Sagar Jung Karki: Welcome to my Blog

 “You must have seen Everest up close?”  It is a question that almost every Nepali encounters when in conversation with a foreigner. More often than not, the answer is an awkward smile followed by an abashed “no”. But my friend and I decided to change that. So, with a mix of excitement and uncertainty, we set off on what is often called the ultimate Himalayan adventure—the trek to Everest Base Camp (EBC). When we began planning the trip, doubts were plenty, both in our minds and our circle. After all, this was our very first major trek in Nepal. But we soon realized that more than physical endurance or high altitude, it was the mindset that would define our successful experience. What happened next was nothing short of transformative. The trek turned into a journey of a lifetime—one that opened our eyes to the breathtaking geography, the warmth of the Himalayan communities, and the unique culture in this exotic region of Nepal. In this blog, I will share the key moments and ...

 Some key notes from the book New Ideas from Dead Economists by Todd G. Buchholz, American economist.  - Economics as the dismal science  - Economists must be mathematicians, historians, philosophers and statesmen. - John Keynes   -Attitude not latitude counts for a country - Attitude may be defined as the collective wisdom it gleans from great economists over the history  - No one can be an informed voter or understand newspaper without knowledge of economics -In the Wealth of Nations Adam Smith warns society not to naively succumb to bourgeois blandishment - "Self-interest motivates more powerfully and consistently than kindness, altruism or martyrdom" - "Over time, markets drive producers to deliver better products and better prices". -"The forces that fight free international trade look formidable to the government".  -" Countries that shun trade tend to stagnate or sink". -  From 1776 to 1976 just five books reigned over economics: 1. Smith...

  In this blog I note down the major takeaways from the book: The word economics coined by Greek philosopher Xenophon. Oikos = household, nomos = rules or norms  Narrow and mostly quantitative/ theoretical scope of economics education curriculum led to student protests in 2008 There is a lot of authority if economics because it is the language of public policy and has separate noble prize for economic sciences  Rethinking economics by starting economics not with the long-established theories but with humanity's long-term goals.  The doughnut which is a safe and just space for well-being of all while avoiding ecological destruction and human deprivation poverty. The doughnut which is a pictorial representation of the concept to guide humanity in 21st century in line with the SDGs.    The author calls for unlearning and relearning the fundamentals of economics and the power of pictures in explaining economics. Raworth finds it ironic that 20th century ec...

  Day 1 Bangkok [28th October 2022] Arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 7 pm local time. Got a SIM card for 8 days of unlimited data and calls. Stayed at Ecotel Hotel, Pratunam area. Ate dinner at Swagat Indian restaurant with Nepali staff of Burmese origin. Day 2 Bangkok [29th October 2022] Got up early at 7 am. Went to the marine and safari park (open zoo). Watched different shows about elephants, orangutans, and spy war. In the evening visited the Chatuchak market for shopping. Had Pad Thai for dinner in the local market shop.  Day 3 Bangkok [30st October 2022] Woke up early and went to search for the MRT train station. Did not find the station so took a cab using Grab to the grand palace with 5 people. Then toured the grand palace for three hours. Also, visit Wat Pho (The Reclining Buddha). Came back to the hotel which is near Bangkok Palace (Ramada) then prepared for cruise dinner at Iconsiam.  Day 4 Hat Yai, Songkla Province [31st October 2022] Woke up ...

  Unleashing the Vajra: Nepal’s Journey between India and China Sujeev Shakya (2019), “Unleashing the Vajra: Nepal’s Journey between India and China” , Penguin Random House India Pvt. Ltd. Unleashing the Vajra: Nepal’s Journey between India and China  touches extensively on the past that shaped Nepal’s present and its prospective future in-between two of the world’s largest economies India and China. Furthermore, it also recommends strategies for transforming Nepal’s possibilities into reality.    Sujeev Shakya, the author of this book is a well-known name in Nepal who writes and talks extensively about Nepal’s economy. Shakya is also the founder of Beed Management and Nepal Economic Forum. The book is divided into three parts: The Past, The Context, and Action Time pertaining to Nepal’s socio-economic development. The Vajra as per Shakya symbolizes “an irresistible force carried by millions of Nepalis worldwide that will bring about positive transformation”.  ...

The term “Indo-Pacific” first emerged in Weimar Germany as a region that could act as a possible ally for Germany during the World War. Since then it has been used in referring to a geopolitical region that consists of countries in South Asia, East Asia, and others in the Asia Pacific region. ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’ according to the Department of Defense, United States, envisions a linkage between security, governance, and economics. But more than that Indo-Pacific now refers to a region with strategic economic and political interest that has been backed by western nations especially the United States to counter China’s growing influence in the region. Nepal, a landlocked country surrounded by India and China is in a critical geopolitical space. This means that Nepal usually has difficulty in aligning the conflict of interest between the major powers in the world. Acknowledging this situation the Indo-Pacific strategy has once again put Nepal in an ambiguous situation as far as foreign...