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“Oh no, not again! Just vegetables, no meat?” That’s what I often said to my mother when I was young. Perhaps we couldn’t afford it, or maybe the scarcity of meat and eggs was common back then. Even onions, ginger, or garlic in our meals were a rare thing. We had to wait for Dashain to savor these delicacies. Our daily sustenance consisted of what we called ‘plain’ food – daal (lentils), bhaat (rice), tarkari (vegetables), saag (leafy greens), and the indispensable chatani or achar (pickle). Now, in retrospect, I realize that we unknowingly adhered to a ‘sattvic diet’—a humble and unadulterated way of eating that has long been embraced by yogic practitioners. This diet, simple and natural in essence, is said to have numerous benefits. During my usual work in Research and Development, I came across a Sanskrit sloka: Aharasuddhau sattva-suddhih, Sattva-suddhaudhruvasmrtihidhruvasmrti-lambhesarva-granthinamvipra-moksah [Chandogya Upanishad 7.26.2]. This sloka translates to ‘From purity of food comes purity of mind, and from purity of mind comes freedom from all bondages which liberates a person. You become what you eat. Food is the matter that your mind is composed of.’ In the teachings of traditional yoga, foods are classified into three categories: ‘sattva’, ‘rajas’, and ‘tamas’. These three categories are called ‘gunas’ (characteristics) and represent the three qualities that are present in everything; including food. Sattva is considered the highest guna, representing balance and harmony. This is the ideal state. Rajas is a guna that represents activity and movement. According to Ayurveda, it’s believed too much rajas leads to stress, overstimulation, and over-excitement. Tamas is the lowest guna, representing darkness, inertia, and heaviness. Too much tamas leads to laziness, dullness, and stagnation. Sattva is the ideal state of being. So, sattvic foods are believed to promote a sattvic state—meaning they enhance clarity, harmony, and balance in the body and mind. A sattvic diet includes foods that are light, fresh, and healthy. In practice, that means eating things that are vegetarian, nutritious, fresh, and tasty. Sattvic foods are typically vegetarian and include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, legumes like lentils and chickpeas, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, coriander, honey and jaggery. Sattvic foods are typically consumed in their natural form, without being processed or refined. They are also prepared with mindfulness and positive intention. Sattvic diet is extremely nutritious as 40 percent of it includes raw vegetables and fruits usually eaten in the form of salads. This means salad should be a part of our everyday meals. Vegetables and fruits have the maximum nutrients, minerals, and fiber when eaten in the raw form. This promotes easy digestion due to fiber-rich food. Consuming it leaves you feeling satiated that will prevent you from snacking mindlessly before the next meal. ‘ According to Ayurveda, each bite of food has to be chewed 24 times before swallowing. This helps complete the absorption of nutrients from food and improves digestion. Slow chewing of food instantly boosts metabolism and is proven to reduce fat absorption as well. Sattvic foods are low in carbohydrates and calories. It’s rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Consuming natural fresh foods provides all the necessary nutrients, dietary fiber, antioxidants, proteins, minerals, and monounsaturated fats necessary for the healthy functioning of your body. If this diet is followed regularly, it boosts your body’s immunity by building a healthier immune system. There are numerous benefits of a sattvic diet for the body and mind, including increased energy and vitality, improved digestion, reduced inflammation, improved mental clarity and focus, and enhanced spiritual growth and development. However, there are some concerns regarding the sattvic diet. While the sattvic diet is generally considered safe and healthy, it might not be appropriate for everyone. For example, athletes or individuals with high energy needs might require more protein and calories than the sattvic diet provides. Additionally, those with certain medical conditions might need to modify their diet accordingly. But this diet is popular among people who practice yoga and exercise on a daily basis. Food is considered to be healthy if it brings energy and freshness to the body and mind when consumed. On the other hand, if you feel sleepy and lethargic after having food, it means that food isn’t compatible with your body. Scientists have proven that a good diet brings energy, peacefulness, and happiness to the mind and body. The sattvic diet is loaded with goodness that maintains the balance in body and mind. With a healthy body and mind, our life expectancy goes up. People who are seeking spiritual growth should follow the sattvic diet. Toxicity in the body can be seen visibly if you feel a sense of bloating, headache, skin rashes, fatigue, acne, or nausea. If you are regularly experiencing these symptoms, there is a need to change your diet and detoxify your body. And a sattvic diet can help with that. I recommend fasting once every month. Having a glass of warm water mixed with a pinch of turmeric and honey every morning removes toxins from your body. Practicing yoga or meditation along with a healthy diet also helps cleanse your body. You will notice visible changes in your body within a month of having a sattvic diet. You will wake up feeling refreshed in the morning without any tiredness and drowsiness. Your body feels light, agile, energetic, and flexible. Your mood is elevated bringing in a significant change in the productivity of your work. There are many benefits of following the sattvic diet. During this modern age, it might not seem possible to follow this diet strictly, but we can slowly incorporate it along with our regular diet. Once we reap the benefits of it, I’m sure we will be motivated to follow them regularly. It’s far better to utilize easily available resources to improve our health instead of going to doctors or nutritionists with long lists of health problems.

