(selected pieces)
Searching for the Next War: What Happens When Contractors Leave Afghanistan?
August 5, 2021 with Noah Coburn for The Diplomat
As U.S. troops withdraw, many contract employees – most of them from poor countries, including Nepal – are leaving Afghanistan and fanning out around the world.
नेपालको ‘सर्वोत्कृष्ट’ राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्जको संरक्षण सफलतापछाडिकाे तिताेमिठाे यथार्थ
July 2, 2021 for The Third Pole
नेपालकाे चितवन राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्जले संरक्षण सफलताका लागि अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय प्रशंसा कमाएकाे छ । तर हाम्राे गहन अनुसन्धानले देखाउँछ कि सफलताका लागि केही समुदायकाे उठीबास भएकाे छ र धेरै स्थानीय जनताकाे जीविका गुमेकाे छ ।
A bittersweet conservation victory at Nepal’s flagship national park
July 2, 2021 for The Third Pole, republished in The Record , The Wire, and Scroll.in
Chitwan National Park in Nepal has earned international praise for its conservation successes. But the park has evicted some communities and upended many local livelihoods, this in-depth investigation finds
Facing a COVID Crisis, Nepal Cries Out for Help
May 14, 2021 for The Diplomat
“People are dying every few minutes because of a lack oxygen, we don’t know when this will end… It’s chaos.”
What Explains Nepal’s Perennial Instability?
March 31, 2021 for The Diplomat
Decisive election results in 2017 raised hopes that Nepal would finally see a government finish its term. That looks like a distant dream today.
Nepal’s Democracy in Crisis
Feb 6, 2021 for The Diplomat
With the prime minister’s unilateral move to dissolve Parliament last December, Nepal was thrown into political chaos – with its democracy hanging in the balance.
After a suspicious death and rapes, a climate of fear in Sangarshanagar
January 28, 2021 for The Record
Two years after Pramila Tharu was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a forest near Bardiya’s Sangarshanagar, local women continue to live in fear.
Kathmandu Celebrates Dashain Uneasily Amid COVID-19
October 28, 2020 for The Diplomat
From finances to family gatherings, the pandemic reshaped all aspects of one of Nepal’s most prominent holidays.
अमेरिकी सैनिक ठेकेदार कम्पनिबाट नेपाली कामदारलाई धोका
October 4, 2020 for Adarsha Samaj
Nepali Afghanistan and Iraq victims seek compensation, justice
September 1, 2020 for The Kathmandu Post
According to the US Labor Department, approximately 300 Nepalis have filed compensation claims for deaths or injuries in the US war zones. However, experts believe the true number of Nepali casualties is far higher.
‘Cheap’ Nepali deaths in US war zones
August 31, 2020 for The Kathmandu Post.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, Nepalis who are injured or killed while working for American contractors are often sent home with only token compensation, or none at all.
इराक र अफगानिस्तानका युद्धपीडित नेपाली
September 1, 2020 with Janakraj Sapkota for Kantipur
काबुलमा नेपालीको ‘सस्तो मृत्यु’
August 31, 2020 for Kantipur
COVID and Contractors: Nepalis in an American War Zone
July 21, 2020 for The Diplomat
Few Americans are aware that the war effort in Afghanistan relies on foreign contractors – many of them from Nepal.
COVID-19: Nepal in Crisis
June 29, 2020 with Janak Raj Sapkota for The Diplomat
The coronavirus crisis has brought to the fore — and exacerbated — a number of the Nepali state’s long-standing weaknesses.
Deaths in custody
June 22, 2020 with Abha Lal for The Record and The Wire
Patterns of negligence and alleged abuse in deaths in Nepali Police custody.
Coronavirus severs Nepal’s economic lifeline
April 20, 2020 for The Diplomat
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Nepal is losing its lifeline: international labor migration.
Shivaratri in Gobardiha
February 26, 2020 with Tom Robertson and Damian Jones for The Record
Celebrating the Shivaratri festival in a Tharu village in mid-western Nepal.
The Nepalis in America’s Wars
November 11, 2019 for The Record
On Veterans Day, remembering Nepali contractors who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
High Expectations as China’s Xi Lands in Nepal
October 12, 2019 for The Diplomat
The first Chinese leader to visit Nepal since 1996, Xi’s trip carries with it high expectations and geopolitical undertones.
Celebrating Constitution Day: Nepal, 2076
Blog, Sep 25, 2019
Exploring public perceptions about Constitution Day on the streets of Kathmandu.
Why Nepal loves Rabi Lamichhane — and why some revile him
September 18, 2019 for The Record
A review of one of Nepal’s most popular TV news shows
Tree-mendous
September 13, 2019 for Nepali Times
Community management and outmigration have helped Nepal double its forest area in 25 years
Popular Support Grows for Indicted Nepali Journalist
September 3, 2019 for The Diplomat
Rabi Lamichhane’s show confronts corruption; a former employee’s suicide has stirred a firestorm.
