In a recent announcement, Anupama has been named as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mega Bank Nepal as a replacement to the former CEO Anil Shah as per the Nepal Rastra Bank’s regulation.

Anupama’s appointment to the top post in one of the class A banks of Nepal is being seen as the landmark announcement and also as an inspiration to Nepali women community looking for careers in the banking sector.

“I will put all my efforts into safeguarding the interests of stakeholders, promoters and customers of the bank while ensuring compliance with the regulations of the central bank and government bodies to benefit society at large,” Anupama said in a statement.

Speaking on her appointment, Anupama pitches on the need for encouraging more women to pursue careers in the banking sector.

Strong Commitment

Anupama’s appointment is coming at a time when the Nepali banking sector is facing challenges in offering services to the rural and remote areas of the country.

To start with, Anupama considers this as her top priority post assuming office.

“As the CEO of Mega Bank, my first priority would be to bring unbanked rural people into the banking network,” says Anupama.

Speaking further on challenges in the Nepali banking sector, she informed that Nepali central bank’s regulation seeking rise in paid-up capital of banks resulted in rise of interest rates, which resulted in bankers increase their business to meet the demands. Lack of loanable funds moved Nepali banks to raise interest rates to meet the demand.

“If the central bank’s policy to reduce the number of commercial banks through mergers had been successful, such a severe problem might not have arisen,” says Anupama.

Speaking further on the country’s financial progress, Anupama opined that the Government of Nepal should ramp up its investment in productive sectors as a step towards strengthening the country’s financial sector.

“There should be a clarity in the government’s policy regarding productive sectors. In addition, there is a need to introduce more derivative products to boost the financial market,” she adds.

Overall, she says, “We have to accept the ups and downs in the business cycle and move accordingly to deal with the challenges.”

A Story of Hard Work!

Having been associated with the banking sector for more than three decades serving in key positions, Anupama cites hard work and opportunity as keys to success.

Anupama adds that it’s the years of experience that gave her enough strength to overcome the current challenges.

Having completed her schooling at St Mary’s School, Khunjeli moved to India for further studies.

On her return home, she pursued her bachelor’s degree in management from the Shankar Dev Campus and further got her Master’s in Business Administration from the Ace Institute of Management.

Anupama began her employment career in the banking sector at the age of 27, starting with ANZ Grindlays Bank Nepal that was later acquired by Standard Chartered Bank Nepal.

After gaining a decade of experience in her first job, she moved on to Nabil Bank from where, she joined Mega Bank at the time of its establishment and continued further to what she is today.

“I praise the bank board for taking the right decision to promote Khunjeli to the post of CEO. As she has been with the bank since its establishment, she has a thorough knowledge of the bank’s legacy, promoters, customers and other stakeholders,” says the Mega Bank’s former CEO Shah.

Now that the Nepali banking sector is transforming itself as an attractive destination for employment careers, Anupama’s appointment comes as a needed boost to the Nepali women bankers looking for careers in the banking sector.

Nepal welcomes the first woman CEO of the country’s commercial bank! All the best Anupama Khunjeli!

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Pratima Sherpa (18), a girl born to a couple working in the Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) course next to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, never thought that she would become Nepal’s top-rated female golf player.

Sounds That Resonated

                        Pratima Sherpa with her parents

Aspiring to become Nepal’s first female professional golfer, Pratima recalls her rejoicing moments in her early days where she used to feel refreshed listening to the sounds of golf balls hit by golfers at the club.

In fact, Pratima’s passion for golf sport stemmed out during her family’s stay at the golf course with lawnmowers as part of their employment and has moved her further to take up the sport properly from the age of 11 years.

Whereas, roots for her passion actually lies in the typical Nepali rural outdoor game Dandi Biyo, played by hitting a 6-inch long wooden pin (Biyo) into the air with a wooden stick (Dandi) and strike it again before other players catch it, which she played in her childhood.

Dandi Biyo has been Nepal’s unofficial national sport until Volleyball was declared officially on May 23, 2017.

Talent Finds Recognition

    Pratima Sherpa earns wide recognition

Pratima’s talent got due recognition from one of the coaches when she was learning the sport through juniors’ program run by the club.

