Asmita Sumargi, one of the directors of Muktishree Group is one of the renowned business women in the country. Started her career as a teacher, Mrs. Sumargi comes from a normal middle class family but has now successfully leading the organizations like Thaha Sachaar and Hello mobile. As aspiring writer and singer, we talked to Mrs. Sumargi about her childhood and udaan of her career.
Tell us about your childhood.
A: It was actually nice. We were five siblings. I had one elder brother, one elder sister, one younger brother, one younger sister. I was in the centre, in fact it was lucky to be. Like in our nepali saying elder goes to dad, younger to mom but it was not such a case with me. I was loved by all. O got love from all my siblings. We were a joint family. What I do remember, it was hard to give time by our parents. But you know we were innocent, not demanding unlike today’s child. We never used to keep asking; whatever we get we used to stay happy.
Any memorable incident?
A: In fact, the entire childhood was memorable. Like currently, for today’s kid, gadgets are everything. They don’t need even mom and dad. But in our age, we used to play seven stones. I used to love that game. I miss that. There were big trees nearby jungle. We used to play along with the branches of tree. Those can be barely found now. Bishwa Niketan School was close by. We used to run to the school to watch skit bare foot, even though we had our slippers, that innocence you know. All those moment I miss.
How was life back the growing?
A: I mean that period was interesting. My dad used to work in Airport. He got transferred to Delhi and our whole family shifted. I was in my teenage. It was a new place, new friends and new culture. I studied grade 1 to 8 in Kathmandu while grade 9 to 12 in Delhi. I mean those friends are lost. Right now, out kids can get everything. I feel the same during that age. I remember one incident. During the holidays, around May to July, we had to have aerobic class then. It was really expensive but I was too stubborn and wanted to join. My mom tried to convince me but I did not listen. I regret that now, because I understand that very well now, the pain of being a mother. The kids don’t understand the problem.
Where did you star at Delhi?
A: Old Rajendra Nagar
How was student life?
A: It was very interesting. We were really naughty. What we used to do was, while waiting for the school bus, me and my friends, used to hide out and let the bus leave. We used to get back home saying we could not catch the bus, since we arrived late. And then the punishment followed. My dad hanged me upside down, so that I wont repeat this again. I was quite intelligent but my peer group made me so 🙂
How was college life?
A: It was good. I did my college from Padma Kanya Campus. I remember the Danfe restaurant. There was buff momo available. We were crazy about that. We are pure Brahmin, not even chicken was cooked at home. We had different kitchen from that. I used to love the soup at Danfe. It was really tasty. The soup was made of limbs of buffalo. The momo used to cost Nrs. ten. When I came to know about the soup, I never tried. After marriage, I never has so far as I remember. I miss that moment, not just the soup 🙂
At your time, how was the perception towards female?
A: It’s still not working right now. I work as a chairperson but at home, it’s different. While at that age, I have seen boy being preferred more than girl. Son used to get glass of milk but nothing to daughter. It still prevails now. Specially in Bahun and Chettri, the concept of marriage is still the same. The daughter should get married as soon as she is Seventeen or Eighteen. Even the boy is studying or going abroad, the parents think to get the daughter married and send her away. This is the concept still prevailing. The perception, has not changed. If that cat crosses your way, nothing wrong is going to happen but we still follow that because of our perception or our belief. Recently I was in China, a cat crossed our way, we all four just got stuck and did not cross. This is something which is really hard to overtake. Same thing towards the daughter, like for example during menstruation. The daughter cannot go to kitchen, cannot sleep on bed, during that period. That change should come from us, but it cannot happen overnight. It will take time. I am also trying, but this will take time. If we see some houses, you can see they talk only but the same thing happens right at their home. This all will take time.
What was your dream to be?
A: We never had that chance. It was our parents decision to take. I cannot say my son or daughter to choose their career. They are way ahead. Right now it’s the age of Google. One can search anything. We used to listen to our parents. But it is not right now. After crossing grade 12, it’s all about getting married, we could never say, ” I won’t marry”. So talking about career was not even close.
Tell us about your career?
