Scoop: Durga Prasai’s Drama, Ramailo App’s Rise & Fall, and Gagan Thapa’s Bold Challenge

Hey there, Guff Buffs, this time we are dropping a lite edition of our weekly scroll because our Thanksgiving dinner took a detour from turkey and it’s not sitting well with us. These stories are swallowing the airwaves and hijacking every social media scroll in Nepal.

It’s the story that’s got everyone talking, tweeting, and theorizing – and we just couldn’t resist adding our own dash of wit to the mix.

So, grab your cup of coffee and brace yourselves for a read that’s as gripping as it is revealing. This isn’t just news; it’s the stuff of legends (and cautionary tales).

Happy Reading!

Current Affairs
Man Who Conned Politicians, Dreamed of Millions, and Now Owes Billions – The Durga Prasai Drama Unfolds

In the twisting saga of Nepali politics and entrepreneurship, one tale stands out – that of Durga Prasai, a man who seemingly mastered the art of political mingling, only to find himself in a financial quagmire.

Circa 2014-2018, Prasai was the man of the hour, rubbing shoulders with the likes of KP Oli and Prime Minister Prachanda. Picture this: the trio dining on Marsi Chamal ko bhaat, plotting the future of Nepal’s medical education.

Prasai, charming as ever, secured licenses to transform the B and C Hospital into a medical college – a cash cow in a land where political heads and medical college operators snuggled up in a cozy, lucrative bed.

But wait, enter Dr. Govinda K.C., the wrench in Prasai’s well-oiled machine. Dr. K.C., with a Gandhian flair, waged war against the medical license mafia through fasting unto death. His fight exposed the rot – medical schools with more cobwebs than instructors, with fewer patient beds than a backpacker’s hostel. The government, buckling under pressure, implemented laws that put a damper on the medical mafia’s parade.

Meanwhile, our protagonist Prasai, who had just secured his golden ticket (read: medical college license) and dived headfirst into a Rs. 4 billion loan, found his dreams drenched by Dr. K.C.’s storm.

With no help from his once-dining buddies Oli and Prachanda, Prasai’s sweet dream turned into a sour nightmare, leaving him hooked on a massive loan. In a plot twist worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy, he cuts ties with his political bedfellows and embarks on a new crusade – rallying loan defaulters to protest against their lenders. And it’s not just Prasai who is looking to cash out from mobocracy. There are monarchist vultures hovering over this crowd looking for a fitting narrative to bring back Kingship.

This isn’t just a financial soap opera; it’s a microcosm of Nepal’s chaotic dance of power, where debtors dream of toppling the system, monarchist vultures circle overhead, and the common man is left holding the bag. As for Prasai, from medical college mogul to debt-ridden disruptor, his journey is a testament to the twists and turns of Nepali politics and economics, where dreams can turn to dust, and allies to adversaries, all over a plate of Marsi Chamal ko bhaat.

As this saga unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that Nepal’s history of street-powered political upheaval isn’t just a relic of the past. The rise of figures like Durga Prasai exemplifies how mobocracy, the rule of the crowd, has woven itself into the nation’s fabric. Time and again, clout-seeking individuals harness populist sentiments, rallying the masses behind causes like loan forgiveness, or return of the monarchy, you name it, often under the guise of societal good.

In this whirlwind of change, we’ve seen Balen, Harka Sampang, Rabi Lamichhane, and now Prasai take the stage. And the thrill seekers are moving at lightning speed. It’s a reminder that in this ever-evolving drama, anyone could be next in line for the spotlight. So, who’s up for a turn? Could it be you, me, or the next charmer waiting in the wings? Only time, and perhaps the streets of Nepal, will tell.

Tech Trends
The VPN Hustle and the Saga of Ramailo in Nepal

“As Nepal Turns,” this digital drama is juicier than a monsoon-season mango. Let’s dive in.

