Submit your Article

By the fifth day inside the Darién jungle, Ramesh (name changed) and his Nepali companions were pushing their physical limits to the edge. They have been following the blue plastic wrapped around trees, which indicated their route ahead.

More than 200 migrants moved together through mud, rivers, and dense forest trails between northern Colombia and southern Panama. One member of their group could barely walk. His legs had given out, possibly due to uric acid complications or a severe sprain. But stopping was not an option. “If you want to survive, you have to keep your spirits up,” Ramesh recalled telling him. The group tied ropes around the man’s body and pulled him up the jungle slopes.

They survived on rationed bread and biscuits. They drank river water from bowls. At night, they slept near the largest groups to avoid animal attacks. For five straight days, there was complete radio silence. Their families had no idea whether they were alive.

Ramesh left Nepal in early 2023, hoping to reach the United States through the so-called “donkey route.” He spent a year moving through transit countries. He would later spend another 15 months inside American detention centres before eventually being deported back to Nepal.

As the United States tightens its deportation policies, Nepal has seen a sharp rise in the number of citizens being returned from America after attempting to enter or remain in the country illegally.

According to Sharad Raj Aran, chargé d’affaires at the Nepal Embassy in Washington, D.C., deportations from the US increased significantly in 2025 and 2026 compared to previous years. “In 2025, a total of 394 Nepali nationals were deported from the United States, while 438 have already been repatriated in 2026, as of the latest record. This shows a clear increase compared to previous years, when annual deportations typically remained below 200 individuals,” said Aran.

Ramesh’s journey began after he travelled from Nepal to Dubai, where he stayed for a month before flying to Baku, Azerbaijan, on a tourist visa. The arrangement had been made through a Nepali agent, whose details he had received from friends and relatives. They communicated via WhatsApp.

“The agent promised to get me into the USA within three to four months,” said Ramesh. The initial deal was set at Rs 6m, but later increased to nearly Rs 6.5m.

Asked whether his agent fully explained the risks and worst-case scenarios involved in the process, Ramesh laughed. “Why would the agent explain the dangers? The only thing he cares about is money. He doesn’t care whether we live or die,” he said.

After arriving at Baku Airport, the group connected to the free Wi-Fi and contacted their agents, who picked them up and took them to an apartment. They stayed there for nearly a month while the agents waited to see whether the Turkey route would open.

But problems at Turkish airports forced a change in plans, sending Ramesh back to Dubai for five to six months. “Dubai is the central transit hub and fallback location whenever planned routes fail,” he explained. The agents covered accommodation and food, but migrants had to pay for personal expenses themselves.

At one point, Ramesh and around 15 other migrants were flown to Gambia, where they narrowly avoided legal prosecution after officials discovered they lacked proper visas on arrival. The group hurriedly collected between $50 and $100 each to secure visas after landing.

After spending a month in Gambia, they moved through Senegal and Nigeria before eventually returning to Dubai after arrangements between agents fell apart. Exhausted by months of uncertainty, Ramesh insisted on returning to Nepal. But his agent persuaded him to continue, assuring him that everything had been arranged.

Ramesh, along with five others, was then transported to South America. After transiting through Israel and Portugal, they arrived in Brazil. “I tore up all my documents except my passport in the bathroom before surrendering to Brazilian authorities,” he explained. Doing so allowed him to apply for refugee status. After spending more than a week in a refugee camp, Brazilian authorities granted him a temporary one-year stay permit. It was all part of the plan. Almost immediately afterward, the agents resumed the northward journey. The route passed through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. 

Then came the infamous Darién Gap. For years, the dense jungle between Colombia and Panama has served as one of the world’s most dangerous migration corridors. The crossing is notorious for armed robbery, injury, dehydration, flash floods, extortion, and death. Yet nearly 500,000 people crossed the Darién in 2023, followed by around 300,000 in 2024.

“According to Nepali and American sources, including the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal and NepYork, this route—often passing through the Darién Gap—has seen a steep decline since mid-2025,” said Aran.

Ramesh said armed groups frequently stopped migrants throughout the journey across Central America, demanding money. Without agents accompanying them, he believes the group would have been kidnapped or robbed. He also claimed that police officers in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama routinely accepted bribes to let migrants continue travelling. “We hid our money carefully. If they found it, they would take everything,” he said.

At several points during the journey, Ramesh’s wife sent money through informal hundi networks to an agent in Dubai, who then arranged cash deliveries along the route. Eventually, the group reached Mexico, where they stayed for about a week in temporary camps near the border before smugglers organized small groups to cross into the United States.

