In the world of television and internet, it’s easy to measure one’s popularity with the number of followers in Instagram and Snapchat, but it’s difficult to sustain that level of popularity. This statement is more true for those who are close to their family. If they or somebody in their family does something unsavorily it does not take long for it to negatively affect their popularity. This tends to happen more often when we truly do not know these popular figures or their families. But when we do come to know them --- warts and all --- we realize that they are in fact like the rest of us -- humane, even if in some ways deeply flawed. Mr. Raymon Das Shrestha, who started out as a radio jockey but is now an artist, an entrepreneur and producer, and his family are no different, let’s hear it in his own voice.

How do you describe your own family culture?

I believe that one of the factors that define my family culture is the place where we grow up. I come from a Newari family, and spent most of my childhood in my maternal uncle’s home in Bhaktapur, so to some extent, I posses the culture of Bhaktapur. Having said that, since my father’s original home is in Thapathali, also posses the culture of Patan as well. I need few minutes to count all of father’s close members because they are too numerous: four brothers and three sisters, and their children. In the past, when all my family members would get together for a special occasion, it always looks like a huge party. So I grew up in mix culture with large number of family members.I learned from my family that if you want respect you need to give respect. I wouldn’t say my family is excessively open, but it is not conservative either. My parents always balanced their traditional culture with modern desires of their kids.

 

How do you manage your time between family and profession?

Currently I have not been able to give that much of time to my family as I run a restaurant, work in a radio, and now have started by own production company as well. Still, I try to make sure that I spend quality time with my family whenever possible. Sometimes I take my mother to a random place, and sometime I invite my family to my own restaurant for dinner or lunch. I am very close to my niece. I often take her out for animated movies or for dinner twice or more in a month.

What are your recent memories of fun moments, and factious moments with family member?

I believe that it’s every person’s responsibility to take care of his/her parents, especially when the parents are aged. Last year, we skipped Tihar festival, and went to Pokhara for four days. We had an amazingly good time. I took my mother and father to those places in Pokhara where they had not been before, and they enjoyed thoroughly. I still cherish those moments.

I sometime reach home extremely late. It’s been years that I’m trying to convince my father about my time schedule. He seems to understand, but still he stays up till I reach home, which I really don’t like. He doesn’t say anything, but I feel bad. I don’t want to disturb his sound sleep for my sake. However, putting myself into his shoes, I see that he is father after all, and by default he will be worried if I come home late. This is one thing about which either I or he gets livid. And my mother always complains about my not giving enough time to family. I believe in freedom but she is so protective and tries to bind me to the point of suffocation. Sometimes I say things which I really don’t mean, and which later I regret. Parents easily get hurt when their children with whom they have extreme levels of emotional connection, say unacceptable words. I’m sure I would feel the same way, if my children would say the heartbreaking words in shrill voice.