Navin Shakya

Opinions

Kumari, the living goddess

The Kumari is believed to be the incarnation of Taleju, revered as a protector of the land. The practice solidified during the Malla dynasty, particularly under King Jayaprakash Malla, who is credited…
Cash is king

Last year around this time, our city was hit by a massive flood. It turned daily life upside down, lives were lost, homes and shops were washed away, and people struggled to…
Law must not be compromised

Even the most efficient project managers find themselves entangled in layers of approvals, procedural delays, and the fear of legal backlash. They are forced to spend more time navigating paperwork than focusing…
Relegation heartbreak

There are moments in sport that stay with you forever—not always for the joy they bring, but for the quiet ache they leave behind. As a lifelong supporter who witnessed my hometown…
When a recommendation goes wrong

Ever recommended a product, film, or restaurant you loved, only to have your friend come back disappointed—or worse, annoyed? Maybe they even said, “Why did you tell me to try that? It…
Feeling like Walter Mitty

Sometimes, in the middle of an ordinary day—while reading emails or sitting in a meeting—I find my mind drifting far away. One second I’m focused on work, the next I’m trekking through…
25 April

A decade. It feels like yesterday the earth ripped open, forever changing Nepal. The 2015 Gorkha Earthquake wasn’t just about collapsing buildings; it tore into our society’s core, exposing deep fractures that…
Trolley speaker man

Almost every week, sometimes even twice, someone with a trolley speaker arrives in my neighbourhood, asking for donations to help a kidney or cancer patient—or similarly devastating illness. At first, I felt…
Sports, passion, unity

A few thousand kilometers away, Manchester United played a match at Old Trafford against Bournemouth. They lost, and honestly, it stung. For those of us living here, whether they win or lose…
Social validation

A couple of days ago, my niece, a ninth grader, broke down in tears—big, bitter tears—and locked herself in her room for two days. Why? Because her dad bought her a phone…