Born to a middle class family on August 21, 1988, in Tanahun, around two hundred kilometers west of the capital city of Kathmandu, the beautiful panorama of lush hills around the mountains from his home has always fueled journalist Anup Ojha’s inspiration since childhood to love arts and story telling.
Ojha has been consistently telling the stories of the grassroots and people completely sidelined by power and the state for more than 12 years. His upbringing inspired him to become the voice of the voiceless and an inquisitive journalist.
He is the youngest son among three brothers. His father is from an academic background and retired after working for a number of INGOs. Ojha recalls how villagers used to call his grandfather Mantri Ba (Prime Minister) for his extraordinary knowledge, skills, and kindness, despite not having any formal education. “He is my source of inspiration,” says Ojha.
He got his first formal education at a local primary school in the village and completed elementary education in Damauli, the district headquarters. Later, he went to Kathmandu and completed SLC there.
A very outspoken and straightforward student, Ojha graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar. While pursuing a Bachelor's degree in 2009, he got a chance to intern at The Kathmandu Post English Daily, which he reminisces about as the turning point of his life.
As Ojha delved into journalism, his fondness for art, drama, and literature also grew. “A drama I penned and staged stood first at an inter-college competition,” he recalls.
Ojha’s initial media career was focused on writing feature stories and covering life and the arts. With a zeal for the arts, he completed my Master’s degree in English literature from the Central Department of English at Tribhuwan University in 2014. By then, he was working as a full time journalist at The Kathmandu Post.
Currently serving as a senior Sub-Editor at the Kathmandu Post, his passion to become the voice of the voiceless was unveiled when he started to cover social issues. He believes the message is power. If used for positive change, he says, “it can change the thoughts of millions of people, resulting in positive solidarity for humanity and peace.”
Ojha has been fearlessly and tirelessly penning the pleas of the people, marginalized groups, the poor of the city, cybercrime and cyberissues, traffic issues, and the voice of the public, which remains unheard most of the time.
While he is not reporting from the streets or calling up officials for comment, Ojha is following his other passion: forging the words from his heart and the notes into a full-of-message song. He has already released three songs so far and has used music as a tool of journalism—story telling. All of his songs have social message. His recent song ‘Bol Ukusmukus Bol’ has a message of the importance of life over suicide and encourages people to open up their hearts and express themselves.
A journalist with passion, Ojha every day delves into a deep thought about the shrinking journalism in Nepal. “Many journalists have remained unpaid for months; many have been forced to leave; the online media has grown uncontrolled; and yellow journalism has flourished. The scenario is too worrisome,” he says.
In media fraternity, everyday news circulates about the protests of journalists, demanding their rights and justice. Those who continuously write against injustice have been facing injustice. The quality of journalism has declined. The traditional media seems to be in steep decline. Ojha, who has dedicated all his youth to storytelling, says it is high time someone took a step forward and saved journalism collectively.
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