First, the government of Nepal played the role of the strict parent and gave TikTok the boot, citing social harmony. It’s like saying “No more candy” – but the candy is addictive dance videos and lip-sync battles. We might disagree with this move, but arguing with the government is like trying to teach a yak to surf – ambitious but futile.

Cue the dramatic entrance of Ramailo App, crafted by the digital wizards at “Ideajar.” Their solution to the TikTok void was akin to photocopying your friend’s homework and just changing the name. Ramailo burst onto the scene, a TikTok doppelgänger wearing a Made-in-Nepal label. Twitter, our ever-reliable grapevine, was abuzz with hot takes and memes. But, like a sherpa without a map, Ramailo lost its way and got booted off the Google Play Store for not playing by the rules.

TikTok clone that is now off the Google Play Store

Meanwhile, the tech-savvy crowd turned to VPNs and DNS trickery to leap over the Great Sagarmatha Firewall. The government frowned upon this digital disobedience, warning of monetary leaks and personal detail peeks. But let’s be real – when you’ve already banned TikTok and, heavens forbid, porn, trying to ban VPNs is like trying to plug a leaking dam with bubble gum.

For those who are not tech savvy: VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to bypass geographical restrictions based on your device IP address. It’s like a tunnel with a shortcut access to your destination.

So, what’s a digitally deprived Nepali to do? The people are voting with their VPNs, and it’s a resounding “Nice try, but no cigar.” In a land of majestic mountains and ancient traditions, the digital landscape is turning into a game of cat and mouse – or should we say, tiger and goat?

The government, in its quest for digital decorum, seems to have forgotten one tiny detail: when you squeeze too tight, things tend to slip through your fingers. And in this case, it’s the people’s relentless quest for unrestricted digital freedom.

So, here we are, in a nation where the forbidden fruits of TikTok and adult entertainment are off-limits, but the VPN fruit remains tantalizingly within reach. The message from the masses is clear: “Come on, government, give us something to watch!”

In the end, this saga is more than just about apps and VPNs; it’s a tussle between control and freedom, tradition and modernity. And in this dance, everyone’s trying to lead. Stay tuned, folks. This digital dance-off is far from over. 📲💃🔥🇳🇵

Consolation Prize
Gagan Thapa’s Royal Rumble: A Challenge to Rewrite History

Gagan Thapa Lite: A protestor in Prasai rally.

In a move that’s more audacious than adding spice to your morning tea, Gagan Thapa, the youth leader of the Nepali Congress, turned a routine political rally into a scene straight out of a play. His target? None other than the ex-king of Nepal. His weapon of choice? Words, sharp as swords.

Thapa, in a flourish of rhetorical bravado, essentially told the ex-king: “Miss the throne? Well, dust off your crown, start a political party, dive into the elections, and maybe rewrite the Constitution. Easy peasy, right?” It’s the political equivalent of challenging a retired gladiator to one last duel in the arena, except the swords are ballot papers, and the arena is the rough-and-tumble world of Nepali politics.

This is less of a political strategy and more of a dare, the kind you’d expect in a high-stakes game of political poker. It’s like saying, “Sure, you can be king again – just take a little detour through democracy.” The audacity is so thick you could cut it with a khukuri.

The chances of this happening? It’s probably the same as seeing a snow leopard hosting a talk show. But hey, it’s a free country, and Thapa’s challenge is the kind of plot twist that keeps the political drama in Nepal as unpredictable as the weather in the Himalayas.

So, let’s give a round of applause to Gagan Thapa for his creative, if improbable, suggestion. It’s a reminder that in the grand bazaar of Nepali politics, you never know what’s going to be on offer next. Will we see a royal comeback? Unlikely, but in the world of politics, never say never!

In the end, Gagan Thapa’s challenge might just be a clever piece of political theater, but it’s certainly one that adds a dash of excitement to the Nepali political narrative. Long live democracy, and long live the spirit of audacious challenges! 👑🇳🇵🎭

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