Navin Shakya

citylife

The ordinary days

You know, I’ve been thinking lately about how most of my days are just… normal. Truly, unremarkably normal. I wake up, put the kettle on, stare at my inbox, and send a…
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…
EPL in Nepali TV

Watching the EPL in Nepal hasn’t always been smooth. For years, broadcasts were handled by international channels, often with limited access. And if you were like me, sometimes stuck away from the…
Food for thought

In Nepal, the meal of dal bhat — rice with lentil soup — has long been considered a complete and nourishing food. It’s simple, satisfying, and deeply rooted in our culture. But…
Affordable tech revolution

I recently bought a counterfeit Marshall Willen Bluetooth speaker for just $10 equivalent. To my surprise, its sound quality wasn’t all that disappointing—definitely acceptable for the price I paid. But what impressed…
Annoying strikes

Look, we get it—in the democratic world you can speak up when you’re fed up. People have the right to protest, go on strike, and tell the government they’re not happy. It’s…
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…
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…