What prompted you to take up blogging?

I started blogging as a way to occupy my free time during my high-school years. Blog-activity was very sluggish in the beginning and I didn’t have many readers. We did not have too many great movies back then, and we didn’t have a lot of actors breaking into the scene either, so blogging about the entertainment industry wasn’t really a “cool thing” to do. But I persisted because I enjoyed sharing my opinion. Also, when it came to Nepali showbiz, fashion, and celebrities, there was a void in the blog-world that I felt I could fill by getting people to talk more and be informed about Nepali entertainment. Since then it has been fascinating to observe the growth of Nepali entertainment and popular culture.

What does blogging mean to you?

From a few hours of fun, which it was when I started out, blogging has become a big part of my life; I believe it’s a great platform that has helped me gain exposure, share and write about amazing individuals, question certain things and offer my insights. Over the years, I think I have matured a lot and so have my blog posts.

The reader base has also grown, so along with light reads about entertainment, I also try my best to feature longer articles about inspiring figures and organisations.  

Can you tell us about your project Tracing Nepal?

When I was living in Brunei and the UK, I realised how essential it was to connect to my Nepali heritage and experience the essence of the land where our ancestors and parents had lived. So I came up with Tracing Nepal: we use this initiative  to create a unique experience, with travel and cultural exchange programmes, wherein young non-resident Nepalis are brought together and taken on adventurous trips to rural Nepal for a period of 12 days. The idea is to help them discover Nepal like they have never before. They also visit a lot of places that they probably never would have if they had come on their own. And they get to enjoy some of Nepal’s best tourism hotspots as well. It is the best project that I have been involved in, and I am really proud of it. I really enjoyed organising the first Tracing Nepal edition, in 2014, and it has made me even more determined to continue with it. The experience that the young Nepalis took away with them was beyond what I had imagined they would. The NRNs came thinking they would help in some way, but after talking to them, I found out that it was actually they who learned the most, from Nepal and Nepalis.

It’s interesting that you came back to Nepal while most youngsters prefer to leave. Why did you return?

Growing up abroad was amazing, but there were moments when I felt like an outsider. So, I always contemplated returning to Nepal. After I graduated college, it just made sense to come back, explore the place, and do

something for the community. I took an internship opportunity related to my degree, Human Geography, here. I was struck by the Nepalis’ kindness and humility whenever I travelled around the country, and I also got that sense of belonging that I had always lacked in the UK. Perhaps many Nepalis go abroad because they want to make something of themselves there, but I actually believe that I will achieve all that here and also that my work will have a bigger impact in Nepal. So I am really happy that I returned, not only because I successfully completed my work but also because now I can see where I fit in and what I can potentially do when I eventually return for good.

What is your earliest memory of Nepal?

The holiday visits to Sinam and Sablakhu—my parents’ villages in Taplejung—have always stood out. I went over there when I was very young. Things were very different back then. We used to run around in the open and play with the animals in the village.

What would you be doing if you weren’t blogging?

I am very content with the choices that I have made so far. Blogging makes me happy, so if I wasn’t doing that, I am not really sure what else I would be doing. Perhaps I’d just spend a lot of time watching films and YouTube videos.

Any professional regrets so far?

There have been none so far. But I am sure there will be some in the future. That’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.

You must have several projects in the works. Would you share some details with us?

Besides the blog, I have some key engagements.  I will be travelling out of Kathmandu between April 6 and 17 for the second season of Tracing Nepal. After that, I will be trekking to Upper Dolpa with Binod Shahi Newa to see his work and also the way of life there. I am both nervous and thrilled about the Dolpa trip, shortly after which, my Nepal stay will come to an end, and I will have to return to the UK to rejoin my family and to hopefully start my master’s this September.

Finally, would you like to share something with the Nepalis migrating or residing abroad?

Don’t forget your roots. That’s very important. We also need to think of ways to uplift and support our community sustainably, opting for ways that do not further promote a culture of dependency. You don’t have to come back to Nepal, but wherever you are, spread and share what you have and know. I hope when all of us do that, our knowledge and acquired skills will also make their way back to Nepal.