Preparations had been going on for quite some time on the Prime Minister’s maiden foreign visit after the assumption of high office about five months ago and desperation seemed palpable at Singhadurbar with some delays in getting a green signal from New Delhi. These preps have borne fruit with the PM finally flying off with a huge entourage on a four-day visit, at a time of deepening crises in the country and fresh attempts in Delhi to stoke up fresh territorial controversies with the unveiling of a continent size mural at the new Parliament building. In hindsight, Nepal has lost pounds of flesh while it has sought—or come under pressure—to deal with the powerful neighbor, but then learning from the past has been an alien concept for successive political leadership over the decades, regardless of its hues and shades. Indeed, some of the purported agendas of the visit have already begun ringing alarm bells in Nepal. There’s no dearth of experts, who see deals in the making over Lower Arun and Phukot Karnali as part of a long-thought-out strategy on the part of Delhi to get hold of all of Nepal’s river systems to meet a burgeoning need for water—for irrigation, potable water, fisheries and navigation—as well as power. Add to it some understanding on petro import infrastructure to ensure a smooth import of petroleum products in a country with enough hydropower potential to meet her energy needs, making Nepal’s laity wonder if these are our organic agendas. There’s no such thing called free lunch and the petro project, to be implemented in part with Indian aid, is no exception. The idea seems to be to establish India as the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal and make the country ever-reliant on imports, ruling out any future possibility of petroleum exploration and production in the country itself. This also means making Nepal’s economy run more and more on fossil fuels, whose prices are never stable, thereby ensuring a cheap export of hydropower generated in Nepal, with Indian capital and with the involvement of Indian companies, and increasing on the taxpayer the burden of running a costly, fossil fuel-powered economy. This is not written on stone, but has become a ‘tradition’ of sorts (Over the decades, we have done away with many traditions as part of our ceaseless embrace of all things modern, but then some traditions are far more sacred than others, right?). That is, Nepal PM’s first visit starts with the southern neighbor, followed by a visit to the northern one and the world beyond. Call it the state’s feeble attempt to maintain balanced ties with both the giants that have been rising steadily to global prominence even as we continue to slide further and further. The rise of the neighbors over the decades and our literal crashing on the ground from the high Himalayas shows how ineffective political systems governing a country of the rugged Himalayas, verdant hills, alluvial plains and perennial rivers has been when it comes to navigating the choppy waters of geopolitics and geostrategy. The details marked by instances of high treason like the Treaty of Sugauli (1816), the 1950’s Peace and Friendship Treaty, Koshi Agreement, Gandak Agreement, the Mahakali Treaty and recent deals over the Karnali, Arun and the Seti show that myopia has been a constant in our political leadership and bureaucracy, despite waves of political changes. While one Dhritarashtra and his Putramoh (affection toward his sons, Duryodhan, the eldest, in particular) had a very crucial role in making the war of Kurukshetra a reality along with a slew of characters like Duryodhan and Shakuni (the entire plot was of the master strategist Krishna, who had gotten tired of moral degradation of his own clan, the Yaduvamshis), we seem to have no dearth of such characters of the Mahabharata fame, at a time when Cold War 2.0 for global supremacy is in full swing!  These details offer important lessons to all and sundry on how not to conduct foreign policy, on how not to run (ruin) a country. The modern-day Kurukshetra playing out in the life of this country is beyond the scope of this short piece, so let’s focus on the upcoming prime ministerial visit. In an instability-plagued governance system like ours, a chief executive hardly gets to complete even half of the five-year term. So, PMs keep coming and going through a revolving door arrangement of sorts. Such is the state of affairs that the Nepalis have, literally, lost count of the prime ministers that have come to power and gone just like that, especially after 1990, a very troublesome period marked by the decade-long insurgency that began in February 13, 1996, the royal massacre of June 1, 2001, the adoption of a federal secular democratic republican system (May 28, 2008), the abolition of the monarchy, the Gorkha earthquake (April 25, 2015), the adoption of a federal constitution (September 20, 2015), the Indian blockade that followed and the hot-off-the-press Bhutanese refugee scam (2023). Despite this all-too-frequent change of guard, one thing is almost certain: Upon assuming office, the incumbent will start a slew of foreign visits by first embarking on a visit to the southern neighbor. For that first visit to materialize, the invite has to come from the host country. If the invite does not come or comes late, the rulers get a feeling that Delhi may not be happy with them, meaning they have their days in power numbered. So, our chief executives wait for such an invite with bated breath and do everything to accommodate the neighbor’s concerns even at the expense of national interest. As for the agendas of such visits, they do not matter much because the agendas of the powerful