A: My career actually started after marriage. We were from a simple family. No idea about politics and all. But my in-law family were highly political. I was surprised to see the way it was. The food were cooked in big-big dishes. And at the end, we used to check whether something is left for us or not? I remember one incident, there was one person, he is minister now. While studying college, there was student union election. He used to tell us Congress is great and Communist is dirty. Never vote the communist. That was in embeded in brain. But my in law are total communist. I used to argue with my mom, saying where you got me married. I was furious, you know! But I realize now. I am happy now. After crossing grade twelve, I taught at Anada Kuti School with the salary of Nrs. Eighteen Hundred for 7-8 months. There after I did not work as job. I joined my husband timber factory. He taught me to understand the work, in fact everything.
What was the challenging part at that time?
A: I think it was new environment and know-how. I was quite new in business and politics. It was not a love marriage either. I used to call him Dada at that time. Even I call him today the same.
Who do you idealize the most?
A: My husband. Whatever I am today, it’s all because of him. He is the one who has trained me, groomed me to be a better person, a better professional, a better human.
As a daughter, wife, mother and professional. Which is the toughest and why?
A: It’s the mother which is the most tough. Because, the mother of our age and the mother of today’s age is really challenging and tough. If some mistake is committed, it’s all about mother’s deed. But if something nice, it’s all about dad’s. It’s not easy to be a mother. From birth to teenage to mature, mother is always there thinking. Now, the boys and girl start using drug at 6-7 grade. Like my son, he started smoking. Once I heard, something thrown from the roof-top. I saw the cigarette remain. My husband talked to him about smoking. I talked to him. And he stopped right away. It’s the mother who has to constantly watch her kids. Like the son may have lot of friends. We can’t stop them but at least we need to guide them. This is where mother is most important.
What is your dream now?
A: I want to be a writer. I want to be a social worker. I want my book to an international best seller. I want my songs to be popular, my YouTube view would increase.
What are the sacrifices you have made for career pursuit?
A: Not really. I am very lucky I would say because whatever I think, I get it sooner or later. It’s the grace of almighty on me.
What do you do in leisure time?
A: I love to write and work at home. Also I love to work at home. Even travelling is something I love to do.
What about travelling checklist?
A: Apart from Korea and Africa. I have been to all continents.
Any memorable incident?
A: Yes, we were in Qatar travelling. I asked my husband to wait for a while, so that I can check out duty free stores. So I went away, suddenly I saw a person and I recognizes him. He was Mannadey, an artist from Bollywood. I respect that artist. I went to my husband and asked him to come with me, I went to Mannadey and took his autograph. Once we met him, the crowd came and in a minute he was surrounded by thousand of people.
What motivates you?
A: I motivate myself. You know the attitude we possess, only negative, pulling legs. I mean I stay as much away from it. I keep the hope alive, the thought of positivity always with me. Lets move together, let’s take that height. What if we tried but we did not, so what? Keep trying.
Where do you see five ten years from now?
A: I don’t know. But I will keep trying. I want to be an international best seller, writer. Also I want to be renowned social worker. These are only my dreams and I am working on this. I attend my office, but my prime focus is on my dream. I am at a stage, where I have completed my role as mother. I am giving time to myself.
Do you remember any situation, where you almost gave up?
A: You know, we are in the business. Sometimes you have huge profit sometime huge loss, which is quite natural. Me and my husband never backed off. We just kept our hope intact. We never lost it. We knew god has blessed us, we will make it again sooner. So actually, we have never given up on anything.
Who is your female role model?
A: Anuradha Koirala, I look after in social sector. Jamuna Ji is another woman I follow whenever I go to Australia. Mitchell Obama is another women, I really idealize.
Tell us about your business?
A: I am the chairperson of Nepal Satellite Mobile Company, Hello Mobile, Radio Thaha Sanchaar, Thaha Khabar, Muktishree P. Ltd. is the holding company and we got twenty two other companies like mineral water, colleges, hydro, cement and others. I am in the Board of Directors.
How have you helped women empowerment?
A: I want every women to come forward. Like in our company, we have a call centre, only females. I always say to them, don’t think of yourself as a staff but work as a leader.
How many female CEO do you have?
A: We do not have female CEO’s. But I think, we shall be doing that in our next plan. Thank you for putting this up.
What do you want to say your readers?
A: Everyone would face, ups and downs. Let’s not feel bad. Let’s see it as a test. Let’s learn and keep moving forward. Let’s be positive and stop pulling and stop pulling other’s legs.
What do you want to say to Udaan?
A: I hope, just as the name, it would fly higher.
Finally, who is Asmita Sumargi?
A: She is someone with positive heart.
