 Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha, President
Dr. Shrestha, a
researcher based in Leiden, did his PhD in anthropology from the University of
Leiden, the Netherlands. He was visiting fellow at the Department of History,
Leiden (2007-08). He taught politics of South and Southeast Asia at the Faculty
of Social Sciences, Leiden University (2006-07). He was a postdoctoral fellow
at the Centro Incontri Umani, Ascona, Switzerland (2004-06). The Royal
Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam awarded him the Jan Gonda
Fellowship at the International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden (2001-02).
He received the Frederick Williamson Memorial Fund (2003) from the University
of Cambridge, UK. He conducted fieldwork in Nepal and India and has widely
published on Nepalese religious rituals, Hinduism, Buddhism,
ethnic-nationalism, the Maoists movement and political development in Nepal. He has made the
award-winning ethnographic documentary Sacrifice of Serpents: The Festival
of Indrayani, Kathmandu 1992/94 (Leiden, 1997) together with Bert van den
Hoek and Dirk J. Nijland. The Jan Gonda Foundation awarded him grants to make
documentary films on the rituals performed at the Agnimatha, the Vedic Fire
Temple in Patan, Nepal (2004 and 2005).
As
a program advisor to Friends of Sankhu in Nepal, he is involved in fund
raising, contributing to heritage conservation, and community development
programmes of Friends of Sankhu in Nepal.
 Shanti Tuinstra,Vice-President
Ms.Tuinstra is a
Cultural Anthropologist. She has joined the board of NSN as the
Vice-President since 2009. She said, "Nepal and its people will always
have a special place in my heart and I am happy that as a board member I can
mean something for the Nepalese living in the Netherlands and friends of Nepal.
This is also where NSN stands for in my opinion. Bringing Nepalese together and
also Dutch friends in a Nepalese atmosphere".
 Rana Lama, General Secretary
He first came to the Netherlands in October 2005 as an international student after completion of his Master degree in geophysics from Tribhuwan University ,Nepal.Currently, he is an MBA student. He has joined the board of NSN since 2008 as a NSN student Coordinator.As a music lover
he began working with a Humchuli since 2005. In 2009, he took the
responsibility as the General Secretary of the NSN.
He said, "I think NSN is a non-profit association, in which both Nepalese and dutch friends work together focusing on social work".
 Nitu Shrestha, the Treasurer
Nitu
Shrestha lives in Nieuwegein since 2002. Before coming to the Netherlands,
she lived in Swayambhu, Kathmandu, where she also worked at
the Radio Nepal as host and actress. However, most of the time
she spent on her full time job in Thamel. Now, she works at TNT
night. She said, "In my free time here, I love traveling,
reading and listening to music." She became a member of NSN since
2004.
She
said, "NSN is the only association through which we can enjoy our
culture, history, languages and traditions. We feel safer and we enjoy sharing
memories about Nepal with other people. That is the reason why I am a part of
the NSN. Finally I would like to request everybody to work together for Nepal
and of course for Nepal Samaj Nederland!"
 Ram Budhathoki, Himchuli Coordinator
Ram
Budhathoki has been living in the Netherlands since May 2001. He was born
in Bhaktapur, a traditional city in the Kathmandu Valley. After his SLC (School
Leaving Certificate) examination, he worked in a tourist Restaurant in
Thamel and studied Economics in Tribhuvan University. He studied
Law in the Netherlands, and now he is working at a Municipality as a
consultant.
He participated
in many song competitions during his young age. He is now actively working
for the Himchuli Cultural Group (a Nepali musical group). "Music is
my hobby. The Himchuli helps me to feel home here in Holland", he said.
About
the NSN, he said, "I think the NSN is for all Nepalese and other
nationalities, who feel attracted with Nepal and its culture. You can share
your happiness and problems with other in the NSN. Himchuli helps all
Nepali to feel at home in Holland with Nepali songs and dances, as I do."
 Ganesh Simkhada, Activity Coordinator
I
was also NSN co-coordinator previously, but I had cut short of my keen interest
and motivation to broaden the activities of the NSN, resulting from some
unexpected personal circumstances, and also due to my involvement with the
Socialist Party of the Netherlands. Now, however, I have reduced my other
activities in order to focus on the NSN and Himchuli Cultural Group. My main
reason for returning to the NSN is to energize all Nepalese and the friends of
Nepal to foster socio-cultural identity.
 Tulashi Amagain,Public Relation Coordinator
Mr.Amagain is a proprietor of one of the travel agency in the Netherlands. He has joined the board of NSN as a public relation Coordinator since 2009.
 Renu Thapa,Editor of Chautari bulletin
Fascinating Nepal;born
in the capital, Kathmandu, I always dreamt to work and be in the beautiful
nature in Tarai, gorgeous hills and mountains of my country. Somehow my dream
came true working in different projects of SNV-Nepal and UNDP and giving Nepali
lessons to experts & volunteers of different international organizations.
This way I learned my fellow people and my country.
Musical
environment: surrounded in a music loving family
members I learned old Hindi and Nepali songs from my parents since I was 4 - 5
years old. I got attached with Nepali folk and classical music, especially
dance during my first visit to National Theatre (Rastriya Nach Ghar) in
Kathmandu. For my dancing ability I would like to give the credit to my mentors
Mr. Basant Shrestha, Mrs. Sarita Shrestha and Mr. Nhyuchhe Man Dangol.
