Ram Kumar Rathi receives lifetime award for elevating Nepali tea globally

KATHMANDU: Renowned industrialist Ram Kumar Rathi has been conferred with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his extraordinary contribution of nearly six decades to the development, promotion, and global expansion of Nepal’s tea industry.

The honor was bestowed during a special ceremony celebrating the 29th National Tea Day, organized by the National Tea and Coffee Development Board.

The award was presented by Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development and Board Chairperson Ramnath Adhikari, along with the Board’s Executive Director Findraraj Pandey, who draped Rathi with a ceremonial shawl and handed him a certificate of recognition.

They lauded Rathi’s instrumental role in shaping Nepal’s tea sector and elevating its presence on the international stage.

Rathi, recognized as Nepal’s first professional tea taster, discovered his passion for tea testing during a visit to China, where he observed the intricate process firsthand. Inspired by the experience, he dedicated his life to advancing every facet of the tea industry—from tasting, production, and processing to marketing and export.

Between 1968 and 1970, Rathi trained as a tea taster at D.C. Ghosh & Co. in Kolkata, India. Upon returning to Nepal, he founded R.K. Overseas in 1972, marking the country’s entry into international tea trade. Through his efforts, Nepali tea reached markets in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, Egypt, and Iran, among others.

In 1976 (2033 BS), Rathi institutionalized tea production by establishing Himal Tea Industry (Rakura). Later, in 2046 BS, he founded Nepal’s first private-sector tea factory, Himalayan Range Tea Industry, in Malum, Ilam.

Continuing his legacy, he established Sunkoshi Tea Industry in Haldibari, Jhapa, in 2063 BS and launched Himalayan Valley Pvt. Ltd., an organic tea venture in Shantidanda, Ilam, in 2072 BS.