Jul 10, Kathmandu: Rishi Dhamala is known as Risi or as Durga Prasad Dhamala after his childhood name. He is a popular journalist. He was born on November 12, 1970, in Dhading district's Jyamrung village. Dhamala reminisces about his childhood with a warm expression. His forehead glistens and his cheeks stretch out to form a wide grin, as the fluorescent lights in the room further accentuate his bright complexion.

He finished his primary level education at ‘Sankhadevi School’ located in his village. Finally, Rishi completed his SLC in 1992. Furthermore, Rishi did Intermediate in Arts (IA) in the year 1995. Rishi is not only a successful journalist but also a  hardworking person. He struggled for many years and eventually, his passion and dedication made him what he is today.

Subsequently, Rishi came into the spotlight after the 1990s democratic movement. Dhamala was established as a renowned journalist because of his ability to incur information. And also reach the top political figures and authorities. Undoubtedly, Rishi contributed a lot to Nepalese Journalism.

While talking about his foray into journalism, Dhamala used to sell some local newspapers in the '90s democratic movement when his brother-in-law was already spearheading the city during that period. Entering the media field was not easy for him as he was Sanskrit field.

At fifteen years old, he was enrolled in a Sanskrit school while concurrently being tasked with selling newspapers door-to-door, dropping newspapers at local newsstands, and shops. As a teenager, it wasn't easy for him to convince people to buy newspapers, and to knock on doors trying to get them to read the papers, especially during such a tumultuous period as the democratic movement of the '90s.

After his stint selling papers, he started looking for jobs at local news outlets as a writer and hopped from one job to the next, honing his craft and steadily building a reputation for himself. He started working at 'Naya Pushta', 'Drishti', 'Ghatana ra Bichaar', 'Prakash', 'Punarjagaran', and a dozen other major weekly outlets. He later transitioned into the radio and television field, covering current affairs.

Currently the founder and chairperson of Prime Times Television, Dhamala is commonly known for adhering to a rigorous routine from dawn to dusk, often working an 18-hour schedule. For someone from the outside looking in, Dhamala’s commitment to his vocation is a thing of wonder and awe.

Speaking on the Headline Nepal Bishesh program with Presenter Sanjeeb Regmi,  he said people often ask me where this energy comes from, and how I am able to consistently look the same without a hint of being worn out and tired. He shares a few anecdotes highlighting how some of the well-known Nepali political figures like Madhav Kumar Nepal, Prachanda, and Girija Prasad Koirala acknowledged Dhamala’s tenacity of spirit for his profession. “I was annoyingly persistent when it came to bringing key politicians to my shows.

He said that by Running the Reporters Club of Nepal, a Nepali journalists association, Dhamala expresses his optimism toward the future of journalism, especially due to the advent of technology. “If you are verbally adept, resourceful, persistent, and have information at your disposal, you can survive in this field," he says. “And with the kind of innovative devices at our disposal, I cannot wait to see where the next generation of journalists are headed.

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