The Tale of Two Generations

Generation gap has always been looked up as a problem and cause of rift between the two generations. But sometimes we forget how much of a blessing it is. Growing, learning and sharing about the differences in itself is appreciated less.

We have known Karna Shakya as a great entrepreneur, a successful person and an inspiration for everyone but as we focus more on who he is apart from all these, we find a family person dedicated and strong bonded person. Highlighting his relationship with his grandson who is walking on his footsteps, we are proud to have Karna Shakya and Bishesh Bajracharya on cover for this issue of Smart Family.

 

1. Who is Karna Shakya apart from what is known about you? 

    Talking about this, I don’t know if I am completely successful or not successful but I am proud of playing at least a small role for the development of my country. Other thing is, I didn’t have a single passion, I have been trying to engage in a lot of fields with the same dedication and passion which I believe helped me a lot in my journey of success. Beside what the world knows me for, the tourism field, I have also been for various sectors like writing and Cancer Hospital and many more.

 

2. Bishesh, how would you define yourself beyond your heritage? Could you please share with our readers what truly defines your perspective? 

Bishesh Bajracharya:  Have been known by my grandfather’s name ever since but now that I have reached the age to establish myself. I am definitely grateful for the heritage and will always understand my roots. Now I am trying to grow myself from whatever I have learned from him and apply it in my own way. I have just started my professional journey and am sincerely passionate about what I do. Recently, the finance sector in Nepal has been opening up to new opportunities rapidly, I am trying to build myself in it. My major motive lies in working towards developing the Nepali financial markets by exploring and working in new financial product creation.  

Karna Shakya: I have always had a dream to study in one of the biggest universities of the world but due to my circumstances I couldn’t complete it. He understands his responsibilities and works accordingly and I am letting him know the value of struggle which will eventually lead him to respect whatever he achieves.  However, he is completing my dream for me. The enthusiasm he shows makes me think he can reach greater heights in future. He has been applying his knowledge practically which I think is the best anyone can do. 

 

3. Bishesh, you chose to come back to Nepal after completing your studies. You could have had a promising career abroad. What were the factors behind the decision to come back home?

I think I was lucky to have found so many new opportunities growing in Nepal in the field I graduated from. I have always been interested in finance and there were opportunities abroad but I have always been enthusiastic about the new developments and fields in Nepal. To a great extent, I was influenced by my grandfather, so I never planned on settling abroad even before going to study for the first time and I am happy to be back.

 

4. How are you influenced by your grandfather? What qualities of him inspires you the most?

One thing I am highly inspired by is, at the age of 80 if I have to point out whom I would like to live as, I can’t think of anyone better. The dedication, constant enthusiasm and the vision he has is what I look up to most. He has always taught me to learn from anything I see or anywhere I go,ge always says “keep your entrepreneurial eye open”. Another thing I have mostly been inspired by through him is to be an optimist yet practical. Being an optimist is a must but along with that we have to carry around the practical lens of the real world to balance between the dream and the reality. 

5. Karna Sir, have there been any instances where Bishesh has inspired you? 

  He has been inspiring me since he was a kid. I always found him different, a fearless and exploring kid who always behaved with respect with everyone. I have always observed him trying to learn from the internet, from nature and from people he meets. Seeing him use all the modern technologies motivates me to a level for modern understanding too. It is more like a give and take when I teach him the importance of traditional art and the simple lifestyle I experienced and he teaches me the essence of modern living. I learn the basic requirements for today’s world from him and I think to an extent that has been providing me a good help.

 

6. What is the best memory you will always cherish about each other? 

 Bishesh Bajracharya: When I was a kid, I used to stay at grandad’s place over the vacations. I used to roam around him all day. I distinctly remember the year ‘Ba’ was working on his second book. While he dictated the words to his typist, I played games on another computer in the same room. I used to always have an ear open and listen to him narrate and occasionally helped him find synonyms to different words. But I remember there being times that I just completely listened to him narrating and editing parts of his book for hours and completely forgot about the games. Though I never read the book, being there during its making gave me lessons about his life I can never forget. I think that was the best memory for me.

