#31 - Nalini Gyawali- Great Grandmother at 90 [Nepali]

Nalini Gyawali

Great grandmother at 90

90 year old Nalini Gyawali fell in love with reading as a child. Even though she couldn’t continue her education due to social obligations, she continues to pursue her love for reading. Her favorite author is Agatha Christie. In this episode of Aji’s Podcast Nalini shares her colorful memories of traveling to Banaras, India with her mom when she was 3 years old, getting married at a young age of 13 during the end of WWII, struggling to adjust her life in village without toilets, fighting a major health issue just before her pregnancy, her life today with many grandkids and great grandkids and much more.

This episode with Nalini Gyawali was recorded on 22 December 2021 via zoom by Aji’s Podcast host Lorina Sthapit.

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#30 - Durga Lal Shrestha, 86 years old - Poet and Lyricist [Nepal Bhasa]

Durga Lal Shrestha, born in 1935 in Kathmandu, is a renowned poet and lyricist of Nepal. He has been honored with several awards and distinctions including national titles of “Janakavi” (meaning People’s Poet) and “Janagitkar” (meaning People’s Lyricist). He writes poems, songs, plays, essays and children’s verses mostly in his mother tongue Nepal Bhasa. He is an outspoken advocate for minority language rights and mother tongue education in multilingual, multiethnic Nepal. He also writes in Nepali language and his Nepali songs 'Phoolko aankhaa maa, phoolai sansara' and 'Saya thari baja yeutai taal' holds the distinction of being among the most popular songs ever in Nepal. Collections of his poems have been translated into English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean languages.

This episode with Durga Lal Shrestha was recorded on 24 August 2021 at his home in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu by Aji’s Podcast host Sunita Dangol. The interview was conducted maintaining physical distance.

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#17 - Geeta Shrestha Vaidya, 65 years old, Woman in science [Nepali]

In our 17th episode we speak with 65 year old Dr. Geeta Shrestha Vaidya. A retired Chief Senior Scientific Officer at the reputed Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Geeta Vaidya’s passion has always been in the field of science. Despite the inconvenience of traveling in crowded public transport experiencing perpetual harassments and juggling field research with parenting, she continued her education to get a masters degree in plant pathology and later a PhD in botany.  Currently she is teaching in various colleges and has joined Aji’s community as a maker.

This episode with 65 years old Geeta Shrestha Vaidya was recorded on 3rd October 2020 at her home in  Jayabageshwori, Kathmandu by Aji’s Co-founder Lorina Sthapit. The interview was conducted maintaining physical distance. This episode includes public service messages from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

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#12 - Lockdown Special with various guests [Nepali]

For our 12th episode we have collected audio clips from various guests interviewed by their grandchildren. They have shared their hopes and perspectives during this uncertain time. We have compiled these delightful clips into a lockdown special episode of Aji’s Podcast. This was also an opportunity for the elders and the grandchildren to have fun and bond over in this difficult period, and in the process create uplifting content for us to enjoy.

Thank you everyone who took the time and effort to record these interviews and send it to us. This episode features the following guests:

• Shobha Lamichhane interviewed by Sashita Ghimire

• Uttama Tiwari interviewed by Parijita Bastola

• Chanchaleswori Shrestha interviewed by Sumegha Shrestha

• Min Bahadur Adhikari interviewed by Gunjan Adhikari

• Sushila Sthapit interviewed by Lirisha Tuladhar

• Ganesh Bahadur Thapa interviewed by Yamun Thapa Magar

• Siddhi Laxmi Bajracharya interviewed by Prasiddha Shakya

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#11 - Kulendra Devkota, 83 years old, educator and agriculture enthusiast [Nepali]

Photo by Kulendra Devkota’s granddaughter Manita Devkota.

In our 11th episode we speak with 83 years old Kulendra Devkota. Kulendra fought against all odds including caste discrimination, malnutrition and ill-health to get an education and become a teacher and eventually a headmaster at Luintel High School in Gorkha. Throughout his teaching career, he educated more than 3,000 students including Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Late Dr. Upendra Devkota. Later on, he retired from teaching to dedicate his life to improving agriculture methods in his village. Today he is living a healthy life in Gorkha- reading books, practicing yoga and observing religious pujas.

This episode with 83 years old Kulendra Devkota was recorded on 10 March 2020 at a recording studio in Kamaladi, Kathmandu by Aji’s Co-founder Lorina Sthapit.

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#9 - Kirtan Krishna Bhattarai- Health enthusiast & environmentalist at 92 [Nepali]

In our 9th episode we speak with 92 years old Kirtan Krishna Bhattarai. Even in the congested city of Kathmandu, he has managed to set up organic farming and is raising two cows to meet his daily needs of vegetables and milk. He is an avid health enthusiast with a degree in Ayurveda and strictly follows healthy eating habits and lifestyle. He is fit, energetic and is engaged in several social work activities to preserve the environment and share his knowledge on healthy diet and way of life. In recognition of his contribution towards environmental conservation (regular street cleaning and plantation around Icchu river), the community has named an entire street in the neighborhood Kirtan Krishna Chowk in his honor.

This episode with 92 years old Kirtan Krishna Bhattarai was recorded on 17 February 2020 at a recording studio in Ganabahal, Kathmandu by Aji’s Co-founder Lorina Sthapit.

You can also listen to Aji’s podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

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#7 - Tika Maya Gurung, 86 years old- Strength, struggle and success [Nepali]

In our 7th episode we speak with 86 years old Tika Maya Gurung. Despite a difficult marriage, she independently supported her four children and husband and also built a house by starting series of enterprises from a small grocery shop in a godown to a tailoring shop, knitting center, travel agency, kerosine depot and farming. Today she is living a happy and graceful life with her 4 kids and 5 grandkids.

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This episode with 86 years old Tika Maya Gurung was recorded on 24 January 2020 at a recording studio in Ganabahal, Kathmandu by Aji’s Co-founder Lorina Sthapit.