Tsechu Dolma

 Changing lives in the mountains

“I am a Himalayan American,” says Tsechu Dolma when asked about her nationality. At only 25, Dolma’s work and achievements are mountainously high, just like the terrains she loves to work in. A graduate of Columbia University, Dolma was recently listed among the ‘Forbes 30 under 30: Social Entrepreneurs’ for her pioneering work with farmers of the mountainous regions of Nepal.

 

Jan Salter

The passing of a Nepali legend

Jan Salter, 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Lyme Regis, UK on April 29. To many, Jan Salter was both a marvelous and sensitive artist and the founder of the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre (KAT). Her paintings of different ethnic groups and peoples of Nepal, aptly entitled, “Faces of Nepal”, were taken from drawings she did while trekking around the country in the 1970s and ’80s.

 

Manohar Basnet

The lone pugilist

Manohar “Max” Basnet has lost count of how many tournaments he has won and how many times he has become the National Champion but, unfortunately, his dream of carrying the Nepali flag in international tourna­ments remained unfulfilled for a long time. The reason: his stubborn stand against corruption and his fight against the bureaucracy in Nepali sports. I took part in my first amateur bout at the age of 16,” recalls Basnet, now 32.

 

Deeya Maskey

What you see is what you get

Deeya Maskey is a popular name in Nepali film, theater and, recently, on the small screen. Right with her debut on the big screen with Bhusan Dahal’s ‘Kagbeni’, Maskey was able to establish herself as a potent movie actor. Today Maskey is one of the most successful Nepali actresses and also popular as a judge of the inaugural edition of Himalaya Roadies.

 

Sampada Malla

On Nepali media industry

Sampada Malla is an established name in Nepali media and entertainment industry. She is the creator of “Drishyansha” nationwide mobile filmmaking com­petition, as well as a journalist, writer, filmmaker and a board member of Sarwanam Theater. She is as well known in India as she is in Nepal. Most notably, she wrote the screen¬play for the popular Hindi tv serial ‘Ishq Ka Rang Safed’ that was broadcast in Colors TV.

 

Peter John Karthak

In his own words

Peter John Karthak, 75, a musician, writer and jour­nalist, has indeed had an eventful life. He was born in Shillong on December 12, 1943. In 1965, Karthak came to Kathmandu, where he spent the next 25 years as a copy editor, feature writer and columnist. ‘Kathmandruids’, launched in March 2018, is Karthak’s latest and the first original novel in English which was shortly followed by “Nepali Musicmakers” in November.

 

Senu Ranjit

Cracking open a male domain

A female chef is someone you rarely find behind the kitchen doors of your favorite cafes and restau­rants in Kathmandu. Senu Ranjit, the chef at The Yard (restaurant) by Oasis Garden Homes in Sanepa, is a welcome exception. Ranjit trained for six months in culinary arts in Lagankhel, Patan and then worked in New Zealand as a cook for a couple of years.

 

Bipin Karki

The ace actor in Kollywood

Bipin Karki is one the most versatile actors in modern Nepali cinema. Karki, who has acted in over a dozen Nepali movies, is best known for his role as the local goon “Bhasmey don” in the acclaimed movie “Pash­upati Prasad”. It also earned him his first National Film Award. It was Karki’s love of literature that inspired him to act. A hard-worker who never compromises with his work, Karki has a special way of preparing for his roles.

 

Indira Joshi

Never fear of failure

Indira Joshi is best known mostly for her peppy numbers like “Udhreko Choli” and “Relimai,” and her electrifying stage performance. The singer, who rose to fame as a reality show contestant, is also known for her role as a judge in the popular Nepali reality show ‘Nepal Idol,’ in which she has been featured in 2 consecutive seasons.

 

Kanta Dab Dab

Distilling the sound of the valley

To confine Kanta Dab Dab to a restrictive genre like “fusion” or “classical” or any other broad term would be to undermine the vast talent of this trio of versa­tile musicians. For Kanta Dab Dab’s music encapsu­lates no less than the tradition, culture and musical­ity of the livelihood of the Kathmandu valley. Sunit Kansakar on sitar, Rizu Tuladhar on bass and Nikhil Tuladhar on drums/percussions form Kanta Dab Dab.