Bishnu Magar busy making bamboo goods, training others

By Hari Koirala,Urlabari, June 7: Bishnu Magar, 35, of Letang, 6, Morang, is extremely busy crafting bamboo products (handicrafts) and facilitating training programmes. 

On Friday last week, he returned home after facilitating a two-month-long bamboo handicraft training organised by Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality in Khotang.

The municipality, which organised Nepal’s first National Bamboo Conference from February 27 to March 1, held the training to promote bamboo as an alternative to wood. 

The two-month training focused on constructing houses and handicraft items from bamboo. 

According to Mayor Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, the training was effectively facilitated by Prabhas Shakya from Assam and Bishnu Magar from Letang.

Bishnu said a single thick bamboo purchased for just Rs. 200 can be transformed, with skill, into products worth up to Rs. 15,000.

 There’s a saying, “If you have skills in your hands and a will in your heart, you don’t need to go abroad or rely on business or jobs to earn money.”

Bishnu, who is of short height, received training in bamboo furniture and decorative item-making from the Dwarf Association of Nepal in 2017. 

Since then, he has turned his learned skills into a business. From early morning until late in the evening, he works diligently with bamboo, creating items according to customers’ demands.

Since he frequently travels outside his district to facilitate trainings, he hasn’t been able to keep up with the demand for handicrafts.

 “I only make a few sample items to show customers,” he said. 

Starting from July-August, various organisations hold general assemblies and conferences, and there is a high demand for souvenirs to present to guests.

Bishnu crafts not only chairs and tables but also miniature bamboo versions of items like the kaiyo, images of Dharahara, houses, the Pashupatinath temple, bulb stands, and book racks, 25 different types of handicraft items in total.

As a person with a disability himself, he devotes extra time to working with organisations of differently-abled individuals.

 “People with disabilities also have different abilities,” he said. “I help facilitate training for them so they can develop skills and earn an income.”

Standing at 4 feet 2 inches, Bishnu said that despite being short, he can do everything like an average person. 

Currently earning around Rs. 40,000 per month, he believes that if he could work full-time from home, his income could double.

 “There’s nothing that can’t be made from bamboo, it just takes effort and time,” he added.

So far, Bishnu has facilitated training sessions in 22 locations.

 He believes that with proper work and awareness, bamboo products could eventually replace plastic.

 “We go abroad to earn money, but money is right here, we just need to apply skill and effort,” he said.