I was born and raised in Rurukshetra-5, Sundada, Gulmi, beautiful village of Nepal surrounded by panoramic hills. Being born blind, opportunity to get education was important as well as difficult. So, as a teenager I was mostly focused on obtaining education, though I had to face many difficulties and criticism. Along with difficulties and criticism there were some motivation and support as well. But my will and determination to not let my disability stop me from living a normal life was the main thing that kept me going.
Considering the time, I was married when I gave my SLC. Leaving my wife at home I went to Butwal to further my studies. For my situation and disability, studying law was the best option. What better can be a way to ensure my rights than to learn about my rights at first. Now I look back at it, pride fills my heart as I now stand as the first blind advocate of Nepal. I am glad I took that decision in Butwal to study law. Otherwise there are always so much of “what ifs”.
Learning and being better was always my goal. So, I also studied computer at Butwal. Not that it was easy. I had to convince so many people that my disability won’t hamper my learning. I am still grateful towards my instructor for believing in me. I am now able to work fully on the computer and technological devices and am now currently teaching computer. Butwal was bigger than Gulmi and with many of opportunities but it couldn’t accommodate my dreams and aspirations.
So I came to Kathmandu. The journey was not easy and there were many obstacles but moving forward was the only option. Kathmandu gave me so many opportunities and has made me what I am today. I met many peoples like me and started working for the common goal- improving the situation of Persons with Disability.
I have worked as the general secretary of Nepal Association of the Blind (NAB) and Manager of Vision Handicraft Pvt. Ltd. I have gained my share of experience in disability rights movements in areas of advocacy and legal development, humanitarian assistance, and human rights. As an advocate, I have provided leadership for strategic planning, policy guidance and programmed management in NAB. I have coordinated inter-district saving-credit & co-operation of NAB and for disability rights and human development among NAB branches, local agencies and civil society organizations.
In my long career with the NAB, spanning over two decades, I have had extensive dealings with senior levels of government personals, development agencies and NGOs in policy dialogue, advocacy and resource mobilization in Nepal.
At the national level, I have dealt with the highest levels of advocacy in Nepal, including the NAB, CBRN, SAMAGRA, FOCUS Nepal Executive Board. I had hands-on experience at the field level, serving NAB & other disability area in positions of increasing responsibility and leadership in various places of the country.
Along with my involvement in the sector of disability, I have obtained my Bachelor degree in Law. I wanted to pursue LLM but was denied at that time due to my disability. I continued my Master degree in Political Science but never stopped fighting for my right to study LLM. After persisting and fighting, persons with visual disabilities were at last allowed to pursue the education of LLM.
After completing my masters in political science, I started my preparation for Doctor of Philosophy. It took me a lot of time as I had to face many barriers and difficulties, but giving up is never the option. I finally completed my PhD in the January of 2017.
Currently, I am staying in Kathmandu and working as a teacher in Koteshwor Saraswati Secondary School. At the same time I am involved with NAB as the chief of election committee of NAB.
I am also providing freelance services such as developing database for NAB Membership and other technical requirements to the various organizations in the sector of disability.