Help Me Turn Struggle Into Service

| Bilateral Amputee | Cook. Inspire. Feed.

EVERY CONTRIBUTION MATTERS

This journey has already begun. Chef Ranveer Brar of MasterChef India personally gifted NPR 287,200 (≈ £1,450 GBP) in support of this dream. Supporters from around the world have started contributing.

Every pound raised goes directly toward building something real, sustainable, and community-driven.

No contribution is too small. Every pound is a meal cooked, a young person trained, a life inspired.

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MY STORY

My name is Ratna Bahadur Tamang — known as Ratna Tamang. I come from Pachmure village, Sindhupalchok district, Nepal. My life has been a journey of struggle, survival, and hope. And now — purpose.

Although Sindhupalchok is one of the districts closest to Kathmandu, that did not mean life was easy. The road did not reach my village directly. You had to walk through the hills for some time before finding a proper path. Nepal has villages far more remote than mine — places where it can take weeks or months to reach a road. But for a child of my age, my village already felt very far from the world. No mobile phones. No television. No guidance. Just mountains, and the stories that visitors brought back from the outside.

✨ The Boy Who Walked to Kathmandu

At the age of 8, I had just completed my Grade 4 final exam. I was home on holiday — and it was right then, in those very days, that I made a decision that would shape my entire life.

I left my remote village and walked alone to Kathmandu.

I was not running away. I was running toward something — a better life, a bigger world, a chance to learn.

But where did this dream begin? In the stories. In my village, whenever the older people returned from Kathmandu, they would gather and talk. And we children would sit nearby and listen with wide eyes. They spoke of wide roads, motor vehicles, tall buildings, lights that never went out, and food — so many kinds we had never tasted, never even imagined. Hearing these stories, something stirred inside me that I could not explain.

In Kathmandu, I did everything to survive and grow. My very first job was in a rice mill — pouring husks, working in suffocating heat, doing heavy labour that most grown men would find difficult. I was 8 years old.

Looking back now, I think — I should have turned around and gone home. Any child would have. But even then, something inside me refused to break. I held onto one thought, simple and unshakeable:

"Others may suffer and stop. I will suffer and learn."

From rice mills, I moved to food stalls, roadside restaurants, and household work. I washed dishes, cleaned rooms, made tea and snacks. Along the way, I practiced Thangka painting — a traditional Nepali art that taught me patience — and worked as a bus khalasi, learning discipline through hard labour.

By 15, I was a hotel helper in Pokhara. Then I went to India for six years, working in food stalls and dhabas, learning South Indian cooking, eventually becoming a kitchen cook in Mumbai. Later, I upgraded my skills further — working in Malaysia, Qatar, UAE, and Iraq as a 6G MIG welder.

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⚡ THE ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

In 2015, the devastating earthquake struck Nepal. I returned home on leave to be with my family. While temporarily working as a welder in Kathmandu, a high-tension electric current struck me.

I lost both of my hands.

I was unconscious for three weeks. When I woke up — my life had changed forever.

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FINDING THE WILL TO RISE

Waking up in that hospital bed, I felt as if the whole world had collapsed. My hands were gone. My head and body were covered in wounds. The pain was unbearable.

But then I saw the faces of my two sisters.

For them, my survival itself was a miracle. If they could see hope in me — why should I drown in despair?

✨ I made a vow: This pain will stay with me. But I will rise above it.

Recovery was slow and brutal. My hands were bandaged, covering raw wounds that took more than one and a half years to fully heal. For all that time — eighteen months — I could not feed myself. I could not drink water on my own. Every meal, every sip of water came from my sisters' hands. I could not even scratch an itch. These memories stay with me forever.

I believe my life is a precious gift from God. Even though the accident took a part of my body, I am deeply grateful that I survived. With faith in God's grace, I put on my prosthetic hands and made a quiet, powerful decision — to live as a complete person, to work as a complete person, and to never stop trying.

I taught myself to cook again. I learned to manage my daily life independently. And I made a promise to my sisters, who had sacrificed so much: I will prove that my existence is meaningful.

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BETWEEN THE ACCIDENT AND THE DREAM — HOW I KEPT MOVING

After losing my hands, I did not wait for the world to help me. I looked for every possible way to keep moving forward — with whatever I had.

I ran small social media advertisements connecting people with aluminium fabrication work — coordinating between workers and clients, securing a profit margin through hustle and trust. For a time, I sold clothing by hand in the Ratna Park area of Kathmandu — until the physical challenges of handling goods and cash, combined with local authority restrictions, made it impossible to continue. So I adapted.

When a music institute offered me free drum lessons, I took it — not just as a skill, but as therapy. Practicing alone, I found genuine joy I had not felt in a long time. The rhythm gave me something the accident had tried to take: a sense of self.

