Rabi Lamichhane

Rabi Lamichhane (Nepali: रबि लामिछाने ) is a Nepali television presenter who came to fame attempting to set the Guinness world record for hosting the longest-ever marathon television talk show in April 2013.[7] Under the theme "Buddha was born in Nepal", Lamichhane interviewed politicians, journalists and celebrities, and took phone calls from viewers. While he set the Guinness world record at over 62 hours in April 2013, the record has since been broken by Alexandru Raducanu of Romania who hosted an over 72-hour-long show.[8]

Rabi Lamichhane
Born
Rabi Lamichhane

(1974-09-13) 13 September 1974
Kathmandu, Nepal
Nationality
  • Nepali (By Paternal Nationality 14 Sep. 1974 to 2007 and by re-announcement of citizenship 2017 to present)[1]
  • American (2007 to 4 October 2017)[2][3]
Occupation
  • Broadcast Journalist
  • Show host
  • Lyricist
Years active2013–present
Known forhosting the longest-ever television talk show and Sidha Kura Janta Sanga[4]
Spouse(s)

Lamichhane currently hosts a popular television show, Sidha Kura Janta Sangha (Straight Talk with the People) on the News24 Network.

Career

Rabi Lamichhane rose to fame as the host of a television show on the News24 Network aimed at setting the world record for longest marathon hosting of a television show. He selected the "Buddha was born in Nepal" in order to "help promote Nepal globally".[7] The previous record was set by two Ukrainian presenters who stayed on the air for 52 hours in 2011.[9] The record has since been broken by a Romanian presenter.[8]

Currently, he hosts Sidha Kura Janta Sanga on News 24 television. The show's format has Lamichhane providing an editorial monologue alongside reporting, primarily the kind of 'sting journalism' pioneered by the Indian news magazine Tehelka. Lamichhane follows up on complaints from ordinary people, chiefly victims of fraud or corruption, and confronts the alleged perpetrators on camera. The show has been described as also "unapologetically nationalist, at times simplistic in its coverage of complex issues," and creating "a cult of personality around its host".[10]

Controversy

While Lamichhane has become a popular journalist in Nepal, there are some who have raised questions about his style of journalism and the "cult of personality" that has sprung up around him.[10] While his methods have borne results for the ordinary people on whose behalf he pursues cases of fraud and corruption, critics have pointed to his "nationalist posturing" and "simplistic story lines".[10][11]

On 15 August 2019, police arrested Lamichhane from his News 24 office in connection with the suicide of journalist Shalikram Pudasaini.[12][13] In a video recorded before his death, Pudasaini, who had also worked for News24, had named Lamichhane, among others, as driving him to suicide.[14] Chitwan police charged Lamichhane along with two others with abetment of suicide.[14][15] His arrest provoked widespread protest rallies in his support across the country with thousands of young people taking to the streets in Chitwan.[13][16][17] Protestors saw Lamichhane's arrest as an attempt to stifle his journalism and as retaliation for his exposure of corruption in the state.[18] Lamichhane was released on Rs 500,000 bail a few days later.[19] The case is currently pending at the Chitwan District Court.

References
  1. "Rabi Lamichhane speaks about his US Passport and current nationality".
  2. "Rabi Lamichhane Holds American Citizenship Which Has Created Chaos Among His Fans".
  3. "Rabi Lamichhane to be arrested, deported for being an American citizen to host Nepalese television".
  5. https://xnepali.net/rabi-had-affair-with-a-mysterious-2008-us-return-woman-says-his-ex-wife-isha-lamichhane/
  6. Republica. "Rabi Lamichhane and Nikita Poudel get married". My City. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. "Nepali hosts longest-ever talk show". BBC News. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  8. "Longest marathon television talk show". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  9. "Nepalese presenter sets record for longest talk show - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  10. Gill, Peter (18 September 2019). "Why Nepal loves Rabi Lamichhane – and why some revile him". The Record. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  11. "Everyone is talking about Rabi Lamichhane. Here's what you need to know about the law that had him detained". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  12. "पत्रकार दुर्व्यवहार र पक्राउको शैलीप्रति महासंघको ध्यानकर्षण || Federation of Nepali Journalists". fnjnepal.org. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  13. Gill, Peter. "Popular Support Grows for Indicted Nepali Journalist". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  14. "Pudasaini death mystery: TV host Lamichhane among three arrested". The Himalayan Times. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  15. "Suicide abetment charge lodged against three including Rabi Lamichhane". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  16. "Lamichhane's supporters continue protest in Chitwan". The Himalayan Times. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  17. Magazine, New Spolight. "Angry Supporters Vandalized Police Vehicle In Chitwan". SpotlightNepal. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  18. Magazine, New Spolight. "Rabi Lamichhane's Supporters Demanded His Unconditional Release". SpotlightNepal. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  19. "Lamichhane, Kandel released on bail, Karki on general date". The Himalayan Times. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
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