The coach joined Pratima under his own wing for free and further appointed a member who introduced her to a set of old clubs.

Pratima continued her practice and eventually crossed various challenges that got her around 40 trophies, so far. But, she never relaxed and practices for at least two hours a day.

“Nepal is a smaller country than most, and playing golf can be difficult for poor families like ours. But I’ve got a big opportunity to play golf, and feel very proud and lucky that I’ve got that chance. I want to become a great golfer,” says Pratima.

From Kathmandu to Further Heights

Despite holding such a talent, Pratima had to struggle a lot for getting a passport to fly abroad to present her skill in the global arena.

Even though an American member of the club offered to adopt, Pratima never thought of leaving her parents.

Finally, with the help of her relations, she could get the passport and has recently travelled to the United States, where she stayed six weeks experiencing golf for the first time outside Nepal.

                          Pratima Sherpa (File Picture)

After being hosted by a Nepali software engineer, Pratima competed in five regional tournaments in California winning one of them and made it at top-6 in the two other matches.

A Hong Kong based sponsorship is also in offing for Pratima currently, which requires her to return to States and pursue golf classes at the California’s Santa Barbara City College.

Pratima, currently playing off a five golf handicap, loves to play for the Faldo Series China Championship, the tournament that hosted renowned Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy and  Taiwanese golfer Yani Tseng.

“It’s really wonderful to see that the whole of Nepal has got excited about Pratima. They’re so proud of her and so supportive. She’s an amazing spokesperson, an amazing icon for Nepali golf and more generally for Nepal and Nepali women,” says Oliver Horovitz, a journalist, author and a golf caddy, who met Pratima at RNGC.

For the Country

Keeping aside key challenges in personal life (caring for family) and career passion, Pratima loves and finds her ability to balance both in a proper way.

In the process, she is also pursuing a four-year business studies course at Thames International College of Kathmandu.

“I can’t say how far my golf career will go. Ultimately, I want to become Nepal’s first female professional golfer,” says Pratima.

“Royal family is gone, we have a new government and there are more opportunities for women. There’s a Nepali proverb, Fruits of labor are always sweet, so now I’ve been given the opportunity to play golf I am going to try my hardest,” reads her latest statement.

Public supporters of Pratima have started www.teampratima.com to raise donations favoring Pratima’s career. This clearly shows the level of love and support Pratima has gained from Nepali society for her sincere efforts.

Pratima always wishes to give back to her nation.

“I want to develop golf in Nepal. I will give back to the Nepali golf community and will help underprivileged children enjoy the sport as I have,” she adds.

“Any competitive golfer that wants to be on the world stage is working hard. Not all of them have that joy for every single shot they hit. I thought that was a pretty striking difference from Pratima and other young players. She has an amazing opportunity to really influence a ton of kids over in Kathmandu. She’s inspiring a generation of kids over there,” says a renowned US’ Golf Coach Don Parsons.

 Golf in Nepal In Brief

Golf in Nepal took its actual form in 1917 when the then prime minister of the country introduced golf clubs following his Scotland trip and had also set up a basic course. However, the sport remained limited to the then Nepali elite families and expatriates for long until RNGC came up in 1965.

Apart from RNGC, which has 9 golf holes, Nepal has three other golf courses in the Kathmandu Valley (Gokarna Golf Course), Pokhara and Dharan.

Nepal’s golf community fear RNGC might get affected if the Government of Nepal’s supposed plans to expanding TIA are implemented.

Overall, Nepal has a total of four golf courses in contrast to hundreds of registered golf players.

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Joshi (98), currently the Chancellor of Nepal Bhasa Academy, served key positions in his long career. He served as the first Director of Archaeological and Cultural Department, Government of Nepal in 1959. He is one of the Executive Board members of Nepali Art Council and a lifetime member of Royal Nepal Academy.

Joshi contributed a lot to Nepali art and culture by establishing organizations such as Rastriya Naachghar – National Theatre in Kathmandu, Archeological Museum in Taulihawa, Archeological Garden in Patan and the National Painting Museum in Bhaktapur.

Joshi‘s efforts towards the preservation of Nepali folk culture hold special significance and he was the first one to initiate a systemic study on Nepali culture.

