My Republica

Swasti Gautam

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Rethinking fast fashion

Published On: April 27, 2018 08:34 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

All of us love wearing fashionable clothes and we are really happy if we are able to get them for cheap. But not many of us think about the ones who make our clothes and the amount they are paid for it. According to Sunaina Singh Shrestha, country coordinator of Fashion Revolution Nepal, clothes have to go through a long route before they are actually displayed at the various showrooms across our country.

Exploring possibilities

Published On: April 20, 2018 07:12 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Parent’s separation can be a difficult and stressful experience for any child. Many struggle to deal with this emotional baggage throughout their lives. But at the tender age of 14, Sujata Gurung had many more things to worry about. After her parents got divorced, she had to take care of her two younger siblings, and that too when there was no means of livelihood.

Small inventions big dreams

Published On: April 13, 2018 07:42 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Quite recently two engineers from the start-up company S.S Technologies and Electronics made a drone at Waling Municipality in Syangja district in Western Nepal. This was their attempt to help the municipality develop as a modern and prosperous smart city.

The ethics of volunteering

Published On: April 6, 2018 11:05 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

A few months ago Mandira Chaulagain, a social worker at an organization that works for street children near Pashupatinath Temple, was stunned to find out about the repercussions of unregulated volunteerism in Nepal. She almost broke down in tears while recollecting one of the many tormenting stories she heard from the underprivileged children at her organization.

For the love of food

Published On: April 6, 2018 08:48 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

For many, food blogging might seem like an easy breezy task but it’s actually not as simple as just taking a shot and then relishing the food served on your table to write a short review. Choosing your food, getting your content ready, styling it all right, making sure the light is perfect are a few among the million things that need be taken into consideration when you are a food blogger.

Focused, determined and hopeful

Published On: March 30, 2018 11:29 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

When Chanda Thapa was in school, most of her classmates either wanted to become a doctor or an engineer. And Thapa would often say that she wanted to pursue law, just to be different from her friends.

The art of coffee making

Published On: March 23, 2018 11:37 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Most coffee lovers, no matter where they go, tend to seek out the best coffee shops to start their day. Coffee, for them, is not just a drink but an integral part of their lives. Likewise, for Manoz Shahi, training director at The Baristas Coffee School in Bagbazar, Kathmandu, the idea of getting free coffee everyday lured him into taking barista training and eventually working at a coffee shop.

Culture of competition and collaboration

Published On: March 23, 2018 09:37 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Anne McGuinness is a Tibetan-American who grew up in Kathmandu. When McGuinsess was younger, the only place where she could play sports was at her school. Although she was extremely interested in games, there were very little opportunities for her to play elsewhere.

Going all out for road safety

Published On: March 16, 2018 08:59 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Two years ago, Prarthana Saakha, managing director of Helmets Nepal, a store that sells safety equipment for two-wheelers, survived a fatal accident.  Her vehicle had been hit by a truck. “That close encounter with death changed my life and made me realize the importance of road safety as well,” says Saakha. Since then, she has been actively involved in spreading awareness about road safety.

Music, melodies, and milestones

Published On: March 16, 2018 08:46 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

They make music that you crave to hear when you are away from home. Their lyrics speak to you and seem to understand your emotions at each phase of life. The pioneer of blend folk melodies and groundbreaker of Nepali pop songs, Nepathya, is a band that has consistently been able to produce popular songs over the past 25 years. They have also creatively transformed Nepali music and, along the way, become an important socio-cultural force.

Problems and pressures

Published On: March 16, 2018 07:35 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

The compulsion to whip out our phones and take a shot of our food before we dig in, no matter how hungry we are, or snap and upload a picture before we do anything at all on a trip somewhere has never been great.

The fantastic fighter

Published On: March 9, 2018 12:17 PM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

She distinctly remembers her first few days of judo practice. She was merely 10 years old and her training used to be extremely painful. The cramps she got all over her body made her dislike the sport. “I hated going for those early morning practices when I was younger. I would tell my dad that I was going for judo training and wander around in the fields instead,” says Phuphu Lhamu Khatri who became the first woman to win a gold medal for Nepal at South Asian Games in 2016. She also bagged the Female Player of the Year Award at NSJF Pulsar Sports Awards in the same year.

The unspoken words

Published On: March 9, 2018 10:46 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Newa Chen Art Gallery was established in the year 2010 to encourage and promote young artists of Nepal. Every year, they arrange various events to endorse such talents and uplift the state of artists in our country. This year too, from March 9-30, they are organizing a special exhibition on the occasion of International Women’s Day to provide a platform for women artists to showcase their talents.

Discovering Dolpa

Published On: March 3, 2018 12:20 PM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

They were two friends who were poles apart. From their childhoods and hometowns to their identities and habits, they had nothing in common.

Dreams and drawings

Published On: March 2, 2018 09:09 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

For an artist, nothing can tell a story better than an outstanding illustration. That is why most of them are driven with the passion to convey their thoughts through visual narratives. With increasing number of outstanding artists in Nepal, illustrations can be spotted everywhere. From concerts, restaurant walls, graphic t-shirt to our Instagram feeds, these quirky artworks never fail to catch our attention.

When words fail

Published On: February 23, 2018 01:05 PM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Fermentation Theater along with Danfe Theater recently staged Witch, a wordless play, at Sarwanam Theater in Kathmandu. The play depicted the social reality of Nepal through a tale of love, jealousy, and superstition. However, the entire play didn’t have a single dialogue.

The reading challenge

Published On: February 23, 2018 12:51 PM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Kaagmandu is a Facebook page and an online magazine that promotes progressive, educative, and evocative posts. Their mission is to create an informed society that questions prevalent prejudices and concrete norms.

Preserving our History

Published On: February 23, 2018 11:25 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

It’s been two years since the massive earthquakes but the architecturally rich Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur are still somewhat in shambles. There have been no concrete steps to preserve important heritage sites that are a part of history.

Transforming Lives

Published On: February 16, 2018 12:49 PM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

For most tourists and expats, Nepal appears to be a beautiful Shangri-La with delicious food, friendly people, heavenly places, and adventurous journeys. But according to Caleb Spear, founder and CEO of Portal Bikes and a citizen of the United States, it is only after living here that one understands the magnitude of challenges people face each day.

Handcrafted perfection

Published On: January 26, 2018 09:43 AM NPT By: Swasti Gautam

Adding a modern touch to traditional Nepali architectural designs, Sumukhi provides its customers with a wide array of handmade products. Their meticulously designed products reflect the beauty of Nepali heritage. And each product is creatively handcrafted incorporating medieval Nepali designing style in it.