Similarly to make me the first Nepali female pop singer the credibility goes to
pop icon Mr. Om Bikram Bista, who is one of the best friends of my elder
brother. Thanks to Om dai who dared to introduce me and Mr. Ganesh Rasik who
guided me for Radio Nepal's vocal exam.
Living
in Holland: it's almost eleven years and I'm still enjoying being
here. In Holland I love the snowy winter, the whispering sea in summer and the
falling leaves in autumn very much. And off course the beautiful Tulip....
My
small family consists of a loving husband and two beautiful daughters. And at
the moment I am working in a bank.
Me
& NSN, I always like to be connected with music and cultural
activities, in this regard I joined NSN in 2000. I like the way NSN sharing
Nepali culture & tradition in Holland organizing several activities. I also
enjoyed being coordinator of Himchuli Cultural Group for few years (2003 -
2005). From now on I will be working with my friend Ranju Dommerholt for ‘Chautari'. We hope to give
‘Chautari' a fresh look.
 Ranju Dommerholt, Editor of Chautari bulletin
I
was born in Rotterdam and am still living there with my partner. In Rotterdam I
studied Non Western Social History at the Erasmus University and I studied
Asian Studies at the University of Amsterdam.
In
2002 I visited Nepal for the first time and fell in love with the country and
the people. At that time I was teaching English at a secondary school in Sano
Thimi. When I returned to the Netherlands I new that I wanted my final thesis to
be about Nepal. And so I went back to Nepal in 2004 to do research on
transnational identity in the area of Biratnagar and to work as a volunteer for
WOREC, in the south of Nepal. I had a fantastic time again, partly thanks to
the wonderful family I lived with. The year after I went back again to
see my host family again. At this moment ,I am working for FNV Formaat in woerden as a trainer and consultant for work councils.Together wih Shanti I run a business named Okuden.We are specialized in intercultural management and communication.
It's a great to be a member of NSN.This is a great place to meet other people who love Nepal and of course,last but deninitely not least, who are working and living here in the Netherlands.
 Birkha Subba, Executive member
Birkha
Subba has been living, studying and working in the Netherlands since a
couple of years. Before he left Nepal in 2005, he was associated
as a counsel for the Inland Revenue in the Ministry of Home, Education and
Finance Ministries of Nepal. His interest in the socio-economics and
development issues is always high. He always wants to contribute to
his fellow Nepalese, especially to the underprivileged Nepalese people of
all over the world. He said, "as a member of the Executive Committee of
the Nepal Samaj Nederland, I hope to do something for my country, which I find
very important."
He is also involved in different social
organizations, such as an executive member of the Non Residential Nepalese
Association (NRN-NL), an executive member of Janjati Sarokar Manch,
Europe; and the President of Janjati Sarokar Manch Nederland.He said, "I
would like to request all the Nepalese people living abroad to join hands for
the task of Nepal building, because we should never forget our motherland.
 Jum Gurung, Executive member
Jum Gurung joined
NSN as an executive member in 2007. He was born in Kaski, Nepal on 23 July
1959. MSc in Agriculture Research and Development from UEA-Norwich UK, Mr.
Gurung served 25 years in Agricultural Development work in Nepal. He lived
outside Nepal almost a decade and visited many countries such as Belgium, England,
France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Laos, Netherlands, Pakistan, Singapore,
Switzerland, Thailand and USA. He enjoys painting, volunteering and Socio/Eco/Agro
Tourism development. He is a founder member and advisor of several
organizations in Nepal such as KAAS-Nepal 1994, 3-S-Nepal 1996), REGARD-Nepal
1997 and RIMS-Nepal 2000. In the Netherlands he initiated KIRAN FOUNDATION in
2002. He is a member of Reykai International, Red Cross international (life
member) Lions Club Dumre, Tanahun Nepal, Intellectual Circle-Nepal, NRN-NL. As
a business entrepreneur, he established a multidisciplinary farm in Bandipur 8,
Tanahun, Nepal in 1988. Since 2000, he is managing director of Manaslu English
Boarding School in Bandipur 5, Tanahun and Chairman of Manaslu Multipurpose
Transformation Team- (MMTT-Nepal) since 2006. As a social worker with
experience in various fields, he now divides his time between Nepal and the
Netherlands.
 Krishna Hari Maharjan,Executive member
I
was born in Lalitpur, Nepal. I have been living in the Netherlands since March
2005. I came to know about the NSN through its activities and became a
member. I am an executive member of the NSN since April 2009. The NSN is
such an association where you meet both Nepalese and Dutch people working
together. I find it very pleasant to work and interact with people from various
cultures. I am also a member of the NRN-NL. Before I came to the Netherlands I
was involved in social organizations, youth clubs and Newa Pucha that were
active in various social work in Nepal. As an executive member of the NSN I
hope to contribute more actively in its activities. I may also like to request
everyone to join the NSN and contribute to enhance Nepalese-Dutch friendship
and cooperation. |
The NSN Board members