In Nepal, Out-Migration Is Helping Fuel a Forest Resurgence
August 20, 2019 for Yale Environment 360
An exodus for jobs abroad has played an important role in the reforestation of Nepal.
11 Years on, Has Nepal’s Republic Succeeded?
June 14, 2019 for The Diplomat
Pessimism about Nepal’s politics is common, despite significant changes since the declaration of the republic in 2008.
प्रमिला थारुको हत्या कि आत्महत्या?
April 8, 2019 with Abha Lal for Seto Pati
Anatomy of a police investigation: Have authorities in Nepal’s Bardiya District passed a murder off as suicide?
April 1, 2019 with Abha Lal, co-published by The Record and The Wire
14 year old Pramila Tharu’s death remains shrouded in mystery.
Indian Hindu Nationalism’s Nepali Cousin
March 1, 2019 for The Diplomat
Hindu nationalism has taken hold in India. In Nepal, once the world’s only Hindu state, things are more complicated.
Nepal’s Sisyphean Struggle for Justice
January 2, 2019 for The Diplomat
12 years after the civil war came to an end, conflict victims demand a role in transitional justice.
Trekking through Fall Colors in Manang and Mustang
Shangri-La: Nepal Airlines’ In-Flight Magazine. January 2019, pp. 26-31.
A journey across the Thorong-La pass.
Grease in the heart of Mithila
La.Lit Magazine, Volume 9: The Food Issue, pp. 66-83
A look at Janakpur’s history and Mithila cuisine.
Nepal and the China-EU Lending race
October 15, 2018 for The Diplomat
As the EU seeks to expand lending for infrastructure in Asia, will it maintain social and environmental safeguards?
The Nepalis fighting America’s wars
September 19, 2018 for The Diplomat
Two new books examine the role of third-country nationals, especially Nepalis, in the defense contracting industry.
दोहोरिने दुःख
August 19, 2018 with Bhola Paswan for Himal Khabarpatrika
कोशी तट्बन्ध भत्केको एक दशक्पछि नेपालले पनि भारतले गरेको गल्ती दोहोर्याउँदैछ
Explainer: Why embankments won’t solve Nepal’s flood woes
August 17, 2018 with Bhola Paswan for Himal Southasian
An explainer about what embankments (levees) are, why they are inappropriate for many Himalayan rivers, and why they nonetheless continue to be built.
Sediment and Solutions (Part 3 of Third Pole series)
August 17, 2018 with Bhola Paswan for The Third Pole
Heavy river sediment loads make embankments (levees) inappropriate on many Himalayan rivers. A look at some alternatives to embankments.
Embankments Enter Nepal (Part 2 of Third Pole series)
August 16, 2018 with Bhola Paswan for The Third Pole
Nepal has built nearly 900 kilometers of embankments (levees) over the past three decades, many of which breach on a routine basis.
A Dammed History of the Koshi (Part 1 of Third Pole series)
August 15, 2018 with Bhola Paswan for The Third Pole, republished by BloombergQuint and The Wire
A look at the history of embankment (levee) building in India and Nepal.
#MeToo in the Deukhuri Valley
July 2018 issue of ECS Nepal
Through film, a Nepali village begins to grapple with domestic violence.
Debt and Deadlines
April 28, 2018 for The Kathmandu Post
There has been important progress in post-earthquake housing reconstruction over the last year, but at what cost?
Nepal’s Desperate Race to Rebuild
April 25, 2018 for The Diplomat
Saddled with debt and deadlines, Nepal’s earthquake victims scramble to rebuild their homes.
After the Flood: Nepal’s Slow Recovery
March 22, 2018 with Bhola Paswan for The Diplomat
Amid decentralization, Nepal has been slow to recover from the devastating 2017 floods.
On Gender And Social Inclusion, Nepal’s Politics Has A Long Way To Go
Feb 25, 2018 with Bhola Paswan for The Wire
Despite political reservation systems, Nepali women, Dalits and other marginalised groups remain severely under represented.
As Nepal Strives to Become More Inclusive, Are Muslims Being Left Behind?
Jan 30, 2018 for World Politics Review
One year after an episode of anti-Muslim violence, Nepal’s Muslim communities continue to struggle to assert themselves in politics and society.
The Rise of Nepal’s Left Alliance
Jan 29, 2018 for The Diplomat
From foreign policy to domestic development, how much change will the Left Alliance bring?
Nepali Muslim Leaders Question Own Parties’ Commitment to Inclusion
Jan 28, 2018 for The Wire
Under-represented in politics and often invisible in conceptions of national identity, not a single Muslim candidate has been fielded by any party in the upcoming national assembly elections.
Almond Orchards in Everest’s Shadow
Dec 25, 2017 for The Diplomat
A look at changing mountain livelihoods in Nepal.
