Let me first congratulate you for such a wonderful newspaper. I have been reading every issue of the Nepali Times. And I had to write to you after reading the last issue (29 December 2000-4 January 2001).
I work in the US as a molecular biologist. Every year I try to come home and be with my family and friends. And when I get back to the States my Nepali friends always ask me about Nepal?some of them have not been back here for over a decade. It is relatively easy to give them parcels of sukuti and chiura and tell them how their moms and dads are, but I find it so hard to tell them about the condition of Nepal. This year though I decided to take copies of the late-December issues of Nepali Times and let them read for themselves.
Of course, they will find it funny as well as sad reading the Hrithik Roshan story. I know their exact reaction to this?Are we stupid? The article on Journey to Maoland will make them worry about the future of Nepal. Are we getting ourselves into a civil war? After reading Symbol of Nepali nationhood, they will probably ask yet another question?Will the King save our country? They will also figure out that Nepal has no planning whatsoever and the Melamchi project is a clear example of this chaos. And the editorial itself will give them a clear view of what is going on in this so-called peaceful Himalayan kingdom.
And there you have it, the whole past, present and future of Nepal in one single issue of Nepali Times. A newspaper cannot get better than this. Hopefully, next year when I come back, I will find such an issue again.

Dibesh Karmacharya
Princeton, USA