A Memory from a Kathmandu Factory

Today, while going through an old album, I found a photograph that stopped me in my tracks. It was taken on the day I left the shoe factory in Kathmandu. My brothers in labor stood close, their arms around my shoulders, their faces carrying exhaustion, pride, and a silent promise of solidarity.

Author’s Note (2025): I first wrote this piece soon after publishing my debut memoir, but the lessons remain just as relevant today. Even now, my inbox fills with waves of promotional emails and lofty promises. The reflections here continue to guide me—and I hope they might help other writers, too.

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