Journalists Lamichhane, Kandel Arrested Following Pudashaini's Suicide

Rabin Man Shakya

The episode of journalist Shalik Ram Pudashaini's mysterious suicide and subsequent arrests of popular and powerful journalists Rabi Lamichhane and Yubraj Kandel and nurse Asmita Karki has raised a lot of controversies in Nepal.

The controversy revolves around a video that was purportedly shot by journalist Pudashaini before killing himself, he had named nurse Asmita Karki, journalists Lamichhane and Kandel as the persons leading him to commit suicide.

Journalist Pudashaini, who was associated  with Mountain Television, was found hanging in Kangaroo Hotel in Chitwan, Nepal on August 5, 2019. This whole episode of a journalist's suicide and subsequent arrest of the well-known journalists is a big setback for the Nepalese journalism.

Lamichhane and Kandel are under police custody for further investigation. Thousands of people have rallied around the government building in Chitwan -- where Lamichhane is kept in custody-- in support of journalist Lamichhane. 

Lamichhane has not been proved guilty by a court yet. And everybody is innocent until proven guilty by a court. But at the same time, there is no doubt that no one is above the law. Just because Lamichhane is a popular and powerful journalist does not mean that he has impunity and be exempted from punishment for wrongdoing. Let the court give the final verdict.

However, some observers are pointing out that Pudaishaini's death was not a suicide but a homicide. Further investigation of the law enforcement authorities and court verdict will throw light on this controversy.

There is no doubt that TV programs hosted by Rabi Lamichhane gave ordinary viewers an opportunity to make their voices heard.

Meanwhile, DC Nepal.com under the headline "Rabi Lamichhane speaks about his US passport", reported that "He (Rabi Lamichhane) clarified that he has been holding US passport during a show telecasted through News 24 Television."

According to the law of Nepal, holders of foreign passports are not eligible to work  and make money in Nepal. Rabi Lamichhane should again obtain Nepali citizenship in order to work in Nepal, otherwise whatever he is doing in Nepal is a violation of the Nepalese law.

Interaction with Nepali Lawmaker Khadka and Dr Bajracharya in Portland, America

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Aug 12 (Nepal Oregon News): An interaction program of  Nepalese Portlanders with lawmaker Bishal Khadka and Dr Kabindra Bajracharya was organized at the US West Coast Taekwondo School Hollywood in Portland on Sunday, August 11, 2019.



At the beginning of the interaction program, general secretary of International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championship (IOFTC) Karen Blackledge welcomed the guests from Nepal by wrapping Khata on them.



Bishal Khadka is the honorable member of Nepalese Parliament and strong advocate of inclusiveness and equality. Khadka is  the youngest parliamentarian in Nepal elected from Province 3, Dolakha 3, Dolakha 1 (A).

Before unification of Communist Party of Nepal--Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal -- Maoist (UCPN-M) into one single Nepal Communist Party, Khadka had also served as a central committee member of UCPN-M, and was Deputy in-charge of Dolakha District of UCPN-M. 

Dr Bajracharya is a well known eye doctor and Meditation Guru from Nepal. Currently, working as Associate Professor at Lumbini Eye Institute in Bhairahawa, Nepal, he is in the US visit for six weeks as an observer at the Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health Science University.

The interaction with member of the House of Representatives of Nepal Khadka centered on current political situation in Nepal, dual citizenship for non-resident Nepalese, ethnic diversity, Guthi Bill, among others.

The period of insurgency is over, said MP Khadka who lost his brother during the conflict. He underlined the need for change in perception and way of thinking for stakeholders.

Addressing the Portland gathering, the youngest Member of Parliament from Nepal said that the political parties and political stalwarts should rise above the petty partisan interests and get down to real soul searching for finding ways to improve the life of the ordinary Nepalese people.

However, talk with Dr Bajracharya focused on development of eye treatment in Nepal.

