Nepal Now: On the Move
We're talking with the people migrating from, to, and within this Himalayan country located between China and India. You'll hear from a wide range of Nepali men and women who have chosen to leave the country for better work or education opportunities. Their stories will help you understand what drives people — in Nepal and worldwide — to mortgage their property or borrow huge sums of money to go abroad, often leaving their loved ones behind.
Despite many predictions, migration from Nepal has not slowed in recent years, except briefly during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. About 1 million Nepalis leave every year to work at jobs outside the country. Tens of thousands go abroad to study. Far fewer return to Nepal to settle. The money ('remittances') that workers send home to their families accounts for 25% of the country's GDP, but migration impacts Nepal in many other ways. We'll be learning from migrants, experts and others about the many cultural, social, economic and political impacts of migration.
Your host is Marty Logan, a Canadian journalist who has lived in Nepal's capital Kathmandu off and on since 2005. Marty started the show in 2020 as Nepal Now.
Nepal Now: On the Move
Nepalis reaching new heights
These are terrible, painful days for many people in Nepal, and so I hesitated to post this episode. But then I thought, in the midst of the devastation and death caused by Covid-19 it is important to hear something positive and, in this case, not something cheery just for the sake of diverting our attention, like cat videos on social media.
Rather, in today’s episode we’re talking about a positive, rising trend: the number of Nepalis who are reaching greater heights, both real — like the women’s team that recently climbed Mt Annapurna — and metaphorically — like Chef Santosh Sah, who, with his unique Nepali dishes, wowed judges and the UK audience en route to the final of MasterChef Britain.
Speaking to me is someone who knows first-hand the highs, and lows, of attaining a mighty goal — Shailee Basnet, who was one of a 10-woman team that summitted Mt Everest in 2008, a team that went on to reach the top of the tallest peaks on seven continents. Shailee will help me untangle why so many accomplishments seem to be, paradoxically, occurring during the pandemic. She will also explain her one-of-a-kind email signature.
If you enjoy what you hear today, please leave a review of Nepal Now on Apple Podcasts. Don’t forget to like, follow or favourite the show on your usual podcast player so you don’t miss an episode. To stay up to date, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. You can reach me directly at marty@martylogan.net.
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Thanks as always to Nikunja Nepal for advice and inspiration.
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Music by audionautix.com.
Thank you to PEI in Bankhundole and Himal Media in Patan Dhoka for the use of their studio.
Nepal Now is produced and hosted by Marty Logan.
