👀 Heroes, Hype, and Hard Landings

Namaste! Welcome to this week’s edition, where we're diving into Nepal’s favorite pastime: creating heroes out of thin air and then gasping when they fall off their pedestals. It’s a pattern. One minute, Durga Prasai is our political chameleon, flipping alliances faster than I change from WiFi to data during load-shedding. Next, we’ve got Rabi Lamichhane, the self-styled reformer promising to make Nepal the Switzerland of South Asia—until his jail stints started racking up. And then there’s Aashika Tamang, who went from calling out overpricing to, well… questionable TikTok fame. We Nepalis love our heroes, and we don’t hold back on the hype. But in this week’s stories, you’ll see just how wild things get when the fandoms fall flat.

La Eta Hernus

Desh

Durga dai: Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) just arrested Durga Prasai, the ever-controversial medical entrepreneur, right at his Bhaktapur home on cybercrime charges. CIB spokesperson Hobindra Bogati claims Prasai’s latest stunt involved spreading spicy rumors on social media about PM KP Sharma Oli—alleging Oli’s “investments” in Cambodia (because apparently that’s the hot spot for secret deals? Cambodia ma k huncha?) CIB Chief Deepak Thapa hinted that this arrest might be the appetizer, with possible charges of forgery and organized crime in the works. For zoomers who don’t know Prasai: he’s the guy who fed Prachanda maarsi chaamal ko bhaat when they were tight, then became Oli’s Jhapali bhatij, and then led a “Raja Aau, Desh Bachau” rally.

Rabi dai, Chhabi dai, GB dai: In other news featuring “hot dais in jail,” the Kathmandu District Court has issued arrest warrants for Rabi dai and Chhabi dai (ex-DIG), though they’re still hunting for GB dai. Rabi dai, the managing director of Gorkha Media Network, and Chhabi dai, its vice-chair, were nabbed for allegedly misusing funds from Swarnalakshmi Cooperative in Kalimati. Both are already in custody in Kaski for similar cooperative-related cases but maintain their innocence. Rabi dai’s now a month into jail time—someone check on that famous hair of his.

The duo joins a growing list of suspects, with warrants already out for 24 others tied to Gorkha Media, including chair Gitendra Babu Rai (aka GB dai). Our take? They're definitely on the dodgy side, but let’s be real—if they were from a bigger political party, would they be behind bars? Rabi dai’s popularity will probably keep climbing, but if the RSP keeps idolizing him like a demigod, it could backfire. Grassroots clout isn’t built overnight, and you can’t “Olify” someone without it.

Aashika Tamang, the viral activist famous for calling out price-gouging shopkeepers and roadside ma susu garne guys, seems to be trading civic duty for TikTok fame. Her TikTok content? Let’s just say it’s lastai jhur. Hopes were high that she’d spark Nepal’s very own “Department of Government Efficiency,” but it seems she’s more focused on collecting views than calling out real issues. Fame sure has a knack for turning activism into… well, something far less inspiring.

Tech 

What are you reading? Influencers are the new media moguls—at least for younger folks. A recent Pew survey shows that around 21% of US adults, and nearly 40% of those under 30, now get their news from creators instead of traditional outlets. And political candidates are taking notes: the latest US election saw them hopping on podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience to reach the "newsfeed weary" crowd. Some fun stats? Nearly two-thirds of these “newsfluencers” are men, and X (formerly Twitter) is their preferred stage, with 85% of them active there. And legacy media? They might want to start sliding into influencers' DMs—77% of these creators have zero ties to old-school newsrooms.

Kasturi dai: It’s been a rollercoaster of a post-election week for Elon Musk’s X. While over 115,000 U.S. users deleted their accounts the day after the election (biggest single-day exodus since Musk’s takeover), Bluesky’s been basking in the glow as it shot to the top of Apple’s App Store. Bluesky’s now hit 15 million users—still a baby next to X’s 330 million monthly users in its prime, but growing fast.

Meanwhile, brands may be eyeing a comeback on X. With a new administration looming, advertisers might see X as a useful place to gain political traction, and Musk could be key to that influence play. For X, it’s a lifeline—the platform’s ad revenue from top brands dropped a jaw-dropping 68% since early 2022.

Reading List

1. ‘It wasn’t sexual in any way!’ 50 years of streaking—by the people who dared to bare all (Simon Hattenstone, The Guardian)

2. English is not the be-all and end-all (Anbika Giri, Nepali Times)

Kahi Nabhako Jaatra

Sports

Nepali Cricket: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has officially announced the match schedule for the inaugural Nepal Premier League (NPL) T20 tournament, kicking off November 30 at TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The opening clash between Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts will set the stage for a league featuring eight franchise teams battling it out for the title. Kathmandu Gurkhas take on Chitwan Rhinos on December 2, and December 3 will see Sudurpaschim Royals facing the Kings and Pokhara Avengers squaring off with the Rhinos.

The format is single round-robin, with the top four advancing to the playoffs: the top two will duel in Qualifier 1 for a direct shot at the final, while the third and fourth teams battle in the Eliminator. Qualifiers and the Eliminator kick off December 18, with the grand final spot decided on December 19.

Eta Hernus Quiz

Who said this?

"If anyone calls me the mahanaayak hereon, I'll block them on Facebook."

a) Rajesh Hamal

b) Bhuwan KC

c) Anmol KC

d) Deepak Raj Giri

Bidesh Tira Hernus

Amrika: Jake Paul may have handled Mike Tyson in the ring, but Netflix couldn’t handle the traffic. In a highly hyped bout at AT&T Stadium, the YouTuber-turned-fighter beat the boxing legend, drawing in 60 million Netflix households and smashing records with $18 million in gate receipts—biggest ever outside Nevada, they say. But while Tyson and Paul went all rounds, Netflix tapped out early: Downdetector logged half a million complaints about streaming issues that lasted from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Not exactly confidence-inspiring for NFL fans hoping to stream games on Netflix this Christmas.

Chhimeki desh: Air pollution in New Delhi has hit horrifying levels, soaring to 50 times the WHO’s recommended safe limit. Authorities have declared a medical emergency, shutting down schools, halting construction, and leaving 55 million people choking under a toxic blanket of smog. The main culprit? Crop residue burning by farmers, combined with colder weather that traps the pollution over the city. Neighboring Pakistan isn’t faring much better, with similarly severe smog conditions persisting for weeks.

Together with Kancha ko Bhancha

Nepali in Amrika, are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift that’s a little spicier than the usual tibetan flag/small khukuri? Enter Kancha ko Bhaancha—homemade, Nepali-style achar shipped straight to your door across the US! Kaancha’s achar is Christmas-ready for three solid reasons:

1. Taste of Home: Kaancha’s tangy, spicy creations will hit you right in the nostalgia. It's like gifting someone their hajuraama’s kitchen in a jar (minus the aunties asking about your marriage plans).

2. Perfect Pairing: From dal-bhat to plain-old bread, his achars are a flavor upgrade for every meal—even the most disappointing Christmas leftovers.

3. White Elephant with a Kick: Why settle for the usual gag gifts? These achars will leave people actually fighting over who gets to take them home.

Kaancha’s jars of joy are here to make your Christmas merry, Nepali-style. Order here.

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A request

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