Informing the audience that there are 300 ophthalmologists in Nepal today, Dr Bajracharya expressed satisfaction about the overall situation of eye treatment in Nepal. Percentage of blindness has substantially decreased  over past 30 years, he added.

Innovative medical procedures are being developed for eye treatment in Nepal. 200,000 eye patients are treated annually only at Lumbini Eye Hospital. (LEH). Thousands of people from India also come to LEH for eye treatment, Dr Bajracharya said.

At the end of the interaction,  legislator Khadka and Dr Bajracharya answered the questions raised by Bharat Banskota of Nepali Association of Oregon, Daya Shakya and Lax Darlamee of NRNA Oregon Chapter, Alex Minu of the Hollywood Taekwondo School and Rabin Man Shakya, a journalist from Nepal Oregon News.





The interaction program -- which was attended by office bearers of Nepali Association of Oregon, Nepa Chhen, NRNA USA Oregon Chapter, International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championship (IOFTC), Nritya Mandala Mahavihara and Nepal Oregon News (NON) -- was followed by a Nepali style dinner. The interaction program was conducted  by Daya Shakya, NRNA USA Oregon chapter president.

(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Talk by a Nepali Doctor on 'Mindfulness for Healthcare' Organized at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Aug 4 (Nepal Oregon News):Today more than ever, Lord Buddha's teachings are more relevant at a time when the world is mired  in  conflict, violence and wars. We remember and pray Buddha because of his teachings.

Dr Bajracharya conducting the meditation at the program.

Rev Dr Kabindra Bajracharya -- who is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist  and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Lumbini Eye Institute in Nepal -- said this at a two-part talk with meditation organized on Friday, Aug 2, 2019 at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA.

The first part of the talk was based on a brief presentation Dr Bajracharya had given at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland to fellow doctors on mindfulness for healthcare.

Likewise, Dr Bajracharya also shared his insights into the practice of mindfulness in order to be of true benefit in the healing of others.

The second part of the talk was on Saptavidhanapuja (The Seven Limb Prayer). This prayer of Mahayana Buddhism is widely practiced by Tibetans and Newahs alike.

Actually, anyone who wishes to purefy negative actions of body, speech and mind and create positive potential with inspiration towards mindfulness and an awakened mind benefits greatly from this regular practice.The talk also included the Sanskrit chanted practice and meditation.

Currently, Dr Kabindra Bajracharya is in Portland at Casey Eye Institute, OHSU, Pediatrics Ophthalmology for six weeks for on-the-spot observation.

Dr Bajracharya has been initiated in different meditation and deity yoga from Vajrayana Masters of Nepal.

During this period, Dr Bajracharya also gave a presentation on mindfulness to doctors at OHSU and led meditation moments with nurses.Living near Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace, he practices Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery.

As a devoted practitioner of Buddha Dharma, he is a spiritual leader engaging in mass education and spiritual practices.

The Seven Limb Prayer (Saptavidhana Puja) is comprised of the first 12 verses of "The King of Aspiration Prayers" found in the finale of the Gandhavyuha Sutra. This Sutra tells the story of the journey of a young pilgrim - Sudhana - who meets and learns wisdom and skillful means from extraordinary and diverse Bodhisattvas of all walks of life along the way.

Prior to the beginning of the talk, Prajwal Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara gave a brief introduction of Dr Kabindra Bajracharya to the audience.At the end of the program, a letter of appreciation was handed over to Dr Bajracharya by Prajwal.

The letter says:" Even though Newar Buddhism is one of the oldest Buddhist traditions existing today, it is so rare to find Newar Dharma teachers and particularly teachers of your caliber."

The letter which was signed by Prajwal and Helen Appell was read out at the program by Helen Appell of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.

The talk which was attended by about 30 Americans and Nepalese Portlanders was followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner.

Helen Appell of the Mahavihara reading out the Letter of Appreciation that was handed over to Dr Bajracharya by Prajwal.

The audience.

Group photo.

The audience.

The audience.








(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)