As Nepal joins UN Human Rights Council, activists call out domestic abuses but also see hope
November 3, 2017 with Praveen Kumar Yadav for The Wire
As Nepal accedes to a prestigious position on the UNHRC, activists hope the country can be held to greater scrutiny.
Nepali children’s book receives international honour
October 29, 2017 for The Kathmandu Post
Review of a new bilingual children’s book based on a Tibetan folktale.
Flood recovery plan set to exclude tenant farmers
September 23, 2017 with Bhola Paswan for The Kathmandu Post.
While the government announced a Rs 1.25 billion agricultural recovery package, this aid is unlikely to reach farmers because they lack formal documentation certifying tenancy.
Madhes issues put on hold as Nepal’s Janakpur prepares for local elections
September 17, 2017 for The Wire
Discussions with locals about elections in Janakpur.
Nepal’s flood recovery set to exclude the most marginalized
September 14, 2017 with Bhola Paswan for The Wire
Government aid for agricultural recovery is set to go to landowners rather than tenant farmers.
Bollywood meets Nepali nationalism
August 23, 2017 for The Diplomat
Why has a fan club in Kathmandu drawn critique for idolizing an Indian actor?
Floods devastate Nepal’s southern plains
August 18, 2017 with Bhola Paswan for The Diplomat
A look at the causes, consequences, and responses to the flooding in the Terai region.
From waiting tables to leading Leos
July 31, 2017 for The Kathmandu Post
An interview with Chand Iraki, the first Muslim country-wide president for Leo Clubs, the youth division of Lions Clubs International.
Nepal’s trial-by-election
June 28, 2017 for The Diplomat
The second phase of Nepal’s local elections tested both the new constitution and the country’s vision.
In the Heart of Nepal’s Madhes Movement
June 27, 2017 with Bhola Paswan for The Wire, republished by South Asia Journal
The Madhesis continue to struggle to amend the constitution, even as they long to feel like they belong in Nepal.
Nepal: Elections at the epicenter
May 19, 2017 for The Diplomat
Two years after major earthquakes rocked the country, a Nepali family makes a 30-hour journey to cast their ballots.
Freed from bondage, ready to vote
May 8, 2017 for The Record
Seventeen years after emancipation, many ex-kamaiyas prepare to vote in local elections for the first time.
Thamel by rickshaw
May 1, 2017 with Benjamin Linder for ECS Nepal
Conversations with rickshaw drivers in Kathmandu’s nightlife neighborhood.
Maleth: a mourning village, a dead industrial estate
March 29, 2017 with Bhola Paswan for The Record
Amid poverty and unemployment, the village reels after police forces killed five Madhesi protesters earlier this month.
The police and paramilitary biased against us: Saptari locals
March 22, 2017 with Bhola Paswan for The Record
Relationships deteriorate after police forces killed five Madhesi protesters in the district.
Days and nights in Nepalgunj
March 1, 2017 for The Record
Life, politics, and identity in a border city.
Memories of Banepa
January 20, 2017 for M&S V-mag
Stories about my mother and her former students from Peace Corps days.
Koilabas: a town left behind
Nov 19, 2016 for The Record
Along the Nepal-India border lies a place where history runs deep, but the future is uncertain.
The water bringers
April 27, 2016 for The Record
Irrigation and indigenous self-government on Nepal’s largest island.
From Nepalgunj to Chiang Mai and back
March 17, 2015 for The Record
An interview with a former Nepal women’s cricket champion.
Betel mania
Jan 11, 2015 for The Record
How one man’s passion has led to a lifetime of innovation.
Banepali jatra
May 23, 2014 for The Kathmandu Post
The festival of the goddess Chandeshwori in Banepa, Nepal.
Bio-intensive in Banepa
October 5, 2013 for The Kathmandu Post
Reflections on an organic farming training.
Academic writing
The politics of land reform in Nepal: 1951-1964
Original article published in 2009 in Studies in Nepali History and Society; subsequently revised in 2015. Due to be published in forthcoming book published by Martin Chautari.
An analysis of the political process leading to King Mahendra’s land reform program.
Blog
A day in the life of a PCV
March 26, 2011
Life as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal.
A brush with celebrity
May 27, 2011
Meeting Senegal’s most famous wrestler.
In Italian
Dopo le alluvioni in Nepal la ripresa è lenta
November 3, 2017 con Bhola Paswan per Internazionale
Il Nepal al voto per ricominciare
June 16, 2017 per Internazionale
Da Kathmandu a un villaggio devastato dal sisma del 2015. Ilritorno a casa di una famiglia per votare alle prime amministrative dal 1997.
La città nella giungla
March 3, 2017 per Internazionale
Koilabas, tra Nepal e India, era un nodo commerciale molto importante. Ma da quando lì vicino passa un’autostrada è un luogo abbandonato.