Banaras Literature Fest 2026 Hosts a Signature Session on ‘Made in Nepal’ with Binod Chaudhary, Atul K. Thakur, and Anshuman Rai

Varanasi, January 30, 2026: Banaras Lit Fest 2026 curated a significant literary and intellectual engagement with a featured conversation on Made in Nepal: Lessons in Business Building from the Land of Everest by Dr. Binod Chaudhary, bringing together leadership, literature, and long-form dialogue at one of India’s most respected cultural platforms. 

The session, titled ‘From Everest to Enterprise’, was led by noted commentators Atul K. Thakur and Anshuman Rai, who guided an in-depth discussion on entrepreneurship, institution-building, and the evolving idea of leadership in emerging economies. 

Through the conversation, Dr. Chaudhary reflected on his journey from Nepal to the global stage, the creation of enterprises across continents, and the deeper philosophy behind Made in Nepal — a book that blends personal narrative with strategic insight to explore resilience, risk-taking and long-term value creation.

The engagement formed part of Banaras Lit Fest’s broader vision of placing complex, contemporary narratives at the intersection of culture, ideas and public discourse, positioning business leadership as a subject of intellectual and literary relevance. 

Earlier in the day, Made in Nepal was formally unveiled at the festival, marking the book’s presence within the core literary programming of BLF 2026. Dr. Chaudhary also attended the festival as Guest of Honour, participating in the Inaugural Ceremony alongside leading cultural and public figures. 

Set against the historic and spiritual backdrop of Banares, the book launch drew together literature, leadership, and lived experience in a powerful celebration of storytelling that bridges enterprise and identity. 

Made in Nepal: Lessons in Business Building from the Land of Everest traces Dr. Chaudhary’s remarkable rise from modest beginnings in Nepal to the creation of a globally respected business empire spanning multiple continents and industries. The book offers an inside look at the mindset, discipline and long-term vision that transformed local ambition into international impact. 

Far beyond a conventional business memoir, the book blends personal narrative with sharp strategic thinking, revealing the human decisions behind major turning points — the risks taken, the setbacks faced, and the beliefs that sustained growth through uncertainty. It presents entrepreneurship not as ambition alone, but as responsibility, resilience and long-term commitment. 

The book’s launch in Banares carried special resonance — a city where heritage and progress coexist — mirroring the book’s own narrative of tradition meeting ambition, roots meeting reach, and local identity meeting global scale.

Dr. Chaudhary further connected with readers through a book-signing session, engaging directly with students, entrepreneurs, business leaders and festival attendees, making Made in Nepal one of the most talked-about literary moments of Banaras Lit Fest 2026. 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

‘Trouble!’ I said to Ajay, out of the corner of my mouth. 

‘I think we’re being kidnapped.’ I had dealt with Maoists in Nepal, and the ULFA in India, but these chaps looked like they were several leagues ahead of them; they made all the militants I had ever come across seem like small fry. One, who appeared to be the leader, walked towards us. 

 ‘Are you Binod Chaudhary?’ 

 I gulped. They even knew my name! Clearly, there was no point making a run for it. I nodded, mentally saying goodbye to my family. ‘Sir, we are part of your security detail. 

 We’ve been sent by the factory to take you there. It is not good to stay here. Come.’ I nodded, still too stunned to grasp what was happening. Clearly, I was not being kidnapped. These seeming ruffians, whom I thought were hitmen, had been sent to protect me! Dear God! Where was I? 

For Binod Chaudhary, the founder of CG Corp Global, Nepal’s largest conglomerate, nothing brings more satisfaction than seeing the Nepalese flag fly high in all their factories across the globe. Where once competitors were unaware that a country such as Nepal existed and others mistook it for a state of India, today the group’s decade-long growth has put Nepal firmly on the global map. 

Notably, Wai Wai, his popular noodle brand, is no longer limited to sales in neighbouring India, but has expanded to reach countries as geographically apart as Serbia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Bangladesh and Egypt. Recognized by Forbes as Nepal’s first billionaire, Binod Chaudhary is a fearless risk-taker ready to push all boundaries, fighting fit and looking to pit his pawn against a rival’s knight, usually to the latter’s detriment. 

In Made in Nepal, Chaudhary takes us on an incredible journey, detailing his forays into more than 200 businesses globally—from Asia to Europe to Africa—including cement, hospitality, telecom, banking and pharmaceuticals, and the challenges he takes head-on, sometimes successfully and sometimes as a learning. 

Candid and inspiring, peppered with anecdotes that are both engaging and humorous, this story of a man with unmatched self-belief, nationalism and tenacity will fill you with passion and purpose. 

Harper Business | HB | 272pp | INR 699 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Binod K. Chaudhary is a philanthropist, politician and businessman from Nepal. He serves as the Chaudhary Group’s president and chairman. He was named Nepal’s lone billionaire and wealthiest individual in February 2013. In addition to his business, which focuses on production, distribution, retail and leisure, he has written books, made movies and done charitable work. He received an honorary doctorate degree from Sri Sri University, Odisha, in 2015 in recognition of his exceptional philanthropic contributions.