neighbor prevail anyway. Border disputes will be raised once again (albeit feebly), border security will be discussed once again, some projects will be jointly inaugurated and some rivers will be given away in the name of cooperation in the water resources sector. No big deal, isn’t it? A country ‘rich’ in water resources can gift one more river to a dear neighbor even after losing control over such important rivers like the Koshi, Gandaki and the Mahakali, even at a time when it is becoming clear as daylight that future inter-state conflicts will be largely over water. And such an exchange, like previous ones, will take bilateral relations to ‘new heights’ (perhaps atop the Sagarmatha, the world’s tallest peak), if press releases issued after such exchanges are any guide. The only way for our bilateral relations with the neighbor down south is to go up, up and further up, isn’t it? There’s hardly any chance of the relations going a bit southwards and minimizing the damage resulting from unilateral and mindless development activities like dams and embankments that have resulted in inundation of our farmlands and settlements, encroachment upon our bordering territories, atrocities against people living along the border. For a change, how about using such a forum to assess the impact of the open border and influx of displaced populations from India and the extended neighborhood on our national security? And how about having a note-taker jot down important matters discussed and decisions taken, for the sake of institutional memory and transparency in our dealings? The Nepalis have begun to wonder if a visit to the southern neighbor has to be always marked by Nepal receiving a few more raw deals in the name of special, ages-old and people-to-people relations. They have started questioning if a visit down south is mandatory after every change of guard, as if to pay tribute to some emperor. While engaging Delhi, the political and bureaucratic leadership should not forget that they have no right to sign a deal that harms national interests and jeopardizes the future of successive generations of Nepalis. They should remain aware of the fact that a conscious citizenry is watching and will hold them to account in the event of some shady deal meant to serve short-term interests of the ruling elite at the expense of long-term interests of Nepal and the Nepalis.

Infertility is a disorder of the male or female reproductive system characterized by the inability to conceive a baby after 12 months or more of frequent, unprotected sexual activity. Moreover, the inability to become pregnant at all is known as primary infertility, whereas the inability to become pregnant following a previous successful conception is known as secondary infertility. According to a WHO (2023) Report, around one in six adults, or 17.5 percent, struggle with infertility worldwide, demonstrating the critical need to make high-quality, reasonably-priced fertility care accessible to the needy. Per the report, infertility is prevalent in high-, middle-, and low-income nations, making it a significant global health problem. In high-income countries, the lifetime prevalence is 17.8 percent, whereas in low- and middle-income nations, it is 16.5 percent, states the report. In Nepal, infertility is emerging as a growing concern, with infertility rates believed to be higher than the global average due to factors such as poor health facilities, lack of awareness, limited access to treatment, and social, cultural stigma. Treatment available, cost prohibitive The term infertility must be changed to subfertility, says Dr Bhola Rijal, a consultant gynecologist and obstetrician with expertise in in-vitro fertilization. This is because treatment options for infertility are available nowadays, though they are beyond the reach of many people because of high costs, significant negative perceptions, and limited availability. Linked with social, financial, mental, and economic aspects of life, infertility can cause significant distress, stigma, and financial hardship, affecting the couples’ mental and psychological well-being. The consequences of infertility can be far-reaching in a country like Nepal where children are seen as a source of economic security and social status. Apparently, the inability to have children can lead to depression, social isolation, intimate partner violence and even divorce. Despite these challenges, many couples in Nepal are hesitant to seek treatment. This is partly due to the cost of treatment, which can be prohibitively expensive for many families, and partly due to cultural beliefs that view infertility as a personal failure rather than a medical condition. In addition, the WHO report has highlighted a chronic shortage of data on infertility in many countries, meaning that the Nepali state also needs to raise greater awareness on the importance of maintaining data on infertility rather than encouraging the practice of keeping the problem under wraps. The government can reach out to affected couples by raising awareness on affordable treatment options for infertility and helping reduce associated stigma. There’s a need to maintain national data on infertility by age and reason to fight stigma and to recreate social norms by mobilizing community education and support groups. There’s also a need to break the silence around infertility and start talking openly about it. By doing so, we can help couples access the care they need and ensure that they receive the support they deserve. Summing up, concerted efforts are necessary to address the issue of infertility by making sure that couples have the resources needed to build healthy families and communities.

