News from Nepal

Mira Rai, a Nepali trail runner, has been named the 2017 National Geographic People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year for her tireless efforts in breaking down barriers for women in Nepal through sports. She was selected from an impressive group of adventurers whose extraordinary achievements in exploration, conservation, humanitarianism and adventure sports distinguished them in the past year. The 10 honorees were announced on Nov 3, 2016, and the public was invited to vote through Dec 16, 2016, for the People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year.

Kathmandu, Jan 11: The government has appointed Dr Govinda Raj Pokharel to the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) by removing Sushil Gyawali.  A meeting of the Council of Ministers today decided to replace Gyawali with the new appointment, citing his response to the clarification sought by the government second time over his official performance unconvincing, according to Minister for Information and Communications Surendra Kumar Karki who also serves as the Spokesperson for the government. The erstwhile government led by the CPN (UML) had picked Gyawali as the chief of the government body formed to carry out the post-earthquake reconstruction works. The previous Cabinet meeting decided to seek clarifications again from Gyawali for the lack of noticeable progress in the reconstruction works. Newly appointed NRA CEO Pokhrel is the former Vice Chair of National Planning Commission and also the NRA CEO before the formulation of NRA Act.

Anjali Lama was sitting in a Kathmandu apartment when the Nepali television show came on.  Sangharsha,  it was titled. Struggle. The show depicted the lives of people who felt their identity did not match the gender assigned to them at birth. “That day I understood,” Lama said. “I am also that kind of person.” In the farming village where Lama grew up — in a poor family of nine in Nuwakot, Nepal, the notion of someone transitioning genders was inconceivable, she told The Washington Post. But for as long as she could remember, Lama wanted to be a girl. Born with the male name Navin Waiba, she spent all of her time with female friends, and felt closer to her mother and sisters than her father and brothers. Her teachers questioned her behavior and her classmates mocked her, telling her she walked and talked like a girl. But as much as Lama tried to behave like a boy, she couldn’t.