American police vans were already waiting. “They checked us thoroughly. Then they took our fingerprints and photographs,” Ramesh recalled.

A central misconception among many Nepali migrants is that simply reaching US territory guarantees the right to stay or seek asylum. “In reality,” said Aram, “asylum processes in the United States are highly complex, time-consuming, and increasingly stringent.”

Several Nepalis fighting deportation cases were denied asylum after judges concluded that Nepal no longer faced the kind of political instability necessary to justify protection claims.

Ramesh was first detained in Arizona while awaiting an interview. Before that could happen, however, he was transferred to a private detention facility in Louisiana, where he remained for more than a year. He described the detention system as deeply commercialized. “These detention centres get $250 per refugee every day they keep people in jail. It felt like a business,” he said.

When Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, Ramesh said many detainees believed their chances of remaining in America had significantly worsened.

“One of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents told me it was highly unlikely I would win the case, and that it would be better to accept voluntary deportation,” he said. “I realized continuing the fight was pointless. I would only end up receiving bans from more countries.”

Ramesh decided to take voluntary deportation. The process took a few months as the US authorities had to coordinate with the Nepali embassy to verify his identity and issue travel documents.

Unlike some deportees transported on chartered flights, Ramesh was flown back on a commercial Turkish Airlines flight. Two ICE officers escorted him to the airport. While waiting for departure, one officer asked how much money he had spent trying to reach America.

“When I told him around $50,000, he was shocked,” Ramesh recalled. “He said, ‘That’s a huge amount. Some of us here don’t even have that kind of money. Why would you spend so much just to come here?’”

That question stayed with him. “I remember feeling anxious at every stage,” Ramesh said. “In Dubai, we worried about where we would go next. In Brazil, we worried about what would happen next. The fear never stopped.”

Today, Ramesh describes the ordeal as a harsh life experience and sometimes jokes that it was like a sightseeing tour through 18 countries. But he strongly discourages others from attempting the same route.

“Experiencing something is very different from just hearing about it,” he said. “Whenever people ask me about this process, I tell them not to do it. But in the end, it depends on the person. Some of my friends still went even after I warned them.”

Aran also had a message for Nepalis considering such journeys: “Nepali citizens should refrain from using irregular or undocumented routes to reach the United States. These routes are unsafe, exploitative, and often end in detention or deportation.”

‘The aspiration to migrate to US is driven by a combination of economic, educational, and social factors’ 

Sharad Raj Aran, chargé d’affaires, Nepali embassy in America

How closely are Nepal and the United States currently coordinating on immigration related matters? 

The Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C., maintains a consistent line of communication with the US Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure that cases involving Nepali nationals are handled in accordance with both nations’ laws and humanitarian standards. In the current fiscal year, four coordinated return flights have already taken place, safely repatriating nearly 600 Nepali nationals.

Has the US Embassy observed any recent increase or decrease in illegal migration attempts by Nepalis? 

Since March 2026, no recorded cases have involved entry or attempted entry through the US–Mexico border, showing a significant improvement from prior years when the route was more frequently used by irregular migrants.

What are the primary reasons, in your view, that drive many Nepalis to pursue migration to the US? 

The aspiration to migrate to the United States is driven by a combination of economic, educational, and social factors. Many young Nepalis view the US as a land of opportunity, offering world-class universities, better employment prospects, and stable social systems that promise long-term security for families.

What happens procedurally when a Nepali national is detained from the United States?

When a Nepali national is detained by US immigration authorities, the detention facility or ICE office notifies the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C. The Embassy then verifies the person’s identity through official records and Nepali agencies and issues a one-time travel document to facilitate lawful repatriation. The Embassy’s role is to ensure due process and humane treatment throughout this procedure.  

Do you expect US immigration policies concerning undocumented migrants to change in any significant way? 

The current administration’s emphasis on enhanced border security, fast-tracked immigration court proceedings, and “America First” economic priorities indicates tighter screening and reduced tolerance for undocumented entry or visa overstays. The Embassy of Nepal will continue to work constructively with US authorities to ensure that humanitarian considerations are upheld while reinforcing the shared commitment to lawful, safe, and orderly migration.

When was the last time you read a book? Not for school, not for exams, but because you wanted to read it. Was it a few days ago, or is it in months or even years? Three decades ago, books were the primary source of information and knowledge.

