Life of Determination and Advocacy for the Disabled in Nepal
My name is Dr. Laxman Prasad Gyawali. As an educator at Koteshwor Saraswati Secondary School in Kathmandu, Nepal, my journey has been defined by clear vision and relentless determination rather than the physical limitations of my sight. Living as a blind person in a society that too often overlooks our potential, I have devoted my life to dismantling institutional barriers through education, legal advocacy, and community leadership. My story is one of confronting deep adversity and fighting tirelessly for the rights and dignity of disabled individuals across Nepal.
Early Life and Family Struggles
I was born in Ruru Kshetra, located in the remote Gulmi district of Nepal. I am the eldest son of the late Shivahari Upadhyay, and my early years were forged in profound hardship. Among my siblings, two of my three brothers and I are visually impaired; only our youngest brother was born with sight. Growing up in a household so deeply affected by blindness meant enduring constant emotional and financial strains.
Those early difficulties were relentless, yet they forged my character and sharpened my resolve to achieve something meaningful. Today, my 86-year-old mother still resides in our ancestral village in Gulmi, cared for by my brother’s children. Meanwhile, I live in Kathmandu with my wife Radhika , and our son, Vijay. While everyday life presents challenges to many, navigating society with a visual impairment adds complex layers that demand unwavering resilience.
Education and Professional Career
My academic path was filled with severe structural obstacles, but through steadfast perseverance, I was privileged to become Nepal's first blind lawyer to earn a doctorate degree. I have always held the core conviction that disability does not equate to inability. In my day-to-day work as a schoolteacher, I teach computer science to regular, sighted students at a secondary school in Kathmandu, demonstrating each day that blind individuals can excel in high-tech and academic disciplines.
My pursuit of higher education was never strictly about personal accomplishment. Driven by a deep passion for justice, I focused my doctoral research on disability and the law—a discipline I understand through both rigorous academic inquiry and lived experience. Over the years, I have worked persistently to reshape the legal framework for disabled citizens in Nepal. While my advocacy has helped inspire several policy reforms, much work remains, and I stand firmly committed to pushing for systemic legal changes in the years ahead.Now a days I am regular student of LLM first year student in Kathmandu School of Law (KSL).
Legal Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
A foundational belief of my life is that Nepal’s legal framework must continuously evolve to guarantee full rights and dignity to citizens with disabilities. My legal advocacy focuses on securing uncompromised rights to quality education, equal employment opportunities, and comprehensive public accessibility. For me, this campaign is far more than a professional responsibility; it is a personal imperative born out of the systemic discrimination and physical barriers I have encountered throughout my life.
Combining my perspectives as an educator and a legal scholar allows me to navigate and reform the intricate educational and legal systems of Nepal. I have dedicated my career to ensuring that visually impaired individuals and all persons with disabilities are granted the exact same choices and life opportunities enjoyed by anyone else in our society.
Leadership in the Blind Teachers’ Association of Nepal
Currently, I serve as the Central President of the Blind Teachers’ Association of Nepal. In this leadership role, I have sought to harness modern technology to uplift and unify our community. During the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, I spearheaded an online initiative to systematically collect and compile nationwide data on blind teachers across Nepal.
I chose not to view the pandemic lockdown as a period of idle waiting, but as a crucial window for self-reflection, productivity, and skill refinement. Understanding that remaining fluent in technological advancements is vital for visually impaired educators, I devoted significant effort to upgrading my technical skills while creating stronger digital support networks for my colleagues across the nation.
Personal Life and the Impact of the Pandemic
Despite my heavy professional and civic obligations, my family remains the centerpiece of my life. My wife, Radhika, and our children provide me with continuous joy, balance, and inspiration. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought profound personal sorrow. Because of strict lockdown rules and travel restrictions, I was unable to visit my elderly mother and extended family in our home village for more than six months.
This prolonged separation underscored for me the profound importance of strong family support networks. No individual—whether sighted or blind—is truly independent. We all live in a state of mutual interdependence, and family offers the fundamental emotional and practical grounding necessary to weather global or personal crises.
Reflections on COVID-19 and Social Resilience
I approach life's hardships with practical realism. While the COVID-19 pandemic brought immense suffering across the globe, it also yielded essential lessons regarding self-reliance and the vital need to strengthen local production and community resilience within Nepal.
The pandemic exposed acute vulnerabilities within our social structure. Members of the blind community who depend on physical guides or human caregivers for daily mobility faced severe isolation and extraordinary daily hurdles during lockdowns. Nevertheless, I maintain that adversity can trigger personal and collective growth when met with the right mindset. Throughout the crisis, my focus remained steadfast on personal growth and finding creative ways to support and advocate for others.
The Need for Proactive Government Support
Reflecting on these crises, I firmly believe our government should have extended far more targeted, specialized assistance to individuals with disabilities. While I respect the necessity of public health protocols and virus control measures, special provisions ought to have been established for citizens who depend on physical assistance for mobility and daily living. A truly welfare-oriented state must prioritize its most vulnerable citizens during times of emergency.
Furthermore, I remain deeply critical of the government's handling of recurring natural disasters such as floods and landslides, which destroy lives and property in Nepal every year. We must transition away from reactive emergency responses toward proactive disaster management, preventative planning, and risk reduction. Safeguarding vulnerable populations—including people with disabilities—must be placed at the center of state planning.
Looking Ahead
My life has been a continuous journey of determination, resilience, and unyielding advocacy. From my childhood in the remote village of Gulmi to my active work today as a doctor of law, educator, and community leader, my goal has remained singular: to cultivate a truly inclusive Nepal. I will continue to work passionately toward a society where blind individuals and all persons with disabilities enjoy full rights, equal opportunities, and complete participation in public life.