Traditionally, Gurungs are more interested in sending their children to become Lahure-s. But because Gurung was brought up in Kathmandu, he did not get to become one.
Originally from Kaski district, he spent his childhood in Kathmandu as his father worked at the erstwhile Narayanhiti Royal Palace, now a public museum.
After completing his education from Durbar High School in Kathmandu, Gurung graduated in forestry from Kanpur in India. In 1964, he started working as agriculture officer for the government in Nepal and served in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, and Damauli.
Though his career took off and was solid in the government, he however decided to leave it all because he had his own dreams to fulfill. He always wanted to cultivate fruits in Nepal while he was studying in India. While working as government officer, he had closely seen different climates and topographies suitable for cultivating various types of fruits in Nepal. With that knowledge, he bought 80 ropanis of land for Rs 50,000 in Tanahu and planted mango, litchi, lemon, guava and jyamir citrus trees.
As he did well with his orchard, Gurung added 200 more ropanis to his plot and extended his business. He also started bamboo farming on 100 ropanis from 1982. There are around 42 species of bamboos on his farm today, and in his own words, he earns Rs 600,000 from selling bamboos alone annually.
In 1987, he leased another 50 ropanis of land to expand his farm.
Lately, Gurung is more inclined in cultivating herbs than fruits and bamboos. Last year, he planted five hundred seedlings of red sandalwood to his700 aghori plants on his field. However, he must wait for thirty years to earn from his sandalwood trees, and twenty years to be benefited by the aghori plants. His sandalwood will likely be exported to China, and Aghori plants will produce oil. A liter of aghori oil goes for Rs 30,000.
In his private nursery, Gurung has such unique Ayurvedic herbs as shrikhanda, gingko, ginseng, patchouli, nimarshi, kutki, chiraito, and satuwa.
“Today, my priorities are herbs. I’ve done enough for fruits,” said Gurung. Accordingly, he earns around one million Rupees annually from the sale of his fruits, herbs and bamboos.
To make his project more extensive, he bought another 20 ropanis of land in Banau VDC of Parbat District in mid-west Nepal. He has farmed more varieties of herbs in Banau.
Now he plans to open an Ayurvedic campus and pharmaceutical plant in Tanahu and Parbat districts in two years. His research and infrastructure buildup will enable him to launch his projects.
He explains that both the campus and the herbal plant will work hand in hand, complimenting each other. Apart from sending three people for research on medicinal plants with his own funds, Gurung already employs a dozen young people in Tanahu and three in Parbat. Gurung’s garden has in fact become a laboratory for students studying forestry.
Despite the fact that most of the trees that he has planted will yield results only after 30 years, Gurung is surprisingly hopeful of experiencing the benefits even when he knows he is already 70.
“I’ve never been to a physician. I’m very conscious about my health, and with the use of my herbal plants, I’ve been healthy so far. I’m pretty positive of living more than 100 years,” he added. “I feel like I’m 30. I work like one. I go to bed at 11 at night and wake up at four in the morning. Still, I’m pretty healthy.”
Worried about the young manpower of Nepal migrating in search of jobs and opportunities overseas, Gurung says if we can make people aware of the importance of agriculture and the results it brings, no one has to go abroad for employment.
“Precious herbal plants are being neglected by us. If we can manage them properly, we can make good money here,” he elaborates.
In recent times, Gurung is busy producing herbal medicines and energy boosters to fight against diseases like gastritis, teeth decay, high blood pressure, diabetes, rheumatism, and common cold and flu. But he does not care about chemical equations while making his drugs. He uses his own formulas to produce them.
“I make medicines with the knowledge I’ve gained in this profession. I don’t follow any scientific methodology,” Gurung says and claims, “Though I haven’t sold my medicines as commercial products, those who’ve used them never have had to experience any side effects.”
While many of his age have retired and are relaxing at home, Krishna Bahadur Gurung’s deeds and courage are indeed inspirational to many, mainly the youths of Nepal who may think they are already too old to start anything new.
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