Does this stereotype still hold up in 2026? With information available so easily in a short and concise form on the internet, the value of books seems to have shifted to other forms. 

Nowadays, reading has vanished as a habit but emerged as an obligation, laborious task or even  punishment in some cases. Reading is nowadays associated with academic requirements rather than personal enjoyment and interest.

Interviews with youths of various ages reveal a pattern that is quite concerning. Some admit to not having read a book for years, while others responded saying that their reading habit has been in decline. “Doom scrolling takes up all my free time ”, said Bizen Kawan, 18, describing how social media and shorts have caused a decline in his reading hours.

Most of the people that rarely read a book or those who haven’t picked up a book in years admit that it is not that they don’t want to read books, they very well express a clear intention of wanting to return to their old reading habits. 

“It’s been a year since I last read a book. However, I do want to read more books, but chatting with friends replaces that time,” said 16-year-old Richa Chaurasia. 

Although many youths express a desire to read, they aren’t able to sustain and implement this habit in their routines. Mostly because work, fatigue, digital entertainment and games are often given more priority compared to reading. Saras Shrestha, 22, who works at a wooden artifact shop in Labim Mall, expressed his lifestyle: “Office and game time are taking away the book reading time.” This is the reality of many youths. 

But this does not indicate a disappearance of reading. Even if it is less frequent, people still manage time for books. “The last book I read was a month ago, but I still like reading mystery books on the local bus,” said 19 years old Ozern Shrestha. 

When asked why they do not read on a regular basis, most answers were the same causes: social media, chatting with friends, games, digital entertainment, and doom scrolling. 

Contrary to the belief, this is not an unconscious and absent minded shift. Most of the youths were fully aware of the impact of these digital platforms on them. “I feel like the social media and short form content affects my reading by using up all the leisure time we have,” said Chloe Lama, 20. 

“I have not completed a single book since high school. I want to read some non-fiction and self-help books, but social media has decreased my attention span,” said Kawan. 

A recent publication ‘Feeds, Feelings, and Focus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Examining the Cognitive and Mental Health Correlates of Short-Form Video Use’ shows a clear pattern of heavy shortform content causing decreased attention span and less focus. There was also a large meta study consisting of around 100,000 people that found that frequent users of the platform performed worse in attention, control, and working memory, which are key cognitive abilities necessary for reading and studying.

Yet, reading is not disappearing entirely. It seems to be evolving into other platforms. There are many people reading books through different formats. While the majority of people prefer physical books, there are some youths that prefer ebooks and audiobooks because of their convenience.

“I like to read books while travelling in public transportation, e-books are way more convenient for my case,” said 19-year-old Shrestha. Others are drawn to genres like self-help, which most youths believe are practical and applicable to their lives. “I like books like Atomic Habit as it focuses on habits and personal development, which feels more useful than fiction,” said KC. 

Along with this, TikToks, Instagrams, and Reddit have become an unexpected source of book recommendations for young people.

The majority of the youths want to indulge themselves in reading culture. But students say there are fewer libraries in Nepal. “The very concept of libraries is appealing, but in the context of Nepal, with limited access, no borrowing culture, and an ambient environment, it is hard for us to visit it,” said Lama. This shows a flaw in our current system.  

When this concern was raised with book editor Ramesh Parajuli, he offered a more critical perspective. “The fact that libraries are necessary does not seem to be fully recognized by our country,” he said, pointing to the recent closure of a library at Bhrikuti Mandap. A library that was established through community effort, but unfortunately was shut down after it had not paid the rents. 

Along with access to libraries, some youths pointed out the need for books themselves to be more engaging and interesting. “We need to add more images in books to make them more appealing to youths, as pictures are a strong way of capturing and retaining attention,” said Shrestha, 22, who is currently reading the manga series Berserk. He believes that the picture format would help sustain interest in the story. He also suggested that similar approaches like this can help books to match the changing attention pattern.

There also seems to be a trend of a decrease in the consumption of Nepali literature. In a small sample of 20 youths, 17 of them reported reading English literature. Parajuli said, “There is a much larger catalogue of English literature in comparison to Nepali literature. Furthermore, there is limited specific content targeted towards young adults in Nepali literature. From an early age, we also tend to encourage our children to read English books.”

In an age where information is instantly accessible in a digestible format, the value of reading is in something deeper. As Parajuli explains, there is a core difference between information and knowledge. “When you search in the digital world, you find information. When you read a book, you gain knowledge.” 

