Subeksha Poudel

Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening from Kathmandu. This is Issue 243 of Kalam Weekly, the only newsletter you need to keep updated with everything happening in Nepal. Here’s a small voice note to introduce this week’s deep dive. Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. This week, we’re forgoing everything else to focus on this very important long read from Subeksha Poudel on conflict-related sexual violence and transitional justice.

Days after the arrest of protesters that occupied Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall, the presence of “outsiders” inside the building continues to be up for debate. Law enforcement and university officials have released a breakdown of the arrests, tagging 13 of the 44 individuals in  the hall as “non-affiliates.” But protesters say these demonstrators are alumni and chapter members of other social justice organizations.

Pulling the dhoti up to her ankle, Dambara Regmi, 24, used to clamber up to a mud room atop the cowshed. In the tiny, dark claustrophobic room, her sister-in-law and a young neighbour, also menstruating, would each chose a corner to sleep in.