During my six-week assignment in Nepal, I spent a lot of time with the co-founder of Himalayan HealthCare,  Anil Parajuli.  One thing is unmistakable. The people of Nepal love this man.  Not that I have ever walked the streets with Bono (let alone met him), however I imagine walking through the rural villages with Anil was pretty close to it.  People of all walks of life wave and call out his name. Many insist on shaking his hand.  When I mention my observation,  it is clear he is very uncomfortable with the comparison. He disagrees and tells me I am overly dramatic.  “Debi, No one is that important here."  I beg to differ.  Anil gained the respect of his volunteers who often compare him to the well known humanitarian. He has been named an Ashoka Fellow, recognized as one of the top fifty personalities in Nepal four times  and has received  numerous awards for his  efforts.

The modest humanitarian is the first to tell you his life’s work is the result of the most traumatic event of his life. “Simply put” Anil says,” I was kicked out of medical school a little over twenty years ago and when you are the son of a highly regarded physician and humanitarian, there is not much worse you can do when your only responsibility is to graduate.”