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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/88138187_1741123619601627_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div><strong>Dear Friends, Supporters, and Food Lovers,</strong>
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<div><strong>Momo, </strong>a beloved dumpling, has become an important part of Nepali culture. No matter our ethnicity or region, Momo is now considered Nepal’s “unofficial” national food. But how did this happen? How did Momo develop, and how is it connected to our national identity?
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<div>Chef Binod Baral has been researching these questions and now wants to publish a book dedicated entirely to Momo—its history, cultural significance, and future.
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<div><strong>About the Author</strong>
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<div>Binod Baral is a chef, writer, and cultural advocate with over 26 years of experience in the culinary world, particularly in the curry industry. He has been awarded for the <strong><em>Lifetime Achievement Award </em></strong>at the Asian Curry Awards and is recognized as <strong><em>"Momo King."</em></strong> In 2024, he won a Gold Medal for Global Gastronomy and is an ambassador for global culinary arts. He also writes a weekly food and culture column for <a href="https://theannapurnaexpress.com/search/?q=Binod+Baral" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Annapurna Express</a>.
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<div>Learn more about him at <a href="https://www.binodbaral.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.binodbaral.com</a>.
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<div><strong>Why This Book Matters?</strong>
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<div><strong><em>"Journey of Momo"</em></strong> will:
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<li>Tell Momo’s Story: Explore its origins, how it traveled along the Silk Road, and how it became a global favorite.
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<li>Inspire Entrepreneurs: Show how Momo has helped refugees and migrants start businesses and change their lives.
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<li>Promote Cultural Diplomacy: Highlight Momo’s role in connecting people and fostering cross-cultural exchange.
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<li>Celebrate Local Heroes: Share the stories of women, youth, and small business owners in Nepal who are using Momo as a tool for empowerment.
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<div><strong>How This Book Will Make a Difference</strong>
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<li>Recognizing Momo’s Identity: This book will document Momo’s rich history and impact worldwide.
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<li>Creating a Global Food Community: It will bring together Momo lovers, their stories, recipes, and traditions.
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<li>Promoting momo globally: Part of the book’s proceeds will go to help brand and promote Momo globally, provide awards, and support initiatives related to Momo.
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</ul>
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<div><strong>How You Can Help</strong>
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<div>We need your support to publish, market, and distribute this book. Your contribution will help:
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<ul>
<li>Empower Local Communities: Support women, youth, and small businesses using Momo to create jobs and opportunities.
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<li>Give Momo the Recognition It Deserves: Help establish Momo as a symbol of Nepal’s rich food heritage.
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<li>Promote Food Diplomacy: Show how a simple dumpling can bring people together worldwide.
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<li>Where the Funds Will Go
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<li>Book Production and Distribution: Writing, editing, designing, and printing the book.
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<li>Momo Entrepreneurship Programs: Supporting women, youth, and marginalized communities to start Momo businesses.
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<li>Recognizing Momo Entrepreneurs: Awarding small Momo businesses making a difference.
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<li>Global Momo Branding: Promoting Momo as Nepal’s culinary icon on the international stage.
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</ul>
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/88138187_1740050186973855_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
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<div><strong>Join Us on This Journey</strong>
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<div>Whether you love dumplings, enjoy cultural history, or believe in the power of food to bring change, we invite you to be part of this journey. Your support, big or small, will help make this book a reality.
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<div>Let’s celebrate Momo and its incredible impact on communities in Nepal and around the world!
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<div><strong>Thank you for your support.</strong>
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<div>Warm Regards,
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<div><strong>Binod Baral</strong>
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<div><strong><em>Chef, Writer, and Cultural Advocate </em></strong>
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Protect Nepal’s Heritage – The True Story of Momo

<div>Binita Chaulgain was a beacon of light in her family daughter of Ruku Kumari Chaulagain and Ful Bahadur Chaulagain from Nijgadh Nepal. At 22, her laughter and energy were contagious, bringing joy to everyone who knew her. Last year, she had traveled to Birmingham with dreams that soared higher than the clouds. She was accepted into the University College Birmingham (UCB) for her bachelor’s degree, and it was the beginning of what she hoped would be a bright future.
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<div>For her family back in Nepal, sending Binita to the UK was both a source of pride and a significant financial burden. Their economic situation was modest, but they believed in Binita's potential. They had scraped together everything they could, and she took on a student loan of £25,000, a staggering amount that loomed over her like a dark cloud.
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<div>Despite these challenges, Binita remained outwardly cheerful. She made friends easily, her warm nature making her beloved among her peers. Yet, behind her smiles, she was struggling. The pressure of her studies, the burden of the loan, and the weight of being so far from home began to take a toll on her. But she kept it all hidden, not wanting to worry her family or burden her friends.
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<div>As months passed, the weight of her responsibilities became unbearable. The pressure of academic excellence, compounded by the financial strain, slowly suffocated the joy she once had. The unseen pressure, the silent suffering, grew until it overwhelmed her completely.
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<div>One morning of 26th August, alone in her small room in Birmingham, Binita made a heartbreaking decision. The world lost a bright young woman that night, and her family lost their beloved daughter.
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<div>The news shattered her family in Nepal. Their dreams for Binita had ended in unimaginable tragedy, and they were left not only with the crushing grief of her loss but also the debt that had driven her to such despair. Now, they face the daunting task of bringing Binita’s body back to Nepal for her final rites, a process both emotionally and financially overwhelming.
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<div>Binita's story is a tragic reminder of the silent battles many face, the unseen pressures that can drive even the brightest souls to the darkest of places. Her family, now burdened with grief and debt, can only hope to give her the peace she could not find in life.
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