Nasodhiyaka Kathaharu is the autobiography of 92-year-old Pabitra Khatri. This remarkable memoir captures not only her personal life story but also nine decades of Nepal’s cultural and social changes. Through her words, readers travel from Dolakha during the Rana regime to remote districts like Jumla, experiencing a world where traditions shaped identity, gender roles, daily life, and survival.
Some memories vanish when they are never spoken. Nasodhiyeka Kathaharu, ensures that does not happen. Compiled with the help of her youngest son Dr. Shyam KC and published by Lekhan Kunj (Ghost Writing Nepal), this book is more than a personal life story, it is a window into nearly a century of Nepali history, tradition, cultural change, and transformation.
In Nasodhiyaka Kathaharu, Pabitra recounts her childhood, early marriage, and family life in an era when a woman’s existence revolved around home and duty. Her memories reveal how girls were raised to take on household responsibilities from an early age, often sacrificing their own dreams. The book also traces Nepal’s evolving history, from the strict Rana regime to the Panchayat era and eventually to the republic, through the lens of an ordinary woman who witnessed it all.
Why Nasodhiyaka Kathaharu Matters
This autobiography is more than one woman’s story; it is also a vivid record of changing times and the transformation of Nepali society over nearly a century. Pabitra Khatri’s journey reveals the struggles, resilience, and unrecognized strength of women who, despite limited opportunities, became the foundation of their families and communities. Her reflections are deeply personal yet universally relatable, offering lessons in perseverance, sacrifice, and adaptability that resonate beyond cultural boundaries.
Readers of Nasodhiyaka Kathaharu will also find many moments of inspiration. Pabitra lost her mother when she was barely two. She never attended school, yet she recognizes the importance of education and takes pride in seeing younger generations—daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters—embrace opportunities she could only imagine. Through her story, she encourages women today to pursue learning, independence, and self-reliance as a way to shape both their lives and the future of their society.
One of the book’s most touching and enduring elements is its direct message to the next generation. Pabitra never had the opportunity to enter a classroom, yet she now watches with pride as her granddaughters build careers across the globe, pursue higher education, and claim the independence she could only imagine in her youth. To them, and to all young women, she offers a simple but powerful blessing: “To my daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, and to all the daughters of today, I want to say, “Rise fully. Rise independently, without anyone’s interference, so that even when your body sets, your deeds continue to rise. My blessings are with all daughters.” [“रहर छुनु त परको कुरा । रहरै देख्न नपाएकी , सपनाको संसार कल्पनामै पनि टेक्न नपाएकी म उदाउँदा छोरी, नातिनी , पनातिनीहरू र आजका सबै छोरीहरू , उनीहरूलाई भन्न चाहन्छु , मजाले उदाउनु । कसैको हस्तक्षेपविना स्वतंन्त्र भएर उदाउनु ताकि शरीर अस्ताउँदा पनि उदाइरहोस तपाईंहरूको कर्म । मेरो आशीर्वाद छ सबै छोरी जातिलाई।”]
A Legacy with Purpose
Purchasing Nasodhiyaka Kathaharu does more than bring a meaningful book into your home. All proceeds from this memoir are dedicated to funding the education of deserving Nepali girls, making it not only a story about empowering women but also a tool for empowering future generations and creating opportunities that can transform lives and communities.
Nasodhiyeka Kathaharu is available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book format. For readers who love memoirs, social history, or stories of resilience, this book is not just something to read; it is something to keep, share, and learn from, offering wisdom and inspiration for generations to come.
