Nikesh Thapaliya is a twenty-seven-year-old Nepalese American social and immigration advocate living in Chicago, U.S.A. He is passionate about working on issues such as immigration, human trafficking to the United States, and advocating for children and teen immigrants who enter the US via border crossing. Thapaliya started his career as a volunteer and web content coordinator for the United Nations and was a recipient of special recognition from the regional mayor in the state of South Carolina for his work in 2013. He is among those who have not only made Nepalese in Nepal proud but also supported and advocated for Nepalese in foreign lands who need help.
In this interview let us hear his thoughts on some questions we had which interested us. Kathmandu Tribune‘s Dikshya Koirala spoke with Thapaliya about his journey and what it means to dabble with international recognition.
Demanding recognition of human rights has become an enormous factor in human history with riots, revolutions, and even wars being fought for over these rights for thousands (perhaps tens of thousands) of years. So, we understand, or can try to understand, the struggle and also respect human rights activists. While most of us are not human rights activists, we do profoundly enjoy our human rights and are grateful to those who put their lives on the line to see the future generations enjoy their liberties. As an activist which area or sphere is the most important to you, and which sphere have you focused your energy on? Why is it so important to you?
I have despised injustice and have been a rebel and non-conformist from a very young age. I have always been a rebel for a cause and believed in individuality. Especially after I came to the United States, I saw many people who genuinely needed help.
Maybe my experience of being an immigrant created this empathy within me, and I wanted to be the voice of the deliberately silenced and the unheard. I wanted to use my voice and my platform to help as many people as possible, especially the immigrant community around me.
I have still been lucky in some ways: I can speak English and have a certain education, but there are so many people who come to this country from countries that are war-ridden and unimaginable living conditions. Helping them in any way gives me happiness, contentment, and determination to live life.
You have a World Record for your knowledge of Geography. What got you interested in trying out for the World Record? Any plans for other World Records?
Well, getting a World Record was a very random wish of the 16 or 17-year-old Nikesh. I loved geography from a very young age and wanted to give recognition to this passion which led to the records happening. I admire that innocence. However, I don’t have any intention to make such world records anymore. Yet I want to motivate the younger generation that they all have some kind of talent and to show it to the world on an international stage. For me now, the world is more about having personal records of helping more people, reaching out to more Nepalese, and the international community here through my advocacy. I want to advocate more about mental health and de-stigmatize it.
The World Records were a stepping stone, but not really my purpose or aim of life. But I am happy to have it.
Activism takes many forms, including forms such as bringing change through policies and voting, and also changing hearts and minds through education, awareness, and empathy building. Your work shows you have always passionately tried all forms that were possible. Which do you think in your experience has made the most difference?
To be honest, I didn’t even realize I have utilized all these forms of advocacy and activism because I am someone who does advocacy in the way I see is possible and important at the moment. It has always differed according to unique situations and projects. I am very empathizing, especially towards immigrants and refugees. Back in Nepal, we had only heard about refugees, but coming here connecting to them has had a tremendous impact on my life. They have inspired me and taught me a lot. I have done quite some work in this field and all these projects and works have been very important and affecting in their own special way. I am just grateful that at this early phase of my life I am involved with such noble causes. It is very difficult to choose one.
You have accomplished a lot until now. You have even received awards for your work. According to you, what has been your greatest accomplishment? What do you look towards accomplishing in the coming years?
Well, I don’t really consider myself a great accomplisher. I am young, still learning, and figuring out what I really want to do. If life tomorrow brings up some other opportunities to my plate, sure why not?
About immediate plans. In a few months, I will be a panelist at the global anti-bullying convention going to be held in Chicago. It will probably be a virtual event and I am very excited about it. I will continue being an advocate for the immigrants and refugees, particularly for the survivors of human trafficking, those who are undocumented. I will continue all I have been doing. I am also planning to do my graduate studies in counseling, so let’s see how that goes. I am also a family guy. I will continue to be one and honestly, in any way I can, especially since we are in the middle of the pandemic, will try to cheer my people up. This year I am also planning to love myself, be content, and grateful for all I have.
You have mentioned in your earlier interviews that you are a movie lover. Have you ever empathized or believed in something that a movie villain had thought of?
Yes, I am an avid movie lover. Absolutely, movies do sometimes show the modern reality of today’s society, and some villains are actually the byproduct of all the inequalities and differences of our real society. Sometimes it’s poverty, sometimes the lack of opportunity, and sometimes it is personal circumstances. This makes me think about their actions and empathize with them.
Let’s not go far, let’s talk about our own Nepali movies. The character I have empathized with is Haku Kale from the movie Loot.
Nikesh during his trip to Machu Picchu.
You love traveling. You have traveled across 5 continents. What has been your most memorable travel journey/experience and what are your top travel tips?
Actually, all my trips have been memorable to me. It was my dream to travel since my teenage years. I am fulfilling my dream right now. My recent memorable trip was one last year. I went to Machu Picchu, Peru with my sister. I had heard about the wonder many years back, but seeing it with my eyes, right in front of me, was an exceptional feeling was out of this world! We were there on a guided tour on a train. We met people from unfamiliar parts of the world, but what was amazing was that all of us were having the same experience.
Travel tip: Be organized. True that some people want to go with the flow, but I think we can be organized and still go with the flow. Be organized about where all you want to go, where you will stay, how much money you are spending. It really saves time and money if you are organized.
If you ever wrote a novel, what would you want to write about?
I think I would want to write something motivational for young people. This is an age group where demotivation and anxiety hit you hard. So my novel will be about something uplifting for people of my age, which would help them realize their potential.