For his contribution to Nepali folk culture, Joshi was awarded Nepal’s literary honor Madan Puraskar Award three times for his works, Hamro Lok Sanskriti – Our Folk Culture (1956), Nepali Rastriya Mudra – The Coinage of Nepal (1957) and Karnali Lok Sanskriti – Folk culture of the Far-Western Zone Karnali (1971). He is also a Shrestha Sirpa award holder for his outstanding book Jayaprakash, an epic in Nepali language (Newari).

Joshi is also a poet, dramatist and research analyst, and has more than 60 publications including Karnaliko Lok Sanskriti (a research collection) and Charumati, Sun Keshari, Mahipa: Lakhe, Bagh Bhairab (dramas), among others in various fields.

Joshi’s famous publication, Cultural Policy: A Preliminary Study, features research on properties, heritage and policy related to culture. It also deals with some basic principles of National Cultural Policy, Cultural Diversity and National Culture and a study report on Karnali folk culture.

Nepali Folk Culture, a Special Part of Joshi’s Life

Despite his expertise in in various fields, Joshi has special place for folk culture in his career.

“Folk culture is my subject and my career started by collecting folk songs. After my first Madan Puraskar, folk culture became a new subject in itself to be analyzed and researched. It was not only folk songs, but also about folk tales, folk riddles, folk lifestyle and its development,” said Joshi in an interview.

During his college days, Joshi used to find his recreation in local love songs sung at Rodhi Ghars, the singing clubs in eastern part of Nepal, which he says, have played a major role in his life.

During his affiliation with village locals, Joshi collected various folk songs in written format and got them published in the monthly paper Aantarang, during which, he met Editor Gopal Prasad Risal. Joshi terms Risal’s role as vital in driving his focus towards folk culture, which made him come out with the award-winning work, Hamro Lok Sanskriti.

Early Life

Born in 1920 to Shankar Raj and Rajkumari Joshi of Lalitpur District, Nepal, Joshi joined Durbar High School, Kathmandu for schooling. He went on with higher studies and graduated from Trichandra College, a constituent campus of Tribhuvan University in Ghantaghar, Kathmandu with a bachelor’s degree.

Joshi served in government department before he moved to China, following a political change in 1960, where he spent almost five years teaching Nepali at the Peking Broadcasting Institute.

During his stay in China, Joshi did a research on Arniko – a genius sculpture of Malla period, who migrated to China in early 1260 AD, which later helped him in setting up the Araniko White Dagoba Gallery in Kirtipur.

As part of his study on western and eastern literature, Joshi drew a lot of inspiration from the works of Tennyson, Woolworth, Kalidas, Raghubansha and Percy Bysshe Shelley, among others.

Government’s Rare Honor to Joshi

In respect to his contribution to Nepali art and culture, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Nepal honored Satya Mohan Joshi with the ‘Litterateur of the Century’ title on August 23, 2017.

Thanking the government for such recognition, Joshi said, “Diversity of Nepali art and culture should be exposed to the world.”

According to Joshi, outside intervention and influence have changed the habits of Nepal public. “Our culture and lifestyle is changing rapidly. At present, I feel that we have not been able to stand on our own feet. We are forgetting our nationality, identity and fundamental nature and one of the main causes is the situation in the country,” said Joshi in an interview.

Speaking on his overall contribution, Joshi terms his research on Arniko and the Coinage of Nepal as benchmarks for aspiring scholars.

Despite his notable achievements, Joshi limits himself saying, “I have done my part and am happy when friends wish me for a job well done.”

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Professionally, Govinda is a renowned orthopedic surgeon and a professor. Whereas in personal life, he is a philanthropist and a social activist.

Govinda is well-known globally for his firm stand towards reforms in the Nepali medical sector and favoring the government medical institutions, notably the state-owned Institute of Medicine (IoM) and Patan Academy of Health Sciences.

A Series of Hunger Strikes and Key Addressed Demands

Voicing against transparency and political meddling in unrelated matters among others, Govinda has staged 10 hunger strikes in five years between 2012 and 2016, with eight of them being fasts-unto-death. He recently staged the eleventh one.

