Tom Robertson

Bigotry of low expectations

Negatively stereotyping Dalit and disadvantaged students perpetuates caste discrimination in Nepal

Tom Robertson

Teaching Nepali teachers to teach better

Why Nepal’s schools perform poorly year after year

Tom Robertson

Centennial of hunting diplomacy in Nepal

On 14 December 1921 – exactly 100 years ago – Edward, the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, arrived in...

Tom Robertson

Kathmandu's ‘flash floods’ are 4 decades in the making

Kathmandu Valley’s geography gives it several strategic advantages. It is too high for malaria, but too low for much snow and ice....

Tom Robertson

Why are Sherpas always happy?

For decades, foreigners have noted and celebrated the good-natured cheerfulness of Nepal's Sherpas.  One western climber, in a preface to Tenzing Norgay's autobiography,...

Tom Robertson

5 Myths about the Tharu

The Tharu make up 5% of Nepal’s population. One in every 20 Nepalis is Tharu. They outnumber the Gurung, Limbu, and Newa...

Tom Robertson

Nepal’s class divide

When I taught in a Nepali government school, the biggest problem I faced was not poor facilities. Motivated teachers don't need much...

Tom Robertson

America, Nepal and the Royal Coup

On 15 December 1960 (पुस १) exactly 60 years ago, King Mahendra ordered the jailing of Prime Minister BP Koirala and other...

Tom Robertson

The dangers of the dengue virus

Haphazard urbanisation in Nepal has created ideal conditions for the mosquito that carries the disease

Tom Robertson

Viruses past, present and future

Nepal’s history shows that nature matters in dealing with epidemics but, social differences do, too

Tom Robertson
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Tom Robertson

writer