The digital platforms and tools may provide you with quick and easy answers, but they are based on computer critical thinking. Reading, however, is an active and complex process, which challenges your critical thinking, interpretation and reflection.“When you read something yourself, you feel it, and interpret it, and then it turns into knowledge. It becomes an experience,” he added.

In an era where chess is increasingly defined by engine preparation and majority draws, Javokhir Sindarov, at 20 years old, has produced a dominance in the Candidates 2026 that feels unnatural. Firstly, the Candidates is a tournament that happens every two years where the top eight players are chosen for a double round robin tournament, where the winner gets the chance to challenge the current world champion for their title. And Javokhir, in his first ever candidates, won the tournament with ten out of fourteen points. 

This performance stands out because of modern chess trends. Advanced engines and opening prep have dominated the early phases of the game and have reduced creativity at the highest level. Because of the precise lines and openings, most chess games end in a draw. Statistically, almost 60 percent of the game's in the candidates are a draw. The opening prep of the players takes them to a neutral and simplified position, which, when played perfectly, ends in a draw every time.

Therefore, the only time when the game has a deciding result is if one of the players is caught lacking in some weird opening preparation or if the person blunders—which is quite rare in high level chess. So, winning six games in fourteen rounds in the hardest tournaments surrounded by players such as Hikaru, Anish, and Fabiano is unheard of.

To even begin to understand how great a performance Javokhir Sidarov had in the tournament, let's start with the record he broke. He broke the record for the highest points ever secured in the candidates, which was nine and a half out of fourteen by Ian Nepomniachtchi. There is an understanding about the candidates that you are almost guaranteed to win if you win five games in fourteen rounds and draw most of the others. In comparison, Sindarov had four wins in the first five rounds. Even Magnus Carlson was surprised,” Nobody expects you to go four and a half out of five. I will be curious to go home and check the games”. He destabilized the entire tournament structure.

His playstyle was confident, dynamic and decisive. He won the candidates statistically with one round to spare and finished the tournament with two points higher than the second place. This is one of the most dominating and impressive tournament performances in the world, which you could argue is on par with the Legendary run of Fabiano Caruana in the 2014 Sinquefield Cup, where he secured seven consecutive wins and finished the tournament with eight and a half out of ten points. After Sindarov’s performance, Fabiano Caruana himself acknowledged the difficulty of Sindarov’s run, saying, “Could I have a dream run like Javokhir did here? I don’t know. Scoring plus six in the Candidates is extremely hard. I believe I’m capable of winning the tournament if I’m in good form, but whether something like that happens, I have no idea.”

With all of this, Sidharav wasn't even favoured to win. Hikaru and Fabiano were the clear pre-tournament favourites. This was a great upset. But his victory points to something larger—it reflects a generational shift  in elite chess. Even Nakamura himself admitted this trend, ” So, broadly speaking, it's clear that there is a shift in the generation. I am not having a great tournament, and Fabi is still having a decent result, but it is not what he wanted. I think the trend is going in a direction where chess is getting younger and younger: Javokhir, Gukesh, Vincent, Arjun, and others. Time is running out for the older players like Fabi and me.” This has set the precedent and expectations of the younger generation even higher.

The women’s Candidates, in stark contrast, unfolded as far more equal and uncertain. Anna Muzychuk had a slight lead during the sixth round, but by the eighth round, five players were tied for first with four and a half points. Unlike the open section, where the outcome was almost certain, the women’s section remained uncertain and provoking until the end.

Vaishali Rameshbabu briefly emerged ahead with six points in round ten, but just three rounds later, Bibisara Assaubayeva pulled herself back into the first place tie with seven and a half points. You could feel how quickly the momentum shifted in the women’s field. Even in the last round, there was still a chance of a five way tie. This was the level of competitiveness and closeness the tournament had. The last round was the deciding round. In the end, Vaishali managed to find a critical move, c4, under time pressure. Then she converted a chaotic position into a winning endgame, after which Kateryna Lagno resigned. Vaishali finished with 8.5/14 and is confirmed as a challenger to the world champion's title.

Now, all that's left is the anticipation for the world championship match happening in about six or seven months. This is going to be a great event for the Indian chess fans as both the open and the women's world championship has one indian representative: Gukesh as the defending world champion and Vaishali as the challenger to the women's world champion. The fight between Gukesh Dommaraju and Javokhir Sindarov, and the fight between Vaishali Rameshbabu and Ju Wenjun will be the beginning of the new era of elite chess.