Karna Shakya: I have a very fun memory of him. He used to be good at memorizing things so when the movie “Three Idiots” was released, he had memorized the speech that Chatur delivers. It was a comedy scene, so, that always made me laugh and he did it with the mimicry of the character, I still remember clearly. He used to make everyone laugh, even the guests who visited us would love his act. 

 

7. How do you describe the bond between each other? (To both)

Karna Shakya: We have always been very close to each other not only emotionally but intellectually as well. He shares his plans, presents options and even adds ideas to them. I have my whole trust and expectations on him which I think is a great responsibility for him as well and I hope he proves me right like he always does.

Bishesh Bajracharya: We have always been more than the titled relationship and are more like friends. My respect for him is always there but sometimes I forget that he is my grandfather, we are more than that. I even canceled my plans with my friends to spend Friday night with him and we talked about everything and anything. 

 

8. From your experiences what advice would you give to the next generation, including Bishesh for succeeding in this new normal?

Life's a journey but without a fixed destination. You have to travel as far as you can in this journey but it consists of joy, sorrow, pain and everything you want and everything you don't. I have experienced the dramatic changes of the world and in a way, I have been lucky to see the changes and grow with them. These changes will be occurring with time for this generation too but you have to be ready to accept and adapt to them as well. I believe in “hope for the best and prepare for the worst”, this makes you strong enough mentally and teaches you about crisis management. The new normal has disrupted our lives but we need to find ways to survive during this crisis. Life is all about the problems, finding solutions and dealing with emotions attached to them. The best advice I can give is not to stop when scared but try harder to not be scared anymore.

 

9. Bishesh, you've been looking after KGH investments for some time now. What has been your greatest achievement at the institution?

There is still so much left to do as for achievements because I am just starting my career. But in terms of finance and investments, I have come to realize that knowing how to deal with your not knowing is the most important thing. Right now, if you look at the stock market, almost everyone has benefited from the new highs the market has made, and gains and losses that come with volatility are always going to be there, but while investing, know not just how but also why your investments perform the way it does is an important factor to beat the market.  As for personal development, maybe out of my immense respect for my grandfather I am constantly seeking validation from him. As of now, completing my education to a certain degree and entering the so-called battlefield of the business world, I am looking forward to what is to come. Not as an achievement but I’m happy to just have the ball rolling.

 

10. Bishesh, what advice would you give to those who face the dilemma-abroad or home? Karna sir, would you also provide your input?

Karna Shakya: In the context of Nepal, there are uncountable opportunities here. The diverse nature has always been a plus point for us and every citizen should be able to recognize this. The most successful people in the world aren’t where they are because of the money or the parental property, they are there because of the idea. Money doesn't move the world but ideas do and people who have ideas don't wait or seek for opportunities, they create them. The combination of Himal, Pahad and Terai has provided us the space, it is up to us where we decide to create our way to success. It is not about learning skills abroad but being able to use it back here in the development of the country. It is not about the technology and huge investments but simple farming can do wonders which we are yet to realize. Every village should be promoted, not only the capital. We citizens should understand our individual responsibility towards our nation and work accordingly as well.

 

Bishesh Bjaracharya: I would like to present my thoughts on this in a little different way. To a certain level it is correct to work here in the country and for its development and I myself am very fortunate to have found great opportunities in Nepal in the field I was interested in. But it isn't the same for everyone like if someone is interested in Aerospace or Intech, the market and opportunities are still very limited in our country and it takes a lot to lay the groundwork and then build on it despite the potential rewards. I think this will be a fairer question to ask once we have equal opportunities for everyone in what they are passionate about, of course easier said than done.  I have seen a lot of people facing this dilemma and I am not in the position to tell them what to do but simply respect their decisions to choose the best for themselves, but in the meantime we should contribute to empower Nepalis within Nepal to eradicate the compulsion to leave the country.