Last week, Nepal officially abolished its 240-year-old monarchy. Now Nepal’s ex-king is vacating his palace, and the country’s political parties are squabbling over power-sharing in the new government. Journalist and photographer Thomas Laird has reported on Nepal for both Time and Newsweek; he lived in Nepal for more than 30 years. He’s the author of several books including The Story of Tibet. Social and political activist Dr. Tara Niraula is the immediate past president of America-Nepal Friendship Society and the current Senior Vice President of the Nepalese Americas Council, an umbrella group for 28 Nepali American groups in North America.