Along the way, close friends quietly slipped money into my pocket at gatherings. People brought groceries and essentials as gifts. Acquaintances who saw my social media shared small amounts of support. None of it was asked for — all of it was felt deeply.

These are not small things. These are the threads that kept me alive and moving — the invisible support network of a community that believed in me before I fully believed in myself.

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MASTERCHEF INDIA — PROVING IT TO THE WORLD

✨ The First Show — January 5, 2026

On January 5, 2026, my episode on MasterChef India Season 10 was officially telecast. When I was introduced, I shared my life story — and I was asked a question that I had already lived through in my darkest moments:

After losing both hands, what were my options?

I told them honestly. I had three choices:

• ❌ End my life. The thought came. In those early days of pain and darkness, it visited me.

• ❌ Beg for the rest of my life. Become dependent. Accept defeat.

• ✅ Or — forget the past, move forward with my passion, and live.

I chose the third path. And I am still choosing it — every single day.

I prepared noodles on the show. When I finished — all three judges stood up. They celebrated me. They signed an apron and gave it to me as a gift. Chef Ranveer Brar also gave me a signed knife — moments I will always treasure.

But the moment that stayed with me most was when Chef Ranveer gently held my arm. In that simple, quiet touch — something broke open inside me. I felt the warmth of my late father. It was as if my father, who had passed away from cancer, was holding me once more. I call this one of the most precious, unforgettable moments of my life.

That touch taught me something I carry with me always: a gentle touch given with love means far more than words. One person can become a father, a mother, a son, a friend, a brother, or a sister to another — not by blood, but by the love and respect they hold in their heart. The greatest treasure a person can carry is the warmth and reverence they nurture for others.

I have seen people reach out to shake my hand, then hesitate when they notice my prosthetic arm. But I am never troubled by this. My confidence carries a simple message:

The absence of a hand does not define a person. We are all equal. There is no need to hesitate. A warm heart matters more than anything else.

✨ The Second Show — February 6, 2026

MasterChef India invited me back. They gave me a platform to stand before the world and say thank you — to everyone who believed in me, watched me, and walked beside me.

In that episode, Chef Ranveer Brar said something I will never forget:

"I want to contribute to your dream."

He personally gifted me a cheque — NPR 287,200 (≈ £1,450 GBP) — for my Kitchen Studio. It was reflected in my bank account on February 13, 2026, and is transparently included in this campaign.

But beyond the cheque, he said something even more personal:

"Whenever you need me in life — remember me."

A chef. A stranger who became a guardian. Without knowing it, he gave me what I had been missing since my father passed — the feeling that someone was standing behind me, cheering me forward.

To me, Chef Ranveer — and all of you who have supported me — are my father figures. I have found my father in all of you.

I also took one of my sisters to India with me for MasterChef. Seeing her joy in my happiness — that gave me strength I cannot describe in words.

Today, I share my cooking journey through live sessions on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Thousands follow me. They tell me my story inspires them.

My personal advice to anyone facing their own impossible moment:

No matter how hard life becomes — do not choose to end it. Do not ✨ choose to give up. Choose your passion. Choose to move forward.

⚡ The road is hard. But on the other side of the hardest moments, there is a life worth living — I am proof of that.

Follow me: @ratna_tamang19 | @mywayimpact

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THE VISION: RATNA TAMANG KITCHEN STUDIO

This studio is not about me. It is about every person who has ever been told their dream is too big, their body too broken, their situation too difficult.

Content Creation & Live Cooking

Live cooking sessions streamed globally — showing the world that disability is not inability.

Every session will carry a message: If I can cook without hands, you can do whatever you dream.

️ Community Feeding Programme

During every live session, I will cook fresh meals and distribute them to hospital patients' families and people in need across Kathmandu. Cooking has always been about giving — this studio will make that giving bigger, more consistent, and more visible.

Cooking Education & Collaboration

Rather than running a training centre alone, I believe in the power of partnership.

I will actively collaborate with existing cooking schools, culinary programmes, and community education initiatives — not just in Kathmandu, but anywhere in Nepal and beyond. My role is not to replicate what others do well — but to amplify it, and to open doors for those who might not otherwise find their way in.

Outdoor & Travel Cooking

One of my personal dreams is to cook outdoors — wherever life takes me. Whether travelling through Nepal or abroad, I want to carry my ingredients, find a spot, and cook my own meal right there in the open air.

These moments, shared through live sessions and videos, will inspire people worldwide to see cooking as freedom — not just a kitchen activity.

Global Platform & Media

A professional studio creates professional content.

This means more media opportunities, more partnerships, more people reached, and more lives changed.

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️ MY MESSAGE TO THE WORLD: COOK TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER

I have a simple wish — and I want it to spread across every home, every family, every corner of the world.

Cook together. Eat together. At least once.

