Premika Shrestha: Building a sweet future by selling tangy Chatpatey

KATHMANDU: It has been four years since Premika Shrestha from Sindhuli moved to Kathmandu.

After completing her 12th grade, she enrolled in Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus, Exhibition Road, where she is currently studying in her third year of a Bachelor’s degree.

Appearing calm and soft-spoken, Premika is loved by everyone. She is excellent in her studies and equally capable in managing responsibilities.

Alongside her education, she has been growing her own business, challenging the rising issue of educational unemployment in the country. At just 24 years old, Premika runs a chaat and pani puri stall at Bhrikuti Mandap in Kathmandu.

In contrast to students who drop out due to a lack of employment opportunities, Premika is pursuing both education and business simultaneously. Born into a modest family in Sindhuli, she not only studies but also earns her living.

She covers her tuition fees, rent, and other personal expenses herself, setting an example for those who leave their studies behind to go abroad for work due to unemployment.

Many students are found more in consultancy offices these days rather than in classrooms, but few like Premika manage both studies and business.

Unlike many of her peers, Premika has no desire to go abroad. Her dream is to build a future by working hard in her own country.

A Busy Life: College in the Morning, Business in the Afternoon

Premika’s daily routine is packed. She attends college in the morning, studying political science at RR Campus, and heads to Bhrikuti Mandap in the afternoon to run her stall.

Her job involves preparing a flavorful mix of puffed rice, chickpeas, peas, soybeans, spices, salt, chili, tomatoes, and lemon to create mouth-watering chatpatey.

Premika dreams of building a future in Nepal. Her childhood aspiration was to become a teacher, and she initially came to Kathmandu to study for civil service exams and teacher training.

However, due to financial difficulties, she couldn’t continue her studies outside regular college classes. Despite these setbacks, she is determined to secure a government job and stay in Nepal.

“I go to college in the morning and sell chaat in the afternoon. I don’t have to face the stress of unemployment because I’m working,” she said. “It’s all for my studies and future.”

Bhrikuti Mandap has many other small business owners like Premika. Though business isn’t always as good as expected, her calm and friendly nature keeps customers coming back to enjoy her chaat and pani puri. Many people who visit her stall once return for more.

“There are many others like me running businesses here. Sometimes, earnings aren’t as high as I expect, but familiar customers keep coming,” she said.

Support from Family, but Hard Work is Her Own

Before Premika took over the business, her brother and sister-in-law ran the stall at Bhrikuti Mandap. In her early days in Kathmandu, she would often help them out, gradually learning how to make chaat and pani puri.

As her brother and sister-in-law became busier, Premika took full responsibility for the business.

“When I first came to Kathmandu, I used to help my brother and sister-in-law. Gradually, I learned how to manage everything on my own,” she said. “Now, I run the business entirely by myself.”

Premika no longer requires anyone else’s help with her business. She works independently, staying busy from 11 AM to 8 PM. Though there are many other chaat vendors in Bhrikuti Mandap, she enjoys a steady stream of customers, especially during festivals and peak seasons.

She notes that the flow of tourists and shoppers has decreased recently due to more young people moving abroad, but she’s never returned home empty-handed.

“There used to be crowds of young people coming for shopping or just to hang out, but with so many now going abroad, it seems like the number of customers has dropped,” she said. “Business is okay though.”

Earning 25,000 Rupees Per Month

Premika’s business is proof that no work is too small. While many youths criticize the government for the lack of jobs, she manages to earn between Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per month. This covers her education and living expenses, with some money left for savings.

She believes that even with minimal investment, her earnings are substantial, and she has no regrets about her choice of work. Proud of her efforts, Premika says the satisfaction and happiness she gets from her own hard work are unmatched.

“When you work for someone else, you have to deal with pressure, but when you work for yourself, you’re both the boss and the worker,” she said. “There’s no fear of getting fired or yelled at, and you can open or close the stall whenever you want.”

For Premika, the freedom of being her own boss makes her work fulfilling.

-Bishnu Maya Shrestha