August is Women in Translation Month! In celebration of #WITMonth, let’s revisit our guff gaff on all things literary with writer Muna Gurung. We talk to bout translations, about women, often forgotten by Nepal's literary circle, and her amazing Lightroom Conversation series, where she speaks with some of the most interesting figures in Nepal's literary scene. Read Lightroom Conversation series by Muna Gurung here: https://www.munagurung.com/lightroom-conversation The task of the translator by P...
Aug 09, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Re-releasing this episode from 2019 since we are still juggling multiple long distance friendships across time zones. God, I really miss impromptu chicken chilly and beer bhetghats with my fraandz. In this very cheesy episode, we talk about why friendship is important and how it shapes our lives. And why we need more deep portrayal of female, queer and all kinds of non-broey friendship in our books and movies. Also, a big thank you to everyone who shared their friendship stories with us. If you ...
Aug 01, 2025•33 min
Introducing our series “Rewind with Boju Bajai” where we talk about all things nostalgia. And in this episode, we take a walk down memory lane with singer Sukmit Gurung, Nepal’s OG pop music icon. Sukmit Gurung talks about her childhood in Sikkim, getting a break as a teenager to sing alongside Om Bikram Bista, shifting trends in Nepali music and four decades of singing and performing for Nepali audiences around the world. गायिका सुक्मित गुरुङले सन् १९८१ मा ‘ओ मेरो प्रियतम’ गाउँदासम्म पनि पप संग...
Jul 18, 2025•16 min
Indu Tharu is an artist, poet, and activist. She has documented different social movements across Nepal and the often forgotten contribution of women from indigenous communities like Tharus in such movements. Her writings have appeared in several national media outlets and shine light on the oppression of indigenous communities, and the loss of their language and knowledge.She has published three books - “Muktik Dagar”, “Nilambit Nibandha”, and “Budhani”, her latest book about Tharu folktale, wh...
Jun 27, 2025•10 min
Boju Bajai in conversation with writer Indu Tharu. In this episode we talk about her writing, art, activism and why protests are an important tool to challenge existing power structures. Indu Tharu is an artist, poet, and activist. She has documented different social movements across Nepal and the often forgotten contribution of women from indigenous communities like Tharus in such movements. Her writings have appeared in several national media outlets and shine light on the oppression of indige...
Jun 21, 2025•55 min
This is the fourth installment of Boju Bajai Reads where we get our favorite writers to read their writings. And this time, we have writer Indu Tharu reading her poem ‘केकर हो यि साम्राज्य’. The poem, like most of her writings, shines light on the oppression of indigenous communities, and the loss of their language and knowledge. ‘केकर हो यि साम्राज्य’ was originally written in Tharu and later translated into Nepali. Our conversation with Indu Tharu will be out on June 20th. So please mark your ...
Jun 13, 2025•2 min
Disclaimer: This is video version of our April episode featuring Anbika Giri and Dovan Rai. Watch the fun video on our YT and Spotify. गणतन्त्र दिवसको शु्भकामना ! In this episode, writer Anbika Giri and computer scientist Dr. Dovan Rai talk about growing up in Nepal in the not-so-Royal Nepal of the 90s, where access to media and information was mostly limited to Saturday films on Nepal Television, music videos on Image Channel, renting VHS tapes and a handful of magazines. They also reflect on t...
May 28, 2025•23 min
What do you mean it’s been NINE (!!) years since we released our first episode “Bears and Whores.” In this rambling birthday celebratory conversation, we look back on our journey, vent frustration about how the Nepali state continues to treat Nepali women as second-class citizens, the recent corruption kandas, "Paras Sarkar" content farm, and why Nepali netizens still can’t pachao opinionated women like actor Suraksha Pant. Thank you everyone for sticking around and being part of our laugh and g...
May 17, 2025•43 min
Wave was the most popular English language magazine among young Nepali readers in the 1990s and the 2000s. Launched in 1994, Wave became an instant hit because of its fresh take on music, fashion, youth culture and the concerns of young urban Nepalis. And remember the iconic lyrics book with guitar chords (this was when the internet wasn’t as accessible) and the glossy poster of international musicians that came with the magazine every month! It was also one of the very few and first Nepali medi...
May 02, 2025•36 min
Introducing our new series “Rewind with Boju Bajai” where we talk about all things nostalgia. In this episode, writer Anbika Giri and computer scientist/educator Dr. Dovan Rai talk about growing up in Nepal in the 90s, where access to media and information was limited to Saturday films on Nepal Television, music videos on Image Channel, renting VHS tapes and a handful of magazines. They also reflect on their formative experiences during the years of political upheaval in Nepal, from Panchayat ru...
