

FLORIDO: And also opening up a deep worry, she says, that police could once again get a license to racially profile people who look like them.

Adrian Florido, NPR News.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

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शिक्षाको महत्व निबन्ध | Importance of Education Essay in Nepali |

शिक्षाको महत्व.

‘शिक्षा’ भन्ने बित्तिकै स्कूल, क्याम्पस आदिमा र घरमै पनि नियमित रूपले अध्ययन गर्ने-गराउने वा पढेको बन्दोबस्त मिलाउने काम भन्ने बुझिन्छ। सिकेर, पढेर, सुनेर वा अन्य कुनै पनि प्रकारले ग्रहण गरिने सैधान्तिक तथा व्यवहारिक विषयको बोध वा ज्ञान पनि शिक्षा नै हो। ‘शिक्षाको महत्त्व’ भनेको कुनै विषयमा सिकेर पोख्त हुने इच्क्षा वा चाहनाको महत्त्व हो। शिक्षा मानव जातिको तेस्रो चम्किलो आँखा भएकोले आजको युगमा यसको निकै ठूलो महत्त्व रहेको छ। शिक्षा विना मानिस ज्ञानले अन्धो नै हुन्छ। शिक्षा आजका मान्छेको एक महत्त्वपूर्ण गहन नै भएकोले यसको महत्त्व निकै ठूलो छ।

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Days After U.N. Cease-Fire Resolution, Has Anything Changed in Gaza?

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on Monday that demands an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Here’s a closer look at where the situation stands.

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By Matthew Mpoke Bigg

• March 29, 2024

Although the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on Monday that demands an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, it remains to be seen whether ​i​t ​w​ill have a concrete effect on the war or prove merely to be a political statement.

The measure, Resolution 2728, followed three previous attempts that ​t​he United States ​had blocked. It passed by 14 votes, after the United States abstained from voting and did not employ its veto.

The resolution also calls for the unconditional release of all hostages and the end to barriers to humanitarian aid.

Israel’s government condemned the vote, and early indications are that the U.N.’s action has changed little on the ground or spurred diplomatic progress.

Days after the vote, here’s a look at what has changed and what might happen next:

Has the resolution affected fighting?

Senior Israeli officials said that they would ignore the call for a cease-fire, arguing that it was imperative to pursue the war until it has dismantled the military wing of Hamas, the militant group that led the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Since Monday, there has been no apparent shift in the military campaign . Israel’s air force continues to pound Gaza with strikes, and Hamas is still launching attacks.

Israel’s military is pressing on with a raid at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, the territory’s biggest medical facility, as well as its offensive in Khan Younis, the largest city in the south, where fighting has been fierce.

If Israel doesn’t heed the resolution, what can the U.N. do?

The Security Council has few means to enforce its resolutions. The Council can take punitive measures, imposing sanctions against violators. In the past, such measures have included travel bans, economic restrictions and arms embargoes.

In this case, however, legal experts said that any additional measure would require a new resolution and that passing it would require consent from the council’s five veto-holding members, including the United States, Israel’s staunchest ally.

There may be legal challenges as well. While the United Nations says that Security Council resolutions are considered to be international law, legal experts debate whether all resolutions are binding on member states, or only those adopted under chapter VII of the U.N. charter , which deals with threats to peace. The resolution passed on Monday did not explicitly mention Chapter VII.

U.N. officials said it was still binding on Israel, but some countries disagreed. South Korea said on Monday that the resolution was not “ explicitly coercive under Chapter VII,” but that it reflected a consensus of the international community.

Crucially, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, maintained that the resolution was nonbinding . The United States, which holds significant power on the Security Council because of its permanent seat, likely views the passage of the resolution as more a valuable political instrument than a binding order, experts said.

The U.S. abstention sends a powerful signal of its policy priorities even if, in the short term, the Security Council is unlikely to take further steps, according to Ivo H. Daalder, a former American ambassador to NATO.

“Neither Israel or Hamas is going to be swayed by a U.N. resolution,” Mr. Daalder said.

What about aid?

Israel controls the flow of aid into Gaza, and after five months of war, Gazans are facing a severe hunger crisis bordering on famine, especially in the north, according to the United Nations and residents of the territory.

Aid groups have blamed Israel, which announced a siege of the territory after Oct. 7. They say officials have impeded aid deliveries through inspections and tight restrictions.

Israel argues that it works to prevent aid reaching Hamas and says that its officials can process more aid than aid groups can distribute within the territory. Growing lawlessness in Gaza has also made the distribution of aid difficult, with some convoys ending in deadly violence.

Little has changed this week. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza on Tuesday from the two border crossings open for aid roughly matched the average daily number crossing this month, according to U.N. data. That figure, about 150 trucks per day, is nearly 70 percent less than the number before Oct. 7.

How has the resolution affected diplomacy?

Israel and Hamas appear to still be far apart on negotiations aimed at brokering a halt in fighting and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Mediators have been in Qatar to try to narrow the gaps. But late Monday, Hamas rejected Israel’s most recent counterproposal and its political leader, on a visit to Tehran this week, said the resolution showed that Israel was isolated diplomatically.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has argued that the resolution set back negotiations, emboldening Hamas to hold out for better terms.

The biggest sticking point in the cease-fire talks had recently been the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, in particular those serving extended sentences for violence against Israelis, U.S. and Israeli officials have said.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg is a correspondent covering international news. He previously worked as a reporter, editor and bureau chief for Reuters and did postings in Nairobi, Abidjan, Atlanta, Jakarta and Accra. More about Matthew Mpoke Bigg

Our Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War

News and Analysis

A deadly Israeli strike  on an aid convoy run by World Central Kitchen  in Gaza is already setting back attempts  to address a hunger crisis in the territory, with aid agencies saying they are being more cautious and at least two suspending operations.

​​The Biden administration is pressing Congress to approve a plan to  sell $18 billion worth of F-15 fighter jets to Israel , as President Biden resists calls to limit U.S. arms sales to Israel over its military offensive in Gaza.

The Israeli police clashed with antigovernment protesters  outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem, on the third day of demonstrations  calling for early elections.

Internal Roil at TikTok: TikTok has been dogged for months by accusations that its app has shown a disproportionate amount of pro-Palestinian and antisemitic content to users. Some of the same tensions  have also played out inside the company.

Palestinian Detainees: Israel has imprisoned more than 9,000 Palestinians suspected of militant activity . Rights groups say that some have been abused or held without charges.

A Hostage’s Account: Amit Soussana, an Israeli lawyer, is the first former hostage to speak publicly about being sexually assaulted  during captivity in Gaza.

A Power Vacuum: Since the start of the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has done little to address the power vacuum that would appear after Israeli forces leave Gaza. The risks of inaction are already apparent in Gaza City .