A few days ago, a woman arrived at the Cyber Bureau of the Nepali Police accompanied by four minor girls. One of the girls was 12-year-old Rita KC (name changed). She appeared visibly disturbed, displaying signs of fear and trauma. She was reluctant to open up and engage in a conversation. KC resides in Bhaktapur with her father, elder brother, and younger sister. Her mother is employed as a teacher outside the city, while her father works in an office. She was an ordinary twelve-year-old girl, fond of social media, until she had a sudden change of behavior. Her family members noticed it first. KC began spending long hours in the bathroom, preferred solitude, and seemed to have lost interest in attending school. During counseling, the police reached a distressing conclusion that KC had become a victim of online sexual abuse. The police investigation uncovered a deeply disturbing pattern of events. It was revealed that KC had initiated an online communication with an individual, who was notorious for creating fake identities on Facebook and targeting underage girls. The man would manipulate his victims into sharing their photos, which he would then superimpose with explicit images. He sent the altered pictures back to his victims and blackmailed them into sending their nude pictures and videos. KC was one of several victims who had fallen prey to this predatory man. In fact, he had also tried unsuccessfully to target three of KC’s friends. KC shared her story to her friends  when the man started pressuring her into meeting him. Her friends suggested that she confide with her mother, who decided to take the matter to the police. Police Inspector Raj Kumar Khadgi of the Cyber Bureau says they apprehended the suspect from Ghattekulo two weeks ago. He had been living in a hostel, and police have recovered compelling evidence indicating his involvement in multiple online sexual blackmailing schemes. Police records show this is not an isolated incident. There has been a disturbing trend of school-going children falling victim to digital crimes. According to the Cyber Bureau, it received a total of 4,646 cybercrime complaints in the fiscal year 2021/22. The majority of these complaints (3,956) were related to online abuse and harassment through Facebook Messenger. Shockingly, within the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2022/23, the bureau has already registered 4,568 cybercrime complaints. Again, the majority of these complaints (3,509) involve abuse and harassment perpetrated through Facebook Messenger. Over the course of the past five years, a staggering 479 school-going girls have fallen victim to such crimes; 146 school-going boys have also been targeted. This year alone, the bureau has registered a total of 625 cyber crime cases involving minors across the country. These cases encompass a range of offenses, including harassment, sexual abuse, hacking of accounts, creation of fake identities, defamation, and blackmailing. Records show that 128 of these cases are related to pornography. In the previous fiscal year 2021/22, a total of 3,906 cyber crime cases were registered. Among these cases, 2,003 victims were female, while 1,471 were male. The rise of cybercrime has become an alarming issue in recent times, primarily due to the widespread accessibility of the internet and the increasing prevalence of smartphones, say police. School-going children, in particular, are vulnerable. SSP Navindra Aryal, the director of the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, says without proper parental supervision, children are at high risk of becoming victims as well as perpetrators of cybercrimes. It doesn’t take long for children to get exposed to pornographic images and videos when they have easy access to smartphones and the internet. With approximately 97 percent of Nepal’s population using smartphones and 75 percent having internet access, the potential for misuse and the subsequent occurrence of accidents and crimes has also increased. SSP Aryal emphasizes the importance of implementing control mechanisms to protect children. He suggests parents need to monitor and regulate the phone usage of their children. Child psychologist Ganga Pathak says since mobile phones and the internet are valuable resources for children, it is not appropriate to completely deny children access to these technologies. However, he adds, there is a need to monitor their online activities. Pathak says it is the parents who should encourage their children to use the internet as a learning tool, and not just as a source of entertainment and communication. Psychologist Karuna Kunwar says children who develop an addiction to the internet exhibit distinct behavioral changes, such as becoming withdrawn in social situations and avoiding real interaction with their friends and family members. Parents and teachers should pick up on these cues and counsel such children, or seek professional help, she adds. To address the growing issue of digital crimes against children, the Nepal Police has undertaken various initiatives. Cyber awareness programs have been conducted across all 77 districts to educate children and parents about the risks and preventive measures associated with digital crimes. However, the nature of cybercrimes poses many challenges in terms of detection and catching the perpetrators. The absence of a specific law to control and regulate social networks is a notable concern in Nepal. SSP Aryal emphasizes the necessity of legislation to control and prevent cybercrimes. The 35-day statute of limitations should also be lifted, he suggests, as it could impede investigation. But the ultimate onus, he says, lies on the parents whose responsibility is to be well-informed about cybercrime and to educate their children accordingly.