Apr 15, 2025•28 min
It’s that time of the year again! And no, we aren’t out marching this year cos we are boju bajai yaaaaa. Leg and back is dukhing hau. Also, no girl boss energy or women breaking glass/wooden/cement ceiling stories this time. Cos this Women’s Day we are putting the spotlight on jhooti, makkar, thaggar ladies - from “माताको भेषमा मूर्ति र घण्टी चोरी गर्ने” ladies’ gang in Dang to laptop luteri in Delhi and Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy, the woman who caused the infamous diamond necklace kanda in 18t...
Mar 07, 2025•44 min
Boju Bajai is back! Season break मा माया नमारिदिनु भएकोमा बहुतै ज्यादा धन्यवाद है। In this episode, we talk about घर व्यवहार, geriatric pregnancy (yes, one of us is a mother now 😬), and trying to figure out if life after ४० कटेसी is actually fun. We are super excited to share this episode and very many aru ramailo guff gaff in 2025. Thank you for sticking around 🫶 We have also recently launched our new video series “Rewind” on YouTube. The series focuses on all things nostalgia and the first v...
Feb 10, 2025•35 min
A very special Valentine's Day episode dedicated to our lovely listeners who have been with us for the last eight years! Thank you so much for being part of our laugh and guff gaff. It feels like we’ve actually become boju and bajai in podcast years. So your grannies next door are a bit tired, and desperately in need of some aaram, and will be going on a season break after this episode. We will use this time to work on new projects, hopefully, different from what you have seen/heard in the last ...
Feb 15, 2024•35 min
Boju Bajai in conversation with journalist Bidhya Rai. We talk about her experience being a woman inside and outside the newsroom, her journey from Bhojpur to Kathmandu, and why her relationship with social media has deteriorated over the years. Bidhya is an award-winning journalist who has consistently reported on stories about the most marginalised communities in Nepal through an intersectional lens, from disability rights to cyber security, gender and climate change. In 2023, she won a South ...
Feb 02, 2024•52 min
Boju Bajai in conversation with Dr. Dovan Rai, a researcher, writer, and educator. In this episode, we talk about Dovan's experiences as a woman working in STEM and education, her writings about Nepal's long history of failed political leadership, and the role and effectiveness of civil society in Nepal. Dovan Rai is passionate about making quality education accessible and has worked at OLE Nepal where she designed educational software for public schools in Nepal. She studied engineering at Pulc...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Boju Bajai in conversation with writer and lawyer Durga Karki. In this episode, we talk about her writing journey as a young बुद्धिजीवि in Nepal, her grad school experience at Harvard, and her recent decision to stay off social media as much as possible. Durga Karki is a lawyer by training, a journalist by interest, and a writer by passion. She writes both fiction and non-fiction in various national dailies and online portals on issues ranging from feminism to federalism. Her first book - a coll...
Dec 02, 2023•1 hr 11 min
This is the third installment of Boju Bajai Reads where we get our favorite writers to read their writings. And this time, we are thrilled to have writer Durga Karki reading her short story ‘साथे’ from her book “कुमारी प्रश्नहरू”. We are releasing our episode ‘Guff Gaff with Durga Karki’ on December 2. So please mark your calendar hai. Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researchers to bring compelling audio stories that center and amplify women’s experiences. If you would like to supp...
Nov 27, 2023•13 min
In this episode, journalist Manju Telor explores the working conditions of overworked and underpaid nurses in Nepal. How does that affect the quality of care in Nepal’s hospitals, and what can the institutions within which these care professionals work do better? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai for a roundup of news and feminist views from Nepal and the Nepali internet. Read and subscribe here: https://bojubajai.substack.com/welcome Boju Bajai regularly works with rep...
Nov 03, 2023•27 min
Boju Bajai in conversation with Dr. Amina Singh. In this episode, we talk about various aspects of Nepal’s education system by exploring issues like how students in Nepali classrooms are taught history and civic studies, and why there is an urgent need for Nepali classrooms to equip students with the skills to think critically, question and reason. Amina Singh worked as a management consultant in the development sector for almost a decade conducting assessment studies, reviews, and evaluations f...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Resharing this episode from 2020 where our guests Shailee and Pallavi challenge the boundaries and definitions of what it means to be a Nepali. Happy Constitution Day! In this episode, @shaileeism and @PayalPallavi take over Boju Bajai and talk about what it means to be a Madhesi, a Nepali, and a Madhesi woman in Nepal. Disclaimer - This episode contains two un-beeped expletives, ध्यान दिएर सुन्नुस् होला :) Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Cold Takes by Boju Bajai for a roundup of news and fem...
