Farewells and goodbyes are something that I am never really good at. I always paint these elaborate messages in my head, but when the time comes to deliver or write it down, the words just falter at my fingertips. So here is my umpteenth attempt to try to write a farewell article and also my final newsletter article for my beloved Impact Hub Kathmandu.
You might say 3 and a half years is not much, however, the lifespan of a human is also infinitesimal in comparison to the universe. Yet here we are, living on this planet, experiencing joy, sorrow, love, admiration, fear, anger, and many more emotions that might encompass the whole of the observable universe. Even though my stint in IH KTM was short, it was abundant with the emotions and experiences that life could offer me.
The generous amount of experiences I had in IH KTM might require a book rather than an article, but I will try my best to put it as succinctly as I can. My journey here started more than 3 years ago on a chilly yet bright morning of February 2022. Coincidentally, it was the morning of the 14th of February, Valentine’s Day. A fateful day, and I was oblivious to the fact that I would be leaving with so much love from this space.
I would leave IH KTM not just with an abundance of love but with resilience and a sense of responsibility for the privilege I was born into. I discovered all these while on field trips to various parts of Nepal. The deliberateness we have to incorporate in our work for inclusivity is something I will always carry with me for the rest of my life, and for this, I will always be indebted to the Programs Team (Especially Bisheshta, Romi, Rohan, Selisha, Rashi, Sohan). I am also grateful to my beloved Fablab Team (Pallab, Melina, Denjing, Amit, Daya, Sanjeev, Kamal), from whom I was always learning new things each and every day, and there was never a dull moment with them. I will always miss how our conversation constantly shifted from playful, funny banter to serious discussions. And to my past and present colleagues (Samanata, Pradita, Sagar, Wrachana, Shanti Di, Bikash Ji, Nischal) who put effort into me for who I am today.
However, the ship has not always sailed smoothly on the waters of Impact Hub Kathmandu for me. There were rough patches of water here and there, but as the old adage goes, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” These rough patches made me more resilient, more critical in situations I had missed, and kinder and gentler where need be. For this, I am indebted to Padmakshi Di. You always saw matters from a critical lens and always pushed me to do better. And I will always truly admire your strength and grit to hold the line for us.
I will, in essence, cherish the time I spent in Impact Hub Kathmandu. It was a safe space not just for me but for everyone who comes here. A place to know each other not just professionally but personally as well, where each who entered this hallowed space left with more than they had. We are a motley crew, but that is the beauty of the space where different ideas and beliefs coalesce and take a new form. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for the beautiful memory book as a parting gift. I will always adore and protect it till the end of time.
धन्यबाद, Thank You, ありがとうございます, Merci Beaucoup, and so on all the languages that I know will not be enough to extend my deepest gratitude to all the members of Impact Hub Kathmandu, past and present. I do not know how I will end this farewell article, but I have to before Romi bites back at me for being too long (sorry Roms). On a final note, as this chapter of my life comes to a close and another one begins, this Impact Hub Kathmandu chapter will undoubtedly endure in my memories and in my heart. Lastly, in the space between a blink and a tear, I found all the abundant love from Impact Hub Kathmandu. Thank you, and until next time!
