Kathmandu. Raj Kumar Gautam of Kavrepalanchowk Kattike Deurali (now Chaurideurali Rural Municipality-6) is an example of how the height of success can be enticing if the foundation of struggle is strong. The son of father Bachchu Gautam and mother Bhagwati Gautam, Rajkumar’s childhood and early life were spent in extreme financial constraints. From the age of 8-9, he used to go to Ratnapark in Kathmandu every year in February-March to sell calendars. His father used to work as a loader at Mahabouddha in Kathmandu since 2040 BS, whose earnings were used to pay for the education of the family and children.
After passing SLC (SEE), Raj Kumar came to Kathmandu and sold items like spectacles, watches and belts in Ratnapark. Even when he started studying engineering in 2009 (2009 B. S.), he used to do business on the street. Later, he started working in a mobile shop and gradually started a mobile shop on his own. His journey that began with this foundation of retail trade and labour has now led him to connect with Australia’s iconic gold mining industry and Nepal’s digital startup economy.
From the threat of becoming an army officer to a trip to Australia
Raj Kumar, who has completed his electrical engineering by working in a mobile shop, had also announced his name for the post of Technical Officer in the Nepal Army. However, he was injured in the final stages, and his journey to becoming an army officer was interrupted forever. He was working in Khaitan Group, a multinational company in Nepal, after which he thought of going abroad. In October 2019, lecturers from Australia’s Curtin University (WA School of Mines) came to Kathmandu for a seminar. On the advice of seniors in Perth, the prince attended the seminar. There, a presentation on the mining industry caught his attention. On top of that, when he came to know that no Nepali student had gone to study the subject, he became even more interested and started the paperwork process. He flew to Perth, Western Australia, in 2019 after receiving his visa just 11 days after the process began.
Business Conflict and Economic Progress in the Mining Industry
While studying for a master’s degree in mining engineering from Curtin University, the prince had already started working in the mine. Even though I finished my studies in December 2022, it was not easy to get a job as an engineer. So he worked as a truck driver inside the mine for a while. Driving a truck inside the mine was very challenging and difficult, where instructions in English had to be answered in Nepali and immediately on the radio set. He eased this linguistic difficulty by associating with his New Zealand colleagues.
After four months of hard work, as soon as he got an offer from another mine, he insisted with his manager that he would give up his job or quit his job. The manager, who understood his ability, gave him the responsibility of ‘Production Engineer’. On the basis of efficiency, he was promoted to ‘Planning Engineer’ within a year. For the past three years, the prince has been working as a planning engineer at Westgold Resources, Australia’s leading gold mining company. He is currently in the key role of formulating daily, monthly, annual and two-year strategic plans (Underground Mine Planning & Structural Analysis). Rajkumar, who has a license and training to become a mine manager, has completed all the courses required to become a mine manager, from driving a truck, service crew, ground support to charging and detonating bombs.
According to him, in this industry, one has to work continuously in the mine for 8 days and then there is a 6-day leave. “It’s challenging, but there’s no need to be too scared because of the high standards of safety. We get at least one nugget of gold every year, which is very exciting,” he says.
‘Brain Gain’ of Capital and Skills: Investing in Nepal’s Infrastructure and Digital Economy
The prince, who has a high economic status in Australia’s mining industry, is now focused on bringing in capital and international skills in Nepal. He has been running RB Rhythm Construction in Nepal for the past three years, which oversees the construction of buildings and various engineering projects under the Kathmandu Metropolitan City. It is being managed by his brother Rajiv Gautam (Civil Engineer).
In addition, Prince is also investing in and leading digital startups to modernize the technology and agriculture sector:
1. Gen-Go: This is a mobility and ride-sharing platform that is being prepared with the aim of easing the transportation management of the Kathmandu Valley.
2. Gothalo (Shepherd): A mobile app developed with the goal of providing modern agricultural information, livestock management, and digital financial and agricultural services to Nepali farmers.
Future Plans: Potential of Gold Mines in Nepal and Ph. D.
Rajkumar is currently busy with his work in the mining industry as well as his PhD level research on sustainable energy systems and hydrogen fuel technology in heavy industry.
His long-term vision is not only to contribute to his personal economic success but also to the economic development of the country as a whole. “I am currently with a reputed mining company in Australia, but my goal is to study the commercial feasibility of the gold mining industry in Nepal as well. For this, I am trying to form a team of Nepali mining engineers and geologists from different countries,” he said.
The story of this professional and economic transformation of Rajkumar Gautam, which started from a small business on the sidewalk, is a great source of inspiration for the new generation of entrepreneurs and young engineers.
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