Bhuvan Kumar Dahal, 43, is an optimist and the CEO of Sanima Bank. He has spent more than two decades in the banking sector, working with people in the senior level and representing the country before Central Bank.
Between handling banking responsibilities and spreading happy vibes, he sat down with Sachi Mulmi to talk about his thoughts regarding books. Excerpts:
Change of Guard and OBOR
What kinds of books draw your attention?
I mostly read books related to banking and economics, usually after work for an hour or two. I dedicate this time to learn about the changes and new trends in business. At other times, I read travelogues. I like traveling, and make sure I read travel diaries and travelogues, the 'Yatra Sansmaran' series, for example. I also read books that will help in my personal development, and that makes me look at the positive side of things. Books under the biography section are what I look for whenever I go somewhere. And books, which instigate change and support it, are what draw my attention.
You have a background in English literature which is different from banking. How has that influenced you?
Reading literature refines your language. You read about many things and along the way you learn how to handle any situation. Personally, I've found it invaluable while communicating with people. I remember to be more polite to people around me, kind to the young ones and respectful towards the elders, and talk without creating discord between me and my associates. I loved reading plays by Shakespeare and I think it has, it its own way, helped me interact better with people.
Do you have any instances where books have left a deep impact on you?
Books always have a way of captivating you, except perhaps for course books. Either way, I've always learnt a lot from the lives of Karl Marx and Madan Bhandari. They have made me feel that perseverance is the formula for success, and not just success, but to do what is right. As human beings, we are susceptible to straying from the path of what is right, and we constantly need to be reminded to come back, do our duties honestly, and contribute to development. This sounds simple and clichéd, but in reality, we overlook these things. But reading about visionaries always pulls you back to the root, and humbles you. Besides that, I've drawn a lot from the biographies of Mahatma Gandhi, Mao Tse-tung, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, and Pushpa Lal Shrestha, which have carved the way I am now.
What kind of books do you think people of our generation should read?
This is a complicated time for us. The youth have the energy and the old have the experience, and together they have power to make things happen. And if they do, they will find the inspiration from books about powerful people. To quote Karl Marx – 'If you want to bring change, question the existing practices.' We should focus on positive changes. People have to read books related to their profession profusely, of course, but besides that, they should read books that inspire them to venture out beyond their comfort zone.
Can you give us an example?
Well, like I mentioned before I like traveling and attempt to read writings regarding it. I'm privileged enough to have been educated and be able to work in a good environment, which is a rarity, compared to the rest of my countrymen. I want to travel all over the country and know what is happening, so that I can contribute in whatever way I can. I think there's a beauty in knowing the rural and urban, to know that they have their differences, so that we can take actions to repair that.
You have written a book about banking in the past. Do you have plans to write more?
What I wrote before was just a handbook for banking with my wife, when we were in our mid twenties. Now, I plan on writing about it in detail. I've been taking classes in between my work and am thinking of putting that to use. That I'll do after I retire from banking, which will be in less than a decade from now.