We live in a time where everyone is on their own screen, in their own world. Parents and children sit in the same house — but miles apart. Friends meet but barely look up. Families share a roof but not a moment.

The kitchen can change that.

When a child stands beside their mother or father and watches them cook — something magical happens. They are not just learning a recipe. They are learning love. They are learning patience. They are building memories that will stay with them for life.

I lost so much in my life. My hands. My father. Years of struggle.

But the one thing that has always brought me back to life — is cooking. And cooking with love, for the people I care about, has been my greatest healing.

So I ask you — not as a chef, but as someone who knows what it means to lose and to rebuild:

"Tonight, cook something together. It does not have to be perfect. It just has to be together."

Let the kitchen be the place where your family finds each other again.

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A PERSONAL APPEAL TO BRANDS & SPONSORS

I am writing to you not as a charity case. I am writing to you as a partner.

My story has already reached millions. MasterChef India Season 10. Live sessions with thousands of engaged viewers. A community that watches, trusts, and listens.

When you support Ratna Tamang Kitchen Studio, you are not just placing your logo somewhere. You are standing beside a story that moves people — and your brand becomes part of that story.

What I offer you:

• Authentic brand visibility during live cooking sessions streamed across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

• Large display screens in the studio featuring your brand during broadcasts

• Real-time audience engagement — viewers who are emotionally invested, not just scrolling past

• Genuine storytelling — your brand associated with resilience, hope, and community service

• Direct ingredient/product integration — your product in my hands as I cook for thousands to watch

️ What kinds of brands am I looking for?

• Rice, lentils, cooking oil, spices, and food brands

• Kitchenware and cooking equipment companies

• Health, wellness, and nutrition brands

• Any company that believes in human potential and community impact

✨ Chef Ranveer Brar believed in this dream and stepped forward. Will you?

Reach out: @mywayimpact on TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

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HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED

Kitchen Equipment — Commercial-grade cooking tools, appliances, worktops

Live Streaming Setup — Cameras, lighting, display screens, reliable internet

Studio Space — Rental of proper workspace in Kathmandu

Community Meals — Ingredients and logistics for regular food distribution

Cooking Education — Supporting and partnering with existing culinary programmes

Operational Costs — Sustaining the studio long-term

Every single pound is accounted for. Every single pound matters.

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FULL TRANSPARENCY

I believe trust is everything. Here is what you should know:

• Chef Ranveer Brar's contribution of NPR 287,200 (≈ £1,450 GBP) has been transparently added to this campaign, converted at the official Nepal Rastra Bank exchange rate of February 13, 2026.

• 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.

• I will provide regular updates on how funds are being used — through this page and on my social media @mywayimpact.

If you have any questions, please reach out. I have nothing to hide — only a dream to share.

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❤️ CLOSING: WHY I AM ASKING YOU TODAY

Life without hands is unimaginably difficult. There are mornings when I wake up and the weight of everything — the accident, the loss, the long road — feels heavy.

But then I remember: my sisters' faces. The judges at MasterChef. The thousands of people who message me saying "you give me strength."

And I get up. I cook. I share. I serve.

A Life Full of Debt — and the Drive to Repay It

From the day I was born, my family stood beside me. Through every struggle, every fall, every dark moment — they never left. And after my accident, even more people came forward — neighbours, friends, strangers, supporters from around the world — offering moral support, financial help, and love I never expected.

I feel the weight of this in my heart every single day. I am indebted — to my family, to my sisters who sacrificed everything, to every person who ever believed in me when I could not believe in myself.

✨ And I have made a vow: before this life ends, I want to repay every bit of that debt — not just in words, but in action. Through service. Through cooking for those in need.

Through inspiring others. Through building something that gives back more than it ever received.

With Ratna Tamang Kitchen Studio, I want to prove — not just to Nepal, not just to those with disabilities, but to every human being who has ever faced something impossible — that:

✅ Disability cannot stop dreams

✅ Cooking can bring joy, dignity, and hope to communities

✅ One person's struggle can become many people's strength

✅ Gratitude, when turned into action, can change the world

I am not asking for sympathy. I am asking for partnership — in building something that will outlast this campaign, outlast this moment, and keep giving back for years to come.

Every pound you give is a meal cooked. A young person inspired. A debt of gratitude repaid — through service to humanity.

Thank you — from the bottom of my heart — for believing in me and this mission.

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With gratitude and hope,

Ratna Bahadur Tamang (Ratna Tamang)

Kathmandu, Nepal

MasterChef India Season 10 Featured Chef

Follow my journey: @ratna_tamang19 | @mywayimpact

TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Watch my MasterChef journey:

Episode 1: https://youtu.be/HFQGRtAZRrg

Episode 2: https://youtu.be/S0Nn4IRDWt0

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"I lost my hands. But I never lost my purpose." — Ratna Tamang