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FEATURED ON MASTERCHEF INDIA - JANUARY 5, 2026
On January 5, 2026, my episode on MasterChef India Season 10 was officially telecast. I prepared noodles on the show, and the judges appreciated my dish. They gifted me a signed apron and a knife - a moment I will always treasure. This experience gave me even more confidence to continue my mission and inspire others through cooking.
My Story
My name is Ratna Bahadur Tamang (known as Ratna Tamang), and I come from Sindhupalchok, Nepal. My life has been a journey of struggle, survival, and hope.
My Early Life
At the age of 7, I left home and walked alone to Kathmandu. I worked in rice mills, food stalls, roadside restaurants, dhabas, and as a household helper. I washed dishes, cleaned rooms, cooked tea and snacks, and slowly discovered my passion for cooking.
By age 15, I worked as a hotel helper in Pokhara. Later, I went to India and spent six years working in food stalls and dhabas, where I learned South Indian cooking. I eventually became a kitchen cook in Mumbai.
A Life-Changing Accident
After returning to Nepal, I trained as a welder and worked in Malaysia, Qatar, UAE, and Iraq. In 2015, after the Nepal earthquake, I came home. While welding temporarily in Kathmandu, I suffered a severe electric shock. I was unconscious for three weeks, and when I woke up, I learned that both of my hands had been amputated.
Those days were filled with pain, fear, and darkness.
Finding Strength Again
With the love of my sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and kind supporters, I slowly rebuilt my life. I received prosthetic hands and taught myself to cook again.
Today, I live in a rented room in Kathmandu and share my cooking journey through live cooking sessions on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Thousands of people follow my journey and tell me my story inspires them. You can follow me at @mywayimpact.
My Vision: Ratna Tamang Kitchen Studio
I want to establish Ratna Tamang Kitchen Studio - a space where I can:
Content Creation & Live Cooking:
- Stream live cooking sessions so people worldwide can watch my cooking activities in real-time
- Create inspiring cooking content that shows disability is not inability
- Share authentic Nepalese food culture globally
- Build a platform that attracts brand partnerships and media opportunities
Community Service:
- Cook fresh meals during live sessions and distribute them to hospital patients' families
- Provide food to those in need across Kathmandu
- Turn cooking into a service that brings hope and dignity
Education & Training:
- Teach young people professional cooking skills
- Inspire others facing disabilities to pursue their passions
- Create a training center for aspiring chefs
Platform Growth:
Develop content that can be featured on cooking shows and media platforms
Partner with brands that align with my mission
Scale the studio to reach and help more people
How Your Support Will Help
Your contributions will directly fund:
Professional Studio Setup:
- Commercial-grade kitchen equipment and cooking tools
- Live streaming setup (cameras, lighting, large display screens, reliable internet)
- Proper workspace rental in Kathmandu
- Background displays for professional broadcasts
Community Impact:
- Ingredients for cooking meals for hospital patients and families in need
- Resources for free cooking training programs
- Operational costs for regular live cooking sessions
- Food distribution logistics
Sustainable Mission:
- Building a platform that turns struggle into service
- Creating content that inspires millions globally
- Establishing a model that can grow and help more people over time
Brand Partnership Opportunities
The studio will feature a professional live streaming setup with:
- Large screen displays for on-air sponsor visibility during live cooking sessions
- Direct brand promotion to thousands of engaged viewers across social media platforms
- Real-time audience engagement while showcasing partner brands authentically
I welcome partnerships with food brands - rice, lentils, cooking oil, spices, kitchenware companies - who want to:
✓ Support a meaningful cause while gaining genuine brand exposure
✓ Reach engaged audiences through live cooking demonstrations
✓ Contribute ingredients directly, reducing operational costs and maximizing community impact
This creates a win-win situation: Brands receive authentic visibility, I get ingredient support, and more resources flow directly toward feeding those in need and training aspiring cooks.
If you represent a brand interested in partnership opportunities, please reach out through my social media @mywayimpact.
About Fund Transfer
Due to GoFundMe's limitations in Nepal, funds will be securely transferred through my trusted friend Romiyant Gurung in the UK, who will help me receive donations safely in Nepal. This ensures your support reaches me and the community I serve.
Closing Words
Life without hands is unimaginably difficult. But with determination and your support, I have turned pain into purpose.
Through Ratna Tamang Kitchen Studio, I want to prove that:
✓ Disability cannot stop dreams
✓ Cooking can bring joy, dignity, and hope
✓ Live cooking can inspire and feed communities
✓ One person's struggle can become many people's strength
✓ With the right platform, we can create sustainable impact
I humbly ask for your support in building this dream. Every contribution helps me cook for those in need, inspire others facing challenges, and show the world that nothing is impossible.
Thank you for believing in me and this mission.
- Ratna Bahadur Tamang (Ratna Tamang)
Kathmandu, Nepal
MasterChef India Season 10 Featured Chef
Follow my journey: @mywayimpact (TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube)
Organizer and beneficiary
Romiyant Gurung
Beneficiary