All his protests were against rampant commercialization of medical sector and providing quality healthcare to Nepalese.

Some of the prominent demands raised and addressed by Govinda’s hunger strikes include end of political interference, appointment of Dean in IoM, suspension of various officials of Tribhuvan University, suspension of the parliamentary committee directive on granting affiliation to new colleges, implementation of the Medical Education Association’s recommendations, protest against Kathmandu University officials for their violation of cabinet decisions, establishment of medical colleges in rural areas, education at free-of-cost/ nominal fee in medical, nursing & paramedical colleges and impeachment of CIAA Chief Lokman Singh Karki.

Govinda’s activities received a mass following from all sections of the society, especially the youth.

The most notable achievement is the recent agreement between Govinda and the Government of Nepal, which is a result of his eight fast-unto-death. Accepting Govinda’s demand, the government agreed to open at least one medical college in each of the (future) federal provinces. The agreement also has a 10-year moratorium on the construction of new medical colleges inside the Kathmandu Valley.

In 2015, the Government of Nepal has entered into a 11-point agreement with Govinda, which underlines:

• Formation of the Health Professional Education Commission to oversee and regulate medical education
• The fee ceiling for MBBS & MD/MS education to be set at Rs 3.5 million & 2.3 million, respectively, which will be revived in every three years
• Formation of a new authority to probe issues in Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University

As a Humanitarian

Govinda did his part as a responsible being with his humanitarian activities, by offering services to public in times of natural calamities, across Nepal and globally. During the process, he never sought financial assistance from any government or NGO and financed his own way. He preferred to spend his salary for the services across remote areas of Nepal.

Govinda spends two weeks of vacation, provided to him by TUTH annually, in travelling to remotest villages of Nepal to serve and conduct health awareness camps. Some of his well-known international visits include a three-week stay in Bhuj region of Gujarat, India post-earthquake, a 20-day stay in Northwest Pakistan to serve quake victims, and a two-week stay in Myanmar to help cyclone victims, among many others.

Early Life

Govinda KC was born on March 25, 1957 in Ramechhap, Janakpur Zone of Nepal. He studied at IoM to become a Health Assistant at the institute. With the support of the Ministry of Education’s scholarship, he went on to pursue MBBS course at Rajshahi Medical College, Bangladesh, after which, he returned to Nepal and served in Bir Hospital. He then moved to Dhaka University to pursue M.S and finally became an orthopedic surgeon.

Govinda’s life took a turn at IoM after he joined the institute as a volunteer in 1994, leaving Bir Hospital. He eventually grew to become a professor specialized in child orthopedics, and the institute became a big platform for his future course of action.

Dedicated to Social Service

Govinda KC (60) is still a bachelor and lives within the hospital quarters. He has dedicated his life to students, patients and social activities. There is a growing consensus in Nepal over the nomination of Govinda for the Nobel Peace Prize Award.

Through his activities, Govinda transformed the lives of millions of Nepalese and became a ray of hope for those in need and proper support.

Transparency International Nepal honored Dr. Govinda KC with the National Integrity Award, at an event held in Kathmandu on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day.

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The day was so special for Nepalese and remained a proud moment for the country, forever, as a young Nepali planetary scientist, Lujendra Ojha, was also in the group of NASA research scientists who played a pivotal role in research on Mars.

Ojha was then a 25-year-old PhD student of planetary science department at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

It was at the age of 21, Ojha spotted possible flow of saltwater on Mars. He was an undergraduate at the University of Arizona when he discovered the presence of water on mars, with compelling evidences on current & seasonal water flow.

Ojha’s revelations excited the scientific community, raising hopes on possible presence of life on the red planet.

The Other Side

Apart from being a scientist, there is another side of Ojha that portrays him as a guitarist in a heavy metal band called ‘Gorkha’. Besides being busy in the world of space science, Ojha wishes to continue his musical journey as a guitarist.

Early Life

Ojha’s roots are traced to Mahadevsthan VDC, Doti of far-western Nepal. He was brought up in Kathmandu. Basically, a music-lover, Ojha identified his passion in life when he was studying at Kathmandu’s Galaxy Public School. It was Hawking’s ‘A Brief History of Time’ that changed Ojha’s thought process to pursue space sciences.