Sep 19, 2023•53 min
In this episode, we talk to wildlife researcher turned social entrepreneur Priya Joshi about her professional and personal journey, her complicated relationship with motherhood, and her attempt at creating a nurturing, kind online community for young Nepali mothers like her. Priya Joshi started her career as a wildlife researcher and later switched gears to start MakerKT, which organizes workshops to spark a DIY culture among Nepali women and kids. She also runs the Instagram page Ama Mama to sh...
Sep 02, 2023•1 hr 33 min
Boju Bajai in conversation with writer Shivani Singh Tharu. In this episode, we talk about Shivani’s journey from tv to writing and her relationship with Kathmandu and Kathmandu’s elite institutions as a Tharu woman from Nepalgunj. She also speaks candidly about the struggles of being a full-time writer in Nepal, her creative process, and dabbling across different genres of writing. Shivani started her career in tv as the host, producer, and scriptwriter for ‘Mero Geet Mero Sandesh’ and ‘Mulyank...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 43 min
This is the second installment of Boju Bajai Reads where we get our favorite writers to read their writings. And this time, we are thrilled to have writer Shivani Singh Tharu read her piece ‘महुवा’ published in Naya Patrika. Oh, and mark your calendar cos our episode ‘Guff Gaff with Shivani Singh Tharu’ is releasing on August 2. Read the full piece published in Naya Patrika: https://jhannaya.nayapatrikadaily.com/news-details/419/2019-08-10 Boju Bajai regularly works with reporters and researcher...
Jul 26, 2023•12 min
Boju Bajai in conversation with Akanchha Karki, who is a theatre director, performer and educator. She runs Katha Ghera, a theatre collective in Kathmandu, and has directed several plays including the Nepali version of The Vagina Monologues, Private is Political, Line, The Giving Tree, Harek Babal Kura, and Animal Farm. She is also an aspiring filmmaker and directed her debut short film 'Sanai' through the British Council Gender Film Grant. She was a fellow at the Gograha filmmaking residency in...
Jul 02, 2023•1 hr 21 min
Welcome to Episode 6 of Care at the Centre: Voices from the Majority World. At the heart of this series is care - the life-affirming, life-sustaining practice which honours our interconnected relationships and our commitment to the wellbeing of ourselves, our environments, and each other. As the world becomes increasingly hostile towards feminist activists and women's movements, Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, Asia & Pacific, aims to bring to light the stories and experiences of...
Jun 15, 2023•29 min
Welcome to Episode 5 of Care at the Centre: Voices from the Majority World. At the heart of this series is care - the life-affirming, life-sustaining practice honouring our interconnected relationships and our commitment to the wellbeing of ourselves, our environments, and each other. As the world becomes increasingly hostile towards feminist activists and women's movements, Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, Asia & Pacific, this series aims to bring to light the stories and experi...
Jun 15, 2023•22 min
Welcome to Episode 4 of Care at the Centre: Voices from the Majority World. At the heart of this series is care - the life-affirming, life-sustaining practice honouring our interconnected relationships and our commitment to the wellbeing of ourselves, our environments, and each other. As the world becomes increasingly hostile towards feminist activists and women's movements, Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, Asia & Pacific, aims to bring to light the stories and experiences of wom...
Jun 15, 2023•19 min
Welcome to Episode 3 of Care At the Centre: Voices from the Majority World. At the heart of this series is care - the life-affirming, life-sustaining practice honouring our interconnected relationships and our commitment to the wellbeing of ourselves, our environments, and each other. As the world becomes increasingly hostile towards feminist activists and women's movements, Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights, Asia & Pacific, this series aims to bring to light the stories and experi...
Jun 15, 2023•18 min
Welcome to the second episode of Care at the Centre: Voices from the Majority World. At the heart of this series is care - the life-affirming, life-sustaining practice which honours our interconnected relationships and our commitment to the wellbeing of ourselves, our environments, and each other. In this episode, we bring you the voice of Rukshana Kapali. As a trans woman activist from the Newa Indigenous group, Rukshana’s work and her experiences are specific to Nepal’s socio-political and cul...
Jun 15, 2023•24 min
Care at the Centre: Voices from the Majority World At the heart of this series is care - the life-affirming, life-sustaining practice of honouring our interconnected relationships and our commitment to the wellbeing of ourselves, our environments, and each other. But in an increasingly hostile world, how do women, trans, and non-binary activists in the world visualize care and protection today at both the individual and organizational level? What are the specific risks to the lives and works of ...
Jun 15, 2023•23 min
