Humiliation Led to His Success

Also: Sexual harassment in Vancouver, Nepali airlines increase fares

September 17, 2024

Top Weekly Highlights
🇳🇵 Nepal Tira: Cooperative Scam Report, digital transactions, new note, domestic airlines increase fares
🌍 Sansar Ma Nepali: Sexual harassment in Vancouver, The Mystic Cuisines of Nepal, Shambala submitted to Oscars
🔵 The Big Story: Humiliation led to his success
🗽 Immigration Roundup: Comparing Trump v. Harris immigration policies, EV-4 visas reaches annual limit
🎊 Bhetghat: Aasha Tour, Meetup w/Emmy Winner Jaswant Shrestha, 1974 AD, Dashain Cup 2024, DBE Legends Tour

Nepal Tira

Weekly Briefing: What You Need To Know

Rabi (L), GB Rai (R)

🕵🏻 Cooperative Scam Investigation: The Parliamentary Inquiry Committee investigating the embezzlement of cooperative funds recommended action against various individuals, including Rabi Lamichhane and GB Rai. The report took more than three months and is two thousand pages long. The report also concludes 15% of the shares are illegal. INTERPOL is currently trying to find GB Rai, who’s accused of embezzling Rs 8 billion (USD 60 million).

🛜 No VAT for Digital Transactions? The government is considering taking steps to revise VAT policy related to digital transactions. KP Oli directed the government to investigate the issue after receiving feedback online. Oli referenced a complaint from Abin BK of Jajarkot, who said he spends Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,200 monthly on transaction fees alone, with a charge of Rs 11.30 per transfer. An option that’s being explored is not to charge tax when the amount is up to a certain limit (eg. Rs 5,000).

Disputed Area (BBC/wikipedia)

💵 New Map, New Note, New Problem: Nepal's Central Bank is preparing to print 100-rupee banknotes with a revised map which includes disputed territories with India. The new notes will be distributed within 6 to 12 months. The map, officially released in 2020, includes the territories of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura, currently under India's control. It adds 335 square km (130 square miles) of land to Nepal.

👋 Hi there, can we show you what we’re working on?👇


How to get a Nepali Citizenship with your US/CA/UK/AU/other passport

Getting a NRN citizenship card is complicated.

And here’s how you can help 👉 We’re looking for people who’ve attempted to or gone through the entire NRN citizenship card creation process.

From our side, we’ve already started to talk to people we know and are connecting with the proper authorities to verify our easy-to-follow guide 🎉

If that’s you, please reply to this email.

Sansar Ma Nepali

Sexual Harassment Incident [NWSBC]

🚨The following might be triggering for some people 🚨

On September 8th, the Nepali Women's Society in British Columbia, Canada issued the following press release.

"A young Nepali woman (international student) moved her belongings into a rented room on August 28, 2024. On September 2, 2024, she officially moved into the residence. Just a few days later, on September 5, she experienced an act of sexual harassment by an older Nepali man, the father of a prominent member of the local Nepali community."

Sunita Tamang, President of NWSBC, read the victim’s full statement.

From the victim's statement, as well as the general panel discussion, here's what we found out:

📌 It wasn’t Isolated: Eight more girls came forward with statements against the same person
📌 He’s not alone: Following the incident, a separate victim came forward to accuse a second unrelated perpetrator.
📌 Everyone Knew: Almost everyone at the meeting knew who this person was, and had heard rumours of his behaviour.

The meeting also brought about two critical questions:

1. Why didn't anyone warn the girl(s) before moving in?
People were aware of the perpetrators reputation. He was a member of a wealthy, well-connected Nepali family. Yet, someone should have warned those girls. Several participants in the meeting regretted not doing so and were visibly feeling remorseful.

2. What can we do to prevent incidents like these from happening?
NWSBC is forming a Community Support Task Force and inviting legal experts, financial sponsors, mental health counsellors, and any individuals who can provide support to come and help this cause.