Ojha, along with his parents, moved from Nepal to the United States in 2005, at the age of 14. He joined Tuscon High School, and within few months of joining, he became part of a heavy metal band as a guitarist, along with friends. Post high school Ojha enrolled at the University of Arizona where his father Tank was working as a Geologist.

Tank says Ojha picked up his interest in earth and planetary science from the field trips he did in the remote areas of Nepal.

Wide Reputation Across Communities

Over the years, Ojha emerged as a space scientist gaining wide reputation across the scientific community. He has more than a dozen peer-reviewed research papers published. He was widely recognized for his research works and discoveries related to space.

Starting with Group Achievement Award: HiRISE Science Team from NASA, Ojha received wide recognition across his career, so far.

Be it receiving ‘Special Recognition Award’ from the Office of the Governor, Arizona- a southwestern US state, ‘Research Excellence Award’ from the National Science Foundation in 2015, ‘Team-X Merit Award’ from the Lunar and Planetary Institute in 2013, ‘First Place in Physical Science Research’- Annual Student Showcase (2012) & Honorary Presidents Award (2011) from the University of Arizona, Ojha really achieved a notable reputation in a short span, that too at a very young age.

Above all, he says, “With the profound knowledge that I am a unified mind and body composed of stardust, I am not doing science, I am merely trying to understand my genesis and share that knowledge.”

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Born on April 14, 1949 to Colonel Pratap Singh Gurung and Laxmi Gurung, Anuradha studied in St. Joseph Convent School, Kalimpong, India, where she developed interest for social work. Mother Teresa has always been her source of inspiration.

Anuradha started her career as an English teacher. After having worked for more than 20 years as a teacher, she felt she has something big to achieve. That’s when she decided to step in for a crusade against trafficking and related activities against women and children.

How it Started?

A social activist in Anuradha came out when she helped eight women, who were the victims of domestic violence and forced to beg, open small shops, with the help of the minimum income she was drawing as a salary.

The network went on to grow and eventually, UNICEF extended its support. Then, a team of 210 members, including lawyers, journalists, students, police men and nurses, joined her for an awareness campaign. Leading this team, she moved on to various villages of the country, which were most vulnerable to trafficking. Thus, her team grew leading path to a mighty organization.

Rise of Maiti Nepal

That was the time when human trafficking (women and girl trafficking) from and within Nepal was on rise, and there was hardly any helping hand. Anuradha decided to extend help to those in danger, need of support and suppressed. Thus, in 1993, she founded an organization called ‘Maiti Nepal’ in a small house with her minimal savings. Maiti Nepal, meaning mother Nepal, really became a mother to thousands of children, girls and women, offering them physical and mental support, shelter and life as a whole.

People who sought shelter in Maiti Nepal include the ones subjected to sex trafficking, forced to prostitution and contracted HIV, psychologically unwell, left away by family, among many others in need of rehabilitation, ranging from children to elderly women.

Maiti Nepal has grown over the years, and currently has three prevention homes, two hospices, eleven transit homes, and a formal school. In total, around 1000 children receive direct services from the organization every day.

Maiti Nepal’s wide range regular activities include awareness campaigns, community sensitization programs, apprehending traffickers, rescue operations, women empowerment programs, providing legal support to the needy and Anti Retro Viral Therapy (ART) to children and women infected by HIV, among others.

Person of Special Identity

Anuradha made her special mark as a social activist by rescuing over 12,000 girls from sex trafficking, and preventing more than 45,000 children from being trafficked across the Indo-Nepal border, with the help of her team. Her organization today patrols the Indo-Nepal border, and stays active in rescue operations, saving trafficked women from brothels in India with the help of Indian authorities and reuniting them with their families.

Anuradha was recognized for her activities and courageous acts of fighting for children and women rights, and was honored by various governments and institutions with 38 national and international awards, so far.

CNN called her ‘Hero of the Year’ in 2010, The Peace Abbey Foundation of Massachusetts honored her with the Courage of Conscience Award in 2006, the Indian Government conferred her with the country’s third highest civilian award – Padma Bhushan, and her home government, Nepal has been respecting and encouraging her all the time with many honorary titles.

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