Cast of Shambala (Reuters)

🎥 Shambala nominated for Oscars: Director Min Bahadur Bham’s 2024 film has been submitted for Oscar nominations for the 97th Academy Award. Nepal has submitted 14 films for Oscar nominations, but has only successfully received one for Eric Valli’s Caravan (also called Himalaya). This is also director Bham’s second film submitted for oscar nomination, after his 2015 drama, Kalo Pothi (The Black Hen).

🥗 Mystic Kitchens of Nepal: Bikram Vaidya, a chef and entrepreneur based out of Portland, Oregon has started accepting pre-orders for his new book, The Mystic Kitchens of Nepal. Vaidya’s book is a combination of stories, explanations and recipes surrounding Nepali cuisine. It contains 140 recipes that are a blend of everyday and exotic dishes. Pre-order the book here.

Know any stories/news about Nepalis abroad? Reply to feature them!

The Big Story

Saigrace with fans

Saigrace Pokharel is a name that resonates with millions of Nepalis around the world. All together, his videos have received 90 million views on YouTube. His semi-autobiographical love story, Adhuro Prem, alone has over 6.3 million views.

But long before he became a digital sensation, he was no one.

Humiliated

There’s a moment in every storyteller's life when they realize that their voice has power—a moment when words become something more than just sounds.

For Santosh Pokharel, AKA Saigrace, that moment came when he was humiliated.

In 2012, after being invited to a radio station to promote a music video, Saigrace was abruptly cut off mid-interview by the station manager. Embarrassed in front of his peers, he laughed outwardly, but inside, he felt a deep sting of rejection. 

He also felt a feeling that would consume his life for the next 5 years: His determination to prove that manager wrong.

Beginnings

Via Saigrace Official

From an early age Saigrace was talkative. Even while waiting in line at the local petrol pump, he couldn’t help but talk to strangers. He would create and share his own stories, fully captivating, amused but impressed, adults.

Throughout his schooling years he would keep honing his skills, until an event that shattered his life.

Heartbreak

Around the time he started college, Saigrace went through a devastating breakup and had given up on life. He didn’t feel like eating or talking. He tried to distract himself with two things he loved: Academics and the teachings of Sai Baba.

And it was through Sai Baba that he met the real love of his life, Sarita.  

Breakthrough 

Via Saigrace Official

Sarita encouraged Saigrace to use the pain of his breakup to write a deeply compelling love story.

The story struck a chord.

Adhuro Prem propelled him to the national level fame and the offers started rolling in.

Since then, he has completed two highly successful tours of Nepal, and regularly travels around the world performing in front of thousands of Nepalis. This week he wrapped up his tour of Australia and New Zealand, and is heading to the United States next.

Worth a Watch

Drone manufacturer DJI captures the full climbing route of Mount Everest. The drone flew for 40 minutes (sped up in the video) from base camp. It’s truly breathtaking, and I’d recommend watching it in a HD monitor to appreciate its majesty.

Immigration & Visas

Trump Vs. Harris: Comparing Immigration Policies

Image: Washington Post

Following the second debate, we thought we’d breakdown the differences in immigration policies between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The following is based on a report by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, an independent nonpartisan think-thank.

Donald Trump

Deportations: Conduct largest deportation operation in history, using military, police, and national guard.
Birthright Citizenship: Disqualify children born in the country by undocumented parents from automatic US citizenship.
Green Cards: Restrict and reduce legal immigration, except for select green card recipients. Automatic green cards for vetted, noncitizen graduates of US universities*.
Temporary Protected Status: End TPS for select countries, including Nepal. Currently, there are 7,875 Nepalis under the TPS program.
Asylum Seekers: Suspend admissions and increase screening measures for ‘high-risk’ countries.

*Trump mentioned this policy in the first debate with Biden. However, his team quickly clarified the vetting would be strict.

Kamala Harris

Deportations: Increase funding for border agents, detention facilities; prioritize humane enforcement.
Birthright Citizenship: No specific policy.
Green Cards: Create 250,000 new green card eligible visas over five years. The current backlog of applicants is 1.3 million.
Temporary Protected Status: No specific policy to end TPS.
Asylum Seekers: Increase funding for refugee processing and providing legal council to unaccompanied children.

Yo hafta lai etikai, aba next time bhetaula ✌️

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